Parish News
From Parish Secretary's Desk - 2/16/2025Knights of Columbus State Raffle - The Knights of Columbus are participating in the KOC state raffle and will be selling tickets after each Mass for $5 each. There will be 7 prize winners, the first prize winner wins $5000 and the last prize winner wins $200.
Breakfast With The Knights - The Knights will be hosting their monthly French Toast Breakfast Sunday, February 16th after the 10am Mass in the parish hall. There is no cost, however if you wish to donate there will be a donations basket on each table. The menu will consist of 2 slices of French toast, scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit salad, and coffee or orange juice. Faith Formation - First Communion Teacher Needed - The first year of first communion class is in need of a teacher and assistant for the rest of the school year. If you are available Sundays from 11 AM to 12:15 PM and are interested in helping contact DRE Tita Saez. Faith Formation Director Tita Saez can be reached at Faith.Formation@SJHNC.org or 919-702-2690. 2024 Contribution Statement - If you receive contribution envelopes from St. James to your home address and would like to request your 2024 contribution statement, let Wendy at the parish office know through email or phone call at Office@sjhnc.org or 252-438-3124 Ash Wednesday - Ash Wednesday is on March 5th. There will be 9 AM Mass, liturgy and ashes service at 12 PM, and Spanish Mass at 7 PM. Catholic Mass Times App - If you’re traveling during the holiday season and don’t want to miss Mass with this app you are able to locate Catholic churches nearby for Mass times where ever you are located in the US. You can learn more about the app or download it to your smartphone from https://catholicmasstimes.app . 2025 Lector Workbooks - The 2025 lector workbooks for all lectors are in the Conference/Lay Minister Room. Altar Servers Needed - Altar servers are needed for both English Saturday and Sunday Masses. If you child has made their first communion and would like to serve, contact Brandon Tice 919-621-7324 or sign up in the narthex sheet. Registering To The Parish - If you wish to register to become a parishioner of St. James and receive email updates, information, offertory envelopes, and other news contact the parish office at office@sjhnc.org or your are welcome come by the parish office. You must be an active registered member, attending Mass for at least 6 months to have any sacrament done at the church and/or to have a Quinceañera Mass. First Readers - The announcement binder with the welcome announcement before the Mass and the usual announcements done at the end of Mass are in the Ambo. Divine Mercy Chaplet - You are invited to stay for the Divine Mercy Chaplet prayed every Sunday after the 10 AM English mass and every Tuesday at 11:30 AM. All are welcome! Choir - The English choir is interested in new talent! If you play an instrument or sing please consider joining the choir. For more information you may contact choir director John Gaul. Diocese News'We Were First’ At Least Five Claims, And Maybe No Single Answer - 1/6/2025![]() Being first has always been important. Just ask any Olympic athlete vying for gold or college basketball team hoping for a top seed in March Madness.
In the Bible, chapter nine of the Book of Mark references order. Verse 35 states, “And (Jesus) sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, ‘If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.’” Still, being first remains an important benchmark, and Catholics aren’t immune. Neither are historians. The quest for who or what was truly first can be fun, especially if we consider how many types of firsts are available. ... Read More Cristo Rey Student Selected For QuestBridge Scholarship - 1/2/2025![]() DURHAM - Cristo Rey Research Triangle High School announced Dec. 10 that one of its students was named a 2024 QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship recipient. Michelle Amador, a senior, earned a full scholarship to the University of Chicago.
“We are so proud of Michelle,” said Neil Cronin, president of the school, which was established in 2019 to provide a transformative educational experience rooted in the Catholic faith. It’s part of the national Cristo Rey Network, which includes over 30 schools across the United States. The president added: “This achievement reflects our mission to empower students from underrepresented backgrounds through ... Read More |
Embracing the Call to Serve - The 2025 Bishop’s Annual Appeal is now underway, and we invite you to join us in this important effort. With the
theme “Open Your Heart, Open a Door,” the appeal calls us to respond to Christ’s love by opening our hearts and extending a welcoming door to those in need. Your generous contributions will support vital ministries across the Diocese of Raleigh, including education, outreach,and support for the sick and marginalized. Please prayerfully consider your gift and help us bring hope, healing, and the love of Christ to those who need it most. Together, we can make a difference! Ways to Donate - https://dioceseofraleigh.org/bishops-annual-appeal/bishops-annual- appeal-donate-online - Scan QR Code on the Narthex BAA posters - Check (If sending a check please use the BAA envelope located in the church narthex table.) If you need help feel free to reach out to the parish office. Thank you to those parishioners who have already donated! Parish Calendar - 2/16/2025
![]() Holy Infant Catholic Church is excited to unveil a breathtaking new intarsia art installation, crafted by artist and parishioner Joe Carr. The intricate wooden artwork, titled Live Jesus, captures the spirit of the parish’s ministries and serves as a visual invitation to embody Christ’s teachings in daily life.
Carr, a skilled woodworker, found inspiration for the project through his wife, Karen, who is a member of the church’s arts and environment committee. “Karen led the design and execution of the Mary & ... Read More New Year, New Journeys: A Message From Bishop Zarama - 12/30/2024In this first of a two-part series, Bishop Luis Zarama talks about the importance of having the patience to see each step as a milestone in our journey of faith. ... Read More
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National & World News
Historic Italian Naval Ship Chosen To Be A Jubilee Church In 2025 - 1/14/2025
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The Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian naval ship named after the 15th-century explorer that inspired the name “America,” has been designated a 2025 Jubilee church.
Archbishop Santo Marcianò of the Military Ordinariate of Italy officially designated the ship as a jubilee church for 2025, according to a Jan. 9 statement from the ship’s press office.
He explained that the ship’s chaplain, Don Mauro Medaglini, “will have the task of accompanying the sailors in this precious time of the jubilee. During its long navigation, the Vespucci has always had the presence of several chaplains who have alternated, silently but very effectively, accompanying the spiritual life of the crew, and they will do so in a particular way in this year of the Jubilee of Hope.”
The ship, which dates back to 1931, has been touring the world as a cultural ambassador for Italy since July 2023. During its journey, the Amerigo Vespucci has stopped in places ... Read More
Archbishop Santo Marcianò of the Military Ordinariate of Italy officially designated the ship as a jubilee church for 2025, according to a Jan. 9 statement from the ship’s press office.
He explained that the ship’s chaplain, Don Mauro Medaglini, “will have the task of accompanying the sailors in this precious time of the jubilee. During its long navigation, the Vespucci has always had the presence of several chaplains who have alternated, silently but very effectively, accompanying the spiritual life of the crew, and they will do so in a particular way in this year of the Jubilee of Hope.”
The ship, which dates back to 1931, has been touring the world as a cultural ambassador for Italy since July 2023. During its journey, the Amerigo Vespucci has stopped in places ... Read More
President Biden Awards Pope Francis The Presidential Medal Of Freedom With Distinction - 1/13/2025
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U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Pope Francis on Saturday and named him a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction, the White House said in a statement.
As the nation’s highest honor, the medal is “presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public, or private endeavors,” the statement said. This is the first time Biden has awarded the medal “with distinction,” according to the statement.
“The first pope from the Southern Hemisphere, Pope Francis is unlike any who came before,” the statement continued. “Above all, he is the People’s Pope — a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world.”
“For decades, [Jorge Bergoglio] served the voiceless and vulnerable across Argentina,” the White House statement said. “As Pope Francis, his mission of serving ... Read More
As the nation’s highest honor, the medal is “presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public, or private endeavors,” the statement said. This is the first time Biden has awarded the medal “with distinction,” according to the statement.
“The first pope from the Southern Hemisphere, Pope Francis is unlike any who came before,” the statement continued. “Above all, he is the People’s Pope — a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly across the world.”
“For decades, [Jorge Bergoglio] served the voiceless and vulnerable across Argentina,” the White House statement said. “As Pope Francis, his mission of serving ... Read More
USCCB Issues Catholic Elements of Immigration Reform - 1/13/2025
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For decades, the Catholic bishops of the United States have been consistent and steadfast in their calls for a just reform of the nation’s immigration system. The elements of reform articulated below are grounded in Catholic social teaching generally and the Church’s teaching on migration specifically, including the joint pastoral letter released by the American and Mexican bishops, Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope (2003).
Element 1: Enforcement efforts should be targeted, proportional, and humane
Safeguarding American communities and upholding the rule of law are laudable goals. At the same time, a country’s rights to regulate its borders and enforce its immigration laws must be balanced with its responsibilities to uphold the sanctity of human life, respect the God-given dignity of all persons, and enact policies that further the common good. Whether along an international border or in the interior of the country, enforcement measures should focus on those who present genuine risks and danger ... Read More
Element 1: Enforcement efforts should be targeted, proportional, and humane
Safeguarding American communities and upholding the rule of law are laudable goals. At the same time, a country’s rights to regulate its borders and enforce its immigration laws must be balanced with its responsibilities to uphold the sanctity of human life, respect the God-given dignity of all persons, and enact policies that further the common good. Whether along an international border or in the interior of the country, enforcement measures should focus on those who present genuine risks and danger ... Read More
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