Around the Diocese September 15, 2014

Connect with the Diocese!

Look for photos, videos and stories of your favorite ministries, parishes and schools on our Diocesan Facebook page!

You are invited to follow the Diocese @RaleighDiocese and Bishop Burbidge @BishopBurbidge on Twitter. Tweets include current news stories, photos and Bishop Burbidge’s daily reflections. If you are not on Twitter, you can still receive the Bishop’s messages by simply texting follow bishopburbidge to phone number: 40404.

Diocese launches new video series, "Raleigh to Rome" - a weekly Catholic news brief of local and global Catholic news hosted by Billy Atwell, Director of Communications. Watch and subscribe to the Raleigh to Rome You Tube channel.

Search for Christian Maturity is a peer-led retreat for 10th-12th graders that encourages participants to seek and find Christ in them and in one another. Through a series of witness talks and activities prepared and given by a team of high school youth, you’ll have the opportunity to look at your faith and life in a new way. Some participants have a strong faith while others are questioning God’s existence. Wherever you stand in your faith journey, we encourage you to join us Oct. 17-19 or Nov. 14-16 for an experience that will be long remembered! Visit searchretreat.wordpress.com for registration information or call Doug Smith at 252-321-2132 with questions.

Are you celebrating your 25th, 50th or 50+ anniversary of marriage? If so join Bishop Burbidge at the annual Wedding Anniversary Mass on Sunday, October 12 at 3pm at Basilica Shrine of Saint Mary, 412 Ann Street, Wilmington, to celebrate your calling to the vocation of marriage. Family members are welcome to attend. Please register through your parish office by Friday, October 3.

Bishop Burbidge Celebrates Respect Life Mass, October 5 The annual diocesan Respect Life Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge on Sunday, October 5, 2014, at St. Mary, Mother of the Church in Garner at 10:00 a.m. October has been designated as Respect Life month by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops. The theme for Respect Life month this year is, “Each of us is a masterpiece of God’s creation,” taken from the Day for Life greeting by Pope Francis: “Even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn, and the poor are masterpieces of God’s creation, made in his own image, destined to live forever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect.” All are invited to observe Respect Life Sunday and celebrate the Mass for Life with Bishop Burbidge.

God’s Holy Family: Rooted in Love, Sent to Serve is the theme for Catholic Convocation 2014 on October 18, St. Michael the Archangel, Cary, 8:00 am- 4:30 pm. Whether you are a parish staff member, a life-long Catholic, new to the faith or interested in learning more about the Catholic faith, we encourage you to attend this dynamic, one-day conference. The day offers Mass celebrated by The Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Raleigh; dozens of workshops presented by national and local speakers; networking opportunities; national publishers, retailers, religious communities and Diocesan services. New this year is a Children’s Track for registered participants’ children ages 3-11. Early Bird Rates available through September 15. Inquiries/Brochures call 919.645.4447; or to register online visit: www.dioceseofraleigh.org. The Office of African Ancestry Ministry and Evangelization in conjunction with the Raleigh Area Kateri Circle is inviting anyone interested in learning more about Native American Catholic spirituality to the third annual Kateri pilgrimage, Akwe:Kon (All of us/Together). We will travel by chartered bus from St. Mary, Garner on Sunday, October 12, 2014 for visits to the Guilford Native American Museum, Wolf Creek Living History Site, and the Natural Bridge before returning to the Diocese on Monday, October 13, 2014. Fees start at $88.00 per person and include transportation and overnight accommodations (single occupancy room). Meals are not included. For more details, please contact the Diocesan AAMEN office or the registrar.

Sunday, September 28th, 2014 In our second reading it calls us to “complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing..” Bring your marriage to a unity of heart. Restore, renew and rekindle your marriage at an upcoming Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend.

The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekends are Nov 7-9, 2014 in Atlantic Beach, NC and Feb 6-8, 2015 in Asheville, NC . Early sign up is highly recommended. For more information visit our website at: http://NCMarriageDiscovery.org or contact us at [email protected] or 704-315-2144.

Marriage Enrichment Workshop When: Saturday, October 11. 2014 9:30 am – 4:30 PM Where: Our Lady of Lourdes, Fallon Center Fee: $25 per couple and includes lunch To register contact: Mike and Lulu Miranda (919) 341-7848 [email protected] We invite you to a Marriage Enrichment Seminar (MES), to discover more intimately the meaning of your marriage vocation within the context of God’s plan. Sponsored by Couples for Christ, the MES will provide the couple- participants with an effective environment of prayer, learning and Christian fellowship, in which they can begin working on their marriage relationship together so that it may be founded more solidly on Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. At the end of the MES, the Couple will discuss and pray about specific aspects of their marriage and family life they need to work on.

Divorced? Remarried? Planning to marry someone who is divorced? Do you have questions about freedom to marry in the Catholic Church? Did you know that the Tribunal is available to answer these and any other questions you may have about remarriage in the Church? Please contact Mrs. Vikki Newell (919-821-9759) with your questions, or you may wish to visit our website http://www.dioceseofraleigh.org/how/tribunal for further information. We welcome the opportunity to help you.

Divorciado ? Vuelto a casar ? Pensando en casarse con alguien que se divorció ? ¿Tiene preguntas acerca de la libertad de casarse en la Iglesia Católica? ¿Sabía usted que el Tribunal está disponible para responder a estas y otras preguntas que usted pueda tener acerca de volverse a casar en la Iglesia? Por favor, póngase en contacto con el Padre Jonathan Woodhall (919-821-9758) con sus preguntas, o usted puede visitar nuestro sitio web http://www.dioceseofraleigh.org/how/tribunal para más información. Damos la bienvenida a la oportunidad de ayudarle.

Pro-Life Announcements

Director of the Office of Human Life and Dignity, Jackie Bonk, is offering a four-week book study on Fill These Hearts, the book that details God’s Plan for Life and Love that Christopher West shared in person at The COR Seminar, Live! at St. Michael Parish in Cary in July. Join us as we delve into more detail on how to: Awaken Your Desire . . . . Embrace Your Design . . . Reach Your Destiny . . . . . You will never see your life, your relationships, your faith, or the world the same way again! Sessions will be held October 20, 27, November 3 and 10 from 7-8:30pm at the Diocese of Raleigh Catholic Center 7200 Stonehenge Drive, Raleigh NC 27613. For Registration and Inquiries Please Contact Mary Beth Phillips: (919) 719-8267, [email protected] . You are invited to take part in the national 40 Days for Life prayer vigil from September 24 through November 2, 2014 at the abortion facility at 3305 Drake Circle, Raleigh, NC. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge will kick off this Fall’s campaign on Friday, September 26, at 8:00 a.m. in the circle across from the facility. The campaign of focused prayer will continue through November 2 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. each day. Contact [email protected] for more information or to sign up for a time to pray.

SAVE THE DATE! The Benefit for Life Gala provides vital aid to the pro-life organizations of Birthchoice, Project Rachel, Family Honor, and Gabriel Project. This year’s benefit will take place Friday October 3, 2014 at the North Ridge Country Club in Raleigh. The Most Reverend Bishop Michael F Burbidge will host a VIP reception for Underwriters and Table Sponsors of the event. For more nformation about becoming an Underwriter or Table Sponsor or to be included on the invitation mailing list please call (919) 418-0050, email [email protected] or visit www.BFLgala.com.

If you are suffering from an abortion, experience the love of Jesus Christ at a Project Rachel weekend retreat November 7-9. The weekend retreat, for both women and men, will combine discussions, spiritual exercises, and the sacrament of Reconciliation, a Memorial Service, and a Mass of the Resurrection. Participation is strictly confidential and offers a beautiful opportunity to experience God’s love, forgiveness, and compassion. For more information or to register for the retreat, contact Project Rachel at [email protected] or call (919) 852-1021. Brochures in English and Spanish are located _ (state where ). The cost is $125 for lodging, meals and all retreat materials. If you have a financial burden, some assistance is available. Registration deadline is October 31, 2014.

Fetal Development of Hannah September 14 (week 26) Hannah’s taste buds continue to form. I can taste sweet things now. My mom likes chocolate, and so do I. A bright light can be seen through my mommy’s tummy. I have eyelashes and eyebrows now. My fingerprints are fully formed. My toenails and fingernails are growing and may need to be clipped when I’m born. Mom may be feeling like a “Soccer Mom” now that her uterus is the size of a soccer ball. “How sweet to my tongue is your promise, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103)

Diocese of Raleigh Advance Directive Legal and medical issues related to the planning for the end of life can be complicated and difficult. The Diocese of Raleigh has created a resource which expresses our Catholic teaching about the sanctity and beauty of life, while assisting the faithful in the practical decisions that must be made at the end of life. This Advance Directive document, which includes a Healthcare Power of Attorney with definitions, instructions and the appointment of a health care agent, was prepared in consultation with both Catholic Bioethics and legal experts in the applicable laws of the State of North Carolina. This resource is recommended to you for your use to assist in creating a legal document that reflects your wishes for the end of your own life or that of your loved one. You may download a copy of this document by accessing the following web address: www.dioceseofraleigh.org/how/pro- life/publications.aspx.

Word of Life “As Christians, we are called to help build a civilization of life and of love, in which seriously ill persons and their families are never abandoned, but are supported with services, friendship, and love.”

— Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities: A Campaign in Support of Life, p. 23, (USCCB)

“Como cristianos, estamos llamados a colaborar en la construcción de una civilización de vida y amor, en la que no se abandone a aquellos seriamente enfermos ni a sus familias, sino que se los apoye brindándoles servicios, amistad y amor”.

— Plan Pastoral para Actividades Pro-Vida: Una estrategia en favor de la vida, p. 28, (USCCB)

Intercessions for Life

September 21st Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

For the unborn: May they be welcomed into the world with love, joy and the support they need to flourish; We pray to the Lord: 21 de septiembre 25º Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario

Por los niños por nacer: para que sean recibidos en el mundo con amor, gozo y el apoyo que necesitan para crecer; Roguemos al Señor: