CHARLOTTE —St. Matthew Church in Charlotte received an award for 10 years of promoting the devotion to St. Peregrine Jan. 24.
Father Chris Krymski, director of the National Shrine of St. Peregrine and associate pastor at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica in Chicago, presented the award to pastor Father Pat Hoare and Michele Gauvin, executive assistant to Father Hoare, who brought the devotion to the parish.
Gauvin’s late father had a devotion to the saint whom he prayed to during his bout with cancer.
Father Krymski preached an engaging homily, encouraging the faithful to “take courage” in sharing their Catholic faith in these tumultuous times.
He relayed a story about after his last visit to St. Matthew Parish two years ago, a woman shared that she had a healing that he included in his latest book. That woman was there in the congregation and made herself known to Father Krymski during the homily. After the service, the two shared a hug, obviously joyful at the saint’s intercession in her healing.
Deacons Jim Hamrlik, Gary Schrieber and Jack Staub assisted Father Krymski and Father Hoare in the blessing of the faithful with the first-class relics of St. Peregrine.
The St. Matthew choir and band provided the music during the one-and-a-half-hour service.
The parish holds the healing prayer service on the fourth Thursday of each month in the church, located at 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. in Charlotte.
—SueAnn Howell, Catholic News Herald. Photos by SueAnn Howell
