April 10, 2009

April 10, 2009

The Catholic News & Herald 1

www.charlottediocese.org

Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte

Perspectives Why be Catholic?; transcending self-interest; science and morality of life

Established Jan. 12, 1972

by Pope Paul VI APRIL 10, 2009

‘Diversity is the tie’

| Pages 14-15 Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte

JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN!

CNS photo courtesy of Scala, Art Resource

VATICAN CITY — The heritage Pope John Paul II left to the church, and especially to its younger members, was a torch of faith and hope to lead them and the world through the darkness, Pope Benedict XVI said.

Celebrating Mass with young people April 2, the fourth anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul, Pope Benedict said his predecessor “was able to communicate a strong feeling of hope founded on faith in Jesus Christ.”

“If Christ’s word remains in us, we can spread the flame of that love that he ignited on the earth; we can carry high the torch of faith and hope,” the pope told the young people who were preparing for the

The Resurrection is depicted in this Renaissance fresco from the Chapel of St. Sebastian in Lanslevillard, France. Easter, the feast of the Resurrection, is April 12 in the Latin rite this year. Read Pope Benedict XVI’s Easter message on page 15.

See POPE, page 13

staff writer

Editor’s note: This is the fifth and final story in a series of conversion stories.

BELMONT — At Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont, 19 people will enter into full communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil April 11.

Their journeys are different, but their goal is the same.

Two of those converts share their experiences and See CONVERTS, page 6

Catholic leaders respond to growing number of births to unwed mothers in U.S. by

CAROL ZIMMERMANN catholic news service

WASHINGTON — A recent federal report showing a rise in U.S. births in 2007 also revealed another statistic: 40 percent of the births were to unwed mothers.

That statistic did not go unnoticed, especially by Catholic leaders who stress that the church’s teaching emphasizes the important link See BIRTHS, page 12

‘Torch of faith and hope’

by CINDY WOODEN catholic news service

KATIE MOORE

Raising concerns

no. 23

Pope John Paul II remembered on anniversary of death

Two Catholic converts share different perspectives on faith journeys by

vOLUME 18

Bishop calls on priests to remember ordinations Priests renew vows of service at annual chrism Mass Oils blessed for use throughout diocese by

KATIE MOORE staff writer

CHARLOTTE —“We can never forget the day of our ordination,” said Bishop Peter J. Jugis to priests from around the Diocese of Charlotte at the annual chrism Mass.

During ordination, “we received a grace which changed us forever,” Bishop Jugis said during his homily at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte April 7.

The bishop expressed his gratitude to the approximately 90 priests in attendance.

He thanked them for their See CHRISM, page 5

Photo by Katie Moore

Bishop Peter J. Jugis consecrates chrism oil during a Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte April 7. Also pictured are (from left): Father George Kloster, Deacon James Atkinson, Father Christopher Roux, seminarian Matthew Codd and Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin.

Knightly service

Culture Watch

Picking up the pieces

Knights of Columbus host dinners to raise funds

Book about friendship with pope; ‘Rosary Tapes’

Pope plans to visit victims of Italian earthquake

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| Pages 10-11

| Page 16

April 10, 2009

2 The Catholic News & Herald

InBrief

Current and upcoming topics from around the world to your own backyard

Iowa bishops say allowing gay marriage ‘will grievously harm families’ AVENPORT, Iowa (CNS) — Iowa’s Catholic bishops vigorously disagreed with the Iowa Supreme Court’s unanimous decision April 3 that strikes down state law defining marriage as a union of one man and one woman.

“This decision rejects the wisdom of thousands of years of human history.

It implements a novel understanding of marriage, which will grievously harm families and children,” the bishops said in a statement prepared by the Iowa Catholic Conference.

The bishops vowed to continue to protect and promote marriage as a union between a man and a woman and asked Catholics and other citizens of Iowa to call for a constitutional amendment on marriage.

With the high court’s ruling, Iowa becomes the third state in the nation to recognize marriages for gay and lesbian couples, after Massachusetts and Connecticut.

In its 7-0 decision, the court in Des

Faith of a lifetime

Diocesan planner For more events taking place in the Diocese of Charlotte, visit www.charlottediocese. org/calendarofevents-cn.

CNS photo by Dave Crenshaw, Eastern Oklahoma Catholic

Bishop Edward J. Slattery of Tulsa, Okla., greets 95-year-old Marian E. Baker at a March 19 luncheon of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women in Tulsa. She has been a parishioner of Immaculate Conception Church in Poteau, Okla., for 74 of her 95 years, and was honored during the luncheon as a Woman of Achievement in the Diocese of Tulsa.

For 74 of her 95 years, Oklahoman has been stalwart of rural parish TULSA, Okla. (CNS) — There were just seven Catholics when Marian E. Baker began attending Immaculate Conception Church in Poteau, located in a small rural area of southeastern Oklahoma.

A parishioner there for 74 of her 95 years and known as the parish “matriarch,” she was honored as a Woman of Achievement in the Diocese of Tulsa.

“Congratulations! God bless you,” Bishop Edward J. Slattery of Tulsa told Baker when she came forward to accept her commendation at a recent Diocesan Council of Catholic Women luncheon.

Baker moved to Poteau in 1935 with her late husband, Wilbur, and their 1-year-old son, Kermit, now a physician who accompanied her to the luncheon. She has five grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Baker quickly started wearing many hats. She became the parish organist — playing for all Sunday Masses, weddings and funerals. In addition, Baker became the choir director and for many years organized the children’s choir.

In addition, she became bookkeeper and treasurer for her church and two others. For 50 years she counted collections, made bank deposits and paid bills by hand — until she learned to use a computer.

Over the years Baker helped purchase, prepare and serve the food for all the funeral dinners. During her 74 years of parish service, she has worked with 18 different priests who were fresh out of the seminary.

At age 86, Baker survived colon cancer, getting through surgery and chemotherapy. She slowed down, and at 92 she decided it was time to resign as bookkeeper and treasurer.

BOONE VICARIATE BOONE — The dedication of the Appalachian State University campus ministry gathering space in honor of Sister Ann Thomas Griffin will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. All who remember Sister Griffin from her time at St. Elizabeth Church and as Catholic campus minister to Appalachian State are invited to join the Catholic community in Boone as we celebrate her life of service.

Dinner will be served. If you have personal memories or experiences with Sister Griffin, or for more information, contact Erin Leonard at asuccm@yahoo.com or (828) 264-7087.

CHARLOTTE VICARIATE CHARLOTTE — The St. Matthew Columbiettes are now accepting applications for the Gene Marie Alfaro Scholarship. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a graduating high school senior who is pursuing a career in nursing or other health-related fields. If interested, call Diana Congdon at (704) 814-0624. To be considered, applications must be received by April 14.

CHARLOTTE — St. Matthew Young Adult Life invites those in their 20s and 30s to Theology on Tap, “Lent: 40 Days in the Desert.” This series will be held once a month for four months at Mario’s Pizza/John’s Place, 3016 Weddington Rd., Suite 100 and will explore

Moines ruled that “limiting civil marriage to a union between a man and a woman violates the Iowa Constitution.” The decision further allows gay and lesbian couples full access to the institution of civil marriage.

The ruling resolves an action brought by six same-sex couples who were denied marriage licenses in Polk County because of the 1998 Defense of Marriage Act that defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Iowa’s bishops said they “uphold the right of all people to be treated with respect and live in peace. This right, like the right to enter into a permanent, monogamous marriage of one man and one woman, derives directly from the intrinsic dignity of the human person.”

Signing the s tatement were Archbishop Jerome G. Hanus of Dubuque and Bishops R. Walker Nickless of Sioux City, Martin J. Amos of Davenport and Richard E. Pates of Des Moines.

the various events associated with the Lenten season. On April 16, Chris Lynch will present the topic “The Resurrection and Easter Sunday.”

Come for food and drinks at 6:30 p.m. Speakers will begin at 7 p.m. For more information, e-mail st.matthews.yal@gmail.com.

CHARLOTTE — All are invited to participate in the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 19. The celebration will include a traditional solemn Benediction and recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet. The sacrament of reconciliation will not be offered prior to the celebration. Individuals should check the times offered in their respective parishes.

CHARLOTTE — A celebration of Divine Mercy will take place at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Suther Rd., April 19 at 3 p.m. The service will include exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, reading of the Gospel, recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, Benediction and other prayers.

For more information, contact Paul Deer at (704) 577-3496.

CHARLOTTE — The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians invites women of the diocese to join them in celebrating their Irish-Catholic heritage.

The next meeting will be held at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Rd., April 15 at 7 p.m.

For more information, call Jeanmarie Schuler at (704) 554-0720.

CHARLOTTE — St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Rd., is hosting a series of eight talks by Father Rick DeClue on “The Mind of the Pope: Benedict the XVI on Major Topics.” The talks will be held the second and fourth Mondays of the month from 7 to 9 p.m. in the parish activity center. No pre-registration is required. For more information, call Ruben Tamayo at (704) 554-7088, ext. 222.

CHARLOTTE — Children with disabilities are invited to join Allegro classes, a fun learning environment where movement and instruction are combined. Classes will be offered at St. Vincent de

April 10, 2009 Volume 18 • Number 23

Publisher: Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis Editor: Kevin E. Murray STAFF WRITER: Katie Moore Graphic DESIGNER: Tim Faragher Advertising MANAGER: Cindi Feerick Secretary: Deborah Hiles 1123 South Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203 Mail: P.O. Box 37267, Charlotte, NC 28237 Phone: (704) 370-3333 FAX: (704) 370-3382 E-MAIL: catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

The Catholic News & Herald, USPC 007-393, is published by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, 1123 South Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203, 44 times a year, weekly except for Christmas week and Easter week and every two weeks during June, July and August for $15 per year for enrollees in parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte and $23 per year for all other subscribers. The Catholic News & Herald reserves the right to reject or cancel advertising for any reason deemed appropriate. We do not recommend or guarantee any product, service or benefit claimed by our advertisers. Second-class postage paid at Charlotte NC and other cities. POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to The Catholic News & Herald, P.O. Box 37267, Charlotte, NC 28237.

April 10, 2009

The Catholic News & Herald 3

FROM THE VATICAN

Vatican commends Buddhist community’s witness to a spirit of poverty VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a world of unbridled consumerism and materialism, Christians can find inspiration in the Buddhist witness of happiness in nonattachment to material goods, said the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

In a message for the feast of Vesakh, a commemoration of the major events in the life of the Buddha, the Vatican office urged Christians and Buddhists to work together to contribute to the well-being of the world community. The Vatican released the message April 3 as many Buddhist communities were preparing to celebrate Vesakh May 2.

The message said Christian and Buddhist communities are aware of the challenges of “the ever more extensive phenomenon of poverty in its various forms” and “the unbridled pursuit of material possessions and the pervasive shadow of consumerism.”

While very different, there are two

types of poverty, the message said.

One is a poverty that can be chosen in the form of emptying oneself in order to listen to and be more open to God and other people, the message said.

The other kind of poverty is a material deprivation that “prevents people and families from living as befits their dignity,” it said. God does not wish for this latter form of poverty, which also offends justice and equality, and threatens peaceful co-existence, it said.

The Catholic community wishes to thank its Buddhist friends “for your inspiring witness of nonattachment and contentment,” said the message.

Buddhist monks, nuns and lay faithful freely embrace a poverty “that spiritually nourishes the human heart, substantially enriching life with a deeper insight into the meaning of existence, and sustaining commitment to promoting the good will of the whole human community,” it said.

Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Rd., on Wednesday evenings from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. Classes are free, but registration is required. Call for the schedule as classes will not be held on certain dates. For more information, call Nettie Watkins at the Allegro Foundation (704) 412-5229 or e-mail pfallegro@aol.com.

Jan Kretlow at (336) 299-8859.

CHARLOTTE — Christians in Career Transition is a ministry devoted to helping people in career crisis. The group meets the first and third Monday of each month, 7-9 p.m., in Room 132 of the New Life Center at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. For more information, call Deacon Jim Hamrlik at (704) 543-7677, ext.

1040; or Jack Rueckel at (704) 341-8449 or e-mail jrueckel@earthlink.com.

CHARLOTTE — A community shredding event will be held at Charlotte Catholic High School, 7702 Pineville-Matthews Rd., April 25 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Have your personal and confidential documents shredded and recycled. Charlotte Catholic High School families and members of the community are encouraged to bring their documents to the school where PROSHRED Security will destroy them in one of their mobile shredding trucks while you watch. Contact David Wright at Proshred at (704) 940 5617 or Cissy Bevington at Charlotte Catholic High School (704) 543-1127.

GREENSBORO VICARIATE GREENSBORO — St. Paul the Apostle Church, 2715 Horse Pen Creek Rd., has restarted its reemployment support group. The next meeting will be April 16 at 7:30 in Room 9 of the Parish Life Center. For more information, call Colleen at the church office (336) 294-4696, ext. 226.

GREENSBORO — The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is offering a 6-week introductory class on brain disorders to be held at St. Paul the Apostle Church, 2715 Horse Pen Creek Rd. The classes are designed to give parents and caregivers coping skills as well as tools they may use for problem solving and crisis preparation. Classes begin April 21 and will be held every Tuesday for six weeks from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Class are free, but registration is required. For more information, call

SMOKY MOUNTAIN VICARIATE BRYSON CITY — Guest speaker Father Robert Rivers, a member of the Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle, will present reflections on the writing and the mission of St. Paul at St. Joseph Church, 316 Main St., April 27. The presentation begins with Mass at 4 p.m. followed by a potluck supper; the program begins around 5:30 p.m. There is no charge to attend.

Participants are asked to bring a covered dish.

For more information, call the church office at (828) 497-9755.

Knights Templar may have secretly held shroud, Vatican expert says VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A Vatican researcher has found evidence that the Knights Templar, the medieval crusading order, held secret custody of the Shroud of Turin during the 13th and 14th centuries.

The shroud, which bears the image of a man and is believed by many to have been the burial cloth of Jesus, was probably used in a secret Templar ritual to underline Christ’s humanity in the face of popular heresies of the time, the expert said.

The researcher, Barbara Frale, made the comments in an article published April 5 by the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano.

The article anticipated evidence the author presents in an upcoming book on the Templars and the shroud.

Frale, who works in the Vatican Secret Archives, said documents that came to light during research on the 14th-century trial of the Templars contained a description of a Templar initiation ceremony.

The document recounts how a Templar leader, after guiding a young initiate into a hidden room, “showed him a long linen cloth that bore the impressed figure of a man, and ordered him to worship it, kissing the feet three

times,” Frale said.

The idea that the Knights Templar were secret custodians of the shroud was put forward by British historian Ian Wilson in 1978. Frale said the account of the initiation ceremony, along with a number of other pieces of evidence, supports that theory.

The shroud’s history has long been the subject of debate. It was believed by some to have been in Constantinople, now Istanbul, Turkey, when the city was sacked during the crusades in 1204.

It turned up for public display in France in 1357, and today is kept in the cathedral of Turin, Italy.

The cloth’s image, according to some experts, corresponds with that of a man who was scourged and crucified.

Frale said the Knights Templar may have kept the shroud secret because of papal orders of excommunication for anyone involved in looting relics from Constantinople or trafficking in them afterward.

She said the shroud’s image was particularly important for the Knights Templar, as an “antidote” to the heresies that had arisen — especially those that affirmed that Christ was a purely spiritual being, and never really had a human body or shed human blood.

Carrying the cross

WINSTON-SALEM VICARIATE WINSTON-SALEM — Father Kurt Fohn, pastor of St. Philip the Apostle Church in Statesville, will share his experience as husband, father and priest in a presentation addressing the challenges facing the Catholic family today to be held in the Bishop Begley Parish Center of St. Leo the Great Church, 335 Springdale Ave., April 28 at 7 p.m.

Light refreshments will be served beginning at 6:30 p.m. For more information, e-mail Mary Beth Young at yrmarybeth@aol.com, or call the church office at (336) 724-0561.

CLEMMONS — Holy Family Church, 4820 Kinnamon Rd., has eucharistic adoration each Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. For more details, call Donna at (336) 940-2558 or Carole at (336) 766-4530.

CLEMMONS — A Charismatic Prayer Group meets Mondays at 7:15 p.m. in the eucharistic chapel of Holy Family Church, 4820 Kinnamon Rd. Join us for praise music, witness, teaching, prayers and petition. For more details, call Jim Passero at (336) 998-7503.

Is your parish or school sponsoring a free event open to the general public? Deadline for all submissions for the Diocesan Planner is 10 days prior to desired publication date. Submit in writing to kmmoore@charlottediocese.org or fax to (704) 370-3382.

CNS photo by Lirio Da Fonseca, Reuters

Catholic women carry wooden crosses during a Palm Sunday procession in Dili, East Timor, April 5.

Episcopal

calendar

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following events: CORRECTIONs

April 12 (11 a.m.)

Easter Mass St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte April 18 (11 a.m.)

Sacrament of Confirmation; blessing of monument to the unborn St. James Church, Hamlet

April 21 (6 p.m.)

Friends to Seminarians dinner Graylyn International Conference Center, Winston-Salem April 22 (7 p.m.)

Sacrament of Confirmation St. Peter Church, Charlotte

In the April 3 edition, the locations of Divine Redeemer Church in Boonville and St. Joseph of the Hill Church in Eden were incorrect in photo captions. The Catholic News & Herald regrets the errors.

TO OUR READERS

Due to the Easter holiday, The Catholic News & Herald will not publish on Friday, April 17.

Our next edition will be Friday, April 24. We wish everyone a blessed and joyous Easter.

4 The Catholic News & Herald

around the diocese

RSVPing with support, prayers

Raising the roof

Courtesy Photo

Members of Knights of Columbus Council 939 serve guests at the council’s inaugural Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP) spaghetti dinner and bingo at Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro Feb. 20.

More than 100 people attended the event that helped generate financial support for four seminarians studying for the Diocese of Charlotte.

Through the Knights’ national RSVP initiative, councils, assemblies and Squires circles “adopt” one or more seminarians and provide them with moral support, financial assistance for tuition, books, car insurance and maintenance, emergency expenditures, travel money and other living expenses.

For the least among us

Courtesy Photo

Members of the Knights of Columbus work the kitchen during a spaghetti dinner at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Winston-Salem March 21. At the event, four Knights councils — Council 8509 of Holy Cross Church in Kernersville and Council 2829 of St. Leo the Great Church, Council 9499 of Holy Family Church and Council 10504 of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Winston-Salem — distributed funds raised through their Operation L.A.M.B. campaigns to 28 local charities.

More than 100 people attended the dinner.

Pictured are (from left) Joel McConnel, Alexander Smith, Dave Shemelya, Bruce McKenna and B.J. Smith.

April 10, 2009

Courtesy Photo

Members of Knights of Columbus Council 12481 are pictured in the kitchen during a fundraising fish fry dinner at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Lexington March 27. The $500 raised went toward a new roof for the parish hall.

The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal organization with 1.75 million members around the world.

April 10, 2009

from the cover

The Catholic News & Herald 5

Priests renew vows, oils blessed at chrism Mass CHRISM, from page 1

dedicated service throughout the diocese and asked them to reflect on the promises they made during their ordinations.

“Our renewal of commitment to priestly service during this Mass, takes us back not only to the day of our priesthood ordination, but it also takes us back even further — to the source of our call, to Jesus, to the one who first said to us, ‘Come, follow me,’” said Bishop Jugis.

“This Mass is a commitment to Christ Jesus,” he said.

During the chrism Mass, the priests recommit themselves to their vocational ministry.

The chrism Mass is one of the Catholic Church’s most solemn Masses, celebrated in most Catholic dioceses on Holy Thursday. If celebration of the Mass is not possible on Holy Thursday, it may be celebrated earlier in the week, as it is in the Diocese of Charlotte.

During the Mass, the bishop blesses the oils to be used in administering the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and anointing of the sick throughout the diocese in the upcoming year.

Bishop Jugis celebrated the Mass along with concelebrants Msgr. Mauricio W. West, vicar general and chancellor; Father John Putnam, judicial vicar; Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey; and other clergy of the diocese.

Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin was in attendance and Father Christopher Roux, rector of St. Patrick Cathedral, served as master of ceremonies.

Permanent deacons assisted and seminarians of the diocese served as altar servers.

The recommitment ceremony, which followed the Liturgy of the Word, included the priests’ renewal of their dedication as faithful ministers of Christ.

Photo by Katie Moore

Priests and deacons gather around Bishop Peter J. Jugis during the eucharistic prayer at the chrism Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte April 7.

Following the liturgy of the Eucharist, Bishop Jugis blessed the three oils used in sacramental and liturgical practices.

Vials of the oils are dispensed to every parish and mission church in the diocese. With the sacred oils — and having recommitted themselves to the mission they share with their bishop — the priests return to their parishes, rededicated in spiritual union with the people of the diocese.

DID YOU KNOW? The sacramental use of oil is rooted in the Old Testament practice of anointing kings. The Hebrew word Mashiach, or “Messiah,” means, “anointed one.” Its New Testament Greek equivalent is Christos, or “Christ.” As Jesus Christ was anointed with the Holy Spirit, so are Christians anointed with the same spirit through the use of holy oils.

MORE PHOTOS ONLINE For more photographs of the chrism Mass, visit the diocesan Web site at www.charlottediocese.org.

Photo by Deacon Gerald Potkay

Bishop Peter J. Jugis pours fragrant balsam into a vessel of olive oil during the annual chrism Mass celebrated at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte April 7. Once blended and blessed, the chrism —signifying abundant grace and spiritual strength — is used during the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and holy orders. Also pictured is Deacon Benjamin Roberts and seminarian Matthew Codd.

6 The Catholic News & Herald

FROM THE COVER

Converts share different perspectives on journey CONVERTS, from page 1

the different circumstances that brought them to this point.

The searcher For a long time, David Viola was a man on a mission.

He spent years experimenting with different fundamentalist and nondenominational religions. But he couldn’t find what he was looking for.

“I wanted a venue where I could properly worship the Lord with a body of believers who were like-minded,” Viola said.

He was looking for a faith that was rooted in tradition.

“The Baptists had no traditions,” said Viola. “The Anglicans and Lutherans got away from tradition.”

Then he found a faith that was rooted in history.

“The Catholic Church has held together for 2,000 years,” he said.

“Tradition helps keep the church together.”

Growing up a fundamentalist, Viola was taught that “everything the Catholics believe is dead wrong.”

“I had to do a lot of praying before I could even consider coming into the Catholic Church,” he said.

But when he and his wife, Laura, who also is entering the church at Easter, first stepped into the Abbey Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Belmont, they knew they were finally home.

“As soon as we walked in we knew that was where we belonged,” Viola said.

“The reality of the Eucharist was important for them,” said Father Cancro, pastor of Queen of the Apostles Church.

“For them that was really a starting point in terms of their own exploration of Catholicism.”

The Violas enrolled in Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA) at Queen of the Apostles Church.

For David Viola, the decision to convert was reinforced during the Rite of Election.

“As soon as I put my name in the

April 10, 2009

“Everything that I see in the Catholic Church points to Christ.”

— David Viola book, I just knew that this was the thing to do,” he said.

The Rite of Election marks the beginning of the candidates’ and catechumens’ final, and most intense, period of preparation.

Catechumens, people not yet baptized, are preparing to receive the sacraments of initiation — baptism, confirmation and first Communion.

Candidates, who are already baptized Christians, will enter full communion with the church by receiving confirmation and first Communion.

“Everything that I see in the Catholic Church points to Christ,” said Viola.

“The tradition and the Word and the way they are combined — it just creates worship.”

The scholar For Dr. Beth Kreitzer, the journey to Catholicism was one of intellectual discovery.

A professor at Belmont Abbey College, Kreitzer earned a doctorate in religion in the field of Lutheran studies.

“To make the switch at this stage of my life is actually a bit of a challenge in some ways,” said Kreitzer, who studied the Protestant Reformation and did her dissertation on Martin Luther.

When she first started considering

a conversion, she thought about the impact it would have on her studies and her career.

“It was something that I’ve had to keep in mind,” she said.

Fortunately, she teaches at a Catholic college.

At Belmont Abbey “they won’t mind if I’m Catholic,” she joked.

Keitzer was initially drawn to Catholicism because she wanted to practice the same religion as her family.

Her husband is Catholic and their three children were all baptized in the Catholic Church.

“For me it was more of a feeling that I wanted to be all together in one church with my family,” she said.

With such an extensive background in religion, Kreitzer has approached her conversion on a scholarly level.

“I had to try to discern whether I could, in good conscience, become a Catholic and accept the things that are different from the tradition in which I was raised,” she said.

“I think I’m looking for something different than a lot of people are. I’m trying to figure out theological points, more than spirituality or to gain some form of formation,” she said.

“It’s clear that someone like Beth is in a very different place theologically then some of the others,” said Father Cancro.

“To be willing to move from her educationally-solid, theological understanding to now respond to the heart is a testament to the witness of her family and her own life of prayer,”

he said.

Like Viola, Kreitzer also appreciates the history and traditions of the Catholic Church, particularly the devotion to the saints.

“I think one of the things that I appreciate about the Catholic tradition as opposed to the Protestant tradition is the appreciation and accommodation to the saints,” said Kreitzer.

“It really adds an extra dimension to religious practice,” she said, and it is “something that I certainly didn’t find as a Lutheran.”

Common ground “Every year I am always edified by the witness of these people who come to a point where it’s clear that they have to say ‘yes’ to God,” Father Cancro said about the candidates and catechumens.

He said he also admires their “willingness to change in a world that doesn’t really accept change easily.”

He appreciates the unique perspective that each individual brings to the RCIA program and he admires the respect that they have for one another.

Despite their varying religious backgrounds “they seem to accommodate each other,” said Father Cancro.

“Diversity is the tie” and there is “always that notion of patience,” he said. “My basic premise and the basic premise of the church is that this is the work of the Holy Spirit.”

Contact Staff Writer Katie Moore by calling (704) 370-3354, or e-mail kmmoore@charlottediocese.org.

Attention Readers!

Have a NEWS Story to Share?

Do you have a news story to share with The Catholic News & Herald? Do you know of people who are living the tenets of their faith? Do you have photos of a parish-, school- or ministrybased event?

If so, please share them with us. Contact Staff Writer Katie Moore at (704) 370-3354 or kmmoore@charlottediocese.org.

April 10, 2009

celebrating easter

The Catholic News & Herald 7

The Way of the Cross

Photo by Deacon Gerald Potkay

Those preparing to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church and their sponsors stand during the Rite of Election at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Greensboro March 8. The service formally acknowledges those who are preparing to receive the sacraments of initiation — baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist — at the Easter Vigil. As many as 150,000 new or returning Catholics are expected to join the U.S. Catholic Church at Easter.

‘From darkness into light’

Thousands of new or returning Catholics to join church in U.S. in 2009 by

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON — As many as 150,000 new or returning Catholics are expected to join the Catholic Church in 2009 in the United States. Many of them will do so during the Easter Vigil April 11 in parishes across the country.

Only partial figures from a sample of U.S. dioceses were available so far for 2009, according to a March 31 news release from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The numbers do not include infant baptisms, which are recorded separately.

The number of new Catholics in the Diocese of Charlotte this year is not expected to be available until June.

In other areas, the numbers of new or returning Catholics show growth in the church in places where it has traditionally been a minority, such as Georgia.

The Archdiocese of Atlanta estimated that 513 catechumens and 2,195 candidates will join the ranks of the archdiocese in 2009. About 1,800 of them will do so at Easter.

Catechumens, or people not yet baptized, receive the sacraments of initiation — baptism, confirmation and first Communion. Candidates, who are already baptized Christians, enter full communion with the church by receiving confirmation and first Communion.

“The Archdiocese of Atlanta is in a part of the country with a large non-Catholic population, and has been blessed with an authentic dynamism during recent years, which is perhaps best expressed in our annual eucharistic congress, which draws some 30,000 participants,” said Father Theodore Book, director of the archdiocesan Office of Divine Worship.

“One of the many blessings that we have received from the Lord is the large number of individuals entering the church,” he said in a statement.

On the opposite side of the country the Archdiocese of Seattle planned to welcome 736 catechumens and 506 candidates for a total of 1,242 new members; and the Diocese of San Diego expected to baptize 305 new members and welcome 920 other baptized Christians,

adding a total of 1,225 to its ranks.

In the mostly rural Diocese of Birmingham, Ala., the Cathedral of St. Paul could not handle all who are joining, 445 people in total, and their families for the Rite of Election.

The rites were held in three different ceremonies, two at the cathedral on the first Sunday of Lent, and another one in Huntsville, Ala., the prior Saturday.

Some people came from as far as 80 miles away to participate.

The Rite of Election, usually celebrated at the beginning of Lent, marks the official countdown to initiation or admission into the church.

Baptism also will have a special significance this year for Heidi Sierras of Ceres, near Modesto, Calif., along with her family, church sponsors and parish community.

Sierras will be in a group of five people — representing different areas of the world — who will be baptized by Pope Benedict XVI April 11. The 29year-old mother of four will represent North America.

“It’s hard to put into words how I feel,” Sierras told Catholic News Service in a March 2 telephone interview from her home in Ceres. “I feel honored. It’s an amazing opportunity.”

Around the country parishes in dioceses big and small, urban and rural, were preparing for the special Easter liturgies filled with symbolism that will lead the “neophytes,” or the newly baptized, those received into full communion, their new faith community and the entire church “from darkness into light.”

In 2008, according to the Official Catholic Directory, 49,415 adults were baptized and 87,363 people came into full communion with the church. In 2007, those numbers were 62,464 and 92,975, respectively.

In the Diocese of Charlotte, according to the diocesan Office of Faith Formation a total of 911 catechumens and candidates were initiated into the church in 2008. In 2007, the combined number was 914.

Contributing to this story was Editor Kevin E. Murray.

Courtesy Photo

Our Lady of Grace School seventh-grader Patrick Murray takes down fellow seventh-grader Patrick DePinto, portraying Jesus, from the cross during a living Way of the Cross performance at Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro April 3. The school’s two seventh-grade religion classes re-enacted the Way, or Stations, of the Cross during two public performances March 20 and April 3.

“The prayers are adapted to a student level to provide children with a powerful prayer service that helps them understand that each day they too share in the cross of Christ,” said Principal Gary Gelo.

Courtesy Photo

Mary Stapleton leads 3-year-old preschool students in walking and praying the Way of the Cross at St. Mark Church in Huntersville March 16. The Way, or Stations, of the Cross is the devotion commemorating the final hours, or Passion, of Jesus.

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Culture Watch

A roundup of Scripture, readings, films and more

Polish woman writes book detailing close friendship with late pope OXFORD, England (CNS) — A Polish psychiatrist has published a book of letters and reflections detailing her close, lifelong friendship with Pope John Paul II. “The Holy Father asked me to publish these notes and meditations as a testimony that each person possesses a spirit which has to develop,” said Wanda Poltawska, who was friends with Pope John Paul from his first years as a priest until his death April 2, 2005.

“He was a person with a sense of humor, who was ready to talk and listen to everyone. As soon as I met him, I knew he was a holy person who could not conceal his sanctity,” she said at the recent release in Poland of her book, “Beskidy Retreats.”

Poltawska, 87, said Pope John Paul had approved most of the material and asked her to write the book in the 1990s.

She said she still had a “suitcase of letters” from the late pope that will not be released until after her own death.

“When his death was expected, I asked the Holy Father if I should burn these notes and he replied, ‘That would be a shame,’” she said.

Poltawska, who studied medicine after surviving the Ravensbruck and Neustadt-Gleve Nazi concentration camps in Germany, got to know the thenFather Karol Wojtyla after he heard her confession in Krakow, Poland.

They later worked together on problems associated with abortion and contraception.

She accompanied the future pontiff on hiking and camping trips, kept him supplied with medicine and vitamins, and corresponded with him on spiritual and religious topics.

When Poltawska, at the time a mother of four young children, was diagnosed with cancer in 1962, thenBishop Wojtyla sent a request for prayers to Padre Pio and wrote again to thank him when she recovered.

Pope John Paul canonized Padre Pio in 2002.

In numerous letters, affectionately signed “Brat,” the Polish word for brother, the future pontiff thanked Poltawska for her reflections. He kept her informed of his spiritual development and credited her with nurturing his own thought on family values and the

“theology of the body.”

As a cardinal, he continued to exchange letters containing prayers and meditations with Poltawska.

One time during a vacation in the mountains in August 1978, he recounted to her over breakfast that he had dreamed he saw the late Pope Paul VI “beckoning to me.” Two months later, after his election as pope, he told Poltawska he wanted to declare her his “personal expert” on birth control, raising children and pastoral medicine.

“You have followed my priesthood step by step and participated for so many years in uncovering its meanings and values,” Pope John Paul wrote to her.

In addition to directing the Family Theology Institute at Krakow University, Poltawska lectured at the John Paul II Institute at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome.

She and her husband, Andrzej, became members of a new Pontifical Council for the Family in 1983. Poltawska also joined the Pontifical Academy for Life and worked with the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry.

For the pope, she wrote descriptions, now “closed up in the Vatican,” of the hills and valleys of his native southern Poland, and took family members on vacation to the papal villa outside Rome at Castel Gandolfo.

Photos in the book show Poltawska’s grandchildren paddling with plastic boats in a Castel Gandolfo fountain, and the pope relaxing over tea with his clerical collar undone.

In the final pages of the book, Poltawska describes how she read to the dying pope at his bedside, and she listed the books as “The Robe,” by the Rev. Lloyd C. Douglas, an American Lutheran minister, “Pan Tadeusz” by Adam Mickiewicz and parts of Pope John Paul’s own “Memory and Identity.”

The pope died, Poltawska says, when she was on the final page of “The Free City” by Polish writer Mieczyslaw Jalowiecki.

In a foreword, the president of the Polish bishops’ conference, Archbishop Jozef Michalik of Przemysl, described the book as a “singular diary of the soul.”

The book contains unique insights into the late pope’s religious life and work as a spiritual guide, he said.

WORD TO LIFE

Sunday Scripture Readings: April 19, 2009

April 19, Divine Mercy Sunday Cycle B Readings: 1) Acts 4:32-35 Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 2) 1 John 5:1-6 Gospel: John 20:19-31

God’s mercy endures, sustains us forever

by JEFF HEDGLEN catholic news service

Mary Faustina lived a life of simplicity as a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy.

She joined them in 1925 at the age of 19 and spent her life working as a cook, gardener and porter in three of their houses. She died just 13 years later from tuberculosis.

It is in the life of this humble servant of the Lord where we find the foundation for Divine Mercy Sunday.

Faustina regularly received visions that she recorded in a journal. One was a vision of Jesus with two lights emanating from his heart.

She explained that these lights represent the water and blood that flowed from Jesus on the cross and are emblematic of God’s endless mercy for us pouring from his heart.

The mercy of God flows to us all. For my wife and me it was never more needed then when we

experienced six miscarriages.

Early in our marriage we went through three excruciating years of trying to sustain a pregnancy. We did all we could, but in the end it was determined that we would not be able to bring a child to full term.

My faith had carried me through a lot, but this seemed too much. I wondered if God cared, doubted his existence and was angry that my faithfulness to him was not being returned.

But in spite of my misgivings, through it all I felt the mercy of God carrying me, as in the scene described by the inspirational piece “Footprints in the Sand.” In my darkest hour I no longer was walking beside Jesus; I was being carried by him.

The psalmist exhorts us: “Let those who fear the Lord say, ‘His mercy endures forever.’”

We are not called to say “I understand all that the Lord does” or “Because I love the Lord no hard times will befall me.”

Rather, we are reminded that the mercy of God endures and in fact carries us forever.

On Divine Mercy Sunday we remember that no matter what we face there is one thing that can sustain us — the mercy of God flowing from the heart of Jesus. St. Faustina, pray for us.

Questions: How would you describe the mercy of God? Was there a time in your life when you felt that Jesus was carrying you?

Scripture to be Illustrated: “Let those who fear the Lord say, ‘His mercy endures forever’” (Psalm 118:4).

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE Scripture for the week of April 12-18 Sunday (The Resurrection of the Lord), Acts 10:34, 37-43, Colossians 3:1-4, John 20:1-9; Monday (Easter Monday), Acts 2:14, 22-33, Matthew 28:8-15; Tuesday (Easter Tuesday), Acts 2:36-41, John 20:11-18; Wednesday (Easter Wednesday), Acts 3:1-10, Luke 24:13-35; Thursday (Easter Thursday), Acts 3:11-26, Luke 24:35-48; Friday (Easter Friday), Acts 4:1-12, John 21:1-14; Saturday (Easter Saturday), Acts 4:13-21, Mark 16:9-15.

Scripture for the week of April 19-25 Sunday (Second Sunday of Easter Divine Mercy Sunday), Acts 4:32-35, 1 John 5:1-6, John 20:19-31; Monday, Acts 4:23-31, John 3:1-8; Tuesday (St. Anselm), Acts 4:32-37, John 3:7-15; Wednesday, Acts 5:17-26, John 3:16-21; Thursday (St. George, St. Adalbert), Acts 5:27-33, John 3:31-36; Friday (St. Fidelis), Acts 5:24-42, John 6:1-15; Saturday (St. Mark), 1 Peter 5:5-14, Mark 16:15-20.

Scripture for the week of April 26-May 2 Sunday (Third Sunday of Easter), Acts 3:13-15, 17-19, 1 John 2:1-5, Luke 24:35-48; Monday, Acts 6:8-15, John 6:22-29; Tuesday (St. Peter Chanel, St. Louis de Montfort), Acts 7:51-8:1, John 6:30-35; Wednesday (St. Catherine of Siena), Acts 8:1-8, John 6:35-40; Thursday (St. Pius V), Acts 8:26-40, John 6:44-51; Friday (St. Joseph the Worker), Colossians 3:14-15, 17, 23-24, Matthew 13:54-58; Saturday (St. Athanasius), Acts 9:31-42, John 6:60-69.

The Catholic News & Herald 11

April 10, 2009

Jingle writers say their ‘Rosary Tapes’ encourage hope, prayer

by JACKIE TAYLOR catholic news service

WASHINGTON — Jingle writers John Giaier and Bill Gildenstern have put a new spin on the rosary by combining the traditional mysteries and meditations with contemporary music.

Their product is called the “Rosary Tapes,” made up of four compact discs, one for each of the rosary’s four sets of mysteries.

“When Bill came up with the idea, at the time I thought he was kind of nutty,” Giaier said, joking.

To c h a n g e G i a i e r ’s m i n d , Gildenstern and his wife, Kelly, put together a sample to the tune of “Silent Night” for Giaier’s wife, Debbie.

Her tearful reaction was all it took for Giaier to agree to the rosary project.

Longtime friends and co-owners of a Michigan-based advertising agency, Catholics Giaier and Gildenstern are best known for producing the Ford Motor Co.’s famous jingle “Have you driven a Ford lately?”

The duo has produced more than 6,000 jingles in the past 40 years.

Giaier said the “Rosary Tapes” project has been a “real labor of love” over the years. They have controlled much of the production and distribution

o f t h e “ R o s a r y Ta p e s ” w i t h i n their company.

Gildenstern, the lyricist of the collection, created meditation concepts for each piece. He consulted Catholic clergy as well as clergy from other Christian denominations to ensure the messages of his songs were accurate.

“The songs come right from the Bible and tell a story. It’s the actual rosary with the Our Fathers, Hail Marys and meditations. It’s inspirational and makes you think,” Giaier told Catholic News Service.

Giaier composed and arranged the music with Gildenstern in their own studio. He also provided male vocals on the albums. The outcome was a blend of rock, jazz, blues, country and pop music.

The songs were purposely created to have “staying power” across a wide demographic, said Gildenstern.

“We tried to blend the music so that listeners would never go past a track or two before hearing one of their favorite songs,” Gildenstern said.

Since the “Rosary Tapes” project began in the early 1990s, Gildenstern and Giaier have sold about 50,000 sets of the four CDs. Songs from the Grammy-nominated album, “The Joyful Mysteries,” which focus on Jesus’ birth,

CNS photo by Bob Roller

Young people hold rosaries during the sixth annual Worldwide Children’s Eucharistic Holy Hour at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington in 2008. Jingle writers John Giaier and Bill Gildenstern have developed a product called “Rosary Tapes,” a set of four compact discs, one for each of the rosary’s mysteries: joyful, sorrowful, glorious and luminous. are available on the “Rosary Tapes” Web site for free.

The CD has had more than 2 million downloads.

The four CDs are titled after the joyful, sorrowful, glorious and luminous mysteries of the rosary. Pope John Paul II added the luminous mysteries, or the mysteries of light, in 2002.

During his pontificate, Giaier and Gildenstern received a letter sent on the pope’s behalf thanking them for their work on the rosary CDs. They also have received an apostolic blessing from Pope Benedict XVI. Gildenstern and Giaier hope the “Rosary Tapes” will encourage people of all Christian denominations to pray more often.

“I’m trying to sell the rosary. To me, it’s the perfect prayer,” Gildenstern told CNS. “It’s a Christian prayer, not just a Catholic prayer. We want you to be whatever you want to be to be comfortable with Jesus,” he added.

Gildenstern suggested prayer as a way to find comfort during these tough economic times.

“It really goes past the ‘Rosary Tapes.’ It’s all about hope,” Gildenstern said.

“We have to work to overcome our problems. We have to put our hands to the plow, but in the same token, we’ve got to be praying like crazy,” he said.

“If we don’t pray, it’ll just be a mess,” he added.

12 The Catholic News & Herald

April 10, 2009

in the news

Archival Anecdota For the month of April, here is a brief history of the Catholic Daughters of America and its service to the Diocese of Charlotte.

Number of births to unwed mothers on rise in U.S. BIRTHS, from page 1

Archives Photo

Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin is pictured with members of the Catholic Daughters of America in Charlotte in April 1994. Bishop Curlin was one of three North Carolina bishops to serve as national chaplain of the Catholic Daughters.

Founded in 1903 and originally named National Order of Daughters of Isabella, Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA) is one of the oldest and largest national organizations of Catholic women in the world.

Located in 45 states as well as Mexico, Guam, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, CDA has 95,000 members with 1,400 local chapters, or courts.

The motto of the CDA is “Unity and Charity,” and its members are active in the church and community.

Catholic Daughters are especially noted for their effective fundraising, assistance with charities and zealous support of priests and seminarians.

Court Sacred Heart, Salisbury 1759 – Established Sept. 15, 1957 Court St. Joan of Arc, Asheville 2471 – Established March 4, 2000 Court St. Mary Mother of God, Sylva 2534 – Established June 27, 2004 Court St. Philip the Apostle, Greensboro 2593 – Established Sept. 15, 2007 NOTABLE MOMENTS: 1927: Court Asheville hosts national CDA convention.

The first project of CDA Court Charlotte was sponsoring an Altar Society to care for the altar at St. Peter Church (at that time the only Catholic church in Charlotte).

May 9, 1933: First regular meeting of Court Charlotte following its establishment. Some of the first motions carried include: all Court Charlotte members to “receive communion in a body on the second Sunday of the month”; designated pews in church will be marked “reserved” for Catholic Daughters.

Since then, CDA has engaged in various other projects in the Charlotte area throughout the years, such as sewing vestments, altar linens and hospital gowns.

Sept. 1, 1934: CDA sponsor weekend retreat for lay women at Sacred Heart Convent in Belmont. Forty women, including three nonCatholics, attend the retreat.

CDA also rolled bandages for the Red Cross during World War II, made blankets for Holy Angels nursery in Belmont and hosted receptions for priests after their ordination Masses.

CDA still sponsors Priest Appreciation days and is actively involved in the pro-life movement.

Three North Carolina bishops have served as national chaplain to CDA: Bishop William J. Hafey from 1925-1947, Bishop Vincent S. Waters from 1947-1966 and Bishop William G. Curlin from 1990-1994.

Additionally, Bishop Hafey is credited with the establishment of the Junior Catholic Daughters of America (JCDA) in 1926.

Three North Carolina Catholic Daughters have been CDA national directors: Ruth Carlisle of Court Charlotte, Maureen Daughtry of Court Durham and Maryann Grabasky of Court Greensboro, who was elected just recently.

Presently, there are seven courts in the Diocese of Charlotte: Court Asheville 412 – Established May 21, 1920 Court Charlotte 1199 – Established March 30, 1933 Court Greensboro 1200 – Established March 31, 1933

World War II period: Court Charlotte provides support and food for soldiers stationed at Morris Field Air Base in Charlotte — including Catholic books and maintaining of a lounge for soldiers on base. CDA sponsors dances for soldiers at O’Donoghue School and one morning served breakfast to 100 soldiers following their reception of holy Communion.

between marriage and parenthood.

According to the report, issued in late March by the National Center for Health Statistics, 4.3 million babies were born in 2007 — more than in any other single year in U.S. history. The number of births to unwed mothers reached its highest level at more than 1.7 million.

Although 25 percent of these births were to teen mothers, the rest were to women in their 20s through their 40s.

The data reflects an overall trend and something society has come to accept more than it did in previous generations, said S. Philip Morgan, a sociology professor and fertility researcher at Duke University in Durham, N.C. Morgan told Catholic News Service April 1 that the rise in the number of unwed mothers has occurred for several reasons.

For starters, he said the “shotgun wedding solution to a premarital pregnancy” is no longer seen as necessary or something that leads to a lasting marriage. He also said the debate about abortion has “changed the social stigma” of having a child out of wedlock.

“Young pregnant women can carry their babies with pride in a way they couldn’t in the ’50s and ’60s,” he said.

Morgan said the pro-life movement in particular has emphasized that it “shows strength, courage and valor to have a baby.” Another factor is that “women have dramatically postponed” marriage until later in life or have ruled it out altogether, he said.

In the face of these trends, the Catholic Church offers a countermessage, urging people to see and value the link between marriage and parenthood.

John Grabowski, associate professor of moral theology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, said the church stresses this connection

based on natural law and Scripture.

But in recent years, he said, this view also has been supported by studies from social scientists demonstrating that “children are much happier and much better cared for in a stable marriage.”

But clearly not everyone is buying the message, in part because it gets “a lot of competition from today’s culture,” Grabowski said.

He said the church’s teachings on marriage are prevalent in the writings of Pope John Paul II and can be found in parts of the U.S. bishops’ National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage.

Mary Jo Pedersen, former family ministries specialist at the Family Life Office in the Archdiocese of Omaha, Neb., said the bishops’ marriage initiative and diocesan family life programs are key ways the church is stressing the value of married life.

Pedersen said the church walks a fine line pastorally when it highlights the role of married couples in shaping children while also addressing the many contributions of single parents.

The bishops similarly addressed this issue in their 1991 pastoral, “Putting Children and Families First: A Challenge for Our Church, Nation and World.”

“We support and applaud the often heroic efforts of single-parent families,” they wrote in the statement, adding: “We also emphasize the value of parents staying together and sacrificing to raise children. Children generally do best when they have the love and support — personal and material — of both their parents.”

Pederson is convinced that married couples teach children about God just by their daily example of loving each other and showing forgiveness and commitment.

“Without doing anything extra,” she said, “parents’ lived example teaches children of God’s faithful love ... which is why the church says marriage is the best way to form children in the image and likeness of God.”

1950: Court Asheville hosts its second national CDA convention.

1955: North Carolina becomes a state court.

May 1960: North Carolina CDA attends state convention in Winston-Salem and vote on a resolution opposing federal aid to education because it would only support children attending public schools.

CDA votes also on a resolution recommending that President Eisenhower assemble a national conference to examine the problem of public sales of indecent literature and find ways to counteract the loss of values among youth.

March 8, 2008: Court Charlotte celebrates 75 years of service with a Mass offered by court chaplain, Msgr. Mauricio W. West, chancellor and vicar general of the Diocese of Charlotte.

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April 10, 2009

Sainthood soon?

in the news

The Catholic News & Herald 13

For Pope John Paul II, beatification process may be on final lap

by JOHN THAVIS catholic news service

VATICAN CITY — They brought flowers and messages to his grave. They sang songs evoking his memory. And they prayed for his beatification.

The fourth anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II April 2 was marked by a sense of anticipation following reports that the late pontiff would be beatified on the fifth anniversary next year.

The Vatican has played down those rumors. But among the thousands who flocked to his tomb and gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica for a memorial Mass, the feeling was strongly hopeful.

“There’s all kinds of talk about him being beatified. It’s only a matter of time before it happens. He’s heading so fast toward sainthood that they’re only waiting to give him a little bit more legitimacy, I guess,” said Samantha Coveleski, 22, of Lewes, Del. Coveleski was among hundreds of people who jammed the crypt area of St. Peter’s Basilica April 2 to pay their respects at Pope John Paul II’s tomb.

They left candles, photos and letters, and murmured prayers in many languages.

On the white marble tombstone lay three red roses.

“So many people loved this guy so much. When you’re at the tomb you can really see what the big deal is,” Coveleski said. “He was so accessible during his papacy, and here you can really see and feel how much he was loved.”

Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the commemorative Mass and said he was praying for “the gift of beatification” for his predecessor. In 2005, Pope Benedict

set Pope John Paul on the fast track to beatification by waiving the normal fiveyear waiting period for the introduction of his sainthood cause.

That seemed to respond to the “Santo subito!” (“Sainthood now!”) banners that were held aloft at Pope John Paul’s funeral.

The initial diocesan phase of the cause was completed in April 2007.

Last November a team of theological consultors to the Congregation for Saints’ Causes began studying the 2,000page “positio,” the document that makes the case for beatification, according to Archbishop Angelo Amato, head of the congregation.

Archbishop Amato told Vatican Radio that once the theological study of the “positio” is completed, the cause will be considered by the cardinal and bishop members of the congregation.

If approved, it will then go to the pope for a final decision on a decree of “venerability,” which means the person lived the Christian virtues heroically.

Meanwhile, a presumed miracle through the intercession of the late pope — involving a French nun said to have been cured of Parkinson’s disease — is being studied in a five-step process that involves medical experts, a medical board, theological consultors, the members of the congregation and, finally, the pope.

With the decree of venerability and a confirmed miracle, beatification can take place.

Archbishop Amato emphasized that the Vatican could not promise a timetable for all this. The fact that the Vatican is expediting the cause doesn’t mean “haste

CNS photo by Arturo Mari, L’Osservatore Romano

Pope John Paul II touches the Western Wall in Jerusalem on the final day of his Holy Land pilgrimage in this March 26, 2000, file photo. The fourth anniversary of the pope’s death April 2 was marked by a sense of anticipation following reports that the late pontiff would be beatified on the fifth anniversary next year. or superficiality,” but on the contrary demands methodical attention to detail, he said.

Five years from death to beatification may not strike people as “subito,” but it would be a modern record in the church; even for Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who was described by many as a “living saint” and for whom the waiting period was also waived, it took six years to complete the process.

Polish Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow, personal secretary to the late pope and one of his biggest beatification boosters, was in Rome for the fourth anniversary. He told reporters that a presumed miracle had recently occurred at Pope John Paul II’s

tomb in St. Peter’s Basilica.

A nine year-old Polish boy from Gdansk, suffering from cancer of the kidneys and unable to walk, was brought to the tomb by his parents, Cardinal Dziwisz said. When they left St. Peter’s, the boy told them, “I want to walk,” and began walking in good health, he said.

Vatican officials are not publicizing what are said to be 251 “inexplicable” healings or other events attributed to Pope John Paul II’s intercession, and which have been filed away.

Like Archbishop Amato, the officials emphasize the seriousness of the study being undertaken and insist there are no foregone conclusions.

Pope John Paul II remembered on anniversary of death POPE, from page 1

April 5 celebration of World Youth Day as they remembered Pope John Paul.

At the end of the Mass, young people carrying oil lamps led Pope Benedict into the grotto of St. Peter’s Basilica, where they all knelt and prayed at the tomb of Pope John Paul.

During his homily, Pope Benedict said the torch of faith and hope was what Pope John Paul “left us as a heritage.”

“He consigned it to me, as his successor, and this evening I pass it on once again to you, the young people of Rome, so that you would continue to be sentinels of the morning, vigilant and joyful,” said Pope Benedict.

Throughout his life Pope John Paul “did not hesitate using all his energy to spread the light (of Christ) everywhere,” the pope said. “He was not willing to

compromise when it came to proclaiming and defending Christ’s truth. He never tired of spreading his love.”

The fruitfulness of Pope John Paul’s life and ministry, he said, is seen in the faces of the young men and women who crowded into St. Peter’s Basilica for the anniversary Mass.

“How many vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, how many young families committed to living the Gospel ideal and aiming for holiness are tied to the witness and preaching of my venerated predecessor,” the pope said.

“How many young men and women converted or persevered in their Christian journey thanks to his prayers, his encouragement, his support and his example,” Pope Benedict said.

“At the hour of his agony and death, this new generation wanted to show him they understood his teaching by gathering silently in prayer in St. Peter’s Square and many other places throughout the world,” the pope said.

CNS photo by Emanuela De Meo, Catholic Press Photo

People pray near candles on the fourth anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II at the Vatican April 2. The candles form the initials of the late pontiff.

While Pope Benedict did not make any mention of the process to beatify and canonize Pope John Paul, he did end his homily by praying that the late pope “never ceases to accompany us and intercede for us from heaven.”

After praying in the grotto and

before leaving St. Peter ’s, Pope Benedict stopped to greet Angelo Gugel, Pope John Paul’s Vatican valet, and the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart Sisters from Poland who ran the papal apartment and cared for Pope John Paul during his final illness.

April 10, 2009

14 The Catholic News & Herald

Perspectives

A collection of columns, editorials and viewpoints

For ongoing dialogue Inquiring into the science and morality of life at the moment of resurrection Robert George, a government professor at Princeton University, and I have had an ongoing dialogue on stem cell research.

Both of us, as Catholics, have faith-based reservations about President Barack Obama’s recent lifting of restrictions on federal funding for research on new stem cell lines.

We recognize that, as Cardinal Justin Rigali and Bishop William E. Lori have personally instructed Vice President Joseph Biden, the Catholic answer to when life begins is said to be both “a matter of objective [biological or scientific] fact” and a “moral” conclusion dependent upon a principle of “natural law accessible to people of good will.”

As such, the embryo and the human adult are entitled to the same “inalienable rights bestowed by the Creator.”

In essence, our faith makes a scientific claim and a moral one.

But then, why do President Obama and other intelligent, non-Catholic people disagree?

To closely examine the source of that disagreement, and to know better whether the church’s answer to the life question is based more in science or theology/ philosophy or evenly in both, we are continuing our helpful conversation.

We are also inviting comments from everyone interested in this subject.

Responses may be sent to faithprecedent@gmail.com.

It is always a pleasure for me to engage in discussion with George because of his great knowledge and even greater courtesy.

And I ask anyone responding to this request to observe the same ethic.

Far too often it seems as if we Catholics are drawn into boxing matches with each other, whether it be over the proper scope of medical research or who Notre Dame should ask to its graduations.

Instead, we propose to continue this inquiry, slow to judge and answering in love.

When does life begin such that no governmental or legal system could be called “just” if it failed to accord full legal recognition and protection to that life?

The pro-life office of the bishops has compiled a very useful list of statements from scientists that identifies fertilization as the point when life begins (www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/bioethic/ fact298.shtml).

Then too there are distinguished scientists who often qualify the answer.

For example, the director of the

Faith & Precedent DOUGLAS W. KMIEC cns columnist

Centre of Medical Law and Ethics at King’s College London notes that some scientists say 14 days, since that is when the primitive streak, the precursor of the nervous system, emerges.

Other scientists rely on this later point because, prior to it, twinning or triplets are possible.

Still other men and women of science ask why either the nervous system or the number of embryos is relevant since neither relates to consciousness.

But then, why does consciousness matter? We wouldn’t unplug Uncle Harry’s respirator just because he is in a transient coma, would we?

There would not seem any escape from the theological or philosophical aspect of the answer.

If so, have scientists only picked a point later than fertilization to facilitate their own work, specifying the 14day line as a political compromise to avoid unspeakable research on latestage embryos?

(Remember, in science the embryo stage lasts through 8 weeks.)

By the same token, is it right for some scientists to claim that “the question over experimenting with embryos is not about whether they are (within the human species) or not?

“That’s not what matters. What matters is being a person with rights and interests,” and that is not a scientific question.

What happens when everyone from scientists to presidents to Presbyterians are not on the same page as Catholics on this?

Is it enough to proclaim, as our church teaching does, that “those who hold a narrower and more exclusionary view have the burden of explaining why”?

But we submit there is, in this Easter season, a need for humility and charity in the evaluation of the answers submitted.

In that spirit, we look forward to reading your helpful responses at faithprecedent@gmail.com.

We must embrace a youthful thirst for justice

Church has duty to couple passion for justice with encounters with Christ Too often, new reports document the waning religious interest of young adults.

And while there is ample reason to worry about the graying of the church, particularly in Europe and North America, there is also cause for hope.

One element of Catholic faith that still profoundly resonates with young adults is helping the poor.

A major report on young adult Catholics, from 2007, found that 78 percent of those ages 18-39 believe that charitable efforts toward helping the poor are essential to their faith.

It’s no secret that passion to change the world has long been a strength of young adults.

Just ask the Peace Corps, Doctors Without Borders and countless mission and outreach organizations across the globe.

It seems that each new generation burns with a special thirst for justice.

At the same time, young adult Catholics of our own time are far less likely to attend weekly Mass or become registered with a local parish, according to a 2008 report by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University in Washington.

This has left dioceses across the nation wrestling with how to connect a whole generation to the life of the church.

The Jesuit Volunteer Corps and Dominican Father Francis Hung Le’s annual medical mission trip to impoverished countries might offer some clues on how to invite young adults into the profound work of the church — work that changes both the world and the individuals who labor for justice.

A group of local Jesuit volunteers works in Anchorage at places like the Beans Cafe soup kitchen and the Red Cross.

This band of eight young adults lives together in Christian community and upholds spirituality as a foundational tenet of their mission.

Studies of former Jesuit volunteers find that they are more likely to attend Mass and stay married later on in life.

This is social justice with a spiritual bedrock.

Similarly, Father Le’s mission trips are another shining example of pairing a passion for justice with a quest for eternal matters.

In February, the pastor of Holy Family Cathedral continued his annual tradition of taking a group of medical professionals to his homeland in Vietnam to provide medical aid to the poorest of the poor.

Woven between the remote medical stops were regular celebrations of the

Guest Column JOEL DAVIDSON guest columnist

Mass and collaborative work with priests and religious sisters from Vietnam.

This is the sort of seamless garment of faith and action that could well inspire a generation of young Catholics to reconsider the faith of the saints.

In Pope Benedict XVI’s recent message for World Youth Day 2009, he explored the question of how young people might find the hope that is Christ.

To this end, the pope called young people to pray, receive the sacraments and to “cultivate love of neighbor and try to put yourselves and your human talents and professional abilities at the service of the common good and of truth.”

Youthful zeal remains. It is the duty of the church to couple this passion for justice with instruction in the faith and encounters with our Savior.

It cannot be one or the other.

Religious instruction without a hand reaching to the poor rings hollow to a generation that desires justice.

At the same time, social outreach without a robust spiritual backbone loses all eternal significance.

Joel Davidson is editor of the Catholic Anchor, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Anchorage, Alaska.

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April 10, 2009

The Catholic News & Herald 15

Why be Catholic?

Our immortality is directly related to our union with Christ There are many reasons for being Catholic, but the one that excites me most is what C.S. Lewis called the eternity factor.

We seldom see the hidden hand of God at work in this world, but God is always active in human history.

C.S. Lewis always stressed that “the church will outlive the universe,” and because of this, “the individual person within it will outlive the universe.

“Everything that is joined to the immortal head (of the mystical body of Christ) will share his immortality. ...

“If we do not believe it (this truth),” Lewis insisted, “let us be honest and relegate the Christian faith to museums” (“The Weight of Glory”).

Lewis debunked the non-Christian notion that each one of us starts with the treasure we call the “personality” locked up within us, and that the main end of life is to expand and express the shoddy ego and to guard it from interference so as always to be “original.”

He scoffed that no one who seeks originality for its own sake will ever be original.

In light of this truth, we know that the true goal of human life is to abide in

Jesus Christ and attain heaven.

We are called to tell the truth as we see it and do any bit of work as well as it can be done for the work’s sake.

When we succeed at this, originality will come unsought. In Christ, with him and through him the goal of eternal life becomes possible.

Lewis said: “There will come a time when every culture, every institution, every nation, the human race, all biological life is extinct and every one of us is still alive. Immortality is promised to us.”

Immortality, the gift of living beyond the time/space limits of this world, will come only to those who belong to the inner life of God. This gift is bestowed on us by virtue of our membership in Christ’s body.

Jesus is the only eternal being who has ever lived. By belonging to his mystical body we will share in his eternal destiny.

Lewis continued, “It is not the individual as such who will share Christ’s victory over death. We shall share the victory by being in the Victor.”

Our immortality is directly related to our union with Christ.

Transcending self-interest How faithful people go about the work of politics Politics is a contact sport but still one that people of faith can influence by bringing reconciliation and humility to the game, according to a man with a unique perspective on both faith and politics.

“I think it is important in our country to be engaged in the political process and to understand that politics is a difference of ideas,” said John Danforth, a former three-term senator from Missouri, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and an ordained Episcopal priest.

“It is not everybody sitting around and agreeing with each other,” he added.

“We do disagree and we have vigorous debates and that’s the way it should be.”

He published a book in 2006, “Faith and Politics,” in which he wrote Christians have a choice between reconciliation and divisiveness, and “those who have chosen the latter course are getting all the attention.”

The relationship of faith and politics is not about fashioning religious beliefs into political platforms, he wrote, adding, “It is, instead, the way in which faithful people go about the work of politics.”

I had the opportunity to meet

Danforth, and I asked him if his book remained relevant following a national election and a change in administration.

“This is a subject that is very germane today,” he replied. Christians must take their rightful place in the public square, but should “do so in context of not believing any one of us has the monopoly on truth, an understanding that we can be wrong and the other guy can turn out to be right.”

“I think that people of faith can bring that kind of message to public debate,” Danforth said.

“Not that we pull our punches, not that we feel less vigorously about different approaches to government. But along with strong views, we can bring a sense of humility, a sense that the other guy could be right and we could turn out to be wrong.”

Danforth graduated from Yale Law School and Yale Divinity School in 1963 and was ordained later that year.

He was Missouri’s attorney general for eight years.

He was elected to the Senate in 1977, served three terms and retired in 1995.

Spirituality for Today FATHER JOHN CATOIR

Holy Week offers occasion to understand gift of salvation, says pope

cns columnist

Baptism makes us an organic part of the body of Christ. The mystical body of Christ is a metaphor for the cosmic Christ, who pervades and penetrates the entire universe.

It is a metaphor, which helps us to explain the unexplainable.

“There lies the maddening ambiguity of our faith as it must appear to outsiders,” Lewis wrote.

As private individuals, “as mere biological entities, each with its separate will to live and to expand, we are apparently of no account. ... But as organs in the body of Christ, as stones and pillars in the temple, we are assured of our eternal self-identity and shall live to remember the galaxies as an old tale.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines membership in the mystical body of Christ as extending well beyond the limits of the Roman Catholic Church, but the essential truth is that Jesus Christ established the Catholic Church to open the gates of heaven for one and all.

Consider This STEPHEN KENT cns columnist

“Religion can be very divisive,” he said. “We see that throughout the world and we see that throughout history. On the other hand, religion brings to politics a sense of humility and a sense that God’s truth transcends our perception of it so that we are not the custodian of God’s truth in the political sphere.

“I think that degree of modesty helps people disagree in an agreeable fashion.”

Danforth was a special presidential U.S. envoy to Sudan in 2001 and brokered a peace agreement that ultimately ended a 20-year civil war in 2005. He sees a role for reconciliation and humility in foreign affairs.

“I think that Sudan was an example of the United States trying to be a constructive force in a country where our self-interest was hard to define,” he reflected.

There is a strong role for realism in the conduct of foreign affairs, he said, and added: “I think that people of faith can bring to any government policy something other than self-interest, something that transcends self-interest.”

The Pope Speaks POPE BENEDICT XVI VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The rituals of Holy Week and Easter offer Catholics an opportunity to understand the “priceless gift of salvation obtained

by Christ’s sacrifice” on the cross, Pope Benedict XVI said.

The Easter triduum, which represents the heart of the whole liturgical year, is a time for the faithful to immerse themselves in the central events of redemption, to relive the paschal mystery and to meditate “more vividly on the passion, death and resurrection of the Lord,” he said.

At his general audience April 8 in St. Peter’s Square, the pope explained the meaning of the liturgies the church was to celebrate in the coming days.

The pope prayed that the Holy Week celebrations would draw all Christians “more deeply into Christ’s paschal mystery.”

Here is the text of the pope’s audience remarks in English.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Tomorrow we begin the holy Triduum, the heart of the entire liturgical year: a time when we immerse ourselves in the central events of our redemption.

The chrism Mass serves as a prelude to these three days, as priests renew their promises to the bishop, who then blesses the holy oils and consecrates the chrism signifying the gift of the Holy Spirit.

At the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, we recall the institution of the Eucharist, the supreme sign of Christ’s love for us.

As we venerate his cross on Good Friday, we contemplate the full meaning of his words: “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many” (Mk 14:24).

Holy Saturday finds us waiting in silent hope for the Easter Vigil, when every church will break forth in a song of joy at the Lord’s resurrection.

The celebration of the paschal mystery recalls the depth of Christ’s love: he did not wish to exercise his divinity as an exclusive possession, a means of domination, or a sign of distance between him and us.

Rather, “he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant” (Phil 2:7) by sharing fully in our human condition, even to the point of death — not a death imposed by blind chance or fate, but one freely chosen in obedience to the Father’s will for the salvation for all.

May our fervent celebration of the Triduum draw us ever more deeply into Christ’s paschal mystery!

April 10, 2009

in the news

The Catholic News & Herald 16

Picking up the pieces Pope says he wants to visit Italian earthquake victims

by CINDY WOODEN catholic news service

VATICAN CITY — Encouraging solidarity with the victims of the earthquake that struck central Italy April 6, Pope Benedict XVI also promised to visit the survivors.

“My dear ones, I hope to come see you as soon as possible,” the pope said April 8 at the end of his weekly general audience, which is televised throughout Italy.

Shortly before the papal audience, Italian government officials raised the official death toll in the city and province of L’Aquila to 250 people and said more than 1,000 were injured, about 100 seriously.

The main quake, which struck at 3:30 a.m. April 6, registered a magnitude of between 5.8 and 6.3 on the Richter scale. Hundreds of tremors followed, including an aftershock April 7 that registered 5.3 on the Richter scale and caused more buildings to crumble.

At the end of his audience, the pope said he wanted to reaffirm his closeness to the people of central Italy suffering because of the earthquake.

Pope Benedict praised the work of the Italian government, police, firefighters, military and volunteers working to rescue victims, house and

feed the thousands left homeless, and ascertain which homes, churches, offices and businesses are safe to enter.

The assistance efforts, he said, “demonstrate how important solidarity is for overcoming such a harsh trial together. Once again, I want to tell those dear people that the pope shares their suffering and their worries.”

“Know that the pope prays for all of you, imploring the mercy of God for the deceased, and he asks for the maternal comfort of Mary and the support of Christian hope for their families and the survivors,” Pope Benedict said.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said planning for a papal visit to the region was under way, but he said it would take place at least a week after Easter.

Father Lombardi said Pope Benedict spoke to Archbishop Giuseppe Molinari of L’Aquila by telephone after the audience and promised that after his chrism Mass April 9 he would send the archdiocese some of the sacred oils he blessed for use in the sacraments since the archbishop would not be able to celebrate a chrism Mass in his own cathedral.

Archbishop Molinari told SIR, the news agency of the Italian bishops’ conference, that he hoped the pope’s visit would take place in the first days

CNS photo by Giampiero Sposito, Reuters

An Italian soldier stands in front of a damaged church after an earthquake in the Italian village of Paganica April 6. A powerful earthquake struck central Italy as residents slept April 6, killing more than 200 people and leaving up to 17,000 homeless. after Easter.

Italian news agencies quoted a spokesman for the archdiocese as saying the pope would visit April 13 or 14, flying by helicopter from Castel Gandolfo, the papal villa outside Rome where the pope was scheduled to spend Easter week.

Among the rescue workers assisting in the region were eight members of the Vatican fire department.

Domenico Giani, director of Vatican security services, told Vatican Radio that as soon as he heard about the earthquake he and the officials in charge of the Vatican governor’s office discussed ways they could help and then spoke to Pope Benedict about it.

“It seemed important at this moment of great pain to ensure that one of our fire department squads was present to lend a hand,” he said.

The firefighters, including a structural engineer, were sent to Onna, a tiny town near L’Aquila that was almost completely destroyed by the quake; 40 of the town’s 350 residents were killed.

Giani said that after helping recover bodies the first night the Vatican fire fighters started assisting the survivors.

Interviewed from Onna, Paolo De Angelis, the Vatican structural engineer, told Vatican Radio April 7, “The situation is disastrous. The town is destroyed.”

But, he said, even though most of the residents have lost everything, they are helping each other.

The quake, which was felt even 70 miles away in Rome, also did major damage in the town of Paganica, where it claimed the life of Abbess Gemma Antonucci, head of the Poor Clares’ Convent of St. Clare.

In an interview with SIR, Father Dionisio Rodriguez Cuartas, the pastor in Paganica and director of Caritas L’Aquila, said the roof of the Poor Clares’ convent caved in.

In the early afternoon April 6, rescue workers were able to recover the body of the abbess and to free another nun from the debris. Two of the dozen members of the community were hospitalized with broken bones;

CNS photo by Alessia Pierdomenico, Reuters

A crucifix hangs amid rubble of a destroyed house after an earthquake in the Italian village of Onna April 6. the others were unharmed.

In a telegram the same day to Archbishop Molinari, the Vatican secretary of state said Pope Benedict had asked him to convey his “participation in the pain of the dear population struck by this tragic event.”

“In assuring fervid prayers for the victims, particularly the children, His Holiness invokes the Lord to comfort the families, and while he addresses affectionate words of encouragement to the survivors and those involved in the rescue operations, he sends all a special apostolic blessing,” Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone told the archbishop.

Archbishop Molinari told SIR that many of the churches in his diocese had been damaged or totally destroyed; his residence and chancery also were heavily damaged.

The region had been experiencing small quakes for weeks, he said.

“Thank God I was not in my room asleep because I did not feel very safe,” he said; instead he went to his office to deal with paperwork.

As soon as the quake hit, he left the building with a priest and the nuns he lives with, the archbishop said.

“The most beautiful churches” in L’Aquila and nearby towns were destroyed, he said, listing five buildings.

And, like the Poor Clares’ convent, the cathedral was damaged when several sections of the roof caved in.