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Sept 29, 2000

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September

Volume 10

NEWS

2000

29,

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£80Z *

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Number

4

Serving Catholics

n

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i

HERALD

& in

Western North Carolina

in

the Diocese of Charlotte

d

Blessing of the Animals

Bishop dedicates Asheville

home for new CSS office 3

...Page

Father Richard Hanson, parochial vicar St. Vincent de Paul parish in Charlotte, blesses Crackers, the parrot pet of 14-year-old Kieron Kennedy. St.

of

From the Cover

Vincent de Paul held its annual blessing of the animals in conjunction with the Humane Society of Charlotte.

Art bridges history, faith for

Charlotte native

See ST.

FRANCIS OF ASSISI,

5

page

7

...Page

TV special explores the popular St Therese of Lisieux ...Page

Newt

Local Program taps

11

into

young

adult resource ...Page

9 Photos by Joann S. Keane

Class in session for

teachers at in-service

Page 15

National

CCHD director visits with

message of thanks and hope By

JIMMY ROSTAR Associate Editor

{very Week

Asheville, local artists will

Insoon

have

a

place to sell

wares and learn how to develop business skills. In Kannapolis, the Piedmont Peace Project is helping people of many races and classes to participate in the political process and to speak their

Entertainment

Pages 10-11 Editorials

& Columns .Pages

12-13

Empower

Local People (HELP) ensures a place for people of various backgrounds in the political and economic decisions

The Feast Day

of

St. Francis of Assisi is

October

4.

campaign celebrated the theme of helping people help them-

ciaries of the

out against injustice. In Charlotte, Helping

Alberta Hairston, Father Robert Vitillo, and Jan Valder Offerman present a parish participation award to Jesuit Father Robert Paquet of St. Peter Church in Charlotte. Hairston is the diocesan CCHD committee chair and Valder Offerman is a committee member.

that affect their communities.

These are but three western North Carolina projects funded in part by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), the U.S. Catholic bishops' domestic anti-

poverty campaign. And on Sept. 22 and 23, local participants and benefi-

selves with the campaign's executive director, Father

"Through

Robert

Vitillo.

their association with

CCHD,

Catholics in the United States could rejoice in the fact that their celebration of the jubilee year takes on

Photo by Jimmy Rostar

cannot turn our backs to brothers and sisters in need." Father Vitillo was in the Diocese of Charlotte to announce three national grants to organizations within

the diocese, and to visit campaign-

new and more profound meaning,"

funded projects

said Father Vitillo to an audience

Charlotte.

gathered at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte Sept. 23. "Jesus taught by his own example that we

St.

in

Asheville and

He addressed audiences at Thomas Aquinas Church in CharSee

CCHD,

page

4


2

The Catholic News & Herald

September

The World in Brief

African youths stay in Rome, apparently illegally, after WYD OneVATICAN CITY (CNS)

by people whose rights they advocate, according to Bruce Harris, director of Covenant House's Central American affiliate, Casa Alianza. "I don't think we've suffered any hardship that you

—

fourth of the Senegalese and almost half of the Zambian youths who par-

World Youth Day

2000

29,

agency reported. Fides, the news

can speak of," Harris told a Washington human rights gathering. "If we are attacked, we can run away. can run to you and you can come to our

agency of the Congregation for the

defense."

ticipated in

Rome

Italy illegally,

in

in

apparently decided to remain a

We

Vatican news

But the children whose rights he champions "will continue to suffer until we get off our backsides and do something about it," Harris said. Harris was speaking at an American Uni-

Evangelization of Peoples, reported Sept. 23 that 60 of the 232 Senegalese youths and 45 of the 102 Zambians stayed behind when their peers returned home after the Aug. 15-20 event. "The situation should speak to the world and the governments of Africa about the desperate situation of disenchanted African youth without a future in Africa," said Father Alphonse Seek, national director of

symposium on human rights. Jewish-Christian dialogue day postponed after Jews withdraw

versity

VATICAN CITY

Senegal's Catholic laity office.

CNS photo from

Vatican spokesman says Chinese canonizations not political The VATICAN CITY (CNS)

—

Vatican's decision to canonize 120 Catholics martyred in China has no diplomatic or political message, the Vatican spokesman said. The fact that the

ceremony

will take place Oct.

march

Reuters

Mexico City Pro-life activists march against abortion in Mexico City Sept. 24. Some politicians are seeking to tighten abortion controls while Mexico City Mayor Rosario Robles has proposed reforming anti-abortion law to ease the ban. Abortion is allowed only in the event of rape in most Mexican Pro-life

in

states.

China's National Day,

avoided if China and the Vatican had diplomatic relations, said the spokes-

in Thailand. In a statement Sept. 20, Sister Nirmala said that Sister Francesca, in charge of Ma-

man, Joaquin Navarro-Valls. For

hatma Gandhi Welfare Center

in

sponsored by the Canadian government. Sudan bombs church-run clinic after bishops call for cease-fire (CNS) A Sudanese gov-

Catholics, October

Calcutta,

where Mother Teresa began her work and founded the congrega-

ernment warplane dropped three bombs on a church-run medical clinic

of hurting four little girls by touching them with a hot knife." World must decrease guns in war zones, says Vatican official

days after Sudanese bishops called for a cease-fire among warring factions in the country. The attack in Naurus, a village in southern Sudan about 30 miles from the Kenyan border, occurred Sept. 18, reported MISNA, a missionary news agency in Rome. The Sudanese bish-

traditionally dedi-

is

cated to remembering the importance of

missionary

and Oct.

activity,

is

1

the

Therese of Lisieux, patron of For Chinese, Oct. 1 marks the

feast of St.

missions.

anniversary of the 1949 proclamation of the People's Republic of China and the beginning of communist rule. Sister Nirmala gets bail granted for nun charged with child abuse

news agency based

tion, "is guilty

VATICAN CITY

(CNS)

—

If the

community wants to dethe number of child warriors, it

international

crease

—

ROME

meeting

ops' conference,

the order's superior general, appeared be-

must decrease the handguns and small weapons that make their way into war zones, a Vatican official said. "The world has looked on in horror at images of

and ad-

children brandishing, at times appar-

mitted that one of her nuns was guilty of

ently cherishing, possession of small

monitor and assess the cease-fire "to avert the violations that have charac-

CALCUTTA, sionaries

—

(CNS) Misof Charity Sister Nirmala Joshi, India

fore an eastern Indian city court

burning children's hands.

The

Alipore

court in Calcutta granted bail to Sister

Francesca Sept. 19 after Sister Nirmala appeared at the hearing on behalf of the accused nun and promised to pay reported

UCA n

bail,

News, an Asian church

arms

in

many

HERALD

&

September 29, 2000 Volume 10 • Number 4 Most Reverend William G. Curlin Joann S. Keane

Episcopal, j calendar Bishop William G. Curlin will take part in the following events:

Associate Editor: Staff Writer:

Jimmy Rostar

Alesha M. Price

Production Associate: Julie Radcliffe Advertising Representative: Cindi Feerick

Mail:

P.O.

St.,

Box 37267,

Charlotte,

Charlotte,

NC 28203 NC 28237

Phone: (704) 370-3333 FAX: (704) 370-3382 E-mail: catholicnewsicharlottediocese.org

The Catholic News & Herald, USPC 007-393, is published 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 June, July and August for $1 5 per year for enrollees in parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte and $18 per year for all other subscribers. Second-class postage paid at Charlotte NC and by the

other

cities.

POSTMASTER: Send

address corrections to The Catholic

News &

Herald, P.O.

Charlotte,

NC

28237.

Box 37267,

September publication of the Vatican declaration "Dominus Iesus" on "the unicity and salvific universality of Jesus Christ and the church." Neither rabbi

Italy,

is-

terized similar initiatives in the past."

Rights workers say dangers they face tiny next to overall threat WASHINGTON (CNS) Dan-

—

gers faced by are minimal

human

rights advocates

compared

to those faced

—

—

moratorium proposed

WASHINGTON

(CNS)

social justice activists are

—

Catholic

being asked to

wage

a fall campaign calling for a moratorium on the death penalty. Social justice ministers and state Catholic conference directors were asked in a Sept. 1 memorandum from the U.S. Catholic Conference Department of Social Development and World Peace to support Moratorium 2000, calling for a nationwide moratorium on the use of the death penalty. The campaign is spearheaded by Sister Helen Prejean, the Sister of St. Joseph of

Medaille whose experiences as spiritual adviser to death-row inmates became a best-selling book and Academy Awardwinning movie, "Dead Man Walking."

P.O. Box 488, Cullman, 35056, call Benedictine Sister Eleanor Harrison at (256) 734-8302 or e-mail shmon@hiwaay.net. ity Center,

Diocesan

Ala.,

planner October 3 CHARLOTTE

secretary of the Vatican's Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, told Catholic News Service that a new date for the day of dialogue part of the Vatican's Holy Year calendar had not been set. Fall campaign for execution

— The Franciscan

HIGH POINT Mass taking

—

There

is

a

Latin

place at Christ the

King

Church, 1505 East Kivett Dr., at 7 p.m. tonight followed by adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and benedic-

Diocesan clergy retreat Living Waters Reflection Center,

Maggie Valley

6 CULLMAN, Ala.

reflection with prayer,

October

—

1 5 p.m. Confirmation Mass Immaculate Conception Church, Hendersonville

Secretary: Jane Glodowski

1123 South Church

the Oct. 3 event, canceled after the early

Friars and Secular Franciscans of Charlotte invite everyone to celebrate the Transitus, commemorating the passing of St. Francis, tonight at 7:30 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Suther Rd., in the parish hall with a reception following the gathering. For more information, call the church office at (704) 549-1607.

Publisher: Editor:

conflict zones," said

Bishop Diarmuid Martin, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. The bishop represented the Vatican at a Sept. 16-17 International Conference on War-Affected Children

in

sued a statement Sept. 15 calling for a cease-fire to be "strictly observed" and requested that the United Nations

h

NEWS

A

was available for comment Sept. 21. Dominican Father Rem! Hoeckman,

1,

was not an intentional snub and may have been

—

(CNS)

Vatican-sponsored Day of JewishChristian Dialogue was postponed indefinitely after leaders of Rome's Jewish community withdrew their participation. Rabbis Elio Toaff and Abramo Piatelli, who were scheduled to speak at

October 2-5

— The

Benedictine

and Conference Center is sponsoring an Intensive Centering Prayer Retreat this weekend through Spirituality

October 6-7 Guest speaker at Eucharistic Congress 2000 Archdiocese of Washington D.C.

Oct. 8 beginning with 6:30 p.m. registration tonight. for those

October 9-13 Directing priests' retreat Diocese of Palm Beach, Fla.

who

The

retreat

is

designed

practice centering prayer

and wish to deepen their relationship with God through this method of prayer. For further details and registration,

write to the Benedictine Spiritual-

tion.

For more information,

church

office at (336)

MAGGIE VALLEY

call the

884-0244.

—

The Cross and the Rainbow, the 3rd annual retreat for lesbian and gay Christians, is

a

weekend consisting of spiritual group sessions

and Mass. The weekend, sponsored by the Gay and Lesbian Commission of the Diocese of Charlotte, is being held at the Living Waters Reflection Center, 103 Living Waters Lane, through Oct. 8. For details about donations and other information, contact David Ferguson at (704) 5218911 or write to P.O. Box 12451, Charlotte, N.C., 28220-8911.


September

29,

2000

The Catholic News & Herald 3

Bishop dedicates

historic Asheville

home

for Catholic Social Services

New location carries on legacy of human rights pioneer By

WENDY

E.

MURRAY

house

Correspondent

—

ASHEVILLE

It

seems

Western Regional

that the

fitting

Office of

Catholic Social Services should be the new occupant of a home once owned

by Dr. Mary Frances Shuford, an early pioneer for

On

human

Social Services in Asheville.

The

dedi-

was attended by 130 commu-

cation

nity supporters. "It's

in a

Photo by Wendy Murray

Bishop William G. Curlin, back left, Sr. Marie Frechette, front left, Elizabeth Thurbee, far right, and the staff of the CSS Western Regional Office celebrate the dedication of their new location.

BMHS graduate awarded

Student Service Scholarship

—

Scholarship by the Corporation for National Service and Home School Association in recognition of her outstanding service to the community. Announced by President Clinton and administered by the Corporation for National Service, the President's Student Service Scholarships are awarded to high school juniors or seniors to recognize an exemplary record of community service. The Corporation for National Service funds $500 of the $1,000 scholarship, which is matched with a locally funded scholarship of at least $500 from the school, a local civic group, business or faith-based organization. Fahey plans to attend Appalachian State University in Boone. She is the daughter of Kevin and JoAnn Fahey.

—

LENOIR The Transitus service will take place in the new St. Francis of Assisi Church building on Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. This Franciscan celebration commemorates the passing of St. Francis of Assisi from this life to the next. All are invited to join Franciscan Sister Andrea Inkrott and members of the Brother Francis Secular Order Fraternity from the Unifour area. The church is located on Highway 321 North, just before Wal-Mart. For more information, call Sister Andrea at (828) 754-0286.

—

Karen Quick

at (704) 588-0326.

CHARLOTTE — The Our Lady of Assumption Ladies' Guild is having their annual attic and bake sale today from 8 a.m.-l p.m. in the church parking lot at 4207 Shamrock Dr. If rain occurs, the. sale will be held on Oct. 14 at "the same location. Call Teresita Staub at (704) 455-2608 or the church office at (704) 535-9965 with any questions.

CHARLOTTE

— The theme

for the

Patrick School Fall Festival 2000 is "Around the World," and this year's event includes food, fun and St.

games with an international

flavor.

The

superior court judge, in 1900. When Shuford was a child, her family's beloved African-American cook died of appendicitis because there was no

many of Asheville's black residents. This was the impetus for her medical career. Returning to Asheville in 1943, Shuford launched a crusade to estabmedical aid for

Shuford died in 1983 after a long medical career that spawned health insurance, a savings and loan plan, a health clinic and a

—

all

name given

to the neighborhood where most blacks resided during those years. After major renovations, the

istration

Eucharistic adoration takes place today at St. Mary Church, 22 Bartlett St., following 9 a.m. Mass until 3 p.m.

For more information,

call

Annette Leporis at (828) 497-7464. 1 1 CHARLOTTE The St. John Neumann Church 50+ Club is having their monthly meeting this morn-

—

community center "Stump Town," a

for residents of

church

—

African-Americans.

She succeeded.

SYLVA

is

required, so call the 362-5047, Ext.

office at (704)

201, for further explanation.

CHARLOTTE — The Fordham Uni-

versity

Alumni Club of the Carolinas

invites the

alumni of

all

leges and universities to

Jesuit col-

its 1st

Jesuit

Alumni Networking Night, held

to-

8451 Idlewild Rd. A representative from a national fast food chain is this month's featured speaker, and donations are being taken for lunch. For more information, call Gloria

night at 6 p.m. in the upper room of the Tyber Creek Pub, 1933 South Blvd. The evening includes light refreshments and hors d'oeuvres, a guest speaker and a non-structured networking environment. For further information or directions, call Joe

Silipigni at (704) 821-1343.

Robinson

ing at

1 1

a.m. in the parish center at

12 CHARLOTTE

— Bereavement

Ministry Training for the fall season is taking place beginning tonight at St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Rd., in rooms A and B of the ministry center on the 1st floor from 7-9:30 p.m. and continuing Oct. 19 and 26

proceeds will support school academics and beautification. For details, call

training course for those

1

Dr. Shuford had lived in the house since she was 3 years old. Built in 1880 by OH. Henry, the house was purchased by Shuford's father, a

the school office at (704) 333-3174.

festival is being held today from a.m.-4 p.m. on the school grounds located at 1125 Buchanan St. The 1

helping to change lives," said Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity Sister Marie Frechette, director of the CSS Western Regional Office. Catholic Social Services' Western

lish a hospital for

Francis Church to hostTransitus service

7 CHARLOTTE St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Rd., is having a craft sale, sponsored by the Busy Bunch Craft Group, today from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the church building fund. For more information, call

others to use their talents in

of caring continues.

WINSTON-SALEM Sarah' Fahey, a graduate of Bishop McGuinness High School, has been awarded a President's Student Service

New St.

wonderful to have our offices that can provide opportuni-

Regional Office, with a staff of 1 2 and over 50 volunteers, offers family counseling, pregnancy support, adoption and immigration services. Now, it is housed in a place where a legacy

President's

and Nov.

2.

This

is

a

four-week basic who wish to

support and assist the bereaved. Reg-

at (704) 366-3759. The Fordham Alumni Club was orga-

nized in 1997 and holds various social activities during the year.

13

Catholic Social Services Office's means of outreach, one area that continues to is

immigration services.

"Our

how

staff provides education

on

out employment authorization forms, family reunification papers and even provides assistance for to

fill

someone wanting

a driver's license,"

said Sister Marie.

home

ties for

4,900-

a

Among

William G.

Curlin dedicated the historic landmark as the new offices of Catholic

St.,

Western Regional

grow

rights.

Sept. 20, Bishop

50 Orange

at

square-foot Victorian home, has been returned to the purpose of helping others in need.

BELMONT — The

Belmont Ab-

bey College Homecoming 2000 weekend includes a salute to graduates from 1950 and 1975 and their 25th and 50th reunions, the dedication of the Student Commons to Abbot Walter Coggin, O.S.B., and the Fun

The

international adoption pro-

gram has continued as well,

and the

to

office

grow markedly more

has placed

than 250 children from Russia and China. In 1993, Elizabeth Thurbee, now executive director of Catholic SoServices in the diocese, was exploring international adoptions. "She had the heart to get it going," said Sister cial

Marie. "Domestic adoptions were dwindling, and there is always a need to help children find a home."

Growth is also evident in the counseling services provided by the office, as it is one of the few agencies in the Asheville area that offers bilingual counseling to its clients. Some expansion into other counties is slated for the future. "I always thought the growth would be to the west of the mountains, but there is a clamor for Hispanic services to be provided in the Morganton area," said Sister Marie. "We're hoping more grants will enable us to be fully present there." The new home also houses Lilies of the Field, Inc., a food pantry which feeds an average between 100 to 150 month

families a

in

western North

The

diocese donates free rental space for the pantry, founded by Diana Riddle, and Catholic Social Services pays for its utilities and phone. For further information on CSS Western Regional Office's services, call Sister Marie at (828) 253-0717. Carolina.

Field Celebration held by the athfields

letic

with a climbing wall,

putt-putt golf food, games and music for all ages. Call the alumni office

more complete schedule and further information at (704) 825for a

6889 or check the website

at

www.beImontabbeycollege.edu.

HOT SPRINGS

— There

is

a re-

treat taking place for caregivers entitled "If I Only Had a Weekend for Myself held through Oct. 15 at the Jesuit House of Prayer, 289 Hwy. 25/70. The retreat is being led by Rev. Jane Curran, a Method-

NW

ist

minister and chaplain for Hos-

For more details, Peg Verstege, director, at (828) 622-7366. The House of Prayer is open most of the year and offers private and pice in Asheville. call

Mercy

Sister

Ignatian-directed retreats. Please submit notices of events for the Diocesan Planner at least 10 days prior to the publication date.


4

The Catholic News & Herald

CCHD.

Lawrence

1970 by the nation's

Catholic bishops, the campaign focuses on ending poverty and injustice by effecting societal chance and empowering the poor to develop an eco-

nomic and

political voice.

Father Vitillo's message focused on commemorating jubilee, a time of celebration for Christians across the world, but an era still marked by dire poverty for many. Pointing to the jubilee theme of setting aside time and resources to recognize God's gifts to his people, especially the poor, Father Vitillo noted the importance of that idea in this dawn of the third millennium. "Perhaps the observance of jubilee and most espeis more needed now than it cially in the United States was in biblical times," he added. "The pope envisioned this jubilee not simply as a time to give more handouts to the poor, but as a time to set right the -In Charlotte,

—

more than $250 million in support of these projects, which are controlled by the poor and low-income people they serve. While the campaign operates in the name of U.S. Catholics, it reaches out to all disadvantaged people, regardless of creed, social status or location, Father Vitillo noted. A national collection is taken in parishes each November. A quarter of the proceeds in each diocese is retained by that diocese to fund local

—

In addition to thanking Dr. Barney Offerman, diocesan CCHD director, the diocesan CCHD committee and parish leaders for their commitment, Father Vitillo said participation in the campaign is healthy in the

Diocese of Charlotte. "Over the years, the clergy and the faithful of the Diocese of Charlotte have been most generous and attentive

Campaign

Human

to the Catholic

Development," said Father Vitillo. "In its 30-year history, the campaign has received $967,000 from this diocese. Another $322,000 has been retained

in a structural

and to build a ity and love."

That

manner

civilization of solidar-

Father Vitillo noted, echoes the purpose of CCHD. "CCHD recognizes that people who are poor must take the lead in vision,

creating solutions for their

communi-

all

taken by poor people themselves," he said.' "They also mandated the campaign to educate Catholics about the root causes of poverty." Hence the funding of some 3,000 economic and job development, community development and housing, and family and community issues projects across the United States in the past 30 years. The national CCHD office has

for

here for local funding." In addition, he said, the campaign has offered $1.2 million of national funding to 39 projects in the diocese. Three of those projects received grants this year in this diocese:

Mountain

of us must be engaged in these efforts," he said. "By initiating the campaign, the bishops developed a strategy of supporting social change efforts under-

problems, and that

ties'

Chris

and that

The campaign at work

such conditions as poverty, discrimination and injustice. "He also sees it as a time for those living in poverty to educate the rest of society about the ways to address so-

problems

-

Baumann

MicroEnterprise

Fund: Two grants totaling $100,000 were announced to open a second office to support the western North Carolina organization's outreach and to open MountainMade, a store selling locally produced crafts in Asheville. Mountain MicroEnterprise operates in 1 1 rural western North Carolina counties, creating and sustaining jobs, providing business train-

ing and offering loans for local low-tomoderate income entrepreneurs.

it

will create 15 full-time

MountainMade sales of

will

$360,000 by

Piedmont Peace Project: A grant for $35,000 will fund the ongoing operation of "Puentes," Spanish for "Bridges," a Latino organizing project whose goals are to involve Latinos in all aspects of the Piedmont Peace Project to effect social changes. Based in Kannapolis, the Piedmont Peace Project works with and for people of many races, empowering them to stand up to injustice, inequality and lack of economic opportunity.

century,

Home

Helping Empower Local People:

available at your

We

Contact Associate Editor Jimmy Rostar by calling (704) 370-3334 or email jtrostar@charlottediocese.org

Titles, plus Bibles, Rosaries, Statues,

& much, much more! Monday Friday

Medals, Tapes, CD's, Plaques, Hours:

9am 5pm -

233 N. Greene

Catholic Social 11

23 South Church

home, come

Services

many

stimulating daily activities and

which make iMary field

St.

Greensboro,

NC 27401

i

Long Term Care.

1315 Greensboro Road High Point, NC 27260

Fax 336.886.4036

ww w.grcen sboro. com /m n h

A CONTINUING

St

Executive Director: Elizabeth Thurbee (704) 370-3228 Refugee Office: Cira Ponce (704) 370-6930 justice & Peace: Joanne K. Frazer (704) 370-3225 Special Ministries: Gerard A. Carter (704) 370-3250

1 123 South Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28203 Area Director: Geri King (704) 370-6155 Western Region: 50 Orange Street, Asheville, NC 28801 Area Director: Sister Marie Frechette (828) 255-0146 Piedmont-Triad: 621 W. Second Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27108 Area Director: David Harold (336) 727-0705 Greensboro Satellite Office: (336) 274-5577 High Point Hispanic Center: (336) 884-5858

Charlotte Region:

the best possible choice

('

NC

28201 www.cssnc.org Charlotte,

We invite you to

336.886.2444

spirit of celebrating helping people help themselves was electric. "You've made it a grand day here," he told the Charlotte audience. "It's really been a joy meeting you and seeing you. This truly is a gathering of friends. thank you very much." t

Mary field

discover for yourself our

for

In both Asheville and Charlotte,

Offerman noted, the

Catholic Gift & Book Store

has provided

When you need more care than

services

campaign.

organization that has benefited from CCHD in the past, HELP has received a $45,000 grant to fund staff and expenses in order to broaden its Rural Organizing Project. The organization is planning to put in motion agendas for neighborhood development in low-income areas and to extend more job training for working poor people. N HELP involves about 55 religious communities, neighborhood associations and parent-teacher organizations to lead to institutional change in Union and Mecklenburg counties. Chris

(336)273-2554

a Catholic environment.

visit us.

ganizing Project. In addition, Father Vitillo helped confer awards to a dozen parishes with noteworthy participation in the

An

third year

outstanding nursing care in

is

service training, helps workers move from welfare to work, trains them for the food service mdustfy and offers meals to needy people. The Waymer Center is a site of HELP's Rural Or-

It offers training programs assisting people of various races and classes to communicate effectively. Theresa Williams Bethea is its executive director.

have annual its

.With Great Love.

For half a

Baumann is a key organizer who addressed the Charlotte audience. Father Vitillo's visit also included three visits to funded projects, MountainMade crafts store under construction in Asheville, the Community Culinary School in Charlotte and the David B. Waymer Center in Huntersville. The culinary school offers food

and

10 part-time jobs while supporting local artists and businesspeople.

MicroEnterprise, Mountain whose executive director is Greg Walker-Wilson, expects that

Providing Quality honglerm Care

Nursing

Greg Walker-Wilson

Theresa Williams Bethea

Over 700 Book

. .

Photos by Jimmy Rostar

projects as well.

relationships in society which lead to

cial

2000

offered

in Asheville. in

29,

from page 1

lotte.and the Basilica of St.

Founded

September

Around the Diocese

\RE

R

.ment

;

elD Community

For information

on

specific programs, please call your local office.


September

29,

2000

The Catholic News & Herald 5

Around the Diocese

St. Francis of Assisi inspires

annual By

JOANN

of blessing

rite S.

KEANE

While the dogs made

CHARLOTTE — Lilly

was right Sunday heat. The tiny lizard was one of the creatures great and small on the lawn of St. at

home

in the

—

—

Vincent de Paul parish for the annual Blessing of the Animals. The tiny green lizard and her caretaker, Lizzy Martin, got a quick splash of holy water, as did a varietal menagerie of animals. Cats, dogs, a smattering of guinea

Photos by Joann S. Keane

Five-year-old Ben and his three-year old twin brothers, Scott and Will, take a look at family 'pet' snake, Arobot.

and a snake were in Father Richard Hanson, parochial vicar of the south Charlotte parish, welcomed the animal-loving crowd. "We have come to together on this Feast of St. Francis of Assisi to ask God's blessing on all the little children and on all the dear pets of our households," he said. The feast of St. Francis is observed Oct. 4. With dog biscuits for the pooches and cookies for the kids, there was something for everyone. But the focus didn't stray as the pets came forward,

known

in

promptly resting

pigs, fish, a parrot

ing,

tow

cool concrete.

as

their pres-

very vocal terms, Father Hanson introduced Patti Lewis of the Humane Society. For 22 years, Lewis' mission has led her to be a guardian for animals in the area. Mario, a guide puppy-in-training, wore a special jacket denoting his status as a future guide dog. His foster 'Mom,' Judy Graham, brought the six-month-old black beauty for an appropriate blessing. Mario took the attention in stride following the blessence

Editor

his

body on the

In spite of the broiling heat, the

The puppy's no stranger to St. Vincent de Paul he's been to Mass, though he's prone to impromptu solos. As part of the dog's training, Graham works to indoctrinate her charge with the aspects of daily life. While blessing of the animals and children is commonplace in parish communities, Father Hanson sees a distinct difference with the St. Vincent de Paul blessing, held in conjunction with the Humane Society. "They bring treats for the pets, for the adults, for the children. That's what makes ours special."

were quite well-behaved as they waited patiently for their blessing. "They're handled well by their masters," said Father Hanson.

Contact Editor Joann Keane by call(704) 3 70-3336 or e-mail jskeane@charlottediocese.org.

one by one, for the blessing

rite.

—

pets

Jenny Boush hangs on to her puppy.

Four-year-old Tory Boush holds Daisy, waiting for the sprinkling of

ing

Mario, a guidepuppy-in-training, chills following the

Holy Water.

blessing.

VOLUNTEER MINISTRY Pastoral Care Training This program

is

designed

to train

parish volunteers

to

provide pastoral

care to the elderly in retirement facilities, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, memory-impaired facilities, and homebound. Through the four-week training, volunteers will be

exposed

to the

We'll beat any advertised Let us prove it!

following concepts:

m

Each two-hour session held from 7-9 pm. Monday, Oct. 9th

BJ Dengler

Parish Ministry

Pastoral Coordinator

Monday, Oct. 16th

Msgr. John

Eucharistic Ministry

St.

Monday, Oct. 23rd Senior Sensitivity

Bernadette Ford

Monday, Oct. 30th Confidentiality,

Sr.

Compliance, Consistency

« m

m

McSweeney

Matthew, pastor

Dealerships

Gerontologist

Jeanne Marie

Serving Charlotte with integrity for over 39 years!

Kienast, R.S.M. Pastoral Associate

MITSUBISHI

All sessions will be held at:

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Free training but registration required, call 364-5431

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531-3131 Frank LaPointe, President,

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The Catholic News & Herald

6

People

September 29, 2000

the News

in

Catholic, only female Olympian from Pakistan, faces obstacles

archbishop says church

U.S.

urgently needed in Internet world EDMONTON, Alberta (CNS)

—

The

rise of the

church must re-emphasize

SYDNEY,

means the

Internet

its

Catholic

mandate

—A

Australia (CNS)

woman

the only female ath-

is

on the Pakistan team competing

lete

at

disciples, said the retired arch-

the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Shazia

bishop of San Francisco. But Archbishop John Quinn said the ideals and values needed by society will be best learned not through the Internet, but offline in churches, mosques, temples and synagogues. "In the new world of the Internet, the church will be more necessary than ever," Archbishop Quinn said in a keynote talk that kicked off the four-day Assembly 2000 of the Archdiocese of Edmonton.

Hidayat, 20, a middle- and long-distance runner from a village near Chichawatni, a small town about 220 miles south of Islamabad, said she had to overcome big

to

make

Australian priest achieves 'personal goal' at Olympics SYDNEY, Australia (CNS)

obstacles to

who

a

member

of the

father, a teacher, al-

sphere in the country

is so male-dominated that everybody told him not to send me for the athletic meet," she told

UCA

News, an Asian church news in Thailand. Some quar-

agency based

were insisting that the Pakistani team be all male, she said, recalling that

ters

— CNS

w He

stani

Games

to be held in October Mike's Archery in St. Cloud where he works will compete in the Paralympic Games in Sydney in October.

Paralympic

Archer Aaron Cross practices part time.

the question

PHOTO BY DlANNE TOWALSKI, St. CLOUD VISITOR

woman

was

raised of

how

a Paki-

could race in a competition

which other

in

at

women do

not wear

clothes that cover their body.

church officials voice concern over ruling on twins

British

Opening Ceremony was unforget-

table, said the priest,

"My

ways supported me, but the whole atmo-

Father Rex Hackett, parish priest of Casino, in the north of New South Wales, said he achieved a "personal goal" attending the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. The emotion of the

become

national team.

LONDON

held tickets

(CNS)

—

British church

to 16 events. "I

to Life

Lourdes Benedicto, one of the cast

the front, he said. "When the united Korea team entered, the whole stadium roared as one.. It was the same when the East Timorese entered,

Award Sept. 19. Archbishop Edward M. Egan of New York presented the award at the guild's annual luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Sister McBride, who said her fam-

soap opera "Titans," knows the value of a Catholic education. Benedicto went from kindergarten through her senior year of high school at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Manhattan. Her parents may have hoped she would

a court ruling allowing an operation to

follow in their footsteps and become a

mit the separation, in which the weaker of the twins would die. In a statement that day, Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Birmingham expressed dismay at the ruling, saying the judgment "amounts

was eight rows from and the atmosphere was

electric,"

110,000 voices shouting their approval for this new nation."

Carmelite nun receives annual Cooke Right to Life Award

NEW YORK (CNS) — Carmelite

Sister

M. Aloysius McBride, who

di-

members

brought her to the Bronx at the age of 12 from their native County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, was named by the late Cardinal John J. O'Connor to direct ily

Cooke Guild when he launched the

the

cause for Cardinal Terence

J.

Cooke Guild until her retirement last year, received the guild's annual Cardinal Cooke Right

'Titans'

she chose acting. "Just being in a samesex school for 13 years empowers a woman to be not only independent but strive for whatever she wants in life and look for (it)," Benedicto said.

Cooke's

actress sees value of Catholic education

all-girls

HOLLYWOOD

—

(CNS)

NBC's new prime-time

doctor, lawyer or businesswoman, but

canonization in 1984.

rected the Cardinal

in

expressed concern that a child's right to life would be denied as a result of officials

separate Siamese twin girls against the

wishes of their Catholic parents. Supporting an earlier High Court ruling, three judges at London's Court of Appeal voted unanimously Sept. 22 to per-

to the direct killing of a person,

basic right to

life

whose

will be denied."

Bishop William G. Curlin announces

LEADERSHIP TRAINING REGISTRATION FORM Please use(1) form per person. Please Deadline: Friday, October 20, 2000

print.

LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR PRESENT & FUTURE LAY MINISTERS

Name

PART

Fri.,

I*:

Sat.,

Parish

*

City

The Leaderslrip Track Parts A,

Zip

State

TRACK

B

Nov. 3 Nov. 4

7:00-9:00 p.m.

(704) 370-3244

TRACK

I

• Workshop sessions

will

cares

and makes a

Civil difference.

assist participants in defining

($20/person, includes lunch) • Discussions

Leadership Fund, Diocese of Charlotte 1

• As leaders, participants

Fr.

• Participants

tasks

James Hawker

Law

[Sat I]

will

learn the

skills

to

needed

to organize the

their ministries.

will

Each participant

and Companioning Presenter: Joanna Case, Catechetical Initiation Ministry Presenter: Rev. Mr, Curtiss Todd, Vice Chancellor

Issues of Inculturation • Skills for Multi-Cultural Sensitivities

Presenter: Terry Aiken, Juvenile Court Counselor, Consultant for Diversity and Sensitivity

have the opportunity to apply their

&

B)

Group

Presenter: Rev. Peter Jugis, Judicial Vicar

Developing Advocacy Skills • For the marginalized, needy, poor, elderly,

will

develop a personal action plan

addressing specific issues of his/her ministry.

Affecting Lay Ministers

Facilitating Faith Experience

Canon Law

to their ministry.

[Fri]

Presenter: Richard Lucey, Diocesan Attorney

Employment Issues

upon not only

leadership and organization learning (Parts A

• Various forms of assistance

resources and mentors. Presenters: Leadership

AM]

will

disabled, & oppressed Presenter: Barney Offerman,

be available through

Diocesan Catholic

Team

PhD

Director,

Campaign

Affecting Lay Ministers [Sat

Developing Advocacy

Skills [Sat

PM]

PM] Note:

PART

II Workshops (March 23-24, 2001) include Listening Volunteer Recruitment and Management.

for

Human Development

Issues of Inculturation [Sat AM]

J Canon Law li

in

• Participants

•

Experience

Employment Issues

called

Presenters: Leadership Team Part C: Developing an Action Plan.

Affecting Lay Ministers [Fri]

Facilitating Faith

be

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Skills, Conflict

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September

29,

2000

The Catholic News & Herald 7

From the Cover

Art bridges history, faith for Charlotte native JIMMY ROSTAR

By

ment," she calls

Associate Editor

—

CHARLOTTE

Schoettler describes her

life

performed Ellouise and her

work

as journeys of serendipity, seof encounters both linking her to past generations and ensuring their

A

"What

lives on.

born and raised in Charlotte, Schoettler has become well-acquainted with long-deceased family members she never knew and has secured a legacy she believes will keep the stories alive for future generayou don't

tell

your story and

people, they're dead," she

pletely gone."

A professional storyteller since 1997, Schoettler has also been telling tales through collages and fabric work for even longer. An interest in women's its

way

issues dating back to the and early '70s finally made

Ellouise Schoettler works on a new collage during a recent visit to Charlotte. storyteller and visual artist traces her roots to the Queen City.

The

took was through

natural,

it

seems, that

have come to

I

work in bits and pieces of fabric, because so much of the talk in those days and still the reality for a lot of

Jim Schoettler and had three

out of bits and pieces. You're a bit of a mother, you're a bit of a career person, you're a bit of this and that. "For me, working in collages is pretty much the same as how you put your life together, when you're trying

—

women

children.

Influenced by Miriam Schapiro, a leader in the feminist art movement

who urged

work for equal remembering women of the past, Schoettler began creating abstract art pieces whose themes focused on what it meant to her to be a artists to

rights while

woman. "I work

says.

stories weren't lost

just never

in collage,

and pieces," she says.

which

is

bits

sort of

"It's

—

I

"The

The paper mentioned Catherine Lonergan Cobb,

I

equal rights for women artists," says Schoettler of that era, during which she had returned to college to pursue an art degree. By then, she had married

two grandmothers," she

signed by Father J.J. O'Connell, a missionary priest of the 1800s who made his way through the Southeast.

Photo by Jimmy Rostar

into art.

"The path

didn't

important." One of the stories she has uncovered involves St. Peter Church, the oldest existing Catholic Church in Charlotte. In her aunt's home, Schoettler found a piece of paper

you name them and let memory live, they're not com-

late 60's

I

covered is encourage people to tell their own," she continues. "They don't have to be special. Ordinary stories are important; ordinary people are

says. "But if

their

found was that

listened, or they weren't talked about." "Part of what I want to do with telling the family stories that I've un-

tions.

"If

I

know anything about any of the women in my family history past my

storyteller and visual artist

name your

blending folklore,

family tales and local history to tell stories that celebrate women's lives.

ries

memory

Since then she has

it.

solo,

to

—

is

that

wear so many

you make your

life

hats."

Schoettler continues to create and

show her

fabric works,

using the same sewing machine she used 35 years ago to make her daughters' clothes.

"There's an interconnectedness of your living in this work," she says with a smile.

Another fork

in

Ellouise's fraternal

great-great grandmother. The Lonergans, Ellouise discovered, were among those who raised the walls of the uptown Charlotte church in the 1850s. Aside from a few details of Catherine's life, Schoettler knew very little of her. "She had been dead 48 years when I was born," she says.

the road

Ellouise Schoettler, the daughter

of Robert and Louise Diggle of Charcomes from a line of people who appreciate a good story. "My dad's family were great talkers," she says. "They weren't particularly formal storytellers, but they lotte,

"When I talk about her, I have to imagine her from the family I knew that came from her." Hence the development of "Irish Gold." The program tells the imagined story of Catherine, whom Schoettler describes as a sad person

—

were talkers and tellers and the truth had to be varnished up a bit." Years later, a continued interest in genealogy sparked Schoettler to begin a series of shows where she and

who

lost those closest to her.

a historian friend read poetry, letters

and wills

Share your day

—

See

"genealogy entertain-

STORYTELLER,

page

and lunch with friends!

.Two dates & locations to choose from! 9:30-3:30

— —

Thursday, Oct. 19 St. Mark, Huntersville P«rfne; Oct. 4rh Thursday, Oct. 26 St. Elizabeth, Boone

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or Meg Smith (828) 464-8442 It's

To

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—

Group

registration

forms

FREE copy CALL 1-800-291-2048

For your

& Location Preferred

and directions to the Conference Center are and with Club leaders.

available at church offices

14


8

The Catholic News & Herald

We need a By

September

Around the Diocese

little

ALESHA M. PRICE

HIGH POINT

—

like the third

It

the church did not feel

The new

brick church, containing facili-

and a kitchen facility, will have an open and spacious feel with exposed wooden support beams, explained Perry Kairis, chairman of the building committee. ties,

a small chapel

The $4.1 million capital campaign goal has nearly been met due to diocesan and parishioner support, which, Al Guecia, co-chair of the groundbreaking committee and chair of the communications committee, said, is

tion

because of the positive interac-

between the members of the par-

ish.

"What has made the capital campaign so easy is that we are a close

church.

Parishioners gathered stones on the property to take home and pray over to lay in the foundation before the cement is poured. "It (gathering the stones) was a commemorative gesture so that everyone could put his or her thoughts into the church, and it was a way to make everyone feel a part of the celebration," said Grace Bischoff, cochairperson of the groundbreaking committee. "The day felt nice; there was a sense of community and excitement." The overflow has become too much to handle with the approxi-

For now,

the first structure being

two nurseries, administrative

Joseph C. Zuschmidt, IHM pastor, followed suit to ceremoniously start

new

to the property. is

built."

fall

season as the parishioners stood in the field under the tent awaiting the first turn of earth. The parishioners of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in High Point gathered in the Sunday afternoon heat on Sept. 24 to celebrate the beginnings of their future church with a groundbreaking celebration. The land was blessed, and the participants were welcomed as they watched the first stirrings at their new site. Father Mauricio W. West, vicar general and chancellor, made the first dig, and Franciscan Father

the construction of the

go out

will

day of the

2000

elbow room, say churchgoers

Staff Writer

much

29,

community

spiritually

and there

a lot of fellowship

and

socially,

Courtesy photo

Young IHM parishioners lend

hand

digging toward their futures as they cast their child-size shovels in the dirt at the church groundbreaking in High Point on Sept. 24. a

in

us.

is

among

People are always willing to help,"

said Guecia.

Construction is, scheduled to offibegin in October, .and the tentative completion date is:Christmas 2001.

cially

hold between 800 and 900 people with the capacity to be expanded to hold up to 1,200. The church's fellowship and gathering areas will be able to be used for additional space as needed until the hall is built sometime in the future, said Father Zuschmidt. "The long-range goal, 20 to 25 years from now, is that everything, including the school and the rectory,

mately 1,000 families registered and the five weekend Masses with standing room only in the 400-seat struc-

you don't get to 10:00 a.m. a.m., you have to stand; always really crowded," said

ture. "If

Mass by 9:30 it

is

Bischoff.

The new 28,000 square-feet church, being built several miles away from the present building, will

Contact Staff Writer Alesha

Global Worming. Operation Christmas Child® is warming the hearts of children around the world. Since 1993, this unique ministry of Samaritan's Purse® has brought joy to

some 9 filled

million hurting children in over 65 countries with shoe boxes

with

toys, candy,

and other

gifts

by people

like you.

There are several ways to participate: 1

.

2.

Pray for Operation Christmas Child.

Pack a shoe box.

3. Volunteer

at

Franklin Graham,

Chairman of Samaritan's Purse

the Charlotte Processing Center

must be at least 1 3) anytime from November 20 through December 9.

(volunteers

(oil the (orolinos Operation Christmas Child office at (704)

or coll

M.

Price by calling (704) 370-3354 or email amprice@charlottediocese.org.

U6-M9

I-800-JB-5W to order materials to participate.

Operation Christmas Chid is a project of Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian reliefand evangelism organization.

www.samaritanspurse.org


September

29,

2000

Program taps ALESHA

The Catholic News & Herald 9

Around the Diocese

young adult resource

into

discussions of Christian-based topics

young adult reach young where they

Catholics in Charlotte and surround-

with a Catholic focus surrounded by

offer insight into the Catholic

ing areas will have the chance to connect with other Catholics from their generation at a newly developed series of evening gatherings in the dio-

praise music," said

McDermott. "The goal is to have more involvement from young adults and to invite them into the Catholic community in Char-

which people may not necessarily

By

M. PRICE

"The program

who wants

Staff Writer

CHARLOTTE

—

Young

adult

to

is open to anyone come, and there will be

"Our job is to meet them This program will

ministry.

adults and to are.

Upcoming schedule for Theology on Tap:

Church,

gain after confirmation." The target parishes are those in the Charlotte area and those within a lotte and other areas." one-hour radius of Charlotte; howcese. Because of college, new jobs and ever, anyone in the diocese may travel Theology on Tap is a program new locations, many young adults to attend the free sessions. The plan is that originally began in Chicago as a way for people in their late teens to get Theology on Tap started throughout the diocese and to through their thirties to connect and share their faith through get vocation directors involved Theology on Tap is one way for people to discussions, music and dialogue. with young adult ministry, exgather with other young Catholics that they plained Rupp. The program has since spread to would not necessarily meet either during or the Southern area of the country All sessions will be held from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Sunand has been successful, exafter work or outside of a parish setting. plained Colleen McDermott, didays at various locations. The ocesan director of campus and first session will be on October young adult ministry. find themselves not registered in a 10 at Southend Brewery in South "Our program is based on the one parish or lacking the support of a Charlotte with Conventual Father in the Archdiocese of Chicago that larger Catholic community. Theology Jude DeAngelo, campus minister at moved to Atlanta two years ago. on Tap is one way for people to Wake Forest University in Winstonthought it would work here because gather with other young Catholics Salem, as the guest speaker. The sewe have a similar young adult poputhat they would not necessarily meet ries concludes on Dec. 3 with Bishop lation with the same dynamics in an either during or after work or outside William G. Curlin at St. Peter urban setting." of a parish setting. This serves as a Church in Charlotte. The eight sessions will be held chance for them to establish relationalternately at local restaurants and ships, said McDermott. If you are a young adult or if you churches starting in October and con"We have people from several difknow any young adults who might be tinuing through December. The main ferent parishes all over the Charlotte interested in attending, call Jennifer focus is theology and Catholic teacharea planning the series, and many of Rupp at (704) 370-3359. ing in a setting where participants them are people who are working diContact Staff Writer Alesha M. can ask questions that concern their rectly with young adults in their parPrice by calling (704) 370-3354 or email amprice@charlottediocese.org. age group to the featured speaker and ishes," said Jennifer Rupp, diocesan program coordinator for youth and enjoy fellowship with others.

October 15 Father Matthew in

9:

30arn-5:30pm

at

Matthew

St.

Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy.

24 Mercy Sister Larretta RiveraWilliams, director of faith formation at St. Benedict the Moor Church in Winston-Salem, at Southend Brewery, 2100 South Blvd.

29 Capuchin

Father

Martin ThoSt. Tho-

Schratz, parochial vicar at St.

mas Aquinas Church, at mas Church, 1400 Suther Road.

November 7

Jesuit Father Lucien Martinez,

parochial vicar at St. Peter Church

We

Mon-Fri

Charlotte,

Kauth, paro-

Matthew Church

chial vicar at St.

Southend Brewery, 2100 South Blvd. in Charlotte, at

12 Father Matthew Leonard, rochial vicar at St. Gabriel

Gabriel Church,

in Charlotte, at St.

3016 Providence Rd.

21

Julie Ostergaard, associate

Wake

pus minister at

Winston-Salem, at Southend Brewery, 2100 South Blvd.

sity in

December 3 Bishop William G. Peter Church, 507

S.

Curlin at

Tryon

Catholic

Natural

Carolina Catholic

Social Services

Introductory Classes: 2nd Tuesday of every

month

Next class:

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t Special Cards t Religious Articles t Unique Gift Ideas

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Fee: $10 Call to pre-reaister

704-342-2878

Classes held at

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at the

Charlotte Diocese Pastoral Center 1123 South

Fax (704) 334-3313 441 0-F Monroe Road, Charlotte,

Church Street

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NC

For information, other class locations

We welcome mail orders and special orders'.

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10 The Catholic News & Herald

September

Readings

2000

29,

Book Review

Novel shares conversion story, vocation in communist China MAUREEN

•Reviewed by

E.

Word to Life October

DALY

Sunday

News Service "Bamboo Swaying in the Wind" Catholic

and

Theresa of the

St.

Little

in

Shanghai to

1962 he was held prisoner, without charges, often in solitary confinement. In 1962 he was finally tried and convicted as a counterrevolutionary and a supporter of a subversive organization, the Legion of Mary. He was sentenced to complete a 15-year term by serving another eight years of hard labor on a prison farm. But he would not be released even then. In all, he

"Bamboo Swaying

the Wind" By Claudia Devaux and Jesuit Father George Bernard Wong. in

Loyola Press (Chicago, 2000). 206 pp., $21.95.

Mark

2:9-11

.

DENTON

God

us special human relationships so could understand his love for us. But knowing that our nature will bring trials to those relationships, he warns us not to let our selfishness destroy them.

My

own experience of marriage has shown me God's grace in relationship. Despite our best efforts to ignore God's bidding in all aspects of our lives back then, he somehow managed

and his spirituality is truly East and West, grounded in Ignatian exercises and enriched by his Chinese heritage. His prayer lent daily

in prison included si-

life

Mass — which he

called "a

—

a dry Mass" without bread or wine daily examination of conscience, often four rosaries a day, keeping up with the seasons of the church and occasionally completing an Ignatian retreat with four weeks of spiritual exercises.

Father Wong's fellow Jesuits thought he had been too traumatized

by

his experiences to set

them down

he was permitted to emigrate to California. But his co-author, Claudia Devaux, has given voice to an extraordinary narrative of suffering and triumph from a littleknown period. This portrait glows with Father Wong's gentle optimism,

me

my

to join

husband and

"in love"

heads

thanksgiving.

in

see that

We

know

many mar-

that

riages are not of, God's choosing,

we shake amazement and

We

we can

definitely chose us for each

other.

together in marriage. Today, 28 years later,

our

and

time.

other. Even though in our early years we were not attuned to God's presence in our marriage, he placed in us a commitment to work through our difficulties together. For us there was no other option. As we both grew in faith, we were strengthened in this because our marriage now was based on our trust that the Lord had indeed joined us together with good reason, which became obvious in the many blessings of our life together and the growth of our love for each

News Service

we

A Survivor's Story of Faith and Imprisonment in Com m unist China

interests

was about

We were very and excited about the prospects of married life together. We just hadn't thought it through. Now, through the long

10:2-16

Catholic

The Chinese government arrested Wong in 1955, when he was

From 1955

3)

it

Understand:

much

This weekend's readings show us that God, in his kindness, gave

Father

just four years before.

Hebrews

common

each figured

lens of retrospect,

leased ex-convict.

he had

2)

By JEAN

gious life is lived. But it is also a prison narrative, for most of Father George Bernard Wong's vocation as a Jesuit has been lived in detention in Chinese prisons and labor camps and in the restricted conditions of a re-

birth,

attraction,

we

Psalm 128:1-6

Flower's "Story of a Soul" as a record of a conversion, discovery of a vocation, and an account of how a reli-

34 years old. Chinese by been ordained a priest

Twenty-Seventh

8,

Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Readings: 1) Genesis 2:18-24

deserves to be ranked with Thomas Merton's "The Seven Storey Mountain"

in

and thankfully our church provides the marriage tribunal arid the annulment process to reconcile those

dated only three

months before we got engaged. (I had never dated anyone longer than three months before.) Tommy was

cases.

My

only a year past a discomfiting experience of Vietnam.- We had not met each other's families. We had grown up in different Christian denominations but never talked about church or God. I guess the reasons we decided to get married were these: physical

us

husband and

I

are forever

God graciously brought together when we weren't even

awed

that

paying attention.

We

"Whew!" Nevertheless,

just think, all

human

relationships of God's choosing

—

including family, friendship and community require care and commitment to love one another.

—

in writing after

would spend more than 40 years as a convict or forced laborer. Not until 1991, at the age of 70, was he permitted to emigrate to California. Yet his

shows a man with a broad sincere smile, "a man entirely without rancor," as a friend today de-

portrait today

scribed him.

The Chinese word laugh

is

character for the

a picture of

bamboo

humble kindness. "The world needs thousands of books like this one," said the famous Chinese human rights activist Harry sincere faith,

Wu, who

said that a person rock-

prison

ing with laughter looks like bamboo swaying in the wind," Father Wong

crimes.

because, "It

is

"Laughing makes us happy, healthy, and strong like bamboo. I am

writes.

grateful that

bamboo

I

have been strong 80 years."

like

on Chinese farms for thought

also spent years

labor I

Daly

couldn't agree more,

t

an associate editor in the special projects department of Catholic

News

is

Weekly Scripture Readings for the week of Oct. 1 - 7, 2000 Sunday, Numbers 11:25-29, James 5:1-6, Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48; Monday (Holy Guardian Angels), Job 1:6-22, Matthew 18:1-5, 10; Tuesday, Job 3:1-3, 1 1-17, 20-23, Luke 9:51-56; Wednesday (St. Francis of Assisi), Job 9:112, 14-16, Luke 9:57-62; Thursday, Job 19:21-27, Luke 10:1-12; Friday (St. Bruno), Job 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5, Luke 10:13-16; Saturday (Our Lady of the Rosary), Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-16, Luke 10:17-14 Readings for the week of Oct. 8 - 14, 2000 Sunday, Genesis 2:18-24, Hebrews 2:9-11, Mark 10:2-16; Monday (St. Denis & Companions), Galatians 1:6-12, Luke 10:25-37; Tuesday, Galatians 1:13-24, Luke 10:38-42; Wednesday, Galatians 2:1-2, 7-14, Luke 11:1-4; Thursday, Galatians 3:1-5, Luke 11:5-13; Friday, Galatians 3:7-14, Luke 11:15-26; Saturday (St. Callistus I), Galatians 3:22-29, Luke 11:27-28

Service.

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Father Wong was the first Chinese Jesuit of the California province

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1

September

29,

2000

The Catholic News & Herald 11

Entert ainmen t

USCC sponsors 'Faith on WASHINGTON

NBC to bring Old Testament to

(CNS)

—

As

part of Jubilee Year 2000 activities, the U.S. Catholic Conference Office for

Film and Broadcasting

life

festival Oct. 13-14 in

Jacqueline Bisset stars as Sarah in the miniseries "In the Beginning" to air this fall. It is expected to air on a consecutive

will

host a film

New York

of the seven films slated for showing is "Faith on Film: Stories of Christ and Christians." The festival, to be held at the Clearview Cinema in Manhattan, is being underwritten by the bishops'

Sunday and Monday during the November ratings sweeps period. And, contrary to the

customary focus on women in such projects, the miniseries will be

Rod

Dreher of Our Sunday Eva Stadler, a professor

and

Fordham

at

York.

Movies to be shown Oct. 14 include "King of Kings" (1927), "A Man for All Seasons" (1966), "Nazarin"

(1958), and another still to be named. Participants in that day's panel dis-

film office, said the festival seeks to

Gannett newspapers, and Henry

structured along the lives of the patriarchs of

Jewish

cording to

ture

NBC

Visitor,

cussion will be Dreher, Father Bob Lauder of St. John's University in Jamaica, N.Y., Eleanor O'Sullivan of the

Matthew" (1964),

St.

(1,973), and "Black Robe" panel discussion will feafour film authorities: Paul

(1991). PHOTO FROM

New

University in

Herx, former head of the USCC Office Film and Broadcasting, t

for

Get more information or

A

register for

the festival by phoning the Office for

and Broadcasting

"Godspell" CNS

Jesuit Fa-

Catholic Communication Campaign. Gerri Pare, director of the USCC

explore film depictions of Jesus and to examine his legacy as seen through the cinematic art form. Movies scheduled for the afternoon of Oct. 1 3 are: "The Gospel Ac-

life.

Baumann of Commonweal,

ther James Martin of America,

City.

The theme

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TV special explores the popularity of St. Therese of Lisi By

ANNE NAVARRO

News Service YORK (CNS) "Therese: Living on Love," an hourlong program to be aired on NBC stations across the country after Oct. 1 (check local listings) movingly exCatholic

—

NEW

in

a

cinct

The

is,

why?

Why

priests

fact,

many who

visited the

strong emotions, some finddifficult to put into words what

relics felt

ing it they felt.

is

The program meaning of relics

— from reporters Carmelite and nuns average person — attempt compresecular

it

"actually meeting her," describes one

there so much ado about dry bones? The answer is a complicated one. Throughout the program, individuals

that they are

person. In

central question the suc-

program asks

at

priest aptly describes

Touching the plastic encasement that surrounds the ornate wooden reliquary containing shards of St. Therese's bones in some ways made people feel close to her, as if one were

its

to

text.

It

also explores the in a spiritual con-

conveys that

relics,

as reli-

gious symbols, bring a feeling of intimacy, a knowledge that the saint was

to the

to

one time among the

Therese's attraction and ex-

One

small things greatly.

worldwide tour, the relics of St. Therese drew an estimated 1 million people.

it.

about her spirituality and her accessibility as an ordinary person who did

four-month exhibition

the United States as part of

St.

as being not about her bones, but

plores the extraordinary popularity of St. Therese of Lisieux.

During

hend plain

and

Physically touching the reliquary gives some a powerful connection with the saint. "Therese: Living on Love" also faces the issue that some view the relics as a kind of talisman, with hopes of miraculous cures and succor for specific problems. But it does not delve too deeply into this aspect, leaving viewers to make up their own mind about that perspective.

The program

also offers a brief

look at the person of Therese. Born in 1873, at the time of the Industrial Revolution and impressionistic painting, St. Therese is described as the "accessible saint." Her views of God as a merciful father ran contrary to the Jansenistic view prevalent at the time,

We reach OVER 115,000

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where it was believed that one's was to suffer. She was a

lot in life

practical joker

who

loved to laugh

"Therese: Living on Love' Various Oct. dates, NBC Check your local listings

and

a great mimicker; but above all she stressed God's mercy and love. Through coverage of the relics tour, interviews and vintage photographs, "Therese: Living on Love" aspires to explain St. Therese's popularity. But it does not pretend to find a definitive answer; instead, it offers many. Appropriate for adults and ado-

lescents, for

whom

Therese

St.

perfect role model, the quality family fare,

Navarro

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12 The Catholic News & Herald

September 29, 2000

& Columns

Editorials

Silent passing lived 94 full years on this earth. She died a widow, childless, without any close relations, estranged from the Church she loved. Recently, I had the opportunity to walk through her home; It's a strange thing to see someone's life laid out on a series of tables, all items

Editor's

Carmen

The Pope

Speaks

marked with

Notebook

tags, pricing out the treasures of a

JOANN

lifetime.

POPE JOHN PAUL

II

Pope meets with, reassures Reformed leaders on ecumenism

—

After an alliVATICAN CITY (CNS) ance of Protestant churches criticized a Vatican document as "ecumenically insensitive," Pope John Paul met with alliance representatives' and underscored the Catholic Church's commitment

improving ecumenical relations. "The commitment of the Catholic Church to ecumenical dialogue is irrevocable," he told members of a formal dialogue commission of Catholics and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches meeting Sept. 13-19 outside Rome. The World Alliance of Reformed Churches said it had considered canceling that meeting after the Vatican released a document Sept. 5 reiterating to

conchurch teaching that the "church of Christ tinues to exist fully only in the Catholic Church." ...

The

declaration, titled

"Dominus

Iesus:

On

the Unicity and Salvific Universality of Jesus

Christ and the Church," said some Christian denominations those without a Catholicrecognized Eucharist and ordained ministry are not "properly speaking churches." Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the Genevabased World Alliance of Reformed Churches, expressed "dismay and disappointment" with the declaration and said it "seems to go against the

—

—

of Vatican II, as we understand it." In a Sept. 8 letter to Cardinal Edward

I.

Cassidy, president of the Pontifical Council for

Nyomi

said the alliance inter-

preted the document "as part of a sustained effort by Catholic conservatives to deny the growing relationship and respect between and among the different ecclesial communities." He said the alliance had considered canceling further dialogue with the Catholic Church "until we are sure of where we stand in our relationship," but instead decided to bring these concerns to the September meeting. Pope John Paul greeted the commission members Sept. 18 as "dear friends" and said the commission's dialogue "has already led to significant results."

He

cal dialogue

was

Carmen's home, I thought out loud that it must be a good thirty years since I'd been inside the house we approached on this eerily overcast day. What I recalled, I said to my mother, was the distinct aroma of Carmen's house. Neither pleasant or unpleasant, but what I rationalized as a child was just the

—

way an

—

older person's house smelled

path in

sible

as

it

KEANE

S.

Editor

understood the metallic aroma. to room, I saw the external traces of Carmen's faith in virtually every room. Crucifixes on walls, small crosses buried in boxes that contained sewing items. Daily missals on the shelves. Her personal Bible. Statues of the Virgin and Child. Over the living room mantel, a beautiful print of the interior of a basilica. It had a very finally

Wandering room

With closer inspection, I saw the images of Franciscan priests and quickly recog-

familiar look.

nized the Italian Basilica of St. Francis.

life.

Carmen and Harry married

in the

Her

1940s.

Carmen was

Carmen

lived a life

Harry's previous non-annulled marriage, she could no longer be

under a shroud. For the

of welcome to receive the sacraments. No talk of tribunals, no discussion of how to reconcile this dilemma in the pre-Vatican

better part of her lifetime,

II

she

felt

unable to

fill

her

appetite for the nourishment of the sacraments.

church.

Somehow, she reconciled shadows

herself to church in the

—

Mass with

a sign of peace, but

without the

sacramental body and blood.

She died in this Jubilee year. A priest officiated at her memorial service. She was a stranger to him. He graciously encouraged her friends and neighbors to stand and share memories of this demure, yet comfriends,

woman. This priest, alien to her Protestant warmly welcomed them as they shared

various stories of her kindness and particularly her love of gardening, and her love for the Church.

Back with

my

mother,

jalousie door, and the smell as

it

might have back

we walked through smacked just the late

in

the

as strong

1960s.

That

familiar musty, metallic smell.

Her late husband was a civil engineer, whose work took him frequently to the Middle East. Their home was filled with trinkets and treasures, memories

of his travels; specifically, copper and brass.

I

—

—

comments and

Jubilee Days

tions

in

October

it

donkey. And from her kitchen, a delft-blue print, a chart of cooking with herbs. It was one of those prints with the right colors with just a hint of Provencal France. I carried the framed print to the dim light filtering through the window. In tiny type, the 1948 reproduction noted it was printed for the Herb Society of the National Cathedral of Mount Saint Albain in our nation's capital. Even in the most obscure places, traces of her beloved church. For me, appropriate keepsakes from her home. Carmen lived a life under a shroud. For the better part of her lifetime, she felt unable to fill her appetite for the nourishment of the sacraments. Ironically, her death is a paradoxical testament yet distance from the to her devotion to Church. In the end, however, it would be a priest to lay her to rest: Sending her home. To the open arms of the Lord.

We welcome

to clarify "our respective posi-

We took the

from

its dark recesses into the light. Sure enough, the bottom corner noted the Assisi basilica with a turn of the century date. I purchased a :couple remembrances at the estate sale. The basilica print being too rich for my pocketbook, I settled on an intricately hammered Iranian copper plate depicting an unusual, but seemingly typical Middle Eastern farmer plodding along behind his

his

told that in light of

moved

picture from the wall and

second marriage. Somewhere along the line,

Qand onlyl,

first

said a significant part of theologi-

and explore the reasons for our differences." "Our dialogue then becomes an examination of conscience, a call to conversion, in which both sides examine before God their responsibility to do all they can to put behind them the conflicts of the past," he said. "At that point, the Spirit fills us with a yearning to confess together that 'there is one body and one spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all,'" the pope said. "We feel this as a duty, as something that must be done so that 'the world may believe." The World Alliance of Reformed Churches is a fellowship of 215 Congregationalist, Presbyterian, Reformed and United churches, which claim a total membership of 75 million Christians in 106 countries. The alliance formed a dialogue commission with the Catholic Church in 1970. The current phase of dialogue has as its theme "the church and the kingdom of God."

like.

turns out, was devoutly Catholic, to the degree she'd considered religious life as a young woman in the late 1920s. As fate would take her, she met her to-be husband, changing that pos-

Carmen,

plicated

spirit

Christian Unity,

Carmen and her late husband lived five houses away from the childhood home where my parents still live. As my mother and I walked towards

your letters.

Please send your Letters to the Editor to: Joann S. Keane, The Catholic News & Herald, 1123 South Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28203 or e-mail: jskeane@charlottediocese.org.

October

1

(USA) October 3

Jubilee for Life

Day

of Jewish-Christian Dialogue

...

Jubilee

October 4 of Environment (USA) October 8

sue

Mary

October 14-15 International Family Celebration in

Rome

October 20-22 International Missionary Congress

World Mission Sunday October 29 Jubilee of Sports Jubilee of

Youth

(WYD

USA)

more concerted

...

efforts to

Jubilee of Bishops

Dedication of 3rd Millennium to

"We urge the United States to purensure the

promotion of

reli-

gious liberty and other basic

human

rights

[and]

...

Faithful r^'

•

Citizenship

more consistent

financial and diplomatic support for the United States, other interna-" tional bodies,

and international law."

— U.S. Catholic Bishops' Administrative Board, "Faithful Citizenship: Civic Responsibility for a

New

Millennium"


September

29,

2000

Light

FATHER THOMAS

J.

McSWEENEY Guest Columnist

"Driver, the all

White House!"

joy to meet, no one quite compares to the uniqueness of character embodied in my friend and hero Monsignor George Higgins. You may have seen a photo of him recently at the White House where President Clinton honored him with America's highest civilian award, the Medal of Freedom. George, as he prefers to be called, has been this nation's chief "labor priest" for the greater part of his 84 years. And there is no slowing him down. He served for thirty-six years in the Social Action Department of the U. S. Catholic Conference, twenty.

George has remained deeply involved

1980,

in social issues

and labor relations here and abroad. In addition to teaching at The Catholic University of America in D.C., he served as chair of the United Auto Workers' Public Review Board and the United

Ten Principles of Catholic Social Thought

FATHER WILLIAM

CNS

put a spring back into his step. Shortly we had two more friends on board, and were happily hydroplaning to our favorite Italian restaurant in nearby Virginia. Once settled, I was eager to know

the gifted and caring people I've had the

five as its director. Since his "retirement" in

George manages to keep a schedule that would daunt many younger folks. So it was pure luck that I managed to snag him for dinner while in D.C. a week after he received the Medal of Freedom. When I drove in to pick him up at the campus priests' residence where we had first met 12 years ago, a torrential thunderstorm let loose, cascading rain down the steep flight of steps he would have to travel. But before I could get out of the car, there he was with cane and umbrella doggedly descending the stairs. His surgical treatments had obviously surgeries,

One

Candle

Of

The Catholic News & Herald 13

& Columns

Editorials

Farm Workers'

Martin Luther King, Jr. Fund. His nationally syndicated column, The Yardstick, continues to argue for the enduring relevance of organized labor and the supporting role of the Catholic Church. In season and out, he has vigorously grabbed hold of Catholic pro-labor teaching and cogently made the case for the God-given rights of average working people. In spite of a couple of knee and hip

George's thoughts about the White House ceremony.

knew

I

manner wouldn't allow for an ounce of self-importance, so after admitting he was indeed "grateful," he quickly got to the thing that pleased him most. his self-effacing

George exeach of the 15 honorees was permitted to invite only seven personal guests. "So, of course, there was my sister, Father Bob Friday and friends ." he beamed, "my taxi driver!" from CUA and

With

plained

a playful glint in his eye,

how

.

.

we chimed

"Your

taxi driver?"

"Why

certainly! Sylvester Judd! He's

I

stopped driving, Sylvester's

been carting me around two or three times a week. He helps walk me in and out of the airports and such. It's amazing how well he does for a 70-year-old guy!" That' s my hero! George and Sylvester really are two of a kind: honest workers facing each day is

some-

director

of The

with dignity and purpose. That, indeed, thing worth honoring and imitating. Father Thomas

J.

McSweeney

is

They prompt

Catholics are called to live their faith in the

world, to translate their "credenda" (what must be believed) into an "agenda" (what

is

10 years

acting never think!"

Thinking Catholics, once they

yond death.

The reference to the communion of saints is found in the Apostles' Creed before the year 500, but it was already spoken of in the Eastern Churches before that. The doctrine is founded on the truth that the Church of Jesus Christ is a fellowship, a communion of members that is formed by the Father, in Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit. This communion is a gift of love and grace from the Father and the Son, with the Spirit forming a fellowship of those who receive that love and grace (2 Cor. 13:13).

For

this reason, the

communion

that

is

formed

not broken by death. It continues as a living intercourse between us on earth and those who have gone into eternity before us. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, quoting the Vatican II "Constitution on the Church" ("Lumen Gentium"), puts it quite explicitly and beautifully: "So it is that the union of wayfarers with the brethren who sleep in the peace of Christ is in no way interrupted, but on the contrary, according to the constant faith of the church, this union is reinforced by an exchange of spiritual goods (49). Just as the' interaction of the communion of

is

—

cornerstone, the foundation of the ensocial doctrine is human

body of Catholic

is

created in God's

— regardless of

race, sex,

age, health, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, employment, economic or social status, intelligence,

achievement or any other differen-

tiating characteristic

— has

inherent dignity

worthy of respect. It is not what we do or have that gives us a claim to respect. Being human establishes our and

FATHER JOHN DIETZEN

is

dignity. In the Catholic view the

Columnist

human

per-

never a means, but always an end.

is

Catholic social teaching begins with the hu-

A. That is exactly what the doctrine of "communion of saints" is all about; not only that there is bond, in Christ, between us who are still on our earthly pilgrimage, but that this bond extends be-

is

—

son

a

realize that

an essential part of their faith, must face up to the challenge of "walking the putting legs under their beliefs - and doing sometalk," as the saying goes thing to reduce obstacles to the coming of Christ's kingdom of justice and peace. No one believer has to be active on all fronts. But the community of believers, in the sum of all its wonderful parts, must act for justice, and each believer has a share in this the church's social teaching

Every human being

Corner

CNS

condi-

remarked that the trouble with the world is that "the people who do all the thinking never act, and the people who do all the tion once

image. Every person

old.

done).

human

dignity.

Question

been quite upset.

nephew

must be

wise, witty observer of the

The

My

activity

believers.

tire

At the funeral I told him he would see his grandmother someday, and that until then she would be looking out for him. I understand this is what the "communion of saints" is about, but I'm not sure. Does this mean the "living" have some kind of bond with the "dead"? That there is some contact between us?

Dignity

responsibility.

Christophers.

What is the Communion of Saints? Q. I hope you can help me with a question from my young nephew. He recently lost his grandmother, and has

Human

someand direct choices. The point of laying out principles of Catholic social thought is to clarify the basis for action, social action, on the part of Catholic thing.

A

been driv-

I:

BYRON, SJ

Principles, once internalized, lead to

in unison.

ing a taxi for over 40 years. He's a convert, you know, and ushers at Saint Al's on North Capitol where a Jesuit friend put us in touch with each other. "It is close to impossible to get a cab where I live. So for the past four years since

Part

J.

Columnist

person, but does not end there. For in emphasizing individual human dignity the church does not endorse individualism, a term that suggests imbalance, an overemphasis on the indi-

man

Christians here on earth helps us come closer to Christ, so our communion with those in heaven joins us together with Christ, from whom flows all

"grace and the

life

of the people of God" ("Lumen

Gentium," 50). So you are on the right track with your nephew. This interplay of support and fellowship with those should with his grandmother who have died be a source of genuine consolation and encouragement for him, as it should be for all of us.

—

—

God

has told us

all this

is

true.

He

has obvi-

ously not, however, given us the details of how he makes it all work out. But those are not necessary. All we need do, as St. Paul reminds us, is to lovingly bear with one another, with humility, gentleness and patience, to preserve that communion of peace which the Spirit has brought about. When we do that, the bond, the connection of love, is made more fruitful, not only between us who are still "on the way," but also between us and those

who

are already with

in eternity (Eph. 4:1-4).

may be sent to Father John Dietzen, Box IL 61651, or. e-mail: jjdietzen@aol.com.

Questions

325, Peoria,

God

vidual to the neglect of the larger community. a useful

recently observed Labor Day provides context for considering the principle of

human

dignity.

The

— Work way around. —

is

Capital

for the worker, not the other

is

for the

human

person, to be

used in producing goods and services for the use of others in the human community. Capital never should consume the human person. Labor and capital interact for productive purposes, but human persons must never be ground under on the road to economic "progress." Catholic social teaching endorses and supports the right of workers to organize. There is a proper role for free trade unions in giving labor a voice in wages and working conditions. Substandard wages, unsafe and inhuman working conditions constitute an assault on

human

dignity.

Exploitation of workers, discrimination in

See

HUMAN

DIGNITY, page 15


14 The Catholic News & Herald

Storyteller, from page i In researching her family, she dis-

covered the significance of the church to those earlier generations. "I began to imagine a very small community

include illustrations published in "Witnessing the Holy Land: A Pilgrimage in Image and Word" (Paulist Press,

1999).

now

are in the

your sense of time.

"I

"This serendipitous

began to see how important that church had been." Schoettler,

"When you

creative art, you lose

that lived close to St. Peter's," she adds.

You're that involved; you're so intent. That's

journey has got to

prayer

—

when your

mind has cleared and

be the work of the

a

resident of Chevy Chase, Md., hopes to

when

you're really in touch with a presence." Holy Spirit." She has developed tell the story in that Ellouise Schoettler church someday. and taught a workshop She continues to called "Journey to the teach a class called "Telling Your Center," which she dubs as a prayerFamily Stories" and performs a variful experience with art. She also has designed workshops blending mediety of storytelling programs in her travels. tation and drawing. "What I'm trying to do," she says, "This serendipitous journey has "is universalize my ordinary women got to be the work of the Holy Spirit," she says with a smile. "Art is an exso that you can hear my story and somehow have an insight into somepression of faith, and I'm just being and, in turn, one in your family open to the opportunities that are decide that you really need to tell your placed in front of me. I'm trying to see story." what's there and just follow along." t

—

—

Blending art and faith always

"I've

prayer

is

felt

that in

my

September

Around the Diocese

work,

so close to the creative pro-

Contact Associate Editor Jimmy Rostar by calling (704) 370-3334 or email jtrostar@charlottediocese.org.

message

Priest visits with

making world a TRYON

—

Oblates of

Francis de Sales Father

29,

2000

of

better place

St.

Auth, a missionary who works on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, visited St.

Bill

John the Baptist Church

Tryon recently

in

to appeal to the

parish for help in the Indian villages

where he works. Several pahim in Mexico

rishioners visited earlier this year

there

is

and reported that

a definite need for contin-

ued support. Donations were used to help with the construction of a computer room and purchase of computers in one village to help prepare students to get jobs and support themselves and their families. Father Auth focuses on education in his ministry as a means of helping people lift themselves out of dire poverty. Some funds are used for food or house repair for the elderly poor and widows. Trained lay ministers play an important role in the par-

Courtesy photo

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales Father Bill Auth recently visited St. John the Baptist Church to appeal for help in the Indian villages of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, where he works.

"I

praise

God

that

we

goodness I and am thankful

for the

see in these people

are in this ,world together,"

Father Auth says of those to he ministers, t

whom

ishes.

whose works

cess," says Schoettler,

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September

29,

2000

The Catholic News & Herald 15

Around the Diocese

Class By

ALESHA

in

session for teachers during in-service

M. PRICE

Sources of moral truth, making

Staff Writer

—

CHARLOTTE

Diocesan

middle school and high school teachers gathered at Charlotte Catholic High School on Sept. 22 for a day of instruction on morality and moral issues. Paulist Father Richard Sparks,

campus minister Church

at

Holy

in Berkley, Calif,

and

Spirit a

moral

theologian, spoke to sixth- through twelfth-grade teachers about "Catho-

Morality Across the Curriculum." The in-service began with introductions by Dr. Michael Skube, superintendent of schools, and, a reflection prayer led by Father Mauricio W. West, vicar general and chancellor. Using examples and illustrations from his published books, Father Sparks gave the teachers a brief overview of his talk to diocesan teachers a couple of years ago, explained how one can teach morality and the moral tradition and addressed some of their concerns about popular and modern moral topics among teens. "One of the key teachings is how morality is as much caught as it taught; students can learn by inspiration and stories as much as being argued with or logically convinced," said Father Sparks. "All teachers in all classes can inspire, and their integrity, compassion and commitment should be conveyed to their students, which is what any good Catholic school and those in that school should do." lic

Human

sense of Christian morality today, the Catholic virtue tradition and a definition

of conscience were some of the topics that

Father Sparks addressed during the

morning

The

afternoon session,

good patterns and good character in their lives and be more virtuous." Connie Rafferty, a junior British Literature teacher at Bishop

McGuinness High School

in

Win-

ston-Salem, said that she would try to incorporate what Father Sparks said into her classroom teaching by asking moral questions about the characters in the plays, short stories and poetry that she teaches. "I had been discussing with some colleagues about how do you teach character. What Father Sparks has done here is to explicitly show us how we can model the kinds of characterbuilding traits of morality into our classes without doing it didactically, but by modeling it and looking at the issue subjectively and not so objec-

Photo by Alesha M. Price

Paulist Father Richard Sparks talks to Augustinia Father CCHS, at the teacher in-service on Sept. 22

done

ment and

dignity.

deceit in the workplace

human

—

all

The

dignity.

Individuals are capable of denying their own human dignity at work and elsewhere. Some things we do to "make a buck," get the upper hand or take unfair advantage of others are

Classified EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Director of Adult Catholic Enrichment/Order of Christian Initiation: Holy Family Catholic Church of Marietta seeks a full-time salaried Director for Adult Catholic Enrichment (ACE) and the Order of Christian Initiation (OCI) programs. Applicants should- have leadership experience in ACE/OCI areas and/or have religious education degreed background suitable to develop high quality programs and volunteer assistance in the community. Must be practicing Catholic. If interested, please submit resume and cover letter to Ret Siefferman, Director of Religious Education at Holy Family Catholic Church, 3401 Lower Roswell Rd., Marietta, GA 30068. Fax (770) 578-0475. Inquire at (770) 973-7400, ext. 21 with "questions.

at a price to

our

own human

church's official prayer (Day-

time prayer on Mondays) would have the worker salaried or hourly,

—

—

manager or anyone down the line pray these words to the Lord: "Work is

your

gift to us, a call to

reach

new

Heart Church, 128 N. Fulton St., Salisbury, 28144, or fax to 704-647-0126.

tively,"

she

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gave them a strong sense of centeredness in Christ and the ability to trust that grace," said Peg Ruble, Central Region coordinator for faith formation. "Morality is a part of who

"Whenever I have a some kind, I will

literature unit of

look for the kinds of morality that he has expressed here today." Father Sparks also spoke to over 50 parish catechetical leaders about

"Taking

a

we

are as God's people, and it is a challenge every day. As parish catechetical leaders, morality is a

Prophetic Stance on

Today's Morality" at their in-service on Sept. 23 at St. Charles Borromeo

Church "I

in

blessing for their ministry."

Morganton.

Kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers gathered at Camp Thunderbird in South Carolina for their in-service also on Sept. 22. Capuchin Father Jack Racthschmidt and Gaynell Cronin presented "Sarah's Evergreen: Raising Children for Faith," and Diane

think that Father Sparks' talk

Director of Music Ministry: Holy Infant CatholicChurch is in search of a full-time Director of Music. Located in Durham, North Carolina, a dynamic and growing area of the country near Research Triangle Park, this Vatican II parish consists of 900 households that are committed to ongoing liturgical renewal. Holy Infant Parish embraces its call to be hospitable, inclusive and Christ-centered. This position works closely with the Pastor and a collaborative and supportive staff. Requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree in a relevant field although a master's degree is preferred. Must have music performance skill (e.g. piano, voice); choral directing; cantor training; knowledge of Catholic rites and rituals. Available no later than November 1, 2000. Salary commensurate with education and experience. Benefits package included. Send resume to: Search Committee, Holy Infant Catholic Church, 50O0 Southpark Dr., Durham, NC 27713. Fax 919/544-1799. References re-

DOMM

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us brothers and sisters."

Contact Staff Writer Alesha

That prayer presupposes respect human dignity and commitment

for

to justice every

M.

Price by calling (704) 370-3354 or e-

mail amprice@ charlottediocese.org.

day of the year.

NC

Director of Music: Full-time position as Director of Music for growing parish of 650 families

urgy preparation and planning; playing for 5 weekend masses, holy days, funerals. Weddings negotiated; directing and developing adult mixed choir; organizing and directing children's choir; attend conferences and workshops for continued education and renewal; and attend weekly parish staff meetings. Competitive salary and benefits. Experience a plus, but musical accompaniment skills (piano & organ) a must. Send resume to Search Committee, Sacred

James Cassidy,

principal of

Dignity, from page 13

hiring and promotion, incivility, harassthese negate basic

session.

which concerned "hot moral topics," including racism, gender and sexuality and environmental responsibility, involved a question and answer period. "You have a stake in passing on moral tradition, and how you view God makes a difference. For a lot of kids, you will reinforce what they learn at home, or you will be the only person from whom they can learn moral values," said Father Sparks. "You have to try to help your students build

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Teaching Assistants:

St. Patrick's School in Charlotte is accepting applications for parttime teaching assistants. Available immediately. Please contact school principal, Mrs. An-

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28203 or fax


16 The Catholic News & Herald

September

living the Faith

2000

29,

Baseball, service unite

and Dominican teens

Florida By

MARY

ST.

PIERRE

News Service FORT MYERS, Fla. (CNS) When five students from Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers traveled to the Dominican Republic in August, they were motivated by a Catholic

—

passion for baseball. But they returned with an appreciation for all they have in life. The students play on the Florida Eagles, a baseball club in southeast

For years, Eagles' president and team manager Gary Winrow had been tossing around the idea of combining baseball and community serFlorida.

vice in such a trip.

He contacted Leonardo Garcia, program/volunteer coordinator of Catholic Hispanic Social Services, a division of Catholic Charities in the Venice Diocese.

The Dominican-born Garcia helped make connections in Santiago, while physicians Dave and Mary Reardon, the parents of player Zach Reardon,

handled arrangements in Florida. The Eagles had to find accommodations, get passports, raise funds to repair Dominican homes and schedule games with Dominican teams. Garcia told The Florida Catholic diocesan newspaper that three participating Dominican teams lent players to fill out the U.S. roster. "It was really more of a friendship tournament so the kids would have the opportunity to share with one another and learn about a different culture," he said.

According Reardon, a

Miami

flat

to

chaperone Mary en route to the

tire

airport and luggage that ar-

rived a few days late helped students

change

and realize that sometimes prepare you for what's coming. The place the group stayed had no running water or air conditioning, extended periods without electricity and one bathroom. Reardon said she wondered how the kids would handle such circumstances. "They never swayed in their their outlooks

adversities

commitment, never complained and they adjusted and adapted beautishe

fully,"

said.

During morning baseball games, Winrow said he was amazed at how

commu-

quickly the teens learned to nicate.

"You always hear

that baseball

a universal game," he said, "but

could really see

it

played out

is

you

when

the

players from two different countries

got together on the same playing field and expressed genuine warmth and friendship to one another."

Garcia said baseball is taken seriously in the Dominican Republic because the sport often is seen as a way out of poverty.

Zach Reardon,

16, a

Bishop Verot

junior and serious player himself, said he noticed a significant difference in the attitude of Dominican players.

"They're just so happy to get a chance to be in a game and they don't dwell on the negative side of things," he said.

They

don't throw things after a

bad at-bat, he noted, and they applaud good plays made by opposing players. Each afternoon the Eagles' agenda to repairing Dominican homes, and they soon realized it would be more challenging than anticipated.

changed

Mary Reardon said the first home was made of thin board siding on a 1 2-by- 1 3-foot slab. Divided into two tiny rooms, it had no window screens

CNS

or running water, and housed a family of five with another child on the

way. The students enlarged the house, built a trench around

it,

and

added new siding and a new roof. "They were so grateful forv every little thing we did and one night the people of each home came to the multicultural center to thank us," she said. "Our bus was very late. We apologized and all they could say was, would have waited hours

We

more

for you.'"

Junior Mike Newman, 16, admitted that he hadn't been keen on going, but said he would go back in a heart-

120 martyrs A painting by Li

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