01.12.07

New Bedford Catholic schools to be restructured NEW BEDFORD - A long-term, multi-faceted plan to strengthen Catholic elementary education in Greater New Bedford will bring changes to the area's schools beginning in the next academic year.

George A. Milot, Ed.D., diocesan superintendent ofschools, explained that there are many factors affecting Catholic schools in New Bedford. The school age population has decreased over the past few years for the city as a whole, and projected enrollments show no sign of a spike in this age group. The city's Catholic population has declined as well and smaller parish communities mean fewer prospective students and diminished financial support, both of which impact parish sponsorship of a school.

The local economy is also a significant challenge, Milot added. Median income in New Bedford is about 67 percent of the state median income. Catholic schools rely on tuition to fund almost all operational costs. It's difficult for many families to pay tuition, particularly those who depend on only one income or who have experienced a gap in employment.

These are issues affecting Catholic schools in many older urban areas: The National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) reports that Catholic elementary/middle school enrollment has decreased by 20,000 students in New England over the past 10 years.

Over the past two years a committee of pastors and principals from each of the eight Schools in the New Bedford Dean-

Tum to page seven - Schools

New administration; still a tough road ahead

By GAn. BESSE

PRO-LIFE ADVOCATE - Former State Representative Phil Travis:of Seekonk speaks to reporters shortly after the January 2 constitutional convention in Boston. (Boston Pilot photo by Christine Williams)

Mass. bishops praise Eegislatnre's advance of marriag~ ~mendment ,I

By

DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR AND CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

BOSTON - The Catholic bishops of Massachusetts thanked state legislators January 2 "for living up to their oath of office" by voting on a" constitutional marriage amendment initiative before ending their legislative ses-

sion.

On its final day in its 2005-06 session, a reluctant Legislature narl-owly approved the initiative - 62 to 131 which would amend the state's constitution to ban samesex marriages, by defining marriage as between one man

Turn to page four - Legislature ="="""""""-===

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ANOIOR CORRESPONDENT BOSTON - Gov. Deval Patrick's inaugural speech before throngs ofsupporters on Beacon Hill January 4 called for change "forevery one ofGod's children who calls Massachusetts home."

But the rallying cry did not mean more legal protection for those children yet unborn. The Bay State's governor solidly supports abortion and embryonic stem-eell research.

State chapters of three leading national abortion advocacy groups-NARAL,PlannedParenthood,andN.O.W.-endorsed him. His economic goals include public funding of embryonic stem-eell research within a year.

On these sanctity of life issues, as well as social issues affecting marriage and family, Patrick is at odds with some key Catholic values. He supports homosexual adoptions and same-sex "marriage" and vowed to work to kill the ballot referendum that would let voters define marriage as a heterosexual union.

He called the citizen-sponsored measure "discrimination." ''It serves no public interest to focus more time and attention on this issue:' he said just before the January 2 Constitutional Convention that would decide its fate. ''Marriage equality is with us and has been with us for a couple of years, and the sky has not

Tum to page seven - Road

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VOCATION VACATION - Senior boys from Bishop Stang High School , North Dartmouth, recently visited St. John's ' Seminary in Brighton, where they were greeted by diocesan seminariaps. (Another ph'oto appears on page 15.)

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Diocesan youth get a feel fpr religious life Editor's note: January 7 through 13 marks National VocationAwareness Week. Severaldiocesan priests andseminarians gradously accepted The Anchor's invitation to submit their thoughts on accepting a call to a religious vocation. The articles begin below and continue on pages 13-15.

By FATHER I<EvJN COOK Awareness of and responding to God's will is essential to every follower of Christ. In seeking his will, the discernment of one's vocation and the response to the call to holiness must be imbued throughout the formation of every individual. Knowing

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that to be one ,of their missions in education, Bishop Stang High School, Norili Dartmouth, with theVocations Office ofFall River, organized trips for seniors to St. John's Seminary in Brighton and the conve*t ofthe Daughters ofSt. Paul in Jamaica Plain. The purpose ofthe trips was to help the students have a greater understanding of ~e vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Though they have been learning about the vocations, many never have had the qpportunity to see those discerning God's call, nor to see how they live it For many of them, their understanding of religious life a,pd priesthood are often formed by what is seen in Tum to page 13 - Visit

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JANUARY 12, 2007

'NEWS FROM THE VATICAN'

The interesting life of Vatican ambassadors

By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY - At first glance, the ambassadors accredited to the Vatican seem to be a group of elegant, older men gracefully ending their diplomatic careers in a posting filled with pomp and circumstance.

The suits with tails, the swords, the plumed hats, sashes and medals highlight the formality of public occasions and the long tradition of nations sending envoys to the Vatican, said Giovanni Galassi, dean of the Vatican dipc lomatic corps and San Marino's ambassador to the Holy See. "But we also must have something real to say; we must serve the world in some way," Galassi said January 3, the 20th anniversary of the day he presented his credentials as ambassador to Pope John Paul II. Galassi was not thinking about his anniversary - "Frankly, I forgot" - but was busy writing the speeches he was to give January 8 on behalf of the diplomatic corps to Pope Benedict XVI and to Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state.

The early January date for the pope's speech to the diplomatic corps and the formal dinner for the secretary of state that evening mark the one time of year when almost all of the 175 ambassadors and four special representatives gather together.

Galassi arrived at the Vatican in 1980, serving as San Marino's representative until being named ambassador when his country and the Vatican established full diplomatic relations in 1986.

In 1980, he said, the Vatican exchanged ambassadors with just over 90 countries.

By the end of 2002, the number had increased to 174, thanks particularly to the new nations and the newly democratic nations in Eastern Europe. But the expansion of the diplomatic corps also was due to the upgrading of relations with the United States and Israel.

After a decade in which new diplomatic ties were frequently announced, the number stayed at 174 from 2003 until the very end of 2006, when the Vatican and Montenegro announced December 16 that they would exchange ambassadors.

Galassi said that when he arrived at the Vatican fewer than 45 of the ambassadors lived full-time in Rome.

Even today, about 70 countries have ambassadors living outside Italy, serving both as ambassador to the Vatican and to another European country or Europeanbased U.N. agency.

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Still, that leaves more than 100 ambassadors in Rome full time, and Galassi said they do more than invite each other to receptions, although there are plenty of those as well.

"Many of the ambassadors host debates and cultural and artistic' events to present the richness of their countries," he said. "Also, groups of ambassadors meet regularly for philosophical and religious discussions with the help of a few monsignors. These are an enrichment for each one of us."

Diplomatic service at the Vatican is unique, he said.

"We are not called by our governments to work on economic agreements or commercial treaties, but to share our concerns for the human person," he said.

"I do not engage in negotiations for weapons consignments, but for improving the lot of the human person, promoting social justice, solidarity and love," Galassi said.

The ambassador said being dean of the diplomatic corps "is a great satisfaction," particularly because of the kind of people countries tend to nominate as their Vatican ambassadors.

Galassi is a surgeon and, while serving as ambassador, taught surgery in Rome until reaching the mandatory retirement age of 69 in 2005.

"Many of the ambassadors to the Vatican are not career diplomats, but personalities in their own country. Most have a high level of education and culture," he . said.

One of the newest ambassadors, Princess Elizabeth Bagaya of Uganda, is a lawyer and the granddaughter of King Kasagama Kyebambe IV, the first Ugandan king to be baptized a Christian.

In the 1960s and '70s, she worked as a model and actress, then became active in Uganda's National Resistance Movement.

When she presented her letters of credential to Pope Benedict in mid-December, she told him that "following in the footsteps" of her grandfather she hoped to protect and strengthen the contributions Christians have made to her country.

Close to 20 ambassadors began their service at the Vatican in 2005. Like the princess, a half dozen' of them earned their university degrees in law, but there also were several who studied literature.

More than half of the new ambassadors were career diplomats, but several were university professors; two of the new ambassadors had served as mayors; the group also included a physician, a pharmacist and an engineer in the group.

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FITTING TRIBUTE - Pope Benedict XVI blesses the newly renamed Caritas soup kitchen in Rome January 4. The pontiff made a special visit to the shelter and kitchen blessing it in the name of his predecessor, Pope John Paull!. (CNSIL'Osservatore Romano)

Pope says secret to living full life lies in opening up to baby Jesus

By CAROL GLATZ CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE VATICAN CITY - The secret to living a life full ofpeace, joy and love lies in opening up one's heart to the baby Jesus, Pope Benedict XVI said.

"Everyone discovers in the baby of Bethlehem (that he or she) is freely loved by God" and sees "God's infinite goodness," the pope said in his first general audience of 2007.

With his birth, Jesus "abundantly spread among all people the gifts of goodness, mercy and love," the pope said.

"Only the baby that lies in the crib holds the true secret of life," the pope said. The Christ Child wants everyone to welcome him and "make room for him in our homes,our cities and our society," the pope added.

Wishing some 9,000 pilgrims packed into the Paul VI hall a "happy New Year," the pope dedicated his weekly catechesis to the First Letter of St. John the Apostle.

God's love for humanity is so great, he said, that not only did God send his only Son to redeem the sins of mankind, he also has called people to be his own children.

"We are not just creatures (of God), we are his children" who all belong to one and the same family, the pope said.

God's only son became man "to gather all peoples as one family, one people" and to "reveal to us the true face of God" who through Christ's birth is no longer faraway or invisible, the pope said.

He said "God loves us" and is among us, inviting everyone to draw ever closer to him.

But despite the joyous message of Christmas, "the mystery of evil" still tries to block out "the splendor of divine light," he said.

People still refuse Christ's message in many different ways, ranging from "outright rejection to in-

difference, from scientific atheism to .presenting a' modernized or postmodernized Jesus," he said.

The pope said Jesus wasn't just a "wise teacher" stripped of all divinity or just an untouchable God or heroic character from some fairytale legend, but is both ''true God and true man."

Jesus tirelessly proclaims the Gospel message to everyone and challenges people to open their hearts to him, giving them "the power to become children of God," the pope said.

People cannot remain indifferent to Christ's invitation - even faithful Christians who must constantly renew their commitment to Christ and sincerely welcome him every day into their hearts - he said.

By opening one's arms to Jesus, not only does one become a beacon "of light and hope" and joy for others, but also helps the faithful along life's long, arduous journey, said the pope.

Jesus "took on our poor and fragile flesh" in order to be able to walk together with humanity so "that difficult path becomes one of joy."

Father Moreau, founder of .

Holy Cross order, to be beatified VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The French founder of the Holy Cross priests, brothers and sisters will be beatified in his home diocese in September, the religious order announced.

The Vatican Secretariat of State informed the order December 7 that Father Basile-Antoine Marie Moreau will be beatifiedSept 15,2007, in LeMans, France. Beatification is a major step in the church's sainthood process.

BomFeb.1l,1799,hewasapriest ofthe Diocese ofLe Mans and a seminary professor. He established two societies oftheAssociation ofthe Holy Cross - one for men and one for

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women - with a focus on educating young people and evangelizing.

Members of the Holy Cross family continue to opemte schools around the world, including the University of Notre Dame in Indiana and Stonehill College in Easton.

Father Moreau's canonization cause was introduced in Le Mans in 1946 and the paperwork was forwarded to the Vatican in 1955.

In 2003, Pope John Paul II recognized that Father Moreau had lived a life of heroic Christian virtue, and in April 2006 Pope Benedict XVI recognized the miracle needed for the priest's beatification.

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 51. No.2

Member: Catholic Press Association, Catholic News Service

PUblished weekly except for two weeks In the summer and the week after Christmas by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720, Telephone 508-675-7151 - FAX 508-675-7048, email: i theanchor@anchomews.org. Subscription price by mail, postpaid $14.00 per year.

I send address changes to P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA, call or use email address PUBLISHER· Most Reverend George W. Coleman EXECUTIVE EDITOR FatI1er Roger J. Landry fatherTogerlandry@anchornews.org EDITOR David B. Jollvet daveJollvet@anchornew8.org NEWS EDITOR Deacon James N. Dunbar Jlmdunbar@anchomew8.org REPORTER Mike Gorclon mlkegorclon@enchomews.org OFFICE MANAGER Mary Chase marychase@anchornaw8.org Send Letters to the Editor to: falherrogerlandry@anchorncws.org POSTh1ASTERS send address changes to The Anchor. P.O. Box 7, Fall River. MA 02722.

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I

JANUARY

12, 2007

zt THE CHURCH IN THE U.S.

Death penalty support w~nes as .life without parole gains public favor

BY CAROl ZIMMERMANN CAniOUC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON - As 2006 came to an end, capital punishment was making headlines for what it is not doing: overnll declining use, waning support and recent challenges at the state levels about how it is conducted.

Shifting public support for capital punishment is a "ray of good news" for F~ McNeirney, cofounder ofCatholics Against Capital Punishment, who said he hopes the trend .continues.

Death penalty statistics in a yearend report from the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington offered reasons for optimism among opponents ofcapital punishment. For starters, the group noted the results ofa newly released Gallup Poll showing that more Americans support alternative sentences of life without parole over the death pe.nalty as punishment for m~.

'The center also reported that U.S. death sentences are the lowest they have been in 30 years; executions have sharply declined and the number of people on death row lias deaeased. During 2006,53 people were executed, down from 60 in 2005 and 98 in 1999, the report said.

McNeimey, who founded CatholicsAgainst Capital Punishment with his wife, Ellen, 14 years ago in their

Maryland home,said .the change in groups that had previously focused attitude against the death penalty has primarily on anti-aoortion measures been developing over recent years as and from politicians on both ends of more people, and jury members in the political spectrinn. particular, have become aware of the . But it's not only political and reliavailability oflife without parole sen- gious leaders who are raising ques· tences. OnlyAlaska and New Mexico tions about capital punishment. Curcurrently do not have life without pa- rently, a number of court rulings and role sentences, according to the Death several state challenges to the death penalty's lethal-injection proced\)fe Penalty Information Center.

The 2006 Gallup Poll shows that are holding up executions in several two-thirds ofAmericans still support the states, including California, Marydeath penalty, but for the first time in land, Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio, two decades it found that Americans South Dakota and Florida.

Currently 37 states administer leby a one percent margin' -48 percent · to 47 percent- prefer life without pa- thal injections as the preferred execution method but the procedure is getrole over capital punishment.

The slim difference in opinion is ting closer scrutiny following conmore of a shift when compared with cerns that it may cause unnecessary figures from the 2005 Gallup Poll pain and suffering as documented by which showed that 56 percent of the Apri12006 Human Rights Watch Americans preferred the death pen- report, "So Long as 'They Die: Lealty and only 39 percent supported thal Injections in the United States."

The U.S. Supreme (:ourt Win hear life without parole.

McNeirney attributes the change . four death penalty cases in 2007. in part to Pope John Paul IT's clear Celeste Fitzgerald, founder and message against the death penalty director of New Jerseyans for Alterduring his 1999 visit to St. Louis natives to the Death Penalty, said at a when he described capital punis.h- death penalty program sponsored by ment as "both cruel and unnecessary" the Metuchen Diocese before the and noted that "modem society has commission's action that faith orgathe means of protecting itself with- nizations across the country are out definitively ctenying criminals the "watching what happens in New Jersey very closely." chance to reform." ''This is a moment in New Jersey;' McNeirney also noted that the anti-death penalty stance has recently she added. "I ask that you help us gained new support from Pro-Life seize it."

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liv~r transplants, has worked in lab animals. ''There is a lot in favor of embryonic stem cells," said Grompe, a German citizen who studied at the University of U1m in southern Germany. ''But we need to make a choice based on ethics?' He said the colleagues who disagree with him are not evil, but want to advance medicine. .

The German-born Grompe has .been active on the intemationallevel in the stem-cell debate. InApril 2006, · he went to the Vatican and addressed the Pontifical Acadeiny for Life.

Grompe allows that the question of the therapeutic use ofembryonic stem cells is still open, But he insists that embryonic cells are likely to lead to a therapy that adult cells cannot reach. ''What makes embryonic stem cells so different is that they can be grown ·to unlimited quantities:' he said "You can make a lot of what you need to make and you can do it again and again. Adult stem cells don't do that:' That potential makes the Catholic .stand all the more difficult yet sary, he said. "As Catholics,.we need to stick to the facts and the iruth. The reason we object to embryonic stemcell .research is not because, the cells are not good or the adult cells are better. The real reason is that we have

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moral and ethical objections. We have to stick to our guns. Just because a medical procedure is inufioral doesn't mean it will not work."

Grompe predicts that it will be possible to make effective stem cells without destroying embryos. One such . heralded attempt, in which a cell was' removed carefully from the embryo, seems to have hit some snags. But other alternatives are, in formation, such as the one in which Japanese researchers converted adult skin cells so they gained the same properties as embryonic stem cells - becoming able to produce many kinds of cells when dividing.

Like other Western states, Oregon has strong supporterS and outspoken critics of embryonic stem-cell research. Politicians, some scientists and the state's largest daily newspaperhave focused on potential cures, adding that hundreds ofthousands ofembryos fr0zen in fertility banks will likely never progress further anyway.

ButCatholic leaders, local right-tolife groups and Grompe point out that using cells from embryos is immoral.

Some even say embryonic stem cells are unnecessary, because cells taken from adult bone marrow, blood, bone, fat and umbilical cords have so far proven effective in healing.

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HWe can only pay him $3JS2 a month but he is like a prj,celess gift to our people."

Oregon Catholic doctor resists pressure to use embryonic stem cells PORIlAND, Ore. (CNS)-Cells taken from embryos hold therapeutic p.romise. but it is simply wrong to destroy human life in its early stages.

That's the opinion of the chIef stem-<:eU researcher at a medical school hospital in what some would say is one of the nation's most liberal cities.

Dr. Marlrus Grompe, director of Oregon Health & Science University's Stem Cell Center since 2004, is a devout Catholic and a member of St. John Fisher ~ in Portland.

'1 support the Church's view on pmrecti.on ofemtiryonic life;' Grompe told the Catholic Sentinel, Portland an:bdiocesan newspaper; in an interview in his officeat the hospital. ''That has sometimes put me in a difficult situation."

Grompe is looking forward to the day when a method is discovered to provide embryonic stem cells - or theirequal- without destroying embryos. Butfor now, his lab works with ce1Is taken from adults, and he is keen on those advances.

Grompe and.his team are devising a way to repair diseased livers by injecting adult stem cells into the organs.

1be wmX has a special focus on children with genetic liver disorders. The meIbod, which would nix the need for

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work o~imakingHim known many of our people would not be reached at all with the 'Good News.'''

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Won't y~u help catedlists in the Missions, through the pnw+gution ofthe Faith, os they continue hJ h'ing the "Good News" ofJesus Christ to those most in need o/Him?:

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--------The Society ---~---,---------------------------------~for,; THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH ...A Pontifical Mission Society

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I~ Rcv..Msgr. John J. Oliveira, V.1i 1106 OIinnis SL. New Bedford. MA 02145

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JANUARY

12, 2007

Madame Speaker: Anticipating how Pelosi will run the House

By PATRICIA ZAPOR CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE

Washington, and moved with him to San Francisco. The family flOW WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. belongs to St. Vincent de Paul ParNancy Peiosi's ascent to the post of ish in San Francisco. speaker of the House puts her in the Though Pelosi was involved in spotlight for a variety of "firsts." party politics while raising five chilShe's the first woman, the first dren, it wasn't until they were Italian-American and the first Cali- nearly grown that she took a highfornian to hold the post. At a Janu- profile position as chairwoman of ary 3, Mass at Trinity University in the California Democratic Party in Washington, Pelosi's alma mater, the early 1980s. She first ran for focusing on the children of Darfur office in a special election at the age and Hurricane Katrina victims, Je- of 47, winning a vacant congressuit Father Robert Drinan, a former siomii\(~eat; and was chosen as _t â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;˘ member of Congress, noted that Hdu'se minority"leader by the she's the first mother in the seat.

Democrats in 20d2',"tl\e f'iiSt woman But beyond the firsts, Pelosi is a from either party in that position. well-known player in Washington Her ability to pull Democrats towith a reputation for effectively gether on key legislation put her in leading House Democrats and for line to take over as speaker when being willing to listen to people on the Democrats regained majority , all sides of issues. Her selection as control of the House in the Novemspeaker of the House of Represen- , ber 2006 elections. tatives is considered to be a good Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick. sign for the chance to pass some retired archbishop of W~hington, legislation on the Church's agenda. said he has kn,own Pelosi in his role , But Pelosi, a Catholic, also is ' as a member of the bishops' Comeyed cautipusly because of her mittee on International Policy since record of support for legal abortion. she first came to Washington. 'We Pelosi, 64, was raised around don't always agree :- on life and politics and politicians in Baltimore education issues especially - but - her father, Thomas D' Alesandro, my experience has been that you can was mayor there for 12 years and a always talk to her," said Cardinal member of Congress for five terms. McCarrick. "You can't always Growing up in Baltimore's Little change her mind, but you can always Italy, Pelosi attended Catholic el- talk to her." ementary "and high schools. After In his capacity as chairman of a graduating from Trinity in 1962, bishops' task force on Catholic poliSTRONG MESSAGE - Matt Wilson joins a small protest outside she ticians, Cardinal McCarrick also, IJ)arried California investment Trinity University in Washington recently. The group was protesting met with congressional Democrats banker Paul Pelosi, a graduate of the arrival of new Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who attended after Pelosi and others asked to beGeorgetown University, also in Mass at her alma mater. (eNS photo/Bob Roller)

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gin a dialogue about the role of their ,religious beliefs and political responsibilities.

Pelosi, whose district is about 30 percent Asian-American, has long pushed for sanctions against China for its human rights record. One Washington policy adviser said she had taken "a very gutsy position," in opposing most-favored-nation trade status for China in the 1990s when it had broad support in Congress, in the Clinton administration and in her own party.

While Pelosi was also among those who oppose4 the first GulfWar in 1991 and was very helpful in cutting through red tape,when the cardinal and former San Francisco Archbishop John R. Quinn were denied visas to travel to EI Salvador during that country's civil war in the late 1980s, her voting record on abortion, stem-eell research and other life issues is less than encouraging even to some members of her party - those who belong to Democrats for Life.

The National Committee for a Human Life Amendment has been tracking congressional votes on a range oflife issues since 1973, said Pelosi has voted with the group's position just once - a procedural maneuver aimed at defeating a ban on partial-birth abortion.

While Democrats for Life say they get the sense that Pelosi understands and agrees with the Church's teaching on many fundamental policy issues, they contend that doesn't go far enough.

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Legislature and one woman.

Then it .voted to reconsider.

Then it voted again - also narrowly - to approve the measure.

The state's bishops, strong advocates of the initiative, said, "Today the constitutional rights of the citizens of the commonwealth have been upheld. The democratic process and the right of the people to have their voices heard were affirmed. We applaud the members of the Legislature for fulfilling their responsibilities as representatives of the people who elected them and for living up to their oath of office to support the Constitution. We "thank the 62 legislators that voted to move the marriage amendment forward for a vote of the people in 2008," The statement was signed by Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., archbishop of Boston; Bishop George W. Coleman of Fall River, Bi'shop Robert J. McManus of Worcester, and Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell of Springfield.

If the 2007-08 Legislature

least one-fourth of the constitutional convention of two successive Legislatures before it can be gives the amendment its second approval this year, it would applaced on the ballot in a general pear on the November 2008 balelection.

Edward F. Saunders Jr., execulot. tive director ofthe Massachusetts Same-sex 'marriages have Catholic Conference, told Cathobeen legal in Mas~achusetts since May 2004 as a result of a lic News Service the day j]l>llowing, the January 2 ruling by its Supreme Judivote that the conference cial Court in 20Q3 that the Edward F. Saunders Jr., execu,:, state constitution required had counted 57 sure votes equal treatment for same- tiVe director of the Massachusetts for the amendment in the sex co'uples. It is the' only Catholic Conference, told Catholic 2005-06 Legislature before U.S. state that recognizes News SeNice the day following the its final-day action. He said January 2 vote that the conference it counts at least 54 sure such unions as marriages.

Ironically, it was a pre- had counted 57 sure votes for the votes in the 2007-08 LegChristmas scolding of the amendment in the 2005~06 Legis- islature, which was elected Legislature by the same lature before its final-day action. He last November and took ofcourt that led the legislators .said it counts at least 54 sure votes fice January 3. to vote on the marriage ini- in the 2007-08 Legislature" which When the Legislature retiative on the final day of was elected last November and took cessed last November without voting on the marriage their 2005~06 session inoffice January 3. amendment initiative, the stead of adjourning without state's bishops said they a vote, as they had done wheri faced with a similar initia- vote. After another recess, as the were "profoundly disappointed" tive in 2002. day was drawing to a close it re- that the elected officials "are obWith the House and Senate convened and voted 62-134 to structing the constitutional right meeting jointly as a constitu- approve the amendment. of the people to be heard." tional convention, 61 legislator"s The state's procedures for a Outgoing Gov. Mitt Romney voted for the amendment and 132 constitutional amendment by and other advocates of the voted against it. popular initiative require such an amendment filed suit against the Because the amendment was initiative to be affirmed by at Legislature, asking the Supreme Continuedfrom page one

introduced by a citizens' petition, only 50 affirmative votes - onefourth of the 200-member constitutional convention - were needed for approval. , The convention recessed for an hour, reconvened and voted 117-75 to reconsider their earlier

Judicial Court to order it to bring the initiative to a vote as a constitutional obligation.

However, the court ruled December 27 that it did not have the authority to order the Legislature to act, but in its opinion it said, "The members of the joint session have a constitutional duty to vote, by the yeas and nays, on the merits of all pending initiative amendments before recessing." ''There is no presently articulated judicial remedy for the Legislature's indifference to, or defiance of, its constitutional duties," the court said. But it urged the legislators not to "avoid their lawful obligations," If the joint session of the Legislature had recessed without taking a vote on the amendment, it would have killed the initiative procedurally and only a new signature drive could have revived it for consideration by the 200708 Legislature. Th'e petition 'for the current initiative gained about 170,000 signatures, more than double the number needed to initiate the process of moving it to a popular referendum.

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VATICAN CITY - The resignation of Polish Archbishop Stanislaw.

Wielgus of Warsaw has prompted. embarrassment and disappointment in the Vatican, along with a sense of relief that Pope Benedict XVI did not allow the aWkwar~ drama to continue' a single day longer. . In an official statement, the Vatican· praised the "humility'! ofArchbishop Wielgus, who resigned January 7, two days after admitting he had once cooperated with the secret police of Polaild's former communist regime.

Privately, however, several Vatican officials expressed irritation that the archbishop had apparently not been fully frank about ~s past~m the be-

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- Pope Benedict wdsdrawn directlyintothecontroverJy.AVatican

it's important to have all the facts;' said one Vatican source. He said it

statement expressed the pope's "full trust" in Archbishop 'tielgus and . "full awareness" of his past. But ginning. They also questionedhow the .

And "disaster" is how it's viewed sourcesnow say it appe&s the archVatican'snormally exhaustivt: vetting inside the Vatican, for severalreasons: bishop hag not told the pope everyprocess broke down in one of Eastem - Archbishop Wielgus became thing - that. he had actfnitted conEurope'smostimportantepIscopalap- the highesHanking churchleader to tacts with the secret police, but not pointments. admit that he agreed to spy for an East that he had agreed to cOllab9rate in a "When Archbishop Wielgus was EUropean cOlJll11unist regime, raising ~pying .effort.

II . nominated, we knew nothing about his suspicions about the rest ofthe hierar- ,ByVatican standards, the statement collaboration with the secret police;' chy in the eyes of the simple faithful. by its spokesman, Je!uit Father Cardinal Giovanni Battisti Re,: head To many, the archbishop's qualifier Fedenco -Lombardi, w~~ unusually of the Vatican's Congregatioe for, that he "never inflicted any harm on direct: ''The behavior of(Archbishop) Clergy, bluntly told ~e Itali~ pews- anyone" seemed disingenuous. .. Wielgus during the year~1 of the compaper Corriere deiI~ Se~a.· ':f~: ~ The debacle wasplayed out in munist regime in Polarld seriously This failure was....~. th~JPP%~pr- pU,b~c, crowned by the painfully em- compromised his authori!y, even with p~~in~ .be<f~us~::Jpe!wJ,1.S'o to Polm~ ~o b;~as~ing "install~tion" M~s Ja~lU- the faithful." '.' the man who coordinated the search ary 7 that turned ~to a reslgnatlon .That's what the pope and his aides process, IS a Pole himself - Arch- Mass. It was the first time ~yone ultima~ely ~eighed, Said!1 one ~ource. bishop Jozef Kowalczyk - who has could remember that an archbIshop The discussIOn' about acceptmg the been on thejob since 1989 and' pre- was ~nthom~ on the ~y of.his ~hed- resignation focuse~1 on the sumably would have spotted a prob~ uled mstallatlo~, an ementus after. archbishop's al,!thority 'lfd was not lem before it became a disaster. only two days m office. regarded as "punishmentil' fornot telling the. truth, he said.

I ' Father Lombardi also signaled the Vatican's serious fears th~t this scanII dal maybe followed by qther accusations against priests and bishops in Poland, based on spurious information and motivated mor~. by li~tagonism toward the church than bX a search for historical truth.

II The Vatican believes ilie documentation about "collaborati6nist" priests and bishops is highly stisdeet, because it was put together by ~i communist regime that specialized ili blackmail, II • but church experts prt;sume there's more to come.

Ii "I think there's probably a lot more out there, and fori this reason

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was hoped that the Polish Catholic Church Historical Commission, laun6hed late last year by't~e Polish bishops 1conference, can examine the information and present it in a balanced way. .", It was the same historical commission that helped seal Archbishop Wielgus' fate when it disclosed Jan. 5 that substantial documents confirmed his willingness to secretly cooperate with communist securi.ty forces.

Vatican insiders acknowledged embarrassmentover the affair, but said it will not necessarily reflect badly on' Pope Benedict. The pope made the right decisions based on what he kne~. at the time, they said, and by removing the archbishop he waS seen as try_ ing to restore credibility to the Church in Poland.

InchoosingareplacementforArch-bishop Wielgus, the sources said, the pope could go two ways: tum to another ofthe three candidates who were considered. months ago' and make a quick appointment, or take a longer pause to put a mechanism in place to ensure this doesn't happen again.

In either case, the sourCes said, it is certain that the candidate will be asked to be completely forthright about any covert cooperation with Poland's former communist govemment.

The fallou't from Archbishop Wielgus' resignation continued Monday; when Father Janusz Bielanski resigned as rector of Krakow's Wawel Cathedral. Father Bielanski also had been 'accused of cooperation with communist-era secret police.

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"CALIFORNIA MISSIONS & TOUR" I

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Spiritual Director: FR. JOSEPH McDERMOTT, Pastor Imm~culate Conception Church .

122 Cantyn Street, Stoughton, MA· 02072 REQUEST DENIED -. People walk past the Catholic cathedral in Cordoba, Spain. Spanish Muslims recently appealed to Pope Benedict XVI to be allowe<;.l to worship in the cathedral, a former mosque from medieval times. The Cordoba bishop' said "shared use" of the c;:athedral would not contribute to peacefLJI interfaith relations. (CNS photo/Bruno Rascao, Reuters)

Spanish bishop, rejects Muslims' request to worship in cathedral

By JONATHAN LUXMOORE CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

OXFORD, England - Bishop '.

Juan Asenjo Pelegrimi of Cordoba, .

Spain, ha~ rejected calls by Muslims to be allowed to wO:rship in the Cordoba cathedral, which in medieval tim~s was a mo~que.

Bishop Asenjo said the Cordoba.

Diocese; is "not against Muslims having worthy place of worship, .' just as it!also wishes this forChrlstians living in countries with a Muslim majority," but "the share<;l use of Cordoba cathedral by Catholics and Muslims would not contribute to peaceful interfaith relations."

Spain's Islamic Board, which .' represents a community- of 800,000 in the traditionally Catholic country of44 million, recently wrote to Pope . Benedict XVI requesting Vatican au~ thorizatiori to share the cathedral..

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In a recent statement responding creeds. But we do not want to be to the reqJlest, Bishop Asenjo said continually' subjected to pressure' he believed Cordoba's "relatively that contributes nothing." small" Muslim minority ~ less Built in 785 on the ruins of a than one percent of its·350,000 in- Visigothic basilica, Cordoba's habitants - did not need extra fa- 70,OOO-square-foot mosque was cilities. turned into a cathedral after the Bishop Asenjo said his .diocese city's recapture from the Moors by favored "relations ofrespect and ap- King Ferdinand ill in 1236: It was pre~iation" with Muslims and dedicated as a cathedral in 1523. hoped to maintain dialogue. . In 2004, a group of Muslims deHowever, he added, the Catho- mandedthe right to worship in the 'lic Church held \~irrefutable historic cathedral, but they were.criticiied titles" to exclusive use of the cathe- by Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, dral and believed that sharing it •then-president of the Pontifical. would "only generate conf~sion Council for Interreligious Dialogue.. among the faithful and give rise to Mansur Escudero, the Islamic religious skep'ticism~" Board's secretary-general, said De"The Christian rQots of Cordoba cember 26 he h~d relayed the most and its 1,700-year Chiistian history recent request to the pope, hoping deserve respect," said the bishop. to "awaken the consciences" of "Catholics in Cordoba wish to live Catholics and Muslims and help in peace with b~lievers of other bury' past confrontations.

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The Anchor ,

A higher standard Last week we marked the fifth anniversary of the revelation of the horrible, systematic sexual abuse ofminors by Father John Geoghan. That started an avalanche of disclosures ofabuse allegations against scores ofother priests over the'past several decades, first in the Archdiocese of Boston an~ then in other dioceses acrbss the country. Many priests resigned or were put on leave.

Bishops who knew about the abuse but did not adequately intervene to'stop it had their episcopal ministry severely weakened, and Cardinal Bernard Law eventually resigned. The heart-wrenching stories of victims anguished and incensed the whole Church. The faith of so many Catholics in the holiness of· the Church and of her clergy was shaken.

God always tries to draw good of evil, and he has already effected much good in the painful past five years. Clergy who have harmed the young are no longer able to exercise public ministry. There are programs in place to ensure that no Church employees or volunteers abuse children. Far greater training • is done with Church staff to catch signs of abuse and report them immediately. Children receive training to help them to spot potential predators. There are tougher guidelines for the selection of seminarians and for their fomiation 'in chastity and holiness. There is a move toward greater transparency . . and accountability across the board. .

Much still remains to be done and improved, but even the most vocal critics of the Church's response to the sexual abuse' of minors note that the situation is much better now than a half-decade ago, particularly with respect to removing the Church of abusers.

One area that many cite'as still in need of improvement is the accountability of bishops. In their June 2002 meeting in Dallas in response to the scandals, the members of the U.S. episcopacy did not put themselves under the same norms they wrote for priests and did not propose any stringent procedures for the disciplining of bishops who deliberately'failed to remove abusers from pastoral situations where they.could continue to inflict harm. The bishops were clearly constrained by some procedural issues in Church law, but by not at least proposing disciplinary norms for bishops, they failed to address what for many was the most spiritually disturbing part of the scandal revelations. It was easier for many of the faithful to comprehend the crimes of priests with grave psychological and spiritu31 problems than to grasp that some bishops who knew about it did not do everything possible to stop it.

The faithful instinctively call bishops, as successors of the Apostles, to higher standards ofholiness, goodness, wisdom andjustice than they do priests in general, and they.want bishops to hold themselves "to those same higher standards. Today, a bishop's holiness, more than his office, is the source of his moral authority with the people of God. The importance of a bishop as an icon of Christ's holiness was atissue in Poland last weekend when the new Archbishop ofWarsaw, Stanislaw Wielgus, resigned the day after he took canonical possession of the Archdiocese. Earlier in his tenure as a young priest and university profes~or, Wielgus had cooperated with the Polish communist spy agency, the SB. While any priest wanting to travel abroad needed formally to meet with the SB, a report released by the Polish bishops states that Wielgus participated much more than those who were merely going through the motions. Those disclosures led many Poles, and it appears Pope Benedict, to insist on his resignation.

The issue ofcooperation with the communists is highly sensitive to Poles; since so many priests, religious and family members were imprisoned, tortured and killed by the communists. The Church, moreover, had always been seen as an uncompromising beacon of hope and light in opposition to communist evils. The revelations that some priests were cooperators in this evil has shocked and scandalized this very Catholic nation and led many Polish commentators to predict that its impact will be similar to what Occurred in the.

United States after the sexual abuse scandals.

The clamor for the resignation of the new archbishop ofPoland~s largest diocese s~ows that the people of God want above all successors ofthe Apostles who they think are uncompromising with evil. They want men like Cardinal Stefan Wyszyn,ski, the indomitable former archbishop of Warsaw who was imprisoned for his defiant anti-communist resistance. They :want men like Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope John Paul IT, who tirelessly and patiently negotiated but never compromised. Both men - so different in personality, temperament and style, but so alike, in their unfaillng witness to the truth are now servants of God, the first step toward canonization.

Archbishop Wielgus' resignation was a sign he recognized that - wliatever the level of his former cooperation with the corrimunist authorities and whatever the eventual willingness of Catholic Poles to forgive past communist,collaborators - he was incapable of being the inspiring witness to holiness for which the people of God naturally aspire and look. He recognized that his failure to' live up to a higher standard had "harmed the Church."

Knowing that his own authority to lead people to Christ and for Christ was gravelyundermined, he did what was best fot the Church arid his nation, lest the Church's overall moral authority be undercut.

Every crisis is a crisis of saints. Every scandal needs to lead to a rebirth in hofuiess at every level of the Church, but particularly in her leaderS. That was the essential and still valid message Pope John Paul IT gave the U.S. cardinals in April 2002 in response to the sexual abuse crisis: His words are just as applicable posthumously to the crisis in his native land: .

"We must be confident that this time oftrial will bring a purification ofthe .entire catholic community, a pUrification that is urgently needed if the CQurch is to preach more effectively the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all'its liberating force. Now you must ensure that where sin increased, grace will all the more abound. So much pain, so much sorrow must lead to a holier priesthood, a holier episcopate, 3I!d a holier Church."

JANUARY

12, 2007

the living word

TINA TEl<IRIAN PRAYS BEFORE NOON MASS AT ST. JUDE SHRINE IN BALTIMORE. TAKING HER LUNCH BREAK TO ATTEND MASS IS A WEEKDAY RITUAL 'E0R THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL STUDENT. SHE SAID IT'S NO SACRIFICE TO SKIP LUNCH AND EAT WHILE

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SHE WORKS LATER IN THE AFTERNOON. (eNS PHOTO/OWEN SWEENEY

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CATHOLIC REVIEW)

"FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO" (MATTHEW 6:21).

God's call from all eternity Our Lord's command to put out idea of the less common religious into the deep sometimes requires us. vocation. to address some of the more What's problematic and trousensitive, but pertinent issues that bling, though, is the general attitude face the Church. One such issue is a among some who continue to resist and even oppose the possibility of a certain attitude iowardrelig{ous religious vocation in their own vocations that prevails among many family. When the idea of a religious today. " Thankfully, there seems to be a vocation is presented to those whose consensus among many in the lives and thoughts are rooted in faith 'Church tOday that fostering' vocations to the priesthood and religious life must be a priority. There is a new sense of urgency among many to pray for and support those who may be .called to religious life.

One of the sad realities that confronts those engaged in the work of fostering religious and a willingness to coopeQlte with vocations, however, is a certain God, it is much more likely that any attitude that exists even in some of the active and otherwise faithful initial resistance to the idea will give way to support and acceptance. But members of the Church. Even "people who are genuinely supportive it's this faith-based attitude that's and respectful of those in the often missing today. priesthoOd and religious life often There are many possible reasons resist the idea that there might be a for this opposition to rellgious vocations. Perhaps people have religious vocation in one of the members of their own family. known priests or religious who have This mind-set is a bit like that of abandoned their sacred promises and vows, or others who have not a person who ~ght support a war, until his own son is sent to fight, or fully given themselves to the like the position of those who commitments of their consecration, support low-income housing,as . thereby failing to give an example of long as it's not built in their own the deep joy Godoffers in a religious vocation. backyard. Indeed, we might fairly label this attitude the "not-in-myFor others who find their deepest family" approach to religious happiness and fulfillment in ~ marriage and family life, it may be vocations. difficult to imagine how a loved-one Adjusting to the idea of a religious vocation is.admittedly could be as happy in a religious life challenging. Statistically speaking, requiring celibacy. For some, there religious vocations are rare - only a may be the concern and fear that a religious vocation will mean a very small percentage of the difficult life of unrewarding Church's membership is called to live in the priesthood and religious sacrifices. , life. Because of this fact alone, it can Sadly, though, what gives rise to take time for some to adjust to the this resistance and opposition in

many is the underlying belief that a religious vocation is a waste of talents and a waste of life, or the belief that, while it is good for a person to be religious, too much religion, or too much discipleship of Christ is somehow a bad thing, and borders on tadicalism. Some parents do not even try to hide their belief that too much faith, or too much love for Christ, is somehow distorted and must be tempered by other interests that are less odd and more socially acceptable.

• Finally, this attitude might be explained by a lost understanding of the truth that a religious vocation is a choice and decision of God from all eternity. Perhaps many have lost sight of the fact that a religious vocation is not just a decision on the part of the _. person, similar to a career choice.

Rather, it's nothing less than the. acceptance of what God has decided from the beginning. As Our Lord told his disciples, "It was not you who chose me, but I who chose .you" (In 15: 16). A religious vocation is God's choice, not ours.

An? until this belief prevails in the Church, we may not see the kind of support for religious vocations that is needed today. ' . When a person realizes that he or she has been chosen by God to be a priest or religious, the support· of parents and family can be qne of the most critical factors in the decision to answer the vocation. Considering this, it is imperative that we, as a Church, put out into the deep, by changing our attitude to accept and celebrate religious vocations as God's call from all eternity. . Father Pignato is chaplain at Bishop Slang High School in Norlh Dartmouth am! is secretmy ~ Bishop George If. Colenum.

JANUARY

12, 2007

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The Anchor ,

Gator chomping at the bit She's not quite there yet, but she sure is trying. My 12-year-old daughter Emilie is a sports fan. not yet to my obsessive level, but well on her way. She enjoys pla~g hoops and practically any pliysical activities, but she's got a way to go to reach her old man's couch potato status of watching anything and everything sports related.

She understands . basketball and baseball, and hockey to.a lesser degree. But football? All she can do is shake her head. 1'm not quite sure if she's shaking at the game on the tube, or the fanatic she's watching with.

We watched the Ohio StateFl~da Fiesta Bowl match up Monday night and she openly admitted she had no idea what was going on. I told her she doesn't watch enough. I told her that everything I learned about sports, I learned from watching. That's when we were both distracted by the Florida faithful performing the Gator chomp in the stands.

In unison, thl? students from the

Road

Sunshine State imitate the jaw motion of an alligator with their anns. Since I was rooting for the Gators, and in turn so was Emilie, we sat there chomping with the rest

of them. It was fun. Actually, it was more fun than watching the game.

Then came the barrage of commercials, many of which gave us a good laugh. One of our favorites was a beer commercial where the characters had a rubber floor to protect their precious cargo from breakage. When the family .pooch jumps off the couch, he's launched right out the door.

As the game progressed, we looked forward to the commercials.

While waiting, we discussed other commercials. Our favorites are by far the "Happy Cows" from California The bubbly bovines play

Continuedfrom page one

fallen and western civilization has not crumbled"

Two days before the swearing-in ceremony at which be took an oath to God to uphold the constitution, Patrick: unsuccessfully urged lawinakers to' adjourn the convention if necessary to kill the marriage protection proposal without a vote, a move the state Supreme Judicial Court December Z7 had unanimously declared unconstitutional.

However, negative publicity that could have spread from this political blunder was quickly muffled by a • week of statewide inaugural pag-. eantry. The 50-year-old Democrat who hailed from humble Chicago roots had made history as the state's first" and the nation's second black governor.

Area legislators expressed "disappointment" with the then-elect governor's advice to withhold a c0nstitutionally mandated vote.

"I'mchalking the comments up to a beginner's mistake," Rep. Robert Correia of Fall River said "If we're going to win by any means possible, we're setting ourselves up for trouble.

We need to win by any legal andmornl means possible, and I'm hoping that's the stand he will take:' .

"Hopefully the new governor will realize that the protections provided under Article 48 of the state constitutiOn are a key component to our freedoms:' said Rep. Jeffrey Peny of East Sandwich.

Patrick's advice was "totally wrong:' said Edward Saunders, executive director of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, which speaks for

the Church on public policy. "To have the chiefexecutive officer, and a lawyer, advising the legislature to disregard the constitution is beyond com-

ment," he said when asked his reaction.

Of the clash between some Catholic values and Patrick's stated positions'-Saunders said: ''He opposes the death penalty, as does the Church, but from the start it appears we're at odds on the funding ofembryonic stem~ cell research and other issues. We hope, as he said in his campaign, we can 'build bridges' of discussion." ''But the message can't just come from the bishops," Saunders said. ''These matters get voted on in. the House and the Senate. Legislators need to hear from their constituents, from the people they see at the coffee shop and the supermarket."

And people need to educate themselves more on vital moral issues, according to Rep. Elizabeth Poirier .of Attleboro. She said, for example, that legislative approval to clone and kill human embryos for research was passed ''without the full knowledge of how these procedures will affect the young impoverished women who will sell their eggs. People are truly uninfonned."

Patrick has informed the public that he will advance the gay cause. At a Harvard GLBT (Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender) Forum September 12, he spoke of repealing the law that keeps out-of-state couples from marrying in Massachusetts, according to Innewsweekly.com, a gay advocacy news source.

He also said he would take "con-

football, experience an earthquake, encounter a cow-wannabe hog named Dave, and most recently sPoof the old "Green Acres" television classic.

We chuckled all the way through the fust half and before I knew it, the Gators were up 30-14. wruit happened? How many Gator chomps did we miss? How is Emilie going to learn the intricacies of football if we're both so easily distracted?

No big deal. We had a great time together.

The NCAA championship gala turned into an evening of Gator chomps, bouncing dogs and giggling cows.

I think we both learned a lesson Monday night - dOJ?-'t take sports too seriously and strive to have the giddy demeanor of the Happy Cows from California My only hope is that the cattle on the left coast aren't too happy after this weekend. After all, the Patriots are playing in San Diego Sunday. .davejolivet@anchomews.org

'Schools

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II

ery or area has been meeting with diThe remaining six will be Holy Family-Holy Name, St. James-St. ocesan education officials to develop .

1 . a long-term strategic plan. The com- John, St. Joseph-St. Therese, and St. mittee also brought in additional per- Mary in New Bedford and St. Francis sons forconsultation inclli~ng experts Xavier in Acushnet and St. Joseph in in school planning from the NCEA. Fairhaven. Collectively, these schools In addition, an ad heX:II committee currently serve 1,269 students and of retired and active diocesan princi- have the capacity to enroll an addipals from schools outsi~ the region tional 300, which is ample space to comPleted an independent, on-si~ re- welcome stud~nts transferring from view of New Bedford Catholic the closed schools. schools and then presenuld its recomBishop George w. Coleman accepted the committee's plan earlier mendations' I 1be committee of New Bedford this month. Acknowledging the nepastors and principals has now cessity to close Our Lady of Mount adopted a plan that calls ifor consoli- Carmel and St. Anthony schools, the dation of schools and the implemen- bishop said he first wanted "toexpress tation ofjointprograms ~ong there- his gratitude for the unwavering commaining schools to expandcurriculum mitment of so many who have done offerings and to provide exciting ad- everything pos~ible in recent years to ditional opportunities for [students. sustain those schools, notably their' 1be region's eight schools will be principals, teachers, and pastors, consolidated into six - four in New families of students, and the wider Bedford, and one each in Acushnet parish communities."

At the same time he stated his beand Fairhaven-and the ~ix will collaborate in a number of kas as the lief that, 'The plan as a whole will Greater New BedfordI Catholic ultimately strengthen Catholic elSchools District. ementary education in the Greater Beginning this September, a tech- New Bedford area" Bishop Coleman noted his deep nical coordinator ~ ~ named to serveall the schools,concentrating first appreciation to committee members on expanding the use of I[technology foi' their dedicated efforts over two in the overall curriculum. Schools will years to respond to a challenging situalso share staff in the arell!' offoreign ation with a workable plan that will language and music, offering more benefit students in their care. crete steps" to extend the state'shate· choices in those areas. Instnnnental inMeetings were held Thursday crime laws and broaden civil rights struction will be offered ~g in evening, January 11, at St. Anthony's laws to include ''those who identify grade three and a music ensembie will and Mount Carmel to inform parents across genders:' be established for grades five through and staff of the decision to close the Enacting legislation for "trans" eight. A Greater New Bedford select schools. non-discrimination could mean that chorale group .will beformed, too, feaTo reach out to transferring stuI employers could not "discriminate" by turing representation from each ofthe dents and to help ease their transition, the remaining Catholic schools will denying health benefitsfor sex-change schools.. . .11 surgeries, or a teacher who ''presents'' Athletic options will also be ex- participate in school fairs. These are himselfas the opposite sex to children panded with the formation of a New scheduled to take place at St. coqld not be dismissed, according to Bedford Catholic elemenfary school Anthony's on January 16 and at a spokesman for MassResistance, a league, beginning with soccer and Mount Carmel on January 17, and Waltham-based pro-family advocacy basketball. Games will bellscheduled will provide an opportunity for stugroup, who called the propOsal "soci- after sChool. dents and their families to talk to prinetal suicide."

The committee's phin recom- cipals and other staff to learn more What can people offaith do in light mends that two schools in the city about what each offers. Milot promof gubernatorial policies that will fur- . with low and declining enrollments ised that "students.looking to transther challenge some foundational so- . should close in June at th~1 end of the fer from one ofthe closed schools will current academic year. These are St. be given preference to openings in cial values?

"We can never underestimate the Anthony School in New l!Bedford's any other Catholic school in the area powerofprayer:' said Phil PdIeologos North End, which currentlY has 115 and registration fees will be waived." of New Bedford. A small business students in grades Pre- Kin~ergarten­ He also said that teachers imowner, he was among those at the State eight, and Our Lady Of Mount pacted by the school closings will be House, January 2 pressing for action Carmel School in the SouthII End, with given preference in the hiring of on the defense of marriage proposal. 99 students in grades Pre-IGndergar- teachers to fill vacancies in diocesan "To see all the ann-twisting going ten-eight. schools next year. on against it, and then to see the re. PRACOCE THE DEVOTION OF THE FIRsT SATURDAYS, sult, was nothing less thaD miracuAS REQUESTED BY OUR LADY OF FATIMA lous:' Paleologos said On December 10, 1925, Our Lady appeared to Sister Lucia (seer " But we have an uphill battle of Fatima) and spoke these words: "Announce in my name that I ahead. We have to be more dedicated promise to assist at tJJ hour ofdeath with the graces necessiuy for to embracing oUr faith as a whole the salvation oftheir souls, all those who on the first Saturday of rather than pic~g and choosing:' he . five l'consecutive months shall: . said "And we have to communicate 1.. Go to confession; 2. Receive Holy Communion; 3. Recite the our beliefs more effectively - to our Rosary (5 decades); and 4. Keepme company for.J5 minutes while families first - and then to others, meditating on the 15 tnysteries ofthe Rosary, with the intention of . milking reparation to me." teachers, schools, politicians - in a In a spirit of reparation, the above conditions are each to be respectful but firm way. We have to preceded by the wo~: ''In reparation for the offenses committed overcome our lethargy. We're facing against the Immaculate Heart of Mary." a cliff dive, not a slippeI)'slope:' Confessions may be ~ade during 8 days before or after the first .

Gail Besse is a free1nnce writer.

Saturday, and Holy Communion may be received at either the She can be reached at morning or evening Mass on the first Saturday. .

I gailbesse@comcasLneL " Paid advenisement l

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JANUARY

12, 2007

Trust in God Often when we read or hear the Bible we like to impose our own experience of the world on God. We are full of preconceptions of who God is. We superimpose our limited and worldly experience on God. We set limits on what God can and will do.

Isaiah, the greatest of the prophets, lived in a time when the Kingdom of Israel was divided, about 100 years before the birth of Jesus. The northern , kingdom, Israel, was occupied

by Assyria. The southern kingdom, Judah, was not occupied but was a vassal state of the Assyrians. Egypt sent ambassadors to Jerusalem to try to build a military alliance against the Assyrians. The Babylonian king was already won over and the Philistines would soon join the alliance.

The purpose of the alliance was to launch a war against the Assyrians. All of Jerusalem favored the alliance except Isaiah.

In his protest against the Hezekiah asked Isaiah to alliance, Isaiah discarded his intercede on behalf of Judah. outer garments and put on the Isaiah assured the King that garments of a prisoner of war. nothing would happen to He walked barefooted through ierusaJ.em. An angel of the Lord the streets of Jerusalem and was sent and 185,000 soldiers in declared, "So shall the king of the Assyrians /~":":~Wf,"*:~~.,.~fi lead away the prisoners mily of the Week';; of E g y p t . " . ,if; Why did he do this?

First Sunday Because he knew that --irtOrdinaryTime God wanted the unconBy F~ther Eth;~'. ditional and full G. McCarthy devotion of Israel. He wanted Israel to trust him and not form alliances with the Assyrian camp were slaughothers. teredo The next day the Assyrian The Assyrians conquered city king went home in defeat. after city and when they reached God's people learned their Jerusalem they began a massive lesson. Had they listened to attack while demanding the Isaiah, remained faithful to unconditional surrender of God, and placed their trust in Jerusalem. After realizing the him, the Assyrian occupation mistake they made in forming never would have happened. the alliance, the people of In today's Gospel from St. Jerusalem, led by King John we witness the complete Hezekiah, went to the Temple trust of Jesus' greatest disciple. and found Isaiah praying Mary asked Jesus to do somefervently before God. King thing about the lack ~f wine,

since the wedding feast was long from over and the host would be embarrassed. Jesus, knowing that the request to use his power to solve the problem at.the wedding feast was not part of the Father's plan, consented to Mary's request because of her great devotion and trust in him.

In the same way we need to place our trust in Jesus. How do we do this? First we have to stop being bigots. We tend to be so full of ourselves.

We often impose our experience of other people on God. We often don't place our trust in God because people generally don't live up to our expectations and, therefore, God could not possibly live up to our expectations.

We need to put aside our prejudices and the shortcQmings of the world. We need to stop thinking that God is just a private philosophical notion of what we hope in some sort of

afterlife. God is both ommpotent and transcendent. He is very much a part of oW" llives.

He is there always. But God will not impose himself onto us. He gave us the choice to willfully choose him. We n~oo to choose to place our trust in him. We have a choice.

When we place our trust in God, we will receive the Holy Spirit. We will receive some of the great gifts that St. Paul describes for us in his letter to the Christians of Corinth.

Faith, healing, prophecy, discernment and a myriad of other gifts can be ours. God very much wants to be part of our lives. That is why G9d saved Jerusalem. That is why God became one of us in the incarnation of Jesus. That is why God turned water into wine.

Father Ethan McCartl.y is a parochial vicar at Immaculate Conception Parish in Nortl.

Easton and a part-time student ofDeafStudies.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat, Jan 13, Reb 4:12-16; Ps 19:8-10,15; Mk 2:13~17. Sun, Jan 14, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Is 62:1-5; Ps 96:1-3,7-10; 1 Cor 12:4-11; In 2:1-11:Mon, Jan 15, Reb 5:1-10; Ps 1l0:1-4;Mk 2:18-22. Thes,Jan 16, Reb 6:10..20; Ps 111:1-2,4-5,9,lOc; Mk2:23-28. Wed, Jan 17, Reb 7:1-3,15-17; Ps 110:1-4; Mk 3:1-6. Thurs,Jan 18, Reb 7:25-8:6; Ps40:7-1O,17; Mk 3:7-12. Fri,Jan 19, Reb 8:6-13; Ps 85:8,10..14; Mk 3:13-19.

John Paul: The saint God made ROME. On the third floor of the Lateran' Palace, home of the . Vicariat~ of Rome, is a most remarkable mail-stop. Its official title is non-postal: "The路 Postulation for the Cause of the Beatification and Canonization Qf the Servant of God John Paul II." Mail arrives in this small office from just about everywhere, bearing witness to favors received through the intercession of the late pop~, requesting prayers, telling slories. The letters come in a daunting variety of languages, and some of them are ad- . dressed, simply, "Pope John Paul II - Heaven." The world's postal services, not typically known for courtesy or effi-

ciency, seem to have figured out the appropriate terrestrial destination of such correspondence.

In the minds of hundreds of millions of people, there is little doubt that John Paul II is a saint. The man who would succeed him described John Paul, at the late pontiff's funeral, as be.ing at the window of the Father's house, seeing those present and blessing them. The hundreds of thousands present in St. Peter's Square that day spontaneously proclaimed him "John Paul the Great" (the first such demon-

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memory and his achievements.

So Msgr. Oder and his colleagues are working steadily, but without undue haste. They are also conducting a process notable for its preci-' sion, as I can personally testify.

In October 1996, John Paul II gave me an unpublished memoir entitled "Curriculum Philosophicum," which traced his first steps in philosophy, his later studies in Happily, wiser counsels the German phenomenologist prevailed. Pope Benedict XVI's approach, as described to me by. Max Scheler, his philosophical work at the CatholiC University the postulator of John Paul's of Lublin, and the origins of his cause, Msgr. Slawomir Oder, "Person and Act" at the Second has been prudent: let's get the Vatican Council. My hunch process done as quickly as then, as now, was that "Curpossible, but let's also get it riculum Philosophicum" was done right. Which is precisely originally intended for one of how things should be. Any rush John Paul's books, perhaps to judgment here would have "Gift and Mystery," but, on several unhappy effects. It further reflection, didn't seem could cast doubt over the 'of sufficient general interest. I integrity of this particular was, of course, delighted to be cause. It would reinforce the given such a gem, and used it in . world media's tendency to preparing my biography of the think that the entire process of pope, "Witness to Hope." A few saint-making (better, recognizmonths ago, Msgr. Oder wrote . ing-the-saints-that-God-hasme, asking if the Postulation made) is essentially political, could have a copy of "Curricuwhen it in fact is essentially a lum Philosophicum," which matter of spiritual discernment. they had been unable to find It would give the late pope's which means that someone in enemies - and they exist the Postulation had dug through another cause to demean his stration since the death of Pope St. Gregory I in 604), and there Were innumerable signs that day reading "Santo subito" "Make him a saint now!"

the forest of endnotes at the end of "Witness to Hope" to identify a Wojtyla text with which those responsible for the beatification process were unfamiliar. That's the kind of research for which the phrase "fine-toothed comb" was invented.

The Postulation hopes to finish the local, diocesan process in 2007, after which the positio, the annotated biography prepared for every candidate whose cause makes it to this stage, will be written. The positio will use sworn testimony from a host of personalities, drawn from every state of life in the Church; some of the ~ost insightful testimonies, Msgr. Oder told me, have come from lay people.

Meanwhile, every day, some 20,000 people come to the grottos of St. Peter's Basilica to pray at the tomb of the man many of them think of as John Paul the Great. They have no doubt that he is in the Father's house, and they believe in his power of intercession. Knowing that, they - and the rest of us - can be patient with the process, which seems to be proceeding with the deliberate speed appropriate to such a worthy cause.

George Weigel is ~ senior fellow ofthe Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington. D.C.

JANUARY

4;

12,2007

The Anchor ,

Diocesan priest reports Elvis sighting Monday 8 January 2007 Homeport - Elvis Aaron Presley's birth anniversary (1935 at Tupelo, Miss.)

I often said Mass in the home of Hetty Green, the "Witch of Wall Street." It was actually her childhood home. By the time I got there, Hetty was long gone.

The home eventually became St. Joseph's Hospital. After it was a hospital, it was a convent. I would walk down to say Mass for the Sisters.

Then I would enjoy breakfast on Hetty Green's back porch.

My grandfather told me of his many Hetty Green sightings. He said Hetty was the richest woman

in the world. An able fin~ncier, she managed hlifown wealtli ~ in excess of $100 million - but Hetty was eccentric. She would firmly pinch every penny.

Dressed in old clothes, Hetty would spend her afternoons at a downtown New Bedford bank, managing her nationwide accounts. According to my grandfather, when lunchtime came around, Hetty would go into the rest room and at the sink fill a cup she had brought with her.

She would then heat up the cup of water on the bank's radiator and dip in a well-used tea bag she kept in her purse. Along with some stale crackers, that was her meal.

Once he inherited, Hetty's son, Colonel Green, blew the family

The power of yes disabled and abandoned chiidren dreds of parishioners at seven It all started with a single at Our Lady of Fatima Rehabilidifferent Masses between the "yes;" a yes given by Msgr. tation Center in Monrovia, two churches to give their own Ronald Tosti, former pastor of Liberia. In order to go, however, "yeses."

Christ the King parish in she needed to raise over $7,500 "Yes, we will help," said Mashpee, to an idea hatched by in just three months. When she Deacon Greg Beckel and Janet Kirsch and her group of short-term volunteers who had e-mailed to ask if we could help, parishioners Dave and Cheryl we followed Msgr. Tosti's recently been in Honduras with Ryan. The idea w,as to bring example and said "yes."

Yvonne. "Yes," said Genevieve teens from the parish to Father Nave of Newton Emil Cook's "Mission Honduras" whe~e adult 1""!!!!l!!!l'P-"'I!I!lI!l!!'-~. . .~.....!'I'I"--::iiii::--''''' Country Day School of parishioners had been the Sacred Heart who planned a benefit for going for years. I wrote Yvonne at her school. In about some of the fact, "yes" was said by wonderful events that so many people that, by surrounded that the time Yvonne left the mission trip last Cape she wrote in a March, but the ripple th~ you note, "Beeffects have continued.

Let me explain by going back cause of you, I am going to Africa!"

Starting a chain reaction of to the night we left for Hondu"yeses" on Yvonne's behalf, ras.

We seldom have the opporMsgr. Daniel Hoye, the new tunity to see the collective, Deeply appreciating the pastor at Christ the King, said, wide-ranging impact of our opportunity my two teen-agers individual "yeses" to God. "Yes, you can organize a fundand I had been given to be a part raising event at the parish." The Perhaps, we even tire of second of the mission group, I wanted to thank Msgr. Tosti, but felt at a collections and special causes next "yes" Came from Falmouth residents, Hans and Mary loss for words. I think I babbled for which we only have a buck Schruckmayr, who had been or less, anyway. It's a normal on about "thanks to you" and trying, unsuccessfully, to sell response to constant appeals "what a gift this is from the their house and move to Florida. aimed at our purses, but on parish." With a characteristic occasion we are blessed to With earnings from the sale of grin and wave of his hand Msgr.

Tosti replied, "Don't thank me; their house, they had been meet the real people who planning to help orphans in you'll be doing all the work! All benefit from our giving, and Africa, but didn't know exactly we are renewed. We are given I did was say 'yes.''' how to do that or even when a glimpse of the big picture True, but without his "yes," where every solitary "yes" their house might sell. Unbelievwe could not have gone. And if ably, within a month of saying counts, where every single we had not gone, we would have "yes" to supporting Yvonne at penny adds up, and where a never befriended Yvonne sole person can make a the Liberian mission, they Noggle, an exemplary, young difference for hundreds of closed on a full price offer on Catholic missionary. And if we disabled and abandoned souls their house ... in the middle of had not made friends with December! in Africa.

Yvonne, scores of people in our A third, "Yes, Yvonne can When I read Yvonne's thank area would not have been speak at our church," carne from you note, Msgr. Tosti's grin and inspired by her and had the Father Joseph Mauritzen at St. wave sprang to my mind, and I opportunity to help her go to Joseph's in Woods Hole. Not thought, "Don't thank us; you'll Liberia, West Africa. You see, only that, but Father Joe doubled be doing all the work! All we like a single tap on the first of a his "yes" by tapping Msgr. John did was say, 'yes.''' long line of dominos, "yes" is an Heidi is an author, photog.

Perry at St. Patrick's in incredibly powerful word.

Falmouth on the shoulder, and rapher, andfull·time mother.

Yvonne, having concluded asking if he would permit the She and her husband raise 14 months of volunteer work at same. Msgr. Perry gave his, their five children in Falmouth.

Mission Honduras, was invited homegrownfaith@yahoo.com. "yes," thereby allowing hunto volunteer further with

fortune. He built the mansion known as "Round Hill" in Dartmouth. He had a yacht, a railroad car and a fleet of automobiles. Trains, automobiles and yachts have engines. My grandfather knew engines. He was hired by the colonel. Working at Round Hill gave my grandfather the ,i inside scoop.

New Bedford has l-letty Green.

Fall River has my deat Aunt Lizzie Borden. Nashville has Elvis. I have recently returned from Nashville and I can report that I met Elvis in pers'on. I found him at the Grand Ole 0pry in Ernest Tubb's Record Shop. Elvis told me that he was actually a Connecticut Yankee. Who knew?

Ironically, the real Elvis Presley once auditioned for th~ Opry but was turned away for lack of talent. I am not making this up.

I was in Nashville for "The Appalachian Tradition of the Creche" at the headquarters of the II General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church, ' known as the Upper Room. "The Appalachian Tradition of the II Creche" was the annual membership meeting of Friend~ of the Creche, the national society i', dedicated to the furtherance of the Christmas Nativity tradition.

Some call Nashville th~, "Protestant Vatican," but I didnjt see one single Methodist Monsignor or BaptistBishop: II Coal miner RalphY~ney ~xplained'how he mold~ Nativity figures out of coal dust.·' Coal miners, he said, are men and women of deep faith, given the dangers of their job. I, of course, needed a coal Nativity for my creche collection.

Speaker Helen Cargile makes corn husk Nativities in the old Appalachian style. I came home with one of those as well.

The General Board of Discipleship is also the site of the United Methodist Publishing House. Publishing (especially of Bibles), along with banking, higher education, health care, tourism and music, are major industries in Nashville.

On the sanctuary wall of the Upper Room Chapel was a huge wooden carving based on the famous Last Supper mural. The chapel's ceiling, walls, and even the altar table were reproductions of those items as DaVinci painted them. I had walked into a DaVinci painting. Dan Brown, eat your heart out.

The Board of Directors of Friends of the Creche needed a vice president. They said jokingly that when they thought of vice, they thought of me. I was elected.

I was in meetings from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., but I had arrived!'in Nashville a little early in order to take in the sights - The ~rand Ole Opry, the Ryman ("Mother "

,

I

'

Church of Country Music"), Belle Meade Plantation, President Andrew Jackson's Hermitage, Centennial Park (with the fullscale model of the Parthenon and its 42-foot statue of the Greek goddess Athena), Bicentennial Park, the Grand Ole Opry , Museum, and the garden conservatory of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. Nashville may be the buckle of the Bible Belt with its 800 churches, but it's also Honky Tonk Heaven, so now this preacher's "gone country."

It's a very rare occasion when I can simply attend Mass and not sit in the presider's chair. On Sunday, I attended morning Mass at Nashville's Cathedral of the Incarnation. It was a learning experience. Even at 8:30 a.m., the liturgical music was outstanding, but then what would I expect in "Music City"? They had a talented leader of song, a pianist, and two violinists. The homily was well-delivered by a permanent deacon and the presider was both prayerful and engaging.

Every town needs a character.

Strange to say, I've never heard tell of one here in the Village.

There must be one around.here some place, though. Oh, wait.

Could I possibly be the Village character? Naaa, not me.

Father Goldrick is pastor of St. Bernard Parish, Assonet.

Comments are welcome at StBernardAssonet@aol.com.

Previous columns are available at www.StBernardAssonet.org.

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10

The Anchor ~

Untiring effort of Antonietta Martin doesn't go unnoticed

By MIKE GORDON

helpful. They are wonderful and I really can't thank them enough," said Martin.

FALL RIVER - Five days a week Antonietta "She is wonderful," said Holy Union Sister Martin drives around the Greater Fall River area Eugenia Margaret Ready. "She gets tons and and picks up donations of food from local mar- tons of bread and food for us and we're so gratekets and restaurants to benefit the hungry. She ful. I've dubbed her the 'Mother Teresa of Fall never expected the fanfare of being named Per- River.'" son of the Week for her efforts; But when you Martin attended schools in Norwood and do that each week for more than six years, worked at sewing for a company in Boston for people start to take notice.

32 years. She was a school bus driver after that "There are so. many people in need. I was for the Swansea and Somerset school districts blessed to find a way before retiring after 10 ~""--'-""""""------:"""'----""""'-='I.,..-----., to help make a differ- .'tI'.路 -:,'.,.,. / ,',' , years of service.

Martin was born in the small town of Torre Di Ruggiero in Heart Church for an ~ "-7 . I':~-.~C~' ...... ~ :' .,' . '. _ ; ~ Italy and said it had interview, volunteers about 2,000 residents. began preparation for its "Everyone knew one anMonday night soup other," she said. It was not kitchen. Martin has been an easy life for her as her helping to collect food for mother passed away when it since it opened four Martin was just 11 years years ago and said it's "a old and her father was love of helping people" away fighting in World that got her involved.

War II. Circumstance She was at the Reid would bring her to FaIn! of Dighton several America as a teen-ager years ago when someone where she lived with an asked her if she knew of uncle. any groups that might She is one of three sibneed extra vegetables. lings. A brother currently Martin did and now the resides in Montreal and a weekly collections she sister lives in nearby makes from Stop and Norwood. A third brother Shop, Seabra, the Venus has since died. de Milo Restaurant, and FEEDING THE HU~GRY' _ Antonietta ,Although she and her several other grocery Martin helps prepare meals for the soup husband did not have any stores and restaurants help kitchen at Sacred Heart Church in Fall children, Martin feels all the food pantries in the River. (Photo by Mike Gordon) blessed to have 16 nieces city directly or indire~tly, and nephews. "I get a lot including the Fall River Community Soup of joy from them and I talk with them often."

Kitchen.

The Sacred Heart food pantry serves an av"She's our guardian angel," said Sacred Heart erage of 100-140 clients each Monday and soup kitchen coordinator Donald Duarte. "I Martin's hope is that people will read about it don't know anyone who works harder or more and come forward to volunteer their time and hours thim she does. She's wonderful and with- treasure helping others. "That would be fantasout her and the donations she col~ects we'd be tic," she declared. spending a lot of money on food."

"I believe we are called to help others," she On the menu that night - fish and macaroni added. "I enjoy doing what I do tremendously. and cheese - were much to the efforts of said I feel like in doing so I am accomplishing someguardian angel. , thing positive. When you see the faces of the The 70-year-old Martin is a native of Italy people who come here you see that they appreand attributes the influence of several relatives ciate it. More volunteers are needed all over and to her strong faith. "I had an uncle who was a I think more places should look to donate food monsignor and an aunt who became a nun. They to such causes." , instilled good values in me and today my faith When she's not busy sourcing donations, motivates me. My Catholic faith means a lot to Martin enjoys reading and gardening. "I love me." to be outside working in a garden. I stay very Martin is a parishioner at St. Patrick's Par- busy, but I love helping people." ish in Somerset where she was a daily commuMartin said the Sacred Heart pantry also disnicant for many years with her late husband tributes clothing each week and bags of grocerWilfred. They were married for nearly 50 ies from the food pantry every two weeks. It years. opens on Monday nights at 4 p.m. for the food She fills her car with food on Saturdays, Sun- pantry and the meal is served at 5 p.m. Youth days, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, but if groups, church organizations and businesses are she gets a call she'll often make an extra trip. encouraged to help put on a meal through doWhen she's not collecting food Martin can of- nations or volunteer efforts. ten be found cleaning or assisting with the cookThe Anchor encourages readers to nomiing duties at Sacred Heart. nate others for the Person ofthe Week - who Some of the food she picks up ends up at the and why? Submit nominations at our email local Senior Center or at the Dominican Sisters address: theanchor@anchornews.org, or write of the Presentation in Dighton. to The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA "Everyone at the supermarkets has been so 02722.

ANCHOR STAFF

::~~:~~~~;:::~"" ~ ~~:~~:~~~

NEW MEMBER OF THE FAMILY - Pope Benedict XVI baptizes a baby in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican January 7. The pope spoke extemporaneously at the ceremony on the meaning of the sacrament. (eNS photo/Alberto Pizzoli, Reuters)

Pope baptizes infants, calls sacrament invitation to freedom

By JOHN THAVIS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI closed out the Christmas season at the Vatican with an annual Mass to baptize infants and kept up a tradition of his own - an extemporaneous sermon on the meaning of the sacrament.

Baptism is not some "magical" rite of words and water, but a lasting invitation to human freedom to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, the pope said January 7, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

As the cries of babies echoed through the Sistine Chapel, the pope poured water from a gilded scoop onto the heads of 13 infants and pronounced the words welcoming them into the church.

Most were children of Vatican employees.

He held a prepared text in his hand as he gave his homily, but referred to it only sporadically, preferring to ad lib as he did the year before. One by one, he explained the symbols of the sacrament, then spoke about its central meaning.

In a sense, he said, Christians are "adopted" by God the Father in baptism. In a similar way, the Church should be seen as the mother of this family, he said.

''Thus we see that Christianity is not only a spiritual or individual reality, a simple subjective decision that I m8ke, but is something real and concrete and material. The family of God is constructed in the concrete reality of the Church," he said.

The pope asked the parents and godparents of the newly baptized to be vigilant so that the children grow up knowing how to love and serve God. He suggested that the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" might be an aid to Religious Education, but said parents teach their children above all by their own example. Despite the hectic pace of modem life, they should also make room for family prayer, he said. ''Every child who is born brings us the smile of God and invites us to recognize that life is his gift, a gift to welcome with love and to protect with care, forever and in every moment," he said.

Later, speaking to thousands of people from his apartment window above St. Peter's Square, the pope encouraged adult Catholics to remember the commitment that began in baptism, which he said is primarily to "listen to Jesus" and to follow his teachings.

This is the way to holiness, 'the vocation ofevery Christian, he said.

l~'c-\.RY 12, 200'7

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The Anchor ,

11

Letters to Dominicans of the future .encased in time capsule

By ANDY TELLI CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation linked their past, present and future in late December when they sealed a time capsule that will be opened in 100 years.

Work on the time capsule began in 2003 when the Dominicans were in the midst of the renovation and expansion of their motherhouse.

"We actually got the idea for a time capsule early in the construction process," said Dominican Sister Marian Sartain. As secretarygeneral of the congregation, Sister Marian is in charge ofits historical records, so she headed the committee that planned the time capsule.

Dominican Sister Rose Marie Masserano, the immediate past prioress general of the congregation, came up with the idea of a time capsule, Sister Marian said. "She has such a wonderful sense of history."

The time capsule is 12 inches by 12 inches by 14 inches and contains three volumes of letters written by the current sisters to the sisters of 2106.

The letters express the sisters' "hopes, our dreams, our prayers for the community," as well as' giving some personal information, Sister Marian said. ''We wanted to direct' it personally to the sisters who would come after us." .

One of the older sisters who at~, tended boarding school at the St.

Cecilia motherhouse wrote a letter describing what that was like, and one of the younger sisters wrote a poem about fidelity that was included in the time capsule, Sister Marian said.

The time capsule also holds photos of the grounds of the motherhouse to show "what it looked like before all the construction began"; copies of the Tennessee Register, Nashville diocesan newspaper; and a letter from Mother Ann Marie Karlovic, the Dominican prioress general.

The time capsule was sealed in a small vault in a room outside the new chapel at the motherhouse at the end of evening prayer December 22.

The sisters expected the time capsule to be closed about a year and a half ago, but there were several delays, which allowed the sealing ceremony to take place in 2006 during the yearlong observance of the 800th anniversary of the first foundation of Dominican nuns by St. Dominic in Prouille, France.

"I think it's providential that we .' do it in that precise year," Sister Marian said of sealing the time capsule in the anniversary year.

The time capsule is only a part of the congregation's commemoration ofthe anniversary, Sister Marian said. The sisters are celebrating the anniversary in the context of a spiritual renewal. Throughout the year, , .die' community had discussions on the various virtues that have' to do

with Dominican life, she said.

The sisters have been asking themselves "how can our community be more what we were founded to be, to be more deeply Dominican, more deeply the religious women the church needs us to be," Sister Marian said. "The time capsule is a very small piece, but it links this not only to the physical building ... but also the reason for the building.

"We've often said just in recent months, if we're not seeking to live our Dominican life more deeply, then we don't really have a reason for the building," she added. "The physical space is here to enable us to live our life for the church, not just for ourselves but for the church."

The time capsule will include a description of the congregation's plans for renewal during the anniversary year, Sister Marian said.

Because the time capsule is being done as part of the congregation's commemoration of the anniversary, "it's taken on a greater depth than we thought," Sister Marian said.

The theme of the anniversary i s , taken from the Book of Revelation: SeE YOU INA CENTURY - Sister Marian Sartain, secretary-gen"Let,v,s walk faithful to the love w~ .eral-Qft/:1e~e9tn!.nic~n Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation in Nashhad at first." _ 路ville;Tenl'!.,'seals a:~ime capsule in a vault just outside the chapel of "It's all about renewing our the congr~gation's 'motherhouse recently. The time capsule will be sense of fidelity," Sister Marian said . reopened in 100 years. Work on the time capsule began dUring the of the anniversary. "That's really renovation arid expansion of the motherhouse. (CNS photo/Sister . what will link us to those sisters 100 Mary Justin Haltom) " years from now."

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Parish to receive Jredit: HOT ART - Maintenance mechanic Ed Perry of Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, N.Y., smiles as he stands near one of his murals. Perry, an accomplished muralist, has used his artistic skills to liven up the walls, floors and machinery in the boiler room of the 76-year-old seminary.

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JANUARY

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DVD/video reviews NEW YORK (CNS) - The fol- script which substitutes schlocky lowing .are capsule reviews of new sorcery effects for story and susand recent DVD and video releases pense. Some supernatural violence, from the Office for Film & Broad- a few disturbing images, occult elecasting of the U.S. Conference of ments, rear nudity, sexually suggestive situations and humor, and recurCatholic Bishops. ''The Celestine Prophecy" (2006) ring crude language. The USCCB Spiritual action-adventure based Office for Film & Broadcasting clason James Redfield's best-seller sification is A-III - adults about an American teacher (Mat- (Allumination FilmWorks).. thew Settle) who journeys into the ''Love's Abiding Joy" (2006) Peruvian jungles, where he beFourth installment in the "Love comes involved in a high-stakes Comes Softly" series where pioneer search for nine ancient scrolls of rancher couple (Erin Cottrell and unknown origin that contain "in- Logan Bartholomew), circa 1885, sights" revealing steps to a higher cope with financial hardships and; mystical self-awareness - or "God the sudden loss of their child. Th~i experience" - and that prophesy villainous mayor (John Laughlin) an imminent next phase in makes the husband sheriff but only mankind's spiritual evolution that to manipulate him for his dastardly will supersede organized religion. purposes, while thwarting the budHe is aided by an international ding romance between his own group of initiates working to trans- daughter (Mae Whitman) and the late the scrolls, including a schis- sheriff's adopted son (Drew Tyler matic Catholic priest (Joaquim De Bell). Michael Landon Jr. directs Almeida), while a shadowy arche- the leisurely tale capably; the proologist (Jurgen Prochnow), the duction design, cinematography country's military brass, and a ner- and musical score are assets, but the vous Catholic prelate (Hector script and performances are bland Elizondo) conspire to thwart their and often anachronistically contemefforts and suppress the scrolls' porary, while the faith elements, message. While the concept of the though admirable, are heavyinterconnectedness of reality, the handed. The USCCB Office 'for underlying beauty and mystery of Film & Broadcasting classification creation and the soul-nourishing is A-I - general patronage (Fox). power of love are ostensibly good, "Ron Rolheiser, OMI: The this is just typical New Age mystiPassion of the Christ" (2006) cism packaged as a grade-B action An insightful meditation on the film, clumsily directed by Armand Gospels' Passion narratives by FaMastroianni. The DVD also con- ther Rolheiser, a Missionary Oblate tains a standard "making of" of Mary Immaculate and noted aufeaturette. Some action violence thor and speaker. Divided into two and theological views are incompat- parts, the spiritually rewarding video ible with the Catholic understand- is essentially a retreat talk, with Faing of reality: The USCCB Office . ther Rolheiser at the podium. He for Film & Broadcasting classifica- suggests that in focusing exclusively tion is A-ill - adults (Sony Pic- on the physical pain Jesus endured, tures Home Entertainment). we miss the intended message ofthe evangelists, who didn't dwell on ''The Covenant" (2006) Supernatural thriller set in a New Christ's agony but chose to emphaEngland boarding prep school about size his "passiveness" in willingly four warlocks (Steven Strait, Taylor accepting his suffering. Applying the Kitsch, Toby Hemingway and Chase concept of productive passivity to Crawford) - all good-looking de- our own lives, he explores how ~e scendants of the infamous Salem can follow Christ's example by emwitches - who must battle a sinis- bracing moments of weakness and ter student (Sebastian Stan) who helplessness and surrendering to wants their powers to augment his God, recognizing that we have as own magic, while navigatingjealou- much to offer through suffering and sies within their group. Director death, as we do through our active Renny Harlin keeps things dark and life (Videos With Value; dank, but the moody atmospherics www.videoswithvalue.org; 800can't disguise a run-of-the-mill 233-4629).

Lee Hernandez, left, and Hilary Swank star in a scene from the movie "Freedom Writers." For a brief review of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS photo/Paramount)

THE WRITE STUFF -

IC~S ~'t()viile

'ICal,VSUlllles NEW YORK (CNS) - The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting ofthe U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. ''Freedom Writers" (paramount) Oassroom drama about the efforts ofan idealistic, novice high school English teacher (Hilary Swank) to transform a racially divided class of troubled teens into model students by inspiring them tobelieve in themselves and break the cycle of gang violence in which they feel trapped. As a way of empowering them, she has them record their personal stories, experiences and feelings in journals, which they eventually get published. Director Richard LaGravenese overcomes a predictable and, at times, messageheavy script with emotionally powerful performances by the young ensemble and redemptive themes ofselfworth, the efficacy of education and empathy to overcome intolerance, and the ability ofone person to make a difference. Some graphic violence, including shootings, beatings and brief but disturbing images of domestic

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abuse, a divorce subplot, one instance of the f-word, recurring crude language and a few racial slurs, limiting its appropriateness to oldef adolescents and up. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-IT - adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 - parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. ''Rocky Balboa" (MGM) Sixth and ostensibly final round in the "Rocky" saga, in which former heavyweight champ Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), now a widower, estranged from his son (Milo Ventimiglia) and running a restaurant, comes out ofretirement, stepping into

the ring against the current champ (Antonio Tarver) to prove he has plenty of heart left in his aging body.

Written and directed by Stallone, this new chapter is arguably the best in the series since the 1976 original, emphasizing character and emotional drama over fight action, while imparting an inspirational message about perseverance and giving it your all, win or lose.

Some bloody boxing violence and a few mildly crude expressions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-IT - adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

Marian Medals cable TV air times FAIL RIVER - A video of the 2006 Marian Medals Ceremony that took place on November 19 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Fall River is airing on several cable television public access channels in the Fall RiverDiocese.

The schedule is as follows: - Bamstable, Chatham, Dennis, Harwich and Yarmouth, cable channe117, Jan. 16,23 and 30 at 9 a.m.

Brewster, Eastham, Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet, cable channel 17, Jan. 23 and 30 at 12:30 p.m.

-Easton, cablechannel 9,Jan. 16, 23, 30 and Feb. 6 at 3 p.m.

- Mashpee, cablechannel 17, Jan. 16 at 8 p.m. and Jan. 18 at 4:30 p.m.

- Raynham, cable channel 9, Jan. 12, 23, 30 and Feb. 6 at 3 p.m.

- Somerset, cable channeI9,Jan. 12 and Jan. 19 at 10 a.m. and Jan. 18. at 7:30p.m.

- Thunton, cable channel IS, Jan. 16 at 8 p.m. and Jan. 18 at 2 p.m.

- Westport, cable channel 17,Jan. 12at9am.

The 2006 Marian Medal Ceremony video is also available for purchase. Contact the Diocesan Office of Communications at S08-67S-{)211 for information.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, January 14 at 11:00 a.m.

Scheduled celebrant is Father Marc H. Bergeron, pastor of St. Anne Parish in Fall River, and diocesan director of the Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs.

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movies or television (which is more

lieved they are called by Christ to testify to his love. They Seek to testify to his love by the spreading t.be Gospel through books, music, video, photogever God may ask of them. There is raphy, pamphlets, and radio. often the perception that the life of a After the Sisters had made their religious or priest is boring and lonely, presentations, the girls were given a with their spending all their time sit- tour of the convent The girls were ting in a chapel. Many think they are shown by different Sisters their radio nm ordinary people. It was to open the station, their photography studio, their students' minds and hearts to the recording studio, their office where truths ofthese wonderful callings that publications are sent forth, and other these trips were formed. aspects ofthe convent It was here they 1lIe senior class was divided over were able to learn and see how the 1\\.'0 consecutive weeks, with the boys Sisters radiated Christ The girls were going to St John's Seminary, and the fascinated how Sister Maria Ruth girls attended convent of the Daugh- from Columbia spoke with great passion ofspreading the faith through raters of St Paul. Like the trips planned last year with the seventh-grade boys dio. They were intrigued by how the and girls-in the New Bedford Catholic humble and joyful Sister Mary schools, many ofthe students wentwith Emanuel is constantly seeking God in joyful expectation (more because they the beauty of his creation, and trying were getting out of classes for the day, to capture it in photo, so others when I presume) but also with some appre- looking upon one of her snap shots bension (perhaps a little fearful that we may be moved to prayer. After their were going to tell them they all had to tours, the girls spent some timdn the become priests and religious Sisters). chapel praying about their vocations 'The boys arrived and were greeted and the needs ofeach other. They finby our Fall River semmarians Greg ished with lunch, and a chance to enBettencourt and Jason Brilhante. Each gage the Sisters in questions and antrip, Greg began by giving the students swers. For some of the girls, this was a very enjoyable tour of the very im- one of the most fascinating parts of pressive seminary. After the tour, the trip, where they were able to get a Bettencourt spoke to the students sense of the lives of the sisters and about the seminary and his, and the witness how much they truly love otherseminarians' ongoing formation Christ and his call. and discernment of God's will for As one of the girls noted, it was a them. After his presentation, the stu- great lesson to see how the Sisters use dents bad time for questions and an- little things to seek to plant God's seeds' swers regarding the lives of the semi- in the hearts of people. But as could narians. Before leaving for a delicious, be seen simply in the Sisters' faces, hmch, they spent time praying for their their testimony is most effective by vocations and all vocations. their lives. The girls noted after the trip Though the students were amazed how they (like the boys in seminary) at beauty ofthe chapel, the woodwork were struck by the genuinejoyfulness of the refectory, the history and tradi- and love in the Sisters. Though some tions present in the building, what was still left there thinking that the Sisters' moststriking was not the structure, but lives would be too hard for them, they these who reside there seeking to do were struck how "real" the Sisters God's will. Jt was the ordinariness of were. The trip helped the girls not only the seminarians whom they met which to get rid of some stereotypes which struck them most, along with theirjoy, many came in with..but to understand .zeal, hope, faith, and trust in God. and appreciate the call which the SisThough the building and its amenities ters have responded to. may have attracted the boys superfiThose who had gone on both trips ciaIly, it was the wi~ess ofthose seek- said they learned much from the~ and ing to respond to his call that made saidevery Catholic in Catholic schools them more open to his will for them. should go on these trips. It opened up The girls had a similar dynamic their eyes to the lives Qf those whom occur. They arrived at the convent a God has called to the priesthood and little late the first day due to road con- religious life. Several noted they were struction in Dedham. Once they ar- much more open now to praying about rived the girls were brought to a gath- what God is asking ofthem then they ering hall where they were welcomed were before the trip that day. These by the Sisters. For almost all the girls, trips were a great success, not only Ibis was the first time they had ever because of the learning about a very entered a convent. Unlike the boys important part ofChrist's Church, but whn bad met priests before, this was because it opened some hearts a little the first time for many of the girls to more want to want to follow Christ Illtlt1religious Sisters. The Sisters gave and to discern what he is calling them a small introduction aboutreligious life to, like so many saints before us. That and their particularapostolate and way is the greatest result one can hope for oflife. The Daughters ofSt Paul were from any Catholic education; everyfounded at the tum of the 20th cen- thing else in education is secondary. tuIy with the charism to proclaim Father Cook is a ptITOChial vkar Orrist to the world through modem at St PatridcParish in Wareham and media. As the Sisters explained Vocation Coordinator for the New tIrrough a video presentation, they be- Bedford Deanery. than often inaccurate). Since there is that misunderstanding, there tends to be less openness to saying yes to what-

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happens at the Eucharist is a to participate in the Mass with mystery, and so is ~~esthood the congregation when I don't The Christmas season we have and any state of life in which we have to officiate•. It is beautifui just completed is a good time to choose to dedicate 6urselves to these days to see lay people in reflect on vocations, to reflect . the Lord.

II charge of different groups in the on my own vocation, the This time of the .year is parish and leading prayers. People vocation of priesthood which I somewhat challenging for me who are not afraid to be deeply have been privileged to share for personally, being a~ay from my involved in the life of their p~ the last seven yeafS. The family for Christmas and are a true inspiration to me.

Christmas season by its very missing different trilditions. But Being raised on a farm an~ nature and its celebration is a this is precisely wh~t helps me used to hard physical labor, it is wonderful time for reflection. to be aware more and more of still a challenge for me to adjust As we come to church, we II another mystery ofipriesthood: to a different style of life. reflect on the mystery of God's the people of the community I Sometimes, when I have a becoming man; God's dwelling serve are my family. Through . ch~ce, I try to compensate for in our hearts every day, and how this challenge and 91essing the it. On my days off I have tried we respond to this unity of deep sea fishing divinity and and construction humanity. As we put up Christmas '7here ~~ no greater thrill than ~ork. Once a decorations and each time I celebrate Eucharist week I volunteer. . _ ' to teach Aikido a search for gifts when Just"before I say the words martial art ' for those we of consecration, I take a few See-promoting love, we have a chance to reflect onds of silence to absorb what is harmony and on the gift of about to Happen. 11 ~ce. Kayaking. hiking, fishing; all family: the gift i these might seem of one's spouse, words of Jesus: "Who are my to be different ways of spending children, relatives, friends and mother, my brothers and my my free time but they are also an neighbors. This time fills us sisters?" become wry real in my essential part of my vocation. ,I withjoy that should be in our life. I don't know how many On January 7 we celebrated hearts all year long: "Joy to the the Epiphany of the Lord. The world! The Lord is come." It is . people in the congregation truly realize that they ate my family. image of the three kings followwith this joy in my heart that I But this is an amazing way for ing the light of the star is truly reflect on my vocation. It is this me to feel the unitY we all share inspiring. As we live out our joy, the joy of the Living God through our baptis,in, the unity faith to the best of our abilities, dwelling within me, that I want ,we experience in the Eucharist we all follow a bright light, the to share with you. and other sacraments. So any Light of the world, Jesus Christ.

Words cannot describe this, , time I am with.my family, the I wouldn't be able to accomplish and there is no greater thrill than people of my parish, I try to do so many ':\'onderful things and each time I celebrate Eucharist, when just before I s,ay the words my best to be pre~~nt to them, to experience all this joy, if not for assist them in theu needs. Every God's calling me to be a priest; of consecration, I take a few day there are many ways in if not for Jesus Christ's giving seconds of silence to absorb which I experience joy while me strength every day to what is about to happen'. Bread ministering to mYlipeople. continue in my ministry; if not and wine become the Body and Massl~t nursing Celebrating for the Holy Spirit's guiding me Blood of Jesus Christ; the homes and sharing lunch with and every so often surprising me heavens aTe joined with earth our seniors.

Teac~ng faith . with his wisdom. and God accompiishes this formation and taUa.ng to chil, Perhaps you don't often see through me, a mere human dren in our Religipus Education joy expressed on my face being, a sinner. And it happens program.

Going on little· because I am a quiet and serious , so other people may share in pilgrimages with ·pur Vocation man, but if you only knew the this precious gift. Can you and Divine Mercy groups. joy in my' heart you would imagine the joy of being a tool Coming in prayer with a group rejoice too.

Please pray for your in God's hands to accomplish of people.

Trainirig new altar priests and remember that we that? Serving God and his servers.

What a gfeatjoy! are your family. people in this way is simply In my own spmtuality, at Father Kalinowski is a overwhelming and my heart is least once in a while I need to parochial vicar at Our Lady of not always ready to receive this step aside, take a 'break and look Victory Parish, Centerville, and joy. But even if! don't feel it, I at priesthood frorP a bit different vocation coordinator for the understand it as much as human angle.

If I have a chance, I like Cape Cod Deanery. mind can understand God. What FATHER DARIUSZ KALINOWSKI

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Come after me: A vocation is an invitation

By FATHER JEFFREY CABRAL

As Jesus was walking by the Sea ofGalilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.

He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers ofmen." At once they left their nets andfollowed him. - Matthew 4:18-20 As a country, we prepare to commemorate National Vocation Awareness Week, a special time in which the Church prays for the renewal and strengthening of vocations with dedicated people to serve as priests, deacons, Brothers, and Sisters. Here in our own Diocese of Fall River, we prepare to kick off a new campaign to foster vocations, especially vocations to the priesthood, called "Go Out and Fish." It owes its name to the passage from Matthew.'s Gospel where Jesus calls Simon Peter and his brother Andrew from fishermen to become fishers of men.

Many people perceive a vocation as a calling, and rightly so. A vocation is classically defined as a calling from God. The root word for vocation is vocare, which is Latin for "to calI." God has created each one of us for a particular calling. Through the sacrament of baptism, God calIs each one of us to live out that calling . in love, holiness and service to God and one another. The path We choose to follow is important, because by actively discerning God's call and responding, we will live our lives in true joy and fulfil4nent.

However, a vocation is more than just a calling - it is also an invitation, an invitation from God. It is important

to remember that a true vocation is an invitation from God to assume some responsibility to share in the mission of the Church. God never forces himself upon us. The Lord constantly encourages, nurtures and pulls us in the direction we should be heading. If we truly listen with our hearts and not to our fears and doubts, the authentic invitation from God will be easier to know.

Throughout our liturgies in the Christmas season, we have heard many invitations made by God to various

unassumingly. The shepherds in the fields were invited by the heavenly host of angels to go to Bethlehem to ' witness the miraculous Incarnation, making known to others the message that had been told them. The magi came from the east, from the invitation of the star, to honor the newborn king with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. All invitations - all vocations found throughout the Christmas Nativity story!

As Christ first came into our world in that lowly stable on that first Christmas, he still comes to us everyday. Jesus i~ Emmanuel ---:- God-is-with-us.

"The Lord constantlyencourages, Jesus Christ comes to us through our priests and, nurtures and pulls us in the direc- in particular, through the Eucharist, through tion we should be heading. If we which our priests consecrate each and every day. truly listen with our hearts and not Through the invitation of young men to the to ourfears and doubts, the authen- priesthood, we see Christ, Emmanuel, desiring to tic invitation from God will be easier be with us always ... to go out and fish. Let us make it our New Year's resolution, but in particuto know. II lar to my brother priests, to encourage and, above all, invite young men to consider responding to people - invitations that were deferentially and humbly the call of ordained ministry. Statistics have shown, time consented to. ,Mary was invited by God, through the and time again, that many priests considered a priestly . archangel Gabriel, to become the Theotokos, the Mother vocation because they were invited to do so by another of God. She humbly trusted in the Lord, declaring that priest. Now, more than ever, in a time of declining she was the handmaid of the Lord. Her husband, Joseph, numbers, we priests should take our role seriously as was invited to not divorce Mary, but to receive her into fishers of men. Go out and fish! Go out and invite! his home, along with her child, whom he was to name Father Cabral is a parochial vicar at St. Anthony's Jesus. He did so, with great righteousness. Joseph was Parish, Taunton, chaplain at Coyle and Cassidy High also invited to take his holy family to Egypt to protect School, Taunton, and vocations coordinator ofthe ~e Christ-Child from King Herod, which he did Taunton Deanery.

Answering the call brings true happiness

By JASON BRILHANTE

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Prayer, study, and companionship are three words that describe my discernment experience to a priestly vocation. This is my first year offormation to the priesthood at a major seminary and I have been introduced to new people, new subjects, and new experiences. By fully participating in the four pillars of formation my discernment to the priesthood has been rewarding and affirming.

Throughout my first semester at S1. John's Seminary, I have met men with diverse backgrounds who have responded and are discerning Jesus' call to the priesthood. Some men are from Vietnam, Ethiopia, Poland, Ireland, and Colombia just to name a few. This rich community of culture and ethic diversity fosters an environment that encourages camaraderie and charity for one another. Such friendships streJ}gthen unity and create a source of support for continuing with discernment and formation.

Part of the pre-theology formation program consists of academic studies in philosophy.

Philosophy is a necessary tool to learn truths about human life. It also helps with a deeper understanding of faith, and with proclaiming the truth about the

apostolic ministry, which is . prayer, and service to the new experiences I have encounSimilar to an internship. My Church, and it is important not to tered.and the good people of God current assignment is Jeanne neglect these areas of our lives. who have affirmed my per~ever足 Jugan Residence; an elderly care Human formation has helped me ance i.n formation. My vocation facility operated by the Little become aware of time managehas brought many new blessings Sisters of the Poor. My primary ment but more importantly, to and. graces into my life and I firmiy believe that nothing else appreciate and learn about the task is to visit with residents and converse and pray with them. This gift of celibacy. can bring me more happiness than to follow Jesu1)' call to the is my first experi- .

In these last months of ence working with discernment, I confidently know priesthood. liMy vocation has brought many the elderly and it has . through prayer ttlat Christ has Jason Brilhante is a seminarnew blessings and graces into my been rewarding. This called me to be a priest. I am ian studying Pre-Theology at St. excited to have come to this John's Seminary in Brighton, life and I firmly believe that noth- has led me to a conclusion through the many deeper appreciation for the Diocese of !Fall River. ing else can bring me more hap~ for the knowledge piness than to follow Jesus' call and wisdom the to the priesthoQd. " residents possess.

They share with me pillar of formation, the ultimate many momentous occasions in goal of which is to create an their lives. Some ~xperiences are joyful and others burdensome; intimate and unceasing reiationbut, 'regardless of how they ship with God. There are several .overcame life's challenges, they means to build this relationship, but receiving the holy Eucharist have taught me to always have daily, frequently celebrating the faith and persevere with my . sacrament of penance and endeavors.

'Go Out and Fish' Vocation Schedule 2007 spiritual direction have been A fourth and final pillar of January 17 - Holy Hour for Vocations; St. Michael School Hall, particularly helpful to me. formation is human formation.

209 Essex Street, Fall River; 7 p.m.

Spiritual direction is a regular Seminarians meet each week meeting with a priest at least once collectively to discuss healthy January 21 - Holy Hour for Vocations; S1. Elizabeth Ann Seton every two or three weeks to human qualities. A human Parish, 481 Quaker Road, North Falmouth; 4 p.m. examine spiritual growth toward formation advisor will usually January 28 - Information Session on the priesthood for high school sanctity, virtue, and readiness for lead a discussion on a particular students; S1. Julie Billiart Parish Center, North Dartmouth, 2-3:30 p.m. holy orders. Through this aspect topic ~!lch as healthy exercising of formation I have been chalor the gift of celibacy. This is a February 2 - Holy Hour for Vocations; S1. Pius X Church, 5 Barpractical part of formation lenged to be more Christ-like and bara Street, South Yarmouth; 7 p.m. self-sacrificial, .since in ordination toward becoming an effective March 8-9 - Overnight retreat for priests; Mirimar Retreat Center, . parish priest, to learn how to a priest is configured to Christ Duxbury. who gave himself totally to God's manage the demands of pastoral May 6 - Holy Hour for Vocations; St. Mary's Cathedral, Spring plan for salvation. responsibilities and live a Street, Fall River; ,3 p.m.

A third area of formation is balanced life. There are chalThe Anchor will routinely run a schedule of vocation events as they lenges that one must overcome to apostolic ministry. Every 'become available. seminarian is assigned an live his promises of celibacy, Gospel. This has been a new area of study for me since my previous academic studies were in accounting. Philosophy has enlightened me to a deeper understand of the mysterie~ of the Catholic faith.

Spiritual formation is a second

JANUARY

12, 2007

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Testing the

By FATHER JOHN

MURRAY

I've never been much of a fisherman. My only experience with fishing was living across from a beautiful lake growing up.

In my few forays into fishing I caught just a few sunfish, and threw them back of course. I give thanks to God that my livelihood is not tied in with the fishing industry; if it were, I would starve. However, as we consider the theme of "Go out and fish!" for vocations in 2007, we have ~o ask ourselves about our livelihood as a Church.

The type of fishing we are talking ab?ut is not the kind that involves a rod and reel. We are talking about the kind of fishing that involves the Word of God. The waters are deep and often rough and difficult, but we are called to venture out and to find what the Lord is giving us. , So the charge is given to all of us, ~'Go out and fish!" I think of the people in my own life who were the fishermen (and women) of my own vo~ation story; a story that goes back to my childhood. I think of my grandmother who was a woman of deep prayer. Her example of prayer, whe~her I realized it or . not, was part of God's own"bait" to draw me to serve his Church.

My parents, bringing me up in

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the Catholic faith, by word and by example, also are part of that .journey. I think of my sisters, , three wonderfui women that God has put into my life; their support and prayers for me assisted me in' my journey into and through the seminary. I give thanks to God for my family and their support.

They all helped in their own way to bring me to the priesthood, .

Why dol write about these people? It's more than mere sentimentality (although I am quite good at that!). I write because it illustrates how we all playa role in encouraging young men to consider the priesthood.

When is the last time you encouraged someone to consider the priesthood? Who was (or is) be? What qualities does he possess? Does he

"God usedpeople beyond my fam- laugh? Does he ify to assist in my journey to priest- appear to be a man hood; parish priests, catechists, teach- of prayer? Does he .. . . 'know how to speak ers In public and, ~athollc. scho~/s - to people kindly? all of whom partIcIpated In theIr own Is he compassionway in this journey that brought me to . ate? If you see serye the Church as a priest. these qualities in II

and they sustain me by their love and prayers.

God used people beyond my family to assist in my journey to priesthood; parish priests, catechists, teachers in public and Catholic schools - all of whom. participated in their own way in this journey that brought me to serve the Church as a priest. I often think of Father Gerry Shovelton, my parish priest when I was growing up. His example of love for God and God's people, and his commitment to the priesthood, formed one of my first and most important images of a priest. There are countless priests who J came to know along the way who have helped.in my. own journey to the priesthood. I give thanks- for all of them.

someone, encourage him to consider priesthood.

What harm will it do? It may do some good ~ some extraordinary good. I remember a classmate of mine in high school who had no; idea I was considering the priesthood. One day, seemingly out of the blue, he told me he thought I would be a good prie~t.

I hope he's right. You never know what your word of encouragement, your question, or invitation might bring about, but take that leap. Go fishing and see what , happens. You might help the Lor:d and our Church catch something good! ,

Father Murray is a parochial vicar at St. Pius X Parish in South Yarmouth, and·is voca~ . tions coordinator for the Cape Cod lJeanery.

• The!Anchor news briefs Spokane sex abqse bankruptcy case settled·for $48 million RENO, Nev. -1~dge Gregg W. Zive said January 4 that the Diocese of Spokane, Wash., and those with sexual abuse claims against the diocese have reached a $48 million settlement. Zive, chief bankruptcy judge of the U.S. Bankrulltcy Court for the District of Nevada, had been mediating the case sinc4 last July under mandate from the federal bankruptcy court in Spokane; He said the agreement reached January 4 must still be confirmed by the court in Spokane and by creditors in accord with provisions of the U:S. Bankruptcy Code. "The economic portion of the global settlement totals at least $48 million and provides a mechanism for the payment of future claims," he said. He said parishes of the diocese will have to raise $10 million to contribute to the settlement. The Spokane Dioce~ has nearly 100,000 Catholics served by 82 parishes, so the cost to tM parishes, who depend on contributions for their income, works ouNo an average of about $100 per Catholic.

Hard rock in be~: Monsignor makes 'The Divine Comedy' a musical VATICAN CITY' - A Rome monsignor has composed an extravagant musical version of ''The Divine Comedy," featuring symphonic music in heaven, Gregorian chant in purgatory and hard rock in hell. That's not a value judgme~t on rock music - it just seemed to fit the spirit of rebellion in Dante's description of the infer:no, Msgr. Marco Frisina told Vatican Radio January 4. Msgr. Frisina, a liturgy official for the Diocese of Rome and a well-known composer of religious music, said the new work, "The Divine Comedy: The Opera," will use a loo-piece orchestra, 50 dancers and singers, and more than 250 costumes. According to the opera's production company, Nova Ars, the set will be one of the biggest ever used for an operatic work and will be designed to allow audience interaction in some of the scenes. The priest has dedicated the opera'S musical $co~ to Pope Benedict XVI and said he hopes the pontiff will attend the premiere in Rome next fall. Dante Alighieri's medieval poem, considered one of the masterpieces ofworld literature, imagines a joumeytIVough the three realms of the dead Catholic offici~ back N.J. panel's advice to end death penalty TRENTON, N.J~ - Catholic officials have praised the recommendation by a New Je~y panel that the state abolish the death penalty in favor of life impl:isonment without parole. The New Jersey Death Penalty Study Commission, created in 2005, submitted its findings to Gov. Jon S. Corzine. In theiJ: report commission members said they did not find compelling evidence in support ofcapital punishment and also found that it costs taxpilyers more than it does to incarcerate prisoners for life.

The commission voted 12-one in opposition of the death penalty and said capital puni~hment is "inconsistent with evolving standards of decency, serves nd legitimate penological purpose such as deterrence or retribution and is not worth the risk ofmaking an irreversible mistake."

Patrick Brannigan, executive director of the New Jersey Catholic Conference, urged tile Legislature to act quickly on the report and pass laws to implement the panel's recommendation.

New Ukrainian Catholic cburch is former synagogue Holy Family Ukrainian Catholic Church celebrated the feast of the Holy Family by opening a new church and parish center in a former synagogue in Lindenhurst. Ukrainian Bishop Paul P. Chomnycky of Stamford, Conn., and his predecessor, retired Bishop Basil H:. Losten, joined parish administrator Father Olvian Popovici and the parishioners in blessing the church and celebrating their first Divin¢ Liturgy in their new home. The Ukrainian Catholic Church is one of several Eastern Catholic churches that maintain their own traditions, i:forms of worship and hierarchy while remaining in full union with the Roman Catholic ChurcJh. The Stamford Diocese is responsible for Ukrainian Catholics throughout New England and New • York. Thirty-six of its 51 parishes are in New York state, including several on Lon~ Island.

LINDENHUR~:r, N.Y. -

EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY.- Senior girls from Bishop Stang High School, North Dartmouth, recently toured the Daughters of St. Paul Convent in Jamaica Plain. Here, in the convent photo lab, Sister Mary Emanuel demonstrates how she uses photographs to,convey God's love through different ways she captures certain images.

Vatican newspaper: Bush's remarks on Saddam'sdeath unlikely to help VATICAN CITY - U.S. President George W. Bush's public comments on the hanging 9f former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein are unlikely to calm the tensions created by his execution, the Vatican newspaper said. L'Osservatore Romano said in the wake of the circulation of images showing S~ddam being taunted just before he was hanged December 30. Bush reiterated his belief that Saddam's trial was fair and "limited himself to observing that, nevertheless, the final procedure could have been 'more dignified.'" RespQnding to reporters' questions January 4, Bush said, "I wish, obviously, that the proceedings had been done in a more digni;fied way. But, nevertheless, he was given justice; the thousands of people he killed were not." The Vatican newspaper, in a front-page article, said Bush's remarks "are words that do not seem useful for overcoming the hatred and bitterness that is still mangling Iraq, and they certainly are Dot an invitation to reconciliation." Another 357,120 people took part in special audiences for particular groups. In addition, the Vatican said a total of just over 1 million people attended one of the pope's weekly general audiences on Wednesdays at the Vatican or Castel Gandolfo. : c

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AN EARLY AMERICAN CHRISTMAS - Children. from Attleboro's S1. John the Evangelist School sing for residents of an Attleboro nursing home to spread some holiday cheer. They dre~sed in attire symbolizing an early AmericanChristmas following the theme of the school's Christmas Pageant.

FAMOUS PAIR - Pre-school children Samyra Reis and-Antonio Johnson from Espirito SantQ School in Fall River celebrate the Birth of Jesus during a school Christmas activity.

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BANNER PERFORMANCE ~ Second-grade studer;Jts from Karen ROdrigues' class at SS. Pete"r and Paul School in Fall River recently ~taged a Posada procession; reenacting Mary and Joseph's search for lodging in Bethlehem with a visit to every classroom. Leading the procession, from left to right: Paul Melo, Aliana Andreoli, Zachary Roussel and Kailee Peixoto.

o SING ALL YE FAITHFUL -

The Bishop Feehan Christmas Concert Band, along with the Girls' Glee Club and Concert Choir, perform "G Come All Ye Faithful" ~s the finale to their annual Christmas Concert. They, along with the lyric and tap dance companies and'festival string orchestra, filled the Attleboro school's audito~iumwith music and holiday cheer. More than路150 students participated.

NO NAUGHTY, ALL NICE - Members of the Kids in Christ Junior Youth Group from St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Dartmouth share a moment with Santa during a recent pancake breakfast. At right, pastor Father Gregory A. Mathias offers his Christmas .Iist. .

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What can you do to '. make a good day?

By CHARLIE MARTIN -

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

''GOOD DAY"

I go back upstairs,l tum offthe IV You say "I'll ~'t; OK baby; I say to mYself Self, why are you awake again? just wait Jrui see It's I a.m (Repeat rejrain.) ' Standing with the fridge door wide .Sung by Jewel open, staring Copyright 2006 by Atlantic/Wea 'I What is a good day?

Such a sight,.jluorescent light , The character iri Jewel's "Good The stars are bright Might make a wish if I Day" ,seems detennined to have just such a day. The songis offJewel's latbelieved in that est disc "Goodbye Alice in WonderAs it is, I might watch IV 'Cause it's nice'to see people more land." The musical Wproach on this messed up than me album returns Jewel to the style that made her a pop/folk' icon.

I say to myselfas I smile at the wal~ . The song's character tells herself let myselffall . Refrain: that "it's gonna be all right, no matter It's gonna be all right, rw matter what they say." She ,believes that it's going to be "a goOd day ... 'cause I'm what they say OK with me." " It's gonna be a good ~, just wait and see We don't know the details when it It's gonna be OK, 'cause comes to what's goin.g on in her life.

I'm OK with me But it is apparent that she wants to It's gonna be, it gonniz be, make the best of 6urrent circum~ ]i it's gotta be stances. She has <le¢ided to be posi1 shiver. shut the door tive.

Can't think standing here rw more . Life can be trying, disappointing, I'm alone, my mind's racing, painful. As we encounter life's'successes and challengds, we are sure to heart breaking Can you be everything have both good day;sI' and bad days.

I need you to be?

For all of us, this is the path of life.

Can you protect me like a daughter?

However, seeking what is positive Can you love me like afather? is one good way to experience more Can you drink me like water? good days. Doing so does not mean Say I'm like the desert, just hotter denying whatever h$s. It means livThe point ofit all ing with hope, settirlg our emotional Is that if I shouldfall focus on hope.

Still you're the name I call Forexample, suppose you get a test (Repeat refrain.) , grade that is much lower than what As long as we laugh out loud you wanted. Does this event make for Laugh like w~'re mad a good day or a bad day? It is your 'Cause this cnzzy, mixed up beauty resp'onse to the situation that will creis all that we have ate the kind of day it will be.

Because what's love but an itch we Initially, you may be surprised and can't scratch, a joke we can't catch disappointed. That ~ould be nonnal.

But still we laugh But do you allow such feelings to coni

BEARING GIFTS - Eighth-graders Michael Green, Brendan lawlor, and Adam' Nichols from St. Pius X School, in South Yarmouth, organize gifts donated by its students fQr the annual Giving Tree prQject. Below, students take part in the school's Christmas pageant. .

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sume your day?

One possible response is to acknowledge the hurt, but also to ask yourself what you have learned about preparing for upcoming tests. Instead ofremaining stuck in your disappointment, you could use the experience to discover how to achieve a better test result in th~ future. Adopting such an attitude is likely to bring your spirit of persistence and hope to the surface.

Further,more, you might want to think about whatever else is happening this day - the day ofthe poor test grade. Perhaps y.ou will spend time with friends, or go to work after school, or even practice with a school team - all potentially enjoyable occurrences. Sure, the sting ofthe test grade hurts, but you can avoid making it the focus of your whole day.

What I'm trying to stress is the pr0cess ofchoice. Indeed, some days will have very painful events that cannot be put aside. These are the times you need to reach out for the support of those who love you. Other days will have "bumps" that, while unpleasant, need not create a "bad" day. Choosing where to place your emotional focus determines the sort of day it becomes.

No matter how a day turns out, I suggest that you spend part of it with God. Bring your feelings about situations to God, who understands both your joys and hurts.

So, let no day go by without meeting God in prayer. Then, whatever happens that day, you will have touched the power of being loved.

Your comments are always welcome. Pliose write to CIuulie Martin, 7125W2OOS, Rockport, IN 47635, or email: chnuutin@swindiona.net.

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Change the bulb, find your light . ,

I have a confession to make.

The inspiration for this week's article did not originate from a Gospel reflection nor was it derived from an open discussion or article I read. Rather, my inspiration arrived through the strangest source, a soap opera.

A recent episode of CBS' Guiding Light depicted the characters performing odd and uncharacteristic good deeds for one another. One character even performed a good deed for the token resident villain. with the completion of each new deed. recipients of the unlikely kindness were ,always left with a mysterious phrase, "find your light." No explanation of the phrase's meaning was given, thus leaving each recipient responsible for discovering the meaning on his or her own. After a brief investigation of how the "find your light" phrase and concept were coined, it was discovered that a young boy was behind all of these good deeds. When asked by his social

studies teacher as to how some,one could make the world a better place, this boy simply said that we should be nice to others. Some of you may be familiar with a ,similar concept addresse<l in die 2000 film "Pay it Forward."

In both the film and the soap opera, when asked how the world could be a better place, both young boys return to the, fundamentals of human kindness. Because of them, a ripple effect was created and the lives touched through a s~ple, kind gesture will be remembered.

This basic kindness is not a foreign concept; it's as old as the' Bible. Jesus tells us to "love your enemies, do good to those who . hate you," and "do unto others as' you would have them do to you" (Luke 6:27, 31). These are seemingly simple concepts but when we pick up the newspaper, log on to the internet, or turn on

the TV, weare slapped with negative images and headlineS'.

There are perhaps two general responses to the ills of our national and global society: we either become desensitized and ignore it or we blame the collective ''them'' for the world not

being what we want or hope it to be. Many of us IIlay even wonder what good can one person do?

The answer is simple. We can return to the basics. We can go back to the Gospels and Jesus' message of love.

As Catholic& we have an obligation to social justice. The U.S. bishops even included social justice as a component to youth

that can bring peace, healing, and ministry in their document, 'I perhaps even joy to our communi"Renewing the Vis,pn."

Through ties. I challenge the students ,and our baptism, and later our teachers of our schools whether confirmation, we are commisthey are Catholic, private, or sioned to be the light of the world public to bring social justice and give glory to Gpd. M~y of issues to tlJe forefront this year. our young people (as mentioned I ' Talk to your pastors, DREs, and in a previous article) volunteer youth ministers as to how to their time ttJ-oughout their become more involved in your high school ~d college years to varipus causes and communities. charitable works, but Kindness can take mllDY forms and does not always have to take sometimes it ends there.

I' the form of a grandiose gesture.

We need to carry on what , Sometimes the simplest can be the so many have already most meaningful. Just remember started and the rest of us that no matter the form, love and can stijl become involved. compassion should always be at , So, as W~, begin this the heart of any good deed. new year, I have a challenge for I' So I challenge you to spend all of you, young ~d old. Many of us have probably already made 2007 finding your light. It can our New Year's resolutions. But make a world of difference.

Crystal is the Youth Ministry take a moment to revisit them.

I ' Last year, many of ps experienced Coordinator at St. Lawrence Parish in New Bedford and an random acts of violence in our assistant in the Diocesan Youth own communities. Let's change the headlines for 2007. Let this be Ministry OjJice. Email questions or comments to a year filled with random acts of cmedeiros@dfrcec.com kindness. Let's em~,ark on a year II

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Monday Thursday Sunday Sunday

Most Reverend George W. Coleman February 27 7:00p.m.

Parish of the Go.od Shepherd"Fall River, & Holy Trinity Parish; Fall River, @ Good Shepherd Church, Fall River 7:00p.m.

St. Joseph Parish, Fairhaven March 6 4:00p.m.

St. Joan of Arc Parish, Orleans March 10 Immaculate Conception Parish, New 7:00p.m.

March 13 Bedford St. Joseph Parish, Taunton, & S1. Paul ParMarch 18 1:00 p.m. ish, Taunton, @ St. J9seph Church, .:, Taunton March 20 7:00p.m.

S1. Mary Parish, Norton, at St. Mary Church, Mansfield 7:00p.m.

St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Provincetown, March 22 & Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Wellfleet, @ St. Peter the Apostle Church, .

Provincetown March 24 St. Anthony Patish, East Falmouth • 6:30p.m.

Holy Cross Parish, South Easton March 25 5:30p.m.

St. Dominic Parish, Swansea April 10 7:00p.m.

St. Mary Parish, South Dartmouth April 12 7:00p.m.

2:oo·p.m.

St. Jacques, Immaculate Conception ParApril 22 ishes, Taunton, and Ollf Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish, Taunton, @ St. Jacques Church, Taunton Santo Christo Parish, Fall River April 23 7:00p.m.

April 25 7:00p.m.

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Westport Good Shepherd Parish, Martha's Vineyard 5:00p.m.

April 29 April 30· 7:00p.m.

Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, New Bedford May2 .

Annunciation of the Lord Parish, Taunton, 7:00p.m. & St. Joseph Parish, North Dighton, @ Annunciation of the Lord Church, Taunton St. Julie Billiart Parish, North Dartmouth May 3 7:00p.m.

St. Mary's Cathedral, Holy Rosary, ImMay 6 5:00p.m. maculate Conception, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Sacred Heart, St. Stanislaus Parishes, Fall River, & St. Joseph Parish, Attleboro, @ St. Mary Cathedral Parish, Fall River St. Kilian Parish, New Bedford May 7 7:00p.m.

St. Mary-OUr Lady of the Isle Parish, NanMay 17 6:00p.m. tucket Adult Confirmation @ St. Mary's CatheMay 20 5:00p.m. dral, Fall River Holy Family Parish, East Taunton (Group I) May 21 7:00p.m.

Holy Family Pari~h, East Taunton (Group II) May 24 7:00p.m.

St. Mary Parish, No~ Attle,boro .

4:00p.m.

June 2 Sacred Heart Parish, North Attleboro June 10 5:00p.m.

Sunday Wednesday Saturday Monday Friday

Reverend Monsignor Daniel F. Hoye 5:30p.m.

Christ the King Parish, Mashpee March 25 St. Francis Xavier·Parish; Hyannis April II 7:00p.m.

April 28 11:00 am. Our Lady of the Cape Parish, Brewster St. John the Evangelist Parish, Pocasset 7:00p.m.

April 30 Corpus Christi Parish, East Sandwich 7:00p.m.

May 18

Sunday Sunday Friday

April 29 May 6 May II

Thesday

Tuesday Saturday Tuesday Sunday

Tuesday Thursday

Saturday Sunday Thesday Thursday Sunday

Monday Wednesday Sunday . Monday Wednesday

Thursday Sunday

Monday Thursday Sunday

Friday Sunday

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Sunday

Very Reverend George C. Bellenoit, v.F. St.-Elizabeth Seton Parish, North Falmouth 11:30 a.m.

12:00 p.m. St. Pius X Parish, South Yarmouth Our Lady of Victory Parish, Centerville 7:00p.m.

(Group I) Our Lady of Victory Parish, Centerville May 18 7:00p.m.

(Group II) 12:00 p.m. Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, May 20 Osterville Reverend Mi.chael K. McManus, Chancellor St. Anthony Parish, Mattapoisett, and St. 7:00p.m.

April 10 Rita Parish, Marion, at St. Anthony' Church, Mattapoisett St. Ann Parish, Raynham (Group I) 5:00p.m.

April 22 ~

Thesday Sunday Friday

Monday Monday Tuesday Monday Monday Monday

Monday Sunday Tuesday Thursday Sunday

Thesday

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Monday Sunday Monday

Sunday Monday Sunday Sunday Tuesday Monday Thesday

Monday Sunday Saturday Monday Saturday

Sunday Friday·

Saturday Monday Saturday Monday' Monday Sunday Wednesday Sunday Saturday

Reverend Michael K. McManus, Chancellor (Continued) St. Bernard Parish, Assonet April 24 7:00p.m.

St. Ann Parish, Raynham (Group ll) 5:00p.m.

April 29 Holy Name Parish, Fall River May 11 7:00p.m.

Reverend Monsignor John J. Oliveira, P.A. 7:00p.m.

St. John of God Parish, Somerset March 12 St. Mary Parish, New Bedford March 19 7:00p.m.

March 20 7:00p.m.

St. John the Baptist Parish, New Bedford . March 26 St. Patrick Parish, Wareham 7:00p.m.

St. Joseph-St. Therese Parish, New April 30 7:00p.m.

Bedford 7:00p.m.

St. Anthony of Padua Parish, New Bedford May 21

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Reverend Monsignor John A. Perry, V.G. March 19 7:00p.m.

St. John Neumann Parish, East Freet0':VD Espirito Santo Parish, Fall River March 25 6:00p.m.

St. Peter Parish, Dighton March 27 7:00p.m.

April 12 7:00p.m.

St. John the Evangelist Parish, Attleboro May 6 11:15 a.m. ~t. Patrick Parish, Falmouth, & St. Joseph Parish Woods Hole, @ St. Patrick Parish, Falmouth 7:00p.m.

Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, New May 29 Bedford Very Reverend Jay T. Maddock, v.F. St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Swansea 7:00p.m.

February 12 7:00p.m.

St. Anthony Parish, Taunton March 27 St. Mary Parish, Taunton 7:00p.m.

April II St. Anne Parish, Fall River 7:00p.m.

April 23 11:30 a.m.· Holy Redeemer Parish, Chatham April 29 7:00p.m.

St. Louis de France Parish, Swansea April 30 Reverend Monsignor Edmund J. Fitzgerald, V.F. St. Francis Xavier Parish, Acushnet 5:00p.m.

March II SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Fall River March 19 7:00p.m.

St. Joseph Parish, Fall River 5:00p.m.

March 25 St. Thomas More Parish, Somerset April 29 11:00 a.m.

St.. Patrick Parish, Somerset 7:00p.m.

May 8 Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, May 14 6:00p.m.

Seekonk. (Group I) Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, May 15 6:00p.m.

Seekonk (Group II) Very Reverend John J. Oliveira, V.F. St. Mary Parish, Fairhaven 7:00p.m.

February 12 St. George Parish, Westport 7:00p.m.

March II Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, New 5:00p.m.

March 24 Bedford St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Fall River 7:00p.m.

April 23 Our Lady of Guadalupe @ St. James April 28 4:00p.m.

Church, New Bedford, and St. Lawrence Parish, New Bedford, at St. James Church, New Bedford St. John the Baptist Parish, Westport 11:00 a.m.

April 29 St. Michael Parish, Fall River 7:00p.m.

May 4 Reverend Monsignor Stephen J. Avila, V.F. St. Mark Parish, Attleboro Falls (Group I) March 3 11:00 a.m.

St. MilfY Parish, Mansfield (Group I) 7:00p.m.

March 5 St. Mark Parish, Attleboro Falls (Group ll) 11:00 a.m.

March 10 March 12 7:00p.m.. St. Mary Parish, Mansfield (Group ll) St. Theresa Child of Jesus Parish, S. March 19 7:00p.m.

Attleboro· St. Mary Parish, Seekonk March 25 5:00p.m.

Immaculate Conception Parish, N. Easton 7:00p.m.

April II 7:00p.m.

Stonehill College April 15 St. Stephen Parish, Attleboro 11:00 a.m.

April 28

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Holy Cross Family Ministries to hold premiere screening of its latest video

Around the Diocese ~

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ning at 4 p.m.

Eucharistic Adoration .. _---

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FALL RIVER - Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held Monday through Friday following the 7 am. Mass at Holy Name Church. 709 Hanover Street It continues until 9 p.m. in the parish adoration chapel. Each Thesday a holy hour is held from 7-8 p.m. concluding with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament Confessions are heard from 6:307:30 p.m. each Thesday. For more information call 508-679-6732.

NEW BEDFORD - Perpetual eucharistic adoration is .held at Our Lady's Chapel. 600 Pleasant Street For more information call Laurie Larsen-Silva at 508888-7751.

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FREETOWN - Mother of the Sorrowful Heart Rosary Crafters are making and sending handmade cord rosaries.to missions over the world. They are available for teaching and demonstrations. For mOR< information call Carol Spoor at 508644-2645.

au

SOUTH DARTMOUTH - The Knights of Columbus Bishop Stang Council No. 4532 is seeking good Catholic men to become new members. It meets on the first Tuesday of each month in the basement of St. Mary's Church, 783 Dartmouth Street.

For more information call Brock Cordeiro at 508-979-8930.

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FAIRHAVEN - Hospice volunteer training sessions will begin January 29 and run through February 14 from 9:30 am. to 2:30 p.m. at the town hall, located on Center Street. Hospice volunteers pr0vide support for patients and family members coping with terminal illness. A light lunch will be provided. For more information call Jo-Ann Beaulieu at 508-9926278.

CENTERVILLE - Echo ofCape Cod, a retreat program for high school students, is now accepting applications for its upcoming retreat weekends at the Craigville Conference Center. A boys' weekend is scheduled for February 9-11. Applications may be downloaded from the Website: www.echoofcapecod.org. For more information call Mary Fuller at 508759-4265.

FALL RIVER - The program ''Adoption by Choice," will be presented January 21 from 1-3 p.m. at the Catholic Social Services Office, 1600 Bay Street It is for individuals and families interested in adopting a domestic newborn. Refreshments will be served. For more information call 508-674-4681.

EAST FREETOWN - Emmaus, a c0ed Catholic retreat program for those ages 20 and older who are seeking to grow in their relationship with Christ, will be held February 23-25 at Cathedral Camp. For more information call Rick Silvia at 508455-2331 or visit emmausretreat.com.

FALL RIVER - A catechists' workshop, "Prayer and Spirituality," an approved course of the diocese's Catechist Certification Program, will be presented January 14,21, and 28, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Holy Trinity Parish school hall, 64 Lamphor Street, by coordinator of Religious Education Pat Pasternak. For information call 508673-1284.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Providence College's Center for Catholic and Dominican Studies will sponsor the annual St. Thomas Aquinas Lecture on January 24, from 3:30 until 5 p.m. in the Aquinas Hall Lounge on campus.

Eleonore Stump, Ph.D., the Robert J. Henle Professor of philosophy at St. Louis University, will speak on "Aquinas on the Nature of Love." A reception will follow in the adjoining Center for Catholic and Dominican Studies. This lecture is free and open to the public; all are invited. For more information, call 401-865-2870. rMiscellaneous

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FAIRHAVEN - Our Lady's Haven seeks volunteers to assist at the nUrsing facility in transporting residents to and from their rooms to rneals, activities and daily Mass. People are needed during the week and on weekends. For information call Manuel Benevides at 508-999-4561.

FALL RIVER - Financial coordinators and patient advocates at Saint . Anne's H~spital are available weekly, Monday through Saturday, to help qualified residents sign up for the state's new Commonwealth Care Health InSurance Plan. Interpreter services are available for non-English-speaking residents. Residents in the region with general questions should call 508-235-5398, Hospital staff can also mail information to qualified residents.

FALL RIVER - A soup kitchen is open on Mondays from 5-6 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church Hall, 160 Seabury Street.

Volunteers are welcome to assist begin-

19

ISupport Groups

NORTH EASTON - "Compassion to Service," the latest video series in the "Mysteries of the Rosary- Mysteries of Life" series relates Jim and T~rry Orcutt's call to follow Christ's path through the

Luminous Mysteries, combining rosary prayer and the Orcutts' personal reflections highlighting the meaningful work at My Brother's Keeper and the Holy Cross Retreat House.

The screening will take place January 21 at 1 p.m. at the Martin Institute - Stonehill College in Easton. A reception will follow.

RSVP to Family Ministries at 508-

238-4095.

Q])hilnarn Brother Charles St. James FIC; was teacher, vocations director LOUISVILLE, Ohio - Brother Following a fall in 2005, Brother Brother Charles is survived by of Christian Instruction Charles St. Charles, who had suffered 14 years two sisters and their husbands; James, 75, who taught in the Fall 'WithParkinson'sdisease,returnedto Gabrielle and Anthony Havreluk of River Diocese, died December 17 living on campus with the Brothers.

East Fairfield, Vt., and Suzanne and at the St. Joseph Care Center, here." .lRecently Walsh-University in North Edward Fisher of Treasure Island, Born in Burlington, Vt., the son Canton, Ohio, presen~dhim with its Fla.; nine nieces and nephews; and of the late George and Laurette Lifetime Achievement Award cousins.

(Senesac) St. Jacques, following his He was an accomplished organHis funeral Mass was celebrated freshman year at St. Michael's Colist and pianist. He served as the December 20, in Our Lady of Perlege in Colchester, Vt., he began his Brothers' chapel organist. On the petual Help Chapel on the Walsh formal training as a religious piano he enjoyed contributing to University campus. Burial was in Brother at La Mennais College in any songfest. the Brothers' Cemetery in Alfred.

Alfred, Maine. His final profession was in 1958.

SERVICE... By caringfamity and servicejamily professionals From 1955 to 1970, Brother TRUST. ..In the people you know Charles was a high school teacher CHOICE. .. Custom-designed, personalized tributes at the Brothers' schools in Alfred, AFFORDABIJ,JTY... Dignified services within a budget Fall River, Mass., and Detroit, Mich. While in Detroit, he earned For over 135 years, fiUnilies have tunJed to the Waring-Sullivan service family of compassionate professionals to guide them through life's most challenging times. a master's degree in library science 508-676-1933 ~ He was associate director ofVo508-999-5100 ' cations for the Archdiocese of Detroit while serving as vocation director for the Brothers until 1977.

Homes of Memorial Tribute www.woring..ullh.llD.com At the same time he served'a term A SeniÂŤ i<mnily Affiliate-OrAfFS & Servic< C'OIfl"!'ltion lmemational. 492 Rock Street. fan River. 1>1A 02720 lOS-(j76-24S4 as executive director for the National Conference of Religious VoOur Lady of Fatima to Sister Lucia, Blessed cation Directors of Men with offices Jacinta 3I)d Blessed Francisco July 13, 1917 in Chicago. He also received a "I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate master's degree in Pastoral Studies Heart, and the cdlnmunion of Reparation on the First Saturdays. If from Loyola University. my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace. If not, she ",ill spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecu~ons of the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated. In the end, Diy Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Rt(ssia to me, and she will be converted, and a period of peace will be ID-anted to the world. In Portugal, the dogma of the F~th will always be preserved, etc."

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Waring - Sullivan-

ATTLEBORO - Catholic Social SerVices is sponsoring a support group for women experiencing the challenges of midlife. It will begin meeting January 23 from 6-7:30 p.m. at 10 Maple Street.

Meetings will continue on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. For more information call 508-226-4780.

BUZZARDS BAY - The Guild of St. Benedict Joseph Labre will offer support groups for families and friends of those with emotional troubles, depression and mental illness, beginning January 28 at 3 p.m. at St. Margaret's Church, 141 Main Street. For more information call Tunothy Duff at 508-759-1903.

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NEW BEDFORD-Courage, a support group for people dealing with same-sex attraction while striving to lead chaste lives, will meet January 27 at 7 p.m. in the rectory of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at St. James Church, 233 County Street. The group is faithful to the Catholic Church's teachings on human sexuality. For more information call Father Richard Wilson at 508-992-9408.

NORTH DARTMOUTH - Project Rachel, a ministry of healing and reconciliation for post-abortion women and men is available in the diocese. If you are hurting from an abortion experience and want help call 508-997-3300. AIl calls are strictly confidential.

NORTH DARTMOUTH - The diocesan divorced-separated support group will meet January 31 from 7-8:30p.m. at the Family Life Center, 500.Slocum Road.

Refreshments will be available. For information call Bob Menard at 508-9652919.

IHealing Masses

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FALL RIVER - A healing Mass will be celebrated at St. Anne's Church on January 18 at 6:30 p.m. The rosary will be recited at 6, and Benediction and healing prayers will take place after Mass.

fRem.em!JeJt 60me0ne 6pecUd..

Light a virtual candle at

H

HathawayFunerals.com BROTHER CHARLES

ST. JAMES, FIC

In Your Prayers

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Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks

ATHAWAV FAMILYl

FUNERAL - HOMES

January 17 Rev. John F. Laughlin, Retired Pastor, Holy Ghost, Attleboro, 1967 Rev. Daniel J. McCarthy, SS.CC., Former Provincial Superior, Retired Pastor, Holy Redeemer, Chatham, 2002 .

January 19 Rev. Thomas E. O'Dea, Assistant, SI. Lawrence, New Bedford, 1999 January 20 Rev. Roland J. Masse, Assistant, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Fall River, 1952 January 21 Rev. Msgr. Henri A. Hamel, USAF, Retired Chaplain, Retired Pastor, SI. Joseph, New Bedford, 1983

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The Anchor ,

Priest says Scouting helps youths discern vocations

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IRVING, Texas (CNS) - Partici- board and is currently acting Scoutpating in Boy Scouts is a great way ing chaplain for the committee's for youths to meet people in all Region Four, covering dioceses in walks of life and help them discern Maryland, VIrginia, West VIrginia, their own vocations, says Msgr. John Delaware and the District ofColumB. Brady, a 65-year veteran ofScout- bia. He founded the committee's national Scouter Development proing.

In an interview with Scouting, a gram.

According to the magazine, there family magazine published by the Boy Scouts ofAmerica, Msgr. Brady are currently some 9,500 Boy Scout said jamborees - nine-day national units chartered by Catholic instituor international. gatherings ofScouts tions in the United States, serving and their leaders - provide oppor- . more than 305,000 Scouts.

Msgr. Brady said he experienced tunities for vocational discernment "not equaled in any other environ- the first U.S. nationfllj~b9ree..~· ment."

1937, when he waseighty~ars 014 "At each of the seven jamborees and he visited the' encampment on on which I have been privileged to the National Mall in Washington. serve on staff, I have had the opporHe joined the Boys Scouts in the tunity to help about 1,000 Scouts dis- seventh grade and went on to becern their life's calling," he said. come an Eagle Scout.

"Other jamboree staffers, such as Speaking of jamborees as occadoctors, surgeons, optometrists, en- sions for vocational discernment, he gineers, pilots, military personnel said, ''This happened in my own life. and the like, have shared their pro- Msgr. Robert Brown, the chaplain of fessions and experiences with Scouts the international section of the secwho consult them." ond jamboree, held at Valley Forge, He said the "excitement, enlight- Pa., in 1950, helped me to discern enment, reverence and camaraderie" that God was calling me to be a of a jamboree combine to increase Catholic priest rather than a Signal youths' openness to thinking about Corps Army officer, a patent attorwhat direction their life should take. ney or a professional Scouter."

He said that Scouts have to meet Scouting interviewed Msgr. Brady after he received the National Catho- personally with one of the camp lic Committee on Scouting's 2006 chaplains sometime during the jamSilver St. George award, given to boree in order to qualify for the Catholic Scouting leaders for "espe- "Duty to God" segment of the jamcially significant" accomplishments boree patch.

He cited Scouting as a "powerand service at the national level.

A priest of the Washington Arch- ful program" to help meet the goals diocese, Msgr. Brady, 77, was that the U.S. bishops set out in their archdiocesan chaplain for Boy 1997 document on Catholic youth Scouting, Girl Scouting and Camp ministry, "Renewing the Vision."

He added that Scouting is espeFire Boys and Girls from 1960 to 1984. He is a longtime member of cially effective in fostering all-around the national committee's advisory personal and spiritual growth.

JOB WELL DONE - Beacon Hospice Account Manager Bonnie Penfold, left, and Beacon Hospice Regional Director Michael Hutchinson, right, recently presented Catholic Memorial Administrator Thomas Healy with an honor for the home's care of terminally ill patients.

Beacon Hospice honors Catholic Memorial Home's end-of-Iife care FALL RIVER - Beacon Hospice, New England's largest provider of end-of-life .care, recently honored the Catholic Memorial Home for its care of terminally ill patients.

The award for Quality End of Life Care 2006 was given at a November 15 ceremony recognizing National Hospice Month.

Last year, the Catholic Memorial Home consistently demonstrated the quality patient care that Beacon Hospice has made a standard in its services for the terminally ill.

"Our goal for hospice care is to support the resident and family, maximize their time together by managing symptoms and assure peace and dignity at the end of life," said Thomas Healy, administrator at Catholic Memorial.

"Beacon Hospice shares those goals and has

played a big part in helping us attain those goals," he added. "We have seen Beacon staff as an extension of our own staff in all aspects of residential care and support. We are happy to have Beacon as part of our team and we are honored to receive this award."

Serving the needs of patients and families in Southeastern Massachusetts out of its local office in Fall River, Beacon Hospice, Inc., was established in 1995 to serve the terminally ill.

With nearly 1,000 patients and with a staff of more than 500 members in 15 community-based offices, Beacon Hospice is founded on the philosophy that all patients should be able to choose the manner in which they wish to live out their lives and should receive the highest quality of care possible.

~HALER'S

PLACE, AfFORDABlE,. CAREFREE

lKV1NGFORACTliVE ADULTS ,-

AGES. 5S AND OLDER. ~ I?U.CF' has been beatitifuIly fCStored. and painstakingly renovated into new

apanmenr homes. Recognized bY 11>e Massl!d>usem Historical Commission and the National Park Servia:. Whaler's Plaee jj ronveniently located in the picturesque seaside rommunity of New Bedford. and jj close to area shopping and the New Bedford waterfront hi<toric area. Come visit. and experienee the carefree lifestyle. and all the modern on-site features and amenities Whaler's Plaee has to offi:r.

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FF.AllJPf, &1 A"HNIfIU • On-1itc rnan<ltdDt"n[ & nuinttn:mce perwnntl

• Ewrung buildin{; on<nd.uu • Beautifully J'M'orrd. .,.posed wood ceiliuf;i

• Computer center • Adracent outdoor parking • Billi.trd''l room • \,(1uJ:t:r'... Caf~

• Greit room

• !..tundry lounge

• Community ruonl

• Indoor tertate 2tt.a, • Dry deming SttVla:

• fttnt~~~ ecnrer

A SPECIAL MILESTONE - Lilly O. Gomes, center, celebrated her 100th birthday at her home in Cotuit on Dec. 17. She was surrounded by family and friends, and was presented with a blessing from Bishop George W. Coleman by Father Philip A. Davignon, left, pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Osterville, of which Gomes is a member, and Father Andrew Johnson, right, a parochial vicar at the parish. Also in the photo is Kathy Pina. Gomes received a papal blessing from Pope Benedict XVI and citations from several elected officials from Massachusetts. (Photo courtesy of Kathy Pina.)