Parishes resume liturgies following pandemic delays
Confirmation offered in the Extraordinary Form
CHARLOTTE — St. Ann Church hosted a special parishwide sacrament of confirmation in the Extraordinary Form for parishioners July 12.
Bishop Peter Jugis administered the rite of confirmation in the Extraordinary Form, which is offered in Latin according to the 1962 Missal.
During the rite, the candidates knelt before the bishop, who made the sign of the cross over them three times and then lightly slapped them on the right cheek as he told them, “Pax tecum” (“Peace”). Immediately afterwards, the candidates had their foreheads anointed with sacred chrism by St. Ann’s pastor, Father Timothy Reid.
After after the conferral of the sacrament, a High Latin Mass was offered in Bishop Jugis’ presence by Father Timothy Reid. Deacons Peter Tonon and Tom Sanctis assisted during the liturgy.
The diocese has been offering the traditional rite of confirmation at St. Ann Parish since 2016.
— Mike FitzGerald and Markus Kuncoro | Catholic News Herald
First Communion
STATESVILLE — Children at St. Philip the Apostle Church received their first Holy Communion recently, during Masses that were rescheduled from earlier in the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thirty-eight children received the sacrament during two Masses in June, with eight of the First Communicants pictured here.
— Photo provided by Connie Ries
First Communion
HUNTERSVILLE — St. Mark Church began celebrating First Communion Masses in June following a delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Masses were offered throughout the month for small groups of families until all 230 First Communicants received the sacrament.
— Photo provided by Amy Burger
Receiving the sacrament of confirmation
STATESVILLE — Twenty-nine young people at St. Philip the Apostle Church received the sacrament of confirmation from Father Thomas J. Kessler, pastor, during a special Mass offered June 24.
— Photo provided by Connie Ries
CHARLOTTE — Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte has received $75,000 from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg COVID-19 Response Fund to help provide rent and utility assistance to families economically affected by the pandemic.
The COVID-19 Response Fund is administered through a partnership between Foundation For The Carolinas and United Way of Central Carolinas, in close coordination with the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
Since it was launched in March, the fund has raised over $19.4 million from corporations, foundations, individuals and local government, and more than $14 million has been granted to nonprofits helping those affected by the pandemic. Grants have gone to help with basic needs such as child care, education, housing, food, emergency financial assistance, legal advocacy, health and mental health and workforce development.
In an earlier round of grants, Catholic Charities received $40,000 to provide rental assistance for 50 vulnerable households.
— Catholic News Herald