CHARLOTTE — Members of several Charlotte area parishes gathered May 11 at St. Gabriel Church to learn more about “Responding to the Sin of Racism,” an effort to continue the dialogue and raise awareness about racism in light of the U.S. bishops’ 2018 pastoral letter against racism entitled “Open Wide Our Hearts – the Enduring Call to Love.”
The event was one of four educational opportunities being offered in May and June that are being jointly sponsored by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, the Diocese of Charlotte’s African American Affairs Ministry, and the Sisters of Mercy to reflect on themes presented in the bishops’ pastoral letter.
Presenters included Donna Toliver Grimes, assistant director of the U.S. bishops’ Office of African American Affairs, and Deacon Clarke Cochran of St. Peter Church in Charlotte. Grimes addressed how to implement “Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love,” and Deacon Cochran’s presentation covered “Promoting Racial Justice and Ending Health Disparities in the USA.”
St. Charles Borromeo Church in Morganton hosted the first event on May 6, entitled “Saved by Grace in Striving for a More Racially Just Church and Society” presented by Mercy Sister Cora Marie Billings.
St. Eugene Church in Asheville was also expected to host a program May 23.
The fourth program will be held Saturday, June 15, at St. Mary Church in Greensboro. All are welcome: details can be found online at www.ccdoc.org/education and www.charlottediocese.org/african-american-affairs-ministry/events.
— Joseph Purello and Rosheene Adams, Special to the Catholic News Herald
Joseph Purello is director of Catholic Charities’ Office of Social Concerns and Advocacy, and Rosheene Adams is director of the Diocese of Charlotte’s African American Affairs Ministry.
Pray for an end to racism
This prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary closes the U.S. bishops’ 2018 pastoral letter against racism entitled “Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love,” and attendees at the four Diocese of Charlotte events have been concluding their discussions with this prayer to Our Lady:
Mary, friend and mother to all, through your Son, God has found a way to unite Himself to every human being, called to be one people, sisters and brothers to each other.
We ask for your help in calling on your Son, seeking forgiveness for the times when we have failed to love and respect one another.
We ask for your help in obtaining from your Son the grace we need to overcome the evil of racism and to build a just society.
We ask for your help in following your Son, so that prejudice and animosity will no longer infect our minds or hearts but will be replaced with a love that respects the dignity of each person. Mother of the Church, the Spirit of your Son Jesus warms our hearts. Pray for us.
