01.25.19

Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

Friday, January 25, 2019

Students from St. James-St. John School in New Bedford are learning about the circulatory system and had fun with clay while learning about the different parts of the heart.

The Anchor - January 25, 2019

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Annual diocesan Women and Men’s Conference beckons area faithful to live in the light of hope

By Dave Jolivet Anchor Editor davejolivet@anchornews.org

concluded its Advent/ Christmas observance, entering into Ordinary EASTON — Just a few Time in the Liturgical calendar. weeks ago the Church

Yet, in only a few more weeks the Church and her faithful will enter the Lenten season, a time for repentance and conver-

sion in preparation for the Resurrection celebration with an eye towards Christ’s promised second coming.

Ash Wednesday will be on March 6 and Fall River Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., has announced that the diocese will host the third annual Women and Men’s Conference to be held at the Ames Sports Complex on the campus of Stonehill College in Easton on March 9. The doors will open at 9 a.m. and the day will conclude with a Mass celebrated by Bishop da Cunha at 4 p.m.

The theme of this year’s event is: “Living in the Light of Hope.”

“During Lent we are called to look for ways to grow in faith, to deepen our relationship with God as we prepare for the celebration of Easter,” said Bishop da Cunha. “Our Women and Men’s Conference is an opportunity to take a break from the busyness of everyday life to do just that. I hope you will be able to take part.

“I look forward to being with you for what I am sure will be an enriching and inspiring day.”

As has been the case in the previous two such conferences, which were very successful and wellattended, the day promises to offer dynamic speakers with the opportunity to interact with them through a group panel discussion.

Other activities and features include the opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Sacred music, time to peruse the offerings of the many vendors slated to have displays, lunch, fellowship and celebrating Mass with hundreds of Catholic Turn to page 23

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The Anchor - January 25, 2019

Diocesan Strategic Planning effort to kickoff February 7

Father Tom Washburn to lead Youth and Young Adult Commission

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff kensouza@anchornews.org

FALL RIVER — A general session meeting for the diocesan Strategic Planning effort will be held on Thursday, February 7 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at White’s of Westport.

This celebratory kickoff meeting will bring together the more than 300 volunteers who have already signed up to serve on one of three commissions in response to an invitation from Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. to participate in his “Rebuilding in Faith and Hope” initiative.

The three commissions include Catholic Social Services, Diocesan Governance, and Youth and Young Adults.

Father Thomas Washburn, O.F.M., rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral and head of the newly-formed Catholic Community of Central Fall River, has been asked by Bishop da Cunha to lead the Youth and Young Adult Commission.

“There’s been a great response so far to Bishop da Cunha’s call for volunteers,” Father Washburn recently told The Anchor. “We’ve had

more than 300 people who have signed up for the various commissions, which is fantastic. So to kick things off, the bishop really wanted an event, because this is the kind of thing that doesn’t typically happen in the diocese.

“We imagine that the people who have signed up are those devoted people that we all know, parish-byparish. So we thought rather than just start the work, this could also be an opportunity for the bishop to meet with these key laypeople of the diocese. So we decided to have a kickoff event. It’s also another way for the bishop to show how important he feels all of this is for the future of the diocese.”

Father Washburn said the February 7 kickoff will “basically be a sort of two-part structure,” wherein Bishop da Cunha will first welcome everyone and thank them for volunteering and “hopefully inspire them moving forward.”

The second half of the evening will provide time for members of each of the three commissions to gather and meet.

While the Catholic Social Services Commission will be looking at

ways to rebrand and galvanize CSS’ ongoing mission to “better serve the poor and marginalized in our society” and the Diocesan Governance Commission will examine four key areas of diocesan oversight: Communications, Human Resources, Finances, and Property and Real Estate, the Youth and Young Adult Commission will primarily focus on ways to recruit and better engage the so-called “Generation Y” Millennials (those born between 1980 and 1994, ages 24 to 38) and members of “Generation Z” (those born between 1995 and 2012, ages six to 23).

“How do we get young people involved in the Church?” Father Washburn asked. “That’s our challenge moving forward, but it’s a challenge I think we can meet. And it’s not just with youth and young adults — it is really a challenge for the Church at large. We need to evangelize people. We always focus on the catechesis, but the catechesis without the evangelization is just information. So it doesn’t bear fruit and that’s what we’re seeing.”

Prior to the February 7 kickoff event, Father Washburn will be meeting with a core “executive comTurn to page 15

Father Thomas Washburn, O.F.M., rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral, is the head of the newly-formed Catholic Community of Central Fall River and will lead the new diocesan Youth and Young Adult Commission. (Photo

by Kenneth J. Souza) The Anchor - January 25, 2019

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Diocese of Fall River Catholic schools undergoing a renaissance

Editor’s note: Throughout the diocese, Catholic schools are celebrating Catholic Schools Week and are sharing the extraordinary contributions that they have made across Southeastern Mass., Roger Sullivan, chairman of the Diocese of Fall River’s Central Catholic Schools Board, is inviting Anchor readers to consider providing their talent, time, and/or treasure to further advance the mission of Catholic school education.

Should you be willing to serve on a board, volunteer your time, and/or contribute to a Catholic school, please contact Sarah Heaton, director of Enrollment and Marketing for the Diocese of Fall River. You can reach Sarah via email at sheaton@catholicsa.org.

To learn more about the Diocese’s Catholic schools, please feel free to go to the Catholic Schools Off ice’s website: https://www. catholicschoolsalliance.org.

FALL RIVER — The Diocese of Fall River Catholic schools are undergoing an amazing renaissance. Major school renewal initiatives are resulting in new opportunities for Catholic school students and teachers.

Most importantly, these efforts are reshaping the schools’ instructional practices leading to academic gains by students across the diocese.

These exciting initiatives are supported by Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. and the Central Catholic Schools Board established by the bishop in 2016. “The generosity of philanthropic support, the commitment of professional staff, and volunteer leadership have been vital to enabling the schools to implement 4

these new efforts,” Roger Sullivan, chairman of the Central Catholic Schools Board, pointed out.

Some of these key initiatives are blended learning, targeted professional development for math teachers, special education for inclusion, and the newly-adopted MAP student assessments, reported Steve Perla, superintendent of Catholic Schools.

In addition to working with teachers to enhance

Taunton is one of the schools that is implementing blended learning. Principal Kathy St. Laurent shared, “Moving into a more personalized, blended learning model of instruction has resulted in many positive areas of growth for students.

Students are enjoying the learning experience and teachers are able to better identify gaps and areas for additional focus. We are seeing many positive

mathematical concepts.

Instruction has moved from memorization to the development of reasoning skills and the expectation that students are able to explain their thinking. At All Saints, transitioning to the new math programs has been successful, due to the coaching provided through the math initiative and the dedication and openness of our teachers. Parents are assisted through on-

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. visited St. Margaret Regional School in Buzzards Bay to celebrate Mass and meet with students in their classrooms.

their instructional practice, teachers are also benefiting by participating in discounted graduate courses from a diocesan partnership developed with Bridgewater State University, added Perla.

Blended Learning, also known as personalized learning, is an integration of face-to-face instruction coupled with online learning experiences. Students are able to engage in learning at their individualized academic level, providing opportunity to work independently and in groups. Coyle and Cassidy High School and Middle School in

The Anchor - January 25, 2019

outcomes as a result of this initiative.”

A diocesan math initiative was implemented in eight schools and is in its second year. It includes math content workshops for teachers in addition to personalized teacher coaching and summer professional development. Initial assessments are showing solid math achievement in student scores. All Saints Catholic School principal Sue Massoud commented, “Students and teachers are challenged to a deeper understanding of math and have become fluent in their dialog about

line materials, as well as updates sent home when new ways of thinking about math are presented in the classroom. Overall, the experience has boosted student learning, allowing math concepts to be accessible to more students than traditional algorithms.”

This year, the diocese shifted to MAP assessments. This student assessment is administered three times per academic year to monitor student success. All schools are now technologically equipped to offer this test online allowing for immedi-

ate reporting to teachers.

Additional professional development for school leaders and teachers is being provided by Boston College Lynch Leadership Academy. Data walls have been developed that allow for close monitoring and curriculum maps development. This data is being utilized to improve instruction. Dr. Mary Pat Tranter, director of Strategic Initiatives, noted, “The beauty of MAP Growth testing is that it provides principals and teachers with an extensive battery of real-time data that identifies individual student strengths and weaknesses. Teachers are then able to make immediate changes to curriculum, instruction, methodology and assessment to insure that every student has the opportunity to grow academically and achieve his/her potential.”

Parents can now access much more immediate information about their child’s progress than ever before.

Special education for inclusion has been a priority for the Catholic Schools Office this year.

Working with the schools to increase public funding from government programs such as IDEA and Title l, students with mild and moderate disabilities are receiving special education services in our schools. The CSO will continue with a strong focus in this area to better position our schools to serve students who learn differently.

The CSO will be assessing the impact of these initiatives and will provide an analysis of the impact of these efforts late Spring 2019.

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Church to celebrate World Day for Consecrated Life February 2-3

FALL RIVER — The global Church will celebrate World Day for Consecrated Life on February 2 and 3. This celebration of life as a religious Sister, Brother or priest is an opportunity for the parish at large and for vocation ministers to promote this way of life.

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. will be the main celebrant of a concelebrated Mass on Saturday, February 2, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, at noon with consecrated religious women and men in the diocese at St. Mary’s Parish in Norton.

The bishop asks diocesan faithful to please pray for all those who have made commitments in the consecrated life, and to thank them on

their special day.

“May they continue to be inspired

by Jesus Christ and respond generously to God’s gift of their vocation.”

The National Religious Vocations Conference suggests ways area faithful can promote vocations to the religious life: hold a prayer service for the parish community and public; use the celebration as a teaching moment for a school lesson on consecrated life; and utilize social media for an outreach program.

Area faithful are urged to pray for those who have responded to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to be a consecrated person that they may experience the support of the Church as they continue their growth in holiness.

The Anchor - January 25, 2019

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Anchor Editorial

Catholic Schools Week

“Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.” This is the theme of Catholic Schools Week this year. Our Catholic schools in the Diocese of Fall River help the children entrusted to them to learn about how Christ loves them and calls them to love Him. They express that love for Christ in the various ways in which they serve Him, directly in prayer and in service to their neighbors (imitating the great examples of service and sacrifice which they see around them — in the faculties and staff who make financial sacrifices to serve the students; in their parents and families who sacrifice other benefits so as to send their children to Catholic schools; in the thousands of people across the diocese who “put their money where their mouths are” by making generous contributions to our Catholic schools). As retired principal Cecilia Felix told the New Bedford Standard-Times last June, our teachers “believe in Catholic ed and have faith; they’re not here for the money.”

The children learn what it means to truly lead in our Catholic schools.

They hear Christ’s Words to His disciples at the Last Supper, after He lowered Himself to wash their feet: “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do” ( Jn 13:15). The students come to learn that leading is not about domination, but about lifting up others, so that they can experience the dignity that God gave them when they were created.

Success for a Catholic school child ultimately comes many years, many decades after graduating from the school. It comes when Christ says to them, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Come, share your Master’s joy” (Mt 25:23). This is not easy to gauge in this world — but we can see signs of our children’s success in their becoming adults actively living out their faith, transmitting that faith to their children (be they their own biological children, their Godchildren, or the children they have been called by God to have a Spiritual paternal or maternal relationship with, as a religious or member of the clergy). In other words, a Catholic education is an investment of the community for “the long haul,” an investment which can bear fruit over many decades, if done right.

On page 10, Dr. Helen Flavin noted about one of her Catholic high school students, “The entire story was an example of God’s plan revealed in God’s time.” Our Catholic educators work to help the children entrusted to them to discover God’s individual plans for them and help them to have the tools that they need to live out this plan of love.

The Diocese of Fall River is blessed to have so many people dedicated to its Catholic schools. In this edition of The Anchor you can read about them in articles beginning on pages four and 16. Sister Mary Jane Holden, profiled on page 16, summarizes very well the communal effort that Catholic schools are. “Any success that we’ve achieved, we achieved it together.

I mean the faculty has been so responsive and willing to move along as OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER www.anchornews.org

Vol. 63, No. 2

Published bi-weekly by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720, Telephone 508-675-7151 — FAX 508-675-7048, email: theanchor@anchornews.org. Subscription price by mail, postpaid $25.00 per year, for U.S. addresses.

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PUBLISHER - Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. EXECUTIVE EDITOR Father Richard D. Wilson fatherwilson@anchornews.org EDITOR David B. Jolivet davejolivet@anchornews.org ADVERTISING Wayne R. Powers waynepowers@anchornews.org REPORTER Kenneth J. Souza k ensouza@anchornews.org Send Letters to the Editor to: fatherwilson@anchornews.org

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The Anchor - January 25, 2019

things have changed. [W]hen we saw the need for the addition to the school, the parents got together and we were able to pay that off within three years, without having to borrow a cent from the diocese. It’s just a wonderful community of people who help out and I couldn’t say enough about all of the people who have shared in the responsibility for the success of the school.”

Matthew Ferreira, a Standard-Times staff writer, wrote about Miss Felix in that paper when she retired. What he said about her is so true about so many of our Catholic educators: “Miss Felix and her Catholic faith are inseparable. It’s at the root of who she is and she made that apparent in her expectations of us. This at times resulted in rules that were considered by some to be heavy-handed, for instance, forbidding the doodling of popular music groups’ names or emblems on notebooks, backpacks and any other medium ’90s kids used to express themselves at school. Not everyone liked these kinds of rules, including some parents, but where some in her position might have seen battles not worth picking, Miss Felix saw glaring contradictions to the Christian values she’d been entrusted to uphold. So, as important as it was to 13-year-old me for everyone who glanced at my book covers to know I listened to DMX, 32-year-old me has nothing but respect for how Miss Felix stood her ground on things that mattered to her.”

David Brooks in the New York Times recently praised effective teachers (“Students learn from people they love,” Jan. 18, 2019). He discussed recent studies which found that when teachers establish a friendly, emotional connection with their students, it is much easier for the student to learn (of course, Christ the Teacher demonstrated this best, in His three years in which the Apostles lived with Him and got to experience His love for them firsthand).

Brooks noted, “Think of all the emotions that are involved in mastering a hard subject like algebra: curiosity, excitement, frustration, confusion, dread, delight, worry and, hopefully, perseverance and joy. You’ve got to have an educated emotional vocabulary to maneuver through all of those stages.”

Brooks’ insight helps to explain why students from Catholic schools often outperform children from other schools. It is not just the discipline (although that helps). It is the loving sacrifice of the teachers for the students.

The students know that this adult thinks that they (the children) are important, that their education is worth this adult’s sacrificing material gain so that someone might grow closer to Christ. So, the students are able to do better in Religion class and in math or another secular subject, because they know that the teacher is invested in the material and in them.

Let us do all that we can to help our children learn, serve, lead and succeed.

Daily Readings Jan. 26 - Feb. 8

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Jan. 26, 2 Tm 1:1-8 or Ti 1:1-5; Ps 96:1-3, 7-8a,10; Mk 3:20-21. Sun. Jan. 27, Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Neh 8:24a,5-6,8-10; Ps 19:8-10,15; 1 Cor 12:12-30 or 12:12-14,27; Lk 1:1-4;4:14-21.

Mon. Jan. 28, Heb 9:15,24-28; Ps 98:1-6; Mk 3:22-30. Tues. Jan. 29, Heb 10:1-10; Ps 40:2,4,7-8,10-11; Mk 3:31-35. Wed. Jan. 30, Heb 10:11-18; Ps 110:1-4; Mk 4:1-20. Thurs. Jan. 31, Heb 10:19-25; Ps 24:1-4b,5-6; Mk 4:2125. Fri. Feb. 1, Heb 10:32-39; Ps 37:3-6,23-24,39-40; Mk 4:26-34.

Sat. Feb. 2, Mal 3:1-4; Ps 24:7-10; Heb 2:14-18; Lk 2:22-40. Sun. Feb. 3, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jer 1:4-5,17-19; Ps 71:1-6,15,17; 1 Cor 12:31—13:13 or 13:4-13; Lk 4:21-30. Mon. Feb. 4, Heb 11:32-40; Ps 31:20-24; Mk 5:1-20.

Tues. Feb. 5, Heb 12:1-4; Ps 22:26b-28,30-32; Mk 5:21-43. Wed. Feb. 6, Heb 12:4-7,11-15; Ps 103:1-2,13-14,17-18a; Mk 6:1-6. Thurs. Feb. 7, Heb 12:1819,21-24; Ps 48:2-4,9-11; Mk 6:7-13. Fri. Feb. 8, Heb 13:1-8; Ps 27:1,3,5,8b-9c; Mk 6:14-29.

wo weeks ago I had the joy to preach the annual T five-day retreat for Mount St.

Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., where 25 years ago this year I began my formation for the priesthood. It was an opportunity to express my thanks to the 150 men preparing for the priesthood there for their courageous witness in faithfully following God’s call and to encourage them to persevere.

Since the 1960s, to follow a priestly vocation is to be not only a sign of contradiction but an object of derision. While some support you, many oppose, often including family members and fellow Catholics.

When I told peers in high school and college I was considering the priesthood, many retorted with jokes wondering whether I was gay. Today, after the revelation of the sexual abuse scandals, many are greeted with snide questions about whether they “like little boys.” Seminarians today have the faith and guts to suffer such indignities for Christ.

But at the same time greater courage still is needed. We’re living at a time when one of the big issues in priestly (and episcopal) leadership is conflict aversion. Pastoral problems are often ducked rather than addressed. Neuralgic and unpopular teachings are neglected rather than named. Not hurting another’s feelings or offending another’s sensibilities, rather than charity in truth, is the operative moral praxis.

Greater courage is needed, moreover, because we’re living in an age in which popular culture routinely mocks Christian teaching and attacks Christians. We’re treated as bigots for upholding Christ’s teaching on Marriage, as misogynists for defending the Sanctity of every life, as traitors for treating immigrants the way we would treat Christ. We’re being sued for not baking cakes or renting halls or compromising our consciences in favor of the culturally-correct zeitgeist.

Membership in the Knights of Columbus is being treated by some U.S. senators in 2019 as communist party membership

Courage in the Christian and priestly life

studies, but who persevered in in the 1950s. Catholic high faith, hope and love with the school students from Covevery day Christian heroism ington are crucified by social that makes one strong in exmedia mobs, before even facts traordinary circumstances. His are known, for their Pro-Life convictions and support for the priestly courage framed our considerations. president.

In the retreat, we focused on Greater courage is needed as well because fears and phobias the courage needed to win the dominate our age. As toddlers, “battle of prayer,” to overcome the typical struggles to priwe’re afraid of the dark, monsters, bad weather, bad dreams, oritize prayer, to fight against discouragement, dryness, strangers, separations, doctors distractions, acedia, fatigue and and dentists, masks and mascots. As we age, those fears are other obstacles.

We considered the courage supplanted by dread of snakes, required to share the truth in roaches, rodents, bats, loneliness, rejection, betrayal, unhappiness, change, unpopularity, wasting Putting Into one’s life, missing out, the unknown, false the Deep accusations, personal failure, letting others

By Father down, getting fired, Roger J. Landry losing an argument, being judged, humiliated or ridiculed, poverty, and out of season, a virtue and public speaking, flying, loss gift of the Holy Spirit. Many of control, debilitating illness, pain, senility, the death of loved prophets had fears: Moses, Gideon, Jonah, Isaiah, and ones, torture, terrorist attacks, Jeremiah, to name a few. Jesus death and hell. instructed the first disciples, as That’s why Christ’s words, He was sending them as lambs “Be not afraid!,” were considered by St. John Paul II among in the midst of wolves, not to the most important things our be frightened by those who can time needs to hear everywhere kill the body but cannot kill the soul, not to worry about how and often. Pope Francis has continued that focus on audac- to speak or what to say, but to depend on the power of the ity by constantly repeating the Holy Spirit. He spoke to St. need for parrhesia, the Greek Paul on multiple occasions tellword used by St. Luke in the ing him not to be afraid, but to Acts of the Apostles to refer continue to give witness to Him to the boldness of the early in Jerusalem and in Rome.

Christians. Courage is, strictly We pondered the bravery speaking, not the absence of needed to love God with all fear, but doing what we ought our mind, heart, soul and to do despite our fear because strength, and to love our of the strength that we receive neighbor — including even from Christ. those who make themselves The chapel at Mount St. our enemies — not just a little, Mary’s is an inspiring place to or even a lot, but in the selffocus on courage, because it sacrificial way to the extreme houses a shrine with a beautiwith which Jesus loved us. ful statue and first class relics We spoke about the valor of Blessed Stanley Rother, a required to live chaste celibacy.

Mount alumnus martyred Speaking about the virgin in Guatemala in 1981 and beatified in Oklahoma City in martyrs, St. Ambrose in the fourth century said, “Virginity 2017. Father Rother returned is praiseworthy not because to Guatemala to preach the it is found in martyrs, but Gospel and serve his people because it makes martyrs.” despite many threats against The strength required to say his life. He had been an a yes of love to Christ and a “ordinary” seminarian, who no to the desire for Marriage struggled with some of his

and family is something that fortifies a person to stay faithful out of love to Christ at the supreme hour. This is what we see in Saints Agnes, Barbara, Agatha, Cecilia, Maria Goretti and so many others. This is the chastity that also strengthened Jamie Schmidt of House Springs, Mo., the 53-year-old mother of three who was gunned down at a Catholic supply store in November for refusing to strip naked and perform a sex act on a gunman who had pressured two other women in the store to do so.

We prayed about the grit to study and grow in wisdom and understanding, loving the Lord “with all our minds,” so that we can give reasons for the hope that is within us.

It requires effort to master Sacred Scripture, to understand and articulate the teachings of the magisterium, to become an expert in prayer and the interior life, and get to the culture well enough so that one can be salt, light and leaven to it.

We contemplated the gallantry needed to be “cheerful ascetics,” like Blessed Francis Xavier, whose 200th birthday we celebrated during the retreat. In an age of affirmation and of the consumerist, quasi-religious pursuit of the maximization of pleasure, selfdenial and picking up our cross each day to follow Christ seem almost insane. A healthy but vigorous asceticism is one of the things very much needed today in the clergy and Catholic people in general. Many do not moderate their appetites for food and sweets at all and their waistlines, sugar and cholesterol numbers show it. Others drink too much, smoke, and can’t discipline their addictions to television, the Internet or social media. Others can’t conquer their anger or their sexual appetite. Courage is needed to train ourselves through mortification to say yes to God and no to the concupiscence of the eyes, flesh and pride of life.

We discussed the courage necessary to obey the Lord, to be true doers of the Word,

especially through the flawed human instruments God places over us. The recent scandals have made it more challenging for priests, seminarians and faithful alike to trust bishops implicitly, and that weaker human trust makes the lived experience of obedience more challenging. To obey God through the Church He gives requires overcoming more fears today than yesterday and a greater boldness in trusting in the constitution the Lord has given to the Church and in the Holy Spirit’s constant guidance despite checkered receptivity on the part of some in authority.

We examined the guts needed to recognize we’re sinners in need of a Savior and come to receive His mercy through His priestly instruments, confessing our sins with candor and contrition, and intending to cut off the metaphorical hands and feet and pluck out the eyes that lead us to sin. It also requires daring to share mercy at the Lord’s standard with those who have wronged us.

We prayed about where courage comes from: a deep sense of our Divine filiation: that God loves us infinitely, unconditionally, and without end. That conviction allows us to live boldly, because we know that we have in our corner the One Who has triumphed over Satan, sin and death and will never abandon us.

Finally, we ruminated on the courage needed to remain faithful to the end. We live in an age in which many people give up: on prayer, fighting sin, suffering, Mass, Confession, Marriage, religious vows, priestly vocations, jobs, hope, even life itself. We need courage never to give up, never to stop running the race, fighting the good fight, keeping the faith and growing in it.

God Who knows we need courage in all of these ways and gives us all we need to live boldly — by giving Himself, to embolden us from within.

That’s the way we are able to live, as Christians, priests and future priests, unafraid.

Anchor columnist Father Landry — fatherlandry@ catholicpreaching.com.

The Anchor - January 25, 2019

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Marian Medal Awards ceremony now available on video

The Nov. 18, 2018 Marian Medal Awards Ceremony is available on DVD from the Diocesan Office of Communications.

The DVD cost is $25. To obtain one, please send a check in that amount payable to the Fall River Diocese to this address: Office of Communications, Diocese of Fall River, P.O. Box 2577, Fall River, Mass., 02722. Shipping is included in the cost.

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The Anchor - January 25, 2019

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anuary 15 marked the 90th birthday of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. This year it was celebrated as a national holiday on Monday, January 21, the day before the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. The reason for the annual commemoration is to remember with gratitude his work for civil rights and social justice for everyone. One of his major contributions to the American character was his exemplary Christian dedication to non-violence and the rights of conscience vis-à-vis unjust laws like racial segregation. This was expressed most memorably in his famous Letter from the Birmingham Jail, written on April 16, 1963.

In defense of civil disobedience, he wrote, “we should never forget that everything Adolf Hit-

A tale of two islands

ler did in Germany was Guernsey and Jersey soon ‘legal’ and everything the found their fears about Hungarian freedom fight- the islands’ new masters ers did in Hungary was amply justified.” Jews were ‘illegal.’ It was illegal to required to register, and aid and comfort a Jew in businesses owned by Jews Hitler’s Germany. Even so, were “Aryanized” and sold I am sure that, had I lived to non-Jews. Some of the in Germany at the time, I Jews were deported and would have aided and comforted my Jewish brothers.”

Judge Recently my For good friend Sean Yourself Brady sent me

By Dwight Duncan links to two articles about contrasting contemporary attitudes towards the Jewish Holodied in Auschwitz. Others caust perpetrated by the were interned in camps in Nazis. One, entitled, “New France and Germany. A film on Nazi occupation of British intelligence report Channel Islands prompts stated, “When the Gerdisquieting questions for mans proposed to put their Brits,” by Robert Philanti-Jewish measures into pot dated April 13, 2017, force, no protest whatever reports that “the Jews of was raised by any of the

Matthew C. Zonghetti, son of Deacon Michael T. Zonghetti, dies in tragic skiing accident

MANSFIELD — Matthew C. Zonghetti, age 26, a lifelong resident of Mansfield, passed away following a tragic skiing accident on Thursday, January 17.

Born in Boston on May 4, 1992, he is survived by his loving parents, Deacon Michael T. and Susan K. (Machi) Zonghetti; his devoted sister Kathryn M. Zonghetti and her loving companion Stuart Pink; the love of his life Kristen L. Schifferli; his uncle Robert Machi and his wife Terry and their children Laura, Erica and Julia; his aunts Linda Adkins and her husband Gary and their son Tyler; Theresa Zonghetti and Beth Zonghetti and her boyfriend Richie.

Matt grew up and was educated in Mansfield.

He was a 2010 graduate of Mansfield High School

where he excelled both academically and in sports. He played football and lacrosse and in his senior year was captain of the lacrosse team and was the recipient of many academic and athletic awards.

He furthered his education, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in finance from Wake Forest University in North Carolina, where he met Kristen, was a member of the club lacrosse team and the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

Matt was working as a real estate investment professional and was a lifelong communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Mansfield.

He loved spending time amongst family and friends and his passions in life were skiing, extensive traveling, hiking, football and lacrosse. He was a faithful

New England Patriots fan and especially treasured and loved his dog, “Bodie.”

Matthew will always be remembered by those who knew and loved him for his optimism, loyalty, humility, compassion and his lust for life and adventure.

His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, January 26 at 10 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church, 330 Pratt Street (Route 106) in Mansfield. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Mansfield.

In lieu of flowers, Matt’s family has requested that donations in his memory be made to the Matthew C. Zonghetti Scholarship Fund, c/o Mansfield High School, 250 East Street, Mansfield, Mass. 02048.

To send his family a message of condolence, visit www.shermanjackson.com.

Guernsey officials, and they hastened to give the Germans every assistance.”

The other case of a Nazi-occupied island was detailed in an article of the Jerusalem Post dated Dec. 13, 2009, entitled “The miraculous story of the Jews of Zakynthos,” by Laura Goldberg.

On that Greek island, “[o]n Sept. 9, 1943, the governor of the German occupation had asked the mayor for a list of all Jews on the island. Rejecting the demand after consulting with Bishop Chrysostomos, [the Orthodox bishop], they decided to go together to the governor’s office the next day. When Berenz insisted once again on the list, the bishop explained that these Jews weren’t Christians but had lived here in peace and quiet for hundreds of years.

They had never bothered anyone, he said. They were Greeks just like all other Greeks, and it would offend all the resident of Zakynthos if they were to leave. But the governor insisted that they give him the names. The bishop then handed him a piece of paper containing only two names: Bishop Chrysosto-

mos and Mayor Karrer.”

“In the meantime, not knowing what would happen, the local Jews were sent by the leaders of the island to hide inside Christian homes in the hills. However, a Nazi order to round up the Jews was soon revoked — thanks to the devoted leaders who risked their lives to save them. In October 1944, the Germans withdrew from the island, leaving behind 275 Jews.”

The Greeks of Zakynthos, and not the Brits of the Channel Islands, while both were presumably Christian, were actually the ones truly faithful to the Golden Rule and the Gospel. Human history, as well as Church history, is a peculiar interplay of good and evil, of God’s grace and human freedom. Let us pray that, like Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., we be faithful to the example and teaching of our Divine Master, Jesus Christ, when put to the test. Equal justice and love for all requires nothing less.

Anchor columnist Dwight Duncan is a professor at UMass School of Law Dartmouth. He holds degrees in civil and canon law.

The Anchor - January 25, 2019

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M

y freshmen had completed their career assignments. I picked up the essay of a young man who chose to be a boxer. The first third of the essay was the “do my best in high school so as to get into college.” It was phrased and toned just as kids do when they are reciting what they believe you wish them to say. The remainder was a foray into a world foreign to me. I recognized the rebellion.

More than that though, I recognized a mind beginning to analyze and decide for itself.

I smiled as I remembered one of my 10-page college papers. After nine pages of thoroughly detailing all themes covered in class, I added one paragraph with my opinion.

The professor tanked my grade.

Cognizant that I wished

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Do you wish to change the world? to encourage exploration the Lord is upon Me, beand analysis, I examined cause He has anointed Me the essay. He had thorto bring glad tidings to the oughly researched his top- poor. He has sent Me to ic, documented what was proclaim liberty to capneeded, and had planned tives and recovery of sight the work. I learned from to the blind, to let the what he had researched and written. I knew from Wrestling with God his essay and from Holding on for class discussions His blessing his understanding of college was equal to that of his

By Dr. Helen J. Flavin classmates. I gave him an A. Good thing I documented all of oppressed go free, and to that. His mother came to proclaim a year acceptable see me. She demanded he to the Lord” (Lk 4:18-19). receive an F for his college “All present were deeply paper on boxing. amazed” (Lk 4:22). Each Human nature seems man immediately felt he to be that the more we are too wanted to help change engaged, the more deeply the world. we activate our emotions.

Doubt and fear crept Events or ideas contrary to in as people compared what we expect can then this carpenter to their promote deep negative expectations of the Mesemotions followed somesiah. They asked, “Isn’t times by irrational actions. this the son of Joseph?”

In Jesus’ earthly minis(Lk 4:22). Strangers and try, His call is understood family shared in doubting. first as a challenge to each In Mark’s Gospel we hear weary heart. It resonates that amidst His Galilean deeply with the hope of ministry, Jesus’ family set what might be. In the out to seize Him thinking, synagogue in Nazareth, “He is out of His mind” Jesus reads: “The Spirit of (Mk 3:21).

The Anchor - January 25, 2019

This was much more than a healthy skepticism of ideas presented. Rather than work to change the world, the men from the synagogue irrationally sought to kill Jesus. They drove Jesus out to the brow of a hill meaning to hurl Jesus to His death (Lk 4:29).

Quite often analysis of this Gospel sequence is left at some, for example the disciples, will accept, whereas many others will reject Jesus’ teachings. The true meaning though lies a bit deeper.

Jesus passes peacefully and quietly through their midst (Lk 4:30). However, that image is truly a snapshot from the beginning not the end of the story. This entire sequence is one of the most stunning examples of Jesus’ call to believers followed by His patience in awaiting their sorting it all out. The secret is that awaiting our yes was and will always be Jesus’ style.

Jesus’ call will stir up deep emotions that make

us re-examine priorities and beliefs. It is only after reflection and analysis, when we have freely chosen to say yes, that we have quieted or disarmed our heart. Only then are we open to receive the gifts being offered by God. Jesuit priest Father John Dear says, “We begin to realize that the revolution of the world begins not out there somewhere but within ourselves — where we live faithful to God’s vision and understanding of who we are” (“Jesus the Rebel: Bearer of God’s Peace and Justice”).

Though the later reflections or actions of the men at the synagogue that day are not chronicled, we do have the example of Nicodemus who worked to move past initial doubts.

Nicodemus visited Jesus at night. He listened to Jesus’ answers to his questions ( Jn 3:1-21). Nicodemus left with much to ponder.

Much later, at Jesus’ death, Nicodemus is there to provide the burial myrrh and aloes ( Jn 19:39).

I checked in with that student two years later when he had begun his college search. He told me it had been quite some time before his mother forgave me regarding that essay. It was my turn to smile. The entire story was an example of God’s plan revealed in God’s time.

Do you remember Jesus’ revelation of the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5:3-10)?

Aren’t more people living in that way what our world so desperately needs? How will you work with God to change the world?

Anchor columnist Helen Flavin is a Catholic scientist, educator and writer.

The Anchor - January 25, 2019

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Diocesan Campus Ministry offering a Charis Seekers Retreat for 20- to 30-year-olds

WAREHAM — The Diocese of Fall River Catholic Campus Ministry is hosting a retreat for individuals in their 20s and 30s from March 1-3 at the Sacred Hearts Retreat Center in Wareham.

The Charis Seekers Retreat develops opportunities for young Catholics to plug into the tradition and develop their prayer lives and their love for God. The weekend is based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola and on the Gospel message of Christ.

Past attendees have commented that the weekend retreat deepened their prayer lives; connected them

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The Anchor - January 25, 2019

to others like them, whether seeker or committed Catholic; enhanced their participation in parish small groups; and encouraged them to continue their formation as Catholic Christians.

Attendees listen to peers share how they find God in their lives, relationships and in their work. There is time for smallgroup conversations, quiet time, and connecting with old friends or making new ones.

For more information visit www.fallrivercampusministries. com or www.dfrcm.org or call Deacon Frank Lucca at 508-9998872, or email flucca@umassd. edu.

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Strategic Planning effort to kickoff February 7 continued from page three

mittee” that includes Father David Frederici, pastor of St. George Parish in Westport and diocesan director of Campus Ministry; Beth Mahoney, principal of St. Margaret Regional School in Buzzards Bay; and youth leaders Bea Furtado and Brian Sardinha to help jump-start the commission.

“I think there are close to 100 people signed up just for the Youth and Young Adults Commission,” Father Washburn said. “We wanted some of those youthful voices to help lead us and guide

us, and we really want this to be a process of dialogue, so it’s really going to depend on how things unfold. But I imagine that we will definitely come up with something for the diocese.”

One of the group’s initial efforts, according to Father Washburn, will be to conduct a survey of every parish to “just assess at a very basic level what everyone is doing in terms of Faith Formation and in terms of Youth Ministry.”

“That’s the quantitative side of it, but we also want

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 January 27 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Daniel W. Lacroix, pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in New Bedford.

February 3 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Michael S. Racine, pastor of St. Bernard’s Parish in Assonet.

to know the qualitative side, where we also have in that survey questions about what’s working,” he said.

“What are the things that you’re doing that are really working? We want to use this as an opportunity to kind of uncover what might be hidden gems throughout the diocese.”

Father Washburn attributes today’s lack of participation from youth and young adults in the Church to several factors.

“I think there’s a variety of reasons — it’s not any one,” he said. “My guess, from my own experience, is that it probably has more to do with the ‘busyness’ of young people today. I think they’re programmed every second of every day. It’s also the changing landscape of Church participation, where people are stepping away from organized religion in so many ways.”

That’s why Father Washburn is adamant that the Church can’t just sit back and “surrender and think that’s the only possibility.”

“It gets back to that evangelization piece — that we need to have programs that have a strong emphasis on creating relationships with Jesus,” he added. “And when we create those relationships with Jesus, we do it in and through the community of the Church. That’s how we can bring them back into an active community.”

Taking a page from Pope Francis’ playbook, Father Washburn said the Church can no longer rely on methods that were used to engage youth in the past.

“Pope Francis has spoken — and it’s one of his regular and major themes — about his desire to have a Church increasingly that goes out to meet people, and that’s again part of that evangeliz-

ing piece that we want to address,” Father Washburn said. “In terms of young people walking through our doors, it’s definitely a challenge. But what are we doing to meet them where they are and invite them in?”

Noting that “traditional entry points” in the past such as family and Sacramental programs are no longer working, Father Washburn stressed that they need to consider other options.

“That model has kind of fallen apart in the last several decades, so we’ve got to be open to different ideas and entry points that make sense,” he said.

As one of the three key areas that Bishop da Cunha has earmarked to help revitalize and rebuild the Fall River Diocese, the involvement of youth and young adults — often regarded as the “future of the Church” — will be essential to its success.

“When you think about it, the Youth and Young Adult Commission has got a large task ahead of it, and in many ways it’s a commission that is going to look at so many aspects of parish life,” Father Washburn said.

“From Faith Formation and Sacramental preparation programs to Youth Ministry programs and then the Catholic schools would fall under that banner, too.

There are so many different dimensions and I think there are some sporadic things happening in various (parishes), but I don’t think there’s been any sort of organized, systematic thing happening on (a diocesan) level.”

Given his past experience and assignments, it would seem that Father Washburn was destined to lead this youth-centric diocesan commission.

“I’ve always been heavily involved in youth and young adult ministry,” he said.

“From my initial assignment, which was the largest parish in the state of New Hampshire, we had almost 1,000 young people in the Faith Formation program and it was a very active and lively program. Whether it’s been urban, suburban, rich or poor, I’ve been very actively involved in youth ministry. So I think because of that, the bishop thought it was a good fit.”

Father Washburn is optimistic that the February 7 launch will be a unique opportunity to get ideas and input from those who will be leading and sustaining the diocese and the Church into the future.

“We’re really trying very hard to not sort of overly direct the outcomes at the beginning; we really want to hear where people are coming from first,” he said.

“But, hopefully it will have implications for the whole diocese — whether it results in guidelines or programs or suggestions to the bishop and the Chancery or things like that. Hopefully we will come up with some solutions that are broad in their reach and ultimately meeting that goal of really being supportive to what the parishes are doing, and especially helpful to those parishes that are maybe struggling to figure out what to do.”

“Hopefully there’s going to be a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of energy, and just this great aspect of us all coming together as a big group to really dive into this effort,” Father Washburn added.

“The bishop’s goal was to really throw as wide a net as possible and to get as many people involved as possible, and it seems to be working.”

For more information about the Diocesan Strategic Planning initiative and future meetings, or to sign up for one of the commissions, visit www.fallriverdiocese.org.

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Longtime principal to retire after 15-year tenure at Attleboro school

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff kensouza@anchornews.org

ATTLEBORO — Although she’s planned countless Open House sessions during her tenure as principal of St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro, this year’s event on Sunday, January 27 is going to be somewhat bittersweet for Sister Mary Jane Holden, C.P., as she recently announced her plans to retire at the end of the academic year in June.

“I’m looking forward to retirement,” Sister Mary Jane recently told The

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Anchor. “But I’m looking forward to winding down a bit. I’m not saying I won’t do anything — I’ll still have responsibilities to my religious community — but it won’t be the daily grind and I think it’s time that we get someone new, someone with new ideas to move the school forward. We’re in a good place now, and we want to keep it that way.

We want to withhold the reputation that we have.”

Much of that well-earned reputation can be credited to Sister Mary Jane, who has helmed the vibrant Catholic school for the past 15 years.

The Anchor - January 25, 2019

A member of the Sisters of the Cross and Passion religious order — more commonly known as the Passionist Sisters — Sister Mary Jane recently reflected on her accomplishments over the years and, in particular, her time in Attleboro.

“I enjoyed teaching and I’ve enjoyed administration,” she said. “But looking back, I think what’s foremost in your mind is the most recent (assignment), so that would be my time here at St. John’s.”

Founded and based in Manchester, England, the Passionist Sisters have a provincial house in Rhode Island, where Sister Mary Jane resides, and are involved in everything from education to parish work, from retreat work to pastoral care. Before coming to the Fall River Diocese, Sister Mary Jane taught at schools in New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island, and for a brief time she even managed a section-eight elderly housing facility where her mother was living.

“I went into housing just by accident, but that helped me with my (job here), because I left education for a time,” Sister Mary Jane said. “My mother was living in a building and the manager knew me and she asked me if I could help for the summer. That summer turned into a few years, but I learned a lot and I was

Sister Mary Jane Holden, C.P., principal of St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro, will be retiring in June after a 15-year tenure. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)

able to bring that experience with me.”

While she’s justifiably proud of the reputation that St. John the Evangelist School has earned in recent years, Sister Mary Jane is quick to point out that she’s had a lot of help along the way.

“We do have a good reputation and I think mostly it’s because everybody works together,” she said. “Any success that we’ve achieved, we achieved it together. I mean the faculty has been so responsive and willing to move along as things have changed.

They’ve embraced technology and everything else as we try new things and

when we saw the need for the addition to the school, the parents got together and we were able to pay that off within three years, without having to borrow a cent from the diocese. It’s just a wonderful community of people who help out and I couldn’t say enough about all of the people who have shared in the responsibility for the success of the school.

It’s been marvelous.”

With a current enrollment of 253 students in pre-K through grade eight — an estimated 80 percent of whom are members of St. John the Evangelist Parish — it’s a rare Catholic school success story at a time when Turn to page 20

The Anchor - January 25, 2019

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“A

mazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.” These beautiful lyrics, written centuries ago by John Newton, describes his conversion when, as a wretched slave trader, he was saved from the imminent sinking of his ship during a storm. The lyric description of Newton’s conversion resonates with the dramatic conversion of St. Paul, which we commemorated on January 25. We know well the story of Paul’s moment of being blinded by the light on the road to Damascus that caused him to fall to the ground and hear the voice of Jesus, Whom he had persecuted. Paul’s moment of amazing grace is the prototype of many such conversions throughout the history of Christianity.

Conversion to Jesus Christ is essential in every effort to evangelize. “It arises from the depths of the human person and involves such a profound transformation of heart and mind that it causes the believer to change radically both internally and externally” (National Directory on Catechesis).

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, in his reflection on the conversion of St. Paul, writes, “Conversion is not a moral achievement accomplished by good behavior or New Year’s resolutions. Conversion usually comes to people who need it intensely.” With this

Conversion as the goal, every evangelization might be sudden, or it could take program or catechetical ministry years to ferment. John Newton’s must go beyond changing the conversion did not result in a behavior patterns of parishioners radical change of his behavior. so that they obediently come to He wrote in his autobiography, Mass, but “I cannot must be consider conversionmyself to centric. But have been The Great the need for a believer Commission conversion in the full is in the sense of

By Claire McManus eye of the the word beholder. until a Neither St. considerPaul nor John Newton thought able time afterward.” Indeed, John they needed to change. Paul Newton continued in the slave writes in his letter to the Galatrade business for many years betians that he was so zealous for fore joining the abolitionist movethe traditions of his faith that he ment and eventually becoming an “progressed in Judaism beyond ordained minister in the Anglican many of my contemporaries.” He Church where he went on to write thus became a murderer in the those beautiful hymns. name of religion, proudly receivBehind every effective tool ing his commission to root out used to evangelize is an opportuChristianity from the highest nity for the converted to witness authorities in the Temple. We’ll to their faith. Not all conversion never know why God chose to stories are like St. Paul’s, but flip the mission of this zealot, but many people have turned their Paul turned his zeal for Jewish lives over to Christ and need a purity into a passionate mission platform on which to tell their for the love of Jesus Christ. Too stories. These people are easy to bad we can’t buy a “knock ‘em find; they’re the ones who radiate down” conversion program and the fruits of the Holy Spirit. They put it into every parish! are not zealots for the faith, but There is much we can learn gentle souls who emanate love, from St. Paul and John Newton joy, peace, patience, kindness, with regards to the evangelization generosity, self-control, and faithefforts in our parishes. Converfulness. Their intense need that sion is the result of a deeply brought them into an encounter personal relationship with Jesus with Christ will be the story that Christ. The introduction to Christ resonates with some kindred soul

in search of Salvation. These are the people God wants leading the mission.

Matthew Kelly opens his latest book with a story of a man who is trying to find the right way to change the culture of his company to save it from going under. While trying to come up with a profound speech that will turn the company around, he is continuously interrupted by his bored seven-year-old son. The man tears out a picture of a map of the world from a magazine and cuts it into pieces and gives it to the boy to piece it back together.

Thinking this would take the boy hours to accomplish, the man is surprised when the boy returns in minutes with the map completely reassembled. He asked the boy how he got it done so fast and was told, “There was a picture of a man on the back of the page. Since I knew what the man looked like I just put him together and then flipped it over and the world was in the right place.” This little piece of wisdom changed the way the man thought about saving his company. “Focus on the man and the whole world will be fixed!” If we focus on the conversion of one man or woman at a time, the Church will find itself on fire with the missionary zeal of St. Paul.

Anchor columnist Claire McManus is the director of the Diocesan Off ice of Faith Formation.

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The Anchor - January 25, 2019

Diocesan schools are undergoing a renaissance continued from page four

Perla publicly expressed his gratitude to the Carney Family Foundation for their deep partnership which has provided the resources necessary for myriad initiatives including school leaders participating in the Lynch Leadership Academy program and the Emmaus series offered through Boston College, and the comprehensive data driven instruction effort.

Sullivan shared that the board, in addition to strongly supporting these major academic initiatives, regularly assesses the financial status of each school. The overall goal is to create a complete and accurate financial picture of the entire system of schools as part of the board’s commitment to lead a financially viable system of Catholic schools throughout the Fall River Diocese. In addition, each school has prepared its own strategic three-year plan.

Sullivan also noted that the “board wanted to ensure that any Catholic school teacher who wanted to send their children to a Catholic school could do so. To that end, the board created a Catholic School Teacher Tuition Abatement Program, funded by the generosity of the Foundation to Advance Catholic Education.” The program is in its first year, and for its continued success, it is completely dependent on the generosity of donors.

Our teachers who give so much of themselves to provide a Catholic education to their students are themselves deserving of the opportunity for their own children.

The Catholic Schools Office is thrilled to report that plans are in place to open its very first early learning center in the diocese. The center will be located in Attleboro and will enroll children from eight weeks to three years old. Named “The Little Flower Early Learning Center” in tribute to the life of St. Therese, the center will open this summer. Details and enrollment information will be forthcoming soon.

Looking to the future, the Central Catholic Schools Board looks forward to continuing to collaborate with the Catholic Schools Office to ensure that the diocese’s Catholic schools continue their trajectory of renewal, observed Sullivan. He especially stressed that the board firmly believes that

each and every one of the more than 6,000 students of today is the future of our Catholic Church of

tomorrow.

As diocesan schools join with Catholic schools across the nation to celebrate Catholic Schools Week this week, those

involved with the Catholic Schools Office are grateful to God for the many gifts He has showered upon the school communities, observed Perla.

Students at Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford enjoyed their Mad Science lesson.

The Anchor - January 25, 2019

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Longtime Attleboro principal to retire continued from page 16

others are struggling to keep their numbers up and their doors open.

“Of course, we do accept students who aren’t parishioners and we welcome them,” Sister Mary Jane said. “But I think it’s a unique thing to many parish schools and I think that’s very good. And we already have quite a few applications for next year, so we’re very happy about that. Whoever takes over, they will have a pretty full school.”

There have been so many high points during her tenure at St. John the Evangelist, but Sister Mary Jane will always be the most proud of the new wing that

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was added onto the school in 2013 containing a library media center, new music room, and technological upgrades like Apple TVs and Smartboards in every classroom and iPads for all the students.

“We really saw the need and we were fortunate enough that we were able to do it,” Sister Mary Jane said.

“I think we probably could use another (addition) at this point, because there’s always a need for more room for groups and classes. But I think I’m more proud of the fact that we were able to all work together. It was a fantastic experience to be able to work with such generous

The Anchor - January 25, 2019

and giving people — and I mean, I’m not just saying this, I’m sincere about it. It was the willingness of everybody to join in — the faculty, even the students — to do whatever they could.”

The six-year-old addition also provided a new entrance and reception area to the school and a dedicated chapel, where the children and faculty can drop in to adore our Eucharistic Lord.

“Every Tuesday we have Mass and that’s important,” Sister Mary Jane said. “So years from now, I don’t know what (the students) will say, but they’ll always remember that they went to Mass and hopefully it will get them to

participate more often.”

While academics and test scores are paramount to a school’s success, Sister Mary Jane firmly believes a school’s “Catholic identity” is just as important, if not more so.

“It’s beyond the academics, you know, it’s the fact that we’re Catholic, that we represent the Church,” she said. “We participate in a lot of things and community service programs. We collect a lot for the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and they let us know when their coffers are low and when they need certain things. We collect peanut butter at Christmas, and provide lunches that they need, so the children are very willing to give.”

Sister Mary Jane also takes great pride in the fact that many graduates from St. John the Evangelist continue their Catholic education at places like the nearby Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro.

“I’d say about 75 to 85 percent of our graduates go on to Feehan,” she said.

“So a lot of them feel if they come here, they’ll get a good basis to get into Feehan.

And we work closely with Bishop Feehan and I always check with them to see if our students are well-prepared, because they represent us when they go there. But I think it’s worked out well.”

As someone who has devoted the bulk of her ministry to Catholic education, Sister Mary Jane hopes schools like St. John the Evangelist will continue to provide unique learning opportunities for students in the future.

“I don’t want to see Catholic education outprice itself,” she said. “That would be a very difficult thing and you can almost see it happen. But I think if the Catholic schools can consolidate and make stron-

ger schools — maybe fewer, but stronger — then I think there’s still an opportunity for people to take advantage of that, with the help of whoever is donating the funds towards helping these children. It’s a sacrifice for parents to send their kids to Catholic school today, and it’s so cost-prohibitive.”

To that end, Sister Mary Jane said the Diocese of Fall River, under Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha’s leadership, is “really making great strides to try and provide for those people who need assistance.”

“Bishop da Cunha and the diocesan school office have been able to get money funded to give scholarships to students,” Sister Mary Jane said. “They also have this program, it’s in its second year now, where teachers in Catholic schools can get money for their own children who want to go to a Catholic school. So I mean those are the little things that show we appreciate the teachers for what they do. We can’t always pay them what they deserve, so any other kindness that can be bestowed on them is a show of appreciation and respect.”

With the search for a new principal already underway, Sister Mary Jane plans to finish out the school year and has agreed to stay on to assist with the transition.

“I think they hope to have somebody in place

by May 1, or something like that,” she said. “So I’m hoping that we can work together to transition over.”

As for her plans this summer and beyond, she’s maintaining a wait-and-see attitude.

“If something interesting comes up, I’ll have to see,” she said. “I’m just going to wait and see what the Lord brings me. If nothing, then I’ll just enjoy my time.”

To advertise in The Anchor, contact Wayne Powers at 508-675-7151 or Email waynepowers@ anchornews.org

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks Jan. 27 Rev. John T. O’Grady, Assistant, Immaculate Conception, Fall River, 1919 Rev. Joseph M. Silvia, Pastor, St. Michael, Fall River, 1955 Rev. Thomas E. Lockary, C.S.C., Stonehill College, North Easton, 1988 Jan. 28 Rev. Joseph M. Griffin, Pastor, St. Mary, Nantucket, 1947 Rt. Rev. Msgr. John J. Shay, V.F., Pastor, St. John the Evangelist, Attleboro, 1961 Jan. 29 Rev. Christiano J. Borges, Retired Pastor, St. John the Baptist, New Bedford, 1944 Rev. Albert J. Masse, Pastor, St. Joseph, Attleboro, 1950 Jan. 30 Rev. Raymond F.X. Cahill, S.J., Assistant, St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis, 1983 Rev. Sebastian Slesinski, O.F.M. Conv., 2006 Rev. Raul M. Lagoa, Pastor, St. John of God, Somerset, 2012 Jan. 31 Rev. Charles J. Burns, Pastor, St. Mary, North Attleboro, 1901 Rev. William F. Sullivan, Pastor, St. Patrick, Somerset, 1930 Rev. Manuel C. Terra, 1930 Rev. William J. Shovelton, Retired, Former Pastor, St. William, Fall River, 2015

Feb. 1 Rev. Msgr. Michael J. O’Reilly, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Taunton, 1948 Rev. Msgr. Patrick H. Hurley, V.F. Pastor, St. Joseph, Taunton, 1968 Rev. Anatole F. Desmarais, Pastor, St. Jacques, Taunton, 1975 Rev. Msgr. Gerard J. Chabot, Pastor, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, South Attleboro, 1983 Rev. William F. O’Connell, Pastor, Holy Name, New Bedford, 1995 Rev. Arthur T. deMello, Retired Pastor, St. Elizabeth, Fall River, 2004 Rev. Albert J. Ryan, Retired, Catholic Memorial Home, U.S. Air Force Chaplain, 2015 Feb. 2 Most Rev. William Stang, D.D., First Bishop of Fall River: 1904-07, 1907 Rev. Patrick F. McKenna, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Taunton, 1913 Rev. John L. McNamara, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Fall River, 1941 Rev. P. Roland Decosse, Pastor, St. Hyacinth, New Bedford, 1947 Rev. Daniel F. Moriarty, Assistant, St. Brendan, Riverside, R.I., 1991 Feb. 3 Rev. Antonio O. Ponte, Pastor, Our Lady of Angels, Fall River, 1952 Feb. 4 Rev. Msgr. Hugh J. Smyth, P.R., Pastor, St. Lawrence, New Bedford; First Vicar General, Fall River, 1904-07; Administrator of Diocese, February-July 1907, 1921 Rev. Raymond Graham, SMM, 2004 Feb. 6 Most Rev. Frederick A. Donaghy, M.M, Bishop of Wuchow, 1988 Feb. 7 Rev. Arthur N. Robert, O.P., St. Anne Shrine, Fall River, 1991 Rev. Robert S. Kaszynski, Former Pastor, St. Stanislaus, Fall River, 2014 Rev. Jose Antonio Ferreira dos Santos, Retired, Former Pastor, Our Lady of Health, Fall River, 2017 Feb. 8 Rev. Raymond P. Monty, USAF Retired Chaplain, 1996

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Around the Diocese Holy Family-Holy Name School, 91 Summer Street in New Bedford, welcomes interested parents and students to attend its Open House on Sunday, January 27 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. The school serves students from preschool through grade eight and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. For more information, call 508-993-3547 or visit www.hfhn.org.

St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro welcomes interested students and parents to come and see what makes the school special at its Annual Open House on Sunday January 27, from 2 to 4 p.m. Located at 13 Hodges Street in Attleboro, the school is fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and includes Pre-K through grade eight with a full-day Kindergarten and an After School Program.

Interested students are welcome to come and shadow for a day. For more information, visit www.sje-school. com, call 508-222-5062 or email mholden@sje-school. com. Applications are available on the website.

St. Nicholas Of Myra Parish, 499 Spring Street in North Dighton, will host the Knights of Columbus Annual Craft Fair on Saturday, February 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will feature crafters, a full kitchen, and raffle. For more information, call Brian at 774-217-0390.

Sunday, February 10 is World Marriage Day. A day of Marriage Enrichment will be held at St. John of God Parish in Somerset beginning at 1 p.m. and concluding with Mass at 5:15 p.m. This Marriage Enrichment is open to all couples, whether they were married in the Catholic Church or not. For more information, contact Doug and Debbie Sousa at Doug.Debbie.Sousa@ wwme.org.

There will be a Healing Mass at St. Andrew the Apostle Church, 19 Kilmer Avenue in Taunton, on Thursday, February 14. The Holy Rosary begins at 6 p.m. and will include the Sacrament of Confession. Holy Mass will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will include praying over people individually and conclude with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. All are welcome.

Our Lady of the Cape Parish, 468 Stony Brook Road in Brewster, will host an Ash Wednesday Retreat with Peggy Patenaude from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with Mass and ashes available in the church at 8 a.m. The theme of the retreat is “Growing in Compassion” and will be a very meaningful way to jumpstart the Lenten experience. The cost is $20 and includes lunch. Preregistration is required by March 1 by emailing Tina at ourladyofthecapebrewster@gmail.com, or by calling 508-385-3252, extension 10. All are welcome.

To submit an event for consideration in The Anchor’s “Around the Diocese” listing, send the information by email to kensouza@anchornews.org

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The Anchor - January 25, 2019

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese Acushnet — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Evening prayer and Benediction is held Monday through Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

ASSONET — St. Bernard’s Parish will have Eucharistic Adoration every Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed on the altar at the conclusion of 9 a.m. Mass and the church will be open all day, concluding with evening prayer and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.

ATTLEBORO — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. John the Evangelist Church, North Main Street, Mondays and Wednesdays from 5-6:30 p.m.

ATTLEBORO — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the Adoration Chapel at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, 71 Linden Street, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

ATTLEBORO — The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette holds Eucharistic Adoration in the Shrine Church every Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. through November 17.

Brewster — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road, on First Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. buzzards Bay — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, every First Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending at 5 p.m.

East Freetown — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. John Neumann Church every Monday (excluding legal holidays) 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Our Lady, Mother of All Nations Chapel. (The base of the bell tower).

EAST TAUNTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the chapel at Holy Family Parish Center, 438 Middleboro Avenue, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. On First Fridays, Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Holy Family Church, 370 Middleboro Avenue, from 8:30 a.m. until 7:45 p.m.

FAIRHAVEN — St. Mary’s Church, Main St., has Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday from 8:30-11:30 a.m. in the Chapel of Reconciliation, with Benediction at 11:30 a.m.

FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of Padua Church, on the corner of Bedford and Sixteenth streets, has Eucharistic Adoration accompanied by music and prayer every first Wednesday of the month from 6-7 p.m.

FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of the Desert Church, 300 North Eastern Avenue, has Eucharistic Adoration Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Thursdays following the 8 a.m. Mass until Friday at 8 a.m.

FALL RIVER — Holy Name Church, 709 Hanover Street, has Eucharistic Adoration Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Our Lady of Grace Chapel.

FALL RIVER — Good Shepherd Parish has Eucharistic Adoration every Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass and concluding with 3 p.m. Benediction in the Daily Mass Chapel. A bilingual holy hour takes place from 2 to 3 p.m. Park behind the church and enter the back door of the connector between the church and the rectory.

FALL RIVER — St. Joseph’s Church has a Holy Hour every Tuesday from 6-7 p.m., with Benediction at 6:45 p.m.

FALL RIVER — St. Michael’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with Benediction at 5:30 p.m.

Falmouth — St. Patrick’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration each First Friday following the 7 a.m. Mass, with Benediction at 4:30 p.m.

HYANNIS — St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis, 347 South Street, Hyannis, has Eucharistic Adoration from noon to 3 p.m., daily Monday through Friday.

MANSFIELD — St. Mary’s Parish, 330 Pratt Street, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with Benediction at 5:45 p.m.

MASHPEE — Christ the King Parish, Route 151 and Job’s Fishing Road has 8:30 a.m. Each First Friday Mass ends with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Adoration continues until Benediction at 5 p.m.

NEW BEDFORD — Eucharistic Adoration is held every Thursday, with Confessions, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Church. Please use the side entrance.

NEW BEDFORD — There is a daily holy hour from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue. It includes Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Liturgy of the Hours, recitation of the Rosary, and the opportunity for Confession.

NEW BEDFORD — St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, 565 County Street, holds Eucharistic Adoration in the side chapel Fridays from 7:30-11:45 a.m. ending with a simple Benediction NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., ending with Benediction. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time.

NORTH DIGHTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Wednesday following 8:00 a.m. Mass and concludes with Benediction at 5 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration also takes place every First Friday at St. Nicholas of Myra Church, 499 Spring Street following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending with Benediction at 6 p.m. The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 8 a.m.

NORTH EASTON — A Holy Hour for Families including Eucharistic Adoration is held every Friday from 3-4 p.m. at The Father Peyton Center, 518 Washington Street.

NORTH EASTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Immaculate Conception Church Chapel on the first Wednesday of the month beginning after the 8:30 a.m. Mass, until 6:40 p.m. Those wishing to make a monthly commitment can sign up on the parish website at www.icceaston.org or call the parish office at 508-238-3232.

ORLEANS — St. Joan of Arc Parish, 61 Canal Road, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday starting after the 8 a.m.

Mass and ending with Benediction at 11:45 a.m. The Sacrament of the Sick is also available immediately after the 8 a.m. Mass.

SEEKONK ­— Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish has perpetual Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the chapel at 984 Taunton Avenue. For information call 508-336-5549.

Taunton — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Tuesday at St. Anthony Church, 126 School Street, following the 8 a.m. Mass with prayers including the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for vocations, concluding at 6 p.m. with Chaplet of St. Anthony and Benediction. Recitation of the Rosary for peace is prayed Monday through Saturday at 7:30 a.m. prior to the 8 a.m. Mass.

Taunton — Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord, 31 First Street. Exposition begins following the 8 a.m. Mass. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed, and Adoration will continue throughout the day. Confessions are heard from 4:15 to 4:45 p.m. Rosary and Benediction begin at 5 p.m.

Taunton — The Chapel of St. Andrew the Apostle, 19 Kilmer Avenue, Taunton, will host Eucharistic Adoration Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Taunton — St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Taunton will host Eucharistic Adoration on Mondays following the 9 a.m.

Mass and the St. Jude Novena, until 11:30, ending with Benediction. It will take place at Holy Rosary Chapel during the summer months.

WAREHAM — Eucharistic Adoration at St. Patrick’s Church takes place 9 a.m. Thursday through 7 p.m. Friday. Adoration is held in our Adoration Chapel in the lower Parish Hall. ~ PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION ~

East Sandwich — The Corpus Christi Parish Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 324 Quaker Meeting House Road, East Sandwich. Use the Chapel entrance on the side of the church.

NEW BEDFORD — Our Lady’s Chapel, 600 Pleasant Street, offers Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day. For information call 508-996-8274.

SEEKONK ­— Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish has perpetual Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the chapel at 984 Taunton Avenue. For information call 508-336-5549.

WEST HARWICH — Our Lady of Life Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Trinity Parish, 246 Main Street (Rte. 28), holds perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. We are a regional chapel serving all of the surrounding parishes.

All are invited to sign up to cover open hours. For open hours, or to sign up call 508-430-4716.

Annual Women and Men’s Conference is March 9 continued from page two

brothers and sisters in one large community.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be offered as well.

The hallmark of the previous diocesan Women and Men’s Conferences has been the outstanding speakers invited to share their faith journeys, and this year is no exception.

Slated to appear are three dynamic speakers who are certain to touch the hearts and souls of many who will attend: Bishop Robert Reed, Dr. Mary Healy, and Deacon Pedro GuevaraMann.

Bishop Reed is auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston. He currently serves as president of the CatholicTV Network.

Bishop Robert He is no Reed stranger to those who regularly watch the network, frequently hosting programs including CTV ’s anchor talk show “This is the Day.” Bishop Reed also plays a large role in the popular “WOW: The Catholic TV Challenge,” geared towards students.

When not in front of the camera, Bishop Reed’s behindthe-scenes roles include being responsible for the “overall creation, acquisition and delivery of diverse quality programming for the network, which is now available in more than 13.5 million homes and on the web,” according to the diocesan brochure promoting the conference.

Dr. Healy is a professor, speaker and author, and is among the first three women to have been asked to serve on the Pontifical Biblical Commission.

She is a professor of Sacred Scripture at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, and is a respected international speaker

on Scripture, evangelization, and the Spiritual life.

Dr. Healy has authored “Men and Women Are From Eden,” and other books, and has coedited several other publications aimed at helping Catholics interpret Scripture and apply it to the conDr. Mary Healy temporary Christian life.

She was appointed by Pope Francis to the Pontifical Biblical Commission in 2014.

Deacon Guevara-Mann is a dynamic figure in Catholic TV and radio to our north in the Toronto, Ontario, Canada area.

He is one of the creative minds at Salt + Light Media Foundation of Canada, where he wears many hats, including those of producer, writer, director and host, all with the objective of sharing the Gospel message of hope in the TV and radio media.

In addition to being a vital cog in Salt + Light’s operations, he is part of the network’s expanding beyond the S + L dynamic, currently producing and hosting the weekly “SLHour,” heard on Sirius XM’s The Catholic Channel and other radio stations.

Deacon Deacon Pedro GuevaraGuevara-Mann Mann shares with his listeners inspiring messages, insightful interviews and commentaries. Add to that the fact that he serves as a permanent deacon in a parish just outside of Toronto, he’s much in demand.

In a recent letter to his broth-

er priests, Bishop da Cunha urged them to spread the word about the conference and extolled its benefits to area faithful, especially as they prepare themselves during Lent to celebrate the Paschal Mystery, which is the passion, death, Resurrection and Ascension of the Lord and Savior.

“I invite you to consider obtaining a bus for your parishioners to attend,” he wrote. “Perhaps you might even be able to share a bus with another parish if you can’t fill a bus.”

The bishop also explained that some individuals who are past attendees are being invited to be captains who will spread the word about the conference, help in organizing buses if possible and simply answering questions of those who ask.

“May this time of preparation to celebrate the Paschal Mystery serve as a time to be renewed in the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ,” said Bishop da Cunha.

“As the theme calls us to be living in the light of hope, let us pray for the grace to spend some quality time in prayer, preparing ourselves to receive the graces needed to draw closer to God.” Interested individuals can view a brochure of the conference at the diocesan website: www. fallriverdiocese.org, and click on the “Living in the Light of Hope,” option at the page’s scrolling menu at the top. A registration form is also available there or at local parishes.

Registration deadline is March 6. The registration fee includes morning refreshments and lunch.

The Anchor - January 25, 2019

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FALL RIVER — New mailing labels (right) were recently initiated on all Anchor publications, along with the notice of a $25 subscription amount beginning at renewal time. Below is a sample of the label that shows when the subscription expires allowing readers to renew to keep their subscriptions active. If no payment is received within 30 days of the expiration date, The Anchor will send one reminder notice at a later date. We cannot accept credit card payments by phone.

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The Anchor - January 25, 2019

Visit the Diocese of Fall River website at fallriverdiocese.org The site includes links to parishes, diocesan offices and national sites.