CHARLOTTE — St. Ann Parish in Charlotte and the Charlotte Latin Mass Community celebrated the feast of the Immaculate Conception Dec. 8 with a Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form.
The Solemn High Mass featured Gregorian Chant from the St. Ann Schola and was offered by Father Joseph Matlak, chaplain of Holy Trinity Middle School and pastor of St. Basil the Great Mission of the Ukrainian (Eastern) Rite; Father Jason Barone, chaplain of Charlotte Catholic High School, as deacon; and St. Ann’s pastor, Father Timothy Reid as subdeacon. Immediately after Mass, the Blessed Sacrament was exposed in Eucharistic Adoration as St. Ann’s hosted its annual Vigil for Life to pray for an end to abortion.
The feast day also saw a Solemn High Mass offered at St. Michael Parish in Gastonia and a low Latin Mass offered during the day at St. Mark Church in Huntersville.
— Photo provided by Markus Kuncoro/Charlotte Latin Mass Community
HENDERSONVILLE — Maryknoll Sister Rebecca Nyaki recently said goodbye to Immaculate Conception Church, Helping Hand Developmental Center and St. Gerard House in Hendersonville, where she has been serving for several years.
She has moved to Yonkers, N.Y., where she is now working at the nearby Maryknoll Center.
In May she graduated from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago with a master’s degree in pastoral services and the Maryknoll leadership team in Ossining, N.Y., asked her to take on the immigration ministry there.
The Tanzania native became a U.S. citizen in 2016, and she said she hopes to use her experience as an immigrant to help others who migrate to the United States.
“It has been a blessing to be a parishioner of Immaculate Conception in Hendersonville the last 10 years as we all walk on our journey with Christ,” she said. “God bless you all and continue to bring the lost and broken into the arms of Jesus.”
She is pictured with Maryknoll Sisters Mary Lou Herlihy and Peggy Lipsio, who continue to serve in Hendersonville.
— Photo provided by Maryknoll Sister Mary Lou Herlihy