Above: Twelve students from Cardinal Gibbons, representing all four grades, visited Bishop Luis at the Catholic Center March 25 with Father Luke, their chaplain, and Kathleen Kozak, director of Campus Ministry.
RALEIGH - Twelve students from Cardinal Gibbons High School visited the Catholic Center March 25. They celebrated Mass in the chapel with Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama as presider, Father Luke Rawicki, L.C., their school chaplain, Father Jim Sabak, O.F.M., director of Divine Worship for the diocese, and Kathleen Kozak, director of the school’s Campus Ministry.
During his homily, the bishop talked to the students about sports and how rules are in place to make games and life good. So, too, he said, are the “rules” of faith, especially the challenge to love.
Simply knowing the rules, he continued, yields no impact. But understanding the rules and living in their spirit allows people to live in fulness.
“Love is for God, neighbor and self. You cannot add anything more there,” Bishop Luis said, noting that the word love shouldn’t be used to show feelings for material things or certain favorite foods, for example.
After Mass, the Gibbons community brought breakfast that was shared in the bishop’s office as the group discussed topics including the hometown of Bishop Luis, the pastoral nature of Pope Francis and even the history of the bishop’s mustache. A student asked how long he had had it and if it had ever changed. As students laughed some and smiled, he answered that he’d had it since he was about 21.
Students were able to ask questions relating to Catholic teaching, morals and ethics.
When asked if he played sports in school, Bishop Luis shared that in his home country of Colombia schools don’t offer organized sports like they do in the United States, but that after school he would play outside near his home with friends. The answer prompted students to ask him what Colombia may have that the United States doesn’t. “Time,” he responded, noting the importance of not being too busy.
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