CHARLOTTE — Some of our local parishes have been providing opportunities for the faithful to bestow literal gifts from the heart to help those in need: the gift of their blood.
Did you know that every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood? Patients of all ages need blood donations – accident and burn victims, patients undergoing heart surgery or organ transplants and those battling cancers can receive lifesaving medical care thanks to blood donors.
Helping to support this ongoing and vital need for blood, St. Mary Mother of God Parish in Sylva and St. Therese Parish’s Knights of Columbus in Mooresville are among those that recently hosted blood drives to support the American Red Cross. More than 60 people participated in the blood drives, with a total of 65 pints collected – potentially saving 260 lives! Pictured are members of St. Mary Mother of God Parish at their blood drive.
These blood drives are one way our parishes have participated in “50 Acts of Charity,” a diocesan-wide initiative to manifest the love of God to others through charitable acts, in celebration of the Diocese of Charlotte’s 50th anniversary.
Visit www.redcrossblood.org to learn more about participating in or hosting a blood drive to help save lives in our community.
— Photos provided by Susan Szarek
The international pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima. (Photo by Dennis Callahan Photos)CHARLOTTE — Come to St. Vincent de Paul Church to pray for world peace and the salvation of souls, during a Communal First Saturdays Devotion this Saturday, Sept. 3.
The First Saturdays Devotion, also known as the “Five First Saturdays,” is Catholics’ response to a special request by Mary – as told to three shepherd children in 1917 in Fatima, Portugal – for people to have a conversion of heart and make reparation for all the sins against God.
A Communal First Saturdays Devotion is organized so that a larger number of people may join together as a strong, visible and collective witness to the power of prayer and faith in Our 
A statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, from St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte. (Photo by SueAnn Howell)Lady’s promise of peace.
The morning will start at 8 a.m. with prayer, followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and confessions at 8:30 a.m. Mass is at 9 a.m.followed by the rosary with Scripture meditations at 9:45 a.m.
St. Vincent de Paul Parish is located at 6828 Old Reid Road. Learn more about Communal First Saturdays at www.communalfirstsaturdays.org.
— SueAnn Howell