CHARLOTTE — At Christmas, God shows His love for us in a tangible, personal way: through the gift of His Son Jesus Christ, Bishop Peter Jugis said during his homily for midnight Mass Dec. 25.
The joyful Mass to welcome the Nativity of the Lord drew hundreds of faithful who filled the pews of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, candles in hand and singing traditional Christmas carols. The cathedral was decorated with poinsettias and evergreens for the holy day, and its front door – one of three Doors of Mercy in the Diocese of Charlotte for the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy – was draped in festive red, white and green flowers.
“At Christmas, God shows His love for us in a most unique way,” Bishop Jugis said, “by sending us His own Son, to be born as our savior, born of the Blessed Virgin Mary.” The fact that He was born “a lowly, humble, vulnerable, poor infant – that is the mystery and the marvel of Christmas.”
Encountering Jesus Christ, opening our hearts to Him, enables us to be filled with God’s love in a real and personal way, he said.
Jesus “is the love of God in person. He is the face of God’s love, He is the sign of God’s love for us,” he said. “What a unique way God has chosen for us to learn about love – and also a most effective way, I might add: To be able to see Love Incarnate, in the Person of Jesus Christ the Son of God. For us to be able to interact as a human with Love. For us to be able to speak with Love, who is a Person. For us to be able to learn from Love and observe His Love in action. For us to be able to enlightened by Love. His only Son coming to be Love in Person for us.”
“Christmas brings us face to face with Jesus, the Divine Infant born for our salvation.”
“During this Year of Mercy the Lord wants us to be serious about accepting His love that He is offering to us in the Person of His Son Jesus,” Bishop Jugis added.
We must go beyond our baptism and attending Mass, he encouraged, and continue growing in our acceptance of that divine love, each and every day. We must remove any “obstacles” to accepting God’s love and mercy – repenting of our sins and forgiving others.
“Let God’s mercy bring you to a change of heart, not only during the Christmas season but then throughout this whole Year of Mercy,” he said.
Reflecting on part of the day’s Gospel passage from Luke 2:1-14, Bishop Jugis noted that the angel’s words to the shepherds – “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” – are just as meaningful for Christians today.
“They were originally spoken by the angel to the shepherds, but at this moment, being proclaimed again, they are spoken to you.”
“The angel did not just say, ‘A savior has been born.’ But in God’s wisdom, foreseeing the proclamation of His Gospel until the end of time, to be heard by countless numbers of people, the angel says, ‘A savior has been born for you.’ Even now, in the 21st century, a savior been born for you.
“This is personal – for you.”
The angel’s reassuring words “do not be afraid” are also relevant today, Bishop Jugis continued. “There is much darkness in the world that could frighten us.”
“St. John tells us perfect love drives out fear. If the love of God dwells within us, that love supplants and drives out fear,” he said. “Do not fear! God is with you, and He has come to show His love personally for you.”
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor
Pictured at top: Bishop Jugis places the infant Jesus statue in the Nativity scene at St. Patrick Cathedral before the start of Mass Dec. 25.
Be a witness for life! Several pro-life events are coming up in the Diocese of Charlotte over the next few weeks:
PROCESSION FOR LIFE: Saturday, July 23, starting at St. Ann Church (3635 Park Road, Charlotte) with Mass at 9 a.m. followed by a procession and prayer vigil in front of Family Reproductive Health (700 E. Hebron St., Charlotte) at 10 a.m. Park on the street adjacent to the facility and line up for the procession by the Our Lady of Guadalupe banner. Organized by the Helpers of God's Precious Infants.
SILENT NO MORE AWARENESS EVENT: 10 a.m. Saturday, July 30. Featuring women and men who are silent no more about their abortion experiences and featuring those who have found healing from abortion. In the public right-of-way in front of Family Reproductive Health, 700 E. Hebron St., Charlotte. Come hear personal experiences or share your story. Contact Katherine Hearn (704-877-2551, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Andrea Hines (704-996-4597, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) if you'd like to share your story. For details about Silent No More, go to www.silentnomoreawareness.org.
MASS & HOLY HOUR OF REPARATION: Wednesday, Aug. 3, at St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville. 6:30 p.m. Mass followed by a Holy Hour of Reparation from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. to atone for the collective sins of man – particularly abortion, euthanasia, contraception and same-sex unions – and beg for God's forgiveness. Organized by St. Mark Church's Respect Life Ministry. For details, contact Mike FitzGerald at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
PRO-LIFE ROSARY: 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at 901 North Main St. and Sunset Drive, High Point. Outdoors, rain or shine. Parking available nearby. For details, call Jim Hoyng at 336-882-9593 or Paul Klosterman at 336-848-6835.
FAMILY ROSARY RALLY: 3-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, the feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe. This second annual event will be held at Charlotte Catholic High School Stadium, 7702 Pineville-Matthews Road in Charlotte. Bring your rosaries, water bottles and sun hats. Sponsored by the Catholic Pro-Life Action Network of Charlotte (C-PLAN). For details, go to www.prolifecharlotte.org/rally.
RESPECT LIFE CONFERENCE: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at Christ the King High School, 2011 Crusader Way in Huntersville. Designed for all parish Respect Life coordinators and other advocates for life, this free inaugural conference aims to strengthen local efforts to promote a respect for human life, particularly at its most vulnerable stages. Mass will open the conference at 9 a.m. Keynote speaker and Mass celebrant will be Jesuit Father Joseph Koterski, a professor of philosophy at Fordham University. Lunch and workshops will follow. Organized by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte. RSVP by July 31 to diocesan Respect Life Program Director Jennifer Ganser at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Go to www.ccdoc.org for details.
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor