- parenting

ur Diocesan magazine this month highlights the rich
history of Newton Grove, N.C., in panicular as it relates
to the growth of Catholicism. We are reminded that in
1910 Saint Katharine Drexel, founder of the Sisters of
the Blessed Sacrament and canonized a saint in 2000, visited Newton
Grove. She was a benefactor of the Church and expressed her great
suppon for the African-American community and their spiritual needs.
I have a great devotion to this saint. She was born in the city of my
binhplace, and she is a saint who assisted and visited the Diocese in
which I am now so privileged to serve as Bishop.
At the end of this month, the Church will begin the celebration of the Season of Advent. I believe
the example of Saint Katharine Drexel teaches us how to have hearts ready and prepared to receive the
abundant graces of this Sacred Season.
Both miracles attributed to Katharine Drexel in the canonization process were cures of deafness. ln our
busy and noisy world, we spend less and less time listening. The Season of Advent is a special invitation
to draw ever closer to jesus Christ, especially as He reveals Himself to us in His Word. At times, we can
be deaf to the countless ways He speaks to our hearts and guides us on our path. Especially throughout
Advent, I encourage you to meditate
carefully and in a planned and
dehberate way on the Word of God.
Make lime on a daily basis to be still,
to pray and to "listen" to Him.
The Eucharist, as the Sacrament
of Hope, was the focus of the life of
Saint Katharine Drexel. like all of
us, she faced many obstacles and
challenges in her life and ministry.
Yet, she consistently taught that the Eucharist is our only hope, for it makes us one with Christ, who was
victorious over all evil, frustration, anxiety, sin and death itself. So that you might celebrate and experience
the Lords peace throughout the Season of Advent, l encourage you to entrust your cares to Him and to find
the source of your strength in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Saint Katharine Drexel worked diligently for the unity of all people and courageously sought to eradicate
all forms of prejudice, racism and injustice. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, who unites us
as brothers and sisters, we must let go of any bitterness or hatred within our hearts. This Sacred Season
invites us to restore all relationships and friendships that have been broken and to forgive one another.
Only when we are at peace with one another can we celebrate fully the peace of Christ. I also encourage
you in your spiritual preparation for Christmas lO celebrate the Lord's forgtveness and the newness of life
He brings to us in the Sacrament of Penance.
Evangelization of African-Americans, Native Americans and all people, especially the poor, was at the
heart of the ministry of Saint Katharine Drexel. She was truly a misswnary who went to the corners of the
Earth inviting others to embrace the Lord jesus and His Church. With generosity, in this Sacred Season
especially, find ways to share your resources with the most needy in our midst. With love, gently invite
family members, friends, co-workers and peers who may have abandoned faith to return to the Lord this
Christmas. Saint Katharine Drexel, in a letter she wrote to her sisters on Christmas Day, reminds us of the
influence we can and ought to have on others:
"Reflect on the infant Jesus and how tiny were His feet. We do not have to do anything too great tn
our lives; just follow in those tiny footsteps. Then, let God do the rest and He will transform those tiny
footsteps of ours into giant strides which will help us carry the Peace, the Hope, the Love and the Joy
which is jesus Christ to all those we meet.~
In the Gospel for the First Sunday of Advent, jesus tells us "to be watchful~ and "to be alcn." We will respond
to that call if we seek Gods grace and follow the example of Saint Katharine Drexel. We ask for her intercession
so that we may carry the Peace, the Hope, the Love and the joy of Jesus Christ to all those we meet!
Saint Katharine Drexel
An Exan1plc for 1\dvcnt
- Most Revcn:nd Mlch:1d E Burbidge, Bishop or Raldgh
from the Bishop
2 Saint Katharine Drexel: An Example
for Advent
-Bishop Mlchad E Burbidge
since you asked ·~·
8 How do we respond to the
evil around us?
- Father Tadcus: l'acholc:yk
from the edHor
9 Newton Grove: Another Story line
• Rich Reece
theology 101
1 0 God'S loving revelation
- Sr. Marla Faustina Showalter, O.P., Sr. john Mary
Corbett, 0 .P., Sr. Marla Gemma Manck. O.P.. and Sr.
EH:ahcth Ann O'Reilly, O.P.
saint of the month
12 SL Andrew the Apostle
voices In our church
f3 Could You Teach Your Faith?
• lllsgr. Thumas Jladdcn
13 tCelebramos Ia muerte o Ia vida?
- l'adrc Fcrnandn Torres
your marriage maHers
22 He says: I want to go fishing with the
guys She says: I want a family vacation
- Tom and jot\ nne Fogle
parenting journey
22 Come a little c;loser
- Dr. Cathleen McGreal
spiritual fHness
22 Don't be a[raid or the dark
Seeing the light of Christ
- Father Dill Ashbaugh
parish profile
28 People find a home here
St. Bernadette, Butner
-Rich Reece
NCCatholics
Most Re\'crcnd Michael F Burbidge
Red, White Masses Draw Catholics
From Law, Healthcare
PUBUSHEII
Frank Morock
DIRlt\'011 OP COMMUNICAnONS
November 2008 • Vol. " : Issue 9
Richard Reece
lDIIOR IN CHII!P
Holly Stnnger
.DVI!RnSINO ti!WI!R
Bishop Michael F Burbidge
Amanda Cadrnn
Msgr. Thomas Hadden
D~na Lorclle
Father Tad Pacholczyk
Father Fernando Torres
CONTlttaunNG WRrrl!lll
Nathalie Fuerst
lii.NII.ATOII
Denmnrk Photo and V1dco (cover)
CONTIIt8unNG PNOTOGRUHI!RS
FAITH
Publishing Ser vi ce
Re\' Dwi~ht Ezop
Ql.ltttiMN
Patrick M. O'Brien
PRUIDDIT MD CHII!P UKIIflVI! OmCIR
Elizabeth Mnrtin Solsburg
lDIIORIM. DIIII!CTOII
Vicki llednrd
DIRICTOA OP ULI!S .ND UllllmNo
jillanejob
IDIIORIAL USIITANT
Patricia Oliver
SICAITAIIY
Patnck Dally
ART DIRICTOii
Lynne Ridenour
QR.PHIC OUIGNIRIWUI M.UTI!R
Abby Wieber
GRAPH IC DUIQHI!RS
Betsy Miner
PROOPRI!ADtHO
Dr. Cathleen M<.Grcal
Tim Ryan
CONTIIIIunNQ WRITI!IIS
Tom Gennaro
Phillip Shippen
CONTIItlunNO PHI1TOCIUPNIRS
I nncr\Vorki ngs
PRINT MAHAOEMI!NT
b and
~~=~&=and-=
NC
NC
..........,.;p ......
NC Co~Ho~ca"' t1JSP9 71 &-9401 it a
loondhOoldcO....ol~ 71~-a.R.­
"'9\
271!00. NWood t.1aro1tt-
l'oi>Nrj
dw'QOO-bo-ID715-a,~NC27e<MI;
81DJI21 .8700:,.818821 .870Scw..,..,~
-~-·~NCcw-­
f'OSIW,STEA:
s.d -dw'QOO ID:
Colldc:o. 715
!k, ~ NC 271100. C::KXJe FMll Pltioliog
_ . . . Ooldc Doc.. d l,...rq C::KXJe Ooldc I»
- oi!Woo;t ......,Wol NC Olfdct
lfWibo..--.-ar--....,.-
No""'*"'
d=-~S:::.e-t,.::UO::::=..-:
......
... --...-.a-o~..,.,.;;.
--NCColldc:o. OoldcO.... <IRI!o9<
Give the gift of
NCCatholics:
Order a subscription today
919.821.9730
~ Diocesan faithful in the legal and healthcare
professions participated in two special Masses
celebrated recently in the Diocese. Initiated by
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, the Red Mass is
celebrated annually for all judges, prosecutors,
attorneys, law school professors, students and
government officials.
Planning for the Red Mass, celebrated Oct.
1 7 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Raleigh, was
led by Judge James C. Dever Ill, a United States
District Judge based in Raleigh and a parishioner
of Our Lady of Lourdes.
"The Red Mass is an important initiative to offer on behalf of the legal profession," Dever said.
He stated that in his profession, it is important for public officials to have the opportunity to attend
as private individuals.
In his homily at the Red Mass, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge noted, "It is providential that the Red
Mass is celebrated in the same month the Church celebrates Respect Ufe Month. We are clearly
reminded that of all the issues facing our country, the most critical (and the one from which all
others derive their meaning) is the reverence for and the defense of all human life, especially the
unborn, the dying, the poor, the prisoner, the immigrant, the weak, the vulnerable and all those not
protected by the law... You must always bring to the debates of the issues at hand our fundamental belief and conviction that all life is from God; that all life is sacred, and all persons, without
exception, must be treated with dignity and respect:'
The White Mass, held
on October 22nd at St.
Peter Catholic Church in
Greenville, was offered
for those who work in the
medical profession and
anyone who cares for the
sick and injured. Dr. Mark
Cervi, a practitioner of
internal medicine at Pitt
County Memorial Hospital,
led the planning.
"Late last spring at a
Pastoral Council meeting,
I was asked to coordinate
the organization of the
Mass," Dr. Cervi said. "My wife, who is also in the medical field, also assisted." Dr. Cervi gave
one of the readings at the Mass, and two of his children participated as altar servers. He says this
Mass is especially important to him as a physician: "In my profession, death is something I have to
deal with, and I need to rely on my faith and the faith of my patients to get through those difficult
times when medicine can be of no help. Spiritual and medical healing go hand in hand~
At this Mass, Bishop Burbidge renewed his emphasis on the sanctity of life. "We believe," the
Bishop said, "that the Lord our God is the Creator and Author of all life. We believe in the sacredness of all human life from the moment of conception to natural death. We believe that all persons
are created in the image and likeness of God and are temples of the Holy Spirit... In a world that
does not always embrace these truths, how essential it is that you profess your faith in word and
deed each day~
The White Mass is the first in the Diocese, and in the future it will be held in other cities in the
Diocese with major medical centers. - Amanda Cadran
-
4
.
1 \'i\'~w D ~h CSCDff-~ . liCI-Jl' oru
j
:N.'.\
NCC.l:'':J ( 9
Ulj
FrJ.nr c::: X1~ 1 ('i
c .hr lf' l v .,,, ·,
I
~
II :",Jt H':l
u' H.n J .r-; f~( il jl'
lJ) .
I-.
Mass Celebrates Hispanic Heritage
... Men, women and children from more than 20 Latin
American countries gathered Oct. t t at St. Ann Catholic
Church in Clayton for the annual Hispanic Heritage Mass.
The theme for this year's celebration was "Strangers or
Aliens No Longer .. . You Are the Family of God:' Most
Reverend Michael F. Burbidge presided at the annual Mass
that recognizes
and pays tribute
to the many gifts
Hispanic immigrants bring to
our Church and
I
our communities.
The celebration
highlights the
rich faith of the
Hispanic people,
their strong family
values and their
dedication to
work.
The homily was
given by Father
Carlos Area,
Diocesan Vicar
for Hispanics. He spoke of the challenges faced by many
immigrants who have come to the U.S., seeking a better life
for themselves and their loved ones. "We have come to this Official Announcements
country surpassing a great many obstacles, and we are here
because of God's Grace. Always remember that we should Ill+ The Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of
Raleigh, announces the following Pastoral appointments:
live as children of God:'
Reverend Paul M. Parkerson, Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish
in Dunn, is additionally appointed to a three-year term as the
Bishop Marks Respect Life Sunday with
Bishop's
delegate for the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy
Mass and Homily in Goldsboro
in the Forma Extraorrlinan"a. Reverend Julian C. Jagudilla,
O.F.M., Franciscan Friar, Holy Name Province of the Order of
. . Catholic Churches throughout the U.S. celebrated
Friars
Minor, is appointed Parochial Vicar at Saint Francis of
Respect Life Sunday on Oct. 5. The day commemorates the
Assisi
Parish in Raleigh. Reverend Edward R. Wolanski, C.P.,
sanctity of life and reminds Catholics of the need to work on
a
member
of the Congregation of the Passionists and former
behalf of all life issues, ranging from abortion to immigration.
Our
Lady of the Isle in Shelter Island, N.Y., is apPastor
of
Each year, the Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge
pointed
Parochial
Vicar at Saint Peter Parish in Greenville.
celebrates Respect Life Sunday at one of the Diocese's 96
parish and mission churches. This year, the Bishop celebrated Mass at St. Mary Church in Goldsboro.
"General Norms" Go Into Effect
In his homily, Bishop Burbidge spoke of the work that
remains to be done "in the defending and protecting of the
....,. The General Norms for the Celebration of the Sasacredness of all human life, the life of the unbom, the priscred Liturgy became effective Oct. t 9. The new Norms
oner, the immigrant, the dying, the weak, the vulnerable and
were promulgated by Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge
all those who are unable to protect themselves~
Aug. 4. A series of workshops was held in the Diocese to
The Bishop noted our civic responsibility to become
familiarize parish staffs with the Norms and bulletin inserts
involved in the important moral issues of our time. "We are
were provided to inform the faithful about the changes. The
presented," the Bishop said, "with opportunities each and
Norms are available in pdf form on the Diocesan Web site
every day to stand up for life in the words we speak, by our
at http://www.dioceseofraleigh.org/docs/liturgy/Generaioutreach to those in need and by the decisions we make."
NormsMass.pdf.
local
news
Parish Catechists Attend
Annual Emmaus Conference
E
ach month, NC Catlwlics will reporL on various initiatives and
activities throughout the Diocese to incorporate the jubilee Year of
St. Paul into the spi~tual formation of the faithful. Watch this space!
H you know ofPauhne events occurring, send information and or
pktures to NC Catholics by emailing [email protected].
Back to Earth - More than 350 students participated in "Back to Eanh "
the Diocesan wide camp-out for youth in grades 9-12. The weekend eve~l
was held in October at Short journey Center in Smithfield.
This fall's theme was "Come to the Feast" and featured as keynoter Paul
Kotlowski, the youth ministry coordinator in the Diocese of Charlotte.
His talk was on the Year of St. Paul. This year's breakout sessions included
"Road to Damascus: Conversations of Paul."
Plenary Indulgence - Catholics who panicipate in events connected
with the 20?8-2009 jubilee year of St. Paul can receive a special indulgence.
Pope Benedict XVI authorized the granting of a plenary, or full, indulgence
in order to highlight the Pauline year and open the way to the "interior
purification" of the faithful during its celebration.
An indulgence is a remission of the temporal punishment a person is due
f~r si.ns that have been forgiven. The plenary indulgence is being offered 10
p1lgnms who come to Rome, to Catholics who participate in local events
connected to the jubilee year, and to those who may be too ill or otherwise
prevented from physical participation. It can be granted on behalf of the
individual petitioner or on behalf of departed souls.
Conditions for the special Pauline year indulgence include the normal requirements ~t by tnt: Church for all plenary indulgences: that the person goes to
confessiOn, receives the Eucharist and prays for the intentions of the Holy Father.
Emmaus Conference - Dr. Paul Griffiths, the Warren Professor of Catholic Theology at Duke University, spoke on St. Paul
the Evangelist at the annual Emmaus Conference for catechists
held this year at St. Paul Church in New Bern. A podcast of or.'
Griffiths' presentation is available at the Diocesan Web site. Click
on the Year of St. Paul on the home page and follow the links.
Resource - Asked to recommend a book on St. Paul, Dr.
Griffiths cited Life in Cluist: The S!'ilitual Message of tl1e Letter to the
Romans, by Father Raniero Camalamessa. Amazon.com says this
about the book ~In Life in Guist, Father Raniero Cantalamessa,
preacher to the papal household, presents a project of re-evangelization and spiritual renewal based on St. Paul's letter to the Romans. It is
the~fore neither an exegetical commentary nor a theological treatise, bm goes
straight to the heart of what animated the Apostle when he wrote this letter.
His aim was not to give the Christians of Rome- and the Christians of later
generations - a difficult text on which to exercise their critical wisdom but
rather to impart a spiritual gift to them so that they would be strengthened and
mutually encouraged by each other's faith."
Podcast - To subscribe to podcasts on St. Paul by Father jonathan Woodhall,
FatherJames l.abosky and others, go to httpJ/www.dioccseofraleigh.orglhow/catechesis/stpauVipaul.aspx.
NC Calholtcs 6 Nove mba 20081 www.DioceseofRaleigh.org I www.NCCalholics.org
-----------------------------~
..,. The Diocese of Raleigh's Eight Annual Emmaus Conference was held at
St. Paul Catholic Church in New Bern
on Oct. 16-1 7. The gathering, hosted by
the Diocesan Office
of Evangelization
and Catechesis, is
for men and women
involved in religious
faith formation on
the parish level.
The two-day event
featured a pair of
keynote talks. Father
Timothy Radcliffe,
OP, spoke on the
topic of "Listening
to the Word of God" and "Sharing the
Word of God:' Fr. Brian Pierce, OP,
spoke on "The Spaces Between the
Words- Discovering the Word in Daily
Life~ Fr. Pierce also presented his talk
in Spanish.
Participants had the opportunity to
choose from seven English language
workshops and two Spanish language
sessions. Paul Griffiths, PhD, the Warren
Professor of Catholic Theology at Duke
University, was one of the presenters,
speaking on St. Paul the Evangelist.
Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge
was principal celebrant and homilist for
the Conference Mass. He expressed
his gratitude to those gathered for their
dedication and generous service in bring~
ing the Word of God to those they serve
in their parish communities. The Bishop
spoke about the
obstacles they
face as well
as the many
blessings they
receive. "We live
in a world where
there is great
moral confusion,''
the Bishop said.
"In the midst of
these obstacles
we are called
upon to persevere; to remain patient
and to be ever confident in God's ability
to 'break through' any obstacle we may
encounter. He will give us the resources
and graces we need."
Each year during the conference, the Mary Dowling
' Master Catechist of the Year Award is presented. This
year's recipient is Mary Hood Hart, director of faith
formation for St. Brendan Church in Shallotte. Hart has
been in her position since 2000 after volunteering as
a catechist for 20 years in the Dioceses of Raleigh and
Charleston.
Thanksgiving Basket Project
Marks 25 Years
....,. The annual Thanksgiving Basket Project, sponsored
by St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, is celebrating 25 years of giving. Each year, the project assists
500-600 families, or 2,000-3,000 people, by providing
baskets of Thanksgiving food items as well as other non-
holiday staple items to those in need.
Starting in early November, several groups from
within the parish community - including Faith Formation
classes, St. Michael School, the Early Childhood Center,
The Edge (Middle School Program) and others - began
the project by collecting food and decorating the baskets.
Monetary donations are welcomed any time at the parish
office, and food donations are welcomed at any of the
Masses held on Nov. 22 and 23 before 1p.m. Sunday,
Nov. 23. A list of food items needed for each basket is
available at www.stmichaelcary.org or by contacting the
parish office at 91 9.468.6100. Monetary donations are
used to purchase the food needed to complete the assembly of the baskets.
The St. Michael community gathers every year for the
massive job of assembling and distributing these baskets
to families and individuals in need of assistance. These
baskets, or large boxes, will be assembled on Sunday,
Nov. 23 by volunteers like the church's high school
students group, the Knights of Columbus and the Boy
Scouts. They are joined by the many parishioners who
volunteer with their friends and families, including their
children.
Recipients of the Thanksgiving baskets are identified
by referrals from ministries at St. Michael, local social
service agencies, area school counselors and fellow
churches throughout Wake County. After the box assembly, any food items not on our list are given to Meals On
Wheels and the Interfaith Food Shuttle to distribute to
food pantries and others in need in the local area.
John and Jackie Brown began the program out of their
van 25 years ago. They received food and monetary
donations and then distributed food and set-up accounts
to benefit those in need. And while they are still active
in the St. Michael's program today, they are also busy
introducing this same type of program to other churches
in North Carolina as far away as Wilmington. "We have
been truly blessed by the St. Michael parish family and
all those who have helped along the way. We want this
to continue, even when we're gone, through our children
and grandchildren, and spread through other churches as
well so that people will not be hungry," say the Browns.
For information on how to donate or volunteer for
St. Michael's 25th Annual Thanksgiving Basket Project:
919.468.61 00.
Call for Catalog
1·800.523. 7604
Dear NCC: How do we respond
to the evil around us?
hen I traveled to
Auschwitz a few years
ago, one question
played over and over
1 in my mind: Did they know? Did the
German people know what was happening in this
camp near their own border, in their own occupied
territories? With the trains coming and going year
after year, with the long lines of prisoners and the
billowing smokestacks, did they just tum a blind eye
to the atrocities? Had they become desensitized to
the point that they could no longer see the carefully
choreographed death operations nearby?
- Rc\: Tadcus:
l'achulc:yk. Ph.D.
Clmro his d<K'IOOIIC
In ncun>SCicncc £n1m
Yale and did (!<lSI·
dcK'Inr.d ""rk uti br•
vard. lie Is " rricst
the diocese .. fllll
River, MllSs., and
serves llS the DhTC1nr
o£ Educniun at TI1e
National ulholic
Olncthlcs Center In
Phll:ulciJ!hla. Sec
ww\\:nchccnlcr.urg
ur
NC Calhc>lics
r
8
Some concentration camps, like the one in
Dachau, were set in comfortable suburbs right inside
Germany itself, and the townsfolk could stroll past
them during their daily routine. The grass in those
suburbs continued to grow as green as anywhere
else, young people got married, babies were born.
men went to work and life went on.
Walking through a place like Dachau or
Auschwitz, one wonders: Could it ever happen
again? Could a similar scenario play out today in
middle-class Amenca? Most would instinctively
say "no"- after all, we live in a more enlightened
time and culture. A more perceptive eye, however,
can discern troubling parallels. Nowhere are these
parallels more e\'ident than in the bioethical issues of
our day. Our society, in fact, faces virtually the same
temptation that Germany did: the temptation to
normalize certain well-scripted death operations in
the midst of polite society.
If we look \vithin our own culture and within our
own time, we \viii see that suction machines have
replaced smokestacks, and that Fertility Clinics and
Womens Health Centers have replaced the barbed
wire. Unborn humans and embryonic children
are now dispatched with the same desensitized
ease as camp inhabitants once were, and ne'er a
word is mentioned in respectable society. Our great
universities, which need to serve as a moral voice,
remain mute or even foster such evil, as does the
press, and few dare mention the pall of death that
quietly permeates the air.
We need look no further than the Planned
Parenthood clinics which are dotted across our
Ncll'rrnhu 20081 www.DioceileOIRaleigh.org J www.NCCalholics.org
country. Future generations are likely to be appalled
by the statistics: nearly two million deaths per year.
They are sure to wonder about a people that ended
the lives of their own children at the rate of one every
23 seconds through elective abortion. They are sure to
ask, ~How could theyr and, "Did they know?"
We need look no further than the fertility clinics
present in every major American city. Future
generations are sure to be scandalized by the numbers:
In ''i!ro fertilization making hundreds of thousands of
embryonic humans, to be chilled in liquid nitrogen
and turned into, in the words of one commentator,
"kidsicles." They are sure to deplore the many other
human embryos treated as objects, discarded as
medical waste, poured down the sink or experimented
upon and strip-mined for their embryonic stem cells.
There is a certain banality about evil. It doesn't
necessarily present itself in a monstrous or dramatic
way. It can take the shape of simple conformity to what
everyone else is doing, to what the leadership says is
right, to what the neighbors are doing. The gradual
encroachment of evil in our lives can be something
we might not even notice because we are not paying
attention; it can be something barely on the periphery
of our consciousness.
The majority of those who collaborated with
some of historys most terrible crimes and falsehoods
need not be cast as inhuman monsters; instead, they
were often like us. They were capable of giving and
receiving sympathy and love; they could have beautiful
feelings and noble ideals; heroism, loyalty, family and
culture could all co-exist \vith almost unbelievable evil.
During the Nazi years, there often were no
momentous decisions to be made for or against evil.
People were concerned with their daily affairs, and on
that level, Nazism seemed good. It seemed to bring
prosperity, it made things work, it allowed people to
feel good about themselves and their country. The
moral issues- the ones that we now sec as having
been central- were carefully avoided.
When the full horror of Nazism was revealed at the
end of the war, the German people responded, "We
didn't know." When a localtownsperson was asked
whether he knew what was going on in the camp, he
gave a more complete answer. "Yes, we knew something
was up, but we didn't talk about it, we didn't
want to know too much." Primo lc\1, a writer
and a survivor of Auschwitz, described the
German ethical blind spot this way:
"In spite of the varied possibilities for
information, most Germans didn't know
because they didn't want to know. Because,
indeed they wanted not to know. .. Those who
knew did not talk; those who did not know
did not ask questions; those who did ask
questions received no answers. In this way
the typical German citizen won and defended
his ignorance, which seemed to him sufficient
justification of his adherence to Nazism.
Shutting his mouth, his eyes and his cars, he
built for himself the illusion of not knowing,
hence not being an accomplice to the things
taking place in front of his door."
Martin Luther King, jr. used to say that
what pained him the most was the silence of
the good. Alben Einstein, who Oed Germany
when Hitler came to power, articulated the
same sentiment in an interview for Time
Magazine on Dec. 23, 1940. He stressed that
sometimes it was only the Church and religion
that could challenge the status quo as evil
made inroads into a society:
"Being a lover of freedom, when the
revolution came in Germany !looked for
the universities to defend it, knowing that
they had always boasted of their devotion to
the cause of truth; but no, the universities
immediately were silenced. Then !looked to
the great editors of the newspapers, whose
naming editorials in days gone by had
proclaimed their love of freedom. But they, like
the universities, were silenced in a few short
weeks. Only the Church stood squarely across
the path of Hitlers campaign for suppressing
truth. I had never any special interest in the
Church before, but now I feel a great affection
and admiration because the Church alone has
had the courage and persistence to stand for
intellectual truth and moral freedom."
The courageous, even daring question we
must ask is, "What is our own response to the
e,1J around us?" J;;
Send your questions to:
"Since you asked .. :'
71 5 Nazareth St.
Raleigh, NC 27606
Or:
[email protected]
T
his month's cover story on the beginnings
of the Catholic community in Newton
Grove touches on only one chapter in
__ ,;...,..
that parish's very rich history. Here's another. It's
ironic: As you 1ll read in the feature, Dr. john
Carr Monk first considered Catholicism
because of the division in his Methodist
church over race. According to a history
of the Monk family by Charles H.
Bowman, Jr., the Goshen Methodist
Church "was a mixed congregation;
before the Civil War the slaves went to
church with their masters, occupied
the galleries, and often minded the
restless white children.
"Now the former slave owners felt that the freed negroes should provide
their own church, and the only dissenting voice was that of Dr. Monk.
He argued that the blacks had no educated ministry and suggested that
the congregation withhold its decision for a few years. Popular opinion
prevailed, however. The eviction of the negroes affected the physician to
the point that, with the help of his brother Rufus Monk, he built a Sunday
school for the blacks and taught them himself.n
In 1939, in honor of the Redcmpto rist Order which had administered
St. Mark's in Newton Grove (the parish Monk assisted in founding) since
1928, the name of the church was changed to Holy Redeemer. The parish had long had school s for blacks and whites, separate of course, and
in that same year it was deemed time for the ''colored~ to have their own
church. So the parish hall, constructed with funds from Mother (now
Saint) Katherine Drexel ~to be used as a place of Instruction for Colored
people" was turned into a church and named St. Benedict.
Enter Bishop Vincent S. Waters, installed in Raleigh in 1945. Waters
was an early and vigorous opponent of segregation, and in 1953 he came
personally to Holy Redeemer (at serious personal risk) and closed St.
Benedict. preaching a fiery sermon and ordering the Catholics in Newton
Grove to worship together. The event put Bishop Waters, and Newton
Grove, on the national stage, although the result, as in later mergers ordered by the Bishop, was a loss of many of the black Catholics who had
preferred their own communities. It was immediately after the "Newton
Grove Affair~ that the name of the church there was changed once again,
to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
- Rlch:ttd Reece Is the editor or NC Cal holies.
.... Thank you for your letters and emailsl You can
write me at 715 Nazareth Street, Raleigh, NO 27606
or [email protected].
H
ave you ever recetved a gift that seemed to have
every tec~no~ogical feature. imaginable? What did
you do wtth tt? Unless you re some sort of prodigy,
you probably had to find out what it was and how
it worked before you could do anything at all! The most obvious places to begin would be talkmg to the person who gave it
to you and reading the instruction manual.
The very fact of our existence has put us m a situation not
unlike the one just described. Are not our very lives a gift,
which we must learn how to use, so to speak? Some people
believe human life is simply a mystery, and all we can expect
of each other is to blunder around, trying not to hurt anyone.
Others believe we can't know what life is for, and so make it
their aim just to have as much pleasure as possible. Still, others
avoid the question altogether. Yet, as Catholics, we believe that
God did not simply leave us to ourselves to dtscover who we
arc and the meaning of our lives. Rather, the Giver of all good
things has revealed Himself to us and has made His purpose for
us abundantly clear.
Returning to our origmal example, wouldn't it be ovcnvhelming if the person who gave you the gift sat you down and read
the entire instruction manual to you all at once? God is certainly
no less wise than us. and so has revealed Himself to us in
stages. He began with our first parents, when He made known
to them that He had created them to enjoy intimate friendship
with Him. By sharing Hts own divine life, they were capable of
Part 2 of our series examines the teachings of Del
Verbum (Latin for Word of God), the Second Vatican
Councils Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation. It
was promulgated by Pope Paul VI on Nov. 18, 1965. 11+
If public revelation ended with
the death of the last Apostle,
what do the apparitions of Mary
mean?
correct or contradict the deposit of
faith, but they may help Catholics to
live their faith more fully in a certain
period of history. (cf. ccc 67)
II+ Throughout history, there have
been occasions of private revelations to certain individuals that have
been recognized by the Church as
authentic. Examples include the appearances of Mary to three children
in Fatima, Portugal, in 1 91 7, and to
St. Bernadetle Soubirous in Lourdes,
France, in 1858. Private revelations do not add anything new to
the deposit of faith, which has been
transmitled in its entirety. If private
revelations are not part of the deposit of the faith, thus not requiring the
assent of faith, why has the Church
recognized some to have value? Private revelations can never surpass,
NC Cathulics
10
Scripture alone? How does
the Protestant understanding
of Scripture differ from that of
Catholics?
II+ The doctrine of so/a scriptura, or
Scripture alone, means for Protestants exactly that - the Bible alone is
the infallible authority for their faith.
Our Catholic understanding of Scripture is quite different. As Catholics,
we hold that there is not one, but two
distinct modes of transmission of the
truths of revelation: sacred Scripture
and sacred Tradition, both of which
are safeguarded and interpreted by
the Magisterium. In Dei Verbum, the
N<"'cmba 20081 www.DiocesaofRaleigh.org I www.NCCatholics.org
council Fathers stated, "both sacred
Tradition and sacred Scripture are to
be accepted and venerated with the
same sense of loyalty and reverence
... for both of them, flowing from the
same Divine wellspring, in a certain
way merge into a unity and tend
toward the same end." (ov 9)
Infallibility vs. Inspiration
II+ All parts of the three-legged
stool of Scripture, Tradition and the
Magisterium, have a share in the
charism of infallibility, which means
that they are preserved by the Holy
Spirit from teaching error in maHers
responding to, knowing and loving Him far beyond their natural capacity. (d ccc 52) Even when Adam and Eve sinned -the
equivalent of throwing a friends gift in H1s face- God did not
stop revealing Himself. Rather, He showed the depths of His
goodness and love by promising them salvation and alTering
them His covenant. Through His promises to Noah, Abraham
and Moses, God formed His people and revealed His law to
them. Through the prophets, He filled H1s peoples hcans with
the hope of salvation and the expectation of a new and everlasting covenant intended for all, to be written on their heans.
ld CCC 6-I,Jcr J l l l-34)
God revealed Himself fully by scndmg His own Son. Dei
Verbum, the Dogmatic Constitution on Divme Revelation, calls
jesus the "mediator and fullness of all revelation" because He
both reveals God to us and is Himself the fullness of revelation. tDV 2) While He was still on earth, jesus made sure that
everything He did and taught would be handed on faithfully
to all people of every time and place. He gave His Apostles
authority to preach the Gospel to the very ends of the earth,
and sent them the Holy Spirit to ~ remind them of all that He
had told them" and "to lead them into all truth." Oohn lfd ,l3l In
turn, the Apostles and their succes_~rs. the Bishops, handed
on what they themselves had received from Christ in two
ways: orally, by their preaching, example and the institutions
they established; and in writing, by themselves or by others associated \vith them, under the inspiration of the Holy
of faith and morals. However, it is
Scripture alone that has the charism
of inspiration. Simply put, "God is
the author of sacred Scripture." (CCC
1 as) God inspired human authors to
put down in writing everything and
only those things which He wanted
written. Since God is the author
and cannot make a mistake or lie,
it necessarily follows that Scripture
is without error. This is another "I"
-inerrancy!
prayer and reflection:
act of faith
....,. As one of the three theological
virtues - along with hope and charity
- faith expresses our belief in God
as three Divine Persons and in all
that He has revealed. For centuries,
the faithful have prayed the acts of
faith, hope and charity for an increase in these virtues which unite
us directly to God. Along with the
concise act of faith below, you may
wish to make up your own, or take
one straight from Scripture. (Look up
Mark 9 :34 and John 11 :27.)
Spirit. The living transmission of the Gospel is called sacred
Tradition, while the Word of God communicated in writing is
sacred Scripture. Together, both sacred Tradition and sacred
Scripture make up one single "deposit,. of the Word of God,
entrusted to the Church. (OV to> In other words, God has both
explained His gifts to us and left us an instruction manual!
The "deposit of faith" has been entrusted to the entire
people of God. However, the task of authentically interpreting
the Word of God belongs exclusively to the Churchs teaching
office, the Magisterium. The word Magistclium comes from
the latin word magister, meaning teacher. The Magisterium IS
simply Christs own authonty to teach, handed on through the
Apostles to their successors, the Bishops- enabling them to
apply revelation to the particular circumstances of every time
and place. The Magisterium is not itself a pan of the deposit
of faith, but is its servant. (DV to) This teaching office is necessary. because even though Gods revelation to us in Christ is
"already complete, it has not been made completely explicit."
(CCC 66l In other words, the Magisterium does not make up
new things for Catholics to believe. It explains what the truths
Christ has entrusted to us mean for us today. Our response to
Gods revelation is faith . We hear His Word, we give our assent
to it and we put it into action.
- Sr. Maria l'austlna Shuw:~hcr, O.r., Sr.Juhn Mary Curbcu. O.r., Sr. Maria Gemma
Manck, O.r., and Sr. Ellz.~bcth Ann O'Reilly, O.r.
0 my God, I firmly believe that
you are one God in three Divine
persons, Father, Son and Holy
Spirit. I believe that your Divine Son
became man and died for our sins,
and that He shall
come to judge the
living and the dead.
I believe these and
all the truths that the
holy Catholic Church
teaches, because
you have revealed
them, who can neither deceive nor be
deceived.
apostolic Tradition, in virtue of the
fact that it has been given to us
by God and has been part of the
Church's life and practice since its
beginnings, may not be changed or
big "T" and IIHie
"t" tradition
....,. In the Catechism
of the Catholic Church, a clear distinction is made between apostolic
Tradition and ecclesial traditions.
apostolic Tradition refers to those
teachings handed on by the Apostles, received from Jesus' teaching
and example, and from what they
learned from the Holy Spirit. This
discarded, regardless of whether
a particular teaching is popular in
today's society. While apostolic
Tradition itself may not be changed,
"the particular forms, in which the
great tradition is expressed," may
be adapted to different cultures and
times.
saint
of
the
month
Feast Day: Nov. 30
Patron of Scotland, Russia, fishermen
and unmarried women
Dra festlvo: 30 de noviembre
Santo patron de Escocia, Rusia, de los pescadores y de las mujeres solteras.
Claim to fame: Saint Andrew
was Simon Peter's brother, and one of
the Twelve Apostles. He was first a disciple of John the Baptist, but following
Jesus' baptism, he recognized Jesus
as the Messiah and followed him.
Interestingly, Saint Andrew introduced
his famous brother Peter to Jesus. He
is always listed as one of the first four apostles in the Bible. As
an apostle, Saint Andrew spent a great deal of time with Jesus
and was present at such major events as the Last Supper. He
also is an early witness to the risen Christ.
Hechos que le hlcleron famoso:
Andres fue el hermano de Simon Pedro,
y uno de los doce ap6stoles. Primero fue
discipulo de Juan el Bautista, pero despues
del bautismo de Jesus, reconoci6 a este
como el Mesias y lo sigui6. Curiosamente,
Andres present6 a su famoso hermano Pedro
a Jesus. Siempre se le lista como uno de
los primeros cuatro ap6stoles en Ia Biblia. Como un ap6stol,
Andres tendria que haber pasado mucho tiempo con Jesus y
estaria presente en eventos tan importantes como Ia Ultima
Cena y Ia Resurrecci6n.
Early evangelist: Since Saint Andrew was close to
Jesus, he had heard Jesus speak about what would happen to
those who preached the Gospel. Despite this, he went out and
spread the word of God, going to such places as Cappadocia
and Byzantium. Although there isn't accurate historical information about Saint Andrew's travels, it does appear he played
an important role in early evangelization.
Por que es un santo: Puesto que Andres estaba cerca de
Jesus, habia oido a Jesus hablar acerca de lo que les ocurriria a aquellos que predicaran el Evangelic. A pesar de ello,
se Ianzo al mundo y predic6 Ia palabra de Dios en sitios como
Capadocia y Bizancio. Aunque no hay informacion histories
exacta acerca de lo que Andres hizo, parece que jug6 un papel
importante en los comienzos de Ia evangelizaci6n.
Best quote: Not much is known of Saint Andrew, but he
did play a role in one major Gospel story. When Jesus fed the
5,000 people, it was Saint Andrew who pointed out that they
only had five loaves of bread and two fish, and asked how they
would feed so many people with so little.
Major ella: No se sabe mucho de Andres, pero jug6 un
papal en una importante historia del Evangelic. Cuando Jesus
aliment6 a 5,000 personas, fue Andres quiEm seiial6 que solo
tenian cinco hogazas de pan y dos paces y quitim pregunt6
como alimentarian tanta gente con tan poco.
How he died: According to tradition, under the reign of
Emperor Nero, Saint Andrew was crucified on an X-shaped
cross by the Roman governor Aegeas. In order to make him
suffer more, however, Aegeas had Saint Andrew bound by
ropes to the cross, rather than having him nailed. According
to legend, he hung on the cross for two days, preaching to a
crowd of about 20,000 people. On the third day, there was a
blinding flash from heaven and Saint Andrew died.
COmo mur16: Bajo el reino del Emperador Ner6n, Andres
fue crucificado en una cruz en forma de X por el gobemador
romano Aegeas. Sin embargo, para hacerlo sufrir mas, Aegeas
hizo que a Andres lo amarraran con cuerdas a Ia cruz, en Iugar
de clavarlo. Conforme a Ia leyenda, colg6 de Ia cruz por dos
dias, predicandole a una multitud de cerca de 20,000 per·
sonas. El tercer dia, hubo un relampago cegador del cielo, y
Andres muri6.
I
recently received a phone call. A pleasant
voice asked, "Is this a ministry?"
I answered, "I am in charge of a ministry,
but this is my home. I am in charge of
African Ancestry Ministry and Evangelization."
She replied, "Do you pray?" My answer was yes.
She replied, "Thank you." End of conversation.
This brought to my mind how uninfonncd many people
arc about us Catholics. It also brought to my mind a query.
How informed arc we as Catholics to respond to the
questions about our faith that the local people ask?
Our non-Catholic neighbors do not hesitate to ask such
questions as "Do you Catholics pray?" "Why do you worship
Mary?" ~why do you have idols in your church?" ~what
is Massr "Have you gone under the water?" (This means
· Have you been baptized by immersion?")
These are JUSt some of the questions that arc asked.
How many of us can answer them clearly? I
think that too many of us do not keep up
on the teaching of our rclig•on . We
do not read enough about our faith .
I wonder how many of us have
catechisms at home . I know that
some think catechisms arc passe,
but the question and answer format
responds to human need.
We don't need to enter into
a mode of defending our faith .
We need to get into a mode
of really knowing our faith
so we can explain it to others
accurately. I believe this is
something we need to seriously
consider and act upon.
And the better we know
our faith, the more fully and
completely we will be able to live
it, as St. Paul says in his letter to
Titus, "holding fast the faithful
word which is in accordance with
the teaching, so that lwe] will
be able both to exhon in sound
doctrine and to refute those who
contradict" Titus l.9.
- Msgr. Thomas r. lladden
L
a muerte no es un ser vivo pero busca a los
que lo est<in. Invade a los seres humanos en
sus diferentes edades. Impera en las culturas de todas las epocas con signos de violencia y destrucci6n. Se disfraza con las banderas de
justicia, libertad y orden, pero deja sentir su fuerza
en Ia compra y venta de Ia gran tentaci6n del poder y
Ia riqueza material.
Se burla de Ia miseria y del abandono que sufren los seres en Ia
tierra, JUgando con el hambre, Ia pobreza y Ia enfennedad, latigando a los ninos y j6venes sin derecho a cducaci6n, salud y bienestar;
esclavizando a los trabajadores que lo hacen para sobrevi vir y persiguiendo a tantos mil Iones de seres que abandonan su patria por
tantas razones y se hacen migrantcs, perseguidos, discriminados y
hasta se cahfican de ilegales y despreciados por los grupos racistas.
La muerte sigue invadiendo a nuestra humanidad con dolor,
miedo, tragcdia, terrorismo, fanatismo, patriotismo y religi6n.
Pues tcnemos grupos que Ia adoran, le rezan, Ia invocan y hasta Ia
manipulan para conseguir favores.
Otros Ia tienen como amuleto para sus negocios,
como protecci6n ante sus enemigos y como escape
para sus crfmenes. Tambicn sirve para callar a Ia verdad, para amedremar a Ia justicia y para ahuyentar Ia
paz entre los habitantes de Ia tierra.
Ha sido una trampa para los que buscan ser
felices sin responsabilidad, de los que han
querido scr libres sin compromise y de
los que creen que saben todo y hacen de
todo sin valores ni moral.
Ha sido un punto de llegada por los
caminos del alcohol, Ia droga, el sexo, Ia
brujerfa y Ia superstici6n. Sin escandalizarnos por nombrar algunos fan:iticos que
predican un mundo supra-espiritual y
desencamado de nuestra vida terrenal.
Cristo muri6 por nosotros para reconciliamos con el Padre, Cristo resucito para
veneer el pecado y Ia muene y nosotros
hemos sido bautizados para ser signos
de vida. De tal manera que no adoramos
Ia muene, sino Ia vida que hemos conquistado con Cristo y con obras nosotros
debemos profesar cada dla su triunfo, su
santidad y su perfecci6n.
- radre r emando Torres
man who backed his convictions with action, and McClo~
skeys sermon moved him. But
what was he to do? Htstorian
William F. Powers, in his book
Tar· Heel Catholics (University
Press of America, 2003), de·
scribes Monks situation:
"Until this moment, Monk
,
had
never read any Catholic
( ~
materials,
entered a Catholic
Cchurch, or had any communi·
"'
cation with a Catholic clergy·
t
man ... In addition, there were
no members of that religion
in Sampson County where he
lived and only a few hundred
in the entire state. Furthermore,
anti-Catholic sentiment was
as pervasive in his community
as the acres of cotton fields
through which he traveled each
day to visit his patients.~
Nevertheless, Monk wrote a
letter describing his dissatis facuon with his own church and
r
his interest m learning about
Catholicism, and addressed
it •To Any Catholic Priest,
Wilmington, NC." Would such
a letter get delivered today?
Monks
letter
was
given to Father Mark 5. Gross,
Amazingly,
n 1871, one of the most influential
Pastor of Wilmingtons St. Thomas Church. Father Gross
and popular pillars of the Newton
showed the letter to Bishop (later
Dr. John Carr
Grove community was undergoing a
Cardinal) james Gibbons, Vicar Ap·
Monk
went home,
ostolic
of
North
Carolina,
who
sent
crisis of faith. Forty-four-year-old Dr. john
and became North
Monk a list of books to read about
Carr Monk had been a staunch member of
Carolina's most
the Church. The doctor did his
productive Catholic
the local Methodist church, but the year
homework, and in October, along
missionary up
with his wife and two daughters,
before he had seen his congregation eject
until that time ...
was received mto the Church in
its black members. What kind of Christian- Wtlmington by Bishop Gibbons.
Overcoming antiity, he wondered, would seek to separate its
Catholicism ... the
Then Dr. john Carr Monk went
doctor answered
home , and became North Carolina's
believers from each other?
questions, handed
most productive Catholic missionout literature.
ary up until that time. Overcoming
While these thoughts were troubling the physician, he
anti-Catholictsm with what Powers calls his "obvious sincerity. personal integrity and jovial
received a package of medical supplies he had ordered from
New York. They were wrapped in recent edition of the New
disposition," the doctor answered questions, handed out
York Herald, an edition which had published the New Year's
literature and welcomed Father Gross and Bishop Gibbons,
Day sermon of Archbishop Wtlliam McClos key, a sermon
who \'isited Newton Grove and preached to crowds larger
that preached the necessity of unity among Christians and
than they had encountered anywhere else in the state.
Charles H. Bowman, jr., in his entry on Dr. Monk in the
touted the Catholic Church as the place where that unity
Dictionary of North Cawlina Biography (The Umversity of
could be found .
Monk was already well known and highly regarded as a
North Carolina Press, 1991), writes that "it became neces~
~
... ..
..
..
'"'
,
•
...
I
NC (411/wllcs
16 .~rt rrt:lw 2008 1www.OioceseoiRaleigh.org I www.NCCatholics.org
sary to erect a temporary shelter for
their accommodation and to make
plans for the construction of a permanent church and a schoolhouse.
Monk donated money and land for
the buildings. and work on them soon
commenced .~ In 1874, Bishop Gibbons consecrated St. Mark Church, so
named in honor of Father Gross. The
congregation continued to grow, even
after Dr. Monk's sudden death at the
age of 50, and Cardinal Gibbons would
refer to the doctor years later as "the
Monk who fathered 300 children."
Today many of Monk's actual descendants attend the Catholic Church, now
named after Our Lady of Guadalupe, in
Newton Grove. Many more have lived
and died, and arc buried in the cemetery
behind the church. The headstone at Dr.
Monk's gravesite bears this inscription:
"A faithful husband; a devoted father; a
Christian. In God's hands the founder
of this Catholic Mission; the 'Cornelius'
of the neighborhood. In life he kept the
Faith; and he here rests, awaiting the
blessed Hope of the Resurrection." "Cornelius" is a reference to the centurion in
the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 10. A
Gentile, he was inspired to invite Peter
to his home, where the Apostle preached
and converted Cornelius and many
other Gentiles.
As Powers notes, Bishop Gibbons
and Father Gross hoped that the
relative explosion of Catholicism in
Newton Grove would be a pattern
followed across the state, but growth
in this way did not happen. The way
in which the faith flowered in Newton
Grove was unique. Was it a miracle?
Some think so. In the church, a
stained glass window shows a devout Dr. Monk looking towards the
heavens. God's hand extends from the
clouds and touches the doctor's forehead. A scroll in the air reads, "The
Finger of God Touched Here." $
A
comienzos de 1871, nadie en
pueblo rural de Newton Grove
era cat6lico, pero en las siguientes dos decadas, mas de 300 hombres,
mujeres y nifios, incluso los que odiaban a
los cat6licos, se han unido a la iglesia.
Me atrevo a decir que ocurri6 un milagro en el floreclmicmo de Ia fe en un terreno tan impracticable como este,
tal vez cs una contradicci6n de Ia naturaleza, como las
rosas que juan Diego le trajo al Obispo de Mexico en pleno
invierno: cualquiera que sea el caso, todo comenz6 con una
sorprendente coincidencia. En 1871, una de las influencias
mas notables y pilares de Ia comunidad de Newton Grove,
enfrentaba una crisis de fe. El Doctor john Carr Monk de
44 ai\os de edad, fue un miembro incondicional de Ia lgle-
I
NC Ci!llwo 'c1
18 Nm·rml>tr 20081 www.DioceaeoiRaleigh.org I www NCCathohcs.org
sin local Metodista, pero el ai'lo antenor presencia
que su congregaci6n expuls6 a sus miembros de
color. _ {Que clase de cristiandad busca separar a
los creyentes de los demas?-se pregunt6.
Mientras que estos pensamientos rondaban Ia
mente del doctor, recibi6 un paquete con suministros medicos que orden6 de Ia ciudad de Nueva
York, las cuales estaban envueltas en Ia mas
reciente edici6n del New Yorll Herald . En dicha
version, venia publicado el sermon del Arzobispo
Wiliam McCloskey, el cual enfatizaba Ia necesidad
de unidad entre los cristianos y comercializar Ia
idea de que Ia iglesia catolica es el sitio ideal para
encontrar dicha unidad. Monk ya era reconocido
como un hombre de convicci6n y de acci6n,
pero el sermon de McCloskey lo conmovi6. Pero,
{ahora que podria hacer? El historiador Willinm
E Powers en su libro Tar Heel Catholics (University
Press of America, 2003) describe Ia situacion de
Monk de Ia siguieme manera:
"Hasta el momenta, Monk nunca habla leldo
ningun documento cat6lico, entrada a una iglesia, o hablado con ningun sacerdote . .. Ademas,
en el Condndo de Snmpson no existla nndie de
dicha religion, puesto que veia que el sentimiento
anticat6lico prevalecla en su comunidad a medida
que realizaba sus vinjes cada dfa por los sembradios de algodon para visitar a sus pacientes. n
Entonces, Monk escribi6 una curta describiendo su descontento con su propia iglesia y su interes en aprender sobre el catolicismo y Ia titulo:
A cualqufcr saccrdotc catolico, Wilmington, Carolina del None. Para su sorpresn, Ia cana de Monk
fue entregada al Padre
Mark 5. Gross, parroco de
El Dr. John Carr
Wilmington de Ia Iglesia
Monk regreso
de St. Thomas. El Padre le
a
su casa y se
mostr6 Ia carLa al Obispo (Liempo
convirti6
en unos
despues nombrado Cardenal)
de
los
misionarios
james Gibbons, Vicario Apost6lico
cat6licos mas
de Carolina del None, quien luego
productivos
de
le envfo libros con respecto a la
Carolina
del
Norte.
iglesia. El Doctor realize su tarea y
en octubre, junto con su esposa e
hijas, fueron recibidos en Ia Iglesia de Wilmington por el
Obispo Gibbons.
El Dr. john Carr Monk se conviru6 en unos de los
misionarios cat6licos mas productivos de Carolina del
None: superando al sentimiento anticat6lico con lo que el
describe como "sinceridad, mtegridad y disposici6n muy
jovial" El doctor respondi6 preguntas, reparti6 panfletos
e invit6 al Padre Gross y al Obispo Gibbons a predicar
en Newton Grove frente a una mulutud mayor a otros
encuentros en el Estado.
Charles H. Bowman jr agreg6 al Dr Monk en el Die-
Pm· Riclt Rcccrl Fotografias por Dcnmarll Photo & Video
1
cionario Biognifico de Carolina del
Norte (Dictionmy of North Carolina
Biography, The University of North
Carolina Press, 199J), "fue necesario
construir una sede temporal para
acomodarlos y elaborar los pianos de
Ia sede permanente de Ia iglesia y de
Ia cscuela." Monk don6 dinero y terrene para Ia construcci6n de Ia sede y
pronto se dedic6 a trabajar. En 1874,
Obispo Gibbons consagr6 Ia Iglesia
de St. Mark, en honor al Padre Gross.
La congregaci6n continuo creciendo,
incluso mucho despues de Ia abrupta
muene del Dr. Monk a los 50 anos
de edad. Tiempo despues, el Cardenal Gibbons coment6 que "Monk fue
padre de 300 h1jos."
En Ia actualidad, muchos de los
verdaderos descendientes de Monk
asisten a Ia iglesia cat6lica, que ahora
lleva por nombre Nuestra Senora de
Guadalupe, en Newton Grove. Muchos
de el\os han fallecido y dcscansan en
el cementerio detnis de Ia iglesia. La
lapida del Dr. Monk lleva las siguientes inscripciones: Un esposo leal, un
padre devoto y cristiano. En las manos
de Dios, el fundador de csta misi6n
cat6\ica, el Cornelio de esta comunidad. En vida mantuvo su fc, y sus
restos estan a Ia espera de Ia resurreccion." Cornelio, es el centurion del capitulo 10 de Hechos de los Apostoles.
Un gentil , quien fue inspirado a recibir
a Pablo en su hogar, dondc cl Apostol
convirti6 a Cornelio en otro Gentil.
Como lo indica Powers, Obispo
Gibbons y el Padre Gross ten!an Ia
esperanza que esta relativa explosion
del catolicismo en Newton Grove seria
un modelo a seguir en todo el Estados,
Ia cual nunca ocurri6. La fe noreci6
en Newton Grove de forma imica;
tfue un milagro? Algunos to piensan.
En Ia iglesia, un vitral muestra a\ Dr.
Monk mirando hacia el cielo y Dios
extiende su mano entre las nubes y
toea Ia frente del doctor. Un manu·
scrito nmante dice: "La mano de Di os
descendi6 aquL" ~1
i y
a:-- q .u' e ,·u'5 t e d - I 0 I
p r eg u n t a!
I
Dear NCC: lRespondemos a Ia
maldad a nuestro alrededor?
n mi viaje a Auschwitz hace algunos
afios, una pregunta daba vuehas en
mi mente: (lo sabian? (Sabia Ia gente
de Alemania lo que estaba pasando en
este campo cercano a su propia frontera, en sus propios tenitorios
ocupados? (Con los trenes yendo y viniendo afio tras afio, con las
largas filas de prisioneros y las humeantes chimeneas? {Miraban
acaso con ojos ciegos las atrocidades? (Se habian desensibilizado a
tal punto que ya no podian ver las operaciones de muene que tan
cuidadosamente se coreografiaban en las cercanfas?
E
- El Padre Tadeuu
l':lchnlc:yk hi:o
su dtK'tnr.ulo en
ncunK"kndas en Ill
Uni•·ersltbd de Yale
y su trnhajo 1"151·
docwrnl en Ill Unl·
versid;ul de Ibn':lnl.
Es S;~ttnlotc I"'"' Ia
Oit~ls de Fall Rlvc:r,
Mass:~ehusctts, y sc
dcscmpdla a•mn Dl·
rccwr de Edue~dtln
en cl Cemm Nac:ional
C:ah\lia• de Rlot!tiCI
en Phil:lddrlda. The
National C:atht>llc
llitK"thlcs Ccmer:
www.nchcenter.mg
Tr~duccltln: Marta
[lena Rodrigue::
NC Carlmllcs
Algunos campos de concentract6n, como el de
Dachau, estaban asentados en confortables suburbios
dentro mismo de Alemania, y los habitantes pod!an
pasar cert:a durante sus rutmas diarias. El cesped en
ese Iugar segula creciendo tan verde como en cualquier
otra pane, las personas se casaban, los bebes nacfan, los
hombres iban altrabajo y Ia vida continuaba.
AI pasar por un Iugar como Dachau o Auschwitz,
uno se pregunta,{Podria suceder de nuevo? (Podria
prescntarsc un escenario similar en Ia clase media de
Estados Unidos? Muchos contestarian instintivamente
"no" -despues de todo, vivimos en una cultura yen una
cpoca mas instruidas. Sin embargo, si miramos con mas
atenci6n, podemos discemir paralelos problematicos. En
ninguna pane son tan evidentes cstos paralelos como en
los temas biocticos de Ia actualidad. Nuestra socicdad,
de hecho, enfrenta vinualmente Ia misma tentaci6n
que Alemania: Ia tentaci6n de estandarizar cienas
opcraciones de mucnc, bien disenadas dentro de una
sociedad respetable.
Si vemos hacia el interior de nucstra propia cultura
y en nuestra propia cpoca, nos damos cucnta de que
las maquinas de aspiraci6n han tornado ellugar de las
chimeneas, y de que las cl!nicas de fcnilidad (Fertility
Clinics) y los centros de salud para Ia mujcr (Women's
Health Clinics) han substituido a los alambres de puas.
En esta respetablc socicdad, seres humanos por naccr
y bcbcs embrionarios son desechados con Ia misma
insensibilidad y facilidad que sc hacia con los imemos de
aquellos campos de concentraci6n, y ni una sola palabm
se menciona al respecto. Nuestras grandes universidades,
que dcbicran scrvir como una voz moral, permanecen
mudas e inclusive apoyan tales maldades, como lo haec
Ia prensa, y pocos se atrcven a hablar del airc de muene
que flota en el ambiente.
No hay mas que mirar hacia las cl!nicas para Ia
planeaci6n de los hijos (Planned Parenthood) localizadas
por todo el pals. Las generaciones futuras muy
probablemente se sorprcnderan ante las estadlsticas:
casi dos millones de muertes por ano. Seguramente se
20 Nowmbcr 200B l www.DioceseoiRaleigh.org Iwww.NCCatholics.org
hamn preguntas respecto a aquellos que tenninaron
con las VJdas de sus propios htjos mediante el abono
por eleccion, a razon de 1 cada 23 segundos. Se
preguntamn, seguramente, ~{C6mo pudieron hacer
eso?· y, "tLD sabianr.
SOlo hay que ding~r Ia mirada hac1a las clinicas para
Ia fenilidad (Fenility Clinics) presentes en cualquier
ciudad grande de Estados Umdos. Las proximas
gencraciones se escandalizaran, scguramcme, con los
mimeros: Ia fenilizaci6n in vitro produciendo demos
de miles de humanos embriomcos que luego son
congelados en nitrogeno liquido y conven1dos, scglin
palabras de un comentarista, en "paletas heladasft. Se
constemamn por los muchos otros cmbriones humanos
tratados como objctos, climinados como desechos
medicos, que tenninaron en el drcnaJc o fucron objeto
de expertmentacion, minas de oro por sus cclulas madre
cmbrionartas.
El mal pucdc mostrarsc como una tnvialidad. No
nccesartamente sc prescnta de una manera monstruosa
o dramatica. Puedc adoptar Ia forma de una simple
conformidad con lo que todos los demas hacen, con
lo que los lidcres dicen que es corrccto, con Jo que los
vecinos hacen. La intrusion gradual de Ia maldad en
nuestras vidas puedc scr alga que ni siquiera notamos
dcbido a que no estamos poniendo atenci6n; puede
scr algo que esta apcnas en Ia pcrtbia de nucstra
conciencia.
La mayoria de quienes han colaborado en los mas
tenibles crimenes y falsedades de Ia historia no eran
necesariamente unos monstruos inhumanos. Muchas
veces se trataba de personas como nosotros. Eran
capaces de dar y recibir compasi6n y amor; podian tener
hellos sentimientos e ideales nobles. Una maldad casi
increible podia cocxistir con el herolsmo, Ia lealtad, Ia
familia y Ia cultura.
Durante los alios nazis, no habia decisioncs
trascendentales que tomar a favor o en contra del mal.
L..a gcme estaba ocupada en sus asuntos diarios y, en ese
momento, el nazismo parecfa buena: aparentementc
trala prospcridad, hacla que las casas funcionaran,
permitla a las personas sentirse bien consigo mismas y
con su pals. Los temas morales -los que ahara vemos
como centrales, cuidadosamente sc evitaban.
Cuando todo el horror del nazismo sc hizo visible
al final de Ia guerra, cl pueblo de Alemania respondio,
"Nosotros no sabiamos". Cuando se le pregunt6 a
un habitante local respecto a si sabla lo que estaba
pasando en el campo, el dio una respuesta
mas ampha: "Sf, sabfamos que algo estaba
sucediendo, pero no hablabamos de clio,
no quertamos saber demasmdo". Primo
Levi, escntor y sobreviviente de Auschwitz,
dcscribio as! el punto ciego de Ia etica
alemana:
"A pesar de las diversas posibilidades
que tenlan pam infonnarse, Ia mayoria de
los alcm:mes no sab!an porquc no querian
saber. Porque realmente lo que querian ern
no emerarse.. . .Los que sabran no hablaban;
los que no sab!an no hacian preguntas; los
que si preguntaban no recib!an respuestas.
De esta manern cl c1udadano tipico de
Alernama ganaba y defend fa su ignornncia,
lo cualle pareda justificacion suficiente
pam su adhercncia al nazismo. Cerrnndo Ia
boca, sus ojos y sus ofdos. constru!a pam sf
mismo Ia ilusi6n de no saber, y por lo tanto,
de no ser c6mplice de las cosas que estaban
sucediendo justo frente a su puena".
Manm Luther King, Jr. dccfa que lo que
mas lc dol!a ern cl silcncio de Ia geme de
bien. Alben Einstein, quien abandonarn
Alernania cuando Hitler sub16 al podcr,
e>.pres6 el mismo semimiemo en una
entrevista para Ia rcvista Ttme cl 23 de
diciembre de 1940. Rcmarc6 que en algunas
ocasiones ernn unicamcnte Ia Iglesia y Ia
rehgion las que cuestionaban el estado de
cosas de Ia sociedad ante Ia maldad que
habfa logrndo infihrarse en ella:
~siendo un amamc de Ia libenad, cuando
Ia revoluci6n lleg6 a Alemania recurrt a
las universidades para dcfenderla. ya que
elias siempre hab!an hccho alarde de su
devoci6n porIa causa de Ia verdad; pcro no,
las universidadcs inmediatameme fueron
silenciadas. Luego me dirig! a los editores
de pcri6dicos que en epocas pasadas hab!:m
proclamado, en apasionados editoriales,
su amor a Ia libenad. Sin embargo. al igual
que las universidadcs, ellos tambien fueron
s1lenc1ados a las pocas semanas. Solo Ia
Iglesia se atrnves6 de lleno en el camino de
Ia campana de Hitler por acallar Ia verdad.
Yo nunca habra tenido un interes especial en
Ia Iglesia, pero ahora sem!a un gran aprecio
y admiraci6n pues unicameme ella hab!a
tenido Ia valentfa y el empeno para defender
Ia verdad intelectual y Ia libenad moral".
La valiente, y mas aun, retadora
pregunta que debemos haccr es, "(.Cual
es nuestra propia respuesta a Ia maldad
que nos rodea?''. J
E
ste mes, nuestrn revista diocesana tiene como tema principal
Ia historia de Newton Grove, que describe el crec1miemo
del catolicismo en el area. Recordemos que en 1910, Santa Katharine Drexel,
fundadorn de las Hennanas del Sagrado Sacramento y canonizada en el aflo 2000.
visit6 Newton Grove como benefactorn de Ia iglesia y garnnte de las necesidades espirituales
de Ia comunidad afroamericana. Siemo gran devoc16n por esta santa porque ella naci6 en Ia
misrna ciudad donde yo nac!, ademas de haber ayudado y visitado a Ia Diocesis en Ia cual
ahorn tengo el privileg10 de servir como ObiSpo.
A finales de este mes, Ia Iglesia comenzar.i
Ia celebrnci6n de Adviento y el ejemplo de
Santa Katharine Drexel es oponuno porque
nos ensena Ia manern de preparar nuestros
corazones pam recibir Ia abundante grncia
de esta tempornda sagrnda. Se le atribuyeron dos milagros a Katharine Drexel en el
proceso de canonizaci6n y ambos fueron por
curnr Ia sordera, y en este mundo agnado y
ruidoso en que vivimos. cada vez tenemos
menos tiempo pam escuchar. La temporada
de adviento es una invitaci6n especial a
estar mas cerca deJesucristo, en especial,
cuando se revela a nosotros par medio de
Su Palabrn. Hay moment as donde podemos
ser sordos de miles de maneras, pero El nos
habla directo al coraz6n y nos gu!a por el
camino. En especial durante eJ Adviemo, los
invito a meditar con detenimiento Ia Palabrn
de Dios de fonna planificada y delibernda.
A diario, t6mense el tiempo para ornr y
"escuchar" Su voz.
Eucaristfa, el Sacramento de Ia esperanza, fue el centro de Ia vida de Santa
Katharine Drexel. En su vida y ministerio, al igual que todos nosotros, enfrent6
muchos desaffos, sin embargo, ella enseM
consistentemente que Ia Eucaristfa en
nuestra unica esperanza para ser uno solo
con Cristo, vencedor del demonio, de Ia
frustraci6n, de Ia ansiedad, del pecado y
de Ia misma muerte para que asf pudieran celebrar Ia paz del Senor durante Ia
Temporada de Adviento. Por eso los invito
a que conffen en El y encuentren Ia fuente
de su fonaleza en el Sagmdo Sacramento.
Santa Katharine Drexek trabaj6 diligentemente par Ia unidad de las personas.
y con vulor, busc6 errndicar todu forma de
prejuicio, rncismo e injusticia. Miemrns nos
preparnmos pam celebrar el nacimiento de
Cristo, quien nos uni6 como hennanos y
hennanas, debemos alejar toda dureza y
odio de nuestros corazones. En esta tern-
porada los invito a restituir las am1stades
que han perdido al igual que perdonar a los
demas. Solo cuando estamos en paz con los
demas podemos celebrnr con plenitud Ia paz
de Cristo. Tambu~n. los invito a prepararse
espiritualmeme para Navidad, cclebrnr el
perd6n del Senor en el Sacramento de Penitencia y Ia nueva vida que nos brinda.
La evangelizaci6n de afroamericanos, de
los indios americanos y de todas las personas
ocurli6 durnme el ministerio de Santa Katharine Drexel; al igual que tambitn atendi6 las
necesidades de los demas, sobre todo de los
mas pobre. Ella fue una verdadern misionera
quien fue hasta los confines del mundo para
invitar at pueblo a recibir al Senor Jesus y a
Su iglesia. En esta tempornda sagrnda, consigan Ia rnanern de compartir sus recursos
con los mas necesitados entre nosotros. Con
amor, inviten a los miembros de su familia,
amigos, companeros de trabajo, etc., que
hayan abandonado Ia fe a regresar a Ia casa
del Senor en estas Navidades.
Santa Katharine Drexel nos recuerdu como
podemos inOuenciar a los demas. En Ia cana
que escribi6 a sus Hennanas en Navidad
dijo: "Renexiones en el niflo Jesus y piensen
en lo pequenilo que ernn sus pies. Nosotros
no tenemos que hacer algo grnndioso en
nuestrns vidas, solo sigan esos pequenos pasos y dejcn que Dios haga el resto para que
transfonne esos pequenos pasos en cnonnes
pasos que nos ayudar.in a llcvar Ia paz, Ia
esperanza, eJ amory Ia alegria de jesucristo a
todas las personas que conozcamos."
En el Evangelio del primer domingo de
Adviento,jesus nos llama a "estar alena"
pam responder a ese llamado si buscamos
Ia grncia de Dios, y sigamos el ejemplo de
Santa Katharine Drexel. Pidamos por su
intersecci6n pam que llevemos Ia paz, Ia
esperanza, el amory Ia alegria de jesucristo a
todas las personas que conozcamos"
- Monscllor Michael F. Burbidge, Obispo de Rlllctgh
kip is planning a trip to
the lake with the guys this
summer. jean wants Skip
to be with the family.
I want to go
fishing with the
guys
Skip says: A bunch of the
guys arc planning a big fishing
trip this summer- cabin in the
woods, days out on the lake, some cards and beer
at night. It sounds great lO me and I could really
usc the break from the stress of work and family. I
think jeans being a liLtle selfish by objecting- if she
wants to go somewhere with her friends, maybe her
parents could watch the kids.
he says
I want a family
vacation
Jean says: I can't beJie,·c
Skip wants lO spend all of his
vacation time away from me and
the kids. This is the only chance we get for some
uninterrupted family time, and he'd rather spend it
with his buddies at the lake. I'm really hurt- and
the kids arc going to be very disappointed.
she says
Stating the obvious, Skip and
jean are not communicating on
the same wavelength. There is
certainly a difference between
what Skip and jean call a vacation. To him it appears
to be a chance to get away from all responsibilities
associated with being a father, a husband, an
employee. To her, it appears to be a chance for
increased family bonding and relationship building.
Having faced similar situations in our marriage, we
believe Skip and jean's first priority should be to
bridge their definitions of vacation. Communication
at the root level would be the goal, and compromise
may be a possible solution. To do that, the first
serious activity they should engage in is to listen lO
each other. Listen with a non-judgmental ear and an
open heart. Listen intently and intentionally. listen
\vithout framing a response as your partner shares
what his or her wants, needs and desires are for a
vacation. Questions that should be asked: What do
what do
they do?
_ __,_.,.
l
NC Carlwlr<s
I want from a vacation? What do 1
hope to gain from taking vacation
as a family or alone? When we take
a family vacation, how docs that
make me feel? Start with a question
such as. "Why do I believe 1need
to vacation separately from my
family?"
Clearing the air at the root level
is imperative; or a true solmion
'"ill be most difficult to achieve.
It is very possible that Skip truly
needs some time away from the
family. Using the entire amount of
vacation to satisfy only his needs
would be selfish and not conducive
lO building a strong family unit,
though. If. however, Skip and jean
agree on Skips need to spend some
22 Nuwml>a 200/ll ~.DioceseoiRaleigh org I wwwNCCa: olics.org
_ _
_ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _...___,
time away bonding with his buddies instead of
with his family (you can sec by the tone which one
we don't advise), a compromise on the amount or
time is in order. Maybe three days fishing and the
remaining four days with family. One extremely
helpful hint we can give to Skip and Jean is that
before staning the process of communicating with
each other on this topic, they should join hands
and pray out loud for God to send the Holy Spirit
to be with them during this discussion. You will
be amazed at the transformation prayer can bring
to a discussion session. Once you try prayer before
having a serious discussion, you will be hooked.
We do fear Skip may have missed what it means
to be family. There is more to being family than
name only; it means to become outwardly focused.
Focus more on others (spouse, children, extended
family members) than on oneself, which is an
inward focus. It means each individual member
puts the welfare or other family members ahead of
h1s or her own wantS and desires. It means to put
the common good or the family ahead of what is
good for only one member of the family. It means to
be Jesus to others. Jesus was thoughtful, caring and
compassionate toward others- ahead of his own
welfare- even when it cost him his life; even when
it was unpopular to those around him. As a father
and husband, Skip has a role and responsibility
crucial to the success of his family unit, even at the
expense or being unpopular with the "bunch of
guys~ planning a fishing trip.
When a person accepts the responsibility
of spouse and parent, he is saying "yes"
to being a co-creator with God. When
we say "yes" to one thing, we are saying
"no" to something else. In this case, when
Skip and Jean said "yes" to being married and
co-creating (with God) children- a product of
their marital embrace -they arc saying "no" to
spending all their vacation with a "bunch or guys~
[or, in Jeans case, a "bunch or gals"[.
One possible solution is for Jean and the
children to rent the cabin right next to the guys'
cabin. That way Skip could go fishing with
the guys during the day. Jean and the children
wouldn't have to cook because there would be
enough fish to go around (something biblical
about that thought), and in the evening when the
other guys are drinl<ing beer and playing cards,
Skip could "skip'' right over to Jeans cabin and
spend some quality time with the family. Good
idea, but we don't think Skip and the bunch of
guys will bite on that hook!
ach generation questions the taste of those that
follow, whether it be in hairstyles, clothing or
even slang. If you got "jacketed" in the 1950s,
that meant you were going steady. Close
friends were "tight" in the 60s; and if you were very
excited in the 1970s, you were "juicedl" No teen wanted
to be "toast" in the '80s because it meant some kind of
trouble, but, "Hey, dawg" was OK in the '90s -you were
just being greeted as a friend I Now, if the subject of an
e-mail is NSFP, that means "Not Safe for Parentsn and
they want to keep plans clear of your monitoring eyesl
If fads are always changing, can we just relax, knowing
that our parents were just as dismayed by our behaviors?
After all, when Elvis Presley appeared on Milton Berte's
Texaco Star Theater, audiences were stunned and called
him, "Elvis the Pelvisnl Or has a line been crossed?
What goes around, comes around - 1920s smudgers
A smudger liked to dance closely I But recently, I observed high-school dancers who put smudgers to shame.
Students formed a circle, hoping to hide couples in the
middle from the eyes of the chaperones. The inner couples
began to dance provocatively. School officials stopped the
dancing and enforced the rule: Face to face with a little
space. Schools across the nation confront this issue;
many consider it a matter of changing styles. When the
principal at John Glenn High School in Bay City, Mich.,
refused to allow this type of dancing, many parents
were upset. As one mother said, ul understand that
some forms of dancing are just what people do today~
Purity of Intention
School dances are intended to bring together
adolescents for fun, wholesome purposes; to enhance
their social relationships and to build a sense of community within the school. As our catechism says, uModesty
inspires a way of life which makes it possible to resist the
allurement of fashion and the pressure of prevailing ideolo-
E
Do rules
against dancIng diminish a
homec:omlng
dance ora
prom experience? No!
What can we
do as parents?
I
gies~ (CCC 2523)
Do rules against dancing diminish a homecoming dance or a
Not VV'hat can we do as
- Tnm and joAnne fnglc
faith~ (Yonkera, Apri119, 2008)_ - Dr, Cathleen McG=t
t sure is dark!" A
group of us had
descended into the
caves and caverns in
Pennsylvania and had gone
past where lights could
be found. For fun, at one point we decided to tum out our
flashlights. The darkness was incredible and unnerving for
those of us afraid of the dark or who were a bit claustrophobic. Closing your eyes brings you one kind of darkness.
I
You are not trying to see and do not ex~
peel to see. But if your eyes are wide open,
and you are trying to see- trying to make
out some small glimmer of light - and you
cannot see the hand in front of your face,
it is unnerving. It did not take us very long
before we turned the lights back on. That
initial burst of light was blinding! It was
like God, who enters our lives as true light
The greatness of his light is so powerful, it can overwhelm and go beyond the
senses. We have to grow accustomed to
his radiance so we can take some of it in.
We may experience a feeling of love and
inner joy and consolation. We have a felt
NC Catholics
sense of Gods presence. There are other
times however, where we may experience
the lights going out. God hides himself,
so we may seek him more. Both are times
of purification and growth, and yet the
greater measure comes to us underneath
the shadow of the cross.
Many years ago, I found myself in a
dark place. I was not sure exactly what
was going on, but I had a sense that it
was important. On the bright side, I had
recently experienced an awakening of my
faith. God became very real for me. It is
not that prior to this I did not believe m
God, rather I experienced God as more
24 Nov(m/>(r 2008 I www.Dioceaeo!Raleigh org I www.NCCatholica.org
distant. The truth was that it was I who
was distant! But God helped me to know
that he was in my life and I found it an
mcredible experience. I felt as if the love of
God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit had
been poured out on me I staned to love
the Church. I staned to appreciate the gift
of faith. ll was a time of great hunger for
God and consolation for my soul.
It lasted for a while, but then a funny
thing happened. I was cut ofT from many
things in a shon period of time. I left my
home, my familiar work, my srudents,
my close friends, the beautiful East Coast
and Baltimore that I enjoyed and moved
out to Michigan, where I knew no one.
All the things that my life had focused
on were gone! As good as some of them
were, there was need for a reon:lering
and even a removal of many things from
my hean There was also a repentance of
sin and evil habits I was forced by the
move to let go of
many things and
confront things.
I was, at the
same time, being
drawn more to
God. God was
saying. "What do
you really want?
Those things
or me?" Those
other things were
good, but were
not God. Gods consolations would come
at various times- to help with the walk
of faith to let go, to repent, to conven. At
times prayer was full of consolation, but
other times dry and difficult. That period
of time for me was a time of intense purifi~
cation. It continues.
God is always refining us; each day, the
Lon:! calls us to grow in deeper faith, trust,
hope, and the love of God and neighbor.
Sometimes, a person might be tempted
to think that he has blown it somehow.
It is true that sin and lukewarmness can
bring about spiritual darkness. One loses
a sense of God in ones life. But usually
when that happens, there is a dullness
in desire for God. There is a real regression in the journey to God. Sickness or
emotional depression or other kinds of
anxiety also can affect a persons spiritual
life. Those are trials over which we have
no control, so it is important to be patient
I and do the best one can to pray and
remain faithrulto God.
There are other times, however, that
something more seems to be going on.
God has led us to a place that seems dark.
The shadow of the cross looms ahead of
us and has blotted out consolation. We
have lost a feeling of inner comfort and a
sense of his presence. Prayer can be dry.
Fortunately, God has given us many
great saints who have gone up the mountain and have thrown us some ropes! St.
john of the Cross is one of the best in describing this ascent to God St. john was a
doctor of the Church, and wrote brilliantly
about the spiritual journey. He talked
about something that upon first hearing
was a bit intimidating - ~the dark night. n
Now, if you are like me, there is tendency
to run away from things that seem dark
God is always refining us;
each day, the Lord
calls us to grow in
deeper faith, trust,
hope and love of God
and neighbor.
or difficult. But St. john in coining that
phrase was simply putting into words
what believers in jesus Christ have experienced during their JOUrney to God. It is
what we all go through. It is the paradox
of the Gospel. It is the paschal mystery.
KWhoever desires to be my disciple must
deny himself, take up his cross and follow
me. For whoever wishes to save his life
will lose it, but whoever loses his life for
my sake and that of the Gospel will save
it." (M~ R 34-) 5}
St.john wrote from experience. He had
begun a reform of the Carmelite Order
along with St. Teresa of Avila. There was
resistance to this reform and, on one
occasion, john was taken into custody by
some of his fellow monks, who did not
approve of his ideas. He was put into a
very small room with only one small slit
for a window and lived in that darkness
during the freezing cold of winter or sti·
ning heat of summer. His brothers would
make him kneel down for his meals in
the refectory and afteiWard would give
him "the discipline," which amounted to
hitting him \vith a whip while he prayed
Psalm 51. These beatings were, at times,
severe enough to cause wounds and
scars. While in this state of desolation,
removed from all that could give him
Dark
comfort and support, john was given the
Night of
gift to describe his inner life with God in
EHjah. Read
the form of a poem, The Spiritual Canticle.
and mediate on
He described the incredible purifying
Elijah's story. 1
love of God and the painful purifica·
Kings 18, 19
tion that he called "the dark night. n John
and 2 Kings
distinguished two kinds of dark nights.
2:1- 12. Ask
One was of the senses, and the other of
yourself how
the soul.
God revealed
The dark nights are a gift meant to
his presence to
purify us of all attachments that are not
him, and how
did God lead him to a deeper faith and trust?
of God. God loves us too much to keep
us where sin will affiict us. God is a
• What happened in the end to Elijah?
jealous lover, and wants us for himself.
Our sense attachments- feeling, tasting,
Meditate on the following passages
smelling, seeing, hearing. and even the
from Sl John of the Cross Retfecflon
internal ones of imagination, memory
from The Ascent of Mount Csnnel Book
and desire or will- all get purified
I, Ch. 13, No 11 and No 6. Think of where
through the dark nights. For a simple
sacred Scripture teaches the same thing.
example; Sometimes we pray because we
like the feelings we get in prayer more
• To reach satisfaction in all, desire its
than praying for the sake of meet·
possession in nothing.
ing God. God is not our feelings!
• To come to possess all, desire the
You can see this happen when
possession of nothing.
people keep looking for religious
• To arrive at being all, desire to be nothing.
experiences and go from one
• To come to the knowledge of all,
prayer meeting or group to
desire the knowledge of nothing.
another, or one retreat to
• To come to the pleasure you
have no~ you must go by a way
another looking for the
spiritual high. In the dark
in which you enjoy not.
night, God withdraws
• To come to the knowledge
those sensible feelings
you have not, you must go by
in order to help the person
a way in which you know not.
grow in faith and love.
• To come to the possession you
We can cooperate with
have not, you must go
Gods help. We can identify
by a way in which you
sin and pray for conversion of
possess not.
heart. We can practice all the
• To come to be what you
virtues- especially faith, hope
are not, you must go by a
and love.
way in which you are not.
Because of the deep nature
of this subject, it really is
Reflect on Jesus'
imposstble to go any further in
life and when
a short article. I would encourScriptures reveal a dark
age all the readers to pick up a
night for our Lord. Pray to desire
copy of the works of St. john of
God alone and the fulfillment
the Cross or St. Teresa of Avila.
of His Will in your life.
They are readily available at
most Catholic book stores.
1
2
3
lmmaculee llibagiza
Lt~ t~~ ltf~ jOt< lou-e.
When you're in control, opportunities abound.
At Pennybyrn at Maryfield, you're free to create
a lifestyle that's inspiring, stimulating and filled
with exciting new opportunities- in a
~o'""'
new community bundled with years
of credibility. It's a carefree, comfortable :;,(J
approach to healthy retirement living ~
where you can continue to make
~
memories, as well as a splash!
o IC.~III(EA,
.;"'.>-
~:-~
~
~
""
7'
Visit us today, or call (336) 821-4050
or toll-free (866) 627-9343.
VfiJI/ ~~
A Retirement Living Community
Sponsored by the Sisters or dte Poor Servants
ofthe Mother or God
MACJNCQUHJ8
www.PennybymAtMaryfield.com
109 Penny Road, High Point, NC 27260
NC C~ll1c~ln
.------
26 N<>•·cml>cr 2008
~---
--
www.OioceseofR•Iolgh.org J www.NCCatholics.org
Statement of Ownership
iiJI.UNITEDg4TES
Death of Sister Marie Therese Bugge, O.S.U.
·--
..,__
, ,... 0 .
.. . . . . . If . . . . ., _ , _ . . . . . . ,
Monthlyr Except c:ocbined i••u•• during
.....
715 NAzareth Street
JUtleigh, IIC ~7606
.,_..~
10
J anu.ry/PebNAry and May/June
r.~ ....... -.....-~OIIat•~,_,..,,
~ Sister Marie Therese Bugge, O.S.U., former Pastoral Admin·
istrator at Holy Family Catholic Church, Hillsborough, died on
Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008, surrounded by the prayers and presence
of the Ursuline Sisters. Sister Marie retired from Holy Family Parish
in Hillsborough in 2004 after nine years of service in the Diocese.
Her Mass of Christian Burial was held at the Ursuline Province
Center Chapel in New Rochelle, N.Y. In lieu of flowers, the sisters
requested a donation to the Ursuline Retirement Fund, 1338 North
Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10804.
Statement or OwnershipI Msnsgament, and Cll'eulatlon
A!Eiii POSTlll. SERVICE. (All Perlodlcsla Publications Except Raauester Publications}
,_..,
CAtl\oU ca
7 ]1J 5J 1
-1'I•TOf October ',......2008
......IIC,,....._
$16.00
~-.fiiWl,..##if
Holly Stringer
l'rn:a';'i':-;7l'o-'
.. c:........ ,... .......... o.w-._....~."'-'-(Nit.....,
eaM ae above
,..,......,..,...,.......,....,.........,
Biol\op Hich.,.l r. Burbidge
C<ltl\olic: Dioc:eao or Ralei91t, 715 HAZUith St. , Raleigh, NC l7606
r-.,,......,....._.......,
Ricbard Reece
Catholic Dioc:eoe of Raleigh, 715 Huuoth St., RAleigh, NC
~76 06
Frank Moi"OCk, Dlrecto~ of COfti!SWlication•
C<ltl\olic Dloceae or Raleigh, 715 Huaroth St., ltllleigh, 11C
~1606
.... ........,........,
__.. ,...
10 o.w,u.-..............,......., ... ..,.,.,.~.,.. ................ ,.........,.,.,...,.........,.,,.
_,....,...._ ..........,....,..,,.....,,....,..,....,.fl....,.,...,,....,,.. ......, •......,..,. ...
__ ,_,_,_.......................,.,.,........,._,., ,.,........,.........,
-
,.,....,...._. .................. , ......, ........................... . , . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . f/1
Diocesan Students Attend
Back to Earth Weekend
...... More than 350 students participated
in "Back to Earth," the Diocesan-wide
camp-out for youth in grades 9 · 12. The
weekend event was held at Short Journey
Center in Smithfield.
This fall's theme was "Come to the Feast" and featured as key·
noter Paul Kotlowski, the youth ministry coordinator for the Diocese
of Charlotte. His talk was on the Year of St. Paul. Sessions this year
included "Road to Damascus: Conversations of Paul"; "Faith Feud,"
a game-show style workshop where students tested their knowledge
of the faith; and "Vocations," presented by Father Bernard Shlesing·
er, Diocesan Director of Vocations, and Sister Laura Teresa Down·
ing, IHM·Immaculata.
Father David D. Brockman, Vicar General of the Diocese,
celebrated Mass for the students and blessed a newly constructed
Prayer Garden, which has as its center the Stations of the Cross.
The garden was made possible by an anonymous donor and aided
by donors to the "Next 150 Searches Fund," along with donations
made at various Diocesan youth events.
a..----.. ...............
._a_-
,.
........ ...............................
_.......................
o: .................
_
.. _
t,J. JU ...... ~ ......... .., ........ ~......._,.,.. . . . . . . ,_,~_,
~
0
,.,.,.,z.. ......_..,.,,._.,t!l,,..._,....,.
__ _ --_
""l'l»>~...,.._,....aiiiOnl:l.
......
,
NC Catholic:a
..
_,.,.,...rl<:-.fl*t••~WJ
......
.....................
ttl:::=.:.=.:-,:::=.=.:-~
---......_- -·
....
~ooe
._... .... c...ME.-....
All Regloterod Houooholdo
..
..... ......,,..,...._..,.....
~-~~
septetlber,
,,.,._.... -..,c:ar......
•
...,.....:
MltCJw.-sC...,. ........ 11 ...... ,..,....,....,. . .. _ _ . . , . . . , . .. ., . _ _ ,
u~r..
St Michael School to
Host Jolly Elf Trail Run
....
... ca.-.. ...--.
..
70. 800
724 000
68, )91
61,195
..._,~
..............
~OIIPS
C2J ,_.,.,
___
,.,_....,. .....
_.
,........._,.,c....-.........
r.n
(6)
. . On Dec. 13, St. Michael's
School will host the third Annual
Jolly Elf Trail Run at Bond Park
in Cary. The event includes a
' - - - - - - - - - - - - ! ! : . 1 competitive 5K, a One Mile Fun
Run and a Kid's 200-Yard Dash. The sponsors are expecting over
600 runners this year. The holiday·themed event includes a OJ,
announcer, snacks, cheering elves and the sound of bells ringing as
the runners make their way through the park.
The 5K main event follows paved and gentle hilly trails of scenic
Bond Park, in the heart of Cary. The course is mostly hard-packed
wood chips and grass with some pavement between trails. Good
footing exists throughout the entire course. The One Mile Fun Run
course is a generally flat jaunt through mostly open areas adjacent to
the scenic woods of Bond Park. This Fun Run enjoys similar good
footing consisting mostly of hard-packed wood chips, and grass with
some pavement between trails. Walkers are welcome too. The 200
Yard Kid's Dash is a blast on the grass... all the little ones enjoy.
- -
··-
c.-. .....
~
..... ~a.. ........ ~ ....
~a..-..,..c..w....,.....,._c.ow.
a-.. ... o.w,...~~u.te
==-~=-==·
..
~
n.ln
~~"''» trJ. mta.,..,,,
---............._
a -..
(IJ
=:::::::s~
_",_
...
UJ~ ....... --~e_.....,
PI
=='='\~'?::;:::-~-)
ttJ ~-==..~~a-.
. _ "*'-.............
......
~,.._,.Jif(tt.Ql.llt
,_....._.fS..WtlrS..- rSf,l
..
~-~,.. ....... a:.~ ........
--
.
"-
,..,.....,, ...,.,
l
,,k....,_.,.,,....,,.
,.,..._fl........
~
••
•
•
1 , )80
l , l50
69,771
u.~45
524
6)0
70,295
u.ns
'n
l! .... ~....... ~~.... __.. ....................
No"'cmber ZOOI ....__,.,.......,..
11' .....,.. . . ,.._....,,....,.,_,..._...._.._ ... o-.
Richard Rooc:o, Editor
~
91\
c -... -
T~ctober
...........,...""................... ..............................
.........
................._
.....,.., ........ " - - '• ......,. ............ -.,., •
..,...,.~
l,lSO
1,110
.... ffH
I.
... ._
67,195
~
"r-JUt,....,._J001,....ZflllJ
~
..,...slllll~
9, 200
~--
.......~---.,..._,. , ...,.,..,.
I
is one reason St. Bernadette is
hoping to expand in the future .
Classes that once met in the
parish house moved to the garage
of the house, and an all~ purpose
building with classrooms and
meeting space is sorely needed.
just down the road from St.
Bernadette is the Bumer Federal
Correction Complex, and prison
ministry has long been a special
hen parishioners of St. Bernadette
in Butner gathered in September for
their parishs 50th anniversary, they
celebrated in the same church
where the first members attended Mass in
1958 on the 100th anniversary of the
apparitions at lourdes. But tradition
has it that Mass was celebrated in the
church as early as 1942, when it was built as one of
three chapels for Camp Butner, the Army base which,
those days, was the town. The base included a POW
camp, and the solid construction and workmanship
of St. Bernadette is due in some measure to the skills
of German prisoners of war who helped build it.
priority of
the parish.
Parish10ner
Mike
- - - - - t 919.575.4744
Sister Carol Loughney, IHM,
is Pastoral Administrator of
St. Bernadette. Father J. Paul
Byron provides priestly ministry.
When Sister Carol arrived in
1999, a typical Sunday crowd
at Mass was around 20 souls.
Today the parish includes 250
registered famtlies, and many
more unregistered. "People
find a home here," Sister Carol
says. fiThey come and they
want to stay." The parish draws
members from the communities
of Butner, Stem, Creedmore,
northern Durham and southern
NC Ct~rl!iJIIcs
Oxford. There are probably
more Hispanic families than
Anglos all told, and all ages
are represented. ''A wonderful
thing.~ Sister Carol says, "is
that our parishioners like doing
things together." Members of
various cultures collaborated
on the anmversary celebration,
sing in the combined choir,
and help with the annual town
festival. And the many children
in the parish receive religious
education together.
The explosive growth of the
religious education program
28 N.•.~mbcr 2008 I www.DioceseofRoleigh.org I www.NCCatholiCII.org
.......,____ _
~
headed that ministry
for 20 years before retiring.
Today a team of 25, including
Deacon Bert t:Homme, Father
Tom Tully and Father Art Kirwin,
OP, leads Lnurgies of the Word
and brings Eucharist to those in
the complex.
Sister Carol praises the talents
and generosity of her diverse
congregation. She also expresses
gratitude to Sacred Heart Parish
in Pinehurst, officially a "sister
parish" to St. Bernadette for six
years and a continuing source of
support when it's needed.
At note at the end of St.
Bernadette's 50th anniversary
program reads: "Our celebration
today is enriched throughout by
the different languages of our
parishioners who grew up in
many cultures. We believe this
inclusion is a pleasing offering to
God and best represents who we
are as a community of faith." &
Priesthood Discernment
Group, 9 a.m. - noon at Sacred
Heart Cathedral, 219 Edenton
St., Raleigh, N.C. Adult Catholic men between the ages of
T7-48 discerning a possible
call to priesthood are invited
to the Priesthood Discernment
Group meetings held on the third
Saturday of each month. If you
are just beginning to contemplate
a vocation or are more serious
about a call to priesthood please
consider attending this group.
The Priesthood Discernment
Group provides a fraternal envi·
ronment in which to discuss your
discernment of a possible call to
priesthood with other men who
are also examining the call. The
group discusses issues central
to the call and does so within the
context of prayer, presentations,
and discussion. The morning
begins with Mass. Coffee and
doughnuts will be available in
the Office of Vocations (two
doors down from the Cathedral)
after Mass. Morning Prayer, a
discussion/presentation about
discernment/priesthood, Daytime
Prayer, and lunch follow. For
more information contact the Vocations Office, 919.832.6279.
Scriptural Themes of Advent.
a three week Online Seminar
from Catholic Distance University, runs Nov. 24·Dec. 15.
Participants will prepare for
Christmas by examining the
reading from the prophet Isaiah
and the Gospels which tell us
about redemption. Instructor: Fr. Bevil Bramwell, OMI.
Cost: $139. Register online
at www.cdu.edu or by phone at
1.888.254.4CDU. Registration
Deadline: Nov. T 9.
Vocations Prayer Group for
Women, 7·9 p.m., Nov. 20, at
Sacred Heart Cathedral, 219
Edenton St., Raleigh, N.C..
Single Catholic women between
the ages of 17-45 who are committed to praying for vocations,
growing in holiness while in the
midst of the world, and discern·
ing the call of Christ are invited
to the Vocations Prayer Group
for Women. Thursday evening
meetings will begin in Sacred
Heart Cathedral with Adoration
of the Blessed Sacrament at 7
p.m. followed by Benediction.
At 8 p.m. the group will move
to the Office of Vocations for
fellowship and discussions.
Meetings should end by 9 p.m.
Contact Fr. Ned Shlesinger,
[email protected]. Next
Vocations Prayer Group for
Women Dec. 18, same time
and place.
Connections, Nov. 21-23,
Trinity Center, West Fort Macon
Road, Salter Path, N.C .. Con·
nections is a weekend retreat
for 9th· and 1Oth-grade youth.
Often referred to as the bestkept secret in Youth Ministry,
this retreat focuses on com·
munity building, spiritual growth,
self-esteem and relationships
with family, friends and God.
The retreat involves low ropes
courses and other physical chal·
lange activities. Cost: $ T05
youth/adults. Next Connections
retreat is March 27·29, 2009,
at Camp Kanata, Wake Forest.
For more information contact
Meke Hagarty, 919.821 .9770
or [email protected].
ReUro de Segunda Etapa
Jovenes Carismatlcos, El
Fin de Semana del 28·30 de
Noviembre "Retiro de Crecimiento y Compromise" en Ia
Parroquia Maria Reina de las
Americas.
National Conference on
Catholic Youth Ministry
(NCCYM), Dec. 4·7,
Cleveland, Ohio. Come join
thousands of adult youth min·
isters from across the country
for networking, formation
and celebration. This biennial
conference is sponsored by the
National Federation for Catholic
Youth Ministry (sponsors of
the National Catholic Youth
Conference) and is the largest
Catholic Conference for adult
Catholic Youth Ministers in the
country. Cost: $245 confer·
ence fee (travel not included).
For more information contact
Mike Hagarty, 919.821.9770
or [email protected].
Search for Christian Ma·
turity #1 53, Dec. 12·14,
Short Journey Center, 2323
Cleveland Road, Smithfield,
N.C.. Search is a weekend re·
treat for 1 t th- and 12th·grade
youth. Activities encourage
self-discovery and reflection
on relationships with oth·
era and with God. This is a
peer·led retreat as the Search
"team" is made up of other
teens. These past Search·
era model leadership, faith
sharing, and ministry with their
peers. Adults in youth ministry
also attend and participate
in Search. Searches usually
fill up quickly, so sign up for
the earliest date possible to
ensure yourself a space. Cost:
$1 05 youth/adults. Next
dates: Feb. 6·8, 2009; March
20·22, 2009. For more infor·
mation contact Mike Hagarty,
919.821.9770 or Hagarty@
raldioc.org.
Secular Franciscan Or·
der St. Anthony of Padua
Fraternity meets after Holy
Hour and 6:15 pm Mass at
St. Patrick's Catholic Church
in Fayetteville on the second
Wednesday of every month
for Formation. II meets on the
third Wednesday for Fraternity
meeting at 7p.m. in the Juan
Diego room located at the
St. Patrick's office building.
Men and women are welcome
to come and inquire. We
are followers of St. Francis
who live in the world and
attempt to follow the Gospel
by serving the poor and our
community. For more infor·
mation contact: Ray Miller
910.425.2264, John Reich·
art 91 0.425.5135 or Mary
Johnson 91 0.484.9876.
59th Annual Harvest Day
Barbecue and Bazaar, Sat.,
Nov. 22, 11 a.m. -7 p.m.
at Our Lady of Guadalupe
Catholic Church, 211 Irwin
Drive, Newton Grove, N.C.
28366. Barbecued chicken
or barbecued pork, $7 per
plate, eat in or take out. Auc·
lion at 7:30p.m. Proceeds
will benefit church projects.
Diocese to Collaborate in
Ignited by 1lulh 2009
I
_.. Seven years ago, the preparation for
the first lgn~ed by Truth (I BT) Catholic
Conference was short, quick and intense;
~ was a flurry of emails and phone calls
and pleas for speakers, volunteers and
donations that culminated in a literal flurry
of snow and ice as more than 650 braved
the weather and streamed into Cardinal
Gibbons High School in Raleigh.
The intervening years have not lowered
e~her the intensily or the excitement
levels of the primary organizers, Christine
Sulzen of Apex and Ursula Ruiz of Raleigh. The mission remains the same: To
bring to light the truth of the teachings of
the Catholic Church and to ign~e in the
hearts of the attendees a renewed love
for the faith. But preparation begins earlier and is more streamlined; ~ consists
of Excel spreadsheets and expandable
file folders, official letterhead and steps of
systematic progress.
But for the 2009 conference, Sulzen
and Ruiz are preparing for the greatest
changes yet. This year, the Diocese of
Raleigh is assisting in the planning. And
because the conference has outgrown
its high school locale, the preparation
this year includes moving to a new
venue at the Convention Center in
downtown Raleigh.
And there's a new target for attendance, up from the 1,200 at the last
conference: 3,200 souls.
The 2009 conference is scheduled for
Feb. 13-14. Speakers thus far include:
• lmmaculee llibagiza, "Story of Fa~,
r>:C Ytdl>-.11, ~
Hope and Forgiveness" -llibagiza, a
native Rwandan, survived her nation's
genocide by hiding in a pastor's bathroom for 91 days. She lost most of
her family, but she survived to share
the story and her miraculous transition
into forgiveness and a profound relationship with God. She is the author of
Left to Tell.
• Joseph Pearce, "The Evangelizing
Power of Beauty" - 20 years ago,
Pearce was a radical activist, a skinhead, and the editor of two hate-filled,
extremist magazines. Today the English-born author of several best-selling
biographies of great 19th-and 20thcentury Christian authors is a professor
of literature at Ave Maria Universily in
Naples, Fla.
• lim Staples, "Catholics and the Culture War" - Raised Southern Baptist
and a former youth minister in an
Assembly of God communily, Staples
converted to Catholicism in 1988
and works in Catholic apologetics and
evangelization.
Bishop Michael Burbidge will celebrate the conference's closing Mass at
5:30p.m. on Saturday. "This event is an
opportunily for the fa~ful of our Diocese
to join together in prayer, worship, and
catechesis," said Bishop Burbidge. "The
invited speakers are known for their loyal
commitment to the Church and Her
teaching and will offer a variety of formation activities that will inspire and educate. I am confident that the conference,
with God's grace, will yield abundant
blessings and I urge as many people as
possible from our Diocese to attend~
30 Ocwl><:r 2008 I www.D1ocesaofRaleigh~org I www.NCCa1holie~~.org
In the beginning
Each year, about 40 percent of the
conference attendees are newcomers. In their emails and mailings Ruiz
and Sulzen highlight this evangelizing
component of IBT by asking, "Who
will you invite this year?"
IBrs original incarnation was as a
conference for homeschoolers. It evolved
into IBT as plans for the homeschool
conference fell through, but Ruiz and
Sulzen - casual acquaintances at the
time -joined forces and persevered after
concluding that the conference was not
meant to be for homeschoolers only; it
was supposed to be for everyone.
"It was almost like we were holding
hands and jumping off a cliff," said Suizen. "The pressure was incredible, but the
zeal for souls kept us going~
They had just over 100 days to plan
and no idea how many people would
show up. The 650 who came made
it clear that there was a hunger for the
conference's mission, a love and desire
for the Church and her teachings.
Despite growing family responsibilities
- Ruiz is the mother of three, Sulzen of
fiVe. Both mothers homeschool, and both
are active in their parishes - they still feel
called to serve. "That's what we were
called to do, so God gives us the time,"
said Ruiz. "He makes time, so you're not
as tired when you stay up to 2 am~
As IBT joins the Diocese's lineup of
spiritual and fonnational activities, it also
gives the conference a wider pool for
participants. Sister Rose Marie Adams,
I.H.M., Director of Evangelization and
Catechesis, said that the Diocese is promoting IBT through parish faith formation
directors and at large gatherings like the
Emmaus Conference and at a conference of Catholic school teachers.
"The Diocese offers many opportunities to grow in our faith and our love of
Jesus Christ- conferences, workshops
and retreat days," said Sister Rose Marie.
Ignited by Truth, she said, is one more
way that people of the diocese can "live,
love and practice their faith~
The women view IBT as a gift to the
Diocese. "We want ~ to be self-sustaining," said Ruiz. "We want to encourage
the endorsement and support of the
By Dana Lo,-cllc
Tite Thx lMcntlrrs and Uh·mallno Minimum Thx Rt•llcr 1\ct
or 2008 off~rs a wclcomt• lncr.nll\'l' to dooors nl1o want to
ust• lht• mont·~· In their IRt\s to make clmrllahlt> giRs.
\ou ma~ ccmtrlhult• runds litis \\a) lr:
llow llu.• l.m\ \\orks: The IRA rollover 1mwlslon allows
charitable distributions nf up to $100,000 from an IRA or a
Roth IRA to h<' C.\Ciuded from your gross Income. In addition,
the amount rolll'd over will count against a donor's minimum
dlstrlbullon l'l'<Julrcment. As In previous versions of IRA rollover
legislation. lhl'rc Is no f<•deral Income tax deduction available for
thus<' con trl hu lions In addition to their exclusion from Income.
• The gtn Is $100,000 or ll'SS <'ach year
lim\ to !\Iitke a Gin: Contact your IRA cuslodlan Lo
Lransrcr your desired girL amount Lo the Catholic Church.
• lou arc age 70-lfl or older
• lou muke th<' gtn on or before Dec. 31. 2009
• \ou transfer funds directly from an IRA or Rollover IRA
to the charity
• \em transfer the gill outright to one or mort• IJUhllc charllles:
mllov<•rs to a 11lanned gill, such as a gill annuity or a charltahl<'
rcmalnd<'r trust. do not «luallfy.
Pat. aged 80, has $450,000 In an IRA and has pledged to give $75,000
to her church this year. If Pat transfers $75,000 from the IRA. she will
avoid paying Income tax on that amount. She cannot. however, claim a
charitable deduction-It Is a tJurc -wash .~ Pat has found an easy way to
benent her church without tax complications. If she desires. Pat could
give more Uwn $1 00,000 because the leglslallon allows a maximum
$100,000 gill In both the 2008 and 2009 tax years. If her spouse has an
IRA nnd Is 70-112 or older, he can also give up to $100,000 earh year.
VIsit our Web Site:
WW\l'. dioceseofralei~Jh.orl
Diocese, yet maintain the support and
involvement of the laity.'
To appeal to the broadest demographic
of Catholics, Ruiz and Sulzen look for
speakers in diverse areas, such as conver·
sion, apologetics, holiness, faith in action,
and a topic appealing to parents, such as a
discussion of Theology of the Body.
"We pray over the list of potential
speakers," said Sulzen, "and see what
gifts they have and how they fit into the
mission. We let God lead the way~
It helps that they have a known entity;
IBT has garnered national attention,
and w~h names like George Weigel,
Patrick Madrid and Janet Smith on
their past rosters, it has become easier
to approach other important figures in
Catholic culture with invitations.
Pearce wiU open this year's confer·
ence at 9 a.m. Saturday. A teen track will
run concurrently. Throughout the day,
ministry booths and Catholic vendors will
display materials and items for sale.
As always, a free Friday evening program is open to everyone and wil feature
lim Staples and Joseph Pearce, the for-
For mort• lnrormnllon or to rc•ct•lw il samplt'
lt•Uer to st•nd to your IRA administrator, plea.~·
cull lilt• Office• or Sle\\nrdshlp & Dt'\'elopment
at (0 l 021-0721 or sc•nd an t•mall to:
mlkt• .pt~dlc•[email protected]
You nmy also \\Tilt• to: Dlocc•st• or Ralt'lgh
7 15 ~a7.art~lh St. Ralt•lgh, NC 27606.
m
• then click on the Philanthropy link.
mer addressing "Why be Catholic?" and
the latter sharing his story in "Race with
the Devil: From Racial Hatred to the Love
of Christ" Saturday afternoon students 10
and older are welcome to participate in
special student breakout sessions.
If the conference toud1es just one soul,
Ruiz and Sulzen said, it is worth it
They have faced challenges before,
such as ice storms and flat tires, injuries
and last-minute crises. They have always
turned to their faith for restoration and
inspiration. Charged with increasing
the attendance so significantly, they are
encouraging their supporters more than
ever to "storm heaven" and to "pray and
sacrifice and share resources!'
They claim, perhaps not so jokingly,
that no laundry gets done in their households between Thanksgiving and Febru·
ary. They rely on a network of volunteers,
many of whom have been involved since
the very first days, and on supportive
husbands, families and friends.
"It's incredible," said Ruiz. uOf everyone
involved, they all have bigger job respon·
sibilities, more apostolate, all the families
have more children -yet they still feel
caled to seNe Ignited by Truth~
They don't talk about their involvement
with Ignited by Truth without pointing to
aH the souls behind the scenes, the more
than 200 volunteers who have helped with '
fNery conference and who do everything
from baking cookies to setting up d1airs
and driving speakers to and from the air·
port. Especially critical are the many priests
who have supported and attended IBT to
hear confessions and celebrate Mass.
Through it all, Ruiz and Sulzen said that
their faith and their love of the Church
assures them that they are where God
wants them to be, doing what God wants
them to do. When they find they are worried about money, money arrives. When
they need help, help comes.
At such moments, said Ruiz, "It's like
God saying 'Go:"
"lhere are people who could do a far
better job," said Ruiz. "There are people
who could be far more organized, who
know the speakers, who could do a far
better job running an event. We just do
it out of a love for Christ~
November 2008
t
!~f!fbolics
Raleigh, NC 27606
Online:
www.DioceseoiRalelgh.org
www.NCCalhollcs.or;
@please
recycle