CHARLOTTE — The weather on July 23 was like every other day that week.
It started out sunny, then later the clouds rolled in, the thunder rumbled and rain threatened. In the Matthews/Mint Hill area, evening storms beat down on most of the community – except on the lawn of St. John Neumann Church, where a bilingual prayer service was taking place outdoors.
Approximately 150 parishioners arrived with their lawn chairs, observed social distancing practices and joined together in prayer at the two-hour liturgy, which included Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Scripture readings, spoken and quiet prayer time and an intention cross.
The evening concluded with a healing service.
Father John Starczewski, pastor, and Father Peter Phan administered the sacrament of the anointing of the sick to those who requested it. “We heard the thunder; we felt the wind. The breeze kept us cool. There was no doubt that the Holy Spirit was right in our midst,” said one of the participants.
— Photos provided by Glenda Lliguicota
