Ryan Succop, kicker for USC Gamecocks just made the big jump to the National Football League. The Kansas City Chiefs picked the USC senior on their last pick. As a result, Succop has been awarded the title Mr. Irrelevant. The honor, started 34 years ago by Paul Salata, former player for the Baltimore Colts and the San Francisco 49ers, celebrates “the underdog”. Ryan and his family will enjoy a week of festivities in his honor in Newport Beach, CA and to commemorate his new standing as the 256th pick.

St Aloysius Catholic Church Life Teen is heading to Knoxville, TN this summer to help the underprivileged. Over 25 young people will be working on projects involving painting, home repair, yard work, child care, and serving their local food bank. Most projects are in Knoxville and Knox County, but some of their mission work will be in the surrounding counties.

2008 witnessed many changes for the real estate market across the United States. In North Carolina, many of our neighbors are suffering from foreclosures and short sales. Bad loans have made a mess of our market. In Hickory, vacation property has kept its value but the potential buyers have suffered so much in their home markets and investments that second home properties are not options.

St. Aloysius in Hickory, NC is hosting a Lenten Mission, “Forgiveness Leads to Wellness and Joy,” for three evenings, March 7 – 9 from 7 – 8 pm. Each night focuses on a different part of forgiveness. “What is Forgiveness and Why is it so Difficult to Practice?”, “Living the Truth: The Only Environment for Forgiveness”, and “Practical Ways to Increase the Joy which Follows Forgiveness” are the three teachings.

This year's March for Life provided the teens of St. Aloysius an opportunity to stand up for those who can't be heard: the unborn. Father Bob Ferris and Father Jim Collins left Hickory, NC with 84 parishioners from St Aloysius of Hickory, St Joseph's of Newton, St Dorothy's of Lincolnton, St Charles of Morganton and St Lucien's of Spruce Pine.

St Aloysius Catholic Church in Hickory, NC is selling Christmas trees and wreaths on the weekends of December 2008 to support the youth on their 2009 mission trip.

Youth from the St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Hickory, NC are selling Christmas Trees to support the youth ministry.