CHARLOTTE — Keep your spirits high and remember that the Risen Lord, the Good Shepherd, is with you in these difficult times.
That was the message from Bishop Peter Jugis May 3 for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, also called Good Shepherd Sunday.
In a Mass livestreamed on Facebook from St. Patrick Cathedral, offered privately due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on public gatherings, Bishop Jugis reflected on the Gospel reading from John 10:1-10 and encouraged the faithful not to lose sight of the joy of Easter.
“Jesus is risen from the dead and He is with us always,” he said. “He never abandons the sheep of His flock, but remains with His flock at all times to guide us.
“This is our Easter joy: a Savior who loves us and who cares for us.”
“At this time of the virus pandemic, it is good to reminded of this Easter message: that the Good Shepherd stays with us and that He is so intimately involved with His flock. He knows each of His sheep by name, and He cares personally for each of His sheep.”
Jesus remains with us in the Eucharist, at home in our families, in prayer, and in so many other ways, the bishop said.
“Stay close to this Good Shepherd,” he urged, especially as we are all being called to make sacrifices during the pandemic – including staying at home and avoiding physical contact, wearing face masks and following other public health precautions.
“When you are asked to make these sacrifices for the good and the well-being of the larger community, turn them into opportunities to lean on the Lord more closely, instead of dwelling on how you’re being inconvenienced,” Bishop Jugis said.
“Keep your spirits high by turning to the Good Shepherd in every situation.”
Jesus will keep His flock “safe, secure and protected,” the bishop assured people as he prayed, “May the peace of our Risen Lord, our Good Shepherd, be with you throughout this Easter season.”
— Catholic News Herald
Image at top: “Le Bon Pasteur,” by Philippe de Champaigne (1883)
CHARLOTTE — More than $3 million has been awarded to 51 local nonprofits in the second round of grants from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg COVID-19 Response Fund, including $40,000 to Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte.
To date, more than $6 million has been granted to nonprofits meeting basic needs for those affected by the pandemic, such as education, housing, food, employment, financial assistance, health and mental health.
Catholic Charities received $40,000 to provide rental assistance for 50 vulnerable households.
“Although there are some temporary provisions in place to prevent evictions during this pandemic, the reality is that eventually rents will need to be paid. Those impacted by job loss or a reduction in wages due to COVID-19 will still be in a bind once evictions are enforced,” said Dr. Gerard Carter, Catholic Charities’ executive director. “Catholic Charities is proud to partner with so many other community agencies by providing relief to those struggling to maintain their homes until things begin to normalize.”
Since the Charlotte-Mecklenburg COVID-19 Response Fund was launched March 16, over $16 million has been raised from corporations, foundations, individuals and local government.
“These grants will assist a wide variety of nonprofit organizations across the county to meet escalating needs in the face of this unprecedented crisis,” said United Way of Central Carolinas President and CEO Laura Yates Clark.
“To date, we’ve made 65 grants to nonprofits from this fund, and it’s just the beginning,” said Foundation For The Carolinas President and CEO Michael Marsicano. “We do not know what our demands will be in a week or a month. This is why we continue to fund-raise for the COVID-19 Response Fund – to help our friends and neighbors in need.”
The next cycle of funding will open April 20 at 10 a.m. and close May 1 at noon.
Visit www.uwcentralcarolinas.org/grants/COVID for eligibility requirements and to apply.
The COVID-19 Response Fund is administered through a partnership between Foundation For The Carolinas and United Way of Central Carolinas, in close coordination with the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
— Catholic News Herald