October 14, 2005
The Catholic News & Herald 1
www.charlottediocese.org
Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
Parish Profile St. Jude Church thrives in mountain community of Sapphire Valley | Page 16
Established Jan. 12, 1972 by Pope Paul VI OCTOBER 14, 2005
Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
Building a bridge to understanding Pen Pals for Peace connects local students to Catholic Palestinians by
KAREN A. EVANS staff writer
CHARLOTTE — Students at St. Matthew School in Charlotte are taking the first small steps toward building a bridge between the cultures of America and the Middle East. The 114 fifth-graders will be connected with Catholic Palestinian children in Jerusalem and Bethlehem through “Pen Pals for Peace,” a correspondence exchange program begun by Mel Lehman and Frank Lalley, two peace and social-justice advocates from New York City. “The goal of the program is to get these dear children, as part of their Christian faith, to learn about another dear Christian child in another part of the world,” said Lehman. “(Children in Israel) seem so foreign, but they’re people just like us.” Lehman conducted a slide presentation Oct. 6 for the fifth graders, explaining what life is like for Catholics living in the See PALS, page 7
vOLUME 15
no. 2
‘Hall of famer’
Father Sheridan receives Irish American award by
KEVIN E. MURRAY editor
CHARLOTTE — Father Edward Sheridan recently joined the Irish hall of fame. Father Sheridan, pastor of St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte, received the Irish Hall of Fame Award during the 2nd Annual Irish American Awards Dinner, held at the Park Hotel in Charlotte Oct. 6. The awards dinner recognizes local Irish Americans and raises funds for Charlotte’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and festival, which will be held March 18, 2006. “I’m honored. It’s a great compliment,” said Father Sheridan. “I’m not sure if I’m worthy of it, but I appreciate their selection.” Moira Quinn, chief operatPhoto by Karen A. Evans
Elizabeth Fiato, Maggie Dattolo and Sharon Hady examine items from Israel and Iraq following the Pen Pals for Peace presentation at St. Matthew School Oct. 6. The school’s four fifth-grade classes will be participating in the program, in which they are matched up with Christian children living in Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
Synod of Bishops Synod focuses on better understanding, celebration of Eucharist by JOHN THAVIS catholic news service
CNS photo from Reuters
Pope Benedict XVI delivers his speech at the Synod of Bishops in the Paul VI audience hall at the Vatican Oct. 3. Pictured (from left): Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez of Guadalajara, Mexico; Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze; the pope; and Archbishop Nikola Eterovic.
VATICAN CITY — The Synod of Bishops’ first week of discussion focused on how to make the Eucharist available to all Catholics and how to improve the way it is celebrated and understood.
See IRISH, page 12
Prying eyes
German newspaper says Pope Benedict was spied on when he was cardinal by
JONATHAN LUXMOORE
catholic news service
More Coverage page 8 I Sin causes
broken bonds with God, others, says U.S. cardinal page 8 I Catholics must
emphasize penance and Communion
See SYNOD, page 9
OXFORD, England — A German newspaper has published details of how East Germany’s communist secret police, or Stasi, spied on Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger three decades before he became Pope Benedict XVI. “Long before his nomination as prefect of the Vatican’s See SPY, page 13
Around the Diocese
Culture Watch
Perspectives
Rosary Rally; parish carnivals; Operation LAMB
Noted theologian, author dies; EWTN celebrates 25 years
Offensive Sony ad; married priests; meaning of creation
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