CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte has announced the dates for seven special collections for 2018. These annual collections fund vital ministries and help support our priests and religious who give generously of their lives in service to the Church.
The 2018 special collections and their dates are as follows:
- Jan. 20-21: Combined Mission Collection. This annual collection funds five separate initiatives: the Collection for the Church in Latin America, the Collection to Aid the Church in Central and Eastern Europe, the Catholic Home Missions Appeal, the United States Mission Appeal (Black and Indian Missions), and the Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa.
- March 31-April 1 (Easter Sunday): Seminary and Priests’ Continuing Education. The Seminarian Education Program, in which 28 men are currently enrolled, is primarily funded through the annual Diocesan Support Appeal, the Friend to Seminarians Program, and this second collection. The diocese also uses the funds from this collection to sponsor workshops and programs to help keep priests informed of developments in theology and pastoral practices.
- May 19-20: International/National Combined Collection. Donations received from this collection benefit five organizations: Catholic Relief Services, Collection for the Holy Land, Collection for the Works of the Holy Father (Peter’s Pence), The Catholic University of America, and the Catholic Communications Campaign.
- Sept. 15-16: Priests’ Retirement and Benefits. This collection goes to support the Diocese of Charlotte’s 87 diocesan priests actively serving the faithful of western North Carolina, and 44 religious order priests from nine religious orders for whom retirement contributions will be made.
- Oct. 20-21: World Mission Sunday (Propagation of the Faith). This collection supports the work of the Church in its missions around the world.
- Nov. 17-18: Catholic Campaign for Human Development. This collection funds CCHD, founded by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to help break the cycle of poverty by funding organizations that help people help themselves. With its mission of improving education, housing situations and local economic development, the CCHD continues to make a positive impact in communities nationwide. Twenty-five percent of the funds from the collection are put to use in the Charlotte diocese.
- Dec. 8-9: Religious Retirement. This appeal, coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office, offers support for senior Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests whose communities lack sufficient retirement funding. Nationally, some 33,000 women and men religious past the age of 70 benefit.
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
CHARLOTTE — Several parishes marked the Feast of the Epiphany and its related celebrations by offering Latin Masses and special festivities Jan. 5 - 7.
On Jan. 5, Charlotte Catholic High School celebrated the Vigil of Epiphany with its the annual blessing of holy chalk, salt and Epiphany holy water by Father Jason Barone, chaplain of the school and assisted by seminarian Jose Torres, followed by a Solemn Mass in the Extraordinary Form offered by Father Barone and assisted by Father Matthew Kauth, rector of St. Joseph Seminary, and Father Jason Christian, parochial vicar at St. Michael Church in Gastonia.
The Holy Water blessing which is distinct to the Extraordinary Form and Eastern Rite is an ancient blessing that carries powerful prayers including an exorcism prayer against Satan and his devils. The chalk is used to mark the entrances and rooms of homes with a symbol of the Maji, and the salt and holy water can be used throughout the year to protect against evil spirits. St. Mark Church in Huntersville also blessed Epiphany water, chalk that weekend.
On Jan. 6, St. Michael Church in Gastonia marked Epiphany with a Solemn Orchestral Mass in the Extraordinary Form featuring music and Gregorian chant by the Carolina Catholic Chorale. Father Kauth offered the Mass and was assisted by Father Matthew Buettner and Father Christian, pastor and parochial vicar respectively, of St. Michael Church.
Epiphany celebrations concluded on Sunday, the Feast of the Holy Family Jan. 7 at St. Ann Church in Charlotte with a High Mass offered by Father Barone. After Mass, the Charlotte Latin Mass Community organized a Spanish-themed post-Epiphany celebration by offering Rosca de Reyes, a traditional Mexican or Spanish cake which is decorated to imitate the crowns of the Three Maji and hidden inside are baby figurines to represent the Baby Jesus to symbolize when he was hidden from King Herod.
The party was organized to incorporate the Spanish traditions of the small but growing number of Hispanic attendees at the Sunday Latin Mass. The day concluded with the CLMC distributing Epiphany home blessing kits which include the blessed chalk, salt, and Epiphany Holy Water blessed by Father Barone on Friday.
For more information on Latin Masses, please visit the Charlotte Latin Mass Community at www.charlottelatinmass.orgor e-mail Chris Lauer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
— Mike FitzGerald
Other Feast of the Epiphany celebrations across the diocese are pictured in our gallery:
Video: Celebración de la Epifanía
La parroquia de Santa Ana en Charlotte organizó un domingo posterior a la Epifanía el 7 de enero, con la Misa tradicional latina ofrecida por el Padre Barone. Después de la Misa, la Comunidad de Charlotte Latin Mass organizó una celebración después de la Epifanía con tema español ofreciendo Rosca de Reyes, un pastel tradicional mexicano o español que está decorado para imitar las coronas de los Tres Reyes Magos .
Dentro de la torta de Rosca hay muñecas blancas escondidas que representan al Niño Jesús para simbolizar cuando estuvo escondido del Rey Herodes.
La fiesta se organizó para incorporar las tradiciones españolas del pequeño pero creciente número de asistentes hispanos en la Misa Dominical Latina. El día concluyó con la distribución de los kits de bendición para el hogar de Epifanía, que incluyen bendita tiza, sal y Agua Bendita de Epifanía, que fueron bendecidos por Padre Jason Barone en la Vigilia de la Epifanía (5 de enero).
Los kits están disponibles en St. Ann narthex hasta que se agotan. La Misa tradicional latina es la antigua Misa que se ofreció en América Latina y España durante siglos hasta la década de 1960 y presenta al sacerdote ofreciendo oraciones en latín y música con canto gregoriano. Esta misa se ofrece en la parroquia St. Ann en Charlotte (3635 Park Road, Charlotte) a las 12:30 p. M. Todos los domingos.
Para obtener más información sobre las Misas latinas, visite Charlotte Latin Mass Community en www.charlottelatinmass.orgo envíe un correo electrónico a Chris Lauer a This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
— Mike FitzGerald