02.07.20

Diocese of Fall River, Mass. † Friday, Feb. 7, 2020

A bus carrying Pro-Life pilgrims from Holy Family Parish in East Taunton; Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Seekonk; St. Nicholas of Myra, Dighton; St. Jude, Taunton; and Holy Cross, Easton made its way to Washington, D.C. joining tens of thousands for the January 24 March For Life. More pictures on page nine, and read Amanda Tarantelli’s column on page 14.

February 7, 2020 †

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Women and Men’s Conference speakers ready to light Lenten fire

By Dave Jolivet Co-Editor

davejolivet@anchornews.org

EASTON — With the 2020 Women and Men’s Conference taking place very early in this Lenten season — during the first full week on March 7 — those attending will gain the benefit of the blessings that will be shared by the three outstanding guest speakers, as well as their own diocesan bishop, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. The event will take place at the Ames Sports Complex on the campus of Stonehill College, 320 Washington Street in Easton, with doors opening at 9 a.m. and conclud-

Kendra Von Esh

Auxiliary Bishop Robert C. Evans 2

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ing with the celebration of Mass at 4 p.m.

In his message to faithful across the diocese, inviting them to attend this year’s conference, Bishop da Cunha wrote, “During Lent we are all called to look for ways to grow in faith, to reflect on and to deepen our relationship with God. “Our annual Women and Men’s Conference provides and opportunity to do that. It’s a day of renewal, of prayer, of music, and of friendship; it’s a day to enrich ourselves Spiritually and prepare ourselves for the celebration of Holy Week and Easter. I hope you will be able to take part, and know that I look forward to being with you.”

Bishop da Cunha will be at the conference all day and will take part in a Question and Answer panel session with the guest speakers, and will wrap-up the day by celebrating Mass and delivering a homily to send those there off on their Lenten journeys.

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Auxiliary Bishop John W. Flesey, S.T.D.

Cape parish to host 12-week Alpha Catholic program

By Kenneth J. Souza Co-Editor

kensouza@anchornews.org

BREWSTER — Beginning February 13, Our Lady of the Cape Parish will host a unique, 12-week Alpha Catholic program at its parish center located at 456 Stony Brook Road in Brewster on Thursday evenings. Each weekly session will run from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and includes a free dinner, followed by a short film and small group discussion. All are welcome to participate and to enjoy free food and good conversation.

The Alpha Catholic series gives participants an opportunity to explore the meaning of life through the lens of their faith. Each weekly session will examine a different question around faith and is designed to create a conversation. Alpha participants will explore the role faith plays in their lives

and how deepening that faith and personal relationship with Christ will bring meaning and fulfillment. “(We) made a commitment to Alpha Catholic in the spirit of Bishop da Cunha’s desire to revitalize parishes,” said Kathy Russo, director of Adult Faith Formation for Our Lady of the Cape Parish. “Like many parishes, we thought there would be something to be gained by offering a program to help reignite faith and to also include those outside of the walls of the Church who have either been away or have never felt comfortable stepping forward.

“This program is aimed at the people who have been faithful and want to deepen their relationship with Christ. It is also a great fit for those have been away from the faith and are looking for a route back into the

Famed priest, physicist to speak in Fall River on existence of God FALL RIVER — Father Robert J. Spitzer, a Jesuit priest, world-renowned physicist, and the former president of Gonzaga University will be speaking at Bishop Connolly High School on March 5 from 7-8:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Father Spitzer has written and published 10 books on faith, science, philosophy, and ethical leadership, as well as numerous scholarly articles in journals such as: International Philosophical Quarterly, Philosophy in Science, the Business and Professional Ethics Journal, and the Journal of Ultimate Reality and Meaning. Well-known for debating Stephen Hawking on the Larry King Live Show, Father

Spitzer has made many other TV appearances.

He holds a Ph.D. from Catholic University of America, and his academic specialties include: (1) philosophy of science, particularly space-time theory and transcendent implications of contemporary big bang cosmology; (2) metaphysics, particularly the theory of time and philosophy of God; and (3) organizational ethics and its relationship to personal and cultural transformation.

Father Spitzer is the founder and president of the Magis Center, and he currently appears weekly on EWTN in “Father Spitzer’s Universe.”

For reservations contact info@catholicsa.org.

Church. In addition, Alpha Catholic offers a wonderful experience for those who are Spiritually seeking.

In other words, Alpha is for everyone. Our hope is that we can meet everyone right where they are: with no judgment, just a lot of acceptance and respect.

“As part of the campaign, we’ve asked all the people in the pews to bring to mind three people in their lives whom they think would benefit from Alpha Catholic and to pray for them every day for three weeks,” Russo told The Anchor. “And if they’d like, to set the alarms on their phones to 11:02 — either a.m. or p.m. or both — and pause and pray for them.

Then at the end of the 21 days, invite them to come to Alpha, and consider accompanying them.”

Russo said this grassroots effort is “totally in line with Church teaching We will honor everybody’s that we are all called to be place in their journey.” evangelized, but to also be In preparation for the evangelizers. We have been Alpha Catholic program, given the gift of faith, and Russo said parishioners we need to constantly open have been encouraged to our hearts to Christ and participate in a 21-day grow closer to Him. But we prayer campaign called also need to be sharing that 11:02, inspired by the faith with others.”

Gospel of Luke, chapter 11, The format of Alpha verse two, in which Jesus Catholic isn’t academic teaches the disciples to pray or akin to a Bible Study.

“Thy Kingdom come” in the Alpha Catholic rests upon Our Father. a foundation of prayer and

hospitality. The environment will be very “warm and welcoming,” according to Russo.

“There will be a dinner served, with people sitting at a table in a small group, bonding, becoming friends, and sharing,” she said.

“We’ll have a topic, so it won’t just be purely social.

There will be a video to help people make the connection from the big questions they have in life. What is the purpose of my life?

What am I here for? What is really the meaning of my life? And hopefully we can bring people from those questions to Christ — to what is in the Gospel about Jesus. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and our deepest desires can only be satisfied by Christ, not by the material things of the world.”

Among the weekly topics to be discussed: “Is there more to life than this?”; “Who is Jesus?”; “Why did Jesus die?”; “How can I have faith?”; “Why and how 8 Turn to page 16

February 7, 2020 †

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The background of The Little Sisters’ faithful religious practices

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n January 17, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it had agreed to review a decision of a federal appeals court in Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania that overturned a Trump-era exemption for the Little Sisters and others with religious objections to contraceptives.

This exemption from the Obamacare mandate would have enabled them to decline to cooperate in the free distribution of contraceptives to any nursing home employees who might want them, in violation of the Little Sisters’ religious tenets.

Together with Colbe Mazzarella, I filed an amicus brief urging the court to review the case, as it cries out to Heaven for reversal. Supreme Court review now promises to end the religious persecution of these good religious women. Here’s their backstory: The Little Sisters of the Poor began in the winter of 1839 in Brittany, France when a woman in her 40s, (St.) Jeanne Jugan, met an elderly blind and partially paralyzed woman and gave up her bed for her. This act

began a tradition that has lasted for generations as Jugan continued to take in elderly poor people who had no one to help them. The English novelist Charles Dickens saw her at work, writing later that Jugan was “moved by the gentleness of her heart” to help her first resident.

“Other infirm people earned, by their helplessness, a claim on her attention,” Dickens recounted. “She went about begging, when she could not work, that she might preserve life as long as nature would grant it to her infirm charges.”

Other women were attracted by Jugan’s example, and a religious community to help the elderly sprang up. The Little Sisters of the Poor, as the congregation became known, grew and spread to other places where they found need — including, in 1868, the United States.

From the beginning the Little Sisters have been about not just what they do but how they do it. The Little Sisters do not treat the people they care for as clients,

To advertise in The Anchor, contact Wayne Powers at 508-675-7151 or waynepowers@ anchornews.org 4

† February 7, 2020

but rather as friends and family. They see themselves not as proprietors or even caregivers, but as joyful servants. They seek neither money nor acclaim. As Dickens noted, “The whole sentiment of the household is that

of a very large and very amiable family. To feel that they console the last days of the infirm and aged poor, is all the Little Sisters get for their hard work.”

This Spirit of joyful and selfless service to the aged poor has changed little since Dickens’ time.

Writer and neurologist Oliver Sacks, who jokingly described himself as an “old Jewish atheist,” wrote just before his death in his 2015 memoir “On the Move: A Life”: “[T]he Little Sisters inspire me, and I love going to their residences. I have been going to some of them, now, for more than 40 years.”

Sacks came to know of the Sisters through his parents, who were doctors. “I first heard of the Little Sisters when I was a boy, for both my parents consulted at their homes in London. Auntie Len would always say, ‘If I get a stroke, Oliver, or get disabled, get me to the Little Sisters: they have the best care in the

world,’” Sacks recalled.

As an adult Sacks provided his expertise in neurology for the Little Sisters. He got to know them well: “Their homes are about life — living the fullest, most meaningful life possible given their residents’ limitations and needs. Some of the residents have had strokes, some have dementia or parkinsonism, some have ‘medical’ conditions (cancer, emphysema, heart disease, etc.), some are blind, some are deaf, and others, though in robust health, have become lonely and isolated and long for the human warmth and contact of a community.

“Besides medical care, the Little Sisters provide therapy of every kind — physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, music therapy, and (if need be) psychotherapy and counseling.

In addition to therapy (though no less therapeutic) are activities of all sorts, activities which are not invented but real like gardening and cooking.”

While Sacks did not share the Little Sisters’ religious beliefs, he understood that the Little Sisters of the Poor is a Roman Catholic religious congregation, and that the Sisters are animated by their Catholic faith to do what they do. “Religion is central but not mandatory; there is no preachiness, no evangelism, no religious pressure

of any sort,” Sacks wrote.

“Not all the residents are believers, though there is a great religious devotion among the Sisters, and it is difficult to imagine such a level of care without such a deep dedication.” In short, the Little Sisters’ care for poor residents of their houses is an exercise of their religion, which also serves people of all religions and no religion.

The same religious Spirit that animates the Little Sisters’ service to poor elderly people also animates their desire not to arrange coverage for artificial contraception to their employees. The Little Sisters believe that artificial contraception is immoral. The Little Sisters also believe that it is immoral to do a bad thing in order to do a good thing. Thus, they can’t justify facilitating artificial contraception in order to continue serving the poor people who need their help. That means that the homes that the Little Sisters operate, which so many residents and family members find indispensable, are now in jeopardy. It is imperative that the Supreme Court save the Little Sisters of the Poor from the Big Brother of Government Power, which has been telling them for the past five years, “Do this, or die.”

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

Fire restoration complete: Holy Cross Family Ministries reopens the Museum of Family Prayer NORTH EASTON — The Museum of Family Prayer in North Easton reopened following substantial water damage as a result of a fire in the chapel on December 16.

During set up for Rosary and Mass, a candle on the evergreen Advent Wreath fell over and ignited the wreath. While the fire damage was contained to the advent wreath, water significantly damaged the chapel and adjoining museum spaces.

“It was very disappointing to all of us that the museum would close and families could not visit during the Christmas season; however, we were so relieved that there were

I

must admit that far too often I hear the Gospel reading at Mass and think to myself, “I know what the message is here. I know what lesson Christ is trying to teach.”

I say that only because after attending Mass since I was a pup, I’ve heard the Gospel stories countless times and heard priests’ homilies explaining them, and I find myself guilty of not being open to new interpretations or even subtle messages from God. I know that’s wrong to do, but just like learning the alphabet and the times tables (new math students, ask your parents what that means), sometimes things become rote. And shame on me for that.

But once in a while, I let my guard down and God hits me with a gentle uppercut to let me know He’s

no injuries,” said Elizabeth Ponce, Museum Project Leader. “The fire department responded quickly and as a result fire damage was minimal. The sprinkler system kicked on full force and certainly minimized the impact of the fire, but the water spread to other areas of the museum.”

Since the original opening of the museum on September 15, it has been a prayer destination for pilgrims and guests alike and has had many repeat visitors. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free.

The museum reopened on

January 24 with special tours, refreshments and activities that will continue for several weeks.

“The chapel is the heart and soul of a museum visit,” said Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C., President of Holy Cross Family Ministries, the organization that created the museum. “Our staff and contracted partners worked diligently and quickly to restore the chapel and the museum. We are very pleased the chapel is restored to its original beauty.”

The Museum of Family Prayer shares the power of family prayer through state of the art interactive, educational, reflective and immersive opportunities,

museum exhibits, graphics and media content creating a lively, interactive experience allowing guests to touch, listen and watch, reflect and pray. The museum’s focus is family prayer and the works of Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., the organization’s founder.

The Museum of Family Prayer continues the mission of Venerable Patrick Peyton encouraging families to pray daily, particularly the Rosary. Father Patrick Peyton, a priest of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, was a Catholic media pioneer and now sainthood candidate, who founded Family Rosary in 1942 and Family Theater

Productions in 1947. Father Peyton known, as the “Rosary Priest,” would continually remind families worldwide that “The family that prays together stays together.” Father Peyton’s ministry is vibrant and growing after more than 75 years and continues to support families with ministry centers in 17 countries.

The museum is a showcase of his vision, work and the power of family prayer.

Daily Rosary and Mass is held at the museum chapel effective immediately from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For more information visit www.

MuseumOfFamilyPrayer. org.

He had the whole world in his hands still in charge here. Thank goodness He doesn’t use the 10-ounce gloves heavyweights use, otherwise the celebrant would be over me counting to 10.

No, God uses big fluffy attentiongrabbing mitts — perfect for getting His point across with no need for a KO. This past Sunday was the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, and the Gospel reading was from Luke.

Again, I’ve heard this passage countless times over the years and it’s a beautiful, yet bittersweet reminder to the Blessed Mother that Jesus was “destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel,” and “a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

But what struck me, out

of nowhere, during Sunday’s Gospel was the line, “Simeon took Him [Jesus] in his arms.” Simeon took the Christ Child in his

arms!

I started to imagine just how powerful a moment that was for Simeon, a righteous and devout man.

Being a father of four children, I know just how heart-warming holding an infant is, especially a newborn. I was blessed to be able to do that four times, and those feelings came flowing back at Mass.

I also thought of the

joy it was to hold Igor as a puppy — not that I’m comparing the Baby Jesus to Iggy, but for me the unconditional love dogs have for humans is so much like Jesus’.

Luke’s Gospel tells us that Simeon knew exactly Who it was he was holding in his hands.

Simeon was experiencing the heart-warming joy of embracing a newborn child — in and of itself, one of the greatest feelings in the world. But he was also holding in his hands the Savior of the World; the Messiah; the Chosen One. In awesome wonder, I pondered how Simeon was also a chosen one. What did God see in him to allow him to cradle His only Son. I thought that there aren’t many people in the history

of the world who got to do that.

I can’t say I was jealous of Simeon, but I was certainly envious.

Folks are often asked if they could meet anyone from history, who would that be. I got my answer on Sunday.

For me it would be Simeon, and the first thing I would ask him is what did it feel like to hold the Baby Jesus? What did it feel like, for those few moments, to hold the whole world in his hands?

Sunday’s Gospel story of the presentation left me in awe and brought me back to some very warm and peaceful times in my life.

Thanks for the uppercut, God. And thanks for wearing those big puffy gloves. davejolivet@anchornews.org.

February 7, 2020 †

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Editorial

How romantic

In this time of year in which people think of all things romantic, Pope Francis delivered a message earlier this week (Monday, February 3) regarding Rome. One may ask, “What is the connection?” We often forget that terms such as romantic, romance, etc. derive from Rome. People learn the Romance languages (Spanish, Portuguese, French and Italian being the primary ones); they are called that not because they are the “languages of love” (Corporal Lebeau from “Hogan’s Heroes” not withstanding), but because they have their origin in Latin, the language of the Roman Empire.

The Holy Father was at celebrations of Rome becoming the capital of Italy 150 years ago. Considering the hostility between the government of Italy and the Holy See when this occurred (which resulted in the pope being the “prisoner of the Vatican” from 1870 to 1922), it was interesting to have him participate.

Pope Francis began his speech by addressing that difficult beginning. He quoted the future St. Paul VI (at the time Cardinal Giovanni Battista Montini), who in 1962 said about the events of 1870, “It seemed like a collapse; and for the pontifical territorial dominion it was. But Providence, as we now see well, had arranged things differently, almost dramatically playing in the events” (he was saying that although it was the end of the Papal States, it actually worked out well in the long run, thanks to the hidden plan of God). Pope Francis then added, “The proclamation of Rome as Capital was a providential event, which at the time caused controversy and problems.

But Rome, Italy and the Church itself changed: a new history began.”

Then, to quote another predecessor, he said, “Over these 150 years, Rome has grown and changed greatly, ‘from a homogeneous human milieu to a multiracial community where, in addition to the Catholic view of life, there coexist views inspired by other religious creeds and even by non-religious concepts of existence’ (St. John Paul II, in an address at the Rome city hall on the Capitoline Hill, Jan. 15, 1998).

The Church, in this affair, has shared the joys and sorrows of the Romans. I would like, almost as an example, to recall at least three moments of this rich common history.”

The pope’s meditation on the recent history of Rome, Italy (as opposed to Rome in the empire or Rome in the Papal States) might be a good model for us to use as communities in our area begin to celebrate the 400th anniversary of English settlements here in Massachusetts.

The first “moment” about which the pontiff spoke was the Nazi occupation of the city in 1943 and 1944. “From 16 October 1943, the terrible persecution for the deportation of the Jews developed. It was the Shoah experienced in Rome. At that time, the Church was an asylum for the persecuted: ancient barriers and painful distances fell.

From those difficult times, let us first of all draw the lesson of the everlasting fraternity between the Catholic Church and the Jewish community, which I reaffirmed in my visit to the Major Temple in Rome. We are also convinced, with humility, that the Church represents a resource of humanity in the city. And Catholics are called to live the life of Rome with passion and responsibility, especially its most painful aspects.”

The pope then jumped ahead and spoke about “the years of Vatican Council II, from 1962 to 1965, when the city welcomed the council fathers, ecumenical observers and many others. Rome shone as a universal, Catholic, ecumenical space. It became OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 64, No. 3

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† February 7, 2020

a universal city of ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, of peace. One saw how much the city meant for the Church and for the whole world. Because, as the German scholar Theodor Mommsen recalled at the end of the 19th century: ‘one is not without cosmopolitan intentions in Rome.’” The pope did not mean the sensual intuitions of “Cosmopolitan” magazine, but a concern for the entire universe (the cosmos).

The third time period Pope Francis mentioned might not be as well known to us. “The third moment that I would like to remember is typically diocesan, but it touched the city: the so-called conference on the ‘evils of Rome’ in February 1974, at the behest of the then-Cardinal Vicar Ugo Poletti. In well-attended assemblies of the people, the expectations of the poor and the peripheries were heard. There, it was a question of universality, but in the sense of the inclusion of the peripheries.

The city must be home to everyone. It is a responsibility today, too: today’s suburbs are afflicted by too many miseries, inhabited by great loneliness and poor in terms of social networks.”

Addressing the Rome of today and of the future, the pope said, “There is a demand for inclusion written in the lives of the poor and those who, as immigrants and refugees, see Rome as a port of salvation. Often their eyes, incredibly, see the city with more expectation and hope than we Romans who, because of the many daily problems we face, look at it in a pessimistic way, as if it were destined to decline. No, Rome is a great resource of humanity! Rome can and must renew itself in the twofold sense of openness to the world and the inclusion of all. The jubilees also stimulate this, and that of 2025 is no longer far away.”

We could substitute our own city or town for Rome in what the pope said next.

“We cannot live in Rome ‘with our heads down,’ each in his own circuits and commitments. [W]e need a common vision. Rome will live its universal vocation, only if it becomes an increasingly fraternal city. Yes, a fraternal city! John Paul II, who loved Rome so much, often quoted a Polish poet: ‘If you say Rome, love answers you.’ It is that love that does not make people live for themselves, but for others and with others.”

He added, “Such a vision is written in the chromosomes of Rome. At the end of his pontificate, St. Paul VI said: ‘Rome is unity, and not only of the Italian people, but heir to the ideal typical of civilization as such and as the center, still today, of the Catholic Church, that is, universal’ (July 9, 1978). Often forgetfulness of history is accompanied by meager hope for a better tomorrow and resignation in building it. Taking on the memory of the past inspires us to live a common future. On the international scene, full of conflict, Rome could be a city of encounter: ‘Rome speaks to the world of brotherhood, harmony and peace,’ said Paul VI (ibid.). With such feelings and hopes, I express my fervent wishes for the future of the city and its inhabitants.”

Although we do not live in cosmopolitan capital cities, we do live in cities and towns where there are people with origins from various lands, people from various religions (or no religion at all), people from various economic strata. Christ calls us to see in these people our brothers and sisters and to have fraternal love for them. This might not be the “romantic” love February 14 conjures up, but it is essential for our municipalities to truly be “home.”

Daily Readings † January 25 - February 7

Sat. Feb. 8, 1 Kgs 3:4-13; Ps 119:9-14; Mk 6:30-34. Sun. Feb. 9, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Is 58:7-10; Ps 112:4-9; 1 Cor 2:1-5; Mt 5:13-16. Mon. Feb. 10, 1 Kgs 8:1-7,9-13; Ps 132:6-10; Mk 6:53-56. Tue. Feb. 11, 1 Kgs 8:22-23,2730; Ps 84:3-5,10-11; Mk 7:1-13. Wed. Feb. 12, 1 Kgs 10:1-10; Ps 37:5-6,3031,39-40; Mk 7:14-23. Thu. Feb. 13, 1 Kgs 11:4-13; Ps 106:3-4,35-37,40; Mk 7:24-30. Fri. Feb. 14, 1 Kgs 11:29-32; 12:19; Ps 81:10-15; Mk 7:31-37.

Sat. Feb. 15, 1 Kgs 12:26-32; 13:33-34; Ps 106:6-7,19-22; Mk 8:1-10. Sun. Feb. 16, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sir 15:15-20; Ps 119:1-2,4-5, 1718,33-34; 1 Cor 2:6-10; Mt 5:17-37, or 5:20-22a,27-28,33-34a,37. Mon. Feb. 17, Jas 1:1-11; Ps 119:67-68,71-72,75-76; Mk 8:11-13. Tue. Feb. 18, Jas 1:1218; Ps 94:12-15, 18-19; Mk 8:14-21. Wed. Feb. 19, Jas 1:19-27; Ps 15:2-5; Mk 8:22-26. Thu. Feb. 20, Jas 2:1-9; Ps 34:2-7; Mk 8:27-33. Fri. Feb. 21, Jas 2:14-24,26; Ps 112:1-6; Mk 8:34—9:1.

Missionaries of Mercy in response to the kairos of mercy

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n the Gospel, Jesus would regularly huddle the Apostles after they had returned from the journeys on which He had sent them out to preach and heal, so that they might report all they had done and taught (Mk 6:30-31).

Something similar happened in Lexington, Ky., January 21-23, as the Missionaries of Mercy from the U.S.A. and Canada convened, in a Spirit of prayer and fraternity, to speak with the Lord and each other about the fruits and challenges of four years of work witnessing to the Gospel of mercy.

Missionaries of Mercy, you may recall, were appointed by Pope Francis during the Jubilee of Mercy in 2016 as a conspicuous sign of “God the Father’s readiness to welcome those in search of His pardon” and the “Church’s maternal solicitude for the people of God.” Eleven-hundred-forty-two priests from around the world were given a special mandate to be “persuasive preachers of mercy,” to commit themselves in a particular way to hearing Confessions with the “authority to pardon even those sins reserved to the Holy See,” and to serve as “personal witnesses of God’s closeness and of His way of loving.”

Their mandate was supposed to expire on the last day of the jubilee, but in the document Pope Francis published for that occasion, he wrote, “This extraordinary ministry — I wish it to continue until further notice as a concrete sign that the grace of the jubilee remains alive and effective the

world over.” He invited Missionaries, with the approval of their bishops or Religious superiors, to recommit themselves to the task. Seven-hundredninety-one priests did, of whom 127 are Americans.

I’m humbled to be among them.

While the Missionaries have met twice in Rome with our colleagues from around the world, several U.S. Missionaries, spearheaded by Msgr.

George Majoros of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, thought it would be worthwhile for those of us in the U.S. and Canada to convene to build fraternity and collaboration, pray together, examine the situations we face in common, explore best practices in responding to them, and rededicate ourselves to the blessed responsibility we have been given.

We met in Lexington thanks to the hospitality of Bishop John Stowe and the extraordinary leadership of Missionary Father Jim Sichko of the Lexington Diocese, who took it upon himself to solicit donations so that all Missionaries needed to do was to get to Lexington — everything else, accommodations at the Lexington Griffin Gate Marriott, conference facilities, a charter bus, meals, were taken care of. He even arranged for Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes to appoint us all as Commonwealth of Kentucky Ambassadors.

Father John Hurley, C.S.P., emceed a great

series of talks for the 31 of us who were ultimately able to make it.

Father Hurley, Bishop Gerald Vincke of Salina, and Father Bruce Nieli, C.S.P., gave powerful meditations on the Parable of the Good Samaritan, the Parable of the Prodigal Son, and the Last Judgment, respectively.

There were two talks

each on how to witness to the Gospel of Mercy in word, in the Sacraments, and in the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.

It was inspiring to see the creativity and tenacity of brother Missionaries as they lived out different aspects of our mandate.

We pondered the various challenges of preaching mercy today at a time when many Catholics are out of practice and misunderstand the Sacrament of Penance.

Father Mark Zacker of Colorado Springs witnessed to how he studied Spanish to be able extend God’s mercy to the many Spanish-speaking members of his flock.

Father Patrick Baikauskas, O.P., Catholic Chaplain at Purdue University, explained the genesis of his “Confession Cart,” in which in his Dominican habit he rides around campus in a golf cart as a mobile confessional, bringing the Sacrament to the people.

He described that that outreach has led to many coming to Church for Confession, Mass, prayer and more.

Father Joseph Arsenault, S.S.A., serving in the Archdiocese of Kansas City, described how he has sought to bring God’s mercy in a particular way to brother priests.

Father David Caron, O.P., director of the Office of Evangelization for the Archdiocese of New Orleans, introduced us to what the archdiocese has done — through printed materials, radio ads, billboards, and more — to show that God’s mercy is endless and help people come to receive it.

Father Roberto Mena, S.T., documented for us how he has sought to care — and lead his people to care — for our immigrant brothers and sisters whose lives were turned upside down after ICE raided the food processing plants where they worked.

Father Rafael Capo also gave us a great presentation on the recent Fifth National Encuentro of Hispanic Ministry in the U.S. and indicated ways that we, not just as Missionaries of Mercy, but as priests serving in North America, might more effectively serve and unleash the gifts of Latino Catholics.

We were accompanied throughout the three days

by Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization, who gave a beautiful meditation on the role of Missionaries of Mercy

and the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the New Evangelization and in particular in bringing young people to experience God’s merciful love. He brought a special word from Pope Francis with whom he had met a few days prior.

He also preached a moving homily on our last day on mercy in the life of St. Marianne Cope, a German-born American saint who worked alongside St. Damien of Molokai in caring for the lepers of Hawaii.

Bishop Tebartz-van Elst was for us a particularly poignant icon of God’s mercy. He is the former Bishop of Limburg, Germany, who resigned in 2014 after people were appalled at the sums used to renovate the diocese’s chancery and bishop’s residence. Since he was only 55 at the time, Pope Francis asked him to come to Rome and appointed him to the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization to assist the Church in the area of catechesis. Some commentators objected to the appointment. Our time with him, however, witnessing his many Spiritual and intellectual gifts, and listening to his anecdotes about mercy in small groups and over meals, helped us anew to behold the restorative beauty of God’s mercy and the fruits of a second chance humbly received.

As the gathering was coming to a close, we discussed various ways to try to make our mission more effective.

We decided to keep our meetings going every other year, in the alterna8 Turn to page 13

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Be the light

he winter serves as a stark reminder that there are so many of our brothers and sisters in great need. The cold, bitter nights remind us that so many are homeless, lacking shelter and a warm bed to sleep in. The frozen tundra reminds us that many go hungry as the ground sleeps until spring and the next harvest. The barrenness of our surroundings speaks to us of the barrenness of some people’s lives, as they struggle with life’s uncertainties and upheavals.

There are so many people who live and wait in darkness, so many who struggle just to get through the day, so many who have lost their “zest” waiting for change. The first reading this weekend from Isaiah reminds us that we need to care for those in need, to be more than just bystanders, and to stop thinking that they are someone else’s

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problem, not ours. Isaiah challenges us to step out of our complacency, go way beyond mere care and concern, and be moved into action.

We have all heard the expression, “One’s deeds speak louder than words,” it is this ideal that Isaiah is talking about. The actions we choose to take have a greater impact than mere words alone. These actions are what that motivate others. When we set our noble intentions into motion, we become the catalyst for change. We become the light that penetrates the darkness. We stand out like a lighthouse in the midst of the storm, serving as a welcoming beacon to those in distress.

In the Gospel, Jesus echoes what Isaiah is telling us, but He also compares us to salt, telling us we “are the salt of the earth.” This, simply stated, means we have the inner ability to affect others.

Just as salt ads flavor to food, we, too, bring “flavor” into our world. This “salt” is our enthusiasm, our desire to improve the

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circumstances of others, to bring an end to oppression, to be the change.

But He warns us that like salt, which can lose its flavor, rendering it ineffective and useless, we too can lose our zeal. We can allow ourselves to become jaded, bitter, and rather than be the change the

world needs, we become complacent, or worst yet, part of the oppression.

Jesus also reminds us that we are light, and that this light needs to shine brightly for all to see. We all have an inner spark which is fanned by the Holy Spirit, but ultimately, the choice to allow it to grow and glow more brightly is up to us. If we choose to hide our light from the world, we may feel safe and secure, but what of that person who just needed our smile and reassurance. Too often we hide our light behind the wall of our fears or even our frustration. We buy into the belief that

we really cannot make a difference, we are just one person, and how can I even begin to dream of making a difference.

Luckily for the world, so many unexpected miracles and changes were born from the most humble of beginnings. Mother Theresa is one that comes to mind — she was small in stature and lacked the resources to make the changes her world so desperately needed — yet this very obvious fact alluded her. Beginning with one person at a time, her small acts of kindness and dogged perseverance moved others to do the same, setting a light way up high that has yet to be extinguished.

Malala Yousafzai, though only 11, stood up against the oppression of her country. She fought for the rights of women to be educated. Malala still fights for them today even after receiving life threatening wounds and continued death threats. Her act of bravery and conviction made the world take notice, shedding “light” on the plight of so many who remain in her country.

There are countless

other similar stories, known and unknown, that serve as examples of what Isaiah and Jesus are challenging us to do. It is the actions we take and where we decide to let our light shine, which can lead others out of the darkness.

When we choose to shine brightly, we also help others see where there is necessity and what needs to be done. In the darkness we cannot see discord, we cannot distinguish between friend or foe, and the troubles of our world remain hidden, allowed to fester and grow.

We must place our light upon the lamp stand so that all can see.

We must serve as guiding lights for others, not only for those who are less fortunate, but also so others can recognize the need as well. It is by the light of our actions and deeds that the Kingdom can be known. Like the moth drawn to the light, so too will others be drawn to ours, and together we can all become a beacon that shines brightly reaching even into the darkest corners of the world.

Do you dare to let your light shine? Go out and add a zest to the world and let your light shine undaunted for all to see.

Be the light!

Anchor columnist Rose Mary Saraiva is a member of Holy Trinity Parish in Fall River and works for the diocesan Office of Faith Formation.

From left: Sarah Wall and younger sister Brianna Wall from Brewster; Scarlett O’Malley; Davida Peninger, Mrs. Gerry O’Malkey, and Ashley Coady, all from Holy Trinity Parish in West Harwich made the trip down to Washington, D.C. for the annual March for Life.

Members of the Catholic Community of Central Fall River’s Youth Group are shown in front of the U.S. Capitol while attending the March for Life in Washington D.C.

Students and chaperones from Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro proudly display a Pro-Life banner at the annual March For Life in Washington, D.C. on January 24. They joined tens of thousands of other Pro-Life peers from around the country.

Father Kevin A. Cook, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Seekonk; Daniel B. Marshall and Irina DeLucca, coordinator and director of the diocesan Pro-Life Apostolate and Project Rachel respectively; and Father Richard D. Wilson, vicar general and pastor of Holy Family Parish in East Taunton, visited St. Matthew’s Cathedral while attending the March For Life in Washington, D.C. February 7, 2020 †

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here comes to mind at this time the story of the lady who went shopping for a dress one day. Seeing a fabulous dress on display in the store window with a price tag of $75, which she really couldn’t afford, she went against her better judgement, tried it on, purchased it and took it

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Get behind me, Satan

home. That night she modeled it for her husband to show him how beautiful she looked in it. Her husband asked her how much it had cost and when she told him, he had a fit. She responded that she couldn’t resist the temptation to possess it, which prompted this response from her husband,

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“You should have said to the tempter, ‘Get behind me, Satan.” To which she replied, “I did, I did, but Satan said, ‘You look pretty good from behind too.’”

This last quote may not make it to print in some pious publications, but it serves to highlight what happens when people are

lured into turning their backs on the truth and going against their better judgements as well as their informed consciences. Now this script is not about a dress code, though it would frown on saggy pants on the street as well as thongs on the beach.

God spare our eyes!

We need not be so cheeky. It is more about the lure of power and prestige. It is about business transactions and politics, about the secular and religious.

Here in Kalaupapa we are not much concerned about dress or outward appearance. When it is time to go to work, we dress accordingly, and when it is time for Sacred worship, we dress appropriately, if not lavishly or gaudily. I don’t believe that we have workers here who are about to submit to the lure of power or prestige. They would appear to be dedicated to

their particular roles in support of the mission of Kalaupapa of caring for the Hansen’s Disease patients in this settlement.

There is another story going around about a woman, also shopping for

a dress, who sees a lovely dress in the display window.

She asks the manager of the store, “Could I please try on that beautiful dress in the window?” He responds, “Oh no, Madam. You will have to try it on in our changing room.” There is the right way and the not so right way and then there is the Lord’s way Who says, “Get behind Me, Satan!”

Aloha.

Anchor columnist Father Patrick Killilea, SS.CC., is pastor of St. Francis Parish in Kalaupapa, Hawaii.

Bishop’s Blog Editor’s note: In order to keep all readers informed of what the bishop is writing about in his blog, The Anchor will run one or more weekly blogs from Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., that have appeared since our last publication date. To keep up with the Bishop’s Blog as they appear, visit fallriverdiocese.org and click on “Read the Bishop’s Blog.”

Ongoing work toward the publication of a list of accused clergy — January 29 Early last year, I wrote to the diocese about our efforts to foster healing in the wake of the clergy sexual abuse crisis and to provide greater transparency in our response to it. I shared that an in-depth review of the personnel files of all our priests by an outside consultant would soon be underway. It was, as I explained, a necessary preparatory step toward the eventual compilation of a list of credibly accused clergy from our diocese. I remain committed to the publication of such a list. Our resolve to greater transparency around this painful issue demands it.

The review of priest files became an arduous, painstaking process, as the files go back 50 years and are not digitized. The process has taken much longer than anticipated.

As we have announced, the diocese has had to suspend some priests in response to information gathered from this file review pending further investigation. These suspensions were dif-

concern to me and remain always in my prayers. I want to assure them of the availability of whatever support the diocese might be able to offer. We recently hired a social worker to serve as our Victims Assistance Coordinator. She is a wonderful, caring person, and she is providing ongoing outreach to survivors of clergy abuse.

I also want to note that our diocese has over the past year estabam convinced that it is lished a revamped Safe quickly as possible. ficult but necessary. It crucial that we take the Environment program It is tragic that our was required by both time needed and use Church has been so our own diocesan to strengthen its child deeply wounded by the due diligence to do it policies and the U.S. protection programs scourge of clergy sexual all right. In the end, I Bishops’ Charter for and protocols for hanwant to publish a list of dling allegations and the Protection of Chil- abuse. It has touched credibly-accused priests responding to anyone dren and Young People. every diocese in the nation and continues to that is accurate and The suspended priests impacted by abuse. You affect all of us — clergy complete. deny the allegations may find information It is my deepest made against them. The and laity — in signifion the program on our hope that the publicacant ways. investigations of these diocesan website at While the review of tion of such a list will cases are now ongoing. www.fallriverdiocese. our files and the ongo- help in the healing They will take time, org under the Safe Enbut you have my assur- ing work resulting from and care of survivors vironment tab along the of clergy sexual abuse. it have taken longer ance that they will be top menu bar.

They are of paramount resolved as fairly and as than I first expected, I It is our mission, our Sacred mission, to remain vigilant in our efforts to protect children and vulnerable adults in our care in our parishes, schools, programs, and ministries.

Sincerely in Christ, Bishop da Cunha February 7, 2020 †

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Inmate graduates of the Getting Ahead While Getting Out reentry program gathered with Society of St. Vincent de Paul volunteers Tom Dwyer, Peter Kortright and Bob Mangiaratti, as well as Reps. Carole Fiola and Chris Hendricks, and Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn during a graduation ceremony at the Bristol County House of Corrections in Dartmouth recently.

‘Getting Ahead While Getting Out’ inmates complete 10-week SVdP course DARTMOUTH — Being released from jail is something all inmates look forward to.

But it can also be an extremely stressful experience. Where are they going to? What are they going to wear? What social services do they need?

That’s where the kindhearted volunteers from the Attleboro District Council Reentry Program of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul come in.

The volunteers offer the Getting Ahead While Getting Out program for inmates at the Bristol County House of Corrections, which prepares inmates to successfully and seamlessly reintegrate 12

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back into society upon release.

Program participants celebrated inside the Bristol County House of Corrections recently during a graduation ceremony. Led by program facilitators Tom Dwyer and Robert Mangiaratti, the SVdP team shared lessons learned during the 10-week program and shared well wishes for the graduates.

Inmate graduates expressed gratitude to the volunteers and shared with guests some of the work they’ve done over the past few months.

The graduation ceremony was attended by Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M.

Quinn; Reps. Carole Fiola and Christopher Hendricks; Rui Rosa of Catholic Social Services; and Lawrence Tracy, reentry community coordinator with the Mass. Department of Corrections. The guests shared their admiration for what the inmates accomplished and wished them well in the future.

Started in 2016 by the St. Vincent’s Attleboro Voice of the Poor Committee, the Getting Ahead While Getting Out program not only focuses on the critical 72 hours immediately after release, but also looks at shortand long-term goals and how inmates can achieve them.

Marian Medal Awards ceremony now available on video

The Dec. 1, 2019 Marian Medal Awards Ceremony is available on DVD from the Diocesan Office of Communications. The DVD cost is $25.00. 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, 450 Highland Ave., Fall River, Mass., 02720.

Shipping is included in the cost.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on the Portuguese Channel Sunday, February 9 at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from Espirito Santo Church in Fall River

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass

on the Portuguese Channel Sunday, February 16 at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from St. Anthony Church in Taunton

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, February 9 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Maurice O. Gauvin, Pastor of Espirito Santo and St. Anthony of Padua parishes in Fall River

Sunday, February 16 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Daniel M. Nunes, Parochial Vicar at Holy Name Parish in Fall River

Our Readers Respond Let the young people lead us in making America safe After the Valentine’s Day mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. in 2018, a student-led movement was born called March for our Lives. This group has developed a thoughtful and well-researched “Peace Plan for a Safer America” (available online at https:www. marchforourlives.co/peaceplan). We would like to comment on the first goal in their Peace Plan, which is to change the standards of gun ownership.

A federal system of gun licensing and registration is essential, as states have significantly different standards for who can own a gun, what training (if any) is required for a license,

purchasing requirements (background checks) and the type of guns and ammunition one may have.

In-person screening, background checks and gun safety training should take place before licensing, with a refresher course/assessment required annually. A waiting period before gun purchase could prevent impulsive homicides and suicides. Online sales of guns, parts and ammunition should simply be illegal. Locking devices and locked storage should be required. Assault weapons and high capacity magazines should be banned.

Even most gun owners support some regulation.

Mass shootings have become so commonplace in America that they do not

always merit national news coverage. We have seen an increase in violence at churches, synagogues and mosques. We should all feel safe in our places of worship. As people of faith who seek the common good and believe in the dignity of each person, we need to claim our voice and challenge the culture of violence.

Let’s honor the youth from Parkland, Fla. for their leadership on this issue. We need to join their ranks and persevere until we influence Congress to enact common sense gun laws which protect us all.

Jane Griffin Sheila Matthews Elaine L’Etoile Pax Christi National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette

us for Confession, or for preaching missions, or for other reasons.

So we created an email address where people can find us — missionariesofmercyusa@ gmail.com — and have their questions or invitations directed to the most appropriate Missionaries.

And we are building a website to make it much easier for people to find out about us, contact us in our various dioceses, and profit from some of the resources individual missionaries and others have created to help people receive and live the Gospel of mercy more

efficaciously. We hope to have the website up and running by Lent.

Pope Francis, echoing St. John Paul II, has stressed that we are living in a kairos, or special time, of mercy. The Missionaries of Mercy are one of Pope Francis’ responses to that kairos and those of us in the U.S. and Canada are eager to be part of that mobilization, so that, as Pope Francis prayed, the grace of the Jubilee of Mercy will remain alive and effective from sea to shining sea.

Anchor columnist Father Roger Landry can be contacted at fatherlandry@ catholicpreaching.com.

Father Landry

continued from page seven tive years of the biennial international gatherings in Rome. We set up a Google group to allow much better coordination and enable collaborative, rather than individual efforts.

We noted that there are some in the Church who remain unaware of our mission and many more, even though they’re aware of Missionaries of Mercy, don’t really know how to find one.

While the Vatican has sent bishops books with all of our names and contact information, priests and faithful who are looking for us don’t often know how to find

February 7, 2020 †

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just got back from the March for Life where I was blessed to attend the Life is Very Good Rally on the Thursday night and the Friday morning. The emcee at both of the conferences was fantastic. On the Friday morning, as he was sharing a little bit of his story, he said that we need to be “desperate for God.” He said it a couple of times and it really stood out to me. Normally when we hear the word desperate it comes attached with a negative connotation.

Examples such as “She’s desperate for attention,” and “He has become desperate in his search for a job,” leave us feeling down and dejected. But this man is saying with great joy and passion, that we need to be desperate for God. Of course, I looked up the exact definition of the word desperate and the third one states, “suffering extreme need” (MerriamWebster). So what he was saying is that we should suffer an extreme need for God. It causes us great distress and unrest to be without Him. I can look back at the times of my life that I felt most alone, most lost, most desperate and it was in those times that I could not see God. Not because He was not there, but because I had refused to seek Him. Often we do not consciously choose to leave God out of our lives but we become so caught up in ourselves that we do not reach out for Him. Years ago when I first 14

F ocus on C hurch Y outh Desperation move

started out in ministry, my boss at the time talked to us about avoiding “navel gazing.” When we bend to look at our navel, we cannot see beyond ourselves. We gaze only on our being.

We desire only for ourselves and what we need and what we can do. In the world of selfies and Tik Toks and likes and dislikes, it is very easy to get wrapped up in ourselves, to navel gaze.

We are reminded, however, that we are called to keep our eyes on Christ. To desperately seek Him. Popular Christian author Philip Yancey once wrote, “We are all desperate, and that is in fact the only state appropriate to a human being who wants to know God.” We are all in need. Too often we spend our time trying to get what we think it is that we need only to find out that it does not make us happy. So we go in a desperate search again. And we find ourselves in a cycle of despair, crying out that God abandoned us, but never really seeking Him. St. Augustine said, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.” I would not presume to put words in the mouth of St. Augustine but I think we could replace restless with desperate. Our hearts are desperate until they rest in You. We have a God Who loves us unconditionally, Who proves this over and over again throughout

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Scripture. He enters into covenants with Noah, Abraham, Jacob and Moses and even though they do not keep up their end of

the deal, He continues to be faithful. While the Israelites wandered the desert, they felt God had

abandoned them. Instead of being desperate for Him they turn to Aaron and ask for a new god. We hear the stories of people getting lost in a world of sin and despair because they have been desperate for something or someone other than our God. He made our hearts to long for Him. Our challenge is to recognize that when our heart is “suffering in extreme need,” it is really a desire that can

only be filled by the One Who made that heart.

Again, as St. Augustine says, “Let the Lord open the ears to our heart. Let us run to that voice and take hold of Him! Anchor columnist Amanda Tarantelli has been a campus minister at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth since 2005. She is married, a die-hard sports fan, and resides in Cranston, R.I. She can be reached at atarantelli@bishopstang. org.

Knights of Columbus Councils 3669 of Swansea and Council 12380 of Fall River held their annual Free Throw Championship on January 20,Martin Luther King Jr. day, at the CYO Hall on Anawan Street in Fall River. Council 12380’s Free Throw Champions and District Winners are pictured from left: Ava Guarneri, Camden Kelly, Quinn Reagan and Gabriel Baxter (missing are Madison Bednarz and Evey Fernandes). These champions can now participate in the Regionals which will be held March 7 at the Sacred Heart School in Kingston, Mass. (our state had two National Champions last year)! Special thanks to Tom Chippendale and the team at the Fall River CYO Hall.

F ocus

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C hurch Y outh

Kindergarten and third-grade students at Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford display their “saints” and their “suitcases,” part of a “Uniting Catholic Schools Across America” project they are sharing with schools in Texas, Virginia and California.

New Bedford school teams with schools in Texas, Virginia and California for fun, creative project NEW BEDFORD — The students in kindergarten through grade three at Holy Family

Holy-Name School in New Bedford have embarked on a journey to visit schools in Virginia,

Texas, and California — all without leaving the building. They are participating in a Flat

Pioneer and Patriot Units of the American Heritage Girl Troop MA3712, from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Seekonk, earned their World Heritage badge while hosting the younger units at a recent mother/daughter party. The troop shepherds led the girls in praying for the many missionaries around the world who are spreading the Word and Light of Christ. Mothers and daughters then visited stations representing different countries. The older girls shared how Christmas is celebrated in different parts of the world, and taught the girls a song and traditional craft from their chosen countries. The Pioneer and Patriot units also prepared many traditional handmade desserts to share.

Stanley project renamed “The HFHN Flat Saints — Uniting Catholic Schools Across America.”

The students enjoyed listening to the story of Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown. The students then designed “Flat Saints” and colored them to look like the school uniforms.

Then they created “suitcases” with messages for the receiving school printed on the inside.

They are going to be packaged with New Bedford trinkets and photos and sent to St. William of York School in Virginia.

That school will write messages to the children at St. Jose Sanchez del Rio School in Texas and then send everything to Sacred Heart Catholic School in California. The children there will write messages to the HFHN students and

return everything back to New Bedford hopefully by the end of March.

The goal for this writing project is multidimensional. Students will reinforce their math skills as the mileage is recorded with yarn on a big map. They will begin to understand the Universal Church and have a chance to learn about friends throughout the country.

The hope is that this fun reading and writing activity promotes student learning, serves to inspire others, leads students to think beyond school boundaries, and allow students to follow a project right through to completion.

All involved are excited to send off their creations and wait with anticipation for their return.

February 7, 2020 †

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Cape parish to host Alpha Catholic program continued from page three do I pray?”; Why and how end.

“We will gladly welshould I read the Bible?”; “Why does God guide us?”; come people whenever they come,” Russo said.

“How can I make the most “Someone who comes for of the rest of my life?”; more sessions will get more “How can I resist evil?”; “Why and how should I tell out of it, obviously. But we welcome people at every others?”; “Does God heal today?”; and “The Church.” stage. For anyone of college Russo said the proage or younger, it’s probably not the right experience gram provides a great for them. There is an Alpha opportunity for people to Teen program, but that’s find answers to these “big questions” and to give them not what we’re offering at this time.” “a safe place to talk about Alpha Catholic has had them.” success in other parishes “We also feed them and dioceses, including with what’s in the Gospel, the Archdiocese of Bosso that they can make the connection that the answer ton, where Cardinal Séan P. O’Malley said: “Many of to all those questions lies our Catholic parishioners in faith, lies in Christ, and that Christ is not a far away, have benefitted from Alpha Catholic.” distant God — but, in fact, “Many other members is a God Who loves us so deeply that He lives with us, of the Church hierarchy accompanies us, and guides have endorsed Alpha Cathus every day if we let Him,” olic and said it had a great impact on people’s lives of she said. faith,” Russo added. “We’ve Although weekly atbeen told that in many of tendance is encouraged, participants can join the the parishes, when people get to the end of that 12th program for a week or two week, they want to keep it at any time or attend all sessions from beginning to going, so we’re looking now

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at designing a post-Alpha experience for those who want it.”

Our Lady of the Cape pastor, Father William Kaliyadan, M.S., said he’s eager to “invite everyone to join our Alpha Catholic program in order to deepen their personal relationship with Jesus. Our church is a no-judgement zone — no pressure, no obligation — just come enjoy the free meal and interesting con-

versation.”

Our Lady of the Cape Parish is served by the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, a religious community founded with the mission of reconciling people to Jesus and helping them to grow in their relationship with Christ, so the Alpha Catholic program perfectly complements this mission.

“We want people to experience the love and support and care of a small Christian community, and

to come into a group and to be comfortable, to build trust, to be able to share, and to be authentic,” Russo said.

Those interested in Alpha Catholic or in arranging a more private setting to discuss their faith should contact Kathy Russo at 508-385-3252, extension 14, or email adultfaithformation2@ gmail.com. You can also visit the parish website at ourladyofthecape.org for more information.

Finding love on Valentine’s Day is as easy as watching ‘The Dating Project’ Engaging documentary helps young people develop meaningful relationships by following fundamental Christian courtship principles NORTH EASTON — It’s that time of year when hearts are all aflutter.

Valentine’s Day brings out the romantic in many of us — as evidenced by the increased sales of cards, candy and flowers.

However, for single people, that February celebration can be a time of loneliness. It can be difficult to connect with that special someone, and if you do, what are the rules?

Dating — if it even exists anymore — has changed to the point where no one knows how to play the game.

There is an answer: “The Dating Project.”

This unique faith-based documentary helps single people develop meaningful relationships by introducing them to the fundamental rules of Christian courtship.

“The Dating Project” was created in partnership with Paulist Productions, Mpower Pictures and Fam-

ily Theater Productions, and is distributed by Pure Flix and Fathom Events.

“The Dating Project” is available to create Valentine’s Day Viewing Challenges by schools, groups, organizations and others who want to restore a healthy dating culture for single people. Free curriculum guides are available for different audiences, including high school, college, young adult, family, and father and son. Each provides direction and instruction on how to get the best benefit from “The Dating Project.”

The award-winning film follows Kerry Cronin, one of the most popular professors at Boston College, as she helps her lonely undergrad students who are struggling to meet that special someone. She asks them about dating, then realizes these young people — so used to “hooking up” and “hanging out” — have no idea how to actually

date. So Cronin creates a special class that details traditional courting practices and provides guidelines on what to do.

“The Dating Project” film follows Professor Cronin and five modernday singles aged 20 to 40 in their own quest to find authentic love and meaningful relationships. By engaging in Cronin’s dating philosophy, which is based on traditional faith-based beliefs and customs, her students find more fulfilling and lasting relationships.

The film received critical acclaim from the Heartland Film Festival, USA Film Festival and Downtown LA Film Festival, which awarded it the Audience Favorite Award.

View the Trailer and Learn More at www.

TheDatingProjectMovie. com.

Follow “The Dating Project” on Facebook @ TheDatingProjectMovie.

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests and deacons during the coming weeks:

Feb. 7 Rev. Arthur N. Robert, O.P., St. Anne Shrine, Fall River, 1991 Rev. Robert S. Kaszynski, 2014 Rev. Jose Antonio Ferreira dos Santos, Retired, Catholic Memorial Home, Former Pastor, Our Lady of Health, Fall River, 2017 Feb. 8 Rev. Raymond P. Monty, USAF Retired Chaplain, 1996 Feb. 9 Rev. Msgr. John J. Kelly, Pastor, SS. Peter & Paul, Fall River, 1963 Rev. Peter J. McKone, S.J., Bishop Connolly High School, Fall River, 1972 Rev. Vincent R. Dolbec, A.A., Assumption College, 1985 Feb. 10 Rev. Edward L. O’Brien, Pastor, St. Mary, Mansfield, 1966 Rev. Lucien A. Madore, Retired Chaplain, Mount St. Joseph School, Fall River, 1983

Feb. 11 Rev. John O’Connell, Founder, St. John Evangelist, Attleboro, 1910 Rev. John J. Sullivan, S.T.L., Retired Pastor, Holy Rosary, Fall River, 1961 Rev. William J. McMahon, Retired Pastor, St. Joan of Arc, Orleans, 1987 Rev. Christopher (Leo) King, SS.CC., 2013 Feb. 12 Rev. Stanislaus Bernard, SS.CC, Retired Founder, Our Lady of Assumption, New Bedford, 1961 Feb. 13 Rev. Richard R. Gendreau, Retired, Former Pastor, St. Louis de France, Swansea, 2015 Feb. 14 Rev. Charles E. Clerk, Pastor, St. Roch, Fall River, 1932 Rev. Msgr. Francis McKeon, Retired Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton, 1980

Diocese suspends retired priest from ministry

FALL RIVER — The Diocese of Fall River recently announced the suspension of retired priest Father Herbert T. Nichols for an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor, alleged to have occurred approximately 20 years ago. The decision to suspend him was made based on information learned from a review of the personnel files of diocesan priests.

The allegation, which Father Nichols denies, is under investigation by the diocese.

As a retired priest, he was not assigned to any parish but did help with the celebration of Masses in various parishes since retirement, including with the Maronite community within the diocese. His suspension precludes him from all ministry until the investigation is completed and a determination on the matter is made.

Last year the Fall River Diocese hired an

independent consultant to complete a comprehensive evaluation of its priestly personnel files, and Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., informed parishioners that a list of credibly accused clergy would follow. The diocese suspended some priests in response to information gathered during the file evaluation pending further investigation, as required under its policies.

“The task of evaluating all of the files and the response needed on our part as a result of the findings have, regretfully, taken more time than first thought,” said Bishop da Cunha. “It is crucial that we take the time and perform the diligence necessary to compile a list that is accurate and complete, and we continue to do so.”

“I understand that these recent announcements regarding the suspensions of priests are upsetting to our dioc-

esan community of faith and often bring renewed pain to victims of sexual abuse, especially victims of sexual abuse by clergy,” added Bishop da Cunha. “I continue to pray for our brothers and sisters who have suffered greatly.”

As part of ongoing efforts to improve its Office of Safe Environment, the diocese recently hired Carolyn Shipp, a licensed social worker, to focus on pastoral outreach to victims/survivors. “As a social worker, I am here to listen to anyone with concerns and to connect survivors to the resources they need,” said Shipp.

Anyone with information that they wish to raise regarding the conduct of any past or present member of the diocese, is encouraged to contact Carolyn Shipp, the diocese’s Victim Assistance Coordinator, at 508-985-6508 or cshipp@dioc-Fatherorg.

Feb. 15 Rev. Joseph G. Lavalle, Pastor, St. Mathieu, Fall River, 1910 Rev. James C. Conlon, Pastor, St. Mary, Norton, 1957 Feb. 16 Rev. Alphonse J. LaChapelle, Assistant, Holy Ghost, Attleboro, 1983 Rev. Joaquim Fernandes da Silva, C.M., 2001 Feb. 17 Rev. Louis R. Boivin, Retired, Cardinal Medeiros Residence, Former Pastor, St. Theresa, Attleboro, 2010 Feb. 19 Rev. Andrew J. Brady, Pastor, St. Joseph, Fall River, 1895 Rev. Leopold Jeurissen, SS.CC., Pastor, Sacred Hearts, Fairhaven, 1953 Feb. 20 Rev. James H. Fogarty, Pastor, St. Louis, Fall River, 1922 Rev. Raymond M. Giguere, O.P., Assistant, St. Anne, Fall River, 1986 Rev. Thomas E. Morrissey, Pastor, St. Jacques, Taunton, 2006

February 7, 2020 †

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Around the Diocese

St. Vincent’s Services is conducting a Winter Coat Drive. Please consider helping the children and youth at St. Vincent’s by donating a new coat (with tags) this winter.

Coats are needed for children ages 10 to 18.

Donations can be dropped off at St. Vincent’s Reception Desk, 2425 Highland Avenue, Fall River, Mondays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information contact Janice Johnston via email at JJohnston@SaintVincentsServices.org or call 508-235-3329.

The Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy warmly invite you to a Divine Mercy Retreat on February 22. It is a day of recollection with Mass, an opportunity for Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, prayer, and a talk entitled: “The Divine Mercy Image — A Gift from God for Us” given by Sister Alicja Zelmańska. It will take place at His Land, Bethany House of Prayer, 17 Loon Pond Road in Lakeville. The program begins at 11:30 a.m. with Mass and ends at 3:10 p.m. For detailed information visit www.SisterFaustina.org/ events or call the Sisters at 617-288-1202.

Our Lady of the Cape Parish in Brewster invites all to join them for an upcoming Bible Study on the origin of the parts of the Mass. They will explore the Liturgy in a program entitled “A Biblical Walk Through the Mass.” The group will meet monthly on Sunday mornings from 9:45 to 11 a.m. on February 23, March 22, April 26 and May 24 in the parish center hall, located at 456 Stony Brook Road. The program will consist of prayer, Scripture, a video lecture and small group discussion. Cost of materials is $20. If you would like to participate but cannot attend, there is the option of doing so remotely. Please contact Kathy at adultfaithformation2@ gmail.com or 508-385-3252, extension 14 to sign up or for more information.

St. Anthony of Padua Parish, 1359 Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford, will present a Lenten parish mission entitled “An Encounter with Jesus and Mary” on Saturday, March 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring speaker Roy Schoeman. Schoeman was born outside New York City of Jewish parents who had fled Nazi Germany and later converted to Christianity. He has become a popular guest on EWTN and discusses his personal witness testimony and the role of Judaism in Salvation history.

The cost for the mission is $25 per person and includes a bag lunch. To register or for more information, visit www. saintanthonynewbedford.com or call the parish rectory at 508-993-1691.

A non-residential Worldwide Marriage Encounter experience will be taking place at Our Lady of the Cape Parish, 468 Stony Brook Road in Brewster on Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19. This is a non-residential weekend, but discounted accommodations are available on a limited basis. For more information, please call Steve and Michelle O’Leary at 1-800710-WWME or visit www.WWMEMA.org. Space is limited, so please call today!

Anchor ‘Around the Diocese’ Policy

While The Anchor’s “Around the Diocese” listing of parish and diocesan events is a courtesy service, the diocesan newspaper does rely on advertising revenue to sustain its printing and postage costs throughout the year. As such, fund-raising events like parish festivals, holiday fairs and bazaars will be restricted from inclusion. We would greatly appreciate your consideration of a paid advertisement to promote these events.

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

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† February 7, 2020

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 — The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette holds 6:30 p.m. Mass followed by the Chaplet of Divine Mercy Adoration at 7:15 p.m. every Wednesday evening.

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.

DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Mary’s Church, 783 Dartmouth Street, every First Monday of the month, following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending with evening prayers and Benediction 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 8:45 a.m. to 6 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 5:30 p.m., with Benediction at 5:30 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 4 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 4 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 until 9 a.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 † ATTLEBORO — Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, 71 Linden Street in Attleboro. All welcome to visit. To sign up for an hour or for more information call 508-212-8528.

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.

Conference speakers ready to light Lenten fire continued from page two

The theme of the conference is from John’s Gospel account of Jesus washing the feet of His Apostles, “As I have done, you must also do.”

“We are very excited about this year’s conference and the gathering of so many wonderful men and women from across the diocese and the opportunity for them to hear some wonderful guest speakers,” Beth Mahoney, conference committee chairperson told The Anchor.

The dynamic speakers include Auxiliary Bishops Robert C. Evans of the Diocese of Providence and John W. Flesey, S.T.D., from the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J.; and noted speaker, author and retreat leader, Kendra Von Esh. Bishop Evans, after serving many years in the Providence Diocese, was appointed auxiliary bishop there in 2009. In the diocese he served in parishes, in hospital and campus ministry, and in administration, including as chancellor.

In 2001, he was named director of the Institute

for Continuing Theological Education and a faculty member of the North American College, both in Rome, and later served as secretary at the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C. Auxiliary Bishop Flesey holds a doctorate de-

gree in Sacred Theology.

In 1985 he began a long stretch of service at the Immaculate Conception Seminary of Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J. He first started as a faculty member and later was named Spiritual Director. From 1995 to 2000 Bishop Flesey was the rector/dean.

He later returned to teaching and his Spiritual Director role. While doing so he also became the director of the New-

ark Archdiocese Office of Continuing Formation of Priests. He was appointed auxiliary bishop in 2004.

Von Esh is a noted speaker, author and retreat leader, known for her passion about helping others to deepen their relationship with God and to discern His will in their lives.

Once a corporate executive, Von Esh sensed a growing emptiness in her life and felt called to return to the Catholic Church where, as she put it, “God found her.”

It didn’t take very long after that she left a successful business career to focus on her faith journey and to share that journey with others.

Von Esh utilizes humor and a “from the heart” approach as she recounts her journey from lukewarm belief to a strong state of grace, peace and joy, all stemming from her personal relationship with God. Mahoney told The Anchor that Continued Education Units (CEUs) will be offered to attendees if requested. There will be a section on the registration form to request the credits.

The deadline to register for the conference is

March 2. The cost to attend the conference is $50, which includes morning refreshments and lunch.

The Anchor will also announce bus trips to the conference should they become available.

People can register for the conference at the Diocese of

Fall River website at FallRiverDiocese.org and click on the conference menu choice, or they can get more information by emailing Mahoney at frdccwbeth@gmail.com.

Registration forms will also soon be available at individual parishes.

DIOCESAN DIRECTORY

2020

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www.anchornews.org or by sending a check for $30 per copy (includes shipping) to:

The Anchor 887 Highland Avenue Fall River, Mass. 02720 Limited press run!

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To advertise in The Anchor, contact Wayne Powers at 508-675-7151 or email waynepowers@ anchornews.org February 7, 2020 †

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Bishop da Cunha meets with Consecrated Religious on World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life TAUNTON — On February 1, the eve of the feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, area Consecrated Religious gathered for a day of reflection, prayer and camaraderie at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Taunton. The reflection was guided by Father Thomas Carzon, O.M.V. (Oblates of the Virgin Mary), currently director of Formation at Our Lady of Grace Seminary in Boston.

Father Carzon focused his reflection on the awareness and recognition of the presence of the Lord as illustrated in the Scripture passage of the feast of the Presentation of the Lord.

The scene highlights the presence of two prophets, a man and a woman at the Temple in Jerusalem, Simeon and Anna, attentive to God’s message and to His will for the people of Israel.

As Mary and Joseph come into the temple to fulfill the directives of the Law of Moses, to present their first-born infant male, both prophets immediately recognized in the Child Jesus the very presence of God. The role of the prophet 20

is that of “recognizing” God’s presence and wishes so as to make them known to the people. In all times prophets have been chosen

by God to fulfill this role.

In the Scriptures, prophets were afraid and doubtful at being chosen for this role and they often expressed their fears and gave excuses.

God however, reassured them and gave them the wisdom they needed to discern His ways.

Simeon, recalling God’s promises and faithfulness finds joy in their fulfillment on this day. He could now die in peace knowing that God in the flesh had come to His people. Anna the prophetess, who had spent her life at the temple awaiting the coming of the Lord, transforms her anxieties and waiting into new hope.

Consecrated Religious fulfill that prophetic role in the Church. Pope Francis addressed the Superiors General: “Radical evangelical living is not only for Religious: it is demanded of everyone. But Religious follow the Lord in a special way, in a prophetic way.” This is the priority

† February 7, 2020

that is needed right now: “to be prophets who witness to how Jesus lived on this earth, a Religious must never abandon prophecy” (Nov. 29, 2013). “Prophets know God and they know the men and women who are their brothers and sisters. They are able to discern and denounce the evil of sin and injustice. Because they are free, they are beholden to no one but God, and they have no interest other than God” (Nov. 21, 2014).

The mission of the prophet is awareness of the presence of God, concluded Father Carzon. May we approach others and say God is with you, in you in this circumstance of life, even in suffering in a prophetic witness of joy: “All for God with a smile transformed into hope”.

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., and Religious priests along with Father Edward Murphy, co-pastor of St. Andrew the Apostle, who hosted the group, concelebrated at the closing Liturgy, which was then followed by a luncheon.

Area religious listen to a speaker at a recent gathering at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Taunton to recognize World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life.

Below, Sister Dorothy Kelley, R.G.S., of Harwich, who will be 99 years old on February 27 chats with presenter Father Thomas Carzon, O.M.V.