CHARLOTTE — In one of his first public events with parishioners, Bishop-elect Michael Martin will celebrate a special Mass for the feast of Corpus Christi with St. Matthew Church faithful in a Ballantyne amphitheater, with as many as 5,000 people in attendance.
The free event is open to everyone and is set for 10:45 a.m. Sunday, June 2, at The Amp. Tickets are required and may be obtained online here.
Bishop-elect Martin will be installed as the fifth Bishop of Charlotte on May 30, and on Saturday will officiate for the ordination of six deacons for the diocese, then on Sunday will celebrate Mass for the feast of Corpus Christi with parishioners.
Most recently a parish priest from Jonesboro, Georgia, in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, he succeeds Bishop Peter Jugis, who has retired after 20 years of serving as the Bishop of Charlotte.
The Amp is located at 11115 Upper Ave., off Ballantyne Corporate Place, and the event will include Mass and a Eucharistic Procession for the feast of Corpus Christi.
St. Matthew Parish leaders describe the special celebration as “a day of renewal and rededication” meant to draw Catholics together to honor God’s precious gift of the Eucharist.
The annual solemn feast day celebrates Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist.
Corpus Christi is Latin for “Body of Christ” and was first established as a Holy Day in 1246 by Bishop Robert de Thorte of Liege, Belgium, then extended to the universal Church in 1264 by
Pope Urban IV at the suggestion of St. Thomas Aquinas, who encouraged a feast day focused on the Eucharist and the Real Presence.
The feast day takes on additional meaning this year with the celebration of the National Eucharistic Congress, encouraging a renewed focus on the gift of the Eucharist for Catholics around the U.S.
— Christina Lee Knauss
Reserve your free tickets
Get free tickets and more information at www.stmatthewcatholic.org/feast-of-corpus-christi.
Protecting religious freedom
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A federal appeals court on May 8 ruled in favor of the Diocese of Charlotte, protecting religious schools’ freedom to hire schoolteachers who will uphold their religious beliefs.
In Billard v. Diocese of Charlotte, a former substitute teacher sued Charlotte Catholic High School and the diocese for not calling him back to work as a substitute teacher after he entered a same-sex union and posted about it on Facebook. That contradicted Catholic teachings about marriage and violated the diocese’s employment policy, disqualifying him to assist the school in fulfilling its mission, the school and diocese argued.
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court ruling and reaffirmed the school’s freedom to employ teachers who will uphold the faith.
“This is a victory for people of all faiths who cherish the freedom to pass on their faith to the next generation,” said Luke Goodrich, vice president and senior counsel at Becket, a nonprofit law firm specializing in religious liberty, which represents the diocese pro-bono in the case. “The Supreme Court has been crystal clear on this issue: Catholic schools have the freedom to choose teachers who fully support Catholic teaching.”
The Diocese of Charlotte has operated Catholic schools across western North Carolina for more than 50 years. Its 20 schools provide a top-notch education that also helps students grow in the Catholic faith, making the opportunity widely available to students of all backgrounds. To ensure teachers are helping the diocese fulfill its mission, the diocese asks all of its teachers – Catholic and non-Catholic – to uphold the Catholic faith in word and deed.
Lonnie Billard taught English and drama at Charlotte Catholic High School for over a decade before retiring and then returning as a substitute teacher. Billard received training in the school’s religious mission and signed a contract agreeing to uphold Church teaching. In 2015, he entered a same-sex union in knowing violation of Church teaching and wrote about it on Facebook, where he was friends with many of the school’s faculty and families. When the school stopped calling him to work as a substitute teacher, he partnered with the American Civil Liberties Union to sue the school and the diocese, seeking hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation.
In its ruling, the Court explained the First Amendment requires civil courts to “stay out” of employment disputes involving ministers. The Court found that Billard was a minister because Charlotte Catholic requires its teachers to “model and promote Catholic faith and morals.” Billard therefore played a “vital role” in advancing the school’s religious mission – even if he taught secular subjects like English and drama.
“Many of our parents work long hours and make significant sacrifices so their children can attend our schools and receive a faithful Catholic education,” said Assistant Superintendent Allana Ramkissoon. “That’s because we inspire our students not only to harness the lessons and tools they need to thrive, but to cherish their faith as a precious gift from God.”
The court’s decision not only affirms the strong protections Catholic schools in North Carolina enjoy to hire teachers faithful to their missions but in all states covered by the appeals court, including Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and South Carolina.
— Catholic News Herald