CLEMMONS — The Bishop Greco 9499 Columbiettes of Holy Family Church held a “Poker for Patriots” fundraiser June 4, raising $751 that they then used to buy and set up six nine-foot blue tilt patio umbrellas and stands for the residents of the Hospice House at the Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury, so that the residents and their families could enjoy the fresh air and outdoors.
— Mitch Miller
HIGHLANDS — A $5,000 grant has been awarded to Highlands Food Pantry at the International Friendship Center by the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte.
Our Lady of the Mountains Church wrote the grant earlier this year to benefit the food pantry. The grant will be used to provide food and hygiene products to those in need.
Father Francis Arockiasamy of Our Lady of the Mountains and members of his leadership team recently presented the check to Marty Rosenfield at the food bank.
— Edward Boos
CHARLOTTE — Jylian Carter, 18, a parishioner of St. Ann Church, entered the Carmelite Monastery of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Elysburg, Pa., Aug. 30. She left home and family to discern her call to a cloistered life where she will spend her days in silent and community prayer.
Carter recently shared with the Catholic News Herald how she discerned her vocation to Carmel:
“From the very beginning my parents tried to surround me with good and truth. Being homeschooled, I always had my mother’s virtuous example before my eyes. After her conversion, soon followed by my father’s, the dual impact of my parents’ good example increased.
“Once we became Catholic, I read the lives of the saints over and over again, steeping my imagination in these stories and cultivating a desire for the salvation of souls. Whether giving nearly everyone I knew a miraculous medal or playing ‘the children of Fatima’ at the church playground, my interest in the saints was evident, and, as prayer life was so important to the saints, so too, was it in our lives.
“My mother saw to it that we set aside a part of each morning for mental prayer, prayed the rosary daily as a family, and attended Mass several times a week. These were all very beneficial spiritual exercises, but once we discovered the beauty of the Latin Mass, the spiritual life and all our usual devotions took on an even more attractive appearance.
“This marked a tremendous change in my life; I cannot express how much I learned from the beautiful, ancient traditions of Holy Mother Church. From this exposure came my attraction to the religious life. For several years, my interest in the religious life grew.
“Once we moved to the country, my attraction to the religious life quickly developed into a love of the contemplative life. There in the rural solitude it was so much easier to pray, and, all of a sudden, the cloister made sense. My deepening prayer life also helped in this. In reading ‘The Catholic Girl’s Guide’ by Father Xavier Lasance, I found the perfect stepping stone for building the strong prayer life needed in this world, as well as preparation for the religious life.
“Then I began the search for the right contemplative order. After consulting my pastor and parents, I wrote to three different communities, praying that God would show me His will. Upon receiving the three replies, there was one that was particularly attractive: the Carmel of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in Elysburg, Pa. I had such peace and interest in this Carmel that I wondered if it might not be wise to search further. Again, taking the holy advice offered to me, I followed my heart, discontinued my search and let God teach me about Carmel.
“After a few months of correspondence with the mother prioress, I visited Carmel and fell head over heels in love with it. The Carmelite life of prayer, love and sacrifice; poverty, chastity and obedience; in silence, solitude and enclosure; for the salvation of souls, especially priests and sinners – was this not heaven on earth? Above all, I wanted to think of and love Our Lord all the time, giving myself completely to Him.
“In the meantime, two years of correspondence and prayer passed by, and once I completed high school, the entrance date was set. Yes, it will be heartbreaking to leave my loved ones, but only with Christ will I find true peace, joy and love.
“Christ has led me to Carmel. If this is truly His will for me, He will give me all the necessary graces.”
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
CHARLOTTE — Unbound, a ministry focused on empowering people to reclaim their true identity in Christ as sons and daughters of the Father, will host five training sessions beginning Thursday, Sept. 8.
Unbound aims to equip people throughout the world to take hold of the freedom that they have been given in Jesus Christ, and to help others do the same. The Unbound model is a ministry of Heart of the Father, a deliverance ministry based in Ardmore, Pa., led by Neal and Janet Lozano. It is an inspired model of healing prayer that guides a person in responding to the Gospel and opening their heart more fully to Jesus, through “five keys”: faith and repentance, forgiveness, renunciation, taking authority and receiving the blessings of the Father.
Facilitators are needed to lead people through the “five keys” of the Unbound model. Prayer warriors are also needed to provide prayer support for both the individual and the session leader during the healing session.
Unbound equips local churches/ministries to pray effectively for the spiritual and emotional freedom of others. It is a non-confrontational model which focuses on the love, mercy, healing and forgiveness found in Jesus Christ.
Participation in the training requires participants to obtain a letter from their pastor stating they have permission to participate in all training activities regarding Unbound Charlotte ministry/outreach. They are also asked to order and read “Unbound, A Practical Guide to Deliverance” by Neal Lozano, during the five week training. Book available on Amazon or Heart of the Fathers Ministries, Ardmore, Pa.
Five training sessions will be held: Sept. 8 and 22, Oct. 6 and 20, and Nov. 3. Daytime sessions will be 1-3 p.m. at the Diocese of Charlotte Pastoral Center at 1123 S. Church St. in Charlotte. Evening sessions will be 6-8 p.m. at The Farm at 4029 Mintwood Drive, Mint Hill. You must attend all five sessions.
Cost is $20 per person. Clergy may attend for free. Applications are available at www.unboundchltnc.org. For details, contact Julie Jahn, ministry leader, at 704-560-9202 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte Youth Ministry Office has opened registration for its annual High School Fall Retreat, which will be held Oct. 21-23 at Holy Spirit Church in Denver. The theme of this year’s retreat is “Enduring Mercy.”
The High School Fall Retreat is a weekend-long retreat, led by a team of teens and adults, that includes prayer, games, activities, presentations, group sharing, the sacrament of reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, Mass, and much more.
These retreats are a great way to come together in prayer with other high school teens from across the diocese, grow in faith and love for God’s Church and one another.
All high school-aged students in the diocese are invited. For details, go online to www.charlottediocese.org/ev/youth-ministry/events/high-school-retreat.