02.09.07

FR.IDAY, FEBR.UARY 9,

2007

Pastoral ministers fulfill Christ's mission to the sick! and dying Bv

PASTORAL CARE - Rose Campbell receives a visit from Faithful Companions of Jesus Sister Roberta O'Connell at Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River.

Campbell, a member of 55. Peter and Paul Parish at Holy Cross Church, Fall River, is one of many who receive visits each week from dedicated people like Sister O'Connell. (Photo by Mike Gordon)

DEACON JAMES

N.

DUNBAR

FALL RiVER - Being the presence of Jesus to the sick, the elderly, the dying - as well as patients' worried and often grief stricken family members - demands a talent that only God can give.

That the e~tended gift is being accepted and exercised daily by hundreds of dedicated men and women including priests, deacons, religious and lay people, is rarely a news item.

But the reality is there are many, who, called to Christ's mission, minister in nine area hospitals and at least 10 extended care facilities across the Fall River Diocese.

As the diocese readies to mark the World Day of the Sick on February 11, the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes whose shrine at Massabielle in France has been the site of many miraculous cures - it's appropriate to salute those who bring compassionate spiritual care to thousands.

"I am so very grateful to all who minister in pastoral service, especially the many lay people, who give so much of their time and compassion as members of our chaplaincy teams at so many different sites," said Father Marek Tuptynski, director of Pastoral Care of the Sick in the diocese, and pastor of St. Patrick's Parish in Somerset.

"The continuing mission of Christ in our diocese would never be able to be maintained without them," he added.

Dominican Sister Carole Y.M. Mello, who has minis-

tered for 28 years at Saint Anne's Hospital in Fall River in a variet~ of capacities, and who has been a nurse for 39 years, was,one of several who talked with The Anchor last week. . .

While the mission to bring Christ to patients and their extended f~milies remains the same, "We are in the age of specialized care, and pastoral care has indeed become that," she said.

What's 'also new is the "documentation, increased paperwork and interdisciplinary programs demanded in today's mihistry," Sister Carole reported.

She kndws personally. The busy nun is the hospital's director of Mission Services, which includes: directing the Spiritual Care Department; running the Parish Nurse Program training; overseeing the clinical/pastoral education progdm; and chairing an active Mission Committee that trains Iiall hospital employees in the healing mission of Jesus th~t involves outreach such as a soup kitchen and a food pantry drive. " 1 like to use the term spiritual/pastoral, because the total mini~~ry involves more than just spiritual," she explained. "'o/e work closely with the Social Department to meet social needs too."

Despite her administrative duties, Sister Carole, who is on call 1'24-7," says she tries to spend time with the Turn to page 18 - Ministers "

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Guild supports those affected by mental illness

By MIKE GORDON ANCHOR STAFF

BUZZARDS BAY - When Timothy Duff saw a need to help others, he was motivated to meet it. His desire to help families affected by mental illness and those suffering from its devastation led to his creation of the Guild of St. Benedict Joseph Labre. His efforts have brought awareness where it is needed and membership in the apostolate is nearly 4,000 families representing 34 countries.

A product of that group is the Merciful Mother of the Mentally III Support Group which makes its home .at St. Margaret's Parish in Buzzards Bay. It meets once a month to offer members spiritual support. Families and friends of those with emotional troubles, depression and mental illness are welcome to attend and provide hope and support for one another.

"It's been very successful," said Duff. "We bring a specific model of pastoral care to that meeting and families seem to get a lot out of their involvement and from one another. There is a great need and we strive to be a spiritual haven for people because there is not a lot out there."

MANY HAPPY RETVRNS - Bishop George W. Coleman was dmong many priests on hand recently at the Cardinal Medeir,os Residence, Fall River, to celebrate Father ArthurWingate's 50th anniversary of his priesthood.

(Photo by Mike Gordon)

Turn to page 10 - St. Labre Guild

Catholic Church a big part ofNew Orleans recovery'

By DR. JOSEPH DOOLIN ill January, the Order of Malta brought 72 housing rehabilitation volunteers to New Orleans, completing its seventh week-long session, with two more to go.

In keeping with the Malta mission, the primary beneficiaries are elderly poor homeowners referred by Catholic Charities.

Many houses have been completed, but fewer than Malta Federal Association planners had originally hoped. The cost ,',.

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and complexity of home rehabilitation in New Orleans surpassed ear~y budgeting. Malta decided to go beyond merely gutting and clearing drowned buildings. The focus has been on complJting those renovations needed by century-old dwellings ~o make possible the return of the frail elder, allowing hei to live there for many years.

My wife Mary and 1 were part of this effort, as we had been with ~e session eight months ago in May. On our reI Turn to page 19 - New Orleans

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'NEWS FROM THE VATItCAN ,

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FEBRUARY

9, 2007

Pope discusses Church defense of marriage, commitment to God's plan February 11 is World Marriage Day VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The Catholic Church defends marriage as the pennanent bond of a man and a woman because matrimony corresponds to human nature and to God's divine plan, Pope Benedict XVI said.

When a man and a woman enter into a Catholic marriage, their commitment to each other surpasses their feelings at the moment and becomes a commitment to maintaining the bond God has created between them, the pope said January 27 in his annual meeting with members of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota, a Vatican court dealing mainly with marriage.

Despite a society that often considers "marriage simply as a social fonnalization of affective ties" and a contract that should end if the affection weakens, Pope Benedict said the Church continues to insist that matrimony is more than a public pronouncement that two people love each other at that moment.

When a man and woman decide to marry, he said, "the union occurs by virtue of the plan of God himself who created them male and female and gave the~ the ability to unite forever the natural and complementary dimensions of their persons."

Pope Benedict told the Vatican

court judges that their task was one of"service of the truth injustice," not only for the good of a couple seeking an annulment, but also for the defense of the sacrament of matrimony through which God ensures the good and fulfillment of each of the spouses.

The pope said the court provides a pastoral service to the Church when it defends the Church's traditional teaching on marriage, despite the fact that many people in the Church seem to think that a lifelong marriage is an ideal most couples cannot live up to or that annulments are simply a bureaucratic procedure needed to enable access to the Eucharist for couples who have or want to contract a second marriage.

Bishop Antoni Stankiewicz, dean of the Rota, told the pope that the Rota, which mainly hears appeals of marriage sentences issued by diocesan or regional tribunals, had 687 cases from Europe awaiting its decision, 413 from North, Central and South America, 64 from Asia, 12 from Africa and five from Australia and New Zealand.

Over the course of 2005, the Rota issued 126 definitive statements, of which 69 upheld earlier tribunal declarations of nullity.

Vatican official uses Website to discuss priesthood with priests VATICAN CITY (CNS)-Ashe settled into his new role as prefect of the Congregation for Gergy, Brazilian Cardinal Gaudio Hummes used the congregation Website to greet the world's priests.

"Ours is not an easy mission," he told priests in the message posted January 24 on the Website clerus.org.

But remaining united with Christ, ''we will always be mindful of giving testimony to the hope that is within us to our numerous brothers and sisters who, even today, long for the way, the truth and the life;' said Cardinal Hummes, who took up his new position in early December.

The cardinal told the priests that the role of the congregation's prefect

$ The Anchor

is "to be a bishop for you and a priest with you." .

Priests have a specific identity that must shine through their very- being as well as their activities, he said.

Because priests are ordained to be ministers of the word of God and of "the prophetic action and pastoral love ofChrist," the cardinal said, celebrating the Eucharist is not the extent of their responsibility. .

A priest must "complete himself in the prophetic dimension by proclaiming the word and in the pastoral dimension by being a guide for the community," he said.

Cardinal Hummes also encouraged the priests to be proud of their priestly identity.

OfFICIAL NEWSPAPER; tlfE '" DIOCESE OF fAll .

Vol. 51, No. (j

Member: Catholic Press Association. Catholic New$ Service Published weekly except for two weeks in the summer and the week after Christmas by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue Fall River, MA 02720, Telephone 508-675-7151 - FAX 508-675-7048, email;

theanchor@anchomews.org. Subscription price by man, postpaid $14.00 per year.

Send address changes to P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA, call or use email address PUBLISHER路 Most Reverend George W. Coleman EXECunYEEDITOR Father RogerJA.andry fathel'l'QgGrlandry@anchotmlWll.org EDITOR David B. JOllvllt dalleJollvet@enol'lOrnllWS.Org , NEWS EDITOR Deacon James N. Dunbar Jimdunbar@anchorneWs.org REPORTER MIke Gordon mlkegordon@anchOmllWs.org OFFICE MANAGER Mary Chase marychase@anchornews.org

Send Letters to the Editor to: fatherrogerlandry@anchomews.org POSTMASTERS send address changes to The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722.

THE ANCHOR (USPS-545-020) Periodical Postage Paid at Fall River, Mass.

INTERESTING READING - Pop,e Benedict XVI opens a sacred book after receiving a boxed set of the sacred texts of the three monotheistic religions from members of the Foundation for Interreligious and Intercultural Research and Dialogue at a recent Vatican audience. (eNS photo/ L'Osservatore Romano)

Pope to lead full schedule of Holy '~eek, Easter liturgies

By JOHN THAVIS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI will lead a full slate of Holy Week and Easter liturgies in Rome and at the Vatican, highlighting a busy papal schedule this spring.

The Vatican announced February I that the pope would preside over eight major events in the week leading up to Easter. The liturgies include a Mass April 2 commemorating the second anniversary of Pope John Paul II's death.

The pope's Holy Week activities will begin with a procession and Mass in St. Peter's Square on Palm Sunday, April 1. .

As he did last year, Pope Benedkt will celebrate a chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. on Holy Thursday and that evening will preside over the Mass of the Lord's Supper in the Basilica of St. John Lateran in central Rome.

On Good Friday he will celebrate the liturgy of the Lord's Passion in St. Peter's Basilica in the late afternoon ,then will lead a nighttime Way of the Cross at the Rome Colosseum.

On Holy Saturday, the pope will preside over the Easter Vigil in St. Peter's Basilica. On Easter, April

8, he will celebrate Mass in St. Peter's Square and give his blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city of Rome and the world).

The Vatican also released the pope's Lenten schedule. He will celebrate Mass at the Rome Basilica of Santa Sabina on Ash Wednesday, February 21, and begin his weeklong spiritual retreat February 25.

Italian Cardinal Giacomo Biffi, retired archbishop of Bologna, will preach the papal retreat this year, Vatican Radio reported.

Cardinal Biffi was said to be a strong supporter of the pope in the conclave that elected him in 2005. The cardinal is well-known in Italy for his sometimes provocative statements; in 2000, he suggested that the Italian government should favor Catholic immigrants to offset the number of Muslim immigrants and protect Italy'S "national identity."

The pope's schedule through April also includes a parish visit in Rome March 25, a penitential liturgy with young people March 29, a trip April 21-22 to the northern Italian cities ofVigevano and Pavia, and a Mass to ordain new priests April 29.

On April 15, the pope will celebrate a special Mass in St. Peter's on the eve of his 80th birthday.

Vatican denies laicization for bishop running for president of Paraguay

By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE VATICAN CITY The Vatican turned down a laicization request from a Paraguayan bishop who wants to run for president and suspended the bishop from exercising his priestly ministry.

Bishop Fernando Lugo Mendez of San Pedro, Paraguay, 57, had announced December 25 that he would ask the Vatican to return him to the status of a layman so he could run for president.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for

Bishops, responded in December with a fonnal warning that running for public office would "be in clear contrast with the serious responsibility of a bishop of the Catholic Church" and would carry sanctions.

Vatican Radio reported that Cardinal Re informed Bishop Lugo in a January 20 letter that his request to return to the lay state had been denied because "the episcopacy is a service accepted freely forever."

However, the radio said, because of Bishop Lugo's decision

to continue his political activity, Cardinal Re also infonned him that he had been suspended from exercising his ministry as a bishop and priest.

Despite the suspension, Cardinal Re reminded Bishop Lugo that he "remains in the clerical state and continues to be bound by its obligations," Vatican Radio said.

The radio also reported that Cardinal Re had told Bishop Lugo that the task of a bishop is to lead the faithful and to work "for the salvation ~f souls and not to govern a political community."

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FEBRUARY

'WORLD DAY OF THE SICK - FEBRUARY

9, 2007

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Pope laments deaths from curable diseases, sees right to treatment World Day of the Si:ick is celebrated February 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

A BROTHER IN NEED - Etwari Ravi Das, suffering from leprosy, waits for treatment inside a clinic in Siliguri, India, January 29. Marking the January 28 World Leprosy Day, Pope Benedict XVI told people with leprosy, also called Hansen's disease, that he prayed for their healing. The pope also called for Church and health officials to ensure patients receive adequate care in dignified condi"tions. (CNS photolRupak De Chowdhuri, Reuters)

Pope marks World Leprosy Day, urges adequate, dignified care

By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

try, said too many people think be-

VATICAN CITY - Telling people with Hansen's disease that he prayed for their healing, Pope Benedict XVI called for Church and health officials to ensure the patients receive adequate care in dignified conditions.

Marking the January 28 World Leprosy Day, Pope Benedict said Hansen's - the formal name for "leprosy - "is not only a disease, but a social plague."

Speaking to pilgrims in Vatican City, the pope offered his thanks to the many Church workers who, following in the footsteps of Blessed Darnien de Veuster of Molokai and Raoul Follereau, have devoted their lives to serving people with the disease.

Blessed Darnien is the Belgianborn missionary priest who served Hansen's disease patients on Molokai in Hawaii more than a century ago, while Follereau was a Frenchman who launched World Leprosy Day some 50 years ago in an effort to combat the stigma against the disease.

Mexican Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Minis-

cause the disease is curable it has been eradicated.

"Unfortunately, such is not the case," he said in a message published by the Vatican.

-" The World Health Organization reported in 2006 that there were almost 220,000 new cases of infection and that about 10 million people in the world suffer from the disease or "are living with the disfigurement it can cause.

While the World Health Organization provides the treatment drugs for free, Cardinal Lozano said treatm~nt is limited by a lack of clinics and health care personnel in the places where the disease is still spreading.

Cardinal Lozano called on Catholics around the world to support the training and sending of medical missionaries to continue the Church's historic and often heroic efforts to cure those with the disease and, especially, to assist them in situations where they are treated as social outcasts.

The cardinal also called for efforts "to eliminate the prejudices that still exist in relation to those who are dr~atically afflicted by leprosy."

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VATICAN CITY (C.NS) The incurably and terminally ill have a right to medical treatment and spiritual assistance to ease their suffering and help them die with dignity, Pope Benedict XVI said.

In his annual message for the World Day of the Sick, the pope also decried the fact that too many poor people and people in underdeveloped nations are dying of diseases that are curable.

"The Church wishes to support the incurably and terminally ill by calling for just social policies which can help to eliminate the causes of many diseases and by urging improved care for the dying and those for whom no medical remedy is available," the pope said in the message published before Christmas 2006.

The World Day of the Sick will be observed February 11, the feast of" Our Lady of Lourdes. This year's Vaticansponsored conference and principal Mass for the observance will be held in Seoul, South Korea.

Pope Benedict said the world needs to do more "to promote policies which create conditions

where human beings can bear even incurable ihnesses and death in a dignified manner."

In addition, he said, more structures must b~ put in place

A GENTLE TOUCH - A woman is anointed during a special Mass m~rking World Day of the Sick at St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, N.Y., last February 11. Y/0rld Day of the Sick - observed annually on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes affirms the Church's duty to remember and serve the sick, and the suffering. (CNS file photo)

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to ensure the dying have pain medication, human assistance and spiritual accompaniment as they end their earthly lives. " "This is a right belonging to every human being, one which we must all be committed to defend," he wrote.

Writing directly to those suffering from incurable and terminally illnesses, the pope said, "I encourage you to contemplate the sufferings of Christ crucified and, in union with him, to turn to the Father with complete trust that all life, and your lives in particular, are in his hands.

"I ask the Lord to strengthen your faith in his love, especially .during the trials you are experiencing," he wrote.

The pope said Catholic health care professionals and chaplains want to assist the sick and "stand at your side, helping you in your hour of need and thus making present Christ's own loving mercy toward those who suffer."

Editor's Note: The full text of the papal message is available at http://www.vatican.va/ holyJatherlbenedict_xvi/messages/sick/documents/hf_benxVi_mes_20061208_world-dayof-the-sick-2007_en.html.

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THE INTERNATIONAL CHlTRCH

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FEBRUARY

9, 2007

British cardinal upset over samesex rules for adoption agencies

By SIMON CALDWELL raised crucial issues for the common good" and that a: consensus should be reached "on how best the public role of religious organizations can be safeguarded and their rights upheld." ''An important part of our Catholic tradition is to work constructively with the government in mutually respectful cooperation in which we can act with confidence and integrity in the service of the common good," he said.

The regulations already have been implemented in Northern Ireland. .

After a parliamentary debate and vote in February, the regulations could be implemented in England, PEACE DELEGATES - Rabbi Amy Small, immediate past president of the Reconstructionist RabScotland and Wales April 6. The rul- binical Association, Cardinal Theodme E. McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington, and Sayyid ing Labor Party will instruct its M. Syeed, national director of the Islamic Society of North America's Office of Interfaith and Commumembers to vote in accordance with nity Alliances, hold a press conference after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice the wishes of the Cabinet, but the January 29 in Washington. The religious delegation met. with Rice to promote a comprehensive peace process in the Middle East. (CNS photo/Bob Roller) Conservative 'Party leadership has promised its members a free vote.

A source close .to the bishops, . who wished not to be named, told Catholic News Service January 30 that a decision had not been taken

By JERRY FILTEAU ership for peace in the Middle East, the U.S. bishops' Office oflnternaon the future of the adoption agenCATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE leadership that supports and chal- tional Justice and Peace, who atcies because the Church had nearly WASHINGTON After meetlenges both Israelis and Palestin- tended the meeting as a staff aide two years to seek a solution. of State ing with U.S. Secretary he said, adding that this to Cardinal McCarrick, toldCathoians," He said the bishops soon would means ongoing, active high-level lic News Service that the met with Condoleezza Rice last week, a delask Catholic voters to ask politicians of U.S. Christian, Jewish egation U.S. engagement "that holds both Rice for more than 45 minutes, he of all parties to oppose the regulaand Muslim leaders said they think sides accountable in a step-by-step said, and after she left they contintions.

United States should take a the peace process." ued meeting about 40 minutes more The bishops were worried that more vigorous leadership role in "Second, as religious leaders in with the undersecretary of state for other aspects of the Church's inpromoting a comprehensive peace the Jewish, Christian and Muslim political affairs, R. Nicholas Bums. volvement in the public life of the in the Middle East. traditions, we committed ourselves "The leadership of the United nation would be under attack now Cardinal Theodore E. to continuing to say tough things States is going to be necessary," that the rights of conscience apparMcCarrick, retired archbishop of to our communities here and in the Rabbi Menitoff said, "not only to ently had been brushed aside, he told Washington, said the group met (Middle East) region to build up get the parties to the table, but to CNS. with Rice "to reiterate our strong public support for peace," he said. get the concessions necessary Meanwhile, Blair said January 29 commitment to a two-state on both sides so that an agreethat he supported gay adoption beof the Israeli-Palessolution ment can be reached." cause he believed. there was "no Cardinal McCarrick said, "We all Referring to Rice's recent place in our society for discrimina- tinian conflict" and to discuss share the hope that what our gov"the urgent need for United trip to the Middle East, tion." ernment is doing now will be sus- Bishop Hanson said, "We States leadership to restart "And that is why路there can be no tained, that the 'road map' that was think the foundation she has exemptions for faith-based adoption and successfully conclude initiated three or four years ago will laid needs' to be built upon" agencies offering publicly funded negotiations for a lasting and put on the front burner. II again be with a sustained U.S. presservices from regulations which pre- just peace between Israel and the Palestinian people." ence in diplomatic initiatives vent discrimination," Blair said.

Cardinal McCarrick, who led off "We know that these are difficult there. a press briefing afterward outside but necessary steps on the road to a Cardinal McCarrick said, "We the Department of State, said the two-state solution, and we pledge all share the hope that what our meeting was "substantive and ex- to build public support for them." government is doing now will be cellent."

Along with Cardinal McCarrick, sustained, that the 'road map' that "But the real measure of the suc- in the delegation were Presiding was initiated three or four years ago cess of our meeting can only be Bishop Mark Hanson of the Evan- will again be put on the front taken in the coming weeks and gelical Lutheran路 Church in burner." months as actions and events un- America; Presiding Bishop Syeed said American Muslims fold," he added.

Katharine Jefferts Schori of the U.S. are also very concerned about what The religious leaders belong to Epi'scopal Church; Rabbi Paul is happening in Iraq and Afghanithe National Interreligious Leader- Menitoff, former executive vice stan, "but we believe that the issue ship Initiative for Peace in the president of the Central Conference of Palestine is critical; that's why Middle East, a coalition of 35 lead- of American Rabbis; Rabbi Amy we're here."

In addition to Cardinal ers of national religious bodies or Small, past president of the organizations that was formed in Reconstructionist Rabbinical Asso- McCarrick, two other Catholic 2003'to press for a'more construc- ciation; and Sayyid M. Syeed, leaders signed the joint statement: tive and comprehensive U.S. ap- former secretary-general of the Is- Gardinal William H. Keeler of Balproach to Arab-Israeli-Palestinian lamic Society of North America, timore, who has played a leading who recently left that post to be- role in Catholic-Jewish and Cathopeace.

REJOICE IN THE LORD - A joyous procession marks the parish Cardinal McCarrick said the delcome founding national director of lic-Muslim relations, and Bishop festival at Assumption Catholic Church in Sultan Battery, India, Januthe society's new Office of Inter- William S. Skylstad of Spokane, egation emphasized two points. ary 28. The church is in a district of India known for its indigenous "First, as Americans, we ask for faith and Community Alliances.

Wash., president of the U.S. Contribes. Traditional Hindu drummers are seen at the front of the probold,-persistent United States leadcession. (CNS photo/Anto Akkara) Stephen M. Colecchi, director of ference of Catholic Bishops.

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

LONDON - The president of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales said he was "deeply disappointed" about the British government's refusal to exempt 13 Catholic adoption agencies from gay rights regulations.

"It is clear from the prime minister's statement that he has listened to some of the concerns of the Catholic Church in regard to its adoption agencies," said Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor of Westminster, England. "We are, of course, deeply disappointed that no exemption will be granted to our agencies on the grounds of widely held religious conviction and conscience."

The cardinal's January 29 statement followed an announcement by British Prime Minister Tony Blair that adoption agencies would hav~ until the end of 2008 to comply with the Sexual Orientation Regulations outlawing discrimination against homosexuals in services and facilities.

Public funding - approximately $200 million a year - will be withdrawn if agencies refuse to place children with same-sex couples. .

A week earlier, Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor said the regulations would lead to the closure of Catholic adoption agencies which find homes for about 250 vulnerable children each year.

But the cardinal did not say whether the closure of the agencies was imminent. ''We look to the forthcoming parliamentary debate to address some of the fundamental issues centered on the well-being ofthe child, whose needs must always be put tITst," said the cardinal in the 29 statement. ''We note and welcome, however, the government's expressed desire ~at the experience and excellent work ofour agencies is not lost, especially for the benefit of needy children."

The cardinal said the "debate has

Religious leaders seek stronger U.S. role towards Mideast peace

FEBRUARY

9, 2007

'THE CHURCH IN THE

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"there are a lot of people who are, shall we say, very unhappy with the way things are progressi'ng" with the war. Father Queally, 56, ~aid he found the situation "eerily reminiscent of Vietnam. Them telling I:us we need more troops. In Vietnam! it (the troop level) went to the nth degree 500,000 troops.... Do they think we're dumb? It feels like we've been down this road before."

I' Judy Coode, chair of;the national council of Pax Christi USA, said she ran into Pax Christi groups from Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, Georma, Detroit and Buffalo, N.Y. o' I' "And those are just the ones that I saw.... We had folks who got on a plane Saturday morningl, in Georgia and went straight to the rally," said Coode, who is also comrtlUnications manager of the MaryknollII Office for •

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Global Concerns.

The Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, with provinces in Califomia, Colorado and New York, bought an ad January 26, the day before the rally, in The Washington Post. It bore only the community's name, its Website, the locations of its three provincial headquarters and a picture of a dove flying over the earth with the message "Peace Now." Not everyone who is against the war descended on Washington. A January 27 rally, which organizers said drew 10,000 people, was held in San Francisco.

In Washington, where the U.S. Park Police years ago stopped making crowd estimates, rally numbers varied widely, from some police officers' private estimates of under 100,000 to organizers' claims of 500,000.

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Music Director/Cantor I

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE - Seventeen-year-old Emily Hammer, right, of St. Catherine's Episcopal High School in Richmond, Va., joins classmates at an anti-war rally on the National Mall in Washington January 27. Tens of thousands of people participated in the rally and a march urging the United States to get out of Iraq. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)

Catholic groups well represented at big anti-war rally at Capitol

By MARK PAmsoN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON - Catholic groups were well represented at a January 27 rally against the Iraq War that drew tens of thousands to the nation's capital to protest the current war policy and President George W. Bush's plan to send 21,500 additional soldiers to Iraq.

Retired Bishop Walter F. Sullivan of Richmond, Va., a former bishoppresident of Pax Christi USA, was one ofthe speakers at the rally, which preceded a march past th~ Capitol.

Some rally participants stayed in Washington to lobby members of Congress.

The rally was organized by United for Peace and Justice, a coalition of more than 1,300 organizations that have declared their opposition to the war.

"Pax Christi from the very beginning has condemned the invasion of Iraq as unlawful and immoral, as well as (condemned) the four-year war that has devastated this country and led to the deaths of thousands and thousands of innocent people," Bishop Sullivan told Catholic News Service. "Our fundamental beliefis that violence only begets more violence and that war is notthe solution to any human problem."

Bishop Sullivan added, "My concern is on behalf of the 3,000 American service personnel who have lost their lives and the 25,000 who have been maimed for life. .., Then, our concern (is) for ... the families who have borne the brunt of the conflict, and of course the Iraqi people."

"An estimated 200,000 of them have died" and there are "two million refugees:' he said, lamenting the "lives displaced and homes plundered

and destroyed."

"The question for me is why are we there in the first place and what do we hope to accomplish?" he asked. "Our only answer is 20,000 more troops."

Franciscan Father Kevin M. Queally, assistant vice president of mission effectiveness and ministry at St. Francis University in Loretto, Pa., responded to a faculty member's email asking ifanyone from the campus was going to the rally, and re-

served a van from the Dorothy Day Center there. A group of six from the school went, and while at the rally met a Pax Christi group that had taken a separate car to Was~gton.

"It was a wonderful day," Father Queally told CNS. "I've been to lots of marches. There were no talks from the podium, at least what I heard, that (were) embarrassing; maybe there were a couple of words that shouldn't have been said."

On the St. Francis campus, he said,

St. Lawrence, Martyr Parish, New Bedford, is seeking a Music Direct?r/Cantor. The position entails directing the Parish Choir and serving as canto~ at the lOAM Sunday Mass. It includes coordinating music selections with an established organist and staff of cantors who mini~ter at three other parish Masses. The successful candidate would have the ability to read music and the I necessary interperso:t:lal skills to energize a parish liturgical music program. CompeAsation is commensurate with experience.

I Please contact: Rev. John M. Sullivan, St. Lawrence Church II 110 Summer Street, New Bedford, MA 02740 508-992-4251 I!

"The help received from the Propagation of the Faith is literally our 'lifeline,'" says one seminary rector in India.

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Although the seminarians grow most of their own food and their parents are able to offer some financial assistance, these students would not be able to p~epare to serve their people as priests without ~elp offered through the Propagation of the Faith!! "Daily the seminarians pray for the great

sacrifices "lade for thtmt," says another rector in that country. ,JWe continue to ask God to bless you and the important contribution you make toward the, Church in India."

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With God'~ grace and your help, young men who hear Christ's c~,ll to follow Him as priests may respond "Yes!" well into the future. Through a Gift Annuity with the Propagation of the Faith, you can help the future missionary work of the Church and benefit as well. A Gift Annuity with the Propagation of the I,

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6 Strengthening marriage This Sunday is World Marriage Day. This celebration began in 1981 in Baton Rouge, when married couples encouraged the mayor, governor and bishop to proclaim St. Valentine's Day as "We Believe in Marriage Day." The event was so successful that by the next year, 43 governors officially proclaimed the day and celebrations spread to military bases in foreign countries. In 1983, the name was changed to "World Marriage Day;' and designated for the second Sunday in February. Since then it has continued to grow. Pope John Paul II specifically encouraged the celebration of the day, extending special blessings to those who participated in it.

The purpose of World Marriage Day is to rejoice in the gift of marriage, to honor the mutual love of husband and wife, and salute the beauty of faithfulness, sacrifice and joy in daily married life.

It perhaps was less important in past generations to have a day dedicated to the celebration of the indissoluble union of a man and a woman, because marriage was universally esteemed and celebrated. Young people spent years preparing for it and dreaming about it. Adults looked at marriage as the most defining commitment and reality of their life. It was the central reality that governed their approach to love, sex and children.

In recent years, however, the traditional connection between marriage, sex, procreation and childbearing has been weakened. This decoupling has led to higher rates of divorce, cohabitation, and illegitimacy as well as the new phenomenon of same-sex marriage. All of these, as they have become more common, have further weakened popular appreciation for the importance of marriage for the good of individuals and of society.

That's why it is increasingly important to have a day like World Marriage Day. It is important that we praise and celebrate marriage. It's important that we point out the various ideas and practices that weaken and threaten it. But neither of this is enough. What is most needed is for couples, the Church and society as a whole to look at, espouse and adopt concrete means to strengthen marriages.

At the level of couples, there are many solid means to make their marriages healthier and holier. One means that has helped tens of thousands of couples revitalize their marriages is the Worldwide Marriage Encounter Movement, which runs retreat weekends for couples, away from the distractions and tensions of everyday life. Under the guidance of expertlytrained couples and a Catholic priest, the weekend allows them the opportunity to examine their lives together and share their feelings, hopes, disappointments, joys and frustrations honestly in a face-to-face, heart-to-heart encounter with each other and with Christ. The Massachusetts branch of this worldwide movement hosts retreat weekends every month. Couples interested in signing up for one or finding out more information may visit wwmema.org or call 800-71D-wwme.

A second, more on-going means to strengthen the bond between a husband and a wife and between them and God is the Teams of Our Lady movement. This movement was founded 60 years ago in France by Father Henri Caffarel and spread quickly to other European countries. Decades ago, it took firm root in our diocese among Portuguese-speaking Catholics and has now spread to many couples in English-speaking parishes as well.

The movement has a three-fold purpose: to help the spiritual life of a couple grow through a program of prayer and study; 'to improve the communication between husband and wife by developing intimacy through shared prayer and regular in-depth talks; and to make their Christian faith a daily living experience.

Each team is comprised of five to seven couples with a priest or a deacon as a chaplain. The team meets together once a month for dinner, prayer, guided reflection, study, and mutual support. The individual couples commit themselves to a manageable "rule of life" with various daily, weekly, monthly and yearly components all geared toward helping the couples achieve the purposes of the movement.

Pope John Paul II welcomed the international leaders of the movement to the Vatican in 2003. This great apostle of marriage "rejoiced" in the ''fruitfulness of the movement throughout the world" and praised its "pedagogy, based on concrete points of effort, that help the couple to grow together in holiness."

World Marriage Day is an occasion, indeed, for all couples to make "concrete points of effort ... to grow together in holiness." The Teams of Our Lady are a great, highly praised and effective means to do that. Many teams already exist in our diocese ready to incorporate new couples or help them found new teams. Those who are interested in finding out more may visit teamsofourlday.org or speak to their parish priests.

Finally, it is fitting that we mark World Marriage Day close to the feast of St. Valentine. As much of society views Valentine's Day as a day of romance with little connection to marriage, it is worth recalling that St. Valentine routinely risked his life during the persecutions by the Roman Empire, to bring the love of young couples to fulfillment in Christian marriage. As his early hagiographers attest, he was arrested by the Roman soldiers during the celebration of a wedding and soon afterward put to death.

He was a willing martyr for marriage, because he recognized its importance in God's plans for man and woman.

We ask him to intercede for all the married couples of our diocese, so . that WofId Marriage Day and Valentine's Day will lead, not just to a rekindling of marital love, but spur them on to the eternal wedding banquet.

The Anchor ,

FEBRUARY

9, 2007

the living word

A BOY IS WHEELED INTO A HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT AFfER ONE OF THREE CAR BOMBS EXPLODED IN A MARKETPLACE IN BAGHDAD, IRAQ, FEBRUARY 5. (eNS PHOTOIMOHAMMED AMEEN, REUTERS) "WHOEVER RECEIVES ONE CHILD SUCH AS THIS IN MY NAME, RECEIVES ME; AND WHOEVER RECEIVES ME, RECEIVES NOT ME BUT THE ONE WHO SENT ME" (MARK 19:37).

Words and meanings A couple of weeks ago, I received an email message from a priest friend in Austria. He was a classmate of mine at the Angelicum University in Rome, and he is now the pastor of three parishes in the Archdiocese of Vienna.

In his message, he mentioned that he recently attended a meeting of priests with their bishop, Cardinal Christoph SchOnborn, to discuss the current challenges in their pastoral work. Among the issues discussed was the reality of the increasing number of people who come to the Church in search of the external religious rituals, but without interest in or intention of practicing the faith. Soon, wrote my friend, all of Europe may be mission territory.

My immediate reaction to this message was to realize, once . again, how much my priest friend and I have in common, despite the great distance that separates our priestly work. For, the pastoral challenge he describes is certainly not limited to Austria, or even to Europe.

One of the greatest challenges we face in the Church today is how to stir into flame a genuine, lively faith among those who remain attached to the Church through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and marriage. These people still value and desire the rituals of our faith,

but many of them want the words of these rituals, without the meanings. They appreciate the ceremony of our sacraments, but not the requirements or obligations related to them.

Whether it's the ritual of baptism, during which parents are asked if they will raise their child in the practice of the faith, teaching him or her to keep God's

commandments as Christ taught us, or the ritual of marriage, during which couples are asked if they will love and honor each other as man and wife for the rest of their lives, the words of our religious rituals remain attractive to many, but the honest intention to fulfill them is often lacking.

The same, by the way, might be said of the ordination ritual, in which the candidate is asked if he is resolved to embrace a life of celibate chastity and to celebrate faithfully the Liturgy of the Hours.

It remains a constant danger in the Church to focus on quantity, rather than quality. For example, it's not uncommon' for attention and focus to be given to the number of candidates for conftr-

mation in a given parish, rather than the percentage of them who practice the faith and intend to remain with the Church. Likewise, a parish might be known for the number of its registered families, rather than its. weekly Mass attendance or the level of interest in the sacrament of reconciliation.

Thankfully, much attention has recently been given to certain other areas of needed reform in the Church, but the issue of real faith and a deep spiritual life among those enrolled in the Church has still been overlooked by many, particularly by those who might be content with the status quo, or who cannot imagine such reform in th~ Church.

True reform in the Church will come when the sacraments are celebrated with real faith and received with real integrity, when the words are said with meaning.

When the beautiful words of our sacramental rituals are professed with honest intention, the rituals take on new, powerful meaning, and the Church comes alive.

Although achieving this may be a perennial challenge for the Church, it remains one sure way of putting into the deep, as our Lord commanded.

Father Pignato is chaplain at路 Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth and is secretary to Bishop George lY. Coleman.

FEBRUARY

•

9, 2007

The Anchor ,

Should ~ have a living will?

Permanent And Severe Brain Many people believe they can Damage And Not Expected To exercise better control over their Recover: own destiny by filling out a living will (also called an "advance If my doctor and another directive.") They may have health cafe professio~al both decide that I have permanent and concerns about becoming caught severe brain damage, (for in a tangle of tubes, wires and technology as they are dying, unable to break 'free and extricate themselves. They hope that by signing on the dotted line, they may be able to breathe their last

By Father Tad' "easily and peacefully."

PacholczYk ' At first glance, an advance directive may example, I can open my eyes, but appear to address many of our endof-life concems, and hence, can I cannot speak or understand) and I am not expected to get better, seem like a good idea, but it often and life-support treatment would tends to serve as a rather "blunt instrument" when it comes to only delay the moment of my handling complex and nuanced end- death (Choose one of the following): of-life situations. Moreover, living - I want to have life-support wills are sometimes used to buttress treatment. or justify some of the morally - I do not want life-support problematic decisions being made in treatment.' If it has been started, I health care settings today.

One of the major difficulties want it stopped.

- I want to have life-support . with some living wills is that they treatment if my doctor believes it may be written using broad and could help. But I want my doctor imprecise language, giving rise to to stop giving me life-support the idea that all treatment options are morally equivalent. One treatment if it is not helping my health condition or symptoms. widely available living will called The various options presented "Five Wishes" offers questionable above cannot be morally legitioptions and morally dubious mate for every case of severe choices to the patient by includbrain damage, even though they ing, as but one example, the are offered as if they were. Severe following series of check-boxes:

Making Sense Out of Bioethics

brain damage affects different people differently, but even when likely to cause a permanent disability, or otherwise lower the individual's "quality of life," this does not imply that we always have a valid moral option to discontinue life-support.

Many people live in compromised, less-than~ ideal situations, yet are valuable members of our families and communities.

Some have argued that the loose language of many living wills has the effect of setting up a "glide path" into euthanasia or physicianassisted suicide.

Too often, people imagine that the choice to accept or decline a particular medical intervention can be made in a kind of vacuum, as if every decision were equally acceptable, since we are "free to choose." But the freedom to make our own health care decisions implies that we have moral obligations and duties, one of which is to be certain that we are using all the "ordinary" or "proportionate" interventions necessary to maintain our life and health. To put it simply, those medical treatments, medications, and procedures that offer reasonable hope to protect and preserve life without grave burden to oneself or another are ordinary care, and are required as part of

Lassie, she's not In the January 19, 2007 Anchor, everyone's favorite sea captain priest, Tim Goldrick, "raised the bar," of sports injuries, proclaiming his being the king of the athletically challenged. (See "Going downhill fast.") He worried about being fired for topping my sports calamities, But there's no way I'd get rid of "The Ship's Log." For one, thousands of readers would have my head. Secondly, that would give Father Tim more time to make boo-boos.

And be assured that I won't be topping any of your stories soon, Father. The closest I get to a sports injury now is falling off the couch while watching baseball or getting poked in the eye with a branch looking for my golf ball.

But, I must share the latest sports injury in the Jolivet family a tom knee ligament. No, it wasn't Emilie playing hoops, and it wasn't Denise performing pi/ates exercises. It was Igor, our athletically challenged border collie.

Yep, poor Igor added to the Jolivet lore with a torn ligament on her left hind knee.

I'd like to say the pooch was

injured protecting me from a rabid coyote. But I can't. It's not that she wouldn't protect any of us. In fact when it comes to

keeping her eyes out for the family, she's second to none. But, she's also second to none in being neurotic.

She's afraid of vacuum cleaners, brooms, smoke alarms, and seeing her reflection in the oven door. But put a cat, a UPS driver, or the Stop & Shop Peapod person in her path and watch out.

Igor's injury came about when she was outside with Emilie and she was spooked by something.

Again, I'd like to think it was a rabid coyote, but it was probably a vicious earthworm. Any way, she bolted up the deck stairs, got her leg caught and came up lame.

She was a trooper - no tears, no whimpering - just a pathetic look on her face. Her big brown

eyes seemed to say, "It wasn't my fault."

When we took her to the vet, she was diagnosed with the tear.

She has a month to see if the damage will rectify itself. If not, there's minor surgery to be done. But after all, she is a Jolivet.

Now I know Father Tim has a couple of greyhounds, and I'm half expecting him to top Igor's sports injury with a tale (tail?) or two of his own.

That's OK, Father. Feel free. Only this time you'll have to answer to Igor, not me. davejolivet@anchornews.org

7 I,

our duty to care fori ourselves.

An advance directives has another flaw that m~es it a rather "blunt instrument" In end-of-life situations. When w~ sit down to draft a living will, we suppose that we can foresee~ predict or somehow imagine what our particular medical situation will be like in the future; maybe 10 or 20 years down the road. This is clearly an exercise speculation, and we might actually fare better in the stock market 9r in Las Vegas than in an ex~rcise of this i sort.

I recall hearing about a man who asked his friend who worked as a Catholic ethicisl to review his living will and see if there was anything in it that w~mld be in conflict with good ethics or Catholic teaching. The document was a full 26 pages long, covering as many scenarios as the man could imagine or dream up. A few days later, he called the ethicist and asked whether he had looked over his living will yet. The . ethicist replied that he had, and that he had only one comment: it was too short! The point of the story is that even if we labor exhaustively in the preparation of a living will, we can't realistically cover every possibility, and we can easily miss the orte condition or circumstance that may eventually befall us.

'I Another story involves a businessman who ha~ diligently filled out his living will, indicating that if he were to suffer a . .. . khl ess, he senous ffiJury or SIC wouldn't want any tubes or mechanical assistanc~ with breathing. He just wanted to be let go. One day he had a!!heart attack, and was struggling to breathe.

The ambulance rushed him to the local hospital. In the ~mergency room, they showed him his living will, which they had ~n file, and said, "You didn't want us to do anything, according t6 your advance directive." Hb blurted out, "Look, I don't care what I wrote there - I can't breathe, and I want you to help me now!" We 'I don't always know what a particular situation will really be like beforehand, or how we will .approach urgent life and death decisions when they arise.

There is a better choice

$

available to Christians than a living will. We can choose a surrogate, a living person, who will make health care decisions in real time on our behalf if we are rendered unable to do so. The proposed surrogate (also called a "health care proxy") is someone who cares deeply about us, who loves us, and is reasonably able to make decisions in accord with our known wishes and with our best medical and spiritual interests in mind. Filling out a form to designate our health care proxy is something that each of us should do as a sensible way to prepare for difficult end-of-life situations that may arise. Preparing such a document can also prompt us to begin discussing these important topics more effectively with our families and loved ones.

[Forms are available to assist with selecting a health care proxy: see the link to the "End-of-Life 'Guide" under the Publications section of The NCBC Website www.ncbcenter.org].

Father Pacholczyk earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest ofthe Diocese ofFall River, and serves as the Director ofEducation at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www.ncbcenter.org

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FEBRUARY

9, 2007

Which way will you choose?

The word blessed is thrown around so easily in our time. If someone has done well financially we say "she's blessed!" If a young person excels in academics, athletics or some other extra-curricular activity, we say "he's blessed!"

And in many respects they are.

However, the word blessed is often misused. Being blessed is, more than anything else, about God's love and mercy.

Being blessed is more about how open we are to God and sharing his love with others than it is about being gifted or talented.

Jesus is telling us in today's Gospel that to be blessed is to be something that seems contrary to the world. Being blessed will involve challenge, difficulty and perhaps persecution. However, it will also involve happiness - a glimpse of happiness in this

because they have no choice life and total happiness in the but to depend upon God and life to come.

As we move through this what God provides for them. life we can often forget that Why are the hungry blessed? we are moving toward They are blessed because they are not full of all that this eternity. This life does indeed consume our thoughts.

We become so consumed with how we inily of the Wee are going to just get Sixth Sunday through the day that '~Or~inary Tir.!'1e we forget that the way -By Father .~ we live today has an John M. Murray impact upon eternal life.

The Gospel brings us to world has to offer. There is an Jesus' greatest sermon. We are emptiness within them that there listening to the words of allows room for God and his Jesus as he tells us his idea of love and mercy. Why are the _blessedness and happiness. weeping blessed? They are We hear from Jesus who lifts blessed because they are not up the poor, the hungry, the seeking only the fleeting hated and the persecuted. pleasures of this world; those pleasures which only bring Why are they blessed, accordtemporary fulfillment and ing to Jesus? What is the real satisfaction. Why are the story here? Why are the poor excluded and hated blessed? blessed? They are blessed

They are blessed because they do not depend on what others tell them is good and acceptable. They do not look for whichever way the wind is blowing to determine what they should think, believe or say. No! They look to God and his law of love to determine how they will act in this world. And often these actions, these words, will bring about the reality exclusion and separation.

We are also presented with certain "woes." These things that Jesus warns us about seem like good things. Why are there cautions about them?

What is wrong with being happy and laughing? What is wrong with being rich and having our fill? What is wrong with being accepted and being spoken well of by others? In

essence there is nothing wrong with these things. But when we become so consumed with making sure we have our share, we become selfish and self-centered.

When we become so concerned about being thought of well by others that we are willing to compromise who we are, and who we are called to be, then we lose sight of God's call to walk with him everyday of our lives.

The way Jesus sets out for us is not easy. However the way Jesus sets out for us is the path to eternal life. We have two ways from which to choose - the way of woe or the way of blessedness.

Which way will you choose?

Father Murray is a parochial vicar at St. Pius X Parish ill South Yannouth, and a vocations coordinator for the Cape Cod Deanery.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat, Feb 10, On 3:9-24; Ps 90:2-6,12-13; Mk 8:1-10. Sun, Feb 11, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jer 17:5-8; Ps 1:1-4,6; 1 Cor 15:12,16-20; Lk 6:17,20-26. Mon, Feb 12, Gn 4:1-15,25; Ps 50:1,8,16-17,20-21; Mk 8:11-13. 'fues, Feb 13, Gn 6:5-8;7:1-5,10; Ps 29:1a,2,3ac-4,3b,9b-1O; Mk 8:14-21. Wed, Feb 14, Gn 8:6-13,20-22; Ps 116:12-15,18-19; Mk 8:22-26.

Thurs, Feb 15, Gn 9:1-13; Ps 102:16-18,19-23,29; Mk 8:27-33. Fri, Feb 16, Gn 11:1-9; Ps 33:10-15; Mk 8:34-9:1.

Nancy and me, a lament Nancy Pelosi and I-grew up in the same Baltimore, in the days of May Processions and Forty Hours' devotions, of Baltimore Catechisms and nuns in starched wimples, of Catholic heroes like John Unitas and Gino Marchetti.

Nostalgia is always suspect when judging the texture of a time and a place: in this case, a town of ethniC neighborhoods in which Catholic kids unselfconsciously identified themselves by parish.

Yet it's hard not to feel a twinge of reverence for something that wasn't perfect - but, dang, it was great. Or, as another product of that period, Garry Wills, once wrote, ."Not a bad ghetto to grow up in."

In the Fifties, Nancy D' Alesandro was the mayor's daughter - her father being "Big Tommy" D' Alesandro, as distinguished from Nancy's brother, "Young Tommy," who was mayor during riot time in 19(i8 and then left public life. Afte~ marrying Paul Pelosi in 1962, Nancy moved to San FranCisco - and thereby missed one of the electric moments in the twilight years of the old Baltimore in which we were both raised.

It was January 1966, and the City Council was considering an open housing bill - a key plank

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in the platform of civil rights leaders. "Young Tommy" D' Alesandro, then president of the'Council, invited Cardinal Lawrence Shehan to testify at a public hearing on the measure.

The diminutive cardinal had barely gotten the first sentence out of his mouth when raucous jeers broke out, to the point where Young Tommy had the cops clear the room so the hearing could proceed. "The Jeering of the Cardinal" was the big story for days thereafter - a story from which some of us took an important lesson: the Catholic Church stood shoulderto-shoulder with those deemed outside the boundaries of society's protection and concern.

It's hard to imagine Young Tommy not telling his sister about that episode, but Nancy Pelosi doesn't seem to have learned the meaning of those heady days for the 21st century - that the legislative battles to protect the right-to-life of the

unborn, the elderly, and the hand~capped, (not to mention the battle against treating human embryos as research material) are civil rights struggles in moral continuity with the civil rights struggles of the 60s.

The questions are the same: Who enjoys the protection of the laws?

Who is inside the boundaries of the community's protection and concern? Who is safe, if some of us arrogate to ourselves the power to declare others of us outside those boundaries?

I wish my fellow-exBaltimorean had answered those questions in a way that does full justice to the Catholic upbringing of which she boasts. Alas, Nancy Pelosi is one of the most relentless supporters of the spurious "right" to abortion in the House: which means that she's on the wrong side of the great civil rights issue of our time, just like the people who jeered Cardinal Shehan in 1966. NARAL ProChoice America went into paroxysms of adulation when Pelosi was elected speaker; Democrats for Life lamented that Pelosi put federal funding for embryo-destructive stem cell research near the top of her legislative agenda.

Then there was the carefully choreographed January 3 Mass at Washington's Trinity University, where Pelosi had attended college. At the Speaker's invitation, the celebrant and homilist was Father Robert Drinan, SJ, who would succumb to pneumonia a few weeks later. Father Drinan was the man who, more than anyone else, gave the moral gr~en light for the Democratic Party to tarnish its modem civil rights record by embracing the abortion license; the man who, during his years in Congress; consistently defied the canons of public justice (and the Church's settled conviction) on the great civil rights issue of the day; the man who helped tum Sen. Edward Kennedy from a potential champion of the Pro-Life cause into the desiccated, Wolsey-like specimen he is today. If Father Drinan's record provides insight into the Pelosi speakership, then Nancy Pelosi has betrayed the great public lesson of the Baltimore Catholicism in which we both grew up.

I pray that my fellow-exBaltimorean changes her mind, but I'm not holding my breath.

I'm also praying that my skepticism is misplaced.

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

FEBRUARY

9, 2007

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~ The Anchor,$'

Hello out there in TV land Friday 9 February 2007 Port-oj-Call: Dartmouth - On this date in 1964, The Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. The program was viewed by 73 million people, a new world record.

Here I stand in Bishop Stang High School's chapel, the location of the Televised Mass sponsored by the Diocese of Fall

, .

River. It's on Channel 6 every Sunday at 11 a.m. The TV Mass keeps homebound Catholics feeling connected to the faith community.

Occasionally, I receive a phone call from John E. Kearns Jr., diocesan director of Communications. Would I

be able to celebrate the TV Mass? It's BYOP - "Bring Your Own People." Out goes an alert from the parish office

_;;;;0..

. . . ._.;;;:.;..

to recruit musicians, singers, readers, servers, a congregation, etc.

The first TV Mass was celebrated by Bishop James Connolly on Sunday, Sept. 22, 1963. The first director of the Television Apostolate was Father John Hogan. Mass was

Peace on Earth," the camera minutes. 10 minutes. Five would sneak a shot.

Minutes. One Minute. Cut! Cut! Upon the death of Father At first I mistook these as then celebrated at Channel6's Hogan, Father Marcel sermon rating scores, as in the former studio in New Bedford Olympics. I wondered why my Bouchard served as director for and broadcast live. Pale blue two years. For the past 19 years, score kept going down until altar linens were used. Back Msgr. Steve Avila!' has headed John explained. Once, before then, cameras couldn't Mass, I took John's time-cards the TV Apostolate. transmit the color When you drive up on the and hid them. Problem solved. white; but blue apday of the taping, the first thing Usually, two Masses are peared as white. Since you see is a large truck. Thick filmed in one morning every filming is now done on cords pass from the truck other Saturday. Sometimes this Saturdays, it means through an open sacristy means a liturgical SWAT team personal sacrifice for a window and connept the camruns out between Masses and priest. He must spend eras to the control penter. The quickly replaces the Advent all morning in a studio sacristy gets pretty chilly in the wreath with a bank of poinsetrather than working on tias. I am not making this up. A winter. Inside there are two his weekend sermon. Father cameras, TV monitors, and week can pass in a few seconds Hogan did this for 23 years. For some huge lights. The chapel at the TV Mass studio. decades, Margaret Sullivan gets pretty hot in the summer.

In the chapel-studio, you are was music director and standby Mass is pre-recorded these apt to run into a brother priest organist. Sister Leandra was . days. "Live" is always preferwho, perhaps, you have not head sacristan. Margaret never seen lately. You want to seize able, but that can get tricky. wanted to be seen, but someThere are still glitches. Twice the opportunity to chat. Talk times during her trademark I was well into the Mass when a fast. You have two minutes, recessional hymn, "Let There Be problem was discovered - no tops. film in the camera. ~nother There are more than 30 . time, the Mass was "filmed but "regular" TV Mass priests. In a the tape itself got lost. They pinch, some are called upon to played a rerun of F~ther step in more than once a year. is the Catholic Men's and Horace Travassos s,aying Mass Priests on the Cape are schedWomen's Conferences. Blossominstead.

It literally turned out to uled during the spring and fall ing, almost overnight, and from when bridge traffic is lighter. be Christmas in JuIX. One time ground zero of the priest scandals, priest accid~ntally went Bishop George W. Coleman another the first Men's Conference hosted home with my sermon notes. celebrates a full-hour TV Mass 2,200 men in 2005. Attendance When I reached the pulpit, I had at Christmas and Easter. rose to 5,200 men for the 2006 nothing to say. The cameras There are also "regulars" in conference, and a companion rolled on. I understand that there the congregation. These are women'S conference attracted is a tape of TV Mass bloopers members of the Diocesan 3,300. .~ stashed away somewhere in the Council of Catholic Women.

Like the medical archives. It would make great They are organized by Bella blog I encountered, entertainment at our next Priest Nogueira. These women have sharing real-life Convocation. earned the crown of martyr, anecdotes with other Filming can be intimidating. having sat through countless believers in small prayer The camera crew is waving at sermons, one after another. groups and at large you to look here or there. You While the TV Mass was conferences is a have exactly 29 minutes and 40 being broadcast one recent blessing. Companionseconds. And I do mean exactly.

Sunday morning, I was bringing ship, not isolation, is A half-hour time slot has been Communion to a shut-in here in what we need as we purchased by the diocese, the Village. When I rang Al and struggle to accept the Great including time for the opening Mary's doorbell, Mary nearly Physician's diagnosis of our and closing graphics. TV fell off the couch. Seems I was terminal sinfulness and his . stations count every nanosecond also on their TV, distributing prescription of repenting and of air-time.

Talking t~o little is holy Communion - simulca~t! believing so that w.e may be worse than rambling on. There's How's that for feeling conhealed. In this spirj.t, let me a sinking feeling when you nected? reeommendto yoo,. the ypcoming announce "Go, the Mass is Father Goldrick is pastor of Boston Catholic Men~s Conferended" and John Keams says St. Bernard Parish, Assonet. ence on March 17, and the you still have five minutes, so Comments are welcome at Women's Conference on March wing it.

StBernardAssonet@aol.com.

18. My husband has attended both Previous columns are available John Kearns sits in the front of the first two conferences, and pew flashing time-cards: 15 at www.StBernardAssonet.org. we will both he going this year.

We have preViously heard several of this year's speakers and can testify that they are inspired'and inspiring. They speak from the April 14 - 21, 2007 heart of the Magisterium. They June 23 - July 1, 2007 are heartily endorsed by Cardinal October 5 - 11'2, 2007 O'Malley, who will also be Cost: $2,200 speaking at both conferences.

Please, don'fmiss this chance to RomefTuscany/Florence. get a big spiritual shot in the arm!

See the Pope, Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, You can get more information by Catacombs, Spanish Steps... visiting bostoncatholicmen.org or Contact: bostoncatholicwometLorg.

Anthonx Nachef, PhD (Theology) Heidi is an author,photogra857 W. Boylston St., Worcester, MA 01606 pher, andfull-time mother. She I 508-340-9370 and her husband raise theirfive

Just what the Great Physician ordered I was online researching some prescription medications the other day when I got sidetracked onto a medical web page that began, in part, with this bold disclaimer: ''Remember: Nobody on this site is a doctor, therapist, or pharmacist. Know your sources!" It turned out that the site was really a blog (an online diary) maintained by people sharing their personal experiences with specific medications. I thought the rather brash disclaimer would bias me against the site's information, but it didn't.

After sifting through screen after computer screen of medical jargon, I enjoyed reading some humorous anecdotes by the "non-experts" as they struggled to find the right treatments for what ailed them.

The Website got me thinking thai there really ought to be a disclaimer posted on the door of every church that reads: ''Nobody in this church is a living saint, our religious are not practically perfect in every way, and our laypeople are all sinners, too." Of course, I'm being impertinent on purpose here, but we seem to have this mistaken notion that being churchgoers clears us of every spiritual blemish. It's just not so, and to recognize this as the truth shouldn't bias us against what our priests and religious, or our lay leaders have to say. The biblical truth is that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). According to Scripture, admitting our own sinfulness does not make us automatically bad or untrustworthy. It is a necessary step toward receiving the healing that Jesus, the great physician, came to give

us. In Mark 2: 17 Jesus says, "Itis not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners:' Recognizing the truth that we are.all sinners can help us get out from under the cloud of clerical credibility that has been hanging over us since the news of the priest abuse scandal,s broke in

2002. I believe the Scri.pmre passage'forus to graSp' during our healing proCess is ROIllans 8:28, '~d we know that in all things God works fof the good of those' who love him, who lulve ~n" called according to his purpose:' Like a motherpi~ksyp,,r~足 sembles, and makes a new creation out of a birthday cake .that's been dropped on the way to the table, God doesn't give up.

God rescues what and who has been lost. How can we know that this is true? As the medical blog advises, by knowing our source: the Bible, the writtenWord of God that teaches truth without error (CCC 135-6).

One of the ways we can see God working for the good of those who love him is through the appointment ofour former bishop, Sefu1 O'Malley, to the position of archbishop and now cardinal of the Boston Archdicr cese. We in the Fall River Diocese know what a holy man Cardinal O'Malley is. He is a credible . source. Another "good" that has come to the Boston Archdiocese

ITALY 2007

children in Falmouth. homegrownfaith@yahoo.com.

E-mail: an@catholicteachings.org Website: www.catholicteachings.org

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Cape AIDS Ministry founder finds her niche helping others

By MIKE GORDON, ANCHOR STAFF

She and another Sister came to the diocese in 1993 and met with people on the Cape to assess what the needs were for people living with HIV andAIDS on Cape Cod. ''The greatest need we found was housing," said Sister Bellenoit. "While we were getting our ministry up and running we worked for an AIDS service organization on the Cape."

She is a parishioner at Our La4Y ofVictory Parish in Centerville, where she is also a lector. A fellow parishioner, Attorney DonWebber, was a big help in getting things set up and she is thankful for his assistance. "He offered us legal service pro bono. We were grateful for that."

Funding for the ministry comes from various faith communities, individuals and foundations as well as the Sisters of St. Joseph. ''They have been very generous in providing us with grants. .~:.

MOllY Catholic J"'rishes 00

HYANNIS - "Working here is an opportunity to show people that they are accepted and loved for who they are:' said Sister ofStJoseph Joan Bellenoit, founder of Cape AIDS Ministry in Hyannis.

Founded in 1995, Cape AIDS Ministry provides affordable permanent housing to low income individuals and families living with HIV andAIDS. They offer people a nurturing and safe environment to live in and a variety of services to help promote personal growth.

"Our main goal when we started was to assess and administer to the needs of people with HIV and AIDS and those who care for them and love them," said Sister Bellenoit. ''We provide supportive housing, child care, emotional support, and help with daily living skills so they may live and cope wilhtbedi=. We of~---

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ments here on site andwe been doing for so many years. house nine families," she "She is doing important said. "Our residents and wonderful work on the range in age from a oneCape," continued Father year-old child to a 63Hession. "She was bold year-old man." " , enough to reach outto people The buildings w e r e . . who really needed help and renovated and opened in CAREGIVER - Sister of St. Joseph Joan Bellenoit began this ministry when 1998 and a staff of three h~s been inst~~enta! in providing support and ser- people didn't want to do a lot not only provides ser- VIceS to people IMng with HIV and AIDS on Cape Cod. for people living with the vices to those living with AIDS, but ~ expanded the AIDS virus." ministry to include those with physical and emotional Father Hession added that work such as Sister is dodisabilities. Volunteers assist in numerous ways as well. ing, "calls others to live the word of God and a Christ''We branched out in 2002," said Sister Bellenoit. ''We like life, reaching out to those most in need like the vulwere getting calls from other agencies and they were look- nerable and the poor. TheAIDS virus ~ made for a new ing to refer people to us. We couldn'tjust close the door." minority," he stated.

The ministry takes clients of any faith and is open to Sister Bellenoit's office is located on-site and the faall people. cilities have handicapped accessibility. In addition to counSister Bellenoit was born in Phoenixville, Penn., and seling, the staff also operates a food pantry once a week entered the religious community in 1949. She made her for their clients. It offers support groups, educational workfinal vows in 1955 and said, ''I've been happy ever since." shops, respite care, transportation, pastoral care and netInspired by the religious Sisters who taught her, Sis- working resources for their clients. ter Bellenoit felt drawn to a religious life. ''I had interacShe works with MargaretCarra and Carolyn Schreiner. tions with several religious communities at that time, but ''The idea ofserving one's neighbor and uniting one's I was pu1l~ to the Sisters of St Joseph. The order was self to God and bringing others to him comes from our founded in LePuy, France in 1650. I admired the life motto," said Sister Bellenoit. ''That's what we live here. ~y led and the way they treated one another and everyYou do a little part in the place where you're called. You . one they encountered with respect." try to share that love with others."

She went on to say that as a teen-ager, ''I knew I wanted According to the Sisters of St. Joseph Website, ''We to be a religious. I didn't see myself getting married and were founded to discover where the need was greatest. asked God for the grace to know. After my confinnation We were to go there with love of God and love of neighI knew." bor without distinction."

Sister Bellenoit taught elementary school in the Fall That is just what Sister Bellenoit is doing on Cape River Diocese for several years. For six years she served Cod and she's happy for the opportunity. as the director ofReligious Education at Holy Name of ''I get a sense of satisfaction that I'm helping to make the Sacred Heart of Jesus Pmsh, New Bedford. She a difference," she declared. ''This is a wonderful opporspent 10 years teaching school in Louisiana before serv- tunity. Many of these folks were homeless. It makes me ing as director of Religious Education in Texas for five appreciate all the graces I've been blessed with. As Christ years. accepts all of us as his children, we must do the same." ''I was moving quite a bit, but was happy to go wherShe went on to say that people living in the apartever they needed me," she said. ''I wanted to teach down ments have been rery appreciative ofthe help. "One said south and for me it was a chance to do some good work she's seen her d2 ughter blossom while living here. Her and work with different people. It didn't hurt that I liked little girl told me. she was glad her mom moved them to travel." here because she no longer lives in fear. Stories like that Later Sister Bellenoit would return to Massachusetts tell me, 'It certai: tly makes an impact.''' . and serve on the leadership team for the Sisters of St. For more inj "ormation call 508-775-9730 or write Joseph in Springfield. ''At the end of the six years there I CapeAlDS Mini ,try, 155 Winter Street, Hyannis, 02601. needed to find another ministry. I wanted to do some- Donations are a /ways needed. Volunteer opporlunities thing for people with AIDS." are also availab, e.

./

St. Labre Guild Each meeting begins with prayer. There are updates on the apostolate and its efforts as well as advocacy information. There is time for sharing as well as a question and answer session. They also have video presentations as well as guest speakers.

According to Duff, "The Guild prays, educates and advocates."

The 40-year-old Duff works as a bereavement coordinator in Boston where he gives support and help to grieving families. He holds a master's degree in theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Conn. Previously he was director of Pastoral Care at St. Francis Hospital in Delaware.

Duff founded the ecumenical guild 10 years ago and said the support group aims not to be a selfhelp group or a clinic, but "simply brothers and sisters in Christ who support one another and share their spirituality. From that we gain coping skills on how to deal with a loved one with mental illness."

The Cape group has been meeting for more than a year and there are several other similar support groups that have also sprung up across the country.

"Our mission is 'may no family cry alone again,''' declared Duff. "We want to be in solidarity with those suffering from mental illness and offer them our love and compassion."

According to Duff, those who attend are able to share with one another their experiences and feelings as well as find hope and healing.

Duff knows first hand about the challenges mental illness causes to families. His older brother Scott was diagnosed with schizophrenia and has been hospitalized for more than 30 years. In the words of Duff, "My family has been given a very special person to love."

Scott, now 54, was an altar server and honor student before the symptoms surfaced in his late teens. He eventually was unable to communicate and was hospitalized. Because of laws in Massachusetts, although he had committed no crime, Scott, like many patients with mental illness, was placed in a prison hospital for the criminally insane. The family was deprived of visits for some time before they brought a class action suit after five patients in the unit died. Because of that suit, laws were changed, but the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health recently closed its newer facility.

Scott is now at the Taunton State Hospital and his family must constantly monitor the situation to ensure that adequate care is provided. Many families face similar situations.

"Going through that experience

Continuedfrompageone

growing up put it in my heart to do something," said Tim Duff.

"The apostolate has grown internationally. I wrote to cloistered and contemplative religious communities and asked them to join us spiritually and in prayer. Today we have more than 400 religious communities doing that for our work."

Duff was thankful for all the support he has received through the years and was grateful to all who have helped make a difference. His mother Mildred has helped assist with the endeavor since it started 10 years ago and they hope to continue to expand their ministry and help more people and families.

"My mother has been right there with me from the start, 100 percent," said Duff. "It's been great working with her on this. She adds a lot."

St. Margaret's pastor, Father Francis de Sales Paolo, OFM, has supported the efforts of Duff since he started and as a certified mental health counselor the issue is one close to his heart.

"He is a good Catholic who enjoys helping others and is helping the Church in many ways," said Father Paolo. "Duff has much enthusiasm about this endeavor and it is a very good experience for those who attend the meetings. It's prayerful and people find it comforting to be able to share their experiences. It really stems from St. Benedict Joseph Labre and what he stood for."

Duff wrote a piece on the guild and its patron for Religious Life, where he gives the reader background on Labre. "Born in Amettes, France, we learn that although he never became a priest, Labre tried many times to enter religious life, but was met with rejection."

Duff writes, "Superiors he encountered loved him for his holiness, but feared his mental instability. Our saint offered all of this disappointment to God and it became a means to holiness and finding his true vocation. He became a homeless person for Christ. He was compelled to share his love of the Trinity so much that he walked 20,000 miles in 13 years honoring Jesus and Mary at many holy shrines throughout Europe."

Duff said· there are many misconceptions about mental illness.

The fact remains that anyone can become ill, and when someone does, his whole family is affected by the burden it causes. "It's a physical disease that causes mental symptoms," said Duff. "It's a brain disorder from which 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older suffer. More than 57 mil1ion people in this country have mental illness and they are the leading cause of Continued on page JJ

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1912 cdfroant Flires 3,256 Pipe Organ, Opus 489

Org~n

Recital

Sunday, 'Feb. II, 2007, 3:00 p.m.

St. Antl;lony of Padua Church II

1359 Acushnef, Avenue, New Bedford, Massachusetts I

SPEAKING WORDS OF SUPPORT - Franciscan Father Francis de Sales Paolo, pastor of S1.

Margaret's Parish, Buzzards Bay, speaks to members of the Merciful Mother of the.Mentally III Support Group. It meets regularly at the parish and is open to friends and family members of those with emotional troubles, depression and mental illness.

Continued from page 10

disability in this country and Canada for people ages 15-44."

Franciscan Friar of the Renewal Father Benedict Groeshel of EWTN fame, has been a spiritual advisor for the Guild since it began. Duff meets with him twice a year in New York.

Duff remains optimistic for the future of those diagnosed with mental illness but said much more needs to be done. "There is a lot of great research being done today and within 10 years they are expecting some great advances in medication that could make a significant impact on mental illness patients."

As Duff spoke about the many people he has received support from through the years, including Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, president of the Pontifical Council for Health and Pastoral Care.

Duff recalled the cardinal's talk

on the moral theology of the mental sufferer and said those words impacted him greatly. Duff paraphrased, "People with mental illness are proof of the crucified love of Jesus Christ, and the best thing we can do is give them a treatment of love." Duff said he sees the Guild as that treatment. "I really believe that in my heart," he added.

Asked what can lay people do, Duff advised, "We must love our brothers and sisters suffering from mental illness and we must have awareness of the treatment they receive from society.

"Be open and accept them," declared Duff. "We need to care for them and put our arms around them and their families."

Last December, Duff traveled to France to set up a worldwide federation honoring St. Benedict Labre. "We formally founded a federation of the Labre Family in the diocese where he was born,"

said Duff. "It was awesome. We were asked by the community to celebrate during the 125th year of his canonization."

"We're all committed to share the same spirit of him," continued Duff. "St. Benedict Joseph Labre had his own mental suffering, but gave it all to God. He suffered depression, but he became a holy and living witness."

World Day of the Sick will be celebrated this Sunday, celebrating all those who are involved in pastoral ministry. The ministry of Christ to the sick and dying comes in many forms including the work being done by Duff on the Cape.

For more information about the Guild and Buzzard's Bay group, visit www.guildbjlabre.com. Anyone is welcome to join the group even ifyou do not have a illfamily member. According to Duff, all that is needed is a love ofthose that are afflicted.

Kevin Birch -Guest Omanist

A[)()(lor of Musial Arts tuniv. ill Iowa), Mr. Birdt afso studied at New England Conservatory and Sweelinck Conservalol}', Amsterdam. Since 1992 he has served as Director 01 Music at SL John's Catholic Church, Bangor. ME. where he also headS SL John's O1gan Society. Mr. Birch teadtes organ and harpsichord althe Univ. 01 Maine at Orono and has taught keyboard literature, music history, and choral conducting. A member ul Organ Historical Society and American Guild 01 O1ganisls, he has performed internalionaJly'and may be heard on OHS recordings, "Historic O1gans 01 ConnectIcut'j and "Historic O1gans of Boston.'

Concert to benefit ST. ANTHONY RESTORATION FUND

Concert folluwed by acomplimtntary teD Admis::rlon:'

FREEWYILll..

DONATION

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THEY ARE FAMILY - Timothy Duff, kneeling, founder of the Guild of S1. Benedict Joseph Labre, shares a moment with members of the group during a recent trip meeting. With them, holding the picture of S1. Labre, is Bishop Jean Paul Jaeger, bishop of Arras, France.

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This Message Sponsored by the Following Business Concern in the Diocese of Fall River GILBERTe. OLIVEIRA INSURANCE AGENCY

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FEBRUARY

9, 2007

DVD/video reviews NEW YORK (CNS) - The following are capsule reviews of new and recent DVD and video releases from the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Theatrical movies on video have a USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification and Motion Picture Association of America rating. These classifications refer only to the theatrical version of the films below, and do not take into account DVD releases' extra content. ''Between the Walls" (2006) Low-budget Christian-themed drama about an embittered, unemployed steelworker (Patrick Midgley) whose resentment of his dead father (Scott Davis) - a stem, Bible-quoting tyrant - is fueled when he uncovers a stash of audio tapes on which his father had secretly recorded everything that happened within the family's unhappy walls. The discovery further disillusions him about religion, until his boyhood best friend (Eli Jared), a born-again Christian, leads him back to faith. Written, directed and produced by twin brothers Chris and Nick Staron, the well-intentioned film is competently crafted despite uneven performances. The melodramatic, allegorical script is preachy and its take on personal salvation as a one-time decision is simplistic, but, overall, it imparts redemptive messages about forgiveness, letting go of anger and relying on God. The DVD also includes deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes .'..... @trl

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video journal, an amusing animated "Pint Size Parable" and three instructional segments on producing and shooting a movie. Some mature thematic elements. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

(Glowing Nose, www.glowingnose.com) "Jesus Camp" (2006) Fascinating and frightening documentary about an evangelical summer camp where children are trained to lead the fight in "reclaiming America for Christ" through a militant Christianity which critics claim has little to do with the Gospel. Co-directors Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady give voice to both those who charge that what is being done is harmful indoctrination and those who see it as instilling passionately held religious values.

While it's understandable that many of the evangelicals interviewed earnestly feel alienated by the increasingly secular, materialistic and immoral culture - and many of those same concerns may resonate with Catholics - the picture painted is nevertheless sobering. Some emotionally intense images and mature discussions. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-IT - adults and adolescents.

The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 - parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

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REDEMPTIVE WORDS - Liana Liberato and Henry Thomas star in a scene from the movie ''The Last Sin Eater." For a brief review of this film see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS photo/Fox Faith)

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

"Because I Said So" (Universal/Gold Circle) Mediocre and unfunny comedy about an overbearing mother (Diane Keaton) who tries to match up her single daughter (Mandy Moore) with a shallow architect (Tom Everett Scott), while the daughter is more sensibly drawn to a decent single father (Gabriel Macht), but nonetheless engages in a sexual relationship with both. Director Michael Lehmann's appalling chick flick pushes the contemporary acceptance of premarital sex to new lows, as the permissive Keaton character and her three daughters blithely discuss their sexual experiences at every opportunity. Keaton's 'comic prowess, appealing performances from Moore, Macht and Stephen Collins, the absence of graphic sex, minimal expletives, and a reasonably moral tie-up fail to balance a script that is morally - and dramatically - askew at every turn. Several nongraphic sexual encounters, permissive sexual mores, much sexual banter, innuendo and other questionable elements, casual acceptance of porn and an instance of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is 0 - morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 - parents strongly cautioned. Some material

may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Epic Movie" (Fox) Tired spinoff of the "Scary Movie" franchise which here spoofs blockbusters such as 'The Chronicles of Narnia," "X-Men," "The Da Vinci Code" and "Pirates of the Caribbean," while it follows four orphans (Kal Penn, Adam Campbell, Jayma Mays and Faune A. Chambers) battling to free a Narnia-like realm from an evil witch (Jennifer Coolidge). Directors Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer elicit few chuckles amid a mostly witless slog of sophomoric slapstick and lowbrow humor, amounting to an epic waste of time.

Pervasive crass and sexual humor, lewd and irreverent sight gags, innuendo, comic violence, an instance ofrough language and recurring crude language, as well as some profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is 0 - morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 - parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. ''The Last Sin Eater" (Fox Faith) Engaging if rather colorless adaptation of Francine Rivers' novel

set in 19th-century Appalachia about a guilt-ridden girl (Liana Liberato) who, blaming herself for her younger sister's death, seeks out a mysterious mountain man (peter Wmgfield) alleged to be able to take upon himself the sins qf others.

Learning that Jesus is the only source of forgiveness after her meeting with a Bible-preaching stranger (Henry Thomas), she helps rid the community of its collective guilt with the help of the son (Soren Fulton) of an abusive father (Stewart Finlay-McLennan). Director Michael Landon Jr.'s film is short on period atmosphere but holds your interest despite plot improbabilities. The performances are above-average for this genre, especially the two youngsters and Louise Fletcher as a wise woman who knows something of the community's mysterious past, and along with some decent plot twists, there are fine Christian messages about redemption, reconciliation, and renewal. Some nongraphic violence, murder and domestic abuse.

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

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

Scheduled celebrant is Father Henry S. Arruda, pastor of S1. Anthony's Parish in Taunton.

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FEBRUARY

9, 2007

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The Anchor ,

13 In countries such. as Bolivia, Paraguay, retired Bishop Peru and the Dominibn Repub- Fernando Lugo Mendez of San lic, Church leaders have medi- Pedro earned a warning from the ated in political crise~. Although Vatican when he announced in secularism seems to be creeping December that he would run in into "the Catholic coAtinent," re- the 2008 presidential elections. ligion continues to permeate Polls give him a slight edge. politics.

I' Whether or not a country's In Mexico, after Felipe bishops take a strong stand on II Calderon defeateCl Andres particular issues, many commitManuel Lopez Obrador by a ted Catholics play a significant scant 250,000 votes lin the July role in political and social affairs, 2006 presidential election, Lopez Father Cleary said.

With seminary enrollment up, Obrador's supporters staged about 175,000 religious and more roadblocks to press for a recount I - a move the bishops compared than a million lay catechists, "to me it looks like the Church (in to terrorist actions.

In Argentina, a coalition led . Latin America) is doing better by retired Bishop Jo,~quin Pina than in the United States in terms Batllevell of Puerto Iguazu dealt of work force, confidence and the governing part~ an unex- missionary spirit," Father Cleary pected defeat in an October 2006 said. "How can there be 1.1 milelection of delegates to a consti- lion lay catechists if there's not tutional convention. In nearby a commitment?"

I,

ENGINE TREATMENT - A Franciscan priest at the Catholic sanctuary of Copacabana blesses a recently purchased used car for a Bolivian family in this photo. According to one survey, even though 71 percent of Latin Americans identify themselves as Catholic, less than 50 percent of Catholics in . Latin America consider themselves to be practicing. (CNS photo/David Mercado, Reuters)

Quirky relations: In Latin America, Church continues to influence state

By BARBARA J. FRASER CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

has had a stormy relationship with Venezuela's bishops, comLIMA, Peru - When Venezu- pared his vision of the nation's elan President Hugo Chavez told future to "the kingdom of Archbishop Roberto Luckert Christ," which he called "the Leon recently that he would "see kingdom of love, of peace, of jushim in hell," he was fanning the tice, of solidarity ... the kingdom coals of an ongoing war of words of socialism." with Catholic leaders.

In Nicaragua, the former And when Bolivian President leader of the Sandinista revoluEvo Morales' government picked tionary government, Daniel a fight with that country's bish- Ortega, was elected president in ops shortly after his inaugura- November and won warm words tion, he seemed to be biting the from Managua Cardinal Miguel hand that had helped put a presi- Obando Bravo, although dent in power.

Ortega's relationship with. the But while some of the region's Church had been stormy in the political leaders appear to be try- 1980s. Ortega's party recently ing to distance themselves from backed strict abortion legislation the institution that has been a po- supported by Church leaders. litical as well as a religious force In Chile, an ecumenical since the Spanish conquistadors church service marked the inauarrived, the Catholic Church con- guration of President Michelle tinues to influence life and events Bachelet, who describes herself in Latin America. as agnostic, while Peruvian The sometimes quirky rela- President Alan Garcia attended tionships have been particularly both an inauguration day Mass evident in the past 15 months, as celebrated by Lima Cardinal Juan presidential elections were held Cipriani Thorne. in a dozen countries, some with Do these events signal a trend surprising results. toward greater secularism in In Bolivia, Morales swept to what has traditionally been seen power on the first ballot. Mo- as the world's most Catholic conrales' government squared off tinent? with Church leaders early in his In 1995, 80 percent of Latin presidency over the teaching of Americans identified themselves religion in public schools. Even- as Catholic, but by 2004 that figtually the government backed ure had dropped to 71 percent, down in what some observers according to the Chile-based say was a tacit acknowledgment Latinobarometro polling firm.

by Morales that he cannot afford Religious devotions such as those to antagonize the country's bish- to Our Lady of Guadalupe in ops.

Mexico and the Lord of the In a speech after his re-elec- Miracles in Peru are celebrated tion in December, Chavez, who by Latin Americans around the

world.

Although many of the bishops who spoke out most strongly on those issues in recent decades have retired, the Church's defense of human rights and social justice continues to give it great credibility in the region, according to Dominican Father Edward Cleary, who heads the Latin American studies department at Providence College in Rhode Island.

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14

The Anchor

$

True marriage and in health" and to "love you and honor you all the days of my life."

Safranak appealed Macfarlane's Marie "Bai" Macfarlane knew divorce case to the C>hio Supreme that World Marriage Day and St. Court, asking that it recognize the reValentine's Day were coming up, but ligious nature of the marriage and its her heart was really pinned on those attendant rights and responsibilities. . days when her boys, who lived with Bai (pronounced Bay) claimed their dad, would be with her.

Divorce was not in her plans when that she and her husband William "Bud" Macfarlane Jr. had bound she married in 1990. in a life-long sacramenthemselves But the Catholic mother discovthat their pre-nuptial tal covenant, ered how little protection no-fault dipreparation constituted a verbal convorce laws provide when one spouse tract, and no civiljudge could dissolve wants out. Now she and a law prothat.

She said this was a violation of fessor are proposing that couples en- . her religious freedom and asked that tering a religious marriage sign a jurisdiction be transferred to an simple contract designed to give safeguards that civil law no longer does. ecclesial court.

"The only reasons for licit sepa"If you have a pain in your ankle, ration according the terms ofmy maryou don't amputate your leg," said riage agreement would be if I was .. Macfarlane, 43, in an interview from dangerous, committed adultery, or her Westlake, C>hio, home. "l\nyone was making it impossible for my famwho's been an innocent divorce defendant or a child in divorce court ily to practice their faith;' Macfarlane said, referring to Church law. "Since understands."

I did none of those things, I can't be She founded Mary's Advocates forcibly separated from my family." (www.marysadvocates.org), a nonBut she was separated. In Novemprofit whose mission is to promote ber the C>hio Supreme Court declined the sanctity of marriage. She's also to hear her case; the only remaining working on the True Marriage appeal would be to U.S. Supreme Project, set up by Professor Stephen Court.

Safranek, a co-founder of the Ave Bai, who has an engineering deMaria School of Law. gree, and her husband co-founded the They're in touch with others in a Mary Foundation, a Catholic media growing national grassroots movein the 199Os. They had apostolate, ment to refonn no-fault divorce and four sons whom she home-schooled rescue marriage from being "optional, disposable, and redefinable." as they grew. Bud left in 2003, then obtained a no-fault divorce and full The True Marriage Project of child custody.

Safranak's public interest law In essence, according to Blli, the firm represents people who want court punished her by giving Bud pritheir religious vows legally promary child custody because she retected, according to its Website fused to stop home-schooling (one of www.truemarriage.net.

Bud's demands and a court ruling) It offers a pre-nuptial contractand because she fought the divorce. a Solemn Marriage Covenant Proclamation - that would ensure dis- She was called a "religious extremist." putes be managed by the Church or What is unique is Macfarlane's reby mediators who share the Church's sponse.

She brought a canon law peview of marriage. It is meant to give tition to the tribunals of the Diocese civil teeth to the life-time contract to of Cleveland and the Archdiocese of which Catholic spouses commit Cincinnati, asking them to investithemselves when they promise to gate and ifappropriate, to infonn Bud take each other as man or wife "in that since their sacramental marriage good times and in bad, in sickness hasn't been annulled, he should upBy GAIL BESSE

ANCHOR CORRESPONDENT

MARIE "BAI" MACFARLANE AND HER SON CLETUS.

hold the tenns of the marriage contract. When those tribunals declined to hear her petition, she appealed to the highest ecclesial court possible, the Roman Rota, where the petition is now pending.

"If my husband refuses to seek any relationship help, he is still obligated to uphold his part of the marriage promises, which include maintaining one household for our family, not two separate households with the children going back and forth;' she said.

The Solemn Marriage Covenant Proclamation would try to prevent other spouses from having to experience similar pain flowing from divorces granted by judges for "no fault" and no reason other than one party petitions to get out of a lifetime commitment.

The language ofthe proclamation states that the parties understand that holy matrimony is a solemn undertaking and adds, "Since the parties wish to come freely and establish and acknowledge their marriage before God and the Catholic Church, they also wish to have their Catholic marriage recognized by alliegaljurisdictions, foreign and domestic. They understand and agree that they will submit to the Catholic Church's teachings and Canon Law as the basis of their understanding of the legal duties and responsibilities in marriage."

Loujsiana, Arizona and Arkansas have all passed statutes allowing for more committed marriages and more difficult to obtain divorces. In 1997, Louisiana passed a law allowing couples to enter into a "covenant marriage," which ~ould bind the spouses legally and allow divorce only for "definite cause," like adultery, a felony conviction and imprisonment, desertion for a year, or abuse of the spouse or a child. Those who voluntarily enter into covenantal marriages coinmit to take marriage preparation courses as well as marriage counseling should problems arise.

Troubled couples should definitely attempt reconciliation more, said Father Gregory Mathias, director of the Fall River Diocesan ()ffice of Family Ministry. ''The availability and apparent haste of the process is troubling;' he said. "I can't speak to the law, but I could foresee mandatory mediation or counseling that forces a reflection on both parties."

The Family Ministry C>ffice has referred couples to Retrouvaille, a national group that holds retreats for those in troubled marriages, said Program Director Jerry Foley. "I know of case where the couple had been divorced for eight years when their teen-age daughter asked them to make a Retrouvaille weekend. Ultimately they 'remarried' each other and were together for years until her . death last year," Foley said.

Gail Besse is a Massachusetts freelance writer. She can bereached at gailbesse@comcast.net.

FEBRUARY

9, 2007

$ The Anchor news briefs New Monterey bishop asks faithful to work, minister, 'build with me' MC>NTEREY, Calif. - Asking Catholics of California's central coast to ''work with me, minister with me, collaborate with me, build with me and love with me:' Bishop Richard 1. Garcia was installed as the fourth bishop ofMonterey during a multilingual Mass January 30. More than 1,700 people gathered in the Monterey Conference Center to welcome their new shepherd and participate in a festive liturgy radiant with color and multicultural tradition. The ceremony included a choir of more than 100 people with trumpets blaring, liturgical dancers carrying incense iIi procession, and prayers of the faithful offered in seven different languages. Bishop Garcia, 59, was a Sacramento auxiliary from 1997 until December, when he was named to replace Monterey Bishop Sylvester D. Ryan, 76, who retired after 14 years as head of the diocese. He will lead some 200,000 Catholics in Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Luis C>bispo and San Benito counties. He is one of 25 active Hispanic Catholic bishops in the United States.

Center offers a forom where homeless discuss issues affecting them BALTIMC>RE - While finding shelter is a priority for Aaron Wiggins, who is homeless, so is discussing current events. Wiggins is among the six to 10 individuals who come weekly to a Catholic-run outreach center in Baltimore's Fells Point neighborhood, ready to discuss the issues of the day. "A lot of the missions and shelters in the city don't want you to be near their building until they are ready to let you in for the night, because the neighbors don't want to look at us," Wiggins told The Catholic Review, newspaper of the Baltimore Archdiocese. "At least here, .., at this group, I don't feel like I'm invisible. I feel like what I have to say matters."

C>n a recent weekday, he and nine other men discussed laws regulating food and shelter for the homeless. It was a chance for them to engage in intellectual dialogue while venting frustrations with a system many believe strips them of their dignity. Providing the homeless with a dignified forum was one of the main reasons St. Vmcent de Paul's Beans & Bread C>utreach Center started the group last April, said Kathleen Spain, director of the outreach center.

Dubuque Catholic school honored for its 'green' efforts DUBUQUE, Iowa- The "green" efforts ofstudents, teachers and staffat Resurrection Elementary School in Dubuque have paid off. It is the first parochial school to receive the Green Vision Education Award from the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency. It was honored for a recycling program. During ceremonies January 29 in the gym, members of the solid waste agency presented the school with the Green Vision flag to hang outside the school, and a banner to display inside the building.

The Green Vision program is a cooperative effort supported by the agency, the city of Dubuque, the Dubuque County Conservation Board and Down to Earth Solutions. Initiated by the community last spring, the program recognizes schools for their efforts in sustainable natural resource management and pollution prevention in the school and community environment. Classroom practices, buildings and grounds maintenance and curriculum are all evaluated and suggestions are then made by the Green Vision team for advancing environmental stewardship.

Pope says Jews, Christians, Muslims are called to develop bonds VATICAN CITY - By reading each other's sacred texts, Jews, Christians and Muslims will become more aware of the divine wisdom and values they all hold true, Pope Benedict XVI said. "We are called - Jews, Christians and Muslims - to recognize and develop the bonds that unite us," he said February 1, welcoming his fonner fellow board members from the Foundation for Interreligious and Intercultural Research and Dialogue. As Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict was one of the founding members ofthe Geneva-based organization, established in 1999

by Jordanian Prince EI Hassan bin Talal, C>rthodox leaders, the then-chief rabbi of France and others. ''The first project we adopted in creating this foundation;' the pope said, was to begin work on publishing together the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and the Quran in their original languages. At the February 1Vatican audience, the foundation members presented a copy of the three-volume set to Pope Benedict.

China's underground Catholics hope pope will clarify Church relations HC>NG KC>NG - Underground Catholics in China say they hope a letter Pope Benedict XVI plans to send them will not only strengthen their faith but also clearly explain how their fractured community in the mainland can be healed. ''The Holy See wants us to reconcile but does not tell us how to proceed or give us any clear instructions:' underground Bishop Joseph Wei Jingyi of Qiqihar told UCA News, an Asian church news agency. The bishop noted that past Vatican directives instructed Catholics to avoid sacramental Communion with the government-approved or open church community, "but now we need clarification on where those directives stand, so as to eliminate mistrust and misunderstanding" among Catholics in both groups. C>n January 20, at the end of a high-level meeting at the Vatican to discuss the Church in China, a Vatican statement said Pope Benedict would write to Catholics in China, but it did not indicate when. China's Catholic Cqurch has been split into underground and open communities for decades, although in recent years there has been increasing interaction between the two.

FEBRUARY

,

9, 2007

The Anchor ,

15

Ecuniehist cites religious illiterkcy as key challenge ,

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By JERRY FILTEAU CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

ARLINGTON, Va. - One challenge ecumenical leaders face is integrating the many solid ecumenical advances of the past half-century into the life ofl!their churches, especially in an age where general religious illiteracy :is on the rise, Christian Brother Jeffrey Gros told a national gathering of ecumenists.

Brother Gros is a theology professor at Memphis (Tenn.) Theological Seminary w~o spent a quarter-century as a national ecumenical officer, first fdt the National " Council of Churches and then for the U.S. Conferen~e of Catholic Bishops. He delivered the keynote address for the recent National Workshop on Christian Unity, held January 29'-February I at Arlington's Key Bridge Marriott Hotel.

Ii The gathering dtew nearly 400 national and local ~cumenical officers of the Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal, Presbyterian and other Christian churches.

Brother Gros opened his address talking about recent ecumenical advances "for which I would like to express gratitudi,I to God." He cited the recent World Methodist Council announcement that the Catholic-Luthetan "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification" also .expresses fundamental Methodist beliefs in that area, long considered a source of church divisions. ' He also noted that the World Council of Churcnes text, "Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry," marks its 25th anniversary this year. , "The study of this text at every level of church life, from congregations and ecumenical communities across the world to the focus of decision-making bodies within our churches, has 'contributed to both deeper levels bf communion and even full co~union agreements among some churches," he said.

I He also thanked God that "some of the most pol~zing issues in our society have begun to be discussed between our r-+-::----:-------------,-----:--. churches," including the difficult issue of homosexuality.

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THE FLOOD - A statue of Mary is seen above floodwaters at a Catholic church in Jakarta, Indonesia, February 4. Severe flooding in the Indonesian capitol of Jakarta has killed at least 29 people and has d~splaced hundreds of thousands. (CNS photo/Agus R. Ranu)

AMID

Catholic presidential candidates abound, but faith's effects unclear

By NANCY FRAZIER O'BRIEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

, "WASHINGTON ---:. 'Ot!.' any' given day this January, a full 21 months before the.2oo8 election, it seemed that someone was announcing a presidential exploratory committee or launching his or her campaign for president.

And there was a good chance that the candidate was a Catholic.

When Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts bowed out of the race for the Democratic nomination January 24, he left nearly a dozen other Catholics - Republicans and Democrats - vying for their party's nomination, either officially or unofficially.

On the Republican side, there are Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas; former New York Gov. George Pataki; long-shot candidate John Cox of lllinois; former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson; and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, considered the GOP frontrunner along with Sen. John MC,Cain of Arizona, an Episcopalian, and former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, a member of the Church ofJesus Christ ofLatter-day Saints.

Catholics vying for the Democratic nomination for president include Sen. Joseph Biden ofDelaware; retired Gen. Wesley Clark; Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut; Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio; Gov. Bill Richardson ofNew Mexico; and Gov. Tom Vtlsack of Iowa Seen as the Democratic frontrunners are Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, a Methodist;

former Sen. John Edwards ofNorth Carolina, a Baptist; and Sen. Barack Obama of llliriois; a member of the United Church of Christ.

"It's a more open field (for Catholic candidates) than ever before," said Roger Robins, an assistant professor of history and political science at Marymount College Palos Verdes in California. "I think the old nativism (against Catholic immigrants) is pretty well gone."

In some ways Catholics have a stronger role in the American political scene than ever before, with about 30 percent of the members of Congress and about 40 percent of the nation's governors being Catholic, Robins said.

"In 2004 we thought Kerry would carry the Catholic vote - but he got crushed," said James R. Hedtke, a professor of history and political science at Cabrini College in Radnor, Pa. "Everything could change tomorrow, but if Ute election were held today," the top issue would be the war in Iraq, Hedtke said. Other top issues, in order of their traditional importance in elections, are the economy; social issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage; "bridge issues" that concern everyone, such as education or immigration; and issues of corruption, Hedtke said.

Anthony LoPresti, a professor of religious studies at Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I., thinks the 2008 race will see a continued emphasis by the U.S. Catholic bishops on "their opposition to abortion, (embryonic) stem-cell research and

same-sex marriage, with perhaps increasing emphasis on passing comprehenSIve immigration reform."

"How to proceed in Iraq is more a matter of prudence than doctrine, so candidates will not feel as much pressure in that area," he said.

Diane J. Heith, associate professor of government and politics at St. John's University in Jamaica, N.Y., said Kerry's Catholicism "was questioned by Catholic clergy and by pundits trying to figure out who he was."

Among the Democratic prospects - Biden, Clark, Dodd, Kucinich, Richardson and Vilsack - all support keeping abortion.legal, although Clark opposes partialbirth abortion. Republicans Giuliani and Pataki also describe themselves as "pro-choice."

GOP candidates Brownback and Cox have made their Pro-Life views the centerpiece of their campaigns, and Thompson opposes abortion but supports embryonic stem-cell research.

Another Republican who opposes abortion is Romney. ButAndrew Moore, an assistant professor of history at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., said Romney's identity as a Mormon might bring him problems in. the GOP primary races.

"So long as the Democratic Party is pro-choice but anti-death penalty while the Republicans are typically Pro-Life but pro-death penalty, there is a challenge for the Catholic who views the entire spectrum of life as sacred," said Heith.

He said when people ask him whether Catholics will call off dialogue with some other church because it differs with the Catholic Church on human sexuality or on public policy approaches to life issues, "I try to remind them that the ecumenical movement is about our common baptism - or, as I say to my students, 'It is Christ, stupid!' not the culture wars."

He called the recent establishment of Christian Churches Together in the USA another ecumenical gift to be thankful for. That new forum for dialogue, consultation and joint witness brings under a single umbrella, for the first time, all five major families of Christianity in the United States: Catholic, Orthodox, historical Protestant, AfricailAmerican/ethnic, and evangelical and Pentecostal.

"We are challenged by both an ecumenical overload of agreements to integrate into the mainstream of Christian piety and consciousness and a looming religious illiteracy in our churches," he said.

He said Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl of Washington, a noted expert in catechetics, described the phenomenon of growing religious' illiteracy in a recent speech. The archbishop said many young people in the 1990s and the current decade are significantly different in their religious attitudes from earlier generations: ''They often do not contest what the Church teaches. They simply do not know it."

Other challenges facing the ecumenical movement today include understanding ecumenism in its global context, meeting the fundamental Christian and ecumenical demand of "continual conversion" within all the churches, and meeting the "Hispanic ecumenical challenge" in the United States, he said.

"The Catholic Church needs to be particularly concerned about the ecumenical priority in the U.S.' Hispanic community, if it is not to see the 70 percent Catholic quickly drop to 40 percent or lower," he said.

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FEBRUARY

9, 2007

Feehan receives awardfrom The House ofCompassion

BIG IMPACT - Bishop Feehan High School staff members Rosemary Anderson and Richard Desjardin sit for a photo with members of the Friends of St. Francis. From left, standing, are students Beth Conway, Jill Tedeschi, Emily O'Sullivan and Emma Taylor.

ATILEBORO - The House of Compassion, a supported residence for final stage AIDS patients located in Cumberland, R.I., recently honored Bishop Feehan High School, for the significant impact the students have had" on the house and its patients.

Through the direction of faculty members Richard Desjardin and Rosemary Anderson, Bishop Feehan's Friends of S1. Francis organize student volunteers once a week to buy food, plan the menu, prepare meals and eat with patients. Many nights end with card games or board games.

Students also organize nights to the movies or bowling and help with the maintenance and care ofthe house and grounds. Most clubs and sports teams from Feehan schedule time to assist the Friends ofS1. Francis at least once a year. Over the past year, Feehan has purchased a lawn mower and stove for the home.

FRIEND OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION - James Nicoletti, center, was the recent recipient of the 2007 St. Mary's Fund Alumni Award. Presenting the honor was diocesan Superintendent of Schools George A. Milot, left. With Nicoletti is his wife Deborah.

Connolly alumnus honored with St. Mary's Fund award AMONG THE BEST - Thomas Lally, left, and Seth Hayes from Bishop Stang High School, North Dartmouth, receive congratulations from Academic Principal Mary Ann Miskel upon being named Commended Students in the 2007 National Merit Scholarship Program. They finished in the top five percent of more than 1.4 million students.

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FALL RIVER - In recognition of his dedication and generosity to Bishop Connolly High School, James Nicoletti was honored with the S1. Mary's Fund Alumni Award for 2007.

Nicoletti is an alumnus and a former teacher at Bishop Connolly.

He was one of several nominees for the award given by the Diocesan Development Office each year for "Demonstrating and understanding of the mission of Catholic education; exemplifying a lifestyle conducive to that mission; and showing consistent commitment to Catholic education over an extended period of time.

Nominees came from any ofthe diocese's Catholic elementary, middle and high schools. A selection committee comprised of school administrators, diocesan administrators and pastors with schools in their parishes, reviews the nominees and makes a selection.

Nicoletti has been a believer in the Catholic school mission evidenced by his establishing a four-

year full tuition scholarship at Bishop Connolly. A deserving students wins the award, the James and Lorraine Nicoletti Scholarship, established to honor Nicoletti's parents' dedication to the field of education.

"As a former Catholic school teacher, Nicoletti understands the importance of Catholic education and is committed to making it available to a deserving student," said Bishop Connolly President Robert P. Morissette. "Each year, his generous gift provides a quality academic and spiritual education in a safe, caring environment to the scholarship recipient. By putting his faith into action, showing compassion and stewardship, Nicoletti exemplifies the mission of Bishop Connolly High School, "To be not only hearers, but doers of the Word" (James 1:22).

Diocesan Superintendent of Schools George A. Milot presented Nicoletti with the award at Bishop Connolly High School, kicking-off Catholic Schools Week.

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LIGHTING THE WAY - Student council members were recently installed at St. Pius X School in South Yarmouth. From left: Nikki Yannatos, president; Molly Geary, vice president; Brianna Crimaldi, treasurer; and Brianna McLaughlin, representative.

FEBRUARY

9, 2007

4;

Pope urges young people to express love in unsel~sh ways

YOUTH PAGES

Holding on andrrioving beyond

By CHARLIE KEEP HOLDING ON

VATICAN CITY (CNS)- Pope Benedict XVI urged young people to express love in unselfish ways, looking past social goals of competition and productivity in order to become "witnesses of charity" in the world.

He held out Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta as an example of a Christian who translated love into concrete action to help the poorest of the poor.

The pope made the comments in a message marking WorldYouth Day, which 'will be celebrated in most dioceses April I , Palm Sunday. The text was released at the Vatican February 5.

The theme of the papal message was love, and he began by telling young people that despite emotional disappointments and lack ofaffection in their own lives, they should know that "love is possible." ''The purpose of my message is to help reawaken in each one of you - you who are the future and hope of humanity - trust in a love that is true, faithful and strong; a love that generates peace and joy; a love that binds people together and allows them to feel free in respect for one another:' he said.

He emphasized that God is the source of true love and that Christ's suffering and death on the cross form the perfect expression of this divine love.

The pope focused on three areas where young people are called to demonstrate love of God: in the Church, in marriage and in society.

In the Church, which he described as it "spiritual family:' the pope said youths should be willing to help stimulate parish and other activities,

even if it means giving up some of their entertainments. They should "cheerfully accept the necessary sacrifices" and testify to their love for Jesus among people their own age, he said.

The pope said marriage is a "project of love" between a man and a woman that fits into a divine design. ''Learning to love each other as a couple is a wonderful journey, yet it requires a demanding 'apprenticeship,'" he said. When couples get engaged, he said, it's a period of preparation that needs to be lived "in purity of gesture and words."

Engagement allows couples to practice self-control and develop respect for each other, he said. This is true love, which does not place an emphasis on seeking one's own satisfaction, he said.

When it comes to the daily routine of family, studies, work and free time, the pope asked young people to look beyond the cultivation of talents needed to obtain a social position.

He encouraged young people to study the social doctrine of the Church and use it to guide their actions in the world. Love is a powerful social force, the only force capable of changing human hearts, he said.

The pope said Blessed Mother Teresa responded to the search for love by society's weakest members by taking in and caring for the people who were dying on the streets of Calcutta.

The lives of the saints are full of such lessons, and young people should try to know them better, he said.

You're not alone Together we stand I'll be by your side You know I'll take your hand When it gets cold And it feels like the end There's no place to go You know I won't give in No, I won't give in Refrain: Keep holding on 'Cause you know we'll make it through We'll make it through Just stay strong 'Cause you know I'm here for you /f.ere for you There's nothing you can say Nothing you can do And there's no other way when it comes to the truth So keep holding on 'Cause you know we'll make it through We'll make it through So far away I wish you were here Before it's too late This could all disappear Before the door's closed And it comes to an end With you by my side I will fight and defend I'll fight and defend (Repeat refrain.)

Hear me when I say When I say I believe Nothing's gonna change Nothing's gonna change destiny Whatever's meant to be Will work out perfectly Sung by Avril Lavigne Copyright 2006 by RCA Climbing the charts and off the soundtrack of the action/fantasy film

MARTIN -

"Eragon" is Avril Lavigne's "Keep Holding On." The song demonstrates the vocal power Lavigne can put into a ballad. She wrote the sOng solely for this soundtrack disc.

The song encourages us to consider what it takes to endure difficulties. The person in the song tells another to "keep holding on becallSe you know we'll make it through." She places her trust in the power of I?elieving that "nothing's gonnachang~ destiny:' She affirms strongly even in the face ofcurrent obstacles, "I'm he¢ for you."

Spoken words are ~ways irnportant and even very helpful. However,' during life's difficult tirnbs they are not en~,>ugh to ''keep holdin~ on." Rather, we also need a plan of action to manage challenges and di~pointments successfully. . I We need strong, carirlg connections when challenges arrivd~ Jesus taught us that we must support each other as we journey through ,rlife. Consequently, look to fonn friendships whenever possible. And be there when your friends encounter troubles. Allow them also to help you when you face troubles.

Next, considercarefully the specifics of any challenging situation. Ask yourself, "If this situation is to irnprove, what small steps do I need to take nowT' For example, let's say you get a very low grade on a test. Perhaps you studied and thought ypu were prepared. Perhaps what has occurred cannot be altered, but a plan for change or recovery can be designed.

Determine whcit steps need to happen if you are to wor\c beyond this unfortunate test grade *"d raise your grade during the rest o£ the semester.

If the grade is so 'lot that passing

'Tis a gift to be simple Several weeks ago, I challenged you to find your light.

Have you taken the challenge?

Were you able to find your light or do your batteries need to be recharged? For those of us who have either forgotten "the challenge or misplaced their batteries, there is somewhere we can tum. All we need to do is tap into our gifts.

More than a month has passed since tom, shredded wrapping paper adorned our living room floors. The real trees tossed to the curb while the artificial ones packed in their boxes waiting for next year. Christmas decorations (except for those lights that still lace the outside of our homes) and home manger sets are packed away - everything put into its place. So what of the gifts we received? Hopefully, they are being put to good use. All too often, however, we are excited tp receive new gifts, before something else happens. Once the

luster wears off, we put those slightly used gifts on a shelf with the gifts of the Christmases and birthdays of years gone by only to be brought out on rainy days.

So if we treat these gifts, often items we may have asked for in the first place, with such a lack of appreciation, how do we treat the gifts given so freely to us

by God? Do we keep our spiritual gifts in the back of the closet?

In today's world, I can't help but wonder what would happen if all of us dusted off our spiritual gifts. Scripture mentions many gifts. The gift.s of wisdom,· understandin'g, knowledge, right judgment, courage, reverence, and wonder and awe seem to be collecting dust. As our confirmation students prepare to receive the sacrament, they are revisiting these gifts. These seven gifts are our guide along our

journeys to becoming faith-filled Catholics.

But before any of us can truly understand the importance of these seven gifts, we need to comprehend three simple

ingredients: faith, hope, and love.

Have we shelved these too over the years? Without faith and hope, we are left with an emptiness filled with darkness that can strangle our hearts. I know, because I've been there. For too many years I didn't have hope in my faith. To be honest, I didn't have faith. Over the last few years, I learned that faith is a

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

the course now looks impossible, think about what needs to be done to redirect your academic goals.

Further, when fear arises, as it always does, acknowledge that you feel afraid. Then put your attention on the action you have designed.· Feelings and thoughts arise easily when we are anxious about a situation. However, their message is only part of reality.

Focus on what you can do rather than what you feel.

Also, don't let this current difficult situation become your whole life. In fact, it isn't! Look at your wider perspective and recognize the numerous blessings that remain. Find ways to tap into what remains good, maybe even very good, in your life. (Of course, right now I'm not talking about situations that involve violence or great risk to you.)

To ''keep holding on:' you don't have to work at remedying a situation . constantly. In fact, solutions sometimes magically appear when we are focused on.other aspects of life. Take breaks from your attention on overcoming a difficulty.

Perhaps this last step is the most obvious: Thm to God as your most trusted· ally. Share all your feelings with God; ask for guidance for what to do next as you ''keep holding on."

Trust that God will lead you to your highest good within this situation.

Yes, that might involve suffering, but healing also comes. Ultimately, no matter how difficult the situation, you are not alone. God walks with you through this time and all the challenges of your life.

Comments are always welcome.

Please address: Charlie Martin, 7125 W 200 S, Rockport, IN 47635, or email: chmartin@swindiana.net.

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life-long journey. It i~ a grace given to us by God, out we have to constantly work at our faith.

How does this all tie into finding your light? It's simple really. We must reach into our closets, pull out our gifts, and dust them off. We can dust them off by attending Mass and recognizing that as Catholics, our faith goes beyond our personal, one-on-one relationship with God. Our faith is communal. My faith life, for example,,;has grown by leaps and bounds 'since becoming an active parishioner.

And as an active p~shioner, I share my faith with qot only my parish community, but also with the youth across our11diocese. You see, through the spiritual guidance of my parish priest, my church community, try family, and most of all, throttgh the grace of God, I have found my

light. My light shines a little brighter every timeI'm with a group of teen-agers. I'm always in awe of the depth of their faith.

The young people of our Church truly are gifts to the Church.

Some of them just need our help unwrapping those gifts. Some of them just need a little light.

As Scripture says, the greatest of these gifts is love. Without love, love of each other, love of the world, love of God, these gifts are meaningless. There isn't a four letter word stronger than L-O-V-E. Love helps us unwrap our gifts. Love helps us grow closer to God. Love is the true gift from God. Love is the simple gift to finding our light.

Crystal is the Youth Ministry coordinator at St. Lawrence Parish in New Bedford and an assistant in the Diocesan Youth Ministry Office. Email questions or comments to cmedeiros@dfrcec.com

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I 18 Ministers

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The Anchor

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FEBRUARY

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Continued from page one

"Because people are people "Pastoral care is really focus- Attleboro; Deacon David B. Pepin traordinary mInIsters of holy and being hospitalized is a time ing on all of life's joys and sor- at S1. Luke's Hospital in New Communion.

"I,find that the psychiatric paof vulnerability for them, their rows. So no matter what one is Bedford; and Deacon Gregory J. needs don't really change," Sis- ministering, it is a form of pasto- Beckel at Cape Cod Hospital in tients literally devour God's Word ter Roberta noted. ral care," she said. "I once read Hyannis. They too spoke with The and are hungry for it," Deacon Pepin reported. "Because they are "They appreciate people being that pastoral ministry is to the lost Anchor. there for them, so it is not so much and found. And so that is what we Deacon Fournier has been min- in a lockdown state, that's all they what we say, as being there to let celebrate." istering full time - five days a have to live for. Christ is using us them talk ... to vent a bit, and we A religious Sister for 48 years, week - at Sturdy for a year. Prior to reach them."

While deacons cannot adminlisten in a caring presence," she Sister Donovan has been in the to that he had ministered at S1. stated. "We don't have all the an- spirituallhealthcare ministry for Anne's Hospital since 2004, ister the sacrament of the sick, swers. But sometimes patients eight years. It began with service . wh~re he completed three units of anointing is done by priest chaplains - such as Father Michael want to talk to someone who is not to adolescents at S1. Vincent's Clinical Pastoral Education: a family member, someone they Home, and more recently at the , "Pastoral Care is a great min- Racine - as early as possible and can share the bad news with and Memorial Home. istry," he said. "I had the good when requested. "But deacons keep it from their families."

"Here it is hospital care in a ge- fortune that Teknor Apex Com- and other members of he chapShe credits approximately 30 riatric setting," she noted. "The pany in Pawtucket, R.I., where I laincy team are the usual go-beextraordinary ministers of holy makeup of the ministry means we was a project manager, gave me tween for patients who ask for the Communion from area parishes are a spiritual companion to the early retirement after 21 years." sacraments," he added.

"On the first day I was on duty, who serve at Charlton and six aged and theinfirm. My role in a He was ordained in 1993.

I assisted at an emergency baptism planning secretaries too, "without geriatric long-term facility is to "Sturdy has 300 beds and on whom we could not get the job become acquainted with the new an average day we have 40 to 50 performed by our chaplain. Since done," she said. "They are very patient coming in, and to support Catholics to care for," he said. Fa- then I have done them myself."

Asked if he enjoyed the miniscommitted." him or her in this environment be- ther Michael Carvill, FSCB, is the try, Deacon Pepin said, "Yes. But She too has spent much chaplain. if you had asked me in the first time with the dying and had "We're pretty busy. In a weeks of pastoral ministry I also performed emergency 'We're pretty busy. In a full ser- full service hospital we're wasn't so sure, because I felt so baptisms. frequently involved with "It is a particularly sad vice hospital we're frequently in- families making ethical, end inadequate. This ministry exposes time, because some of the volved with families making ethi- of life decisions, saying your own spirituality - or your infants are full term and cal, end of life decisions, saying prayers of commendation lack of spirituality - to you."

Deacon Gregory J. Beckel has their deaths unexpected." prayers of commendation for for those who died, and been in part-time pastoral care at Like her colleague min- those who died, and grieving with grieving with families, Cape Cod Ho'spital in Hyannis, isters, her service includes among other things. But we families, among other things.

But assisting chaplain Father David being an important liaison try to treat the whole famwe try to treat the whole family, Frederici, for about a year. He had for the sacrament of the sick ily, not just the patient, and not just the patient, and abide by earlier served at Falmouth Hospiand the sacrament of reconabide by their wishes." tal for a year as a volunteer. ciliation between patients their wishes. "-' Deacon Fournier Deacon Fournier said the "I retired at age 49, 10 years and full-time chaplain Faministry is very humbling, ago, and it took me three years ther Thomas M. Kocik. cause it is their home. For many "especially when patients or famsince my 2000 ordination before "The chaplains are on 24-hour of them it will be their last home. ily ask us to pray for them or I felt a call within the diaconate call and regularly make the rounds We offer Hospice care. So many someone. It makes us think not administering the sacrament of come here to die and because of only of our responsibility - but to minister in. Doing volunteer the ~ick to those in need of it and that, there is a rapid turnover of our calling as well. Everyday I'm ministry at Falmouth led me into those who ask for it." patients." grateful I have been called to this this. I find it most fulfilling. But I also find much hope. People genThe quick bonding that occurs Gradually, through quality service." erally get better in the hospital and between those who minister in time visiting with them "we deIn addition to his full-time duhospitals carries over, Sister velop an atmosphere of openness ties at Sturdy, Deacon Fournier is looking forward to getting out.

Roberta said. "Regularly I bump and trust and that frees them to also assigned to St. Joseph Parish There is always a lot of family into former patients or their fam- share and express their fears and in Attleboro. 'His son, seminarian around who gather to support the ily members who recall I was frustrations. It is ajourney that we Peter Fournier, is currently assist- patient. It can be a time of reconthere at such and such a time, and walk with them. We help them to ing at St. Pius X Parish in South ciliation for many too. We pastodid such and such and thing. I see identify others in their lives sig- Yarmouth, where his extended min- ral ministers are one small part of us doing much more for them then nificant to them and discover their istry includes visiting parishioners that, and we are called to minister to the family as well."

I see myself doing. I think they spiritual values." in Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis.

He's on duty Thursdays, Friremember because it was a time Daily Mass, Communion, Deacon Pepin, who was ordays and Saturdays, "And with of vulnerability for them." prayer, weekly Benediction, rec- dained in 2002, is in pastoral care Montie Plumbing 300 beds we can average about 75 At the Catholic Memorial onciliation and the sacrament of at S1. Luke's Hospital in New & Heating Co. Home in Fall River, Mercy Sister the sick are all regular parts of the Bedford, a 400-bed facility. When Catholic patients throughout the Over 35 Years Catherine Donovan, director of spiritual and supportive care of- the hospital is full, it may average hospital on any given day," Deaof Satisfied Services pastoral care, and a former fered through the staff and chap- as many as 180 Catholic patients. con Beckel reported. "I visit units Reg. Master Plumber 7023 teacher, offered a new reflection lain Father William P. Blottman.

"I'm a 10-month rookie, it's a hospital-wide from 7 a.m., to 3 JOSEPH RAPOSA, JR. on her ministry and its geriatric Her daily ministry, Monday learning experience," the former p.m., and meet with, counsel, and 432 JEFFERSON STREET specialization for the 300-bed fathrough Friday, also involves vis- administrative assistant in of the pray with patients, as well as reFALL RIVER 508-675-7496 cility. iting patients transferred to hospi- Office of 'the Permanent port on those asking for the tals. It means attending wakes and, Diaconate for the Fall River Dio- anointing of the sick, and other funerals. "It also means being with cese, said. His parish ministry is sacraments. We're on the front Our Lady of Fatima to Sister Lucia, Blessed families involved, pain manage- at St. Francis Xavier in Acushnet. lines and run into all kinds of Jacinta and Blessed Francisco July 13, 1917 ment, and we work closely with the "I'm in pastoral care full time problems. I also back up the 70 "I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate staff in interdisciplinary settings. - five days a week- and every volunteer. extraordinary ministers Heart, and the Communion of Reparation on the First Saturdays. If Holy Union Sister Mary Ellen other weekend. We're on duty of holy Communion." my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be Married with three children, he peace. If not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing Donahue is with me, and between from 9 a.m., to 4:30 p.m." He minwars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred, the us we serve the entire home." isters in the psychiatric ward and said, "My family gives me solid Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihiCurrently, three permanent most other areas of the hospital ' support in my hospital ministry as lated. In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father deacons are in pastOl'al care in with the exception of the mater- well as my weekend parish duties will consecrate Russia to me, and she will be converted, and a period hospital settings. They include; nity ward. He occasionally per- -:- where I am also involved with of peace will be granted to the world. In Portugal, the dogma of the Deacon Paul M. Fournier at forms Communion services and is the confirmation class at Christ Faith will always be preserved, etc."

Paid advertisement Sturdy Memorial Hospital in a back up to the contingent of ex- the King Parish in Mashpee."

patients which she always has.

She backs up the extraordinary ministers of holy Communion from parishes that serve at the hospital, counsels and prays with patients, performs emergency baptisms from tinw to time, and is the liaison between patients and full-time chaplain Father Paul Fedak.

While it also means attending wakes and funerals of former patients, it more frequently involves family members, who seek her 'advice on problems that affect their own spirituality.

"I learned as a young nurse giving backrubs to always have a listening ear," Sister Carole said.

"Pastoral care has three functions: , To provide a spiritual environment with Mass, sacraments and books; offer therapeutic care by listening and being present to the living and the dying and helping them to make decisions - like mending broken relationships; and lastly, education, to orient employees in their role of making known the needs of tl;1e patients."

At Charlton Memorial liospital in Fall River, Sister Roberta O'Connell, a member of the Faithful Companions of Jesus, will mark 20 years in Pastoral Ministry come September. That includes 17 years ministering earlier at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford.

"It's the total othe.r side of life for me, because I started out as a teacher," she explained. "I was learning CPR back in the 80s and someone was needed at St. Luke's and so it evolved that I came into pastoral care of the sick."

She has a one-liner to describe herself: "I am an administrator by nature but a chaplain by grace.

When I was a teacher and,principal I would cringe when I had to visit someone in a hospital or go to a wake. So I know what I now do is through grace.

FEBRUARY 9,

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2007

Around the Diocese ~ .-:1'-' -,.a r - - - - - - - - - - - - - -------,

Eucharistic Adoration.

L-._________ _ ATILEBORO - Perpetual eucharistic adoration is held at St. Joseph's Church, 208 South Main Street. For more information call 508-226-1115.

FALL RIVER - Sacred Heart Church, 160 Seabury Street,_ will host exposition and adoration ofthe Blessed Sacrament every Monday following the 8 a.m. Mass until 2:30 p.m.

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,LecturesIPresentations L._ .._..._._._..._.. ... ... .__.

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FAIRHAVEN - Hospice volunteer training sessions are ongoing through February 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Town Hall, located on Center Street. A light lunch will be provided. Hospice volunteers provide support for patients and family members coping with terminal illness. For more information call Jo-Ann Beaulieu at 508-992-6278.

~~Mi-路~elh._n_eo_us_,

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ATILEBORO-APax Christi meeting will be held February 20 at 7:15 p.m. in the reconciliation chapel at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette. It will include prayer and study of peace and justice. For more information call 508-222-5410.

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

FALL RIVER - A soup kitchen is open on Mondays from 5-6 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church Hall, 160 Seabury Street. Volunteers are welcome to assist beginning at 4 p.m.

FALL RIVER - The Catholic television program "Good News For Life," sponsored by the Communications Department of the diocese, will present the next part in its Christian's Ask Series, "We Sing Because God Loves Us," February 21 at 9:30 p.m. on the Portuguese Channel.

nual Pro-Life essay contest is ongoing for students in the Fall River Diocese in grades six-eight and nine-12. This year's topic is, "A Person's a Person no Matter How Small." The deadline is February 16. For more information contact your school or the Pro-Life Apostolate at 508-997-2290.

r---------路---------------1 ;Social Events J ~-~-~--- -----_._- --_.-,---_._.

MANSFIELD - Magician, juggler and comedian Scott Jameson will perform February 20 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic School. For more information call Lori Lousararian at 508339-6655.

WESTPORT - A spaghetti supper will be held tomorrow at 6 p.m. at the Montessori School of the Angels, St. George Campus, 1180 American Legion Highway. It is sponsored by the St. George Chapter No. 441 and parents and staff of the school. For more information call Lynette Ouellette at 508-674-7036. ~;tG;;P~--------------]

ATTLEBORO - Catholic Social Services is sponsoring a support group for women experiencing the challenges of midlife. It will meet February 14 from 6-7:30 p.m. at 10 Maple Street. Meetings will continue on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. For more information call 508-226-4780. .

NORTH DARTMOUTH - Project Rachel, a ministry of healing and reconciliation for post-abortion women and men is available in the diocese. If you are hurting from an abortion experience and want help call 508-9973300. All calls are confidential.

NORm DARTMOUTH -A diocesan divorced-separated support group will meet February 14 from 78:30 p.m. at the Family Life Center, 500 Slocum Road. It will include a presentation of the video, "Understanding and Managing Anger." Refreshments will be available. For more information call Bob Menard at 508-965-2919.

IMusiclPraise MASHPEE - The Third Order of Cannelites of St. John of the Cross will meet February 18 following the 10 a.m. Mass at Christ the King Parish. It includes studies and prayer. For rriore information call Dottie Cawley at 508477-2798.

NEW BEDFORD - Confessions are heard every Friday night from 5:456:30 p.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue. It is preceded by eucharistic adoration at 4:15 p.m. and the celebration of Mass at 5: 15. For more information ca1l508993-1691.

IPro-Life Activities ATILEBORO - Pro-Life advocates picket and offer prayers on Wednesdays from 4-5 p.m. and Saturdays from 7:30-9 a.m. at "4 Women's Clinic" at the corner of Park and Emory streets, where abortions take place on those days. Participants are needed to pray and picket to help save the lives of unborn children.

HYANNIS - The Cape Cod Pro-Life Group welcomes volunteers to pray the rosary on Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. in front of the abortion clinic located at 68 Camp Street.

NORTH DARTMOUTH - The an-

ATTLEBORO - Musician John Polce will bring his monthly Bethany Nights Program to the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette on February 23 at 7:30 p.m.

It includes music, prayer and healing. For more information call 508222-5410 or visit the Website: www.johnpolce.com.

NEW BEDFORD - The "Music at St. Anthony's" Program will resume Sunday at 3 p.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue, with an organ recital by Kevin Birch. He will perform favorite selections on the historic 1912 Casavant Freres pipe organ. Complimentary tea will follow in the parish hall. For more information call 508993-1691.

TAUNTON - St. Michael's College Chorale will perform two concerts in the Fall River Diocese.

They will be at Coyle and Cassidy High School on February 24 at 3:30 p.m. and at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro on February 24 at 7:30 p.m. They are directed by Nathaniel G. Lew and pianist Annemieke Spoelstra will accompany the group. For more information call 802-6542536.

The Anchor ,

19

New Orleans tum, we saw that change in New Orleans is happening, however slowly. We also saw that, due to the efforts of the local and national Church, hope has arrived.

With not half of the city's population back, and many institutions still crippled 17 months after Katrina, there are physical improvements. Just in the past few months thousands of automobiles abandoned under the highway have been towed away. The most dangerous of the wrecks and debris in the Lower Ninth Ward have been cleaned up. It is harder to spot cars on roofs, boats in picture windows, and shells of buildings leaning over the street. Bereft of its people, however, its streets have a surreal quality as the eye falls on block after block of grassy rectangles where shotgun houses once stood. Many streets also are lined with signs saying simply "Enough!" in reference to the recent spate of murders. Mile after mile of the city that prides itself for its good times remains in ruin.

At the same time, in many areas a patient visitor can find hope, vibrancy and community. This is a time and a place in which the Catholic Church can feel justly proud of its role in making this happen.

Boston native and former vicar general and M~rrimackValley Regional Bishop Alfred C. Hughes is Archbishop of New Orleans. Under his calm, authoritative and humble leadership, the Church has been a huge ray of hope since the hurricane hit land the last weekend ofAugust 2005. Archdiocesan staff have been highly effective in the emergency response phase of the crisis - providing food on the massive scale of 100,000 pounds a day, clothing, shelter and pastoral care.

Priests were among the first to go out in the storm, rescuing people from the floodwaters, helping people grieve over their manifold

Continued from page one

losses. There are some priests who are still missing. Catholic Charities staff were in the ill-fated Superdome triaging rictims.

Once the flood w'aters receded, the Church moved oil to the recovery phase, focusing on housing and education. Local authorities have such high regard for ithe Church as a result of its perform~nce in the crisis, that they are detegating largescale redevelopment projects to Catholic Charities. I While public schools were shut down, the Catholic s~hools in New Orleans remained open during the 2005-2006 academic year. Not only for their own pupils, Ilbut the public school kids as well, making a significant contribution to the community.

We were privileged to be invited to Mass with the 300 children of St. Peter Claver School in the Treme District. Bearing out a point that Archbishop Hughes has made about the resiliency of the poor, four out of five of these:, children and their dedicated teactlers were displaced as a result of the hurricane and its aftermath. It was hard to sort out what part of the 90-minute liturgy was the most beautiful. The scrubbed children in their spotless uniforms, the quality and exuberance of the music, the earnestness

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February 16 Rev. Alphonse 1. LaChapelle, Assistant, Holy Ghost, Attleboro, 1983 Rev. Joaquim Fernandes da Silva, CM,2ool February 19 Rev. Andrew J. Brady, Pastor, St. Joseph, Fall River, 1895 Rev. Leopold Jeurissen, SS.CC., Pastor, Sacred Hearts, Fairhaven, 1953

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February 15 Rev. Joseph G. Lavalle, Pastor, St. Mathieu, Fall River, 1910 Rev. James C. Conlon, Pastor, St. Mary, Norton, 1957

Doolin is the retired secretary for Social Services, Archdiocese of Boston. He and his wife Mary are parishioners of Our Lady of the Assumption in Osterville.

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.II!Y~~ Pray~rs February 14 Rev. Charles E. Clerk, Pastor, St. Roeh, Fall River, 1932 Rev. Msgr. Francis McKeon, Retired Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton, 1980

of the student readers, or the relevance of the homily. All - and the prayer of the Mass itself- were spectacular.

Perhaps the most beautiful prayer of all is the way that the Catholic Church has shown competence, rOll-up-your sleeves grit, compassion, and love in New Orleans. The national parish collection united American Catholics in solidarity of support to our desolate sisters and brothers. Catholic lay groups such as the Order of Malta have worked alongside other organizations from around the country in rebuilding poor people's houses.

The local Church has been a consistent and dependable alleviator of misery for the poorest of the poor as they struggle to regain some semblance of normalcy in their lives.

Mary and I came home from our second work session in New Orleans physically exhausted, but spiritually refreshed. After the past five years of bad news about the Church, New Orleans reminded us that the Church we saw there is who we really are.

FUNBRAL HOMES

Helping people find hope.

PRACTICE THE DEVOTION OF THE FIRST SATURDAYS, AS REQUESTED BY OUR LADY OF FATIMA

On December 10,J925, Our Lady appeared to Sister Lucia (seer of Fatima) and spoke these words: "Announce in my name that I promise to assist at the hour ofdeath with the graces necessary for the salvation of t~eir souls, all those who on the first Saturday of five consecutive months shaH: 1. Go to conjessipn; 2. Receive Holy Communion; 3. Recite the Rosary (5 decades); and 4. Keep me company for 15 minutes while meditating on the 15 mysteries ofthe Rosary, with the intention of , making reparation to me."

In a spirit of reparation, the above conditions are each to be preceded by the words: ''In reparation for the offenses committed againSt the Immaculate Heart of Mary."

Confessions may be made during 8 days before or after the first Saturday, and Holy Communion may be received at either the morning pr evening Mass on the first Saturday. ,

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The Anchor ,

At prayer breakfast Bush cites Pennsylvania Catholic teen

By CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

UPHOLDING HER BELIEFS - Theresa Hanntz receives her 2007 Pro-Vita Award from Diocese of Metuchen, N.J., Pro-Life director Jennifer Ruggiero, far left, as Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski of Metuchen and Msgr. Richard A. Behllook on. (CNS photo/John Batkowski, Catholic Spiri~

Teen honored for commitment to Pro-Life program despite obstacles

By ScoTT ALESSI CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE

METUCHEN,NJ.-Atayoung age, Theresa Hanntz has already battled opposition to her Pro-Life activities, yet she remains undaunted.

Hanntz was honored by the Diocese of Metuchen with a Pro-Vita Award for fighting for herbeliefs when the Girl Scouts initially rejected achastity program she organized at her high school as a project to earn her the Scouts' Gold Award. A compromise was eventually reached and she received the Scouting honor.

She and three others were given Pro-VitaAwards during a presentation at St Francis ofAssisi Cathedral in late January.

Last year, as a senior Girl Scout at Immaculata High School in Somerville and president of the ProLife Gub, Hanntz wanted to earn her GoldAward by organizing afive-week

True Love Waits program at her school.

The program, aimed at freshmen and sophomores, educates students on issues such as chastity, abortion and understanding God's plan for sexuality. The Girl Scouts organization, however, did not feel that such a program was appropriate and denied Hanntz the Gold Award.

ButHanntz, afreshman at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, remained committed to the project. ''I just became so involved in that issue and it became such a passionate topic for me;' Hanntz told The Catholic Spirit, newspaper ofthe Metuchen Diocese. ''I really wanted to spread the word:' She appealed the Girl Scouts' decision, arguing that the program was voluntary and required parental consent, but the Girl Scouts still felt the topic itself was too controversial.

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Eventually, a compromise was reached when Hanntz agreed to rename the project "Implementing a Long-Term Program." She restructured her proposal to focus on organizing a program rather than promoting Pro-Life issues and finally received the Gold Award.

The True Love Waits program was a success at Immaculata, with 30 students participating. Hanntz said that she received strong feedback from her classmates who took part. Everyone who participated then ,Signed a purity pledge saying they would waitfor marriage before engaging in intercourse.

Hanntz first became involved in Pro-Life work as a freshman at Immaculata. She accepted an invitation tojoin the school's Pro-Life Gub from teacher Kathleen Reid, a 2006 Pro-Vita recipient. ''I'd always been Pro-Life, but I'd never really known much about it;' said Hanntz. "Once I started, everything kind of snowballed:' At the University of Scranton, Hanntz has already become the secretary of Students for Life and hopes to help the organization grow during her time at the school. She is also seeking opportunities to work outside the university, for example, speaking to teenagers at local high schools.

Hanntz has learned that fighting for one's beliefs can be difficult, but she still believes it is a worthy cause.

"A lot of the time you are in the minority, but to know that you are standing up for what's true and what's right is so much more rewarding;' she added.

Hanntz is the youngest recipient of a Pro-Vita award. Past winners have been primarily individuals or groups who have made a contribution to the Pro-Life cause on a state or national level.

The Pro-Vita Awards, given each year as part of the diocese's annual Respect Life Mass, were started in 1998 >by the late Bishop Vincent DePaul Breen to recognize people who had made perso~al sacrifices and shown great dedication to the Pro-Life cause.

WASHINGTON - At the National Prayer Breakfast February 1, President George W. Bush cited a· Pennsylvania Catholic teen-ager who started an outreach to poor and homeless people in memory of her favorite priest, the late Franciscan Father Mychal Judge.

In remarks Bush said that prayer "makes us a more compassionate and giving people" willing to listen to God's call "to love our neighbors as we would like to be loved."

"We answer that call by reaching out to feed the hungry and clothe the poor and aid the widow and the orphan," he said, and by helping people in need "we find our own faith strengthened and we receive the grace to lead lives of dignity and purpose."

That grace, he said, can be seen in the life of Shannon Hickey, a 16year-old junior at Lancaster, Pa., Catholic High School who founded a nonprofit organization called Mychal's Message in 2002.

She narned it in honor of a longtime family friend, Father Judge, the New York fire chaplain who died ministering to victims in the rubble of the World Trade Center's twin towers Sept. 11,2001.

Bush said that Father Judge helped Hickey and her family through her struggles with liver disease. She was born with a defective liver, and at seven months, on Jan. 29, 1991, received part of her mother's liver. Father Judge had been a family friend for 40 years.

"Over the last five years, Mychal's Message has collected and distributed more than 100,000 needed items to the poor and the homeless," Bush said. "With each gift to the needy, Shannon encloses a card with Father Mychal's personal prayer.

"It reads: 'Lord, take me where you want me to go, let me meet who you want me to meet, tell me what you want me to say, and keep me

out of your way,''' he added.

Bush said that Father Judge's "humble prayer reminds us of an eternal truth: In the quiet of prayer, we leave behind our own cares and we take up the cares of the Almighty.

And in answering his call to service we find that, in the words of Isaiah, 'We will gain new strength. We will run and not get tired. We will walk and not become weary.'''

Hickey also was among the 24 guests sharing first lady Laura Bush's box during the State of the Union address January 23.

"We are a nation ofprayer," Bush said at the breakfast.

"Each day millions ofour citizens bow their heads in silence and solitude, or they offer up prayers in fellowship with others," he said. ''They pray for themselves; they pray for their families; they pray for their neighbors and their communities."

Americans pray for their nation and their elected leaders, he said, and millions of citizens also lift up the troops in prayer.

"We pray for their (the troops) safety; we pray for their families they have left at home; we pray for those who have been wounded for their comfort and recovery. We remember those who have been lost, and we pray that their loved ones feel the healing touch of the Almighty;' he said.

"During this time of war, we thank God that we are part of a nation that produces courageous men and women who volunteer to defend us," he added.

The National Prayer Breakfast, held at the Washington Hilton, draws nearly 4,000 guests from around the world and is privately funded every year by the Fellowship Foundation.

It dates back to the war years of the early 194Os, with the first official event taking place in 1953 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower accepted an invitation by House and Senate prayer groups to join them in praying for the nation and its leaders.

PRAYERS FOR A FALLEN COMRADE - U.S. soldiers pray during a memorial service for Pfc. Allen Jaynes from Texas at a U.S. Army camp in Baghdad, Iraq, recently. Jaynes was killed by a roadside bomb, and four of his colleagues were wounded. (eNS photo/ Erik deCastro, Reuters)