Singing praises for Eleanor
HAMLET — Organist Eleanor Adeimy has been the melody of St. James the Greater Parish for 60 years. Every smile, every hug and every good turn have been the notes she's played just as deftly as she's fingered the keys.
Now, at 93, Adeimy is ready to retire, and on July 23 the close-knit Hamlet parish family gathered to say thank you.
Mass was offered by Father Jean Pierre Swamunu Lhoposo, pastor, who only half-jokingly noted in his introductory prayer, "We pray God to send us another organist – another organist who is as patient, as kind as Eleanor."
Adeimy started playing the organ for the parish in 1956. The young wife, mother and nurse also played the piano, and thought her musical gifts could be put to good use. All three daughters grew up playing and singing beside her, which they say greatly enriched their faith and family life.
Adeimy now has 10 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. All three daughters and many more family members and friends were at the Mass to celebrate with her.
Also there were Father John Starczewski, the former pastor of St. James, and Benedictine Father Kieran Neilson of Belmont Abbey, who gave the homily.
Adeimy and Father Neilson have known each other for years. In his homily, Father Neilson recalled the many pilgrimages they had taken to Fatima, and he thanked her for her years of joyful service to the Church.
He encouraged parishioners to practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, especially during this Jubilee Year of Mercy, and he entreated, "Pray that God will give you those things that you persistently pray for, and don't give up."
Appreciate what gifts God has given you, he also told them, and "use those gifts to the best of your ability, for His honor and glory and for the honor and glory of those with whom you live and those with whom you associate.
"God has given us life, He has given us everything we have. Let us, then, not take for granted those gifts."
His message was echoed by members of the parish council after Mass, who expressed gratitude for Adeimy's gift of music to the parish over the past six decades.
"Your ministry of music has constantly lifted our hearts in praise and worship for the glory of God," said one parish council member.
They presented her with a crystal sculpture engraved with Psalm 40:3: "He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God."
Father Lhoposo also presented "our young sister" Adeimy with an apostolic blessing from Pope Francis.
Adeimy was at a loss for words in reaction to others' compliments and messages of thanks, but her face beamed as she laughed and talked with parishioners after Mass.
"When I was 75, I tried to retire," a smiling Adeimy told well-wishers gathered in the parish hall. Since 75 is the retirement age for bishops, she joked, "I thought I'd do the same." But a friend told her, "Eleanor, we can replace the bishop. We can't replace you!"
Parishioners agreed that Adeimy may be replaced as organist, but she is irreplaceable.
"She has been a gracious, uplifting, righteous person who has been kind and outgoing," said parishioner Ella Ratliff.
Butch Adeimy, one of her nephews, noted, "Had it not been for Eleanor, there would not have been any music in our church."
Gayla Eichorn has served alongside Adeimy for years. They divvied up the weekend Masses between them, and the two ladies have sung and played together for years. Eichorn sang the Communion hymn at the July 23 Mass, standing beside Adeimy, who was seated at the organ just as she has done so many times before.
"It was a huge gift to have her come up and play with me," Eichorn said afterwards. "Eleanor taught me how to pray. She taught me that when you sing, it's a prayer, not a performance."
For her part, Adeimy thanked Eichorn for their musical partnership over the years. "She has stood by me for almost 30 years. She has been very special to me. I couldn't have done it without her," Adeimy said.
Besides her musical ministry, Adeimy has been active in other aspects of the parish. She helped start the parish's annual barbecue several years ago, and still lends a hand at the successful fundraiser. She also encourages others to get involved in parish life. In fact, many parishioners nodded in agreement when Eichorn commented, "It's absolutely impossible to say no to Eleanor Adeimy."
"That's what she does: she runs things," Butch Adeimy said.
"There's nothing that she hasn't stepped up to do for people in need," said Connie Lindstrand, from cooking meals, sewing blankets and donating a wheelchair to sharing a smile and a warm hug with everyone she encounters.
"She believes in the good of all of us St. James family," added Kim Kondrat, who has known Adeimy since she was 8.
Parishioner Don Meany recounted the day he met Adeimy 30-plus years ago. After burning his hand, he had to go to the local doctor's office every day to have the dressing changed. Adeimy was the nurse who tended to him during each visit, and when she had to be absent one day she called in the other nurse to explain how to change his bandage just the right way.
"From that moment on she has been a very special person in my life," Meany said.
Every time he sees Adeimy, he said, "I could always expect a warm smile, a gentle hug and always a kind word.
"There's just nobody like her."
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, Editor
St. Joseph College Seminary opens in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE — Suitcases and cardboard boxes. Guitar cases and snacks from home. Parents looking around dorm rooms, smiling and trying not to be anxious about the children they are about to leave behind.
But for eight young men moving in to St. Joseph College Seminary, Aug. 7 was no ordinary college moving-in day. It also marked the first step on a long journey of discernment and study of the priesthood. The new minor seminary opens this month on the campus of St. Ann Church on Park Road.
St. Joseph College Seminary is for undergraduate men considering the priesthood, one step before they contemplate enrolling in a major seminary for more specific priestly formation. Enrolled in the diocese's seminarian program, the men will work toward a bachelor's degree in philosophy at Belmont Abbey College.
A summer thunderstorm that rolled by did not wipe the smiles or slow the pace of the young men and their families as they hustled boxes and bags from their cars into the small brick building behind St. Ann School.
"We are so proud of him," said Matthew Dimock about his son Matt, who just graduated from Charlotte Catholic High School. As he helped his son unload and unpack his things, Dimock said he feels overwhelmed by his son's desire to follow God.
Similar sentiments were echoed by the other parents.
Kathleen Harrison said of her son Matt, who just graduated from Christ the King High School, "You know what he said to us the other day? He said he was following Jesus into the seminary, and if he ends up leaving it's because he was following Jesus out."
Her son's desire to listen and discern God's will in his life makes her heart swell, she said.
Move-in day began with Mass at St. Ann Church, offered by Father Matthew Kauth, rector of the new college seminary. In his homily, Father Kauth entreated the young men to take heart and follow Christ with courage and faith, citing the college's motto "Noli timere" – "Do not be afraid."
Those words from Christ appeared in the day's Gospel reading from Luke Chapter 12, and Father Kauth noted it as another sign of divine providence along what has been a bumpy road for the college seminary up to this point.
Courage and action are needed to follow God, he emphasized, noting the readings of the day (Wisdom 18:6-9 and Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-12) talk about the courage of the Israelites and the faithfulness of Abraham in following God toward the Promised Land. People who wish to follow God – particularly those who are called to shepherd souls to heaven – must be similar men of action and courage, he said.
"Courage is not something that a man has because he doesn’t have any fear. On the contrary, it's when he steels his heart and keeps his eyes fixed, and says, 'I will do this anyway, and I will trust Him who is trustworthy.' Courage is not meant for someone who does not act. It is the one who acts that needs it."
Courage is for those who leave a comfortable, worldly life to pick up their crosses and follow God – those "who have no idea (thanks be to God) what's in store for you," he continued, turning and smiling as he gestured at the eight young men in the pew in front of him.
Following God is not for the faint-hearted, he said, and it means leaving behind those things that the world considers important and valuable. But God, who is always faithful and trustworthy, will reward those who are obedient to Him.
"Every action you take is going to be measured by that: what you wear, how you eat, how long you sleep – eh?" Father Kauth said, again turning to the young men.
"Step by step, you will leave things behind," he said, just as a hiker on a long journey gets rid of anything he does not need to get home. "So I say to you, move forward … noli timere."
The eight students will live in private, dormitory-style rooms in the old St. Joseph Monastery, former home of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration. While the name has changed, St. Joseph remains the spiritual head of the place, with images of him in prominent places throughout.
Matt Dimock points out the nameplate on each door denoting various names for St. Joseph.Each room features a twin bed, desk, bookshelf and sink. And on each door, a nameplate features one of the names for St. Joseph: "Christi defensor sedule" ("Watchful defender of Christ"), "Joseph fidelissime" ("Joseph most faithful"), "Dei Genetricis sponse" ("Spouse of the Mother of God"), etc.
After moving in, the students will attend an orientation session on Monday followed by 10 days of Latin immersion before classes begin at Belmont Abbey College later this month.
While attending classes they will live in community, apart from the rest of the student body, and will follow a "rule of life" appropriate for this level of seminary, including daily Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, the rosary, spiritual direction and conferences.
They will start each day at 5:45 a.m. Starting at 6:15 a.m., they will have a half hour of private prayer, followed by Lauds (Morning Prayer) and Mass.
On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays they will travel to Belmont Abbey College via a newly donated Chevy Suburban, dubbed the "Suburbi et orbi," for classes from 9 a.m. to noon. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, they will have classes at the college seminary.
After lunch, they will have recreation and free time back at the college seminary until Vespers, praying of the rosary and dinner. From 7 to 9 p.m. there will be a "minor silence," during which time the men will study, and then at 9 p.m. they will gather for Compline (Night Prayer) followed by a "grand silence" that will remain unbroken until after breakfast the next day.
This monastic schedule, which emphasizes both an interior and exterior quiet, is purposeful, Father Kauth said.
"I wanted to capitalize both on the fact that they're at a Benedictine institution but also, when you have a college this small … you try to cultivate a ground of silence for prayer to be able to permeate their life. Because they're boys – they're going to make noise and be loud. They need to cultivate that (silence) right from the very beginning, or they can't hear anything. They can't begin to listen to the Lord."
Peter Rusciolelli brought lots of snacks from home, presents from his family.
Kathleen Harrison checks out the fridge during her tour of the college seminary, where her son Matt has enrolled.Besides the core classes they will take at Belmont Abbey College, the young men will study philosophy with Dr. Matthew Siebert, recently hired by the seminary and the abbey specifically to teach the young men. They will also take theology classes with Father Kauth, and sacred music classes with Thomas Savoy, director of the Carolina Catholic Chorale and music director at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte.
The college seminary will remain on the St. Ann campus probably for the next two years, Father Kauth said.
The Poor Clares' old home was renovated for the college's needs, with the former gift shop at the entrance converted into a formal drawing room for visitors. Furniture was mostly scavenged from consignment sales and auctions, while donations also helped especially with filling the pantry. The young men did all the painting and yard work, he said.
"There's a lot of sweat equity in this, so we didn't have to spend a ton of money," he said.
Fundraising for a permanent home for the college has reached just over $4 million, he said. A permanent site has not yet been chosen, he said.
Despite the delay in finding a permanent site, so far the college seminary has already exceeded Father Kauth's expectations, he said. The program is at full capacity with eight students in the building's eight rooms.
"I thought we'd have three or four, maybe, our first year," he said.
Seven of the eight young men are from the Diocese of Charlotte. Some are just starting college life, while others have completed some college classes.
Because the young men will remain in the diocese during their studies, Father Kauth said he wants them to interact regularly with people.
"We'll travel around," he said. "Any priest that wants us to come, we'll come. So we won't be isolated to St. Ann's."
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor
Photos of the college seminary
The community gathering room
The formal sitting room for visitors
The kitchen
The refectory