04.05.13

The Anchor Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

Friday, April 5, 2013

Pope Francis

‘Miserando atque eligendo’ The Anchor - April 5, 2013

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In a whirlwind time of change, diocesan seminarians remain grounded in the faith

By Dave Jolivet, Editor

FALL RIVER — It was only a few short weeks ago when The Anchor solicited reactions of diocesan seminarians to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s stunning resignation announcement.

The collective mood of the young men studying to be priests for the Diocese of Fall River was shock, sadness and respect for the man who shepherded the Catholic Church for the past eight years.

The students, however, didn’t have much time to dwell on the past, with the College of Cardinals quickly gathering in conclave to elect a new Successor to St. Peter. The focus quickly shifted to the future of the Catholic Church.

On March 13, on just its third vote, the College of Cardinals elected Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new pontiff. A Jesuit cardinal from Argentina, he selected the name Francis, beginning a pontificate already filled with surprises and changes.

Jack Schrader, from Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich, attending the Pontifical North American College in Rome was in St. Peter’s Square the evening Pope Francis was introduced. “Honestly, I expected to see black smoke, so I was extremely surprised and excited when the white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel,” he told The Anchor. “I was with good friends from the North American College and made new friends with the Italians around us.

The emotion and anticipation was great during the time of wait between the white smoke and the announcement of ‘Habemus Papam.’ We were chanting ‘Viva il Papa’ before we even knew who the new pope was.”

As the world watched and listened, Pope Francis emerged on the balcony for the first time, at first saying nothing, then leading the world’s Catho-

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lics in simple prayer. “I was deeply touched by his prayerfulness. Like a good father, he led us in the three prayers that every Catholic knows: the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory Be,” Schrader continued.

“With these prayers we interceded for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. I was touched even more powerfully when Pope Francis asked the whole crowd to pray in silence for him, our new pope. The thousands and thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square became silent. We prayed from our hearts for Pope Francis. That night will always be an inspiration for me to begin pastoral work in prayer with the faithful and to always beg the faithful to pray for me.”

A half a world away, in Brighton, Mass., seminarian Dan Connors, whose home parish is St. Mary’s in Mansfield, is studying at St. John’s Seminary. He, too, was waiting and watching on March 13. “When Cardinal Tauran announced that Cardinal Bergolio was elected pope, I asked my spiritual director ‘Who was he?’”

Connors told The Anchor. “He was not a name we heard talked about in the press. The vibes around the seminary are all positive and excitement with Pope Francis’ election.

The most exciting thing about the pope’s election is the fact the media was wrong all along about who they were speculating to be the leader or the next pope. With the media being wrong, I think it’s a strong affirmation that the Holy Spirit is truly the One calling the shots.”

Also in priestly formation at St. John’s Seminary is Matt Gill, a product of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Attleboro. Gill was gathered with a group of his classmates that afternoon (in the U.S.) when Pope Francis emerged. “When the Holy Father came out for the first time I was just amazed,” Gill said. “It was the first time I had ever witnessed a

new pope addressing the Church. I did not see Benedict come out and John Paul II was elected before my time. He stood there and at first I thought he was in shock but then I realized he was probably living in the moment and praying.”

“I was impressed when he asked us to pray for the pope emeritus, Benedict,” he continued. “I felt that it was very genuine and very simple.

I thought that it was beautiful that he asked us to pray for him. I also really liked the way he ended by simply saying good-night and rest well, something that a father would say to his children.”

A stone’s throw from Brighton, in Douglaston, N.Y., Neil Caswell is studying at Cathedral Seminary House of Formation. The seminarians there who were focused on the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel on March 13 were surrounded by members of the local press.

“It was an exciting time, in which

news reporters were in the room, catching the raw reactions of the joyful seminarians in New York receiving a ‘new boss,’” Caswell told The Anchor. “My initial reaction to the announcement on the balcony was one of shock and confusion. Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was not one of the cardinals speculated as a front runner by the media. As we quickly began to learn things about our new Holy Father, which was rather easy with the instant and infinite knowledge of the Internet, I became excited by the things I read about him (he cooked Turn to page 20

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 57, No. 13

Member: Catholic Press Association, Catholic News Service

Published weekly except for two weeks in the summer and the week after Christmas by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720, Telephone 508-6757151 — FAX 508-675-7048, email: theanchor@anchornews.org. Subscription price by mail, postpaid $20.00 per year, for U.S. addresses.

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PUBLISHER - Most Reverend George W. Coleman EXECUTIVE EDITOR Father Richard D. Wilson fatherwilson@anchornews.org EDITOR David B. Jolivet davejolivet@anchornews.org OFFICE MANAGER Mary Chase marychase@anchornews.org ADVERTISING Wayne R. Powers waynepowers@anchornews.org REPORTER Kenneth J. Souza k ensouza@anchornews.org REPORTER Rebecca Aubut beckyaubut@anchornews.org Send Letters to the Editor to: fatherwilson@anchornews.org

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Hispanic community jubilant over election of Pope Francis

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff

NEW BEDFORD — There are moments in life when you remember where you were when significant events happen, and when the white smoke began to rise from the Sistine Chapel signaling the election of a new pope, Father Craig Pregana, pastor of Our L ady of Guadalupe at St. James Parish in New Bedford and director of the diocesan Hispanic Apostolate, found himself in

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the rectory.

Recalling his initial reaction to hearing the name — “I thought maybe they were pronouncing O’Malley wrong,” he said, laughing — Father Pregana realized history was being made when he recognized the full impact of the election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina; a reaction shared by his fellow Spanish community members when word got out and an impromptu Holy Hour was held at his church just hours after the election.

“They were very animated to know that it was a Latin American pope,” said Father Pregana of his parishioners, who sang songs of praise and shared personal stories of how they felt about the election. “Once they heard, they immediately wanted to get together and that impressed me. As a community they wanted to celebrate, and I thought that was wonderful.”

Sister Ana Maria Corona, OP, of the Hispanic Apostolate of the Fall River Diocese and St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Attleboro, was able to share the moment with her fellow Sisters when, while attending a presentation at her convent of the Dominican Sisters, “I heard one of the Sisters screaming, ‘White smoke! White smoke!’” she recalled. “We all ran to the television room to see one of, if not the most important, chimney in the world.”

“I wasn’t sure if I heard or understood correctly,” contin-

ued Sister Ana Maria, of the name being read. “I heard a cardinal from a Latin American country and I thought, is that right? However, since the beginning of the announcement of the election of a new pope, we have been praying to the Holy Spirit that He may send the right person to be the leader of His Church, so I just felt that Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was the one meant to be the new pope. I also think that the world is ready for a Latin American pope, since a great number of Catholics are found in that part of the hemisphere.”

While many of those in the Hispanic community were rejoicing over the first pope elected from Latin America, Edwin Aldarondo, parishioner of St. Kilian’s Parish in New Bedford, admits he had a different reaction.

“My reaction wasn’t in the fact that we had our first Latin America or Hispanic pope, I was content with the fact that we had a pope,” said Aldarondo. “A pope represents the Vicar of Christ, regardless of what country they’re from; [he] could have been an African or an Italian — they’re all the same to me. My reaction would have been the same.”

The pope’s choice in his elected name wasn’t lost on anyone.

“He’s a Jesuit cardinal who was elected to be a pope,” said Aldarondo. “He chose a Franciscan name in Francis, and he dresses in white as a Dominican; so I saw all that and thought, what do all those symbols mean? And the more I listen and hear the Catholic media, I’ve come to the understanding that perhaps he is the right person for the time.”

Pope Francis may be figuratively setting the stage for the direction of the Church in his name choice, but during his introduction to the world it was his choice in footwear that made many sit up and notice; no red shoes for this pope, said Father Pregana.

“The color of the pope’s shoes — what does it matter whether the shoes are red or black? But it matters a lot,” said Father Pregana. “He’s saying he’s in a priest’s workman shoes; he’s in my black shoes. So he’s walking and working alongside us. So do the colors of the shoes matter? It does, it says a lot.”

He continued, “Although the pope has touched off on the simplicity of St. Francis, the image that had repeatedly come to my mind is ‘rebuild my Church.’ I think the Church, and as a priest I think the clergy, needs to be rebuilt. You hear so much about the horrible things; there are so many priests who do such good work. It’s a time when we need to be rebuilt as clergy, as well.”

Sister Ana Maria already feels the pope is bringing a breath of fresh air to the Church by his examples of humility; a virtue extolled by St. Francis of Assisi, she said; “It’s no wonder the pope chose Francis for his papal name.”

“The fact that he is a Jesuit means that he is a member of a religious order,” said Sister Ana Maria. “Therefore, he has a great understanding of religious life because he has lived it … the Church teaches clearly, constantly and consistently throughout the ages on the meaning, the characteristics and the way of living of authentic religious life.”

Aldarondo sees Church reform on the horizon, Turn to page 23

Vatican TV documentary reveals Pope Francis’ first words Vatican City (CNA/EWTN News) — The Vatican Television Center released the documentary “Francesco” this week, providing an intimate look at the historic events that led to the election of Pope Francis, including his first words after his election.

Msgr. Dario Edoardo Vigano, director of Vatican Television, recalled that the first words of Pope Francis when he was elected were, “I am a great sinner confident in the patience and mercy of God. In suffering, I accept.”

The film, titled “Francis: The Election of a Pope from the Ends of the Earth,” was distributed throughout Italy as a supplement to the April 2 edition of the national newspaper Il Corriere della Sera.

It follows the historic events that have occurred at the Vatican, beginning with Benedict XVI renouncing the papacy on February 11 and concluding with the March 23 meeting between Pope Francis and his predecessor at Castel Gandolfo.

The documentary reconstructs the pivotal moments of the period using interviews with four cardinals — Cardinal Angelo Comastri, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica; Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture; and Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals.

The DVD supplement in Italian will cost 10.90 euros, and there are plans to make it available in English, French and Spanish through the company HDH Communications.

The film will be debuted for an international audience in Florence and Cannes, Msgr. Vigano said.

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Jesuits share in the joy of newly-elected Pope Francis

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

FALL RIVER — Although his papal namesake is St. Francis of Assisi, Father Myles Sheehan, S.J., provincial of the New England Society of Jesus, said the words and actions of Pope Francis in the short time since his election also suggest a close affinity

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to the founder of his Jesuit order, St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Citing the Jesuit prayer known as “Suscipe,” Father Sheehan quoted: “I give it all back to You and surrender it wholly to be governed by Your will.

Give me only Your love and Your grace, and I am rich enough and ask for nothing more.”

Pope Francis’ knack for simplicity and humility are trademarks of the Jesuit way of life, according to Father Sheehan.

“The Holy Father, who as a Jesuit prayed (this prayer) … has now entered in an even more radical way into the meaning of this prayer of St. Ignatius,” Father Sheehan said. “It is

an extraordinary moment in the life of the Church. Although we are, of course, excited about the Holy Father’s Jesuit roots, we are more excited about his ministry to the Universal Church and pray for courage and wisdom for him as he begins this journey of faith.”

Fellow Jesuit Father James Martin, Continued on page seven

Continued from page six S.J., best-selling author of “The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life” and contributing editor with America, the national Catholic magazine, said he was “surprised and dumbfounded” when they announced the name of Jorge Bergoglio as the new pope.

“I recognized his name instantly as a Jesuit and I was overjoyed,” Father Martin told The Anchor. “I thought the odds of it being a Jesuit were about 100 to one, almost literally. He was the only Jesuit in the conclave. It was a moment of great joy and elation to see a Jesuit pope. But obviously I’m a little biased.”

For Father Martin, Pope Francis’ affable demeanor and quick smile are characteristic of Jesuit spirituality.

“I think people respond to humility, simplicity and poverty,” he said. “They certainly responded to it in the life of the original (St.) Francis.”

Father General P. Adolfo Nicolás, S.J., superior general of the Society of Jesus, noted in an official statement shortly after the Holy Father’s election: “From the very first moment in which he appeared before the people of God, he gave visible witness to his simplicity, his humility, his pastoral experience and his spiritual depth.”

Concurring that “refreshing” would be an ideal word to describe Pope Francis, Father Martin said he’s also unleashed a renewed interest in Jesuit spirituality over the last two weeks.

“It’s been gratifying that I’ve gotten more requests for articles and interviews recently regarding what a Jesuit is than I have in the last 10 years,” he said.

Father Martin said another trademark of the Jesuits — the order’s commitment to education and teaching — has been exemplified by Pope Francis in the way he preaches.

“He’s smart enough to know that a simple homily does wonders,” Father Martin said. “That comes not only from his Jesuit background, but from his background as an archbishop. I think you’re seeing the benefits of choosing someone … who has a long history of pastoral work. It’s interesting how Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict and now Pope Francis all bring different skills to the job. Pope John Paul was a great philosopher, Pope Benedict was a great theologian, and Pope Francis is a great pastor, so they all bring different talents to the papacy.”

But Father Harvey D. Egan, S.J., emeritus professor of theology at Boston College, said the election of the firstever Jesuit pope is something of a mixed blessing.

“I’m proud, to be sure, but also aware that St. Ignatius of Loyola … fought tooth-and-nail not to have any of his men made cardinals,” Father Egan told The Anchor. “Although times have changed, I doubt that St. Ignatius would have wanted a Jesuit pope.”

Noting that members of the Jesuit order sometimes “tend to be less cleri-

cal than some diocesan clergy,” Father Egan also said they come with “the same mix of virtues and weaknesses that beset everyone.”

“I think the College of Cardinals selected him for his emotional, intellectual, and spiritual gifts,” Father Egan said. “I can only guess that … they wanted someone from South America, a continent with a large Catholic population.”

In reading some of the post-conclave analyses, Father Martin said he understood several of the well-known contenders being touted as the successor to Pope Benedict XVI in the media were eliminated for different reasons during the voting process.

“The cardinals seemed to have wanted an outsider who could shake things up a bit,” he said. “But I think it was much more the work of the Holy Spirit when you see how people have responded to him.”

Like so many in the Catholic media who have been closely following Pope Francis since his election, Father Martin said he has been very moved and impressed with the new pontiff thus far.

“From his very humble gesture of asking for people’s prayers at the beginning, to his comments to journalists saying he wants us to be a Church of the poor, to his celebrating Mass and greeting people afterwards at St. Anne’s Parish, to his stopping the motorcade and blessing the disabled man at his inaugural Mass, to even the story of him returning rubber bands to the newspaper kiosk in Argentina — they’ve all touched me and I’ve been very moved by his election and his subsequent papacy,” Father Martin said.

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Pope Francis to live in Vatican guesthouse, not papal apartments

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Square, Father Lombardi said.

Francis has decided not to move into The apartments contain a chapel, the papal apartments in the Apostolic an office for the pope and a separate Palace, but to live in a suite in the office for his secretaries, the pope’s Vatican guesthouse where he has been bedroom, a dining room, kitchen and since the beginning of the conclave rooms for two secretaries and for the that elected him, said Jesuit Father household staff.

Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesWhen Pope Francis returned to man. the guesthouse after his election, “He is experimenting with this Father Lombardi had said the move type of living arrangement, which is was intended to be short-term while simple,” but allows a few small work e will be the first projects were comhim “to live in community with others,” pope in 110 years pleted in the papal the permanent resi- not to live in the papal apart- apartments. He said dents — priests and March 26 that all bishops who work ments on the third floor of the work had been at the Vatican — as the Apostolic Palace. completed, but at well as guests comleast for the foreseeing to the Vatican for meetings and able future, Pope Francis would not conferences, Father Lombardi said move in. recently.

The Domus Sanctae Marthae, The spokesman said Pope Francis named after St. Martha, is a five-story has moved out of the room he drew by building on the edge of Vatican City. lot before the conclave and into Suite While offering relative comfort, the 201, a room that has slightly more residence is not a luxury hotel. The elegant furnishings and a larger living building has 105 two-room suites and room where he can receive guests.

26 singles; about half of the rooms are The Domus Sanctae Marthae, the occupied by the permanent residents. official name of the guesthouse, was Each suite has a sitting room with a built in 1996 specifically to house desk, three chairs, a cabinet and large cardinals during a conclave. closet; a bedroom with dresser, night Celebrating Mass March 26 with table and clothes stand; and a private the residents and guests, Pope Francis bathroom with a shower. told them he intended to stay, Father The rooms all have telephones and Lombardi said. The permanent resi- access to an international satellite dents, who had to move out during the television system. conclave, had just returned to their The building also has a large meetold rooms. ing room and a variety of small sitting Pope Francis has been there since rooms. In addition to the dining room his election March 13, taking his and the main chapel, it also has four meals in the common dining room private chapels, located at the end of downstairs and celebrating a 7 a.m. hallways on the third and fifth floors Mass with Vatican employees in the of each of the building’s two wings. main chapel of the residence.

He will be the first pope in 110 years not to live in the papal apartments on the third floor of the Apostolic Palace.

In 1903, St. Pius X became the first pope to live in the apartments overlooking St. Peter’s Square. The apartments were completely remodeled by Pope Paul VI in 1964 and have undergone smaller modifications by each pope since, according to “Mondo Vaticano,” a Vatican-published miniencyclopedia about Vatican buildings, offices and tradition.

The large living room or salon of the apartment is located directly above the papal library where official audiences with visiting bishops and heads of state are held.

Pope Francis will continue to use the library for official audiences and to recite the Angelus prayer on Sundays and holy days from the apartment window overlooking St. Peter’s

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Earlier this week we celebrated Easter Monday, a day not noticed by most of our society (we are fortunate that some stores still remain closed on Easter Sunday). In Vatican City it does remain a holiday and Pope Francis marked it with a brief speech along with the noontime “Regina Caeli” prayer (which takes the place of the Angelus during the 50 days of Easter).

In it he said twice, “Without grace we can do nothing!” Then he added, “With the grace of Baptism and of Eucharistic Communion I can become an instrument of the mercy of God, of that beautiful mercy of God.” Much has been written about the symbolism of different actions of Pope Francis, often so as to contrast him with other pontiffs, but in what he said on Easter Monday, he reminded us of a fundamental truth that never changes.

Jesus Himself said, “You can do nothing without Me” (Jn 15:5), while before His birth the Archangel Gabriel said to Mary, “Nothing will be impossible for God” (Lk 1:37). As an adult, Jesus told the disciples (in a conversation about who can be saved), “For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible” (Mt 19:26). To reach this “impossible” salvation, we need the grace of God to bring us to ask for God’s forgiveness, which He is always willing to grant (see Father Landry’s column below this editorial, Father Cabral’s homily on page 20 and the witness of the abortion clinic worker who was healed of her guilt via the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, as reported on page 19).

Easter Monday the pope spoke about the change which can come about when we let our Baptism and Communion “come to life”

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within us. “They must be translated into attitudes, behaviors, gestures and choices. The grace contained in the Easter Sacraments is a potential for enormous renewal for [one’s] personal existence, for family life, for social relationships. But everything passes through the human heart: If I let the grace of the Risen Christ reach me, if I permit Him to change in me that aspect which is not good, which can hurt me and hurt others, [then] I permit the victory of Christ to take hold of my life, to expand its beneficial action.”

As said earlier, the secular media is enthralled with the “newness” of Pope Francis’ way of serving as pope, as if he were inventing it “out of whole cloth.” However, the cloth from which he is trying to take it is that of the burial cloth of Christ, to which we were united in our own Baptisms. We have died with Him to our old, sinful ways of behaving, so as to arise to a new way of loving God with our entire being and loving our neighbor as ourselves.

“Behold,” said the Holy Father, “dear brothers and sisters, this is our daily duty, but I would say it is also our daily joy! The joy of feeling oneself as an instrument of the grace of Christ, as branches of the vine that is He Himself, animated by the sap of His Spirit!” (The Holy Father showed his earthy side in that remark.)

Our Argentine pontiff’s ways may seem new, but the message is one which we have always had directed to us by God. We ask God for His help in living it out. If we do, then the Queen of Heaven will truly rejoice (to paraphrase the Regina Caeli prayer), because she will see her daughters and sons embracing the grace that her Son is always offering us.

POLICY CLARIFICATIONS

The Anchor has always reserved the right to edit “letters to the editor” for whatever reason (for content reasons or even just to correct improper English). Unfortunately, the executive editor failed to notice an ad hominem attack on one of the priests of our diocese in last week’s edition. The letter-writer appears to have concluded that (due to the priest’s more traditional approach to the distribution of Holy Communion) he is in need of “a bit more of Christ’s compassion” in his “interaction with his parishioners.” It would seem that Father Johnson did have compassion for his parishioners and for Catholics in general, which is why his concern motivated him to write, so as to bring to our minds the need for growth in our respect towards the Christ in the Eucharist. This is not to say that the letter-writer wanted to personally attack Father Johnson, but her letter appeared to make a moral conclusion about him just from his earlier letter.

Since the other clergy and lay employees of the diocese do not work at The Anchor, they do not have the ability to defend themselves directly in these pages, as the executive editor does. Thus, criticism of him (one would hope of the constructive type, such as in the letter to the editor calling him to task for seeming to excuse laxity, right before the one criticizing Father Johnson’s approach) is much more fair game, since he has the entire newspaper in which he can craft a reply.

Also, The Anchor reserves the right to limit submissions from the same authors, so as to have a greater variety of voices in the paper. In doing so, we are not actually only limiting critics, since at least one of the letters we turned down was laudatory.

Lastly, as you can read on page 25, we are beginning a new feature here in The Anchor: “School Views.” We have invited each of the diocesan high schools to submit articles prepared by reporters from their student newspapers and magazines. We look forward to running more in the future.

The devotion to experience Christ as Savior

n Sunday, Pope Francis in his Easter greeting before his solemn blessing for the city and the world (Urbi et Orbi), said that greatest Easter wish would be for “every heart” to recognize that “Jesus is risen, there is hope for you, you are no longer in the power of sin, of evil! Love has triumphed, mercy has been victorious! The mercy of God always triumphs!”

His choice of saying “every heart,” rather than“every mind,” was intentional. Many might recognize this truth intellectually, but they may not yet truly embrace it; and they have to grasp it with their heart to experience the true joy of the resurrection that Jesus wants to give us.

Francis invited everyone to “accept the grace of Christ’s Resurrection,” and then defined that grace as the transformation that occurs when we receive God’s mercy in our hearts so deeply that we begin to share it: “Let us be renewed by God’s mercy, let us be loved by Jesus, let us enable the power of His love to transform our lives, too; and let us become agents of this mercy.”

These are powerful words as we approach Divine Mercy Sunday as the culmination of the Easter Octave on Sunday.

This connection between Easter and

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Happy Easter (still)!

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the assimilation and sharing of God’s His Resurrection is through Reconcilimercy Jesus Himself will underline at ation. He emphasized this connection in Mass on Sunday in the Gospel we’ll the Parable of the Prodigal Son when hear. the father said: “My son was dead and Jesus’ first act upon appearing to His has come back to life again.” Every Apostles was to wish them peace and Reconciliation, therefore, is meant to be then make them capable of bringing a resurrection. peace between God and human beings That’s why it’s so fitting that Divine out to the Mercy Sunworld. “Just day be the as the Father exclamation Putting Into sent Me, so point on the the Deep I send you,” joy of the He declared, Easter Ocand we tave.

By Father know that One of Roger J. Landry the Father the reasons sent Jesus why, I beinto the world as the Lamb of God to lieve, that Divine Mercy is not just antake away the world’s sins. He breathed other devotion, is because it is essential on them the power of the Holy Spirit — for the true joy and reality of Easter to since only God can forgive sins — and penetrate our hearts and for us to relate said, “Those whose sins you forgive are to the Lord as He desires and deserves forgiven; those whose sins you retain to be loved. are retained,” setting up the essential It wasn’t enough in the 12th and structure of the Sacrament of Penance 13th centuries, for example, for the and Reconciliation. The only way the truth about the Real Presence of Jesus in Apostles, their successors and their priest the Holy Eucharist to be grasped intelcollaborators would know which sins to lectually. Jesus desired that this reality forgive and retain would be if people told pass from our heads, to our hearts to them their sins. our knees, and through Blessed Juliana Jesus did this all on Easter Sunday of Liège, Father Peter of Prague, St. night because the way we experience Thomas Aquinas and other instruments,

brought about true Eucharistic piety and appreciation for Christ in what He would later call the “Sacrament of love.”

The feast of Corpus Christi, Eucharistic adoration, 40-hour devotions and other practices were all born from this desire of the Lord, not because He was a hypersensitive narcissist who wanted our attention and appreciation — far from it!

— but because He wanted to transform and bless us through our taking His real presence seriously.

He did the same thing with His mercy, first through stimulating devotion to His Sacred Heart and then, in the 1930s, through His apparitions to St. Faustina Kowalska, asking her to bring to the world His desire for us to recognize our need for His mercy, come to receive it in the way He established, and, having been transformed by it, begin to share it with others.

In a world with so much unexpiated guilt leading to ceaseless cycles of violence, vengeance, hatred, and interpersonal and international wars, Jesus candidly declared that the world will not have peace until it turns to receive and share His mercy. Jesus established five practices by which we could grow in love of Him as Mercy Incarnate. These are practices that are destined to lead not Turn to page 12

BROTHERS IN ARMS — Pope Francis embraces emeritus Pope Benedict XVI at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, March 23.

Pope Francis travelled by helicopter from the Vatican to Castel Gandolfo for a private meeting with the retired pontiff. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters)

Pope Francis meets retired Pope Benedict, says ‘we’re brothers’

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) — With a warm embrace, a helping hand, shared prayer, a long discussion and lunch together, Pope Francis spent several hours with retired Pope Benedict XVI March 23 at the papal summer villa.

Pope Francis gave Pope Benedict an icon of Mary and Jesus that the Russian Orthodox delegation to his inauguration had given him just a few days earlier.

“They told me this was Our Lady of Humility. If I may say, I thought of you,” Pope Francis said. Pope Emeritus Benedict, obviously moved, grasped his successor’s hands.

Pope Francis told his predecessor, “You gave us so many examples of humility and tenderness.”

The meeting took place in Castel Gandolfo, where Pope Benedict is staying while a Vatican monastery is being remodeled as a residence for him.

The retired pope moved with much greater difficulty than he did a month ago.

Walking with a cane, he took smaller and slower steps.

When the two went into the chapel of the papal villa to pray, Pope Benedict indicated that Pope Francis should take the front pew, but Pope Francis, reaching out to help his predecessor walk, said, “We’re brothers,” and they knelt side by side.

Traveling by helicopter from the Vatican, Pope Francis arrived shortly after noon. While the two have spoken by telephone at least twice, this was their first meeting since Pope Francis’ March 13 election.

The retired pontiff, wearing a quilted white jacket over a simple white cassock — without a short cape or white sash — was driven to the garden heliport to greet his successor.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said the two rode in the same car to the villa. Pope Francis sat on the right — the spot reserved for the pope — and Pope Benedict sat on the left.

After their visit to the chapel, the two spent 45 minutes talking alone, Father Lombardi said. He would not release details of the conversation and would not explain what was in the large box and two large envelopes seen on the table between the two.

The two had lunch together at Castel Gandolfo, then reportedly went for a short walk. Pope Francis returned to the Vatican about two-and-a-half hours after he arrived.

Hundreds of people who were gathered in the main square outside the papal villa were left disappointed. They had hoped the two popes — one reigning, one emeritus — would come to the balcony together.

Father Lombardi told reporters, “Remember that the retired pope had already expressed his unconditional reverence and obedience to his successor at his farewell meeting with the cardinals, February 28, and certainly in this meeting — which was a moment of profound and elevated communion — he will have had the opportunity to renew this act of reverence and obedience to his successor.”

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The devotion to experience Christ as Savior continued from page 10

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The Anchor - April 5, 2013

only to personal renewal, but parochial and ecclesial renewal — and through ecclesial renewal, to bring about the renewal of the world.

The type of renewal by God’s mercy that Pope Francis talked about on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square has been one of the central ideas of his approach to the faith throughout his life.

We examined last week how he discovered his own vocation as a 16-year-old boy through his experience of God’s mercy in the confessional and how, through his motto “Miserando atque Eligendo,” he is announcing to the world that the Lord chooses us to be His disciples precisely through looking at us with a glance of loving mercy.

An authentically Christian discipleship begins with our recognition that we’re sinners in need of salvation and the concomitant experience that that Savior looks on us with merciful love.

“For me, feeling oneself a sinner is one of the most beautiful things that can happen, if it leads to its ultimate consequences” the future Pope Francis said in a 2010 book length interview, “El Jesuita.” At the Easter Vigil, he says, we sing “O Felix culpa,” exulting in the “happy sin” that brought us to experience the love of the Redeemer.

“When a person becomes conscious that he is a sinner and is saved by Jesus, he proclaims this truth to himself and discovers the pearl of great price, the treasure buried in the field. He discovers the greatest thing in life: that there

is someone Who loves him profoundly, Who gave His life for him.”

Many Catholics have sadly not had this fundamental Christian experience, he lamented. “There are people who believe the right things, who have received catechesis and accepted the Christian faith in some way, but who do not have the experience of having been saved.”

He then gave a powerful metaphor of what the authentic experience of God’s mercy is like. “It’s one thing when people tell us a story about someone risking his life to save a boy drowning in the river. It’s something else when I’m the one drowning and Someone gives His life to save me.”

That’s what Christ did for us to save us from the eternal watery grave of the deluge of sin, a truth we celebrate with jubilation on Divine Mercy Sunday.

That’s what we should celebrate every day of our life, just like someone whose life has been saved by a hero would never be able to forget his Savior or thank Him enough.

Unfortunately, he said, “There are people to whom you tell the story who don’t see it, who don’t want to see, who don’t want to know what happened to that boy, who always have escape hatches from the situation of drowning and who therefore lack the experience of who they are. I believe that only we great sinners have this grace.”

The experience of God’s mercy — which the Divine Mercy devotion fosters — helps us to experience who we really are: Unless we see ourselves as great sinners rescued by the merciful, life-giving love of our Savior, we don’t yet grasp who God is, who we are, and how to have life to the full.

The future pope defined himself in “El Jesuita” as a “sinner who has been loved by the mercy of God in a privileged way.” And he’s seeking to help us all to see ourselves through the same lenses.

That’s the path to our living our faith with as much joy and self-giving as we’ve all been marveling to see in Francis.

Father Landry is pastor of St. Bernadette Parish in Fall River.

His email address is fatherlandry@ catholicpreaching.com.

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HABEMUS “LITTLE” PAPAM — We have a little pope! Or at least Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford did during its Easter Experience. Kindergarten student Eamon Martin donned papal garments and was wheeled down a hallway amidst fellow students waving palms, flags and noisemakers. And while the real Pope Francis has opted not to wear red shoes, Martin made up for the lack of true authenticity by beaming among his fellow classmates, and even “blessing” parents and faculty watching the procession.

‘Pope Francis’ leads Easter experience at New Bedford school

By Becky Aubut - Anchor Staff

NEW BEDFORD — He stood in his “pope-mobile” as students from kindergarten through third grade lined the “Palm Sunday Hall” at Holy FamilyHoly Name School in New Bedford, holding palms, flags and noisemakers.

Like Jesus riding His donkey into Jerusalem, “Pope Francis” began to process down the hall and the children erupted into cheers as Sister Muriel Lebeau called out, “Wave! Make noise for Pope Francis!”

Eamon Martin, a.k.a. “Pope Francis,” beamed and even blessed some of the parents. The kindergartner was wheeled slowly down and around the corridor; when the procession was over, the children were guided into the gymnasium to begin their own special Easter Experience.

Five priests were on hand to lead the children: Father Marek Chmurski, pastor of St. Lawrence Martyr Parish in New Bedford; Father Brian Harrington, retired; Father Craig Pregana, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Parish in New Bedford; Father Michael Racine of St. Bernard Parish in Assonet; and Father Paul Zaconnie, chaplain at Sacred Heart Nursing Home in New Bedford.

“It makes it nice having five different priests,” said Sister Muriel. “Their approach is a little different.”

There were 107 students present as Father Zaconnie narrated the procession, leading to Father Chmurski marking Holy Thursday with all the priests sitting at a table with props laid

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out as a meal.

“This meal is the Eucharist,” said Father Chmurski, reading from a script provided to all the priests. “This special meal always take place during the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is near our Easter time.”

During this the children shared “bread and wine” before transitioning to Good Friday, where Father Racine helped some students hang their intentions on a cross. In one of the more dramatic moments during the celebration, the lights were turned off, sound effects of rain and thunder filled the room as Father Racine burned paper

hearts while saying, “Your teachers will give me your paper hearts and we will burn them. As they are burning, we will ask Jesus to give us a new heart and to make our heart like His heart. Jesus died for us because He loves us. Quietly talk to Him and thank Him.” Father Harrington led the priests into anointing the students as a sign of renewal of his or her baptismal vows, and then each child crossed a small bridge to sit before the stage where Father Pregana read a story, and then had the children giggling over a cracked egg — a symbol of how things on the surface may not always

be true to what can be found once the surface is cracked, just like when the followers of Jesus came to His tomb, only to discover the stone rolled away and Jesus’ Body gone.

The children ended their Easter experience with a group of girls dressed as butterflies — another symbol of awakening and growing in the Catholic faith — and ending the dance with wings spread open to reveal the word, “Alleluia.”

“It really is a beautiful experience,” said Sister Muriel. “It’s very powerful but it’s done at their age level. The kids really get a lot out of it.”

TENDING TO THE FLOCK — Five priests came forward to be part of the Easter Experience put on by Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford. Guiding the kindergarten through third-graders was, from left: Father Craig Pregana, Father Michael Racine, Father Marek Chmurski, Father Paul Zaconnie, and Father Brian Harrington. Here the priests sit before sharing “bread and wine” and then moving on to five Easter stations highlighted during the event. (Photos by Becky Aubut)

Bishop, priests and laity come together to celebrate Chrism Mass

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

FALL RIVER — In addition to the various observances of the Easter Triduum, there is an equally-significant celebration that takes place separately from the services held on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter weekend that remains intrinsically linked to the Paschal Mystery.

The annual Mass of Chrism was traditionally held on the morning of Holy Thursday, according to Father Jeff Cabral of the diocesan Tribunal office, but it can be celebrated on another day during Holy Week.

“In many dioceses, such as our own, it is moved to a more convenient time, but always during Holy Week, as it should be celebrated close to Easter,” Father Cabral said. “The new oils that are blessed by the bishop are obviously used on the night of the Easter Vigil when hundreds of catechumens and candidates enter the Church. And since Holy Thursday celebrates the institution of the Eucharist and of Holy Orders, it is only appropriate that we celebrate the Chrism Mass — when the bishop gathers together with his presbyterate and the faithful of the diocese — during Holy Week.”

The Fall River Diocese celebrated its Chrism Mass on the Tuesday of Holy Week at 4 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, with Bishop George W. Coleman presiding.

“The Chrism Mass is a bridge from the Palm Sunday Liturgy to the celebrations of the Triduum and Easter,” said Father Marcel H. Bouchard, pastor of St. Mary-Our Lady of the Isle Parish in Nantucket. “The bridge is lined with the bishop and his priests humbly renewing their vows and with all those faithful whose need for God and His grace will be met through the use of the holy oils and chrism.”

The Mass is not only an opportunity for the collective diocesan priests to manifest unity with their bishop and reaffirm their priestly vows, but also to bless and distribute the three sacred oils — the Oil of Catechumens (Oleum Catechumenorum), the Oil of the Sick (Oleum Infirmorum), and the Holy Chrism (Sacrum Chrisma) — used in most of the Sacraments within their parishes.

“I would say that the biggest significance of the Chrism Mass is that of unity — the unity of the diocese, and the unity of the priests with their bishop,” said Father Cabral. “Since the bishop is the only one in our diocese who can consecrate the Holy Chrism, this Mass highlights his ministry and our union with him. He cannot baptize and confirm everyone in the diocese, but through the chrism, which the priests and deacons will use, the bishop

will be symbolically present. The Chrism Mass also shows the unity and the fraternity of the presbyterate of the diocese as the priests renew their commitment of priestly service and receive the prayers and support of the people who gather at the cathedral.”

“I find the Chrism Mass a wonderful opportunity to celebrate as a diocesan family with the priests, deacons,

of olive oil and an aromatic resin known as balsam, is a key component of sanctifying individuals through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders. As such, the blessing of Holy Chrism involves not only prayers but also the bishop breathing into the urn, recalling the descent of the Holy Spirit and when Our Lord “breathed” on the Apostles after the

HOLY OIL — Bishop George W. Coleman blesses the first of three urns containing the Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of the Sick and the Holy Chrism that will be used by priests of the diocese in their parish ministries during the annual Chrism Mass held at St. Mary’s Cathedral during Holy Week. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza) seminarians and religious as well as the lay people who we minister to on a daily basis,” agreed Father Michael Racine, pastor of St. Bernard’s Parish in Assonet. “I was very impressed with the number of lay people in attendance (this year).”

The Chrism Mass tradition has roots dating back to the Gelasian Sacramentary, named after Pope Gelasius I, which was observed in the early Church and later included as a part of the Holy Thursday evening Liturgy.

Under Pope Pius XII the Chrism Mass became a distinct celebration observed during Holy Week.

Consisting essentially of olive oil (with balsam added to the oil of Chrism), the three sacred oils to be blessed by the bishop are stored in special urns known as chrismaria and kept in a cabinet known as an ambry. After they are blessed during the Chrism Mass, the oils are then distributed to the various priests of the diocese in smaller containers with three compartments known as an “oil stock.”

The Oil of Catechumens is used in the Sacrament of Baptism, to anoint the chests of candidates as they are welcomed into the faith.

The Oil of the Sick is used in the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick (previously known as Extreme Unction) for those who are ill, dying or during healing Masses.

Holy Chrism, which is a mixture

resurrection, saying “Receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn 20:22).

Chrism is also used to dedicate and consecrate new churches and altars and in former times it was used to consecrate patens and chalices as well.

Father Daniel Lacroix, pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis, said he hasn’t missed a Chrism Mass in 25 years and it “reminds us of our connection as priests with the bishop and the local Church, the diocese, our ordination and our Sacramental ministry.”

“The Oil of Catechumens and Holy

Chrism remind us of our mission to welcome children and adults into the Church through Baptism; the Oil of the Sick, our ministry to the sick and dying,” Father Lacroix added. “It becomes our annual reminder to live our vocation as priests and pray for each other and for the community of the laity to pray and support their parish priests.”

Another important aspect of the Chrism Mass is the Renewal of Priestly Promises made by the presbyterate immediately following the Liturgy of the Word. Recalling the anniversary of the night Jesus conferred the priesthood on His Apostles during the Last Supper, the bishop asks his priests to renew their vows before God. “The renewal of priestly vows gives us a chance to reflect upon our ministry in a spiritual way to bring Christ to the people,” said Father Racine. “As pastors priesthood can tend to focus on the administrative duties. To me, this part of the Liturgy focuses on the reality and true meaning of the priesthood — the Sacraments and the people of God in every aspect of their lives.”

Special recognition is given to priests celebrating significant anniversaries of their priestly ordination during the Chrism Mass. This year those honorees included: — Celebrating 60 years: Father Michael Annunziato, SS.CC.; Msgr.

Henry T. Munroe, P.A.; Msgr. John J. Regan; Father José A. F. dos Santos; — Celebrating 50 years: Father William G. Campbell; Father John Dias, C.S.C.; Father Peter N. Graziano; Msgr. John A. Perry, P.A.; — Celebrating 40 years: Father Gerard Boulanger, M.S.; Father Hugh Cleary, C.S.C.; Father Horace J. Travassos; — Celebrating 25 years: Father Eduardo Coll, I.V.E.; Father Daniel W. Lacroix; Father George B. Scales.

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At Easter pope calls Christians to be channels of mercy, justice, peace

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — With Jesus’ resurrection “love has triumphed, mercy has been victorious,” Pope Francis said in his first Easter message “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world).

“Let us become agents of this mercy, channels through which God can water the earth, protect all creation and make justice and peace flourish,” the pope said after celebrating Easter morning Mass.

Pope Francis offered special prayers for peace in Syria and the rest of the Middle East, for an end to violence in Africa — especially in Mali, Nigeria, Congo and the Central African Republic — and in Asia, particularly on the Korean peninsula.

He prayed for “peace in the whole world, still divided by greed looking for easy gain, wounded by selfishness which threatens human life and the family, selfishness that continues in human trafficking, the most extensive form of

slavery in this 21st century.”

Pope Francis said he would like to bring the Good News of Christ’s Resurrection to each person on earth, “to every house and every family, especially where suffering is greatest: in hospitals, in prisons.”

Easter, he said, “means that the love of God is stronger than evil and death itself; it means that the love of God can transform our lives and let those desert places in our hearts bloom.”

Easter dawned with blue skies and sunshine in Rome, but as the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square, dark clouds began gathering overhead. Still, some 250,000 people gathered for the Mass, and thousands more arrived for the pope’s “urbi et orbi” blessing.

The steps leading to St. Peter’s Basilica and to the altar were decorated with thousands of flowers, trees and bushes.

The Dutch flower growers’ association provided 20,000 tulips, 10,000 daffodils

and 3,000 white roses in addition to small birch, maple and mulberry trees.

Like his predecessors, Pope Francis did not give a homily during the morn-

ing Mass, but spoke during his “urbi et orbi” address about the significance of the resurrection for individuals and for the world.

bright Future — Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, is pictured, left, with his brother Oscar following their first Communion in this 1942 family photo. (CNS photo/courtesy of Maria Elena Bergoglio via Reuters) The Anchor - April 5, 2013

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papal guide — Pope Francis greets a man with a guide dog as he conducts a general audience in the Paul VI Hall. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano)

‘Miserando atque eligendo’ The St. Francis Parish Community in Swansea offers its congratulations and prayers to Pope Francis

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Former Mass. abortion clinic worker denounces industry

By Christine M. Williams Anchor Correspondent

NORWOOD — For 18 months Catherine Adair worked at the largest abortion clinic in New England. She counseled women and disposed of the “products of conception.” But her first sight of the remains of a second trimester abortion shocked her.

When she saw those perfect little arms and legs, they reminded her of a newborn. Instead of being attached to a perfect little body, they were pieces in a jar. “The lie was exposed in that moment for me — the lie that we weren’t killing babies,” she said.

Even then, Adair did not leave her job immediately, and it took another decade before she understood the gravity of her work at Planned Parenthood and the abortion she had when she was a teen-ager.

Adair, now a Pro-Life activist, shared her insight with a group that prays outside the very abortion clinic where she worked 16 years ago.

The group had just completed over a month of prayer as part of the nationwide 40 Days for Life campaign of prayer, fasting and peaceful vigil for the end of abortion. It was the first 40 Days campaign held outside the Planned Parenthood on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. The busy clinic stands near many colleges and resides practically on the campus of the city’s largest institution of higher learning — Boston University.

The first 40 Days for Life was conducted in College Station, Texas in 2004. This spring marked the 12th nationally-coordinated campaign and ran from February 13 to March 24.

At most sites, participants pray from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., though a few provide 24-hour coverage. This spring, vigilers participated at 261 locations and recorded 539 babies spared from abortion.

The witness of Boston vigilers saved seven of those unborn children.

On the evening of the last day of the campaign, Adair addressed the vigilers at Concannon’s Village Pub in Norwood. She called their loving witness outside the clinic “critical.”

At the age of 19, Adair entered an abortion clinic as a patient. She was an unmarried college student, and her mother encouraged her to terminate her pregnancy.

“They tell you you’re going to feel relieved, and you do feel relieved because it’s over,” she said. “What they don’t tell you about is the lifetime of regret, of despair, of self-loathing, the inability to feel love, the inability to love others, the inability to attach with your own children. I think a piece of my soul died that day.”

After exiting the abortion clinic, Adair burst into tears. In that moment she decided, “I’m never going to talk about this again.” And she didn’t. She said she buried the pain so deeply that she let herself forget

that it happened at all.

Adair graduated with a degree in women’s studies, and her first job after college was at Planned Parenthood. Despite the fact that she had no medical training, Adair became a counselor. It was assumed that once a woman sat in that counseling room, she knew what she wanted.

“We never talked about fetal development, we never talked about choices,” she said. “We were going to sell her that abortion.” Her superiors instructed that she not spend more than 10 minutes evaluating each patient.

Adair left Planned Parenthood to go back to school and never put the job on her resume. She got married and had children, which prompted her to seek the support of a faith community. She and her husband settled on the Catholic Church, and

through her conversion, God helped her revisit a place she had hidden for so many years. She made a good Confession and started a Pro-Life group at her parish. She says that the forgiveness and mercy of God set her free.

After her address, Adair told The Anchor that she has been shocked by the outpouring of love from the ProLife community. “They have offered me their support and their prayers,” she said.

Now, she and her husband live in the Diocese of Worcester with their five children — one of whom they are in the process of adopting. The child’s mother contemplated abortion but chose adoption instead.

“When they’re out there saying we don’t care about the babies after they’re born — another big lie from the pro-choice crowd,” she said.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, April 7, 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Timothy J. Goldrick, pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish in Falmouth

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O

n this Second Sunday of Easter, this last day of the Easter Octave, we continue our celebration of the Easter event — that Our Lord Jesus Christ has truly risen from the dead! Alleluia!

Unlike Thomas who refused to believe that Jesus was really present to the other disciples without the physical proof of seeing and touching His wounds, we come to our churches believing and encountering the Risen Christ among us. Blessed are we indeed who have not seen but believe.

Alleluia!

Today we also celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday. Thirteen years ago, Blessed Pope John Paul II made the Second Sunday of Easter forever more known as Divine Mercy Sunday. He did this when he canonized St. Faustina, a young Polish nun, who had countless private visions of Our Lord Jesus Christ and from whom the prayer of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy arose.

It’s important to note that the truths that the Lord gave to St. Faustina in her private revelations, the truth about God’s merciful love for humanity — that it is nothing new to the Church, or nothing new to St. Faustina or to the Church in the 1930s. The truths about God’s merciful love for humanity have been part of the revealed truth of sacred Scripture from time immemorial. Today’s Scriptures reemphasize this truth.

The mercy of the Master

Today’s psalm highlights — not Scripture and a gift from our once, not twice, but three times — Savior. In fact, Divine Mercy “is that God’s mercy endures … forthe Easter gift that the Church ever! In the Gospel, Jesus appears receives from the Risen Christ and to His disciples, and offers them offers to humanity at the dawn of His peace and mercy, and by the the third millennium,” as Blessed power the Holy Spirit, He gives John Paul II once said, who has them a task: they are to be His ofbeen described by Pope Emeritus ficial representatives in forgiving Benedict XVI as the “Pope of sins: “Whose sins you forgive are Divine Mercy.” forgiven them.” What we see is a Our current Holy Father, Pope great outFrancis, pouring also has Homily of the Week of Divine been Mercy. preachSecond Sunday Even the ing on of Easter Colmercy lect, the — on

By Father Opening God’s Jeffrey Cabral Prayer loving for and today’s Divine Mass, calls Our Lord a God of Mercy. In his homily at the Pareverlasting mercy. ish of St. Anna in the Vatican, To understand the meaning of the Pope preached that “Jesus mercy, it will help if we examine has this message for us: mercy. I its etymology. The Latin word for think — and I say it with humilmercy, misericordia, is composed ity — that this is the Lord’s most of two words. “Cordia” is fapowerful message: mercy.” In his miliar to us from such words as first Angelus message, our Holy “cardiologist” and “cardiac.” It Father shared that mercy “changes obviously means heart. The first everything. This is the best thing part, “miseri-” refers to sufferwe can feel: it changes the world. ing. Mercy, then, means to have a A little mercy makes the world less cold and just. We need to heart for those who suffer or, more understand properly this mercy of precisely, to have a heart willing to God, this merciful Father Who is suffer for others. Today’s Gospel so patient.” And just last week, in certainly reveals that kind of merhis Easter message, Pope Franciful heart found in Christ. cis said that “The mercy of God Without a doubt, Divine Mercy always triumphs! God’s mercy can summarizes the message of Sacred

make even the driest land become a garden, can restore life to dry bones.”

The image of the Divine Mercy, with its two rays — one white and one red — gushing forth from the wounded side of Our Lord, has five simple, but incredibly challenging, words, written on the bottom of it: “Jesus, I trust in You.” Not “Jesus, I have faith in You,” not even “Jesus, I believe in You,” but “Jesus, I trust in You.” If you think about it, that simple phrase implies them all.

Such a disposition — a trusting disposition — is a requirement for us to take advantage of the mercy of God. On this feast of Divine Mercy Sunday, our God invites us to turn our gaze from this world, to turn our gaze away from the things in which we place our trust, and to put our trust where it matters — Jesus, I trust in You. He invites us to turn to His goodness and love, and to take advantage of the mercy that is held out to us. Even Pope Francis invited us to “accept the grace of Christ’s Resurrection … and be renewed by God’s mercy.”

Thomas, the one who doubted, trusted in the Divine Mercy. Do we?

Father Jeffrey Cabral is the Promoter of Justice and a Judge at the Diocesan Tribunal and the technical assistant at Good Shepherd and St. Stanislaus parishes in Fall River.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. April 6, Acts 4:13-21; Ps: 118:1,14-15,16ab-21; Mk 16:9-15. Sun. April 7, Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday), Acts 5:12-16; Ps 118:2-4,13-15,22-24; Rv 1:9-11a,12-13,17-19; Jn 20:19-31. Mon. April 8, The Annunciation of the Lord, Is 7:10-14; 8:10; Ps 40:7-11; Heb 10:4-10; Lk 1:26-38. Tues. Apirl 9, Acts 4:32-37; Ps 93:1-2,5; Jn 3:7b-15. Wed. April 10, Acts 5:17-26; Ps 34:2-9; Jn 3:16-21. Thurs. April 11, Acts 5:27-33; Ps 34:2,9,17-20; Jn 3:31-36. Fri. April 12, Acts 5:34-42; Ps 27:1,4,13-14; Jn 6:1-15.

Diocesan seminarians remain grounded in the faith continued from page three

his own meals, took public transportation, lived in a small apartment.)”

To a man, the seminarians who shared their thoughts with The Anchor expressed excitement not only with the surprise election of the humble cardinal from Argentina, but also with the bright outlook he brings for the future of the Church across the world.

“In terms of Pope Francis’ impact on Catholics worldwide, he will show us Christian simplicity of life,” said Schrader. “He will show us how to be courageous in our outreach to the poor and neglected as a way to be in contact with Jesus in His poverty.

“At the seminary in Rome, we are all eagerly listening and watching Pope Francis, to see how he will lead us as seminarians and God-willing as

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priests. We are happy to have a new pope and we look forward to getting to know him.”

The students at St. John’s Seminary share a similar excitement about what Pope Francis will bring to the Universal Church. “My hope is that he will be the type of ‘reform’ that our Church needs, more importantly a return to simplicity,” Connors told The Anchor.

His classmate concurred. “The men at the seminary are excited to see what happens during Francis’ pontificate,” said Gill. “I am excited because I think Francis is giving us an example of simplicity and holiness which I hope will give the Church a greater zeal for the Gospel.”

At the seminary in New York state, Caswell and his classmates share a similar sentiment about Pope Francis.

“In our seminary, Pope Francis is very much loved; enthusiastically,” he said. “There are a good number of students at our seminary from Latin America, who seem like they are floating on air at all times from this great joy announced to us of Pope Francis. We are very excited by our new Holy Father, and we pray that he will be guided by the Holy Spirit at all times.

“I think the new Holy Father will impact Catholics worldwide by his humble service which truly reflects the love of Christ, the Servant King.

I think that Pope Francis will set an example of serving the needy and the downtrodden. His example, I pray will evoke a new sense of service to our people generously, especially in the clergy.”

For the diocesan seminarians,

this is the first election of a Holy Father that has special meaning to them. Most weren’t alive when Blessed John Paul II was elected, and they weren’t especially concerned when Pope Benedict was elected in 2005.

But with Pope Francis’ election a few short weeks ago, the men are very much involved. First, they are of age to know and care about who will guide the Catholic Church, and their future roles as priests will be impacted by how Pope Francis shepherds the universal Catholic flock.

Perhaps Neil Caswell summed it up best for members of his generation: “As a picture I saw today said, ‘Pope John Paul II taught us what we believed, Pope Benedict XVI told us why we believed it, Pope Francis will go and live it as an example.’”

humble shepherd — Then-Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio washes and kisses the feet of residents of a shelter for drug users during Holy Thursday Mass in 2008 at a church in a poor neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. (CNS photo/Enrique Garcia Medina, Reuters)

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S

ometimes working in the newspaper business throws a monkey-wrench in the mechanics of life. Deadlines and print requirements usually dictate the day.

Today’s special Pope Francis edition is no exception. As you can tell, today’s publication, in magazine format, is 28 pages, eight more than the usual 20-page Anchor that appears in your mailbox. An additional eight pages is a substantial difference to those of us who put this together.

Usually, I join the rest of my diocesan em-

Inspired by inspiration

My View From the Stands

By Dave Jolivet ployees, and many others in the secular world, in having Good Friday off ... a time to attend any of the plethora of services offered across the diocese, or to observe the holy day in any number of ways at home.

But an additional eight pages, to me, means working on Good Friday, to ensure this week’s Anchor is printed, mailed and delivered as usual.

I did feel a bit guilty working on Good Friday, not having ever done that before, but I knew it was for a good reason.

But sometimes God throws a little grease into the monkey-wrenched mechanics in life, and today (Good Friday) was one of those occasions.

As I was plying my trade on this week’s edition, I glanced out the window (for inspiration, not for

walking the walk — A large group of pilgrims taking part in the annual Good Friday Romeiros, sing, walk and pray on Hanover Street in Fall River. Their journey took them to every Catholic church in the city, as part of the long-time Portuguese tradition. (Photo by Dave Jolivet)

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day-dreaming). I got my inspiration. I saw a large group of men, women and children taking part in the Romeiros, a Portuguese tradition on Good Friday, whereby the participants sing, pray and walk to and from every Catholic church in the city.

The group stopped just outside my office window on Hanover Street in Fall River. Despite the closed storm windows, I could still hear the prayerful singing of the faithful gathering.

The sights and sounds brought back to me the focus of the day ... the passion and death of Jesus Christ.

I stopped what I was doing, grabbed a camera, and shot a few stills from my office window.

At the time, I had no idea what to write about in this column this week. Sometimes I don’t know when I come in on press day. But this Good Friday, I was inspired to write about ... inspiration.

I’m sure the men, women and children taking part didn’t intentionally stop outside my of-

fice window for me, but they unwittingly did. The Good Lord had them stop to make sure I didn’t lose the focus of the day. It worked.

As they started to walk away, I thought how they all probably had other things they could be doing, but they were called to exhibit their faith in the public square. And that they did. I didn’t want to be at work, but there was a paper to get out ... with something to inspire someone. And get out, it will. A very blessed Easter season to all.

Hispanics jubilant over election of Pope Francis continued from page four

just like St. Francis of Assisi and St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), brought to the Church.

“Latinos tend to be very faithful to the Catholic faith. We’re right behind him, 100 percent. We are constantly praying for our pope and hoping and waiting for the Holy Spirit to do the

work through him,” said Aldarondo.

“I think it is very interesting times. We have great hope and expectations for the Catholic Church moving forward and I’m very excited.”

You can always argue theology, discuss it and take sides, but when you see the works of poverty and charity, there’s no argument, said

Father Pregana. The Latin American community is animated about having one of its own who “understands poverty because he’s lived it and walked it,” he added; and though Pope Francis may not be able to change it, “he understands it from an experiential level.”

“I hope he continues to bring an example of what Christ did,” said Father Pregana. “I think we’ve had so much teaching on what Christ did, analyzed it, theologized about what Christ did; I think we need someone to show us what Christ did. I think that’s going to be his biggest gift to the Church.”

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Same symbols, different details: Papal coat of arms undergoes changes

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The papal coat of arms has undergone a few major adjustments to more clearly reflect the symbolism of Mary and St. Joseph. The five-pointed star has been replaced with an eight-pointed star, and the spikenard flower looks more like a flower rather than a bunch of grapes, as it did in its original form.

T h e Va t i c a n published the new coat of arms on its website March 27. Italian Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, an expert on heraldry, told Catholic News Service that changing the star was “better” because the five-pointed star often carries with it “military significance,” while the eight-pointed star “has always symbolized Mary” in Catholic Church tradition. The new papal blazon contains the same symbols,

though now more modified, that Pope Francis had on his episcopal coat of arms. The dark blue shield is divided into three sections — each of which has its own symbol.

On the top is the official seal of the Society of Jesus, representing Jesus and the religious order in which the pope was ordained as a priest in 1969.

The symbol shows a blazing yellow sun with inside the red letters, IHS, the sign for the name of Jesus.

A red cross rises up from the letter “H,” and three black nails rest below. The bottom part of the shield depicts a gold star and a gold spikenard flower, which represent respectively Mary and St. Joseph, demonstrating the pope’s “particular devotion to the Holy Virgin and St. Joseph,” the Vatican said.

PAGE ONE PHOTO — Pope Francis kisses a disabled man after spotting him in the crowd and having his popemobile stop as he rode through St. Peter’s Square March 19 ahead of his inaugural Mass at the Vatican. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano)

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D

o you make room for God in your life? One of the greatest preoccupations of our day is the business of our technology-filled lives.

We desire to move faster and become more efficient. We desire all the tools, appliances and gadgets that will save us time for the more important things in life. Yet, when all is said and done, we realize that we haven’t saved any time at all. In fact, we have less time.

Or worse, we have wasted time. And that begs the question, “How am I fulfilling my life?”

If you recall some time back I shared with you a story about a jar and friends. The jar, representing your life, is filled with ping-pong balls, pebbles and sand. So you may truly have a full life and fulfill it, there must be a specific order in how you fill your life. You see, the pingpong balls represent God, family and friends; in other words, if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things in life that matter next, like your education, job, your house, car, school, your health, etc. The sand is everything else — the small stuff. Now, if you put the sand in the jar first, there would be no room for the ping-pong balls and pebbles — the things that matter most.

But, how often do we clutter our lives with the things that matter least

M

‘Is there room for Me?’

under my roof?” and then realize we’ve left the imPope Benedict XVI, in one of his portant things behind? God is always Christmas Eve homilies said, “The asking us to make room in our lives question of God never seems urgent. for Him. Are we the innkeeper who Our time is already completely full. tells Mary and Joseph there is no There is no room for Him. Not even room at the inn? in our feelings and desires is there Throughout history one of our any room for Him. We want ourgreatest fears has been that we think selves. We want what we can seize God doesn’t care about our daily hold of, lives. Yet, we want time and happiness time that is again, God within our reveals to reach, we us that He want our is a part of

By Ozzie Pacheco plans and our whole, purposes undivided to suclife. God’s ceed. We desire for are so ‘full’ of ourselves that there is us is to be happy and to be whole. no room left for God. And that means But, this requires understanding there is no room for others either, wholeness in the right order of relationships: relationship to God; re- for children, for the poor, for the lationship to one another; relationship stranger.”

My young friends, in order to to the earth; relationship to oneself.

Sounds like filling your jar, your life, make room for God in our lives we must be active in the mission of the in the proper order and fulfilling it.

Church: to become servants. It is in Before you receive Jesus in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist you this servitude that we truly understand the order of things and the say the words, “Lord, I am not wordesire to fulfill our lives with all that thy that You should enter under my is good, right and just. roof, but only say the word and my Let us look to Pope Francis as soul shall be healed.” Next time you a model of this servitude. Already, say those words and proceed to the barely a month into his papacy, the altar, ask yourself, “Do I really have room for God when He seeks to enter world is embracing the Holy Father

Be Not Afraid

as a man of humility and simplicity.

We recognized that on his first day as pope when he boarded the bus with his brother cardinals, shunning his private car waiting for him. But, the deeper humility of that event was what he said before boarding the bus, asking his brother cardinals, “Is there room for me?”

In solidarity with Pope Francis let us embrace that spirit of humility and simplicity. And, as we continue our journey in this Year of Faith let us make room and space for God in our lives. Make this “Prayer of Pope Clement XI” your guide: Lord, I believe in You: increase my faith. I trust in You: strengthen my trust. I love You: let me love You more and more.

I am sorry for my sins: deepen my sorrow. I worship You as my first beginning, I long for You as my last end, I praise You as my Constant Helper, and call on You as my Loving Protector. I want to do what You ask of me: In the way You ask, for as long as You ask, because You ask it. Let me love You Lord, as my God, and see myself as I really am: a pilgrim in this world, a Christian called to respect and love all whose lives I touch. Amen.

Jesus is truly risen! Happy Easter!

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

Students, staff rejoice at Pope Francis’ election

embers of the Coyle and Cassidy High School community have welcomed Pope Francis into their hearts and lives with open arms. The excitement of having such an outstanding and devoted new pope as the leader of the Catholic community around the world has touched the hearts and souls of students and faculty. We strongly believe that Pope Francis was given to us by God and will show love and care for everyone around the world. Pope Francis is the shepherd who will lead us from the darkness into the light of the future.

The faculty of Coyle and Cassidy is in awe of our new pope. Stephen May, the campus minister and a religion teacher, is very impressed by our new pope. “I think he will give the Catholic Church heightened awareness of the essence of the Catholic social teaching. I think that’s the way he has lived his entire life, to demonstrate through his own behavior how Christ wants us to live,” said May, while discussing what Pope Francis will do for the Catholic Church. May sees Pope Francis as “a symbol for

how we need to behave. He is the Francis, but the students of Coyle shepherd that we need to show us the and Cassidy have also accepted Pope way, just as Jesus did.”

Francis into their hearts. Gabrielle Carol Sypko, a freshman religion Sousa, a sophomore, expressed her teacher, is inspired by the character hope that “Pope Francis will restore and behavior of Pope Francis: “I was the Church and make it a lot stronger. impressed He will that he rebuild bowed to a strong the thouCatholic sands in commuSt. Peter’s nity.” For Square this reaBy Savannah Costa and then son, Sousa asked them thinks that to bless the name him before he blessed them. He was Francis “suits the pope because just so humble. It moved me to the point as St. Francis asked God to let him that I really felt the presence of God.” rebuild the Church, Pope Francis is Pope Francis reminds her of a quote doing the same.” from Isaiah 43: “See, I am doing Marisa Eddlem, a graduating something new! Now it springs forth, senior, believes that Pope Francis do you not perceive it? In the desert I can connect with those outside of make a way, in the wasteland, rivers.” the Catholic Church: “I’ve talked to Sypko believes that the pope will several people who aren’t Catholic “open our eyes to the poor and refresh who already have a positive attitude the Church.” towards him, and if this continues I Not only was the faculty touched think that it will improve how people by the love and humility of Pope look at the Catholic Church overall.”

School Views

While discussing her impressions of the pope, Eddlem stated that she loves how friendly he seems to be: “He risked his safety on the day of his inauguration to kiss young children and the head of a disabled man. It showed humbleness.”

When talking about Pope Francis, Gabrielle Lamb, a junior, suggested that “we should be listening to his idea of bringing peace to others.”

The Coyle and Cassidy community is ecstatic to have such an aweinspiring and inspirational pope to lead the Catholic Church around the world, especially at this time in history. As Sypko said, “It was the Holy Spirit’s hand that chose this pope.”

We must all look to him for guidance as we make our faith journey through life.

Savannah Costa is a senior at Coyle and Cassidy High School in Taunton.

The Anchor is in the process of working with our diocesan high schools for more news coverage from a students’ perspective at the five area high schools.

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In Your Prayers

Please pray for these deceased priests during the coming week

April 6 Rev. Philip Lariscy, O.S.A. Founder of the New Bedford Mission, 1824 Rev. Edward J. Mongan, Retired Pastor, St. Mary, North Attleboro, 1920 Rev. Msgr. John A. Chippendale, Retired Pastor, St. Patrick, Wareham, 1977 Rev. Lorenzo Morais, Retired Pastor, St. George, Westport, 1980 Rev. Msgr. William D. Thomson, Retired Pastor, St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis, 1987 Rev. Gerald E. Conmy, CSC, Associate Pastor, St. Ann, DeBary, Fla., 1994 Rev. Msgr. Francis J. Gilligan, P.A. STD, Archdiocese of St. Paul, 1997 Rev. Lucien Jusseaume, Chaplain, Our Lady’s Haven, Fairhaven, Retired Pastor, St. Roch, Fall River, 2001 April 7 Rev. James A. Dury, Retired Pastor, Corpus Christi, Sandwich, 1976 Rev. Alvin Matthews, OFM, Retired, Our Lady’s Chapel, New Bedford, 1988 April 8 Rev. Bento R. Fraga, Retired, Sacred Heart Home, New Bedford , 2012 April 9 Rev. Cornelius McSweeney, Retired Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Fall River, 1919 Rev. Edward F. Dowling, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Fall River, 1965 April 10 Rev. John P. Doyle, Pastor, St. William, Fall River, 1944 April 11 Rev. John F. Downey, Pastor, Corpus Christi, Sandwich, 1914 April 12 Rev. John Tobin, Assistant, St. Patrick, Fall River, 1909 Rev. Msgr. Alfred J. Gendreau, STD, Retired Pastor, Notre Dame, Fall River, 1996 Rev. Edward P. Doyle, O.P., St. Raymond, Providence, R.I., 1997 Rev. Bertrand R. Chabot, Retired Pastor, St. Anthony of Padua, New Bedford, 2002

Around the Diocese 4/6

A Day with Mary will be held tomorrow at St. John the Evangelist Parish, 1 St. John’s Place in Attleboro from 7:50 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

It will include a video presentation, procession and crowning of the Blessed Mother with Mass and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. There is an opportunity for Reconciliation. A bookstore will be available. Please bring a bag lunch. For more information call 508-996-8274.

4/7

The Feast of the Divine Mercy will be celebrated at St. Margaret’s Parish, 141 Main Street in Buzzards Bay, on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. featuring Chaplet with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, Confessions and veneration of the image. Food and drinks will be served in the school hall immediately following.

4/7

St. Bernadette’s Parish in Fall River will be celebrating Divine Mercy Sunday at 3 p.m. with the Sung Chaplet, a meditation on the importance of divine mercy, veneration of a first-class relic of St. Faustina, and the opportunity for confessions. All are welcome.

4/14

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Refreshments follow.

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

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

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

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

FALL RIVER — Good Shepherd Parish has Eucharistic Adoration every Friday following the 8 a.m.

Mass 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.

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.

On April 14 Holy Trinity Women’s Guild will be hosting a spectacular Spring Penny Sale at 1 p.m. in the church basement located on the corner of Tucker Street and Stafford Road in Fall River.

Admission is $1, which entitles you to 100 prizes on the grand table. Additional raffles will be offered for the larger prizes such as food baskets and appliances, etc. Door prizes are free to players in attendance. Also, a luncheon menu will be available including: chow mein sandwiches, hot dogs, chouriço and peppers, variety of delicious pastries and other goodies.

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.

4/16

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

The Daughters of Isabella Hyacinth Circle had to cancel last month’s meeting due to inclement weather, but they are eagerly ready to start anew. The next meeting will be held at St. Mary’s in South Dartmouth on April 16 at 7 p.m. in the parish center. The group will be holding its annual baby shower for Birth Right. Please bring a baby gift to benefit local young parents in need. All past, present, and new members are welcome.

4/21

An antique roadshow will be held on April 21 at 1 p.m. at St. Anthony Church in East Falmouth to benefit the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. A donation for each item will be requested to have it valued by professional antique dealers. Complimentary light refreshments will be served. For more information call 508-457-0085.

4/27

Good Shepherd Parish, 1598 South Main Street in Fall River will be holding its annual Penny Sale on April 27. The kitchen will open at 5 p.m. and drawings will begin at 6 p.m. Admission is free with hundreds of prizes, along with a children’s table and a money rose table. Menu items include linguiça, meatball and chow mein sandwiches, stuffed cabbage, clam cakes, meat pie, stuffed quahogs and much more.

4/28

The Respect Life Walk will be held in Boston on April 28. The Greater Fall River Massachusetts Citizens for Life chapter will sponsor a bus to bring local walkers to Castle Island in South Boston. Please note: the walk will no longer be held on the Boston Common. There will be two pick-up locations in the diocese: the former Immaculate Conception Church on County Street in Fall River and the Taunton Galleria Mall Park and Ride in Taunton. For more information, call 508-673-9757 or 508-415-2599. A bus will also go from Attleboro. Call 508-226-1115.

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

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

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

Taunton — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Tuesday at St. Anthony Church, 126 School Street, following the 8 a.m. Mass with prayers including the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for vocations, concluding at 6 p.m. with Chaplet of St. Anthony and Benediction. Recitation of the Rosary for peace is prayed Monday through Saturday at 7:30 a.m. prior to the 8 a.m. Mass. taunton — Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord, 31 First Street. Expostition begins following the 8 a.m. Mass. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed, and Adoration will continue throughout the day. Confessions are heard from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Rosary and Benediction begin at 6:30 p.m.

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

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

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

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