February 17, 2006
The Catholic News & Herald 1
www.charlottediocese.org
Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
Parish Profile
St. Mary Church flourishes in mountain community of Sylva | Page 16
Established Jan. 12, 1972 by Pope Paul VI february 17, 2006
Chance encounter
Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
Giving their hearts away
Pilgrims from diocese meet pope at Vatican by
CHARLOTTE — For Doris Blackwell, meeting the pope was the surprise of her life. “I never expected that to happen. I still can’t believe it,” she said. Blackwell was one of more than 60 pilgrims, most from the Diocese of Charlotte, on the “Journey of Faith” pilgrimage through Italy. The pilgrims joined Father Frank O’Rourke, former pastor of Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro now on sabbatical overseas, who invited people from the parishes at which he has served on the six-day pilgrimage through Italy, visiting Rome, Assisi, Pompeii See MEETING, page 4
Meeting a need
Photo by Karen A. Evans
MANUEL ALIAGA special to
the catholic news
& herald
HICKORY — Despite bad weather, more than 115 catechists from 26 parishes gathered for the first Spanishlanguage seminar on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. The seminar, sponsored by the Diocesan Commission on the RCIA, targeted those involved directly and indirectly with RCIA,including catechists working in faith formation. See SPANISH, page 7
KAREN A. EVANS staff writer
editor
by
no. 19
College students spend weekend serving others by
KEVIN E. MURRAY
Diocese holds first Spanish-language seminar on RCIA
vOLUME 15
College students sort through clothing donations at Crisis Assistance Ministry in Charlotte Feb. 11. The students were participating in the third annual “Give Your Heart Away” weekend, which brings Catholic students from throughout the diocese to volunteer at ministries in the Charlotte and Belmont areas.
BELMONT — College students from all reaches of the diocese recently gave away their hearts and time in the service of others. The students gathered for the third annual “Give Your Heart Away” community service weekend Feb. 10-12. The retreat was sponsored by the diocesan Catholic Campus Ministry Office, which runs Catholic campus ministries at colleges and universities throughout western North Carolina. Approximately 70 students and campus ministers from 11 colleges and universities participated in the retreat, headquartered at the McCarthy Spirituality Center on the Sisters of Mercy campus in Belmont. Students chose from a variety of service opportunities with the hope of making a difference in other people’s lives. Kristen Raliski, a junior See HEARTS, page 5
Sports and spirit As Olympics began, Catholic involvement seen in Turin, on slopes by CAROL GLATZ catholic news service
ROME — Snow, ice, skis and skates: Those are just some of the essential ingredients that have come together for the XX Olympic Winter Games Feb. 10-26 in Turin, Italy. The Catholic Church was also getting into the mix,
adding its own sacred riches and traditions to an event that’s brimming with Olympic spirit. Even the Vatican has gotten involved in the games. Pope Benedict XVI blessed the Olympic flame during his Dec. 8 Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square. A Swiss Guard, who was See GAMES, page 8
CNS photo courtesy of Tomasevicz family
Curt Tomasevicz (second from right), a Catholic, is on a U.S. four-man bobsled team at the Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy.
Impelled by Christ
Culture Watch
Perspectives
Upcoming youth pilgrimage centered on Eucharist
Catholic winners of ‘Amazing Race’; new catechism compendium
Should you be committed?; miracle beyond reality
| Page 4
| Pages 10-11
| Pages 14-15