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Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

F riday , March 27, 2015

Holy Week 2015

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March 27, 2015

St. Mary’s Cathedral Holy Week Schedule Monday, March 30: Daily Mass at 12:05 p.m. in Our Lady’s Chapel at St. Mary’s Cathedral Tuesday, March 31: Daily Mass at 12:05 p.m. in Our Lady’s Chapel at St. Mary’s; Chrism Mass at 4:00 p.m. with Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., at St. Mary’s Cathedral Wednesday, April 1: Daily Mass at 12:05 p.m. in Our Lady’s Chapel at St. Mary’s; Tenebrae at 7:30 with Bishop da Cunha at St. Mary’s Cathedral Holy Thursday, April 2: No 12:05 p.m. Daily Mass; Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:30 p.m. with Bishop da Cunha at St. Mary’s Cathedral, followed by Eucharistic Adoration until 10:00 p.m. and night prayer in Our Lady’s Chapel Good Friday, April 3: No 12:05 p.m. daily Mass; Passion of the Lord at 3:00 p.m. in English with Bishop da Cunha as celebrant and homlist Holy Saturday, April 4: Easter Vigil at 7:30 p.m. with Bishop da Cunha at St. Mary’s Cathedral; no 4:00 p.m. Mass at Holy Rosary Easter Sunday, April 5: Easter Mass at 8:30 a.m. Holy Cross; Easter Mass at 9:30 a.m. Holy Rosary; Easter Mass at 10:00 a.m. with Bishop da Cunha at St. Mary’s Cathedral (recorded for delayed broadcast at 11:30 on Channel 6); Easter Mass at 12:30 p.m. Spanish Mass.

A Lenten reflection: ‘Speak Lord, I’m listening’ Editor’s note: The following is a Lenten reflection submitted by Holy Union Sister Adrienne DeChamplain, Ph.D., a resident of The Landmark in Fall River, who celebrated 75 years as a religious Sister last August.

The world seems to be waiting for a message of hope and truth. The word will be heard only when we have learned to listen to Someone Who is Divinely in love with us. In peace and silence, let us listen to the Risen Lord in the stillness of this glorious Easter morn. Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening: “My child, you’re familiar with the details of My days on earth: the betrayal of Ju-

das, the denial of Peter, the scourging at the pillar, the cruel crowning of thorns, the carrying of the cross, My death and Resurrection. Every year you read and hear the account of My Passion. Does it really touch you for a few moments and then leave you until another year? What does matter is that you want to follow Me all the way to your Salvation.

To imitate Me means to live in Me, to be open to My living Spirit and to do what is right and just day-by-day. Someday you’ll understand more fully when I send My Holy Spirit to you. Then you will rememTurn to page 13

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., recently presided over the dedication and consecration of the altar at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in New Bedford. The parish, which is under the pastoral care of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, is home to many Cape Verdean families living in the area, as well as many other Catholics. (Photo by Jack Iddon)

Undocumented teen dares to dream of a better life

By Linda Andrade Rodrigues Anchor Correspondent

NEW BEDFORD — A junior at New Bedford High School, Denis Rodriguez lives with his parents and three siblings: ages eight, three, and two weeks. The family attends Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Church, where Rodriguez teaches ninthgrade Confirmation class. He dreams about going to college and majoring in English, as well as political science, maybe with a minor in philosophy.

Yet Rodriguez is not your average 17-year-old. The undocumented teen has spent much of his life living in the shadows.

Born in Siguatepeque, Comayagua, in Honduras, Rodriguez was six months old when his father left home in search of a better life for his family.

“I did not see my dad for seven years,” said Rodriguez.

“He first went to California where my grandmother lived, then to Florida to work in agriculture, and finally to New Bedford where he found better work in construction.”

In September 2005 his young wife and seven-yearold son retraced his footsteps, embarking on the perilous journey to America.

“My mom and I left everything behind in Honduras The cover photo is the crucifix at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Swansea. (Photo by Dave Jolivet)

and were definitely in harm’s way,” said Rodriguez. “It was a dangerous journey, but I saw it as an adventure.”

Yet one frightening experience remains etched in his mind.

“We were somewhere midway to Mexico, and it was the middle of the night,” he said.

“We were running through a forest to get to a road where a car would be waiting for us.”

But the police had been alerted.

“They were looking for us, and they found us,” Rodriguez said. “We ran faster, but my mom tripped on a tree branch, and someone tried to take me away. But I ran back toward her; and we kept running and made it to the car.”

The family was reunited one month later, but it would take years to mend the separation.

“I liked living in New

Bedford, but I had my ups and downs,” said Rodriguez.

“My dad used to be an alcoholic and that affected me in many ways. I was very shy and couldn’t communicate with him, and we were very distant.”

But their relationship changed when the family went back to church after a long absence.

“When I was in ninth grade, I did my first retreat with the youth group,” said Rodriguez. “Then I realized different things. Scars and pains came out, and little by little they went away.”

At the end of the retreat, there was a gathering for students and their parents.

“I felt anxiety about my dad,” said Rodriguez. “When I saw him, I threw myself into his arms and started weeping. Everything started to imTurn to page 13

As a youth leader, Denis Rodriguez participates in a United We Dream gathering in Baltimore. (Contributed photo)

March 27, 2015

News From the Vatican

Young people joyfully react and take photos with smartphones as Pope Francis arrives to lead a recent general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

In Holy Year, pope wants to share experience of mercy he had as teen

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis’ decision to convoke a special Holy Year of Mercy has its roots in the event that led a teen-age Jorge Mario Bergoglio to the priesthood.

Pope Francis has recounted the story several times in the past two years. On one occasion early in his pontificate, he told members of Catholic lay movements about his faith journey, particularly the importance of growing up Catholic and the influence of his grandmother.

Then he said: “One day in particular, though, was very important to me: Sept. 21, 1953. I was almost 17. It was ‘Students’ Day,’ for us the first day of spring — for you the first day of autumn.

Before going to the celebration I passed through the parish I normally attended, I found a priest that I did not know and I felt the need to go to Confession. For me this was an experience of encounter: I found that Someone was waiting for me.

Yet I do not know what happened, I can’t remember, I do not know why that particular priest was there whom I did not know, or why I felt this desire to confess, but the truth is that Someone was waiting for me.

He had been waiting for me for some time. After making my Confession I felt something had changed. I was not the same. I had heard something like a voice, or a call. I was convinced that I should become a priest.”

Over and over again, Pope Francis tells people: God is always there first, waiting for you;

the Sacrament of Confession is an encounter with the merciful God Who is always ready to forgive those who seek pardon; and recognizing how merciful God has been with you should make you merciful toward others.

The pope frequently talks about Caravaggio’s painting of the “Calling of St. Matthew” — a tax collector. And he chose his motto from the Venerable Bede’s homily on the Gospel story where Jesus sees Matthew, says “Follow Me,” and Matthew does.

The pope’s motto is “miserando atque eligendo,” which St. Bede used to describe Matthew, calling him “wretched, but chosen.”

Talking about the call of Matthew, Pope Francis told young people in the Philippines in January, “That morning, when Matthew was going off to work and said goodbye to his wife, he never thought that he was going to return in a hurry, without money, to tell his wife to prepare a banquet.

The banquet for the One Who loved him first, Who surprised him with something important, more important than all the money he had.”

Irish Jesuit Father James Corkery, a professor at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University, said the pope’s Jesuit training, specifically through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, built on his experience of mercy as a young man.

The first week of the exercises is about “meditating on my sins, being aware that I am

a sinner and also being aware that I am beloved by God,” he said. The meditation on personal sins ends with an invitation to have a “colloquy” or prayer conversation with God the Father about mercy.

While the text of the Spiritual Exercises seldom uses the word “mercy,” Father Corkery said the concept is clear in repeated uses of the words “gratitude,” “wonder” and even “shame.”

“The whole movement of the first week is to enable the person to realize they haven’t been great, but they are loved — like, amazingly loved,” he said. The experience helps the person “lean back into God’s mercy and kindness,” accepting while knowing it is undeserved.

St. Ignatius “gets you to reflect on how you haven’t been perfect and then he gets you to be filled with wonder and awe that the Lord could show you all this kindness,” Father Corkery said. “Ignatius has an immense sense that God did something for him and that links up with the consciousness of mercy.”

Pope Francis’ motto, “wretched, but chosen,” shows that Pope Francis and St. Ignatius are on the same page when it comes to being overwhelmed

by God’s goodness and mercy, the Irish Jesuit said.

Another point in St. Ignatius’ teaching and one Pope Francis often repeats, he said, is that while human beings are sinful, “we don’t need to languish in that” because God has forgiven us and is calling us to move on.

At the March 13 penance service announcing the Holy Year, Pope Francis gave a homily on the Gospel story of the sinful woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. “Thanks to Jesus,” the pope said, “God threw her many sins over His shoulders and remembers them no more. That is because this is true: when God forgives, He forgets.”

The Holy Year, he said, should be a time of “joy to rediscover and make fruitful the mercy of God” by reaching out and offering “consolation to every man and every woman of our age.”

Pope Francis, Father Corkery said, is “absolutely unbridled” in the way he speaks

3 about mercy, including the task of all Christians “to be portals of mercy for anyone who seeks it.”

“He wants no lack of generosity,” he said. “That’s the song he’s singing and he’s not going to stop, as we know. That’s the year he’s called.”

The Jesuit said the pope knows from his own experience that “you would be stuck, you would not be able to move forward, if you did not know there was mercy at your back.” And for Pope Francis, moving on and reaching out are key.

“Why not accept a flood of mercy from God and then drench other people with the same — I think that’s His idea,” Father Corkery said. “Don’t be stingy, not with mercy.”

Pope accepts cardinal’s decision to renounce duties, rights of office

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis accepted Scotland Cardinal Keith O’Brien’s decision to renounce all “duties and privileges” associated with being a cardinal.

The former archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh will no longer exercise the role of a cardinal, including by serving as a papal adviser, a member of Vatican congregations and councils, and as an elector of a new pope, the Vatican press office said.

A written statement from the College of Cardinals, published March 20, said, “The Holy Father has accepted the resignation of the rights and privileges of a cardinal expressed in canons 349, 353 and 356 of the Code of Canon Law, presented by his eminence Cardinal Keith Michael Patrick O’Brien, archbishop emeritus of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, after a long period of prayer.”

Passionist Father Ciro Benedettini, a Vatican spokesman, said the resignation came from the cardinal himself after a long period of prayer and reflection “in dialogue with the Holy Father.”

While he will no longer be invited to attend consistories and other gatherings of cardinals, including an eventual conclave for the election of a new pope, he retains his faculties as a priest and retired bishop.

In his own statement, released through the Scottish bishops’ conference, Cardinal O’Brien again apologized “to the Catholic Church and the people of Scotland.”

“There have been times that my sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me. For that I am deeply sorry,” he wrote.

“I will continue to play no part in the public life of the Church in Scotland; and will dedicate the rest of my life in retirement, praying especially for the Archdiocese of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, for Scotland, and for those I have offended in any way,” he added.

The cardinal stepped down as archbishop in February 2013, after the Observer, a British weekly, carried a story detailing complaints of three priests and one former priest who alleged Cardinal O’Brien had made sexual advances toward them.

The cardinal initially denied the allegations but, less than a week later, he issued a public apology for his actions. He did not attend the conclave that elected Pope Francis because, he had said, he did not want media attention to be on him rather than on the process of electing a new pope.

In a separate statement, the Catholic Church in Scotland welcomed news of the cardinal removing himself and said, “Cardinal O’Brien will also be reduced to a strictly private life with no further participation in any public, religious or civil events.”

In the same statement, Archbishop Leo Cushley of St. Andrews and Edinburgh said the cardinal’s behavior had “distressed many, demoralized faithful Catholics and made the Church less credible to those who are not Catholic.”

The Church in the U.S.

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March 27, 2015

Archbishop urges youth at congress to do deeds of love, mercy every day

ANAHEIM, Calif. (CNS) — Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez advised young Catholics to do three things: talk to Jesus, read the Gospels, and do deeds of love and mercy every day.

“The work of Jesus’ Words continues through you and though me,” the archbishop said in his homily. “So in the same way, just be normal. Have fun, enjoy life. Because Jesus wants to be your friend.”

Archbishop Gomez was the main celebrant and homilist at Mass with more than 15,000 young Catholics in attendance on Youth Day, the first day of the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress.

This year’s gathering at the Anaheim Convention Center drew and an estimated 37,000 people.

The annual event, which began in 1968, draws Catholics from across the United States and other countries. This year, attendees hailed from 49 different states and 21 different countries, with 13 coming from Pakistan.

“Congress,” as it’s referred to among participants, is four days of Liturgies and Religious Education sessions that focus on theology, apologetics, Spirituality, social justice and other aspects of the faith. More than 200 speakers presented more than 300 workshops in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Richard Alan Jones, an expert in Latin American migration with Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops’ overseas relief and development agency, spoke of the surge of Central American immigrants into the United States during one of the sessions.

“They aren’t looking for the American dream, they’re fleeing the Central American nightmare,” said Jones, who lives in San Salvador.

Gangs, poverty and even an improving Mexican economy have contributed to the steep increase in immigration from Central America, he said. With the lowest number of Mexican immigrants since the 1970s, human traffickers have targeted Central Americans.

Coyotes, who charge no less than Forest, Calif. Many billionaires and $5,000 for transit to the United millionaires he has met through his States, began stimulating immigra- ministry have told him that they still tion in Central America, even offer- feel empty.

“The problem with the good life,” he ing two-for-one deals, he said.

Congress attendees traveled to said, “is that it’s just not good enough.”

Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove God created each person to be with for the second annual Immigration Him for eternity; any other goal will Summit. Bishops from dioceses in fall short of satisfying that “hole in your heart.”

Southern Cali“You were fornia signed a ou were made by God, and made

by God, joint letter to you were made for God, and and you were Congress, urging representa- until you understand that, life’s never made for God, and until you tives to move going to make sense,” he said. understand forward with that, life’s nevcomprehensive er going to make sense,” he said. immigration reform.

Later, Honduran Cardinal Oscar “No one denies that our response to immigrants and our immigration Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa system itself has gotten off track,” the spoke on the “Church of the Future,” letter read. “We urge California’s con- emphasizing the need for ongoing gressional delegation and our leaders catechesis.

“Many people think that catechesis in Washington to come together to implement policies which promise is only the preparation for a Sacrato bring temporary relief and protec- ment, especially for First Commution to millions of immigrants,” they nion and for Confirmation,” Cardinal Rodriguez said. “And that is wrong.” wrote.

He called catechism a “continuous The bishops also underscored the need to defend the due process for unaccompanied minors, “who under U.S. law and under common humanitarian principles should not be deported without first having a court hearing.”

Washington D.C. (CNA/ Leaders of the Archdiocese of Los EWTN News) — With religious freeAngeles and the dioceses of Orange dom under assault in the U.S. capital, and San Bernardino called all pa- the Archdiocese of Washington is ralrishioners from Southern California lying behind its “only legislative reto take action. Archbishop Gomez, course” left.

Orange Bishop Kevin W. Vann, San The archdiocese announced its supBernardino Bishop Rutilio J. del port of “two resolutions disapproving Riego and the auxiliary bishops of the unprecedented attack on religious Los Angeles all signed the letter. freedom” in the District of Columbia.

Earlier that day, the Rev. Rick War- It was joined by a number of religious ren addressed thousands in a packed a and Pro-Life groups in its support packed Anaheim Convention Center of the resolutions, which were introArena. duced by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) The world-renowned Christian and James Lankford (R-Okla.). leader spoke about the meaning and The Senate resolutions oppose two purpose of life, first noting that ma- new D.C. laws with which Cathoterial success and career status are not lic institutions say they cannot comenough. ply out of conscience. The laws were “It’s not enough to just have passed in December, and signed into things,” said Warren, a husband, fa- law in January by the city’s mayor, ther of three and an evangelical Muriel Bowser (D). leader at Saddleback Church in Lake The first, the Human Rights

“Y

and systematic education of the faith,” adding “all of us need this kind of education.” A childish faith is not enough to support the adult life, he said.

Between sessions, participants visited hundreds of booths set up by Catholic organizations in the exhibit hall. Some had Pope Francis cutouts so visitors could pose for a mock “selfie” with the pope.

The Argentine-born pontiff ’s presence was felt in the sessions as well, with Jesuit Father Thomas Reese giving his two cents.

“This is a workshop to evaluate the pope’s first two years, and — spoiler alert — he did good,” said a smiling Father Reese as he kicked off his engaging, positive discussion, eliciting laughter from hundreds of Congressgoers.

The priest cited style, pastoral priorities and the public presence of the Church as the top reasons for the “Francis effect.” From his simple words of introduction after being introduced as pope, to the focus on the poor, to being a vocal critic of globalization, the pope has won many fans.

With laws set to threaten religious liberty in D.C., Senate is last legal hope

— such as procuring an abortion, for example.

Congress has 30 days to review the bills, which are slated to become law on April 17.

The archdiocese has been joined in its opposition to the laws by various groups and schools in the city, including the Knights of Columbus, the U.S. bishops conference, the Catholic University of America, the National Association of Evangelicals, and the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.

The laws “subjugate the Church’s moral teaching to the moral views of the government” and “result in discrimination against religious believers,” the archdiocese said in a recent statement.

The general counsel for the Catholic University of America, Lawrence Morris, told CNA in February that if Amendment of 2014, forces religious the bills become law, the school has schools to recognize persons and not planned on taking legal action. He groups who might conflict with their added that if action is taken against stated mission and allow them use of them, “we will vigorously defend ourtheir facilities and benefits. For exam- selves,” citing protections under the ple, a Catholic school would be forced First Amendment and the Religious to officially recognize an openly-gay Freedom Restoration Act. Sen. Lankford chairs the Senate student group and could not deny subcommittee that oversees D.C. laws. them use of its facilities.

He called the laws “a major threat” to The second, the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act of the religious freedom of persons and 2014, prohibits all employers from organizations in the city “and a brazen discriminating against employees over display of intolerance.”

“We must stop this assault on the their “reproductive health decision making.” Thus, a Catholic or Pro-Life Catholic Church, and we must act to group could not make employment protect religious liberty,” stated Sen. decisions based on their employees’ Cruz, who joined him in authoring decision to act contrary to the mission the resolutions.

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March 27, 2015

A master carver and the Feet of Jesus mayer was raised in the Catholic household of his grandfather From my location in the and retained his mother’s name choir at St. Mary’s Cathedral (though his natural father evenin Fall River, I am more or less tually became prominent as the at eye level with the feet of Je- mayor of Oberammergau). Alsus on the great carved cruci- though his grandfather taught fix that is suspended from the him the rudiments of carving, it front column next to me. That was his uncle Georg, a profesperspective has often led me to sional carver, who encouraged think of the lines of William him to draw extensively, as an essential foundation for skilled Blake’s poem “Jerusalem”: “And did those feet in ancient carving.

In 1880, at the age of 20, times Walk upon England’s moun- Kirchmayer made his way to New York. Soon thereafter he tains green?

And was the Holy Lamb of became acquainted with Stanford White, who provided God On England’s pleasant pas- young “John” (as he called himself in America) with introductures seen?”

Blake was alluding to an an- tions to other architects. One of cient British legend that the those architects was Ralph Adyoung Jesus visited England in ams Cram (designer of the Fall the company of Joseph of Ari- River Public Library); another methea, then a tin merchant was Henry Vaughan. When engaged in commercial travel. Kirchmayer settled in Boston, There is no Biblical basis for the the firms that employed him, legend, which survives in Brit- notably Irving and Casson, and ish folklore. Blake (1757-1827) later the William F. Ross Comwas a unconventional poet, pany, who provided wooden painter and engraver, who held ornamentation for major puban unusual concept of Chris- lic buildings and large houses, tianity. The poetic lines cited came to recognize that this here come from the preface to carver was a genius with wood, his long, visionary poem “Mil- especially oak.

Before coming to American, ton.” However, it is “those feet” and not England that I am con- Kirchmayer had studied anatomy at Augsburg and acquired cerned with.

The feet were carved by an the skill of conceiving a figure extraordinary artist named Jo- that was balanced in its proporhannes Kirchmayer, whose im- tions of torso and limbs. When age of the crucifixion has been describing how he approached in the cathedral for more than his art, he stated: “First of all I a hundred years. On commis- plan what I am to make. If it is sion from Father (later Bishop) a saint I am to carve, I read the James Cassidy, rector of the history of that saint until I know cathedral at the time of major just what kind of man he was. renovations just prior to World On my block in charcoal I draw War I, Kirchmayer produced a the figure — always nude. Then life-sized depiction of the cru- in crayon I draw the drapery over cified Christ that is powerful the figure. Then I chop it out.”

Kirchmayer was at the top of both for its artistic achievement his form, and in great demand and its emotional impact.

The carver was born in 1860, by the clients of architects, durin Oberammergau, Germany, ing the first two decades of the the Bavarian town where a fa- 20th century. It was during mous Passion Play continues to this period that he produced be performed every 10 years. Its the great crucifix at St. Mary’s first presentation was given in Cathedral. We do not see it to1634 as fulfillment of a prom- day exactly as he conceived it, ise that if the town were spared because the post and crossbar from bubonic plague, its people of the cross were downsized would perform a Passion Play during one of the renovations every 10 years. As a young man of the cathedral; and because Kirchmayer took the role of Jo- the corpus originally retained seph (son of Jacob) in the play, the natural light coloring of and he became familiar with the oak, so that it could appear the basic elements of the Gos- flesh-colored.

While he greatly admired pel accounts of Christ’s Passion and death. Knowing the Bibli- the 17th-century English carvcal characters in the Passion er Grinling Gibbons, KirchPlay would be an influence in mayer developed a style of his his later carving of figures for own. He called it “American Gothic. ” Ralph Adams Cram churches.

Born out of wedlock, Kirch- said that Johannes Kirchmayer

By Richard J. Grace Special to The Anchor

seemed to embrace the whole medieval tradition of art.

When the railroad baron James J. Hill (“the empire builder”) determined to build a palatial house in St. Paul, Minn., in the early 1890s, Kirchmayer was dispatched by Irving and Casson to be the chief carver for the project. In addition to wooden panels and doors, he fashioned some of the furniture for Hill House. He did other notable work outside of New England,

The crucifix at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River. (Anchor file photo)

but the Boston area was his great theater of carving. His art can be found in the Church of the Advent, Boston; All Saints’ Church, Ashmont; Wellesley College; Harvard University; and the Methuen Music Hall.

Closer to our home in southeastern New England, he created pieces for Sacred Heart Church, Taunton (now Annunciation of the Lord); the bishop’s residence, Providence, R.I.; St. John the Evangelist Church, Newport, R.I.; and Unitarian Memorial Church, Fairhaven.

The crucifix at St. Mary’s was formally blessed at a service on the evening of Good Friday, 1909, after being unveiled by Father Cassidy at the Mass of the Pre-sanctified that morning. The church was filled to capacity for the evening service, and during the hours that followed, thousands more visited the cathedral and viewed the new crucifix. The commission cost $800 (equal to about $21,000 today), which had been raised by contributions from parishioners during the parish retreat in the fall of 1908. The crucifix was attached to the first column on the left side of the church (opposite its current location).

Christ is depicted at the moment when life is ebbing from

Him, but not yet finally gone.

His head is tilted in resignation, but not resting on His shoulder as many crucifixes portray Him in death. The strain of hanging on the cross is represented by the muscles of the torso pulling against His rib cage, but the carving is restrained in its representation of His agony. It is not a gory depiction, but a sympathetic portrayal of an ideal Body brutalized. The feet which I see every Sunday are not torn and bleeding, from the way of the cross, but perfectly normal human feet, except for the nail through them. The muscles of the arms and legs show the tensions of the downward strain of His weight, but they are anatomically accurate rather than approximations. The effect of Kirchmayer’s composition is to represent a dying Savior Whose image simultaneously elicits responses of grief and love. The carver had other options, but what he produced is not a wreckage of a Body but an anticipation of the restored and glorified Body that came forth from the tomb on the third day.

“And did those feet,” was set to music by Hubert Parry in 1916, just a few years after Kirchmayer carved this cross.

In succeeding years it became a frequently-sung anthem in English churches. It was adopted by the English suffragettes, has been used by various English political parties, and was sung at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Every year it is sung on the last night of the Proms (summer concert series which concludes at Royal Albert Hall), just before “God Save the Queen.”

Many of the people standing in the sweeping circles of the great arena sing it from memory, as if it were virtually the second national anthem. They sing Blake’s words. But for those of us who have seen the Kirchmayer crucifix, the poet’s words might be tweaked just a little: “And did those feet in ancient times, walk upon . . . our sins.”

Richard J. Grace is an emeritus professor of history at Providence College and a parishioner of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River.

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March 27, 2015

Anchor Editorial

Respecting religious freedom domestically

A week ago (March 20) Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, OFM Cap., in his role as the chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), together with five other bishops, sent a letter to the United States Senate to support the efforts of some members of Congress to repeal the District of Columbia’s Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act and Human Rights Amendment Act. One might wonder what do those two laws for a small district have to do with Catholics in other parts of the country. The bishops addressed that question at the end of their letter. “We note that the Archdiocese of Washington and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops are among the major institutions that could be severely impacted by these measures. Accordingly it is imperative that Congress take action against government coercion that would undermine our cherished freedoms, especially here in our nation’s capital.”

In other words, the USCCB itself, since it has its offices in the district, plus our fellow Catholics in it, would have their religious liberties harmed in the capital itself. “Both D.C. acts violate the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of association protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, as well as by the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and other federal laws,” the bishops wrote.

Regarding the first of the laws in question, the bishops explained, “The Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act (RHNDA) prevents religious institutions, faith-based organizations, and Pro-Life advocacy organizations from making employment decisions consistent with their sincerely-held beliefs. For example, they could be forced to hire, retain and promote individuals whose public speech and conduct contradicts their missions. They may also be forced to subsidize elective abortions through their employee health plans, a result which would violate the Hyde/Weldon Amendment approved every year by Congress as part of the Labor/HHS appropriations act.”

Thus, Catholic and non-Catholic religious institutions, as well as groups like the National Right to Life Committee, would have to subsidize abortions for their employees, as well as allow people who publicly held strongly divergent views on life issues to climb through the ranks of their organizations. If the opposite were being forced on Planned Parenthood, there would be an incredible outcry from the mass media, but when Pro-Lifers’ rights are being abridged, the “right” to kill a child in the womb is more important than rights guaranteed in the Constitution.

In terms of the other D.C. law, the bishops noted, “The Human Rights Amendment Act (HRAA) repeals the Nation’s Capital Religious Liberty and Academic

Freedom Act (also known as the ‘Armstrong Amendment’ after Senator William Armstrong) passed by Congress in 1989 and made part of the District of Columbia code. Importantly, the Armstrong Amendment ensures that the D.C. Human Rights Act cannot be construed to require religiously-affiliated schools to officially endorse, fund, or provide other assistance for the promotion of human sexuality or sexual conduct contrary to the schools’ faith and moral beliefs. Although there are different beliefs regarding human sexuality and sexual conduct, religiously-affiliated educational institutions ought not be forced under penalty of law to support beliefs contrary to their teachings.”

HRAA would limit religious freedom, in that it would require Catholic and other religious schools to promote views on sexuality contrary to their teachings.

“Religiously-affiliated schools are not only obligated by their religion, but also permitted by the Constitution to freely teach and act according to their faith,” said Michael Scott, director of the D.C. Catholic Conference, in speaking out last fall against the HRAA. The mayor of Washington when the D.C. Council was considering the passing the HRAA, Vincent Gray (D-D.C.), warned the council of religious freedom of problems with it. “If the council wishes to adopt this bill or similar legislation, it should clarify the Human Rights Act’s existing exemption for religious and political organizations to ensure that the exemption protects the religious and political liberty interests that the First Amendment and RFRA are designed to secure.”

However, the council did not choose to do so.

The day after the bishops’ letter was published, the Boston Globe ran an editorial, not on the D.C. laws, but on a new law which had just passed in Utah. Entitled, “Utah’s smart compromise,” the Globe praised the government of that state for “creating carve-outs for religious organizations,” while prohibiting “discrimination for gay, bisexual and transgender people in housing and employment.”

The Globe noted that “gay rights activists aren’t thrilled that the newly-won protections don’t apply to organizations affiliated with churches, such as non-profits and colleges, or the Boy Scouts of America. The law also doesn’t comment on private businesses that might refuse service due to the religious beliefs of the owners.

The bill shows that free-speech rights of religious Americans and the civil rights of gay people do not have to be in opposition to each other.”

The activists in Utah got to have something they desired, without trampling on the First Amendment, unlike the government of the District of Columbia. One would hope that other leaders in our government at the state and federal levels would learn the same lesson.

Pope Francis’ Angelus message of March 22 Dear brothers and sisters, In this Fifth Sunday of Lent, the evangelist John draws our attention with a curious detail: some “Greeks,” of the Hebrew religion, who were in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, turn to Philip and said to him: “We would like to see Jesus” ( Jn 12:21). In the holy city, where Jesus had gone to for the last time, there were many people.

There are the little ones and

the simple ones, who warmly welcomed the Prophet of Nazareth, recognizing in Him the Messenger of the Lord.

There are the high priests and the leaders of the people, who want to eliminate Him because they consider Him a heretic and dangerous. There are also people, like those “Greeks,” who are curious of seeing Him and knowing more about His person and on the works He fulfilled, the OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER

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last of which — the resurrection of Lazarus — made quite a stir.

“We would like to see Jesus”: these words, like so many others in the Gospel, go beyond this particular episode and express something universal; they reveal a desire present in the ages and cultures, a desire present in the heart of so many people who have heard of Christ, but have not yet met Him. Responding indirectly, in a prophetic way, to the request to see Him, Jesus pronounces a prophecy that reveals His identity and shows the path to know Him truly: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” ( Jn 12:23). It is the hour of the cross! It is the hour of Satan’s defeat, prince of evil, and the definitive triumph of the merciful love of God. Christ declares that He will be “lifted up from the earth” (v.

32), an expression with a dual meaning: “lifted” because He is crucified, and “lifted” be-

cause He is exalted by the Father in the Resurrection, to draw everyone to Him and to reconcile mankind with God and among themselves. The hour of the cross, the darkest in history, is also the source of Salvation for those who believe in Him. Continuing in the prophecy of His imminent Passover, Jesus uses a simple and suggestive image, that of the “grain of wheat” that, once fallen in the earth, dies in order to produce fruit (cfr v.24). In this image we find another aspect of the cross of Christ: that of fruitfulness.

The death of Jesus, in fact, is an inexhaustible source of new life, because it carries within itself the regenerating strength of the love of God. Immersed in this love through Baptism, Christians can become “grains of wheat” and produce much fruit if they, like Jesus, “lose their own life” for the love of God and for the brothers and sisters (cfr. V.25).

For this, to those who also today “want to see Jesus,” to those who are searching for the Face of God; to those who have received a catechesis when they were little and then have not gone more in depth, maybe even losing their faith; to so many who have not yet encountered Jesus personally; to all these people we can offer three things: the Gospel, the crucifix and the witness of our faith, poor but sincere.

The Gospel: there we can encounter Jesus, listen to Him, know Him. The crucifix: sign of the love of Jesus Who has given Himself for us. And then a faith that is translated in simple gestures of fraternal charity. But mainly, in the coherence of life, between what we say and what we do. Coherence between our faith and our life, between our words and our actions: Gospel, crucifix and witness.

May Our Lady help us to bring forward these three things.

March 27, 2015

I

n a plan of life, the Spiritual game plan designed to form us toward holiness, there are practices recommended to be done at different frequencies, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly or “always.” As we draw near to the end of Lent, it’s fitting to think about one of the most important annual practices: living Holy Week in a holy way.

Holy Week is holy, first and foremost, because of all Jesus Christ did during this week. But we call it holy because it’s also supposed to make us holy, if we follow Jesus up close, if we enter into the mysteries we celebrate, if we receive within us all He won for us during this time.

Holy Week ought to be a Christian’s most faith-filled week of the year.

One of the biggest shocks for me as a parish priest has been how few Catholics, including regular Sunday Mass-going Catholics, live Holy Week in that faith-filled way.

As a young boy growing up in a practicing Catholic family, we always spent the Sacred Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil attending the Church’s most solemn Liturgies. It was, frankly, unthinkable that we wouldn’t.

I kept up the practice when I went to college and

Anchor Columnist Holy Week actually intensified it. On Days of Obligation. Fewer Holy Thursday, with friends, than half of Sunday MassI would make the indulgoers would come to any of genced practice of the Seven the Liturgies of the Sacred Churches, visiting seven altars Triduum. I was startled by of repose in various Boston how many people, greeting parishes and spending time me at the end of Palm Sunday in adoration of Jesus until Mass, would say, and mean midnight. On Good Friday, I to say, “See you next Sunday!” would head to the Cathedral Coming to church during the of the Holy Cross for the Seven Last Words Meditations from Putting Into noon to three and then attend the Comthe Deep memoration of the Lord’s Passion, with

By Father the chanted account Roger J. Landry of St. John at three.

On Holy Saturday, I would return to the cathedral for the beautiful, Triduum was just not on their three-hour celebration of the Spiritual radar screen.

Easter Vigil. On Easter SunOccasionally I’ve been day, I would head to Mass in asked, “Why aren’t Holy my parish, celebrating Easter Thursday, Good Friday and again with the joy of seeing the Easter Vigil considered the church packed, especially Holy Days of Obligation?” with children, and the singI think for the same reaing of “Jesus Christ is Risen son why there have never Today.” been civil or ecclesiastical I never believed I was laws passed mandating the doing anything special. I celebration of a loved one’s thought that this was what birthday: because it would basically every practicing be unfathomable that such Catholic did. a law should be needed. For Yet when I returned from disciples of Jesus to miss any seminary to parish life, of these principal celebrations anticipating that the Holy events of our faith would be Week Liturgies would be mob as incomprehensible as a Red scenes, I discovered that they Sox fan’s skipping the fifth, were, in contrast, rather sparse sixth and seventh games of affairs, in some cases even the World Series with the less well-attended than Holy Sox in it.

About Holy Thursday, Jesus said to the Apostles at the beginning of that most precious meal of all time, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you.” Jesus says the same thing to us: with great yearning, He wants to eat that Passover with you and me. The summons He gives us to enter into His celebration of the Last Supper is the most important dinner invitation we have ever received. During it, we celebrate with Him the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood that makes that perpetual gift possible. Could we possibly have a more important invitation on Holy Thursday night?

If there’s ever one day during the year on which every Christian should think about taking a personal day, it’s Good Friday. Most of us would naturally take time off of work or school to be with a family member who was dying. We need to be just as practical about being with Jesus on Good Friday. If we were present in Jerusalem the day He was on Golgotha, would we have wanted to be with Him or busy about other — far less important — matters?

The Easter Vigil is by far the most important and beautiful Mass of the entire

7 year, in which we thank God for the supreme gift of His Resurrection and what it means for us and the world.

There are Masses on Easter morning that certainly fulfill our “obligation,” but, candidly, they’re not the same as the Easter Vigil in which we enter with faith into all the central events of Salvation history, see how they’re all fulfilled in Christ, and rejoice in faith for the new life that God gives us. It’s the most important Liturgy in Catholicism. It’s the Mass that has the power to change us most as we celebrate it, because it helps us to push ourselves to the Liturgical limit of love and gratitude to God in celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection and what it means for each of us.

Voluntarily missing the events of the Triduum is often a sign of lukewarmness in the faith. Attendance — not out of obligation but out of faithful gratitude and love — is an indication of zeal.

Holy Week is the week that contains within it the power to make us holy. For those living a plan of life geared toward training in holiness, it’s circled on the calendar months in advance and lived with prayerful intensity and profound joy.

Anchor columnist Father Landry can be contacted at fatherlandry@catholicpreaching. com.

German prelate breaks rank with Cardinal Marx, insists on fidelity to Rome

MUNICH, Germany (CNA/ EWTN News) — A German cardinal has publicly opposed the words of two other Germans who have suggested that the nation’s Church can form its own policies without direction from Rome, regardless of the outcome of October’s Synod on the Family.

At a press conference following the German bishops’ assembly, Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, who is the conference president, stated, “We are not a branch of Rome. We cannot wait for a synod to tell us how we have to shape pastoral care for Marriage and family here.”

Cardinal Marx, chosen by the German bishops as one of their three delegates at the synod, added that there are “certain expectations” of Germany in helping the Church to open doors and “go down new paths,” and that “in doctrine, we also learn from life.”

He was echoed by Bishop

Franz-Josef Bode of Osnabruck — another synod delegate — who called the synod a “paradigm shift,” urging that “the reality of men and the world” be a source for theological understanding.

Cardinal Cordes responded to his fellow bishops in a letter to the editor of Die Tagespost, a German Catholic newspaper.

“It makes sense to object publicly to some of the utterances, in order to limit the confusion which they have caused,” the cardinal wrote.

He noted that the press conference was focused on the proposal

by Cardinal Walter Kasper to admit some among the divorced and civilly remarried to Communion.

“The problem was addressed with the beautiful words of ‘new solutions’ and ‘opening doors,’” Cardinal Cordes wrote.

He rejected Cardinal Marx’ positive characterization of the German Church, saying it was

not “leading the faithful to a giving oneself up to Christ.”

Cardinal Cordes noted that among Catholics in western Germany, only 16 percent believe God to be personal: “all other Catholics see in God a faceless providence, an anonymous fate along the lines of a primordial power. Or they simply deny His existence flat out.

What do they think of when they pray the Our Father? So there is no reason to pride ourselves on our faith if we stand in comparison to other countries.”

Cardinal Cordes then commented on Cardinal Marx’ ecclesiological statements. “The president argues about the drama of the divorced and remarried! This matter reaches far beyond regional particularities of a pragmatic nature, of a given mentality and cultural background. And while the president repeats that regarding the Magisterium, he wants to ‘stay within the community of

the Church,’ he either ignores the limits that this Magisterium gives to pastoral care, or he is carefree in making a statement to make himself sound good.”

Cardinal Cordes lamented that in Cardinal Marx’ comments, the idea of communion — among bishops, and with the Bishop of Rome — was sorely lacking, “The sentence: ‘We cannot wait for a synod to tell us how we have to shape pastoral care for Marriage and family here’ is not imbued with a spirit of ‘Communio.’”

Cardinal Cordes asked regarding Cardinal Marx, “Does he want to say that the dogma of the inseparability of Marriage becomes intolerable because of the life situations of remarried people?”

Bishop Bode cited Gaudium et spes, Vatican II’s pastoral constitution on the Church in the modern world, that “not only does the Christian message have

to find resonance with men, but also men must find resonance with us.”

Cardinal Cordes responded, saying that while Gaudium et spes does say, “nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in the hearts of Christ’s followers,” Vatican II “came to the conclusion that it would be erroneous to see the ‘signs of the times’ in the life of men simply as a ‘source of faith.’”

He noted Vatican II’s dogmatic constitution on Divine revelation, Dei verbum, “leaves no doubt that faith in the Catholic Church feeds solely from Sacred Scripture and the Magisterium.”

“Independent of this unambiguous direction, it would be paradoxical to ascribe to a small part of the Church, who live in Spiritually regrettable but objectively still irregular situation, the function of a source of faith,” the cardinal wrote.

8

C

arol Bonomo, in her book, “Humble Pie: St. Benedict’s Ladder of Humility,” describes her experience of participating in a bilingual (Spanish/English) Stations of the Cross, climbing a mountain in Arizona while taking turns carrying a large cross. She unexpectedly is pressed into service (somewhat like Simeon on the original Good Friday, although without his embarrassment at the possibility of being confused by the crowd for Jesus, a condemned “criminal”), as is a friend of hers. Her friend exclaims after she had her turn, “They let me carry the cross! I will remember this day for the rest of my life.”

Carol then wrote, “And, I, of course, will remember: Were you there when they crucified my Lord? And how my answer will be: Well, I was sorta there. I had

March 27, 2015

Hearing the Lord’s call for help

a shoulder problem, and they about various humiliations (the other carriers) were all so many of us have undertaller than me — and the gone, but with faith we can Passion will be about me also say with him, “The Lord again.”

God is my help, therefore I The author was regretting am not disgraced” (Is 50:7). her focus on herself, but her words remind us that the Homily of the Week Passion truly is about you and me.

Palm Jesus went through Sunday it even if He were

By Father only successful in Richard D. Wilson saving one soul. It is also about you and me (and all of humanity, from the beginning No one can take away the until the end of time), since dignity God gave us, no Christ accompanies us on matter how cruelly they treat our personal “Good Fridays” us. each and every day.

We next pray Psalm 22, We can apply all the with its refrain, “My God, readings proclaimed on my God, why have You Palm Sunday to our own abandoned Me?” Ascribed to lives. We hear from Isaiah in King David, Jesus said those the first reading (predicting words from the cross, knowthe sufferings Jesus would ing what He was saying in undergo with such humility) such agony, but also know-

ing how the psalm ends — “I will live for the Lord; my descendants will serve You. The generation to come will be told of the Lord, that they may proclaim to a people yet unborn the deliverance You have brought” (verses 31 and 32). In other words, Jesus invokes this psalm to point out the desolation of the cross, but also to remind us of how His story (history) will end — with His triumph over sin and death.

St. Paul in the second reading, looking back at the Incarnation and the Passion, reminds us of Jesus’ humility and of our need to humble ourselves before Him — not just by bending our knees at the name of Jesus, but by also bending our wills to His will.

Lastly, we meditate on the

Passion, seeing how each of the characters could be us in various moment of our lives — in our more cowardly moments being like Peter and most of the Apostles; in our more depraved moments, due to our desire for money or influence or popularity, being like Judas or the Sanhedrin or Pilate; or in those moments where we are more trusting of God, being like Mary, Mary Magdalene, John and Salome.

We ask God to help us see ourselves back in the Passion of 33 A.D. and to help us see how He continues to call out to us for help in His Passion of 2015, through the suffering people who surround us each and every day.

Father Wilson is pastor of St. John the Evangelist and St. Vincent de Paul parishes in Attleboro and executive editor of The Anchor.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Mar. 28, Ez 37:21-28; (Ps) Jer 31:10-13; Jn 11:45-56. Sun. Mar. 29, Palm Sunday, (Procession Mk 11:1-10 or Jn 12:1216); Is 50:4-7; Ps 22:8-9,17-18,19-20,23-24; Phil 2:6-11; Mk 14:1-15:47 or 15:1-39 Heb 5:7-9; Jn 12:20-33. Mon. Mar. 30, Is 42:1-7; Ps 27:1-3,13-14; Jn 12:1-11. Tues. Mar. 31, Is 49:1-6; Ps 71:1-4a,5-6b,15,17; Jn 13:21-33,36-38. Wed. Apr. 1, Is 50:4-9a; Ps 69:8-10,21-22,31,33-34; Mt 26:14-25. Thurs. Apr. 2, Mass of Chrism, Is 61:1-3a,6a,8b-9; Ps 89:21-22,25,27; Rv 1:5-8; Lk 4:16-21; Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Ex 12:1-8,11-14; Ps 116:12-13,15-16c,17-18; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15. Fri. Apr. 3, Passion of the Lord (Good Friday), Is 52:13–53:12; Ps 31:2,6,12-13,15-17,25; Heb 4:14-16,5:7-9; Jn 18:1–19.42.

S

hortly after George Pell was named Archbishop of Melbourne, he instituted several reforms at the archdiocesan seminary, including daily Mass and the daily celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours, both of which had fallen by the wayside in the preceding years. The seminary faculty, enthusiastic proponents of Catholic Lite, thought to call the archbishop’s bluff and informed him that, were he to persist in such draconian measures, they would resign en masse.

The archbishop thanked them for the courtesy of giving him a heads-up, accepted their resignations on the spot, and got on with the reform of the Melbourne seminary — and the rest of the archdiocese.

The defenders of the status quo in the Vatican may have been unaware of this episode when they recently tried to take down the man chosen by Pope Francis to clean up the financial mess the Argentinian pope inherited two years ago. Like their predecessors

The indomitable, and effective, Cardinal Pell in Melbourne, the leaders of a Curia, the Secretariat for the nasty campaign of personal ac- Economy, with a mandate to cusation against Cardinal Pell, make the Vatican “boringly conducted by leaks to the ever- successful” as a “model of good sleazy Italian media, failed. I financial practices,” as Cardinal hope that failure will be a lesPell likes to tell reporters. son to such scoundrels in the Under the Australian carfuture: don’t mess with a former Australianrules football star who likes contact sports.

That may be hopeagainst-hope. But we are obliged to believe

By George Weigel that conversion, even among curialists native to the boot-shaped peninsula, is not beyond the dinal’s leadership, the Vatican power of God’s grace. bank has been cleaned up and Pope Francis was elected by cleaned out. Proper financial a conclave determined that the procedures — no-brainers in next pontificate should clean most institutions but shockup what Msgr. Ronald Knox ingly new in the tribal atmoused to call the “engine room” sphere of the Vatican — have of the Barque of Peter. In the been implemented. Budgeting ensuing two years, there’s not and auditing are now conbeen a whole lot of progress in ducted according to accepted curial reform. The striking exprofessional standards. ception to that rule is the result It was all, evidently, too of the pope’s most successful much for some. And the reformist appointment: that of entirely predictable personal George Pell as head of a new attack on Cardinal Pell folsuper-dicastery in the Roman lowed — the most risible part

The Catholic Difference

of which involved the spurious charge that the cardinal had spent large sums of Church monies turning himself into a clothes horse. (I have known George Pell for 47 years, since he spent a summer in my home parish in Baltimore between ordination in Rome and doctoral studies in Oxford; and I do no disservice to my old friend by noting that his sartorial style more readily evokes “Salvation Army Thrift Shop” than “Brooks Brothers.”)

But calumny, alas, is what happens when people who have long thought of the Church as their private property, and perhaps even their private piggybank, run into a determined and incorruptible reformer who understands that financial probity is essential to our being the “Church in permanent mission” to which Pope Francis has called us.

And that brings me to something else with which the scofflaws who attacked Car-

dinal Pell hadn’t sufficiently reckoned: he’s doing what he’s doing, not as a gimlet-eyed bean-counter, but as a disciple and pastor who, like the pope, understands that the Church’s proclamation of the Gospel is impeded when the Church’s institutional integrity is threatened by corruption: sexual, financial, or both. George Pell remade the Catholic Church in Australia (which, pre-Pell, was headed in the direction of the moribund local churches in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany) by reforming Catholic institutions that had become sinecures for timeservers rather than launchpads for the New Evangelization. He’s now doing the same in Rome, with the unstinting support of Pope Francis.

Some might call Pell’s job “mission impossible.” I say, in proper Aussie, “good on ’im.”

And to those of a wagering spirit — don’t bet against him.

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

March 27, 2015

23 March 2015 — Homeport: Falmouth Harbor — St. Turbius of Mogrovejo Day ased on feedback from readers throughout the diocese (at least two of them), I was surprised that many are unaware of the canonization process now underway for Servant of God Guido Schaffer, the Brazilian medical doctor known as the “Surfing Angel.” To summarize, immediately after the death of young Dr. Schaffer in a surfing accident, people began praying for his intercession before God and making pilgrimages to his grave (called a cultus).

The Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro petitioned Rome to open an investigation. Might Dr. Schaffer be something more than a holy and righteous man? The Congregation for the Causes of the Saints granted permission for the archbishop to proceed. He named a “postulator” and established a tribunal to determine whether or not the late seminarian exhibited “heroic virtue” during his life on this planet. The formal process of canonization had begun.

You will recall that Guido Schaffer had been dead five years when his archbishop made petition. This tells us

B

P

ope Francis just announced that he is proclaiming a special Holy Year of Mercy that will begin on December 8, the 50th anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council.

Holy Years, the last of which was the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, are marked by prayer, pilgrimage to holy places, and plenary indulgences — the remission of all temporal punishment due to our sins — in commemoration of Jesus’ work of redemption. In dedicating this coming Church year to God’s mercy, Pope Francis is highlighting a central theme of his papacy, and a crucial part of the Church’s message, particularly in recent times.

Jesus said, “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Lk 6:36). St. Thomas Aquinas defined mercy in his Summa Theologiae as “the compassion in our hearts for another person’s misery, a compassion which drives us to do what we can to help

Anchor Columnists Sainthood No. 101 affirmative judgment goes three things about the canonization process. First, you have back to the Roman Congregation for review. to be dead. There is, contrary This process of canonizato common opinion, no tion is a real cliff-hanger. It such thing as a “living saint.”

Secondly, you have to be dead can be halted at any point by a single negative vote. And the for at least five years, unless, pope himself can intervene in of course, you are acclaimed the process anytime, if he so a martyr for the faith. Mardesires. tyrs are put on the fast-track to sainthood. In fact, there was a time in our early history when The Ship’s Log sainthood was reserved Reflections of a exclusively for martyrs.

Parish Priest The first non-martyr saint wasn’t until MarBy Father Tim tin of Tours in 397.

Goldrick Note, too, how quickly the supreme head of In Rome, a “realtor” is apthe Coptic Orthodox Church pointed. This is not the same canonized those 21 Egyptian kind of realtor you would martyrs recently beheaded by engage if you wanted to buy, terrorists in Syria. In the case of a martyr, our pope could act rent, or sell a house. In this case, the job of the realtor is to as quickly, too. Thirdly, it was oversee the rest of the process Servant of God Guido Shafof canonization — as far as it fer’s own local bishop who initiated the proceedings. This goes.

In Rome, yet another is a must. No other bishop but your own can petition for your theological commission is convoked. After review of the cause of sainthood. facts, a vote is taken to proLet us now proceed to ceed or not. If the vote is posianswer the burning questive, it is sent by the realtor to tion, “What’s next for Guido the episcopal members of the Schaffer?” If and when the tribunal in Rio rules that a life Congregation for the Canonization of the Saints. They, in of heroic virtue is proven as far as they are concerned, their turn, review, discuss, and vote.

If their vote is in the affirmative (that a life of heroic virtue has been proven), their decision goes to the pope. He may or may not decide to raise the Servant of God to the rank of “Venerable Servant of God.” After that, the diocese of the venerable candidate (and any other diocese in which a miracle is alleged to have taken place) forms its own theological tribunal. The members of these theological tribunals study, ponder, and finally decide if an alleged miracle(s) can only be attributed that an act of God worked through the candidate’s direct intercession (and not through the intercession of some other random saint). Theological commissions consider mostly medical miracles these days.

They prefer medical conditions that were without any hope of cure but were nevertheless cured almost instantaneously. This would indicate that the Venerable Servant of God truly dwells in the presence of God. The establishment of a true miracle involves not only a theological tribunal but a scientific tribunal as well. What’s the scientific tribunal, you ask?

9 A scientific tribunal is a panel of medical experts who also review the alleged miracle.

They, too, like the theological tribunal, must decide in the affirmative that there is no natural or medical explanation for the cure.

Back to Rome for the review by the episcopal members of the Congregation to determine if the decision of the local tribunals that the miracle is valid is itself a valid decision. If the vote is positive, it goes to the Holy Father.

It’s up to the pope to declare the Venerable Servant of God “Blessed” (Beatification) — or not.

The whole process is repeated for a second miracle.

Finally, if all goes well, it’s back to the Holy Father.

Technically, the pope doesn’t name a person a saint but rather formally declares that the candidate is with God and worthy of imitation by the faithful.

This is the new streamlined canonization process introduced by St. John Paul II. Guido Schaffer has a long way to go.

Say a prayer.

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

Forgiving wrongs willingly — Really?

among the Spiritual works him.” St. Luke gives us the of mercy is the injunction parable of the Prodigal Son, to forgive wrongs willingly. or as Pope Francis prefers Jesus taught us to pray in to call it, the parable of the the Our Father: “Forgive us Merciful Father. I suppose our trespasses, as we forgive it could also be called the parable of the Priggish Older those who trespass against Brother, but I digress.

The merciful father gladly receives, embraces and pardons the son who knew he was no longer worthy of being called a son.

By Dwight Duncan God is merciful like that, and we should imitate God in that. us.” He explained: “For if you In the Beatitudes of the forgive men their trespasses, Sermon on the Mount, Jesus your Heavenly Father will proclaimed, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain also forgive you” (Mt 6:14).

But if we are unforgiving, we mercy” (Mt 5:7). And in won’t be forgiven. If we are His riveting account of the sticklers for protocol, difficult Last Judgment in Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 25, Jesus said to satisfy, if we foster resentments and hold grudges and that in performing corporal are unwilling to forgive, not works of mercy for others, only do we forfeit our preslike welcoming the stranger, ent happiness, but our future we are doing it for Him. We receive mercy because we give happiness as well. So let go of it. mercy.

Really? No one said it Particularly challenging

Judge For Yourself

would be easy. The popular saying is “Don’t get mad; get even.” But that is not really a Christian response to injustice. Of course, justice is important too. Justice involves recognizing injustice when it occurs, doing what we can to rectify it, by legal means.

We might think that justice in forgiving someone requires that offenders first manifest sorrow for the wrong they’ve done and apologize for it. This is where Christ’s example is decisive, for our Lord did not always require people to express sorrow for their sins before forgiving them. When the paralytic is lowered by his friends through the roof, Jesus, without being asked, says, “Friend, your sins are forgiven” (Lk 5:20). Then He cures him of his paralysis, as a sign that He has the power to forgive sins. He also prays for those who unjustly crucify Him, “Father, forgive them,

for they do not know what they are doing” (Lk 23:34).

The point is that the new Commandment of Jesus requires that we love one another as Jesus loves us. He loves us first, and is waiting to forgive us even before we ask Him. Obviously, He has given us the Sacrament of Reconciliation so that ordinarily we should acknowledge our sins, repent of them, and receive absolution from the priest in His name, resolving not to sin again. But with respect to sins that we commit yet don’t realize that we have committed, perhaps even after a diligent examination of conscience, we must rely on God’s mercy.

Jesus tells us over and over again that we must show mercy ourselves to be able to rely on God’s mercy. So forgive already!

Anchor columnist Dwight Duncan is a professor at UMass School of Law Dartmouth. He holds degrees in civil and canon law.

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March 27, 2015

Creating 3-D image of crucifixion has ‘enriched my soul,’ says artist NEW ORLEANS (CNS) — Jed Malitz appends “V2” to the name of his art gallery in New Orleans’ Warehouse District. The “V2” stands for “Version 2” — in art and in life.

Inside Malitz’s gallery, floorto-ceiling black drapes bisect the rectangular gallery space.

In front of the drapes, visible as soon as someone walks in off the street, is haunting glass artwork — human figures of pure light produced by light shining through 13 meticulously arranged panes of sculpted glass, cut by a computer-guided, high-speed jet of water and garnet dust.

The annealed glass panes, three-eighths of an inch thick, are light green because of their iron content. When viewed straight on, the series of glass panels provides a stunning, 3-D image.

“The initial goal was to represent the human form as floating ribbons,” said Malitz.

But the real magic begins when the observer walks to the side of the artwork. On the edge of the glass, a crisp, secondary image is produced by the high-powered stage lights, something Malitz, now 48, said his 25 years of training in math, computer science and biotechnology information systems could not have accurately pre-

dicted.

His first glass creation, two years ago, was of a woman named “Siren.”

“After I built her, I really got to see the clarity of the edge view,” Malitz told the Clarion Herald, newspaper of the New Orleans Archdiocese.

It was then that an idea struck Malitz, a “baby” Christian, like a bolt of lightning.

What would happen if he used the same glass-sculpting technique to depict the crucifixion?

“That got me to start thinking about depicting Christ as light, as opposed to purely physical and then depicting the light,” Malitz said. “I just couldn’t stop thinking about it.

I really started thinking about the crucifixion and honoring Him in the best way I could — other than prayer. Once I got started on it, it absolutely consumed me. There was nothing left.”

The crowning achievement of V2 — the crucified Christ, the product of Malitz’s mysteriously growing faith — is right behind the black drapes. And it’s all anyone can talk about.

Over 18 months, using a combination of posed models, photography, raw digital sculpting and “lots of engineering and math calculations,” Malitz produced the blueprint

for 21 panes of cut glass. Because the work also included a wood cross, measurements had to be exact so that each pane fit together seamlessly.

Malitz solved one of the most challenging math and engineering problems by using a “telescoping” nail that could adjust its length to tiny variations in the width of the glass and wood panels.

In evening showings, when the studio is mostly dark and the stage lights create just the right effect, the results are visually moving.

“People will come into the gallery and look at the panels I have on the wall, and there seems to be some excitement — and then they turn the corner around this drape and they look at this and that’s it — I have no other art in the gallery from that point on,” Malitz said. “It makes it a little more difficult to market the other things, but I’m OK with that.”

“There are a lot of gasps and lot of ‘Oh, my Gods,’” Malitz said. “A lot of people spend 15 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour on this single piece. That’s unusual for a single piece of art.”

Just as the artwork seems to change depending on the viewer’s point of observation, Malitz said his work has transformed his own life.

“I hadn’t had any path my entire life,” Malitz said. “That’s just the way I was brought up. I was never cynical. I was never an atheist. At the same time, I never really felt like I belonged to anything. I was just wandering through life, letting good things happen, letting bad things happen. Wandering.

“This is my path into believing. This is how I started believing. I’m a baby, but I’m reading the Bible for the first time. It’s just incredibly moving.”

The Crucifixion artwork seems to be having a similar effect on others. Malitz posted “a cheesy little video” he shot with his iPhone on Facebook, walking around the sculpture, and it has taken off in cyberspace.

“Typically, with online advertising, if you get a three percent click-through rate, that’s really good,” Malitz said. “My sustained click-through rate is around 20 percent. I think that’s very telling. I’m reaching a set of people, and they’re referring other people to it, and that other set is quite a bit larger.”

Malitz would love for the Crucifixion to find its place in

Glass sculpture of the crucifixion produced by artist Jed Malitz is seen in his New Orleans studio. The figure is produced by light shining through 13 meticulously arranged panes of sculpted glass cut using a computer-guided process. (CNS photo/Frank Methe)

a church.

“I’d be honored with any place where as many people could see Him as possible,” Malitz said. “A church would be ideal. I would hope if that’s the case, their doors would be open so that different denominations of Christians and perhaps nonbelievers would be able to see it as well.”

The work is expensive.

Malitz is hoping to use www. kickstarter.com — a website that brings people from around the world together to raise funds for creative projects — to obtain the resources to build two other projects. One would depict Christ carrying His cross on the Via Dolorosa, and the other would be His Resurrection.

“If there’s enough money raised, I will depict a Roman soldier whipping Him, and the

Roman soldier will be outside of the glass and the whip will be penetrating into the glass and recoiling off His back,” Malitz said. “The other will be my interpretation of the Resurrection. I will have Him in an initial response to God’s beckoning, rising from the tomb.”

In his reflective moments, Malitz will sit behind the drapes in the back of his studio and think about God’s V2 effect on his art and his life.

“I’ve never done anything that has brought me anywhere near as much joy and sadness as this,” he said. “This has just enriched my soul. At times I was crying and saying, ‘I’m so sorry we did this to You.’ At other times, it’s been like, ‘Thank You, Lord, for giving me the opportunity to do this and for putting the idea in my head.’”

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March 27, 2015

Pope recognizes miracle needed to declare French couple saints

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis has approved a miracle so that, for the first time, a married couple can be canonized together.

The canonization ceremony for Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin, the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux, is likely to take place during the world Synod of Bishops on the family in October.

Pope Francis signed the decree March 18, the Vatican said, although it provided no details about the miraculous cure said to have taken place through the couple’s intercession.

However, the promoters of the sainthood cause said the miracle being studied involves a little girl in the Archdiocese of Valencia, Spain. Born prematurely and with multiple life-threatening complications, Carmen suffered a major brain hemorrhage, which could have caused irreversible damage. Her parents prayed for the Martins’ intercession. The little girl survived and is healthy.

Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes had said in late February that “thanks be to God, in October two spouses, parents of St. Therese of Lisieux, will be canonized.”

Blessed Louis and Marie Zelie Guerin Martin were married in 1858. The couple had nine children, but four of them died in infancy. The five who survived — including St. Therese — all entered religious life. Zelie Martin died of cancer in 1877, at the age of 45; her husband died when he was 70 in 1894.

The couple was beatified in 2008. They are believed to be the first parents of a saint to be beatified, highlighting the important role parents play in their children’s human and Spiritual upbringing.

The next step toward canonization is for the pope to hold a consistory with cardinals present in Rome to announce the decision to

proceed with the ceremony during the world Synod of Bishops on the family October 4-25. A Vatican official said that meeting probably would be in June.

Before opening the October 2014 meeting of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the

family, Pope Francis venerated the relics of St. Therese, her parents and another couple, Blessed Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi; the relics were brought to Rome specifically for prayers during the bishops’ discussions about family life.

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March 27, 2015

Special Lenten programs on the Portuguese Channel

Dante’s biggest fans? The ‘poet of popes’ and his legacy at the Vatican Rome, Italy (CNA/ EWTN News) — With this year marking the 750th anniversary of Dante Alighieri’s birth, the Vatican is taking a closer look at the author of the Italian masterpiece, the “Divine Comedy,” and his impact upon the popes of the 20th century.

“Dante is a universal poet for all people and all times,” according to a recent article by L’Osservatore Romano which expounds upon the estimation which Paul VI, along with his predecessor Benedict XV, had for the Italian poet.

Once describing him as a “master of exalted lyricism,” Paul VI, who shepherded Vatican II to its close following the death of its founder, John XXIII, so appreciated the works of Dante, he gifted a special edition copy of the “Divine Comedy” to each of the council fathers.

Born circa 1265, Dante Alighieri was the leading Ital-

ian poet of the Middle Ages.

He is best known for penning the “Divine Comedy,” an epic poem widely considered to be among the world’s most important literary works. Completed about a year before the Florentine author’s death in 1321, the three-part story, rich with political as well as theological allusions, famously recounts a journey through the various levels of hell, purgatory, and Heaven.

In 1965, the same year as the close of Vatican II, Paul VI published the motu proprio Altissimi Cantus, in which the pontiff highlights the medieval poet’s significance.

In the “Divine Comedy,” the pope writes in the document, Dante “embraces Heaven and earth, eternity and time, the mystery of God and the affairs of men, both Sacred and profane teaching, as well as the understanding made possible by Divine revelation and the light

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, March 29, 11:00 a.m.

Palm Sunday

Celebrant is Msgr. Stephen J. Avila, pastor of St. Anthony’s Parish in East Falmouth, and director of the diocesan Television Apostolate.

of natural reason.”

Believing him to be “the poet of theologians and the theologian of poets,” according to L’Osservatore Romano, Paul VI would go on to establish a chair for Dante studies at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan, with an emphasis on what he saw to be the “ecumenical” elements of the poet’s writings.

Paul VI’s love for the Italian master was such that he was even known to have requested that his private secretary, Msgr.

Pasquale Macchi, read aloud excerpts from the “Divine Comedy,” as well as Alessandro Manzoni’s masterpiece “The Betrothed,” according to Cardinal Paul Poupard.

Cardinal Poupard, president emeritus for the Pontifical Council for Culture and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, spoke at a recent meeting in Florence to commemorate the anniversary of Dante’s birth, as well as the 50th anniversary of Altissimi Cantus.

Like Paul VI, Benedict XV (1854-1922) was also an avid follower of Dante’s writings, referring to the “Divine Comedy” as “the fifth Gospel.”

Both popes “believed that the beauty of Dante’s work consists in the manifold way it brilliantly reveals truth, and in its use of a wide range of artistic devices,” the cardinal posited, according to the Vatican newspaper.

In his 1921 encyclical, In praeclara summorum copia hominum, Benedict XV refers to Dante as “the most eloquent bard to sing and announce Christian wisdom.”

“Who can deny that, at that time, the behavior of some members of the clergy was reprehensible, deeply disturbing to a soul as devoted to the Church as Dante’s?” the early 20th-century pontiff writes.

Dante was a “Christian poet,” he said, “someone who sang Christian doctrine in an almost angelic voice; a doctrine whose beauty and splendor Dante contemplated with his entire soul.”

December this year will mark 50 years since the close of Vatican II, the ecumenical council which began 1962 under the pontificate of St. John XXIII. Paul VI, elected to the papacy in 1963, was beatified in October 2014 by Pope Francis.

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March 27, 2015

A Lenten reflection: ‘Speak Lord, I’m listening’ continued from page one

ber that I was the One Who taught you to walk. I took you in My arms; I was like someone who lifts an infant close to his cheek, and stooping down to you I gave you My food.

“My disciple, you are missing the point if you do not recognize the meaning behind the washing of My Apostles’ feet on Holy Thursday. I gave you an example of service and love. I meant it when I said you ought to wash one another’s feet. As I have loved you, you also must love one another and by this will all know that you are My disciple. Take and eat the Living Bread in My Sacrament of unity which will bring the much desired peace and love in today’s sad and bleeding world.

“My people, what have I done to you? I loved you to the very end. Greater love than this, no one has laid down His life for His friends. On the cross, I was thinking of you personally and collectively as people. I could see every one of you down through the centuries. Your love gave Me strength and courage. It was a cause of joy to Me when I felt so very lonely that first Good Friday. I knew that all was not in vain; many would love Me in return — ‘It is finished!’ — yes, you were worth dying for!

Remember, there’s more to you than any occasional moment of weakness. However, do not make the mistake of over-emphasizing My death.

Be more aware of My life and Resurrection, for My tomb has already become death’s burial place.

“My faithful one, the Church is rightly joyful on

Holy Saturday of My victory over evil and in anticipating My reentry into glory for all eternity. I am the Prince of Peace and anything that disturbs your peace is not from Me. When the time comes for you to renew your baptismal promises, make sure to exorcise yourself of your own evil tendencies so that you can be free — oh, so free — to run into My arms.

“My brothers and sisters, I’ve Risen on Easter morning, as I said I would, that you may truly rise with Me. I sympathize with your sufferings: I hear your sobs; I see your tears; I understand all your sorrows; I know your worries and your cares. The words, ‘You’re looking for Jesus of Nazareth,’ apply to you today as well as to the women at the tomb. To seek Me is all that matters in life. But you would not be able to seek Me if you had not already found Me in some way.

Oh yes, it is true — the tomb is empty. For if My Apostles had simply found a body, even My dead Body, the seeking would have ended. You won’t find Me among the dead but among the living.

“And remember that the ‘how’ of my Resurrection is not so much as the ‘why.’ I have Risen so that I can satisfy your seeking because I know you’re thirsting for the One Living God. My Father adopted you as My brothers and sisters, making you jointheirs with Me. It took My Blood for your ransom.

“My other self, My glorified Body is no longer bound by the limits of time and space. I can communicate with you at any time and I can

be with you wherever you are, especially through the Eucharist. So, come to Me, all you who are burdened and I will refresh you. I do not promise to eradicate all blindness and deafness, crisis and paralysis, hatred and jealousy from your present earthly life. My message is not only physical but essentially Spiritual. You must have faith in Me that you’ll overcome Spiritual blindness and deafness by accepting My Gospel of sharing and forgiving. You must trust Me so completely that you will not let any crisis paralyze you by fear and anxiety. You must love so intensely that you’d even be ready to lay down your life if necessary for your companions on this journey of life.

“My special friend, you must grow in faith, hope and charity because I am depending on your support to put an end to all that is heartless and inhuman in this confused and restless world. Now you can see that the celebration of Easter is a challenge. You’ve got to be convinced that your Spiritual growth in this life and the healing of a hurting society depend to some extent on your ability to participate in the Easter Mystery. But, peace to you, fear not. I am with you all days, even to the end of time. You are precious in My eyes and I love you. Remember not the past, the things of long ago, consider not. See, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

“I am your hope and your truth because I am your life and your resurrection.”

This week in

Diocesan history

50 years ago — A religious “first” for Greater New Bedford took place when Mass was concelebrated by 16 Holy Cross priests at St. Joseph’s Shrine on Tucker Road in North Dartmouth, closing a retreat for the religious order.

10 years ago — Many diocesan men were among the 2,000 who attended the first annual Boston Catholic Men’s Conference held at Boston College High School in Dorchester.

25 years ago — The former St. Anthony School in Taunton was gutted by a fire that eventually caused the building to be declared “pretty much a total loss” by fire officials.

One year ago — Teachers and staff from Holy Family-Holy Name School, St. James-St. John School, and All Saints Catholic School in New Bedford gathered for professional development sessions using Father Robert Barron’s “Catholicism” series.

Teen dares to dream of a better life continued from page one

prove.”

His father became the leader of Renovados En El Espiritu, an adult group that his mother also belongs to; and Rodriguez is one of the leaders of the Cristo Joven teen group.

“I facilitate different things,” he said. “I work with faith formation, do fund-raisers and I’ve preached to the youth group three times.”

Last weekend he served on the Christian Leadership Institute planning committee for the youth convention at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth.

Rodriguez also is committed to working for change in immigrant status in the community, serving as regional coordinator of the Student Immigration Movement, which helps undocumented students throughout the state.

“Many students have come to this country at a young age, such as myself, but we are not privileged to many resources or opportunities like everybody else,” said Rodriguez. “I have a year-and-a-half before I head to college, but there is something holding me back.

Any student that is undocumented may not benefit from tuition or financial aid.”

The mission of the Student Immigration Movement is to secure the right for undocumented youth to live freely and happily, as well as to grow and learn together. This year their Dare To Dream campaign aims to pass a bill in the state legislature that would allow anyone, regardless of immigration status, to benefit from in-state tuition and qualify for financial aid.

“Fortunately for me, I am part of this movement; and through them I have learned of opportunities that could help me reach college,” said Rodriguez. “But for others, though, this is not the case.

They are not aware.”

Consequently, the nonprofit organization will host SIM Camp 2015, the largest undocumented youth gathering in the state, on April 10, 11 and 12 at UMass Boston.

“We bring people from different areas together to give them college access information and provide resources,” Rodriguez said.

During SIM Camp, their flagship training event, a new generation of immigrant youth leaders are prepared and trained to take responsibility for creating change in their communities.

“By choosing to take a stand for yourself and for your communities, you are choosing to deny the criminalization and marginalization that our families are subject to every single day,” according to the SIM Camp newsletter. “You are choosing to teach us and learn with us, and to be part of a journey that will change your life. You are choosing to join in a young but proud tradition of immigrant youth leadership that has already won huge victories and that is absolutely committed to fighting for dignified lives for all members of our immigrant community.”

The SIM Camp $35 fee will cover food, lodging, all materials and a T-shirt. To register, go to www.bit.ly/simcamp2015.

For more information, call Rodriguez at 774-503-2984.

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March 27, 2015

2015 Pro-Life Essay Contest winners This year’s Pro-Life Essay Contest, sponsored by the diocesan Pro-Life Apostolate, was themed, “Each of Us is a Masterpiece of God’s Creation.” The contest was open to all students enrolled in diocesan schools or Religious Education programs. There were two age categories — Junior High School Level and High School Level. The following are the first- and second-place winners in each category. The students read their essays aloud at the annual diocesan Pro-Life Mass held at St. Julie Billiart Church in North Dartmouth on March 25.

First Place High School

First Place Jr. High School

“Each of Us is a Masterpiece of God’s Creation”

“Each of Us is a Masterpiece of God’s Creation”

Museums and churches all throughout the world hold thousands of pieces of art that are considered masterpieces. They range from Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night,” to Picasso’s “Guernica,” to Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam,” and many more. To some, these pieces are Sacred. There are teams of thousands who specialize in preserving and protecting these pieces. There are people who spend their entire lives making sure that there is enough funding so the art does not get destroyed. The museums and churches hire security just to make sure that the artwork is protected and no one does anything to them. When there is a threat to any of the masterpieces, everything is dropped and the artwork is the number one priority.

But the question is, if these material things are called masterpieces and everything is done to make sure that they are preserved and protected, then why does innocent life that is considered a masterpiece in the eyes of God not receive the same treatment? When did society decide to put material things before Sacred life? Is life not a masterpiece?

Life, from the moment of conception to the time of natural death, is the most precious and beautiful gift that God has ever given mankind. It is the one gift that He trusts us with because He, “created mankind in His Own image” (Gen 1:27). God places this gift in our hands and expects us to preserve and protect it at any cost. When He created life, He viewed it as a masterpiece because it is the most beautiful creation He has ever made.

It is the masterpiece that lives out His Commandments and spreads His love to all the least of our brothers and sisters.

Today, society is veering away from God’s wish of preserving and protecting all life. In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court case, Roe v. Wade, made it legal for any woman to get an abortion. This one ruling allows women in the United States to strip the world of beautiful masterpieces. It allows them to control life and decide what masterpiece should be saved. It allows them to miss out on what that masterpiece could offer to the world. Is life just a thing that people can choose to end before it has even truly started?

Does society just view this masterpiece as something that can be thrown away?

In Pope Francis’s “Day for Life Greeting,” he wrote, “Even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor are masterpieces of God’s Creation, made in His Own image, destined to live forever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect.”

Society needs to take a good, long look at this. They need to see that life is not something that can just be thrown out but rather, that it is a masterpiece. This gift is one that no matter the age, is still beautiful. All of the imperfections, blemishes, insecurities, problems, and obstacles that life has is what makes it a masterpiece. Although life might not be perfect like the masterpieces created by Van Gogh, Picasso, and Michelangelo, it is still a masterpiece that is created in God’s image and should be protected and preserved no matter the cost. Life is Sacred and worth fighting for and according to Pope Francis, “Caring for life from the beginning to the end, what a simple thing, what a beautiful thing. So, go forth and don’t be discouraged. Care for life. It’s worth it!” (www.catholicnews.com).

Each and every one of us is a masterpiece, God’s artwork. He singlehandedly made every one of us unique and destined us to do great things in this world. Whether we are young or old, healthy or sick, we are all made special in God’s eyes. Unfortunately, our society today doesn’t always look at life this way. There are now so many ways that life is disrespected and abused, such as abortion and not taking care of the sick and the poor in our society.

Abortion today is still a problem. It is the taking of defenseless lives who have no choice or say in the situation they have been placed in. Pope Francis states from the “Joy of the Gospel,” “Among the vulnerable for whom the Church wishes to care with particular love and concern are unborn children, the most defenseless and innocent among us.” Even though I may not be a parent myself, the closest thing I have are my little twin siblings. Remembering my mom pregnant with them and now seeing every little laugh, giggle, and sparkle in their eyes over the past five years, has made me realize that they are truly God’s masterpieces. Seeing them grow up and seeing how much they have changed, all gives me more faith that our God is present, and He is great. Therefore, it makes me further believe that life is precious indeed and that it should be protected.

Pope Francis’ Day for Life Greeting included the following quote: “Even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn, and the poor, are masterpieces of God’s Creation, made in His Own image, destined to live forever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect.”

I truly believe this and I have had the privilege of helping out at a soup kitchen where I can put my beliefs in action. In our society, the poor are seen by many as those who are less worthy, but when I went to the soup kitchen and worked there, I saw they were no different than you and I. They were really good people with good hearts and good souls. The only difference is that they are going through hard times in their lives at the moment. Or, they may have some physical or mental illness that prevents them from being able to provide for themselves. I believe it is our duty, not just as Jesus’s disciples, but as good people, to aid our fellow men in need.

One concept I cannot wrap my head around is why the Church is ridiculed for trying to stop abortion, and I quote from Pope Francis: “Frequently as a way of ridiculing the Church’s effort to defend their lives, attempts are made to present her position as ideological, obscurantist, and conservative.” Yet, if a soldier sacrificed himself by jumping on a grenade to save his platoon, or the atheist travels to Africa to fight the Ebola virus and dies, they are considered heroes. Whether or not they believe in God, they are still trying to protect life. But when the Church fights to protect the life of the unborn child, she is criticized as Pope Francis commented.

As my father likes to sometimes say, “You can’t stand in the middle of the road, you have to a choose a side or you’re going to get hit by the bus.”

Those who ridicule the Church for fighting against abortion are the same people praising the soldier and the atheist doctor. The Church is trying to save lives, just like the soldier and doctor. If the critics of the Church say the Church is wrong and the soldier and atheist doctor are right, then it’s time for them to get out of the middle of the road. You are either for life or against it. Period!

We are all God’s artwork. He made us with love, precision, and care, to make us the people that we are. The unborn children are masterpieces, but they need advocates to make sure they arrive on this earth. Everybody is different, one way or another, and that is what makes us amazing. In today’s world, sometimes being different isn’t accepted by others, but I say we should all embrace all of God’s people. God loves us so very much and we are meant to do great things in this world. Each and every one of us is a unique, special child of God; each one of us is a masterpiece.

Victoria Tutino Grade 12 Coyle and Cassidy High School, Taunton Annunciation of the Lord Parish, Taunton

The Knights of Columbus tribute to the unborn on the grounds of Holy Cross Family Ministries in North Easton.

Benjamin Resende Holy Name School, Fall River St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Fall River

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March 27, 2015

2015 Pro-Life Essay Contest winners Second Place High School

Second Place Jr. High School

“Each of Us is a Masterpiece of God’s Creation”

“Each of Us is a Masterpiece of God’s Creation”

“A person’s a person, no matter how small,” a quote by Dr. Seuss, reflects that each of us is a masterpiece of God’s Creation and a human being from the beginning of life from conception until natural death. Since becoming legal in 1973, abortion has taken more than 50 million lives. Abortion kills a baby every 20 seconds. In just the United States, there are more than four million babies born each year and more than 1.2 million babies aborted.

This gives each child a one-in-five chance of having their life ended by their own mother. This also means that for every four friends that a person has, they have one friend missing from their life.

In 2004, President Bush signed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act stating that if a pregnant woman is murdered, two murder charges could result. Many Americans supported this as they saw the importance of the unborn child’s life. The government was able to see that an unborn baby was a human in this case. If the U.S. legal system sees the murder of a pregnant woman as the murder of two people, why isn’t a doctor murdering an unborn child considered illegal? President Ronald Reagan stated in 1980, “I’ve noticed that everyone who is for abortion is already born.”

Many nurses and doctors have opened their hearts for premature babies.

A baby born at 21 weeks may live with medical help, but aborted babies are not given the chance to fight for their life at the same 21 weeks. When Roe v. Wade was passed, the scientific knowledge of prenatal development was not as known as it is today. Doctors now know that a child within the womb can feel and react to their surroundings. Babies are sucking thumbs, yawning, punching, and blinking before they are born. This is the reason why so many are Pro-Life. Faith shows that abortion is morally wrong, but now science shows that a baby before birth is truly human too.

I attended the Pro-Life Walk for the first time this year. The event opened my eyes to understand the devastation of abortion, and that each life is Sacred from conception to natural death. I learned that there are actually more Pro-Life people in America than pro-choice, and that my generation is extremely Pro-Life. I heard stories, many of which were about aborting children with disabilities to keep them from suffering. In one story, a woman decided to keep her child, but was told that her daughter was going to have numerous mental setbacks from a medication the mother was taking for her cancer treatments. She was encouraged to abort, but chose not to. The daughter ended up being born completely healthy.

While on the march I saw many signs that said, “The cure to Down syndrome is not abortion.” Life is Sacred even if there are mental or physical setbacks of a person. My aunt had cystic fibrosis, and there are children with cystic fibrosis who are aborted because their parents don’t want them to suffer. My aunt died on the last day of my trip defending life. She lived much longer than she was expected to, was an influential part of my life, and lived each day as a gift from God. She did suffer during life, but there was never a day that we wished she wasn’t there. Although she died when I was away on the trip, I know that she was happy that I attended the march.

I know that she wanted me to be fighting for life instead of at her bedside when she passed away. She wanted me to be able to give the chance for the unborn to be able to live a life in the way she did, even if there is sometimes suffering that comes with the beauty of living.

We understand that each life is created by God and is perfect and in this understanding see that the unborn are human and have a right to life. They have no voice, so we have to be their voice. Babies are never a “blob” of unwanted tissue; they are human beings and are loved by God at every step.

God tells us this in the Hail Mary, “Blessed is the Fruit of your womb.” If God believes that life is Sacred before birth, we need to as well. God tells us that a person is a person from the start no matter how small he or she is. In Jeremiah 1:5 God tells us, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you.” Abortion is wrong and kills the life of a child. We all must all understand that each life is a masterpiece of God’s Creation and see that abortion kills innocent lives.

In 2005, Cardinal Bergoglio preached an inspirational Mass themed “Care for Life —It’s Worth It.” The now Pope Francis stated within this special homily that “All of us must care for life, cherish life with tenderness and warmth,” and “caring for life from the beginning to the end, what a simple thing, what a beautiful thing. So, go forth and don’t be discouraged.

Care for life. It’s worth it.” The Holy Father’s message is clear, that all human life deserves reverence and respect. We should try to recognize God in the sick, poor, unborn, elderly, weak and in the suffering. God creates each of us with such detail and precision in His likeness. We are all special masterpieces from the minute of creation.

The general meaning of masterpiece is “a beautiful work of art” or “something done with skill,” which is usually referred to in paintings, sculptures, etc., but in fact, if you really think about it, we are all “beautiful works of art” and “something done with extreme skill.” We are creations of God and everything He creates is amazing, made in God’s Own image and should be valued. He created the world and everything within it and all of His creations deserve the utmost respect and utmost care.

Throughout history many world masterpieces are destroyed during difficult times. For example, when wars occur, not only are items, such as art destroyed, most importantly human lives are destroyed. In today’s difficult times, people may feel that they are at war, and in those difficult moments it is often easy to destroy the unborn, or the weak and the elderly.

Instead of destroying, we should work together to strive for peace and end violence, because violence is never the answer. So, how can we promote life, we may ask ourselves. We can start by being compassionate and caring for others, especially those who are weak and vulnerable. Such as caring for mothers and unborn children. Supporting the fundamental right to life.

The life of an unborn child and mother are Sacred and should be valued.

We can also care for the elderly. In today’s disposable society is it easy to throw away or discard people who are not as active or viable. As a society we must support the elderly and those who care for them. We should strive to support, visit, and pray for the elderly. The same holds true for the suicidal and their families. For whatever reason, some people give up on life. Whether illness or mental disease, they want to give up on life. It is important for us to care for life as a whole, from conception to natural death. We need to be reminded to support and care for all individuals and strive for life.

As Cardinal Bergoglio, preached “Caring for life from the beginning to the end, what a simple thing, what a beautiful thing. So, go forth and don’t be discouraged. Care for life. It’s worth it!”

Meghan Powell Grade 10 St. John Paul II High School, Hyannis St. Pius X Parish, South Yarmouth

Gabriella Joaquim Holy Name School, Fall River St. George Parish, Westport

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Youth Pages

The four-year-olds in Mrs. McKenna’s pre-school class at St. Francis Xavier School in Acushnet took part in a science experiment that made use of Mother Nature’s abundant snow supply to learn about the water cycle. Students built a mini-snowman in the classroom and gave their predictions as to how long it would take “Frosty” to melt.

The first-grade students at St. Mary-Sacred Heart School in North Attleboro held their annual leprechaun trap. First-grade teachers Denise Piette and Sally Sullivan had their students create their own leprechaun trap and left them out over night in hopes of catching the small green man. Pictured is Sullivan looking at Trinity Welter’s tampered-with leprechaun trap.

March 27, 2015

The seventh-grade students at St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro made a Happy Ultimate Pi Day card for middle school math teacher, Robert LeBoeuf.

Pi Day is the celebration date of the number that is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. This year is the first time in a century that the date was 3/14/15, which describes the first five digits of pi, 3.1415.

Mrs. Murray the kindergarten teacher at St. Joseph School in Fairhaven is pictured working with students after the regular The seventh- and eighth-grade students at school day.

Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford recently enjoyed a visit from Father Kevin Cook, who spoke about vocations as well as his path to the priesthood.

Students from All Saints Catholic School in New Bedford enjoyed an animalthemed non-uniform day as part of a recent drive to support Lighthouse Animal Shelter in New Bedford. Nevin Poirier, a seventh-grader, volunteers at the shelter and requested that the school include this among this year’s community outreach projects. Students donated items from the shelter’s wish list and raised nearly $200 through participation in the animal dress-down day.

Students at Holy Name School in Fall River recently prayed the Stations of the Cross led by John Pietruszka, the middle school Religion teacher. Pictured are students in kindergarten and grades one and two.

March 27, 2015

H

ave you ever had a song stuck in your head? It plays over and over and you just can’t locate the pause button no matter how hard you try? Sometimes that song might just be a catchy little tune and other times, it might very well be a message. I’ve learned to listen to those messages!

That song is “Do Something” by Matthew West. I originally came across this song a while back when the CLI grads chose it when planning the closing prayer service at the Diocesan Youth Convention that took place last weekend.

The song not only played out in my head over the last week, but I actually saw it in action. This message to do something was clearly heard by a number of our UMass Dartmouth students who volunteered to participate in an alternative spring break. Not the usual spring break somewhere warm and sunny with partying 24/7, but where they were really needed. Where they could do something. Right here in our backyard.

The song keeps playing in my head. “I woke up this morning, saw a world full of trouble now. Thought how’d we ever get so far down? How’s it ever gonna turn around? So I turned my eyes to Heaven. I thought, ‘God, why don’t You do something?’ He said, ‘I did, I created you.’”

Each day was filled with service and each evening was devoted to prayer, reflection and discussion of what was done each day and what was accomplished.

When asked why they would want to give up their spring break to serve their brothers and sisters, my favorite reply was, “If I don’t do something, who will?”

Hmm. That song started playing in my head again after hearing that!

Playing: “We are the salt of the earth, We are a city on a hill. But we’re never gonna change the world, by standing still.”

The busy week began with serving dinner at the Salvation Army in New Bedford. The next morning, they were up and ready to serve breakfast at Mercy

Youth Pages Do something Meals and More at 6 a.m.

The next day, we spent a good part of the day at my favorite service organization, My Brother’s Keeper. What a privilege to deliver furniture to four families that day! Even though much of the furniture was delivered to the third floor, up tiny staircases, never once did I hear a complaint. And it was cold that day! The look on the students’ faces and particularly on the

By Deacon faces of those Frank Lucca who received their service said it all! Today, so many of us Christians talk so much about being the Hands and Feet of Christ, but never really displaying what that looks like. That particular day I saw the Hands and Feet of Christ in action in our young people carrying and climbing. What a blessing!

My Brother’s Keeper says that their mission states nothing of the physical objects they deliver. It is purposely clear and simple, one sentence only, their compass: “To bring the love and hope of Jesus Christ to those we serve.”

At My Brother’s Keeper, they strive to follow the words of St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary use words.” They serve men, women, and children in their time of need, with dignity and respect. They do not preach and do not judge.

To accomplish their mission, their loving service is always accompanied by some symbol of Christ conveying the help comes from God through them.

Though they are a Christian ministry, with Catholic roots, they help people of all faiths and backgrounds. Anyone living in our service area is eligible to receive their help, regardless of religion.

If you know someone in need or if you should have some great furniture to let go of, get in touch with them and they and student volunteers will come by and pick it up (www.mybrotherskeeper.org).

Be Not Afraid

In conjunction with Bishop Stang High School’s commemoration of the Lenten season and the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, students of the North Dartmouth school, under the direction of the National Honor Society and the Student Council, recently held a Breakfast Cereal Drive. Student Council representatives accepted donations from members of the school community during homeroom over a week-long period, culminating in the collection of more than 700 boxes. The cereal will be distributed to the families of needy children via St. Anthony’s Church Food Pantry located in north end of New Bedford.

Here it goes again: “I’m so tired of talking, about how we are God’s Hands and Feet. But it’s easier to say than to be. Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves, it’s alright, ‘Somebody else will do something.’”

On Friday, we spent the afternoon at another wonderful service organization, Gifts to Give.

They state that their primary mission is to give all SouthCoast young people — the privileged and those in-need — an opportunity to practice big citizenship and tangible philanthropy through their gifts of time and treasure. In the last year 12,500 young people and young adults came to understand, through their “doing” the power of giving and service and that we all have gifts to give. We spent the day sorting clothing and again they did so without complaint and with real joy (giftstogive.org).

And it plays on: “If not us, then who, If not me and you? Right now, it’s time for us to do something. If not now, then when? Will we see an end to all this pain? It’s not enough to do nothing. It’s time for us to do something.”

The week wound up with service projects at the Sharing the Harvest YMCA Farm in Dartmouth, and the Allen Wildlife Sanctuary.

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Cue the song: “Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m sick and tired of life with no desire. I don’t want a flame, I want a fire. I wanna be the one who stands up and says, ‘I’m gonna do something.’”

How many times have we seen what is going on around us and asked God, why He doesn’t fix it. The “aha” moment happens when God responds by saying, “I did something, I created you. You go out and change the world and make it a better place.”

The change has to start with each and every one of us. What could we be capable of in our own lives, our towns and neighborhoods, if we are willing to step out and be willing? I wonder how God might use our lives to change the world! Think about that and sing along with me, “Right now, it’s time for us to do something. If not now, then when will we see an end to all this pain? It’s not enough to do nothing, It’s time for us to do something.”

I hope the song’s message is stuck in your head now too!

Anchor columnist Frank Lucca is a permanent deacon in the Diocese of Fall River, a youth minister at St. Dominic’s Parish in Swansea, and a campus minister at UMass Dartmouth. He is married to his wife of 36 years, Kristine, and the father of two daughters and their husbands, and a 13-month-old grandson. Comments, ideas or suggestions? Please email him at DeaconFrankLucca@comcast.net.

Bishop Connolly High School freshman and L.E.A.P. student teams listed the positive character traits they see in their classmates during a retreat activity at the Fall River school. Led by a team of faculty members, the annual retreat helps students build deeper friendships and strengthen their unity as a class. Sharing their team’s lists are from left: English teacher Anne-Marie Friedlander, Austin Fernandes, Tyler Pavao, Samuel Harstad, science teacher Daniel Boudria, Andrew Cabral, Victoria Dupuis, social studies/theology teacher Nicole Voci, Alexia Bouchard, Academic Dean of math and science Sherri Swainamer, Nathan-Craig Machado, and Nathaniel Chhim.

A group of juniors and seniors at Coyle and Cassidy High School in Taunton recently raised more than $500 for the “A Bed for Every Child” program by participating in their Wear Red for a Bed Day! An initiative created by the Mass. Coalition for the Homeless, the goal is simple: to provide all Massachusetts children with a bed in which to sleep.

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March 27, 2015

DCCW offering Day of Recollection

TAUNTON — On April 11, the Fall River Diocesan Council of Catholic Women will be offering a Day of Recollection at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Taunton. The topic of the gathering will be, “Come, Let Us Climb the Mount of the Lord,” and guest speaker will be Jon Swedberg.

Swedberg and his wife, Denise, live in Taunton and are parishioners of St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Taunton, being welcomed into the Church in 2010. Raised in a loving Christian family who attended a Baptist church, Swedberg studied the Bible and youth ministry in college, serving in a few parishes and ministering to a number of youths and young adults, along with directing many retreats and working summers in a camping ministry.

The Swedbergs were foster parents who took numerous

teen-age boys into their home, an experience they found so rewarding they continued to be foster parents for a few years, offering troubled teens much needed attention and services.

After a period of time not attending any church or faith services, the Swedbergs began attending Masses at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro. Drawn to the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, Swedberg expressed his desire to join the Catholic Church and has come to appreciate the consistency of 2,000 years of teaching the Biblical truth by the Church, which was founded upon the Rock of St. Peter. Swedberg says he has discovered his true home in the Church.

The Swedbergs became involved at La Salette through teaching various Bible studies,

Around the Diocese

St. John Neumann Parish, 157 Middleboro Road in East Freetown will be offering an Ecumenical Taizé Candlelight Prayer Service on Palm Sunday, March 29 at 7 p.m. It is a wonderful meditative way to begin the mysteries of Holy Week by quieting and collecting oneself and it helps set the tone for the Sacred days to follow.

The Catholic movement Communion and Liberation will sponsor a Way of the Cross beginning at St. Joseph-St. Therese Church, 1960 Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford, and processing through Brooklawn Park to Ashley Boulevard and Tarkiln Hill Road, on Good Friday, April 3, beginning at 11 a.m. All are invited to join this procession. The Way of the Cross will include prayers, readings, and hymns, and will be accompanied by Father Luca Brancolini, FSCB, who will provide brief meditations at various stops during the procession. The Way of the Cross will conclude at 1 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church on Tarkiln Hill Road. For more information, contact Amanda Sampson at clnewengland2@gmail.com or 508-817-7268.

The Lazarus Ministry of Our Lady of the Cape Parish in Brewster is offering a six-week bereavement support program entitled “Come Walk With Me” beginning April 9 and running through May 14 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The program meets for six weeks at the parish center and is designed for people who have experienced the loss of a loved one within the past year. Pre-registration is required and there is a $10 fee for materials. For more information or to register, contact Happy Whitman at 508385-3252, extension 10, or Judy Pregot at 508-896-8355.

The Southeastern Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Partnership is offering three seminars for caregivers. If you are currently a caregiver or expect to be in the future, this program will provide you with the tools to handle the demands of this responsibility. Panel members are professionals in a variety of fields and will provide valuable information on the topics of Elder Law, Adult Day Health, Alzheimer’s Association Programs, Assisted Living, Homecare, Hospice, Long-Term Care, Geriatric Care Managers, Monitoring Programs, Reverse Mortgages, State Agencies for Elder Services, and a caregiver’s personal experience. Following the presentation there will be a Q&A. The seminars will be held on April 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Good Shepherd Church, 1598 South Main Street in Fall River (RSVP to Jane Sullivan at 508-679-0535 or jelslaw@aol.com); May 3 at 12 noon at St. Andrew the Apostle Church, 19 Kilmer Avenue in Taunton (RSVP to Phoebe Worcester at 508-822-9200 or pcworcester@gmail. com); and May 6 at 4:30 p.m. at the Fairhaven Council on Aging, 229 Huttleston Avenue in Fairhaven (RSVP to Pat Midurski at 508-992-6278 or pmidurski@communitynurse.com). These seminars are very informative and can help people understand the issues surrounding caregiving.

Retrouvaille is a Christian Peer Ministry sponsored by the Catholic Church for married couples who are experiencing difficulties in their Marriage. If you are considering separation or divorce, Retrouvaille can help! The next Retrouvaille Marriage renewal weekends will be held on April 10-12 and September 11-13. To register for the weekend or for more information, call 1-800-470-2230 or visit www.helpourmarriage.com.

leading discussion groups, and have been involved in two tent revivals during the summer. “The Church has so much to offer,” they said, “and being retired, we try to involve ourselves in it as much as we can.”

Swedberg’s presentation will be focused on the Bible, which is filled with the rich and beautiful imagery of God calling people and revealing Himself to them on various mountains. As told in the Gospels, Christ often went up to the hills or mountains to be alone and pray to His Father. The journey of the people of the Catholic faith is a pilgrimage aimed at finding a deeper relationship with God and growing in holiness, ultimately living in His presence for eternity.

The Day of Recollection will be on April 11 at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, 19 Kilmer Avenue, Taunton. Coffee and doughnuts will be served at 9 a.m., with the program beginning at 9:45 a.m.; light refreshments will be served following the presentation. If you would like to attend, please call Bea Pereira at 508-823-7623.

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks 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, 1985 March 29 Rev. James H. Carr, S.T.L., Assistant, St. Patrick, Fall River, 1923 Rev. Msgr. Edward J. 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 and 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 1961, Rev. Adolph Banach, OFM Conv., Pastor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, New Bedford 1976, Rev. Donald Belanger, Pastor, St. Stephen, Attleboro 1993, Rev. James B. Coyle, Retired Pastor, St. Dorothea, Eatontown, N.J. April 3 Rev. Henry F. Kinnerny, Former Pastor, St. Peter, Sandwich, 1905 Rev. Clarence P. Murphy, Former Pastor, Our Lady of the Assumption, Osterville, 2010

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese Acushnet — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Evening prayer and Benediction is held Monday through Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

ATTLEBORO — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the Adoration Chapel at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, 71 Linden Street, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

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

ATTLEBORO — There is a weekly Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at St. John the Evangelist Church on N. Main St. Brewster — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the La Salette Chapel in the lower level of Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road, on First Fridays beginning at noon until 7:45 a.m. First Saturday, concluding with Benediction and concluding with Mass at 8 a.m. buzzards Bay — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, Monday through Saturday, from 6:30 to 8 a.m.; and every first Friday from noon to 8 a.m. on Saturday.

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

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

FAIRHAVEN — St. Mary’s Church, Main St., has Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Chapel of Reconciliation, with Benediction at 11:30 a.m. Also, there is a First Friday Mass each month at 7 p.m., followed by a Holy Hour with Eucharistic Adoration. Refreshments follow.

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

FALL RIVER — St. Bernadette’s Church, 529 Eastern Ave., has continuous Eucharistic Adoration from 8 a.m. on Thursday until 8 a.m. on Saturday.

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

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

FALL RIVER — Good Shepherd Parish has Eucharistic Adoration every Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass and concluding with 3 p.m. Benediction in the Daily Mass Chapel. A bilingual holy hour takes place from 2 to 3 p.m. Park behind the church and enter the back door of the connector between the church and the rectory.

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

MANSFIELD — St. Mary’s Parish, 330 Pratt Street, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with Benediction at 5:45 p.m.

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

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

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

NEW BEDFORD — St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, 565 County Street, holds Eucharistic Adoration in the side chapel from 7:30-11:45 a.m. ending with a simple Benediction NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m., ending with Benediction.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time.

NORTH DIGHTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Wednesday following 8:00 a.m. Mass and concludes with Benediction at 5 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration also takes place every First Friday at St. Nicholas of Myra Church, 499 Spring Street following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending with Benediction at 6 p.m. The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 8 a.m.

NORTH EASTON — A Holy Hour for Families including Eucharistic Adoration is held every Friday from 3-4 p.m. at The Father Peyton Center, 518 Washington Street.

ORLEANS — St. Joan of Arc Parish, 61 Canal Road, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday starting after the 8 a.m. Mass and ending with Benediction at 11:45 a.m. The Sacrament of the Sick is also available immediately after the 8 a.m. Mass.

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

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

Taunton — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Tuesday at St. Anthony Church, 126 School Street, following the 8 a.m. Mass with prayers including the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for vocations, concluding at 6 p.m. with Chaplet of St. Anthony and Benediction. Recitation of the Rosary for peace is prayed Monday through Saturday at 7:30 a.m. prior to the 8 a.m. Mass.

Taunton — Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord, 31 First Street. Exposition begins following the 8 a.m. Mass. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed, and Adoration will continue throughout the day. Confessions are heard from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Rosary and Benediction begin at 6:30 p.m.

WAREHAM — Eucharistic Adoration at St. Patrick’s Church begins each Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. and ends on Friday night at midnight. Adoration is held in our Adoration Chapel in the lower Parish Hall. ~ PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION ~ East Sandwich — The Corpus Christi Parish Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 324 Quaker Meeting House Road, East Sandwich. Use the Chapel entrance on the side of the church.

NEW BEDFORD — Our Lady’s Chapel, 600 Pleasant Street, offers Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day. For information call 508-996-8274.

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

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

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March 27, 2015

John P. Rita, brother of Father Thomas L. Rita EAST FREETOWN — Capt. John P. Rita, 77, passed away March 15, at the home where he and his beloved wife of 54 years, Theresa (Rego) Rita, had lived for more than four decades of their married life together. He is also survived by his brother, Father Thomas Rita of Fall River; his daughter, Beth Macomber of Assonet; his son and daughterin-law, Matt and Jackie Rita of Denver; and seven grandchildren: John, Anna and Bob Macomber, and Katie, Maddie, Jojo and Evie Rita.

A New Bedford native, he was the second of four sons born to the late Louis L. and Veronica (Earley) Rita. He was the brother of the late Jim and Larry Rita.

Rita was a graduate of New Bedford High School and Southeastern Massachusetts Technological Institute. He served in the Navy as a Radioman First Class (RM1) aboard the USS Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729) and the USS Jarvis (DD-799).

As a civilian, Rita later re-

turned to the sea, where he captained and owned four scallopers out of his hometown port: the Theresa R. II, the Theresa, the Odyssey, and the Matthew J. From 1989 to 1994, he was president of the New Bedford Seafood Co-operative Asso-

ciation.

After his retirement from the commercial fishing business, Rita enjoyed reading, following the markets and world affairs, and dispensing his unique brand of wisdom from his shoreside observation post (usually with jazz music playing in the background).

Sister Marilyn Spellman, SUSC

Like many area residents, he relished the recent successes of New England’s sports teams. But Rita’s greatest sources of joy were always found within his family.

The accomplishments of his grandchildren (in their studies), his children (in their professions), and his brother (in his ministry) never ceased to make him proud.

All of those experiences were shared with Rita’s devoted wife, Terry, who was his most constant companion and caregiver.

Even as their pace slowed and the shadows lengthened during their sunset years, he continued to enjoy life’s simple pleasures with her.

A Funeral Mass was celebrated March 19 St. John Neumann Church, East Freetown.

Burial followed at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Arrangements were in the care of South Coast Chapel. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Rita’s honor may be made to the National Lymphedema Network, at www.lymphnet. org/ways-to-help.

Donald J. Kirby, brother of Father Robert F. Kirby

ATTLEBORO — Donald J. Kirby, 77, passed away March 14 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton. He was the loving husband of Pauline (Labonte) Kirby for more than 58 years.

Born Dec. 14, 1937 in North Attleboro, he was a son of the late Robert F. and Aurore M. (Boutin) Kirby.

Donald was a lifelong resident of North Attleboro and Attleboro and moved to Christopher Heights in Attleboro in 2012. He and Pauline also wintered in Apollo Beach, Fla., for 10 years.

He was a graduate of Sacred Heart Elementary School in North Attleboro where he met Pauline and was a 1956 graduate of Sacred Heart Academy in Central Falls, R.I. He began his career at Achin’s Garage in North Attleboro and retired as a distributor and salesman of automotive parts after a career in the automotive business.

Donald was a licensed pilot and avid flier. He owned two planes which he originally flew out of Mansfield Airport and later North Central Airport in Smithfield,

R.I. He was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association, and he and Pauline enjoyed flying all across New

England.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by four children and their spouses: Michael and wife Carol Kirby

of North Attleboro, Daniel Kirby of Vermont, Patricia Kirby and husband Daniel Jones of North Attleboro and Brian Kirby of Attleboro; two siblings: Irene Champagne of Attleboro and Father Robert F. Kirby of Cape Cod and Florida; nine grandchildren and two brothersin-law: Robert Waterson of Cape Coral, Fla., and Gerard Champagne of South Attleboro.

He was brother of the late Helen Waterson and Lois Champagne and grandfather of the late Timothy Kirby.

A Funeral Mass was celebrated March 19 at Sacred Heart Church in North Attleboro.

Burial will be private at a later date.

BALTIMORE, Md. — Sister Marilyn Spellman (Sister Maureen Joseph), SUSC died in Baltimore on March 11 after a brief illness. A native of Astoria, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late John and Wilhelmina (Riddell) Spellman. In addition to her Holy Union Sisters, her sisters Patricia McGillen, Elaine Ciolli and Virginia Spellman, sister-in-law Jean Spellman and brother-in-law Richard McGillen as well as several nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews survive her. Her brothers John and Martin Spellman predeceased her.

Sister Spellman graduated from the Holy Union Preparatory High School, Tiverton, R.I..

She entered the Holy Union Sisters in Fall River, on Feb. 2, 1951, and pronounced her final vows on Aug. 22, 1959. She received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Fordham University and an master’s degree in administration from Bridgewater State University.

Sister Spellman’s ministries

included teaching, administration, province and congregational leadership. She taught at St. Francis de Sales School, New York City and served as principal at St. Michael School, Fall River and St. Francis de Sales School, Patchogue, N.Y. She was director of Education and Provincial Superior in the former Fall River Province of the Holy Union Sisters. She was administrative assistant and social justice educator in St. Louis Parish, Clarksville, Md. She was a member of the congregation’s General Council in Rome for six years.

She worked with the Rwandan Refugee Program in Tanzania and then served as special assistant to the executive director of Catholic Relief Services in Baltimore until she retired in 2008. After her retirement she volunteered at St. Leo Parish, Baltimore.

Her funeral took place at Immaculate Conception Church, Astoria, N.Y. and burial followed in Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, N.Y.

20

March 27, 2015

I

The Blues — a cure for the blues

heard and developed a passion ’ve mentioned before in for the Blues. The Blues seemed this column that life has to touch my soul more than any been throwing a number of other genre, except of course, for curve-balls my way, and I’ve Sacred music. been flailing at them to no When a musician plays the avail. I can look out my kitchen Blues from the soul, it’s not difwindow and see the huge wind ficult for the music to transfer turbine in the north end of into mine. It’s not so much the Fall River, and I’m reminded of lyrics that make the Blues the myself, just swinging at air.

Blues for me, it’s the melody, the I guess when it comes to back beat, the lead, the melding life, I’m a fast-ball hitter; but as of hands and instruments into a usual, I digress.

There are a few things that I lean on to take my mind off my lack of success against life’s curve-balls, and one of those is music.

I have always loved

By Dave Jolivet music.

When I was a pup, I’d carry my trusty little single feeling — a feeling that’s Philco transistor radio around difficult to describe. and tune the AM dial to 630 to When Emilie’s beau Danny listen to WPRO and the latest and I pull out our guitars and top 40 rock hits. It was also the place where I could listen to the jam on Sunday afternoons, venerable Salty Brine chime out, much of what we play is the Blues. It’s not a genre you can “No school Foster-Glocester,” fake. If you’re playing it from the on snowy weekday mornings. soul it’s magic; if not, then it’s This was also the radio I not. would keep under my pillow I can’t count the concerts I’ve when I went to bed, plug in the big old ear plug and listen to the been to through the years. I’ve seen and heard some prolific Red Sox broadcasts when they bands and performers, and I’ve were on the left coast. Unfortubeen trying to pass on that tradinately, it was also the source of tion to Emilie and Danny, when my first hearing that Robert F. Kennedy was shot in Los Ange- I can afford to. Today’s concert ticket prices are a far cry from les on June 5, 1968.

That trusty little AM transis- when I was a teen and in my 20s.

There is a method to this tor radio, with the black leather madness I’ve taken you through case, was my comfort food back for the past several paragraphs. then.

As I mentioned in the From there, as I grew older, column opener, life has been I got a Panasonic AM-FM hurling curve-balls my way for portable radio. I was growing away from the AM music scene a while now, and music is one of those diversions. and entering the world of FM Just recently I got to take rock — a whole new world, but Emilie and Danny (and Denise) just as comforting to me. It was to a concert at The Narrows in there where my musical tastes Fall River featuring the great expanded in many directions.

Blues legend Jimmie Vaughan.

Moving up and down the FM Vaughan is of the Texas Blues dial, I found myriad musical genres, other than the usual AM genre, hailing from the Blues mecca of Austin, Texas. He top 40. brought with him a tight band It was also there where I first

My View From the Stands

featuring someone on saxophone, trombone, the upright bass, a drummer, a fellow guitarist, and a singer, her too, hailing from the Austin music scene.

Our seats were practically on the stage, and Vaughan would solo within arm’s length of us.

I had a smile on my face I simply couldn’t wipe off. My gaze would dart from musician to musician, but mainly focused on Vaughan. The way he handled his Fender Stratocaster was effortless.

I, too, play a Strat, but the sounds I produce are a bit different!

Danny, who is also a Blues fanatic, was in awe of Vaughan, so much so, that his countenance was one of disinterest.

That was far from the case! But Vaughan picked up on it and during a song actually came up to Danny, bent down, while playing and asked him, “Are you OK?” Danny replied, “More than OK.” Vaughan smiled and went back to work.

To me, that was an incredible moment I’ll never forget (Danny either). A legend caring so much for his audience that he took the time to do that.

For two-plus hours there were no curve-balls hurled my way — because of the Blues.

Vaughan mentioned his iconic brother Stevie Ray (the best guitarist ever, in my opinion), and played one of his songs. I was in Blues Heaven.

After the show, I got to shake hands with the legend — not one of those glancing high fives, but a warm hand shake. Again, I was blown away by how downto-earth and genuine the man is.

It’s been a few weeks since the event, and I’ve replayed the evening countless times in my head.

Sometimes life can make me blue, but it was the Blues that lifted my spirits for a couple of priceless hours that evening. davejolivet@anchornews.org.

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