02.20.98

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t eanc 0 .

VOL. 42, NO.8. Friday, February 20, 1998

FALL RIVER, MASS.

FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSEITS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly

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Bishop offers Lenten reflections to diocese FALL RIVER-Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., has issued a Lenten message to Catholics throughout the Fall River Diocese. It reads:

groceries, visit a shut-in and try to look outfor the elderly in the neighborhood.

What might be classified by some as a natural disaster is also an event that allows people Dearly beloved in Christ, to experience life in a new way, Most of us have experienced to be present to one another, to at some point in our lives a share, to be a community, to talk snowstorm that has paralyzed with one another.

Lent can be that kind of an our town, closing schools and workplaces and reducing all experience, when we step back modes of transportation to its a little from the routine andfree most basic two-hoofed variety. ourselves to have a little more On such occasions, the most time for God and for one antraveled streets become huge other. The ashes on our foremalls with people strolling head are an invitation to go back along, greeting neighbors whom to basics, to put things in perthey would never see during nor- spective. The ashes remind us mal times. Deadlines, exams, not only ofour mortality but also meetings fade into the back- ofour eternal life. ground. A new liberating dyLent is, as always, a baptisnamic takes over. People share· mal retreat when the whole

Church prepares to receive new Catholics into the Community of Faith on Holy Saturday. On that occasion, we will all renew our baptismal promises, having lived together these 40 days of spiritual preparation. Some of you have not attended the Easter Vigil before. You might want to mark Holy Saturday evening, April I Ith, on your calendar now so that you can be a part of the most important liturgical event in the Church's calendar.

Our Lent this year is in the context of our second year of preparation for the Jubilee Celebration ofthe 2000th Birthday of Christ. The Jubilee, or holy year concept, goes back to Old Testament times when Israel celebrated every 7 times 7 years Turn

10

page 2 - Bishop

Lent: Honing our spirituality

By JAMES N. DUNBAR POPE BAPTIZES-Pope Paul II baptizes an infant during a recent service inside the Sistine Chapel. The Church teaches that Lent is first, last and foremost about baptism.

Baptism is going down with Christ unto death and being raised up with him to glory. (CNS photo from Reuters)

Pope's Lenten ntessage urges love for poor •

Pontiff stresses worldwide 11ragedy" of imbalance between rich and needy.

By JOHN THAVIS CATHOLIC NEWS SE,RVICE

VATICAN CITY - In a Lenten message dedicated to the poor, Pope John Paul II called on all Christians to offer the needy a "concrete sign of love" in the weeks leading up to Easter this year.

The pope said special efforts were necessary to overcome new "forms of distancing" and the resulting suffering of refugees, targets of racial hatred and vast numbers of unemployed. His message was released at the Vatican in mid-February.

Echoing his statements over the last several years, the pope strongly condemned the modern imbalance between rich and poor. He said too

many lack the necessary means of survival, adequate health care, a home and ajob. Others suffer from war, receive unequal salaries or are separated from their families.

"This poverty, which for many of our brothers crosses the line to misery, is a scandal," he said.

"The individual is humiliated by the lack of these necessities of life.

It is a tragedy before which those who have the possibility to intervene cannot, in conscience, remain indifferent," he said.

The pope said an equally serious form of poverty -:-Iack of spiritual nourishment - tr¢ubles many men and women today and can bring on grave suffering, too.

"The consequence$ of this are right before our eyes and are often very sad, a life void of meaning.

This kind of misery is mostly found in environments where people live in comfort, materially satisfied but without a spiritual orientation," he Turn to page 2 - Message

FALL RIVER-Catholics in this diocese, like millions throughout the world, will step forward next Wednesday to receive the imprint of ashes on their foreheads as Lent begins. Those who at morning Mass receive the reminder "You are dust and into dust you shall return" or "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel," will spend the rest of the day living their faith for all to see.

And then, suddenly, Lent becomes an almost secret time to hone one's spirituality by traditional methods such as prayer, fasting and almsgiving. In the earliest days of the Church for those who were baptized, those three disciplines - and receiving the Eucharist - were the principal means of making reparation for sin.

Why ashes? The custom of placing ashes on the heads of people and, originally, the wearing of sackcloth, is an ancient penitential practice common among the Hebrew

people (see Jonas 3:5-9, Jeremiah 6:26, Matthew II :21). In the early centuries in the Church it was part of public penance for sin. By the Middle Ages, emphasis was placed on personal rather than public sin.

In recent years an alternative formula for the imposition of ashes emphasizes a more positive aspect

of Lent: "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospe1."

In St. Matthew's Gospel, we read that Christ urges us to pray, fast and give to the poor, "in secret" (Matt. 6:1, 16-18). If we make a "show" of being hungry, or striking a pose of constant prayer or of making a generous donation, the Gospel warning is that we have already received our reward, albeit an earthly, not a heavenly one.

Some of us pre-Vatican II kids used to make it clear that we couldn't join our friends at the movies or eat candy or ice cream "because we gave them up for Lent."

Our moods seemed to match the dull time of year as winter held fast and spring was reluctant to claim its due.

Lent is closely associated with the transition from winter to spring.

The word "Lent," for example, comes from the old Anglo-Saxon word for springtime, "lencten." It describes the gradual lengthening of daylight after the winter solstice.

Turn to page JJ - Lent

Iraqi,patriarch urges U.S. not to a~tack

By JOHN THAVIS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY - The leader of Iraq's Chaldean-rite Catholics, Patriarch Raphael I Bidawid of Baghdad, has appealed to the United States not to attack Iraq, saying new military action would only hurt the people of his country.

Instead, he urged a lifting of the economic embargo which he said has left I million babies dead from lack of food and medicine since it was imposed in 1990.

Patriarch Bidawid made the comments in an interview published Feb. 16 by Fides, a news service of the Vatican's Congregation

for the Evangelization of Peoples.

Appealing to the U.S. people, he said: "Bring pressure on your government so that it does not attack my people. An attack would do no honor to a great nation like the United States of America."

The patriarch, a strong critic of Turn to page 3 -Iraq

2

THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., Feb. 20, 1998

Bishop'

®ITt tIt art r t~ Mrs. Anne C. Francis NEW BEDFORD-Mrs. Anne C. Francis, 66, of Acushnet Avenue, principal clerk for the New Bedford Board of Health and sister of Father FranCis L. Mahoney, pastor of Holy Name Church, Fall River, died Feb. II in St. Luke Hospital here after a long illness.

Born in New Bedford, the daughter of Mrs. Lucy B. (Leonard) Mahoney of New Bedford and the late Francis C. Mahoney, she had lived in South Dartmouth for 20 years before returning to New Bedford two years ago.

She was a graduate of Holy Family High School and Kinyon-Campbell Business School and a member of St. Lawrence Parish. She enjoyed music, reading and playing bridge.

Besides her priest-brother, she leaves a daughter, Mary Louise FrancisSylvia of Acushnet; a son, James J. Francis of New Bedford; two sisters, Marie M. Fitzgerald of South Dartmouth and Louise Whelton ofWayland; two grandchildren; and three nephews.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Feb. 14 in St. Lawrence Church, New Bedford. Father Mahoney was the principal celebrant. Among the 19 concelebrants was Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap. Burial was in St. Mary's Cemetery, New Bedford.

Mrs. Maria Cardoso FALL RIVER-Mrs. Maria Cardoso, 82, of Faial, the Azores, sister of Father Luis A. Cardoso, pastor of St. Michael Parish here, died Feb. 10.

A native of the Azores, she had always resided there.

Besides Father Luis A. Cardoso, she leaves two other brothers, Father Antonio Cardoso of Faial and Joao Cardoso of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; a sister, Francisca Cardoso, of Flores, the Azores; and nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Victoria, Anna, Antonino and Jose Cardoso.

The funeral Mass and interment were held Feb. II in the Azores.

Martin R. Haley was political counselor

By CATHOLIC

NEWS SERVICE

Continued/rom page one

(roughly every 50 years) a Sab~ a(:tion of the Holy Spirit in the bath ofSabbath years. The Ju- life of the Church and in our DEDHAM-Acting Gov. Paul bilee Year observance included personal faith life is a vital part Cellucci is drawing fire fi:om AIDS four prescriptions: 1) leaving ofour preparationfor the Jubi- activists and condom proponents the soilfallow; 2) the remission lee. With the help of the Spirit, for inching away from his ofdebts; 3) the liberation ofcap- we can be a reconciling people administration's support for contives; 4) the return to each indi- whoforgive debts and reach out dom distribution in public schools, vidual of his family's property. to the downtrodden and an- says Catholic Action League of Such practices would not bring nounce the Good News to a Massachusetts Executivt: Director C.J. Doyle. joy to credit card companies and world that has forgotten God. In television interviews on Feb. Lent is always an important real estate agents. The Jubilee 12 and in remarks following the practices called for complete time, a moment ofgrace. 1t can State Board of Educatio::l meeting trust in God who is the owner of also be a time of special joy, earlier, Cellucci said that decisions all creation, a God whoforgives closeness to God, a good con- about condom availability should debt and liberates His people. fession, afamily reconciliation, be left to local school committees The Jubilee Year has become a new beginning in a spiritual and that he now supports character part ofour New Testament spiri- journey that has been detoured and abstinence education, Doyle retuality ever since Jesus 'first ser-or stalled, a chance to refocus ported.

"While perhaps having second mon at Nazareth where He in- on what is really important. voked the text from Isaiah that. Lent is a time ofprayer, fasting, thoughts about the controversial states, "The Spirit ofthe Lord is and ofsharing with the poor in policies of his predecessor, Gov. upon me and has anointed me the Rice Bowl Project of CRS, Cellucci still misses the point on this issue," Doyle contends. "A to announce the Good News to or in some other work ofmercy. majority vote by a school committhe poor. He ha~ sent me to heal Lent is an opportunity... a won- tee cannot authorize the governthe brokenhearted, to bring de- derful opportunity not to be ment to usurp the right of individual liverance to captives, and sight missed. parents to control the moral and to the blind ... to proclaim a Jureligious upbringing of their own bilee Year. ..."

United with each ofyou! I re- children. When a public ~;chool encourages a Catholic student to enIn our second year ofprepa- main gage in practices condemned by his rationfor the Millennium Jubior her religion, that school inhibits In His Holy Spirit, lee, the Holy Father has prothe First Amendment rights of both claimed this year ofpreparation the student and his or he:r parents. to be that ofthe Holy Spirit. We, The separation of Church and state like our Savior, have been demands government neutrality, not anointed by the Spirit in Baptism hostility, towards religion and reliand Confirmation. A conscious gious values." awareness of the presence and Doyle charged that Cellucci's

He never considered leaving the NEWYORK-A funeral Mass Democratic Party. "We're not the was held Feb. 13 in New York for darlings of the party, but we're not Martin Ryan Haley, 68, who helped going to leave it _. that was manage 75 winning political cam- Martin's position," longtime friend, ., . Contif!uedfroin page one paigns in his ca"reer and later' be~ Angie Wozniak Smith told the St. . ' came an key figure in the early pro- Paul Pioneer Press daily. newspa- : said. ,ter'living conditions outside their life movement. ' . per.

He reminded Christians that , own country." Others suffer from a Haley died Feb. 8 in New York Haley also wa~ the founding di- Christ identified with the poor and "fear of all who are different" and after suffering several strokes. He rector of. the VatIcan Observatory "God himself is present in them." are seen as a threat. "I exhort evhad been ill the past two years.

FoundatIOn a~d of the Paths t,o "In opulent societies and a world ery Christian in this Lenten season A lifelong bachelor, his only Pe~ce Foun?atlon ?f ~he Holy See s ever increasingly marked by a prac- to evidence his personal conversion surviving relative is a cousin, Car- United NatIons mIssIOn.. tical materialism invading every through a concrete sign of love todinal JamesA. Hickey of Washing~n 1977, Haley was appol~ted a aspect of life, we cannot forget the ward those in ne~d, recognizing in ton.

Knight of Malta, o~e ofthe hIghest strong words ~ith which Christ this person the face of Christ," he Haley was an overachiever from honors for a CatholIc lay person. At admonishes the rich" he said. He said. the start of his adult life, causing a the time he said one of the privi- said the church's me~sage is clear: While the church can sometimes stir when, at age 18, he was ap- leges of being a Knight of Malta is Those who truly love God welcome help bring material relief to the sufpointed director of public relations that "now I don'~ have to dismount the poor. fering, it should always aim to bring for the city of St. Paul, Minn. from my horse In the presence of The pope said the obligation to "a word of hope," especially to In 1950 he created Martin Ryan the pope.'~ . . relieve ~he condition .of the poor ex- those suffering in body and in spirit.

Haley & Associates, it political In acI~ltlon to the funeral Mass, tends today to n:!iII i()ns 9f refugees The correct response to poverty is counseling and, lobbying firm. , a memo~lal !v1 ass,was celebrated on ',and exiles, and many "whose only the proclamation of the Gospel· in Among the clients for whorn:he Feb. 16 In ·St. Paul. . '. 'fault' is a search for.work and bet- . word and deed, he said. ' '... . ."', .: :: ...... won campaigns; were HUb.ert Humphrey, Eugene McCarthy, Adlai Stevenson, ·Estes Kefauver and William Averell Harriman: In the years following the Second Vatican Council, Haley served as an adviser to Cardinals Terence Cooke and John J. O'Connor, both NECROLOGY PRIESTS CURRENTLY SERVING of New York. He also served as a consultant to the Pontifical Coun/) .February 21 cil for Social Communications and advised the Vatican on foreign afva fairs and foreign policy.

Haley also represented the U.S: bishops on a National Council of ~~~Rt. R,R,ee'v. Msgr. Jovite C.<~ non, Founder, St. Churches panel on ecumenical diaJOSePh~ , Rev. ~:~~a~~ ~~nnors logue.

In 1962 he recorded and produced a six-sided record album, F'tor, St. Rev. "The Sounds of the Vatican." He later organized the ''Treasures of the Fe ary 27 ' '~, February 25 Vatican" exhibit at the Metropolitan 1874, Rev. PhiliP,'" ~tJlIck; Founder, St. Mary, North ~~Re.v. Ernest Corriveau, MS Museum of Fine' Arts in New York.

Attleboro.:! '~ Haley helped organize the pro195<!, Rev. Jos :p~. Hamel, Founder, St. Theresa, F ruaq: 26" life movement in the United States, New Bedford / /_ _ Rev. Davi j\~~ta 1995, Rev. Jp~n G. Carroll, ~etired Pastor, St. Mar, first giving advice to the U.S. bishgaret, Buzzan:l&.,Bay February 27 . ops' old Family Life Bureau in the late 1960s, when abortion was an Rev. Joseph M. Costa issue relegated to state legislatures.

M .essage.

1n Y our Prayers .

Please pray for the following priests during the coming week

.,~:::,~~o~~~';:~!:~~:r~od~::~red

Bro~n8s~;II~~i'0~~~ ;~d

,Catholic Action League raps Acting Gov. Cellucci

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Rov. M:::: ~;;o~t;::. :~~:~:r: ~~rreia

support for abstinence education and local autonomy is not consistent with his recent decision to approve a 400 percent increase in the budget for the Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth, "which·, far from teaching abstinence, encourages high school students to accept and affirm homosexual behavior. It remains to be seen whether c.~lIucci's backpedaling position ro~presents meaningful change or is merely election year trimming," said Doyle.

Daily Readinlgs Feb.23 3:13-18; Ps 19:8-10,1!:,; . :. Mk 9:14,-29 Feb. 24 Jas 4:1-10; • J Ps 55:7-11,23; Mk 9:30-37 Feb. 25 JI2:12-18; , Ps 51:3-6,12-'14,17; 2 Cor 5:20-6:~!; Mt 6:1-6,16-113 Feb. 26 Dt 30: 15-20; Ps 1:1-4,6; Lk 9:22-25 Feb.27 Is 58:1-9a; Ps 51 :3-6,18-'19; Mt 9:14-15 Feb.28 Is 58:9b-14; Ps 86:1-6; Lk 5:27-32 Mar. 1 Dt 26:4-10; Ps91:1-2,10--15; Rom 10:8-13; Lk 4:1-13 1I11I " 1I1111111 " 11III111111 THE ANCHOR (USPS-545-m0) Periodical F\>slage Paid at Fall River, Mass. Published weekly except for the first t\m wl:eks in July am lhe week after Chrisnnas at 8a7 Highland AvelUJe, Fall River. Mass.'02720 ~ lhe Calholic Press oflhe Diocese of Fall River. ~;ubscription price ~ mail, postpaid $14.00 per year.

Postmasters send add ress changes 10 The Anchor; P.o. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722.

Operation Rice Bowl begins its 1998 campaign • Catholics are encouraged to take part in the Lenten program's four components ofprayer, fasting, learning and giving.

By CATHOLIC

ward adopted by CRS, the U.S. Catholic bishops' overseas development and relief agency.

Fri., Feb. 20, 1998

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A BENEFICIARY of a Catholic Relief Services seed bank project in Goba, Liberia, shows off her rice seeds. CRS' Operation Rice Bowl program for Lent benefits development projects like this one. (CNS/Sprague photo)

Contil/lled/rom page one

the 1991 Gulfwaragainst]raq, said he had the impression that "history is repeating itself' in the current crisis. He said he had written to U.S. President Bill Clinton advising him against new military action, saying that the last war had only strengthened Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's hold on power.

He said most Iraqis were not aware of the scope of tht: current threat, mainly because "in a regime like the one we live in, the people are not the protagonists of politics, but suffer the choices mad': by their leaders and receive the information given them."

He downplayed Saddam's ability to hide weapons that U.N. inspectors suspect he may have amassed, and said that in any case the goals of new military intervention seemed doomed to failure.

"Do you think that Saddam can hold weapons in his palace? And even if it were possible, at this point he would have moved them," the patriarch said.

He said Saddam was determined to bring to the world's attention the plight of Iraqis suffering under the cmbargo, and the Iraqi pcople support him on that.

"No pcople can accept heing

Diocese of Fall River -

SEEKS MUSICIAN

NEWS SERVICE

BALTIMORE - "Nourish the Spirit of Hope" is the theme of this year's Operation Rice Bowl program for Lent sponsored by Catholic Relief Services.

CRS takes a look at life in some of the 80 countries where it operates to remind Catholics of the need for food, water and work in those nations.

Operation Rice Bowl, which begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25, encourages Catholics to take part in its four components of prayer, fasting, learning and giving.

One of the key elements of the giving component is the "rice bowl," a small cardboard box distributed to Catholics on the parish level to take home.

Fami I ies are encouraged to have simple meals and contribute to the rice bowl the money they would have spent on more expensive foods. That money and other contributions are collected at the end of Lent.

Last year's Operation Rice Bowl campaign taIlied more than $5.7 million.

Three-fourths of the money funds CRS' development projects, while the remaining one-fourth benefits members of each participating diocese in the Unitt:d States in the form of food pantries, homeless shelters, community dcvelopment projects and AIDS clinics.

Operation Rice Bowl was started in Allentown, Pa" in 1975 as a response to an Afr.ican drought. It was

Iraq

integrated into the International Eucharistic Congress held the next year in Philadelphia, and was after-

THE ANCHOR -

humiliated to this point. The people in Iraq think it's better to die fighting than to continue to suffer misery and humiliation," he said.

He cited a continual lack of adequate food and medicine in Iraq, and noted that international relief organizations have estimated that some 4,500 children are dying each month as a result.

"The people grow poorer and poorer, the currency has been devalued more than 5,000 Ptlrcent, unemployment is enormous and the cost of living is sky-high. It cannot continue like this," the patriarch said.

Chaldean-rite Catholics are part of the minority Christian community in Iraq, and today are estimated to number around 400,000.

Correction Sister Mary Ann Gorelczenko, a Missionary Servant of the Blessed Trinity, whose mother house is in Philadelphia, is from Attleboro. She is pursuing a master's degree in public health nursing while studying to be a chaplain in a pastoral care program offered by Saint Anne's Hospital.

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THE ANCHOR . .

Diocese of Fall River :- Fri., F~.b. 20, ~ 998.., '. . . ..,.. ............. -".

the living word

themoorin~ A question of trust

This week we celebrated Presidents' Day as a national holiday.

Specifically dedicated to the memory of Washington and Lincoln, it also celebrates the office of president as an ethical and moral force in the evolution of the nation. However, the current state of the American presidency is certainly a far cry from the ideal of responsible and exemplary leadership.

The Clinton scandal, be it smoke or fire," has defamed the Oval Office. Some would have us believe the situation merely reflects the time in which we live; and certainly the media have given the whole sordid affair the tabloid treatment in all its gruesome details. All in all, America has been handed a mess it does not deserve and the vast majority of our citizens are appalled by it. The whole affair has made our presidency the butt of unsavory jokes and smutty remarks.

In these difficult times, the political community has failed miserably. Its members seem simply to have forgotten that the purpose of our democracy is to ensure the common good, especially through the example and deeds of each of us.

To be sure, the political community is composed of many different people, each of whom brings to govel1l:ment his or her own personality and diversity; but if the community is not to be torn to pieces by individual viewpoints, authority is needed. This authority must not be despotic nor disordered but must channel the energies of the whole community toward the common good. It is a moral force which depends on freedom and the conscientious discharge of any office undertaken by a community member.

It follows that political authority, be it in a community or in institutions representing the state, is based on human nature and must always be exercised for the common good within the limits of morality and ethical behavior. This principle underlines the responsibility, dignity and importance of those who govern; but, sad to say, many of our political institutions and the persons who work within them have failed to live up to this standard. As a result, both the nation and its individual citizens suffer as honor and integrity are diminished.

So many ignore the fact that ac.ts freely chosen as a judgment of . conscience are either good or evil and can be morally evaliJMed. The , object, the intention and the circumstance~'are the three "sources" of the morality of human acts. It is well to remember in our ongoing evaluation of political events the words of St. Thomas Aquinas to the effect that an evil action cannot be justified by reference to a good intention. In other words, the end does not justify the means.

As the present presidency continues, we must assert loudly and clearly that the dignity of the human person implies and requires an upright moral conscience. The truth of the matter is that the moral good or its lack comes down to the prudent judgment of conscience. By their actions you shall know them.

As we continue to ponder this tru~ presidential crisis, it should be a reminder that all of us are called to bear witness to the truth.

Like Pilate, many people still ask themselves "What is truth?" As the Church teaches us, truth is uprightness, concern and sincerity in our actions and speech. Its exercise is a free action not influenced by circumstances or legal manipulations. Truthfulness also demands honor and discretion. As St. Thomas taught, "as a matter of honor, one man owes it to another to manifest the truth."

Reflecting on the history of our presidency from Washington's time to the present, there is little ~oubt that this office is facing perhaps one of the greatest challenges in its existence. As a country we need to feel confidence in all our elected officials but especially in the person who holds the highest office in the land. From one who has b~en given much by the American people, much is expected. As we prepare for the new century, may we resolve the doubts and mistrust that are now a plague on our house.

.LENTEN REFLECTION THE SEASON OF LENT BEGINS FEB. 25 WITH. ASH WEDNESDAY. FASTING, PRAYER, REFLECTION AND PENITENCE ARE ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGED DURING THIS TIME BEFORE EASTER.

"God's love was revealed in our midst in this way: He sent His only son to the world that we might have life through Him." 1 John 4:9

"Always Our Chiidren:'I' a prayer answered

By FATHER

PETER DALY

A few years ago a man came to see me at my office. I recorded in my journal that he seemed distressed. After small talk, he came right to the point. "Father, I want you to know that I am gay," he said.

"For a long time I have struggled with it because I thought my church had no place for me. I want to know if I am welcome here. Is there any place for me in this parish?"

He took a deep breath, relieved to have finished his question.

He was not living in a sexual relationship with anyone, though he had in the past. He did not visit gay The Editor establishments.

In fact, he had committed himself to a chaste life . not because the church required it, but because he had concluded after many years of struggle that chastity was the path to spiritual happiand peace.

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOC~SE OF FALL RIVER nessWhile there had been occasional Published weekly by The Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River sexual encounters since his private 887 Highland Avenue P.O. BOX 7 vow, they were infrequent. It Fall River. MA 02720 Fall River, MA 02722-0007 seemed to me he led a more chaste Telephone 508-675-7151 life than most of the heterosexual FAX (508) 675-7048 young adults I saw for marriage Send address changes to P.O. BOll 7 or call telephone number above .preparation. I marveled at his spiritual maturity.

EDITOR GENERAL MANAGER NEWS EDITOR I assured him there was most Rev. John F. Moore Rosemary Dussault James N. Dunbar certainly a place for everyone in God's church, including him. . . . , "LlAlIY PRESS - FALL RIVEA "God loves the person he made,"

theancho~

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I told him. "We love you as a sage to parents ofhomos,~xual chilbrother in Christ. If we excluded dren and pastoral mini~:ters titled people who have sinned in the past "Always Our Children." It struck or will sin, there would be no one precisely the right tone. It was a godsend to pastors. in the pews or at the altar."

The document broke no new He told me that several times in the past he contemplated suicide be- theological ground. It affirmed tracause he thought he was rejected by ditional church teaching on sexuhis family and church. His efforts ality. But it was mature and encourat changing his sexual orientation aging in tone. As the in!troduction through counseling had proved said, it was "an outstretched hand fruitless and damaging. His was not of the bishops ... offering ... a fresh the first time I had heard that same look at the grace present in family .Iife and the unfailing mercy of account.

At the end of our conversation, Christ the Lord."

It recognized what we know he wanted to know where he could find something to read on the from experience: that human sexuCatholic attitude toward homosexu- . ality can be a great mystery; that ality. Being a traditional Catholic, sexual orientation "is generally exhe wanted something official, perienced as given, not !;omething something from the church's freely chosen. By itself, therefore, magisterium. a homosexual orientation cannot be We looked at the catechism. considered sinful, for morality preMost of the discussion was directed sumes freedom to choosl~."

It also recognized "that homotoward heterosexual couples. I thought of documents from the doc- sexual orientation does not nectrinal congregation in Rome. Too essarily mean homosexual activscholastic and too harsh for him, I ity." thought. I had nothing to give him Finally, it recognized the enorexcept a book of essays on faith and mous power of God's gra.ce to help hope. people live a chaste life., which is We shook hands, and I promised every Christian's goal. In pastoral to send him reading material if I ministry, that is where the emphacame across something. sis should be placed - 011 chastity, Last October I finally had some- not change of orientation. It is posthing to send when a U.S. bishops' sible with God's grace.

With God "all things are poscommittee issued a pastoral messible." .

Pro-life groups dislike new surgeon general •

Senate confirmation ofpartial-birth abortion advocate Dr. David Satcher called "dark day in Americc3.n history."

By CATHOLIC

NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON -- Pro-life

groups have expressed their displeasure with the Senate's confirmation Feb. 10 of Dr. David Satcher as surgeon general.

Pro-lifers had tried to derail the Satcher nomination principally on the ground that he supported partial-birth abortion.

Despite pro-life opposition, the Senate confirmed Satcher by a 6335 vote. He was sworn in Feb. 13.

THE NEW U.S. surgeon general, Dr. David Satcher, addresses the media after his swearing-in ceremony at the White House. Some pro-life leaders expressed dismay at Satcher's failure to oppose partial-birth abortion. (eNS/Reuters photo)

Weekly General Audience Message Pope John Paul II Dear brothers and sisters, Continuing our catechesis in preparation for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, we reflect today on the fullness of the solvation which the incarnate Son of Go~ brought.

Jesus frees us from the slavery of sin and restores us to friendship with God. This opens the way for the redemption of every aspect of our lives through our restored inner freedom, with the consequent capacity to overcome the barriers which keep people aport. With the new commandment to love, Christ commits his followers to works of justice and charity. Although we cannot ovoid difficulties in this life, the paschal mystery enables us to see everything in a new light. Every pain or trial, united to the sufferings of Christ, can be redemptive. In the eyes of faith, death itself is the passage to eternal life. The solvation which Christ offers is therefore directed to the whole person; it affects the spiritual, bodily and sociai e'Cistence of each one of us.

I greet the students of the Spyken Classical School from lund, Sweden, and the various groups of university students from Japan. I welcome all the English-sp'eaking pilgrims and visitors, especially those from England, Northern Ireland, Australia, Japan, Sweden and the United States of America. Upon you and your families, I cordially invoke the blessings of Almighty God.

"It is a dark day in American history when the Senate confirms as 'America's doctor' a man who condones killing babies as they're being born," said a Feb. 10 statement by Judie Brown, president of the American Life League.

"To say that the American people should follow the advice of a man who can sanction such barbarism as 'partial-birth abortion' is an unholy outra.ge," Brown said.

Satcher, as surgeon general, "should represent the views of most Americans, and should certainly not advocate procedures that destroy life," said a Feb. I 0 statement

by Carmen Pate, president of Concerned Women for America.

"We ask Satcher not to abuse his new power and use it as a bully pulpit for abortion - especially for an abortion technique that is nothing more than infanticide," she said.

James Dobson, who said he was speaking as a private citizen and not as president of Focus on the Family, criticized the fact that 19 Republicans voted for Satcher.

The Republican Party's record on life issues and other family- related legislation "has been pathetic, creating a sense of betrayal within the GOP's base of support," he said in a Feb. 13 statement.

"What are we talking about here? We're not talking about partial-birth abortion. We're talking about murder during delivery.

We're talking about infanticide," Dobson said. "I want to tell you all something from my heart: There is no tent big enough for me and people who will do that."

At his swearing-in, Satcher said, "When it comes to public health, what unites us is greater than what divides us, and we must not forget that." He said during his tenure he will emphasize early childhood health, opposition to teen smoking and drugs, and the need for exercise and good nutrition.

Bishops' Overseas Appeal hopes to surpass $1.6M

By CATHOLIC:

NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON - The American Bishops' Overseas Appeal announced it hopes to surpass the $1.6 million received last year from Catholics around the country.

This year's appeal is scheduled for March 22 in most dioceses, with funds going to buy meals, teach classes, care for the sick and aid refugees and poor people around the world.

Noting the theme of this year's appeal, "Planting the Seeds of Hope," the bishops said the support offered to people "gives them the tools for a life of dignity. Catholics in the United States plant the seeds through their contributions, and God enSures the harvest."

As in past years, the appeal supports four Catholic entities: Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. Bishops' Migration and Refugee Services, the Holy Father's Relief Fund, and the Department of Social Development and World Peace.

THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

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6

THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

Fri., Feb. 20, 1998

St. Therese of'Lisieux live:,

Celiac sufferers find through Ohio artist's paintings solace in eucharistic cup

By CARLA BANKS-WILLIAMS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

By REBECCA DRAKE CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

said. "You have to educate your priest about this disease. Make sure SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - "You your pastor realizes that this is not satisfy the hungry heart with gift a choice for you."

Father Shea agreed that pastors of finest wheat."

The words of the hymn, so beau- should "always take it seriously" tiful and moving to most Catholics, if a parishioner has a need for an are a painful reminder to victims alternate form of Communion. As of celiac sprue disease that, for a pastor, he added, "you try to rethem, the "bread of life" could be spond to the needs of your parishioners within the confines of docfatal.

Celiac sprue, also called celiac trine."

Father William disease and gluten-sensitive enHamilton, eccleteropathy, is a For practicing siastical secretary condition which Catholics, however,' for the Springfield prevents the huDiocese, conthis prescription also firmed that Comman digestive syseliminates one of the munion in the tem from absorbcentral rituals of their form ofthe host or ing the gluten in wheat, rye, barley faith - the reception of wine is valid and oats. of holy Communion in according to Roman Catholic law.

More specifithe form of the host, a "The beauty of cally, the gluten the Eucharist is causes damage to gluten-based bread the mucous memtransformed into the that they (celiac brane of the small body of Christ during sprue sufferers) intestine, resultcan receive the Eucharist. ing in a smooth, through other opflat surface which tions," he said. is unable to adequately absorb sev- "It's Christ in the Eucharist, eral of the body's essential nutri- whether it's in the form of bread or ents. wine."

Father Hamilton said that recepSymptoms of celiac sprue include iron and calcium deficiencies tion only through the host was a and, in advanced cases, severe "fluke of history" which developed chronic diarrhea. The major treat- in the Midple Ages. There were ment for the disease is the elimina- also times, he said, when the faithtion ofcertain cereal grains, includ- ful didn't receive Communion at all ing wheat, from the diet. For prac- or received only once a year. ticing Catholics, however, this preCommunicants who suffer from scription also eliminates one of the celiac sprue may also receive lowcentral rituals of their faith - the gluten altar bread, according to Fareception of holy Communion in the ther James Moroney, executive diform of the host, a gluten-based rector of the U.S. bishops' Secrebread transformed into the body of tariat for the Liturgy. Permission to Christ during the Eucharist. receive low-gluten hosts must be Although the reception of the granted by the bishop, he said, after Eucharist in the form of wine is presentation of a medical certificate. now available in many parishes, "Low-gluten hosts are valid eliminating the experience of re- . matter, provided they contain the ceiving the host can be a difficult amount of gluten sufficient to obadjustment for some Catholics. tain the confection of bread, that Just ask Alice Lamothe, who thereis no addition offoreign mawas diagnosed with celiac sprue in terials, and that the procedure for 1981. While she has adapted to the making the hosts is not such as to rigid dietary restrictions necessary alter the nature of the substance of for physical survival, she has the bread," he said. struggled with the change in her Speaking to The Observer in spiritual practice. late January, Father Moroney said "It's a real struggle for a Catho- that in the last month he had relic," she told The Catholic Ob- ceived four letters from pastors server, Springfield diocesan news- about parishioners who were unpaper. "An important part of your able to accept even a small portion spiritual life (is gone). It's a diffi- of gluten. For these patients, he cult thing to adjust to." said, the only effective treatment Lamothe, a member of Holy is "a diet completely devoid of any Cross Parish in Springfield, has ad- wheat or wheat by-products." justed by receiving Communion as In 1995, the Vatican Congregawine and, occasionally, through a tion for the Doctrine of the Faith very small portion of the host. Even reiterated a 1982 decision ruling this amount can be problematic for out the use of hosts that are totally celiac sufferers, she said. "The ef- free of gluten. But it explicitly perfects can last a month to six weeks." mitted the use of low-gluten hosts Before reception of the Eucha- for the first time, under the condirist through wine was commonly tions outlined by Father Moroney. available in her parish, Lamothe It also stated that future candiwas allowed to receive wine with dates for the priesthood who sufthe eucharistic ministers at the al- fer celiac disease should not be ortar. Her present pastor, Father Tho- dained. "Given the centrality of the mas Shea, continues to allow the Eucharist in the life of the priest, option of receiving Communion in candidates for the priesthood who the form of wine. are affected by celiac disease ...

"You have to have a working may not be admitted to holy orrelationship with your pastor;" she ders," the. congregation said.

r-----------..

COLUMBUS, Ohio St. Therese, the "Little Flower of Lisieux," died a little more than 100 years ago in France, but for artist Theresa Satola, her patron saint lives in the art she produces.

Satola has always been interested in St. Therese and owns a first-class relic of the saint, a gift from her grandmother.

That was the start of her devotion to St. Therese, which led the artist to portray the saint in paintings. "I didn't pick her; I really think she picked me," Satola said. "My goal in life is to promote the Little Flower."

Satola is a free-lance artist, marketing her work in her home town of Canal Winchester, Ohio. In October 1997, she had her debut in New York at the Catholic Museum of Art and History at Rockefeller Center.

She was the featured artist in a show celebrating the centenary of the death of S1. Therese of the Child of Jesus. Her portraits included one in black and white of the saint at the age of 8, and others in colored pencil and oil.

Satola discovered the Society of the Little Flower, located in Darien, Ill., through the Internet, and sent the society a copy of her work. As a result, she was commissioned to design a prayer card, which will be released sometime this year.

One thing bothers Satola about most renderings of saints. ''They're so generic," she said. "The images that most people see could be any face, with the saints holding the symbols that make them who they are."

"But the Little Flower was the most photographed saint in history," Satola said. "She didn't like to be photographed, but she did so out of obedience. The camera was a novelty at that time, so the convent allowed it inside. I decided to take advantage of that and paint her features as they were."

Satola said that when she noticed there was scant artwork on S1. Therese in color, she decided to correct the situation. "When I.did her in color, she came alive for me. I was amazed at the effect, and others were, too. I got to know her a lot more that way," she said.

Her colored-pencil rendering of "St. Therese of the Child Jesus" won the Best of Show Award at the 1997 Fairfield County Fair in Ohio, an honor she had also won the previous year.

Satola is a parishioner of S1. Mary, Groveport, and a graduate of Ohio University with a bachelor's degree in costume design.

While Satola has 'a variety of artistic talents, she is becoming mostly known for her religious art. The Columbus diocesan retreat house and the S1. Therese Retreat Center have her works on display.

She said one of her more fulfilling assignments has been working at the Our Lady of Consolation Shrine in Carey, Ohio. She has been refurbishingstatuary costumes that are in serious disrepair, such as those on Our Lady of Consolation and the Mother and Child.

She said the original costumes are "very old, dating from about 1870.

The sequins are falling off; they were made of brass and were falling through the thread."

She said it has been very rewarding to dress u~ t~e statues of Mary.

"It's been a very special blessing to work with them, almost like working

on a royal queen's wardrobe infinitely better."

but

THERESA SATOLA painted this portrait of her patron, St. Therese of Lisieux. The Ohio artist said her goal in life is to promote the saint through her original images. (eNS/BanksWilliams photo)

Creativity needed to teach the faith

By TERRY MCGUIRE CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

LACEY, Wash. - There's no simple way for teachers to convey their faith to students, says Benedictine Father Benedict Auer, a faculty member at St. Martin's College. , That's why he says it's important that teachers be flexible and openminded.

To say to students, ''This is how you will believe," won't work in today's classroom, the priest said. Instead, he suggests saying, 'This is what the church .teaches, how do we implement this?" That approach, he says, gives the student options and becomes a much more ~ealthyenvironment to nurture the faith.

Father Auer knows plenty about teaching from his own experience. He . was a lay teacher for .17 years at the elementary, middle school and secondary levels before entering the priesthood.

Over the years, he has seen Catholic education at both extremes. He recalls when religion was taught by rote. He says that was replaced by an emphasis on love, but with little attention paid to content. ' "Now, we have a group of people in their 20s and 30s who really are almost content-less," he said, "because they haven't had a lot of fhe content they need to go along with their faith experience."

In an interview with The Catholic Northwest Progress, archdiocesan newspaper in Seattle, Father Auer said teachers have not been taught ,to convey who they are, particularly their spirituality. . , To do so, he suggests teaching by example, showing respect for others, being prayerful in their own lives and always reading or learning new things.

Teachers don't have the answers to everything, he acknowledged. The spiritual teacher admits this and invites students to help look for answers, he said. . ."It connotes the idea of our spirituality as well," Father Auer said. "We're reaching out and searching for answers and looking for different ways to articulate things."

For example, he said, who could explain the mystery of the Holy Trinity?

Even though we'll "never be able to understand it completely," he said, "the church has given us insights, metaphors, paradigms and all sorts of things" to explore the mystery. ' When encountering students who have been victimized by abw;e, divorce or other hurts, teachers don't need a therapist's credentials to start the healing process. All they need to do is listen, he said.

"The teacher has to work with that idea of being a healing agen~," he said. '. . ,_ ..

"I think that's part of.a.!1y.OI~el's:~~iritua~i~y.".; ....

THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., Feb. 20, 1998

7

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SISTER ANN DOMINIC Tassone cheers on the Avila College men's basketball team during a recent game in Kansas City, Mo. An avid fan, she has only missed a few hqme games since the program began in the early 1970s. (CNS/Kline photo)

Loyal nun shouts college cheers for home team

By LORETTA SHEA KLINE CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE KANSAS CITY, Mo. - "Come on, defense. Don't let him in," shouted 77-year-old Sister Ann Dominic Tassone from the stands at Avila College's Mabee Field House.

The Avila men's basketball team was playing rival Rockhurst College, and Sister Tassone was in her usual spot at center court, second row from the floor. The atmosphere at Mabee was charged for the recent meeting between Kansas City's two Catholic colleges.

In the opening minutes, a Rockhurst player was called for a traveling violation; now it was Avila's ball. "Come on now, Avila," Sister Tassone urged. "Make it count."

The Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet wouldn't miss the game with Rockhurst, or any other Avila men's or women's home game, she said. Before the men's game she cheered on the Avila women in their .

66-46 loss to Rockhurst.

If Cal Ripkin is baseball's iron man with his 2,478 consecutive games played, then Sister Tassone must be Avila basketball's ironwoman fan.

Since the men's basketball program was launched in the early 1970s, Sister Tassone has been an avid supporter. Over the years she has attended hundreds of men's and women's basketball games. By her count, she has missed maybe half a dozen home games. "This is just something that I enjoy," Sister Tassone told The Catholic Key, newspaper of the Diocese of Kansas CitySt. Joseph. "I think our athletes need support. Most ofour athletes achieve on a very strong leveL" She also supports Avila's other sports - soccer, volleyball, baseball and softball - and she estimates that all together she has attended games that number in the thousands.

The college showed its appreciation for Sister Tassone's support of its athletic progmm by inducting her into the Avila College Athletic Hall of Fame in October. "I never thought about that in my wildest dreams," she said.

Cindy Freeman, athletic depart-

men! secretary, nominated Sister Tassone for the honor.

"I think she's a super fan of the college," Freeman said. "The athletes always look for her in her spot."

Avila College President Larry Kramer recalled the time about 12 years ago when Sister Tassone was on her way to.a basketball gam~ during some icy weather. She slipped and broke her wrist but went to the game anyway.

"She wouldn't tell anyone because she didn't want anyone to take care of her," Kromer recalled. "I knew then that she was a loyal fan." Th~ team's trainer ended up taking Sister Tassone to the hospital after the game.

Sister Tassone, the oldest of five children, grew up in Ishpeming, Mich., where she did a lot of skating. sledding and swimming. But in school, she said, "Women's sports were not in vogue."

In 1943 she professed her vows as a Sister ofSt. Josep~ofCarondelet.

She came toAvilaCollege in 1963 to chair the Natural and, Allied Health Sciences and Mathematics Department.

Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society for students majoring in education, honored'SisterTassone last summer for her contributions as a educator. She currently teaches mathematics and geometry to elementary and middle school teachers.

Sister Tassone admitted there were times when her zeal for cheering Avila's basketball athletes overtook her better judgment, such as the time she bartered with the Lord for an Avila victory.

"I'd say something like, 'Dear Lord, let us win and I won't eat cake for a week.' Isn't that awful? I don't do that any more. Ijust leave it in His hands."

Head men's basketball coach Jim Huber Jr. described Sister Tassone as "someone that you can always count on for support, especially when you're down."

"It's always nice to have people who will support you in the good times and the bad times," Huber said.

"It means a lot when you can have fans like that."

Sunday. March 1st. 2:00 p.m.

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THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River - Fri., Feb. 20, 1998

Do homilists take Scripture seriously enough?

By

FATHER EUGENE HEMRICK

that my homilies are getting better.

The reason to focus in on Scripture in preparing a homily, as I see it, is to understand the real message of the readings so that when one preaches Scripture it isn't twisted or distorted to fit some purpose of

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

The plight of the Florida farm workers I took a week's vacation in January, flying to the west coast of Florida in search of sun. Being a die-hard journalist, I looked forward to spending a good part of every day reading newspapers-familiar ones like The New York Times and others that I don't ordinarily get to see, like the Fort Myers News-Press and the Florida Catholic.

To my surprise, the major local news story that week had a strong ring of familiarity. The first headline I saw said, "Hunger Strike Hits Home for 200 at Fort Myers Vigil - Residents Gather in Show of Support for Immokalee Farm Workers."

I experienced a sense of "deja vu" in reading this. It was as if I had gone back in time to the late '60s when I marched with fellow sympathizers in support of the farm workers led by the late Cesar Chavez.

I'm sure many remember this devout man, who 'was passionately devoted to social justice. Chavez led farm workers in California to struggle, in spite of intimidation, for their dignity and a living wage.

With prayer to sustain him, Chavez went on a 25-day fast in 1968 to bring attention to the plight of the farm workers and to his cause - to organize them as a union. I remember those days so well and how those of us in the East who believed in his cause joined him by boycotting grapes so as to get the attention of the growers by hitting their pocketbooks.

When Chavez ended his fast, Robert Kennedy was there to eat with him. And Cesar Chavez had achieved something of a miracle ~ organizing the first successful union of farm workers.

Well, here we are exactly 3byeilrS later, and the plight of farm workers in southwest Florida would be familiar to Chavez, who died in 1993. They are tomato pickers who, The Florida Catholic explains, earn "about 40 cents per 32-pound bucket, the same amount paid to workers 20 years ago. That wage equals about $9,000 annually." It's not a living wage today. ' To get the growers to see their desperate situa. tion and begin a dialogue, several farm workers,

Think back to a homily that you thought was particularly good. Possibly the homilist was an interesting storyteller, Perhaps the homily spoke to a particular need of yours.

Or could it be that it was humorous, that it applied psychology well or that it expressed good common sense?

Whatever the reason, a question remains: Was this really a good homily? That was the question raised by biblical scholars and hom iletics teachers who participated in a Feb- one's own. The reason to "get Scripruary meeting at the Catholic Theo- ture right," so to speak, is that the logical Union in Chicago on readings have a message in themselves. preaching the Bible.

To make Scripture central to a The meeting was prompted by a study on Sunday homilies con- homily, it is necessary to believe, it ducted by Dominican Sister Bar- ought to be central. And one thing' bara Reid and Franciscan Father participants at the CTU meeting reLeslie Hoppe, Scripture professors vealed is that not all priests really do believe this. ' at CTU, and by me.

The participants agreed, howThis was a study of homilies by 33 preachers who were considered ever, that the homilist must never good at it. A team of Scripture stop being a student of Scripture. scholars found, however, that these Nor should the homilist ever neglect homilists often gave only a passing the power of the Scriptural mesnod to the Scripture readings or sage. ' " '.<li'. used them as a'springboard; but sel~ .. But how sfiOtild homiletics-stu~ dom made Scripture their focus or dents today be prepared to make Scripture central in their preaching? explained it well.

It all makes me wonder whether , One recommendation heard at the the power of Scripture is being un- CTU meeting was that homiletics derestimated in many cases. Often and Scripture professors collaborate these homilists referred to Scrip- much more closely. It was also sugture, then quickly moved on to gested that Scripture professors resomething else - some contempo- quire students to give homilies as rary application of it that mayor part of their course work and not leave the practice of homilies solely may not have been on target.

So, what I decided to do was to to the homiletics professors., I have little doubt that we would . apply the lesson of the study to my own preaching. I decided to get see the most dynamic Church remuch more serious about knowing newal ever if we took seriously what the Scripture readings at Mass these kinds of recommendations really say, to spend more time di- and concerns. Nothing moves people more than a good homilygesting their meaning.

And I think it's working! At one that is anchored well in the least people have been telling me Scriptures! o

o

DENNIS SEAVERS, left, and Andy Krzmarzick, both students at Theological College in Washington, protest U.S. policy on Iraq outside the White House during British Prime Minister Tony Blair's recent visit. (CNSlAoller photo)

members of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, began a hunger strike Dec. 20 that lasted nearly a month.

What touched me especially in the sto::ies was how visibly the church was there, under the: leader-, ship of Bishop John J. Nevins of Venice, F1.:l. There was even a pastoral visit by Baltimore's Cardinal

The Bottom Line

By Antoinette. Bosco

. William Keeler. The coalition itself "had its genesis in the Catholic Church five years ago," according to The Florida Catholic.

Bishop Nevins responded with humanity and wisdom. Hoping to promote a dialogue between growers and workers, the leader of 173,000 Catholics in 10 southwest Florida counties invited them to meet on the neutral ground of a Catholic church to discuss their concerns. He was empathetic to both sides, pointing out the pressures on the growers, too, who have lost a lot because of increase:d competition from Mexico.

But it was his outreach to the worke:rs that touched 'me. "Agricultural workers and their families take precedence over all. Workers have a right to the wages and benefits sufficient to sustain life in dignity. A fundamental moral measure of any economy is how the poor and vulnerab,le are faring," the bishop said when he visited the stri kers'. .

Before he left them, giving all of us something to remember, Bishop Nevins embraced each of the hunger strikers.

Moments like these are the real sermons that teach us whatit means to be a follower of Christ.

M,anaging an inheritance Dear Mary: Recently I received an inheritance upon the death of my father. We are a middleclass family, two children. My husband works full time, and I work part-time. He has a pension plan at work, and we have started small savings accounts for our children. We have never had an inheritance and do not know how to manage it.

What is a prudent way to approach this? - Ohio You have askedlhe right question. You do not ask, "What should I do with my inheritance?" but rather, "How can I make a prudent decision?" There is an important difference. You need to seek advice and become informed, but you need to make decisions that suit you and your family.

First, if you receive a substantial amount of money, you need not rush into a decision all at once.

You can "park" this money until you are ready to decide what to do on a long-term basis.

That is, you can put the money where you have it available immediately or in a short period of time, . and where you will not lose your principal. Some examples are a three-month or six-month bank CD, a money-market fund at a mutual fund company or short-term U.S. Treasury certificates.

Next, you and your husband need to decide how you want to use this money. Do you want to buy a house? Improve the house you own? Save for your children's education? Save for your own retirement?

Collect interest or dividends so as to increase your income right now?

Perhaps you have other needs or goals. You can have more than one goal, using part of the money for each goal. Once you know your goals, begin to learn so that you can achieve those goals.

You might want to read one or two basic books o'n money management and investing. You will find many at your local library. Ask a librarian to recommend some titles. You do not need an MBA to invest your money. Many prudent people manage to b~y a home, send kids to college and save for retirement, all with fairly simple, easily understood inyestm~nts.

You might want to talk to a financial adviser. Finding someone you trust is important. Ask fril~nds or family who invest to suggest someone. A financial adviser who is not selling a certain product will generally give you more unbiased advice. Ask any ad-

Family Talk With Dr. James & Mary Kenny

viser you choose whether he/she benefits pen:onally from the investments he/she recommends.

If you choose a financial adviser, explai n your goals. Unless he/she knows your goals, an adviser cannot recommend investments that are right f,)r you.

What are some things to avoid? Watch out for the following: Be cautious about investments where someone promises extremely high returns. The most basic adage of investment is: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Beware of locking all your inheritance away for many, many years where it is difficult or very costly to get it out.

Beware of investments where there are extremely high costs for management.

Beware of investments so complicated that you do not understand what is being recommended.

Your inheritance can cause you anxiety or it can help you and your family reach some financial goals.

Define your goals. Learn about money managt:ment.

If you use an adviser, choose one you can trust. Then invest to achieve your goals.

Reader questions on family living or child care to be answered in print are invited. Address questions: The Kennys; St. Joseph's College; 219 W. Harri~on St. Suite 4; Rensselaer,IN 47978.,

THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., Feb. 20, 1998

rfhe "historical" Jesus Q. Our parish Bible class is studying St. Luke this semester, in conjunction with the current Sunday readings. Some materials we use refer to the ''historical Jesus" as if he is different from the Jesus we know. I have, I think, an idea of what is meant, but am not clear enough to explain it to the class.

Is it possible to discuss the subject without becoming confusing? Could )'OU explain simply what the historical Jesus is? (Ohio) A. The "search for the historical Jesus," as it is sometimes called, has been a significant movement in biblical studies during the 20th century. Properly and very carefully understood, it can help us understand some important elements of the church's teaching about the New Testament, the Gospels particularly.

For starters, your group must be aware of the Catholic teaching that the four Gospels were formed in three time periods or stages.

First came the personal ministry of Jesus himself, what he actually said and did, what concerns he had to deal with, what types of people he was trying to motivate and so on.

A good way to pU,t it, perhaps a little oversimply, is to ask: If a video camera had followed him around, what would it have recorded?

Second came the period of proclamation, when the' apostles and other early disciples preached Jesus to the earliest Christian communities, roughly between 35 and 70A.D.; how they reinterpreted the words and actions ofJesus in a variety of new cultures, new situations, new languages, all so the saving message, the "good news" of the risen Lord, would take root in new believers. , The final stage was the actual writing oJ the Gospels, a period covering roughly the years 65 to 100 A.D. During these years, "from the many things handed down," the Gospel writers "selected some things, reduced others to a synthesis, others they explicated as they kept in mind the situation of the churches."

Thus they compiled a narrative concerning the Lord Jesus "with a method suit~p to the peculiar purpose each (author) set for himself."

Their purpose, then, was not to compose a "biography" of the Savior, but to create a portrait of Jesus that would establish a base of faith in the risen Christ.

(This church teaching, including the above quote, is found in the Pontifical Biblical Commission's "In-

struction on the Historical Truth ofthe Gospels" 1964, and in other documents.)

It is important to emphasize here our Christian belief that all this happened under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit Jesus promised would be with his community of believers through.

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the ages (In 14).

In no way, therefore, may we fear that the "truth" about Jesus and his message became diluted or confused by the ~me the Gospels were written.

On the contrary, the process leading up to their writing made the four Gospel portrayals of Jesus clearer and infinitely more revealing than would have been possible (from our human perspc~tive at least) had they been written the day after the resurrection.

Again, it all occurred with the Spirit hovering over the infant church as it was transpiring.

From here on, the answer to your question is brief.

The "historical Jesus" is the "actual" Jesus we might discover hidden behind the words and 'events of the present Gospels.

Scholars (with varying motives and degrees of faith) ask: If we dissectand search beneath the words of the Gospels, what "real" Jesus - what literal words and actions of Jesus as he walked this earth - might we uncover there?

That's a valid and potentially illuminating question: Whatever that Jesus may be, however, he will never replace or detract from the Jesus we know and love by faith, the Jesus passed over to us by the Spirit, the Jesus of the Gospels. , A free brochure answering questions Catholics ask about cremation and other funeral regulations and customs is available by sending a stamped, selfaddressed envelope to Father John Dietzen, Holy Trinity Church, 704 N. Main St., Bloomington, m.

61701.

How to know that it's time for a retreat I have a friend who wrote a terrific piece on practical ministries that he feIt each parish should consider. Study or prayer days for young mothers with baby-sitting provided was one.

Keeping a decent pickup in running order for families to borrow was another.

I'd like to suggest something along those lines: a retreat subsidy fund or retwat promotion team.

You know it's a good time to take some time away with God when the closest to prayer you've been in recent memory is blessing people after they've sneezed.

You know it's time to take m'ore than a 20-second time-out in the game of life when your spouse gives you flowers, and you ask how much they cost.

Think about investing a couple of days at a retreat house when the highlight of your week has been watching a Frasier rerun without the phone ringing.

It may be time for a retreat if the closest you've come to spiritual reading lately is a newspaper story about someone who claimed that winning lottery numbers came to her in a dream.

Or, if you walk out of Mass and it dawns on you the only thing you remember from the previous hour is sitting on some toddler's soggy Cheerios, it's time for some time away with God. Consider a wee walk with the Creator if the last time you put in volunteer help at the parish was when you had to shovel snow and ice to get your car out of the parking lot.

Also, consider that walk with the Creator: -If the last time you talked about the importance of God in your life with your spouse (or anyone) was after you won the beer drinking contest at your class reunion.

-If you have a major beef with God, like why can't he just write you a letter or send an e-mail like anyone else when you have some questions.

9

-If you feel you have to start a prayer with "Uh, you might not remember me, but ..."

I am not on the payroll of some flush foundation pushing religious retreats. Nor has any similar group offered me an all-expenses-paid vacation to Australia, although I am not so opposed to this kind of bribe

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COFFEE HOUSE: FATHER PAT Saturday, February 21- 6:30 p.m.

Good-will offering

HEALING SERVICE WITH MASS Sunday, February 22 - 2:00 p.m.

Father Andre Patenaude

COME HOME, WE MISS YOU

Theoffbea:tf;: worldof Uncle Dan i

For those feeling separated from the Church

Sundays -

7 p.m.

Shrine Theater

February 22, March 1, 8, 15 Hosts: Father Corriveau & Father Delisle

By Dan Morris

that I wouldn't search my soul deeply about its appropriateness while I was waiting for my passport to be updated.

I want you to know this pitch for retreats has been inspired by my wife, who recently sighted down her index finger like it was a pistol and pulled the trigger when someone cut her off in traffic - raving as she did, "Ya blat, blat, phamma blatt-blat," or something like that.

"You know," I said to her calmly, "you seem a little uptight lately. Do you think a retreat would help?"

She blew imaginary smoke off her finger pistolbarrel, then aimed it at me.

"Why?You want me out of your hair for a couple of days? Am I getting to you?"

Funny, when I came back from retreat she seemed a lot happier.

Your comments are welcome a.ways. Please send them to Uncle Dan, 25218 Meadow Way, Arlington, Wash. 98223.

ASH WEDNESDAY - FEBRUARY 25 Ashes at 12:10 & 6:30 p.m. Masses and at 4:00 p.m. Prayer Service GRIEF EDUCATION PROGRAM Monday, February 23 - 7:00 p.m.

Topic: "If only" Counseling Center- $10 Donation

Thursday, February 26-:- 1:00 p.m.

Topic: "Grief and guilt" Counseling Center- $10 Donation

JOHN POLCE: BETHANY NIGHTS Friday, February 27- 7:30 p.m.

Good-will offering Music - Prayer - Witness

10

THE ANCHOR ~ Diocese of Fall River - Fri., Feb. 20, 1998

NEW YORK (CNS) - The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by the U ~S. Catholic Conference Office for Fi.1m and ,Broadcasting.

"Bllies 'Brothers 2000" (Universal) Feel-good musical in which Blues Brother Dan Aykroyd reunites his band after 18 years and takes it on the road, pursued by cops who ,think he kidnapped an orphan. Director John Landi~' sequel is crippled by its feeble'story line, butenlivened by top musicians and the comical moves of the black-suited Blues Brothers,including new member John Goodman. Sllggestive dancing with brief rear nudity, some comic violence, occasional crude expressions and an instance of profanity.

The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III - adults. The Motion Picture Association ,of America rating is PG-13 - parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"The Borrowers" (Polygram) Whimsical fantasy in which a villainous banker (John Goodman) sets out to drive a fami Iy of three from their home only to discover he is up against a resourceful family of miniature people also living on the premises.

Based on the Mary Norton children's stories and directed by Peter Hewitt, the movie doesn't lack for charm or gentle hu" mor as the two families join forces to outwit big bully Goodman.

Some menace and comic violence.

The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II ~ adults and adolescents.- The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG'- parental'guidance suggested.

"Wedding Singer" suffe:rs from threadbare script

By GERF.l1 PARE CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE NEWYORK-Ajilted fiance falls for a waitress who is about to marry the wrong guy in "The Wedding Singer" (New Line).

Set in mid-'80s suburbia, the movie opens with Robbie (Adam Sandler) enjoying his job as the lead singer at wedding receptions.

He and waitress Julia (Drew Barrymore) are each engaged, Robbie's wedding set for the following weekend. Only, when his big day comes, his bride-to-be doesn't, leaving him at the altar humiliated and unable to sing any more love songs 'without making , them sound like a deadly curse.

SympatheticJulia remains supportive and persuades him to help plan all her wedding details to keep him busy - and because her intended, Glenn (Matthew Glave), only wants to show up on the wedding day and claim his bride as a sort of prize possession.

In spending so much time together, Robbie and Julia start falling for each other, which they don't want to admit to themselves or each other.

Complications arise when Robbie discovers Glenn is cheating on Julia with no plans to stop . I 'Sh Id R bb' ' af ter the nuptla s. ou. 0 Ie warn her, 'he wonders, SInce that .would break her heart,just days C h dd' belor~ t e we In~..

Juha, mean.whIle, deCIdes to confront Robbie about her undeniable feelings for him, but shies away when his ex-fiancee (Angela

. Vapid period piece based on the diary of a 16th-century Venetian courtesan (Catherine McCormack) who uses her beauty and sexual allure to seduce the French king and to rally her lovers to protect her from the Inquisition. Director Marshall Herskovitz's mushy yam romanticizes its heroine as a role model for repressed women of her day in what amounts to a lame historical bodice-ripper. A glamorized depiction of prostitution, brief sexual encounters with nudity, some violence and occasional rough language. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is 0 - morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R - restricted.

"Sphere" (Warner Bros.)

Sci-fi thriller in which scientists (including Dustin Hoffman, Sharon Stone and Samuel L. Jackson) grapple with what may be a malevolent, extraterrestrial life force just outside the deep-sea station in which they are trapped. Directed by Barry Levinson, the intriguing start gives way to murky developments which undercut the suspense and lead the scientists to end their predicament in disappointing fashion. Some stylized violence 'and intermittent profanity. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III -adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG- 13 - parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Movie ratings aniline

-.

Can't remember how a recent film was classified by the USCC? Want to know whether to let the kids go see it? Now you can look up film reviews on America On-line. Once you're connected to AOL, just use the keyword CNS to go to Catholic News Service's online site, then look for movie reviews. <,

;

Best bets 4)n TV

"Sister Wendy," "Amistad" among Christopher winner's

By CATHOLIC

"Dangerous Beauty" (Warner Bros.)

Featherstone) answers the door as be lukewarm. if they are a twosome again.

Due to'implied affairs, fleeting Matters are left up in the air . violence, occasional profanity and on Julia's' wedding flight (0 Las , an instance of rough language, the Vegas - until a first-class passen- U.S. Catholic Conference classiger comes forward to make sure fication isA-III-adults. The Motion Picture Association of she lands the, right guy.

Director Frank Coraci turns this America rating is PO- I3 - parthin formula story into a sappy ro- ents are strongly cautioned that mantic comedy with little wit and some material may h~ inappropri'no sparkle. ate for children under 13.

The main comedic element involves mocking the fads and fashions of the '80s, but the heavyhanded approach kills the supNEW YORK (CNS)-Here are posed fun of seeing ruffled tuxedo some television programs of note shirts, Rubik's Cubes and tacky ac- for the week of Marc:~ I: cessories the characters wear.

Sunday, March 1,6-7 p.m. EST There are also so many obvious (A&E) "Treasure!: ~rewels of the visuals or mentions of brand British Crown." A I!>ok at one of names it is almost as if there are the most extensive jewel collections commercials throughout the in the world. the priceless and hismovie. torical gemstones in possession of Barrymore's character is the British monarchy, which are sweetly appealing, but the thread- regally displayed at state occasions bare script doesn't put flesh on any and worn at royal social events. of the characters, leaving the roMonday, March 2, 8-11 p.m. mantic aspects of the plot largely EST (Discovery) "E;gypt Uncoveredo" Opening three hours of a lifeless.

Sandler gets the odd laugh from five-hour documentary miniseries, his bizarre musical performances, continuing Tuesday..Wednesday, but from start to finish everything March 3-4, 10-11 p.m. EST each looks so ~ontrived to match up night, which looks at the latest arRobbie with Julia instead of witl1 chaeological findings about ancient ,their selfish fiancees that there is Egn~tidan CdivilizMation 路 4 8 10 I' I ' . ' . t t d ne nes ay, arc tI , - p.m.

Itt e IncentIve to stay In eres ~.

EST (NBC) "Garth Brooks: IreJust a cut above a routIne la, d & R k" M . _ I . I. sitcom,themoviecan'only,garner :'q hn. 'h,the"atc . 1'1' u,~II~a ,sPd,~cla Itn I f h d d I' f w IC e op-se 109 recor 109 ar e t~ ~n e comp Iments o~ not ist performs his biggest hits during ~eplctIng ~ny heavy sexual sltua- a three-night concert i:.1 Croke Park, tlOnsorusIng much bad language. Dublin along with Trisha Otherwise, the reception for Yearwo~d and Susan' Ashton.

"The Wedding Singer" is likely to

NEWS SERVICE

6-year-old son, Adam, into action NEW YORK - Director to get two federal laws passed on Steven Spielberg has been named missing children and to create the the winner of his fourth Christo- National Center for Missing and . pher Award, for "Amistad," the Exploited Children.

Spielberg's previous awards fact-based tale of a mutiny aboard a Spanish slave ship. came in 1993 for "S<.:hindler's Director Bruce Beresford also List," 1987 for "Empire of the was named the winner of his fourth Sun," and 1985 for "The Color Christopher Award for "Paradise Purple." Beresford's previous Road," a movie about a group of awards came in 1991 for "Black women who use music to lift their Robe," 1989 for "Driving Miss spirits while held in a Japanese Daisy" and 1983 for ''Tender MerPOW camp during World War II. cies."

The PBS special "Bill Moyers The late Cardinal Joseph in Conversation with Sister Bernardin was named a posthuWendy," in which the television mous winner for his book "The journalist speaks to the nun whose Gift of Peace: Personal Reflecobservations on art have won her tions," published by Loyola Press. fans on two continents, also picked One of the seven TV winners is up a Christopher Award. the USA cable channel drama The awards were ,announced "Clover," the story of a black girl Feb. I I . An awards ceremony will who is raised by her white stepbe held Feb. 26 in New York. The mother when her father dies awards, now in their 49th year, rec- shortly after the couple's marriage. ognize creative works that express The writer of the multilayered tale the highest values of the human is Jesuit Father Bill Cain, who is spirit. co-creator, co-executive producer 'John Walsh, host of the Fox TV and a writer for the ABC drama series, "The New America's Most "Nothing Sacred."

Wanted: America Fights Back," Other television winners are: will receive a special Christopher "A Child's Wish" and "William Award at the ceremony.

Faulkner's 'Old Man,'" both on Walsh turned his grief over the CBS; HBO's presentation of "In 198路1 abduction and murder of his the Gloaming," which was Chris-

topher Reeve's first directing effort; "Liberty! Thl~ American Revolution" on PBS; and "Rescuers: Stories of Courage - Two Women" on Showtime.

Winners in the books for young people category are: picture book: "Milo and the Magical Stones," written and illustrated by Marcus Pfister and translated by Marianne Martens; ages 5-8: "The Gardener," written by Sarah Stewart and illustrated by David Small; ages 8-10: "When Jessie Came Across the Sea," wriilen by Amy Hest and illustrated by PJ. Lynch; ages 10- I2: ''The Silver Balloon," written and illustrated by Susan Bonners; and young adult: "I Have Lived a Thousand Years: Growing Up in the Holocaust," by Livia Bitton-Jackson.

General book winners included: "All Saints: Daily Reflections on Saints, Prophets and Witnesses for Our Time,," by Robert Ellsberg; "Mother Teresa: AComplete Authorized Biography," by Kathryn Spink; "Stolen Dreams: Portraits ofWorking Children," by David L. Parker with Lee Engfer and Robert Conrow; and "Tuesdays With Morrie: An Old Man, A Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson," by Mitch Alborn. '

Many activities and services Lent available to seniors

THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., Feb. 20, 1998

Provincetown Council On Aging (COA)

Free income tax assistance is available at the seniorcenteron F1iday momings. If you have questions about filling out a return or if you would like someone to complete your return, call the COA at 487-7080 for an appointment.

A French club is forming to converse, read, share travel experiences and enjoy anything and everything French.

Anyone with an interest in French cul-

ture or language is welcome. Please call Chris at the COA office for more information.

Two new classes are forming at the COA this month. The first, "Yoga: The Complete Beginner," is an introduction to the exercises, breathing techniques, relaxation and meditation ofyoga. The second, "T'ai Chi," is practice of the gentle movements which enhance circulation, increase mental and physical coordination and bring about serenity.

Both classes will be led by Jaya Karlson

and they will begin on Feb. 25. Call the COA to sign up.

Free diabetic screeni ngs for Provincetown residents are given on the second Thesday of each month at the Grace Goveia Building, 26 Alden Street from 8:30-9:30 a.m. No appointment is necessary.

A free showing of the movie 'The Heist" will be held at the COA Feb. 23 at I p.m. and again on Feb. 27 at 1:30 p.m. Free soda and snacks will also be available.

Every Wed. at I :30 p.m. all are welcomed to play board games at the COA. Games and rides are available for those who need them. Call the COA for transportation.

DennisCOA

CELEBRATING A MISSION of caring, Maryann DaSilva, administrative secretary at Our Lady's Haven, Fairhaven, lights a candle during the annual Mission Day Mass in the home's chapel. Father Edmund J. Fitzgerald, executive director of Diocesan Health Facilities, concelebrated Mass with Father Roy Yurco, SS.CC., and a candlelight prayer of recommitment to mission followed. Each year on Feb. 4, the home's anniversary, staff and volunteers celebrate their work for the aged and infirm. The event was coordinated by Sister Maria Cravedi, MPV, director of pastoral care and the Mission Effectiveness Committee at the home.

LENDING A HELPING HAND-Bethany House Adult Day Health Care recently donated plastic book bags to the Taunton Public Library. In an effort to better serve the community, the bags were given to library patrons to protect books and other materials in inclement weather. Admiring the bags (from left to right) are interlibrary loan librarian Robyn Bryant, Bethany House director Diane Craig and library director Susanne Costa Duquette.

Volunteer visitors needed for area elders FALL RIVER-More than half of the elders residing in nursing and rest homes do not have visitors but by becoming a volunteer for Bristol Elder Services you may aid the most vulnerable seniors who live in your area.

The Nursing Home Ombudsman program provides advocacy for those who live in long-term care facilities and with just a few hours a week from volunteers it can continue to make an impact. An Ombudsman volunteer visits area nursing homes on a weekly basis to meet with residents and help resolve any issues they may have. Such volunteers can help improve the quality of life, care and environment of long-term residents.

Training is provided for those wishing to become state certified Nursing Home Ombudsmen. For more information, call Margaret Pilkington at 1-800-427-2101, ext. 326 or 675-2105.. . ,

A ten week beginners' bridge class will be held at the seniorcenteron Mondays beginning Feb. 23 from 9:30-11 :30 a.m.

A diabetic support group program will be held on March 4 from 10-11 a.m.

Joyce Geissler, MS, CITRIL, will speak about the benefits of exercise and foot care. A program on Apri18 wi II feature presenter Debra Gibbons, RD, speaking about travel tips, holidays and recipes. Call the COA at 385-5067 for more information.

The Stroke Support Group will present a program on Feb. 23 from 6:307:30 p.m. It will focus on medical conditions and problems such as pneumonia, seizures and pressure sores. Call the COA for more information.

Harwil"hCOA

The Computer Training for Seniors program has created much interest and last year almost 60 people took advantageofthis learning opportunity. Similar programs will be offered in this year and those interested should call the COA at 430-7550.

The Friendly Visitor Program has also been a success in Harwich and to date 24 participants are actively involved in the community. Ifyou would like to learn about volunteering to visit homebound seniors for a few hours a week, contact Claire Hickey at the COA. Cribbage is offe:red every Thurs. at the center at 1:15 p.m. and seniors can have their blood pressure checked every Mon. and Fri. by Dave Wadsworth from 10-11:30 a.m.

For seniors living alone there is a telephone reassurance program of which they may wish to take advantage.

Seniors who use the service receive a daily telephone call from the COA to check on them. To participate, call the COAoffice.

Wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes, raised toilet seats, and shower seats are available at no cost from the COA. Availability of equipment varies.

Income tax assistance is available to Harwich residents with low to moderate incomes through April 15. The COA has several IRS and AARP trained persons available for I-hour appointments Mon.-Fri. Homebound seniors can be accommodated and interested persons should call the COA. The Sight Loss SupportGroup meets on the 4th Wed. of each month from 11 a.m. to I p.m. at Pine Oaks Village, John Nelson Way, Harwkh. This group is for the newly blind, visually handicapped and people with progressive eye disease.

For more information caB Sight Loss Services at 394-3904.

Sandwich COA A mixed senior bowling league is held at Smith Family Amusemenl Lanes, Hyannis, every Monday at 12:30 p.m. New members are always welcome and no expeJience is necessary. . Call 36~.6127 for more .i,nfol1TIiltiQn.

11

Continued from page one

It is a special time of grace from God to renew our faith and charity, to reform our Christian lives. Rather than "enduring" Lent, it becomes a personal endeavor to take on the mind and heart of Christ.

While most prayer falls within the forms of adoration, thanksgiving, reparation or petition, reading Sacred Scripture during Lent, especially the Scriptural texts chosen for the Sunday eucharistic liturgy, will offer us a certain "renewal." The preface of Lent I in the Roman Missal reads: ''As we recall the great events that gave us new life in Christ, you bring the image of your Son to perfection within us."

From at least the third century, Lent evolved around the theme of baptism, which had been associated with the vigil of the anniversary of the Lord's resurrection: the Easter Vigil.

The "Order of Prayer," the official book which serves as a pastoral guide to the liturgy and celebration of the Eucharist, spells out that Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and continues until the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday night. It notes that: "Lent is first, last and foremost about baptism. Baptism is about going down with Christ until death and being raised up with him to glory. This death and rising can be celebrated only after it has been experienced and lived in the daily fabric of human life. So Lent is about dying to self for the life of others.

Lent is about dying to all human supports which blind'us from seeing that true life is in God alone."

On Holy Thursday, those catechumens who are going to be baptized and received into the Church have already used Lent as their final period of preparation. For those of us already members of the Church, Lent is the unique opportunity to revitalize and reform our spiritual lives.

In the 4th century, preparation for baptism was joined by fasting and other penitential practices before Easter in preparation for absolution from public sins and crimes.

This somber theme of Lent gave rise to the liturgical penitential color purple or violet for vestments and the dropping of the joyful acclamations of Alleluia and the Gloria during the season.

Early in Christianity, the disci-

pline of fasting became associated with the number 40. This gradually determined the length of Lent. Fasting, by catechumens, and then by other Christians, was done in imilation of Jesus' 40-day fast in the desert (Matt 4:2), Moses' 40 days on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:28), Elijah's 40-day fast on his journey to Mount Horeb (I Kings 19:8) and the 40 years the Israelites spent in the desert. To this day, the Church's official title for Lent, "Quadragesima," is Latin for "40."

The fasting and abstinence long associated with Lent are often linked together but are two different disciplines. Fasting has to do with the quantity of food eaten on particular days (little or none). Abstinence refers to the kind of food denied oneself, for example, meat.

Fasting has always been a popular religious praclice. Denying oneself a basic human need such as food for a period of time may be done for different reasons. It prepares for a feast. It promotes self-discipline.

It supports one's prayers. It cleanses oneself of previous abuses and sin.

All of these have been motives for the Lenten tradition of fasting.

Another Lenten practice is almsgiving. It is the concrete realization of our sometimes pious thoughts of wanting to do something for the poor and needy. That giving, if done with heartfelt charity, puts us right smack in the message of Christ in his parable of the Good Samaritan, who didn't let the opportunity pass by.

When we talk about Lenten foods, we cannot forget pretzels and hot cross buns.

Pretzels, a popular snack, had their origin in early Christian Lenten practices. Because fat, eggs and milk were forbidden during Lent, a special bread was made with dough consisting of only flour, salt, and water, These little breads were shaped in the form of arms crossed in prayer and were called "bracellae," Latin for "little arms."

Among the Germans the Latin word became "bretzel."

Hot cross buns became a popular food eaten during Lent. The custom began in England to bake buns, place icing on them in the form of a cross, and eat them on Good Friday. Eventually they were baked and eaten throughout Lent and even during the Easter season.

A WOMAN receives the mark of ashes during an Ash Wednesday service. The penitential season of Lent, which culminates with Good Friday and reflection on the suffering .9f q~~i~~,.~~girp. ~lil~: ??,t~js Y~?r-, J9.t':1$(9kor.i~'{\'.s.ki p.hp.t9)

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12

THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River - Fri., Feb. 20, 1998

Yeltsin, pope air Russia's social, religious status s

. • Russia law restricting ,religious associations is e?,pected to remain in place.

By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II and Russian President Boris Yeltsin met privately Feb. 10 at the Vatican to discuss social and religious changes in Russia, including the country's new law on religious freedom.

At the same time, top Vatican and Russian diplomatic officials met to discuss the situation in Iraq and specific questions related to the presence of the Catholic Church in Russia, said Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls.

Pope John Paul and Yeltsin met privately for about 55 minutes, continuing even after the pope's personal secretary entered the room to tell the pope that Yeltsin had other appointments.

The pope rose to lead his guest to the door when Yeltsin said, "but we haven't finished." They continued talking privately for five more minutes.

Navarro-Valls-said it was Yeltsin who brought up the topic of the

Russian law on freedom of conscience and religious associations, which Yeltsin signed in September despite concerns expressed by Catholic Church and human rights leaders. ' After widespread opposition to the first draft of the law, including from Pope John Paul and from the U.S. Senate, the wording was changed to recognize "Christianity" - and not only Orthodoxy, Islam, Buddhism and Judaism as Russia's "traditional faiths."

However, the law says, churches must have been "active on a legal basis" for 50 years to qualify as Russian organizations, and it requires local church groups to be in existence for at least 15 years before they gain legal rights.

In an interview with an Italian 'newspaper before the trip, Yeltsin said he agreed with some of the c~iticisms Pope John Paul made of the first version of the law. The criticisms were contained in a personal letter to the Russian president.

"And, in fact, I used my veto right because I was convinced that all the confessions must live together,"Yeltsin said in the int~rview published Feb. 8in Corriere della Sera.

"My observations, some of which coincided with those of the

pope, were inchided in the new law, which, unlike the first draft, is just," he said.

Navarro-Valls said Yeltsin made similar remarks directly to Pope John Paul, explaining that. the pop~'s concerns were taken into account when drafting the final version of the law.

Russian spokesman Sergei Yastrzhembsky saidYeltsin brought up the law "on his own initiative" and told the pope the final version takes into account "the interests of all communities."

"From the pope's point of view," the Russian spokesman said, "Catholics encounter no obstacles to their activity. The conditions needed by Cath91ics in Russia exist and the pope has recognized that they are normaL" However, Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, apostolic administrator of European Russia, told Vatican Radio Feb. 10thatYeltsin's visit with the pope "is a particularly important event because it represents the only possibility to smooth out

... and come to agreement on some of the prescriptions of the law, making it easier to apply." ' As is customary, the pope and the Russian president exchanged gifts during the meeting. Pope John Paul gave Yeltsin a bronze bas-relief of the Madonna and Child, and Yeltsin gave the pope two colorful enameled candelabra.

But Yeltsin also prepared a "little surprise" for the pope, Yastrzhembsky said.

"During the preparations for the visit, we noticed that there did not exist an edition of the poems of Pope John Paul translated into Russian," he said.

Yeltsin commissioned a translation and the printing of a limited edition, the spokesman said. "The president gave a copy to the pope."

The Russian spokesman said the main topic of conversation was the situation of Russia and of Europe as the year 2000 approaches.

"The two exchanged ideas on this theme, giving special attention to the problems of young people

who will build relations between peoples and between countries at the beginning of the coming millennium," said the spokesman.

Yeltsin arrived in Rome telling, journalists he would renew the invitation he first made in 1991 for Pope John Paul to visil: Russia.

"The pope already has received more than one invital:ion to visit Russia, but seeing how you are asking me about it, I'll invite him again," the president joked Feb. 9 at Rome's airport.

But after the meeting, the Russian and the Vatican spokesmen said a possible papal trip to Russia was not discussed, nor did Yeltsin mention a possible meeting between the pope and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexei n. The Vatican has attempted on several occasions to set up an encounter between the two religious leaders.

Vatican officials repeatedly have said the pope wants to visit Russia, but he would not do so as long as officials of the Russia.n Orthodox Church continue to o~ject.

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Consecration to'the Divine Will Oh adorable and Divine Will, behold me here before the immensity'ofYour Light, that Your eternill goodness may open to me the doors and make me enter into It to form my life all in Yo~, Divine Will,. Therefore, oh adorable Will, prostrate before Your Light, I, the least, of all creatures, put myself into the little group of the sons and daughters of Your Supreme FIAT. Prostrate in my nothingness, I invoke Your Light and beg that it clothe me and eclipse all that does not pertain to Ydu;'Divine Will. It will be my Life,. the center of my intelligence, the enrapturer of my heart and of my whole being. I do not want the human will to have life in this heart any longer. I will cast it 'away from me and thus form the new Eden of Peace; of happiness and oflove. With It I shall be always happy. I shall 'have a ., singular strength and a holiness that sanctifies all things and conducts them to God: ( , Here prostrate, Iirivoke the help ofthe Mo~t Holy T~lnity that They permit me to live in the cloister,of the Divine Will and , thl;ls return in me.t~e first order of creatiqn,just as the creature, was created. ' ' . ..' , Heavenly Mother, Sovereign and Queen of the Divine Fiat,. take my hand and introduce me into the Light of the Divine Will. You will be my guide, my most tender Mother,and will . teach me to live inand to maintain myself in the order and the bounds of the Divine Will. Heavenly Mother, I consecrate my . whole being to Your Immaculate Heart. You will teach me the doctrine of the Divine Will'and I will listen most attentively to Your lessons. You will cover me with Your mantle so that the infernal serpent dare not penetrate into this sacred Ederi to entice me and make me fall into the maze'of the human will.

Heart of my greatest Good, Jesus, You will give qte Your" f1a":les that they may bum me, consume me, and feed, me to form in the Life ofthe Divine Will.

Saint Joseph, you wili be my protector, the guardian of my heart, ilnd will keep the keys of my will in your hands. You will keep'my heartjealously and shall never give itto me again, that I may be sure of never leaving the Will of God. My guardian Angel, guard me; defend'me; help me in everything so that my Eden may flourish and be the instrument that , draws all men into the Kingdom of the Divine Will. Amen.

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( In Honor ofLuisa Piccarreta 1865-1947 Child of the Divine Will)

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RUSSIAN PRESIDENT Boris Yeltsin greets Pope John Paul II at the Vatican Feb. 10.

Pope John Paul and Yeltsin met privately for about 55 minutes. Yeltsin last met the pope for a private audience in,1991; (eNS/Reuters photo) I

Cuba's release of prisoners pleas,es Vatican "

•

Pope John Paul II had asked the. freeing of those jailed during recent Cuban trip.

By JOHN THAVIS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican expressed satisfaction at Cuba's release of dozens of prisoners, three weeks after Pope John Paul II requested clemency for them on humanitarian groun'ds.

"If the reports are accurate; we can only be hapRY, because this is a sign that the words of the Holy Father were not in vain. The pope will be pleased, and above all Cubans will be pleased," Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican secretary of state, ,told reporters Feb. 11.

In. a statement the next day, the cluded,a number 9f political prisVatican press office said "the Sec- oners. D.uring his visit, the pope retariat of State is pleased at this made a 'special point of urging the action, which represents a concrete reint~gration of prisoners of conprospect of hope for 'the future of science into Cuban society. Cuba this noble natio'n." . denies that it holds politi~fll prisonThe Vatican said it 'had been in- ers, but human rights groups estiformed that Cuban authorities were mate trere are about 450 such prisfreeing prisoners "as a sig.... of for- oners in Cuban jails. ' giyeness and good will" foll9wing As news of the rdeased pristhe pope's vi'sit. The prisoners' oners emerged, Cuba also annames were on a .Iis.t given to Cu- nounced that it had frel:;d seven disban authorities by Cardinal Sodano, sidents who were 'se,ntenced to who asked in the pope's name for prison last fall for beloJ)ging to an their release on humanitarian illegal "human rights party." The grounds. prisoners were released on the conCuba announced Feb. 12 that it dition that they leave tile country. would release "several dozen" prisOne of the critic:isms human oners on the'pope's I,ist and would rights groups have made is that pardon more than 200 othersfor hu- ,Cuba often conditions i:ts release of manitarian reasons. . political prisoners on tlleir willingVatican sources said its list in- ness to leave the island nation. . ' '" "' .. '... ..... . ,

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.

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Vatican studio makes gifts to treasure •

Mosaic studio has been making gifts for heads of state since the 1500s. '

By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY -In a small studio tucked under an arch near St. Peter's Basilica, pieces of colored glass the size of sugar cubes are transformed into the gifts Pope John Paul II often gives heads of state.

Cuban President Fidel Castro was a recent recipient of a work created by the Vatican Mosaic Studio, which began functioning at the end of the 1500s.

Pope John Paul gave Castro a mosaic of Christ, which the Cuban president proclaimed "so beautiful, everyone should see it." He held it up for television and for still photographers to snap.

U.S. President Bill Clinton has a Vatican Mosaic Studio creation.

In 1994 Pope John Paul gave him a mosaic of Rome's Colosseum as seen from the Roman Forum.

Much of the mosaic work produced, restored and cared for by the studio over the last 400 years is on constant public display; it covers more than 8,300 square yards of the interior walls and ceiling of St. Peter's Basilica.

While most visitors notice the

traditional mosaics in the ceiling vaults, especially the four Evangelists inside the dome, many are surprised when they learn the "paintings" above the side altars aren't paintings at all.

They are reproductions in mosaic.

Because of the vast basilica's unstable thermal and atmospheric conditions, not to mention the dirty smoke produced by incense and candles, all of the paintings beginning in the late 1600s were replaced by copies in mosaic.

Even the basilica's copy of Raphael's "Transfiguration" is an 18th-century mosaic replacing the original painting, which was moved to the Vatican Museums' picture gallery.

Dario Narduzzi, technical director of the studio, said that to reproduce Renaissance pairitings and maintain the mosaics, the studio needs a vast assortment of colors.

A display case runs down the center of the workroom, holding 28,000 glass or crystal rectangles - each and everyone a different shade. A reference number on each rectangle tells the artists where to find hundreds of cubes of exactly the same color in the storage room.

Like an artist mixing paints on a palette, "with these tints we can make an infinite number of colors," Narduzzi said.

Marble, stone and glass pieces

for large works are cut the way mosaic makers have always done it: by placing a chunk on a wedge and hitting it with a hammer.

Global celebrations of the year 2000 are on the agenda.

marking the start of year 2000 observations.

He added that the Vatican is already encouraging dioceses worldwide to choose one church entrance

By LYNNE WElL as their holy door, to be opened on CATHOLIC NEWS SEFIVICE Christmas Day 1999 and to be speVATICAN CITY - The Catho- cially marked throughout the follic Church may launch global cel- lowing year. ebrations of the year 2000 by havAlso at the meeting was Paul ing several church doors in the Holy Henderson, executive director of Land opened at the same time as the U.S. bishops' Office for the the Holy Door of St. Peter's Ba- Third Millennium/Jubilee Year silica.

2000. He told Catholic News SerVatican authorities and bishops vice that U.S. parishes and dioceses from around the world discussed already had been making plans for these and other plans at a Feb. 8-1 I their own holy doors and were even meeting of 130 national coordina- encouraging famil ies to choose one tors of year 2000 activities. special door in their homes for the "Our purpose is to ensure, no same purpose.

"We think it's important to bring matter what activities take place during the Holy Year, that the es- the jubilee celebrations to those sence of these events remains spiri- people who might not be able to tual," Archbishop Crescenzio Sepe, . make the pilgrimage to Rome durthe Vatican official charged with ing the year 2000," he explained. coordinating the commemorations, "Only so many people actually can told journalists at the meeting's end. come to Rome in pilgrimage. So we Pope John Paul II praised the want to encourage local adaptations delegates to the gathering for their of each event."

Henderson said he found it "enwork, adding that their decisions would help "focus pastoral plans in riching" to exchange ideas with view of jubilee celebrations ... en- other national coordinators ofjubihancing the significance and spiri- lee year celebrations because "the tual richness of the celebrations of more we share our thoughts, the the jubilee year." richer our celebrations will be."

Archbishop Sepe said one such Henderson added that he was event might be having designated enthusiastic over Vatican plans to holy doors at churches in Jerusa- link national coordinators for "reallem, Bethlehem and Nazareth time" consultations in the future. opened at the same time Pope John "The last time we got together Paul opens the Holy Door at the as a group was in 1996," he said.

Vatican on Christmas Eve 1999, "We can do more together, and at a

Diocese of Fall River -

A variety of finished mosaics including reproductions of a Filippo Lippi painting of Mary and the Child Jesus, four Vincent Van Gogh paintings, scenes offamous Roman monuments and an early Roman portrayal of the Good Shepherd - line the walls of the studio's "gallery."

Some of the mosaics, like an 8-

Fri., Feb. 20, 1998

13

inch by 10-inch icon of Christ, have little cards tucked into the frame saying "sold."

Narduzzi said the icon, which took just over a month to produce, was sold for $2,800. He knows the exact price in dollars because it was purchased by an American, as many of the mosaics are.

-

POPE JOHN PAUL II gives Cuban President Fidel Castro a mosaic of Christ created by artisans from the Vatican Mosaic Studio. The artwork was presented during the pope's January visit to Cuba. (CNS/Reuters photo)

Jubilee year committees hold meetings in Rome •

THE ANCHOR -

Sierra Leone Catholic missionaries kidnapped •

quicker pace, if we save all the effort of travel and re-scheduling."

Archbishop St:pe said the apostolic nunciatures in 35 countries were already linked for real-time electronic confere:ncing, and that all should have this capability before the end of May. Among the events discussed for the year 2000 we:re an ecumenical meeting, an international eucharistic congress, and special days dedicated to workers, to women and to youth.

Pope John Paul is to ordain a number of priests on his 80th birthday that year. Archbishop Sepe said "a number of beatifications and canonizations of significance" were planned.

Asked whethe:r the Vatican was content with the progress of infrastructure improvements that the city of Rome was making in order to handle an expected deluge of additional visitors, Archbishop Sepe declined to comment.

"We have enough (logistical) problems of our own," he said. "I don't want to get into the area of the competence of civil authorities."

As for reports that commemorations of the jubilee year may last beyond the end of the calendar year 2000, the archbishop said any guesses on the subject were "hypotheses, only hypotheses."

"Nobody can say when the Holy Door will close, not even the pope," Archbishop Sepe said. "He has yet to make a decision, and the decision is his alone."

Army and rebel groups blamed for taking medical workers.

By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

ROME - Five Catholic missionaries in Sierra Leone were kidnapped Feb. 14, but a dozen other religious working in the town of Lunsar managed to escape by foot through the forest.

The kidnapped missionaries all were on the staff of the Lunsar hospital run by the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God, according to the order's general ate in Rome.

BrotherValentinA. Riesco, general secretary of the order, identified the kidnapped missionaries as Spanish Brother FernandoAguilo, medical director of the hospital; Austrian Brother Josef Erhard, a physician; Italian Brother Gilberto Ugolini, a pediatrician; Dr. Antonio Mateu, a lay volunteer from Spain; and Augustinian Recollect Father. Jose Luis Garayoa, also a Spaniard.

As of Feb. 16, Brother Riesco said, there had been no news of the missionaries' fate. Five religious brothers from the order, along with three Italian priests from the Congregation ofSt. Joseph of Murialdo and four Sisters of St. Claire escaped Lunsar by walking all day and all night through the forest to Port Loko, 35 miles north of Freetown, Sierra Leone's capital.

A spokesman for the Josephites ) .. J'.

in Rome said Feb. 16, "It seems they have arrived at Port Loko on foot after walking all day yesterday. They were blocked during the night and either managed to escape or were released."

The spokesman said the Josephite generalate was awaiting further details.

The three priests who escaped, he said, worked at a vocational school and a technical high school sponsored by the order in Lunsar.

The missionaries fled Lunsar after the town was sacked by members of the army and rebel groups which had supported a military coup last May. A West African intervention force seized control of Freetown, Sierra Leone's capital, Feb. 13 and was to reinstall the country's democratically-elected president, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.

The intervention force, known as ECOMOG, arrested dozens of leaders of the military junta, ending the eight-month military rule.

While some supporters of the coup surrendered, others fled into the country's interior.

In Lunsar, about 50 miles east of Freetown, the fleeing troops sacked the Catholic hospital, the Josephite schools, as well as the residences of the religious, the Josephite spokesman said.

"Obviously," he said, the religious "want to return, see what remains and start over."

In addition to the three Italians, the missionaries who escaped were from Japan, Mexico, Spain, Sierra Leone and Cameroon.

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Catholic Schools â&#x20AC;˘

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Diocesan CYO all-star

tournaments slated The Fall River Diocesan CYO will sponsor its annual all-star basketball tournaments on Feb. 22, pairing the best CYO players from throughout the diocese against one another. The schedule is as follows: The Fall River CYO Center hosts the junior girls' tournament. New Bedford will face Taunton at I p.m. and the winner will square off against Fall River at 2 p.m.

The New Bedford Kennedy CYO Center hosts the junior boys' tournament. Fall River will play Taunton at I p.m. and the winner will face New Bedford at 2 p.m.

The Taunton CYO, located at Taunton Catholic Middle School ~ill host the prep boys' tournament and features Fall River vs. New Bedford in the. I p.m. game. The winner will face Taunton'at 2 p.m.

Also at the New Bedford Kennedy CYO Center is the' senior boys' tournament. At 4 p.m. Fall River will face Taunton with the winner pitted against New Bedford at 5 p.m.

An awards ceremony will follow the last game of each. tournac ment.

TALENT SHOW! Sarah Melanson, a second grader at St. Joseph School, Fairhaven, performed a ciassical ballet routine for the school's second annual talent show. The talent show was part of Catholic Education Week and a wide variety of performances was fBatured.

Over 100 students participated in the show. . .

The season of Lent begins , Ash Wednesda~, February 25

Students to dramatize priest's life STUDENT ARTISTS from Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro were recently recognized by the Boston Globe in its annual Scholastic Art Awards Competition. From left to right they are freshman Emily Broderick, and sophomores Cliff Wells and Leigh Ausiello. Junior Merillee Fazio was recognized but not pictured. Their art will be displayed at the State Transportation Building through Feb. 27. For exhibit information call Tim O'Connor at (617) 482-1313.

OFFTO COLLEGE -Bishop Feehan High School senior Joe Gazzola of North Attleboro and his parents Lou and Pat Gazzola pose after Joe signed his letter of intent to attend Northeastern Universityand play football for the Huskies. The linebacker/full back received a full athletic grant to the school and¡ led the Shamrocks to their first ever state football championship last December.

NEW BEDFORD-Holy Family-Holy Name School will present a dramatic portrayal of the life of Belgian priest Father Damien de Veuster at St. Lawrence Martyr Church on March 8 at 3 p.m.

Accomplished actor Charles Baker will play the role of Father Damien. He has been performing one-man plays about the lives of many saints, including St. Francis . of Assisi, for a number of years.

More than 100 years before Mother Teresa blessed the world with her presence by reaching out to the "poorest of the poor,'! Father Damien dedicated his life to the outcasts of society, the lepers of Hawaii. Although he didn't have the benefit of . modem media to demonstrate his good works to the world, he was beatified in 1995 and his story is an inspiring one.

The free performance is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus State Council and those attending are asked to bring a canned good or other nonperishable food item for the needy of New Bedford.

For more information or directions to the church call the school at 993-3547.

DOMINICAN ACADEMY, Fall River, recently announCI~d winners of the eighth grade science fair. First place was awa.rded to Katie Mattos (top photo) for her project on horses, "Hot Legs."

Second place winner, Rebecca Brooder, explains her projl3ct "Bioluminescence: Nature's Light" to one of the judges. Third.place went to Lauren Legault and four students received honorable mention: Brooke Moniz, Melissa Faria, Kristen Lamonde and Carla Schnitzlein.

THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River -

Our Rock

··r~~ Coming

of

and Role Don't. just get used to it

By CHARLIE MARTIN

3 a.m.

She says it's cold outside And she hands me my raincoat She's always worried About things IUce that She says it's all gonna end And it might as well be my fault And she only sleeps When it's raining.

Refrain: She says baby It's 3 a.m.

I must be lonely.

When she says baby Well I can't help but be Scared of it all sometimes.

Says the rain's gonna wash away.

I believe it.

She got a little bit of something, God it's better than nothing And in her color portrait world She believes that she got it all She swears the moon don't hang Quite as high as it used to And she only sleeps When it is raining And she screams And her voice i$ straining.

Repeat refrain She believes that life Is made up of all That you're used to And the clock on the wall Has been stuck at 3 Fo~ days and days She thinks happiness)s A mat that sits on her doorway But outside it's stopped raining Repeat refrain Written by Rob Thomas/John Leslie Goff/John Joseph Stanley/Brian Yale Sung by Matchbox 20 Copyright (c) 1995 by Tabitha's Secret Music MATCHBOX 20 got lots of attention with its first chart hit "Push." Now, off their multiplatinum debut disc "Yourself or Someone Like You," is their latest release, "3 A.M." The song is interesting, even with its mysterious story line.

Some of the lyrics intrigued me, so I decided to review the song' for this column.

Consider what the character

in the song says about his girlfriend: "She believes that life is made up of all that YQu're used to." Is this true? If so, we'd better be careful what W y get used to!

Given this point of view, what should one's response to failure be? Should you just get used to it?

Many times obstacles or disappointments are stepping

. stones on our pathway to success. For example, if you get a D in a class that you hoped to do well in, you then know that your current approach to the class is not working. Get a new plan, and reapply your efforts.

Don't just get used to it!

Then, there is this line in the song: "She thinks happiness is a mat that sits on her doorway."

Is happiness something that just happens to you? I doubt it.

Happiness often arrives only when we make an important decision. Happy people think of others' needs and are generous, giving without expecting anything in return.

Happiness often is found when people have a vision of what is important in their lives and then work hard to achieve their goals.

Sure, you might have to deal with setbacks, but happy people don't give up on their goals.

Also, they don't focus on the "failure" side of disappointments and setbacks. Instead they regard these events as signs that they need to re-strategize and double their efforts.

Finally, the song has the message that "the clock on the wall has been stuck at 3 for days." J take this as an indication that nothing new is happening in the person's life. Everything is "stu~k."

Occasionally, this can happen in anyone's life. Again, we're . not forced to just' get used to it. .We t:\eedto take a look at how we got stuck.

Maybe we made mistakes in judgment or perhaps unexpected hurt sidetracked our emotional energy. Depression and a sense . of being stuck can be the results.

Compassion, patience and persistence are the ways out of this painful emotional spot. Dare to make a new plan. Ask others to support you as you try to get your life moving again.

We all have a. choice about whether our approach to Ii fe will be passive or active. God the Creator, who gave us life, invites us to become the co-creators of our lives.

Taking an active approach to your own life honors the Creator, who has shown faith in what you can become.

Your comments are always welcome. Please address: Charlie Martin, 7124 W 200S, Rockport, IN 47635.

15

Fri., Feb. 20, 1998

Age FORYOOTH

•

ABOOT YOOTH

When teens are mean to other teens

By AMY WELBORN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE .A biology instructor was teaching a section on sociobiology - the study of how human behaviors are possibly related to biology, particularly genetic factors.

As a way to get the class started, he asked them to compose a question: If you could ask God to explain any human behavior, what would that be?

He told me later that one question popped up with more frequency than any others: "Why are people so mean to each other?"

I later used this story as a discussion starter on a retreat and then asked the students to respond to that question. They said: "So they can feel better about themselves."

"Because they think it's funny."

"So they can look cool."

"Because they're justmean."

All accurate observations.

I then asked the group a question that bothers me even more than the first one. "Why do people OK, let's be specific - why do kids stand by and watch their classmates pick on other kids? Why don't they stand up and stop them?"

That question was easy to answer too.

"Because you don't want to look like a goody-goody."

"If you stick up for someone who's a geek or a nerd, then everyone will think you're their friend."

'Then those people will turn on you, and you'll be the next victim."

Don't get me wrong. rm sure there are plenty of instances in which good kids have l;iefended others who are the victims of bullying. But I haven't seen it much, to be honest, and neither have many teachers I've talked to.

One year I had a class of seniors who would come to me every day after art class, having witnessed for the umpteenth time the victimization of one. of their classmates by two boys. They wouldn't physically hurt her, but they'd tease her incessantly in the countless sneaky ways

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human beings create to make each other miserable.

She was meek, quiet, had never really "fit in" with the rest of the class since her arrival in the 10th grade, so she was an easy and silent target.

"It's terrible," these honors students would tell me, walking into class.

"You won't believe what Jim said to Kelly today."

"And what did the teacher do?"

It's a reasonable question.

"Oh, she doesn't notice. She's in her own world."

"And what did you do about it?"

Silence.

"Did you stick up for her?"

Shrugs.

Did you tell him to cut it out?"

More silence.

"Why?" "Because then we'll be next, and you know how vicious Jim is."

I tried to make sense of this.

"Let me see. There are I0 of you who think this is awful and maybe two who are doing the victimizing.

You're saying that they have more power than you?"

They can't answer.

"Have you ever even tried?"

Of course they hadn't, and they never did, the entire year. They didn't condone it by laughing or joining in, but Jim was their friend, and they never let him know in strong terms how they felt about what he did to Kelly.

Among the more popular fads right now are bracelets and other paraphernalia bearing the initials "WWJD?" (What would Jesus do?)

They're all over the place at my school, on the kids' wrists and hanging from their book bags. The initials are on bumper stickers and Bible covers.

It could be just a fad, but it could also be a strong reminder of what it means to be moral in a variety of circumstances.

You're a silent bystander, watching someone being bullied. What would Jesus do?

Make The Way 01 the Cross

II Home

Fr~~cis'cans

t

Fr. Robert Lynch o.F.M. p.o. Box 23 Boston, MA 02112-0023

-

16 . THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fan River - Fri., Feb. 20, 1998

Publicity Chairmen are asked to submit neWs items for this column to The Anchor, P.O~ Box 7, Fall River, 02722. Name of city or town should be included, as

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Events published must be of interest and open to our general readership. We do not normally carry notices of fundraising activities, which may be advertised at our regular rates, obtainable from our business office at (508) 675-7151.

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ATTLEBORO-The "Community of Friends Program" of Beta Community Services seeks volunteers to enter into one-to-one friendships with adults who are developmentally disabled. Training begins at their office on 146 Bank Street on March 11 at 7 p.m. The commitment is four hours per month. For more information call Pam Bliss at 222-7011.

ATTLEBORO-La Salette Shrine's singing priest, Father

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Andre "Pat" Patenaude will be at the shrine's coffee house on Feb. 21 at 6:30p.m.

The shrine will offer a program entitled "Come Home, We Miss You," on Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. This progra'm reaches out to those who feel·separated from the church and meetings. will take place in the shrine theater. All are welcome to come listen, ask ·questions, voice concerns or share stories.

To begin the Lenten season, the shrine will distribute ashes at the 12: 10,4, and 6:30 p.m. Masses on Ash Wednesday. The Sacrarrient of Reconciliation will be available weekdays from 2-3 and 5-6 p.m., Sat. 1-4.p.m. and Sun. 1-5 p.m.

On March 7 Thomas Delisle, Ph.D., comes to La Salette to lead a workshop entitled "Mind, Body, Spirit, Soul: The Power of Holistic Healing," from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It will explore how our bodies speak to us through illness or disease and how we can release the healing power of our spirit. Call the shrine at 222-54] 0 for more information.

DIGHTON-People are wanted during Lent to form a prayer clock to memorialize the hours of the Passion of Christ.

Each participant chooses an hour each week from 5 p;m. Thursday t05 p.m. Friday to spend in prayer, meditation, thanksgiving, reparation and intercession. For more information call Elizabeth Lee at 669-4063.

FALL RIVER-St. Anne's Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association is sponsoring an educational program entitled "Hands-On Healing" on March 18 at Catholic Memorial Nursing Home. It will be presented by Amelia Cabral, RN, who will speak about techniques one may use in daily interactions with family members and patients. Registration begins at 6 p.m. For more information call 763-2609.

The Greater Fall River Human Relations Task Force and the Edu-

FALL RIVER-The Fall River Widowed Group will meet at 7 p.m. on Feb. 23 in St. Mary's school hall at Second and Spring Streets. Susan Jenkinson from Our Sister's Place will be the guest speaker and all widowed person!; are welcome. For information call Annette Dellecese at 679-3278 ..

FALL RIVER-The chamber choir Sine Nomine is currently auditioning sopranos, tenors and baritones for its upcoming May concert. The program will include works by Palestrina, Des Prez and Van Ness. Excellent pitch, the ability to blend and good sightreading are necessary. Rehearsals will be held at the Cathedral on Mon. evenings from 7:30-9:30 p.m. To schedult,: an audition call 2524304.

HYANNIS-Massachusetts Citizens for Life will hold its next monthly meeting on feb. 21 at ] p.m. atthe Presbyterian Church of Cape Cod on route ] 32, West Barnstable. All are welcome. For more information call Cynthia Klopfer at 477-1235.

MANSFlELD-A special children's Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's on Feb. 22. It will include a homily for children and feature the parish folk group.

MASHPEE-A pro-life meeting is held on the first Monday of each month in the Religious Education Center of Christ the King Church at 9 a.m. All are welcome.

For more information call Clare Twitchell at 428-9106.

NEW BEDFORD-St. Francis of Assisi parish is offering a six week spiritual enrichment seminar on six consecutive Tuesdays begin-

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ning March 3 and ending April 7 from 7-9 p.m. All are welcome.

For more information call the parish rectory at 997-7732.

NEW BEDFORD-The prayer group of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church will meet at I p.m. on Feb. 24 for recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet and rosary, a Marian talk, reflection and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. All are welcome to attend.

SANDWICH-The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women of the Cape and Islands will present a program entitled "Thl~ Shroud of Turin" on Feb. 22 at 3 p.m. at Corpus Christi parish. Mary Hines will be the guest speaker and all are welcome.

SOMERSET-A prayer service for vocations will be held at St. Thomas More parish on Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome to join the vocation awa:reness team to pray for vocations to the priesth90d, religious life, a:ld lay ministry. This evening of song and prayer will include Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and be followed by refreshme:nts in the ·church foyer.

The Adult Bible Study Series will begin the book of Acts at the .parish on March 18 following the 9 a.m. Mass. Each session will run 90 minutes and include a short coffee break. A.n evening session beginning at 6:30 p.m. will also be offered and all are welcome.

SOUTH YARMOUTH-The Cape Cod chapter of Habitat for Humanity will hold. its annual meeting at 2 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Yarmouth Senior Center, 528 Forest Road. All are wekome to attend.

SWANSEA-St. Michael's Church will hold a holy hour for vocations at 2 p.m. on March 8. It . will be led by Rev. Mister Paul Fedak and all are wekome. For more information call Jeannine St. Laurent at 675-7492.

The SomersetlSwan:;ea Ultreya of the Fall River Cursillo Movement will hold a Palanc:a Mass on March 5 at 7 p.m. at St. Michael's.

This Mass is offered for the success of the upcoming Women's Cursillo Weekend and team members of Cursillo #160 will be commissioned. All are we:~come. For more information call Claire Stevens at 678-3831.

TAUNTON-An open house for new students in grades 5-8 will be held at Taunton Catholic Middle School on March 1 at ] p.m.

The$~

Catholic Press Month 1998

cators' Association/Multicultural Committee of Saint Anne's Hospital will present the program "We are All One With All Others" on Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Henry Lord Middle School. This active program seeks to promote connectedness among individuals and cultural groups and all" are welcome.

Educators ·and health care professionals working towards recertification and license renewal may earn two professional development points or contact hours. For more information call Sister Patricia Conlan, RSM, at 674-574] ext.

2060 or the Fall River Educators Association at 679-4392.

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Free info. line for seniors HARWICH-A free resource line is available for seniors and its database offers information on over 4;000 agencies that provide service in the area. BYI:alling the toll free number 1-800-939-5433. anyone in "the communi.ty can receive free pamplets on ,:1 wide array of topics including insomnia, pills, healthy eating, hf:alth care, . long term care and homf:'safety, to name a-few. The line.is :;ponsored

by Fallon Healthcare System of Worcester.