ROME — Bishop Michael Martin, OFM Conv., and other pilgrims from the Diocese of Charlotte took part in a Nov. 14-23 pilgrimage to Rome. As part of the trip, Bishop Martin had a brief but meaningful encounter with Pope Leo XIV during his general audience.
Bishop Martin said he shared with the pope “how much the people of western North Carolina are praying for him and supportive of his ministry,” and he “thanked him for the messaging that he’s so clearly offered on behalf of migrants in our area who are in so much distress and experiencing so much anxiety these days.”
He also asked Pope Leo to continue praying for the people of the diocese and assured the pope that they would continue to pray for him.
The group prayed at the basilicas of St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran and St. Peter, and walked through the Holy Doors as part of the Jubilee year. They made an excursion to Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis, founder of the Franciscan order to which Bishop Martin belongs.
— Photos provided
Read Bishop Martin’s statement calling Catholics to action: https://bit.ly/3XCPORb
Pictured above: Bishop Martin meets with Pope Leo XIV. Photo captured from video screen
CONCORD — Knights of Columbus Council #7450 and the Columbiettes women's auxiliary at St. James the Greater in Concord are holding their 14th annual Joseph Kuntz Food Drive this weekend.
They are expecting to collect around 200 turkeys, pies and bags of rolls, along with non-perishables, enough to make a splendid meal for local families in need.
“People call into the office and get placed on the list, and we hope we get enough food to feed all of them,” James Greene, KOC coordinator of the ministry, said. “Every year, we’ve been able to feed everyone.”
On Monday, they will take all the collections and sort them into separate meal boxes, so the big meal will be ready for families to pick up from the church later that day.
“We see some of the same families each year,” Greene said. “But what is really rewarding is over the years we’ve actually seen people on the list, and then the next year there was no need.”
This all started with just one Knight, Kuntz, and two families, Greene said.
“Each year we just picked out two families, and then someone got the idea we should get the whole parish involved, and that’s when it really took off.”
— Catholic News Herald