04.06.12

Diocese of Fall River

The Anchor

F riday , April 6, 2012

Bishop Coleman’s 2012 Easter Message A Privileged Moment for Encountering God’s Power

Dear Friends,

A

t Easter, the Christian community comes together as one in order to celebrate the Paschal Mystery. This is especially true for the Easter Vigil, which is a unique Liturgy in the Church’s year. The faithful unite in prayer and Sacrament to commemorate the dying and rising of our Lord, the passover of Christ from death to life.

The Resurrection, it may be said, is not simply the personal victory of the Son of God over the power of death. It is not only a story of One individual’s survival. Instead, it is an event that directly addresses the real, day-to-day, and concrete problems of all men and women. It solves the most fundamental problems of humanity.

When Christ rises from the tomb on the third day after His crucifixion, He proclaims the Good News not only that He is alive, but that the grave and death no longer have power over human life. Light and goodness triumph over darkness and evil.

Mercy and grace prevail over sin and guilt, love and hope over sadness; life conquers death.

In our time, we are troubled by wars abroad, violence at home, and uncertainty about the future.

Just as death, sin isolates individuals and separates us from one another. The power of the Resurrection, however, works in the innermost depths of the human heart. It frees man from sin, filling him with hope and joy. Christ’s Resurrection pulls individuals from their isolation and repairs relations between persons. At Easter, God intervenes in the Church to bring about unity, harmony, and peace for the entire world.

Today we celebrate Christ’s victory over death.

After the defeat of the Cross, we profess our faith in the Resurrection with certainty. Together with the whole Church, we rejoice in the manifestation of God’s power and the gift of eternal life.

With prayerful wishes that the living presence and blessings of the Risen Christ remain with each of you and with your families this Easter, I am Sincerely yours in the Lord,

Bishop of Fall River

News From the Vatican

2

April 6, 2012

On anniversary of Blessed John Paul’s death, Vatican focuses on WYD

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — On the seventh anniversary of the death of Blessed John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI paid homage to one of his predecessor’s innovations: World Youth Day. Greeting an estimated 5,000 cheering young people from Spain April 2, Pope Benedict said they were “the protagonists and principal recipients of this pastoral initiative promoted vigorously by my beloved predecessor, Blessed John Paul II, whose passage to Heaven we remember today.”

The Spanish youths had come to the Vatican for the celebration of Palm Sunday April 1 and to thank the pope for visiting Madrid for World Youth Day last August.

The Spanish delegation included the World Youth Day orchestra, which played during the papal audience.

While the pope was with the young people, Vatican officials and representatives of the Brazilian bishops’ conference were holding a news conference to talk about plans for the next international celebration of World Youth Day, which will be held July 2328, 2013, in Rio de Janeiro.

Pope Benedict told the Spanish youths that the World Youth Day experience “can only be understood in the light of the presence the Holy Spirit in the Church,” who continues to enliven the Church and to push believers “to bear witness to the wonders of God.” He told the young people, “You are called to cooperate in this exciting task, and it’s worth it to commit yourself to it without reservation. Christ needs you to expand and build His kingdom of Cover Artwork VEIL OF TEARS — The Holy Face as it appeared on the Veil of Veronica after she wiped Christ’s face on His way to Calvary, from a stained glass window inside the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River.

(Photo by Robert Fertitta)

The Anchor www.anchornews.org

charity.”

Each and every person has a vocation, a call from God that is the key to each person’s holiness and happiness, as well as being a call to create a better world, the pope said.

The missionary outreach of young people is set to be a key focus of WYD 2013 in Rio, said Vatican and Brazilian officials.

Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo Pinheiro da Silva of Campo Grande, president of the Brazilian bishops’ commission for youth, said the “days in the dioceses” that usually precede the main World Youth Day gatherings would be transformed into a “Missionary Week” when young Catholics from around the world travel to Brazil.

The youths’ time in dioceses outside Rio will still include a chance to get to know local people and customs, but Bishop da Silva said organizers felt — and the Vatican agreed — that more time should be devoted to catechesis, spiritual experiences and encounters that would help young Catholics from around the world learn to share their faith with others.

The news conference was held after a March 29-31 meeting of representatives of bishops’ conferences and movements from 99 countries. The meeting included a review of the Madrid experience and a discussion of plans for Rio. Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, which coordinates the youth gatherings, said one of the chief criticisms of the Madrid gathering was that the vast majority of young people — about one million of them — were unable to receive Communion at the final Mass. Organizers said they had to close the tents where the unconsecrated hosts were stored after a storm.

Cardinal Rylko told reporters the Madrid experience will help the Brazilians be even more prepared for the unforeseen and unpredictable, but he also said, “World Youth Day is a pilgrimage and pilgrimages always bring challenges.”

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 56, No. 14

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 508-675-7151 — FAX 508-675-7048, email: theanchor@anchornews.org.

Subscription price by mail, postpaid $20.00 per year, for U.S. addresses.

Send address changes to P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA, call or use email address

PUBLISHER - Most Reverend George W. Coleman EXECUTIVE EDITOR Father Roger J. Landry fatherrogerlandry@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: fatherrogerlandry@anchornews.org

PoStmaSters send address changes to The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722.

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

warm welcome — Pope Benedict XVI greets the crowd after celebrating Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican April 1. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Pope says praise the Lord with gratitude

Vatican City (CNA/ EWTN News) — Christians should welcome Jesus by laying down their lives for Him in the same way the people of Jerusalem once laid down their coats and palm branches, Pope Benedict XVI said in his Palm Sunday homily.

“Before Christ, we must spread out our lives, ourselves, in an attitude of gratitude and adoration,” he said.

The pope presided at Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square. Tens of thousands of pilgrims joined him beneath a cloudy Roman sky to mark the beginning of Holy Week. The ceremonies opened with the traditional procession of cardinals carrying braided palms, followed by the pope himself.

The pope told the open-air congregation that the next seven days should call forth two sentiments: praise and thanksgiving.

This is because “in this Holy Week the Lord Jesus will renew the greatest gift we could possibly imagine: He will give us His life, His body and His blood, His love.”

“But we must respond worthily to so great a gift” he said.

Christians must respond “with the gift of ourselves, our time, our prayer, our entering into a profound communion of love with Christ who suffered, died and rose for us.”

The pope explained why the “great multitude” who accompanied Christ’s arrival into Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday reacted in the way they did.

Jesus, he said, arrived in Jerusalem from Bethphage and the Mount of Olives which was “the route by which the Messiah was supposed to come.” The crowd’s sense of expectation was raised further when Christ paused near Jericho to heal the blind beggar

Bartimaeus, who acclaimed Him as the “Son of David.”

“And so it was that, after this miraculous sign, accompanied by the cry ‘Son of David,’ a tremor of Messianic hope spread through the crowd, causing many of them to ask: this Jesus, going ahead of us towards Jerusalem, could He be the Messiah, the new David?”

Thus when Jesus reached Jerusalem the crowd tore branches from the trees and began to shout passages from Psalm 118. These “ancient pilgrim blessings” took on the character of messianic proclamation: “Hosanna! Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord!

Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming! Hosanna in the highest!” the pope summarized.

The pope said this festive acclamation, which is recorded by all four Gospels, is “a cry of blessing, a hymn of exultation” which “expresses the unanimous conviction that, in Jesus, God has visited His people and the longed-for Messiah has finally come.”

In the person of Jesus Christ the cheering crowds saw the fulfillment of the ancient promise, given by God to Abraham, that “by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves.”

“Thus, in the light of Christ, humanity sees itself profoundly united and, as it were, enfolded within the cloak of divine blessing, a blessing that permeates, sustains, redeems and sanctifies all things,” said Pope Benedict.

The “first great message” of Palm Sunday is an invitation to adopt a proper outlook on humanity and its different cultures and civilizations.

“The look that the believer receives from Christ is a look of

blessing,” he said. It is a “wise and loving look, capable of grasping the world’s beauty and having compassion on its fragility.”

Quickly, however, the excitement of the Jerusalem crowd turned to disappointment as Jesus did not fit their own idea of how “the long-awaited King promised by the prophets should act.” And so, only a few days later, “instead of acclaiming Jesus, the Jerusalem crowd will cry out to Pilate: Crucify Him!” The pope said that this question of Jesus’ identity is at the heart of today’s feast.

“What idea do we have of the Messiah, what idea do we have of God?” he asked. “It is a crucial question, one we cannot avoid, not least because during this very week we are called to follow our King who chooses the Cross as His throne.”

“We are called to follow a Messiah who promises us, not a facile earthly happiness, but the happiness of Heaven, divine beatitude.”

Pope Benedict urged pilgrims, and particularly the young people present, to make the decision to “say yes to the Lord and to follow Him all the way, the decision to make His Passover, His death and Resurrection, the very focus of your Christian lives.”

He promised them that this decision is one that leads to “true joy.”

At the conclusion of Mass the pope prayed the traditional midday Angelus with the gathered pilgrims and wished them well for the next seven days.

“This Holy Week, may we be moved again by Christ’s Passion and death, put our sins behind us and, with God’s grace, choose a life of love and service to our brethren.”

As th

The International Church Pope, at Mass, calls for full religious freedom in Cuba

April 6, 2012

HAVANA (CNS) — Preaching at Mass in Havana’s Revolution Square, location of the headquarters of Cuba’s Communist Party, Pope Benedict XVI called for full religious freedom and greater respect for human rights on the island.

“In Cuba steps have been taken to enable the Church to carry out her essential mission of expressing the faith openly and publicly,” the pope said during his homily March 28. “Nonetheless, this must continue forward.”

With President Raul Castro seated near the altar platform, the pope said, “I wish to encourage the country’s government authorities to strengthen what has already been achieved and advance along this path of genuine service to the true good of Cuban society as a whole.”

People started gathering for the Mass before 6 a.m. They prepared for the Liturgy with songs and by listening to priests and a catechist explaining basic Church teaching on Baptism and the Eucharist, the role of the pope in the Church and Pope Benedict’s biography.

The Mass began at 9 a.m. under a clear blue sky with a light

breeze blowing. As at the papal Mass in Santiago de Cuba March 26, thousands in the crowd were dressed in white T-shirts and baseball caps.

A priest led chants once the pope arrived and made his way in the popemobile through the crowd. One of the priest’s louder inventions was “Benedicto, Benedicto, confirmanos en Cristo,” (“Benedict, Benedict, confirm us in Christ”).

In his homily, Pope Benedict said that faith in God and Jesus Christ is the key to salvation, true happiness and authentic freedom, and that the daily lives and work of committed Catholics can benefit the whole society.

The truth about the human person created in God’s image and saved from sin by Jesus is the foundation of an ethical code that all reasonable people of good will can share, he said.

The ethical code “contains clear and precise indications concerning life and death, duties and rights, marriage, family and society, in short, regarding the inviolable dignity of the human person,” he said.

“Cuba and the world need change,” he said, but that will happen only if each and every

person “is in a position to seek the truth and chooses the way of love, sowing reconciliation and fraternity.”

The Catholic Church is not asking for special privileges in Cuba, but for the recognition of the basic right to religious freedom and freedom of expression, which includes expressing one’s faith in concrete acts of charity and service to society, the pope said.

To carry out its obligations to proclaim and live the Gospel, he said, the Church “must count on basic religious freedom, which consists in her being able to proclaim and to celebrate her faith also in public, bringing to others the message of love, reconciliation and peace.”

Pope Benedict said the Church’s witness is usually expressed through “preaching and teaching,” which is one of the reasons why the Church hopes that “the moment will soon arrive” when it can operate schools and universities in Cuba.

Catholics want to be witnesses of love and respond to evil with good, he said. “Let us walk in the light of Christ, Who alone can destroy the darkness of error. And let us beg Him that,

Pope meets Fidel Castro before leaving Cuba

HAVANA (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI met former Cuban President Fidel Castro in the apostolic nunciature in Havana March 28 and answered the ailing former leader’s questions, the Vatican spokesman said.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said he was watching the two men through a window, and afterward he spoke with the pope about the conversation, which seemed very animated.

The pope said Castro, who was raised a Catholic, asked about the reasons for the changes in the Liturgy after the Second Vatican Council, about the role of the pope and about the pope’s thinking about the larger philosophical questions weighing on the minds of people today.

The meeting lasted about 30 minutes, Father Lombardi said, and the questions were an indication that “now his life is one dedicated to reflection and writing.”

On the Liturgy, the pope said Castro told him, “It’s not the Mass I knew in my youth.”

The more philosophical topics included Castro’s curiosity about how the Church is handling the ethical challenges posed by scientific and technological developments and the relationship between faith and reason, as well as the pope’s concerns about a

growing number of people who don’t believe in God or act as if God does not exist, Father Lombardi said.

“In the end, Commandante Fidel asked the pope to send him a few books” dealing with the questions he had, the spokesman said.

Father Lombardi also said Castro had told Pope Benedict that he had followed the pope’s entire visit on television, and Castro had remarked that he and the pope were about the same age.

The pope will celebrate his 85th birthday in April, and Castro will turn 86 in August.

The pope said he told Castro, “Yes, I’m old, but I can still carry out my duties,” Father Lombardi said.

In a statement published on the government’s papal visit website,

the former president had said he would be “very pleased” to meet Pope Benedict.

“I decided to ask for a few minutes of his time,” although he said he realized the pope’s schedule in Cuba March 26-28 was rather full.

Castro had met Blessed John Paul II twice: first in 1996 at the Vatican and then in 1998, when the late pope visited Cuba.

When Castro arrived at the nunciature to meet Pope Benedict, Father Lombardi said, he was greeted by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state. The spokesman said Castro told the cardinal “he was so happy” about the beatifications of Blessed John Paul and of Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata, whose order has done much for Cuba.

Lombardi said Castro was accompanied by

with the courage and strength of the saints, we may be able — without fear of rancor, but freely, generously and consistently — to respond to God.” The Vatican had said Revolution Square could hold about 600,000 people and it was about three-quarters full when Mass began.

Msgr. Jose Felix Perez Riera, assistant secretary of the Cuban bishops’ conference and pastor of St. Rita of Cascia Church, told Catholic News Service March 27 that many of the people who were to be at the Mass were being brought by the Communist Party and other government-related organizations, while many Catholics in towns outside Havana were unable to get tickets or transportation to the event.

One of the men in the crowd, 65-year-old Orlando Perez, said he was pleased to be at the papal Mass. Wearing a white T-shirt emblazoned with an image of

3

Cuba’s patroness, Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, he said, “I am very happy because he is the vicar of God.” Asked how the crowd size compared with the number present in 1998 when Blessed John Paul II celebrated Mass in the same plaza, he said, “there are many more people here now.”

Interviewed before the pope arrived, the man said he did not expect the pope to make demands of the government during the Liturgy. “He speaks for the Lord; he’s not a politician.”

Asked what he wanted for the future, Perez responded, “I just want peace.”

4

April 6, 2012 The Church in the U.S. Conscience concerns could prove decisive in health care ruling

Washington D.C. (CNA/ EWTN News) — Inadequate conscience protections may lead the Supreme Court to reject the 2010 health care law, a Jesuit priest and legal scholar predicted after three days of arguments in the historic case.

“I think there are sufficient problems with the bill, as passed, that the justices could say: ‘This is unconstitutional,’” Father Robert J. Araujo, S.J., told CNA recently.

“There are certainly those problems that have been in the news, and I think there are some other ones. For example — the question of conscience, and conscience protection.”

“This is a very complicated law, and the more we examine it, we see more problems and concerns,” noted Father Araujo, who holds the John Courtney Murray Professorship at the Loyola University Chicago School of Law. “I tend to think that’s on the minds of the lawyers and the justices: ‘Are we going to see more litigation, if we don’t resolve these conscience-protection and other issues?’”

“That’s why I see an opportunity for the court to say: ‘Look, there are some serious problems with this legislation. Congress has done a lot of work, (but) it’s their responsibility to write a law that will pass constitutional muster and judicial review.”

The court’s March 26-28 period of questioning focused on the law’s “individual mandate,” which requires virtually all citizens to obtain health insurance.

Most observers believe the law’s fate will hinge upon whether the requirement is judged to be a means of regulating interstate commerce — as the Obama Administration maintains — or an unconstitutional overtaking of states’ power by the federal gov-

ernment.

Father Araujo thinks the law is unlikely to be upheld either fully or in part.

“Having followed the arguments and the questions, I don’t think the likelihood of a complete vindication is very strong,” the Loyola University professor predicted on March 29.

He also has doubts about the law being upheld with some portions removed — because legislators did not include a “severability” provision that would allow some parts to stand if others, such as the individual mandate, were struck down.

Although the main issue before the court is the individual insurance mandate, the Jesuit professor thinks other aspects of the law will factor into the court’s decision as well — including the widely-criticized contraception and sterilization mandate, a federal rule made as part of the health care law’s implementation.

The Supreme Court justices, he said, realize that there are constitutional concerns surrounding “who exactly is going to be paying for what” under the law, and “how that might affect their own moral concerns, which are constitutionally protected.”

If the law is upheld, the justices could reasonably expect challenges to continue on different constitutional grounds — including the free exercise of religion, a factor in eight states’ current lawsuits against the law’s contraception mandate.

The result could be “a repetition of what we’ve seen so far,” with various lawsuits advancing in federal court seeking “review of the legality of certain provisions” in the health care law.

“There are lots of concerns with this legislation,” Father Araujo said. “Do we want to have another ‘go-around’ in the

not-too-distant future, on other elements?”

Health care, the priest and professor noted, is a pressing issue that seriously affects millions of people.

But the Obama Administration, he suggested, should not have attempted to solve it in a manner that was both constitutionally questionable and morally provocative.

Although the Church regards health care as a right that should be secured for all members of society, opinions differ as to how this should be achieved in practice. The Catholic notion of “subsidiarity” requires that problems be solved by the lowest level of competent authority.

Some Catholic critics of the health care law have invoked this concept as a criticism of the federal health care reform, which they say could have been better handled by the individual states.

“I think in its own way, the

U.S. Constitution — under the Tenth Amendment — in part addresses this important concept of subsidiarity,” Father Araujo said, citing the provision by which the powers not given to the federal government by the Constitution “are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.”

“What might be proper for Florida may not work in California,” the Loyola University professor noted. “The states do have a proper, lawful role in determining what is good and what is not for their citizenry. That’s how I see the subsidiarity rule playing out in the U.S. Constitution.”

“The program Massachusetts legislated a few years ago is not without its problems or faults,” Father Araujo observed, recalling legislation signed by thenGovernor Mitt Romney. “But the state was addressing the issue of health care for its citizens.”

CNA also spoke on March 29 with Professor Michael Scaper-

landa, who teaches at the University of Oklahoma and contributes to the Catholic law blog “Mirror of Justice.”

Scaperlanda has criticized the federal government’s individual insurance mandate as unconstitutional. On Thursday, however, he held off from making any predictions as to whether the health care law would be upheld in part or in full by the Supreme Court.

But he noted that there were good reasons for Catholics to prefer state-level solutions to the problem of securing health care for all.

At the state level, he noted, a requirement for individuals to purchase insurance could be squared with both the Constitution and Catholic social teaching.

If the federal health care law is overturned, Scaperlanda is hopeful that solutions for the uninsured, and those with preexisting conditions, can be found at a lower level of authority.

New York City (CNA) — Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York says that although opponents of the federal contraception mandate face a difficult struggle, religious groups can achieve victory through persistence.

“We have to be very vigorous in insisting that this is not about contraception. It’s about religious freedom,” said the cardinal, who is president of the U.S. bishops’ conference.

He said the debate is a “tough battle” because proponents of the coverage mandate have chosen an issue they know the Catholic Church is “not very popular on.”

The cardinal made his remarks in an interview with television talk show host Bill O’Reilly, which was excerpted on the Fox News show “The O’Reilly Factor” on

March 28 and broadcast on the March 29 edition of “Conversations with Cardinal Dolan” on SiriusXM’s Catholic Channel.

His comments focused on the Health and Human Services mandate, announced on January 20, that requires almost all employers to provide insurance coverage for sterilization and contraception, including some abortion-causing drugs. The Obama Administration has billed the mandate as an increase in “preventive care” for women’s health.

Cardinal Dolan said that the bishops will “vigorously” continue their advocacy against the HHS mandate and will continue the “very effective interreligious and ecumenical coalition that we’ve got fighting this.”

“This is not just a Catho-

lic issue. It is certainly not just a bishop’s issue,” the cardinal told O’Reilly.

“We’re not giving up on the administration,” he added, while acknowledging some pessimism about that path’s prospects for success.

Cardinal Dolan remarked upon the “remarkable unanimity” among Catholics against the January 20 announcement that the mandate would be final. A February 10 reputed compromise announced by the Obama Administration appeared to weaken this unity.

“That’s been fractured a bit since February 10 because there some who say ‘OK now the administration has seen our point and we can back off.’ We bishops don’t think we can. But I’m wondering if this is the issue that will bring us together.”

Cardinal says HHS mandate fight ‘tough’ but winnable

April 6, 2012

The Anchor

40 Days campaign saves life

By Christine M. Williams Anchor Correspondent

ATTLEBORO — Their trip to Attleboro began with Mass and a visit to the crisis pregnancy center and culminated with a life saved from abortion.

Lucile Cashin, who came with other parishioners from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Wellfleet, told The Anchor she was “thrilled.” The save will be counted as one of the more than 600 already reported during the most recent 40 Days for Life campaign, which concluded April 1.

On March 22, Cashin witnessed a young man drop a woman off at the Four Women Health Services and then cross through Angel Park, where the 40 Days participants pray. She approached him, saying, “We have some information I’d like to share with you. We are here to help you in anything that you need.” Then, she handed him a leaflet she had obtained earlier from Abundant Hope Pregnancy Resource Center, which is about a mile away from the clinic.

Later, when he and the woman were leaving, they drove their car up to the vigilers and told them, “Thank you very much; you saved our baby’s life.”

Cashin believes she was guided by the Holy Spirit to pick up the leaflets and then to approach the man. She also credited the prayers of 50 parishioners who are eight months into a nine-month prayer campaign for the unborn.

“Thanks be to God and to those who have prayed faithfully for the conversion of heart,

for this one couple who will give their baby the gift of life,” she wrote for the parish bulletin.

Cashin said the save proves that participation in the vigil, just like prayer, “makes a big difference” even when the results cannot immediately be seen.

She spoke about her first experience at 40 Days, saying, “The first time I went, it was heart wrenching to see girls go in and knowing what is happening in there — a baby is going to lose its life.”

She said that couples facing a crisis pregnancy need to know that help is available. In Attleboro, that means letting them know about the “wonderful work” of Abundant Hope, which opened its doors early last year.

The first 40 Days for Life was conducted in College Station, Texas in 2004. Reports from previous campaigns document 5,045 lives that have been spared from abortion, 61 abortion workers have quit their jobs and 21 clinics have closed their doors. This spring marked the 10th nationally-coordinated campaign. Vigils were held at 251 locations in the United States, Canada, England, Australia and Spain. Five Massachusetts locations — Attleboro, Haverhill, Lynn, Springfield and Worcester — participated.

The Attleboro vigil began in fall 2008 outside the Four Women building, the only remaining abortion clinic in the Diocese of Fall River. Ron Larose, one of 40 Days Attleboro’s coordinators, said that the local campaign

has seen more babies saved in the last few campaigns than all the other campaigns combined.

“We seem to be gaining momentum,” he said. “Positive things are happening. The fruits are beginning to manifest themselves.”

Larose praised the dedication of the many vigilers who come to the site. He also thanked the two parishes that pledge an entire day — 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. — to each 40 Days campaign.

Mary Hadley, a representative of one those parishes, St. Francis Xavier Parish in Acushnet, praised the 40 Days Attleboro coordinators and her pastor, Msgr. Gerard O’Connor.

She said the vigil is a way to recognize that abortion is a local problem in addition to being a national issue.

“It calls home that this is an issue in our own communities,” she said. “It’s our chance to make a difference.”

Watching the women enter the clinic and understanding the atrocity that is taking place in that location is “powerful.” If the presence of peaceful vigil changes even one mother’s mind, it is all worth it, she said.

Hadley added that participating in the nationwide campaign brings with it a sense of community, saying “Christians from all over the world are praying for the same thing at the same time. It’s very powerful to know your prayers are united with the prayers of other people for the same cause.”

For more information, visit www.40daysforlife.com/ attleboro.

5

6

The Anchor The Heart of Holy Week and the Christian life

During his Palm Sunday homily, with his characteristic candor, comprehension, clarity, and courage, Pope Benedict led the Church to the Heart not only of Holy Week but also of the Christian faith and life itself.

After tracing the crescendo of Messianic expectation that accompanied Jesus on His ascent to Jerusalem, Pope Benedict described how that enthusiasm reaches fever pitch as people began to lay their coats on the street for Jesus to pass them riding on a colt in fulfillment of Zechariah’s messianic prophecy and to exclaim, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming! Hosanna in the highest!” They were festively acclaiming Jesus as the new King, as the Messiah sent by God to reestablish His kingdom.

The problem, however, was that most were acclaiming an idol of their own imagination rather than Jesus as the real Messiah and King. Pope Benedict probingly queried, “What is really happening in the hearts of those who acclaim Christ as King of Israel?” He replied: they had “their own idea of the Messiah, an idea of how the long-awaited King promised by the prophets should act.” He would be a political liberator who would free them from the power of the Romans and reestablish the Davidic reign. When He didn’t live up to the expectations of the straw man Messiah they had imagined, they turned Him into a punching bag. “Not by chance,” Pope Benedict noted, “a few days later, instead of acclaiming Jesus, the Jerusalem crowd will cry out to Pilate: ‘Crucify Him!,’ while the disciples, together with others who had seen Him and listened to Him, will be struck dumb and will disperse.” The reality is, the pope declared, that “the majority was disappointed by the way Jesus chose to present Himself as Messiah and King of Israel.”

The enthusiastic people in the crowds on Palm Sunday were not the only ones disappointed

by Jesus and mistaken about what the inauguration of Jesus’ kingdom would bring. The Apostles were as well. During the Last Supper, right after Jesus described how one of them would betray Him, the Apostles somewhat shockingly started to argue about which of them should be regarded as the greatest. As had happened many times in Jesus’ public ministry, the Apostles, too, had been looking toward Jesus’ kingdom in temporal terms, hoping to have the choicest portions of what they predicted would be sizeable spoils. Jesus corrected them and called them to a different standard. Together with the unforgettable example of doing the service of a slave by washing their feet, Jesus said, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; … but among you it shall not be so. Rather, let the greatest among you be as the least, and the leader as the servant. … I am among you as the One Who serves.” His kingdom would be defined not by thrones but by towels and the greatest would be those who followed His example of serving others to the point of giving themselves as a ransom to save others’ lives. That notion disappointed Judas Iscariot so much that he ended up trying to sell Jesus for what he could get for Him. It also bewildered the other 11 so much that no matter how many times Jesus sought to describe the real kingdom He was coming to introduce, they just couldn’t fathom it.

Grasping Jesus as He presents Himself as Messiah and King, Pope Benedict stressed, “is the heart of today’s feast for us, too.” It’s not enough for us to answer the question Jesus posed in Caesarea Philippi — “Who do you say that I am? — as Peter did, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” We also need to have a true sense of what it means to be the Messiah and Son of God. That, Pope Benedict said, leads to a “crucial question one cannot avoid,” namely, “Who is Jesus of Nazareth for us? What idea do we have of the Messiah? What idea do we have of God?” The Jesus who calls us to follow Him is a “King Who chooses His Cross as His throne,” he continued. “We are called to follow a Messiah who promises us, not a facile earthly happiness, but the happiness of Heaven, divine beatitude.” That leads us to ask, especially on this Good Friday on which we behold Jesus crucified, “What are our true expectations? What are our deepest desires?” Do we similarly have false expectations such that we, like so many of those on the first Palm Sunday, will end up disappointed?

Jesus had not come as a terrestrial conquering superhero. The kingdom He had come to establish He elucidated in His response to Pontius Pilate’s question, “Then you are a king?,” which we will hear in our churches today on Good Friday. Jesus declared, “For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”

Pope Benedict XVI comments about this dialogue in his 2011 book, “Jesus of Nazareth, Part II”: “With these words Jesus created a thoroughly new concept of kingship and kingdom, and He held it up to Pilate, the representative of classical worldly power.” In contrast to worldly force, Jesus proposed truth: “Dominion demands power; it even defines it. Jesus, however, defines as the essence of His kingship witness to the truth.” Jesus came to testify to the truth, which Pope Benedict says means “giving priority to God and to His will over against the interests of the world and its powers.” Jesus declares that God — not physical force — is the fundamental reality of life.

“In this sense,” the pope continues, “truth is the real ‘king’ that confers light and greatness upon all things. … If man lives without truth, life passes him by; ultimately he surrenders the field to whoever is the stronger. ‘Redemption’ in the fullest sense can only consist in the truth’s becoming recognizable. And it becomes recognizable when God becomes recognizable. He becomes recognizable in Jesus Christ. In Christ, God entered the world and set up the criterion of truth in the midst of history. Truth is outwardly powerless in the world, just as Christ is powerless by the world’s standards: He has no legions; He is crucified. Yet in His very powerlessness, He is powerful; only thus, again and again, does truth become power.” The center of Jesus’ message, Pope Benedict writes, “is the kingdom of God, the new kingship represented

by Jesus,” and this kingdom is “centered on truth” all the way to the Cross and to the inscription above the Cross. This message of His true kingship, which was initially proclaimed in parables and then quite openly before Pilate, is “none other than the kingship of truth.” The pope says that the inauguration of this kingship of truth “is man’s true liberation.”

Therefore, to hail Jesus, to acclaim Him as king, to follow Him and to enter into His kingdom, is to receive the witness to the truth He gives us for our liberation, to live in that truth, and to seek to bring others to that same liberation and kingdom by helping them to receive and remain in the truth. “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice,” he says. Truth — not merely as a conceptual reality but incarnated in Jesus and those who hear His voice — is the key that opens the door to the kingdom. In the midst of a relativistic age that continues to echo Pontius Pilate’s skeptical question, “What is truth?,” the acceptance of the real Jesus and the truth to which He bears witness is the challenge of our age. Just as in Jesus’ day, many would prefer another type of Messiah to the one Jesus really is: one who is domesticated, who doesn’t mention moral truths we don’t like, who doesn’t call us to convert from sins to which we’re attached, who doesn’t insist on dying in order to pay the price for our “peccadilloes,” who doesn’t insist on the importance of the Church He founded as the continuance of His presence and mission of truth and love, and who doesn’t call us to deny ourselves, pick up our own crosses and follow Him all the way to Calvary.

But this is the Jesus Who entered the Holy City on Palm Sunday. This is the Jesus Who pierced the clouds on the Ascension. This is the Jesus Whom we must follow to enter into His kingdom.

B

April 6, 2012

Called to greatness

ecause our faith is based on tioned so far, both in the Old and New God’s Revelation, which comes Testament have been men. Well, to a to us through Scripture and tradition certain degree, this makes perfect sense and is safeguarded by the Church’s since I will be addressing particularly Magisterium, I think it could be helpful vocations to the priesthood. However, for us in this reflection upon vocations the greatest vocation story doesn’t to look at some of the great figures involve a man or the vocation to the throughout the history of our faith who priesthood, and yet it remains for each were called by God, who heard that call Christian, the perfect response to any and who responded to that call with vocation. faithful and courageous hearts.

The Blessed Virgin Mary provides I first think of Abraham in the book each disciple of Jesus Christ the exof Genesis. Abraham was called by ample of how to respond to His call.

God to be the father of many nations.

Mary was only a young girl when God Through him, God would establish a made His will known to her, when He covenant with His chosen people Israel. revealed her vocation. Granted, this is Abraham was an elderly man when he another example of an extraordinary heard the voice of God in this extraorcalling in that God sent an archangel dinary encounter. He didn’t make up to communicate it to her, but Mary’s excuses as to why this was ridiculous, response is still one of pure faith and such as, “I’m too old to become a father tremendous courage. and my wife Sarah isn’t fertile.”

We all know the story so there is no Abraham is referred to as our “Father need to go into the details of it, but it in Faith” and is constantly honored in is crucial to highlight Mary’s response. the Scriptures After expressand still by us ing disbelief today because at how imof his incredpossible this Putting Into ible faith in sounded (her the Deep responding to conceiving a what God had son), because called him. of course she

By Father We can had never Jay Mello also think of been with a Moses, who man, Mary was protected responds to from the wrath of Pharaoh so that he the angel by saying, “I am the handmight become the one to lead God’s maid of the Lord, be it done unto me people out of Egypt to the Promised according to thy word.”

Land. Moses was a simple man who Mary expresses something we all had an extraordinary encounter with feel when confronted with our vocation: God (most vocation stories are not this “Why me?” or “How can this be?” But dramatic). Even with this extraordinary Mary doesn’t get stuck on this struggle encounter with God, it wasn’t easy for of disbelief. Mary says, “God’s will Moses to accept and carry out his God- above my will.” This is a response of given vocation. faith! This is the response with which Moses heard the voice of God in we should all strive to answer our own the burning bush where God gave vocation. him his vocation. Moses shows us the The examples that I have referenced meaning of a vocation as life-long and from the sacred Scriptures highlight totally self-giving when he leads God’s extraordinary vocation stories. They (often impatient and ungrateful) people represent those who have audibly heard throughout the wilderness for 40 years. their vocation from God directly or We can also consider the prophet through an angel. For the vast majority Jeremiah, another great figure in the of us, that is not the way we receive our Old Testament who struggled with his vocation, and yet these stories remain vocation. God said to him, “Before I important for us for two reasons. formed you in the womb I knew you; First, they are important because before you were born I consecrated they show us that God communicates you; I appointed you as prophet to the with each of us differently. There is no nations.” standard way in which God deals with But Jeremiah did not respond with us. God deals with each of us according great faith. At first he responded with to our own capacity. The second reason hesitation like Moses. He said, “Lord these stories are important is because God, I do not know how to speak, I they show us the proper way to respond am only a child.” But after an interior when God calls us to do something. struggle, Jeremiah answered God’s call All of these figures and their vocaand God used him in great ways. tion stories have something else in In the New Testament we also find a common as well, namely, that they plethora of examples. We can think of the don’t say yes or follow through with it Apostles Peter and Andrew, James and for themselves but for the greater glory John, who received their vocation along of God and for His holy Church. the Sea of Galilee, when Jesus looks them It can be very beneficial for us to in the eyes and says, “Follow Me!” compare ourselves and our response to God doesn’t always call the most ob- God’s call with the vocation stories we vious choices. Think about the choosing find in sacred Scriptures. We should ask and calling of St. Matthew who was a ourselves whether we are responding to tax collector and of Paul who was actuGod’s call with the same faith, humilally a persecutor of the early Church. ity and courage as Moses or Abraham, They were people who were not only as Peter or Paul. Are we responding called to do something extraordinary, with the same “yes” with which Mary but they were people whom Christ first responded to her vocation? called away from their sinful way of life.

Father Mello is a parochial vicar at All of the examples that I have men- St. Patrick’s Parish in Falmouth.

April 6, 2012

T

7

The Anchor

Restoring balance: The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church

he First Vatican Council was preparing to give a definition of the Church but was forced to an abrupt end in 1870 as Europe was engulfed in war. Consequently, that council defined only the primacy and infallibility of the pope. Almost a century later, at the opening of the third session of the Second Vatican Council on Sept.

14, 1964, Pope Paul VI said that the chief task of the third session would be to complete what Vatican I had left undone by explaining the nature and function of the bishops as successors of the Apostles.

Session 3 ended on Nov. 21, 1964, with the proclamation of Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church.

More than simply clarifying the role of bishops, this document offers a comprehensive vision of the Church. It begins by describing the Church as being “in the nature of Sacrament — a sign and instrument, that is, of communion with God and of unity among all men” (1). A Sacrament both symbolizes and makes real that which it symbolizes.

For the New Testament and the Church Fathers, Christ is the great Sacrament of God in our world; the Church, in turn, is the Sacrament of Christ and His Kingdom.

The Church is then portrayed as a mystery, an aspect

of God’s self-revelation ordained priesthood teach and through Christ and the Holy govern the priestly people, Spirit (2-4). God, Who is a and acting in the person of communion of Persons, is Christ they offer to God the the beginning and end of the eucharistic sacrifice (10), the Church’s life and mission; “fount and apex of the whole thus “communion” describes Christian life” (11). From both the deepest reality of the the clerical and lay states God Church. From this notion of communion derive two biblical Vatican II at 50: concepts: the Body of Christ (7-8) and the Fulfilling the People of God (9-17).

Promise The first highlights the Church as the

By Father continuing embodiThomas M. Kocik ment of Christ’s presence; the second highlights the Church as a human community rooted calls the faithful to Religious in the faith and people of Islife so that they might witness rael, yet transformed through to the glory of the heavenly the redeeming work of Christ Kingdom by professing povand the gift of the Spirit. erty, chastity and obedience All the members of the (43-47).

Church are, by virtue of their The notion of communion Baptism and Confirmation, applies also to the relationship “consecrated to be a spiribetween the bishops and all tual house and a holy priestother members of the Church, hood” (10). The application of but particularly between the “priesthood” to all the baptized bishops themselves, who toidentifies Baptism, rather than gether form a “college” headordination, as the fundamental ed by the bishop of Rome, the building-block of Christian pope. Bishops receive power holiness. The universal call to to teach, govern and sanctify holiness applies to all Christhe Church from Christ Himtians (39-42) but is diversely self by virtue of their epislived out according to differcopal consecration, but this ent vocations or states of life: power cannot be exercised lay, clerical, and Religious. without the pope’s consent Lay people seek the reign of (21-22). All bishops are vicars God through their work in the of Christ for their particular world (30-38). Those in the churches, as the pope is for

the universal Church (27).

Another area to which Lumen Gentium applies the notion of communion is ecumenism. In the long development of Church, dissensions have arisen and communities have broken away. The one and only Church of Christ “subsists in” the Catholic Church, which possesses all the truth revealed

by Christ and all the means of salvation (8). By using the phrase “subsists in” rather than “is,” the council did not intend to deny that the Catholic Church is the sole Church founded by Christ, nor did it wish to imply that the many Christian denominations are branches of the one Church. Rather, “subsists in,” which perhaps is best understood as “exists wholly in,” acknowledges the presence of ecclesial or Churchly elements outside the Catholic fold: the Scriptures, the ancient creeds and, in some cases, the Sacraments, as well as the life of grace and other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Baptized non-Catholics enjoy partial communion with the Catholic Church and are rightly honored with the name of Christian; moreover, the Church recognizes them as her children (15). Non-Christians are related to the People of

God in various ways (16).

No consideration of the Church would be complete if it ignored the faithful who “have died and are being purified” in purgatory or have already “been received into their Heavenly home” (49).

The pilgrim People of God reaches its true perfection in the heavenly Jerusalem. After discussing the communion of saints, Lumen Gentium concludes by synthesizing the place of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the mystery of Christ and the Church (52-69).

Without detracting from her unique privileges, the document presents Mary the preeminent disciple and member of the Church. At the closing of the council’s third session, Paul VI proclaimed Mary as Mother of the Church.

To sum up, the Church at Vatican II supplemented a one-sided emphasis on her institutional life by addressing her innermost nature, her mystery and mission, her ultimate destiny, and the various ways and degrees by which people (living and deceased) belong or are related to her.

Father Kocik is a parochial vicar at Santo Christo Parish in Fall River, is editor of “Antiphon: A Journal for Liturgical Renewal,” author of two liturgy-related books, and contributor to “T&T Clark Companion to Liturgical Studies.”

Vatican approves blessing rite for unborn children

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Just in time for Mother’s Day, U.S. Catholics parishes will be able to celebrate the new Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb.

The Vatican has given its approval to publication in English and Spanish of the new rite, which was approved by the U.S. bishops in November 2008, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced March 26.

The blessing will be printed in both languages in a combined booklet.

“I can think of no better day to announce this news than on the feast of the Annunciation, when we remember Mary’s ‘yes’ to God and the incarnation of that Child in her womb that saved the world,” said Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities.

The blessing was prepared to support parents awaiting the birth of their child, to encourage parish prayers for and recognition of the gift of the child in the womb, and to foster respect for human life within society.

It can be offered within the context of Mass as well as outside of Mass, and for an individual mother, a couple or a group of expectant parents.

“We wanted to make this announce-

ment as soon as possible so that parishes might begin to look at how this blessing might be woven into the fabric of parish life,” said Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond of New Orleans, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Divine Worship.

“Eventually the new blessing will be included in the Book of Blessings when that text is revised.”

The Vatican approval, or “recognitio,” came from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.

The blessing originated when thenBishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Knoxville, Tenn., (now archbishop of Louisville, Ky.) asked the Pro-Life committee to see if such a blessing existed. When none was found, the committee prepared a text and submitted it to the divine worship committee in March 2008.

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

It also expresses concern “for children who are unwanted, unloved, abandoned or abused, that the Lord will inspire His

people to protect and care for them.”

If used as a blessing outside Mass, the service includes introductory prayers, Scripture readings, intercessions, the actual blessing of the mother and child, and a concluding rite.

“May almighty God, Who has created new life, now bless the child in your womb,” the blessing says. “The Lord

has brought you the joy of motherhood: May He bless you with a safe and healthy pregnancy. You thank the Lord today for the gift of your child: May He bring you and your child one day to share in the unending joys of Heaven.”

There are also optional prayers for fathers, for families and for the parish community.

8

J

ohn’s Gospel narrative for Easter Sunday (20:1-9) revolves around the interplay of three individuals: Mary of Magdala, Peter and the “other disciple whom Jesus loved,” commonly recognized as John.

It is through the actions of these three that the reader encounters varying degrees of faith responses to the Resurrection.

The Gospel account begins “on the first day of the week,” a straightforward start, and yet, the verse testifies to an important historical development that Ignatius of Antioch would later underscore in his letter to the Magnesians. Concerning Jewish Christians who gathered to celebrate on Sunday rather than the Sabbath, Ignatius writes, “We have seen how former adherents to the ancient customs have since attained to a new hope … and now order their lives by the Lord’s day instead (the day when life first dawned for us).” Almost 2,000 years later, Pope Benedict XVI would state of Holy Week in “Jesus of Nazareth,” “Only an event that marked souls indelibly could

April 6, 2012

The Anchor

Souls indelibly marked

bring about such a profound actions of others taking the Lord realignment in the religious from the tomb; the evangelist culture of the week” (p.259). records Mary making that stateSunday’s Gospel narrament three times, rivaling Petive, however, testifies that the ter’s three-fold denial of Jesus. indelible marking of souls would come about in a gradual manner.

Homily of the Week Mary comes to the tomb “while it was Easter still dark”; throughout Sunday John’s Gospel, darkness

By Deacon is associated with an Joseph A. McGinley absence of faith — from its prologue (“the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not Mary’s faith, then, would take overcome it”) to the disciples’ her only as far as “the Lord,” it paralyzing fear in the storm falls short of “the Risen Lord.” at sea (“It had already grown In contrast, Peter and John dark”) to the haunting descripreact to Mary’s message by tion of Judas’ departure from running to the tomb, and with Jesus (“and it was still night”). them, the reader is brought to Mary’s lack of faith takes her the place of an event that tranonly as far as seeing the stone scends all events. John’s arrival removed from the tomb. Her at the tomb before Peter may response is to run away from the certainly serve to foreshadow epicenter of what Pope Benean arrival at faith that precedes dict XVI describes as an event Peter’s; his hesitation at the that “bursts open the dimension entrance of the tomb may be the of history and transcends it” writer’s way of acknowledging (“Jesus” p. 273). Mary can only the primacy of Peter’s position attribute what she saw to the among the Apostles, or it may

be used as a literary device to “set up” the climactic moment when John comes to believe; no matter, what is apparent is that John is standing at the brink of something, while Peter, being Peter, thrusts himself into the situation. Peter takes note of the concrete — the burial cloth, the cloth that covered Jesus’ head, their location. Finally, too, John plunges into the mystery, no longer willing to stand on the brink, no longer satisfied to stare at the physical evidence. He plunges into the reality of the empty tomb and arrives at a Resurrection faith “and he believed.”

From disbelief (Mary of Magdala) to partial belief (the first arrival of the two disciples at the tomb) to a Resurrection belief (John), and yet, the journey does not stop with John’s belief. Through the narrative, the evangelist also involves the reader on a journey of faith.

John arrived at his belief without seeing the Risen Christ. (A

startling contrast to Thomas, who would later say, “Unless I see, I will not believe”). John, then, surely anticipates the faith journey of countless generations of Christians who would come to a Resurrection faith without seeing the Risen Lord.

The ending of the narrative, in fact, where the reader is told, “for they did not yet understand the Scripture that He had to rise from the dead,” presents a startling irony. The theologian Francis Moloney notes that Peter and John are in a “not yet” situation of ignorance (they are in the narrative, but are not able to be readers of the story) while “later generations may not be able to penetrate the tomb and see the cloths but it will have the Scriptures, and in every way match the faith experience of the beloved disciple.”

For all of us, it is a faith experience that not only joins us to the beloved disciple, but serves to mark souls indelibly.

Deacon McGinley serves at St. Ann Parish in Raynham and teaches theology at Bishop Feehan High School.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. April 7, Easter Vigil, (1) Gn 1:1—2:2, or 1:1,26-31a; Ps 104:1-2a,5-6,10,12-14,24,35c or Ps 33:4-7,12-13,20,22; (2) Gn 22:1-18 or 22:1-2,9a,10-13,15-18; Ps 16:5,8-11; (3) Ex 14:15—15:1; (Ps) Ex 15:1-6,17-18; (4) Is 54:5-14; Ps 30:2,4-6,11-12a,13b; (5) Is 55:1-11; (Ps) Is 12:2-3,4bcd,5-6; (6) Bar 3:9-15,32—4:4; Ps 19:8-11; (7) Ez 36:16-17a,18-28; Pss 42:3,5;43:3-4; or when Baptism is celebrated, (Ps) Is 12:2-3,4bcd,5-6 or Ps 51:12-15,18-19; (8) Rom 6:3-11; Ps 118:1-2,16ab-17,22-23; (9) Mk 16:1-7. Sun. Apr. 8, Easter Sunday, Acts 10:34a,37-43; Ps 118:1-2,16ab-17,22-23; Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8; Jn 20:1-9 or 41: Mk 16:1-7 or, at an afternoon or evening Mass, 46: Lk 24:13-35. Mon. Apr. 9, Acts 2:14,22-23; Ps 16:1-2a,5,7-11; Mt 28:8-15. Tues. Apr. 10, Acts 2:36-41; Ps 33:4-5,18-20,22; Jn 20:11-18. Wed. Apr. 11, Acts 3:1-10; Ps 105:1-4,6-9; Lk 24:13-35. Thurs. Apr. 12, Acts 3:11-26; Ps 8:2a,5-9; Lk 24:35-48. Fri. Apr. 13, Acts 4:1-12; Ps 118:1-2,4,22-27a; Jn 21:1-14.

C

hristmas occupies such a large part of the Christian imagination that the absolute supremacy of Easter as the greatest of Christian feasts may get obscured at times. Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, an Italian biblical scholar, suggests that we might begin to appreciate how Easter changed everything — and gave the birth of Jesus at Christmas its significance — by reflecting on the story of Jesus purifying the Jerusalem temple, at the beginning of John’s Gospel.

In this prophetic and symbolic act, Ravasi writes, Jesus draws a sharp contrast between a religion of superficiality and self-absorption and a pure faith, centered on His person. God can no longer be present in a temple that has ceased to be a place of encounter, the “meeting tent” of the ancient Hebrews; that temple, however magnificently constructed, had become a place of superstition and self-interest. In cleansing the temple, Jesus is declar-

Easter changes everything

ing that God is now present that Jesus is the Christ, the to His people in a new and Holy One of God. perfect way and in a new Easter faith — the faith that “meeting tent”: the Incarnate Son, “the Word made flesh” Who dwells among us, “full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14). He, Jesus, is the new Temple, and

By George Weigel to recognize that and live in this new mode of the divine Presence one must “remember,” as St. proclaims that “He rose again John writes at the end of the on the third day” — is not one temple-cleansing story (Jn article of Christian convic2:22). tion among others. As St. Paul And remember what? teaches in 1 Corinthians 15, Remember Easter. Remember Easter faith is that conviction the Resurrection. Through the on which the entire edifice of prism of that extraordinary Christianity is built. Without event that changed history and Easter, nothing makes sense nature, everything comes into and Jesus is a false prophet, clearer focus. Only a mature, even a maniac. With Easter, Paschal faith — an Easter all that has been obscure faith — can perceive who Jeabout His life, His teachsus is, understand what Jesus ing, His works and His fate taught, and grasp what Jesus becomes radiantly clear: this has accomplished by His Risen One is the “first-born obedience to the Father. Only among many brethren” (Rom in the power of this Paschal 8:29); He is the new Temple “memory,” Cardinal Ravasi (Rev 21:22); and by embracconcludes, can we recognize ing Him we enter the dwelling

The Catholic Difference

place of God among us (Rev 21:3).

In the Gospel readings of the Easter Octave, the Church annually remembers the utterly unprecedented nature of the Paschal event, and how it exploded expectations of what God’s decisive action in history would be.

No one gets it, at first; for what has happened bursts the previous limits of human understanding. The women at the empty tomb don’t understand, and neither do Peter and John. The disciples on the road to Emmaus do not understand until they encounter the Risen One in the Eucharist, the great gift of Paschal life, offered by the new Temple, the Divine Presence, Himself.

At one encounter with the Risen Lord, the Eleven think they’re seeing a ghost; later, up along the Sea of Galilee, it takes a while for Peter and John to recognize that “It is the Lord!” (John 21:7). These serial episodes of incompre-

hension, carefully recorded by the early Church, testify to the shattering character of Easter, which changed everything: the first disciples’ understanding of history, of lifebeyond-death, of worship and its relationship to time (thus Sunday, the day of Easter, becomes the Sabbath of the New Covenant).

Easter also changed the first disciples’ understanding of themselves and their responsibilities. They were the privileged ones who must keep alive the memory of Easter: in their preaching, in their baptizing and breaking of bread, and ultimately in the new Scriptures they wrote.

They were the ones who must take the Gospel of the Risen One to “all nations,” in the sure knowledge that He would be with them always (Mt 28:19-20).

They were to “be transformed” (Rom 12:2). So are we.

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

9

The Anchor

April 6, 2012

D

modern-day disciples — Students from St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dighton along with retreat team members from St. Nicholas and Holy Family Parish in East Taunton recently lived their Confirmation retreat at Betania II Spiritual Center in Medway. (Photo by Maureen Wagner)

Shine

Dighton and Holy Family Parish in Friday 6 April 2012 — at the church on Three Mile River — Full East Taunton have been working together for some years now at the Paschal Moon (determines the task of preparing our young people date of Easter) spiritually for full initiation into arly on a recent Saturday the Church. Youth and adults from morning, I drove to the both parishes have developed a Town of Medway to join a group program of prayer and reflection at Betania II Spiritual Life and intended for those scheduled to Marian Center. I had never before been there but the place is less than receive the Sacrament of Confiran hour from my house. The Spiri- mation that year.

A car drove up and stopped. tual Life Center, which opened in “We’re all here, Father. Come join 2003, is located on more than 100 us.” So I did. “Please go through wooded acres.

As I drove up, the first building looked like a church. There wasn’t another soul around, so I Reflections of a parked my car and headed Parish Priest through the door. Come to find out, it wasn’t a church

By Father Tim as such but a 900-seat oraGoldrick tory.

I passed several unoccupied offices and meeting rooms. that door over there.” So I did. On the other side of the door were Then I wandered downstairs and the members of the retreat team, discovered a dining room with a formed into a double gauntlet. capacity of, say, 300 people. The They were just waiting for somecommercial kitchen had every one to enter. That would be me. In amenity imaginable. There was walked the over-aged parking lot still no one in sight. Did I have the attendant and the music, cheering, wrong day? Was I in the wrong and clapping began. It was the place? Hello, hello? Is anybody welcoming committee. There was home? no escape, so I pulled up the hood The cell phone is a useful invention. I used mine and learned on my sweatshirt and made my way down the line. The arriving that the team was on the property but in another building. A two-year ninth-grade students, all 50 of them, were greeted with equal enold overnight retreat facility is just thusiasm. This, I rightly concluded, out of sight of the Spiritual Life is going to be high-energy day.

Center. It provides 75 bedrooms, Any time spent with young with private baths and even indihigh school students needs to be vidual balconies. That’s where my high-energy; otherwise, you will group was gathering. never keep their attention. This I knew that our parish Confirevent was going to last for 12 mation students would soon be hours. Many and varied activiarriving in their parent’s cars, so I ties were essential if it was to be stood for awhile in the parking lot of the Spiritual Life Center to wave effective.

There were talks, of course. them in the right direction. Dressed in jeans and an old “hoodie” (from All of them were short and to the point. All of them included Bentley University), I probably some personal sharing. And all of appeared to the arriving parents as them were given by young team an over-aged parking lot attendant members. There were notes of still working my way through encouragement from home. There college. were table activities, discussions, St. Nicholas Parish in North

E

The Ship’s Log

custom-printed T-shirts, lots of singing and dancing, and even a skit. I had to pass on the “Cottoneyed Joe” line-dancing but everyone else jumped right in.

The backbone of the program is the young people who have participated in the experience as part of their own Confirmation preparation. It’s a form of peer ministry.

They had spent five months getting ready for this day. Their formation consisted of educational, spiritual, and social components, as well as hands-on ministry in their parishes. Before they were accepted on team, they had signed a promise to participate in the formation. Any young person who followed through on the commitment was welcomed on team. This is how we ended up with some 40 highly-motivated young people who could hardly contain their enthusiasm in sharing their faith with other young people.

The kids all definitely had fun. Most of the Confirmation candidates want to be on the retreat team themselves next year.

We may end up with more team members than candidates for the Sacrament of Confirmation — and we have relatively large Confirmation classes.

The day was not all fun and games. Far from it. There was the celebration of Holy Mass. There was adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. There were hours spent in the Sacrament of Penance. The young people were exposed to the grace-filled prayer of the Church, but in a manner to which they could relate.

Come their Confirmation day, they will become fully-initiated members of the Church and it will be their turn to shine their light for all to see. And now an encouraging word from their pastor: “Shine, kids! Shine!”

Father Goldrick is pastor of St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dighton.

Mercy for the asking

uring Holy Week, ferent? We hear that God is we’ve been reminded love, and we’re familiar with once more of the terrible the explanation that love is price that God paid for our His very essence — He must sins. Perhaps you had a love, for that is Who He chance to go to Confession is — but how can He love and the graces of the holy us, especially when we find season penetrated your soul ourselves so unlovable? as never before. Or perhaps While we understand the you looked on with the relationship between sin and same weary eyes as before, justice, whereby reparation wondering if God is faithmust be made for offenses ful to His promises — if against God, sin also adds the glories of His Passion, to our understanding of His death, and Resurrection can love. When a person bears make a difference in your love for that which is perlife. Has another season of fect, it is simply love, but grace come and gone without effect, causing you to keep God at arm’s length and

By Genevieve Kineke to wonder at the meaning of it all? when love embraces that The celebration of the sawhich is imperfect, we see cred Triduum and the Easter that perfect love includes octave flows into “little Eas- mercy, for now there is the ter,” the second Sunday after forbearance of a defect that the Passion, which has now wasn’t previously necessary. been dedicated to the Divine In that sense, our intransiMercy. In the midst of the gence didn’t change God 20th century — that bloody — He is immutable — but century marked by wars, we subsequently learned that gulags and unspeakable dev- the love which was intrinsic astation — God repeatedly to His nature included an emphasized His abiding love unquenchable mercy, which to a young Polish nun named does not shrink from us even Sister Faustina Kowalska in our corrupt state. in messages that spanned Is there no limit to what He from 1931 to 1938. Did the will forgive? Evidently not, as horrors from which so many he stressed to Sister Faustina suffered end with those revthat His mercy and kindness elations? Not at all — and are always at the disposal of indeed they only grew worse all people — especially those — but His children were who suffer — and He pointed comforted amidst the darkto the gift of His Passion and ness with the truth that no death as proof of His desire human sin is more powerful that we be freed from the than His mercy. consequences of our sins.

No matter what cunning That gift stands for all time, devices humans concoct to and just because our depravevict God from His creation, ity seems to have intensified no matter what depraved bein recent decades, that doesn’t haviors they insist on calling mean that He’s withdrawn His enlightened, God will still offer in disgust. In fact, the be God, and He will remain greater our propensity for selfhere in our midst, hoping for destruction, the more radical, the slightest response to His the more astonishing is His solicitousness. He cannot healing by contrast. be scared off, nor can He be How instructive it is horrified at our degeneracy, that Eastertide is longer for He has already walked than Lent, and is the time the gauntlet of wickedness for celebrating God’s great and conquered it. mercy. Embrace it — and let What is mercy, this curiit embrace you! ous dimension of God that Mrs. Kineke is the author makes Him so steadfast in of “The Authentic Catholic His love for creation, and Woman” (Servant Books) particularly His love for us? and blogs at feminine-geIs all mercy love, or is it dif- nius.com.

The Feminine Genius

The Anchor

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

April 6, 2012

Easter Triduum services and rites provide a ‘reawakening’ for area priests

By Dave Jolivet, Editor

a special place of reposition for was consecrated on Holy Thursday.

After that we remove Christ’s Body SWANSEA — “It’s a time of adoration.”

Another powerful reminder from the crucifix and place Him on year when we allow the Liturgy to cover us like a healing balm,” said of Christ’s Passion hangs in the a bier with cut flowers and we proFather Michael A. Ciryak, pas- sanctuary of St. Francis of Assisi, cess through the church where He tor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish an addition that was received one is carried to a tomb where He rein Swansea. “The Easter Triduum year ago. “The beautiful crucifix mains until the Easter Vigil celebrais all about a call to holiness. It facing the congregation used to tion of His Resurrection.

“As a priest the Holy Thursbrings our focus on what’s most hang in a Franciscan church in important in our spiritual journey, Ohio,” explained Father Ciryak. day and Good Friday rites and the Paschal Mystery of the death “After the church closed, it was traditions enrich my faith life. It and Resurrection of Christ and the put in storage where it remained reawakens in me what all of this means. And my hope is to institution of the great gift of share that with my parishthe Eucharist.” ioners and enrich their faith Father Ciryak and priests lives as well.” across the Fall River Diocese “On Good Friday we have spent countless hours close the office,” said Father preparing themselves, their Ciryak. “It allows the emchurches and their parishployees and myself to put ioners to prayerfully enter distractions aside and enthe remembrance of Christ’s ter into the mysteries of the ultimate sacrifice for us; the beautiful Liturgy. It’s easy to reason why He came. get caught up in day-to-day The Triduum is a threeroutines so it’s important to day Liturgy beginning on concentrate on the meaning Holy Thursday, through of the Triduum. We open the Good Friday and joyfully church doors early on Friending the Easter Vigil on day and allow the faithful to Holy Saturday. come in and pray and medi“It’s the shortest season in tate, and many use the beauthe liturgical year, but it’s the tiful crucifix as focal point. most important and power“At night during the Liturful,” Father Ciryak told The gy of the Passion, I’m always Anchor. “It prepares us for so amazed at the passion of Heaven.” the people who come up to “It’s the most spiritual week of the whole year,” christ crucified — This 100-year-old, reverence the Eucharist, ofsaid Chorbishop Joseph F. hand-carved crucifix from Germany found a ten overcome with emotion, Kaddo, pastor of the Ma- home in St. Francis of Assisi Church in Swan- bringing them to tears. It’s ronite parish of St. Anthony sea one year ago. This week it provides a very emotional for me. Very of the Desert in Fall River. beautiful backdrop to the holy rites and services few people come up and “It provides a reawaken- of the Easter Triduum. (Photo by Dave Jolivet) nonchalant it.”

Today at St. George’s stuing of what our faith lives mean; following in the footsteps hidden for 10 years. A high school dents from the Montessori School of Christ. As Catholics we can re- friend of mine was the caretaker of the Angels performed the Livlate because we all carry our own and we made arrangements to pur- ing Stations at 3 p.m., and tonight crosses and experience our own chase the crucifix for the church Father Gauvin and the faithful will in Swansea. It was hand-carved celebrate the Liturgy of the Lord’s resurrections.”

Father Maurice O. Gauvin, pas- in Germany more than 100 years Passion. “For the first time, the tor of St. George’s Parish in West- ago. When we erected it a year ago Passion will be chanted in our parport told The Anchor, “As Catho- people were in awe, bringing some ish,” added Father Gauvin.

“As a priest, the Passion draws lics we read about the Passion in to tears.” It still does.

In Westport, the parishioners me closer to the Cross of Christ,” Scripture and see it portrayed in movies, but to actually partake in at St. George’s got to experience he continued. “We realize His the Liturgy brings you much clos- a Holy Thursday tradition for the great sacrifice and we have to give er to the reality of what Christ did first time in quite a while. “For a our lives for others as well.”

Father Ciryak said the people for us.” Father Gauvin spent much while here, we couldn’t get enough of this week preparing for the ser- men volunteers for the Washing of who regularly attend Mass are vices and rites, “rehearsing with the Feet ceremony,” said Father uplifted by the services of Holy participants and altar servers.” In Gauvin. “But this year we did. Thursday and Good Friday. “I addition, he also dressed the altar Holy Thursday is central to our hope those who rarely attend, yet and sanctuary with appropriate faith. And not only is it when the come for the Triduum are touched Eucharist was instituted, but also by God’s graces,” he said. “I hope seasonal decorations, himself.

Thousands of faithful across the priesthood. So it means a great it’s a coming home for them.”

Father Gauvin said the Triduthe diocese attended services last deal to priests.”

The faithful at St. Anthony of um buoys not only his faith life but evening and continue their spirituthe Desert Parish follow the East- the faithful as well: “I hope this al journey today on Good Friday.

At St. Francis of Assisi Parish, ern Rite tradition of processing brings a renewed understanding of the faithful attended the open- with Christ’s Body on Good Friday the Triduum and the great Paschal ing of the Liturgy last night, af- night. “The ceremony of the Burial Mystery of Christ.”

Preparing for the holiest seater which the altar and sanctuary of Christ is a very emotional expewere stripped of all decorations rience,” said Chorbishop Kaddo. son in the Church year is a lot of and ornaments. “It signifies the “On Good Friday night we cel- work, “But I put everything in time when Jesus was taken away ebrate the Liturgy of the Presancti- God’s hands,” Father Ciryak said. from us,” said Father Ciryak. “We fied Gifts. There is no Mass, but the “Prayer doesn’t make God greater, process the Blessed Sacrament to faithful receive the Eucharist that rather, it builds us up.”

April 6, 2012

11

The Anchor

Diocesan pastors prepare well in advance for Easter Vigil service

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

NEW BEDFORD — One of the most involved and beautiful Liturgies in the Roman Catholic Church is the Easter Vigil Mass celebrated on Holy Saturday. Given the spiritual significance of the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection, and the fact that it comes on the heels of an already-busy Holy Week schedule, many pastors have to make sure all the ritual details are in place well in advance to ensure that the real importance of the Liturgy isn’t lost in the shuffle.

“It’s really an elongated process of preparation that goes into the Easter

Vigil — it’s not just one day of planning,” said Msgr. John J. Oliveira, pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in New Bedford.

“I actually start preparing for the Easter Vigil before Lent begins, because we need to order the Paschal candle and the taper candles.”

“Preparing for Holy Saturday really begins on Ash Wednesday for me, because all of it leads to the Easter Vigil,” agreed Father John C. Ozug, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in New Bedford. “You have to make sure you have enough candles for the Easter Vigil and prepare for the readings, but as a priest Turn to page 13

May the joy of the risen Christ be with you throughout the year

From the community of St. Pius X Parish South Yarmouth, MA

Father George C. Bellenoit, Pastor

12

The Anchor

April 6, 2012

‘Hugo,’ ‘I Am,’ ‘The Way,’ ‘Modern Family’ win Catholic group’s awards

STUDIO CITY, Calif. (CNS) — The feature films “Hugo” and “The Way,” the documentary “I Am” and the television sitcom “Modern Family” have been named winners of this year’s Catholics in Media Awards. The Martin Scorsese film “Hugo,” the filmmaker’s first feature given the 3-D treatment, is getting the Film Award from Catholics in Media Associates, sponsors of the prizes for the 19th year. “Hugo” won five Academy Awards in February.

“The Way,” starring Martin Sheen and directed by his son Emilio Estevez, won the group’s Board of Directors Award. Both films were made available on DVD in February.

“I Am,” directed by Tom Shadyac, won the organization’s Documentary Award. In the mov-

ie, Shadyac relates his experiences and personal journey following a devastating 2007 bicycle accident.

“Modern Family,” seen Wednesdays on ABC, was chosen for the Television Award. It revolves around three families interrelated through patriarch Jay Pritchett, played by Ed O’Neill.

The series has already won a Peabody Award, an Emmy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Golden Globe Award. The Catholics in Media Awards were created by prominent Catholics in the entertainment industry to “promote and applaud individuals, films and TV programs that uplift the spirit and help us better understand what it is to be part of the human family,” according to a Catholics in Media Associates announcement.

He’s all ears — Julia Roberts and Armie Hammer star in a scene from the movie “Mirror Mirror.”

For a brief review of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS photo/Relativity Media)

CNS Movie Capsules

Happy Easter from

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

“The Hunger Games” (Lionsgate) Dystopian adventure tracking two teens (Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson) as they participate in the titular event, a televised survival tournament in which youthful combatants from oppressed outlying districts are forced to battle one another until only one remains alive for the entertainment of their society’s decadent urban elite. Director and co-writer Gary Ross’ screen version of the first volume in Suzanne Collins’ best-selling trilogy of novels is an effective combination of epic spectacle and emotional drama during which humane values are pitted against Darwinian moral chaos.

But sensibilities are not spared in the portrayal of the grim contest, so parents need to weigh carefully whether to allow targeted teens to attend. Possibly acceptable for mature adolescents. Considerable, sometimes gory, hand-to-hand and weapons violence and graphic images of bloody wounds. The Catholic News Service classification is AIII — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

“Mirror Mirror” (Relativity) Director Tarsem Singh brings high camp style to his fresh live-action take on the Brothers

Grimm fairy tale “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” This go-round, the handsome prince (Armie Hammer) is the center of attention, pursued equally by the evil Queen (Julia Roberts) and her fairest-of-them-all stepdaughter (Lily Collins). When the Queen banishes her competition to the forest, Snow White decides to fight back. With the help of a ragtag band of diminutive warriors, she leads a crusade to gain her kingdom and claim her prince. The end result is a bit leaden and somewhat charmless for a children’s fairy tale. But remarkable costumes and grand set pieces go a long way to compensate. Mild action violence, some rude humor, one semiprofane utterance. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II — adults and adolescents.

The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

“Wrath of the Titans” (Warner Bros.)

Stilted, tedious mythology sequel in which the conflicted demigod Perseus (Sam Worthington) is forced to abandon his quiet life among mortals

and intervene in a war that pits his father Zeus (Liam Neeson) against his uncle Hades (Ralph Fiennes) and his half-brother Ares (Edgar Ramirez). Perseus’ allies in the struggle include an earthly warrior queen (Rosamund Pike), Poseidon’s shifty son Agenor (Toby Kebbell) and the exiled smithy to the gods, Hephaestus (Bill Nighy). Boulders fly and monsters die in director Jonathan Liebesman’s 3-D follow-up to 2010’s “Clash of the Titans,” itself a remake of the 1981 cult hit of the same title. But the effects — and action-driven proceedings are all spectacle and no substance.

The pagan theologizing to which some of the pompous dialogue is devoted, moreover, may confuse the impressionable. Possibly acceptable for older teens. Pagan religious themes; constant, occasionally bloody, action violence; at least one mildly sexual joke; and a single crass term. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Easter Sunday, April 8 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Celebrant Bishop George W. Coleman, Bishop of the Diocese of Fall River

The Anchor

April 6, 2012

Pastors prepare for Easter Vigil service continued from page 11

you also have to prepare yourself spiritually. My attitude is once Holy Week arrives, my whole focus has to be on the Easter Triduum — all the rest has to be put aside.”

As the first official celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection, the Easter Vigil is held during the hours of darkness between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter Sunday. In addition to the usual Liturgy of the Word and Holy Eucharist portions of the Mass, the Easter Vigil also contains the Service of Light — which includes the kindling of the Easter fire and the blessing and lighting of the Paschal candle — and the Christian Initiation and the Renewal of Baptismal Vows, during which catechumens are baptized and confirmed.

“I usually prepare the fire in the morning so that everything is ready to go,” Msgr. Oliveira said. “We decorate the altar on Holy Saturday morning and if there are people to be received into the Church we have a rehearsal for them on Saturday morning as well. We also have to prepare the readings and the music and all those many myriad of activities.”

“I’d say most priests, if not all, already have the Easter Vigil planned by the beginning of Lent,” said Father Kevin A. Cook, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Taunton. “When it comes to some things — the lighting of the fire, for example — they only take a couple of days

to prepare. But in most parishes there are usually people who are entrusted with coordinating things like training the altar servers and preparing the Easter Vigil fire. Some of those things don’t require as much work for pastors; it’s just a matter of double-checking to make sure everything is in order.”

“The immediate preparations involved with the Easter Vigil are usually handled by the same people in the parish — those who have been involved in the Liturgy from year to year, especially in a smaller parish,” said Father Kevin J. Harrington, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in New Bedford. “I just called last week to order the Paschal candle, which I should have done sooner, but like everyone else, these holy days sometimes catch up on you.”

With a lengthier Liturgy of the Word that includes as many as seven readings from the Old Testament, pastors also need to prepare for additional lectors during Mass.

“One of the things I have to coordinate in advance is the readings for the Easter Vigil Mass,” Father Harrington said. “Based on those readings, I usually prepare my homily. I’ve never believed that the length of the Easter Vigil service should be a hindrance. It’s something that I feel — along with Holy Thursday — is the central part of our Liturgy and our faith. I always tell people the Mass is

as long as it takes to give God due glory and honor. I don’t look at the clock when I celebrate Mass.”

With the new third edition of the Roman Missal now in force, there are some additional changes in the language and rubrics involved with the Easter Vigil celebration, which is something that will be brand new to all this year.

“With the new prayers of the Roman Missal, you’ve got to read them several times out loud, because there’s a certain beat to them,” Father Ozug said. “You have to adjust the way you talk to have them make sense to people. I find it helps to look at those prayers the night before. There’s a poetry to the new language and you’ve got to learn the syncopation in addition to the pronunciation.

It forces you to slow down and to better understand what you’re praying — it’s a challenge, but it’s a good challenge.”

“When you only do something once a year, it’s hard for it to just naturally flow,” agreed Father Cook. “And now with the new translation and new rubrics, you have to adapt yourself to it. I think it will go well. It probably varies from priest to priest in terms of his comfort level.”

Having to deal with everything from training altar servers to preparing music ministers to sing the newly-revised Easter Proclamation, or “Exultet,” it can be a challenge for pastors to remain focused on the true meaning of the Easter Vigil.

“Sometimes the spiritual preparation for me has to happen days in advance,” Father Cook said. “You have to set some time aside to prepare yourself spiritually and pray about the different parts of the Paschal Mystery. As we get close to it, there’s so much running around with all the practical little details involved that it’s better to be prepared beforehand.”

“Spiritually you have to be fed and you have to be prayerful,” Father Harrington agreed. “The planning and the logistics are important, but it’s the highlight of our liturgical calendar. There’s

13 a temptation to get caught up in the details.”

In order to prepare himself spiritually for the Easter Vigil, Father Ozug said he likes to spend some quiet time during Holy Saturday once the altar has been decorated in the morning just reflecting on the importance of the celebration.

“I like to spend Holy Saturday privately going over the Liturgy that I’m going to celebrate in the evening; putting finishing touches on the homily, going over it, and reflecting on it,” he said. “I think people sometimes forget that priests have to prepare for a threeact play during the Easter Triduum that begins on Thursday morning and doesn’t end until Holy Saturday night. And you have to prepare for that — you just can’t wing it.”

“The most important preparation for me, personally, is to try to get all the details done so I can enter into the spirit of this most beautiful night of the year,” Msgr. Oliveira agreed. “I like to get things ready so I can then focus on what’s happening rather than who is lighting what candle and who is bringing what where. The challenge of Holy Week for any priest is to get beyond the details of all the ceremonies and to enter spiritually into the mysteries that he’s celebrating with his community.”

Father Ozug further suggested that those who don’t necessarily attend Mass on a regular basis or who haven’t been particularly faithful during Lent should really consider attending all three celebrations of the Easter Triduum.

“These are very important days and the best teaching tool we have as a Church is the Liturgy, and if you really put the effort into celebrating it well the message is communicated,” he said.

“You should come on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday and make that your Lenten sacrifice. It will change your life and it will have some effect on your life beyond your comprehension.”

The Anchor

14

April 6, 2012

The Diocesan Archives: Preserving local Church history

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff

FALL RIVER — The building is small enough to be easily passed by as you drive on Highland Avenue, but the archives of the Fall River Diocese is the backbone of information for all the diocese’s parishes, schools and institutions — just don’t call it a museum.

“Archivists really don’t like to think of an archives as a museum,” said Father Barry Wall of the position he’s held since 1999.

“Its purpose is to serve the institution on a day-by-day basis, so that if they want to know what we said last year about this or that, ideally we should be able to provide the information.”

Up until Bishop Daniel A. Cronin’s time, the archive building was the chancery office; in fact, the chancellor and archivist for the diocese was one and the same person. However, in recent decades, “what we call the information explosion, modern technology has allowed the increase of the volume of paperwork that is turned out, so that affects us too. In 1999, it was thought there should be a distinct person to handle the arrangement of documents,” said Father Wall.

It’s a part-time position Father Wall balanced with his duties while being pastor at Holy Rosary Parish in Fall River for 10 years until retiring four years ago as pastor. Now he has more time to devote himself to maintaining the archives.

He often finds himself responding to calls for information from those in the diocese who are celebrating significant anniversaries and interested in the history of his or her parish or institution, or requests from people doing genealogical work. “We don’t have the sacramental records readily available, most of those are kept

at parishes,” said Father Wall.

“There are some on microfilm, but by-and-large I refer people to the proper parish.”

The archives are closed to the general public. Father Wall spends at least three afternoons a

ther Wall.

Deeds to all the properties owned by the Fall River Diocese are clearly on the “saved forever” list while one of the most common items sent his way — scrapbooks loaded with newspaper

ing to have a seminary and those books would form the foundation of a library, but I don’t know,” said Father Wall, adding that many of the books were sold simply to free-up storage space. “We saved everything that pertains to

Record Keeper — Father Barry Wall, archivist for the Fall River Diocese since 1999, opens a drawer of specially designed cabinets that hold blueprints of every church, school and institution in the Fall River Diocese; the top of the cabinets hold dozens more blueprints that couldn’t fit inside the drawers. In the background shelves are the many books written on the histories of the parishes in all five deaneries. All the items kept at the archives have been deemed “of lasting value,” said Father Wall. (Photo by Becky Aubut)

week reviewing individual documents and items and placing a “judgment call” on whether it should be tossed or stored.

“The archives preserves documents of enduring value to the institution,” said Father Wall, and with no basement in the building, limitations on space dictate that he must keep a firm hand on the selection process of what can stay and what can go.

Often items are stored and reviewed annually or until a successor-document shows up to replace it, “and then there are those things that are saved forever,” said Fa-

Small building, big history — Maintaining an archive for a diocese is a requirement under canon law, and while the archive building of the Diocese of Fall River may not look that impressive from the outside, there are endless rows of cabinets protecting the history of the diocese. There are also hidden treasures such as the correspondence between Bishop James L. Connolly and President John F. Kennedy and rare photos, including an autographed photo of St. Pius X. (Photo by Becky Aubut)

cutouts of various events — get immediately thrown out. Though people may enjoy being featured in the diocesan newspaper The Anchor, said Father Wall, having hardbound copies of the newspaper that is already stored within easy reach in the archives keeps clutter to a minimum.

“We’re required by canon law to have an archive,” said Father Wall. “It’s common sense that the Church would require the retention of documents with regard to the Sacraments and the ministry of the bishop and the administration. There’s a need for those things to be kept.”

In a room filled with filing cabinets, an autographed photo of St. Pius X hangs next to a framed copy of the decree establishing the Diocese of Fall River. In the next room are additional filing cabinets and on the second floor there are more filing cabinets and shelves lined with books focused on the history of the local parish churches.

At one time there was an attempt to create a diocesan library, to house the assortment of books on history and theology from priests who had bequeathed them to the diocese, including books from Bishop George H. Cassidy, who was an avid collector.

“It was a diocesan library in name but it didn’t serve any purpose. There may have been a hope that one day we were go-

local history.”

Some of the more interesting items stored at the archives can be found in the correspondence of the bishops, such as the communication between Bishop James L. Connolly and President John F. Kennedy. The bishop inquired if the president would be interested in having a private chapel at his home in Hyannis Port and while appreciative of the offer, Kennedy wrote that he preferred his parish church for Mass.

Bishop Cassidy was interested in science, said Father Wall, and there is correspondence between him and Alexis Carrel, a famous surgeon and biologist noted for winning the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1912 for pioneering vascular suturing techniques.

There is also correspondence between Bishop Cassidy and St. Katherine Drexel of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, canonized in 2000 and one of only a few American saints; she is known as the patron saint of racial justice and of philanthropists.

One can learn a lot about the character of a person through his writing, said Father Wall. Bishop Cassidy was a colorful person and he had correspondence with a wide variety of interesting people; “We’re in the days before even long-distance telephone was used extensively,” said Father Wall, “and obviously the days be-

fore email, correspondence gives a lot of detail about the person.”

Currently there is a monthly mailing that goes out to all the priests that is “a source and history of day-to-day activities. It’s an in-house mailing that talks about meetings, liturgies and events that are coming up. We have the minutes of the priest council meeting.

Those things have to be kept updated all the time,” said Father Wall, who keeps a copy for the archives.

While The Anchor may have an edge on the number of photos in its files, “the two would be complimentary since we have photographs that antedate The Anchor,” he said, of photos that include Bishop Connolly and his participation at the Second Vatican Council.

The second floor is host to a wall of elongated filing cabinets that house hundreds of blueprints of every church, school and institution in the Fall River Diocese.

So many blueprints exist per building because for every modification made to it — from updating heating specifications to new additions — a new blueprint is created.

“Ideally they should be rolled out and lay flat,” but due to the incredible number of them all, “it’s impossible for me to do,” said Father Wall, who took it upon himself to bring some order to the massive amounts of rolled up prints. “They were in bins by geographical areas and we got these file [cabinets] and gradually separated them. They are by deaneries and alphabetically done by parishes.”

Stained-glass windows showcase the coat of arms of five of the seven bishops who have served the Fall River Diocese. An extensive burglar alarm is wired into the local station and there is also a vault that protects the most precious and important documents at the archives. Eighty percent of his job is filing things properly for easy retrieval because many of the documents “are of lasting value,” he said.

Father Wall is acutely aware that keeping up mail-type correspondence is being replaced with the more preferred method of email, and while the bishop’s office is diligent about maintaining hard copies, Father Wall has faith that communication between different parties will not be lost, regardless of the originating source.

“It is a problem of how to retrieve things because the technology keeps progressing and not generating much paperwork,” he said. “That isn’t really my concern at the moment because a tech-savvy person could come in and make great changes to the operations.”

April 6, 2012

The Anchor

15

Who was that man?

M

any of us have played characters felt like at the time of those parts as school their arrival, during Christ’s sufchildren. You know the ones fering, and then after the Savior in school plays where you and rose from the dead. most of your friends are not cast Before Jesus even enters in the lead role, but are assigned the Holy City, we meet some that part that is still “very impor- of these characters. Jesus asks tant to the play.” And how we some of his disciples to go into would all be quite proud to be a the next town and find a colt tied tree in the forest; or a cow at the there. They did. There was. Who manger; or a fluffy, billowing put the colt there and who told cardboard cloud.

The parts were indeed important elements to the story — enhancements to the main event.

Otherwise, the narrative would be just that —

By Dave Jolivet words. The small parts together help paint the big picture.

Any great work of literature them to? And when the disciples has these characters. Not neceswere questioned, they said “The sarily clouds and cattle, but Lord has need of it.” And the small roles where an intriguing bystanders basically said, “OK.” figure pops in and out of the Why? Were they told to allow act rather quickly. Yet he or she them to take the animal? leaves an indelible mark on the Who was the woman who story. anointed Christ’s head, evoking The same can be said of the the wrath of all around her for greatest story ever told, — the “wasting” expensive perfume.

Passion, death and Resurrection Who told her to go there, and of Christ. where did she go afterward?

I love the Palm Sunday, Holy When it was time for Jesus Thursday, Good Friday and and His Apostles to celebrate Easter readings. While describthe Passover meal, Christ sent ing the story of our salvation, a couple of His friends to the the authors, Mark and Matthew, city where they would find a paint vivid pictures with their man carrying a pitcher of water.

God-inspired words.

They did. They followed him as I marvel at the “bit” parts of instructed, and he led them to the story of Jesus’ triumphant the house with the upper room. entrance into Jerusalem, and His Who was this man, and what did week of teaching, suffering, and he think about strangers followHis ultimate victory over death ing him? and sin.

The master of the house led The incredible story of Our the disciples to the upper room Lord’s last week on earth is dot- that was “furnished and ready.” ted with persons who pop in and Who made it ready and who told out of the narrative: some with them to make it ready? clear purpose and a few who In the Garden of Gethsemane, remain a mystery to my feeble at Jesus’ arrest, a bystander took mind. his sword and cut the ear off one I love to ponder what these of the high priests’ slaves. Who

My View From the Stands

was that, and what happened to him?

And perhaps the most intriguing of all, who was the boy who was following Jesus wearing but a linen cloth? When he was abducted by the guards, he tore away leaving the cloth behind and running off naked. Where did he go, and why was he there like that?

Whatever happened to Simon of Cyrene who was employed to help Jesus carry His cross?

The poor guy was just a bystander and unwittingly became a part of history.

What became of the centurion, who, when Jesus breathed His last, proclaimed, “Truly, He was the Son of God”? And what about the soldiers who witnessed the women entering the tomb on Easter morning after the stone had been rolled away? They ran back and reported what they had seen and were paid off to lie about. Did they come to believe?

I realize the answers to these questions are not that important, or to some the questions themselves may seem silly. But not to me.

When I read or watch a story, I like to have all the loose ends tied up at the end. It nags at me if they’re not.

The story of Jesus’ Passion, death and Resurrection doesn’t nag at me. But I do still wonder about the aforementioned folks. For me it provides fodder for meditation.

I think about what I would like to have happened to them — that Our Lord Himself was grateful that they were a part of His fulfilling the Scriptures and redeeming all of us “bit” players in life.

catholic social services FALL RIVER 1600 BAY ST. P.O. BOX M SO. STA. 508-674-4681

Website: cssdioc.org

NEW BEDFORD 238 BONNEY ST. 508-997-7337

TAUNTON 79 BROADWAY 508-824-3624

• OFFICE FOR CHILD PROTECTION • ADOPTIONS: INFANT INTERNATIONAL PREGNANCY COUNSELING • ADVOCACY FOR: SPANISH & PORTUGUESE SPEAKING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES • BASIC ENGLISH FOR LIFE-LONG LEARNING • CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT • EMERGENCY SHELTERS: SAMARITAN HOUSE SISTER ROSE’S HOUSE H.O.U.S.E. FOR FAMILIES SPONSORSHIP: SOUP KITCHEN COMMUNITY ACTION FOR BETTER HOUSING

CAPE COD 261 SOUTH ST. HYANNIS 508-771-6771

TIVERTON, R.I. REACHING OUT 311 HOOPER ST. 401-624-9270

• COUNSELING • HOUSING COUNSELING • IMMIGRATION, LEGAL EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY PROJECT • INFORMATION/REFERRAL • PARENT/SCHOOL CRISIS INTERVENTION • REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT • HOUSING FOR WOMEN: ST. MATHIEU’S DONOVAN HOUSE ST. CLARE’S/ST. FRANCES’ • BASIC NEEDS SAMARITAN HOUSE SPECIAL APOSTOLATES: APOSTOLATE FOR SPANISH SPEAKING SUPPORTIVE PERMANENT HOUSING PROGRAMS

TOUCHDOWN — Father Raymond Cambra, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Fall River, introduces Nick McDonald and Brandon Deaderick of the New England Patriots who helped to hand out groceries at the food pantry and serve meals at the parish soup kitchen recently. The Patriots players came to Sacred Heart Parish as part of the team’s Celebrate Volunteerism effort that was initiated by the late wife of team owner Robert Kraft. Father Cambra wrote to the Patriots organization to see if they’d be interesting in coming to his food pantry and soup kitchen, which served more than 10,000 meals and distributed groceries to more than 2,300 families in 2011. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)

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

16

Youth Pages

getting involved — The seventh-graders at Espirito Santo School in Fall River were recently visited by Mayor Will Flanagan and Asst. Corporate Counsel Elizabeth Sousa Pereira in response to letters the students sent as part of a social justice project. Mayor Flanagan encouraged the students to become involved in community work such as park cleanup.

April 6, 2012

all about respect — The Coyle and Cassidy High School community was fortunate to be treated to an inspirational assembly by civic leader Robert Lewis Jr., vice president of the Boston Foundation. Lewis makes daily decisions as to how to allocate grant monies to Greater Boston nonprofit agencies. He implored the audience to respect all people, regardless of differences. He said that he lives by the motto “If you respect me, I will respect you. If you disrespect me, I will respect you.”

worthy project — Student members of the Sacred Hearts Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society at St. Joseph’s School in Fairhaven are shown with Diane Bolton, director of The Baby Project. The students will be collecting diapers and diaper coupons as their spring community project to donate to The Baby Project. Their fall and winter community service projects included the collection of used cell phones and a holiday photo pet contest. what did he have for dinner? — Fifthgraders at Holy Name School in Fall River recently dissected owl pellets to determine what owls eat.

student revolution — A few lucky students from St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro recently attended a soccer clinic given by Matt Reis, goalkeeper of the New England Revolution. Six families from SJE won the clinic from the SJE Annual Dinner Auction. Shown here with Reis are students, front, from left: Erinn D’Angelo, Adam Pearlstein, Maxmiano Caetano, Joshua Lancaster, and Matthew Corso. Back: Caleigh D’Angelo, Kaitlin Corso, Samantha Pearlstein, Meaghan Lancaster, Ronan Devlin, Ryan Sullivan, and Tyler Albanese.

top of the class — St. James-St. John School in New Bedford recently announced Students of the Second Trimester: Pre-kindergarten, Jeremiah Matos; kindergarten, Ethan Tavares; grade one, Harrison Gardner; two, Nora Blanchard; three, Ruby Louro; four, Ethan Bailey; five, Kayla dasNeves; six, Alexandros Efthimiades; seven, Maida Hoefel; and eight, Matthew Golden.

April 6, 2012

A

s I finished setting up for our monthly gathering, all the youth were curious and anxious about the bull’s-eye print tacked to a corkboard in the middle of the prayer area. Prayer began, and after a short reflection on loving others just as Christ loves us I passed out a piece of paper to all at the gathering, including the adult ministers.

I asked them to draw a picture or write a name of a person they dislike (I did hear some gasps) and then fold the piece of paper. Everyone was then asked to form a single line in front of the dartboard. One by one they came forward and placed the piece of paper at the center of the bull’s-eye and threw a dart at it. After the game finished I took the bull’s-eye off the corkboard revealing behind it a picture of the face of Christ. They were all in shock!

“We didn’t know Jesus was behind there,” was the common response. I explained to them that they were well aware of the intent to throw the dart at the person they dislike. This seemingly fun game ended up being a lesson well learned. It made us all think about how quick and eager we can sometimes be to take our frustrations and anger out on others. It made us think how we should love others as Jesus loves us. It made us think that if it’s difficult to see Jesus in others then maybe we should show others Jesus in ourselves.

One of the fundamental teachings of our Catholic faith concerns the intimate and inseparable bond between Jesus

Youth Pages

17

The Face of Christ

Christ and His Mystical Body, student turned to Mark and the Church. Only in Christ can asked, “What if we don’t see we fulfill our deepest desire the face of Christ in anyone and find an adequate answer to the many questions that lie in our heart. It is precisely for this reason that we want to see Christ. The Greeks who went to JerusaBy Ozzie Pacheco lem to worship at the festival said to Philip, “Sir, we want to see Jesus” (Jn 12:21).

Blessed John Paul II recalled this week? What do we do, this Scripture in his Apostolic keep the cross?”

Letter, Novo Millennio, “The Mark became a bit appremen and women of our own hensive about this. But he reday — often perhaps unconplied, “I’m sure you’ll see the sciously — ask believers not face of Christ in someone.” only to ‘speak’ of Christ, but The week flew by much more in a certain sense to ‘show’ rapidly than Mark had exHim to them.” pected. By Wednesday, about How have you spoken of half of the group had already Christ to others? How have given away their crosses, but you shown Christ to others?

Mark was still holding on to Do you look for Christ in oth- his. On Thursday, though, he ers? saw Christ’s love outpouring Let me share a story with from a teacher at an inneryou about a young college city elementary school whom student named Mark who, he had worked with all week. along with a group of other The teacher expressed selfstudents, decided to spend less concern for two stuspring break on a “service dents in her Social Studies trip” to Chicago, Ill. The uniclass who battled personal versity campus minister prostruggles. Mark watched this vided the group of students teacher as she looked into the with a thought-provoking tear-filled eyes of a girl who task. He handed each person had lost her younger sister very simple necklaces with after a long-time battle with a wooden cross. “You can’t cancer, telling her, “Your siskeep these crosses,” said the ter is with God now.” Mark campus minister. “You have also witnessed the teacher to give them away. The perencouraging a young boy who son that you give it to is up to was struggling academically you, but it should be someand had lost all confidence in one who you saw the face of himself. The boy scratched Christ in during this week his arms and face in frustraof service.” A quiet murmur tion and often muttered, “I’m filled the room. A fellow not good enough.” The teach-

Be Not Afraid

faith and fun — Deacon John Foley enjoys a presentation by, from left: Paul Ormsby, Genny Paige, Kerianne Hall, and Diane Milkey at the recent Confirmation retreat at Holy Trinity Parish in West Harwich.

er told him, “I have faith in you. Keep trying and don’t give up. I know you will do well.” Mark knew at that moment that his cross now belonged to this teacher, who put others before herself. Like Christ, she cared deeply for the broken-hearted and those facing despair.

That thought-provoking task opened Mark’s eyes to see the love of Christ in others. Could it be that simple? For some of us, it often comes easier, sometimes

naturally, to judge people and point out their flaws. But that certainly wasn’t Mark’s calling as a Christian. He learned to see Christ in others — it actually helped him to see with the eyes of Christ.

So the next time the tempter calls on you to throw a hurtful remark at someone you dislike, try to see the face of Christ in that person. If you can, then you can also be the face of Christ to others.

Happy Easter!

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

18 Praying for religious freedom After Mass, every Sunday, I am going to stay to pray for 10 minutes. It is the only thing I can think of that an elderly person can do to help protect the liberty of this country that our generation has enjoyed.

We have seen the encroaching dominance of a government bent upon weakening the freedom of religion of the Catholic Church as well as other Christian faiths and people. The government is also changing our Bill of Rights and our Constitution in ways not so easily seen. Our country’s laws were based upon Christian values without the dominance of government over religion, or of religion over government.

I encourage all my fellow elderly persons, who wish they were younger, to pray 10 minutes after Mass in their church for this intention. Or do they have a better idea as to how we can help save the total change of our wonderful country?

Priscilla Ward Harwich St. Michael’s Prayer Paul L’Heureux’s letter in

The Anchor

April 6, 2012

Our readers respond

the March 16th issue of The Anchor mentioned a prayer being recited at the end of every Mass until around the time of the Second Vatican Council. The prayer his mother was referring to was to St Michael. I remember reciting it after every Mass. I agree with him that we should start praying it again. After all, isn’t St. Michael our protector from the devil?

Jackie Almeida Swansea Liturgical language My reading of George Weigel’s column, “Clerical narcissism and Lent” differs from that of Father Barry W. Wall (3/16). I agree with Father Wall and George Weigel that with most priests and parishioners the implementation of the new directives and translations in the Roman Missal progressed smoothly, and I know clergy that worked very hard to effect such a positive transition. That is as it should be.

However, from the beginning, the mantra I heard among some in the diocese was always the same: “awkward sentence structure” with “unfamiliar words.” As

Revised and updated ...

2011-2012 Diocese of Fall River Catholic Directory ... Now Shipping!

Published by The Anchor Publishing Company P.O. Box 7, Fall River, Massachusetts 02722 Please ship _____ directories x $18 each, including shipping and handling. Total Enclosed $_____ NAME ____________________________________________ ADDRESS _________________________________________ CITY _____________________ STATE _______ ZIP _____ Please make checks payable to “Anchor Publishing” For more information, email theanchor@anchonews.org, call 508-675-7151, or order online at www.anchornews.org

a retired English professor, I smile at that assertion. It reminds me of that small minority of students who always balked at change or hesitated at the task of learning something new. My advice: forget the excuses, study hard and practice, practice, practice.

Most prayers, as is the nature of poetic or elevated speech, are of a different structure and vocabulary than colloquial speech. We learned that easily enough even as children. Father Wall, referring to the effort of learning the new directives and translations as a “struggle,” brought me more than a smile. If these changes are seen as a “struggle,” the challenges in my life must be mortal conflicts.

In fairness, George Weigel’s column was not only about being “unprepared” and “inattentive,” as Father Wall presents it, but also about the distracting and personal manipulations made by the priest in question to cover his lack of diligence. That is not as it should be.

John Lawrence Darretta, Ph.D. East Dennis Professor Emeritus, Iona College Available here too Kudos to Becky Aubut of The Anchor staff for her informative article on retreats (3/9/12 issue). Mrs. Aubut mentions the Cursillo movement with retreats given at the Campion Center in Weston, Mass. I’d like to bring to the attention of your readers that a Cursillo weekend can be lived right here in our own diocese, namely at the Holy Cross Retreat Center located adjacent to Stonehill College in Easton. They have an excellent website with a lot of information for those interested in learning more.

Deacon Robert Faria St. John of God Parish Somerset

No thanks In his March 23 column, Dave Jolivet hit the nail on the head with his view on the Tim Tebow-Peyton Manning saga.

You can’t fault Peyton Manning for wanting to continue his career; it has been lucrative and he is a true competitor and is not ready to retire.

Time will tell if he made the right decision. Tim Tebow, to use Dave Jolivet’s words, is, “surrounded by greed, selfishness and arrogance.” John Elway’s statement to the press that the Broncos worked hard to find Tim Tebow a place where he can thrive and continue his career is a nice way of trying to rationalize the move. How can being a backup quarterback be better than a starter? Tim Tebow electrified the league with his guts and determination and took a team that started the season at one and four to the second round of the playoffs. What a reward he received!

David J. Ferguson Dartmouth Great loss The Archdiocese of Pondicherry is saddened and shocked by the sudden and untimely demise of Father Raul Lagoa. The Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore, India was assigned St. John of God Parish by the Mission Office of the Diocese of Fall River to make our mission appeal in 2010. Father Raul was not a person who could be easily forgotten. His mind to help the missions, his care for the poor and his love for the missionaries were very well expressed during the stay with him. The Archdiocese offers its heart felt condolences to all his near and dear ones and prays in a special way for the repose of his soul. We have lost a good human person, a cheerful soul and a caring and devoted priest.

Father Sandou Cyril, Secretary, Archdiocesan Curia, Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore, India

The grave concern of PAS Physician-assisted suicide is of grave concern to me.

As I look back at the many promises that have been made to the American people regarding health care, I now see that those promises come with many strings attached and a lot of hidden side affects. Now, as I listen to the proponents of assisted suicide, I am reminded of how it might have been for an elderly gentleman I knew

who was hospitalized for one condition that triggered another. The hospital staff did not know that he normally spoke with a loud voice, so they medicated him for agitation. The staff went deaf to what he was really saying.

They did not notice they had chosen a drug that should not have been used according to the history in his chart. The elderly patient’s mental state deteriorated profoundly in his frustration. He began feeling helpless, hopeless, worthless and trapped. He tried to decline a specific treatment and was ignored, which resulted in a statement saying that he might as well do away with himself. The hospital placed the elder on one-to-one watch until he could be seen by a psychiatrist. Fortunately, when he was finally seen, the psychiatrist was able to discern the true circumstances. This patient was a devout man who would not choose suicide. In this case, the psychiatrist was thanked by the grateful family for understanding their beloved elder.

If assisted suicide becomes part of medical care, would the results always be the same? With this initiative, if he or any other patient made a similar statement, would they be looked upon as wanting to be euthanized? Since there are several options as to who could administer the lethal medication, for whatever reason, I believe there would come a time when they would not think twice about killing patients on request.

We in America need to wake up! We are being told that this will never happen, but it will, and then it will be too late.

Paulette Martinville Fall River Letters are welcome but the editor reserves the right to condense or edit for clarity if deemed necessary. Letters should be typed, and include name, address, and telephone number. Letters do not necessarily reflect the editorial views of The Anchor.

Letters should be emailed to fatherrogerlandry@anchornews. org, or sent to: The Anchor, Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, Mass.

02722-0007.

April 6, 2012

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 — 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 — St. Joseph Church holds eucharistic adoration in the Adoration Chapel located at the (south) side entrance at 208 South Main Street, Sunday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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 following the 11 a.m. Mass until 7:45 a.m. on the First Saturday, concluding with Benediction and Mass. 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 — Eucharistic adoration takes place at the Corpus Christi Parish Adoration Chapel, 324 Quaker Meeting House Road, Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Also, 24-hour eucharistic adoration takes place on the First Friday of every month.

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 — SS. Peter and Paul Parish will have eucharistic adoration on March 30 in the parish chapel, 240 Dover Street, from 8:30 a.m. until noon.

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 — Notre Dame Church, 529 Eastern Ave., has eucharistic adoration on Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 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 until 6 p.m. in the Daily Mass Chapel. There is a bilingual Holy Hour in English and Portuguese from 5-6 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.

HYANNIS — A Holy Hour with eucharistic adoration will take place each First Friday at St. Francis Xavier Church, 347 South Street, beginning immediately after the 12:10 p.m. Mass and ending with adoration at 4 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.

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.

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

OSTERVILLE — Eucharistic adoration takes place at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 76 Wianno Avenue on First Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and every Friday from noon to 5 p.m., with Benediction at 5 p.m.

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 508336-5549.

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.

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.

19

The Anchor In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks April 7 Rev. James A. Dury, Retired Pastor, Corpus Christi, East Sandwich, 1976 Rev. Alvin Matthews, OFM, Retired, Our Lady’s Chapel, New Bedford, 1988 Rev. Lucien Jusseaume, Retired Pastor, St. Roch, Fall River, 2001 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, East 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, OP, St. Raymond, Providence, R.I., 1997 Rev. Bertrand R. Chabot, Retired Pastor, St. Anthony of Padua, New Bedford, 2002

Around the Diocese 4/8 4/9

A traditional Latin (Tridentine) High Mass will be sung in the extraordinary form with Gregorian Chant at St. Francis Xavier Church, 347 High Street, Hyannis, Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Divine Mercy Holy Hour will be sung at 7 p.m. at Holy Trinity Church, Route 28, West Harwich, beginning on April 9 and continue all week through April 14. There will be a Mercy Sunday (no Mass) celebration on April 15 at 2:45 p.m. No Confessions will be available on Divine Mercy Sunday. For more information call 508-430-0014. For further information call Jane Jannell at 508-430-0014.

4/9

Citizen Services Program offers free monthly workshops to provide assistance with the N-400 Application for Naturalization and to answer questions. April 9 from 6:15-7:45 p.m. at the Public Library in Attleboro; April 25 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Holy Name School in Fall River; and May 16 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Provincetown.

For information contact Ashlee Reed at areed@cssdioc.org or call 508-6744681.

4/10

The Stonehill College Alumni Office, the Stonehill College Athletics Department and the Notre Dame Club of Boston are sponsoring “Haley Scott’s Journey of Faith and Triumph,” April 10 at 7 p.m. at the Martin Institute on campus. Scott was paralyzed in a deadly bus crash carrying the Notre Dame University Swim Team. She will talk about her book, “What Though the Odds — Haley Scott’s Journey of Faith and Triumph.”

4/11

Learn how to release the power of the Holy Spirit in your life during a Life in the Spirit seminar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Taunton Ave, in Seekonk every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. beginning April 11 through May 23. For more information call Marie at 508-336-6781.

4/12

The Divorced and Separated Support Group will meet on April 12 beginning at 7 p.m. to discuss “Facing Your Depression” as part of its Divorce Care Series. This segment will offer constructive ways to deal with depression. The meeting will be held in the parish center of St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road in North Dartmouth. For more information call 508-678-2828, 508-993-0589, or 508-673-2997.

4/14

The Social Justice Committee of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Mary’s Parish in Mansfield will present Sister Linda Bessom, SND, Faith Into Action coordinator for the Mass. Coalition for the Homeless on April 14 in the parish hall beginning at 6:30 p.m. with pizza and refreshments and the presentation at 7 p.m. She will speak on “Perspectives: Poverty, Homelessness and Justice.”

4/15

April 13 Deacon Joseph P. Stanley Jr., 2006

The feast of the Divine Mercy will be celebrated at Our Lady of Fatima Parish, 4256 Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford on April 15 at 3 p.m. Refreshments and pastries will be served in the parish hall immediately following. The Rosary and the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy are prayed at the church every Tuesday at 7 p.m.

PADRE PIO and DIVINE MERCY

4/28

www.pamphletstoinspire.com

A “Fire of Love” Youth Rally featuring music minister Martin Doman will be held April 28 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (including Mass) at St. Margaret’s Church in Buzzards Bay. The rally is open to all youth in grades eight to 12 and is perfect for Confirmation classes.

To sign up, call 508-759-7777 or email stmargaretyouthministry@gmail.com.

For more information visit www.martindoman.com.

4/28

The Fall River Diocesan Council of Catholic Nurses is hosting a presentation about “Meditations for those who serve others,” by Father Thomas Costa Jr., chaplain at Cape Cod Hospital. The event will take place at Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River in the Nannery Conference Room on April 28 from 9-11:30 a.m. and will provide the opportunity to learn how to meditate and why it should be incorporated into one’s prayer life.

Mass and lunch will follow. Registration deadline is April 20. For information contact Betty at 508-678-2373.

5/3

The Lazarus Ministry of Our Lady of the Cape Parish in Brewster is offering a six-week bereavement support program on Thursdays, called, “Come Walk With Me,” beginning May 3 through June 7 from 6:30-8 p.m. in the parish center. The program is designed for people who have experienced the loss of a loved one within the past year.

Pre-registration is required with a small fee for materials. For information contact Happy Whitman at 508-385-3252 or Eileen Birch at 508-394-0616.

20

The Anchor

April 6, 2012

UN women’s commission rejects expansion of ‘reproductive rights’

New York City (CNA) — Amid controversy over the “rights” to contraception and abortion, the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women concluded its 56th annual

meeting without reaching the necessary agreement for a concluding document.

A Holy See delegation which attended the gathering argued that

expanding the definition of family planning “amounts to a wholesale attempt at rewriting history to advance an agenda disrespectful of marriage and the family.”

The U.N. Commission’s closing meeting, held on March 15, ended without adopting the normal “agreed conclusions.”

This unusual outcome was due to the U.S. delegation’s attempt to expand the definition of “family planning” that has been used for nearly two decades to include “modern forms of contraception.”

The Obama Administration has been pushing expansive “reproductive rights” within the United States as well.

The Department of Health and Human Services has recently included abortion-causing drugs as “preventive services,” calling them “FDA-approved contraceptives” and requiring employers to offer health insurance plans that cover them under the new health care law.

However, numerous states at the Commission meeting — including Muslim nations, southern African countries and the Holy See — objected to the attempt to establish an international consensus on the “right to contraception.”

Several states, including Poland, Chile and Malta, also clarified that they did not interpret the term “reproductive rights” to include abortion.

The U.S. delegation had worked

to expand the term from its past definition, which excluded abortion.

The Holy See delegation joined in criticizing the move, noting that there is “no international consensus” regarding the inclusion of abortion in the term “reproductive rights” and observing that numerous states across the world remain firmly committed in their opposition to abortion.

The Holy See stressed the need to “respect conscience and the freedom of religion” in developing international policies.

The delegation also strongly criticized a U.S.-supported maternal mortality resolution calling for “comprehensive sex education” for young people and “youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health care services, including family planning.”

“It is the sacred and solemn responsibility of parents to care for their children and no one — including the state — has a right to advance an agenda which does not respect the natural moral law,” the delegation said in a statement.

It warned that the resolution “undermines international law” and conflicts with the state’s duty “to promote the common good of the family and society.”

“In authentic rights-based approach to eliminating preventable maternal mortality and morbidity respects fully all human persons and thus all women,” it said.

St. Francis Xavier Parish, Acushnet

Wishing You a Happy and Holy Easter To advertise in The Anchor, contact Wayne Powers at 508-675-7151 or Email waynepowers@ anchornews.org