St Francis of Assisi Catholic MissionSt. Francis of Assist
Catholic Mission
Compiled Information from the Collection of the
Martin-Wall History Room of the Davie County
Public Library
Mocksville, North Carolina
Table of Contents
A History of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Mission
^ By Dennis McCarthy, April 7, 1963 4- 15
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Mocksville, North Carolina
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A History of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic
Mission
by Dennis McCarthy
April 7,1963
Pages 4-15
Davie County Public Library
Mocksville, North Carolina
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A HISTORY OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI
CATKOLXCMISS ION MDCKSVILLE, N. C.
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Dennis McCarthy
April 7, 1973
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DAVIE CO. PUBLIC UBRARY
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A HISTORY OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI
CATHOLIC MISSION MOCKSVILLE, N. C,
The Catholic Mission of Mocksvilie was begun on Nov. 16,
11958. It was a mission of Holy Rosary Parish of Lexington, N. C.,
and has remained so except for a period when Rev. Thomas A. VJilliams
was appointed pastor, when the Mission was attached to the parish
of Salisbury, N. C.'
j The Rev. James Keenan was appointed pastor of the church,
I and he celebrated the first mass on Nov. 30, L958, the First
1
I Sunday of Advent. The first mass, and most of the subsequent
I masses for the next two years^ was celebrated in the home of
I Lloyd and Catherine Van Benthuysen on Rt. 4(Salisbury St.).
Present for the first mass were: Mr. and Mrs. Van Benthuysen, Mr.
and Mrs. Joseph Smith and their sons Dennis and Chad(visitors
from out of state), Paul Tokary of Cooleemee, Jlrs. Katharine
O S Van Benthuysen and Mi*s. Rose Mahoney, both of Baltimore Mary-
land, and Mrs. Edwina Long of Mocksville. Not present, but one
of the first early members of the parish was Mrs. Lela(J.L.) Smith.
On March 1, 1959, the church had its largest attendance to
O that date, with a total of 13 people, with IB of those present
£ . .%j receiving Communion. Eight; of those present were visitors to
a
3^ the parish.
On March 4, 1961, the Catholic Layman's Association was founded,
with Mr. Lloyd Van Benthuysen being appointed President. Also at
this meeting Mrs. Edwina Long was appointed Chairlady of the
DAVIE CO. PUBLIC LIBRARY
MOCKSVILLE, NC
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Teachers, Mrs. Mary Pope was appointed Chairlady of Parent Education,
and Mrs. Catherine Van Benthuysen was appointed Chairlady of
Fisheries.^
On April 5, 1959, l^tass was begun being celebrated at the Armory
on Railv7ay Street, in Mocksville. Ivhen it became too cold to use
the Armory, Mass was celebrated in the small "night-office" of Dr.
William Long of Salisbury Street, with Father Keenan using the Long's
furnace room for confessions.
On May 10, 1^59, St. Francis Mission gave First Holy Communion
for the first time. The three communicants were Peggy Sanford and
Eugene and Richard Pope.^
On sTuly 22, 1959, Catechism was continued in i:he residence
»
of Mrs. Long for Negro children-most of these being from the Hall
family. This event, plus the fact, the class was too crowded for
a good religious education, forced one family of the parish to withdraw
from the perish, and to join with a. parish in Winston-Salem. This
family has since returned to this parish and the third generation
7has been baptized.
On July 27, 1959, The Motor Chapel of the Diocese of Raleigh
U opened a two-week mission on the grounds of Davie County.High School.
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< At 9 A» M., a Religious Vacation School was held and followed by
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^ l"^8s at 10 A. M. It was written bv Father Keenan that "we had
Uifli integration opposition which posed certain difficulties. Howeyer,
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we continued to preach and ilive the teaching that all men were
welcome in the Catholic Church." Because of this program, the
Sparks family was added. The members of this family were Mrs.
DiAVIE CO. PUBLIC LIBRARY
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Sparks, and also John and Susan Sparks.
Around August 1'5, 11959, the Van Benthuysens moved to New York.
! * This was considered a great loss because they vjere the first
! parishoners in Mocksville, and their home was the first chapel
of Saint Francis.^
j On March 19, 1960, the.first child, a boy, was born into the
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parish in Davie County. His parents were Eugene and Roberta Ardis,
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and was named Anthony Eugene Ardis.
I During March, 1960, the house that was to become the mission
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I house on the Yadkinville Highway just beyond the City Limits was
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I purchased. This is the house which is presently being used for
I services. It was given the name Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic
Mission. It was purchased partially through a grant of $4,000 by
j . Mrs. Edwina Long. The total cost'of the house was $8,500.''
! The Saint Francis Mission opened on Easter Sunday, April 17,
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^ — i960 with Father Keenan celebrating the first mass on this location.
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Also on this date Anthony Ardis was Baptized by Father Keenan.'^
J,. About the end of July, i960, Ben and Martha Nayder moved onto
to
^ a farm in the Fork Community on Riverview Road. About tv;o weeks
«o
H later the first girl of the parish was born. She was given the
C3
name Catherine Rose and scheduled for Baptism on August 2F, i960.
u On Aupust 30. l96i:(the Feast of Saint Rose of Lima) the first
^ wedding to be celebrated In the Saint Francis Mission was performed.
John.Ginther Jr. and Carolyn Deweese were the participants. Father
• 1Keenan officiated at the nuptial mass. DAVIE co. PUBLIC LiBRARr
MOCKSVILLE, NC
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On Sept, 27, 1061, 4 Mary Miss loners ([Uiy Apostles) from
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Statesvllle came and began work with the mission. Two of them
had been visiting homes and tv;o had been teaching class. Because
j of this," a fourth and seventh grade were added to tlie Keligious
I Education Program,
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I On Nov, 29, 1*^61, the Mission celebrated its third anniversary,
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I It was stated that "God has been good to us and we are grateful
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for all his blessings," The average mass attendance at this date
• was 12, The mission comprised 6 active families. They were; Mrs,
Edvjlna Long, Mr, and Mrs, John Ginther and children, Mr, and Mrs,
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n Ren Nayder and daughter, Mrs. J, L, Simith, Mrs, Roberta Ardis,
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I and Mrs. Helen Hyland and son Bill, The four Mary Missioners were
also here for the celebration. They were: Rose Marie Ramone,
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i, Carolyn Givens, Mary Apison, and Dorothy Oros, These young ladies
^ gave a party to the Hegro childi'en in the afternoon. It was a
[ great success. About 17 children attended,
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to In Nov, of 1961, Alex Hyland Sr, of Clemmons and Bob Ginther
enlarged the chapel by removing a wall and making two rooms into
one. This gave the chapel a large amount of room for a congre-
i ,9 OAVIE CO. POBLiC L.'Bi^Ry^ gat ion the size of this mission, MOCKSVILLE, nc
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9 On July 23, 1962, the Motor Chapel came to Cooleemee for a
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5 two-week stay. Programs were conducted nightly. Father Charles
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^ Mukholland assisted by Father George Fleetwood was in charge.
> The first week was very successful. Many people were present each
evening. On Monday of the second week the owner of the property
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asked the Priests to leave. No reason was given at the time,
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The Priests secured a lot In the Negro area and finished out the
week there.
In Jan., 1963, Father Keenan was transferred to Christ The
King Church in Kings Mountain, N. C. The Rev. Robert Shea became
the new pastor. He was installed as pastor of Holy Rosary Church,
Lexington, N. C., and St. Francis Mission on Jan. 30, li963
During the three years,Father Shea was pastor, very little
was done in the way of improvements to the Mission. The religious
education program was expanded, and the parish gained a few new
members. In 1966 Father Shea was transerred and Rev. Ronald
McLaughlin was installed as the pastor. The policies of the church
were continued, and a Ladies Guild was started. This Guild has
been expanded and is now a driving force in the church. The
religious education program has been expanded and, under the
guidance of Mrs. Helen Ginther has been continuing to improve the
quality of religious instruction to the children of the parish..
In June, 1968, Father McLaughlin was transferred to Our Lady of
the Highv7ays Church in VJaynesville, N. C.
th On June 12, 1968, the Rev. Thomas A. Williams was attached
li
r to the Mission of St. Francis. During the year and one-half that
t 'n
V Father Williams was Pastor, the Mission was moved from the guidance
g of the Lexington Parish and placed under the juristictlon of the
% Salisbury Parish. Father VJilliams was also named the chaplain of
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both Catawba College and Livingstone College Catholics. He set
up Newman Clubs at these colleges and the older children of the
parish went over to Catawba College. This lasted until August 15,
DAVIE CO. PUBLIC LIBRARY: ^ tv'OCKSVlLLE, NG
6
1970 when, during the night, after celebrating the Feast of the
Assumption Mass, Father Williams died in his sleep after a
heart attack.
For a period of about three months, the parish was without
I a pastor. Father McLaughlin traveled from Waynesville on Sunday,
ii acting as a visiting priest, during this period.
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i The Reverends Stahl and Friel were then transferred to the
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I Salisbury Parish on temporary duty. Both priests were Oblates of
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I St. Francis de Sales. Eventually, Father McLaughlin was given,
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i besides the Waynesville Parish, the Lexington Parish. St. Francis
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i Mission was moved back under the jurisdiction of the Lexington
^ p • .
Parish.
After about a year. Father McLaughlin was sent back to the
j parish in VJaynesville, and Father Silvestri came to the Lexington
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Parish from v;ilmington, Delaware and was also named pastor of St.
Francis Mission. Also during this time, the church received a
grant of $17,000 from Mrs. Gertrude Dann of Norwich Conn. Plans
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are being made to build onto the present church to be used for
\V storage space and also for classrooms for the religious education
p classes•
sY Since the humble beginnings in 1958, the church now has a
^ 0 c:X membership of 36 families and a total membership of lli8 persons.
x
: ^ co, public libraryIvlOCKSVlLLE, NC
ft W.-ifof H«.<. rae<Abe.rs
Saint F/ap^ql^, p^atfioiic ^fission
YADKINVILLE ROAD
MOCKSVILLE. NORTH CAROLINA
OFFICE OF TmE PARISH BOARD
POST OFFICE BOX 642
MOCKSVIUUE. N. C. 27028
Allen I Maria (Eddie D.)
Route ^
Mockflvilley N« C« 27026
BreeoOf Barry &«
Route # U, Box 110
Mocksville, N. 0. 27028
Buncei John P«
Route # Midway Campground
Statesville, N. 0* 28677
Phonal 654-511^
Pariah Directory
495-4547
No Phono
d
2
^ Childreasy Maria (Allen Inf.) No Phone
^ Rawte # 6, Box
^ ^aville, N. 0. 2"27028
^ Church, Jean (Roy) 654-5890
ig 851 N. Main St.
u' Mockaville, N. C. 27028
{£
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xf:i Cozart, Roaemary (David) 654-5740
1027 N. Main St.
S Mockaville, N. C. 27028
g
- Cronin, Albert 654-5588
^ Route # 5f Oreatview Dr.
^ Mockaville, N. C* 27028
^ DePalms, Sheryl Ann (Charlea) 654-5^55
ht 904 Duke St.^ Mockaville, N. C. 27028
> I
^ DePuew, George S. 766-4675
^ 6858 Rollingwood Dr.
^ Clemmona, N. C. 27012
"t Draughn, Virginia No Phone
^ Route # 6, Box 551
Ji^kaynU, N. 0. 27028
Drillette, Thomaa 654-5885
650 Saliabury St.
Mockaville, N. C. 27028
Ducharme, Kathleen (Jamea) 495-^715
Route # 5
Mockaville, N. C. 27028
Eluatondo, A1 654-5I8I
615 Wandering Lane
Mockaville, N. C. 27028
Ginther, John 654-5255
629 Gwyn St.
Mockaville, N. 0. 27028
Ginther, Robert 654-2986
Route # 6, Box 544
Mockaville, N. 0. 27028 . ^
Harria, Avery 284-2484
Route ^ 4, Box ll4
Mockaville, N. C. 27028
Hartman, Lynn (Jamea) 998-4104
P. 0* Box 96
Advance, N. C. 27006
Norton, Carl • 492-5584
Route ^ 6, Box ^10
Mockaville, N. 0. 27028
Jenkina, Kathy (Keitb) No Phone
Route ^ 8, Box I58
Stateaville, N. C.
Long, Sdwina (Win.) 654-2941
440 Saliabury St.
Mockaville, N. C. 27028
PLfBlfC LfBRAR^
Saint Francis Catholic l^llssion
y'adkinville road
MOCKSVILLE. NORTH CAROLINA
OFFICE OF THE PARISH BOARD
POST OFFICE BOX 642
MOCKSVIULE. N. C. 27028
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Marshall, Pat (Thomas) 495-^555
; Route # 5, Box 295-A
i Mocksvllla, N. C. 27028
Martin, Dwayne 495-4559
I Route ^ 5*
{ Mocksville, N. C. 27028
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! Medlin, Martha (Roy) 495-^762
I Route ^2, Box 5^4
I Mocksville, M. C. 27028
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Nayder, Ben 993-8661
^f^ute ^ 2
'^^.vanoe, N. 0* 27006
^O'Brien, Robert No Phone
Route ^ 4
Mocksville, N. C. 27028
Pope, Gene 495-4455
Route # 6
Mocksville, N« 0. 27028
e
Pope, Mary (E. R.) 495-4250
Route #6, Box 76
Mocksville, N. 0. 27028
Reilly, James 492-7295
Route # 1, Box 256.
Mocksville, N. 0* 27028
Saunders, Mary £• 284-2^4
Route § 4, Box 114
0/0 A* Harris
Mocksville, N. C. 27028
Simpson, Kathy (Jerry) 492-^197
Route # 7> Box 526
Mocksville, N. C. 27028
Stanley, Diaone (Kenneth) 654-5526
Route # 7 Box 54
Mocksville, N. 0. 27028
Thomas, Jean (Olyde) 543-7117
Route # 1, Box 185
Harmony, N* 0. 26654
Queen, Mary Pat (Nayne) 546-7444
Route § 11
Statesville, N. 0. 28677
^ Seagle, Jimmy Roy
i^Jteute # 2, Box 6 A
Vksville, N. C« 27028
654-5262
■r'' -r ' T"*-«
:y:ocK3v:Li.L,; : .u
FOOTNOTES
1Rev. James Keenan, Historical l^cord of the Catholic Mission
of Mocksville. p. 1^10; Davie County Enterprise-Record^ Date and
Page unknown.
Keenan, p. T; Enterprise^ page unknown; Talk with Mrs. Edwina
Long.
3
Keenan, p. 11.
^Keenan, p. 2: Enterprise, p. unknown.
^Enterprise, p. unknown; Talk with Mrs. Edwina Long.
^Keenan, p. 3.
7Keenan, p.3; Talks with Mrs. John Ginther, Mrs, Albert
Cronln and Mrs. Kdwina Long.
^Keenan, pp. 3,5..
^Ibid.. p. 4.
^^Ibid.. p. 5. ,
^^Keenan, p. 5; Talk with Mrs. Helen Ginther.
12Keenan, p. 8.
^^Ibid.
^^Keenan, p.9; Enterprise, p. unknown.
^^Keenen, p. ID.
16
Ibid., pp. 10-111.
17 ^ C?. r--L.:C
Ibid., p. 11. '
^^Ibid.
^^Ibid., p. 13; Enterprise, p. unknown.
^^Enterprise. p. unknown; Talks with Helen Ginther, Mrs.
Albert Cronin, and Mrs. Edwina Long.
21 Talk with Helen Ginther; Enterprise, p. unknown.
^^Talks V7ith Helen Gintherand Mrs, Edwina Long.
^^Enterprise. p. unknown; Talks vjith Helen Ginther and Mrs.
Edwina Long.
\3
24
Talk with ^^rs. Helen Ginther; Talk with Rev♦ Sllvestri;
Talk with Mrs, Albert Cronin; Talk with Mrs, Edwina Long, '
^^Talk with t-hr, and Ph^s. 'John Ginther, Jr,; Talk with Father
Silvestri, ■■ ' "
CO. PUSUC
^OCKSVILLB, NC
1 SOURCES USED
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I
Cronin, Mrs. Albert
I Davie County Enterprise-Record
Historical Record of the Catholic Mission of Mocksvilie.
Rev. James Keenan, pp. 1W13,
Ginther, Mrs. Helen
Ginther, Mr. and r4rs. John Jr,
Long Mrs. Edwina
Silvestri, Rev.
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Newspaper Articles
Pages 11-66
Davie County Public Library
Mocksviiie, North Carolina
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REV ROBERT F. SHEA, new Pilest of Mocksviile's St. Francis'mLTL Of Ho.y Rosary Catholic Church of Lexiu.ton
Father Shea replaces the Rev. J. F. Keenan former Priest who
has been sent to Kings Mountain. ^
Davie County Public Library
MocksviHe, NO
17, 1963
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Catholic Pastor
Is Transferred ;• :S
The Reverend James P. Keeh-ari;;
paster of St. Francis Cathplip-
Mi'rsicn in Mocksville for the papt
'our yr'?.x3, has been transfeiTed
0 Chri:t the K'ng Church to
"Lings Miouniain. N. C.. as of Jan.
4. He is succeeded' in Mocksville
by -ihe Reverend Robert Shea,
'ormsr pastor cf St. Joseph's
Church in Moni'oe.
Father Keenon began the Cath-
oic Miss'on to Mocksville to Dec
ember of 1958, at the time cpn-
ducttog Sunday sei-vices in the
home of one of the members.
Later the Sacrifice of the Mbss
was conducted in the local Arm-'
ory. In the Spring of 1960 the
'ittle whits house which is the
present site if the Mission was
purchased.
In his new assignment Father
Keenan will direct newly ordained
priests in the techniques used to
North Carolina for the operation
of small par'shes. The missions
of Chsrryville. Dallas. Spencer
Mountain ani Ranlo are attached
to the Christ the King Parish in
Kings Mountai, which is a train
ing center for these priests.
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i^eyereiiti.Ronald V. [lf^<7^
*'T«r'U;.^ui;.L"'''^.'j«'~'-.-'^'>;»:-L'_ j ....
foriidf;;-Cathohc Churph m Alocks-'" Lj. ' t
lyille, . ' - ^ ^ ^
I'kiPather' nn .ijVIoLaugfiijn'.-j kails^fi^fprni
|/y)|in,'lJ']VIa§sac|i\isptt|5'. ^•pni:'
pietinglhis' sen?.inaiy, iralnirig ;:pt?;St.'' i
Jojhn'i^n iBpston, he was grd^ainefj; 1
.;^'.tJie-.priesthoo.(3.:Jn' Fpbyu^ry;.i9'i5?...;
iql; 'Durham,;•• "(or,j a|!n4ce..,'in !.^,e •: '
^eigh:Diocese.' l-'., ■•! ; ••' j •••■ v's^'.-lrr jJf-^Since;' then • Jie "has'';,served, .parish?;es'm ^/yvake .•'I'ore.st.. .Butnep,!',
'Hlivo ' WallarA'. Jbrt/?'':.T?Qloirt.h r'
; .■Qf'.the'Kprtii;CarplinaXatholiCj-a^^1 Assistant vPii:ec,tQr,:pf/Vifa^^i ih.;,^e\..^leigh .giocese.^'ijo;
I He succeeds the Rev. (Robert'Shp^^whp!:wa5. fecehti^;^
Ctiaplain to Central ^^ispn,Cpprectipnpr Center, r Pprotiie^'^,^ i
Hospital,, and was aqtivp m: yavipus^umenipai 'activities 'in' the C^pi-U1 V WWifPfiP^i
enterprise. RECORD
##
JJ?'
St Francis
• Bishop Michael Joe Begley,,'
head of the Catholic Diocese, of;
Charlotte; has givers approval of '
; the b.uiidin'^ Tplans for St.
,Francis'Mission in MocksvlIIe.
- The new church building will
' be constructed on the present :
site on the Yadkinyille Roat^. v
, Tentative plans are fgr%
ground breaking to take place
March or April with occupancy: n
of the new building in August. - ^
, Tennant,:, and . Tennant of" i
n Sglisb^^; are the arcbitect§(:; ;,k^^
I 976^
Public LibracksviiiQ^ )V. c
Ground Is Broken J\or Mission
I breakRev. Anthony F. Silvestri is shown above turning the first spadeful of dirt to break
ground for the new building for St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Mission on the ,-
Yadkiriville Road. About' 150 people were present Sunday, April«, at the i
groundbreaking ceremony. Father Silvestri was assisted by George DePuew. i
shown at left, president of the Parish Board; Douglas Tennent, architect; Mrs, w. i
M. Long; Albert Cronin, chairman of tlie building committee; and Mrs. E. R. ^
Pope. Among the visitors were Mr. and Mrs. Robert Davis, in-laws of the late j
George M. Van Kirk, in whose memory the late IVlrs.: iG.er^wde Donn hecjuest.^d^j
quite a large sum to start a building fnod:—-.-i-i: -: ——
-AA^A£_jLlLyAlV EMTgnHtSE R£f6l3n n .
APu.tlc, 1^75 13
^ n '
Mission For Davie County
' by David Hoyle •
Only seven months after its ground
breaking, The Mission Church of St.
Francis of Assisi dedicated its new Parish
Complex last Sunday, October S.
"We're not calling it a church," said the
Rev. Anthony F. Silvestri, pastor of tlie
parish. "It's a multipurf^se hall for
religious aotivities as well as social and
educational purposes."
The new building, which seats 200
persons, was necessitated when the parish
outgrew it's former building which would
seat only about 70 persons comfortably.
"It's really just a beginning," said
Father SUvostri. The old building has been
sold and moved leaving a spree in front of
the newly construct^ building for a r
church building to be added on in the
future.
That such expansion was necessary
became obvious last Cliristmas when 163
worshipers overflowed the former
mission.
Father Silvestri stressed the functional
of the present building. "We use it
not only for church services but also for
education," he said. "That's what we hod
in mind from the beginning."
Most of the building is taken up by the:
assembly hall in the middle, The en-
tranceway on the front enters into the
large hall flanked by an office and crying
room equiped with a window and speaker .
for mothers with small children to hear
and observe the service without disturbing '
other worshipers.
Behind the assembly hall is a spacious
kitchen for social functions wit^ the
church. There is also an upper room for
the youth and the members of the churches
Catholic Youths Organization are going to
do the final finish work.
A brief history of St. Francis of Assisi :
Catholic Mission was printed in the
program for Sunday's dedication service.
It traces the churches growth from it's
birth, with some 15 parishioners who
celebrated mass in individual homes to
today's new mission with 73 families and
817 mcinburs,
The church became a Mission of the
Holy Rosary Parish in Lexington on
November 16, 1966. Father James F.
Kdnnun wus appuiiilod Its first paslur and
celebrated the first Mass on November 30,
1958.
By April of 1959, the congregation was
using the facilities at the old National
Guard Armory in Mockaville.
In March of i960, U)e present site was
purchased and the Mission was placed
under the Patronage of St. Francis of
A-ssisi. In January of 1901, Father Robert
TiV-j Kev. Ronald McLaugidin was in
stalled as the third pastor of the Mission
cluirch in liXlS and Iho chapel was
renovated, enlarged and Uie Ladies' Guild
wai' begun.
Father Thomas A. Williams was ap
pointed pastor in June of 1960 and the
jurisdiction of the Mission was placed
under the Salisbury parish.
In May of 1970, Ihe Rev. Edward Friel,
OSFS, was appointeii pastor. Finally, the
''ft
~' (dark) as well as the church which will be added onto''"™"^'' ■*
the front later.
pastor of the Mission Church. It was at
this time thai a $17,000 bequest was for-
*warded the parish from Mrs. Gertrude
^rinnn nf Mrnnut/«h r'nnna^tinut''Dann of Norwich, Connecticut.
Christmas of 1975 brought the number of
families in the Mission to 44 and the Parish
Council, along with its pastor, petitioned
the Bishop for permission to build a multi
purpose building for the celebration of the
liiturgy and other religious and social
functions.
The ground breaking for this new
building took place on Sunday, April 6.
1975.
Twenty-six priests attended Sunday'sdedication ceremonies, including a
number of former pastors of the mission.
The Most Rev. Michael J. Begley, D.D.,Bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte waspresiding officer at the dedication, acting
as principal concelebrant at the Lithergy
of Thanksgiving.
Father James Kenan, the church's first
pastor, was in attendance and FatherSilyestri, the present pastor, gave the
Homily at, the service.
Also present at the services were the
Very Rev. Joseph Showfety, chancellor of
the Diocese and the Very Rev. Joseph
Kerins.
The church is still considered a mission
parish because the pastor still comes from
Lexington to perform services.
But the church serves the entire county
v/ith some members coming from
Yadkinville, Clemmons and Statesville,-^
fact that prompted Father Silvestri to
predict the mission would have a resident .
priest within a year's time.
"None of this could have been possible
without the sacrifical generosity of our
parishioners and friends who have
responded so well in their voluntary labor
and their financial interest," said Father .
Silvestri at the dedication ceremony.
"This has proved an enormous impetus
towards the meeting of our financial
obligation," he said. "I pray to God that
we will continue to grow as a good people,
as a holy people, as a dedicated people."
" If'\ ill
♦ , 'ill
CATHpliC
MlSStO^j"
former build^n^g for Uio mission church, which hasM vf moved from the site so that the new
• building coul<l be construeied . . —
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the wine in celebrating mass
in the new building.
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6 - PAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRJSE RECORD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9,1975
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PAVm COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD. SPECIAL BICENTENNIAL ISSUE. JULY 1076 - SECTION IV - PAGE 5
The Mission Church Of St Francis Of Assist
Davie's First Catholic Church
Hie Mission Church of St. Francis of
Asaial became a Mission of the Holy
Rosary Parish in Lexington on November
IS, t9S8. Father James F. Kemian was
appointed its first pastor and celebrated
the flrsl Mass on November 30, 1968.
.. By April of 1959. the congregation was
using lire-fasllltlfis at the old National
Guard Armory in
In March of 1980, the present site was
purchased and the Mission was placed
under the patronage of St. Panels of Asslsl.
In January of 1933, Father Robert Shea
became Us pastor.
The Rev. Ronald McLaughlin was in
stalled as the third pastor of the Mission
Church in 1966 and the chapel was
renovated, enlarged and the Ladles' Guild
was begun.
Father Thomas Williams was appointed
pastor In June of 1908 and the Jurisdiction
of the Lexington Parish with Father
Ronald McLaughlin as Us pastor. At this
lime, the parish hod increased to 17
regular families.
By early 1973. the Rev. Anthony Francis
pastor of the Mission Church. It was at this
time that a $17,000 bequest was forwarded
the parish from Mrs. Gertrude Dann of
Norwich, Connecticut.
A
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Former The former buildingr Ormer The former building
Chrl8tma5ofl976broughtlhenumberoffamilies In the Mission to 44 and the Parishauncil. along with »a pastor, petlUonedthe Bishop for permission to build a mulll*
purpose building for the celebration of theLiturgy and other religious and social
functions.
Sunday. October 5,1975. The new bullSng
scats 200 persons..
for the mission church, which has
Mw • been sold, was moved from the site so that the newJjXtSSlOti building could be constructed.
DAVIE COUNTV ENTERPRISE RECORD. SPECIAL BICENTENNIAL ISSUE, JULY J076 - SECTION iV - PAGE 5
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flH- ii cf /C^CLt SSt. Francis Of Assisi InstallsFirst Resident Pastorn ' n ... aHriir-Ls is useful since everywhere youddicts is useful since everywhere ywFather Noel McSweeny was instaU^ ®astLflstresidentpastorofStFrancis ^of Assisi Church >n ^day. Nov. 15 marked the date of Mc ^Sweeney's installation cning of St. Francis as a full fledgea ^^-rS'installation \ducted by Monsignor Richard Allen ofWinslon-Salem 'Michael Bedey. Although he has beenmoving into MocksvUle fo*" the ^stmonth. MeSweeney was officiallypresented Qie keys to the church on^^•^Se a small town like Mocksvill^said MeSweeney. "St. Francis is a g^commutiity. and I want to conhnuekeeping the people close ^Father ftltSweeney was born in Nw• YotkCity.ih 1918-He attended St. JohnsCoUeRe then worked tor a telephonecSny before joining the Fr^^nFriars of-the Atonement, Graymoor,SontiTYi-He gradua^J"^ratholic' University of Amenca mSh&toi!. D.C. with a degr« m' philosophy and theology, , "Dsvchology. After attending Notre•• Dame University for one y^r, !^" Cwecnev was ordained as a pnest in 1^^ bySnal Spellman at St. Patrick's-fathedral if) New York.Father McSweeney's first assignmentV was in Kinpton, NiC/ in 1948. N«t 1}®'gave missions and retreats, worki^ in .- & and then with drug adicts mGreenwich Village in New York. He hMalso worked in the Rocky Mountains of ^n ' Canada with Indian. Fifteen years ago.n returned to North' Carolina to leadparishes in Lumberton and High••After Lumberton. I had a chance to: go to Jamaica or back to Gree^ichn -VUlage. but I wanted a si^ lowm I' think the experience with tjie drugaao there are kids falling into drup.speaking of his experience as aCatholic father in the South. FatherMeSweeney said. "In 1984. it was a bigdifference. Most people had never seen aCatholic priest before, but it really madeno difference when they got to know you^•ThTwOTld is getting sraaUer. Mostdenominations arc realising how clwethey are more than how they are du-'^Moc^ksville's new priest wants to leadthe 75 families of Davie County andsurrounding- area in an ^memwlspirit with other denominations. Wewant to carry on as a commumty of faithand fit into the whole commumty ofMoc-^e."•-aRH,Father Noel McSweeny^r;^^da™ count, enterprise record. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20. 1980 |' Public Library(Viousvilie, N. G.DavisV.VUMVJ -lyiocksviiii, N% ^
CLy^; CaHLI'C - Si O-C ' ■"•^Sister Bemadette; Making A Difference)By Kathy D. ChaffinDa^ County Enterprise-Record. In the. three years that SisterBemadette McNamara has beenpastoral associate at St. FrancisCatholic Mission in Mocksville,the church's enrollment hasgrown from SO to 80 families.It was also under her leadershipthat the church reached out to thecommunity, sponsoring Fridaynight Bingo games, an annualShamrock Run bringing in runners from all over the state andan annual Blessing of the Animalsceremony."All of these activities, they'rea veiy important part of parishlife," said McNamara, calledSister Bemadette by her congregation and friend. "All ofthem have helped bring the people of this parish and this community together.■ "I believe that's what churchlife is all about, people comingtogether for worship and for having a good time in fellowship."■ Sister Bemadette's involvement didn't Slop at St. Francis.She has worked with cancer patients through Hospice of DavieCounty and Davie High studentson the Project Prom Committee.She has also given programs onher native Ireland forschoolchildren on St. Patrick'sDay.It is the people in the churchand community that Sister Ber-nadene said she will miss mostwhile preparing to leave last weekto wo^ on a mission on the islandof Rota in the South Pacific."It was a very difficult decisionfor me to make because I am veryhappy here in Mocksville," shesaid. "I love the people at St.Francis. I love the count)*, but Ifeel we have to listen to what theLord is calling us to do."I'm willing to take the riskand to meet the challenge."Sister Bemadette plans to spendsix weeks studying at FordhamUniversity in the Bronx andanother month visiting family inIreland before going to Rota, asmall island north of Guam."The island has about 1,400Catholics and there's just onepriest there, so I'm hoping to beable to help him with his pastor-ing," she said. "Also, they asked me if I would teach themEnglish. (Residents of Rota speakChammoron, a derivative ofSpanish.) I'm sure I will be doing all kinds of things."Working on Rota is the fulfillment of a childhood dream forSister Bemadette."Over the years, I've had adesire to go there and never hadthe opportunity," she said. "Wehave sisters who are working onthe island of Guam and lastAugust, they opened a mission inRota and I was invited to come."Then, Sister Bemadene saidshe didn't feel ready to leave St.Francis, but she made a commitment to go in the fall of 1990.It's the challenge of workingwith another culture that hasSister Bemadette excited aboutthe move."I just feel that I havesomething to share with the people there," she said. "After myexperiences here in Mocksvilleworking in parish ministry andalso my past years of experiencein schoob and administration,maybe this is the time."We wonder why things happen when they do and maybe tteis the time for me to be there."Sister Bemadette, who is 56,was a fourth gradet in Irelandwhen she decided she wanted tobe a nun."At that lime, I didn't knowthere was anybody else butCatholics," she said. "We usedto have mission sisters and apriest come to our school andshow us movies of their work. Ijust knew that's what I wanted todo."When she got to high school.Sister Bemadette was consideringentering the Community of theMedical Missionaries. "Theywork in Africa and China, I guessalt over the world," she said,"and I was very much drawntoward the work that they did."It was her aunt, a Sister ofMercy in Belmont, who got herinterested in North Carolina."She told me that North Carolinawas mission territory, too,"Sister Bemadette said, "and eventhough I can't say that she reallyinfluenced my decision, I came toNorth Carolina to Belmont."It was in Belmont that SisterBemadette enrolled at SacredHeart College. From there, shewent on to Marywood College inScranton, Pa., where she earnedher undergraduate degree, andStetson University in Dc Land,Fla., where she earned a master'sin school administration.After that. Sister Bemadetteserved as teacher and principal inCatholic schools in NorthCarolina, New York, Florida andCalifomia. It was in Florida thatSister Bemadette was approached about the Mocksville position.Because St. Francis doesn'thave a priest-in-residence, thepastoral associate is the one whoworks closest with the congregation, helping members deal withdaily difficulties, sickness, familyproblems and death.. "Each day brought a newchallenge," Sister Bemadettesaid. "I devoted a lot of time tovisiting the sick and people whoare in their homes and for onereason or another, are unable tocome to church and be with thecommunity.""Acnially, living in a bmily ofnine children where you had toshare and give and take and lotsof times fi^t for what was yours,I think prepared me for living acommunity life later," she said."The community I came tolater was one big family, too, andcoihing into a religious life, h wasalso a family of faring and caring and assuming responsibilityand also being accountable."When she recalls her time here.Sister Bemadette said the onememoiy that will stand out is thisyear's Shamrock Run."It poured from the heavens,"she said, "and people came fromall over the state to participate inthe race. I couldn't believe p^pie would come out in that kindof weather. We had 110 mnners,and we were all soaked."How would she like to beremembered?"I would like people toremember me as having made adifference in their lives," SisterBemadette said. "And I don'tknow how to say this, but I wouldlike to be remembered for mysense of humor and joyfulnessbecause I believe that's a very important part of life."OAViE CO. PUBUG UBRARYMOCKSVILLE m
(LnvxRCHESOF ^SSiSi h»S5ltf^*MSister Bernadette McNamara on her move to Rota; "I'm willing to take the risk and to meet the challenge.Sister Bernadette was at St. Francis for three years.— Photos by James BarrlngerQAVIE CO. PUBUC LJBRARYMGCK&VtLU^ m
DAVIK COUNTY ENTERPRISK RF.COKI), THURSIMY. June 21 1990
The membership al Si. Francis grew under Sister Bernadelle's leadership
Sister Bernadelle talks with Wendy Glen and Rosemarie Rowland about parish activities.
_ . hY f I ^^CS««^P 1^9^Geary Named Catholic Mission AdministratorJ chupluin of ihc medical UIKI dental tesiine. At the same time; (^ u- movwl across lown to . ^ . .. . . . .. . .. . _ .... p..historychupluin of the medical and dentaltesting. At the same time; GEffecriveJuly t—s. BishopDonoghue ap-pointed FatherEdward A.G«^. S.J. ad-Vninistrator of yaHBAiCatholicMisHitn of SaintofMocksville.Geary was at Gearythe Jesuit House of Prayer in HoiSprings, where he was a spiritualdiimor and retreat master.. Geary was bom in 1930 inBaltimore. Md. He attended theparish school of Saint Bemard taughthy the Sisters of Mercy and then theJesuit High Sch.H>l of Loyola. In1949. Geary entered the Jesuitnovitiate of Saint Isaac Jogues atWemersville. Pa.College and seminary studies inscholastic • irtiilosophy were completed at theJtsuit Seminary in Plan-sburg. N.Y. In 1953-54. I» completed a graduate-year of study inphilosophy at Fordham University inShrub Oak. N.Y.A short-lived career in high sdwolteaching begun and ended in 1954-55at Gonzaga High School inWashington. D;C., where Gearytaught Latin. English, and ancient. He moved acros.s town toGeorgetown University at the end ofthat schiKil year to become assistantdean of men for the next two years.From 1957-1961. Geary studiedtheology at Woodstock College inMaryland near his native Baltimore,in I960 he was ordained to thepriesthood by Cardinal Shehanfolkwed by a fourth year oftheologystudies' during which Geary alsoacted as chaplain to the StateHospital at Springfield. In the springof 1961 hewaaassigitedtoiheVillaS. Ignazio in Fircnze. Italy.After an opportunity to visit ailength in Rotne and a leisurely triphome through western Europe.Geary returned to GeorgetownUniversity as dean of men.In the eariy 60s Geary became active a» a counselor on campus, aswell as handling the traditionaldiscii^inary chores of the dean ofmen. At various times, he was alsotapped to assume responsibility asschools. He also served a year asuniversity chaplain.The university sent Geary back toschool to obtain a degree Inpsychology since his work hadbecome incrca.singly p.ychothcra-peutic. In 1971. he completed hisdoctoral work in theclinical/counseling psychologydepaiimem at Catholic Universityand began aclinical intentshipatiheUniversity of Tennessee MedicalComplex in Memphis.In 1973. Geary began an association with Loyla College inBaltimore. His work there included(caching, directorship of the counseling center, and work as a professorof pastoral counseling in thegraduate school.In 1979. Geary became a staffmember of the Consultation Centerfor Clergy and Religion in the Archdiocese of Baltimore where he didpsychotherapy and psydtodi^nosticearyw«)rkcd part-time for the State ofMaryland court system doingpsychological assessments ofJuvenile delinquents inthc SouthernMaryland counties and'the PrinceGeorges suburbs. After IByears inthis kind of work. Geary moved tothe less stressful work of spiritualdircctioti irs Hot Spring*-
DA VIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, March 6,1997 •
Sister Of Mercy Takes A New
Role With Mocksviiie Parish
a^jij j ,
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— --' ^^ ••n ■»' I* ■., » . . ■■: ,\ .; . . /"2r Anita Sheerin is the parochial administrator for St. Francis of Assisi Church in Mocksviiie.
• Photos by Robin Fergusson
favie County Public Library
Mocksv/lle, NC
DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, March 6,1997 -
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Davie County PuWic tibiam
Mocksvflte, Mc
. B; Morgan Harper
Davie Counly Entcqirisc Record
Anila Shccrin left home furlhc first
litne when she was 19.
• n Home was Pennsylvania. Forty
seven years later, home is Mocksville.
. n ' Sister Anita, 66, has been working
InMocksvillesinceJuly 12,1996when
.she was appointed parochial adminis-
. tratorof the St. Francis of Assisi parish
on Yadkinvillc Road.
n The Sister was commuting from
Salisbury until volunteers from the
parish repaired the house shchas moved
in to approximately one month ago.
. Sister Anita is a Sister of Mercy, a
religious communitj^ founded in the
Catholic church that fobuses on the
principles of education and health.
;n Anitahasbeenraisedintherealmof
Catholiecducation, beginning with her
Catholic school days in Philadelphia.
But she thought about the things young
girls think atout.
"In my teens, I thought about boys.
I dated, 1 had my crushes and all the
rest," she said. "In the back of my mind
I knew that this is where the U>rd is
calling me."
Sister Anita'schancetoleavePhila-
;-8clphia, which she said was "too big,"
; tme through a distant cousin in North
; C^uolina. The cousin stopped in Phila-
;(lelphia on a trip from Massachusetts
; back to Shelby.
;'; "She asked me what I wanted to do
; and I told her I felt like I wanted to be
-amissionaiy," Anitasaid. "Soshe asked
• me, 'Why not come to North Carolina?
"This state, 1 think, still has the
;^Iqwest Catholic population in the
United Slates," said Anita. She came to
Belmont in 1950.
:' As the youngest of eight children,
shewashomesick. "Thelongerlstayed,
the longer 1 felt this was for me," she
said.
• After her undergraduate studies at
: belmont Abbey, Anita made her final
:v6ws in 1956 to beeome a Sister of
; Mercy. Anita also obtained an admin
istrative degree from the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
After making those vows. Sister
Anita's life began revolving in and
around schools. She taught elementary
.^ucation for a number of years and,
beginning withherappointmentin 1965
as the principal ofSt Michael's School
in Ashevillc, has been principal of
. Khools in North Carolina, Long Island
and Florida.
. . "Working with kids has been a
1 ^nderful experience forme," she said.
• "I felt fulfill)^ in my minisuy. It rein-
. forced my thought that this is where I
belong."
But last year. Sister Anita got a
different kind of calling, this lime by'
telephone.
"The church called me and asked if
I wanted to be a parochial administra
tor," she said.
' "I said,'I don't know ifl can do that
Fm not a priest,' and he said, 'You've
■been a principal. You can run schools.
I You can run a parish."
"The one question I didn't ask is
'What do I do?" she said.
Coming to a strange town and not
knowing anyone was a challenge for
Sister Anita, but the parish reached out
to her. With 82 families and 225 pa
rishioners, the parish is small com
pared to some she has worked with, but
so far she says it has been fun.
Beforecoining to Mocksville, Anila
had never lived or worked alone. "It
was my first time not living with two or
three sisters in aconvent." she said. She
felt overwhelmed. "Initially I thought,
'Where is my secretary'".
"I have people skills, not skills in
finances," she said. "That takes a lot of
my time."
Sister Anita is enjoying the time she
is able to spend in the community. She
visits several community nursing
homes, and performs Autumn Care's
Wednesday morning prayer services.
She has also gotten involved with
Davie County Hospital's as one oftheir
chaplains. Sister Anitaattendedamcct-
ing along with other area ministers to
discuss the hospital's need for a chap
lain. At first she asked herself what she
was doing there, but "by the second
meeting, they were people just like
myself," she said.
Once a month Sister Anita visits
with patients, an experience she calls
"very enriching." Patients there arc
"faith- filled. "It's amazing that as soon
as you say you're a chaplain, they just
talk about their faith," said Anita. "Re
ligion is not an issue."
"The spirit of the tninisteis has im
pressed me," said Anita. "I have found
a lot of openness here."
Sister Anita has also found a room
mate. Sister Teresa Susana Dandison,
who worksclosely with DavieCounty's
Spanish speaking community.
Dandison is also sponsored by the Sis
ters of Mercy. "We pray together and
support each other in our ministry,"
said Sister Anila.
"We're just people who arc trying to
do good," she said. "We all have a
vocation. We're here to reach out to
others and be happy."
People make Sister Anita happy.
"In re ligious life you're not limited
in religion. You're free to be there for
everybody," said Anita. "And I think
people give me energy."
"I don't have a lot ofgifts," she said.
Anita can't play the guitar, she can't
sing, and she doesn't consider herself
artistic. "What has helped me is to be
the enabler of other people's gifts."
"We all have gifts but nobody has
all the gifts," Anita said. "If we share
them, we can have all the gifts."
Sister Anita said she will stay in
Mocksville through theendof theyear,
then her staying will depend on if she's
been good for the parish and if she has
the energy to continue. "I'll go on a
year-to-year basis," she said.
"My main goal while Fm here is to
give everything I've got every day."
"This parish has tremendous en
ergy and what makes mc happy is that
they share their gifts.
"I need their gifts to keep building,"
she said.
33-
DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, March 6,1997 n
f
. .»ymm
:mMS
Sister Anita Sheerin: "What has helped me Is to be the enabler
of other people's gifts."
-.a 4 « i
f>avie County Public Libraiy
Mocksvilfe, NC
DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, March 19,1998
Record Number Participate
In Annual Shamrock Run
A record 182 runners look to the
streets of Mocksville during the 11 th
annual Shamrock Run sponsored by
Saint Francis Catholic Church on Sat
urday morning.
The runners participated in iOK
(6.2 mile) and 5 K (3.1 mile) runs, as
/ '
7
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/-s ^
well as a 5K walk.
Scott Waischlager of Winsion-Sa-
lem crossed the finish line first in the
lOK run in 33 minutes, 46 seconds. I
A runner for l9-ycars and former i
runner for Indiana State University, 1
Waischlager called the Saint Francis
run "enjoyable." j
"The wind was a little brisk, and it's
definitely a hilly course like the entry ;
form said,"ac».ording to Waischlager."!
enjoyedthe course. It wasachallenge."
Second place went to Davie High
School senior, GarrickHillof Advance.
The first female finisher in the IOK j
run was Susan Moore of Woodleaf, i
with a time of 49:27.
Top finishers in the 5K run were
Steve McCxhrcnofAsheboro in 16:36
and Julie Smith ofClemmons in 19:10.
The 5K walk winner was Roxanne
Goughnour of Mocksville in 41:09.
There were 29 participants in the
events from Mocksville, 15 from Ad
vance, a record number from Davie
County.
Runners and walkers represented
38 towns in North Carolina. They also
came from Georgia, New York and
West Virginia.
The youngest participant was 4, the
oldest 77. Six were over 70 years of
age.
ScottWalschlegercrossesfin- '
ish line first in 10K race. !
Julie Smith of Clemmons was
the first female 5K finisher.
5 ^
CHaOCHUS-CftTHOLiC - St. V9i^^c\.s Of P'^iSSi^jmF I N: ,, ..\, . Vi-.'A. VIMM)*-imm' lUlphm^XMk!:nn ^ v ,-iVfiift'iiiiiil"ip7tl-Hv*.?^^ ^.^^^^.v. 'J/i:And they're off: runners start in the annual St. Francis Shamrock 10K and 5K runs In Mocksville on Saturday morning. - Photos by Michelle RogeDavie County Public LibratlMocksville, NC
DAVIIS CO^TY ENTURHUSE RECORD, THURSDAY. Sept. 22, 1988-
jJL dL
f W' Ml- -op? ^
Th^ first prpject is tp buy a, new
copier for the Mocksvilie parish.
"We also hope (o enhance our
education program."
If successidl enough, bingp
funds will be used for communiiy-
wide projects, she said.
McNamara thinks it's good fun
— especially for the area's elderly.
"I don't see it as gambling. It's
an opportunity for people to get
together. A lot of older people, have
nowhere else to go."
The bingo has created a positive
response from Mocksvilie
residents, McNamara said. It gives
people something to do, and brings
life to the downtown area at night..
-The bingo equipment was pur
chased by a friend of fhe parish.
The games are conducted ' by
church members, who work ip
teams. Each member has to work
one night each month. ;t, The ppies pre from 7-10 p.njj.
And it isn't just straight bingo.
There are several types of games
played on the bingo cards, w.fiic|)
are marked by ink dabbers. .
"If it's too easy, people get
Mike JQ^nhardt
D^yie County Enteprise-Flecord
! It W3S a C90J, foggy and rainy Friday night. Not muc
n , good fpr anything but (itaying at hopne, maybe even goir,
j..;. tp, bed early.
! j ' But the Rotary Hut in Mocksvilie was packed with pet
, . pie, ink dabbers in hand, listening intently to numbers h
! ing qalled over a loudspeaker.
I It was the first night of bingo sponsored, by the St. Fra:
cis Catholic Mission in Mocksvilie, and more than 75 an
residents came for a chanpe at the several hundred dolla
in prize money. They came from across Davie County, fro
KernersvUle, Winstqn-Salem and Salisbury.
State regulations on bingo, considered by some as gumb
ing, are strict. * ,
"You have to be very specific about recording each gan
: — the money taken in apd tlie money dispursed," said Sisti
Bernadette McNamara, The funds qiust go tp a non-proi
group, such as the Mocksvilie. chprch, ^d the money h;
, to-be Hept-in q separn^ i--—
bored," McNamara said, "so you "I'm glad everyone js having g,
have to vary it to piake it more of, good time, having fun and efijQy-
a challenge." ing it. Sometimes people get tooShe looked over the first night serious, like yhpn they play
crowd with 8 smile. cards." - n ; •
DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, Jan. 20,2000
Father Andrew Draper
By Mike Earnhardt
Davie County Enterprise Record
In 1960, a group of Catholics began meeting in
side a house, not too far from the current Yadkin-
ville Road site of St. Francis of Assissi Catholic
Church.
Now, the church boasts nearly 100 families who
diligently work to gain the money for a new church
building.
And they are being assisted in worship by a priest
Father Andrew Draper, a third-order regula:
Franciscan who hopes to help the church grow, anc
reach its dream of a new sanctuary.
"From that little house and the faith in those fami
lies, it has grown to this," said Draper, a 53-year-
old cheerful man who in Is own words, is a Yankee
who kept moving South.
"People around here,are great. People keep com
ing here asking if I need anything. They're so happj
New Priest At St. Francis
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to have me here. They don't want me to leave."
Draper has traveled many places, and studied at
Villanova and the University of Toronto. He has
served large churches with thousands of families,
and at a nursing home.
He likes the people of St. Francis in Mocksville,
and thinks the new church will help draw more pa
rishioners here, maybe some who go to larger, more
elaborate churches in other towns.
Draper wanted to be a veterinarian as a child, and
first got the idea of going into ministry when he at
tended a prep school operated by Franciscans.
The Franciscans, he said, study the life of St.
Francis, a 13th Century saint who gave up his wealth
for God. There's the story of a murderous wolf,
whom St. Francis tamed by befriending it by taking
a thorn from it's paw.
"By seeing God in all creation, he brought others
Please See Priest - Page D3
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DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, Jan. 20,2000
'■ '1^ .■'v/'■ luL.-;-'' I ri •'' I I "T'l iiin^m'ftVii^h
Father Andrew Draper hopes to start a new sanctuary for St. Francis.Priest Now Serving St Francis
Continued From Page Dl
around to see the same thing." Draper
said. "He had an effect on people be
cause of his closeness to God."
After 13 years as a brother. Draper
missed baptisms, weddings and con
fessions. He is close to his parents,
who live in High Point, and in addi
tion to church work, can enjoy his
hobbies of reading, traveling and lis
tening to music.
Glad not to be in the city, he al
ready has baptisms and weddings
lined up for coming months. He's
started daily mass, adjusting the time
almo.si weekly to accommodate more
people.
"There's more people coming
back, and I think having a priest here
is a draw." Draper said. "I want to
build a new church. I would love to
gel that started this year ... and use
this as the all-purpose building. We
could offer a lot of things to help the
community."
.Although the building is impor
tant. it doesn't make St. Francis of
Assissi.
"It's not this buiiding that is the
church, it's the people." Draper said.
DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, Jan. 20,2000
Father Andrew Draper; "There's more people coming back, and I think having a priest
here is a draw."
County Public Ubrary
Mocksville, Nc
DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, March 9,2000
SL Francis Catholic Church Becomes
By Alesha M. Price
The Catholic News & Herald
It can l)e called the little parish that
could. The church began as a vision
and a dream for three families in the
Mocksville are^ in 19SS, and 45 years
later, St. Francis of Assisi Church is a
visible and thriving presence in the
area.
From celebrating Mass in the homes
of the original three families to the
present building, Mary and Eugene
Pope have been there from the begin
ning. The family had been attending
Mass in Winston-Salem when they
decided they wanted their own parish.
"We were very close-knit then, and
we still are," said Mrs. Pope. "I am
surprised about the growth. When
people started coming from up north
the congregation just started getting
When there were 11 families, the
liturgy began to be celebrated in the
local National Guard Armory, moved
to a small house that was purchased,
and then, the present structure was
built where the house once stood.
"We keep things very personal, and
we are interested in what one another is
doing. We try to involve everyone in
the parish activities," continued Mrs.
Pope.
The parish has seen many adminis
trators and priests come and go over
the years, including Mercy Sister
Bemadettc McNamara, Mercy Sister
M. Anita Sheerin and Mercy Sister
Mary Carmelita Hagan.
"I enjoyed working in that commu
nity because there isagreatspiritamong
the people," said Sister Bemadette,
now the administrator at St. Joseph of
the Hills Church in Eden. "They had to
bond together to keep the church go
ing."
November 1999 brought c(x>ler
weather and the arrival of a pastor.
Third Order Regular of St. Francis
Father Andrew Draper, who had been
the chaplain of Maryfield Nursing
Home in High Point, where his parents
are in residence, was sent to the parish.
"When I arrived, there were about
98 families, now there are about 120
families," said Father Draper. Along
with the installation of the first pastor.
Father Draper attributes the growth to
additional Masses, a Saturday vigil
anddaily Masses, and thesteady growth
in the Mocksville and surrounding
areas.
"What amazes me is how the pa
rishioners can rearrange the building
from a church to a hall to something
else by simply moving the folding
chairs," joked Father Draper.
As more families poured into the
parish, there came a time when some
of the male parishioners agreed that in
order to better serve the needs of the
community, St. Francis needed a
Knights of Columbus council of its
own. The fact that Father Draper is a
fourth-degree knight himselfmay have
a little something to do with the newest
council in the diocese.
Through the efforts of Grand Knight
Roger Hunckler, Past Grand Knight
Jim Gildein, District Deputy Knight
Matt Reilly and State Deputy Knight
Bob Singer, the St. Francis of Assisi
Knights of Columbus Council #I 2610
has the distinct honor of a Jan. 1,2000,
inception date. They are the first new
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DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, March 9,2000
Thriving Presence In Area
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council of the millennium in the United
States.
"After Masses.FatherDraper would
encourage the men to sign up, and we
were able to get the 30 men we needed
for the council," explained Gildein.
"Anytime you start something new,
that is already great, but being-able to
tie it in with the millennium was really
special and important."
Some of the projects that the coun
cil has been involved in include repair
ing and replacing the front steps of the
church, replacing the front doors ofthe
church and doing electrical work in the
kitchen and back areas of the building.
Their meetings are held on the prop
erty of a fellow knight who owns a
nearby hall.
Gildein is not only involved with
the Knights of Columbus but has also
been the Shamrock Run director for
the last two years. The Shamrock Run
has become an event that the parishio
ners and the community have looked
forward to for the past 12 years.
In 1988, while Sister Bemadette
was the administrator, she, Vince
Mannino, and his daughter, Anna-Jo
Mannino, came up with the idea for a
fimd-raiser for the building fund.
"I felt it would be a great contmu-
nity builder and that people in the
parish could work and do things to
gether," said Sister Bernadette. "Of
course, the idea was that it would gen
erate funds, but that wasn't the original
purpose. It was a way for the other urea
churches and surrounding community
to become involved with the congre
gation."
So, named after a symbol of her
Irish heritage, the Shamrock Run was
bom. For the first year, there were 33
participants in the SK walk and run and
the lOK run. Last year, the number
jumped to 182 runners and walkers.
This year, on March 11, with coopera
tion from the local Chamber of Com
merce, the route will now pass through
downtown Mocksville.
When Sister Carmelita asked
Gildein to take over as race director, he
had no idea how much he would have
to do. He and the committee are in
charge of advertising, and this year,
there is a website running on the
Internet They worked with the locals
chamber to create a new course tliat*
would challenge the participants. ^ ^
"This is the largest fund-raiser for-
the church, and there is a Ipt of parish
and community involvement There
has been so much positive growth, and
there is a positive spirit and friendship
among the parishioners," said Gildehi.
Vince Mannino has volunteered his
cooking talents in past years and man
aged to get many items donated and
has generated support fipom local busK;
nesses through his woilt as the parishi
fund-raising committee chairpersonr I
"This even brings a community at"
mosphere to the town," said Mannino.
"The youth are the reason why we need
a new church because they are impor
tant; they are the ones who will be here
after we are gone." t
Contact race director Jim Gildein;
forregistration forms, (336)998-92fl2.;
or St. Francis Church, (336) 751-2973.1;
Registeron-lineatwww.racegate.com'.'
Saturday's races will travel down
Main Street in Mocksville. Don't be
surprised if you hear bagpipes,
Mannino said.
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Mocksville, NO
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DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, March 16,2000
Records Fall As Shamrock
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It was a day for records.
A total of 240 runners and walk
ers took to the streets of Mocksville
for the i3th annual Shamrock Run
& Walk sponsored by St. Francis of
Assissi Catholic Church. That's up
from the previous record of 183 last
year, and way up from the 33 who
participated in the first event.
St. Francis members, all of whom
almost always volunteer for the
event, had a record number of par
ticipants, with 28 running or walk
ing. and seven of those going home
as winners.
And two records were broken, the
male lOK (6.2 miles) at 33 minutes.
44 seconds, and the overall 5K walk
at 34:19.
There were some new runners,
and some familiar faces.
Margaret Hagerty always makes
the trip from Concord, and Richard
Hamilton, 78, Arnold Hecht, 79, and
Herb Keller. 80, have been running
it for years. This year, Hecht brought
seven family members and a friend,
all of whom entered a race.
Linda Hartle of Mocksville, who
is more accustomed to working out
on the walking machine at the Davie
Family YMCA, entered her fi rst race.
She placed third overall with a time
of 39:32.
Wade Leonard of Mocksville.
who ran in the Myrtle Beach Mara
thon last month, his seventh, partici
pated.
And the number of young people
- those on their own two feet and
those being pushed in special "stroll
ers" by a parent - continues to in-
crease.
The new course took all of the
runners and walkers through down
town Mocksville.
First place in the 5K walk went to
George Antonelli of Mebane. Second
place went to Larry Seymour of
Asheville, a N.C. Senior games
champion in the race walk. He had a
time of 34:19. Linda Hartle fi nished
at 39:32.
5K Run
Overall winnes in the 5K run wee
Mark Looney at 17:22 and Bonnie smith
at 20:00.
Age group winners follow:
10 and under: female - Stephanie
Jarvis. 30:02: Rose Robertson. 30:43;
Megan Grey, 31:45: male - Tim Kochy,
25:52; Micah Smith. 27:14; Steven
Jarvis. 33:22.
11-15: female - Lindsay Coomes.
21:27: Janel Darcy, 22:27: Brooke Har
ris, 29:02; male • Cody Moore, 20:15;
Tommy Wilson, 21;45; Michael Paoni,
23:52.
16-19: male - Ryan Strader, 17:55;
Cody Angell, 22:23; Andy Almeter,
23:55.
20-24: female - J.F. Williams, 25:00;
Sarah Johnson, 27:50; male - Jason
Childers. 17:38; James Honaker. 21:13;
Jeff Cruz. 21:56.
25-29: female • Merridith Stutts,
24:37; Amy Hatley. 26:42; Judy
Sweatman. 30:21; male - Robert .Miller,
17:44; Chris Amburn, 21:49; Scott
Callison. 22:01.
30-34: female - Joan Howard, 20:48;
Leigha Joens, 27:54; Amy Devereaux,
31:44; male - Jeff E.xline. 19:58; Mark
Vollinger. 22:56; John Bullins. 38:49.
35-39: female - Jackie Whitley,
23:41; Beth Cassidy, 32:30; Donna Ful-
lerton. 36:45; male - Tony Rouse. 21:29;
Jay Konter, 22:00: Stephen Coats. 22:59.
40-44: female - Terry Coomes. 25:28;
Meleah Goulds. 26:26; Linda Harris,
41:09; male - Johnny Watkins, 22;09;
Eddie Moore. 22:48; Mike McCall,
23:00.
45-49: female - Emily Robertson.
36:44; male - Rodney Lee, 20:02; Greg
Kiziah. 20:12; Eugene Thiebaud. 20:22.
50-59: female - Dona Johnson. 30:08;
male - Jim DeHart. 21:17; Mackie
Johnson. 21:33; Eric Gibbs. 23:10.
60-64: female • Dorothy Sides. 34:24.
65-69: male • Luther Thompson.
23:43: Fred Sides. 32:41.
Over 70: male - Arnold Hecht. 34:40;
Herb Keller. 38:51.
lOK Run
The overall winners in the lOK run
were Kevin Hill with a time of 33:44,
and Teresa Tagnani with a time of45:52.
Age group winners follow.
11-15: male - Jesus Cabrera. 38:25:
Michael Sturgil. 56:19.
20-24; female - Scottie Pate. 51:16;
male - Jason Childers. 39:09; Jonathan
Wilson. 40:05; Bradley Ferree. 43:28.
i ^David County Public Library
Mocksvilla, NC
Homing pigeons are released at the beginning of the Shamrock Run Saturday.
25-29: female - Caroline Paul. 48:23;
Aaiysha Khursheed. 56:13: male -
Ceciiio Cruz Casiilio. 36:58: Patrick
Ferree. 39:25; .Miguel .Angel Gutierrez.
40:28.
30-34: female • Christie Hullinger,
47; Rhonda Lee. 48;45; Kip clyburn.
50:38; male - Rich Vanderford. 40:24;
Trey Aycock.42:33; Dennis Pope. 43:57.
35-39: female - .Susan Bjerkc. 51:44;
Lisa Hcnnisan. 54:00; Bercie Chapman.
54:24; male - Mark Louncy. 36:03:
Christopher Spano Jr.. 37:40; David Lee
38:14.
40-M: female - Trudy Gile, 47:44;
Pam Saine, 49:21; Linda Causey.
1:00:15: male • Richard Ferguson, 35:37;
Dan Bradley. 42;4g; Tom Hourihan.
42:59
45-49: female • Anne Champlain.
4S:26; Jeanne .McKiitri. 53:19: Beth
Wilson. 57:14; male - Greg Kiziah.
43:34; David Hall. 44:4.8; Albert
Yezarski, 48:30.
50-54: male • Rick Dishman, 45:30:
Ira Bradley. 45:39: Steve Bcshears
45-54,
60-64: male - Jack Imbraham. 50:09:
Jack Lucas, 53:52,
65-69: male - Dick Rosen. 1:02:39;
Robert Conner. 1:09:35.
70 and Over: female - .Margaret
Hagerty. 1:22:30.
Public Ufarary
Mocksvillc, Nc
C.w\xacHi5'Ci\TV\ot»c-St. rviPiViCiS Or Hs\S\ P\\5$\6vi#»»>-iS-i> '•■Runners in the Shamrock 10K start their 6.2 mile journey through Mocksville on Yadkinville Road.- Photos by Mike BarnhardtRunners and walkers of all ages entered the 13th annual 5K Shamrock Run and Walk sponsored by St.Francis of Assissi Catholic Church in Ivlocksville.
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Burgio takes a number from Tim Kochy.
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It was the first Shamrock Run
for St. Francis' new pastor,
Father Andrew Draper.
- DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, March 29,2001
Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court, St. Francis,
take part in the installation ceremony.
Catholic Daughters Installed
The installalion of che Catho
lic Daughters of the Americas
Court, St. Francis of Assisi
Catholic Church, took place on
Sunday, Jan. 7, at the 10:30 a.m.
Mass.
Special guests present were:
State Regent, Doreen Warren;
Past State Regent, Lucille
Kroboth; Past State Regent. Geri
Butler; Stale Membership, Mary
Ann Grabashy. Also present
were members from the
Salisbury, Charlotte and Greens
boro Courts of The Catholic
Daughters of the Americas. Fa
ther Joe Kelleher, retired, of
Winston Salem presided.
Officers for The Catholic
Daughters of the Americas
Court, St. Francis of Assisi, are:
Regent: Orpha Russell; Vice
Regent: Donna Sharpe; Record
ing Secretary: Clare Huhckler,
Treasurer: Chcrie Graham; Fi
nancial Secretary: Jean Jones.
Members are: Addie Burks,
Angelique Zickmund, Annette
Peak, Barbara Kollins, Cherie
Graham, Christina McGowan,
Clare Hunckler, Dolly
Campbell. Dolores "D" Spry,
Donna Sharpe, Betty Kissce.
Freddie Sprinkle, Janet Church,
Jean Jones, Josephine Ciciuila,
Kathie Sircit, Laura Powers,
Linda Harris, Mary Carter,
Maureen Gildein, Mitzi Grey,
Nancy Gerrety, Nancy Lucky,
Orpha Russell, Pat Zickmund,
Phyllis Stevens, Rebecca Rebbe,
Rosemaric Rowland, Sandra
Ginther, Sarah Fahey, Teresa
Dandison.
Catholic Daughters was
founded in 1903 by the Knights
of Columbus and is the largest
national organization of Catho
lic women in the world. The or
ganization is dedicated to
strengthening the spiritual fife of
Catholic women through Christ
and His Church. They are orga
nized in 42 states, Pueno Rico,
Doininican Republic, Mexico,
Virgin Islands, Guam and
Saipan.
The St. Francis of Assisi
Catholic Daughters meet at 7
p.m. the first Monday of each
month at the church on 862
Yadkinville Road, Mocksville.
The pastor is Father Andrew R.
Draper, TOR. *
Catholic lay and religious
women. 18 years of age or older,
who love and support the church
and wish to participate in social
and charitable activities, are wel
come to join The St. Francis of
Assisi Catholic Daughters.
Davis CountvMocksville, NC
> -DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, Mareh 29,2001
Shamrock Run Draws 266 Athletes To Mocksville
"• Robert Miller didn't set the 5K run or lOK run, a long way '
Shamrock Run record when he from the 33 who participated in j
crossed the finish line in the 5k the first Shamrock Run.
(3.1 miles) road race March 17. Miller finished the lOK !
• And he didn't set the record course in an even 35 minutes, i
when he crossed the finish line beating out RussFiedig (35:31)
ip the Shamrock Run lOK. and Rodney Jackson (36:17).
: But he did set a record by He finished the 5K course in
vyinning both races in the 14th 16:49, followed by Dwight
annual event sponsored by St. Jacobs in 17:58 and Christopher
Francis Catholic Church in Spano in 18:11.
Mocksville. The closest finish of the day
: A total of 281 people signed was between Rhonda Lee and
lip for either a 5K fitness walk, Teresa Tagnani of Mocksville.
who sprinted to the finish line
with Lee a second better than
Tagnani at 46:21. Kathy Seavers
was third at 48:14.
Christy Lee won the female
SK'race in 20:01, ahead of Addie
Bracy, 21:58 and Lindsay
Coomes, 22:07.
All of the winners were first-
time winners in the Shamrock.
Favorite Margaret Hagerty,
who hasn't missed a Shamrock
Run, finished her usual first in
the 5K and lOK races for the fe
males over age 76.
The course took the runners
through historic downtown
Mocksville, a re-certified course
that is devoid of dogs that
plagued the Sanford Avenue
course, while still remaining sce
nic.
Twenty-six of the runners ran
in both the 5K and lOK events,
with 90 in the lOK and 157 in
the 5K. Thirty four took part in
the fitness walk, 21 of whom
were new to the Shamrock.
- ^ A steady group of church vol-
v> unteers did everything from
- ^ keeping the times, watching for
traffic to handing out food and
other prizes donated by area
J 7s businesses. Brad Cartner played
music, and George Ray was em^
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Davte county Public^raw
Mocksville.
HI
- DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, March 29,2001
Runners leave the starting line for the annual Shamrock Run 5K race sponsored by St. Francis Catholic Church
f
Race Director Jim Gildein first the gun to start the 14th annual Shamrock Run 10K race through Mocksviile streets.
in Mocksviile.- Photos by Mike Barnhardt
Volunteers keep track of the runners and their times.
Davie County Public Library
Mocksviile, NC
- DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, March 29,2001
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Trlathlete Stephen Fuller-
ton crosses the finish line
in the WK.
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Robert Miller, shown win
ning the 10K race, also
captured first int he 5K.
Davis County Public Library
Mocksville, NC
DAVIE county enterprise record, Nov. I, 2001 -
Bazaar co-chair Fran Wilkie concentrates on getting the
piece just right.
St Francis Church
Fall Bazaar This
Friday, Saturday
This weekend Mocksville's St. Francis Catholic Church will host
it's annual Fall Bazaar at the church at 862 Yadkinville Road, h will
be open 3-8 p.m. on Friday. Nov. 2 and on Saturday. Nov. 3 from 8
a.m.-2 p.m.
The Eatery at St. Francis will be serving Friday and Sanirday.
The menu will include a baked potato bar. fresh garden salad, hearty
homemade chili, and homemade desserts. Ham and sausage bis
cuits will be offered Saturday morning for breakfast.
The bazaar will offer a bounty of original handmade items ideal
for keeping or giving, everything from home and holiday decora
tions, decorative clothing, to gifts for young and old. and everyone
in between.
A white elephant sale will add to the fun. Parishioners of St.
Francis have been working on bazaar items at home and in work
shops for almost a year.
Pies, cakes, and other goodies will be offered. A wealth home
canned jellies. Jams, and salsas straight from the summer's bounty
will be for sale.
Drawing for the raffle of a large framed cross stitch/beaded Win
ter Elegance" by Ruth Hunckler, a hand-pieced tree skirt by Fran
Wilkie. and a Chri.stmas Rose afghan by Cherie Graham will be
held Saturday near the end of the bazaar.
St. Francis is working to build a new sanctuary. The church of
fers mass four mornings a week, Wednesday evenings at 7 and cel
ebrates the Sabbath with four masses; 5 p.m. Saturday. 8 a.m..
10:30a.m.. and 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
DavieCountv.PuWto^®'^
l^ocKsviHe. NC
DAVIE county enterprise record, Nov. 1 2001
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Bazaar co-chair Ann Arnold (right) assists Laura Row
ers with a decoration.
Tare Freiberger (right) puts the finishing touches on an
angel while Barb Kollins creates embossed gift cards.
i
These handcrafted items will be sold at the St. Francis
bazaar.
Davie Counlv PuWic UbrarvMocKsvWe, NC
DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, March 28. 2002
St Francis
St. Francis of Assist Catho- Ilie Church broke ground March |
17 on a new church building. n
Construction on the new P
church that will seat approxt- 1
mately 300 people should begin
within a week, said Vincent
Mannino. chair of the building
committee.
The Most Rev. William 0.
Curiin. D.D.. bishop of the Dio
cese of Charlotte, brought the
message at the Sunday Mass
prior to the groundbreaking cer
emony. . u ^1,
He congratulated church
members on the new building,
but told them not to lose their
perspective.
"You've got a sense of what
a community is ... it's a love of
Jesus." Curiin said. "Don't ever
lose that sense. Jesus. Jesus.Jesus, thafswhatthechurch IS.
The church has grown to in
clude 175 families, and needed
more space than available in thebuilding on Yadkinville Road.
-.The new church is being built
in a field behind the present
structure, and will face Valley
Breaks Ground For New ChurchBm
I,', >'-Vi ^
asho* m G. Curlinl^ens to MocKsville Mayor
Francis Slate.
Road. Mannino said. It will in
clude five classrooms, and tneold church will be converted into
a fellowship hall. They hope to
be in the new building by Chnst-
mas. , ,
The design will be a similar
look to the new CCB buildingnext door, Mannino said.
"There was a lot of hard work
and a lot of donations, and do
nations don't always come by
i 0-
money, they come by the ge^-
osiiyofourtown."hesaid. The
community had a lot to do with
Mocksville Mayor Fmncis
Slate. State Rep'. Julia C.
Howard and Chamber President
Joan Carter were on hand for the
groundbreaking ceremony.
The church was full of
parishoners - some of the same
people who have made the new
building possible. They sup
ported church functions such as
holiday dinners and dances.
Mannino said.
• "I would like to thank all ot
the parishoners in supporting
this dream we have.
mm
groundbrsaking.
"It's going to be nice. I have
to thank Father (Andrew) Draper
for giving me full reign ... and
so many people ... all the i
parishoners." 1
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Oflvjfi County Public Ubrery
Mocksville, Ng
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Itwas packed at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with the Most Rev, William G. Curlin spoke for the groundbreaking ceremoni^^ - PnnTAis nv Mlk6 d
Davli County Public library
Mocksville, NC
D.AVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, March 28,2002
Sister proves It's never too late for ministry
By JOANITA IVl. NELLENBACH
Correspondent
MOC'KSVII,I,E — "Ik-ff loiiifs
graiulnici; Ihtc comes grandma," die teen
ager shouted as Sister Susie Dandison
exited the Helmont Ahlx'V College stage,
diploma in hand.
Someone tried to cori-ect him: No.
diat \\as a luin. .losluia BrincetieM. how
ever, knew what he was talking ahoiit.
Mercy Sister Teresa
Susana Dandison —
kiKHvn to everyone as
Sister Susie — is
mother of four and
gTandmother to I I.
Before she earned
that diploma in 199o,
she raised a family and
became a Sister of
Mercy of Belmont.
in her native
Buenos Aires, Argen
tina. she and her par
ents were Catholic hut
tlidn't attend church
regularly; she doesn't
recall her Catholic-
^^school tea<-l!ers think
ing of her as a potential
sister.
Susie marrii'd .lohn
Dandison. an Argentinean of Engli.sh dt^
scent, in 19.50 when she was 17. They
arrived in North Carolina in 195.5, after
s|x*nding time in Uruguav, Knglanil and
Georgia.
They lived in Salisbury, where their
four chiklren attended Sacred hleart
School. Susie was Involved in tlie school
and in Sacred Heart parish. John traveled,
.selling industrial ciiemicais.
In 1971, their oldest daughter mar
ried and tiieir oldest son had just gi*adu-
ated fi'om iiigh school when John dkxl of a
'^ iieart attack.
Susie devoted herself to the (.'hildren
gk still at home. She also worked and went to
Mercy Sister
Teresa Susana Dandison
and ministered to tiie^ P«""i^ oine' ^ w idowed, .sepai ated and divorcetl. Kven-
' tually she tcmk a job in inventory control
0''^ Ingersoll-Rand.
Thi-ee years after her husband's death,
'Susie made Cursillo .iikI met Sistcj- of$
N_J ^Mc.'i'cv i^•luline Clifford, a memlx'i" of the
Cursillo ti-ain. "1 told her I iliotiglH I might
have a vocation," Sister Susie said, 'Td
fiKvays enjoyed working in the ehurch,
'['he iileti of Ixiiiig a nun tlidn't aj)|X'al to ine,
l)ul I kept thiitking alxiiit it — against niv
l)errer judgment. 1 though there must he
more to my life than working and dating
some and having a good rime."
Tile decision to enter religious lift-
took 10 years.
"I think what at
tracted me to it was
mission, and then
community, and then
you would have ample
time for prayei"," she
said, "I've leai-ned that
if you want hours and
hours foi- prayer you
have to make time tor
tliat. We're not clois
tered women: we're in
mini.stry."
Finally, .lesuit Fa-
tlier .loseph
McCdoskey, whom
she'd met through
ciiai-ismatic renewal,
told her to make the
leap {)!■ forget it.
A sister from one
order had told hei- she
was too okl. hut when Sisters of Mercy
visited Sai-red Heart toi-.a celehration, she
mentioned tc^ Sistei- .leaiine-Margaret
N'IcNally that she thought she had a voca
tion. Sister .(eaiine-Margaret asked her
ago, Si.sti-r .Susif ret;alle(.l that, "1 saitl, '1 ni
too old,' and .she said, "Oh, no you're not.' If
voLi're open to God's message, you're go
ing to get it. I was willing to talk about it
and di.seern. I felt that God was calling me
to something."
Susie entered the Sisters of Mercy of
Belmont soon after, at age .5'J. in 19H4.
Her children, now married, siip-
[xated her. "They were iiappy that I'm
lia|)py," Sister Susie saii.l. "They'd rather
see me busy than sitting at home."
.\fter maldng her final vows in 1991,
Sistc.-r .Susie served as chaplain at Mercy
South Hospital in Charlotte. She often
itUerpi'i'tetl lor Hispanic patients who
spnke little or no Fngiisli.
.Alter a wliilc, thoiie'h, she hi-u'an to
tliink alxHit changing her ministrv. She
learned that Sister .Anita Sheerin had
been assigned as pastoral administrator
at St. Francis of" .Assisi Church in
Mocksville.
'AVhen Anita was asked to come over
hei-e, [ thought ma3'lx.' it was time to do
something (more) with my Spanish. " Sis
ter Susie said. "1 asked mv communitv- if I
cx)uid come out here to do an outreach to
Hisptmics, and tliey were very generous."
She lielps teach English to third- to
fifth-graders at William R. Davie El
ementary Schcx)!. One way she does this
is the teacher gives lier a math {problem,
which she asks the children t(^ solve. .A
child will read the prcjblem, and Sister
Su.sie will help with any w^ords they don't
understand. She helps with reading class
in die same way.
At Davie County Health Depart
ment, she interprets at a prenatal clinic
and, occasionally, at the courthouse.
"My ministry goes fi-om the .sublime
to the ridiculous. The sublime is that we
have Mass in Spani.sh every Sunday. 1
translate f()r the Mass." she said. She aLst>
assists with baptismal preparation.
Sister Susie has no regrets about
choosing a new life: "If 1 hadn't trietl it. 1
would spend the rest of my life wishing 1
had," she said.
Contact Curri'spondent Joaiiita .U.
yeUenbach b\ calling (S'JS) 6'27-9'2<)9 or r-
mail jnfllCcgcbict.net.
50 YEARS EXPERIENCE
Davie Cou
Mod
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NC
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FREE ESruWATES
704-321-5843
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pavie County Fubtic Udibi^MocKsvHle, NC
YOU, YOUR FAMILY or YOUR BUSINESS
gtf like to send
Conin'olnhftinfm Ut d'fiinn C, CifHin
DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, Thursday, March 4,2004
FiecordField ExpectedFor The Shamrock Run
Catholic Church??!^"'"
SE",r>i-=
SHsst;
borfv « - growth of
of a 0^ weight, growth
one^^rte thatof the ways to control ail^^ose growth facton. is to exer-
fha "'ay to do it
and F^e Kill"'® RuniTaveslh ""^'^'^^^hicheaves the starting line at 8:15
S5S??-Chu^h and finishes back
— Also on tap that Saturday
morning will be a 10-kilometer
Run starting at 9 a.m. and a
Tots Trot," set for a 10 a.m.
start.
All who register may pick up
• their registration packets start
ing at 7 a.m. on Race Day at St.
Francis Church.
Age groups for the compe
tition have been set for the fol
lowing: 15 and under, 16-19,
20-24,25-29,30-34,35-39,40-
44,45-49,50-54,55-59,60-64
65-69.70-74,75-79. and 80 and
over.
By registering for the com
petition, everyone who registers
by March 11 (online at
www.active. com) is assured a
T-shirt in specified sizes, rang
ing from XXL to XL, L, M, S.
Preregistration by March 5
requires a registration fee of
$17. Registration on the day of
the race wUl cost $20; special
price for the 'Tots Trot" is $5.
Registration forms are avail
able at the St. Francis Church
office at 862 Yadkinville Road,
Mocksville.
Overall winner awards, male
and female, are planned. There
also will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
place awards for all age groups.'
Unique walk awards are also
planned.
In previous years, scores of
participants entered the race -
and most finished it.
In the 'Tots Trot," awards
will be presented to the "Fast
est Stroller" as well as the win
ner in the flve-and-under group
and in the 6-10 year group. All
tots must be accompanied by an .
adult.
According to Dr. Kimberly,
"Walking is one of our very best
exercises, for it tones the
muscles, reduces body weight,
and keeps walkers fit and trim. ,
All-in-all, it makes one feel bet-
ter - and it makes one look bet
ter, too. As each one of us ages
a bit, we need to do something
to keep us trim. Walking or jog
ging can be very effective in
that respect." _
Salmon said that a portion of
the proceeds from the atmual
Shamrock RunAValk will be
presented to the building fund
for the new home for A Store
house for Jesus on a site already
aquired along Route 64 East in
Mocksville, not far from its in
tersection with Depot Street.
Kimberly, in discussing the
health aspects of walking, said
that nearly one-fourth of Ameri
cans are overweight, and the
rate of obesity in this country
increases annually. A serious re
sult is the increase in diabetes
which is developing at an
alarming rate.
A few decades ago, he said,
diabetes was not considered a
preventable disease. Now, he
explained, "we know that dia
betes, as a complication of over
weight and obesity, can be pre
vented. It takes regular exercise
to achieve significant weight
loss. The most cheap, most safe,
most dependable, and most easy
exercise is walking. Almost ev
eryone can do it."
(a
' lo
z.
J \t
-1 "*■i A
Oavie County Public Ubraiy
- ■" Nc
S5
DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, Thursday, March 11,2004
Annual Shamrock Run,
Race Director Dave Salmon
and Dr. George Kimberly - he's
the medical director of A Store-
. house for Jesus - expect a record
turnout for St. Francis of Assisi
Catholic Church's 16th annual
Shamrock Run/Walk on Satur
day, March 13. '
Part of their expectation is
due to the growing public intrest
in, well, growth - growth of
body, growth of weight, growth
of appetite. And they figure that
one of the ways to control all
those growth factors is to exer
cise.
And what better way to do it
than in the Five Kilometer Run
and Five Kilometer Walk which
leaves the starting line at 8:15
a.m. - rain or shine - over a cer-
tiHed course which begins at St.
Francis of Assisi Catholic
Church and finishes back at the
church?
Also on tap that Saturday
morning will be a 10-kilometer
Run starting at 9 a.m. and a
'Tots Trot," set for a 10 a.m.
start.
All who register may pick up
their registration packets start
ing at 7 a.m. on Race Day at St.
Francis Church.
Age groups for the competi
tion have been set for the fol
lowing: 15 and under, 16-19,20-
24,25-29,30-34,35-39,40-44,
45-49,50-54,55-59,60-64,65-
69, 70-74, 75-79, and 80 and
over.
By registering for the com
petition, everyone who registers
by March 11 (online at
www.active. com) is assured a
T-shirt in specified sizes, rang
ing from XXL to XL, L, M, S.
Preregistration by March 5
requires a registration fee of
$17. Registration on the day of
the race will cost $20; special
price for the "Tots Trot" is $5.
Registration fonhs are avail
able at the St. Francis Church
office at 862 Yadkinville Roao,
Mocksville.
Overall winner awards, male
and female, are planned. There
also will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
place awards for all age groups.
Unique walk awards are also
planned.
In previous years, scores 'of
participants entered the race -
and most finished it.
In the "Tots Trot," awards
will be presented to the "Fast
est Stroller" as well as the win
ner in the five-and-under group
and in the 6-10 year group. All
tots must be accompanied by an
adult.
According to Dr. Kimberly,
"Walking is one of our vpry best
exercises, for it tones the
muscles, reduces body weight,
and keeps walkers fit and trim.
All-in-all, it makes one feel bet
ter - and it makes one look bet
ter, too. As each one of us ages
a bit, we need to do something
"iA
n V i/t
v'
C-
'i
0
-a:o
X
<z
kA
Fitness Walk This Saturday
to keep us trim t. Walking or jog
ging can be very effective in that
respect."
Salmon said that a portion of
the proceeds from the annual
Shamrock Run/Walk will be
presented to the building fund
for the new home for A Store
house for Jesus on a site already
aquired along Route 64 East in
Mocksville, not far from its in
ersection with Depot Street.
Kimberly, in discussing the
health aspects of walking, said
that nearly one-fourth of Ameri
cans are overweight, and the rate
of obesity in this country in
creases annually. A serious re
sult is the increase in diabetes
which is developing at an alarm
ing rate.
A few decades ago, he said.
diabetes was not considered a
preventable disease. Now, he
explained, "we know that dia
betes, as a complication of over
weight and obesity, can be pre
vented. It takes regular exercise
to achieve significant weight
loss. The most cheap, most safe,
most dependable, and most easy
exercise is walking. Almost ev
eryone can do it."
Oavie County Public Library
Mooksville, NO
V
U
Si
DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, Thursday, Dec. 9,2004 -
United By Faith
Mexicans Carry Torch Through Davie On Way To New York
The Mexicans posed i Cin the
parking lot at St. Francis of
Assisi Church in Mocksville on
Nov. 30. smiling and shouting
"Mexico" in their native lan
guage.
The two busloads didn't stay
long.
The group had left Mexico
ty on Oct. 10, headed for St.
Patrick's Cathedral in New York
City.
Taking turns carrying a torch,
the runners quickly have made
their way up the' East Coast.
They could only stay in Mocks
ville for a brief ceremony in the
church, where the torch was
used to light a candle.
"The purpose is to take the
image of Lady Guadalupe to St.
Patrick's Cathedral," said Sister
Susie Dandison of St. Francis.
"The message is a united people
through faith. One people di
vided by the frontier and united
by faith."
The Hispanic presence is
nothing new to St. Francis. The
previous Sunday, more than 200
area residents had attended
Spanish Mass.
"We have a very large and a
very young Spanish commu-
tiity," Dandison said.
Sister Susie Dandison: "We have a very large and
very young Spanish community,"
Davis County Public Library
Mocksviile, NC
DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, Thursday, Dec. 9,2004 n
The torch at right was carried through Mocksville last week as groups of Mexicans are taking it from Mexico to New York City, symbolizing the
unity of the Mexican people through faith. " Photos by Robin Fergusson
Davie County
Mocksville, NC
q\\0 ral)
Ca4l^ol ic churJ'OSVlO County Public Library
Mooksvllle, NC
DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, Thursday, OcL 7,2010
r<;;%3
F 't'";
I St. Francis
I Celebrates
I St. Francis of Assisi
M Catholic Church ceiebrat-
gl ed its 50th anniversary as
;f a parish on Sunday, Oct.
tl 3 with a picnic, music, his-
J tory excerpts from parish-
L ioner Bob Ginther, and a
S blessing of the new St.
JQ Francis Memorial Garden
B sponsored by the Knights
B ofColumbusCouncil2610
B in Mocksville. Pastor,
B the Rev. Andrew Draper,
fl T.O.R. is shown blessing
H the garden and statue.
GKL>'fcA^—-
5T.FR.ftMCv5 Of '
C8 - DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, Thursday, Aug. 25,2011
'U"
f-"
I-l
jsr^
^ \ '• 'JS.*''! .-1 '. '
St Francis Pastor Installed
On Aug. 13 at the 10:30 a.m. daily mass/ Bishop Peter Jugis (at right In
Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Mocksville, with 65 people in atten
dance, including 12 Knights from the Color Corps and five other Knights in
baldric and tuxedos. Jugis escorts Starczewski to significant places in the'
church in these photos, including frontdoors, baptismal font, reconciliationi
room, presidential chair, altar, and the tabernacle. il
A - Photos courtesv Dave Graham'
25th Anniversary
Special Events Planned For
March 2 Shamrock Run
On March 2, the Shamrock
Run will celebrate its 25tb anni
versary with the step-off for the
5K, the Competitive Walk and
the Fun Walk at 8:15 am. The
lOK will begin at 9 am. and the
Tots Trot will start at 10.Awards
ceremonies for the competitive
iaces will be at 10:15 a.m.
Sponsored by St. Francis of
Assisi Church in Mocksville.the
race has a USATF certified 5K
and lOK route through the center
of Mocksviile. The race orga
nizers will use the chip system
by Lee Timing for more accurate
timing and faster results. A por
tion of the proceeds will benefit
jhe Davie Pregnancy Center.
• Sheriff Andy Stokes wiU be
one of the race directors in honor
of^e'?ilver anniversary of the,
bi^anizers are plannipg
food, fun and music the day of
the race. The baric Beiter Cup
will be awarded for the second
year. Students in Davie High
School are eocouraged to partic
ipate . The Beiter Cup wUl have
the male and female winning
athletes' names engraved on it.
The DHS Media Center displays
the cup year-round within the
Dane Beiter Collection of social
studies books.
Younger students from ele
mentary through middle school
are also invited to participate.
Any individual or team can
join the run/walk for health and
fitness. Parents are encouraged
to.runywalk with their children,
A feature of the race U the
Corporate Challenge Fitness
Run/Walk to blend fitness and
good health with team building.
Participants are encouraged
to take advantage of early reg
istration by March 1 for $25.
per athlete. Those who register
to participate on the day of the
race wUl pay $30. Athletes who
wish to run the 5K and the lOK
can do so for $40 using early
registration and $50 for day-of
registration. Student rate for
one race is $20. Tots trot for $5.
Early registration can be made
by completing the registration
form found on the brochures and
mailing it with a check (made
out to St. Francis of Assisi
Church) to St. Francis of Assisi
Church. 862 Yadkinville Road,
Mocksviile. Forms and checks
can also be delivered in person.
Online registration is available
at www.active.com. Online reg
istration ends Feb. 27.
Organizers ask that partic
ipants take advantage of early
packet pick-up on Friday, March
1 from4-7 p.m. Pizza and bever
ages will be available for those
using early pick-up.
DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, Thursday, Feb. 14,2013
Davie County Pubtin iibiaiy
Mocksviile, NO
(! TaAViC\S Of ^SSvSi-^ ^ ^I '•■»AVIECOl)mYENTERPiaSER£X;OW),Thiirsday,Dec 3,2015To "9^York; With Ain Mocksvllle9n' Lady of Guadalupe/the25, Samt Francis of Assisi message of diis event is to.Catholic church in Mocks- join families separated by a,:ville hosted " La Antorcha border. . /Guad^upajia. Saint Francis celebrated. ^ ® procession through •ico City and will terminate the streets, Aztec dancesm^^ fplk^^ces, music, food,'feast date of Our Lady of songs^andthe celebration ofI. Dec. 12. This is ^-the HolyiMassf r,^^h relay organized by ; . ^n Thursday, Saint Fran^i^the Ibfjeyac Association. cis^ran to S^t Mary's Oath- ;i• ^inmges are olic-^Chu^ in GreenMfb^Basilica of to .deUver the;tbrch' hlphg.Our Lady a^Guadaliipe the images:,j 'Our^ ■;, .■.^"Multiple . prayers were J- r shed ujpbn her'ger,.Juan Diego to whom ,i.Qut a passport" said D^n-she appeared to ip Decem- hatprres. "She is the niptli. 'bef l531. er of Slesuco and Queen ofA torch is brought along our hearts: For me it is anwith the inaages repr^^^^ emotion that words caning unity, love and the light not express. To constantlyof Qhrist. _ . Hve between two culturesEach year it passes is difficult but when I par-through Mejdco and crosses ticipate in events like this itfo the Unit^ States. The is impossible to retain one'simages iare passed town to emotions and devotion totown, haiid in hand by thou- the culture and Our Lady of ^sands of devotees to Our Guadalupe." ^^^OCHSVllle HC
6 ^ - DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, Thursday, Jan. 17,2019
soheduied for March 16
2
o
to
tn
VJ
2
fC
Gd
O
TTie 3Isf Annual Sham
rock Run will be held on the
, eve of St. Patrick's Day, Sat
urday, March 16 in historic
Downtown Mocksville.
. The . Shamrock Run
features US ATF Certified
lOK, and 5K races as well as
. ahuntimed 5K Fun Walk.
Racing Toes \yill.profes-
sion^y time the run using a
disposable chip system, that
will insure shorter check-in
lines, less confusion on race
day^ better timing accuracy
and faster results.
Proceeds will help sup
port the Guardians Ad Litem
program in Davie County.
This a volunteer organiza
tion that advocates for the
special needs of abused and
neglected children in the
foster, program.
St. .Francis of Assisi
Catholic Chmch of Mocks-
vilje islthehdst.'
; ;.vRuriners\ can: register
: ohrline, by mi^, or in per
son on the day before or on
March 16 at St. Francis of
Assisi Church..
On-line registration is
available at wwwKunSig-
nup.com ^d closes at noon,
March. 14.
Of runners can register
by mail by downloading the
form firom www.Shamrock-
RunNC.conj and mailing
it with a check by March
8-to: Shamrock Run Race
Director, St. Francis of As
sisi Church, 862 Yadkinville
Rd., Mocksville, NC 27028:
. Runners and Fun Walk
ers; can also regis:ter at the
church on th^ day before of
the day of the faces •
The f^ for fegisterihg
for the 5K race or the lOK
race before March 10 is $25;
students under 18 pay i$20 .
The fee for nmhmg both
races is $35 with Wdehts
under 18 paying $25. There
is an extra fiee 6f.$10 if you
register after that date. The
fee for the untimed Fun
Walk is $15.
Runners and Fun Win
ers who register before
March 1 wilf be :^aran-
teed. getting ah officM race
t^shirt ,pn race; d^v ®^ace
packets will be av^able at
7 a.m. on Satufday, March
16. r n
The 5 K Run will start at
8:15ca.m. and the ;10iK race
begmsat9a;m:: n
Award ceremonies and
festivities vvill follow after
the conclusion of each race.
\
% -9
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*
i.3
\A\xftCH^5- A$5\S\ ^ 5 5 \ O U)) )DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, Thursday. Ian. 21,2021 - B3Shamrocic Byn eri'For 31 years, folksfrom all over have beenputting on their greenrunning clothes and coming to Mocksville for theannual Shamrock Run.No more.St. Francis of AssisiCatholic Church, sponsors of the annual event,have decided to discontinue the popular event.Last year, the eventwas canceled in March asthe COVID-19 epidemicbegan."After much discussion and prayer, we have:erdecided that we are notgoing to be continuing theShamrock Run," the Rev.Father Eric L. Kowals-ki, pastor, said in a letterto sponsors. "It's been awonderful 31 years."The Shamrock Runwas truly a communityevent, bringing togethermany people from diversebackgrounds to participate in a shzired interestand to help raise funds notonly for St. Francis of Assisi, but for local charitiesas well," he said.-a4^
C.^^n(!>uvc - 5t, Or f^\5Si6M)))4 - DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, Thursday, Nov. 2,2023Torch run set for Mocksville stop next weekLa Antorcha Guadalupa-na. or the Guadalupan lorchrun. is organized annuallyby Asociacion Tcpeyac. inwhich a flame is broughtoverland from the Basilicaof Guadaiupc in MexicoCity to Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York City.The runners will arrivein Mocksville on Wednesday. Nov. 8 around 4 p.m. at^ Rich Park.^ Members of St. Francisof Assist Catholic Churchwill join the group following the lead runners fromRich Park, down MainStreet, turning right onGaither. They will lake another right on WilkesboroStreet and run until theymust take a left on MeroneySt. due to the constructionwork at the "5-conicrs".Continuing onto HospitalSt.. the group will take aright on Valley Road beforeturning right on YadkinvillcRoad entering the drivewayto St. Francis.The running of a torchwas a pre-Columbian practice for carrying messages.It is said that when JuanDiego appeared before thebishop to deliver the Virginof Guadalupe's request for ashrine on the hill atTepeyacand spilled roses at her feet,torch runners conveyed thenews of the miraculous apparition.The Antorcha Guada-lupana - or torch run - is atraditional Mexican religious pilgrimage that datesback more than half a century to honor Our Lady ofGuadaiupc. that country'spatron. Association Te-peyac began organizing theMexico-New York relay runin 1999.Runners - most of themyoung adults - make theJourney from Mexico Cityto their own towns. Thetorch run takes 72 days.It left the Basilica inMexico City on Sept. 21.the International Day ofPeace, and is set to arrivein New York City on Dec.12, the Feast of Our Lady ofGuadaiupc.
5-t, pal^^oc^5 Cr h<^s\s\ hiSSiOSJ))8 - DAVIE COUNTY ENTERPRISE RECORD, Thursday, Sept. 19,2024rr F ? rr r r f f 'f 1'r_rrrri**^IWI00Q00&-1-1^LtnThe Rev. Fr. Eric Kowalski, pastor of St. Francis of Assisl Catholic Church, appears in a timeline video thataccompanies the escape challenge game coming up next month.The Great EscapeSt. Francis planning game as social event, fundraiserThe parishioners of Si.Francis of Assisi in Mocks-villc arc tapping-into ihcescape room concepl for aunique fundraiser and socialcvcnl.St. Francis will host TheGreat Catholic Escape RoomChallenge on Friday, Oct. 18in its parish hall.Escape rooms are popularentertainment venues seen incities around liie diocese.Participants work with aseries of puzzles, mysteries.The Great Catholic EscapeRoom Challenge logo.and hidden clue.s to "escape"the game before the clockruns-out. Nobody is everlocked-in. It's just a game."I'm excited." says theRev. Fr. Eric Kowalski. "Being a faith community ismore than just showing-upfor mass on Sunday. Youneed come togetlier outsideof church to grow and havefun as a family. We're looking forward to doing thatwith the escape room."A great escape roomneeds a great story. TIicgame is set in the mythicalcatacombs of tlie St. Francisof Assisi Convent in Orvieto,Italy. The faithful arc trappedinside acer a careless youngnun loses the key.Participants race againstthe clock to hnd not only thekey. but also Mother DeLu-ca's famous pasta recipe tofeed the bishop just in time."1 enjoy creating eventsthat give people somethingdifferent." says parishionerChris Hoke. who originally designed the game withfriends for Charlotte youngadult groups. "The escaperoom gives people an out-of-the-box way to do somethingthat's fun and faith-focused.We went to great-lengtlis toensure tlie game was hands-on, engaging, and challenging."The Great Catholic Escape Room Challenge usesaudio, video, and interactiveprops to create an immersiveexperience.Fr. Kowalski appears inthe introductory and time-clock video as the host toinstruct players and provide humorous commentarythroughout the game. Participants will be split intogroups tliat compete in theirown spaces to sec who canescape first.It starts at 6 pm.. Friday.Oct. 18 with an overflow at7:30 if necessary. St. Francis is at 862 Yadkinville Rd.,Mocksville.Adult tickets are S20. Students under age 18 arc SICand must be accompaniedby an adult. Pizza and drinksare included witli admission.Registration is required atSFAMOX-ora.DAVIE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARYMOCKSVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA