01.13.06

the8nc VOL. 50, NO.2· Friday, January 13,2006

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Ex-gang leader challenges students to be street-wise and live virtuously

By MIKE GORDON

school. We have too many kids today making too many adult deFALL RIVER - Students at cisions. I encourage you kids to S1. Anne's School received a visit be kids." from an old friend recently when Jennings' talk focused on the motivational speaker Joseph dangers of smoking, alcohol, Jennings returned to Fall River to drugs, profanity, gangs and not give them advice about important respecting one's body. His visit life choices. was organized by Catholic Social Jennings,afonnergangleade~ Services' Abstinence Challenging instantly had the students in the Teens in Our Neighborhoods Propalm of his hand and it's easy to gram. see why. At a little oversix-feettall Jennings travels the country and 260 pounds, Jennings is a big visiting schools to bring his exman and his booming voice rever- perience to students in hopes that berated through the auditorium. he can change lives by making ''Take advantage of your time them realize they have a choice here," he told students. "Come when it comes to sex, drugs and here and learn and appreciate that violence. He has appeared on nayour parents put you in this Turn to page 13 - Message ANCHOR STAFF

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BISHOP GEORGE W. Coleman greets students of S1. Stanislaus SChool during a Mass celebrating the Fall River school's 100th anniversary. (Anchor/Gordon photo) Ii

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Stanislaus School celebrates 100 years of Catholic education

By MIKE GORDON ANCHOR STAFF

JOSEPH JENNINGS, a former gang leader, spoke recently to students at S1. Anne's School, Fall River, about the dangers of drugs, gangs and not respecting one's self. (Anchor/ Gordon photo)

FALL RIVER - An overflow crowd of parishioners, parents, teachers and students marked the 100th anniversary of S1. Stanislaus SchOol January 8 at a to a.m. Mass celebrated by Bishop GeOIge W Coleman with pastor Father Bruce M. Neylon.

It was a time to reflect on a century of Catholic education and what that has meant to the community through the years.

FatherNeylon called the centennial celebration, 'Tremendous. It says a lot about the commitment ofthe parishioners, the Sisters who first came here and the teachers today. All have made a great commitment to the school and community."

Father Neylon added that it was special for him because his mother attended the school. ''It's ajoyous occasion and I'm glad to be part of this celebration and a parish that values Catholic education."

According, to its history, the school opened its doors for the fIrst time on Jan. 6, 1906. It was established by thecomumnityofSt Stanislaus Parish under FatherPeter Basinski:' to educate fIrst-and second-generation Polish immigrants. Felician Sisters from the congregation of the Sisters of S1. Felix of Cantalice staffed the schoolhouse and instruction was in English and Polish.

A new school eventually replaced that four-room classroom in 1967 and the Felician Sisters continued to educate students until 1985 when they were forced to discontinue due to a lack of vocations.

Curreht Principal Jean Willis said they have been doing a lot of work to prepare for the centennial, but it was worth the effort.

"I'm very happy with everything," said Willis. ''We've been doing a lot of things during the school year to celebrate and we have an alumni weekend planned for May. Many of the Felician Sisters will be Turn to page 16 - Centennial ..

Legal challenge filed to citizens' constitutional marriage amendment lay

DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR AND eNS REPORTS

BOSTON - Even as the Elections Division of the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth certifIed 123,356 signatures given last fall on a citizens petition to amend the state's constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman, a legal block is looming.

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, GLAD, fonnally filed a lawsuit Januaiy 3 challenging Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas Reilly's authority to allow the citizens' initiative as it promised in a Nov. 26, 2005 statement, reported Daniel Avila, director of Public Policy for the Massachusetts Catholic Council, the

public policy voice of the Catholic bishops of Massachusetts.

"The attorney general simply got it wrong," said Gary Buseck, GLAD's legal director. "Our state constitution says there can be no citizen-initiated constitutional anlendment that 'relates to the reversal of a judicial decision. ", GLAD has continually maintained that a citizen-initiated petition cannot reverse the ruling on same-sex marriage that came Nov. 18, 2003 from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in its decision in Goodwin v. Department of Public Health.

It involved a lawsuit by seven same-sex couples demanding marriage licenses. The high court ruled that same-sex marriage is

required in Massachusetts.

In a I5-page letter sent to the group last September, Assistant Attorney General Peter Sacks rejected that argument, stating: "Amending the words ofthe constitution does not require the people to say that a court's decision was wrong and should be ignored. Instead, it changes the rules to be applied by the court so that future cases will tum out differently."

Responding to the lawsuit January 6, Reilly's communications director, David Guarino, said the attorney general still sup. ports that reasoning.

However GLAD did not file a suit by the Friday, January 6 deadline challenging the petition process or the certification

ofthe signatures by the Secretary of State," reported Larry Cirignano, executive director of the campaign VoteOnMarriage.org. the citizen's initiative petition. . ''We have enough legislators" who are willing to support the bill, said Cirignano, e~ecutive director of Catholic Citizenship, a nonpartisan organization that coordinated the signature-gathering process in the state's Catholic dioceses. ''The big thing is that we have to get the vote," Cirignano added. Senate President Robert E. Travaglini and House Speaker Salvatore F. DeMasi "have to allow a vote," he said.

The goal of the initiative is to allow Turn to page 13 - Marriage

•

Friday, January 13, 2006

S1. Anne's Prayer "Good St. Anne, Mother of Mary, and Grandmother of Jesus, Intercede for me and my petitions. Amen."

In honor of Sister Lucia dos Santos, seer of Fatima, who died February 13,2005, age 97.

Lucia pray for us.

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BOSTON - The four Catholic bishops in Massachusetts are among the signers of an ecumenical letter from 28 religious leaders across the state calling for prayer during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity January 18 through 25.

Bishop George W. Coleman of Fall River signed the letter, along with Boston Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap.; Bishop Robert J. McManus of Worcester,and Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell of Springfield.

The week's theme is ''Where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them" (Mt. 18:20).

The leaders from various religious denominations noted that "our desire for l,lnity should be especially strong in times like the~e, when human community is undennined in "hot spots" on almost every continent; political differences within this country often disintegrate into dehumanizing monologues; and disagree-

ments within and among churches are vigorous."

They said living in the name of Jesus can be as simple as people talking, listening, consulting, understanding and cooperating, offering ecumenical hospitality "and receiving one another as Christ has received us."

The following is this year's prayer for unity: "We bless your name, gracious God, for sending your Son to be part ofthe human family and to lead all men and women into unity by his Spirit.

We ask you to protect those who bear the name Christian, so that in bearing witness to the Cross of Christ we may receive whatever burdens come to us with confidence in the strength of your grace.

We pray that we may hear your Word and welcome your Spirit, so that our care for one another will make visible the promise of Jesus to bring peace and reconciliation to all humankind.

We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen."

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Ecumenical letter launches Week for Christian Unity

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North Attleboro parish sees 150th birthday; Seekonk parish is 100

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didly. He had recently been serving was dedicated by Bishop Janles L. FALL RIVER - 1\vo parishes as parochial vicar at St. Mary's Par- Connolly. will mark more than a century of ish in Seekonk.

The parish celebrated its 75th anservice to the faithful at celebrations . At another St. Mary's Parish, this niversary in 1981 and in 1987 a new this year. one in Seekonk, where Father rectory was constructed behind the Like many church communities George B. Scales is pastor, it was Religious Education Center. in southeastern Massachusetts, St. reported that plans for a celebration As 2006 adds new pages to the Mary's Parish in North Attleboro are not yet fonnaIized. history of the diocese, it also sparks Bishop William Stang, the first memories ofthe fonner St. Boniface was ministering to Catholics long before the Fall River diocese was Bishop ofFall River, established the Parish in New Bedford, that would established in 1904. parish on April 8, 1906. Father have marked its centennial this year.

Historical accounts tell us that Patrick McGee was appointed its Founded in 1906 as an ethnic Gennan parish, it was suppressed John Graham in 1826 walked from pastor that same year.

Boston to Attleboro to leam the trade The original church was located and closed its door in 1987. Its sacof a jeweler with the finn of Draper in the Hebronville section of ramental records were transferred to & Tift. It W1S at his home in Octo- Attleboro. The first stone ofthe foun- Holy Name Parish in the Whaling ber 1848 that Father Joseph dation was laid on June 22, 1906. City, later to be renamed Holy Name McNamee, coming from churches The first Mass was celebrated there of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish.

During the late 1800s many Gerin Pawtucket, R.I., offered the first on feast of the Immaculate ConcepMass in the Attleboro's. tion, December 8, 1906. The origi- mans and Austrians came to New When in 1852, the congregation nal rectory was located next to the Bedford, most of them to work in the city's cotton mills. Father Willwas considered large enough for its church on Hebron Avenue. own church, Father McNamee purIn 1956, FatherCornelius Keliher iam Stang, a native of Baden, Gerchased land "on the rocky spot" on was appointed pastor of St. Mary's, many, who was to become the the main road between the falls and and plans were developed for the diocese's first bishop, ministered to North Attleboro. , construction ofa new Church - but the Gennan population.

Father Philip Gillick from at another location.

Named after the patron of GerGreenville, R.I., was given charge of In May of that year, three acres many, St. Boniface's was completed Attleboro in 1856, and became its were purchased for the new church in 1908, and the first Mass was celfirst pastor. He built a church on the in the Cherry Hill area of Seekonk. ebrated there on Christmas Day. It land bought by Father McNamee, The church was completed and on had been staffed over the many years which was dedicated by Boston May 30, 1957, the new St. Mary's by Sacred Hearts Fathers.

Bishop John B. Fitzpatrick on June 19,1859.

A history ofthe parish sums it up in these words: "Notbuiltofthe gold and surplus and leisure of the wealthy, but with pennies and the want"and labor ofthe poor. Not built through pride or rivalry or petty jealousy, but through faith, to shelter Him in Whom we hope for life eternal."

A new church was completed in 1901 on the feast of the Immaculate Conception. A school and convent were completed in 1924, and a new rectory built in 1956.

However, as 2006 was ushered in, plans for a parish celebration are still undetermined reported Benedictine Father RobertJ. Powell, newly appointed administrator.

"St. Mary's pastor, Father James M. Fitzpatrick, remains on medical THE FORMER St. Boniface Church in New Bedford, closed leave, and my bags are stilI unpacked," Father Powell, said can- in 1987, was founded in the diocese 100 years ago.

Friday." January 13, 2006

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NAME: _----:-_~-------------POPE BENEDICT XVI visits the Nativity scene at a Rome city office recently. The pope praised the faith and dedication that went into building the Nativity scene that includes 95 houses and 200 figures in addition to Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the Wise Men. (eNS photo/ .

Reuters, L'Osservatore Romano)

When people recognize truth, they become peacemakers, says pope

By CINDY WOODEN

While all people are called to work for peace, he said, peacemaking is a "permanent mandate" VATICAN CITY - When for all those who believe in the people recognize the truth that they are all children of God and Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Christians contribute to peacethat moral law exists for the benmaking when they proclaim that efit of all, they become peacemakers, Pope Benedict XVI said. "the recognition of the full truth "Peace - this great aspiration of God is the fIrst and indispensin the heart of every man and able condition for the cons.olidation of the truth of peace," woman - is built day by day with the support of evhe said. eryone," the pope said as he Pope Benedict said hu"In the face of continuing situa- manity needs a ')ump-start celebrated Mass for the feast of Mary, Mother· of tions of injustice and violence that of courage and trust in God God and for World Peace continue to oppress different areas and in man in order to Day. of the earth and before those things choose to follow the path of The Mass in St. Peter's that present themselves as new and peace.'~ Basilica and the recitation of Continuing his reflection insidious threats to peace - terrorduring his midday Angelus the Angelus afterward in St. Peter's Square featured ism, nihilism and fanatical funda- address, the pope said. people from around the mentalism - it becomes necessary Christians are called to world dressed in their na- more than ever to work together for meditate on the Bible and altive costumes. Many car- peace, " Pope Benedict said. low its truths to challenge situations of sin, violence ried peace banners.

During the Mass, the ofand injustice present in the fertory gifts were given to modem world.

Pope Benedict by two boys and a obedient to the command of the ''When man lets himself be engirl from Germany dressed as the angels and docile to the will of lightened by the splendor of truth," Magi and participants from God," are a model of "the man the pope said, "he becomes a peaceMexico, Peru, Pakistan, Vietnam who lets himself be enlightened maker with interior courage." and Democratic Republic of by truth, in that way becoming During the Christmas season, Congo. capable of building a world of "we learn a great lesson: To welcome the gift of peace, we must In the prayers - read in Rus- peace." sian, Chinese, Arabic, Polish, Span"In the face of continuing situ- open ourselves to the truth that is ish and Portuguese - the congre- ations of injustice and violence revealed in the person of Jesus, gation asked God to help the that continue to oppress different who taught us both the content churches ofthe East and West work areas of the earth and before those and means of peace, which is together for peace and asked God things that present themselves as love," the pope said. to bless international organizations new and insidious threats to peace By sending his son to become committed to peacemaking. .

- terrorism, nihilism and fanati- a human and to die for all men Specific prayers were offered. cal fundamentalism - it becomes and women, God "also showed for "the martyred populations of necessary more than ever to work us the path ofpeace: dialogue, forPalestine, the hind of Jesus and together for peace," Pope giveness and solidarity. This is the of his mother, Mary," and for ar- Benedict said. only path to true peace," Pope Benedict said.

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

eas of Africa and Asia still experiencing conflict.

In his homily, Pope Benedict called attention to the Gospel of Luke's description of the shepherds hearing the angels announce the birth of Christ and setting off to adore him.

The pope said the shepherds, "in their poverty and simplicity,

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Frlday. January 13, 2006

THE LANDING

the living word

Time to rise up together As we prepare for the Week of Christian Unity January 18-25, Christians in our Commonwealth are confronting an issue on which they are clearly united. It's a challenge, ecumenists often say, to find unanimity among Catholics and Greek Orthodox, Evangelicals and Pentecostals, Anglicans, Lutherans路 and Methodists. But a bill on Beacon Hill has brought them together. They've beenjoined by Christian Scientists and Unitarians. The same piece oflegislation has gotten Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Jews not only to agree with each other, but to concur with the Islamic Council of New England.

All are united in opposition to Senate Bill 1074, dubbed "An Act Relative to Charities in Massachusetts," which passed the state Senate in November and is up for a vote in the House of Representatives later this month. This bill would require all houses of worship in the Commonwealth to file detailed annual financial reports for the review of the attorney general; to submit a solicitation form with the attorney general for'all fund-raising activity they have done in the previous year and another specifying the ways they hope to raise money in the following year; to file a corporation certificate with the Secretary of State detailing various data about its particular organizational structure; and require all of them to list for the attorney general every parcel of real estate.owned.

State religious leaders from every denomination say, on a practical level, that fulfilling the terms ofthe bill would be fmancially crippling, especially to small churches, mosques or synagogues. Each community would need to hire a certified public accountant every year to do the reports in the way mandated by the legislation, and even proponents of the bill admit that this would entail costs of $6,000 to $15,000 annually for a typical community and could even exceed a million for a larger institution like a diocese. Those costs come in addition to the fees that must accompany each of the filings, which, for ex- . ample, can run up to $250 for the financial report given to the attorney general. Supporte~ of the bill say that the faithful of a house of worship have the right to know where their money is going. Those who give money to their faith community, however, doubtless do not want it going to the state government, as a surreptitious tax on tax-exempt religious institutions.

Much more than the financial impact ofthe bill, however,Christians, Jews and Muslim leaders are saying that the bill attacks the religious freedom guaranteed by both the United States' and Massachusetts' constitutions. The bill gives the attorney general the right to review and determine whether the leaders of a religious entity have properly used its assets to carry out its stated religious purpose. Any religious institution would be vulnerable to secondguessing by the attorney general on perceived misuse offunds, and they would have to provide all documentary evidence at his request. Moreover, after court proceedings that would no doubt be very expensive, any decision made by a church, mosque, synagogue or diocese could be overturned if the attorney general could convince the court that there was a misapplication ofcharitable donations or a breach of the public trust.

The principle of religious freedom, however, means that the religious institution, and not the state, must have final say on whether the allocation of funds is consistent with religious priorities.

Ever since the foundation of Division of Public Charities in 1954 within the Attorney General's Office, religious institutions have been exempt from such purview because of the principle of the separation of church and state.

Why is there a move now to remove the exemption? Rev. Diane Kessler, the executive director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches and a candid and veteran observer of Beacon Hill, says very plainly that the proponents of the bill are "concerned with m.aking changes in the ... internal management of the Archdiocese of Boston." The principal sponsor, Sen. Marian Walsh of Dedham, has stated openly that she submitted the bill because she and some of her Catholic constituents were unhappy with the results of the parish closings in the Archdiocese ofBoston, especially the proposed closure of a parish in her district. But the legislature is not the place to settle the score for a decision with one disagrees. As Rev. Kessler asks "How is this not the government entangling itself with the inner-workings of one religious community?"

Leaders of houses of worship throughout the state are united in asking their members to contact their state representatives to vote "no" on S. 1074.

Bishop George W. Coleman has made such a request to pastors and parish pastoral and finance council members. All those who want to keep their houses of worship free from governmental interference and from additional and unnecessary financial and administrative burdens, should heed their advice and contact their representatives right away.

the ancholS>

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER

Published weekly except for two weeks in July 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, E-mail: theanchor@anchornews.org. Subscription price by mail, postpaid $14.00 per year.

Send address changes to P.O. Box 7. Fall River. MA. call or use E-mail address Member: Catholk Pres, A,sociation. Ne\\ England Pres> A\Sociation, Catholic New; Service PUBLISHER - Bishop George W. Coleman EXECUTIVE EDITOR Father Roger J. Landry falherrogertandry@anchornaws.org EDITOR David B. Joiivet daveJoiivet@anchomews.org NEWS EDITOR Deacon James N. Dunbar jimdunbar@anchornews.org REPORTER Michael Gordon mikegordon@anchomews.org OFFICE MANAGER Mary Chase rnarychase@anC;hornewS.org

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PEoPLE SCAVENGE THROUGH A DUMP SITE NEAR THE SMOLDERING SMOKEY MOUNTAIN GARBAGE DUMP IN MANILA, PHILIPPINES. THE CATHOLIC PARISH OF THE RISEN CHRIST IS IMPLEMENTING INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS TO HELP PEOPLE WHO LIVE AROUND THE DUMPS OVERCOME POVERTY. (CNS PHOTOIPAUL JEFFREY)

"AND HE WOULD HAVE GLADLY FILLED HIS STOMACH WITH THE PODS THAT THE SWINE WERE EATING, AND NO ONE WAS GIVING ANYTHING TO HIM" (LUKE

15:26).

The light shining in the darkness again the light shining in the kingdom that would never end, One of the things I love about darkness in my six-year-old being Catholic is that, although and yet, even in a country that is nephew who, while at the dinner 96 percent Christian, the mere our society and much of the table, impressed us all by reciting mention of his birthday in public world moves on rather quickly is somehow, absurdly, considered from memory the message from from the celebration of Christthe angel to the shepherds. (Bravo mas, we in the路 Church extend our inappropriate. It is obvious that to his teachers at St. Mary's celebration of this great feast until much darkness remains in the world, even after the birth of "the School in Mansfield!) the feast of the Baptism of the The light shines in the darkLord, observed this past Monday. true light, which enlightens ness and the darkness has not everyone."

Ol!f celebration is extended in But, amid this darkness, shines overcome it. It shines brightly in effort to give due attention and those who have heroically held the light of faith in Christ, which solemnity to the mystery of the onto their faith in Christ Incarnation, a mystery of and risen above great such great magnitude _---------adversity,. destructiv~ that it warrants our influences and intense _ continual reflection and persOQal sorrow. By' their remembrance. During per~everance' and joyful:' the Christmas season, ness, they have not we celebrated the fact

By Father David allowed the darkness to that "the true light, overcome the light. This A. Pignato .which enlightens light of faith and love everyone, was coming preserved in the minds into the world" (1n 1:9). and hearts of the young will bear And, although the world to which has pervaded the whole world. great fruit and continue to And to see the difference that he came was full of darkness, St. transform the world, even while was made by the human birth of John assures us that "the light darkness remains. the Son of God, we have to find shines in the darkness, and the Although it may seem at times the light shining in the darkness, darkness has not overcome it" and see how the darkness has not that the darkness has the upper(1n 1:5). hand on the light, we have been overcome it. Finding this light in For some, the celebration of assured by God's infallible the midst of darkness can be Christmas might be challenging, revelation that the light will not be quite a challenge. If we focus or even difficult, because so overcome by the darkness. By the much in the world today suggests only on the darkness, we might mystery of God's providence, the miss the light. that the birth of Christ has not darkness is allowed to co-exist But I have seen it, once again, made any difference. For with the light, but the light, who example, the Word made flesh, shining brightly in-the students at Bishop Stang High School. At our is the true light that enlightens the prince of peace, was supeveryone, can penetrate even the annual prayer service on the last posed to flood the world with day of classes before the Christ- . greatest darkness and will always peace, and yet we see continued be more powerful. By the birth of mas break, I heard beautiful, violence:He was supposed to Christ, we have been rescued bring justice to the oppressed, and sincere, and moving reflections by the students on the meaning of from the power of darkness and yet we continue to see great made worthy to share the lot of the mystery of Christmas, and injustices throughout the world. the saints in light (Col 1:12-13). how it has affected their own He was supposed to be a light to Trusting in this truth is one more lives. On Christmas Day, I saw the nations, and establish a way that Our Lord asks and invites us to put out into the deep.

an

Putting Into the Deep

I

the ancholS)

Friday, January 13, 2006

51

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Am I in the end zone

~r t~ilight

All right, it's official. My driver's license, I give the eyeballs are now pennanently camera my meanest, ugliest . shaped like footballs. When I pose (instead of just my ugliest), close my peepers, all I see and tell the clerk to include on burned into each cornea are the license that my major is green expanses covered with ballroom dancing. yard markers.

And most re<1ently, I'm When calling the family to dinner, I stagger my cadence, as if to draw them offsides.

If, while walking . through the house, my dog Igor is in my way, I / By Dave Jolivet throw her a stutter step move, do a complete 360, and leave her in overwhelmed with an impulse to my dust. drop kick the groceries into the While out and abowt I refrigerator. instinctually cringewhen I see You may ask yourself, "How anyone wearing !i(OP with vertical black lrtd white stripes, did this surreal metamorphosis half expec~ 'them to throw a' transpire?"

It's simple - as Andy yellow fla5 at me.

Whe>'l I lose an argument Williams once crooned, "It's the with~fiY wife, I must suppress most wonderful time of the t.be Urge to request an instant year." teplay for further review.

I just finished watching Come time to renew my nearly 300 college bowl games,

My View FlOm the Stands

zone?

and now the pros are in the midst of their playoff runs.

Since a week before Christmas, I could watch a live football game at practically any time of the day or night.

There's no way I can count the number of kicks, passes, fumbles and touchdowns I've seen over the past few weeks.

The gridiron has saturated all aspects of my existence. Unbeknownst to my coworkers, when we put an Anchor to bed for the -week, I spike my mouse and moonwalk across the office.

Football - I love it.

Yet, as seemingly insane as I may appear, I do draw the line.

Mixed into the pleasures and thrills of the past few weeks, . have been moments that I will never imitate.

Moments like a player intentionally walking across the leg of a downed opponent; - a player spitting in the

face of an adversary during an argument; - players violently hitting opponents while out of bounds; - officials being verbally abused by coaches and players on questionable calls; - players taunting opponents and their fans; - and grown men acting like self-centered Idiots 'in the end zone after their teammates worked so hard to get them there.

And after all that, watching

'I

II 'I

Qrganist/Vocalist II

51. Franci, of Assisi Parish is looking for an organist who will also serve as vocalist for all weekend Masses, weddings and funerals II

For more information, or to apply Please call: Father Edward E. Correia, Pastor at 508-673-2808 or I:write to Father Correia at St. Francis of Assisi Rectory 270 Ocean Grove Avenue Swansea, MA 02777 'I

"We can only pay him $q.S2 a month but he is like a priceless gift to our people."

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,

So says Bishop Joseph Willig~rs of Jinja, Uganda,

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Journey f F -th a

Comments are welcome at davejolivet@anchornews.org.

St. Francis of Assisi Parish 530 Gardner's Neck Road , Swansea, MA

The lost angel is always a mystery - never a curb, was the earring.

It was a Friday night in December and we had just guarantee. That is why we must Truly, God is an awesome returned from a wonderful have faith - and hope, of course. God. And in that moment, time perfonnance of the "Nutcracker."

I arrived at the school. Pitch had stopped and as I stood alone in that parking lot there was only Walking into the house, I reached black. Everyone had 路left. Now I for my earrings to take th~m off. realized that my choices for God, only God's gentle love.

"Gh no," I said softly, "One is searching had been cut in half.

I picked her up and looked at missing."

And it was cold, and wet and her. By now, she had become Now these were not just any although there were lights in the almost lifelike; almost as if she earrings. They were not particuparking lot, there were many was smiling at me. This little larly路expensive, but they were areas of shadows and darkness. angel earring had become so little silver angel earrings, each But I had my flashlight. I special and important. with a heart in the center. I had decided to persevere.

And as I began to drive home, just gotten them the day before, I parked the car in the exact I put her on the front seat next to ..... me, so that I could look at and I was just beginning ...--------""":"'-r--:::::~:-to cherish them. her.

I began to tell myself, U And what can you "You just got them. You teach me dear angel, to can get another pair. It'll always have hope? To be alright." But the always believe? . deepest part of me, the 0 I It is one thing to find a truest part of me, was lost angel eairing. It's truly

By Greta MacKoul another to find a child who not on board with this plan. has been lost ... believing ''I'm going to go all can be reconciled. To back," I announced. My husband same spot as before, to check find a husband or wife who has responded, "You are?" He did not that area first. It was not there. I been estranged ... knowing that all can be healed. To find charity, really sound surprised, however, then proceeded across a grassy for he knows me all too well. area, trying to remember the way when there has been greed.

"Yes, I have to go." thilt I had walked. I was beginForgiveness, when there has been Now, we live in Mashpee, and ning to feel somewhat hopeless, anger. And instead of indifference, the perfonnance had been in that maybe this was a time that I selfishness or hatred, to find love.

Falmouth. Also, it was getting to would just have to accept the As we tuck away our Christbe 10:00 p.m. and it had started to circumstances. mas decorations and as scenes of rain.

But then, I looked down. I the baby Jesus and the Epiphany Nonetheless, I felt that if I saw something silver in the grass become nestled in our memory, went back, maybe the school ... could it be? may we remember our stories of would still be open and I could But it was only a dime. hope and resurrection. retrace my steps ... through the Still I was hopeful. I picked it For surely, we have many. May up for good luck. we remember them, and reflect auditorium, the hallways, the sidewalk, the lawn, and the Farther on, I saw something upon them. For they are the parking lot. else, shiny and silver. stories of faith. They are the Maybe, I could find the lost A quarter. stories of what it means to believe. angel.

"Hey, God, are you having fun They are the stories of Jesus.

As I left my cozy, warm house with this now?"

Greta MacKoul is the author I cannot say that I felt confident.

I had left the grassy area,and and illustrator of "The Ocean Yet it's safe to say that as I began had crossed a driveway. All that F.lowers, A Parable ofLove" and to pray, I was just feeling very was left was the sidewalk, before numerous articles. Greta and her hopeful - hopeful based on past the door to the building. I was husband George, with their experience of so many times when just about to step on the curb of children Maxwell and Marysa, God had come through. But I was the sidewalk when I looked are members of Christ the King not sure, because with God there down, and there, just before the Parish in Mashpee.

athletes sending a prayer skyward to thank the good Lord for allowing them to be ignorant, arrogant, and intolerant.

Football is still a great game - it's just the players that ruin it sometimes.

Now it's time for me to practice a little self-control, and resist the temptation to dump a bucket of Gatorade over my pastor's head after an inspiring homily.

about~atlUas,one

of his batechists.

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There '~re 185 full-time and 569 part-time catechists in II Jinja. Each is willing to give of themselves because, as one catechist put it, "We 19re Jesus Christ and know that but for our work of making Him known many of our people wouldlinot be reached at all with the 'Good News.'''

I:

Won't ~ou help catechists in the Missions, through the Propagation of the Faith, as they continue to bring the "Gqod News" ofJesus Christ to those ItWst in need ofHim? -----------------------------------------~-

--------The Society fbr THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH ...A Pontifical Mission Society Attn:column!

Rev Msgr.JohnJ Ohvelro. V.E. 106 illinoIS St.. New Bedford. MA 02745

II

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Visit us at our "home" on the web: ___ www.wofldmissions-catholicchurch.org _ _~

6

Frid:ry, J~muary 13, 2006

Behold the Lamb of God On the first Sunday of January we celebrated the Solemnity of Mary. She heard the Archangel Gabriel's call to be the Mother of God, and accepted that call, carrying for nine months in her womb the child she conceived not by the flesh but by faith and trustin the word of God. Last Sunday we celebrated the solemn Epiphany revelation - of the son she bore to the whole world, personified in the Magi from the East. They saw the star in the east and felt called to leave their homes and journey through unsafe roads and countries to greet the new born messiah. When they found him, they prostrated themselves and gave him homage.

They were so attuned to that "call" that they even disregarded the order of King Herod to return to him and report their findings. As the word of God tells us, "Warned in their sleep, they returned home by another

how much God is calling each route" (Mt 2:12). orqer to be able to understand and every one of us to the life This Sunday begins the and respond to God's call. Yet and love only he has and only Sundays of Ordinary Time, even in this simple context, he can give. We proclaim our which concern our ordinary we see the character of his faith each Sunday in "the Lord; life. The holy word of God faith and the disposition of his the Giver of life." Of that life, proclaimed to us touches on a heart which' enabled him to St. Therese Lisieux said, "The very critical and fundamental hear and resp()!\q to the Lord's one who has God has every- . aspect of our existence: call. In the middl~of the night, he hear'l.t an namely, the mystery of our own call. ~:::::"""""'.."h audible voice ca\ling Three weeks ago, Homily of the Week him by name, and tuns we heard amid the S d S to present himself tothe econ unday priest Eli, not once, not'-" "highs" of churches, bells, hymns, concerts after the Epiphany twice but three times. and praesepios, and the That took courage. "lows" of Christmas Imagine if a student

By Father shopping, gift wrap, today tried to awaken a Joseph Blyskosz respected priest three lights and decorations, the joyful news of the successive times with thing. God alone suffices." the same matter. Eli is a true coming of the Messiah, born The Magi from the East are for us as our Savior. We came priest, however, and teaches often described as the wise to adore and worship him at Samuel not only how to men because in a real sense the Christmas liturgies, recognize the Lord's voice but they were wise: they knew' how to respond properly to it. proclaiming with the angels, where life was.

Young Samuel reminds us "Glory to God in the Highest In today's first reading we that during whatever sleepless and Peace to His people on see the call of the young . nights we may have had earth." We venerated the Samuel. He was privileged, struggling with thoughts and Mother of God and with the decisions, the voice and the we might say, to be in the Magi offered Christ our gold, person of the Lord wants to right place with the right frankincense and myrrh. . In today's Gospel, we hear teacher at the right time, in speak to us and have us

r-----------01:;"....

respond to his call.

Do you know what God is calling you to do? Do you struggle to live out what you know he is calling you to do?

Have you fallen from your call and are you embarrassed to go back to ask the Lord to begin. anew?

No matter where you are and what life brings you, listen to the words of St. John the Baptist, who, like Eli, helps us '\0 see the presence of the Lord ihteracting with us in our midst: "B~old the Lamb of God, who takes\way the sins of the world.'1 During our diocesan ECHO retreats, we\.ing: "Call the Man who dea~ in love beyond repair and not o\ty love but it all. And if you hav~.Jo.und him and live his life and ~ve go out and tell others: We ~ve found the Messiah!"'"

Father Blyskosz is paro-".... chial vicar at St. Anthony of '" Padua Parish and chaplain at St. Luke's Hospital, both in New Bedford.

Running on empty I am unreasonably afraid of running out of gas in the c~. I think it is because I learned to drive in Northern Wisconsin, where running out of gas in the middle of winter could be a fatal mistake. Driving instructors told tales of fools who carelessly ventured out on old logging roads without enough gas and were never seen again.

"Freak snowstorms as early as October or as late as May are not too remote a possibility," my instructors would ominously warn. Taking their tales to heart, I developed the cautious habit of filling up my tank whenever it was down to around one-fourth full.

My habit served me well for more than 20 years, but then gas prices skyrocketed last August, and it became too expensive to fill the family van past one-fourth full. Although I knew it was a necessary financial measure, driving on a nearly empty tank all the time really stressed me out. I felt foolish and unprepared for the possibility of getting lost, being late, or running into that freak snowstorm. (Hey, October was only six weeks away!) Then, as September approached, I began to get nervous about getting our oldest kids to and from Bishop Stang High School about 30 . miles away from home.

There are parallels with the spiritual aspects of life. Am I usually tanked up on faith or always running on empty?

When a crisis comes up, do I have enough spiritual reserve to get through? Am I as aware of my faith gage as r am of my gas gage? In truth, I have witnessed

far more terrifying spiritual storms than hazardous snow storms since getting my driver's license. Storms like unforgiveness demolishing relationships, materialism siphoning off . family finances, and disregard for Church teaching exploding into divorce.

I can think of many good ways to stay tanked up on faith, but I'd like to focus on one.

That way would be to take the Third Commandment seriously by really celebrating the Sabbath. First and foremost, this would mean getting to Mass every week, but just getting to Mass would be like getting just a quarter a tank of gas.

You see, keeping holy the Sabbath means more than just getting my sacraments and winning the race out of the church parking lot. A Sabbath is a "recurring period of rest and worship" based on God's resting on the seventh day after creating the world. To get spiritually tanked up, we need to stop spinning our work-a-day wheels, to physically rest, and to refresh our relationship with God and family once a week.

It's God's plan for keeping our spiritual fuel gages pegged on full, and Jewish and Christian cultures have lived and prospered by it for thousands of years.

Sadly, our post-modern culture seems to enjoy doing anything but observing God's plans, so the cost of really keeping holy the Sabbath is

getting pretty high. The cost sometimes includes not being able to participate in sports, jobs, or other events that regularly take place on Sunday.

the extra time and money we've needed during the other six days of the week. Which reminds me of how God provided for me in my anxiety about driving around on a nearly empty tank of gas.

Come September, I discovered that gas prices over in North Dartmouth were as much as 34 cents per gallon cheaper than near our home! Now, by waiting to fill up near the kids' school, lean almost pay for the drive over, and I don't have to drive around on empty quite as often. Most of all, the situation is a tangible reminder of my need to stay fueled up on faith in order to better weather

....----------r--::=:---....

Home Grown Faith

By Heidi Bratton Tough choices. I must tell you, however, that, time and time again, when our family has made even the smallest effort to become more of a Sabbath people, God has provided for

In Your 'Prayers Please pray for the following priests during the coming weeks Jan. 17 1967, Rev. John F. Laughlin, Retired Pastor, Holy Ghost, Attleboro \ -\ 2002, Rev. Daniel J. M~Carthy, SS.CC., Former Provincial Superior, Retired Pastor, Holy Redeemer,.Chatham

.__

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life's storms and that God will bless my efforts to get fueled up by keeping the Sabbath.

How do you keep the Sabbath holy with your family?

In 30 words or less please send your ideas to homegrownfaith@yahoo.com.

Thanks!

Heidi Bratton is the at路 home mother offive and the author and photographer of 11 Christian children's books and one trade book on mothering called "Making Peace with Motherhood and Creating a Better You." Heidi and her husband, John, make their home and grow their faith in Falmouth.

Daily Jan 14

Jan 15

Jan 16

Jan 17

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1999, Rev. Thomasp.路O'be4,\<\ssistant, St. Lawrence, New Bedford / '

Jan 18

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Jan.2Q\ 1952, Rev. Roland 1. Masse, Assistant, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Fall River .\

Jan. 23 1983, Msgr. Henri A. Hamel, USAF, Retired Chaplain, Retired Pastor, St. Joseph, New Bedford

Jan 19

Jan 20

Readin~s 1 Sm 9:1-4,1719;10:1a; Ps 19:8-10:15; Mk 2:13-17 1 Sm3:3b-10,19; Ps 40:2,4,7-10; 1 Cor 6:13c15a,17-20; Jn 1:35-42 1 Sm 15:16-23; Ps 50:8-9,1617,21,23; Mk 2:18-22 1 Sm 16:1-13; Ps 89:20-22,27-28; Mk 2:23-28 1 Sm 17:32~ 33,37,40-51; Ps 144:1-2,9-10; Mk 3:1-6 1 Sm 18:69;19:1-7; Ps 56:2-3,9-14; Mk 3:7-12 1 Sm 24:3-21; Ps 57:2-4,6,11; Mk 3:3-19

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7

Holy cyberspace! points in four categories: Des}gn, 13 January 2006 - On this Ease of Use, Currency and ,date in 1927, transatlantic Outreach. telephone service was inauguUnder the "Design" category, rated. Thirty-one calls were made we asked the questiops: Is the the first day. text legible? Are grJlphics used?

Stick a pineapple on the Is the site visuallv,unifIed and gatepost! The Captain has /,. attractive? returned from far-off lands and Under the "Ease of Use" exotic places. He's back from the categOly/we looked to see if the vastness of deep cyberspace. He / / has "boldly gone where no man has gone before."

(The Captain watches too Th~/Ship's

mU~~;oceseofFall

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River staffs 100 parishes. ~,::,,-~jsIiJ~rJ:~at i:;;:~ There were 45 parish / ...' ~~ -., ;;.' -"':e. <. ,~~" Websites. We visited I ~f,!7c"i1 By:;-atm!rbmL'::~ them all. Jeanne ·Goldrick Spellman of Spellv;an Design, LLC, w« , site had a consistent navigation navigator. We piotted course by on each page. Was vital informaaddresses pred on the diocf;san tion (like Mass schedule and Website / ' directions to the church) immedi(wwwJ?1oceseOfFallRiver.org). ately available? Credit was given Jeaup::'utilized her technical for working search pages and/or kJyJwledge and design skills to a site index page. ~tfer commentary.

The "Currency" category was / Eight sites were experiencing technical difficulties (broken measured by the dating of the URL) at the time of our visit. material posted on the site. Was One parish site (my own) was there the most recent parish declared ineligible due to conflict bulletin and homily? Was there a of interests. calendar page or schedule of events for the upcoming week or To make our "cybersailing" more interesting, we awarded month? A page with rece~t

photos of parish events was a plus. .

The fourth category was "Outreach." Here we were looking at how well the site communicated the Good News of Jesus Christ. We were looking for inspirational texts, warm and welcoming words, well-written, educational and uplifting texts.

Would spiritual seekers viewing the site be drawn to visit the parish, participate in worship, or even join the faith community? In a word: is it evangelical?

Since one church was disqualified from the "Golden Mouse Award" contest, let's look at the St. Bernard Chuurch, Assonet site (www.StBernardAsonet.org) to sample the evaluation system.

First category, "Design": We see legible text, good graphics, but links are hard to read and slow to load. Second category, "Ease of Use": It has consistent navigation; it includes schedules, driving directions, Sunday bulletins, and photos (now appearing in a slide show format) - all one click away. Third category: "Currency". Here is the

Cast wide the net of friends'hip up and die. Connected to the In the Bible starting with was from the side of Christ as vine, the branches flourish and Chapter 13 of the Gospel of he slept the sleep of death upon John, a heading'has been added bear much fmit. Communion the cross that there came forth the 'wondrous s'acrament of the begets communion. Therefore which reads, The Book of whole Church'" (CCC 1067). In communion with others, as Glory. Interestingly, this section is the account of the Passover my 10 years of adult education I rooted in and flowing forth from God the source of all am pleasantly amused when I meal, Jesus' words of instrucunity, is a most magnificent fmit ask a group, large or small, tion and explanation of things to which the branches give. What come, as well as a re-telling of "Can anyone tell me the definiJesus' passion, death and tion of a sacrament?" Inevitably, does this communion look like and where is it found? resurrection by one who was a several participants from the The Church of Jesus witness. The night before Jesus was given -------~~.,..._::iiiiiii:::"-,... Christ - the one, holy, up to death, a death he catholic and apostolic Church .:....- is a commufreely accepted, he Lay co.wor'k~r$ nity of faith, hope and spoke with great love love. It is love, "the and affection to his in the vineyard greatest of these," which disciples: "As the Father has loved me, so I have is the innermost life of

By Lisa M.Gulino the Church, because loved you, live on in my love." He continued, God is love and God is the life of the Church! ''There is no greater love than this: to lay down one's "Baltimore Catechism" era will, The Council teaches that the Church exists to spread the life for one's friends. You are in unison, give the full definition kingdom of Christ over all the my friends if you do what I which they memorized as a command you. I no longer child. The new catechism defmes earth for God's glory and to establish the right relationship of sacraments as "powers that speak of you as servants.

Instead, I call you friends, since comes forth from the Body of the entire world to Christ. Every I have made known to you all activity which is undertaken Christ, which is ever-living and that I heard from my Father" with this view is given the name life-giving. They are actions of the (In 15: 15).

Holy Spirit at work in his Body, the "apostolate." The U.S. bishops Such is the mystery of Church." Sacraments, especially in in their document, Co-workers in the Vineyard of the Lord, Christ. Sent by the Father to the Eucharist, communicate the remind the laity of their responreveal and make present the love mystery of communion with the of God for humanity, Jesus sibility to contribute to the God who is love. willingly suffers and dies for the sanctification of the world from For God's people, this salvation of the world, rises and within, like leaven, in the spirit communion with Christ and the Church is essential to the . of the Gospel, by fulfilling ascends to the Father giving glory to God's name. We faithfully the duties and defmitfulness of the mission mands of daily life. proclaim this wondrous work of entrusted to all the baptized.

Having been called "friends" redemption every time we pray, Jesus states forthrightly, "Apart

by Je.sus, we go into the world "Dying he destroyed our death, from me you can do nothing." rising he restored our life." to witness to this friendship and We think of the image of the Poetically the "Catechism of the yes, to invite others to enter into vine and the branches: apart friendship with Jesus and his Catholic Church" reads, "For it from the vine !he branches dry Church.

...

weakness. Bulletin and homily were not current at the time of our visit. Daily blog (Internet publishing log) was a day behind.

Fourth category: "Outreach."

Credit was given for archives, a daily blog and a weekly blog (Ship's Log), and links to other sites. St. Bernard Parish site, like any other, is a work in progress.

It's evolving as we find out what works and what doesn't. There's always room for improvement.

And all of us are busy these days.

There's hardly time to make the doughnuts. In the real world, sometimes we just have to makedo with stale doughnuts and dayold news.

On a parish Website, communication works both ways. I receive prayer requests over the Internet. The intentions are offered at Morning Prayer. Email, I have also found, is an effective way of to communicate with young adults, especially those planning marriage. You call answer queries anytime of the day or night. , The Internet is already an important pastoral tool. It will become increasingly so. It is absolutely essential,for parish outreach to young People. The kids are way ahead of uS old fogies.

Our first port-of"eall was our neighbor to the south St. Michael Parish, Fall River II . . (www.smpfr.org) sbiffy! It's the most technically advanced of all our parishes. The s* makes exceptional use of FLASH (Web 'animation software)'. Their FLASH

photo album is terrific. Cutting edge and high end, it's also fun.

FLASH is also used with subtle animation on the home page of St. Mary Church, Norton (www.StmatysNorton.org).

St. Francis Church, Acushnet (www.SFXAcushnet.org) has a good example of a parish photo album using simpler and less expensive technology - two qualities to which I can relate.

Another tool is Web calendar software. Look at Immaculate Conception Church, North Easton (www.icceaston.org) for an excellent example. See how easy it is to switch from calendar format to listing format.

Still another parish that does a fine job with the calendar is St. Joan of Arc, Orleans (www.joanarc.org).St. John The

Evangelist, Attleboro (www.stjohns-attleboro.org) and St. Mark Church, Attleboro Falls (www.stmarksattleborofalls.org), effectively customize the same Web template, including calendar software.

Kudos are given to Our Lady of Victory, Centerville (www.olvparish.org) for the wealth of inspirational material.

The site is also very current.

Next week: The finalists and winner of the "Golden Mouse" is announced.

Parish staffs can receive a free confidential evaluation of their own church site. Contact "Timmy the Techie" at

StBernardAssonet@aol.com.

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Friday, January 13, 2006

Cape Cod group helped keep Christ in Christmas season HYANNIS - To remind Christmas shoppers that Christ is the reason for the season, members of the Cape Cod Pro-Life Alliance set up a mobile creche in Cape Cod Mall for eight days during Advent.

Comprised ofdedicated Catholics concerned with 'many of the issucs of lifc in today's socicty, it has chosen the Blessed Virgin Mother as its patroness and modcl.

During the Advent/Christmas season the Alli.ance wanted to remind shoppcrs that as thcy purchased presents for loved ones, that the greatest gift of all is God's gift to humanity through Mary.

They sought out mall management and received permission to

place a creche near the Sear's entrance to the mall from December 15 through 23.

To accommodate the creche and to display it properly, a mobile display unit was designed and constructed during the spring and summer of 2005 by Deacon Jim Leavitt of Our Lady of the Cape Parish, Brcwster.

The Alliance told The Anchor that it would like to thank the officials of the Simon Cape Cod Mall for hosting the creche.

Thc Pro-Life group also thankcd the S1. Pius Council.

Knights of Columbus for its gen~ erous donation toward the construction of the creche mobile display unit that made the effort of the action group successful.

POPE BENEDICT XVI anoints an infant in the Sistine Chapel at the VatiCan January 8. The pope baptized 10 babies, using the occasion to launch an impassioned d~unciation of a . "culture of death" that he said pervades the modem world. (CNS photo/L'Osservato.1'e Romano)

Pope baptizes 1.0 infants, urges ~ JIDarent搂 to lead them on path of truth

DEACON JIM Leavitt of Our Lady of the Cape Parish in Brewster stands next to the Nativity scene on display Cape Cod Mall in Hyannis. Members of the Cape Cod Pro-Life Alliance received permission from the mall owners to display the creche. Deacon Le?"itt designed and constructed the mobile display unit.

Whaler's Cove wishes the faithful of the Diocese of Fall River a happy and healthy 2006 Be sure to stop by:

OPEN HOUSE February 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Also stop by our

Cardiac Screening Prevention Program January 19 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Co-sponsored with Southcoast Health Systems, this event provides the opportunity for cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure testing.

Whaler's Cove Independent & Assisted! Living 114 Riverside Ave. New Bedford, MA 02746 508-997-2880

VATICAN CITY (CNS) Continuing one of his predecessor's favorite traditions, Pope Benedict XVI baptized 10 babies and urged their parents to lead them along the path of truth.

In an extemporaneous sennon during a Jan. 8 Mass, the pope said baptism today carries with it the responsibility to fight against "the largely dominant culture ofdeath" - a culture, he said, that is marked by injustice, self-delusion and sexual irresponsibility.

The hour-and-a-half-long Mass in the Sistine Chapel was enlivened by the frequent cries of the infants chosen for the papal liturgy.

Beneath Michelangelo's famous frescoes of the creation, mothers used pacifiers and rhytlullic rocking to try to keep their babies quiet.

The pope, standing next to. a . large marble font, poured water from a golden dipper over the head of each baby as he pronounced the words of baptism. The five girls and five boys were children or grandchildren of Vatican employees.

Mterward, the pontiff smiled in delight as brothers and sisters of the newly baptized brought him the offertory gifts.

Instead ofpronouncing his prepared text, the pope stood and gave an impromptu sermon on the meaning of baptism. In the broad sense, he said, the sacrament is a "yes" to life and a "no" to the widespread culture of death.

"This anti-culture is seen in drugs, in flight from reality, in selfdelusion, in false happiness that is manifested in lies, deceit and injustice. It is seen in contempt for others, contempt for solidarity and contempt for a sense of responsibili!)' for the poor and the suffering," he said.

"It is demonstrated in a sexuality that becomes pure anlUsement without responsibility, that turns the human being into a 'thing' instead of a person," he said.

The pope said the ''yes'' to life expressed in baptism was fully -experienced by early Christians, including those in ancient Rome, who fought against a similar "anticulture of death" in their pagan society. . "It involved a 'no' to the spectacles where death, cruelty and violence were entertainment. Think of what was done in the Colosseum, or here in Nero's gardens, where men were set on fire like living torches." he said.

The pope's reference was to accOlmts of Christians being burned alive to light the evening parties thrown by the Emperor Nero in his gardens on Vatican Hill.

With路baptism, the pope said, the child is brought into ~'a company of friends that will never abandon him, in life or death."

"This company is the family of God that carries within itself the promise ofeternity. It is a company that will alw~ys follow him, even in the days of suffering and the

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dark valleys of life, and offers him consolation, comfort and light," hc said.

The pope added that, while "none of us know what will happen to our planct or our Europe in the next 50 or 60 years," as Christians they could all be sure that they belong to the fanlily of God. The Mass was the resumption of an annual tradition begun by Pope John Paul n in 1980 to mark the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Because ofhis frailty, the late pope had to skip the liturgy the last two yearS of his life.

Speaking to tens of thousand of pilgrims afterward from his apart- . ment window above St. ~eter's Square, P9pe Benedict said baptism was a gift to the infant that needs to be accepted in a "free and responsible" way as an 路adult. . He encouraged all Christians to rediscover the meaning of their own baptism and emphasized that baptism unites members of every Christian church and community.

9

Friday, January 13, 2006

Admitting past mistakes is key

THE POPE'S PLACE The top floor of the apostolic palace IS the papal apartment.

The floors below contain rooms for the reception of dignitaries and guests and various Vatican offices. The pope appears ejlch Sunday at the window Of his study to give a blessing.

MEDICAL STUDIO

POPE'S BEDROOM © 2006 CNS

No place like home: Papal apartment gets a makeover

By JOHN THAVIS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY - When he was elected last April, Pope Benedict XVI inherited the papal apartment on the top floor of the Apostolic Palace, but it wasn't until Christmas that the pope could really call it home.

The apartment, about 10 rooms in all, underwent a three-month renovation this fall. Electrical wiring was replaced, new pipes were installed, the kitchen was refurbished and a custom-fitted private library was put in place.

It was "Extreme Makeover: . Vatican Edition." And while the pope didn't whoop orjump up and down at the unveiling, he made it . clear he was pleased with the results.

"I can only admire the things you've done, like these beautiful floors," he told the more than 200 architects, engineers and workers involved in the remodeling project.

"I really like my new library, with that antique ceiling. For me it's like being surrounded by friends, now that there are books on the shelf," he said.

The floors were the original 16th-century marble slabs and inlay, restored to their original luster. The library solved the problem of where to put the pope's 20,000 books, which he did not want to leave in storage somewhere.

Details of the remodeling were considered secret, but they emerged in the sideways fashion typical ofthe Vatican. When Bruno Bartoloni, a veteran Vatican correspondent for the Italian newspaper Carriere della Sera, went to have his hair cut recently, he found himself seated next to a talkative member of the restoration team.

The renovation, the workman . related, was long overdue. The architects said they were surprised at the poor state of the apartnlent.

For one thing, the electrical system was not up to code. Some rooms still used old I25-volt electrical outlets, which were phased out years ago in Italy in favor of 220 volts. The water pipes were encrusted with rust and lime, and the heating system was approximate at best.

Above the false ceiling, workers discovered big drums placed strategically to catch the leaks from the roof; some were nearly full of water.

The makeover included renovation of the medical studio, which is said to include emergency surgery and dentistry equipment. The papal bedroom, situated atthe cornerofthe building, was completely' redone, and most of the rooms were' freshly wallpapered. .

The new kitchen was reportedly outfitted by a German company, with state-of-the-art ovens, ranges 'and other appliances.

Those who frequented the papal apartment under Pope John Paul II have no doubt that the place needed an overhaul. Polish film director Krzysztof Zanussi, a friend of the late pope, once said he was astonished at the gloominess of the place, with its outmoded furnishings and lack of lighting.

"Everything was in semidarkness, somber and without inspiration. The chairs were like the ones my aunt had in the suburbs ofWarsaw," Zanussi said. "It was not a place that made one feel good."

The papal apartment wraps around tWo sides of the Apostolic Palace and is accessed by a doorway that opens onto a historic loggia decorated with frescoes. The layout includes a vestibule, the library, a small studio for the papal secretary and the pope's private studio, from which he blesses the crowd every Sunday.

The other rooms include the

pope's bedroom, the medical studio, his private chapel, a smallliving room, a dining room and kitchen.

It was Pope Pius, X who transferred his apartment to the top floor ofthe Apostolic Palace in 1903. In 1964, Pope Paul VI completely remodeled the papal residence, and Pope John Paul made his own changes early in his papacy.

In the late 1930s, the huge attic above the apartment was remodcled to make a series ofmini-apartments that open to the inner courtyard. They house members of the pope's household staff, and one is said to have been refitted as a guest quarters for Pope Benedict's . brother, Msgr. Georg Ratzinger. ·"1 had a small house built for me in Germany once," the pope told the workmen. "I'm convinced that anywhere else this project would have taken ayear orpemaps longer."

to Christian !unity,. pope says

By CINDY WOODEN

relationship which must be nurtured in truth and love."

The pope said the CatholicVATICAN CITY - When Christian churches and communi- Reformed dialogue, w1.lich began ties are willing to admit their shortly after the Second Vatican members may have offended or Council, "has made an important misrepresented the teachings of contribution to the demanding others, they make important con- work of theological reflection and tributions to Christian unity, Pope historical investigation indispensBcnedict XVI said. able for surmounting the tragic Meeting January 7 wit1.l the divisions which arose among leaders of the World Alliance of Christians in the 16th century."

Reformed Churches, Pope The Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, Benedict said that in 2000 Pope president of the World Alliance, John Paul II "gave a powerful told Pope Benedict, "There is still impulse to this endeavor. in the much to be done to move beyond Cat hoi i c our past conChurch" when demnations of he publicly The pope said the one another, to asked for for- Catholic-Reformed dia- truly respect giveness on be- logue, which began shortly one another as half of Catho- after the Second Vatican parts of the one lics. body of Jesus "I am pleased' Council,"has made an im- Christ, serve to leam that sev- portant qontribution to the God together eral of the Re- demanding work of theo- without worryformed churches logical reflection and his- ing about inhiwhich are mem- torical investigation indis- bitions in our bers ofthe World nations, and to Alliance have pensablff for surmounting eome together undertaken simi- the· tragic divisions which at the table of lar initiatives," arose among Christians in our Lord. he said. the 16th!; century" "We are eaThe pope ger to be partwas referring t o . . ners with you in decisions by the Presbytdrian this important ministry of ChrisChurch USA, the Christian, Re- tian unity," he told the pope. formed Church in North America Rev. Kirkpatrick expressed his and others to declare that official hope that Catholics and members statements about Catholicism of the Reformed churches would made by their leaders in the)~th work together "to make the third century do not reflect their cur- m'illennium the era of the reunitrent understandings of Catpolic ing ofthe broken body ofChrist."

Church teaching.

The official Catholic-Reformed For example, the 2004 synod dialogue is preparing to release a of the Christian Reformed Church statement on the nature of the declared inaccurate a confessional Church and on Christians' common statement, contained in the 1563 witness to the kingdom of God. Heidelberg Catechism, saying the Rev. Kirkpatrick told Pope Catholic Mass "is basically noth- Benedict that members of the aling but a denial of the one sacri- liance "are eager to begin the next fice and suffering of Jesus Christ stage ofefforts to move closer toand (basically nothing but) a con- gether in common faith and witdemnable idolatry." ness" and would meet with the Pope Benedict told the all'iarlce Pontifical Council for Promoting leaders, "Gestures such as these Christian Unity to begin preparare the building blocks ofadeeper ing for the next round of talks.

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE "

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Friday, January 13, 2006

eNS video reviews NEW YORK (CNS)-Thefol- ers (led by Cole Hauser and Eddie lowing are capsule reviews of new Cibrian) trapped miles beneath the and recent DVD and video releases surface, who, while struggling to from the Office for Film & Broad- find a way out, fall prey to an uncasting of the u.s. Conference of known subterranean species of Catholic Bishops. Theatrical mov- ravenous creatures. Despite its ies on video have a USCCB Of- creepy claustrophobic setting, fice for Film & Broadcasting clas- Bruce Hunt's directorial debut prosification and Motion Picture As- vides few (even B-movie) jolts, sociation of America rating. resulting in a formulaic and forget"Broken Flowers" (2005) table group-peril flick that caves World-weary womanizer (Bill in under the weight of its illogical Murray), deserted by his latest and hackneyed script. Recurring amour (Julie Delpy), receives an monster menace and bloody gore, anonymous letter from a long-ago as well as scattered crude language flame informing him he has a 19- : and profanity. The USCCB Office year-old son, leading his neighbor for Film & Broadcasting classifica(Jeffrey Wright) to suggest he look tion is L ~ limited adult audience, up ex-girlfriends (Sharon Stone, films whose problematic content Frances Conroy, Tilda Swinton, many adults would find troubling.

Jessica Lange) and determine The Motion Picture Association of which one might have sent the let- America rating is PG-13 - parents ter. Writer-director Jim Jarmusch's 'strongly cautioned. Some material quirky film is a telling commen- may be inappropriate for children tary on relationships and human in- under 13. (ColumbiaffriStar) terconnection, the performances "Dumb and Dumber" (Twoare fine, and Murray is effortlessly Disc Special Edition) (1994) luminous. Scattered uses of rough . Aptly named comedy follows language, brief full-frontal female two dimwits (Jim Carrey and Jeff nudity, implied premarital sex, un- Daniels) from Providence, R.I., to derage drinking and brief drug use. Aspen, Colo., as they blunder The USCCB Office for Film & along trying t~ return an attache Broadcasting classification is L- case stu,ffed with ransom money limited adult audience, ftlms whose left by a beautiful woman (Lauren problematic content many adults Holly) for kidnappers who, in tum, .would find troubling. The Motion pursue the dopey duo. When not Picture Association ofAmerica rat- concentrating on scatological huing is R - restricted. Under 17 re- mor, director Peter Farrelly gets quires accompanying parent or occasional laughs from this exadult guardian. (Universal) ample oflowest-common-denomi''The Brothers Grimm" (2005) nator comedy. Much vulgar toilet Visually inventive, higWy atmo- humor, exaggerated violence spheric adult fantasy that presents played for laughs and fleeting the fairy-tale authors - Wilhelm sexual innuendo. The USCCB Ofand Jacob Grimm (Matt Damon fice for Film & Broadcasting clasand Heath Ledger, with credible sification is A-ill - adults. The English accents) - as con-artist Motion Picture Association of characters in a story as fantastical America rating is PG-13 - paras anything they might have writ- ents strongly cautioned. Some ten, incorporating familiar ele- material may be inappropriate for ments of many of their stories, as children under 13. (Warner Bros.) an autocratic French occupier "The Gospel" (2005) (Jonathan Pryce) orders them to Elevating if melodramatic reget to the bottom of strange hap- demption drama about a preacher's penings in a German forest involv- son (Boris Kodjoe) who returns ing missing children. Director home after 15 years - putting his Terry Gilliam gets high marks for temptation-filled success as a creating an evocative, 19th-century chart-topping hip-hop artist on world, and whipping up a good hold - to mend fences with his deal of excitement as the story estranged father (Clifton Powell), races to its conclusion, but the film who is terminally ill, and his childis marred by a slow start and an hood friend (Idris Elba), who's uneven screenplay by Ehren been named his father's successor Krueger. Intense action violence, at the church, and to make peace frightening images, many involv- with himself and his past. Despite ing insects, torture scenes, scat- an undernourished script padded tered profanity and crude lan- with roof-raising gospel music guage, brief sexual situations and numbers, director Rob Hardy's brief irreligiosity. The DVD ver- contemporary re-imagining of the sion features informative commen- prodigal son parable movingly extary by the soft-spoken Gilliam; plores themes offarnily, faith, forseveral deleted scenes for which giveness, flawed humanity and he professes great fondness; and God's unconditional love. An imfeaturettes on the making of the plied sexual encounter, mature film and the production design. themes, brieffisticuffs, a bump-andThe USCCB Office for Film & grind dance sequence and some Broadcasting classification is A-ill mildly crude language, making it - adults. The Motion Picture Asso- better suited for older adolescents. ciation ofAmerica rating is PG-13- The USCCB Office for Film & parents strongly cautioned. Some Broadcasting classification is A-ill material may be inappropriate for - adults. The Motion Picture Aschildren under 13. (Buena VISta) sociation of America rating is PG "The Cave" (2005) - parental guidance suggested.

Schlocky horror action movie Some material may not be suitable about a team of expert cave explor- for children. (ColumbiaffriStar)

IERIC BANA, left, and Geoffrey Rush star in a scene from the movie "Munich." For a brief review of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS photo/Universal)

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ICa.IV~Ulllle~ NEW YORK (CNS) - The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"Cache" ("Hidden") (Sony Classics) Superior allegorical French thriller - with political underpinnings - about a television talk show host (Daniel Auteuil) and his wife (Juliette Binoche) who works in publishing who receive ominous drawings and videotapes indicating that they are under surveillance, but by whom is a mystery. Director-writer. Michael Haneke eschews melodramatics for understated suspense and psychological tension that builds unnervingly, though the denouement leaves provocatively unanswered questions. Subtitles. Scattered rough and crude language; an instance of profanity; two violent, if dramatically valid, episodes including the beheading of a rooster with blood; a suicide with blood; brief shadowy nudity.

The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is AIII - adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R - restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"The Libertine" (Weinstein) Dank and dark 17th-century tale of provocative real-life poet John Wilmot, the second Earl of Rochester (Johnny Depp), who has a love-hate relationship with King Charles II (John Malkovich), falling in and out of his favor, and whose womanizing ways are fi-

nally tempered by his admiration Millicent Martin) and, though for an ambitious actress improbable, the story imparts a (Samantha Morton) whom he worthy message about aging and grooms for stardom. Director human connection. Mild profanLaurence Dunmore's adaptation ity and innuendo, brief instances of Stephen Jeffreys' play is rea- of crude language, a brief sexual sonably well acted, but slow-mov- encounter with no nudity, preing and distasteful, wallowing . marital sex. The USCCB Office excessively in its protagonist's for Film & Broadcasting classifiunbridled lusts and the general cation is A-ill - adults. Not rated bawdiness of the age, despite its by the Motion Picture Association ostensibly redemptive ending. of America.

Much rough and crude language, "Munich" (Universal) vulgar sexual expressions and Riveting but morally fuzzy po. imagery, sexual situations, adul- litical thriller inspired by real tery, partial and rear nudity, some events about a team of Israeli asanticlerical remarks and vio- sassins (led by Eric Bana) aslence. The USCCB Office for signed to hunt down and assassiFilm & Broadcasting classifica- nate 11 Palestinians who suppostion is 0 - morally offensive. edly had a hand in the slaughter The Motion Picture Association of Jewish athletes at the 1972 of America rating is R - re- Munich Olympics. With its probstricted. Under 17 requires ac- lematic revenge theme, director . companying parent or adult Steven Spielberg's well-acted film guardian. walks a thin line between con"Mrs. Palfrey at the demning violence and exploiting Claremont" (Cineville) it for titillating effect by wrapping A terrific performance by Joan it in the pulse-pounding excitePlowright is reason enough to ment of an espionage-action catch this low-key British charmer movie that belies its stated seriabout an elderly matron who ous intent. Extremely graphic viomoves into a shabbily genteel lence, including shooting and London hotel, and just when she's bomb-related gore, full-frontal abandoned by her uncaring nudity, two sexual encounters bedaughter and grandson and ap- tween husband and wife with parpears to be facing a dead-end ex- tial nudity, as well as recurring istence, she is befriended by a rough and crude language and handsome young writer (Rupert profanity. The USCCB Office for Friend) whom she passes off as Film & Broadcasting classification her grandson to the inquisitive is L - limited adult audience, residents. For this bittersweet films whose problematic content film, director Dan Ireland has as- many adults would find troubling. sembled a top cast of British pros The Motion Picture Association of to play the hotel's loners (Anna America rating is R - restricted.

Massey, Robert Lang, Marcia Under 17 requires accompanying Warren, Georgina Hale and parent or adult guardian.

Movies Online Can't remember how a recent film was classified by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops? Want to know whether to let the kids go see it? You can look film reviews up on the Catholic News Service Website.

Visit www.catholicnews.com and click on "Movies," under the "News Item" menu.

Friday, January 13, 2006

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Up to 28 more U.S. bishops could retire for age reasons in 2006 to the pope. Bishop Losten turned WASHINGTON (CNS) Following the recent retirement of 75last May 11.

Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka, Ukrainian Bishop Basil H. Losten of Stamford, Conn., up to 28 other 78, who has been in Vatican serU.S. bishops, including five car- vice since 1990, has been the olddinals, could retire because of age . est active U.S. cardinal since July 2003. The former bishop of this year.

There are 14 still-active U.S. Gaylord, Mich., and former archbishops, including three cardinals, bishop of Detroit turned 75 on who have already turned 75. Four- Sept. 14,2002. In Vatican service teen more, including two cardi- since 1990, he is president of the nals, will celebrate their 75th Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State. birthday in 2006.

In 2005 Cardinals Adam J. At age 75 bishops are requested to submit their resignation Maida of Detroit and Theodore E.

McCarrick of Washington turned 75.

Cardinal Maida, whose birthday is March 18, was bishop of Green Bay, Wis., before he was made archbishop of Detroit in 1990.

Cardinal McCarrick, whose birthday is July 7, was bishop of Metuchen, N.J., and archbishop of Newark, N.J., before he was named to head the Washington Archdiocese in 2000.

Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore will be 75 March 4,

Vatican tells movement to change some Mass, Communion practices

By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

v

ROME - The Vatican has told communities of the Neocatechumenal Way to join their entire parish at least once a month for Mass and to phase out their practice of receiving Communion seated around a table.

The instructions were con7 tained in a letter from Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, published in late December by an Italian newspaper and an Italian magazine.

Officials of the congregation and the Neocatechumenal Way were not available for comment.

The letter said Cardinal Arinze met in November with the leaders of the international parishbased faith formation program Kiko Arguello _and Carmen Hernandez, who founded the Way, and Father Mario Pezzi - to discuss the liturgy.

According to the letter, Pope Benedict XVI requested that the changes be made. ~ "In the celebration of the holy Mass, the Neocatechumenal Way will accept and follow the liturgical books approved by the Church without omitting or adding anything," the letter said.

Because the celebration of Sunday Mass is so important in the life of a parish, the letter said, the Neocatechumenal communities in each parish must join the rest of the parish at least once a month for Sunday Mass.

The statutes of the Neocatechumenal Way, approved

by Pope John Paul II in 2002, allow the communities to celebrate their own regular weekly Mass on Saturday evenings.

Fot more than 30 years, members of the Neocatechumenal Way have prepared their liturgies by baking their own loaves of unleavened bread, and they have received the Eucharist under both species while seated around a table.

However, the letter said, the practice should not continue. ''The Neocatechumenal Way will be given a transition period of not more than two years to pass from the common method of receiving holy Communion in its communities - seated, using a decorated table placed at the center of the church instead of the dedicated altar in the sanctuaryto the manner normal to the entire Church for receiving holy Communion," the letter said.

"This means that the Neocatechumenal Way must

2006. Formerly bishop of Harris- of Lansing, Mich., Oct. 22, 2005; burg, Pa., he has been archbishop - Bishop Raphael M. Fliss of of Baltimore since 1989.

Superior, Wis., Oct. 25, 2005;.

Cardinal Bernard 'P. Law, - Auxiliary Bishop Dominic archpriest of St. Mary Major Ba- Carmon of New Orleans, Dec. 13, silica in Rome, will be 7,5 Nov. 4, 2005.

2006. A former bishop of SpringThe currently active bishops field-Cape Girardeau, Mo., he who will turn 75 in 2006, in addiwas archbishop of Bos.ton from tion to Cardinals Keeler and Law, 1984 until his resignation in 2002 are: - January 25: Archbishop Join the wake of the clergy sex abuse scandal there. He was named to seph A. Fiorenza of Galvestonhis Rome post in 2004.1' Houston; - March 22: Auxiliary Bishop Pope John Paul II often asked cardinals to stay on the job after Robert W. Donnelly of Toledo, they reached the age ofp5. So far Ohio; Pope Benedict XVI has given no - May 1: Auxiliary Bishop indication that he will change that Emil A. Wcela of Rockville Cenpractice. Even when d cardinal tre, N.Y.; retires in his 70s, he rJmains an - June 21: Bishop Joseph L. active member of the College of Imesch of Joliet, Ill.; Cardinals, eligible to enter a con- July 14: 'Archbishop Thoclave and vote for a new pope, mas C. Kelly of Louisville, Ky.; - July 15: Bishop Charles V. until age 80.

The 11 other active U.S. bish- . Grahmann of Dallas; ops who are already 7'5 and the - August 14: Auxiliary dates of their 75th birthday are: Bishop Robert A. Brucato of New - Ruthenian Bishop Andrew York; Pataki of Passaic, NJ.( Aug. 30, - September 9: Auxiliary 2002; Bishop Vincent M. Rizzotto of . - Bishop Manuel Batakian of Galveston-Houston; 'I the Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg - September 21: Archbishop in New York for Armenian Catho- Oscar H. Lipscomb of Mobile, lics, Nov. 5, 2004; Ala.; - Auxiliary Bishqp John P. - September 29: Bishop VicBoles of Boston, Jan. 21, 2005; tor Balke of Crookston, Minn.; - Auxiliary Bishop, Thomas J. - October 2: Bishop John W. Gumbleton of Detroit, Jan. 26, Yanta of Amarillo, Texas; I 2005; - October 22: Bishop William - Bishop F. Joseph Gossman B. Friend of Shreveport, La. of Raleigh, N.C., ApriJ. 1,2005; - Bishop William E. Franklin of Davenport, Iowa, May 3, 2005; NATIONAL - Bishop John J. Leibrecht of MORTGAGE Springfield-Cape Girafdeau, Mo., Aug. 8,2005; - Bishop Sylvest~r D. Ryan of Monterey, Calif., Sept. 3, 2005; - Bishop Carl F. 'Mengeling Low, low rates starting at

move toward the manner foreseen in the liturgical books for the distribution of the body and blood of Christ," it said.

Cardinal Arinze's letter also emphasized a point made in the Neocatechumenal Way's 2002 statutes: Only a priest or deacon may give the homily at Mass.

The cardinal told the communities to be very careful to ensure that any readings or comments meant to reinforce the Gospel message are brief and clearly different from a homily..

He also said that the communities should make use of all the eucharistic prayers contained in the Roman Missal, rather than using only the second eucharistic prayer.

Cardinal Arinze said the Vatican would allow the Neocatechumenal Way to continue one of its special practices, Montie Plumbing exchanging the sign of peace just & Heating .Co. before the offertory rather than Over 35 Yea'rs just before Communion. . of Satisfied SerVices At the October Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist, an archbishop . Reg. Master Plumber 7023 JOSEPH RAPOSA, JR. from Guam said he had s~n a remarkable growth in faith in parishes 432 JEFFERSON STREET where the Neocatechumenal Way FALL RIVER 50~675.7496 was operating.

Archbishop Anthony Apuron of Agana, Guam, said the entire Church shoulg consider adopting some of the Way's liturgical practices, including restoring "the ~breadness' of the bread," by using the "unleavened bread used in the ancient and primitive Church rather than the wafer-thin, massproduced bread we use as hosts for our people today." j'

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A PRIEST moves through pews distributing Communion during a Mass of members of the Neocatechumenal Way in Boston December 14. The Vatican has instructed the Neocatechumenal Way to phase out the practice of receiving Communion while seated and to conform to "the manner normal to the entire Church for receiving holy Communion."

(CNS photo/Gregory L. Tracy)

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Pope John Paul II's would-be assassin set to be freed from Thrki,sh prison VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The Turkish terrorist Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifiwho shot and seriously wounded Pope John Paul II 路in cal Council for Justice and Peace, said his council did a failed 1981 assassination attempt was scheduled to not want to interfere with the Turkish court's decision be freed on parole from a Turkish prison on Thursday. that determined Agca had "paid his debt to justice."

The cardinal said, however, that Scripture readings Since his extradition from Italy to Turkey in 2000, Mehmet Ali Agca served five years of a lO-year sen- during this Christmas season have talked about Christ tence for the 1979 murder of a Turkish journalist and being sent "to proclaim liberty to captives."

Christ, in his mercy, will not break "a bruised reed" two robberies the same year. But a Turkish court said Agca had completed his prison term and could be re- nor snuff out "a smoldering wick," he wrote in a stateleased, according to rement sent to journalists ports by the country's last week. semiofficial Anatolia Cardinal Martino also news agency. noted that "John Paul II, Vatican spokesman who immediately parJoaquin Navarro-Valls, doned his attacker, titled TWELVE BLACK ribbons line a fence in front of the Sago commenting on "the one of his messages for Mine in Sago, W.Va., January 8 in honor of the 12 miners news ofthe possible freethe World Day of Peace: who died in the Sago Mine after a January 2 explosion. (CNS/ dom of Ali Agca" in a 'There Is No Peace wIthJason Cohn, Reuters) January 8 press release, out Justice, No Justice said the decision to reWithout Forgiveness.'" lease Agca should be up Pope John Paul's to the Turkish courts. former secretary, Polish Concerning issues of Archbishop Stanislaw PHILIPPI, W.Va. (CNS) places. The answer is their fami- "a judicial nature," the路 Dziwisz of Krakow, said "Today is a very sad day for the lies. These men work so hard to Vatican "submits to the the late pope "would Church in West Vrrginia and for the achieve a living - a good living decisions of the tribunals have celebrated" upon people of West VIrginia," Bishop - so that they can be good to their involved in this matter," hearing the news of Michael 1. Bransfield ofWheeling- children, grandchildren and ex- the statement said.

Agca's scheduled release Charleston said to those gathered tended family."

Pope Benedict XVI is from prison. for Mass Sunday at St. Elizabeth This is the culture of West Vir- expected to travel to TurAt various times since Church in Philippi. ginia, where family is valued and key this fall. the assassination attempt The community was remem- is given priority, he added. He also.

Agca, 48, had served against Pope John Paul, bering the 12 coal miners who lost talked aboutthe work ethic of the 19 years in an Italian Agca told different vertheir lives after the explosion at people of the Mountain State in prison for his May 13, sions of what happened and who was behind it. . the Sago Coal Mine in Upshur providing for theirfamilies.

1981, assassination atCounty and were praying for At one point Agca "I'm sure that when these 13 tempt on Pope John Paul miner Randal McCloy Jr., the only men went in there, their work ethic in St. Peter's Square. claimed Bulgarian secret survivor.

Just days after the was clear," Bishop Bransfield said.

MEHMET ALI Agca, guarded by Turkish po- service agents' hired him Philippi lost three of its resi- "They were going to work very near-fatal shooting, the lice, sits in court for a hearing in Istanbul in this at the bidding of the Sodents in the incident, and Bishop hard for the people they loved and Polish pope publicly forviet KGB, the former December 2000 photo. Agca, the man who shot Bransfield came to celebrate the for the achievement of the best life gave Agca, and in 1983 Russian secret police and and seriously wounded Pope John Paul II in intelligence agency. The Mass to help foster healing and for them. the pope embraced his to bring comfort to the commu"When our prayers go out to would-be assassin in his 1981, wili be freed from prison this month, the allegations resulted in a Anatolian state news agency said January 8. trial and acquittals in nity. them, we recognize that their vo-. Rome prison cell.

The bishop said the black rib- cation, their drive, their willing1986 for the Bulgarian Though he was sen- (CNS photo/Reuters) and Turkish defendants bons that draped the front doors ness to do this under such diffi- tencedtolifeinprisonfor of St. Elizabeth "signify the sor- cult conditions were not for them- the shooting, Italian authorities granted Agca clemency implicated by Agca.

In recent years, Agca has said he acted on his own row of all of us for the miners who selves. "It was for the love of oth- in 2000 and returned him to Turkey. At the time, the have perished, the one who re- ers, which Christ tells us is. Vatican said the pope personally intervened in the in shooting the pope. Agca, a Muslim, had publicly mains ill and for their families with the love of God - the para- gunman's release from the Italian prison. threatened to kill the pontiff in 1979 when the pope who continue to suffer through mount reason that we live."

After returning to his home country, Agca was sent visited Turkey; in a letter to several Turkish newspathese difficult days."

"As a faith-filled state with topris<.?n for the murder of the editor ofa liberal Thrk- pers, he called the pope a "crusader commander" sent Concelebrating the Mass with many; many Christians who do ish newspaper and two robberies committed in 1979. by Western imperialists.

Pope John Paul long credited Mary with saving his the bishop were Father Andy believe that these men have gone New Turkish laws reduced Agca's original punishKranyc, pastor of St. Elizabeth, to the Lord, it is important that our ment from life in prison, or 36 years under Turkish life; he was shot May 13, the anniversary of the first of and Msgr. Mark Ward, pastor of prayers" continue, he said. "It is regulation,toa lQ-yearsentence. Additional penal code the apparitions in Fatima, Portugal. In 1984, he had St. Zita Parish in Masontown. our obligation as a community to reforms led a Turkish court recently to further deduct the bullet fragment that was removed from his body During the Mass, Bishop pray for and support the families the years Agca served in Italian prison, thereby com- placed in the crown of the Marian statue at the Fatima Bransfield thanked Father Kranyc left behind, that they are not left pleting his sentence, according to The Associated Press. shrine. for being present to the families behind in another sense of comof the miners as they waited for munity, that our communities are news of their loved ones and for strong, are vibrant and loving, and consoling them after they learned that will be shown to the world VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Al- killed in Belgium. Although they for nearly four decades, often proof their deaths. by the people of West Virginia." though many of them were killed were not working in mission terri- voking the anger of ranchers as ' "He was the best representation Following the Mass, Bishop during robbery attempts, the 26 tories, the Belgian, Father Robert she defended rural workers. She the Church in West VIrginia could Bransfield spoke with the people Catholic missionaries murdered in De Leener, was included because was shot several times in the chest have," the bishop said, receiving a of the parish, who said they ap- 2005 each died spreading the of his work with immigrants; and head February 12; two of the round of applause from Father preciated his presence during this Gospel and serving the poor and Slovakian Father Jan Hermanovski five people accused of involveKranyc's congregation in response. difficult time. victims of violence, a Vatican was included because of his work ment in her murder were found During his homily, Bishop "I would like to thank the news agency said. with the homeless in Russia. guilty in early December. The Bransfield said that not long after bishop for coming. That meant a After the list was compiled, other three, including two ranchFides, the news agency of the he became bishop of Wheeling- lot to me," said Steve Guire, a coal Congregation for the Evangeliza- Fides received news of another ers accused of ordering the killCharleston last February, his sec- miner who is also a St. Elizabeth tion of Peoples, published its an- murder. Ursuline Sister Margaret ing, were awaiting trial. retary, Father Paul Hudock, took parishioner. "It just strengthened nuallist of murdered Church per- Branchen, a 74-year-old Swiss The murdered bishop was an him to Beckley to tour an area everyone to know that the bishop sonnel at year's end. nun, was killed December 28 in Italian who had worked in Kenya coal mine. cares enough to come."

The agency said its tally, twice South Africa. She was shot dur- for four decades; Bishop Luigi "In seeing this, I had to wonBishop Bransfield celebrated as many as were killed in 2004, ing a robbery at the clinic where Locati, apostolic vicar of Isiolo, der how difficult it was for these the funeral Mass for miner Terry showed that one bishop, 20 she worked.

Kenya, was murdered in July. men to work under such condi- Helms Tuesday at St. Zha Church priests, two religious brothers, Among the missionaries listed Not including Sister Margaret, tions," he said. "I'm sure that ev- in Masontown, along with Father two nuns and one lay missionary by Fides was Notre Dame de Fides said 12 Church workers eryone asks, the world asks and Ward and Msgr. Jerome McKenna, died violently in 2005.

Namur Sister Dorothy Stang, were killed in South America, two our American community asks vicar general of the diocese who In the 2005 list, Fides included originally from the U.S., who in Europe, eight in Africa, and why people work in these tough is a former pastor of the parish. a priest killed in Russia and one lived in Brazil's Amazon region four in Asia..

r-------------------.....,

Bishop celebrates路 Mass on 'sad day' as community remembers miners

Vatican agency reports 26 missionaries murdered in 2005

Friday, January 13, 2006

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION ATTLEBORO - Volunteers are needed for Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration at St. Joseph's Church, 208 South Main Street.

For more information call 508226-1115.

HEALING MASSES

Choice, an adoption and pregnancy counseling program of Catholic Social Services, will hold an information session for people interested in domestic newborn or international adoption January 22 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. It will be held at 1600 Bay Street. The snow date is January 29. For more information call 508-674-4681.

ATTLEBORO - Mass will be celebrated by La Salette Father Manuel Pereira Sunday at 2 p.m. at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette. A healing service in Portuguese will follow. Reconciliation in Portuguese will be available Saturday from 2-3 p.m. For more information call 508-222-

ATTLEBORO'- An interfaith service, part of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Greater Attleboro celebration, will be held at the National Shrine 9f Our Lady of La Salette January 16 at 2 p.m.

For more information call 508-

5410.

222-5410.

l'

MISCELLANEOUS

J'

LECTURES! PRESENTATIONS

SUPPORT GROUPS

,

NEW BEDFORD - Courage, a support group for people dealing with same-sex attraction while trying to live chaste lives, will meet January 28 at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at St. James Church. The meetings combine.prayer and sharing as they walk together in the Lord. For more information call Father Richard Wilson at 508-

ATTLEBORO - A series cel-

ebrating the Year of the Eucharist will begin January 19 at 7: 15 p.m. at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette. La Salette Father Daniel Bradley will address the topic "Presence of the Risen Lord." For more information call 508-222-5410. , FALJ.. RIVER -

Adoption by

Message

992-9408.

Continued from page one

tionally televised talk shows and will lay a good foundation down," visited more than 2,000 schools. he told students. "My father taught "We're happy to have him here me how to be a thug., He never again," said Principal Felipe Felipe. taught me about God. I'm blessed "He gives a good message to our to be here at this school."

Jennings, author of a book about students." .

Jennings kept constantly reach- his life, spoke to seventh- and ing out to his audience and used the eighth-grade students and conphrase "click, click" when he nected with them throughout his 50wanted them to repeat what he had minute presentation. He asked them said. He told students their minds what is the honor in being in a gang? are their own personal computer What is the prize for drinking or and encouraged them to remember cursing? What is the prize for not following the teaching of the his message. ,''Broken families are a big issue Church? "'There is no prize," he declared. today," said Jennings: \'}-Ionor your mother and father., Respect your "Here you can get an education. parents, your guardians and your You can receive salvation. The grandparents. Spend time with your Bible says your body is a temple of grandparents. Tell them you love the Holy Spirit. I challenge you today tQ love yourself, to respect your them."

He told a story about overhear- ' body and recognize peer pressure."

He advised that the worst deciing a loud profanity-laced public conversation between two sion a person can make is to have women at an airport. He inter- sex outside ofmarriage. "It destroys rupted them to say their language a good relationship."

Seventh-grade teacher Lisa had offended him and encouraged the students to stay away Escobar sat in with her students and thought the presentation was an fro{Il such language.

"Profanity is a confession of a important one. "He's a great motiweak-minded person," he said. vational speaker and has a power"Click, click!" You hear it in mu- ful message. He connected really sic, on television and at home. You well with our children."

At the end of his presentation, think it makes you a man, but quite the opposite. Swearing does not Jennings distributed copies of his make you cool. Quite the contrary." book to students as well as some TJennings relayed his tough up- shirts provided by the ACTION pfO" bringing. He was shot 13 times as a gram that read, "I know what I want gang member. He was stabbed. He and I know what I don 7t," and was burned. He was addicted to "Proud to be a virgin."

Students gave Jennings a rousdrugs.

"If you say 'no' to drugs and al- ing round of applause following his cohol and practice abstinence you talk.

TWO MONKS view some of the statues on thel; front of Westminister Abbey in London.

The statues depict Christian martyrs of the 20th century, including the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., center. The national Martin Luther Kingl:Jr. Day is observed on January ,16 this year. (CNS file photo)

Interfaith service to honor Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. FALL RIVER - The public is invited to a prayer service that has become an integral part of Fall River's annual civic, educational and spiritual commemoration of the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event will take place January 16 at 11 a.m. at Bethel A.M.E. Church, 146 Hanover Street.

The events of the day are

sponsored by the church, the Interfaith Council of Greater Fall River, Inc., the City of Fall River, and Bristol Community I' College.

Cantor Richard Wolberg of Temple Beth EI will pteach a tribute to the late Dr. King. Luncheon will be served in the church hall at Bethel A.M.E. fOllowing the i service.

M~rriage

Continued from page one

Massachusetts' citizens to vote to amend the state constitution redefining marriage without invalidating the same-sex marriages that have already occurred.

"But GLAD says it intends to continue challenging the Secretary of State's ruling, and we can also expect a smear campaign," said Cirignano.

Bea Martins, director of Catholic Citizenship for the Fall River diocese, expressed confidence "that the entire procedure for seeking the citizens' initiative and the taking and filing of the signatures are on solid ground. We feel everything we did was done according to law and done correctly."

And in a new development on Monday, VoteOnMarriage.org called on Reilly and Secretary of State William Galvin to take appropriate action to protect those who had signed the initiative from online, telephone and direct mail threats against their civil liberties, personal safety and security, by anti-vote Websites.

The letter to Reilly and Galvin details that VoteOnMarriage.org sought to comply fully with all applicable laws during the signature gathering process and !lad been found in full compliance.

Hower, it noted that the only

case of fraud the initiative is aware of, the admission before a legislative committee and to the media by paid circulator Angela McElroy that she misrepresented the marriage petition in potentially 269 cases - has yet to be investigated.

The letter also raises grave concerns about the.iJegitimacy of petition complaint reporting processes established by the anti-vote organizations KnowThyNeighbor.org and MassEquality.org.

According to the! letter, both organizations on their Websites invite citizens to search their database and make a qomplaint to their office and/or to the offices of Reilly and Galvin llIld state legislators if their name was listed but they did not wish to sign the petition. ' "We have no objection to efforts to expose as-of-yet unknown instances of alleged; fraud, however we do object to the manner in which they are carrying out their anti-vote campaign," said Kris Mineau, spokesman for VoteOnMarriage.org and president, Massachusetts Family Institute.

The initiative pledged to fully cooperate in any im;estigation.

According to Mineau, it has

The prayer service is the spiritual conclusion of a day of commemoration that begins with a breakfast and program at Bristol Community College at 7:30 a.m. featuring guest speaker, George Lima. He served as a member of the Tuskegee (Alabama) Airmen, the first black aviators in the United States military, during World War II.

,

-

I'

been cited in media reports that citizens have been frightened that their identities have been stolen and believe the calls and letters are intended to harass and intimidate them - a clear civil rights ' issue.

In assertive action last fall sparked by Catholic Citizenship, the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, and others, 170,000 voters signatures were gathered many done in-pew at Catholic parishes across the state in September and November. They were delivered to the 351 city and town offices over a 60-day period.

While 170,000 signatures were collected and 138,000 of those certified by local governments, the Secretary of State's Office disqualified 4,676 on forms that were not exact copies or contained extraneous markings, it was reported.

Another 10,265 signatures were also excluded because of a provision that sets no more than one fourth of the signatures for certification can come from any one county.

Now the petitions will be filed with the state Legislature and must recei've 50 votes in two consecutive constitutional conventions for it to appear on the ballot in 2008.

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114

THESE STUDENTS from Holy Trinity Regional School display gifts they purchased for less fortunate children at Christmas through the Salvation Army's "DressA-Live Doll" program. Each class from the West Harwich school was provided with the first name of a child along with their clothing size and favorite color.

Friday, January 13, 2006

CHILDREN IN the After School program at St. John the Evangelist School, Attleboro, visited Madonna Manor recently where they entertained residents by using bells to play Christmas songs. With the children are coordinators Andrea Devlin and Sue Fortin. .

FACULTV, STAFF, and students at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in New Bedford recently gathered to celebrate Mass. The school's choir, under the direction of Ann DeFrias, led the congregation in song.

STUDENTS IN Elizabeth Patricio's second-grade class at SS. Peter and Paul School, Fall River, practice math skills by building sugar cube houses. The annual Christmas activity gives students hands-on experience in counting and parents were invited to visit the school and participate with their children.

METEOROLOGIST STEVE Cascione visited sixth-graders in Alison Mello's class at St. Mary-Sacred Heart School, North Attleboro, where he spoke about his job at Channel 12 WPRI and forecasting the weather. Students recently completed a uniton meteorology.

MEGHAN LOONEY, a sophomore at Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro, is a finalist in the 12th annual Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Essay Contest. Her essay will appear in the booklet "Sportsmanship: A Game for Life, Volume Five." She is a member of the school's cross country, winter, and spring track teams.

.. . ..

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Friday, January 13, 200~'0 >

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15

Actions speak louder than words

By CHARLIE MARTIN MORE THAN WORDS

POPE BENEDICT XVI receives the offertory gifts' from children dressed as the Magi during Mass in St. Peter's Basi~ica at the Vatican January 1, the feast of Mary, Mother of God. (eNS photofTony Gentile, Reuters)

Pontifical council says Holy Spirit is theme of next three youth days VATICAN CITY (CNS) While choosing themes for the next three celebrations of World Youth Day, Pope Benedict XVI asked young Catholics to reflect on how· the Holy Spirit leads people to encounter Christ, to love others and to go out to the world to spread the Gospel, said the Pontifical Council for the Laity.

The council, which coordinates the local annual celebration ofWorld Youth Day and organizes the international gatherings ofyoung people with the pope, published the list of themes for 2006-2008.

The next international gathering . will be held July 15-20, 2008, in Sydney, Australia.

The theme for the 2008 event is "You Will Receive Power When the Holy Spirit Has Come Upon You; and You Will Be My ~tnesses."The

quotation is taken from the first chap- . ter of the Acts of the Apostles. ''Your Word Is aLamp to My Feet and a Light to My Path" is the theme chosen by the pope for the 2006 celebrations, which will be held on the diocesan level, the council said.

In 2007, also on the diocesan level, young people will focus on the theme "Just as I Have Loved You, You Also Should Love One Another."

"The thread running through these three years ofpreparation is the link between the Holy Spirit and mission," the council said.

"As is customary," the notice said, .''the theme and the pastoral approach ofthese World Youth Days will be developed in the traditional message that the Holy Father addresses to young people for Palm Sunday."

Sayin ' I love you Is not the words I want to hear from you It's not that I want you Not to say, but if you only knew How easy it would be to show me how you feel More than words is all you have to do to make it real Then you wouldn't have to say that you love me 'Cause I'd already know.

What would you do if my heart was torn in two?

More than words to show you feel That your love for me is real What would you say if I took those words away?

Then you couldn't make things new Just by saying I love you.

Now that I've tried to talk to you and make you understand All you have to do is close your eyes And just reach out your hands \ and touch me Hold me close don't ever let me go More than words is all I ever needed you to show' Then you wouldn't have to say that you love me 'Cause I'd already know.

Sung by Frankie J (c) 2005, Columbia Records I don't know if Frankie J is new to you, but I was not familiar with his music. Frankie's smooth musical style is hard not to like.

"More Than Words" is off his new "dual disc" (CD and DVD) of his previous release "The One."

CATHO~IC NEWS SERVICE

However, if you prefer ypur music in Spanish, it is also on his "Un Nuevo Dia," out this January.

"More Than Words" is known as a "cover song," as originally it was recorded by the early '90s rock group "Extreme.""

The song's character tells another that "sayin' I love you is not the words I want to near from

you." For him, love is "plOre than words." I agree. Words have significance, but action$ speak with greater clarity. . l The start of this new year is an appropriate time to evaluate what "words" are being cominunicated by your actions.

1. In 2006, be more focused on how you give love through respect.

Treating another with ryspect starts with accepting who shdlhe is. This does not imply that YOlf must agree with the other's perspe~tive or tolerate every behavior', But loving another through respect brings a willingness to listen, an openness to differences and a lightheartedness to everyday interactions.

2. In 2006, be more focused on II

how you give love through kindness. Look for ways to be kind every day. Show kindness to whomever God puts before you, but be especially kind to those bonded to you as friends or family.

3. In 2006, be more focused on putting your imagination to work on behalf of love. Sure, you should give your mother a card on Mother's Day, but why wait for May? How about any day as a good day to state your appreciation with a card for all she does for you? This is just one idea. Be imaginative.

4. In 2006, be more focused on how you give love by generously sharing your time. Read to younger siblings. Volunteer in a direct service program for those in need.

Tutor children. The gift of your time clearly says, "I care!"

5. In 2006, be more focused on giving love through forgiveness.

Your friends, like you, make mistakes. Do not stockpile resentments. Show love's power by seeking ways to renew good relationships when hurts occur.

6. In 2006, be more focused on giving love by praying for those you love. Each day, ask God to guide those you love and to help them find the best in themselves.

Certainly, you could come up with your own list of specific ways to turn words of love into even stronger expressions of caring.

Let's all make 2006 a time when love definitely is "more than words."

Comments are wekome at: chmarlin@swindiana.netorat 7125W 200S, Rockport, IN 47635.

No one is a failure His name was' George. He was young, energetic and lived in a small all-American town where everyone knew and cared for each other. Although George loved the people of his community he always hoped to leave that "miserable old town," as he called it, and travel the world.

Well, George never got to see the world. He stayed and challenged himself to make a difference for the people he loved; helping them to live better lives through his savings and loan company and by encouraging them to have a voice in their community.

George did just that. But, he struggled between doing what was right in his mind and what was good in his heart. Remember, he wanted to leave and see the world.

One day he realized that his savings and loan had misplaced thousands of dollars. If the money was not found it could only mean failure, scandal, corruption and prison. This brought him to the lowest point in his life. He felt alone, abandoned and a failure.

Then, the "miserable old not to be selfish. But in situations town" changed all that. They like this, we sometimes regard carne to his aid just as he had only the 'me' and forget otherscome to theirs many times before. those most important to us. Is George learned that he did make a forming a good friendship based on what you can do for yourself, difference and, more importantly, that he was not a failure because or on what you can do for others? he had friends. This is the story of Throughout your lives, George Bailey, in the 1946 movie "It's A Wonderful Life."

Your struggles and challenges are similar to George's. As young people you are constantly struggling arnong By'Osvaldo Pactieco conflicts that come because what you believe to be right may not especially your teen-age years, always be good, and what you believe to be good may not you will set many goals and build always be right. many friendships. Those goals Do you think it's right to desert and friendships will challenge a friend because a group of your character: is it about me or is friends you want to belong to says it about we? What drives you to that your friend doesn't fit in? accept a challenge like this is your It feels good to belorig and to wanting to be successful and feel be accepted, and may even give a sense of accomplishment. You quickly realize that you will not you a sense of accomplishment and success, but at what price? always succeed. But that doesn't You know the right thing to do is mean you have failed. You will

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make mistakes along the way.

However, it is from these mistakes that you learn the hard lessons that life has tdteach, as long as you can recog¢ze the mistakes and correct them.

I remember, as a very young teen-ager, the greatest mistake of my life. It w~1 one that I recognized qufckly and one that I corrected, though (now that I think about it) not f¥t enough. I begged my mother to let me go out with my friends after dark. She said no. I was angry. I was mad. I kept begging, ,and the answer was always no.

Then, without considering what was in my heart, I spoke my mind and told my mother I didn't love her. I was only thinking about me.

Big mistake. I knew it as soon as I said it. I struggled with the thought that I had failed as my mother's oldest son. The challenge I faced was to win back my mother's love.

I found out, three days later (that's how long it took) that I didn't have to win back her love.

It was never gone; it was never lost. She assured me that as God loves me and will never abandon me, neither will she ever stop loving me or abandon me. I simply needed to tell her that I loved her. I wasn't a failure. Ijust made a mistake. I learned that day that my mother was a real friend, caring enough to say no. I measured my success that day by realizing I did something wrong and made it right, again.

Like George, we all need to recognize what is right and good for ourselves and for others. Putting others first is a humbling experience, which helps us to recognize our real spirit and humanity. Indeed, it is a wonderful life we live, even with its faults. But remember: no one who has friends is a failure. You are not a failure - you have friends.

God is your friend. God bless.

Ozzie Pacheco is Faith Formation director at Santo Christo Parish in FaU River, where he has been involved in youth ministry for 22 years.

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116

Friday, January 13, 2006

•

~,~ Boston

thOlllC"M,en,ts COnfe,rence nSand of Brothers in Christ" Ca,

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•

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PARISH CELEBRATIONS included, top left, a cake in honor of the centennial of St. Stanislaus School, Fall River; eighth-graders Lindsey O'Connor and Andrew Boucher assisting school mascot as played by Brent Wahl. Below, Principal Jean Willis addresses students. (Anchor/Gordon photos)

Centennial coming back for that."

Bishop Coleman was homilist at the Mass and blessed an icon of Our Lady ofCzestochowa before Mass.

He was greeted at the altar in the traditional Polish manner with bread and salt, symbols of hospitality.

He told parishioners, "As we look back on the past century, our hearts are filled with gratitude for those' who helped the school cany out its mission and we pray that it will continueformanymoregenerations. We are thankful for their generosity and dedication."

The bishop touched on the mission of the school, which he said, "has always been rooted in the mission of the Church. It reminds parishioners, parents, faculty and students to answer the call to holiness and as disciples of Jesus, to find meaning and purpose in life."

Over the years, the school went from being a Polish school to a school promoting Polish traditions.

That was seen during the Mass as members of the adult and youth choirs sang traditional Polish songs.

Earlier that week, students celebrated the January 6 birthday by singing Happy Birthday in Polish and enjoying a cake resembling the school and church. Heidi Medeiros said the celebration was inspiring and she was glad her second-grade daughter Samantha could be a part ofit.

"One hundred years of Catholic education is something to be proud of," said Medeiros. She said her daughter attends the school because of the value of a faith-based education. "The children need it," she declared.

The seventh- and eighth-grade students organized a day of activities for the school and busied themselves with face painting and variousgames.

Among them was eighth-grader Lindsey O'Connor who shares the same birthday as the school and said, ''It's unique to be part ofhistOl)'. It's

Continuedfrom page one

exciting."

Her classmate Aaron Couto was in charge ofagame and said being a student at St. Stanislaus ''has been a very good experience. The teachers are great and it's neat to be part of the 100th graduating class."

That mightnot have been possible because in 1991 a major fire destroved St. Stanislaus Church. But a ne~ worship space was built on school property and a second floor was added. The school held classes in the fonner St. Patrick's School while construction was underway.

Two years later the new building was dedicated and in honoring their Polish roots, each grade's room was dedicated to a Polish saint. At that time, preschool was added.

Since then rooms have been expanded to accommodate more students and currently there are 158 students enrolled. In addition to the core subjects, the school offers art, music, instnunent lessons, technology, foreign language and physical education. It received accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges in 2005, "I went to school here and my three children go to school here now," said teacher aide Erika Dias.

"I love it here. It's like being part of a family."

Father Neylon was thankful for the generous support the school has

received through the years and its rich history.

As part ofcelebration, the school unveiled a centennial logo. The design is ofan encircled cross symbolizing its mission to proclaim the Gospel through education. The circle is a reminder of God's all-embracing love, and tile bond in community through him. The text includes the name ofthe school and its motto: "Be not afraid. Follow Me." The years 1906 and 2006 are on the vertical bar of the cross.

There are many significant colors within the logo. Black is the color ofremembrance and is used to honor fomler alwnni and faculty. White represents innocence and futurc students. Yellow brings to mind youth and hospitality and represents current students and teachers. The school's consecration to Mary is expressed in shades of blue. ''Wc'vc been ablc to continuc tllC Polish religious traditions and that has played an important part at tllC school," FatllcrNeylon said. Hc was tllankful for the hard work tllat everyone put in to makc the celebration a success and was glad Bishop Coleman could share in it. ''Our day would not be complete without our students and wc thank them and their parents," he concluded. ''This was a great day."

A reception followed the Mass.