Edition of Wednesday, October 14

Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte is restructuring to manage increasing demands caused by rapid growth across its 46 counties in western North Carolina. President and CEO Gerry Carter said the agency is changing its governance, the services it provides, and how it delivers those services to better meet local needs.

The reorganization aims to provide the agency with more autonomy, improved facilities, and stronger connections to local parishes. These changes are intended to help the agency receive more guidance from communities to identify their most urgent requirements.

Bishop Michael Martin has consulted with other dioceses since arriving in Charlotte in 2024 to find ways to empower more people to participate in the work of Catholic Charities. The agency recently conducted the largest humanitarian effort in the history of the diocese following Hurricane Helene. Bishop Martin noted that Catholic Charities and Catholic Relief Services serve as the two official social outreach arms of the Catholic Church.

Fr. John Flader explained the differences between the Traditional Latin Mass and the modern Mass used in most parishes in a Q&A with The Catholic Weekly.

The Traditional Latin Mass, or Tridentine Mass, was established globally by Pope Pius V in 1570 following the Council of Trent. This version used a standard Latin format that allowed people to attend Mass in any country and find the same prayers. For 400 years, the Roman Missal of Pope Pius V served as the standard until Pope Paul VI approved a new missal in 1969.

This new missal introduced changes proposed by the Second Vatican Council through its document on the sacred liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium. While the Council kept Latin as the official liturgical language, it permitted the use of local languages, which became the standard for most countries. Flader noted that a primary goal of the Council was to encourage more active participation from the faithful, whereas in the Traditional Latin Mass, the priest says almost all the prayers alone.

The Sisters of the Visitation of Saint Mary will use donations from their 2026 Mission Appeal to support women and girls in Benin, Togo, and Burkina Faso.

According to Sister Rita-Tenerezza Ocloo, the funds provided by the Diocese of Columbus and other supporters will provide vocational training for 60 women and girls. This training helps them earn diplomas and secure employment through crafts and other skills.

The donations also fund the expansion of a shelter for young girls facing sexual exploitation or forced marriage at ages between 12 and 15. Additionally, the order will use the money to build wells to provide clean water to villages in need.