August 21, 2026
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World Hunger Drive packs rice and hope 14-15
Catholic Scouts find faith on trek 10-11
Dating app turns friends into matchmakers
Schools ring in new year Students, faculty return to refreshed facilities 6-7
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Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe impulsa eventos 18
‘Pastors of the Streets’ mark one year 5
Youth ministry standouts honored with awards 4
At a glance 2
catholicnewsherald.com | August 21, 2026 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
CATHOLIC ALL WEEK
AUGUST 21, 2026
Timely tips for blending faith & life
VOLUME 35 • NUMBER 22
1123 S. CHURCH ST. CHARLOTTE, N.C. 28203-4003 catholicnews@rcdoc.org
704-370-3333 PUBLISHER The Most Reverend Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv., Bishop of Charlotte
INDEX Contact us.....................................2 Español...................................... 18-20 Our Diocese............................. 4-17 Our Faith........................................3 Our Schools.......................... 6-7, 16 Scripture.......................................3 U.S. news................................ 21-22 Viewpoints.............................26-27 World news............................ 24-25
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ope Leo has chosen a very different theme for the 2026 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, celebrated on Sept. 1: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” (Is 2:4). The Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development said the Holy Father’s message focuses on how armed conflicts violate our duty to care for creation by destroying the natural world and threatening the lives of millions of people.
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PRAY FOR PEACE
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops noted, “American Catholics … are learning more, caring more, and doing more about the environment and threats to it. As a community of faith, we are also seeking to understand more clearly the ethical and religious dimensions of this challenge.” One of the most powerful things we can do as Catholics is to pray for both care for creation and for world leaders to find peaceful solutions to disputes. Prayers, Scripture readings and more for both topics can be found on the USCCB website.
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HELP THOSE AFFECTED
The Vatican’s statement on this year’s theme said the passage from the prophet Isaiah “is an explicit invitation to prioritize development and sustainability over violence and destruction.” You can learn more about these from a Catholic perspective on the USCCB website. Consider volunteering or financially assisting Catholic organizations that are aiding those affected by violence or those working to eliminate the systemic poverty that can lead to conflicts.
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CLEAN UP YOUR ENVIRONMENT
While individuals may feel limited in how much we can impact global issues, we can take ownership of the creation in our literal backyards. Whether it’s hanging up a bird feeder, helping to remove litter from a nearby stream, cleaning up a section of roadway or volunteering at a church or community garden, take the time and make the effort to care for nature. — Catholic News Herald, USCCB and Vatican News
Scan the QR code for this week’s recommended prayers and activities
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AZIZ TAHER, REUTERS| OSV NEWS PHOTO
The rubble of buildings shows the aftermath of war in Bir Al-Salasil, Tyre district, southern Lebanon. On this World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation – a day set aside to care for the environment – Pope Leo is asking for prayers and actions to prevent the destruction to the earth – and to human lives – caused by armed conflicts.
ASSISTANT COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Patricia L. Guilfoyle 704-370-3334, plguilfoyle@rcdoc.org
Diocesan calendar of events
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EVENTS
NEWS: The Catholic News Herald welcomes your news and photos. Please e-mail information, attaching photos in JPG format with a recommended resolution of 150 dpi or higher, to catholicnews@rcdoc.org. All submitted items become the property of the Catholic News Herald and are subject to reuse, in whole or in part, in print, electronic formats and archives. ADVERTISING: Reach 165,000 Catholics across western North Carolina! For advertising rates and information, contact Advertising Manager Kevin Eagan at 704-370-3332 or keeagan@rcdoc.org. The Catholic News Herald reserves the right to reject or cancel advertising for any reason, and does not recommend or guarantee any product, service or benefit claimed by our advertisers. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $17.25 per year for registered families of the Diocese of Charlotte and $25 per year for all others. POSTMASTER: Periodicals Class postage (USPC 007-393) paid at Charlotte, N.C. Send address corrections to the Catholic News Herald, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, N.C. 28203.
45+ SINGLES FELLOWSHIP EVENT: Join St. Mark Parish’s 45+ Singles for fellowship and fun 5-8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, at Torrence and Knox, 20936 Torrence Chapel Road, Cornelius. Email 45plussingles@gmail.com with questions. EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS: Friday-Saturday, Sept. 11-12, Charlotte Convention Center. Enjoy dynamic speakers, inspirational music, one of the largest Eucharistic processions in the U.S., confessions, Adoration and Mass with the bishop and priests of the diocese, free screenings of “Cabrini” and 100-plus Catholic exhibitors. Details: www.goeucharist.com. WORLD DAY FOR GRANDPARENTS PROCESSION: The Charlotte Chapter of the Catholic Grandparents Association invites grandparents to follow the CGA banner Sept. 12 during the procession at the Diocese’s Eucharistic Congress. Join the group at 8:45 a.m. at the corner of S. Tryon and Third streets. For a map and more
details: https://goeucharist.com/schedule/procession/ PRAYER SERVICES MASS FOR ANOINTING OF THE SICK: 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, St. Luke Church, 9800 Fairview Road, Mint Hill. For those who wish to receive the sacrament of anointing of the sick, sponsored by the parish’s HOPE Committee. Refreshments served after Mass. For details, call 704-545-1224. VIGIL OF THE TWO HEARTS: Vigil begins with 8 p.m. First Friday Mass on Sept. 4, followed by Eucharistic Adoration and concludes with 8 a.m. First Saturday Mass Sept. 5. St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte. Details: www.defendthefamily.org/two-hearts. GRANDPARENTS MASS: The Charlotte Chapter of the Catholic Grandparents Association hosts a World Day for Grandparents Celebration at St. Ann Catholic Church, 3635 Park Road. Mass at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 13 followed by reception 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. RSVP for the reception at cgakac24@gmail.com.
Bishop Michael Martin, OFM Conv., will participate in the following events over the coming weeks: AUG. 22 – 4 P.M. AUG. 25 – 6 P.M. Vigil Mass Confirmation Pennybyrn, High Point Holy Trinity Church, Taylorsville AUG. 23 – 9:30 A.M. AUG. 29 – 6 P.M. Sunday Mass Vigil Mass St. Helen Mission, Holy Redeemer Church, Gastonia Andrews AUG. 25 – 9 A.M. AUG. 30 – 11 A.M. Ribbon Cutting Sunday Mass Charlotte Catholic High St. William Church, School, Charlotte Murphy
Our faith
August 21, 2026 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI
6 things to know about St. Clare of Assisi, the patron saint of television
Pope Leo XIV
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t. Clare of Assisi is one of the most beloved saints of the Middle Ages. Best known as the founder of the Poor Clares and a close friend of St. Francis of Assisi, Clare’s life was marked by radical trust in God, profound
Pope Leo: Sunday is ‘foundation’ of the liturgical year
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came from a wealthy family 1 She 4all 5behind. 6 7 8 9 —2but 3 left it
ope Leo urged Catholics to gather in person for Sunday Mass and called for working conditions that allow people to attend, saying Sunday is “the foundation and kernel of the whole liturgical year.” “To sanctify Sunday, it is essential to celebrate the Eucharist,” the pope said at his Aug. 12 general audience. “In this regard, I urge everyone to seek the best possible conditions so that even those who are unable to take time off work on Sundays may take part in Holy Mass.” Continuing his series on the documents of the Second Vatican Council, Pope Leo reflected on “Sacrosanctum Concilium,” the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. The liturgical year is not a static representation of past events, but an ongoing encounter with Christ, he said. At its core is Easter, when Christ rose from the dead, and for that reason, the pope said, it is “essential for the faithful to sanctify the Lord’s Day by gathering to celebrate the Eucharist.” “May our active participation and steadfast witness help us to enter ever more deeply into the reality of belonging to Christ, and may we anticipate with hope his coming in glory,” he said. Pope Leo recalled St. John Paul II’s description of Sunday as the “weekly Easter” and “the day of the Lord, the day of the Church, the day of man and, finally, the ‘day of days.’” Even in languages such as English and German, where the name for Sunday refers to the “day of the sun,” Pope Leo said Christians can discern a reference to Christ, “the true ‘sun of righteousness’ who enlightens every person.” Listening to the Word of God, receiving the body of Christ and gathering together on Sundays, the pope said, allow “the Christian community” to make “visible its communion with the Lord” and bear witness to its fidelity to Christ and the Church. “This assembly cannot be substituted by a solely virtual presence, nor can it be reduced to a merely passive gathering,” he said, stressing that the liturgical assembly is fulfilled through the active participation of the faithful. Addressing Spanish-speaking pilgrims, Pope Leo expressed his closeness to people affected by the earthquake that struck Colombia Aug. 10, killing hundreds and leaving many others injured or missing.
Eucharistic devotion and remarkable courage. As the Church continues to celebrate her during the Jubilee Year of St. Francis, here are six things you might not know about the woman whose witness continues to inspire:
1 2 3 4 She 5 had 6 anto7extraordinary 9 devotion the 8 Eucharist.
Clare was born in Assisi, Italy, on July 16, 1194, into one of the city’s most prominent noble families. She enjoyed a privileged upbringing and was expected to marry into another wealthy household. Instead, after hearing the future St. Francis of Assisi preach about living the Gospel with radical simplicity, Clare felt called to dedicate her life entirely to Christ. At age 18, she secretly left her family home on Palm Sunday night in 1212 to begin a new life of poverty. Her family attempted to bring her home by force, but Clare firmly refused and cut off her hair as a sign that she belonged to God alone.
Perhaps no aspect of Clare’s spirituality stands out more than her love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. She spent countless hours in prayer before the Eucharist and encouraged her sisters to center their lives on Christ’s real presence. This Eucharistic devotion became especially evident during one of the most famous events of her life. One of the best-known stories about Clare occurred when invading Saracen mercenaries threatened the convent of San Damiano. Although seriously ill, Clare asked that the Blessed Sacrament be brought to her. Holding the monstrance before the attackers, she prayed for God’s protection, and the invaders fled.
1 2 She 3 founded 4 5 the6Poor7Clares. 8 9 With Francis’ guidance, Clare established a community of women in 1212 at the Church of San Damiano outside Assisi that would become known as the Poor Clares. They are a contemplative order of women who live a cloistered life centered on prayer, the Eucharist and community life. She eventually became abbess and led the monastery for more than 40 years.
She was the first woman
1 2 3 to4 write 5 a rule 6 for 7a8 9
Daily Scripture readings
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1 2 3 4 5 She 6 is7the 8patron9 saint of television.
OSV NEWS
St. Clare of Assisi founded a religious order of women called the Poor Clares and is closely associated with St. Francis of Assisi.
religious order that received papal approval.
One of St. Clare’s most significant contributions to the Church was authoring the Rule for the Poor Clares. While many women’s religious communities of the time followed rules adapted from existing monastic traditions, Clare carefully composed a rule that reflected the Franciscan ideal while providing practical guidance for the sisters’ communal life, prayer and governance. On Aug. 9, 1253, Pope Innocent IV formally approved her rule – the first woman in Church history to receive papal approval. The rule remains the foundation of Poor Clare communities and stands as a lasting testament to Clare’s spiritual leadership and unwavering commitment to the Franciscan vision.
Near the end of Clare’s life, illness prevented her from attending Mass. According to tradition, in 1252 she was miraculously able to see and hear the celebration of the Christmas midnight Mass on the wall of her room in the convent. Because of this extraordinary supernatural event, Pope Pius XII declared her the patron saint of television in 1958.
She and St. Francis shared
A prayer for healing
1 2 3 4 5 6 one 7 of8the 9Church’s most remarkable friendships.
O Blessed Saint Clare, your life shines like a beacon and casts its light down the ages of the Church to guide the way of Christ. Look with compassion on the poor and humble who call on you for help. As you bow before your Eucharistic Lord in Heaven, speak to Him of my afflicted body and my broken spirit. Ask Him to heal me and to wash away my sins in His precious Blood. Great Servant of Christ, remember the needs of my family and all those I pray for. Defend us from everything that would threaten our Holy Catholic faith. Hear the cry of the poor and make it a song of intercession, rising from your poor heart to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, our Healer, our Savior, and our Lord. Amen.
“You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” — Matthew 16:18, part of the daily readings for Sunday, Aug. 23
— Monasterio De Santa Clara
The friendship between St. Clare and St. Francis of Assisi is one of the most enduring examples of holy companionship. Francis entrusted Clare with establishing and leading the community at San Damiano, while Clare remained a steadfast guardian of the Franciscan charism, especially after Francis’ death in 1226. Despite living separate vocations, the two maintained a deep spiritual bond rooted in prayer, humility and service to the Gospel. More than eight centuries later, their example continues to inspire men and women to support one another in faithfully responding to God’s call. The Church celebrated her feast day on Aug. 11. —OSV News
Snap the QR code (right) to get the Mass readings for every day, in English or Spanish, online at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website.
Our diocese 4
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Diocese celebrates best in youth ministry with awards
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HARLOTTE – Who are the people making a difference in youth ministry? Every year, the Diocese of Charlotte identifies and recognizes these often unsung heroes with awards for excellence. “These
In Brief
awards are important because they help us see the good work that God is doing in the lives of young people and those who minister to, with and for them,” said Daniel Torres, director of youth and young adult ministry.
BISHOP WILLIAM G. CURLIN AWARD Youth leaders Angelica Leonides and Bernardo Carrillo from St. Benedict the Moor Church in Winston-Salem were given the Bishop William G. Curlin Award, which honors individuals who exemplify Christ’s love through pastoral care. Sergio Lopez, Hispanic ministry coordinator for the Winston-Salem Vicariate, recognized their efforts to launch a youth group, CHAOS – Christ Has All Our Solutions, and their perseverance in continuing it through changes in leadership. “Through this ministry, they have guided many young people and helped keep them away from gang involvement and other harmful influences,” Lopez said. “The Hispanic community has experienced significant growth during the years of Angelica and Bernardo’s service. I can personally attest that this growth has been made possible through their tireless dedication, selfless commitment, unwavering courage in mission, and always in faithful collaboration with their parish priest.”
PHOTO PROVIDED
(From left) Our Lady of Consolation pastor Father Marcel Amadi and Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, Maryland, honor parishioner Sergio Miranda.
ST. TIMOTHY AWARD Eleanor Anderson of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Greensboro received the St. Timothy Award for a high school youth who demonstrates extraordinary public witness to their community. “She consistently shares Christ’s love through her service at Horse Power in Summerfield, N.C., where she assists individuals with disabilities through therapeutic horsemanship,” said Jen Schultheis, coordinator of youth ministry at the parish. “She is well-known for always being ready with an encouraging word or a welcoming smile, making Christ visible to everyone she meets.” In addition, Anderson served on the Triad Vicariate Youth Council in 2025, the Peer Ministry team at Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville, and in the parish’s Vacation Bible School program each summer
Local Knight receives outstanding leadership awards DENVER, Colorado — Sergio Miranda, a parishioner of Our Lady of Consolation Parish in Charlotte, recently received two awards for outstanding leadership during his tenure as State Deputy of North Carolina at the Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus. Miranda received a Pinnacle award for driving excellence in membership growth – reaching 132% of his growth goals – and was honored as a past state deputy. The 144th convention was held at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Denver.
ST. JOHN PAUL II AWARD Father Kevin Tran of St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte received The St. John Paul II Award for a priest or deacon who exhibits extraordinary love, devotion, commitment and outreach to youth ministry. “Father Tran is pure joy and a total gift to youth ministry at St. Gabriel,” said Lauren Torricelli, director of youth evangelization at the parish. “He has supported our team in a number of ways including active participation in our Life Nights and Edge youth groups, created a mini-series on Instagram for our youth called ‘Thursday Thoughts’ where he answered questions teens submitted, and supports our retreats and summer camps,” she said. “He is the type of priest that not only shows up and gifts us with the sacraments but will get out on the dance floor during our Saturday night dance party and show teens you can be a priest and be joyful and fun!”
New parochial vicar appointed for St. James the Greater CHARLOTTE — Bishop Michael Martin, OFM Conv., announces the appointment of Redemptorist Father Brian D. Vaccaro as parochial vicar at St. James the Greater Parish in Concord. A native of northern Virginia, Father Vaccaro joined the Redemptorists in 2014 and was ordained to the priesthood in 2022. He previously served at parishes in Arizona and North Carolina, as well as in Mexico. — Catholic News Herald
Students invited to special youth program at Eucharistic Congress CHARLOTTE — Middle and high school students are invited to participate in a special Youth Program during the 2026 Eucharistic Congress 12:30-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. The program will feature music from The Scally Brothers and will be led by the Belmont Abbey College Hintemeyer Scholars, offering young people an opportunity to deepen their faith while connecting with Catholic peers from across the Diocese of Charlotte. There will be Eucharistic Adoration, games, the opportunity to go to confession and more. The Eucharistic Congress concludes with a closing Mass celebrated by Bishop Michael Martin and the priests of the Diocese of Charlotte. Registration is required. Go to www. goeucharist.com/2026-lineup to see the full program and reserve your spot. — Catholic News Herald IN BRIEF, SEE PAGE 23
YOUTH, SEE PAGE 17
Second collection to support Belmont Abbey College CHARLOTTE — Parishes across the Diocese of Charlotte will take up a special second collection at Masses the weekend of Aug. 29-30 to support both The Catholic University of America and Belmont Abbey College. A national annual collection supporting The Catholic University of America dates back over 50 years and is organized through the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. This year, Bishop Michael Martin has added support for Belmont Abbey College to the collection, with undesignated gifts to be divided equally between the two institutions. The Belmont Abbey College portion will be placed in an endowment to provide tuition assistance for Catholic students from the Diocese of Charlotte, helping strengthen the future of the region’s only Catholic college. Founded in 1876 by Benedictine monks, Belmont Abbey College has been a
cornerstone of Catholicism in North Carolina – founding and staffing churches and schools, educating generations of Catholic laypeople, forming future priests and deacons, preparing educators for Catholic schools, supporting parish ministries, and serving as a center for Catholic intellectual, cultural and spiritual life. Through its Benedictine tradition of prayer, learning and hospitality, the college continues to strengthen the Church’s mission of evangelization throughout western North Carolina. In a letter to the diocese’s clergy announcing the special collection, Bishop Martin praised Belmont Abbey College as “a blessing for Catholic life in our region for 150 years.” The special collection, he wrote, “allows the diocese to collectively offer our thanks to our Benedictine brothers of Belmont Abbey for the role that they have played
in the history and life of western North Carolina.” Belmont Abbey’s president, Dr. Jeff Talley, thanked the bishop and the diocese for this new special collection. “It demonstrates Bishop Martin’s and the Diocese of Charlotte’s love and support for Belmont Abbey College as we continue to educate priests, deacons and laity for service to the Church and the world,” he said. Donors who wish to direct their gift entirely to either institution may do so by mailing their contribution to the Diocese of Charlotte with the desired college noted in the memo line. Mail to: Diocese of Charlotte, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203-4003. To give online to the Belmont Abbey College collection, go to https:// belmontabbeycollege.givevirtuous.org/ donate/recurring-gift-page. — Catholic News Herald
August 21, 2026 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI
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‘PASTORS OF THE STREETS’
At one year, Franciscans’ street ministry planting seeds and growing fruit CHRISTINA LEE KNAUSS AND LIZ CHANDLER catholicnews@rcdoc.org
CHARLOTTE — It’s Saturday night and two Franciscan friars in brown robes walk into one of Charlotte’s most popular South End breweries. Heads turn. “Hey wizards,” a man drinking beer with his buddies shouts over blasting music. Actually, the friars explain, we’re Catholic priests. The man wisecracks: That may be so, but you still practice sorcery. Fathers Casey Cole and Tito Serrano smile and keep moving through hundreds of revelers gathered at Monday Night Brewing. After a year of ministering on the streets, in bars, on college campuses and on the light rail, they’ve heard it all. Their hooded habits always attract attention. “We’ve been called wizards, Jedi, assassins – from the video game Assassins Creed. A lot of people think we’re from Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings,” says Father Casey, 37. “But usually when people find out we’re priests, they come over and apologize and strike up a conversation, and maybe share something they’re struggling with.” “Not every interaction is fruitful,” he says. “Sometimes, there’s no connection made whatsoever, and there are lots of off-handed comments. But if just our presence can plant a seed of faith out in the world, then we’ve succeeded.” Indeed, says Zack Maher, a young engineer, the friars’ ministry has inspired him. He went from searching for a Catholic community to regularly attending the friars’ events. “They break down every wall they can to connect with people,” says Maher, 28, whose always had an affinity for St. Francis. “They are just fun, pleasant, holy guys to be around.”
TROY C. HULL AND LIZ CHANDLER | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
One year ago, Franciscan friars launched a street ministry to start conversations that open a door to exploring faith while caring for those on the margins. The ministry is called SEARCH – “Seek, Encounter, Accompany, Renew, Convert, Heal,” – but it’s peoples’ search for meaning that underpins their work.
MINISTERING ON THE MARGINS
The friars launched their outreach ministry called SEARCH with a simple goal: to start conversations that open a door to faith. SEARCH stands for “Seek, Encounter, Accompany, Renew, Convert, Heal,” but it’s the searching – people’s search for something more in life – that underpins their work. “For me the encounter is the pivotal part of our ministry,” says Father Tito, 39. “We are willing to encounter people wherever they are…Once we do that, the rest is about facilitating an encounter with God.” The friars’ ministry certainly is not all about barhopping. On this Saturday, Aug. 15, the Feast of the Assumption, the friars begin with morning Mass and prayers for people they’d met the previous
TROY C. HULL AND LIZ CHANDLER | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
A typical day for the friars often takes them from ministering to the homeless on the streets of Charlotte to events in local bars that help young adults connect to their faith while enjoying fellowship. day. Then comes gardening, video editing and an interview with CNN. At 5:30 p.m., Fathers Casey and Tito arrive Uptown, in full habit, in 90 degrees, pulling a wagon filled with peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches, crackers, candy and water. Over the next hour-and-ahalf, they walk a 1.3 mile-circuit – up Tryon Street from St. Peter Catholic Church, to The Square, to the bus station, and back – handing out comfort to people living on the streets and others in need. Many of these people know the
friars, perking up at the prospect of food and water. One woman calls them “The Pastors of the Streets.” The friars fist-bump and chat with people on benches and sleeping on the sidewalk. One of their regulars – Moses – downs a cup of water, then a second, and asks Father Casey to fish medicine out of his backpack. He’d recently lost a leg to diabetes and now parks his wheelchair across from Charlotte’s iconic Firebird. “Reaching out to people in need is an important part of evangelization
– it is the work of the Gospel,” Father Casey says. “And when we’re downtown, a lot of people going to work see the witness of what we’re doing.” At 7 p.m., the two friars meet a group of 14 young people at a brewery called 4001 Yancey for a “guerilla” Bible study with beers at high-top tables. At 9:30, they head to Monday Night Brewing – a warehouse with lines eight-deep at the bar and an acre of outdoor space – where they meet the “wizards” wisecracker and go on to engage in
more than a dozen more meaningful conversations with strangers.
FRIARS REACHING YOUNG PEOPLE
What began as a humble ministry of walking and talking has become a robust operation with thriving events, street outreach, campus ministry and more – all intended to “meet people where they are.” The pair of Father Casey and Father Tito began as a trio and now is recalibrating responsibilities since FRIARS, SEE PAGE 23
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catholicnewsherald.com | August 21, 2026 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
BACK TO SCHOOL
Schools ring in a new year
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s more than 8,200 students returned to Catholic schools across the diocese beginning Aug. 17, Bishop Michael Martin urged them and their parents via a series of video messages to put Jesus at center of their lives and to share Him with others in their classrooms and communities. His uplifting message “let them hear your voice” set the tone for a new academic year filled with faith, fellowship and a love of learning.
LISA GERACI AND BRIAN SEGOVIA | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
(Top) New Principal Tonya Eaton welcomes St. Matthew students with hugs and high fives. (Above) Holy Trinity Catholic Academy students return to a school with a new name, new logo and new approach to academics. The school has begun its phased transition toward blending the advantages of single-sex and co-ed classes for a more tailored educational experience. (Right) The fire department makes a special appearance at Christ the King High School after incense met smoke detector while the school was being consecrated to Our Lady. (Center) St. Michael students return to class.
(Center) Catholic Schools Superintendent Greg Monroe and Father José Enrique González Gaytán visit with Our Lady of the Assumption’s new mascot. (Left) Students at St. Matthew share a hug.
PHOTO PROVIDED AND KEVIN EAGAN | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
TROY C. HULL AND LISA GERACI | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
August 21, 2026 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI
TROY C. HULL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Students across the diocese come to school prepared for a new academic year, with most toting bags of back-to-school supplies for themselves and to share with their classrooms.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Father Daniel Chaves blesses backpacks during an assembly at Immaculata Catholic School in Hendersonville. For students and schools in western North Carolina, this year marks a return to near normalcy after Hurricane Helene.
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CHRISTINE EAGAN | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
St. Michael Catholic School teachers and staff spend part of their morning in prayer at St. Michael Church in Gastonia.
BRIAN SEGOVIA | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
The first day of school brings smiles and laughter back to the halls of Holy Trinity Catholic Academy in Charlotte.
TROY C. HULL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Students at Our Lady of the Assumption School in Charlotte gather in the gym on the first day of school. Teachers, students and parents were excited to get back into normal routines after busy summers.
BRIAN SEGOVIA | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Catholic schools across the diocese of Charlotte are at or near capacity after several years of continued growth.
CHRISTINA LEE KNAUSS
Students are all smiles as they return to classes at Charlotte Catholic High School, the diocese’s largest school.
TROY C. HULL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
In classrooms across the diocese, like this one at Our Lady of the Assumption School in Charlotte, Bishop Michael Martin’s video message encouraged students to share Jesus with others through their words and actions in the upcoming school year.
LISA GERACI | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Safety patrols at St. Matthew School in Charlotte make sure fellow students know where they are headed on the first day back.
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catholicnewsherald.com | August 21, 2026 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Missionaries of the Poor at 45: Founder shares thoughts with Charlotte pilgrims rooms and given improper care. Eventide experienced the deadliest fire in Jamaica’s history, claiming 150 elderly women’s lives. The catastrophe motivated the young priest. Father Ho Lung left his life as a Jesuit priest and started the Missionaries of the Poor, where he would take his advocacy, transfer it through reform, and then act for the good of others. “Christian faith cannot remain only in words, prayer or good intentions. It must deliver love and action, hands that serve, hearts that welcome, voices that contain human dignity,” Father Ho Lung said.
LISA M. GERACI lmgeraci@rcdoc.org
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Father Richard Ho Lung, 86, didn’t allow his recent brush with death to hinder Founder’s Day and the 45th anniversary celebration of the Missionaries of the Poor (MOP) order he founded in 1981. Instead, “I still plan to … dance for you,” he joked at the July 18 celebration, even though he was barely able to walk. He shared his love for his order, for Christ and for the poor with everyone present – including the 150 MOP brothers and 20 MOP sisters in Jamaica, dozens of residents, seven missionaries from St. Luke Church in Mint Hill and the Catholic News Herald. “Brothers and sisters, love the Cross, love the poor, love the sick, love the dying,” he told them. The same beliefs that fueled the global mission keep many Charlotte missionaries visiting each year. He reflected, “I thought this past week, maybe this would be it. Maybe God was saying this is the time. And I was at peace.” He described his hospital visit the way many of his centers’ disabled residents would explain the care they receive 24 hours a day from the MOP brothers and sisters.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
With the only MOP mission in North America in Monroe, Diocese of Charlotte parishioners have gotten to know the brothers and embrace their work. From serving locally, some take the leap to journey to Kingston, Jamaica – the homebase from which brothers and religious sisters spend their lives behind high-gated communities in prayer and service to the poor and sick. In between Mass, Holy Hours and rosaries, they feed, bathe and care for 600 medically fragile residents housed at six centers. This is where many visitors from Charlotte have said they enhanced their prayer lives and relationship with God. The residents with their mangled limbs and immovable bodies, mostly nonverbal, still smile. They still blink. In their eyes the face of Jesus is revealed, many have said.
GROWING INFLUENCE
LISA M GERACI | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Parishioners from St. Luke Church in Mint Hill traveled to Jamaica on a mission trip to assist the Missionaries of the Poor. While there, they formed connections with medically fragile patients cared for by the MOP brothers.
“I went with a confused and troubled heart, carrying so many questions, and after this trip, God answered them all.” Nancy Barranco
More online
The moment my eyes adjusted to the light Our reporter Lisa Geraci reflects on her first mission trip to Jamaica and the impact it has had on her life.
‘PURE JOY’
“The poor are not merely recipients of charity. They are our brothers and sisters, mirrors of God’s image,” Father Ho Lung said. Children without legs, adults only able to crawl, and people in all types of pain can sometimes be difficult to watch. But the St. Luke parishioners choose to smile and laugh with the residents. “Ultimately you will find unwavering expressions of pure joy,” said St. Luke parishioner Kelly Reeder, on her fifth visit with
LISA M GERACI| CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
The Missionaries of the Poor brothers go out into the streets to serve the poor and sick. Their work takes them to some of most dangerous locations in the world, which their founder has said they have no intention of changing. her husband, Greg, who brought their son Austin for his first trip. “It is like visiting your family that you haven’t seen in ages. You never want the time to end. Jesus is in everyone you meet.” For other first timers, like Erika and Nancy Barranco, the trip took on a life-changing dimension. “I went with a confused and
troubled heart, carrying so many questions, and after this trip, God answered them all,” Nancy Barranco said. “God’s love comes in different forms.”
ADVOCACY TO ACTION
Father Ho Lung, a Chinese Jamaican who converted to Catholicism in grade school, has
At www. catholicnewsherald.com: Read her reflection on the life and work of the Missionaries of the Poor
made an impact on Jamaica over the past 45 years. He first shed light on the deplorable conditions of a governmental healthcare institution called Eventide, where patients were being eaten alive by rats, packed into overcrowded
Today, the brothers serve in 12 countries, making inroads in South Vietnam, pushing deeper into Africa and gearing up to serve South Korea and China. Many are dangerous places, but despite the deaths of two of their own –Brother Suresh and Brother Marco, who were shot in Kingston in 2005 – and the recent violence in Haiti, the brothers refuse to relocate, Father Ho Lung told the Catholic News Herald. “These brothers have gotten held up by gunmen, and they just keep on going,” Father Ho Lung said. “The brothers say they will never leave.” Closer to home, Father Ho Lung cherishes his Charlotte connections. “Our relationship with the Diocese of Charlotte is just wonderful. We look forward to seeing people come down every year,” Father Ho Lung said. “The people there know us, and the brothers, of course, are there.” Father Ho Lung said that while providing healthcare is not the direction they are taking in the U.S., they have found a disease here that is curable … loneliness. “I like how the brothers are going out [to make home visits]. The way they describe it, some have no visitors. They feel rejected and alone,” Father Ho Lung said. “I would love to see that continued, built up, and expanded even more. … We would love to also have the homeless and destitute there – like a night shelter.” In the meanwhile, the fragile man who built an order from Jamaica’s scraps encouraged people in the Diocese of Charlotte to keep visiting the MOP, to bring friends and to do their part to care for the poor and the sick at home. And, while many missionaries go to Jamaica with the intent of helping others, in the end they find something more. As Erika Barranco said about her first-ever mission trip, “Sometimes God sends us to bless others only to realize He was also there to bless us.” Visit missionariesofthepoor.org to learn more.
August 21, 2026 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI
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‘Go touch grass’ at the new Farms of the Good Shepherd LISA M. GERACI lmgeraci@rcdoc.org
GREENSBORO – The popular phrase middle-schoolers use, “I need to touch grass,” is an idea that Father Christian Cook and Principal Antonette Aguilera have tried to instill in the minds of students and parishioners for years, so much so that they recently invested in farmland full of grass waiting to be touched in an effort to connect people to God through His creation. Father Cook, pastor of St. Pius X Church, and Aguilera, principal of St. Pius X School, invested in the four-acre property on behalf of Farms of Cook the Good Shepherd, a nonprofit they created to support the mission. “The very first time I toured the school, we started talking about this vision,” Father Cook said. “It is inspired by the Catholic tradition of Ora et Labora (“prayer and work”). It is a teaching and retreat farm that Aguilera invites us to step away from the distractions of modern life.” The idea stemmed from their roots. Father Cook’s German grandfather often praised the European trade school concept and Aguilera experienced the beauty of agrarian life both in Italy and with the nuns at her school. “Here, families can rediscover God through the beauty of His creation,” Father Cook said. “We believe it will help to foster a deeper relationship through faith, nature and meaningful work.” The farm in Colfax is just outside the city limits of Greensboro and is expected to welcome families and children this year. “We were trying to find a central location to our schools, and this is not too far from Bishop McGuinness or Immaculate Heart of Mary, and very close to St. Pius and Our Lady of Grace,” Aguilera said. Sheep, goats, rabbits and chickens are moving in soon, and the 1800s Quaker-style log cabin and barn are being renovated.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Father Christian Cook is known for baking the best sourdough bread, a recipe he may consider sharing at the new Farms of the Good Shepherd. Agricultural designs are being drawn up, while the minds of Father Cook and Aguilera are on overdrive with possibilities. “We have parishioners who raise sheep, own chicken farms, engage in agritourism, and make their living as farmers,” said Father Cook, who notes they are learning from them.
A LIFESTYLE OF PURPOSE
As Father Cook explained, “The reason we called it ‘farms’ instead of ‘farm’ is
PHOTO PROVIDED
The four-acre farm used to be home to a saddle maker and some miniature therapy horses. Now it will be a place of respite where students and parishioners can detach and learn lessons about theology and agriculture. because we want the ‘Farms of the Good Shepherd’ to be a program, not just one spot, but a community of people living this life.” The purpose? To detach, disconnect from technology and foster the message of God through real life experience in nature, Father Cook and Aguilera say.
‘Here, families can rediscover God through the beauty of His creation.’ Father Christian Cook St. Pius X pastor
“In my work, I see the destruction caused by cellphones, the internet and gaming. It is probably the single most destructive thing we have introduced to children in hundreds of years,” Aguilera said. “If you take those things away, you have to fill those gaps with something, and so we advocate bringing them back to the Creator. There is no greater joy than the joy that He provides.” Drawing from the lessons of St. Thomas Aquinas, the parables of Jesus, and the lifestyle of St. Benedict, visitors will battle the real-life elements of agriculture, farming, raising livestock, and the basics of baking and cooking. “Each activity is intentionally designed to cultivate gratitude, simplicity, stewardship and a greater appreciation for God’s gifts,” Aguilera said. In this effort, hands large and small are needed. “The plan is for students to participate through service hours in rehabilitating the ‘fixer-upper’ right now, and then later in growing the farm,” Father Cook said. With chicken coops, goat shelters, plant beds and feeding troughs that need to be built, the help of volunteers, carpenters, agricultural experts and animal enthusiasts is welcomed. “We are blessed to have parishioners who
are excited about handing down their oldworld trades and their traditions of cooking, baking and self-sufficiency,” Father Cook said. “Being in God’s creation, being with His animals, learning how to tend to them, giving them affection, learning how to bake bread – kids just don’t have many opportunities to do that,” Aguilera said.
“This is why we wanted to invest in this and find the right spot, to get as many families to feel this joy of the Creator because we know ourselves just how beautiful it is.”
More online At www.farmsgoodshepherd.org: Learn more about the farm
MUCH CLOSER THAN YOU THINK Human Trafficking in North Carolina Professor Judith Paparozzi, UNC Pembroke, will give a special presentation on the pervasiveness of human trafficking (including on social media) and its impact on society. Come learn how to recognize the warning signs of human trafficking and build safeguards against this crime. Let us put our faith into action to protect the vulnerable and help end this modern-day slavery.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 29
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (DOORS OPEN AT 9:30 AM) ST. MATTHEW CATHOLIC CHURCH BANQUET ROOM
8015 BALLENTYNE COMMONS PARKWAY, CHARLOTTE
REGISTER BY WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26
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catholicnewsherald.com | August 21, 2026 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Three Catholic Scouts find faith and challenge on wilderness trek STEPHEN GUILFOYLE sguilfoyle@comporium.net
T
hree Scouts from the Diocese of Charlotte spent almost two weeks in the mountains of New Mexico in July, pushing themselves physically while also being introduced to spiritual contemplation. Joseph Horne, Joshua Vari and Jack Chuma were selected by the diocese’s Catholic Committee on Scouting to undertake the St. George’s Trek, held every two years at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. Philmont, a 140,000-acre spread in the Sangre de Cristo Range of the Rocky Mountains, is Scouting America’s premier high-adventure camp. The St. George Trek – named for the patron saint of Scouting – adds a spiritual dimension, including daily reflections, Mass and Adoration. Charlotte Catholic Committee on Scouting Chairman Mike Nielsen was pleased that each of the boys had some interest in discerning possible vocations. “That’s one of the huge points of the trek,” he said. “If you’ve not spent time around priests and deacons and seminarians, this can help demystify them. You know, they can learn they’re just people too.” The three Scouts were assigned to different crews and routes, but each backpacked five to 12 miles a day at elevations of 6,500 to 12,500 feet. SCOUTS, SEE PAGE 11
PHOTO PROVIDED
Local Scouts have the opportunity to visit Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico – a 140,000-acre spread in the Sangre de Cristo Range of the Rocky Mountains.
August 21, 2026 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI
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PHOTO PROVIDED
The Scouts hiked five to 12 miles a day through difficult terrain whose natural beauty gave them the opportunity to reflect on God’s creation and their place within it.
SCOUTS
their discernment,” he said, noting that it “opens the door a little bit more.”
FROM PAGE 10
JACK CHUMA
JOSHUA VARI Joshua Vari started Scouting at the age of 3, when he tagged along to his older brother’s Tiger Cub meetings. He’s now reached Life Scout, one step away from the highest rank of Eagle Scout. “I’m actually working on (my Eagle project) right now,” he said. “I’m going to be building a fence for my church school at St. Aloysius.” Vari was the only Charlotte Trekker selected to serve as a chaplain for his crew, charged with finding a place to celebrate Mass each day. Vari said the physical challenge of the trek was manageable, although he battled a bout of altitude sickness. He spent a few days in the infirmary, completing about 80 miles of the more than 100-mile route. He rejoined his crew at Cimarroncita, where all the St. George Trekkers gathered. “I came back from the infirmary just in time to have Mass with the bishop, and that was really awesome,” he said. He said the program has affected his faith, and he encourages others to participate – particularly if they are discerning vocations. “I definitely recommend Philmont for every Scout” he said. “It’s an awesome experience.”
JOSEPH HORNE This was Joseph Horne’s second time at Philmont – he took a regular trek with his troop in 2024 as a freshman. “It was slightly easier because I’m two years older,” he said. Horne’s crew had one of the shorter routes, but it ended up being longer for him.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Charlotte-area Life Scouts Jack Chuma, Joseph Horne and Joshua Yari were selected by the diocese’s Catholic Committee on Scouting to tackle the St. George Trek - a wilderness trek that combined faith with physical challenges.
More online
At catholicnewsherald.com: See more photos and learn more about the Scouts
It mirrored the route being taken by a girls’ crew. After two adult counselors for the girls’ crew were required to leave, the organizers combined the groups into a “SuperCrew” with separate campsites. Joseph assisted Sister Teresita, the remaining adult from the girls’ crew, as he was able. “He basically walked that thing twice,” his mom, Karen Horne, said. “And they all had 50-pound packs.” One lighter moment came at Abreu, a farm area of the ranch where the Scouts got acquainted with baby goats. Another highlight was the 15-minute hot shower at Cimarroncita.
“It was like the one time in that trek that I felt somewhat clean, because the rest of it, there’s just dirt everywhere,” he said. The mountain scenery became part of his discernment experience. “One of the times, we stopped mid-hike and we went up the little ridge and we could see off both sides and we could see for miles in every direction. It was just like, all the world was so big,” he said. The spiritual conversations – particularly a question-and-answer session with a priest and a religious sister – also made an impression. “I feel like that helps a lot of people in
Jack Chuma’s crew had the shortest itinerary, covering about 70 miles. They averaged roughly five miles a day but completed 12 miles on one day to make up time. That long day was one of his favorites because it included learning how to reload and shoot rifles and visiting an old mine. Chuma’s crew arrived at Cimarroncita carrying a large wooden cross in a Eucharistic procession – the first at the ranch, according to staff. “It was something kind of planned once we got out on the trail,” Chuma said. “I don’t remember who brought it up to my group, but my crew agreed that it’d be cool to do a Eucharist procession out in that country, so we did that going into Cimarroncita.” His crew also included a young seminarian. When he discovered that Chuma was from the Charlotte area, he immediately asked if he knew his friend from seminary – Father James Tweed. “And we’re like, ‘Yeah, he’s at St. Mark with us,’” Chuma said. Jack’s troop plans to return to Philmont in 2028, but he did not want to wait. When his mother learned about the St. George Trek, he applied. He had also volunteered with the Catholic Committee on Scouting and served as an altar server during the committee’s national convention in Charlotte. The spiritual aspects of the trek were new to him. “It was just an experience I had never really had before, like having six days of Mass in a row,” he said. “Especially in those locations, like it was just gorgeous out there.” Jack said the experience gave him another opportunity to consider a possible vocation. “I’ve thought about the priesthood before,” he said. “I don’t think that’s really my life, but still just getting to think about it again out in Philmont was a great experience.”
Trail tales The Scouts did have some encounters with wildlife both large and small on the trails. Jack Chuma’s crew mostly used their backpacks as makeshift altars for daily Mass. One day, a squirrel decided to investigate the altar, apparently interested in the hosts.
An adult member of the crew threw a rock near it to scare it away. The squirrel fled – but almost immediately, the skies opened up with a hailstorm. The Scouts quickly decided the weather was the adult’s fault. Another evening animal encounter at Miner’s
Park camp was potentially more dangerous, when Chuma looked down after he heard a familiar and scary rattling sound. “I almost stepped on a rattlesnake,” he said. “I stood there for a second and then just slowly backed out to where I didn’t really scare it.”
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catholicnewsherald.com | August 21, 2026 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
MAKING THE PITCH
How a Catholic dating app is turning friends into matchmakers CHRISTINA LEE KNAUSS clknauss@rcdoc.org
CHARLOTTE – The air was electric in a back room at Brewers at 4001 Yancey on Aug. 13 as people laughed and cheered in response to an onstage sales pitch that was entirely different from the expected. The “most compelling investment opportunity in Charlotte” wasn’t the latest stock offering, but a single man who works in the financial industry. He and other single young adult Catholics were the ones being pitched at “SacredSpark Live: Pitch a Catholic Single,” a singles event hosted by the SacredSpark online dating platform. Friends and family members delivered presentations to introduce local Catholic singles to a larger audience. It was the live version of the unique approach taken by SacredSpark, a Catholic dating app launched in 2025 that allows singles to bring their own wingman or wingwoman into the online dating world. (Borrowed from aviation and made famous in the movie “Top Gun,” the term applies to a trusted person who a friend meet a prospective romantic partner.) SacredSpark is the brainchild of Catholic influencer Emily Wilson-Hussem and her husband, Daniel Hussem. The app’s unique approach came from a series of wildly successful matchmaking posts Emily made on her popular Instagram page that eventually led to 12 marriages and 20 engagements. That success led the couple to think that the format could help Catholic young adults feeling lost in the dating world. Enter SacredSpark, which instead of the well-known “look and swipe” format of most online dating sites offers the chance for others to get involved and “pitch” their single friends and relatives. “We wanted to bring back the personal and human approach to dating,” Daniel said. “When you look at a traditional dating app, it’s very superficial, like another
BRIAN SEGOVIA | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Are you ready to be a wingman or wingwoman? SacredSpark, a new Catholic dating app, allows friends and family to pitch their single loved ones. Its first in-person event drew more than 200 people. form of digital consumption. SacredSpark brings back the tradition of matchmaking and invites the community back into the dating space. Singles are often left to their own devices, and this allows others to help people connect.” The Charlotte event drew 225 people and was the first of what the organizers hope will be a national series of live events to help Catholic singles meet in person, away from screens. Attendees didn’t have to commit to getting onstage to meet potential dates. The evening also featured two “meet-and-mingle” sessions so that everyone had a chance to interact with new people. There were 22 pitches, which included three-minute standard pitches and several one-minute “lightning” sessions. Wingmen and women came prepared with presentations that included photos, bios and lists of “green
flags” that made the person a good catch. The singles, who ranged in age from early 20s to early 40s walked up a glittery runner and took the stage to personally chosen walk-up music that ranged from instrumentals to country music. Then their wingpeople launched their pitches. Every pitch had an angle, whether themed after the person’s career, personality or a special interest. Tongue-in-cheek humor ran throughout. One wingman asked the audience to note that his friend “doesn’t skip leg day” at the gym. Some people came with incentives. One wingwoman prepared a “date basket” for her friend and prospective date to enjoy. A woman whose baking skills were highlighted brought a batch of Snickerdoodle cookies. One man who pitched his twin brother got a quick twofor-one angle in during the pitch – also single, he flashed his own vital statistics on the screen. All of the pitches highlighted the person’s faith and desire for a Christ-filled relationship. Some wingmen and wingwomen battled their own nerves. “I was terrified,” said John Yancey, who pitched his friend Kyle Herold, whom he met through a local Bible study. “When I found out he was going to take part in this, I said I would love to help out a buddy. I think he’s a great catch for somebody. I’d love for him to meet someone through this and end up getting married, but also it’s worth it if he just meets some interesting people.” Shanley Howrigan, 31, a business developer who attends St. Gabriel Church, wanted to try something new. “It was nervewracking for sure to get up there, but once I was onstage I felt fine – I felt I had nothing to lose,” she said. “This is definitely a new way of doing dating, a way to get below the surface level.”
More online At www.sacredspark.app: Lean more about the app
Don’t miss the opportunity to grow closer to Christ Sept 11-12 2026 Eucharist Congress: Called. Formed. Sent. Exhibit Booth #416 – Charlotte Convention Center
Sept. 19 Grand Ultreya – Dan Nicholas Park, Salisbury NC Activities, food, friendship and reflection 5:00 p.m. Mass with Bishop Michael Martin
Oct. 9-10 Region VII Fall Encounter (Registration required) St. Paul the Apostle, Greensboro, NC Learn more at www.CharlotteCursillo.com/Events
Make a friend. Be a friend. Bring a friend to Christ.
August 21, 2026 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI
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Take yo Take your faith to college
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FROM TH
iiiAugust 21, 2026 | catholicnewsherald.com
LISA M. GERACI
M
lmgeraci@rcdoc.org
ATTHEWS — Through local hurricanes, international earthquakes and government collapses, the Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive is still going strong, helping to feed people locally and in impoverished nations for 24 years.
A major component of the drive is the meal packing event, which was never a small feat and still lives up to the expectation Monsignor John McSweeney set during the first event: “Go big or go home.” The drive is one of the nation’s largest community-driven Catholic hunger drives, drawing huge crowds to its single-site meal packing event, and this Aug. 15 was no exception. With the DJ pumping, parishioners and community members who were packed into the St. Matthew gymnasium found tons of reasons to sing and dance while packing more than 312,000 meals of rice, dried vegetables, vitamins and soy proteins into small plastic bags. The production was not a one-act show but was staffed by four shifts of more than 300 energized volunteers each that
St. Matthew’s World
rice
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Haiti St. Matthew Parish and Haiti have a deeprooted relationship that began in the 1990s through the Missionaries of the Poor (MOP) in Cap-Haïtien. The primary recipient of the first food container shipment in 2003, they continue to be the heart of the ministry. Over the years, parishioners founded the nonprofit Hands for Haiti, bought real estate in Tremessee, a small village 20 miles from Cap-Haïtien on which St. Marc School was built, and continue to make regular visits. Haiti’s recent uptick in gang violence has made the already destitute country even more dangerous and impoverished, creating obstacles for Steve Favory, hunger drive organizer and Hands for Haiti founder. More than 1.8 million citizens have been displaced from the capital of Port-au-Prince, fleeing to Cap-Haïtien. Half the population – 5.8 million people – is suffering from food insecurity. Without a government structure, the hospitals, power grid and education system are in shambles. The murder rate is up 116%, with more than
1,600 reported homicides in the first quarter of 2026, according to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, while executions, sexual assaults and kidnappings are commonplace. That has led the U.S. State Department to issue a level 4 “do not travel” advisory. Since a container of meal packs that used to cost $4,000 to ship has increased to $50,000, the drive is monetarily supporting St. Marc School and the MOP in lieu of shipping food. Favory refuses to let the climate dictate the appetite of his beloved 400 students, the MOP brothers, or the school. Through the turmoil, he continues to make regular trips to visit the MOP and St. Marc School’s 400 students and plans to return in September for the start of school. “It’s still amazing how the whole country is imploding but how St. Marc School and MOP continue to build a Bridge of Hope by providing breakfast and lunch daily, medical treatment, education and faith,” he said. Father Richard Ho Lung, founder of the MOP, applauds Favory’s continued efforts: “Steve is amazing. He never stops. That is what sustains hope.” PHOTO PROVIDED
St. Marc School is named after the late Mark Creasser, who helped start the project in 2010 with Steve Favory.
Puerto Rico Nine months ago, Pat McBride’s team of volunteers mapped out the most impoverished Catholic churches in Puerto Rico in search of a destination to receive meal packs. “When we started having problems shipping into Haiti with the violence and the political turmoil, we wanted to find other options,” McBride said. They found Puerto Rico, where the 43% poverty rate is roughly three times higher than the overall U.S. poverty rate, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. “In Puerto Rico, with no import tariffs and no language barrier, it became a natural option,” McBride said. “We kept running into the challenge of the last mile,” he said. “Meaning, we can send the food, but how do we get the food from the parish
to the people who need it?” Puerto Rico proved to be the most viable opportunity, as customs could be avoided, and with 80 percent of the population being Catholic, relationships with other Catholic organizations and dioceses could easily be formed. Steve Favory and McBride visited a small town in the central mountains and met with Catholic nonprofit Caritas. The tilapia farms, agricultural farms and workforce advancement programs they set up in Haiti seemed like long-term possibilities in Puerto Rico. “We can start something here and not only do the food donation for the immediate need but also help them transition from food dependency to food independence,” McBride said. PHOTO PROVIDED
Members of the ministry visited families suffering from food insecurity and dropped off meal packs.
Now in its 24th year, the Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive is still going strong, attracting thousands of vo
HE COVER
Hunger Drive packs
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olunteers to help to feed people locally and in impoverished nations.
August 21, 2026 | catholicnewsherald.comiii
worked staggered schedules from 8:30 a.m. until clean up after the 5:30 p.m. shift ended. The vibe was contagious. Vivacious parishioners did impromptu Irish jigs, danced in conga lines and heard from their own singing sensation, Joey Santo Henry. Henry, who has volunteered for the past 15 years along with his mother, volunteer coordinator Maria Henry, said singing while volunteers performed such a loving act of service felt like heaven. Maria Henry agreed, with tears in her eyes, “I have coordinated this for 10 years, and it is such a heartwarming experience every time. I can’t even express it in words. Within the first two weeks, meal pack sign-ups were full, with all 1,500 slots taken. This event has such a huge impact on our volunteers, they
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schedule their vacations around it.” The meal packs will be shipped to Puerto Rico and other areas across the country. The more than $421,000 raised since July 11 will go further, helping grassroots partners in India, Venezuela and Haiti. There are no middlemen, just dedicated parishioners who have spent most of their energy forming relationships to help their most valued family – the poor. Each country’s connection to St. Matthew tells another story about what can happen when people persevere in following Jesus’ commission to help others.
More online At www.Catholicnewsherald.com: See more photos and learn how to donate
Venezuela The Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive has supported St. Francisco de Asís Parish in Naiguatá, Venezuela, for years but has increased efforts since the area was devastated by twin 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes on June 24 that have so far claimed 6,300 lives, with tens of thousands still missing. Over the past month, St. Matthew has sent $27,000 in emergency funds for immediate needs. In the past, the parish used donations for a soup kitchen to feed the destitute. Now, the church, guided by Father Martín Vega, is a central outpost aiding the community. Devastation continues to be rampant as continuous landslides and aftershocks aggravate the already dilapidated tourist town. As families grieve losses and
try to rebuild their homes, most are doing so with limited or no cash on hand. Commercial tourism, the lifeblood of the former community, is at a complete standstill. The parish is delivering water, personal hygiene and sanitation kits, wheelchairs and medical equipment and clothing street by street in the affected communities. Medical care and mental health needs are being addressed. Mass, sacraments, Adoration and, unfortunately, too many funerals are being celebrated. The soup kitchen is serving 150 breakfasts and lunches a day. The road to recovery may be long, but with parishes like San Francisco de Asís and St. Matthew coming together, the future is brighter. PHOTO PROVIDED
Padre Martin Vega continues hearing confessions, having processions, and celebrating Mass outside in Naiguatá.
India Father Binoy Davis, who served at St. Matthew since 2015 and was recently reassigned to Immaculate Conception in Forest City, has a heart for India and a heart for the poor. He was born in Kerala, where most Indian Catholics live, but went to the Diocese of Satna to evangelize and serve. Although the mission is ultimately to save souls, Father Davis’ diocese saw the desperate need to feed the poor and shelter the homeless in the Hindu community that surrounded them. “When I saw the work they were doing in Haiti and in other parts of the world, I, myself,
TROY C. HULL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
requested their help as well,” Father Davis said. “They were happy to help my diocese and my bishop.” Today, the diocese there uses funds to feed, shelter and educate 50 boys and 60 elderly homeless through a hostel and adult orphanage. Father Davis went back this May and was delighted to see the progress. “These people are from very poor families,” Father Davis said. “They are our needy, our poor, and our homeless. The elderly have no family. They are refused. And this ministry is there for them.”
PHOTO PROVIDED
India boasts a high percentage of vocations, averaging one priest for every 850 people, according to the Pontifical Mission Society.
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catholicnewsherald.com | August 21, 2026 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
PHOTOS BY TROY C. HULL | CATHOLIC NEW HERALD
American Ninja Warrior competitor Sean Bryan visited St. Ann students Aug. 18 to talk about faith and overcoming obstacles.
‘Papal Ninja’ shows the strength of faith CHARLOTTE — American Ninja Warrior competitor Sean Bryan brought a message of faith, perseverance and a little friendly competition to students at St. Ann School during an Aug. 18 visit. Before speaking with students, Bryan reflected on the role his Catholic faith has played in his journey from athletics to co-founder of the Lay Mission Institute, an apostolate devoted to inspiring lay Catholics. A former UC Berkeley gymnast, Bryan found success on NBC’s reality show where competitors tackle complex obstacle courses. He became known as “The Papal Ninja” due to his yellow and white wardrobe emblazoned with
the papal crest and his desire to use his platform to convey a deeper message. He encouraged students to recognize that their talents can serve a purpose beyond personal achievement. “The gift of faith isn’t just about me and Jesus,” Bryan said. “It’s about walking and doing with Him, and you can’t ask for anything better than that.” During a school-wide question-and-answer session, students eagerly quizzed Bryan about everything from how long he has been an athlete to the challenges he has faced in competition. The conversation also included lighter moments, including a student challenging Bryan to a push-
up contest. Bryan welcomed the questions and interacted with the students enthusiastically, giving them an opportunity to learn about the discipline required to become an elite athlete. He taught that success is not simply about physical strength. It also requires commitment, patience and the willingness to keep moving forward when obstacles arise, he said. The event offered St. Ann students a glimpse into the world of American Ninja Warrior while imparting a deeper lesson about faith and using one’s gifts with purpose. —Troy C. Hull
Come join us for
An Evening with Matt Fradd Host of Pints with Aquinas
to benefit the mothers and babies of Room at the Inn.
October 17th, 2026 Sheraton Greensboro
Doors open at 6:00pm Scan the QR code, visit roominn.org, or reach out to our contacts to save your spot! Registration is free but required.
Contacts Katie Schneider: kschneider@roominn.org Tammy Singleton: tsingleton@roominn.org
Registration deadline: Oct 11th, 2026
Where Hope is Born
August 21, 2026 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI
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Create a legacy during Make-a-Will Month CHARLOTTE — August is Make-a-Will Month, a national initiative encouraging people to focus on something profoundly important: creating or updating their wills. Doing so ensures that intentions regarding asset distribution, guardianship and endof-life care will be honored. It’s also a time to plan for a legacy of giving. St. Matthew parishioner Dan Troy is leaving a bequest in his will that will further fund an endowment he created in memory of his wife. When she passed away in 2020, Troy was so touched by the support he received that he joined the parish’s bereavement team, walking with others in their grief. When he established the Kathleen A. Troy Memorial Endowment Fund to support the work of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, that experience made the choice of an endowment recipient obvious. “I thought it would be nice to have something available for people who don’t have the financial resources to take care of a loved one who has died,” he said. “Every family deserves to bury a loved one in the proper way so that they can feel the blessings that accompany a Catholic funeral.” That gift came at the perfect time to assist Catholic Charities’ Piedmont Triad office, which found its burial budget fully depleted last fiscal year as the need for burial assistance grew and costs rose. One way of ensuring that gifts left in a will can continue to benefit future generations is by creating an endowment. An endowment is a permanent fund, the principal of which is invested, that generates income for projects that can be specified by the donor. Thanks to the endowment, the office was able to help Carolina* bury her sister, whom she had cared for full-time for many years due to a brain tumor. Carolina feared she would not be able to lay her sister to rest with
Why make a will? August is National Make-a-Will month, serving as a reminder of the importance of proactive estate planning. Regardless of your age or asset level, creating or updating a legal will ensures that your intentions regarding asset distribution, guardianship and end-of-life care will be honored. Beyond securing your personal wishes, a properly written will can simplify the probate process – reducing costs for your family and preventing administrative delays. You can create a legally binding document through qualified legal counsel or via reputable online platforms, including MyCatholicWill.com or CRESWILL.com. Just make sure the document you create is legally binding in your state, get it properly notarized, and give a copy to your loved ones. Taking action this month can safeguard your family’s future and create a legacy through bequests to the Church.
PLAN AHEAD
Interested in making a planned gift or setting up an endowment to benefit your parish, Catholic school, Catholic Charities, the diocese or the foundation? You can make a gift through a bequest in your will, beneficiary designation from a retirement plan, a trust or annuity, or a gift of life insurance, real estate or securities. For details, contact Gina Rhodes at gmrhodes@rcdoc.org or Heidi Kelley at hmkelley@ rcdoc.org.
More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Read the Funeral Guide for more in-depth information on estate planning
dignity. She had lost her income because of her caretaking responsibilities, and her sister’s insurance policy would not cover the full cost of final expenses. Around the same time, Kathy*, a daughter recovering from a serious accident, faced the sudden loss of her father. Already in a difficult situation, she was overwhelmed by
YOUTH FROM PAGE 4
BISHOP MICHAEL J. BEGLEY AWARD Dayanara Cuevas Feria of St. Mary Mother of God Church in Sylva was awarded The Bishop Michael J. Begley Award for a high school student who exemplifies service, leadership and high moral standards. “Dayanara dedicatedly serves her school and community,” said Rayanne Herrera, director of faith formation at the parish. “Even with the unexpected death of her father in 2022, Dayanara persevered in fortitude and strengthened her bond with her faith, and her family and parish family.” She noted her active participation in Faith Formation, youth group and youth activities, as an altar server and a catechist while balancing family responsibilities that include assisting her mother with work and caring for younger siblings. As Torres explained, “Young people are not just the Church of the future. They are the Church today. Young people are the light of Christ in their parishes and communities, and when we recognize their God-given gifts and talents, we should celebrate that.” — Catholic News Herald
the cost of laying her father to rest. Through Troy’s endowment, both families were able to bury their loved ones with dignity.
Carolina shared that when she learned Catholic Charities could help with the cremation costs, she felt a deep sense of relief. “My sadness was still there, but the stress was gone,” she said. For Troy, hearing stories like these is an affirmation of his commitment to adding to his endowment with a bequest in his will. “I think there’s a benefit of seeing the good that the endowment can do. It allows you to see the benefits while you are still alive,” he said. There’s another reason he encourages Catholics to consider the Church in their wills. “You know that the Church is going to use the money for goals that are consistent with Catholic values, and it will be run by a group of professionals who also adhere to those Catholic values,” he noted. “I also feel a great sense of confidence that the money is going to be there for the long term because I receive quarterly statements on how it is growing and how the funds are being distributed,” he said. During Make-a-Will Month, consider creating a lasting impact by establishing or supporting an endowment or including a bequest in your estate plan. “Make-a-Will month is a great time for those who don’t have a will to do so, to take care of themselves and their loved ones,” said Jim Kelley, diocesan director of development. “It also presents an opportunity to do what Dan Troy did to support a ministry that is important to them. When they do so, people become members of the Catholic Heritage Society, a group of almost 1,900 who have remembered the Church in their wills.” – Catholic News Herald and Catholic Charities *First names used to preserve client privacy.
FACEBOOK.COM/ CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD ESPAÑOL
catholicnewsherald.com | August 21, 2026 18
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe impulsa eventos para promover la unidad en el desarrollo de la parroquia BRIAN SEGOVIA bmsegovia@rcdoc.org
CHARLOTTE — La Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe está tomando medidas creativas para aumentar sus esfuerzos de recaudación de fondos, tanto para cubrir sus necesidades mensuales de administración y sostenimiento como para continuar fortaleciendo su comunidad parroquial, antes de comenzar los esfuerzos para construir una nueva iglesia, cuando empiece a participar en el desafío diocesano “Making Room Challenge” a partir de 2027. Para fortalecer la comunidad de fe, la parroquia organizó una exitosa gala del Día de San Valentín el 14 de febrero, un torneo de fútbol 3 contra 3 el 20 de junio y una subasta silenciosa los días 10 y 11 de julio. Ahora, la parroquia se prepara para un concierto de la popular cantante y compositora católica mexicana GeLa (Ángela Sandoval) el 11 de septiembre y está organizando su festival más grande del año, la “Gran Kermés”, el 27 de septiembre. El padre Bruce Krause dijo que los eventos han sido exitosos y espera que las actividades futuras promuevan un sentido de unidad que apoye todos los aspectos de la vida parroquial. “Con la comunidad hispana, tenemos que aprender qué funcionará y qué no”, dijo el padre Bruce Krause, vicario parroquial de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. La parroquia predominantemente hispana más grande de la diócesis anunció en abril que seguiría adelante con los planes para construir una nueva iglesia con una capacidad prevista de 1,500 personas. La decisión de construir llega en un momento en que la parroquia ha experimentado un crecimiento enorme, con un promedio de 6,000 personas que asisten a una de sus ocho Misas dominicales. La parroquia ahora está a la espera de los diseños oficiales y las estimaciones de costos, que se esperan para principios de 2027. Aunque el desafío oficial “Making Room Challenge” comenzará en enero, la parroquia puede continuar organizando eventos que generen apoyo y recauden fondos para otras necesidades presupuestarias de la parroquia hasta entonces. “A principios del próximo año tendremos los planos, los diseños y el costo, y podremos comenzar la recaudación de fondos, pero básicamente lo que estamos haciendo ahora es organizar eventos para crear un sentido de comunidad”, dijo Vicente Capistrano, director de comunicaciones de Nuestra Señora de
Guadalupe. “Ya somos una Iglesia, incluso antes de que comience la construcción; eso es lo que estamos tratando de demostrar”, dijo Capistrano. La gala del Día de San Valentín incluyó una cena organizada por los jóvenes de la parroquia para parejas casadas, con la que se recaudaron $119,000 en fondos de corresponsabilidad. Aunque el torneo de fútbol y la subasta silenciosa no obtuvieron los mismos resultados económicos, el padre Bruce Krause, quien dirige la planificación de los eventos, dijo que el objetivo era llegar a personas con una variedad de intereses. “Nos gusta poder incluir a todos en estos esfuerzos”, dijo el padre Krause. La parroquia lo está haciendo con un concierto el 11 de septiembre en sus instalaciones, protagonizado por Sandoval, quien actúa bajo el nombre de GeLa y es conocida por su música contemporánea de alabanza católica en Centroamérica. La idea del concierto surgió a finales de 2025, después de que Capistrano hablara con un feligrés que conocía a la artista. En ese momento, Capistrano no sabía cuán popular era, pero rápidamente se sorprendió por el entusiasmo de los miembros del comité de corresponsabilidad de la parroquia. “Cuando se lo mencioné al comité, me dijeron: ‘¡De ninguna manera! ¡Eso sería increíble!’”, dijo Capistrano. “Me sorprendió”. Después de recibir la confirmación del párroco, el padre Marvin Navas, la parroquia se puso manos a la obra y hasta la fecha ha vendido más de 1,000 boletos de $50. Los organizadores esperan recaudar más de $100,000 con el evento. “Más de 250,000 personas vieron nuestra publicación de Facebook anunciando el concierto. Personas de lugares como México, El Salvador y California nos escribieron para expresar su interés”, dijo Capistrano. La parroquia espera mantener el impulso con la próxima Gran Kermés, el festival anual de la parroquia que incluye comida hispana, actividades y presentaciones. El festival se celebra alrededor de la época del Mes de la Herencia Hispana. El evento del año pasado recaudó alrededor de $75,000. Este año, la parroquia espera alcanzar los $100,000 al agregar más vendedores de comida y aumentar la participación de los feligreses. La parroquia se ha enfocado en preparar a sus feligreses con miras al “Making Room Challenge” de 2027. Según el padre Krause, construir la nueva iglesia requerirá un compromiso significativo de cada feligrés,
FOTO PROPORCIONADA
El 14 de febrero celebraron la Gala de los Enamorados con más de 100 parejas de la parroquia. Antes de la cena, participaron en una Misa especial y recibieron una bendición. Los feligreses prepararon la comida y los jóvenes sirvieron en las mesas.
FOTO PROPORCIONADA
La parroquia ya ha vendido más de 1,000 entradas para el concierto católico que se celebrará el próximo 11 de septiembre en la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, un evento que podría convertirse en el más grande de su tipo en la historia de la parroquia. Quedan muy pocos boletos disponibles para compra en línea. y la parroquia debe comenzar desde ahora a ayudar a las personas a comprender por qué el proyecto es necesario. “Queremos que todos comprendan por qué la diócesis tiene esta iniciativa y por
qué es beneficiosa para nosotros como parroquia”, dijo el padre Krause. “Esto también está reuniendo a las personas con líderes reconocidos de la parroquia para apoyar y realmente poner esto en marcha”.
August 21, 2026 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI
2 0 26 C ONGRE SO EU C ARÍS T IC O
Llamados. Formados. Enviados.
Jesús sigue llamando a personas ordinarias a una misión extraordinaria.
Rema mar adentro. CENTRO DE CONVENCIONES DE CHARLOTTE I N V I TA D O S E S P E C I A L E S :
C O N :
Obispo Michael Martin, OFM Conv. Anfitrión y celebrante principal de la Santa Misa
Padre Marcos Galvis Predicador y evangelizador
11–12 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2026 | GRATIS
Marieth Quintero Schola Cantorum
Música inspiradora
Erich Kerekes Cofundador de Hallow
Mariana Lacouture Hallow
Nathan Crankfield Hallow y ‘Seeking Excellence’ podcast
LA MÚSICA DE:
The Scally Brothers
Marieth Quintero Schola Cantorum The Vigil Project
Proyección Especial
Detalles del evento:
Procesión Eucarística Confesiones, Adoración y Santa Misa Más de 100 expositores católicos GOEUCHARIST.COM
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catholicnewsherald.com | August 21, 2026 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Papa León XIV
El Papa León el domingo es fundamento del año litúrgico
E
l Papa León XIV instó a los católicos a reunirse en persona para la Misa dominical y pidió que se establezcan condiciones de trabajo que permitan a las personas asistir, afirmando que el domingo es “fundamento y el núcleo de todo el año litúrgico”. “Para santificar el domingo es fundamental celebrar la Eucaristía”, dijo el Papa durante su audiencia general del 12 de agosto en la Basílica de San Pedro. El Santo Padre instó a todos “a crear las mejores condiciones posibles para que también puedan participar en la Santa Misa aquellos que los domingos no tienen la posibilidad de ausentarse del trabajo”. Continuando con su serie de catequesis sobre los documentos del Concilio Vaticano II, el Papa León reflexionó sobre “Sacrosanctum Concilium”, la Constitución sobre la Sagrada Liturgia. El año litúrgico no es una representación estática de acontecimientos pasados, sino un encuentro continuo con Cristo, señaló. En su centro está la Pascua, cuando Cristo resucitó de entre los muertos, y por esa razón, dijo el Papa, es esencial que los fieles santifiquen el Día del Señor reuniéndose para celebrar la Eucaristía. “Que nuestra participación activa y nuestro testimonio firme nos ayuden a adentrarnos cada vez más profundamente en la realidad de pertenecer a Cristo, y que anticipemos con esperanza su venida en gloria”, dijo en sus comentarios dirigidos a los peregrinos de habla inglesa. El Papa León recordó la descripción que hizo San Juan Pablo II del domingo como la “Pascua semanal” y “el día del Señor, el día de la Iglesia, el día del hombre y, por último el ‘día de los días’”. Incluso en idiomas como el inglés y el alemán, donde el nombre del domingo hace referencia al “día del sol”, el Papa León señaló que los cristianos pueden discernir una alusión a Cristo, “el verdadero ‘sol de justicia’ que ilumina a todo hombre”. Escuchar la palabra de Dios, recibir el cuerpo de Cristo y reunirse los domingos, dijo el Papa, permite a “la comunidad cristiana” hacer “visible su comunión con el Señor” y dar testimonio de su fidelidad a Cristo y a la Iglesia. “Esta asamblea no puede sustituirse por una presencia meramente virtual, ni se reduce a una reunión meramente pasiva”, afirmó, subrayando que la asamblea litúrgica se realiza a través de la participación activa de los fieles. Dirigiéndose a los peregrinos de habla hispana, el Papa León también expresó su cercanía con las personas afectadas por el fuerte terremoto que sacudió Colombia el 10 de agosto, causando la muerte de cientos de personas y dejando a muchas otras heridas o desaparecidas.
Franciscanos martirizados en Perú hace 35 años: Permanecieron junto a la gente cuando más los necesitaban
KATARZYNA SZALAJKO OSV News
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l 9 de agosto de 1991, dos jóvenes misioneros polacos fueron asesinados por la guerrilla maoísta peruana Sendero Luminoso tras negarse a abandonar a las personas a las que servían. Treinta y cinco años después del martirio de los padres franciscanos conventuales Michal Tomaszek y Zbigniew Strzalkowski, su legado perdura como un recordatorio de que el Evangelio no se vive desde los privilegios, sino desde la cercanía con las personas confiadas al cuidado de la Iglesia. Para el padre Jaroslaw Wysoczanski, el único miembro sobreviviente del equipo de tres franciscanos polacos que estableció la misión en la Diócesis de Chimbote, en la costa occidental de Perú, el aniversario de su muerte no consiste tanto en recordar el día en que sus amigos murieron, sino en reflexionar sobre por qué decidieron quedarse en Perú. “Un buen pastor no abandona a su rebaño cuando llega el peligro”, declaró a OSV News el padre Wysoczanski, quien ahora atiende a migrantes y refugiados en El Paso, Texas. El Papa León XIV, quien pasó más de dos décadas como misionero y obispo en Perú antes de su elección, ha señalado a los mártires modernos del país como ejemplos de fidelidad misionera. Los misioneros polacos fueron asesinados en la localidad andina de Pariacoto.
LA FORMACIÓN DE UN MISIONERO
Los recuerdos del padre Wysoczanski ofrecen un relato de primera mano de los meses previos a los asesinatos. “Pisaron suelo latinoamericano por primera vez” en los primeros días de diciembre de 1988, tras salir de la Polonia comunista y viajar vía Moscú. Contó que él y el padre Strzalkowski llegaron primero. Meses más tarde se les unió el padre Tomaszek, con lo que quedó formada la pequeña fraternidad franciscana que pondría en marcha una de las primeras iniciativas misioneras de la provincia polaca en Perú. “Éramos jóvenes franciscanos que, respondiendo al llamado del Señor, dejamos nuestra tierra natal, nuestra cultura y la seguridad de una Iglesia fuerte y bien organizada para convertirnos en hermanos de tierras lejanas y desconocidas”, dijo. Los misioneros pronto descubrieron que los peruanos sabían exactamente de dónde venían. “Tan pronto como la gente se enteraba de que éramos de Polonia, inmediatamente mencionaban a Juan Pablo II”, dijo el padre Wysoczanski. “A veces también mencionaban a un futbolista, Grzegorz Lato, y su famosa velocidad durante la Copa del Mundo. Era una forma encantadora de romper las primeras barreras”. El padre Wysoczanski dijo que desde el momento en que pisaron suelo peruano, “sentimos que la gente nos había estado esperando desde hacía mucho tiempo”, declaró a OSV News. “Nos recibieron no
FATHER JAROSLAW WYSOCZANSKI | OSV
Los Padres Franciscanos Conventuales Jaroslaw Wysoczanski, Michal Tomaszek y Zbigniew Strzalkowski aparecen en una fotografía sin fecha tomada en Perú, que sirvió como fotografía para la beatificación de los Padres Tomaszek y Strzalkowski. como misioneros extranjeros, sino como miembros de la familia”. Los frailes tuvieron que aprender un nuevo idioma y atender a comunidades montañosas aisladas, dispersas por los Andes. Muchos pueblos se encontraban a más de 6,500 pies sobre el nivel del mar y solo se podía llegar a ellos a caballo o en mula, tras horas de viaje por caminos de tierra en mal estado. Las Hermanas Siervas del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, que ya prestaban servicio en Pariacoto, se convirtieron de inmediato en aliadas de los jóvenes frailes. “Nos ayudaron a conocer la realidad local”, dijo el padre Wysoczanski, recordando cómo las hermanas les ayudaron a comprender a la gente, sus costumbres y necesidades. “Su experiencia se convirtió en una escuela invaluable de vida misionera”.
PERÚ DE SU HISTORIA MODERNA
En el momento de la llegada de los franciscanos a la región, Perú se enfrentaba a una pobreza generalizada, una grave epidemia de cólera y una sequía prolongada. Al mismo tiempo, la insurgencia de Sendero Luminoso sembraba el terror en las regiones rurales. En esas circunstancias, “nuestra labor misionera no podía limitarse a proclamar el Evangelio”, declaró el padre Wysoczanski a OSV News. Además de organizar una escuela para catequistas y atender a más de 70 comunidades, ayudaron a los residentes locales a construir caminos y canales de riego, al tiempo que respondían a las necesidades cotidianas. “Tratamos de ayudar a las personas a superar las dificultades cotidianas, a recuperar la esperanza y a recuperar su dignidad”, dijo. “Comprendimos que el Evangelio no se
vive a través de privilegios, sino a través de la cercanía; no a través de la comodidad, sino a través de la entrega”, declaró a OSV News. “Por eso elegimos vivir entre la gente de los Andes peruanos, caminar con ellos, aprender su cultura, escuchar su sufrimiento y proclamar la buena nueva de Jesucristo”. “Trabajamos con gran entusiasmo y dedicación”, recordó. “La mayor recompensa fue la respuesta de la gente. Encontramos una amabilidad, una confianza y una disposición a cooperar extraordinarias”. Dijo que “se sintieron amados por la gente” a la que habían sido enviados. Perú entraba en uno de los períodos más sangrientos de su historia moderna, a medida que Sendero Luminoso intensificaba sus ataques contra civiles e instituciones públicas. “Los atentados con bombas, los ataques a comisarías, los cortes de luz causados por actos de sabotaje y un número creciente de víctimas de la violencia se convirtieron en parte de la vida cotidiana. Vivíamos en un ambiente de tensión e incertidumbre constantes”, declaró el padre Wysoczanski a OSV News. “A menudo hablábamos en nuestra comunidad religiosa sobre la seguridad y nos preguntábamos qué haríamos si los terroristas llegaran a nuestra misión”, recordó el padre Wysoczanski. Durante algún tiempo, se les dijo a los misioneros que la Iglesia católica no era un objetivo principal. Esa suposición finalmente resultó ser falsa. El padre Wysoczanski explicó que, para los insurgentes maoístas, la Iglesia Católica se percibía cada vez más como un obstáculo para el proyecto revolucionario porque MÁRTIRES, PASA A LA PÁGINA 23
Our nation
August 21, 2026 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI
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Catholic Scouting has new name, same adventurous mission KIMBERLEY HEATHERINGTON OSV News
In June, the National Catholic Committee on Scouting announced it has a new name: Catholic Scouting America. While the original name will remain the same for legal purposes, the new public name is meant to clarify and strengthen the organization’s 100-plus-year commitment to faith, family and adventure through the values-based lessons of Scouting – all grounded in the Catholic faith. Catholic Scouting America is a partner with Scouting America – known as Boy Scouts of America until May 2024 – so boys and girls in Catholic Scouting have access to the activities, programs and resources that have shaped generations of American Scouts. As of 2024, there were 130,888 active Catholic Scouts and leaders in 194 U.S. dioceses and eparchies with a Catholic Committee on Scouting, and Catholic Scouting service projects provided an estimated value of $52 million in aid. Scouts – whether Catholic or not – have the opportunity to engage in a number of religious activities and earn several religious emblems. In 2024, 4,575 religious emblems were awarded, including Light of Christ and Parvuli Dei for Cub Scouts, and Ad Altare Dei (for Roman Catholic Scouts), Light is Life (for Eastern rite Catholic Scouts), and Pope Pius XII. OSV News spoke with Catholic Scouting America’s national chairman, Bill Guglielmi, to learn more about the fresh identity and the lasting value of Scouting. OSV News: Why did you change your name? Guglielmi: We changed our “doing business name” to Catholic Scouting America because we have found through research that the National Catholic Committee on Scouting name is unclear. When parents look up the National Catholic Committee
GREGORY A. SHEMITZ | OSV NEWS
A Boy Scout carries a U.S. flag May 25 while marching with his troop in the Memorial Day parade in Smithtown, New York. Catholic Scouting America has changed its name to better reflect its commitment to faith. on Scouting, a lot of times they are sent to our website that is designed just for our members – and they get confused. “What are you really doing? What is your mission?’” So, in order to make it more friendly to people who don’t know us well, we figured Catholic Scouting America aligns well with the Boy Scouts of America’s change to Scouting America. It aligns more with what our mission is, and tells people what we really do. OSV News: Can Scouting be a form of evangelization? Guglielmi: Oh, yes! We’re doing that across the board right now, in many dioceses and in cooperation with other agencies within the Church.
T H E M E LV I N A N D R U T H W I T C H E R A D U LT D A Y C E N T E R A T P E N N Y B Y R N
day has purpose. Every Every person has support.
In the month of July, we have created a novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe – to ask her guidance and her support of the nation, and the Americas in general. And right now, we have over 35,000 Catholic Scouts and Scout leaders participating in the novena. We know it’s over 35,000 because we’ve had requests for the prayer cards that we printed, and we’re giving them away for free. It’s a simple prayer, which was written by our national chaplain. OSV News: Why should a boy or girl join Catholic Scouting America? Guglielmi: As a long-time Scout leader, first, I would say that American youth today are yearning for something – and American parents are yearning for something – that is not tied to the internet; not tied to social media; that has an outdoor component; that is led by people who are dedicated, who are vetted and who have undergone background checks. It allows those kids to learn about themselves by doing things, not just looking at a screen – and it focuses on Catholicism as part of the Scouting experience. One of the tenets of Scouting is that it is youth led – not guided. And Scouting teaches kids to exercise leadership. We listen to them as Scout leaders. We teach them leadership – and then we send them out to do the leadership. So that ties right in with Catholic Scouting. In the (Georgetown University) Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate report “The Class of 2026: Survey of Ordinands to the Priesthood,” 31% of all those ordinands had a Scouting experience. And 34% of the religious ones had a Scouting experience, and 32% of the diocesan priests had a Scouting experience. That is a data point we are very interested in keeping – it ties with the mission of Catholic Scouting America to assist kids to discern their vocation.
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catholicnewsherald.com | August 21, 2026 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
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In Brief Diocese of Wichita to establish new seminary WICHITA, Kansas — The Diocese of Wichita announced that it will formally establish a new seminary for priestly formation, marking a milestone in the life of the diocese and fulfilling a vision first explored more than two decades ago. The new seminary succeeds the St. Joseph House of Formation, which Bishop Carl A. Kemme established in 2017 to provide local formation for college seminarians. “Effective Aug. 26, the institution will be known as St. Philip Neri Seminary, honoring the 16th-century saint renowned for his joyful spirit, deep holiness and dedication to forming priests and evangelizing through authentic friendship,” said Bishop Kemme.
“The establishment of St. Philip Neri Seminary is a moment of profound gratitude for the Diocese of Wichita,” Bishop Kemme said. “It reflects the Lord’s abundant blessings on our efforts to foster priestly vocations and our commitment to forming holy, joyful and faithful priests who will serve the people of God for generations to come.”
President: Religious life must find harmony amid change ORLANDO, Florida — The future of religious life depends on Catholic sisters with different charisms working together, the outgoing president of the nation’s largest leadership conference for women religious told members at their annual assembly. More than 1,300 congregational leaders and guests attended the Aug. 11-14 gathering of the Larson Leadership Conference of Women Religious, or LCWR, in Orlando. The organization represents about two-thirds of the
nearly 35,000 Catholic sisters in the United States. In her Aug. 12 presidential address, Sister Vicky Larson of the Presentation Sisters of South Dakota reflected on the assembly’s theme, “Many Charisms, One Spirit, One Call.” She compared religious life to a symphony, saying different congregations contribute distinct gifts while listening to one another. “The Holy Spirit is asking us to lead by listening,” Sister Vicky said, calling for deep, contemplative and Spirit-led synodal listening that can transform those who practice it. The vitality of religious life comes from diverse voices working together while remaining attentive to the Holy Spirit.
a diehard Sox fan and Knight of Columbus who watched the game on TV, told OSV News, adding he thought having Catholicism so openly on display was “great” and would raise more interest in the Catholic faith. The game also featured its own familiar penitential rite for Sox fans, as the Reds rallied in the 10th inning to beat the White Sox 5-4, giving Cincinnati a lead in the three-game series that concludes Aug. 13. Pope Leo, a Chicago native who grew up in Dolton, Illinois, a south suburb, has been pictured sporting a White Sox baseball cap at the Vatican, and has received multiple Soxthemed presents since his election as pontiff in May 2025.
Supreme Court sets date for case over Catholic preschools
CHICAGO WHITE SOX | OSV NEWS
Catcher Edgar Quero of the Chicago White Sox wears one of the “pope hats” that the team distributed at an Aug. 11 baseball game at Rate Field in Chicago.
Pope Leo night at White Sox baseball park maxes out capacity CHICAGO — White Sox baseball fans sporting custom-designed black and gold mitre-style hats celebrated Pope Leo XIV, a fellow Sox fan, at a pope-themed game in Chicago Aug. 11. Dominican Sister Mary Jo Sobieck of Springfield, Illinois, threw the first pitch, and fans shook hands with the “sign of peace,” led by the Chicago Archdiocese’s Father Tom Hurley, during the fifth inning at Rate Field, home of Pope Leo’s favorite baseball team. White Sox management handed out “pope hats” to 38,000 fans who showed up at the third game in a series against the Cincinnati Reds. The promo project started out as a fan giveaway for the first 2,500 tickets, which sold quickly and it added another fast-selling 500. Management expanded the promo to the full stadium capacity, and the tickets flew. “The place was at capacity,” Richard King,
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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court set a November date for oral arguments in a case over a clash between Catholic preschools and the state of Colorado over whether those schools can participate in the state’s universal preschool program. According to the Supreme Court’s calendar for its term starting in October, it will hear the case, St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy, on Nov. 3. That date is also Election Day for the 2026 midterms. The case concerns a Colorado program that provides funds – up to about $6,000 – to parents to send their child to the preschool of their choice, public or private, including faithbased schools. In April, the court agreed to hear the case after two Catholic parishes with preschools in the Archdiocese of Denver – St. Bernadette in Lakewood and St. Mary in Littleton – alleged the state of Colorado excluded them from participating in the program due to their religious beliefs. Colorado argued the Catholic preschools ran afoul of a nondiscrimination rule in the program that prohibits participating schools from refusing admission to any child on the basis of the sexual orientation and gender identity of the child or the child’s family.
Sainthood cause takes step forward for Ohio housewife CANTON, Ohio — Rhoda Wise, an Ohio laywoman, wife, adoptive mother, Catholic convert and mystic, has taken a step closer to possible sainthood. The Diocese of Youngstown announced that the official “positio” on Wise has been submitted to the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. The comprehensive document examines her life of virtue and alleged miracles. The dicastery’s theological and historical commissions will investigate her heroic virtues and could recommend that the pope Wise declare her venerable. Wise was born into a Protestant family in 1888 and endured significant hardships, including infertility, the death of one of her adopted daughters and a husband struggling with alcoholism and unemployment. She later experienced visions of Jesus and St. Thérèse of Lisieux, known as the “Little Flower,” and was associated with the stigmata and hundreds of reported healings. Among those who attributed a healing to Wise was Mother Angelica, founder of EWTN. She said Wise prayed with her during a novena to St. Thérèse, after which a painful stomach condition was healed. As Wise’s reputation for holiness spread, many visitors came to speak with her and pray outside of her house. She died in 1948, and her former home in Canton continues to be a place of pilgrimage. — Diocese of Wichita, OSV News
August 21, 2026 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI
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MÁRTIRES VIENE DE LA PÁGINA 20
defendía la dignidad humana, la paz y la libertad de conciencia. Sendero Luminoso fue un movimiento guerrillero maoísta fundado en Perú en 1970 por Abimael Guzmán, un exprofesor de filosofía que buscaba iniciar una revolución comunista violenta inspirada en la Revolución Cultural de Mao Zedong en China. El grupo llevó a cabo una insurgencia de dos décadas marcada por atentados con bombas, asesinatos y ataques contra civiles, instituciones gubernamentales y la Iglesia católica. La Comisión de la Verdad y la Reconciliación de Perú estimó que unas 70.000 personas perdieron la vida durante el conflicto interno del país entre 1980 y 2000, siendo Sendero Luminoso responsable de aproximadamente 37.800 de esas muertes. El conflicto también devastó la economía peruana y dejó profundas secuelas sociales. Varios meses antes de los asesinatos, un ataque terrorista cerca de Pariacoto le quitó la vida a un ingeniero que trabajaba en un proyecto de construcción de carreteras. “Tuvimos una conversación con el obispo y con las hermanas”, dijo el padre Wysoczanski. “Luego tomamos la decisión consciente de quedarnos. No íbamos a abandonar a la gente ni a la comunidad a la que nos habían enviado. Fue una decisión conjunta de todos los misioneros”.
LA TRAGEDIA EN PARIACOTO
En la noche del 9 de agosto de 1991, militantes de Sendero Luminoso secuestraron a los padres Tomaszek y Strzalkowski y posteriormente los asesinaron en las afueras de Pariacoto. Menos de dos semanas después, el padre Alessandro Dordi, sacerdote diocesano, también fue asesinado. Los tres fueron beatificados juntos en 2015 como mártires asesinados “por odio a la fe”. El padre Wysoczanski no se encontraba en Pariacoto esa noche. Había regresado a Polonia para visitar a su familia y bendecir la boda de su hermana, tras intercambiar su puesto con un fraile franciscano más joven. “Predicaron la paz en tiempos de violencia, enseñaron a la gente a rezar el rosario, compartieron el pan con los hambrientos y dieron testimonio con sus vidas de que Dios tiene un amor especial por los pobres”, recordó. “Fueron asesinados porque se mantuvieron fieles a las personas a las que servían”, afirmó. Según testigos, el padre Strzalkowski suplicó a los atacantes que perdonaran la vida a los postulantes que estaban con ellos. “En cierto sentido, esto recuerda las palabras de Cristo en Getsemaní: Si me buscan a mí, dejen ir a estos hombres”, dijo el padre Wysoczanski. “Incluso ante la muerte, pensaban primero en los demás”. Al mirar hacia atrás después de 35 años, dijo que una palabra resume su testimonio más que ninguna otra. “Fidelidad”, le dijo a OSV News. “Fidelidad hasta la muerte, nacida del amor”, dijo. “A medida que pasan los años, descubro nuevos significados en sus vidas y en sus muertes”, afirmó, y agregó: “Siempre he sido consciente de que podría haber compartido su destino”. Su testimonio, enfatizó, se dirige especialmente a quienes dudan en seguir el llamado de Dios. “Estoy convencido de que este sigue siendo el mensaje más importante de sus vidas hoy en día”, dijo el padre Wysoczanski. “El amor que nos lleva a permanecer fielmente al lado de los demás y una fe más fuerte que el miedo”.
BRIAN SEGOVIA AND TROY C. HULL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Fellow Franciscan Bishop Michael Martin is supportive of their mission. He recently attended one of their young adult dinners where he answered questions and communicated his vision of sharing Jesus with others. The friars also assist at parishes throughout the diocese, celebrating Mass and the sacraments as needed.
FRIARS
them pray with her right there in the middle of the bar. It was a powerful, true imitation of Christ.”
FROM PAGE 5
Father Jason Damon was recently called back to serve as a parish priest. The friars chose Charlotte because of its high concentration of young adults – roughly a third of the population is between 20 and 39 years old, with a median age of 34. Bishop Michael Martin, himself a Conventual Franciscan, loved the idea and offered to host the ministry in his diocese. “Opportunity is the word for what we see here in Charlotte,” Father Casey says. “I think the seeds have been planted, but the full nature of what we’re trying to do here has not been realized yet.” The seeds are sprouting for people like Zack Maher, who regularly turns out for friar events including their recent “Rosary and Rye,” hosted by Father Tito, which featured saying the rosary followed by a whiskey tasting. “The fact that Charlotte is continuing to grow and change seems to make people more open to the unique and the new,” says Father Tito, “and in the case of our way of life, the very old.” It has been 800 years since the death of St. Francis of Assisi, the Franciscans founder. If whiskey does not appeal, the friars invite people to: n Free Wednesday dinner-and-discussion nights in South End n Monthly trivia nights at St. Gabriel Church n “Brews and Good News,” an informal Bible study at local breweries. n Young Catholic Professionals’ events.
IN BRIEF FROM PAGE 4
St. Matthew to host human trafficking awareness seminar CHARLOTTE — Learn more about protecting loved ones during “Much Closer Than You Think – Human Trafficking in North Carolina.” The free seminar will be held 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29, in the Banquet Hall at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte. The seminar is sponsored by Catholic Charities and the Sisters of Mercy in partnership with St. Matthew Parish. Not recommended for children under 16. Please register by Aug. 26 at https://fs11.formsite. com/SistersofMercy/gfl7dvznkj/index. — Joseph Purello
FRIARS ON CAMPUS
LIZ CHANDLER | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Father Casey Cole leads a “guerilla” Bible study at a local bar. The friars will often show up at a local establishment, break out their Bibles, and talk with anyone who stops by the table. This fall, they’re also planning a weekend retreat – $50 for two nights at a mountain getaway. “The friars keep me coming back,” Maher says. “They are very devout and also very genuine.” He joined the friars on a recent visit to Pins Mechanical Co. – a lively bar with duckpin bowling, pinball, retro games and craft beer – and felt moved by the connections they formed with those who approached them. “They were consistent and loving whether people just wanted to chat or go deeper,” he said. “One woman really wanted prayers and to get something off her chest, and it was powerful to see how intentional they were with her. I just sat back and watched them work, watched
Celebrate World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation The celebration of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on Sept. 1 marks the start of the ecumenical Season of Creation that concludes on Oct. 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology. A Season of Creation outdoor event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Faith Family Farm in Dallas. Registration is required. Information on this event and day is available at www.ccdoc.org/education. — Joseph Purello
Get free tickets to beatification of the five Georgia martyrs Catholics from across the Southeast are invited to witness a historic moment in the life of the Church when five Spanish Franciscan missionaries known as the Georgia Martyrs
Colleges have proven to be particularly fertile ground for sharing the faith, the friars say. They regularly visit UNC Charlotte, UNC Greensboro and Belmont Abbey College – and have ventured out to Appalachian State University in Boone and Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. “There’s a tremendous openness to faith right now among college students, definitely something going on nationwide,” Father Casey says. They set up tables on campuses – and sometimes on street corners – and begin discussions with passersby. No topic is off limits. Those tabling events stuck with Jessica Mathew last year as a senior majoring in computer science at UNC Charlotte. Although she volunteered with campus ministry, the friars’ outreach motivated her to do more to reach out to others. “It pushed me to learn new things about the faith,” said Mathew, who has since graduated. “It helped me realize where I might be lacking...opened my eyes a bit more in the sense that I need to better prepare myself to answer such questions in daily life.”
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are beatified this fall. The beatification Mass will be celebrated Oct. 31 at the Savannah Convention Center. It is free to attend, but registration is required due to limited seating. For details, go to www. thegeorgiamartyrs.org. — Catholic News Herald
Catholic Committee of Appalachia to hold annual gathering BLACK MOUNTAIN — “Signs of the Times in Today’s Appalachia” is the theme of the 2026 Catholic Committee of Appalachia’s annual gathering Sept. 25-27. The event at the Blue Ridge Assembly YMCA Center in Black Mountain will include talks on food insecurity, immigration and more. Visit www.ccappal.org to register by Sept. 15. Contact Mary Herr at maryherr2017@ gmail.com with questions. — Catholic News Herald
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catholicnewsherald.com | August 21, 2026 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Pope Leo offers prayers, condolences as bishops urge solidarity following Colombia earthquake JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES OSV News
Pope Leo XIV said he was deeply saddened by the loss of life and destruction following a powerful earthquake that struck Colombia, leaving more than 300 dead and dozens of collapsed buildings. The pope offered prayers “for the eternal rest of the deceased and raises his prayers to the Lord for the speedy recovery of those affected by this tragedy,” said a telegram to Archbishop Francisco Javier Múnera Correa of Cartagena, president of the Colombian Bishops’ Conference, signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state. The earthquake struck in the morning of Aug. 10, with hundreds of videos posted online of people fleeing outdoors as the ground below them violently shook. The Colombian Association of Capital Cities initially reported the death toll at 132, with more than 570 injured. The association, which is a network of Colombia’s major cities, said the number is expected to change as damage assessments continue in the affected areas. As of Aug. 18, official estimates rose to 304 dead, 426 missing and more than 4,500 injured. In his message, which the Vatican published Aug. 11, Cardinal Parolin conveyed the pope’s condolences “to the families who, in this hour of deep sorrow, mourn the loss of their loved ones.” “In the same way, he assures his spiritual closeness and expresses his gratitude to all those who, with generous dedication, are working in the search, rescue and assistance efforts for those affected,” the message read. “Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, he asks the Lord to pour out upon the beloved Colombian people the gifts of spiritual strength and Christian hope,” said the message. According to Colombia’s Geological Service, the 7.4-magnitude quake’s epicenter was in the northwestern region of Chocó, and that intense magnitude made it “the strongest earthquake felt in Colombia in the last decade.” Reuters reported Aug. 15 that Colombia
ANDRES CAMILO VALENCIA, REUTERS | OSV NEWS
Residents and emergency personnel dig through the debris of a partially collapsed building after an earthquake in Pereira, Colombia, on Aug. 10. (Below) A cathedral tower shows signs of damage in Manizales, Colombia. had recorded 269 aftershocks since the quake, increasing the danger to rescue workers and volunteers. In a message published Aug. 10, the Colombian Bishops’ Conference expressed its closeness to the victims of the deadly quake, as well as those who have been displaced. “We pray for those who have lost their lives, that God may grant them eternal rest; for the persons who are still missing; for the injured, and for the affected families,” the bishops said. The bishops also prayed for relief and medical personnel, as well as military and government authorities, “and all those who, with generosity and courage, are working in search, rescue and care efforts
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for those affected.” “This painful moment reminds us that no one can face an emergency of this magnitude alone,” the statement read. “Colombia is called, once again, to recognize itself as one family and to respond to the suffering of its brothers and sisters with generosity, responsibility and solidarity.” Among the videos of the destruction wrought by the earthquake were that of the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Manizales, as well as several churches that were heavily damaged in the aftermath. The Archdiocese of Manizales shared a 10-second video showing a Mass taking place as the earthquake struck in the morning. In a video message to the city’s faithful, Archbishop José Miguel Gómez of Manizales said that while the archdiocese continues to assess the damage to churches, “the most important thing is you, the faithful, the priests, and all our neighbors who suffered the same.” “God, our Lord, never abandons us, and it is in these moments when, lifting our eyes to Him, we must all, with humility and simplicity, ask Him for the graces we need to live through these difficulties,” Archbishop Gómez said. The archbishop also invoked the intercession of Our Lady of the Rosary, asking her to “console and comfort” those affected by the natural disaster. He also urged people to follow guidelines given by the authorities. “And, following those instructions, always seek to be attentive to those who suffer the most, so that no person is left without care in these difficult times,” he said before imparting his blessing.
The Colombian bishops’ conference said dioceses across the country are setting up collection points to ensure food distribution to shelters, hospitals and communities in the affected areas. Caritas Colombia, the conference said, activated its National Emergency Service “to raise funds to directly help the jurisdictions and communities that were most affected by this tragedy.”
August 21, 2026 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI
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Pope: World cannot remain indifferent to children’s suffering
In Brief
GOVERNATORATO SCV | OSV NEWS
A coin with Pope Leo’s portrait is part of the first coin set issued during his pontificate. Vatican coins are popular with collectors due to limited issue numbers.
Vatican City mints new coins featuring face of Pope Leo VATICAN CITY — The Vatican has issued its first euro coin set featuring Pope Leo XIV, marking the start of his pontificate and the Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi. The set includes coins bearing Pope Leo’s face and coat of arms, along with a commemorative five-euro coin depicting St. Francis renouncing his worldly possessions. It marks the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death. The Vatican had not featured a pope’s portrait on its coins since 2017, when Pope Francis asked that his image be removed. Vatican euro coins are popular with collectors because of limited minting quotas. The new set has a face value of 3.88 euros but is being sold for 39 euros (about $45). Sister Raffaella Petrini said the Vatican Mint is “not merely a place of production, but also a repository of historical and economic memory because, through the processes of engraving, casting and minting, it creates coins that imprint on metal a message of universal significance.” Italian artist Daniela Longo designed the new coins.
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo is calling on the global community to stop treating migration as a numbers game and instead prioritize the dignity and rights of migrant children. In his message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees released by the Vatican Aug. 14, the pope warned that the suffering of displaced youths does not end when they leave home. He highlighted the severe risks child migrants face along transit routes, including human trafficking, armed conflict recruitment and sexual violence. Pope Leo urged countries of origin to address the causes forcing families to flee, while calling on destination nations to offer protection. He emphasized that the global Church must transform welcoming from an abstract concept into pastoral practice, reminding the faithful that protecting vulnerable children means safeguarding the divine image within them.
Pope at Angelus: Mary a sign of hope, consolation for the world CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy — Pope Leo marked the Feast of the Assumption on Aug. 15 by
invoking the Virgin Mary’s intercession for communities ravaged by war, persecution and natural disaster. After celebrating Mass in the parish of St. Thomas of Villanova earlier that day, the pope addressed pilgrims gathered outside the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo, where he called Mary an enduring source of maternal consolation for those enduring severe hardship. He offered prayers for peace in the Holy Land amid ongoing airstrikes in Gaza, describing it as “par excellence, the Land of Mary.” Pope Leo also pleaded for peace between Ukraine and Russia, noting both share a deep devotion to the Mother of God, and remembered Christians facing persecution worldwide. —OSV News
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Pilgrims bathe in the Israeli side of the Jordan River overlooking Jordan in one of the places traditionally held as marking the location of the Baptism of Christ.
Jordan prepares for 2,000th anniversary of Christ’s Baptism AMMAN, Jordan — Jordan is officially preparing for a major milestone in Christian history: the 2,000th anniversary of the Baptism of Jesus Christ at Bethany Beyond the Jordan,
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also known as Al-Maghtas. A $120 million development project is underway adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage site along the Jordan River. The initiative features a new Baptism museum, a dedicated pilgrim and visitor village, and ecological walking trails designed to support environmental conservation. Millions of Christian pilgrims are expected to journey to Jordan by 2030 for this historic commemoration.
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catholicnewsherald.com | August 21, 2026 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Isabel Lavie
Father W. Christian Cook
Reclaiming the good life: How faith, labor and creation form virtue
I
n the midst of a culture that obscures the true nature of things, many Catholic parents are striving to help their children encounter something increasingly rare: reality itself, as a participation in the truth and goodness of God’s creation. The modern technological world offers many blessings, but it also presents significant challenges. Children can spend hours each day in virtual environments while becoming increasingly disconnected from nature, community and even their own families. The result is often a life filled with activity yet lacking rootedness in what it means to live as a Catholic family. St. Thomas Aquinas teaches that the good life is not found in fleeting pleasures, wealth or distraction, but in the pursuit of virtue and ultimately in union with God.
Human happiness, he explains, comes through living according to our nature and ordering our lives toward what is truly good. Seen in this light, rural and agricultural life offers a remarkable setting for such formation. The rhythms of planting, tending, repairing and harvesting cultivate prudence, patience, fortitude and temperance. The farmer does not command nature but cooperates with it, learning humility before God’s creation and providence.
FARMING BINDS HUMAN LIFE TO CREATION
For Aquinas, farming is deeply rooted in the structure of human life. It is morally sound because it is directed toward real needs rather than profit alone. It is socially essential, providing the material foundation for the common good. And it is spiritually meaningful, expressing stewardship and cooperation with God’s creative work. Agriculture therefore stands as one of the most virtuous forms of human labor. It binds human life to the order of creation and to the provision not of fleeting entertainment, but of life’s necessities. This vision contrasts sharply with a technological culture that often promises instant gratification and total control.
Through lessons learned on a farm, children come to understand that growth takes time, that work has dignity, and that dependence on God is not weakness but wisdom. The family farm has long served as a place where faith is woven into daily life and where children learn responsibility through meaningful participation in the household. This vision has been supported by movements – such as Catholic Rural Life, founded in 1923, and the Catholic Land Movement – that emphasize agriculture as a vocation capable of nurturing family life, strong communities and a deep awareness of God’s presence. These same themes are expressed in Bishop George Speltz’s “The Importance of the Rural Life.” He argued that rural living offers unique spiritual advantages because it keeps people close to the realities upon which all human life depends. The farmer experiences firsthand humanity’s partnership with God in creation. Working the soil, caring for animals and providing food become acts of service to the common good. Speltz also warned against a culture increasingly detached from the sources of life and sustenance – a warning that seems even more relevant today. Many children can navigate a screen before they understand how food is grown or how creation reflects the wisdom of God.
RURAL LIFE A LIVING CLASSROOM
As families return to school and those familiar routines, it is worth seeking opportunities to reconnect with the land and with a rural, agrarian life. There, the Catholic family can find a living classroom where theology, care for God’s creation, family life and virtue converge in what Aquinas would recognize as genuine human flourishing: a life ordered toward truth, goodness, beauty and ultimately God. The Church does not reject technology, nor should we. But technology must remain a tool rather than a master. Through contact with agrarian life, families can recover an essential vision of the good life – one rooted in faith, virtuous work, community and wonder before God’s creation. In the silence of a pasture, the rhythm of a garden, the labor of a harvest or the raising of farm animals, children discover a lesson no screen can teach: Creation is His gift, and through that gift, the Creator still speaks. “For from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator” (Wisdom 13:4). FATHER W. CHRISTIAN COOK, MDiv, JD, is pastor of St. Pius X Parish and School in Greensboro and co-founder of Farms of the Good Shepherd (FarmsGoodShepherd.org).
Donations make a difference after quake’s destruction
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Aid from parishioners across the diocese and from St. Matthew Parish is helping people in Venezuela recover from devastating twin earthquakes.
O
n June 24, 2026, the unthinkable happened. Two earthquakes, one following quickly after another, left families in Venezuela broken and afraid. Thousands died, and tens of thousands were injured. We are fortunate that our family members are safe and healthy, although for a while we lived through the fear and uncertainty of not knowing if my grandmother had survived. Many, many other families were not so lucky. Rescue teams rushed to the scene within days. Venezuelan citizens sifted through the ruins carefully, searching for any sign of life. These rescuers and citizens worked second by second, minute by minute, day and night, and with every passing hour, hope dwindled. Even now, nearly two months later, Venezuelans are still looking for the bodies of their loved ones that vanished under the rubble.
VENEZUELA ALREADY FRAGILE
As the daughter of two Venezuelans, I, like many others, am deeply impacted by these earthquakes and how deep of a mark they have left on my family and on my country. Venezuela is a communist country that many descendants, including myself, have never been able to visit because of the already fragile state that it is in. What a lot of people do not realize about this horrible situation is that this is yet another disaster that Venezuela has had to face over the last 30 years. For instance, In 2014, under the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro, inflation in Venezuela reached the highest in the world, with an inflation rate of 68.5%. This increased drastically every year, so much so that the inflation rate just last year was 475%. Once one of the richest countries in the world because of its vast natural oil supply, Venezuela soon
became a third-world country, its people devastated by poverty. My first reaction to the earthquakes, like that of many close friends and family, was, “How is Venezuela ever going to recover from this?”
HELP COMES FROM CHARLOTTE
While there is no long-term solution as of now, our local community in Charlotte is providing hope and help by taking care of the most immediate needs of the people in Venezuela. Thanks to the Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive (Read more on page 15) and through the generous donations of our local parishioners, a soup kitchen has been reinstated to provide basic needs in Naiguatá, a small town in a coastal area. These donations make a great difference and are immensely appreciated by the people, especially for the kids. They feed hundreds a day, taking care of the elderly and orphans, while they attempt to rebuild their lives. An effort and connection that started eight years ago with the local church of Naiguatá has expanded with the recent events. In Naiguatá, daily Mass is being celebrated in open fields because the church building was destroyed. There will be several future opportunities to help, but it is crucial for donations to continue coming in, because this is an ongoing effort that needs much attention. Not only do the donations help, but your prayers and intentions do as well. Seeing videos and pictures of how the support is provided demonstrates the courage and the love of a community coming together in a time of hardship – with your help. ISABEL LAVIE, 14, is a parishioner at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte.
August 21, 2026 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI
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Katie Yoder
Human imperfections can’t erase our worth M
y husband and I were traveling through the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York when we began reading Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical addressing artificial intelligence. “Read this part,” my husband told me, after spotting a quote he knew I’d like. He pointed to the sentence in “Magnifica Humanitas” where Pope Leo writes: “For an algorithm, an error is a flaw to be corrected; for a person, however, an error can be a catalyst for profound change.” The pope’s wording stayed with me when a popular content creator on YouTube, Jesse Ridgway, announced on social media that he and his wife had aborted their unborn baby boy. Ridgway said they made their decision after learning that their baby
‘And yet we must remember that humanity flourishes not despite limitations, but often through them.’ Pope Leo
Magnifica Humanitas received a diagnosis – a diagnosis resulting from “an error.” “This week, my wife and I made the very difficult decision to terminate the pregnancy due to Trisomy 21,” he wrote in a lengthy post in June. “Trisomy 21, also known as Down Syndrome, is caused by an extra chromosome. It is caused by an error in cell division, like a glitch.” Instead of a blessing, he said, Down syndrome is “objectively s--tty from a health perspective.”
ARE THESE LIVES LESS VALUABLE?
His post went viral, with tens of millions of people seeing his post on X alone. Many responded, including people with Down syndrome and parents of children with Down syndrome. They wanted people to know it was possible to choose the alternative: life. They encouraged people to focus on the capabilities of people with Down syndrome. “For decades, society has sent people like me a dangerous message: that our lives are somehow less valuable, less meaningful, or less worthy than the lives of everyone else,” Collette Divitto, a woman with Down syndrome and the founder and CEO of a cookie company called Collettey’s Cookies, wrote in a piece published by The Hill.
“The reality is very different.” This moment, she added, “should force us to ask a much bigger question: Why are so many Americans still being told that disability means a life without opportunity?” As a parent, Mark X. Cronin wrote about how he and his son John, who has Down syndrome, founded a socks company called John’s Crazy Socks. “Parents facing this diagnosis deserve the full picture,” he wrote in an op-ed published by Long Island Life & Politics. “They deserve to hear about the medical challenges, yes. They also deserve to hear about the joy, the humor, the love, the contribution, the irreplaceable presence that a person with Down syndrome brings into the world.” “We should never be blinded by a person’s limitations,” he added. “We should be awed by their possibilities.”
LIMITATIONS PART OF BEING HUMAN
After reading these responses, I continued reading “Magnifica Humanitas” hoping to find further insight. I found Pope Leo’s comments about the right to life from the moment of conception. I also read what he had to say about humanity’s so-called limitations. “Our relationship with life seems to be in crisis today,” he writes. “Everything that appears as a ‘limit’ – incapacity, illness, old age, suffering, vulnerability – tends to be seen primarily as a defect to be corrected, rather than as a reality through which our humanity matures and opens itself to relationship.” He adds: “And yet we must remember that humanity flourishes not despite limitations, but often through them.” His words suggest the truth that none of us is perfect, and that it is part of being human. Our imperfections are human, and they can also lead us to become better humans.
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INFINITE DIGNITY, INFINITE LOVE
At the same time – no matter where we are in our journey – each of us has dignity. “The dignity of every human being can be described as infinite, as St. John Paul II stated, for two reasons,” Pope Leo writes, citing St. John Paul II’s 1980 address to people with disabilities. First of all, that is “because the love of God, who calls us to friendship with Him, is infinite; and second, His love is absolutely unconditional, in the sense that, even if we search endlessly, we will never find anything that can erase or deny it.” Disability or not, every human person has limitations. And disability or not, every human person has inherent dignity. Our worth does not depend on being “perfect”; we need only exist. We may have what some consider errors because we are finite, but we have human dignity because we are infinitely loved. KATIE YODER writes for OSV News from Maryland.
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