03.23.07

FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 2007

DIOCESE OF FALL RÂŁVER

Pair of dioce~an priests set to 'Go Out and Fish'

By DAVE JOLIVET,

\

LICENSE TO LIVE - Merry and Kenneth Nordeen display a proposed Choose Life license for autos registered in Massachusetts.

(CNS file photo)

Mass. 'Choose Life' license plate campaign moves into higher gear

By DEACON JAMES

N. DUNBAR

WAKEFIELD - Pennsylvania is the latest state - along with five others - to approve the use of a "Choose Life" specialty license plate. So how come Massachusetts drivers have failed to respond to the call?

"I don't know, but it might be because we haven't had much support until recently" said Merry Nordeen, president of Choose Life, Inc., who for the past four years has been at the helm of the effort by the statewide organization to recruit applicants for the auto plate that would be issued by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.

But that's changed with the recent endorsement of the effort by Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley, "After we met and talked about it," reported Nordeen.

"What that means is that hopefully pastors who hitherto have been wary and reluctant to use our flyers or newsletters or put notices in their parish bulletins will now do so," she noted.

"And the March 17 and 18

Men's and Women's conferences in Boston have raised our hopes, because they accepted using our flyers about the "Choose Life" plates for use in their mailings and at the conventions too, and we're excited," she added. "It could make the difference."

Last year, nearly 6,000 men and women attended the conventions.

What has been frustrating is that although the state won't move on the issue unless 3,000 people register for them, to date, only 400 applications have come in, she reported.

Although the cost for the specialty plate is $40 and there is an additional $20 plate swap fee plus an applicable registration fee due at the time of plate pick-up, "it doesn't seem excessive in light of the message we hope people would want to get out," Nordeen told The Anchor last week.

Proceeds from the plates will benefit maternity homes and pregnancy crisis centers, which offer adoption as an alternative to abortion.

Tum to page 18 - Life

EDITOR

is learning the "trade" from director of Vocations, NORTH DARTMOUTH - In a recent interview Father Edward A. Correia. with The Anchor, one said, "It's a great life being a "Father Ed has done great work with vocations in priest." The other added, "This vocation has provided the diocese, and I hope to help continue the programs me with such gracehe has established in , filled days and awe- 1'lIJIIl. ...- ......- . - - - . . _ the diocese to make some moments." others aware of what Bishop' George a blessed calling the W. Coleman tapped priesthood and reliinto that enthusi- Iiiioo';";"~ gious life is," said Faasm, directing Father Bissinger. thers Karl C. "I'm very happy Bissinger and Kevin with the bishop's A. Cook to "Go Out choice of these two and Fish," for men men," sa'id Father and women called Correia, "They bring

by God to continue youth, a new energy, the mission of the and a new beginning Catholic Church in to the Church's work the Diocese of Fall to try and foster voRiver. cations."

As of March 21, The new "fisherGOING FISHING - Fathers Kevin A. Cook, left, and Karl Father Bissinger, a men" will continue C. Bissinger, were recently appoint~d by Bishop George parochial vicar atSt. Father Correia's "Go W. Coleman, as assistant directors 'of vocati~ns. (Photo Julie Billiart Parish by Dave Jolivet) Out and Fish," vocain North Dartmouth, tion program, based is assistant director on Jesus' making the of vocations, and Apostles fishers of Father Cook, a paromen. chial vicar at St. While having Patrick's Parish in only been ordained Wareham, is assisin 2005, Father tant director of voBissinger has a cations for recruitwealth of experience ment.

Tum to page 18Father Bissinger Fishing

For Catholic Social Service workers, it's all about care for illegals snared in raid

By DEACON JAMES N.

DUNBAR

NEW BEDFORD-Whiledeportation appears on the horizon for many of the 361 illegal immigrants jailed following a March 6 raid by immigration agents on a manufacturing plant here, freeing the jailed mothers with young children as well as providing immediate basic needs for affected families has become a 24-7 battle for Catholic and other agencies.

"But we're making a turn around for the affected immigrants families, slowly perhaps, but energetically," re-

Thousands receive spiritual boost at Catholic Men's/Women's Conferences.

Coverage begins on page 11.

ported Denise Porche, of cSS' Office for Child Protection. "Our focus, our accent is on care for all involved."

At the same time, other illegals worried about their status, are refrain\.

ing from going to their jobs and causing an added and immense strain on reliefefforts, Porche reports, and CSS is looking to funding by the Massa-

Tum to page 10 - Care

'

$ NEWS.路 FROM THE VATICAN $

2

MARCH 23) 2007

Vatican: Vietnam working on full diplomatic relations with Holy See

By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY - The government of Vietnam is working on a concrete plan to establish full diplomatic relations with the Vatican, a delegation ofVatican officials was told.

Msgr. Pietro Parolin, Vatican undersecrefary of state, led the three-member delegation to Vietnam March 5-11 for meetings with officials of the central government, local governments, bishops' conference and the dioceses ofQuy Nhon, Kontum and Hai Phong.

While the delegation brought the prayers and blessing of Pope Benedict XVI, Vietnamese Catholics demonstrated their "deep 3.ffection, filial attachment and fidelity" to the pope along with their hopes "that the pope himself could one day make a pastoral visit to the country," the Vatican statement.said.

The delegation's visit to Vietnam came two months after Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with Pope Benedict at the Vatican.

Pope Benedict raised the problem of continued restrictions on Catholic life in the country, but the two leaders also discussed the possibility of establishing diplomatic relations.

The March 12 statement said diplomatic relations were discussed in meetings with the government's vice minister for foreign affairs, the vice president of the Communist Party's committee for foreign affairs and the president of the National Assembly's committee for foreign affairs.

The Vietnamese officials "gave assurances that, on the instruction of the prime minister, the compe-

tent offices already are at work," and the officials and members of the Vatican delegation looked at "some concrete ways to begin the process of establishing diplomatic relations," the statement said.

Neither the Vietnamese government nor the Vatican has provided a timetable for the exchange of ambassadors.

The delegation also held several working sessions with the religious affairs committee in "an atmosphere of cordiality, frankness and respect," the statement said.

In addition to discussing specific provisions in Vietnamese law regarding religious life, the delegation discussed candidates Pope Benedict wanted to nominate as bishops, the statement said.

The Vietnamese government continues to insist on approving the candidates before the pope names them officially.

The delegation also expressed the Vatican's hope that the government \\'ould allow Vietnamese Catholics "to contribute to the spread of moral values, especially regarding the education of youth at a moment of rapid social and economic changes," and would permit Catholics to exercise their obligation of charity and concern for the weakest members of society, the statement said.

Official Vatican delegations have been traveling to Vietnam almost every year since 1990 for similar meetings with central government authorities and to visit the Vietnamese dioceses. With the 2007 visits to Quy Nhon and Kontum, which had never hosted a Vatican delegation before, each of the Vietnamese dioceses has been visited.

Diocesan part of Pope John Paul II sainthood cause will close April 2 ROME路 (CNS) - The dioc- the candidate's writings. In addition, esan phase of the investigation a panel of historians has written a into the life and holiness of Pope . report on the candidate's actions and John Paul II will close officially writings in the historical context in April 2, the second anniversary which he lived.

While the documentation will of the pope's death.

Cardinal Camillo Ruini, papal be handed over to the Vatican vicar for the Diocese of Rome, Congregation for Saints' Causes announced March 10 the end of after the April 2 ceremony, the' the diocesan phase of the process promoter and his assistants still for the late pope's beatification must prepare the official and canonization. "positio." or position paper, arThe April 2 ceremony will guing that Pope John Paul herotake place in the context of a brief ically lived the Christian virtues. prayer service; Pope Benedict Particularly with a pope who XVI is scheduled to celebra.te a wrote路 and spoke so much, the memorial Mass later that evening "positio" is expected to be thousands of pages long. in St. Peter's Basilica.

Normally in order for a beatifiThe end of the diocesan phase ofa sainthood cause means that the cation to take place, a separate recause's promoter has interviewed all port must be prepared and accepted of the eyewitnesses he felt needed recognizing a miracle attributed to to be heard and has examined all of the candidate's intervention.

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE - Pope Benedict XVI and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchange gifts at the Vatican March 13. T.he pope and Putin discussed Catholic-Orthodox relations and ways to strengthen the relationship between the Vatican and the Russian government. (CNS photo/ltar-Tass News Agency via Reuters)

Pope, Russian president discuss Catholic-Orthodox relations

By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE VATICAN. CITY - Pope Benedict XVI and Russian President Vladimir Putin spent 25 minutes speaking privately March 13, discussing Catholic-Orthodox relations and ways to strengthen the relationship between the Vatican and the Russian government.

Although two translators were present for the private meeting in Pope Benedict's library, they told reporters that the pope and Putin spoke to each other in German and required the translators' assistance only to clarify the meaning of one word.

A Vatican statement said the pope's meeting with Putin and the meeting held simultaneously by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican secretary of state, and Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, "took place in a very positive atmosphere."

The two meetings paid particular attention to relations between the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, the statement said.

While officials of the Russian Orthodox Church continue to insist relations have not improved enough to permit a meeting between Pope ~enedict and Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow, the Vatican's nuncio in Russia said there are signs of progress, especially in relations between bishops of the two churches.

Archbishop Antonio Mennini, the nuncio, told Vatican Radio March 10 that a Russian CatholicOrthodox commission has been

working to investigate and resolve conflicts and tensions, usually involving Orthodox claims that Catholics have been trying to proselytize Orthodox believers.

The work is going well, the archbishop said, and the members are working in "an optimum climate of friendship and understanding."

Archbishop Mennini said the Vatican hoped a meeting between the pope and patriarch could be organized soon, "because it would be a very important thing, not just for the Christian world, but also precisely for safeguarding common values" in Europe.

The Vatican statement about the March 13 meetings said the two delegations expressed a desire to further develop their official relations, particularly through cultural exchanges.

A cultural exchange took place during the pope's meeting with Putin as Pope Benedict presented him with a 1663 lithograph of St. Peter's Square featuring a third arm of its colonnade. The pope told

$ The Anchor

Putin the third set of columns was never built and an aide explained that the Vatican ran out of money before it could be erected.

Putin gave Pope Benedict an icon of St. Nicholas of Myra, explaining that it was made in 2006 strictly following the traditional Russian method of painting on a gold-covered piece of wood.

Cardinal Bertone presented the Russian delegation with a first-edition copy of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church in Russian.

In addition to Catholic-Orthodox relations, the Vatican said, the Pope Benedict and Putin also discussed international affairs, particularly regarding tensions in the Middle East as well as "the problems of extremism and intolerance, which are serious threats to civil coexistence among nations."

The pope and the president, the statement said, emphasized their belief in "the need to preserve peace and promote the negotiated and peaceful resolution of conflicts."

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER

Vol. 51, No. 12 Member: Catholic Press AssociatillD, Catholic News Service

I

PubliShed weekly except for two weeks in the summer and the week after Christmas by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River.fv1A 02720, Telephone 508-675-7151 - FAX 508-675-7048, email: theanchor@anchomews.org. S\bscr1>tiOn price by maIl, postpaid $14.00 per year.

Send address changes to P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA, call or use email address PUBUSHER路 Most Reverend George W. Coleman eXECUTIVE EDITOR Father R<lger J. Landry fBtherroger1andl'y@anchomews.org EDITOR David B. Jolivet daveJ<llivet@anch<lrnewl.<lrg NEWS EDITOR Deacon James N. Dunbar Jimdunbar@anchomews.org REPORTER Mike G<lrdon mlkegordon@anchomews.org OFFICE MANAGER Mary Chase marychase@anchornewl.org send Letters to the Editor to: fatherrogerlandry@anchornews.org POSTMASTERSsend address changes to The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722.

TIlE ANCHOR (USPS-545-020) Periodical Postage Paid at Fall River, Mass.

~

..._--

.

$ THE CHURCH IN THE U.S. $ Catholic educators told school choice New facility will meet growing is becoming less of a partisan issue Hispanic program needs in

MARCH

23, 2007

By JERRY FILTEAU

.

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON - "School choice is becoming less and less a partisan issue," Morgan Brown, an assistant eJeputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, told a group of Catholic education leaders gathered in Washington for congressional advocacy days.

The Bush administration "is the most pro-school-choice administration we've ever had at the federal level," said Brown, who heads the Education Department's Office of Innovation and Improvement.

About 70 educators from more than 20 states came to Washington March 11-13 to discuss current federal legislative issues that may affect Catholic education and to lobby members of Congress on behalf of measures that would provide more equal participation of private school students and teachers in federal programs.

"Much of the real action on school choice is in the states," Brown acknowledged. But he said the federal government can "create incentives" for states to improve school choice possibilities by providing "seed money" in the way of programs that include participation by those in private schools.

The federal government can also

serve as a "bully pulpit" to make the case to the American public that parents should have a choice in what schools their children attend, he said.

Brown said advances on issues such as tax credits for parents of children in private schools or the equita~le inclusion of private schools in public programs to improve all children's education "are usually incremental ... a little here, a little there."

But he cited Utah's new law, the first universal school-choice legis·lation in the United States, as a major breakthrough.

The Parent Choice in Education Act, adopted by the Utah Legislature in early February and signed into law February 12, provides scholarships ranging from $500 to $3,000, based on family income, that parents can use to send their children to any private school of their choice.

Among issues the education leaders lobbied for were: ---"' tax credits or deductions for families with children to help pay educational expenses, including tuition; - tax credits for personal and corporate donations to organizations providing scholarships for children;

- keeping language in the No Child Left BehiQd Act that protects full, equitable participation of eligible children and teachers in nonpublic schools wherever they are currently covered; - expanding that coverage to other areas where children in nonpublic schools currently are not eligible to participate, such as the "Striving Readers" program; - strengthening requirements that state and local educational administrations consult with appropriate representatives of religious and other private schools before making any program or funding decisions that could affect their students, teachers or institutions; - enforcement measures, such as withholding of funds, for those public administrations that fail to carry out such consultation where required by the No Child Left Behind law; - continuing to include religious and other private schools in the Universal Service Fund provisions of the Telecommunications Act when it is reauthorized. The fund is a fee that consumers pay on their phone bills and the money provides a subsidy for technology programs for schools.

Brown, who worked on private education issues in Minnesota before.coming to Washington, said one example he likes to cite to illustrate the value of Catholic schools is Ascension, an elementary school in Minneapolis that "serves almost 100 percent Mrican-American students, the vast majority from low-income families."

"Here's a school that really has closed the achievement gap," he said. .

"The bottolp line is, the public needs to have a broader appreciation for nonpublic education," he said.

Archdi~cese

of Hartford

I

By

MARY J. TUNISON

CATHOLIC NEWS SEfWICE

HARTFORD, Conn. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Hartford plans to construct a $6.5 million building so it can consolidate under one roof all of the services and programs it offers to the city's Latino population thrOugh its Institute for the Hispanic Family. ' The institute offers lsuch social services as mental health treatment, day care an~ literacy and parenting classes. Its four main programs are a day-care center, family center, senior center and a mental health behavioral center for 'children and adults. With the new building it also plans to expand its programs.

The largest social services ministry for the Latino population in Hartford, "it serves more than 5,000 clients each year. i Over the past decade, the Hispanic' populatibn in the " Hartford metro area has grown to more than 40 percent of the I current population, ilbased on the 2000 U.S. census, reports the Mauricio Gaston Institute of the University of Massachusetts.

Located in the heart of the Latino community, the institute has existed for more than 30 years. Currently, it "leases approximately 11,000 square feet of space, which it shares with the Connecticut Ghildren's Medical Center. The,lnew structure will have 22,000 square feet. ' Rose Alma Senatore, chief I'

I

executive officer of Catholic Charities, said that because so many of its clients live in the neighborhood, the objective was to stay within a one-mile radius of the current site.

Regarding the senior center that will be part of the new building rather than a standalone facility as it is currently, Senatore said, "Seniors can now feel more connected to each other as well as the community."

The day care and the family and senior centers will be divided by wings but all will be located on one floor, so different generations can interact with one another.

Although seniors will have programs of their own, they also will have the opportunity to lend their wisdom and skills to the children in the day care center.

Integration of the day care and the family center "is a wonderful model," Senatore told The Catholic Transcript, newspaper of the Hartford Archdiocese. "It allows parents to attain literacy and other skills while their children are learning pre-K skills in day care. I think that's really important."

Catholic Charities develops programs that help people through a network of service agencies.

"The goal is to meet the needs of every single person that comes to the institute," said Senatore. "Our mission is to help people become self-sufficient, to reach their potential."

FRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY OF STEUBEi'\VILLE

Academically Challenging Passionately Catholic Teaching Excellenc~ • 35 Majors, 7 Graduate Programs • Dynamic Orthodoxy Engaging Campus Culture • Life-changing Outreaches

F

mnciscan University's demanding academics integrate faith and reason within a vibrant spiritual environment. Our life-giving intellectual and faith community ~ea~hes our students to love God and love true "wisdom. Our engaging campus culture mV,ltes them to seek ongoing per~nal conversion in the power of the Holy Spirit. t?tal Catholic educational experience helps students achieve the Christian maturity, mtegrlty, and knowledge they need to live as "sa~t and light" in the world.

!hIS EDUCATING EDUCATORS - Morgan Brown, an assistant deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, speaks March 12 to a group of Catholic educators gathered in Washington for congressional advocacy days. About 70 educators from more than 20 states participated came to the March 11-13 event. (CNS photo/ Bob Roller)

"m ~tr:R\

\lISt \ \i

l\l\

IRSII i

•

Sill m,\VIIII·

.~

i

4

$

THE CHURCH IN THE

U.S. $

MARCH

23, 2007

Egg harvesting damages women's health, congressional briefing shows

By NANCY FRAZIER O'BRIEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTQN - The damage caused by embryonic stem-cell research goes far beyond the embryos destroyed by treating "a great many women as egg factories, at great risk to their health and safety," according to the U.S. bishOpS' Pro-Life spokeswoman.

Deirdre A. McQuade, director of planning and information for the bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, was commenting on a congressional briefing at which scientists, ethicists and a grieving mother presented evidence about the dangers to women posed by egg harvesting.

McQuade applauded Reps.

Cathy McMorris Rodgers, RWash., and Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, for co-sponsoring the briefing on "Trading on the Female Body" March 8, International Women's Day. "The embryonic stem-cell agenda is a threat not only to embryonic humans but to young women as well," McQuade said in a statement.

"The drugs used in in vitro fertilization clinics to stimulate women's ovaries for attempted reproduction have done great harm to some women," she said. "But the problem pales in comparison with the threat posed by attempts to clone humans for embryonic stemcell research."

In South Korea, for example, where a scientist falsely claimed to have perfected the method for cloning a human, more than 2,200 eggs were used in the experiments, some of them obtained through coercion from women working in the research laboratory.

At least two women - one in London and one in Dublin, Ireland - are believed to have died from the effects of the drugs used to

hyperstimulate egg production for in vitro fertilization, known as IVE Angela Hickey, the mother of Jacqueline Rushton of Dublin, who died in 2003 at age 32 while undergoing treatment for infertility, addressed the briefing on Capitol Hill.

"So that her death is not in vain, I would advise all women who are going for IVF to try to have a baby, which Jacqui longed for, or women who wish to donate their eggs, to be very careful and to watch the course of their treatment," Hickey said.

"They should be informed of the risks and vigilant of their medical care. They need to know how stimulated their ovaries will be and the projected number of eggs retrieved," Hickey added. "I don't want any other families to go through what we're going through."

Others addressing the briefing included sociologist Diane Beeson of the East Bay campus of California State ,University; Josephine Quintavalle, director of C~mment on Reproductive Ethics in the United Kingdom; and Stuart Newman, professor of cell biology and anatomy at New York Medical College.

McQuade said the briefing was "timely in light of renewed efforts in Congress to fund destructive embryonic stem-cell research in the name of pursuing cures."

"If a treatment for a major disease ever were to arise from this approach, it would require moving beyond the so-called 'spare' embryos frozen in IVF clinics to creating huge numbers of embryos solely for medical research," she added.

If that were to happen, "minority and impoverished women would be particularly vulnerable to explqitation," McQuade said.

LOUD AND CLEAR - Pro-Life supporters marCh up Main Street in Annapolis to the Maryland State House during the 28th annual March for Life March 12. (eNS photo/Owen Sweeney III, Catholic Review)

New Sons of Adam supports men impac~ed by abortion

By NED ANDREW SOLOMON CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

OLD HICKORY, Tenn. - The focus of nearly every discussion of abortion is on the woman or her unborn child. Often hidden in the abortion issue is its impact on the man.

"There is always a father," said Father Steve Wolf, pastor of St. Stephen Catholic Community in Old Hickory. "Their role or lack of role in the decision can create a stream of consequences that may accompany the man through the rest of his life."

Father Wolf is starting a discussion group called Sons ofAdam ,for men who are suffering from an experience of abortion.

"Because men are told they have no say in the abortion decision - that it is about a woman and her choice - they later struggle with the questions they pose to themselves and the emotions they feel," Father Wolf told the Tennessee Register, newspaper of the Nashville Diocese.

Those emotions may take numerous forms, including rage, a sense of impotence or grief over the loss of fatherhood, he explained. Some men react self-destructively, by turning to alcohol, drugs or other risk-taking behaviors. Others experience nightmares and suicidal thoughts.

Father Wolf hopes talking about their experience with abortion will help men avoid such problems.

He will not be surprised if, at first, men find it difficult to open

r

r"'路-

>

r

"

~

up about such a personal issue.

However, Father Wolf is confident that the group setting will encourage an atmosphere of sharing.

"We take to confession those one or two or three things that really bug us," said Father Wolf.

"Men wh'o can be helped by a process like this know who they are.

When the topic is something that really matters to a man, he will speak up. He might not do so the first week, and that's OK. We have a need to tell some of our own story, but sometimes a man can find healing in hearing the stories of others."

The idea for the men's group stemmed from a suggestion by a facilitator of a similar group for women at the Hope Clinic for Women. Father Wolf also had some experience talking to men and women privately about abortion choices during the sacrament of reconciliation and spiritual direction. When the concept was presented, he spent some time researching the topic.

"I found a great book, 'Men and Abortion' by Catherine Coyle, but it wasn't in a format that I felt I could use in a group setting," said Father Wolf. "I also f~und a wonderful post-abortion Bible study for men, 'Healing a Father's Heart'

by Linda Cochrane and Kathy Jones. But 'it didn't fit a more Catholic process of healing by way of faith sharing."

Instead, Father Wolf sought permission "to assimilate readings from both of these books into a

Sons of Adam workbook, which will be used to augment the discussions during the group meetings.

Choosing the biblical moniker for the group was intentional. "The name Sons of Adam comes from reflection on Abel, whose sacrifice was pleasing to God; on Cain, who did violence to his own brother; and Seth, in whom God renews the goodness oflife," explained Father Wolf.

"There's a little of the innocent trust of Abel, the fear and rejection of Cain, and the desire to be generative of Seth in every man," he said.

The meetings will take place in an undisclosed location near St. Stephen Church, but not on the church property itself.

"This is one of those things that many or most people have not even told their best friends, sometimes not even their spouses," Father Wolf said. "It has to be at a safe place."

Whether this difficult topic is confronted one on one, in a group setting or in private reflection with suggested readings, Father Wolf hopes a conversation about the consequences of abortion will help people consider other options.

"I would also hope," he said, "that even awareness of this ministry might help young men and women who are considering an abortion to take a breath and consider all of the long-term ramifications."

MARCH

23, 2007

$

THE INTERNATIONAL CHURCH

$

5\

Franciscan mission cares for children living in distant Peruvian villages

By BARBARA J. FRASER CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

days to get here."

Once a jumping-off point for Franciscan missionPUERTO OCOPA, Peru - The morning mist still aries heading deeper into the Amazon, Puerto Ocopa clings to the trees as more than a dozen girls line up on is the end of the road in the rainy season. From there, wooden pews in the chapel of an old Franciscan mis- boats crowded with people and goods head up and sion, and under the gaze of a statue of Jesus dressed in down the network of swift-flowing, chocolate-brown a white robe with bands of red, green and purple well- rivers that serve as highways in the Amazon.

Sister Nelida said the children "plant it themselves suited to the tropical climate of Peru's central jungle.

After prayer, songs, Communion and the kiss of and eat the bananas and cassava that they grow."

But food is a constant worry. peace, the children file into the cavernous dining room r------......,..,..,...-.....-.."..,,,,......._-..,,..,.......,,,,....__ Donations from a government nutrition program are insuffifor a breakfast of oatmeal and . . . . . . . . cient. For 100 children, she bananas. They are joined by r calculated, she will need half a dozen older boys about five cases of evaporated whose plates are heaped with milk per day at $30 a case. rice in deference to their adoAnd that doesn't count other lescent appetites. food, clothing and school supFor nearly a century, the plies. There is ljarely enough mission has taken in children for basics and nothing left from distant communities over for frills. with exotic names such as For reasons of hygiene, she Ucayali, Shanky, Jairikishi would like to upgrade the and Shevoja, who live halfkitchen, a huge, brick room hidden in the dense forest. where food is prepared over Most are indigenous an open fire. But she needs mainly Ashaninka, with plywood and tile, and has no some Shipibos and members of other groups. money.

The mission has a long his"They come speaking Ashaninka, and little by little tory of w~lcoming people in need. Franciscans first arrived they learn Spanish. And we in the 1600s, but earthquakes learn Ashaninka," said Sister destroyed the original buildNelida Vicente,superior .at. l~ ings. the mission.

Father Teodorico Castillo She and four .. ottter , Corrales, 81, has worked at Franciscan nuns care for PITCHING IN - A girl sweeps the courtyard 50 years.

He the mission for nearly 100 children during of a mission for children in Puerto Ocopa, the school year. In January Peru, recently. Five Franciscan sisters care said the convent, which was and February, the South for nearly 100 children at the mission. Chil¡ rebuilt in 1918, is known as American summer, most of dren arrive at the mission under different cir- the "rescue mission" because the youngsters return home, c;:umstanc?s. Some come when the~ a~e new¡ the friars took in children but about 30 remain at the borns, while others are left at the mISSion be- "who were being traded or miss'o cause their families don't have enough food. sold (into slavery), or who "Sl n. U. t (CNS photo/Barbara Fraser) orne mes we ge newwere condemned to death beborns. The mother dies and they bring us the baby," cause they were suspected of witchcraft." she said.

Ten years later, Father Castillo was sent to rebuild The children stay through adolescence, attending grade school and high school in the tiny community the mission. He also started agricultural programs to of Puerto Ocopa, a river port reminiscent of an old help the communities increase their income and imWestern movie set, but surrounded by lush jungle veg- prove their diet. But his plans were cut sho~ by the etation. A new vocational school offers courses in nurs- eruption of political violence by the Shining Path, a ing, agriculture and animal husbandry, enabling youths Maoist insurgent group that had launched an armed to gain job skills without going to a distant town, a uprising ag~nst the government in the 1980s.

Most fled during those years, but Father Castillo move that is often prohibitively expensive.

By mid-February, she had already received 17 new stayed although the Shining Path threatened him and children, and more were trickling in. This put the mis- the military urged him to leave. He took in refugees, sion almost at capacity before the school year started and the mission's population swelled to about 1,000.

March 1.

Little has changed for the Ashaninka people, who "Some people bring us them because in their com- still suffer from malnutrition and lack access to health munities they don't have enough to feed them," she care and education. But, Father Castillo said, "they said. "A woman came this morning. Jt took her five know, from times past, that the mission will help them."

Mexico City report reveals poor regular Mass attendance MEXICO CITY (CNS) -A re- would be challenged to meet the port published by the Archdiocese . demand, said the report published of Mexico City said only six per- in the archdiocese's weekly bullecent to nine percent of its Catholics tin March 11. attend Sunday Mass regularly.

"If all Catholics attended SunThe report, which was written by day Mass, the (churches) of Mexico the archdiocesan information direc- City would be inadequate, and tor, Carlos Villa Roiz, said the priests would have to direct Mass archdiocese's churches are packed outdoors," it said. for Christmas, Ash Wednesday and Mexico City and the surroundpopular saints' feast days. ing metropolitan area form one of If all the archdiocese's Catholics the world's largest urban conglomattended Mass, the archdiocese erations. Nearly 90 percent of

Mexico City's population say they are Catholic.

Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera of Mexico City said in the report that he has visited local parishes in the metropolitan area to help priests better serve their communities.

The archdiocesan chancellor, Juan de Dios Olvera, noted in the report that "all priests are working to increase attendance at Sunday Mass."

LIFE-SAVER - Orderly Stefano Lorenzi demonstrates the use of a hatch to a heated crib which was used for the first time recently when an unwanted infant was left at Casilino hospital in Rome reo cently. (CNS photolTony Gentile, Reuters)

Modern adaptation of ancient cradle welcomes unwanted babies in Italy ROME (CNS) -The ~tory of the 19th century.

The cradle in which Stefano a baby boy, who was abahdoned was left was installed in Rome's by his mother at a hospital in Casilino Policlinic hospital last Rome, has focused attentibn on a " December.

It is the first of its kind modem adaptation of an I,old inin an Italian hospital, but already strument called the f04ndling there is talk about placing them in wheel.

I His mother had placed Stefano, other public health facilities.

Church organizations have long who was named after the doctor who found him, in a speCial crib supported the cradles, though they near the hospital entrance designed have functioned in recent years on specifically for abandoned babies. a symbolic level.

Over the last 14 years, Stefano received immediate medical attention from hospital staff, Movimento per la Vita, Italy's naunlike other babies who ate left in tional Pro-Life organization, has a garbage bin to die.

I' , installed 10 of the cribs in convents In mid-March, it was an- and in their own Centers for Life nounced that an adoptive family throughout Italy. In February, the movement s,et up the most recent also had been found for Stefano.

High-tech cradles like' the one cradle in the gate of a Dominican Stefano was left in hare been monastery in the northern Italian touted as a way to save upwanted city of Bergamo.

Although Giorgio Gibertini of babies.

Known as "cradles fo~ life" or the movement told Catholic News the "baby box," they have been in- Service that a baby hasn't been left stalled in hospitals in various ma- in one of their cradles, they have jor Cities in Germany, Belgium and served a promotional purpose and other European countries. India have become monuments to life.

He said he considers the real was also planning to install the cradles to be the organization's 278 cradles. . " They are fitted with hekted mat- centers where pregnant women or tresses, a ventilation sy~tem and new mothers in crisis can go for electronic sensors linKed to an help.

In 1994 the organization started alarm and have been c~ned the modem-day version of the found- a program through which anonyâ&#x20AC;˘ II mous donors adopt expectant hng wheel.

'I In the late 12th licentury, mothers. The mother, who undershocked by how many abandoned goes a careful screening process, babies were found dead in the receives about $210 a month for I' Tiber River, Pope Innoc~nt ill in- 18 months. Although it is not a stituted the foundling ~heel. The large amount of money, it reminds device, a revolving wooC;len cylin- th~ mother that she is not alone and der in which a baby could be it gives her a small economic base, placed, was installed in' churches Gibertini said.

"We have helped 77,000 babies and convents.

I A mother who wanted to aban- be born by providing the mother don her baby, because of eco- with the help she needed. All nomic reasons or betause her 77 ,000 babies stayed with their child was illegitimate, could place mother," he said.

Among the women who have her baby in the wheel, tum it and walk away. Once th~ mother turned to the organization's centers turned the wheel, a b'bn would for help, the No.1 reason cited for ring alerting those ihside the considering abortion or abandonment was solitude, and economic building to the new arrival.

The foundling wheel was used reasons were the second reason in other parts of Europe well into most cited, Gibertini said.

I "

"

II

6 The Lost Tomb v. the Empty Tomb - Part II

$

The Anchor ~

MARCH

23, 2007

the living word

Arguments against the resurrection of Jesus, like James Cameron tried to advance in his Discovery Chaimel pseudo-documentary ''The Lost Tomb of Jesus," are nothing new. They started, in fact, Easter Sunday, when the Jewish leaders bribed the Roman guards to say that Jesus' disciples stole his body.

People on both sides of the question of the resurrection have always, at least implicitly, agreed on the stakes. If Jesus of Nazareth.really didOrise from the dead, if he kept his word that he would be the sign of Jonah, the new temple erected on the third day, then that would be the validation of who he said he was and all he said he was doing (Mt 12:39; Jn 2: 19). If, on the other hand, he didn't rise from the dead despite all his promises, then he was either a lunatic with a messiah complex or a bald-faced liar, no better than the worst religious charlatan. The consequences for us St. Paul summed up succinctly: ''If Christ has not been raised, then your faith is in vain and you are still in your sins" (I Cor 15:17).

St. Peter challenged Christians in every age to "be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you" (1 Pet 3: 15). All Christians are called to be able to give a defense of our faith, to show Ollf faith is reasonable and to be able to show that attacks against the truths of the faith are either false or do not prove what they think they prove. This is the art of apologetics.

1\vo weeks ago, we tried to show how the claims of James Cameron's "The Lost Tomb of Jesus" did not prove what he thought they did. This week we would like to briefly present the case for Jesus' resurrection.

As we know from modern court cases, there are two categories of information we need to weigh: the inherent coherence and credibility of the evidence or testimony on either side; and the credibility of the witnesses giving the testimony.

When we look at the most common argument against Jesus' resurrection - that his body was stolen - the evidence given is very weak indeed. First, the Jewish authorities were on the lookout against this possibility, which was the reason why they asked Pilate for the guard in the first place. Next, they paid the soldiers to state that while they were sleeping the disciples came to steal the body, but there's obviously no way they could have known that if they were in fact asleep. Third, it would make no sense that if the disciples The call to put into the deep, by hope, and hope does not disappoint had stolen the body, they would have left his clothes in the empty tomb to living the "higher Gospel" of us, because God's love has been bring Jesus naked through the streets of Jerusalem, especially since it was redemptive suffering, poses one of poured into our hearts through the against the law to translate a dead body after burial. the greatest challenges of the Holy Spirit which has been given to The argument in favor ofthe resurrection is based on the fact of the empty Christian faith. But an honest us" (Rom 5:3-5). tomb and the credibility of the witnesses who testify that they saw the risen reading of sacred Scripture reveals There is, however, another reason Jesus. While the empty tomb is in itself not proof that Jesus rose from the an even higher call, a call to go even for rejoicing when the Cross lands in dead, it is consistent with ~esus' resurrection. Neither there nor anywhere else deeper with Christ, by actually our lives. Every suffering endured was Jesus' corpse ever found. It would have been the easiest way for the rejoicing in our sufferings. out of love is an opportunity to help Sanhedrin to quell the growth of Christianity to point to the body. It is of Christ in the work of salvation.

Our Lord himself tells us to course possible that the Christians, like an ancient mob, could have perma- rejoice when we suffer nently hidden or disposed of Jesus' body, but that brings us to the second persecution for his sake: category of evidence, the credibility of those giving the testimony.

"Blessed are you when they Mary Magdalene, the disciples on the road to Emmaus, the 10 Apostles in insult you and persecute the upper room on Easter Sunday, doubting Thomas the following week, the you and utter every kind of seven disciples fishing on the Sea of Galilee, 500 disciples most of whom evil against you falsely were still alive when Paul wrote the Corinthians, James, and ultimately Paul because of me. Rejoice and all claimed to see the risen Lord Jesus. Either they were all conspiring to lie be glad, for your reward and persevered even when threatened with death; or they were all hallucinat- will be great in heaven" (Mt ing, claiming to see Jesus when all they were seeing was a figment of their 5:11-12). But persecution is ....- - - - - - - - - imagination; or they were telling the truth.

Because our salvation was purnot the only suffering in which we It.would make no sense for them to lie. Most of these witnesses had aban- are told to rejoice. Indeed, all chased by the redemptive sufferings doned Jesus when he was merely seized; why would they preach him boldly suffering, whatever its form, is cause of Christ, our sufferings, too, now after his death if they had known he had deceived them and others? They for rejoicing. From the Apostle have redemptive value and can help would have had nothing to gain - they traveled by Jesus' instructions with Peter, we are told, "But rejoice to the to save souls. no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, and no extra tunic - except derision extent that you share in the sufferTo rejoice in suffering is surely and death. Even great Roman orators would have had difficulty selling others ings of Christ, so that when his glory contrary to our fallen nature. Every that a Nazarene carpenter was really God and had risen from the dead. Why is revealed you may also rejoice ounce of our being resists the notion would this group ofordinary men have endeavored to do so and sacrificed so exultantly" (IPet 4: 13). that suffering is cause for rejoicing. much if they knew it was all a lie?

Suffering Causes pain, either One of the reasons we are told to If they were hallucinating in clairnitlg to see Jesus, in and of itself this rejoice in our sufferings is that it physical or emotional, and pain is would have been quite a feat, especially since none of them were looking to produces endurance and perfects our naturally associated with sorrow, see Jesus. When Mary Magdalene saw Jesus, she thought he was a gardener. faith. The Apostle James writes, rather than joy.

The disciples on the road to Emmaus thought he was just an ignorant pass- "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, It is only with the supernatural erby. The Apostles in the upper room thought he was a ghost. The disciples at when you encounter various trials, perspective of faith that we are able the sea shore simply a short-order breakfast cook. Rather than see someone for you know that the testing of your to rejoice in the Cross. It is only else and mistake him for Jesus, they saw Jesus and mistook him for someone faith produces perseverance. And let when we accept the supernatural else. Thomas believed only when indisputable, tangible proof was given. perseverance be perfect, so that you reality that the world was redeemed The early Christian witness to Christ's resurrection at great personal cost may be perfect and complete, by the suffering of Christ that we led people of all classes in every nation to enter the Church. If this happened lacking ill nothing" (Jam 1:2-4). can begin to understand the positive, through the Apostles' being emboldened through seeing the risen Lord and The same message is heard from salvific value of our own suffering. filled with the Holy Spirit, then the miraculous nature of the founding of the St. Paul, who writes, "More than Rejoicing in the Cross requires Church would be manifest. But if it happened based on a bunch offishermen's ,that, we rejoice in our sufferings, calling to mind the unavoidable truth proclaiming a concocted tale of a liar's resurrection, then, as St. Thomas knowing that suffering produces that the salvation of souls is Aquinas quipped, that would be even a greater miracle than the Resurrection endurance, and endurance produces continually at stake, and that the itself! graces of conversion that lead souls character; and character produces

A

COLORADO WOMAN PRAYS

DURING THE RECENT LIVING THE CATHOLIC FAITH CONFERENCE IN DENVER, COLO. (CNS PHOTO)

"FEAR NOT, I AM WITH YOU; BE NOT DISMAYED; I AM YOUR GOD. I WILL STRENGTHENYOU,AND HELP YOU, AND UPHOLD YOU WITH MY RIGHT HAND OF JUSTICE" (ISAIAH 41:10).

Rejoicing in the Cross to salvation are merited by our sufferings, if offered freely and out of love. Knowing that we are helping Christ save souls by suffering with love is why we are able to rejoice and even be grateful for the Cross in our lives.

Finally, another reason why we rejoice in the.cross is the knowledge that eternal joy lies on the other side of suffering. ''For the sake of the joy that lay before him [Christ] endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God" (Heb 12:2). Joy is the ultimate and lasting reward for carrying the Cross, and so joy is the response with which we should welcome suffering in our lives.

Whenever we might be tempted to resist the Cross and resent our sufferings, we should put into the deep by calling to mind the words of encouragement offered by St. Peter: ''There is cause for rejoicing here.

You may for a time have to suffer the distress of many trials; but this is so that your faith, which is more precious than the passing splendor of fire-tried gold, may by its genuineness lead to praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ appears.

Although you have never seen him, you love him, and without seeing you now believe in him, and rejoice with inexpressible joy touched with glory because you are achieving faith's goal, your salvation" (IPet 1:6-9).

Father Pignato is chaplain at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth and is secretary to Bishop George If. Coleman.

MARCH

$

23, 2007

The Anchor

:t

-7 I',I

I wonder what she is thinking Quite frequently, I study our collie-cattle dog, wondering what's going through her canine mind. In a list in a recent "Farmers' Almanac," border collie and cattle dog each earned a spot in the top 10 smartest dog breeds.

I know Igor is intelligent. In fact, she may have more between her ears than I do, but I still wonder what goes through her mind in certain situations.

Last weekend was a prime example. Igor has been with the Jolivet Clan since for more than four years - since she was a pup.

She's witnessed our family experience a Red Sox world championship, two Patriots Super Bowl wins and all the drama, disappointment, frustration and joy in between.

She gets as excited as we do,

often barking up a storm when we collectively cheer or express dismay while watching the

hometown teams on the tube.

But through all that, there was one constant - all the Jolivets had the same reactions.

Last weekend, it all changed.

Growing tired of meaningless exhibiti~n baseball games, Emilie and I upped the stakes and challenged each other to the Foosball championship of the world - a best-of-seven event for family bragging rights.

It isn't important who emerged

Running for

For Vdurself ''--..... , ..

II

adversity and in the face of death.

His sanctity shone forth in his martyrdom, but it had been prepared by an entire life of work devoted to God and neighbor."

(Apostolic Let1;er issued "motu proprio" proclaiming St. Thomas More Patron of Statesmen and Politicians.)

The governor by his comments may imply that making mistakes and becoming a saint are incompatible. If so, I would beg to respectfully disagree. Saints are sinners after all, but sinners who have repented and returned to our Lord (and those they have offended) for forgiveness. That is what the parable of the Prodigal Son is about. The important thing is not avoiding any errors, but forthrightly trying to prevent their repetition through repentance and the cultivation of virtue.

One of the most beautiful and consoling aspects of our faith is this: it's never too late on this side of the grave to repent, be forgiven, and make a fresh start.

St. Augustine had an illegitimate child. Dorothy Day, whose cause of canonization is pending, had an abortion before her conversion. Holiness is always within the reach of everyone thanks to God's grace, since, as St. Paul says, "This is the will of God, your sanctification" (l Thess .4:3).

Dwight Duncan is a professor • at Southern New England School ofLaw in North Dartmouth. He holds degrees in both civil and canon law..

thinking. And I must admit I felt she should root for me. Mter all I'm the one who buys her food and treats, and I am the alphadog. But, I could understand her loyalty to Emilie, whom she considers a sister.

Eventually a winner was crowned and Igor was there to celebrate with the winner and help the loser pick up the pieces. I still don't know what she was thinking; although I have a strong suspicion it was that human beings wouldn't show up on her list of top 10 smartest species.

When all was said and done, poor exhausted Igor took a nice two-hour nap while Emilie and I went on to watch March Madness on television - both cheering for the same team. For Igor, things were back to normal.

Oh, not that it matters, but this author is Foosball World Champ.

Fall River (Jity-wide Lenten Mission "In The Desert With Jesus, A Call To Conversion"

sai~t ~

purpose." Everyone, then, is Last Friday, Deval Patrick, our supposed to be running for saint, new governor, said: "When I ran, just as St. Paul wrote at the end of I said I would make some his life: "I have fought the good mistakes. I didn't run for saint." fight; I have finished the race; I Of course, on one level, what he said is perfectly true and unexcep- have kept the faith. I look forward tionable. He ran for governor, and to the prize that is waiting for me, the prize I have earned" (2 Tim the governor has a different job 4:7-8). As Jesus told his followdescription than sainthood. And, ers: "Be perfect, as my heavenly of course, our constitutional Father is perfect" (Matt 5:48). system recognizes a certain When in the Great Jubilee Year separation of church and state, and the U.S. Constitution expressly forbids a religious test for public office, at least at the federal level.

Furthermore, to err is -.., ,~,.":'''',~ human; and thus we must ~.

By Qwight Dunca~>--" not expect total perfec__ ".1 ' ., / tion in our politicians.

And so it happens rather of 2000 Pope John Paul IT made frequently that politicians holding Thomas More "Patron Saint of public office, of whatever party, Statesmen," he proclaimed him to will acknowledge that "mistakes be a model for politicians: were made," even if they are "His life teaches us that governusually less than forthcoming in ment is above all an exercise of acknowledging personal fault. virtue. Unwavering in this Indeed, that is why there is rigorous moral stance, this something remarkably refreshing, English statesman placed his own honest and liberating about public activity at the service pf reciting at every Mass a mea the person, especially if that culpa, acknowledging that I have person was weak or poor; he dealt personally sinned "through my with social controversies with a own fault in my thoughts and in superb sense of fairness; he was my words, in what I have done, vigorously committed to favoring and in what I have failed to do." and defending the family; he But at another level, what he supported the all-round education said was misleading. For we of the young. His profound Catholics believe that all Chrisdetachment from honors and tians, of whatever rank or wealth, his serene and joyful condition (yes, even politicians), humility, his balanced knowledge are caJled to holiness. This was of human nature and of the vanity the central teaching of Vatican IT, of success, his certainty of which Pope Paul VI called "the judgment rooted in .faith: these all most characteristic element of the '. gave him that confident inner entire teaching of the Council strength that sustained him in and, as it were, its ultimate

;Judge

as champ. What was most entertaining was watching Igor's reaction.

As with watching the Sox or Pats, Emilie and I wear our hearts on our sleeves in all things sports.

When Emilie scored a goal there was much not-sosilent exultation. On the other side of the Foosball field there was not-so-silent frustration.

Igor didn't know who to console or with whom to celebrate.

When I scored a goal, the tables were turned - as was Igor's head.

Emilie won the first three games, leaving dad with his back against the wall for the remainder of the series.

Dad roared back and won the next three games, evening the series at three games apiece.

With each goal, the house grew more raucous than the goal

before. Thank goodness my neighbor Dave is as much a sports nut as we are. He's quite used to the muffled sounds of screams coming from next door. " Game seven was an actionpacked, ebb-and-flow aff~ that ultimately boiled down to;'one last goal that would crown the' Foosball championship of the world. . hr H avmg seen arms town jubilantly into the air on ~oth sides of the field, and wi~ressing heads buried in hands oll,lboth sides of the field, Igor's s~per­ intelligent border collie-c:attle dog cerebrum was in overload.

On one paw, dad would end up as champion and Emilie as . champion wannabe. On the other paw, Emilie would hold the world title and dad would stomp upstairs in defeat. " Through all the excitJment, I .

I wondered just what Igor'was

With Father Gary Dailey, Vocation Director of the Springfield Diocese March 26, 7 p.~. at Holy Name Parish, Hanover St. March 27, 7 p.m.'lat Holy Trinity Parish, Stafford Road March 28, 7 p.m. at Good Shepherd Parish, So. Main St. March 29, 7.p.~. at St. Anthony of the Desert Parish, ~orth Eastern Avenue Confessions wiWbe heard at St. Anthony of the Desert Chw!ch on March 29 at 6 p.m.

ITALY 2007 April 14 - 21, ,,2007; June 23 - July 1, 2007; October 5 - 12, 2007; Cost: $2,200 RomelTuscany/Florence.

See the Pope, Sistine Chapel, Colosseum; Catacombs, Spanish Steps...

Contact: Anthori:y Nachef, PhD (Theology) 857 W. BOYlston St., Worcester, MA 01606 , 508-340-9370 E-mail:, an@catholicteachings.org Website: www.catholicteachings.org, or • ::www.TourOfltaly.us • Ii

CO:MMUNION DRESSES \ IN iSTOCK SIZES 5 TO 201/2 lQO's OF VEILS IN STOCK ~,

I

I I

Shoes + Slips + Capes + Purses

~j

BbyS' WHITE SUITS _ $59.50

.~ (>

,~'

.',

STARTING AT Blue Sportcoats + Shoes + Shirts + .TIes + Belts ..... { Comer of North Main & Field Streets, Brockton/Avon Line

MINUTES OFf' ROUTE

24 - 1.-800.-586.-1951

'.

I8

$ The Anchor $

MARCH

23, 2007

New life and new hope As we enter the fifth and final week of our journey through Lent, we are presented with the story of the woman caught in adultery as found in the Gospel of John.

This woman is publicly humiliated by the Scribes and Pharisees who seek only to test our Lord Jesus.

They pretend to be interested in the law of Moses, which would have her stoned, however, they are more interested in the response Jesus would have to their question, "So what do you say?"

As the woman stands silently in the midst of selfrighteous men, Jesus gives no response, at first.

The moment is filled with a tense anticipation that seems to be dispelled by Jesus' indifference as he bends down and begins to write on the ground

with his finger. you have kept yourself chaste But these men require a and pure, if you have absoresponse and Jesus gives them lutely no sin on your soulthen pick up the stone and fire one; although not the one they away." expected, I'm sure.

How easy it is for us to "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her," Jesus mily of the Wee says.

Fifth Sunday Suddenly the focus . in Lent of the storyshifts; I can only imagine that the ·eyFatb.~ eyes of every onlooker John A. Raposo were now trained on those men. What would they do now? They were no stand in judgment of others. longer the accusers but now Can we find the compasthey were the accused. sion of Jesus in our hearts as Listen to this story carefully well and thus learn forgiveness? and you will discover that the St. Paul writes in his letter words of Jesus are intended for us as well. to the Philippians, "I consider It is as if Jesus is saying to. everything as a loss because of us, "if you have never lied, the supreme good of knowing cheated or spread rumors, if Christ Jesus my Lord. For his

sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having any righteousness of my own based on the law but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God...."

We have spent four weeks of Lent trying to conform ourselves to the likeness of Christ.

If I have allowed Christ to enter into my life and make him the center of my life, then, there cannot be any room for self-righteous judgments or even condemnations.

Have we allowed ourselves to focus on our own sinfulness?

Do we realize that our journey of faith is still unfold-

ing and that there is still time for us to grow, to change and to repent?

Finally, Jesus is alone with the woman after all the men with stones in their hands discard the punishment they planned to inflict on her and walk away.

Even Jesus, the only one without sin, cannot condemn the woman.

Instead he offers her a second chance, "Go, and from now on do not sin anymore."

Jesus acknowledges her sin and at the same time offers her an invitation to live a new life.

These same words of Jesus apply to us and so does his offer of new life and new hope.

Father Raposo is pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Attleboro.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat, March 24, Jer 11:18-20; Ps 7:2-3,9b-12; In 7:40-53. Sun, March 25, Fifth Sunday of Lent, Is 43:16-21; Ps 126:1-6; Phil 3:8-14. Mon, March 26, Annunciation of the Lord, Is 7:10-14; Ps 40:7-11; Heb 10:4-10; Lk 1:26-38. Tues, March 27, Nm 21:4-9; Ps 102:2-3,16-21; In 8:21-30. Wed, March 28, Dn 3:14-20,91-92,95; (ps) Dn 3:52-56; In 8:31-42. Thurs, March 29, Gn 17:3-9; Ps 105:4-9; Jn 8:51-59. Fri, March 30, Jer 20:10-13; Ps 18:2-7; In 10:31-42.

Presidential spring training In late December 1959, Senator John F. Kennedy was annoyed by a news report that he was committed to running for president.

Which, of course, he was as everyone knew. The point is that Kennedy thought it bad form to announce so early. So his staff (as one headline writer put it) pulled back "a hat prematurely thrown into the ring."

Those were the days.

The 2008 presidential campaign began, formally, in January 2007. Informally, it began before sundown last November 7, the day of the mid-term congressional elections and a full two years before the 2008 presidential balloting. This is, frankly, ridiculous. But given the fund-raising imperatives of running for president these days, it's also probably inevitable. So let's try to make lemonade out of lemons and raise the

level of the "discourse:" which, to date, has been rather downmarket, if occasionally entertaining.

Herewith, questions to be put to any presidential candidate with whom you're in contact: Iran: Iran is, at most, a few years away from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability.

The Iranian government today is led by an apocalyptic who seems quite serious in his belief that incinerating the State of Israeleven if that would involve the retaliatory incineration of Iran - would be worthwhile, because it would hasten the coming of the messianic age. Iran with nuclear weapons would be an unprecedented danger: a nuclear power with a passion for martyrdom. What do you propose to do to forestall

Charlie's Oil Co., Inc. • Prompt 24 Hour Service • Automatic Deliveries • Call In Deliveries • Budget Terms Available • Free Estimates

You Never Had Service Until You Tried Charlie's We're located at ...

46 Oak Grove Ave., Fall River orcal/ ...

508-675-7426 • 508-674-0709

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's doomsday scenario?

Iraq: Is the war in Iraq a singularity, or is it part of the fabric of the global struggle against Islamic jihadism? If you believe it's a singular situation, why do so many jihadists think·

otherwise? If Iraq is one front in a global contest, how do you imagine the U.S. end-game in Iraq shaping the rest of the struggle?

Defunding jihadism: One reason why Wahhabism and other jihadist ideologies have traction in the 21st century is that the West has transferred trillions of dollars to people who have exported radical Islamism around the globe. This is suicidal. What can be done

Montie Plumbing & Heating Co. Over 35 Years of Satisfied Services Reg. Master Plumber 7023 JOSEPH RAPOSA, JR. 432 JEFFERSON STREET FALL RIVER 508-675-7496

about our dependency on Middle East oil - not in the next 20 or 30 years, but in the next 1O? Hearts and minds: Do you think it's a good idea for U.S.-funded Arab-language radio to broadcast Britney Spears, J. Lo., and Eminem throughout the Arab world? Is this the best story we can tell about our culture and its values?

The Life Issues: Are you aware that embryonic stem-cell research has yet to produce a single clinical application, while dozens of cures have been effected with adult stem-cell therapies? Do you agree that the oversell of embryonic stem-cell research is cruel? What should the .U.S. government do to accelerate the development of therapies based on nonembryo-destructive stem cells?

Do you believe that Roe v.

Wade was rightly decided?

Would you nominate Supreme Court justices who think that Roe v. Wade was rightly decided? Would you ask potential Supreme Court nominees whether they agreed with Justice Byron White (a Kennedy appointee) that Roe was an act of "raw judicial usurpation"?

Europe's experience demonstrates that, where

euthanasia is permitted, euthanasia will soon be required. What will you do, in health care policy and federal judicial nominations, to prevent America from becoming inhospitable to the so-called "burdensome" elderly?

Education: Why does the United States do such a poor job in its elementary and secondary schools, measured by the standards of other information-age societies?

Are you "pro-choice" when it comes to parents being empowered to choose the best education for their children? If so, do you support vouchers, tax credits, or some other form of financial aid that "follows the child," irrespective of whether the school the child attends is religious? Is something awry when colleges and universities accumulate multi-billion-dollar tax-free endowments but charge their undergraduates $50,000 at least per year?

Partisanship: Do you agree that there is "partisan division" in Washington because there are real disagreements 'about serious issues?

Roots: Is the presidency, for you, an ambition, a job, or a vocation?

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

$ The Anchor $

I MARCH 23, 2007

Just like a woman Thursday 22 March 2007 Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge - Equal Rights Amendment sent to states for ratification (35th anniversary).

With 35 votes, the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment failed by three votes on 30 June 1982.

It was a dark and stormy night. I sit by the hearth contemplating the meaning of life. My so-called "hearth" consists of two 60 watt bulbs in what vaguely re- . sembles a fireplace. I hit the remote button and a fake fire blazes instantly. Then I travel back in my mind's eye to places I've been.

I park the car in Harvard

Yard. I'm here for a weekend seminar entitled "Lay Ministry." We're divided into small groups. What else? My group consists entirely of women. I'm

the token guy. Many of the women hold advanced degrees in theology, far better educated than I. The women in my group say that they have been denied the opportunity of service and leadership in the Church. They refer to me as "The Bureau-

crat." I've been called a lot of things, but that's a new one.

This is going to be the discussion group from hell. I assure them I come in peace.

I believe women have always been a gift to the Church. I believe women's gifts are vitally needed in the mission of the Church. I believe women often possess gifts many men don't have. I know because I'm a man.

Let's face it. Women and men think, act, relate, pray, and minister differently. Is this a bad thing? "Male and female God created them. God saw that ... it was very good." Well, that answers that. The gifts of

Brothers and Sisters in Christ This is the fourth in a series ofcolumns on Catholic vocations, and whatparents can do to help children discern . their vocation.

For this week's look at the vocational life of religious Sisters and Brothers I attended a "Day of Discernment for Women Interested in Religious Life" in Boston. I took 15 pages of notes, spoke with over half of the 40 women gathered, and listened to Cardinal O'Malley, who is a member of the Order of Friars Minor CapUChin, as well as a priest.

Words cannot describe the joy I encountered.

Like a mother gently gathers and lifts an anxious baby from its cradle to herself, so did the organizers of this day of reflection gently gather and lift us participants out of our rusharound lives and hold us up to God. After participating in this event and visiting the Benedictine Monastery a few weeks ago, I am overwhelmed by the magnificence of this vocation within our Catholic Vocational Village. Without a doubt, Jesus is the wellspring of these members' lives. Most of us are familiar with the works of prayer and charity that religious sisters and brothers perform, so here I wanted to let them tell us not what they do, but how they feel about it.

"I sensed this intense desire for God and God's intense desire for me. I started off thinking God would be satisfied with good works. I volunteered for everything thinking God would layoff, but he didn't. The

radical, public witness of the vows is the only thing. that satisfied my hunger for God and his fO'r me." - Sister Kathy' McGrath. RSCJ .

"I wasn't devout at all when I first came to the monaStery. I had no thoughts of.staying, . either. But here I am ... a Brother. And happIer than lever was." -A Benedictine Brother "Community life (in a

cloister) is different (from that of an active order), but the journey is the same. It is a journey out of yourself." Sister Maria Kim, OSCO "I'd like to be closer to people in their need. This type of life helps me do that and deepen my relationship with God." - Sr. Sonia Saenz, CDP "I can do many good deeds, but the public profession of vows says to the world that God is first." - Sister Susan Frederick, PM "There is no vocations shortage on God's part. God is calling, but not everyone who is called responds. The example of this is of the Rich Young Man in the Bible. He was called, but he wasn't free to respond to the invitation of Jesus. He was too attached to his money, so he went away sad. It is sad when we reject the call." - Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap. "Our response to being

'called is not a scripted play that God bas already ytritten and that we have to follow verbatim. We need to discovet what moves us from within, res,pect the journey (toward and in our vocation), ptay, trust, and walk." -- SiSter Susan Frederick, PM The best way I can describe the spiritual radiance of the religious sisters and brothers I met is to compate it to the sort of joy that springs to the face of a child when he lifts the lid of a music box.

They possessed a happiness that leapt from deep within.

Because of this, I believe one of the best things we can do to nurture a religious vocation at home is to realize and verbalize what a beautiful life it is. Along with welcoming these members of our Village into our homes, we should join them in their works of prayer and charity. We can teach our children about the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience by showing them how to hold material things loosely, to practice chastity by 路loving God above all others, and to trust in God's authority.

Most importantly we can pray for our children, and understand that if they are called to a religious order, then that call is a part of who God created them to be. rr you are interested in a vocational discernment group or know someone else who might be check out Catholics on Call [www.catholicsoncall.org].

Heidi and her husband raise their five children in Falmouth. homegrownfaith@yahoo.com.

TEAM PHOTO - Team of laywomen, college, and teen leaders of girl's ECHO retreat No. 251 held recent~y at C~aigville Confer~nce Center Centerville. Froht row, from left: Jim Halliday, Karen Halliday, Kathie' Norton, Laura Dellicker, Katy Fuller, Erin Johnson, Father Tim Goldrick; middle rJOw: Father Pawel Swiercz, Sarah LeBrun, Mary Becker, Stephanie Sardinha, Mairead McGonagle; top row: Bridget Janerico , Deanna Barrows, Betsy Clark-Miceli, Kate Acton, Ii and Lauryn McGonagle. women and men complement I' each another.

I The Old Testament i,s filled with women who are strong, loving, and wise. The New Testament has numerous examples of faith-filled women, beginning with the Ble.ssed Virgin Mary. Jesus had female disciples. The Acts of the Apostles reports that women had a prominent place ':in the early faith communitY'11 Did the gifts of women suddenly disappear like the dinosaurs? I don't think so.

Look at a list of our saints.

From St. Brigit of Ireland to St. Teresa of Calcutta, there are many women.

Seems the proverbi~l pendulum swings. This is often reflected in the environment. of worship. The simple lines of a Romanesque church are quite masculine. The graceful curves of a Gothic church tend toward the feminine. The jury is still out on modern churchj.architecture.

I remember when the sanctuary often looked very feminine. There was delicate lace and puffy bows everywhere. Priests and bishops were bedecked to match the decor. Is it any wonder that men tended to hang out in the back of the church, or even outside the front door?

The bishops of the United States attempted to address this need for gender balance. They began writing a pasto~alletter on women in the Church back in 1981. They consulted women for 10 years. In 1992,'1 the bishops decided to drop the project - the only tiIhe in the history of the United ~tate's bishops' conference that this I has been done. The button was just too hot.

Are women quali~~d for ministry in the Church? Of I

II

I,

course - they always have been and they always will be.

And not just ironing the altar cloth, either. I do that myself.

Parishioner Julie Santos approaches me one day after Mass. "Father, our altar cloth is wrinkled. I've a hunch it's been ironed by a man." She is, of course, correct.

I try to assure that all parish ministries, councils and committees are composed equally of men and women. Do men have a preference over women?

Certainly not - nor do women have a preference over men.

The Church has always been composed of men and women, boys and girls.

When in doubt, consult the Scriptures. According to Luke, on Easter Sunday morning a group of women found the tomb of Jesus empty. Angels informed them that Jesus has been raised from the dead. This means that at one point, the Good News of salvation was known only to a group of women. The women rushed to tell the Apostles. These women, then, were the apostles to the Apostles. Where were the men?

They were holed-up in a safe house, strategizing. How did the men react? They initially thought the Good News was "nonsense." I bet the Apostles said "Isn't that just like a woman?" Isn't that just like a man?

Those who know the history of the Church know both men and women have always been called to service and leadership in the Church. "Male and female God created them ... and God saw that it was very good." And so it is and so it shall be.

Father Goldrick is pastor of St. Bernard Parish, Assonet.

StBernardAssonet@aol.com.

Previous columns are available at www.StBernardAssonet.org.

$

The Anchor

$

Claudette Armstrong continues to guide Fall River DCCW

By MIKE GORDON, ANCHOR STAFF there is a special Mass we always look to see if any of SOMERSET - Claudette Armstrong is a woman them are wearing them and some always are." who takes to heart the phrase, Carpe Diem. She "seizes Her pastor, Father Richard R. Gendreau, described the day" all the time, volunteering for the Church as a her as "faithful, determined and loyal." He as known her member of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women for many years and said, "Armstrong has a lot of energy and helping others whenever she can. and is very creative. A strong faith guides her life and ''I do a lot of volunteerism;' said Armstrong. ''I've she is very determined to do what is right for God." been helping with the DCCW for a lot of years and I get In her many years with the DCCW, Armstrong has a sense ofaccomplishment from that. I'm a firm believer assisted in many things. She recalled fondly international in the idea, 'God has a role for you.''' nights, collections of baby items for new mothers, variAnd help she does. ety shows, numerous guest speakers and helping to creA Fall River native, Armstrong has been a member ate a spiritual bouquet of prayers and good deeds to be of the DCCW for more presented to the bishop.

I~t "I just enjoy helping than 45 years and this May will be installed as its presi,:..l: ' .

- 0., 4~ 'the Church;' she asserted. dent. She previously ~~'l?,,"""JLiÂĽmg For the last few years -,Amj]JiJrJPÂŤWli ofti,e Week Armstrong has been orgaserved as president from : 1985-87 and this will be nizing the group's annual the first time in its history retreats and spiritual days that someone will serve a ofreflection. She has also second term in that posiarranged for an image of tion. It was organized in OurLadyofGuada1upeto 1954. She has also served travel to our diocese. in other leadership posi-"Recently I've been tions including president organizing the annual reof District 1. treats," said Armstrong.

Educated in Catholic "When I first joined we schools, Armstrong has had 500 members now we're down to 200." AIenjoyed being involved in the women's group and though they get a good said, ''I really love it. I've turnout for the retreats, met some wonderful Armstrong has hopes of people and developed increasing the group's membe~ship in the years strong friendships. That's the biggest payback for to come. me. They are like sisters to .Arrristrong said she me." has been able to do so The 71-year-old has much because ofthe great been a parishioner at St. support of her husband Louis de France Parish in and family. For several Somerset since she was 'a . --'''',-:: years she was on the child and has lived in the ""Mike GordQJll1f.ibto nominating committee of town for 69 years. She and WELL DRESSED _ Claudette Armstrong with a the National Council of her husband Aubrey Christmas figures that benefited from her sewing skills. Catholic Women and a Melvin Armstrong re. member of its associates' cently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and board and traveled extensively. have three daughters and five grandchildren. A son, who ''Without their support I could not have done what I would be the oldest child, died at a young age. did."

"Our oldest grandchild is 24. The youngest is nine.

It has not all been a joyride for Armstrong who is a I'm very proud of them and enjoy spending time with cancersurvivor.ShewasdiagnosedwithNon-Hodgekins them." stage four lymphoma, but battled through it. She atWhen he's not helping his .wife with DCCW things, tributes her recovery to Mary. ''Mel'' Armstrong collects and sells antiques as a hobby. ''Mary keeps me going. I believe in prayer and I'm She works part time for the Hathaway Funeral Home here because of all the prayers that were said for me," as a funeral coordinator. When she started they had two said Armstrong. ''When I was younger I told myself if I offices and now they have 11 in the diocese. ''I make ever get sick I'll go to Lourdes. I didn't go while I was arrangements for the families and have been with them sick, but I went afterwards to thank our Lady for getting for 32 years," she said. ''If I can give someone or a fam- me though my illness." ily a sense of comfort I feel good."

Armstrong has traveled to Medjugorje 11 times and Through her job, Armstrong has also been able to also visited Fatima and the Holy Land. She and her husreach out and help others. Years ago, she came up with band have been to 48 of the 50 states. the idea of a gift collection for local charities instead of If all that wasn't enough, Armstrong is also chairan office exchange. It was a hit and they recently do- man or"the parish's biggest fund-raiser, the Century Oub nated more than $4,000 of items to the Donovan House. which she helped start 10 years ago. She is also a memThey have also assisted food pantries in recent years. ber of the parish council and has served as a lector and a ''When we see a need we try to meet it." special minister of holy Communion for more than Armstrong used to own her own dress-making busi- 20 years. ness. ''I retired from that 25 years ago, but still sew. ''I do "She invigorates others and that's what I like about arts and crafts for the holidays decorating angel and St. her," said Father Gendreau. "She's been instrumental in Nick dolls. I design and make all the clothes for those. I revitalizing the parish and she's done so much good work even do a Red Sox version of St. Nick." She also taught for the DCCW. She's a great person who does a lot of private sewing lessons to children when she was younger. good work."

Those sewing skills were put together for many years Just don't think thatArmstrong does any ofthe things when she served on the decorating committee for the she does because she's looking for praise or to be noBishop's Charity Ball. Armstrong assisted that cause for ticed. more than 25 years also serving as decorating chairman 'Tve been active in the Church my whole life. Since for several years. When the diocese was getting ready I was selling raftle ticls:ets as a child;' she said. ''When I for the Year of the Eucharist, Armstrong was one ofsev- was older I got involved in the women's guild and through eral volunteers to make stoles for the diocesan priests. that the DCCW." ''It was a big project, but it was worth it. It's special when The rest is history. Just don't close the book yet, there you can do something like that for the priests. Whenever are still more days to seize.

---..----- .-------'-.--.,---------=--=-=-=-=--====-=-=--=--='-==--=:=:--=--=-="=-=--=-=--:=:'.1--

:Stones

Care

Continued from page one

chusetts Immigration and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA).

In response, on March 13, a $65,000 relief fund called the Nii'ios Fund, including committed gifts was launch~d at the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts (CFSEMA) in partnership with MIRA. According to a press annouricement, a leadership gift has been committed by La Vida, a Lynn-based organization serving the Guatemalan community, with other gifts from Boston corporations and, in the Southeast Region, a $1,000 commitment from BankFive.

Following the raid, the initial outreach by welfare, legal, and family advocate groups was to approximately 300 women, employed as stitchers at Michael Bianco Inc., a manufacturer of military backpacks and equipment, who were found without a valid green card - or a counterfeit one - from Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, Brazil, EI Salvador, Portugal and Cape Verde, who were taken into custody.

At the same time, the care and safety of children left in limbo as their mothers were snatched up and transported to places such as Fort Devens in Ayer and others to Texas holding facilities, unified the agencies. Many of the mothers are single parents. . ''The needs are so great that we hope to raise at least $250,000 through this fund to help meet them," said CFSEMA President Craig J. Dutra. In asking for donations to the fund he said, "None of the donations to this fund will be used for overhead costs or salaries. In short, 100 percent of all donations will be used to directly assist the children and their families with basic needs."

Dutra added, "Many of the families have expressed concern that without a steady income, they'll have housing and other financial problems over the next month."

Bishop George W. Coleman had asked parishes in the Fall River Diocese to take a collection to also assist the needs of CSS serving the immigrant community.

Last week, 30 workers from the Massachusetts Department of Social Services traveled to detention centers in EI Paso and Harlingen in Texas where 206 of the 361 arrested have been shipped.

DSS spokesman Denise Monteiro said the release of 10 sole caretakers of sick children has been sought from Harlingen. There are 13 children with sole caretakers in Texas. Some of the children are on medication. Most of them are U.S. citizens because they were born in this country.

Another 34 immigrants are being held at the New Bedford House of Correction in Dartmouth. There are 62 more in other facilities in Massachusetts.

Porche reported that a legal team, headed by Atty. Ondine Galvez Sniffen of Fall River's CSS office succeeded in immediately getting 20 mothers ofyoung children freed following the raid, and subsequently another 30 from the facilities in Texas, in an effort to unite families.

According to Sniffen, who talked to The Anchor last week, sending illegal immigrants to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), detention centers in Texas is common, because most of their "catch and hold" holding centers with available beds are in the south.

Sniffen also told the newsmedia that is because costs are cheaper in the south.

Although ICE, which reportedly removed 187,513 illegal immigrants from the U.S. last year, had increased its bed space at detention facilities by 6,400 that same year, to accommodate 27,500 people, few such facilities are available in New England.

Sniffen also maintained that ICE moved the aliens out of New Bedford where a support network was building within hours of the raid.

Meanwhile an investigation of the raid by more than 300 ICE agents and local police is under investigation at various government levels.

Even as CSS workers including attorneys and child care advocates, joined by teams from the Massachusetts Department ofSocial Services, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and Southcoast Hospitals Group pitch in, the local community too is involved.

The Immigrants Assistance Center in New Bedford, as well as Maya K'iche, an advocacy group for Mayans, is among agencies spearheading assistance.

Father Richard D. Wilson, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Parish in New Bedford, where many of the Guatemalans taken in the raid are members, immediately opened his church hall as an operations and news center for the immigrants and their families, where federal, state and local agencies would be contacted, and for elected officials at all levels of government to meet in an effort to resolve what has been decried as a "humanitarian crisis."

"We have many more than usual at our Masses and of course all affected had come to pray '" and are in our constant prayers," he reported.

Last week he opened the hall at the former St. Hedwig's Church and the adjacent former convent of the Guadalupan Sisters, as a center for advocates as well as to provide food arid clothing for the suffering immigrant families.

'The convent will be open for three weeks, and we don't know how long we'll keep the former church open;' Father WIlson said. "But we've had many people coming there, because their needs are so great."

,.

.\ ~

r· ....

,....~

•••

';\~~".:

;

$

The Anchor

$

Catholic women learn 'you can't get too much of Jesus'

By GAIL BESSE

finned their Catholic faith.

Each evoked laughter and brought the BOSTON - The eyes of 4,000 women :Iwomen to their feet across' the massive hall were riveted on the young speaker's expres- dn the Boston Convention and Exhibition sive face. She shared her profound joy at JICenter, where the men's conference had finding Christ's love and the grace to for- ,been held the day before.

"The greatest privilege we have as give those who had murdered her entire family in the hell of the 1994 Rwandan geno- I women is to be Pro-Life," said Dana RoseI cide. . .mary Scallon, a fonner member of the EuI .

Immaculee Ilibagiza raised her rosary in Ii ropean Parhament from Ireland. Dana, as thankful tribute. "This is· my m~in weapon. ,: she's been known in her professional singing career, urged women speak up for life, for the family and for their faith.

"You have the words someone needs to hear. Wherever it is, have confidence that God will give you the words," she said. .

DOUBLE DOSE - Scot Landry, co-founder of the Boston Catholic Men's Confer- .

Ilibagiza's complete confidence in God ence, right, and his twin brother Father Roger J. Landry, delivered a joint presentacame through in the story she's narrated in tion asking Catholic men to help rebuild Christ's Church. (Photos by George Martell) her first book, Left to Tell.

When a tribal civil war erupted in her small African country, she was in college.

She escaped the machete-wielding villagers who were her fonner neighbors by hiding in the home of a Protestant pastor.

With seven other women, Ilibagiza

By GAIL BESSE has meaning only as long as we insist that , huddled silently for three months in a 12ANCHOR CORRESPONDENT these rights are enforced," he said. "Our right square foot bathroom. Even the pastor's BOSTON - The game plan targeted at to practice our religion exists now because children were unaware of their presence as 3,100 men at the Boston Catholic Men's Catholic men in the past did not sit back." up to 300 people ransacked the home. OutAttacks on the right of religious conConference was direct: this is the place, now side, a million of her countrymen were is the time, and you're one God drafted for a science, especially in health care, are increasslaughtered. special job. ing, he said. "There is a need for a universal "I couldn't understand why people would "Especially in this state, you as Catholic right of conscience. But our conscience must want to kill me. I wanted to hurt them like husbands and fathers have a great challenge be more than sincere conviction; it must be they hurt me," she said, describing her spirito defend the institution of marriage and the infonned and well fonned." tual journey from fear and anger to underright to life of unborn children," said Carl The role of men must now must be to join POWERFUL WEAPON - Immaculee standing and forgiveness.

Anderson, Supreme Knight of the 1.7-mil- Christ's construction team to rebuild his IIibagiza raised her rosary in thankful tribWith her heart "like a rock," Ilibagiza first lion member Knights of Columbus.

Church, said Scot Landry and Father Roger ute saying, ''This is my main weapon. You' prayed in desperation. She prayed 40 Di"We may run from the challenge, but we Landry, identical twins who took turns speak- must pray it with your heart," at the Bos- vine Mercy chaplets daily as she thought ton Catholic Women's Conference. . may not run from the responsibility. Each of ing. about Jesus alone in the desert for 40 days. us can do something important, and together "New England is our mission territory," You must pray it with your heart," she saidl She prayed 27 rosaries a day, picturing all of us can do something great. If we don't said Scot Landry, a co-founder of the lay-led to those at the March 18 Boston Catholic the events in Christ's life as she meditated do it, who will?" event aimed at enabling men to grow in their Women's Conference. "Trust God. He will' on each mystery. Jesus was innocent, yet he A standing ovation erupted in the cavern- Catholic faith. never fail you.'" sought forgiveness for those who had cruous hall of the Boston Convention and Exhi"Some Catholics here have chosen to reIlibagiza's address at this second annual cified him. bition Center. Despite a major snowstonn that main as distant from the Church as they were event topped a roster of speakers whq "Finally I just surrendered," she said. "I had gripped New England hours before, men five years ago," he said. "If we haven't in- clearly connected with the enthusiastic asked God how to forgive like he did. Imof all ages responded to this third annual vited someone back to Church in five years, crowd. Each provoked thought and afr Tum to page 12 - Women event March 17. we're not carrying our weight.

"Others need to learn from us the true Anderson stressed the urgent need to defend religious freedom. "The Bill of Rights character of the Church," said Landry, who is chief development officer for the Archdiocese of Boston.

"We need to focus on the vast majority of priests who are good. We're called to defend them, to befriend them and to thank God for them," he said to enthusiastic applause.

"It's not enough for us just to be following Christ. Our concern must be for others," said Father Landry, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in New Bedford and executive editor of The Anchor.

Men can and should be a support - for each other, for their wives, their families, their parishes - with Christ's grace in Mass, in confession and in Scripture.

He suggested they join in fellowship through a men's prayer group, and give at IN A COMFORT ZONE - A man attend- least one hour of their time and one hour's ing the recent Boston Catholic Men's salary a week to their parish.

"This.is a great time to be Catholic," Fa- FOR THE GLORY OF GOD - Cardinall,Sean O'Malley of the Boston Archdiocese joins Conference in Boston is deep in thought and prayer.

Tum to page 12 - Men Catholic women in prayer and praise at the Boston Catholic Women's Conference.

ANCHOR CORRESPONDENT

I

Husbands, dads challenged' to defend marriage, unborn

II

I

-

MARCH

Men

PRAYING AS ONE - More than 4,000 women gathered to pray and share fellowship at the 2007 Boston Catholic Women's Conference in Boston last weekend. (Photos by George Martell)

Women"

Continued from page 11

mediately, I felt so good, so happy. .I realized these killers were blinded by sin.

"I saw they weren't crazy, but they just didn't get it. I could pray for them and love them as children of God who just didn't get it."

When the fighting ended, Ilibagiza weighed 65 pounds. Her entire family was dead.

"Bodies were everywhere. It was like the end of the world," she said. She clung to her rosary and trusted God would sustain her.

Eventually she found a job in the city. When she returned to her village, she met the man who had killed her mother and brother. He had been a respected businessman; now he was dirty, a fearful but unrepentant prisoner.

"I realized - this is what sin can do," Ilibagiza said. She forgave him, to the shock of her neighbors who had survived the massacre.

A year later she met the jailer who had witnessed" that scene. '''You changed my life by forgiv-

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, March 25 at 11:00 a.m.

Scheduled celebrant is Father Freddie Babiczuk, pastor of Good Shepherd Parish in Fall River

The Saints & Singers Chorus

'The 1{esurrection Easter Performance Schedule

-.

()

Date FridaY, 3/23 Sat. 3/24 Sun., 3/25 Friday, 3/30 Sat. '3/31 Sun.â&#x20AC;˘ 4/1

Location Swift Memorial Saaamore Beach Bourne United Methodist Bourne St. Patrick's Church Wareham Tabernacle of Praise. Wareham St. Maraaret's Buzzards Bav St. Elizabeth seton N. Falmouth

Time 7:00 PM 4:00 PM 4:00 PM 7:00 PM 1:00 PM 4:00 PM

Continued from page 11

ther Landry said. "When the stream's flowing against you, it takes a real man to swim upstream."

Andreas Widmer, ofSt. Catherine of Genoa Parish in Somerville, shared the lessons he learned from Pope John Paul II about being a Catholic businessman. Widmer first met John Paul in 1986 as a young soldier in the Swiss Guard, the pope's elite bodyguard unit.

It was Christmas. Widmer was homesick for his family. The pope walked by, stopped to look him in the eye, then touched his elbow.

"He said, 'You're new, aren't . you? What's your name?' He told me he would pray for me at Mass.

You cannot imagine the comfort I felt at that moment in the compassion he showed me;' Widmer said.

Later as he came to know John Paul through his writings, he learned lessons that served well in business: live a life based on prayer and evangelize others in a positive way; plan fOf the future but focus on the moment; enjoy life, be humble, be yourself.

"Have dignity. State your opinions publicly and act on them," Widmer said. "Give yourself completely to your vocation. You're on a mission from God. If your work isn't building you up this way, stop and evaluate it."

Catholic man-of-the-year awards were given to men whose work modeled the best of their chosen vocation: for layman to Dr. John Bratton of Christ the King Parish in Mashpee; for religious to Brother

ing that guy,' he said. 'I thought I had to react to him with hate. I didn't know there was another way.'"

Speaker Maria Vadia told of the profound conversion that she, too, had experienced. Now an author and public speaker who works with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Archdiocese of Miami, Vadia said her faith was virtually dead until she was 37.

Her Cuban-American family was Catholic in name only; material wealth was their focus. A turning point came when she first witnessed men actually praying at a charismatie service. The Holy Spirit infused her with grace and deep conviction.

"I realized it's not all about me.

Jesus' purpose, his plan, is to use us to bring others to salvation," she said.

Sister Linda Koontz also challenged the women to have a "holy boldness."

"There are people in your own family who have never really heard the Gospel," she said. A Sister of the Holy Name of Jesus and Mary, she works with the poor in Juarez, Mexico, through her outreach, The Spirit of the Lord International Mission.

Catholic woman-of-the-year " aW;lrds were given: for laywoman, to Mary Jo Kriz of Marlboro for her work as a youth leader; for religious, to Sister Mary Ricci Lloyd, CSJ, of S1. Mary Parish in Holliston.

"Remember," Sister Mary said with a smile, "You can't get too much of Jesus."

23,2007

Raol Gonsales, director of Brotherhood of Hope in Somerville; and for priest to Father David Barnes, pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish in Beverly.

While hundreds sought out the sacrament of confession, thousands more - a virtual sea of green sweaters on this St. Patrick's Day - knelt in eucharistic adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Martin Doman of Christ Music ministry led them in praise and worship.

Cardinal Peter Turkson, Archbishop of Cape Coast, Ghana, shared the story of how the Church in Africa has successfully evangelized by showing the analogy between God's family and African family traditions.

First people learn the history of their clan. Then they're given a role to play, a responsibility to assume to help the family perpetuate itself.

"We don't talk about rights, only obligations," said the Cardinal. "In carrying on our obligations, everyone's rights are assured."

And the obligations of Catholics here are equally clear, concluded Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley. "I ask every man here to live the ideals of our patronal saint, St. Patrick," he said. "Forgive those who've hurt you. Love Christ and look for ways to share him with others. We're here today because generations of disciples passed along the faith to us.

You must tell our story."

Gail Besse is a Massachusetts freelance writer. She can be reached at gailbesse@comcast.net.

Gail Besse is a Massachusetts SPREADING THE WORD - A large image of Cardinal Sean O'Malley freelance writer. She can be appears on a screen behind him as he speaks to more than 3,000 reached at gail~esse@comcast.net. men at the recent Boston Catholic Men's Conference in Boston.

I

MARCH

$

23, 2007

The Anchor

$ chard D. Wilson, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Many ofhis parishioners are Guatemalans caught up in the raid by immigration officials. Hundreds of the women employed as stitchers and men taken into custody are still in detention at centers in Massachusetts and Texas awaiting deport$on.

"The raid has impacted many families locally and we and the whole community have undertaken to give I' them immediate assistan<;e, which they need," said Father Wilson, who immediately following the raid had opened his church hall as a fommand post and service center.

Needing that hall for continuing parish activities, he opened up St. Hedwig's, "Where we will be in operation for as long as it takes," he told The Anchor. The convent will be open to offer assistance for three weeks.

I' Sousa said she met q1any hundreds of "very, very grateful people at St. Hedwig's during the week. We told them, 'say a prayer, and give II

II

THE CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY - The· former St. Hedwig's Church in New B~dford, .~as become home for food, clothing, diapers, infant formula and other items· collected to aS~lst fa~l1Ihe~ affected by the March 13 raid on the Michael Bianco Inc., manufacturing plant where 361 Illegalimmlgrants were arrested. (Photos by Dave Jolivet)

Old New Bedford church a haven for raid impacted needy immigrants Lenten almsgiving takes on a realistic focus. ,By DEACON JAMES N.

DUNBAR

NEW BEDFORD St. Hedwig's, a church opened in 1909 to serve Polish immigrants, and later closed, has again become a saving place, this time for a whole new, and broader group of immigrants.

If you walk through the doors to the old church that' closed in 1993, you'll find food, clothing, diapers, , infant formula, and a bevy of household goods being handed out by many volunteers, including Judith Sousa, a secretary in the Diocesan Office of Faith Formation. ''Our director, Claire McManus, gave me the week off so I could volunteer here," said Sousa, who came as an immigrant from Mexico 11 years ago, Now married with two children, she resides in Fall River.

She stood among tables and

counters groaning under the weight of loaves of fresh bread, canned soups, vegetables and fruits, rice, pasta, beans and oil, as well as soaps and other needed household items needed in every home.

"All of these things have been donated, mostly by individuals, and some by agencies ... and also churches ofother denominations, she said. ''The United Way delivered five pallets of·food. None ofthem wanted any recognition. They just wanted to help ... they just wanted to do it for God." She reported that the St. Vmcent de Paul Chapter in Fall River had donated 1,000 new winter coats for men, women and children, which were badly needed.

"I was there for a week and we handed out a variety ofthings to families after they have been cleared by the office the Massachusetts Department of Social Services set up in the

convent next door," she explained.

In the former convent that once housed the missionary sisters Misionaras Guadalupanos de Espiritu Santo, who carried out the Spanish Apostolate in the diocese, one can find the DSS workers and counselors busy helping people adjust their lives.

It's ironic that the St. Hedwig's facilities, stipulated by former Bishop Sean P. O'Malley in 1993 to be shared with Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Parish, canonically established to serve the Hispanic Catholic Community in New Bedford, is fulfilling its mission. ''We opened up the old church and the convent as a distribution center to serve the families affected by the March 13 raid on the Michael Bianco Inc., manufacturing plant where 361 illegal immigrants were arrested, resulting in the separation of families, especially of mothers from their young children," explained Father Ri-

Although they handed out to the mothers and fathers and children affected by the raid what they need, ''we limit the packages ofdiapers, because if more are needed families can come in again later and receive more," she explained.

"One could easily see how needy some ofthese people are and it is just so good to be able to help them in a real way," Sousa added.

She recalled the visit of one women, one of those caught up in the raid and taken to holding facilities at Fort Devens in Ayer, then flown to a detention center in Texas before released by immigration officials because she had a small child who needed to be care for.

"Everyone hugged her and welcomed her and she hugged back, and she was so happy and grateful for what was done to help her and her family," Sousa noted. ''It made me feel SO was glad I had helped out. It was a wonderful, caring experience, and I learned a great deal."

Cardinal Q'Malley says U.S. needs 'more humane' immigration policy BOSTON (CNS) - Mer federal ''I hope our first priority is the famiimmigration officials spirited away to lies who were impacted, not a search Texas nearly half of the 361 people for the villains," Cardinal O'Malley arrested in a March 6 raid on a New said. ''It is the case that most ofthe these Bedford handbag and b~kpack factory, Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of families are 'illegals,' people who do Boston called for "some kind ofcom- not have the proper legal documents prehensive immigration reform." to be in the United States," he said. ''While immigration ~form is ur- "But before they are 'illegal,' they are gent, the needs ofthe women and chil- human - women and men with famidren in New Bedford are desperate," lies, hopes and dreams, a determinaCardinal O'Malley said in the March tion to find a better life for their chil15 Boston Globe in an opinion piece dren. Their humanity, human dignity titled ''A more humane immigration . and - most of all - their children policy." have the first claim on our conscience According to news reports, Mas- as Americans. . sachusetts officials, including Gov. ''Immigration law and policy are Deval Patrick, were angered that be- complex, but a test of 'sole caretaker fore caseworkers from the state De- or parent' as the determinant of being partment of Social Services were al- able to remain united with one's chillowed to speak to deta.qlees to deter- dren fails the test ofhumane response." mine whether any ofthose arrested had left children behind at home or school, CAPE COD almost half ofthe detain~ were flown to Texas March 8. Federal officials NATIONAL MORTGAGE refused to share with the state a list of those detained, and have refused requests by the state to halt additional flights.

I' Low, low rates starting at

ttt ':~=~::" itt You have seen the movie, now read what Jesus says about the meaning of His Passion as dictated to stigmatist, Catalina ~ivas.

This 48 page book has the "Imprimatur" and is recommended for meditation. Mrs. Rivas was featured in the recent FOX·TV special, "Signs from God", that was broadcast worItlwide.

To receive this book, sendyour name and address with $2 for shipping &handling to:

DAILY BREAD - Dozens of loaves of bread await distribution at the former St. Hedwig's Church in New Bedford.

thanks to God.'"

Love & Mercy Publicatio,s P.O. Box 1160 Hampstead, NC 28443;'

•• 57/8%

*

NO POINTS, NO CLOSING COSTS 1ST, 2ND, 3RD MORTGAGES PURCHASE OR REFINANCE IMPROVEMENT, REPAIR DEBT CONSOLIDATION CREDIT CARD PAY OFFS, HOME EQUITY, COMMERCIAL 2ND HOMES, lUITtON, SELF EMPLOYED NO INCOME VERIFICATION POOR CREDIT - NO. CREDIT PAY OFF LIENS & ATTACHMENTS FORECLOSURE-BANKRUPTCY APPLICATION TAKEN ON PHONE NO APPLICATION FEE. FAST -SERVICE. WE CAN HELP!

CALL NOW Cape Cod 508-362-7777 New Bedford 508-992-1400

Free application on Internet www.ccnm.com MB # 1161 •APR 6 718, 30 yr $1 Ok min.

-

$ The Anchor ~ Sacramentum Carltatis: The Sacrament of Charity, th'e Holy Eucharist

14

The Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation ofPope Benedict XVIpromulgatedon 22 February 2007,feast ofthe Chair ofSt. Peter, concerning the most Holy Eucharist: An overview of the major themes and key points by Msgr. Gerard O'Connor, SLD.

-

he calls the Eucharist the mystery of faith par excellence: "the sum and summary of our faith." He calls the Eucharist the 'source and summit' of the Church's life and mission since in the Holy Eu~harist, Jesus, the true Sacrificial Lamb, is offered to his people again at every holy Mass. The pope is keen to make the distinction between the ritual meal in which context the Holy Eucharist was given by !esus as his gift to the Church, and

Latin rite during this¡pontificate.

In the same section on the sacraments and the Eucharist the pope gives a beautiful exposition of the intrinsic relationship between the Holy Eucharist and the sacrament of penance. He states that in a culture that is determined to eliminate the To begin let us examine the oriconcept of sin we are in danger of gins of this type of document emaoverlooking the need to be in a state nating from the Holy Father. The of grace to worthily receive ComSynod of Bishops is a permanent munion. He therefore urges the bishbody of the Holy See, ops of the world to renew their efestablished by Pope Paul forts in the catechesis of the sacraVI in 1965 as a result of In his introduction Pope Benedict ment of reconciliation in their own the Fathers' of the Secclearly explains the purpose of the diocese, encouraging frequent conond Vatican Council defession among the faithful; he also exhortation, that is "to offer some urges priests to dedicate themselves sire that the conciliar activity of the bishops¡ basic directions aimed at a renewed with "generosity, commitment and present could in some commitment to eucharistic enthusi- competency" to the administration of formal way be contin- asm and fervor in the Church." the sacrament of reconciliation [21]. ued. The synod allows Each of the seven sacraments is the bishops of the world treated by the pope but notably in the to participate in the pope's ministry the anticipation ofthe sacrifice ofthe section on the Eucharist and holy oras the successor of St. Peter in his cross and the victory of the resurrec- ders he reiterates quite clearly the governance of the universal Church. tion [10]. The Mass is not just a rep- . Church's teaching with regard to When the pope calls the synod into etition of the Last Supper but a radi- priestly ordination being an "indissession each individual local Church cal reality, ofthe "substantial conver- pensable condition" for a valid celis represented and their experience of sion" of the bread and wine into the ebration of the Eucharist, and that the faith is brought to the synod. Thus Body and Blood of Our Lord. priestly celibacy is part of the comPope Benedict continues to say plete configuration to Christ which the pope asks the synod to consider "the most important issues in the life that since the Lord himself had given is called for by the ministerial priestof the Church and through the struc- the Church this new form of worship hood. Here, the pope addresses the ture of the synod is able consult with it is important that she, being the so-called "ordinations" of certain the entire Church at all levels. The Bride of Christ celebrate the eucha- women which have'taken place durmost Holy Eucharist as a topic for the ristic banquet every day. The faithful ing his pontificate and the question synod was chosen by Pope John Paul are encouraged where possible to of married priests in the Latin rite. and was to be a natural conclusion to participate in this great act of wor- He clearly states that those invalidly the Year of the Eucharist which be- ship, in all cultures and in all parts of ordained cannot under any circumgan in October of 2004. At the con- the world thus sharing in the mission stances validly celebrate the Holy Euclusion of a synod the bishops of the . ofthe Church. The pope explains that charist. Furthermore, the pope world present "useful recommenda- the ancient expression Corpus Christi stresses that celibacy for the priest is tions" to the Holy Father in this case (the Body of Christ) is used .by the more than a discipline of a particular to foster Eucharistic renewal in the Church to designate three realities of rite of the Church but rather an exChurch's life. The pope then takes our faith, the body of Christ born of pression of a "total and exclusive dethese recommendations and issues a the VIrgin Mary, his eucharistic body votion to Christ" [24]. In his discuspost-synodal document called an ex- and his ecclesial body [15]. This one sion of the Eucharist and matrimony hortation which incorporates the findthe pope confIrms the ings and deliberations of the synod Church's teaching with The Pope gives a beautiful expo- regard to the reception of and the mind ofthe Holy Father himself with regard to the topic under sition of the intrinsic relationship holy Communion by the discussion. between the Holy Eucharist and the divorced and remarried, "Sacramentum Caritatis" is the sacrament of penance. encouraging their parsecond major document of the Ponticipation at holy Mass, tificate of Pope Benedict and immealbeit without receiving diately one can see the non-coinci- expression helps us to understand the Communion, and their dedication to dental link with his first Encyclical inseparability of Christ and his a life of charity [29].

"Deus Caritas Est," a meditation on Church.

Part two of the exhortation deals In the section in which Pope with the actual celebration ofthe Holy the nature of love. The pope states that it his intention to "set the present Benedict discusses the Eucharist and Eucharist and the various actions of Exhortation alongside [his] first En- the sacraments [16-33], there are per- the Church's divine worship. Pope cyclical letter" [5]. He uses many ex- haps some hints to the mind of the Benedict stresses that fundamentally pressions to describe the Holy Eucha- Holy Father regarding the order of the liturgical action of the Church is rist in the document but the title, the reception of the sacramell.,ts of initia- linked with beauty and that this Sacrament of Love, a phrase coined tion (baptism, Eucharist and confir- beauty exists in the liturgy precisely

by St. ThomaS Aquinas, has a promi- mation) [17]. He states that since the because the liturgy is an expression nence in the letter. In his introduc- ,Holy Eucharist should be the "center of the paschal mystery in which tion Pope Benedict clearly explains and goal" of the sacramental life of 'Christ himself is present. The Holy the purpose ofthe exhortation, which the Church then the order of the sac- Father plainly states that since the is "to offer some basic directions raments should reflect this reality. He eucharistic liturgy is essentially acaimed at a renewed commitment to encourages the competent offices of tio Dei (the action of God) it is not eucharistic enthusiasm and fervor in the Roman Curia and the various something that should be tampered Bishops' Conferences to examine with, he warns against popular innothe Church" [5].

In the first part ofthe Exhortation, current practices regarding these sac- vation saying that the liturgy cannot the pope gives a summary of the raments; perhaps we shall see a "be held hostage by the latest trends" Church's eucharistic faith in which change in the order of them for the Continued on page 15

MARCH

23,2007

â&#x20AC;˘ The Anchor news briefs Scripture, song and prayer mark religious start to anti-war protests WASHINGTON - Scripture readings were interspersed with testimonies from a U.S. soldier, Iraqis and the mother of a slain National Guard sergeant at a crowded prayer vigil March l6 that kicked off weekend anti-war protests in Washington and around the country. With nearly 3,000 people packed into the Episcopal Church's National Cathedral and hundreds more in overflow space at other churches, Catholic, Methodist, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Baptist, Mennonite, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, Quaker and Seventh-day Adventist leaders set the stage for a late-night march to the White House in bitter cold wind and snow. After walking just under four miles to the White House from the cathedral, participants carrying battery-operated candles prayed for peace. Dozens who refused police orders to keep moving were arrested in planned acts of nonviolent resistance. The next day, thousands of protesters gathered near the Lincoln Memorial and marched to the Pentagon for an anti-war rally. At the National Cathedral, the focus of several "witness" reflections, as the program described them, was on the moral grounds for opposing the war.

Directory identifies 165 emerging US. consecrated communities WASHINGTON - In a new directory the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate has identifIed 165 U.S. Catholic communities of consecrated life that have sprung up since 1965. A little more than half of the 152 communities that provided membership information by gender admit only women, CARA said, while 24 percent admit only men and 25 percent have men and women members. Of those 152, in 87 communities all make public vows or promises; in 43, all make private vows or promises; 10 have both vowed and unvowed members; and members do not make vows or promises in 12 communities, In all, the communities in the directory had more than 1,300 full members and several hundred members in formation. The l26-page directory, titled "Emerging Communities of Consecrated Life in the United States, 2006," was released in early March. The directory is organized alphabetically by state. Each community's listing includes the address, phone and fax numbers, email contact, name of a contact person, date . of founding, type of vows or promises, lifestyle, number of full members and number in formation, canonical status and other information to the extent available.

Embryonic stem-ceO research 'crime against life,' Kansas bishops say WASHINGTON - In an effort to counter moves toward government approval and funding of embryonic stem-cell research in Kansas, the state's Catholic bishops said such research is "a crime against life" that compromises all of society without achieving any benefIcial health effects. In a pastoral letter on "The Exorbitant Price of Embryonic Stem-Cell Research," the heads of Kansas' four Catholic dioceses sought to refute various arguments advanced in favor of research involving the destruction of human embryos. "It is never morally permissible to destroy one human life even if it is done in the hope of benefIting other human beings," they said. "Laws intended to sanction embryonic stem-cell research are immoral because they give legal protection to the violation of the most fundamental of all human rights." The bishops described their pastoral letter as an effort to provide "clarity amidst the confusion" about embryonic stem-cell research. They stressed the distinction between research that destroys embryos and other stem-cell research using cells obtained from adult tissue, umbilical-cord blood "and other sources that pose no moral problems."

Catholic Charities agencies, shelters to aid immigrant crime victims DALLAS - Three Catholic Charities partner agencies and three family violence shelters have joined forces to provide increased legal aid to immigrants victimized by crime or domestic violence in 70 north Texas counties. The North Texas Legal Assistance for Immigrant Victims Project involves Catholic Charities agencies in Dallas, Fort Worth and Tyler, as well as the Family Haven Crisis and Resource Center in Paris, ,the Women's Center of East Texas in Longview and First Step Inc. in Wichita Falls. "Immigrants who are victims of crime or domestic violence often don't know who to go to for help with legal matters, or that help is even available to them," said Ana Olivares, an immigration counselor at Catholic Charities of Dallas. "They're afraid of being deported if they go to the wrong person for help, so many times they don't ask for help at all," she added. "We want to change that." A hot line has been established at 800-466-6526; it will provide callers with information regarding family violence shelters, personal safety, immigration questions and other topics.

MARCH

$

23, 2007

Continuedfrom page 14 [37]. The pope deals extensively with ars celebrandi (the art ofcelebrating), the structure of the Eucharistic celebration and the active participation ofthe faithful in such celebration [3865]. He calls for a respect for the liturgical books approved by the relevant authority and calls the bishop to be the example of good liturgy in his own diocese.

With regard to music and liturgical song, not surprisingly, Pope Benedict, in common with all the popes of recent times, desires that Gregorian chant be "suitably esteemed and employed as the chant proper to the R\?man liturgy" [42]. It would not be inappropriate to speculate that this desire of the pope may be manifested, during this pontificate, in some practical encouragement to the local Churches. The Holy Father states that the quality of homilies needs to be improved directing priests and deacons to prepare properly based on a knowledge of sacred

The Anchor

4;

faithful, gathered in St. Peter's Basilica, for eucharistic adoration. The Holy Father says that adoration ofthe Blessed .Sacrament has become an important part of the prayer life of The Holy Father warns Catholic the Church since the politicians and legislators that their Council and that objecparticipation in the Eucharist de- tions to adoration were mands that they are bound to the a result of false percepnon-negotiable values of our faith. tions. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament outside of Mass prolongs tained in the documents recently is- the sacred action of the eucharistic sued on the subject, especially liturgy and allows the faithful to exRedemptionis Sacramentum issued press and extend their love for Jesus by the Congregation for Divine Wor- Christ truly present in the sacred speship and the Discipline of the Sacra- cies. The Holy Father calls for spements on 25 'March 2004 regarding cific churches and oratories to be set "certain matters to be observed or to aside for perpetual adoration. He also be avoided regarding the most Holy asks that the traditional forms of euEucharist." In the same section the charistic piety be encourage, such as Holy Father asks that in celebrations processions of the Blessed Sacrawhere lapsed - or non- Catholics are ment, Forty Hours devotion and lopresent there is some way in which cal, national and international Euchathey are reminded about the condi- ristic Congresses.

The final paragraph ofthis section tions for receiving holy Communion.

In his section on treats the "location ofthe tabernacle." . - - - - - - - - -__~_~---..._...._.., the active participa- The Holy Father says: ''that given the tion of the faithful at importance ofeucharistic reservation holy Mass, Pope and adoration, and reverence for the Benedict, has a para- sacrament of Christ's sacrifice, the graph on the Latin Synod of Bishops also discussed the language. He en- placement of the tabernacle in our dorses the recom- churches" [69]. The Holy Father remendation of the iterates the Church's policy that the Synod Fathers that at tabernacle should be placed in a pointernational gather- sition within the church that is readily ings where large- visible to e~eryone entering the scale liturgies take church. He states that ifthe tabernacle place, the Latin lan- is placed upon a high altar then this guage, (with the ex- structure should be continued to be ception of the read- used for the reservation and adoraings and homily) is to tion of the Eucharist. The Holy Fabe used as an expres- ther says that in modem churches if sion ofthe "unity and there is a Blessed Sacrament chapel universality" of the then this should be in a position close Church [62]. Again, to the sanctuary, however ifthis is not the Holy Father en- possible he says that "it is preferable courages the use of to locate the tabernacle in the sanctuGregorian Chant and ary." It would seem that Pope asks that the better- Benedict is saying that even when SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT - Pope Benedict XVI signs the 131-page apostolic ex- known prayers of the there is a Blessed Sacrament chapel, hortation "Sacramentum Caritatis' (CNS photo/ Church be recited in if it is not close to the sanctuary then Latin. To facilitate a tabernacle should be placed in the L'Osservatore Romano) this desire, the pope sanctuary. ~e Holy Father asks that Scripture. asks that "future priests, from their the norms already established for the The sign of peace is notably time in the seminary, receive the placement of the tabernac~e be obbrought to the attention of the faith- preparation needed to understand and served (General Instruction of the ful, Pope Benedict expresses the con- to celebrate Mass in Latin, and also Roman Missal N.314) leaving final cerns of the bishops, noting their dis- use Latin texts and execute Gregorian judgment on these matters to the locussion with regard to a greater re- chant." 1d dictu quam re facilius est! cal ordinary, but the mind ofthe pope straint in this gesture. They com-' The document goes on to say that the is clear with regard to the prominence mented that the sign of peace can be faithful can be taught the more com- and location of the reserved sacraexaggerated and be a cause of dis- mon prayers in Latin and sing parts ment. traction just before the reception of of the Mass in Gregorian Chant. The The final part of the Apostolic Communion. The Holy Father points section dedicated to active participa- Exhortation deals with the most Holy out that a certain "sobriety" should tion ends with a note on the rever- Eucharist as the lived faith of the be adopted and offers an example of ence during the holy Eucharist, here Church. The Holy Father talks about such sobriety when the gesture is re- Pope Benedict stresses the impor- the Christian life being focused upon stricted to one's immediate neighbors. tance of kneeling during the central the spiritual nourishment of the EuIt is interesting to note that the Holy moments of the Eucharistic Prayer charist which transforms and transFather has asked the competent Ro- (consecration). figures every aspect of that life. The man Dicastery to look into the possiClosing the second part of the ex- worship of the Son of God in the bility of moving the sign of peace hortation concerning the art of cel- Blessed Sacrament becomes for us a from it current place at Mass to the ebrating, the Holy Father dedicates new way of living, and thus it cannot presentation of the gifts to conform certain reflections upon adoration and be "relegated to something private with venerable custom and the wishes eucharistic devotion. He begins with and individual" rather our worship of of the Synod Fathers. a personal witness, by expressing his God brings to each a radical new Concerning the distribution and own joy during the synod when he sense of the meaning of human life reception of holy Communion the and the bishops together with ~e in relationship with the Lord. Pope Holy Father asks everyone, especially the ordained, to observe faithfully the current norms of the Church, as con~

Benedict reminds us of c;>ur obligaTo conclude, the Holy Father cites tion to attend Mass on Sundays, quot- the story of the fourth-century maring the apostolic letter Dfes Domini tyrs of North Africa who were ofhis predecessor Pope Jc;>hn Paul on martyred because they defied the prothe observance of the Cliristian cel- hibition of the imperial authorities which did not allow the celebration ebration of Sunday.

The Holy Father stresses the spe- of the Lord's day. Saying that it was cial form of eucharistic life which is not possible to live without the Euseen in the priesthood. With this in charist they, as did so many others mind Pope Benedict asks that all throughout the centuries, died bepriests celebrate Mass every day even cause of their faith in the most Holy if the faithful are not present. With Eucharist [95]. regard to the daily celebration by the The post-synodal exhortation, priests he says that: "If cblebrated in Sacramentum Caritatis, is a summary a faith-filled and attentive:; way, Mass of the discussions of the Synod Fais formative in the deepest sense of thers regarding the Holy Eucharistand the word, since it fosters:1the priest's their recommendations to the Holy configuration to Christ and strength- Father in light of those discussions.

Pope Benedict after having studied ens him in his vocation"11[81].

Eucharistic consistenqy is a theme these deliberations has written a docuthat appears to have been in the minds ment which synthesizes the fruits of ofthe Synod Fathers duripg these dis- the synod with the Church's expanded cussions. The theme deals with the theology on the subject of the most fact that worship pleasmg to God is Holy Eucharist. The traditions of the never just a private matter and that Church together with the most recent eucharistic participation: has conse- studies and disciplinary norms are inquences with regard to 9ur relation- corporated in the exhortation to proship with others and it" demands a duce a comprehensive treatise of the certain public witness to ~e faith. The Church's belief and worship regardHoly Father warns Catholic politi- ing the sacrament of the altar.

No precis ofa papal document can cians and legislators that their participation in the Eucharist I demands that they are I bound to the non-nego-il Pope Benedict asks that all tiable values of our faith priests celebrate Mass every day and as such much intro-II even if the faithful are not present. duce and support laws "inspired by valudl grounded in human nature." He re- every be substitute for a thorough minds the bishops of tHe world that reading and studied examination of they are responsible fo~ reaffirming the text itself, and therefore this authese values [85]. thor recommends that Sacramentum At the conclusion ofliis reflections Caritatis should be read by all the the Holy Father accepts the sugges- faithful, especially those who are intion ofthe Synod FatherS, that to help volved in any form of service at the the Christian faithful, itt their belief altar. Needless to say, priests will find and celebration of their life in the this exhortation to be a source of inmystery of the Eucharist, that a Com- spired meditation upon the two great pendium be published. This compen- mysteries of the Holy Eucharist and dium would take texts from the "Cat- of the priesthood.

Msgr. Gerard O'Connor is the echism of the Catholic Church" and the "Roman Missal," together with Parochial Administrator of St. Anprayers and devotions and other use- thony of Padua Parish in New fUl aids "for a correct understanding, Bedford. He holds a doctorate in celebration and adorati9n of the sac- Sacred Liturgy from the Pontifical rament of the altar" [93].

Liturgical Institute in Rome.

II

a

h

j,

II

Diocese of Fall River PRINCIPAL Coyle and. Cassidy High School, Taunton " ASST. PRINCIPAL FOR ACADEMICS Coyle and Cassidy High School, Taunton ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL Greater. Fall River/New Bedford Area I!

"

Qualifications ''''c'ude: Faithful commitment to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

An understanding of the philosophy and mission of Catholic schools.

Five years teaching experience and appropriate academic credentials.

Applications to close April 20, 2007 Interested candidates should submit a letter of intent, resume, transcripts and three current letters of reference to: George A. Milot, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools 423 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720 Other job openings i1sted at: www.dfrcec.com

II 16

YOUTH PAGES ,

MARCH

23, 2007

S.tudents participate in annual science fair NORTH ATTLEBORO Sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders at St. Mary-Sacred Heart School proudly displayed their work recently for family, friends, and alumni at its annual Science Fair.

Projects were in the works for several months as students did research, conducted experiments and followed through with the scientific methods.

It culminated with judging by members of the community including several Bishop Feehan faculty members.

Each project was critiqued and scored on the scientific approach to the problem, a scientificjoumal/log, thoroughness, ingenuity and creativity, and proper use of the scientific method.

Eighth-grade winners are: Thomas Marcotte, first place; VanessaVI1andre and Shelby Finan, second place. Kara

Howard and Molly Endler, third place.

Honorable mention went to Danielle Houle, Hannah Curren, and Samantha DiPietro.

Seventh-grade winners are: Mary Kate Petterson and Olivia Cortellini, first place; BrentMcCann and Michael Keane, second place; Emily Tormey, Hannah Wolf, and Alexandra Desrochers, third place. Honorable mention: Daniel Fournier, Aurora Luce, and Nicholas Andrikopoulos.

Sixth-grade winners are: Elizabeth Howard and Cassidy Teixeira, first place; James Dunn, Jennifer O'Neill, Grace Rose and Joshua Ryan, second place; Carly Ebzery, Elizabeth Magill, Bridget McConville and Alysha Robinson, third place. Conor Dean and Patrick Foster earned honorable mention.

MARCH MADNESS - Students Mikaelah Richardson, Emma Cho and Karen Morahan of St. Pius X School, South Yarmouth, cheer for their teachers during a recent student-faculty basketball game.

Below, the "All-Star" team gets ready to play.

DON'T KEEP IT UNDER YOUR HAT - Fourth-grader Monique Desrochers; dressed as ''The Cat in the Helt," delivers a presentation on Theodore Geisel, the famous children's author known as "Dr. Seuss," during a recent presentation at St. Mary-Sacred Heart School, North Attleboro. Below, first-place winner Mary Kate Petterson, a seventhgrader, displays her project in the school's Annual Science Fair.

FOR THE BIRDS - First-grade students at St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro learn the "Penguin Dance" during one of their reading classes. They are reading the book "Happy Feef' and have learned to dance as penguins do.

I

MARCH

,

23,2007

YOUTH PAGES

Reestablishing: integrity 1

By CHARLIE MARTIN -

PRAYING FOR RAIN! - Bob Halligan's band Ceili Rain is one of several in the Oregon Catholic Press' "March Music Madness," which seeks the best Catholic contemporary song. (CNS photo! courtesy of OCP)

'March Music Madness' mimics NCAA basketball tournaments PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) Just like the ''March Madness" that characterizes the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments, ''March Music Madness" seeks the best Catholic contemporary songbut without a play-in game for the 64th and final spot.

It is, in a sense, a ''playoff:' as voters can listen to songs before voting for their favorites.

This is the fourth year spiritandsong.com, the contemporary music division of Portlandbased OCP, has administered the competition on its Website, www.spiritandsong.com. OCP was formerly known as Oregon Catholic Press.

To start narrowing down the field from the site's "Super 64:' the first round ofvoting began March 12 and was to continue through March 15.

The second round was to be conducted March 17-20. Voting for the "Sweet 16" was scheduled for March 22-25, and for the "Elite

Eight" March 27-30. The March Music Madness "Final Four" was slated for April 1-3, with the championship set for April 5.

In the last two years, spiritandsong.com experienced a hugejump in visitors. This year, voters have a chance to win prizes throughout the tournament, including gift cards good for compact discs or merchandise available on the site.

All recording artists represented have at least two songs in the competition. Celli Rain, a band whose music has an Irish feel to it, has four, including ''Pencil in Your Hand," which lost in the cham~ionship round two years ago. ''Vote for us!" said Bob Halligan, Celli Rain's leader, in a March 12 en'laiJ. to band fans.

'There will be prizes for participants at the end of each round just forvoting. Be sure to stay on the case; we won't bug you again about each round - at least not until April ...," he added.

LIPS OF AN ANGEL Honey why you calling me so late?

It's kinda hard to talk right now Honey why are you crying? Is everything OK? I gotta whisper 'cause I can't be too loud Refrain: Well, my girl's in the next room Sometimes I wish she was you I guess we never really moved on It's really good to hear your voice say my name It sounds so sweet Coming from the lips ofan angel Hearing those words it makes me weak And I never wanna say goodbye But girl you make it hard to be faithful With the lips ofan angel It'sfunny that you 're calling me tonight And yes I've dreamt ofyou too And does he know you're talking to me Will it start a fight?

No. I don't think she has a clue And I never wanna say goodbye But girl you make it so hard to be faithful With the lips ofan angel Honey why you calling me so late?

Sung by Hinder Copyright (c) 2005 by Umvd lAbels I can't say that I'm a fan of Hinder, but their current hit, "Lips of an Angel," deserves commentary. It asks us to consider what deceit does to a person's integrity.

The song describes how a guy's former .girlfriend calls him unexpectedly. While he appears to be pleased, this turns out to be a problem. He

CATHOLIC? NEWS SERVICE

tells her: "I gotta whisp~r.... My girl's in the next room."

He admits that "it's really' good to hear your voic~! say my name" because "it sounds so sweet coming from the lips of an angel." He admits "J,e never really moved on" after their relationship was over. ~ecause of this secret contact, npw he wonders if he can remain "faithful" to his current girlfriend. Such is the powrr of his attraction, activated by this call.

He needs to face what is occurring: Having this conversation is wrong.

Of course, it was just as wrong for his former girlfriend to call, especially since she appears to know he is ipvolved with someone new.

Now the song's chatacter must choose between a pattern of deceit and admitting he is not ready to date his new I' girlfriend.

He would be helped! by slowing down the whole drama.

He needs to re-establis,h.his integrity. This begins by telling his former girlfriend that he won't be a partner in deceit. He needs to make it clear that she is not to call him.

Next he must tell his current girlfriend he has made a mistake; he is not ready to date her. He needs to apololgize for the hurt that such a revelation will cause her. Yet this hurt is necessary if they are e,:ver to have a healthy reiatiollship.

Trust is an essential foundation for love. Obv!ously sneaking around talking with old girlfriends demonstrates neither trust nor chara'cter.

The steps I've suggested will II

II

II

create a "void" in his life, but this will provide him with the space to explore the following questions: 1. What went on in my relationship with my former girlfriend? What that I did contributed to the breakup?

2. What led me to enter into this second relationship before my feelings for my former girlfriend were resolved? Why was I not ready to "move on"?

3. Are there other patterns of deceit in my life that diminish who I am? How do I become a more trustworthy individual?

4. What steps can I take that lead toward becoming a person that others can trust and respect?

He should take his time in carefully answering these questions.

All of us make mistakes.

When we recognize our failings and learn from them - learn how to be the person God created us to be - we are on the path of integrity.

Once the guy sees more clearly who he wants to be and what he needs in a relationship, he will be ready to try again. Perhaps neither of the girls from his previous reIationships will remain interested in him, but he will have something far more important: self-respect.

Following the road to integrity eventually will lead him to new relationships that will be much healthier.

Your comments are always welcome. Please write to me at: chmartin@swindiana.netorat 7125W 2005, Rockport, IN 47635.

路Holiness is faithfulness We are called to live a holy life. A lot of people would hear that sentence and assume that it couldn't mean them ... how can I be holy? I'm not holy ... I'mjust me ... a regular person, living in a world that doesn't seem to care much about holiness.

But God doesn't just tell us to be holy; He calls us to be holy. This holiness doesn't come from our own efforts, but from our willingness to submit to God's efforts in our lives. God never calls us to something we can't handle.

Holiness comes through our faith that God can work in us and through us. With God's help, we can make a difference in this world.

A lot of people think that being holy means doing

extraordinary things that they feel incapable of doing or unwilling to do. To them, it means long hours of prayer and a great deal of time spent in church and many religious actions; a life of severe self denial and a whole lot of things that are too great, too difficult, and to impossible for ordinary people. But that's not what holiness is. To be holy doesn't mean you have to be on your knees 12 hours a day, or deprive yourself of food or enjoyment..It doesn't mean you have to be a priest or a nun, live in a convent or become a hermit.

Holiness is having a close relationship with God. It's that simple ... and that

difficult.

And God personally calls us to come close to him ... to make him a part of our total lives ... part of our conversation, part of our thoughts, part

of our laughter, part of our tears. He doesn't want only to be part of the pious thoughts, the prayerful moments, the good deeds. He wants to come into the angry moments and the lustful thoughts, and the mean things we want to do. If

we would let God into our negative and ugly pans, I know from experienye, the negativity would have so much less of a hold on us and God's healing would take hold instead. liGod wants to be c,lose through it all. Why? Because he loves us, and that love I' working in us and thr()ugh us, is what makes us holy.

I' Our respoIlse to that love needs to be our faithfulness. Holiness and faithfulness walk hand in hand. Faithfulness has to be constant, and it has to be complete. It involves obedience to the plan Goq has laid out for us. It's not enough just to believe in God. St. James tells us that even the devil does I,

that. We have to allow that faith to transform us. We have to stay connected to God in our prayer, in our actions, in our thoughts, and allow the Holy Spirit to make us holy.

To be faithful in our commitment of baptism and confirmation, to be faithful in the love we profess, this is the key to holiness and to happiness. . Blessed Mother Teresa often reminded us that we are not called to be successful; we are called to be faithful. May she intercede for us on our journey as we faithfully live our Christian vocation.

Jean Revi/ is director of CampusAlin~hyatB~hop

Stang High School, where she has taught for 27 years.

Comments welcome at: jrevi/@bishopstang.com.

--

I 18 Fishing

~ The Anchor ~

Life

Continued from page one

spreading the vocation word, spending his weekends the past two summers visiting parishes across the diocese making young and older adults aware that God is still calling people to serve him.

"Visiting with youngsters in parishes and in schools, and listening to their questions, I see that when it comes to their future, many are concerned about salaries and promotions," said Father Bissinger.

"They ask me how much I make and how to become a bishop and such. I make them aware that a call to religious life is more about service to God and to others. It's important to let them know that God has a plan for them, whether it's as a priest or religious, or as a mother or father. We have to help them think about God and what he wants."

Father Cook was ordained in 2001 and is still amazed with his calling. "I love being a priest," he said. "It's so exciting seeing everything with the light of faith.

"As with all people, ordained or not, not every day is filled with grace. There are those tUnes when the day-to-day grind is hardly spectacular, but that disappears when celebrating Mass or ministering to parishioners when they need it."

Father Cook has been coordinator of vocations for the New Bedford Deanery for several years. For the past two years, he has taken a group ofhlgh school girls and boys to visit a convent and a seminary, allowing the youngsters to get a taste of what religious life is like.

"We hope to continue those visits in the future, and to visit our students in schools across the diocese and in our Religious Education programs," said Father Cook. "God is calling everyone to holiness. We can make the students aware ofthat with our presence."

Fathers Bissinger and Cook agree that adults, particularly parents, are a very important piece of the vocation package. Both were encouraged by their families when they made the decision to enter the priesthood.

Both shared experiences of classmates in the seminary who were there against their parents wishes. "I was so fortunate to have the support of my mom and dad," said Father Cook.

The pair concur that helping parents become aware of their role. in vocations is vital.

Both priests endured the pain of the priest scandals in the past 10 years. Father Cook was newly ordained when the scandals broke and Father Bissinger was in formation in the seminary.

"It was difficult at times," admitted Father Cook. "It was difficult to see the human side of the Church, but it had to be viewed that way. I knew that I was doing the right thing being a priest and the Church needed

me. I do believe that.

"The Church has been blessed witlt a great history, and there have been a some instances of scandal, but the Church has survived it all. It made us aware that sin is in the world, but God is there to help us."

"The scandal proved that the Church needed good priests more than ever," said Father Bissinger.

"I saw classmates and laity stick with the Church through it all. They didn't leave and that encouraged me."

In a relatively short period of time, Fathers Bissinger and Cook have seen some of the best and the

worst of the Church.

Through it all, their faith is firm, and they are clearly in love with the Church, their vocation, and the people to whom they minister.

Loving what they do is one of the greatest testimonies and witnesses to others discerning a vocation.

The two young fishermen are eager to set sail on this fishing trip - a trip that will continue the 2,000year tradition of making men and women aware that God is calling them to holiness in anything they do.

For more information about the diocesan Vocation Office, visit the Website at fallrivervocations.org.

Several diocesan priests attend vocation-oriented overnight

By DAVE JOLIVET, EDITOR

MARCH

willing to dedicate themselves to DUXBURY - Several dioc- the career."

Father Lacroix told The Anchor esan priests took the opportunity to attend an overnight retreat at that many of the priests attending Miramar Retreat House to take a the retreat were not aware of that.

"Another good point made by step back and reflect on their roles in inviting men and women to Msgr. Burns was that changing the consider a vocation to the priest- Church's position on celebacy and allowing married priests is not the hood or religious life.

The retreat, held March 8 and solution," said Father Lacroix.

9 was based on the powerful DVD "It's proven that some Protestant produced and released by the U.S. demoninations that allow married Council of Catholic Bishops, ministers find their numbers titled "Fishers of Men." Msgr. dwindling as well."

Father Lacroix said parish Edward Burns, executive director of the USCCB Secretariat for Vo- priests should encourage young cations and Priestly Formation people to get involved in the parish as altar servers, lectors, and was the retreat director.

"The purpose for the overnight specials ministers of holy Comsession was for priests to appreci- munion. "That and families atate their priesthood and to help tending Mass together will help them understand they are the pri- 'kids get involved with Church mary vocation recruiters in the ministry and leadership, and that's diocese," said Father Edward E. a good start."

Father Richard M. Roy, pastor Correia, diocesan director of Vocations and pastor of St. Michael of St. John the路Evangelist Parish in Attleboro, also attended.

Parish in Fall River. ''The retreat gave those of us The video is an 18-minute, fast paced production showing many who attended a chance to remember our own journey to the vocafacets of a priets's daily life.

All priests in the Diocese of tion of priesthood and to mention Fall River received a copy of the by name the priest or priests who DVD. "It is a tremendous tool to were mentors or who invited us to foster vocations and it contains consider the priesthood," he said. such an encouraging message for "Andin a few cases, the role morleV those who have already answered mentor was in the same room.

"It was good to be together with God's call to the priesthood," my brother priests and to pray and added Father Correia.

"Msgr. Bums did an excellent laugh and recollect together."

Father Roy also said he found job showing the rationale behind the overnight session helped him the 'Fishers' of Men' program," said Father Daniel W. Lacroix, and others appreciate their vocapastor of St. Francis Xavier Par- tion. "It gave me the opportunity ish in Acushnet, one of several to focus on ways that I could be a priests who attended the retreat. source of joy and inspiration for "The monsignor pointed out those who may be considering the that the priesthood is not the only priesthood."

The retreat was part of the diarea where the numbers have fallen off. He indicated many ser- ocesan Vocation Office's "Go Out vice-oriented careers, of which the and Fish," program to bring the priesthood is one, are having vocation message to men and trouble recruiting new members. women across the diocese.

For more information aboutvoFields such as nursing, teaching, police and firefighters find fewer cations visit fallrivervocations.org.

23, 2007

Continued from page one

"It has been a slow start in most states, and we realize that would happen here in Massachusetts, but not this slowly,~' said Nordeen, who, with her husband Ken, runs the Choose Life effort out of their home.

They are members of St. Joseph Parish in Wakefield, where Nordeen has recently beCome parish secretaiy.

"But we have the permission necessary in Massachusetts if we can come up with what was originally 3,000 pre-orders. But the good news is that the state has now said they will began making and issuing the plates if we can come up with half, or 1,500 plates," Merry Nordeen said.

"Ken and I will pay the $1,500 fee needed to' proceed with just 1,500 plates if we can get that many people interested," she said.

To those who have already applied she issued the reminder set forth in the applications that if they send in their $40 it might take as long as six months before the checks are cashed.

She made it clear that the $40 application "Goes to the Registry of Motor Vehicles and not to "Choose Life, Inc." However half, or $20 is designated to assist women with the expenses of a full-term pregnancy such as medical bills, temporary housing, transportation, utility bills, food, maternity clothing and similar expen'ses of infants until placed with an adoptive family,

Funds will be distributed to qualified non-for-profit agencies within Massachusetts.

The specialty plates are shipped to RMV branch locations for pickup.

Besides Pennsylvania, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Hawaii, Montana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, South Dakota and Maryland have "Choose Life" plates.

In Pennsylvania, where the plates were approved last November and approved in January, the project began several years ago, but stalled until the Legislature decided that the Department of Transportation would give the approval, not the Legislature.

Florida realized 8,000 plates in its first five months, with monthly revenues generated by the plates as high as $65,000.

There, it was the 1996 brainchild ofFlorida's Marion County Commissioner Randy Harris, as a means to specifically raise money; awareness and support for women in crises pregnancies who want to carry their babies to term rather than have an abortion, but needed financial help.

"Although I'm busy with the palJsh secretarial job and six children 10 get off to school, and Ken's busy too, we haven't given up," she said.

For information and registration for "Choose Life" license plates email: merry@machoose-life.org, or www.machoose-life.org.

路r---------------------,

ARE YOU MOVING? The Post Office charges The Anchor 70 cents for notification of a subscriber's change of address. Please help us reduc~ these expenses by notifying us immediately when you plan to move.

Please Print Your New Address Below NAME: STREET ADDRESS: CITY, STATE, ZIP: NEW PARISH: MOVING DATE: Please attach your Anchor address label below so we can update your record immediately.

Please cut and adhere address label in this space

CLIP THIS ENTIRE FORM AND MAIL TO:

.The Anchor' P.O. BOX 7 L

FALL RIVER, MA 02722

THANK YOU

~

I

MARCH

$

23, 2007

The Anchor

Father William B. Davis SS.CC; pastor, educator and provincial

Around the Diocese ~ .1'--

.~

IEucharistic Adoration ATILEBORO - A Divine Mercy holy hour is held each Wednesday following the 6:30 p.m. celebration of Mass at the National Shrine ofOur Lady of La Salette. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed during the holy hour. For more information call 508-222-5410.

Life Mass will be celebrated by Bishop George W. Coleman at St. Julie BiIliart Church March 26 at 11 a:m. Sponsored by the diocesan Pro-LifeApostolate, the Mass will include awarding the Cardinal O'ConnorAward, and the reading of winning essays in the recent Pro-Life Essay contest.

l!etrea_ts_ _.

WEST HARWICH - A holy hour will be held March 26 at 1 p.m. at Holy Trinity Church, Route 28. Stations of the Cross will be followed by Benediction ofthe Blessed Sacrament. The ProLife Prayer Groups ofHoly Trinity and Holy Redeemer parishes are sponsors.

rL~ct;;~~;~ti;-';---J ATTLEBORO-A Bible study on the Gospel of John is ongoing at the National Shrine ofOur Lady ofLa Salette.

It meets in the Reconciliation Chapel each Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon through May 26. For more information call 508-222-5410.

CENTERVllLE- The Stations ofthe Cross will be prayed Friday evenings during Lent at Our Lady ofVictory Parish, 230 South Main Street. All are invited to join as members of its various faith community groups lead this evening of prayer. For more information call Patricia Oock at 508-775-5744.

FALL RIVER-A contemporary Stations of the Cross, sponsored by the Notre Dame de Lourdes Women's Guild, will be held tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Notre Dame Church, 529 EastemAvenue. For more information call 508679-1991.

FALL RIVER - The seminar, "Catholic Hea1thcare Givers: Making a Difference Through Creed, Code and Ceremony:' sponsored by the Fall River Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, will be held tomorrow from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Saint Anne's Hospital.

Morning refreshments and lunch are provided. Five nursing contact hours will be awarded for this program. For registration call 508-678-2373 NORTH EASTON - ''The Five Sorrowful Mysteries in Song and Prayer:' a free Lenten program will be held tomorrow at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph's Chapel, 518 Washington Street. It will include prayer and song and recitation of the rosary in several languages. For more information call 508-238-4095.

IPro-Life Activities ATTLEBORO - Pro-Life advocates picket and offer prayers on Wednesdays from 4-5 p.m. and Saturdays from 7:3Q9 a.m. at "4 Women's Clinic," at the comerofParlc and Emory streets, where abortions take place on those days. Participants are needed to pray and picket to help save the lives of unborn children.

EAST TAUNTON - The second annual Respect Life Conference will be held March 31 beginning at 8 a.m. at Holy Family Church, 370 Middleboro Avenue. Guest speakers include Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk and LindaThayer.

It will conclude at 3:30 p.m. with a prayer service. For more information call 508-823-2044.

HYANNIS - The Cape Cod Pro-Life Group welcomes volunteers to pray the rosary on Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. in front of the abortion clinic located at 68 Camp Street.

NORTH DARTMOUTH - A Pro-

NORTH DARTMOUTH Retrouvaille, a weekend offering help to couples experiencing trouble in their marriage, will be held this weekend and will focus on rebuilding marriage through better communication, listening and'understanding. For more information call80Q-47Q-2230 or the Office of Farnily Ministry at 508-999-6420 or visit the Website: www.retrouvaille.org.

~.~ven~

re . , , : ]

FALL RIVER - SS. Peter and Paul School will host its third annual Benefit Brunch and Auction Sunday at White's ofWestport. It will be held from noon to 4 p.m. with a brunch buffet served from noon to 1 p.m. The event will feature live and silent auctions and a children's Chinese auction. For more information call 508-672-7258.

$

FAIRHAVEN - Father William B. Davis, 88, a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, who had served his religious community for 69 years, died at Sacred Heart Home in New Bedford on March 13.

Born in Rochester, N.Y., the son of the late William B. and Julia (Novitski) Davis, he entered the Congregation in 1938 and was ordained a priest on May 18, 1944.

He received a licentiate in canon law in 1947 from The Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Serving the Church and his community in many capacities, he is particularly remembered as an educator, having taught generations of seminarians, and serving as seminary superior.

In 1967, at the request of Bishop Fulton Sheen, he became the first religious pastor of inner city parishes in the Diocese of Rochester.

WASHINGlON (CNS) - Pope Benedict XVI's post-synodal exhortation on the Eucharist reminds Catholics that "the Eucharist is a mystery to be believed and to' be celebrated and to be lived," said Washington Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl, one offour

NEW BEDFORD - A variety show is in the works for May 5 at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish.

Entertainers are needed. If you would like to participate call 508-985-9976.

~~X~~_R!~Y~~~~_

SOMERSET - St. John of God Parish Women's Guild will host its 36th annual Fashion Show presented by Dress Bam, Deb and Robert's House of Formals on March 28 at 6 p.m. at Venus de Milo Restaurant in Swansea.

For information call 508-678-5513.

Rev. James W. Conlin, Pastor, St. Patrick, Somerset, 1918 Rev. Antonio P. Vieira, Pastor, Our Lady ofMt. Cannel, New Bedford,

Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks March 27

NEW BEDFORD - Courage, a support group for people dealing with same-sex attraction while striving to lead chaste lives, will meet March 31 at 7 p.m. in the rectory of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at St. James Church, 233 County Street. Encourage, a ministry for family members and friends meets at the same time. For more information call Father Richard Wtlson at 508-992-9408.

NORTH DARTMOUTH - Project Rachel, a ministry of healing and reconciliation for post-abortion women and men is available in the dioce~e. If you are hurting from an abortion experience and want help call 508-997-3300.

All calls are confidential.

NORTH DARTMOUTH - The Diocesan Divorced-Separated Support Group will meet March 28 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Family Life Center, 500 Slocum Road. It will include a presentation ofthe video, "Surviving Divorce:' Refreshments will be available. For more information call Bob Menard at .

508-965-2919.

ORLEANS - A Separated-Divorced Catholics Support Group will meet Sunday at 7 p.m. at St. Joan ofArch Parish Center, 68 Canal Road. ''Trust and Lean on God," will be the discussion topic.

For information call 508-255-0170.

FATHER WILLIAM

B.

DAVIS,

SSCC

provinciat'o He traveled widely, twice visiting India to meet with religious Brothers who were working under the sponsorship of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

He returned to parish work in the 1980s. After completing a sabbatical year in Mexico City to learn Spanish, he was assigned to the USA Eastern Province Missions in South Texas and in Hidalgo, Texas.

Until recently had resided at the Damien Residence in Fairhaven.

He is mourned by a sister, Rita Heagney of Rochester, N.Y.; a sister-in-law; and nieces and nephews, and his religious family of the Congregation. He was the brother of the late Daniel Davis.

His funeral Mass was celebrated March 17 in St. Joseph's Church in Fairhaven. Burial was the SS.CC Community Cemetery in Fairhaven.

The Fairhaven Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Synod participants praise pope's document on Eucharist

FALL RIVER - Bishop Connolly High School's ''Taste of Southeastern New England Gala," will be held March 31 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the school. It includes music by the Studio C Band and both live and silent auctions. For more information call 508-676-1476 or visit the Website: www.bishopconnolly.com.

ISUpport Groups

In 1977 he was called to lead Holy Trinity Parish in West Harwich on Cape Cod, with a mission parish in Dennisport.

Father Davis was 3lso called to serve in leadership positions, first as vicar provincial and in 1977 as

1964

March 28

Rev. Alfred J. Levesque, Pastor, St. Jacques, Taunton, 1960 Rev. Bernard A. Lavoie, Chaplain, Catholic Memorial Home, Fall River, 1972 Rev. Dieudonne Masse, OFM, Retired, Montreal, Canada, 1983 Rev. Howard A. Waldron, Retired Pastor, St. Thomas More, Somerset,

representatives of the U.S. bishops at the 2005 world Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist. ''He (the pope) tells us that we need to reflect on the Eucharist in tenns of how we experience and live out the Eucharist in our lives," Archbishop Wuerl told the Catholic Standard, Washington archdiocesan newspaper, March 13. He made the comments shortly after the Vatican released the apostolic exhortation, "Sacramentwn Caritatis" ('''The Sacrament of Charity").

Archbishop Wuerl was bishop of Pittsburgh when elected to represent the U.S. Conference ofCaiholic Bishops at the synod on the Edcharist.

I He was chosen as a relator, or recording secretary, for one of the 12 discussion groups. Lat~r, he was elected to serve on a council that prepared the draft text ofthe exhortation.

The other U.S. delegates were

Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., USCCB president; Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia; and Archbishop WIlton D. Gregory ofAtlanta.

Bishop Skylstad said in a March 13 statement that the apostolic exhortation reflected ''the authentic mind of the bishops" who attended the synod.

With the document, Pope Benedict shows ''how the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Church's life in its relation to the other sacraments, especially the sacrament ofholy orders and the sacrament of matrimony," Bishop Skylstad added.

"By implementing the wise guidance of the synod and of the Holy Father, our eucharistic liturgies will not only be celebrated in a way that is beneficial to all who participate, but will also give glory and praise to the Father in Christ Jesus through the Holy Spirit," he added.

1985

March 29

Rev. James H. Carr, S.T.L., Assistant, St. Patrick, Fall River, 1923 Rev. Msgr. Edward 1. Moriarty, Pastor, St. Patrick, Fall River, 1951 March 30

Rev. Aime Barre, On Sick Leave, Fall River, 1963 Rev. Benoit R. Galland, USN Retired Chaplain, 1985 Rev. Lucio B. Phillipino, Retired Pastor, Immaculate Conception, North Easton, 2002 March 31

Rt. Rev. Msgr. George C. Maxwell, Pastor, SS. Peter & Paul, Fall River, 1953

April 1

Rev. George A. Lewin, Pastor, St. Mary, Hebronville, 1958 , Rev. Edwin J. Loew, Pastor, St. Joseph, Woods Hole, 1974 April 2

Rev. Adolph Banach, OFM Conv., Pastor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, New Bedford, 1961 Rev. Donald Belanger, Pastor, St. Stephen, Attleboro, 1976 Rev. James B. Coyle, Retired Pastor, St. Dorothea, Eatontown, N.J., 1993

SERVICE... By caringfami(v and service{amily professionals TRUST In the people you know CHOICE Custom,.designed, personalized tributes AFFORDABILITY.. .Dignified services within a budget For over 135 years, famili~ have turned to the Waring-Sullivan service family of compassionate professi0JU9s to guide them through life's most challenging limes.

508-676-1933 508-999-5100

~

~

Waring - Sullivan" Homes of Memorial Tribute

www.warlDll"6alllvalLCOm

A smil:< familY Affilillo of AFFS &; s.n.ico C<lI)lOIIlion Intmatioml. 491llocl: Simi. fun River. MA 02720 sos.676-24S4

~6CU1WU1.e"pedaL Ught a virtUal candle at

HathawayFunerals.com ~

Hâ&#x20AC;˘ FAMILY!

ATHAWAV

FUNERAL HOMES

Helping people find hope;

~ The Anchor ~

Pope says only in Christ's cross can people make sense of life

By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY - Only in the light of Christ's cross, the clearest expression of God's love, can people make sense of life and its suffering, Pope Benedict XVI said.

Meeting university ,students at the Vatican and connected by a satellite link with students in seven European cities and four cities in Asia, the pope March 10 spoke about "intellectual charity," a sharing of knowledge across borders.

A greater exercise of intellectual charity, he told the students, would allow young people and scholars around the world not only to share their research and discoveries, but also to share the wisdom they have gained from searching for the meaning behind the facts.

"Intellectual charity can unite the existential journey of young people who, while living far from one another, are able to feel joined on the level of interior searching and witness," the pope said.

'The mystery of the cross is not disconnected from the theme of intellectual charity," he said, but rather enlightens it.

"Christian wisdom is the wisdom of the cross," Pope Benedict said. It teaches Christians to "in-

terpret every reality in the light of the mystery of God's love, which finds its highest and most complete revelation in the cross."

Pope Benedict returned to the theme of conversion and the love of God revealed in Christ when he recited the Angelus March 11 with visitors in St. Peter's Square.

Discussing the day's Gospel reading about Jesus urging people to convert after mentioning a group of people killed by Pilate and another group killed in an accident, the pope said Jesus was pointing out that only through conversion could people make sense of the suffering present in their lives.

"In the face of certain misfortunes, Jesus says, it is useless to heap blame on the victims," the pope said.

Jesus calls people to recognize "the precariousness of existence and to assume an attitude of responsibility: to repent and improve our lives," he said.

"This is wisdom, this is the most effective response to evil on every level, interpersonal, social and international," he said.

While conversion is not a guarantee that one will never experience accidents or suffering, it does allow people to face them in a different way, giving an assurance that good will conquer evil, the pope said.

Be an informed Catholic.

Subscribe to The Anchor 1 Year $14.00

Foreign $25.00

Name:

_

Address:

_

City:

State:

Zip:

_

IF GIVEN AS A GIFT, THE CARD SHOULD READ:

From:

_

Street:

,'.

City/State:

Parish to receive credit: Enclose check or money order and mail to: The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722 This Message Sponsored by the Following Business Concern In the Diocese of Fall River GILBERT C. OLIVEIRA INSURANCE AGENCY

_ _

ANGELS ONE AND ALL - Members of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Seekonk, confirmation class present a $2,500 check to Kay Poirier, director of Birthright in Taunton. They called this "Project Angel" where they raised funds by selling carnations at the end of all weekend Masses recently. Prior to that, they spent many hours doing research, preparing poster boards, creating a pamphlet, and writing a short speech to explain the purpose of the Birthright fund-raiser to all the parishioners. It was a tremendous succes~ on many levels

Muskrat love: A Lenten Friday delight for some Michiganders

By KRISTIN LUKOWSKI CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

sides of creamed corn and mashed potatoes. It features prizes donated by local merchants and serves up to sevRIVERVIEW, Mich. - There's an alternative to fish eral hundred dinners.

Bill "Pip" Chinavare was president of the sports club for some Michigan Catholics abstaining from meat on for 29 years and still heads up the muskrat fund-raiser.

Fridays in Lent - muskrat.

The custom of eating muskrat on Ash Wednesday His wife, Candy, said not many women participate in and Fridays in Lent apparently goes back to the early the annual dinner.

'This is a men's thing," she said.

1800s, the time of Father Gabriel 'They pack the men in."

Richard, an early missionary in 'The majority of women can't Michigan whose flock included get past the 'rat' thing," she said.

French-Canadian trappers. Legend Father Russ Kohler, pastor at has it that because trappers and Most Holy Trinity Parish in Detroit their families were going hungry and a downriver native, is a regular not eating flesh during Lent, he at the St. Charles Borromeo muskallowed them to eat muskrat, with rat dinners. He said the trick to the reasoning that the mammal \ \ making the muskrat edible is in the 'lives in the water. . marinade, a secret recipe based on The story varies on just where a French liqueur. in Michigan the dispensation exHe said he never ate muskrat tends. Among areas mentioned are before he attended the dinner while along the Raisin River, along the filling in at St. Charles as a priest.

Rouge River, both of which flow He's tried to make the dinner every into Lake Erie south of Detroit, year since then.

Monroe County in the southeast "I didn't fall in love with the corner ofMichigan, or all of southproduct until I could drink beer," east Michigan. he joked.

The Detroit archdiocesan comHe said muskrat has the consismunications department said there tency of chicken, but with a is a standing dispensation for Catholics downriver - in Detroit's YUM YUMI Chef Johnny "unique" taste.

The late Bishop Kenneth Povish southern suburbs and below - to Kolakowski displays a muskrat dinner eat muskrat on Fridays, although with kraut, mashed potatoes and of Lansing wrote in a 1987 column no documentation of the original gravy at Kola's Food Factory in in The Michigan Catholic, Detroit Riverview, Mich., March 2. The cus- archdiocesan newspaper, that "no dispensation could be found. tom of eating muskrat on Ash (formal) dispensation was ever A 2002 archdiocesan document Wednesday and Fridays during Lent given to allow Catholics to eat on Lenten observances, in addition apparently goes back to the early to outlining the general laws of fast 1800s in the state. (CNS photo/Kristin muskrat on Fridays."

He referred to what he called the and abstinence, says, 'There is a Lukowski, Michigan Catholic) "Great Interdiocesan Doctrinal long-standing permission - dating back to our missionary origins in the 1700s - to Debate" of 1956, during which he determined that alpermit the consumption of muskrat on days of absti- though muskrat is a warm-blooded mammal and technically flesh, the custom had been so long held along nence, including Fridays of Lent."

The prospect of eating muskrat, a foot-long rodent, Michigan's rivers and marshes that it was "immemorial might be less than appetizing to some, but to many custom," thus allowed under Church law.

For the record, Bishop Povish didn't much care for people downriver it's part of Lenten life.

St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Newport holds a muskrat as a meal. He wrote that "anyone who could muskrat dinner every year to raise funds for the parish's eat muskrat was doing penance worthy of the greatest youth sports teams. The early February dinner includes of the saints."