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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Parishioners enjoy at Thanksgiving meal hosted by Father John Pagel, pastor, at St.
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in
Asheville Nov. 25.
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camaraderie.
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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
—
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
St.
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took a different course were
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know
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conscientiously
their responsibilities as
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faithful to the
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
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I've
ever ex-
meant to be a
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litical
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
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6
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 — 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.
—
CHARLOTTE
cares about her students and her faculty
and
on 'kid-friendly issues'
story.
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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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Word of the miraculous cape spread, and 9 Mary told Juan to tell the bishop she wanted a temple trips
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customer
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the Carolinas
and service satisfaction! and see why!
0
in
hill. It
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
# 1 Volkswagen Dealer in Charlotte and
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.
vocal concert by students
from
the
other grades.
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December
17,
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. Velita,
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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
JEAN DENTON
The summer before my senior year of high school, my father an-
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John
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Luke 1:57-66; Friday (Late Advent Weekday), 2
3:1-4, 23-24,
Luke 1:67-79; Saturday (Christmas Day), Isaiah 52:7-10, Hebrews
1:1-6,
1:1-18.
SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 26 - JANUARY Sunday (Holy Family Innocents),
1
John
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of Jesus, Mary and Joseph), Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14, Colossians 3:12-21,
Monday
(St.
John),
1
John
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Matthew 2:13-18; Wednesday
1:5-2:2,
Luke 2:22-35; Thursday,
1
John 2:12-17, Luke 2:36-40;
ce
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or get hurt, forgiving us when turn away and always waiting with arms open to us. 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
The Holy Family is so like our, God: supporting us, giving us courage, comforting and healing us when
I
DO ADS WORK? LISTEN TO THIS: The number
lenges,
for military duty.
went out and faced new chalbut always came home to the
-security of the family.
family."
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
41 -year-
...
//
by
"was
chimneysweep On the tapestries that hang in St. Peter's Square (during the ceremonies), never before was there a blessed chimneysweep. It took John Paul
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
26,
year, although not dramatic,
Dec. 26, Holy Family of Jesus,
by
2004
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December
17,
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.
— 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
bution to black Catholic liturgy."
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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
in the
barriers."
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J.
Rivers,
liturgist
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."
installed as
to be a Catholic
named an 1983.
head of the Diocese of
Carthage
and by the
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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,
THE NEWS
NC 28203.
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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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