CHARLOTTE — Christmas remains a time of great joy for Christians, even as many people around the world suffer for their faith in Jesus. That was the message from Bishop Peter Jugis as hundreds of people welcomed the birth of Jesus during midnight Mass Dec. 25 at St. Patrick Cathedral.
“We are a joyful people because Jesus is among us, Jesus has come to save us,” Bishop Jugis said. “He has come to live among us, preach His Gospel, live and die for our salvation, and be risen from the dead. That is cause for joy. Nothing can destroy Jesus.”
Referring to the Gospel of Luke (2:1-14) proclaimed during the Mass, the bishop noted, “This beautiful account of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem of Judea, which we have just heard, landed a Catholic priest in jail in India just this month.”
He recounted the recent news of a Catholic priest who staged a Christmas pageant in the small village of Satna, in north central India where he is pastor. He and others with him were arrested and charged with proselytizing, as the majority Hindu region is one where missionaries need government permission to preach and try to convert people.
There have also been calls by extremists to attack Christians in churches during the Christmas season, Bishop Jugis noted.
“All of this reminds us that Jesus is still met with rejection and even with violent opposition today in the world,” he said. The Body of Christ, the Church, faces threats just as Jesus did from King Herod.
“How fortunate we are to be here in the United States where we have – at least most of the time – freedom of religion,” he said, “but we do have to be careful of very subtle attacks or rejection of our Christian faith and of our love for Jesus.”
Bishop Peter Jugis prays before the Nativity scene inside St. Patrick Cathedral, moments after laying the baby Jesus in the manger at the start of Mass at midnight Dec. 25.The secular world roundly rejects Jesus and His Gospel message, the bishop said, and celebrations of Christmas have lost their focus on the birth of Jesus.
“We don’t hear much talk about Jesus out there in the secular world. There is much talk about all of the periphery of Christmas – about Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Frosty the Snowman,” he said.
Nevertheless, Christians – especially those who face persecution – continue to celebrate Jesus’ birth, and they do so with joy.
“When will people ever learn that persecution does not destroy the faith?” the bishop noted.
“The only thing that destroys the faith is apathy,” he continued. “Apathy of Christians towards Jesus, apathy regarding the practice of their faith.”
“That apathy, that lukewarmness, is really the worst,” he said, “because it comes from within.”
Christians must hold fast to the joy of the good news announced by the angels to the shepherds in Bethlehem the night Jesus was born, he said.
Christmas is a time to renew our commitment to Christ and live our faith joyfully, he said, regardless of attacks or rejection.
Share the joy of Christmas and the love of our faith with others during this season, he also encouraged. Joy is a “hallmark of Christmas,” he said.
He wished everyone a joyful holiday and prayed for God “to bless you and your families this Christmas, that He may keep all of you in His loving care, and that you’ll go forth joyfully from this celebration to be the followers of Christ that He’s calling you to be.”
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor
Pictured at top: Bishop Peter Jugis and Father Richard Sutter, parochial vicar at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, distribute Holy Communion during Mass at midnight Dec. 25.
One of the 2017 Catholic Charities local CCHD grant recipients is the St. Marguerite Sewing Project of St. William Church in Murphy. The grant helped purchase sewing machines and supplies to teach sewing skills. Project teachers (all volunteers from the parish and the surrounding community) and students also make clothing for low-income children. Project Coordinator Sister Terry Martin, CND, sees the project as an opportunity for volunteer service for those with sewing skills, and an opportunity for students to learn sewing skills, express their creativity, develop confidence and learn a trade, which can be a source of income. She is pictured with Joseph Purello of Catholic Charities and project team members Joann Moore, Rosemary Wright, Carolyn Sams and Kay Morgan. (Photo provided by Joseph Purello)
Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte annually offers local Catholic Campaign for Human Development grants to non-profits in the Diocese of Charlotte that are targeting the root causes of poverty and related social concerns. Many of the CCHD grant-funded projects work in partnership with, or under the auspices of, diocesan parishes. All grant applicants and projects are reviewed for their conformity to Catholic social doctrine and receive a local parish endorsement. Funded projects build community, empower people economically, and support those who are marginalized in society.
This annual grant program distributes grants from funds obtained through the 25 percent of the November CCHD parish-based collection that is retained for use in the diocese. Last spring, 14 local CCHD grants totaling $38,700 were distributed to organizations from 13 cities located in eight of the diocese’s 10 vicariates.
The 2018 grant application and guidelines can be found at www.ccdoc.org/cchdcrs. The email submission deadline for receipt of applications is Thursday, Feb. 15.
CCHD, a program of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops founded in 1969, works to break the cycle of poverty by helping low-income people participate in decisions that affect their lives, families and communities. CCHD has a complementary mission to expand knowledge of domestic poverty and has designated January as Poverty Awareness Month. PovertyUSA.org is the online educational initiative of CCHD that seeks to educate and promote understanding about poverty in the U.S. and its root causes.
Visit PovertyUSA.org for resources such as prayers, a poverty quiz, K-12 educational resources, a Poverty USA Tour video about the struggles of living at the poverty line, and an interactive map of the U.S. that illustrates the extent of poverty at state and county levels.
— Joseph Purello, Special to the Catholic News Herald. Joseph Purello is Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte’s director of Social Concerns and Advocacy.
CHARLOTTE — Bishop Emeritus William George Curlin, third Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, passed away in the peace of Christ Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017. He was 90 years old. Read his full obituary.
The reception of the body and a vigil prayer service were held at St. Gabriel Church Jan. 1. The principal celebrant was Bishop Peter Jugis, and the homilist was Father Brian Cook, pastor of St. Leo the Great Church in Winston-Salem. Read the story and see pictures.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Jan. 2, also at St. Gabriel Church. The principal celebrant for the funeral Mass was Archbishop William E. Lori of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the homilist was Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio, pastor of St. Pius X Church in Greensboro. Pope Francis sent his condolences, which were read at the end of the Mass by Bishop Jugis. Read the story and see pictures.
Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio delivers the homily during Bishop William Curlin's funeral Mass Jan. 2.
Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore remembers his friend Bishop Curlin during the funeral Mass.
Father Brian Cook, pastor of St. Leo the Great Church in Winston-Salem, remembers Bishop Curlin during the prayer service Jan. 1.
Complete video from the funeral Mass
Complete video of the prayer service
Hermosa despedida al Obispo Curlin
CHARLOTTE — Thanks to the Diocese of Charlotte’s Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love campaign, families have another source of help to be able to afford the cost of a Catholic education for their children.
The $69 million FFHL campaign, which is funding capital needs and endowments for parishes and ministries across the diocese, among other initiatives, is expected to bring in $3.75 million to establish an endowment for tuition assistance to diocesan schools – and some of that help is available now.
The campaign has raised $69,994,560 in pledges, with $43,333,213 received in payments through Nov. 30, 2017. The pledge redemption period will continue through mid-2019.
The new tuition assistance endowment will be administered through the Foundation of the Diocese of Charlotte. Available income from the endowment will be distributed to qualifying diocesan schools each year for student financial aid.
An endowment is a permanent fund, the principal of which is never touched, but the income from which can be used according to the wishes of the donor organization or individual. Endowments provide a way to generate income and help sustain the long-term strength and viability of the recipient parish, school or ministry.
Although the program will not start officially until the 2019-’20 academic year, a limited amount of funds will be available to schools in need of funds to provide assistance to participating Catholic families with the most significant need in 2017-’18 and 2018-’19.
The per-school allotment is determined based on total funds available and the total qualifying need submitted by the schools.
To qualify for the tuition assistance funds, the school must receive local parish support of at least $500 per participating Catholic student and must have awarded all of its tuition assistance funds available for that school year. Qualifying schools may request funds from the FFHL endowment for participating Catholic students who have withdrawn, will have to withdraw, or have been unable to enroll because they could not afford the cost.
According to Bill Weldon, diocesan chief financial officer, $49,372 has been awarded to four diocesan schools for the 2017-’18 school year.
“As the endowment grows, we anticipate awarding approximately $200,000 annually,” he said.
The four diocesan schools receiving money this year are: St. Michael School in Gastonia, $30,236; Our Lady of Mercy School in Winston-Salem, $2,579; Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville, $6,915; and St. Leo School in Winston-Salem, $9,642.
The tuition assistance endowment is one of seven endowments being funded by the FFHL campaign.
“FFHL funds have already been going to the parishes, capital projects and endowments across the diocese, but this is the first distribution from any of the seven endowments,” said Jim Kelley, diocesan director of development. “FFHL has had a significant impact on the work being done in parishes and in ministries across the diocese that provide services to parishioners.”
Dr. Janice Ritter, diocesan superintendent of schools, expressed her appreciation for the endowment.
“I am deeply grateful that the diocesan administration realized the need for tuition assistance for our families and included a provision in the Forward in the Faith, Hope, and Love campaign for this endowment,” she said. “I know our principals are also appreciative of this additional assistance which can be made available to families with financial need.”
Since it was established in 1994, the Foundation of the Diocese of Charlotte has grown to encompass 255 endowments and more than $48 million in assets.
—SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
GREENSBORO — St. Benedict Church and St. Pius X Church recently received some good news: both Greensboro area parishes will benefit from an estate gift by a former member.
Helen Doyle Black, 98, passed away on July 27, 2016, at Pennybyrn’s Taylor Village in High Point. She left a total bequest of approximately $83,000 in her will that is going to both parishes.
Originally from Worcester, Mass., Black grew up in Nashua, N.H., graduating from Middlebury College and teaching French before entering the U.S. Navy, becoming one of the country’s first female naval officers during World War II. She rose to the rank of lieutenant commander by the end of the war.
After serving her country, Black earned an MBA from Radcliffe College School of Business (Harvard Business School) in Cambridge, Mass. She worked as a personnel director for a major Boston department store and then moved to Greensboro to be near family, working as a personnel director for Meyers department store. After several years she went to work at Burlington Industries.
She married her high school sweetheart, Dr. Daniel Black of Nashua, N.H., and the two lived many years in the Northeast before returning to the Greensboro area after retirement. Her husband passed away in 1986.
Black was a parishioner of St. Pius X Church and a former parishioner of St. Benedict Church. Her gift is being split between the two parishes: approximately $68,000 will benefit St. Benedict Church and approximately $15,000 will benefit St. Pius X Church, with a portion of each into going into endowments for each parish and a portion going directly to each parish.
“I was surprised when St. Benedict Parish received her donation. How generous she was,” said Father Duc Duong, pastor. “Her donation came to my parish at the right time when we began our restoration project in 2017 with a new look, and her generosity was appreciated.”
The church will use the funds for maintenance, Father Duong said, as the building is more than 120 years old, although the sanctuary has been newly restored. The parish has erected a plaque at the church to honor Black as their benefactor, he added.
"Helen knew the most certain way to ensure the ministry she so appreciated would be enjoyed by future generations was to share part of her estate with our endowment," said Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio, St. Pius X’s pastor. "Since we talk about our Church as a Family of Faith it is most appropriate when planning our estate to consider those who have been brothers and sisters to us. We most often consider our natural posterity in our wills, but imagine the good that could be accomplished if we were to consider our supernatural posterity, the parishioner yet to be born, who will take our place in the pew that we were privileged to build."
The endowments will be administered through the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation. Established in 1994, the foundation has grown to encompass more than 255 endowments and more than $48 million in total assets.
An endowment is a permanent fund, the principal of which is never touched, but the income from which can be used in accordance with the wishes of the donor organization or individual. Endowments provide a way to generate income and help sustain the long-term strength and viability of the recipient parish or ministry.
“More and more people across the diocese are remembering the Church in their estate plans –gifts from thousands of dollars to millions – and we are thankful for their generosity,” said Jim Kelley, diocesan director of development.
For details about endowments or estate gifts, contact Ray-Eric Correia, diocesan director of planned giving, at 704-370-3364 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter