03.01.13

The Anchor Diocese of Fall River

F riday , March 1, 2013

Fairhaven pastor to undergo serious surgical procedure

Abundant Hope adds abortion healing ministry

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

FAIRHAVEN — Sacred Hearts Father Thomas McElroy, SS.CC., remained in remarkably good spirits earlier this week as he talked about the surgical procedure he’ll undergo on March 11.

“I’m putting my faith and trust in the Lord,” he said, calmly. “I’m feeling fine right now.”

The longtime pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish in Fairhaven and a well-known retreat master in the diocese was recently diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on his right lung that will require an operation to remove it.

But he said his doctor has high hopes for the surgery’s success and he remains optimistic that this medical setback will soon be behind him.

“I’ll be out for about six to eight weeks to recuperate,” Father McElroy said. “I can’t be around people who are sick and prone to passing on (germs), so I’ll be staying at our provincial house located across the street (from St. Joseph’s Church) at 77 Adams Street.”

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By Christine M. Williams Anchor Correspondent

influenced by pope benedict xvi — Seminarians Jack Schrader, Eric Queenan and Chris Peschel at World Youth Day in Spain in 2011. While there, the three seminarians, along with thousands of other youths worldwide felt the passion that Pope Benedict XVI had for them and the Church. Many of the young men in seminaries today were influenced by the now-resigned pontiff. (Photo courtesy of the diocesan Vocations Office website)

Seminarians will miss ‘father’ figure of Pope Benedict; excited for future

By Dave Jolivet, Editor

FALL RIVER — For nearly three decades, from the late 1970s to the early 2000s, thousands of young men were influenced by Blessed Pope John Paul II. His charisma and energy sparked countless vocations to the priesthood during that period.

Today’s young men in formation for the priesthood in seminaries across the globe had a different “father” figure — but one no less energetic and pious — Pope Benedict XVI. Shortly after Pope Benedict announced his resignation, that became effective yesterday, The Anchor contacted some seminarians

studying to ultimately become priests for the Fall River Diocese, to gain a sense of what the man meant to them and the mood where they are studying, at the brink of the election of a new Holy Father. The upcoming conclave will be the first that current seminarians will experience that will actually have meaning for them — since most of them were on the cusp of their teen years at the last one in 2005.

All of the seminarians contacted expressed initial shock and sadness at Pope Benedict’s resignation, followed by concern Turn to page 20

ATTLEBORO — Most women who have had abortions bury their pain so deeply that it takes at least 10 years before they seek healing. The effect of abortion on women is tragic and widespread, according to Kathy Hill, a volunteer at Abundant Hope Pregnancy Resource Center in Attleboro.

Reaching out to these women locally is the latest project at Abundant Hope, which will celebrate its second anniversary this month. The center offers abortion alternatives one mile west of the Four Women Health Center, the only remaining abortion clinic in the Diocese of Fall River.

Starting this past January, any woman living with the pain of her abortion can attend weekly meetings at Abundant Hope. The confidential meetings are held outside business hours and are designed to help post-abortive women deal with their grief.

“There are literally millions of mothers out there who suffer from the loss of their child,” said Hill, who runs the new post-abortive support group.

Before having an abortion, many women are told that it will be the quick and easy solution for their situation. They are often frantic and afraid. Even when they know that abortion is wrong, they may feel like they have no other choice, Hill said.

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Father Roger Landry to co-host new EWTN series on Alzheimer’s prevention and care

FALL RIVER — Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common form of dementia, afflicting nearly 30 million people world-wide.

Doctors predict that by 2050, one in 85 people in the world will have it, including many under 65.

As the incidence of Alzheimer’s continues to grow, more family members are finding themselves caring for loved ones who are going through the various stages of the disease and long-term care facilities, including Catholic ones, are needing to dedicate more of their beds and resources to caring compassionately for those with this form of dementia.

Since there is presently no cure for Alzheimer’s, great efforts are being made to prevent or retard its onset.

Particularly in an age where Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia are being used by euthanasia proponents as arguments in favor of doctor-prescribed suicide, the prevention of Alzheimer’s and the com-

passionate care for those who have it are also becoming more urgent.

In order to address this growing human and pastoral need, Father Roger Landry, pastor of St. Bernadette’s Parish in Fall River and Anchor columnist, and Dr. Vincent Fortanasce, clinical professor of neurology at the University of Southern California and one of the country’s leading experts in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s, have teamed up in an upcoming 13-part series on EWTN entitled “Remembering Jesus.”

The series will air on Monday nights at 11 p.m., beginning March 4.

Dr. Fortanasce and Father Landry begin by examining the incidence of Alzheimer’s and discussing the signs that one or one’s loved ones may have Alzheimer’s. Then they tackle the lifestyle choices that can increase the possibility that one will develop this form of dementia and begin to explore the contrary behavioral choices that can preTurn to page 19

PREVENTING AND TREATING ALZHEIMER’S — Beginning March 4, The Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) will begin airing a 13-part series on the prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease and the compassionate care for those who have it.

The series is co-hosted by Father Roger Landry, pastor of St. Bernadette’s Parish in Fall River and Anchor columnist, and Dr. Vincent Fortanasce, clinical professor of neurology at the University of Southern California. The series will air at 11 p.m. each Monday for 13 weeks.

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March 1, 2013 News From the Vatican Pope Benedict said he is not ‘abandoning the Church’

Vatican City (CNA/ EWTN News) — Around 120,000 pilgrims heard Pope Benedict XVI deliver his last Angelus address, in which he said that “the Lord called me to ‘climb the mountain,’ to devote myself even more to prayer and meditation,” a change that does not mean he is “abandoning the Church.”

“Dear brothers and sisters,” the pope said as he dwelt on the Sunday Gospel on the Transfiguration, “the Word of God feels particularly directed at me, at this point in my life. The Lord called me to ‘climb the mountain,’ to devote myself even more to prayer

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and meditation.”

“But this does not mean abandoning the Church,” he qualified, “indeed, if God asks me this it is just so that I can continue to serve with the same dedication and the same love with which I have attempted to do so far, but in a way more suited to my age and for me.”

The pope will be physically and spiritually “climbing the mountain,” since the Mater Ecclesiae monastery where he will retire sits on the highest point in Vatican City with a view of the back of St. Peter’s Basilica and then the rest of Rome.

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When he mentioned how the Gospel felt directed at him, the crowd reacted with applause that echoed through an overflowing St. Peter’s Square.

In his reflections on the Transfiguration in Luke’s Gospel, Pope Benedict described the encounter as “a profound experience of relationship with the Father during a sort of spiritual retreat that Jesus lives on a high mountain in the company of Peter, James and John, the three disciples always present in moments of Divine manifestation of the Master.”

“The Lord, who shortly before had foretold His death and resurrection, offers His disciples an anticipation of His glory,” he noted.

The pope then explained the significance of Peter’s comment.

“The intervention of Peter: ‘Master, it is good for us to be here,’ represents the impossible attempt to stop this mystical experience,” to remain on the mountaintop, instead of going back down to the challenges of life.

Pope Benedict underscored that meditating on this passage yields “a very important teaching.”

“First, the primacy of prayer, without which all the work of the apostolate and of charity is reduced to activism. In Lent

THANK YOU — Pope Benedict XVI speaks to members of the Roman Curia during the closing day of a spiritual retreat at the Vatican February 23. The pope thanked members of the Curia “for these eight years during which you have helped me carry the burden of the Petrine ministry with great competence, affection, love and faith.” (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters)

we learn to give proper time to prayer, personal and communal, which gives breath to our spiritual life,” he said.

He also added a second point that was particularly fitting for his future life of prayer.

“In addition, prayer is not to isolate themselves from the world and its contradictions, as Peter wanted on Tabor, but prayer returns one to the path, to action.

‘The Christian life — I wrote in my Message for Lent — consists in continuously scaling the mountain to meet God and then coming

back down, bearing the love and strength drawn from Him, so as to serve our brothers and sisters with God’s own love.’”

Benedict XVI finished his preAngelus remarks by invoking the intercession of the Virgin Mary, who “always helps us all to follow the Lord Jesus in prayer and works of charity.”

As he offered greetings in various languages to the throng of pilgrims, each group showed their support by applauding Pope Benedict, with the loudest being the Italians.

The International Church Changing rules, pope allows cardinals to move up conclave date

March 1, 2013

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In his last week as pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI issued new rules for conclaves, including a clause that allows the College of Cardinals to move up the date for the beginning of the conclave to elect his successor.

Pope Benedict also defined the exact penalty — automatic excommunication — that would be incurred by any noncardinal assisting the College of Cardinals who failed to maintain absolute secrecy about the conclave proceedings.

The pope laid out the new rules in an apostolic letter issued “motu proprio” (on his own initiative) February 22, the feast of the Chair of St. Peter. The Vatican released the document February 25.

The changes affect the rules established in Blessed John Paul II’s apostolic constitution governing the election of popes, “Universi Dominici Gregis.”

Under the current rules, which remain in effect, upon the vacancy of the papacy, cardinals in Rome “must wait 15 full days for those who are absent” before they can enter into a conclave and begin the process of electing a new pope.

However, Pope Benedict inserted an additional provision that grants the College of Cardinals “the faculty to move up the start of the conclave if all the cardinal-electors are present,” as well as giving them the ability “to delay, if there are serious reasons, the beginning of the

election for a few more days.”

However, the conclave still must begin no more than 20 days after the start of the “sede vacante.”

The date of the start of the conclave is to be decided by all the cardinals, including those over the age of 80, who participate in the daily general congregations or discussions that precede a conclave, said Archbishop Pier Luigi Celata, the vice chamberlain. He will assist Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone in the administration of the Church during the “sede vacante.”

The cardinals must wait for every cardinal-elector to arrive or to have sent a legitimate excuse for their absence, such as for reasons of infirmity or serious illness, he told journalists.

Cardinal Keith O’Brien resigns, will not go to conclave

Edinburgh, Scotland (CNA/EWTN News) — Pope Benedict XVI has accepted Cardinal Keith P. O’Brien’s resignation, and the cardinal has announced he will not attend the conclave.

“Approaching the age of 75 and at times in indifferent health, I tendered my resignation as Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh to Pope Benedict XVI some months ago. I was happy to know that he accepted my resignation ‘nunc pro tunc’ — (now — but to take effect later) on

13 November 2012,” Cardinal O’Brien said in a February 25 statement.

The pope decided on February 18 that he would accept his resignation effective February 25.

The cardinal recently became the focus of allegations by three priests and a former clergyman who say they received inappropriate sexual advances from him during the 1980s.

The leader of the St. Andrews and Edinburgh Archdiocese also announced that he will not be at-

tending the conclave to elect the next pope.

“I also ask God’s blessing on my brother cardinals who will soon gather in Rome to elect his successor. I will not join them for this conclave in person,” he said.

“I do not wish media attention in Rome to be focused on me — but rather on Pope Benedict XVI and on his successor,” the Scottish cardinal added.

Pope Benedict will appoint an apostolic administrator to oversee the archdiocese until the next pope chooses his replacement.

FUHAIS, Jordan (CNS) — The Catholic Church’s humanitarian work must be linked to the preaching of God’s Word, the Sacraments and evangelization, the president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum told a meeting of Church aid workers.

Cardinal Robert Sarah opened the gathering of 60 staff members of Caritas Middle East and North Africa in a suburb of Amman, the Jordanian capital, February 20, explaining that charity must be a true expression of the Gospel.

In Jordan to assess how Church agencies were responding to the refugee crisis resulting from 23 months of civil war in Syria, Cardinal Sarah praised Caritas Jordan staffers for understanding “that exercising charity is a mission, not a job.”

Caritas Jordan aids nearly one-fourth of about 368,000 Syrians who have made their way to the country, said Omar Abawi of the group’s emergency response unit.

Citing Pope Benedict XVI’s November apostolic letter on the “service of charity,” issued “motu proprio” (on the pope’s

“own initiative”), the Vatican official explained that charity reflects God’s commitment to people and “makes us act for the good of every human being.”

The pope’s apostolic letter laid out the responsibility of each bishop to oversee charitable agencies in his diocese, in order to reinforce such agencies’ Catholic identity.

“Special care is to be given to those in need,” and to provide them with “teaching, respect and love” as Christ taught in the Gospel, Cardinal Sarah said. Acknowledging that local dioceses are the starting point for charitable service, he called better for coordination of all those in Church-based humanitarian efforts.

Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem decried the spiraling violence in Syria during the meeting of Caritas representatives from countries such as Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

“Thousands of Syrian mothers, fathers and children are suffering from cold and hunger in camps in Jordan and Lebanon.

Displaced others are wandering

in Syria, while Caritas is deprived from helping them,” he said.

“Fear God, you makers of war and death,” Patriarch Twal warned.

Chaldean Catholic Bishop Antoine Audo of Aleppo, representing Caritas Syria, said the agency was able to distribute various supplies, including blankets and winter items, to about 5,000 Syrian families. Mounting violence makes it difficult to reach more, he said.

Cardinal Sarah also met Syrian refugees and Jordan’s King Abdullah II to discuss the aid effort.

Cardinal lauds aid workers’ response to Syrian refugee crisis

The date of the start of the conclave will then be determined by a majority vote, that is 50 percent plus one of the cardinals present, Archbishop Celata said.

The other major change to the rules is that the pope defined the exact penalty incurred by support staff assisting the cardinalelectors during a conclave if they break the oath of secrecy about the proceedings.

The aides must swear to never lend support to or favor any outside interference in the election process. Under the old rules, the penalty for breaking the vow was to be determined by the future pope.

Instead, Pope Benedict has rewritten the oath that staff will take, stating that they are “aware that an infraction will incur the penalty of automatic excommunication.”

“The Holy Father wanted to make things immediately clear and not pass the burden of deciding the penalty on to his successor,” said Archbishop Celata.

The penalty for cardinals who

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break the oath of secrecy, however, remains unspecified.

The apostolic letter included several other minor changes and clarifications, including the addition of the phrase “at least” to a two-thirds majority when defining a valid election of a pope.

“For the valid election of the Roman pontiff at least two thirds of the votes are required, calculated on the basis of the total number of electors present,” says the revised rule.

Also added were details about who and how many people outside the College of Cardinals can assist during the conclave.

The last-minute changes marked the second time Pope Benedict amended the rules established by Blessed John Paul in 1996.

In 2007, Pope Benedict decreed that a pope is elected when he obtains a two-thirds majority, even when cardinalelectors are at an impasse, which effectively undid a more flexible procedure of moving to a simple majority.

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March 1, 2013 The Church in the U.S. Care for women vital to Pro-Life cause, advocate stresses

Denver, Colo. (CNA/ EWTN News) — Former Planned Parenthood abortion clinic manager Abby Johnson praised care centers for pregnant women as essential to the ProLife movement at large.

“I always tell people that we can’t save the babies unless we help the mothers, and we have to love them,” she recently told CNA.

Johnson delivered the keynote speech at the Lighthouse Women’s Center Annual Gala, held at the Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum at the former Lowry Air Force Base in Denver. The center has two fulltime employees, including a registered nurse, and several regular volunteers.

The women’s center operates around the corner from a

Planned Parenthood abortion community, to help Catholics would kick me and I’d poke her clinic in northeast Denver. At become more aware of Pro-Life and she’d kick me back.” no charge, the center provides issues, and to help them “come “But we had to believe the lie. pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, together and support ourselves in Because if we didn’t believe the counseling, and referrals to other the belief that all life is sacred.” lie, then we couldn’t continue to agencies.

Johnson’s keynote speech do what we were doing every Johnson had visited the drew on the story she recounted morning.” women’s center and the abor- in her 2011 book “Unplanned.”

On the ultrasound that day, tion facility earlier in the day Her Planned Parenthood clinic she watched the suction instrubefore her address. At the clinic, in Bryan, Texas named her Em- ment go up to the side of the unshe encountered vocal abortion ployee of the Year for 2008 and born child. protesters who shouted “As soon as that suc“murderer” at women tion tube touched the s soon as that suction tube entering the clinic and side of the child, the touched the side of the child, showed graphic images. baby jumped,” Johnson Johnson told CNA the baby jumped,” Johnson recount- recounted. “I watched as this kind of “overzeal- ed. “I watched as this little person be- this little person began to ous” action risks focus- gan to flail his arms and legs, as if flail his arms and legs, as ing too much on the unhe was trying to move away from that if he was trying to move born, just as pro-abortion away from that abortion rights advocates focus abortion instrument. But there was instrument. But there too much on the woman nowhere to go.” was nowhere to go.” involved in an abortion.

She then saw the child “We have to love be dismembered in its them both. We have to care for she had hoped to rise higher in mother’s womb. “I had never them both,” she said. “I think the organization. Though she seen the humanity of the chilthat most Pro-Lifers get it.” had worked in a clinic position dren that we were killing.”

Johnson reflected that the to reassemble the aborted bodies Johnson said she was most Pro-Life women’s center is es- of unborn babies, she only wit- startled by the fact that she did pecially important in light of the nessed her first abortion via ul- nothing herself in the moment. sometimes negative reactions by trasound in September 2009.

After that abortion, however, she abortion opponents.

The procedure was performed quit her position and joined the “I think it’s important to have on a 13-week-old unborn baby. Pro-Life movement. a resource for women to go to Johnson, 12 weeks pregnant In her keynote speech, she where they do feel cared for, with a daughter at the time, as- said “apathy” among Christians and they do feel loved, and they sisted in the abortion. is the largest reason abortion is don’t feel condemned,” she said.

Johnson recalled to the gala still legal in the U.S. “We just “My hope is there are centers audience that she kept telling stand there,” she lamented. like this that open up all across herself that the unborn child Johnson’s organization And the country.” would not feel anything — not- Then There Were None has The Lighthouse Women’s ing how Planned Parenthood helped 43 abortion workers Center gala drew more than 600 had said in a memo to tell this leave the industry. She said all of people to Saturday’s event, with a to women undergoing abor- these were professed Christians, silent auction, music and dancing. tions. and the majority of them were Laura Salvato, a co-founder “I should have known bet- Catholics who went to Mass and of Lighthouse Women’s Center, ter, because I was pregnant,” received Communion. said the fund-raiser aims to build she said. “I remember when she “If that’s not a wake-up call for our Church, then I don’t know what is.”

She said many of the women getting abortions held a Rosary in their hand during the procedure. “We have a problem,” she said. “Social justice begins in the womb.”

“Our apathy has to end now.”

She said prayer at home was not enough. She credited her conversion to the prayers of ProLife witnesses who stood outside her clinic.

For all the political, economic and cultural power of those who support abortion, she said, “we have the number One God on our side, and that’s Jesus Christ.”

In remarks to CNA, clinic founder Laura Salvato praised Johnson’s speech and estimated the event raised more than $150,000 for the clinic. “She really challenged people but was compassionate and empathetic in her message.”

More information can be found on the Lighthouse Women’s Center website at: lighthousedenver.org.

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The Church in the U.S. Young Catholics recall pope’s outreach

March 1, 2013

Denver (CNA/EWTN News) — As Pope Benedict XVI prepared to conclude his duties as Holy Father, young Catholics recalled his marked efforts to renew the faith of the youth throughout the world.

Catholic youth speaker and author Chris Stefanick told CNA that the pope has been “extremely effective with young people” because of the “amazing clarity” and “humility with which he has carried out his pontificate.”

Echoing his predecessor’s call for a New Evangelization, Pope Benedict often spoke of the importance of taking the Gospel message to all parts of the world, including to what he called “the digital continent.”

Stefanick noted that although the Church “has been talking about New Evangelization for a long time,” Pope Benedict’s use of the social media website Twitter shows his sincere interest in reaching out to the next generation of Catholics by any means possible.

“It was a simple gesture,” Stefanick said, “but it was a profound gesture.”

Within a month after his Twitter debut, Pope Benedict had amassed 2.5 million followers in eight languages.

The Holy Father personally posted his first tweet on December 12, saying, “Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response. I bless all of you from my heart.”

When Pope Benedict addressed the youth during his 2008 visit to New York, Stefanick noted that he exuded “the warmth of a really wise, loving grandfather.”

“I think young people really love him,” he said.

Recently, Pope Benedict voiced his concern for the youth to the Pontifical Council for Culture. At the council’s February 6-9 assembly, he said that the “uncertainty and fragility that characterize so many young people” marginalizes them, making their generation “almost invisible and absent” from today’s world.

Emily Seaton, who was 16 when she attended Pope Benedict’s first World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany in 2005, said he was able to break through the apathy that can easily take hold of today’s youth.

Rather than trying to achieve the “impossible” task of being “another John Paul II,” Seaton told CNA, Pope Benedict won over the youth

in a different — yet very personal — way than his predecessor could have.

“It was like he somehow managed to pierce every teen-ager’s heart with the message that, ‘You matter,’” Seaton, who has also attended World Youth Day in Sydney and Madrid, said.

“He won us over because he listened to us and treated us like adults, and then we respected him for that,” she said. “He just knew how to call us on and challenge us.

“We listened to every word he said,” she recalled. “We stood in line for 10 hours just to see him drive by.”

Although some media outlets predicted that Pope Benedict would fall short of his predecessor’s outreach to the youth, Ted Mast, who was 19 when he attended the 2005 Papal Christmas Mass, emphasized that the papacy is not a popularity contest, but rather a personal response to the unique needs of the Church.

In “trying to be himself” Pope Benedict has been “able to recog-

nize where the Church is today, especially in regards to technology and moral relativism and the reasons people are leaving the Church,” Mast said.

“He wasn’t trying to fill John Paul II’s shoes,” Mast said, “but he was trying to fulfill his mission to bring the youth into the Church.”

Despite the concerns he expressed for the youth, Pope Benedict has emphasized the Church’s great confidence in young people, saying, “She needs their vitality in order to continue living the mission entrusted to her by Christ with renewed enthusiasm.”

Jenna Grable, a convert who was 21 when she attended the pope’s Easter Mass in 2009, described the event as “one of the most moving experiences I have had as a Catholic.”

“The joy of Easter was present in his demeanor,” she said. “His connection to our Lord was evident in his bright eyes and smile.”

Even though the pope “did not share my language,” Grable said, “he shared my Creator.”

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The Anchor Praying for the Church

“March comes in like a lion, but goes out like a lamb.” We enter this March with a situation none of us alive have ever faced before — a vacancy in the See of St. Peter due to the resignation of the pope. As we face these trying times, we pray to the Good Shepherd that He will soon send a new Vicar of Christ to pasture His people on this earth. It is our hope that this new pope, who walks amongst us now unaware of the great task before him, will be strengthened

by Christ to deal with the lions who roar at the door of the Church (and inside the Church, as we all know too well), so as to protect us lambs, who wish to be fed by the Lamb of God. The now former Vatican Secretary of State (see article on page 14 to understand why we say “former”), Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, wrote to all the contemplative Sisters, Brothers and priests in the world on February 21 to ask their prayers for the Church in this special time period. “His Holiness Benedict XVI has asked all the faithful to accompany him with their prayers as he commends the Petrine ministry into the Lord’s hands, and to await with trust the arrival of the new pope.” In other words, the cardinal, knowing that everything coming out of the Vatican in these days is being reported by the media, took advantage of this letter to monks and nuns to remind all Catholics of our responsibility to pray for the Church.

Then his eminence got to the heart of his letter. “In a particularly urgent way this appeal is addressed to those chosen members of the Church who are contemplatives. The Holy Father is certain that you, in your monasteries and convents throughout the world, will provide the precious resource of that prayerful faith which down the centuries has accompanied and sustained the Church along her pilgrim path. The coming conclave will thus depend in a special way on the transparent purity of your prayer and worship.”

Wow! What a request! And yet, it shows what we profess to be true — that the power of prayer is the most important thing in the life of the Church and in the life of the world. St. Therese of Lisieux is the patron saint of the Church’s missions — and she never went to any of them, but from her monastery in France she was able to “move mountains” to help missionaries through her prayers. Cardinal Bertone is reminding our contemplative Brothers and Sisters of the power God has entrusted to their lives of prayer and sacrifice.

Throughout The Anchor this week we have advertisements for various retreat houses and other places for prayer. We had planned this long before we knew anything about what God wanted Pope Benedict to do with the remainder of his life. We hope that you, our readers, might peruse these ads and see some opportunity God might be giving you to take some time away from the busyness of life so as to listen better to Him speaking to you.

To the right of this editorial, Father Landry speaks to us about making pilgrimages. Even if you cannot make it to the holy locations of which he speaks (although, if it is possible, we urge you to go to the Holy Land or to the locations where saints lived or are buried; being physically present does help greatly in bringing to life — and to deeper prayer — these mysteries of our faith), you can make small pilgrimages even in your hometown, taking time to go to church, maybe walking if possible, so as to recall how Jesus made a 33-year pilgrimage on this earth so as to save us. You could offer a pilgrimage for the election of the new pope, for his guidance by the Holy Spirit, and for all of us to be receptive to his message.

While asking for prayer for the Church, we need to remember what prayer is. As Jesus warned His disciples, it is not a mere multiplication of words. It is an encounter with the Living Christ, an encounter of love. The more we truly pray, the more this love, His love, will radiate throughout the Church. In October 2011, when Pope Benedict wrote to us announcing the Year of Faith, he said that we need “to shed ever clearer light on the joy” which comes with “the encounter with Christ.” He then recalled his inaugural homily, in which he said that that Church “must set out to lead people out of the desert, towards the place of life, towards friendship with the Son of God.” So, as we join in prayer with our contemplative Brothers and Sisters, we ask God to help us make our prayer for the Church something which will bear good fruit — in our own lives (since we are the Church, too), in the lives of all members of the Church, and in all of humanity. It seems providential that we would be having this special time for the Church in Lent, a time in which we are predisposed to look for more opportunities for prayer. So, whether it be attending Mass more often, praying the Rosary, reading the Bible or other spiritual books, participating in devotions such as the Stations of the Cross, gazing upon Our Lord in Eucharistic Adoration, or just turning the radio, TV or computer off and being in the silent presence of God at home, in the car or wherever, may we open our hearts to the love that God always offers us, a love which He wants us to share with our neighbor. May God bring healing to the divisions within our Church and within our world. May God help us to put to rest the lions of sin which prowl within our souls, so that we might be gentle lambs, willing to be shepherded according to His will.

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March 1, 2013

Pilgrimages of faith

n his letter announcing the Year of Faith, faithful pilgrim.

Benedict XVI stressed that Catholics need There were so many highlights that I’ve been to recover the sense that faith is a pilgrimage. To reliving on the first anniversary of their occurenter into the life of faith “is to set out on a jourrence. Tomorrow marks one year from the most ney that lasts a lifetime,” he wrote, and he stressed memorable “Stations of the Cross” I’ve ever that we all have to “rediscover the journey of faith done. Because the roads of the Old City of Jerusaso as to shed ever clearer light on the joy and relem can often be very crowded, we got the whole newed enthusiasm of the encounter with Christ.” group up so that we could leave at 3:30 in the To emphasize this understanding of the itinermorning. I was somewhat concerned that getting ary of faith, the Vatican, in its list of recommenda- them up at that hour — which I didn’t tell them tions to live this holy year well, encouraged the about until the night before at dinner — would faithful to go on pilgrimage, specifically mention- lead them to call for my crucifixion rather than ing faith journeys to Rome, to the Holy Land, and, recapitulate the call for Jesus’! since Mary is the guide for the pilgrim Church, to As we were heading from our hotel to the famous Marian shrines. place of the first station in silence and total darkWithout a doubt, one of the most enjoyable ness, it began to snow rather hard, the first major aspects of the priesthood has been the ability to snow that Jerusalem had seen in 16 years. It was lead pilgrimages to all these places. And this is not freezing, wet, and basically miserable. We used just because I’ve always enjoyed the experience Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s beautiful Way of of traveling. It’s mostly because I’ve seen the the Cross meditations, reading them under huge quantum leaps that a good pilgrimage can have in umbrellas on my iPad. We were using a headset the life of believing pilgrims, as they continue the and ear-piece system so that we wouldn’t wake up journey of life toward the heavenly Jerusalem. all of the residents of Jerusalem.

During my time as a seminarian and priest We did the Tenth Station, Jesus is stripped in Rome, I had the privilege to welcome tens of of His garments, right outside the Basilica of the thousands of people on pilgrimage and take them Holy Sepulcher, the Eleventh, Twelfth and Thirto St. Peter’s tomb, and to the great basilicas, teenth stations literally right on Calvary where churches, saints they took place, and catacombs and for the Fourof the city. Since teenth Station I returned to the we descended diocese in 2000, from Calvary to I’ve been able the place where to lead many they had anointed pilgrimages back Jesus and then to

By Father to the eternal city. the tomb where Roger J. Landry It’s exhilarating His corpse was to be able to help laid. Immediately people become after we finished, aware that they are heirs and heiresses of an enor- I went into the Sacristy to vest for Mass, which mous spiritual treasure in the city whose soil has we would have on Calvary. It was incredibly been sanctified by the blood of SS. Peter and Paul. moving to be able to give Jesus’ Body and Blood I also treasure the pilgrimages I’ve led elseto the pilgrims in the very spot where Jesus had where to the various Marian Shrines, great catheoffered His Body and Blood for the salvation of drals and sanctuaries of Europe, Fatima, Lourdes, the world.

Czestochowa, Montserrat, Loreto, Lanciano, After Mass everyone headed back to the hotel Assisi, San Giovanni Rotondo, Padua, Monte for breakfast. Two of the people who had most Cassino, Santiago de Compostela, Lisieux, as well complained about the early start were the first to as to the “living shrine” of the Church, amassed come to me, with tears in their eyes, saying that for World Youth Day. the Way of the Cross through terrible weather was But the most moving experience I’ve had on not just the highlight of the pilgrimage but one pilgrimage occurred exactly a year ago, when I of the most moving spiritual experiences of their was able to bring 52 people — parishioners old life. They grasped that even though they didn’t get and new, family members and friends — to the much sleep the night before, Jesus hadn’t gotten Holy Land at the beginning of the 40-day pilgrim- any sleep at all while imprisoned; even though age of Lent. the wet snow was nasty, it wasn’t anything like Entitled “In the Footsteps of Jesus,” we began the nastiness Jesus had to endure along that same in Nazareth where Jesus was conceived and grew route. up. Along the way we went to Ain Karim where I thought that that was a perfect illustration of He made John the Baptist leap in the womb; the type of conversion that happens on pilgrimBethlehem where He was born; the Jordan River age, when pilgrims, like the Magi, return home where He was baptized and began His public min- “by a different route,” changed forever. istry; the Mount of Temptations where He lived This year, during the Year of Faith, I’m the first Lent; Cana where He made Marriage a leading a pilgrimage to the Shrines and Saints of Sacrament and worked His first miracle; Taghba France in September. I chose France in order to and Bethany where He multiplied loaves and be able to take my new parishioners to the sites fish; Capernaum where He revealed Himself as associated with St. Bernadette, especially Lourdes the Eucharistic Bread of Life; the Sea of Galilee where the Blessed Mother appeared to her, and on which He walked and stormed the seas; the Nevers, where St. Bernadette was in the convent Mount of the Beatitudes where He gave the Serand her incorrupt body now rests. mon on the Mount; Caesarea Philippi where He But we’ll also be visiting Lisieux (St. pronounced Simon Peter the rock on whom He Therese), Paray-le-Monial (the Sacred Heart would build His Church; Mount Tabor where He apparitions); the apparition site of Our Lady of La was transfigured; Nain where He raised a young Salette; Ars (St. John Vianney); Rue du Bac (St. man from the dead; Bethany where He stayed at Catherine Labouré, St. Vincent de Paul, St. Louise the house of Martha and Mary and raised Lazarus de Marillac, and the Miraculous Medal); Annecy from the dead; and of course Jerusalem, where (St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal).

He taught, expunged the money changers, was We’ll also be praying in some of the great murdered and rose from the dead.

Churches of the world, like the Cathedrals There’s nothing quite like a pilgrimage to of Chartres, Notre Dame in Paris, Orleans, the Holy Land because not only does one have Avignon (which the popes used for 70 years), the chance to follow Jesus’ footsteps somewhat the Basilica of the Sacre Coeur in Paris, and literally across the land He made holy, but you’re Notre Dame de Fourvière in Lyons, where able to journey through the entire Liturgical year we’ll see our faith depicted beautifully in art in the span of days. At each of the sacred spots, and architecture. you celebrate the Mass of the feast or solemnity It will be a lifetime’s worth some of the greatassociated with that spot. So in Nazareth, you est and most famous sanctuaries — and some of celebrate the Mass of the Annunciation; in Bethle- the greatest saints — in the history of our faith. If hem, the Mass of Christmas; Tabor, the Transyou’d be interested in joining me, I’d love to have figuration; Calvary, the Exaltation of the Cross you join me. There are still a few spots left. Please (because there is no Mass for Good Friday); and send me an email right away and I’ll send you a the empty tomb, the Mass of Easter. You’re able brochure. to trace all the mysteries of faith that we traverse Father Landry is Pastor of St. Bernadette throughout a year in just a week, which is not only Parish in Fall River. His email address is an incredible experience for a priest but also for a fatherlandry@catholicpreaching.com.

Putting Into the Deep

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The Anchor

March 1, 2013

Pope Benedict and St. Francis: He resigned too!

he pope has resigned or retired. That statement really takes a while to settle in. Jon Stewart on the “Daily Show” the day after the news broke, doing his always-comic take on things was speculating on what a retired pope does. “Does he go to Boca?” he asked. Good question. What does a retired pope do? Pope Benedict has told us that he will likely be “hidden from the world” after his retirement and we can speculate that he will live a life of prayer, reflection and if we are lucky, given the wonderful theologian that he is, he will write.

As the news of this historic and stunning (I have yet to come up with an adjective that captures the moment for me) reality, I have a few thoughts.

The first is that while this shocks the world, I’m wondering how long the Holy Father has been contemplating this. I do remember at the time of his election hearing the speculation that he did not seek or want to be elected. Of course, in humility, I think every candidate for an office so high says that, but maybe there was more to it. After all, in 1997, when he turned 70, Cardinal Ratzinger asked his then-boss, Blessed Pope John Paul II, to resign as Prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

So the thought of resignation to a life of prayer and reflection and academic pursuit is not a new desire for him.

Of course, in the last few weeks, we have all become “expert” Church historians and we all now know that in 1415 Pope Gregory XII resigned to help end the Great Schism in the Church during a time when there were three popes. And we have also learned that the last pope to resign of his own free will was Pope St. Celestine V who resigned in 1294 after serving for just five months in office.

You may have also read that Pope Benedict seems to have had a very personal connection to Pope St. Celestine. In 2009 and again in 2010 he made visits to the tomb of Celestine and venerated his relics and perhaps in the most stunning of gestures, he laid his own pallium on the tomb of Celestine.

The pallium is the very symbol of his authority as a bishop.

Perhaps a seed was planted?

One can only speculate.

Jesuit Father Jim Martin in an op-ed in the New York Times the week of the Holy Father’s announcement wrote, “Rare is the person who will voluntarily relinquish immense power.”

Of course, as a Franciscan, we 12 “lesser brothers” sought and have a particular take on some- received the approval of Pope thing like relinquishing power.

Innocent III to begin more forWhich brings me to the main mally this new way of Gospel point of this reflection. As we living. By 1220 there were look at Pope Gregory and St. more than 5,000 friars living Celestine, perhaps we should this Franciscan way of life with also be looking at the humble St. Francis as the General MinSaint of Assisi and founder of ister or head of this new and the Franciscan Order. After all, expanding order. And precisely it isn’t only popes who resign. at this great moment of success St. Francis resigned too! And, when St. Francis resigned as leader of the Franciscan Order, it was a lesson in understanding a holy relationship

By Father Thomas to power and authority Washburn OFM and how humility best informs that relationship — I think these are things that Pope Benedict for this new venture, the Holy is teaching us well and will, Man of Assisi did something in the end, be his most lasting radical in the eyes of the world legacy.

— he resigned as head of the We know we live in a world order and let someone else that highly values power and lead. In perhaps the ultimate authority and seeks these things embrace of the poverty he so among supreme goals in life. highly valued, he did not allow “Climbing the ladder” is one himself to own or possess even of the things that you do to be this movement that he himself successful and it is no different had created, but in humility let in the Church. Just as in most it be handed off into the loving spheres of life, so too in the hands of other brothers. Even Church, people often seek after the order was not his. He was positions that bring prestige merely, for a time, its steward. and authority. And yet, while I think Pope Benedict has the examples of papal resignaa very Franciscan heart and tion provide helpful insight, the understands this reality well. example of St. Francis of AsWhen meeting with the priests sisi is also instructive. He too of Rome recently, the pope stepped down from the top job said, “I am strengthened and in the leadership of the order reassured by the certainty he founded; at the very height that the Church is Christ’s.” of his “ladder climbing” — The Holy Father knows that although I’m quite certain that the Church never belonged he, nor anyone around him, to Benedict. Like St. Franwould ever have described cis, Benedict was merely its what he was doing that way. steward for a time. This seems Let me sketch an extremely like a profoundly Franciscan brief version of the life of St. approach to me. I think St. Francis. He was a member of Francis realized something the emerging middle class in early 13th-century Assisi. His father was a wealthy cloth merchant with dreams that his son would attain glory on the battlefield and perhaps enter the ranks of the nobility as a “knight in shining armor” as it were, thus elevating the family Bernadone to a higher level.

But then occurred a series of encounters with God that changed everything. The Voice spoke to Francis, “Who is it better to serve, the master or the servant?” Finally, Christ from the cross in the Chapel of San Damiano on Assisi’s outskirts spoke, saying, “Francis, rebuild My Church.”

The young troubadour would leave behind his quest for earthly glory and embark on a quest for God. Others began to follow. In 1209, the then

Guest Columnist

similar in his own day. He realized after all that he never intended to create such a thing as a religious order, but simply wanted to live the life of the Gospel and if others wanted to join him in doing that; what a wonderful thing. Perhaps St. Francis stepped aside with a similar paraphrase of knowing that “the Gospel is Christ’s.”

I think that as the world and as the media in particular want to speculate about why anyone would commit this unthinkable secular crime of giving up power (can you imagine!), we need to instead imagine the possibility of the incredible lesson in humility and poverty that the Holy Father leaves us with.

He teaches us that no matter what we have in terms of time, treasure and talent — whether it be great or more meager — we are mere stewards of the gifts that come from God. They were never ours to begin with. They are the talents given by the Master Who will one day ask what we have done with them. We are called to be humble stewards and not mighty lords.

Each of the last two popes now have taught us something so powerful in the way the ended their papacy. Blessed Pope John Paul the Great gave us such an incredible witness to the dignity of human life, suffering so publicly in his final days, reminding us that even a life of pain and illness is one that is full of dignity and grace in the eyes of God. And now Benedict shows us that even when the world heaps upon us the greatest of honors

and power, we can still assume them in poverty and in humility and put them aside when our work is done.

Also for a pope who has so often been accused of being caught in the past and not in touch with the modern world, this might also just be the most modernizing thing he could ever have done for the papacy and the Church. He may have just taught us all the most profound lesson about true poverty; true humility. At the end of his life, St. Francis wrote in his testament, “I have done what was mine to do.

May Christ teach you what is yours.” These could be the words of Benedict today. We could all do well to make them our own.

St. Francis wrote in his Admonitions, “I did ‘not come to be ministered to, but to minister,’ says the Lord. Let those who are set above others glory in this superiority only as much as if they had been asked to wash the feet of the brothers; and if they are more upset by the loss of their superiority than they would be by losing the office of washing feet, so much the more do they lay up treasures to the peril of their own soul.”

It makes you wonder if Pope Benedict might have reflected on the example of Il Poverello as well while he discerned his humble and holy decision?

St. Francis of Assisi, pray for the Church; pray for Pope Benedict and pray for our next Holy Father.

Father Washburn is a New Bedford native, former pastor of St. Margaret’s Parish in Buzzards Bay, and current provincial vocation director for the Franciscans.

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uffering! Jesus is God! He can make it go away, and He does for others. But He chose it as the Father’s will for Him. There upon the mountain of transfiguration in last Sunday’s Gospel, in the presence of Moses and Elijah, Jesus received further insight to His suffering, passion, and death. Jesus chose to go through it to teach us that there is no way around suffering and death, no way out of it. He does not empty suffering and death of its meaning, though.

He gives it the fullness of meaning: redemptive suffering.

The only way is to go through it. As we, too, go through it we grow through it to be people of greater faith, especially when we offer it in union with Jesus’ suffering and death for the redemption of others.

In the Lenten season we reflect upon the fact that this life is just a “loaner,” lent to us by the grace of God. This is what Luke calls us to reflect upon in today’s Gospel. We never know when our time will

March 1, 2013

The Anchor

Suffering and death do not discriminate

be up, like the Galileans who es, and especially peoples’ suffered death at the hands of lives. War, crime, disease, Pilate, or the 18 people who and medical maladies do were killed at Siloam in a not discriminate. “I tell you, tragic accident. Suffering and if you do not repent, you death do not discriminate: young or old, rich or poor, those well Homily of the Week positioned or at the Third Sunday bottom of the social of Lent ladder, believers and non-believers. In the

By Father end death is the great Roger Hall, OFM equalizer.

Yet, there is a still deeper question asked through the ages: Why do good will all perish as they did!” people suffer? In Jesus’ time The Galileans and the 18 the belief was that if misforat Siloam perished without tune happened to someone opportunity, perhaps, to be the victim(s) must have done reconciled to God’s compassomething to deserve it. He/ sion and mercy. she must be guilty of some sin An important verse to note and deserving of God’s punishfrom the call of Moses is one ment. that immediately follows the Earthquakes, tsunamis, verses of today’s first reading. tornadoes, hurricanes, wild“I am concerned about you.” fires, floods, even blizzards (Gen 3:16), the Lord declares do not discriminate. Their to Moses. Despite the extraordestructive forces destroy dinary wonders manifested the landscape, homes, busiduring the Israelites’ Exodus nesses, schools, even churchjourney, many of the people

suffered and died before entering the Promised Land.

Only a few of us ever have a “burning bush” experience to help sustain us in the faith life, while most all of us have struggled to understand why bad things happen to good people. The letter to the Hebrews teaches us that, “Moses chose to suffer with the people of God rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin” (Heb 11:25).

St. Paul encouraged the Corinthians to learn from the experience of the Israelites so as not to repeat their mistakes, just as he encourages us. Paul exhorts the faithful of his day and ours not to presume that membership in the Christian community automatically would save them. “Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.”

Examples of people dying in unexpected ways are not

meant to scare us into repentance. Jesus’ suffering and passion is the clearest evidence that a person’s suffering is not proof of a person’s sin.

Jesus was sinless. However, they are sobering reminders to us that our time to respond to God’s invitations for change is limited. There is often little adequate explanation for suffering and sudden, tragic death.

Lent serves as a reminder to take stock of where we ought to be in the faith life compared to where we are. And then do something about it. Perhaps, Jesus also teaches us through the parable about cultivating the fig tree at the end of today’s Gospel that it takes a lot of manure to bear good fruit! And, more importantly, Jesus’ life teaches us that great things can come out of great suffering.

Father Hall is a Franciscan of the Immaculate Conception Province and pastor of St. Margaret Church in Buzzards Bay.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Mar. 2, Mi 7:14-15,18-20; Ps 103:1-4,9-12; Lk 15:1-3,11-32. Sun. Mar. 3, Third Sunday of Lent, Ex 3:1-8a,13-15; Ps 103:1-4,6-8,11; 1 Cor 10:1-6,10-12; Lk 13:1-9. Mon. Mar. 4, 2 Kgs 5:1-15b; Pss 42:2-3; 43:3-4; Lk 4:24-30. Tues. Mar. 5, Dn 3:25,34-43; Ps 25:4bc5ab,6-7bc,8-9; Mt 18:21-35. Wed. Mar. 6, Dt 4:1,5-9; Ps 147:12-13,15-16,19-20; Mt 5:17-19. Thurs. Mar. 7, Jer 7:23-28; Ps 95:1-2,6-9; Lk 11:14-23.

Fri. Mar. 8, Hos 14:2-10; Ps 81:6c-11b,14,17; Mk 12:28-34.

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ans Kung, out there on the far left fringes of Catholicism, has ideas about the reform of the Catholic Church; so does Bernard Fellay, the schismatic bishop and leader of the hard-right Lefebvrists. The National Catholic Reporter has its notions of Catholic reform; so does the National Catholic Register; neither is likely to agree with the other about the proper reform agenda. Calls for Catholic reform are ubiquitous, across the landscape of Catholic opinion. But how often do we stop and think about what distinguishes authentic Catholic reform from ersatz Catholic reform? Are there criteria that help us understand what’s true and false, in this matter of Catholic reform?

All serious thinking about Catholic reform begins with the

The evangelical reform of the Church

fact that Christ the Lord gave gotten a bit lost over the centua “form” to His Church. The ries — the idea of a clear disChurch didn’t just happen; the tinction between religious and Church has a constitution (in the political authority, which goes British sense of the term) and back to the Lord Jesus’s own that constitution is of the will of distinction between the things Christ, manifest through the work of the Holy Spirit in forming the Church throughout history. So all truly Catholic reform is in reference to that “form.” All

By George Weigel truly Catholic reform is re-form: a recovery of an element of the Church’s “form” that has been lost, or an extension that are God’s and the things of that “form” into new terrain that are Caesar’s. At the same (although always in essential time, Catholicism stretched its continuity with the originating thinking about Church-and-state “form”). in response to the dynamics Sometimes the reform proof modern history. The result cess in the Church works in both of this two-fold process — redirections. At the Second Vaticovery (the move back) and can Council, for example, the extension (the move ahead) — Church recovered an element of was Vatican II’s teaching that its constituting “form” that had religious freedom is a fundamental human right that a just society should recognize in law as a civil right.

In “Evangelical Catholicism: Deep Reform in the 21st-Century Church” (Basic Books), I suggest two criteria by which to distinguish true from false reform in the Church: the crite-

The Catholic Difference

rion of truth and the criterion of mission.

The criterion of truth tells us that authentic Catholic reform is always reform based on the truths the Church knows through Scripture and tradition, as those truths have been expounded by the Church’s authoritative teachers, the bishops in communion with the Bishop of Rome.

If a proposed “reform” contradicts a truth of Catholic faith, it can’t be an authentically Catholic reform.

Indeed, the criterion of truth is Christ Himself, for the One Who declared Himself the Way, the Truth, and the Life is always the measure of authentic Catholic reform.

Then there is the criterion of mission. All true Catholic reform is mission-driven and mission-driving. All authentically Catholic reform contributes to the Church’s mission, which is the proclamation of the Gospel for the salvation of the world. The mission, in other words, is nothing less than the fulfillment of the Great Commission of Matthew 28.19: “Go therefore and make disciples of

all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

What can be changed in the Church must be changed, if mission-effectiveness demands it. What cannot be changed in the Church, because it is of the constitutional “form” of the Church (like the episcopate and the priesthood), must be purified and reformed so that it may make its proper contribution to the mission. Because every territory is mission territory in the Evangelical Catholicism of the future, mission-effectiveness measures everyone and everything in the Church.

Catholic reform is not deconstruction; proposed reforms that discard truths of the faith because they make the neighbors nervous are not authentically Catholic reforms. But neither is authentic Catholic reform a return to some imaginary, perfect past. The Church, the Bride of Christ, always strives to be joined more perfectly to her Divine Spouse. That is the essential dynamic of all true Catholic reform.

George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

March 1, 2013

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The Anchor

Women in combat — Part III

reviously, concerning the question of sending American women into combat, we have looked at the trajectory of the feminist movement and how it has pushed beyond the boundaries of fundamental equality between men and women.

There have been two distinct and deliberate effects, the first being a blurring of the line between masculinity and femininity; the second creating an atmosphere of sexual promiscuity, in which sexual intimacy is no longer ordered to marriage and children.

Both effects are already proving harmful to women and families, but are also seriously impacting the ability of our armed forces to succeed with their mission.

On a practical level, though, it is important from the outset to consider whether women are capable of the physical rigors of long-term combat operations.

One woman who can speak to the question is Captain Katie Petronio, USMC, who was deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan where she participated in and led missions in combat zones.

Her assessment was firm: “I am here to tell you that we are not all created equal, and attempting to place females in the infantry will not improve the Marine Corps as the Nation’s force-in-readiness or improve our national security.”

After excelling at hockey at Bowdoin College in Maine, she joined the Marines as a resilient and motivated officer. For five years she kept up with the demands of her units, and worked 16-hour days as an engineer in extremely rugged terrain. Eventually, months of physical and emotional stress took their toll, and a key concern became obvious. She notes, “I can say with 100 percent assurance that despite my accomplishments, there is no way I could endure the physical demands of the infantrymen whom I worked beside as their combat load and constant deployment cycle would leave me facing medical separation long before the option of retirement.”

Short-term exposure to such a life or simulated conditions could not reveal what Captain Petronio learned, because it became a question of longevity. When the pressure of combat turns from weeks to months — even years — one has to concede that women’s bodies cannot endure the hardship and fight effectively. If women with compromised physical abilities are encouraged to persevere because of a social experiment, the men around them will be either endangered or imposed upon to take up the slack. That cannot help the overall mission — or the morale.

Captain Petronio has paid a heroic price for her service already: Besides severe muscle atrophy in her legs, she has also been diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome because of what she was exposed to over the course of her deployment. She doesn’t bemoan the loss

of her fertility, but wonders who is behind the push for the integration of women into combat units. She is unaware of any female Marines asking for more grueling service options, nor was she aware of any congressional initiatives to that end.

It is evident that civilian special interest groups have driven the agenda thus far, and unfortunately none of them have first-hand knowledge of the military realms they are managing — which would account for their unrealistic expectations. These ideologues are tinkering with the armed forces without adequate data concerning long-term effects; they are “modifying” essential standards so that women can succeed; and they are ignoring the ultimate good — troop readiness — in order to achieve a perceived good: sexual parity.

If the United States could be reasonably sure that there were no military entanglements on the near horizon, or if there was a severe shortage of capable men willing to fill the ranks at present, either scenario would allow for a change in policy. In the former case, data could be gathered without endangering lives, and in the latter case self-defense would dictate the path. But with willing men able to deploy on multiple fronts against existing stalwart foes, this is not the time to experiment with feminist fantasies — because the consequences are all too real.

The final segment of this series will look at the Catholic view of women and whether combat can mesh with authentic femininity.

Mrs. Kineke writes from Rhode Island and can be found online at femininegenius.com.

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

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The Anchor

March 1, 2013

High school senior donates more than just himself to his parish

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff

NEW BEDFORD — When 18-year-old Paolo Tavares came to live in New Bedford a few years ago, he wasn’t worried about trying to fit in at his new school, he was trying to find a church that would be a perfect fit for him.

“I knew I needed to find a church immediately because I feel lost without church, a place where I can go for comfort. Even when I’m upset, I just walk to church and pray on the doorstep,” said Tavares. “So when I came here, a friend brought me to her church, which is St. Francis of Assisi. I really loved the church. It was different from most churches I’ve been to; they’ve been really big and [St. Francis] is a smaller, tight-knit

community where everyone really knows each other. I think it’s a more family-oriented church, which I really liked.”

He also connected with the parish’s pastor, Father Kevin Harrington, calling him a “smart” and a “humble” priest; “He was really open and took me in. I’ve met a lot of priests and he is, by far, my favorite. He’s so different from the rest. Where a lot of priests are traditional and read from the Scripture and do sermons, he talks about it and relates it to your life. I don’t know if it’s luck or God’s way, every time he does a sermon, something usually happens that week in my life and I can relate to it perfectly.”

Father Harrington feels the same way about Tavares, sum-

marizing the young man in three one gets injured, that they have age division at road races, but as words: “Devout, inquisitive and the ability to play another day. he began to get faster, he realized humble,” said Father Harrington. And two, that we do our best to he could place among the overall “He has great character.” serve God. Even if I win or lose, top competitors — and placing Tavares, said Father Har- I know if I do it to my best, I among the top three spots meant rington, has been a gift to St. couldn’t be more proud of my- winning money. As a minor, TaFrancis of Assisi in New Bed- self.” vares could not accept monetary ford, adding “it’s not often that Father Harrington says Tava- prizes but when offered a gift a kid thinks about his parish” certificate instead, Tavares in the ways that Tavares has shocked those around him about St. Francis, and that by saying, “no thank-you” everything Tavares does on and opted to donate the behalf of the parish is bemoney to St. Francis of Ascause he “feels he owes it to sisi, and has been doing so God.” after every race.

Tavares took up altar serv“He doesn’t do it for recing; “Though some kids say ognition,” said Father HarI’m too old, but I don’t care,” rington of the prizes that he said, but it’s his role as have ranged from $50 to a Faith Formation teacher $150. to the sixth- and seventhThe gift certificates are grade students at St. Francis a golden opportunity for an of Assisi that highlights his unemployed 18-year-old to maturity and passion for his get things that he needs, but Catholic faith.

Tavares doesn’t look at de“I teach them the assessclining the gift certificates ments that you have to do, as a loss, but the donations and after that I like to teach of money towards his parthem my favorite Scriptures ish as a gain — he loves his out of the Bible,” said TavaChurch. res. “I talk about Catholicism “When I go to the and how I love it so much church, Father Harrington because it’s always forgiving doesn’t always talk about and open-minded.” it, but he’ll say the collecAnd Tavares truly lives Anchor Living Stone — Paolo tion is really low someTavares. (Photo by Becky Aubut) — or rather, runs — by those times,” said Tavares. “I’m words. A top athlete in wresreally afraid because a lot tling and long distance track, res is so humble about his athlet- of churches have been closing Tavares has soared in those ic prowess that he has to Google down lately, and St. Francis is sports while remaining grounded Tavares’ name for the latest on one of the smallest churches in through his faith. how the teen-ager did during a the Fall River Diocese, so in the “I hear from people that they wrestling match or track meet. back of my mind, I knew I had to pray to God to win,” said Ta“You’ll never hear about it donate it to the church.” vares. “I realized that there are from him,” said Father HarFather Harrington said Tavadefinitely more important things rington. “He never lets it go to res enjoys a close relationship in life than sports, so the thing his head.” with his father, and Tavares credI pray for all the time is that no Tavares used to compete in his its his father for being an inspiration: “A lot of the values he’s taught have guided me in my life,” said Tavares.

Though he briefly thought about studying to become a priest, Tavares has settled on studying pre-med — he is currently ranked sixth in his class of more than 500 students — with the final goal of becoming a pediatrician, and devoting himself to becoming a deacon at his parish. But at St. Francis of Assisi, Tavares isn’t the incredibly smart, wrestling/track star of New Bedford High School, he’s the helpful young man, in a congregation that leans towards an older demographic, who often stays after Mass to see if there’s anything that needs to be done.

“I always say to think about God first and putting others before yourself,” said Tavares. “If you always do the right thing, you can find a way through.”

To submit a Living Stone nominee, send an email with information to fatherwilson@ anchornews.org.

Abundant Hope adds abortion healing ministry continued from page one

“Society tells them that they will never have to think about the abortion again, but they do think about it every single day,” she said. “Women bury the experience as deeply as they can because they need to go on.”

A woman who has previously had an abortion may find that a later pregnancy stirs painful emotions. She often learns about fetal development and better understands what her first child was like. She may have trouble bonding with her subsequent child and may feel that she does not deserve to have the child after ending the life of her first, she said.

“Now they have a child that they’re willing to do everything for, but then they remember the one that they lost,” said Hill.

Hill, a Religious Education teacher at St. Mary Parish in Mansfield, said she feels

Vatican denounces press reports on papal transition

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Vatican officials released a pair of unusual statements February 23 condemning some press coverage of the papal transition. A communique from the Secretariat of State called “deplorable” the “widespread distribution of often unverified, unverifiable or completely false news stories” intended to exert “pressures on the election of the pope.”

Earlier in the day, the Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, delivered an editorial on Vatican Radio lamenting “pressures and considerations that are foreign to the spirit with which the Church would like to live this period of waiting and preparation.”

Father Lombardi denounced “those who seek to profit from the moment of surprise and disorientation of the spiritually naive to sow confusion and to discredit the Church and its governance,” and accused such people of using “old tools, such as gossip, misinformation and sometimes slander” to influence the cardinals who will be voting in the upcoming papal election.

Neither Vatican statement specified the news stories in question, but Father Lombardi’s editorial referred to distortions by “those who consider money, sex and power before all else and are used to reading diverse realities from these perspectives.”

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The Anchor

March 1, 2013

called by God to reach out to these women and let them know they are not alone.

When Abundant Hope opened its doors two years ago this March 5, the all-volunteer staff had a small storage closet of supplies, irregular office hours and scant clients. As word of the ministry spread, it began to grow. Now, they have more supplies, more partners and a four-day weekly schedule that includes evening hours.

The center also offers more activities. In addition to the

post-abortive support group, there is a mother’s group, and a dad’s group will start later this month.

Melissa Hathaway, the center’s director, said she wants the center to become the first place a woman thinks of when she finds herself in a crisis pregnancy. She also spoke with great passion about the need to serve families as a whole.

“I don’t want it to be just about saving babies. I want it to be about saving babies, making their parents better parents, helping the dads to

be involved and understanding that God made a family unit,” she said.

Hathaway said that talking about God is an important part of the ministry because “man’s answers only go so far.” She wants parents to realize “my baby actually matters to God and is real, and God wants this child to live just like He wanted me to live.”

While celebrating major accomplishments over the past two years, Hathaway has an ambitious vision of where the center will be next year if funds allow.

“We want to be open Friday as well as Saturday mornings,”

she said, “so that we’re always ready. If someone should need help, we’re always there.”

She also wants the center to “go medical” and offer free ultrasounds on site.

Hill called ultrasounds the “gateway to changing everything.”

“Becoming a medical facility would mean that we would have a lot more women coming through the door,” she said.

“When women see that heart beating, 87 percent of the time they will not abort that child.”

For more information, visit Abundant Hope’s website at http://www.abundanthopeprc. org/.

12

The Anchor

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, March 3, 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Barry W. Wall, a retired priest of the Fall River Diocese

March 1, 2013

March 1, 2013

The gun problem in the U.S. We are all on probation awaiting the time when we know our children are in a perfectly safe school environment and have no or very little fear of violence in our schools.

We simply cannot risk a reoccurrence of what happened in Newtown, Conn. and continues to happen in schools around this country.

Students, parents, families, teachers and others must be genuinely fearful to go to schools. What was formerly a happy place to be is now a source of danger.

This is a problem we have had for many years. We, in the United States, have buried our hands and minds in the sand and do nothing about it. Our immediate short-term reaction of scare and disbelief seem to be winding down. The long-term effect of violence in our schools will go on forever until we come up with a solution which has top priority for us, namely, safe schools which our children attend and are mandated.

This issue has received much publicity including two articles recently in The Standard Times entitled “Could shooting be a guncontrol tipping point?” on Dec. 16, 2012 and “Some Republicans say gun control should be debated” on Dec. 18, 2012.

Today, this problem is a national disaster of top priority. It should not take a second place to any other consideration. The proposed solution by the National Rifle Association and particularly President Wayne La Pierre to use more guns in schools is the exact opposite of what we need to preserve safety in the educational atmosphere of school environment.

It is a band-aid solution to a much more serious problem, namely, the unexpected massive killings of school children in classrooms where the law obligates them to be. Guns are and always have been instruments of violence wherever they exist. They are well described as weapons of mass destruction.

That is exactly what their use was intended to be in Newtown, Conn.

The NRA, however, is a powerful lobbyist group in Congress and usually gets what it wants. It has been said that it has more power than Congress itself and that statement might be accurate.

It’s hard to believe that anyone would think such a suggestion as more guns to be serious. The motive of the NRA is to sell more guns and increase membership which from all reports is being accomplished. The NRA has never done anything worthwhile to protect the safety of children in schools in the United States.

There is massive data available from responsible experts as to how these acts of sudden violence could be reasonably prevented. In no study has the ownership of guns been an option.

Most countries in the world can be proud of never having any violence in schools and do not use guns as a source of protection. With

13

The Anchor

Our readers respond

all the sources of professional security surveillance available today accompanied by mandatory background checks on those seeking access to schools, sufficient time for warnings of danger are available for school safety. Contrary to the law of Massachusetts and the support of the NRA, mental health records must become available in any background check.

Guns should not even be an option. If the United States can create the system, talent and the genius to bring a man to the moon and back safely, it certainly can create the mechanism to bring a student safely to and back home from a school.

It is true that an opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court (5-4) acknowledged that a citizen under the provision of the Second Amendment had the right to bear arms and it was not constitutional for the District of Columbia to abridge citizens of that right by any law of the District of Columbia.

The decision had nothing to do with safety in the schools. Although a person now has a constitutional right to bear arms as a gun so does a student have a right to go to school and return without the danger of someone else using his (or her) right to bear arms.

The second amendment to the U.S. Constitution simply says: “A well-regulated militia being necessary for the security of a free state the right of the people to bear arms shall not be abridged.”

Schools are not yet at least a militia and what may be needed for a militia are not needed for a wellregulated school.

Despite the favorable ruling for “gun owners” from the U.S. Supreme Court, the ultimate battle between gun owners and the safety of children might not yet be over if gun owners pursue their interest in having guns in schools for reasons of safety. Guns should be off the agenda as a means of protecting students in the classrooms.

Our term of “probation” referred to earlier continues and the scare of school violence remains with us until this problem of school safety of students can be resolved.

It requires great urgency however. There is ample reason to foresee that such violence in schools or campuses will come again. We cannot put this issue on a back burner any longer.

We don’t need gun control for

the safety of classrooms. We need gun elimination and a more perfect and thoughtful solution to the prevention of these disastrous events from happening again. Urgency for solution cannot be over emphasiz ed.

Hon. William H. Carey Retired Judge Mass. Supreme Court Dartmouth

Executive Editor responds: Thank you for your opinion. As came out in my dialogue with other readers, Catholics are free to hold a variety of opinions on this issue.

Fighting the good fight For years members of the ProLife community had peacefully and prayerfully protested the abortions being performed at 12 Brightman Street in New Bedford. While offering women assistance through Birthright and other Pro-Life groups, we prayed that the abortion clinic would close and it did!

Technologies like ultra-sound have become a window to the womb. Minds are being opened to the reality of life before birth. The sex of the baby can be determined and doctors have operated on babies before birth for years.

The reality of abortion haunts women. I know because some of my best friends are women who have had abortions. They live with its life-altering consequences and they express their regret.

Roe v. Wade (instituting abortion on-demand) is a bad law and bad laws have been overturned.

Dred Scott v. Sanford (which constitutionally protected slavery) was overturned. Fifty-three years after Plessy v. Ferguson (which had validated segregation as separate but equal) was overturned.

That is why despite the predicted cold temperatures and hours-long bus rides, approximately 500,000 people attended the “March For Life” in Washington, D.C. Aborted women vow to be “silent no more” and young people in ever-increasing numbers are attending and taking leadership roles. Local events like that at St. Lawrence Church in New Bedford, with Mother Teresa’s nuns in attendance, call us to think and pray.

America is a nation which purports to believe in human and civil rights. Laws which condone the

killing of innocent unborn babies are unjust and will be overturned.

Until they are we Pro-Lifers will continue to pray and fight the good fight.

Mary Ann Booth South Dartmouth Executive Editor responds: We thank God for the progress that has been made defending human life. Your mention of the Dred Scott decision brings to mind the recent controversy brought on due to a Congressman’s comparison of it to a decision regarding campaign finance. Your analogy is better than his, since here you are talking about a decision which resulted in the taking of millions of human lives, while he was referring to a decision involving millions (or billions) of campaign dollars.

The importance of the confessional The article “The Attack on the Seal of Confession,” written by the pastor of St. Bernadette’s Parish, Father Roger J. Landry (Anchor January 25) was excellent.

It is an important part of a priest’s duty. But also to someone

who needs an assurance it is a confidential talk between you and your confessor.

It is a shame that politicians and other persons who don’t participate in the Sacraments try to break its “back” for their own purposes.

I pray the opponents of the Seal of Confession see the light.

Aline M. Laferriere New Bedford Executive Editor responds: We thank God for this great gift of His forgiveness.

Prayers for the pope The news of our pope, Bishop of Rome, resigning was a surprise.

We shall keep him in our deepest prayers. God has his life all planned. God has the new pope all planned. The new pope will be in all our daily prayers. Pope Benedict was a very loving pope.

I shall never forget him. God asks us all to love one another; we are all brothers and sisters in Christ’s name.

Olive Veiga South Dartmouth Executive Editor responds: Thank you for your prayers and love for the Church.

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Pope Benedict XVI

March 1, 2013

Between popes: Vatican business continues as usual — almost

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When Pope Benedict XVI officially left office at 8 p.m. February 28, most of the top-level Vatican officials lost their jobs, but that does not mean the majority of Vatican employees get a vacation.

Although Catholics inside and outside the Vatican love to complain about its unwieldy bureaucracy, coordinating the universal ministry of the Church involves a steady flow of paperwork, correspondence and meeting planning. All of that continues even when there is no pope.

However, the publication of documents, the nomination of new bishops and the approval of statutes for Catholic universities and religious orders are suspended. Anything that must be issued in the name of the Vatican or in the name of the pope must be approved by Pope Benedict’s successor.

“The general rule is that all ordinary business continues,” the secretary of one Vatican congregation told Catholic News Service during the “interregnum” — the period between popes — in 2005. “Like in most bureaucracies, most of our business is ordinary business.”

Commissions and subcommittees continue to meet, re-

ports continue to be prepared, letters are answered and Vatican officials try to tidy their desks enough to be able to inform the new pope about exactly where their various projects stand.

Under long-standing Church rules, updated by Blessed John Paul II in 1996, the Vatican secretary of state, the prefects of Vatican congregations and the presidents of pontifical councils lose their jobs the minute the papacy is vacant; the offices are run by the congregation and council secretaries during the interregnum.

However, the prefects and presidents don’t pack up their offices before they leave. Sixteen of the 22 prefects and presidents are cardinals who will be participating in the conclave to elect a new pope. Generally, immediately after the election of a new pope, the prefects and presidents are asked to take up their old jobs again, at least temporarily.

While Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone leaves his position as secretary of state, with the interregnum the real work begins for his position as camerlengo or chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church; during the period when there is no pope, he is charged with administering the temporal

goods of the Church.

The other person who does not lose his job is the head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, currently Cardinal Manuel Montiero de Castro. The Apostolic Penitentiary is a Vatican court dealing with matters related to the Sacrament of Confession and to indulgences. His position is not suspended because he is the person who ensures penitents guilty of serious sin and seeking forgiveness can receive absolution.

During the 2005 interregnum, the head of the Apostolic Penitentiary was U.S. Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, who is now retired. He told CNS at the time that it was his responsibility to ensure that forgiveness is available at all times to any sinner.

While much of the Vatican’s activity takes a pause during the interregnum, Christ’s desire to save people does not rest, Cardinal Stafford said.

Portuguese Cardinal Montiero de Castro’s responsibility continues even while he is in the Sistine Chapel voting for a new pope. His aides may send petitions for absolution to him even inside the conclave — one of the very few exceptions to the rule that the cardinals be out of contact with the outside world.

Pope Benedict XVI

March 1, 2013

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As pope, Benedict worked to promote understanding of Vatican II

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — On February 14, in one of the last public appearances of his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI spoke to the clergy of Rome about his experiences at the Second Vatican Council, which he had attended as an expert consultant half a century before.

The pope praised some of the council’s achievements, including its teachings on the interpretation of Scripture, religious freedom and relations with nonChristian religions. But he also lamented what he described as widespread distortions of the council’s teachings. The news media, he said, had presented the council to most of the world as a political struggle for “popular sovereignty” in the Church.

This “council of the media” was responsible for “many calamities, so many problems, so much misery,” the pope said.

“Seminaries closed, convents closed, Liturgy trivialized.”

With that speech, Pope Benedict returned to one of the major themes of his pontificate. During his first year as pope, he had explained in a landmark speech that Vatican II could be properly understood only in continuity with the Church’s millennial traditions, not as a radical break with the past. He went on to devote much of his papacy to promoting this understanding of the council’s teachings.

Under Pope Benedict, the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, which as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger he had headed for almost 24 years, continued to censure or criticize theologians whose writings, often invoking the spirit if not the letter of Vatican II documents, deviated from orthodoxy in areas that included sexual morality, the mystery of the Incarnation and the possibility of salvation without Christ.

The congregation also is-

Age matters: Popes elected as young as 24, as old as 81

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When Pope Benedict XVI, 85, announced his resignation, he said that “both strength of mind and body are necessary” to carry out the papal ministry in the modern world.

He was elected in 2005, just after his 78th birthday. Of the 102 popes whose exact age at election is known, Pope Benedict was one of 17 Churchmen elected bishop of Rome while between the ages of 71 and 80.

Ambrogio Piazzoni, vice prefect of the Vatican Library and author of a book on the history of papal elections, distributed a sheet of “some curiosities” about elections to reporters February 21, the day after briefing journalists at the Vatican.

On the topic of the age of the pope at election, he said: — Three popes were under the age of 25. The last was Pope Gregory V, who was 24 when elected in 996.

— Seven were between 25 and 40 years old. The last was Pope Leo X, who was 37 in 1513.

— Eleven were between 41 and 50. The last was Pope Clement VII, who was elected in 1523 at the age of 44.

— 24 popes were in their 50s.

The most recent was Blessed John Paul II, who was 58 years old when he began his papal ministry in 1978.

— 37 were between 61 and 70 years old. The last was Pope John Paul I, who was 65 when he began his 33-day papacy in 1978.

— Only three popes were over

80 when elected. The last, chosen by cardinals in 1406, was Pope Gregory XII. He was 81.

FAMOUS LASTS Piazzoni also provided a list of “lasts”: — The last pope who was not a cardinal yet when elected was Pope Urban VI in 1378.

— The last who was not even a priest yet was Pope Leo X. — The last born in Rome was Pope Pius XII, elected in 1939.

(He was also the last serving Vatican secretary of state elected.)

— The last African was Pope Gelasius, elected in 492.

— The last native of Dalmatia, an ancient Roman province, was Pope John IV in 640.

— The last Frenchman elected was Pope Gregory XI, in 1370.

— The last Greek was Pope Zachary in 741.

— The last Englishman was Pope Adrian IV in 1154.

— The last Italian was Pope John Paul I. — The last Dutchman was Pope Adrian VI in 1522.

— The last Palestinian was Pope Theodore in 642.

— The last Pole was Pope John Paul II in 1978.

— The last Portuguese was Pope John XXI in 1276.

— The last Syrian was Pope Gregory III in 731.

— The last Spaniard was Pope Alexander VI in 1492.

— The last German was Pope Benedict XVI, elected in 2005. It had been 950 years since a German — Pope Victor II — had been elected.

sued documents asserting that the Catholic Church is the one true “Church of Christ” and that missionaries have a duty to preach the Gospel as well as provide charitable assistance to the needy. Both documents, the Vatican said, were necessary to correct misunderstandings of the teachings of Vatican II. Pope Benedict presided over two major Vatican investigations of women religious in the United States, responding to diminishing numbers and reported deviations from doctrine and discipline in the decades since the council. One of the investigations led to an order of reform for the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, intended to ensure the group’s commitment to Catholic teaching in areas including abortion, euthanasia, women’s ordination and homosexuality.

The pope also tried to correct what he considered overly expansive notions of interreligious dialogue that had blossomed after Vatican II, which he feared could lead to relativism or syncretism. In October 2011, at the 25th-anniversary commemoration of the World Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi, Italy, there was no public multireligious prayer of the kind that had distinguished the original event, which then-Cardinal Ratzinger had criticized

at the time. Pope Benedict also added agnostic “seekers of the truth” to the guest list, further diluting the interreligious character of the event.

A lifelong teacher, Pope Benedict naturally made Vatican II’s continuity with tradition a recurrent theme in his homilies, catechetical talks, papal documents and even in his personal writings, addressing the topic in the first of his best-selling “Jesus of Nazareth” books.

This pedagogical project culminated in the current Year of Faith, which opened October 11, the 50th anniversary of the council.

“The council did not formulate anything new in matters of faith, nor did it wish to replace what was ancient,” the pope told the congregation at Mass that day in St. Peter’s Square. “Rather, it concerned itself with seeing that the same faith might continue to be lived in the present day, that it might remain a living faith in a world of change.”

For most Catholics, the pope conveyed this lesson most clearly through worship. Following the exuberant and colorful celebrations that had marked the papacy of Blessed John Paul, especially at World Youth Days and on other international trips, papal Masses under his successor became more solemn. Pope

Benedict encouraged the use of Gregorian Chant and the practice of Eucharistic Adoration, one of the traditional devotions that had fallen largely out of use in the wake of Vatican II. Most dramatically, Pope Benedict lifted most restrictions on the Tridentine Mass, which had practically disappeared in the post-conciliar reform of the Liturgy. He explicitly intended the move to promote reconciliation with the disaffected traditionalists of the Society of St. Pius X, whom he later offered the status of a personal prelature if they would return to full communion with Rome, an effort that did not bear fruit in his pontificate. Yet Pope Benedict also expressed the hope that celebration of the Tridentine Mass would encourage a more reverent celebration of the new Mass, helping to bring out the latter’s “sacrality,” “spiritual richness” and “theological depth.”

If Pope Benedict’s service to the Liturgical tradition should emerge as one of his major legacies as pope, he would no doubt be content. As he told the priests of Rome three days after announcing his resignation: “I find now, looking back, that it was a very good idea (for Vatican II) to begin with the Liturgy, because in this way the primacy of God could appear, the primacy of adoration.”

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Youth Pages

greater new bedford greats — Students in grades seven and eight from St. James-St. John School in New Bedford recently competed in the Greater New Bedford Catholic Schools Challenge. Pictured here are the winners of 2013 Challenge.

giving thanks —The mission at St. Mary’s School in Taunton is to give service and support to anyone who serves the school family and community. During Catholic School’s Week students were asked to bring in a variety of fruit to make baskets for a way of “giving back.” Two school volunteers, Karen Grossi Pemberton and Erica Mastriani, made 35 fruit baskets that they delivered to various organizations and groups that have given service to the school and the community in appreciation for their contributions and dedication.

one last fling —Students from preschool through grade eight competed in the annual float contest in honor of the Mardi Gras celebration at St. Joseph School in Fairhaven. A prayer service accompanied the festivities, and students were reminded that they will be going into the Lenten season and need to make thoughtful sacrifices until Easter.

March 1, 2013

beginning a journey — Students, faculty, staff, and family members of Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford joined together to prepare for the start of Lent by “Burying the Alleluias” which was followed by an Ash Wednesday prayer service.

knows his way around — Michael Wasserman, an eighth-grade student at St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro, won the school’s 2012 National Geography Bee. He will now take a written test to see if he qualifies for the Massachusetts State Finals. The winner of the state finals goes to Washington, D.C. for the nationals. Alex Trebeck asks the questions in Washington. Wasserman is shown here with his medal, certificate and Jay Hoyle, history teacher at SJE.

fine artists — Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth recently announced that four seniors have received 2013 Boston Globe Scholastic Art Awards. From left: Stang Fine Arts teacher Alyssa Adriance, Jenna Costanzo (gold), Molly Harrington (gold), Kelsey Pacheco (silver), and Sydney DaCosta (honorable mention).

Youth Pages

March 1, 2013

The parable of our faith

A

t Mass this weekend we will hear the partheir lives come to know Jesus? able of the Barren Fig Tree (Lk 13:6-9). We 2 — Who are the fig trees, land owners and garare introduced to a land owner and a gardener. The deners in my own life? owner of the tree is distraught because “For three There is not a right or wrong answer to these years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig questions but a mere opportunity for self reflection tree but have found none.” He conveys his distress and perhaps even prayer as we journey more deeply and impatience by telling the gardener to simply cut into these 40 days of Lent. However, as evangelizit down; after all, the tree is useless and is just takers of the faith and disciples of the Lord (a mission ing up space anyway. But we are called to fulfill the gardener asks for more through our Baptisms and time. He tells the owner later Confirmations), this that he “shall cultivate the parable is reflective of our ground around it and fertilmission. ize it; it may bear fruit in We are called to active the future. If not you can participation in the journey cut it down.”

By Crystal Medeiros to spread the Good News What is interesting of Jesus’ teachings to the about this parable is that world — globally and in we do not know the end. our own daily lives — and Does the tree bear fruit or does the land owner cut it we will not only encounter many fig trees, land down next year? We simply cannot say with certain- owners and gardeners along the way, but we must ty. However, is getting the tree to bear fruit the true also be aware of the times when we are the fig tree, meaning behind Jesus sharing the parable with His land owner and gardener. Through life experiences followers? I doubt He sought to give gardening tips our own faith journey will enter one of those three in His teachings. stages at one point or another — oftentimes more Or did He? than one point for each attribute. There are times As with all of Jesus’ parables, the Barren Fig Tree when we will feel empty, barren or even alone as has a deeper meaning than the literal word. Again, the fig tree; or just want to give up and throw in the what is the purpose of Jesus telling not only His fol- towel like the land owner; or even hopeful and palowers at the time but His present day followers as tient as we cultivate not only our young people but well? We do not have fig trees in our backyards to even our adults as they experience their own faith tend to. So what do we have? Let us place ourselves journeys. in the story by asking the following questions and Faith is about cultivating the soil of our own apply them to our faith lives: lives as well as the lives of others. We do not know 1 — Who am I more like: the fig tree — barthe final outcome. We cannot say with absolute ren, empty, unable to feel the love Christ has for certainty that this person or that person me? The land owner — impatient, frustrated, easily will come to a full knowledge and undiscards people because they are taking too long to derstanding of Christ and His teachings. grow in faith and knowledge of Jesus? Or the garAll we can do is make the effort to be dener — patient, loving, and willing to put in extra the consummate gardener to others in the effort in the hopes that people will at some point in hopes that the seed will have been plant-

Be Not Afraid

Fairhaven pastor to undergo serious surgical procedure continued from page one

During his roughly twomonth recovery period, Father McElroy said two of his fellow Sacred Hearts priests — Father Clyde Guerreiro, SS.CC., who is traveling from Hawaii, and Father Chris Santangelo, SS.CC., former pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in New Bedford — will be filling in for him at St. Joseph’s Parish.

Sadly, the surgery also forced the cancellation of a planned series of Lenten retreats Father McElroy was slated to give at five

locations within the Fall River Deanery from March 11-14.

Even though he won’t be able to actively minister during his recovery, Father McElroy said he takes great comfort in being able to stay close to home.

“My sister and one of my nieces are both nurses, so I know they’ll be able to visit and assist me as needed,” he said.

Father McElroy plans to keep working up until the day before he is scheduled to undergo surgery. He’ll be celebrating Mass-

es as usual this weekend and next at St. Joseph’s Parish, through March 10.

He prefers to keep busy and not dwell on the things he can’t control.

“It’s all in God’s hands,” he said.

Those wishing to send cards or prayers to Father McElroy can do so c/o St. Joseph’s Parish, 74 Spring Street, Fairhaven, Mass. 02719 or via Damien Residence, 77 Adams Street, P.O. Box 111, Fairhaven, Mass. 02719.

17 ed and will take root one day. Only God knows the final outcome. We are simply His workers tilling the soil, praying that the fig tree allows His love to take root.

Crystal is assistant director for Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the diocese. She can be contacted at cmedeiros@dfrcec.com.

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The Anchor Sister Noella Letourneau, O.P.

MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. — Sister Noella Letourneau, O.P., of the Dominican Sisters of Hope, Ossining, N.Y., died February 18 at the Wartburg in Mount Vernon, N.Y. She was 87 years of age.

The daughter of the late Louis and Alphonsine Lefrance Letourneau, she was born Dec. 25, 1926 in Fall River.

Sister Noella entered the novitiate of the Dominican Sisters of Fall River on Feb. 2, 1947, made her First Profession July 30, 1948, and Final Profession July 30, 1951. Sister Noella

earned her BA in history/social sciences from Regis College in Massachusetts, and her MA in Religious Education from Providence College.

Sister Noella taught at St. Francis Xavier Elementary School in Acushnet (1948-49 and 1950-51), St. Anne’s School in Fall River (1949-50, 1951-58, 1967-68,

and 1971-74). She was director of Religious Education for St. Anne’s Parish in Fall River (1974-76). She taught at St. Peter’s High School in Plattsburgh, N.Y. (1958-59) and at St. Bernadette Elementary School in New Haven, Conn.

(1959-61). From 1961-63, she was formation director for the Dominican novices in North Dartmouth. She served on the General Council of the Dominican Sisters from 1970-78.

From 1976-87, Sister Noella was director of Religious Education at St. Thomas More Parish in Narragansett R.I.; and in 1987, she was appointed pastoral associate of the same parish. She retired from that roll in 2003 and moved to the Newburgh Center of Hope in December of that year. She resided at the Wartburg in Mount Vernon since 2009.

Sister Noella is survived by her sister Rita Lacroix and nieces and a nephew.

Donations in Sister Noella’s memory can be made to the Dominican Sisters of Hope, Development Office, 299 North Highland Avenue, Ossining, N.Y. 10562-2327.

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

Revised and updated ...

2012-2013 Diocese of Fall River Catholic Directory ... NOW SHIPPING !!

Published by The Anchor Publishing Company P.O. Box 7, Fall River, Massachusetts 02722 Please ship _____ directories x $18 each, including shipping and handling. Total Enclosed $_____ NAME ____________________________________________ ADDRESS _________________________________________ CITY _____________________ STATE _______ ZIP _____ Please make checks payable to “Anchor Publishing” For more information, email theanchor@anchonews.org, call 508-675-7151, or order online at www.anchornews.org

March 2 Rev. Antoine Berube, Pastor, St. Joseph, Attleboro, 1936 Rev. James J. Brady, Retired Pastor, St. Kilian, New Bedford, 1941 Rev. Tarcisius Dreesen, SS.CC., Sacred Hearts Monastery, Fairhaven, 1952 Rev. Alphonse E. Gauthier, Pastor, Sacred Heart, New Bedford, 1962 Rev. J. Omer Lussier, Pastor, Sacred Heart, North Attleboro, 1970 March 3 Rt. Rev. Msgr. Timothy P. Sweeney, LL.D., Pastor, Holy Name, New Bedford, 1960 March 5 Rev. James McGuire, Pastor, St. Mary, New Bedford, 1850 Permanent Deacon Manuel H. Camara, 1995 Rev. James A. McCarthy, Retired Pastor, St. Mary, Falmouth, 2007 March 6 Rev. Joseph F. McDonough, Former Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton, 1906 Rev. John W. Quirk, Founder, St. Joseph, Taunton, 1932 Rev. Bernard P. Connolly, S.S., St. Charles College, Maryland, 1932 Rev. Antoine Lanoue, O.P., 1996 Rev. Jerome Lawyer, CSC, 2006 March 7 Rev. Arthur P.J. Gagnon, Pastor, Holy Rosary, New Bedford, 1958

March 1, 2013

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese

Acushnet — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Monday and Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Evening prayer and Benediction is held Monday through Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

ATTLEBORO — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the St. Joseph Adoration Chapel at Holy Ghost Church, 71 Linden Street, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

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

Brewster — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the La Salette Chapel in the lower level of Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road, on First Fridays beginning at noon until 7:45 a.m. First Saturday, concluding with Benediction and concluding with Mass at 8 a.m. buzzards Bay — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, every first Friday after the 8 a.m. Mass and ending the following day before the 8 a.m. Mass.

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

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

Use the Chapel entrance on the side of the church.

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

FAIRHAVEN — St. Mary’s Church, Main St., has Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Chapel of Reconciliation, with Benediction at noon. Also, there is a First Friday Mass each month at 7 p.m., followed by a Holy Hour with Eucharistic Adoration. Refreshments follow.

Fall River — Espirito Santo Parish, 311 Alden Street, Fall River. Eucharistic Adoration on Mondays following the 8 a.m. Mass until Rosary and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.

FALL RIVER — St. Bernadette’s Church, 529 Eastern Ave., has Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the chapel.

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

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

FALL RIVER — Good Shepherd Parish has Eucharistic Adoration every Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass until 6 p.m. in the Daily Mass Chapel. There is a bilingual Holy Hour in English and Portuguese from 5-6 p.m. Park behind the church and enter the back door of the connector between the church and the rectory.

Falmouth — St. Patrick’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration each First Friday, following the 9 a.m. Mass until Benediction at 4:30 p.m. The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

MASHPEE — Christ the King Parish, Route 151 and Job’s Fishing Road has 8:30 a.m. Mass every First Friday with special intentions for Respect Life, followed by 24 hours of Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel, concluding with Benediction Saturday morning followed immediately by an 8:30 Mass.

NEW BEDFORD — Eucharistic Adoration takes place 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 233 County Street, with night prayer and Benediction at 8:45 p.m., and Confessions offered during the evening. Please use the side entrance.

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

NEW BEDFORD — St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, 565 County Street, holds Eucharistic Adoration in the side chapel every Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m., ending with Benediction. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time.

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

OSTERVILLE — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 76 Wianno Avenue on First Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

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

Taunton — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Tuesday at St. Anthony Church, 126 School Street, following the 8 a.m. Mass with prayers including the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for vocations, concluding at 6 p.m. with Chaplet of St. Anthony and Benediction.

Recitation of the Rosary for peace is prayed Monday through Saturday at 7:30 a.m. prior to the 8 a.m. Mass. taunton — Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord, 31 First Street. Expostition begins following the 8 a.m. Mass.

The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed, and Adoration will continue throughout the day.

Confessions are heard from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Rosary and Benediction begin at 6:30 p.m.

WAREHAM — Every First Friday, Eucharistic Adoration takes place from 8:30 a.m. through Benediction at 5:30 p.m. Morning prayer is prayed at 9; the Angelus at noon; the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m.; and Evening Prayer at 5 p.m.

WEST HARWICH — Our Lady of Life Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Trinity Parish, 246 Main Street (Rte. 28), holds perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. We are a regional chapel serving all of the surrounding parishes. All from other parishes are invited to sign up to cover open hours. For open hours, or to sign up call 508-430-4716.

WOODS HOLE — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Joseph’s Church, 33 Millfield Street, year-round on weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. No Adoration on Sundays, Wednesdays, and holidays. For information call 508-274-5435.

March 1, 2013

The Anchor

Father Landry to host EWTN series on Alzheimer’s care continued from page one

vent or decelerate the formation of the plaques in the brain associated with this 21st century epidemic.

In his almost 30 years of experience in treating those with Alzheimer’s, Dr. Fortanasce has identified four main categories of preventive behavior that he encourages all people to begin adopting, even when they’re children: a diet rich in antioxidants, physical exercise and sleep, regular brain exercises, and prayerful rest and relaxation. These are the behavioral antidotes to the sedentary, stressful and sleepless lives that show a much higher incidence of the development of Alzheimer’s.

They also give practical advice to those who care for those with Alzheimer’s, such as what signs indicate that the loved one is worsening; what to do when he or she turns violent; when to take the car keys away; what to do about wandering or other life-threatening behaviors; and when is 24-hour care in a nursing home necessary.

They discuss, as well, what to do to prevent caretaker burnout and how parishes ought to be involved in supporting families with Alzheimer’s.

Father Landry said that the series came about because he and Dr. Fortanasce had worked to defeat pushes for physician-assisted suicide on opposite coasts and each saw how euthanasia advocates used the fear and difficult reality of Alzheimer’s to advance their cause.

“We recognized how important it is for individual Catholics and Catholic institutions to be on the cutting edge with regard to Alzheimer’s prevention, treatment and care, in order to impede the growth of calls that those who have lost their memory and even self-control were better off dead,” Father Landry said.

“At a pastoral level, I also recognized in my work as a priest that I was anointing and burying increasing numbers of those with Alzheimer’s, as well as helping parishioners deal with the fatigue that comes from caring for those with dementia and overcome a sense of guilt when they recognize that they need to admit their loved one to a nursing home because they personally can no longer provide adequate care,” he added.

When Dr. Fortanasce telephoned asking whether he would like to tag-team in a pitch for a series on EWTN, Father Landry recognized that it would meet a growing pastoral need.

“He called me not only because I was a priest but because he knew before seminary I was a biologist who had worked at Mass. General Hospital, so he knew I’d be comfortable with the brain science involved, even though I’m far from an expert on Alzheimer’s,” Father

Landry stated.

“But in preparation for the series, I did a lot of homework. That study was a form of the ‘neurobics’ or brain exercises that Dr. Fortanasce says is crucial for the prevention of Alzheimer’s.”

He said that his role in the series was “more of a point guard,” while Dr. Fortanasce’s was a “scorer,” though he added that on the questions of pastoral care they were both able to draw on many experiences.

He hopes that many will tune in to catch the series.

“It was somewhat amazing to

see the impact the series had on the camera crew at the EWTN studios in Alabama. They were approaching with lots of questions during each episode because they realized that they and their families were engaging in behaviors that could facilitate the onset of Alzheimer’s and they wanted to do all they could to inoculate themselves behaviorally from losing their minds in this way.

“One of the camera men thanked us at the end of the series, saying that he believes that the series may have saved his life, or at least his mind.”

Around the Diocese 3/2

The United Nations Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be at St. Kilian Church, 306 Ashley Boulevard in New Bedford, today through Sunday. Relics of the holm-oak tree on which our Blessed Mother appeared in Fatima and relics of Blessed Jacinta and Francisco will accompany the statue. For more information call 508-992-7587.

3/2

Maya textiles from the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology (Brown University) and the weaving collective Oxib’ B’atz (New Bedford) will be on display beginning tomorrow through April 7 at the Whaling Museum in New Bedford. Maya weaving is a storytelling practice rooted in tradition that remains an essential form of expression to this day. Anthropologist Margot Blum Schevill recently donated her extensive textile collection, gathered during the 1970s, to the Haffenreffer Museum. Meanwhile, the Oxib’ B’atz continue weaving using the traditional backstrap loom. This look at historic and contemporary textiles will reflect a new understanding about the textile manufacturing industry in the past and present, and will explore the industry’s central role in the history of New Bedford and in the lives of its residents. The exhibit is co-curated by Anna Ghublikianand and María D. Quintero and is funded by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

3/2

A Day with Mary will be held tomorrow at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 235 North Front Street in New Bedford from 7:50 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. It will include a video presentation, procession and crowning of the Blessed Mother with Mass and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. There is an opportunity for Reconciliation. A bookstore is available. Please bring a bag lunch. For more information call 508-996-8274.

3/3

Our Lady of Fatima Parish invites all to join with them in celebrating the 126th Ecumenical World Day of Prayer at 4256 Acushnet Avenue in the Sassaquin area of New Bedford on Sunday at 4 p.m. France is the country chosen for 2013 to gather an ecumenical women’s group to prepare the worship service which is celebrated the first weekend in March in 170 countries in more than 70 languages. Praying for France and the world’s peoples of French heritage is dear to the hearts of thousands of New Bedford’s citizens who migrated from Quebec and the Maritimes to work in area mills. For information contact Pam Cole at 774-328-1490.

3/5

Community VNA Hospice and Palliative Care, 10 Emory Street in Attleboro, will offer a six-week bereavement series beginning March 5 through April 9. This community program is for anyone experiencing loss and will be held on Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public, however preregistration is required. Call 1-800-220-0110 or 508-222-0118, extension 1373, for more information or to register.

3/6

A Lenten Series for the Year of Faith, a four-week series on the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” and related texts, will be held at Holy Trinity Parish in Fall River. The sessions will be held the four Wednesdays of March — 6,13, 20 and 27 — from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the parish school (64 Lamphor Street). Please park in the school lot and use the main entrance. The series has been designed so that the first session will be a brief overview of the “Catechism” and its other components, as a stand-alone session for folks who cannot commit to a four-week series. The following three sessions are planned so that there will be more time for questions and discussion. For more information contact Pat Pasternak at 508-673-1284.

3/9

An Attic Treasures Sale, sponsored by the St. John Neumann Women’s Guild, will be held in the parish hall, located at 157 Middleboro Road in East Freetown on March 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A Continental breakfast and hot homemade lunch will be served and the hall is wheelchair accessible. Take the Chace Road exit off Route 140.

3/10

A Family Rosary Retreat will be held March 10 from 1:30 to 5 p.m.

This family event centers on the theme “Lord I Believe — Help My Unbelief” and will consist of an afternoon of activities including inspiring keynotes, family activities, Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary prayer and a screening of a new video release on the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary. Many hands are needed to conduct the program. Whatever your talent, they would be grateful for whatever time you could offer. The event will be held at Bishop Stang High School, 500 Slocum Road, North Dartmouth. For more information call 508-238-4095 or visit www.familyrosary. org/retreat.

3/16

The Knights of Columbus Council # 11690 of Norton is holding a baby shower for single mothers and infants the weekend of March 16-17. The baby shower is being held in conjunction with the Knights of Columbus Day for the Unborn on the Feast of the Annunciation.

Donations of basic necessities for babies such as diapers, bibs, lotions, etc. will be collected for local single mothers with infants, and distributed through Birthright. Items can be dropped off at the entrance of the church at all Masses. For information contact Joseph or Kathleen Travers at 508-212-6271.

3/19

The Daughters of Isabella Hyacinth Circle will be holding its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on March 19 at the St. Mary’s Parish Center in South Dartmouth. Join them for a Lenten renewal with Benediction and a talk to follow given by a man of God. Any new Catholic women who are interested in joining the group are welcome. In peace and love all current, past, and potential new members are welcome to join them for fellowship, sisterhood, faith renewal, and fun.

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March 1, 2013

The Anchor

Seminarians will miss ‘father’ figure; excited for future continued from page one

for the Holy Father.

Eric Queenan, from St. Mary’s Parish in Seekonk, in his Third Year Theology at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, told The Anchor, “I was a little scared not knowing any of the reasons for the pope’s resignation. These days it is hard to trust the media. My first concern was for the pope and his health. I wondered what this would mean for the Church.

“My mother sent me a text two hours later that read, ‘What a humble and holy man the pope is.

I luv you, mom.’ My mother’s first reaction was to see the pope’s virtue and example. I thought of how blessed we have been to have two holy pope’s in my lifetime. I hope the next pope is just as holy.”

Jack Schrader from Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich is in his second year at North American College in Rome. “The announcement of Pope Benedict’s resignation left me in a tension between sadness and excitement,” he told The Anchor. “I have grown to love Pope Benedict XVI for his simple and profound proclamation of salvation in Jesus Christ. As a seminarian, I have entrusted myself to the Church and therefore to our Holy Father. He is a father to me.

I will never forget his words to me and thousands of other young people in New York in 2008.

He was encouraging us to pray from the depths of our hearts and he said ‘Do not be afraid of silence.’ Living in Rome at the North American College since August 2010, my affection and

admiration for Pope Benedict XVI as a man of faith and prayer has grown as I encounter him at Papal Masses and at the Sunday Angelus.

For all these reasons, I am sad that the Church is losing Pope Benedict XVI, who is such a wise and prudent pastor.”

A classmate of Queenan’s at St. John’s is Chris Peschel from Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Taunton. He, too, is in Third Year Theology. “I initially thought it was a joke or a misunderstanding, but by the time I went down for Morning Prayer at seven o’clock it was clear that Pope Benedict XVI was really stepping down,” he said.

“I began thinking that something might be seriously wrong with the Holy Father’s health.

“While the initial news was without a doubt shocking to everyone, I think a greater perspective has come in time as to why the Holy Father made this decision.

The Holy Father was most likely trying to avoid a situation for which there is no clear answer, namely, what happens when a pope is totally incapacitated or comatose.”

The emotions and the reactions were as varied as there are seminarians, but the mood at seminaries throughout the world appears to be one of great anticipation.

“As the conclave approaches, I am excited to see who the Holy Spirit chooses to guide our Church as we preach the New Evangelization in this time of reawakening in the Church,” Neil Caswell from St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dighton told The Anchor. “I am a freshman at Cathedral Seminary House of Formation in Queens, N.Y. Often in seminaries times like these seem to evoke a political atmosphere in which some men start advocating for a certain cardinal to

be the next pope.

“There comes a point when we all realize, however, that we are not in charge, but the Holy Spirit will guide. Most of the seminarians have reached this point and have changed the political advocacy, to a solemn atmosphere of prayer in which we ask the Holy Spirit to guide our Church safely in this new chapter of our great Church!”

“I had the great privilege of being in Pope John Paul II’s presence on one occasion and Pope Benedict’s presence on four occasions, I will never forget them,” added Peschel. “As our rector at the seminary said, ‘We have known Peter.’

For those who are older they have known Peter in the life and ministry of several popes. For me, I have only known Peter in these two popes, but I look forward with great anticipation to knowing Peter again.”

“At the North American College in Rome, we are excited for the conclave,” said Schrader. “Many of the American cardinals will be staying in the guest rooms of our seminary in the days leading up to the conclave. Once the conclave begins, we plan to go to St. Peter’s Square at the times when the ballots are burned and the smoke is seen rising from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.”

Schrader went on to express sentiments of seminarians regardless of where they are. “I am very excited for the day when the new pope is elected and we all run to St. Peter’s Square at the sound of the bells. There we will greet the new Successor of Peter, who is charged

by Christ to cast into the deep the nets of the New Evangelization.”

It’s an excitement and anticipation shared by Catholics across the world.