HUNTERSVILLE — There was a blessing of Epiphany water and then incensing and chalking all of the doors Jan. 4 at St. Mark Church, St. Mark School and Christ the King High School.
Father Noah Carter returned to St. Mark to assist Father John Putnam, Father Brian Becker, Father Alfonso Gámez and Father Melchesideck Yumo with this traditional ceremony. Also assisting were St. Joseph College seminarians Patrick Martin, Luke Martin, Bradley Loftin and Joseph Yellico. Thomas Martin, who is training for the diaconate, was also assisting.
The long blessing which can only be celebrated at Epiphany included a litany of saints, the singing of psalms, and exorcisms of the salt and water to be blessed. Volunteers helped to make and the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary handed out more than 1600 Epiphany water and chalk “kits” after all Masses that weekend so families could chalk and bless their own homes.
To celebrate Epiphany, the St. Mark preschoolers followed a path of stars from their classrooms to the church in search of the Christ child. Along the way, their teacher, Mary Stapleton read the Book "Follow the Star" so that they could follow the star just like the three Wisemen did.
Before heading out on their journey, the children all created and wore crowns with the name of each of the three Wisemen it: Balthazar, Caspar and Malchior. Three of the children were dressed as the Wisemen.
When the children arrived at the church, they all sat in from of the Nativity and learned about each of the three Wisemen and the gifts they brought to Jesus: the precious gift of gold. the oil of myrrh for healing and the incense frankincense for worship.
They also learned that the Wisemen were also called Magi and that they were astrologers who were led by the star. After listening to a science lesson about stars and planets, they heard a talk about the mean King Herod and why once the Wisemen found Jesus, they could not go back and tell him what they had seen.
Finally, they learned of Herod's plan to kill the child, about the angel who warned Mary and Joseph and why they had to flee to Egypt.
The children spent a few minutes learning how to kneel before the altar and then headed over to the Family Center Parish Hall for King cake and coloring. One lucky girl even found the baby Jesus in the cake!
— Photo provided by Amy Burger
CHARLOTTE — A large crowd faithful joined St. Ann Parish and the Charlotte Latin Mass Community in celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany over two days on Sunday, Jan. 5, and Monday, Jan. 6. After Sunday Latin Mass on Jan. 5, the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus and the vigil of Epiphany (Extraordinary Form calendar), St. Ann’s pastor, Father Timothy Reid, offered a blessing of Epiphany Holy Water, chalk and salt with a special Extraordinary Form blessing in Latin.
The next evening, Father Reid offered a special High Mass in the Extraordinary Form for the Feast of the Epiphany, which in the Extraordinary Form calendar is maintained on its original feast day.
After Mass, the Charlotte Latin Mass Community distributed Epiphany home blessing kits to attendees, traditionally used to bless homes during the season of Epiphany, which lasts in the Extraordinary Form until Feb. 2, the Feast of the Purification. Additionally, the Charlotte Latin Mass Community celebrated the feast day with several Rosco de Reyes cakes (often known as Kings cakes), which is a Hispanic Epiphany tradition commemorating the Three Kings (Magi) as well as the feast of the Wedding at Cana, commemorated during Epiphany season.
For more information about the Traditional Latin Mass, contact Chris Lauer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or go online to www.charlottelatinmass.org.
— Markus Kuncoro and Mike FitzGerald | Catholic News Herald
