Memorial Day Mass offered for military personnel and their families
CHARLOTTE — People must pray and act for God’s gift of peace in the world today, Bishop Peter Jugis told hundreds gathered for a Memorial Day Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral.
The May 28 Mass was offered for all men and women in the military – deceased, active and retired – and their families.
“It is important that everyone pray for peace, because in our modern world today, with the weapons of mass destruction which are so readily available, wars and conflicts anywhere in the world we know can escalate to the point of potentially enveloping the whole world. So any conflict, any war, anywhere in the world should be of concern for everyone in the world,” Bishop Jugis said.
“For that reason we cannot let up on our prayers – asking God for peace, asking God to change hearts and to bring conversion, and to grant the grace of reconciliation to those who are in conflict with each other, to remove hatred.”
“Peace is a gift from God,” he emphasized. “God has already placed a desire for peace in our hearts. That’s the way He made us as human beings. We have this innate desire for harmony with others.”
“Conflict is the result of sin,” he continued. “Conflict doesn’t come from God, it comes from sin, whether as the result of jealousy, envy, hatred, revenge or pride.”
“We must act on that gift that God has given to us,” Bishop Jugis said. “We must work and pray to bring it about in the world.”
In so doing, people should follow Jesus Christ’s example, he said, particularly keeping in mind the Beatitudes and His words, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they are called children of God.”
The Church must act “as a leaven in the world for peace, being a prophetic witness and challenging the world because of the message of Christ we carry and implement to bring peace and reconciliation into the world.”
The bishop concluded by asking for God’s mercy and kindness “for all those who have given their lives in service to our country, and for those who are currently serving, for our veterans, and for all the sick and disabled.”
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor. Videography provided by James Sarkis.
Pictured at top: Retired Army Col. Rebecca Tomsyck and Army Reserve Lt. Col. Nicole French, both of Charlotte, greet Bishop Peter Jugis after the Mass for the Military offered May 28 at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte.
CHARLOTTE — Niyah Lang’s first Communion was extra special.
The altar bread that became the body of Christ for the April 21 Masses at St. Peter Church in Charlotte was made by her aunt, a cloistered Benedictine sister who lives inside the Monastery of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Vermont, and her sisters.
“It was really special for our whole family as well as the other children celebrating the sacrament,” said Niyah’s mom Sarah Lang.
After Sarah Lang’s sister, Sister Benedict McLaughlin, suggested that her monastery could provide the altar bread for Niyah’s first Holy Communion, the parish was very supportive, she said. Since Sister Benedict was not able to travel to Charlotte for the Mass, this was a way she could be present for her niece in this special moment.
“Father James Shea gave us a resounding ‘yes,’” she said. “He even mentioned during the Mass where the bread came from and the importance of family to help deepen your spirituality. It helped Niyah have a stronger connection to the experience and she felt very proud.”
Niyah’s older sister, Tianna, was also an altar server during the Mass.
Sister Benedict celebrated her 25th jubilee last summer. The Lang family traveled to Vermont for the occasion, and Niyah and her sisters met their aunt for the first time. There Niyah was able to see some of the tools the women use to make the altar bread and learn more about her calling and the community. Sister Benedict emailed her sister Sarah to tell her she was praying for Niyah and suggested that they could provide bread for her first Holy Communion. Immaculate Heart of Mary monastery made 3.7 million hosts last year and provided it to hundreds of parishes in 24 states.
Sister Benedict sent a really nice card to St. Peter Church along with the bread, as well. They also had a Mass said in Vermont for the children receiving the sacrament, at the same time as their first Communion Mass, Sarah Lang said.
“The sisters were wrapping their arms around the kids in prayer all the way up from Vermont,” Sarah Lang said. “It was very special.”
Before their first Holy Communion, the children were shown a news story video from the monastery in Vermont that shows how the nuns make the hosts.
“Niyah was really excited to know that my sister was praying with her and knew she was there in spirit,” Sarah Lang said. “We’re very thankful Father Shea and the church allowed us to do that.”
— Kimberly Bender, Online reporter
Video: See inside the Monastery of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Vermont