02.18.05

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FALL RIVER, MASS.

VOL. 49, NO.7¡ Friday, February 18, 2005

Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year

Businesses, St. Vincent de Paul help feed needy New Bedford families ~

"We would have had a big deficit if these donations had not come in," McNamee said candidly. It was the second year in a row that donations "made the difference."

BY DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR While the 18 parishes with St. NEW BEDFORD - At a time Vincent de Paul chapters comwhen almsgiving becomes the bined to raise monies, volunteers topic of Lenten homilies, the gen- from five parishes are those who erosity of the St. Vincent de Paul actually staff the pantry, District Council of New Bedford, McNamee said. They are, Our and 50 businesses in the Town of Lady of Mount Carmel, Our Lady Dartmouth, give that concept a of the Assumption, St. James-8t. new practicality.

Therese, and St. John the Baptist, Just this week The Anchor all in New Bedford; and St. learned that a $10,000 donation Mary's in Dartmouth. from the St. Vincent de Paul Dis"This is an essential food retrict in the Whaling City, and an- source for many families, and it other $10,800 from 50 private is a good program," reported Bob businesses in the Town of Goldblatt, the basic needs coorDartmouth, are making life easier dinator of the food pantry. for more than 900 families who The pantry is open Wednescome to the Solanus Casey Food days and Thursdays from 10 a.m., Pantry on Bonney Street for food to noon, "and we average 150 to staples.

200 families weekly who come to Arlene McNamee, director of us." the Diocesan Office of Catholic During their monthly visit the Social Services, which has oper- families are given a large bag of ated the food pantry for five years, dry goods and other perishable said both donations came at a time foods.

"We go to the U.S. Department just before Christmas when food supplies were dwindling quickly.

Tum to page 13 - Help

Solanus Casey Food Pantry is resource for 900 families monthly.

. . DIOCESE OF

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CATECHUMENS WHO signed the Book of the Elect at the Rite of Election ceremony last Sunday at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall River, gather with Bishop George W. Coleman. The Elect have been preparing to become members of the Catholic Church through the diocesan Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program. Other photo on page 13. (Photo by Bruce McDaniel)

More than 100 faithful take next step to Church membership

BY DAVE JOLIVET,

EDITOR

FALL RIVER - Bishop George W. Coleman presided over the Rite of Election ceremony last Sunday at St. Mary's Cathedral here, welcoming more than 100 individuals who have professed a

desire to become part of the Catholic Church.

Representing 28 diocesan parishes, 41 catechumens, those unbaptized in the Christian faith, and 63 candidates, those already baptized in other Christian traditions,

signed the Book of the Elect, expressing their intent to join the Catholic Church.

The ceremony is part of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program. The Elect will Tum to page seven - Rite

STATION CHURCHES FEBRUARY

18-25, 2005

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Eucharistic exposition will take place following the morning Mass until 1/2 hour prior to the evening Mass unless otherwise noted. ..

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Fri., Feb. 18 St. Theresa, Attleboro - 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Masses Sat., Feb. 19, St. John the Evangelist, Attleboro - 10 a.m. Exposition and 4:00 p.m. Mass

, Mon., Feb. 21 St. Mary, South Darbnouth ,- 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Masses

Tues., Feb. 22 Our Lady of Mt Cannel, New Bedford - 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Masses Wed., Feb. 23 St. Anne Shrine, Fall River - 11 :30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Masses .Thurs., Feb. 24 Christ the King, Mashpee - 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Masses 'Fri., Feb. 25 St. Mary, North Attleboro - 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Masses

BISHOP GEORGE W. Coleman and Father Edward J. Healey, rector of St. Mary's Cathedral, distribute ashes at a Mass at the cathedral in Fall River on Ash Wednesday. The Mass signified the opening of the Lenten season, and was also the first of 40 Lenten Station Church events that focuses on Mass and day-long eucharistic adoration to be held on each weekday in Lent. (Anchon'Gordon photo)

Friday, February 18, 2005

Saint Anne's Hospital to offer several scholarships FALL RIVER - In an effort through her work as a registered to reduce barriers and improve nurse, patient advocate, and outaccess to education to ~ cultur- reach worker. Candidates for ally diverse community, Saint this scholarship need not be biAnne's Hospital's Multicultural lingual or bicultural but must: Health Committee is offering six 1. Be a resident of Dighton, $500 scholarships to local stu- Fall River, Freetown, Rehoboth, dents pursuing a health care ca- Swansea, Somerset, Westport, or reer and a seventh for a student Tiverton, R.I. or Little Compton, pursuing a career in nursing.

R.I. All seven scholarships are 2. Be entering or pursuing a available for community indi- degree in nursing at an accredviduals, as well as Saint Anne's ited college or university.

Hospital employees and their 3. Be a graduating high immediate family members. school senior or college student.

4. Provide the original GED To be eligible for one of the six MHC scholarship awards, certificate if applicable. candidates must: 5. Complete, in full the appli1. Be bicultural and/or bilin- cation entitled Multicultural gual.

Health Committee Maria E. 2. Be a resident ofthe Greater Cabrales Nursing Scholarship Fall River area: Westport, Application.

6. Use the award .during Dighton, Fall River, Freetown, Rehoboth, Swansea, Somerset, 2005-2006 academic year. or Tiverton R.I. or Little Established in 1987 to enCompton, R.I. courage area bilingual or bicul3. Be entering or pursuing a tural students to pursue educadegree in nursing and/or health tional opportunities in health care related profession at an ac- care, Saint Anne's Hospital's credited college, university, or Multicultural Health Committee enrolled in a program leading to Scholarship Program annually eligibility of state license!certi- awards scholarships to area residents who are enrolled in a fication.

4. Be a路 graduating high health career-related education school senior, college student, or and demonstrate leadership, bienrolled in a program leading to lingual and/or bicultural skills, eligibility of state license!certi~ community involvement, and fi.; nancia! ,need:.. SjQce t~at .thne, fication. . .'

5. Provide'the origiilai 'GEE> the' committee h'asawarded certificate,~ifapplicable7 ~ .-.- " . scholarships totaling more' than 6. Complete~ iIi' 'full; the ap~ . ' $45;000 to area students. plication entitled Multicultural The deadline for submission Health Committee Scholarship of all applications is April 22 at Application.

4 p.m. Scholarships will be 7. Use the award during awarded in May. Scholarship 2005-2006 academic year. applications and further inforIn addition, the Multicultural mation can be obtained by callHealth Committee is also offer- ing Saint Anne's Interpreter Sering the second annual Maria E. vices Department, 508-674Cabrales Nursing Scholarship. 5600, ext. 2441.

The $500 scholarship, to be Information about this and other awarded to a nursing student, programs is also available on Saint was established in 2004 in Anne's Hospital's Website, http:// memory of the late Saint Anne's www.saintanneshospital.org~ employee's longtime dedication Victor A. Palumbo, MD to addressing the health care Memorial Scholarships needs of a diverse community The medical staff of Sain~ .

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'The Spirituality of Icons' workshop' to be held at. Cathedral February 26

Feb 21

Feb 22 Feb 23 Feb 24

"Good St. Anne, Mother of Mary, and Grandmother of Jesus, Intercede for me and my petitions. ~en."

Feb 25

PRACTICE THE DEVOTION OF THE FIRST SATURDAYS,

Feb 26

AS REQUESTED BY OUR LADY OF FATIMA

name that I promise to assist at the hour ofdeath with the graces necessary for the salvation oftheir souls, all those who on the first Saturday of five consecutive months shall: 1. Go to confession; 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 or evening Mass on the first Saturday.

serving southeastern Massachusetts and nearby Rhod~ Island.

Specialized services include oncology, pediatrics, rehabilitation, diabetes, cardiac care, behavioral medicine, and pain management. Saint Anne's Hospital is a member of Caritas Christi Health Care, the second largest not-for-profit health system in New England.

Anne's Hospital invites applications for the 16th annual Victor A. Palumbo, MD, Memorial Scholarship awards.

Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to students pursuing health careers. To be eligible, scholarship candidates must: 1. Be a resident of Assonet, Berkley, Dighton, Fall River, Freetown, Rehoboth, Swansea, FALL RIVER - A Lenten af- lic Church, giving her foundaSomerset, Westport, or Tiverton, ternoon of reflection, ''The Spiri- tional experience with Eastern R.I. or Little Compton, R.I. of Icons," will be offered rites. Her interest in icons retuality 2. Be entering or pursuing a degree in nursing, allied health, at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the newed when she undertook pilor other health care profession at Assumption 路in Our Lady's grimages to Russia, Poland and an-accredited college or univer- Chapel, 327 Second Street, on the Holy Land, where she studied sity. Preference will be given to February 26, from 1:30 to 3:45 and collected icons. She has studindividuals who are, or will be, p.m. by Patricia Pasternak. The ied in workshops under the direcenrolled in a southeastern Mas- workshop intends to introduce tion of iconographer Christopher sachusetts or Rhode Island col- participants to Eastern Catholic Gosey.

A veteran educator, Pasternak ~pirituality through !he beauty of lege or university. has woven this interest and expeIcons.

3. Be a graduating high school rience into her teaching vocation.

The program will begin with a senior or currently enrolled colbrief history of iconography, how She is director of Religious Edulege student.

4. Complete the Victor A. to "read" icons, and their impor- cation at Holy Trinity Parish in Palumbo, MD, Scholarship ap- tant role in the Divine Liturgy of Fall River, and served formerly in the Mass. During the second half, that capacity at St. Stanislaus in plication. .

5,.-Be able to use the award participants will have an oppor- Fall River and St. Thomas More during the 2005-2006 academic tunity to experience praying with in Somerset. She was on faculty and served as principal at Dominian icon. year.

"Learning to 'read' an icon is can Academy in Fall River.

The Victor A. Palumbo, MD, Pasternak received her bachScholarship Program was estab- a beautiful introduction to prayelor of arts in mathematics at ing with icons," explained li~hed in 1992 by the medical staff of Saint Anne's Hospital in Pasternak. "Icons have been an Rhode Island College, and holds honor of the late longtime obste- integral part of worship and two master's degrees from Provitrician-gynecologist and to rec- prayer in the Eastern Christian dence College, in religious studognize outstanding academic churches. Pope John Paul II has ies and biblical studies.

The program is entirely open achievements and.a demon- encouraged Roman-rite Catholics .,to the public, at no cost. Refreshto become more familiar with the .s,trateq, comqlitni~nt t<;) health 'ri~hes or'the E~stein-riies of the ments will be offered. Reservacare. tions are recommended, but not Deadline for submission of Catholic Church."

Pasternak's family were memrequired. For information, con:: applications is April 29. Applications and further information bers ofSt. John's Ukranian Catho- tact Pasternak at 508-672-8340. concerning the scholarship can be obtained from the Saint .

Correction In last week's Anchor, it was reported that Father Humberto Villa, LY.E. was appointed as parochial vicar at St. Kilian Parish, New Daily Readings Bedford. However, the name was incorrectly spelled as Vill. The Anchor regrets the error.

St. Anne's Prayer

On December 10, 1925, Our Lady appeared to Sister Lucia (seer of Fatima) and spoke these words: "Announce in my

Anne's Hospital Medical Staff 'Office, 508-674-5600, ext.

2002.

Information about this and other programs is also available on Saint Anne's Hospital's Website, http:// www.saintanneshospital.org.

Saint Anne's Hospital is a 160-bed acute-care community hospital with comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services,

Feb 27

Dn 9:4b-10; Ps 79:8-9,11,13; Lk 6:36-38 1 Pt 5:1-4; Ps 23:1-6; Mt 16:1319 Jer 18:18-20; Ps 31:5-6,14-16; Mt 20:17-28 Jer 17:5-10; Ps 1:1-4,6; Lk 16:1931 Gn 37:3-4,1213a,17b-28a; Ps 105:16-21; Mt 21 :33-43,45-46 Mi 7:14-15,1820; Ps 103:1-4,912; Lk 15:1-3,1132 Ex 17:3-7; Ps 95:1-2,6-9; Rom 5: 1-2,5-8; Jn 4:542 or 4:5-15, 19b26,39a,40-42

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TIIE ANCHOR (USPS-54S-D20) Periodical Postage Paid at Fall River, Mass. Published weekly except for two weeks in July and the week after Chrisnnas at 887 Highland Avenue.

Fall River, Mass. CJl.720 by the Catholic Press of tile Diocese ofFall River. Subscription price by mail, postpaid $14.00 pei year.

POSTMASTERS send address changes to The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA CJl.722.

In Your Prayers Please pray for the following priests during the coming weeks

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1997, Rev. Msgr. Luiz G. M tlonca, PA, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, New Bedford ~~ ~Fe6i22

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1954, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Jovlte Ch~on, Founder, St. Joseph, New Bedford. \\

.

Feb.

24,\

2002, Rev. Edward F. McIsaac, C~tholic Memorial Home, Fall River \ \

Feb.25 \ \ 1988, Rev. Leo J. Ferreira, Vicar General' of Brownsville diocese and Pastor, St. Mary, Brownsville 1998, Rev. William T. Babbitt, St. Mary, North Attleboro

Feb. 27 1874, Rev. Philip Gillick, Founder, St. Mary, North Attleboro 1956, Rev. Joseph N. Hamel, Founder, St. Theresa, New Bedford 1995, Rev. John G. Carroll, Retired Pastor, St. Margaret, Buzzards Bay

Friday. Fe

LA SALEITE FATHER Bernard Baris, pastor of Our Lady of the Cape Parish, Brewster, visited school children in Dessalines, Haiti, recently. The Cape Cod parish has been ''twinned'' with St. Claire Parish in Dessalines for the past 18 years. (Photos courtesy of Father Baris)

Goats for Haiti! A pastor's reflection Editor's note: In 1987, the parishioners of Our Lady ofthe Cape Parish in Brewster, entered into a covenant with St. Claire Parish in Dessalines, Haiti. The Cape parish committed itself to help St. Claire financially; but it also pledged to enter into a spiritual covenant with the people of Dessalines.

Recently, pastor, La Salette Father Bernard Baris, and two parishioners, Yvette Armstrong

and Bob Quinlan, visited the ·poor in material things but many Dessalines parish. Father Baris are rich in faith, hope and love. would like to share some ofthat They are wann and genuine.

The people are so alive, joyvisit with Anchor readers.

DESSALINES, Haiti - My ous and even grateful. Throughfirst visit to Haiti was a great, out my stay, I saw signs on buses spiritual experience. It certainly . and trucks saying: "Merd, mon was painful to see such poverty Dieu!" (Thank you, good God!) and misery; but. it is so uplifting As an American seeing these to witness such hopeful and joy- people living in such poverty, I ful people. There are many differ- often ashamedly thought, "Thank ent ways to be poor in this world. you for what?"

St. Claire's is a country parish The people of Haiti are certainly about three hours north of Portau-Prince. It has nine chapels or missions with three elementary schools and one high school. The Sisters of Charity of Ottawa (Grey Nuns) run one of the schools.

I knew that there were a lot of children in the parish of Dessalines so I left the U.S. with 500 lollipops in my suitcase thinking that I would have plenty to go around. I found out that in the four schools the total enrollment of

students is nearly 2,000 students! beans, rice and gravy that is given So we had to make the difficult to them at the parish school. Somedecision to give the pops to the times the Sisters of Charity in youngest kids. That decision hurt. charge of the largest school have a Giving out lollipops was like giv- little extra money to add dried fish ing out gold to some of the kids. I or fresh vegetables to the gravy to would have wanted to give some make it more nutritious and tasty. to all the kids in town. . Meat is expensive and is rarely At each school the students eaten. Four ounces of powdered greeted us wannly. I visited each milk is rationed to only the youngclassroom and spoke to the kids. est children on a daily basis. Most Most of the people and kids speak of this food is donated by EuroFrench, so I was able to commu- pean countries. But it's not nearly nicate well with them. In many enough and the Sisters and the parclassrooms there are 50 or more ish priest are constantly looking for kids. Almost each class greeted us means to supplement the diet of with a welcoming song. One song these children.

One day I asked the nun in began, "Welcome, let us take each other's hand and walk together." charge what I could personally The words say it all. All the songs give to help. She told me that $25 were upbeat, positive and full of would buy one goat and they images of light and -life. I often could make a sauce with it to go wondered how these people could with the rice and beans. This be so positive and hopeful with would be a feast for the children.

Imagine, one scrawny small goat so very little.

Some of these children eat only to feed 1,000 students, plus teachone meal a day - the meal of Tum to page 13 - Goats

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F

'RAl\CISC.~;\ L\I\'ERSII Y

A YOUNG Haitian school girl enjoys a lollipop brought to her from Our Lady of the Cape Parish in Brewster recently.

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Friday, February 18, 2005

themoorin~

the living word

Howard Dean's challenge The election of Howard Dean as chainnan of the Democratic National Committee is an interesting twist of fate. One can be sure that his tenure will not be a quiet one. Rising from the obscurity of Vermont governor, lie managed to put a real scare into the party favorites..

There c,m be little doubt that he possesses some real managerial skills.

His ability to fund-raise and reach out to grass root endeavors kept him in the primary limelight. His track record also shows clearly that he is not afraid to speak his mind.

In accepting his leadership role he made some very interesting comments. He told his fellow Democrats they canpot run an 18-state strategy and expect to win an election. This rejection of the recent election plotting should tell all that he means business will not be as usual. In fact, De<U1 openly stated that he will be working hard in all the red states, realizing the importance oflocal voters. The failure of the Democrats in the last election was in fact this reality. The Democrats substituted their working class roots for upper class liberal politics. In the process they lost much of America De<m recognizes this and says that he will reach out to all Americans. This will indeed be a difficult task. Many who control the Democratic Party are not ready for this outreach.

Dean must dialogue with his party members who are Pro-Life. These people, many who are elected officials, were shut out of their own party and its convention platfonn. There are Democrats who want to sustain traditionai marriage values. Their voice must be heeded. Family values are in dire need of continuous and constant support. To ignore this fact would only sustain divisiveness and division. In other words, Dean should get his own house in order before he tackles other political issues. The Democrats must open the windows of their party to assure that the stale air of the past is refreshed with a new breeze.

In a news conference after his acceptance speech, Dean stated that he means to reach out to "Evangelicals." What he means by Evangelicals is rather fuzzy. He believes that they are a group that forms the core of Republican voters. To put all Evangelicals into a single-thinking mode is far removed from reality. In his religious outreach he must know that he also has to deal with a tradition that includes every~ne f'!:o~ Funcl~e~tal B~p.ti~~ tb~~~smatic C~olics and all in be~~n:,It is in~resti,ng. to note Dean madespeeial mention that he wants to recapture the Catholic vote. He argued. 'The social mission of the Democratic Party is the same as the social mission of the Catholic Church." In some areas of national.concern he is correct.

However, there are many issues where moral and ethical ideals are not on the same level; indeed, they may be far apart. In this regard De<m reached for a very long bow.

There is no doubt that much must be doneto revive the spirit o(the nation. The war in Iraq is a sizzling issue. Somethjng must be done to balance the budget and restore the dollar. American jobs should not be up for sale for cheap foreign labor. Above all, health care for every citizen is a pressing need. These are but a few items that must be a priority for both parties if we wish to renew our national purpose.

At the same time, we have the obligation of healing the soul of America. First and foremost, al1life from conception to natural death should be protected by the law. The death of a baby is as abhorrent as the death of a Marine in Iraq. De<m has his work cut out for himself simply because you cannot compromise life truths.

It is obvious that the congressional election of 2006 is underway.

Howard De<m has much work to do now that he has returned to the national spotlight. He is now center stage in the drama of Democratic politics.

The Executive Editor

of<Fall ... River

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Fall f\iver! MA 722-0007 Telephone 506路 -7151 48 E-mail: TheAnchor@Anchornews.org Send address changes to P.O. Box, call or use E-mail addtess

EDITOR David B. Jolivet

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Re楼. Msgr. John F. Moore NEWS EDITOR OFFICE MANAGER James N. Dunbar

Mary chase

FATHER THOMAS A. Fro;CHETTE, PASTOR OF ST. FRANCIS XAVIER PARISH, HYANNIS, GREETS FROM LEFT, LORIE, MORGAN ANNA, AND PETER MONIZ. MORGAN ANNA HAD THE DISTINCTION OF "PLAYING" THE BABY JESUS FOLLOWING THE CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS MASS IN DECEMBER. (PHOTO COURTESY OF CLAUDIA MONIZ)

"COME, YOU CHILDREN, LISTEN TO ME;

I

WILL TEACH YOU THE FEAR OF THE

LORD" (PSALM 34:11).

:,p'reaching Christ?s Passion

Scripture scholars often Gospel of Christ crucified was CINEMAS. Many Protestants describe the four Gospels as proclaimed on the big screen. were intrigued by the presenta"passion accounts with very Just as when St. Paul tion of Mary, the Mother of the long introductions." This is preached it, Mel Gibson's visual Redeemer, and her fortitude as because the preaching of the portrayal in 'The Passion of the she followed in the bloody apostles .:- and the earliest ..

Christ" became a "scandal to footsteps of her Son. Many Christian writings -focused Jews and folly to Gentiles" (1 Protestants also saw for the first above all on the details of Jesus' Cor 1:23). Abraham Foxman of time, in Gibson's artful flashpassion, death and resurrection. the Anti-Defamation League backs, the connections between St. Peter, immediately after attacked the film, saying that it the Eucharist and the Cross that bursting through the doors of the would fuel anti-Semitism. It to Catholics are second nature. upper room on Pentecost, didn't. In fact it had the opposite Most of all, it helped all Chrisproclaimed in a idiom undereffect it led some at-large tians realize just how much. standable to all: "Jesus Jesus suffered of Nazareth - you voluntarily, out of love crucified and killed by - for each of us. the hands of those One group that was outside the law. But God particularly moved by the Deep raised him up" (Acts 'The Passion" was 2:22-24).

Catholic men. For the

By Father Roger St. Paul tells us that first time in a long time, the catechesis he J. Landry there was a depiction of received upon his an unmistakably MASconversion focused CULINE Christ. Jim . precisely on this: "I .

Caviezel's portrayal was of a handed on to you as of first criminals to tum themselves into Savior whom today's men importance what I in tum had authorities. Gentiles in Hollywould leave "fishing boats" and received: that Christ died for our wood and the secular media "tax tables," "houses, family sins in accordance with the ridiculed the film, saying that it members and fields" (Mt 19:29) scriptures, and that he was was nothing more than an orgy to follow. buried, and that he was raised of "religious sadism." Folly In much of recent Christian on the third day in accordance indeed! art, Jesus hasn't even appeared with the scriptures" (l Cor 15:3But just as with St. Paul's human, not to mention mascu4). original proclamation, the visual line. Many modem crucifixes So much did S~. Paul special- presentation of Christ crucified make him look like an emaci路ize in the proclamation of Jesus' became "for those who are ated extra-terrestrial. On paschal mystery that he says he called ... the power of God and Missalette covers, Jesus' sacred resolved to know and to preach the wisdom of God" (l Cor humanity is reduced to a stick nothing other than "Christ and 1:23). People came back to the figure. In the last major HollyChrist crucified" (l Cor 2:2). sacraments after long years wood movie about the Gospel One year ago next week, we away. Catholics and Protestants - Zefflrelli's 1977 film "Jesus saw what happened when that prayed together - IN PUBLIC Tum to page 13 - Passion

Puttting Into

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Some folks just don't get it Let's see, that's three Super Calling for him to resign? Why Bowl championships In four years not just rip his heart out and toss it - and people outside New aside.

England still don't get it.

Pope John Paul II can't walk, They don't understand the keys can't speak very well, and to the Patriots' new millennium struggles to simply breathe at dominance have been hard work, times. All that means NOTHING, smart football, respect for their because he still has a trinity of gifts opponents, preparedness and humility.

You'd think that every athlete in every sport in the land would emulate the Pats, but you still find trash-talking, selfpromoting, non-team

By Dave Jolivet teammates across this fair land.

They just don't get it.

But there's a movement afoot in to share that allows him to remain our own Catholic Church that has shepherd of the world's Catholics raised the bar in the '~ust don't get - his mind, heart and soul. it," category.

John Paul II is not the Holy I'm referring to those who are CEO, he's not the Holy Presicalling for Pope John Paul ll's dent, he's not the Holy PR Man. resignation.

He's the Holy Father, or should I You know, I can understand say he's the Holy Daddy, such gibberish coming from the because he loves us all so very secular world - because they just much. don't get it - nor are they Does anyone ask their daddy to expected to. resign when his body begins to But from within our own ranks? fail?

There is not a human being John Paul II is an inspiration to alive who loves his sisters and the aged and infirmed of this brothers more than our beloved world. Every day of his life, he pope. proves everyone can overcome The man doesn't see color or obstacles. nationality, religion or status. He John Paul II is an inspiration to sees EVERYONE, and treats the young people of this world. In EVERYONE for what they truly a society that advocates the . are - a sister or brother in Christ. ''beautiful people,': John Paul II is o

My View

From the Stands

Fall River parishes to host city-wide mission

FALL RIVER - The Catholic parishes ofFall River will once again host a City-Wide Lenten Mission to be held during the week ofFebruary 21-24. The theme of the mission, in the Year ofthe Eucharist, will be "A HOLY AND LNING SACRIFICE: Jesus, You and the Eucharist."

The mission is sponsored and supported by the following parishes: Cathedral ofSt Mary ofthe Assumtr tion, Good Shephe~ Holy Trinity, Notre Dame, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, St. Anne, St. Anthony of the Desert, St. Joseph, St. Michael, SS. Peter and Paul at Holy Cross Church, and St. Stanislaus.

The guest homilist will be Father William Kelly, who has given many retreats and missions for parishes throughout the country. Since 1995 Father Kelly has been a faculty member and spiritual director at St. John Seminary in Brighton. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1988 after studying at the North American College in Rome. He is president of the National Federation ofSeminary Spiritual Directors and has servedon the staff and on the Board of Advisors for the Institute of Priestly Formation located at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. The schedule: Monday, February 21- St. Joseph Parish, North Main Street; Thesday, February 22 - Notre Dame Parish, Eastern Avenue;

. Wednesday, February 23 - St. Michael Parish, Essex Street; ThurSday, February 24 ...-:' St. Anthony of the Desert Parish, Eastern Avenue. ''For four years now, this mission has been a time for the people ofFall River and beyond to set aside for spiritual renewal," said Father Scott Ciosek, parochial vicar at St. Michael's Parish. "One ofthe impor. tant aspects of this mission, especially in this time of Pastoral Planning, is the need for us to be together with people from other parishes and . to grow closer to Christ as one."

Mass will be celebrated each evening at 7 p.m. in the above locations and the mission homily will be given in the context of Mass. Pastry and coffee will be served each night following Mass in the parish hall. All are welcome.

'This mission is for those who are seeking Christ and for those who want to grow closer to him during this season of Lent," added Father Ciosek. "We encourage every Catholic person in Fall River to join us for the mission and to invite a friend or two, especially someone who may be struggling with their faith or someone who has been hurt by the Church or has left the Church.

Your invitation could begin a new chapter in their life."

For more information, call any of the listed parishes, or Father Ciosek at 508-672-6713.

the anti-beautiful- physically. He is hunched over, slurs his speech, drools and is quite immobile, yet thousands upon thousands of young people see right through that to the beauty of his mind, heart and soul.

Anyone who works with teens or young adults knows that you can't pull the wool over their eyes. They sense the truth, and Pope John Paul II is the truth.

There isn't a rock star, movie star or athlete alive that can match his popularity among today's youth.

He's an inspiration to everyone in between because of his compassion, honesty and humility.

Resign? Why? This is Mary's pope. You can't tell me our Blessed Mother is not watching over this man as she did when an assassin's bullet headed his way in 1981. .

You can't tell me that she doesn't intercede for this man every day of his life~ And you can't tell me that she

1&

wants him to resign!

The day will com~ when Pope John Paul II is called home, and that will be a sad, sad day for all of us. Don't rush it.

We are so very fortunate to be alive during the reign of one of the greatest leaders of the Catholic Church since St. Peter himself.

Don't shoo him away.

Pope John Paul IT is still far more competent to shepherd this Church than he's given credit for by the secular world, and some Catholics.

They just don't get it.

Many Patriots fans are relishing this wave of success because they know it won't last forever.

As Catholics, we should take the same approach with the poor, sickly old man who labors about the Vatican.

His body may have ''resigned'' years ago, but his mind, heart and soul are as youthful as ever.

Let's appreciate that while we still have it.

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Friday, February 18, 2005

%nten C%f[ections CWith (father QYhomas ~ <K.e,cik.

ATTLEBORO - The National Shrine of Our Lady of La . Salette announces meditations on Stations of the Cross based on the "Folly of God" will be led by La Salette Father Giles Ginest at 7: 15 p.m. February 22 and March 1.

A concert featuring Tatiana will be held Sunday at 7 p.m. For more information visit the Website: www.CameronProductions.org.

A healing service in Portuguese will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. For more information call 508-2225410.

CHATHAM - The Pro-Life prayer groups of Holy Trinity and Holy Redeemer parishes are sponsoring a holy hour February 20 at 1:30 p.m. at Holy Redeemer Church. It will include recitation of the rosary and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. .

MASHPEE - The Knights of Columbus Council from Christ the King Parish is sponsoring a scrap metal drive to benefit Mission Honduras. Items may be deposited in the bin located between the statue of our Blessed Mother and the storage shed behind the playground. For more information or to have items picked up call Bill Kelley at 508-477-8417.

MISCELLANEOUS - The Donovan House of Catholic Social Services is seeking volunteers to oversee the maintenance of its children's play space. They also need mentors and drivers to assist families with medical appointments, parental role modeling and everyday activities. Volunteers should call Barbara Tavares at 508-999-5893 for more information.

NEW BEDFORD - An ecumenical celebration entitled "Let Our Light Shine," a World Day of Prayer for Poland, will be held March 4 at 7:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 235 Front Street. Refreshments will be served. For more information call 508-999-1889.

NEW BEDFORD - Courage, a group for people dealing with same-sex attractions while trying

to live chaste lives will meet February 27 at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at St. James Church's rectory, 233 County Street. For more information call Father Richard Wilson at 508992-9408.

NORTH DARTMOUTH - A Divorced-Separated Support Group will meet February 28 from 7-9 p.m. at the Family Life Center, 500 Slocum Road. It will feature a presentation entitled "New Relationships." For more information call Bob Menard at 508-6732997.

NORTH EASTON - A family retreat will be held February 27 from 2-4 p.m. at Holy Cross Family Ministries, 518 Washington Street. It will include the family rosary game, screening of a video, interactive activities, a chance to make your own rosary, prayer and refreshments. For more' information call 508-2384095.

ORLEANS - The next gathering of the Separated-Divorced Catholics healing ministry group will be February 27 at 7 p.m. at St. Joan of Arc Parish Center on Canal Road. There will be a video presentation with Sister Joyce Rupp on "Spiritual Growth in Tough Times." For directions and! or information, call Father Richard Roy at 508-255-0170.

TAUNTON - The Catholic churches of Greater Taunton are sponsoring a Lenten Mission beginning Sunday, running through February 23 at St. Anthony's Church, 126 School Street, beginning at 7 p.m. each evening, followed by refreshments. The rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. Directed by Father John M. Grace of the Diocese of Manchester, N.H., the mission is themed, "Behold the Lamb of God." Sunday and Monday night will include exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction; the sacrament of reconciliation will be available Tuesday night; and Mass will be celebrated Wednesday night. For more information call 508-822-0714.

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Avarice, also known as covetousness or greed, is the subject ofour second reflection on the seven capital sins. It is defined as the immoderate desire of earthly goods, especially those that belong to others.

Of the Ten Commandments, two regulate not only our external actions, but even our internal desires.

These are the ninth and tenth commandments, both of which forbid avarice ("You shall not covet. ..").

St. Paul calls avarice the "root ofall evils" (lTun .6: 10). Robbery, theft, fraud, parsimony, and callousness towards the poor all stem from avarice. But there are more subtle forms of avarice that may blind us to the sinfulness qf what we do. Some people imagine thatjust because they found some money or personal belongings, the items belong to them ("Finders keepers!"). Unscrupulous contractors put in time not required for the job at hand, or use inferior materials at a higher price. Gambling, playing the stock market, and purchasing goods on credit are not sinful in themselves; but they become sins if a person risks loss so great that he cannot pay his debts and support his dependents. Advertisers convince us that we must have the latest fashions or models, when we could just as well continue to use our serviceable appliances, clothing, cars, and so on.

St. Franci~ de Sales says that everyone claims to abhor avarice. We wax eloquent when we explain how we must have the necessary things to get along in the world. But we never think we have enough, so we always find some pretext for wanting more. How often do we include avarice in our examination of conscience or accuse ourselves of it in confession?

We can enjoy the goods.ofthis world, but we must

be on guard not to become unduly attached to them

and thus fall into idolatry (cf. Eph 5:5). God alone is our supreme happiness. Of all people, Christians should not be overly concerned with earthly goods; for our heavenly Father has care of us (cf. Mt 6:3132). Does this mean we should neglect our duties and occupations? Certainly not. It means that, while attending to our affairs, we must not neglect the affairs of the soul. "Seek first [God's] Kingdom and his righteousness," our Lord promises, "and all these things shall be yours as well" (Mt 6:33).

Mercy is the virtue that opposes avarice. Peter Kreeft writes in Back to Virtue that avarice is "the centrifugal reach to grab and keep the world's goods for oneself," whereas mercy is "the centripetal reach to give, to share the world's goods with others." Mercy is the antidote to the greed that poisons the soul.

"Learn of me," Jesus tells us, "because I am meek and humble of heart" (Mt 11 :29). Imagine our Savior, whose Passion depicts a progressive impoverishment. He is abandoned by his disciples, then stripped of all honor and finally of life itself. Then pray: From the sin ofavarice, deliver me, 0 Lord.

Father Kocik is chaplain at Charlton Memorial Hospital in FaIl River and part-time assistant at St. Thomas More Parish, Somerset.

He has two published books, "Apostolic Succession" (Alba House, 1996) and "The Reform of the Reform? A Liturgical Debate" (Ignatius Press, 2003); and essays, homilies and letters have been published in various periodicals, including Homiletic & Pastoral Review, The CatOOlic Answermaga$e, First Things, and Adoremus Bulletin.

Lenten meditations on the Sorrowful Mysteries The following meditoJions are taken with permission from the book "Minute MeditoJions on the Mysteries ofthe Rosary,"by the Iote Holy Cross Father T1w11UlS M. Feeley, woo Iuzd wriJten Advent and Lenten refleclionsfor The Anchor.

The Agony in the Garden His weary, uncomprehending disciples slept while Jesus prayed. God, his Father, was silent, for it was.the hour of darkness. ButGod was not silent because he did not care. He was silent because he was listening.

He was watching through the darlcness. He knew the desolation Jesus felt and saw his sweat fall like drops of blood to the grouild The Father heard Jesus say, "Father, if you are willing take this cup awayfrom me.

Nevertheless, let your will be done, not mine" and sent an angel to comfort him (Lk 22:42M). He saw the disciples run away in fear and Jesus led away captive to undergo his passion and death.

We often feel isolated as we struggle to follow Christin the midst of a sinful. selfish, uncomprehending, hostile world But our heavenly Father watches over us too and will not let us be tempted beyoruJ, our strength (1 Co 10:13). He knows our weakness. He will send his angel to strengthen us, as he sent one to comfort Jesus. .

In the midst ofour desolation we must remember what Christ told us, "Have confidence, I have overcome the world" (In 16:33). By his grace we will too ... and we share in his victory.

The Scourging at the Pillar

We "tend to lash out in anger at those who offend us. We defend ourselves from those who attack us and .feel justified in punishing them for injuring us. Christ, however, did not defend himself. He did not get angry and resentful over his cruel and unjust treatment but bore it patiently.

He once told us: "Loveyourenemies arul pray for those who persecute you; in this way you will be children ofyourFather in heaven" (Mt5:4445). In his scourging at the hands of the Roman soldiers he showed us how a child of God should act The Crowning with Thoms Law restrained the soldiers in the number oftimes they could lacerate the flesh of Jesus with their whips but there were no restrictions on their ingenuity in finding ways to humiliate him. Ifthey could not make him cry out for mercy, they could make him out to be a fool - so they crowned him with thorns and mocked him.

But the humility and patience of Jesus as he endured their cruel and wanton mockery teaches us that nothing others do to us can destroy our dignity as children of God. Only our own sins can do that. And by his sufferings he has enabled us to resist evil, to behave always as children of our heavenly Father, and to be holy as he is holy.

The Carrying of the Cross , Speaking of his coming passion and death Jesus said, "My soul is troubled now, yet whatshould I say...

Father save mefrom this hour.? But it was for this that I came to this hour" (In 12:27). Oearly his pas-

sion and death was the hour to which his whole life pointed. Yet he could not complete his task alone. To cany his cross, Jesus needed the help of Simon of Cyrene (Mt 27:32). Now he needs Us to carry the good news

ofsalvation to the ends ofthe earth (Mk 16:15). He relies on us to reveal to others that we are his disciples by the love we have for one another (In 13:35). Such selfless love in practice imposes many . crosses on us. But if we remember what Christ did for us, we will pick up our cross every day arul follow in hisfootstep$ (Lk 9:24) - not like Simon, who did so begrudgingly, but willingly out oflove.

The Crucifixion We naturally tend to close our hearts to those who hurt us. But to the extent that we do, we act selfishly and let sin reign in our hearts.

This is why Christ told us, "Love your enemies. Do goodto those who hate you arul persecute you. Then you will be children ofyour heavenly Father" (Mt 6:45-46). Jesus proved he was the Son ofGod when on the cross he prayed repeatedly, "Father,forgive themfor they know not what they do" (Lk 22:38).

By the power of the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us (I Co 6: 19) we, too, can love our enemies and say with St Paul: "I can do all things in . him who strengthens me" (ph 4: 13).

"Minute Meditations on the Mysteries of the Rosary" can be obtainedfrom Holy Cross Family Ministries, 518 Washington Street, No. Easton 02356,,1-800-299-7729 oron the Website at www.hcfm.org.

Friday, February 18, 2005

the

Priest celibacy: When 'it all began Q. When did celibacy become one of the Church's rules for priests? Was it something that started with the Jews before Jesus and then was continued by the Church? We understand that many early priests and bishops, even popes, were married. True? (pennsylvania)

did not originate with the Jewish people. The thought of a

Questions and Answers

By Father John J. Dietzen celibate life for men and women was generally offensive to Jewish culture, as it was to most other cultures of the time. As the Scriptures show often, a house

A. The story of clerical celibacy in the Church is long and complex. But the following is at least a brief outline.

First, the Christian practice

full of children was considered a sign of God's blessing. For a woman to be unmarried and childless was a mark of shame.

I believe the only major figure in the Old Testament who was celibate was Jeremiah, who lived around the time of the Babylonian Captivity, six centuries before Christ. The Lord told him not to marry, as a sign to the people that children then being born would die in the coming military and political calamities.

Lent: Finding your way into daily prayer When I was a young college student, I sometimes felt lonely.

I would go to the beautiful old church on our campus and look at the huge white columns that reflected light from the stainedglass windows.

I would find myself wistfully daydreaming. If only, I thought, Christ himself could step out of the shadows and come down and sit by me in this pew. I could tell him all my problems and confusion. He would understand. He would provide wise counsel, clear direction.

The memory of those moments of longing is strong.

As I've grown older, I realize that what I was experiencing was a deep desire for prayer.

Although it took years, I was fortunate to develop a daily habit of prayer that continues to grow stronger. I know prayer has changed my life.

Recently I had the opportunity to interview a young Jesuit for an article in my local Catholic newspaper. He clearly illustrated the difference daily prayer can make in a person's life.

He was a West Point graduate, a bright guy with every

intention of making the military his life's career. But, after a few years in the Army, something didn't feel quite right. A friend suggested he make a weekend retreat. And so he did.

Now, the retreat did not provide any bolt-of-lightning answers, no "Ah-ha!" moments

for Lent, give up 10 or 15 minutes each day, as a beginning, to listen to God. On the other hand, that can sound quite difficult. How does a busy young mother with babies and an erratic schedule find the right time for prayer?

How do we fit silence into our noisy days? And how do we pray? How do we know whether we are listening to God or to our own chatter instead?

For me, the first and largest hurdle was finding the right time and sticking to it.

Simply hoping I would fit prayer in never worked.

Prayer must be the first thing scheduled, not the last.

For me, and for many, early morning is the best time for prayer.

My soldier-turned-Jesuit friend put it well: "Morning prayer set straight my whole day."

The "how-to" of prayer can be helped along by Scripture. I had a spiritual director once who told me to pray with the day's Scripture - the daily Mass readings. Pick one, read it slowly; prayerfully ask God to show you what it might be saying to you.

A wonderful way to find help with this is at www.sacredspace.ie. a prayer site run by the Irish Jesuits. This site will guide you in a 10minute meditation using each day's Scripture.

Creighton University's wonderful Online Ministries has a site devoted to Lenten prayer this year. Pray with them at www.creighton.eduJ CollaborativeMinisttYfLent.

Perhaps the best advice was offered by another spiritual director, a no-nonsense religious sister who displayed this sign in her office: "Just do it !" , I'm sure she'd agree that Lent is a good time to begin.

r_----------{'""'--==-,"'I For the Journey

By Effie Caldarola

of revelation. But within months he left the military, and not too long after that he was on the road to priesthood.

What called forth such a radical change in this man's journey?

"My prayer life began again as a result of the retreat," he told me. "I realized my deep desires had been covered up by my successes."

A daily prayer life allowed him to see the true desires God had placed in his heart.

Opening up to a life of prayer is, on the one hand, simple. If you wish to "give up" something

James Porter, former priest and convicted sex abuser, dead at age 70 BOSTON (CNS) - James Porter, a former priest who served 20 years in prison for sexually molesting children in the Fall River diocese churches where he served in the 1960s, died of cancer February 11.

Porter, 70, was being treated in Boston at the New England Medical Center, where he had been transferred from a Department of Corrections medical clinic.

Last year he completed an 18to 20-year prison sentence after he pleaded guilty in 1993 to 41 counts of sexual assault involving 28 children. Since his release,

Porter had been held by the state pending a civil hearing to decide whether he should be committed as a sexually dangerous person.

In a 1992 television interview, Porter admitted to molesting more than 100 children in Massachusetts, Minnesota, Texas, New Mexico and Nevada. By 1993,99 men and women from the Fall River diocese in southeastern Massachusetts had accused Porter of abusing them.

Sixty-eight of them were part of a reported $5 million settlement with the Fall River diocese in the early 1990s.

7 The practice of celibacy was generally spotty in the Church until the later part of the fourth century when the first general law obliging clergy to a celibate life appeared in the Western Church. Several popes and regional councils in Africa and Europe, beginning probably with Pope Damasus (366-384), decreed that ordained clergy should not be married.

During the next 700 years, marriage of bishops, priests and deacons was unlawful in the Western Church. (Practices and regulations concerning celibacy were, and remain, different in most Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.)

The movement toward clerical celibacy continued, however, and culminated in the 12th century at the First and Second Lateran Councils when marriages of clerics were declared not only illicit (unlawful) but invalid.

Much later, at the Council of Trent in 1563, the law of celibacy was reaffirmed.

Interestingly, however, against enormous opposition the council declared that celibacy of the clergy was a matter of Church law, not of divine law.

This means that the Church could change its legislation concerning celibacy. A change was made, in fact, for deacons when Vatican Council II instituted a married permanent diaconate. In addition, as most Catholics are aware, married men who joined the Catholic faith from other Christian denominations have been

Rite

ordained and now serve as Catholic priests, especially in the United States and Europe.

As the above summary suggests, married clergy were common during earlier Christian centuries. St. Peter, of course, was married (see Mark 1:30), as were other popes. Family records for many of them are sparse, so we know little about their marital status before or after they became pope.

One pope, St. Hormisdas (514-523), was married before he became pope, as was, it seems, his son, Pope St. Silverius (536-538). As far as we know, the last married bishop of Rome was Adiian II (867-872), who apparently lived with his wife and family in the Lateran Palace, the pope's residence at the time, though an unmarried clergy was by then not uncommon in the West.

'The road of clerical celibacy has not been smooth through the centuries, especially in the early Middle Ages and in the years before the Protestant Reformation. Smooth or not, however, it is clear that the Church does not plan to alter easily or quickly a practice which has been so intimate a part of its life for the past 1,700 years.

Afree brochure describing basic Catholic prayers, beliefs and moral precepts is available by sending a stamped, selfaddressed envelope to Father John Dietzen, Box 5515, Peoria, IL 61612.

Questions may be sent to Father Dietzen at the same address, or E-mail: ijdietzen@aol.com.

Continued from page one

become members of the Church at Eastertime.

"By celebrating the Rite of Election our catechumens appreciate that becoming Catholic is not simply joining St. John the Evangelist Parish but they are also becoming part of the wider Catholic family of the Fall River diocese and beyond," said Msgr.

Daniel F. Hoye, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Attleboro. ''There is a sense ofsolidarity with the many who are in the RCIA process." ''The Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion gives the whole Church a moment to reflect upon the reality that God continues to call people by name, continues to invite to the eucharistic table and that people eagerly respond to God's call," said Lisa M. Gulino, diocesan director of Adult EducationlEvangelization and assistant director of the RCIA program. "I am most grateful to our priests, deacons, coordinators of the RCIA, catechists and sponsors who support and nourish the faith of the catechumens and candidates."

Many family members, friends, catechists, sponsors and parish priests attended Sunday's ceremony in a show of support for the candidates and catechu-

mens.

"It is wonderful to see that in 2005, in just the Fall River diocese alone, we have so many people wanting to become fully initiated Catholics," said Michelle Ducharme, a parishioner of St. Francis Xavier Parish, Acushnet, and one of the readers. "These people have made a choice. God has called them, and they have said 'yes,' and going to the Cathedral and celebrating with the bishop makes the initiation process extra special." ''The beauty of the Rite, the sacred music and the enthusiasm of the catechumens and candidates added to the Spirit-filled and holy moment in the life of the Church," said Diane Barton of St. Mary's Parish, New Bedford. "It gave me great joy as I saw our candidates so moved by this next step of their journey to the fullness of the faith."

Deacon Robert Lorenzo of St. Joseph's Parish, Fairhaven and Deacon Joseph Regali of Sacred Heart Parish, North Attleboro, assisted Bishop Coleman, and Suzanne Medeiros of St. John Neumann Parish, East Freetown, was also a reader.

The choir of St. Jacques Parish, Taunton, provided sacred music, led by guest director and organist Phillip Spindola.

Friday, February 18, 2005

Ii 8

Vatican rules on marriage courts uphold Church law, sacrament VATICAN CITY (CNS)- Vatican officials said new instructions for Church maniage tribunals are designed to ensure Church law is followed, to defend the sacrament of maniage and to ensure the efficiency that justice requires.

The new handbook for Latin-rite diocesan and interdiocesan tribunals, "Dignitas Connubii;" ('The Dignity ofMarriage"), provided step-by-step procedures for accepting, investigating,judging and appealing marriage cases.

The document was released February 8at aVatican press conference.

Before accepting a request to begin an annulment procedure; the document said, a judge must "employ pastoral means" to try to convince the husband and wife to stay in their maniage arid "re-establish conjugal life."

"If this cannot be done," it said, "the judge iS,to urge the spouses to work together sincerely, putting aside any personal desire and living the truth in charity, in order to anive at the objective truth, as the very nature of a marriage cause demands."

Approved by Pope Jolm Paul II, _ the final draft was the responsibility of the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation ofLegislative Texts. The congregations for the Doctrine ofthe Faith and for Divine Worship and the Sacraments worked on the instruction, as did two Vatican tribunalsthe Roman Rota and the Apostolic Signature. ' The instruction, while encouraging tribunals to work efficiently and not unduly prolongjudgment, insists that no shortcuts be taken in determining the validity of a marriage.

The document reaffirmed existing Church law-a lawmany canon lawyers had hoped would be set aside - that an initial declaration ofnullity issued by a diocesan court must be reviewed by a second court.

Cardinal Julian Herranz, president of the council for legislative texts, told reporters that the instruc~ tion was designed to be a practical , handbookfor tribunal staffmembers,' pulling together norms from the 1983 Code of Canon Law, rulings

issued by his office over the past 20 years and judgments issued by the Rota and the Signature, the Church's highest court.

The cardinal said the instruction was meant to help local tribunals function better and to ensure that they were acting in full' conformity with the laws and doctrine of the Catholic Church regarding maniage.

"Even if this requires going against the current," Cardinal Herranz said, the dignity ofmarriage must be defended.

The Catholic Church's annulment process does not involve dissolving marriages, but determining whether a valid, indissoluble marriage existed from the beginning, he said.

Unlike a civil divorce proceeding, he said, the annulment process "does not aim at dissolving a valid marriage, even if it has failed irreparably, but at verifying the hypothesis that despite a formal celebration, it never existed because essential conditions were lacking."

Bishop Velasio De Paolis, secretary of the Apostolic Signature, said that in 2002, local Church tribunals issued 46,092 decrees of nullity. Of those, almost 31,000 were issu~ in the United States and Canada, while close to 9,000 were issued in Europe.

While saying the tribunals "in some cases may be proceeding too rapidly," the bishop said the first reasonfor the large numbers is that with widespread secularism, even'many Catholics do not understand the sacrament of maniage and are not in a position to enterinto a valid maniage.

Another reason, he said, more and more Catholics who are divorced and would like to remarry in the Church apply for an annulment.

Cardinal Herranz said divorced and civilly remanied Catholics "are not excommunicated" nor excluded from the Christian .community, although they may not receive th~ Eucharist as long as ''their sin persists and is known in the community where they want to receive."

At the same t:iiDe, he said, ''they can and must participate in the life of the Church."

SPANISH CARDINAL Julian Herranz addresses a February 8 press conference at the Vatican about new instructions for Church marriage tribunals. (CNS photo by Giancarlo Giuliani, Catholic Press Photo)

u.S. SECRETARY of State Condoleezza Rice meets with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, at the Vatican recently. Rice, on an eight-nation European tour, urged Europe to put aside differences over the Iraq War and open a new chapter in relations with the United States to help it spread democracy worldwide. (CNS photo by Alessia Giuliani, Catholic Press Photo)

Vatican: Rice assures Holy Land, religious freedom 'on' U.S. agenda

BY CAROL GLATZ CATHOUC NEWS'SERVICE

, Rice's comments came just spent on talks about Iraq was hours before Israeli Prime Min- "fairly short": Rice emphasized VATICAN CITY - U.S. Sec- isterAriel Sharon and Palestin- she was aware of the difficulties retary of State Condoleezza Rice ian President Mahmoud Abbas Iraqi Christians were facing. assured top Vatic.anofficials that formally announced a cease-fire Many Christian churches have the Holy See's concerns over the aimed at ending four years ofvio- been the target of bombings and Holy Land and religious 'freedom lence. attacks by insurgents. in the Middle East andCliina Rice assured Cardinal Sodano Rice promised that the United would be on the U.S. agenda. that she would be personally en- States was working to encourage Rice, on her first visit to the gaged in following the Middle the eventual formation of a govVatican as newly appointed sec- East peace process. ernment that protected religious Cardinal Sodano and Arch- minorities in Iraq. retary of state, was to have met Concerning the harsh restricwith Pope John Paul n, but his bishop Lajolo outlined the tions against Christians in hospitalization kept ~im away. She made the visitas Saudi Arabia, Rice said the part of her seven-day tour Th U.S u路路 I 'd' C . issue was very much on the of Europe and Israel.' e . . o,,~cla sal ar~mal U.S. agenda, the U.S. offiCardinal ,:Angelo, Sodano told RIce he apprecIated cial said.

The U.S. official in Sodano, Vatican secretary,' Bush's 'strong spiritual and moral' of st~te, an~ ~e' .vatiCan:~:' approach. his 'leadership; Rice :Rome .saidC~~al S~ano f?reIgn ~Imste!, A.rch~.! ',said she appreciated the Holy See's t?ld Rice the Vabcan would bIShop GIOv~nm LaJ~lo, longstanding efforts promoting inter- lIke to see more .pro~ss and other VatIcan officuus '.. . . ' ,. made of the Saudi religIOn welcomed Rice,andher en- , !~~f!'0us dIalogue and the fight restrictions. Concerning retou~age, February' ,8)iJ.. th~' .!!9amst ,HIV/AIDS. , strictions against Catholics VatIcan for "an exth~ge.. '" ":' ',' ' ' in China, Cardinal Sodano of opinions, "" V~ticari'., .': ': said he could see rio reason spokesman Joaquih Navario-' .:Vatican's <;oncerns in the Holy for the Chinese government to Valls said in a written' statepieol ,Larid, especially concerning find- view such a relatively small comreleased a few houts after the ing a resolution to territorial is- munity as a threat, said the U.S. meeting. sues, the status of Palestinian official. Rice said the United The 45-minute encounter was refugees and the fmal status of States would continue to raise "cordial," the Vatican, text said.' Jerusalem, said the U.S. official. these concerns.

Rice, who had just come from The archbishop specified that the The U.S. official said Cardia two-day visit to fsnlel and the ' Vatican wished that the sacred nal Sodano told Rice he appreciWest Bank, told Vatican officials character of Jerusalem be recog- ated Bush's strong spiritual and that she had some good news nized and that priests and other moral approach to his leadership; concerning the Holy Land. religious have access to the city Rice said she appreciated the Holy See's longstanding efforts She said that for the first time, without hindrance or difficulty.

Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Rice said the United States promoting interreligious diawere saying the same things and agreed with those principles, but logue and the fight against mvI that the two sides wanted to make she cautioned there was much AIDS. the most of the new opportuni- work to be done before discusRice's visit to the Vatican was ties opened to them, a senior U.S. sions on Jerusalem's final status part of a European tour setting official in Rome told Catholic, could be approached. the stage for Bush's trip to EuNews Service.

The U.S. official said the time ,rope later this month.

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Rocking the boat: Venice cardinal known for his pastoral energy

Cardinal Scola has challenged his own community of Catholics and pastoral assistants with fresh ideas and projects such as: a major new educational complex in Venice; fresh contacts and dialogues with Orthodox Church leaders; a new magazine, Oasis, to give moral and intellectual support to Catholics living in Muslim-majority countries of the Middle East; plans to create a regional theological faculty; reorganization of the patriarchal curia under six new vicars; and increased contacts with city and regional offices, including requests for public funds for some archdiocesan projects.

Probably the criticism most often voiced about Cardinal Scola is that he tends to speak over the heads of his listeners.

But the cardinal's pastoral collaborators give him high marks for conceptual leadership and somewhat lower marks for consensus-building.

Cardinal Scola said the Church needs to move beyond headline-grabbing issues and reach people in the areas that matter most, helping them find deeper meaning in their emotionallives, their work and their repose. It all begins with the personal encounter with Christ, he said, which should be nurtured in parishes and other forms of Church community. " If the Church wants to reach people where they live, it has to move out of the sacristy and into all sectors of civil society, he said. At the same time, Cardinal Scola would like to restore the parish as a spiritual and social meeting ground.

While some say he has clear ideas and presents people with

Editor's note: Today we are intensity, has made Cardinal youth and family ministry, unirunning thefirst in an occasional Scola the latest and perhaps versity administration and writseries of articles on prominent most formidable Italian candi- ings on cultural issues. cardinals who could be influen- date for a future papacy.

As patriarch of Venice since tial in a future papal 2002, he has injected conclave. These innew life into a see that, depth profiles will fowhile hosting millions cus on cardinals in : ," of tourists every year, their pastoral settings Western Europe has the largest bled is experiencing demoaround the world.

•. . eligible to vote for a new pope a graphic collapse. Culturally and artistically,

By JOHN THAVIS it is a unique corner of

CARDINAL ELEOORS

NORI1t AMERICA

WESTEIlH EUROI'E

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46

VENICE, Italy On the sun-splayed Western shore of the Lagoon of Venice, Cardinal Angelo Scola gathered his red robes and climbed out of a narrow wooden _.~. "quatordesona, .. a 14oar gondola elegant 22 11 12 enough to have carried LAlIN AFIlICA ASIA the doges of Venice.

AMERICA .

He had just crossed Countries With Most Electors the five miles from Venice proper to Italy zo Mestre, the industrial United States 11 city where he was to Germany I celebrate two Masses, Spain I visit two parishes, inaugurate a center for drug addicts and see a new city park.

It was a typical Sunday for the patriarch of Venice, The son of a truck driver, the a man Venetians sometimes de- 63-year-old cardinal has made scribe as a "volcano" and a an international name for him"workaholic." His pastoral en- self with his theological scholergy, combined with theological arship, preaching of retreats,

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Friday, February 18, 2005

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the world - and one which has given the Church three popes in the last century.

The "bigger perspective" of international issues is a hallmark of the cardinal's pastoral style.

So is his penchant for bluntness. He comes across to many as a cultural warrior.

2 "Cardinal Scola has an intelligence that allows him to read new situations and push the faith into spheres of 5 daily life - cultural, 4 political or economic 4 - even to the point of 4 confrontation. It's in his DNA and flows from his conviction that the faith is not sometlIing private, but must be lived in the real world," said Father Fausto Bonini, a former communications official for Cardinal Ce who is now a parish pastor in Mestre.

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Vatican official's comment stirs debate over papal resignation

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - When a top Vatican . Some have suggested that Pope John Paul, who official said papal resignation should be left to the suffers from a debilitating neurological disease, may "conscience" of Pope John Paul II, it reignited a de- have already prepared a letter of resignation in case bate that has been smoldering for many years. that happens. Pope Pius VI prepared a similar letter Inside and outside the Vatican, prelates and lay in his old age. But Church law experts say even that experts have fallen into two camps: those who think kind of letter niight. leave some doubt, because it the pope would resign if he felt he could not lead the would be papal aides who ultimately determine when Church, and those who say it will never happen it should be implemented. that the pontiff has clearly decided to stay at the A number of cardinals over the yeats - including Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, head of the doctrinal conChurch's helm until God takes him.

With a weakened pope in the hospital for flu-re- gregation, Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez lated breathing problems, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa and Belgian Cardinal the Vatican s~retary of state, was asked February 7 Godfried Danneels of Mechelen-Brussels - have by reporters if, he thought the pope would consider smd they believed the pope would resign for the good of the Church if he were unable to physically bear resigning. .

The interesting thing was that Cardinal Sodano the burden of the papacy. didn't duck or dismiss the question. Instead, he gave No one has said in public that the time for resignaan answer that appeared to recognize resignation as tion has come, however. On the contrary, Vatican officials and others have marveled at the ability of the an eventual possibility.

After praising the pope's love for the Church and pope to somehow carry on, year after year, even as his wisdom, the cardinal said simply: "We have to . he has lost the ability to walk, to speak clearly and to have enormous trust in him. He knows what he should endure long audiences.

Indeed, the pope's perseverance has convinced do."

For the media and papal commentators, that was some that he will stay in the papacy to the end.

"He has a providential sense of his own papacy, enough to start the wheels turning.

No one questions whether a pope can resign: It's and I think he's very plugged in to what God intends happened before, the last time in 1294 when Pope for his life," said Father Thomas Williams, a priest of Celestine V aJ:xlicated. The papal resignation option the Legionaries of Christ who has taught in Rome for is explicitly written into the Code of Canon Law. It many years.

"I don't think he believes that God intends for him says a pope may step down, but stipulates that the decision must be made freely and "duly manifested." to resign. I think he believes that he's totally in God's Those are two crucial conditions and would be hands, that he has a particular witness to give in his problematic if a pope becomes so sick that he cannot infirmity, and that he's going to be able to do what he . has to do until his death," Father Williams said. . express his wishes unequivocally. o

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clear goals, others are more cautious.

Cardinal Scola's ecclesial path began with parish youth activities and participation in Catholic Action. As a philosophy student in Milan, he became president of the Italian Catholic University Federation. After his ordination in 1970, he worked with the famous theologians, Fathers Henri de Lubac and Hans Urs von Balthasar, when they founded the international Catholic theological review, Communio. He eventually published book-length interviews with both theologians.

Cardinal Scola also became increasingly involved with Communion and Liberation, a predominantly lay Iralian Church movement founded by Msgr.

Luigi Guissani. Unlike movements that focused almost exclusively on personal piety, this one quickly became known for its public impact and political combativeness.

The cardinal, who speaks English and several other languages fluently,. has traveled extensively in Europe and beyond, visiting four continents since he was named a cardinal in late 2003.

He has found time to write a series of short inspirational or reflective books, most recently on "Death and Freedom." The English translation of "The Nuptial Mystery," his book on love, marriage and the relationship between man and woman, has just been releas·ed.

In the face of all this energy, all these projects and all these ideas, Venetian Catholics sometimes spontaneously offer a prediction about Cardinal Scola: that Venice won't be the last stop in his ecclesial career.

Living the' Sacramental Life Lenten Retreat Day for RCIA Elect, Candidates, Godpw::ents, Sponsors and Team membe~ Saturday, March 5, 2005 Corpus Christi Parish Center, E. Sandwich 10:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M.

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FR. JACK HARRINGTON FR. HENRY J. DAHL DEACON RICHARD MURPHY JEANREVIL All are invited for this day of pmyer and reflection. Please register by FEBRUARY 28, 2005 by calling the Office of RCIA (508) 678-2828. Lunch is provided therefore an aa:urote count is necessary.

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Documentary producer g~d to have access to tell seminarians' story CINCINNATl(CNS) - When Carol Marin and Don Moseley of Marin Corp. Productions set out to produce a documentary about seminary life, they essentially had two goals in mind.

They wanted to demystify what goes on behind the walls of the institutions that prepare men for the priesthOod, and to examine why, in one of the most difficult periods in the history ofthe Catholic Church, a man would still choose this way of life.

Marin, along with those who appear in a new documentary focusing on the Athenaeum of Ohio at Mount St Mary's Seminary of the West in Cincinnati, are pleased with the results.

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The program. ''Keeping the Faith: Becoming a Priest in Today's Catholic Church," debuted February 1, on the Discovery Tunes cable channel.

Depending on viewer reaction, it may be picked up by the larger Discovery Channel.

The first seminary the producers approached declined to participate, noted Marin, an award-winning broadcaster who has worked as a correspondentfor numerous national news programs. But Archbishop Daniel E. PilarczykofCincinnati and FatherGerald Haemmerle, then rector at Mount St Mary's, approved the project }'We are most grateful they let us in," Marin told The Catholic Telegraph, Cincinnati's archdiocesan newspaper. 'They had every reason to say no, but we were given virtually unfettered access to ask what we wanted to ask and see what we wanted to see. It took tremendous courage on their part to give us the kind of access they did."

Filming began in 2002, with Marin and Moseley following a handful ofseminarians on therrjourney to the pri~ood.

'They visited at least five times . and spent two or three days here each time," said Walt Schaefer, communications director for the Athenaeum.

"Sure we had some misgivings, but we saw this as an opportunity to showcase our seminary and our students. There's nothing sugarcoated about this. All the hard questions are asked and answered."

The questions center on topics such as the seminarians' views on celibacy, the sexual orientation of

their classmates and their own personal experiences before coming to the seminary. Also featured are comments from seminary faculty members on how these issues are handled in light of the diverse backgrounds of the rilen entering the priesthood today and the openness with which they must be addressed in the aftermath of the scandal.

Interspersed throughout the hourlong program are clips dealing with how the abuse scandal unfolded locally and the response of archdiocesan officials.

Questions of faith were also asked and viewers learn the vocation stories ofa small group ofseminarians, such as Scott "Scooter" Steinke, a fourth-year student who was once engaged and previously worked as a sound engineer for popular music groups. The men's family members are interviewed, including Becky Nevels, the daughter.ofFather Dan Schuh, a widower, father and grandfather who was ordained in 2003 after a long career with the Kroger supermarket chain.

From scenes ofseminarians playing basketball and pool to praying together and practicing the administration of the sacraments, the documentary also gives viewers insights into their daily lives. Father Schuh . is shown on the day of his ordination, clearly moved by the presence of his loved ones and filled withjoy as he begins his new life. Steinke is seen playmgthe banjo, and Father James Weber, who was ordained last year, is seen strolling through an area flea market in search of antiques.

Father Ed Smith, current seminary rector-president, believes the documentary is fair in both its treatment of life at the seminary and in the questions posed about the abuse scandal.

'The best thing is that it shows the humanity of the seminarians for people who think this place is filled with ethereal bdngs," he said.

'These are just guys growing closer . to God and each other as they pursue ordination."

Steinke, who along with his classmates, had the opportunity to preview the documentary, said, "It was very truthful and honest and I was very .happy with the outcome. I pulled no punches with them (the producers) and they pulled no punches with me."

CHARACTERS ARE pictured in a scene from "Pooh's Heffalump Movie." (eNS photo from Disney)

eNS movie review 'Pooh's Heffalump Movie'

BY DAVID DICERTO CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

In the new adventure, Pooh (voiced by Jim Cummings) and his NEW YORK - "Pooh's pals - Tigger (also voiced by Heffalump Movie" (Disney) will Cummings), Piglet (John Fiedler), leave you feeling, to borrow a Eeyore (peter Cullen), Rabbit (Ken phrase from its cuddly cartoon star, Sansom) and Roo (Nikita Hopkins) "as happy as a tummy full of - set out to capture a Heffalump, honey." a much-feared creature who has The delightfully sunny and fam- invaded their idyllic home in the . ily-friendly movie, which runs just Hundred Acre Wood. ,. .'

63 minutes, marks only the third The ominous intruder turDs out feature-length foray into the whim- to be no threat at all, but a harmless sical world ofWmnie the Pooh. The and playful creature (voiced by other two were 'The TIgger Movie" Kyle Stanger) who resembles a (2000) and "Piglet's Big Movie" grape-colOred elephant, and is him(2003). self scared, lost and alone.

A.A. Milne's "tubby little He befriends Roo, who was left cubby" also appeared in three clas- behind because he was too young sic Disney shorts (packaged in 1977 to take part in the "dangerous" misand released as 'The Many Adven- sion into Heffalump Hollow, and tures ofWmnie the Pooh"), as well who helps him find his mother, as in a long-running TV series and Kanga, (voiced by Brenda numerous video releases and holi- Blethyn). day specials, securing his place as Together they teach the Pooh one of the most beloved characters crew an important lesson about actin children's animation. ing with kindness toward those who

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NEW YORK (CNS) - The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting ofthe U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. ''Boogeyman'' (Screen Gems) .

Hokey horror flick about a young man (Barry Watson) who has been haunted all his life by memories of a traumatic incident he "witnessed" in his bedroom as aboy- he is convincedthe eponymous evil specter snatched his father - and who is advised by his psychologist that in order to salvage his sanity, he must prove that the fearful episode was

The Gospel of St. Luke Lisa M. Gulino St. Mark Parish, Attleboro Falls Tuesday Evenings: February 22, March 8, 15,22 7:00 p.m. until 8:30p.m.

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Are you a RENEW group and looking for something to do this Lent?

Consider corning to one of these events. Please register by calling Lisa M. Gulino at 508-678-2828.

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nothing more than a figment ofhis troubled imagination by spending a night alone in his creepy childhood home. Though not without some mild suspense and popcorn-tossing jolts, the movie, directed by Stephen Kay, is a muddled mess of failed frights, horror-movie cliches and backend-heavy special effects . pieced together by a mostly incoherent script Several sequences ofmenace, which involve horror-style violence as well as some sexually suggestive scenes, one which contains partial nudity. The USCCB Office for Ftlm & Broadcasting classification is A-ill - adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 ~ parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. ''Bride & Prejudice" (Miramax) Daffy, but likable, updated subversion of "Pride & Prejudice" with leading man Darcy (Martin Henderson) now an American hotel

are different, a lesson ofequal value to our war-tom world where those who are different are often treated with hostility. The Heffalump repreSents fear of the unknown, and in that sense we all have a Heffalump in our own lives. I:.ike Pooh, the challenge is to overcome ignorance and prejudice with compassion.

Director Frank Nissen's tender' tale stays true to the gentle spirit of Milne's storybook creations, combining traditional hand-drawn animation and a buoyant score which features songs by Carly Simon - to create a heartwarming parable about friendship and acceptance, which celebrates family and childhood innocence.

In our age-inappropriate society, that is nothing to pooh-pooh.

The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-Igeneral patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G - general audience. magnate, and the Bennet girls now the Bakshis, a genteel lower middleclass Indian clan - but most of the Jane Austen plot elements are more or less intact, including the duplicitous Wickham (Daniel Gillies).

Gurinder ("Bend it Like Beckham'') Chadha's retread is also a garish musical in the Bollywood tradition, and though much of it is - intentionally - way over the top, the central romance between Darcy and the beautiful Lalita (Austen's "Elizabeth") (Aishwarya Rai) comes through appeaIingly. Some off-color remarks; a fistfight, provocative dancing, and some thematic material make this best for older adolescents on up. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification isA-ll-adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 - parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

.-

Pope blesses pilgrims from apartment window; aide reads Angelus talk

BY JOHN THAVIS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE VATICAN CITY -Making his first public appearance since returning from the hospital, Pope John Paul 11 blessed a crowd of pilgrims from his apartment window but let an aide read his weekly talk.

He thanked people for their recent prayers and said he always needed their help to carry on as pope.

"Dear brothers and sisters, welcome," the pope said February 13 in a hoarse and weak voice. Then he stayed at the window as Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, an assistant secretary of state, read his text.

The pope looked alert and occasionally raised his hands to punctuate the multilingual greetings read in his name. At the end of the 10minute appearance, the pope read a blessing in Latin and wished the crowd below a pleasant Sunday.

The pope was cheered at length,

and a huge banner held by young tence: prayer, fasting and works of people in the square read: "Wel- charity," he said. come back!"

"All this should be accomIt was the first public glimpse plished in hidden way, without of the 84-year-old pontiff since he hypocrisy, in a spirit of sincere love returned in a popemobile from for God and others," he said.

Rome's Gemelli Hospital FebruThe pope's text also made an ary 10, following 10 days of treat- appeal for the liberation of an Italment for breathing difficulties ian reporter, Giuliana Sgrena, kidbrought on by the flu. napped recently in Iraq.

In the written text Of his AngeAides said the pope would ease lus talk, the pope thanked every- into his regular Vatican schedule. one for their prayers during his He skipped a scheduled appearhospitalization, saying: "I always ance at a Mass in St. Peter's Bafeel the need of your help before . silica for the World Day of the Sick the Lord, in order to carry out the February 11, and he had no apmission Jesus entrusted to me." pointments the following day.

The papal text offered a brief A Vatican press statement said reflection on Lent as a season that that on the evening of Feb. 13, the reminds Christians of a fundamen- pope was scheduled to be present tal truth: "One does not enter into at the start of his weeklong Lenten the eternal life without carrying our retreat, which he normally attends cross in union with Christ." with members of the Roman Cu."One does not gain happiness ria. The Italian news agency and peace without facing interior ANSA, however, reported that the combat with courage. It is a com- pope did not attend the first sesbat won with the weapons of peni- sion and followed it instead via a

video link in his apartment.

The Vatican press office had.no comment the following day on whether the pope was attending the retreat gatherings or watching it on video.

This year's retreat was being preached by Italian Bishop Renato Corti of Novara. Bishop Corti said he was asked to preach on the Year of the Eucharist, which began in October.

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WORSHIPPERS HOLD up candles during Mass for the World Day of the Sick in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican February 11. (eNS photo from Reuters) The Franciscans Immaculate Conception Province (OFM)

Vocation Director: Br. Charles Gingerich, ofm Email: Charles848@aol.com Web Site: WWW.FRANCISCANVOC.ORG

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A visit with Terri Schiavo Editor's note: This is written

by Father Frank Pavone, national director ofPriests for Life, following a recent visit with Terri Schindler-Schiavo.

She is not dying. She has no terminal illness. She is not in a coma.

She is not on life-support equipment. She is not alone, but rather has loving parents and siblings ready to care for her for the rest of her life. She has not requested death.

Yet a battle rages regarding whether Terri Schindler-Schiavo should be starved. She has sustained brain injuries and cannot speak or eat normally. Nevertheless, the only tube attached to her is a small, simple, painless feeding tube that provides her nourishment directly to her digestive system.

Her legal guardian is her husband, who already has another woman - by whom he also has children. He wants Terri's feeding tube removed. Of course, he could simply allow her to be cared for by her parents and siblings, and get on with his life, but he refuses.

I have had two opportunities to visit Terri, most recently on the first Sunday of February.

I have been able to talk to her, to listen to her struggle to speak, to watch her focus her eyes and smile and attempt to kiss her parents. I have prayed with her, blessed her, and assured her that she has many friends around the country and around the world, who love her and want her to enjoy the same protections we all enjoy, even when we're wounded.

News articles have recently characterized Terri's situation by saying that some want to "keep her alive against her husband's

wishes." But Terri is not dying.

What does "keeping her alive" mean, if not the same thing as keeping you and me alive - that is, by giving us adequate food, shelter, and care?

Some say that Terri's family should "let her go." But this is not a matter of "letting her go," because she isn't "going" anywhere.

If, however, she is deprived of nourishment, then she would slowly die in the same way that any of us would slowly die if we were deprived of nourishment. It is called starvation.

If the courts permit that to happen, then why should that permission apply only in Terri's case?

There would be no way to limit it to her case alone. Countless others would follow, and their deaths would be described as "letting them die" instead of "killing them."

Where, indeed, does the state get the authority to starve people?

Court decisions permitting this lack all authority, as Pope John Paul n teaches in ''The Gospel of Life" (section 72). These decisions cannot be obeyed, because they are not binding on the conscience and are in fact acts of violence.

At the present time, there are two simple things you can do.

Educate your neighbors about this situation. Visit our Website, www.priestsforlife.org. and click on the ''Terri Schiavo" link.

Second, contact anyone you know in Florida and ask them to encourage their Governor and state legislators to continue doing everything possible to save Terri's life.

For more information on this crucial case, visit our Website, www.priestsforlife.o~.If you want educational cards on Terri's situation,

contact our orders department at orders@priestsforlife.org, or by calling 888-PFL-3448, ext. 237, or by writing Orders Department, Priests for Life, PO Box 141172, Staten Island, NY 10314.

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Friday, February 18, 2005

Sister Lucia, 97, last Fatima visionary, dies in' Portugal were caring for their family's sheep COIMBRA, Portugal (CNS) Cannelite Sister Lucia dos Santos, May 13, 1917. After reciting the rothe last of three Fatima visionaries, sary at midday, the children saw a died February 13 in her cloistered "woman brighter than the sun" holdconvent in Coimbra at the age of97. ing a rosary in her hand.

The woman told them they must The Portuguese government declared February 15, the date of her pray much and they must return to funeral, as a national day of mourn- that spot at the same hour on the 13th ' of each month. ing.

With some 70,000 gathered On May 13,1917, when she was just to years old, Sister Lucia and around the children Oct. 15, 1917 her two 路younger cousins claimed to - what was to be the final appari~, have seen the Blessed VIrgin Mary tion - the woman told the three at Fatima, near their home. The ap- youngsters that she was Our Lady paritions continued once a month ofthe Rosary and asked that a chapel be built in her 'honor. until Oct. 13, 19i7.

The three children had not been Passionist Father Ciro Benedettini, a Vatican spokesman, to school and could not read and said that Pope John Paul II, who be- write at the time of the apparitions. gan his Lenten retreat February 13, Lucia first went to school in 1921.

In 1928, she took first vows as a offered special prayers for the nun, Religious of St. whom he met three Dorothy and made times at the Shrine her perpetual vows of Our Lady of PALESTINIAN LEADER Mahmoud Abbas, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in 1934. She trans- shake hands during their meeting in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt. At the summit, Israeli and PalFatima ferred to the . estinian leaders proclaimed a formal end to more than four years of bloodshed. (CNS photo The pope also CoimbraCannel in asked Cardinal from Reuters) , Tarcisio Bertone of 1948. e Genoa, Italy, to preIn the late ~ side at the nun's fu1930s,SisterLucia made public the neral in the Coimbra cathedral.

The cardinal, former secretary of Mary, which the

BY JUDITH SUDILOVSKY Israeli and Palestinian leaders the Vatican Congre''This is a very new ele~ent on 'children had kept CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE ~--secret. - ' --',' gation for the Docthe Palestinian side. There is a will need the support and help of trine of,the Faith, -'. '''' The- first' two - 路路JERUSALEM:.....l.: ChUrdflead- danty'il1jout'thesitiiatibii,astrorig the iritematioria:I 'com'muhity- 'fo parts included a vi- ers in the Holy Land urged Israe- determination to move forward," continue along this path, he noted. met with Sister "(It) is not easy for any of sion of hen shown lis and Palestinians to be patient he said.

Lucia and discussed the apparitions with to the children, and called a cease-fire from a At the summit at the Egyptian them," said Archbishop Sambi, her ~veral times in SISTER LUCIA dos along with prophe- summit in Egypt a step in the right resort of Sharm el-Sheik Febru- but, he added, "If each side will preparation for the Santos is pictured at the ciesconcemingthe direction. ary 8, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel be faithful to the decisions taken, 2000 publication of f 13' th" fI outbreak of World "The Israelis. !Dust be patient, Sharon and Palestinian President it will be possible to reach (a disIn IS ' Ie, ' War II the rise of even if there are still some epi- Mahmoud Abbas vowed to put an cussion) about the substantial the so-<:al.led "third age 0 photo. (CNS file photo) . conim~nism anq sodes of violence." Latin Patri- end to violence in the area; they problems." secret of Fatima" Father Majdi al-Siryani, legal the ultimate tri- arch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem were photographed shaking hands While her cousadviser to the Latin Patriins Francisco and JacintaMarto died umph of the Immaculate Heart of told Vatican Radio. "The archate of Jerusalem, said he at a young age - as Our Lady of Mary, including atriuinph overRus- Palestinians must have was praying for the success Fatima apparently told them they sia if the country were consecrated even more patience, be"(It) is not easy for any of them," of the summit, but he could cause it will be necessary would - it was left to Sister Lucia to her Immaculate Heart. to transcribe the messages ofFatima, According to the Vatican's inter- to continue for some time said Archbishop Sambi, but, he not say he was optimistic including the third section. ' pretation, the third part of the secret to live how they have been added, "If each side will be faithful about its outcome.

Sister Lucia wrote down the third predicted the 1981 attempt to assas- living, a life ofoppression."

He called the summit a to the decisions taken, it will be pos- "wishful part of the message, sealed it in an sinate Pope John Paul.

The patriarch said neimeeting" and noted envelope and gave it to her local The pope, in thanksgiving that his ther the violence nor the op- sible to reach (a discussion) about that there have been other meetings to stop violence bishop. The message was sent to the life was spared, had one of the bul- '-.. pression "can be eliminated the substantial problems."

Vatican in 1957, where successive lets that wounded him embedded in in one day." He urged leadover the years, but then after popes read it, but decided not to re- the crown of the statue of Our Lady ers of both sides to "act as a few months the situation reveal its contents. that stands at the shrine in Fatima. quickly as possible to not allow and smiling. The summit was turned to the way it was before.

Sister Lucia's last meeting with Releasing the third part of the more time to pass and reawaken hosted by Egyptian President He hoped, he said, this would Pope John Paul was in May 2000, Fatima message in June 2000, Vati- new violence, new incidents."

Hosni Mubarak and supported by not be another "missed good opwhen he traveled to Fatima to be- can officials said it described the vioPatriarch Sabbah said there Jordanian King Abdullah II with, portunity" with a repeat of previatify her cousins and to announce lence and persecution that afflicted was a "new openness on both the for the first time, no visible ous mistakes. that he was revealing the final piece the Church and individual Christians Israeli and Palestinian sides, as American or other third-party For there to be a significant of the Fatima message. under Nazism, communism and well as on the part of the interna- presence. outcome from the meeting, he Bishop Serafim de Sousa Ferreira other totalitarian systems. tional community and the United The papal representative to Is- said, the dialogue must deal sucSilva of Leiria-Fatima told Radio Archbishop Bertone said he felt States." rael and the Palestinian territories, cessfully and quickly with subRenascenca, Portugal's main Catho- he had to ask Sister Lucia why she "We hope that something posi- Archbishop Pietro Sambi, called - stantial issues such as the status lic radio station, that SisterLucia was had given instructions that the secret tive and definitive comes out of the summit a "good step in the 'of Jerusalem, the right of return exemplary for her ''witness, vivac- should be revealed only after 1960, .this meeting. We still are dealing right direction." for Palestinian refugees, water ity, fidelity and courage." an instruction many people claimed with half-measures, and this is a ''To abandon violence and to rights and border issues.

The bishop said that to the very was an order that it be published problem, a danger," he added. believe in dialogue as the correct "Unless they dig deep I am not end of her life she was concerned then.

He said Jews, Christians and means to reach peace -ofcourse very optimistic," said Father alabout "the problems of humanity" Archbishop Bertone asked Sister Muslims are "living in a time of it is a beginning of a long and dif- Siryani. "The Palestinian street and dedicated her life to praying for Lucia if Mary had fixed the date. hope" but still have "many ficult road before arriving to the wants talks about the essential top"reconciliation, conversion and "Sister Lucia replied: 'It was not doubts" given past experiences. substantial problems to be ics. Stopping violence is not the ispeace."

Our Lady. I fixed the date because I The 110pe, he said, comes for a solved," said Archbishop Sambi. sue, it is a step, but unless there is a BornMarch 22, 1907, in Aljustrel had the intuition that before 1960 it new Palestinian openness that "But you always start with one real clear goal of ending the occunear Fatima, she and her cousins, would not be understood,,,, the arch- "does not leave room for excuses step, and this step was in the right pation, you can't really talk about Francisco, nine, and Jacinta, seven, bishop wrote. not to make peace." direction." being optimistic or pessimistic."

Ch 'urehid ea ers urge patlenee lor Israelis, Palestinians after summit

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BISHOP GEORGE W. Coleman stands with Candidates, those baptized in other Christian traditions, following the Rite of Election ceremony at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall River, last Sunday. The individuals will become full fledged members of the Catholic Church at Easter time. (Photo by Bruce McDaniel)

Goats

of Nazareth" - actor Robert Powell's portrayal made men wonder if Jesus ever could have been a carpenter, since he looked barely capable of lifting a hammer. It seemed that Powell had taken Jesus' statement that he was "meek and humble of heart" (Mt 11:29) and absolutized it. There was no room for the same Jesus who once identified himself as the "stronger man" who would overpower the devil and divide his spoils (Lk 11 :22).

This is one reason why Jim Caviezel's performance in Gibson's superbly-directed movie was so refreshing. He combined both Jesus' strength and his tenderness. His portrayal of Christ helped men to see ~ith their own eyes more clearly who they're called to be and how they're called to love. Men at last witnessed an image of their Lord who was more like Curt Schilling than Bob Stanley. They finally saw a Jesus consistent with their images of a hero.

It's no surprise, therefore, that Jim Caviezel has become so popular among Catholic men.

The fact that he is a devout, practicing Catholic increases that admiration. He turns down blockbuster roles if they require immoral scenes. Every penny he earns from his speaking engagements goes to the pregnancy help center his wife Kerri helps to run.

Jim will be coming to Boston on the feast of St. Joseph (March 19) to headline the Boston Catholic Men's Conference.

He'll speak on how portraying the crucified Christ changed his life and encourage men to have their lives altered by imitating the love of the same Christ crucified.

Men interested in hearing this message may register at bostoncatholicmen.org.

I'll have more to say on the importance of this conference next week.

Father Landry is a parochial vicar at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis.

Montie Plumbing & Heating Co. Continued from page three

ers! I gave the Sister $150 to buy one goat each month for the next six months - so very little.

There's not much to a Haitian gO<l:t except bones ~nd fat. The chicken legs are no bigger than our chicken wings (certainly not Purdue).

In Haiti, there's only four-five hours of electricity per day.

There's no running water at the rectory in Dessalines. Hot running water doesn't exist. Most homes in Dessalines only have a latrine - no toilet.

While I was in Haiti, I didn't mind the inconveniences at all.

Everyone is in the same boat.

I also had the opportunity to visit Gonaive which was 75 percent destroyed by Hurricane Jeanne (3,000 dead). There is still mud all over the city. Most schools are still not open in Gonaive. The hospital was destroyed. Dessalines is only 30 miles away from Gonaive so many people are sending their kids to school in Dessalines and many are going there for medical help. Many kids have to stay with relatives in Dessalines

Help

Continued from page four

because their homes were de-' stroyed in Gonaive.

While in Gonaive I and the pastor of St. Claire's, Father MarcEddy Dessalines, met with Bishop Pean. We had dinner With him (we had goat). He was extremely warm and hospitable. He told me repeatedly how grateful he was for what our parish was doing for the people of St. Claire's.

The weather was hot - about 90 degrees each day. We stayed with the two Canadian Sisters at the convent so the housing was fine - very clean, with toilets.

After eight days in Dessalines, I spent two days at a parish in Portau-Prince. Sacre-Coeur (Sacred Heart) is one of the largest parishes in the capital. They have about 600 baptisms per year. Funerals are almost daily and usually they do funerals at one time for four-five people - four-five caskets in church at one time. That was a very different experience. Loads of people. Hundreds of young people and couples. Dozens of parish organizations and programs. The poverty was the same. Sacre-Coeur at

one time was an affiuent Haitian parish. But now it is falling apart - the rich Haitians have moved to the "suburbs" and the poor people can't support the structure. This is truly a great challenge for the three priests who staffthe parish. My stay at Sacre-Coeur was good, but I discovered that I am a "country boy" at heart. I preferred Des~alines.

The economic situation in the country is terrible. Things are not getting better, they are getting worse. The political situation is also very bad. We had to delay our trip to Gonaive because ofthe violence.

The political violence in Haiti has been going on for decades.

I could go on and on, but I just wanted to let you know that I had a wonderful and enriching experience.

I c~rtainly plan to return to Haiti soon. Thank you for all yourprayers.

Want to donate a goat? IT you wish to help the people of Haiti, send donations to Father Baris at Our Lady of the Cape Parish, P.O. Box 1799, Brewster, MA 02631. Checks should be made payable to Our Lady ofthe Cape Parish/Goat Fund.

ing all these families this year."

The foods, purchased in bulk through the Boston Food Bank "cost us a lot less than people could ever buy them," Goldblatt explained. "We pay for some, and they also give us a lot ,of food items free."

Goldblatt said the donations, "really assisted us at critical times." Prior to Thanksgiving "our food supplies were dropping rapidly. In the past two or three

432 JEFFERSON STREET FALL RIVER 508·675-7496

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of Agriculture in Boston every Tuesday where we pick up milk and potatoes, vegetables, pasta, sauces, cheese, cereals, juice and other extras, and we also go to Wareham and get anywhere from 300 to 600 loaves of bread," he reported.

The money coming from the donations "will enable us to purchase the foods we cannot get at the USDA," said Goldblatt. "Hopefully we'll have no problem feed-

Over 35 Years , of Satisfied Services Reg. Master Plumber 7023 JOSEPH RAPOSA, JR.

years, we haven't been receiving the allocation from'the USDA that we once received. We found ourselves purchasing more and more food. In a two-day period more than 300 needy families came in for food assistance."

He said the issue was brought up at the local St. Vincent de Paul meeting, "and the result was their $10,000 donation, which, along with the charity of businesses, we are very, very grateful for."

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CLIP THIS ENTIRE FORM AND MAIL TO:

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Friday, February 18, 2005 ~.......

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~~~ges-~_~~:::-_::.~~I Coyle-Cassidy student selected as state finalist

CRISTINA MCCONNELL, a junior at Coyle and Cassidy High School, Taunton, rehearses a monologue from Shakespeare's play "A Comedyof Errors." Her recent performance won her the chance to compete in the state finals.

TAUNTON - Junior Cristina finals, Cristina won the eighth AnMcConnell from Coyle and nual Coyle-Cassidy Shakespeare Cassidy High School, was re- Competition, held in December. cently selected as a state finalist At that time, 13 C-C students per路in the English Speaking Union's formed monologues and sonnets annual Shakespeare Competition. for a group ofjudges with experiShe was one of 10 students cho- ence in teaching, acting or directsen by a panel of judges from ing Shakespeare. Other award among 28 competitors represent- winners selected that evening ing high schools across Massa- were Senior Alyssa Haggerty and chusetts. sophomores Anthony Howard and _ Her presentation of a mono- Ashley Willis. logue from the play "A Comedy The English Speaking Union, of Errors" and recitation of a son- the sponsor of this competition, net earned her a place in the state began this program in 1983 to finals. The winner of that compe- encourage students to develop a tition will represent Massachu- love for and understanding of setts in the National Competition Shakespeare's use of language. in April.

Currently, the program involves No stranger to Shakespeare, nearly 16,000 students ann!1ally in Cristina was Coyle and Cassidy's high schools across America. The second-place finisher last year, . National Competition is held at and this fall she performed the Lincoln Center in New York in role of Helena in the school's pro- April. The national winner reduction of "A Midsummer Night's c~ives an all-expenses paid trip to Dream." study Shakespeare, in England To qualify for the state ~erni- over the summer.

Bishop Feehan announces APScholars ATTLEBORO - Sixteen Bishop Feehan High School students have been designated 2004 AP Scholars in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college level Advanced Placement exams taken in May of 2004.

The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based upon a student's performance on a minimum of three exams which are reported on a five point scale.

Jacqueline Anderson, Michael Aoyama, Matthew Finn, and Peter Forbes qualified for AP Scholar with Distinction for earning average grades of 3.5 on a five point scale on alI exams taken, and grades of three or higher on at least five exams. Anderson received a perfect score on all of the five exams taken.

For earning average grades of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken and grades of three or higher on a minimum of four exams, Kate Corcoran and Jeffrey Stokes have been designated AP Scholars with Honor.

The folIowing students have earned AP Scholar status for completing a minimum of three exams with grades of three or better: Daniel Beksha Jr., Navneet Dhaliwal, Shannon Doran, Matthew HalI, James Kenney, Cailin . McDeed, Mary Parrish, Patrick Sejkora, Megan Shapanus and Eric Williams.

CORY JAMES BIGDA of St. John the Evangelist School, Attleboro, receives congratulations from social studies teacher Jay F. Hoyle after taking first place in the school's annual geography bee. He will now move on to test his skills in the state competition.

Attleboro student is tops in geography ATTLEBORO - Cory James Bigda, son of Denise and Mark Bigda of Attleboro, has won the National Geographic Bee school level competition for St. John the Evangelist School for the fourth year in a row. The school level bee, at. which students answered oral questions oil geography, was the first round in the 17th annual National Geographic Bee which is sponsored by the National Geographic Society.

Thousands of schools across the country and in the five U.S. territories participate. The school winners, including Bigda, will now take a written test; up to 100 of the top scorers in each state will be eligible to compete in their state bee April 1. Last year Cory

made the state level competition and did very well.

The National Geographic Society will provide an alI-expenses paid trip to Washington D.C. for state champions. The national championship will take place May 24 and 25. The first place national winner will receive a $25,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the Society.

"JEOPARDY!" host, Alex Trebek will moderate the National finals on May 25.

In addition to geography, Bigda is an accomplished piano player and enjoys playing basketbalI, baseball, football and golf. He plans on continuing his educational studies next year at Bishop Feehan High School.

ADAM DEFRIAS, an eighth-grader at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in New Bedford, recently auditioned and was' accepted into the 2004 Massachusetts Music Educators JunFIRST-GRADERS paint rocks during a recent class project ior District Band as a clarinet player. This is DeFrias' second at Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford. Students consecutive year of being selected to participate. With broughtin a rock as a symbol of their strong faith and painted DeFrias is music director Antonio Borges. them to create a class Garden of Faith.

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Your impossible dreams

BY KAREN DIETLEIN CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE ''They're'' coming. Are you ready?

It may sound, on the surface, like a line from a bad movie about zombies. In reality, it is one of the most important questions to consider if you have big ideas and impossible dreams. ''They'' are the faceless, judgmental aggregate, a gathered mass of experts you can't identify by name, affiliation or location. But you hear them within yourself and allow them to influence your most important views and decisions. ''They'' will tell you that you are WfQng, though "they" are very rarely right themselves.

You already know their work, found in such statements as "They will think I can't sing, so I won't audition for the school musical."

The most wonderful ideas always masquerade as impossible dreams.

Personal experience has taught me that the ability to deal effectively with these unseen "authorities" can mark the difference between crossing the finish line and never even leaving the starting gate.

I try not to listen to "them" because they rarely condone or support good ideas. Popularity and common opinion can make them seem wise and all-knowing, but the truth is that they have made a shocking number of off-base predictions throughout the years.

When I was 14, "they" said that alternative rock, like Nirvana, was just a phase. Tell that, 10 years later, to the teenagers who still listen to bands like Green Day, Evanescence, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. ''They'' told two guys named

Orville and Wilbur that human flight was impossible, but in 1903 the Wright brothers defied the odds at Kitty Hawk, N.C., with the first controlled airplane. ''They'' told Helen Keller's

Coming of Age parents that their daughter always would be useless, stuck in a world of silence and darkness due to her twin disabilities. Once a teacher named Anne Sullivan taught Helen to read and write, Helen went on to become one of America's most inspirational success stories.

Nun draws 'on own disability in helping students with special needs

BY ERICK ROMMEL

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,',

Kateri remembered SisterAnne and CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE thought she would be a perfect fit for Sacred Heart, where Sister Kateri SOUTHAMBOY,NJ.-Sister became principal in January 2004.

M. Anne Maskey has walked a thou"Sister Anne has a special gift, sand miles in her students' shoes. teaching children who have learnThe Franciscan Sisterofthe Maring disabilities," Sister Kateri told tyr St. George, who is an instrucThe Catholic Spirit, newspaper of tional aide for students with special the Metuchen diocese. needs at Sacred Heart School in Those children already receive , South Amboy, knows what it is like instruction from a teacher provided to be different and have to work by the county who focuses on skillsharder to achieve what comes more building and problems with testing. easily to most. . " Sister Anne helps 16 students, proAfter joining her order at age 19, viding individual attention in the Sister Anne attended St Louis Uniclassroom to those who need extra versity, earning degrees in theology help. and English as well as a teaching ''They're so used to failing, they certificate. Before graduating howthink they can't do well," she said about her students. But after seeing their grades, she can tell her help "gives a boost."

"Instead ofpunishing and isolating (the child), we got to the root of the problem," Sister Kateri explained. "We had a child who was . immature, which interfered with his learning. Instead of punishing the child, we spent time and worked with what was happening. We found out the child had problems reading and was frustrated. Once we focused on that, the problems started to disappear."

Along with positive reinforcement, Sister Anne also creates learning alternatives for students who need a different approach to comprehend their classroom material.

Sister Anne is enjoying her first year back in the classroom since FRANCISCAN SISTER M. Anne Maskey works with fourth- 1998, when she ended eight years grader Katie Noble in late January at Sacred Heart School in as a teacher in Nebraska. During that South Amboy, N.J. (eNS photo by Erick Rommel, Catholic Spiri~ time, she also earned a math degree ever, she was stricken with rheumatoid arthritis, a disease that causes the body's immune system to attack healthy tissue at the lining ofjoints throughout the body. The disease causes constant pain and fatigue.

As a result, Sister Anne needed special canes to get around and was unable to accept a full-time teaching job. Instead, she became an assistant to the superior of her order's motherhouse, in Alton, Ill., performing a variety of duties, including working as vocations director.

Her work in that role brought her to the attention of Sister M. Kateri Hawley. Last year, two decades after their first introduction, Sister

year of life.

These days, "they" are still ''They'' said people never getting it wrong. could walk on the moon. Today, Four years ago, "they" told walking on the moon is someApple Inc. that nobody wanted thing we learn about in the to buy songs off of the Internet. history books.

Once folks got used to Napster More often thaD not, I've and illegal downloading, "they" found that what seems to be said nobody was going to be so distant and impossible actually silly as to pay for a song they is achievable if I work hard could get by Googling it. enough and believe in what I am "They" must be singing a doing. Could I have imagined, different tune now. Apple has - 10 years ago, that I would quietly announced that four graduate from college? Be a years after its original release reporter? Have my own place? I date, the company's iTunes would have thought it was music store is handling more impossible at 14. I've now than one million downloads a attained all of that, and have day. That's more than more dreams waiting in the $990,000 every 24 hours. Not wings. too bad for an idea that "they" If "they" are telling you that originally rejected as being your dreams are impossible, stupid. don't listen. Instead, prove them ''They'' said polio was incurable. Two men named Salk wrong. Believe in yourself and put the pedal to the metal. and Sabin found a vaccine, and This is the way to go. Your Americans are now basically iPod could tell you that! immune to polio from their first

from the University of Nebraska.

She was able to be in the classroom at that time because in the late 19808, she had surgery that allowed her to walk without canes. But later an accident and more surgery forced her back to the canes and to the motherhouse.

A special schedule allows her to help her Sacred Heart students and at the same time get proper treatment for her pain and fatigue. "At lunch, I go to the convent to eat and rest," explained Sister Anne.

Her disability serves as an educational tool for the entire student body. When she started at the school, Sister Kateri went into classrooms and asked the students if there was anything different about SisterAnne.

"I let them try to find outfor themselves," Sister Kateri said. ''Children

can be centered in their world. It gets them out oftheir own selfand shows that they're needed."

The lesson took well. The students think they ~ helping Sister Anne as much as SisterAnne is helpingthem.

SisterAnne still recalls one ofthe first times she made the trek across the playground. "You should have seen those kids. Everybody froze. I was amazed. A few little kids came overand helped me-like they were bodyguards. One little girl was saying, 'Out of the way, we're getting Sister to the convent'" Sister Anne feels her relationship with the students benefits the entire school. "It shows God works things out," she said. " had this problem and (Sister Kateri) understood my needs."

Our Lady's Monthly Message From Medjugorje January 25, 2005 Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina "Dear Children! In this time of grace again I call you to prayer. Pray, little children, for unity of Christians, that all may be one heart. Unity will really be among you inasmuch as you will pray and forgive. Do not forget: love will conquer only if you pray, and your heart will open.

"Thank you for having responded to my call."

Spiritual Life Center of Marian Community 154 Summer Street Medway, MA 02053路 Tel. 508-533-5377

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Friday, February 18, 2005

Pope asks seminary candidates be vetted conceming celibacy VATICAN CITY (CNS) - A consultation with other Vatican agencandidate's ability to live a life of cies, a document on homosexuality celibacy in the priesthood must be and priesthood candidates. It is also "carefully verified" before he is ad- overseeing an apostolic visitation of mitted to a seminary, Pope John Paul U.S. seminaries later this year.

The congregation's secretary, II said.

This must be done so that even Archbishop 1. Michael Miller, 'debefore ordination the local bishop clined to comment on the meeting, and seminary officials have a "moral but he told Catholic News Service certainty" concerning the student's that the pope's words sent "an en"emotional and sexual maturity," the couraging message" for the plenary pope said in a written message to discussion.

The visitation, which is expected members of the Vatican's Congreto focus particularly on formation for gation for Catholic Education.

The pope'smessage, released by celibate chastity and on admissions the Vatican February 1, was read to criteria, comes iIi the wake of the members of the Vatican congrega- child sex abuse scandals in the tion by its prefect. Cardinal Zenon United States and concerns that Grocholewski. The pope, who was tougher screening measures are suffering fI:om flulike symptoms, needed for future priestly candidates.

The document on homosexuality, canceled his appointment to meet with members attending the however, has been in the works for, more than five years; it was started congregation's plenary assembly.

The Vatican's Congregation for long before the sex abuse storm Catholic Education is responsible for swept the U.S. Church in 2002.'

The document is expected to spell seminaries and Catholic schools.

In his message, the pope wrote, out whether candidates with homo"In light of present-day social and sexual inclinations should be admitcultural changes, it can be at times ted into the priesthood.

In a report last year, the educauseful that educators tuin to the work of competent specialists to help tion congregation said the document seminarians comprehend more thor- would be an "instruction on the crioughly the requirements ofthe priest- teria and norms' for the discernment hood, recognizing celibacy as a gift in questions regarding homosexualoflove to the Lord and to one's broth- ity in view of the admissions to the seminary and to sacred orders.", ers."

The pope's comments reflected In his message, the pope also discussions within the Vatican about stressed the need for religion to be the use of psychological sciences in taught in all schools. the admission andformation ofsemiHe said it "contributes to students' full development" and helps them narians.

Meanwhile, the education con- "recognize the other in reciprocal gregation is said to be preparing, in respect."

A key source for local, national and international Catholic news February is Catholic Press Month SUBSCRmETO

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A GROUP of widowers who are seminarians at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wis., belong to a special support group. A total of 15 widowers were enrolled at the seminary last semester. Pictured above, holding photos of their wives and families, are, bottom left to right: Eric Wiseman, Bill Wiegand, Jim Pemberton and Mike Millard. At the top, left to right, are: Sam Woods, Father Tony Cureton (ordained in December), Wally Dant, Michael McL-ain and Charles Huck. (CNS photo by Sam Lucero, Catholic Herald)

Widowers who are seminarians meet regularly ,.to suppor~ one another

BY SAM LUCERO

Peggy Boyles, director of public relations at Sacred Heart School HALES CORNERS, Wis. of Theology, said the widowers' Every month, a group of widow- support group has been around ers gets together for a social out- since 1993. The camaraderie the ing such as a baseball game or a men experience while on their trip out of town. They say the, monthly outings or enjoying a meal monthly gatherings help them re- at the serninary cafeteria is a gift member their wives and to support they say helps them in their sernieach other in their new lives - as nary studies. seminarians preparing for the ' "We like telling stories about priesthood. our families," said 54-year-old Known informally as the Sa- seminarian Mike McLain. "We cred Heart School of Theology's brag and nobody sits there and widowers'club,thegroupconsists says, 'Oh God, he's at it again,' of 15 men from around the coun- We're directly interested in each try who attend Sacred Heart's na- other. That, and the fact that we tional seminary. The Hales Comers have a common goal - God-wilIseminary, operated by the Priests ing, we're all going to make ordiof the Sacred Heart, specializes in nation." McLain's wife, Chris, second-career vocations. died Aug. 6; 2001.

Unlike their traditional counter-' While the social aspect of the parts who go from college to the widowers' club makes for many seminary, these men, ranging in age memorable laughs, it's the spiritufrom 50 to 71, have raised families atity that binds the men. "When we and spent most of their lives em-, say the rosary as a group for our ployed in various professions. wives, and when we have the These seminarians say they Valentine's Day Mass, it helps us wouldn't be preparing for ordina-', all to keep in touch and it's a bond tion if it were not for the women' between' us," said Bill Wiegand, who nurtured and loved them for 68, of Davenport, Iowa, whose so many years. They also believe' wife, Ruth, died Oct. 13, 2001. their family experiences will assist The Valentine's Day liturgies in their ministry. 'are one of the year's highlights for During an interview with, the Catholic Herald, Milwaukee's archdiocesan newspaper, some of the widower-seminarians spoke about their earlier lives as hus~ , bands and future lives as priests.

"It's just amazing how much influence our wives had on us being here through the things that they did while they were here," said'Sam Woods of Stockton, Calif., whose wife, Claudia, died Oct. 24, 2000. "If it weren't for them we wouldn't be here."

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the men. After the Mass, the men go out for dinner - something their deceased wives may envy, joked Wiegand. "I can picture our wives looking down on us saying, 'Why didn't you do that at home when we were with you?'''

Another important date for each seminarian is the day his spouse died. A list of these dates is shared with the other widowers. "It's kind of nice to remember the other guys in prayer," said Chuck Huck, 50, of Crookston, Minn., whose wife, Valerie, died Nov. 27, 2000.

All but one of the men interviewed are fath'ers and grandfathers and they say their children have been supportive of their new vocation. "When I talked to each of my children it was like, 'It's about time, '" said Huck, who has five boys, two girls and seven grandchildren.

Wally Dant, 65, of Louisville, Ky., whose wife, Barbara, died in January 2002, has three boys, two girls and 18 grandchildren.

For members of the Sacred Heart School of Theology widowers' club, their goal is to make one more trip down the aisle. This time, however, they'll doit as priests, not husbands.

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