Christmas letter from St. Peter's Parish in Charlotte NC

Although our Maine home is fortunate to receive about two dozen wonderful Christmas letters, with families' news and seasonal good wishes, this year's letter of note arrived from our good friend Father John Michalowski, S.J.  He wrote from St. Peter's Catholic Church parish, in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this December, 2017 letter, Father John described his Sacramental experiences in the parish and the social justice projects he has supported. Gratefully, I appreciated that he approved of sharing his letter, on this blog.

Established in 1851, St. Peter's is the oldest Catholic church in Charlotte, and until 1940 was the only Catholic church in the city. St. Peter's was originally at the extreme southern limits of the city, but today it stands in the heart of uptown. It is most likely the oldest surviving edifice on Tryon Street, in Charlotte.

A prominent feature of the St. Peter Sanctuary was a triptych by American painter Ben Long, a three-part fresco depicting Christ’s Agony in the Garden, Resurrection, and Pentecost. Tragically, the fresco was severely damaged in February 2002 and cannot be fully restored (check the link).

Father John Michalowski is from New England.

Dear Dick and Julie,

May God Bless you all in the Christmas Season and throughout the New Year.

Don't worry, if you are from the North, I have not given up my delight in seeing snow. However, I do enjoy the parish and her people. It is fun to do more weddings than funerals and to do about the same number of baptisms that I did at St. Mary and Joseph in Salem, New Hampshire. Two new twists are working with Hispanic-Americans in the adult confirmation program and helping to prepare middle and high school children for Baptism, First Reconciliation and First Eucharist.  I also set a personal record by taking part in four Sacraments in one day. A couple who was married civilly wanted to sacramentalize or convalidate their marriage and their two children, a 9th and a 10th grader, needed to be baptized and receive First Communion. I celebrated a wedding Mass at which the two young people were baptized, then (they) served as the best man and maid of honor, and later received their First Communion. After the Vigil Mass, a person asked to go to Confession. Thus, I celebrated four Sacraments. Interestingly, it was Pope Francis and his effect that brought the parents back to church.

St. Peter's is very involved in social justice issues. I have been involved in three Offerings of Letters to our senators and representatives. One was a Bread for the World letter asking our Congresspersons not to forget the poor in the U.S., nor those in the world when they write the budget.  Unfortunately, the new tax plan will probably mean that they will cut poverty programs in the U.S. and development programs abroad.  Instead, they will probably funnel more money to the military, an inefficient use of resources if you want to foster peace.  The other two letters were urging Congress to support the Dreamers, those young people brought to the U.S. illegally as children, who have grown up here and know themselves as Americans.  [You can learn more about these two issues at bread.org and usccb.org/justice for immigrants.] Besides this letter writing, I have been involved in helping parish groups recognize the connection between the Eucharist and social justice. Thus, I have led reflections and a commissioning blessing for those involved in tutoring and support programs at Druid Hill School (inner city) and those involved in Room in the Inn (we house 12 homeless men on Tuesday nights from December through March).

Bread for the World- have faith, end hunger

I continue to hike on my day off or visit museums when the weather is bad. Two favorites were the Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem and the International Civil Rights Museum and Center in Greensboro.  It is housed in the Woolworth's where the original sit-in took place during the Civil Rights Movement.  Its exhibits remind us of how far we have come and how far we need to go before we truly are "one nation under God".

Peace and joy in the Lord Jesus,

John

God Bless Father John and the social justice work supported by St. Peter's Catholic Church parish in Charlotte, North Carolina.

http://www.stpeterscatholic.org/