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Volume 6 Number 32 • April
Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
Two
Cities Unite In Prayer
Over Oklahoma On April
1
Charles
J.
cities for
JOHN MALLON CITY (CNS)
—
Oklahoma City and Denver became
sis-
homa
support, prayers and solidarity with us
City's federal building.
April 19 Archbishops Eusebius
J.
Beltran of Oklahoma City and Charles
J.
Chaput of Denver celebrated Mass
in
and survivors of the bomb-
The Oklahoma City Mass took place 168 seconds of silence were observed at 9:02 a.m., the time of the bombing, for the 168 people who lost their lives when a bomb brought down the Alfred P.
—
—
young Catholics their love,
and
to celebrate their faith,
their lives. This year's
theme was Theotokos, Greek for God bearer, and Mary, the mother of Jesus. "The members of the Diocesan Youth Council chose it (the theme)," explained Paul Kotlowski, diocesan direc-
youth ministry. "This year, they decided to center it on the Blessed Virtor of
See Youth, page 2
bless
all
of you for your
in faith," he wrote. "May the peace and joy of the risen Lord be in our hearts, our hopes and our lives of prayer." After both Masses, Archbishops Beltran and Chaput led their congregations in the recitation of the prayer of St.
Francis of Assisi.
The prayer appears on a card that the Vincentian Fathers who staff Holy Ghost Denver are making available as a sign of healing and reconciliation and as part of an effort to start a "prayer chain" that
in
ones," said Vincentian Father Gary
and the names of the 168 vic-
Mueller, parochial vicar at Holy Ghost.
members placed flowers and other mementos at the grassy site where the federal building once stood. The area has been fenced off since
"There is a wound in the heartland that can only be healed by prayer." With a coalition of Colorado and Oklahoma businesses, organizations and agencies, the Archdiocese of Denver and Holy Ghost Church have been active
The Mass was simple and dignified with families of victims proclaiming readings and bringing the mementos forward. In Denver at 9:02 a.m., the bells at Holy Ghost Church tolled 168 times in remembrance of the lives
As the
lost in the blast.
bells tolled, the
name of each
victim was spoken aloud and lifted up in
CLOVER, S.C. "Do you want a job?" Father Carl Del Guidice asked the record 45 1 teen-agers in attendance during the closing liturgy at the 20th annual Diocesan Youth Conference. "I've got one for you. Be a shepherd. Tend a flock yourself, your family and the people around you." The pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Brevard also spent part of the conference discussing devotion to the Virgin Mary and her special calling as the Mother of God. In the process, he encouraged youth to follow the Blessed Mother' s example and answer God' s call to serve their church and community. "The Lord calls each and every one
"May God
1996. After a period of silence, church
the bombing.
"We are all com-
and have
would continue bombing trial.
tims were read as family
missioned to be stewards of the world and carry out the mission of Jesus: to carry the kernels of God's truth, the Gospel of Jesus within, and share the message of our heavenly God." The April 18-20 conference, held each spring at Camp Thunderbird, allows
that Jesus
life,
Murrah building. The Mass was celebrated in St. Joseph Old Cathedral, which stands immediately adjacent to the bomb site and which sustained heavy damage in the bombing and was restored in December bells tolled
of us by name," he said.
came that we might it more abundantly."
minded
following a civil ceremony during which
Editor
in both
have
ing.
MIKE KROKOS
Mass
archbishop added, "we are re-
prayer and hope ceremonies marking the second anniversary of the blast that destroyed Okla-
their families
By
In the celebration of cities, the
in
their respective cities for the victims,
Annual Youth Conference
tion."
ter cities united in grief,
On
Charlotte Diocese Hosts 20th
Bombing
the victims, their families and survivors of the bombing.
By
JOANN KEANE
City
9 Archbishops Eusebius J. Beltran of Oklahoma City and Chaput of Denver celebrated Mass in their respective
OKLAHOMA
Photo by
25, 1997
prayer. That afternoon,
more than 500
people gathered in the church for a me-
Mass celebrated by Archbishop Chaput for the victims and their famimorial
for the duration of the
"We
certainly know the names of who have died, but we can scarcely imagine the many thousands who are liv-
those
ing the loss of their friends and loved
over the past year making preparations to meet the needs of family members of bomb victims who want to be in town for the
trial.
Catholic Charities
USA has given a
$10,000 grant to the coalition, which has established a safe haven where families can receive hospitality, mental health services and support from local clergy. A safe haven facility has also been established in Oklahoma City at the Federal Aviation Administration building.
A
lies.
closed-circuit television link has been
Holy Ghost Church is one block away from Denver's federal building, the site of the courtroom where the bombing trial will take place. Media attention has focused on Denver since that city was
established at the facility for family
chosen as the venue for the trial. Archbishop Chaput read a letter sent by Archbishop Beltran, who wrote: "In
Droege
Oklahoma City we personally experienced the tragic bombing that occurred
continuing efforts to assist the more than 500 people injured in the blast and the
here two years ago.
Now
(with the
trial
Denver) you share our grief and sorrow in a particular way, I trust that you will also share our hope and consolain
members wishing
to
view the
trial
pro-
ceedings.
Contributing to this story was Peter in
Denver.
Anyone
interested in supporting the
families of victims can contact Holy Ghost Church 's parochial vicar, Father Gary Mueller, in Denver at (303) 2921556.