Sept. 16, 2016

September 16, 2016

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

YEAR OF MERCY PROFILE

Mercy in medicine

St. Teresa of Calcutta will always be ‘Mother’ Teresa, pope says

Dispensing care and compassion at Newton clinic

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Immaculate Conception Church opens ‘Cenacle’ house 3

INDEX

Contact us.......................... 4 Español.................................16 Events calendar................. 4 Year of Mercy..................... 2 Our Parishes.................. 3-9 Schools......................... 14-15 Scripture readings............ 2 TV & Movies.......................17 U.S. news...................... 18-19 Viewpoints.................. 22-23 World news.................. 20-21

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Celebrating the Real Presence 12th Eucharistic Congress attracts 15,000 people 10-13

St. Pius X Parish celebrates opening of DeJoy Primary Education Center 14

Year of Mercy 2

catholicnewsherald.com | September 16, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Pope Francis

Pastors who become princes are far from Jesus’ spirit

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lergy who use their position for personal gain rather than to help those in need do not follow the spirit of Jesus who took upon Himself the sufferings of others, Pope Francis said.

Jesus often would rebuke such leaders and warned His followers to “do what they say but not what they do,” the pope said Sept. 14 at his weekly general audience.

“Jesus was not a prince,” the pope said. “It is awful for the Church when pastors become princes, far from the people, far from the poorest people.

That is not the spirit of Jesus.”

In his talk, the pope reflected on Jesus’ tenderness toward the poor, the suffering and the oppressed and his invitation, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” In Jesus, he said, “they finally find the answer they have been waiting for. By becoming His disciples, they will receive the promise of finding rest for their whole life.”

During a Holy Year, like the current Year of Mercy, he said, Christians pass through the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica or in their local diocese as a sign of seeking friendship with Jesus and of finding “the respite that only Jesus can give.”

“By passing through the Holy Door, we profess that love is present in the world and that this love is more powerful than any form of evil in which man and woman, humanity and the world are involved,” he said.

Pope Francis explained that when Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you,” He was calling all disciples to follow Him and not simply a set of rules like the scribes and the Pharisees did.

“He wants to teach them that they will discover the will of God through His Person, through Jesus, not through frigid laws and prescriptions that Jesus Himself condemned,” he said.

Christ’s final command in the Bible passage, “Learn from me,” invites disciples to follow a path of “knowledge and imitation.”

“Jesus is not a master who severely imposes burdens upon others that He does not carry,” the pope said. “This was the accusation He made against the doctors of the law.” True followers of Jesus, he added, take up His yoke in order to receive and welcome the revelation of God’s mercy, which brings salvation to the poor and the oppressed.

Jesus was “a pastor who was among the people, among the poor,” Pope Francis said. “He worked every day with them.”

Volunteers staff a free health clinic each Saturday at St. Joseph Church in Newton.

Photos by Lorenzo Pedro | Catholic News Herald

Mercy in medicine Dispensing care and compassion at Newton clinic Aaron Kohrs Special to the Catholic News Herald

NEWTON — At 9 a.m. every Saturday without fail, the doors open at St. Joseph Church’s parish hall, welcoming dozens of people waiting in line there to receive medical treatment. There to greet them is a dedicated group of volunteers who see it as their calling from God to provide free medical care to the neediest among us.

St. Joseph Clinic is a social justice initiative that sprang from an idea 20 years ago involving community leader Miguel Caraballo as well as parishioner Dr. Doug Miller to serve the ever-growing Hispanic population in the Catawba Valley, a population often without insurance coverage. Each Saturday a faith formation classroom is converted into a makeshift doctor’s office, where Miller and others provide free basic health care.

Caraballo, Miller and the other volunteers who work with them agree that they feel called to use their particular skills – whether it is their medical training, translation skills, or whatever – to help people in need, and that God motivates them in their work.

Caraballo, ethnically Hispanic himself and active in the local Latino community, noted decades ago that the heart of Catawba County had a need for health care assistance. He responded to God’s call, says Miller, who joined with Caraballo establish the weekly ritual of mercy in medicine known as St. Joseph Clinic.

St. Joseph Clinic helps those in the services sector and blue-collar industries – people who work long weekday hours for little pay – by

providing quality care on their generally work-free Saturday mornings, Miller says.

Though the clinic offers general health care services for free, Miller notes that a $5 donation to the clinic is accepted and “helps (a patient’s) esteem.” True mercy, to him, is not simply showing sympathy, but also enabling the needy to have a sense of self-respect.

Father Jim Collins, pastor of St. Joseph Church, says he has seen firsthand how many of the clinic’s recipients live in poverty or dire socioeconomic circumstances, and he supported Caraballo and MERCY, SEE page 24

Your daily Scripture readings SEPT. 18-24

Sunday: Amos 8:4-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-8, Luke 16:1-13; Monday: Proverbs 3:27-34, Luke 8:1618; Tuesday (Sts. Andrew Kim Tae-gon, Paul Chang Ha-sang and Companions): Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13, Luke 8:19-21; Wednesday (St. Matthew): Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13, Matthew 9:913; Thursday: Ecclesiastes 1:2-11, Luke 9:7-9; Friday (St. Pius of Pietrelcina): Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, Luke 9:18-22; Saturday: Ecclesiastes 11:912:8, Luke 9:43b-45

SEPT. 25-OCT. 1

Sunday: Amos 6:1a, 4-7, 1 Timothy 6:11-16, Luke 16:19-31; Monday: Job 1:6-22, Luke 9:4650; Tuesday (St. Vincent de Paul): Job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23, Luke 9:51-56; Wednesday: Job 9:1-12, 14-16, Luke 9:57-62; Thursday (Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael): Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, John 1:47-51; Friday (St. Jerome): Job 38:1, 12-21, 40:3-5, Luke 10:13-16; Saturday (St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus): Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17, Luke 10:17-24

OCT. 2-8

Sunday: Habbakuk 1:2-3, 2:2-4, 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14, Luke 17:5-10; Monday: Galatians 1:6-12, Luke 10:25-37; Tuesday (St. Francis of Assisi): Galatians 1:13-24, Luke 10:38-42; Wednesday: Galatians 2:1-2, 7-14, Luke 11:1-4; Thursday: Galatians 3:1-5, Luke 11:5-13; Friday (Our Lady of the Rosary): Galatians 3:7-14, Luke 11:15-26; Saturday: Galatians 3:22-29, Luke 11:27-28

Our parishes

September 16, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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Charlotte Missionaries of Charity celebrate their new saint ‘This is the greatest event in the history of our society’ SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — Sister M. Shilanand and the three other Charlotte Missionaries of Charity sisters were bursting with joy as they greeted hundreds of guests for Mass Sept.

5 at Our Lady of the Assumption Church to commemorate their beloved St. Teresa of Calcutta on her inaugural feast day as a saint of the Church.

“For me personally and for the sisters, all of us here, this is the greatest event in the history of our society,” Sister Shilanand, superior of the Charlotte convent, said.

“We are so grateful to God for what He was able to do through her and in her.”

Bishop Peter J. Jugis and Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin were warmly received by the sisters as What did Pope they entered the narthex to prepare Francis say for Mass. Bishop Curlin worked with about St. Teresa?

St. Teresa of Calcutta to bring the See page 20.

Missionaries of Charity to Charlotte in 1995. He was a close friend, confidante and confessor of the newly proclaimed saint.

He served as homilist at Mass.

Bishop Jugis, who celebrates Mass for the Missionaries of Charity in Charlotte as his schedule allows, served as the main celebrant. More than 13 priests concelebrated the Mass.

During his homily on St. Teresa of Calcutta, Bishop Curlin drew laughter and sympathetic nods from the standing-room-only congregation as he shared Mother Teresa’s wisdom and challenged those gathered to look inside themselves for answers to some of the issues that plague our world today.

“Mother Teresa certainly deserves a great and wonderful homily,” Bishop Curlin said. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to reminisce about the days I was privileged to be with her to share her friendship here on earth.”

He described their meeting when he was a young priest recently moved to the poor parish of St. Mary’s Church in Washington, D.C. His cardinal told him there was “a little

More inside

sister from India” he wanted him to meet. Arrangements had been made for him to meet with her the following Tuesday, but Mother Teresa came to Mass at St. Matthew Cathedral the Sunday before which he celebrated and asked to speak with him then instead.

“I put her in my car and drove her to my parish. As we began talking, I kept running to the front door every hour or so. She asked me what I was doing. I said, ‘Mother, I make sandwiches at night and I stack them in the refrigerator and people come all day long… I said, ‘What else can you give?’ She said, ‘You give them your heart.’

That’s social action. You give them your heart.

“The more she talked about her way of serving and of loving people, especially those hurting, I thought, ‘This is certainly a holy woman.’”

Bishop Curlin described how their friendship grew as they exchanged notes and phone calls, discussing spiritual matters.

He drew laughter from the congregation when he relayed how Mother Teresa got him to India the first time.

“One day she said to me, ‘I’ll see you next Wednesday.’

I said, ‘Oh wonderful, you’re coming to Washington.’ She said, ‘You’re coming to India.’ I told her, ‘Mother, I work in Baltimore and can’t come to India. She said, ‘You’ll come,’ and put the phone down. A priest friend paid my way and I thought, ‘Good heavens, she’s a dictator!’”

Bishop Curlin recalled the valuable life experiences he gained during his trips to see Mother Teresa and the sisters in India.

“Going to India was some of the happiest times in my life. I saw things there… Poverty, I knew poverty from my area (in D.C.) but I had never seen poverty like that.

People lying in the streets with rats, people starving.

SAINT, SEE page 24

More online

sueann howell | catholic news herald

At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Watch Bishop Emeritus William Curlin’s full homily and see more photos from the Mass of thanksgiving for St. Teresa in Charlotte

Immaculate Conception Church opens ‘Cenacle’ house Woodley Murphy Special to the Catholic News Herald

HENDERSONVILLE — Immaculate Conception Church celebrated the opening of the “Cenacle,” a building which houses the parish’s growing Spiritual Direction Ministry.

An open house was hosted Aug. 7 at the building, which is located at 718 Oakland St., one block away from the church.

The building had been most recently occupied by Ave Maria Resource Center and had also been the location where St. Gerard’s House and Grotto began. It was recently renovated after the closure of Ave Maria Resource Center.

The impetus for the Cenacle was to house the new and growing Spiritual Direction Ministry recently established at the Hendersonville parish. Four certified lay spiritual directors are currently serving the parish and the region.

The Cenacle is primarily a house of prayer for all who come. It will be used for spiritual direction, as well as for parish ministries such as Individual and Family Counseling, Healing Prayer, Unbound Prayer, Small Group Prayer Sessions and Called and Gifted Interviews.

It will offer much needed small group meeting space for the growing number of ministries at Immaculate Conception Church.

Woodley Murphy serves as the spiritual director for the “Cenacle” house in Hendersonville.

Photos provided by Immaculate Conception Church

(Right) Capuchin Franciscan Father Martin Schratz stands outside the “Cenacle,” a new house for spiritual direction adjacent to Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville. (Above) Visitors at a recent open house tour the St. Ephram Room at the Cenacle.

(Above) Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin delivers the homily at Mass honoring his long-time friend, St. Teresa of Calcutta, Sept. 5 at Our Lady of Consolation Church. The Missionaries of Charity offered veneration of their beloved foundress’ relics after Mass.

UPcoming events 4

catholicnewsherald.com | September 16, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following upcoming events: Sept. 18 – 11:15 a.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation/Parish and Mission anniversaries St. Joseph Church, Bryson City

Sept. 25 – 11:15 a.m.

Holy Mass for 50th anniversary of dedication St. Frances of Rome Mission, Sparta

Oct. 1 – 5 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation St. Lawrence Basilica, Asheville

Sept. 21 – 6 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation Immaculate Conception Church, Hendersonville

Sept. 28 – 6:30 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation Sacred Heart Church, Brevard

Oct. 2-7 Priests Retreat

Sept. 23 – 6:30 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation St. Margaret Mary Church, Swannanoa

Sept. 29 – 6:30 p.m.

Blue Mass St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

Diocesan calendar of events September 16, 2016

ENTERTAINMENT

Volume 25 • Number 25

MOON FESTIVAL 2016: 6-11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16; Saturday, Sept. 17; and 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18, at St. Joseph Vietnamese Church, 4929 Sandy Porter Road, Charlotte. For details, call Bao Vu at 704-504-0907.

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

STAFF

Third Annual lebanon festival: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 24, at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantine Commons Pkwy., Charlotte. Food and entertainment will be available. For details, contact Liliane Richa at 704-996-8585.

International Dinner fundraiser: 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, in the gymnasium at St. Michael Church, 708 St. Michael’s Lane, Gastonia. Food tables open at 7 p.m.

Everyone welcome to attend an evening of great food, beverages, entertainment and unity by all. For details, contact the parish office at 704-867-6712.

EDITOR: Patricia L. Guilfoyle 704-370-3334, plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org

Lectures & Workshops

ADVERTISING MANAGER: Kevin Eagan 704-370-3332, keeagan@charlottediocese.org

LISTEN & PRAY: 7:15 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 20, with Father Frank Cancro at Queen of the Apostles Church, Belmont.

Will deal with timely topics and afford the opportunity to listen to people’s stories, reflect on Church teaching, and give an opportunity for discussion and questions around the topic “People of the Book: Islam and Religious Tolerance.”

SENIOR REPORTER: SueAnn Howell 704-370-3354, sahowell@charlottediocese.org Online reporter: Kimberly Bender 704-808-7341, kdbender@charlottediocese.org GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Tim Faragher 704-370-3331, tpfaragher@charlottediocese.org COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT/CIRCULATION: Erika Robinson, 704-370-3333, catholicnews@ charlottediocese.org Hispanic communications reporter: Rico De Silva, 704-370-3375, rdesilva@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: $15 per year for all registered parishioners of the Diocese of Charlotte and $23 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.

‘Out of the Shadows’ Human Trafficking Awareness: 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, at St. James the Greater Church, 139 Manor Ave., Concord. Lecture on the efforts taking place in Cabarrus County and how you can be equipped to take action. Guest speakers Sister Rose Marie Tresp, Director of Justice for South Central Region, Institute of the Sisters of Mercy, and Hannah Arrowood, founder and executive director of Present Age Ministries.

For details, contact Dot Reilly at dotnowellreilly@gmail. com.

PRAYER SERVICES & Groups St. Peregrine healing prayer SERVICE: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22 at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte. St. Peregrine is the patron saint of cancer and grave diseases. For details, call the parish office at 704-543-7677.

Pro-Life Rosary: 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at 901 North Main St. and Sunset Drive, High Point. Outdoors, rain or shine. Parking available nearby. For details, call Jim Hoyng at 336-882-9593 or Paul Klosterman at 336-8486835.

St. Thomas More Society Red Mass: 6 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 13, at St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte. Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari will be the celebrant. The Red Mass is celebrated annually

for judges, attorneys, law schools students, government officials and law enforcement, generally in conjunction with the opening of the new session of the U.S. Supreme Court. Dinner following Mass. For details, contact the parish office at 704-334-2283.

Mooresville. Sessions meet 10 a.m. to noon or 7-8:30 p.m.

For details, contact Sophia McNiff at 704-508-2217 or sophialmcniff@gmail.com, or Tracy deRoos at 704-6633575 or tjderoos@windstream.net.

Procession for life: 9 a.m. Mass, Saturday, Oct. 15, at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Road, Charlotte. Immediately after Mass we will pray one decade of the rosary, continuing the rosary as the group processes to pray at Family Reproductive Health abortion facility at 700 E. Hebron, Charlotte, with Father Casey Coleman. We’ll process back to the chapel after about 30-35 minutes of prayer at the facility, concluding with benediction. Hosted by Helpers of God’s Precious Infants. For details, visit www.charlottehelpers.com.

YEAR OF MERCY

CHARLOTTE Maronite Mission: Masses are offered every Saturday at 7 p.m. at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantine Commons Pkwy., Charlotte. The Maronite Mission of Charlotte is an Eastern rite Catholic Church in full communion with the pope.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING “Protecting God’s Children” workshops are intended to educate parish volunteers to recognize and prevent sexual abuse. For details, contact your parish office. To register and confirm workshop times, go to www.virtus. org. Upcoming workshops are: ASHEVILLE: 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, St. Lawrence Basilica (parish office building basement), 97 Haywood St. Charlotte: 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, St. Peter Church (Biss Hall), 507 South Tryon St. GREENSBORO: 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, St. Paul the Apostle Church, 2715 Horse Pen Creek Road HUNTERSVILLE: 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road KERNERSVILLE: 9 a.m. Saturday. Oct. 1, Holy Cross Church, 616 South Cherry St. SUPPORT GROUPS MOTHERING WITH GRACE: Second Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. in the Assembly Room at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid, Charlotte. For details visit www. motheringwithgrace.org.

AFTER THE BOXES ARE UNPACKED: A 10-week class based on the book will meet Wednesdays, starting Sept. 14 at St. Thérèse Church, 217 Brawley School Road,

Divine Mercy day of healing: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1 , at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte.

Divine Mercy Holy Hour: Every first Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m., in the Daily Mass Chapel at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy.

Everyone is welcome to attend and pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, venerate and be blessed by the parish’s first-class relic of St. Faustina Kowalska. Recite Divine Mercy prayers and read Scripture and excerpts from St. Faustina’s diary. Each month’s Holy Hour will be for the following intentions: Oct. 6, Marian Jubilee Dedicated to Mary; Nov. 3, prisoners; Dec. 1, healing of the family.

Sponsored by the Cenacles of Divine Mercy.

Divine Mercy Holy Hour: Every First Friday of each month at 7 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte. There will be readings from the Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, veneration of the Image of Divine Mercy, the sung Chaplet of Divine Mercy, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and benediction.

Year of Mercy website: Keep up to date on all Jubilee Year of Mercy events, download catechetical resources on the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, watch videos on the theme of mercy, and much more, at the Diocese of Charlotte’s Year of Mercy website: www. yearofmercy.rcdoc.org.

YOUNG ADULTS Multi-Parish kickball game: 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 at Park Road Park, 6220 Park Road Charlotte, Field 5 and 6. All young adults in the diocese aged 21-39 are invited. Everyone attending is asked to bring a donation for Serenity House, a comfort home that provides free care/lodging to patients in the final stages of life. For details, visit www.meetup.com/St-MarkCatholic-Church-Young-Adult-Ministry.

ASHEVILLE THEOLOGY ON TAP: For Catholics in their 20s and 30s in the Asheville region. For details, check them out on Facebook, Twitter or MeetUp. CHARLOTTE AREA: Groups for Catholics in their 20s and 30s, single or married, are active on MeetUp at www. meetup.com/charlottecatholicyoungadultministry.

Corrections In the photo caption entitled “Youth ministry guidelines promulgated,” the title of the protocols was incomplete. The official title is “Protocols for Ministry With All Minors.”

In the photo caption for the story “Feeding the hungry with ‘Our Daily

Bread,’” the church member was misidentified. He is a member of South Tryon Community United Methodist Church.

We regret the errors.

— Catholic News Herald

September 16, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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Giuliana Polinari Riley | Catholic News Herald

Jesuit Father Joseph Koterski conducted several talks in the Diocese of Charlotte last month. His reflections on the Ignatian Examen were sponsored by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte.

Jesuit encourages daily ‘Examen’ laid out in 5 steps Beth Searles Correspondent

Photos provided by Colleen Assal

(At top) Families in Manta, Ecuador resorted to living on the street after their homes were destroyed in an earthquake earlier this year. Parishioners at St. Paul the Apostle Church, including teens on a recent mission trip, have been assisting the people there as part of their long-standing Sister Parish program. (Above) Coordinator Sue Watson and former coordinator Jim Auber are also pictured on a recent trip to visit children who are going to school thanks to a scholarship program funded by parishioners.

Greensboro parish makes global connection Jennifer Krawiec Correspondent

GREENSBORO — St. Paul the Apostle Church took a tradition of being active in North Carolina’s Triad and took it global in 2000.

A group of parishioners felt the calling to do more, which prompted them to propose an initiative to extend charitable giving internationally. After several brainstorming sessions and an extensive search, the committee found a Catholic parish with which it felt the parish could establish a mutual understanding of culture, lifestyle and worship differences.

In December 2001, the parish adopted Niño Jesus in Manta, Ecuador, as its sister parish – establishing a 2,500-mile bond between North American and South American Catholics that has fostered greater understanding and solidarity.

Niño Jesus consists of a main church and 16 chapels spread over a large rural area, serving more than 50,000 Catholics.

According to Colleen Assal, pastoral associate at St. Paul the Apostle Church, the parishes exchanged an initial series of letters to get to know each other.

Customs were explained, local happenings were announced and a mutual appreciation of their cultural differences grew, Assal said. A new St. Paul’s ministry grew out of the need for Spanishspeaking volunteers offering translation services.

As the friendship between the parishes developed, the financial needs of Niño Jesus were considered, and assistance

Learn more St. Paul the Apostle Church’s Sister Parish program is a parishioner-driven ministry supported by the clergy since its inception. The Sister Parish core team is willing to help parishes that have questions on how to get started with their own sister parish program.

Call 336-294-4696 during weekday office hours, and staff will answer questions or connect others with church members involved. has been offered. Since 2001, St. Paul parishioners have raised enough money to install an irrigation and water purification system, as well as to set up a health clinic and remodel three food kitchens for Niño Jesus. Also, the Greensboro parish has provided wheelchairs and hearing aids to Niño Jesus parishioners in need.

In 2002, the Greensboro parish began a scholarship program which has benefitted nearly 250 students. Sponsors annually donate $150 for primary school through high school-aged students, or $180 for university students. The scholarships pay for books, clothing, transportation and other needs. Sponsors and students exchange photographs and letters, and personal relationships often grow out of these sponsorships.

According to Assal, some families maintain contact with now-graduated former students, while continuing to sponsor another student. She added that the students are inspired to work hard and achieve good grades, knowing there is a family supporting them both financially

and spiritually.

About once a year, St. Paul’s parishioners travel to Ecuador. Two mission trip visits by parish teens have also taken place. Niño Jesus priests and parishioners usually visit North Carolina every other year, staying with host families. A pen-pal program for children, a Christmas card exchange and quarterly newsletters enable parishioners to maintain relationships.

Assal says having connections with these families illustrates that “the Church is bigger than our parish, or diocese or country.”

Last spring, a devastating earthquake and subsequent aftershocks rocked Ecuador. The main church of Niño Jesus was spared all but minor damage, yet major repairs were necessary for the chapels, food kitchens and some parishioners’ homes. St. Paul parishioners quickly raised about $27,000 to send to their Ecuadoran brothers and sisters.

Father Joseph Mack, pastor at St. Paul Church, is in contact with the pastor of Niño Jesus regarding the aftermath and cleanup. Some parishioners, who receive updates through Facebook, Skype and WhatsApp from the families of the students they sponsor, said the Niño Jesus families are doing well and proceeding with rebuilding.

“Through our Sister Parish program,” said Assal, “we have learned that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, called through baptism to live a life of discipleship, loving and serving God and our neighbors, the world over.”

ASHEVILLE — Father Joseph Koterski knows a thing or two about teaching the Ignatian spiritual exercise known as the “Examen” in an approachable way. A Jesuit priest and philosophy professor at Fordham University in the Bronx, he shares living quarters with 150 freshmen each year. Among his many other duties, he leads student discussions for about an hour most nights beginning at 10 p.m.

When he finally gets ready for bed, it is the same Examen he teaches his students that helps him fall asleep with a peaceful conscience.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Charlotte sponsored Father Koterski’s presentation on the Examen to a packed room Aug 24 at St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville. Similar talks were also held that same week at St. Barnabas Church in Arden, St. John the Evangelist Church in Waynesville, and St. Eugene Church in Asheville. The event at St. Eugene was offered in both English and Spanish.

The Examen is a prayerful 10-minute daily examination of Jesuit Father conscience that is no Joseph Koterski less useful today than in On the Ignatian spiritual the 16th century when exercise, the Examen St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuits, originated the spiritual practice. Father Koterski tweaked the five steps by using the word “G-R-A-C-E” to help recall the Examen as one reviews the day.

“G” stands for gratitude. “Think of something we are grateful for, or something we know we ought to be grateful for and give thanks to God for it. This is not just another self-help exercise,” Father Koterski emphasized. “It’s a prayerful exercise, directed to Jesus.”

He noted that his own practice includes sitting on the floor in the dark after his long

‘It’s important to have some time to sit in the dark and ask for light.’

EXAMEN, SEE page 24

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 16, 2016 OUR PARISHES

Former St. Michael School principal passes away at 29 SALISBURY — Kathryn “Katie” Christine Meseroll, 29, of Salisbury, died Sept. 8, 2016, at her home after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday, Sept.

12, 2016, at Sacred Heart Church in Meseroll Salisbury with Father John Eckert, pastor, officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Born Dec. 5, 1986, in Salisbury, Meseroll was the daughter of Mark and Jackie Meseroll of Salisbury. She attended Sacred Heart School and graduated in 2005 from West Rowan High School. She attended Belmont Abbey College, where she received a degree in elementary education. She also completed a Masters in Education Administration at Gardner Webb University.

After college, she returned to Sacred Heart School as a teacher and later became athletic director and assistant principal. She most recently served as principal of St. Michael School in Gastonia.

She enjoyed spending free time with friends and family at Sunset Beach. She also volunteered with Carolina Boxer Rescue and German Short Haired Pointer rescue groups. She enjoyed doing Crossfit, cooking and baking.

Besides her parents, she is survived by her brother Steven Meseroll, his wife Lauren and their children, Sarah and John Everett of Matthews; maternal grandfather, John Livingston of Boca Raton, Fla.; maternal aunt, Robin Rutter, and her husband Scott; paternal uncle, Jeff Meseroll and his wife Diane; paternal uncle, Scott Meseroll and his wife Mary Lou; and several cousins. Chosen family includes Doug and Nancy Foxworth, Steve and Sarah Bauk, Robby, Elizabeth and Liam Stephens, and Jon and Linda Robertson.

Memorial donations may be made to the Angel Tree Fund at Sacred Heart Catholic School, 385 Lumen Christi Lane, Salisbury, NC 28147; or to St. Michael Catholic School, 704 St. Michael’s Lane, Gastonia, NC 28052.

Summersett Funeral Home of Salisbury was in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome. com.

— Catholic News Herald

SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald

CHARLOTTE — Parishioners of St. Ann Church formed a prayer chain to line busy Park Road in Charlotte Oct. 4, 2015, for Respect Life Sunday.

Join hands and pray for life Faithful across the Diocese of Charlotte are encouraged to gather on Sunday, Oct. 2, 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.

Life Chains are being organized in the following communities, either on Oct. 2 or another date as noted:

BELMONT Belmont-Mt. Holly Road from Woodlawn Avenue to Central Avenue, 2-3 p.m.; Rolando Rivas, 704898-3084 Main Street at Central Avenue, 1:30-3 p.m.; Tom Carey, 904-728-4300

BREVARD Broad Street at Main Street, 2:30-3:30 p.m.; Janice Castevens, 828-273-0275

CHARLOTTE 8451 Idlewild Road at St. John Neumann Church, 2-3:30 p.m.; David DeBrosse, 704-6496163 Arboretum-Providence Road at Windbluff Drive, 12:30-1:30 p.m.; Susan Lerch, 704-907-3076 Ballantyne Commons Parkway at Rea Road, 2-3 p.m.; Liliana Salas, 704-293-5001 East Boulevard at Scott Avenue, 2-3 p.m.; Tina Witt, 704-846-7361 Pineville-Matthews Road (Hwy. 51) at Rea Road, 2-4 p.m.; Deborah Ware, 704-650-6095 Hillside Avenue at Park Road, 2-3 p.m.; Andy Zorichak, 980-233-9168 Park Road at Old Reid Road at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 12:45-1:45 p.m.; Susan Collis, 704554-7088 Providence Road at Sharon Lane, 2-3 p.m.; James Lashua, 704-840-7236 University City Boulevard at Suther Road

at I-485, 1-2 p.m.; Park at St. Thomas Aquinas Church. Gretchen Fitz, 704-549-1604

MINT HILL

DENVER

13700 Lawyers Road at I-485, 12:30-1:30 p.m.; Bob Hayes, 386-478-9137

537 N.C. 16 Business at Holy Spirit Church, 12:30-1:45 p.m.; Jeff DiCosmo, 704-489-9756

MOORESVILLE

FOREST CITY

Hwy. 150 at Williamson Road, 2-3:30 p.m.; Terri Geraci, 704-493-8439

West Main Street near Hudlow Road, 2-3:30 p.m.; Dennis Puntel, 937-478-9282

Mount Holly

GASTONIA

Main Street at Catawba Ave., 2-3 p.m.; Sue Pruett, 704-965-5260

Garrison Boulevard from Union Road to New Hope Road, 2-3 p.m.; Linda Mooney, 704-5893930

GREENSBORO Battleground Avenue, 2:30-3:30 p.m.; Bernie and Elaine McHale, 336-292-1118

HENDERSONVILLE U.S. 25 (Asheville Highway) at Patton Park (Clairmont Drive), 2-3 p.m.; Sharon Asbury, 828697-6188 Hwy. 64 at Howard Gap Road, 2-3 p.m.; Sue Kuchler, 828-692-0170

MURPHY Peachtree Street, in front of the courthouse, 2-3 p.m.; Nancy Lorie, 305-978-0724

SALISBURY Main Street at Innes Street, 2-3 p.m.; Barbara Franklin, 704-636-2117

SPARTA Main Street at Hwy. 18, 2:30-3:30 p.m.; Gary and Marie Carlson, 336-657-8013

STATESVILLE

HICKORY

Glenway Drive at Crossroads, 2-3:30 p.m.; Geraldine Houston, 704-902-7018

Hwy. 70 at 16th Street South East, 2:30-3:30 p.m.; Bob Hall, 828-322-9570

THOMASVILLE

HUNTERSVILLE

Southgate Shopping Center, 2:30-3:30 p.m.; Yvonne Ford, 336-301-9891

Stumptown Road at Ranson Road, 2-3 p.m.; Michael FitzGerald, 704-992-1702

WAYNESVILLE/HAYWOOD COUNTY

KANNAPOLIS

Walnut Street at Russ Avenue, 2:30-3:30 p.m.; Cynthia Hall, 828-926-9706

Cannon Boulevard (Hwy. 29) at First Street, near the overpass, 2-3:30 p.m.; Timothy Brennan, 704-938-7393

KERNERSVILLE 600 Main St. at Cherry Street, 12:30-1:30 p.m.; Melanie Feeney Lewis, 336-996-5109x12

WINSTON-SALEM Hanes Mall Boulevard west of Stratford Road, 2-3:30 p.m.; Lori Bowser, 336-655-9479 For details about the Life Chain events, go online to www.lifechain.net.

September 16, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Diocese to offer first Blue Mass honoring law enforcement CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter J. Jugis will offer a Blue Mass for Catholic law enforcement and public safety personnel at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte.

It is the first such Mass in the diocese offered for police, fire and EMS, including local, state and federal personnel. It is being celebrated on the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, patron of police officers.

This first Mass will remember the sacrifice that local public safety, both living and deceased, have made in serving the public.

All police, fire and medic personnel and their families – Catholic or not – as well as the public are welcome to attend.

“Our public safety personnel put their lives in harm’s way every day as they protect and serve the needs of our local community. As such, it is important that the Church support them with our prayers and love,” said Father Christopher Roux, rector and pastor of the cathedral.

First offered in 1934 by Father Thomas Dade in Washington, D.C., the Blue Mass provides spiritual support for those on the front lines of public safety and derives its name from the uniform color of police officers and firefighters.

The Blue Mass is now offered in hundreds of parishes and dioceses annually throughout the U.S. Officers wishing to have their official vehicles blessed should check with their department on specific arrangements.

The cathedral is located at 1621 Dilworth Road

East. A reception will be held in the cathedral’s Family Life Center after Mass.

For details, contact the cathedral office at 704-334-2283 or e-mail bluemasscharlotte@ gmail.com.

All invited to ‘Divine Mercy Day of Healing’ CHARLOTTE — Come celebrate Christ’s mercy with a “Divine Mercy Day of Healing” on Saturday, Oct. 1, at St. Matthew Church. The day starts at 9 a.m. with Mass, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and benediction, singing of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and anointing of the sick. Afterwards, enjoy a continental breakfast and hear a variety of guest speakers including Father Glenn Comandini and Deacons Gary Schrieber and Jack Staub. For more information and to register, go online to www. stmatthewcatholic.org.

Attention, high school students CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte Youth Ministry Office has opened registration for its annual High School Fall Retreat, which will be held Oct. 21-23 at Holy Spirit Church in Denver. The theme of this year’s retreat is “Enduring Mercy.”

The High School Fall Retreat is a weekendlong retreat, led by a team of teens and adults, that includes prayer, games, activities, presentations, group sharing, the sacrament of reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, Mass, and much more. These retreats are a great way to come together in prayer with other high school teens from across the diocese, grow in faith and love for God’s Church and one another. All high school-aged students in the diocese are invited.

For details, go online to www.charlottediocese. org/ev/youth-ministry/events/high-schoolretreat.

SonFest proceeds donated to Men’s Shelter of Charlotte CHARLOTTE — St. John Neumann Church recently present a check for $5,000 to the Men’s Shelter of Charlotte, thanks to the success of SonFest 2016, the parish’s sixth annual summer festival.

Each year, the Charlotte parish donates a portion of the proceeds from SonFest to a local organization engaged in the Corporal Works of Mercy. The Men’s Shelter provides safe emergency shelter for men and it works to end homelessness. This year the shelter is expected to serve more than 1,500 men experiencing homelessness as well as help 450 move to more appropriate housing. Randall Hitt, director of philanthropy for the Men’s Shelter, accepted the check from Father Patrick Hoare, pastor; Patti Matys, co-chair; Terri Wilhelm, secretary; and Anthony Morlando, chairperson of SonFest.

— Patti Matys

Historic St. John’s Bible coming to Charlotte

OUR PARISHESI

John’s Bible, which Smithsonian Magazine called “one of the extraordinary undertakings of our time,” will be presented at 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 21, at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte. The St. John’s Bible is the first handcalligraphed, hand-illuminated Bible to have been commissioned in 500 years.

It has been praised by Popes Francis and Benedict, displayed in the Library of Congress and featured on “The Today Show.” Scholars have compared the scope of the work to that of the Sistine Chapel.

David Allaway, director of the St. John’s Bible Heritage Program, will present the story behind the creation of this historic work of art, comprised of seven hand-calligraphed volumes – 1,150 pages – which feature 160 remarkable illuminations.

Commissioned by the Benedictine monks of St. John’s Abbey in Minnesota as a celebration of the new millennium, the work was executed by and under the direction of Donald Jackson, the chief scribe to Queen Elizabeth II. This 21st century manuscript combines the use of medieval methods and materials with modern technology.

Jackson and his extensive team of artists incorporated media such as calfskin vellum, goose quills and handmade inks, gold, platinum and silver and drew inspiration for their artwork from sources as extraordinary as images captured by the Hubble Telescope.

The Sept. 21 program at St. Gabriel Church will also feature one of the volumes of The St. John’s Bible: the Book of the Gospels.

Admission is free, but reservations are requested through the church’s website, www.stgabrielchurch.org/Bible, or by calling 704-362-5047, ext. 276. St. Gabriel Church is located at 3016 Providence Road.

More information about The St. John’s Bible is online at www.saintjohnsbible.org.

CHARLOTTE — The story behind The St.

IN BRIEF, SEE page 8

The Life and Legacy of Thomas More

SAINT

JOHN PAUL II N AT I O N A L S H R I N E

7

An exhibit featuring relics and artifacts from the Stonyhurst College Collections September 16, 2016 - March 31, 2017 Open Daily 10:00 am - 5:00 pm jp2shrine.org 3900 Harewood Road NE Washington, DC 20017

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 16, 2016 OUR PARISHES

IN BRIEF FROM PAGE 7

Symposium on conversion to be held Sept. 24 HUNTERSVILLE — A symposium featuring stories of conversion will take place Saturday, Sept. 24, at St. Mark Church in Huntersville.

Speakers including Father Francis Cancro, canonist and pastor of Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont; Dr. Margaret Ralph, director of the Masters in Pastoral Studies program for Catholics at Lexington Theological Seminary; and Alice Camille, Catholic columnist and retreat leader, will delve into the theological, Biblical and pastoral aspects of conversion.

There will also be a number of short “conversion stories” from people who have gone through RCIA, including a former Buddhist priest, a Jewish man, an atheist and one woman who is now a cloistered Poor Clare nun.

All are invited to the program, sponsored by the Diocese of Charlotte Commission on the RCIA, which will begin at 8:30 a.m.

Advance registration is required due to limited seating. Registration is $25, which includes lunch.

For details, go online to www.charlottediocese. org/ev/become-a-catholic.

Martin has spoken to more than 1,200 parishes worldwide, and St. William parishioners experienced an intense renewal guided by the Holy Spirit and this priest “gifted with blindness.” The themes for these missions were: God’s love, God’s forgiving love, and God’s redeeming love.

One of 22 children, he was born in Maine, suffered meningitis and subsequent blindness, and was ordained to the priesthood through a special appeal to Blessed Pope Paul VI. Since 1977, he has dedicated his life not just to the priesthood but also to bringing his unique gifts to thousands. “God doesn’t give us our suffering, but look what he has done with it,” he said at the beginning of the mission.

“God speaks through him,” said Father Alex Ayala, pastor.

— Craig Allen, correspondent

Missions in Murphy, Hayesville focus on God’s love MURPHY — Father Patrick “Pat” Martin conducted the annual mission at St. William Church during weekend Masses in August and two weekday evening Masses. He also led missions at Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission in Hayesville and St. Francis of Assisi Church just across the state line in Blairsville, Ga. as the unstoppable Father PBYRN-023 ad Joe & Helen Rev BW 10x6.2_2_Layout Known 1 5/23/16 10:50 AM Pagepriest, 1

Ladies hold retreat GREENSBORO — The ladies of St. Mary Church recently met for their annual retreat at the St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville, led by Father Louis Canino, OFM. The topic this year was women of the Bible.

Learn more about the faith with the Lay Ministry program Interested in learning more about the faith, becoming a catechist or religion teacher, or discerning the possibility of becoming a permanent deacon? The diocesan Lay Ministry Office offers a two-year program with classes in Arden, Bryson City, Charlotte, Greensboro and Lenoir. Registration continues. For details, contact Frank Villaronga at 704-370-3274 or favillaronga@charlottediocese.org.

Rice Bowl grant deadline nears Does your parish help run a food pantry, operate a thrift store, or sponsor an emergency services program? If so, consider applying for a Catholic Charities CRS Rice Bowl MiniGrant for up to $1,000 in grant funds. These grants fund projects of Diocese of Charlotte entities that are addressing poverty and hunger in local communities. Grants must be sent by the postmark deadline of Oct. 16.

Information (including grant application, and grant guidelines and eligibility) is available at www.ccdoc.org/cchdcrs. 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. Questions? Email Joseph Purello at jtpurello@charlottediocese.org.

We welcome your parish’s news! Please email news items to Editor Patricia L. Guilfoyle at catholicnews@ charlottediocese.org.

— Mercy Kakhu

“Everything we needed in terms of our faith was right here.”

—Joe and Helen Drozd, Pennybyrn residents

This beautiful community captures the heart and soul of the Catholic faith.

“We looked at a number of communities,” says Helen Drozd, “and came to see Pennybyrn because it was Catholic. As soon as we arrived we realized it was where we wanted to be.”

The Sisters of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God founded what would later become Pennybyrn at Maryfield. Today, three chapels grace our community; our main chapel with Daily Mass, Adoration Chapel with 24 hour adoration and our Meditation Chapel for private reflection.

“We feel this is holy ground,” says Helen.

“We were also looking for a continuum of care,” noted Joe, “because my mother had been living with us, and she needed a higher level of care.” Pennybyrn allowed the three of them to move to the community together. “Joe’s mom had probably the best three years of her life here,” says Helen.

Pennybyrn’s location is ideal for the couple. They appreciate the amenities, and love the ambiance and beauty of the 71-acre campus, with its well-kept grounds and winding paths. “I attend swimming classes, and Joe uses the fitness center,” says Helen. “There are concerts and activities all the time, and at dinnertime we have our choice of venues, with a friendly wait staff and an expansive menu.”

“We chose to move to Pennybyrn because it simply felt unlike any other community we visited,” says Helen.

Call 336-821-4050 to receive the popular Planning Guide for Seniors or details about one of our Discover Pennybyrn events.

Where retirement living takes on a whole new spirit.

A Life Plan Community Sponsored by the Sisters of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God

109 Penny Road • High Point, NC 27260 www.PennybyrnAtMaryfield.org Located less than a mile from downtown Jamestown and only 10 minutes from Greensboro. All faiths welcome.

CNH

September 16, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

Mike FitzGerald | Catholic News Herald

First Saturdays Latin Mass now offered at St. Thomas Aquinas Church CHARLOTTE — St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte began a new commemoration of First Saturdays devotion by offering a Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form Sept. 3. The Mass, which previously was offered in the Ordinary Form (English), will now be a High Mass in the Extraordinary Form each First Saturday at 10 a.m. Parochial vicar Father Jason Christian, who served as homilist for the Mass, noted the purpose of this Mass is to offer to God the highest of solemnities as a way to honor Our Lady of Fatima’s request for prayer and penance for the sins of man. The Solemn High Mass was attended by nearly 120 people and offered by Father Joseph Matlak, administrator for St. Basil the Great Ukrainian Mission and Holy Trinity Middle School chaplain, with Father Noah Carter as deacon and Father Christian as sub-deacon.

St. Matthew Seventh Annual Divine Mercy Day of Healing Invite From Rev. Msgr. John J. McSweeney Register: www.stmatthewcatholic.org/divinemercy

Do you have a car sitting in a driveway catching leaves? Maybe it will not start or needs a major repair. Catholic Charities benefits from the donation of your vehicle. Donate your vehicle and receive a tax benefit!

Call 1-855-930-GIVE today!

CCDOC.ORG

HIS M E R C Y Endures Forever

October 1, Exposition.

2016 – 9amSinging – 3pm;of StChaplet.

MatthewAnointing Catholic Church, Charlotte, NC 9am – Mass, of Sick, Benediction 28277 9:00 am 10:15 am 10:45 am 11:00 am 11:45 am 12:15 pm 1:00 pm 1:15 pm

Donate Your Car Make your car go the extra mile.

2:15 pm

3:00 pm

Mass, Exposition, Singing of Chaplet, Anointing of Sick, Benediction Continental Breakfast Welcome & Overview: Keys to an Enduring Attribute of Mercy Deacon Gary Schrieber, Spiritual Director, Cenacles of Divine Mercy Key 1 – GRACE: from Sacraments particularly Reconciliation: MERCY Rev. Glenn Comandini, STD, Parochial Vicar, Saint Matthew CC Box Lunch Key 2 – WORD: as revealed in Scripture and dictated to St. Faustina Deacon Jack Staub, St. Matthew Catholic Church, Charlotte, NC 15 minute break Key 3- PRAYER/Trust - “Trust and Fulfillment of God’s Will” - recorded message from Sr. Caterina Esselen, OLM, Superior of Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in the United States, St. Faustina’s order Key 4- Deeds – “The Spiritual & Corporal Works of Mercy,” Deacon Gary Schrieber, Induction - Eucharistic Apostles of Divine Mercy. Visit: resource tables Closing Hymn

Donate your car to Catholic Charities to help fund programs for those in need. All vehicle makes, models and years welcome.

Truck, boat, RV and motorcycle donations accepted.

855.930.GIVE (4483) www.ccdoc.org/CARS Catholic Charities relies on your direct support to help fund its various ministries.

Sister Caterina Esselen, OLM

Rev. Glenn Comandini, STD

Deacon Gary Schrieber

Jesus, I Trust In You

Deacon Jack Staub

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 16, 2016 FROM THE COVER

‘The Eucharistic Congress is about deepening our amazement at Our Lord’s Real Presence and energizing us for the good works of charity and mercy when we return home.’ — Bishop Peter Jugis

Bishop Peter Jugis elevates Our Eucharistic Lord during the closing Mass of the 12th annual Eucharistic Congress, which drew a record crowd of 15,000 Sept.

9-10. sueann howell | catholic news herald

Celebrating the Real Presence of Christ More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See more photos and video highlights from the 2016 Eucharistic Congress On the Diocese of Charlotte’s YouTube channel: Videos from several of this year’s speakers will be posted, including: n Bishop Peter Jugis’ homily in English and Spanish: Available now n Father Matthew Kauth’s Bible study on mercy: Coming Monday, Sept. 19 n Father Paweł Rytel-Andrianik’s Holy Hour homily in English and Spanish: Coming Monday, Sept. 26 n Father Chris Alar, “Understanding the Message and Devotion of Divine Mercy”: Coming Monday, Oct. 3

12th Eucharistic Congress attracts 15,000 people Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor

CHARLOTTE — “Energizing.” “A recharge for your Catholic meter.” “A big family reunion for the diocese.”

That’s how people described the 12th annual Eucharistic Congress Sept. 9-10 at the Charlotte Convention Center.

Organizers estimated that this year’s event drew 15,000 people, up significantly from last year’s crowd of 12,000-13,000. It featured approximately 21 hours of continuous Eucharistic Adoration, a Eucharistic procession through uptown Charlotte that stretched for three-quarters of a mile, and a two-hour closing Mass that was standing-room-only in the convention center’s largest gathering space.

Dozens of priests heard confessions for hours in English, Spanish and Vietnamese, with long lines leading into the confessional areas all day. The congress also included programming for children and

adults that focused on the theme of Divine Mercy, music, and more than 100 vendors.

But the most important aspect of the congress, noted Bishop Peter Jugis in his homily at the closing Mass, is the celebration of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

“All of the events of the congress have led up to this point,” he said, “because the Mass is the source and the summit of the Christian life and the source and the summit of the Eucharistic Congress.”

Bishop Jugis encouraged Congress-goers to remember that Christ is truly present at every Eucharistic celebration, and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the greatest sign of God’s mercy. The theme of this year’s congress – “Be merciful, just as the Father is merciful” – echoed the Church’s Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, which continues until Nov. 20.

“God had mercy on the whole human race, and through Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection, He saves us from our sins and gives us new life in His grace,” he said.

Bishop Jugis urged people to reflect on God’s mercy and then put mercy into practice in their own lives – starting with taking to heart that Christ is really present in the Eucharist: Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.

Catholics must affirm their faith in the Real Presence of Christ CHRIST, SEE page 11

September 16, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com

FROM THE COVERI

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Bishop Peter J. Jugis

Celebrating God’s mercy as a diocesan family

T

More than 15,000 people participated in the Eucharistic Congress Sept. 9-10 at the Charlotte Convention Center. The congress featured educational programs for adults and children, Eucharistic Adoration, a Eucharistic procession, prayer, the opportunity to go to confession, and Mass.

Photos by SueAnn Howell, John Cosmas, Doreen Sugierski, Bill Washington and Brandon Berryhill

CHRIST FROM PAGE 10

in the Eucharist, he said, especially in contemporary times when so many people no longer believe that reality.

Instead, Catholics should look to the example of the disciple Mary, who sat and listened at Jesus’ feet. Today we do the same at every Mass in the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, he said.

Similarly, Bishop Jugis continued, we are like the two disciples on their way to Emmaus, as told in the Gospel reading for the Mass. They recognized Jesus only after He blessed and broke the bread with them.

When the priest elevates the Host and the Precious Chalice at each Mass, he said, “you also recognize Him to be really present. You adore Him at that moment in the Mass.”

Catholics acknowledge the Real Presence again at Communion, when the priest says, “Behold the Lamb of God…,” and they reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to receive You…” “Although hidden under the signs of bread and wine, Jesus is present – Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity,” he said.

Sometimes it is easy to become distracted at Mass, Bishop Jugis admitted. But Scripture offers helpful advice, especially Jesus’ own words to the Apostles at His Ascension: “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

“Those words can easily be applied to the Eucharist,” he said.

At the elevation of the Host at Mass, too, Catholics can remember the words from the Letter to the Hebrews (12:2): “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.”

He also suggested recalling Psalm 123: “Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for His mercy.”

“We are looking upon Him because He is

truly present,” Bishop Jugis said.

“Such is the amazing truth of the Eucharist!”

The Presence of the Lord is experienced in many ways, he said, “but we experience His Presence in a unique way in the Eucharist. How beautifully His Real Presence in the Eucharist makes all of the scriptures come alive for us here and now – not just those that I just named, but all of the scriptures.”

Why does the diocese celebrate a Eucharistic Congress? Bishop Jugis asked.

“We have a Eucharistic Congress because a strong and genuine Eucharistic faith means a strong and vibrant Church,” he said.

“The Eucharistic Congress is about deepening our amazement at Our Lord’s Real Presence and energizing us for the good works of charity and mercy when we return home.

“Let us go forth from this congress renewed and refreshed, to live joyfully our Catholic faith and to serve the Lord.”

he Holy Father has asked us during the Jubilee of Mercy to reflect on God’s mercy, and to put mercy into practice in our daily lives. Our Eucharistic Congress this year has given us the perfect opportunity to celebrate God’s mercy as a diocesan family.

We can say that the most merciful act in the history of the world is celebrated in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The most merciful act in the history of the world is Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection for our salvation, and at every Mass that same sacrifice of Jesus is offered again. God the Father had mercy on the whole human race by sending us Jesus, and through Jesus’ sacrifice He mercifully saves us from our sins and gives us new life in His grace. The Sacrifice of the Eucharist makes present for us that most merciful act in the history of the world.

Why do we have the Eucharistic Congress? The purpose of the Eucharistic Congress is to celebrate our faith in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist, to affirm our Catholic faith in His Real Presence.

A strong and genuine Eucharistic faith means a strong and vibrant Church.

There’s an important connection between our Eucharistic faith and the vitality of the Church. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI once wrote that the more lively the Eucharistic faith of the People of God is, the more deeply will the People of God share in the life of the Church and be committed to her mission.

The Eucharistic faith of the People of God is that Jesus is truly, really and substantially present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Eucharist, under the appearance of bread and wine. He is our merciful Lord. Jesus nourishes us on His mercy in the Eucharist so that we in turn can go forth to nourish others with our works of mercy. The Eucharistic Congress is about deepening our amazement at Our Lord’s Real Presence, professing our faith in love, and energizing us for the good works of charity and mercy.

Our just completed Eucharistic Congress is now in the hands of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will multiply as He sees fit the fruits of the Congress in all the parishes and schools of the diocese. Through those parishioners who were blessed to participate in the Congress, the Holy Spirit will extend His blessings throughout the diocese. May the mercy of God the Father and the love of Jesus which we celebrate at each Mass continue to build up the faith and holiness of our parish families and the whole diocesan family.

Bishop Peter J. Jugis is the Bishop of Charlotte.

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Photos by John Cosmas, SueAnn Howell, Doreen Sugierski And Bill Washington

More online At goeucharist.tumblr. com: See more photos, video highlights and other coverage from the Sept. 9-10 Eucharistic Congress

Our schools 14

catholicnewsherald.com | September 16, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

MACS Education Foundation celebrates grantwinning teachers Colleen Karnas-Haines Special to the Catholic News Herald

CHARLOTTE — More than 60 teachers took a break from preparing for the start of school to come together for a luncheon Aug. 18 to be recognized for their innovative MACS Education Foundation grants. Each teacher was presented with a MACS Education Foundation plaque to hang outside their classroom, a certificate of recognition and a special gift.

“These teachers thought outside the box and applied for and received a Grant for Educational Excellence so that they could bring innovative ideas and new technologies to their classrooms,” said MACS Education Foundation Director Heather Moeller. “We want to thank them for making our Catholic school system the best school system in our area.”

Not only were teachers present, but also principals, donors and MACS Education Foundation volunteer board members.

“We volunteer our time to set up this luncheon every year because we care about promoting academic excellence in our schools,” said MACS Education Foundation board member Jenny Loden, “and we believe these teachers and their grants are the keys to that excellence.”

Patrick Engel, MACS Education Foundation board chairman, said, “When I first became a parent at St. Patrick Catholic School, the PTO made a very compelling case for financial support and we were happy to assist. However, Principal Debbie Mixer was also a strong advocate for the MACS Education Foundation. The more I learned about the foundation, the more I wanted to get involved.”

“This is a unique opportunity to support the entire MACS system, and the awards luncheon today is a demonstration of how thoughtfully allocated grant dollars and our teachers’ imaginations can lead to innovative approaches to education and make our entire school system stronger.”

Besides recognizing the grant winners, the MACS Education Foundation holds the annual luncheon as an opportunity for teachers to share ideas and best practices across schools. Many grants start in one school, find success there, and then migrate to other schools the next year.

“We have many outstanding, creative teachers in our schools. Applying for a grant through the MACS Education Foundation indicates their desire to continue to grow professionally and implement new ideas to enhance their teaching,” said Dr. Janice Ritter, diocesan schools superintendent.

Every school in the MACS system received grants. The grant topics range from using interactive music technology to building with LEGO robotics. To see a full list of grants, go to www. macseducationfoundation.org/grants.

(Left) St. Pius X students (from left) Maggie Davis, Vince Warren, Liam O’Brien, Sienna Arnold, Clark Wahlberg and Oliver Arnold stand with the Honorable Aldona Wos, one of the most significant benefactors of the DeJoy Primary Education Center on the Greensboro parish and school campus.

(Above) Wos and her husband Louis DeJoy stand with Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio, pastor of St. Pius X Church and School.

PHOTOS BY GEORGIANNA PENN | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

St. Pius X Parish celebrates opening of DeJoy Primary Education Center Georgianna Penn Correspondent

GREENSBORO — St. Pius X School celebrated the dedication of the new DeJoy Primary Education Center Sept. 13. Clergy, teachers, benefactors and parishioners gathered for a dedication, blessing and tour of their new state-of-the-art early education building that will house a new pre-kindergarten program, as well as St. Pius’ existing kindergarten and first-grade classrooms.

The $3.6 million center is part of the parish’s three-year “Making a Place to Gather and Grow” campaign and was combined under the auspices of the Diocese of Charlotte’s “Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love” campaign. St. Pius X parishioners have raised more than $6 million of the $8.6 million campaign, which is also funding a new 23,477-square-foot Parish Life Center for the growing parish of more than 1,800 registered families.

After a year of construction, the 22,885-square-foot building opened its doors to students Aug. 22 with two pre-kindergarten classrooms, two kindergarten classrooms and two first-grade classrooms.

During the dedication, Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio reflected on the benefits of this project of evangelization and education.

“When you walk into the building, you’ll see there is an American flag and a papal flag because we believe that this building is an asset, not just to our church and our faith community, but to the city of Greensboro,” Monsignor Marcaccio said. “It’s a huge asset to have: a choice in education.

“We believe that this institution which we dedicate today will form not just good Christians and hopefully help make saints, but will form good citizens of these great United States of America.”

A quality pre-kindergarten program is increasingly in demand in the Greensboro area. Principal Ann Flynt recently noted that enrollment at the DeJoy Primary Education Center is already close to the center’s 154-student capacity.

The DeJoy Primary Education Center has been designed uniquely for the young learner. It has space for small-group instruction, a large assembly room, collaboration space between classrooms, a dedicated pre-kindergarten playground, large floorto-ceiling windows that allow in generous amounts of natural light, along with other features to support a constructive and natural learning environment.

Monsignor Marcaccio thanked the project’s building committee, especially Chairman Tom Martin. He thanked project managers, construction workers, the parish council and St. Pius X parishioners and benefactors for making it financially possible.

Two of the most significant benefactors of the project, the Honorable Aldona Wos and her husband Louis DeJoy, were all smiles during the dedication ceremony.

“We know that when quality primary education is offered to children it increases their chances of succeeding, not only in school but in life. And if you incorporate this opportunity with the fundamental historic tradition of a Catholic education, stimulating interactions in a creative environment coupled with parental involvement, there are no limits to future opportunities for our students and our community,” Wos said.

“My husband Louis DeJoy and I are blessed to be able to support this investment in primary education for the youngest of our community members. The children are our future!”

DeJoy added, “Aldona and I are very proud to support Monsignor Marcaccio and his vision to transform this campus with the addition of the DeJoy Primary Education Center. Under his leadership, all of us who have supported this education initiative have favorably impacted the young minds at St. Pius for many years to come.”

Also present at the dedication was Bishop Peter Jugis, who noted that the project was truly an effort by the entire St. Pius X Parish community.

“It’s also a testimony to the generosity of the entire parish family,” Bishop Jugis said. “And for that we give thanks to God – especially to the Holy Spirit, which has inspired this work and has brought it to successful completion through our cooperation with the work of the Spirit.”

The St. Pius X Hand Bell Choir and children’s choir graced the evening with songs of peace, Bishop Jugis and clergy processed through the school to bless every room, teacher and corner. A reception followed in the Connolly Athletic Center.

“To actually be a part of and seeing the growth and the love here is just absolutely wonderful,” said parishioner Chris Romanyszyn. He and his wife Joanne have two children attending St. Pius X School. Fifth-grader Crystal Romanyszyn pointed out, “I like (the new school) because we get to have prayer buddies with the little kids.”

September 16, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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Committee formed to advise MACS on Fine Arts Center feasibility study SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools is enlisting the help of school leaders, parents and other stakeholders to conduct a feasibility study related to a MACS fine arts center on the campus of Charlotte Catholic High School.

The proposed fine arts center would serve all of the students in the nine Charlotte area schools, not just Charlotte Catholic.

It is part of a larger 10-year MACS capital plan that also includes “a comprehensive strategy to improve/enhance the facilities of all schools,” said Dr. Janice Ritter, diocesan schools superintendent, in a letter to MACS parents.

In a July 6 letter, Ritter also announced a Pre-Campaign Advisory Committee has been formed to assist MACS on the capital campaign feasibility study. The committee is comprised of representatives from the MACS School Board, the MACS Education Foundation, the Charlotte Catholic High School Foundation Board, MACS PTO leaders and the principals of Charlotte Catholic and Holy Trinity Middle schools. Additional members include a cross-section of past and current parents of MACS students.

“Committee members will meet quarterly to offer their advice as MACS moves forward with preliminary plans leading up to the capital campaign feasibility study,” Ritter said.

The feasibility study would specifically examine the possibility of a capital campaign that would fund construction of a MACS fine arts center on the campus of Charlotte Catholic, adjacent to the gymnasium area.

“This Fine Arts Center will be used by all of MACS schools and be available to the broader community, fulfilling a long-time goal of the Diocese of Charlotte,” Ritter noted.

A MACS Fine Arts Center has been an idea that diocesan and school officials have had since 1995, when they bought the building on Pineville-Matthews Road which now houses Charlotte Catholic.

Over the years the plan has remained on the back burner, though, as capital fee revenues have been used instead to build new schools and renovate existing ones for the growing Catholic population in Charlotte. MACS has seen enrollment swell since it was formed in 1992 to consolidate

the Charlotte-area parish schools: from five schools with 2,420 students to nine schools with about 4,800 students this year.

In her letter, Ritter said a project of this size will require a special capital campaign, not just use of the capital fee which every family of a MACS student pays.

Such a capital campaign would have to wait at least until after the diocesan “Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love” campaign concludes in late 2018, Ritter noted. The MACS office is recommending that the feasibility study get underway in the fall of 2017.

Charlotte Catholic Principal Kurt Telford, a committee member, said he looks forward to the eventual realization of a MACS Fine Arts Center on his campus.

“I am excited that the Charlotte area parishes, MACS schools, Charlotte Catholic and the broader community will have a premier auditorium for plays and performances,” Telford said. “Charlotte Catholic will also benefit with a top flight music and art instructional facility. In addition, our existing arts and music classrooms will be re-purposed to be used for other academic and athletic needs.”

Telford and the committee members will also work to coordinate and communicate with members of the MACS community over the next school year.

“This process is similar to what has been done with other large building projects throughout the diocese and has proven to be most successful. Following this process will allow us to make prudent and thoughtful decisions,” Ritter said.

MACS parent Tish Macuga is on the advisory committee. Macuga and her husband Brian have five children in Catholic schools and have been a part of the MACS community for the past 13 years. She volunteers her time at all of her children’s schools and has served as PTO president at St. Gabriel School. In addition, she volunteers with the Holy Trinity Middle School Athletic Association, gives school tours there and also volunteers with the athletic association at Charlotte Catholic.

Macuga cares deeply about the arts and.

“I feel like we’re blessed at Charlotte Catholic to have so many opportunities for students to be involved, to show their God-given talents and strengths,” she said. “I feel like right now a student who participates in the arts is squeezed into

Campus ministry starts off the year with Mass WINSTON-SALEM — Catholic students at Salem College in Winston-Salem started off the school year right by attending Mass Aug. 28 at the campus chapel. It was the first time a bilingual Mass was offered on campus for the college’s Catholic Students Association, a branch of the Diocese of Charlotte’s Campus Ministry. Father Marcel Amadi, chaplain for Wake Forest University’s and Salem College’s Catholic Student Association, was the celebrant.

He encouraged students to live their faith on campus, to stay humble, and to sign up as lectors, choristers and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion for future Masses. He urged students to be active in the faith and in Campus Ministry because “it’s no longer the faith and church of their parents, but their own faith and church.”

Photo provided by Father Marcel Amadi and Kim Snyder

a space that is designed for other events.

For these students, their God-given talents should be developed just like the athletes.”

She is also excited that the new Fine Arts Center is designed as a shared space for the whole MACS community.

“There are so many events that take place at our different schools that can benefit from this space. From talent shows, to band concerts and choral concerts. This shared space where people can schedule

and be able to use the facility, with a parking deck to accommodate guests, it’s a great plan,” Macuga said.

Jim Kelley, diocesan director of development, is staffing the committee along with Sally McArdle, director of advancement at Charlotte Catholic. Once the feasibility study is completed in 2017 or 2018, Kelley and McArdle will work with the committee on specific steps as determined by the results of the study.

THE ORATORY

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Finding the Monk Within Friday, October 14 – 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Saturday, October 15 – 9:30am to 4:00pm

Presented by: Carl McColman From Thomas Merton to Teresa of Avila, Hildegard of Bingen to Thomas Keating, monks and nuns have been wise and compassionate guides to the spiritual life.

We juggle the many demands of life, from family, to work, to church and somewhere in the middle of it all, we try to respond to the love of God. Maybe what we all need is to “find the monk within” – discover our inner longing for silence, stillness, prayer and meditation.

Friday Evening: Elements of Monastic Spirituality The evening’s program will introduce some basics of monastic spirituality.

Saturday: Gifts of the Cloister

This day-long program will include both presentations on finding your inner monk, along with time for silence and prayer.

Carl McColman is a Lay Cistercian – a Catholic layperson under the spiritual guidance of Trappist monks. He is the author of several books on Christian spirituality, including Befriending Silence, The Big Book of Christian Mysticism and Answering the Contemplative Call. $10 (Friday Evening Only) $40 (Saturday Only – Lunch Included) $80 (Both Overnight – Lunch Included) $45 (Both Commuter – Lunch Included)

Mercy, Forgiveness and Letting Go: A Retreat for Women Friday, October 21 – 7:00 to 9:00pm

Saturday, October 22 – 9:00am to 4:30pm

Presented by: Sr. Susan Schorsten, HM and Sr. Gay Rowzie, HM As we come to the close of the Year of Mercy, this is an opportunity for women to come together for a time of reflection, quiet and prayer. How do I receive mercy?

How do I give mercy? Where is forgiveness in my life? Is there anything I need to “let go of” in order to move on with life and living? Let us truly celebrate this Year of Mercy as women of the Church!

The weekend will be Friday evening and all day Saturday, with liturgy and lunch included.

Space is limited, so early registration is suggested!

Sr. Susan Schorsten and Sr. Gay Rowzie are Humility of Mary Sisters.

Both were active in the Diocese of Charleston for many years before moving on to other ministries. $90 (Friday overnight room and Saturday breakfast) $50 (Commuter – Saturday lunch included)

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 16, 2016 16

Miles de fieles asisten al XII Congreso Eucarístico Rico De Silva Hispanic Communications Reporter

CHARLOTTE — Una multitud de más de 15,000 fieles católicos de la Diócesis de Charlotte asistieron al Centro de Convenciones de Charlotte, sede del Duodécimo Congreso Anual Eucarístico de la Diócesis de Charlotte, el pasado Sábado, 10 de Septiembre.

“Todos los eventos de este Congreso nos condujeron hasta este punto. Porque la Misa es la fuente y cumbre de la vida cristiana, y la fuente y cumbre del Congreso Eucarístico,” dijo el Obispo Peter Jugis, durante su homilía en la Misa de culminación del Congreso Eucarístico.

“Nuestro Santo Padre nos ha pedido durante este año que reflexionemos en la misericordia de Dios, y practicar la misericordia en nuestras vidas todos los días,” continuó el Obispo Jugis.

La sesión del Sábado comenzó con una procesión Eucarística a las 9 am al frente de la Iglesia de San Pedro, en la Calle South Tryon del Centro de Charlotte. Al frente de la procesión, diáconos permanentes, y sacerdotes de la diócesis, marcharon adelante. Una escolta de los Caballeros de Colón acompaño al Obispo Jugis, cargando el Santísimo en un relicario. Religiosos, y más de 9,000 personas de la diócesis participaron en la procesión a través de las calles del Centro de Charlotte.

La procesión terminó en el Centro de Convenciones de Charlotte, en donde miles de católicos, de 92 parroquias y misiones de la Diócesis de Charlotte, le dieron la bienvenida al Padre Paweł Rytel-Andrianik, Vocero de la Conferencia Episcopal Polaca. El Padre Rytel-Andrianik predicó la homilía durante la Hora Santa de Adoración al Santísimo en la mañana.

Predicando tanto en inglés como en español, el sacerdote compartió con los presentes una historia acerca de cuándo conoció a un ex-pastor protestante que se había convertido en católico. Y este le preguntó que si el sabia la diferencia entre un protestante y un católico. “Los protestantes van a la Iglesia a escuchar un buen sermón. Los católicos vamos a la Iglesia, a pesar del sermón,” contó el Padre con una sonrisa. Y después con un tono serio explicó que los católicos, “No vamos a la Iglesia a escuchar la sabiduría de alguien. Nosotros los católicos vamos a la Iglesia (apuntando hacia el Santísimo) para encontrarnos con Él. Nosotros vamos a la Iglesia para encontrarnos con Jesús (en la Eucaristía). “ Después de la Hora Santa, los asistentes de habla-hispana, tuvieron la oportunidad de participar en charlas en español.

El primer expositor fue el canta-autor católico colombiano, Héctor Tobo. Tobo compartió su testimonio, “El Abrigo de la Misericordia,” y explicó como Dios lo llamo de vuelta a su fe católica por medio de la música. “A mí como músico, Dios me agarró con la música… Nunca pensé que con una canción, mi vida se fuera a transformar,” dijo Tobo. La canción que cambió su vida por completo fue “Alma Misionera,” la cual un sacerdote Vicentino le pidió que grabara como su primer disco

Fotos por Doreen Sugierski | Catholic News Herald

(Arriba) Representantes de la Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en Charlotte durante la Procesión Eucarística por el Centro de Charlotte. La procesión del Congreso Eucarístico este año se extendió por casi una milla detrás Obispo Peter Jugis cargando el Santísimo Sacramento en un relicario escoltado por los Caballeros de Colon. (Abajo, derecha) “Las Vírgenes de Cristo” durante la Procesión Eucarística. (Abajo, centro) Jóvenes Hispanos amenizando los cantos en honor a Jesús Sacramentado durante la procesión en el Centro de Charlotte. católico. Después del éxito de su primer disco, Tobo decidió a dedicar su vida y su música al servicio de Dios y de su Iglesia.

El Padre Julio Zafra, Juez del Tribunal Eclesiástico Interdiocesano de Lima, Perú, ofreció la segunda conferencia, “La Misericordia, Escuela de Humanización y Santificación.” “Yo creo que el Papa (Francisco) nos ha recordado que la misericordia nos devuelve un corazón de carne porque este mundo esta endurecido; esta distraído y se ha olvidado de la humanidad,” dijo el Padre Zafra durante su charla. El sacerdote agrego que la base de toda humanización y santificación es la familia. “Que la familia sea una pequeña Iglesia en donde se vive la fe; donde se vive el perdón; donde se vive la Palabra de Dios,” agregó el Padre Zafra.

“Todo se aprende en familia. Lo bueno y lo malo se aprende en familia,” concluyo el Padre.

El Padre Julio Cesar Domínguez, sacerdote diocesano de la Diócesis de Charlotte, concluyó las charlas en español y habló acerca de “La importancia del Perdón” de rodillas, y mirando hacia el Santísimo Sacramento, expuesto durante toda su charla.

El sacerdote compartió un poderoso y doloroso testimonio acerca de una joven adolecente que estuvo bajo su cuidado cuando él era párroco de una Iglesia años atrás. La joven estaba enferma con cáncer, y renegaba de Dios, cuando su madre le pidió al Padre Julio que hablara con su hija. Después de muchos intentos, y cuando

estaba en tratamiento para el cáncer, la joven adolescente le dijo al sacerdote que había tenido múltiples abortos, y que ella no podía creer en un Dios que hubiera permitido que su padre la hubiera violado en múltiples ocasiones, empezando cuando ella tenía solo ocho años. Con la gracia de Dios y los sacramentos, la joven pudo perdonar a sus padres y se reconcilió con Dios. Días antes de morir, el sacerdote notaba que la joven estaba intranquila por la muerte de los bebes que había abortado.

El Padre Julio le dijo, “Hijita, ellos ya están en las manos de Dios, y te aman como cualquier hijo ama a su madre…así que corre, corre a la Casa del Padre.” La joven

murió en paz unos días después.

El Obispo Jugis celebró la Misa de conclusión del Congreso ante unas 15,000 personas que colmaron el Centro de Convenciones de Charlotte. Acompañado de la gran mayoría de los sacerdotes de la diócesis alrededor del altar, el Obispo Jugis recordó a los presentes durante su homilia por qué se celebra el congreso todos los años, “El propósito de este Congreso Eucarístico es celebrar nuestra fe en la Presencia real de Jesucristo en la Santa Eucaristía, y afirmar nuestra fe católica en su Presencia Real.”

En la web, vaya www.catholicnewsherald.com: Para ver mas fotos, videos mas cobertura del Congreso

Mix

September 16, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

For the latest movie reviews: catholicnewsherald.com

by self-doubt. In adapting Sullenberger’s memoir “Highest Duty,” director Clint Eastwood maintains a surprisingly sober tone overall, though there are also moments of enjoyable wit. What emerges is the portrait of a morally deep-rooted and honorable man whose heartfelt concern for those in his charge is matched by his appreciative attitude toward his co-pilot (Aaron Eckhart) and the mutually supportive love he shares with his wife (Laura Linney). Despite some salty language, these ethical assets make the film possibly acceptable for older adolescents. Potentially disturbing scenes of peril and destruction, at least one use each of profanity, about a dozen crude terms.

CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13

In theaters

‘Morgan’ Unoriginal sci-fi thriller omits even an occasional reflection on what it means to have a human moral sense. Instead, director Luke Scott and screenwriter Seth Owen put Morgan (Anya Taylor-Joy), a creature made of synthetic DNA, through the paces of shlock 1980s horror as she wreaks murderous havoc on her creators. Frequent references to the artificial creation of human life, frequent physical violence, occasional gore, and fleeting rough and profane language.

CNS: L (limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling); MPAA: R

‘The Light Between Oceans’

‘Sully’ Satisfying profile of US Airways pilot Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger (Tom Hanks), whose 2009 feat in landing his crippled plane on the Hudson River and saving the lives of all on board gained him instant fame. Though immediately embraced as a hero by the public, behind the scenes he was second-guessed by federal investigators (led by Mike O’Malley) and tortured

M.L. Stedman’s 2012 novel about love and loss in 1920s Australia is adapted for the big screen by writer-director Derek Cianfrance, who marshals lush cinematography and first-rate acting. A lighthouse keeper (Michael Fassbender) and his spirited wife (Alicia Vikander) are happily married but unable to start a family, enduring two miscarriages. When a dinghy washes ashore on their remote island carrying a dead man and an infant girl who’s barely alive, they decide to raise the child as their own.

But conscience weighs heavily, and a chance encounter with the lass’ real mother (Rachel Weisz) complicates matters considerably. Mature themes, scenes of marital sensuality, a few profane oaths.

CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13

Invites You

22nd Annual Fundraising Banquet

“Gifts of Mercy”

Featured Speaker ~ Kerri Caviezel We welcome guest speaker, Kerri Caviezel, a teacher, coach, and passionate pro-life advocate who has devoted her life to working with youth and spreading the pro-life message. With many years of teaching experience, speaking on issues concerning the Sanctity of Life became a natural outgrowth to spread a preventative message of help, hope, and truth through conferences and other venues around the globe. Kerri stated that the program and care provided to pregnant mothers and their babies at MiraVia is “truly an amazing ‘Gift of Mercy.’” Kerri is married and has three children.

Charlotte Convention Center v Crown Ballroom Thursday, October 20, 2016 Registration/Reception, 5:30 pm – Seating for Dinner, 6:15 pm

Reservations are free but REQUIRED To make a reservation or to host a table of (8-10) go to http://miraviabanquet22.eventbrite.com OR contact Banquet Reservations at (704) 525-4673, ext. 10

by October 10, 2016 MiraVia, Inc. is a Catholic non-profit maternity and after-care program serving women and their children in the Charlotte, N.C. region. All material support and services are offered free of charge to clients. Please visit our website, www.mira-via.org, for more information.

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On TV n Saturday, Sept. 17, 4-5 p.m. (EWTN) “Saint Hildegard of Bingen: Light of God.” A profile of St. Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179). Known as “the spiritual and political conscience of her time,” she was canonized and made a Doctor of the Church in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI. n Saturday, Sept. 17, 2 p.m. (EWTN) “Perpetual Hope Icon Jubilee Mass.”

Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Icon to the Redemptorist Order, live from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. n Sunday, Sept. 18, 12:30-2 p.m.

(EWTN) “Diocese of Orange 40th Anniversary.” A celebratory Mass in honor of the Southern California diocese’s 40th anniversary, broadcast live from Christ Cathedral, formerly the Crystal Cathedral. n Sunday, Sept. 18, 12 a.m.; 3 a.m. Sept.

20; and 8 p.m. Sept. 23 (EWTN) Awardwinning English filmmaker J. Paddy Nolan brings an in-depth look at the life and spirituality of Padre Pio, including exclusive footage of St. John Paul II’s visit to St. Pio’s tomb, and personal testimonies of healing, bilocation, prophecy and more.

Let’s nation keep Our talking.

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 16, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Day of prayer aims to begin restoring peace to U.S. communities Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Prayers for peace at Catholic schools and parishes around the country Sept. 9 were meant to “build relationships and plant seeds in people’s minds and hearts” said Bishop Shelton J. Fabre of Houma-Thibodaux, La. He said the nationwide celebration of a Day of Prayer for Peace in Our Communities should “raise awareness” of violence and racism within communities and empower people to do the work needed to restore racial harmony. “We always begin with prayer, which prompts us to action,” said the bishop in a Sept. 8 telephone news conference. Bishop Fabre is a member of the new task force, chaired by Atlanta Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory that supports the bishops in marking the day of prayer and in other efforts to promote peace and healing.

Named the USCCB Task Force to Promote Peace in Our Communities, the group will finish its work with a report on its activities and recommendations for future efforts at the November General Assembly of U.S. bishops.

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Salt Lake City; Philadelphia; Baltimore; Wilmington, Del.; and elsewhere, Catholics gathered for prayers or Mass, and bells rang at selected times Sept. 9. Some bishops urged Catholics in their diocese to fast that day.

Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori planned to lead a prayer walk in Baltimore the evening of Sept. 9 with priests, ministry leaders and local Catholics that would stop where recent acts of violence have occurred. After the walk, the archbishop was scheduled to hear from representatives of six city parishes describing conditions they face which the Church could address.

The day for prayer was announced in July by Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in response to shootings that took place in Baton Rouge, La.; Minneapolis; and Dallas.

In announcing the event and the new task force, the archbishop said there needs to be “ways of nurturing an open, honest and civil dialogue on issues of race relations, restorative justice, mental health, economic opportunity and addressing the question of pervasive gun violence.”

“By stepping forward to embrace the suffering, through unified, concrete action animated by the love of Christ, we hope to nurture peace and build bridges of communication and mutual aid in our own communities,” he said in the July 8 announcement.

The day chosen for nationwide prayer was the feast of St. Peter Claver, the Spanish Jesuit priest and missionary

who ministered to slaves for 40 years in Colombia and became the patron saint of slaves and ministry to African-Americans.

He is said to have personally baptized about 300,000 slaves.

Archbishop Gregory and Bishop Fabre told reporters that the U.S. bishops are in beginning stages of developing a pastoral letter on racism.

Bishop Fabre said the letter will examine how racism manifests itself in society and the Church today and will encourage people to dialogue and raise awareness about the issue. While progress has been made, he said, more work needs to be done.

He also said the pastoral letter will include action steps that Catholics can follow to bring about healing and reconciliation.

The bishops stressed that even though the parish and school-wide activities planned for the day of prayer were not large scale, they hoped the events would spark conversation and further dialogue.

When asked in particular how bridges might be built between police officers and local communities, Bishop Fabre, chairman of the USCCB’s Subcommittee for African American Affairs, said bridges should be built long before something happens – “in times when there are no incidents and there is peace.”

He urged communities to work on building trust “before tensions run high” and always be in dialogue with each other. “Build bridges now before they are needed,” he said, “so when they are needed, they are in place.”

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September 16, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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In Brief Archbishop rejects claim religious liberty used as excuse to discriminate WASHINGTON, D.C. — Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore sharply criticized comments made by Martin Castro, chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, that the phrases “religious liberty” and “religious freedom” were “code words” used to discriminate. “Statements painting those who support religious freedom with the broad brush of bigotry are reckless and reveal a profound disregard for the religious foundations of his own work,” said Archbishop Lori of Castro in a Sept. 13 statement.

Archbishop Lori, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty, said the notion that people of faith are “comparable to fringe segregationists from the civil rights era” is a “shocking suggestion.” Castro made the statements as part of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights’ 306-page report, “Peaceful Coexistence: Reconciling Nondiscrimination Principles With Civil Liberties.” Originally scheduled for issuance in 2013, its release was delayed until Sept. 8 – and even then, two on the seven-member commission dissented from its findings.

Ads distort Catholic teaching on sanctity of life, says state conference ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Catholic Conference declared that a national advertising campaign to restore federal tax funds for abortions “woefully misrepresents the noble Catholic social justice tradition.” The campaign,

by Catholics for Choice, “disregards the need to defend vulnerable human life in all its stages – a principle at the core of authentic social justice,” said the Sept. 12 statement by the conference, the public policy arm of Minnesota’s bishops.

Years ago, the U.S. bishops said the group, formerly called Catholics for a Free Choice, had “no affiliation, formal or otherwise, with the Catholic Church.” The Minnesota Catholic Conference responded to an ad placed in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the state’s largest daily newspaper. In the ad, a Pennsylvania woman, Linda Pinto – described as a Catholic, mother, grandmother and former nun – said: “It is because of my Catholic faith, not in spite of

it, that I support women who make consciencebased decisions to have an abortion.” Catholics for Choice said its “Abortion in Good Faith” campaign was a multiyear effort to overturn the federal Hyde Amendment, which bars the use of federal funds for virtually all Medicaid abortions. The organization said ads appeared Sept. 12 in the print editions of more than 20 local and national publications, including Politico, the Nation, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Dallas Morning News and La Opinion.

Archbishop Kurtz encourages NCCW members to show, welcome mercy INDIANAPOLIS — St. Teresa of Calcutta’s life of mercy serves as an example of responding to people in need anywhere at any time, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops told the closing Mass of the annual convention of the National Council of Catholic Women. Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., recalled an encounter with the Albanian-born saint in 1976 when he heard a speech by the founder of the Missionaries of Charity. At the end of it, a man sitting in the front row of her audience told St. Teresa that he wanted to return to Calcutta to work with her. “I’ll never forget what she said in reply, Archbishop Kurtz said. “’Sir, the person that Christ wants you to serve is already at your doorstep.’ I think she was talking, first of all about the way we treat our family. Right?

Sometimes, it’s easy to forget that Christ has put at our doorstep certain people in our life to serve. That is the gift that St. Teresa of Calcutta talked about,” the archbishop said. The convention met Sept. 7-10 and focused on the theme “Catholic Women: Instruments of Mercy.”

USCCB urges HHS compromise on contraceptive mandate case WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Sept. 9 letter from USCCB officials to the Department of Health and Human Services stressed that a compromise could effectively be reached in the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive requirement. The letter, in response to the government’s request for comments on a proposal mandating contraceptive coverage, echoed the Supreme Court’s May 16 decision in Zubik v. Burwell – the combined lawsuit of the Little Sisters of the Poor, Priests for Life, and several other religious groups, that said providing contraception coverage to employees through their insurance plans violated their religious beliefs. The court sent the cases back to the lower courts saying religious employers and the government should be “afforded an opportunity to arrive at an approach going

forward that accommodates petitioners’ religious exercise while at the same time ensuring that women covered by petitioners’ health plans receive full and equal health coverage, including contraceptive coverage.”

For this accommodation to happen, the USCCB letter stressed that “any governmentmandated contraceptive coverage must be truly independent of petitioners and their plans,” meaning the coverage should be offered by a separate communication and with a different policy, enrollment process, insurance card and payment source.

MRS gets $1 million-plus grant from Mormons for refugee resettlement WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services is receiving a $1.25 million grant from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to aid in its refugee resettlement efforts once the newcomers arrive in the United States. The Mormons, as the denomination’s adherents are popularly known, have refugee processing capabilities overseas, said MRS executive director Bill Canny, but do not offer domestic resettlement services.

Canny said this is the first time in memory that the Mormons have made such a gift to an agency within the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, although Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops’ overseas aid and development organization, has received grants from the Mormons dating to the Ethiopian famine more than 30 years ago. Grants of this nature, of this size, Canny added, don’t often happen, “not often enough.” Canny said the Mormons had conducted a successful fundraising drive to aid Syrian refugees. Afterward, “they then approached nine resettlement agencies, offering each of them a gift to help with

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resettling refugees currently. So they got in touch with us as one of the resettlement agencies. We began to discuss how to distribute the money and the in-kind goods, and we wrote a small project for them, and they agreed to it and gave us the go-ahead.”

USCCB objects to NIH plan to fund part-human, part-animal embryo research WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops objected to a National Institutes of Health proposal to authorize federally funded research on part-human, partanimal embryos in comments submitted to the agency Sept. 2. The bishops made ethical and legal arguments in opposing the plan, saying that such research result in “beings who do not fully belong to either the human race or the host animal species.” Current NIH guidelines for human stem cell research specifically prohibit introducing human pluripotent cells – those capable of giving rise to several different cell types – into nonhuman primate blastocysts, which are cells at an early stage of development. NIH has proposed funding scientists researching such embryos, known as chimeras. The bishops’ statement said that while the plan calls for review of some research proposals by a NIH steering committee, “the bottom line is that the federal government will begin expending taxpayer dollars on the creation and manipulation of new beings whose very existence blurs the line between humanity and animals such as mice and rats.” By funding such research, the bishops argued, the NIH would be ignoring laws that prohibit it. They said such research “is also grossly unethical.”

— Catholic News Service

Live Your Faith Be affirmed in your present ministry.

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704-370-3274 frankv@charlottediocese.org

Our world 20

catholicnewsherald.com | September 16, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Official portrait of St. Teresa unveiled in Washington WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the eve of her canonization, St. Teresa of Calcutta, who famously disliked being photographed, was immortalized with the unveiling of a dramatic portrait at the St. John Paul II National Shrine. Artist Chas Fagan, assisted by two members of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity congregation, unveiled his oil painting, “St. Teresa of Calcutta: Carrier of God’s Love,” Sept. 1.

The painting, commissioned by the Knights of Columbus, was chosen as the official canonization portrait.

Fagan is a renowned artist who lives in Charlotte and is a member of St. Peter Church. Other work of his graces the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., as well as St. Peter Church, where his most recent local work was a bronze sculpture of the Chilean Jesuit saint Alberto Hurtado A reproduction of Fagan’s portrait was unfurled earlier the same day as a large tapestry on the facade of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. It served as a backdrop for Pope Francis’ Sept. 4 canonization Mass for Mother Teresa. In Washington the sight of the portrait drew excited gasps and lingering smiles from the 17 members of the Missionaries of Charity attending the ceremony.

Mother Teresa upheld as the human face of eternal hope at U.N. UNITED NATIONS — St. Teresa of Calcutta was described as the human face of eternal hope who embodied the founding principles of the world body during a program honoring her canonization. The saint also offers an enduring example of what the U.N. can achieve, said Archbishop Bernardito Auza, the Holy See’s permanent observer to the United Nations, one of the speakers during a Sept. 9 event that marked her canonization five days earlier in Rome.

Friends, colleagues and ambassadors from the countries most closely associated with Mother Teresa’s lifetime of ministry recounted the saint’s efforts during the program, “Leaving No One Behind: Mother Teresa’s Enduring Message for the International Community Today.”

Mother Teresa was perhaps the first person since St. Francis of Assisi who was considered saintly by people of so many countries and religions, Archbishop Auza said.

Other presenters contrasted Mother Teresa’s diminutive stature with her large hands and can-do attitude.

Former U.N Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar introduced the founder of the Missionaries of Charity religious order to the General Assembly in 1985 as “the most powerful woman in the world.”

— Catholic News Service

Pope Francis kisses a prayer card presented by a Missionaries of Charity nun at the conclusion of the canonization Mass of St. Teresa of Calcutta in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Sept. 4.

CNS | Paul Haring

St. Teresa of Calcutta will always be ‘Mother’ Teresa, pope says Junno Arocho Esteves and Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — With a large tapestry bearing the portrait of the woman known as the “Saint of the Gutters” suspended above him, Pope Francis proclaimed the sainthood of Mother Teresa of Calcutta , hailing her courage and love for the poor.

Despite the formality of the occasion, though, “her sanctity is so close to us, so tender and fruitful, that spontaneously we will continue to call her ‘Mother Teresa,’” Pope Francis said to applause at the canonization Mass Sept. 4.

“Mother Teresa, in all aspects of her life, was a generous dispenser of divine mercy, making herself available for everyone through her welcome and defense of human life, those unborn and those abandoned and discarded,” the pope said in his homily during the Mass in St. Peter’s Square.

An estimated 120,000 people packed the square, many holding umbrellas or waving fans to keep cool under the sweltering heat of the Roman sun. However, upon hearing Pope Francis “declare and define Blessed Teresa of Calcutta to be a saint,” the crowds could not contain their joy, breaking out in cheers and thunderous applause before he finished speaking.

The moment was especially sweet for more than 300 Albanians who live in Switzerland, but came to Rome for the canonization.

“We are very proud,” said Violet Barisha, a member of the Albanian Catholic Mission in St. Gallen.

Daughter of Divine Charity Sister Valdete, a Kosovar and one of the Albanian group’s chaplains, said, “We are so happy and honored. We are a small people, but have had so many martyrs.”

Born in 1910 to an ethnic Albanian family in Skopje, in what is now part of Macedonia, Mother Teresa went to India in 1929 as a Sister of Loreto and became an Indian citizen in 1947. She founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950.

Mother Teresa, Sister Valdete said, is a shining example of how “Albanian women are strong and our people are hardworking.”

In his homily, Pope Francis said God’s will is explained in the words of the prophets: “I want mercy, not sacrifice.”

“God is pleased by every act of mercy because in the brother or sister that we assist, we recognize the face of God which no one can see,” he said. “Each time we bend down to the needs of our brothers and sisters, we give Jesus something to eat and drink; we clothe, we help and we visit the Son of God.” Like Mother Teresa, he said, Christians are called not simply to perform acts of charity, but to live charity as a vocation and “to grow each day in love.”

“Wherever someone is reaching out, asking for a helping hand

in order to get up, this is where our presence – and the presence of the Church which sustains and offers hope – must be,” the pope said.

Mother Teresa, he said, lived out this vocation to charity through her commitment to defending the unborn and bowing down “before those who were spent, left to die on the side of the road.”

She also “made her voice heard before the powers of this world so that they might recognize their guilt for the crime of poverty they created,” Pope Francis said. “For Mother Teresa, mercy was the ‘salt’ which gave flavor to her work, it was the ‘light’ which shone in the darkness of the many who no longer had tears to shed for their poverty and suffering.”

For all Christians, especially volunteers engaged in works of mercy, the life of the saintly nun remains an example and witness to God’s closeness to the poorest of the poor, he said.

“Today, I pass on this emblematic figure of holiness!” Pope Francis said. “May this tireless worker of mercy help us to increasingly understand that our only criterion for action is gratuitous love, free from every ideology and all obligations, offered freely to everyone without distinction of language, culture, race or religion.”

As she made her way through the tight security and past several closed streets to St. Peter’s Square, Maria Demuru said, “I couldn’t miss this. Even if there’s no place left for me to sit.”

The small Italian woman said, “Mother Teresa is a sign of the times. In her smallness, she revealed the calling we all have. She said we are all saints by our baptism and we must recover our original holiness. She lived in humility and simplicity like the poor of the earth and was never ashamed of that.”

Mother Teresa’s simplicity did not keep the powerful away from the Mass, though. Some 20 nations sent official delegations to the Vatican for the canonization. Queen Sofia of Spain led a delegation. The president and prime minister of Albania attended, as did the presidents of Macedonia and Kosovo and the foreign minister of India.

President Barack Obama sent a delegation led by Lisa Monaco, his assistant for homeland security and counterterrorism. The U.S. delegation also included Ken Hackett, ambassador to the Holy See; Carolyn Woo, president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services; and Dominican Sister Donna Markham, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA. The first reading at the Mass was read by Jim Towey, who served as Mother Teresa’s legal counsel in the United States and Canada from 1985 to 1997, and as director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, 2002-2006.

September 16, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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In Brief Pope praises bishops’ guidelines on helping divorced, remarried couples VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis thanked a group of bishops in Argentina for providing their priests with concrete guidelines for implementing the section of his apostolic exhortation on the family about circumstances in which divorced and civilly remarried couples might eventually be allowed to receive Communion. The Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, published an article Sept.

12 confirming Pope Francis wrote to the bishops of the Buenos Aires pastoral region thanking them for their document on criteria for applying what the pope wrote in Chapter VIII of “Amoris Laetitia” (“The Joy of Love”). The chapter, titled “Accompanying, discerning and integrating weakness,” is focused on the pastoral care of couples who are living together without being married or who have divorced and remarried without getting an annulment. In offering their priests guidance for applying the teaching in the pope’s document to the situation of couples in their care, the bishops insisted it is not proper to speak of “permission to receive the sacraments” when it is, in fact, an invitation to “a process of discernment accompanied by a priest.”

Papal commission steps up work to educate Church about abuse VATICAN CITY — Members of the pope’s commission for child protection, including an abuse survivor, have been speaking with new bishops and major Vatican offices as part of a mandate to develop and educate the Church about best practices. Pope Francis also approved the establishment of a day of prayer for survivors of abuse, but decided it will be up to each nation’s bishops’ conference to decide when the memorial should be held, according a press release Sept. 12 from the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. Members of the pontifical commission have spoken recently with officials at the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, as well as at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, which trains priests for service in the Vatican’s diplomatic corps. Pontifical commission members, who were in Rome in early September, were also set to address the Congregation for Clergy and to speak at seminars for recently appointed bishops; the training seminars are organized by the Congregation for Bishops and the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Marie Collins, a commission member and survivor of clerical abuse, was scheduled to be one of a number of commission members to address the Sept. 11-18 session.

Pope proposes care for creation as a new work of mercy VATICAN CITY — Calling for concrete actions

that benefit human life and the environment, Pope Francis proposed adding the care and protection of creation to the traditional list of corporal and spiritual works of mercy. As a spiritual work of mercy, the pope said, care for creation requires “a grateful contemplation of God’s world,” while as a corporal work, it calls for “simple daily gestures which break with the logic of violence, exploitation and selfishness.” The pope reflected on the need for an integral ecology in Christian life in his message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Sept. 1. The message, titled “Show Mercy to our Common Home,” reflects on the day of prayer as an occasion for Christians to “reaffirm their personal vocation to be stewards of creation” and to thank God “for the wonderful handiwork which he has entrusted to our care.” Presenting the pope’s message at a news conference Sept. 1, Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, said the day of prayer follows the example of the Orthodox Church, which initiated the prayer day in 1989.

Focus of papal trip to Sweden is prayer, commemorations with Lutherans VATICAN CITY — Although he has set aside time for a Mass with Catholics in Sweden, Pope Francis’ trip to the Nordic country Oct. 31-Nov. 1 will focus heavily on ecumenical relations, especially with the Lutheran Church. From the beginning, the trip was designed around Pope Francis’ participation in events marking the beginning of a yearlong commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. The pope will join Lutheran leaders for an ecumenical prayer service in their cathedral in Lund and move with them to an ecumenical event at a sports arena in Malmo Oct. 31. Martin Luther, who was an Augustinian monk, priest and theologian, “had no intention of establishing a new Church but was part of a broad and many-faceted desire for reform,” said a Catholic-Lutheran document issued in anticipation of the anniversary. The commemorations, it said, are not a celebration of “the division of the Western Church. No one who is theologically responsible can celebrate the division of Christians from one another.”

Retired pope says aging brings intense prayer VATICAN CITY — As he prays in his house in the Vatican Gardens and, especially, as he ages, retired Pope Benedict XVI said he finds many Scripture passages “more challenging in their greatness and gravity.” Retirement has given the 89-year-old Pope Benedict what he describes as the gift of silence to enter more deeply into prayer, but the inevitable approach of death also makes his failings and God’s judgment a more pressing concern, he said. “Despite all the confidence I have that the loving God cannot forsake me, the closer you come to His face, the more intensely you feel how much you have done wrong,” the retired pope told Peter Seewald, a German writer. Pope Benedict’s reflections on his life and his discussion of how his prayer life has changed as he ages are included in Seewald’s new book-length interview, “Last Testament,” which will be released in English by Bloomsbury in November.

— Catholic News Service

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 16, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Elizabeth Heard

A

A lesson in mercy

bout five months ago, I was loading a case of water in my car outside a drug store. It was just after noon on a sunny Monday. A young man, wielding a knife, asked for my purse and I gave it to him. As I watched him run away I realized that my cell phone was in it, and being a banker, I started adding up the cost of replacing the purse, the phone, the prescription I just picked up, and my favorite blue wallet. I thought of the hassle of replacing my debit and credit cards and wondered why I carried so many. I started to feel ill when I thought of the gift cards I had been hoarding. Why didn’t I use them right away like Clark Howard recommends?

The police arrived on the scene, including a canine, within seconds. The police officer shared his phone but I couldn’t call anyone because except for my husband, who wasn’t answering, I knew no phone numbers. Thank goodness my keys were in my car. After an hour or so, the police, who had the suspect’s picture on highdefinition video, recommended I go back to work and promised they would continue to search for him. Shortly after I returned to work, I remembered that the pearls I wore on my wedding day were in my purse. The clasp is broken and I had been postponing the errand to drop them off at the jewelers. I felt my knees begin to give and I had to sit down. I hadn’t thought this out loud, but it was in my head that all my daughters would wear my pearls at their weddings, and now the pearls were gone.

By 9 p.m. on the drive home from yoga, I was completely immersed in feeling sorry for myself. When I walked in the house, my husband said, “Your purse is on my desk.” The young man was in jail and I got everything back except $4.

That night I was exhausted but I had insomnia. Over the next few days I felt agitated. I still could not sleep, and everything seemed to rattle me. There are a lot of little (and big) things in my life that bother me, but I felt like I had all those annoyances in pots on a stove with the lids tightly affixed and everything ran pretty smoothly. Now the lids had come off. I had to be careful not to snap at my husband, my daughters, my coworkers and my dogs. I ate a lot of chocolate. My left-brained, analytical, engineer husband recommended I let this go, pointing out that I experienced minimal impact as far as armed robberies go. That comment put another pot on the stove.

By Saturday I was nowhere near normal. We went to Mass at St. Pius X Church and I walked through the Holy Door of Mercy. I remembered with a chill

‘There was divine intervention at work, but it was at work on me.’

and an unspoken epithet that this was the Extraordinary Year of Mercy: the special year where all debts would be forgiven, property returned and prisoners set free. Fantastic, I thought. Not only am I a victim but I’m supposed to be merciful, too. I double-checked the start and end date of the jubilee year and I couldn’t find a loophole.

A few days later I had to fill out a victim impact statement for the district attorney.

I tore up the lengthy first draft and wrote instead that I had minimal impact as far as armed robberies go. I explained I was Catholic and it was the Extraordinary Year of Mercy, and I asked him to show the young man some mercy.

The district attorney was quite surprised by my impact statement. He asked what I thought mercy was, and I told him I really wasn’t sure. He let me know that he represented the people in this case, not me. The young man in jail had confessed right away and was planning to plead guilty. He had no prior record, but the charge of robbery with a dangerous weapon carried a minimum sentence of 38 months, maybe longer.

The judge would ask my thoughts at the sentencing hearing, he said.

This made me ill. Over three years in prison for $4? I couldn’t imagine how a kid who never had any trouble becomes an armed robber. I could not imagine what this man’s mother was going through.

Five months later at his sentencing hearing, I planned to ask the judge to be merciful. I got a little more insight when the public defender pulled me aside and explained that the young man had experienced mental health issues since he was young, and for the past several years he had been hearing voices in his head.

The public defender had seen my impact statement and wondered if I would be all right if she asked the judge to use the “extraordinary mitigating circumstances” provision to give him probation instead of a prison sentence. He would be able to enter a mental health program that also helped people like him find jobs. This sounded like mercy to me.

The young man pleaded guilty and the public defender explained his circumstances to the judge. I asked the judge to use her discretion and show mercy. The judge used her discretion to put him on probation and ordered him to attend the mental health program.

She told him she didn’t know if it was serendipitous or divine intervention that he chose to rob me, but my comments greatly influenced her decision. The man’s mother wept when she realized he would be coming home that day, not three years later, and her joy spread through the courtroom. Everyone – attorneys, probation officers, spectators and the bailiffs – felt this joy. It was palpable. I think I skipped the two blocks back to work.

I have always believed I am a merciful person, but maybe I was overestimating myself because it was surprisingly hard to walk the walk. I believe there was divine intervention at work, but it was at work on me. I only experienced minimal impact as far as armed robberies go, but I got to feel the tremendous energy generated by mercy and I walked out of that courtroom on air. And I learned that there is a way to get rid of all those pots on the stove.

Elizabeth Heard is a member of St. Pius X Church in Greensboro.

Sr. Constance Carolyn Veit

Young people, talk to your grandparents

F

or many young Catholics the defining moment of the summer took place in Poland, where Pope Francis joined over a million teens and young adults for World Youth Day. Although we Little Sisters of the Poor spend our lives in the service of the elderly rather than the young, we followed the festivities in Krakow with great interest.

For us, the most exciting moment of the event came at the end, when the pope told young people that the best way to prepare for the next World Youth Day is to spend time with their grandparents.

This is not the first time Pope Francis has spoken to the young about the old. He did so at his first World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro. “At this moment, you young people and you elderly people are condemned to the same destiny: exclusion. Don’t allow yourselves to be excluded … Make yourselves heard,” he exclaimed in 2013.

Speaking in Rio on the feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus, Pope Francis continued with the same theme: “How important grandparents are for family life, for passing on the human and religious heritage which is so essential for each and every society! How important it is to have intergenerational exchanges and dialogue, especially within the context of the family …

Children and the elderly build the future of peoples: children because they lead history forward, the elderly because they transmit the experience and wisdom of their lives.”

Echoing these sentiments in Krakow, our Holy Father told the youth that if they want to be hope for the future they must talk to their grandparents because “a young person who cannot remember is not hope for the future.” As Little Sisters, we would like to offer young people some suggestions about how to talk to their grandparents and elders.

First, keep in mind that the elderly are not really very different from you. Although the means of communication and other technologies have changed since they were young, deep down your grandparents probably had interests very similar to your own when they were your age. Ask them about their greatest challenges in school, what they did in their free time, their memories of family life or, for those who are immigrants, what it was like adapting to a new culture.

If you are facing important decisions, ask your grandparents’ advice. Ask your grandparents about their joys, accomplishments and even their disappointments and failures. Invite them to share their values, their personal heroes, how they got through the tough times, and the role of faith in their lives. Confide to them your hopes and fears, your dreams and anxieties, and ask them to pray for you – the elderly are powerful intercessors!

Sister Constance Veit is director of communications for the Little Sisters of the Poor.

September 16, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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Parish spotlight

Patricia J. Hennessy

Growing older L

ife goes by so quickly. Where do the years go? How can my children be that old already?

Well, here I am, a woman who has finally accepted the aging process and feels peaceful growing older with God’s grace.

I like to say that, as a rule, everyone has a turn to be young, then middle-aged, and then old, older, oldest. My mother is pushing 100 years old, so she definitely falls in the “oldest” category. I guess it’s my turn to be in a category somewhere close behind her.

In the movie “Fried Green Tomatoes,” a woman laments about her place in the aging process, wondering where she belongs. She cried, “I’m too old to be young and too young to be old.” That sentiment seems to capture how many of us feel at one time or another.

There are lots of jokes and sayings about getting older. One of my favorite lines is, “Old age is always about 15 years older than you are.”

(That one will work for only just so long.) I came across a headline recently online that screamed, “25 Ways to Grow Old Gracefully,” so I checked it out in case I was missing something important. Some of these tips were: “Have Fun.” (I can do that.) Next, “Wear Sunscreen”. (Who knew?) Another was “Never Stop Learning.” (Yep, that’s me.) Finally, “Make Sleep a Priority.” (Oh, goody.

I love to sleep!)

All of the above are good tips, but growing old gracefully means a lot more to me. Once I accepted the fact that this beautiful earth is not my final home, I turned to the Scriptures and found such comfort, peace and hope in God’s uplifting and encouraging words to me.

When I’m feeling weak or tired, and I have no stamina, vim or vigor, I turn to Psalm 92:11: “To me you give the wild-ox’s strength; you anoint me with the purest oil.”

And in verses 14 and 15 I pray to be among those who are “planted in the house of the Lord,” who “will flourish in the courts of our God, still bearing fruit when they are old, still full of sap, still green...”

Also, Habakkuk 3:19 is a very invigorating prayer when I’m just not feeling the “wild-ox’s strength.”

It says: “God, my Lord, is my strength; He makes my feet swift as those of deer and enables me to go upon the heights.”

As I grow in age and grace, I take seriously my responsibility to tell the Good News to others by loving them with my words and actions.

Psalm 71:17-18 is a prayer that says, “God, you have taught me from my youth; to this day I proclaim your wondrous deeds. Now that I am old and gray, do not forsake me, God, that I may proclaim your might to all generations yet to come.”

When I’m feeling scared, stressed, worried or alone, I remember Isaiah 43:1: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name. You are mine.” Another great stress-reliever is Deuteronomy 31:8, which says, “It is the Lord who goes before you; He will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you.

So, do not fear or be dismayed.”

My heart overflows with thanksgiving when I recall all that God has done for me so far in my life, and I thank Him in advance for all the blessings that He has in store for me. I believe that He has kept His loving gaze upon me from the time that I was being formed in my mother’s womb until the present.

So, I’m here until God calls me home. In the meantime there’s work to be done. I want to use the unique gifts and talents that I have been given to be of use in the Kingdom.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know well the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future full of hope.” I know that God has always had a plan and purpose for my life. With His grace He will help me to fulfill it to the end.

There are times when the enemy of my soul plants negative thoughts in my spirit that go something like this: “You’re too old to start something new for God. Who do you think you are? How will you ever make a difference at your age? Just stick with the status quo. Relax. Sit on the porch. Get a nice rocking chair.”

These negative thoughts flee when I remember to whisper the Name that dispels all darkness: Jesus, the Light of the World.

When God gives me an assignment, a mission to accomplish for Him, He equips me with the tools and the grace to get the job done. Then I trust in the words of Scripture that say, “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion” (Philippians 1:6). So I place myself at God’s service to be used however He wants from here on in.

I’m sure that there are others who have had similar thoughts and feelings as mine about growing older. To all of us I say, God is not finished with us yet. Let’s trust Him to guide us wherever He leads. He just may be searching the whole world for a certain someone right now who can do something for Him that no one else can do in just the way that He wants. Maybe that person is you or me. May we be willing to respond, “yes, Lord” if He taps us on the shoulder and says, “I’ve seen your heart and I can use you.”

Patricia J. Hennessy is a member of St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte.

Brandon Berryhill | Catholic News Herald

Learning how to combat acedia SYLVA — Father Mark Shuey, the former pastor of St. Basil the Great Ukrainian Catholic Mission Parish in Charlotte, gave a retreat and talk Aug. 17-20 at St. Mary, Mother of God Church in Sylva about acedia, based on the book “The Noonday Devil”

by Benedictine Abbot Jean-Charles Nault. The Third Annual East/West Retreat brought together clergy of the St. Josaphat Eparchy’s North Carolina missions for a weekend of prayer, liturgy, fellowship, and evangelization of the Western Carolina mountain region. The noonday devil is the demon of acedia, or the vice of spiritual sloth. Acedia is not laziness; in fact, it can manifest as busyness or activism. Rather, acedia is a gloomy combination of weariness, sadness and lack of purposefulness.

Father Shuey shared with those in attendance the signs and experiences one has with this demon, and how to overcome these troubles with prayer and fasting. He shared the teachings of Evagrius Ponticus, also called Evagrius the Solitary, a Christian monk and ascetic, and he reviewed other wisdom from the early Church and Eastern Catholic teachings on this topic. Retreat participants celebrated vespers at the end of each day, along with Divine Liturgy on the final day of the retreat. Father Deacon Kevin Bezner of St. Basil Mission assisted at the retreat. Retreat host Father Josh Voitus, pastor of St. Mary Church, and Father Peter Shaw, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Bryson City, joined for Divine Liturgy as well. At the conclusion of the retreat, Father Voitus hosted a buffet and fellowship where people were able to talk more with Father Shuey and others.

Most-read stories on the web

‘People today are in need of an encounter with Jesus and His word, particularly today where “within the heart of society, which is the family, there is no encounter.” ’ Pope Francis

From online story: “Pope: Culture of encounter overcomes indifference in families, society” Through press time on Sept. 14, 5,050 visitors to www.catholicnewsherald.com have viewed a total of 11,475 pages. The top 10 headlines in September were: n Eucharistic Congress blog: goeucharsit.tumblr.com......................................................................................................1,542 n St. Ann parishioner enters Carmelite Monastery Aug. 30............................................................................................. 596 n Eucharistic Congress draws 15,000......................................................................................................................................489 n Bishop Curlin reflects on his friend, St. Teresa of Calcutta........................................................................................... 395 n Former St. Michael School principal passes away at 29.................................................................................................368 n View the current print edition of the Catholic News Herald..........................................................................................345 n Students at St. Mark School dress down to honor Saint Teresa of Calcutta............................................................ 289 n Eucharistic Congress procession in pictures..................................................................................................................... 249 n Celebrating Polish heritage...................................................................................................................................................... 198 n Youth ministry guidelines promulgated................................................................................................................................129

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 16, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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Miller’s work when he became pastor in Newton.

Both Caraballo and Miller have families, and giving up their Saturday mornings means making a sacrifice of time and presence, but they refer to Luke 6:38, which says, “Give, and it will be given to you.”

“Anyone who sacrifices (something) doesn’t go unnoticed (by God),” Miller says. Spending time at the clinic every Saturday means less time spent with his wife Karen, 12 children and numerous grandchildren, but, he says, “(God has been) generous to us, and when you give, you are rewarded!”

In the end, both Miller and Caraballo say they knew God had called them to serve the others in need, others whom God had also created as equal human beings, others who needed mercy shown to them. Consequently, Miller and Caraballo, with the support of the local volunteers like Spanish translator Carmen Morales and nurse Jeanne Gerhardt of Hickory, as well as endorsement of the parish, began a journey to heal the heart of Catawba County – one Saturday morning and one patient at a time. It has been aided by Wal-Mart’s pharmacy, which offers common medications for aliments at a low cost.

Now, 20 years later, the clinic continues to succeed.

In 2015 the North Carolina Medical Board honored St. Joseph Clinic for its decades of service to the poor.

But to Caraballo and Miller, the “thank yous” they receive from grateful patients every Saturday morning seem like God’s way of speaking through the patients to say “thank you for glorifying me through your service.”

“The sisters were helping them. What an inspiration it was to me. What an education in Christianity.”

He had the experience of bathing lepers and blessing people who were dying whom the Missionaries of Charity had welcomed into their centers to die with dignity. During his time there, Mother Teresa encouraged him to look with his heart and see Jesus in those to whom he ministered.

“Is that the way we live our life?” Bishop Curlin asked.

“Do we see Jesus all around us? In the people that we like or people who sometimes hurt us? Do we see Jesus in the face of that person? That was the secret, I think, of Mother’s great life.

“She believed that you are the living presence of Jesus. When you are feeding a poor, hungry man or are washing a leper, trying to reach out with love to them, those are Christ’s hands. When you speak with kindness and forgiveness and understanding, you echo His heart.

When you look at someone, you look with the kindness of Jesus.

“Or do we just say, ’I go to church and I’ve done my duty?’”

Bishop Curlin said Mother Teresa challenged him with the idea of rising above and really helping people, to see that it was Christ really trying to help people. “Do you really believe that Christ lives in us?” he similarly challenged those gathered.

He shared that he cherishes the memory of all the times he and Mother Teresa met and their spiritual conversations over the years. “Each time I went there, I realized I received more and more than I was able to offer that saint.”

Sister Shilanand said Mother Teresa was specific about how she would help others if she were to become a saint.

“I remember what she said: ‘If I will be a saint, I will be one of darkness. I will be continually absent from heaven because I want to help. I want to come back to light the light of those who live in darkness.’

“My message to all of us is that we ask for her intercession. She has promised she will come to help us.”

day is over. “It can be done anywhere, but I would suggest not doing it lying down,” he quipped.

“R” stands for a request for light. “We need light in our homes and skies, “ he explained. “We need interior light, too. It may be general or specific – a spotlight God uses or something like those little red penlights that museum docents use to illuminate something not so apparent in a painting or sculpture. Sometimes there are things we don’t want to look at, or never even think to look at. So, we ask to see what God wants us to see.”

“A” stands for an account of actions and attitudes. “I ask the Lord to help me choose and look more deeply at one or two out of my day,” he explained. “I may focus on something that went poorly – a conversation or a class. It may also be something that went well and I want to learn from it. It’s not just analyzing myself in my own voice. No embellishment or hiding details. It’s a prayer to Jesus. I’m telling this to someone I trust who really knows me and can help me see and evaluate.”

He emphasized the importance of dealing with anger from our day, avoiding a preoccupation with one’s negative thoughts and actions. “That tape (which continually replays in our brains) usually tries to rationalize or justify our actions and viewpoints,” he said. “We need to push the stop button, give it to our guardian angel as many times as necessary, and save it for our Examen when we may be more objective. The goal is to get some truth. It’s not just to build us up or tear ourselves or someone else down.”

“C” stands for charting one’s course. If things are going well, continue on course; if not, correct it, he said. “If there’s sin, there could be need for an Act of Contrition or the need to prepare for confession,” he said. He suggested looking for patterns of temptation and sin.

“E” represents entreating the Lord for energy and enthusiasm to carry out one’s course. “It can be as simple as the Lord’s Prayer.”

He concluded, “I look forward to this 10 minutes. It’s an acquired taste. But, for me, it’s like clearing my desk at night. It’s saying, ‘Lord, it’s your world, You take care of it, and I did my best today, but now I want to look and make sure that’s true.’ It’s important to have some time to sit in the dark and ask for light.”

Aaron Kohrs is a member of St. Aloysius Church in Hickory and a student at University College Cork in Ireland, where he is nearly finished with a master’s degree in international relations.

THE JOURNEY CONTINUES OCTOBER 22

WORLD YOUTH DAY UNITE Join WYD Alumni to Celebrate Your Faith Speakers, Music and Food beginning at 12:00 noon Pho to

Unveiling of new Saint John Paul II Statue 4:30 pm Mass for the Feast Day of Saint John Paul II 5:00 pm

SAINT JOHN PAUL II NATIONAL SHRINE 3900 HAREWOOD ROAD, NE WASHINGTON, DC 20017

jp2shrine.org/wydunite

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