Dec 5, 2003

4

8

1

www.charlottedioccsc^ors

Roman

Catholic

Diocese of Charlotte

Parish Profile: St.

Helen Church PAGE

NEW^AIERALD

Established Jan. 12, 1972

by Pope Paul VI

DECEMBER

5,

SERVING CATHOLICS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA IN THE DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE

2003

12

A country of conflict and crisis

VOLUME

13

N9

1

Worid AIDS Day draws support

HAS VATICAN

CHANGED POSITION

ON IRAQ WAR, OR HAS WAR CHANGED IRAQ?

fromcliurches BY

PATRICIA ZAPOR

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE BY

JOHN THAVIS

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY

WASHINGTON

—

Early this year, during the

countdown to the Iraq War, Pope John Paul II and his Vatican aides wasted no opportunity to broadcast their opposition to a U.S.-led in-

From Washington

to Dakar, Catholic bishops joined in marking World AIDS Day Dec. 1 with promises of

Senegal,

support for those with

warned

that besides being unjust, an invasion would be counterproducti_ve it would leave

—

many dead and wounded,

Followers of a radical Shiite cleric pray al-Fitr in

in

front of a U.S.

Army tank during

tfie Islamic festival

the Baghdad, Iraq, suburb of Al Sadr Nov. 25. The Vatican's representative

a military withdrawal

now would be the worst

PHOTO FROM Reuters

in

of

to

change behaviors that lead to the spread of the disease.

II

In Rome, Pope John Paul and the head of the Vatican

encouraged Catholics to join them in praying for people with HIV/ AIDS and to care for those office for health care

destroy Iraqi infrastructure, increase the hardships on civilians, increase political pressures on Iraqi Christians, ignite civil strife in the country, weaken the United

across Asia.

In Dakar, the S;yTnposium of Episcopal Conferences of Af-

Nations and foment global

rica

terrorism.

CNS

HIV/

AIDS and encouragement

vasion.

They

—

with the disease.

Catholic organizations worked on AIDS pre\ention

and Madagascar, which represents the bishops in

Fast-forward eight

Africa, issued its first collective

months, and it seems that most or all of the Vatican's warnings were accurate, but

proposing a plan of action involving work with parishes,

See IRAQ, page 6

See AIDS, page 6

Eid

statement on

HIV/AIDS,

Iraq has said

option.

FROM LEBANON TO NORTH CAROLINA

Maronite Catholics seek to strengthen, grow their church in Southeast BY

JOHN STRANGE

NC Catholic Staff DURHAM — Father seph

knew what Jo-

Thomas

has a gift for some North Carolina Catholics a gift of "self-knowing" and a return to the traditions of

—

their ancestors in the

Maronite

Catholic Church.

encourage the people of origin, people who all their lives have heard the word 'Maronite' but never "I

ing the Eastern church, Father

pastor of the Maronite Catholic mission of St.

Sharbel in Raleigh, told the

NC Catholic.

Sharbel hosted the

Nov. 14-16 Southeast regional conference of the National Apostolate of Maronites, where much of the focus was

1000-665^3 3N IIIH 0£6e 80

meant, to make

Thomas,

St.

Maronite

it

themselves available" and open-minded when consider-

mmn

13dW3

on how to strengthen and grow the Maronite Catholic Church in the Southeast.

The Maronite Church is one of 22 Eastern Catholic churches with origins in Eastern Europe, Asia or Afi-ica, often identified by a national or

ethnic

Photo by John Strange,

NC

Catholic

The

character.

Maronites, for example, trace their history back to St. Maron

Father Joseph Thomas, pastor of

St.

Sharbel's Maronite Catholic

mission, identifies Maronite icons for a display at the Southeast

regional conference of the National Apostolate of Maronites

See MARONITE, page 9

Dreams

of Eagles

Durham

Nov.

14-16.

Sister Evelyn Mattern

Culture

Watch

Student project beautifies

Raleigh Diocese loses

Children's books for

Immaculata School

crusader for justice

Christmas gift-giving

nosiiD

I

PAGE

I

PAGES I

PAGE

in

5

1

2 The Catholic

;

December

News & Herald

2003

5,

Current and upcoming

In Brief

topics from around the

world to your own backyard

Catholic educators attend regional

meetings to discuss future roles WASHINGTON

(CNS)

— Many

Catholic educators across the country have been doing some extra home-

REMEMBERING RACHEL

work this fall looking at where they want Catholic schools, religious education and campus ministry programs to be in the future.

More than 100 regional meetings, sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association, were scheduled from August to December and the

—

came from campus ministry leaders the dioceses of Wilmington, Del., Arlington and Richmond, Va., and Wheeling-Charleston, W.Va., and the Baltimore and Washington archdioceses.

They spent the greater part of two days in small groups discussing the importance of Catholic identity, how to shape future leaders, and the role of Catholic schools and religious educaprograms

all of these meetings will be compiled for a symposium on

tion

Catholic education to be held Jan. 8-1

ate a shared vision of the mission of.

findings from

Washington

in

mark NCEA's

to

100th anniversary.

The

results

from that sjmiposium

will then be presented at the annual NCEA convention in Boston next April.

About 90 Catholic educators attended one of the regional meetings

Washington. Particiincluding faculty members, pants diocesan officials, catechetical and Nov. 20-21

—

in

in society.

"What we're about today

is

to cre-

Catholic education for the 21st century," Dan Curtin, NCEA's executive director of Chief Administrators of' Catholic Education, told participants.

He urged them to reflect on their own experiences in Catholic education relate them "to the larger world of the American culture through the eyes of faith" to come up with strategies for the future.

and to

Diocesa n. planner Old Reid Rd.

Call

Peggy at (704) 588-73 11

for ^

reservations or e-mail bhoppy57@aol.com.

VICARIATE

ASHEVILLE CNS

PHOTO FROM Reuters

ASHEVILLE

Light and the St. Eugene choir, will perform a community -wide Christian concert Dec. 1 2 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Eugene Church, 72 Culvern St. Tate is nationally recognized for his work

Rachel Scott, one of those killed in the Columbine High School shootings, write messages May 27 on Rachel's cross, which is part of a permanent memorial to the victims at Chapel Hill Cemetery in Littleton, Colo. From left are

Family

members

of

Rachel's sisters Bethanee Scott McCandles and Dana Scott and cousin

Jeff

— Paul Tate, with Deanna

and vocalist. He is the director of music and Hturgy at St. Brendan Church in Camming, Ga. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, call Nancy at St. Eugene, (828) 254-5 1 93. as a composer, pianist

Scott.

Slain Columbine student's parent

—

CHARLOTTE

The 50+ Club of St. John Neumann Church, 845 1 Idlewild Rd., meets the second Wednesday of each month at 1 1 a.m. with a program and lunch in the parish center.

For more information, call Lucille Kroboth at (704)537-2189.

CHARLOTTE — The Ladies Ancient Order of HibemiansDWision 1 Mecklenburg County-St, Brigid, an Irish-Catholic social and charitable inter-parish group, meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at St. Gabriel Church, 30 6 Providence Rd. Anyone in terested in their Irish-Catholic roots, call Jeanmarie Schuler at 1

BOONE VICARIATE

addresses Catliolic liigli scliool LOS ANGELES (CNS)

—

Nimmo, mother

Beth one of

•

of Rachel Scott, High School students killed during a shooting rampage at the Littleton, Colo., school four years ago,

days of each month

the Columbine

said the tragic event

"demands

call

be

my

last year."

Other journal writings, gathered in a book by Nimmo called "Journals of Rachel Scott," reveal that the teen had a "heavy heart" over the society "we've

where kids kill kids.

Nimmo displayed a drawing Rachel had made in class the morning of her death, which shows 13 tears falling fr-om a pair of eyes and a rose watered by 7 drops of blood. She said the drawing symbolically represents the 13 Columbine victims, killed by two fellow students, and the 7 years of her

created"

1

1

daughter's

life.

—

'There is triumph in Columbine many wonderful things have come out of

p.m. or 7 p.m. Please

VICARIATE 1

Commons

Pkwy., will sponsor a family potluck on Dec. 1 2 at 6 p.m. in the New Life Center Banquet room. After dinner, the special guest speaker will be Linda Schaefer, the last photojournalist personally invited to make a photographic journey through Mother Teresa's world. Schaefer also attended

—

—

1

CHARLOTTE — St. Matthew Church, 80 Ballantyne

During a Nov ember ceremony at St. Genevieve High School in Panorama City, the mother of 17-year-old Rachel told students and faculty members that God was preparing people before the killings on April 20 "for his witness."

According to Nimmo, Rachel whom she described as someone with "a strong love and devotion to Jesus Christ had a premonition of her death and wrote in a journal on May 2, 1998: 'This

at

{336) 372-8846 for specific time.

CHARLOTTE

a spiri-

tual response."

will

—

St. Frances of Rome Church, Hendrix and Highlands Rds., sponsors the Oratoiy of Divine Love Prayer Group in the parish hou.se the second and fourth Thurs-

SPARTA

said

it,"

Nimmo.

"I'm proud that

daughter died for something

that's

my

wor-

thy," she said, pointing out that the Col-

umbine

were overheard taunting

killers

Mother

Teresa's beatification in Rome wit+i Bishop Curlin. Call Sue VanderJeugdt (704) 541-8362 for more information.

CHARLOTTE — Father Patrick Winslow will present an Advent retreatDec. 20, 9 a.m.3 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828

(704) 554-0720 for further information.

6AST0NIA

VICARIATE

BELMONT — Queen of the Apostles Church,

503 N. Main St., will host a Supper-Study Series Dec. !0 and 17 in the Family Center. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. with children's acti\ ities at 6:30. Catechesis will take place 6:45-7:30 p.m.

Father Joe Zuschmidt will speak on the sacrament of reconciliation, in preparation for the parish Advent reconciliation ser\ ice Dec. 1 6 at 7 p.m. in the church. For details,

Teall-Fleming

at (704)

call

Dennis

825-9600, ext. 26 or e-

mail teallfleming@yahoo.com.

GASTONIA — Is peace possible in our tim What can we do

to bring peace to our worl

Join us for the next Prayer Vigilfor Peace 15, 7-8

258 W. all

faiths

ers

—

D

p.m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Chur Franklin Blvd. Come pray with people

as

— Jewish,

Christian,

Muslim and ot

we gather together to ask the Lord

peace in our time.

If you

have any questions

Rachel for her Christian faith.

"Her life was all about character," the mother added.

Nimmo's address

was part of a

St.

700 people attended the event.

According to Principal Dan Horn, the staff at

St.

Genevieve's

made

a con-

from the Columbine tragedy by creating a "more welcoming environment for all."

He said the staff members also enviscious decision to learn lessons

monument to their lives or who

sioned the school as "a living all

of tliose

had

who had

lost loved

lost

ones to school violence."

DECEMBER

THE-

VOLUME

Genevieve High School celebration recognizing the school's 2003 National School of Character Award. More than

NEW^iERALD PUBLISHER: Msgr, Mauricio W. West EDITOR: Kevin E, Murray STAFF WRITER: Karen A. Evans GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Tim Faragher ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: Cindi

SECRETARY:

Sherill

2003

5,

NUMBER

11

J

The Catholic News & Herald, USPC 007-393, is published by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, 1123 South Church except for St., Charlotte, NC 28203, 44 times a year, weekly Christmas week and Easter week and every two weeks during June, July and August for $1 5 per year for enrollees in parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte and $23 per year reserves for all other subscribers. The Catholic News & Herald

Feerick

Season

11 23 South Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203 MAIL: RO. Box 37267, Charlotte, NC 28237 PHONE: (704) 370-3333 FAX: (704) 370-3382

E-mail: catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

•

13

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POSTMASTER: Send

address corrections to P.O. Box 37267,

The Catholic News & Herald, Charlotte,

NC

28237.

December

The Catholic News & Herald 3

2003

5,

FROM THE VATICAN

Pope: Catholics in the Americas must

Vatican trims pope's Cliristmas scliedule, omitting

some January

reach out to people with Gospel VATICAN CITY (CNS) — MilBecause the answer lions of people in the

events —

VATICAN CITY

ward

to the Basilica of St.

(CNS) Pope John Paul II's Christmas season schedule has been trimmed, appar-

jor.

ently excluding his usual ordination

in St. Peter's Basilica.

Mary Ma-

the Jan. 6 feast of

— Christmas Mass midnight — The Dec. 25 solemn blessing

the Epiphany and his custom of bap-

"urbi et orbi" (to the city and the

of

new bishops on

tizing infants

on the

feast of the

Bap-

at

world) at noon.

—

tism of the Lord.

The pope's liturgical December and January

schedule for

him

lists

as

presiding over six events, but does not specify if he will be the principal celebrant of the liturgies.

The Vatican released the 83-yearold pope's schedule Nov. 25. The schedule includes:

— Laying

wreath at a Marian statue in central Rome on the Dec. 8 feast of the Immaculate Conception, but not making his annual visit aftera

need directions, contact St. Mark's Church at (704) 864-4531 or Dennis Teall-Fleming 825-9600, ext. or at 26, (704) teallfleming@yahoo.co)n.

An evening thanksgiving

prayer service Dec. 31

in St. Peter's

Basilica.

—

The Jan. 1 Mass for the feast of Mary, Mother of God, and World Peace

Day

in St. Peter's

Square.

In addition, Vatican Radio reported the pope would not hold his weekly general audiences Dec. 24 and 31. A Vatican official said because the calendar did not go beyond Jan. 1 indicated no other papal liturgical events were scheduled for the month.

world are yearn-

ing for meaning in their lives, Pope John Paul II said, and Catholics in North and South America must reach

out to them with the Gospel.

"Show your desire to be joyful witnesses and enthusiastic apostles of the Gospel to the ends of the earth with the example of your holy lives," the pope told some 3,200 people gathered in Guatemala City for the American Missionary Congress.

Pope John Paul sent a message to the Nov. 25-30 gathering of bishops,

and lay people, who

clergy, religious

met to coordinate and increase missionary activity among the continent's Catholics.

"Millions of men and women who do not know Christ or have only a superficial knowledge of him live in the hope at times, unconsciously of discovering the truth about man and about God and about the way which leads to liberation from sin and from death," the pope said.

—

—

is

Christ,

Pope John Paul said, the proclamation of the Gospel is a vital and obligatory task.

The pope said God has given the peoples of North and South America "beautiful fruits of holiness in men and women, who, faithful to the missionary mandate of the Lord, have spent their lives proclaiming the Christian message, including in heroic circumstances and conditions."

The example of how holy individuals supported by holy communities resulted in the massive evangelization of the continent hundreds of years ago is a reminder that holy people and holy communities are still the most effective means of spreading the Gospel, he said.

New programs or more efficient organizations are not the answer, the pope

said.

"It is

necessary to give rise to a

new yearning

for holiness"

among

be-

lievers so that people can see in their lives the

rewards of

faith,

he

said.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN VICARIATE SYLVA St. MaryChurch offers Adoration

—

of the Blessed Sacrament the first Saturday of every month following the 9 a.m. Mass until 3

Celebrating history

p.m. For information, call (828) 586-9496.

GREENSBORO VICARIATE GREENBORO The Greensboro Council of

—

Catholic

Women in\ ites all women to its Christ-

mas Tea Dec. 1 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 2780 Horse Pen Creek Rd. P'ood be collected for a local food pantry.

For details, call Janet Law at (336) 288-6022.

1 ,

GUILFORD COUNTY —The Anaent Order of Hibemiaiu Guilford County Di\'ision, the oldest and largest order of Irish Catholic men, is look-

more Irish Catholic men

them for meetings, educational seminars and social ing for

to join

events. Contact Michael Slane at (336) for time

and

665-9264

WINSTON-SALEM

VICARIATE

WINSTON-SALEM — In recognition of the ministry of Betsy Meehan, who is presently sick leave fi-om her position as music director of St. Leo the Great Church, the St. Leo choir will present "Encounters with Christ: A

on

Celebration of the Birth, Passion, Death and Resurrection ofOur Lord. "The concert will be St. Leo the Great Church, 335 Springdale Ave. Admission is free. For details call the church office at (336)

held Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. at

724-0561.

WINSTON-SALEM — Parents Together

location.

and the Knights of Columbus Council #2829 HICKORY VICARIATE

HICKORY

— The

fourth annual presentation of

the reenactment of the St. Francis ofAssisi Crib at Greccio will be held at the Catholic Conference

Center, 155

1

Trinity Ln., Dec. 7 at 3 p.m.

theme for this year's live nativity scene St. Francis and the sermon to the birds.

SALISBURY

The

will be

VICARIATE

who have lost a child oi any age meets the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at St. Therese Church, 217 Brawley School Rd. We draw strength from others' experience of loss and grief For more information, call Joy at (704) 664-3992.

— Seniors ages 55 and up

comes families for face painting, crafts, breakand an opportunity to meet Santa and have a photo taken with him. Space is limited.

To register your family or to volunteer, call fast

MOORESVILLE — A support groupfor parents

MOORESVILLE

will host its Breakfast with SantaioT specialneeds children and their families Dec. 13, 9:30-1 1:30 a.m. at St. Leo the Great Church, 335 Spr'mgdale Ave. The Knights will supply a pancake buffet as Parents Together wel-

are

Therese Church, 217 Brawley School Rd., the second Saturday of each month following the 5:30 Mass for Senior Games Night, invited to St.

featuring games and a potluck dinner. Call Barbara Daigler at (704) 662-9752 for details.

(336)814-5301.

CLEMMONS — Holy Family Church, 4820 Kinnamon Rd., offers Eucharhtic Adoration every Thursday. Exposition begins at 6 p.m. and benediction is at 9 p.m.

WINSTON-SALEM — The Healing Companions is a grief support group for the bereaved that meets the first and third Thurs-

days of the month in conference room B at St. Leo the Great Church, 335 Springdale Ave. For further details, call Joanne Parcel at (336) 924-9478

McGrotty

Black Catholic History Month was celebrated with a special Mass at the Basilica of St.

Lawrence

in

Ashevllle with Father Wilbur

Thomas, pastor, and

Rev. Mr. Curtiss

Todd, vice chancellor for the Diocese of Charlotte and vicar for the diocesan African

American Affairs

The National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus of the United November as Black Catholic History Month on July 24, 1990 to

Ministry.

States designated

celebrate the long history and proud heritage of black Catholics.

DIDYOUKNOW? ST. Bishop Peter

J.

Eustratius, an Armenian,

in the following event:

first

Episcopal

,

,

"^^^calendar

December 12

— 7p.m.

Chapel,

Winston-Salem

Wake

Forest

University,

was

by Lysias, the governor

was then burned

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass

Wait

EUSTRATIUS AND COMPANIONS

Jugis will participate

to

death

at

in

tortured during Dioclestian's persecution of Christians

Arabraca, then by Agricolaus, the governor

in

—

He was

Sebasta.

a furnace about the year 304. Also martyred with him

Eugenius; two friends who had pleaded for his life, Mardarius and Auxentius; and Orestes, a soldier who was converted by Eustratius' courage under torture. The feast of St. Eustratius and his companions is Dec. 13. his servant

December

4 The Catholic News & Herald

5,

2003

OUR SCHOOLS

Bishop McGuinness students plan mission soutli of tlie border

DREAMS OF EAGLES

Student project beautifies

KERNERSVILLE

Immacuiata Scliooi HENDERSONVILLE

—

In need

of a project to qualify for an Eagle Badge, Taylor Lantrip, a Boy Scout and Immacuiata School student, approached the faculty regarding an extensive project to beautify the front of

special mission experience in

The program

from

according to William Meehan, princi-

"This is an example of widespread involvement and commitment by many people in a project of this magnitude that began as a dream of one student," said Meehan. "(It) just seemed to mushroom and grow."

The project was divided into three phases. The first phase involved the creation of a courtyard, complete with two benches,, pavers and a statue

skills.

memorial

in Courtesy Photos

Above: Immacuiata School students

anti

parent volunteers work to beautify the in School Immacuiata of front

Hendersonville.

gift for

The Immacuiata School student council, with assistance

Sofie (Lucas' mother),

from Marti oversaw the

completed in October.

Marti Sofie expressed her appreciation to the students, volunteers and "the Scouts, Taylor Lantrip and Lucas Sofie, who got the ball rolling with their Eagle projects."

"I hope all those involved feel a

project, Caring for Charlotte Area Catholic

Need Since 1926

sense of pride in their contribution to our school community," she said.

Meehan called the project a "tre-

FUNERAL SERVICE, INC.

mendous learning experience

Charlotte 704-334-6421

Museo de Anthropologia

Staff members traveling with the students include Martin Mata, cam.

pus minister; and Juanita Abreu,

Maryann Tyrer and Shirley Shaw, members of the

faculty.

The students are holding numerous fundraisers to offset the cost of their excursion,

and the school asks

community

to help support this

the

outreach.

Want

to Help?

To help support the outreach efforts, call Martin

Mata at (336) mmata@bmhs.us.

Bishop McGuinness United Nations team scores big KERNERSVILLE

—

In

first

its

Model United Nations team of Bishop McGuinness Catholic School

year, the

Appalachian State University in Boone.

Two teams of Bishop McGuinness

Andrew Heberling and Megan Wizke; Greg Means and Matt IngersoU. David students were cited for excellence:

and the groups' moderator, praised their performance as Seidel, history teacher

exceptional for a first-year effort.

The program has been established

complement the longstanding and award-winning Harvard Model Congress program, which takes groups of more that 20 students to congressional simulations in Boston each

at the school to

year sponsored by Harvard Universii The school chose the Appalachian program for the current year and is currently investigating other options for the following year, including the Duke

Model U.N.

University

The ASU

simulation involved 85 competing teams from 45 North Carolina high schools. The Model U.N. team will compete again in the spring when

ASU

holds

its

Model

Security Council

session in March.

Seidel's group,

inaugural

effort,

assembled for

this

included seniors Dunia

Fleihan, Katie Preske,

Megan Good, Matt

Meghan Witzke, Ingersoll, Greg

Means, Andrew Heberling, J.P. Delaney and freshmen PJ. Dascoli and Michael O'Shea.

i

for stu-

dents."

captured a special spirit in the is a concrete manifestation that dreams can come true and that young people can make a difference when guided and supported by the adults in their lives," said "It

Pineviile 704-544-1412

Mint

Hill

community and

704-545-4864

Derita 704-596-3291

Meehan.

We Can

Share The Care!

Visiting Angels, can help put your family together this Holiday Season!

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Executive Director: Elizabeth Tlmrbee (704) 370-3227 Refugee Office: Cira Ponce (704) 370-6930

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Charlotte Region; 1 1 23 South Church Street, Chadotte, NC 28203 Area Director: Geri King (704) 370-6155 Western Region; 50 Orange Street, Asheville, NC 28801 Area Director: Sister Marie Frechette (828) 255-0146 Piedmont-Triad: 621 W. Second Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27108 Area Director: David Harold (336) 727-0705

Select

Up to 24 Hour Care

&

Peace: Joe Purel!o(704) 370-3225 Special Ministries: lustice

'

before re-

turning to North Carolina.

564-1012 or e-mail

distinguished itself with awards earned during the recent annual conference at

ducive to the aesthetics of the school.

Mexico City, stopping in the city of San Miguel de Allende and Doris Hidalgo. While in the city, they plan visits to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Zocalo and the

to

their

They

the people of the parish.

involved moving and refurbishing six benches along the front of the school. Lucas Sofie, Taylor's classmate and fellow Scout striving for an Eagle Badge, assumed responsibility for this phase and the project was completed in August.

Phase Three involved the removal of scrubs and the planting of perennials and shrubbery more con-

Their Hour of

own.

also plan to leave a

Two

in

their

own Spanish language

June.

Families

designed to

them English and reinforcing

of Mary, the patroness of the school.

Lantrip assumed responsibility for

Phase

Mexico.

Traveling to San Luis de Posoti during Holy Week, students will spend Easter weekend experiencing the special worship activities for that feast in a small-town setting. This will be followed by a bus excursion to the village of El Realejo, where students will work with children in their church and school environments, teaching

pal.

which was completed

is

Students will then travel by bus

Cam-

heighten students' awareness of conditions in a nation and culture the resources of which are quite different

the school.

The project had been a topic already under discussion for several years, but little action had been taken,

this phase,

— The

pus Ministry Office of Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School is currently enlisting students and adults to participate in an April 2004

at:

www.visitingangels.com/chartotte

kM^AngeLs.^ ^ ^

LIVING

ASSISTANCE SERVICES

December

5,

The Catholic News & Herald 5

2003

AROUND THE DIOCESE

Raleigh Diocese loses crusader for justice NC's

ecumenical, social justice community says goodbye to Sister Evelyn

She and others worked for the formation of "GreenPower," a way for consumers, congregations and small businesses to work with their power company to purchase electricity from renewable sources. The program is just now being offered to some consumers, he said.

During the luncheon. Rev. Reed announced the Council of Churches had arena.

nity Sister Evelyn Mattern, founder of

the Diocese of Raleigh's Peace and Jus-

Department and former program associate at the North Carolina Council of Churches, died Nov. 30 in a nursing tice

in Philadelphia.

Her work covered almost every

as-

Christian social activists celebrated Sister Evelyn's ministry Oct.

1

dying of cancer, prepared to leave for

ist,

her native Philadelphia. Hundreds

Our Lady of Lourdes' Fallon

filled

center in

Raleigh for the luncheon, which was filled with tears and laughter as various

and social juscommunity came to pay tribute to

leaders of the ecumenical tice

Sister Evelyn.

Father George Kloster, pastor of St. William Church in Murphy and former president of the Council of Churches, recalled how he and Sister Evelyn worked to address the miserable living conditions of migrant workers by building new housing in Johnston County.

"The people of Johnston County did not exactly welcome us with open arms," he said. Sister Evelyn's efforts "stirred

up the populace from the

Town

Helms."

KKK

to Jesse

leaders complained that

"Catholics are taking over Johnston

County," said Father Kloster, a native of the county.

never happened," he

"It

just because

mean

"But

said.

it

it

didn't

Gossman

or Raleigh said.

someone

to

"We

come forward and

replace

Rev. George Reed, executive director

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R. Allen,

eighth grade, continue to excel aca-

demically as they prepare for the transition into high school.

Winners on and

off

ttie field

—

CHARLOTTE

Holy Trinity

Catholic Middle School's eighth-grade football team won the conference champi-

onship against Weddingto'n Middle School Nov. 1 with a score of 30-0.

The team has played together since the sixth grade and has won the conference championship for three consecuti\ e years, losing only two games in the 2001, 2002 and 2003 seasons combined.

Included on the team are many honor roll students who also have quali-

Duke University Talent IdenProgram, which recognizes students based on academic excellence. The eighth-grade class this year has 52 percent of its students qualifying for the Duke program, which is the largest percentage from any one school in state. The fied for the tification

eighth-graders also

work e\ery week

as

Rev. John Allen

volunteers at Crisis Assistance Ministry.

2744 Tiergarten Lane Charlotte, NC 28210

moving on

Most of

the football players will be

to Charlotte Catholic

High

School next year, taking their enthusiasm

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Father John Allen, vocations director, died" at his home in Charlotte on Sunday, Nov. 23.

A funeral Mass took place Nov. 26 in St. Patrick Cathedral. Interment was at St. Gabriel Church.

Notes of condolence may be sent to Father Allen at the following address:

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CHARLOTTE — Barton

present.

Sister Evelyn's

Rev. Reed

to

in col-

for several reasons,

Holy Trinity was notified in August of last year's results. The students, now

together in collaboration.

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father dies

Evelyn said if she met Saddam Hussein, she would listen first.

or

is unique of North Carolina, something which may not be true of other places:

Vocation director's

'guest.'"

SATl

including gaining experience taking the is

this story.

Sister

Qualifying students are then invited to

complete the

college entrance examination.

Editor Kevin E. Murray contributed

peace delegation to Iraq in October 1990. The visit brought Iraqis 1,000 pounds of vitamins and medicines and helped prepare for an ongoing presence of American peace advocates in Iraq during the first Gulf War. In a pre-trip interview with the NC Catholic, Sister Evelyn said she had some fears about going to Iraq, such as being

"The

you

college entrance exams, identifying areas

ments were not

Baghdad if U.S. planes bombed the city and "being taken hostage or being

See Chase first... because home ownership matters.

tell

Sister Evelyn's funeral arrange-

of the Council of Churches, said Sister Evelyn's gift to the Council was a "real sense of justice rooted in deep spirituality."

Sister Evelyn was part of a U.S.

kept as a

in Raleigh. Fifty people here will still

A minimum qualifying score of 96 percentile on the ITBS test is one of the standards used for participation.

"very struck by what

said she

out to those

in

j\/|ake the right move to finding your dream home.

now

Evelyn had helped with "Of One Heart and One Mind," the joint pastoral letter issued in 1997 by thenBishop WDliam G. Curlin of Charlotte and Bishop John F. Gossman of Raleigh calling on North Carolinians to reach

charter members.

academically talented seventh-

remember you

Sister

Father Charles MulhoUand and the Rev. Collins Killburn, former executive director of the Council of Churches, as

identifies

will

together.

late

Talent Identification Program.

The Talent Identification Program

school.

are on the

But she is irreplaceable."

Father fOoster recommended forming a North Carolina Justice Hall of Fame, with Sister Evelyn joining the

her.

pants in

The

She

need

eighth-grade class renumber of particiNorth Carolina for the Duke its

ceived the highest

scores taken in elementary and middle

North Carolina desperately needs people like Sister Evelyn, Bishop Joseph

School that

Evelyn Mattern Fund, to be used and justice. fund, he said, will "guarantee we

ministry.

wasn't good."

University

Holy Trinity Catholic Middle

to support issues of peace

After the final speaker. Sister Evelyn spoke not of herself, but of others in her

happen doesn't

CHARLOTTE — Duke notified

Sister

for the

have occasion to say, 'Let me about Sister Evelyn Mattern.'"

Sister Evelyn Mattern

as the long-

time North Carolina resident and activ-

Community

University

graders on the basis of standardized test

years from Christian

Duke

new

more than $ 1 4,000

collected

pect of social justice, from obtaining

housing for poor immigrant workers to demonstrating against the death penalty, from environment to gender equality to interfaith issues to pro-life work.

Through the years, she made many friends, but also foes, of politicians, farmers, business owners and others.

The North Carolina community of

score tops honors

Mattem with

JOHN STRANGE NC Catholic Staff RALEIGH — Christian CommuBY

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Holy Trinity Students

Members ofSt. Gabriel

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December

The Catholic News & Herald

6

HIV/AIDS

But today, as the problems mount and the death toll rises in Iraq,

IRAQ, from page 1

AIDS, from page 1

Cardinal Sodano has said

no one

saying

is

told you

"I

"now

so."

On

there. in

The

What emphasizes

deadly attacks on soldiers Vatican's

own

Iraqis to

now would

be the worst option.

And the Vatican has offered zero support to those who view Iraqi attacks on U.S. soldiers as legitimate

army headquarters

The pope seemed to

finds itself

Has

its

"But there's a crisis of power in Iraq. people need a leader, someone who talks to Iraqis as an Iraqi, and that

mind

the

leader isn't there," he said.

volves Iraq's ethnic and religious communities, a military pullout now would

help restore order in Iraq in the immediate aftermath of the hostilities.

leave Iraqis in a "terrible

the soldiers are

cent of the U.S. population. Hispanics

no

mend

it.

is

tify that

harmony

that in-

crisis."

against use of force.

arguments He was recently

named

left his

post,

Of course, the more

silent

CamUlo

time. Cardinal

of Rome and

president

of the Italian bishops' conference, has assumed a higher profile. His public influence peaked during the national mourning and state fijneral for the Ital-

Before the war, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican secretary of state, raised U.S. diplomatic hackles when he warned

might find a Vietnam-like quagmire in Iraq.

diplomatic

and the Vatican has generally fallen on the da^-to-day situation in Iraq.

Ruini, papal vicar

involvement," he said.

that the United States

a cardinal and

At the same

the problem that deeply one becomes involved in this project, the greater the tendency to justhere

real plan for civU

Before the war began, the Vatican frequently relied on then-Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, an assistant secretary

now, the country would fall into chaos.

The vase has been broken, and we have to

handfijl

They said more new HIV/ AIDS cases in United States are among African-

than half of all

of European countries

Americans, with 61 percent of those cases among teens, and Hispanics account for 20 percent of the total reported AIDS cases. And 78 percent of all cases of women with HIV/AIDS are either African-American or Hispanic.

African-Americans make up 12 per-

"If the military pulls out of Iraq

way

The

a joint letter urging Catho-

to fight the crisis.

lics

rent military operation in Iraq include four with heavily Catholic populations:

of state, to articulate the

to try to find a

fairs issued

that have contributed soldiers to the cur-

Archbishop Filoni said that with no

said.

'They are

fought, Cardinal Ruini replied:

The

short-term political solution in sight and

that does the least damage,"

In Washington, the U.S. bishops' Committee on African-American Catholics and the Committee on Hispanic Af-

noble mission."

To those asking whether the soldiers died in a war that should not have been victims of terrorism, pure and simple."

Corriei-e della Sera.

'The Vatican clearly said 'no' to the war. But at a certain point, you have to manage the situation that's been created he

under occupa-

Archbishop Fernando Filoni, apostolic nuncio to Iraq, told the newspaper

tion of anonymity.

way

HIV-related illness and multiplies the social impact of the epidemic," they said.

More than 1 1 million children in Africa under age 15 are AIDS orphans, and in sub-Saharan Africa, as many as 28 million people have HIV/ AIDS.

and a Catholic, attends a Nov. 18 memorial service at St. Joseph's Chaldean Catholic Church in Baghdad for the 19 Italians killed in an attack in An Nasiriyah.

ing authority represents the people,"

about the war in Iraq?

"It's not that the Vatican position has changed, but the situation in Iraq has been completely transformed," said one Vatican official who spoke on condi-

in the

PHOTO FROM Reuters

Paul Bremer, the U.S. civilian administrator of Iraq

L.

tion does not think the rul-

rnission of peace.

the Vatican changed

CNS

Iraq's with political vacuum, self-governance seems impossible now.

"Any country that

denounced the attack as sign on to that definition a few days later when he spoke of the "wicked work" accomplished by terrorists in Iraq.

The pontiff and Italian bishops joined in honoring the dead Italian soldiers, saying they were engaged in a terrorism.

"Poverty facilitates the transmission of HIV, makes adequate treatment unaffordable, accelerates death from

But

Italian bishops

medical institutions and reprograms. It focuses

on changing behavior and accepting responsibility for tackling the problems of HIV and AIDS.

govern them-

running of the country.

19 dead,

faiths,

ligious formation

greater say in the interim

resistance to an illegal operation.

After a recent truck bomb at an Italian

other

the Vatican the need for

is

selves as quickly as possible and for the United Nations to have a

representativ e

Iraq has said military withdrawal

left

not the time for

recriminations."

the contrary, sex eral top cardinals have warned against a pullout of U.S. and allied troops from Iraq, especially after

is

2003

Catholics VS.

Iraq position ciianged?

Has Vatican

5,

THE NEWS

IN

itself in

ian soldiers killed in Iraq,

when

dinal said there should be

no withdrawal

Poland, Portugal and Spain.

Italy,

Even many Europeans opposed the war supported sending soldiers

to to

But now coming under fire, and there is debate over whether their engagement is part of an illegal occupation,

account for 14 percent.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates between 700,000 and 800,000 people in the U.S. are infected with HIV or have AIDS. The pope said Nov. 30 to "pray for

a peacekeeping mission or a reconstruction project.

said

'That's the $100 million question," one Vatican official. He noted that

Vatican had really spoken

those struck by this plague," and to "encourage all those in the church who pro-

"Rather than define what it is, right need to try to help make things

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The Catholic News & Herald 7

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The Catholic News & Herald

December

Culture Watch

5,

200

WORD TO LIFE

A roundup

of Scripture, readings, films and more

-SUNDAY SCRIPTURE READINGS: DEC.

Dec.

Second Sunday

7,

7,

2003

we know someone you

think

can inter

view.'""

Children's books for

of Advent

"Who? Where am

I

going to

fiini

someone?"

Christmas gift-giving REVIEWED Bv

BARB FRAZE

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The following children's books are suitable for Christmas giving.

"The Invisible Seam," by Andy WUliam Frew, illustrated by Jun Matsuoka.

Moon Mountain Publishing (North Kingstown, R.I., 2003). 28 pp., $15.95.

"The Invisible Seam" is a well-wo\'en story of a young Japanese girl who

must apprentice as a seamstress when her aunt can no longer care for her.

Michi's stitches are small and tight and bring great pride to her teacher but cause tensions with the other apprentice seamstresses.

As the

plot unfolds, Michi

deals with peer pressure, the need to

keep her promise to do her best, and the discovery that different people have different talents. Matsuoka's watercolors help illustrate Michi's feelings of pride,

1)

"Mint's Christmas Message," by Mary Y. Spitz, illustrated by Joanne Y. Pierce. Mother Moose Press (Potomac 32

Falls, Va., 2003).

BY

meaning when Mint, a retired champion, and other horses refuse to come in during a snowstorm. Pierce's illustrations are designed to look like old-fashioned oval-framed pictures, and they face text of a story told quite conversationally by Spitz. The result is an real

appealing story. All ages.

"The Wondrous Adventures of St. Francis of Assisi," by Tricia Gray, illustrated by Vicki Shuck. St. Anthony Messenger Press (Cincinnati, 2003). 164

pp.,

$14.95.

Fifteen tales about St. Francis, his

and miracles are retold

in short

vignettes that teach without preaching.

With

"The "The

enticing titles like

Three Murderous Robbers"

to

Wicked Wolf of Gubbio,"

the vignettes clearly convey Francis' love

of

God and

God

his belief that

if

6

8-11

3:1-6

BEVERLY CORZINE

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

The door

and

burst open on a dreary

later witnessed, firsthand, the rav

ages of the Holocaust.

"Mom, can you

I heard the smack of books on the kitchen counter and the familiar sound of foraging for an afterschool snack that would sustain a teenage boy until dinner. Then the call came, "Mom, I need to talk to you."

Walking into the kitchen, I unwit-

winter afternoon.

—

What do you

suppose helped hir through it?

St. Paul describes a dynamic faith, u

went to heart of the matter. "Hi. How was school?"

Immediately, 1 was told that Mark's American history teacher, having lost contact with reality, had given the class the most nonsensical of assignments known to humankind. I was forewarned that his American history grade would plummet to unsalvageable depths. Each student was required to interview someone who had served in World War II and be prepared to share the findings with the

his letter to the Philippians, as a "part

nership for the Gospel." Paul prays tha the "good work" that has taken root

ii

readers will flourish throughou

his

their lives until they

We

meet

Christ.

witnessed the partnership

witl

the Gospel that Paul mentions in the

lif

of our friend in the good years of hi retirement and through years of deterio rating health that left him a wisp of

man.

class.

On

At that moment I could have hugged the teacher. "What a super idea!"

I

Mi

believe that

Julson lived through all that? I jus thought he was a nice retired guy wh( went around taking food and clothes ti church somebody who bought dayi old bread for the ducks on the lake.

tingly

thought to myself

find the vignettes interesting to listen

to

Luke

in

2-3, 4-5,

1:4-6,

is

human, good or Early elementary children wQl

reflected in every

bad.

3) Gospel:

an

is

unusual twist on the message of Christmas. A grandfather who does not believe in Christmas receives the message of its

life

Baruch 5:1-9 Psalm 126: 1-2,

2) Philippians

pp., $17.95.

"Mint's Christmas Message"

"Remember, Mr. Julson, who move* next door, is a World War II veterar Interview him."

After spending two hours inter viewing our neighbor, Mark came hornfilled with astonishment and admiratioi for a man who had fought in Ger Patton's army at the Battle of the Bulg

C Readings:

Cycle

To my son

I

Oct. 16,

American

flags flew

ii

our neighborhood to mark his passing In his heart faith never failed.

said, "I

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE

read by an adult; older readers

will find the chapters quick reading.

Ages aloneness, conflict and joy. readers, this

Ages

is

a

For younger

good read-aloud book.

7-10.

A Cajun Story from

by Robert D. San Souci, illustrated by David Catrow. Silver Whistle (Orlando, Fla., 2003). 28 pp.,

We Were Saints," by Nolan. Harcourt Inc. (Orlando, 2003). 291 pp., $17.

$16.

This colorfully Ulustrated yarn is a great read-aloud book, mixing some

Cajun dialect with outrageous adventure. Brothers Big Pierre, Fat Pierre, Wise Pierre and Foolish Pierre have special talents, but they are no match for their youngest brother, Little Pierre.

Catrow's illustrations and caricatures

We

"When

"Little Pierre:

Louisiana,"

7-12.

"When

historical tale,

Were

SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER Sunday (Second Sunday

not a

is

to find his iden-

grandfather's last words,

"Young man, you

are a saint." In a

thinks she

Clare and

is St.

calls

him

Francis, Archie Caswell takes a spiritual

journey into prayer and a physical journey to New York, all the whOe struggling to combine his common sense and love for his ailing grandmother with his discovery of religion. The book deals

some

with

dominate the pages, with text blended in. Be prepared to read this book to the

orexia and the stigmata, but will keep

children multiple times.

"Dinosailors," by

Ages

5-9.

Deb Lund,

illus-

Llewellyn. Kingfisher (Boston, 2003). 64

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buckling story that children will love.

The "Dinosailors" dinosaurs who are ready for adventake off on a ship

—

ture,

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30;

Matthew 18:12-14; Wednesday (Advent Weekday),

Thursday (Advent Weekday),

Guadalupe), Zechariah 2:14-17,

Lul<e 1:39-47;

well as

Anne

Saturday

(St.

1 1

:2{ (

Lucy), Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11, Matthe'

SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 14 - DECEMBER Sunday

(Third

Sunday of Advent), Zephaniah

i

20

3:14-18a, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:10-18;

Monda

(Advent Weekday), Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a, Matthew 21:23-27; Tuesday (Advent Weekday Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13, Matthew 21 :28-32; Wednesday (Late Advent Weekday), Genesis 49:2, ( 10,

1:1-17; Thursday (Late Advent Weekday), Jeremiah 23:5-8, Matthew 1:18-25; Frida, Advent Weekday), Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a, Luke 1 :5-25; Saturday (Late Advent Weekday

Matthew

(Late

Isaiah 7:10-14,

Luke 1:26-38

Let stairs be our

to St.

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Isaiah 41:13-20,

"Saints

"Their dinotummies slosh and churn.

They groan with every twist and turn.

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Isaiah 40:1-11,

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"Saints And Angels," by Claire

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DECEMBER 13

including an-

stretch the imagination; the watercolors

difficult topics,

-

com-

plex search that involves a teenage girl

who

7

of Advent), Baruch 5:1-9, Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11, Lul<e 3:1-6;

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i

December

5,

The Catholic News & Herald 9

2003

FROM THE COVER He and

Maronite Catholics seek to grow in Southeast

we depended on Lebanon people.

We are very proud

Raleigh. 'W^e both say

the faithfulness of the

This

is

your diocese.

of you."

For

came

his part.

Thomas

Father

first

North Carolina in the early 1970s. Bishop Vincent Waters had long lobbied the bishop of the Eparchy of St.

MARONITE, from page 1

to

(born about 350) and the ancient monmountains of Syria and

Maron of

asteries in the

cese that covered the entire eastern sea-

Lebanon.

board, to send a Maronite priest who could serve the Maronites living in

The Eastern churches are in full communion with the Roman Catholic

Father

not

known how many of today's

North Carolina Catholics have their roots in Lebanon and the Maronite Catholic Church. What is clear, however, is that the Diocese of Raleigh owes much of its early development to Lebanese immigrants who settled in North

Photo by John Strange, NC Catholic

Carolina years ago.

No

other state in the country has

Father Joseph Thomas, pastor of the

had more early influence from Maronites than North Carolina, Father

Maronite Catholic mission of

Thomas

Southeast regional conference of the

said.

Father Robert Lawson, a retired priest of the Diocese of Raleigh, said during the conference that to find Lebanese immigrants in North Carolina one had only to "follow the railroad."

The rail brought immigrants from the north, branching off through Raleigh in the east and Charlotte in the west.

Many of these new Americans found their homes in these cities and at other railroad stops.

They came

to the United States to

escape religious persecution in Lebanon,

Father Lawson said, but in North Carolina they found no established Maronite church and much prejudice. Not only were they foreigners in early 20th-century North Carolina; they were also

in

Sharbel

St.

Raleigh, speaks at the Nov.

They found

Catholic parishes strug-

Durham

Vatican established the Diocese of Raleigh.

"It all

was the

last

mission territory in

of the United States," Father

said.

"It

was

called the

Lawson

China of the

who asked Father Lawson to bring a message to the conference: 'Tell

few

them

priests,

few churches.

"People rightly came to the country and joined the Latin Rite Catholic

Thomas said.

Lawson was born

m

in the state

Carolina has been better,

What

of North

more faithfijl

there

the faith in the state

was nobody

is

important, said

Ed

Shiner,

said executive director of the National

Apostolate of Maronites,

to

the Church than the Lebanese Catholics.

They kept

Church," Father

Father

no one

no way

Roman

CathoChurch. Indeed, they said, they want to especially reach those Maronite Catholics who have "fallen away" and are not active in either church.

In addition, they said, in today's modern Catholic Church, it is acceptable for Catholics of both traditions to participate in both rites if they wish. with the

lic

Jones,

that

roots, they are in

in "competition"

had spoken to retired Msgr. James

are aware of what

is

is

that people

available to them.

'They should be aware of who they where their roots are," he said.

when

are and

else."

nic church," he said.

Boston's Roseanne Solomon, a past

have Maronite

Church.

a

president of the national apostolate, said

Father Thomas and others at the conference said that while they wish to reach North Carolina Catholics who

There were 5,000 Catholics in the whole state, he said, and of those, "at least 1,500 were Lebanese."

Father Lawson said he and other pioneering priests in North Carolina came to appreciate and love the Lebanese Catholics for their undying faithfulness and devotion to the Catholic

is

one usually featuring three languages: Arabic, Syriac, and English.

People are "intrigued" by the liturgy, he said, its .spirituality, and the "poetry of our liturgical texts."

While the Maronite Catholic Church is a traditional Eastern Catholic church with roots as far back as the year 350 with St. Maron's birth, it is growing and changing with the times. Especially in the United States, Father Thomas said, it is no longer "only" an ethnic Lebanese church.

"We were never meant to be an eth-

Michael the Archangel Church on Arsenal Avenue.

He found initial resistance on the part of Lebanese Catholics to join the mission. They had become ensconced in their Roman Catholic parishes and in the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. Further, they expressed concern that to move to the Maronite community would be to segregate the Lebanese Catholics from the rest of the community, something they hated to do in

lic."

Americas."

Shiner said the Maronite liturgy traditional

St.

one that they never knew."

It is the same today for Catholics who have a Maronite tradition in their past, he said. "They have never known what it meant to be a Maronite Catho-

1923, the year before the

in

now

But Father Thomas said many came to a "growing love and admiration for the tradition that was their own, but

National Apostolate of Maronites.

communities. There were few Catholics,

gling to get their footing in often hostile

assigned to es-

the racially divisive South.

14-16

He said that before the conference he

Catholics.

Thomas was

tablish a mission in FayettevUle,

systems.

It is

Brooklyn, the Maronite dio-

North Carolina.

Church, equal parts in the body of the Catholic Church, although they have their own distinctive liturgical and legal

I

Father Jones represent two

of the oldest priests of the Diocese of

the Maronite Church has roots in Leba-

non, but being Lebanese

important

is

not the most

about

thing

being

a

Maronite.

"My father was Irish and English," she said, "and he was a very good Maronite. He had not one ounce of Lebanese blood."

Good Maronites

are faithful, she

and "we open our arms and take in anyone who wants to be a part of us."

Shiner predicted that in 50 years the Maronite Church will still have a core said,

that

is

distinctly Lebanese, but

its

mem-

bers will be a "tossed salad" of different races

and

nationalities.

Father Thomas likened the synod in importance and impact to the Second Vatican Council. It was the first such synod since 1736, he said, and while the second session of the synod begins next October, already it has sent an important message to Maronite Catholics worldwide.

Before the synod, Father Thomas said, the Maronite Church outside of Lebanon was known as the "Church of the Diaspora," or the church of immigrants.

But one of the first findings of the synod was that the Maronite Catholic Church in the world will be known instead as the "Church of the Expansion."

"It is the very nature of the church is to extend itself throughout the world," Father Thomas said. "It is within our nature to expand for the church to spread all around the world, bringing our traditions and enriching the Catholic Church in its full glory." ...

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"i

10 The Catholic

News & Herald

December

Perspectives

A

collection of columns,

editorials

and viewpoints

Pope

5,

2003

God

says

saves people from

Cracking the real ^Da Vinci Code'

political, spiritual

oppression WOODEN

BY CINDY CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

Guest

Exphring anti-

^^^^^^

Column

Catholic themes

said that-just as

(From Father given at

St.

author of "The Da Vinci Code," not only repackages the story, but completely reinterprets the Grail legend. Brown takes the insight that a woman's body is symbolically a con-

Dan Brown,

Buetttier's homily

Gabriel Church Nov. 16,

2003) Well, have you cracked "The Da Vinci Code" yet? It seems this book is the newest fad that has recently dominated not only The New York Times bestseller list, but also television documentaries and coflFee break conversations. A number of parishioners have even asked whether I have read the book yet, seeking some feedback and guidance on this book. Since I am not normally taken by modern fads and since I approach most modern innovations with a bit of healthy skepticism, it took me a while to buy the book.

The fast-paced action and in-

tainer for

new

life

and applies

truth to the Grail legend.

container a Christian

He gives

name

this

the

that ev-

should recognize, Mary Magdalene. Then Brown suggests the theory that St. Mary Magdalene was

eryone

actually the vessel that held the blood

of Jesus Christ in her womb while bearing his children. This, of course, would mean that Our Lord took St. Mary Magdalene to be his bride to continue his bloodline through the

asked myself "Why should I continue to read a book that disparages the Church?" It would be like reading a scathing criticism of my own mother, which is not such a strange analogy considering the Church is our mother.

But it doesn't take long to see the author's direction, as well as the

Catholic

trigue grabbed

my

attention from the

why

I

many

into this story. It

are

drawn

could see

so is

puzzle or a riddle waiting to be solved. But I had to stop about halfway through. My threshold for anti-

like a

Catholic bigotry had reached its breaking point. In our day, antiCatholic bigotry is about the only acceptable prejudice that is not only permitted, but also supported by the vast majority of the secular media. So, I

him to his conclusion. book all about?

In one sense, the

lies

(www.crisismagazine.com/

So, what's this

september2003/featurel.htm). She

book

is

nothing

more than the perennial quest for the Holy Grail: the search for the original vessel that held the blood of Christ at

the Last Supper.

You may

recall recent

renditions of the ancient tale in such

movies as "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" and the slightly more risque "Monty Python's Holy Grail."

Although

it's

the

journalist

will lead

and misrepresentations that

same adventure.

From

The Pope the

God

Speaks pope

By

JOHN PAUL

II

led the Israelites

out of slavery in Egypt across the Red Sea he saves his people from slavery to sin through the waters of bap-

God

for

having "turned the rock into flint into flowing

pools of water, the springs."

Pope John Paul

tism.

For Christians, he

said,

the

psalm's hymn of praise extends to "a more radical and universal libera-

freedom from sin and death through new life in Christ.

Pope John Paul said that in "The Divine Comedy" Dante placed the hymn on the lips of those in purgatory, "seeing in the psalm the hymn of expectation and hope of those who, after purification from every sin, are headed toward the ultimate destination of communion with God in paration,"

said the

new

springs of water are "the sign of the salvific love of the Lord who sustains and regenerates humanity as it advances across the desert of history."

As St. Paul explained in his First Letter to the Corinthians, Christ is the rock that is the source of lifegiving water, he said.

The pope read most of his prepared Italian text and greetings to pilgrims in seven languages. With fewer than 6,000 people at the audience, the

pope spent just an hour

in

the audience hall, about a half hour

dise."

The

psalm's final verse praises

than normal.

less

centuries.

Consequently, Brown claims "the quest for the Holy Grail is the quest to kneel before the bones of Mary Magdalene" rather than the traditional legend of the search for the chalice used at the Last Supper.

So, does Brown prove his case?

First of all, he is not proving a case.

Dan Brown is not a lawyer. He is an author: his job is to sell books. As an author, he is successful, by stirring up interest and reaching the bestseller list; but at the same time. Brown is a poor writer, with a superficial writing style filled with historical errors and characters as flat as the paper on which they were printed, if you are interested in the many historical inaccuracies, I would direct you to an article in Crisis Magazine from September entitled "Dismantling The DaVinci Code" by Sandra Miesel, a

very beginning.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

beginning of time, God has acted to save his creatures from oppression, both political and spiritual. Pope John Paul II said.

Reflecting on Psalm 114 during his Dec. 3 general audience, the pope

FATHER MICHAEL BUETTNER

in novel

VATICAN CITY

.

does a splendid job of responding to Brown's implausible book.

In the end, cracking "The DaVinci Code" is not all that difficult.

The answer to Brown's success is printed on page 169 where he writes,

"Everyone loves a conspiracy." "The DaVinci Code" is a fictional tale, a novel, retelling the famous quest for the Holy Grail in modern, antiCatholic language.

But in the midst of all such lies remains a bit of truth that has been covered up. If we investigate Brown's claim that Christ took to himself a bride to continue his bloodline and his lineage throughout each generation,

we

will discover that

Brown was

on to something,

a truth that is deeply Catholic, despite his prejudices.

Before Jesus Christ ascended into heaven. He did indeed take to himself a bride, in fact, the Church, and prepared her to receive a divine gift. And after Our Lord ascended into heaven, he sent his Holy Spirit upon his bride at Pentecost, impregnating her with divine

life.

Why? So

that his bride,

the Church, would produce sons and daughters of us for the glory of the

Father.

In the sacrament of baptism, you and I are given divine life by water and the Holy Spirit and become sons and daughters of the Father. It is the

Bride of Christ, the Church, our mother, who produces this divine life in our souls.

And not only does Christ's lineage continue in the Church, but also his bloodline, in the holy Eucharist.

For 2000 years, the Church has taught the holy Eucharist, instituted at the Last Supper, is the living body

and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, donated by the bridegroom to. impregnate his bride and give her Christ, the bride-

divine

life;

groom

gives to you and me, his bride,

that

is,

Body and Blood. At every Mass, the bridegroom gives himself to his bride so that "the two will become one flesh." the unsurpassing gift of his

For a Catholic, the search for the Holy Grail is not legend but reality, it is not lost, but found. The perennial quest for the chalice that holds the blood of Christ does not begin here, but rather ends here. For, the truth that here and now, 2000 years after the Last Supper, Christ will come again at this holy Mass and change wine into his blood, changing a simple chalice into the Holy Grail out of love for you and me, is much more exciting than any fictitious novel or

modern

theory.

No, I have not finished "The Vinci Code" and I don't plan to do

My

Da so.

quest for the Holy Grail is ultimately satisfied with the truth with the marvelous truth that Christ's love for you and me impels

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

body and blood so

him

to give us his

that

we might become one Father Buettner

St.

is

with him.

parochial vicar at

Gabriel Church in Charlotte.

I

December

The Catholic News & Herald

2003

5,

Everything old is Most people

new again

divide the year in

Nays that have nothing to do with

summer and and tradition make this

One

Light

Religion "The Holidays" for many. In the vorld of sports, fans know that evall.

Candle

season.

its

At the moment, football, basketand hockey are prime topics of jonversation and speculation. Even )all

who

:hose of us

autumn, when

:ertainly true this

post-season created a numof dramatic situations. Cubs and led Sox fans believed for a while that his really would be their year to win. )aseball's )er

t

Guest Columnist

wasn't.

And Yankee

iverywhere in

my

fans

(who are

part of the world)

lad faith that they

would win, yet

They didn't.^ The World Series belonged to the Horida Marlins. Not a team of lore igain.

ind legend, at least not yet, but they

von it all. They played a beautiful jame of baseball, not only going after he division, the pennant and the Se•ies, but through most of the season,

May,

starting in

that

is.

And

that's a

jreat story, in itself

The Marlins began

the year with

wins and 22 losses. That's when a lew guy took over as manager. His lame is Jack McKeon. Although, as )ne wag put it, you might think his 16

name

ull

is

"72-Year-Old Jack

vIcKeon," since reporters and com-

mentators keep making such

a

big

deal about his age. Already retired

from over

a half-century in baseball,

managing both minor league and major league teams, when he was called

Poll says there are

nore than 100 million unchurched Americans, 20 million of whom are apsed Catholics. Those who leave the ;hurch have reasons for doing so; iome were driven away by the scanlals. The poll goes on to say that learly half the fallen-away Catholics 'eel spiritually dry and confused, rhey actually admit they would be A'illing to

come home

to their faith if

were prodded.

:hey

Many

of them stopped believing of Catholicism for personal 'easons, so it is not an easy sell. But :he claims

opens

i"aith

:hose

who

a

thousand eyes. For

are no longer believers,

Then

other cigar.

At a time

too

there.

Described by a sportswriter as a "an incongruous mix of salt and sweetness," McKeon encouraged the players to "use their imaginations out there. They have to have fun." On the other hand, he never worries about simply being liked. Early on, he had the clubhouse door locked when he found several players relaxing there during a game. The combination of turning a team into winners and his colorful style made the manager with his trademark cigar a natural for me-

Here was a man who was obviously enjoying himself

dia attention.

took a course in religion, "if only," as she puts it, "to convince myself that they had lied to me." In her senior year, she fell in love with a fallen-

Only to please her parents, who were annoyed at her rebellious streak, she went to a Catholic college and

mmmmmmmmmmmsmmm

FATHER JOHN AURILIA,

Protestant named Dick Duquin; they married, had four children and never bothered to baptize any of them.

Somehow the first son became an altar boy and invited a priest home to dinner. The priest suggested that the father take an adult education class in Catholicism. Being a teacher, Duquin wanted to know what his son was learning at school, so he took the course and to everyone's amazement decided to convert to Catholicism. At

new

fervor confused his wife, but gradually her faith reawakened. it

"a miracle of grace."

Lorie Duquin was a successful

OFM

for the

"Are you the one

way

we

close at hand,"

is

who

come or must

to

is

wait for someone else?" (Mt.

lights an-

In both instances, there

1 1

:3).

a sense of

is

emergency today, rather than to enjoy our

when

many

sports

seem to focus on money, not to mention sex, drugs and even crime, I like this one about an old man in a young man's game, about a guy who cares about family and faith and

—

who knows the value of honesty, humor and having fun.

By the way, the Marlins have signed Jack McKeon for next season.

He's just turned 73.

For

kingdom of heaven

(Mt.3:2) and the challenging question:

past goodness or guilt, or in our fiiture

stories

News

Cap

As we go through the Advent season, we hear the solemn proclamation, "Rej^ent,

just says

like "Isn't that a great

a free copy of the Christopher

Note, "Be a

Good Sport

— Keep-

ing Athletics in Perspective, " write: The Christophers, 12 East 48th Street, New York, or 10017; e-mail: mail@christophers.org.

NT

greatness and fictional world. love the '

fijture,

because

it is

We seem to not here yet,

and the past, because we can dwell on memories rather than realities. It's easy to say

our

we will be better, spend more time with families, help a

person

more tomorrow. This

in need,

pray

the love-post-

is

poned syndrome. Advent is coming today.

The Gospel doesn't languish in the past nor dream in the fijture. It speaks about today. You remember John the Baptist being arrested and beheaded for his courageous confrontation with King Herod. The story's peak is when John sends his disciples to Jesus to ask "Are you really the Messiah our people are waiting for?" Jesus' answer is not in the fonn of a scholarly set of religious, historical and philosophical proofs. Rather, he says: 'The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are healed, the deaf hear, the dowTi-

Spirituality

trodden are being liberated." (Mt. 1 1 :5).

Did you notice all the \erhs are in

for Today

the present tense?

w/-

ment,

•

-

'

FATIIEK JOHN

I

a

Loved One Leaves the Church"

(Our Sunday

"Roe

V.

are

Wade" have

a great state-

Peter's sincerity.

Nor

did Peter later

deny Jesus three times because he cured

Visitor).

In the first book, the stories of converts like Trappist Father Thomas Merton, Cardinal Avery Dulles, Clare Booth Luce, Scott Hahn and many others make fascinating reading. What do these people, and others such as J.R.R. Tolkien, author of "Lord of the Rings," and Jane Doe of

They

What

when we are able to say, "See what do and you know who I am."

Another example is the dialogue between St. Peter and Jesus, who asks three times, "Do you love me?" The triple emphasis is not an effort by Jesus to test

CATOIR CNS Columnist

away

She called

she thought.

McKeon

to start the day?"

Lorene Hanley Duquin told the story of her departure from the :hurch in her book "Could You Ever Come Back to the Church?" (Alba House). She grew up in South Buffalo.

The nuns who taught her were rigid and demanding. After learning and believing that eating meat on Friday :ould earn eternal damnation, she and her classmates were scandalized by these same nuns who were leaving the church to marry priests. It's all lies,

questioned,

charge of the young team. They had talent, but needed leadership.

McKeon managed the Marlins to a 75-49 record. And kept going from

first his

is

When

something

always hope. Never underestimate the power of God's grace. :here

Column

country and the years. She was the one who got them to classes, after school activities and church. But they made sure they spent their summers together wherever Jack McKeon happened to be working.

He's also someone who takes his faith and his prayer life seriously.

Though he doesn't bring up the subject himself, he attends Mass daily.

to interview for the job, he took

Coming home for Christmas The Gallup

Guest

North Carolina,

—

are not avid enthusi-

major sporting events. That was

)f

in

Advent reflection

while her husband traveled across the

MSGR. JIM LISANTE

can't miss the extensive coverage

ists

home

efforts at

:ime

jrything has

Love postponed: an

He also enjoyed his first-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share the success with his family. McKeon and his wife Carol have been married for 49 years and have four children and nine grandchildren. The close-knit family has a lot to do with Carol McKeon's

lature's winter, spring,

11

in

common?

20th-century converts to Catholicism. I think "A Century of Catholic Converts" would make a great Christmas gift for a loved one all

his mother-in-law!

between the

You

can almost read

lines: "Peter,

do you

lo\ e

me

not next week, but now?"

There is a sense of urgency in loving

today and tomorrow, but real lo\'e involves change and renew, which are the qualities of true repentance so often repeated during Ad\'ent.

Repentance is not easy because we are creatures of habit; we don't want to change because

it is

uncomfortable.

Modem

soci-

ety encourages change, but only in a superficial

and commercial

fashion. Advertising

feature writer for national magazines,

who

and one day while browsing the Internet she found that there were

Catholicism has inspired and attracted billions of people down through the ages. In view of that, let me mention another great book from Our Sunday .Visitor publications: "Treasury of Catholic Stories," by

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many other lapsed Catholics like herself who had returned to the practice She began collecting their stories and got the idea for her book, "Could You Ever Come Back to the Church?"

Now she has written two new resource books for people who are searching for answers: "A Century of Catholic Converts" (Our Sunday Visitor, Huntington Ind.) and "When of their

faith.

is

drifting.

deals with changes, but

is

about

shirts,

enhance a new image of ournew lifestyle, but will not affect our

definitely selves, a

hearts,

our values, our

For

cal:

souls.

change has to be radito forgive those who hurt us, pray for Jesus, the

who

mistreat us, bless those

who

hate us, humble ourselves before the

dregs and outcasts of society.

What

distinguishes the

good and

the bad people are love and willingness to

renew themselves every day. Love

contagious, and so are joy and

faith.

is

12

December

The Catholic News & Herald

2003

5,

PARISH PROFILE Reichert, one of the original

Helen Church serves Catholics of Gaston County

who

St.

SPENCER MOUNTAIN

help establish Belmont Abbey, was the first priest assigned to St. Helen

— The

shadows of the

Benedictine monastery in Belmont that this mission church was born.

Bishop Leo Haid, the Benedictine abbot of Belmont and apostolic of

1934,

the abbey to serve the black Catholic population in the area. But with the

NC 28056 Our Lady

be-i

many parishes established witli the help of the missionary zeal of th< nearby Benedictines. th< November 1991, In Benedictine pastorate officially endec in Spencer Mountain, and St. Helei Church became a mission of St Michael Church in Gastonia, witl

Gastonia

Deacon: Rev. Mr, Guy Riche Families:

The church

a

the

of Consolation,

Pastor: Capuchin Father Jude Duffy

of

Helen was a weekend

mission of Queen of th(i Apostles Church in Belmont, one Oi

came

(704) 922-0670

Number

St.

Carolina at the time).

Charlotte

Vicariate:

when

partitioned in 1960, placing St. Helen Church under the administration of the Diocese of Raleigh (which encompassed all of Nortl

341 Dallas-Spencer Mountain Road

of

Joseph

Abbey was

HELEN CHURCH

A mission

St.

assignment, there was a regular ministerial presence at the church.

The nullius territory of Belmoni

building of the abbey church in the early 1890s, most St. Benedict pa-

Gastonia,

founded

Benedictines for decades to come, and except for the period from 1926 until

North Carolina, directed the building of St. Benedict Church just south of

ST.

later

School for the black children in nearby Dallas.

By the mid- 1930s, when Abbot Vincent Taylor began his pastorate ol the abbey and its territory, the black parishioners of St. Joseph Church in Mount Holly had transferred to St: Helen Church. The school in Dallas was also closed.

The Spencer Mountain church would remain in the care of the

placed under the patronage of St. Helen was built in the mid-19 10s, but it was fi-om the 19th century

He

Church.

Mountain

Catholic church in Spencer

monks

traveled from Pennsylvania to

50

then-pastor Father George Kloste: serving as pastor of the two commu nities.

With the diocesan landscap( growing and changing during thi 1990s, St. Helen Church was agaii placed in the care of Queen of th' Apostles in July 1995. In addition t( his' duties in Belmont, then-pasto Father Richard Hokanson also minis tered to the almost 50 household comprising the Spencer Mountaii

church family.

In 2000, St. Helen became unde

Capuchin Father

the care of

Jude Duffy

Church

Photo by Kevin

St.

of

Helen Church,

originally built in

Spencer Mountain,

is

E.

Murray

the 1910s to serve the black Catholic community

the spiritual

home

to

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ebrated a

By the mid-1910s, Benedictine Father Michael Mclnerney, a renowned architect, was designing

inspiration

—

a former Baptist who younger days converted to Catholicism after having a dream in which St. Peter called on him to continue his faith by way of the Catholic Church.

Robert Gardin,

Local lore? Perhaps, but Gardin's conversion is said to have brought hundreds of friends, neighbors and including eight family members siblings

—

—

into the church.

With

Gardin's enthusiasm and Father Mclnerney's plans, the red brick building was constructed.

Benedictine Father Mclchior

wer

Francis of Assisi, a Halloween carniv;

—

came from

whic'

of the cemetery on All Soul's Day, blessing of pets on the feast day of S

to be built in

Spencer Mountain, north of the aband, in bey. The site for the church part, its

at

invited. More than 150 peopli attended the special event.

Other activities over the past yea and a half included the annual blessin

black Catholics for a brief period as well.

new church

homecoming

original families of the church

—

in his

228 Zimmer Rd Fort Mill, SC 29715

came the church's permanent deacor In August 2003, the church eel

church community.

St. Joseph Church near Mount one of the oldest existing Holly churches in western North Carolina, became a mission for built in 1843

plans for a

of Consolatioi with Capuchi'

Father Judy Duffy as pastor. In No vember 2002, Rev. Mr. Guy Piche diocesan director of properties, be

—

families.

Tl

1

rishioners assimilated into that

Our Lady

in Charlotte,

for the children of the parish, a "

club

and

men

weekly Scripture an

spiritual studies groups.

On Nov.

23, 2003, National Blac

Catholic History

Month and

the

hi:

tory of St. Helen Church was recalle during a special Mass celebrated b

Msgr. Mauricio W. West, chancellc, and vicar general of the Diocese <

Charlotte.

Through Benedictine

cultivatic,

and ancestral heritage, St. Helet Church in Spencer Mountain convey mission statement a dedicatic^ that of the Cathol Church and of African and Africai in its

to tradition

American

—

culture.