CHARLOTTE — Parishioners at St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Ann churches in Charlotte gathered to welcome the dawn with a “Rorate Mass,” a votive Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that is celebrated during the Advent season.
For this special liturgy held traditionally before sunrise, the church is lit with only candlelight. The name for the Mass comes from the first word of the Introit: “Rorate, caeli, desuper, et nubes pluant iustum,” or “Drop down dew, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness.”
The celebrant at St. Thomas Aquinas Church was Father Matthew Kauth, assisted by Father Patrick Winslow and Father Jason Christian. At St. Ann Church, the Mass was offered by Father Jason Barone, assisted by Father Tim Reid and Father Joseph Matlak.
— Photos by John Cosmas | Catholic News Herald
CHARLOTTE — More than two dozen young adults from St. Patrick Cathedral enjoyed a showing of “The Nutcracker” by the Charlotte Ballet Dec. 15 at the Belk Theater.
The group of young adults gathered to enjoy a cocktail hour and socialize before the ballet performance, which featured one of their peers, Sara Warren (pictured above, holding a bouquet of flowers).
The cathedral’s young adult ministry is already planning events for 2017. Details are online at www.stpatricks.org, on Facebook, or via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
— Father Richard Sutter