Arinze, a possible successor to Pope John Paul II, was led into the church by the Kabaka Dancers, church celebrants and was
accompanied by Bishop William G. Curlin of the Charlotte Diocese.
On the eve of Pope John Paul II's 79th birthday, Arinze preached on the importance of faith to over 300 people seated inside the
church and many watching outside on closed circuit television.
"It is not enough to know our faith," said Arinze. "We should love our faith and live it. Faith is a gift the more you share with others,
the more it will grow."
Arinze, 66, was ordained a priest in 1958 in Rome after studying theology at Pontifical Urban University. Born in Onitsha, Nigeria in
1932, Arinze was appointed as the first archbishop of Onitsha in 1967.
Elevated to cardinal in 1985 by Pope John Paul II, Arinze currently serves on several committees, including the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith, Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the committee for Jubilee 2000.
"I was pleased at how personable, how friendly and how he speaks in a language that all of us can
share and relate to," said the Rev. Eric Houseknecht, Pastor of Our Lady of Consolation. "I'm so proud of everybody and all of the efforts that went into this wonderful event."
Houseknecht said Arinde's visit was a good beginning to Our Lady of Consolation's outreach mission, which includes plans to build a new church and provide a "beacon of hope for the community."
Parishioner Cindy Gardin felt the cardinal's visit bolstered the image of the Charlotte's only predominantly-black Catholic church.
"
It is a great honor to have him come to our church," said Gardin. "He could have picked any church.
I am really honored that he picked us. I think it put a black church on the map. A lot of people do not know that we are here, because we are on this side of town."
The Statesville Avenue church sits within one of Charlotte's most crime-infested areas.
"His eminence has come from Rome to Oakwood, one of the poorest
neighborhoods in Charlotte," parishioner Arnoldo Gbenyon said. "He chose to identify with this community and I think that speaks a lot."
The cardinal was presented with gifts of an African scarf and a certificate from the church parish, the Nigerian community and Youth in Action before Curlin made closing remarks.
"I promised to bring you a present," Curlin said. "The present is his eminence."
