CHARLOTTE — Around 70 faithful attended the first Vigil of the Two Hearts in 2019 Jan. 4 at St. Patrick Cathedral. Father Brian Becker, parochial vicar at St. Mark Church, offered the evening First Friday Mass and preached on how human effort alone is insufficient to overcome evils such as abortion and how Catholics need to gather in church to pray for God’s intervention to end the evil of abortion.
He also encouraged attendees to overcome evil in today’s world by also growing closer to God through a deeper relationship with Christ through His Sacraments, and to go to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for strength and consolation.
After Mass, Father Becker exposed the Blessed Sacrament and Deacon John Kopfle from St. Vincent de Paul Church led a Holy Hour of Reparation for an end to abortion.
The Two Hearts devotion is a monthly city-wide Mass and nocturnal Eucharistic Adoration vigil offered at St. Patrick Cathedral each First Friday evening through First Saturday morning to offer penance for sins, an end to abortion, strengthening of families and for the conversion of the United States. The next scheduled vigil will be Feb. 1-2.
Learn more at www.prolifecharlotte.org/two-hearts.
— Mike FitzGerald, correspondent
The upcoming 2019 Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl Program begins on Ash Wednesday, March 6.
Parishes and schools which participated in last year’s CRS Rice Bowl will receive the same number of materials again for this year’s CRS Rice Bowl with no need to place an order. (Expect shipments to arrive in mid- to late January).
Parishes and schools that wish to participate for the first time, or participating parishes and schools which need additional materials, should call toll-free 1-800-222-0025 or go to www.crsricebowl.org to place an order.
Orders for first-time or additional CRS Rice Bowl materials that are requested by Jan. 31 should arrive in parishes and schools by mid-February, in time for distribution on weekends prior to the start of CRS Rice Bowl on Ash Wednesday. Twenty-five percent of the Rice Bowl collection helps fund the CRS Mini-Grant Program.
For assistance or more information, contact Joseph Purello at Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, who serves as the CRS diocesan liaison, at 704-370-3225 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..