Dec 17, 2004

www.chariottc<r*oc«se,ors

Roman

Catholic Diocese of Charlotte

On the

issues

USCCB rep John

Carr discusses

social justice, politics

PAGE 5

|

NEWS rHERALD

Established Jan. 12, 1972

by Pope Paul VI

DECEMBER

SERVING CATHOLICS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA IN THE DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE

2004

17,

Bishop Jugis

Portraying the Christmas

announces

VOLUME 14 N9 12 wmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Bishop Gregory

spirit

named to Atlanta

activities for Year

Archdiocese

of the Eucharist CONGRESS SCHEDULED IN CHARLOTTE FOR 2005

Pope accepts retirement of Archbishop

Donoghue PATRICIA ZAPOR

by

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

DAVID HAINS

by

WASHINGTON —

TO

SPECIAL

THE CATHOLIC NEWS

& HERALD

Bishop Wilton D. Gregory of Belleville, 111., has been named

by Pope John Paul II to head the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

He will replace Arch-

CHARLOTTE — In a letter to Catholics in the Diocese

of Charlotte, Bishop Peter

J.

Jugis announced that a Eucharistic

Congress

will take place

in Charlotte Sept. 23-24, 2005.

Asking the

faithful to

put

aside those dates to attend the

congress, Bishop Jugis said, 'This will be a time of celebration,

adoration and catechesis

centered on the mystery of the Photo by Joanita M. Nellenbach

Eucharist."

The

congress will include

Children present a Christmas pageant re-enacting the Nativity as Father Carl Del Giudice, pastor,

eucharistic adoration and sa-

reads the story

cred music on Friday Sept. 23.

"This

Saturday, Sept. 24, begins with a procession in which choirs,

Christmas tree ornaments.

at

Sacred Heart Church

in

Brevard Dec. 12. Father Del Giudice told the children,

the third Sunday of Advent, and, as our pageant reminds us, Jesus

-is

light." At a

breakfast after the Mass, the children had a birthday cake for

coming to give us Jesus and then made

bishop John F. Donoghue, whose retirement was accepted by the pope Dec. 9.

Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, apostolic nuncio to the United States, made the announcement in Washington.

Archbishop Gregory, 57, completed a three-year term as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in

November.

is

See ATLANTA, page 12

For more Christmas coverage, see pages 8-9.

Catholic organizations such as the Knights of Columbus, and

RELIVING THE FAITH

members from

all 92 parishes and missions in the diocese will walk behind the Eucharist as it is carried through the streets of uptown Charlotte.

After the procession, a day of seminars, speakers and activities for adults, youths and children is planned at the Charlotte Convention Center. Programs for Hispanic and other

Hispanic parishioners celebrate heritage, history by

WESTERN CAROLINA

Eucharistic Congress

Mass on

concludes with a urday afternoon.

Sat-

WANT MORE INFO? Bishop Peter

complete

J. Jugis'

letter

who

may be

found on page 14.

—

It

NORTH Going

w sa

.

,

ized July 31, 2002)

Heart Church in Brevard and Immaculate Conception Church

and the

in Hendersonville, hold lavish

verted 9 million Aztecs to Ca-

celebrations to

honor Our Lady

tholicism. Hispanic people throughout the United States

of Guadalupe,

named "Patron-

ess of the Americas" in 1946.

Juan Diego, stands with

and Latin America continue to

Some 60 Hispanic people gathered at Sacred Heard

during

dressed as an Aztec princess,

pilgrimages to the Basilica of

See LADY, page 7

Church

93

Amn

celebrate that event each Dec. 12.

Our Schools

Retiring for

In Mexico, people

0LG

35 years

principal

^jWM

make

Culture honored

Vatican's

Watch

new

I

PAGE 6

Photo by Rev. Mr. Gerald Potkay

Uriel

Arivzu,

dressed as

St.

sister,

and mother, Malena, an Our Lady of Guadalupe fiesta at Holy Infant Ulahni,

in

Reidsville Dec.

12.

Cougars pounce on victory CCHS captures

saints calendar;

African-American liturgy pioneer dies

of service

H03lK IMfl

im tfmn

Churches in the Diocese of Charlotte, including Sacred

was Mary's appear-

resulting miracles that con-

Nonaanoo on

szzs

Guadalupe on that day.

Mass on a cold Dec. 9, 1531, Juan Diego passed Tepeyac Hill, near Mexico City. He saw a cloud and a rainbow, heard music; a woman called his name. Climbing the 130-foot hill, he saw a beautiful woman

000-665^ 3N TIIH HJHin

mi

him she was the

ances to Juan Diego (canon-

to

In 1

told

Virgin Mary.

CORRESPONDENT

cultures will also be presented.

The

JOANITA M.

NELLENBACH

|

PAGES

10-11

state football

championship |

PAGE

16

2

The Catholic News & Herald

December

topics from around the

world to your

own backyard

Consideration for family central to

development efforts, UNITED NATIONS

ILLUMINATING WASHINGTON

(CNS)

The

Vatican nuncio to the United Nations said Dec. 6 that international concern for development should lead to support for the family unit as indispensable to achieving security and

development in any nation.

Archbishop Celestino Migliore said the family as "the stable and lasting union of a man and a woman" not only ensures the "replacement of the generations" but enables a child to become a "creative constructor of society."

The nuncio made

his statement to

Assemmarking the 10th anniversary of the 1994 International Year of the a session of the U.N. General

bly

Family.

Archbishop Migliore was among those who took the initiative last year to ensure that the anniversary observance would not be left up to individual governments, but marked by

Diocesa n.

-planner

CNS first

lady Laura

Bush

assist Clara Pitts,

members

as they

the national Christmas tree near the White House Dec. 2.

of St. Timothy School

photo from Reuters

left,

Mastracchio, light

Brownie troop 5179 from

and Nicole

Chantilly, Va.,

ASHEVILLE

VICARIATE

ASHEVILLE

— The

contact Beverly Reid at (423) 6338-4744 or bebereid@adelphia.net.

Brownies from Virginia Catholic school light national — Nicole

Mastracchio and Clara Pitts, thirdgraders at St. Timothy School in Chantilly, Va., excitedly flipped the

switch Dec. 2 and 450 sets of lights, donated by General Electric Co., illumi-

nated the national Christmas tree as thousands of people standing on the Ellipse watched.

Nicole and Clara are two of St.

Timothy

who

School's third-grade Brownies

collected lip balm,

chewing gum,

candy, tissues, sunscreen and

handmade

cards to send to troops overseas.

The

Troop No. 5 1 79 more than 200 pounds of sup-

CHARLOTTE

Lynne Hines, 4601 Pineland

eant of Peace" lighting ceremony. "And

appetizer to share.

wore their plaid St. Timothy uniforms and Brownie vests and were topped with matching fuzzy All eight girls

all

signed a

St.

Timothy School

collected

gave to President Bush.

Clara said her favorite part was turning the switch that lit the tree.

and assembled nearly 1,000 care

packages.

With the help of a law firm, the packages were shipped to the troops in Iraq in time to be received before the holidays.

The Brownies wrote George W. Bush

to President

him about their Christmas project and invite him to the school, but instead they were invited to the White House Ellipse to help the president and first lady Laura Bush to

tell

Christmas tree.

"Across our country, citizens are supporting our people in uniform with their prayers and with many acts of

light the national

baseball hat that they

About 15,000 colored

of Dan and Please bring an

home

PI.

I

thank the Brownies for reminding the good people of our military how much they mean to America."

Although the other six Brownies were not able to sit onstage, they and their parents had seats close to the stage and enjoyed dancing onstage and posing for photos after the ceremony.

lights illuminate

the 42-foot Colorado blue spruce that

has been decorated as the national' Christmas tree for more than 20 years.

Although they didn't get to spend much time with the president, Clara said Laura Bush talked to her during the ceremony, asking if she was having fun and pointing out interesting things happening on stage.

"All the other people out there (in the audience) didn't get to do much," Clara said. "But we got to light the Christmas tree."

Ballantyne

St.

Matthew Church, 8015

Commons

Pkwy., will celebrate a in the Daily Mass

Mass Dec. 26

Polish-language

General Assembly.

"As the first place of formation of human capital, the family appears truly indispensable to development," he said.

Archbishop Migliore called for a governmental family policy as something separate and distinct, rather than just one aspect of some more comprehensive social policy.

He said a family policy should prevent measures that penalize couples who wish to have children and provide "just compensation" of education costs linked and "a true recognition of domestic work."

It should also include "a longterm action, based on criteria of justice and of efficiency," he said, "because the family is an investment for tomorrow."

being considered for the fall of 2005.

E-mail Madeleine Chartier Crawford at madeleine@harpermachinery.com or call Joyce Hartis O'Keefe at (704) 536-5049 if you are inter-

CHARLOTTE — A

support group for caregivers of a family member with memory loss meet the last Monday of each month, 10-11:30 a.m. at St.

Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Rd. For more information, contact Suzanne Bach at (704) 376-4135.

—

HUNTERSVILLE Elizabeth Ministry is a peer ministry comprised of St. Mark Church parishioners who have lost babies before of shortly after birth. Confidential peer ministry, information and no cost or obligaanyone who has experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or the death of a newborn. For details, call Sandy Buck at (704) 948-4587. spiritual materials are offered at

tion to

CHARLOTTE — ministry of

St.

Chapel. Reconciliation will be offered at 2 p.m.

Commons

and Mass will be celebrated at 3:30 p.m. For more information, call Elizabeth Spytkowski at (704) 948-1678.

career crises.

HUNTERSVILLE

— A Mass

High

— A reunion

for Charlotte Catho-

School,

/"""I

50

classes

Christians in Career Transition

and third Monday of each month 7-9 p.m. conference room.

CHARLOTTE

For more

in the

information, call Dea-

at (704) 576-0456.

—

The St. Maximilian Kolbe Fraterof the Secular Franciscan Order gathers the first Sunday of each month at 2 p.m. at Our Lady of Consolation Church, 2301 Statesville Ave. Those interested in learning more about the SFO and the Franciscan way of life are invited to attend. For more information, call Skyler Harvey, SFO, at (704) 545-91 S3.

DECEMBER

=

a

nity

THE

Catholic NEW^HERALD

is

Pkwy., devoted to helping people in The meetings take place on the first

Honor Deceased

O'Donoghue School and Our Lady of Mercy School classes of 1954 through 1965 is lic

Fitness after

Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne

con Jim Hamrlik to

Loved Ones will be celebrated the last Friday of each month at 7:30 p.m. St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Rd. For more information, call Pam Schneider at (704) 875-0201.

CHARLOTTE

— Fun and

are being offered at St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Rd. This program of gentle exercise promotes joint flexibility and muscle strength.

Registration is not necessary. For more information, call Maureen Benfield at (704) 362-5047, ext. 221.

—

CHARLOTTE

the United Nations as a body through activities including a session of the

CHARLOTTE

Cursillo Christmas Party

kindness," the president said at the "Pag-

eight girls of Brownie

plies

— The

CHARLOTTE

They had

Francis of the

VICARIATE

will be Dec. 19, 4-9 p.m. at the

black berets.

St.

the Secular Franciscan

of

jnell@dnet.net.

Christmas tree (CNS)

— The

Order meets the fourth Sunday of each month 2:304:30 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, 208 7th Ave. West. Visitors and inquirers are welcome. For more information, call Joanita Nellenbach, 'SFO, 627-9209 or (828) Hills Fraternity

nuncio

says

ested in celebrating Charlotte Catholic High School's 50th anniversary.

St. Martin de Porres Dominican Laity Chapter meets the fourth Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the rectory building at the Basilica of St. Lawrence, 97 Haywood St. Inquirers are welcome. For more information,

HENDERSONVILLE

WASHINGTON

2004

Current and upcoming

In Brief

President George W. Bush and

17,

VOLUME

14

17, •

2004

NUMBER

12

The Catholic News & Herald, USPC 007-393, is published by 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 the

PUBLISHER: Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis EDITOR: Kevin E. Murray STAFF WRITER: Karen A. Evans GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Tim Faragher ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: Cindi Feerick

SECRETARY: Deborah

Hiles

June, July and August for $1 5 per year for enrollees of the for

all

Roman

in

parishes

Catholic Diocese of Charlotte and $23 per year

News & Herald reserves reject or cancel advertising for any reason deemed appropriate. We do not recommend or

other subscribers. The Catholic

the right to

MAIL: P.O. Box 37267, PHONE: (704) 370-3333 FAX: (704) 370-3382

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,

E-mail: catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

Charlotte,

1123 South Church

St.,

NC 28203 Charlotte, NC 28237

Charlotte,

NC

28237.

December

The Catholic News & Herald 3

2004

17,

FROM THE VATICAN

Pope says Christians must help create

Iraqi foreign minister says government

promote religious freedom In addition VATICAN CITY (CNS) —

world open to diverse cultures

will

Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari thanked Pope John Paul II for the help he always has given the Iraqi people, and he pledged that the country's new

government would promote

full

reli-

gious freedom.

The Paul

foreign minister

Dec.

II

exactly one year after

13,

U.S. troops captured

and

less

met Pope John

than a week after an Armenian

Catholic Church and a Chaldean Cathobishop's residence

lic

were damaged

in

an attack by armed men.

Joaquin Navarro-Valls, Vatican spokesman, said Zebari assured the pope of "the commitment of his government to promote religious freedom and, particularly, the defense of the Christian communities."

"The painful plague of terrorism" was condemned during the meetings, Navarro-Valls said.

on Catholic targets, five Christian churches in Baghdad were struck in mid-October, and five Catholic churches were the targets of bombings in August.

Also Dec. 13, Fides, the Vatican's missionary news agency, published an interview with Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Louis Sako of Kirkuk.

The

suffering,

tomary

College for an hour of prayer and devotion. For details, contact Dennis at (704) 825-9600, ext. 26 or e-mail teallfleming@yahoo.com.

HICKORY

VICARIATE

HICKORY

—

NE,

is

St.

Aloysius Church, 921 Second

St.

offering a weekly Catholic Scripture Study.

Catholic Scripture Study is a program whose members not only learn the Scriptures, but come to a deeper understanding of their faith in a setting that builds Christian fellowship. Evening and daytime classes will be held each at the church, Wednesdays, 6:45-8:30 p.m., and Thursdays 9:30-

more information, call Ann Miller (828) 441-2205, or email stalscss@charter.net.

11.15 a.m. For at

—

H EN DERSONVILLE The Widows hunch Bunch, sponsored by Immaculate Conception Church, meets at a different restaurant on the first Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. Reservations are necessary. For more information and reservations, call

Joan Keagle at (828) 693-4733.

said,

it

most

Iraqi

remove

to

commitment, prospects of hope that will herald the dawn of a more open and supportive society," the pope said Dec. 9 in his annual message for the World Day for Migrants and Refugees.

The annual event is held on different days in different countries. In the United

grants because an intercultural society

Migration

Week will

be

But while the values of equality and liberty are to be embraced, the faithful

must not loosen

their grasp of their

Christian identity and mission of evangelization, he added.

Divine

While the Christian community

among

"necessitates equal standing peoples," he said.

Word

Father Michael

Muslims

Novem-

learning about the culture and beliefs of

ent nations.

month of fasting,

giving up the Christian parties

work

must still "listen for the cry of help that comes from a multitude of migrants and refugees," the faithful must reach out with sincere respect and curiosity in

could not have big feasts during ber of Ramadan, the

necessary to

the obstacles to social equality" for immi-

Blume, the council's undersecretary, said the United States was the nation hosting the largest number of immigrants in the world. The United States has some 35 million people who come from 40 differ-

parties.

Also, he said,

is

so

Part of making immigrants

others, said the pope.

He

also an

said the goal of "intercultural

feel

comfortable in expressing and develop-

own

act of solidarity.

integration" entails firsthand contact

ing their

recognizing "the beneficial contribution"

Joseph Church, 720 West 13th St., at 4 p.m.

Holy Family Hall. For more details, call Debbie Vickers at (828) 495-2039.

with the newcomers, which "leads to discovering their 'secret,'" or rather, the values and beliefs of their culture.

Being open and understanding of other cultures can result, in the long run, in a pluralistic society that reflects

"reciprocal enrichment, and society becomes a kaleidoscope, where every culture has its place in one design made all

in the

—

he

equalities.

with active

the ongoing

to celebrate Christmas with the cus-

St.

All middle and high school youths are welcome to join Dennis Teall-Fleming for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every Tuesday, 56 p.m. in the Adoration Chapel at Belmont Abbey

mourning and did not seem right

Migrants and Travelers, said immigrants often suffer from gross social in"It is

The faithful must "foster,

celebrated Jan. 2-8.

With

president of the Pontifical Council for

II.

States, National

—

BELMONT

Paul

ing parties and receptions.

VICARIATE

Raleigh. For more information, contact Jan Rogers (704) 825-9600.

focus on prayers for peace and

(CNS) Chrismust help create an open and harmonious world where diverse cultures can thrive side by side, said Pope John tians

security at Christmas, rather than host-

BELMONT

chartered bus will leave from Queen of the Apostles Church, 503 North Main St., in Belmont at 7 a.m. Jan. 15 and St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Rd., in Charlotte at 7:30 a.m. to go to the Rally and March for Life in

archbishop said he and other

religious leaders have asked their faithful to

GASTONIA

A

by

terrorists

Saddam Hussein

—

VATICAN CITY

to Dec. 7 attacks

Iraqi

-

VICARIATE

SALISBURY

—

"the multifaceted gifts of God to

SALISBURY

Our Lady Rosary Makers of SaSt., are mak-

beings," he said.

cred Heart Church, 128 N. Fulton

Cardinal Stephen

ing cord rosaries for the missions and the military. The group meets the first Tuesday of each month in the church office conference room, 10—11 a.m. For more information, call Cathy

Yochim

at

Kaczmarezyk

•SALISBURY

(704) at (704)

6S6-6857

or

Joan

797-8405.

—

human

Fumio Hamao,

cultural identity lies in

immigrant makes to society

that the

"with his and her culture and talents," said

Father Blume.

Intercultural integration results in

the

more

beautiful" for its variety,

he

said.

Look, but don't eat

Sacred Heart Church, 128 N. Fulton St., celebrates a Charismatic and Healing Mass the first Sunday of each month at 4 p.m.

Prayer and worship with prayer teams will be available at 3 p.m., and a potluck dinner will follow the Mass. Father John Putnam, pastor, will be the celebrant. For further information, call Bill Owens at (704) 639-9837.

SMOKY

SYLVA

MOUNTAIN

— Court

VICARIATE

Mary, Mother of God of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas will meet in the fellowship hall of St. Mary Church, 22 Bartlett St., Jan. 8, 2005 after the 9 a.m. Mass. Mass intentions for that date will be for the intentions of members of the Court. Refreshments will be served prior to the meeting. For more information call Sandy Beauchemin at (828) 586-1136 or the church office at (828) St.

586-9496.

HICKORY — A

Charismatic Mass is celebrated the Thursday of each month in Sebastian Chapel of St. Aloysius Church, 921 Second St. NE, at 7 p.m. For further information, contacT Joan first

Moran (828)-327-0487.

Is

your parish or school sponsoring a free

event open to the general public? Please

submit notices at least

NEWTON

—

The

Flowers Catholic Girls' Group is for all Catholic girls ages five and up. The group meets the fourth Monday of each month at Little

Episcopal calendar

writing

in

for the

15 days to

Diocesan Planner

prior to the

.Karen

A.

event date

Evans

at

kaevans@charlottediocese.org or fax to (704)370-3382.

CNS

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in thefollowing events:

made

Pastry chef Ugo Mignone prepares a Nativity scene

cake workshop

in

Naples,

Italy,

Nov. 26.

Some 20

photo from Reuters

entirely of chocolate in a

pastry chefs have been working

around the clock to create the world's largest chocolate Nativity scene.

Dec. 25

— 12 a.m. Christmas

Midnight Mass St. Patrick

Dec. 25

1

— 11 a.m. Mass

St. Patrick

Cathedral, Charlotte

Cathedral, Charlotte

— 11 a.m. Mass

St. Patrick

Jan.

Cathedral, Charlotte

Jan. 2

— 11 a.m. Mass

St. Patrick

NOTICETO READERS

Cathedral, Charlotte

Due

to Christmas, The Catholic

News & Herald will

our readers a very Merry Christmas.

not publish Dec. 24.

We

wish

4 The Catholic News & Herald

December

17,

2004

AROUND THE DIOCESE

Standing for a good cause

Many heritages Parishioners celebrate diversity at

inaugural event by

VERONICA ANTHONY Special to

the catholic news

NORTH WILKESBORO

— Pa-

rishioners of St. John Baptist de la

Church celebrated their inaugural Heritage Day Nov. 28.

The multicultural event was held after the Sunday Spanish-language Mass. Parishioners were invited to bring foods from their countries of origin to the celebration, which featured Mexican dishes, German kielbasa and kraut, Oriental slaw, Italian baked rigatoni, Guatemalan tamales and Pakistani saweeyan.

"People did a wonderful job, and the event was a great success," said Salle

Mary

who

organized the event with

parish

Hispanic Leadership

rector,

& herald

Sorel, parish faith formation di-

the

Team.

Other

games, sack races and live by the Luz Christo

activities included

musical chairs, music provided Band, a family Lenoir. Children pifiatas

music group from open two

also broke

and collected the candy. parishioners considered

Many

Day a great success in bringing together parishioners of different ethnic backgrounds. The next Heritage Day is already scheduled for Nov. 27, 2005. the Heritage

St.

Veronica Anthony is a parishioner of John Baptist de la Salle Church.

Sharing food and faith UJUKItSY TH0IU

Paul Butler

his family, parishioners of St.

the Knights' Tootsie Roll 27. The drive

Among My

Columbus St. Mark Council Mark Church in Huntersville, assist in Donation Drive outside a Huntersville supermarket Nov.

publicity director for the Knights of

(left),

12654, and

phase three of four

is

in

the council's

2004 Operation LAMB

(Least

Brethren) campaign, which runs Sept. 1-Dec. 31.

— —

More than 160 volunteers Knights, confirmation candidates, Boy and Girl Scouts and other parishioners took turns standing in all weather conditions for 106 hours primarily during Thanksgiving week, giving away Tootsie Rolls and accepting donations

in

Operation

LAMB

an effort to help people with mental retardation.

is

a 30-year-old state-wide program, with

Carolina participating at various levels.

In

all

16 councils

in

North

three decades, the councils have raised

more than $140,000.

The Knights are accepting donations, which are tax-deductible, from individuals and businesses through Dec. 31. For more information, visit www.kofcncstmark.org.

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Asheville Nov. 25.

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The Catholic News & Herald

5

AROUND THE DIOCESE

Taking stands on the issues John Carr discusses social teaching politics by

DAVID HAINS

TO THE CATHOLIC NEWS & HERALD SPECIAL

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

CHARLOTTE

For the last deJohn Carr has served as director of the Department of Social Development and World Peace of the U.S. Conference cade,

of Catholic Bishops.

He assists the bishops in sharing and applying Catholic social teaching, advocating on the moral dimensions of

key domestic and international issues, and building the Catholic community's capacity to act on its social mission.

Carr spoke during a Just Second Fridays gathering at St. Peter Church in Charlotte Dec. 10. Just Second Fridays' speakers are arranged through the diocesan Office of Justice and Peace.

Carr also spoke with The Catholic News Herald about the role of Catho-

&

lic

social teaching.

CN&H: How does the Department of Social Development and World Peace come up with the topics that it chooses to present?

CARR: The most important thing to

know about

the bishops' conference

Any statement that the bishops wish to make has to go to an administrative committee of 60 bishops and ultimately the full body of bishops.

CN&H: What sort of role do the bishops want these statements to play?

CARR: Our work is a work of faith, not politics. The bishops lead a community of faith, not an interest group. What the bishops' conference brings to the dia-

logue

is

human

a set of moral principles

life

on

and dignity as well as broad

among home and around the world.

The bishops bring a moral voice to

experience in serving the 'least us" at

what

very often a partisan discussion. ways, we don't fit the political categories of right and left, Democrat or Republican. We're not politically correct.

For example, there are very few groups in Washington that stand up for the life of the unborn and are trying to restrict the death penalty.

In

is

many

CN&H: From

talk radio to cable

television to an endless stream of the writ-

ten word, there

is

How effective

are these statements from the bishops?

CARR:

is

many ways,

In

Catholic

teaching and the position of the bishops'

two committees, one on domestic policy and one on international policy. They will meet in mid-December and decide what policies will continue to

conference are counter-cultural. The church doesn't decide where it stands based on the polls or the focus groups.

We're not free to abandon the unborn because they may not be politically correct or to forget about immigrants be-

it

is

the bishops' conference.

and

set the priorities

We

policies.

serve

guide our work.

You are "Weaving

John Carr, director of the U.S. bishops' Department of Social Development and

World Peace, speaks about solidarity, one of the topics he covered at the Just Second Fridays gathering at St. Peter Church in Charlotte Dec. 10.

a cacophony of dis-

course in the United States.

They

that

Photo by Karen A. Evans

invited to attend

One Heart II: Welcoming the

Stranger"

cause they don't vote.

The way

ing

the bishops

make

a differ-

is by being persistent and consistent.

For example, the partial birth abortion ban was passed after 10 years of work.

ence

CN&H:

In an essay about the presi-

join

us

for this educational in

workshop on the

call to

welcome refugees

paign. Neither candidate really talked

called cowards.

about them much. So, the bishops have to inform, educate and persuade people and leaders that we ought to focus on the

tried to

pastors and teachers in a very polarized

needs of the weak, not the wishes of the

political climate

on the search for the common good, instead of the narrow demands of

ing to be

It is

Keynote Speaker: Mary Morton, Grants and Programs Administrator, Migrant and Refugee Services, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington,

DC

our

faith,

the Gospel and the

Eucharist that sustains us in these

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and Catholic

social teaching.

Is it a

good thing

for the

of the church when the bishops take a stand in a polarized po-

social mission

climate?

CARR:

Yes.

I

spend a

of time

lot

moving around the country, talking to priests and parishioners and I have found people wrestling with more it

I've

ever ex-

meant to be a

and a voter.

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CN&H: 1

role of bishops in public

CN&H:

cult tasks.

Sunday, January 30, 2005

becoming partisans because of their dediwhole issue of abortion?

CARR: Some people in the media and some partisans misunderstood the cation to the

political partisans.

the powerful interests.

the Diocese of Charlotte.

Communion. Do you have any reflecon the notion that the bishops are

you said, "There's no magic message or quick strategy." To what were you referring?

CARR: To be candid, the "least among us" were missing from the camdential campaign,

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The Catholic News & Herald

December

17,

2004

OUR SCHOOLS

IN

With love and gratitude

IN

THE SPIRIT

honored with retirement reception, Mass Father Frank O'Rourke, GREENSBORO â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Hundreds of Principal

pastor of

children and adults from

Our Lady of

Our Lady of Grace Church, opened

the

celebration with prayers and invited

Grace School and parish gathered to bid farewell to a dear friend and educator.

Roberta Hutchcraft, who recently retired as principal of Our Lady of Grace School, was honored with a reception Dec. 5 for her 20 years of service to the school and 35 years of service to the

those in attendance to extend their hands over Hutchcraft as he offered a blessing.

Seventh-grader Keirnan Campbell his mother, Alicia, performed on the flute and cello during the reception, followed by Richard Valitutto, a senior at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School in Kernersville, on the piano.

and

Diocese of Charlotte.

Many former students and their parents returned for the occasion. Teach-

Those

members and parents prepared and served food, and decorated the school gymnasium for the reception.

ers, staff"

attendance signed a guest

in

One

book.

student wrote, 'Thank you

for everything

You

you have meant to me. my heart forever and

will be in

ever."

Andrew Latsko, chaplain for Pennybyrn at Maryfield retirement Father

community, celebrated the school-wide Mass dedicated to Hutchcraft on her last day of work, Dec. 15.

"It has been an honor and a pleasure to work with Roberta," said Linda Cherry, superintendent of diocesan Catholic schools. "She

is

a person

Courtesy Photo

Doug Vinson and former Mecklenburg County Commissioner Dan Ramirez take questions from fourth-graders at St. Matthew School in Charlotte N.C. Representative

Oct. 25.

Student research inspires school-wide election

who

staff."

public service recently

"She will be missed by our school me. The Diocese of Charlotte has been blessed to have had her

office staff and

service for over

30

years," said Cherry.

"While we envy her early retirement, we wish her much happiness and success in her restful years ahead,"

"Our

prayers

are

First-grader Kristen McCain watches as

sistant to the principal.

Roberta Hutchcraft, principal of Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro,

go

in

Hutchcraft's honor Dec. 5. Hutchcraft

is

this

month

after

20 years

the-

Ms.

"Along with her

love and heartfelt gratitude of her

Our Lady of Grace School Kinslaw

prepares to cut a cake at a reception

retiring

with

Hutchcraft as she begins this new chapter of her life," said Shirley Kinslaw, as-

Courtesy Photo

family."

will serve at the interim

principal until a replacement

is

named.

Civics and

came

alive for

Catholic school students during an hour-long chat with politicians.

Dan Ramirez, a thenMecklenburg County commissioner, and

Doug

Vinson, newly-elected N.C.

House representative

to District 105,

took part in an hour-long discussion about their experiences as public servants at St. Matthew School Oct. 25.

As part of their curriculum, stu-

dents

in

Jacqui

Marquez's and

Natalie Terrio's fourth-grade classes

have been studying government, civic responsibility

They were

and the

election.

excited to have Ramirez

and Vinson as guests and posed a

of

number of questions about

their

work.

Inspired by the guest speakers and their research, the fourth-graders initiated a school-wide vote on "kidfriendly issues" such as Music in Before School Care, Free Nuts Day, Wear a Hat Day and Wear Your PJs to School Day. Marquez's class created posters to raise awareness about a "vote that will count for the kids." Parent volunteers created color-coded ballot boxes in which the students could vote on Election Day, Nov. 2.

Students overwhelmingly voted for Wear Your PJs to School Day, which was celebrated Dec. 17.

Staff Writer Karen A. Evans contrib-

service to the school and 35 years of

uted to this

service to the Diocese of Charlotte.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

CHARLOTTE

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and

on 'kid-friendly issues'

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December

The Catholic News & Herald 7

2004

17,

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

Hispanics celebrate heritage Giudice explained. "As a parish, we're grow together. People move here from all over the world."

LADY, from page 1

trying to

In Hendersonville, Immaculate Conception Church's 750 Hispanic

Church at dawn on Dec. 12 to conclude a novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe.

'They wait until the dawn comes;

parishioners usually

the Sunday

1

fill

the church for

p.m. Hispanic Mass, but

gone," said Jose

that nearly doubled as an estimated

Gonzalez, Sacred Heart Church's His-

1,400 people filled both pews and on Dec. 12.

Bishop Peter J. Jugis and Capuchin Franciscan Father John Salvas, Immaculate Conception Church's parochial vicar, concelebrated Mass after walking in the procession with a nearly life-size statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe from Jackson Park, three-quarters of a mile from the church.

After the statue was placed in a red-, white-, and green-balloon bedecked arch in the sanctuary, and before Mass began, dancers dressed as Aztecs performed.

During Mass, some 22 children in white formal gowns and tuxedos re-

they say the night

is

aisles

panic ministry coordinator.

Prior to the

a.m.

1 1

Mass

at

Sacred

Heart Church, Hispanic and Anglo parishioners processed around the church parking lot, accompanied by the four-piece Los Mariachis Mexicanos musical group from Gastonia, and car-

rying a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Father Carl Del Giudice, pastor, and visiting Father Oscar Gracious concelebrated.

A

Hispanic potluck

dinner followed the Mass.

Father Gracious, of the Missionary Fraternity of Mary,

in the Asheville

is

Vicariate Nov. 29-Dec. 21

from teaching

at his order's

on a break seminary in

Masses, conducting marriage and church workshops and blessing houses.

Sacred Heart Church has about 30

first Communion.

Following the Mass, people crowded around the statue, bringing flowers to augment the pots and vases of blossoms already there. Then everyone gathered in the nearby Immaculata

registered Hispanic parishioners but

School

many more come

dancing following a re-enactment of Mary's appearances to Juan Diego, the Indian peasant who became a saint.

The day was special, said parishioner Guillermo Elias, because "Mary

Guatemala

Guatemala.

City,

—

third year assisting

It's

Mass

he celebrates on Sundays.

"I tell the Hispanic community, in this church it's Mexico during Mass," Father Del Giudice said.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus is the church's patron;

it

Lady of Guadalupe

also has taken as

its

Dancers in

in

Aztec costumes perform before Mass at Immaculate Conception Church

Hendersonville as part of the Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration Dec. 12. The

dance represented

dances

traditional

of indigenous Mexicans.

ceived their

his

hearing confessions, assisting pastors with Hispanic

to the Hispanic

Photo by Joanita M. Nellenbach

came

gym

for a Hispanic dinner, with

to people

who

didn't have much."

Our Contact Correspondent Joanita

patroness.

M.

Nellenbach by calling (828) 627-9209 or e-

Americas and of oppressed peoples," Father Del "She's the patroness of the

THE HISTORY OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE It

was Mary's appearances

to

Juan Diego (can-

bishop had secretly prayed, to fall to the

floor,"

the

onized July 31 2002) and the resulting miracles

Web site says. "At the moment they looked up, the

that Hispanic people throughout the United States

image

,

and

Latin

America celebrate on Dec.

of

Our Lady appeared on the tilma."

12.

When Juan Diego Passing Tepeyac

way

near Mexico City on

Hill

Mass on Dec.

9,

1531, Juan Diego, a

peasant, heard a beautiful

woman dressed as an

to

Aztec princess

ill,

was

well,

had promised. The uncle, according site,

said that

Mary had

told

as Mary

Web

to the

him that she wanted to

be called the '"Ever Virgin, Holy Mary of

name.

call his

returned home, he found that

who had been

his uncle,

his

Guadalupe.' This further astounded the bishop.

According

to

"The History of Our Lady of

Guadalupe had no meaning

Guadalupe," (found on the Secular Franciscan History Web site)

who told

him,

niailjnell@dnet.net.

sons, that

in

It

was the

Spain."

Bishop Zumarraga, a Franciscan friar, would have

known

the perfect and perpetual Virgin

whom

Mary, Mother of the True God, through everything

Mexico.

in

shrine

Juan climbed the hill to the woman,

"Know for certain, my dearest of my

am

I

name of a famous Marian

the Lord of

lives,

all

things,

who

the shrine well, since a Franciscan

astery had been

built

mon-

there to enshrine a statue of

Mary holding the child Jesus.

is

Master of Heaven and Earth."

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took three

The tilma

convince Bishop Juan

in

is

Mexico

preserved

City.

after the

the Basilica of Guadalupe

this tilma is intact

image appeared upon

473 years

it.

Spanish administrator. Bishop

Zumarraga appealed

to the

Spanish king

Our Lady of Guadalupe was named "Patroness

to re-

of the Americas"

place the administrator. The bishop also prayed

and

privately to Mary, asking for her help

send

in

Normally, cactus-fiber capes last

about 20 years, but

unknown

that

she

in

Mexico, as a

sign that his desperate prayer had

been heard."

"Castilian roses,

second

visit to

in

1946.

Compiled by Correspondent Joanita

M.

Nellenbach.

the bishop, Juan Diego

found Castilian roses and other flowers growing

on frozen Tepeyac

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on the

million

Aztecs converted to Catholicism.

At the time, Aztecs were ready to fight against a

After his

"Nothing Could Be Finer"

to

Mexico City that

Zumarraga.

"cruel, harsh"

Biggest Selection

built

and a miracle

in

in his

tilma (cape)

Hill.

and

He gathered

carried

them

WANT MORE INFO?

the flowers

to the bishop.

For the complete

story, visit

"The History of

Our Lady of Guadalupe" atwww.geocities.com/

"Juan related the events of the day on Tepeyac

frandscanhistory/OLOG.html.

and then opened

his tilma to allow the flowers,

mingled with the Castilian roses for which the

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The Catholic News & Herald

8

December

17,

2004

THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT ANGELS

IN

NORTH CAROLINA

Many work needy

to

by

to bring gifts

families

JOANITA M.

must know the person or family and

NELLENBACH

Participating parishes were

—

Redeemer Church

Catholic Social Services Western Regional Office col-

Smoky Mountain

vicariates

lives," said

Hill;

began

Holly Carter,

who

will also find parents

will

use their gift cards to buy gifts for their feel

The

we need

to be

CSS,

empowering

gift certificate is a

Some donors

we

just

families.

way

like to

to do that." shop for gifts.

"(Parents) would take their kids with them to shop for the gifts and the

gift certificates in

kids could help pick out the gifts and

gift

wrap them," said Jerry Bergeron, Angel Tree coordinator at St. Eugene Church

Each household

someone

in

John the Baptist

the envelopes.

Each family member received a $25 or

gift certificates to local stores.

tificate for

stated that

also received a food cer-

a local grocery chain.

"We had

in Asheville.

Program guidelines

St.

House of Prayer in Hot Springs; St. Vincent de Paul Society in Asheville; CSS Western Regional Office's Asheville Legal Migration Assistance and Russian Refugee programs, and Lilies of the Field Food Pantry, which is housed at, but not run by, the CSS office.

Those wanting to help picked envelopes from trees at their locations, bought and wrapped gifts, and attached the Angel Tree envelopes to the packages, or put

CSS adminiswho coordi-

children," Carter said. "At

Margaret Mary Church

Additional participants' were the Je-

nated the program.

"You

Holy Andrews; St.

suit

is

hope and change

trative support specialist,

St.

Swannanoa; and Church in Tryon.

office.

"Catholic Social Services' mission to provide help, create

in.

Barnabas Church in Arden; the Basilica of St. Lawrence, St. Eugene Church and St. Joan of Arc Church in Asheville; St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Mars

557 gifts and gift certificates for its 2004 Angel Tree program.

Angel Tree planning began last summer, as coordinators from parishes and missions in the Asheville and lected

working with the CSS

their

needs and could verify the situation.

'correspondent

ASHEVILLE

Toy story

in the parish or organization

Photo by Susan deGuzman

excellent participation,"

Bobbie Tinsley, coordinator for the basilica. "It turned out really well." said

"Toys" from the Doll and Toy Shoppe come the

Winston-Salem at

St.

Leo

Great School's Christmas musical, "Super Gift from Heaven," Dec.

Beverly Culbreath, the school's music

specialist,

fourth- and sixth-graders portraying toys gift

to life in

is

and

that the greatest gift ever

The show

also

included a choral

who

learn through song about

made was

and

9.

directed the play with third-,

what a

the baby Jesus.

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from

the

other grades.

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The Catholic News & Herald

2004

9

THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

An early visit from Santa

Bravo, 'Brother Burro' Secular Franciscans reenact nativity in Hickory by

ELLEN NEERINCX SIGMON CORRESPONDENT

HICKORY

— The

cattle

were low-

ing and the donkeys were braying, just as

they probably did in Greccio, 1223 the

when

first

St.

Italy,

in

Francis of Assisi organized

re-enactment of the birth of Christ.

Denny

Schell,

in the fifth

who

played

St.

Francis

annual Crib at Greccio re-

enactment in Hickory Dec. 5, had his reading of the Our Father prayer interrupted by a donkey braying nearby. Staying in character, he responded, "Well said, Brother Burro! Well said."

Schell has played the role of St. Francis for all five years that the Hickory secular Franciscan group has sponsored the re-enactment at the Catholic Conference Center. Most of the other parts were played by youths and parishioners from St. Joseph Church in Newton.

Each year, the Brother Francis Fraternity includes different stories from the life of St. Francis, as well as the nativity scene. This year's program included a visit that St. Francis made to an Egyptian sultan in an attempt to convert him to Photo by Karen A. Evans

Michael Troy, a sophomore at Charlotte Catholic High School, helps unload a school

bus

filled

with toys, food and household supplies outside the diocesan Pastoral Center

more than 20 years, each homeroom has adopted a family and collected money to purchase items for the family. This year, 70-80 children from 20 families will receive toys, including bikes and scooters, from the students of Charlotte Catholic.

Dec. 13. For

which

St.

perfect joy faith

—

Francis discussed his idea of

—

being shunned because of his

with Brother

During the

I^eo, a

follower of his.

nativity re-enactment,

Schell recited the account of the birth of

Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, and also

read the

Our Father with comments St.

He also

gathers the animals for

the event, which this year included a cow,

donkeys and ponies.

Ruth Thoni, minister of the group,

llama, sheep, goats,

1

mosp aboup

at the

Catholic Conference

Hickory Dec.

5.

Below: "St.

Francis" confers with the "pope." said

was her

it

who wanted

late

husband Herman,

to include live animals in

the re-enactment.

"It

was

his

dream

to have a live

nativity with real people

and animals,"

"John Martin took up the cause.

He has enlarged the scope of the project each year by adding different stories from the life of St. Francis."

Some musicians and members of St. Joseph Church participating in the reshe

said.

as

Brother Leo, Tracy Schell as Sir John of

Gerry Burke as the pope, John Robinson as Joseph, Maria Schell as Mary, Colin Barrett as the Egyptian sultan and 7-month-old Maia Dunmore as the baby Jesus.

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December

Watch

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SUNDAY SCRIPTURE READINGS: DEC.

CINDY

WOODEN

VATICAN CITY

were

— Three

years

Mary andJoseph

massive project of updating and correcting the book-length calendar of Catholic saints, the Vatican has published an even bigger, more ac-

Now, though,

it

1)

Revising the martyrology was com-

2)

listed as blessed.

plicated, said a

statement from the Con-

The

The "Martyrologium Romanum"

the late 1500s, instituting procedures

—

—

("Roman Martyrology") was presented

strengthened over the years

Dec. 4 during a conference on holiness

the church had firm facts about the iden-

and the complicated task of separating from legend when dealing with martyrs and saints who lived and died thousands of years ago and whose lives gave

tity

fact

devotion and, perhaps,

Like the 2001 edition, the newest is

available only in Latin;

how-

Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments said Italian, French and German translations are under way.

The martyrology with its 6,658 individual names and an additional 6,881 unnamed martyred "companions" ever, officials of the

—

—

organized as a calendar;

is

lives

Still,

man Martyrology complete church.

does not aim to be a

of all the saints of the presence of a saint within it

list

The

it lists

the

is

certainty that de-

votion approved by the church exists.

"On the other hand, the absence of a name either denotes the lack of an officially authorized devotion or that, in the presence of reasonable doubts (about the person's identity), it did not seem opportune to propose the person for the devotion of the universal church," the statement said.

Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for Saints'

and blesseds whose feast is celebrated each day and provides a small biography of each.

The 844-page martyrology is con-

part of the Catholic Church's pastoral

sidered a liturgical book, not a catalogue

obligation to remind every Christian

or history, because

that they are called to holiness.

saints

it forms the basis for determining which saint is remembered at Mass each day.

The Italian newspaper II Messaggero conducted a study of the names in the

-volume's index.

The most common saint or blessed,

it

first

John with more than 330 or

Mary

is

name

reported Dec.

for a 5,

is

Maria second with more than 250 entries.

entries.

The

is rounded out with and Francis.

The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments said the revised martyrology includes 117 individuals who were not in the 2001 edition: 66 of those were beatified by Pope John Paul between the time the last volume went to press and April 2004, the deadline for

top five

Peter, Joseph

the current volume.

The

other 5 1

new names were

those

added after research proved that they, too, had authorized feast days.

New saints canonized by Pope John Paul during the period did not have to

Causes, said the growing

number of

individuals beatified and canonized

is

'The church would be aiming way too low if it did not propose as the goal of every Christian the radicalism of the Sermon on the Mount," he said.

Cardinal Saraiva Martins said Pope John Paul has beatified 1,345 individuals and has proclaimed 483 new saints.

Many of them, he said, "are common Christians who, in their concrete situations, lived the Gospel fully. They are not geniuses, but normal women and men who, in imitating Christ, lived their lives heroically."

The

cardinal offered Blessed Peter

Friedhofen as an example. beatified

old,

in

The

1985,

II

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In this weekend's Gospel, Joseph faces many concerns, unknowns and even threats to his family. But he doesn't go off on his own to solve his

thought: "Of course?" went. I didn't whine or beg or pitch a fit or even ask again to stay because, as they said, "Of course ..."

What happened during that next

thrilled

—

we we

I

with our advertising in The Catholic News & Herald. we have served proves you have a very large readership who do respond to your ads. We will be sure to tell others about your wonderful paper!"

"We are

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Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23;

John Paul with increasing the percentage of women among those recognized as holy by the church.

We

though

Luke 1:46-56; Thursday (Malachi),

Messaggero also credited Pope

Vietnam

I

Samuel

a

The same was true for Dad in his new position, Mom as she entered a new community, my brother in junior high and even my sister who joined us when her husband was sent to

nounced that his company was moving him to the headquarters office in

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As I ventured out they encouraged me; as I sought new friends they provided security; as I considered new possibilities they nurtured me.

Throughout a time of testing, my family held me in a safe embrace and allayed my fears, enabling me to grow.

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

Ro-

new friends, new new courage and, "of

course," the family.

FACING CHALLENGES WITH GOD'S SUPPORT

of the individuals canonized.

the congregation said, "the

simply means there

fanciful stories.

volume

and

to ensure

would

I

perspectives,

opportunities,

Vatican did not consoli-

date the process for declaring saints until

curate version.

new

Colossians 3:12-21 3) Gospel: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

gregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.

A Readings:

Sirach 3:2-7, 12-14 Psalm 128:1-5

points out they are saints.

after finishing the

rise to fervent

Cycle

be added to the book, since they already

2004

am. It was my first experience of stepping out of my comfort zone, figuratively stripped of my identity (which I'd worked so hard on those last four years) and thrown into an unknown culture.

For me it was a year of unimagined personal growth born of define the person

accurate calendar of saints CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

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Dec. 26, Holy Family of Jesus,

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The Catholic News & Herald 11

2004

One

of the things

like a lot

I

5

is

their reputation for care/

Father Clarence Rivers, African-

American liturgy pioneer, dead at 73 Priest remembered for

profound musical, spiritual contributions

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

by

CINCINNATI J.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Father Clarence

Rivers, a pioneer African-American

liturgist

and musician, died unexpect-

edly Nov. 21 at his

home

in Cincinnati.

He was 73.

He was

buried Nov. 27 at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Cincinnati following a funeral Mass celebrated by Cincinnati

Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk

at

the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains.

The

first

African-American to be or-

dained in the Cincinnati Archdiocese, Father Rivers "was an iconic figure for the

black Catholic

community throughout

the country," Archbishop Pilarczyk said.

"He was a member of the presbyterate that tew of us will ever forget," the arch-

bishop

said.

"He made

a significant contriCNS

PHOTO COURTESY CATHOLIC TELEGRAPH

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proudly reflected the cultural gifts of black people in our country."

Bishop Gregory, who recently completed his term as the first AfricanAmerican president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said Father Rivers' music "brought the church closer to African-Americans while at the same time enriching the Catholic Church with a spiritual vibrancy and artistic expression that crossed

'The church

all racial

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barriers."

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J.

Rivers,

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pioneer

a

and musician,

died unexpectedly Nov. 21 at his in

Cincinnati.

home

He was 73.

1931. His family wasn't Catholic, but

when they moved ents enrolled St.

Wor-

and "The Spirit in Worship," and wrote numerous liturgical compositions

many

lectures

urgy and

He

articles, and delivered and presentations on lit-

He

title

call attention to

the meaning of "soulful."

He first came to

decided to study for the priest-

transferred after a short time to St. In

1965 Archbishop Karl Alter of

Cincinnati released Father Rivers from his teaching

work

full

and parish assignments to

time on Stimuli, his program of

inculturating African-American culture

with Catholic worship.

In 1971, the National Office of Black

deliberately misspelled the

national attention in

1963, during the Second Vatican

grade at

School. Eventually the entire

hood midway through high school and was ordained a priest in 1956. As the Cincinnati Archdiocese's first black priest, he had to endure racism from the start. The first parish to which he was assigned did not accept him and he was

liturgical music.

of "Soulfull Worship" to

to Cincinnati his parin the fourth

Joseph's.

ship"

and countless

Ann

him

family became Catholic.

Father Rivers was the author of

vistas,

also provided Evelyn

Clarence

the Catholic liturgy that clearly and

several books, including "Soulfull

Call 1-336-886-4103 or

Father

African-American

Coun-

with the recording of "An American Mass Program." It was a series of com-

cil,

positions blending Gregorian chant

with the melodic patterns and rhythmic

Catholics

named him

to head

its

newly

created Department of Culture and Worship. He started the office's yearly national workshop on African-American "Freeing the Spirit," which made debut in Detroit in 1971 with about 1,000 participants. The workshops gave rise to a magazine on African-American liturgy of the same name, with Father liturgy, its

traditions of Negro spirituals that he had developed to promote more active

Rivers as the editor.

participation in the liturgy at St. Joseph

himself as a "cheerleader"

Parish in Cincinnati, where he was then

enliven congregations, giving

a 32-year-old assistant pastor.

full

In a 1977 interview, he described

who

tried to

them

the

experience of participation, rather

"An American Mass Program" rewas her-

than instructing them on the technicali-

ceived wide critical acclaim and

ties

alded as the start of a revolution in American Catholic liturgical music. It

The African-American Catholic hymnal, "Lead Me, Guide Me," is dedicated to Father Rivers. The dedication says he "paved the way for liturgical inculturation and inspired black Catholics to bring their artistic genius to

was used in parishes across the country and received a gold medal from the Catholic Art Association in 1966.

"Clarence Joseph Rufus Rivers in Selma, Ala., on Sept.

was born

Jr. 9,

of music and worship.

Catholic worship."

12 The Catholic News & Herald

December

IN

Archbishop Donoghue retires been handled; commissioned an extensive analysis of the factors involved in

ATLANTA, from page 1

the crisis; and created a staff office to oversee those efforts.

When Archbishop Donoghue,

76, has

much of

headed the Atlanta Archdiocese since 1993. Before his appointment, Archbishop Donoghue, who holds a canon law degree from The Catholic University of America, had been head of the

elected in 2001,

One

of nine active U.S. black bishops, he will be the third AfricanAmerican to be named archbishop of Atlanta. His installation is scheduled ference.

for Jan.

King

which

17,

Martin Luther

is

Day. Archbishop Donoghue, a native of Washington, was named to head the Atlanta Archdiocese after Archbishop James P. Lyke died of cancer late in

1955.

Archbishop Gregory was president of the USCCB during a turbulent time for the U.S. church, as the

bishops dealt with the clergy sexual abuse crisis. It was perhaps one of the most difficult periods in the

Jr.

1992, just 18

conference's history.

Under

first

the attention to Bishop Gre-

gory focused on the fact that he was the first African-American to head the con-

Diocese of Charlotte for nine years, after serving as a priest in the Washington Archdiocese since his ordination on June 4,

he was

his leadership, the bishops

adopted a set of norms for handling accusations of abuse by priests and other church personnel; established a lay board to review how cases have

months

after his installa-

munion

in

any Catholic church

Supreme Court

decision and participat-

ing in marches and

support keeping abortion legal were barred from receiving Com-

Archdiocese of Atlanta is

school principal for the 2005-2006 school year.

Athens, Georgia, which

is

Joseph

University of Georgia. St.

and

is

St.

Joseph Catholic School

approximately one hour northeast of Atlanta and is

is

located

home

in

first floor

Atlanta Dec. 9.

in

end of the school year he had been baptized,

made

his first

Communion

positions, reporting accusations to civil

authorities and providing counseling

May

and other aid to victims.

sacred liturgy from the Pontifical Litur-

His 1993 policy emphasized re-

He

offenders from their

positions before being iary bishop there in

Others."

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to be a Catholic

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head of the Diocese of

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He was

next to the Archdiocese of St. Louis, on Feb. 10, 1994.

The Archdiocese of Atlanta includes 69 counties in the northern part of Georgia. It has about 371,000 Catholics in a total population of nearly 6 million.

Belleville,

raised as a Catholic, his St.

in

the Archdiocese of Chicago in various

Within weeks he had decided he wanted

1973, he obtained a doctorate in

gical Institute in

more than 160 billboards with slogans including "Good Guys Do Wear Black" and "Some White Collar Jobs Are More

Than

9,

Rome.

Then-Father Gregory served

also launched an innovative vo-

cations recruitment campaign using

Catholic School for the sixth grade.

of the

Gregory and John

and been confirmed.

He graduated from Quigley Preparatory Seminary South, Niles College of Loyola University and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary. After his ordination

Though not

accepting applications for the position of elementary

D.

Donoghue walk through the

of the Catholic Center

bishops to establish diocesan policies for dealing with sexual abuse accusa-

parents enrolled him at Joseph Catholic School

F.

Archbishop Gregory is a native of Chicago, born Dec. 7, 1947.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

photo by Michael Alexander, Georgia Bulletin

Archbishops Wilton

News and Herald.

During Bishop Schmitt's tenure in West Virginia, he was among the first

Challenging

St.

CNS

a

Catholic

Baker of Charleston,

who

Georgia,

massive expansion and reorganization of the diocese's school system and created its first diocesan newspaper, The

tions.

saying Catholic politicians or can-

rallies in

Washington and North Carolina.

While in Charlotte, he oversaw

moving accused

letter

in their

The Aug. 4 letter said the ban can only be lifted after the politician's "public disavowal of former support for procured abortion" and "with the knowledge and consent of the local bishop."

Archbishop Donoghue has a long history of active involvement in fighting abortion, leading events in Atlanta on the anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade

Archbishop Donoghue made national news this summer when he and Bishops Peter J. Jugis and Robert J. S.C., issued a joint

2004

dioceses.

tion.

didates

17,

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14 The Catholic News & Herald

December

Perspectives

A

and viewpoints

since

months, but one day he began to

1 1

w obble and

dow n, unable to get up. was diagnosed with LeggCalve-Perthese Disease, which is, in

The

fell

child

May

Murray's

KEVIN

The

(thighbone).

result

is

degeneration

action

was

to establish a

ply to the affected areas.

new blood supThe child's legs

-were placed in metal braces with a rod to hold them apart and motionless while

damage

the

repaired itself hopefully over

was out of his braces. He was not only standing on his own, but the door, the child

walking, running.

That Christmas miracle happened almost 30 years ago. That was my grandmother, my mother. I was the child.

My grandmother, Katherine Murray, died in 1987 while I was a teenager.

Although much about the disease was unknown at the time, the doctors were optimistic because the child was diagnosed early; if treated early and cor-

ting upright in a chair while praying the

rectly,

60-70 percent of children with the no long-term disability. The only thing the parents and family could do was pray their only

St.

disease recover with

condition until after

would recover.

The boy remained

child

two

in the braces for

years, unable to stand or walk.

By 4

crawled around on the floor, dragging his metal-encased, useless legs behind him.

At Christmastime, he and his parents

years of age, he

still

say she died peacefully,

The paramedics

told

my

father

they had never seen anyone so at peace.

Unfortunately I didn't learn about

Martin de Porres' involvement in my my grandmother's death. The saint, born in Lima, Peru, in 1579, became a lay brother at the Dominican friary at Lima where he served, among other things, over the Dominican's infirmary and became known for his tender care of the sick and for his spectacular, often miraculous cures (including raising the dead).

grandparents' apartment. Nine people enjoyed a feast prepared by the grand-

prayers.

mother,

who

sat at the

head of the

table.

She had always been a religious woman, the grandmother; always active in

her church, always saying countless

prayers for her family, friends and fellow parishioners.

She was

seemingly looking

when

sitting quietly,

down

at her plate,

there were three loud, distinct

knocks

at the front door.

Nobody seemed

to hear them, ex-

cept the child's mother. She glanced to

her mother-in-law, who, still looking down, nodded in silent satisfaction. The child's mother was confused no one else had reacted to the knocks so she

— —

leaned across the table. think there's someone at the door," mother whispered.

The grandmother looked up.

"No," she said softly. "I'll tell you "I

the

about

it

later."

When were

the mother and grandmother

grandmother explained she had just finished a novena a nine-day series of prayers to St. Martin de Porres. The saint, the grandmother said, had just given her his response.

'Tour son will be healed within six months," the grandmother said. finally alone, the

—

The mother

wasn't sure what to

think, but couldn't

had heard.

Within

six

—

deny the knocks she

months of the knocks on

my

One

Baptist,

story, told

me

who

didn't

know

Catholics wasted their

time praying to dead saints

who were

"no better than anybody else."

Perhaps. And perhaps the metal braces clamped to my legs would have

worked without St. Martin's intervention.

But two people heard those knocks on the door, and they believed. I don't really need any more convincing than that. But whenever I'm in doubt, all I have to do is stand up. The power of heaven always seems a little bit closer

when

I

It's

Father, Pope John Paul II, has proclaimed a "Year of the Eucharist" to be celebrated throughout the Church from October 2004 to October 2005. The

theme he has chosen for our reflection during this year is "The Eucharist: the Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church."

do.

a pity there are so

many

worship of Christ's eucharistic presence outside Mass. In his Apostolic Letter inaugurating the Year of the Eucharist, the Holy Father wrote: "If the only result of this year were the revival in all Christian communities of the celebration of Sunday Mass and an increase in eucharistic worship outside Mass, this year of grace would be abundantly successful" ("Stay with us, Lord," n. 29).

On

the level of the universal Church, the Year of the Eucharist began with the

International Eucharistic Congress in

in this

world who don't have faith, who don't know, or refuse to know, the effect a simple prayer can have, or the grace our Lord is willing to give. God does listen to our prayers. But do we always listen when he speaks to us?

We had better start listening we don't want to miss the knocking at the door. You never know who it might be.

I don't run quite like I used to, but before I gather with my family this I

think

I'll

go

sprint around the block.

grandmother

for a quick I

know my down as I

will be smiling dash about.

And while I'm out there, I think I'll have some grateful words for a certain Dominican saint and offer some prayers

for the- people

I

love.

October 2004;

in

it

will include the

,

On the level of our diocesan Church,- a Diocesan Eucharistic Congress is being planned for Friday, Sept. 23 and Saturday, Sept. 24, 2005 at the Charlotte Convention Center. This will be a time of celebration, adoration and catechesis centered on the mystery of the Eucharist. More information will be published in the coming months regarding this event, but I ask you to set those dates aside now and plan to be with us for this Eucharistic Congress.

A

special holy card is also being prepared for the Year of the Eucharist and will soon be available. You will find the text of the prayer printed below. It contains a special petition to Our Lord for more vocations to the priesthood and to the religious life to serve Him in the Diocese of Charlotte, and a petition for His blessing on all our families throughout the diocese.

To

celebrate this Year of the Eucharist, I ask that you give primary importance to your participation each Sunday in the celebration of Mass at your parish church.

In addition, consider spending some time in eucharistic adoration outside of Mass. Many parishes have regularly scheduled times each month for eucharistic exposition and Benediction.

In three locations in our diocese, there are extended periods of Eucharistic Exposition during the daytime hours each day: at the Basilica of St. Lawrence in Asheville; at St. Barnabas Church in Arden; and at the Adoration Chapel at Belmont Abbey. In addition, eucharistic exposition is perpetually available at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte and at Maryfield Chapel in High Point. Would you consider becoming a regular adorer by committing to a scheduled hour each week at

one of our adoration chapels?

The Holy Eucharist truly is Church. As we intensify our

summit of the

the source and

life

love for the Eucharist this year,

also increase in each of us. Please

know

that

I

remember you

and mission of the

may in

the

my

life

of grace

daily prayers.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

a Most Reverend Peter

J.

Jugis

Bishop of Charlotte Prayer to Obtain Grace and Mercy Year of the Eucharist 2004-2005

—

Christmas,

Mexico

World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany Aug. 1 6-2 1 2005, with the theme, "We have come to worship him"; and it will end with the Synod of Bishops in Rome

sit-

Since moving to the South, I've heard many people scoff at the notion of "praying to saints" and intercessory

gathered with their family at the child's

Our Holy

Oct. 2-29, 2005.

the next 18 to 24 months.

rosary.

Jesus Christ be with you always.

During this eucharistic year we are also asked to "open" our eyes to see Christ more clearly and lovingly, especially in the celebration of the Mass and in the

EDITOR

They

Our Lord

E.

and deformity of the thighbone area.

The wobble was probably the result of inflammation of the joint lining, resulting in a painful limp developed suddenly over a few hours. The only course of

the grace and peace of

...

MURRAY

head of the femur

tion of blood to the

Sisters in Christ,

In his encyclical on the Eucharist last year, the Holy Father reminded us: "The Church draws her life from Christ in the Eucharist; by Him she is fed and by Him Whenever the Church celebrates the Eucharist, the faithful she is enlightened. can in some way relive the experience of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus: 'their eyes were opened and they recognized Him' (Lk 24:31)" (n. 6).

Musings

simple terms, the unexplained interrup-

COME, LET US ADORE HIM Dear Brothers and

may be knocking at the door The child was 2 years old when he lost He had been walking

2004

collection of columns,

editorials

Stand up - God's grace

his ability to walk.

17,

Diocese ofCharlotte Christ, during this Year of the Eucharist, may our worship and contemplation of the mystery ofyour Body and Blood obtain for us an abundance of grace and mercy.

Lord Jesus

Mayyou, the High Priest ofthe New Covenant, raise up priests as ardent but gentle stewards of Your Mysteries to sliepherd yourfaithful people. May you also inspire generous hearts to follow you, the Divine Shepherd, as religious sisters

May

and

brothers.

Throughout our

diocese strengthen

Mary, Mother of God and patroness of our Diocese,

your face with

May we

our families with your grace.

assist us

during

this

year as we contemplate

her.

offer the sacrifice

of our

lives in

union with your perfect sacrifice and so come to share in the

eternal banquet, where you live with the Father

and

the

Holy

Spirit,

one

Godforever and ever.

Amen.

December

The Catholic News & Herald 15

2004

17,

A judge's ruling

Catholics

What to give,

&

the Media

what to give?

Dying man sees God's love in life Listening to the radio while driving to work, my mind drifted back to .the old Mecklenburg County courthouse in Charlotte. It was a noisy place in the 1980s. Wooden floors trod by the innocent and the guilty filled the place with a constant shuffling echo.

As days,

I

a television reporter in those

spent a

fair

amount of time in I was in the

the halls of justice. Since

building a

lot,

I

got to

know

the

The names

DAVID HAINS

of regular gamblers are entered into a

GUEST COLUMNIST

game

I

didn't get to

know him

well; he

did not handle the high-profile cases

we both he became a federal magistrate and then a federal district court judge. It wasn't until I read his November obituary that I learned McKnight was both a Morehead and a Rhodes Scholar and, in addition to his legal training, he earned a degree that

covered. Eventually

I

—

moved on

in theology.

Brent McKnight was a renaissance man.

My

musing

in the car

was

inter-

rupted by a commercial for Harrah's Cherokee Casino in the western part of North Carolina. The announcer was extolling the virtue of playing a

As Was I

drawing and one of them wins $100,000 a year for

"life,"

Saying

which the

Click.

I

Life

turn is

feathers in the 1960s. McKnight's re-

it off.

short, but

20 years? By

those standards, McKnight lived a long life, but in the real world, away from the clanging bells and neon of a casino, we know that his 52 years

were

minder that the media doesn't have all of the answers is a refreshing thought in a land where we are inundated with messages of weight loss, Britney Spears and plasma TVs. Fortunately, the

far too short.

McKnight

leaves

two

legacies.

McKnight

didn't end with his thoughtful and

The

first is a

biting criticism of the media.

reer.

He

tinued:

distinguished legal capresided over cases; he wrote,

he taught, he advocated for justice. legacy is a letter he wrote on the last day of his life. Evangelist Leighton Ford read part of it at the funeral: "Know the world is a lot more complex than the views presented by TV, the pop scene and modern art.

They reduce life and take the soul out of it."

I doubt a more succinct commentary on the role of the media in our lives has ever been written.

The second

McKnight probably never heard Harrah's "Set for Life" commercial but he was talking about it and the shallowness of the "get rich, look great, be happy" promise that the media constantly tells us is the holy grail of our existence.

The media has had this nation on sensory overload since the NBC peacock unfurled his brightly colored

letter

"Know

tant thing

world.

that this

is

He

con-

the single most imporis

not a dying us and

God watches over

alive."

it's

What hope for the rest of us! A dying man, cheated out of what undoubtedly would have been a life of continued accomplishment and success, sees the handiwork of the Lord and tells us to rejoice in it. Published reports say that

McKnight loved

this

world and didn't want to leave it. Yet his parting thought was that, thanks to the love of God, we remain in a glorious place.

I

don't

know who won

is

tact

him

It's the middle of December, and most of my Christmas shopping is done. (Thank you, online shopping.)

Just one more niece to buy for, and if she doesn't give me some suggestions soon, she'll be receiving that book I

threatened her with the last time

My Christmas wish for you

object:

my

For

never had studied history! For what a person learns

when

is it

I

wish

I

of communiof Charlotte. Con-

director

at dwhains@charlottediocese.org.

The Human

For

that history repeats itself

comes

to battles

and war.

Right now the United States not only is fighting terrorism, but also a more terrifying war on corruption here and abroad. Without a doubt, if corruption could be stamped out, we wouldn't have war. Unfortunately, this story

is

repeatedly told in history,

and we know

During

how

my

the story goes.

the United

lifetime,

World War

and the Korean, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq wars, to say nothing of fighting other smaller wars. Even when wars are won, history appears States has fought

to repeat itself with

new

II

battles.

In our personal lives,

we

forever

we are honest with ourselves, we know that the inner peace and unity we desire are fighting inner battles. If

never fully will be achieved in this when taken too seriously, this reality of our personal history might easily lead us to despair and

world. But

depression.

Despair

is

insidious.

It

whispers

your enthusiasm for a brighter future. What you sie today

to us: "Forget

tomorrow. Nothing is new, and you have no control over history, which repeats itself." is a time of hope. As the nation looked forward to a Messiah, so are we Christians meant

my

For

all

Wherever we

live

—

in a rural,

friends,

— there

is

someone who either is helping us or helping someone around us to be forward looking and to see hope in the coming day.

This Christmas, it is my wish that you be especially blessed with the gift of hope. As hopeless as things sometimes may seem, may you never lose your desire to search for that something special that will cause you tomorrow. you never lose your enthusiasm for devising new plans to improve your life.

May you never lose sight of those around you whose care forever is gento look forward to

May

new

hope.

May God

bless

new and

old,

my

heart.

For my editor, Kevin: Punctualand met deadlines. (This one is I

rolled into the office at

column was

My

thanks for

We

CNS COLUMNIST

Christmas

which these missionaries' work may be, they constantly bring hope to seemingly hopeless situations. They embody a spirit that always looks for ways to help people look forward to tomorrow and to plan ways to improve things.

my

near and far: The knowledge that I think of you often and you are always

appreciating my work this past year, and my apologies if you didn't. may not always agree, but I hope that maybe I helped you see your neigh-

FATHER EUGENE HEMRICK

erating

for

and an ab-

piness.

due yesterday.)

For my readers:

suburban or urban setting

for love,

Hopes

"sassy" friends:

10 a.m. today and this

Hebrew

to be forward looking. But how is this forward-looking spirit cultivated?

Recently, the Catholic Church Extension Society, an organization dedicated to serving our home missions, sent me the final version of a video titled "The Invisible Church." It is the story of bishops, priests and lay leaders who are working with havenots in the outposts of this country.

The video reminds us that the United States still is a mission country in need of missionary work. More important, it reminds us that there are countless heroic, caring people dedicated to serving the less fortunate. As grim as the circumstances in

Wishes

sence of emotional turmoil for the next year. They've been through a lot this year, and they deserve some hap-

ity

Side

will be repeated

family:

health, financial stability

ironic, since

Gift ofhope makes for better tomorrow

I

spoke to her.

So now that the family shopping is almost done, I can turn my attention to the other people in my life.

Unfortunately, my Christmas money is diminished, and I spent my Christmas bonus buying "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy DVDs. So, here's what they are getting, since money is no

the "Set for

drawing at the gambling casino, but I do know that before he left us, Brent McKnight was set for eternity.

David Hains

STAFF WRITER

health and happiness.

Life"

cations for the Diocese

KAREN EVANS

in

Sometimes

...

rules describe as a 20-year period.

clerks, the judges, the district attor-

ney and some of the assistant DAs. That's how I met Brent McKnight, a newly hired assistant DA in 1980. He was a quiet person with an impish intensity that made him look somewhat distracted at times.

called "Set for Life."

bors with more compassion.

For soldiers at war: The hope that they treat each other and the

"enemy" with compassion and

fair-

ness.

For ers:

and religious lead-

political

The hope

that they act in the best

interest of those they serve.

For Christians throughout the world: The hope that they know why we celebrate Christmas, and the ability to try to live our lives in the spirit of Christ's love.

For all people Christian, Muslim, Jewish, etc.; rich or poor; edu-

—

My

cated or not: prayers that they openly receive God's love and grace.

For

my

lord, Jesus Christ:

My

sincere desire to always do your will.

you with

a caring

disposition that brings hope to oth-

For

my

niece,

me

Caitlin:

A

book,

God of history, who ultimately controls it.

Have a very blessed Christmas filled with the hope of the Christ

soon what you want for Christmas (besides a Carolina Panthers jersey, since it's out of my price range and Grandma already bought it for you.)

The merriest of Christmases

Child!

to

ers,

and may you never lose your

belief in the

unless-

all!

you

tell

December

17,

2004

The Catholic News & Herald 16

IN

OUR SCHOOLS Warriors for the state championship.

When the Cougars arrived at the Duke campus on game day, they began their pre-game preparation as they always do, with Father John Allen, school chaplain and vocations director for the Diocese of Charlotte, celebrating Mass.

The only difference was that they were in historic Duke Chapel instead of Char-

Pouncing on victory Charlotte Catholic captures state football championship MATT GAROFALO

by

lotte Catholic's

TO THE CATHOLIC NEWS &. HERALD SPECIAL

CHARLOTTE Catholic

—

The

Charlotte

High School Cougars

football

in the first quarter.

remained knotted up through most of the second half, as both team's defenses played

over Western Alamance High School at

rugged, physical football.

the

University's Wallace

first for

1 1

.

Wade

The championship was

the Cougars and longtime

who made

own

the trip to

Durham

to

It

Alamance's

desperation pass

in

the

state

2AA championship

football

game, a

is tipped by Charlotte Catholic High School defenders before being caught by a Western Alamance High School receiver just short of the end zone. Charlotte Catholic won the game 14-7, the team's first state championship since 1977.

line.

In spite of their previ-

territory.

In this final drive, Charlotte Catho-

marched 78 yards in nine plays and took the lead on a 2-yard run by Starcevic with exactly one minute left in

the champions of

Rocky River Conference 1

22-yard

difficulty

lic

The Cougars were the

score

Craig Warnement to Starcevic, which put the Cougars deep in Western

playoffs.

fect

The

moving the ball against the Western Alamance defense, Charlotte Catholic pounded away yard by yard and inch by inch. The key play was a 22yard screen pass from quarterback ous

was the culmination of a magical season that saw the entire Charlotte Catholic community in Charlotte following the team through its regular season and run through the support the team.

a scoring pass with 42

With less than four remaining in the game, the Cougars got the ball at their

Sta-

thousands of students, alumni, family and friends

game with

seconds remaining in the half

Oddo since 1977.

The game took place before

seconds remaining

tied

School Athletic Association 2AA Championship with a thrilling 14-7 victory

coach Jim

five

Western Alamance

the

dium Dec.

With

chapel.

team capped a perfect 16-0 season by capturing the North Carolina High

Duke

Photo by Steve Lyons

new

Facing their toughest opponent of the season, Charlotte Catholic opened the scor-' ing with a touchdown run by Starcevic late

1-0 regular season.

finally

after a per-

They were

led

the game.

by senior running back Nick Starcevic, who set a school record rushing for

Western Alamance was

1,994 yards

ball to the Charlotte Catholic

—

The game

the sixth highest total in

wasn't over, however, as able to

move

the

25-yard line with five seconds remaining. A desperation pass was tipped by several Charlotte Catholic defenders before being caught by a Western Alamance re-

—

Mecklenburg County history and 30 touchdowns. The team also featured a stubborn defense that limited opponents to an average of 12 points per game.

Charlotte Catholic advanced through the early rounds of the state playoffs with victories over West Caldwell (35-6), Canton Pisgah (27-21) and Monroe (47-33) high schools. They then defeated Catawba Bandys by a 149 score to capture the 2AA Western Championship. That victory set up the meeting with the Western Alamance

ceiver just short of the

end zone as time

ran out.

The

Charlotte Catholic players

rushed the

field to celebrate

the victory.

Running back Brett Bauer, defensive tackle Tyler Bullard and Starcevic earned awards as the game's best offensive player, defensive player and most valuable player, respectively.

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