Faithful attended Masses on Feb. 3 for blessings of the throat at St. Mark in Huntersville and at Our Lady of Annunciation Church in Albemarle for the Feast of St. Blaise.
St. William Church in Murphy parishioners also received a blessing of the throats during weekend masses on the Feast of St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr.
Blessing of throat with prayer for the intercession of St. Blaise was also conferred at Immaculate Conception in Forest City. The special candles used for the blessings were acquired by Deacon Andy Cilone at St. Blaise Church in Dubrovnik, Croatia, during a pilgrimage.
St. Blaise was a physician, and bishop who was martyred by being beaten, attacked with iron combs, and beheaded. His feast day is Feb. 3.
Little is known about St. Blaise prior to his mention in a court physician's medical journal. The physician, Aëtius Amidenus, spoke of St. Blaise's aid in treating objects caught in the throat. He was also mentioned in the book of Acts, where he was aided by animals and treated people and beasts alike.
“Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness;
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen."
Rev. Fr. Peter Fitzgibbons said this prayer several times on during mass at Our Lady of Annunciation Parish Church in Albemarle on Friday.
Blessing of throat with prayer for the intercession of St. Blaise was conferred at Immaculate Conception in Forest City.
— Photosby Giuliana Polinari Riley, Craig Allen and Patrick Hession, coorespondents and provided by Amy Burger and Done Espina
CHARLOTTE — Someone apparently stole mail from St. Matthew Church and tried to cash checks, according to a letter sent to parishioners from Monsignor John McSweeny.
It appears that a theft from the mailbox on the church property occurred at the end of January. Parish officials were made aware of the situation by two parishioners reporting that their online bill pay donation checks to St. Matthew were attempted to be cashed by persons unaffiliated with St. Matthew Church, Monsignor McSweeny said.
Both checks were mailed to the physical address, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Parkway, and not our post office box, PO Box 49349.
The church changed the mailbox on our campus to one in which mail can only be deposited, but needs a key to be retrieved.
They recommend mail to the parish be sent to the P.O Box: St. Matthew Catholic Church, P.O. Box 49349
Charlotte, NC 28277.
St. Matthew Church name and address is also being used in a fraudulent check scheme, where packages are being mailed to individuals with a check inside, Monsignor McSweeny said.
The parish’s name is not associated with anything relating to the check, it simply appears as a return address on the outside of the envelope, making it appear that the package has been sent by St. Matthew Church.
This is a common scheme, and these priority mail packages have not been sent by St. Matthew Church. The check in the envelope is fraudulent and should not be cashed.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department and the United States Postal Service Inspector are aware of the incidents.
— Catholic News Herald
HUNTERSVILLE — The seventh Annual Catholic Men’s Conference will take place Saturday, March 4, at St. Mark Church in Huntersville.
The theme of this year’s event is “Men with a Mission,” and will feature talks by Robert Rogers from “Mighty is the Lord Ministry”; Father Bill Casey from the Fathers of Mercy; and former Carolina Panthers quarterback Steve Beuerlein. Bishop Peter J. Jugis will also celebrate Mass for participants.
All men of the diocese are invited to attend the day-long conference, which will be held from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Advance registration fee is $40, and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Discounts apply for early registration, seniors, students and Knights of Columbus.
St. Mark Church is located at 14749 Stumptown Road in Huntersville.
For details and registration information, go to www.catholicmenofthecarolinas.org.
— Rico De Silva, Hispanic Communications Reporter
CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte Foundation recently reached the milestone of $40 million in assets.
The foundation, established in 1994, provides a means for people and organizations to provide long-term financial stability for the diocese and its more than 181 churches, schools, agencies and organizations.
Over the past 24 years, the foundation has grown to encompass 246 endowments that total $40,773,550 in assets as of Dec. 31, 2016.
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 diocese and its parishes, schools, agencies and ministries.
“Surpassing $40 million in assets means the diocese and its many parishes, schools and ministries will receive more income that will be used to change lives and ultimately bring people closer to Jesus,” said Jim Kelley, diocesan director of development.
Those who make a planned gift to the diocese or any of its parishes, schools, ministries or agencies become members of the Catholic Heritage Society. The society is the diocese’s way of honoring the Christian generosity of Catholic friends who are providing for the future of the Church in western North Carolina.
The Catholic Heritage Society is comprised of more than 900 people in the diocese, many of whom are leaving gifts to the foundation in their wills.
The foundation sends reports out to all these endowment holders every quarter stating where their endowment stands and how much is available to distribute. As a rule, the foundation makes available 5 percent of a rolling three-year average value of its total assets. Since 1994, the foundation has distributed more than $7 million to the diocese and its parishes, schools and ministries.
One recent endowment bequeathed to St. Barnabas Church was received through the generosity of Dennis and Mary Kushler, who quietly left the parish a $3.6 million endowment after their deaths. It is the single largest estate gift in the history of the Catholic Church in North Carolina.
The Kushlers’ endowment will provide the parish with an estimated $175,000 annual income initially, and it will grow over time. It is a general purpose endowment, so the money can be used to help in whatever way the parish decides.
“We are finding more and more people in the diocese are remembering the Church in their estates. Many of them are establishing endowments in the foundation, where their gifts can have a lasting impact. Gifts made once in an endowment continue to give forever.”
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
Learn more
For more information about establishing an endowment to benefit the Church in western North Carolina, contact Ray-Eric Correia, diocesan director of planned giving, at 704-370-3364 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
CHARLOTTE — St. John Neumann Church joined with other Christian churches along the Idlewild corridor to celebrate the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan. 18-25).
This was the seventh year the East Charlotte and Matthews area faith communities have worked together to rejoice in our common faith in Jesus Christ and to pray for the ultimate reunification of all Christians in the one true Church. Participating clergy were (pictured from left): Father Pat Hoare, pastor of St. John Neumann Church; Deacon Joe Denzler and Deacon Jim Gorman of St. John Neumann Church; Pastor Steve Mitchell of Morningstar Presbyterian Church; Rev. In-Yong Lee of Cokesbury United Methodist Church; and Pastor John Mouritsen of Morningstar Lutheran Church.