CHARLOTTE — One would be hard pressed to say whose smile was wider Aug. 15, as Bishop Jugis greeted the eight young men who comprise the first class at the St. Joseph College Seminary. As the men filed past Bishop Jugis into the refectory and saw their official cassocks neatly folded on the table, each with a nametag indicating its owner, everyone's smiles grew.
Bishop Jugis stood beside the table, savoring the moment, grinning as the men realized they were receiving their cassocks before the inaugural Mass in the seminary chapel. He offered prayers and sprinkled holy water over the garments the men will wear for official events. He then went around the table, reading each of their names and touching each of their cassocks.
All eight of the college seminarians had expressions of joy on their faces as they followed the instructions to don their cassocks in preparation for Mass. They met in the chapel once they were dressed, and prepared for Bishop Jugis to enter for the blessing of the chapel.
As they waited, Bishop Jugis went from room to room blessing the seminary, assisted by Father Matthew Kauth, rector. The two paused in the hallway before a crucifix that once graced the chapel in the Diocesan Pastoral Center, Father Kauth touching the Lord’s wounded feet as he moved past.
Once in the seminary chapel, Bishop Jugis blessed an 800-year-old crucifix that now hangs on the wall to the right of the altar. He offered special prayers for the men who will study and pray at St. Joseph College Seminary now and in the future.
After the blessing of the chapel, Bishop Jugis celebrated the inaugural Mass. Father Timothy Reid, pastor of St. Ann Church; Father Matthew Buettner, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Church in Gastonia; and Father Kauth concelebrated the Mass. Father Noah Carter served as master of ceremonies and Father Jason Christian, parochial vicar of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte, was in choir.
“As we are here to bless St. Joseph’s Seminary today, and on this feast day to give thanks and praise to almighty God for the very special privilege He bestowed upon the Blessed Virgin Mary in assuming her unto heaven, we are reminded by the readings that we have a destiny also to be with her one day in heaven,” Bishop Jugis said in his homily.
"The prayers remind us to keep our attention always fixed on the goal of our life, which is the glory of heaven, to be sharing with her – our sister in faith, our mother in faith – in the glory that the Lord bestowed on her.”
He explained that every one of us has a vocation from the Lord.
“The purpose of our life here is to serve the Lord faithfully in the vocation He has given us, so that we do arrive at that heavenly homeland He has prepared for us.”
Bishop Jugis also then addressed the inaugural class of college seminarians.
"As a seminarian, the Church gives you this time to pray and study, so that you don’t have to worry about a job and be distracted by many other things. It is a gift that the Church gives you," Bishop Jugis said to them. “In fact, your job now is to pray and to study, to deepen your spiritual life and to anchor yourself in Jesus.”
With the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary and with lives rooted in Jesus Christ, he continued, they will be strengthened in their faith -- especially during difficult times.
"Here we are at St. Joseph’s Seminary. This is Joseph's house,” he noted. “We proclaim him to be the patron of this house, the guardian and protector of this house. And just as he was the guardian and protector and provider of the holy house of Nazareth, and of the holy family, so we proclaim him to be the guardian and protector and provider of this house in Charlotte.
“And as in the house of Nazareth, Jesus was the center of attention. All the efforts of Blessed Joseph and the Blessed Mother were directed towards serving Jesus Christ. So in this house, also under Joseph’s patronage and direction, the center of attention is Jesus Christ.”
He then reminded the young men that the Blessed Mother is also with them.
“Wherever Jesus is, her destiny is always bound up with that of Jesus so she is also here with you in this home interceding for you, praying for you and accompanying you on your journey.”
During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, Bishop Jugis incensed the carved wooden altar made by North Carolina artist Jacob Wolfe which houses a relic of St. Teresa of Avila. He also reposed the Blessed Sacrament for the first time in the tabernacle after Holy Communion.
“Here in Joseph’s house, we are happy to be serving the Lord our God," Bishop Jugis told the eight students at the end of Mass. "I am proud of you."
"We pray that as the Mass for today reminds us to keep our eyes on things above, so that one day, when you finish faithfully your course of your life, you may arrive at the glory in heaven prepared for you and share in the Blessed Mother’s glory."
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
Learn more and contribute to St. Joseph College Seminary at http://www.charlotteseminaryproject.org/
CHARLOTTE — Affordable summer camps can be hard to find. With that in mind, St. John Neumann Parish created a low-cost, faith-filled alternative offering four "tracks" for children to choose from this summer. For only $30 per child, the parish was able to host more than 130 children for the week of July 18-22, where they could enjoy arts, sports, drama and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities.
Sixty-five adult and teen volunteers helped run the weeklong camp. Christina Stevens served as the assistant camp director this year.
"This year's theme was Exodus, the story of Moses, and how God led His people to freedom," Stevens explained. "We started each day with a prayer and our theme song, 'Alive' by Hillsong Young and Free. After morning snack, we broke into our tracks for an hour and a half, focusing on different skills each session."
Campers made everything from prayer stones to stained glass windows, learned how to take pictures and put different textured pictures together to make a collage. Some learned how to run flag football plays, pass the ball and block, as well as the value of good sportsmanship and teamwork. STEM track campers learned about science each day, including chemistry, geology, physics and engineering, and flight and space. They had fun using everyday household items and food, such as graham crackers and marshmallow fluff, to explain plate tectonics. The theater track learned about blocking (finding your place on the stage), making props, setting the stage, and memorizing lines.
"Each day, lunch was sponsored by a different company or group, including our very own Knights of Columbus," Stevens said. "Once lunch was over, we split into two groups, rising first-fourth and rising fifth-eighth graders, for our one-hour devotional sessions, where we were able to focus more on the story of Moses and the surrounding themes of teamwork, faith and being set free. Our campers had the opportunity to put their faith into action in their afternoon tracks."
To bring the campers' attention back in, camp director Meg VanGoethem, and Stevens would say "SJN Summer Camp!" and the campers would respond "Let my people go!"
Three campers at St. John Neumann Parish's Exodus-themed summer camp show off their creation. Photo provided by Christina Stevens)Campers ended the week by celebrating with an art exhibit, a STEM exhibit with their experiments, a theater performance of "The Prince of Egypt," and flag football games.
Campers and volunteers also had the opportunity to share the new things they learned or ways that they saw God in each other throughout the week by writing them down in the "Book of Glory Stories and Good Things."
One camper wrote, "Since this is my last year as a camper at SJN Summer Camp, I wanted to say thank you to everyone for making camp awesome! I can't wait to come back next year and be a counselor!"
An adult volunteer wrote, "I am so excited to see so many teens involved in sharing their faith this week!"
Father Pat Hoare, pastor, celebrated Mass for the campers twice during the week, incorporating the Exodus theme into his homilies. Campers helped serve at the Mass and sing in the choir. They also participated in Eucharistic Adoration on the last day of camp.
Father Pat said the parish's long-term goal is to find a way to include more students so the parish can open the program to the surrounding community.
"I can think of no better way to introduce a family to the Catholic faith than through a fun, wholesome summer camp opportunity that taps into their God-given gifts and talents," he said. "And I am amazed, and humbled, by the gener-ous response of so many volunteers who lovingly share their artistic, athletic and intellectual skills with the next generation. God is so good!"
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter