May 26, 2023

At a glance

May 26, 2023

Volume 32 • NUMBER 17

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

Contact us 2

17-21 Our Diocese 4-8 Our Faith 3

9-12

5things you need to know this week

This edition of “Five Things to Know This Week” focuses on the birthday of the Church: Pentecost Sunday, May 28. It’s a perfect time to celebrate the conclusion of the Easter season and the next step in our individual faith journey:

EAT CAKE

Pentecost Sunday, May 28, commemorates the birth of the Church, when the Holy Spirit descended upon Mary and the Apostles. Why not celebrate at home with a homemade birthday cake? Consider decorating it with strawberries – they’re in season this time of year, and when sliced they look like tongues of fire. Gather as a family to sing “Happy Birthday” and talk about what gifts of the Holy Spirit you would ask for.

SING

STAFF

EDITOR: Spencer K. M. Brown

704-808-4528, skmbrown@charlottediocese.org

ADVERTISING MANAGER: Kevin Eagan

704-370-3332, keeagan@charlottediocese.org

HISPANIC MEDIA MANAGER: César Hurtado

704-370-3375, rchurtado@charlottediocese.org

EDITORIAL TEAM: Kimberly Bender

704-370-3394, kdbender@charlottediocese.org

Annie Ferguson

704-370-3404, arferguson@charlottediocese.org

SueAnn Howell

704-370-3354, sahowell@charlottediocese.org

Troy C. Hull

704-370-3288, tchull@charlottediocese.org

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Tim Faragher

704-370-3331, tpfaragher@charlottediocese.org

COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT/CIRCULATION: Erika Robinson

704-370-3333, catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Liz Chandler

704-370-3336, lchandler@charlottediocese.org

ASSISTANT COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Patricia L. Guilfoyle 704-370-3334, plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org

THE CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD is published by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte 26 times a year.

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Learn the words to “Veni, Sancte Spiritus,” an ancient sequence (a chant or hymn sung or recited before the Gospel at Mass). “Veni, Sancte Spiritus” – literally, “Come, Holy Spirit” – invokes the grace of the Holy Spirit to come down from heaven. It’s known as the “Golden Sequence” because of its poetic language, in part: “Heal our wounds; our strength renew / On our dryness pour Thy dew / Wash the stains of guilt away. / Bend the stubborn heart and will / Melt the frozen, warm the chill / Guide the steps that go astray.” Even better, enjoy a recording of the original Latin sequence set to Gregorian chant. The Gregorian Chant Hymns website has a quality audio recording along with the written music with Latin text and English translation, making it easy to follow along or learn the chant yourself: www.gregorian-chant-hymns.com/hymns-2/veni-sanctespiritus.html.

Diocesan calendar of events

ESPAÑOL

HORA SANTA : 7-8 p.m. Todos los jueves del mes con excepción de los primeros jueves. En la Capilla del segundo piso, Family Life Center en St. Patrick, 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte.

VIÑEDO DE RAQUEL : ¿Es usted o un ser querido que busca la curación de los efectos de un aborto anterior? Los retiros de fin de semana son ofrecidos por Caridades Católicas para hombres y mujeres en todas las regiones de la Diócesis de Charlotte. Para obtener información sobre los próximos retiros, incluidos retiros en las diócesis vecinas, comuníquese con Karina Hernández: 336-267-1937 o karinahernandez@live. com.

PRAYER SERVICES

ST. PEREGRINE HEALING PRAYER 6 -7 p.m. second Thursday of each month in the New Life Center Building adjacent to St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte. St. Peregrine healing prayer service includes a blessing with the relic of St. Peregrine. St. Peregrine has been called

the wonder worker for his intercession on behalf of those living with serious illness. He is the patron saint of all who are afflicted by cancer, leg ailments or any life-threatening disease. He is also the patron saint of at-risk youth. All are welcome.

SUPPORT GROUPS

RACHEL RETREAT: Are you or a loved one seeking healing from the effects of a past abortion? Project Rachel retreat weekends are offered by the diocesan Office of Family Life a few times a year for men and women in both English and Spanish. For details, contact Jessica Grabowski: 704-370-3229 or jrgrabowski@rcdoc.org.

TALKS

TENTH ANNUAL EAST MEETS WEST RETREAT: Friday-Saturday, June 23-24, St. Barnabas Church, 109 Crescent Hill Road, Arden. A program of Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke Ukrainian Catholic Mission, the retreat will be led by Dr. Matthew K. Minerd, professor

CONSIDER GOD’S GIFTS

Meditate on the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1831). Busted Halo offers a reflection about the gifts of the Holy Spirit good for young and old alike: www. bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/ unwrap-the-gifts-of-the-spirit-thispentecost. In for something deeper? Try St. Thomas Aquinas’ “Summa Theologica” – read his original at www.newadvent. org/summa, or watch this thoughtful video from the Thomistic Institute: www. aquinas101.thomisticinstitute.org/thegifts-of-the-holy-spirit.

DECORATE WITH PETALS

It’s a tradition in the Church to use red rose petals to symbolize the Holy Spirit. A shower of petals reminds us of the Holy Spirit coming down upon the disciples at Pentecost like tongues of fire. Decorate your home altar with rose petals, or fill a piñata with rose petals, candies and other small treats for your kids to enjoy cracking open. The most famous shower of petals on Pentecost is at Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs (also known as the Pantheon). At the end of Mass on Pentecost, thousands of red rose petals shower down through the oculus, a large opening in the building’s dome. Watch it: www.liturgicalartsjournal.com/2019/06/ customs-shower-of-rose-petals-on-feast.html

GO FLY A KITE

Besides tongues of fire, the Holy Spirit is represented by wind. Why not enjoy the spring weather and go fly a kite? Buy a kite or, better yet, make your own. Use this copy of the Catholic News Herald! Instructions on how to make a newspaper kite in seven easy steps: www. pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/take-flight-with-a-diy-kite.

— Patricia L. Guilfoyle

of philosophy and moral theology at Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh. Minerd, a member of the Byzantine Catholic Church, will present three talks based on his recently published book “Made By God, Made For God: Catholic Morality, Explained.” No registration required. Offering suggested. For details, email Father Kevin Bezner at ucmcanton@gmail.com.

DAY OF REFLECTION – WRITE THE VISION, ‘A PROPHETIC CALL TO THRIVE’ 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, June 3, Bishop McGuinness High School, 1725 NC-66, Kernersville. The day will be facilitated by Deacon Stephen Pickett of the Diocese of Charlotte and Sister Sandra Helton of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. They will take a journey through scripture and ponder over present times to see how God is speaking to His people and to move them to action. Free and open to all. Lunch provided. To RSVP, go to https:// AAAFMdayofreflection.rsvpify.com.

Upcoming events for Bishop Peter J. Jugis:

JUNE 3 – 10 A.M.

Liturgy of Ordination to the Diaconate St. Mark Church, Huntersville

JUNE 6 – 6 P.M.

Sacrament of Confirmation

“The Holy Spirit,” alabaster window in the apse of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1661)

Our faith

How to grow in devotion to the Eucharist

The Eucharist is the summit of our faith, in which the entire story of our salvation is made real in a miraculous and powerful way. The Roman Missal calls the Holy Eucharist the “Sacred Banquet, in which Christ is received; the memory of His Passion is renewed; the mind is filled with grace; and a pledge of future glory is given unto us.”

Yet how often do we have a moment to reflect on this priceless gift? Even in Mass we can become distracted, and what is miraculous and precious becomes routine. The National Eucharistic Revival can be such an opportunity for reflection and for deepening our love for what God has given us – His Son, Jesus, who we receive into our hearts. During this time, we can make a point to focus on the Eucharist – in the Mass, in our reading, in our faith formation classes, and in the quiet of our own hearts.

THE EUCHARIST AND THE MASS

At every Mass we are witnesses to a miracle. The Eucharist is not a symbol of Our Lord; the bread and wine actually become the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ. At the altar, He truly comes to us, again and again, in His real presence.

Christ Himself instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper as a “memorial of His death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a paschal banquet in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us” (“Sacrosanctum Concilium,” 47).

Learn more

At www.eucharisticrevival.org : Find Church resources, videos, educational materials, prayers and more at the National Eucharistic Revival movement’s website – designed to restore understanding and devotion to the Eucharist

The Eucharist calls us to memorialize Christ’s passion and death on the cross, the sacrifice in which He won for us our salvation and eternity with the Father. It also is a tremendous sign of our unity as believers. We call it Holy Communion because when we approach the altar, we are acknowledging our unity with Christ, His Church, and one another.

Yet these words can only partially express a mystery that is beyond words: “If you understood Him, it would not be God,” writes St. Augustine. So, too, with the Eucharist. During the National Eucharistic Revival, we can plumb this mystery more and more deeply.

The Church asks all of us to examine our consciences to make sure we are truly prepared to receive Jesus: Are we in a “state of grace,” that is, not aware of any unconfessed grave sin? If not, then we should celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation first. Have we observed the one-hour fast from food and drink (except for water and medicine) before receiving Our Lord? Do we believe in the Real Presence; do we

Daily Scripture readings

MAY 28-JUNE 3

Sunday (Pentecost): Acts 2:1-11, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13, John 20:19-23; Monday (The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church): Genesis 3:9-15, 20, John 19:25-34; Tuesday: Sirach 35:1-12, Mark 10:28-31; Wednesday (The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary): Zephaniah 3:14-18a, Isaiah 12:2-6, Luke 1:39-56; Thursday (St. Justin): Sirach 42:15-25, Mark 10:46-52; Friday (Sts. Marcellinus and Peter): Sirach 44:1, 9-13, Mark 11:11-26; Saturday (St. Charles Lwanga and Companions): Sirach 51:12cd-20, Mark 11:27-33

Pope Francis

believe that Christ is present, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity?

WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL

n Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Churches regularly offer Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. During Exposition, Catholics spend time praying and worshiping the Lord in the Eucharist while the Host is exposed on the altar.

n At Mass: When we recognize that Jesus Himself is present in the Blessed Sacrament, we come to realize that participation every week at Mass is more than an obligation – it is a privilege. When you are in the presence of the Consecrated Host, pray with heartfelt sincerity, “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and my soul shall healed.” With St. Thomas, who touched the wounds of the Lord, simply say, “My Lord and my God.”

n Make a spiritual communion: When we desire to receive Jesus in the Eucharist but are unable to do so, we may make what is called a “spiritual communion.” Wherever we may be, we need only ask the Lord to come into our hearts and renew His life within us. We can then spend a few moments in prayer and praise, and then resolve to receive Communion as soon as possible.

n Before the tabernacle: Jesus is present in the Host reserved in the tabernacle. We can take time out regularly to visit a church and talk to Him there. Make it a “Holy Hour.”

n In an adoration chapel: Many churches provide a place where the Blessed Sacrament remains exposed for prayer and adoration every day – sometimes even around the clock (the latter is known as “perpetual adoration”). This arrangement provides an excellent and ongoing opportunity to draw close to Jesus in His Eucharistic presence outside Mass. If possible, sign up for a regular time to visit the church or chapel.

n Cultivating an attitude of gratitude: Finally, keep in mind that the word “Eucharist” literally means “thanksgiving.” In Holy Communion, as Jesus gives Himself to us, we give ourselves to Him as well in gratitude. His sacrifice on the cross – presented on the altar – takes away the sins of the world and makes possible for us a life of intimate union with God.

— OSV News

Pray at Pentecost for courage to evangelize

Christians should pray on Pentecost that the Holy Spirit would give them the courage and strength to share the Gospel, Pope Francis said.

“No matter how difficult the situation may be – and indeed, at times it may seem there is no room for the Gospel message – we must not give up and we must not forsake pursuing what is essential in our Christian life, namely evangelization,” the pope said May 24, the Wednesday before Pentecost.

Using the example of St. Andrew Kim Taegon, the 19th-century Korean martyr, Pope Francis continued his weekly general audience talks about the “zeal” to evangelize.

With thousands of visitors and pilgrims – including bands, flag twirlers and dancers – gathered in a sunny St. Peter’s Square, the pope introduced his talk about St. Andrew by pointing out how Christianity was introduced to Korea 200 years before St. Andrew by laypeople who had heard the Gospel proclaimed in China and then shared it when they returned home.

“Baptized laypeople were the ones who spread the faith. There were no priests,” the pope said. “Would we be able to do something like that?”

Ordained in 1844, St. Andrew Kim Taegon was the first Korean-born priest and ministered at a time of anti-Christian persecution.

Pope Francis told the story of how when the saint was still a seminarian, he was sent to welcome missionaries who snuck into the country from abroad. After walking far through the snow, “he fell to the ground exhausted, risking unconsciousness and freezing. At that point, he suddenly heard a voice, ‘Get up, walk!’”

“This experience of the great Korean witness makes us understand a very important aspect of apostolic zeal: namely, the courage to get back up when one falls,” the pope said.

JUNE 4-10

Sunday (The Most Holy Trinity): Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9, Daniel 3:52-56, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, John 3:16-18; Monday (St. Boniface): Tobit 1:3, 2:1-8, Mark 12:1-12; Tuesday (St. Norbert): Tobit 2:9-14, Mark 12:13-17; Wednesday: Tobit 3:1-11a, 16-17a, Mark 12:1827; Thursday: Tobit 6:10-11, 7:1bcde, 9-17, 8:4-9a, Mark 12:28-34; Friday(St. Ephrem): Tobit 11:5-17, Mark 12:35-37; Saturday: Tobit 12:1, 5-15, Tobit 13:2, 6-8, Mark 12:38-44

JUNE 11-17

Sunday (The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ): Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a, 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, John 6:5158; Monday: 2 Corinthians 1:1-7, Matthew 5:1-12; Tuesday (St. Anthony of Padua): 2 Corinthians 1:18-22, Matthew 5:13-16;

Wednesday: 2 Corinthians 3:4-11, Matthew 5:17-19; Thursday: 2 Corinthians 3:15-4:1, 3-6, Matthew 5:20-26; Friday (The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus): Deuteronomy 7:6-11, 1 John 4:7-16, Matthew 11:25-30; Saturday (The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary): 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, Luke 2:41-51

“Each one of us might think, ‘But how can I evangelize,’” he said. Following the example of the “greats” of evangelization history, each Christian can find a way to witness to the Gospel – “talk about Jesus” – in his or her family, among friends and in one’s local community.

“Let us prepare to receive the Holy Spirit this coming Pentecost, asking for that grace, apostolic grace and courage, the grace to evangelize, to always carry forward the message of Jesus.”

Our diocese

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief

How is God speaking today? Day of Reflection retreat to be held at Bishop McGuinness

KERNERSVILLE — A day-long retreat presented by the African American Affairs Ministry of the Diocese of Charlotte, “Write the Vision: A Prophetic Call to Thrive,” will be facilitated by Deacon Stephen Pickett and Sister Sandra Helton of School Sisters of Notre Dame. The speakers will take attendees on a journey through scripture and ponder over present times to see how God is speaking to His people and to move them to action. The retreat will be held 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, June 3, at Bishop McGuinness High School, 1725 NC66, Kernersville, N.C. 27284. There is no cost to attend, and the event is open to all. Lunch is provided. Please RSVP online at https://AAAFMdayofreflection.rsvpify.com. For questions, contact Rosheene Adams at RLAdams@rcdoc.org.

— Spencer K.M. Brown

Belmont Abbey College honors

Dr. Matthew Siebert with teaching excellence award

BELMONT — Belmont Abbey College has awarded Dr. Matthew Siebert with the Adrian Award for Teaching Excellence. This award, established in 1984 with the support of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Adrian, acknowledges and rewards outstanding teaching performance by faculty members at Belmont Abbey College. Siebert chairs the philosophy department. Travis Feezell, provost at Belmont Abbey College, said, “Dr. Siebert has been a wonderful presence on our campus as a scholar, teacher, and mentor since his arrival in 2016.” Siebert arrived at the Abbey in 2016 and has since led the Philosophy Department, which plays a key role in the formation of new priests for the Diocese of Charlotte. The diocese’s seminarians receive their Bachelor of Philosophy from Belmont Abbey College before going on to major seminary to complete their priestly formation.

— Spencer K.M. Brown

St. Vincent de Paul Society of Swannanoa receives grant to help with automobile expenses

SWANNANOA — The St. Vincent de Paul Society in Swannanoa recently received a $3,500 grant from the Black MountainSwannanoa Valley Endowment Fund. Thanks to this grant, the group is now able to provide financial relief to Swannanoa Valley neighbors experiencing sudden automobile expenses for repairs, payments, insurance and licensing. Auto expenses used to be a small fraction of their yearly budget, but in recent months, it now accounts for nearly 25% of their assistance. In 2022 the society helped 31 families with car-related expenses. The loss of a working car to some people could mean the downfall into homelessness because they cannot get to work. The scarcity of local funding sources for automobile expenses makes assistance from the society critical to the well-being of Valley families.

— Spencer K.M. Brown

On the journey to priesthood, seven men to be ordained deacons

KIMBERLY BENDER kdbender@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — This June, seven men will be ordained deacons, one of the largest group of seminarians to take this step toward the priesthood together for the Diocese of Charlotte.

Bishop Peter Jugis will ordain these men deacons June 3 at St. Mark Church in Huntersville, putting them one step closer to becoming priests next year.

This diverse class brings two men from Charlotte parishes, two from the same Asheboro parish, and from Salisbury, Shelby and Huntersville.

All seven attend Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and School of Theology in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are: Matthew Wayne Dimock Jr. of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Charlotte; Christian Joseph Goduti of St. Mark Parish in Huntersville; Matthew Philip Harrison

II of Sacred Heart Parish in Salisbury; Kevin Ruben Martinez and José Alfredo Palma Torres, both of St. Joseph Parish in Asheboro; Elliott Cade Suttle of Sacred Heart Parish in Salisbury; and Kevin Michael Tran of St. John Neumann Parish in Charlotte.

Besides attending the same seminary, most of the men share similar passions for music, sports, reading and a love of the Catholic faith.

“I think the Catholic faith is beautiful because it is universal and objective,” Suttle said. “It applies to everyone, everywhere, and at all times. And yet, despite being objective in nature, it adapts itself to a given time and culture. The faith is one that is objective, but

also has many ways of living out that objective truth.”

Five of the seven were among the first classes at St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly for undergraduates discerning a possible religious vocation before taking the step of enrolling in a major seminary for more formal priestly formation. Established in 2016, the college seminary is fostering growth of vocations in the diocese. Students work toward a bachelor’s degree at Belmont Abbey College while experiencing a Benedictine-style communal life on their path of discernment.

One of them, Palma Torres, chose St. Joseph as his confirmation saint when he was in high school, and he said he believes the saint has been his guardian for many years.

“One reason I think he has been looking over me is that my name is the same as his and my home parish is St. Joseph,” Palma Torres said. “When I finally entered the seminary, St. Joseph College Seminary opened and I was part of the first class to enter – thus I believe St. Joseph has been looking over me.”

The total number of seminarians for the Diocese of Charlotte has more than tripled since the college seminary program began. This year there are 49 men studying to be priests.

The group of seven to be ordained deacons, and expected to be ordained priests a year from now is the largest group to be ordained together under Bishop Jugis, who has made vocations one of his episcopal priorities since he became the diocese’s shepherd in 2003.

Catholic summer camps – such as

Quo Vadis Days, an annual vocation discernment camp for young men to ponder “Where are you going?” – are where many of these men first identified or solidified a potential calling to the priesthood.

“I first began to feel a calling to the priesthood in high school while attending Catholic summer camps,” Harrison said. “That desire grew and led me to enter seminary under the direction and advice of my pastor. I continued to discern and pray about my vocation, and with this came a gradual certainty of my calling. By the time I was in my third year of seminary, I was quite sure that this was what God desired of and for me.”

Dimock’s faith was enriched in Charlotte. His parents, Matthew Dimock Sr. and Gena Dimock, met in the U.S. Air Force, and he was born when his parents were stationed in Arkansas. Both converted to Catholicism.

“My parents raised me with a zeal for the faith, which especially blossomed when we moved to the Diocese of Charlotte in 2008,” he said.

After their ordination, these seven men will be considered “transitional” deacons as compared to “permanent” deacons. Transitional deacons generally serve a year in pastoral, liturgical and educational preparation before they are considered for ordination to the priesthood in June 2024. Permanent deacons can be married and do not go on to be ordained priests.

All are welcome to attend the 10 a.m. Mass Saturday, June 3, at St. Mark Church, located at 14740 Stumptown Road in Huntersville.

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

The seven men to be ordained are pictured July 20, 2020 when they entered the Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders at St. Patrick Cathedral. Pictured from left: Kevin Martinez, José Palma Torres, Elliott Suttle, Christian Goduti, Bishop Peter Jugis, Matthew Harrison II, Matthew Dimock Jr., and Kevin Tran.

Meet the seven seminarians who will become transitional deacons June 3

Matthew Dimock Jr.

Home parish: St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Charlotte

Birthplace: Little Rock, Ark.

Raised in: Indian Trail

Age: 25 College: St. Joseph College

Seminary

Summer assignments in the diocese: Holy Cross, Kernersville; St. Michael the Archangel, Gastonia; Our Lady of Grace, Greensboro

CNH: Were you an “eager to get out of bed and go to Sunday Mass” kind of child, or did it take some convincing to get you up and out the door?

Dimock: “Let’s just say that a little coffee goes a long way, even now.”

CNH: Who are your favorite saints, and why?

Dimock: “Our Lady and St. Joseph are obviously great patrons of our diocese and college seminary, but also for me. Our Lady has taught me much patience and that supernatural motherly love which she alone can give. St. Joseph has taught me spiritual fatherhood and true sacrifice.

St. Thomas Aquinas has been a great patron for me since before I began seminary. It’s beneficial to pray to the saint whose works you read day in and day out. Finally, St. Therese of Lisieux has prayed for me and shown me her Little Way all throughout seminary.”

CNH: What has been your biggest challenge or struggle in living the faith?

Dimock: “The noisiness of the world is difficult to escape. My generation is often accused of having a short attention span, and those critics are correct! It’s a true reorientation to escape that noisiness and cling to Christ Jesus in the silence of His Eucharistic presence every day.”

Christian Goduti

Home parish: St. Mark Church, Huntersville

Birthplace: Charlotte

Raised in: Huntersville

Age: 25 College: St. Joseph College

Seminary

Summer assignments in the diocese: St. Mark Church, Huntersville; Holy Cross Church, Kernersville

CNH: When did you first realize you had a call to the priesthood?

Goduti: “I do not remember this specific event, but my grandmother told me that I used to tell her that I wanted to be a priest. I would also tell my mom the same. Around the time of my First Communion, I realized God was calling me to be His priest. I do specifically remember resisting this call. I became good at ignoring it; however, in my junior year of high school, I could ignore it no longer.”

CNH: Did you serve in any kinds of ministries at your parish growing up?

Goduti: “I was an altar boy. I also participated in youth ministry.”

CNH: What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

Goduti: “I enjoy outdoor labor, specifically landscaping. I like designing and creating beautiful landscapes.”

CNH: What does faith personally mean to you?

Goduti: “Faith, believing in Jesus and His saving work, is necessary for our salvation. Faith is the gifted virtue by which we hold fast to Jesus Christ and all He has revealed.

Personally, I am ever grateful to God for the gift of faith, and I ask the Blessed Mother for Her intercession so that I may grow in this faith every day.”

Matthew Harrison II

Home parish: Sacred Heart Church, Salisbury

Birthplace: Richmond, Va.

Raised in: North Carolina

Age: 25

College: St. Joseph College

Seminary

Summer assignments in the diocese: St. Leo the Great, Winston-Salem

CNH: What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

Harrison: “I run the coffee shop at the seminary.”

CNH: How did your family play a role in your discernment to the priesthood?

Harrison: “I am blessed to have an amazing family, and my process of discernment has heavily relied on their constant support, prayers and advice. My parents always encouraged me to serve at Mass growing up, always nurtured my desires and interest in the faith, and served as excellent models of the Christian life with their firm and constant love and joy.”

CNH: What do you think has helped you the most to discern God’s will for your vocation?

Harrison: “More than anything else, spending silent time in front of Christ in the Eucharist has given me strength, clarity and perseverance in my journey of discernment.”

CNH: What do you love most about the Catholic faith?

Harrison: “I love the communal nature of the Sacraments. Coming together for Mass and singing to God, but then spending time afterwards either with coffee and donuts or just chatting outside afterwards is such an amazing privilege to be a part of. Our faith is built around the Body of Christ, and being a small part of the body is both fun and edifying.”

Kevin Martinez

Home parish: St. Joseph Church, Asheboro

Birthplace: Asheboro

Raised in: Franklinville

Age: 25

College: St. Joseph College

Seminary

Summer assignments in the diocese: St. Thomas Aquinas, Charlotte

CNH: Tell us a little bit about your family, where you grew up and how your family practiced their Catholic faith.

Martinez: “I am a first-generation American. My parents are from the same hometown in Mexico – El Rosario, Nayarit, Mexico. I was born in Asheboro but was raised on a farm in Franklinville. Until I entered seminary, I lived on the farm my whole life.

From very early on, my parents taught me the importance of the Catholic faith. Other things could be joked about, but Holy Mother Church was not to be joked about. The gravity and passion for the Church is something that was taught in my family my

whole life. Although I didn’t always apply these two properly throughout my earlier stages in life, my parents never failed me in teaching me what the Church taught.”

CNH: When did you first realize you had a call to the priesthood?

Martinez: “Right after receiving my First Communion. I first felt a draw towards the priesthood at 8 years old. In the latter years of high school, this feeling became a conviction.”

CNH: What do you love most about the Catholic faith?

Martinez: “I love the way we worship in the Catholic Church.

In the Catholic Church, our worship is centered around the Eucharist, the source and summit of our Holy Faith. The Mass is centered around the representation of Christ’s sacrifice for us. The Mass is the perfect act of worship, which is rendered to God the Father by Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit. This is what I love about the Catholic faith.”

José Palma Torres

Home parish: St. Joseph Church, Asheboro

Birthplace: Veracruz, Mexico

Raised in: Randleman

Age: 29 College: St. Joseph College Seminary

Summer assignments in the diocese: St. John the Baptist, Tryon; St. Vincent de Paul, Charlotte; St. Jude, Sapphire Valley; St. Ann, Charlotte

CNH: When did you first realize you had a call to the priesthood?

Palma Torres: “I first felt like the Lord was calling me the priesthood when I was around 20. I had lived life trying to ignore God, but I had a sort of reversion, and it was after this that I began to feel that God was calling me to the seminary.”

CNH: How did you live your faith in your young adult years, prior to discerning the seminary?

Palma Torres: “When I began take my faith seriously, I started to pray by setting time in the mornings to read scripture. I had a job that was near my home parish, so I would often step into the church and pray before the tabernacle. Sometimes, I would stay there for up to an hour and sometimes it was just for a few minutes, but this practice was crucial in my discernment.”

CNH: What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

Palma Torres: “I have been blessed to learn different languages, so I can speak English, Spanish and Latin. I have also studied a little bit of Greek and some French, but I am not able to speak these very well.”

Elliott Suttle

CNH: When did you first realize you had a call to the priesthood?

Suttle: “I first began exploring the idea back in 2008. I guess there was a call back then, but it wasn’t until I was preparing to move back to the United States in 2017 that I really became convinced of a calling and began making preparations to enter seminary.”

CNH: What does faith personally mean to you?

Suttle: “I had to drive an hour each way to Mass every weekend when I lived in Japan. Even finding a parish in the first place was difficult because most don’t have websites, and the MassTimes site is not really designed with non-Christian countries in mind. I also had to teach myself how to go to confession in Japanese due to the lack of English-speaking priests.”

CNH: How did you live your faith prior to discerning the seminary?

Suttle: “I came to Catholicism when I was 31. Since that time, I have been involved with the Knights of Columbus, been active in the choir and been a regular attendee of the Eucharistic Congress and Men’s Conference.”

CNH: If someday, God willing, you were to be named a saint by the Church, what would you want to be the patron saint of?

Suttle: “Based on how difficult this question was to answer, I’m inclined to say Patron Saint of Indecisive People.

In all seriousness, though, I would be happy with whatever the Church decided. Since that’s not really an answer, though, I’ll go with the Patron Saint of Late Vocations.”

Kevin Tran

Home parish: St. John Neumann, Charlotte Birthplace and raised in: Charlotte

Age: 27

College: University of North Carolina Charlotte Summer assignments in the diocese: St. Joseph, Charlotte; St. Therese of Lisieux, Mooresville; St. Gabriel, Charlotte; St. Michael the Archangel, Gastonia

CNH: What do you love most about the Catholic faith?

Tran: “I love all the tangible signs we have of Christ’s promise that he would be with us to the end of the age, from the Paschal Candle to the Priesthood, to the Church herself and ultimately to the Blessed Sacrament itself.”

CNH: What has been your biggest challenge or struggle in living the faith?

Tran: “I am still learning to have the faith to see God and the humility to trust in His divine will, even in my failures.”

CNH: What do you see as the biggest challenge for the Church and for the Diocese of Charlotte?

Home parish: St. Mary Help of Christians, Shelby

Birthplace: Lumberton

Raised in: Cherryville and Shelby College: University of Alabama

Summer assignments in the diocese: St. Ann, Charlotte; St. Francis of Assisi, Jefferson; Holy Family, Clemmons

Tran: “Thanks be to God that we in Charlotte have the problem of needing to expand and build. As migrants continue to move to Charlotte, particularly Catholics from the northern states and from Latin America, we should not assume they will be bringing a Catholic culture with them. Rather, the challenge in front of us will be the same as it has always been: evangelizing and re-evangelizing not just in deed but in word also.”

Dimock

Palma Torres

Harrison II

Tran

Goduti Suttle

Martinez

Military personnel to be honored with Mass at cathedral May 29

CHARLOTTE — All are invited to attend a Memorial Day Mass to honor United States military personnel on Monday, May 29, at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Cathedral.

Military personnel who are currently serving, those who are retired, and those who have died will be honored. All military personnel are encouraged to attend Mass in uniform.

The rosary will be prayed at 10:30 a.m. in the cathedral prior to Mass.

St. Patrick Cathedral is located at 1621 Dilworth Road East in Charlotte. On-street parking is available in front of the cathedral, along Buchanan Street adjacent to the cathedral and behind St. Patrick Elementary School.

— Catholic News Herald

Charlotte hosts Cursillo members from across the Southeast

TITA WOFFORD

Special to the Catholic News Herald

CHARLOTTE — Nearly 200 Catholics from six states who belong to the Cursillo Movement recently gathered at St. Matthew Church for a weekend retreat, the first held in the Diocese of Charlotte in seven years.

Totus Tuus, VBS summer camps coming to parishes

CHARLOTTE — With the school year winding down and summer drawing ever closer, parishes across the Diocese of Charlotte are gearing up for Totus Tuus and Vacation Bible School summer camps.

Now in its 13th year in the diocese, Totus Tuus summer camps are dedicated to sharing the Gospel and promoting the Catholic faith to children in rising first grade through 12th grade using catechesis, evangelization, Christian witness and Eucharistic worship. “Totus Tuus,” a Latin phrase meaning “totally yours,” was the motto of St. John Paul II. Taken from St. Louis de Montfort’s “True Devotion to Mary,” it signifies the desire to give oneself entirely to Jesus Christ through Mary.

In addition, many parishes are also planning their annual summer Vacation Bible School for school-aged children. Themes and programs vary from parish to parish. Check with your local parish for more information on how to get involved and sign your children up for faith-filled fun and fellowship.

— Catholic News Herald

Learn More

Interested in starting Totus Tuus at your parish? The Diocese of Charlotte has all the information to help get summer programs started at your parish. Visit www.charlottediocese.org/ev/totustuus to learn more.

“Cursillos de Cristiandad” (“Short courses in Christianity”) is an apostolic movement of the Catholic Church that was founded in Spain after World War II and has since spread worldwide. Cursillo stresses personal spiritual development, and members – called Cursillistas – strive to support each other in living out their Christian faith in their everyday lives. Cursillistas participate in regular diocesan weekend retreats designed to help them grow closer to Christ, through talks, prayer, fellowship, Mass and reconciliation. Additionally, they can attend two-day spring and fall events – called Encounters – where they meet Cursillistas from other states and language groups within their region. The April 14-15 Encounter in Charlotte drew Catholics from the Carolinas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida.

“It was worth the wait,” said John Sequeira, lay coordinator of the English-speaking Cursillo Movement for the Charlotte diocese. “We were originally told to expect about 120 attendees. We prepared for 150. By the weekend, we welcomed over 180 Cursillistas from six states representing three language groups: Vietnamese, Spanish and English.”

The Encounter began and ended with Mass, offered by Father Miguel Sanchez from St. Matthew Parish.

Talks included a keynote address by Deacon Mike Martini, spiritual advisor for Cursillo Region VII, about “Being a Faithful Steward of Cursillo.” He challenged everyone with the question: “Are we living the Movement?”

Pam Kelly, from St. Leo the Great Parish in Winston-Salem, said, “Through Deacon Mike’s challenges, I was inspired to reflect and discover more ways to be a faithful steward to my

brothers and sisters in Christ.”

Saturday’s agenda included various speakers presenting talks in English, Spanish and Vietnamese, followed by engaging small group conversation. Patti Eiffe, a longtime member of St. Leo Parish, also gave a personal witness.

The talks and small group conversations reinforced why Cursillo has such an impact, participants agreed.

”It’s about growing closer to Christ through friendship,” said Tricia Bunch, rector for an upcoming Women’s Cursillo Weekend in June and longtime member of St. Leo the Great Parish.

“I thought the presentations were both fulfilling and memorable, and I loved the small group sharing afterwards,” added Chris Schneider from St. John Neumann Parish in Charlotte.

Fellowship was also an important part of the Encounter weekend. Vietnamese Cursillistas treated everyone to a traditional dinner on Friday, English Cursillistas provided breakfast on Saturday, and Spanish Cursillistas made a delicious lunch so no one left hungry.

Mealtimes provided a wonderful opportunity to “renew friendships from years past,” said Butch Mayer of St. Matthew Parish. He added, “The sheer number in attendance was a great testament to the Holy Spirit and the Cursillo Movement.”

“We were blessed beyond measure by this Encounter weekend,” said Sequeira. “Thank you to St. Matthew and the countless volunteers from multiple teams

multiple language groups. They did great work behind the scenes

invested their time and talents to coordinate an amazing experience.”

Learn more

At www.CharlotteCursillo.com or www.Natl-Cursillo.org : Learn more about the Cursillo Movement

Benedictine Father Francis Forster passes away

BELMONT — Benedictine Father Francis Phillip Forster, a monk and priest of Belmont Abbey, died peacefully in the Lord on May 11, 2023. He was 90.

The funeral Mass was celebrated May 16, 2023, in Mary Help of Christians Basilica at Belmont Abbey. Burial followed at the abbey cemetery.

Father Francis was born Sept. 2, 1932, in Willard, Ohio, the youngest of five children. He spent his early years on the family farm. After graduating

from high school, he served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1955 during the Korean Conflict, achieving the rank of staff sergeant. Following his discharge, he entered Belmont Abbey College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy in 1960.

While in college, he entered the novitiate at Belmont Abbey and made his profession of vows on July 11, 1958. He was ordained a priest on June 4, 1964.

Father Francis served for 51 years in the faculty and administration of Belmont Abbey College, from 1958 to 2009. His first appointment was as instructor in the Department of Philosophy. He then served for many years as registrar and director of institutional research, then as

director of data processing.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Philip F. Forster and Frances Leitz Forster, and his three brothers, Bernard Forster, Robert Forster and Eugene Forster.

He is survived by the monks of Belmont Abbey; his sister, Mary Ann Forster; and numerous nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Memorial donations may be made to: Belmont Abbey College, 100 Belmont-Mt. Holly Road, Belmont, N.C. 28012.

Condolence messages may be shared at www.McLeanFuneral.com.

McLean Funeral Directors of Belmont was in charge of the arrangements.

and

and

— Pam Kelly and Chris Schneider contributed.

Forster

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY TITA WOFFORD

(Above) Members of the Cursillo Movement recently gathered at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte for a weekend retreat, called an Encounter. Participants included English, Spanish and Vietnamese Catholics from six states.

(Left) Cursillistas pose for a photo during the retreat: (first row) Trang Nguyen and Amy Thu-Huong Nguyen, (second row) Vinh Do, Anh Vu and Tac Bui, and (third row) My-Phuong Nguyen, Lily Bui, Tiffany Bui, Minh Huong Tran, Hiep Nguyen and Hoa Le.

Catholic Charities will host camps in Charlotte for refugee children in grades K-12 this summer. Campers will have a chance to explore museums such as Discovery Place and take day trips to places including Carowinds, ImaginOn and the Raptor Center.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Help needed for refugee children to make memories at summer camp

COURTNEY MCLAUGHLIN

Special to the Catholic News Herald

CHARLOTTE — More than 50 children who have fled war and persecution in their homeland will get a chance this month to do what so many American children may take for granted: have fun at a summer camp.

The children are from families who have recently found new homes – and lives – in Charlotte, thanks to Catholic Charities’ Refugee Resettlement Program.

Last year, 46 campers representing seven countries spent their summer swimming, skating, rock climbing, playing disc golf, bouncing at trampoline parks, learning about different careers and taking day trips to the North Carolina Zoo, Carolina Raptor Center, Chuck E. Cheese, Latta Park, Carowinds and much more.

Laura Jones, who supervises the resettlement program, says a large group of families from the Democratic Republic of Congo will be included in this year’s number of elementary to high school kids at camp, and will be joined by campers from Burma, Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, Guatemala and Vietnam.

“These kids have been living in refugee camps – some of them for their entire lives,” Jones said. “Many have experienced trauma and violence. They were forced to flee their home countries, leaving behind their former lives and loved ones. They have come to the U.S. to escape crisis and embrace the opportunities they are offered here –thanks to the generosity of so many.”

Jones hopes campers can visit many of the same places and enjoy similar activities as last summer including a field day at Charlotte Catholic High School with student volunteers. She says trampoline parks and going to the pool are always camper favorites.

Plus, there are English as a Second Language activities to help students continue to improve their speaking and writing skills. College and employment readiness classes are also offered for the older students and volunteers from the community talk about what they do during career day.

Jones is quick to point out it’s not all academic, the main focus is socialization, enrichment and a whole lot of fun.

The summer group usually includes returning campers who help the newbies settle in and get acclimated.

“Some kids come to camp very shy and closed up, and then they join these kids who have been here for two or three years and that helps them open up and become comfortable,” Jones said.

The four-week session also includes a Career Week, where presenters from fields such as law enforcement, healthcare and the military will share about what they do in their respective fields.

“We’re open to volunteers for presenters,” Jones said. She’s hoping to gather a diverse group of professionals who love what they do to come forward from the community to meet the kids and help make their camp experience an unforgettable one.

There’s also a need for volunteers over age 21 to assist as drivers for the summer program and shuttle children to trips and activities. Volunteers are also asked to share other talents and life skills that could benefit campers. Jones would be especially appreciative of those who can teach swim lessons.

Monetary donations are another way people can help in Catholic Charities’ efforts to provide a memorable summer for campers.

“We need financial assistance to provide the resources to take the children to all the fun attractions we have planned,” Jones said.

Contributions of any amount will help make this year’s camp line-up a reality:

n A $700 donation covers a trip to an escape room

n $325 lets kids experience a Charlotte Knights baseball game

n $500 pays for a trip to Lazy 5 Ranch, including lunch

n $100 donation takes the group to ImaginOn or Veterans Water Park – plus ice cream!

There are other giving opportunities, and partial or full sponsorships are available, as well as a full list of activities and day trips donors can make happen.

Most of the children are working on their English, but in the magical world of camp, words aren’t always needed, Jones said.

“You don’t need to know the same language to shoot hoops or go on the swings.”

Get involved

Want to volunteer or provide financial support for the Refugee Resettlement Youth Summer Camp Program? Contact Laura Jones at 704-370-3397 or ltjones@ccdoc.org.

‘You don’t need to know the same language to shoot hoops or go on the swings.’

Laura Jones

Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Program

Saying farewell with dignity Catholic

Charities’ burial assistance program offers mercy, love to those in need

ANNIE FERGUSON arferguson@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — The Catholic faith teaches that it is an important corporal work of mercy to bury the dead, and many local members of the faithful are heeding this moral imperative by giving to Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte to help those in need with the final expenses of their loved ones.

“Our burial assistance program has deeply touched the hearts of numerous dedicated donors wholeheartedly committed to the cause,” said Virginia Garramone, development director for Catholic Charities. “They generously choose to contribute directly to the Catholic Charities burial assistance program, empowering us to continue providing the essential services to bury cherished loved ones with dignity and respect.”

For many families, the cost of burying a loved one is a substantial financial challenge. The average cost of a funeral in the United States ranges from $7,000 to $12,000 – a major obstacle for many people struggling just to make ends meet. The unexpected expense compounds the burden they already face in grieving for their loved one.

Catholic Charities’ burial assistance began in 1994, when Mecklenburg County stopped paying to bury the poor. The charity teamed up with concerned citizens, social workers, funeral home directors and the city’s cemetery director to establish a burial plan for needy Mecklenburg County residents, providing funeral and burial or cremation services to indigent families.

“We partner with funeral homes that will do burial (graveside service) and or cremation at a reduced rate. Burial is $1,100 and cremation is $600. We encourage the family to contribute

toward that amount,” said Sylvia Sekle, the direct assistance coordinator for Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte.

Families contact Sekle, and she sets up an appointment to meet with them. She then contacts the partner funeral homes to see which one is the best fit for the family and their particular circumstances.

“Through the burial assistance program, we can assist and support families in providing dignified burial and/or cremation for their deceased loved ones,” she said.

This program serves families who have no insurance, are unable to negotiate financial arrangements with a funeral home, or cannot pay the costs associated with traditional death expenses. The deceased must have been a resident of Mecklenburg County or the Asheville area to be eligible.

In April, the partner funeral homes were given the Fruit of the Vine Award at Catholic Charities’ annual benefit, Vineyard of Hope. The honorees included John Adams from A.E. Grier and Sons, Jerry Anthony from Alexander Funeral Home, the Rev. Brad Humphrey from Grier Funeral Service, and Danielle Roseboro from Roseboro Mortuary and Crematory.

In recent comments, Humphrey, the CEO of Grier Funeral Service in Charlotte, said the program has been a blessing for families experiencing a devastating event in their lives.

“Knowing there is someone out there to help means so much to them. I’ve seen tears welling up in people’s eyes when they learn they will be able to say farewell to their loved ones with dignity,” he said. “When people who may not necessarily have funds for a decent funeral are given the opportunity to do so, it is truly a blessing. They are truly grateful for the services this program makes possible.”

In 2000, Catholic Charities established an endowment within the diocesan foundation to ensure the sustained support of burial assistance efforts. This generates ongoing funds that will directly impact the lives of those in need and their loved ones for generations to come.

“There will always be a need for burial assistance for those who are unable to afford to pay for the burial of loved ones,” said Jim Kelley, development director for the Diocese of Charlotte.

“We have a wonderful partnership with the funeral homes and donors who make gifts restricted to our burial assistance program. The endowment will provide distributions over time that will also support this life-changing work.”

Donate

To give directly to the burial assistance program at Catholic Charities, contact Virginia Garramone at 704-370-3349 or vlgarramone@ccdoc.org.

To give to the burial assistance endowment managed by the Foundation of the Diocese of Charlotte, contact Gina Rhodes at 704-3403364 or gmrhodes@rcdoc.org.

Request burial assistance

Contact Sylvia Sekle at 704-370-3295 or smsekle@ccdoc.org.

TROY HULL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

A large number of volunteers under the direction of María Guadalupe Nava, coordinator of Casa Marillac, receive, prepare and distribute the boxes of food that are delivered every Wednesday to more than 150 needy families. Casa Marillac also offers assistance to newcomers to the Charlotte area by providing medical referrals and furnishings for their homes.

Casa Marillac: 10 years of serving the most needy

CÉSAR HURTADO rchurtado@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — The years after 2001 were not easy for immigrants arriving in the Carolinas.

After the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York, the atmosphere for immigrants drastically changed in the United States. Immigrants from many places were viewed with suspicion as the country stepped up security measures.

Many Latino families in the Charlotte area began having trouble finding work – whether they had work permits or not –and fell into dire economic straits.

In 2003, recognizing a growing need to help people with emergency food assistance, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish rallied to collect food to deliver free of charge to people in need.

Gloria Sierra, the Charlotte parish’s secretary, was one of three volunteers who worked with Community Food Rescue to organize food deliveries to local food pantries during those early years.

That effort was the predecessor of what later, in 2013, would become Casa Marillac, an organization of social mission and charity developed by the Congregation of the Mission, known as the Vincentians, who staff Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.

Now, Casa Marillac does more than deliver food to local pantries and help families put food on the table.

Casa Marillac’s coordinator María Guadalupe Nava notes that they offer referrals for medical services to people who lack or have insufficient medical insurance, assist newcomers to the area with furniture and household items, and connect them to other community resources they might need.

Guadalupe, who volunteered at Casa Marillac for many years before taking charge as coordinator, explains that “it feels very nice to have empathy for those most in need.”

“We, at some point, have had needs, whether material or emotional, and we have been well cared for and feel welcome. Today we give back a little bit of what we were given when we needed it most,” she said.

Every Wednesday morning approximately 20 volunteers receive, organize and pack canned food, fruit, vegetables, meat, bread and other groceries sent by Second Harvest Food Bank.

The community also collaborates to help in other ways. Every first Sunday of each month, which they have nicknamed “Divine Providence Sunday,” parishioners give donations when they arrive for Mass.

“We know parishioners also have needs and yet they help us to help others,” Guadalupe said.

Ten years after its beginning, Casa Marillac continues to respond to the community’s changing needs – this time, helping families who have been impacted by the loss of COVID-19 emergency food aid. The rise in demand for help has been noticeable, Guadalupe said.

“We deliver the food boxes at 1 p.m. Since some weeks ago, the line of cars is formed from 9 in the morning, and at 11 we already complete the quota of between 150 and 180 boxes,” she said.

Volunteers benefit from serving at Casa Marillac as well.

Sometimes, after working all day, they will selflessly put together a box of food and take it home to a neighbor who unexpectedly shows up to ask for help.

For Guadalupe, the best payment she and the other volunteers receive is seeing the grateful faces of the people they help.

“It’s priceless,” she said.

Get involved

To contribute to Casa Marillac’s work or get assistance, go to 6218 Tuckaseegee Road in Charlotte or call 704-503-9204.

Talented tenor aspires to make Bocelli-like impact

Christ the King’s Miguel Villalobos earns music scholarship to The Catholic University of America

ANNIE FERGUSON arferguson@charlottediocese.org

SALISBURY — Before Miguel Villalobos made his debut in this world, his parents were already nurturing his Godgiven talents.

“When I was pregnant with Miguel, my husband would sing a beautiful Spanish lullaby to him called ‘In the Name of the Father,’” Miguel’s mother Irasema Medrano recalls. “He had to sing it every day, or I couldn’t go to sleep at night.”

After Miguel was born, Medrano says she and her husband, Miguel Villalobos Sr., gave their son a toy karaoke microphone, and he began singing as soon as he could hold the toy at about five months old.

At first, Miguel would only sing at home, but with his mother’s encouragement, he broke through his shyness and began volunteering as a cantor at their parish, Sacred Heart in Salisbury.

Musical theater also piqued young Miguel’s interest, and he started his acting career with Sacred Heart School’s production of “Annie” in third grade. More recently, he has taken on lead roles in “Godspell” and “Shrek: The Musical” at Christ the King High School in Huntersville. His talents were recently recognized when he was chosen as one of the top-six best actor finalists for Blumenthal Performing Arts’ Blumey Awards in Charlotte.

This was icing on the cake to the news of his full scholarship to The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he will study vocal performance.

Miguel’s audition for the scholarship with the voice faculty at the university was an eye-opening experience for him.

“I’ve never had any vocal lessons or anything like that. I’ve always been self-taught,” he says. “This was the first time that I ever showed my tones to people outside North Carolina and my own little bubble here in Salisbury.”

Miguel sang “The Prayer” by Andrea Bocelli and “Caro Mio Ben” by Tommaso Giordani. After the audition, Rick Christman, a vocal performance professor at CUA, pulled him aside for an impromptu lesson and was impressed with his ability to take and apply direction.

“Miguel possesses an outstanding tenor voice and a fine understanding of the mind-body connection necessary to achieve a very sound vocal technique,” Christman says. “When coupled with his natural sensitive musicianship and beauty of sound, I believe Miguel can anticipate having a voice that will offer him a fine career as a professional singer. I very much look forward to working with him as a voice student.”

In addition to the music scholarship, Miguel earned an academic merit scholarship. With other awards and aid, his entire undergraduate tuition is covered – $54,000 per year for four years.

As his family and friends rally to help him raise an additional $20,000 for his room and board, Miguel says he is at peace knowing God will make it happen, realizing the

Lord often brings the right people into your life at the right moment.

One such friend has been there for the Villalobos family since before Miguel was born: Father John Putnam.

Father Putnam met Miguel’s parents, originally from Mexico, when they were dating in their late teen years in Salisbury, and he later assisted with their wedding when

great deal of joy, and I knew that, without encouragement and assistance, his family would be unable to afford a Catholic education.”

Miguel’s mother, who is now a guidance counselor at Christ the King High School, notes the integral role Father Putnam has played in her children’s education and formation. He has been a consistent source of support through his encouragement to send Miguel and his twin sisters, Maya and Mia, to Sacred Heart and later to Christ the King, she says.

Father Putnam also says he is assisting the family in securing the necessary funding to cover Miguel’s room and board at CUA. He notes Miguel’s great accomplishment of receiving a full scholarship to the prestigious university as well as his spiritual gifts.

“Miguel always has a natural love for the faith and a heart to serve God in some way. As a young boy, he would often say he wanted to be a priest,” he recalls. “As a pastor, I always try to be reassuring and encouraging that God will show the way.”

During his junior year of high school, Miguel landed the role of a lifetime –playing Jesus in “Godspell,” a play based on the Gospel of Matthew.

“Playing Jesus was such a transformative role. It helped me become a good person,” he says, noting that the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane was particularly challenging.

“Backstage, I was in a corner contemplating that I’ve got to be ready for this. It was so tense being in that position of being about to die. That’s not an easy thing.”

Sarah Varricchio, the theater director at Christ the King, was impressed with the maturity Miguel brought to the role of Jesus and was moved by his performance throughout the production, noting his warmth, depth and talent.

“He’s probably one of the most faithful kids I’ve ever met, but not just faithful in, ‘I believe in the magisterium, and I go to confession and Mass,’” she says. “He is joyfully Catholic in the pure sense of the word. He has this smile that literally lights up the room, and he brings people to him, and encourages everyone to use the talents God has given them.”

With Miguel’s trust in God and faithful friends and family, it seems for him the sky is the limit.

“I envision myself like an Andrea Bocelli, a person who sings from the heart in front of thousands and millions of people,” he says. “Maybe that’s a little bit ambitious, but you have to place your dreams somewhere.”

When it comes to the music itself, he says, “I imagine myself singing in a way that will help people understand where they come from – from God – and to convey the message of the music itself. I want to use my voice to lift people up and evangelize.”

he was pastor of Sacred Heart.

“When Miguel came along and got closer to school age, I encouraged them to send him to Sacred Heart School,” Father Putnam explains. “He was a sweet little boy with a

Hear Miguel sing At

: Hear Miguel Villalobos sing “Ave Maria” in a special performance for Catholic News Herald readers

PHOTOS PROVIDED Miguel Villalobos visited The Catholic University of America campus on Acceptance Day in the spring of 2023. He has earned a music and academic scholarship to the university. Miguel with his parents, Miguel Villalobos Sr. and Irasema Medrano, in 2022 after receiving the St. Thérèse of Lisieux Award for Journey in Faith and Sincere Belief at Christ the King High School in Huntersville.

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

ASSISTANT CONTROLLER

The Diocese of Charlotte is seeking a full time Assistant Controller. This position supervises three to four staff members and reports to the Financial Controller. Responsibilities include accounting for the Diocesan Central Administration and its affiliated entities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Oversight of monthly financial closings and general ledger entries.

• Preparation of the annual financial statement and disclosures.

• Assist with the annual audit process.

• Coordinate preparation and review of sales and use tax filings.

• Oversee the Accounts Payable process.

• Supervise the recording of cash receipts.

• Participate and assist with annual budget procedures.

• Understand and oversee activities related to Fund Accounting

• Supervise, train, and evaluate staff members.

• Aide in the preparation of various tax returns

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or related field, CPA required.

• Five Years’ experience in accounting and/or internal auditing.

• Thorough knowledge of budgeting principles and practices, internal control systems, tax related legislation, treasury management, financial reporting methodologies, and of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) as promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).

• Strong verbal, written and analytical skills.

• Proficiency with computers, word processing, spreadsheet software, accounting software and Windows.

Please send resume and salary history/requirements by to:

Human Resources, Diocese of Charlotte, 1123 South Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28203-4003, or email to Recruiting@rcdoc.org. The

MIKE FITZGERALD | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

St. Ann parish honors Our Lady of Fatima and patroness

CHARLOTTE — St. Ann Parish in Charlotte celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Fatima on May 13 with the special unveiling of two new outdoor statues honoring Our Lady of Fatima and her mother, St. Ann, the parish’s patron saint. The festivities began with a Marian procession around the parish led by St. Ann’s pastor, Father Timothy Reid, immediately after the vigil Mass. Father Reid was joined by parochial vicar Father Brad Jones and Deacons Tom Sanctis and Peter Tonon. Also participating were Fathers Matthew Kauth and Matthew Buettner from St. Joseph College Seminary, along with members of the Daughters of the Virgin Mother.

The two new statues were unveiled at the conclusion of the procession. The statue of St. Ann, which rests atop the St. Ann Allen Center, was unveiled by two members of the Daughters of the Virgin Mother, with assistance from Father Kauth. Afterwards, attention moved to the recently completed Marian grotto, where Father Reid and Sister Mary Raphael, founder of the Daughters of the Virgin Mother, unveiled the new statue honoring Our Lady of Fatima, which was then blessed with holy water by Father Reid.

The day also marked the eighth anniversary of the founding of the Daughters of the Virgin Mother, and Sister Mary Raphael addressed the attendees, thanking St. Ann Parish, Bishop Peter Jugis and the diocese’s priests for their support of her community.

Afterwards all attendees celebrated with an outdoor reception hosted by the St. Ann’s Mens Club.

The Our Lady of Fatima statue was sculpted by artist and parishioner Jacob Wolfe. It took six years to plan and complete, due to various delays from the pandemic, supply chain shortages and other obstacles, which Father Reid noted had allowed the statue to finally be dedicated on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima 2023.

Bishop McGuinness seniors celebrate ‘cupcake day’

KERNERSVILLE — Bishop McGuinness High School seniors and faculty members celebrated College Decision Day, or what’s colloquially called “cupcake day,” on May 1. For eight years, Bishop McGuinness has held this party for seniors to recognize their hard work and accomplishments throughout the college process.

All seniors are encouraged to wear their college or “Bishop bling” and celebrate in the counseling center by eating cupcakes, pinning their name under their college pennant, reviewing old yearbooks and sharing future plans. Faculty members also wear their college alumni gear. Schools represented included Notre Dame University, Wake Forest University, NC State University, Appalachian State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Guilford College, Virginia Wesleyan University, Lincoln Memorial University and the University of Georgia.

The party is a celebration of days past and days ahead. It also brings the students’ experience full circle: First-year students receive mini cupcakes during Freshmen First Day.

— Julie Gehling

“Get your ducks in a row!”

St. Matthew School celebrates its 20th anniversary

CHARLOTTE — St. Matthew School’s morning Mass May 10 recognized the 20th anniversary of the school. Alumni, parents and former staff members were in attendance to join in with the celebration. Principal Kevin O’Herron talked about the community’s growth over the past 20 years and how their core values and focus on Catholic education have remained from the start. Current students were encouraged to remember their St. Matthew School family, because they might be the alums returning for the 40th anniversary. Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.

PHOTOS BY TROY HULL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

St. Ann School names new

principal, assistant principal

CHARLOTTE — St. Ann School has announced that Celene Little, its current assistant principal, will assume the role of principal for the 2023-’24 school year. A well-respected member of the community, Little has served St. Ann School for the past decade.

A native of Big Stone Gap, Va., Little holds a degree in elementary education from Belmont Abbey College, a master’s degree in special education from UNCCharlotte, and a Certification in School Administration from UNCGreensboro. She has had a diverse career in education, from teaching at St. Mark’s (currently LifeSpan) to directing early intervention programs in York, Chester and Lancaster counties in South Carolina. She is also the proud mother of four children who have been educated in the Diocese of Charlotte Catholic Schools system.

School officials also announced that Anna Owens, a seasoned educator from Charlotte Catholic High School, will join St. Ann

School as assistant principal. Owens hails from Minnesota and holds a bachelor’s degree from Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, where she double majored in theology and humanities and Catholic culture, with a minor in philosophy. Starting her career in the United Kingdom, she earned a master’s degree in Catholic theology from the Maryvale Institute in Birmingham, England, and has since served at Catholic schools in California and North Carolina. In a letter to parents and the school community, Dr. Greg Monroe, superintendent of the diocese’s Catholic schools, wrote, “We have full confidence in this team’s ability to further lead St. Ann into a bright future of continued growth and vitality. We are also reviewing the rest of the support team and staff to ensure they have all the resources and personnel they need to continue serving our parents and students well. We look forward to a successful completion to this academic year, and will begin planning for a great upcoming 2023-2024 school year under the guidance and leadership of Mrs. Little and Mrs. Owens.”

o er outpatient rehabilitation services in addition to our existing inpatient o erings. We take a multidisciplinary approach to healing and recovery by incorporating a personalized plan that includes physical, occupational and speech therapy. erapy services are available seven days a week, and progress is monitored daily.

e Lillian Congdon Transitional Rehab Center has 24 private, one-bedroom suites. e brand-new facility features ne dining, a state-of-the-art gym, Kore Balance for assessments, Never2Late for cognitive training and standing tolerance, an outdoor therapeutic space, POCket Pro for exercises at home and more.

— Spencer K.M. Brown

Little

Diocese of Charlotte Catholic schools honored with national award

CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte’s Catholic Schools system won the prestigious “Catholic Organization of the Year” title at the Catholic Education Foundation award ceremony held April 26 in New York City.

Recognizing the national excellence of Catholic institutions, the award noted the diocese’s system of 20 schools for its commitment to academic excellence, adherence to the Magisterium, promotion of Catholic identity and culture, and prioritization of authentic Catholic education centered on formation and evangelization.

The event, hosted by the CEF, drew priests, nuns, bishops and dignitaries from across the globe to celebrate the best of Catholic education.

Bishop Thomas Daly, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ committee on Catholic education and representative of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, delivered the keynote address.

The award presentation was led by the CEF’s president, Father Peter M.J. Stravinskas. In a nod to the leadership of the diocese’s Catholic schools system, he recognized Father Timothy S. Reid, vicar of education for Catholic schools, and Dr. Greg Monroe, superintendent of Catholic schools, for their contributions.

“Under the guidance of Father Reid and Dr. Monroe, the Diocese of Charlotte’s Catholic schools have ushered in a new era of Catholic culture-building and exceptionalism,”

Father Stravinskas said. “Through their revised strategic direction for schools and the introduction of new positions

such as the director of Catholic culture and identity, they have prioritized the mission of Catholic schools to serve as intellectual institutions of excellence, formation and evangelization.”

Accepting the award, Father Reid expressed gratitude to Bishop Peter Jugis for his unwavering leadership and support of Catholic education.

Monroe echoed this sentiment, adding, “We have a dedicated team of education leaders throughout our diocese who prioritize the formation of saintly scholars. We couldn’t fulfill our mission without them and our engaged parents, who are the primary educators of their children. I am happy to accept this award on their behalf.”

Monroe also highlighted the ongoing commitment to furthering the mission: “There is more work to be done as we strive to uphold the best of our Catholic intellectual tradition. My Catholic Schools Office team and I stand proud to support our administrators, faculty and staff as we continue to form students who can respond to their vocation to holiness and pursue excellence as fully alive disciples of Christ who transform the world.”

The celebrations, which began with Mass at Holy Innocents Church on Broadway and 37th Street, concluded with a banquet at Arno’s Restaurant on Broadway and 38th Street.

This recognition marks a significant milestone for the diocese and its commitment to providing an exceptional Catholic education.

— Catholic News Herald

Belmont Abbey College celebrates 2023 graduates

BELMONT — Belmont Abbey College marked a significant milestone at its 145th commencement ceremony May 13 as a total of 281 students were awarded degrees. The celebration began with the customary baccalaureate Mass at the Abbey Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, followed by the graduation ceremony on the basilica piazza, presided over by the school’s chancellor, Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari, and president, Dr. William Thierfelder.

Twelve students received Master of Health Administration degrees – the first-ever graduations from Belmont Abbey College’s graduate program, under the guidance of its founding director and professor, Dr. Gwyndolan Swain. Six seminarians received bachelor’s degrees in philosophy. The 2023 Student of the Year was Morgan Lanzo. The ceremony also recognized outstanding individuals with honorary degrees, including Kevin Kennelly, Regina Moody and Benedictine Sister Mary Forman (posthumous).

— Catholic News Herald

PHOTO PROVIDED

Father Timothy S. Reid, vicar of education for Catholic schools, and Dr. Greg Monroe, superintendent of Catholic schools, display the national award from the Catholic Education Foundation.

Honoring Our Blessed

Across the Diocese of Charlotte, parishes and schools honored Our Blessed Mother with “May crownings.” This is a tradition of the Church that dates back to the 16th century and continues to be a joyful, popular tradition among Catholics during the month of May. Besides the fact that she is the Mother of Christ the King, Mary herself shows us the way to experience the joys of heaven. When Jesus preached about the Kingdom of God, He stressed the importance of humility, and Mary is our example.

“The last will be first” He said to His disciples (Mt 20:16). The Virgin Mary is a model of humility for us. If we want to

enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, then Mary shows us the A hallmark of Catholicism is love for Jesus’ mother, Mary. thanksgiving for her “yes” to God, for her role as the Theotokos God’s children.

Mary is also our mother, given to us by Jesus as He was dying “When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple there whom

Students at St. Leo the Great School in Winston-Salem honor Mary as Queen of Heaven, crowning her statue in the parish courtyard.

A preschool student at St. Mark School in Huntersville crowns Mary with roses.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY AMY BURGER, CONNIE RIES AND PARISHES Students across the diocese crowned Our Blessed Mother this past week. Pictured clockwise here are students from St. Mark Church and preschool in Huntersville (top row), St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, and St. Philip the Apostle Church in Statesville.

Blessed Mother

way.

Mary. Catholics love her, honor her and venerate her image in Theotokos (“God-bearer”) and as a powerful intercessor for all of dying upon the cross.

He loved, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold, your

son.’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home” (John 19:26, 27). This tender scene speaks to us of the depth of the Love that inspires, informs and transforms all human love – the Love Incarnate who gives us His Mother.

Mary’s obedience and unwavering faith in God also exemplify the perfect Christian disciple. For if we remain close to Our Blessed Mother, she will keep us close to her Son.

— Catholic News Herald

PHOTO PROVIDED courtyard.

May Crowning at Divine Redeemer Church in Boonville (left) and St. Michael School in Gastonia.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

(Below from left) Mary crowned at St. Leo the Great. Students from Our Lady of Grace School process with rose crown. St. Mark preschoolers honor Mary with flowers in grotto.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY AMY BURGER AND PAOLA SCILINGUO-MENDOZA

Siete hombres serán ordenados diáconos

KIMBERLY BENDER kdbender@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — Este mes de junio, siete hombres serán ordenados diáconos, uno de los grupos más grandes de seminaristas que darán este paso adelante al sacerdocio para la Diócesis de Charlotte.

El Obispo Peter Jugis ordenará estos diáconos el 3 de junio en la Iglesia San Marcos en Huntersville, acercándolos a convertirse en sacerdotes el próximo año.

Esta promoción presenta dos hombres provenientes de parroquias de Charlotte, dos de Asheboro y Salisbury y uno de Huntersville.

Los siete, Matthew Wayne Dimock Jr. de Santo Tomás de Aquino en Charlotte; Christian Joseph Goduti de San Marcos en Huntersville; Matthew Philip Harrison II de Sagrado Corazón en Salisbury; Kevin Rubén Martínez de San José en Asheboro; Elliott Cade Suttle de Sagrado Corazón en Salisbury; José Alfredo Palma de San José en Asheboro; y Kevin Michael Tran de San John Neumann en Charlotte, atendieron al Seminario Mount St. Mary’s y la Escuela de Teología en Cincinnati, Ohio.

Además de atender al mismo seminario, varios de ellos comparten su pasión por la lectura, música y deportes, además de su amor por la fe católica.

“La fe católica es hermosa porque es universal y objetiva”, dijo el seminarista Suttle. “Aplica a todo en todo lugar y tiempo. Más allá de ser objetiva por naturaleza, se adapta por sí misma a todos los tiempos y culturas. Es objetiva, pero tiene muchas formas de vivirla en esa misma verdad objetiva”.

Cinco de los siete se formaron inicialmente en el Seminario Universitario San José en Mount Holly para hombres que disciernen una posible vocación religiosa antes de tomar el paso de enrolarse en un seminario mayor. Fundado en 2016, acoge un creciente número de vocaciones en la Diócesis de Charlotte. Los estudiantes consiguen el grado de bachiller en Belmont Abbey College mientras experimentan una vida comunal de estilo Benedictino en su camino de discernimiento.

Uno de ellos, Palma Torres, eligió a San José como su santo de confirmación, y cree que el santo ha lo ha cuidado por años.

“Una razón por la que creo que San José ha estado cuidándome es porque tenemos el mismo nombre y la parroquia de la que vengo es San José”, dijo Palma. “Cuando ingresé al seminario, justamente abrió sus

Practiquemos una vida de santidad anclada en Dios

Con gran alegría puedo ver que en muchas parroquias se están realizando numerosas confirmaciones este año. Tan solo en una de ellas hubo 350. Cómo me gustaría que este mensaje pueda llegar a las manos de cada uno de ellos para animarlos a decirle sí a Cristo con toda la intensidad que el alma movida por el Espíritu Santo puede ser capaz.

Al igual que los apóstoles en la primera comunidad cristiana, hay una necesidad tremenda en nuestros días de que más y más personas reciban los dones del Espíritu Santo y los vivan, para así poder crear ese gran ejército de Cristo que sea capaz de combatir y dar testimonio en este mundo cada vez más secularizado y alejado de Dios.

Cada uno de los dones que el Espíritu Santo nos da tiene una función importante en nuestra vida diaria.

Más online

En www.catholicnewsherald.com : Lea más sobre los siete hombres que serán ordenados diáconos el próximo mes

puertas y yo fui parte de la primera promoción en ingresar. Por ello creo firmemente que San José ha estado cuidándome”.

El número total de seminaristas de la Diócesis de Charlotte se ha más que triplicado desde que inició el programa del Seminario Universitario San José. Este año hay 49 hombres estudiando para convertirse en sacerdotes. Campamentos católicos de verano, como ‘Quo Vadis Days’, un campamento de discernimiento vocacional anual para jóvenes varones que se preguntan “¿A dónde vas?”, es donde muchos de estos hombres identifican por primera vez o solidifican un potencial llamado al sacerdocio.

“Comencé a sentir el llamado al sacerdocio cuando estaba en la escuela secundaria mientras atendía un campamento católico de Verano”, dijo Harrison. “Ese deseo creció y me permitió ingresar al seminario bajo la dirección y consejo de mi párroco. Continué discerniendo y orando sobre mi vocación, y con ello llegó gradualmente la certeza de mi llamado. En ese momento, cuando estaba en mi tercer año de seminario, estaba bastante seguro de que esto era lo que Dios deseaba de mí y para mí”.

La fe de Dimock se enriqueció en Charlotte. Sus padres, Matthew Dimock Sr. y Gena Dimock, se conocieron en la Fuerza Aérea de Estados Unidos, y él nació cuando sus padres cumplían servicio en Arkansas. Ambos se convirtieron al catolicismo.

“Mis padres me criaron con celo por la fe, que floreció especialmente cuando nos mudamos a la Diócesis de Charlotte en 2008”, dijo.

Después de su ordenación, los siete hombres serán considerados diáconos “transitorios”, en comparación con los diáconos “permanentes”, un reflejo de que tienen la intención de servir un año en preparación pastoral, litúrgica y educativa antes de ser considerados para la ordenación al sacerdocio en junio de 2024. El diácono es el primero de los tres tipos de órdenes sagradas; los otros dos son sacerdote y obispo. Todos están bienvenidos a la Misa de las 10 de la mañana del 3 de junio en la Iglesia San Marcos, ubicada en 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville.

La sabiduría inspira a cada hombre a saber que comportamiento tomar en cada situación de su vida, siempre buscando cumplir la voluntad de Dios. Inspira al buen cristiano a la caridad a Dios y al prójimo.

La inteligencia ayuda al hombre a poner su mirada en Dios y a entender muchas de las grandes verdades reveladas por Él.

El don de consejo nos ayuda a saber decidir con acierto, aconsejar a otros fácilmente y en el momento necesario, conforme a la voluntad de Dios. Utiliza la prudencia en su actuar.

La fortaleza es el don que el Espíritu Santo concede al fiel, dándole una fuerza sobrenatural que ayuda en la perseverancia para dar testimonio de la fe en las diversas situaciones de la vida.

El don de ciencia nos permite acceder al conocimiento. Es la luz invocada por el cristiano para sostener la fe del bautismo. El calor en la fe y el cumplimiento del bien es el don de la piedad, que el Espíritu Santo derrama en las almas fieles que saben escucharlo.

El santo temor de Dios es el don que nos salva del orgullo, sabiendo que todo lo debemos a la misericordia divina. Si vemos con atención estos dones venidos de Dios, dados gratuitamente en la confirmación y potenciados por el buen cristiano que los pide continuamente y los practica, ellos nos ayudan a vivir una vida anclada en Dios y a tener muy presente las realidades eternas en nuestro diario vivir.

La vida de santidad debería ser el principal motivo de acción de cada ser humano. El Espíritu Santo ciertamente desea nuestra santificación y nos quiere dar toda esta gracia para que podamos ir subiendo los peldaños de una vida más y más cercana a Dios, cumpliendo con nuestros deberes de caridad.

Que la paz de Dios habite en tu corazón y te haya dado esa plenitud tan especial del Espíritu Santo para ser testigo de Cristo en este mundo tan necesitado de verdaderos cristianos que brillen por la autenticidad y coherencia de sus vidas, siendo así verdaderos discípulos del Señor.

Que el Espíritu Santo traiga a tu corazón todo este entusiasmo espiritual, para que puedas alcanzar la vida eterna y cumplir en el mundo la misión por la cual Dios quiso crearte. Que al presentarte delante de Dios en tu vida diaria puedas repetir con Cristo: “Todo está cumplido”.

¡Ven Espíritu Santo, llena los corazones de tus fieles y enciende en ellos el fuego de tu amor!

PADRE JULIO DOMÍNGUEZ es vicario episcopal del Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Charlotte.

Padre Julio Domínguez

Palma Torres Tran Suttle

Dimock Harrison Goduti Martinez

Diciendo Adiós con dignidad

Programa de asistencia funeraria de Caridades Católicas ofrece misericordia y amor a los necesitados

Fueron 140 los jóvenes que asistieron al último retiro de la Pascua Juvenil en el Centro de Retiros localizado en Pickens, Carolina del Sur. El Padre Julio Domínguez, vicario episcopal del Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Charlotte, condujo la jornada que se extendió por un fin de semana. El Padre Domínguez valoró la participación del seminarista Anthony del Cid Lucero, quien respondió muchas preguntas de los jóvenes.

CHARLOTTE — Contraria a la extendida creencia popular que señala que la mayoría de jóvenes rechaza las enseñanzas divinas y se aleja de Dios, el Padre Julio Domínguez, vicario episcopal del Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Charlotte, dijo haber sido testigo de la participación, entrega, compromiso y consideración mostrada por ellos durante la realización de la Pascua Juvenil que se llevó a cabo la pasada Semana Santa.

“Esta experiencia me abrió los ojos”, dijo el P. Domínguez, quien pensaba que los jóvenes “iban a dar mucha batalla”. “Sin embargo me di cuenta que venían con la mente muy abierta desde el inicio”, señaló.

Puso como ejemplo que durante la Hora Santa les pidió que le hablaran a Dios. “Ellos empezaron a hablar y dar testimonio. Lo que iba a ser una hora de Hora Santa se tuvo que extender a tres horas”, dijo sorprendido.

Esto es una muestra de que necesitan la atención de la Iglesia, comentó el P. Domínguez, resaltando que inclusive las preguntas que hicieron los jóvenes sobre temas “difíciles”, fueron abiertas, directas y siempre realizadas con respeto y “mucha sana curiosidad”.

Sobre todo, las respuestas, que fueron contestadas desde el punto de vista católico por quienes conducían los diálogos, fueron siempre acogidas con mucho respeto. “Pude ver cómo se les iluminaba el rostro cuando respondíamos sus inquietudes y tomaban con gran consideración nuestro punto de vista. Los jóvenes quieren conocer más de Dios”, dijo el P. Domínguez.

Respecto a los temas que más inquietan a los jóvenes hoy, señaló que son las cuestiones sobre género y sexualidad, el papel de ellos dentro de la Iglesia, así como la necesidad de encontrarse a sí mismos.

Sheyla Díaz, graduada y magister en Salud Clínica Mental, líder del movimiento juvenil de la parroquia San José en Newton, y que encabezó el equipo de organización y servicio de la Pascua Juvenil, dijo que entre los 140 jóvenes que participaron habían algunos que no practicaban la fe católica y otros que “incluso fueron casi a escondidas de sus padres”. “Todos se fueron con la semilla sembrada y las ganas de conocer más sobre la

vida católica”.

“Es un retiro que empezó a planificarse hace más de un año y las últimas tres semanas fueron intensas”. Sin embargo, la coordinadora señaló que valió la pena el esfuerzo pues el compromiso de los participantes fue impresionante.

Díaz agradeció la conducción del Padre Julio Domínguez, la asistencia de una pareja casada y la participación del seminarista Anthony del Cid Lucero, quien respondió abiertamente, por más de dos horas, las diversas interrogantes de los jóvenes.

Particularmente, dijo Díaz, esta experiencia le ha servido mucho, pues “he conocido un poquito más de cerca los hermosos corazones de los muchachos”.

La Pascua Juvenil es una jornada de reflexión y consulta que se realiza durante los últimos días de la Semana Santa.

El evento anual, organizado por el Ministerio Hispano, congrega a jóvenes adultos, entre los 18 y 25 años, de todas las parroquias de la diócesis.

Los participantes no son necesariamente católicos o integrantes del movimiento juvenil de sus parroquias.

Más online En www.facebook.com/Español : Vea más fotografías sobre la Pascua Juvenil

ANNIE FERGUSON arferguson@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — La fe católica nos enseña que una importante obra de misericordia es enterrar a los muertos, y muchos fieles están prestando atención a esta orden moral efectuando sus donaciones a Caridades Católicas de Diócesis de Charlotte para ayudar a las personas que necesitan sufragar los gastos finales de sus seres queridos.

“Nuestro programa de asistencia funeraria ha tocado profundamente los corazones de numerosos donantes comprometidos de todo corazón con esta causa”, dijo Virginia Garramone, directora de desarrollo de Caridades Católicas. “Generosamente eligen contribuir directamente al programa de asistencia para entierros de Caridades Católicas, empoderándonos para continuar brindando los servicios esenciales para enterrar a sus seres queridos con dignidad y respeto”.

Para muchas familias, el costo de sepultar a un ser querido es un importante desafío financiero. El costo promedio de un funeral en Estados Unidos oscila entre siete y doce mil dólares, un obstáculo inmenso para muchas personas que luchan solo para llegar a fin de mes. Este gasto inesperado agrava la carga que ya enfrentan en el duelo por su ser querido.

La asistencia funeraria de Caridades Católicas comenzó en 1994, cuando el condado Mecklenburg dejó de contribuir con fondos para el entierro de indigentes. La organización benéfica se asoció con ciudadanos preocupados, trabajadores sociales, directores de funerarias y el director del cementerio de la ciudad para establecer un plan de entierro para los residentes necesitados del condado Mecklenburg, brindando servicios funerarios y de entierro o cremación a familias en necesidad.

“Nos asociamos con funerarias que harán entierros (servicios de tumbas) y/o cremación a un precio reducido. El entierro tiene un valor de $ 1,100 y la cremación de $ 600. Alentamos a las familias a contribuir con esa cantidad”, dijo Sylvia Sekle, coordinadora de asistencia directa de Caridades Católicas de la Diócesis de Charlotte.

Las familias contactan a Sekle, quien establece una cita para reunirse con ellos. Luego se comunica con las funerarias asociadas para ver cuál es la mejor opción para la familia y sus circunstancias particulares.

“A través del programa de asistencia para el entierro, podemos ayudar y apoyar a las familias a proporcionar

un entierro digno y/o cremación para sus seres queridos que han fallecido”, dijo.

Este programa sirve a las familias que no tienen seguro funerario, no pueden negociar arreglos financieros con una funeraria o no pueden pagar los costos asociados con los gastos tradicionales por fallecimiento. El fallecido debe haber sido residente del condado Mecklenburg o del área de Asheville para ser elegible.

En abril, las funerarias asociadas recibieron el Premio ‘Fruit of the Vine’ durante el evento de beneficiencia anual de Caridades Católicas, Vineyard of Hope. Los homenajeados incluyeron a John Adams de A.E. Grier and Sons, Jerry Anthony de Alexander Funeral Home, el reverendo Brad Humphrey de Grier Funeral Service y Danielle Roseboro de Roseboro Mortuary and Crematory.

En comentarios recientes, el reverendo Humphrey, director ejecutivo de Grier Funeral Service en Charlotte, dijo que el programa ha sido una bendición para las familias que experimentan un evento devastador en sus vidas.

“Saber que hay alguien que puede ayudar significa mucho para ellos. He visto brotar lágrimas de los ojos de las personas cuando se enteran que podrán despedir a sus seres queridos con dignidad”, dijo. “Cuando a las personas que no necesariamente tienen fondos para un funeral decente se les da la oportunidad de hacerlo, es verdaderamente una bendición. Están realmente agradecidos por los servicios que hace posible este programa”.

En el año 2000, Caridades Católicas estableció un fondo dentro de la fundación diocesana para garantizar el apoyo sostenido de los esfuerzos de asistencia funeraria. Esto genera continuamente fondos que tendrán un impacto directo en las vidas de los necesitados y sus seres queridos en las generaciones venideras.

“Siempre habrá una necesidad de asistencia funeraria para aquellos que no pueden pagar el entierro de sus seres queridos”, dijo Jim Kelley, director de desarrollo de la Diócesis de Charlotte. “Tenemos una asociación maravillosa con las funerarias y los donantes que hacen entregas económicas destinadas a nuestro programa de asistencia funeraria. El fondo proporcionará distribuciones a tiempo futuro, apoyando este trabajo que cambia la vida”.

Done

Para donar al programa de asistencia funeraria en Caridades Católicas, comuníquese con Virginia Garramone al 704-370-3349 o vlgarramone@ccdoc.org.

Para donar al fondo de asistencia funeraria en la fundación de la diócesis, comuníquese con Gina Rhodes al 704-3403364 o gmrhodes@rcdoc.org.

Para solicitar asistencia

funeraria

Comuníquese con Sylvia Sekle al 704370-3295 o smsekle@ccdoc.org.

“Los jóvenes quieren conocer más de Dios”

CÉSAR HURTADO rchurtado@charlottediocese.org

FOTOS CORTESÍA PASCUA JUVENIL

El Padre Julio Domínguez comparte un momento especial con los jóvenes que lo sorprendieron con una pequeña celebración por su cumpleaños. La fiesta incluyó piñata. “Los jóvenes quieren conocer más de Dios”, dijo el P. Domínguez.

FOTOS CORTESÍA PASCUA JUVENIL

Talentoso tenor aspira tener un impacto

como el de Bocelli

Miguel Villalobos, estudiante de Christ the King gana beca musical en la Universidad Católica de América

ANNIE FERGUSON arferguson@charlottediocese.org

SALISBURY — Antes que Miguel Villalobos hiciera su debut en este mundo, sus padres ya fomentaban los talentos que Dios le había dado.

“Cuando estaba embarazada de Miguel, mi esposo solía cantarle una hermosa canción de cuna en español llamada ‘En el nombre del Padre’”, recuerda Irasema Medrano, la madre de Miguel. “Él tenía que cantarla todas las noches, sino Miguel no se dormía”.

Después que nació Miguel, Doña Irasema cuenta que ella y su esposo, también llamado Miguel, le dieron a su hijo un micrófono de karaoke de juguete, y él comenzó a cantar apenas pudo sostener el micrófono, como a los cinco meses de edad.

Primero, Miguel cantaba solo en la casa, pero con el aliento de su madre superó su timidez y se presentó como voluntario en el coro de su parroquia, Sagrado Corazón en Salisbury.

El teatro musical también interesó al joven Miguel, comenzando su carrera de actor con la obra ‘Annie’ que produjo la escuela Sagrado Corazón. Más recientemente, tomó roles estelares en ‘Godspell’ y ‘Shrek: The Musical’ en la escuela Christ the King en Huntersville. Su talento fue reconocido cuando fue seleccionado como uno de los mejores seis actores finalistas del Blumey Awards, una premiación del Blumenthal Performing Arts en Charlotte.

Esta fue la cereza del pastel a la noticia de su beca completa para la Universidad Católica de América (CUA) en Washington D.C., donde desarrollará sus capacidades vocales.

La audición de Miguel para la universidad fue una experiencia reveladora.

“Nunca he tenido clases de canto ni nada por el estilo. Siempre he sido autodidacta”, dice. “Esta fue la primera vez que mostré mi tonalidad vocal a otras personas fuera de Carolina del Norte y mi propia pequeña burbuja aquí en Salisbury”.

Miguel cantó “The Prayer” de Andrea Bocelli y “Caro Mio Ben” de Tommaso Giordani. Después de la audición, Rick Christman, profesor de desempeño vocal de CUA, lo llamó a un lado para darle una clase de improvisación y quedó impresionado con su habilidad para recibir y aprovechar sus instrucciones.

“Miguel posee una gran voz de tenor y una excelente comprensión de la conexión mentecuerpo necesaria para lograr una técnica vocal muy sólida”, dice Christman. “Cuando se combina con su sensibilidad musical natural y la belleza del sonido, creo que Miguel puede tener una voz que le ofrecerá una excelente carrera como cantante profesional”.

Además de la beca musical, Miguel obtuvo una beca por mérito académico. Con otros premios y ayudas, su matrícula universitaria completa está cubierta: $54,000 anual por cuatro años.

Mientras que su familia y amigos se han unido para ayudarlo a recaudar los $ 20,000 adicionales para cubrir su alojamiento y comida, Miguel dice que está en paz sabiendo que Dios hará que suceda, sabiendo que el Señor a menudo trae a las personas correctas a su vida en el momento correcto.

Uno de esos amigos ha estado allí para la familia Villalobos antes de que naciera Miguel: el Padre John Putnam.

El Padre Putnam conoció a los padres de Miguel, que son originarios de México, cuando eran jovencitos y salían juntos en Salisbury, y los ayudó con su boda cuando era párroco en Sagrado Corazón.

Un paso adelante en Evangelización Digital

San Francisco de Asís Radio TV

CÉSAR HURTADO rchurtado@charlottediocese.org

LENOIR — En 2021, durante la pandemia, Alejandro Agustín Mendoza, guatemalteco nacido en Aguacatán, Huehuetenango, decidió hacer algo por sus hermanos de la parroquia San Francisco de Asís en Lenoir.

FOTO PROPORCIONADA

Miguel Villalobos visitó la Universidad Católica de America en la primavera de este año, durante el Día de Aceptación. Tras una audición, se le concedió una beca musical y de mérito académico.

“Cuando Miguel se acercaba a la edad escolar, los animé a enviarlo a la escuela de Sagrado Corazón”, dice el Padre Putnam. “Era un niño dulce con mucha alegría, y sabía que, sin aliento y ayuda, su familia no podría pagar una educación católica”.

La madre de Miguel, quien hoy es consejera en Christ the King, resaltó el papel que el Padre Putnam ha jugado en la educación y formación de sus hijos. Él ha sido una fuente constante de apoyo a través de su aliento para enviar a Miguel y a sus hermanas gemelas, Maya y Mia, a Sagrado Corazón y luego a Christ the King, dijo.

El Padre Putnam también dice que está ayudando a la familia a obtener los fondos necesarios para cubrir el alojamiento y la comida de Miguel en CUA. Subrayó el gran logro de recibir una beca completa para la prestigiosa universidad, así como los dones espirituales de Miguel.

“Miguel siempre ha tenido un amor natural por la fe y un corazón para servir a Dios de diferentes maneras. Cuando era niño, frecuentemente decía que quería ser sacerdote”, recuerda. “Como pastor, siempre les digo que Dios les mostrará su camino”.

Durante su primer año de secundaria, Miguel consiguió el papel de su vida: interpretar a Jesús en ‘Godspell’, una obra basada en el Evangelio de Mateo.

“Interpretar a Jesús fue un papel transformador. Me ayudó a convertirme en una buena persona”, dice, señalando que la escena en el Huerto de Getsemaní fue particularmente desafiante. “Entre bastidores, estaba en un rincón contemplando que tenía que estar preparado para esto. Era muy tenso estar en esa posición de estar a punto de morir. No es algo fácil”.

Sarah Varricchio, la directora de teatro de Christ the King, quedó impresionada con la madurez que Miguel aportó al papel de Jesús y se conmovió con su actuación durante toda la producción, notando su calidez, profundidad y talento.

“Probablemente es uno de los niños más devotos que he conocido, pero no solo fiel en, ‘Yo creo en el magisterio, y voy a la confesión y a la Misa’”, dice ella. “Él es un católico alegre en el sentido puro de la palabra. Tiene esa sonrisa que literalmente ilumina la habitación, atrae a la gente y anima a todos a usar los talentos que Dios les ha dado”.

Con la confianza de Miguel en Dios y sus fieles amigos y familiares, parece que para él solo el cielo es el límite.

“Me veo como un Andrea Bocelli, una persona que canta desde el corazón frente a miles y millones de personas”, dice. “Tal vez eso sea un poco ambicioso, pero tienes que poner tus sueños en algún lugar”.

Cuando se trata de la música en sí, dice: “Me imagino cantando de una manera que ayudará a las personas a comprender de dónde vienen, de Dios, y transmitir el mensaje de la música en sí. Quiero usar mi voz para animar a la gente y evangelizar”.

Escuche a Miguel online

En www.catholicnewsherald.com : Escuche a Miguel cantando el ‘Ave María’

Pese al distanciamiento social y las estrictas medidas de prevención contra el COVID-19, muchos tenían temor de contagiarse en Misa. Agustín, por iniciativa propia, utilizó su teléfono móvil para transmitir en directo la Santa Misa dominical por Facebook. Ese mismo año, el entonces vicario parroquial, P. Nohé Torres, al verlo transmitir la Misa, le manifestó la necesidad de hacer lo mismo con la Hora Santa para que otros, desde casa, pudieran participar. Así, casi sin saberlo, comenzó el interés de Agustín por la evangelización digital, que es hoy una de las prioridades pastorales del Obispo Peter Jugis.

CAMBIO RADICAL

Pero no siempre Agustín tuvo interés por las cosas religiosas. Como él mismo nos confiesa, pese a haber sido bautizado en el catolicismo en Guatemala, vivió una vida alejada de Dios. “Era una persona que vivía en vicios. Hasta que viví un Encuentro Emaús”. Agustín había rechazado varias invitaciones a participar en este retiro. Poco antes de octubre de 2016, un amigo nuevamente lo invitó a vivir la experiencia. “Dije, para que ya no me anden invitando, voy a ir para allá”.

Ahí descubrió al Señor. “Me tocó el corazón”, explica. “Abrí mi corazón y mi mente para entender y el Señor llegó a mí”, relata. Recuerda que al terminar el encuentro su familia fue a recibirlo. “Fue una experiencia inolvidable, muy emocionante”, anota. Además, su pareja y su hija de 15 años están felices con su cambio. Ahora toma clases de RICA y espera poder realizar su primera comunión, “y todos ritos, incluyendo mi matrimonio religioso”.

SUEÑO EN MARCHA

Transmitir la Misa y la Hora Santa no era todo lo que Agustín deseaba hacer. ¡Tenía que haber algo más!

“Yo la verdad no sé nada de cámaras ni de radio ni de internet”, nos cuenta. Por ello se contactó con personas en Guatemala.

Williams López, quien trabajaba en la parroquia La Encarnación, Aguacatán, tenía las respuestas. López es locutor y fue el primero que desarrolló redes sociales católicas en Aguacatán, refiere Agustín.

“Él me dio la idea, creó el proyecto, puso la página y redes sociales, consiguió la licencia, los programas, el reproductor. Hizo todo. Yo solo compré el equipo y pagué lo que costaba”, dijo Agustín.

La estación San Francisco de Asís Radio inició sus emisiones el 12 de diciembre de 2022, durante la celebración de la Fiesta de la Virgen de Guadalupe, cuando el coro parroquial le ofreció un homenaje.

La estación emite 24 horas, de lunes a viernes. Actualmente, Marcos Natareno, un experimentado locutor guatemalteco, trabaja junto a él y tiene a cargo un programa de 5 a 9 de la noche, donde incluye el rezo de la Coronilla, noticias, lee libros católicos, presenta el Evangelio del Día e incluye prédicas y música de alabanza.

Pero la inquietud de Agustín no se detiene, y está a la espera de la autorización de producir contenido en vídeo.

Agustín, un hombre de campo que salió de Guatemala a los 12 años para trabajar en Estados Unidos, demuestra un compromiso gigante con la Iglesia Católica en Carolina del Norte. Trabaja de sol a sol en sus labores cotidianas y se da tiempo para diariamente programar el sistema automatizado de emisión de la estación.

“Agradezco las felicitaciones y sugerencias. Solo gustaría que me ayuden a difundir la estación para que más y más personas se beneficien de la programación. Algunas personas dicen que no hay alternativas, que no hay alabanzas ni contenido católico para nosotros. San Francisco de Asís Radio es una prueba de que sí la hay”, dijo.

Más online

En www.facebook.com/sanfranciscodeasistv : Siga las informaciones de San Francisco de Asís Radio TV. Sintonice la radio en https://bit.ly/435iDGI

FOTO CORTESÍA

Alejandro Agustín Mendoza opera el equipo digital que emite de lunes a viernes, las 24 horas del día, la señal de San Francisco de Asís Radio desde sun hogar en Morganton, aunque se congrega en Lenoir.

Casa Marillac: 10 años al servicio de los más necesitados

CÉSAR HURTADO

rchurtado@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — Los años que siguieron a 2001 no fueron nada fáciles para la comunidad latina llegada a las Carolinas. Después del ataque terrorista a las torres gemelas en Nueva York las cosas cambiaron en Estados Unidos.

Los inmigrantes, especialmente aquellos que no poseían un estatus de permanencia legal, fueron vistos con recelo por los empleadores que debían verificar los permisos de trabajo más estrictamente. Comprensiblemente, los estadounidenses veían entonces a los migrantes como un problema de seguridad nacional. En 2003, ante la urgente necesidad de asistir a la comunidad latina con despensas de alimentos, la parroquia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe gestionó la recepción de víveres para entregarlos gratuitamente a las personas en necesidad.

Así lo recuerda Gloria Sierra, secretaria de la parroquia, una de las tres voluntarias que recibían en esos años el camión con alimentos proveniente de Community Food Rescue. Ellas mismas organizaban y entregaban las despensas.

Esa actividad fue el antecedente de lo que luego, en 2013, vendría a ser Casa Marillac, una organización de misión social y caridad que desarrolla la Congregación de la Misión, los Vicentinos, en la parroquia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. Casa Marillac no tiene como única misión la entrega de despensas. También, como explica su coordinadora, María Guadalupe Nava, ofrecen referidos para

servicios médicos, asisten a los recién llegados al área con muebles y menaje del hogar, y con cualquier otra información que requieran.

María Guadalupe, quien fue voluntaria por muchos años antes de ocupar el cargo, explica que “se siente muy bonito tener empatía por los más necesitados”.

“Nosotros, en algún momento, hemos tenido necesidades, ya sean materiales o emocionales, y hemos sido atendidos sintiéndonos acogidos. Hoy devolvemos un poquito de aquello que se nos dio cuando más lo requeríamos”.

Cada miércoles por la mañana, alrededor de 20 voluntarios reciben, organizan y empacan los alimentos enlatados, fruta, vegetales, carne, pan y otros comestibles enviados por el banco de alimentos Second Harvest.

La comunidad también colabora. Cada primer domingo de mes, llamado de la Divina Providencia, entrega sus donaciones al ingresar a las Misas dominicales.

“Sabemos que también tienen necesidades y pese a todo nos ayudan a ayudar”, dice María Guadalupe.

NECESIDAD CRECIENTE

Después de concluir la ayuda federal por la pandemia de COVID-19, son más las familias que requieren de ayuda para poner un plato de comida en la mesa de sus hogares.

“Entregamos las cajas de alimentos desde la 1 de la tarde. Desde hace algunas semanas, la fila de coches se forma desde las 9 de la mañana y a las 11 ya completamos la cuota de entre 150 a 180 cajas”, explica María Guadalupe.

“Yo me pongo en los zapatos de las personas. ‘No nos alcanza’, nos dicen, incluso algunos que reciben ayuda del gobierno”.

Los voluntarios reciben ayuda también. “Están aquí porque tienen una necesidad”, y en ocasiones, después de trabajar todo el día, entregan desinteresadamente la caja con alimentos que pueden llevar a su hogar a una persona que inesperadamente se presenta a pedir”.

Para María Guadalupe, el mejor pago que reciben es ver que el rostro de gratitud de la gente. “No tiene precio”, dice.

Si desea colaborar con la obra de Casa Marillac, o solicitar ayuda, diríjase a 6218 Tuckaseegee Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28214, o llame al teléfono 704-503-9204.

‘Hoy devolvemos un poquito de aquello que se nos dio cuando más lo requeríamos’.

María Guadalupe Nava Coordinadora de Casa Marillac

TROY HULL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Un gran número de voluntarios bajo la dirección de María Guadalupe Nava, coordinadora de la Casa Marillac, recibe, prepara y distribuye con amor las cajas con alimentos que se entregan cada miércoles a más de 150 familias que requieren de ayuda para alimentar a los miembros del hogar. Casa Marillac también ofrece asistencia a los recién llegados al área de Charlotte proporcionando referidos médicos y mobiliario para sus viviendas.

La Visitación de la Virgen María

Este 31 de mayo, el calendario litúrgico nos recuerda la celebración de la Fiesta de la Visitación de la Virgen María, instituida oficialmente por el Papa Urbano VI en el año 1389. En esta visita María recita el cántico de alabanza conocido como el Magnificat.

Luego que María Santísima oyó del ángel Gabriel que su prima Isabel también esperaba un hijo, sintióse iluminada por el Espíritu Santo y comprendió que debería ir a visitar a aquella familia y ayudarles y llevarles las gracias y bendiciones del Hijo de Dios que se había encarnado en Ella.

San Ambrosio anota que fue María la que se adelantó a saludar a Isabel puesto que es la Virgen María la que siempre se adelanta a dar demostraciones de cariño a quienes ama.

Por medio de la visita de María llevó Jesús a aquel hogar muchos favores y gracias: el Espíritu Santo a Isabel, la alegría a Juan, el don de Profecía, etc, los cuales constituyen los primeros favores que nosotros conocemos que haya hecho en la tierra el Hijo de Dios encarnado. San Bernardo señala aquí que desde entonces María quedó constituida como un “Canal inmenso” por medio del cual la bondad de Dios envía hacia nosotros las cantidades más admirables de gracias, favores y bendiciones.

Además, nuestra Madre María recibió el mensaje más importante que Dios ha enviado a la tierra: el de la Encarnación del Redentor en el mundo, y en seguida se fue a prestar servicios humildes a su prima Isabel. No fue como reina y señora sino como sierva humilde y fraterna, siempre dispuesta a atender a todos que la necesitan.

Este fue el primero de los numerosos viajes de María a ayudar a los demás. Hasta el final de la vida en el mundo, Ella estará

El Magnificat

siempre viajando para prestar auxilios a quienes lo estén necesitando. También fue la primera marcha misionera de María, ya que ella fue a llevar a Jesús a que bendijera a otros, obra de amor que sigue realizando a cada día y cada hora. Finalmente, Jesús empleó a su Madre para santificar a Juan Bautista y ahora ella sigue siendo el medio por el cual Jesús nos santifica a cada uno de nosotros que somos también hijos de su Santa Madre.

— Condensado de Aci Prensa

Proclama mi alma la grandeza del Señor, se alegra mi espíritu en Dios mi Salvador, porque ha mirado la humillación de su esclava.

Desde ahora me felicitarán todas las generaciones porque el Poderoso ha hecho obras grandes por mí. Su nombre es Santo y su misericordia llega a sus fieles de generación en generación.

Él hace proezas con su brazo, dispersa a los soberbios de corazón. Derriba del trono a los poderosos y enaltece a los humildes. A los hambrientos los colma de bienes y a los ricos despide vacíos.

Auxilia a Israel su siervo, acordándose de su santa alianza según lo había prometido a nuestros padres en favor de Abrahán y su descendencia por siempre.

Gloria al Padre y al Hijo y al Espíritu Santo como era en principio ahora y siempre por los siglos de los siglos.

Amén.

Lecturas Diarias

MAYO 28-JUNIO 3

Domingo (Pentecostés): Hechos 2:1-11, 1 Corintios 12:3b-7, 12-13, Juan 20:19-23; Lunes (Bienaventurada Virgen María, Madre de la Iglesia): Génesis 3:9-15, 20, Juan 19:25-34; Martes: Sirácides 35:1-15, Marcos 10:28-31; Miércoles (Fiesta de la Visitación de la Virgen María): Sofonías 3:14-18, Lucas 1:39-56; Jueves (San Justino): Sirácides 42:15-26, Marcos

10:46-52; Viernes: Sirácides 44:1, 9-13, Marcos 11:11-26; Sábado: Sirácides 51:17-27, Marcos 11:27-33

JUNIO 4-10

Domingo (Solemnidad de la Santísima Trinidad): Éxodo 34:4b-6, 8-9, 14-17, 2 Corintios 13:11-13, Juan 3:16-18; Lunes (San Bonifacio): Tobit 1:3, 2:1-8, Marcos 12:1-12; Martes (San Norberto): Tobit 2:9-14, Marcos 12:13-17; Miércoles: Tobit 3:1-11, 16-17, Marcos 12:18-27; Jueves: Tobit 6:10-11; 7:1, 9-17, 8:4-9, Marcos 12:28-34; Viernes: Tobit 11:5-17, Marcos 12:35-37; Sábado: Tobit 12:1, 5-15, 20, Marcos 12:38-44

JUNIO 11-17

Domingo (Solemnidad de Corpus Christi): Deuteronomio 8:2-3, 14-16, 1 Corintios 10:16-17, Juan 6:51-58; Lunes: 2 Corintios 1:1-7, Mateo 5:1-12; Martes (San Antonio de Padua): 2 Corintios 1:1822, Mateo 5:13-16; Miércoles: 2 Corintios 3:4-11, Mateo 5:17-19; Jueves: 2 Corintios 3:15–4:1, 3-6, Mateo 5:20-26; Viernes (Solemnidad del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús): Deuteronomio 7:6-11, 1

Juan 4:7-16, Mateo 11:25-30; Sábado (Memoria del Corazón Inmaculado de la Bienaventurada

Virgen María): 2 Corintios 5:14-21, 30-31, Lucas 2:41-51

Please pray for the following deacons who died during the month of May:

John Doyle 5/16/1992

Josef Vandermeer 5/19/2000

Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus www.kofcnc.org

Diocese of Charlotte

Director of Leadership Gifts

Full Time

Candidate must be a college graduate with a degree in marketing, communications, business administration or related field with five years’ work experience in fund development. Leadership gift experience preferred. Applicants should have strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to interact well with diverse groups. Responsibilities include developing strategies, events, and materials to inform, engage, cultivate, and solicit current and prospective leadership gifts.

Please submit resume to Jim Kelley, Office of Development, jkkelley@rcdoc.org or 1123 South Church Street, Charlotte, NC. Questions call Jim Kelley at 704-608-0359.

IMAGEN CORTESÍA MUSEO DEL PRADO, MADRID ‘La visitación de la Virgen a Santa Isabel’, óleo sobre tabla atribuído a Juan de Tejerina (Paredes de Nava, Palencia, España). Se cree fue realizado hacia 1525.

Our nation

Overriding governor’s veto, N.C. Legislature passes 12-week abortion ban

KATE SCANLON OSV News

RALEIGH — North Carolina’s Legislature on May 16 overrode the Democratic governor’s veto of a 12-week abortion ban, allowing the measure to be enacted. The bill, an outlier among states that have passed abortion restrictions since Dobbs, now becomes law despite a pressure campaign from Gov. Roy Cooper for lawmakers to reject it.

The Care for Women, Children and Families Act would prohibit elective abortions after 12 weeks, as well as implement new safety requirements for abortion clinics and additional funding for resources, including adoption and foster care services, as well as some paid parental leave. The bill contains exceptions for cases of rape and incest up to 20 weeks gestation, for fetal anomalies up to 24 weeks gestation and no limitations in cases with a maternal mortality risk.

The legislation is unique among the other U.S. states that have moved to restrict abortion after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision in June overturned prior rulings

by the high court – including Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which had found abortion access to be a constitutional right. Of the states that have implemented new restrictions post-Dobbs, many have done so at earlier gestational stages.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the vast majority of abortions in the United States take place prior to 12 weeks gestation. In 2020, the CDC found that 80.9% of abortions were performed prior to nine weeks gestation, with 93.1% of all procedures prior to 13 weeks gestation.

Cooper made his case against the bill at a roundtable discussion May 14, arguing, “I’ve spent the week meeting with doctors and clinic operators who all agree that this dangerous ban would make abortion unavailable to many women and could put their lives at risk.”

“Several Republican legislators campaigned on the promise to protect women’s reproductive health and we want North Carolinians to ask that they keep that promise,” Cooper said.

Cooper made a pitch to voters to pressure Republican state lawmakers against

overriding his veto.

If just one Republican legislator had not backed an override effort, the state’s current 20-week ban would have remained in place.

In a press release, Cooper’s office argued that a handful of Republican state lawmakers previously made comments supportive of the state’s current 20-week limit, or rejected other restrictions.

“All we need is one Republican to step up,” Cooper said during a May 14 interview on MSNBC.

The bill has been backed by the state’s Catholic bishops. In a joint statement May 15, Bishops Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte and Luis R. Zarama of Raleigh said they “welcome the (bill’s) increased protections for unborn human lives.”

“We also welcome the millions of dollars of funding to support mothers and families included in this bill,” the bishops said. “Together these provisions represent progress toward building a culture of life in North Carolina.”

Bishops Jugis and Zarama added that “in every human life – from the moment of conception until natural death – the Church sees the image of God and the inviolable dignity of the human person.”

“This is why the Church always stands

for life and calls on everyone to defend life. The Church is deeply committed through her social and pastoral outreach to caring for mothers and families at every stage of life,” they said.

Arguing that “while this bill is not perfect,” the bishops nevertheless “hope it will become law to advance protection for unborn children and support for mothers in need.”

Caitlin Connors, southern regional director for SBA Pro-Life America, said in a statement that Cooper “sided with the abortion industry over the people.”

“During his tour targeting legislators to uphold his veto, the governor made it abundantly clear who he was representing by holding a panel with the chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood and the owner of another abortion facility,” Connors said.

Calling it “alarming” that Cooper did so during Mother’s Day weekend, Connors argued “the leader of the purple state of North Carolina is using his political power to serve the financial interests of abortion executives, rather than to represent the consensus on late term abortions, establish paid parental leave for teachers and establish a game-changing amount of funding for childcare.”

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief

S.C. lawmakers pass ‘heartbeat’ bill, six-week ban on abortions

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Legislature passed a six-week “heartbeat” ban on most abortions on May 23 that is set to be signed into law by Governor Henry McMaster. The bill paves the way for a significant change to the legality of abortion in one of the few Southern states that has not yet added restrictions to the procedure after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer. Republican Governor McMaster vowed to sign the bill which bans most abortions after cardiac activity can be detected, a point before many women know they are pregnant,

effectively banning most abortions. The bill does include exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother, as well as for a fatal fetal anomaly. Current South Carolina law permits abortion until 22 weeks gestation. Physicians who violate the soon law will have their medical license revoked by the State Board of Medical Examiners and could face jail time. The bill also states that biological fathers will be required by the law to pay child support at the conception of their child.

Nebraska senators pass bill protecting children from abortion, gender surgery

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska lawmakers passed a measure May 19 prohibiting abortion at 12 weeks gestation and banning gender-altering surgeries for minors. The Let Them Grow Act, LB574, overcame a continued filibuster effort by abortion rights and transgender ideology advocates and was sent to the desk of Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, who was expected to sign it.

His Excellency

The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis Bishop of Charlotte requests the honor of your presence at the Liturgy of Ordination to the Diaconate

Mr. Matthew Wayne Dimock, Jr

Mr. Christian Joseph Goduti

Mr. Matthew Philip Harrison ll

Mr. Kevin Ruben Martinez

Mr. José Alfredo Palma Torres

Mr. Elliott Cade Suttle

Mr. Kevin Michael Tran

Saturday, the third day of June

Two thousand twenty-three at ten o’clock in the morning

Saint Mark Catholic Church 14740 Stumptown Road

Huntersville, North Carolina

Reception Immediately following Parish Hall

The act marks the first restriction on abortion in Nebraska since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer. It is the most significant step to protect the unborn in the state since 2010, when lawmakers outlawed abortion at 20 weeks. It also represents the first state effort to govern gender-altering procedures for children.

Minnesota enacts new regulations to end gun violence

ST. PAUL, Minn. — New regulations enacted in Minnesota last week mark progress in addressing gun violence, but cultural and spiritual shifts are needed to stem the bloodshed, said Jason Adkins, executive director and general counsel of the Minnesota Catholic Conference. On May 19, Gov. Tim Walz, D.-Minn., signed into law SF 2909, a public

THE

safety bill that includes universal background checks, a red flag law permitting law enforcement to intervene when a person is at high risk of injuring themselves or others with a firearm, and limits to “no-knock” warrants. In addition, the newly enacted legislation will allocate $43 million over four years to the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to combat violent crime, plus more than $197.2 million covering various initiatives for crime prevention, community engagement and juvenile justice. The law also establishes an Office of Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls to counter the disproportionate impact of gun violence on women of color in the U.S. The bill’s enactment “speaks to the importance of patient political organizing that perseveres through discouragement toward a goal, ” Adkins said.

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Summer Bible Institute

July 17- 20, 2023

This year’s Summer Bible Institute will be available both in-person and online. Please indicate your option when registering.

Schedule

New Testament

Ronald Witherup, PSS

Paul the Pastor: Discovering a Neglected Theme Mornings: 9:30am – 11:30am

Old Testament

Maribeth Howell, OP Encountering the Psalms Evenings: 7:00pm – 9:00pm

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A limited number of overnight accommodations are available.

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Our world AI topic draws record number of participants to media ethics conference in Krakow

PAULINA GUZIK OSV News

KRAKOW, Poland — For 17 years, the media ethics conference at the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow has gathered media researchers from all over the country. This year it attracted a record number of academics. The reason? The main topic was the ethics of using AI in the media space.

“The theme is gaining momentum,”

Father Michal Drozdz, dean of the university’s social sciences department, told OSV News at the opening of the conference, which took place in Krakow in southern Poland May 17-18.

“So far we’re in the stage of having fun with ChatGPT, we’re treating it as an adventure. But we see more and more that this is an issue of human ethical security, and we start our reflections from this point at the conference,” he said.

What is at stake, Father Drozdz said, is a threat of the objectification of man and empowerment of machines. “Man is at the center of everything that surrounds us, that should be the starting point of any discussion, and all machines, all applications, algorithms, should serve mankind, and already serve us to a large extent.”

“Technical progress is most praiseworthy, in line with the teaching of

the church,” Father Drozdz said, “but man should not lose control so that at some point he does not feel threatened by the machine. Security means that we will feel safer as recipients of media content, but also as creators of it.”

AI-generated anchors host shows on entertainment and technology innovation on Chinese TV; Sophia, a humanoid robot was granted citizenship in Saudi Arabia in 2017; and ads at bus stops are being generated entirely by AI that is reading human needs.

“More and more often we see we’re not in charge of the situation any more, and often, not only in media but in life, when we feel the situation is getting out of control, we turn to ethics, we look for firm foundations and we find them in values, so often despised in the past,” Katarzyna Drag, professor of communications at the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow and organizer of the conference, told OSV News.

Since the university’s biggest institute is communications and media, many students asked whether their profession will become extinct due to AI-generated content.

“So far I stick to the conviction that a human being is, after all, irreplaceable. Because technology will never have the feelings, sensitivity and emotional intelligence of a human. And I can only hope the future proves this,” Drag said.

Drag said Catholic journalism has a role to play in AI-revolution “by showing that values matter, that we can’t only follow persuasive communications, achieving the goal of clickbait at any cost. The dignity of a human being has the biggest value and by communicating it; we lay the fundamentals of good communications based on respect and truth.”

But, Father Drozdz stressed, “Reliability, honesty and truthfulness of the message will always be on the side of man.”

Marcin Makowski of iTechArt Group told OSV News that AI “will always be faster because it is trained to look for correlations, patterns and to average the sets of information it has been given.” But it’s only a human being who can “anticipate and get facts right. If you feed AI with ‘facts’ that the Earth is flat and a man never landed on the Moon, it is going to ‘believe it’.”

More and more often, tech giants’ executives call for regulation of AI. On May 16, the chief executive of the California start-up OpenAI, Sam Altman, urged government to regulate the increasingly powerful technology in testimony before members of a Senate subcommittee.

“Heads of technology giants see the danger that the tool they created may at some point get out of people’s control,” Father Drozdz said.

“We can’t stop technology, but we have

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to educate,” Natalia Hatalaska said at the panel closing the conference. “When we build a hotel, it’s clear and regulated where the plugs are going to be located.” But all the regulations are useless, she argued, if “I don’t teach my child that putting his fingers inside a plug or using a hair dryer in the bathtub is dangerous.”

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Religious leaders warn of ‘extremely detrimental’ effects of proposed assisted suicide bill

EDINBURGH, Scotland — The Scottish Catholic bishops have signed a public statement of protest against a bill to legalize assisted suicide in their country. They joined the Church of Scotland, and the Scottish Association of Mosques to object to a change in the law because it would “put pressure on vulnerable individuals” to take their own lives. Bishop John Keenan of Paisley, vice president of the Scottish Bishops’ Conference, signed the statement with the Rev. Iain Greenshields, moderator of the Church of Scotland and Imam Shaykh Hamza Khandwalla, of the Dundee Central Mosque, at the Scottish Parliament May 18. The three faith groups “remain firm in their opposition to assisted suicide and euthanasia. We would call upon Members of the Scottish Parliament to consider carefully the implications of this Bill, to express their concerns, and to vote against it,” the statement said. Their intervention comes as the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill is being drafted for introduction into the Scottish Parliament later this year.

Church in Germany faces major decline in membership, revenue

BONN, Germany — Germany’s Catholic Church will be forced to give up a third of its properties in the face of dwindling membership and revenue, according to a new report, with many

buildings facing demolition unless converted to other uses. “It’s a fact that church attendance has strongly reduced, with a significant and steady decline in priestly vocations and church membership, and an increasing loss of financial income,” said Matthias Kopp, spokesman for the German bishops’ conference. “However, the closures have not only affected parish churches, the abandonment of monasteries, as well as charitable institutions, also has led to empty religious houses, pilgrimage centers and chapels,” he said. Germany’s Kirche & Recht review May report warned that 40,000 rectories, community centers and churches would have to be abandoned by 2060. Catholics make up around 26% of Germany’s 84 million inhabitants, although church attendance has dropped sharply since 2019, with only 4.3% of Catholics currently attending Mass.

Pope issues new ‘fundamental law’ for Vatican City State

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis updated the “Fundamental Law of Vatican City State,” opening the possibility that laypeople can be members of its governing commission and emphasizing that the independence of the city-state is essential for the mission of the Holy See. St. John Paul II promoted the initial version in 2000; his text noted the independence of Vatican City State guaranteed “the freedom of the Apostolic See” and assured “the real and visible independence of the Roman Pontiff in the exercise of his mission in the world.” Pope Francis’ revision of the law incorporates the mission into the text of the law itself. The first article states, “The Vatican City State ensures the absolute and visible independence of the Holy See for the fulfillment of its high mission in the world and guarantees its unquestionable sovereignty in the international arena as well.” —

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Let’s rediscover Eucharist as ‘Celebration Time’ – come on!

Back in 1981, “Celebration Time” was Kool and the Gang’s No. 1 hit song, their only No. 1 hit. According to Wikipedia, some of the lyrics were based on the Quran. Ronald Bell, the group’s saxophonist, said the idea was brainstormed when he read how the angels rejoiced and sang praises to God when Adam was created.

If the angels rejoicing could inspire one man to write a hit song, then our celebration of life as Catholics knowing we can partake of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord every day – our joy, our love, the promise of eternal life – should heal and save our broken world. Unfortunately, we are just like those at the church of Ephesus who left their first love (Rev 2:1-7). We also have left our first love, the Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

According to Pew Research, only one-third of all Catholics truly believe in Transubstantiation. June 19, 2022, was the start date of the National Eucharistic Revival, an outreach fortification from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops responding to the needs of the Church. Some Catholics may question the purpose of this revival – is it really necessary? Quoting from eucharisticrevival. org, the revival’s official website, “Our world is hurting. We all need healing, yet many of us are separated from the very source of our strength. Jesus Christ invites us to return to the source and summit of our faith in the celebration of the Eucharist. The National Eucharistic Revival is a movement to restore understanding and devotion to this great mystery here in the United States by helping us renew our worship of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.”

The second phase of the National Eucharistic Revival, the Year of Parish Revival, has been designated to start this year on June 11, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), and go through July 17, 2024. Yes, it is a time to celebrate the very Presence of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament we receive at Mass. But do you truly believe?

The next time you are at Mass, look around you. According to the Pew Research statistics, two-thirds of those sitting in front of you or behind you do not believe in the Real Presence. They have forgotten what Jesus said in John 6:51: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

What can a parish do to restore, enlighten, motivate and instruct parishioners to a deeper faith in the Living Eucharist?

The National Eucharistic Revival (NER) gives some pointers, and I suggest that all parishes in our diocese should dig deeper. It’s time for believers to take a stand and celebrate what they believe by sharing with those who don’t. Teach, preach, wear Eucharistic shirts and pins, put bumper stickers on your car. You never know who is following you! 1 Peter 3:15: “... sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.”

The NER website instructs us to “foster Eucharistic devotion, strengthen liturgical life through faithful celebration of the Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, missions, resources, preaching, and organic movements of the Holy Spirit.” Brothers and sisters, the Catechism of the Catholic Church 941 states: “The laity can also feel called, or be in fact called, to cooperate with their pastors in the service of the ecclesial community, for the sake of its growth and life. This can be done through the exercise of different kinds of ministries according to the grace and charisms which the Lord has been pleased to bestow on them.”

St Angela of Foligno gave us these words to relish: “If we paused for a moment to consider attentively what takes place in this Sacrament, I am sure that the thought of Christ’s love for us would transform the coldness of our hearts into a fire of love and gratitude.” On Sunday, June 11, let’s celebrate the Eucharist together, even though we are miles apart!

BOBBY SPEERS is an author who lives in Hickory and is a member of St. Aloysius Parish.

Church teachings on sex ‘still in diapers’?

Dante shows the error of that thought

Pope Francis recently said, in one of his disquieting comments that sound contemptuous for the Church he is charged to love, that her teachings on sex are “still in diapers.” My mind turns to Christian poets who have written about the love of man and woman, and the moral dangers that beset it, from the troubadours and the Arthurian romancers of the 12th century to such modern Catholic authors as Mauriac, Claudel, Greene, Waugh, Böll, Percy and Francis’ own predecessor, John Paul II.

Let’s take a look at one of these “infants.” When the pilgrim Dante descends in the “Divine

NO DEFENSE AGAINST PASSION?

To the lover, the passion seems inexorable – we have no defense, just as Tristan drank the love potion and fell into an adulterous passion with Iseult. And the nobler your soul is, the more susceptible you are to beauty and gracefulness, the more likely you are to fall. But Francesca is lying. Love – sexual passion – is not simply like the gales that toss her and her fellow sinners about.

Man is a creature of passion and reason, inclination and judgment, desire and choice. These faculties act upon one another. We are always desiring and choosing, not only among goods, but among desires also. We choose to desire what we desire.

I am attracted to some good, and I desire it, but I choose against the desire, subjecting it to judgment. It is not only that I decline to pursue that good. I decline to affirm the desire. I may condemn the desire, using my reason, and calling into battle other desires – for honor or purity or integrity of life.

Francesca wishes to set all that aside. But when Dante asks her how she and Paolo first fell, we see a series of errors:

Comedy” to the second circle of hell, where the lustful are punished, he’s dismayed to find, mingled among such flagrant sinners as Semiramis and Cleopatra, a multitude of those we might call the beautiful people, “the courtly ladies and the knights of old” (“Inferno” 5.71). Then he notices Paolo and Francesca, and he begs Virgil for the chance to speak to them.

Dante knew about the scandal. Francesca had been married, for political reasons, to Gianciotto Malatesta, crippled in body and soul, but she fell in love with his younger brother, Paolo. Her husband caught them in the act and murdered them on the spot.

How does the poet have this woman speak? Without crudity. She’s a cultured lady. She even attempts to capture Dante’s good will, appearing to wish his welfare:

“Were He who rules the universe our friend, / we would entreat Him, praying for your peace, / for you have pitied us our twisted fate” (88-93).

But Francesca does not pray for Dante. She cannot. Why, then, does she say what she would do, and why does she shift the blame over to God, that she cannot do it? It is to seduce the poet, to entice him to set his piety against the truth of what she and Paolo have done, and against the justice of God.

All who justify their sin will want the company that misery desires, but that desire is perhaps sharpest in those whose sin assumes the character of love. The murderer says he wanted justice, the miser wanted security, but they who sin sexually have love itself as their defense – or what they wish love were.

In fact, Francesca implies that love itself was to blame, not she herself:

“Love, that allows no loved one not to love, / seized me with such a strong delight in him, / that, as you see, it will not leave me yet / Love led us to one death” (102-106).

“One day we two were reading for delight / about how love had mastered Lancelot; / we were alone and innocent and felt / No cause to fear. And as we read, at times / we went pale, as we caught each other’s glance; / but we were conquered by one point alone. / For when we read that the much longed-for smile / accepted such a gentle lover’s kiss, / this man, whom nothing shall divide from me, / Trembled to place his lips upon my mouth. / A pander was that author, and his book! / That day we did not read another page” (127-138).

They should not have been alone together. They should not have been reading about the adultery of Lancelot and Guinevere. They should have kept on reading.

THE REST OF THE STORY

Had they continued, they might have encountered the madness that beset Lancelot, his disloyalty to his friend and lord, Arthur, and the spreading scandal that caused the Round Table to fracture and Camelot to fall.

Sexual sin involves drastic foreshortening of attention and concern, and confusion as to the character and urgency of the action. Francesca does not ask the most obvious question, supposing that she really did love Paolo. How could it possibly be to his benefit to make his brother a mortal enemy?

Neither she nor Paolo asks what the very book they are reading has to teach them. They do not ask how, if their incest be justifiable, we can possibly condemn the sins of others, people not likely to be reading about Lancelot and Guinevere.

They do not ask about the child that Francesca might bear. They act as if they had no choice. They desire to have no choice, and they choose to affirm that desire.

I’d say these few lines of poetry are quite mature. They are not in diapers. Perhaps, then, we are the incontinent?

ANTHONY ESOLEN is a professor and writer in residence at Magdalen College of the Liberal Arts in Warner, N.H. This column first appeared on the website The Catholic Thing (www.thecatholicthing.org). Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

Anthony Esolen Bobby Speers

Brother David Steindl-Rast

Wake your senses to say ‘yes’ to God and to the mutual belonging that is love

In my best, my most alive moments, I have a profound sense of belonging. At those moments, I am aware of being truly at home in this universe. I know that I am not an orphan here. There is no longer any doubt in my mind that I belong to this Earth household, in which each member belongs to all others – bugs to beavers, black-eyed Susans to black holes, quarks to quails, lightning to fireflies, humans to hyenas and humus.

To say “yes” to this limitless mutual belonging is love. When I speak of God, I mean this kind of love, this great “yes” to belonging. I experience this love at one and the same time as God’s “yes” to all that exists and as my own little “yes” to it all. In saying this “yes,” I realize God’s very life and love within myself.

But there is more to this “yes” of love than a sense of belonging. There is always also a deep longing. Who has not experienced in love both the longing and the belonging?

Paradoxically, these two heighten each other’s intensity. The more intimately we belong, the more we long to belong ever more fully. Longing adds a dynamic aspect to our “yes” of love. The fervor of our longing becomes the expression and the very measure of our belonging.

Nothing is static here. Everything is in motion with a dynamism that is, moreover, deeply personal. Where love is genuine, belonging is always mutual.

The beloved belongs to the lover, as the lover belongs to the beloved. I belong to this universe and to the divine “Yes” that is its source, and this belonging is also mutual.

Now, if my deepest belonging is mutual, could my most fervent longing be mutual, too? It must be so. Staggering though it is, what I experience as my longing for God is God’s longing for me.

It makes sense, then, to speak of a personal relationship with God. We are aware of this – dimly at least – in the moments when we are most wakeful, most alive, most truly human. We can cultivate this relationship by cultivating wakefulness, by living our human life to the full.

The Bible expresses these insights in the words “God speaks.” God speaks, and I am able to answer.

GOD’S POETRY COMES TO OUR SENSES

But how does God speak? Through everything there is. Every person, every situation, is ultimately Word. It tells me something and challenges me to respond. Each moment with all it contains spells out the great “yes” in a new and unique way. By making my response, I myself am becoming the Word that God speaks in me and to me and through me. How can I give a full response to this present moment unless I am alert to its message?

And how can I be alert unless all my senses are wide awake? God’s inexhaustible poetry comes to me in five languages: seeing, hearing, smelling, touching and tasting. All the rest is interpretation –literary criticism, as it were, not the poetry

itself. Poetry resists translation. It can be fully experienced only in its original language. This is all the truer of the divine poetry of sensuousness.

When and to what do your senses respond most readily? I think immediately of working in the garden at the hermitage where I am privileged to live for the better part of each year.

For fragrance, I grow jasmine, pineapple mint, sage, thyme, and eight different kinds of lavender. What abundance of delightful smells! And what variety of sounds: spring rain, autumn wind, birds – mourning dove, blue jay, the hawk’s sharp cry at noon and the owl’s hooting at nightfall – the sound the yard broom makes on gravel, wind chimes and the creaking garden gate.

Who could translate the taste of strawberry or fig into words? What an infinite array of things to touch, from the wet grass under my bare feet in the morning, to the sun-warmed boulders against which I lean when the evening turns cool.

My eyes go back and forth between the near and the far: the golden metallic beetle lost among rose petals; the immense expanse of the Pacific, rising from below the cliff on which this hermitage is perched to the far-off horizon where sea and sky meet in mist.

To have a place of solitude like this makes it easy to let the heart expand, to come alive with fresh vitality. Whatever our circumstances, we need to somehow set aside a time and a place for this kind of experience. It is a necessity, not a luxury.

What comes alive in those moments is more than eyes or ears; our heart listens and rises to respond. Until I attune my senses, my heart remains dull, sleepy, half dead. In the measure to which my heart wakes up, I hear the challenge to rise to my responsibility.

GRATEFUL LIVING BRINGS JOY

There are many methods for cultivating mindfulness. The one I have chosen is gratefulness, which can be practiced, cultivated, learned.

Before I open my eyes in the morning, I remind myself that I have eyes to see, while millions of my brothers and sisters are blind. In the evening, I jot down one thing for which I have never before been grateful. I have done this for years, and the supply still seems inexhaustible.

Gratefulness brings joy to my life.

Most importantly, it strengthens our sense of belonging. Grateful living is a celebration of the universal give-and-take of life, a limitless “yes” to belonging. To say an unconditional “yes” to the mutual belonging of all beings will make this a more joyful world.

This is the reason why Yes is my favorite synonym for God.

BROTHER DAVID STEINDL-RAST is a Benedictine monk at Mount Saviour Monastery in New York and the author of “The Way of Silence: Embracing the Sacred in Daily Life” (Franciscan Media). This was first published on the Franciscan Spirit blog.

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‘Communicating faith is first and foremost a matter of beauty. But beauty is not explained, it is shown.’