BLACK MOUNTAIN —The Catholic Community of Appalachia met for its 56th Annual Gathering Sept. 25-27 at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly Center in Black Mountain. Members spent three days in prayer, fellowship and discussion of topics affecting the region, such as immigration and food insecurity. Bishop Michael Martin celebrated Mass on Sept. 27.
Jesse Boeckermann, western region director of external engagement at Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, participated in the panel on food insecurity. He discussed contributing issues, including food waste and loss of industry in the region. He shared recent statistics from Manna Food Bank that estimate between 17 and 20 percent of people in western North Carolina experience food insecurity at any given time.
“These are our neighbors, these are the people down the street from us,” he said.
— Catholic News Herald. Photo provided