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Volume 7 Number 37
Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
«
May 29,
1998
Church Leaders Welcome 'Yes'
On
Vote
Northern
Peace Agreement
Ireland
By CHRISTINA COLCLOUGH BELFAST, Northern Ireland (CNS)
— Church leaders comed
demonstrate that the majority of union-
Good
Catholics, have
day peace agreement, and Ireland's primate said he hoped the vote takes the gun out of Irish politics. A statement issued by Archbishop Sean Brady of Armagh, Northern Ireland, said: "I think we can now move on to work constructively for a better future. The prospects are good, hopes are high, the hand of cooperation has been offered. One day, hopefully it will become the hand of friendship.
over intransigence. They have taken a significant risk for a future of peace in an effort to put aside generations of past conflict," the church leaders said in a joint statement May 26. "The people and political leaders of Northern Ireland and the Republic have taken a courageous step, for which they deserve our heartfelt congratulations,"
far as the parties
CHARLOTTE
— A convert
to the
Navy cook, a and a refugee who
men
will minister to a
computer engineer,
Following are brief profiles of the four transitional deacons to be ordained
escaped communism in Vietnam are the seminarians to be ordained to the priest-
in the diocese,"
he said.
to the priesthood.
in early
Rev. Mr. Dean Cesa Dean' s vocation to the priesthood was realized while participating in parish Ufe
April 1997.
a professional background in computers
June.
Father Eric Houseknecht, diocesan director of vocations, said the Class of
1998 represents a diverse group of individuals. "We celebrate our unity in our diversity. Here, we cross the lines of race, language and culture. As priests, these
Our Lady of
Assumption Church in Charlotte through various prayer groups and choirs. He was also involved in Catholic Singles of Charlotte. While at
the
friends struggled with their faith,
want
bishops' International Policy tee,
Rev. Mr. Dean Cesa and Rev. Mr. Peter Pham, who both attended St. Vincent Seminar}' in Latrobe, Pa., and Rev. Mr. Christopher Davis and Rev. Mr. Matthew Leonard, who both attended St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore, Md., will be ordained by Bishop William G. Curlin on June 6 at 10 a.m. at St. John Neumann Church. The four seminarians were ordained into the transitional diaconate in
hood for the Diocese of Charlotte
to lasting peace.
to express my joy at the depeace and reconciliation that has emerged in the popular referendum in Ireland," he said. "I encourage that beloved people to continue with courage along the path they have taken up." Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick of Newark, N.J., chairman of the U.S. "I
people
Dean
Cardinal Bernard F.
Law
of Boston
he called a "yes" for "a future that moves beyond violence, the bullet and
in
sire for
Catholic faith, a former
ceeds."
Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, 85 percent of voters backed the peace agreement brokered to end the Northern Irish "Troubles." More than 3,000 people have been killed in nearly 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland. Pope John Paul II, visiting the northern Italian city of Turin May 24, hailed the vote and said he hoped it
22 vote held
would lead
wide range of
However, Rev. Kirkpatrick and Archbishop McCarrick warned of remaining "critical challenges" and stressed the importance of continued American support "as the arduous process of healing and reconciliation pro-
praised the referendum results, which
May
Bishop To Ordain Four To Priesthood June 6
they said.
since 1918. In the
first all-Ireland poll
of fire rest on Mary and disciples of Jesus in this 1 5th-century depiction Pentecost by Jose Pessoa. The feast of Pentecost, commemorating tfie descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples, is celebrated May 31 this year.
a decisive choice
of dialogue over violence, compromise
involved in the agreement are concerned, it should mean that the war is over, and it should take the gun out of Irish politics once and for all," Archbishop Brady said. The archbishop, primate of all Ireland, was welcoming the result of the
of the
made
Fri-
the "yes" vote to the
"As
Tongues
and nationalists, Protestants and
ists
in all of Ireland wel-
Commit-
and the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick,
stated clerk of the Presbyterian
USA,
Church
called the vote a "significant risk"
for peace
"The
the
bomb." "The world owes a debt of gratitude whose labors have brought
to all those
us to this point," he said in a statement
May
23.
But he cautioned
work
that "a great
remains" and called for people to pray that God will continue to bless peace efforts. The final count of 71.12 percent in Northern Ireland in favor of the peace deal of
still
was announced May 23. More than 600,000 people turned out to vote, the deal
highest election attendance ever in the British province of Northern Ireland. In the Irish Republic,
96 percent of
voters agreed to drop Articles 2 and 3,
which represent the constitutional
television shortly after results
came
His various parish
summer
as-
signments as a seminarian further Dean has
strengthened his call to ministry.
and engineering. Rev. Mr. Christopher Davis Chris grew up in a Lutheran household and is a convert to Catholicism, hav-
See Ordination, page 3
in,
and a "courageous step." results of the
two referenda
See Peace Agreement, page 3
Hundreds Enter Catholic Church
appreciated the richness of the Catholic tradition.
ter-
claim over Northern Ireland. Retired Bishop Edward Daly of Derry, Northern Ireland, interviewed on ritorial
Hundreds
of
men and women
in
western North Carolina were received into the Catholic Church this Easter through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
See
special insert,
pages 8-9