Dec. 16, 2011 by Catholic News Herald

December 16, 2011

catholicnewsherald.com charlottediocese.org S E RV I N G C H R I ST A N D C O N N EC T I N G C AT H O L I C S I N W E ST E R N N O R T H C A R O L I N A

Catholic builder goes ‘Extreme’ to help Lincolnton family, 5

DSA campaign reaches recordbreaking $5M mark, 3 FINDING FAITH AMID UPHEAVAL Greensboro parish welcomes Burmese refugees, 8 FUNDED by the parishioners of the diocese of charlotte THANK YOU!

REJOICE! Calendar 4 Diocese 3-9

FAITH 2

As Christmas nears, new stained-glass art casts beauty and light inside the new Immaculate Conception Church in Forest City,

12-13

mix 16-17 nation & World 18-21 Schools 14-15

Viewpoints 22-24

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Our faith

catholicnewsherald.com | December 16, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Pope Benedict XVI

Prayer must include praise, thanks, not just requests

rayer should not center just on asking God to fulfill one’s hopes and desires, but must include praise, thanks and trust in God’s plan which may not match one’s own, Pope Benedict XVI said. The way Jesus prayed to His Father “teaches us that in our own prayers, we must always trust in the Father’s will and strive to see all things in light of His mysterious plan of love,” he said during his weekly general audience Dec. 14. In his catechesis to nearly 6,000 people in the Vatican audience hall, Pope Benedict continued a series of talks on Christian prayer. Everyone should seek to understand that when asking something of God in prayer, “we mustn’t expect the immediate fulfillment of what we are asking for, of our will, but rather trust in the will of the Father.” Requests, praise and thanks must be included in every prayer, “even when it seems to us that God is not living up to our real expectations,” he said. Prayer is a dialogue with God and entails “abandoning oneself to God’s love.” The most important thing to discover, the pope said, is that the One who answers humanity’s prayers is more important than the actual prayers answered. Having God in one’s life, His friendship, His presence, His love are all more important than any concrete thing that He could give in return, he said.

Images courtesy of www.medievalart.org.uk

These two stained-glass panels in the St. Sylvester window inside Chartres Cathedral in France depict a legend from the life of Pope St. Sylvester. Before Constantine legalized Christianity in 313, he was considering the merits of Christianity versus Judaism. St. Sylvester suggested that the whole question of faith should be disputed before a collective audience of Jews and Christians, and the

topics for discussion included paganism, God, Christ and the Ten Commandments. A leading rabbi named Zambri volunteered to perform a miracle as proof of his faith’s superiority: he approached an ox and whispered “Jehovah” in its ear. The ox dropped dead. St. Sylvester responded by whispering “Christ” in the ox’s ear, and the ox was restored to life.

Pope St. Sylvester I: Saw beginning of Christian empire in Rome Feast day: Dec. 31 Pope St. Sylvester I was born in Rome around the year 250. At a young age, his mother put him under the care of a priest to be taught literature and theology. He was ordained a priest by Pope St. Marcellinus. Sylvester enjoyed providing shelter to Christians passing through the city. He would take them with him, wash their feet, serve them at table and care for them, all in the name of Christ. One of the Christians whom Sylvester hosted was Timothy of Antioch, an illustrious confessor of the faith. When Timothy arrived in Rome, no one dared to receive him, but Sylvester considered it an honor. For a year, Timothy preached the Gospel in Rome with great zeal, while Sylvester selflessly shared his own home. After Timothy was martyred, Sylvester buried his remains. He was quickly accused of having hidden the martyr’s treasures, and

the Roman governor had him imprisoned. In reply, Sylvester said, “Timothy left to me only the heritage of his faith and courage.” After the governor choked on a fish bone and died, the guards’ hearts were softened and they set him free. Sylvester’s courageous acts became known to Pope Miltiades (also called Melchiades), who elevated him to the diaconate. Under the tyranny of the Roman emperor Diocletian, while Sylvester was still a young priest, the persecution of Christians grew worse, starting in 303. Diocletian murdered Christians, burned churches, searched homes to destroy sacred texts, and ordered everyone to worship idols placed throughout every Roman town SYLvester, SEE page 8

Your daily Scripture readings SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK OF DEC. 18 - DEC. 24

Sunday, 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16, Romans 16:25-27, Luke 1:26-38; Monday, Judges 13:2-7, 24-25, Luke 1:5-25; Tuesday, Isaiah 7:10-14, Luke 1:26-38; Wednesday (St. Peter Canisius), Song of Songs 2:8-14, Luke 1:39-45; Thursday, 1 Samuel 1:24-28, 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8, Luke 1:46-56; Friday (St. John of Kanty), Malachi 3:1-4, 2324, Luke 1:57-66; Saturday, 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16, Luke 1:67-79

SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK OF DEC. 25 - DEC. 31

Sunday (The Nativity of the Lord), Isaiah 9:1-6, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-14; Monday (St. Stephen), Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59, Matthew 10:1722; Tuesday (St. John), 1 John 1:1-4, John 20:18; Wednesday (The Holy Innocents), 1 John 1:5-2:2, Matthew 2:13-18; Thursday (St. Thomas Becket), 1 John 2:3-11, Luke 2:22-35; Friday (The Holy Family), Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14, Colossians 3:1221, Luke 2:22-40; Saturday (St. Sylvester I), 1 John 2:18-21, John 1:1-18

SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK OF JAN. 1 - JAN. 7

Sunday, Numbers 6:22-27, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:16-21; Monday (St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory Nazianzen), 1 John 2:22-28, John 1:19-28; Tuesday, 1 John 2:29-3:6, John 1:2934; Wednesday (St. Elizabeth Ann Seton), 1 John 3:7-10, John 1:35-42; Thursday (St. John Neumann), 1 John 3:11-21, John 1:43-51; Friday (St. André Bessette), 1 John 5:5-13, Mark 1:7-11; Saturday (St. Raymond of Peñafort), 1 John 5:14-21, John 2:1-11

SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK OF JAN. 8 - JAN. 14

Sunday (The Epiphany of the Lord), Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6, Matthew 2:1-12; Monday (The Baptism of the Lord), Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7, Acts 10:34-38, Mark 1:7-11; Tuesday, 1 Samuel 1:9-20, 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8, Mark 1:21-28; Wednesday, 1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20, Mark 1:29-39; Thursday, 1 Samuel 4:1-11, Mark 1:40-45; Friday (St. Hilary), 1 Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22, Mark 2:1-12; Saturday, 1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19, 10:1, Mark 2:13-17

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December 16, 2011 | catholicnewsherald.com

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In Brief

Share your photos! Does your church look especially beautiful at Christmas? We’d love to showcase your photos from the season in an upcoming edition of the Catholic News Herald and online at www. catholicnewsherald.com. E-mail us your favorite photos at catholicnews@charlottediocese.org. (Please keep file attachments to under 3MB, and mention “Christmas photos” in the subject line.)

Deacon appointment made GREENSBORO — Deacon Robert Morris has been appointed as a permanent deacon for St. Pius X Church in Greensboro effective Nov. 30, by Bishop Peter J. Jugis. Deacon Morris was ordained a deacon by Bishop William E. Lori of Bridgeport, Conn., on June 12, 2004. He and his wife Regina relocated to Greensboro from Ridgefield, Conn., Morris where he served as deacon at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish. He and his wife are New York natives, and he is a 1966 Fordham University graduate.

House of Mercy honors Sister Picôt BELMONT — Stan Patterson, president of House of Mercy in Belmont, presented Mercy Sister Mary Rosalind Picôt a plaque for her “instrumental role in the creation and continuance of House of Mercy” at the 20th anniversary open house celebration at House of Mercy held on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1. House of Mercy is a ministry of the Sisters of Mercy that provides a home and specialized care for low-income people living with AIDS. More than 280 men and women have found a home at House of Mercy since it opened in 1991. — Marjorie Storch

Court claim Father Kelleher admitted to abuse allegation Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor

CHARLOTTE — Kevin made a changet to this. The investigation began in 2010 when an allegation of abuse was made by an unnamed man against Father Kelleher, alleging that the priest sexually abused him more than 30 years ago while serving as pastor of Our Lady of the Annunciation Church in Albemarle. The motions filed Nov. 28 in Stanly County Superior Court assert that Father Kelleher admitted during an undated interview with Albemarle Police Detective Sgt. Kelly Williams to inappropriately touching the victim in the parlor of the rectory. This statement is contained in the motions to compel the two dioceses to produce documents concerning Father Kelleher. The motions were served on Charles Brown, Father Kelleher’s attorney in the criminal case. They were filed by the county prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Kisha Scott. The motions additionally assert that “multiple victims have come forward with allegations that they were also sexually abused by Fr. Michael Joseph Kelleher... at various locations where (he) was assigned.” During his more than 40 years in priestly ministry, Father Kelleher served in nine parishes in the Diocese of Charlotte and, before the diocese was created in 1972, at two parishes in the Diocese of Raleigh. In its motions, the Stanly County prosecutor’s office has asked for personnel records from and any complaints received by the Diocese of Charlotte and the Diocese of Raleigh as part of its continuing investigation of Father Kelleher. The Diocese of Charlotte routinely cooperates with requests from law enforcement, said David Hains, diocesan director of communication. The 83-year-old priest, now retired and living in Winston-Salem, has been under investigation since the diocese alerted authorities to the abuse claim in early 2010. The allegation, posted anonymously online, stated that the priest sexually molested a 14-year-old boy sometime in the 1970s at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church, where he was pastor from 1973 to 1977. Father Kelleher was arrested in July 2010 by Albemarle police and charged with one count of taking indecent liberties with a child. A Stanly County magistrate released him on a $5,000 bond. The priest – who had most recently served as chaplain of Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville – has been on administrative leave since June 2010. The Diocese of Charlotte has a

commitment to providing a safe environment for all people, especially the young and vulnerable. In 2002, the U.S. bishops issued the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” which addresses the Church’s commitment to respond effectively, appropriately and compassionately to cases of abuse of young people by priests, deacons or other Church personnel. The move to place Father Kelleher on administrative leave was part of the charter’s protocol and does not imply guilt or innocence. While he is on administrative leave, Father Kelleher cannot publicly celebrate Mass or the sacraments and he cannot appear in public wearing priestly attire. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police have also had an open investigation since July 2010 into a second claim of abuse from a man who alleges that Father Kelleher sexually abused Kelleher him as a teenager in about 1980, while the priest was serving as pastor at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Charlotte. No charges have been filed. The two alleged victims recently filed a civil lawsuit against the Diocese of Charlotte in Mecklenburg County Superior Court. In their complaint, the unnamed men allege that the diocese “knew or should have known since at least the 1970’s that Kelleher was abusing minors” and that the diocese was negligent in its oversight of Kelleher. Father Kelleher was ordained in 1953 in Ireland. He was a Trappist monk at Southern Star Abbey in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, until he joined the Diocese of Raleigh in 1966. In 1972 when the Charlotte diocese was carved out of the Raleigh diocese, he was serving as pastor of St. John Church in Waynesville. He remained with the Charlotte diocese until he retired in 1999. Other parishes in the Charlotte diocese where he served include: St. Joseph Church in Asheboro, the Basilica of St. Lawrence in Asheville, St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in High Point, Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Lexington, and St. Dorothy Church in Lincolnton. He returned to Bishop McGuinness High School to serve as chaplain in 1999. In his retirement, Father Kelleher also celebrated Mass at Holy Cross Church in Kernersville.

catholic news heraldI

2011 DSA campaign reaches recordbreaking $5M mark SueAnn Howell Staff writer

CHARLOTTE — For the first time ever, more than $5 million in pledges has been collected by the Diocese of Charlotte for its annual Diocesan Support Appeal, which supports 30-plus ministries that fund more than 50 programs in western North Carolina. The 2011 fund raising effort, “Let Your Light Shine,” is the diocese’s most successful DSA campaign ever: $5,017,393 in total pledges as of Dec. 12, more than 10 percent over the goal of $4,560,000. The average gift per donor also grew this year, despite the number of donors dropping slightly from 18,918 in 2010 to 18,371 in 2011. Barbara Gaddy, associate director of development for the diocese and the coordinator of the DSA since 1995, said she is thankful for donors’ generosity, especially given the weakened economy. “It’s a testimony to those who are not hurt by the economic times that they are increasing their giving and stepping up. That says a lot,” Gaddy said. “That says to me that those people who are able to give have embraced the sense of stewardship.” This increased sense of stewardship mirrors the national trend over the past couple of years for non-profits, which shows that the number of donors is declining somewhat but the level of giving is growing. “Despite the economy, people support causes to which they feel the most attachment and engagement,” said Jim Kelley, director of development for the Diocese of Charlotte and immediate past president of the International Catholic Stewardship Council. Sixty-two parishes or missions, 67 percent of the diocese, have exceeded their fund raising goals in pledges. All outstanding pledges for the 2011 DSA campaign are due by year’s end. The 2011 DSA will be closed the first week in January, and parishes that have not reached their goal in payments will be billed for the balance, Gaddy said. Likewise, parishes that exceed their goal will get back a rebate for the extra amount collected. The DSA specifically helps provide funding for Catholic Social Services, the Diocese of Charlotte Housing Ministry, Educational Ministries, Multi-Cultural Ministries and Vocations, among others. “The DSA is ultimately about making an impact in the lives of our parishioners year in, year out, through our 30-plus ministries,” Kelley said. “Just one of those ministries, our seminarian program, has prepared 42 men for the priesthood over the past 13 years.”

catholicnewsherald.com | December 16, 2011 OUR PARISHES

Diocesan calendar of events BELMONT belmont abbey college, 100 belmont-mt. holly road — “First Fridays at the Abbey,” 5 p.m. First Fridays, followed by dinner. Information and RSVP at alumni. belmontabbeycollege.edu/firstfriday.

Bishop Peter J. Jugis Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following events over the next two weeks:

CHARLOTTE 2012 march for life: jan. 13 — Mass for the Unborn, 9 a.m., St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Road East. Uptown March, 11 a.m., gather at Pastoral Center, 1123 S. Church St. Visit www. marchforlifecharlotte.org for details.

Dec. 16 – 10:30 a.m. Catholic Voice NC Meeting Pastoral Center

ST. ann church, 3635 park road

Dec. 17 – 10 a.m. Liturgy of Ordination to the Diaconate St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

— Solemn High Mass, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 17 ST. BASIL EASTERN CATHOLIC MISSION, 7702 PinevilleMatthews Road

Dec. 19 – 4:30 p.m. Advent Reception for Pastoral Center Employees Bishop’s Residence

— Matins (morning prayer) for the Feast of the Nativity followed by Typica Service with Holy Communion, 10 a.m. Dec. 25. Visit www.stbasil.weebly.com. ST. MATTHEW CHURCH, 8015 BALLANTYNE COMMONS PKWY. — Polish Mass, 3 p.m. Dec. 18. Reconciliation at 2 p.m. Contact Elizabeth Spytkowski at 704-948-1678. — Lectio Divina, 10-11 a.m. first and third Thursdays. Contact Pat Donlevy at 704-541-8960. ST. patrick cathedral, 1621 dilworth road east — Christmas Dinner for the Homeless, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 25. Volunteers needed! Contact christmasdinner@ stpatricks.org. — “Lessons and Carols” to commemorate the Feast of the Epiphany, 4 p.m. Jan. 8. Bring a dessert to share. Visit www.stpatricks.org. ST. thomas aquinas church, 1400 Suther Road — “Circle of Friends” Grief Support Group, office conference room, 7 p.m. Thursdays. Contact Robyn Magyar at 704-707-5070.

GREENSBORO OUR LADY OF GRACE CHURCH, 2205 W. MARKET ST. — Walking with Purpose: Rebuild my Church, with Father Jason Brooks, 8-10 a.m. Jan. 21. Contact Patty Disney at 336-382-2558. Visit www.walkingwithpurpose.com.

Correction The name of Father Jay Scott Newman, pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Greenville, S.C., was incorrectly spelled in the Dec. 2 edition. We regret the error.

December 16, 2011 Volume 21 • Number 4

1123 S. Church St. Charlotte, N.C. 28203-4003 catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

704-370-3333 PUBLISHER: The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis, Bishop of Charlotte

st. pius x CHURCH, 2210 n. elm st. — “Learn to Pray the Liturgy of the Hours,” Kloster Center, 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Contact Elliott Suttle at spiusx. lothclass@gmail.com.

EDITOR: Patricia L. Guilfoyle 704-370-3334, plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT/CIRCULATION: Denise Onativia 704-370-3333, catholicnews@charlottediocese.org ADVERTISING MANAGER: Kevin Eagan 704-370-3332, keeagan@charlottediocese.org STAFF WRITER: SueAnn Howell 704-370-3354, sahowell@charlottediocese.org HISPANIC COMMUNICATIONS: Carlos Castañeda 704-370-3375, cmcastaneda@charlottediocese.org GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Tim Faragher 704-370-3331, tpfaragher@charlottediocese.org Online reporter: Kimberly Bender 704-808-7341, kdbender@charlottediocese.org

Christmas Mass schedules holy family church, 4820 Kinnamon Road, Clemmons DEC. 24: 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m., midnight Mass DEC. 25: 11 a.m. immaculate heart of mary church, 4145 Johnson Street, High Point DEC. 24: 4 p.m. (Children’s Liturgy), 7:20 p.m. (Español), 10:30 p.m. DEC. 25: 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. OUR LADY OF grace church, 2205 W. Market St., Greensboro DEC. 24: 3:30 p.m. (Children’s Christmas pageant), 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m., (English in Church, Spanish in gym), midnight Mass DEC. 25: 7 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m. (Español) OUR LADY OF THE MOUNTAINS MISSION, 315 N. 5th St., Highlands DEC. 25: 11 a.m. sacred heart church, 375 Lumen Christi Lane, Salisbury DEC. 24: 5 p.m. (Children’s Mass), 7 p.m., 9 p.m., 11:15 p.m. (Caroling), midnight Mass DEC. 25: 10:30 a.m. st. benEdict the moor church, 1625 E. 12th St., Winston-Salem DEC. 24: 5 p.m. (Christmas vigil), 7:30 p.m. (Christmas vigil) DEC. 25: 10 a.m., noon st. francis of assisi church, 862 Yadkinville Road, Mocksville DEC. 24: 5 p.m. (Children’s Liturgy), 8 p.m. (Español), midnight Mass

DEC. 25: 10:30 a.m. St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Road, Charlotte DEC. 24: 4 p.m., 4:30 p.m. (Parish Center cafeteria), 7 p.m. Resounding Joy Handbell and Youth Choir, 9 p.m. New Spirit Contemporary Ensemble, midnight Mass DEC. 25: 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m. (Español) st. jude mission, 3011 U.S. Hwy. 64 East, Sapphire DEC. 24: 5 p.m., 8 p.m. (Español) DEC. 25: 9 a.m. st. margaret mary church, 102 Andrew Place, Swannanoa DEC. 24: 7:30 p.m. (Posadas), 9 p.m. (Spanish), 11:15 p.m. (Christmas carols), midnight Mass DEC. 25: 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m. st. matthew church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte DEC. 24: 4 p.m. (Church and gym), 4:30 p.m. (Charlotte Catholic High School), 6 p.m. (Church and gym), 8 p.m., midnight Mass DEC. 25: 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m. (Church and Gym), 12:30 p.m. st. pius x church, 220 State St., Greensboro DEC. 24: 5 p.m., 8 p.m., midnight Mass DEC. 25: 10 a.m. st. thomas aquinas church, 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte DEC. 24: 4:30 p.m. (Children’s Mass and Choir), 6:30 p.m. (Vigil Mass), midnight Mass DEC. 25: 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. Note: This is a limited list. Check with your local parish for more information.

HENDERSONVILLE

MOCKSVILLE

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH, 208 Seventh Avenue West

st. francis of assisi church, 862 Yadkinville Road

— St. Francis of the Hills Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan order invites you to a “Come and See.” They meet 1-3:30 p.m. fourth Sundays. Contact Randy Hair, S.F.O., at 828-698-6466 or Tim Gibson, S.F.O., at 828-606-1728.

The Catholic News Herald is published by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte 28 times a year. NEWS: The Catholic News Herald welcomes your news and photos. Please e-mail information, attaching photos in JPG format with a recommended resolution of 150 dpi or higher, to catholicnews@charlottediocese.org. All submitted items become the property of the Catholic News Herald and are subject to reuse, in whole or in part, in print, electronic formats and archives. ADVERTISING: Reach 165,000 Catholics across western North Carolina! For advertising rates and information,

— Las Posadas, Fellowship Hall, 6-8 p.m. Dec. 16-23

MOUNT AIRY HOLY ANGELS CHURCH, 1208 N. Main St. — Mass in the Extraordinary Form, 10 a.m. Dec. 25

contact Advertising Manager Kevin Eagan at 704-370-3332 or keeagan@charlottediocese.org. The Catholic News Herald reserves the right to reject or cancel advertising for any reason, and does not recommend or guarantee any product, service or benefit claimed by our advertisers. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $15 per year for all registered parishioners of the Diocese of Charlotte and $23 per year for all others. POSTMASTER: Periodicals class postage (USPC 007-393) paid at Charlotte, N.C. Send address corrections to the Catholic News Herald, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, N.C. 28203.

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December 16, 2011 | catholicnewsherald.com

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Catholic faith set foundation for Charlotte homebuilder Bellamy Homes goes ‘Extreme’ to help Lincolnton family SueAnn Howell Staff writer

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CHARLOTTE — Frank Hereda has moved around a bit during his 35 years, but he keeps the values he learned growing up in a Catholic family and as a Catholic student close to his heart wherever he goes. Hereda, who lived in Ohio, Indiana and Washington, D.C., before moving to Charlotte five years ago, is co-founder of Bellamy Homes, the builders of the latest “Extreme Makeover” home in Lincolnton that should be completed by Dec. 17. The home will house foster parents Devonda and James Friday of Lincolnton and their children, five of whom they recently adopted. Hereda, who attends Mass at St. Peter’s Church in Charlotte, credits his family and his faith learned in childhood with his desire to help others in need. “I was born and raised Catholic. I went to St. Paul’s Catholic School in Indiana. It’s played a large role in my life in the fact that it instilled values from the start and that has shaped my life in an important way.” Hereda and his Bellamy Homes partner, Wade Miller, were friends at Purdue University, and have teamed up to build a company that reflects the Catholic values Hereda learned in his youth. Their company is taking a leap of faith and trust in reaching out to help the Lincolnton family, whose story will appear next Christmas on a special two-hour episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” on ABC. “We wanted a solid foundation (for the company)” Hereda said. “The first thing that came to mind was trust. It’s the most important thing, so our company’s motto is ‘Built on Trust’.” Building a 4,000-square-foot home in basically four days is going to require a

For more photos and updates about the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” project in Lincolnton, go to www.catholicnewsherald. com. For more about the builder, go to www. bellamyhomes.com. great deal of trust and faith, Hereda admits. “My faith is important to me. I have always focused on doing the right things… I think that if you just focus on doing the right things – in this case we are focusing on helping this family – we’ll be fine. It will work out how it’s supposed to work out.” Bellamy Homes and its partners, suppliers and contractors are all donating their time and resources to build the home on Moore Street in Lincolnton, which will be valued at more than $200,000. An army of more than 3,000 volunteers, including students and faculty from Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, are also helping to build this dream home. Hereda’s parents from Cleveland, Ohio, have come to help during the build as well. “We’re focused on building this home for the family, raising as much money as we can for them and making sure the home is built well,” Hereda said. “Community is instrumental and we are very fortunate at how many people have stepped up and decided to help out.” The Fridays will return from an allexpenses-paid vacation to Jamaica Dec. 17. Hereda and Miller, along with host Ty Pennington and the design team of “Extreme Makeover,” and the army of volunteers will be waiting for them to reveal their new home – just in time to celebrate Christmas together as a family.

photo provided by ken noblezada

Bellamy Homes co-founders Frank Hereda (second from left) and Wade Miller (fourth from left) pose with the “Extreme Makeover” design team at the build site in Lincolnton. The Friday family will see their completely new home for the first time Dec. 17, and the two-hour episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” will air on ABC next December.

Belmont Abbey students excited about ‘Makeover’ Charlie Jackson Intern

BELMONT — Freshman Ashley Martin arrived two hours early to the pep rally at Belmont Abbey College to welcome the crew of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” hoping to catch a glimpse of the show’s famous and energetic host, Ty Pennington. Pennington wasn’t able to attend, though – much to the disappointment of Martin and the other Abbey students in the crowd of 200-300 people packed inside the Wheeler Center Dec. 1. Nevertheless, the enthusiasm of the crowd, from both students and the wider Gaston community, was apparent. Students said they were excited that their college is hosting the Bellamy Homes crew and they are gladly volunteering to both help build and raise funds to construct a home for one needy family in the area.

“I think it’s very cool,” Martin said. “I plan to volunteer for the build.” Victoria Jensen, a sophomore volleyball player at the Abbey, sold T-shirts and wrist bands at the event. “All the sports teams are doing something different to help. All proceeds go towards building the house,” Jensen said. While some students said they are thrilled for the opportunity to work behind the scenes for the makeover, others are simply happy that the small Benedictine college is becoming more widely known outside of Gaston County. Sophomore Anthony Wyatt, contributor to the student-run newspaper “The Crusader,” praised the “breadth of support” the college was receiving from the local community. “I am excited because this is bringing people to see Belmont Abbey College. All of Belmont Abbey is out here, Gaston County is here,” Wyatt said.

SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald

Students at Belmont Abbey College wait for the pep rally to get underway at the Wheeler Center.

catholicnewsherald.com | December 16, 2011 OUR PARISHES

“Each of us has a mission, each of us is called to change the world, to work for a culture of life, a culture forged by love and respect for the dignity of each human person.” — Pope Benedict XVI

Address in Hyde Park, London on Sept. 18, 2010

Parishioners join in National Night of Prayer for Life SueAnn Howell Staff writer

HUNTERSVILLE — The National Night of Prayer for Life, celebrated throughout the Diocese of Charlotte Dec. 8-9, was even more meaningful for St. Mark Church parishioners this year. For the first time in the parish’s history, the Adoration chapel offered perpetual Adoration to those interested in participating in the annual prayer vigil. For the past five years, St. Mark has offered

24 hours of Adoration from Friday morning until Saturday morning, but the parish recently was able to make the necessary renovations to the daily chapel and recruit enough volunteers to accommodate Perpetual Adoration starting May 1. Mary Fink, a St. Mark parishioner who has been directly involved with the Adoration chapel at St. Mark, borrowed a statement from St. Jeanne Jugan to express her sentiments about Adoration at the parish: “I will say that the true gift of having Perpetual Adoration at our parish is best stated in the words I recently read: ‘Jesus is waiting for you in the chapel. Go and find Him when your strength and patience are giving out, when you feel lonely and helpless. Say to Him: “You know well what is happening, my dear Jesus. I have only You. Come to my aid...” And then go your way. And don’t worry about knowing how you are going to manage. It is enough to have told our good Lord. He has an excellent memory!”’ The annual National Night of Prayer for Life unites the feast of the Immaculate Conception on Dec. 8 with the feast of St. Juan Diego on Dec. 9. It was on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (then celebrated on Dec. 9) that Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas and the unborn, first appeared to St. Juan Diego. The National Night of Prayer for Life bridges these two feasts to honor Our Blessed Mother and to pray for the sanctity of all human life. The National Night of Prayer for Life usually consists of a pro-life prayer service with exposition and Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament, 20 decades of the rosary, the prayer to St. Michael, silent prayer and hymns. Although there was no formal prayer service after the evening Mass at St. Mark, parishioners were encouraged to stop by the chapel to pray for respect for life.

State marriage amendment campaign gears up David Hains Director of Communication

CHARLOTTE — Catholic Voice North Carolina, the non-partisan public policy voice of the state’s two Catholic bishops, will be actively involved in the effort to amend the state constitution to protect traditional marriage. The referendum to amend the constitution will take place on May 8, 2012, the date of the state’s primary election. If passed, the amendment will enshrine in the state constitution the current North Carolina law that defines marriage as being between one man and one woman. Placing the law in the constitution would protect it from potential legislative or judicial action to change the definition of marriage as has happened in other states. Thirty states have passed marriage amendments. North Carolina is the only state in the Southeast which does not protect marriage in its state constitution. The CVNC effort will deliver messages from the bishops directly to Catholics via social media, emails, bulletin inserts and other parish and web-based communications. Bishop Peter J. Jugis said Catholics need to place a high priority on the sanctity of traditional marriage. “Marriage is both a natural institution and a sacred union because it is rooted in the divine plan of creation,” Bishop Jugis said. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Raleigh described the effort to adopt the amendment as “important to the wellbeing of society. A great deal of effort has been generated to make the amendment part of the North Carolina constitution, but there is more to do,” Bishop Burbidge said. “I remain committed to work with all who want to preserve and protect the true essence of marriage as a union of one man and one woman.” CVNC’s effort in support of marriage is one of two statewide organizations working to pass the amendment. The other, Vote For Marriage NC, is made up of civic and non-Catholic religious leaders from around the state. CVNC and the Vote for Marriage NC committee are in regular communication as both organizations spread a message in support of traditional marriage. The bishops chose to run a separate campaign to emphasize Catholic teaching to the faithful at a moment when marriage is under intense public scrutiny. Opposing the marriage amendment is the Durham-based group Protect NC Families, which describes itself as a coalition of groups, individuals and families. The CVNC campaign will kick off after the first of the year. Go online to www. CatholicVoiceNC to learn more.

December 16, 2011 | catholicnewsherald.com

Three diocesan priests mark anniversaries SueAnn Howell Staff writer

CHARLOTTE — The universality of the Catholic Church is reflected beautifully in the priesthood of three diocesan priests celebrating their ordination anniversaries this month. Fathers Christopher Roux, Adrian Porras and Jose Antonio Juya are from very different parts of the world but share the same vocation: to serve Holy Mother Church as Catholic priests. Collectively they have 50 years of service to the Church between them. Two were ordained together. One has lived around the world during his 30 years of priesthood. All three will mark their anniversaries this month with Masses and celebrations with their parish families. The two priests who received the sacred gift of Holy Orders on the same day are Fathers Christopher Roux and Adrian Porras. They are celebrating their 10-year anniversaries, having been ordained on Dec. 15, 2001, by then Bishop William G. Curlin at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte. As divine providence would have it, Father Roux is now rector of the cathedral – an honor he never imagined he would receive. He assumed the duties of rector in 2008 and also serves as master of ceremonies for Bishop Peter Jugis for all diocesan liturgies celebrated at the cathedral, as well as the Eucharistic Congress. Father Roux admits that he is very shy, which may come as a surprise to those who have seen him in action directing altar servers, clergy and the faithful at diocesan events. “I wanted to be a hermit… It’s not anything I would have expected,” he says. “I would never have expected being with the bishop almost exclusively and never would I have thought I would have this parish. I was expecting a small Roux mountain parish. It was a surprise and a very humbling experience. The whole thing has been grace.” He says he is thankful for his vocation. “I love the priesthood and I have had two great, exciting things that are continuing. One is the Eucharistic Congress – it has been a joy to see that event grow, and the joy I have seen on people’s faces as they participate. And the other is the implementation of the revised translation (of the English Missal). Seeing the prayers almost again for the first time has been beautiful.” Father Roux has also shared his love of the Blessed Mother during his lifetime by leading annual pilgrimages to Fatima with Father John Putnam, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury. “Back when I was a teenager I was introduced to Our Lady of Fatima. I was immediately drawn to her and to the message of peace and the rosary. As time went on, I think that understanding the message of Fatima is much more about our response to the needs of those who are in a sinful situation and don’t even know it, and

our obligation to pray for them and help them by our prayers, sacrifices and penances is tremendous.” He encourages men who may be discerning a call to the priesthood not to be afraid to ask themselves or the Lord if this is where He’s calling them. “So many men in this day and age are afraid that if they become a priest they will lose so much. The reality is that, in any vocation, Our Lord is calling us to sacrifice something else. Following Christ is to sacrifice something. We’re all called to offer something to love Christ with the fullness of who we are.” Father Porras, pastor of St. Barnabas Church in Arden, gave his life to Our Lord as a priest alongside Father Roux 10 years ago. He also shares a love for the priesthood. “I have learned just how much the priesthood is needed. People yearn for the sacraments. I have come across so many people in different parishes who bring so many gifts to the Church – they have been families, married Porras couples and single people who are devout and dedicated in serving God and neighbor.” He greatly enjoys celebrating Mass and serving the people, and he also encourages men to consider the priesthood. “You must love the liturgy, for you will be saying so many Masses, and you must be available to the people. That, I believe, is the distinct spirituality of the diocesan priesthood: offering Mass and being present to your parishioners.” A priest for more than 30 years now, Father Juya is a Colombia native who was ordained at San Rafael Rondon Church in the Diocese of Garagoa on Dec. 12, 1981, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. His brother Father Philemon Juya, who passed away in June, was also ordained that day. Father Juya has been in the U.S. for 16 years, the past 12 years in the Charlotte diocese. He is the Hispanic ministry coordinator for the Gastonia vicariate. While he is stationed at St. Michael Church in Gastonia, he travels to parishes around the vicariate to celebrate Mass and the sacraments for the area’s growing Hispanic population. “I am happy. I studied and lived in Colombia, Canada and Rome, and now I am happy here,” he says. “I love the ministry. I love the people and I like to spend my days in their service.” He had many good teachers and spiritual directors who influenced his vocation. He has also positively impacted the lives of several men discerning a call to the priesthood. “During my 30 years I have invited several men to become priests. Seven are now ordained. Some are in the U.S., Yemen and in Colombia. I have two cousins who are priests and one nephew is in seminary now. “We need strong missionaries. We need people around the world to help the poor, and families,” he says.

OUR PARISHESI

Maryknoll sister still serving others after 50 years SueAnn Howell Staff writer

HENDERSONVILLE — Mary Lou Herlihy went counter-cultural in the 1960s, but not in the way one might think. During an era when many young Americans were burning their bras or their draft cards, choosing self-centered lifestyles and rejecting God, Herlihy made a lifelong commitment to religious life and missionary work. She was just 19 years old. “I just knew I didn’t want to get married and stay in one place,” she Herlihy recalls. She joined the Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic, founded by Mother Mary Joseph Rogers in the early 20th century to work alongside the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, also known as the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, in Latin America and Asia. The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers were co-founded by Father Thomas Frederick Price of North Carolina. Sister Mary Lou’s first mission assignment after earning her bachelor’s degree at a Maryknoll-run college was to South Korea, where she taught English to both adults and children from 1969 to 1981. When her ailing parents needed her, Sister Mary Lou returned to her hometown of Rochester, N.Y., to care for them. She also worked in a day care center, helped at a shelter for homeless women and children, and earned a master’s degree in social work during this time. In 2002, after her parents passed away, Sister Mary Lou relocated to Hendersonville, joining two other Maryknoll Sisters in a community at Immaculate Conception Church, where she serves as a member of the choir. Moving south of the Mason-Dixon Line has agreed with Sister Mary Lou, she says.

“I love it. They always talk about Southern hospitality, and it’s so true. People here are very nice.” Sister Mary Lou has managed to stay busy by volunteering at Bruce Drysdale Elementary School in Hendersonville through the Senior Corps Foster Grandparent program. She was drawn to the school because students there come from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. “They are just so open to learning,” she says. “Many have very hard lives. But they can learn and are happy to be here.” Sister Mary Lou volunteers at the school four days each week, helping in kindergarten classrooms, tutoring individual students, mentoring students and working with children who are learning English as their second language. She sometimes dances with the young children, to engage with them and keep them interested in learning. Besides her work at the school, Sister Mary Lou also volunteers one night each week at the Elizabeth House, where she helps nurses and sits with terminally ill patients. “You don’t have any fear of death once you sit with people,” she notes. Sister Mary Lou believes that both her work at the school and with patients at the Elizabeth House are examples of ways all people can follow the teaching and example of Christ. “We are here to model what He did,” she says. “He worked with the poor. The spirit of the Lord is everywhere.” Sister Mary Lou celebrated 50 years as a Maryknoll sister in September by renewing her vows at Immaculate Conception Church on Sept. 3. She also participated in the jubilee celebrations at Maryknoll in New York and in the Diocese of Charlotte. For more information about the Maryknoll Sisters, go to www. maryknollsisters.org/catholic-mission. — The Times-News of Hendersonville contributed to this story.

catholicnewsherald.com | December 16, 2011 OUR PARISHES

Finding faith amid upheaval

Greensboro parish welcomes Burmese refugees MARIAN COWHIG OWEN Correspondent

GREENSBORO — For about 100 Burmese refugees living in the Triad, Christmas Day will be more than a celebration of Jesus’ birth. It will be a chance to worship freely, in their own language. A Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Greensboro will be said in Burmese and will include liturgical elements that are traditional in the Southeast Asian country. Afterward, St. Paul parishioners will celebrate with the refugees over a Christmas dinner and gifts. For some of the refugees, most of whom spent years in refugee camps before coming to the U.S. in the past few years, it will be the first time in years they have been able to receive the Eucharist or hear a Mass in their own language. “It makes it so meaningful to them when the celebration is in their language,” said Redemptorist Father Vang Cong Tran, a priest in residence at St. James the Greater Church in Concord, who will celebrate the Mass. He works with Asian refugee communities across the diocese, including a more established Burmese community in Charlotte. “The Mass is very important … when the Mass is in their culture, in their language, in their history – it makes it real to them.” The journey to this precious Christmas gift began in 2010, when parishioners from St. Paul Church visited a refugee camp in Malaysia and spent time with refugees. “Two of my former students (at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Ohio) are now ordained and serve as priests in (Burma),” said Father John Allen, St. Paul’s pastor. “I wished to learn about their experiences as priests but knew that a personal visit in their country would be impossible.” Burma, now called Myanmar, has been under the rule of a military junta since the 1960s and only recently has begun showing signs of liberalization. The United

Nations has condemned the government for human rights violations, and ethnic and religious minorities including Catholics have been systematically persecuted. The government’s harsh rule has caused thousands, most of them indigenous people, to flee across the border to Thailand or Malaysia. Among them is Mark Khup, who now works with Catholic Social Services in its Charlotte refugee resettlement office. He came to the U.S. in 2008 after spending three years in a refugee camp in Malaysia. Burmese are forced to labor for the military, he says, doing tasks such as putting up tents. Church communities are often not allowed to use their buildings for services; a church in his community was decommissioned and the land slated for a Buddhist temple. Indigenous communities are often forced from their homes and resettled, said Liam Stapleton, a St. Paul parishioner who was part of Photo by Liam Stapleton the Malaysia visit. “When A young Burmese refugee prays at a Mass in Winston-Salem recently. “They they get displaced out of long for the Eucharist,” said Father Vang Cong Tran, who ministers to Asian their communities … they’ve refugee communities across the Diocese of Charlotte. lost their identity,” Stapleton goods, clothing, and often lessons in English. said. “The mainstream people in Burma The needs are great, and parishioners burned their houses down and they had to are still figuring out how best to help. It’s a run over the hills into Thailand. (But) a lot puzzle, but “the jigsaw is coming together,” of times life is not better over there.” Stapleton said. St. Paul parishioners hope to help the After years of upheaval, the safe haven of Burmese on two levels: those in refugee a Mass in the refugees’ own language is a camps and those who have emigrated to balm to the spirit. the U.S. Health care and education are two “They long for the Eucharist,” said Father key needs in the camps, and St. Paul is Tran. “They know that the Church loves working to establish a scholarship fund for them and encourages them.” children there. And here in North Carolina, Settling into a new life in the U.S. is the parish is offering a faith home and challenging, Father Tran said, but having a working with Father Tran to help refugee nurturing faith community helps. “People communities across the state. New arrivals appreciate the welcoming hearts.” need housing, furniture and household

Sylvester: FROM PAGE 2

or risk being killed. During this difficult time, Sylvester strengthened the faithful in Rome. In 312 a new era set in. Constantine, having triumphed in battle under the “standard of the Cross,” declared himself the protector of the Christians and established close ties with the Church. When Pope Miltiades died, Sylvester became pope on Jan. 31, 314 – making him the first of the Roman pontiffs to rule the flock of Christ in security and peace. He led the Church for 21 years until his death in 335, making him one of the longestserving popes in history. He is remembered in particular for his leadership through two heretical controversies in the Church – Donatism and Arianism – as well as the baptism of Constantine and the triumph of the Church over its former persecutors. Donatists, led by the bishop Donatus, were extremist separatists in northern Africa who took a hardline view against Christians who had lapsed from the faith in order to save their lives during the brutal empire-wide persecution under Diocletian. In some cases, they beat Christians who had capitulated during Roman soldiers’ searches of their houses; they took money in return for ordaining priests and deacons; and they “rebaptized” fallen Christians, sometimes by force. A council convened by Constantine in 313 and the Council of Arles convened by Pope Sylvester in 314 both condemned the Donatists’ actions. Arianism, led by the Alexandrian Christian priest Arius, denied Jesus’ divinity and equality with God. It taught that Jesus was not equal with God the Father and not eternal. In 325, Pope Sylvester convened the First Council of Nicaea, the first general Council of the Church, which reiterated Jesus’ divinity and reaffirmed that Jesus was consubstantial with the Father – truly God and truly man. A memorable but untrue legend from his pontificate involved Constantine, who was attacked by leprosy while he was still a pagan. One night St. Peter and St. Paul appeared to Constantine and commanded him to call for Pope Sylvester, who would cure him by giving him the sacrament of baptism. According to the legend, the pope baptized him, and Constantine was converted. (Actually, Constantine was baptized on his deathbed by someone else years later.) During his pontificate were built the great churches founded in Rome by Constantine, including St. Peter’s Basilica, the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, and the Basilica of St. John Lateran. Pope Sylvester died on Dec. 31, 335, and was buried in the church he built over the Priscilla Catacombs. Interestingly, he is one of the earliest saints who was not a martyr. — Sources: Catholic News Agency, The Catholic Encyclopedia

December 16, 2011 | catholicnewsherald.com

Holy Angels receives Order of Malta grant James Turner Special to the Catholic News Herald

BELMONT —Holy Angels of Belmont has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Order of Malta, through its Charlotte delegation of the order’s Federal Association. The grant, awarded Nov. 14, will fund five mechanical lifts, used to safely lift and transport incapacitated residents. Holy Angels is a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Mercy-South Central Community. Founded more than 55 years ago, Holy Angels operates residential facilities for children and adults with intellectual developmental disabilities, many of whom are medically fragile. Through innovative programs and services, Holy Angels provides

“ unconditional love and unlimited possibilities” for their 80 special needs residents, in an environment of spiritual, physical, educational, social and emotional support. The Sovereign Military and Hospitaller Order of Malta, otherwise known as the Order of Malta, is an international lay religious order of the Catholic Church. Founded in 1099, thus being the oldest extant order of chivalry in the world, it operates in more than 50 countries to serve the sick and the poor through its extensive spiritual and charitable activities. Members are Catholic laymen (knights) and laywomen (dames), more than 30 of which are active in the Charlotte region of the order’s Federal Association.

CRS ORB Mini-Grants available to fund local efforts to aid poor, hungry Joseph Purello Director of CSS’ Office of Justice and Peace

CHARLOTTE — Grants totaling $8,000 were recently awarded to local efforts to fight hunger and poverty in the Diocese of Charlotte thanks to the annual Operation Rice Bowl campaign, coordinated in the diocese by Catholic Social Services’ Office of Justice and Peace. And an additional winter round of grants is now being made available. Operation Rice Bowl, a national program of Catholic Relief Services, is conducted every Lent, and the little paper change banks are a ubiquitous sign of the almsgiving season for thousands of Catholic children. Most of the money collected through the annual Operation Rice Bowl project goes overseas, but some of the funds remain in the diocese to support local efforts of Catholic entities to help people in our communities facing poverty and hunger. Last November, six $1,000 CRS ORB MiniGrants were awarded to the parishes of Immaculate Heart of Mary in Hayesville, Our Lady of Grace in Greensboro, St. Benedict the Moor in Winston-Salem, St. Francis of Assisi in Franklin, St. Mary Mother of God in Sylva, and St. William in Murphy to support food pantries and St. Vincent de Paul ministries there. Also, Room at the Inn in Charlotte received a $1,000 grant to provide food assistance and nutrition information to expectant mothers, and the Missionaries of the Poor in Monroe received a $1,000 grant to help build a “Greenhouse for the Poor” so that fresh vegetables can be made available year ’round to families in need. Father Alejandro Ayala, pastor of St. Mary Mother of God Church in Sylva, shared in a note of thanks that the grant would help the parish to have the “opportunity to better help with loving care” and that “many families in will benefit from this grant and

photo provided by Joseph Purello and Pat Tuscany

Food pantry volunteers at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Franklin (George Gover, Pat Tuscany, Jackie Gover, Peggy Pureber, Michael Nolle, Jessica Matthews, JoAnn Fern, Mary Pleskach, Diane Argenti, Audrey Matthews, Jim Hobin and Ray Fern) are pictured sorting groceries funded in part by an Operation Rice Bowl Mini-Grant and given out during Thanksgiving. have a more comfortable winter season.” A special winter round of CRS ORB MiniGrant grants is now being offered in the diocese. Applications for up to $1,000 can be submitted to fund good works by diocesan entities that assist the poor and hungry in our communities. Only one grant can be submitted per Catholic entity and grant applications must be reviewed and signed by the pastor of the parish, principal of the school, or director of the diocesan office applying for the grant. A diocesan-based CRS advisory committee assists in the grant selection process. For more information and to download an application, go to www.cssnc.org/ cchdcrs. The postmark deadline for mailing applications is Feb. 15.

Get ready for Operation Rice Bowl 2012

The upcoming 2012 Operation Rice Bowl Program begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22. The theme is “For I was Hungry” – drawn from the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 25. Parishes and schools that wish to participate should call 1-800-222-0025 or go to www.orb. crs.org.

OUR PARISHESI Regina Moody, Holy Angels President/CEO, is presented a $25,000 grant by (left) Jerry Schmitt, KM, Charlotte Regional Hospitaller of the Order, and Hans Lengers, KM, Board Chair of Holy Angels. Also pictured is Holy Angels resident Kayla Miller, observing the event. Kayla is in the type of mechanical lift being donated through this grant to continue to move residents safely at Holy Angels.

Photo provided by James Turner

catholicnewsherald.com | December 16, 2011 10

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(izquierda) El ministerio hispano de la parroquia St. Thomas Aquinas celebró la primera Misa en honor a la Virgen de Guadalupe, con una asistencia de 250 personas. (der.) Vestidos como pequeños “Juan Dieguitos”, los niños hispanos acompañaron a La Morenita en su dia.

FOTOs PROPORCIONADAs POR suzzy borrego

(izq.) El ministerio hispano de la parroquia St. Thomas Aquinas celebró la primera Misa en honor a la Virgen de Guadalupe, con una asistencia de 250 personas. (der.) Vestidos como pequeños “Juan Dieguitos”, los niños hispanos acompañaron a La Morenita en su dia.

FOTOs PROPORCIONADAs POR suzzy borrego

Un Pueblo Mariano carlos castañeda Catholic news herald-español

CHARLOTTE — Este mes celebramos la Inmaculada Concepción, fecha en que recordamos y celebramos la generosidad, humildad y valentía de María, al decirle “Sí” al Señor, Sí a la vida, Sí al amor incondicional. Estas semanas han traído también momentos marianos que coronan el año, imitando esa misma generosidad, al decir “Sí Señor, aquí estoy, toma mi vida.”

Consagrados a María El dia de la fiesta de la Inmaculada Concepción, un nuevo grupo de 50 personas, entre miembros de la comunidad hispana y anglo, consagraron sus vidas al Corazón de María en un acontecimiento mariano que continúa tomando mucha fuerza en la diócesis. La consagración a la Virgen María se realizó el 8 de diciembre en las Parroquias de St. Matthew y St. Thomas Aquinas, en Charlotte, siguiendo los 33 dias de preparación de San Francisco de Montfort. Magaly Mendiola fue una de las consagradas, y junto a su esposo Jorge, sienten la alegría de entregarse por completo al amor de Dios. “Nos acogemos a la protección de Nuestra Madre, como familia. Cada semana reunimos a un grupo de amigos en nuestra casa, para orar en familia y crecer en este amor. Consagrarnos a la Virgen significa para nosotros un paso natural en ese camino en el que pedimos su protección en los momentos más difíciles de nuestras vidas,” comentó Magaly, quien desde hace casi un año enfrenta problemas de salud

que sobrelleva, con la fe y la esperanza del amor de Dios. La próxima ceremonia de consagración será en febrero del próximo año.

Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Esta semana, la comunidad hispana de la diócesis le rindió el homenaje a Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, “La Morenita,” a través de múltiples celebraciones y reuniones que demostraron el sentimiento mariano y el gran cariño por la Reina de México y Emperatriz de América. Como se sabe, cuenta la tradición que casi a mediados del siglo XVI la Virgen se apareció a un pequeño indio llamado Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, y le pidió que fuera ante el primer obispo de México, Juan de Zumárraga, y ante él le explicara que ella quería que construyesen un templo en su honor en aquel cerro. Ante tamaña petición, el pequeño Juan Diego se intimidaba, por el hecho de su condición humilde y sencilla. La Virgen, insistente, pidió a Juan Diego que llevara en unas rosas envueltas en su tilma al obispo, como señal de que la petición venía realmente de ella. El amor de Juan Diego por la Virgen fue el que le dio la fuerza para presentarse ante el obispo. Grande fue la sorpresa del obispo y del propio Juan Diego cuando, al abrir la tilma en que llevaba las rosas, ésta tenía impresa la imagen de la Virgen María, en una impresión con rasgos morenos e indígenas. Esto convenció al obispo, quien ordenó construir dicho templo en el Tepeyac. Hoy, 480 años después de este acontecimiento, el pueblo de México celebra la fiesta de la Virgen de Guadalupe, desde la hoy Basílica de Nuestra

Señora de Guadalupe, y en todo el mundo. En nuestra diócesis, cientos de personas abarrotaron el Bojangles Colisseum de Charlotte el domingo 11 por la noche, para celebrar la víspera con una Misa Solemne y recibir el dia con las tradicionales “Mañanitas,” cantadas a coro por todos los asistentes. Durante todo el dia 12, dia central de la celebración y a lo largo de toda la diócesis, diversos servicios litúrgicos y misas recordaron a la Virgen, al conmemorarse el 480 aniversario de las apariciones de la Virgen en el Cerro del Tepeyac. Parroquias como Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe y Santo Tomás de Aquino, en Charlotte, así como San Marcos, en Huntersville, honraron también a la Guadalupana, con Misas Solemnes y reuniones en las que la comunidad se reunió para compartir la comida en familia. En el naciente ministerio hispano de la Parroquia St. Thomas Aquinas, por ejemplo, la celebración por la Virgen de Guadalupe fue todo un éxito. “Tuvimos alrededor de 250 personas que participaron de la Misa primero y luego de la cena que la Parroquia ofreció para conmemorar a la Virgen de Guadalupe. Sorprendió mucho ver a una buena parte de la comunidad anglo participando con nosotros, en esta mezcla multicultural que enriquece a nuestra Iglesia,” comentó Suzzy Borrego, coordinadora del Ministerio Hispano de la Parroquia St. Thomas Aquinas. “Si Dios quiere, celebraremos la Fiesta del Divino Niño, el próximo mes de julio en St. Thomas Aquinas. Es muy emocionante ver que podemos aportar a la diversidad de la Iglesia Católica con la riqueza de nuestras tradiciones y espiritualidad,” acotó Borrego.

December 16, 2011 | catholicnewsherald.com

catholic news heraldI

Nuestra

Comunidad

¿Cómo reconocer la mejor alternativa en cuentas de cheques?

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Ceremonia de Consagración a la Virgen María (arriba) Una profunda devoción a la Virgen María se refleja en los miembros que entregaron su corazón a la protección de la Virgen María. (izquierda) Grupo de consagrados a la Virgen María de la Parroquia St. Thomas Aquinas, en Charlotte. (abajo, izquierda) El Padre Patrick Toole fue quien presidió la ceremonia de consagración en St. Matthews, en Charlotte. (abajo) Los nuevos consagrados a la Virgen María, luego de la ceremonia en la parroquia St. Matthews, en Charlotte.

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Envíenos sus noticias o anuncios y forme parte de esta sección Este espacio y sección es para promover y conectar a nuestra comunidad. Todos los comentarios y sugerencias son bienvenidas. Si desea escribirnos, dejar sus comentarios, sugerencias u opiniones, así como para enviar alguna noticia o promover algún evento de su parroquia o grupo, por favor contáctenos: Carlos Castañeda (cmcastaneda@charlottediocese.

org, 704-370-3375. Si desea participar escribiendo o formando parte del ministerio de comunicaciones, no dude en unirse! Contáctenos por email o visite: www. catholicnewsherald.com (Sección Español) e ingrese su información. Nosotros le contactaremos tan pronto como sea posible.

Hace algunas semanas, aparecieron algunas especulaciones acerca de que algunos de los bancos más grandes le cobrarían cargos extras en sus cuentas de cheques, por ejemplo un cargo por el uso de la tarjeta de débito. La reacción del público no se hizo esperar y las protestas y amenazas con retirar el dinero de las cuentas hicieron tambalear y finalmente revocar la decisión de los bancos. Esto nos hace pensar en que el escenario del manejo de las cuentas podría cambiar para todos. Los grandes bancos ya no perciben el mismo nivel de ingresos por sus préstamos y la nueva legislación limita lo que pueden cobrar por los sobregiros en las cuentas de cheques y pagos retrasados de las tarjetas de crédito. Se presume que sus cargos y penalizaciones van a aumentar. Llegó la hora de preguntarnos si la entidad financiera que utilizamos para manejar nuestro dinero es la mejor opción. Es necesario tener en cuenta todos los cargos y comisiones que tiene, compararla con otras opciones y, si es el caso, hacer el cambio. Para tomar una buena decisión, es conveniente conocer todas las alternativas. Para proteger nuestro patrimonio es vital escoger una entidad que ofrezca esa confianza, que se ajuste al bolsillo de los consumidores, especialmente los más pequeños, con precios razonables y predecibles y que permita a las personas manejar efectivamente su dinero. Para escoger bien se debe conocer, y para conocer es necesario hacer las preguntas correctas: ¿cuál es el balance mínimo?, ¿qué pasa si mi saldo queda por debajo de este mínimo?, ¿tengo que pagar por cerrar la cuenta?, ¿hay protección de sobregiro?, ¿cuánto cuesta?, ¿cuánto me cuesta hacer un retiro por un cajero propio o fuera de la red?, ¿tengo acceso a todo mi dinero siempre?, ¿puedo acceder a mi dinero en las oficinas y a través de cajeros automáticos, teléfono, teléfono celular e Internet?, ¿tienen estos servicios algún costo adicional? Hay una opción distinta de los bancos tradicionales que no todo el mundo conoce y que generalmente resulta muy atractiva: las cooperativas de crédito, en inglés, credit unions. Son instituciones financieras que ofrecen servicios similares a los de un banco, con la diferencia de que se trata de una organización sin fines de lucro en la que los socios son los dueños. Puesto que los socios son los dueños, el dinero que depositan permanece en la cooperativa y en la comunidad, en lugar de ser utilizado para el pago de dividendos a unos accionistas. Además, permite ofrecer préstamos y servicios financieros asequibles y generalmente, tasas más bajas, menores cargos y mejores intereses para sus ahorros. El conocimiento se traduce en ahorros. Infórmese y asegúrese de que tiene la mejor opción para usted. La Cooperativa Latina es una entidad sin fines de lucro que, además de proveer una amplia gama de servicios financieros, también ofrece educación en los tópicos financieros, cumpliendo con sus fines de orientación y servicio a la comunidad. La Cooperativa Latina se ha convertido en un modelo para muchas cooperativas de crédito y ha sido galardonada en varias ocasiones a nivel estatal, nacional e internacional. Para mayor información sobre los productos y servicios de la Cooperativa Latina, favor ponerse en contacto con ellos en cualquiera de sus agencias en Carolina del Norte: en Charlotte, a los teléfonos: 704-531-0201, 704-553-0386; en Monroe, al teléfono: 704-226-1651; en Greensboro, al teléfono 336-370-9512; en Winston-Salem, al teléfono 336-784-0261; o visitando el website: www.latinoccu.org.

iiiDecember 16, 2011 | catholicnewsherald.com

Go online To see a slideshow of images from the new Immaculate Conception Church in Forest City, go to the Diocese of Charlotteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s YouTube channel.

To donate The parish is in the process of raising funds to complete the mural that will be displayed behind the altar of the new church. To donate to the fund, send checks payable to Immaculate Conception Church, 1024 Main St., Forest City, NC 28043. For details, call the parish office at 828-245-4017.

This is one of 10 new stained-glass windows being installed at Immaculate Conception Church in Forest City by Statesville Stained Glass Inc. and designed in part by Father Herbert Burke, pastor. It depicts Mary being crowned Queen of Heaven, while God the Son is handing her a scepter and God the Father is handing her a rosary. The Holy Spirit shines above her. Notice the sword piercing her Immaculate Heart. Photos by Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald

FROM TH

HE COVER

December 16, 2011 | catholicnewsherald.comiii

Sanctuary of beauty and peace With latest artwork, the new Immaculate Conception Church in Forest City looks even more spectacular Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor

FOREST CITY — Parishioners at Immaculate Conception Church in Forest City have been enjoying the beauty surrounding them in their new church, dedicated a little more than a year ago, but even more so lately. The 11,120-square-foot church, built of gray granite on a hill just off Main Street in downtown Forest City, features a soaring Gothic-arched ceiling and 10 windows that until lately have been made of plain glass that look out to the rolling North Carolina mountains nearby. But now, six of the 10 windows contain intricate stained-glass art made by Statesville Stained Glass Inc. The colored glass panes, depicting scenes from the life of Jesus and His mother, cast a rainbow of lively colors through the church, beckoning people to come in and sit with Our Lord, pray, and take in the peaceful beauty of His Presence. One in particular is unique to Immaculate Conception Church: the pane depicting Mary Queen of Heaven. Similar to the image of the Miraculous Medal, the Blessed Virgin Mary is standing above the earth and moon, and she is

From left are scenes depicting Jesus welcoming the little children, instituting the Eucharist at the Last Supper, and being resurrected on Easter Sunday.

being crowned as Queen of Heaven. God the Son is handing her a scepter, and God the Father is handing her a rosary. The design was developed by Father Herbert Burke, pastor of Immaculate Conception Church. He has been closely shepherding the construction of the church and the installation of its decorative religious elements, with the primary aim of showcasing art and designs that help educate and inspire the faithful. Four more stained-glass windows remain to be installed, as the church raises the necessary $21,000 for each one, Father Burke said. The four will be: the baptism of Jesus by St. John, Pentecost, the Virgin of Guadalupe and St. Francis of Assisi. Also still to come is an extensive mural that will be displayed inside the 23-foot-high Gothic arch niche that rises up from behind the altar. The mural will depict God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, angels and the two thieves behind the crucifix and life-sized statues of Our Lady of Sorrows and St. John the Evangelist – presenting a dramatic, three-dimensional image of Calvary. It is another design crafted by Father Burke, and it has as its inspiration the Italian Renaissance frescoes found in Old World churches. Retired Father Gabriel Meehan, former pastor, has donated $20,000 toward the $90,000 total cost, but the church still needs to raise the remaining funds before the mural can be installed. Besides the stained-glass windows, statues of St. Anthony, the Sacred Heart of Jesus and a collection of

saints from throughout the Church’s history are on view in strategic positions throughout the church. To the left of the sanctuary will become a chapel dedicated to St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and to the right, there is already a chapel to St. Anthony. Statues of the saints and the two chapels were selected by Father Burke and a popular vote by parishioners. The Stations of the Cross are the only element not designed and created especially for Immaculate Conception Church. They came from a closed church in New York, Father Burke said. Parishioners will get to enjoy by candlelight the new artwork and stained-glass windows during midnight Mass on Christmas. And during the Mass, the choir will sing a special arrangement by choir director Diane McEnnerney of a Christmas poem that Father Burke composed, entitled “Shepherds and Kings”: Shepherds and kings, special gifts they bring Shepherds and kings, for them the angels sing Shepherds and kings, with devotion they cling Shepherds and kings, kneel before the baby King of kings. The kings travel far, but the shepherds are near The kings follow the star, to the little infant King And the shepherds are guided by the angels who sing. Approaching they kneel in the light of the star The darkness gives way to the Light of the world And Mary adores in the dawn of the King.

Our schools

catholicnewsherald.com | December 16, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

One St. Mark student, one answered prayer

In Brief

Amy Burger and Janis Boone Special to the Catholic News Herald

OLM ‘Penny War’ benefits literacy campaign WINSTON-SALEM — Middle school students at Our Lady of Mercy School were able to donate 57 books to the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots Literacy campaign from the funds raised during a recent “Penny War” that brought in more than $500 in four days. Pictured above with some of the OLM students is Sgt. Shaun Magallanes, from the local Marine Corps Recruiting Center, who visited the school Nov. 29 to accept the donation. — Lara Davenport

St. Michael students celebrate St. Nicholas Day GASTONIA — Second-graders at St. Michael School in Gastonia enjoyed celebrating the Feast Day of St. Nicholas on Dec. 6. Students placed their shoes in the hallway and good ol’ St. Nick left goodies in each child’s shoe. — Pat Burr

HUNTERSVILLE — Earlier this year, St. Mark Catholic School sixth-grade religion teacher Chris Ostrom was faced with a simple question by one of her students: What does it take to become a saint? In Ostrom’s words, here is their story: In early January, with all the talk of Pope John Paul II’s beatification, I was blown away by one of the students in my sixth-grade religion class, whose actions exemplify what it truly means to put your faith in God. In Thessalonians, we read “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” During religion class one day, one of my students, Riley Holleran, asked how someone becomes a saint. This topic seemed to weigh heavily on her mind. Little did I know she had her own agenda: Riley’s aunt had Stage III cervical cancer and had little chance for survival. I explained the process about how two miracles had to occur through Pope John Paul II’s intercession, and those miracles are thoroughly investigated by the Church. Throughout our class discussion, Riley’s questions started to gain interest among her classmates. Some wanted to know what they could do. My challenge to them was that we needed

to pray to Pope John Paul II to intercede on behalf of Riley’s aunt. With faith we can move mountains, I said. The next day, I handed out copies of Pope John Paul II’s beatification prayer. Riley proceeded to distribute the prayers to everyone she knew and explained her aunt’s story. I never imagined a 12-year-old would have such hope and faith. My sixth-graders couldn’t wait to help. I reminded my students that we all wanted Riley’s aunt to recover and feel better, but we needed to remember that we were praying for God’s will. Photo provided by Lisa Spencer Who knows? Maybe we St. Mark student Riley Holleran holds a copy of Pope John Paul II’s might end up praying beatification prayer. her soul into heaven, or friends and religion teacher just how bringing back fallen-away Catholics in her important it is to rely on God during the family. most difficult times in our lives. At this particular time in our world, In June, Riley reported to the class that with all the destruction and devastation her aunt’s cancer had gone into remission, occurring, it is so refreshing to see a and as of November, she remains canceryoung person’s faith shine in the midst of free. The students were amazed that their darkness. Along with her faith, she has prayers were answered. become a constant reminder to her family,

Photo provided by Amy Burger

Christmas traditions continue at St. Mark School HUNTERSVILLE – St. Mark School continued two annual traditions during the first week in December: Carols in the Courtyard and the Feast of St. Nick. On the night of Dec. 2, the school’s courtyard came to life with the sounds of Christmas music and the glow of lights. Now in its eighth year, students, faculty and families of St. Mark Parish came together to hear and sing Christmas carols. On Dec. 6, the kindergartners through fourth-graders were treated to a special visit from St. Nicholas himself (a costumed Monsignor Richard Bellow, pastor of St. Mark Church).

Photo provided by Jean Navarro

A yummy project for the Feast of St. Nicholas GREENSBORO — First-grade students at St. Pius X School in Greensboro celebrated the Feast of St. Nicholas by creating traditional gingerbread houses, an annual event held at the school. Pictured above are Teddy Adams and Ryan Voisard.

December 16, 2011 | catholicnewsherald.com

CCHS honors volunteers with President’s Volunteer Service Award

catholic news heraldI

In Brief

Jennifer B. Johnson Special to the Catholic News Herald

CHARLOTTE — Charlotte Catholic High School recently announced it has awarded 33 volunteers with the President’s Volunteer Service Award, a national honor offered in recognition of volunteer service. Recipients include: n Gold Award: Seth Tirrel, Caroline O’Rourke, Meghan Flyke, Winston Conrad, Nick Schaut, Penn Conrad and Meredith Campbell n Silver Award: Benson Pierson, Katherine Murray, Stephanie Manasa, Hannah Phillips, Lauryn Fowler, Katherine Meanor, Katie Klochany, Melanie Runkle, Sydney Antolini and Ian Flyke n Bronze Award: Cearra Stinson, Devin O’Rourke, Meghan Neal, Quinn Haislip, Sam Deberry, Sophia Deberry, Rachel Sidari, Lindsay Cosentino, Kylie Ryan, Ryan Francis, Grace Linus, Erika Hibler, Kelsey Noonan, Nick Olsen, Molly Sweeney and Dylan Powers Established in 2003, the award is available on an annual basis to individuals, groups and families who have met or exceeded requirements for volunteer service and have demonstrated exemplary citizenship through volunteering. As one of thousands of certifying organizations participating in the program, Charlotte Catholic High School confers the award to recognize the outstanding achievements of its volunteers. “In his 2002 State of the Union Address, President George W. Bush created the USA Freedom Corps, and called on every American to make a lifelong commitment to volunteer service. The President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes individuals and families who have answered that call,” said Christopher Causebrook, CCHS school counselor. “America’s volunteers work to make our communities stronger and safer. As a certifying organization for the award program, Charlotte Catholic High School is proud to be aligned with this prestigious volunteer award, and we are especially proud of our volunteers who have made volunteer service a central part of their lives.” The President’s Volunteer Service Award is an award for volunteer service that every American – from every age and every walk of life – can aspire to achieve. To be eligible, individuals, families and groups submit a record of their annual volunteer service hours to participating certifying organizations, such as CCHS, that will verify the service and deliver the award. Eligibility is based on hour requirements varying by age. “These recipients are role models for all Americans,” Causebrook said. “Each volunteer hour contributed makes a difference in improving the quality of life for others, and I encourage everyone to contribute to our community by volunteering. Volunteers bring us closer together as families, as communities and as a nation, through their commitment.” The award is issued by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, a group created by President Bush to recognize the valuable contributions volunteers are making to our nation. Chaired by twotime Super Bowl Champion Darrell Green, with former U.S. Senators Bob Dole and John Glenn as honorary co-chairs, the council comprises leaders in government, media, entertainment, business, education, nonprofits and volunteer service organizations, and community volunteering. For more information about volunteering at CCHS, contact Causebrook at 704 543-5503, ext.4, or at cwcausebrook@charlottecatholic.com.

Writing contest winners named GREENSBORO — During a recent book fair at Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro, sixth-grade students were asked to enter a writing contest using original short stories made up of book titles and author names. Winners of the short story contest were: Ryan Moon, second place; Ali Southard, first place; and CJ Cappuccio, third place. — Karen L. Hornfeck photo provided by Karen L. Hornfeck

Lego robotics team rises to the top GREENSBORO — Our Lady of Grace School’s Lego Robotics Team competed in the regional First Lego League competition Nov. 5 and was one of seven teams chosen to move on to the state competition in January. The Greensboro school’s team also won the regional Spirit Award. Team members are: Dominik Bagnoli, William Cox, Patrick McArthur, John Paul Stepnowski, Will Hornfeck, Adam Lucek, Jack Fink and Spencer Cottingham (not shown). Coaches are Ryan Yarborough and Arthur Romel. Team sponsors are Worldwide Equipment and Wheeling Truck Center Inc.

Knights of Columbus essay winners announced HENDERSONVILLE — The Knights of Columbus Council 7184 in Hendersonville recently announced the winners of its ninth annual essay contest conducted at Immaculata School. The contest, which has been cosponsored with Blue Ridge Assembly 2130 since 2002, challenges the students in grades 6 to 8 to write essays on a patriotic theme chosen jointly by the Knights and school staff. This year the students were asked to write about a freedom fighter, past or present. Winners from each grade were: sixth grade: Connor Leidner, first, Joe Maddock, second, and Sarah Hargrove, third; seventh grade: Quinn Kelsch, first, Ethan Byrd, second, and Richard Hernasy, third; eighth grade: William Avery, first, A.J. O’Leary, second, and Brooke Cleary, third. They each received a commemorative medal and a cash award. — John and Barbara Remensnyder photo provided by Karen L. Hornfeck

First-graders discover historical artifact GREENSBORO — During a recent field trip to the Piedmont Environmental Center in High Point, Our Lady of Grace School first-grade students made a historic find: a 1,000-year-old spearhead. Adriana Bevis and Lindsey Ramsey found it while exploring the area on a nature walk. Representatives from the center said only one other of its kind had previously been found on the site. After the girls’ find, the center marked the area off for further research. The school was given the spearhead and plans to display it. During the trip, the firstgrade class also learned about composting, recycling and soil.

OLG student competes in math GREENSBORO — Our Lady of Grace School student Jeannie Eagan, a seventhgrader, recently participated in the second annual North Carolina Math Competition and placed seventh in the state in her age group out of hundreds of participants. — Karen L. Hornfeck

Mix

catholicnewsherald.com | December 16, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

For the latest movie reviews: catholicnewsherald.com

In theaters

‘All beauty comes from God, and it is up to us artists to paint that beauty so that all who see our work may — Louis Guidetti grow closer to God.’ In his WinstonSalem studio in early November, Louis Guidetti puts finishing touches on his portrait of the Sacred Heart. The original painting was unveiled in the home of WinstonSalem physician John Reynolds and his wife Katie on Dec. 3. Note the small photo of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati on his easel. Guidetti has a devotion to him and is a member of Winston-Salem’s new Frassati Society.

‘New Year’s Eve’ Painfully forced romantic comedy tracking the sometimes intersecting paths of, among others, the executive in charge of the titular holiday’s iconic celebration in New York’s Times Square, the rock star headlining the evening’s entertainment there, the up-and-coming caterer to whom the rocker was once engaged, and one of his backup singers who finds herself trapped in an elevator for hours with a New Year’s-averse slacker. Some sexual references and humor. CNS: A-III (adults), MPAA: PG-13

‘My Week With Marilyn’ This behind-the-scenes look at the making of 1956’s “The Prince and the Showgirl,” one of Marilyn Monroe’s least successful films, offers a fascinating study of her tortured soul and of a clash of cultures in 1950s Britain. The young assistant to the movie’s distinguished director and leading man, Laurence Olivier, is smitten by Monroe and eager to protect her from the sniping establishment. Fleeting rear female nudity and brief adulterous kissing. CNS: A-III (adults), MPAA: R

‘The Descendants’ Spiritually bereft dark comedy in which, with his wife left brain-dead by an accident, a grieving Hawaii lawyer and previously neglectful father is forced to deal with the impact of her loss on their two daughters as well as with a family crisis involving the planned sale of a pristine beachfront property. Mature themes, including end-of-life issues and adultery, frequent crude language. CNS: L (limited adult audience), MPAA: R

‘The Sitter’ A schlubby college student becomes the unlikely baby sitter for three troubled children. With the kids in tow, he visits a drug dealer to buy cocaine. But the deal goes awry, and he spends the rest of the night hurtling around New York City trying to make things right and “solving” problems for the kids. An explicit nonmarital sex act, acceptance of homosexual activity, pervasive crude and profane language, references to drug use, racial stereotyping. CNS: O (morally offensive), MPAA: R

photos by Mary B. Worthington | Catholic News Herald

World-class masterpiece unveiled in Winston-Salem Classical painter Louis Guidetti commissioned to paint the Sacred Heart

See more online To view more of Louis Guidetti’s paintings, visit his website at www.louisguidetti.com.

Mary B. Worthington Correspondent

WINSTON-SALEM — “When I was a child,” Dr. John Reynolds recalled, “my parents had an image of the Sacred Heart hanging near our bedrooms. I saw it every morning and night, and I want to give my own children that same gift.” On Dec. 3, his wish came true. In a small ceremony at the Reynolds’ home, artist Louis Guidetti unveiled his fourfoot original of the Sacred Heart for John Reynolds and his wife Katie. About 20 people were in attendance, including four of the Reynolds’ five children. The painting, which took nearly a year to complete, was blessed by Father Lucas Rossi, parochial vicar at St. Leo Church in Winston-Salem,

the Reynolds’ parish. “He’s such a talented painter,” said Reynolds, an anesthesiologist at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital. “He’s one of the best painters imaginable in our country for that kind of training.” Guidetti is not only an artist, but also an advocate for the return of sacred art in Catholic churches. In fact, the 29-yearold artist converted to Catholicism while attending the Florence Academy of Art in Florence, Italy, after he experienced the profound beauty in the ancient churches there. “I saw how beautiful this Church was,” Guidetti recalled. “People go and pray in

MASTERPIECE, SEE page 17

On TV n Saturday, Dec. 17, 6 p.m. (EWTN) “Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: Servant of All.” A documentary, featuring stories of those who knew the Archbishop best, introduces this first “Catholic evangelist” to a new generation of Americans. n Saturday, Dec. 17, 8 p.m. (EWTN) “Loyola, The Soldier Saint.” Follow the life of Ignatius from the Spanish court of his youth, to his military career and near death injury on the battlefield that brought about his religious awakening. n Tuesday, Dec. 20, 4 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 24, 9:30 a.m. (EWTN) “Martin the Cobbler.” Based on the classic children’s tale by the great Russian author Leo Tolstoy, this story follows a lonely shoemaker who rediscovers his faith in God. n Thursday, Dec. 22, 9:30 a.m., Monday, Dec. 26, 5 p.m., and Thursday, Dec. 29, 2 p.m. (EWTN) “The Star of Bethlehem.” A look at the Biblical and historical evidence revealing the incredible significance of the Star of Bethlehem. n Thursday, Dec. 22, 4 p.m. and Monday, Dec. 26, 4 p.m. (EWTN) “Hermie and Friends: A Fruitcake Christmas.” Hermie and his bug friends have a Christmas mystery on their hands when Granny Pillar’s long-anticipated fruitcake disappears. n Friday, Dec. 23, 3:30 a.m. (EWTN) “On Holy Ground.” Marilla Ness, a popular Catholic singer, leads the viewer in the footsteps of the Lord as she takes us on a musical journey through the Holy Land. Wonderful photography together with 15 beautiful songs bring the Gospels brilliantly to life. n Friday, Dec. 23, 4 PM and Saturday, Dec. 24, 11 a.m. (EWTN) “Saints and Heroes: Nicholas.” Nicholas was still a young boy when he discovered the love of Jesus and the gift of giving that changed the world. Based on historical facts and traditions this film is worth watching with family and friends. n Saturday, Dec. 24, 4-6 p.m. (EWTN) "Solemn Mass of Christmas Eve With Pope Benedict XVI." Vigil Mass with the Holy Father from St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. n Saturday, Dec. 24, 10:30 p.m.-midnight (EWTN) "Solemn Mass of Christmas Eve from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception." Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the United States, is scheduled to preside at this liturgy, broadcast live from Washington's Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

December 16, 2011 | catholicnewsherald.com hold Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament beginning in January. With a face as brilliant as the sun and eyes fixed on the tabernacle directly below, the image of Mary is flanked by 12 angels and depicts her crushing the serpent beneath her feet. Her face was drawn in quite an unusual manner: he didn’t use a model, but solicited prayer. Billie Mobley, president of the Te Deum Foundation, sat in the studio praying the rosary, and the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration offered their Adoration that day for him while Guidetti painted. “He was trying to capture something that you can’t capture without prayer,” Mobley said of the Blessed Mother’s countenance. It is this spiritual element that lies at the heart of Guidetti’s artistry. “Truthfully, it has a lot to do with prayer. I try to do a holy hour in the morning so I am really clear about what I am painting,” Guidetti said. He also attends daily Mass and prays the rosary daily and is heavily involved in his parish, St. Leo. Katie Reynolds takes an up-close look at the eyes of the painting of the Sacred Heart that they had commissioned from Guidetti. The painting took nearly a year to complete. Seeing the painting for the first time, Guidetti points out some unique aspects of the work of art to the speechless couple. “There just aren’t words!” exclaimed Katie Reynolds.

MASTERPIECE: FROM PAGE 16

front of paintings. It really draws you in.” “All beauty comes from God, and it is up to us artists to paint that beauty so that all who see our work may grow closer to God,” Guidetti explained. “We artists must be trained in strong proportions, color and technique – without exception! Most importantly, we must pray for God’s spirit, that He may place His grace in the painting through us to move hearts as He wills. These paintings are made for God’s glory and to draw communities into ever deeper levels of prayer. It is such beauty that brings many to the Church.” “Art is a necessity,” he continued. “Not everyone can understand theology, but sometimes a painting is easier to see.” Guidetti’s career as a painter began with a family trip to Italy in 1999. He picked up a book of paintings by the Renaissance artists Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael. His favorite subject in school had always been art, and he spent the next year painting each of the images before returning to Florence to enroll at Lorenzo de Medici’s School of Art and then the Florence Academy of Art. Back home in Winston-Salem where he has a 200-square-foot studio in the Downtown Arts District, painting has become his life. With brush in hand, he draws in the air, glancing over at the model, glancing back at his painting. He then approaches the painting for a few strokes. To get a fresh view of a painting he is working on, he will flip it 90 degrees and step back thoughtfully. To allow images he paints to come to life – and give time for the paint to dry – Guidetti will work on many paintings at a time. Currently, he is working on one still life, three religious pieces and a portrait of a newly-ordained priest. Guidetti hopes to make sacred art the

focus of his career. The training he received in art school was very precise, and technique was emphasized, “as it should have been,” he said. “In my fourth year of school, we were finally allowed to choose our own subject matter,” he recalled. “I chose the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was praised for its technique, but I loved it for its subject matter.” Guidetti’s first major commission of sacred art was a painting of the Immaculate Conception for St. Ann Church in Charlotte. Completed in late 2010, the eight-foot painting adorns the Immaculate Conception Chapel where that parish will

This is a detail from the immaculate Conception that Guidetti painted in the new chapel at St. Ann Church in Charlotte.

catholic news heraldI

“My goal is to have a focus in Church art,” he said. “Every parish needs to build in to their church a location and a budget for art that will lift the hearts and souls of their members to God.” The Reynolds family members were nearly speechless after seeing the unveiled painting of the Sacred Heart that they had commissioned. “It is a privilege to have somebody who has his talent living among us,” Reynolds said. “It’s really a 16th-century gift!”

Our nation 18

charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | December 16, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Board approves miracle needed for Blessed Marianne Cope’s canonization SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The path to sainthood for Blessed Marianne Cope of Molokai has been cleared after a Vatican congregation Dec. 6 confirmed a second miracle attributed to her intercession. The final step for her canonization is approval by Pope Benedict XVI. The Vatican decision was announced Dec. 6 by the sister’s religious community, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities in Syracuse, N.Y., and by Honolulu Bishop Larry Silva. Mother Marianne, who worked Cope as a teacher and hospital administrator in New York, spent the last 30 years of her life ministering on the Hawaiian island of Molokai to those with leprosy. She died on the island in 1918 at age 80. The Dec. 6 ruling by the Vatican Congregation for Saints’ Causes confirmed recent decisions by a medical board and a group of theologians declaring that a second miracle could be attributed to

Mother Marianne’s intercession. The first miracle required for her beatification was the medically unexplainable recovery of a New York girl who recovered from near death from multiple organ failure after prayers were said to Mother Marianne. The miracle was approved in 2004 by a medical board and a group of theologians. At the end of the year, Pope John Paul II affirmed the case. She was beatified in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican May 14, 2005. The only known detail about the second miracle is that a woman’s healing was declared inexplicable since doctors had expected her to die and were amazed at her survival. The Sisters of St. Francis will not disclose details of the second miracle until after the pope’s proclamation of Mother Marianne’s sainthood. In other news about U.S. sainthood causes, there have been unconfirmed reports that an announcement will be made in mid-December about the approval of a second miracle attributed to Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha’s intercession, which would clear the way for her canonization. — Catholic News Service

U.S. Cardinal John P. Foley, a dean of the Catholic press in the U.S., died Dec. 11 in Darby, Pa., after a battle with leukemia. He was 76. Cardinal Foley spent more than two decades leading the Church’s social communications council and later worked for the Church in the Middle East. He is pictured on air with Sirius Satellite Radio during the 2007 Catholic Media Convention in New York.

CNS | Nancy Phelan Wiechec

Late Cardinal Foley remembered as friend to Catholic press Catholic News Service

DARBY, Pa. — Cardinal John P. Foley, longtime Catholic journalist and media advocate, died Dec. 11 in his hometown of Darby, Pa., after a battle with leukemia. He was 76. His funeral Mass was to be celebrated Dec. 16 at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. Cardinal Foley was known for his many different roles: editor of Philadelphia’s archdiocesan newspaper, The Catholic Standard & Times, 1970-1984; head of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, 1984 to 2007; and most recently, grand master of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, a chivalric organization dedicated to supporting the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and to aiding Catholics in the Holy Land. To many, he was known as the Vatican’s “Voice of Christmas” in his role as Englishlanguage commentator for the pope’s midnight Mass for 25 years. His media-friendly style and quick humor shone in person and throughout the numerous speeches and homilies he delivered around the world, including a 2008 appearance at the Diocese of Charlotte’s Eucharistic Congress. He often spoke of the joys of working for the Church, telling his audiences that while the pay often is not great “the benefits are out of this world.” Born on Nov. 11, 1935, he was ordained a priest in Philadelphia when he was 26. The graduate of the School of Journalism at Columbia University in New York said his media experience dated back to the

seventh grade, when he started writing radio plays on the lives of saints. Between stints as assistant editor of The Catholic Standard & Times in the 1960s, he completed graduate studies in philosophy in Rome, where he also worked as a reporter. His beat included covering the Second Vatican Council from 1963 to 1965. In 1970, he was appointed editor of the archdiocesan paper, a position he held until Pope John Paul II named him an archbishop and appointed him head of the social communications council in 1984. Cardinal Foley said in 2007 that he always tried to take “a positive approach toward the means of communication and toward the people who run them.” As head of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, he took the lead in articulating Church policies related to the media. Under his leadership, the council issued separate documents on ethical standards in advertising, communications and the Internet. He also encouraged efforts to narrow the “digital divide” separating countries where there is widespread Internet access and where there is almost none either because of poverty or government efforts to restrict information access. His time at the council coincided with the unfolding of the clergy sex abuse scandal – first in the U.S., then elsewhere. He said the sexual abuse of children by priests was only “the tip of an iceberg” of the wider scope of abuse perpetrated against the world’s children. FOLEY, SEE page 21

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In Brief Obama said to seek balance on contraceptive coverage, beliefs WASHINGTON, D.C. — A White House spokesman said the Obama administration is working to “strike the right balance between expanding coverage of preventive services and respecting religious beliefs” as it decides on a religious exemption to the mandate that all health plans cover contraceptives and sterilizations by Jan. 1, 2013. “This decision has not yet been made,” said Jay Carney, press secretary, in response to a question at a Nov. 29 White House press briefing. Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, announced an “interim final rule” Aug. 1 that would require all health plans to cover contraceptives – including some that can cause abortions – and sterilizations free of charge. Only religious employers meeting four specific criteria would be exempt from the mandate. Leaders of various Catholic and other faithbased organizations have protested the exemption as too narrow and have said such a mandate could force them to stop offering some social services, education or health care to the public. A 60-day comment period on the proposed religious exemption ended Sept. 30 and a final decision was expected from HHS by the end of the year. In the meantime, the contraceptive mandate is an “interim final rule” with “the full

force and effect of law.” Belmont Abbey College in Belmont is suing the federal government to challenge the constitutionality of the contraception requirement.

Archbishop Dolan: Human dignity is Church’s ‘primary doctrine’ NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Calling the dignity of the human person “a primary doctrine” of the Catholic Church, Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York told an audience at the University of Notre Dame Dec. 6 that it must prompt Catholics “to treat ourselves and others only with respect, love, honor and care.” That doctrine also means people must not be identified “with our urges, our flaws, our status, our possessions, our utility,” but each seen as “a child of God, His creation, modeled in His own image, destined for eternity,” he said. “My identity, my personhood ... does not depend on whether or not I have a green card, a stock portfolio, a job, a home or even a college diploma,” said Archbishop Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “Nor does my identity depend upon whom I am sexually attracted to, or to race, religion, gender, social status, bank account, passport or health insurance, but on my essence as a child of God.”

CUA president pleased ruling confirms legality of single-sex dorms WASHINGTON, D.C. — John Garvey, president of the Catholic University of America, recently said he was “gratified” by the dismissal of a complaint filed against the university saying its single-sex dorms discriminated against women. The Nov. 29 order by the District of Columbia’s Office of Human Rights said offering only singlesex dormitories is not unlawful discrimination

under the city’s Human Rights Act. It noted that if colleges were to comply with the complaint’s reasoning, it would cause “a prohibition on samesex bathrooms, locker rooms and sports teams, which would lead to absurd results.”

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Bishop Ochoa appointed to Fresno WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pope Benedict XVI has named Bishop Armando Ochoa of El Paso, Texas, 68, to lead the Diocese of Fresno, Calif.

Our world

catholicnewsherald.com | December 16, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Latest words of wisdom from Pope Benedict XVI At Christmas, Christians are called to be witnesses to the Light of the World

Church should fear sin of its own members more than persecution from others

Preacher tells pope: Prayer, not activism, is key to ‘new evangelization’

VATICAN CITY — In the dry spiritual desert of modern society and the darkness of moral and economic confusion, Christians draw joy from knowing that Christ is near, Pope Benedict XVI said. Celebrating a morning Mass at Rome’s Our Lady of Grace Church and reciting the Angelus at the Vatican later Dec. 11, Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday, Pope Benedict said true joy is not found in twinkling Christmas decorations or presents, but in God’s gift of His Son. During his homily, the pope said the world today still needs a John the Baptist, “a voice in the desert, like today in the desert of the large cities of this world, the desert of the great absence of God. We need voices that simply proclaim to us: ‘God exists, is always near, even when He seems absent.’” Pope Benedict told members of the parish that their Advent task is to share the Good News with their neighbors, bringing light and joy to situations often marked by sadness and struggle. “In this world with so much darkness, we all are called to be witnesses of the light,” he said. “We can do that only if we carry the light within us, if we are sure not only that the light exists, but if we have seen a bit of the light” in prayer, in the Mass and in the sacrament of reconciliation.

ROME — The Church should fear the sin of its own members more than hatred against Christians, Pope Benedict XVI said. While the Church has suffered from persecution throughout its history, it “is supported by the light and strength of God” and will always end up victorious, he said. Overcoming trials and outside threats shows how the Christian community “is the presence, the guarantee of God’s love against all ideologies of hatred and selfishness,” he said on the feast of the Immaculate Conception Dec. 8. “The only danger the Church can and should fear is the sin of her members.” Pope Benedict marked the feast day by making an afternoon visit to a statue of Mary erected near the Spanish Steps in Rome to commemorate Pope Pius IX’s proclamation in 1854 that Mary, by special divine favor, was without sin from the moment she was conceived.

VATICAN CITY — The Church’s project of “new evangelization” faces two dangers: people thinking others will do the work and people so fired up to preach the Gospel, they forget to pray, said the preacher of the papal household. Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, who preaches to the pope and top Vatican officials on the Fridays of Advent and Lent, dedicated his December 2011 series to lessons the Church can learn from its own history of evangelization efforts. Focusing Dec. 9 on the contribution of monastic orders beginning in the 5th century, Father Cantalamessa said their example is a reminder of “the importance of the contemplative life in view of evangelization.” The first of the dangers facing today’s efforts to re-proclaim the Gospel is “inertia, laziness, not doing anything and letting others do everything,” he said. “The other is launching oneself in a feverish – and empty – human activism, which results in losing contact little by little with the source of the word and its effectiveness,” he said. Father Cantalamessa said people sometimes tell him it’s hard to stay still and silent and pray when the world so obviously needs ministers and missionaries. “It’s true. But imagine what would happen if a squad of firefighters runs so fast at the sound of an alarm to put out a fire, but once on the scene realizes that they have no tanks, not even a drop of water with them,” he said.

True freedom comes from child-like faith in God, not just from following the rules VATICAN CITY — Following the Gospel is not adhering to a doctrine or code of ethics but entails truly following the person of

CNS | Paul Haring

Pope Benedict XVI smiles after celebrating Mass at the Church of Our Lady of Grace in Rome Dec. 11. Christ in one’s life, Pope Benedict XVI said. Through Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit, “we can turn with trust to God our Father, confident that, in doing His will, we shall find true freedom and peace,” he said during his weekly general audience Dec. 7. In his audience talk to about 3,000 people in Paul VI hall, Pope Benedict continued a series of talks on Christian prayer. Divine revelation doesn’t follow earthly rules in which the powerful hold the keys to knowledge, he said. God takes a completely different approach, choosing instead to share with “the little ones” true knowledge of the divine. Only those who are pure of heart and are open to God’s will can see the face of God in Jesus, he said. People must have a simple heart, like a child, free of any self-assured presumptions that they can live their own lives without any help from anyone, not even God. “But we need God, we need to meet Him, listen to Him and talk to Him,” and only through Him will people find peace, he said.

— Catholic News Service

December 16, 2011 | catholicnewsherald.com

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In Brief Pope confirms trips to Mexico, Cuba VATICAN CITY — Celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec. 12, Pope Benedict XVI confirmed he will travel to Mexico and Cuba next spring, and he called on the people of Latin America to hold firm to their faith. Pope Benedict said in his homily at St. Peter’s Basilica that he intends “to make an apostolic trip to Mexico and Cuba before Easter to proclaim the word of Christ and to strengthen the conviction that this is a precious time to evangelize with a steady faith, a lively hope and an ardent charity.” The trip will coincide with a Marian jubilee year that Cuba’s bishops recently announced for Jan. 7, 2012, through Jan. 6, 2013, and will also mark the 400th anniversary of the discovery of Virgin of Charity of El Cobre, also known as “La Caridad,” the small statue of Mary found floating in the Bay of Nipe, which came to be the country’s most revered icon.

On World AIDS Day, Vatican renews call for greater access to therapy VATICAN CITY — The deaths each year of more than a million people from AIDS, the suffering of their families and the new infections of hundreds of thousands of infants are unacceptable when the medicines needed to prevent them exist, a Vatican official said. Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry, said World AIDS Day must be a time “to promote universal access to therapies for those who are infected, the prevention of transmission from mother to child,

FOLEY: FROM PAGE 18

However, he also said Church officials must be honest about the situation. The Church’s reaction in dealing with the crisis must be “to exercise virtue and, in the absence of virtue, exercise candor, which is a virtue itself. We have to be honest. We cannot deny what happened.” “We know, as journalists, that the more some people try to cover up bad news, the more likely it is to be known,” he said. Pope Benedict XVI said he hoped Cardinal Foley’s legacy would inspire others. In a telegram to Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia Dec. 12, the pope prayed that the cardinal’s “lifelong commitment to the Church’s presence in the media will inspire others to take up this apostolate so essential to the proclamation of the Gospel and the progress of the new

and education” in responsible sexuality. In a statement Dec. 1, he said that despite the development of antiretroviral drugs 20 years ago, an estimated 1.8 million people still die of AIDS each year. “These are people who could lead normal lives if they only had access to suitable pharmacological therapies,” he said.

Audits of Irish dioceses show better reporting on abuse cases DUBLIN — Audits of six Irish Catholic dioceses reveal “a marked improvement” in how the Church is handling clerical abuse allegations. However, the reviews, carried out by the independent National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church and released Nov. 30, also show that, in the past, too much emphasis was put on the rights of accused priests and protecting the reputation of the Church rather than victims’ suffering. Ian Elliott, chief executive of the safeguarding children board, said the audits show that “reporting allegations to the statutory authorities (now) occurs promptly and comprehensively.” He said that “represents a major development, as past practice did not always reflect this commitment.”

Pope names two U.S. evangelists to advise Vatican council VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI has named two U.S. Catholic evangelists to help advise the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization. Curtis Martin, founder and president of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, and Ralph Martin, director of graduate theology programs in evangelization at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in the Archdiocese of Detroit, were among 15 people appointed as consultors to the newly created council. Of the 15 experts chosen, nine are clergy and six are lay Catholics, mostly professors, including one woman : Maria Voce, president of the Focolare movement. — Catholic News Service

evangelization.” “I was pleased that he was able to come home during the final months of his life. No matter where he lived or how he served the Church over the years, he always considered Philadelphia his home,” Archbishop Chaput said, noting, “By the sheer force of his personality, he drew people to the faith and to himself.” Tony Spence, director and editor-in-chief of Catholic News Service, said Cardinal Foley was “a champion of professional Church news service and, indeed, of a professional Catholic press.” He said the cardinal “zealously pursued excellence in Catholic media across the board. As a Catholic communicator himself, he modeled such excellence magnificently.” “No one met the cardinal without seeing in him his profound faith. His Christian faith formed everything about him,” added Msgr. Owen F. Campion, Our Sunday Visitor’s associate publisher. He “was a disciple, unquestioning and forever eager. It enriched his priestly and episcopal vocations. It was a gift to him in grace, and it was a gift to the Church.”

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ViewPoints

catholicnewsherald.com | December 16, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Letter to editor

What is the value of a child? The Poor Clares

Of the Father’s love begotten T

he birth of a baby must be one of the most beautiful and awesome miracles to transform a family. At our home, the telephone minutes reached a peak; we kids (willingly!) cleaned the house like never before, transforming the rooms with flowers and presents for Mom and our new sibling; and neighbors and friends were well aware of the new kid on the block because of the large hand-painted poster displayed in the front yard. No one could match our excitement and joy over the arrival home of Mom and the baby – no one, that is, except for Dad. When a father welcomes the life of his newborn child into this world, only Heaven can understand the mystery of the love and pride carried within the paternal heart. A little over 2,000 years ago, Heaven itself was part of the most mysterious and beautiful birth ever to take place, and this time the paternal heart was God’s. On a night when most of the world was asleep or engaged in mundane affairs, Heaven was turned upside down, so to speak, when the Son of God was born on earth. Have you ever considered what this meant from the viewpoint of the heart of God the Father? Human dads are quick to spread the joyous birth announcement of their new child to family and friends. God the Father also sent a messenger of the tidings of His Son’s birth. An angel appeared to the shepherds and declared, “I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” The Father wanted people to know about the birth of His Son as the gift He was sending to mankind to draw us all to Himself. The gift of a child is the fruit of love between a husband and wife, and when parents welcome a new baby, the family can feel the warmth of love increase within the home. In the Incarnation and Nativity of Christ, God wed Himself to mankind – divinity embracing humanity – and the Incarnate Word brought the Kingdom of Love into the hearts of sinful men. Through His Son, God the Father wanted to show us just how much He loves us and desires us to love Him in return. Expressing this invitation of God’s love, the 11thcentury theologian and mystic William of St-Thierry wrote in a meditation, “You first loved us so that we might love You – not because You needed our love, but because we could not be what You created us to be, except by loving You.” And it is through Jesus POOR CLARES, SEE page 24

A winning recipe for health Honey-orange broccoli salad perfect for the holidays CHARLOTTE — Employees of the Diocese of Charlotte have recently kicked off a wellness program, “Wellness Works,” and participated in a holiday healthy recipe contest. The winner was Toni Messina, a parent educator for the Hand to Hand Program in Catholic Social Services’ Piedmont-Triad Office, with her winning recipe for Honey-Orange Broccoli Salad. Messina writes about her recipe, “Since the summer I have been trying to find ways to make healthy lifestyle changes without having to change everything I do. I found the Step-Up Forsyth program, which was an eightweek program that encouraged at least 30 minutes of movement five times per week, and provided local information to go for hikes, runs, walks, etc. I also discovered Brenner FIT, which is a pediatric weight management program. As part of the community outreach, they offer a variety of free classes including a class called “You Can Cook.” I made this recipe in the class and loved it. I tried it out on my family and then over Thanksgiving. It was a success! I predict it being a holiday staple at our table for years to come.”

Honey-Orange Broccoli Salad 1 pkg. (12 oz.) broccoli coleslaw mix 1/3 cup sliced almonds 1/3 cup raisins 4 tbsp. honey 2 tbsp. olive oil 4 tbsp. freshly squeezed orange juice 4 tsp. grated orange peel 1/4 tsp. salt 2 pkg. Splenda Combine broccoli coleslaw mix, sliced almonds and raisins in a bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk honey, olive oil and orange juice. Stir orange peel and salt into honey, oil and juice mixture; add to coleslaw mixture. Sprinkle Splenda over slaw. Toss to coat, then serve.

We know that a leading cause of death among young children in America is abuse and neglect. If we listen with our hearts, we can hear them cry. I ask, what is the value of a child? As Catholics, we desire to follow the teachings of Jesus. Jesus said in the Gospel of Matthew, 19:14, “Let the children come to me. Do not hinder them. The Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” In the Gospel of Mark, 9:41, Jesus also said, “And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it were better for him that a great millstone were hung about his neck and he were thrown into the sea.” And philosopher Edmund Burke once said, “Evil succeeds because good people do nothing.” Justice tells us all children have a God-given right to be loved and protected. Our awareness of abuse is not enough! If we, as our Church, want to save souls, we must save children. We need to have a consciousness of personal responsibility to the God of Love to do His work of protecting His most vulnerable: His children. When I see a picture of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta with an exquisite smile on her face as she reached for a child, I think: she sees the child as God’s creation and is filled with wonder and joy as she understands the magnitude of the gift that has been bestowed upon us. She sees the value of a child! Mary Fleurant lives in Hendersonville.

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photos provided by Robert Chan and Toni Messina

Toni Messina’s Honey-Orange Broccoli Salad has won a healthy holiday recipe contest sponsored through the Diocese of Charlotte’s new Wellness Works program. Below is the Messina family: Toni, her husband Vinnie, mother-in-law Mary, and children Sophia and Cohen.

Most-read stories on the web n In December, 543 page titles on www.catholicnewsherald.com were viewed a total of 4,373 times by press time Dec. 14. The top five local headlines were: n Belmont Abbey College hosts ‘Extreme Makeover’ pep rally ........................................195 n ‘Extreme Makeover’ surprises Lincolnton family .............................................................. 175 n Court papers claim Fr. Kelleher admitted to abuse allegation .......................................134 n Dr. Ronald Thomas: The dogma of the Immaculate Conception .....................................72 n Women’s group members discover beauty on Catholic art tour .................................... 64

The Catholic News Herald welcomes letters from readers. We ask that letters be originals of 250 words or fewer, pertain to recent newspaper content or Catholic issues, and be in good taste. To be considered for publication, each letter must include the name, address and daytime phone number of the writer for purpose of verification. Letters may be condensed due to space limitations and edited for clarity, style and factual accuracy. Mail: Letters to the Editor Catholic News Herald 1123 S. Church St. Charlotte, N.C. 28203 E-mail: catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

December 16, 2011 | catholicnewsherald.com

Deacon James H. Toner

Edward Jones

Belmont Abbey College’s new core curriculum: Antidote to the ‘abolition of man’

his semester, first-year students at Belmont Abbey College are being introduced to an exciting new core curriculum. What’s new about it? Essentially nothing. That may explain why there’s a “new springtime” of intellectual ferment blossoming on our 135-year-old campus. When they were creating the new core, the team of Abbey professors and administrators who crafted it – led by Dr. Carson Daly, vice president of academic affairs and dean of the faculty – seems to have taken to heart C.S. Lewis’s impassioned admonitions to educators in his book, “The Abolition of Man.” Lewis said the paramount duty of educators is not to subject students to all that is trendy, “progressive” or “new” in education, but rather to pass on to them that which is transcendent and time-proven – that is, the hard-won, shared system of traditional values that has been handed down through the centuries. Lewis called this shared system of traditional values the “Tao,” and he asserted that these are the core truths that form and nourish man’s core. Indeed, Lewis averred that abolishing these core objective truths from our curricula is tantamount to abolishing man. Belmont Abbey College’s new core curriculum has been carefully structured to nourish and strengthen our students’ inner core with the traditional values that Lewis was defending. Thus, our new core might be thought of as an antidote to the “abolition of man.” The required courses comprising the new core curriculum (constituting 50-53 of the 120 hours needed to graduate) are the following: First-Year Symposium, Rhetoric I and II, Introduction to Scripture, Introduction to Theology, Classic Texts in Political Philosophy I and II, Western Civilization I and II, Literary Classics of the Western Tradition I and II, the U. S. Constitution, mathematics, two science courses with labs, Fine Arts, and an introductory course in Psychology, Sociology or Economics. We regard the whole core as important to the education of our students, giving them a broad grounding that few college students anywhere receive today. Although there isn’t enough space here to go into detail about every part of our core, I’d like to explore just two of the courses.

Western Civilization

The Rev. Jesse Jackson once led an approving crowd of Stanford students (and some complicit faculty members) in the chant, “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Western Civ has got to go!” Not so at Belmont Abbey College. In this two-part course, Abbey students savor Sir Kenneth Clark’s magisterial guided tour of Western history and art, “Civilisation,” besides other texts that are supplemented with historical

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novels to give students a feel for everyday life during certain eras.

Rhetoric

The most emblematic (and some might say radical) change made to the Abbey’s core is in the “new/old” way that writing is now taught: “Composition” and “Argumentative Prose,” the two previous introductory English courses, have been replaced with “Rhetoric I and II.” This two-course sequence is built upon the foundation of classical rhetoric, one of the seven original liberal arts. Developed by the classical Greeks and Romans, this is the course of study that not only gave rise to the timeless eloquence of Cicero, Augustine, Dante and Shakespeare, but also animated the writings of America’s Founding Fathers. Dr. Angela Miss, associate professor of English, explains the rationale for going back to this all-but-forgotten method of writing instruction: “Rhetoric formed the center of liberal education for two and a half millennia, and through the 19th century, it was regarded as one of the most important disciplines taught in college. With the advent of the 20th century, however, the emphasis placed on rhetorical study diminished, and so, accordingly, did our ability to communicate well in both spoken and written discourse.” Some of our fellow educators – as well as some parents and students – might call this “retro” approach to writing instruction naïve, impractical or out of touch with the demands of the 21st century economy. We respectfully disagree. The time-proven pedagogical techniques we’ve reinstituted will better prepare our students for success in their careers and lives. In a recent interview in the Abbey’s alumni magazine, Dr. Daly makes this very point: “Since many high schools have abdicated their responsibility in teaching how to write and speak, such an approach is not only sorely needed, but will also make our students better candidates for employment after they graduate. In survey after survey, employers say that the top two abilities they are looking for in job candidates – and not finding – are the ability to speak and write clearly. In the current, tough job market, I believe that our focus on helping our students to speak and write well will help prepare our students for employment, for further study, and for life after college.” Important to the success of any course on writing is the anthology of writings used as a model for students. Here, the Abbey has made yet another significant change. It has replaced anthologies with titles like “Making Literature Matter” and “The Writer’s Presence” with an JONES, SEE page 24

What if Christmas had never happened? A

s the American poet John Greenleaf Whittier put it: “For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: ‘It might have been!’” But Whittier is wrong. The fact is that, of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest and scariest are these: “It might not have been!” Suppose Christmas had never happened. Suppose the Lord Jesus had never been born. Suppose all we had today was the commercial hype of “happy holidays” and “sparkle season” and “winter solstice.” Suppose Almighty God decided, after Adam and Eve disobeyed Him, to allow them and their descendants (that is, you and me) forever to suffer the results of original sin. Remember, original sin was the decision of the first human beings to follow their own will rather than God’s will. They “preferred (themselves) to God and by that very act scorned Him,” and they lost “the grace of original holiness. (CCC 398-399) God might have said, “If that is the way you want it, so be it.” Christmas would never have happened. When the angel Gabriel went to Nazareth to see the Blessed Virgin Mary, asking whether she would consent to bear the Son of God, it was said that “all heaven held its breath” (the Orcadian poet Edwin Muir). Suppose Mary had said no. Suppose the very idea of carrying the Messiah was too much for this young girl and, overwhelmed and frightened, she refused. Christmas would never have happened. Suppose Joseph, who was married to Mary, had been unwilling to listen to the angel in the dream who explained that Mary was with child, not because of infidelity, but through the Holy Spirit. Suppose Joseph had insisted, as was his right, upon a trial for Mary. Had she been convicted, she and her unborn baby – Jesus – would have been stoned to death. Christmas would never have happened. Suppose when Joseph and Mary were required to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem so that Joseph could register there, as was required by the authorities, the trip was too much for her. This was a journey of about 75 miles, taking perhaps four to five days of travel – not an easy journey even for physically fit people. The unborn baby Jesus was divine, but was also subject to the trials, temptations and tragedies of life – even though He was under the protection of His mother and foster father. Suppose on their way to Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary had been attacked by thieves, or Mary had taken a bad fall, or lack of rest or inadequate food had taken their toll upon the exhausted young mother. Mary could have lost her baby. Christmas would never have happened. Of all sad words of tongue or pen, these would be the saddest and scariest: “Christmas never happened.” Because God could have left us in the sin our first parents had chosen. Or because the Blessed Virgin could have said no. Or because Joseph could have abandoned his wife to the death penalty. Or because Mary might have lost her child on their arduous journey. In his First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul writes: “If Christ has not been raised (from the dead), your faith is in vain; you are still in your sins. ... (And) we are the most pitiable people of all” (Cor. 15:17,19). But Jesus could not suffer, and die, and be raised gloriously from the dead if He had never been born. We would still be in our sins, with no hope of salvation, living meaningless, dark and empty lives. But the Incarnation – Christmas, the birth of the Savior – did happen. Almighty God planned to forgive us our sins and to restore all things in Christ. (Eph. 1:3-10) Mary said yes to God – becoming the Mother of God, the new Eve (CCC 410-411), and the help of Christians. Joseph, the righteous man, humbly accepted angelic assurance about Mary, and he became the legal father and guardian of Jesus, and a model for all fathers. TONER, SEE page 24

catholicnewsherald.com | December 16, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

POOR CLARES:

JONES:

FROM PAGE 22

FROM PAGE 23

that the Father makes Himself known to us. The Second Vatican Council said in “Dei Verbum,” “To see (Christ) is to see the Father also.” The Father sent His Son so that we might become His children who respond in love and cry out “Abba! Father!” The question to ask ourselves this Advent and Christmas is how are we going to respond to the gift and invitation of God the Father through the birth of Christ? Two thousand years ago, the Father waited for the response of men and women. Some replied in humble gratitude and adoration, like the poor shepherds and the Magi. Others rejected this new life and love and either ignored the gift or sought to destroy it, as in the case of Herod. Now it is our turn to respond. Just as the proud and joyful father here on earth looks for others to share in his delight, so God the Father eagerly awaits our response this Christmas. Let us be quick to prepare our souls – our interior homes – for the arrival of the Infant King. Let us share the wondrous news with those around us. And let us gratefully love our Father who is in Heaven. Sister Mary Raphael of the Divine Physician is professed with the Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration St. Joseph Monastery in Charlotte. This is part of a monthly commentary by the Poor Clares to focus on topics of faith and to address questions about religious life. Learn more about the community and subscribe to their newsletter by going online to www.stjosephmonastery.com.

inspired “new/old” anthology of its own, “The Belmont Abbey College Reader,” edited by Dr. Angela Miss. Abbey students encounter Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave,” Demosthenes’ “The First Philippic (Oration IV)”, Cicero’s “In Defense of Titus Annius Milo,” selections from Aesop’s “Fables,” and excerpts from St. Augustine’s “The City of God” – along with poems by Byron, stories by Flannery O’Connor, the speeches of Winston Churchill, and the writings of

Martin Luther King Jr., Blessed Teresa of Calcutta and others. Furthermore, our dedicated faculty go the extra mile to help each student, and they offer encouragement. Some will say that our core curriculum “turns the clock back.” Perhaps, but as C.S. Lewis wrote, “We all want progress, but if you’re on the wrong road, progress means doing an aboutturn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.”

In Brief

Edward Jones is the marketing director at Belmont Abbey College and editor of the College’s alumni magazine, “Crossroads.”

‘Stuffing boxes’ to help needy in Murphy

TONER: FROM PAGE 23

Mary and Joseph protected, nurtured and raised Jesus, who was obedient to them (Luke 2:51, CCC 532); they are the Holy Family, whose feast day we will celebrate this year on Friday, Dec. 30. In the Gospel according to St. John, we read: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.” In Jesus

and through His sacraments (CCC 1133, 774), our sins can be forgiven. We can have hope of salvation, and we can have lives full of meaning, light, grace and truth. Thank God that Christmas did happen! Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis: “Glory to God in the highest: and on earth peace to men of good will”! (Luke 2:14) Deacon James H. Toner serves at Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro.

MURPHY — St. William Church’s Community Ministries Commission held its annual Thanksgiving Box event on Nov. 21-22. After gathering donated and purchased food items from local companies, Mick Goebel, chairperson of the commission, set up more than 140 boxes in the commons area at St. William Church that were then stuffed with the groceries. This annual event, made possible from parishioner weekly offerings, provided food to those in the Murphy community who otherwise would not have had a Thanksgiving meal. Members of the Children’s Faith Formation program, parish Men’s Club, and commission members all volunteered. Pictured above are Samantha Calascione, Rick Kmet and others. — Michelle L. Calascione