CHARLOTTE — Parishes across the Diocese of Charlotte will take up a special collection for relief efforts and other work of the Church at all Masses the weekend of May 17-18 as part of the International/National Combined Collection.
Coordinated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, donations received from this annual collection benefit five organizations: Catholic Relief Services, Collection for the Holy Land, Collection for the Works of the Holy Father (Peter’s Pence), The Catholic University of America and the Catholic Communications Campaign.
— Catholic News Herald
How your donations are used:
- The Catholic Relief Services Collection supports Catholic Church organizations that carry out international relief and solidarity efforts. Programs include relief and resettlement for victims of persecution, war and natural disasters; development projects to improve living conditions for the poor; legal and support services for poor immigrants; peace and reconciliation work for people suffering from violence; and advocacy on behalf of the powerless.
- The Collection for the Holy Land supports the work of the Franciscans working in the Holy Land. The Franciscans of the Custody of the Holy Land have the unique responsibility of caring for the holy places as well as caring for the Christians who live in the Holy Land.
- The Collection for the Works of the Holy Father (formerly called Peter’s Pence) provides the Holy Father with the financial means to respond to those who are suffering as a result of war, oppression, natural disaster and disease. The USCCB National Collections Committee oversees the promotion of this collection.
- The Collection for The Catholic University of America underwrites scholarships to assist financially deserving students in completing their education at CUA in more than 50 disciplines.
- Through websites, social networks, television, radio and print, the Catholic Communication Campaign helps the Church spread the Gospel message through the media locally and nationally. Half of all donations to the CCC collected in the diocese stay in the diocese to support local communications needs, such as radio and television programming and diocesan publications.
BREVARD — Helen Hardin lived a life of quiet service. She was a supportive military wife whose love of flowers and music brightened the lives of those she knew.
Hardin, who spent much of her time behind the scenes, left a gift that will make a tremendous difference to the church she loved: A bequest of $200,000 from the Clarence C. Hardin and Helen P. Hardin Trust has been donated to an endowment established in August 2024 to support the general needs of Sacred Heart Parish in Brevard.
An endowment is a permanent fund, the principal of which is invested – not spent – that generates income to help pay for projects and programs specified by the donor. Endowments are tax deductible and help sustain the strength and viability of the diocese and its entities, paying for capital improvements, charitable outreach, education and parish operations.
“Our heartfelt gratitude for their love of the parish and their desire to leave a legacy that allows them to continue being an important part of the maintenance and growth of our church,” said Jenni Pogue, Sacred Heart’s office manager.
“Donors like the Hardins allow us to continue putting the heart in Sacred Heart, which we use to spread love and joy to our neighbors and community,” she said.
Clarence and Helen Hardin were married for 67 years before his death in 2013. Clarence was a career U.S. Air Force officer and the couple lived all over the world – including England, Germany and Panama – before he retired in 1970.
The couple settled in Brevard, where Clarence worked as a teacher and guidance counselor in local schools until 1986. Helen had a passion for gardening and enjoyed playing the violin. A devout Catholic, she attended Sacred Heart Church.
“Across our diocese there are people like Clarence and Helen who are leading lives of quiet impact,” said Jim Kelley, the diocese’s development director. “While age or infirmity may keep them from visible participation in the life of the Church, their love for their parishes continues, and their impact – like that of Helen Hardin – can be substantial.
— Courtney McLaughlin, Catholic News Herald
Fund an endowment
Interested in setting up – or adding to – an endowment to benefit your parish or Catholic school? Establish an endowment in the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation by leaving a bequest in a will, a beneficiary designation from a retirement plan, a trust or annuity, or a gift of real estate, life insurance, cash or securities. Join over 1,700 parishioners who have informed the diocese they plan to remember the Church in their estate plans. For details, contact Gina Rhodes at 704-370-3364 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..