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Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

Shroud expert coming to Cape Cod parish Sunday

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

MASHPEE — One of the most enduring mysteries that continues to defy scientific explanation is the Shroud of Turin, a 14-foot-long by 3.5-foot-wide ancient linen burial cloth etched with the faint image of a crucified man.

Could this be the actual burial shroud of Jesus Christ?

Could the Shroud of Turin be a document of the crucifixion?

Or is it nothing more than a medieval hoax?

International shroud expert Russ Breault, who has been featured in several documentaries including “Mysteries of the Ancient World” on CBS and “The Real Face of Jesus?” on the History Channel, will attempt to answer these questions and more as he brings his captivating Shroud Encounter presentation to Christ

the King Parish in Mashpee on Sunday.

A dedicated student of the shroud for more than 30 years, Breault first became fascinatTurn to page 14

ATTLEBORO — St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Attleboro is inviting all parents who are expecting the birth of a child to receive a special blessing on March 25 at 7 p.m.

“The idea to support mothers and fathers who are going

Diocesan missions offer faithful time for reflection, repentance

By Dave Jolivet Anchor Editor

Russ Breault, an international expert on the Shroud of Turin, will be presenting his Shroud Encounter at Christ the King Parish in Mashpee on Sunday beginning at 7 p.m.

Attleboro parish offering blessing for pregnant women

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff

Our Lenten Journey

F riday , March 7, 2014

through a pregnancy, and asking for God’s help — it’s not easy, especially physically for the woman, but also that she feels God’s help and the support of our community,” explained St. Vincent de Paul Parish’s pastor, Father Richard D. Wilson.

“The Rite for Blessing of the Turn to page 12

TAUNTON — Parishes in three Fall River diocesan deaneries are inviting their parishioners and friends to attend a Lenten mission to assist in their journeys through this holy season.

Deanery-wide missions will be held in Taunton, Fall River and New Bedford.

The Taunton mission will take place at St. Ann’s Church, 660 North Main Street in Raynham, from March 16 through 19. Led

by Holy Cross Father Hugh Cleary, director of Campus Ministry at Stonehill College in Easton, the mission is ti-

tled, “Lenten Practices Leading to Easter Joy.” The mission will take place each evening at 7 p.m.

The Sunday evening session will take place in the context of a holy hour, with Father Cleary’s introduction to the mission: “Three Lenten practices leading to Easter Joy.” Each of the succeeding evening sessions will touch upon the three practices. On Monday evening, in the context of a Mass, Father Cleary will discuss “Praying: Finding our heart’s greatest longing.”

On Tuesday evening, also in the context of holy Mass, Turn to page 13

Coyle and Cassidy High School and Taunton Catholic Middle School to join

TAUNTON — In a move to provide students with more opportunities and resources for their Catholic education, Coyle and Cassidy High School in Taunton and Taunton Catholic Middle School will join to-

gether to become one school, serving grades six through 12, beginning in the 2014-15 academic year.

The school will utilize the facilities of the Coyle and Cassidy campus to house the high

school and middle school divisions with each located in separate parts of the building and each having its own entrance.

The high school and middle school divisions will maintain Turn to page 10

Pope Francis’ Lenten Message He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich (cf. 2 Cor 8:9) Dear brothers and sisters, As Lent draws near, I would like to offer some helpful thoughts on our path of conversion as individuals and as a community. These insights are inspired by the words of St. Paul: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich” (2 Cor 8:9). The Apostle was writing to the Christians of Corinth to encourage them to be generous in helping the faithful in Jerusalem who were in need.

What do these words of St. Paul mean for us Christians today? What does this invitation to poverty, a life of evangelical poverty, mean for us today?

1. Christ’s grace.

First of all, it shows us how God works. He does not reveal Himself cloaked in worldly power and wealth but rather in weakness and poverty: “Though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor.” Christ, the

Eternal Son of God, One with the Father in power and glory, chose to be poor; He came amongst us and drew near to each of us; He set aside His glory and emptied Himself so that He could be like us in all things (cf.

Phil 2:7; Heb 4:15). God’s becoming Man is a great mystery! But the reason for all this is His love, a love which is grace, generosity, a desire to draw near, a love which does not hesitate to offer itself in sacrifice for the beloved. Charity, love, is sharing with the one we love in all things. Love makes us similar, it creates equality, it breaks down walls and eliminates distances. God did this with us. Indeed, Jesus “worked with human hands, thought with a human mind, acted by human choice and loved with a human heart. Born of the Virgin Mary, He truly became One of us, like us in all things except sin.” (Gaudium et Spes, 22).

By making Himself poor, Jesus did not seek poverty for its own sake but, as St. Paul says “that by His poverty you might become rich.” This Turn to page 18

News From the Vatican

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March 7, 2014

Anointing of the Sick assures nearness of Christ, says pope Vatican City (CNA) — In a recent general audience Pope Francis gave a brief catechesis on the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, noting that its purpose is to bring Christ close to the recipient.

“Every time we celebrate this Sacrament, the Lord Jesus, in the person of the priest, comes close to those who suffer and are gravely ill or elderly,” explained the pope.

“The special grace of this Sacrament” should not cause us to fall into an “obsessive search for a miracle” or “the presumption that it can always obtain healing,” cautioned the pontiff. Rather, “it is the certainty of the closeness of Jesus to the sick, the elderly.”

Pope Francis went on to explain to the crowd of nearly 50,000 in St. Peter’s Square that the practice of this Sacrament comes from Christ Himself Who “taught His disciples to have the same predilection for the sick and the suffering, and handed down to them the ability and the responsibility to continue to offer (it) in His name after His own heart of comfort and peace.”

The Biblical image that shows the Anointing of the Sick “in all its depth (and) the mystery that shines through” it is the parable of the good Samaritan, noted the pontiff.

A man who has been beaten, robbed, and left lying for dead on the side of the road is ignored by everyone except for a Samaritan man who not only stops to care for him, binding up all his wounds, but then takes the sick man to an inn and pays for him to be cared for there.

“The good Samaritan takes care of the suffering man, pouring oil and wine on his wounds,” recounted Pope Francis.

“The oil makes us think about what is being blessed by the bishop each year, at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, just ahead of the Anointing of the Sick,” he explained.

“The wine, however, is a sign of the love and grace of Christ that comes from the gift of His life for us, and which expresses

itself in all its richness in the Sacramental life of the Church.”

“Finally, the suffering person is entrusted to an innkeeper, so that he can continue to take care of him, no expense spared,” continued the pope.

“Now, what is this inn? It is the Church, the Christian community, it is we to whom every day the Lord Jesus entrusts those who are afflicted in body and spirit, so that we can continue to bestow upon them, without measure, all His mercy and Salvation.”

Pope Francis noted that sometimes the sick or elderly are afraid to call the priest for Anointing of the Sick because they think “it brings bad luck,” or they have “the idea that when there is a sick person and the priest comes, after (his visit) comes the funeral.”

“That is not true!” exclaimed the pope.

“The priest comes to help the sick or the elderly. This is why it is so important for priests to visit the sick. Call him!” he urged.

“Because it is Jesus Who comes to lift up (the sick person), to give him strength, to give hope, to help him. And to forgive his sins. And this is beautiful!”

At the end of the audience, Pope Francis made an appeal for peace in Venezuela, where violent clashes between police and those protesting the 10-month old government have led to at least 13 deaths.

“I sincerely hope that violence and hostility will cease as soon as possible, and that the whole Venezuelan people, beginning with political leaders and institutions, will endeavor to promote reconciliation through mutual forgiveness and a sincere dialogue, respectful of truth and justice, that is capable of dealing with concrete issues for the common good,” he said.

“As I assure you of my constant prayer, especially for those who lost their lives in the fighting and for their families, I invite all believers to lift up prayers to God, through the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Coromoto, so that the country might quickly find peace and harmony.”

Visit The Anchor online at http://www.anchornews.org

Pope Francis greets a family of pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square. (Photo by Kyle Burkhart/CNA)

Pope urges families to pray for upcoming bishops’ synod

Vatican City, (CNA/ EWTN News) — In a letter written to families, Pope Francis spoke of the importance of family life in the Church, stating their prayers are crucial for the upcoming synod which is dedicated to the unique challenges they face.

“I ask you, therefore, to pray intensely to the Holy Spirit, so that the Spirit may illumine the Synodal Fathers and guide them in their important task,” the pope requested of families in his recent letter, adding that “your prayer for the Synod of Bishops will be a precious treasure which enriches the Church.”

Announced by the Vatican last autumn, this year’s Synod of Bishops is slated to take place October 5 – 19, and will explore the theme of “pastoral challenges of the family in the context of evangelization.”

Established by Paul VI in 1965, the Synod of Bishops meets in an extraordinary general assembly when the matter under consideration requires a rapid definition.

Referring to the “urgent pastoral needs” facing the life of the family today, the Roman pontiff highlighted that the meeting will consist of bishops, priests, consecrated men and women, and lay persons, who are all preparing “through practical suggestions and the crucial support of prayer.”

“Such support on your part, dear families, is especially significant and more necessary than ever,” he emphasized, noting that the synod “is dedicated in a special way to you, to your vocation and mission in the Church and in society.”

Drawing attention to the Ordinary Assembly which will take place one year after the Synod of Bishops, and which will also focus on the theme of the family, as well as to the World Meeting of Families which is to take place in

Philadelphia in September 2015, Pope Francis called on families to pray that “through these events the Church will undertake a true journey of discernment and adopt the necessary pastoral means to help families face their present challenges with the light and strength that comes from the Gospel.”

Highlighting how he chose to write this letter on the feast of the Presentation, Pope Francis recalled how Simeon took Jesus “in his arms and thanked God that he had finally ‘seen’ Salvation,” and how “Anna, despite her advanced age, found new vigor and began to speak to everyone about the Baby.”

“It is a beautiful image,” he reflected: “two young parents and two elderly people, brought together by Jesus. He is the One Who brings together and unites generations!”

“He is the inexhaustible font of that love which overcomes ev-

ery occasion of self-absorption, solitude, and sadness.”

“In your journey as a family, you share so many beautiful moments: meals, rest, housework, leisure, prayer, trips and pilgrimages, and times of mutual support,” continued the pope, emphasizing that “if there is no love” in these acts “then there is no joy,” and “authentic love comes to us from Jesus.”

Concluding his letter, the Bishop of Rome explained to families that their prayers for the upcoming events are “a precious treasure” for the Church, and thanked them for their offerings.

“I ask you to pray also for me, so that I may serve the people of God in truth and in love,” he stated, asking that the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph “always accompany all of you and help you to walk united in love and in caring for one another.”

“I willingly invoke on every family the blessing of the Lord.”

Pope Emeritus Benedict says it’s absurd to question validity of his resignation

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a letter to an Italian journalist, retired Pope Benedict XVI said questions about the validity of his resignation are “absurd. There is absolutely no doubt regarding the validity of my renunciation of the Petrine ministry,” the retired pope wrote in a letter to Andrea Tornielli, a Vatican correspondent for the newspaper La Stampa and the website Vatican Insider.

Tornielli said he wrote to the retired pope February 14 after reading articles questioning the canonical validity of his announcement Feb. 11, 2013, that he was stepping down. In the letter, Pope Benedict described as “simply absurd” doubts about how he had formulated his announcement to

cardinals gathered for a meeting about canonization causes. According to the Church’s Code of Canon Law, “the only condition for validity of my resignation is the complete freedom of my decision,” he wrote to Tornielli.

Solemnly, in Latin, Pope Benedict had told the cardinals present: “Well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of St. Peter, entrusted to me by the cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of St. Peter, will be vacant and a conclave to elect the new supreme pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.”

The International Church

March 7, 2014

Closer collaboration shapes Catholic agencies’ response to typhoon

TACLOBAN, Philippines Construction in communities programs,” Meehan said.

“Solidarity is important, and (CNS) — The response by began in early February, as the Catholic aid and development emergency part of the agen- I think that’s what motivates us agencies to November’s Ty- cies’ response wound down and and a respect for each and every phoon Haiyan emergency has they moved into long-term re- person,” he continued. “But at the end of the day we are called been marked by closer collabo- covery mode. ration rooted in each organizaCurry said CRS plans to to be professional humanitartion’s strengths and strong ties build about 20,000 shelters in ians and to do effective work. to the Philippine Church. the next two years. An esti- That (in) a sense is what drives Several agency leaders who mated 33 million coconut trees us to a closer relationship with gathered in early February to were felled by the storm, assur- other Caritas organizations.”

Archbishop Philip Wilson review typhoon recovery ef- ing a ready supply of wood. forts told Catholic News SerWhile CRS was building of Adelaide, Australia, chairvice the teamwork is making the shelters, CAFOD used its man of Caritas Australia, who their humanitarian can say what I see here about the joined the delegation of agency leaders in the efforts more unified, cooperation involved is precisely Archdiocese of Palo, ensuring that fewer people miss out on vital the way that things should be. It strength- said he was pleased by assistance. ens the kind of response we can make. the level of cooperaThe effort involves Each of our organizations has particular tion he had seen durCatholic Relief Ser- strengths and all of our strengths can be ing his visit. Caritas Australia has focused vices; Caritas Austraits response in comlia; Trocaire, the Irish given the best opportunity to work.” munities near Cebu Catholic aid agency; and CAFOD, the relief and expertise in water services to and in Eastern Samar, while development agency of the provide clean water in com- other agencies responded on Catholic bishops of England munities around Tanauan, near Leyte Island.

“I can say what I see here and Wales.

Palo, where Haiyan’s floods Agency leaders also cred- ruptured normally secure water about the cooperation involved is precisely the way that things ited the work of the National lines.

Secretariat for Social Action, Using some of the $5 million should be,” the archbishop Justice and Peace of the Cath- raised in parish collections and said. “It strengthens the kind olic Bishops Conference of the another $7.5 million in grants of response we can make. Each Philippines for its deeply con- from the British government, of our organizations has parnected network of parish vol- CAFOD was able to place 18 ticular strengths and all of our unteers who can be rallied in water bladders in communities strengths can be given the best an emergency. around Tanauan so that resi- opportunity to work.”

Chris Bain, CAFOD’s diThe result has been a wid- dents could access clean water er distribution of emergency until pipeline repairs are made. rector, echoed his colleagues, housing materials, household Water is trucked in to fill the saying success would be impossible without the connecitems and water, sanitation and bladders. hygiene supplies in the most Father Edwin Gariguez, tions NASSA has in local devastated communities, said NASSA’s executive secretary, communities.

“For me it’s working toJoe Curry, country representa- described such work as completive for CRS in the Philippines. mentary. He said collaboration gether,” Bain said. “There’s no “Each agency knows each is necessary to avoid duplicat- duplication. There’s a great atother pretty well, and we get ing services to some people in mosphere in the team working here. For me, it’s celebrating the needs assessments, and we need and overlooking others. know what kind of program“At Caritas what we try to that as an act of solidarity with ming we need to put in place,” do is really effect meaningful the local Church.”

Curry told CNS. cooperation of all members Carolyn Woo, CRS presi- from different countries comdent, said the effort allows her ing together to help, so that agency to learn from the others we can project a coordinated working in the Philippines. effort on behalf of the Caritas “We learn from our partners confederation and not having because we are good in differ- one or the other doing his or ent things,” she told CNS. “We her thing,” he said. are not good in the same thing.

Eamonn Meehan, Trocaire’s This collaboration is, in the executive director, told CNS end, how we can best serve the the idea of wider collaboration people of the Philippines and surfaced in mid-2012, as the how we can all work together agencies faced repeated emerto rebuild.” gencies in the typhoon-prone CRS has used its expertise nation. In response to Haiin emergency shelter construc- yan, Trocaire has supported its tion to begin building tempo- sister Caritas Internationalis rary structures for families who agencies with nearly $1.5 milhave lost their homes in rural lion, he said. communities near Palo. CRS “We think we are compledesigned two types of shelters mentary, that we can complemade from the wood of coco- ment each other, that we can nut trees felled by the storm. provide staff to each other’s

“I

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The Church in the U.S.

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March 7, 2014

Boomers can have a good Lent even when not needing to fast

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The Catholic rules for fasting during Lent no longer apply when you turn 59. This applies not only to senior citizens, but a growing number of baby boomers as well. And there’s still nearly a decade’s worth of baby boomers closing in on age 59.

So how does one have a “good Lent” without fasting?

It helps to keep in mind that fasting is just one of what the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops calls the three “pillars of Lenten observance.” The other two are prayer and almsgiving.

With Lent starting last week with Ash Wednesday, the USCCB is ramping up its efforts to help Catholics of all ages observe the season under the theme “Give Up, Take Up, Lift Up.” “Giving up” for Lent has long been an option. Candy, cigars, cigarettes? How about bad language or habits? But other options include doing something pro-active, which is something anyone, boomer or otherwise, can do.

And parents of Catholic boomers have shown that old Catholics can learn new tricks.

Susan Purrenhage, 75, of Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich., a Detroit suburb, raised five daughters — one of whom has already reached boomerhood — with her husband, Ed. For the record, she still fasts on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, while Ed claims, “I’m of an age” where fasting is unnecessary.

“It’s between him and God,” she avers.

“In the days I was raising the kids it was more about ‘giving up’ when they were little,” Purrenhage said. “But as they grew up, I learned more. It was doing

more than just giving up — doing something yourself.”

That discovery led to, seemingly contradictorily, a cornucopia of Lenten-themed activities over the years.

“For myself now, I am more about doing something extra for Lent,” Purrenhage told Catholic News Service. One favorite thing she likes to do is write letters. “There are so many people are who are lonely, depressed, removed from their families,” she said, adding that receiving the letters is “very, very helpful to their own journey.”

In addition, “I try to get to church more often,” said Purrenhage, a member of St. Philomena Parish in Detroit. “I keep hearing my mother-in-law’s voice. I’d ask, ‘Why do you go to Mass every day?’ She’d say, ‘You go when you can because there will come a time when you can’t go anymore.’”

And not just for Mass. “None of us have ever been fond of going to Stations of the Cross, but we do that every once in a while, and we go to Confession, because there are opportunities” such as “communal penance services” with individual Confessions as large numbers of priests head to designated churches in their respective vicariates to hear Confessions. “I’ve seen as few as 40 and as many as 200” at the services, Purrenhage told CNS. Extra spiritual reading during Lent is bonus for Purrenhage.

She’s also taken in musical passion plays staged during Lent at nearby churches, and has seen a one-woman show on the life of St. Catherine of Siena performed

by Dominican Sister Nancy Murray, the sister of well-regarded comic actor Bill Murray.

Then there’s also that old standby: the Knights of Columbus-sponsored Friday fish fry to which the whole family, and extended family, is invited. “Whoever comes, comes,” Purrenhage said.

And, in case anybody was wondering, the obligation to fast may be gone at age 59, but the obligation to abstain from eating meat on the Fridays of Lent remains.

Bob Piccone of Portland, Maine, still fasts. “I try not to use age as an excuse,” he said.

Piccone, also 75 with boomer children, remembers Lenten practices in his younger days. “I would give up, like, a TV show that I was watching, or something like a certain pizza place that I would go to — not thinking very philosophically,” he said. “It was always, ‘I do know it’s supposed to be (giving up) something I like. So what do I like?’”

Piccone remembered one of his young children asking him, “What are you giving up for Lent, daddy?” His reply: “Watermelon,” which isn’t particularly plentiful in Maine in late winter.

Ultimately, he would choose something to give up. “Then I would try to get into it. I would try. I didn’t always succeed. I was just one of those guys who was born with a guilty conscience.

It’s not a good thing. Life would have been a lot simpler for me if I hadn’t had that feeling that somebody is always watching me.”

But Piccone got to a point in his life when he decided Lent was about more than just giving up stuff.

“I thought about the significance of it. I put the significance of it versus what it would have been at a younger age. I sort of like the idea (of not doing) something that you know is annoying to other people, or something that you’ve never been comfortable with ... you then go that route.”

But he can’t forsake something someone else would have a harder time doing without.

His wife, Nancy, loves going to the movies, and Piccone and she regularly see films together. “She wouldn’t want me to give that up,” he told CNS. One aspect of Lenten resolu-

tions that still bothers him: “It comes out like it’s a selfish thing, because I gain from it. I don’t know if it counts. I haven’t had any theological conversations about it.”

But one thing Piccone enjoys about Lent is that it “ties you to your Church. Our Church, in my view, is a great gift to me, so I can accept it with all its foibles and problems.”

He added, “The Catholic Church to me, that’s what makes it part of what I want to be part of. When Lent rolls around, I’m not interested in giving up something but I know that’s what’s expected of me. So if I’m going to be a Catholic, I’m going to try to be best one I can.”

Piccone hadn’t settled on a particular Lenten practice with less than a week to go before Lent began. “I’ve been working on it,” he said. One idea that appealed to him is giving up swearing. “I don’t do it in (contract) negotiations, I don’t do it in certain settings, and I don’t do it in front of women,” he told CNS. “Maybe I’m going to work on that.”

Catholic leaders join in asking Obama to protect U.S. religious freedom

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Two Catholics joined with eight evangelical leaders in asking President Barack Obama to defend religious liberty in the United States as he has defended it in other countries.

“As you promote religious freedom abroad, please also give attention to preserving the First Amendment freedoms of all Americans here at home,” said the letter, dated February 26.

“Some Americans are concerned that your administration’s domestic policies do not fully protect the religious convictions of all our citizens,” it said. “Your leadership abroad will be strongest as you point to the robust religious freedom protection that is provided even to those who may be critics of your administration.”

The two Catholics who signed the letter, which was distributed by the National Association of Evangelicals, were Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington and Stephen F. Schneck, director of the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies at The Catholic University of America, Washington.

Much of the letter lauded Obama for his efforts to pro-

mote religious freedom abroad.

“We applaud your words in support of Pastor Saeed Abedini and (the Rev.) Kenneth Bae,” the letter said. Abedini is an IranianAmerican who converted from Islam to Christianity and is in an Iranian prison after fostering the growth of a house-church movement in Iran. Rev. Bae is an American citizen and Baptist pastor born in South Korea who was imprisoned by North Korea for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government.

Obama mentioned both of them during his remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington.

“We join you in calling for robust recognition of religious liberty by all in Syria, Sudan, Egypt, Burma (Myanmar), Pakistan, Nigeria, China, Iran, North Korea, the Holy Land and everywhere where believers are threatened,” the letter added.

“We applaud your pledge to name a new ambassador at large for international religious freedom in the very near future.

We urge you to appoint a proven leader with the stature to engage world leaders and to give this person your full support as he or she represents and promotes our

government’s commitment to religious freedom.”

The at-large ambassador post was established by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. The ambassadorship is the key position in the United States on religious freedom, and the seat has been vacant since October.

The letter said, “America has been a beacon and defender of religious liberty. Religious liberty and freedom of conscience were universally acclaimed by America’s Founders and Framers to be foundational for all further human rights and liberties. It is worthy and inspiring that you have called upon all Americans to stand up for the free exercise of religion at this critical hour.”

Among the evangelical leaders who signed the letter were the Rev. Joel C. Hunter, who is senior pastor of Northland, A Church Distributed, in Florida, and who offered the closing benediction at the 2008 Democratic National Convention; the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference; and Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals.

March 7, 2014

The Church in the U.S.

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Little Sisters of Poor brief asks court to extend injunction on mandate

DENVER (CNS) — The Little Sisters of the Poor religious order has asked the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to extend an injunction blocking enforcement of a federal mandate to provide contraceptive coverage in employee health insurance.

A brief filed February 24 with the appeals court in Denver said the injunction is necessary “to prevent the impermissible government pressure” on the order to offer an employee Students at St. Peter’s School in Washington, D.C., recently led a recent project to assemble 1,500 health benefits plan consistent bagged breakfasts for those seeking refuge from the cold in homeless shelters around the city. The with their Catholic faith, which school-wide project was part of a larger venture organized by Catholic Charities. Entitled “Cup of is against contraceptives.

Joe,” the initiative brings together volunteer groups to assemble healthy breakfasts for up to 1,300 “For the Little Sisters, an men and women staying at Catholic Charities shelters every single night. (Photo by Addie Mena/ injunction is necessary to spare CNA) (them) from the illegal coercion” forcing them to provide coverage they oppose, said the brief, filed on behalf of the Colorado-based order and ST. LOUIS (CNS) — Fa- ally has not been permitted in of a married clergy, but it is their co-plaintiffs — Christian ther Wissam Akiki is the first the United States, according to highly restricted.”

Brothers Services and Chrismarried man to be ordained a press release from St. Ray“A (married) priest is not al- tian Brothers Employee Bena priest for the U.S. Maronite mond’s Cathedral. lowed to be a bishop — in fact efits Trust.

Catholic Church.

St. Raymond’s statement most bishops (in the Eastern The filing follows the SuOn February 27, with per- also noted that having a mar- Church) are monks and they preme Court’s January 24 order mission granted by Pope Fran- ried priesthood should in no must be celibate. And if you’re affirming — for the time being cis, Bishop A. Elias Zaidan of way “detract from the value ordained a priest and you’re not — an injunction handed down the U.S. Maronite Eparchy of that the Church finds in the married, then you’re expected by Justice Sonia Sotomayor Our Lady of Lebanon ordained vocation to celibacy. The celi- to remain celibate the rest of within hours of the mandate the married deacon at St. Ray- bate priesthood continues to be your life,” he explained. taking effect at midnight Janumond’s Maronite Cathedral in highly esteemed. We need to “The important thing to ary 1. Noncompliance by that St. Louis. always keep in mind that it is remember about celibacy in date would have meant thou“It is a blessing and an honor a vocation to be married and a Roman Church is that it is a sands of dollars in daily fines to officiate over any ordination, vocation to be a priest.” covenantal relationship be- levied against the Little Sisters. and especially so at this historic In the Latin-rite Catholic tween the individual priest and Under rules issued by the ordination of the first married Church, including in the Unit- the Church itself,” Msgr. Witt U.S. Department of Health and man to enter the priesthood ed States, celibate priesthood said. “The priest is standing in Human Services, the mandate in the United States of Amer- has been the normal practice, for Christ — the ‘alter Christus’ requires nearly all employers to ica for the Maronite Church,” explained Msgr. Michael Witt, — and he stands in for Christ cover contraceptives, sterilizaBishop Zaidan said in a state- professor of Church history at not only when he is performing tions and some abortion-inment issued before the ordina- Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. the Sacraments, but in a much ducing drugs for all employees tion.

The Council of Trent, he said, broader sense than that. We are in their company health plan.

“I join our Holy Father, our realized that celibacy within really married to the Church in It includes a narrow exemption Maronite patriarch, my fellow the priesthood was a Church a unique kind of way.” for some religious employers bishops and priests through- discipline. out the world in our prayer for “In other words, the Church priestly vocations,” he said. says that she wants her priests Father Akiki studied for the to be celibate so that we priests priesthood at Holy Spirit Uni- then stand in for Christ at the versity in Lebanon, Our Lady altar and also beyond the altar,” of Lebanon Maronite Semi- Msgr. Witt told the St. Louis nary in Washington and the Review, newspaper of the St. Aquinas Institute of Theology Louis Archdiocese. “There is in St. Louis. He is married to a marriage bond between the Manal Kassab and they have a clergy and the Church just as daughter, Perla. there is a marriage covenant beThe Maronite Church is tween the Church and Christ. among 22 Eastern Catholic And we as priests are supposed churches that are in union with to image that.”

Rome. The spiritual heritage of Eastern Catholic churches the Maronite Church is traced traditionally have dealt with to a fourth-century hermit, St. the issue of married priests in a Maron. different way.

These Eastern churches In 692 during the Council have an ancient tradition of of Constantinople, also known allowing married men to be- as the Council in Trullo, Msgr. come priests, although since Witt said, the council fathers the 1920s the practice gener- “acknowledged the legitimacy

First married man ordained priest for U.S. Maronite Catholic Church

that fit certain criteria.

Religious employers who are not exempt — such as the Little Sisters of the Poor — can comply with an accommodation, meaning they fill out a government form directing a third-party — such as the administrator of their health plan — to provide the coverage.

The U.S. government argues that by directing a third party to be responsible for the coverage, the Little Sisters are informing HHS of their religious identity and their objections to the mandate.

“The government asserts that forcing the appellants to sign and deliver the form would have no effect of advancing the government’s objectives,” said the brief.

Lawyers for the Little Sisters argue that by filling out the form to direct third-party coverage, the Sisters are still involved in providing coverage they find morally objectionable.

“Even without the government’s express agreement,” the brief said, “class-wide relief would be appropriate here in light of the scope of the harm to be prevented until a trial on the merits can be held.”

“We are hopeful the 10th Circuit will give (the order) more lasting protection,” said Mark Rienzi, senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and lead counsel for the religious order.

“The federal government is a massive entity that has lots of ways to deliver contraceptives to people — it doesn’t need to force the Little Sisters to participate,” he said in a statement.

6

March 7, 2014

Anchor Editorial

Distractions from our Lenten call

The controversy about the St. Patrick’s Day parade in South Boston continued this week.

At press time (Tuesday) there were conflicting reports as to whether MassEquality members could march in the main parade (the one sponsored by South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, as opposed to the other parade, which follows the main one, sponsored by Veterans for Peace, in which they have marched for the past two decades) openly or whether they would have to hide their sexual orientation to do so.

In response to the initial agreement at the beginning of the week, the Catholic Action League condemned the decision and at the end of its press release stated, “As for the Archdiocese of Boston, its silence was as shameful as it was predictable.”

In the meantime, the negotiations between the SBAWVC, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh and MassEquality continue, with various permutations of agreements or disagreements being bandied about. In regards to the Archdiocese of Boston, it had nothing to gain from intervening in this controversy. If it criticized the supposed agreement, people on the left would say that the archdiocese was ignoring Pope Francis’ “who am I to judge” attitude (see Father Landry’s column to the right of this editorial). If the archdiocese voiced approval, people on the right would say that the Church was not upholding its own teaching about sexual morality.

In the days of Bernard Cardinal Law, he would get involved in a controversy such as this one. He famously helped negotiate the naming of the new Interstate 93 bridge over the Charles River, trying to balance the interests of those who wanted to name it for the late Leonard Zakim (who had led the Anti-Defamation League here in New England and with whom Cardinal Law had traveled to Auschwitz and Rome) and “townies” from Charlestown, who wanted to name it after the battle of Bunker Hill (there were allegations at the time that the townies were against naming it after Zakim for reasons of anti-Semitism). Cardinal Law supported a compromise, in which the bridge would be called the “Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge.” One wonders if it would have been a better usage of the cardinal’s time to be more proactive about sexual abuse in the Church than to help name a bridge.

By midweek a Catholic school in Harvard, Mass. had pulled out of the parade. The Catholic Action League sent out a press release to announce that the Immaculate Heart of Mary School had removed its band and float from the parade. The press release did note that the school is located in the Diocese of Worcester, but did express hope that the Archdiocese of Boston would publicly support the school in taking this step.

In reaction to the school’s move, Boston Globe columnist Kevin Cullen tried to give some background information about the school, noting its connection to the St. Benedict Center, which was founded by Jesuit Father Leonard Feeney, who was excommunicated for his extreme interpretation of St. Cyprian’s teaching, “Outside of the Church, there is no Salvation.”

Feeney taught that unless someone explicitly joined the Catholic Church, they were damned to hell. Richard Cardinal Cushing objected to this, saying that the Church teaches that some people are saved without explicitly becoming Catholic or even Christian, although the Church is still the means through which Christ saves them. The Holy Office (the prede-

cessor department of the Holy See to the current Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) wrote to Cardinal Cushing (in a document approved by Pope Pius XII), “among those things which the Church has always preached and will never cease to preach is contained also in that infallible statement by which we are taught that there is no Salvation outside the Church.

However, this dogma must be understood in that sense in which the Church herself understands it. For, it was not to private judgments that Our Savior gave for explanation [of] those things that are contained in the deposit of faith, but to the teaching authority of the Church.”

In other words, the Holy See was rejecting the private judgment of Father Feeney that only Catholics could enter Heaven. The letter wasn’t exactly a “kumbaya” missive. It did state, “no one will be saved who, knowing the Church to have been Divinely established by Christ, nevertheless refuses to submit to the Church or withholds obedience from the Roman pontiff, the Vicar of Christ on earth.” In other words, if you understand that Jesus founded the Catholic Church and turn away from it, you are putting your soul at great risk.

Nonetheless, the letter did give an allowance for non-Catholics. “In His infinite mercy God has willed that the effects, necessary for one to be saved, of those helps to Salvation which are directed toward man’s final end, not by intrinsic necessity, but only by Divine institution, can also be obtained in certain circumstances when those helps are used only in desire and longing. The same in its own degree must be asserted of the Church, in as far as she is the general help to Salvation. Therefore, that one may obtain eternal Salvation, it is not always required that he be incorporated into the Church actually as a member, but it is necessary that at least he be united to her by desire and longing. However, this desire need not always be explicit, as it is in catechumens; but when a person is involved in invincible ignorance God accepts also an implicit desire, so called because it is included in that good disposition of soul whereby a person wishes his will to be conformed to the will of God.” Father Feeney’s excommunication was removed in 1972 (this was not mentioned in the Globe column) and he died in 1978.

One wonders whether the school in Harvard would have been better off to take the more “low key” approach of the Good News Bible Chapel in Attleboro which, when it became concerned with the Boy Scouts of America’s new policy regarding “gay scouts,” quietly ended their relationship with the Scouts (sort of like St. Joseph dealing with Mary’s pregnancy, until the dream let him in on God’s plan). If it weren’t for the news media poking around the issue, only the chapel and the troop would have known about it.

Pope Francis has been clear that he is a “son of the Church” and his goal is to help people accept the Church’s teachings, but his route to reaching that goal is by having people have a true encounter with the love of Christ. Until one has that, their acceptance of the Church’s teachings on sexual morality, Marriage, intoxication, or anything else will be shaky at best and won’t be grounded in the love of God and neighbor to which we are all called. What is going on in South Boston is a big distraction from the Ash Wednesday invitation, “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.”

Pope Francis’ weekly Angelus address and prayer

fidence in God has a parallel in the passage from the Gospel of lo!

At the center of this Sunday’s Matthew: “Look at the birds of Liturgy we find one of the most the sky,” says Jesus, “they do not comforting truths: Divine prov- sow or reap, they gather nothing idence. The prophet Isaiah pres- into barns, yet your Heavenly ents it as an image of maternal Father feeds them. Learn from love full of tenderness, and says the way the wild flowers grow. this: “Could a woman forget They do not work or spin. But I her child, be without tenderness tell you that not even Solomon for the offspring of her womb?” in all his splendor was clothed (49:15). How beautiful this is! like one of them” (Mt 6:26, 28God does not forget us, each 29).

But considering the many peoone of us! He does not forget ple who live in precarious condiabout each of us with a first and tions, or in a misery that offends last name. He loves us and does their dignity, these words of Jesus not forget us. What a beautiful might seem abstract, if not illuthought. This invitation to conDear brothers and sisters, hel-

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sory. But in reality they are more actual than ever! They remind us that you cannot serve two masters: God and wealth. So long as everyone is out to get whatever he can for himself, there will never be justice. We must understand this well! So long as everyone is out to get whatever he can for himself, there will never be justice. If, however, trusting in God’s providence, we seek His Kingdom together, then no one will lack what they need to live with dignity.

A heart that is preoccupied with the desire to possess is a heart that is full of this desire to possess, but it lacks God. For this reason Jesus often admonished the rich, because the temptation to place their trust in the goods of this world is strong, and security, true security, is in God. In a heart possessed by riches, there is no longer much room for faith: everything is concerned with riches, there is no room for faith. If, however, God is given the place that belongs to Him, that is, the first place, then His love will lead us to share our riches too, to put them in the service of projects of solidarity and development, as we see in so many examples, even recent ones, in the history of the Church.

And in this way God’s provi-

dence passes through our service to others, our sharing with others.

If each of us were to accumulate wealth not only for ourselves but to put at the service of others, in this case God’s providence would manifest itself in this gesture of solidarity. If, however, someone acquires things only for himself, what will happen to him when he is called by God? He cannot bring his riches with him, because, as you know, there are no pockets in the burial shroud! It is better to share because we only bring to Heaven what we shared with others.

The path that Jesus points to might seem very unrealistic from the perspective of a common mentality and the economic crisis; but if we think about it carefully, it leads us to the right hierarchy of values. Jesus says: “Is life not worth more than food and the body more than clothing?” (Mt 6:25).

To ensure that no one lacks bread, water, clothing, housing, work, health we need to recognize each other as children of the Heavenly Father and so as brothers to each other, and conduct ourselves accordingly. I proposed this in my Message for Peace on January 1: Brotherhood is the way to peace, this going forward together, shar-

ing things together.

In the light of the Word of God this Sunday we invoke the Virgin Mary as Mother of Divine Providence. We entrust our existence to her, the path of the Church and of humanity. In particular we ask for her intercession so that we can all make an effort to live in a simple and sober way, with our eyes open to the needs of our brothers who most require our help most.

The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary, and she conceived by work of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary ...

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy Word.

Hail Mary ...

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary ...

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

March 7, 2014

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he central message of Pope Francis’ papacy has been the incredible gift of God’s mercy.

I’ll never forget his first Sunday as pope when he called the small parish of St. Anne, just inside the gates of the Vatican, and said that he would like to celebrate the Sunday morning Mass. There he preached off the cuff a message that he would incorporate into his first Angelus address to a packed St. Peter’s Square a short time later.

“The Lord never tires of forgiving. Never!” he exclaimed.

“It is we who tire of asking His forgiveness. Let us ask for the grace not to tire of asking forgiveness, because He never tires of forgiving.”

There are two parts to his proclamation of God’s mercy.

The first is a theological point about God, that He never tires of giving us His merciful love.

It’s God’s greatest joy to forgive, as Jesus taught us in the parables of the lost sheep, lost coin and lost son.

The second part is moral.

We have to respond to this great gift, which basically was the motivation for the Incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Pope Francis says that we must never tire of asking for the mercy that God never tires of giving.

Anchor Columnists Never tire of asking for forgiveness The world has been hearing Confession!”

There are clear dangers with enthusiasm the first part in only hearing the first part of the message, but it’s been of Pope Francis’ message of tone deaf to the second. And it’s not for lack of Pope Francis’ mercy.

The first danger is a failtrying to get that message across.

He declared that he himself never tires of Putting Into asking for God’s mercy, going to receive it the Deep every two weeks in the Sacrament of Penance

By Father and Reconciliation.

Roger J. Landry He has put into practice the priorure to understand what he’s ity of drawing others to the teaching about morality. For Sacrament and of setting an example, when he said, “Who example for priests to make it am I to judge?” it wasn’t to available by himself prioritizindicate, as many in the media ing hearing Confessions at portrayed it, that he was about World Youth Day and every time he visits a Roman parish. to change Church teaching on same-sex sexual activity or look He has preached often the other way on priests’ living about the need for Catholics to take advantage of the gift of a gay lifestyle. He was specifithe Sacrament of God’s mercy. cally describing a situation in which someone “commits a On February 19, he asked sin and then converts,” who is the tens of thousands who “searching for the Lord [with] had assembled in St. Peter’s good will,” and who goes to the Square for his general audiLord and the “Lord forgives.” ence, “When was the last time He was describing a situation you made your Confession? in which a priest judged his Everyone think about it: Two own conduct to be immoral days, two weeks, two years, and came to receive the mercy 20 years, 40 years? Everyone of God and live a new life. count, everyone say, ‘When The second danger is that, was the last time I went to Confession?’ And if much time in failing to come to receive has passed, do not lose another God’s mercy, we will become “corrupt.” This is a term he day. Be courageous and go to

Catholic Charities comes to Kalaupapa

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lane after plane touched most sacred places in town, down on runway five Fuesaina’s bar. even as other passengers The bus then opened its alighted from their planes and throttle and chugged its way strolled toward Kalaupapa’s over the 2.6 miles to Father terminal one. I stood at the Damien’s church, St. Philoterminal gate along with Sister Theresa and Sister Sam, our hands extended in welcome. I felt like I was running for mayor or local president of the bird watcher’s society!

By Father After the traditional Patrick Killilea, SS.CC. sign-in, the visitors climbed aboard the Damien Tours bus and took mena, in the former Hansen’s off for Kalaupapa town. These disease settlement in Kalawere Catholic Charities work- wao. There we gathered for ers here to walk on the land of the celebration of Mass. The Damien and Marianne. main celebrant was ArchAs is the tradition, the bishop Anthony Apuron from pilgrims made the customary Guam. Father Tatino from stops in town: the book store Pago Pago was the homilist where books and souvenirs are and he gave an animated and available at a price; Mother arousing homily. Even the Marianne’s grave; St. Franusually squawking mynah cis Church; the pier where birds listened in awe. Our vicar Damien landed on May 10 general, Father Gary Secor, 1873; and of course one of the represented us as a diocese.

Moon Over Molokai

After picture taking at the lookout in Judd Park, we returned to Kalaupapa town where the good Sisters of St. Francis provided us with a feast of food at McVeigh hall.

All had a good time sharing the atmosphere of this special place.

All good things must come to an end, as it is said, and so at about 2 p.m. the bus brought our visitors to the airport. There were hugs and kisses galore (go leor, in Gaelic), then they reluctantly began to board their respective planes and soon were leaving for Honolulu and their homes. We always stay to wave our friends into the Kalaupapa sky since we want to make sure they leave — safely.

Aloha.

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

has used in six different daily Mass homilies to distinguish between sinners who come to receive God’s mercy and sinners who don’t. The latter, those who tire of receiving God’s mercy or who refuse to acknowledge their need for it, he calls “corrupt.”

The corrupt are “sinners like us but have gone a step further.”

They have become “solidified in sin [such that] they don’t feel the need for God,” he said on June 3. This corruption happened, he described, with the Pharisees and Herodians ( June 4), those who cause scandal (November 11), Judas ( January 14) the sons of Eli ( January 16), and even King Solomon (February 13), who despite his great early service of God ended up through vanity and lust giving into the idolatry of various of his 700 wives and 300 concubines. He never repented like David his father.

“This is the difference between a sinner and a man who is corrupt,” Pope Francis said on November 11. “One who leads a double life is corrupt, whereas a sinner is one who would like not to sin, but who is weak or who finds himself in a condition he cannot resolve, and so goes to the Lord and asks to be forgiven.”

Pope Francis emphasized that corruption is a real danger for Christians.

“A Christian who boasts of

7 being a Christian but does not lead a Christian life is corrupt.”

The life of someone who is corrupt, he said with unforgettable imagery, is a “varnished putrefaction,” a whitewashed tomb, someone Jesus doesn’t refer to as a “sinner,” but rather “a hypocrite.”

He ended a few of these homilies with a refrain: “Sinners, yes. Corrupt, no!”

“Let us ask the Lord,” he said on June 3, “for the grace to know that we are sinners — truly sinners — as well as for the grace not to become corrupt [but] to follow the way of sanctity.”

That is a great prayer for all of us as we begin the season of Lent.

The greatest antidote we have to never becoming corrupt even though we’re all sinners is by never forgetting our need for God’s mercy and never tiring of coming to receive it in the Sacrament of Penance — because God never tires of waiting for us there in the person of his priests.

Anchor columnist Father Landry is pastor of St. Bernadette Parish in Fall River. fatherlandry@ catholicpreaching.com.

8

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ere we are, the first Sunday of Lent. We have no Gloria, no flowers adorning our altars, and the somber hues of purple remind us that we are in a season of Penance and preparation. We sing hymns with lyrics declaring, “Led by the Spirit of our God we go to fast and pray.” But where do we go? Christians, like Jesus in the Gospel, have entered the desert for our time of prayer and fasting. Jesus stepped out of the goings-on in the world around Him to focus singularly and whole-heartedly on His relationship with the Father; to some degree, we are called to do the same.

Nevertheless, when we

March 7, 2014

We’re not alone in the desert

enter the desert, we don’t go up our guard in this holy alone. We enter the desert as season of Lent. Recall the a Church, communally, with words employed when the Christ and all the angels ashes were put on our heads and saints in Heaven.

This weekend’s Homily of the Week Scriptures remind us however, that such a First Sunday task is not completed of Lent with particular ease.

By Deacon Jesus encountered Chris Peschel Satan, the devil, in His time at prayer.

Notice how the devil came to Him towards the last Wednesday; “Turn away end of the 40 days. Notice, from sin, and be faithful to too, how the devil came to the Gospel.” Turning away tempt Jesus after “He was from sin involves turning hungry” almost as if to say away from the father of sin, in His humanity, Jesus was the devil, and all his pomp vulnerable at that point. We, and empty promises. too, are quite vulnerable, I’ll be up-front with it; and would be wise to keep we’ll get tired, we will get

hungry, Lent does that.

We’ll crave nothing more than the very thing we gave up. The temptation to a steak or bacon on a Friday will inevitably arise. The challenge to turning away from sin and the temptation to “leave the desert” occurs in the very choices we make in those moments.

Should we fall, we turn to the Church with whom we have entered into the desert and ask forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

If we’re doing it right, Lent will get tough and will wear on us. But there is a reason why the Church asks

us to set aside these weeks before Easter. We are preparing and doing Penance in anticipation of the Paschal Mystery being made present again. Our time in the desert may not be easy, but know in the midst of that difficulty that we are led into the desert, not alone, but together.

Deacon Peschel is a parishioner of Annunciation of the Lord parish in Taunton and is currently in his fourth year of theology studies at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton. Besides his studies, he also serves as a transitional deacon at St. John the Evangelist and St. Vincent de Paul Parishes in Attleboro.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Mar. 8, Is 58:9b-14; Ps 86:1-6; Lk 5:27-32. Sun. Mar. 9, First Sunday of Lent, Gn 2:7-9;3:1-7; Ps 51:3-6,12-13,17; Rom 5:1219 or 5:12,17-19; Mt 4:1-11. Mon. Mar. 10, Lv 19:1-2,11-18; Ps 19:8-10,15; Mt 25:31-46. Tues. Mar. 11, Is 55:10-11; Ps 34:4-7,16-19; Mt 6:7-15. Wed. Mar. 12, Jon 3:1-10; Ps 51:3-4,12-13,18-19; Lk 11:29-32. Thurs. Mar. 13, Est C:12,14-16,23-25; Ps 138:1-3,7c-8; Mt 7:7-12. Fri. Mar. 14, Ez 18:21-18; Ps 130:1-8; Mt 5:20-26.

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alf an hour before sunrise on Ash Wednesday, hundreds of English-speakers from all over Rome began walking to the ancient basilica of St. Sabina on the Aventine Hill.

They started from student residences, from embassies to Italy and the Holy See, and from the Vatican. The Schwerpunkt, or focal point, for all this activity is the Pontifical North American College: more than 250 seminarians, student-priests, priest-faculty, and staff, having walked from the Janiculum Hill to the Aventine, formed the largest single contingent at St. Sabina on Ash Wednesday.

That is as it should be. For St. Sabina is the first “station” in the Roman station church pilgrimage of Lent, a tradition dating back to the

Ash Wednesday in Rome journey, “Roman Pilgrimage: middle centuries of the first The Station Churches” (Basic Christian millennium. And Books). the station church pilgrimOn the Thursday after Ash age, which extends throughWednesday 2011, at 7 a.m., out Lent and involves some 40 churches, has become, today, a predominantly Anglophone — indeed, a predominantly American — phenomenon, having been revived for the

By George Weigel third millennium by the North American College. perhaps 250 English-speakers I got a sense of just how crowded into the small baAmerican this venerable custom has become when I spent silica of St. George in Velabro for the second Mass of Lent. all of Lent 2011 in Rome, Forty-five minutes later, a making the station church brave group of Germans came pilgrimage in full with my to honor the station church son Stephen and my friend Elizabeth Lev, as we prepared tradition by celebrating a our book on this unique spiri- beautifully chanted Mass together; there were seven tual, historical, and aesthetic of them. The next day, the same large English-speaking congregation climbed the Caelian Hill at dawn, to the station church of SS. John and Paul. Stephen and I came back to the basilica later that afternoon to do some more photography and accidentally found ourselves in the midst of the stational Mass sponsored by the Vicariate of Rome, the local diocese: there were about 12 concelebrants, and perhaps another dozen people.

The Catholic Difference

All of which explained the answer I got when I asked my friend Hanna Suchocka, the Polish ambassador to the Vatican, why she regularly attended the 7 a.m.

English-language station church Mass rather than the more convenient 5:30 p.m.

Vicariate of Rome Mass at the station church of the day: “Because I found a living Church here [i.e., at the American-sponsored Mass].”

St. Sabina is a splendid place to begin the station church pilgrimage. As Liz Lev puts it in “Roman Pilgrimage,” “The Basilica of St. Sabina crystallized Roman Christianity’s vision of the perfect church” with its remarkable “synergy of light, space, and decoration.” St. Sabina is also home to the oldest known depiction of the crucifixion, on the cypress doors of its porch: an image caught beautifully in one of Stephen’s “Roman Pilgrimage” photographs and a reminder that Lent is a journey with the Lord “up to Jerusalem,” where Jesus will meet His messianic destiny in the Paschal Mystery.

Liz’s, Stephen’s, and my intention in “Roman Pilgrimage” was to put readers

“inside” the station church pilgrimage experience. Liz’s brilliant descriptions of each church’s architecture and decoration give the reader a sense of “being there” and understanding what, in fact, is “there.” Stephen’s striking photographs are not modeled on high-end architectural magazines, where places lack people; the photos in “Roman Pilgrimage,” either in the hardback or the e-book (where all the photos are in color and can be “zoomed” out by tapping on them), literally put you “inside” the stational basilica of the day, with the “living Church” of which Suchocka spoke. My meditations on the daily Mass and Divine Office texts suggest something of what that “living Church” is pondering, day by day, as it walks through Rome while, imaginatively, walking up to Calvary and the Empty Tomb.

Americans in Rome have revived an ancient Catholic tradition that had lain dormant for centuries. That’s the happy fact to which “Roman Pilgrimage: The Station Churches” bears witness; that’s an experience readers can now share.

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

Anchor Columnists You can call me ‘Sparky,’ or ‘Sharky,’ or ‘Sleepy,’ or …

March 7, 2014

Tuesday 4 March 2014 — Homeport: Falmouth Harbor — Unique Names Day (www. namesuniverse.webs.com). ’ve been considering the subject of nicknames, of all things. I suspect almost everyone has had a nickname at some point in their lives. In many cultures, an individual is given another name after some significant event has occurred in his or her life. Nicknames can be used to acknowledge a special skill, unique accomplishment, or distinguishing characteristic. In one ethnic community, for example, I am known as “The Preacher.”

I like it. Nicknames can have a certain playful familiarity.

It comes as no surprise to me, therefore, that even Jesus had nicknames for the Apostles.

First and foremost (as always) was Simon Bar Jonah (Son of Jonah) AKA Cephas in Aramaic, Petrus in Latin or, in English, “The Rock.” That would make St. Peter the Apostle “Pope Rocky the First.”

Then there were the brothers James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were known as Boanerges or “Sons of Thunder “The Thunder Boys,” if you prefer.

Let’s not forget Thomas, called Didymus or “The Twin.” Count

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his week marks the beginning of our Lenten season, a time of looking inward, of recognizing all our faults and failings and turning ourselves over to God’s mercy and love. As a child and even into my adult life, I was encouraged to give up something for Lent, to sacrifice for the love of Jesus. In doing so, the hopes would be that somehow we would come to understand the ultimate sacrifice of Christ in our small ways.

What Jesus did for us is beyond our human comprehension; how any person could lay down their life for a friend, let alone total strangers is unfathomable. Yet Jesus did just that, He gave His all so that we might live, so that we could share in the promise of eternal life.

Often while I am sitting in church either waiting for Mass to begin or just sitting during the quiet moments of the Mass, I find myself gazing up at the crucifix in amazement of the sacrifice He made for me, for my family and everyone else in that Mass at that time. I even wonder about those who have yet to know Jesus and His Salvation.

Often the words will come to

“The Three Amigos” was Simon “The Zealot” as well. The the group nickname given to Apostle listed as “Bartholomew” the three living Bishops of Fall in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke is unmentioned River — Archbishop Daniel in the Gospel of John.

“Bartholomew” really isn’t a proper name to The Ship’s Log begin with but rather Reflections of a a lineage — “Son of Parish Priest Tolmay.” John instead has an Apostle named

By Father Tim not “Bartholomew” but Goldrick an otherwise unknown “Nathaniel.” Could this Cronin, Archbishop Sean be the same man — Nathaniel Bar Tolmay? Perhaps the Synop- Cardinal O’Malley, and Bishop George Coleman. We priests tic Gospels just nicknamed him had a cookout one summer and “Tolmay’s kid?” the “Three Amigos,” as Father Priests, too, have nicknames Mark Hession dubbed them, for each other. It’s one of the were the guests of honor. This is a bonding rituals of brothers.

Nicknaming among priests hap- nickname that can only be rarely used, since it would be very unpens everywhere. The Archdiousual to ever again have all three cese of Boston had Herbie “The bishops in the same room at the Derby” Driscoll. Sometime after same time. Even then, I would Father Herbert Driscoll had have second thoughts about callretired from active ministry, I ing His Eminence or His Excelmet him at St. Mary by the Sea lencies “Amigo.” Just saying.

Church in Onset. He explained There are current pastors who his nickname to me. It seems have nicknames. I’ll tell you if Father Driscoll was proud of you promise not to use them. his Irish-American heritage. He There’s Father Arnold would parade through the streets of Boston on St. Patrick’s Day — “Chaves” Medeiros. Actually, “Chaves” is technically not a wearing a green derby and sash. nickname. He has three sur“The Derby” is a much better names. He is Arnaldo Chaves nickname than “The Sash.”

Botello Medeiros. Then there are the Msgrs. John “Johnny O” Oliveira and Edmund “Fitzy” Fitzgerald. Their nicknames are self-explanatory. We have Father John Perry “The Junior” and Msgr. John Perry “The Elder” to distinguish our two diocesan priests named John Perry.

Among our priests retired from active duty, we have Father Richard “Crechie” Chretien and Father John “Buzz” Driscoll. I don’t know how the nickname “Buzz” came about, but I suspect it was given by Father John “The Coach” Hogan, who was in the habit of awarding nicknames to his priest friends. Father Leonard “Horse” Mullaney, though, holds the lifetime achievement award for giving a nickname to just about anyone who crosses his path.

Msgr. Tom Harrington has not one but two nicknames.

Being a life long fire chaplain, he is known as “Sparky.” He is also known as “The Butler” among some priests. There is also Father “Crying Brian” Harrington. Here is a man who wears his heart on his sleeve. He has been seen shedding tears during sentimental movie scenes

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and even at touching TV commercials.

I remember the old days. We had Fathers Francis “Chubby” Connors, John “Jigger” Higgins (who was nicknamed after baseball player “Jigger” Statz), James “Buffalo” Clark, John “The Captain” Murphy, John “Sharky” Steakem, James “Sleepy” McMahon, Hugh “Dish” Gallagher, John “Harvey” McKeon, Thomas “Mousy” Morrissey, William “Jupper” Norton, and William “Ripper” O’Riley.

Nicknames among priests seem to be going out of style, though. We now have less opportunity to study together in the seminary, work together at summer camp, or minister together in the parishes. We are brothers who are not as familiar to each other as in years past. We priests, it seems to me, can consequently appear more formal and less playful among ourselves. This is neither a good thing nor a bad thing. It just is.

Oh, wait. There’s just one more nickname — Father Tim “Goldy” Goldrick.

Remember, mum’s the word!

Anchor columnist Father Tim Goldrick is pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish in Falmouth.

Taking up our cross mind from the song, “Here I Am to Worship” by Chris Tomlin, especially the phrase “I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross,” which I find myself repeating time and time again. This simple gesture, in time, has become a prayer, a subtle reminder of what I mean to God, how much He loves me, and how much He wants to be loved by me. That symbol of love, unconditional love is set before us all, and prominently displayed for the entire world to see.

During this time, let us all look at our own lives; let us find the hurts and wrongs, not only those inflicted on us, but those which have pained others through our own words and actions as well. Forgiveness is what Jesus gave us on that cross; forgiveness is what He wants us to give one another. Yes, I know that forgiveness is not always an easy commodity to share, but take is from me, once it is given, it can be life-giving. Granting others forgiveness allows us to release our burdens, to lay them down, and gives us the courage and strength to walk away from

them. In truth, forgiveness can be one-sided, but I have learned that even when others will not accept my forgiveness or refuse to forgive me, the simple act of acknowledging my humanness and asking has made a big difference in my life.

In the Palm of His Hands

By Rose Mary Saraiva

The cross serves as a reminder of what Jesus did for us in the name of love and forgiveness, and yet so many choose to look away.

Somehow Jesus understood this as He carried His cross; He knew that it would take time for God’s people to come around. That many rejected then and continue to reject now the redemptive nature of His sacrifice, yet He refused to turn back on His promise to save us, and allowed Himself to be crucified. Jesus understood that regardless of where we are in our faith life, we are children of God, His brothers

and sisters, and that someday we would begin to see that love can and does conquer all.

During this Lenten season I have challenged myself and I challenge you as well, to truly look upon the crucifix, to come to understand what Jesus’ sacrifice truly means for us as Catholics. What Jesus hoped to gain for all mankind, and how this has impacted my life and my beliefs. Would I be willing to lay down my life for another?

Would I be willing to forgive or ask forgiveness of those I have wronged or who have wronged me? Am I willing to see beyond the pain and suffering in my own life, to allow the light that comes from within to shine for others to see?

Can I see the gifts and blessings in my own life, and am I willing to share them with others?

So many questions, so many challenges, yet these are just the tip of the iceberg. As you prepare yourself during Lent, look to your own lives, your own challenges, and ask yourself, where do I begin? What direction should I be taking? What needs to be

mended? And what bridges do I need to rebuild? Start small, after all Jesus began His ministry as an infant, and gradually begin to make a conscious effort to allow your journey through Lent to lead you to a glorious Easter morn. To a rebirth into the life and love that God alone desires for us. To taking up our cross, bearing our burdens, and laying it down at the feet of the Lord, ever mindful that Jesus has borne the greater part of our burdens.

There is a beautiful Lenten Prayer that sums it all up: God our Father, Your will is that everyone be saved and no one be lost.

You draw us to Yourself by prayer and Penance.

Grant that we may so follow Christ in love that our lives may help others and our weakness never hinder them.

We make this prayer in His name, Jesus, the Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

— “The Glenstal Book of Prayer” Anchor columnist Rose Mary Saraiva lives in Fall River and is a parishioner of St. Michael’s Parish.

She is married with three children. rmsaraiva@dfrcec.com.

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March 7, 2014

Coyle and Cassidy High School and TCMS to join continued from page one

their own academic and cocurricular programs; yet each will benefit from new learning opportunities that will become available by the schools joining as one.

For example, a seamless and integrated grades six-12 curriculum will be offered, allowing college prep education to begin earlier. Middle school students who are qualified and have parental permission will be able to participate in high school level courses and activities that are currently not available to

them. These could range from advanced mathematics and language classes to participation in additional arts and athletic programs. Later, in their high school years, these students will be qualified to take additional college level courses because of the advanced opportunities they received in middle school.

Grade five will no longer be offered as part of middle school education; it is already offered at both Catholic elementary schools in Taunton, Our Lady of Lourdes School and St.

Mary’s Primary School.

Fall River diocesan superintendent of schools, Dr. Michael Griffin, this week announced the plan to join the schools, which was approved

by Bishop George W. Coleman.

The decision to unify the two educational institutions in Taunton follows several months of study involving school administrators from the city’s four Catholic schools; pastors; a strategic planning committee comprised of Coyle and Cassidy and Taunton Catholic Middle School parents, faculty and advisory board members; and a meeting with parents in February during which they were invited to share their perspectives and concerns either that evening or by email throughout the next week.

At a subsequent meeting of the strategic planning committee, it was the unanimous recommendation of committee members that the schools unify.

“Following this study, it was clear that the path to offering quality Catholic education, grounded in strong academics and an environment of faith and values enabling the fullest growth of our grades six-12 students, was to unite these two schools together as two divisions of one school,” Griffin explained.

The joining of middle and high schools is a growing trend in Catholic education and is a model already in place in some

40 private schools, Catholic and otherwise-sponsored, in Massachusetts. It has already been implemented in another area in the Fall River Diocese. Last September, Pope John Paul II High School and the St. Francis Xavier (grades five-eight) Preparatory School opened as one educational entity in Hyannis.

There are only five standalone private middle schools in Massachusetts, and other private high schools are introducing middle school divisions.

Plans for the unification of Coyle and Cassidy High and Taunton Catholic Middle call for the middle school division to use classrooms in the north end of the high school building, separate from but in close proximity to the library, science labs and Fine Arts Center. The middle school will also have its own separate entrance.

The high school division will primarily use the south end of the building and also likely the nearby Holy Rosary Parish Center for some senior seminar courses.

A two-tiered tuition structure will be implemented and any tuition increases will be similar to those of previous years.

In the area of governance, one administration will oversee the operation of the combined school as a diocesan school under the supervision of the diocesan Catholic Schools Office as both schools are now. Current Coyle and Cassidy president, Dr. Mary Patricia Tranter, will be head of the combined school,

keeping the title of president.

Current Coyle and Cassidy principal, Robert Gay, will retire at the end of the current academic year. Current Coyle and Cassidy vice principal for Academics, Kathleen St. Laurent, will become principal of the whole school. Current Taunton Catholic Middle School principal, Dr. Corinne Merritt, will become vice principal for Academic Affairs Middle School Division.

School administration will also include Marie Angeley as vice principal for Student Affairs and Michael O’Brien as assistant vice principal for Student Affairs and Athletics Middle School Division. Daniel Thompson will continue as Middle School counselor, and Thomas Pileski as the high school athletic director.

Planning for the unification of the schools will continue in the months ahead, and beginning in mid-March a series of parent meetings and school open houses will take place.

Current Taunton Catholic Middle School students will be given a tour of the Coyle and Cassidy building as well.

It is anticipated that the current Taunton Catholic Middle School building would continue to be used for the area CYO program and perhaps as additional space for athletics for the high school or middle school divisions.

Looking forward, Griffin pointed out that additional benefits will also come about from unification of the schools in marketing and advancement efforts, expanded profession development for staff, facility maintenance, and coordinated financial and strategic planning.

“Overall, the joining of the two schools will provide a stronger financial foundation for the future, maintaining and growing the traditions of excellence that have characterized these schools,” he said.

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

March 7, 2014

Pope urges sympathy, outreach to couples whose Marriages fail VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Those who recognize Marriage as a Sacrament, a Divine blessing and a reflection of God’s love for humanity should have even greater sympathy for husbands and wives whose relationships have failed, Pope Francis said.

“See how beautiful this love is, how beautiful Marriage is, how beautiful the family is and how much love and closeness we must have for our brothers and sisters who have experienced the calamity of a failure in love,” the pope said at a recent morning Mass.

In the day’s Gospel reading, Mk 10:1-12, Jesus tells His disciples that “what God has joined together, no human being must separate,” and that divorcing a spouse and marrying another is committing adultery.

According to Vatican Radio, Pope Francis’ homily focused on Marriage as part of God’s plan for man and woman and as a reflection of God’s faithful love. He repeated the Gospel passage, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

But, the pope said, “when this love fails — because many times it fails — we must feel the pain of the failure and accompany those who have failed in their love.

Not condemn them! Walk alongside them.”

In the excerpts broadcast

by Vatican Radio, Pope Francis did not mention the discussion about the family and the pastoral care of divorced Catholics that he had February 20-21 with members of the College of Cardinals.

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12

March 7, 2014

Attleboro parish offering blessing for pregnant women Catholic TV to air documentary during National Catholic Sisters Week continued from page one

BOSTON — This year, during National Catholic Sisters Week, March 8-14, the award-winning film, “We Shall Not Be Moved: The Catholic Sisters of New Orleans,” will be featured on Boston’s Catholic TV Network through their cable and satellite affiliates. Live streaming of the film is available for free on the Catholic TV website: www.catholictv. com. Tablet or smart phone users may download the free apps available for Apple iOS or Android devices, providing access to the majority of Catholic TV programming.

The 57-minute film documents how six congregations of New Orleans’ Roman Catholic Sisters returned to minister and rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. The film was produced by NewGroup Media of South Bend, Ind., with funding coordinated by executive producer Sister Sally Duffy, a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati who serves as President and Executive Director of SC Ministry Foundation in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The program uses archival photos and materials, television footage of Katrina and the flood, and poignant interviews with Sisters from

each of the congregations.

Music is performed by New Orleans Gospel choirs.

The film relates how six congregations of Sisters lost more than convents, chapel, cars and motherhouses. They also lost ministries — high schools, child development centers and community centers and a nursing home for the elderly at which 17 patients died while awaiting rescue. The film shows how each congregation faced the seemingly insurmountable challenge of gaining the necessary funds and overcoming other obstacles of repairing and rebuilding. Some of these funds came from the most unexpected sources, one being the King of Saudi Arabia.

The documentary will be broadcast on March 9 at 8:30 a.m. and March 12 at 8:30 p.m. Based in the Archdiocese of Boston, Catholic TV has affiliate relationships with stations in Pittsburg, Baton Rouge, Detroit, Youngstown, Fresno, Hawaii and New Orleans.

For more information about the film, including a preview, or to order a DVD, visit www. weshallnotbemovedmovie. com or call 800-354-3504 to order the DVD.

St. Mary Academy President Sister Clare of Assisi, SSF, and Principal Sister Jennie Jones, SSF, both Sisters of the Holy Family, pose with members of the school’s award-winning marching band. St. Mary students and teachers spent five years in trailers while the school was completely rebuilt after Katrina.

Child in the Womb” was authored by long time Pro-Life supporter Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of the Archdiocese of Louisville, Ky. While a bishop of Knoxville, Tenn. in 2008, Archbishop Kurtz asked the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities if such a blessing existed, and when it was discovered that one did not, the Pro-Life Committee drafted a text and submitted it to the Divine Worship Committee.

During that time, Archbishop Kurtz praised the new potential blessing as “a tangible way to witness pastorally and Sacramentally to the life of the unborn child” and said it could also serve as an opportunity for parishes to bring together expectant couples for mutual support.

From there the proposed text was sent to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Divine Worship and the Sacraments, and the announcement was made in late March 2012 that the blessing would be ready to use by that upcoming Mother’s Day. The blessing can be used in the context of a Mass or outside a Mass, for an individual mother, couple or a group of expectant parents.

The blessing includes intercessions “for our government and civic leaders that they may perform their duties with justice and compassion while respecting the gift of human life” and “for a safe and healthy pregnancy for all expectant mothers and for a safe delivery for their children.”

It also expresses concern “for children who are unwanted, unloved, abandoned or abused, that the Lord will inspire His people to protect and care for them.”

The blessing celebrates the gift of the child in the womb and includes prayers for the child, the mother, the father, the family and the broader community: “May Almighty God, Who has created new life, now bless the child in your womb,” reads part of the blessing. “The Lord has brought you the joy of motherhood; may He bless you with a safe and healthy pregnancy. You thank the Lord today for the gift of your child. May He bring you and your child one day to share in the ending joys of Heaven.”

“God, Author of all life, bless, we pray, this unborn child; give constant protection and grant the healthy birth that is the sign of our rebirth one day into the eternal rejoicing of Heaven,” reads another excerpt from the

“Prayer of Blessing.”

The idea of celebrating the prayer service at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Attleboro was proposed by parishioner Kathy Davis. Already a member of a number of organizations through the parish, including a SVDP committee member and part of the Voice of the Poor committee for Social Justice of the Attleboro district of St. Vincent de Paul, she is also a volunteer at a local domestic violence agency.

“As a volunteer at a local domestic violence agency, I am keenly aware that a woman’s most vulnerable moments are when she is pregnant,” said Davis. “Episodes of physical abuse are likely to begin or worsen during this period of time. One can conclude that increasing prayerful support for parents and family members as a child is growing in their mother’s womb is something that would make the Blessed Mother smile and could save the life of a woman and her child.”

After reading about Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, OFM, Cap. offering a Blessing of the Child in the Womb during the season of Advent in 2012, Davis helped oversee a smaller version of the blessing last year: “Individuals were invited to contact the priest if they wanted to receive the blessing during or outside of Mass, starting last year,” said Davis. “This is the first organized prayer service for child in the womb and their parents.

“My hope is that the mothers

and fathers attending the service are strengthened by the prayers and experience God’s love. My hope is that the children in the womb experience God’s healing love. And my hope is that the family, friends and community in attendance are inspired

by God’s mercy to reach out in charity to all women carrying children in their wombs.”

The timing of the service is also of symbolic significance, said Father Wilson.

“We’re doing it on the feast of the Annunciation, when we’re thinking about when we celebrate Christ’s earthly life,” said Father Wilson. “When Mary finds out about Elizabeth being pregnant with John the Baptist, and when she goes to help Elizabeth, St. John the Baptist jumps for joy, an infant inside of his mother’s womb.

We’re asking Jesus during the ceremony to bless the child and the parents, and that as the child grows, to be like St. John the Baptist as someone who always points back to Jesus.”

The prayer service is open to everyone as a way of showing how “we are all created by Him in His image,” said Davis. “A culture of love protects the lives of all people. Pope Francis is teaching us how to build a culture of love. As our parish communities become [a] ‘little Nazareth,’ our families and our children will be safe.”

Information and directions can be found at www. stvincentattleboro.org.

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

Celebrant is Father Thomas McElroy, SS.CC., pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish in Fairhaven

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March 7, 2014

New banner to reach out to abortion-minded women

By Christine M. Willams Anchor Correspondent

ATTLEBORO — Participants in Attleboro’s 40 Days for Life are hoping for a banner campaign this spring — figuratively and literally. They hope to have greater success in reaching out to abortion-minded women by holding up an eight-foot banner that reads: “YOU DESERVE BETTER FOR HELP TEXT 508-332-6838” Women who text the number will receive immediate assistance from someone trained to help women in crisis. They will also be referred to the pregnancy resource center closest to their home for ongoing support.

Communicating with the women who come to Four Women Health Center in Attleboro, the only remaining abortion clinic in the Diocese of Fall River, has always been

difficult. The clinic, located far from the road, has its own fenced-in parking lot. The Buffer Zone Law in Massachusetts requires counselors to stand at least 35 feet back from the gate entrance, which puts them in Angel Park, a narrow strip of grass between divided Highway 118. They rarely have the opportunity to offer alternatives to the women.

Abortions occur there on Thursday afternoons and Saturday mornings, which is when the banner will be on display. It is an innovative way to start a dialogue that will overcome the distance.

“The banner was designed with the distance in mind,” said Marian Desrosiers, director of the Diocese of Fall River’s ProLife Apostolate.

The banner is a “lifeline,” meant to be non-threatening and engage the women in a form of communication that

may be less direct and therefore more comfortable for them.

Desrosiers added that the banner effort has been the fruit of prayer and a new collaborative, the Attleboro Outreach Coalition. Formed late last year, the coalition represents a number of different organizations including 40 Days for Life, area pregnancy resource centers and local parishes.

Cindy Hayes, coalition member and director of A Woman’s Concern in Fall River, said the effort is “bathed in prayer” and that with God’s help it will be successful.

The Holy Spirit is an integral part of Pro-Life ministry, she added. God reaches the hearts of women and resource centers seek to be available to support the women after that happens.

Many women feel pressured to have an abortion and may feel it is their only option.

When an abortion-minded

woman finds support, she may change her mind and keep her child, Hayes said.

“We want to reach women so that they can save their babies,” she added.

Hayes regularly prays for women facing crisis pregnancies but has never participated in a 40 Days for Life campaign in person. She plans to travel to Attleboro to man the banner and be physically present for the first time this campaign.

The first 40 Days for Life was conducted in College Station, Texas in 2004. Since then, 600,000 people have participated in 522 cities and 21 countries. Records show 8,245 lives saved from abortion, 88 abortion workers quitting and 44 clinics closing.

The spring campaign will be held through April 13 in 251 communities across the North America. Six Massachusetts locations will participate —

Attleboro, Boston, Haverhill, Lynn, Springfield and Worcester.

For Attleboro, it will be the 12th campaign. Coordinator Ron Larose said the effort is constantly growing.

“A lot of legislative activity around the country has emboldened some people to start to participate, especially the youth; more and more of them are getting energized,” he said.

During the campaign last fall, Larose said he saw many new faces and that new parishes brought groups to pray outside the clinic.

He stressed that the focus of each campaign is to change the hearts and minds of women seeking abortions and to reduce the need for clinics.

“The fruits of the campaign continue to make themselves visible to us, which gives us the energy to keep moving forward,” he said.

Mass at noon and 7 p.m. each day. The theme is “Walking on Water.”

Father Nigorski is currently the provincial of the American province of the Oblates.

The opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available at each session.

“The hope is that those at-

tending the mission can rekindle the flame and passion of our relationship with God,” Msgr. John J. Oliveira, pastor of St. Mary’s, told The Anchor.

“Father Nigorski led a retreat for our deacon candidates. He was very well-received and we were eager to get him back to lead this Lenten retreat.”

Area Lenten missions offer faithful time for reflection, repentance continued from page one

the theme will be: “Fasting: Putting our lesser longings in perspective.”

The final session on Wednesday night, in the context of a Penance service, Father Cleary will conclude with: “Almsgiving: Giving the gift of forgiveness.”

Father Kevin A. Cook, pastor of Holy Family Parish in East Taunton, told The Anchor that he encourages everyone to try to attend all or some of the sessions. “During the season of Lent, the Church calls us to seek the call of Christ in a deeper way through prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

Grace comes from the Lord to strengthen us in different ways.”

He also said it’s important to gather with fellow Catholics because “we gain grace in understanding our faith in deeper ways personally, and we can see our neighbors trying to grow. We see the whole Church making this effort.”

Parishes in the Fall River Deanery are jointly sponsoring a mission that will be held from March 10 through 13 at 7 p.m. at four different churches in Fall River, each within the context of Holy Mass. The Sacrament of Penance will be available from 6 to 6:45 p.m. each evening at the host church.

The theme for this Lenten mission is “Living the Paschal

Mystery,” and will involve meditations on the meanings of our Lord’s suffering, death and resurrection in our lives.

Father David Pignato, a priest of the Fall River Diocese currently a full-time professor at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, will lead the sessions.

The first session will be held on March 10 at Holy Trinity Church, 951 Stafford Road. Father Pignato’s topic will be “The process of conversion: From purification to sanctification.”

On the Tuesday, the session will take place at Good Shepherd Church, 1598 South Main Street. That evening’s theme will be: “The mystery of redemptive suffering.”

The following evening on March 12, St. Joseph’s Church, 1335 North Main Street, will host the session titled: “The mystery of the Eucharist as if we had been there.”

The mission concludes at St. Anthony of the Desert Church, 300 North Eastern Avenue with the theme: “Praying the Paschal Mystery.” The parishioners of St. Anthony’s will host a celebratory reception following for all those in attendance.

“A Lenten mission is a series of meditations or reflections designed to help people become more faithful to Christ,” said Father Pignato.

“Even if someone is unable to attend all the nights of the mission, it is still worthwhile to attend some of the evenings since each talk will focus on a different aspect of the Paschal Mystery, in an effort to show how the Mystery is loaded with life-changing significance for us.”

Father Pignato extends a special invitation to those who have been away from the Church for whatever reason.

“For someone who may have fallen out of practice of the faith, the mission may be an opportunity to consider some of the basic truths of our faith in a new, fresh way, or from a different perspective that might be more appealing and provoke further reflection on the importance of what Christ did to redeem us.

“So many people’s lives have changed for the better as a result of missions like the one we’ll be doing and the opportunity it provides to examine where one’s life is going, to hear God’s Word of mercy, and have the chance to make a fresh start.”

The New Bedford Deanery mission will take place at St. Mary’s Church, 106 Illinois Street in New Bedford from April 7 to 10.

The mission, led by Oblates of the Virgin Mary Father David Nigorski, will take place in the context of the

Catholic Memorial Home administrator, Thomas F. Healy, left, accepts a check from BayCoast Bank executive vice president and Chief Lending Officer Carl W. Taber.

Catholic Memorial Home receives grant from BayCoast Bank

FALL RIVER — Catholic Memorial Home in Fall River has announced that it has received a grant of $10,000 from BayCoast Bank for its ongoing project to renovate short-term rehabilitation rooms.

As the need has grown for

this type of care in the Fall River area, Catholic Memorial Home has been working on creating short-term rehab rooms that offer care when transitioning from a hospital stay after surgery or an illness, and the ultimate goal of returning home.

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March 7, 2014

Shroud expert coming to Cape Cod parish Sunday continued from page one

ed with the subject when he was working as a writer for his college newspaper back in 1980.

“There was a team of almost 40 scientists — most of which were from the United States — that went to Turin (in 1978) and had access to this cloth for five days, handson with all this gear,” Breault told The Anchor. “So there were lots of news articles coming out about it at the time. In June of 1980 National Geographic did a big article about it, so I asked if I could write a couple of articles about it because I was interested in it. I did some research, read some books, and talked to some of the scientists on the phone to get some quotes. For me, that was it.”

A year later, Breault found himself attending the first U.S. scientific symposium on the shroud held at Connecticut College in New London, Conn.

“That’s when the team of scientists rendered their official conclusion,” Breault said.

“That was a two-day conference and I had a chance to meet pretty much all of the historians, scientists and archeologists who were involved in this and I’ve been involved ever since.”

During the symposium, the scientists released the following statement: “We can conclude for now that the shroud image is that of a real human form of a scourged, crucified man. It is not the product of an artist. The blood stains are composed of hemoglobin and give a positive test for serum albu-

min.”

While the initial study concluded the shroud was not the work of an artist, the scientists were hard-pressed to determine exactly how the image on the shroud was rendered.

“If the shroud is the work of an artist we should be able to find some traces of paint, ink, dye, pigmentation or stain — we should be able to find some substances on there to determine what type of process was used to create this image,” Breault said. “But up to now, we’ve found none of that. There are no artistic substances and we can’t determine by what process that this (image) was created. So it remains a mystery.”

For Breault, the most intriguing aspect of the shroud is how superficial the man’s image is on the linen cloth.

“The shroud was in a fire in 1532,” he said. “There are eight holes that were patched over in 1534. You have a pattern of water stains where the fire was doused. There’s also a pattern of bloodstains. Now if you look underneath the shroud, you’d see the bloodstains, the water stains, and the burns. But you will not see the image of the man. The image of the man is purely a superficial phenomenon, penetrating only the top two microfibers of the cloth.”

Breault said each individual thread in the linen shroud is made up of about 200 microfibers — so the image only affects about one percent of a single thread.

“If you were to take a razor blade and shave the surface of the cloth, the image would

disappear,” Breault said. “So this — what we call extreme superficiality — is one of the most phenomenal attributes of the image. There is nothing else like it in the world of art, there’s nothing like it in the Middle Ages — either before or afterwards.”

Breault said some scientists have speculated that the image was, in fact, the result of a type of radiant energy, light or heat.

“Three years ago in 2011 researchers in Europe using a 40-nanosecond burst on an ultraviolet laser were able to achieve the same depth and coloration that we see on the shroud with a similar sample of linen,” he said. “This is the first time we’ve been able to replicate anything resembling the image on the Shroud of Turin using light.

Understandably, if you looked through Scriptures, you’d come to the conclusion that somehow light was involved in the actual resurrection of Jesus. So it’s all very intriguing.”

Another enigmatic aspect of the faint shroud image is the fact that it appears to be the equivalent of a photographic negative.

“The first photograph (of the shroud) was taken in 1898 and that’s when we first discovered that the image on the cloth is, in fact, a negative image because what shows up on the (negative) is a positive image,” Breault said. “How could a medieval artist have come up with that, centuries before the advent of photography?”

While he noted that the image on the shroud is mono-

chromatic and contains no variations in color, Breault said it does display lighter and darker areas that suggest depth and create a three-dimensional photographic effect.

“It’s like a pixilation effect,” he said. “It appears darker in places because there are simply more microfibers affected by whatever caused the image, and where the image appears lighter, there are simply fewer microfibers. This is where we get the understanding that the shroud contains distance information. So where you have fewer microfibers that seem to be affected, that would be a part of the body where it might have been separated from the cloth, perhaps by a millimeter or so. So the image is there, but it is lighter. It provides this very unique distance information that seems to be encoded into the cloth.”

Taking what he calls “a CSI approach,” Breault said the Shroud Encounter program also delves into some of the forensic science that has been applied to the artifact.

“You have a whole pattern of blood stains,” he said. “Is the blood real or paint? Or is it animal blood, or painted-on blood, or is it blood from actual wounds? So we’re going to explore all that. Then we go through a process we call identification of the body — because after all thousands of people were crucified — so how do we know this is the shroud of Jesus? We don’t know for sure, because we don’t have the DNA of Jesus to match it up with something we might extract from the shroud. But it would be logical, at least, to compare the shroud with the Gospel account and see how those two line up.”

Currently kept in the royal chapel of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, northern Italy, the shroud has only been publicly displayed a few times in recent years.

Breault has been able to view it firsthand on three occasions — in 1998, 2000 and 2010.

“Those were the last three public exhibitions of the shroud,” he said. “It will be exhibited again next year. I might attend; I’m not sure yet.

It’s always a great excuse to go to Italy.”

As someone who has studied the shroud for more than three decades, Breault said when you see the image on the actual linen cloth up close

you realize just how faint it is.

“You’ll find that the photos you see, oftentimes, appear much clearer (than the real thing), because you can apply a lot of filters, a lot of contrast, and you can manipulate photography to enhance the image,” he said. “If you get closer than 10 feet to the shroud, the image disappears. You really have to stand at least 10 feet back in order to really, clearly see the image.”

Utilizing more than 200 images that will be projected on a big screen along with a rare, museum-quality lifesized replica of the Shroud of Turin, Breault said the presentation is a “fast-paced program” that will keep the audience “captivated all the way through.”

“What I’m doing today is not the same presentation I did 25 years ago, but there are certainly some similarities,” he said. “What the audience is going to get is up-to-theminute in terms of the latest research and the latest understanding of the shroud.”

Regardless of one’s religious beliefs or affiliation, Breault said the Shroud of Turin has to be viewed as one of the “greatest unsolved mysteries of the world.”

“It’s certainly either the greatest hoax ever perpetrated or it’s probably the most important artifact on the planet,” he said. “When people ask: ‘Well, what if it’s not authentic?’ I say: ‘Wrong question.

What if it is authentic and we did nothing with it?’ So my whole purpose is not to prove that the shroud is authentic, but rather to look at the evidence in the case that it could be authentic.

“At the end of the day, each person is going to have to make that decision for themselves. The shroud is not a substitute for faith. We can’t prove it absolutely and I don’t think we ever will. In that respect, I think science is only going to take you so far and your faith has to take you the rest of the way.”

Shroud Encounter, a 90-minute multimedia exploration of the Shroud of Turin, will be presented at Christ the King Parish, 5 Jobs Fishing Road in Mashpee, on March 9 beginning at 7 p.m. Admission is free and the event is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, Council 13388 from Christ the King Parish.

For more information visit www.shroudencounter.com.

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March 7, 2014

I

In my life

started writing this column in 1999.

That means many of you kind folks have put up with me for nearly 15 years.

Through the last decade-and-a-half, I’ve moaned and groaned about the Red Sox, Bruins, Patriots and Celtics. But that also means I’ve had the chance to relish, in print, eight championships from the aforementioned sports clubs: three from the Patriots and Red Sox respectively, and one each from the Celtics and Bruins.

I’ve also had the opportunity to lament the sad state of affairs in the wacky world of sports with regards to sinful salaries and behaviors. And there have also been times when I have had the pleasure to let readers know about local heroes and not-so-local heroes, who fly under the radar doing things that make the Good Lord smile.

I’ve also been fortunate enough to write often about a son of mine whom I never got to know, but whom I know very well. This column has kept Davey

alive and well in my heart, the hearts of my family and friends, and those readers who care. And, since the lad is 17 now, I no longer call him Davey, but have decided upon DJoe. It seems appropriate for this day and age. Denise refuses to give up on the Davey.

And, I’ve

By Dave Jolivet had great fun of writing about my loyal and faithful sidekick, Igor. I think, aside from Father Tim’s greyhounds, she’s the most well-known canine in the diocese.

But lately, I’ve struggled with “My View From the Stands.” Writers will be able to appreciate those times when you “hit the wall,” and nothing pops into your head. It’s called writer’s block, but I prefer “hit the wall” — it sounds more athletic.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis said bishops should act not like ambitious corporate executives, but humble evangelists and men of prayer, willing to sacrifice everything for their flocks.

“We don’t need a manager, the CEO of a business, nor someone who shares our pettiness or low aspirations,” the pope said February 27. “We need someone who knows how to rise to the height from which God sees us, in order to guide us to Him.” Pope Francis’ words came in a speech to the Congregation for Bishops, the Vatican body that advises him on the appointment of bishops around the world.

He stressed the importance of selfsacrifice in a bishop’s ministry, which he described as a kind of martyrdom.

“The courage to die, the generosity to offer one’s own life and exhaust one’s self for the flock are inscribed in the episcopate’s DNA,” he said. “The episcopate is not for itself but for the Church, for the flock, for others, above all for those whom the world considers only worth throwing away.”

Pope Francis listed several desirable virtues in potential bishops, including a “capacity for healthy, balanced relationships,” “upright behavior,” “orthodoxy and fidelity” to Church doctrine; and “transparency and detachment in administrating the goods of the community.”

The pope laid special emphasis on a bishop’s ability to evangelize and pray.

In preaching the Gospel, bishops should be appealing rather than censorious, upholding Church teaching “not in order to measure how far the world falls short of the truth it contains, but to fascinate the world, enchant it with the beauty of love, seduce it by offering the

freedom of the Gospel.”

“The Church doesn’t need apologists for their own causes, nor crusaders for their own battles, but humble sowers who trust in the truth — bishops who know that even when night falls and the day’s toil leaves them tired, the seeds in the field will be sprouting.”

As models of prayer for bishops, Pope Francis cited Abraham and Moses, who argued with God to dissuade Him from destroying their sinful people.

“A man who lacks the courage to argue with God on behalf of his people cannot be a bishop,” the pope said.

Quoting from an address he gave to Vatican diplomats last June, Pope Francis said bishops should be “meek, patient and merciful,” embracing spiritual and material poverty, and renouncing any ambition for appointment to more important dioceses.

The pope voiced anew his concern about bishops, “in this time of meetings and conventions,” traveling too much to fulfill their pastoral duties at home. He suggested the congregation study the latter-day relevance of a decree by the 16th-century Council of Trent requiring bishops to live in their dioceses.

Pope Francis also stressed that bishops should be suited to the particular local needs of their dioceses.

“There is no standard pastor for all the churches,” the pope said. “Christ knows the singularity of the pastor every church requires, able to respond to its needs and help it realize its potential.”

“Where can we find such men? It is not easy. Do they exist? How can we choose them?” Pope Francis asked in closing. “I am sure they exist, because the Lord does not abandon His Church. Maybe it is we who do not spend long enough time in the fields looking for them.”

My View From the Stands

Pope says bishops should be evangelists, men of prayer, not CEOs

There have been times lately when I question whether I have anything to offer in this space. I often come in on deadline day with my allotted column inches blank.

As an editor, layout person, and writer, that’s not a good feeling. I have contemplated taking a hiatus from MVFS, but it seems the Holy Spirit won’t buy that. He always gently whacks me upside the head on a Tuesday morning and says, “What about this topic, Dave?” so I go with it.

Despite my recent writing struggles, I’ve received more feedback from readers than I have in a while, telling me I’ve touched them or said something they needed to hear.

I’ve received words and gestures from nice people across the diocese who have touched my heart and soul. I don’t have to get into specifics, but I’d like to use this forum to say thank you ... I needed that.

I think that’s God’s way of saying “Don’t give up the Stands, Dave.” Jesus says in Matthew, “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear.” Even though the number of hairs

on my head routinely lessens, I do take comfort in those words, and the words of Anchor readers.

I’ve pushed aside those feelings of pushing aside “My View From the Stands” because I know there are people who do care and enjoy what I have to say. In college, I did an oral thesis (45 minutes worth!) on one of my favorite authors, Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens).

He could make people laugh. I closed my thesis with an anonymous quote, “He deserves paradise who makes his companions laugh.”

I’m not saying I deserve paradise, but if I’m still able to put a smile on someone’s face, then who am I to stop?

I feed off my Anchor readers, and I’m pleased to say I’m well-fed.

Since I’ve been on a Beatles kick for the last few weeks, I’d like to send out to my Anchor friends a verse from the Fab Four’s “In My Life,” expressing my sentiments: There are places I remember All my life though some have changed Some forever not for better Some have gone and some remain All these places have their moments With lovers and friends I still can recall Some are dead and some are living In my life I’ve loved them all.

Dave Jolivet can be reached at davejolivet@anchornews.org.

16

Youth Pages

First- and second-graders at St. Michael School in Fall River filled bags of candy for St. Michael parishioners as part of a recent service project.

Students at All Saints Catholic School in New Bedford prepared to begin the season of Lent during their midday gathering for school prayer. Under the guidance of Patricia Olejarz, third-graders assisted other students in a review of the meaning of prayer, fasting and almsgiving as Lenten disciplines, beginning a week-long preparation which focused on the ways they grow closer to Jesus as they journey through Lent.

First-graders at Holy Name School in Fall River enjoyed writing cheerful letters to their classmate’s brother, a new Marine, who proudly serves our country.

March 7, 2014

Students from St. James-St .John School in New Bedford enjoyed a field trip to a roller skating rink.

Eighth-grade students at St. Francis Xavier School in Acushnet launched a campaign as a part of their Spiritual Adoption program in religion class to collect items for Birthright, to benefit local mothers in need. They are pictured with some of the items collected along with religion teacher, Mr. Concannon and Birthright director, Ann Tremblay.

St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro received a pleasant surprise at its recent Open House. Doug St. Pierre, a carpenter by trade, visited the school of which he helped construct a piece 60 years ago. St. Pierre built the bookcases in the library that are still in use today. According to St. Pierre, “They look as good as they did 60 years ago!” Standing in front of the bookcases with St. Pierre are Erin D’Angelo and Olivia Castro.

March 7, 2014

A

Youth Pages Ten most wanted

ships. First of all, that pause by the ones we have already in your tracks is a good way made. As a people in action to begin. It is there where you we must always be on a concan begin to refocus on what version track.

How would you describe your relationship with God, your family, friends and teachers? Like everyone, building and strengthening a relationship is always

By Ozzie Pacheco a work in progress.

But, sometimes we pause in our tracks matters most. It’s similar to because we are unsure what when Lent begins and the we need to do next to build reason why we celebrate it — and strengthen our relationwe pause from the ordinary to experience a most needed change. I’m sure that you have already laid the groundwork for what you plan to do this Lent, whether it’s giving up something for a greater good or doing more for others in need. But, whatever you do this Lent do it because you want to and not because you have to. Most of all do it without complaint or fear.

The season of Lent helps me to refocus on God’s Commandments. Yes, I try hard to live them daily, but every once in a while an examination of conscious is necessary to tell me how I’m doing — my personal progress report. I Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth announced the com- can’t help to fix the problems pletion of a successful fund-raising effort for the Leukemia and of this world unless I fix my Lymphoma Society. National Honor Society President Owen Leary led “Pennies for Patients,” which is a program to raise money for own problems, first. I can’t the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. National Honor Society stu- work to bring peace to the dents asked all Bishop Stang students to donate spare change over world unless I’m at peace a one-week time frame. Each homeroom had a goal of raising $100. with myself, first. So, together At the conclusion of the one week drive, 15 homerooms had met or now, let’s walk the converexceeded their goal, and the school raised in excess of $3,000 for sion track and examine our the worthy cause. conscious.

Do I love God above all things? Do I thank God and trust Him, as He deserves?

Do I respect God’s Holy Name, always careful not to use it in meaningless ways?

Do I spend time in prayer and then look forward to being with God at Mass so I can receive His strength in Holy Communion? Do I see every Mass as a personal renewal for my life, and the life of the Church, preparing us for the mission and the journey God has given us for the new week ahead?

Do I love God with all my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength? True conversion begins by evaluating how we Classes from St. Mary’s School in Mansfield collected $2,000 to use love God and then continues to fund this year’s annual Make a Home Project. Students from the by how we show our love for Class of 2014 created a room-by-room budget and spent an after- others. noon shopping to purchase items to fill a home for a family in need.

Am I honestly and sinSt. Mary’s has partnered with My Brother’s Keeper in Easton, for cerely able to say I love my several years in an effort to make the dreams of those less fortunate neighbor as myself ? Do I become a reality. re you on track with the plans you have made for your life? If you think you are then you know that the ashes you received this past Wednesday mean that you are open to change.

They mean that you truly want to “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.” Those ashes are meant to be an outward sign of our inner resolve as a people of promise. We need to be a people in action, living out our Baptismal promises daily.

There is no need to make new promises, but only to do good

Be Not Afraid

honor my parents and others who carry the burden of leadership in the world? We may not always agree with our parents, but we must trust them in their judgment because it comes only from love. Am I prepared to accept my parent’s love, especially when they say no? Do I respect all life and treat others and myself with respect and reverence? Have I mistreated my own body, God’s holy temple, through improper use of drugs, alcohol or sex? Am I honest in conversation with others, willing to appear in a bad light rather than lie to them? Have I excused myself from guilt because “everyone else is doing it”? Am I jealous of what others have that I don’t? Can I love my neighbor as myself ?

So, what marks do you give your progress report?

17 Do you have some work to do? I know I do. We all do.

We can always do better.

And that’s where the Sacrament of Reconciliation comes in. This is conversion!

This is change. Don’t be afraid of it. We don’t have to!

Psalm 46 tells us so, “We will not fear though the world should change. Be still, and know that I am God.” Make the Commandments the 10 most wanted things in your life this Lent. And at the end of your Lenten journey you will discover that you turned away from sin, repented and now live the Good News. Make a good Lent.

Your Church is counting on you! God is counting on you!

And I also believe that God and the Church are depending on you! You can do it!

God bless!

Anchor columnist Ozzie Pacheco is Faith Formation director at Santo Christo Parish, Fall River.

The Anchor is always pleased to run news and photos about our diocesan youth. If schools or parish Religious Education programs, have newsworthy stories and photos they would like to share with our readers, send them to: schools@ anchornews.org

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March 7, 2014

Pope Francis’ Lenten Message continued from page one

is no mere play on words or a catch phrase. Rather, it sums up God’s logic, the logic of love, the logic of the Incarnation and the cross. God did not let our Salvation drop down from Heaven, like someone who gives alms from their abundance out of a sense of altruism and piety. Christ’s love is different!

When Jesus stepped into the waters of the Jordan and was Baptized by John the Baptist, He did so not because He was in need of repentance, or conversion; He did it to be among people who need forgiveness, among us sinners, and to take upon Himself the burden of our sins. In this way He chose to comfort us, to save us, to free us from our misery. It is striking that the Apostle states that we were set free, not by Christ’s riches but by His poverty. Yet St. Paul is well aware of the “unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph 3:8), that He is “Heir of all things” (Heb 1:2).

So what is this poverty by which Christ frees us and enriches us? It is His way of loving us, His way of being our neighbor, just as the good Samaritan was neighbor to the man left half dead by the side of the road (cf.

Lk 10:25ff ). What gives us true freedom, true Salvation and true happiness is the compassion, tenderness and solidarity of His love.

Christ’s poverty which enriches us is His taking flesh and bearing our weaknesses and sins as an expression

of God’s infinite mercy to us. Christ’s poverty is the greatest treasure of all: Jesus’ wealth is that of His boundless confidence in God the Father, His constant trust, His desire always and only to do the Father’s will and give glory to Him. Jesus is rich in the same way as a child who feels loved and who loves its parents, without doubting their love and tenderness for an instant. Jesus’ wealth lies in His being the Son; His unique relationship with the Father is the sovereign prerogative of this Messiah Who is poor. When Jesus asks us to take up His “yoke which is easy,” He asks us to be enriched by His “poverty which is rich” and His “richness which is poor,” to share His filial and fraternal Spirit, to become sons and daughters in the Son, brothers and sisters in the firstborn Brother (cf. Rom 8:29).

It has been said that the only real regret lies in not being a saint (L. Bloy); we could also say that there is only one real kind of poverty: not living as children of God and brothers and sisters of Christ.

2. Our witness.

We might think that this “way” of poverty was Jesus’ way, whereas we who come after Him can save the world with the right kind of human resources. This is not the case. In every time and place God continues to save mankind and the world through the poverty of Christ, Who makes Himself poor in the Sacraments, in His Word

and in His Church, which is a people of the poor. God’s wealth passes not through our wealth, but invariably and exclusively through our personal and communal poverty, enlivened by the Spirit of Christ.

In imitation of our Master, we Christians are called to confront the poverty of our brothers and sisters, to touch it, to make it our own and to take practical steps to alleviate it. Destitution is not the same as poverty: destitution is poverty without faith, without support, without hope. There are three types of destitution: material, moral and spiritual.

Material destitution is what is normally called poverty, and affects those living in conditions opposed to human dignity: those who lack basic rights and needs such as food, water, hygiene, work and the opportunity to develop and grow culturally.

In response to this destitution, the Church offers her help, her diakonia, in meeting these needs and binding these wounds which disfigure the face of humanity. In the poor and outcast we see Christ’s face; by loving and helping the poor, we love and serve Christ. Our efforts are also directed to ending violations of human dignity, discrimination and abuse in the world, for these are so often the cause of destitution. When power, luxury and money become idols, they take priority over the need for a fair distribution of wealth. Our consciences thus need to be converted to justice, equality, simplicity and sharing.

No less a concern is moral destitution, which consists in slavery to vice and sin.

How much pain is caused in families because one of its members — often a young person — is in thrall to alcohol, drugs, gambling or pornography! How many people no longer see meaning in life or prospects for the future, how many have lost hope! And how many are plunged into this destitution by unjust social conditions, by unemployment, which takes away their dignity as breadwinners, and by lack of equal access to education and health care. In

such cases, moral destitution can be considered impending suicide. This type of destitution, which also causes financial ruin, is invariably linked to the spiritual destitution which we experience when we turn away from God and reject His love. If we think we don’t need God Who reaches out to us through Christ, because we believe we can make do on our own, we are headed for a fall. God alone can truly save and free us.

The Gospel is the real antidote to spiritual destitution: wherever we go, we are called as Christians to proclaim the liberating news that forgiveness for sins committed is possible, that God is greater than our sinfulness, that He freely loves us at all times and that we were made for communion and eternal life. The Lord asks us to be joyous heralds of this message of mercy and hope! It is thrilling to experience the joy of spreading this Good News, sharing the treasure entrusted to us, consoling broken hearts and offering hope to our brothers and sisters experiencing darkness. It means following and imitating Jesus, Who sought out the poor and sinners as a shepherd lovingly seeks his lost sheep. In union with Jesus, we can courageously open up new paths of evangelization and human promotion.

Dear brothers and sisters, may this Lenten season

find the whole Church ready to bear witness to all those who live in material, moral and spiritual destitution the Gospel message of the merciful love of God our Father, Who is ready to embrace everyone in Christ. We can do this to the extent that we imitate Christ Who became poor and enriched us by His poverty. Lent is a fitting time for self-denial; we would do well to ask ourselves what we can give up in order to help and enrich others by our own poverty. Let us not forget that real poverty hurts: no self-denial is real without this dimension of Penance. I distrust a charity that costs nothing and does not hurt.

May the Holy Spirit, through Whom we are “as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything” (2 Cor 6:10), sustain us in our resolutions and increase our concern and responsibility for human destitution, so that we can become merciful and act with mercy. In expressing this hope, I likewise pray that each individual member of the faithful and every Church community will undertake a fruitful Lenten journey. I ask all of you to pray for me. May the Lord bless you and Our Lady keep you safe.

From the Vatican, 26 December 2013 Feast of St. Stephen, Deacon and First Martyr

Falmouth parish to present series of Spiritual conferences

FALMOUTH — St. Patrick’s Parish, 511 Main Street, is presenting a Lenten series of Spiritual conferences and Practical Information Regarding Death and Dying, entitled “Now and at the Hour of Our Death.”

The events will take place at 7 p.m. at the church each Wednesday evening beginning March 12.

The first in the series on March 12 is “Visiting Hours — When the Church Comes to You,” presented by Deacon Greg Beckel who ministers at Christ the King Parish in Mashpee.

The March 19 is “Scrubs — How to Deal with Life in the Hospital,” presented by Judy Lyons R.N., a parishioner of Our Lady of Victory Parish in Centerville.

On March 26 the theme is “Shoveling Off — How to Arrange the Funeral” presented by Kevin Morris of St. Pius X Parish in South Yarmouth.

The April 2 session covers “Law & Order: Trust Me I Am a Lawyer,” by Cynthia Aimo Esq., from St. Anthony’s Parish in East Falmouth.

The sessions conclude on April 9 with “Attending to Your Own Funeral — The Rite of Christian Burial Explained,” presented by Father Timothy Goldrick and Father Peter John Fournier, pastor and parochial vicar, respectively, at the host St. Patrick’s Parish.

All are welcome to attend any or all of the sessions. Admission is free and refreshments will be served after the conferences.

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March 7, 2014

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 7 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 continuous Eucharistic Adoration from 8 a.m. on Thursday until 8 a.m. on Saturday.

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 and concluding with 3 p.m. Benediction in the Daily Mass Chapel. A bilingual holy hour takes place from 2 to 3 p.m. Park behind the church and enter the back door of the connector between the church and the rectory.

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.

MANSFIELD — St. Mary’s Parish, 330 Pratt Street, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with Benediction at 5:45 p.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 Wednesday following 8:00 a.m. Mass and concludes with Benediction at 5 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration also takes place every First Friday at St. Nicholas of Myra Church, 499 Spring Street following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending with Benediction at 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 perpetual Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the chapel at 984 Taunton Avenue. For information call 508-336-5549.

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

Recitation of the Rosary for peace is prayed Monday through Saturday at 7:30 a.m. prior to the 8 a.m. Mass.

Taunton — Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord, 31 First Street. Exposition begins following the 8 a.m.

Mass. 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 — Eucharistic Adoration at St. Patrick’s Church begins each Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. and ends on Friday night at midnight. Adoration is held in our Adoration Chapel in the lower Parish Hall.

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.

Father Albert A. Croce, C.S.C.

NORTH DARTMOUTH — Father Albert Anthony Croce, C.S.C., 95, died February 22 at the Holy Cross Community House in North Dartmouth.

He was born on July 15, 1918, in Brockton, to Amato and Vincenza (Dantuono) Croce. He was the sixth of eight children. Following six years of employment as a tool designer for Pratt & W h itn e y A ircr a f t in East Hartford, Conn., Father Croce was received into the Congregation of Holy Cross on Aug. 15, 1943; and made his First Profession of Vows on Aug. 16, 1944. Father Croce received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame in 1946. He made his Final Profession on June 3, 1948; and was ordained to the priesthood on June 6, 1950 after receiving a master’s in theology from Holy Cross College, Washington, D.C. Father Croce also later received a master’s in English literature from Notre Dame in 1952.

From 1952 to 1958, Father Croce was vice president of Notre Dame College, Dhaka, Bangladesh, where he also served as an English professor. From 1959 to 1961, he pioneered Scuola Media in Santa Croce, Italy. In 1961, he raised funds for Notre Dame College while continuing his education at Boston University. From 1962 to 1963, Father Croce was chaplain for the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Rutland, Mass. In 1963-1964, he co-pioneered Holy Cross’ missions in Peru. The following year, he taught English at St. George’s College in Chile. From 1965 to 1972, Father Croce was assigned to teach English at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., where he also served as director of student activities. In 1974, he became assistant to the president in devel-

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks March 9 Rev. Msgr. Henry J. Noon, V.G., Pastor, St. James, New Bedford; Vicar General, 1934-47, 1947 March 12 Rev. Aurelien L. Moreau, Pastor, St. Mathieu, Fall River, 1961 Rev. Adrien E. Bernier, Pastor, St. Mathieu, Fall River, 1989 Rev. George I. Saad, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Purgutory, New Bedford, 1991

opment at Stonehill College in Easton. Father Croce was campus minister and director of Roncalli Hall at the College of St. Joseph in Rutland, Vt. from 1977 to 1979.

He then was assigned as pastor of St. Mary Parish in Brandon, Vt., and St. Monica Parish in Forestdale, Vt.; he served as pastor for nine years.

Father Croce retired to the Holy Cross Community at North Easton in 1988 and was appointed superior of the community house in June 1989. In 1998, Father Croce moved to the Holy Cross Community at North Dartmouth, where he continued to assist parishes in the Diocese of Fall River.

Father Croce’s parents, four sisters: Rose (Croce) Keough, Terese (Croce) Meaney, Olga (Croce) Barile, Dahlia (Croce) Perrotta; and his three brothers: Angelo,

John and Edmund Croce are all deceased. Surviving family members include his nieces and nephews: Raymond Keough, Maurene Keough, Edward Meaney, Kathie Still, Paul Croce, Edmund Croce, John Croce, Carol Croce, Paula Croce, Lorraine Perrotta and Elaine Happnie. He is also survived by numerous first and second cousins.

A Funeral Mass was held February 27 at the Chapel of Mary, with burial at the Holy Cross community cemetery on Stonehill’s campus.

Memorial contributions in support of the mission and ministries of the Congregation of Holy Cross can be made to: United States Province of Priests and Brothers, Office of Development, P.O. Box 765, Notre Dame, Ind. 46556-0765 or online at donate. holycrossusa.org.

Around the Diocese

The Fall River Area Men’s First Friday Club will meet this evening in the chapel of St. Mary’s Cathedral, 327 Second Street in Fall River. Following the 6 p.m. Mass celebrated by Father Karl Bissinger, a hot meal catered by White’s of Westport will be served in the school hall across the street. The guest speaker is Christopher Myron, principal of Bishop Connolly School. The Mass is open to the public.

Guest men interested in attending the dinner should contact Norman Valiquette at 508-672-8174 for more information.

A Mass of Healing will be celebrated on March 11 at 6 p.m. at Our Lady of Victory Church, 430 South Main Street in Centerville. All are welcome, especially any persons affected by illness of body, mind or spirit as well as patients, survivors, caregivers, friends and families. The Mass is sponsored by the Catholic Cancer Support Group, which will meet following the Mass in the parish center at 7 p.m. The meetings are open to anyone and a pot luck supper will be served with Irish music for entertainment. For more information contact Geri Medeiros at 508-362-6909.

A St. Joseph’s Men’s Retreat (for men 18 years and older) will be held on March 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Organized by Deacon Chris Peschel, the day will include lunch, talks, a holy hour and time for fellowship with like-minded Catholic men. A freewill donation will be accepted. The day begins at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Attleboro at 10 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. with Mass. Family members are encouraged to have their family attend Mass at the church. For more information and reservations contact Deacon Peschel (chrispeschel@yahoo.com) or Shawn Seybert (shawnseybert@comcast.net).

Share an afternoon of reflection on St. Patrick and a few other Irish saints on March 16 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro. Registration will begin at 2 p.m. followed by a presentation on some saints of Ireland and Mass at 4 p.m. Then at 5 p.m., an Irish dinner will be served and the Noel Henry Irish Band with the Haley’s School of Irish Dancers will perform until 9:30 p.m. Please call 508-222-5410 or visit www.lasalette-shrine.org for more information about tickets and reservations.

St. Anne’s Parish, Fall River, will celebrate St. Joseph’s feast, March 19, with a “low” Mass at 7:15 a.m., sung Mass at 11:30 a.m. (followed by the Litany of St. Joseph), and Solemn Vespers at 6 p.m. Father Thomas Kocik, parish administrator, will preside at Vespers with Father Andrew Johnson, pastor of Good Shepherd Parish in Fall River, leading the congregation in chanting.

A Healing Mass will be held on March 20 at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford. The Mass will begin at 6:30 p.m. and includes Benediction and healing prayers. At 5:15 p.m. there will also be a holy hour including the Rosary. For location or more information, call the rectory at 508-993-1691 or visit www.saintanthonyofnewbedford.com.

St. Anne’s Parish in Fall River will host a Lenten Day of Recollection with Father Peter Stravinskas (author, educator, and editor of The Catholic Response magazine) on Laetare Sunday, March 30. The first presentation on the Sacrament of Reconciliation begins at 3 p.m.; the second, a meditative guide to St. John’s Passion narrative, begins at 4:30 p.m., with a break between the two talks. Solemn vespers and Benediction will be at 5:45 p.m. followed by sung Mass (Ordinary Form) at 6:30 p.m. For directions or more information, visit www.StAnneShrine.com or call 508674-5651.

Take time to pray and do service this Lent: You can serve as a volunteer at the Family Rosary Retreat sponsored by Holy Cross Family Ministries, on April 6, and while performing service you will have the opportunity to participate in the prayer event to be held at Bishop Stang High School, North Dartmouth. Volunteers are needed from 1 to 5:30 p.m. for registration, hospitality, parking and other activities.

The event is free and open to the public. For information, call Rosemary Chaves at 508-238-4095, x2041 or visit www.FamilyRosary.org/Events.

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March 7, 2014

The Camilliani celebrate Sister Candida Bellotti’s 107th birthday. (Photo courtesy of CNA/camilliani.org)

Francis is the boost the Church needs, says 107-year-old nun Vatican City (CNA/EWTN is good and avoid what is bad. We need News) — A religious Sister who cel- to have the grace and the intelligence to ebrated her 107th birthday at daily Mass know how to choose between good and with Pope Francis February 20, believes evil.” that the Holy Father is a gift to the Sister Bellotti is a member of the ConChurch. gregation of the Ministers of the Sick of St. “If God wanted us to have Pope Fran- Camillus de Lellis. She was born in 1907 in cis, it’s because it was already in His eter- Quinzano in the Italian province of Veronal mind,” Sister na, during the ponf God wanted us to have tificate of St. Pius X. Candida Bellotti said in statements Pope Francis, it’s because it She has spent her life to CNA. “He is the was already in His eternal mind. serving the sick at right person for our He is the right person for our time, hospitals throughout time, and we need Italy and currently to respect him be- and we need to respect him because lives in Luca, where cause it is God’s it is God’s will.” she spends her days will.” in prayer.

The religious Sister, who is believed to In more than a century of life, the be the oldest nun in the world, was too 107-year-old Sister has survived two emotional to speak with the pontiff af- world wars and has witnessed numerous ter Mass at St. Martha’s Residence at the developments that have changed history.

Vatican. However, she said that she was She attributes all of humanity’s advances filled with joy and continued celebrating to God. with her family, the Camillian Order, at Sister Bellotti felt God’s call to a voits headquarters in Rome, where mem- cation at the age of 16 and entered the bers had made a huge birthday cake for convent when she was 22. She has been her. convinced since then that Christ called “True happiness is appreciating the her from all of eternity. moment as God gives it to us,” Sister “Never in my entire life have I thought Bellotti reflected. “What we really need for one minute that perhaps I made a in life is to give thanks to God for what mistake,” she explained. “Never! I am He gives us. Because that is the only happy, secure and committed to improvthing that will make man happy. Man ing my life thanks be to God.” needs to accept each moment that comes “My entire life has been beautiful,” she and say ‘thank you.’” continued. “The saddest and at the same “We need to accept the good that we time happiest memory of my life is when find,” she added. “Sometimes we seek af- I left my family to join the convent. It ter good things and we don’t find them, was something I didn’t want, but acceptbut that is the very secret, to seek what ed and loved. But it filled me completely.”

“I