Jan. 28, 2022

January 28, 2022

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

‘Faith more precious than gold’ ‘La fe más preciosa que el oro’ Parishes celebrate 50 years of the diocese; First of ‘50 Acts of Charity’ recorded

2022 DSA campaign kicks off

12-13

8-9, 17

Pope Francis confers ministries of lector, catechist on lay women and men 20 FUNDED BY THE PARISHIONERS OF THE DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE THANK YOU!

2022 MARCH FOR LIFE Rally speakers confident about abortion law changes but see work ahead 18

Llamado a la alegría del amor Semana del matrimonio del 7 al 14 de febrero

14

At a glance 2

catholicnewsherald.com | January 28, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Diocesan calendar of events January 28, 2022

CONFERENCES & TALKS

Volume 31 • NUMBER 9

22ND ANNUAL KENNEDY LECTURE: Jesuit Father Tom Gaunt, executive director of the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) and the Diocese of Charlotte’s former planning director, will deliver the 22nd Annual Kennedy Lecture, “Our Journeying Together: Who are we listening to? Who are we accompanying?” starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, in Biss Hall at St. Peter Church, located at 507 South Tryon St., Charlotte. Father Gaunt brings an inside look at the Catholic Church in the U.S. and the history of growth in the Diocese of Charlotte, having served as director of the diocese’s Office of Planning and Research. During his tenure as planning director, he coordinated the Diocesan Synod that concluded in 1987. His expertise includes urban planning, demographic changes in the Church, community development and volunteerism.

No reservations required. A recording of his lecture will be posted afterwards on the parish’s YouTube channel. For details, go to www.stpeterscatholic.org.

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

INDEX

At a glance....................................2 Contact us.....................................2 Español....................................... 14-17 Our Faith........................................3 Our diocese.............................. 4-6 Scripture readings.................. 3,16 Arts & Entertainment............. 10-11 U.S. news.................................18-19 Viewpoints.............................22-23 World news............................ 20-21

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704-370-3333

STAFF EDITOR: Patricia L. Guilfoyle 704-370-3334, plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org ADVERTISING MANAGER: Kevin Eagan 704-370-3332, keeagan@charlottediocese.org SENIOR REPORTER: SueAnn Howell 704-370-3354, sahowell@charlottediocese.org ONLINE REPORTER: Kimberly Bender 704-808-7341, kdbender@charlottediocese.org HISPANIC COMMUNICATIONS REPORTER: Cesar Hurtado, 704-370-3375, rchurtado@charlottediocese.org GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Tim Faragher 704-370-3331, tpfaragher@charlottediocese.org COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT/CIRCULATION: Erika Robinson, 704-370-3333, catholicnews@ 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.

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‘GROWTH AND EMPOWERING’ PROGRAM: 7-8:30 p.m. the last Monday of the month until March 28, St. Mark Church’s Kerin Center, 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville. This seven-week program for women is presented by the Healed and Restored Ministry. Through prayer, guided exercises, testimony and professional programming, women will experience the true feminine genius as God intended for each of His beloved daughters. For details, visit www.healedandrestored. org and click on “Growth and Empowering Walk” to fill out an interest form, or contact Elza Spaedy at info@ healedandrestored.org.

CATHOLIC MEDICAL ETHICS ON SEXUALITY AND FERTILITY: Learn about sexuality and fertility in medicine from a Catholic viewpoint, in the upcoming “Converging Roads” set for Saturday, April 2, at St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte. Presenters include: Father Matthew Kauth, “Understanding the Church’s Teaching on Sexuality and Fertility: The ‘Why’ Behind the ‘No’”; Dr. Marguerite Duane, MHA, FAAP, ‘The Menstrual Cycle as a Vital Sign”; Father Philip G. Bochanski, “Gender Identity Discordance: Supporting Patients and Families”; Dr. Teresa Farnan, “The Gift of the Human Person: A Christian Anthropology for Understanding Gender and Sexuality”; and more. Continuing education credits offered for health care professionals. Presented by the St. John Paul II Foundation, the Diocese of Charlotte and Belmont Abbey College. For details, go online to www. forlifeandfamily.org/converging-roads.

ENTERTAINMENT BISHOP MCGUINNESS HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI WEEKEND: Friday-Saturday, March 25-26, 10 a.m. Bishop McGuinness High School, 1725 N.C. Hwy. 66, Kernersville. Festivities begin at 10 a.m. Friday with a Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony honoring lme Archibong, Class of 1999, and Katheryn Lyons, Class of 2007. Brunch to follow. At 5:30 p.m. Friday, members of the classes of 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017 are invited to a Happy Hour in the courtyard. At 10 a.m. Saturday in Alumni Basketball Games, men and women will play in an odd vs. even format, with all alumni welcome to play. A Family Picnic in the courtyard will follow. To RSVP, contact Katie Williams 336-564-1009 or kwilliams@bmhs.us.

What’s coming up at our retreat centers?

“Heart of the Cross: A Women’s Lenten Retreat” “Heart of the Cross: A Women’s Lenten Retreat” with Olivia Woodford will be held Friday, March 4, to Sunday, March 6, at Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center in Maggie Valley.

Immerse yourself in the mystery, message and meaning of The Passion from the perspective of the holy women who accompanied Christ – Veronica, who witnessed Jesus carrying His cross; Mary and the holy women who stood by Him at the foot the Cross and later prepared His body for burial; Mary Magdalene at His tomb; and Martha at Pentecost.

This unique retreat will be led by actress and storyteller Olivia Woodford, founder of Healing Theatre and the ministry Bible Women Speak. This is Woodford’s third program at the Maggie Valley retreat center, and it’s sure to be a popular and powerful experience.

For details and registration information, go to www.catholicretreat.org or call 828-926-3833.

“Pottery, Pysanky, and Prayer” “Pottery, Pysanky, and Prayer,” one-night sacred art retreat, will be held March 18-19 at the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory Back by popular demand is this new “Art as Spiritual Therapy” retreat – just in time for Lent.

Spend a day making beautiful art, offering prayers for yourself and for others, and renewing your creative spirit. With some guidance from expert presenters, you will be invited to open yourself up to the creative powers locked within and reflect upon God’s presence acting in your life.

In the context of prayer, make your own kiln-fired prayer bowl and personal prayer stones, plus pysanky eggs (Ukrainian Easter eggs), where the tradition is to pray for the person who will receive the pysanka as a gift.

These sessions will be hands-on, and attendance is limited. For details and registration information, go to www.catholicconference.org/art-retreat. a

LENT CRS RICE BOWL 2022: The upcoming 2022 Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Rice Bowl Program begins on Ash Wednesday, March 2. Parishes and schools that participated in last year’s CRS Rice Bowl will receive the same number of materials again for this year’s CRS Rice Bowl with no need to place an order.

Parishes and schools that wish to participate for the first time, or participating parishes and schools that need additional materials, should place an order at 1-800-222-0025 or www. crsricebowl.org. 25% of the CRS Rice Bowl collection helps fund the CRS Mini-Grant Program, sponsored by Catholic Charities, that provides grants (of up to $1,000) for social ministry projects of Catholic entities of the diocese. For info, email Joseph Purello at Catholic Charities, jtpurello@ccdoc.org.

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING FREE WINTER NFP CLASS SERIES: First Tuesday of the month, 6:30-8:30 p.m. St. Margaret Mary Church, 102 Andrews Place, Swannanoa. This Fertility Education and Medical

Management (FEMM) series will cover monitoring ovulation cycles as a sign of health. Classes will start Feb. 1. For details and registration info, email office@saintmmc.com.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING PROTECTING CHILDREN: “Protecting God’s Children” (“Protegiendo a los Niños de Dios”) workshops educate parish volunteers to recognize and prevent child sexual abuse. For details, contact your parish office. To register for online training, go to www.virtus.org. Upcoming workshops: ARDEN: 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Jan. 29, St. Barnabas Church, 109 Crescent Hill Dr. BREVARD: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, Sacred Heart Church, 4 Brian Berg Lane CHARLOTTE: 7-10 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31, St. John Neumann Church, 8451 Idlewild Road (En Español) CLEMMONS: 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30, Holy Family Church, 4820 Kinnamon Road

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following upcoming events: JAN. 31 – 1:15 P.M. Mass for Catholic Schools Week St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte (also streamed live on the Diocese of Charlotte’s YouTube channel)

FEB. 5 – 11 A.M. Mass for World Day For Consecrated Life St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

Our faith

January 28, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

3

Pope Francis

God offers courage, guidance to those in difficulty

G “Saint Thomas Aquinas” by Fra Bartolomeo, c. 1510-1511

St. Thomas Aquinas: From ‘Dumb Ox’ to preeminent Doctor of the Church Feast day: Jan. 28 Check it out St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Suther Road in Charlotte, has a dramatic baldachin (canopy) over its altar, installed in 2018. The 30-foottall structure of intricately-carved oak was rescued from a church that closed in Pennsylvania.

Carved in the late 18th century in Austria and shipped to America sometime between World War I and World War II, the baldachin has embellishments of fretwork, carving and paintings in silver and gold leaf, red, green and aquamarine blue.

On Jan. 28, the Church celebrates St. Thomas Aquinas, the 13th-century theologian who – once mocked by his fellow students as a “dumb ox” – wrote some of the Church’s seminal works on theology, faith and reason, and who was declared a Doctor of the Church.

St. John Paul II, in his 1998 letter “Fides et Ratio,” said St. Thomas “had the great merit of giving pride of place to the harmony which exists between faith and reason,” knowing that “both the light of reason and the light of faith come from God. ... Hence there can be no contradiction between them.”

Thomas was born during 1225 into a noble family, having relatives among the rulers of the Holy Roman Empire.

His father Landulph was the Count of Aquino and his mother Theodora, the Countess of Teano.

When he was 5, Thomas was sent to study at Monte Cassino, the abbey founded by St. Benedict. The boy’s intellectual gifts and serious disposition

impressed the monks, who urged his father to place him in a university by the time he was 10. At the University of Naples, he learned philosophy and rhetoric while taking care to preserve his morals against corruption by other students.

It is said that a hermit, before Thomas’ birth, told Theodora that she would have a son who would enter the Dominican Order “and so great will be his learning and sanctity that in his day no one will be found to equal him.” In his adolescence, Thomas’ friendship with a holy Dominican inspired him to join them.

His family, however, did not envision the brilliant young man as a penniless and celibate preacher. His brothers kidnapped him from the Dominicans, took him to the family’s castle, and at one point even sent a woman to seduce him – whom Thomas drove out by AQUINAS, SEE PAGE 24

Daily Scripture readings JAN. 30-FEB. 5

Sunday: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19, 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13, Luke 4:18, Luke 4:21-30; Monday (St. John Bosco): 2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30, 16:5-13, Luke 7:16, Mark 5:1-20; Tuesday: 2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30–19:3; Wednesday (Feast of the Presentation of the Lord): Malachi 3:1-4, Hebrews 2:14-18, Luke 2:22-40 or 2:22-32; Thursday: 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12, Mark 6:7-13; Friday: Sirach 47:211, Mark 6:14-29; Saturday (St. Agatha): 1 Kings 3:4-13, Mark 6:30-34

FEB. 6-12

Sunday: Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 5:1-11; Monday: 1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13, Mark 6:53-56; Tuesday: 1 Kings 8:22-23, 2730, Mark 7:1-13; Wednesday: 1 Kings 10:1-10, Mark 7:14-23; Thursday (St. Scholastica): 1 Kings 11:4-13, Mark 7:24-30; Friday: 1 Kings 11:29-32, 12:19, Mark 7:31-37; Saturday: 1 Kings 12:26-32, 13:33-34, Matthew 4:4b, Mark 8:1-10

FEB. 13-19

Sunday: Jeremiah 17:5-8, 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20, Luke 6:17, 20-26; Monday (Sts. Cyril and Methodius): James 1:1-11, John 14:6, Mark 8:11-13; Tuesday: James 1:12-18, Mark 8:14-21; Wednesday: James 1:19-27, Ephesians 1:17-18, Mark 8:22-26; Thursday: James 2:1-9, Mark 8:27-33; Friday: James 2:14-24, 26, Mark 8:34–9:1; Saturday: James 3:1-10, Mark 9:2-13

od always offers people the help and courage they need to face life’s fears and difficulties, Pope Francis said.

The pope said his thoughts were with all those who “are crushed by the weight of life and can no longer hope or pray.”

Parents, in particular, often must grapple with situations or problems that are out of their control, such as when their child is sick or has a chronic illness. “How much pain is there!” the pope said Jan. 26 during his weekly general audience.

Parents also may be aware their children have “different sexual orientations,” so they must figure out “how to deal with this and accompany their children and not hide in an attitude of condemnation,” he said. Parents may see their children die of an illness or in a car accident, or they see them struggle in school. There is so much pain or fear, he said, but “never condemn a child.”

Continuing his series of audience talks about St. Joseph, Pope Francis focused on how the saint would discern the voice of God through prayer and dreams.

It is important to be able to recognize the voice of God amid so many other voices, such as “the voices of our fears, the voices of past experiences, the voices of hopes,” the pope said, adding “there is also the voice of the evil one who wants to deceive and confuse us.”

“Joseph demonstrates that he knows how to cultivate the necessary silence and, above all, how to make the right decisions before the word that the Lord addresses to him inwardly,” he said.

God “does not cast us alone into the fire. He does not cast us among the beasts. No. When the Lord shows us a problem, or reveals a problem, He always gives us the intuition, the help, His presence, to get out of it, to resolve it.”

“Life often puts us in situations that we do not understand and that seem to have no solution. Praying in these moments, this means letting the Lord show us the right thing to do.” When people experience dangerous situations, “praying means listening to the voice that can give us the same courage as Joseph, to face difficulties without succumbing,” he said.

“God does not promise us that we will never have fear, but that, with His help, it will not be the criterion for our decisions.

Joseph experiences fear, but God also guides him through it.”

“Let us ask the Lord to give this courage to all fathers and mothers, as He gave it to Joseph. And to pray, no?

Pray that the Lord will help us in these moments. It is only when we combine prayer with love, the love for children in the cases I just mentioned, or the love for our neighbor, that we are able to understand the Lord’s messages,” he said.

Our diocese 4

catholicnewsherald.com | January 28, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Though scaled down, Vietnamese will still celebrate lunar new year CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — The ongoing pandemic means that this year’s celebrations of Tet, the lunar new year, will be more subdued than usual, but there will still be plenty of fun to enjoy.

Large public gatherings are out, but St. Joseph Vietnamese Parish will commemorate the new year this weekend with decorations, lucky red envelopes, traditional Vietnamese foods, and – always a favorite – performances by the parish’s lion dance team.

The parish will offer scaled-down festivities after each Mass this Sunday, Jan. 30: 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

“We will decorate the church in our traditional way for the occasion. We will have regular Masses, and at the end of each one, we will give to all the faithful our ‘good luck’ envelope,” said Father Tri Truong, pastor.

The little red envelopes, which contain a dollar bill and a note with a Scripture verse, are an expression of appreciation from the parish and a wish that the new year is one of health, prosperity, happiness and success.

Also, at the end of each Masses, the Hidden Dragon Lion Dance team will offer a brief performance. The team, comprised of parish youth with an aptitude for acrobatic dance, practices all year long to perfect this physically intensive art form. During the colorful dance, the littlest audience members gleefully place dollar bills in the giant lion’s mouth as a wish that the coming year will be full of prosperity and happiness.

The parish will also offer traditional foods for sale – from its famous pho soup to banh chung, a rice cake containing green beans and pork covered in banana leaves.

This year on the lunar calendar corresponds to the year of the Tiger, an animal considered the king of the mountains and forests, that represents courage, majesty, wealth and protection.

Father Truong invites all the faithful of the diocese to join the parish in this special celebration of the lunar new year.

“We will be waiting for you all. We are going to be at Mass, worshiping God and celebrating our Vietnamese culture and tradition at the same time – together in our Catholic faith,” he said.

St. Joseph Vietnamese Church is located at 4929 Sandy Porter Road in Charlotte.

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Father Tri Truong, pastor of St. Joseph Vietnamese Church in Charlotte, gives a traditional “good luck” envelope to a mother and her baby at the end of Mass commemorating the arrival of the lunar new year in January 2020.

Kernersville Knights aid Boys and Girls Club KERNERSVILLE — Knights of Columbus Council 8509 in Kernersville recently donated 164 new coats, plus handmade scarves and hats, to the Winston-Salem Boys and Girls Club – “completely shattering” their record-breaking coat drive in 2020, the council reports.

Worthy Trustee Chuck Tierney and his wife Jennifer, under the direction of Worthy Grand Knight Dave Kempka, delivered the coats to the Boys and Girls Club to distribute during the holidays.

“I wish everyone could have seen the faces of the administrators there,” Tierney said.

“When we finally finished unloading, their eyes lit up like fireworks. Our founding principle of charity has never been brighter, clearer or demonstrated with such love and purpose.”

— Catholic News Herald

In Brief

Providing food for families ALBEMARLE — Members of the Knights of Columbus Council 10495 and their spouses bagged and delivered bags of food Dec. 18 to 50 needy families in the Albemarle area as part of the council’s Food for Families Program.

— Donald Barker

Catholic Campus Ministry raffle a success CHARLOTTE — Catholic Campus Ministry recently raised $18,700 in its annual raffle fundraiser.

The luck of the draw went to Rick Russo

from St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Charlotte and Kevin Cappelmar from St. Therese Parish in Mooresville, who each received $1,000.

Everyone who bought tickets, however, was a true winner – helping college students build their life’s foundation in the Church, in faith and virtue.

The experience of community and mutual trust nurtured by Catholic Campus Ministry helps students feel safe, ask questions, and be open to new insights.

Appalachian State University student Sabrina explains, “As I grew closer to the people in CCM, I felt my faith in God grow as well. I began to pray the rosary frequently, I purchased my own Bible for the first time. I attend confession more regularly. I have learned so much more about my Catholic faith.”

Ongoing contributions, in addition to financial support from the Diocesan Support Appeal, provide this opportunity for college students to grow in faith, hope and love at a pivotal time in their lives.

Don’t wait for another raffle opportunity – give online anytime at www. catholiccampusministry.com/support or by mail to Catholic Campus Ministry, 1123 South Church St., Charlotte, N.C. 28203.

— Ann Kilkelly

Statesville Knights donate to help Gigi’s Playhouse STATESVILLE — Knights of Columbus Council 7152 of Statesville recently held its yearly State Raffle Ticket sale, collecting $1,000 in proceeds to benefit Gigi’s Playhouse, a Downs Syndrome achievement center located in Charlotte.

Pictured (from left) are Ralph AltaVilla of the Knights of Columbus and Joe Tarulli of Gigi’s Playhouse.

Gigi’s Playhouse’s mission is to help people of all ages, from infancy to adult, succeed in life. It offers free educational, therapeutic-based and career development programs for individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community. Learn more at www.gigisplayhouse. org.

— Ralph AltaVilla

January 28, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR DIOCESEI

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‘Truly the gift that keeps on giving’ For 25 years, endowment fund aids Asheville Catholic School SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

ASHEVILLE — Twenty-five years after it was established, an endowment fund has paid for nearly $700,000 in various projects at Asheville Catholic School.

The Asheville Catholic School Endowment Fund, created in 1997, began with a gift of $140,000 – the result of a capital campaign by St. Eugene Parish to assist its adjacent school.

Only the second endowment fund created after the Foundation of the Diocese of Charlotte was established in 1994, it has grown to $715,000 and distributed more than $681,000 over the years – representing a total of $1.4 million invested in the Asheville school that will keep benefiting the school for generations to come.

Thanks to the endowment, the school has been able to afford school-wide technology upgrades, tuition assistance for families and professional development for staff, says Principal Mike Miller – everything from laptops and smartboards to scholarships and teacher assistants.

“What’s been really nice about our endowments is that most of them are not restricted and that gives us maximum flexibility.

That has led us to be able to be strategic,” Miller said.

“Since the endowment money is available on a quarterly basis, we have been able to make some technology purchases that had an immediate impact,” he said, and it “has allowed us to offer hundreds of thousands of dollars in tuition assistance. If there is a family who sincerely wants their children to have a Catholic education, we don’t want finances to be the reason they can’t do it. The endowments

have allowed us to do that, to stay true to our mission.”

Thanks to the fund, teachers and staff have received professional development and the school has hired academic support personnel, he said.

“The domino effect of this is that with these improvements we’ve made, families and parents have noticed how their children directly benefit, and this word of mouth has generated more positive effects for the school,” Miller said. “That simple act of giving to a school (endowment) has a positive impact for decades.”

The endowment is one of seven that benefit the Asheville school. While other schools have more, seven is a sizable number, notes Jim Kelley, diocesan development director.

“The benefit of an endowment is that its principal continues to grow while at the same time generating an increasing amount of income for a school or ministry or parish,” Kelley explains. “In the case of the Asheville Catholic School Endowment Fund, not only has the school already received funding so far greater than the initial investment, it continues to receive funding that eventually will equate to millions of dollars and change thousands of lives.”

“The ACS endowments are truly the gift that keep on giving,” said Father Patrick Cahill, pastor of St. Eugene Church. “Having a Catholic school option in Asheville is extremely important. We dream of the day we can provide a quality education for each and every student that would like to come to our school.”

Fund an endowment Interested in setting up an endowment at your parish or Catholic school? Establish an endowment in the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation by leaving a bequest in a will, a beneficiary designation from a retirement plan, a gift of real estate, a gift of life insurance, cash or securities sufficient to set up an endowment, or a life income arrangement such as a trust or annuity. For details, contact Gina Rhodes at 704-370-3364 or gmrhodes@rcdoc.org.

Christmas concerts

ASHEVILLE —The Asheville Symphony Chamber Chorus presented a Twelfth Day of Christmas Concert Jan. 7 at St. Lawrence Basilica.

Accompanied by harpsichord, the group performed Benjamin Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols,’’ as well as “Ave Maria” and other seasonal favorites. .

TIM REID | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

“And He shall reign forever and ever”: The North Georgia Messiah Chorus performs the finale of Handel’s “Messiah” on the fourth Sunday of Advent at Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission in Hayesville. The chorus was accompanied on the organ by Cody Killian, IHM music director.

The choral director was Dr. Patrick Young of Young Harris College.

CRAIG ALLEN | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Scouts to celebrate 50th anniversary at Catholic Camporee CHARLOTTE — Scouting units and individual Scouts interested in attending this year’s Catholic Camporee are encouraged to RSVP soon.

The 2022 Catholic Camporee will be held at Camp Grimes in Nebo, Friday, March 18, through Sunday, March 20. The event will feature the theme of the Diocese of Charlotte’s 50th anniversary: “Faith More Precious Than Gold.”

Full registration information, including a Camporee leader guide, will be sent to Scouting units by mid-February, but Scouting leaders and families are being asked to estimate attendance now as this year’s 50th anniversary event is expected to be extra special.

Highlights include Mass and a ceremony to award religious emblems to Scouts and leaders who exemplify the Catholic ideals of Scouting. Scouts will also receive a unique patch commemorating the diocese’s 50th anniversary (pictured above).

The weekend also includes a special religious activity centered around the Shroud of Turin, outdoor activities including archery, crafts, team building and a Scout skill activity. The Saturday night campfire of skits and songs at Camp Grimes, located amid the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is a beloved tradition the youth will enjoy as well.

After a year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers are looking forward to hosting the 2022 Catholic Camporee.

“The Catholic Camporee is a beautiful and blessed opportunity for Scouts and adults from across the diocese to come together to celebrate our Catholic faith and Scouting‘s role as a youth ministry in the diocese,” said Mike Nielsen, chair of the Charlotte Diocese Catholic Committee on Scouting, which organizes the annual camporee.

The diocese’s scouting committee, which is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, serves the youth of the Diocese of Charlotte involved in a Scouting program: a Cub Scout pack or a BSA troop.

“Scouting is a youth ministry for the diocese,” Nielsen said. “Our Scout units are sponsored by the churches, which is important to note.”

There are 18 packs (for Scouts in first through fifth grades) and 23 troops (for Scouts in sixth grade to age 18) in the diocese, Nielsen said.

— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

Camporee sign-ups open Scouting units or individual Scouts who would like to participate in the Catholic Camporee should contact Leslie Tesch at CDCCatholicScouting@gmail.com for more information. Questions? Call Mike Nielsen at 704-907-1234.

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catholicnewsherald.com | January 28, 2022 OUR DIOCESE

Belmont Abbey College receives accreditation to offer master’s degrees

Southern Homes of the Carolinas David Fuller REALTOR / Broker

“Working For You is What I Do” davidfuller.broker@gmail.com 704-530-2632

Property Manager

Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina

BELMONT — Belmont Abbey College has received full accreditation as a master’s-level institution and intends to increase its academic offerings.

In the summer of 2021, the private liberal arts college welcomed the first cohort of students in pursuit of a Master in Health Administration after securing initial accreditation authorization from the Southern Association of College and Schools Commissions on Colleges.

Over the next couple of months, a SACSCOC peer review committee evaluated the ongoing compliance with standards and provided their recommendation for full accreditation to the college’s Board of Trustees.

This recommendation was recently approved, enabling Belmont Abbey College to move forward with strategic plans to offer new master’s-level programs.

The shift from a baccalaureate-only institution aligns with Belmont Abbey College’s goal to provide a quality Catholic education for the betterment of the local community.

“Full master’s accreditation isn’t just a win for Belmont Abbey, it’s a win for the whole Gaston County community,” said Karen Price, vice provost and dean of institutional effectiveness. “At

Belmont Abbey, we believe in providing transformational education that focuses on the development of the whole person so that people can live better and care for one another.”

Belmont Abbey College commits to serving its community by offering programs in areas of high need such as health care, business, education and data.

College leaders hope to welcome students of new master’s programs by August 2023.

Introducing additional degree programs will also benefit current students, Price said.

“As we grow our academic offerings, we are constantly evaluating ways to allow current baccalaureate students to transition seamlessly into graduate work.

By creating opportunities for students to efficiently earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees, we are making education more accessible,” she said.

This goes hand in hand with the decision last year for the college to offer fully online programs, broadening student reach and expanding their mission and impact.

Belmont Abbey College’s ability to offer new master’s degree programs will be the next step in providing affordable, flexible education for all.

— Belmont Abbey College

The Diocese is currently accepting resumes for the position of “Property Manager” within the Diocesan Properties & Risk Management Department. The Property Manager is responsible for the oversight, performance, operation, and facility management of all Tier 1 properties and vehicles. While maintaining a high level of expertise and professionalism, the Property Manager will address both internal and external issues impacting facility operations, including budgetary oversight, preventative maintenance, overseeing plant improvements, and responding to and resolving Diocesan/Location facility requests or concerns.

REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE: • Bachelor’s degree from accredited college/university required.

• 5+ years min. experience managing multi-building campuses and operations is preferred.

• FMA/CFM designation strongly preferred.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook • Strong proficiency in preventative maintenance/work order systems and processes.

• Ability to read and interpret Architectural and Engineering drawings.

• Strong inter-personal communication skills – both written and verbal.

• Strong critical thinking and problem solving skills.

• Ability to work both independently and with a team.

Please submit a cover letter, resume and salary history to: Diocesan Director of Properties & Risk Management Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte 1123 South Church Street Charlotte, NC 28203, Or email directly to PropDirector@RCDOC.org.

** The Diocese of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer **

PHOTO PROVIDED BY TERRY FALKE FOLEY

Help for homeless veterans ASHEVILLE — Social workers at the Charles George Veterans Hospital in Asheville accept survival kits for homeless veterans that were assembled in December by volunteers from the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Margaret Mary Church in Swannanoa. Twenty-five backpacks each contained socks, gloves, dental care products, prayer book, military can opener, flashlight, lotion, pen, notepad, face masks, “space” blanket and water bottles. With input from the social workers, volunteer Rudy Torrico created the list of items most helpful to the homeless veterans who come to the hospital for medical and social needs.

January 28, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

CELEBRATE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK January 30 - February 5 During the week of January 30 - February 5, we will celebrate our Christ-centered Catholic school environments where a spirit of joy, courage and service to others is nurtured. Student learning will be highlighted, our accomplishments will be celebrated, and we will enjoy gathering to honor all those who have contributed to our schools’ pursuit of excellence in all things.

Charlotte Metro Schools (PK-12)

Piedmont Region Schools (PK-12)

Charlotte Catholic High School, Charlotte Christ the King Catholic High School, Huntersville Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School, Charlotte Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School, Charlotte St. Ann Catholic School, Charlotte St. Gabriel Catholic School, Charlotte St. Mark Catholic School, Huntersville St. Matthew Catholic School, Charlotte St. Michael Catholic School, Gastonia St. Patrick Catholic School, Charlotte

Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School, Kernersville Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School, High Point Our Lady of Grace Catholic School, Greensboro Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School, Winston-Salem Sacred Heart Catholic School, Salisbury St. Leo Catholic School, Winston-Salem St. Pius X Catholic School, Greensboro

Mountain Region Schools (PK-8) Asheville Catholic School, Asheville Immaculata Catholic School, Hendersonville

Whether your child is starting in Pre-K or finishing out their final years of high school, they can benefit from our close-knit community built on faith and virtue. We are dedicated to their educational growth and personal development, so that they can be a disciple of Christ and change the world for the better.

Contact the Catholic Schools Office or a school near you for more information.

Diocese of Charlotte Schools Office 704.370.6299 | www.gonccatholicschools.org

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catholicnewsherald.com | January 28, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Marian Pilgrimage A specially commissioned statue of Mary, Mother of God is visiting more than 100 locations across the Diocese of Charlotte during the anniversary year – making a spiritual pilgrimage to visit the faithful across our diocese just as she did in her visitation to St. Elizabeth. Through participation in this memorable Marian Pilgrimage, our diocesan family comes together, uniting parishes, missions, schools and other Catholic institutions in prayer to God through the intercession of our patroness. Upcoming visits include:

Catholic Schools Week Mass Monday, Jan. 31 St. Patrick Cathedral 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte, NC 28203 The statue of Mary will be present during the annual Catholic Schools Week Mass offered by Bishop Jugis at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, starting at 1:15 p.m. The Mass will also be streamed live on the diocese’s YouTube channel.

Mass for the World Day For Consecrated Life Saturday, Feb. 5 St. Patrick Cathedral 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte, NC 28203 A Mass for the World Day For Consecrated Life will be offered by Bishop Jugis in thanksgiving for the religious men and women celebrating jubilee anniversaries in 2021 and 2022. The celebration begins at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte.

On Jan. 12, parishes across the diocese offered Masses and Holy Hours in solidarity with the diocese’s 50th anniversary. (Clockwise, from top) Father John Putnam, assisted by Deacon Tom McGahey, offers Mass at St. Mark Church in Huntersville.

Redemptorist Father Glenn Parker, parochial vicar, leads Benediction during a Holy Hour at St. James the Greater Church in Concord. Retired Father Edward Sheridan, the diocese’s first superintendent of schools, gives the homily during Mass at St. Pius X Church in Greensboro.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Parishes celebrate 50 years of the diocese PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE EDITOR

CHARLOTTE — Parishes across the Diocese of Charlotte united in prayer to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the diocese’s founding Jan. 12.

As Bishop Peter Jugis opened the anniversary year with a Holy Hour and Mass that evening at St. Patrick Cathedral, other churches followed suit – gathering their parishioners for Eucharistic Adoration and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in thanksgiving to God. Notably, St. Pius X Church’s celebration in Greensboro featured special guest Father Edward Sheridan, who served as the diocese’s first superintendent of schools among other roles during nearly 60 years of priestly ministry.

Father Sheridan gave the homily at the 50th anniversary Mass, reminiscing about the early days of the diocese.

“I’m probably one of the few still alive

when the diocese was formed,” he said with a smile.

Father Sheridan was serving in Brevard when he heard the official announcement in late November 1971 that a new diocese was going to be formed.

Western North Carolina was very much still mission territory back then, he recounted. Catholics numbered only about 2 percent of the state’s population.

Yet the timing of the diocese’s founding – in the wake of the Second Vatican Council – was a providential moment.

“Bishop Begley took hold of Vatican II and ran with it, and asked us to run with it as well,” he said. “One of the great results of his leadership was the formation of Vatican II in the Diocese of Charlotte” – and that included building up the role of the laity in the new diocese.

“He really put his heart and soul into it, and invited all of us to be the Church,” he said.

Then and now, Father Sheridan said,

“the purpose of a diocese is to preach the Gospel to the people and to help people in their journey spiritually.”

As we commemorate this 50th anniversary, he urged people to embrace the spirit of those founding days, he said.

“We look at ourselves and we thank the Lord for all that He has done,” he said.

“My prayer, my hope is that we will reignite the spirit of Vatican II – that we put our faith into action, into our daily lives.”

“Bring the Gospel to others,” he encouraged people. “We are all part of this small diocese of 46 counties, but it is vibrant and it can be more vibrant than ever before.”

“May we continue to live according to that spirit that was there at the beginning and throughout these 50 years. May God bless the Diocese of Charlotte. (May He) bless all of us, bless all of those in leadership to bring about a more vibrant, hospitable, more loving, more caring, more Gospel-like Church.”

The future of healthcare is here.

Together with CaroMont Health, we’re shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

January 28, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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Prayer for the 50th anniversary The 50th anniversary year will bear great spiritual fruit if we ask God for the graces we hope to receive. Please offer the 50th anniversary prayer daily for many graces to be poured on our diocese during this jubilee anniversary: Heavenly Father, accept our humble prayer of praise and gratitude as we joyfully celebrate 50 years as the Diocese of Charlotte. Throughout our history the faithful of western North Carolina, under the watchful care of esteemed bishops and abbots, have been nurtured by Your providential hand. Confident that You invite Your children to implore Your constant blessings, we pray that You continue to pour forth Your heavenly grace upon us. With filial affection and devotion, we further ask that You look kindly upon the prayers we seek through the intercession of our venerable patroness, the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, who with motherly attention tends to the needs and concerns of the Church. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

Amen.

January’s ‘Treasured Site’ spotlight From Old St. Joseph Church, the first Catholic church built in western North Carolina, to Belmont Abbey Basilica, Monastery and College, our diocese is filled with decades of stories, architecture and landmarks of faith. Learn more about the history of Catholicism in western North Carolina by visiting these significant points of interest – treasured places that attest to the faith, hope and perseverance of people who helped plant the roots of our local Church:

Prayers & Devotions

Belmont Abbey Monastery and College 100 Belmont Mt. Holly Road, Belmont, NC 28012 www.belmontabbey.org Belmont Abbey is a monastery of Benedictine monks founded in 1876 that follows the Rule of St. Benedict of Nursia, who initiated western monasticism in the 6th century. The Basilica of Mary Help of Christians is the central structure on the campus of Belmont Abbey and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The basilica was built in neo-Gothic style in 1892 and was completely renovated in 1965. St. Katharine Drexel was one of its benefactors. It features prize-winning painted glass windows and a unique baptismal font made from an old slave auction stone. In 1998 the church was named a minor basilica by St. John Paul II. Its cemetery contains the graves of Abbot Leo Haid, founding abbot of the monastery, and two of the diocese’s former shepherds: Bishop Michael Begley and Bishop William Curlin.

Belmont Abbey College, founded by the monks in 1876, educates students in the liberal arts and sciences so that “in all things God may be glorified.” Exemplifying Benedictine hospitality, it welcomes students from diverse ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY AMY BURGER

Lamp drive ignites ‘50 Acts of Charity’ campaign HUNTERSVILLE — In just one hour on Jan. 14, parishioners of St. Mark Church collected 70 lamps of all shapes and sizes to help illuminate apartments for new refugees in what is the first of “50 Acts of Charity” underway in the Diocese of Charlotte. The “50 Acts of Charity” campaign is a signature component of the diocese’s yearlong golden anniversary celebration in 2022. The donation from St. Mark Parish begins what is expected to be many more such grassroots efforts at parishes and schools across the diocese to benefit people in need in our communities. The 70 lamps will go to help furnish and light up apartments for families being resettled by Catholic Charities’ Refugee Resettlement Program. Catholic Charities has resettled more than 14,000 refugees fleeing war, political upheaval, or religious, economic or ethnic persecution since 1975, working in partnership with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the U.S. State Department. The lamp drive was organized within just a few days by St. Mark’s Catholic Charities Outreach coordinators Oscar Bernardo and Frances Ferell, the parish’s Catholic Charities Assistance Team, and Catholic Charities volunteer Beth Zuhosky. The first donation – a table lamp and box of light bulbs – came in from Al and Mary Jarvis (pictured above) at 9:30 a.m., and by 10:30 a.m., the parish had achieved its goal of 70 lamps. It took five cars driven by the parish’s Catholic Charities Assistance Team to transport the lamps to the Catholic Charities warehouse in Charlotte.

At www.faithmorepreciousthangold.com: Keep up with the latest information and updates throughout the diocese’s 50th anniversary year

Get started on your future in healthcare with us.

Learn more - www.bac.edu/programs.

The 50th anniversary theme, “Faith More Precious Than Gold” (1 Peter 1:7), encourages use of the Church’s tried-and-true prayers, devotions and sacramentals which for centuries have brought people closer to God. Let us confidently ask for the graces we hope to receive from God as we celebrate the founding of the Diocese of Charlotte.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!

January prayer intention For peace. May the merciful Father bring an end to all discord between peoples of good will and grant His peace among all members of our local church.

Saint of the Month St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Feast day: Jan. 4 At www. catholicnewsherald.com: “St. Elizabeth Ann Seton: A woman of firsts”

Arts & Entertainment 10

catholicnewsherald.com | January 28, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

For the latest movie reviews: catholicnewsherald.com

On TV n Friday, Jan. 28, 5:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Left to Tell.” A survivor of the Rwandan genocide, Immaculee Ilibagiza, explains how she was able to forgive the people who murdered her family.

In theaters

n Tuesday, Feb. 1, 5:30 p.m. (EWTN) “The Beatification of Benedict Daswa.” The life of Benedict Daswa is celebrated in this moving documentary following his beatification. A devout Catholic husband and father, he fought against ritualistic killings prevalent in his native South Africa. n Friday, Feb. 4, 11:30 a.m. (EWTN) “Natural Family Planning: Embracing the Marital Gift.” NFP expert Damon Owens continues his study of the history, science and theology of NFP with a look at the “renaissance” in Catholic health care.

‘Hotel Transylvania: Transformania’ The fourth installment in the animated franchise that kicked off in 2012, directed by Derek Drymon and Jennifer Kluska. Ongoing tension between the proprietor of the titular hostelry, Count Dracula (voice of Brian Hull), and his free-spirited human son-in-law (voice of Andy Samberg) leads to the transformation of the former into an ordinary mortal and the morphing of the latter into a monster. But the magic crystal that brought about these changes is broken amid the resulting upheaval, requiring the duo to set out on a quest to South America in search of a replacement, a journey on which they’re eventually joined by the bloodsucker’s beloved daughter (voice of Selena Gomez) and nurturing wife (voice of Kathryn Hahn).

Characters in peril, fleeting scatological humor and vague wordplay.

CNS: A-II (adults); MPAA: PG

CNS | COURTESY FACE TO FACE FINE ART VIA THE CRITERION

A police officer stands in front of a portrait of officer Perry Renn of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department painted by D. Anne Jones through her nonprofit, Face to Face Fine Art. Officer Renn was shot and killed in the line of duty July 5, 2014.

Artist deepens faith by painting portraits for those suffering sudden loss NATALIE HOEFER CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

‘Scream’ Meta-stupid slasher flick in which a high school student (Jenna Ortega), her estranged older sister (Melissa Barrera) and the senior sibling’s boyfriend (Jack Quaid), among others, find themselves in the path of a copycat serial killer intent on upholding the homicidal tradition that has periodically plagued a small rural town and that has served as the basis for a popular horror movie franchise. About a half-dozen milder oaths, pervasive rough and frequent crude language.

CNS: O (morally offensive); MPAA: R

INDIANAPOLIS — D. Anne Jones knew she wanted to use her gift of painting portraits to help others in some way.

“I was talking to a friend who worked for (the nonprofit) Flashes of Hope taking pictures of kids with cancer, and a lot of the time those were the last photos a family would have of their child,” she recalled. “I decided if I did a nonprofit, I could paint portraits at no charge and raise money to fund them.”

But it took tragedy to solidify the idea.

“Within eight weeks in 2012, I lost my closest sister, my mom and my husband,” said Jones, 61.

“I was in shock,” said Jones, a member of St. Alphonsus Liguori Parish in ARTIST, SEE PAGE 11

Sacred Heart Retirement Community is a facility of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas in Belmont, NC. We are seeking an accompanist to play for one weekly Sunday mass, as well as for funerals and special feasts. Our worship space includes a 3-manual Moller organ and a baby grand piano. We use OCP Music Issue and GIA Gather Comprehensive hymnals.

Please send resume and cover letter to Sister Lillian Jordan at ljordan@sistersofmercy.org.

n Sunday, Feb. 6, 6 a.m. (EWTN) “Angelus with Pope Francis.” Pope Francis leads the world in the recitation of the Angelus live from Rome. n Thursday, Feb. 10, 4:35 p.m. (EWTN) “St. Henry de Osso.” The life of St. Henry De Osso through pictures, music and narration, encouraging your little ones to follow his example by living and loving as Jesus did. Animated.

“Get your ducks in a row!”

Sunday Mass Accompanist

Applicants will have a BA in music or equivalent experience and will be proficient in piano or organ. Understanding of and experience with Roman Catholic liturgy is preferred.

n Saturday, Feb. 5, 8 p.m. (EWTN) “Bakhita” The dramatic life of Josephine Bakhita, Sudanese-born slave who converted to the Catholic faith and became a sister in the Canossian Daughters of Charity. She was canonized by St. John Paul II. Part 1.

Estate Planning | Probate WAITING COULD DEVASTATE YOUR FAMILY St. Matthew’s Parishioner

704.843.1446 | www.ncestateplanninginfo.com

6406 Carmel Road, Suite 301 | Charlotte, North Carolina 28226

January 28, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

ARTIST FROM PAGE 10

Zionsville, just north of Indianapolis in the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana.

From her loss, Jones identified who she wanted to paint portraits of and for whom she would create them.

“I paint portraits at no charge for families or individuals who lost a loved one to a sudden, unexpected or tragic death,” Jones said of her nonprofit organization, Face to Face Fine Art. “My goal is to help aid in their grieving process and commemorate and honor the deceased by creating a lasting memory of their life.”

She said her effort is “an outlet that became a calling,” of which God is very much a part.

Losing her daughter in 2019, becoming guardian of her granddaughter and moving to a new part of Indiana in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic proved only to strengthen Jones’ faith and her calling.

More info At www.facetofacefineart.org: Get more information about Face to Face Fine Art, donate or to find a link to D. Anne Jones’ book Her journey actually began decades earlier at age 12 when she realized she had a gift for creating art at a young age and began doing portraits. It was in art class where she met her husband, Christopher.

“I was 15 when we started dating,” she said. “We were together 36 years and married for 32.” Together they had five children.

Christopher was Catholic. Jones, who was baptized and raised in a fundamentalist Christian church, was with him at Mass in Mishawaka, Ind., in the early 1990s when she heard the priest ask from the pulpit, “Are you looking for a new church home?”

She felt a nudge and contacted Gus Zuelke, the parish’s religious education director.

“The one thing he talked about was the Eucharist becoming God,” she said. “I never understood the point of communion in the fundamentalist church. When I learned the whole truth about the bread and wine actually becoming the Body and Blood of Christ, something clicked, and it made sense!”

The couple lived most of their married life in northern Indiana, where Jones was a stay-at-home mom. She took portraiture classes her mother-in-law paid for “just so I could get out of the house.”

In 2002, she started traveling to art and craft shows 46 weekends a year, completing up to 1,000 portraits annually. By 2011, however, Jones was burning out and began considering how she could use her gift in a

nonprofit capacity.

That November, her closest sister, Lisa, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She died four months later, March 17, 2012. Lisa’s death was too great a loss for their mother to handle.

“Mom was a miracle. She had pancreatic cancer for 22 years. Originally, they told her she’d live five years,” Jones said. “When my sister Lisa died, she was done and just wanted to go. Seven weeks later, my mom died.”

But Jones still found cause for joy. One of her and Christopher’s children would be married just seven days later.

“That morning of the wedding, my husband did not wake up,” Jones said. “He was totally fine the night before. We went to bed, told each other we loved each other, and I found him dead at 7 in the morning.”

She leaned heavily on her faith after the loss of three loved ones within eight weeks.

“I don’t know how anyone gets through the loss of anyone major in life without the Lord. It’s like all the people I was closest to were taken. I had no one else to turn to but the Lord,” Jones said.

Through her loss and through prayer, Jones found the cause she was looking for to create a nonprofit. In the process, her own heart healed. “I really believe that if you are hurt and in pain, if you can do something for somebody else, it helps take your mind off your own pain,” she said.

With her nonprofit Face to Face Fine Art, those who lose a loved one suddenly, unexpectedly or tragically can apply for a free painting of the person. Applications are reviewed and voted upon by the board of directors.

“If there’s funding, they OK as many as they can,” Jones explained, noting that it costs $400 to make a portrait, or $450 if a frame is requested. “If there’s not enough money, then they might approve an application, but it will be a while before the portrait is made.”

Since 2013, Jones has created more than 200 portraits.

Besides seeking healing through her portrait projects, she also published a book that year. Titled “Balm for the Heart: My Journey Through Loss and Bereavement,” it is described on Amazon.com as telling the story of “how God used (Jones’) losses to draw her closer to Himself and to enter into a more intimate relationship with Him.” In 2019, tragedy again struck. Jones’ daughter, Leah, died unexpectedly, leaving behind an 11-year-old daughter, Emma.

Jones became her legal guardian and moved to Zionsville in February 2020 so Emma could remain in her school.

Then the pandemic struck.

“I was in a new town, isolated, not knowing anyone,” Jones said.

Once again, her faith and her devotion to her nonprofit cause got her through.

“God let me experience all this (suffering) so I can have empathy for other people,” Jones said. “And I want to help.”

Please pray for the following deacon who died during the month of January: Dennis O'Madigan

1/31/2016

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iiiJanuary 28, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com

FAITH MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD 2022 DSA campaign focuses on what truly matters The DSA campaign funds more than 50 programs and ministries that serve thousands of people across the diocese.

Most notably, 31 percent of DSA funding goes toward educating the faithful through Catholic campus ministry, Catholic schools, faith formation, and young adult/youth ministries.

Another 30 percent funds social services through Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte for its counseling, food pantries, pregnancy support, refugee resettlement, elder ministry, and other programs.

The DSA also supports multicultural ministries, seminarian education, the permanent diaconate, the annual Eucharistic Congress, and the diocese’s Office of Family Life that includes marriage preparation, natural family planning, and Respect Life ministry.

Money raised through the DSA campaign changes lives throughout all of western North Carolina, the bishop noted in his letter. The faith formation programs alone serve more than 42,000 children and adults each year.

Last year, parishioners raised over $6.2 million,

SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — Faith joined with action: our call to discipleship and stewardship is highlighted in this year’s Diocesan Support Appeal, which officially kicks off in parishes the weekend of Feb. 5-6.

The 2022 campaign takes its cue from the Diocese of Charlotte’s 50th anniversary celebration going on all year long, with its theme “Faith More Precious Than Gold.”

In his Diocesan Watch online Support Appeal letter to the faithful, Bishop At www.youtube.com/ Peter Jugis explained dioceseofcharlotte: that the theme for this Watch the 2022 Diocesan year’s DSA is taken from Support Appeal video 1 Peter 1:7 and reminds us that our faith in the Lord, and in His love for us, is more important than anything else in our lives.

“The Lord blesses us with His love in so many ways, and we are called to share His love with others – putting our faith into real action,” Bishop Jugis said.

DSA, SEE PAGE 24

OFFICES AND MINISTRIES SUPPORTED BY THE DSA Where does your money go?

The purpose of the Diocesan Support Appeal is to help provide the annual funding necessary to carry out the mission of our diocese – namely to fulfill our call to “grow ever more perfectly into a community of praise, worship and witness, and to become a leaven of service and sign of peace through love in the Piedmont and Western North Carolina.”

Parishioners in all our parishes and missions help fund the annual DSA.

2022 GOAL: $6,367,200 31% EDUCATION Campus Ministry Catholic Schools Office Young Adult Ministry Youth Ministry

30% CATHOLIC CHARITIES DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE Faith Formation Office: Catechetical Certification Diocesan Catechetical Conference In-Services RCIA Special Needs Resource Group Totus Tuus

14% VOCATIONS Permanent Diaconate

Seminarian Education

Burial Assistance Case Management Disaster Relief Elder Ministry Food Pantries Housing Permanency Services Legal Immigration Services Mental Health Counseling Pregnancy Support & Adoption Refugee Services

13% MULTICULTURAL MINISTRIES

6% OTHER

African American Affairs Ministry

Eucharistic Congress

Hispanic Ministries

6% DSA CAMPAIGN COSTS

Social Concerns & Advocacy Stay the Course Supportive Services for Veteran Families Transition Out of Poverty Wee Care Shoppes Youth Empowerment Opportunity Program

How to support the DSA

PLEDGE: Make a pledge in response to a mailing you receive or in appeal at your local parish. An individual DSA pledge may be paid 10 installments by EFT, credit card or check. Pledging allows you greater gift over time. You will receive monthly reminder statem mail or by email until your pledge is paid, or until Dec. 31, 2022.

DONATE ONLINE: Donate online at www.charlottediocese.org/dsa with a one-time gift or set up a pledge with monthly gift paymen credit or debit card. (If you give online, please do not complete a envelope at your local parish. This could result in having two gift Office of Family Life: Marriage Preparation Natural Family Planning Respect Life

NOTE: THIS INFORMATION REFLECTS PROJECTED 2022 DSA FUNDING FOR $6.3 MILLION WHICH IS ALLOCATED TO THESE OFFICES AND MINISTRIES.

SCAN TO DONATE: Scan the QR code on this page to donate secu

ONE-TIME DONATIONS: Give a one-time contribution in response

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January 28, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.comiii

Campaña DSA 2022 se enfoca en lo que verdaderamente importa SUEANN HOWELL REPORTERA SENIOR

mailing you receive or in-pew appeal at your local parish. Please make checks payable to the “DSA” and note the name of your parish in the memo line of the check. Do not send cash through the mail.

STOCK DONATION: Make a donation of publicly traded securities and receive the tax benefits for giving appreciated stock. Instructions are online at www.charlottediocese.org/ways-to-give.

IRA CONTRIBUTION: For donors over 70 1/2 years of age, contact your financial advisor to request a charitable distribution from your IRA. FOR INQUIRIES: Contact David Walsh, associate director of development, at 704-370-3302 or email dvwalsh@rcdoc.org.

CHARLOTTE — La fe unida a la acción: nuestro llamado al discipulado y la corresponsabilidad, se destaca en la Campaña de Apoyo Diocesano de este año, que comienza oficialmente en las parroquias el fin de semana del 5 al 6 de febrero.

La campaña de 2022 se inspira en la celebración del 50 aniversario de la Diócesis de Charlotte durante todo el año, con el tema “La Fe es más preciosa que el oro”.

En su carta a los fieles de solicitud de apoyo diocesano (DSA, por sus siglas en inglés), el Obispo Peter Jugis explicó que el tema de la DSA de este año está tomado de la Primera Carta de Pedro 1:7 y nos recuerda que nuestra fe en el Vea online Señor y en Su amor por nosotros es más En www.youtube.com/ importante que dioceseofcharlotte: Vea cualquier otra cosa en el video del 2022 DSA nuestra vida.

“El Señor nos bendice con Su amor de muchas maneras, y estamos llamados a compartir Su amor con los demás, poniendo nuestra fe verdaderamente en acción”, dijo el Obispo Jugis.

La campaña DSA financia más de 50 programas y ministerios que sirven a miles de personas en toda la diócesis.

En particular, el 31 por ciento de los fondos del DSA se destinan a la educación de los fieles a través del ministerio universitario Católico, las escuelas Católicas, la formación en la fe y los ministerios de jóvenes y jóvenes adultos.

Otro 30 por ciento financia servicios sociales a través de Caridades Católicas de la Diócesis de Charlotte y su asistencia en consejería, despensas de alimentos, apoyo a embarazadas, reasentamiento de refugiados, ministerio de ancianos y otros programas.

La DSA también apoya a los ministerios multiculturales, la educación de los seminaristas, el programa de diaconado permanente, el Congreso Eucarístico anual y la Oficina de Vida Familiar de la diócesis que incluye preparación matrimonial, planificación familiar natural y el ministerio de Respeto a la Vida.

El dinero recaudado a través de la campaña DSA cambia vidas en todo el oeste de Carolina del Norte, señaló el obispo en su carta. Solo los programas de formación en la fe atienden a más de 42,000 niños y adultos cada año.

DSA, PASA A LA PÁGINA 24

PARISH/MISSION Christ the King, High Point Christ the King, Kings Mountain Divine Redeemer, Boonville Good Shepherd, King Holy Angels, Mount Airy Holy Cross, Kernersville Holy Family, Clemmons Holy Infant, Reidsville Holy Redeemer, Andrews Holy Spirit, Denver Holy Trinity, Taylorsville Immaculate Conception, Canton Immaculate Conception, Forest City Immaculate Conception, Hendersonville Immaculate Heart of Mary, Hayesville Immaculate Heart of Mary, High Point Our Lady of Consolation, Charlotte Our Lady of Fatima, Winston-Salem Our Lady of Grace, Greensboro Our Lady of Guadalupe, Charlotte Our Lady of Guadalupe, Cherokee Our Lady of Lourdes, Monroe Our Lady of Mercy, Winston-Salem Our Lady of the Americas, Biscoe Our Lady of the Angels, Marion Our Lady of the Annunciation, Albemarle Our Lady of the Assumption, Charlotte Our Lady of the Highways, Thomasville Our Lady of the Mountains, Highlands Our Lady of the Rosary, Lexington Prince of Peace, Robbinsville Queen of the Apostles, Belmont Sacred Heart, Brevard Sacred Heart, Burnsville Sacred Heart, Salisbury Sacred Heart, Wadesboro St. Aloysius, Hickory St. Andrew the Apostle, Mars Hill St. Ann, Charlotte St. Barnabas, Arden St. Benedict, Greensboro St. Benedict the Moor, Winston-Salem St. Bernadette, Linville St. Charles Borromeo, Morganton St. Dorothy, Lincolnton St. Elizabeth, Boone St. Eugene, Asheville St. Frances of Rome, Sparta St. Francis of Assisi, Franklin St. Francis of Assisi, Jefferson St. Francis of Assisi, Lenoir St. Francis of Assisi, Mocksville St. Gabriel, Charlotte St. Helen, Spencer Mountain St. James, Concord St. James, Hamlet St. Joan of Arc, Candler St. John Baptist de La Salle, North Wilkesboro St. John Lee Korean, Charlotte St. John Neumann, Charlotte St. John the Baptist, Tryon St. John the Evangelist, Waynesville St. Joseph of the Hills, Eden St. Joseph Vietnamese, Charlotte St. Joseph, Asheboro St. Joseph, Bryson City St. Joseph, Kannapolis St. Joseph, Newton St. Jude, Sapphire St. Lawrence Basilica, Asheville St. Leo, Winston-Salem St. Lucien, Spruce Pine St. Luke, Mint Hill St. Margaret Mary, Swannanoa St. Margaret of Scotland, Maggie Valley St. Mark, Huntersville St. Mary, Greensboro St. Mary Help of Christians, Shelby St. Mary Mother of God, Sylva St. Matthew, Charlotte St. Michael, Gastonia St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte St. Paul the Apostle, Greensboro St. Peter, Charlotte St. Philip the Apostle, Statesville St. Pius X, Greensboro St. Stephen, Elkin St. Therese, Mooresville St. Thomas Aquinas, Charlotte St. Vincent de Paul, Charlotte St. William, Murphy TOTAL

13

DSA GOAL $19,123 $4,750 $26,291 $15,783 $23,334 $91,801 $183,610 $20,831 $6,171 $69,077 $10,855 $5,517 $47,752 $133,810 $15,756 $144,158 $50,241 $11,223 $140,053 $66,320 $1,436 $58,689 $102,760 $42,554 $12,871 $28,242 $41,607 $22,738 $20,659 $23,710 $2,031 $111,365 $61,668 $9,100 $109,468 $2,829 $106,144 $10,885 $142,362 $91,566 $23,063 $10,039 $36,957 $51,275 $38,940 $32,793 $95,845 $8,984 $30,367 $22,681 $30,660 $26,871 $453,181 $5,434 $118,327 $11,487 $25,243 $21,799 $20,025 $84,024 $56,678 $36,355 $11,163 $57,341 $31,619 $11,367 $18,635 $31,221 $30,249 $68,172 $164,793 $13,452 $113,925 $36,045 $22,634 $375,826 $46,969 $25,649 $19,146 $743,553 $82,649 $96,842 $99,965 $206,641 $40,750 $216,848 $15,297 $206,543 $116,929 $118,107 $14,703 $6,367,200

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catholicnewsherald.com | January 28, 2022 14

Entrevista con el Padre Peter Ascik Padre Julio Domínguez

Feliz 50 Aniversario Parte 2

D

urante este año jubilar de nuestra diócesis, cada parroquia ofrecerá 50 horas de adoración al Santísimo Sacramento. Primeramente, para pedir a Dios por nuestra diócesis, para darle gracias por todas las bendiciones que hemos recibido y por el gran don de la fe que vibra en cada una de nuestras parroquias.

Ojalá que todos nos hagamos partícipes de estas horas de adoración, que al salir las listas para anotarnos a la adoración, seamos los primeros en poner nuestros nombres para llenar todos los espacios y no dejar ni un momento solo al Señor.

Cuando escucho el lema de este año jubilar: la fe es más preciosa que el oro, se me viene a la mente la pregunta: ¿Cuál es la mayor riqueza que tenemos en nuestra diócesis?

La fe como don de Dios, es una gracia sobrenatural que es dada a los hombres para poder responder mejor a todo lo que Dios nos ha revelado y aceptar con el corazón. Pero esta fe viene expresada en los fieles, y es allí donde la fe es más preciosa que el oro pues transforma a los fieles.

El don de la fe transforma a todos esos niños que en su casa van recibiendo de sus padres el regalo de la fe, que desde pequeños se les guía a las fuentes de la Vida a través de las oraciones, de la misma fe vivida en casa, la recepción de los sacramentos iniciales, y en fin culminando con la recepción de la Eucaristía al hacer su Primera Comunión.

El don de la fe fortalece a los jóvenes, sobre todo en su confirmación, y los hace emprendedores en búsqueda de lo profundo y espiritual. Ellos son los que, con sus vidas, ofrecen a la Iglesia la esperanza de seguir adelante. Aunque hay tantos obstáculos en este mundo para el crecimiento de su fe, muchos de ellos toman iniciativas hermosas que nos demuestran a todos que el Espíritu Santo sigue actuando.

Los jóvenes tomarán rumbos diferentes, algunos decidirán crear matrimonios cristianos, células vivas para nuestra sociedad y nuestra Iglesia. Otros serán llamados a la vida sacerdotal o a la vida religiosa y entregarán su vida al servicio de Dios y de la Iglesia. Otros querrán ir por el mundo como misioneros; por eso es necesario que los tengamos siempre en nuestras oraciones.

Los adultos desarrollan y viven su fe a través de sus ocupaciones diarias, en el cumplimiento de su deber y actividades ordinarias. Ellos se santifican con el trabajo DOMÍNGUEZ, PASA A LA PÁGINA 24

Llamado a la alegría del amor Semana del matrimonio del 7 al 14 de febrero CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO

CHARLOTTE — Haciendo un llamado a la reflexión sobre el aporte del matrimonio a la Iglesia Católica y la sociedad en su totalidad, y propiciando una oportunidad para que las parejas ya establecidas hagan florecer sus relaciones, revivan emociones y crezcan en sus propios matrimonios, la organización ‘Por tu Matrimonio’ llevará a cabo la Semana del Matrimonio, que se celebrará a nivel nacional del 7 al 14 de febrero.

‘Por tu Matrimonio’ es una esfuerzo de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Estados Unidos (USCCB, por sus siglas en inglés) coordinado por la Oficina de Asuntos Hispanos bajo la Secretaría para la Diversidad Cultural en la Iglesia.

LA ALEGRÍA DEL AMOR

La iniciativa, cuyo lema este año es ‘Llamados a la alegría del amor’, invita a realizar un retiro en nuestros propios hogares, dedicando tiempo a la oración y reflexión, no solo en pareja sino también en familia.

Además, sugiere que se comparta su volante y gráficas a través de las redes sociales, anime a su parroquia local a que celebre el domingo 13 de febrero el Domingo Mundial del Matrimonio utilizando un recurso de predicación o compartiendo el volante que han publicado en su website, que se rece el Santo Rosario por las parejas

casadas y las familias, así como que invite a su comunidad diocesana o parroquial a orar por el matrimonio con las oraciones de los fieles para la Semana Nacional del Matrimonio que se encuentran disponibles en inglés y español.

Finalmente, sugiere que todas las parejas, tanto recientes como las que ya llevan muchos años juntas, aprovechen los recursos que han publicado para dar una mayor riqueza a la vida matrimonial y familiar.

‘Por Tu Matrimonio’ es un espacio muy completo que inspira, ayuda y anima a los matrimonios Latinos a vivir más plenamente su relación de pareja. Ofrece ayuda práctica y asesoramiento durante todas las etapas de la vida matrimonial, incluso en las crisis que pueden ser consideradas como muy difíciles.

Por otro lado, es un gran recurso para las parejas que se encuentran planeando su boda católica y les asiste con información certera y práctica sobre todo lo necesario para realizarla, desde la elección de la música y las lecturas, hasta en aquellos casos en que se realizan matrimonios con personas de otras religiones.

Más online En www.portumatrimonio.org: Podrá encontrar mayor información sobre la celebración y muchos recursos, en español e inglés, que le ayudarán a enriquecer su vida matrimonial

Entrenan a coordinadores de preparación matrimonial WINSTON-SALEM — Una pareja de feligreses de la Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Rosario en Lexington viene recibiendo entrenamiento para que pueda coordinar las preparaciones matrimoniales en esa parroquia. Así lo informó Sergio López, coordinador del Ministerio Hispano del Vicariato de Winston Salem. López dijo que, aprovechando las mismas sesiones, se viene capacitando a dos parejas que próximamente contraerán nupcias.

Los temas que se abordan en el entrenamiento, y que además son requisitos diocesanos, son la espiritualidad en el matrimonio, teología del matrimonio, comunicación en el matrimonio, finanzas, familia de origen, hijos y familia, intimidad, planificación familiar, resolución de conflictos, y repaso del rito matrimonial.

FOTO CORTESÍA NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL ROSARIO

Respecto a la importancia del Sacramento del Matrimonio y las relaciones familiares, conversamos con el Padre Peter Ascik, director de la flamante Oficina de la Vida de Familia recientemente establecida por el Obispo Peter Jugis, y también pastor de Ascik la parroquia María Auxiliadora en Shelby y la Misión Cristo Rey en Kings Mountain.

CNH: Como sacerdote, activista por la vida y miembro de una familia. ¿Cuál es la importancia de preservar la institución del matrimonio?

Padre Ascik: El matrimonio, la unión de por vida de un hombre y una mujer para ayudarse mutuamente y traer hijos al mundo, es la base de la familia, y la familia es la base de la sociedad. Toda persona humana que haya vivido alguna vez recibió la vida y la existencia de la unión de un hombre y una mujer. Todas las demás relaciones familiares, hermana, hermano, tía, tío, prima, etc., existen por el hijo que nace de esta unión. Por eso es tan importante que se fortalezca y proteja la unión del hombre y la mujer en el matrimonio.

Nuestras relaciones familiares son las primeras y, a menudo, las más influyentes en nuestras vidas. Es en la familia donde aprendemos a acoger cada vida humana como un don personal, a ser fieles los unos a los otros, a amar y servir a los demás, a escuchar y dialogar, y a usar nuestra libertad personal en el respeto de la valores que compartimos en comunidad. Que tan bien se vivan estos valores en la familia impactará directamente que tan bien se vivan estos mismos en la sociedad.

La familia es también una “iglesia doméstica”, lo que significa que los miembros de la familia están unidos no solo por lazos naturales sino también por los lazos llenos de gracia del Cuerpo de Cristo. Las madres y los padres tienen el privilegio y la responsabilidad de ser los primeros en evangelizar a sus hijos y enseñarles a vivir en amistad con Dios. Cuando la vida familiar está animada por la gracia, los miembros de la familia crecen en santidad y juntos alcanzan la salvación eterna. Esta es la verdadera realización de la vida familiar.

Como dijo el Papa San Juan Pablo II: “El futuro del mundo y de la Iglesia pasa a través de la familia”. La familia se funda en el matrimonio, y la sociedad y la Iglesia se edifican sobre ASCIK, PASA A LA PÁGINA 24

January 28, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

15

ARCHIVO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

En la imagen, que corresponde a inicios de 2020, se aprecia al Padre Tri Truong, párroco de la Iglesia Vietnamita San José, entregando un sobre de la buena suerte a una madre y su niña al término de la Misa en que se conmemoró la llegada del Año Nuevo Lunar.

Con Misa celebrarán Año Nuevo Lunar CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO

CHARLOTTE — “Aún no se dan las condiciones para festejar con grandes eventos públicos el Año Nuevo Lunar, por lo que este este 2022, por segundo año consecutivo, no estaremos realizando el festival Têt en nuestra parroquia”, dijo el Padre Tri Truong, pastor de la Iglesia Católica Vietnamita San José, al suroeste de Charlotte.

“Oro para que en un futuro próximo, quizás en un año o dos si Dios lo permite, podamos volver a celebrar todos juntos, como comunidad, esta fiesta”, añadió, refiriéndose a las restricciones sanitarias de reunión en prevención del contagio del virus del COVID-19.

Pero no todas son malas noticias. El domingo 30 de enero, durante todas las Misas regulares, se recordará esta importante fecha.

“Tendremos la Iglesia tradicionalmente decorada para la ocasión.

Será una Misa regular, pero, al final, repartiremos a todos los fieles asistentes nuestro sobre de buena suerte”, precisó el Padre Truong.

Estos sobres de color rojo, que contienen un billete de un dólar y un papelito con una cita bíblica, son una expresión de aprecio y deseo de que un nuevo año lleno de salud, prosperidad, felicidad y éxito bendiga el hogar de quien lo recibe.

También, al culminar las Misas, se realizarán breves presentaciones de la Danza del León, tradición enraizada en el grupo de baile parroquial Hidden Dragon Lion Dance, integrado por jóvenes con aptitud para la danza acrobática.

Este arte requiere de gran esfuerzo físico y una preparación intensiva que toma meses.

Es tradición que durante la colorida y espectacular danza las personas coloquen un billete en la gigantesca boca del León, con la esperanza que el año venidero sea de prosperidad y felicidad.

Adicionalmente, quienes conocen las delicias que ofrece los domingos la Iglesia Vietnamita San José van a estar de fiesta. También se ofrecerá comida tradicional vietnamita, desde la conocida sopa Pho hasta el banh chung, un pastel de arroz que contiene frijol verde y carne de cerdo cubierto por hojas de plátano o dong.

El año 2022, según el calendario lunar, corresponde al signo del Tigre, un animal considerado el rey de las montañas y los bosques, y que encarna el valor, la majestuosidad, riqueza y protección.

El Padre Truong invitó a los fieles de la diócesis a unirse a ellos en esta celebración especial y diferente del año nuevo lunar.

“Los esperamos a todos. Vamos a estar en Misa rindiendo culto a Dios y celebrando a la vez nuestra cultura y tradición vietnamita; juntos en nuestra fe católica”, dijo.

Aparte de la celebración especial en cada Misa, la programación de otras actividades como las clases para niños y jóvenes seguirán en su horario regular.

Las Misas del domingo 30 de enero se celebrarán a las 8 y 10:30 de la mañana y 12:30 del mediodía.

La Iglesia Católica Vietnamita San José se encuentra ubicada en 4929 Sandy Porter Road en Charlotte.

FOTO CORTESÍA CATHOPIC

Imagen de la procesión de San Blas que se lleva a cabo en el ayuntamiento de Villamanta, un pequeño poblado ubicado en la zona oeste de la Comunidad de Madrid, España.

San Blas, Obispo y mártir SIGFRIDO DELLA VALLE ESPECIAL PARA CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

San Blas, durante los inicios del siglo IV, fue obispo de Sebaste en Armenia, lo que hoy es Turquía.

Muy pocos hechos son conocidos sobre el santo.

Se cree que fue un médico, que murió como un mártir de la fe en el año 316 bajo el reinado de Licinio; y que poco después de su muerte fue aclamado y venerado como un santo.

Todos los 3 de febrero es la fiesta de San Blas, el día en que nosotros, como católicos, participamos en la hermosa tradición de tener nuestras gargantas bendecidas.

Para ello, el sacerdote consagra dos velas, por lo general con una oración, y luego coloca las velas en una posición cruzada en la garganta de la persona que está siendo bendecida. Al mismo tiempo, la siguiente bendición es dada: “A través de la intercesión de San Blas, obispo y mártir, que Dios te libre de las dolencias de la garganta y de todo otro mal. En el nombre del Padre, y del Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo. Amén”.

Según una leyenda que surge en el siglo VIII, nació Blas en el seno de una familia rica y noble; siendo educado cristianamente.

Se consagró como obispo cuando todavía era muy joven. Cuando comenzó una nueva persecución contra los cristianos, recibió un mensaje de Dios para que se fuera a las colinas y así escapar a la persecución.

Un día, caminado en las montañas, descubrió en una cueva varios animales salvajes que estaban enfermos. Blas caminó sin miedo entre ellos, y los curó de sus enfermedades.

Poco después, unos cazadores fueron en busca de estos animales para el anfiteatro, pero San Blas los espantó y entonces fue capturado.

Al enterarse los cazadores que era cristiano, fue conducido ante el gobernador Agrícola, quien lo mandó a azotar y encerrar en un calabozo, privado de alimentos.

Celebraciones de San Blas Hemos recibido información de los coordinadores de vicariato del Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Charlotte que se celebrarán Misas por la festividad de San Blas, incluyendo la bendición de las gargantas, en las siguientes iglesias y misiones: n Iglesia Inmaculada Concepción, Forest City y Hendersonville n Iglesia San Marcos, Huntersville n Iglesia San Juan Bautista de la Salle, North Wilkesboro n Iglesia Santa Isabel, Boone n Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, Marion n San José, Newton Por favor, consulte la celebración y horarios con la oficina de su parroquia. Actualizaremos la lista online tan pronto como recibamos mayor información.

En el camino de regreso para llevarlo a la cárcel, una madre puso su único hijo, asfixiado casi de muerte por un hueso de pescado atascado en su garganta, a sus pies, y el niño se curó de inmediato.

Después en la cárcel fue torturado para que renegara de su fe, pero el santo se mantuvo firme por lo que el gobernador de Sebaste dio orden para que lo decapitaran.

Blas es el santo de las personas con enfermedades de la garganta y patrón de los animales salvajes debido a su cuidado por ellos.

Nosotros, en nuestra Diócesis de Charlotte, contamos con muchas parroquias que continúan con esta tradición. Así que si este 3 de febrero quisieras recibir la bendición por la intersección de San Blas en tu garganta, acude a una de las muchas Misas que serán celebradas.

EL DIÁCONO SIGFRIDO DELLA VALLE es coordinador del Ministerio Hispano del Vicariato de Smoky Mountain.

16

catholicnewsherald.com | January 28, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

San Juan Bosco, el santo pedagogo, padre y maestro de la juventud El 31 de enero, la Iglesia celebra la fiesta de San Juan Bosco, padre y maestro de la juventud.

San Juan Bosco, educador excepcional, presbítero y fundador de la Sociedad Salesiana y del Instituto de las Hijas de María Auxiliadora, nació el 16 de agosto de 1815 en Castelnuovo de Asti, Italia, y recibió de su madre Margarita Occhiena una sólida educación cristiana y humana.

Dotado de inteligencia, memoria, voluntad y agilidad física no comunes, desde niño fue seguido por sus amigos, para quienes organizaba juegos que interrumpía al tañido de las campanas para llevarlos a la iglesia. Fue ordenado sacerdote en Turín en 1841, y allí comenzó su actividad pastoral con San José Cafasso.

A los nueve años, el pequeño Juan tuvo un sueño en el que vio una multitud de niños que peleaban entre ellos y blasfemaban. Él trató de hacerlos callar a golpes, pero de pronto apareció Jesús y le dijo que debía ganarse la confianza de los muchachos con mansedumbre y caridad.

A continuación, el mismo Cristo le mostró a quien sería su maestra en esa tarea: la Virgen María. Entonces, la Madre de Dios, María Auxiliadora, le indicó que mirara hacia donde estaban los muchachos. Lo que vio esta vez fue a un grupo de animales salvajes que empezaron a transformarse en mansos corderos. En ese momento, la Virgen le susurró estas palabras: “A su tiempo lo comprenderás todo”.

Su programa, o mejor dicho, su pasión, era la educación de los jóvenes, los más pobres y abandonados.

Reunió un grupito que llevaba a jugar, a rezar y a menudo a comer con él. La

incómoda y rumorosa compañía de Don Bosco, así se lo llamaba y se lo llama familiarmente, tenía que estar cambiando de lugar continuamente hasta que por fin encontró un lugar fijo bajo el cobertizo Pinardi, que fue la primera célula del Oratorio.

Con la ayuda de su madre, Margarita, sin medios materiales y entre la persistente hostilidad de muchos, Don Bosco dio vida al Oratorio San Francisco de Sales: era el lugar de encuentro dominical de los jóvenes que quisieran pasar un día de sana alegría, una pensión con escuelas de arte y oficios para los jóvenes trabajadores, y escuelas regulares para los estudios humanísticos, según una pedagogía que sería conocida en todo el mundo como método preventivo y basada en la religión, la razón y el amor.

La práctica del método preventivo se basa en las palabras de San Pablo que dice: la caridad es benigna y paciente; sufre todo, espera todo, soporta todo (Corintios 13:4-7).

Para asegurar la continuidad de su obra, San Juan Bosco fundó la Pía Sociedad de San Francisco de Sales (los Salesianos) y las Hijas de María Auxiliadora (las Salesianas).

Fue un fecundísimo escritor popular, fundó escuelas tipográficas, revistas y editoriales para el incremento de la prensa católica, la buena prensa.

Fue un santo risueño y amable, se sentía sacerdote en la casa del pobre; sacerdote en el palacio del Rey y de los Ministros.

Buen polemista contra la secta de los Valdenses, según la mentalidad del tiempo, nunca se avergonzó de sus amistades con

Retrato de San Juan Bosco. Pintura localizada en la Capilla del Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola, calle María Auxiliadora, Cádiz, España.

Gracias a sus enseñanzas, los Salesianos de Don Bosco sirven a los jóvenes de todo el mundo sin tomar en cuenta diferencias religiosas o sociales.

Sus valores están presentes en alrededor de cuatro mil escuelas, colegios técnicos y centros juveniles en 133 países.

FOTO CORTESÍA CATHOPIC

los protestantes y los hebreos de buena voluntad: “Condenamos los errores”, escribió, “pero respetamos siempre a las personas”.

San Juan Bosco murió el 31 de enero de 1888 y fue canonizado por Pío XI en 1934.

— Condensado de Aciprensa y Catholic.net

Lecturas Diarias 30 ENERO-5 FEBRERO

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Foundation of the Diocese of Charlotte

Domingo: Jeremías 1:4-5, 17-19, 1 Corintios 12:31,13:13, Lucas 4:21-30; Lunes (San Juan Bosco): 2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30, 16:5-13, Marcos 5:1-20; Martes: 2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14, 24-25, 30, 19:3, Marcos 5:21-43; Miércoles (Presentación del Señor): Malaquías 3:1-4, Hebreos 2:14-18, Lucas 2:22-40; Jueves: 1 Reyes 2:1-4, 10-12, Marcos 6:7-13; Viernes: Sirácides 47:2-11, Marcos 6:14-29; Sábado (Santa Águeda): 1 Reyes 3:4-13, Marcos 6:30-34

13-19 FEBRERO

Domingo: Jeremías 17:5-8, 1 Corintios 15:12, 16-20, Lucas 6:17, 20-26; Lunes (Santos Cirilio y Metodio): Santiago 1:1-11, Marcos 8:11-13; Martes: Santiago 1:12-18, Marcos 8:14-21; Miércoles: Santiago 1:19-27, Marcos 8:22-26; Jueves: Santiago 2:1-9, Marcos 8:27-33; Viernes: Santiago 2:14-24, 26, Marcos 8:34–9:1; Sábado: Santiago 3:1-10, Marcos 9:2-13

6-12 FEBRERO

Domingo: Ismael 6:1-2a, 3-8, 1 Corintios 15:1-11, Lucas 5:1-11; Lunes: 1 Reyes 8:1-7, 9-13, Marcos 6:53-56; Martes: 1 Reyes 8:22-23, 27-30, Marcos 7:1-13; Miércoles: 1 Reyes 10:1-10, Marcos 7:14-23; Jueves (Santa Escolástica): 1 Reyes 11:4-13, Marcos 7:2430; Viernes: 1 Reyes 11:29-32, 12:19, Marcos 7:31-37; Sábado: 1 Reyes 12:26-32, 13:33-34, Marcos 8:1-10

‘La Presentación en el Templo’, óleo sobre tabla de Luis de Morales (Badajoz, 1510 - Alcántara, 1586). Imagen cortesía del Museo del Prado, Madrid, España.

January 28, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

El 12 de enero, las parroquias a lo largo de la diócesis ofrecieron Misas y Horas Santas en solidaridad con el 50 aniversario de la diócesis. (Izquierda) El párroco de la Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Lourdes en Monroe, Padre Benjamin Roberts y el Diácono Margarito Franco Torres aparecen junto a la pancarta del 50 aniversario colocada en cada iglesia de la diócesis. (Abajo) El Padre retirado Edward Sheridan, primer superintendente de las escuelas católicas de la diócesis, dio la homilía durante la Misa celebrada en la Iglesia San Pío X en Greensboro.

Peregrinación Mariana Una estatua de María, Madre de Dios, encargada especialmente, visitará más de 100 locaciones en la Diócesis de Charlotte durante el año del aniversario, realizando una peregrinación espiritual para visitar a los fieles en toda nuestra diócesis, tal como lo hizo en su visita a Santa Isabel. A través de la participación en esta memorable Peregrinación Mariana, nuestra familia diocesana se agrupa, uniendo parroquias, misiones, escuelas y otras instituciones Católicas en oración a Dios a través de la intercesión de nuestra patrona.

Misa por la Semana de las Escuelas Católicas Lunes 31 de enero Catedral San Patricio 1621 Dilworth Road East Charlotte, NC 28203 La estatua de María estará presente durante la Misa anual por la Semana de las Escuelas Católicas ofrecida por el Obispo Peter Jugis en la Catedral San Patricio en Charlotte, comenzando a la 1:15 p.m.

La Misa también será transmitida “en vivo” por el canal YouTube de la diócesis.

Misa por el Día Mundial de la Vida Consagrada Sábado 5 de febrero Catedral San Patricio 1621 Dilworth Road East Charlotte, NC 28203 Una Misa por el Día Mundial de la Vida Consagrada será ofrecida por el Obispo Jugis en acción de gracias por los hombres y mujeres religiosos que celebran sus aniversarios jubilares en 2021 y 2022. La celebración inicia a las 11 a.m. en la Catedral San Patricio en Charlotte.

FOTOS PROPORCIONADAS POR LAS PARROQUIAS

Parroquias celebran los 50 años de la diócesis PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE EDITORA

CHARLOTTE — El 12 de enero, las parroquias de la Diócesis de Charlotte se unieron en oración para celebrar el 50 aniversario de la fundación de la diócesis.

Cuando el Obispo Peter Jugis abrió el año del aniversario con una Hora Santa y una Misa esa noche en la Catedral San Patricio, otras iglesias siguieron su ejemplo, reuniendo a sus feligreses para la Adoración Eucarística y el Santo Sacrificio de la Misa en acción de gracias a Dios.

En particular, la celebración de la Iglesia San Pío X en Greensboro contó con la presencia de un invitado especial, el Padre Edward Sheridan, quien fue el primer superintendente de las escuelas de la diócesis, entre muchas otras funciones que realizó durante casi 60 años de ministerio sacerdotal.

El Padre Sheridan pronunció la homilía en la Misa del 50 aniversario, recordando los primeros días de la diócesis.

“Probablemente soy uno de los pocos que sigue vivo desde la época en que se formó la diócesis”, dijo sonriendo.

El Padre Sheridan se encontraba sirviendo en Brevard cuando escuchó el anuncio oficial, a fines de noviembre de 1971, que se iba a formar una nueva diócesis.

El oeste de Carolina del Norte todavía era territorio misionero en ese entonces, relató. Los católicos sumaban solo alrededor del 2 por ciento de la población del estado.

Sin embargo, el momento de la fundación de la diócesis, después del Concilio Vaticano II, fue un momento providencial.

“El Obispo Begley hizo suyo Vaticano II, lo siguió y nos pidió que también lo hiciéramos”, dijo. “Uno de los grandes resultados de su liderazgo fue la formación sobre Vaticano II en la

Diócesis de Charlotte”, y eso incluyó fortalecer el papel de los laicos en la nueva diócesis. “Él realmente puso alma y corazón en ello, y nos invitó a todos a ser la Iglesia”, dijo.

Entonces y ahora, dijo el Padre Sheridan, “el propósito de una diócesis es predicar el Evangelio a la gente y ayudarla en su camino espiritual”.

Al conmemorar este 50 aniversario, invitó a los fieles a recordar el espíritu de aquellos días fundacionales.

“Nos miramos a nosotros mismos y agradecemos al Señor por todo lo que ha hecho”, dijo.

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Oración Para el 50 Aniversario Padre Celestial, acepta nuestra humilde oración de alabanza y gratitud mientras celebramos con alegría los cincuenta años de la Diócesis de Charlotte. A lo largo de nuestra historia, los fieles del oeste de Carolina del Norte, bajo el cuidado de estimados obispos y abades, han sido alimentados por tu mano providencial. Confiamos en que invitas a tus hijos a implorar tus constantes bendiciones, te pedimos que sigas derramando tu gracia celestial sobre nosotros. Con afecto y devoción filial, te pedimos además que veas con buenos ojos las oraciones que pedimos por la intercesión de nuestra venerable patrona, la Santísima Virgen María, que con atención maternal atiende las necesidades y preocupaciones de la Iglesia. Te lo pedimos por nuestro Señor Jesucristo, tu Hijo, que vive y reina contigo en la unidad del Espíritu Santo, Dios por los siglos de los siglos.

Amén.

Oraciones y Devociones El tema del 50 aniversario, “La Fe es más preciosa que el Oro” (1 Pedro 1:7), alienta el uso de las oraciones, devociones y sacramentales probados y verdaderos de la Iglesia que durante siglos han acercado a las personas a Dios. Pidamos con confianza las gracias que esperamos recibir de Dios mientras celebramos la fundación de la Diócesis de Charlotte. ¡Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros!

Intención de Oración en enero Por la paz. Que el Padre misericordioso ponga fin a toda discordia entre los pueblos de buena voluntad y conceda Su paz entre todos los miembros de nuestra iglesia local.

“Mi oración, mi esperanza, es que reavivemos el espíritu de Vaticano II, que pongamos nuestra fe en acción en nuestra vida diaria”.

“Lleven el Evangelio a los demás”, animó a la gente. “Todos somos parte de esta pequeña diócesis de 46 condados, pero es vibrante y puede serlo más que nunca”.

“Que sigamos viviendo de acuerdo con ese espíritu presente al inicio y a lo largo de estos 50 años. Que Dios bendiga a la Diócesis de Charlotte. Nos bendiga a todos, bendiga a todos los que están en el liderazgo para lograr una Iglesia más vibrante, hospitalaria, más amorosa, más solidaria, lo más parecida al Evangelio”.

Santo del Mes Santa Isabel Ana Seton Día de fiesta: 4 de enero

Our nation 18

catholicnewsherald.com | January 28, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Pro-life marchers’ energy, enthusiasm is ‘palpable,’ says march official KURT JENSEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — One aspect of the annual March for Life that never changes is the loud cheering when the lead group, carrying the banner, arrives in front of the Supreme Court.

That tradition was sustained Jan. 21 as groups from Christendom College in Front Royal, Va., and Immanuel Lutheran School in Alexandria, Va., joined by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington arrived from the pre-march rally held in subfreezing temperatures on the National Mall.

The march up Constitution Avenue to the court had taken them slightly more than two hours.

The crowd, not quite the more than 100,000 who attended in 2020 when President Donald Trump addressed the rally in person, nonetheless appeared robust, and easily was within the estimate march organizers always give as being in the tens of thousands.

And that was just fine with Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund.

“Every year is unique,” she told Catholic News Service before the rally began. “But the energy and enthusiasm of the marchers is palpable.”

Mancini wouldn’t speculate on the future of the national march if, later this year, the U.S. Supreme Court effectively overturns the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision by upholding the Mississippi abortion law in Dobbs v.

Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

But there’s one plan in place if that occurs.

Overturning Roe would return all abortion restrictions to the states. So Mancini said the plan is to have statewide marches established in all 50 states over the next seven years. There are currently a handful of state marches, an effort that began six years ago.

Jeff Hunt, director of the Centennial Institute, a think tank attached to Colorado Christian University, said he thought legalized abortion was a nonstarter with the young people who have dominated March for Life for many years.

“Many of them grew up with their brother’s or sister’s sonogram taped to the refrigerator door,” he said. “I think that’s shaping the idea that a child is not a bunch of cells you can kill.”

He thought the current generation of young people is “naturally more pro-life than previous generations.”

Marianne Hofer, coordinator of the student pilgrimage from the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D., said, “We’re extremely excited. We’re very honored to be here at a time when Roe could be overturned.”

The university sent 230 students.

Hofer estimated that about half were at their first March for Life.

In a statement issued ahead of the march, Bishop Burbidge said the March for Life “is a powerful witness to essential truths that unite us: All of life is sacred and, thus, the life of the unborn child must be protected from the horror of abortion and life at every stage must be revered, cherished and treasured.”

PHOTOS BY CNS | TYLER ORSBURN

Pro-life advocates attend the annual March for Life in Washington Jan. 21.

Rally speakers confident about abortion law changes but see work ahead CAROL ZIMMERMANN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Speakers at the annual March for Life on Washington’s National Mall Jan. 21 spoke of a likely tipping point in the current protest against legalized abortions in the United States, but they also urged the crowd to remain vigilant in their advocacy and support for the pro-life movement.

Speakers at the 90-minute rally, held under cloudy skies with temperatures in the 20s, were faith leaders, members of Congress, pro-life advocates, including women who had or almost had abortions, and actors.

Many of the speakers acknowledged that those in More online the crowd, bundled in winter At www.catholicnewsherald.com: coats and hats and standing Check out full coverage from the close together, had to be cold, 2022 March for Life but they also commended their continued dedication in coming to the event each year to protest the 1973 Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.

Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, and the rally’s emcee, said this was her 10th March for Life at the event’s podium and she said: “I am pretty sure I have never seen such an excitable crowd as you are; and I am so grateful.”

The excitement could have been partly from the event being back on after last year’s primarily virtual event amid the pandemic and on the heels of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. But for many, the enthusiasm was echoed in the message from nearly every speaker: the potential for the Supreme Court to reverse its decision on abortion this year.

Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., who also has frequently addressed the march crowd, told them that this year they had “fresh hope and heightened expectation” awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

“Today, after decades of noble struggle and sacrifice, we are

hopeful that government-sanctioned violence against children and the exploitation of women by abortion is nearing an end – although in a very real way, the struggle to defend innocent human life now enters a critically important new phase,” he said.

The representative, who is a co-chair of the Congressional ProLife Caucus and was surrounded on the stage by about a dozen members of Congress, also noted the pro-life movement was “at the tipping point” and urged those who have been fighting for it for so long to “seize the opportunity with all the faith and seriousness we can muster.”

Dan Lipinski, a former Democratic House representative from Illinois, similarly stressed that “no matter what happens at the Supreme Court, we will continue to march.”

Other congressional leaders also addressed the crowd via taped messages shown on Jumbotron screens urging them to keep the momentum going.

Mancini told the crowd of mostly young people that she was happy to welcome them back and veering off her prepared remarks she advised them to go to first-aid tents or warming buses if they needed to get warm.

“We are hoping and praying that this year, 2022, will bring a historic change for life,” she said.

Like other speakers during the rally, she said that while the pro-life movement awaits the decision in the Dobbs case, “we need your dedication more than ever before.”

“If Roe falls, battle lines will change, but the fight for life will need to continue,” she added.

The theme for this year’s rally was “Equality Begins in the Womb,” and Mancini and other speakers highlighted how those advocating for equality need to recognize that it starts with the unborn.

Lisa Robertson, a cast member from “Duck Dynasty,” told the crowd about her personal struggles after having an abortion several years ago, but she also stressed her realization now that she could speak about it because she knew she had been forgiven.

She encouraged the crowd to also be pro-adoption.

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FROM PAGE 18

Kirk Cameron, best known for his role on the 1980s sitcom “Growing Pains,” similarly emphasized the blessing of adoption, noting that his wife and four of their six children were adopted.

Cameron said he was proud to be marching with this group to the Supreme Court and urged them to continue the spirit of the march when they returned to their homes.

Father Mike Schmitz echoed that same idea, telling the crowd that their very presence at this event “changes you.”

The priest of the Diocese of Duluth, Minn., who is a popular Catholic speaker, author and host of “Bible in a Year” podcast by Ascension Press, was a big hit with the crowd, which chanted “Father Mike!” after he left the stage.

The crowd also cheered “Katie!

Katie!” for Katie Shaw, a pro-life advocate with Down syndrome who thanked her parents for choosing life and said she was saddened by all the friends she might have had who were aborted.

The rally, which always leads off the march, began and ended with prayer.

The opening prayer was delivered by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, a Greek Orthodox leader who was joined on the stage by Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities.

The closing prayer was said by Cissie Graham Lynch, granddaughter of the well-known Southern Baptist minister the Rev. Billy Graham.

In Brief Donnelly is confirmed as U.S. ambassador to the Vatican WASHINGTON, D.C. — Catholic lawyer Joe Donnelly of Indiana is the new U.S. ambassador to the Holy See. The U.S. Senate confirmed Donnelly, a former member of the House of Representatives and the Senate, in a voice vote Jan. 20. “Joe is a person of deep Catholic faith and commitment to public service, and I am confident that he will serve in this important new role with vision and integrity,” said Holy Cross Father John Jenkins, president of the University of Notre Dame, Donnelly’s alma mater. “It comes as no surprise that there was broad bipartisan support for his confirmation as he has proven throughout his career that he is committed to building relationships and working across divisions. Joe has the prayers of his alma mater as well as our commitment to assist him in any way we can,” Father Jenkins said in a statement following the vote. Donnelly, 66, served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2007 to 2013, representing Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District, and was a U.S. senator from 2013 to 2019. A Democrat, he ran for reelection to the Senate in 2018, but he lost to Republican Mike Braun.

Supreme Court rejects request from Texas abortion providers WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Supreme Court Jan. 20 rejected a request from Texas abortion

providers to immediately send their challenge of the state’s abortion law to a federal District Court, where a judge had previously blocked the law. The high court’s action – in its onesentence order – means the state law that bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy will remain in effect. The Supreme Court’s refusal to grant the providers’ request was not unanimous. Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan said they would have granted the request. Sotomayor, in a seven-page dissent, joined by Breyer and Kagan, said the court’s action in this case meant it “accepts yet another dilatory tactic by Texas.”

She also said the federal District Court “will remain powerless” to address the state law’s “unconstitutional chill on abortion care, likely for months to come” and added that she could not look the other way while, she said, her colleagues on the bench did. Texas Right to Life praised the Supreme Court’s action, saying in a Jan. 20 statement that the “lawsuit will continue in the appropriate venue and the Texas Heartbeat Act will continue to save preborn lives.” On. Jan. 17, the abortion providers challenge to the state’s law that had been before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was sent to the Texas Supreme Court.

New York natives and were ordained priests of the New York Archdiocese. Bishop-designate Bonnici was ordained June 22, 1991, and Bishop-designate Espaillat was ordained May 17, 2003. The appointments were announced in Washington Jan. 25 by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan thanked Pope Francis for appointing two new auxiliaries for the archdiocese, saying the pope “has selected two outstanding priests, both experienced pastors, to serve the people of God of this archdiocese as auxiliary bishops.” He said he looked forward “to working even more closely” with them “as they undertake this new role in their priesthood.” Bishops-designate Bonnici and Espaillat will be ordained to the episcopacy March 1 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan.

— Catholic News Service

Pope names two New York pastors as auxiliary bishops of N.Y. Archdiocese WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pope Francis has named two pastors in the New York Archdiocese to be auxiliary bishops of their archdiocese, Father John S. Bonnici and Father Joseph A. Espaillat.

Bishop-designate Bonnici, 56, is currently pastor of St. Augustine Parish and Sts. John & Paul Parish, both in Larchmont, N.Y. Bishopdesignate Espaillat, 45, is pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Bronx, N.Y., and director of the Hispanic Charismatic Renewal. Both are

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Our world 20

catholicnewsherald.com | January 28, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Pride is an obstacle to Christian unity, pope says CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

ROME — Divided Christians will never find unity unless they are willing to humble themselves, bowing down to worship Jesus and Him alone, Pope Francis said.

“How many times has pride proved the real obstacle to communion,” the pope said as he closed the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Jan. 25 during an ecumenical evening prayer service at Rome’s Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

As the service began, Orthodox Metropolitan Polykarpos of Italy and Anglican Archbishop Ian Ernest, the archbishop of Canterbury’s representative in Rome, joined Pope Francis in descending the stairs under the main altar to pray before the relics of St. Paul. At the conclusion of vespers, they joined the pope in blessing the congregation.

At the beginning of his homily, Pope Francis extended a special welcome to students from the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey in Switzerland, Anglican students from Nashotah House Theological Seminary in Wisconsin and Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox students studying in Rome with scholarships from the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

The theme for the 2022 celebration of the week was the affirmation of the Magi or Three Kings, “We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship Him.” The theme was chosen by the Middle East Council of Churches, working with the pontifical council and the World Council of Churches. Pope Francis pointed out how many challenges, including war and violence, those Christians face, “yet by their testimony, they give us hope. They remind us that the star of Christ shines in the darkness and never sets; from on high, the Lord accompanies and encourages our steps.”

The Magi, the pope said, saw the star, yet they were searching for a “greater light,” which led them to Jesus.

“Dear brothers and sisters, may we too follow the star of Jesus! May we not let ourselves be distracted by the glittering lights of this world, brilliant yet falling stars,” he said. “May we not follow the fashions of the moment, shooting stars that burn out. May we not follow the temptation of shining with our own light, concerned only with our own group and our self-preservation.”

Christians are called to follow Jesus, to live His Gospel and to strive for the unity He prayed His disciples would have, the pope said. Christians must follow that call “without worrying about how long and tiring may be the road to its full attainment.”

When the Magi reached Jerusalem, he said, they encountered the resistance of Herod and the fear of the people, yet they continued to Bethlehem.

“Along our journey toward unity, we too can halt for the same reason that paralyzed those people: confusion and fear,” he said, including “the fear of a newness that upsets our usual habits and our sense of security; the fear that others may destabilize my traditions and longestablished patterns.”

A newly installed catechist receives a crucifix from Pope Francis during a Mass marking Sunday of the Word of God in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Jan. 23,.

At the Mass, the pope formally installed women and men in the ministries of lector and catechist.

CNS | REMO CASILLI, REUTERS

Pope Francis confers ministries of lector, catechist on lay women and men CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY — Highlighting the importance of the Bible in the life of faith and the role of lay women and men in sharing the Gospel, Pope Francis formally installed eight men and women in the ministry of lector and eight others in the ministry of catechist.

During Mass Jan. 23, the Church’s celebration of Sunday of the Word of God, the pope used a revised rite for formally installing lectors, a ministry he opened to women a year earlier, and the new rite for the ministry of catechist, which he established in May. In most countries, women and men have long served as lectors and catechists and even have been commissioned for those roles.

But those formally installed in the ministries are recognized as having a specific vocation to leadership in their communities and will serve in what the Church defines as a “stable” manner.

Pope Francis installed six women – from South Korea, Pakistan, Ghana and Italy – and two Italian men in the ministry of lector, telling them they were placing themselves “in the service of the faith, which is rooted in the word of God.” As they knelt on the marble floor before the main altar, Pope Francis prayed over them and told them, “You will proclaim that word in the liturgical assembly, instruct children and adults in the faith and prepare them to receive the sacraments worthily.

You will bring the message of salvation to those who have not yet received it.”

Three women from Spain, Brazil and Ghana and five men from Italy, Peru, Brazil and Poland were installed as catechists, and Pope Francis told them they were called “to live more intensely the apostolic spirit, following the example of those men and women who helped Paul and the other apostles to spread the Gospel.”

They, too, knelt before the altar as the pope said, “May your ministry always be rooted in a profound life of prayer, built on sound doctrine and animated by true apostolic enthusiasm.”

Pope Francis gave each of the lectors a Bible and the catechists a crucifix modeled after the crucifix on the crosier regularly used

by St. Paul VI and St. John Paul II. In December, the Vatican released the Latin text of the Rite of Institution of Catechists and said the revised Latin text for the Rite for the Institution of Lectors and Acolytes would be published soon.

Bishops’ conferences will translate the texts into local languages.

In his homily, the pope said the 16 lectors and catechists “are called to the important work of serving the Gospel of Jesus, of proclaiming Him, so that His consolation, His joy and His liberation can reach everyone.”

But, the pope said, “that is also the mission of each one of us: to be credible messengers, prophets of God’s Word in the world.”

For that to happen, he said, Christians must devote themselves to reading the Bible, digging “deep within the Word that reveals God’s newness and leads us tirelessly to love others.”

“Let us put the Word of God at the center of the Church’s life and pastoral activity,” he said.

Jesus, through the Scriptures, “reveals the face of God as one who cares for our poverty and takes to heart our destiny,” the pope said. “God is not an overlord, aloof and on high, but a Father who follows our every step.”

“This is the ‘good news’ that Jesus proclaims to the amazement of all: God is close at hand, and He wants to care for me and for you, for everyone. He wants to relieve the burdens that crush you, to warm your wintry coldness, to brighten your daily dreariness and to support your faltering steps,” he said.

Faith, prayer and Bible reading, he said, also should prompt Christians to read out to others with that same kind of care and consolation.

Through the Gospels, the pope said, it is clear that Jesus “has not come to deliver a set of rules or to officiate at some religious ceremony; rather, He has descended to the streets of our world in order to encounter our wounded humanity, to caress faces furrowed by suffering, to bind up broken hearts and to set us free from chains that imprison the soul. In this way, He shows us the worship most pleasing to God: caring for our neighbor.”

Pope Francis said “rigidity” can be a temptation in the Church, giving some people the idea that the stricter they are and the more they follow precise norms the better Catholics they will be.

But, he said, “our God is not like that.”

A spiritual life without care for others and work for justice may put a person “in orbit” but it touches no one, he said. “The Word of God became flesh and wants to become flesh in us.”

“Sacred Scripture has not been given to us for our entertainment, to coddle us with an angelic spirituality,” he said, “but to make us go forth and encounter others, drawing near to their wounds.”

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In Brief St. Irenaeus: New Doctor of the Church

CNS | GLEB GARANICH, REUTERS

A Ukrainian soldier stands on the front line near Travneve, Ukraine, Dec. 15.

Ukrainians are afraid, but hope in the power of prayer, archbishop says CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

ROME — Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv-Halych, Ukraine, major archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, knows his people are frightened.

“People are overwhelmed with a great fear, and this is normal in the face of such danger” as Russia continues to deploy troops all along its border with Ukraine and as the United States and other NATO countries place troops on notice for possible deployment, the archbishop said Jan. 25.

At the same time, he said, “as Christians, we possess hope of the victory of good over evil. We especially pray for those who want to harm our people, that the Lord will avert their evil intentions and guide them to the path of peace.”

The archbishop, his faithful and all Ukrainians, he said, were grateful to Pope Francis for setting Jan. 26 as a day of prayer for peace in Ukraine and for his constant prayers for an end to the fighting that began in 2014 between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces in Eastern Ukraine.

The fighting, he said, has amounted to “a silent war: it was not often mentioned in recent years, and the voice of the Holy Father was virtually the only one which called for peace and called to mind this bleeding wound in central Europe.”

But now “the situation is especially critical,” he said in a written response to questions. “We perceive a real threat from Russia in the form of a full-scale invasion of our country.”

Calling for a day of prayer, Pope Francis expressed his concern that the tensions on the Ukrainian-Russian border could “put into question the security of the European continent, with even wider repercussions.”

“It is clearer than ever that the war in Ukraine is not just a war against Ukraine, and therefore not just a problem for Ukrainians,” Archbishop Shevchuk said. “It is obvious that, today, Europe is facing the worst security crisis in decades,” and the pope “realizes how dramatic possible scenarios could be for the whole European continent.”

Of course, he said, “in union with millions of Christians around the world, the faithful of our Church in Ukraine and in the lands of immigration,” will mark the day of prayer for peace. From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., he said, the Ukrainian church’s Zhyve TV was going to broadcast a “prayer telethon” live, including on its YouTube channel.

“We will respond to the call of the Holy Father by our belief that prayer is stronger than any weapon,” the archbishop said.

In a video message asking Ukrainians to pray, the archbishop told them: “When new dangers arise and the enemy is on our doorstep, our military checks their combat efficiency, statesmen work to streamline social mechanisms, diplomats work to ensure that the world supports our people and our state. And what do Christians do? Christians pray, fast and repent of their sins.”

As the United States and its NATO allies consider how best to respond to Russia’s massive buildup of military forces and equipment along its border with Ukraine, the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ international policy committee also urged all parties to seek peace.

“With the alarming situation in Ukraine, we appeal to all leaders to respect the territorial integrity and political independence of Ukraine and to engage in constructive dialogue to peacefully resolve this conflict that impacts the lives and livelihoods of 43 million Ukrainians,” said Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, Ill., chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, in a Jan. 25 statement.

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis officially has declared St. Irenaeus of Lyon a Doctor of the Church.

In a decree released by the Vatican Jan. 21, the pope ordered that the second-century theologian be given the title of “doctor of unity” and said St. Irenaeus’ life and teachings served as “a spiritual and theological bridge between Eastern and Western Christians. May the doctrine of such a great teacher increasingly encourage the journey of all the Lord’s disciples toward full communion,” the pope said.

During a meeting with Pope Francis Jan. 20, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, asked the pope to “accept the affirmative opinion” of the cardinals and bishops who are congregation members to confer the title on St. Irenaeus, known for his defense of orthodoxy amid the rise of gnostism. St. Irenaeus is the second Doctor of the Church named by Pope Francis after St. Gregory of Narek in 2015. He brings the total number of Doctors of the Church to 37. Born in Smyrna, Asia Minor – now modern-day Turkey – St. Irenaeus was known as a staunch defender of the faith.

St. Brigid’s day set as national holiday DUBLIN — The Irish government has added a new public holiday to the national calendar to honor the country’s female patron, St. Brigid of Kildare. The fifth-century abbess – one of the country’s three patron saints along with St. Patrick and St. Columba – founded several monasteries of nuns. Her Feb. 1 feast day will become the new holiday; many Irish people mark that date as the traditional first day of spring.

Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare and Leighlin, where St. Brigid founded her largest monastic settlement, had backed calls for the female saint to be honored on the civil calendar. The new holiday, on which all public offices will close, will be in addition to St. Patrick’s Day, which falls on March 17 and is also a public holiday.

This year, St. Patrick’s Day will have an extra holiday March 18 as a special “thank you” to front-line health care workers for their work during the pandemic.

Peru bishop warns of harm to environment, livelihoods from oil spill LIMA, Peru — After an oil spill fouled nearly 100 miles of shoreline north of Peru’s capital city, the bishop of Callao, the seaport where the accident occurred, called for officials to repair the damage and care for “our common home.” Bishop Luis Barrera Pacheco called for those involved to “assume their responsibilities and commit to the immediate solution of this huge environmental damage that puts life in danger.” The spill, which occurred Jan. 15 as a tanker was offloading oil at a refinery, has left a tarry slick on beaches and wildlife. Less visible, however, is the long-lasting effect on thousands of people who depend for food and a livelihood on the fish they catch or the shellfish and crabs they collect along the shore, Bishop Barrera said.

“Those families have already seen a huge drop in their income. And once the seabed is contaminated, those products lose their value in the market and harm those who eat them.” The spill’s cause is being investigated.

Initial reports said the tanker lurched and a pipe broke because of unusually high waves caused by the eruption of an underwater volcano in Tonga.

Vatican prosecutors reindict defendants VATICAN CITY — In the ongoing Vatican trial sparked by a disastrous multimillion-dollar property deal in London, Vatican prosecutors handed over new indictments Jan. 25 for four individuals on charges involving financial malfeasance and corruption. The four defendants included in those indictments were London-based Italian financier Raffaele Mincione, the owner of the property in London’s Chelsea district; Fabrizio Tirabassi, a former official at the Secretariat of State; Nicola Squillace, a Milan-based lawyer

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who helped broker the London property deal; and Monsignor Mauro Carlino, Cardinal Angelo Becciu’s former secretary. The Vatican court originally charged and brought to trial 10 people, including the four men reindicted and Cardinal Becciu, former prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, as well as four companies. But in October, the court ordered the prosecution to redo its investigations of four of the defendants and the four companies.

Sri Lankan cardinal to seek global help for justice in church bombings COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo said there is no other choice now but to turn to the international community to seek justice for victims of the 2019 Easter bombings in Sri Lanka.

“We tried our best to solve the issue within the country and do justice to our people but have failed,” he said during an online forum with an international audience Jan. 24, ucanews.com reported. “The legal system under the attorney general does not consider the recommendations of the commission on the Easter attacks, therefore we have no option but to go international,” the cardinal said. Cardinal Ranjith hinted in April 2021 of his intentions to not only approach the United Nations but also countries with global influence to seek prosecution of the people responsible for the attacks on three churches and three luxury hotels. “We can influence those countries as the Church is an international organization. We have connections all over the world,” he said. A group of suicide bombers affiliated to local Islamist group National Thowheed Jamath was suspected to be behind the bombings that killed 269 people, including 37 foreign nationals, and injured about 500 more.

Retired Pope Benedict corrects statement for Munich abuse report VATICAN CITY — Amending a written statement made to a panel investigating clerical sexual abuse in his former Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, retired Pope Benedict XVI said he was present at a 1980 meeting to discuss the transfer of a priest accused of misconduct. “He did attend the meeting on Jan. 15, 1980,” said a statement issued on Pope Benedict’s behalf by his secretary, Archbishop Georg Ganswein.

“The statement to the contrary was therefore objectively incorrect. He would like to emphasize that this was not done out of bad faith but was the result of an oversight in the editing of his statement,” the archbishop said Jan. 24. The 94-year-old Pope Benedict, he said, is still going through an almost 1,900-page report, which was released Jan. 20 and looked at the handling of cases in the archdiocese between 1945 and 2019. The former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger headed the Munich Archdiocese from 1977 to 1982. Once the retired pope has had the time to thoroughly read the Westpfahl Spilker Wastl report, Archbishop Ganswein said, “he will explain” how the editing error occurred. “He is very sorry for this mistake and asks pardon,” the archbishop said.

Court upholds ruling against two Vatican bank ex-managers VATICAN CITY — A Vatican appellate court rejected the appeal of two former top managers of the Vatican bank who were found liable for mismanagement. In a Jan. 21 statement, the Institute for the Works of Religion, the formal name of the bank, said the court upheld its 2018 ruling against Paolo Cipriani, the former bank director, and Massimo Tulli, the former deputy director, and ordered them to pay more than 40.5 million euro ($45.9 million) in damages. While no details were released regarding the specific instances of mismanagement committed by Cipriani and Tulli, the Institute for the Works of Religion said the court’s 2018 judgment centered on investments made between 2010 and 2013. In February 2017, an Italian tribunal in Rome also found Cipriani and Tulli guilty of violating norms against money laundering; both men were given four-month prison sentences. The Institute for the Works of Religion praised the court’s decision to uphold a conviction that “was the first of its kind within Vatican City State” and “served as a forerunner to other similar cases that are currently ongoing.”

— Catholic News Service

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catholicnewsherald.com | January 28, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Jesuit Father John Michalowski

Kathryn Evans

Flannery O’Connor’s stories reflect our fallen nature, point to grace

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nly recently have I become a devotee of the Catholic writer Flannery O’Connor, although her collection of short stories sat on my bookshelf for many years.

I was aware that she was an important figure, both as a writer and as a Catholic. Her short story “A Good Man is Hard to Find” is studied at various levels in academia, and she was certainly a master at her craft. Yet, when I tried to dip into her work previously, I never found it particularly appealing. Her characters are rarely likable, and the situations that they are in are rarely pleasant. There is often violence, as well as despair; it does not make for light reading and can be challenging on both an intellectual and spiritual level.

However, the other thing that I noticed about her stories when I did read them was that I couldn’t let them go. I would always be left thinking about them, drawn back to read them a second or even a third time.

There was something about them that kept working on me.

It was only when I read the collection of her prose essays, “Mystery and Manners,” that O’Connor herself gave me the answer to the riddle of her work and the power of it.

Born in Savannah, Ga., in 1925 to a Catholic family, O’Connor seems never to have swerved or deviated in her commitment to the faith. She also was dedicated to the art and craft of fiction writing. Though she died from lupus at the young age of 39, she left such an impact on the world that she is featured as one of Bishop Robert Barron’s “Pivotal Players” in his video series of that name.

Her faith was the bedrock of all that she did and the light by which she saw the whole world, including her own work as a writer and storyteller. Growing up and living in the Protestant South as a Roman Catholic gave her a unique perspective and a certain coloring to her stories; for while her own beliefs were firmly grounded in Rome, those of her characters reflect much more the culture that surrounded her. She describes the South as being “Christ-haunted” even if not always “Christ-centered”; however, her own life was always fixed firmly on the Lord. She saw her talent and skill solely as a gift given her by God, and therefore her career as a writer was to her a vocation and a calling.

Through her essays and the collection of her letters, “The Habit of Being,” I gained a new appreciation of O’Connor and her work from her own words. O’Connor was dedicated to the purity of art. As she said, “All I mean by art is writing something that is valuable in itself and that works in itself.

The basis of art is truth, both in matter and in mode.” The only conscious agenda she had in writing her stories was to write truthful and well-crafted stories, and she loathed the idea of writers who used their talents to write propaganda or wrote simply for profit.

Her own strong faith imbued everything she did and certainly could not be kept out of her image of reality.

She discusses in various essays and letters how it makes a difference to a writer’s work whether the writer believes that the world was created intentionally by God or that the world is all just random, meaningless happenstance. One has only to compare such works as “The Lord of the Rings” and “Game of Thrones” to see the difference that an author’s

worldview can make, even when both are very skilled.

Though she believed completely in the mercy and goodness of God, O’Connor was not one to see the world through a lens of sentimentality. She wrote, “My own feeling is that writers who see by the light of their Christian faith will have, in these times, the sharpest eyes for the grotesque, for the perverse, and for the unacceptable.”

She looked unflinchingly at humanity in light of the Fall and original sin, and she did not shy away from depicting in her fiction what it was that she saw.

‘I have found, in short, from reading my own writing, that my subject in fiction is the action of grace in territory held largely by the devil.’

Flannery O’Connor O’Connor’s stories are uncomfortable to read because she is holding up a mirror and reflecting back our own image as fallen creatures. Writing in the South in the 1950s, her stories contain all the atmosphere that surrounded her – the lingering prejudice and charged emotions around integration and the civil-rights movement, as well as the loosening of morals and increased scorn for traditional values.

O’Connor herself was a strong supporter of civil rights, but she didn’t use her skills as a writer to preach or to stand on a figurative soapbox. She simply told stories that reflected the world as accurately as she could, and who could be surprised that those reflections are not always particularly pleasant?

Though she saw the world with clear vision, O’Connor was not without hope or trust in God’s mercy. She said of her work, “I have found, in short, from reading my own writing, that my subject in fiction is the action of grace in territory held largely by the devil.” She was very aware of the fallen nature of this world, but what she was most interested in were those moments of offered grace and whether those offers were accepted or not.

We don’t always have to look very hard to see our own image in many of O’Connor’s characters, but it’s important to also look at the choices that those characters make and use it for contemplation about the choices we make in our own lives. Are we being Christ-haunted because we refuse to let Him into our lives? Have we hardened our hearts to the people around us, in our community or in our family? Have we swelled ourselves with pride and false piety?

The work of Flannery O’Connor can be challenging at times, but it is a challenge well worth the effort. Whether you start with her short stories or one of her novels, her prose essays, collected letters or her “Prayer Journal,” I believe there is a path for anyone who is interested in getting to know her better.

KATHRYN EVANS is an author living in Salisbury, where she keeps chickens, experiments with cooking, and reads too many books. Find her work at www. evanswriting.com, including her book, “An Adult-ish Toolkit: 30 Things I Have Learned in 30 Years.”

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‘As He is, so are we in the world’

he First Letter of John has been a favorite Scripture for years. It reminds me of the depths of God’s love in Jesus Christ and the call to allow grace to transform all of us in love. “God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. In this is love brought to perfection among us, that we have confidence on the day of judgment because as He is, so are we in the world” (1 Jn 4:16-17). This is the challenge, the call to each Christian. This is the grace that we need to pray for each day that “as He is, so are we in the world.”

Lord, give me the grace to live like Jesus in the world. Lord, make me a person who forgives my enemies. Lord, give me compassion for those who are bodily or mentally ill or handicapped. Lord, help me to be a friend of sinners and of those rejected by society. Lord, help me to not be afraid of those with power and authority but help me to call them to account when they judge wrongly.

Lord, help me to go before You in prayer so that my heart and mind would be open to discernment, to the guidance of Your Holy Spirit. Lord, help me to serve others and not to count the cost. Help me to love as You love.

Grant me this fearsome grace that Your love might transform a broken world. Grant this grace to all Christians so that as Jesus was in the world, so we also might be. Amen.

The First Letter of John goes on to remind us that through faith and baptism we are begotten by God, children of God and brothers and sisters to one another. “Everyone who loves the Father loves also the one begotten by Him” (5:1). In other words, we love not only the Father and the Son but all who are baptized into Christ. Sometimes this is not easy – so we need to ask God for the grace to forgive and to love. Such love is not a matter of feelings, but of concrete actions and caring. Clearly when the deacon St. Stephen was being stoned to death, he did not have tender feelings toward his executioners, but he did have compassion on them as he prayed, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60).

“Whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith” (5:4). As is true both in this letter and in John’s Gospel, the world here does not mean creation – which is good – but human culture often distorted by selfishness and sin, by greed and lust, by pride and anger, and by other things that distort the image of God in us and in our view of one another.

Thus, we need to beg God that the seed of faith might grow into a life of love for all of our sisters and brothers, for all of our friends and all of our enemies. Then the image of Christ will shine in our lives so that the poor might be gladdened, the morally blind might recover their sight, the oppressed might go free, and the Gospel might go out to all the world. Then as He is, so will we be in the world.

JESUIT FATHER JOHN MICHALOWSKI is the parochial vicar of St. Peter Church in Charlotte.

January 28, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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Thomas J. Salerno

‘Evangelization is colonialism’: Are we sure about that?

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vangelization is colonialism,” she said.

So, there I was on a Zoom call, part of a biweekly meeting of a Christian writers group. After sharing our latest accomplishments and travails, the topic of discussion turned to evangelization.

One group member – I’ll call her Josephine – surprised us by categorically rejecting the very concept of missionary evangelization. She alleged that bringing the Gospel to foreign lands was tantamount to exploitation and oppression. “To send missionaries to Africa and Asia to convert the native people to Christianity is religious colonialism,” she insisted.

To support her argument, Josephine recited the familiar litany of evils perpetrated over the recent centuries by waves of Christian European colonizers: the African slave trade, the genocide of Native Americans and other atrocities.

My first instinct was to dismiss Josephine’s viewpoint as just another example of rampant “wokeism.” But the emotion behind her argument was deep and sincere. Josephine is from a part of the world where the wounds inflicted by centuries of colonial domination are still raw. I had no desire to deny this painful history or to denigrate Josephine’s personal experiences, so I remained silent. Perhaps I should have spoken up right then and there, but I doubt it would have achieved much good. I’ve always been more articulate with my pen than with my tongue.

I considered long and hard how to respond to such a vehement (if somewhat understandable) opposition to evangelization. My first thought was, how on earth can a self-professed Christian like Josephine square such a declaration with the Great Commission? Christ’s final command to his disciples is unequivocal: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you” (Mt 28:19-20).

For a Christian, sharing the Gospel is nonnegotiable. St. Paul states clearly that it is a duty, an obligation: “If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel!” (1 Cor 9:16).

Christianity is not, as Josephine and many others seem to believe, an inherently European religion. The first Christians were Jews from the Near East. When St. Paul embarked on his missionary journeys to southern Europe, was he engaged in an act of colonial aggression, imposing his Semitic beliefs on the pagans of Athens and Corinth? Or consider the episode in the Acts of the Apostles when Philip proclaimed the Gospel to the Ethiopian eunuch. Was Philip somehow oppressing this foreigner who voluntarily asked to be baptized (Acts 8:26-40)? Christianity is not an ethnic or tribal religion. It has nothing to do with blood, soil or race. Christianity is about universal truth that transcends phenomena such as gender, race,

nationality, class or language. To quote St. Paul again: “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28).

When challenged, Josephine conceded that missionary evangelization might be legitimate, but only if certain conditions were met: “Christians should focus on explaining what Jesus Christ has done for them personally. But once you start saying that Christ is the way, the only way, that’s wrong.”

Notice the quintessentially modern predilection for making religion all about subjective experience, relegating faith to being little more than a private hobby.

The implication is that Jesus Christ is just another moral philosopher whose teachings may or may not help you. But this idea is antithetical to Christianity. Jesus Christ is more than a mere mortal teacher like Socrates or Confucius. He is God incarnate.

Christianity is not, fundamentally, a system of ethics or even a way of life.

Christianity is salvation. The Gospel is salvation. Christ is salvation. When Jesus asked the Twelve if they wished to leave Him, Peter responded, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn 6:68).

Christians insist that Jesus is the way because this is what Jesus Himself proclaimed: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn 14:6).

Under the rubric of contemporary social trends, all claims to universal, objective truth must perforce be rejected as power plays that are driven by a desire to repress individual freedom. By this logic, truth must instead give way to relativism and the primacy of subjective life experiences (how often today do we hear the trite rejoinder “Live your truth”?).

To paraphrase Bishop Robert Barron, we should never impose the Gospel but always propose it. But if even proposing Christ is deemed anathema, a crime, an act of oppression and violence, we have reached an impasse. Christianity is a missionary religion. If proclaiming the Gospel to the wider world is declared out of bounds, Christianity collapses.

I don’t blame or judge Josephine for her views. Yet despite her sincerity, her ideas about evangelization seem narrow and a bit blinkered, particularly at a time when those initially “missioned to” have become the new missionaries.

Recently, my home parish was visited by a Nigerian priest from the Missionary Society of St. Paul, the first indigenous missionary society founded by Africans.

African and Asian priests now ministering in Western countries – not least in the United States – can reasonably be called Catholic missionaries, traveling far from their own lands to work amid a Church (and a society) deeply in need of both their witness to Christ and their strong, often SALERNO, SEE PAGE 24

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From online story: “Pope confers ministries of lector, catechist on lay women and men” Through press time on Jan. 26, 18,382 visitors to www.catholicnewsherald.com have viewed a total of 27,722 pages. The top 10 headlines in January so far have been: n Bishop Jugis opens diocese’s 50th anniversary year with call to prayer, action.................... 1,097 n Why do we pray for the dead?.................................................................................................................. 889 n 16th annual March for Life Charlotte draws hundreds to witness to sanctity of life..................871 n View the current print edition of the Catholic News Herald.............................................................699 n Tradición mexicana resalta Fiesta de la Presentación del Señor....................................................647 n Former St. Ann pastor who ‘would help you find healing’ passes away........................................594 n With death anniversaries many find comfort in rituals.....................................................................498 n Bishop establishes Family Life office......................................................................................................403 n 2022 Eucharistic Congress planning underway..................................................................................386 n Learn more about poverty in January ...................................................................................................281

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catholicnewsherald.com | January 28, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

AQUINAS

DSA

DSA

FROM PAGE 2

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FROM PAGE 12

brandishing a poker from the fireplace.

Under pressure from both the pope and the Holy Roman Emperor, Thomas’ brothers allowed him to escape from captivity.

He traveled to Rome and received the pope’s blessing upon his vocation, which would soon take him to Paris to study with the theologian later canonized as St. Albert the Great.

Thomas’ silent demeanor caused other students to nickname him “the Dumb Ox.” Albert, however, discovered that the young man was a brilliant thinker, and proclaimed: “We call him the Dumb Ox, but he will give such a bellow in learning as will be heard all over the world.”

By the time he was 23, Thomas was teaching alongside his mentor at the University of Cologne. During 1248, he published his first commentaries on the pre-Christian Greek philosopher Aristotle, whose insights on nature, logic and metaphysics would inform Thomas’ approach to Catholic theology.

Around the middle of the century, Thomas was ordained to the priesthood, in which he showed great reverence for the liturgy and skill as a homilist. In keeping with the Dominican Order’s charism for preaching, he strove to bring his own family to a sincere practice of the faith – and largely succeeded.

St. Thomas’ best-known achievements, however, are his works of theology. These include the “Summa Contra Gentiles,” the “Compendium Theologiae” and the great “Summa Theologica” – which was placed on the altar along with the Bible at the 16th-century Council of Trent for easy reference during discussions.

In December 1273 the scholar proclaimed that he could write no more, following a mystical experience in which he said he had “seen things that make my writings look like straw.” But he complied with a request to attend the Council of Lyon to help reunite the Latin and Greek churches.

On his way there, however, Thomas became ill and stopped at a Cistercian abbey. The monks treated him with reverence, and it was to them that he dictated a final work of theology: a commentary on the Old Testament’s Song of Songs.

The saint did not live to finish this commentary. Nearing death, he made a final confession and asked for the Eucharist to be brought to him. In its presence, he declared: “I adore You, my God and my Redeemer ... for whose honor I have studied, labored, preached and taught.”

“I hope I have never advanced any tenet as Your word which I had not learned from You,” he told God before making his last Communion. “If through ignorance I have done otherwise, I revoke everything of that kind, and submit all my writings to the judgment of the holy Roman Church.”

His last words were addressed to one of the Cistercians who asked for a word of spiritual guidance. “Be assured that he who shall always walk faithfully in (God’s) presence, always ready to give Him an account of all his actions, shall never be separated from Him by consenting to sin,” he declared.

St. Thomas Aquinas died on March 7, 1274. He was canonized in 1323 and made a Doctor of the Church in 1568.

In 1965, the Second Vatican Council taught that seminarians should learn “under the guidance of St. Thomas,” in order to “illumine the mysteries of salvation as completely as possible.”

— Catholic News Agency

El año pasado, los feligreses aportaron más de $6.2 millones, superando la meta de la campaña.

La campaña DSA de este año espera recaudar $6,367,200, y cada parroquia y misión tiene una meta determinada en base a su ofertorio.

A medida que más personas retornen asistiendo presencialmente a Misa y otras actividades este año, los párrocos harán un llamado a los feligreses para que ayuden a su parroquia a alcanzar su meta.

Las parroquias que superan su meta en donaciones reciben un reembolso del 100 por ciento de los fondos adicionales recaudados. Las parroquias que no alcanzan su objetivo en las donaciones de los feligreses compensan el déficit con fondos de sus presupuestos operativos.

Este año, mientras celebramos el 50 aniversario de la Diócesis de Charlotte”, concluyó el obispo en su carta, “unámonos como familia diocesana para compartir el amor de Dios con los demás a través de nuestras oraciones y donaciones financieras a la Campaña de Apoyo Diocesano, dando siempre gracias a Dios por el don precioso de nuestra fe, que verdaderamente es más preciosa que el oro”.

exceeding the campaign’s goal.

This year’s DSA campaign totals $6,367,200, with each parish and mission having a goal that is determined based on its offertory collection.

As more people return to in-person worship and other activities this year, pastors will be calling on parishioners to help their parish reach its goal.

Parishes that exceed their goal

DOMÍNGUEZ VIENE DE LA PÁGINA 14

que realizan para lograr el sustento de sus hogares. Educan a sus hijos y son los principales catequistas y maestros de ellos.

Sirven en diferentes ministerios en la Iglesia y van haciendo que el reino de Dios se haga posible permitiendo que nuestra diócesis desarrolle programas de educación a través del sostenimiento económico de todas las entidades de la Iglesia.

No quiero dejar fuera a nuestros queridos religiosos sirviendo en esta hermosa diócesis, muchos viniendo de otros países a servir aquí.

Ellos son un vivo testimonio de fe y de entrega de esta fe, una fe que se traduce en obras a través de la entrega de su propia vida.

Con gran cariño vemos a nuestros pastores sirviendo al pueblo de Dios lo mejor posible dentro de sus capacidades.

Ellos van buscando día a día nuevas formas para motivar en sus fieles esa fe más preciosa que el oro, ellos la viven, la transmiten y propician el sentido de una fe vivida dentro de la comunidad cristiana.

Nuestros diáconos, con esa vocación de servicio que han elegido, transmiten esa fe en el servicio sin reserva a las comunidades, muchos de ellos dividiendo su tiempo entre su familia y la Iglesia, dando a cada familia lo mejor de ellos.

Nuestros seminaristas, que en su deseo de llegar a ser sacerdotes, dan una respuesta generosa a comenzar la formación sacerdotal en los centros de formación.

Ellos inspiran a tantos otros jóvenes a tener el ideal de servir a Dios y al prójimo. ¡Todos somos parte de este gran tesoro de la fe! Dios nuestro Padre quiere seguir entregándola a cada uno de sus hijos, especialmente en este año de gracia jubilar de los 50 años de nuestra diócesis.

Vivamos este momento histórico y hagamos lo posible por crecer en nuestro amor a Dios y al prójimo por amor a Dios.

Bendiciones a todos.

EL PADRE JULIO DOMÍNGUEZ es Vicario Episcopal del Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Charlotte.

ASCIK

in donations receive a rebate for 100 percent of the additional funds collected. Parishes that fall short of their goal in donations from parishioners make up the shortfall from their operating budgets.

“This year, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Charlotte,” the bishop concluded in his letter, “let us come together as a diocesan family to share God’s love with others through our prayers and financial gifts to the Diocesan Support Appeal, always giving thanks to God for the precious gift of our faith, which truly is more precious than gold.”

todos estos testigos.

CNH: Finalmente, ¿qué le recomendaría a las personas que tienen intención de casarse?

VIENE DE LA PÁGINA 14

la familia. Proteger la institución del matrimonio es proteger el futuro de la familia humana.

CNH: El numeral 1623 del Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica establece que “Según la tradición latina, los esposos, como ministros de la gracia de Cristo, manifestando su consentimiento ante la Iglesia, se confieren mutuamente el sacramento del matrimonio” y los sacerdotes, obispos o presbíteros, “son testigos del recíproco consentimiento expresado por los esposos”. ¿Nos puede explicar este especial sacramento?

Padre Ascik: El Sacramento del Matrimonio surge cuando la novia y el novio expresan libremente su consentimiento mutuo durante la liturgia de la boda. Este consentimiento es una acción que hace un regalo de una persona a otra, la novia al novio y el novio a la novia, y recibe la otra persona como un regalo. Amar significa hacerse un don de sí mismo, y el don sólo puede darse personal y libremente. Es por eso que la Iglesia Católica sostiene que son la novia y el novio quienes deben darse y recibir personalmente el pacto matrimonial entre sí.

Por supuesto, el hecho que los novios den y reciban el sacramento por su consentimiento no significa que definan su matrimonio solo de acuerdo con sus propias ideas. Dios es el autor del matrimonio, y los novios consienten en contraer matrimonio como Dios lo diseñó: de manera permanente e indisoluble, una unión exclusiva de cuerpo, alma y vida, una unión abierta al don de los hijos y a la responsabilidad de criarlos en la fe Católica.

Los novios toman la iniciativa en la celebración del matrimonio, pero no están solos. El matrimonio siempre se celebra frente a un sacerdote o diácono que representa a la Iglesia, y frente a sus familiares y amigos, que representan a la sociedad. La novia y el novio están jurando su intención de ser fieles al matrimonio como Dios lo diseñó frente a

SALERNO

Padre Ascik: Los animaría a orar mucho el uno por el otro, y a orar por la decisión de casarse. Si vuestra relación con Dios no es fuerte, trabajen para fortalecerla mientras se preparan para el matrimonio. Vayan juntos a Misa los domingos y acérquense al Sacramento de la Confesión regularmente. Lean juntos los Evangelios y conozcan a Jesucristo. Dios les ayudará a prepararse para el matrimonio si se acercan a Él y buscan Su guía.

Los alentaría a no tener miedo de emprender el camino del matrimonio, a no posponerlo indefinidamente por arreglar las circunstancias de la vida, sean financieras o de otro tipo. No necesitan tener toda su vida resuelta para casarse. El matrimonio está destinado a ser una sociedad para descubrir la vida juntos. Nunca nada será perfecto, y aunque es importante prepararse para el matrimonio, nadie estará nunca completamente “listo” para comenzar su vocación. Dios les dará la gracia que necesitan para ser fieles a la vocación a la que los llama.

Los impulsaría a buscar verdaderamente comprender las enseñanzas de la Iglesia sobre el matrimonio y la sexualidad, a usar el tiempo de preparación para el matrimonio como un tiempo para aprender estas enseñanzas más profundamente. Es especialmente importante comprender aquellas enseñanzas que desafían lo que dice nuestra cultura sobre el matrimonio.

Conocer por qué la Iglesia enseña que el matrimonio es indisoluble, que el amor debe estar dispuesto a sacrificarse por el otro, que el uso de anticonceptivos está equivocado porque compromete el amor y la generosidad, por qué la planificación familiar natural ayudará a que su matrimonio florezca y por qué los hijos son “el regalo más grande del matrimonio”. Estas enseñanzas contienen una gran sabiduría que los conducirá a una vida matrimonial y familiar floreciente y gozosa.

— Catholic News Herald

FROM PAGE 23

now, ironically, “mission territory,” and the charge of “colonialism” (and thus oppression and coercion) simply does not compute in the 21st century.

joyful evangelization.

Notwithstanding the complex historical relationship between Christian missionary activity and European colonialism, these “Third World” priests (and you and I) are the new faces of evangelization. The West is

THOMAS J. SALERNO is a freelance writer living on Long Island. He holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Stony Brook University. Through his writing, he explores the intersection of the Catholic faith with popular culture. He is also a short story writer and aspiring novelist working in the genres of science fiction and fantasy. Reprinted from the Word on Fire Institute blog, www.wordonfire.org.