Sept. 9, 2011

September 9, 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

Place of peace and prayer FUNDED by the parishioners of the diocese of charlotte THANK YOU!

St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville plans expansion due to growing demand for solitude, deeper connection with God, 12-13

Sept. 11, 2001: 10 years later Many memorials are planned this weekend to honor the victims, families of 9/11 attacks,

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Catechetical Sunday Catechetical Sunday, Sept. 18: Time to reflect on our baptismal role in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel,

23 Calendar 4 Diocese 3-7

FAITH 2

mix 16

OLG children learning to adore Jesus, 3

nation & World 18-21 Schools 10-11

Viewpoints 22-23

North Carolina bishops promote protecting marriage in state constitution, 7

Call us: 704-370-3333 E-mail us: catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

Our faith

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 9, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

A saintly life

St. Robert Bellarmine, ​ patron of catechists

Pope Benedict XVI

Crying out to God is sign of faith VATICAN CITY — Crying out to God when one is in the grips of pain or fear is a sign of faith in God, Pope Benedict XVI said. A central tenet of faith is believing that the loving God is always close to His creatures and ready to reach out and save them, the pope said Sept. 7 during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square.

Continuing a series of audience talks about prayer, Pope Benedict told those gathered for the audience that when they are really hurting or afraid, they can use Psalm 3 to express both their suffering and their trust in God. Like the psalmist, he said, “we, too, are tempted to think perhaps God won’t save me, doesn’t know me, there’s no possibility (of being rescued). The temptation against faith is the ultimate aggression of the enemy. And we must resist it. In this way we will find God and find life.”

The psalm, attributed to King David when he was fleeing the army of his rebellious son, demonstrates that believers are never abandoned and “enemies are not unbeatable like he thought because the Lord hears the cry of the oppressed and responds,” he said.

“Man cries in anguish, in danger, in pain; man cries for help and God responds. To cry out means to have faith in God’s closeness and willingness to listen.”

Psalm 3 is a reminder that no matter how bad things get, “God is always near, including in the midst of difficulties and problems, in the darkness of life. He listens, responds and saves in His own way, but we must be able to recognize His presence and accept His ways.”

Faith facts Holy Communion: What exactly is ‘worthy reception’?

Feast day: Sept. 17 On Sept. 17, the Church celebrates the Italian cardinal and theologian St. Robert Bellarmine.

One of the great saints of the Jesuit order, St. Robert has also been declared a Doctor of the Church and the patron of catechists.

Robert Bellarmine was born on Oct. 4, 1542 in the Tuscan town of Montepulciano. His uncle was a cardinal who later became Pope Marcellus II. As a young man, Robert received his education from the Jesuit order, which had received written papal approval only two years before his birth.

In September of 1560, St. Robert entered the Jesuit order himself.

He studied philosophy for three years in Rome, then taught the humanities until 1567, when he began a study of theology that lasted until 1569. The final stage of his training emphasized the refutation of Protestant errors.

St. Robert was ordained a priest in Belgium, where his sermons drew crowds of both Catholics and Protestants. In 1576 he returned to Italy and took up an academic position addressing theological controversies.

The resulting work, his “Disputations,” became a classic of Catholic apologetics.

Near the end of the 1580s, the esteemed theologian became

“Spiritual Father” to the Roman College. He served as a guide to St. Aloysius Gonzaga near the end of the young Jesuit’s life, and helped produce the authoritative Latin text of the Bible called for by the recent Council of Trent.

Around the century’s end, St. Robert became an advisor to Pope Clement VIII. The pope named him a cardinal in 1599, declaring him to be the most educated man in the Church. St. Robert played a part in a debate between Dominicans and Jesuits regarding grace, and the pope later decided to appoint and consecrate him as the archbishop of Capua.

The cardinal archbishop’s three years in Capua stood out as an example of fidelity to

the reforming spirit and decrees of the Council of Trent. He was considered as a possible pope in two successive elections, but the thought of becoming pope disturbed him and in the end he was never chosen.

In the early years of the 17th century, the cardinal took a public stand for the Church’s freedom when it came under attack in Venice and England. He also attempted, though unsuccessfully, to negotiate peace between the Vatican and his personal friend Galileo Galilei, over the scientist’s insistence that not only the earth, but the entire universe, revolved around the sun.

He retired as cardinal due to health problems in the summer of 1621. Two years before, he had set out his thoughts on the end of earthly life in a book titled “The Art of Dying Well.” In that work, the cardinal explained that preparing for death was life’s most important business, since the state of one’s soul at death would determine one’s eternal destiny.

St. Robert Bellarmine died on Sept. 17, 1621. Pope Pius XI canonized him in 1931 and declared him to be a Doctor of the Church.

— Catholic News Agency

Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of Man and center of the universe and of history, gives us a share in His divine life as we worthily receive Him in Holy Communion. In thanksgiving for such a gift, it is fitting that we humbly prepare ourselves to receive Him in two ways: First, we approach the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass by our remote preparation. This includes regular prayer and reading of Scripture, the faithful and loving fulfillment of the daily responsibilities of our state in life, and regular participation in the sacrament of penance, including daily repentance of sin by an examination of conscience and recitation of the Act of Contrition.

Second, our attentive proximate preparation includes our prayerful recollection as we come to Mass and fasting from food and drink for at least one hour prior to receiving Holy Communion as our health and age permit. Proximate preparation also includes dressing appropriately and modestly.

— Source: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Your daily Scripture readings SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK OF SEPT. 11 - SEPT. 17

Sunday, Sirach 27:30-28:7, Romans 14:7-9, Matthew 18:21-35; Monday, 1 Timothy 2:1-8, LUke 7:1-10; Tuesday (St. Chrysostom), 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Luke 7:11-17; Wednesday (The Exaltation of the Holy Cross), Numbers 21:4-9, Philippians 2:6-11, John 3:13-17; Thursday (Our Lady of Sorrows), 1 Timothy 4:12-16, John 19:2527; Friday (Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian), 1 Timothy 6:2-12, Luke 8:1-3; Saturday (St. Robert Bellarmine), 1 Timothy 6:13-16, Luke 8:4-15

SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK OF SEPT. 18 - SEPT. 24

Sunday, Isaiah 55:6-9, Philippians 1:20-24, 27, Matthew 20:1-16; Monday (St. Januarius), Ezra 1:1-6, Luke 8:16-18; Tuesday (Sts. Andrew Kim Tae-gon, Paul Chong Ha-sang and Companions), Ezra 6:7-8, 12, 14-20, Luke 8:19-21; Wednesday (St. Matthew), Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13, Matthew 9:9-13; Thursday, Haggai 1:1-8, Luke 9:7-9; Friday (St. Pio of Pietrelcina), Haggai 2:1-9, Luke 9:18-22; Saturday, Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15, Jeremiah 31:10-13, Luke 9:43-45

SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK OF SEPT. 25- OCT. 1

Sunday, Ezekiel 18:25-28, Philippians 2:1-11, Matthew 21:2832; Monday (Sts. Cosmas and Damian), Zechariah 8:1-8, Luke 9:46-50; Tuesday (St. Vincent de Paul), Zechariah 8:20-23, Luke 9:51-56; Wednesday (St. Wenceslaus, St. Lawrence Ruiz and Companions), Nehemiah 2:1-8, Luke 9:57-62; Thursday (Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels), Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, John 1:47-51; Friday (St. Jerome), Baruch 1:15-22, Luke 10:13-16; Saturday, Baruch 4:5-12, 27-29, Luke 10:17-24

Our parishes

September 9, 2011 | catholicnewsherald.com

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief

CHARLOTTE — The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem invested a new lady and promoted in rank another lady during a special Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte Aug. 21.

Alice Cella was promoted to the grade of lady commander with star, the third grade for women in the order. Gail Buckley, founder of Catholic Scripture Study International, was invested as a lady, the first grade for women in the order. During what’s informally called the “Scroll Mass,” Bishop Peter J. Jugis, on behalf of the Holy See, presented scrolls to each.

Founded during the Crusades to protect the sacred places of Jerusalem, the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher fraternal order has about 18,000 men and women members worldwide and is under papal protection. Its modern mission is to sustain the religious and humanitarian efforts of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land; and to propagate the faith in the Holy Land and the rights of the Catholic Church there.

(Editor’s note: See related news item on page 19.)

— Patricia L. Guilfoyle

Correction The Catholic News Herald reported an incorrect number of retired priests in the Aug. 26 story “Centuries of faith-filled service.”

The diocese has 23 retired priests being supported by the annual Priests’ Retirement and Benefits Collection. We regret the error.

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Charlotte diocese among Catholic employers concerned about new contraception mandate Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor

Order honors two during ‘Scroll Mass’

catholic news heraldI

CHARLOTTE — A new federal regulation that would require employer insurance plans to provide contraceptives is being greeted with varying levels of dismay in Catholic dioceses across the country, including the Diocese of Charlotte.

The new regulation is part of implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, which sets up new preventative health care coverage specifically for women at no cost. That coverage includes services such as mammograms, prenatal care and cervical cancer screenings, but it also mandates free contraception, sterilizations and drugs considered by the Church to be abortifacients – which are contrary to Catholic teaching.

For a religious employer that does not want to offer such services, the regulation sets out a narrow exemption: An exempt religious

employer is one that “(1) has the inculcation of religious values as its purpose; (2) primarily employs persons who share its religious tenets; (3) primarily serves persons who share its religious tenets; and (4) is a nonprofit organization” under specific sections of the Internal Revenue Code. The exact language was announced Aug. 1 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The U.S. bishops and other Catholic leaders across the country are decrying this exemption as too narrowly written – particularly parts 2 and 3 – and violates the Church’s religious liberty. The Church’s ministries do and should go beyond serving and employing Catholics, they said. The Charlotte diocese served more than 20,000 people alone through Catholic Social Services last fiscal year.

Terri Wilhelm, diocesan human resources director, said the diocese may be “all right for now,” but there is a real risk that the diocese could soon be forced to choose from three bad

Make your voice heard HHS is taking comments until Friday, Sept.

30, on its regulation to include contraception as a “preventative” care option in the new health reform law, and to restrict a religious employer’s right to not offer such coverage. Comments can be e-mailed to womensguidelines@hrsa.gov. options: offer contraception coverage, limit its ministries to serving Catholics only, or stop offering insurance to its employees altogether.

But if they were to get backed into a corner by the HHS regulation, only the third option would really be on the table, Catholic leaders said last week.

The U.S. bishops have called on HHS to rescind the contraception mandate, and to CONTRACEPTION, SEE page 17

OLG children learning to adore Jesus Marian Cowhig Owen Correspondent

GREENSBORO — The prayers are the same, but the voices are higher pitched. Knees still bend in genuflection, but without that pesky stiffness. Hands clutch rosaries, but they can’t quite resist the temptation to twirl them. This summer’s Adoration sessions at Our Lady of Grace Church gave children a chance to worship in their own way.

The Greensboro parish, which already offered Eucharistic Adoration during the day each Thursday, began holding a special children’s service in June. Parochial vicar Father John Eckert, who led the services, said as many as 50 children, ranging from infants up to about age 7, attended each week with their parents. “You can be so close to Jesus during Adoration,” said OLG parishioner Tonya Wong, a mother of four whose idea it was to start the summer program. Before moving to Greensboro four years ago, she and her family lived in Wichita, Kan., where “they had Adoration in most of the churches,” she said.

“It was nice to be able to go to a church (to adore) if you had a busy day and needed quiet time.”

The 30-minute service incorporates a decade of the rosary, personal petitions and a lesson. Wong and parishioner Meg Foppe designed the service, basing it on a format from an Illinois group called Children of Hope.

At a mid-August service, Father Eckert spoke about the Assumption of Mary and the relationship the children could have with her.

“What’s that special prayer we pray to ask Mary to help us?” he asked them. “The rosary, that’s right. … Now let’s just ask Mary to help us to pray the best that we can.”

Parishioner Chrissy Rogan said she tried to prepare her daughter Maggie, 7, for the experience of adoring the Most Blessed Sacrament.

“One of the things I did with her was focus on the word ‘adoration,’” she said. “We adore Christ and His sacrifice. … (Now) she says she feels Christ’s love and in turn she feels more love for Christ and for others.

She really feels that closeness and intimacy in front of the Blessed

photo provided by Barbara Markun

Father John Eckert, parochial vicar of Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro, instructs children on prayer during a special children’s Eucharistic Adoration time at the church.

The parish began the children’s service over the summer and may continue it this fall.

Sacrament.”

Children’s Adoration may continue this fall, with a time change to accommodate liturgies for students at the parish school.

“We want to open it up to all the families of the parish,” Father Eckert said.

Children who attend Eucharistic Adoration are setting the stage for a lifetime of involvement with the Church, Father Eckert said.

“From an early age, they’ll be happy in the church and comfortable with prayer. From an early age, this will be part of who they are.”

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 9, 2011 OUR PARISHES

Diocesan calendar of events BELMONT BELMONT ABBEY COLLEGE, 100 belmont-mt. holly road — Arts at the Abbey presents “The Bechtler Ensemble,” 8 p.m. Sept. 19. Visit bechtlerensemble.com.

Bishop Peter J. Jugis

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

— Documentary: “Race to Nowhere,” 7-9 p.m. Sept. 27. Visit www.racetonowhere.com.

Sept. 10 – 8 a.m.

Carmelite Profession of Vows St. Ann Church, Charlotte

— The Fatima Story of Hope, presented by Sister Angela of Fatima, Chapel, 7 p.m. Sept. 28

Sept. 11 – 11:15 a.m.

Mass for 70th Anniversary of Parish St. Joseph Church, Bryson City

ST. GABRIEL CHURCH, 3016 PROVIDENCE ROAD — Catholic Social Services’ Natural Family Planning Bilingual Instructor Course (English/Spanish), Ministry Center Room A, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 17. Contact Batrice Adcock at cssnfp@charlottediocese.org or 704-370-3230, or Nannette Badillo at badillonannette@bellsouth.net.

Sept. 13 – 11 a.m.

Presbyteral Council Meeting Pastoral Center

ST. john neumann CHURCH, 8451 idlewild road

Sept. 13 – 4 p.m.

Mass for Priest Jubilarians St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

— “The Human Experience” Documentary, 6 p.m. Sept. 17 — “Living Your Strengths for Teens,” 6:15-8 p.m. Sept. 18, 25, and Oct. 2

Sept. 15 – 7 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation St. Barnabas Church, Arden

— Musical Lecture on the Gloria, 7:45 p.m. Sept. 28

September 17 – 11 a.m.

Installation of Father Richard Benonis as Pastor St. Margaret of Scotland Church, Maggie Valley Sept. 18 – 2:30 p.m.

Heritage Society Mass and Dinner St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte Sept. 23-24 Eucharistic Congress Charlotte Convention Center

charlotte catholic high school, 7702 Pineville-Matthews Road

ST. MATTHEW CHURCH, 8015 BALLANTYNE COMMONS PKWY. — “Moments Matter in Lectio Divina,” NLC Room 208, 1011 a.m. and 7-8 p.m. Sept. 15. Group is limited to 10 adults.

Contact patldonlevy@gmail.com, 704-541-8960, or 704323-7910.

— St. Peregrine Healing Prayer Service, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22 — Cenacles of The Divine Mercy Day of Healing, 9 a.m.3 p.m. Oct. 8.

ST. patrick cathedral, 1621 dilworth road e.

— The Fatima Story of Hope, presented by Sister Angela of Fatima, Family Life Center, 7 p.m. Sept. 27

— Fall Scripture Study: St. Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians, 1-2:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Jan. 3. Childcare provided.

Contact Margaret at jmgusto@bellsouth.net.

Volume 20 • Number 31

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

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

St. Matthew “YoUniversity,” fill your spiritual cup and connect with your church community by attending one of the many fall educational offerings! Morning and evening classes are available, with childcare for most.

Back to basics: Catholicism 101, NLC Room 203, 7-8:30 p.m. Mondays (Sept. 12-Dec. 12) or 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Wednesdays (Sept. 14-Dec. 14).

Back to Basics: The Gospel of Mark, NLC Room 2013, 9:30-10:45 a.m. Wednesdays (Sept.

14-Dec. 14). quest, a new approach to understanding the Sunday Scripture readings, NLC Library Room 102, 9:45-10:45 a.m. Tuesdays beginning Sept. 15.

Registration required.

GREENSBORO OUR LADY OF GRACE CHURCH, 2205 W. MARKET ST. — “The Catholic Faith and Bible Christians,” Cafeteria, 7-8:30 p.m. Sept. 15 — Walking with Purpose Women’s Bible Study, 8 a.m. Sept.

17. Contact Patty Disney at pdisney@ridgewoodnc.net.

Visit www.walkingwithpurpose.com.

— “The Catholic Faith and ‘Once Upon a Time’ Christians,” 7-8:30 p.m. Sept. 22 st. pius x CHURCH, 2210 n. elm st.

— “Gospel of Matthew: The King and His Kingdom,” a 24-week study, 10 a.m.-noon starting Sept. 13. Register at the church office. Contact Ben Yorks at byorks9411@ aol.com.

— “Learn to Pray the Liturgy of the Hours,” Kloster Center, 7-8:30 p.m. Sept. 13, 20 and 27. Contact Elliott Suttle at spiusx.lothclass@gmail.com.

Young adult scripture study- The Psalms: A Study of Prayer, NLC Room 234-235, 7-8:30 p.m.

Sept. 6 and 20, Oct. 4 and 18, and Nov. 1, 15 and 29.

Registration required.

— “Seasons of Hope” Bereavement Group, 1:45-4 p.m.

Sundays Sept. 25-Oct. 30. Register at 336-272-4681 by Sept. 19.

for more information: Michael Burck, mburck@ stmatthewcatholic.org or 704-541-8362

HICKORY

to register: registration@stmatthewcatholic.org

— Fall Scripture Study: Understanding the Mystery of the Mass, 10-11 a.m. Oct. 2, 9, 16 and 23, Nov. 6 and 20.

Contact Margaret at jmgusto@bellsouth.net.

September 9, 2011

This week’s spotlight:

for childcare: 704-543-7677 ext. 1011 at least 48 hours in advance.

ST. ALOYSIUS CHURCH, 921 second st. n.e.

— Catholic Scripture Study, Parlor, 10 a.m. beginning Sept. 20 or Lower Level/Video Room 6:45 p.m. beginning Sept. 13, Tuesdays. Childcare provided for evening class. Contact Drew and Shelby Chesson at shelbeth@bellsouth.net.

HIGH POINT ST. vincent de paul church, 6828 old reid road — The Fatima Story of Hope, presented by Sister Angela of Fatima, Activity Center, 10 a.m. Sept. 26 — Catholics Returning Home Program, Faith Formation Center, 7:30-9 p.m. Oct. 3, 10, 17 and 24, Nov. 8 and 14.

Register at 704-554-7088.

DENVER HOLY SPIRIT CHURCH, 537 N. HWY. 16 — “Moving on After Moving In,” 10-11:30 a.m. Sept. 15, a 10-week program for women. Contact Candy at 704-4891696 or Maureen at 704-489-0544.

— Cancer Support Group, Parish Activity Center, noon Sept.

20 and 27, Oct. 4, 11 and 18. Lunch will be served. Contact Barb Hissom at 704-483-6448.

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,

immaculate heart of mary church, 4145 johnson st.

— Beginner and Advanced Spanish Classes, 7-8:30 p.m.

Sept. 15, will run for eight consecutive Thursdays.

Contact Nancy at 336-884-0522 or Dr. Kwan at hinglkwan@gmail.com.

HUNTERSVILLE ST.MARK CHURCH, 14740 Stumptown Road — St. Mark Business Alliance Meeting, Family Life Center, 7:30-8:30 a.m. Sept. 15. Contact Trish Stukbauer at stmarkbizalliance@gmail.com or 704-575-4340.

Is your PARISH OR SCHOOL hosting a free event open to the public? Deadline for all submissions for the Diocesan Calendar is 10 days prior to desired publication date. Submit in writing to catholicnews@charlottediocese.org or fax to 704-370-3282

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.

facebook.com/ catholic news HERALD Diocese of Charlotte

September 9, 2011 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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Growing St. Luke Parish buys land to build larger church

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief

SueAnn Howell Staff writer

Holy Angels launches a unique pontoon boat BELMONT — The “Spirit of Maria” set sail on the South Fork River Aug. 24 at Holy Angels Camp Hope after receiving a special blessing. The new pontoon boat, specially designed to accommodate wheelchairs, was named in honor of Maria Morrow, the first resident of Holy Angels in Belmont.

The pontoon boat, purchased with donations sent in following Morrow’s death last year, will be used by Holy Angels residents for their lake adventures.

Throughout her life Morrow did not let any aspect of her disability stop her from experiencing all life had to offer, and the new “Spirit of Maria” is exactly what she would want for residents, Holy Angels officials said.

Holy Angels Camp Hope is a unique recreational facility on the South Fork River specifically designed for Holy Angels residents. The camp includes a bathhouse, fishing pier, covered pavilion, beach area and nature trail. Due to its accessibility, Holy Angels residents have the opportunity to catch fish, ride a pontoon boat or take a hike through the woods on a wheelchairaccessible nature trail.

— Sister Nancy Nance

Educational workshop on migration planned CHARLOTTE — “I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me,” an educational workshop on migration and Catholic teaching, will be presented from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 10, at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte. Father Les Schmidt, Glenmary Home Missioners regional representative; Sister Rose Marie Tresp, director of Justice South Central for the Sisters of Mercy; and Joseph Purello, director of the diocesan Office of Justice and Peace, will speak at this workshop, sponsored by a partnership of Catholic churches. An international lunch buffet will also be served. For details and to RSVP, contact Roxana Bendezú at RoxanaBendezu@gmail.com or 704-2644444.

Photo provided by Dan Brown

Parishioners of St. Eugene Church in Asheville and their pastor, Father Pat Cahill (left), get to work on building a Habitat for Humanity house, funded in part by the parish’s weekly offertory. Four Catholic churches and one college community of Catholic students are working on the project, along with other churches in the Asheville area.

Catholic churches in western N.C. help build the 2011 Interfaith House Construction began Aug. 31 on Habitat house SueAnn Howell Staff writer

ASHEVILLE — Four Catholic churches and one college community of Catholic students plan on helping to make a deserving homeowner’s dreams come true. The parishes of St. Eugene, St. Lawrence, St. Margaret Mary and St. Barnabas are participating in a Habitat for Humanity project in west Asheville this fall.

Catholic students from the University of North Carolina-Asheville are participating as well, along with eight other faith communities in the Asheville area, to build the 2011 Interfaith House for Asheville Habitat for Humanity. Construction should be completed

by Oct. 28.

Betsy Warren, sponsorship coordinator for Asheville Habitat for Humanity, is excited about the new project.

“This 2011 house will be the 13th Interfaith House built by a diverse coalition of faith communities in Buncombe County, and we are proud of not only the project, but of the way it bridges gaps and brings people of different faiths together,” Warren said.

More than 150 people will work on the home, for a total of 275 volunteer days contributed by all the churches. In all, it is estimated that more than 1,650 volunteer hours will go into the home’s construction. The house itself will be approximately 1,100 square feet and will house a mother and her children who will put “sweat equity” into the project.

The actual cost to Habitat of building the Interfaith House, including land and infrastructure, will be approximately $125,000.

A full sponsorship is $55,000. The 12 faith communities sponsoring the Interfaith House expect to raise about $20,000. The balance of funding will come from other donors, from Habitat ReStore sales, and current partner family mortgage payments.

Dan Brown, coordinator for the volunteers from St. Eugene Church, estimates that there will be 35 volunteers from the parish helping with the home. They will work over the course of 50 days to help complete the house.

“Participating with 11 other faith communities is a demonstration of St. Eugene’s ecumenical spirit,” Brown said.

“By helping to provide affordable housing for a deserving family in the Asheville area, parishioners reaffirm St. Eugene’s mission statement’s call to service within and beyond our boundaries.”

St. Eugene Church distributes 10 percent of each week’s offertory to numerous local charities, including Habitat. They will contribute more than $2,500 to the cost of the 2011 Interfaith House.

“I believe the Interfaith House project sponsored by Habitat for Humanity is so popular because we can share our resources with others in God’s name, see the tangible evidence of our effort, and know that it has a lasting positive impact on making the our community more livable and sustainable,” Brown said.

MINT HILL — It’s taken four years to find just the right location, but St. Luke Church has finally purchased the land it needs to expand and meet the needs of the growing parish just east of Charlotte.

The best news for parishioners is that the new site is very close to the current location within the Town of Mint Hill in Mecklenburg County.

“Our goal has always been to find an excellent piece of property close to our present location and large enough to handle all our future needs,” said Father Paul Gary, pastor of St. Luke, in a recent letter to parishioners. “The committee found this property only three miles away, just north of us off I-485. It is located on N.C. Highway 218, also called Fairview Road.”

The parish borrowed $850,000 from the diocese to purchase the 31-acre tract for a little over $1,000,000.

The current church building was constructed in 1993, six years after the parish was established. At that time, there were only 250 registered families and the parish was considered to be “out in the country.” With the significant growth that has taken place in the Charlotte metropolitan area, the church had to be expanded in 1997 to accommodate the rising numbers of parishioners and a Family Life Center was also built.

The opening of the I-485 beltway in 2005 brought with it an increased population in the Mint Hill area, and the present church with 1,400 registered families has outgrown its current worship and meeting spaces.

“There was no more room for us to expand because environmental buffers were created to protect an endangered species, the Carolina Heelsplitter Mussel,” explained Father Gary. “This restricted us to four of our 11 acres.”

So the parish organized committees, hired architects and conducted “town hall”-style meetings to discuss the growing needs of the parish.

“It was decided that the best thing to do was to move and find a piece of property that would answer all our needs for a hundred years. The new property helps us to prepare for the future when the Town of Mint Hill rezones this area and the developers build the mall across the street,” Father Gary added.

St. Luke’s building committee will host meetings this month to discuss a spring capital campaign to raise $850,000 for the land with plans for another campaign in the future for the building of the new church, which they hope will take place within the next three to five years.

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 9, 2011 OUR PARISHES

Jennifer Krawiec | Catholic News Herald

Father Robert Ferris carries the Most Blessed Sacrament as members of the Knights of Columbus Council 6451 line the path leading to the new St. Aloysius Perpetual Adoration Chapel in Hickory.

St. Aloysius opens Perpetual Adoration Chapel Jennifer Krawiec Correspondent

HICKORY — Years of planning and discussion went into the development of a Perpetual Adoration Chapel at St. Aloysius Church in Hickory, and on Aug. 15 it was finally ready. With his voice full of emotion Father Robert Ferris, pastor, told his congregation during the Mass preceding the new chapel’s dedication: “The Holy Spirit is here.”

This special day, which marked the Feast of the Assumption, began with Mass. During his homily, Father Ferris expressed thanks and appreciation for all the parishioners’ work to open the chapel, which is located across the street from the church and adjacent to the rectory.

Father Ferris blessed the monstrance that is to be kept permanently in the new chapel, and then he and Deacons Tom Rassmussen and Ron Caplette led the congregation in a Eucharistic procession to the chapel.

Father Ferris then placed the Most Blessed Sacrament in the chapel. He blessed the chapel, the adorers inside and the crowd gathered outside waiting to enter.

The day was the fulfillment of Father Ferris’s dream of encouraging Eucharistic Adoration among the faithful of St. Aloysius Church.

“I felt strongly that the Lord was really wanting me to do this,” Father Ferris said.

“Pope John Paul II had said Perpetual

Adoration should be in every parish in the world.”

After Father Ferris gave a homily about Perpetual Adoration, on the feast of Corpus Christi last year, parishioner Anna Miller approached him and said she felt called to be chairperson of the effort to open a Perpetual Adoration Chapel.

Miller gathered signatures of people willing to volunteer their time as adorers.

A Perpetual Adoration Chapel needs about 168 adorers – at least one for each hour of the week, day and night. The parish also obtained helpful advice from the National Perpetual Adoration Society.

The parish decided to locate the chapel in a church-owned house on their property, which had been rented out but had become vacant at just the right time. The Knights of Columbus Council 6451 donated thousands of hours to get the house ready, and dozens of parishioners shared their talents and time to renovate the house.

Fourteen months after parishioners started the project, the chapel was ready to be opened.

The building housing the Perpetual Adoration Chapel also contains a library filled with Catholic literature and study materials.

Father Ferris said he knows the presence of Our Lord goes beyond the altar where the Most Blessed Sacrament is placed.

“I think this will revitalize our parish, the people of our church, and even the community that we are in,” he said.

September 9, 2011 | catholicnewsherald.com

DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME Luke 22:19 Charlotte Convention Center, September 23 & 24, 2011

Mini-retreat for middle-schoolers planned for 2011 Congress An interview with retreat leader Father Patrick Hoare Father Patrick Hoare, pastor of St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte, is the featured speaker in the Middle School track of the Eucharistic Congress.

Father Hoare says the program will feature the Life Teen Band from St. Hoare Matthew Church, and will both inform and entertain the sixththrough eighth-graders who attend the track. Although the track is only three hours long, Father Hoare intends to introduce the students to the concept of a retreat. Father Hoare recently spoke with diocesan Director of Communication David Hains about his participation in the Congress. His comments have been edited for clarity.

Q: Many Catholics have attended retreats in high school and as adults. What will the experience be like for a middle school student?

A: It’s being called a mini-retreat. As middle school students they are reaching a maturity level where they are questioning and starting to examine critically what they believe. When I was in sixth grade, you believed what you were taught. Now, because of the way society marginalizes or almost mocks faith, kids at a younger and younger age are sort of encouraged, though the media and though their peers, to question everything and to look at things with a skeptical eye. I am going to base

Coming next week The Catholic News Herald will publish a special edition Sept. 16 featuring complete advance coverage of the Diocese of Charlotte’s 2011 Eucharistic Congress, which will be held Sept.

23-24 at the Charlotte Convention Center. Go online to www.goeucharist.com for more about the event.

the mini-retreat on John Chapter 6, the “Bread of Life” discourse, and start with the passage where Jesus reveals Himself to be the Bread of Life. At the end of the passage, it says, some of the disciples said following Jesus was too hard for them, and they left Him. And from this, the kids go through a thought process: Is Jesus crazy? Are we crazy for believing Him, or are we crazy for not believing Him? That’s really the question that I want to help them answer for themselves.

Q: That is an interesting way to boil down the journey toward salvation.

A: It is. And of course, since this is the Eucharistic Congress, (the retreat) will be centered on the Eucharistic. We will be examining our belief in the Eucharist

as middle school students who will face questions on why they believe that the wafer they see is the Body and Blood of Our Lord.

Q: Have you ever taught middle school students?

A: I’ve been in middle school classrooms, but my main experience with middle school students was when we started an education program for them at St. Mark Church in Huntersville. My primary ministry prior to becoming a priest was with high school students.

Q: How should a middle school student prepare for the Eucharistic Congress and the miniretreat?

A: I would encourage middle school students – and everyone participating in the events of the Congress – to really be aware of both their personal experience and the experience of those around them. They are part of a much larger experience, not only at the Congress but also in the Church around the world. They will be participating in the procession, the education programs and in Adoration, and it is important to not only notice how they are experiencing these things personally but how others are experiencing it. A big part of the liturgy is the Church of Christ coming together as one body. Their relationship with Christ is a personal thing, but they are part of a larger Body, too.

OUR PARISHESI

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Bishops promote protecting marriage in state constitution David Hains Diocesan Director of Communication

Catholic Voice North Carolina is joining a coalition of groups in support of an amendment to the state constitution to protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

On Wednesday, Sept. 7, Bishops Peter Jugis of Charlotte and Michael F. Burbidge of the Diocese of Raleigh sent an e-mail alert to nearly 4,000 registered participants of Catholic Voice NC asking them to contact their state legislators. The bishops also wrote to Gov. Beverly Perdue.

In addition, a Marriage Rally will take place on the grass field behind the Legislature building known as Halifax Mall at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 12.

Although state law prohibits same-sex “marriage,” supporters say the amendment would strengthen the existing protection by including it in the constitution.

“Our Lord and our Catholic faith have clearly defined marriage,” the bishops stated in their e-mail. “It is at risk of being redefined if we do not preserve it in our state constitution. Without this, a judge can declare our present statute defining traditional marriage as unconstitutional, opening the door to same-sex marriage in North Carolina as judges have done in Massachusetts, Iowa and Connecticut.”

In their letter to the governor, the bishops described protecting marriage as “foundational to civilization itself.”

If approved by the legislature, the measure would go before voters in a referendum in the November 2012 general election.

The bishops’ complete message and their letter to Gov. Perdue is online at www.CatholicVoiceNC.org.

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 9, 2011

Aqui

estamos!

De

Cerca

Congreso Mariano del Rosario 2011 Conozca más del Rosario y de Nuestra Santísima Madre, a través de reconocidos conferencistas internacionales y regionales.

Tambien disfrute de música contemporánea católica con cantantes locales. El Congreso Mariano del Rosario se llevará a cabo el viernes 30 de septiembre y 1 de octubre, en el Cabarrus Arena & Events Center. Mayores informes y venta de entradas al 704-7063369.

Retiro Regional de Jovenes del Sureste En preparación para la Pascua Juvenil del próximo año, cerca de 250 jóvenes de los estados de la región sureste de los Estados Unidos se reunirán en la escuela Holy Trinity en Charlotte, este 10 y 11 de septiembre. Se espera la participación de jóvenes de Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, entre otros estados que componen el area sureste, así como los facilitadores del SEPI. Este es el primer retiro regional de una serie de eventos similares que culminarán con la realización de la Pascua Juvenil 2012, en sus respectivos estados.

Charla sobre el evento Fátima El domingo 25 de septiembre, a las 12:45 p.m., la Hermana Angela Coelho dictará una charla acerca de la Virgen de Fátima. La hermana Coelho es vice-postuladora de la causa de canonización de Jacinta and Francisco Marto. La reunión será en la Parroquia San Vicente de Paul, en Charlotte.

carlos castañeda | Catholic News Herald

Participantes del Encuentro de Liderazgo Patoral, nivel I, en Wilkesboro. El encuentro fue promovido por la Vicaría de WinstonSalem y facilitado por el MACC (Mexican American Catholic College), a través del FMCN (Farmers Migrant Catholic Network).

La siembra y cosecha de la fe carlos castañeda Catholic news herald-español

WILKESBORO — Líderes, trabajadores rurales y campesinos del área del vicariato de Winston-Salem se reunieron el pasado 12, 13 y 14 de agosto, para crecer en el conocimiento de nuestra fe y poder organizar sus comunidades.

Cerca de 30 campesinos o trabajadores dedicados a las labores rurales del área de Wilkesboro, Jefferson y zonas aledañas participaron en el retiro organizado por la vicaría de Winston-Salem, bajo la conducción de MACC (Mexican-American Catholic College) y el CMFN (Catholic Migrant Farmers Network). Este es el primer nivel de este retiro, obtenido gracias a una subvención gestionada por la vicaría.

El evento se realizó en la parroquia San Juan Bautista de la Salle en Wilkesboro, donde los líderes pernoctaron dos noches, en medio de reflexiones y temas que ayudaron a profundizar en la enseñanza de la fe. Para algunos de los asistentes, como Hilario Francisco de la

Parroquia San Francisco de Asís en Jefferson, ésta fue una magnífica oportunidad para conocer materiales, dinámicas y temas que ayudan a integrar a la comunidad. “Me llamó mucho la atención poder analizar y reflexionar sobre nuestra realidad, a través de dinámicas y pasajes bíblicos, como por ejemplo el Libro del Exodo, en el que se describe históricamente una situación migrante muy parecida a la que vivimos actualmente muchos trabajadores que venimos a este país buscando una vida mejor.

Un camino de vida con muchos cambios e incertidumbre humanas a veces, pero enraizado en una profunda fe en un Dios Todopoderoso.”

Alejandro Siller-González, facilitador del retiro y miembro del equipo de MACC, nos comenta los resultados y frutos que estos retiros ha dado a diferentes comunidades en otros estados de la nación. “Existe un profundo deseo de comunicar y compartir la Palabra de Dios. Es gratamente sorprendente ver cómo los participantes abren sus sentimientos y expectativas en sus grupos de trabajo, durante estos dias de retiro. Posteriormente, llevan a

sus propias comunidades esta metodología de trabajo y el crecimiento se hace local, focalizado y abundante”, comentó.“Existen elementos dentro de nuestra cultura hispana, como el evento Guadalupe, que además unifica y da sentido de comunidad. Ojalá podamos impartir el siguiente nivel el próximo año. Será muy interesante experimentar la profundización de esta experiencia, después de los frutos que este fin de semana ha dado.”

Para Cuauhtémoc González, coordinador del vicariato de Winston-Salem, esta es una verdadera bendición para la vicaría bajo su coordinación. “Esta vez pudimos obtener el subsidio para obtener el primer nivel del programa, de forma gratuita. Ojalá podamos contar con el apoyo necesario para recibir el segundo nivel el próximo año,” anotó.

“Agradezco a Alejandro, a la Hermana Teresa Ann Wolf, OSB y a la gente del CMFN, por haber viajado hasta aqui y haber participado estos tres dias con nosotros. Los esperaremos el próximo año,” puntualizó Témoc.

September 9, 2011 | catholicnewsherald.com

Una voz para alabar al Señor

photo provided by sandy caldera

Sandy Caldera, psicóloga invidente, será una de las expositoras de las conferencias en español en el séptimo Congreso Eucarístico diocesano. carlos castañeda catholic news herald

CHARLOTTE — Escuchar a Sandy es recibir energía. Una persona de una personalidad magnética, un optimismo a prueba del cansancio normal del final del dia. Le damos una idea de la expectativa que existe por su visita, hablamos de los preparativos de este séptimo Congreso Eucarístico, y, sin mayores dilaciones, quisimos formular algunas cortas preguntas que aqui se resumen. ¿Cómo te sientes de venir por primera vez a Charlotte?

Bueno, ante todo gracias por esta oportunidad de dirigirme todos mis hermanos en Charlotte. Para mi fue una agradable sorpresa saber que iríamos a Charlotte, por ser una ciudad con una población hispana emergente y un lugar al que aún no habíamos podido llegar. Eso lo hace aún más atractivo para nosotros.

Estamos muy emocionados de poder estar junto a ustedes, conocernos y adorar juntos a Cristo Eucaristía, a través de la música. ¿Cómo definirías el ministerio de la música como un medio para acercarnos más a Dios?

Yo defino este ministerio como una tremenda bendición, porque a la vez es algo

que disfruto y me gusta. Siento que a través de este don que Dios me regaló he podido acercarme más y además ser un vehículo para que muchos otros lleguen y se acerquen más a El, a través de la música. Por otro lado, pienso que es uno de los ministerios que más apoyo necesita. Muchas veces estamos acostumbrados a no reforzar o apoyar a los laicos interesados en el ministerio musical y dejamos que se usen “playbacks” o pistas, dejando de lado el desarrollo profesional.

Justamente creo que mi talento o don también es parte de la tarea de ayudar y promover el proceso de madurez y apoyo a nuestros ministros de la música, hacerlos más profesionales. ¿Te refieres con esto a la industrialización de la música Cristiana evangélica, por ejemplo?

Si, yo creo que en este sentido nuestros hermanos de otras iglesias han podido construir toda una industria en torno a la alabanza y adoración. Nuestra tradición Católica y la riqueza de nuestros sacramentos son un terreno fértil para nutrir un verdadero y serio amor por la música. Es momento de acercar nuestros talentos y fructificarlos, crecer musicalmente.

Sandy comparte sus recargados dias junto a eu esposo, Elliott González Vásquez, su brazo derecho y baterista del grupo musical, así como junto a su pequeña hija. En el 2009 publicó su primer libro: “Dios Quiere Restaurar Tu Corazón”, y por si fuera poco, además conduce el programa radial “Oasis de amor”, que se transmite a través de Radio Guadalupe, en Los Angeles.

Sandy se despide de nosotros recordándonos sus proyectos a futuro: “Tengo proyectos para las tres grandes áreas de mi vida: como psicóloga, quisiera escribir libros y promover conferencias para ayudar a las familias hispanas; como cantante, me gustaría seguir creciendo profesionalmente, abriendo nuevas ventanas y promoviendo lo mejor de nuestros talentos para alabar al Señor a través de la música; y finalmente, como madre y esposa, me gustaría vivir de acuerdo a lo que predico, haciendo felices a mi pequeña hija y a mi esposo”.

En

contacto

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.

catholic news heraldI

9

Our schools

10

catholicnewsherald.com | September 9, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief

First day of class at Charlotte diocese’s newest school

Christ the King opens its doors Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor

Scholarship awarded to CCHS grad CHARLOTTE — Laura Gauthier, a graduate of Charlotte Catholic High School who entered the University of Notre Dame this fall, has been awarded the Knights of Columbus Council 10852’s annual college scholarship. The $500-per-year award is given to the children or near relatives of council members after an extensive selection process.

Gauthier, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jon Gauthier of Charlotte, served as president of the senior class at CCHS and was named to the National Honor Society.

St. Matthew’s Council 10852 has awarded more $24,000 in scholarships since beginning the program in 1992. With more than 450 members, it is the largest council in North Carolina.

Pictured above with Gauthier are Chuck Elgin, Grand Knight, and Bob Conlon, Deputy Grand Knight.

— Harry Fear

MOORESVILLE — More than two dozen students stepped off the bus Aug. 24 for what marked a milestone in the Diocese of Charlotte: the opening of a new Catholic high school.

Christ the King Catholic High School is a unique high school in many respects, not the least of which is its growth plan. It opened in a temporary facility in Mooresville Aug. 24 with the freshman grade; in future years, sophomore, junior and senior classes will be filled out as the demand for Catholic education increases in this fast-growing part of the diocese, in suburbs 30 miles north of Charlotte.

The school day began with Mass celebrated by Father Roger K. Arnsparger, diocesan vicar of education. Father Arnsparger also blessed the classrooms and crucifixes to be displayed throughout the school.

Students then attended orientation and met with their teachers, seven highly-skilled professionals who are just as enthusiastic as the students in building this new school’s identity from scratch.

At orientation, students and faculty discussed the Ten Commandments and their meaning for the students applied within the school setting.

They had an abbreviated class schedule, followed by a final prayer in the school gym before dismissal that afternoon. Students also received rosaries and prayer cards as small

gifts to remember their first day.

Students also had the opportunity to write down their impressions of their first day at the new school. They wrote: “When I walked into Christ the King for the first time I couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear, and take a deep breath. Everyone is so nice to everyone; it’s like one big family,” wrote Hannah Cutlip.

“My first impression of Christ the King was of when I first got off the bus. It made me feel very special and appreciated when I saw the entire faculty giving us high-fives and cheering for us,” wrote Kaitlyn Miller.

Thomas Selzer wrote, “Once I got off of the bus I could feel the high level of energy coming from the staff.

I liked that the classes are smaller so that it will be much less difficult to engage in the classes. This first day has helped me become less nervous and more excited in starting the new high school.”

And Katie Keehne wrote, “I think that it will be a student’s school, a Catholic student’s school. I really noticed how everything was based around our Catholic beliefs. The Mass was an absolutely beautiful way to start our year and the rest of CTK’s history. I love that we have been given so much trust! I am so excited for this school and feel very blessed that I am able to be part of the inaugural class.”

Christ the King is notably the first school in the diocesan schools CKHS, SEE page 11

Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald

Christ the King High School students Angela Arce (left) and Carley Murphy (right) eye the religious gift items they received at the end of the first day of classes at the new diocesan high school in Mooresville.

More online For more photos from Christ the King Catholic High School, go to the Diocese of Charlotte’s YouTube channel.

September 9, 2011 | catholicnewsherald.com

CKHS: FROM PAGE 10

system to issue laptops to every student – to enrich their learning and power a technologically-driven educational model being put in place there.

It is also the first school in the diocese to offer an honors diploma in additional to the standard diploma. Honors courses will also be offered to freshmen – a first for Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools.

“By the time one of our students is a senior, he or she should be as comfortable learning online or independently as they are in a traditional classroom setting,” said Principal Dan Dolan recently. “We have also reconsidered the sequence in which we will introduce our science program and all students will start with physics, then chemistry, and students will take biology in the junior year.”

This method, called “Physics First” and embraced nation-wide in independent schools, is “an exciting way to engage students in the sciences,” said Dolan, who has studied it for the past decade.

“It encourages a whole new level of understanding as students go into chemistry and biology with a greater conceptual understanding of the world around them,” he said.

Christ the King is the second high school for Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools and the third overall in the diocesan schools system.

The school’s growth plan includes a

permanent facility to be built on a 95-acre tract annexed by Kannapolis in Cabarrus County, just beyond the Huntersville line on Route 73 near Poplar Tent Road.

The temporary site at 753 Oak Ridge Farm Hwy. is adjacent to Curlin Commons, a diocesan-sponsored senior living community named for Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin.

Little upfit was required for the temporary facility, Dolan noted. It had been built recently to operate as a school.

Before school opened, parents helped build a patio with picnic tables where students can eat, he said.

Students also came in the weekend before school began to paint the school’s colors – blue and silver – and the mascot – the Crusader – in the student entranceway. The school’s motto “Believe: Think, Act, Serve” was also painted in bold blue and silver lettering just inside the door.

And at the front entrance, a Bible and small icons of Christ Pantocrator and the Blessed Virgin Mary were placed to clearly set forth this school’s truly Catholic mission.

The first day of classes at the diocese’s 18 other schools also went well for an estimated 7,600 students, said Janice Ritter, interim superintendent of schools, on Friday.

“We are pleased that we had a smooth opening at our schools,” Ritter said. “I know the principals, faculty and staff worked diligently to make that happen.

One comment that I heard several times is that the students seemed glad to be back at school, and that is something we certainly want to hear. We are looking forward to a wonderful year.”

— Staff writer SueAnn Howell contributed.

catholic news heraldI

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iiiSeptember 9, 2011 | catholicnewsherald.com

FROM TH

A place of and

peace prayer

Photo provided by St. Francis Springs Prayer Center

The staff of the St. Francis Springs Prayer Center are (from left): Paul C. Cronin, development and marketing volunteer coordinator; Ann Bauer, assistant director; Bob Pearson, housekeeping; and Father Canino.

St. Francis Springs Prayer Center plans expansion due to growing demand for quiet solitude, deeper connection with God Annette Tenny Correspondent

STONEVILLE — St. Francis Springs Prayer Center opened its doors in 2005, located on 140 acres of beautifully wooded property 40 minutes north of Greensboro. Six years and many thousands of retreats later, the response to the Catholic retreat center has been overwhelming, and the prayer center is planning a dramatic expansion to further its mission as a place of spiritual retreat, beauty and peace.

Cultivating Prayer

“We turn people away every week who want to bring retreats here because we don’t have the space,” said Ann Bauer, the center’s assistant director.

Sometimes, Bauer explains, it’s a group of

Annette Tenny | Catholic News Herald

Chapel entrance

day retreat participants needing an assembly room that holds more than 40 people. Other times it might be an overnight group needing more beds.

For the staff at the prayer center and for Father Louis Canino, OFM, the center’s director, the increased demand has been a blessing, a joy and a natural affirmation of their hard work. Most importantly for Father Canino, however, it confirms the need for what the center offers: a sanctuary where silence is respected, prayer is honored, and all those seeking a deeper connection with God are welcomed.

“We believe that everybody has a contemplative bent,” Father Canino says.

“What I mean by that is we believe everybody has a need for silence and solitude to listen to the heartbeat of God.” To “nature or nourish” that part of our being, Father Canino says, is the first part of the center’s mission.

First, the center accomplishes that through its building and grounds. The common areas, such as the open dining room or the main sitting room, are spacious and inviting for fellowship among retreat participants.

Moving away from the common areas, the center’s layout offers peaceful spaces designed for retreat participants to seek quiet places to pray and to listen to God: the chapel, the residential wing with its quiet rooms, and small sitting areas.

Second, the center’s mission is supported by the people who work there, nearly all of whom are volunteers. They make the beds, cook and serve the meals, clean the rooms, wash the linens and more.

Peace through justice

The second part of the center’s mission is to teach people to create peace through the Peace and Justice Institute located at St. Francis Springs.

“Justice is giving back to people that which rightfully belongs to them,” Father Canino says. “Here at the institute, we work to promote that.”

Shelter, clean water, and the freedom to practice one’s religion are some examples given by Father Canino of basic human rights that all people should have in a just world. The institute offers one-day and weekend retreats to explore the social justice dimension of the Gospel and how to integrate the Gospel message into one’s life through prayer and action.

A week-long immersion experience in El Salvador is also an important program at the Peace and Justice Institute. It allows participants to experience a world different from their own – and the opportunity to understand truly what it means to struggle daily for one’s basic needs.

Last November 18 people traveled to El Salvador with staff from the institute. Since 1999 more than 100 people have participated in this immersion program, and many have returned to help improve the lives of the people they met. Through support and donations, the institute, in conjunction with the El Salvadorian aid group Aprodehni, has been able to build day care centers, wells, latrines and bridges. They have helped families be able to send their children to school and they have sponsored some of these children through college.

Father Louis Canino, OFM, is director of the St. Francis Spring

Prayer in all things

For the people who work at St. Francis Springs Prayer Center, paid or volunteer, the effort they put forth is a ministry. They believe that the center is a place where God’s presence is tangible and, perhaps most of all, challenging. In a world that is, as Father Canino calls it, so broken, the need for the prayer center has never been greater.

“Spending qualitative time in silence and prayer leads to a deep realization that we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers,” he says.

“That realization leads us to understand that in order for there to be peace in the world, there must be justice for all.”

PHASE II EXPANSION PLANS

Because of the increasing number of requests the center is receiving for larger meeting spaces and more guestrooms, plans are under way to begin a building expansion that will double the center’s size. The center will go from 25,000 square feet to a total of

HE COVER

September 9, 2011 | catholicnewsherald.comiii

Annette Tenny | Catholic News Herald

The head of the meditation trail, looking back to the prayer center’s patios.

By the numbers n More than 30,000 people have attended retreats at the St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville since it opened in 2005. n More than 100 volunteers work at the center.

Annette Tenny | Catholic News Herald

Looking back towards the prayer center from the meditation trail.

A site plan of the proposed expansion for St. Francis Springs Prayer Center.

Annette Tenny | Catholic News Herald Photo provided by St. Francis Springs Prayer Center

gs Prayer Center.

50,000 square feet spread among a campus of new buildings.

The expansion includes three hermitages and two cottages separate from the prayer center’s main building. The hermitages will have a kitchen and bath, enabling retreat participants to enjoy greater privacy in small group settings. The cottages will have room for small groups and provide overflow sleeping for large groups using the main facility.

Other outdoor gathering/prayer areas and gardens are also planned, as well as a new assembly building. This building will have its own small chapel as well as kitchen and dining facilities, restrooms, parlors and a bookstore.

One of the most unique additions to the new campus will be an outdoor chapel, Father Canino says. The walls will be constructed of large window panels that can be opened, creating a beautifully open and airy space. The chapel will feature a large San Damiano Cross window framed in stone, a stone altar and hand-crafted pews.

A view of the great room, situated between the library and the dining room, and French doors leading to a large outdoor patio. Meeting rooms nearby can comfortably hold 30-35 people.

Prayer Center

Outdoor Chapel

Except for the Prayer Center all of the buildings in this proposed site plan are new.

Hermitage Cottage

Cottage

Assembly Building

Image provided by Jeffery Juliano of Collins, Cooper and Carusi Architects

What’s coming up The center is available for private individual or group retreats.

Day retreat and overnight retreat rates includes meals. On Sept.

17, there will be a “Justice & Peace Day Retreat.” Go online to www. stfrancissprings. com to see the complete fall and winter schedule.

For inquiries, call 336-573-3751.

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 9, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Father Matthew Buettner

T

he Liturgy of the Eucharist is composed of three distinct movements: the Offertory, the Eucharistic Prayer and the reception of Holy Communion.

The essence of Christianity is the reproduction of what Jesus encountered in the soul of each and every individual in the world. As Our Lord accepted His suffering, crucifixion, death and the glory of the resurrection, so also every person is to offer his or her human nature as an offering to the Heavenly Father. We are to die to sin so that we may rise and live in grace and glory. And in the Eucharistic Prayer, we unite ourselves with the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the High Priest and Victim.

The consecration of the Mass occurs within the larger context of the Eucharistic Prayer. It begins with the Preface and continues through the doxology chanted by the celebrant and concelebrants: “Through him, and with him, and in him….” As a prayer of thanksgiving and sanctification, it is the center and the summit of the entire Mass.

The prayer is recited by the celebrant alone or parts may be recited by other concelebrating priests. In either case, the

The Eucharistic Prayer: The most solemn moment in the Mass priest speaks on behalf of the Church, often denoted by the use of “we”: “We offer to you…”; “We pray to you….” However, in the “institution narrative,” the person speaking changes, although the voice remains the same. No longer does the priest speak on behalf of the Church, but now Christ speaks. No longer is it “We pray to you…,” but “This is my body.” Here, within this prayer of the Son addressed to the Father, eternity punctures the barrier of time and space, as the voice of Jesus Christ, the High Priest, is heard speaking the sacred words consecrating bread and wine into His own Body and Blood.

As Blessed John Paul II wrote in “Ecclesia de Eucharistia”: “The priest says these words, or rather he puts his voice at the disposal of the One who spoke these words in the Upper Room and who desires that they should be repeated in every generation….”

This is the most solemn moment in the Mass – the greatest expression of love on earth. That is why the Church instructs us that “The Eucharistic Prayer demands that all listen to it with reverence and in silence.”

The Eucharistic Prayer truly makes present the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As the Holy Father adds in the same encyclical, “When the Church celebrates the Eucharist, the memorial of her Lord’s death and resurrection, this central event of salvation becomes really present and ‘the work of our redemption is carried out.’ …

The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice.”

And so before the Eucharist is a banquet, it is first of all the sacrifice of Our Lord on the cross.

In other words, before the reception of Holy Communion is the consecration, where Christ perpetuates and continues throughout time His redemptive sacrifice.

Why? What is the purpose of continually re-presenting His sacrifice if the redemption already occurred?

Above all, the sacrifice of Christ is true worship of the Father. The sacrifice of the Son gives glory and honor to the Father.

Further, you and I are the beneficiaries of His sacrifice.

The fruits of the redemption must now be applied to our souls. Finally, Jesus instructed us to “Do this in memory of me.”

And so in humble obedience, the Church faithfully follows the command of the Lord to offer the sacrifice of Christ, that not only may bread and wine become His Body and Blood, but more importantly, that we may

be consecrated to Him and more and more become what we receive: the Body of Christ.

SANCTUS, SANCTUS, SANCTUS

Since the advent of the Novus Ordo (New Mass) authorized by Pope Paul VI after the Second Vatican Council, there are several options for the Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass given in the Roman Missal: four common Eucharistic Prayers, as well as other approved texts.

Of the four main Eucharistic Prayers, the first Eucharistic Prayer, commonly known as the Roman Canon, originated in Rome at the end of the fourth century. It developed its present form around the seventh century and has had no significant changes since.

In fact, the Roman Canon was the only Eucharistic Prayer used exclusively in the Roman Rite since the Middle Ages until the Second Vatican Council (1963-1965). This Prayer contains two lists of saints: the first includes the apostles and the early popes, while the second list includes many early martyrs.

The second Eucharistic Prayer is the shortest and is similar to the text of St. Hippolytus dated around the year 215. The third Eucharistic Prayer is a reconfiguration of the Roman Canon, rich with Eastern influences and emphasizes the work of the Holy Spirit. Finally, the fourth Eucharistic Prayer provides a fuller summary of salvation history and relies extensively on Biblical events and is in the great tradition of Eucharistic Prayers from the East, most notably from St. Basil.

Certain commonalities define them as Eucharistic Prayers. The Eucharistic Prayer is composed of several parts that can be distinguished as follows: Thanksgiving (Preface), Acclamation (Sanctus), Epiclesis, Institution Narrative and Consecration, Anamnesis (Memorial), Offering, Intercessions, and the final doxology.

The Eucharistic Prayer actually begins with the Preface and its customary dialogue between the celebrant and the congregation: “The Lord be with you.” “And with your spirit.” “Lift up your hearts.” “We lift them up to the Lord.” “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.” “It is right and just.”

Ever since the third century, this series of three verses and responses has marked the introduction of the Preface. Here is established the ultimate purpose of the Mass: “Dignum et iustum est.” (“It is right and just.”)

Following this dialogue is the first part

Learn more This is part 26 of a year-long series featuring the revised translation of the Third Missal.

Previous articles in this series are archived online at www.catholicnewsherald.com. For more resources, check out the U.S. bishops’ link at www.usccb.org/romanmissal.

of the Eucharistic Prayer: Thanksgiving.

As with the Eucharistic Prayers, there is a variety of Prefaces found in the Roman Rite that change depending upon the festival of the day or the liturgical season of the year.

The Preface expresses profound praise and gratitude to the Father for the wonders of His creation and the wonderful work of redemption accomplished by His divine Son. Each preface concludes by singing the unending hymn of praise, the second part of the Eucharistic Prayer, called the acclamation or the “Sanctus” (Sanctus is the first Latin word, which means “Holy”): “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of Your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.”

What is the origin of this mysterious hymn? The Sanctus was added to the Mass

by Pope St. Sixtus (119-128), and has two parts. The first part, “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory,” is taken from the vision of the Prophet Isaiah (6:1-3), where he saw the Lord sitting upon the throne surrounded by angels singing this hymn. The second part, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest,” is taken from the shouts of praise offered to Jesus as He made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, which we commemorate on Palm Sunday.

In the Sanctus, we unite ourselves to the angelic voices of heaven as we draw near to the Divine Throne and await the coming of Our Savior. The Sanctus is the final warning of the imminent approach of Our Lord, who will become truly present in a few moments in the consecration. With haste we unite our voices with the heavenly host of angels and saints and await Our Savior’s coming.

Father Matthew Buettner is the pastor of St. Dorothy Church in Lincolnton. This is excerpted from “Understanding the Mystery of the Mass – Revisited.” Previous columns are online at www.catholicnewsherald.com.

September 9, 2011 | catholicnewsherald.com

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In Brief Italian Feast marks parish’s 100th anniversary

Teens likely to adapt quickly to revised missal, say catechists Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Although the phrase “consubstantial with the Father” might not roll off the tongues of Catholic youths, church officials and catechists hope its meaning will sink in when it is said in the Nicene Creed later this year.

Consubstantial, which means “of the same essence,” is closer to the creed’s original Latin and Greek text and basically holds more theological punch than “one in being with the Father,” the phrase it replaces. It is one of several changes in Mass responses that are part of the revised edition of the Roman Missal to be implemented Nov. 27.

One pastor explained this specific change in a July 31 Sunday bulletin noting that “consubstantial” reflects the “language of theology, the language the ancient church fathers carefully constructed to take a stab at the mystery of Christ’s divinity. ‘One in being’ uses slightly more Anglo-Saxon words.

It demystifies the theological language.”

“Part of the intent behind the new translation is to re-mystify -- in the best sense of the word,” wrote Father John Terry, pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. That sense of mystery and transcendence of God – or recognizing that God is beyond human perception – is something children

and teens should pick up from the revised missal, said Maureen Kelly, author of “What’s New About the Mass,” aimed specifically at third- to seventh-graders, and “What’s New About the Mass for Teens.”

Both are published by Liturgy Training Publications in Chicago.

Kelly said the wording in the revised missal “brings in more of a sense of transcendence, which young people haven’t experienced.”

Children and teenagers already get the sense that God is close to them and a part of their personal lives, she said. which catechists describe as God’s immanence.

“The challenge is to achieve the balance of immanence and transcendence,” she said.

In her books and in workshops she leads, preparing catechists to teach the revised missal, Kelly stresses that young people need to understand the scriptural context for the responses in the Mass.

The biggest challenge for all ages, she said, is to “understand a little more fully the meaning and mystery of Eucharist.” She said the revised responses are easy enough to learn but the reasoning behind these changes might be easier for older adults – who have been through the Mass change from Latin to English – to grasp.

Father Richard Hilgartner, executive director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat on Divine Worship, is

convinced the revised translation won’t be a problem for teenagers and suspects they will catch on faster than the rest of the Catholic population.

He frequently tells parish leaders that young people “hold one of the keys to helping implement this. For one thing, they are not as wedded to tradition. In today’s culture everything is always changing. New is not something they’re afraid of.”

But just picking up new expressions is one thing; getting the new rhythm of the Mass responses is another challenge and a particular one for young people, he said, because it doesn’t flow with their natural way of communicating.

Teenagers are accustomed to everything in shorthand, like abbreviated text messages and 140-character tweets, he said – completely different from the communication and language of prayer.

“Prayer is not just about getting a message across in as few words as possible. Prayer is about creating a relationship,” he said. And the liturgy itself has its own language: “one where catechesis helps people understand” what is happening.

That’s where religious education classes and parish workshops come in.

Kelly said the revised missal has provided an opportune teaching moment because it gives people of all ages the chance to review the whole Mass.

Lisa Garcia, resource director for Life Teen, the Arizona-based national program for Catholic teenagers, agreed. “The Mass is the centerpiece of our catechism anyway and this gives us an opportunity to continue this dialogue again, to pause and think about the words we’re saying.

TRYON — St. John the Baptist Church in Tryon will host an “Italian Feast” Sept. 10, in connection with its 100th anniversary. On Sept.

9 there will be a traditional Catholic procession through the streets and the festival will be held the next day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free. Italian food and beverages will be available for purchase. For details, call 864859-9574, or go online to www.stjohntryon. com.

St. Gabriel parishioner awarded Bronze Star CHARLOTTE — Army Dr. Rebecca Tomsyck, a member of St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte, has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal for exceptionally meritorious service in Afghanistan while deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom.

Tomsyck, a lieutenant colonel on active duty since 2005, was responsible for the Air Force Combat Stress Control program and served as chief of behavioral health at a military hospital in Tomsyck Bagram, Afghanistan.

St. Matthew Council elects Elgin Grand Knight CHARLOTTE — Charles “Chuck” Elgin is the new grand knight of St. Matthew Church Knights of Columbus Council 10852. Other new officers installed Aug. 6 were: Bob Conlon, deputy grand knight; Bill Lopresti, chancellor; Norm Smith, recorder; John Courdriet, financial secretary; and Gary Yeck, treasurer.

Elgin previously served two terms as deputy grand knight as well as numerous other positions in both the Elgin council and three terms as purser for the Assembly A native of Columbus, Ohio, Elgin’s father introduced him to the Knights of Columbus shortly after Elgin graduated from college and his brothers are active Knights as well.

GCCW celebrates 40 years GREENSBORO — This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Greensboro Council of Catholic Women. A September kickoff luncheon will host Linda Evans, acting director of the Greensboro Historical Museum. Other events include a memorial Mass in November, a Lenten retreat, the annual Christmas Tea and a January potluck. Interested? Contact Judy Martineau, president, at judym@triad.rr.com or 336-298-4084.

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 9, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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Father Peter Stravinskas is pictured in early July in a recording booth display at Faith Comes By Hearing in Albuquerque, N.M. The priest, executive director of the Catholic Education Foundation in Rochester, N.Y., is involved in a project spearheaded by the New Mexico-based organization to record the New Testament in Latin.

In theaters

CNS | courtesy of Faith Comes By Hearing

‘Shark Night 3D’ A gaggle of Tulane University students head out to a Louisiana saltwater lake for a bacchanal, only to find they’re all on the menu of the titular predators. Director David R. Ellis borrows his stale formula from any number of 1980s screamers in which nubile young people are slaughtered by some relentless killer, a repulsive recipe to which he adds only the fins. Excessive gore, partial nudity, and frequent profane language.

CNS: O (morally offensive), MPAA: PG-13

‘Colombiana’ Over-the-top action flick in which a highly trained assassin carries out contracts for her uncle while awaiting the opportunity to turn her skills against the Columbian gangsters who murdered her parents when she was a child.

CNS: L (limited adult audience), MPAA: PG-13

Project under way to produce audio recording of New Testament in Latin Madeline Watkins Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new initiative got under way this summer for the first audio recording of the New Testament in Latin.

Vatican Press has partnered with Faith Comes By Hearing, a nonprofit, donor driven interdenominational ministry “committed to the mission of reaching poor and illiterate people worldwide with the Word of God in audio” for the audio recording of the Neo-Vulgate, the Catholic Church’s official Latin translation.

Father Peter Stravinskas played a key role in spearheading this project.

“I’ve been involved with making available the liturgy in Latin since I was ordained,” said Father Stravinskas, founder and president of the St. Gregory

Foundation for Latin Liturgy based in Pine Beach, N.J. The project got under way in August 2010, and has been an opportunity for “healthy and helpful” ecumenism, Father Stravinskas said.

This past January, a group of the Faith Comes

by Hearing leadership team traveled to Rome with Father Stravinskas to meet with several bishops and cardinals about their work and the Latin project.

The audio version of the Scriptures in Latin is geared for a wide audience – particularly seminarians and young Catholics, who according to Father Stravinskas are showing a growing interest in learning Latin.

Whatever audiences the audio Bible in Latin may reach, Father Stravinskas said he hopes it may foster a “growth in people’s knowledge and appreciation for Latin as the language of our church and our tradition,” as well as an increased familiarity with Scripture.

On TV n Monday, Sept. 12- Tuesday, Sept. 20, 3:30 a.m and 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Let Us Love: Pt. 1- Pt. 7.” Join Msgr. Anthony Figueiredo in Rome as he teaches us about Charity and talks with Cardinal Raymond Burke about Mother Teresa and the order she founded. n Wednesday, Sept. 14, noon (EWTN) “Memorial Mass for His Excellency Archbishop Pietro Sambi (Live).” n Sunday, Sept. 18, 10 p.m.

(EWTN) “Most Unusual Man.” The life of Holy Cross Father Patrick Peyton.

Born in Ireland and an immigrant to the States, he and his older brother entered the seminary but Patrick contracted tuberculosis and was given a short time to live. He invoked Mary’s intercession and when he healed he devoted his priestly life to her, undertaking a mission at the end of World War II to propagate the rosary to reunite families in disarray. n Friday, Sept. 23, 10 p.m.

(EWTN) “Sacred Craft.”

Lecture on Eastern iconography with Father Brendan McAnerny.

September 9, 2011 | catholicnewsherald.com

CONTRACEPTION: FROM PAGE 3

rewrite the religious exemption to protect their choice to exclude coverage that violates the teachings of the Church.

The Charlotte diocese’s insurance plan through United Health Care does not include services that run contrary to Church teaching, and the diocese’s approximately 1,100 eligible full-time employees are informed of this provision every year during open enrollment, Wilhelm said.

The diocese could avoid the new federal regulation on contraception coverage as long as it makes no significant changes to its insurance plan, Wilhelm said, because the health reform law allows current plans to be “grandfathered in.”

“Our intention is to remain grandfathered,” Wilhelm said, but the diocese reviews its health insurance coverage plan annually and sometimes makes changes – as do most employers – so there’s a risk that the diocese could become ensnared in the new federal mandate within a year or two.

North Carolina and 27 other states have some kind of mandated coverage for contraceptives, but none is as sweeping as the HHS regulation, said Richard Doerflinger, associate director of the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities. Nineteen of those states – including North Carolina – have some kind of religious exemption, most of which simply state an employer may be exempted “for religious reasons.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. bishops continue to voice strong opposition to the HHS regulation.

“The Health and Human Services’ interpretation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is legally flawed,” Bishop Peter J. Jugis said. “Health and Human Services is legally forbidden from mandating coverage of any drug that can cause an abortion, and from forcing individuals or institutions to provide coverage for contraception, sterilization, or related education and counseling over their religious and moral objections.”

If allowed to stand, the HHS regulation could go into effect Aug. 1, 2012. A 60-day comment period on the regulation ends Sept. 30.

— Liz O’Connor and Nancy Frazier O’Brien of Catholic News Service contributed.

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charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | September 9, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Upcoming memorials to honor victims, families of 9/11 terrorist attacks An aerial view of the World Trade Center site in New York is seen in this Sept.

18, 2001, file photo. Nearly 3,000 people died when four hijacked planes were used in coordinated strikes on the U.S., hitting the Pentagon and the World Trade Center towers. One of the planes crashed in Pennsylvania.

Catholic News Agency

9/11 events on TV n Friday, Sept. 9, 9 p.m. (History) “9/11: The Days After.” A special examining the texture of life in the post-9/11 world, and seeking to extend the story beyond the search for survivors, beyond the hunt for Osama bin Laden, and beyond implementation of new airport and antiterrorism security measures. n Saturday, Sept. 10, 9 p.m. (History) “Voices From Inside the Towers.” This program uses recorded phone calls from people inside the World Trade Center buildings, some of whom perished and some of whom survived, as they contacted family members, friends and 911 dispatchers to create a chillingly clear mental picture of the 102 chaotic minutes before the twin towers were reduced to rubble. n Sunday, Sept. 11, 8 p.m. (History) “Making the 9/11 Memorial.” On the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, the 9/11 Memorial will be unveiled to the public. This documentary, filmed over the course of the past year, presents a behind-the-scenes insider’s view of the monument’s creation, from conception to on-site installation at Ground Zero. n Sunday, Sept. 11, 8 p.m. (PBS) “America Remembers 9/11.” PBS’ “Newshour” series presents this special broadcast commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

NEW YORK — Americans are planning to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and pay tribute to the victims and their families with both secular and religious ceremonies, including a Mass in New York’s St. Patrick Cathedral.

“There’s a sense of anxiousness – people are going to be setting foot on the World Trade Center site for the first time in 10 years,” New York City’s official 9/11 Memorial representative Sarah Lippman said. “But while I think there’s certainly a sense of remorse and remembrance for what happened, there’s also a sense of hope and a spirit of rebuilding.”

CNS | Reuters, NYC Office of Emergency Management

local commemoration

St. Thomas Aquinas Church Youth Ministry in Charlotte invites all to attend an evening of prayer, reflection and remembrance at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 11.

Bob Hogan, a 9/11 World Trade Center survivor and parishioner at St. Mark Church in Huntersville, will speak about his experience and answer questions. The evening will conclude in a time of reflective prayer and recitation of the rosary for the repose of the souls of all lives lost and for comfort and healing for their loved ones and for our country.

A view of the World Trade Center North Tower memorial pool at the National Sept.

11 Memorial Park and Museum in New York Sept.

6. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the attacks that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people in New York City and Shanksville, Pa., and at the Pentagon.

Ground Zero memorial

Lippman said that the unique and vivid Ground Zero memorial will open to the families of victims for a special ceremony on Sept. 11 and then to the general public on Sept. 12.

She described the design of the eight-acre memorial, which includes a plaza with more than 200 oak trees and two large reflecting pools with 30-foot waterfalls.

The pools are an acre in size each, sit “within the footprints of the original twin towers” and “have the largest man-made waterfalls in America,” she said. Both waterfalls pour into the granite lined pools, each of which have another 20-foot drop in the center.

“The design is titled ‘Reflecting Absence’ and I think that’s exactly what they do – they give you a scope of what was here by being so massive and being an acre in size each,” Lippman said. “Because of how deep they go, you get a sense of the loss but at the same time there’s water continuously flowing through the pools which is a sign of peace and tranquility.”

Lippman also noted that the victims’ names – both from 9/11 and the 1993 terrorist bombing in New York City – are inscribed in bronze on the granite and are

CNS | Susan Walsh, pool via Reuters

organized by what she called “meaningful adjacencies.”

“Unlike any other memorial in the world, the names are not arranged alphabetically or even chronologically – they’re arranged by relationships people shared in life.”

She also said that a 9/11 Memorial museum is in the process of being built and is expected to open in September 2012. The museum on the site will extend three stories high vertically, but will also plunge seven stories below ground and feature extensive historical exhibits and artifacts.

Lippman said that the opening of the memorial on Sept. 11 strives to honor victims in light of the 10th anniversary of the attacks but also shows the hope inherent in the process of rebuilding.

“I think there’s a sense of resilience in this country and I think that’s something that a lot of people here are proud of,” she said.

“We’re all taken back to those days

before 9/11 where there was such a sense of patriotism and unity amongst all Americans, not only New Yorkers. It was really felt across the nation and across the world.”

Catholic Ceremonies

Catholic communities in the Northeast are also coming together in the next week to pay tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.

At St. Patrick Cathedral in New York City, a Mass of Remembrance will unite more than 2,500 people on Sept. 10 and will be presided over by the Vatican observer to the United Nations, Archbishop Francis Chullikatt.

In Baltimore, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary plans to honor victims with a solemn Vespers service on Sept. 11, led by local Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien.

— SueAnn Howell contributed.

September 9, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

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In Brief Bishops urge congressional ‘supercommittee’ to remember poor in budget-cut talks WASHINGTON, D.C. — Chairmen of the U.S. bishops’ international and domestic policy committees urged the 12-member Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction – popularly known as the “supercommittee” — to remember the poor as they come up with a plan to deal with the nation’s financial deficit.

“In this effort, you will examine endless data, charts and alternative budgets,” said Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany, N.Y., chairman of the bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, and Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, Calif., chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.

“Behind all those numbers are people we serve every day in our parishes, schools, hospitals, shelters and soup kitchens. The poorest and most vulnerable do not have powerful lobbyists, but they have the most compelling needs and a special claim on our individual consciences and national choices, especially in these times of massive joblessness, increasing poverty and growing hunger.”

The bipartisan supercommittee will begin meeting this month as part of a plan to reduce the federal debt. It must recommend by Thanksgiving cuts of $1.5 trillion over 10 years. If its recommendations are not adopted, $1.2 trillion in cuts over 10 years will be triggered.

Cardinal names 159 Boston clergy accused of abuse BOSTON — Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston has released the names of 159 of the 250 Boston archdiocesan priests or deacons accused of sexually abusing a minor, including 22 whose cases have not been resolved canonically.

In a six-page letter to the people of his archdiocese, the cardinal said the decision represented “one more step forward in our efforts to assume responsibility for our past failures and reaffirm our commitment to assure that our present-day standards protect the children of our community.” The list is online at www. bostoncatholic.org.

Report finds ‘shortcomings, inaction’ in Missouri abuse cases KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An independent report commissioned by the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph to examine its policies and procedures on assessing child sexual abuse allegations found “shortcomings, inaction and confusing procedures.”

The key finding in the 138-page report was that “diocesan leaders failed to follow their own policies and procedures for responding to reports” relating to abuse claims lodged against two priests. The abuse claims and subsequent news accounts over how they were handled led to the investigation.

Catholic official among opponents of Pennsylvania ‘security’ bills PHILADELPHIA — Bills introduced in the Pennsylvania Legislature this session as the “National Security Begins at Home Legislative Package” could harm citizens and legal permanent residents as well as undocumented immigrants, a Catholic official told legislators.

“Every human possesses inherent dignity, regardless of his or her immigration status,” testified Mark Shea, administrator of the immigration program of Philadelphia archdiocesan Catholic Social Services, at an Aug. 31 hearing.

One proposed bill, H.B. 738, would make it a misdemeanor for a “person who is unlawfully present in the United States to knowingly apply for work, solicit work in a public place or perform work as an employee or independent contractor” in Pennsylvania. It also states, “a law enforcement officer, with or without a warrant, may arrest a person if the officer has probable cause to believe that the person has committed a public offense that makes the person removable from the United States.” Another bill would limit state citizenship to those children born of at least one U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident.

Arizona court affirms state abortion limits; 7 clinics to stop them PHOENIX — The Arizona Court of Appeals ruled Aug. 18 that restrictions on abortion passed by the state Legislature were both reasonable and constitutional. Immediately following the Court of Appeals decision, Planned Parenthood announced it would no longer perform abortions at seven of its 10 Arizona clinics.

One of the key provisions of the law upheld by the Court of Appeals is that only a physician may perform an abortion. With so few doctors willing to perform the procedure, that left nurse practitioners to do so. Not anymore, at least not in Arizona.

Planned Parenthood has until mid-September to appeal the judge’s ruling to the state Supreme Court.

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix said he was pleased with Planned Parenthood’s announcement.

Baltimore archbishop named to head Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem BALTIMORE — Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien of Baltimore as pro-grand master of the Equestrian Order (Knights) of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem which is a chivalric organization dedicated to promoting and defending Christianity in the O’Brien Holy Land. Archbishop O’Brien succeeds U.S. Cardinal John P. Foley, who retired in February.

(Editor’s note: See related news item on page 3.)

— Catholic News Service

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Our world

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 9, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Irish government officials to discuss Vatican response to Cloyne Report Vatican forcefully denies allegation it undermined Irish bishops’ efforts to protect children Sarah MacDonald Catholic News Service

DUBLIN — Irish government officials planned to meet early this month to discuss the Vatican’s response to criticisms by Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny over the findings of an Irish judicial report on the handling of clerical sex abuse.

Kenny said Sept. 3 he wanted to read the Vatican’s response – issued that day – before responding officially. However, in a row that shows little sign of abating, Kenny said he did not regret his July 20 remarks to the Irish parliament in which he accused the Vatican of attempting to “frustrate an inquiry in a sovereign, democratic republic as little as three years ago.”

The Vatican, in its 11,000-word response, described Kenny’s claim as unfounded and said the Irish prime minister had “made no attempt to substantiate” it. The Vatican forcefully denied it undermined the Irish bishops’ efforts to protect children from sexual abuse and characterized as “unfounded” claims the Vatican tried to interfere in government investigations regarding Church handling of abuse cases.

The Irish government’s Cloyne Report was issued July 13 and said then-Bishop John Magee of Cloyne paid “little or no attention” to safeguarding children as recently as 2008.

But the report also accused the Vatican of being “entirely unhelpful” to Irish bishops who wanted to implement stronger norms for dealing with accusations and protecting children. Addressing parliament July 20, Kenny said the Cloyne Report “excavates the dysfunction, disconnection, elitism and the narcissism that dominate the culture of the Vatican to this day.”

A few days later, the Vatican took the unusual move of recalling its nuncio to Ireland, saying it signaled how seriously the Vatican took the government criticisms and how intent the Vatican was on drafting a comprehensive response to the report and the prime minister’s accusations.

Speaking to the media Sept. 5, Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore said the Vatican’s formal response had missed the point. “There was the most horrific sexual abuse of children perpetrated by clerics. The Catholic Church did not deal with that as it should have dealt with it. Let’s not be distracted. Let’s not miss the point,” Gilmore said.

The Vatican said the report “brought to light very serious and disturbing failings in the handling of accusations of sexual abuse by children and young people by clerics in the Diocese of Cloyne,” but it said the local bishop and his vicar general were to blame.

In its response, the Vatican showed a cautious openness to the Irish government’s proposal to introduce legislation making it a criminal offense to withhold information about child sexual abuse. The Vatican said it supports any measure that would contribute to the protection of children. However, the Holy See qualified the comment, saying it could not comment more fully on the proposed legislation without knowing the details of it, and it specified that information conveyed within the seal of the confessional would have to remain secret.

— Cindy Wooden contributed.

September 9, 2011 | catholicnewsherald.com

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In Brief Cradle Catholics haven’t done enough to evangelize, pope says VATICAN CITY — Cradle Catholics haven’t done enough to show people that God exists and can bring true fulfillment to everyone, Pope Benedict XVI told a group of his former students recently.

“We, who have been able to know (Christ) since our youth, may we ask forgiveness because we bring so little of the light of His face to people; so little certainty comes from us that He exists, He’s present and He is the greatness that everyone is waiting for,” the pope said. He presided at a Mass Aug. 28 in Castel Gandolfo during his annual meeting with students who did their doctorates with him when he was a professor in Germany. He highlighted the day’s reading in Psalm 63 in which the soul thirsts for God “in a land parched, lifeless and without water. He asked God to show Himself to today’s world, which is marked by God’s absence and where “the land of souls is arid and dry, and people still don’t know where the living water comes from.”

Catholics, Orthodox face same evangelization challenge VATICAN CITY — In many countries, Catholics and Orthodox face the same challenges in strengthening Christian life, and an important part of that effort is working together with love and respect, Pope Benedict XVI said. “For a renewed proclamation of the Gospel in the modern world we need evangelizers animated by the same apostolic zeal St. Paul had,” the pope said in a message to Catholic and Orthodox scholars meeting in Salonika, Greece, Aug. 30-Sept. 2. The Inter-Christian Symposium was sponsored by the Orthodox faculty of theology at the city’s Aristotle University and the Franciscan Institute of Spirituality at Rome’s Pontifical Antonianum University. The theme of the meeting was “The Witness of the Church in Today’s World.”

The pope said that “in the course of the centuries, the Church has never stopped proclaiming the saving mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but that proclamation needs renewed energy today. In the modern world we see two contradictory phenomena: On one side there is widespread distraction or even insensitivity to the transcendent; on the other, there are numerous signs that in the hearts of many people there remains a deep yearning for God,” he wrote. The challenge remains the same for Catholics and for Orthodox, he said.

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Pope greets new U.S. seminarians CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy — Just four days after arriving in Rome, the new seminarians at the Pontifical North American College had their first glimpse of Pope Benedict XVI. The 76 new men from 52 different dioceses – four Australian dioceses, one Canadian and 47 U.S. dioceses – joined 2,000 other pilgrims in the courtyard of the papal villa at Castel Gandolfo for the recitation of the Angelus Aug. 28. The North American College is sponsored by the U.S. bishops. Students live at the college and

receive spiritual and pastoral training there while attending one of the pontifical universities in Rome.

The Diocese of Charlotte has five seminarians studying at the North American College this year: Jason M. Christian, Paul M. Buchanan, Noah C. Carter, David R. McCanless and Santiago A. Mariani.

— Catholic News Service

ViewPoints

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 9, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Reader poll

Ryan Murray

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We should never stop learning about our faith

s a new addition to the Catholic News Herald’s Viewpoints pages, I would like to take a moment to introduce myself and share a bit about me with you.

I am a parishioner at St. Pius X Church in Greensboro. I’m blessed to be married to the love of my life, Janel, and we have two young boys who are the apples of my eye: Emerson, a second-grader, and Brayden, a 4-year-old who is going on 24.

I was raised in a Catholic family in northern New Jersey and when my wife and I met, she attended a Presbyterian church.

Then in 2010, after completing the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, my wife entered the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil.

What a wonderful blessing that was for me! Not only because my wife chose to become Catholic, but because the experience opened up my eyes about how much I needed to continue to learn about my faith and what it truly means to be Catholic.

As a “cradle Catholic,” I knew that we did certain things, but I wasn’t always sure as to why. My wife was kind enough to bring me along on her journey into Catholicism, and through the experience, I’ve been invigorated to continue learning more about my faith. Thankfully, my family is there with me every step of the way as we grow together.

All of us Catholics are called to continue learning about our faith, and thus, learning about ourselves. We are also called to give our thoughts, feelings and answers when others ask us questions about our faith. Similarly, we cannot be afraid to ask our own questions about the Catholic faith.

Thankfully, there is an abundant amount of resources out there, whether it be a priest, a fellow parishioner, learning opportunities at your church, or the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Central to our faith, of course, are the Mass and the Eucharist, but our learning should not stop on Sunday.

I’m by no means a Biblical scholar, but I do feel it is important as well to make every effort to engage in God’s Word as much as possible.

Our capability to learn is a wonderful gift and a tool that has been given to us by God. But just as any tool, if it is left in the shed, it becomes useless.

As you continue on your own faith journey, ask yourself: What are you doing to grow in your understanding of the faith?

“Do this in memory of Me”: Jesus’ words during the Last Supper still echo 2,000 years later in the hearts of the faithful, as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is celebrated every hour of every day somewhere across the world. And His words are the theme of the 2011 Diocese of Charlotte Eucharistic Congress, Sept. 23-24, and Catechetical Sunday, Sept. 18. This month we’re asking readers:

How many times a week do you receive the Eucharist? n Once n 2-4 n 5-7 Go online to www.catholicnewsherald.com to respond. Results will be published in the Sept. 23 edition of the Catholic News Herald.

— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor

Most-read stories on the web From Sept. 1 to 7 at press time, 192 page titles www. catholicnewsherald.com were viewed a total of 1,576 times.

The top 6 local headlines in September so far are: n Christ the King: First exciting day for new Catholic high school................................................................... 633 n Safe at last: Bhutanese refugees find new home in Charlotte with help from CSS.................................604 n St. Matthew Church in Charlotte celebrates 25 years of diversity, spirit, faith...................................574 n Deacon candidates get Charlotte bishop’s blessing as they enter formation............................................445 n Centuries of service in the Charlotte diocese: Retired priests still serving......................................392 n Dioceses object to contraception coverage mandate in new health reform law........................ 354

Ryan Murray is a member of St. Pius X Church in Greensboro. Have an idea or comment? E-mail him at murrayrj18@hotmail.com.

Peggy Bowes

The serpent in my path

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t was a perfect late summer day for a bike ride. As I swung a leg over the top tube and settled down into the saddle, I was in for an unpleasant surprise. My knees nearly knocked into my chin because my husband had lowered the seat so my son could ride the bike last weekend. Unfortunately, neither of the men in my life had thought to return the saddle to its original position.

I hopped off the bike and twisted, pulled, yanked and tugged for 15 minutes without avail. The seat wouldn’t budge, and I was hopping mad. Then I did something stupid. I called my husband to chew him out. He patiently listened as I explained my dilemma, my voice rising with every sentence. He apologized and offered to fix the bike when he got home. Still not content, I continued to berate him until he wisely ended the conversation. Like a toddler with a temper tantrum, I kicked a nearby tree. Instantly, the anger left me as I realized how foolish I was to get upset at something so trivial. I called my husband back to apologize, but got his voice mail. I left a contrite message and decided to go for a run.

I settled into a moderate pace, soothed by the rhythm of the familiar rosary prayers on my iPod. I rounded a curve on the trail and was startled to see a long black snake slither across my path.

Mesmerized, I slowed to a jog and watched it disappear into the tall grass. I recalled the scene from “The Passion of The Christ” where Jesus encounters a snake in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Realization suddenly struck me as it must have struck St. Peter when the rooster crowed. Satan was mocking me, knowing that I had yet again succumbed to my Irish temper. Even worse, it had been a mere two days since my soul had been wiped clean in the confessional. My shoulders sagged, my spirits sank.

The repeated Hail Marys in my earbuds brought me out of my reverie. Of course! I recalled the words of Pope Pius XI, “The rosary is a powerful weapon to put the demons to flight and to keep oneself from sin…” In fact, I had offered the rosary I was currently praying for help in keeping my temper in check. I stood up taller and picked up my pace with renewed determination.

Satan would not win the battle for my soul as long as I continued my devotion to the rosary. Mary is the archenemy of the devil. She is a powerful ally in my struggle against evil. She is the woman of Genesis 3:15 who crushes the head of the serpent.

I know that the tempter will return, again and again. As a fallen daughter of Adam and Eve, I must do daily battle with the enemy.

Fortunately, I am armed with a simple string of beads, a heavenly chain to pull down graces from above at any time I should need them.

Peggy Bowes is a member of Holy Angels Church in Mount Airy and author of “The Rosary Workout” (www.rosaryworkout.com).

Letters policy 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.

The Catholic News Herald does not publish poetry,

form letters or petitions. Items submitted to the Catholic News Herald become the property of the newspaper and are subject to reuse, in whole or in part, in print, electronic formats and archives.

Mail: Letters to the Editor Catholic News Herald 1123 S. Church St. Charlotte, N.C. 28203 E-mail: catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

September 9, 2011 | catholicnewsherald.com

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Catechetical Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011: ‘Do This in Memory of Me’ Catechetical Sunday is a time reflect on the role that each of us plays, by virtue of our baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel.

Father Roger Arnsparger

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Family catechesis precedes, accompanies, and enriches other forms of instruction in the faith. Parents have the mission of teaching their children to pray and to discover their vocation as children of God.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2226) “Through the grace of the sacrament of marriage, parents receive the responsibility and privilege of evangelizing their children….they are the ‘first heralds’ for their children. They should associate them from their tenderest years with the life of the Church.” (CCC, 2225) As we celebrate Catechetical Sunday, parents are front and center because they are the first catechists of their children under the direction of their pastors. Their role is essential in transmitting God’s Word to invite their children to a personal faith in Jesus Christ in the heart of the Catholic Church, by which His Will is charged with the guarding, study and proclamation of the Gospel. “The role of parents in education is of such importance that it is almost

‘Do this in memory of Me’ impossible to provide an adequate substitute.” (Second Vatican Council, Decree on Education) To assist parents in this most important task of opening up the way of salvation for children, the Church invites parishioners to the apostolate of “catechist.” A catechist is dedicated to deepening his or her faith life in growing in holiness, knowledge of the Church’s teachings and practice of the faith in an immersion of self in the parish life. How blessed parents are to work together with catechists who are so generous and willing to help share the Church’s faith and invite our young ones into an intentional Catholic life.

St. Paul’s description of catechesis is still true today: “For I received from the Lord what I hand on what was handed to me...” (1 Cor. 11:23). We have received of “His fullness” and we readily want to share it. This is the heart of catechesis: to hand on what was handed to us by Our Lord through His Church.

The theme for Catechetical Sunday 2011 is “Do This in Memory of Me” (Lk 22:19). For that reason, Bishop Peter Jugis

chose this as the theme of our 2011 Eucharistic Congress.

Bishop Richard J. Malone, chair of the USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, said the committee hopes Catechetical Sunday will provide the opportunity not only for us to reflect on the beauty and mystery of the Eucharist, but that we are moved to a more intense participation in Mass, worthy reception of Holy Communion, and a more intentional embrace of the Church’s sacramental life and mission.

We learn so that we might worship. The greater our understanding of God, His revelation and creation, the more we are able to worship in “spirit and in truth.” The highest form of worship in this life is, of course, the Mass.

Our attentiveness to understanding the Paschal Mystery prepares us for fulfilling our Lord’s instruction: “Do this in memory of Me.” Father Roger K. Arnsparger is diocesan vicar of education and the pastor of St. Michael Church in Gastonia.

What is the Eucharist?

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clearer understanding of the Eucharist opens us to a deeper relationship with Jesus – a covenant with all of us in His blood, and with each of us in an intimate way.

the Eucharist AS A Meal AND A SACRIFICE

Jesus gave us the Eucharist at the Last Supper, a meal. But in this case, we not only eat with the Host of the meal, we also eat and drink the consecrated host and wine and thereby eat the Giver of the Gift, becoming one with each other as we become one in Jesus.

The Last Supper was a celebration of the Pasch, the Passover meal in which the Israelites were incorporated into God’s chosen people as they ate the Paschal Lamb before their exodus from Egypt.

This sacrificial meal grounded a special relationship with the Lord, gave them an identity as His people, and strengthened their covenant with Him. Jesus established a new covenant, a new relationship with us, through offering not a lamb but Himself, the Lamb of God.

The Eucharist as a memorial

Other sacrifices offered to God had to be repeated. But on the Cross, Jesus offered Himself once and for all. The Eucharistic sacrifice, repeated each time Mass is celebrated, is not a new sacrifice, but a participation in the one sacrifice of Christ.

In this sense, it is a memorial. Christ, the

Father Thomas Acklin great high priest, offers Himself once and for all, so that from that time forward, all sacrifices are offered in His sacrifice.

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, offered by an ordained priest, is the unbloody sacrifice that participates in the once-and-for-all sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. In a real way, the moments of time in which we celebrate the Eucharist are taken up into and participate in the time opening into eternity of the self-giving love of Jesus in the Paschal Mystery.

‘Anamnesis’: real presence

The memorial of the Eucharist, the remembering of Jesus, is also His Real Presence. The word “anamnesis” in Greek has this fuller meaning of “remembering.”

For example, in Luke 23:39-43, as Jesus hangs with two thieves dying on the cross, one thief says to Him, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Jesus responds, going far beyond reassuring him that He will remember him: “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise!”

This shows the fullness of His remembrance of us and how He is present to us in the Eucharist. We can understand the injunction of Jesus at the Last Supper, “Do this in remembrance of me,” to mean, “On that day when you do these things (the Eucharist), I will be with you.” Now, that is real presence!

The Eucharist is truly the real Jesus as He walked on earth, God and man, but more.

It is Jesus on the Cross, who has died, risen and entered into glory. And in the Eucharist, we are united as members of His body, ever more deeply each time we receive Him. “We are the body of Christ” must be complemented by “We are the Body of Christ!” This is no ordinary meal, and the transcendent nature of what we are doing should never be lost in its familiarity.

Receiving communally, yet individually

On the day we do these things, Jesus is with us! Yet as individuals, we not only receive Him in unity with all the other members of His Body, we also encounter Him in a personal way. We can share with Him whatever we bring of our memories, hopes and fears, needs and desires, the things we might find impossible to share with anyone else.

We are also humbled that He would come to us because of our sense of our unworthiness. Yet this should stir us to contrition rather than mere guilt. Who am I that the Son of God would come to me, would

let me receive Him “under my roof”? This self-knowledge is too much for us, and we unconsciously seek to avoid it.

So often in contemporary celebrations of the Eucharistic liturgy, there is so much singing, reading, talking and explaining, that the time for silence and intimacy with the Lord is lost.

It can become hard for us to sit still, to be silent, to truly meet the Lord in the Eucharist.

It seems easier to establish a fellowship with the other people present. If we do not find the homily interesting or the music moving, we do not quite know what to do with ourselves.

In times gone by, many Catholics followed the practice of going to church a half hour or more before Mass to pray and prepare themselves to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. Likewise, following Mass, they spent private time in thanksgiving and prayerful communion with the Lord.

In a society where we are all in such a rush, where we blow into church and leave amid quick hellos and good-byes, much of the intimacy with Christ in the Eucharist has been lost. We must take time following Communion to deepen an interior awareness and the personal relationship with Christ that the Eucharist gives us.

Benedictine Father Thomas Acklin is senior fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology and director of counseling at St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Penn.

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 9, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD