FOREST CITY — Approximately 1,200 people attended the annual Spanish Festival at Immaculate Conception Church Sept. 23.
The event raised more than $19,000 that will go towards reducing the church building debt. The festival featured music, games, traditional foods and dances representing multiple countries including Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Venezuela.
Britzy Paredes, who had raised more than $5,760 for the church, was named Festival Queen, while Emaly Mejia and Sophia Hernandez were named Festival Princesses, having raised more than $4,500 each. Included in the celebration was the presentation of soccer awards to the Gastonia, Forest City and Shelby Catholic teams.
— Giuliana Polinari Riley | Catholic News Herald
CLEMMONS — U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx was the keynote speaker at a gathering of more than 200 parishioners Sept. 3 at Holy Family Church in Clemmons for the dedication of a monument to the “Celebration of Life,” portraying that the sanctity of human life must be upheld from conception to natural death.
The monument features four engraved plaques, each with a single word – Unborn, Vulnerable, Forgotten, Aged – bringing focus to the times in which society often devalues life. In the center is a marble statue of St. Teresa of Calcutta holding a newborn baby while caring for a sick, elderly man.
Throughout St. Teresa’s life, she reached out to the unborn, vulnerable, forgotten and aged while declaring “all life is precious.” The monument’s dedication was held in conjunction with the one-year anniversary of the canonization of St. Teresa.
The monument, located in front of the church, was sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 9499 of Clemmons. Pictured is (from left) Deacon John Harrison, Father Michael Buttner (pastor), Grand Knight Joe Muster, Foxx, Knights of Columbus State Warden Sergio Miranda, District Deputy Jean Dion, and Knights of Columbus State Culture of Life Chairman Boyce Williams. In the background are 4th Degree members of Triad Assembly 2282.
— Photo provided by Bruce Jaworoski