Sept. 14, 2007

September 14, 2007

The Catholic News & Herald 1

www.charlottediocese.org

Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte

2007 Eucharistic Congress The third diocesan Eucharistic Congress is taking place Sept. 21-22 in Charlotte. See details on pages 7-10, 16.

Established Jan. 12, 1972

by Pope Paul VI september 14, 2007

Taking faith to the airwaves

Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte

vOLUME 16

no. 39

Conviction, charity, commitment In Austria, pope sticks to core theme of Christian values

Catholic radio coming to Diocese of Charlotte

by JOHN THAVIS catholic news service

by DAVID HAINS communications director

VIENNA, Austria — On a three-day pilgrimage to Austria, Pope Benedict XVI brought a core theme of his pontificate to Central Europe, warning that a drift away from Christian values is leaving society unfulfilled, less charitable and without a real future.

Although the pope’s events during the Sept. 7-9 visit were low-key, his message was not.

To diverse audiences of Catholic faithful, politicians, church ministers and volunteers, he argued that Europe risks adopting a godless vision that will inevitably lead to a spiritual, social and demographic dead end.

One of the pope’s most telling speeches came in

CHARLOTTE — Catholicism will soon be on the airwaves in the Charlotte area.

Thanks to the efforts of a small but determined group of people in the Diocese of Charlotte, a weekly three-hour Catholic radio program will premiere Sunday, Sept. 23.

Sacred Heart Communications has been working for the past three years to bring Catholic radio to the diocese. Currently, no station in the 46-county diocese carries Catholic radio programs.

Charlotte radio station WDYT-AM 1220 and Sacred Heart Communications recently signed a contract to provide three hours of Catholic CNS photo by Reuters

See RADIO, page 4

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the crowd gathered in the rain during an outdoor Mass in Mariazell, Austria, Sept. 8.

See AUSTRIA, page 5

Passing down the faith Braided National Catechetical Sunday recognizes together vital role of teachers of the faith

INSIDE: 2007 Eucharistic Congress pull-out section

by

KAREN A. EVANS staff writer

Photo by Deacon Gerald Potkay

Bishop Peter J. Jugis leads a eucharistic procession through Charlotte Oct. 7, 2006.

This year’s Eucharistic Congress takes place Sept. 21-22. See pages 7-10.

CHARLOTTE — If you can recite the Apostles’ Creed, have ever received a sacrament or know the names of the four Gospel writers, then Sept.

16 is the perfect day to thank a catechist.

“We can’t depend only on an 8-minute homily to fully convey the teaching of the church,” said Dr. Cris

Villapando, director of diocesan faith formation. “ We a l s o n e e d t h e involvement of catechists,” he said.

E a c h y e a r, t h e U . S .

Conference of Catholic Bishops designates the third Sunday in September as National Catechetical Sunday.

See FAITH, page 6

‘Why Catholic?’ explores God’s revelation by

CAROLE McGROTTY correspondent

ARDEN — Catholics from around the Diocese of Charlotte recently studied the interrelated aspects of Jesus, Scripture

See WORKSHOPS, page 13

In Brief

Culture Watch

Perspectives

Senate votes on abortion; Vatican news

New book on Mother Teresa; Scripture readings

Rabbi’s Catholic heroes; church’s divine elements

| Pages 2-3

| Page 11

| Pages 14-15

September 14, 2007

2 The Catholic News & Herald

InBrief

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

Raising bread and hope

CNS photo by Marylynn G. Hewitt, Michigan Catholic

Edward Collins, a former inmate, prepares to put a pan of rye bread dough into the oven at the ROPE house in late May in Detroit.

Capuchin bakery project: Beyond feeding poor to ‘saving generations’ DETROIT (CNS) — After 23 years in food service, from training as a souschef at a Detroit hotel to working in prison kitchens, Edward Collins felt he had something to offer after his fourth release from prison on robbery and theft charges — if he could find someone willing to take a chance.

“I was ready to give back. I’d been taking for so long,” said Collins, who had spent 33 of his 58 years incarcerated.

He knew nothing about the work of the Capuchins when he went to the soup kitchen where they handed out bread during the Great Depression. These days, the Capuchins are helping some of the most unemployable by teaching them to bake bread and other pastries.

Or, as Collins puts it, “Instead of just feeding us, they are saving generations.”

Capuchin Father Ray Stadmeyer took a chance on Collins. For nine years the priest has been a chaplain at two soup kitchens.

Recently, he said, passing out bread and meals didn’t seem to be enough.

“We needed to do something that’s proactive in people’s lives,” he said.

In 2006, a bakery owner offered to teach the homeless to bake. For a few Saturdays she taught cookie-making and then bread-baking. By then Father Stadmeyer knew there was something about baking and changing lives. That’s when Collins came along.

After volunteering to bake a few Saturdays, the former prisoner found something he’d been seeking: “To be able to come here and be accepted, well, it means a lot to a guy to be accepted.”

His food industry experience “really changed the whole tone for us,” Father Stadmeyer said.

It also changed the focus of the baking employment project and became the foundation for the ROPE (Reaching Our Potential Everyday) program.

There are now four men involved — three have been incarcerated and one just left an alcohol rehabilitation program.

Collins bakes full time, the other three bake part time while working on their lives through counseling, Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, or completing their education.

They bake pies, cookies, breads, muffins and rolls, selling the goods at parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Detroit. The four men, all formerly homeless, live in a house paid for by part of what they earn selling baked goods.

Each of the men has made a oneyear commitment to ROPE. Volunteers from local parishes come in each week, wrapping baked goods and working in the kitchen. The volunteer program “just evolved,” the priest said. “They have been a godsend.”

Father Stadmeyer says the reason he gives ex-cons and addicts a chance is “because God gives them a chance. And that’s where Jesus would be going — to the people struggling the most to get it right.”

Senate votes on abortion praised, faulted by U.S. bishops’ spokeswoman WASHINGTON — A U.S. bishop’s spokeswoman praised the Senate’s recent vote to maintain the longstanding federal law against any involvement in coercive abortion programs overseas.

Deirdre McQuade, director of planning and information for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, also faulted the Senate for voting to overturn the federal government’s Mexico City policy, which denies U.S. funds to agencies that perform and promote abortion as a method of family planning in developing countries.

Both votes occurred during the Sept.

6 debate on the State Department and foreign operations funding bill.

The Senate voted 48-45 to restore the Kemp-Kasten amendment, which bans support for organizations that themselves support or help manage programs using coerced abortion and sterilization.

“I commend the Senate for refusing

Diocesan planner ASHEVILLE VICARIATE

HENDERSONVILLE — Immaculate Conception Church, 208 7th Ave. West., will host a five-day mission Sept. 15-19 at 7 p.m.

Deacon Norm Carroll will speak on “Accepting the Spirit of Vatican II.” Other mission topics include the Bible, conscience, personal freedom and calling to greatness. We explore these topics in a deeply spiritual setting where at its conclusion you will be closer to Jesus and his church. For more information, call the faith formation office at (828) 697-7420.

CHARLOTTE VICARIATE

CHARLOTTE — St. Thomas Church, 1400 Suther Rd., will present “The Acts of the Apostles” Wednesdays, 10-11:30 a.m., through Nov. 14. This study program will include individual study, small-group discussions and taped lectures. For registration and more information, call Mary at (704) 948-8285 or Angela at (704) 400-8517.

CHARLOTTE — In keeping with the theme of this year’s Eucharistic Congress, “To Know Jesus Christ,” Catholics from Charlotte parishes will gather on the steps of St. Peter Church, 507 S. Tryon St., Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. for the Third Annual Blanket Banquet to reach out to our homeless brothers and sisters. We will share a simple meal with invited guests from Charlotte Rescue Mission and Urban Ministries while distributing blankets, coats and undergarments to help them prepare for the cold weather to come. Donations of coats and blankets are needed. All are welcome. For more information or to volunteer with the banquet,

to participate in such atrocities against vulnerable women and their children in the developing world,” said McQuade.

“At the same time, it is disconcerting to think that this was considered debatable at all — and that the vote was so close.”

By a vote of 41-53, the Senate voted to negate the Mexico City policy.

“I am extremely disheartened to see our Senators reject the Mexico City Policy,” said McQuade.

Instituted in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan, the policy was rescinded

by President Bill Clinton in 1993 and reinstated by President George W. Bush in 2001.

President Bush has said he would veto a foreign operations budget that doesn’t include the Mexico City policy.

“We hope and expect that due to his pledge, and the pledge by many members of Congress to uphold such a veto, the Mexico City policy will be preserved in law this year,” said McQuade. call Linda Flynn (704) 366-9889 or e-mail flynnlin7@aol.com.

CHARLOTTE — St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., will host a Christian Coffeehouse Sept. 15, 7:30-9:30 p.m. in the Banquet Room of the New Life Center. Single and married adults are invited for an evening of contemporary Christian music, food and fellowship. For more information, call Kathy Bartlett at (704) 400-2213 or e-mail kschwabent@aol.com.

CHARLOTTE — The Refugee Resettlement Office of Catholic Social Services will host a second Refugee Forum Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Levine Jewish Community Center in Shalom Park, 5007 Providence Rd. This event will focus on the work of resettlement agencies, how they operate and explain specific volunteer opportunities.

Also, business owners and managers who have hired refugees will speak about the positive influence they bring to their workforce. Refugee Resettlement Office employment specialists will be on hand to answer questions. At 8:15 p.m., a live interview with Ishmael Beah, author of the New York Times bestseller “A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier,” detailing his childhood experiences fighting a civil war in Sierra Leone will be broadcast via satellite. For more info, call Mary Jane Bruton at (704) 370-3283 or e-mail mjbruton@charlottediocese.org.

CHARLOTTE — James Morgan, an expert in contemplative prayers, will present “Understanding Contemplative Prayer” Sept. 19, 7-9 p.m. in the Allen Center of St. Ann Church, 3635 Park Rd. For details, call the church office at (704) 523-4641, ext 221.

CHARLOTTE — St. Peter Church, 507 S. Tryon St., will host “Men’s Spirituality” the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 12 p.m. The hour-long meetings will include silence, prayer and faith sharing. The reading for Sept. 25 is Luke 16:19-31; and Chapter 4: The Sermon on the

SEPTEMBER 14, 2007 Volume 16 • Number 39

Publisher: Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis Editor: Kevin E. Murray Staff Writer: Karen A. Evans 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.

September 14, 2007

The Catholic News & Herald 3

FROM THE VATICAN

Pope mourns death of Pavarotti, praises Italian tenor for his talent

MODENA, Italy (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI mourned the death of Luciano Pavarotti and praised the Italian tenor for his extraordinary talent.

In a telegram sent to Archbishop Benito Cocchi of Modena-Nonantola, the pope offered his condolences for the death of this “great artist who honored the divine gift of music through his extraordinary interpretative talent.”

The archbishop read aloud the telegram Sept. 8 during the Catholic funeral Mass held in the city’s cathedral, where Pavarotti had sung as a child in the choir.

Thousands of mourners turned out for the ceremony to honor Pavarotti, who died Sept. 6 at the age of 71 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan was present for the funeral along with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, numerous Italian pop stars, and U2

singer Bono. Pavarotti was divorced and remarried; his first wife of more than 30 years, his widow and his children were also present.

Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and Bulgarian soprano Raina Kabaivanska sang for the funeral ceremony.

In his homily, Archbishop Cocchi praised the artist who also “expressed himself in charity for those who suffered.”

Through his annual “Pavarotti and Friends” charity concerts, Pavarotti performed with pop stars like Elton John, Sting and Bono, raising money for victims of war and poverty. He also performed benefit concerts for refugees, the poor and victims of natural disasters.

His internationally recognized generosity often overshadowed tax evasion scandals back home. He was convicted of dodging Italian tax payments in 1999 and was acquitted after a second charge in 2001.

Mount. (Pope Benedict’s “Jesus of Nazareth”).

For more information, call Michael LaVecchia at (704) 363-7729 or Kevin Bezner at (704) 907-3875 or e-mail mjl@seafoods.com.

meeting for “Widows Journeying Together With Jesus” at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 728 West Union St., Sept. 29, beginning with Mass at 9 a.m. followed by the meeting, 10-11:30 a.m. For more information call Annette at (336) 433-0935 or Dr. Chervin at 828- 413-4624.

CHARLOTTE — Deepen your faith this fall with “Lunchtime Spirituality” at St. Peter Church, 12-12:45 p.m., in the Annex, 507 S. Tryon St. Bring your lunch, listen to a talk on spirituality and participate in a short prayer session — a great way to renew during the workweek and to prepare for Advent and Christmas. The topic for Sept. 20 is St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s “On Conversion.”

For more information, call the office at (704) 332-2901.

GREENSBORO VICARIATE

HIGH POINT — Free Italian Classes will be offered at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 4145 Johnson St., Wednesdays through Nov. 7, 7-8 p.m. All class materials are furnished. For more information, e-mail Gianfranco Vettor at gvettor@yahoo.com or call Larry Kwan at (336) 688-1220 or e-mail hlkwan@lexcominc.net.

HIGH POINT — Free Spanish Classes will be offered at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 4145 Johnson St., Thursdays through Nov. 1, 7-8:30 p.m. All class materials are furnished. For more information, call Nancy Skee at (336) 884-0522 or e-mail nsskee@hotmail.com or call Larry Kwan at (336) 688-1220 or e-mail hlkwan@lexcominc.net.

HICKORY VICARIATE

MORGANTON — The Cursillo Movement of the Diocese of Charlotte is hosting a diocesanwide Grand Ultreya at Steel Creek Parka and Campgrounds Sept. 29, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will celebrate Mass at 12 p.m. Please bring covered dish and a 2-liter drink. Other events include guitar music, group reunion, spiritual talks and hiking/nature trails for children. For more information and directions, call Kathy Hack at (704) 548-1834.

MORGANTON — Dr. Ronda Chervin and Annette McMahon will facilitate a planning

Episcopal

calendar

New Vatican official wants cultural duel to become duet of dialogue

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The new head of the Pontifical Council for Culture said he wants to help turn the duel between different cultures and religions into a harmonious duet of dialogue and understanding.

Msgr. Gianfranco Ravasi, a noted biblical scholar and former prefect of the Milan Archdiocese’s Ambrosian Library, was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI Sept. 3 to replace the long-serving council president, French Cardinal Paul Poupard. Msgr. Ravasi will be ordained an archbishop in late September.

The pope accepted the resignation of the 77-year-old cardinal, who was a leader of the council since its creation by Pope John Paul II in 1982.

Pope Benedict also appointed Archbishop-designate Ravasi, 64, president of the pontifical commissions for the Cultural Heritage of the Church and for Sacred Archeology.

Archbishop-designate Ravasi said he would continue the council’s work of using culture as a bridge for dialogue

between people of other faiths and traditions.

The concept of a clash of civilizations has to be abandoned, he said Sept. 3.

Instead of cultures and religions engaging in a “duel,” they should be part of a “duet, like in music, when two voices remain different, but harmonious,” he said.

The great urgency today is to rediscover unity in a fragmented and sectarian world, he said. Just as one diamond has numerous faces, today that diamond has been “shattered, (and) everyone is looking at his fragment convinced of possessing the truth.”

Archbishop-designate Ravasi said he also would like to boost dialogue through the use of the Internet.

Pope John Paul created the Pontifical Council for Culture with the aim of helping the world’s cultures encounter the message of the Gospel. He named then-Archbishop Poupard head of the new council’s executive committee and president of the council six years later.

Remembering Mother Teresa

SMOKY MOUNTAIN VICARIATE

MURPHY — St. William Church, 765 Andrews Rd., offers a monthly Adult Faith Formation Experience to promote the development of the faith education. Frank Villaronga, director of diocesan evangelization and ministry formation, will present “The First 300 Years of the Catholic Church” Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. The program will explore how the beliefs and practices of the early church promote understanding of current practices. For more information, call Michelle Calascione at (828) 837-2000 or e-mail stwilliamfaithformation@msn.com.

WINSTON-SALEM VICARIATE

WINSTON-SALEM — Spirit of Assisi presents the Wednesday Lunch Series, 12:30-1:15 p.m., at the Fatima Chapel, 211 W. Third St. Enjoy a light lunch and free presentations on a variety of topics. Franciscan Father Joseph Madden will present “Centering Prayer” Sept. 19. Beverly Isley-Landreth, a clinical chaplain, will present “Chi Kung Meditation as Prayer” Sept. 26.You may call ahead to indicate your attendance, but walk-ins are welcome. For more information, e-mail Sister Kathy Ganiel at spiritofassisi@ bellsouth.net or call (336) 723-1092.

Is your parish sponsoring a free event open to the general public? Deadline for all submissions for the Diocesan Planner is 15 days prior to desired publication date. Submit in writing to kaevans@charlottediocese.org or fax to (704) 370-3382.

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

Sept. 15 — 4 p.m.

50th anniversary jubilee Mass St. Gabriel Church, Charlotte

Sept. 25 — 1:30 p.m.

Building Commission meeting Pastoral Center, Charlotte

Sept. 21-22 Eucharistic Congress Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte

Sept. 26 — 7 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Charlotte

CNS photo by Reuters

Volunteers, slum dwellers and nuns from the Missionaries of Charity gather beside the tomb of Blessed Mother Teresa for a special prayer in Calcutta, India, on the 10th anniversary of her death Sept. 5. Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950. The order now has a worldwide presence in serving those who suffer, including the homeless, the dying and AIDS victims.

E-mail scam targets Catholics, church institutions CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) — A new spam scam targeting Catholics and church institutions promises recipients that they are among 100 people worldwide chosen at random to receive $650,000 from the Catholic Church in Italy “for your own personal, educational and business development.”

The grants are supposedly designed “to make a notable change in the standard of living of people all around the universe.”

Recipients are urged to contact “the church executive secretary”— sometimes named as Sister Abrielle Gallo, at other times a Miss Mary Pepe — to receive “your donation pin number, which you will use in collecting the funds.”

No such grant program exists, and the church does not allocate donations randomly or by lottery, as the e-mail suggests. An almost identical e-mail purports to be from the “eglise catholique en France,” the Catholic Church in France. According to the Web site www.

hoax-slayer.com, such communications are “bait used by scammers to trick victims into replying to the e-mail. If the scammers receive a reply, they will begin an ongoing correspondence with their potential victim via e-mail, phone or letter. Eventually, the scammers will request that the victim pay various fees, supposedly required to allow the ‘grant’ to be released or delivered.”

Requests for fees will likely continue until the victim realizes that he or she has been duped. The victim may also be tricked into providing a large amount of personal information that could be subsequently used to steal his or her identity.

“While Christian organizations such as the Catholic Church do regularly donate funds to various worthy causes, they DO NOT randomly grant large sums of money to total strangers chosen solely via an e-mail address or the name on a shopping invoice. Any such claim is simply ludicrous,” the Web site says.

4 The Catholic News & Herald

around the diocese

Catholic radio coming to Diocese of Charlotte RADIO, from page 1

programming on Sunday mornings, 6-9 a.m.

Bob Loughlin, a board member of Sacred Heart Communications, said the venture has been guided by the Holy Spirit from the start.

“This will bring the Catholic faith out from the four walls of our churches and into the cars and homes of many households the diocese,” he said.

WDYT radio is new to many radio listeners in the diocese. It was originally licensed to Kings Mountain but a new owner has moved the station to Charlotte.

The station’s signal has been boosted significantly from 1,000 to 25,000 watts.

It now can be heard from Spartanburg and Rock Hill, S.C., to Monroe and Davidson, N.C. Deacon Robert Murphy, a permanent

September 14, 2007

deacon at St. Mark Church in Huntersville and a board member of Sacred Heart Communications, said the three-hour program is only the beginning.

“Our goal is to have our own radio station that broadcasts in both Spanish and English throughout the diocese,” he said.

The first program will feature highlights of the Eucharistic Congress, taking place at the Charlotte Convention Center Sept. 21-22.

Future programs will include interviews with Catholics in the diocese and stories about upcoming events of interest to Catholics.

Loughlin says programming also will be supplied by the Eternal World Television Network (EWTN), the largest religious media network in the world.

WANT MORE INFO? To learn more about Sacred Heart C o m m u n i c a t i o n s , v i s i t w w w. sacredheartcommunications.org.

Attention Readers!

Have a Story to Share?

Do you have a 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- or ministry-based event?

If so, please share them with us.

Contact Staff Writer Karen Evans at (704) 370-3354 or kaevans@charlottediocese.org.

September 14, 2007

from the cover

The Catholic News & Herald 5

In Austria, pope emphasizes core Christian values AUSTRIA, from page 1

Vienna on the first day of his trip, when he addressed a group that included scores of international diplomats and representatives.

Instead of covering the usual list of global trouble spots, the pope made a strong pro-life appeal, zeroing in on the problems of abortion and euthanasia.

Beyond the moral issue of the taking of innocent life, the pope raised a wider question: whether Europe, with its low birth rate and rapidly aging population, is “giving up on itself.”

He hammered home the same theme the next day, telling 30,000 people at the Marian sanctuary of Mariazell, “Europe has become child-poor: We want everything for ourselves and place little trust in the future.”

His sermon at Mariazell also focused on the modern tensions among religious truth, interreligious sensitivity and the fear of intolerance. It’s an issue he raised a year ago in Regensburg, Germany, in

a speech that drew criticism because of comments about Islam.

This time, the pope avoided specific remarks about other religions, but insisted that the church can and must proclaim Christ as the universal savior.

“This does not mean that we despise other religions, nor are we arrogantly absolutizing our own ideas,” he said.

Rather, he said, it means the church will never accept an “attitude of resignation” toward the truth, the assumption that truth cannot be known. It is this attitude that “lies at the heart of the crisis of the West, the crisis of Europe,” he said.

Christian charity The pope then emphasized a point that has become a touchstone of his pontificate: the Christian conviction that “at the origin of everything is the creative reason of God.” This is the principle that has shaped Europe’s history and must orient its future, he said.

More than once, the pope stressed that Christianity is not merely a “moral code” but a religion that embodies love of God and neighbor. In his final meeting in Austria, the pope applied this vision

CNS photo by Vatican Pool via Reuters

Pope Benedict XVI receives roses from pilgrims during the opening ceremony of his visit in Am Hof Square in Vienna, Austria, Sept. 7. to the practical area of volunteer charity work, which he said touches the heart of the Christian message.

The pope said this kind of personal, selfless activity cannot simply be delegated to the state or the market economy — in fact, he said, in a “culture which would calculate the cost of everything,” Christian charity “shatters the rules of a market economy.”

It was a strong reminder of a point the pope made in his 2006 encyclical, “Deus Caritas Est” (“God Is Love”), that states social policies can never replace the personal commitment of individuals.

Teaching with an edge By design, none of the papal events in Austria were big ones and, thanks in part to steady rain, the low crowd expectations proved correct.

But most of the pope’s appearances were televised, and Austrian church sources believe the trip’s impact will be felt in the discussion and reflection that follow his departure.

One important factor was that the German pope spoke their language and felt at home in Austria, a country that despite internal church problems remains about 75 percent Catholic.

The pope did not directly take up

the problems — including seminary sex scandals and tensions over church teachings — that have left some Catholics alienated from the Catholic Church in recent years.

He alluded to them in remarks to reporters on his plane from Rome, saying he was grateful to those who have remained faithful despite the difficulties and that he hoped to help “heal the wounds.”

Instead, the pope stuck to more basic Christian themes, as he has throughout his pontificate. He offered beautifully crafted sermons on the power of prayer, the importance of Sunday Mass, and even the modern relevance of poverty, chastity and obedience in religious life.

These are eminently religious themes that do not usually produce front-page headlines around the world.

But they reflect one of the big reasons Pope Benedict was elected in 2005: The cardinals felt he was the man who could revitalize the church at its base, especially in Europe.

The Austrian visit saw Pope Benedict in the teaching role he loves.

It is teaching with an edge, however — the edge of a pastor concerned about the future of the faith on Christianity’s home ground.

6 The Catholic News & Herald

faith formation

September 14, 2007

“We want to keep reminding people of the importance of religious education and the urgency of the ministry.”

— Dr. Cris Villapando

National Catechetical Sunday recognizes faith teachers FAITH, from page 1

A tradition several decades old, this national event celebrates the handing down of the Catholic faith through the generations.

The theme of this year’s National Catechetical Sunday is “Catechesis: Encountering the Living Christ.”

“It is always important to remember that the encounter with Christ calls us to a deeper, more personal relationship with the risen Christ,” said Father James Hawker, pastor of St. Luke Church in Mint Hill and vicar for education in the Diocese of Charlotte.

Just as Catholic Schools Week highlights the achievement of the Catholic school system, National Catechetical Sunday celebrates the teaching of the faith through children’s faith formation, sacramental preparation, RCIA, lectures, retreats and countless other means of teaching the Catholic faith.

“We want to keep reminding people of the importance of religious education and the urgency of the ministry,” said Villapando.

“Without catechesis, the Catholic

faith would not be properly handed down,” he said.

Villapando believes catechesis is the key to the vibrancy of the church, and there must be an explicit effort to promote catechesis of adults.

“They are the axis around which all religious education revolves,” he said.

The overall aim of all catechesis is to form Christ-like disciples, Villapando said.

“We can’t afford to have ‘ministry fatigue’ — the stakes are too high,” Villapando said. “Without vibrant catechesis, we would have ‘hollow’ people who attend Mass, but have no substance to their faith.”

In the Diocese of Charlotte, there are approximately 6,000 catechists, plus another 500 participants in the “Why Catholic?” program, which fosters evangelization though small Christian communities.

Nearly 30,000 children, youth and adults are enrolled in faith formation programs.

“In essence, everyone in the diocese benefits from catechesis, through lectures and other special programs, homilies, even the conversations in the family car on the way home from Mass, when children share what they learned in faith formation class,” Villapando said.

Courtesy Photo

Participants in the Couples for Christ formation program meet at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte in March 2007. Couples for Christ is a series of 12 presentations, each of which is examines the implications of scriptural and doctrinal teachings. Faith formation is not restricted to children’s program but attempts to provide adult catechesis, which the U.S. bishops say is the “chief form of catechesis around which all catechesis revolve.”

Catechesis is not solely the sharing of information; it is also the expansion of the faith, knowledge of the catechism and tools for applying it to one’s daily life, Villapando said.

“We are grateful for the spirit of enthusiasm and the dedication of so many parishioners, who eagerly assist adults, youths and children as they continue to encounter the living Christ through

the sacraments,” said Father Hawker.

Contact Staff Writer Karen A. Evans by calling (704) 370-3354 or e-mail kaevans@charlottediocese.org.

RELATED COVERAGE See page 15 for Father Hawker’s column on National Catechetical Sunday.

September 14, 2007

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

The Catholic News & Herald 7

THIRD Diocesan Eucharistic Congress SEPT. 21-22, 2007 CHARLOTTE CONVENTION CENTER

‘To Know Jesus Christ’ by

BISHOP PETER J. JUGIS bishop of charlotte

Catholics across the Diocese of Charlotte once again will have the opportunity to come together to celebrate our faith in the Lord. The third diocesan Eucharistic Congress, this year themed “To Know Jesus Christ,” takes place at the Charlotte Convention Center on Friday, September 21, and Saturday, September 22.

The response to our first two Eucharistic Congresses i n S e p te mb e r 2 0 0 5 a n d O c t o b e r 2 0 0 6 w a s overwhelmingly positive, so we made plans for a third Congress to come together as one in praise and worship of Our Lord.

The Eucharistic Congress is the one time of the year when the entire Catholic family of the Diocese of Charlotte — our priests, deacons, women religious, seminarians and laity from our parishes, missions, schools and ministries — has the opportunity to gather to celebrate our oneness in Christ through the sacrament of unity, the Holy Eucharist. Through our sharing in Christ’s body and blood, Christ makes us one in Him. This year’s Congress will begin with a Concert of Sacred Choral Music, a nationally-known speaker and all-night adoration on Friday, September 21.

On Saturday, September 22, we will start the day with a Eucharistic Procession through the streets of uptown Charlotte. When we process as one in adoration of Our Lord, we make a beautiful and reverent statement of our love for Jesus Christ. Similar to previous years, the procession will go from St. Peter Church to the convention center. Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin will deliver the homily during the Holy Hour that follows.

We will then hear from an array of inspiring speakers.

Children, teens, adults and Hispanics have separate programs, or “tracks,” with messages specifically directed to them. Adoration of Our Lord and the sacrament of confession will be available. Special cultural hours will be held for Filipino, Vietnamese and Korean Catholics, as well as for college students and young adults.

The day culminates with a vigil Mass for all, which I will concelebrate with my brother priests. The vigil Mass fulfills the Sunday Mass obligation.

On the following pages you will find more detailed information, as well as a map of the procession route.

Other information is available at www.goEucharist.com.

The Congress is a beautiful opportunity for the people of the diocese to come together “To Know Jesus Christ.”

I look forward to seeing you and processing with you in praise of Our Lord.

8 The Catholic News & Herald

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

September 14, 2007

Eucharistic

Watching and participating in the eucharistic procession THE ROUTE The eucharistic procession, led by Bishop Peter J. Jugis, will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22, at St. Peter Church, South Tryon Street and First Street (First communicants with parent or guardian, clergy, religious and banner carriers should gather on Tryon Street south of St. Peter Church at 8:30 a.m.)

The procession will head north on Tryon Street for three blocks, then turn east onto Third Street for one block. The procession will then turn south onto College Street for three blocks, then turn east onto Stonewall Street to the Charlotte Convention Center.

People of the Diocese of Charlotte are encouraged to line the procession route.

TO PARTICIPATE As the Blessed Sacrament comes near, it is the custom to be silent and kneel until the monstrance passes.

After the Blessed Sacrament passes by, look for your parish’s banner. When your parish banner passes by, you may fall in along with your parish to join in the procession. Once you have connected with your parish group, simply join in the communal prayers or just pray silently as the procession moves along.

When the procession arrives at the Charlotte Convention Center, move as directed by the ushers to enter the main hall. Proceed to the seating area, joining in the singing until the beginning of the Holy Hour.

Procession Map Legend PROCESSION STAGING AREA & PROCESSION CHECK-IN PROCESSION ENTRANCE INTO CONVENTION CENTER PROCESSION ROUTE PARKING

Frequently asked questions about the Eucharistic Congress What is the Eucharistic Congress?

The Eucharistic Congress is a teaching and worship event that is centered on the Eucharist, the source and summit of Catholic life.

What is the schedule of events?

The Congress begins Friday evening, Sept. 21, with a concert of sacred choral music and a talk by Father Benedict Groeschel of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. Father Groeschel is one of the regular on-air contributors to various programs on the Eternal Word Television Network, based in Birmingham, Ala. Afterward, the Eucharist will be available for adoration throughout the night at St. Peter Church, South Tryon Street and First Street.

Events on Saturday, Sept. 22, begin at 9 a.m., with the eucharistic procession from St. Peter Church through downtown

Charlotte to the Charlotte Convention Center, where there will be a holy hour.

Beginning at 11:30 a.m., there are programs (or “tracks”) for adults, Hispanics, teens and children.

From 12:30 until 2:30 p.m. will be culture hours in native languages for Filipino, Korean and Vietnamese Catholics.

At 3:30 p.m., there will be a concert of sacred music.

During the day, the Eucharist will be available for adoration in a special chapel in the Charlotte Convention Center.

Priests will be available for confessions all day and there will be an area for vendors selling religious merchandise and offering information about Catholic vocations, religious organizations and ministries, etc.

The Congress concludes with a Vigil Mass that begins at 4:30 p.m.

Where does the idea for a Eucharistic Congress come from?

The first eucharistic congress was held in Lille, France in 1881 under the direction of Msgr. Gaston De Segur. In time, eucharistic congresses developed to their present international character.

The congress of 1908, which met in London, was the first occasion on which a representative of the pope had entered England since the Protestant Reformation. Two international eucharistic congresses have been held in the United States — Chicago in 1926 and Philadelphia in 1976.

The Diocese of Charlotte celebrated its first Eucharistic Congress in September 2005.

Who is allowed to take part in the procession?

Everyone. Leading the procession

will be altar servers, organized societies including the Knights of Columbus, clergy and most importantly, the Eucharist. Following the Eucharist will be banner carriers representing churches, schools and organizations in the Diocese of Charlotte.

The faithful are invited to join the procession as the banner for their church or organization passes by.

What if I am handicapped or unable to walk in the procession?

The Charlotte Convention Center is handicapped-accessible. In addition, individuals with handicaps and those who choose not to walk in the procession are invited to witness part of the procession on the video screens in the Convention Center. Music and clergy will be available in this location until the eucharistic procession arrives.

September 14, 2007

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

Procession

The Catholic News & Herald 9

Directions to the Eucharistic Congress Directions from Interstate 77 At exit 9, turn RIGHT onto Ramp I-277 / US-74 / Wilkinson Blvd / John Belk Frwy / West Blvd At exit 9B, take Ramp (RIGHT) onto I-277 N/US-74 E / John Belk Frwy Turn RIGHT onto Ramp College St / Caldwell St / Downtown Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto S College St College St / Downtown Arrive Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S College St, Charlotte, NC 28202, (704) 339-6000 Directions from Interstate 85-North At exit 36 of Interstate 85- North, turn RIGHT onto Ramp NC-16 / Brookshire Blvd / US-74 E / Downtown Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto SR-16 [Brookshire Blvd] NC-16 / Charlotte / Bank of America Stadium Road name changes to I-277 [SR-16] At exit 1E, turn RIGHT onto Ramp Stonewall St / South Blvd / Kenilworth Ave Keep RIGHT to stay on Ramp Stonewall St / Kenilworth Ave Turn LEFT (North-West) onto E Stonewall St Turn RIGHT (North-East) onto S College St Arrive Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S College St, Charlotte, NC 28202, (704) 339-6000 Directions from Interstate 85-South At exit 38 of Interstate 85 South, turn RIGHT onto Ramp I-77 / US-21 / Statesville / Columbia Take Ramp (LEFT) onto I-77 [US-21] I-77 / US-21 / Columbia At exit 9, turn RIGHT onto Ramp I-277 / US-74 / Wilkinson Blvd / John Belk Frwy / West Blvd At exit 9C, keep LEFT to stay on Ramp At exit 9B, take Ramp (RIGHT) onto I-277 [US-74] I-277 / US-74 / John Belk Frwy Turn RIGHT onto Ramp College St / Caldwell St / Downtown Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto S College St College St / Downtown Arrive Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S College St, Charlotte, NC 28202, (704) 339-6000

What if it rains?

The Eucharistic Congress will be held rain or shine. The procession may be moved into the Charlotte Convention Center depending on the weather.

Where can I park?

There is ample parking around the Charlotte Convention Center. Since the Congress takes place on a weekend, traffic will be minimal but allowing extra time for parking is advised.

What is being done to provide a secure environment for the children in the Children’s Track?

The Diocese of Charlotte is committed to the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” as adopted by the U.S. bishops.

All adult volunteers at the Eucharistic Congress who will have supervisory

contact with children will be required to attend the diocesan training, “Protecting God’s Children.” Background checks will also be performed on any adult having supervisory contact with children.

Who is speaking at the Eucharistic Congress?

For the list of dynamic, inspiring speakers, see pages 10 and 16 of this week’s The Catholic News & Herald, or visit the speakers’ page of the Eucharistic Congress Web site at www.GoEucharist.com.

Will there be a Mass at the Eucharistic Congress?

Yes. A Vigil Mass will be celebrated at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22.

Is there a charge to attend the Eucharistic Congress?

There is no charge for any of the

events associated with the Eucharistic Congress. Everyone who desires a closer relationship to the Eucharist is encouraged to attend and participate.

The Diocese of Charlotte is accepting contributions to defray the cost of staging the congress. To donate, visit www.

GoEucharist.com, or you may contribute at the Eucharistic Congress.

Will food be served?

The Charlotte Convention Center will offer a variety of food for sale throughout the day. Lunch will be provided at no charge for the children attending the Children’s Track session.

Before and after the congress, attendees may want to take advantage of the many restaurants, hotels and attractions that are within easy walking distance of the Charlotte Convention Center.

Photo by Kevin E. Murray

Bishop Peter J. Jugis carries a monstrance in the eucharistic procession during the 2005 Eucharistic Congress in Charlotte.

10 The Catholic News & Herald

Speakers at the 2007 Eucharistic Congress FRIDAY, SEPT. 21 Father Benedict Groeschel of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal “What the Presence of Christ Means in Your Life” Father Groeschel is director of the spiritual development office for the Archdiocese of New York and a program host on the Eternal World Television Network, based in Birmingham, Ala. Father Groeschel earned his doctorate in psychology from New York’s Columbia University in 1971. He has taught at Fordham University, Iona College, and Maryknoll Seminary.

He founded, and is on the staff of, Trinity Retreat, a center in New York for prayer and study for clergy.

Cardinal John J. O’Connor of New York appointed him postulator of the cause of canonization for Cardinal Terence J. Cooke in 1984. For 14 years, Father Groeschel was chaplain of the Children’s Village in Dobbs Ferry, New York, a residential school for at-risk boys.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 22 Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin, who retired as bishop of Charlotte in 2002, will deliver the homily during the eucharistic Holy Hour and Benediction on Saturday morning.

Bishop Peter J. Jugis, a Charlotte native and the fourth bishop of Charlotte, will offer welcoming remarks at the conclusion of the Saturday morning Eucharistic Holy Hour.

GENERAL TRACK, SATURDAY Father Leo Patalinghug “Mary as Magnifier for Jesus” Father Patalinghug, the break-

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

dancing and martial-arts guru, is making his third return visit to the Eucharistic Congress and will speak in both the General Track and the Teen Track.

Father Patalinghug is associate pastor at St. John Church in Westminster, Md., and spiritual director of the Cursillo movement of Baltimore.

He is host of the public television program, “Grace Before Meals,” and was recently appointed to serve as director of pastoral field education at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. Patrick Madrid “A Course in Eucharistic Miracles” Madrid, a popular Catholic apologist and author, is editor of Envoy magazine, a journal of Catholic apologetics.

Well-known in apologetics — the study concerned with the systematic defense of Catholicism — since 1987, Madrid was vice president of Catholic Answers and helped co-found that apostolate’s flagship magazine, This Rock, in January 1990.

Steve Ray “They Recognized Him in the Breaking of the Bread” Ray, a convert to Catholicism, is an author and regular guest on Catholic Answers Live, a daily call-in radio program, and “The Journey Home” on EWTN; he also has appeared on many other radio and television programs, including Fox News.

Ray is writer, producer and host of the 10-part video/DVD series, “The Footprints of God: the Story of Salvation from Abraham to Augustine,” filmed on location in the Holy Land and surrounding countries.

September 14, 2007

Photo by Kevin E. Murray

Father Leo Patalinghug from Maryland uses martial arts to relay “spiritual combat” to teens at the 2005 Eucharistic Congress.

Helen M. Alvare “To Know Jesus Christ — A Catholic Woman’s Perspective” Alvare is an associate professor at the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She received her law degree from Cornell University in 1984 and a master’s degree in theology from The Catholic University of America in 1989.

Since 1987 she has worked for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, first in the Office of General Counsel, which acts as the source of legal advice to the USCCB and its committees, and later as director of information and planning for the U.S. bishops’ pro-life office.

Alvaré has testified on behalf of the U.S. bishops before federal congressional committees and lobbied members of Congress on federal legislation concerning abortion, health care and welfare reform.

HISPANIC TRACK, SATURDAY Héctor Antonio Molina, Jr. Molina is a dynamic Catholic

preacher and evangelist who has spoken throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean for more than 18 years.

For 11 years he served as pastoral associate at St. John the Baptist Church in Brooklyn. In 2003, he relocated to the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Mo., where he served as director of Hispanic ministry for four years. This past June, Molina was appointed by Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke to serve as founding director of the newly established archdiocesan Office of the New Evangelization.

Roberto Ramirez Ramirez is an active member of a community of lay persons known as the Servants of the Living Christ, which was founded by Father Emiliano Tardif, a priest from Quebec.

He studied evangelization in Rome and speaks throughout the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean about his encounter with the Lord in 1989, which impelled him to make radical changes in his life.

The Catholic News & Herald 11

September 14, 2007

Culture Watch

A roundup of Scripture, readings, films and more

Vatican officials say new book illustrates Mother Teresa’s strength VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Vatican officials said a new book detailing Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s long “crisis of faith” illustrates her spiritual strength in the face of doubt.

“This is a figure who had moments of uncertainty and discouragement, experiencing the classic dark night that God gives to chosen people in order to forge them on the road to holiness,” said Spanish Cardinal Julian Herranz, a member of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, Aug. 26. “These moments of crisis felt by great saints are normal and in line with the church’s tradition.”

Even Christ experienced a similar spiritual trial in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross, he said.

Such moments of “weakness” are in fact “the proof of the greatness of faith of Blessed Mother Teresa and take nothing away from her holiness,” he said.

Cardinal Herranz said the progress of Mother Teresa’s sainthood cause would not be affected by the letters published in the book.

Vatican and other church officials were already familiar with the letters because many were first published in 2002, and in fact formed part of the documentation reviewed before she was beatified in 2003, six years after her death.

The letters are being published in the upcoming book, “Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light,” edited by Father Brian Kolodiejchuk, a member of the Missionaries of Charity order founded by Mother Teresa and the postulator of her sainthood cause.

In letters written over several decades, she spoke of a lack of faith, a

“terrible darkness within me” and a sense of being abandoned by Jesus.

Sister Nirmala Joshi, head of the Missionaries of Charity, said the letters reveal that sainthood does not come easily, but they do not show a failure of faith.

“Mother (Teresa) did not doubt God, she continued to love him. If you doubt someone, sooner or later you stop following him. But she continued right up to her death to love him and to put into practice her devotion,” said Sister Nirmala.

Italian Cardinal Angelo Scola of Venice, who wrote a reflection on Mother Teresa’s letters last year in the Vatican newspaper, said they reveal some important and beautiful things.

“The first is that Mother Teresa is one of us, that she went through all the trials just as we do, no more and no less,” he said.

Another important element in her letters is that Mother Teresa, when she no longer felt she could feel God’s presence, asked him to reveal himself, he said.

Joaquin Navarro-Valls, former Vatican spokesman, said Mother Teresa’s letters showed that she experienced real spiritual suffering. That is not surprising, he said, since she was notoriously “immune” to the banal and the superficial.

“But all this is not the expression of a lack of faith, but rather of the normal — perhaps in this case heroic — sacrifice that people discover when they try to live a commitment and a choice coherently and completely,” he said.

The letters illustrate that spiritual progress often must overcome obstacles that seem impassable, he said.

WORD TO LIFE

Sunday Scripture Readings: sept. 23, 2007

Sept. 23, Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle C Readings: 1) Amos 8:4-7 Psalm 113:1-2, 4-8 2) 1 Timothy 2:1-8 3) Gospel: Luke 16:1-13

God calls on us to help all those in need

by JEFF HENSLEY catholic news service

When Jesuit Father Rick Thomas picked up the phone in El Paso where I had reached him to ask if I might come out and interview him for a magazine article, I asked how he was.

“Fine as wine,” he replied, stretching the words in a countrified way. Dealing with Father Rick was always memorable.

What was to carry me to El Paso and Vado, N.M., to witness and write about the works of charity and evangelism of his Catholic charismatic community had all resulted from an act of obedience to God’s word.

Father Rick and his prayer group went to the Juarez, Mexico, dump on Christmas Day a few years before

my visit in response to one of Jesus’ commands: When you give a party, be sure you invite the lowly and those who cannot repay you.

Father Rick and his group must have asked themselves when they could carry out that simple request. And so they went to the dump with ham, tortillas, beans and all the fixings they could gather to set a holiday table before the poor, who made their living scavenging recyclable materials from the leavings of Mexican society.

If you’d like to read about the miracles that followed this act of obedience, they are documented in Father Renee Laurentin’s book-length treatment, “Miracles in El Paso.”

In today’s Scriptures, the psalm praises the Lord’s majesty, goodness and kindness to the poor: “He raises up the lowly from the dust, from the dunghill he lifts up the poor to seat them with princes, with princes of his own people.”

This contrasts greatly with the scorn the prophet Amos has for the unjust who “trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land.”

Today the poor are still with us.

Many are immigrants seeking a better life. Many are those limited by horrible family situations and generations of poverty existing inside U.S. borders.

God still calls us to their care, if we will only be obedient and seek ways to respond to that call.

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE Scripture for the week of Sept. 16-22 Sunday (Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time), Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14,1 Timothy 1:1217, Luke 15:1-32; Monday (St. Robert Bellarmine), 1 Timothy 2:1-8 Luke 7:1-10; Tuesday, 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Luke 7:11-17; Wednesday (St. Januarius), 1 Timothy 3:14-16, Luke 7:31-35; Thursday (St. Andrew Kim Taegon, St. Paul Chong Hasang and Companions), 1 Timothy 4:12-16, Luke 7:36-50; Friday (St. Matthew), Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13, Matthew 9:9-13; Saturday, 1 Timothy 6:13-16, Luke 8:4-15.

Scripture for the week of Sept. 23-29 Sunday (Tewnty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time), Amos 8:4-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-8, Luke 16:1-13; Monday, Ezra 1:1-6, Luke 8:16-18; Tuesday, Ezra 6:7-8, 12, 14-20, Luke 8:19-21; Wednesday (Sts. Cosmas & Damian), Ezra 9:5-9, Tobit 13:2-4, 7-8, Luke 9:1-6; Thursday (St. Vincent de Paul), Haggai 1:1-8, Luke 9:7-9; Friday (St. Wenceslaus), Haddai 2:1-9, Luke 9:18-22; Saturday, Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, John 1:47-51.

12 The Catholic News & Herald

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September 14, 2007

September 14, 2007

faith formation

The Catholic News & Herald 13

‘Why Catholic?’ workshops explore God’s revelation

The signs says it all

WORKSHOPS, from page 1

Courtesy Photo

A billboard advertising the “Why Catholic?” program at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte is pictured along Interstate 485 in Charlotte.

“In our advertising we have tried to appeal to various groups of parishioners. We have challenged parents to know their faith better so that they can pass it on to their children,” said Pat White, parish volunteer and communications coordinator. “This time, we are especially trying to reach out to the inactive Catholics who aren’t going to find out about the program through traditional means, such as the bulletin — hence, the billboard.”

The billboard will be up through the first week in October, when the “Why Catholic?” groups will begin meeting.

and Tradition.

Nineteen “Why Catholic?” faith formation workshops were held at 12 locations around the diocese over four days, Aug. 27-30. Themed “Braid of Revelation,” the workshops examined how Jesus is the fullness of God’s revelation, how Scripture and Tradition are sources of revelation, and how all three aspects are interwoven, much like a braid.

“The heart of the meeting was to renew our faith from these concepts,” said Karen Jambon, a parishioner of St. Barnabas Church in Arden and a parish facilitator of the “Why Catholic?” program.

“Through these gatherings, we continue to be enlightened by these same truths and revelations of God through the prophets, by Jesus himself and by the Apostles,” said Jambon.

“Why Catholic?” is a program of RENEW International, a Roman Catholic

organization that fosters spiritual renewal, evangelization and the transformation of the world through parish-based small Christian communities.

These communities, or small faith-sharing groups, are based on the teachings of Scripture and the catechism.

Participants meet in these small Christian communities throughout the diocese once a week for six weeks, and then twice a year for four years in order to explore their faith.

The recent “Braid of Revelation” workshops were led by facilitators from the New Jersey-based RENEW International.

Sister of St. Joseph of Cluny Marie Cooper led workshops at Haywood Community College and St. Barnabas Church Aug. 30. Participants braided three strands of colored yarn together as examples and reminders of the interwoven aspects of revelation — white yarn represented Jesus, green represented sacred Tradition, yellow was Scripture.

Sister Cooper discussed ways to read the Bible, suggesting beginning with St. Mark’s Gospel — it is the shortest and easiest to understand, she said.

In reading any of the Gospels, Sister Cooper suggested stopping and reflecting whenever there is a question about the passage.

“It’s the inspired movement of God within us,” she said.

Sister Cooper also spoke about the importance of sharing the faith within families, and participants shared ways in which they celebrate and share their faith with one another.

“Why Catholic?” fosters the goals of “Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us,” the U.S. bishops’ pastoral plan for adult faith formation.

The process is comprehensive, containing a full range of elements in both English and Spanish. It includes orientation, small community leader formation, retreat experiences, an invitation video and family-oriented bulletin inserts.

Archdioceses and dioceses across the United States participate in the “Why Catholic?” program. Bishop Peter J. Jugis has recommended its implementation in all churches of the Diocese of Charlotte.

Currently, 38 parishes, four missions and Hispanic ministries in three vicariates utilize the “Why Catholic?” program.

September 14, 2007

14 The Catholic News & Herald

Perspectives

A collection of columns, editorials and viewpoints

Back to school: Will truth prevail?

Mistaken ruling will not help Christian students in their faith Summer is over, and with children returning to school it is an appropriate time to reflect upon the right (and yes, duty) of parents to educate their children in the faith.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes t h i s r i g h t a s “fundamental,” and admonishes parents to choose “schools that will best help them in their task as Christian educators.”

Unfortunately, parents with children in public schools will get less help, thanks to a seriously mistaken ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals, the second highest court in the land, handed down in late August.

A group of students in the state of Washington calling themselves “Truth” sought to have an after-school Bible study “to encourage and help [students] become better people with good morals.”

For over two years, their public high school bounced their application around only to unanimously deny it in the end.

Why? Because the students described membership in terms of faith.

While anyone, indeed everyone in the school community, was permitted to attend the meetings, to be a member in good standing was contingent upon aspiring to “Christian character, Christian speech and the Christian conduct generally described in the Bible.”

The point, said the students, was that members should have “a true desire to grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ.”

The school decision-makers in Washington didn’t like that notion and for good measure told the students they didn’t like the club name either. Truth be damned, I guess.

Bible Club permission denied. Of course, these same authorities had no trouble approving an Earth Club, limited to members who would promise to show an “interest and dedication toward environmental issues.”

And the school even found room for a gay-straight alliance limited to students exploring a full discussion of “gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and other questioning issues” and “fighting heterosexism and other forms of oppression.”

The student founders of Truth got legal help, but embarrassingly they have thus far lost in court. How they lost is a bit of a mystery given the plain text of laws aimed, like the school district’s own policies, at affirming — on paper at least — “equal opportunity and treatment ... without regard to race, creed, etc.”

There’s even a federal law, the

Faith & Precedent DOUGLAS W. KMIEC cns columnist

Equal Access Act, which mandates that public schools grant religious clubs the benefits and privileges afforded other non-curricular clubs. Congress’ purpose was to guarantee “equal access or fair opportunity” and to prevent discrimination on the basis of “the content of the speech in club meetings.”

Nevertheless, paying little heed to this important law intended to be “interpreted broadly,” the Ninth Circuit (which hears cases from the entire Western United States) found nothing wrong with the denial.

Denying permission for a club based on religious membership criteria was not, said the judges, to discriminate in terms of content of speech.

Really?

Bafflingly, the judges claimed that the students failed to show how limiting membership to those who would share Christian values had “any expressive conduct content, let alone [how] this policy communicates a message consistent with the views of the club’s organizers.”

This is flawed reasoning. Thankfully, another federal appellate court has taken a directly opposite view, upholding under the law the ability of a religious club in a New York high school to limit club leadership positions to “professed Christians.”

When the same law is interpreted in two different ways, it warrants Supreme Court resolution. The Roberts court should be open to the Washington students if they appeal, and in all likelihood, would reverse.

Of course generations of students will have graduated in the meantime, and it’s troubling to have to drag public schools into court for reasonable religious accommodation.

This is hardly what the catechism had in mind when it enjoins upon “public authorities ... the duty of guaranteeing to parents the right to choose a school for their children which corresponds to their own faith convictions.”

Enduring faith Spending Rosh Hashanah with two Catholic heroes It may sound odd to some that I will be celebrating Rosh Hashanah with two Catholic heroes, even more so given that both are deceased, but each has inspired me and guided my spiritual growth; that is why I will have their teachings open alongside the traditional holiday liturgy that I will recite in my synagogue.

Rosh Hashanah, usually described as the Jewish New Year, is actually the Jewish celebration of the birth of all humanity. We honor the sacredness of all humanity with our uniquely Jewish celebration of it.

This central lesson had perhaps no better teacher than the late Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, bishop of Paris from 1981 to 2005.

He was born Aaron before WWII to two Polish Jewish immigrants in Paris. He was saved from the Nazis by a Catholic family in Orleans who did what I can only hope I would do; they endangered themselves and their own family to save this innocent little boy.

Later Aaron converted to Catholicism, its truth and beauty having been demonstrated to him by that brave couple.

But because he always knew that spiritual truth was as infinitely large as the God who created it — that he could be right without assuming that those with differing views had to be wrong, Cardinal Lustiger declared until his dying day that, while he was a proud and faithful Catholic, he also remained a Jew. He understood that his spiritual story as a Catholic did not require denying the enduring reality of its initial Jewish chapters.

At a moment when more people are killing each other in the name of religion than at any time since the Crusades, that seems like a pretty important message with which to begin the new year.

Cardinal Lustiger’s commitment to all that was Catholic left room for his Jewishness in much the way I struggle to assure that my commitment to all that is Jewish honors the holiness, goodness and truth of that which is not.

The former bishop of Paris lived the lesson of Rosh Hashanah, and that is why I hope to have him with me as I celebrate the birth of humanity and prepare myself for a new year committed to its well-being.

Similarly, I hope to have the spirit of Blessed Mother Teresa with me as I sit in the synagogue on the upcoming holidays.

The recent revelation of her questioning whether God was always there, was “always God,” is also part of a sacred tradition which expresses itself on Rosh Hashanah. And far from being a barrier to belief or, even worse, the expression of its opposite, such questions and doubts are fundamental to the enduring relationship known as faith.

It is in the asking of such questions and in the willingness to confront the full range of responses to them that we strengthen all of our relationships,

Guest Column RABBI BRAD HIRSCHFIELD cns columnist

including and perhaps especially our relationship with God. Mother Teresa’s questions stand in direct line with those asked by the biblical Abraham, whose story we read over the course of these holiest days in the Jewish calendar.

It was Abraham, known to the faithful as the first monotheist, who is the Scripture’s first atheist! It is Abraham who is ready to declare in Genesis 18 that God would “not be God” if prepared to destroy the righteous residents of Sodom along with those who sinned.

It is Abraham who shows us that to challenge God, to be prepared even to deny God, is the height of a relationship which evokes the best from each of the partners.

Mother Teresa is a shining example of faith without fanaticism, of belief that admits ambiguity, of living in light of powerful spiritual answers without denying the questions that are a part of any life lived with integrity and intelligence.

This holiday I pray that Mother Teresa’s spirit of sacred doubt, and her holy questions about the pain that exists in the world, will be with me.

I pray that, having stood in the clinics which bear her name across Ethiopia, I will be filled with the strength to turn my questions into the fuel I need to continue in her footsteps as well as those of Cardinal Lustiger’s.

I pray to make the world a better place for all people, because it is the mandate of my tradition to do so.

Hirschfield is the president of The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership.

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September 14, 2007

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‘Catechesis: Encountering the Living Christ’ National Catechetical Sunday a time to reflect on church’s mission The theme of National Catechetical Sunday (Sept. 16) emphasizes clearly and concisely the challenging call addressed to every believer — to encounter Christ.

All who are committed to cultivating a conscious and active faith welcome the privilege of meeting the Lord time and time again within the journey of life. In order to truly encounter Jesus, each of us must be open to his presence, realizing that he has chosen us to be his friends, disciples and witnesses.

A fruitful encounter with the Lord is dependent upon an honest desire to be touched and transformed by his love.

Again and again as the years unfold, Jesus Christ invites us to encounter him in a manner that will impact our lives positively and creatively. As we travel the sacred journey of life, Jesus speaks to us in Scripture, Tradition and the sacraments, as well as in the faith-filled witness or needs of others.

In reflecting upon my personal experience, I recall gratefully that for 44 years I have been involved in the catechetical mission of the church.

During these years, I have come to understand and appreciate Pope John Paul II’s observation contained within his magnificent apostolic exhortation

entitled “On Catechesis in Our Time”: “The definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ.”

As one called to cultivate and enable intimacy with Jesus, I’ll never forget the day of my first assignment as a priest.

When I arrived at Our Lady’s Church in Waltham, Mass., the pastor informed me that I would be responsible for the CCD (faith formation) program. There were 1,800 children on the elementary level and 500 young people in the high school.

Having had no training in the seminary to implement that role, I wondered how I would handle the responsibility. Thank the Lord, however, that with the guidance of a committed and competent layman, I was able to do so.

He reminded me that the catechist must recognize that the message should be adapted in a faithful manner to the ability of the learners to understand and appreciate its meaning and relevance.

Forty-four years have passed since my first attempt to be an effective director of a CCD program. During the intervening period, what a blessing it has

Understanding Scripture

Belief in Christ’s divinity guides, sustains us The faith is a precious gift.

Do you ever get sick of the TV biblical experts who undermine the supernatural basis of divine revelation? They deny the divinity of Jesus; consequently, they reduce all of his miracles to mere folk tales.

To understand this approach to biblical criticism, you have to go back to Rene Descartes (1596-1650), the father of modern philosophy, and to Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), the famous German skeptic.

Descartes challenged the way we know things. He felt it necessary to reject everything he had ever learned in order to find out what he knew from natural reason alone. His first question was “How do I even know that I exist?”

Most of us take our own existence for granted, but Descartes didn’t know for sure until his “eureka moment,” when he discovered this idea: “I think, therefore I am.”

From then on he would accept as true only those things he could prove from reason alone. Therefore, all knowledge based on faith went out the window.

Kant applied Descartes’ approach to the interpretation of sacred Scripture.

Up until then, the reading of Scripture was pretty much a matter of believing what the text said while accepting the guidance of the church in translating the

more difficult passages.

We asked, “What did the sacred author mean when he wrote this passage?

What religious truth was he trying to teach us?”

Our individual interpretations may have varied slightly, but Catholics were instructed not to go beyond the parameters of the deposit of faith in their speculations.

According to Kant, however, the reader of Scripture had to reject all knowledge based on faith. This made everyone dependent on the Scripture scholars alone in their efforts to understand the Bible. The authority of the church was, of course, dismissed out of hand. In its place a new wave of biblical gurus came on the scene.

The problem was that these so-called experts disagreed with one another all the time, which led to much confusion.

Evangelical Christians decided to reject the new scholars and demanded that the entire Bible be taken literally.

There are metaphors, parables and figures of speech in the Bible which are not to be taken literally.

The Lutherans believe that “Scripture alone saves,” but if others say you can’t know exactly what the text means, how can it save you, much less guide you?

Guest Column FATHER JAMES HAWKER guest columnist

been to participate in the pastoral and educational mission of the church.

Since I arrived here in 1995, I have been impressed by the devotion and dedication of the faith formation teachers — the catechists — here in the Diocese of Charlotte. Whether they minister within the setting of the Catholic school or the parish, they have been an inspiration.

Whether they serve children, youth or adults, they are truly exemplary in their selflessness.

The name of National Catechetical Sunday, “Catecheses: Encountering the Living Christ,” is so timely for those of us who collaborate in sharing the person and message of Jesus. It speaks to parents and priests, to catechetical leaders and catechists.

All of us are blessed beyond measure as we are invited and enabled to participate in the catechetical mission of the church.

Father Hawker is vicar of education for the Diocese of Charlotte and pastor of St. Luke Church in Mint Hill.

Spirituality for Today FATHER JOHN CATOIR cns columnist

The Bible has always needed an objective authority for its correct interpretation.

In 1988, Pope Benedict XVI, when he was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, gave a talk entitled “Biblical Interpretation in Crisis.”

In it he asserted that the Kantian method of interpretation undermines the very possibility “for the Bible to be itself.”

He added that we can never “interpret sacred Scripture correctly without the church’s faith to guide us.”

Ultimately, it comes down to belief in the divinity of Christ.

The faith is a precious gift from God, passed down to us over the centuries through the ministry of the church.

Because of the divinity of Jesus Christ, we have been given the Holy Spirit to guide us in a darkened world.

The divine element of the church sustains us, not the human; however, the human element makes Jesus visible.

We belong to the mystical body of Christ on earth. We love the church.

Pope reflects on Austrian trip, says church is called to be like Mary The Pope Speaks POPE BENEDICT XVI VATICAN CITY (CNS) — On the feast of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Benedict XVI said the church is called to be like the mother of God and look to Christ.

The church is called to pay witness to the sanctity of life and work toward a future of peace, he said.

The pope used his general audience Sept. 12 to share reflections about his Sept. 7-9 visit to Austria. He returned briefly to the Vatican from his papal summer villa south of Rome to greet the estimated 12,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

He said separate meetings with the Austrian president and diplomats during his trip represented “precious occasions” for him to urge leaders to foster peace and “authentic economic and social development.”

He emphasized the importance of Europe’s Christian roots, which promote “a tradition of thought that ties faith, reason and feeling” together and safeguards the modern conscience from nihilistic or fundamentalist tendencies.

Here is the Vatican text of Pope Benedict’s remarks in English.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, My recent pastoral visit to Austria was above all a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Mariazell on its 850th anniversary.

The venerable statue of Our Lady pointing to her infant Son inspired the theme of the visit — “To Look to Christ.”

Austria is a land of ancient Christian culture, and its capital, Vienna, is today a centre of international institutions.

In my meeting with the president and the diplomatic corps, I expressed the church’s support for global efforts to foster peace and authentic development, and I encouraged the process of Europe’s unification on the basis of values inspired by its shared Christian heritage.

At Mass in St. Stephen’s Cathedral, I stressed the importance of respecting the rich religious and cultural meaning of our tradition of Sunday rest.

While visiting Heiligenkreuz Abbey, I spoke of the value of monasticism and liturgical prayer, and the inseparable link between theology and the spiritual life.

At the end of my journey, I met with representatives of Austria’s impressive network of volunteer organizations and expressed appreciation for their generosity to others.

Throughout my visit, I saw the vitality of the church, which, in today’s Europe, is called “to look to Christ.”

September 14, 2007

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