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The MH 1331103
2d
Volume
&
2000
18,
Number 24
9 t
own 3«
atnolic NEWS HERALD
S9SS
February
•
1
1
i
Serving Catholics
Insid
in
Western North Carolina
the Diocese of Charlotte
in
Family Center dedication
Census 2000: Everybody
Mark parish community celebrates St.
counts in diocesan census ...Page
4
newfamily center Arden parish celebrates By
with multicultural event
JOANN
KEANE
S.
Editor
...Page
HUNTERSVILLE
4
—A
vision, a
community and population growth beyond expectations. These are the key elements that once combined
Congressional
—
—
resulted in the formation of the diocese's newest parish, St. Mark.
Gold Medal House approves
On Feb. 12, St. Mark Family Center was dedicated with a standing-room gathering of nearly 900 pa-
Congressional
Gold Medal for Cardinal O'Connor
rishioners, friends and
members of community at large. For the dedication Mass, Bishop William G. the
...Page
8
Curlin presided, with Msgr. Joseph Kerin, St. Mark pastor, and Father Peter Jugis, parochial vicar, concelebrating. Also concelebrating were Charlotte-area pastors Msgr. Richard Allen, pastor of St. Ann, Msgr. William Pharr, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul, and Father Paul Gary, rector of St. Patrick Cathedral. After just 30 months, St. Mark is
Local News Landings
program gears up
in
making history as one of the fastest growing parishes in this and sur-
Hickory
rounding dioceses. In June 1997,
Mark was ...Page
growing population
idly
14
See
St.
established to serve a rapin the
FAMILY CENTER,
north-
page
3
Living the Faith Catholic educators
tell
reawaken to vision of
teachers to
Msgr. Joseph Kerin observes Bishop William G. Curlin prepare the holy
faith
...Page
water used to bless the parishioners at the new St. Mark parish center. At left,
16
he
fvcry Week ...Pages
Editorials
By DIANNE RIGGS
10-11
...Pages
12-13
The feast of the Chair
the
—
ASHEVILLE
Sister Marie Frechette was searching the Internet. In rushed International Adoption social worker Carol Meyerriecks with the news that a large, century-old house, kitty-corner to the Catholic Social Services Western Regional Office in
downtown
Asheville,
was
for
sale.
of Peter
is
celebrated Feb. 22.
Sister
Marie
e-mailed
the
manager Marie Bucher made an appointment and by that afternoon, a realtor was showing the realtors, office
staff the property. "It
was
office expands,
Sister Marie, a Missionary Servant of
Correspondent
& Columns
Guy Piche as looks on.
assisted by Rev. Mr.
Todd
Photo by Joann S. Keane
Western Regional CSS
Entertainment
is
Rev. Mr. Curtiss
totally staff driven," said
their
small,
space," said Sister Marie.
A
Office
director, of the effort. In
current
OPEN WIDE the
Charlotte.
to Eliza-
Then
the dio-
Mr. Guy
Piche, diocesan director
of
to Christ.
facilities.
"Then we
had to pray and wait for the diocese to
served.
make
a decision," said Sister
Additionally, they
Marie.
couldn't expand their services to the
fast-growing needs in the area. even had an office in a bathroom
went
cese sent Rev.
Doors
write grant proposals, no more space for additional clients to be
call
beth Thurbee, executive director of Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of
t
building, there was no more space for interns, no more space for grant proposals office space to
offices
had utilized every square inch of
Most Blessed Trinity and CSS
Western Regional
moves
On
Jan. 4, 2000, the modernized,
"We ...
we
See
WESTERN
CSS, page 7