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Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

Our Lenten Journey

F riday , March 14, 2014

Fall River Catholic schools offer first-ever fine arts night

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

Family prayer enhances Lenten pilgrimage

By Linda Andrade Rodrigues Anchor Correspondent

need to enhance their Lenten journey this year.”

Keynote speaker will be Alejandro AguilleraEASTON — Supporting the spiritual well- Titus of the United States Conference of Cathbeing of the family through prayer, especially olic Bishops and adjunct professor at Mount St. through the Marian devotion of the Rosary, Mary’s Seminary in Maryland.

A break-out session will be led by Jim and Holy Cross Family Ministries provides local opportunities for family members to participate in Terry Orcutt, founders of My Brother’s Keeper, Lenten retreats, conferences, seminars, parish a ministry based in Easton which serves those in need in Southeastern Massachusetts. missions and days of reflection.

As parents and grandparents, the Orcutts “We are a rather interesting ministry understand life’s challenges bringing the right here in the Diocese of Fall River,” family together to pray; and they will said Susan Wallace, director of marshare their very practical experiences. keting at the international Catholic The program also will include organization that distributes more Benediction, Rosary, praise and worthan one million Rosaries around the ship music and a snack break. The world every year. “I would like peoevent is free and open to the public. A ple to understand that we’re all about freewill offering will be taken. family unity and about daily prayers for For more information, call 508-238-4095 families.”

HCFM will sponsor the Family Rosary or 800-299-7729.

Faithful are urged to begin the holy season of Lenten Retreat “Being About the Work of My Father” on April 6 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Bishop the Triduum and Easter by attending Holy Week Stang High School, 500 Slocum Road in North Mini-Retreats, which will include the viewing of films, prayer, reflection and Mass at The Father Dartmouth.

“We have shaped this event to fit families’ Peyton Center in North Easton from April 14 busy schedules,” said Wallace. “It’s on Sunday af- through April 16, beginning daily at 11 a.m.

“We serve families in 17 countries, but what is ternoon, and families can more realistically fit it into their schedule. As families struggle to spend unique is that we do that through prayer events time growing in the faith, we think they will find face-to-face with families, and through media the timing and the speakers to be just what they Turn to page 15

FALL RIVER — In what will be a first-time collaboration of its type, the six diocesan schools in the city of Fall River are joining together to host a one-evening presentation to showcase the artistic and musical talents of their collective students.

The first-ever Fall River Catholic Schools Fine Arts Night will be held on March 18 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River, located at 1441 North Main Street in the city.

The Fine Arts Night will feature art from students of all ages in a variety of media including drawing, painting, sculpture, and weaving as well as musical performances by choral groups from each school.

According to Dr. Patricia Wardell, principal at Holy Name School, the idea for the Fine Arts Night was borne out of a desire among the city’s diocesan school principals to “encourage participation by all of the schools’ parents, faculty, staff and students and also be an enjoyable experience.”

Turn to page 14

Hannah Alexander, left, displays her original Halloween-inspired artwork, and Ben Walz displays his unique wire sculpture that will be part of the first-ever Fall River Catholic Schools Fine Arts Night on March 18 at the Children’s Museum. Both are seventh-graders at St. Stanislaus School in Fall River. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)

Lent is a fitting time for a youth weekend retreat

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff

Teen-agers take part in an activity on a past ECHO retreat. This Lent ECHO and YES! retreats are offering young Catholics time to reflect and get to know their faith better.

(Anchor file photo)

CENTERVILLE — As the Lenten season continues to offer Catholics a chance to give up something as a form of penitence, the teen-age members of the Diocese of Fall River are also choosing the season to give a weekend up to Christ by attending a youth retreat.

Encountering Christ in Others and YES! are two retreats being held during Lent, and Ellen Pagliaro, community liaison for ECHO in Cape Cod, said that high school students looking to enhance his or her relationship with God can attend one of the six retreats held at the Craigville Conference Center in Centerville throughout the year.

ECHO has been active on Cape

Cod and the Islands for more than 45 years (www.EchoOfCapeCod.org) and is open to high school sophomores, juniors and seniors. Each weekend begins on Friday evening, ends on Sunday night and the overall theme of the retreat is the Paschal Mystery. Pagliaro got involved in the ECHO program after encouraging her son, then a high school sophomore, to attend; “I was trying to find something for him, some kind of youth group with Faith Formation,” said Pagliaro, who said her son had some reservations about going.

“He went back and forth because he was also on the swim team, and they had a big meet that weekend,” recalled Pagliaro. “The coach was giving him a Turn to page 18

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News From the Vatican

March 14, 2014

In rare interview, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI recalls life of Blessed John Paul II

Vatican City (CNA/ EWTN News) — In lengthy excerpts of an interview published in an Italian newspaper, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI speaks of his time collaborating with Blessed John Paul II, highlighting the deceased pope’s sanctity and commitment to the truth.

“In the years of collaboration with him it became ever more clear to me that John Paul II was a saint,” the retired pontiff told Polish journalist Wlodzimierz Redzioch in a written interview, selections of which appeared in Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera on March 7.

Published as part of the book “Beside JPII: Friends and Collaborators Speak,” released by Italian press agency “Italian Edizioni Ares,” Benedict’s written interview was originally requested by Redzioch in November of 2013, which he agreed to and completed in January of this year.

During the interview, retired pontiff Benedict XVI recalled that he originally met John Paul II in the conclave where John Paul I was elected pope, explaining how they had both read each others’ work previously and had been wanting to meet each other.

Observing how the thenCardinal Wojtyla had quoted his piece “Introduction to Christianity” during the spiritual exercises he preached for Pope Paul VI in 1979, Benedict noted that “it is as if, interiorly, we both were expecting to meet each other.”

“Above all, I immediately and greatly perceived the human fascination that he exuded, and from the way he prayed I noted how deeply united to God he was.”

Speaking of his appointment

by John Paul II as Prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Benedict recalled how the Blessed allowed him to continue publishing theological works for his home diocese, and that he was “always very gracious and accommodating with me.”

Referring to certain doctrinal challenges which the two faced during their years of working together, Benedict XVI noted that the first major topic that came up was Liberation Theology.

“Both in Europe and in North America, it was common opinion that it was a support to the poor and, therefore, that it was a cause that surely needed to be approved,” he explained.

However, “it was an error,” stated the retired pontiff, adding that “Poverty and the poor were, without a doubt, set at the center of the Liberation Theology, yet in a very specific perspective. It was said that it was not a question of help or of reforms, but rather of

the great upheaval from which a new world would spring.”

Observing how “the Christian faith was being used as a motor for this revolutionary movement, transforming it into a political force,” Benedict explained that “A falsification of the Christian faith needed to be opposed precisely for the sake of the poor and in favor of the service rendered to them.”

Drawing attention to John Paul II’s experience with Marxism in Poland, which Benedict referred to as “the godmother of liberation theology,” the retired pontiff emphasized that it was “on the basis of his painful experience,” that made it “clear to him that it was necessary to fight that kind of ‘liberation.’”

Turning to his decision to open JPII’s cause for beatification, which advanced the times established by canon law, Benedict noted that he had been convinced of the Blessed’s sanctity for many years due to “his intense relationship with God,” and his immersion “with the Lord.”

“From here came his happiness, in the midst of the great fatigues that he had to sustain, and the courage with which he carried out his task in a truly difficult time,” Benedict recalled.

“John Paul II did not ask for applause, nor did he ever look around concerned about how his decisions would be received. He acted beginning with his faith and from his convictions and he was also ready to receive blows.”

“The courage of the truth is, in my eyes, a criterion of the first order of sainthood,” the retired pope emphasized, adding that “only departing from his relationship with God is it possible to also understand his tireless pastoral commitment.”

Noting that John Paul II’s commitment was “inexhaustible,” Benedict stated that “he committed himself with a radicality that cannot be otherwise explained,” and that was not limited to “the great trips” he took, but also “day after day beginning with the morning Mass until late into the night.”

Speaking in reference to the fact that the Church has officially recognized the holiness of “his” Pope John Paul II, as he was one of the Blessed’s closest collaborators, Benedict XVI affirmed that “my memory of John Paul II is filled with gratitude.”

“I could not and I should not try to imitate him, but I tried to carry on his legacy and his job as best I could. And so I am sure that even today his kindness accompanies me and his blessing protects me.”

Pope Francis receives ashes from Slovakian Cardinal Jozef Tomko during Ash Wednesday Mass at the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome March 5. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Pope shares anecdotes, talks to priests about mercy, hearing Confession

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Because his cassock doesn’t have a breast pocket, Pope Francis said he wears a cloth pouch under his white robes to carry the crucifix he took from a deceased priest.

Meeting March 6 with pastors of Rome parishes, Pope Francis said that while he was vicar general of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires he went to pay his last respects to a priest of the Blessed Sacrament religious order, an extremely popular confessor, who had died in his 90s.

In the crypt of the church, the priest’s body was lying there, but there were no flowers, he said. “I thought, this man forgave the sins of all the clergy of Buenos Aires, including mine, and not a single flower. So I went out to the florist’s.”

Then, the pope “confessed” that he “started preparing the coffin with the flowers and I looked at the Rosary in his hand. Immediately that robber that is in each of us came out and while I arranged the flowers, I picked up the cross of the Rosary and with a little effort, I pulled it off. I looked at him and said, ‘Give me half of your mercy.’”

He put the crucifix in his breast pocket and carried it there until his election as pope March 13, 2013.

“But a pope’s shirts don’t have pockets,” so now he carries it in a cloth pouch under his cassock.

“And when I start having a bad thought about someone, I always put my hand here,” he said, showing the priests where the crucifix is.

The pope’s annual Lenten meeting with Rome pastors focused on the priest’s call to be a minister of mercy. While he followed a prepared text, he added

comments and anecdotes from his own life and ministry.

Repeating his frequent call to go out into the world and meet people where they are, Pope Francis told the priests that their ministry of mercy, which reaches its highest point in the Sacrament of Penance, is especially needed by “people who have left the Church because they don’t want anyone to see their wounds.”

“There are many wounded people, people wounded by material problems, by scandals, including scandals within the Church,” he said.

Pope Francis urged the pastors to devote time to hearing Confessions and to avoid being either very lax or very strict.

“It’s normal that different confessors have different styles, but these differences cannot be ones of substance, that is, involving healthy moral doctrine and mercy,” he said.

Neither the very lax nor the very strict priest witnesses to Christ, because “neither takes seriously the person in front of him,” he said. “The rigorist, in fact, nails the person to the law as understood in a cold and rigid way; the indulgent, on the other hand, only appears merciful, but does not take seriously the problems of that person’s conscience, minimizing the sin.”

Pope Francis said he has some standard questions he asks priests who come to him for counseling, questions he asks himself “when I am alone with the Lord.”

The first, he said, is “Do you cry?” Jesus was moved by people who seemed like “sheep without a shepherd,” and those in spiritual or physical pain, he said. A priest must be a “man of mercy, compassion, close to his people and

the servant of all.”

“Aseptic priests — those who seem like they are working in a laboratory and are all clean and perfect — don’t help the Church,” he said. The world is messy and filled with people who have been bloodied by the battles of life.

“We priests have to be there, close to the people.”

The sick, the aged and children, he said, help priests learn to be merciful. “Do you know how to touch them? Or are you embarrassed,” the pope asked.

“At the end of time, those who will be allowed to contemplate the glorified flesh of Christ are only those who were not embarrassed to touch the flesh of their injured and excluded brothers and sisters,” he said.

Priests, he said, must have the compassion and the strength to “suffer for and with people, like a father and a mother suffer for their children and worry about them.”

Pope Francis spoke about another Buenos Aires priest, one who is a little younger than he is and a very popular confessor, who said that whenever he had scruples about forgiving too many people, “I go into the chapel and I tell (Jesus in) the tabernacle, ‘Sorry, it’s all Your fault because I’m just following Your example.’”

“That’s a beautiful prayer,” the pope said.

The pope also asked the priests if they prayed for their people in front of the tabernacle and pleaded with God to spare their parishioners just like Moses and Abraham argued with God to spare their people.

Using the Italian word “pantaloni” — trousers — Pope Francis said the two Old Testament patriarchs “had guts,” and today’s priests must as well.

The International Church Prayer at center of Ukrainian Catholic response to crisis

March 14, 2014

KYIV, Ukraine (CNA/ EWTN News) — Prayer and respect for the dignity of all persons are at the core of the Ukrainian Catholic response to the upheavals in Ukraine, a prelate of the tradition in the U.S. has said.

“What a beautiful example for all of us in the free world — the centrality of faith in people’s struggle for human dignity,” Archbishop Stefan Soroka of the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia told CNA. The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in particular, he said, is encouraging a peaceful approach to the situation and continuing “to be Christ’s presence among the people,” adding that the Church is not encouraging violence, but trying to calm the protesters and to lead them in prayer.

The country has undergone a series of nationwide protests about the country’s direction since November 2013, with divisions between citizens who favor closer ties to the European Union and those who favor closer ties to Russia.

The protests led Ukraine’s pro-Russia president Viktor Yanukovych to flee the country February 21; two days later, parliament appointed Oleksander Turchynov as acting president.

The political stakes further escalated February 28, as unmarked troops began to take control of airports, communications centers, government buildings and military bases in the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea.

Russian flags were raised on the region’s parliamentary building and a new parliament was sworn in in an emergency session.

The troops, wearing Russian uniforms without insignia, are believed to be Russian, though the nation’s president Vladimir Putin has denied this.

The Crimean parliament has called a referendum on whether the region will join Russia.

Ukraine’s interim prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and the new government in Kyiv have said the vote would be unconstitutional and illegitimate.

Archbishop Soroka said Ukrainian Catholics have been “very concerned” by the conflict because of the Church’s experience in the past. “People are afraid to go back to those communist times,” he said, pointing to the persecution of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, which was outlawed under Soviet Rule

Russian supporters pray near a Ukrainian military base in the village of Perevalnoye, Ukraine recently. (CNS photo/Vasily Fedosenko, Reuters)

from 1946 to 1989. “People don’t know what will happen to them.”

The archbishop said there continues to be persecution against the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Roman Catholic Church in some parts of Russia.

This treatment of the Ukrainian Catholic Church preceded the Ukraine crisis, but now there is “incitement of hatred, distrust,” he said.

Still, he said that Catholics should be understanding and patient in the midst of “hurt and damage that will take a long time to heal.”

The archbishop said that those who are pressuring Catholics and Ukrainians are “products of a regime” and decades of Soviet policies that they grew up learning to emulate.

“It is a call for us, especially in the time of Lent now, to be the Christ, bringing the love of God to all these people. Show the love of God, His redeeming love for all of us.”

Archbishop Soroka called to mind Pope Francis’ recent words reminding Catholics that “human dignity is the same for all human beings.”

“How do we as good Christians, raise the dignity of one another?” He said there is a particular challenge “to work against the incitement of this hatred and distrust that is being sown in society.”

The protests in Ukraine, for the most part, have been an example of this prayerful search for dignity, the archbishop said.

The Church, he said is helping the people to pray and support the demonstrations, and is also providing pastoral care, shelter, and medical aid.

The Ukrainian Catholic community in the United States has hosted rallies in different cities

and is working to persuade politicians to “exert economic and social pressure on Putin to dialogue,” the archbishop said.

On March 4 Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville asked Catholics in the U.S. to pray for “a peaceful resolution of this crisis” that secures “the just and fundamental human rights of a long-suffering, oppressed people.”

He voiced solidarity and prayer for an end to the tensions and “troubling events,” in the Ukraine.

Noting the history of persecution of Ukrainian Catholics, he said that U.S. Catholics “raise our voice in defense of religious liberty in Ukraine, a liberty further threatened by the invasive actions occurring in the country.”

Bishop Jacek Pyl, auxiliary bishop of the Odessa-Simferopol Diocese, urged the Christian faithful to keep praying for peace.

“With our prayer we reach out to all the people without concern for their religion, political views or ethnic background. We pray that the people, who for tens of years live in peace — do not start fighting today.”

Bishop Pyl called on all people “to stay away from extremisms” and to not allow “the brotherhood among Crimean people to be broken,” he said in a statement provided to the international Catholic pastoral charity Aid to the Church in Need.

Archbishop Soroka hoped that Christians across the world could find inspiration in the “tranquil, prayerful” approach of the Ukrainian Catholics to the conflict in Ukraine.

“We can learn so much from their example. I know I’m continually inspired by that example.”

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The Church in the U.S. Archbishop says 2015 meeting can help transform families, communities

PHILADELPHIA (CNS) — A powerhouse team of religious, civic and business leaders will travel to Rome to plan for the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia next year.

Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput led a news conference with Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter on March 7 at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center to announce they will lead a delegation March 2426 to meet with Vatican officials to plan the international event.

They also will have an audience with Pope Francis.

Throughout the news conference, speakers told of their confidence that the pope will visit Philadelphia in September 2015 and vowed to personally convince him to make his first pastoral visit in North America to the city for the conclusion of the eighth World Meeting of Families.

“I plan to extend to the Holy Father a warm, vigorous and hopefully very persuasive invitation to visit our state next year,” said Corbett, who added Nutter and other members of the delegation also would “sell” the pope and Vatican officials on making a papal visit.

“It’s only in Philadelphia that folks talk about trying to ‘seal the deal’ with the pope,” Nutter quipped.

Pope Francis has not confirmed he will attend the last day of the meeting, which past popes have done.

Archbishop Chaput announced members of the leadership team planning the World Meeting of Families event, and they include some of the heaviest hitters in Philadelphia’s civic and business spheres.

Robert J. Ciaruffoli, president of the big Philadelphia accounting firm Parente Beard, was named president of the 2015 World Meeting of Families organization, which is a separate

group and not a Philadelphia archdiocesan office.

Named as co-chairmen of the group were Brian L. Roberts, CEO of cable TV giant Comcast Corp.; David L. Cohen, a top executive with Comcast; Joseph Neubauer, chairman of food services firm Aramark; Daniel J. Hilferty, CEO of Independence Blue Cross; and James Maguire of the Maguire Foundation and leading philanthropist for Catholic causes in the region.

Corbett said he expected perhaps one million visitors if Pope Francis celebrates the public Mass on Sept. 27, 2015, the concluding day of the event. The most recent such meeting in Milan, Italy, in 2012 drew one million to that city.

Corbett also estimated the economic impact of the visit is “in the range of $100 million.”

Although Comcast’s Roberts and Cohen will not attend the meeting at the Vatican later in March, the other members and Archbishop Chaput, Corbett and Nutter will begin meetings March 25 with Vatican officials to plan logistics for the Philadelphia event.

Representatives of the Pontifical Council for the Family, which sponsors the World Meeting of Families every three years in a different city and of which Archbishop Chaput is a recently named member, will meet with the delegation March 25.

Later in the day a news conference in Rome will include the archbishop and Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the council.

The following day, the delegation will have an audience with Pope Francis, who was clearly on the members’ minds at the Philadelphia news conference.

Corbett invited people to pray that the pope would visit Philadelphia, while Nutter addressed the logistical and security challenges of handling the expected one million visitors or more.

“There’s not a doubt we can do this,” Nutter said. “We do big events in the city of Philadelphia.”

Whether one million or two million people attend, “we want people to come. We will do whatever we have to do to make this a very successful and great event here in Philadelphia. You can take that to the bank,” he said.

As excited as the interested Catholics in the audience were about the prospect of the pope attending the event next year, Archbishop Chaput kept the focus on family life.

The World Meeting of Families “has the power to transform in deeply positive ways not just the spirit of Catholic life in our region but our entire community,” he said.

The meeting will run Sept.

22-27, 2015, and include three days of family gatherings, speeches and break-out sessions in a yet-to-be-announced space that would accommodate 20,000 people, the archbishop said.

Programs would include discussion of economic, psychological and spiritual issues facing families, among others, he said, though he added it was too early yet for specifics.

“We will talk about problems families have today, but we want to be very positive about the family,” Archbishop Chaput said. “We hope to have all kinds of ways of helping families avail themselves of grace and holiness.”

He said that the World Meeting of Families will need to raise significantly more than the $5 million already raised, but anything left over from the conclusion of the meeting will be given to the poor.

“I hope we can give make a gift to Pope Francis (for the poor),” the archbishop said.

“That’s a great focus of his and I think he’d be very pleased with that.”

March 14, 2014

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen is pictured at a pulpit in an undated file photo. The seven-member board of medical experts who advise the Vatican Congregation for Saints’ Causes has unanimously approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of Archbishop Sheen. (CNS file photo)

Vatican medical experts OK reported miracle attributed to archbishop

PEORIA, Ill. (CNS) — A seven-member team of medical experts convoked by the Vatican reported there is no natural explanation for the survival of a child delivered stillborn and whose heart did not start beating until 61 minutes after his birth.

The survival of the child, James Fulton Engstrom, now three years old and developing normally, was credited by his parents to a miracle attributable to the intercession of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, a Peoria diocesan priest who gained fame for his 1950s television show “Life Is Worth Living” and his 16 years at the helm of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.

The medical experts’ report was announced March 6 in Peoria by the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation, which is headed by Bishop Daniel R. Jenky of Peoria.

“Today is a significant step in the cause for the beatification and canonization of our beloved Fulton Sheen,” Bishop Jenky said in a statement. “There are many more steps ahead and more prayers are needed. But today is a good reason to rejoice.”

James’ mother, Bonnie Engstrom, described what happened when she addressed a 2012 gathering of the Midwest region of the Catholic Press Association in Peoria.

When Engstrom was pregnant with James, a feeling came over her that “God wants this baby to exist,” she said. “Maybe he’s going to be the pope. We didn’t know, but we were shooting high.”

During delivery, what caused James to be stillborn was that his umbilical cord had knotted itself, cutting off his blood flow and oxygen supply. The more he progressed through the birth canal, the tighter the knot became. “He was born stillborn,”

Engstrom said, remembering how “his arms flopped by his side” when she reached for him to hold him.

Others at the home birth did CPR and chest compressions for 20 minutes waiting for an ambulance to arrive. Engstrom said she had no pre-composed prayer asking for help from Archbishop Sheen. “I just kept repeating his name over and over in my head: Fulton Sheen, Fulton Sheen, Fulton Sheen,” she recounted. “I didn’t know what else to do.”

At the hospital, James was described as “PEA,” for “pulseless electrical activity.” Medics tried two injections of epinephrine. Neither worked. A nurse held one of James’ feet in an effort to give him some measure of comfort, and Engstrom said she remarked later, “It was so cold, it was so cold. It was like in the saying ‘cold and dead.’”

Engstrom remembered that a doctor in the emergency room said, “We’ll try for five more minutes, then call it,” meaning recording the time of death. “If he had known about the previous 40 minutes” of efforts to revive him before arriving at the hospital, she said, “he would have just called it.”

She added, “They were just about to call it when his heart started beating — 148 beats per minute, which is healthy for a newborn. And it never faltered.”

The case will next be reviewed by a board of theologians. With their approval, the case could move on to the cardinals and bishops who advise the pope on these matters. Finally, the miracle would be presented to Pope Francis, who would then officially affirm that God performed a miracle through the intercession of Archbishop Sheen. There is no timeline as to when these next steps might take place.

The Church in the U.S. Concerns raised about pace of U.S. response to global religious rights

March 14, 2014

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The role of an ambassadorlevel position in bringing attention to abuses of religious freedom internationally is being emphasized by those who want a vacancy filled quickly or another position created to focus on specific regions — or both.

Katrina Lantos Swett, vice chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, said at a recent conference that “Washington has failed to make religious freedom a central aspect of U.S. foreign policy.”

At the National Prayer Breakfast in February, President Barack Obama voiced his support for protecting religious freedom abroad, but critics point out he has yet to nominate a new ambassadorat-large for international religious freedom, four months after the Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook stepped down.

In the meantime, a bill on hold in the Senate would create a special envoy specifically to focus on the rights of religious minorities of the Near East and South Central Asia.

The Senate’s Near East and South Central Asia Religious Freedom Act of 2013, S.653, was reported out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in December.

But a hold placed on the bill in February by Republican Sens. Tom Coburn, of Oklahoma, and Mike Lee, of Utah, is blocking its progress to a vote by the full Senate.

A press release paraphrased Coburn and Lee as saying the measure “duplicates the duties of an existing position: the ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.”

Rev. Cook stepped down in October, after serving in the post for 29 months. Such high-level diplomatic positions, like most presidential appointments, typically take months to be announced because of the thorough vetting of nominees.

Even after they are announced, Senate approval, such as is required for the ambassador-at-large, can take additional months.

For example, Cook’s predecessor, John Hanford, resigned in January 2009. Obama nominated Cook in June 2010 and her nomination expired in the Senate without a vote at the end of the 111th Congress in January 2011. She was renominated and confirmed in April 2011.

In a March 4 letter, Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des Moines, Iowa, and Russell D. Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commis-

Court lets block of immigrant housing laws stand; takes inmate’s case

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Two municipalities that tried to make it illegal for people who lack legal immigration status to rent housing were rebuffed March 3 by the Supreme Court.

Without comment, the court let stand lower court rulings that blocked ordinances in Farmers Branch, Texas, and Hazleton, Pa., that required scrutiny of the immigration status of applicants for rental housing, with harsh penalties for the tenants and landlords for renting to people who couldn’t prove their legal status.

Both laws were overturned as overstepping the boundaries of federal authority. The Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that key parts of Arizona’s S.B. 1070, a tough immigration enforcement law, were unconstitutional because they pre-empted the role of the federal government to manage immigration.

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals twice ruled that Hazleton’s ordinance — which also had

provisions blocking employment for immigrants without permission to work — is unconstitutional. Farmers Branch’s law was overturned by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Neither ordinance ever took effect.

Also March 3, the court agreed to hear the religious rights-based case of an inmate in Arkansas who wants to be allowed to grow a short beard in accord with his Muslim beliefs.

Gregory Holt, also known as Abdul Maalik, submitted a handwritten appeal to the court because he had no attorney. The Supreme Court will appoint one to assist him with the case.

His petition argues that the Arkansas prison policy banning beards is in conflict with the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, a 2000 federal law passed in response to cases of inmates’ claims that their religious rights were not being protected.

sion, encouraged creating the new envoy to work with the ambassador.

“A special envoy is needed to focus on the dire situation affecting religious minorities, especially Christians who are the group most targeted for harassment and attacks in the largest number of countries,” they wrote in a March 4 letter to Coburn and Lee. Joseph K. Grieboski, founder of the Institute on Religion and Public Policy, supports the senators’ hold on the bill.

A new envoy “highlights only certain countries, sending a message that sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the former Soviet Union don’t matter,” Grieboski told Deseret News, a daily paper in Utah.

At a February 25 conference on international religious freedom, Swett and Andrew Bennett, Canada’s ambassador for religious freedom, discussed ways the U.S. and Canada could help each other with the issue.

Canada is the only other country with a religious freedom office. It celebrated its first anniversary February 19.

Bennett said religious freedom is “not a question of theology. It’s a question of human rights and human dignity.”

He noted a jump in reports of religious persecution from just five years ago.

Roughly 74 percent of the world population lives in areas of social hostility or govern-

ment restrictions on the basis of religion, Bennett said, as opposed to 45 percent half a decade ago.

Swett said religious freedom is not a private matter, even though some consider it “too narrow” for a major foreign policy concern.

“If we care about the prosperity and security of other countries in the world, the last thing we want to do is consign religious freedom to secondclass status,” she said.

She referenced USCIRF’s “countries of particular concern” list, which identifies nations with severe violations of religious freedom.

USCIRF counts among those countries: Myanmar, China, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

The State Department keeps its own list of countries of particular concern. It in-

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cludes: Myanmar, China, Eritrea, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Uzbekistan.

Swett said the countries included “are pretty much the list of countries from which our gravest national security threats originate.”

Bennett focused on continued engagement between the U.S. and Canada.

“There are areas in the world where it’s appropriate for Canada to act alone,” he said, but there are also areas where Canada and the U.S. can have “deep collaboration, policy-wise (and) programming-wise.”

Bennett said he hopes the U.S. and Canada will collaborate with other like-minded countries, such as the United Kingdom, Germany and Poland.

“Freedom of religion is a foundational human right that links to other human rights,” Bennett said. “If you don’t have freedom of religion, how can you fully express yourself ?”

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March 14, 2014

Anchor Editorial

Bringing hope to those caught in addiction

Several communities in Massachusetts have seen a veritable epidemic of overdoses of heroin and other drugs since the beginning of this year. Many people have died due to these overdoses, leaving behind parents, children, spouses, siblings and friends who wonder what they could have done to not have these tragedies happen.

Last July, while visiting Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Pope Francis spoke at a rehabilitation hospital for drug addiction. He said that he came there to “embrace” them and to share with them hope.

He began the talk by discussing how we all need to embrace those who are tempted by drugs. “To embrace, to embrace — we all have to learn to embrace the one in need, as St. Francis did [with the leper]. There are so many situations in Brazil, and throughout the world, that require attention, care and love, like the fight against chemical dependency. Often, instead, it is selfishness that prevails in our society. The scourge of drug-trafficking, that favors violence and sows the seeds of suffering and death, requires of society as a whole an act of courage. A reduction in the spread and influence of drug addiction will not be achieved by a liberalization of drug use, as is currently being proposed. Rather, it is necessary to confront the problems underlying the use of these drugs, by promoting greater justice, educating young people in the values that build up life in society, accompanying those in difficulty and giving them hope for the future. We all need to look upon one another with the loving eyes of Christ, and to learn to embrace those in need, in order to show our closeness, affection and love.”

Next he acknowledged that while embracing is important (because it communicates love), more must be done. “To embrace someone is not enough, however. We must hold the hand of the one in need, of the one who has fallen into the darkness of dependency perhaps without even knowing how, and we must say to him or her: ‘You can get up, you can stand up. It is difficult, but it is possible if you want to.’ Dear friends, I wish to say to each of you, but especially to all those others who have not had the courage to embark on our journey: You have to want to stand up; this is the indispensable condition! You will find an outstretched hand ready to help you, but no one is able to stand up in your place. But you are never alone! The Church and so many people are close to you. Look ahead with confidence. To all of you, I repeat: do not let yourselves be robbed of hope! Do not let yourselves be robbed of hope! And not only that, but I say to us all: let us not rob others of hope, let us become bearers of hope!”

In other words, the pope reminds us that we do need to accompany our brothers and sisters throughout their journey towards recovery, giving them Christian hope along the way, while also reminding those of us with addictions of the need to take the first step, that of getting up (with God’s help, directly in prayer and through the good people whom God uses to help us, but we still need to make an effort).

In his talk at the hospital, the pope made reference to one of the parables which he often cites — that of the Good Samaritan. “Dear friends, I believe that here, in this hospital, the parable of the Good Samaritan is made tangible. Here there is no indifference, but concern. There is no apathy, but love. The St. Francis Association and the Network for the Treatment of Drug

Addiction show how to reach out to those in difficulty because in them we see the Face of Christ, because in these persons, the Flesh of Christ suffers. Your service is precious; undertake it always with love. It is a service given to Christ present in our brothers and sisters. And I wish to repeat to all of you who struggle against drug addiction, and to those family members who share in your difficulties: the Church is not distant from your troubles, but accompanies you with affection. The Lord is near you and He takes you by the hand. Look to Him in your most difficult moments and He will give you consolation and hope. And trust in the maternal love of His mother Mary.”

Many of the agencies and parishes of our diocese assist people who are suffering from addictions, through 12-step programs, housing assistance, counseling, prison ministries, etc.

The Holy Father also reminds us that we need to actively work to prevent the growth of addiction. In his message for this Lent, Pope Francis spoke of “moral destitution, which consists in slavery to vice and sin. How much pain is caused in families because one of their 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!”

Here the pontiff is showing the connection between various addictive behaviors, behaviors which are often nurtured by people not having an active and loving relationship with Christ.

He then made reference to conditions which are often found in the cities of our diocese: “[H]ow 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!”

The pope expressed the hope that “this Lenten season [might] 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.” Given the sad reality that so many people face within our diocese, we ask God to help us see what sacrifices we can make so as to help bring Christ’s hope to their lives.

Pope Francis’ weekly Angelus address and prayer

Dear brothers and sisters, hello!

The Gospel of the first Sunday of Lent presents us every year with an episode about the temptations of Jesus, when the Holy Spirit descended upon Him and, after the Baptism in the Jordan, drove Him to confront Satan openly in the desert for 40 days before beginning His public mission.

The tempter tries to lead Jesus away from the Father’s plan, that is, from the path of sacrifice, of the love that offers itself in expiation. He wants to lead Jesus down an easy

road, a road of success and power. In their duel Jesus and Satan fire rounds of Scripture at each other. In fact, Satan, to steer Jesus away from the cross, presents Him with false messianic hopes: economic well-being, indicated by the possibility of transforming bread into stones; the spectacular and miraclistic (“miracolistico”) style, with the idea of throwing Himself down from the highest point of the temple of Jerusalem and being saved by the angels; and finally the shortcut of power and dominion in exchange for OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER

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worshipping Satan. These are the three groups of temptations. We too know them well!

Jesus decisively rejects all of these temptations and reaffirms His unwavering will to follow the path set by the Father, without any compromise with sin or the world’s logic.

Note well how Jesus replies.

He does not dialogue with Satan, as Eve did in the earthly paradise. Jesus knows well that you cannot dialogue with Satan. Satan is quite astute.

For this reason Jesus, instead of dialoguing with Satan like Eve did, chooses to take refuge in the Word of God and answers with the force of this Word. Let us remember this: in the moment of temptation, in our temptations, we should not argue with Satan, but always defend ourselves with the Word of God! And this will save us. In His replies to Satan, the Lord, using the Word of God, reminds us above all that “not by bread alone does man live but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God” (Mt 4:4; cf. Deut 8:3); and this gives us strength, it sustains us in the struggle against the worldly

mentality that lowers man to the level of basic needs, causing him to lose the hunger for what is true, good and beautiful, the hunger for God and His love. Furthermore, Jesus reminds us that “it is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’” (Mt 4:7), because the road of faith also passes through darkness and is helped by patience and persevering expectation. Jesus finally points out that “it is written: ‘The Lord your God you will adore: Him alone will you pay worship’” (4:10). In other words, we must detach ourselves from idols, from vain things, and build our life on what is essential.

These words of Jesus will then be concretely validated

by His actions. His absolute fidelity to the Father’s plan of love will lead Him after three years to the final settling of accounts with the “prince of this world” ( Jn 16:11), in the hour of the Passion of the cross, and there Jesus will win His definitive victory, the victory of love!

Dear brothers, the time of Lent is the propitious occasion for all of us to take the

journey of conversion, taking this page of the Gospel seriously. Let us renew our baptismal promises: let us renounce Satan and all of his works and seductions — because he himself is a seducer — to walk the paths of the Lord and “arrive at Easter in the joy of the Spirit” (Collect of the first Sunday of Lent, Year A).

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.

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March 14, 2014

Holy Cross Family Ministries names new president: Father Wilfred Raymond, C.S.C. From Hollywood to around the world to build family unity through daily Rosary prayer

EASTON — For nearly 14 years Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C, has led Family Theater Productions based on Sunset Boulevard in the heart of Hollywood as they use mass media to entertain, inspire and educate families. While that may sound like unusual work for a priest; it isn’t for this priest.

Family Theater Productions is the media ministry of Holy Cross Family Ministries, which in the spirit of its founder, Servant of God Father Patrick Peyton, promotes and supports the spiritual well-being of families throughout the world.

“What better way to gather families together than television, a medium they are comfortable

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with and always watching,” said Father Raymond. “As families watch a video and then discuss the stories, they enrich their spiritual life and increase unity within the family.”

Father Raymond has served as director of Family Theater Productions since 2000 and will now take his unique priestly skills and expand his reach as he takes over as president of Holy Cross Family Ministries effective July 1, 2014. He will oversee the vision and spiritual direction of the member ministries of HCFM. It includes Family Theater Productions; as well as Family Rosary, a prayer ministry in 17 countries; and The Father Peyton Family Institute, based

in Peru, it provides educational resources to families.

The current president, Father John Phalen, C.S.C., received acknowledgment from the board for his 18-year tenure as well as his many accomplishments for the ministry, including opening offices in eight countries, including Bangladesh, Chile, East Africa (Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania), France, Ghana, Haiti, India, and Mexico to better serve families in their own locale.

Throughout his 18 years, Father Phalen also enhanced the ministry’s outreach to families by embracing and expanding into all areas of Internet outreach, which is evident as

eBlasts alone went out to more than 1.5 million people last year. Significant outreach was also achieved through website visitors, app users, and all those engaged through social media.

Traditional forms of outreach remain on the forefront of the ministry’s activities through face-to-face outreach to families with events and products.

Father Phalen has accepted a new assignment as Novice Director in Peru and will begin that role in 2015. Father Phalen’s broad breadth of experience in Hispanic parishes will be an asset to the congregation’s efforts in Peru.

In the spirit of its founder, Servant of God Father Patrick

Peyton, C.S.C., Holy Cross Family Ministries serves Jesus Christ and His Church by promoting and supporting the spiritual well-being of the family.

Faithful to Mary, the Mother of God, Family Rosary encourages family prayer, especially the Rosary. Holy Cross Family Ministries, through prayer events and media, reaches out to families to fulfill the founder’s vision that “The family that prays together stays together.”

For more information, call 800-299-7729 or visit www.

FamilyRosary.org/www.

HCFM.org.

Holy Cross Family Ministries is sponsored by the Congregation of Holy Cross. www.holycrossusa.org.

Listening to God versus dialoguing with the devil

xactly a year ago today, Pope Francis gave his first papal homily in the Sistine Chapel to the cardinals who had elected him. In words that caught me totally by surprise as I was translating them live for an EWTN audience, the pope, quoting Leon Bloy, said, “Anyone who does not pray to the Lord prays to the devil,” and then added, “When we do not profess Jesus Christ, we profess the worldliness of the devil, a demonic worldliness.”

That was the first of 22 different times he has focused on the devil in his homilies in the last year.

It’s a theme to which he returned yet again on Sunday when in his Angelus meditation he reflected on how the devil got Adam and Eve to succumb to his temptations in the garden and how Jesus was able to withstand him in the desert.

“Note well how Jesus replies,” he said. “He does not dialogue with Satan, as Eve did in the earthly paradise. Instead of dialoguing with Satan like Eve did, Jesus chooses to take refuge in the Word of God and answers with the force of this Word.

In our temptations, we should not argue with Satan, but always defend ourselves with the Word of God! And this will save us.”

Pope Francis knows the devil is real and is constantly scheming to get us into a “dialogue” as we saw with Eve, so that he can manipulate our lack of precise knowledge of

God’s Word, get us to distrust holy? Don’t naively believe what you heard in the second God and His promises, disgrade, that it’s ‘guided by the believe sin will kill us, choose Holy Spirit,’ or that some to act in opposition to Him, man dressed in white could and entice others to follow us possibly be infallible. The down the same deadly path.

As a good shepherd, Pope Francis wants to protect us from this Putting Into worst wolf of all.

But many times the Deep we’re totally unaware.

The future pope said

By Father in a 2010 interview Roger J. Landry that the devil’s “greatest achievement in Church is undemocratic and these times has been to make hopelessly out of touch with us believe that he doesn’t exist,” and that means that often real world and modern times.

While one can believe in God, we’re oblivious to the devil’s how can someone in 2014 mendacious machinations as possibly believe in the farce of he seeks to lure us into proa holy, Catholic and apostolic fessing “a demonic worldliness” rather than faith in Jesus Church?” “‘God is love,’ right? Then Christ and all He’s revealed. love! Don’t hold anything It’s worthwhile for us, back! Don’t listen to anyone therefore, to ponder some of who tells you that you can’t the father of lies’ most common contemporary seductions, express your love any way the poisonous fruit into which you find appropriate, like the prudes who tell you that God he gets so many Catholics restricts sex only to the Marand others today to sink their riage of a man and a woman. teeth: That just represses and stifles “God doesn’t want you to love! Stop letting the bigots be a ‘fanatic’ about the faith. tell you whom you can and Sure, Jesus tells you that if cannot love. And if you end you want to be His disciple, up getting Married, know you must deny yourself, pick that once you lose that loving up your cross every day and follow Him, but He didn’t re- feeling it’s totally appropriate for you to go find that loving ally mean for you to take that literally! Jesus wants you to be feeling with someone younger, happy, not miserable — right? sexier and more exciting. Remember life is about love and — and will the cross make God would never suffocate you happy or miserable?” love by the rules of medieval “You’d be foolish to trust morality and Victorian manthe Church. How many scandals will it take for you to ners.”

“You don’t really have to go realize that the Church isn’t

to Mass every Sunday and on holy days of obligation. That’s just a means for the Church to get two collections out of you!

You can worship God better on your own than by wasting your Sunday free time getting bored to death in church. The fact that the Church teaches that voluntarily missing Mass is a mortal sin for which you could go to hell shows how absurd the Church is. What type of God would ever do that, as if Mass were that important for human beings?”

“You don’t need to go to the Sacrament of Confession to be forgiven. What’s the point except to fill you with shame and embarrassment?

If you’re sorry, just tell God you’re sorry. After all, aren’t many priests worse sinners than you?”

“You don’t really have to love your enemies or forgive 70 times seven times. Jesus would never command you to do something so naïve as to love and pardon even

terrorists, serial killers, child molesters and those who have deeply hurt you. That’s like saying you’ve got to love and pardon evil! How could the good Lord ever demand that?”

“Don’t believe anyone who talks to you about hell and tries to ‘scare’ you into worshipping God. Hell may exist, but it’s really just for those who are evil, like Judas Iscariot, Adolf Hitler, or Osama bin Laden. So as long as you’re not like them — and you’ll never be like them! — you will coast to Heaven.”

“It’s good that you want to convert and get your life back together. But remember: there’s always time! You’ll have plenty of future Lents.

No need to do anything radical these 40 days.”

In each of these areas it’s important for us to ask: Are we listening to God or dialoguing with the devil? And are we professing Jesus or a demonic worldliness?

Anchor columnist Father Landry is pastor of St. Bernadette’s Parish in Fall River.

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ount Horeb even today is a formidable mountain to climb by pilgrims. This mountain sits almost 3,000 feet above St. Catherine’s Monastery, home of the Burning Bush. The elevation is 7,497 feet above sea level. There are no true climbing paths beyond some rocks that have been moved, then 78 stairs to help achieve the final summit.

Pilgrims climb at night to reduce the impact of the heat which rises into the hundreds during the day.

This pilgrimage odyssey starts at midnight so pilgrims can arrive in time to view sunrise. In the summer of 2007 my wife and I joined other pilgrims in this odyssey. Some experienced altitude sickness as the air is light but kept moving in total darkness, paths lit only by pen-sized flashlights. All follow the lights ahead winding up the mountain, being encouraged “keep moving, follow the others.”

As you near the summit fatigue becomes evident as are concerns for falling. It is here at this steep elevation that local Bedouin shepherds help, who often have to push or pull the participants to protect them from the danger of

March 14, 2014

We’re not alone in the desert

falling, which has been known to they see Jesus transformed in a happen. radiant light. They see Moses and Exhausted, pilgrims arrive at Elijah who have died, speaking a plateau just before those final with Jesus and they hear God’s 78 steps. Here all have a chance commanding voice telling them for a short rest and a brief reflection on why they Homily of the Week took this journey with all Second Sunday its pain. Finally at the top, dawn begins to radiate and of Lent pilgrims watch a sunrise

By Deacon unlike any they have ever seen. As the sun’s rays Ralph Guerra of light cut through the darkness exposing God’s valleys they experience why they to listen to His beloved Son. They have made this difficult journey. want to savor this moment and Peace and light wash over them understand its meaning but Jesus and it infuses them with the instructs them to descend and radiance of God’s mighty prestell the vision to no one, until He ence. It is a sunrise beyond words, rises from the dead. and you stand where saints once This mountain experience shared the light of Christ. will prepare the disciples for Mountain climbs have always their Lenten journey with Christ been places of enlightenment in where they will encounter Jesus The Bible just as they are in this experiencing suffering and death week’s Gospel. We read about and they will not understand three disciples climbing Mount until His transformation later at Horeb with Jesus. They follow Easter. This Gospel message also Jesus in faith and obedience, helps prepare us for our Lenten guided by His light, knowing journey where we are asked to only this will be an arduous climb the mountains of self sacrijourney and not knowing what fice, prayer, reflection and fasting. they will encounter. Once there We do this so we, too, can more

fully participate in the resurrection experience and radiate in the light of Christ. This Lenten experience is a great opportunity for us to be transformed more fully in communion with Christ.

In the first reading the story of Abraham reminds us that our spiritual transformation requires obedience and faith in God. Abram, already too old to have offspring, leaves his home to go on an arduous journey based on faith, trusting in God’s plan for him (Gen 15:5).

He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars — if indeed you can count them.” Then He said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”Abram does not know the way but is guided by God’s light and his obedience lights the path for his nation and those yet to come.

St. Paul in the second reading tells Timothy to bear his share of hardship, with strength that comes from God. The faith, discipline, and hardships endured by Jesus, Who is our guiding light, is to be an example of how we

should meet the challenges and mountains in life. Our Easter celebration should parallel in a small way the path all saints have listened and followed, and remind us that we are given opportunities for transfigurations every day. We are challenged to open our eyes to see God in the mountains and valleys of our life.

It’s the second week of Lent and like the disciples we are given a message: listen to Him. We need to light the way for others.

We are with His disciples, but now also guides on this climb, a Lenten journey. Jesus will die and arise on Easter. Like Abram, St. Paul, and all the saints we need to listen, follow in faith and allow others to climb God’s Mountain during these 40 days in Lent and see God’s loving light through us.

The guides of tomorrow follow us today. We will need to push and pull and we have a way to go until Easter morning. We carry the lanterns in the dark to see our way up the mountain to God for others to follow.

Deacon Guerra was ordained as a permanent deacon last October and currently serves at St. Margaret’s Parish in Buzzards Bay.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Mar. 15, Dt 26:16-19; Ps 119:1-2,4-5,7-8; Mt 5:43-48. Sun. Mar. 16, Second Sunday of Lent, Gn 12:1-4a; Ps 33:4-5,18-20,22; 2 Tm 1:8b-10; Mt 17:1-9. Mon. Mar. 17, Dn 9:4b-10; Ps 79:8-9,11,13; Lk 6:36-38. Tues. Mar. 18, Is 1:10,16-20; Ps 50:8-9,16bc-17,21,23; Mt 23:1-12. Wed. Mar. 19, 2 Sm 7:4-5a,12-14a,16; Ps 89:2-5,27,29; Rom 4:13,16-18,22; Mt 1:16,18-21,24a or Lk 2:41-51a. Thurs. Mar. 20, Jer 17:5-10; Ps 1:1-4,6; Lk 16:19-31. Fri. Mar. 21, Gn 37:3-4,12-13a,17b-28a; Ps 105:16-21; Mt 21:33-43,45-46.

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very once in a while, a truly special book comes down the theological pike: a book scholarly and well-written, a book that stretches the imagination, a book that changes the state of a discussion, if it’s taken with the seriousness it deserves.

The late Servais Pinckaers’ “Sources of Christian Ethics” was such a book. So was N.T. Wright’s “The Resurrection of the Son of God.” Now comes Nigel Biggar’s “In Defense of War” (Oxford University Press). Biggar’s careful moral reasoning offers a model that, if followed, would deepen and mature the Christian discussion of the ethics of war and peace. And, if I may say, his book ought especially to be read by those who, at first blush, will be shocked or even appalled by its title.

Nigel Biggar, regius professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology at Oxford and director, there, of the McDonald Center for Theology, Ethics and Public Life, is not wellknown to American readers,

Just war revisited and revitalized thinking, inveighs “against the save among that shrinking virus of wishful thinking.” And band of Catholic and evanwhile he is appropriately critigelical thinkers who take the cal of the wishful thinking of classic just war theory seriously and work to develop it in those prepared to give political light of the realities of 21st-century politics and technology. He is no ivory tower don, however, and in the bracing introduction to his book, he lays his cards squarely on

By George Weigel the table: “This is the dilemma: on the one and military leaders a moral hand going to war causes blank check in times of war, terrible evils, but on the other hand not going to war permits Biggar understands that that form of moral irresponsibility them. Whichever horn one is not a major problem in the chooses to sit on, the sitting Christian churches today (as should not be comfortable. it was, say, during World War Allowing evils to happen is I). No, the prevalent Chrisnot necessarily innocent, any tian wishful thinking today is more than causing them is necessarily culpable. Omission that which imagines there to be just solutions to the evils and commission are equally caused by murderous men like obliged to give an account Slobodan Milosevic, Saddam of themselves. Both stand in Hussein, Bashar al-Assad, and need of moral justification.” the Iranian mullahs without Throughout his book, Biggar, a close student of military the effective threat, or the history and the just war way of effective use, of proportionate

The Catholic Difference

and discriminate armed force.

That wishful thinking is the result of several bad ideas that Biggar confronts with Christian intellectual vigor: the bad idea that radical pacifism is implicit in the Gospel and was normative in the early Church; the bad idea that moral authority to wage war today is held by the United Nations alone; the bad idea that contemporary international law adequately reflects the moral reasoning of the just war tradition; the bad idea that the prudential norms within the just war tradition (like “last resort”) trump other considerations.

And while he doesn’t say it in so many words, his able and detailed review of the moral arguments for and against the invasion of Iraq in 2003 makes clear that bad political ideas can combine with bad theological ideas to produce morally incoherent and politically-irresponsible judgments

and policy prescriptions.

Prominent among those bad political ideas is the reflexive anti-western and anti-Israel bias that was palpable among many churchmen in the debate before the second Iraq War — a kind of gag reflex that warps too much churchbased commentary on the Middle East today.

Biggar shares my longstanding concern that much of the Christian leadership of the West is functionally pacifist today. Many churchmen affirm what they understand to be the moral criteria of the just war tradition, but as a practical matter they cannot imagine a just use of armed force — which tends to subtract religious thinkers and their insights from the debates where policy is actually devised. If Biggar’s book gets churchmen thinking seriously about war and peace again, that might change.

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

March 14, 2014

Thursday 13 March 2014 — Homeport: Falmouth Harbor — Pope Francis: election anniversary. he more things change, the more likely they will change again. Take for example church etiquette.

I remember when no Catholic gentleman would pass a church building without tipping his hat out of respect. Remember those little brass clips that used to be attached to the back of pews so that a man would have a convenient place to hang his hat? It’s difficult enough these days to get the teens to remove the funky baseball caps in church, never mind when passing the church door.

I remember when women wouldn’t think of entering a church with head uncovered.

It had to do with first-century Mediterranean etiquette. Remember those little packets women always carried in their purses — the ones containing a handy lace mantilla? You could get them at the neighborhood Five and Ten. In a pinch, my mother would cover her head with a Kleenex tissue.

In Europe, a priest could wear a cassock wherever he went. He would wear a cape over the cassock if he went outside in cold

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till kneeling, I leaned back a bit from the pew in front of me. My sobs subsided somewhat. Had that woman really told me to be quiet because she wanted to pray? Couldn’t she see my distress? Who did she think she was? My mom had been ill for some time. A healthcare professional had made an honest mistake. My mother was hospitalized and the doctors said she might die. I had come to St. Anne’s Church to petition God for healing.

I had already asked God for help, so I decided just to leave. On my way out, a young mentallychallenged man came up to me.

We had spoken together a few times in the past. I told myself sternly that even though I was upset, to remember to be patient with him. To my great surprise he just put his arms out and said, “You need a hug.” As he hugged me, I felt at peace. He smiled and then walked away. He brought God’s love to me that night.

The essence of Lent is seeking better communication with God. As we seek to grow in our prayer life, let us be guided by St. Jane Frances de Chantal who said, “The great method of prayer is to

Anchor Columnists Holy hipsters

“Monsignor”). Nobody would weather, and, of course, always ever call a priest by his first name. the biretta.

In the United States, however, Some parents even referred to due to rampant anti-Catholicism, their own priest-sons as “Father.” the priest was forced to wear a shirt and tie on the street. This was before The Ship’s Log my time but I have seen Reflections of a photographs. There’s Parish Priest one on the wall in the Bishop’s Chapel of our

By Father Tim diocesan cathedral.

Goldrick As anticlericalism began to wane, proper That was a bit much. clergy attire became a black Well, times have changed, as suit and rabat (black bib with they are wont to do. Round and detachable linen clerical collar). round it goes; where it stops, noThe collar was held together body knows. I may, however, have with a small brass collar button. glimpsed the “emerging Church.”

I still have some collar buttons It’s not a pretty sight. buried someplace in the back First came beatniks, then of my bureau draw. Along with came hippies, and now come the black suit and rabat went a black felt fedora (except between the hipsters. “Hipsterism” is the avant-garde subculture of the moMemorial Day and Labor Day ment. It’s basically a state of mind. when a true gentleman would No one-size-fits-all definition wear a white straw hat). Only a pope would wear a white hat year adequately applies. Allow me, dear readers, to enlighten you on the round.

Another tasteful accessory was esoteric world of hipsterism.

Hipsters are usually in their a pair of cufflinks. These were 20s or 30s, but not always. They worn on a collarless white dress are independent thinkers, urbane shirt with French-style cuffs. bohemians, and creative types, Cufflinks made a suave fashion well-educated, witty and intellistatement. gent. They wear skinny-leg jeans, A parish priest was always tied over-sized neck scarfs, tatreferred to as “Father” (or, better,

tered vintage clothing (including sneakers similar to those I wore in high school) and cropped, edgy haircuts — preferably with bangs hanging over one eye. Hipsters are androgynous. Hipsters are into organic foods, sustainability, and indie (independent) rock music. No hipster would be caught dead with an outdated smartphone model.

You seldom find hipsters in Falmouth. They tend to gather in large metropolitan settings. Hipsters are way beyond cool. Hipsters prove once again that groovy never goes out of style. When groovy becomes main-stream, these trend-setters simply move on to the next new thing.

Lo and behold, hipsters have churches! In hipster houses of worship you may see the cuttingedge church of the future and its protocols. Hang onto your hats.

I’ve read about what goes on one hipster church. The minister is ordained in a mainline denomination, but reports that no more than 25 percent of the 200-member congregation belongs to the same one. She says the rest are “a mixture of post-Evangelicals, Methodists, agnostics, and the

9 ever-popular ‘nothing.’” They appear to have little in common — including basic beliefs or lack thereof. What’s faith got to do with it? It’s all about a sharing of progressive values and a feeling of communal exclusivity.

Church is being “recontextualized,” says the hipster minister.

Worship is conducted by whoever happens to show up. People sit around in circles on plastic chairs in a rented hall. The communion service uses chant, psalmody, Scripture, sermon, prayers of the people, and sometimes bluegrass music. It may also include poetry slams, journaling, arts and crafts, or the assembling of hypodermic needle sterilizing kits. I am not making this up.

The reverend hipster previously worked as a comedian and is now into professional bodybuilding. People call her “Pastrix.”

Oh, and she’s heavily tattooed (religious themes, of course).

Have I seen the Church of the future? I think not. But at least nobody would have to worry about etiquette. There isn’t any.

Holy hipsters, meanwhile, will hopefully soon move on to something else. Deo gratias.

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

Quiet please, I want to pray have none. If in going to prayer “He fell. Someone help him.” one can form in oneself a pure I told God, “I will check on capacity for receiving the Spirit the man, but then please I need of God that will suffice for all an answer today.” As I knelt method.” As the above story beside the fallen man, I checked illustrates, we may receive God’s his pulse; there was none. I answer as a quiet whisper to our whined to God, “No God; You heart or from a member of the don’t understand, that CPR stuff community. We need to remain was something I was supposed open to each and every way God to learn and know, but never may seek to share the answer with us.

Wrestling with God There are some debts in life that one can only Holding on for settle by paying them His blessing forward. My debt to that young man was one of

By Dr. Helen Flavin those. About four years later when I had had my moment of thoughtlessness, my chance came to rectify use!” Everyone in the church was that by sharing God’s love. I watching the two of us. Someone was visiting friends in another said, “Doesn’t he have epilepsy?” city. They dropped me off at a He was old enough to be possibly Catholic Church. I had recently having heart difficulties and there faced a devastating loss and was were no visible convulsions. So I in the process of recovery. I knelt honestly could not tell whether it and prayed. I closed my eyes and was his heart or a seizure. I told asked God, “Do You have a place God, “I will check his carotid for me in the world? Help me artery for a pulse. If there is none, find where I fit in Your plan.” Im- then I will start CPR.” Thankfulmediately, there was a loud crash. ly, the man had a pulse! Perhaps I selfishly thought, “Can’t you I had gently moved his neck, or people be quiet, I want to pray.” perhaps the seizure was ending Then I heard someone scream, as it also became apparent to me

that he was getting air into his lungs. I thanked God that I did not have to use that CPR! I held the man’s hand as he awoke. He asked what had happened. I told him that he had had an episode in church and that he was fine.

Also the ambulance crew would take him to the hospital.

I headed back to my pew. I wanted to kneel to quietly await God’s answer about my place in the world. Today I imagine God’s loving smile as He initiated the next part since He knew I didn’t yet understand that I had received my answer. Suddenly, the woman behind me loudly said, “Thank God you were here!” I sat in stunned silence as things clicked into place. I finally realized God had answered my prayer, through my actions and her words. Although it took me some time to climb back from that loss, I was no longer worried. I knew in my heart that God had a plan for me and He knew where I was in His world each moment of my day.

Have you ever read the book “Miracles” or the book “Messages

From Heaven”? Those minimiracle stories are the answers to prayers as experienced by others.

Why is it that we Catholics are so ready to read and respond to such tales, yet hesitant to share with one another our own personal experiences? This Lent, as we seek to grow in faith and love of God, let us each choose to share one miraculous experience from our own lives and also to listen to another’s story. Let us spend some time in community receiving and understanding the love God has for each of us.

As we do so, let us remember Mother Teresa’s words, “Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.”

Anchor columnist Helen Flavin is a Catholic scientist, educator and writer born and raised in Fall River. She is a member of St. Bernadette’s Parish and received her Ph.D. in neurochemistry from Boston College and teaches in the Chemistry Department at Rhode Island College. She is also a science instructor at Bishop Connolly High School. She can be reached at hflavin@bishopconnolly.com.

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March 14, 2014

Pope: We will be judged by our behavior towards others

Vatican City (CNA/ EWTN News) — Pope Francis dedicated a recent daily homily to the virtue of charity, stressing that we shouldn’t be “ashamed” to touch those who suffer, and cautioned against turning our faith into a mere ritual.

“Don’t be ashamed of the flesh of our brother, it’s our flesh! We will be judged by the way we behave towards this brother, this sister,” the pope emphasized at the daily Mass.

Speaking to those present in the chapel of the Vatican’s St. Martha guesthouse, the pontiff began his reflections by recalling

the Gospel reading, taken from Matthew, in which the Pharisees criticize Jesus and His disciples for not fasting.

This attitude of viewing the Commandments as a formality and the religious life as a mere ethic contrasts with the attitude of Jesus, the pope observed, Who is not embarrassed to bend down and embrace those who suffer.

“Receiving from our Lord the love of a Father, receiving from our Lord the identity of a people and then transforming it into an ethic means we are refusing that gift of love,” he explained.

“These hypocritical people are

good persons. They do all they should do. They seem good. But they are ethicists without goodness because they have lost the sense of belonging to a people!”

Calling to mind the words of Isaiah in the first reading, the pope reminded those present that true charity or fasting is expressed by freeing the oppressed, sharing our food with the hungry, opening our houses to the homeless and clothing those who are naked, thus breaking the chains of evil.

Emphasizing that “This is the charity or fasting that our Lord wants!” Pope Francis affirmed that true charity “is concerned about the life of our brother,” and “is not ashamed — Isaiah said it himself — of the flesh of our brother.”

“Our perfection, our holiness is linked with our people where we are chosen and become part,” he noted, adding that “our greatest act of holiness relates to the flesh of our brother and the flesh of Jesus Christ.”

Continuing, the pontiff highlighted that “our act of holiness today, here at the altar is not a hypocritical fasting: instead it means not being ashamed of the flesh of Christ Which comes here today!”

The “mystery of the Body and Blood of Christ” stated the pope, means “sharing our bread with the hungry, taking care of the sick, the elderly, those who can’t give us anything in return: this is not being ashamed of the flesh!”

Drawing attention to the figure of the Good Samaritan, the pontiff explained that the most difficult act of charity or fasting is practiced by him, who bent down to the wounded man, unlike the priest who hurried by, perhaps out of the fear of being infected.

Stating that this is the question we should ask ourselves today, the pope challenged those in attendance, saying “Am I ashamed of the flesh of my brother and sister?”

“When I give alms, do I drop the coin without touching the hand (of the poor person, beggar)? And if by chance I do touch it, do I immediately withdraw it?

When I give alms, do I look into the eyes of my brother, my sister?

When I know a person is ill, do I go and visit that person? Do I greet him or her with affection?”

A sign that might help us, the pope expressed, is another question: “Am I capable of giving a caress or a hug to the sick, the elderly, the children, or have I lost sight of the meaning of a caress?”

Concluding his homily, the pontiff noted that “these hypocrites were unable to give a caress.

They had forgotten how to do it,” and warning that “we will be judged” by the way we treat our brothers and sisters.

March 14, 2014

Catholic officials: Release of nuns was answer to prayers

BEIRUIT (CNS) — The release of at least 12 Greek Orthodox nuns who were abducted in Syria in December was an answer to prayers, said regional Catholic officials. Melkite Patriarch Gregoire III Laham said March 10 that he felt “a wave of joy” along with “thousands and thousands” of other people when he heard the nuns had been freed a day earlier.

Islamist rebels claimed responsibility for the abduction of the nuns in December from Syria’s ancient town of Maaloula, where Aramaic, the language of Jesus, is still spoken. Two Orthodox bishops and three priests, including an Armenian Catholic and Italian Jesuit, also have been abducted in Syria and remain missing.

“I hope the initiative to release the Sisters will be a door for more efforts to liberate the two bishops and also the priests,” Patriarch Laham told Catholic News Service from his patriarchate in Rabweh, Lebanon.

The papal nuncio to Syria, Archbishop Mario Zenari, told Vatican Radio: “It was news we were waiting for. We prayed for the liberation of these nuns who were taken hostage at the beginning of December.” In Damascus March 10, Christians gathered at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross for a prayer service of thanksgiving.

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

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March 14, 2014

Nun says repair of Hebrew scroll helped deepen Jewish-Catholic ties LONDON (CNS) — A year begins March 15.

Mother McMonagle told British Jewish scribe has restored an ancient Hebrew the audience that “Esther has scroll for an order of London- remained very powerful in based nuns in a project hailed Catholic Christian religion, as an advance in “ever-deepen- devotion and spirituality as a ing” Jewish-Catholic relations. symbol, an image and a model Mordechai Pinchas, a “sofer of powerful intercession with stam,” or scribe, returned the God to change the course of restored megillah — a scroll human events from bad to of the Old Testament Book of good. Anybody from the JewEsther — to the Tyburn Nuns ish race should be proud of in a March 6 ceremony at their that.”

The story of Esther, she convent in London.

Mother Xavier McMona- added, is “a reminder of the gle, mother general, told the horror of genocide in our own audience of invited guests historical times — the Hothat the three-centuries-old locaust, Cambodia, Rwanda parchment had brought them and others. The need for Estogether because it was “a ther’s example is ever present in our minds, Biblical artifact n e v e r thought whether we are symbolizing I would go to a Christians or ever-deepening Jewish-Catholic convent quite so much in Jews. Esther is relations.” my life, but it really was a memorial, a living point of “It all shows very, very special.” confidence that something more God can change than academic things for the better, and He theological exercise,” she said. can do it even by working mir“We get to know each other as acles.” real people.

Mordechai, whose English “You can tell there is something deeper going on. We are name is Marc Michaels, told here because we all believe in the audience that the restorathe God of Abraham, Isaac tion was an “interfaith scribal and Jacob,” she continued. “It adventure.” He said it “was not is going further. We haven’t a job that I would normally seen where it’s going yet, be- have expected to have done” cause that’s to be revealed but that it was a “real honor” to undertake. later.”

“I never thought I would go The megillah was written in Venice, Italy, in the late 18th to a convent quite so much in century and was donated to my life, but it really was very, the nuns by Jordan and Lor- very special,” he said.

He added that he first he raine Cherrick, Jewish friends had to offer to buy the scroll who live in St. Louis. from the nuns, because Jewish Because it was in need of “considerable restoration” — law dictates that such Sacred many of the Hebrew words in items should not be in the the 15 columns had either fad- possession of Gentiles.

Once the nuns refused to ed or were completely illegible — the nuns sought Jewish ex- sell it, he could begin restoration work, which involved pertise to fix it.

The megillah is one of the the use of traditional materimost important scrolls in Ju- als, such as animal fiber thread daism. It tells of how Queen for stitching and tools, such Esther and her uncle, Morde- as quills and reeds, to make it chai, saved the Jews from to- kosher.

Mordechai said he filled tal extermination at the hands of the wicked Haman, royal holes in the megillah by dying adviser to King Ahasuerus of materials with tea and pasting Persia, who cast purim (lots) them into the scroll.

The Tyburn Nuns are a to decide on which date he would annihilate them all. The Benedictine order formally fasting, prayer and courageous called the Adorers of the Saintervention of Esther saved cred Heart of Jesus of Montthe Jews, and Haman perished martre. They are commonly instead on the same gallows he called the Tyburn Nuns because their motherhouse had built for them.

Today it is a requirement of stands next to the site of the the Jewish people that they all Tyburn gallows, upon which should hear the megillah read 105 canonized or beatified from a kosher scroll before Catholic martyrs of the Refthey feast at Purim, which this ormation era were executed.

Mr. Peabody, voiced by Ty Burell, Penny, voiced by Ariel Winter, and Sherman, voiced by Max Charles, appear in a scene from the animated movie “Mr. Peabody & Sherman.” For a brief review of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS photo/Fox)

“I

CNS Movie Capsules NEW YORK (CNS) — The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by Catholic News Service.

“300: Rise of an Empire” (Warner Bros) Directed by Noam Murro, this 3-D war drama, both a prequel and a sequel to 2007’s “300,” is short on dialogue but long on relentless and increasingly repellent action. As ancient Persians and Greeks once again battle for supremacy of the Aegean peninsula, the film serves up a second helping of the choreographed violence and warrior beefcake that characterized its predecessor. Following their nation’s victory over the Spartans at Thermopolyae, the Persian king (Rodrigo Santoro) and his sexy naval commander (Eva Green) plan an invasion of Greece, setting their sights on Athens. The stage is set for an epic naval battle, as the Athenian fleet admiral (Sullivan Stapleton) leads a crusade for freedom and democracy over tyranny. Tasteless carnage, needless to say, is the real name of the game, with innumerable gross-out moments. Relentless gory and sometimes gruesome fighting, a graphic nonmarital sex scene, upper female and rear nudity, skimpy costumes, some rough language. The Catholic News Service classification is L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic con-

tent many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

“Mr. Peabody & Sherman” (Fox) The chronology-defying adventures of a hyper-intellectual dog (voice of Ty Burrell) — whose many accomplishments include the invention of a time machine — and the perky human son (voice of Max Charles) he adopted as an infant turn perilous when the lad takes an unauthorized trip to the past in the company of a classmate (voice of Ariel Winter) he’s anxious to impress.

Director Rob Minkoff ’s 3-D updating of a popular TV cartoon of the 1950s and ’60s adds

a tiresome amount of potty humor to the elaborate, sometimes groan-inducing puns characteristic of the original material. But basic history lessons for the youngest moviegoers, together with a worthy message about respecting people of different backgrounds — even if they do happen to be canines — endow this more than usually literate children’s film with some countervailing virtues. Scenes of mild peril, several scatological jokes and sight gags, a single double entendre. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I — general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG — parental guidance suggested.

Some material may not be suitable for children.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, March 16, 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Michael Ciryak, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Swansea

Anchor Columnists

March 14, 2014

D

iscrimination is often understood as acting out of prejudice against persons who differ from us and do not share our views, traits, values or lifestyles. The word “discrimination,” however, has an older meaning as well, namely, to draw a clear distinction between proper and improper, good and evil, to differentiate and recognize as different. This older meaning generally carried favorable connotations with it: a person of discrimination was someone of good judgment and detailed

W

Discrimination and human genital sexuality bias against a person, group, or knowledge, as in the case of culture on the basis of racial, one who could discriminate gender, or ethnic background. between fine wines, detectSometimes people will equate ing subtle but relevant differences, or someone on Wall Street who could Making Sense discriminate between the profiles of different Out of companies, discerning Bioethics which stocks would rally and which would

By Father Tad decline.

Pacholczyk Only in more recent times has the term discrimination against people “discrimination” assumed the who are gay or lesbian with second meaning signifying racism, much like discriminaprejudice, or an unfounded

It’s only a sinus infection

prayed. “God I offer this for the hen I was in college, souls in purgatory and the conmy social life didn’t version of sinners. And I pray begin until after 9 p.m. I’d head out from home around 8 or 8:30 for those who are really sick and p.m. and hook up with my crew suffering.”

Video games I thought. I and not worry about time (right plugged in an NHL game and mom and dad?). replayed a good portion of the And while an all-nighter 2011 Boston Bruins Stanley was rare, it wasn’t something Cup winning season. Zdano that was difficult to do (as long as there was a 24-hour recoup period the following day).

Now I head to bed at the time I’d be heading out 40 years ago. An allnighter? Now that’s if I

By Dave Jolivet stay up until 11 to watch the Bruins or the Red Sox in the midwest — Chara even scored six goals in forget the west coast games.

But last week, I got to pull an one game. That had to be a fever dream. all-nighter again, several to be After nearly three hours of exact. And it wasn’t pretty. thumb-work, my hands were as Every winter I get nailed with a cold, deal with it for a few miserable as the rest of my body. days, then shake it off. The same Time to move on.

I shuffled over to the fridge deal happened last week, with and scooped out some coffee ice one big exception — I couldn’t shake it off. It was the cold from cream hoping it would soothe my chest and throat and ease .... well you get the idea. the sinus pressure. It was fun Each day grew progressively worse with sinus and chest while it lasted.

I tried sitting in the dark and congestion; to the point where prayed. “God I offer this for the I couldn’t lie down without mimicking Mt. Etna in Italy on souls in purgatory and the conversion of sinners. And I pray a bad day. for those who are really sick and Not wanting to disturb suffering.”

Denise and Igor, I bundled up Still the Greek god Hypnos my chilled body and headed downstairs to try and grab some refused to admit me.

I next reached for my headmuch-needed shuteye. Alas, phones, found the Pandora app, it wasn’t to be. Evil bugs and set it to my Kinks station and germs rendered me bug-eyed.

I tried sitting in the dark and tried to be lulled to sleep by the heart-pounding riffs of Dave prayed. “God I offer this for Davies’ guitar. It kept my feet the souls in purgatory and the bopping, but still sleep evaded conversion of sinners.” me. That’s unusual, because I’ve I turned on the telly, and fallen asleep to rock music often. watched re-runs of “Diners, I tried sitting in the dark and Drive-Ins and Dives,” “Restauprayed. “God I offer this for the rant Impossible,” and “Restausouls in purgatory and the conrant Redemption.” Good, that version of sinners. And I pray got me up to midnight.

I tried sitting in the dark and for those who are really sick and

My View From the Stands

suffering.”

As dawn approached I heard the newspaper delivery man drive up and make his rounds, so I headed up to bed and was able to catch an hour of sleep ... maybe.

The following day I felt too tired to sleep. I tried but couldn’t.

I prayed. “God I offer this for the souls in purgatory and the conversion of sinners.

And I pray for those who are really sick and suffering.”

The next few nights played out like the first, with slight exceptions.

I watched Bruins replays on TV, played golf at TPC Sawgrass and listened to The Beatles station on Pandora ... all with the same futile results.

I tried sitting in the dark and prayed. “God I offer this for the souls in purgatory and the conversion of sinners.”

I eventually bit the bullet and went to the doctor — a sinus infection and lung congestion. Time for antibiotics and steroids.

Almost immediately I enjoyed the benefits of the meds and could go again to bed at 9 p.m. and sleep.

I know in the larger scheme of things a sinus infection is nothing compared to those who chronically suffer from serious ailments and other misfortunes.

Even just a couple of nights of misery is tough enough to take and my heart goes out to all of them.

But if my brief state of misery had any affect on my feeble prayers, then purgatory should be pretty empty now — thanks largely to a few unwanted allnighters.

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

tion based on skin color. As Michael Kirby notes, “Bishop Desmond Tutu, one time Anglican Archbishop in South Africa, who had earlier tasted the sting of racial discrimination, has been a valiant defender of the equality and dignity of GLBTIQ [gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, intersex, and otherwise ‘queer’] people. He has explained that he could no more embrace the hatred and discrimination of Christian brothers and sisters against the sexual minority than he could embrace the racism of apartheid, now overthrown.”

Regrettably, we all know of people who manifest a racist attitude against others, treating them improperly because of characteristics they cannot control, like skin color. Even when a person can control certain characteristics, like their sexual behaviors, and they still choose to do something wrong and perverse, such as having sex with animals, we must never choose to hate the person who engages in these wrong and perverse behaviors.

But loving the person who commits sexual sins never entails that we should accept his sins and perversions; on the contrary, to love him authentically means we seek to help him rise out of his damaging behaviors, so that he can live in a more fully human way by means of better moral choices.

Clearly, then, nobody should embrace “hatred and discrimination” against anyone, GLBTIQ or otherwise, but everyone should show care and compassion towards those with GLBTIQ dispositions, in the hope that they might come to recognize and renounce the harmful and disordered forms of sexual activity that tempt them. It remains the better part of wisdom to discriminate, in the moral sense of the term, between disordered uses of human sexuality and the ordered engagement of human sexuality within Marriage.

In the human body, our organs have discernible functions: the heart pumps blood; kidneys remove waste products from the blood and excrete them in the urine; reproductive organs join man and woman as one, and enable the procreation of children. The anatomical and procreative complementarity of men and women is

13 evident, and even the shapes of their sexual organs reveal how they are designed for each other, something not true of non-conjugal forms of sexual activity. As Dale O’Leary points out, “The reproductive/sexual organs of men and women are different and designed to fit together. When electricians refer to male and female plugs, everyone can easily recognize which is which and why they are so named.”

O’Leary further notes that non-conjugal acts are ultimately acts that one person does to another, and that such acts involve the language of using and being used. She notes that “Although there are various acts in which two or more individuals can engage for sexual pleasure, only one very specific act consummates a Marriage.

The other acts involve the hands, either end of the digestive system, or physical objects, but not the reproductive organs of both simultaneously in the same act.”

Conjugal acts, meanwhile, involve the language of giving and receiving, through a union of complementary human persons. Conjugal acts address a man’s and a woman’s need for completion not only by the intimate bodily communication of themselves to each other, but in a transcendant and ecstatic way to a reality greater than themselves in the engendering of their offspring.

We intuitively view the world in purpose-driven ways, and we recognize the telos (“end”) written into the realities that surround us. The telos of an acorn is to become an oak tree; the telos of human sexuality is to draw man and woman together to procreate and raise children in the family unit created by Marriage.

Acknowledging the fashioning of our sexuality in this determinate way, and recognizing the conjugal union of Marriage as an institution of nature, not a product of man’s willfulness, enables us to discriminate between proper and improper uses of the gift of our genital sexuality.

Anchor columnist Father Pacholczyk earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, and serves as the director of Education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www.ncbcenter.org

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March 14, 2014

Fall River schools collaborate on first-ever fine arts night continued from page one

“The Fall River Catholic school principals have been trying over the years to come up with ideas,” Wardell told The Anchor. “At one of the meetings the seed for the Fine Arts Night idea was planted; from that Jo-Anne Sbrega was contacted about using the Children’s Museum; a meeting of music and art teachers was held, a date chosen — and the Fine Arts Night was born.”

“Though we are small individual schools, we are all together in our mission and faith-based curriculum,” said Brenda Gagnon, principal at Holy Trinity School. “Many of the city schools have held art fairs at their individual schools each year … and the New Bedford Catholic schools have done something similar in the past. The students are excited.

It is one thing to have their work hanging up in their own school, but it is much more exciting to have their work hanging in a museum.”

While the thought of having artwork on public display in a museum might be daunting for some, the students at St. Stanislaus School seem to be taking it all in stride.

“I don’t think it’s really hit them yet,” said Kendra D’Angora, the school’s art teacher. “I keep telling them that this is huge, let’s wow them with what we’ve got, and they just kind of nod. But I think the impact of that will happen when they go to the show.”

Wardell said the students at Holy Name have reacted in a similar fashion.

“I am confident they are pleased that a piece of their artwork will be exhibited,” she said. “Each student will have one of his or her artwork displayed.”

D’Angora, who also teaches art at St. Margaret’s Regional

School in Buzzards Bay, said she’s gone through all of her students’ projects from the year and has picked some of their best work for the upcoming show.

“I wanted to make sure everyone could shine with his or her best work,” she said. “We did some wire sculptures with the seventh- and eighth-graders and those came out really well. We also did a relief project where they work with paper pulp, and once they are dried we paint them. But it will mostly be two-dimensional work because they’re easier to display and they won’t get broken.”

“The children are doing a variety of art pieces — everything from works made with Legos, to sculptures, drawings and paintings,” said Sister Marie Baldi, principal of St. Michael School. “Our art teacher has pretty much given them broad leeway as to the size of the art piece.”

The artistic pieces will be on display throughout the evening and the individual schools will also present musical performances according to the following schedule: St. Michael School at 6 p.m., Espirito Santo School at 6:30 p.m., St. Stanislaus School at 7 p.m., Holy Trinity School at 7:30 p.m., Holy Name School at 8 p.m., and Bishop Connolly High School at 8:30 p.m.

Although Holy Name School has a chorus comprised of students in grades four and five, Wardell said her school’s music teacher, Sandra Tavares, has opted to spotlight the instrumental program.

“Students in grades four through eight have the opportunity to learn to play the violin, viola, or cello,” she said.

“There is a beginner and intermediate class (but) the intermediate class will entertain on

March 18.”

Gagnon said her school’s 15-member chorus is anxious to perform.

Like art, she said, music is an important part of their daily curriculum.

“Our schools have a great love for the arts,” Gagnon said.

“All of the schools receive art and music instruction. In addition Holy Trinity — along with some of the other schools — starts its morning by playing a piece of classical music over the intercom along with a short explanation of the piece.”

The St. Michael School Choir will be kicking things off at 6 p.m., under the direction of Philip Pereira, who led a group of 30 students during a Red Sox game performance at Fenway Park in 2010.

“We’re up first,” Sister Baldi said, adding that she’s delighted to be collaborating with the other diocesan schools on this endeavor.

“It’s a good way to showcase our Catholic schools and all the good that we do,” she said. “And it’s good to work together, to help and support each other.”

St. Stanislaus School Principal Jean Willis, who is among the planners for the evening, said the combined fine arts showcase “makes for a wonderful opportunity for the city’s Catholic schools to collaborate and to display the talents and gifts of our students to a wider segment of the community.”

She added that the planning group is very pleased to be able to partner with the Children’s Museum for the event.

“It is a great venue in the city for this showcase,” she said.

Wardell is hopeful that the collaborative Fine Arts Night will benefit from the idea of strength in numbers and draws a good crowd.

“Each of the past nine years

Gabriel Godinho, left, and Mary Claire Coady, right, kindergarten students at St. Stanislaus School in Fall River, proudly display their self-portraits that will be part of the first-ever Fall River Catholic Schools Fine Arts Night on March 18 at the Children’s Museum. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)

Holy Name School has had an arts fair (and) we have tried having the fair at various times during the year,” she said. “The students visit the fair during school, but there has not been too many adults visiting it in the afternoon or evening. I hope the Fine Arts Night will encourage more to attend.”

And at a time when a lot of public schools are being forced to eliminate art, music and some sports programs from their curriculum, D’Angora said it’s important to “celebrate the arts.”

“What’s encouraging to me is the fact that at the two schools I work with, the faculty and principals are very supportive of art as part of the curriculum,” she said. “It’s all around us — especially in religious communities. It reminds you of the beauty that’s around you.

“And I think it’s also a good way to learn problem solving for children. They have to come up with an idea, use a bunch of

materials, and decide how to use them. It helps to expand their minds … and it’s really fun for them to explore something they’ve never done before. And having your work in an art show helps to build selfconfidence.”

“We have a strong art program,” Sister Baldi said. “It’s good to offer sports, but you have children who aren’t necessarily interested in sports and they often excel in music, drama or art.”

“I think it is important for the public to see how great our numbers are collectively,” agreed Gagnon. “I think it is important, at a time when public schools are cutting all types of programs due to budget cuts, that we are able to showcase how strong our programs are.

In some cases we are offering more that the public schools.

“I also think it is important for our families to celebrate in a larger format the importance of Catholic schools. Our families make great sacrifices to keep their children in Catholic schools. The more we can get the word out about our wonderful schools and all we have to offer, the stronger we become.

It really is about educating the whole child — academically, artistically, physically, emotionally and spiritually.”

The Fall River Catholic Schools Fine Arts Night will be held March 18 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River, 1441 North Main Street. There is no charge to attend and all are welcome.

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March 14, 2014

Our readers respond The case for religious freedom The recent brouhaha in Arizona, which pitted gay marriage rights against religious freedom, is disturbing on a number of levels.

The First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion. This is a right more fundamental than free speech, freedom of the press, the right to association and is more basic than any of the other freedoms enumerated in the First Amendment because it involves thought and conscience rights. If the government can control what we believe, particularly if it is based on religious principles and millennia of cultural and societal precedent, then there really aren’t any other rights that matter. Moreover, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was enacted under the Clinton presidency with bi-partisan support, places a very stringent burden on the government when infringing religious freedom.

On the other hand, the right to Marriage is not a constitutional right.

It is true that some states have adopted legislation recognizing gay marriage, but a majority of states have not done so. So, why is it that gay rights trumped religious freedom in Arizona, which resulted in Governor Brewer vetoing legislation that would have protected business owners from civil and perhaps criminal sanctions for refusing to service gay “weddings”? First, people of faith have unfortunately been marginalized by the culture while gay rights are celebrated. Witness the portrayal of the legislation by the mainstream media as “controversial” and reminiscent of Jim Crow laws with no attempt to present the case for religious freedom, as if it did not exist. Second, the gay rights activists are adept at intimidation. Reprisals were threatened, including cancellation of conventions and the 2015 Super Bowl to take place in Arizona. It worked and the governor capitulated.

A civilized society engages in honest, intellectual debate to resolve political differences. Unfortunately, one of the byproducts of the marginalization of the religious thought is that it is not permitted to compete in the public square in this secularized society in which moral relativism is the new “religion.” Consequently, the collective wisdom of Judeo-Christian thought is ignored, the Constitution and laws become irrelevant and intimidation tactics win the day.

The 19th-century French political philosopher and historian, Alexis de Tocqueville prophetically observed that “Americans are so enamored of equality, they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.” What happened in Arizona is just one more example of freedom being sacrificed at the altar of equality.

Kenneth J. Rampino Seekonk

Executive Editor responds: What happened in Arizona is reminiscent of when the Susan G. Komen for a Cure charity briefly (for less than a week) stopped funding Planned Parenthood. Komen caved in and resumed funding PP. Pope Francis has spoken repeatedly about the persecution of religion in our world (from Biblical times until now). In one of his homilies on this topic (Nov. 28, 2013), he reminded us to not give up hope: “God asks us for faithfulness and patience. Faithfulness like that of Daniel, who was faithful to his God and who worshipped Him to the end. And patience, for every hair on your head is counted, as the Lord has promised.”

It’s a small world Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy The Anchor. My old parish, when I lived in Seekonk, was St. Mary’s (now Our Lady Queen of Martyrs). I now live in New Hampshire and The Anchor keeps me in touch with my old diocese I’m very happy Father Tim Goldrick is back. I always enjoyed his stories. Deacon Frank Lucca is also a favorite as well as Helen Flavin.

I love reading Pope Francis’ messages as well. He is what the Catholic Church needed, in my opinion, back to basics.

Our deacon at Holy Trinity Parish is from New Bedford. That seemed to me like it’s a small world!

Marilyn Olivier Rumney, N.H. Welcome back captain I am writing this short letter to thank you for the return of Father Tim Goldrick’s articles.

Many years ago, my father so enjoyed reading Father Tim’s article in The Anchor.

He used to share many of the interesting articles with me. Father Tim has such a comfortable, yet descriptive manner of engaging us in his articles. It therefore became a good habit for me to wait for The Anchor to arrive, and make sure I zeroed in on Father Tim’s work.

I am grateful that The Anchor’s editor views Father Tim’s articles of value to such as me, a reader.

Patricia A. Martin Raynham Welcome back captain II Are we happy? Father Goldrick is back — thank you, times many times — and the bigger print in Father Roger Landry’s excellent pieces.

I lived in Rehoboth years back and, of course, I’ll continue with The Anchor — the best paper ever — even though I also have the Rhode Island Catholic.

All good wishes for my favorite paper, which I pass on to the University of Rhode Island Catholic Center at noon Mass.

Thank you, asking for your blessing Father Wilson.

Mary M. Condry Charlestown, R.I. Executive Editor responds to the above three letters: I also was very happy to have Father Tim back, as well as to continue our other columnists. I am glad The Anchor is being read in so many states! May God bless you all.

Family prayer enhances Lenten pilgrimage continued from page one

— TV, radio, and extensive use of the Internet, including mobile apps,” said Wallace. “Often we use our media, particularly our television programs, within our retreats, as we will be doing at our Holy Week Mini-Retreats.”

The retreats will be conducted by Father Leo Polselli, C.S.C., chaplain of The Father Peyton Center, and mission director Beth Mahoney. Each day one of their own productions will be screened followed by a question-and-answer session. Questions for silent, personal reflection will be distributed after each video.

“We often encourage families to gather together, watch a video, discuss it and then close their time together with prayer,” said Mahoney. “Video can be a very comfortable and practical way for families to share their faith, especially families that aren’t accustomed to praying together. All this certainly works to fulfill our founder Father Patrick Peyton’s vision that the family that prays together stays together.”

The retreat will close with the celebration of the Eucharist. Screenings will be held in the Media Room at The Father Peyton Center. For more information, call 508-238-4095.

Ocean views will enhance meditation and reflection at the Holy Week Retreat with Father John Phalen, C.S.C., presi-

dent of HCFM, and the Sisters of St. Joseph at the St. Joseph’s Retreat Center in Cohasset from April 17 through 20.

Father Phalen, Sister Joan McCarthy, C.S.J., and Sister Karen Walsk, C.S.J., will lead the Holy Week Retreat on Living the Mysteries of the Rosary. Faithful are invited to join them for a peaceful and spirit-filled retreat overlooking a sandy beach and the ocean, where they will offer stories — some Scriptural, some personal, all of them practical — that will help Catholics better understand and live the Mysteries of the Rosary in their daily lives.

Retreat participants also will celebrate Mass, pray the Rosary daily and have time for private reflection as well.

Father Phalen’s latest book, “Living the Rosary: Finding Your Life in the Mysteries,” explains how we can model our lives after Christ and His mother, Mary, through meditating on the Rosary, which is often called “the Gospel in miniature.”

To register or for more information, contact St. Joseph Retreat Center at 781383-6024.

HCFM also offers resources for families for Lent on their website at www.FamilyRosary.org and on their Facebook pages www.Facebook.com/ FamilyRosary and www.Facebook.com/ HolyCrossFamilyMinistries.

16

Youth Pages

Prekindergarten students at All Saints Catholic School in New Bedford recently put their emerging knowledge of the value of money to use during a recent “shopping trip” in their classroom. Students had the opportunity to purchase small items using coins provided by their teacher, Cheryl Moore, as a practical experience in learning the value of each coin.

Holy Family–Holy Name School in New Bedford recently celebrated Dr. Seuss “Read Across America” Day. Readers from the community came and read stories to the students. The first-graders had fun listening to Father Michael Racine read several Dr. Seuss books. Even Thing One and Thing Two celebrated the day: standing, Mrs. Kaeterle, aide, and kneeling, Miss Michaud, teacher.

Seamus Sutula, a fifth-grader at St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro, is shown holding the Olympic Torch his father, Bob Sutula, carried in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Seamus gave background information about the torch and the history of this particular torch.

He made his presentation to all the classes at the school.

March 14, 2014

Students from St. Michael School in Fall River recently entertained a group of parishioners and family.

The kindergarten children at Holy Trinity School in Fall River recently had a party to celebrate Clifford the Big Red Dog’s birthday.

Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth recently held its annual Junior Wellness Day. The presentation focused on Drug and Alcohol Awareness with a special presentation on distracted driving by renowned speaker and Boston attorney Saba Asheme. “The Junior Wellness Day’s focus on drugs and alcohol was extremely powerful and delivered an important message for all of us,” said Carolyn Foley, Bishop Stang junior.

Preschool and kindergarten students at St. Joseph School in Fairhaven received valuable information on the importance of dental hygiene and the prevention of tooth decay as part of the Dental Awareness Program. The presentation was given by Janet Benoit, R.D.H., the Community Outreach program director of Dr. Fraone’s Pediatric Dentistry located in North Dartmouth.

March 14, 2014

A

m I alone on this or has this been one of the coldest, gloomiest winters in a long time? Well, in a week or so it will be spring! After a long winter, those can be the some of the most exciting words that we can hear. Easter is just around the corner. Are you ready for Easter and for summer?

During spring, we start to clean our houses and our yards in anticipation of summer. The days get longer, and it gets warmer. We open the windows and let in that fresh air.

Spiritually, Lent is also in full bloom. It is a time set aside by the Church to help us prepare in anticipation of Easter. What do spring and Lent have in common? They both represent a time for new birth; a new beginning. This week, I’d like you to consider getting some spring cleaning started … on your soul. Yup, that’s right, your soul !

Give your soul much thought lately? It’s easy to forget about it since we can’t see it, but it is our very essence

Youth Pages Use it or lose it!

into the next life either. as children of God. It is the So how do we work on our center of it all. It is our authensouls? I’m not sure there is tic self. It is the part of us that will live forever. Yet, most of us any one way. One way that we need to start is by taking time spend very little time thinking about it, and very little time dusting it off or cleaning it out.

You see, you’ve got to work on your soul.

I’m always amazed, especially

By Deacon as I grow older Frank Lucca and rounder, of the amount of money and time spent in to just slow down and take an working on that beautiful opportunity to go look deep look, that special outfit or that perfect body. How many hours inside. Many of us are afraid to a week do we dedicate to those be alone with ourselves, aren’t we? Is it because we just might pursuits? In contrast, just how be afraid of what we’ll learn? many hours do we spend on In order to work on your soul our soul? you need to experience soliWith your soul, you’ve got tude and silence first. It is only to use it or lose it! You can’t then that we can look into our ignore your health and hope very souls and begin to clean it that you’ll be OK when you get older. You can’t ignore your out, to remove the junk and to dust things off. Then you’ll be studies and hope that you’ll pass. You can’t ignore watering able to know what God wants from you. Only in that silence a plant and hope that it will live. Well, you can’t ignore your and solitude will you be able to hear God’s voice speaking soul and hope it will carry you

17 to you. That is what will make your soul healthy.

Take some time this Lent and spring to work on your soul. Sit and just be. Consider attending the Stations of the Cross on a Friday night or an extra Mass or two.

Read a passage in the Bible each day or maybe even a chapter! Read some of the other articles in The Anchor. Tune in one of the religious TV channels and just listen.

Attend the beautiful services planned during Holy Week next month and really try to understand what is going on and why. Attend one of the Lenten services sponsored by parishes in the diocese. All of these things will clear the cobwebs from your soul. They might help you unburden yourself of all the junk that we all accumulate in our souls.

All of these things will give your soul a good workout.

All of these things will help you develop a stronger, more

“beautiful,” more “perfect” soul. It will be like you threw open the windows of your soul and let in that breath of fresh air! It will be like springtime for your soul, leading to a new and more active “summer.”

Paraphrasing from the “Altar Boyz” Broadway show song “Mind, Body and Soul,” You’ve gotta work, work, work on your soul. You’ve got to use it every day or it will go away.

You’ve gotta work, work, work on your soul. See you at the “gym” and I don’t mean LA Fitness!

Anchor columnist Frank Lucca is a youth minister at St. Dominic’s Parish in Swansea, and a campus minister at UMass Dartmouth. He is chairman and a director of the YES! Retreat and the director of the Christian Leadership Institute. He is married to his wife of 35 years, Kristine, and a father of two daughters and a son-in-law and grandson.

Comments, ideas or suggestions? Please email him at StDominicYouthMinistry@ comcast.net.

The book does read more Catholic Herald, newspaper of rious take on things. I found it very fitting for a subject such as like a spiritual autobiography the Arlington Diocese.

The idea of a papal biog- the life of a pope,” said Doman, than a blow-by-blow account raphy in the form of a comic who also is publisher of the of major events in the pontiff ’s life. There is a sizable amount of book may raise some questions Chesterton Press. text in Francis’ own words. for readers unfamiliar with The narrative moves manga. Aren’t comics only forward through a perfor kids? Could Doman sonal profession of faith have trivialized spiritual that Pope Francis made matters? And what about just before being ordained, manga, associated at times and through the spiritual with its own worst excessexercises of the Jesuit ores — such as violent and der’s founder, St. Ignatius pornographic situations, of Loyola. The saint’s recextreme even by American ommendations included pop cultural standards? picturing oneself within a In fact, the “whimsical scene from the Scriptures. pictures” are a multibillionFrancis does just that in dollar industry and are read key moments. by people of all ages in JaIn one scene, then-Fapan. Manga’s roots go back ther Jorge Bergoglio celas far as the sixth century ebrates Mass right before and the art flourished in he speaks to Argentina’s the 1920s and ’30s — when ruthless new president on numerous cartoonists went behalf of a pair of Jesuits to jail for their work in the taken as political prisoners. face of government censor“Padre Jorge,” as he was ship. called, has every reason to Nowadays, titles include everything from romance “Pope Francis: I Believe in Mercy” tells the be afraid — after all, the story of the pontiff’s early years in Argento mystery. Manga’s popu- tina through his election in March 2013. The dictator has no qualms larity surged in the United comic book is a new biography written by about punishing priests.

States in the early 2000s Regina Doman, a resident and parishioner A panel juxtaposes an upand, despite a dip in sales at St. John the Baptist Church in Front Roy- close drawing of Father Bergoglio’s dark eyes with since then, has remained a al, Va. (CNS/courtesy Regina Doman) a scene of terrified Aposhot commodity. The trend “I really do feel there is scope tles, clinging to a boat during a opened the door for publishers like Manga Hero, which focus- for depth in there that you don’t storm. Then, Christ appears to often see in western comics,” the Apostles. Father Bergoglio es on faith-themed books. lifts the Host, his mind apparManga “allows for a more se- she added.

ently made up. Then, jumping forward in time, he tells the dictator, “I’ve come to ask you about my brother priests.”

Many comic book writers would simply have let the reader eavesdrop directly on Father Bergoglio’s troubled thoughts by placing a “thought bubble” next to his head. Pope Francis is a different sort of book — though he faces challenges and has the personal virtues worthy of any “superhero” storyline.

Francis is not the only papal comic book star: The lives of the popes have provided enough drama for several other adaptations. In 2012, Doman wrote “Habemus Papam: Pope Benedict XVI.” In 2000, the Vatican approved an Italian serial comic strip aimed at young people, “Karol Wojtyla: Pope of the Third Millennium.” Copies of 1983’s “The Life of Pope John Paul II,” originally published by Marvel Comics for $1.50, now go for $10 to $20 on eBay. And when Francis seems to make headlines on a daily basis, who knows? There could be another book in the offering.

“It would be really fun to revisit later in his pontificate,” Doman said.

“Pope Francis: I Believe in Mercy” can be ordered at www. mangahero.com or www. amazon.com.

Be Not Afraid

Virginia Catholic captures spirituality of Pope Francis in manga comic FRONT ROYAL, Va. (CNS) — A new comic book hero is fighting for truth, justice and the Christian way.

“Pope Francis: I Believe in Mercy” is a new biography written by Regina Doman, a Front Royal resident and parishioner at St. John the Baptist Church. Sean Lam, an artist based in Singapore, illustrated the book in the Japanese style of comics, manga.

“For a long time I have been looking for an opportunity to get involved in a more visual project,” said Doman, a writer whose background is in television production. The book, released in August, is an attempt to “evangelize the culture,” she said. It is particularly intended for audiences like college-age men, who are key consumers of manga.

Until a few years ago, Doman herself didn’t know much about manga. She learned quickly after Manga Hero, the publisher of Pope Francis, enlisted her help on a different project.

“Manga is something that my kids are interested in more than I have been,” said Doman, who is expecting her ninth child.

“When I was younger, I never encountered any sort of Japanese comics,” she said in an interview with the Arlington

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March 14, 2014

Lent is a fitting time for a weekend youth retreat continued from page one

A man holds a cup of coffee and a bag of food that he received at the St. Francis of Assisi Church Breadline in New York on Ash Wednesday. Pope Francis says the best way of fasting is caring for the needy.

(CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)

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hard time; it was a real struggle for him. I knew what I wanted him to do. I said to him, ‘This is a big decision and this is what you need to think about — what is more important to you?’ He finally went on the ECHO retreat. I was nervous all weekend because I knew he was thinking about the swim meet. When he came home Sunday night and I asked him if he was happy he went on the retreat, he said, ‘Mom, I made the best decision. I am so happy right now. These are people that I want to be with; it was an awesome weekend.’”

“That was a relief for me, and from then on he’s been involved ever since,” continued Pagliaro.

Her son Timothy “T.J.” Pagliaro is currently a criminal justice major at St. Leo University in St. Leo, Fla., and says he still attends ECHO meetings and has grown to appreciate his faith more deeply after attending the ECHO retreat.

“This religious retreat group is one big part of my life today as a college student,” wrote the 20-year-old college sophomore via email. “ECHO, for me, teaches many lessons about my faith. The experience of going to an ECHO weekend is rather exciting because through each talk given, it communicates a lesson that gives us a better understanding about our faith. Through my weekend, I also learned about myself through the talks made by students, adult and spiritual leaders. What these leaders try to convey to ECHO candidates is that if I incorporate God in my life on a daily basis, I will truly know what it’s like to live a serene life.

“Even though it’s three days, a person can learn so much about their faith. All they have to do is come with an open mind. People encounter God differently after going on an ECHO weekend. I can tell you right now that I felt God’s presence my first time going on an ECHO weekend because the talks given made me realize that if I pray hard enough, God will indeed answer my prayers.

The feeling of ECHO is unbelievable, and words cannot describe how much I cherish the ECHO community.”

Each of the six annual ECHO retreats — three for girls and three for boys — follow an outline focused on Scripture and prayer and include having team members

give presentations, and candidates receiving palanca letters.

Palanca, Spanish for “lever,” are letters written by family and friends to provide encouragement and inspiration; the reading of the letters is often the most emotional moment of the retreat.

“You can see the transformation happening with them,” said Pagliaro. “It just lifts them up, reading all these cards and letters. There’s a lot of support and these kids needs to know that.”

This weekend’s all-girl retreat, held March 14-16, has 24 candidates participating, and Pagliaro said, “You don’t need to be Catholic to be part of this group.” In the case of Madison Alper, not being a member of a parish didn’t deter her from wanting to attend an ECHO retreat. Currently a freshman at Framingham State University, Alper recalled as a high school junior, trying to convince her parents to let her attend for the weekend.

“I am eternally grateful for that experience,” said Alper.

“ECHO is like nothing I’ve every experienced in my life before. It opened up so many new gateways to new friends, faith and life. I had never understood religion or anything involved with religion growing up, and ECHO taught me so much that I caught on very quickly. At first it was definitely hard to follow everything that was going on in the talks that were highly religious-based, but I saw through them trying to piece the puzzle together.

“My first ECHO weekend was three days of my life that I will never forget,” said Alper.

“ECHO is truly the biggest blessing that I have received in my life and I love to share that blessing with my friends as well. ECHO is a place for my friends and I to become closer on a whole new level of friendship.”

For those unable to travel to the Cape for an ECHO retreat, another popular youth retreat is entering its 19th year in the Diocese of Fall River (www.

FallRiverFaithFormation.org).

The YES! retreat program has continuously provided high school students with the opportunity to grow closer to Jesus Christ with witness talks, Eucharistic Adoration, Holy Mass and activities that help students delve deeper into the Sacraments “so that students can connect real life, their life

now with those Sacraments,” said Becky Couet, director of the YES! retreat.

Held annually at Cathedral Camp in East Freetown, the next YES! retreat is scheduled for April 11-13 and hosts between 20-30 boys and girls from all the deaneries in the Fall River Diocese. The weekend experience allows the youth to affirm his or her Confirmation vows, to say “Yes!” to all that God asks for and from them and is open to high school students in grades nine12.

“I think it comes down to the personal experiences that the team members share, and the struggles they’ve been through and how God has provided for them through those struggles,” said Couet of the personal connections candidates make during the weekend retreat.

“I think the Holy Spirit takes that and moves inside the candidates, and they can connect with those experiences through their own life and are willing to share them. I think verbalizing that is really powerful, and that kids don’t always have those opportunities in a school setting or with their peers outside of church.”

Many candidates who attend a YES! retreat often come back as a youth leader, like 17-year-old Daniel Zajac, who is looking forward to sharing his experience with others.

“My experience as a candidate in YES! was truly a memorable one,” said Zajac. “I love how everyone makes you feel comfortable with sharing how you feel and the generosity is contagious. I’m very excited to be back this year to be a youth leader with one goal in mind: make the retreat one the candidates will never forget.”

Couet said that those who attend make strong connections with youths from other parishes, and those connections are formed over the unbreakable bond of the Catholic faith.

“I think it’s over and above being comfortable in their faith,” said Couet. “It’s being comfortable with who they are and who God has created them to be, and to share that with other people evangelizes, in a way, outside of Mass. It will show God to other people in their everyday lives, and if we can cast a wider net, I think we can get more people involved in their faith by showing Who God is.”

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March 14, 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.

SOUTH YARMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Pius X Parish, 5 Barbara Street, on Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., from March 13 to April 10. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will also be offered at this time.

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.

Deacon Victor Haddad, MD

SOMERSET — Deacon Victor Haddad MD, 82, of Somerset, passed away March 8 at his residence. He was the husband of 53 years to Maria Teresa (Parada) Haddad.

Victor was born in Egypt the son of the late Naoum and Samia (Agia) Haddad. He was educated in Egypt and Uruguay.

Haddad earned his medical doctor degree from Montevideo University in 1961. Dr. Haddad then came to the United States and operated his OB/ GYN practice at Truesdale Clinic in Fall River for 30 years, retiring in 1987. While working he was a physician with the United States Army Reserves during the Persian Gulf War. After the war he continued to serve in the Army Reserves for a combined 15 years retiring as a colonel.

During his retirement from his medical practice Haddad continued his education by earning his master’s degree in Religious Studies from Providence College, a masters’ degree in Theological Studies from Boston University and a canon law degree from Catholic University in Washington D.C. Haddad was appointed by Bishop Sean P. O’Malley, OFM, Cap., to serve as a judge on the Fall River Diocese Tribunal. He was ordained a deacon in 1997 serving at St. Thomas More Church in Somerset. Haddad was an accomplished marathon runner and participated in more than 80 marathons worldwide.

Survivors besides his wife are his children, Magda Roitz (Haddad), Alfredo Haddad and Carolina Haddad-Geary.

Magda Roitz is surrounded by

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks March 16 Rev. Francis J. Maloney. S.T.L., Pastor, St. Mary, North Attleboro, 1957 Rev. Thomas J. Tobin, C.S.C., 2006 March 17 Rev. Henry R. Creighton, 2004 March 18 Rev. Robert D. Forand, C.P., West Hartford, Conn., 1989 March 19 Rev. John J. McQuaide, Assistant, St. Mary, Taunton, 1905 March 20 Rev. Francis A. Mrozinski, Pastor, St. Hedwig, New Bedford, 1951

her husband Fredrick Roitz and their children Franz, Zachary and Nathan Roitz. Alfredo Haddad is surrounded by his wife Christine and their children Brielle and Trinity Haddad and Christian Santiago.

Carolina Haddad-Geary is surrounded by her husband David Geary and their children Leila and Liam Geary.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated March 12 at St.

Thomas More Church in Somerset. Entombment followed at the mausoleum at Notre Dame Cemetery in Fall River. Arrangements were handled by the Hathaway Community Home for Funerals, Somerset.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Amos House at 415 Friendship Street, Providence, R.I. 02907, or St. Thomas More Church, 386 Luther Avenue, Somerset, Mass. 02726.

Around the Diocese “The Scripture and God’s Perfect Plan of Salvation,” a Lenten series on The Bible, is being held at Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich on Mondays through April 7.

A morning session will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and an evening session will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. with presenter Bud Miller. The sessions are open to the public and all are welcome. Please bring a Bible (extras will be available to borrow).

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.

All are invited to join in prayer for “Building a New Culture of Life” on March 20 at 1 p.m. in St. Jude’s Chapel of Christ the King Parish in Mashpee. Prayers will consist of the four mysteries of the Rosary with brief meditations on each.

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.

The Fall River Diocesan Council of Catholic Women will meet on March 22 at Christ the King Parish in Mashpee. Coffee and pastry will be served at 9:30 a.m., followed by a short business meeting.

There will be a presentation by Tiffany Silva pertaining to her experience at World Youth Day with Pope Francis in Rio in 2013. Please make every effort to attend.

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 508-674-5651.

A Day with Mary will be held April 5 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at St. James Church, 233 County Street in New Bedford from 7:50 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will include a video presentation, procession and crowning of the Blessed Mother with Mass and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. There will be an opportunity for Reconciliation and bookstore will be available. Please bring a bag lunch. For more information call 508-996-8274.

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March 14, 2014