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Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

Friday, April 6, 2018

The Sanctuary at St. Mark’s Church in Attleboro Falls is adorned with flowers symbolizing the joy of the Risen Christ.

(Photo by Father Jeffrey Cabral) The Anchor - April 6, 2018

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Beloved Father Francis X. Wallace dies at age 96

FALMOUTH — The beloved elder statesman of the priests of the Fall River Diocese, Father Francis X. Wallace, 96, decorated Army Chaplain, died March

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22 at the Catholic Memorial Home in Fall River.

He was born in Beverly to Harry W. and Florence (Hayes) Wallace.

Father Wallace attended

Holy Family High School in New Bedford and St. Anselm College in Manchester N.H. After studies at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore,

Md., he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Fall River in 1947. From his first assignment at Corpus Christi Parish in Sandwich, he entered the Army Chaplaincy in 1950.

After Chaplain School at Fort Slocum, N.Y., Father Wallace served with the 24th and 40th Infantry Divisions in the Korean War and then with the Basic Trainees at Camp Carson, Colo., an artillery group in Germany, the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Ga., and the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

In 1962, he was sent to Edgewood arsenal, Md., returning to Korea in 1965, followed by duty with the 1st Army Headquarters in charge of chaplain recruitment and as Deputy Army Chaplain. He served

in Vietnam as Command Chaplain with the 24th Corps and 1st Logistical Command. His final Army duties were as Post Chaplain, Fort Meade, Md., and then with the Southern Eu-

ropean Task Force, a NATO presence in Italy, Greece and Turkey. Father Wallace served in the Army for 26 years, attaining the rank of colonel.

Upon completion of military service, Father Wallace was assigned in 1977 as parochial vicar at St. Patrick Church in Falmouth. He retired from active ministry in 1994 and remained in residence at St. Patrick rectory.

For 17 years, Father Wallace ministered at Falmouth Hospital; he was known throughout the community for his work with the sick of all denominations. The Town of Falmouth proclaimed a “Father Wallace Day” in 1994.

Father Wallace was predeceased by a sister, Louise Sullivan. He is survived by a niece, Catherine Sullivan; and two nephews, Peter F. and David Sullivan.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on March 26 at St. Patrick Church, followed by interment at St. Joseph Cemetery, Gifford Street, Falmouth.

Chapman Family Funeral Homes was in charge of the arrangements.

Diocese celebrates 50th anniversary of restoration of the permanent diaconate in Church; hopes to make faithful more aware of the ministry

By Dave Jolivet Anchor Editor davejolivet@anchornews.org

NEW BEDFORD — Father Robert A. Oliveira and Permanent Deacon Frank Lucca are on a mission. The men are codirectors of the Diocese of Fall River Office of the Permanent Diaconate. The mission? To get the word out about the role and ministry of the permanent diaconate.

The timing of their endeavor coincides with the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the permanent deaconate in the Roman Catholic Church when Blessed Pope Paul VI gave bishops permission to renew the permanent diaconate as an active order of ministry.

While the ministry has been active again for nearly one-half century in the diocese, some members of the faithful still aren’t quite sure of what a permanent deacon is or does. “Sometimes the deacon is not well-known in the parish life,” Father Oliveira told The Anchor.

“He plays such an important role in the life of the parish and working with clergy.”

“There are times when we permanent deacons are called ‘Father’ by some people who are a bit confused after seeing us assist at the altar during Liturgies,” added Deacon Lucca, who has been a deacon in the diocese for five years. “And others think of us as ‘glorified altar boys.’ What we’re trying to do during this 50th anniversary year is to make it known to all the faithful the role of the ministry.”

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., is a strong

supporter of the permanent diaconate, himself utilizing the ministry when he was a pastor.

During his Chrism Mass homily on Tuesday of Holy Week, he said, “It is wonderful that we are all here together: bishop, priests, deacons, those in consecrated life, and the faithful of our diocese,” illustrating the unity of all who make up the Church in Fall River. “I invite all of us here today to rekindle in our hearts and minds, the gift, the power and strength of our unity in Christ. Think about for a moment the power of unity. One grain of wheat alone by itself is insignificant, but when put together with many others, becomes bread to feed the hungry, and the Bread of Life to nourish our souls. One grape alone is nothing of importance, but squeezed together with many others, produces juice to quench our thirst, wine to bring joy to human hearts and to be transformed into the Blood of Christ to strengthen us for the journey.”

“I was very aware and pleased that the bishop made a point to include deacons in his welcome and his hope for a unity of all to make the Fall River Church stronger,” said Father Oliveira.

As part of the effort to end some of the confusion, the diocesan Office of the Permanent Diaconate has asked the permanent deacons in the diocese to, with the permission of the pastor, speak at weekend Liturgies about the role of the permanent diaconate in the Church today.

In its March newsletter to deacons the of-

fice wrote: “During the months ahead we are asking our brother deacons to make presentations at Masses in their parish about the diaconate. In addition, we will be ask-

ing you to announce a new class for the formation of permanent deacons in the spring of 2019.”

The office has offered deacons two outline talks, should they choose not to prepare their own. In parishes without the service of a permanent deacon, deacons from nearby parishes are encouraged to speak to the faithful.

The letter continued, “So many of our parish-

ioners do not understand the role of the deacon.

This is a perfect opportunity to get the word out.

More importantly, this is an opportunity to let those who may be considering a vocation to the diaconate know that the next class will begin Aspirancy (a time when men interested in the diaconate will be introduced to the ministry and begin a discernment process) in April 2019.”

Deacon Karl Buder, who ministers at Good Shepherd Parish in Martha’s Vineyard, recently spoke to the faithful there.

“Bishop [Edgar M.] da Cunha is a strong supporter of the permanent diaconate. At his last appointment as pastor before he was ordained as a bishop, he had seven deacons in his parish. He would like to have many more men ordained to the permanent diaconate in this diocese.”

Deacon Buder further explained the role of the deacon: “Deacons assist the pastor with parish duties by being active as

a servant of God, visiting the sick, providing Spiritual guidance, and administering the Sacraments of Baptism and Marriage; presiding over wakes, funerals and burials, Eucharistic Adoration, Stations of the Cross, teaching, assisting at Mass, and preaching.

“Deacons are expected to evangelize, perform acts of charity, participate in various parish committees and functions and, generally, be involved in the life of the Church.”

He further explained, “Deacons come from all walks of life. After all, Jesus didn’t select 12 theologians as Apostles.”

Deacon Gene Sasseville has been a permanent deacon since 1997, and has served at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in New Bedford since its inception in 1999.

He told faithful there, “I’m very excited to announce that Bishop da Cunha has approved the formation of a new deacon class that will begin the Turn to page 20

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DACA renewals keep CSS immigration attorney busy

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff kensouza@anchornews.org

ney General Jeff Sessions he submitted five applicacompensated by CSS, announced the DACA tions in each of the first which receives the bulk of program was ending, but two weeks and has averits funding through the aged about two per week annual diocesan Catholic FALL RIVER — When the president was allowing people to renew their since then.

Charities Appeal — but he first graduated from law application if it expired be“It was like, let’s get individuals are responsible school and passed the bar these people who are gofor paying the $495 filing exam, Timothy Paicopolos fore March 5,” Paicopolos said. “So the people who ing to expire in March fee for DACA renewals. didn’t anticipate he’d be were expiring after that renewed because now they “We don’t charge anyspending the bulk of his were out of luck in terms of have this limited window,” thing for legal services and, time as an immigration attorney with Catholic Social having work authorization Paicopolos said. “And it was as the attorney, I represent Services filing renewals for and DACA protection. For scary because you heard the the person on their application,” Paicopolos said.

Deferred Action for Child- the first month we renewed Supreme Court was going as many as we “Most of the hood Arrivals — better n an effort to assist his immi- time they pay could — whether it known as DACA — for grant clients, Paicopolos often their own fee. In was current clients, many of the immigrants living within the Fall River former clients, or f inds himself f ighting an uphill bat- rare circumstancpeople who came in Diocese. tle against a combination of personal es I’ve been able off the street who “It’s been a real chalprejudice, misinformation and politi- to get the fee heard about our covered through lenge,” Paicopolos recal agendas. program.

We sent different funders cently told The Anchor. “I’ve the last renewal ap— in some cases personally represented plications out on October to weigh in and you didn’t Catholic Social Services maybe 60 or 65 individu3 by express mail and just know if they would overturn has been able to fund the als with DACA and this crossed our fingers. They all the injunction and then the application, in other cases office has probably reprewere approved.” door would have been shut the Community Economic sented another 20 before I Since then, two federal on these individuals. I’ve Development Center in started here. I’ve gotten a court injunction orders and renewed people who are ex- New Bedford has been chance to know these hua pending Supreme Court piring in March, April and able to assist. I think the man beings as individuals; May and we sort of widened CEDC funded nine of our especially when they come appeal have changed the rules and extended the the window out to June, July applications when we did in for renewal because and August because we’re the initial September push, every two years you have to DACA renewal period to continue until further trying to cast the net as but you truly have to have renew.” notice. wide as we can.

So if you’re an economic need. I had An initiative that began “There was a decision approved on Jan. 31, 2018, a woman who came in — under the Obama Adminin California in the ninth you’re good until January 30, she’s in a shelter right now istration, DACA allows circuit court that essentwo years later.” in the diocese — and we individuals who entered tially said you have to keep Having started as a had to help her out with the United States as mirenewing these applications volunteer working with the application fee. The last nors to obtain a renewable Catholic Social Services thing I’d want is somebody two-year period of deferred until they’ve had a chance to decide the merits of the five years ago, Paicopolos to come in here and they’re action from deportation case,” Paicopolos said.

“So joined CSS as a full-time eligible to renew and they and qualify for a work the U.S. Citizen and Immi- staff member specialjust didn’t because they permit while residing and couldn’t afford it.” working here. To be eligible gration Service complied in izing in immigration law January.

In the interim, the in September 2013.

Since Since September, Paicofor DACA, the individual coming onboard, he’s polos said he’s filed more must have come to the U.S. federal government said it was going to appeal direct- assisted members of the than 25 DACA renewals before age 16 and arrived ly to the Supreme Court, many ethnic communiand it’s essentially forced prior to June 2007. which essentially said they ties that populate the his other legal cases to take In September 2017, the were going to let it play out Fall River Diocese with a backseat.

Trump Administration on the appellate court level. DACA applications and “I do green cards, special announced plans to phase juvenile status and then I out the program, yet agreed So that was good news and other immigration issues. the USCIS had to continue He’s helped everyone from do some spillover stuff, a to allow DACA recipients renewing applications until Guatemalans in Attleboro, little bit of marriage-based whose status was set to the injunctions are lifted to Cape Verdeans in New applications and other expire by March 5, 2018 by the lower courts or apBedford, to Jamaicans in things,” he said. “But since to renew for another two pealed at the next level.”

Provincetown, to Brazilians September this has domiyears. That created a flurry Paicopolos began filing a in Hyannis. nated my workload. I’ve of paperwork for Paicoposecond wave of DACA reHis legal services are always done DACA, but los in his CSS office.

“On September 5, Attor- newals in January and said provided at no cost — he’s in the past if I spent three

I

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days working on other types of cases, one day maybe would be devoted to DACA. But in September it kind of flipped that so I’ve spent three sometimes four days on DACA, and maybe one day on something else.”

What’s made the whole DACA ordeal even more challenging, Paicopolos admitted, is that the rules and mandates imposed by the Trump Administration seem to change from dayto-day.

As recently as Easter Sunday, President Trump tweeted that there would be “No more DACA deal” for so-called “Dreamer” immigrants. The president claimed that “a lot of people are coming in (to the U.S.) because they want to take advantage of DACA.” But Paicopolos said immigrants who are eligible for DACA “weren’t brought here illegally.”

“That’s a gross mischaracterization of these individuals,” he said. “They came here on visa waivers.

I have clients from Portugal, from Cape Verde, from Jamaica. I have clients from the Bahamas. I have a client from Angola. They didn’t cross the U.S.-Mexico border. They came here legally on a visa. So they are people who are here now without legal status — but there was a time when many of them did (have legal status). About 40 percent of my clients did.”

In reality, Paicopolos said DACA helps to “keep people who are immigrants from getting involved with anything questionable.”

“If you commit a felony, your DACA will be terminated,” he said. “If you have a DUI, your DACA will be Turn to page 13

My Brother’s Keeper celebrates 30 years of service in Christ’s name

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff kensouza@anchornews.org

“God, we want to bring Your love and hope to those who are lost and without hope, but we don’t know what to do. If You’ll guide us, we’ll put Your work first every day for the rest of our lives.”

Orcutt said the initial

next to Stonehill College in Easton serving the South Shore and a 23,000-squarefoot building in Dartmouth serving the South Coast.

“It has been awe-inspiring over the last 30 years to witness the power of God

or religious — for people to receive furniture, food or assistance from My Brother’s Keeper.

“I think one of the most important things that God led us to in the early days was a policy of no prereq-

something that we already knew deep down. We realized that in the New TestaEASTON — James ment — Matthew, Mark, Orcutt, who co-founded the Luke and John — Jesus My Brother’s Keeper aposperformed many miracles. tolate with his wife Terry He made the blind see, the from the basement of their deaf hear, the crippled walk, home in Taunton 30 years and the lepers clean. But ago, is amazed by the ministhere is not one miracle in try’s continued success. the New Testament where “Looking back over 30 before Jesus helped anybody years, people often ask me if He ever asked them a quesGod had given you a flashtion to determine whether forward of My Brother’s they were deserving or worKeeper (today) with two thy. The most He ever said buildings, a fleet of trucks, was, ‘What is it you want of a dozen employees, and Me?’” some 140,000 (furniture) That was motivation deliveries, what would your enough to inspire the thought be then?” Orcutt Orcutts to “do it exactly the recently told The Anchor. way Jesus does.”

“And my answer is always Having grown up the the same — I would have youngest of eight children run like heck!” in a single-parent home, All joking aside, Orcutt Jim Orcutt was also sensistressed that’s not how God tive to and adamant about works and you often don’t “not putting people through know His will until you see the ringer” he said when it in retrospect. they came forward seeking “We do not go forward The iconic statue out front of the new Dartmouth My Brother’s Keeper facility, is known assistance. in knowledge, we go for“As a society we have as “The Divine Servant.” This telling depiction of Christ washing Peter’s feet at the Last ward in faith and we pray Supper is symbolic of the ministry’s mission as inspired by Christ’s words in Mt 5:15, “To conditioned people to all the time for God to justify their need,” Orcutt bring the love and hope of Jesus Christ to those we serve.” guide us toward His will,” said. “I saw my mother go Orcutt said. “But we don’t Turn to page 23 necessarily see His will in inspiration for My Brother’s to transform our simple uisites for service,” Orcutt front of us — we only see Keeper came to them after efforts into a major minsaid. “When Terry and I God’s will when we look attending a Cursillo retreat istry of loving service to first started, we were the behind us. We look at how in 1986 at the Holy Cross our brothers and sisters in only game in town giving He led us from one point to Retreat House in Easton. need,” Orcutt said. furniture away, and we had another, from one person to “We lived a Cursillo When asked what he people coming out of the another, from one organiza- retreat two years before and thinks is the secret to the woodwork. So we prayed tion to another, and from the impetus for My Brothministry’s continued sucand we asked God to give one challenge and one suc- er’s Keeper really came out cess, Orcutt maintains us some guidance. cess to another. That is what of that experience,” Orcutt they have always remained “The answer came in the gives us the courage to go said. “God worked through committed to its original form of a recognition of forward in faith.” the Cursillo movement to mission.

It was 30 years ago on inspire us and fill us with “Our mission is to bring Mar. 21, 1988 that Jim and His Spirit.” the love and hope of Jesus his wife Terry took that leap Since then, God has Christ to people,” Orcutt of faith and said a prayer blessed My Brother’s said. “That’s why we exist. that changed their lives Keeper tremendously. The We do provide services, but and the lives of thousands charity has grown from its we’re not in the furniture of others in Southeastern modest beginnings in the business, we’re not in the Massachusetts.

Orcutts’ cellar in Taunton food business, we’re not in Holding hands before to a barn in West Bridgethe Christmas gift business.” a cross in their home, the water to a series of buildAnd Orcutt is proud of couple quietly said the prayer ings in Brockton to its the fact that to this day which founded the My two current locations — a there are no eligibility Brother’s Keeper ministry: 15,000-square-foot facility requirements — financial The Anchor - April 6, 2018 5

Anchor Editorial

Hell and mercy

During Holy Week, when many in the media enjoy running oddball stories about Christianity (although some journalists do write some very edifying pieces during that holy period, as they also do at Christmas), a headline appeared that Pope Francis had denied the existence of hell. Rather quickly the Vatican press office issued a statement explaining that the pope had been in dialogue with an Italian journalist, who does not take notes (somewhat odd, especially for a journalist), and had not denied this teaching of our faith.

Doing a search on the Vatican website, one can find a number of references to hell from the teachings of Pope Francis.

At the centennial Mass at Fatima on May 13, 2017, he said, “Our Lady foretold, and warned us about, a way of life that is godless and indeed profanes God in His creatures. Such a life — frequently proposed and imposed — risks leading to hell.”

A few years earlier, on March 21, 2014, the pope gave an example of that way of life, when he spoke about Mafiosi. “Those absent but central figures: the men and women of the mafia. Please, change your lives, convert, stop, cease to do evil! We are praying for you. Convert, I ask it on my knees; it is for your own good. This life you are living now, it won’t bring you pleasure, it won’t give you joy, it won’t bring you happiness. The power, the money, that you possess now from so many dirty transactions, from so many mafia crimes, is bloodstained money, it is power-soaked in blood, and you cannot take it with you to the next life. Convert, there is still time, so that you don’t end up in hell. That is what awaits you if you continue on this path. You had a father and a mother: think of them. Cry a little and convert.”

Another example of a life which risks hell the pope described in his message for Lent in 2016, when he made reference to the parable Jesus told of the poor man, Lazarus, and the rich man, who ended up in hell. “The danger always remains that by a constant refusal to open the doors of their hearts to Christ Who knocks on them in the poor, the proud, rich and powerful will end up condemning themselves and plunging into the eternal abyss of solitude which is hell.”

Here again, the pope didn’t write that they would just cease existing.

In a daily Mass on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016, the Holy Father spoke about how we are taught in “catechism — four things: death, judgment, hell or glory.” He then rhetorically mentioned how people might object, “Father, this frightens us.” The pope then responded to this straw man: “It is the truth. Because if you do not take care of your heart, [if ] you always live far away from the Lord, perhaps there is the danger, the danger of continuing in this way, far away from the Lord for eternity. This is very bad!”

Repeatedly the pope has made reference to Jesus’ elevating the hurling of insults to be direct violations of the Fifth Commandment (Thou shalt not kill). At daily Mass on June 9, 2016, he said, “[ Jesus] uses a prime example, ‘You have heard that it was said to the men of old: You shall not kill,’ it is one OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER www.anchornews.org

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The Anchor - April 6, 2018

of the Commandments of love of neighbor, ‘but I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council, and whoever says “You fool!” shall be liable to the hell of fire.’”

In a daily homily on April 17, 2015, the pope spoke about the Apostles being punished by the Sanhedrin, but then set free. “What did the Apostles do? Did they shout at them? Did they say to them: you are bad, you are going to hell? No. [They] left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name [of Jesus].”

Repeatedly one can see in the pontiff ’s teachings that he is not trying to get people to follow Christ out of fear of damnation, but out of a response to Christ’s merciful love for us sinners. This is a theme which the pope expounds upon much more so than about hell (but without denying hell).

On May 8, 2013 one can see an example of this approach in his daily homily, talking about St. Paul in Athens, where the Apostle found altars to various “gods.” Pope Francis preached, “He (Paul) did not say: Idolaters! You will go to hell. [Instead he] tried to reach their hearts. Paul is a pope, a builder of bridges.

He did not want to become a builder of walls. This was Paul’s outlook in Athens: build a bridge to their hearts, and then take a step further and proclaim Jesus Christ.”

In this homily the pope acknowledged that at times condemnation must be proclaimed, but he noted how Jesus and Paul would dialogue with people for quite a while. The pontiff said, “Jesus listened to everyone and when He said a word of condemnation, it was at the end, when there was nothing left to do.”

Pope Francis in that homily said that the “condemn first” approach is ineffective and shows a lack of trust in God. He said that Paul had patience in Athens “because he was sure, sure of Jesus Christ. He had no doubt in his Lord. [W]hen the Church loses this apostolic courage, she becomes a lifeless Church. Orderly, perhaps — nice, very nice — but barren, because she has lost the courage to go to the outskirts, where there are so many people who are victims of idolatry, worldliness, and weak thought.”

In a general audience on Feb. 3, 2016, the pope said, “The Lord continually offers us His pardon and helps us to accept it and to be aware of our wrongdoing so as to free us of it. For God wants not our condemnation, but our Salvation. God does not want to condemn anyone! One of you might ask me: ‘But Father, didn’t Pilate deserve condemnation? Did God want that?’ No! God wanted to save Pilate as well as Judas, everyone! He, the Lord of Mercy, wants to save everyone! The difficulty is in allowing Him to enter our hearts.

Every word of the prophets is a passionate appeal full of love which seeks our conversion.”

May the Holy Spirit guide us to accept this invitation to receive God’s mercy and then to be witnesses of it in a sinful world.

Daily Readings April 7 – April 20

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. April 7, Acts 4:13-21; Ps 118:1,14-15,16ab21; Mk 16:9-15. Sun. April 8, Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday, Acts 4:32-35; Ps 118:2-4,13-15,22-24; 1 Jn 5:1-6; Jn 20:19-31. Mon. April 9, Is 7:10-14;8:10; Ps 40:7-11; Heb 10:4-10; Lk 1:26-38. Tues. April 10, Acts 4:32-37; Ps 93:1-2,5; Jn 3:7b-15. Wed. April 11, Acts 5:17-26; Ps 34:2-9; Jn 3:16-21. Thurs. April 12, Acts 5:27-33; Ps 34:2,9,17-20; Jn 3:31-36. Fri. April 13, Acts 5:34-42; Ps 27:1,4,13-14; Jn 6:1-15.

Sat. April 14, Acts 6:1-7; Ps 33:1-2,4-5,18-19; Jn 6:16-21. Sun. April 15, Third Sunday of Easter, Acts 3:13-15,17-19; Ps 4:2,4,7-9; 1 Jn 2:1-5a; Lk 24:35-48. Mon. April 16, Acts 6:8-15; Ps 119:23-24,26-27,29-30; Jn 6:22-29.

Tues. April 17, Acts 7:51—8: 1a; Ps 31:3cd-4,6ab,7b,8a,17,21ab; Jn 6:30-35.

Wed. April 18, Acts 8:1b-8; Ps 66:1-3a,4-7a; Jn 6:35-40. Thurs. April 19, Acts 8:26-40; Ps 66:8-9,16-17,20; Jn 6:44-51. Fri. April 20, Acts 9:1-20; Ps 117:1-2; Jn 6:52-59.

A

s the Church celebrates Divine Mercy Sunday on April 8, I am delighted that I will be in Rome.

The last time I was in Rome for the Second Sunday of Easter was when I was a newly-ordained priest. It was on that day I had what I describe as my “conversion” to Divine Mercy.

Previously, I had an immature aversion to the Divine Mercy devotion, preferring to focus on the devotions I already loved and desiring to use my Rosary beads exclusively for the Rosary.

On the morning of April 30, 2000, however, after celebrating Mass inside the Basilica of St. Peter, I headed into the square soon before the crowds were let in for the canonization of St. Faustina Kowalska.

Immediately after finishing my Breviary in a back corner of one of the front sections, a young man approached and asked in Italian whether I would hear his Confession and knelt before me on the bricks of St. Peter’s Square. For the next two hours and 45 minutes — until literally 10 seconds before the organ started playing the entrance antiphon — I heard Confessions in that open-air, makeshift Confessional in Portuguese, French, Italian, Spanish and English.

And I learned from the inside — as only a priest is privileged to — the extraordinary fruits of devotion to Divine Mercy in people from so many cultures and continents.

After canonizing St. Faustina, St. John Paul II declared in his homily that from that point forward the Second Sunday of Easter would be called Divine Mercy Sunday. I resolved that I would quickly get to know what the Lord had revealed through St. Faustina much better and to do what I could to help others come to experience some of the same faith and joy that I witnessed in those unforgettable penitents in St. Peter’s

Celebrating God’s greatest joy

decide to wait in line for the Square.

Confessional, and begin their When I began to read again St. Faustina’s Diary and Sacramental dialogue by admitting that was the last place various books about devotion they ever expected to be on to Divine Mercy, I learned that day. more about the five practices If it happened once, you Jesus requested to strengthen might call it a coincidence. our faith and gratitude in his If it happened 10 times, you mercy: stopping at 3 p.m. to might begin to wonder. But it’s remember his Passion, venhappened several dozen times, erating Him in the Divine Mercy image, praying the Chaplet and offerPutting Into ing the Eucharist to His Father in expiation the Deep for ours and others’ sins, praying a noBy Father vena in preparation for Roger J. Landry Divine Mercy Sunday and celebrating that with people who have never Sunday in a fitting way. But heard of the Divine Mercy I also learned that Jesus had devotion, all coming on that very clear mission for priests. one day of the year.

“Tell my priests,” he And that’s just the begininstructed St. Faustina, “that ning of the graces. I have also hardened sinners will repent witnessed many Catholics who on hearing their words when practice every other aspect of they speak about My unthe faith except the Sacrament fathomable mercy, about the compassion I have for them in of Confession who on that day My heart. To priests who will tell me that they have come to proclaim and extol My mercy, appreciate the place that God’s Mercy and the Sacrament of I will give wondrous power; Reconciliation should have in I will anoint their words and their life and come to receive touch the hearts of those to whom they will speak.” About it.

Jesus described to St. FausDivine Mercy Sunday and the tina about opening the gates image, He told her, “Priests of His mercy and on Divine are to tell everyone about My great and unfathomable mercy. Mercy Sunday I have see plenty of people “drenched” in Tell the confessor that the the flood of “blood and water” image is to be on view in the Church. By means of this im- pouring from Jesus’ side!

So I’m happy to have age, I shall grant many graces the chance to return to my to souls.” About the Chaplet, He added, “Priests will recom- personal “Damascus” to give mend it to sinners as their last God thanks for the gift of His mercy in my life and priesthope of Salvation.” hood.

I’ve discovered since that Pope Francis has asked time that those words were those he reappointed “Misnot empty promises. They sionaries of Mercy” after the have led to what can only be 2015-2016 Jubilee of Mercy to described as scores of moral come to Rome to concelebrate miracles. The general patDivine Mercy Sunday Mass tern is that those who haven’t with him, to hear confesbeen to Confession or church sions of pilgrims around the for decades all of a sudden world convening for a huge find themselves driving by “Spirituality of Mercy Confermy parish on Divine Mercy Sunday, feel drawn by an inner ence,” and to have three days of prayer, study and sharing magnet to enter, hear words about Divine Mercy in a Mass of general experiences. We homily or holy hour fervorino, will concelebrate Mass with

Pope Francis a second time inside St. Peter’s, where he will likely continue the reflections he shared with us on Ash Wednesday 2016, when he gave us our mandate of preaching and the exercise of his papal confessional faculties.

Pope Francis has made mercy the central theme of his pontificate because he is convinced that mercy is the central theme of Jesus’ life and mission.

In his first Angelus message as pope, he emphasized, “Jesus has this message for us: mercy. This is the Lord’s most powerful message: mercy.” In some of the most memorable words of his papacy, he continued, “The Lord never tires of forgiving: never! It is we who tire of asking His forgiveness. Let us ask for the grace not to tire of asking forgiveness, because He never tires of forgiving.”

In a homily several months later he said, “When Jesus healed a sick man He was not only a healer. When He taught people, He was not only a catechist, a preacher of morals. When He remonstrated against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Sadducees, He was not a revolutionary who wanted to drive out the Romans. No, these things that Jesus did, healing, teaching and speaking out against hypocrisy, were only a sign of something greater that Jesus was doing: He was forgiving sins.”

And in an Angelus meditation on the joy of forgiveness found in the Lucan parables of the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin and Lost Son, he underlined, “ The joy of God is forgiving! The whole Gospel, all of Christianity, is here!” Then he attested, “Mercy is the true force that can save man and the world from the ‘cancer’ that is sin, moral evil, Spiritual evil. Only love fills the void, and this is God’s joy!” Heaven indeed rejoices most for the return of repentant prodigals.

Correlatively, Heaven’s greatest sadness is when we don’t recognize we need God’s mercy, think we can’t be forgiven, or don’t come to receive it. That’s why Pope Francis always distinguishes between “sinners” who fall and know they need God’s forgiveness from the “corrupt,” who fall but proudly remain in their sins, refusing to admit they have cancer and take that Spiritual chemo.

Mercy is quite real for Pope Francis. He received his priestly calling in the confessional as a 16-year-old and chose his papal motto — Miserando atque Eligendo — to teach us how not just in his life but in every life, God calls us in the very act of forgiving us. He defined himself in an interview as a “sinner whom the Lord looks upon with love.” Divine Mercy Sunday is an opportunity for us to see ourselves loved in that way by the Lord. One way is to look at the Risen Christ, pointing to His Blood and Water and blessing us in the image Jesus revealed to St. Faustina.

Divine Mercy, in short, is at the root of Pope Francis’ discipleship and papal apostolate.

That’s why the Missionaries of Mercy are an important symbol for him of how all priests — and indeed all believers, according to their states of life — are called to be ambassadors of Christ appealing to others to be reconciled to God. That’s also why this Sunday is an important occasion for all of us to recognize and celebrate God’s greatest joy, so that His joy may be in us and our joy be made complete.

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

The Anchor - April 6, 2018

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A

The wrong-headedness of ‘wrongful birth’ lawsuits

t its core, the idea of a “wrongful birth” claim is unreasonable and ethically incoherent.

Parents who bring these lawsuits against obstetricians and hospitals claim that medical professionals should have detected a particular disease or defect in their unborn baby through prenatal testing and informed them about it. Had they been given this information, their argument continues, they would have chosen to abort their baby, rather than spending years of their lives caring for a less-than-perfect, possibly infirm child. Wrongful birth lawsuits enable the parents to seek legal redress, often in the form of multimillion dollar settlements.

In 2013, for example, a jury in Washington state awarded a $50 million payout to a couple who claimed they would have aborted their five-yearold son Oliver if they had known he had an “unbalanced chromosomal translocation.” Because of the mismatched chromosomes he received from his parents, he has an IQ of less than 70 and is unable to

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walk. cal information with the Rachelle Harz, a malparents was the preservapractice lawyer who tion of the child’s life. These spearheaded one of these lawsuits rely on fundamenlawsuits in New Jersey in tally flawed logic: first, that 1999, expressed some of the it is wrong and illegal for tortuous thinking that goes a doctor not to know or to into these cases during an withhold medical informainterview for “60 Minutes.” tion such that a life that She noted that although would have been ended is the physician in this case, saved; second, that a doc“didn’t cause the child’s retardation, Making Sense what he caused was not giving the Out of proper informaBioethics tion to the parents

By Father Tad to allow them the Pacholczyk choice to abort the child.” She concluded that the doctor “caused the birth of tor is somehow obligated this very, very neurological- to facilitate or cooperate ly-impaired child.” in harmful or lethal acThe fundamental flaw tions that parents intend in her argument, of course, to carry out against their is the claim that the docown offspring. The meditor “caused the birth” of cal profession, however, has the baby, when, in fact, long professed allegiance to the birth was caused by the creed of “do no harm,” an activity that took place so that doctors can serve nine months prior between uniquely as healers, not the husband and wife. That killers. For obstetricians in action of the mom and dad, particular, the unborn chilnot an action by the doctor, dren they track and follow resulted in the birth. during pregnancy count as What the doctor actually that doctor’s patients in the “caused” by not discovering same way that the mothers and sharing specific medido.

Whenever a couple sets out with the intention of aborting an imperfect child and requests that prenatal testing be performed for this purpose, the process of testing itself becomes immoral. In the same way, any physician or health care professional who arranges for such tests, if they have prudential certainty that a couple intends to abort an imperfect child, would be guilty of cooperating in evil when that abortion takes place.

To consider a parallel example, if a physician believed that a child arriving to the hospital emergency room had been physically abused or severely beaten by his parents, he would be dutybound, not to mention legally obligated, to report that abuse to authorities.

He would not be permitted to turn a blind eye, or otherwise cooperate in the ongoing harm to that child by his or her parents.

Similarly, obstetricians who work with pregnant couples should not be expected to turn a blind eye and provide diagnostic information to parents that will encourage them fatally to assault their unborn child.

None of us is perfect.

None of us is born into this world completely free of

defects, whether physical or psychological. Those limitations, however, never entitle others to place our lives in the crosshairs and pull the trigger — especially our own parents! In sum, these wrongful birth cases promote catastrophic misunderstandings about parental duties and about the physician’s obligations towards mothers and their children in pre-natal care settings.

Recognizing that some parents will face considerable expense, labor and difficulty in raising a child who requires special care and attention due to disabilities, it seems reasonable to promote a Pro-Life and supportive response on behalf of these families, rather than encouraging the corrosive practice of wrongful birth lawsuits.

That supportive response should include the expectation of everyone chipping in and helping out, whether through insurance, taxes or crowd-funding, or through other forms of civic, societal or ecclesial outreach.

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

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ature caught up with our Liturgical season this year, giving us the most challenging and stormy 40 days of Lent, followed by an Easter week ripe with the promise of spring. In the beautiful afterglow of the Resurrection we place our Lenten fast in the rearview mirror and look forward to the joy of the Easter season and the promise of the Ordinary time of summer. Before we get there, we will have many weeks in which we get to walk along with the Risen Christ and maybe discuss what we learned from our 40 days in the desert.

My Lent was more like boot camp than a trip to the desert. I had allowed the frenzy of my schedule to take over my prayer life. I scoured the various Spiritual exercises to find the “10 minutes a day is all it takes” kind of prayer.

When I joyfully found a book that cut daily prayer down to five minutes, I realized that I needed to do something about my “I have no time to pray” affliction.

That’s how I arrived at my decision to add more minutes to my day during Lent to set aside exclusive time for prayer; not the time of prayer I shared with the drive into work, interrupted each time I passed a speed trap or negotiated the treacherous merge onto Route 24.

This time I was going to do it right by adding an extra hour to my morning by waking up early. This, of course, led to going to bed earlier, which meant less time mindlessly watching TV. All of this discipline was going to make me a prayer cham-

Time with God pion. treatments in the unit.

When Holy Week We would sit together finally came, and I faced and talk; rarely about the end of nearly 40 himself; often about the days of faithfully followstories of patients who ing this morning prayer sat near him. He told me regimen, a feeling came upon me that was totally unexpected: regret and sadness. The The Great regret was over Commission the recognition that my Lenten

By Claire McManus “special prayer time” may fade away into the ether of Ordinary time, many of the details of but the sadness was more the other patients’ lives, unexpected. I was surfor he was a person who prisingly slammed with elicited from others their a memory that I had not deepest fears and feeldusted off in many years. ings about their suffering, More than 20 years ago yet revealed little of his I went through Cliniown. The only tears he cal Pastoral Education shed were when he spoke as part of my contextual of his daughter who was education for my degree. born with a disability and CPE trains people to be- had endured great suffercome hospital chaplains, ing. I had other units to but it also prepares one cover and didn’t always for ministry because of its get to him, but when I demands of self-reflection did he would cheerfully so that we can sit with say, “I was waiting for people and hold their you!” After the Christmas stories in a Sacred place. I break, when the next sehad been assigned to the mester started, I went to dialysis unit where outpa- visit him to tell him that tients came on a daily ba- my schedule changed and sis to have their blood fil- I was assigned to a differtered through a machine that did what their failed kidneys could not. The background stories of the people in this unit were as varied as the cause of their kidney failure. Some had inherited their condition; others brought it on by destructive life choices.

None of that mattered as they all were bonded by their connection to the machine that kept them alive until transplant or death.

One patient stood out, as he was the epitome of grace as he endured the tedium of his regular

ent unit. I couldn’t find his name on the manifest, and was told that he had died a few weeks before.

Just like that, my “special time” with this man ended.

Anticipating the end of my special time with God jarred that memory from the recesses of my brain, and the 20 years it lie dormant allowed it to ferment and turn into the fine wine of Spiritual wisdom The 40 days spent performing heroic efforts of early rising and resolute devotions did not produce the goal I

sought, but only revealed the gift that took me 20 years to unwrap. After all this effort the words to the Psalm came to life, “For in sacrifice you take no delight, burnt offering from me you would refuse, my sacrifice, a contrite spirit. A humble, contrite heart you will not spurn.”

All that I needed to learn about spending time with God came from that dialysis unit through the simple words of that man years ago. “I was waiting for you.”

Anchor columnist Claire McManus is the director of the Diocesan Off ice of Faith Formation.

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M

arch 13 marked the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’ election as bishop of Rome, successor of Peter and head of the Universal Church.

As always with public figures, there is no lack of media commentary on his papacy, and in his case it’s been mostly positive but with a recently growing undertow of negativity. What are we to make of this?

Pope Francis has a knack for the edifying dramatic gesture, like carrying his own suitcase or paying his hotel bill the day after his election, or living in Santa Marta’s residence rather than in the Apostolic Palace. Of course, this pope, like any pope, is human. And so he can make mistakes — mistakes about personnel, mistakes about political matters, mistakes in prudential judgment.

As Catholics, we believe that

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On loving the Holy Father he cannot err in teaching faith the pope as the “sweet Christ on and morals, but only when he earth.” speaks formally ex cathedra, as Pope Francis ( Jorge Mario supreme teacher of the Church.

Bergoglio) is an Argentinian For Jesus solemnly proclaimed and a Jesuit, which are identities to Peter and his successors in most of us do not share, though the papacy, “You are Peter, and hopefully we can appreciate their upon this good qualirock I will ties. To build My his credit, Judge Church. virtually For And the whenever Yourself gates of Pope Franhell will cis makes

By Dwight Duncan not prevail a public against it. appearance, I will give starting the you the keys of the Kingdom of evening of his election, he asks Heaven. Whatever you bind on people for prayers. His job is, earth shall be bound in Heaven; humanly speaking, an impossible whatever you loose on earth shall one, and so he is in particular be loosed in Heaven” (Mt 16:18- need of God’s constant help. As 19). Following the pope and his good sons and daughters of the authority are what defines us pope, we should pray for him, as Catholics. Which is why St. that God keep him and strengthCatherine of Siena referred to en him and make him holy. For he is the first to acknowledge that, like all of us, he is a sinner in need of God’s grace and forgiveness. When he recently heard Confessions in St. Peter’s Basilica, he began by going to Confession himself.

One of the great features of this pontificate is Pope Francis’ emphasis on God’s tender mercy and forgiveness. He is constantly repeating that God is a loving Father Who forgives all who turn to Him. When we ask God for forgiveness in the “Our Father,” we ask to be forgiven as we forgive those who trespass against us. If this duty of forgiving extends to everyone who offends us, it should extend particularly to those closest to us in the order of charity: our family, friends, sharers in the household of faith — and the Holy Father himself if need be.

In some ways we have been spoiled by the popes of my lifetime. Every one, without exception, has been exemplary and virtuous. Several have been canonized or shortly will be: St. John Paul II, St. John XXIII,

and Blessed Paul VI; others are well on the road to canonization: Venerable Pius XII and Venerable John Paul I; the other two are still alive, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Pope Francis himself. This does not mean that they never made mistakes, of course. But their rectitude and holiness were and are palpable.

Pope Paul VI will be canonized this year, the 50th anniversary of his famous encyclical Humanae Vitae clearly defending the Church’s teaching on artificial birth control. While many rashly criticized him at the time, it turns out that Blessed Paul VI was heroic and prophetic in denouncing the contraceptive mentality and the train of evils that would ensue with the acceptance of the sexual revolution then at its peak.

Contrast this with the 15th and 16th centuries, when a number of venal and worldly men occupied the See of Rome. Think, for example, of Alexander VI, the Borgia Pope, or Leo X, the Medici Pope at the time of Luther. Such men did not destroy the Church, of course; but they caused much scandal. Nor were they heretics. However badly they lived, they did not teach formal error. Even then, loyal Catholics obeyed the Bishop of Rome.

And so we can and should loyally thank God for Pope Francis’ stewardship of the Catholic Church, praying for him and trying to follow his lead when it comes to forgiveness, mercy and reaching out to people on the margins. As the “Code of Canon Law” says in canon 1404, “The First See is judged by no one.”

Or to put it differently, only God can judge him authoritatively. In the meantime, he’s our pope and Holy Father.

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

Monday 26 March 2018 — Homeport: Falmouth Harbor — Monday of Holy Week he call came in at 4:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 22. It was a nurse at the Catholic Memorial Home, Fall River, gently informing me of the death of my old friend Father Francis Xavier Wallace.

I had seen Father Wallace just two days before. He, who had been so athletic all his life (football, sailing, swimming, racquet ball), no longer had the strength to sit up in bed. His body was skeletal. He, who was willing to engage in conversation at the drop of a hat, could no longer speak. There was a question about whether or not he, who had heard countless battlefield Confessions, could now hear a single word.

There was even a question about whether or not he, who had carefully followed the latest news in the Church and in politics for decades, could now comprehend reality.

I bent over the bed and spoke to him anyway. He had already received the Sacrament of the Sick.

There was no need to repeat it. I did something that has never, I’m quite sure, been part of any course on the pastoral care of the dying. I put my fingers around my eyes to simulate spy glasses and said, “Frank, I’ve got my eye on you.”

Back when he was still living here at the rectory, I purposely did not oil the squeaky wheels of his walker.

Father Wallace (due to his hearing impairment) had no idea his walker was so noisy. The squeaking made such a racket that I knew exactly where he was in the building at all times. Sometimes, I would hear him coming and duck around a corner.

When he approached, I would pop out and say “Frank, I’ve got my eye on you!” “Stop stalking me!” Frank would laugh.” It became a joke between us.

I bent over Frank now and said loudly, “I’ve got my eye on you, Frank Wallace!” He smiled. He realized I was there. And I realized he was “there.” His health attendant, understandably, thought I had gone completely bonkers.

So, the call came informing me of his death, and, quite frankly, I was caught off guard. Intellectually, the

T

The call

notification of his death was not un- written about him in The Anchor.

How could I sum up such an unexpected. After all, who dies unexusual priestly ministry? I could hear pectedly at the age of 96? But still.

Frank laughing.

It was my task to assist the unAlways planning ahead, Father dertaker in preparing his body for Wallace had handed me several copburial. I choose violet Mass vesties of homiments belies that he cause it was The Ship’s Log himself had Passiontide.

Reflections of a preached on Father WalParish Priest the occasion lace had just of the death experienced

By Father Tim of a priest. his own pasGoldrick The homilies sion in a long were pages process of long. They were filled with dates, dying.

Father Wallace was always a man names, places and all sorts of minutiae. How can I put this delicately? with a plan. He had already chosen Among Father Wallace’s many the casket he preferred, so I didn’t priestly gifts, preaching was not have to concern myself with that.

The choice of the Scripture readings for the Funeral Mass was up to me. I made my choices.

I delegated the hymn selection to the parish music director, Barbara Leighton.

The parish administrative assistant, Peg Frederick, prepared a memorial display of documents, photographs, and memorabilia for the church lobby. As it turned out, people lingered there to tell stories about how Father Wallace had impacted their lives. There were many stories to be shared.

Gary Parsons, the parish facilities manager, went to our cemetery and scrubbed Father Wallace’s headstone until it looked pristine.

(Years before, Father Wallace had selected his own grave marker and chosen its location. Hint: It’s not in the Father Wallace section of the cemetery).

The wake for Father Wallace was held in the church. It lasted five hours. There was a steady stream of visitors — people from all stations in life.

The Mass of Christian Burial was as well-attended as any Sunday Mass — not bad for the funeral of a 96-year-old on a workday. Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha presided, with Bishop Emeritus George Coleman as a vested concelebrant. There were some 20 priests concelebrating and eight deacons in attendance.

Father Wallace had designated me to deliver the homily. He intended this to be payback for having

one of them. I set aside his sample homilies.

Instead, I told a few stories to try to capture the personality of the man. His life clearly underscored the fact that there are so many ways to be a priest in this world of ours.

In the end, all I could really say was that he was a priest, nothing less and nothing more.

Pray for those who have already been called to the priesthood and pray for those prayerfully discerning the possibility of such a calling.

May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

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

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“W

ater, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink.”

As I rounded the corner opposite the Care Home and turned onto the grass margin intending to park my paddy wagon, I had no inkling that I was about to make a presentday reality of these words spoken by a sailor in

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Let us spray

Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s large protective rock and clipped a water pipe on “The Rime Of The Anthe leeward side of the cient Mariner.” rock. To my horror water After all, I had parked in this spot on numerous occasions without incident Moon Over but this time Molokai would be different. It would seem

By Father that I cut in too Patrick Killilea, SS.CC. sharply, brushed a

The Anchor - April 6, 2018

began to gush from the pipe and to spray in all directions.

“Have no fear, Lionel is near,” came a nearby voice and soon water manager Lionel was on the scene, going from one shut-off valve to another throughout the settlement, like the parish priest doing the Stations of the Cross on a Lenten Friday.

Eventually he had shut off all the water supply for the settlement and so there would be no water from the taps to drink, wash, or do a royal flush for much of that afternoon.

Soon thereafter Too Tall Andrew arrived with his digger and began to excavate. He was joined by Ryan and Pa’oni, armed with spade and shovel. I thought to myself, “Uh oh! they are going to have me dig my own grave for my transgression.” However, they were very understanding and told me that my penance would be to provide the beer at that night’s party in memory of our recently departed Elizabeth (It didn’t actually happen).

Park Ranger Lester, stood guard to direct traffic and to make sure I did not run away. Then administrator Kenneth joined us to oversee the work. After a couple of hours, the broken pipe was unearthed, sealed, and declared safe to take water pressure. Then water guru Lionel did the Stations of the Cross all over again, this time in reverse order.

While this project was in process, it became obvious that the culprit pipe which had caused all this grief was all corroded and had been scheduled to be replaced. So I declared that this incident was “an act of God” and so I didn’t feel so guilty. However, tell that to anyone who couldn’t do the royal flush that afternoon.

Apart from learning a valuable lesson in parking on this day, I learned that the pipe in this instance was part of the original water system which had brought water by gravity all the way from Waikolu Valley, one valley past the original settlement in Kalawao and more than three miles away. What an engineering feat that was. It was from this same valley that Father Damien had brought piped water to Kalawao shortly after he arrived at the settlement. This same valley still provides the water for much of Topside Molokai.

Our present-day water in Kalaupapa comes from an aquifer in nearby Waihanau Valley where the National Park drilled in the 1980s. We are blessed to have such pure water, the best drinking water I’ve tasted since my childhood days in the west of Ireland. Let us pray that those in our world who do not enjoy such life-giving water may be provided with such refreshing water and let us spray only when we take a shower.

Aloha.

Anchor columnist Father Killilea is pastor of St. Francis Parish in Kalaupapa, Hawaii.

DACA renewals keep CSS immigration attorney busy continued from page four

terminated. Domestic violence? Your DACA will be terminated. You lose that opportunity. I have a client who came to our Hyannis office and she said, ‘I’m afraid of getting a speeding ticket.’ And I said to her, well a speeding ticket is not a criminal or a civil issue.

But she’s so paranoid of any kind of trouble whatsoever with the police that she is afraid to even get a speeding ticket.”

In an effort to assist his immigrant clients, Paicopolos often finds himself fighting an uphill battle against a combination of personal prejudice, misinformation and political agendas.

“You have a group of people who can’t stand immigrants and are antiimmigration under any circumstances, and you’re not going to change them,” he said. “They like to say: ‘well why don’t they just get legal? They had all this time to get legal and now they’re complaining.’ That’s a fundamental misunderstanding of what this process is.

“You know, having a dollar and a dream and coming here on the boat and going to Ellis Island with some paperwork — that process doesn’t exist anymore. There is no process that takes you from having no legal status or temporary legal status to citizenship. You have to have a green card first and the idea of lawful permanent residency is a tough standard (to meet). The application process runs around $2,000 — and no fee waivers are available and there’s a rigorous process with interviews. It’s a real challenge for some people.”

Paicopolos also bristles at the notion of simply deporting all the immigrants

who haven’t obtained legal status.

“Right now you have about 800,000 people with DACA in the U.S., and you’re saying send them back?” he said. “Does that really make a lot of sense?

People who have DACA came here before they were 16 — the vast majority of my clients came here before they were 10. They have been educated in our schools and have been part of the fabric of our life here from 1981 to 2007. We have this group of people we’ve invested in through the education system and other systems, so they’re well-integrated.”

Many of Paicopolos’ clients also “bring vibrancy to the Church and vibrancy to the workplace,” he said.

“There’s this idea that

immigrants come here and don’t work, but if you talk to people who work with immigrants or have immigrants working under them, they say otherwise,” he said. “Business owners can tell you. I had a pizza place owner tell me once: he had a Guatemalan individual working for him and he was telling me about how refreshing it was to have somebody who just comes in and does the work. That’s the kind of people you’d want in society, right? We have enough people complaining about the laziness of the millennials and all that stuff.”

Given the fluidity of the DACA situation at present, Paicopolos urged anyone who thinks they might be eligible to renew to contact him as soon as possible.

“We don’t know how long this is going to go on,” he said. “Moving forward, things may change. We’re getting approvals every week and we’re getting cards in every week. But I mean they could shut this down two weeks from now and people would lose their money. But I think it’s important to contact

us — even if you don’t want to have representation through Catholic Social Services. And make sure you go to somebody who is licensed to practice law.”

For more information about immigration and legal services, contact Catholic Social Services at 508-6744681, or visit www.cssdioc. org.

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13

“Y

ou can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” So the adage goes.

Well, this old mutt is learning new tricks nearly every day.

The last few years have been quite tumultuous for me, particularly the last year.

Late last July one of my best friends and my golf partner, Msgr. Tom Harrington passed away. Less than three months later, my greatest hero, my dad Larry was called home to the Father.

It’s been an adjustment on both fronts.

My dad died at the Catholic Memorial Home, which is a stone’s throw from my home, and I usually pass by

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An old dog learning new tricks there everyday at one time Hershey’s minis and a word or another. When I do, I al- search book. ways peek at the windows in There are other days, the room where he breathed when my mind is filled with his last. Not in a morbid other things that I nearly way, but just to keep his memory alive and kicking in my My View cerebrum.

From At Thanksgiving, the Stands I wanted to pull into the parking lot

By Dave Jolivet for a visit and give him a few Hershey’s minis and a word search pull in for a visit. book. At Christmas, I wantYet, this old mutt is learned to pull into the parking ing not to do that. lot for a visit and give him The past March was a few Hershey’s minis and arguably the worst of the a word search book. And winter, weather-wise, with on Easter, I wanted to pull three Nor’easters blowing into the parking lot for a through in less than three visit and give him a few weeks.

The Anchor - April 6, 2018

With the weather so nasty, it was even more pleasurable to watch the PGA golf tournaments on TV. Seeing the lush green grass and deep blue skies in parts of the country where everything isn’t covered with a cold white blanket is refreshing.

But it does give me the urge to get out on the course myself and renew the frustrations of thinking I can hit the ball far and straight, then realizing I can’t.

When I do think of heading out to the links, I say to myself, “I can’t wait to win another Dunkin’ Cup from Msgr. Tom.” But

then comes the tug at the heartstrings remembering that won’t be happening any more.

I was alone on the golf course on the day that he died, and I’ll be sure to make my first trip out this season alone, and reminisce about the great times we had out there.

This old mutt is learning another new trick.

I miss Tom and Larry, but there hasn’t been a day since they died that I haven’t thought of them.

Meanwhile, I’ll continue to learn new tricks, and get used to their not being around. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it. davejolivet@anchornews.org

By Margaret Pénicaud Special to The Anchor

I recently participated in an online program called “Best Lent Ever.” One question that was put to us was “How can purpose elevate your work?” The focus was for us to “find something that you consider worthy of your talent and character, and give yourself to it.”

For more than 20 years now I have been working to help the poor in Haiti by working in solidarity with the Daughters of Mary

‘It makes a difference to this one!’

Queen Immaculate, an indigenous teaching order of Haitian nuns. Granted this “work” is entirely voluntary.

There are no salaries in our non-profit, but I always add that, “the retirement plan is out of this world!”

Basically my work for Haiti consists of fundraising for the Sisters and supporting them in their mission of “accompanying orphans, children, adolescent girls, and mothers in the areas of health care, schooling, and professional formation, for their human

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 April 8, 11:00 a.m.

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

April 15, 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Paul E. Canuel, a retired priest of the Fall River Diocese.

fulfillment and growth.”

The Sisters have presently more than 5,000 students and individuals under their care in the southern half of Haiti.

I am responsible for putting the Fish Farm Haiti donors’ hard-earned dollars directly in the hands of these trusted Sisters. I find it satisfying to know that these Sisters will continue their work even if I am no longer in the picture. They work for the love of God and their people. As for their American counterparts, we are all volunteers.

Not only are there no salaries in our non-profit, but we pay our own transportation to and from Haiti. We do not use the money we have raised for our personal travel expenses. We want every penny to go to Haiti.

Our work is our gift from the heart.

This past November, three of us, Bonnie Gardner from Greenland, N.H.; Jessica Buckley from Edgartown; and I traveled to Haiti. Our first stop was at the Project in Lilavois, outside of Port-au-Prince, where we interviewed, took pictures, and delivered gifts to the 61 children in our sponsorship program. There are currently 501 children enrolled in the primary and secondary classes of the school. At the trade school where women are learning to cook and sew as a means for honest livelihood, the class has grown from 15 students last year to 35 students this year. Sister Mimose, the successful 20-year veteran teacher at the trade school, has asked us to help build a new and bigger facility for her over crowded classroom.

We also traveled to three towns along the southwestern coast of Haiti to assess the needs and progress after

the destructive passage of Hurricane Matthew in the fall of 2016. In Roche à Bateau, we slept in the patients’ room of the medical dispensary completed there.

In Damassin, the Sisters were living in unimaginable poverty. It has been more than a year since the hurricane and they were still sleeping crowded together in one room, with no running water, no roof over most of the building, and yet they continue to run and teach a school with 500-plus children.

In Coteaux, where we directed our Haiti relief fund raising efforts, the Sisters have three new bedrooms, a kitchen, and a partially rebuilt wall around their residence. They dream of rebuilding their kindergarten classroom that would double as an after-school program. All the Sisters living in this impoverished, remote coastal area agree that life would be a lot easier if they had one vehicle they could share and use to transport patients to the hospital, purchase supplies, and keep in contact with the rest of their religious community.

There is a legendary story of a huge storm that washed up on the shore hundreds of thousands of starfish. Mounds and mounds of starfish were left stranded to die. A little girl walked along the shore and bending over picked up a starfish and threw it back into the sea. Again and again she repeatedly bent over, picked up a starfish and tossed it back into the sea. Onlookers scoffed at her. “Don’t you see how impossible it is? There are hundreds of thousands of starfish. No matter how long you try, it will never make a difference!” Picking up another starfish and holding it up, the little girl said, “Makes a difference to this one!” and tossed it back into the sea!

Sponsor a Child: $250 a year; feed a child Breakfast Program $100 a year. For more information email: info@fishfarmhaiti.org; call 508-645-2710, or visit www.fishfarmhaiti.org.

Margaret Penicaud is a parishioner of Good Shepherd Parish in Martha’s Vineyard and a member of Little Children of Mary.

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For and About Our Church Youth

I

have been writing in this space for nearly 12 years and most times I truly wonder, as I prepare this article, what is the one profound thing I can say that would make you all think? What deep and Spiritual remarks can I add that will razzle-dazzle all of you. What can I say that would be worthy enough to sit in this very issue among what I’m sure are articles that will challenge, teach and inspire!

I’ve got nothing!

Why do I have such problems? I think, most likely, it is because that is not me. I’m not a profound thinker. I don’t have a lot of deep stuff to say. I’m ordinary. I’m just trying too hard to be something I am not.

I have often heard the phrase “Live an extraordinary life in an ordinary way.” Maybe it goes the other way around but in any case it’s a call to action and it basically tells us that we don’t have to be out on a soap box or out front.

We can bring others to Christ by living an ordinary Christian life. We can make a difference in the world by being ordinary.

After all, the first 30 years of Jesus’ life were pretty ordinary. He lived in an ordinary home in an ordinary town.

Extraordinary ordinariness

He worked with His dad. He learned a trade.

I’m sure He helped His mom around the house. I think that this is a model for all of us. This ordinary time took up most of His life so I’m thinking it must be an important message to us all!

Even when He began His public ministry, most of what He did was ordinary. He traveled with friends, He preached, He taught.

Yet in each of these ordinary events He showed us what it means to live an extraordinary life!

Think about His miracles. The first took place at an ordinary event — a wedding. The ordinary became extraordinary when He turned the water into wine.

The ordinary Passover dinner that we celebrated last week on Holy Thursday was a meal with friends that turned extraordinary when He turned the bread and wine into His Own Body.

The ordinary act of dying turned extraordinary at His Resurrection.

I like to think of Jesus as an ordinary Guy. A Guy who lived, and felt like we do. He laughed, He cried, He loved and He even got angry. That is pretty ordinary stuff. But in how He

The Anchor is always pleased to run news and photos about our diocesan youth. If schools, parish Religious Education programs or home-schoolers have newsworthy stories and photos they would like to share with our readers, send them to: schools@anchornews.org 16

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took the ordinary and made it extraordinary is where I think the message lies.

I truly believe that each and every one of us can be extraordinary — but in an

Be Not Afraid

By Deacon Frank Lucca

ordinary way. I don’t have to give out profound messages nor write a column that will razzle-dazzle people. I only have to be me doing the best I can and living a life modeled on Christ.

There is a song, whose title escapes me now, that has the stanza, “I only have to be what You made me.”

The artist is saying that God gave us talents and

abilities and we only need to use them to the best of our ability. Some folks are musicians, others are writers and scholars. Others are good people who live what would be considered a simple life.

It is in that ordinariness that we can each be extraordinary. I challenge all of us today to look around in our ordinary lives and see what we can turn into the extraordinary.

Take a look at the person who is ostracized in school or work and reach out to them. Visit the sick or call someone who is lonely.

Thank a teacher for their hard work. Show support to someone who is upset, ill or hurting. Work at a soup kitchen, teach a CCD class or rake someone’s lawn.

It is in these ordinary actions that someone will see

Jesus in you. They will want to know why you are the way you are.

They will try to be more like you. That simple ordinary action will affect others in such a way that they will change a bit and so will you. The ordinary actions of our ordinary lives may bring someone to come to know Jesus better. Now that’s extraordinary!

Anchor columnist Frank Lucca is a pretty ordinary permanent deacon in the Diocese of Fall River, a youth minister at St. Dominic’s Parish in Swansea and St. George Parish in Westport, and a campus minister at UMass Dartmouth. He is married to his wife of 39 years, Kristine, and the father of two daughters and their husbands, and three grandsons. So blessed!

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

Every Holy Week, the students, faculty, and staff of St. Mary-Sacred Heart School in North Attleboro are treated to a beautiful mime of the Stations of the Cross. The fourthgrade classes, taught by Ms. Molly Smith and Mrs. Sharon Paulhus perform a devotion of the Stations of the Cross for the school community. The performance showed the 14 prayers depicting the final hours of Jesus. The photo shows the students miming out the third station, where Jesus falls for the first time.

For and About Our Church Youth

Bishop Stang High School and the Greater New Bedford Catholic Elementary Schools recently joined together for a Shakespeare performance.

The Bay Colony Shakespeare Company performed an abridged version of “Romeo and Juliet” at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth for the freshman and sophomore classes as well as the seventh- and eighth-graders from All Saints (New Bedford), Holy Family-Holy Name (New Bedford), St. Francis Xavier (Acushnet), St. James-St. John (New Bedford) and St. Joseph (Fairhaven). Following the 75-minute performance, actors participated in a “talk back” with students, deepening understandings and answering questions. Bay Colony Shakespeare Company’s Education director, Thomas Grenon, is a 1979 graduate of Bishop Stang High School. The Company will visit Bishop Stang again in March to perform “Macbeth” for the junior and senior classes, and Grenon will also conduct a Master Class for the Bishop Stang Theater Company.

There were plenty of little leprechauns in Holy Name’s pre-kindergarten class recently at the Fall River school.

The eighth-grade girls and fifth-grade boys basketball teams from St. John the Evangelist in Attleboro and Mercymount Country Day School in Cumberland, R.I., recently gathered for a scrimmage at Mercymount for the fifth annual Hoops for the Hungry. The students asked for a non-perishable food donation in lieu of an admission fee. They collected 15 boxes of food which was given to the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Rhode Island Food Bank.

The pioneering students in St. John Paul II High School’s first AP Capstone cohort completed their Team Multimedia Presentations with oral defense, which represents the culmination of their first performance task for the AP Seminar course. Students worked in teams to develop a research question, write an Individual Research Report, and pool their knowledge to identify a plausible solution to a real-world problem. Student-selected topics included: anti-vaping advertisement campaigns, animal testing in the pharmaceutical industry, medical tourism, U.S. oil policy in the Middle East, and tourism best-practices in developing countries.

Pre-School students from Espirito Santo School in Fall River readied themselves to build their next project during constructive play time.

Super Hero Day at St. James-St. John School in New Bedford benefited Pennies for Patients.

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On Easter, pope asks: ‘How will you respond to the Resurrection?’

Vatican City (CNA/EWTN News) — On Easter morning Pope Francis said God’s announcement to His people always comes as a surprise, like the shock of the disciples who found Jesus’ tomb empty after His Resurrection, and told Christians not to waste time responding to the Good News they’ve been given.

“The announcements of God are always a surprise, because ours is a God of surprises,” the pope said on Easter morning. “From the beginning of the history of Salvation, from Abraham, who God tells to ‘go, get up and go to the land I send you to,’ there’s always one surprise after another.”

“God doesn’t know how to make an announcement, a proclamation without surprising us,” he said, “and that surprise moves your heart, it touches you. It happens when you don’t expect it.”

Pope Francis also spoke of the haste with which the women and the disciples in John’s Gospel responded when they heard news of the empty tomb and Jesus’ Resurrection, and he posed a question to those present for the Mass, asking “what about you?”

“What about me? Is my heart open to God’s surprises?” he said, urging Christians to ask themselves: “Am I able to go with great haste, or do I stay back and say, ‘I’ll go tomorrow’?”

Pope Francis celebrated Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square after presiding over the Easter Vigil inside the basilica the night before, bringing a close to the Easter Triduum and 18

the events of Holy Week.

The altar during Mass was bedecked with some 50,000 flowers of different varieties, which were a gift from florists in Holland.

Though he usually sticks to his text during formal Liturgies, Pope Francis did not prepare a

is new, I met a man who told me everything I have ever done!’ These people run, they leave what they’re doing. The housewife leaves the potatoes in the pot, and they’ll be burned, but it’s important to run, to see that surprise, that announcement.

Today this also happens to us in our neighborhoods, when something happens and people go to see it. People go with great haste. Andrew didn’t waste time and he went to Peter to say: ‘we found the Messiah!’

The surprises, the Good News, are always given like this, with great haste.

But in the Gospel there is a person who takes their time, who doesn’t want to take a risk, but the Lord is good, and He waits for him with great love. This is Thomas, who said ‘I’ll believe when I see His wounds.’ The Lord is patient with those people who do not get up and leave with great haste.

“Thirdly, is a question: Pope Francis celebrates Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square April 1. (Photo by Daniel Ibáñez/ and me, what? What CNA) about me? Is my heart open to God’s surprises?

Am I able to go with great homily for Easter mornpassage from the Gospel, haste, or with that chant, when you don’t expect it. ing, and spoke to pilgrims I want to say three things. It’s a surprise from ‘down do I stay back and say ‘I’ll in brief, off-the-cuff First, the announcelow,’ it takes you off guard. go tomorrow’? What is remarks. He did the same ment: the Lord is Risen. the surprise saying to me?

God’s announcement was thing last year, meaning That proclamation, that John and Peter, they ran a surprise. a spontaneous reflection from the time of the early to the tomb. John, in his “The rush, the women Easter morning could be a Christians they would Gospel, tells us to believe. ran, they went in a hurry new trend for the Argengreet each other this way: to get to the tomb, to Even Peter believed, but tine pope. the Lord is risen! And the say ‘we found this!’ The in his own way, with that In his short homily, the women that were there to surprises of God put us faith that is a bit mixed pope focused on three anoint the Lord’s Body, with remorse for havon the path, on the jouraspects of the day’s Gosthey found themselves in ing denied the Lord. The ney right away, without pel passage from John, in front of a surprise. The announcement that has waiting. So they run to which Peter and John run surprise. The announcemade a surprise, to run see, and Peter and John, to the tomb after Mary ments of God are always and go with great haste, they run. The shepherds, Magdalene tells them she a surprise, because ours and the question: what the night of Christmas found it empty earlier that is a God of surprises. about me, today, in this when Jesus was born in morning.

So from the beginning Easter in 2018? What Bethlehem, ran — the The three aspects Pope of the history of Salvaabout me? What about Samaritan woman runs Francis focused on were tion, from Abraham, who you?” to tell her people, ‘this

The Anchor - April 6, 2018

the surprise of the announcement, the haste with which the women and the disciples ran to the tomb, and the personal response of each.

The full text of Pope Francis’ homily follows: “After having listened to the Word of God, this

God tells to ‘go, get up and go to the land I send you to,’ there’s always one surprise after another.

God doesn’t know how to make an announcement, a proclamation without surprising us. And that surprise moves your heart, it touches you. It happens

Prisoners in Rome thank pope for ‘making sure we’re not forgotten’

Rome, Italy, (CNA/ EWTN News) — Pope Francis’ Holy Thursday Mass at a prison in Rome was more than just another event for the inmates who participated — it was a sign that while invisible to the world outside, they had not been forgotten.

“Yesterday is a moment that I think is going to resonate through the prison for at least the whole next entire year. I think it’s a moment that touched every single guard and every single prisoner who was there,” seminarian Alex Nevitt recently told CNA. A seminarian in his third year of theology studying at the Pontifical North American College, Nevitt does prison ministry at Rome’s Regina Coeli prison, where Pope Francis celebrated the Mass of the Lord’s Supper for Holy Thursday.

The pope washed the feet of 12 inmates and visited the infirmary, as well as “Section VIII” of the facility, where prisoners who have committed serious crimes or who have certain mental illness live.

After the pope’s Mass, which commemorated the night Jesus Himself was arrested, Nevitt said many of the inmates were moved, because “this is their lived experience that they know.”

“These are men that are easily forgotten,” he said, noting that at one point a representative from the prison spoke to the pope and thanked him “for making sure we’re not forgotten.”

“Sometimes it’s very easy to forget those who are in prison because we don’t see them,” Nevitt said, explaining that as seminarians, “it’s a privilege” to serve the inmates because it helps them to better understand “where the fringes of society are.”

Nevitt, who is from

the Diocese of Patterson, N.J., has been working in the prison apostolate for two-and-a-half years. He is in charge of the other eight seminarians who are involved in the ministry, five of whom are currently working inside the prison, and three of whom will start in September when they finish training.

As part of their ministry, the seminarians lead Bible studies and catechesis. They

ing that some people are from Europe or have gained Italian citizenship legally, but have no family, making it harder to access bail or be released without a support system.

“You hear some backstories of prisoners who don’t want to write back home because they’re ashamed of being in prison,” he said. “So I think the pope’s message of forgiveness probably spoke very much to those

lics, Muslims, an Orthodox Christian and a Buddhist.

The inmates were from various countries, including the Philippines, Nigeria, Colombia, Sierra Leone, Morocco, Moldova, and Italy.

Nevitt said they work with a many non-Catholics, Protestants and Muslims, in their Bible studies. At one point they had prepared a man for Baptism, and after being transferred to another prison, he came into the

he’s ready for it,” Nevitt said, explaining that after the Liturgy, he spoke to Oladipupo, who was amazed to see “the humanity of the pope, to see this man who is the leader of the Catholic Church in such a human way.”

Similarly, Nevitt said he also spoke with a Muslim man after the Holy Thursday Mass, though he didn’t know the man was a Muslim at the time. The man had been so moved by the Liturgy that he had wanted to receive Communion, and is now going to start coming to the Bible study led by the seminarians.

Many people were moved by the pope’s Mass homily, Nevitt said, during which Pope Francis emphasized forgiveness, condemned the death penalty, and told prisoners that Jesus would never abandon them, but would “take a chance” on them.

“Throughout the whole homily everyone was quite captivated at every word the pope was saying, and you could see even from a couple of the guards who were Pope Francis washes inmates’ feet at Rome’s Regina Coeli Prison during the celebration standing around me, there of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. (Vatican Media photo) were a lot of head nods,” Nevitt said. work most directly with types of prisoners, to not be Catholic Church.

The space itself was very English-speaking inmates, ashamed, and they can be Another of these nonintimate, he said, noting the majority of whom are forgiven and move forward.” Catholics is a Nigerian man that the rotunda where the migrants from Africa. Since A total of three popes named Oladipupo, who has Mass took place was small the prison does not provide have visited Regina Coeli, been in their Bible study for and only a limited number a list of English-speakers, the most recent being St. two years and whose feet of guards and prisoners were the seminarians will often John Paul II in 2000. Pope the pope washed on Holy able to sit inside the area, walk around looking for Francis’ visit meant a lot, Thursday. while the rest watched from people.

Nevitt said.

Oladipupo is a Pentecostal different wings.

The people they work When people heard that Christian, but has come to “There were certain mowith, Nevitt said, are there the pope was coming, they the Bible study regularly, and ments, especially when the for a variety of reasons — “were extremely excited. Re- even wrote a letter to Cardi- pope was kneeling down anything from illegal imgardless of whatever religion nal Robert Sarah, prefect of to wash the prisoners’ feet, migration to petty street they were from, [they] were the Congregation for Divine you could see people crycrimes, such as selling mer- excited that the pope was Liturgy and the Discipline of ing,” Nevitt said. “There was chandise like toys or purses coming, so there was a huge the Sacraments, after reada very humanness to seeing on the street illegally. amount of energy in the ing Sarah’s recent book “God the pope kneeling down at Although there are not prison for it.” or Nothing.” And he got a his age, sometimes he would many life sentences, the During the Mass, the response back. have difficulty getting back actual time a person has to pope washed the feet of 12 “We’re hoping that Olaup, and people [were] just spend in prison is not wellprisoners from different redipupo will soon be called crying at his example of defined, Nevitt said, explain- ligions — including Cathoto the Catholic faith once humble leadership.”

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Permanent diaconate celebrates anniversary; holds info sessions continued from page three

process in the spring of 2019. I’d like to spend a few minutes introducing the diaconate to all of you.

Perhaps it is the first time you may have heard much of this. My hope is that for some of you, this may serve as a call to consider a vocation to the diaconate.

Although primarily directed to the men gathered here, you ladies may know someone you think or believe who would make a good deacon, so please mention this to them.”

Deacon Sasseville told The Anchor that his homily was “well received and many people thanked me for informing them about what a deacon really is and what the deacon’s preparation is, and all that’s entailed in becoming a deacon.

“I think that I may have kindled a small spark in a few. Who knows? It’s up to the Holy Spirit.”

Father Oliveira, who is also pastor of Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in New Bedford, has been co-director of the office for one year, and was assistant director for the previous four years, under director Msgr. John J. Oliveira.

“The gift of the permanent diaconate is a great treasure, a jewel that is not fully appreciated by some,” Father Oliveira told The Anchor. “Since I have started working with the permanent deacons and candidates, I have developed a great appreciation and admiration for them.

Their humble faith and dedication is remarkable.

“One of the greatest gifts for me as a priest is to watch the candidates grow through the process.

And those who are already ordained are such an asset 20

to the Church in the diocese, assisting the pastors, working with the sick, preaching, teaching and totally dedicating themselves to serving others.”

“It has been a totally joyful opportunity to serve in the ministry of the diaconate,” added Lucca.

“It’s a way of serving the people of God. I enjoy doing it. I came from the corporate world where things were regimented to a degree. As a deacon you never know what your day is going to be like.

“We get to share in the happy times; the Baptisms and weddings; and we also share with our brothers and sisters in the faith in the sad times; the wakes, funerals, burials, and administering to the sick.

It’s such an honor and a privilege to be a part of peoples’ lives.”

As part of the ongoing effort to maintain a strong bond among the diocesan permanent deacons, the office is hosting a convocation of all deacons and candidates on April 14 at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in New Bedford. “The convocation is to have a full day of fellowship and Spirituality among the deacons and candidates,” Father Oliveira told The Anchor. “There will be a Mass celebrated by Bishop da Cunha, three conferences, including one given

by Father Warren Savage, a priest of the Diocese of Springfield, a teacher and preacher who is involved with the permanent diaconate. He spoke at a Region I diaconate meeting and was very well received.”

There is also an upcoming National Diaconate Congress to take place in New Orleans next July.

The office’s newsletter

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its root in the Latin word kianonos, meaning minister or servant. also announced that Beginning in the fifth Bishop da Cunha century, the ministry of has authorized the the diaconate was slowly formation of a new class waning in the Latin of permanent deacons Church. beginning in the spring It wasn’t until 50 years of 2019. Preliminary ago, in 1968, when Blessed applications for the Pope Paul VI approved the 10th diaconate class are restoration of the permanow being accepted. nent diaconate.

The newsletter stated: In his Apostolic Letter, “In the months ahead, Sacrum Diaconatus Ordiinformation sessions nem (Restoring the Permawill be held. The final nent Diaconate) on June and formal application 18, 1967, the pope wrote: process will begin the fall “Beginning already in the of 2018 for those who wish to be admitted to the early days of the Apostles, the Catholic Church has 10th diaconate class. The held in great veneration preliminary application the Sacred order of the may be found on the diaconate, as the Apostle website (http://www. of the Gentiles himself frpermanentdiaconate. bears witness. He expressly com).” sends his greeting to the The origin of the perdeacons together with the manent diaconate in the bishops and instructs TimCatholic Church is not certain, and is a topic that othy which virtues and has been debated by Cath- qualities are to be sought in them in order that they olics and other Christian may be regarded as worthy denominations.

One of the first possible of their ministry.

“Furthermore, the Secreferences of the minisond Ecumenical Vatican try is in the Acts of the Council, following this Apostles; Acts 6:2-6 — very ancient tradition, “So the Twelve gathered made honorable mention all the disciples together of the diaconate in the and said, ‘It would not be Constitution which beright for us to neglect the gins with the words ‘Luministry of the Word of men Gentium,’ where, after God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, concerning itself with the bishops and the priests, it choose seven men from among you who are known praised also the third rank to be full of the Spirit and of Sacred orders, explainwisdom. We will turn this ing its dignity and enuresponsibility over to them merating its functions.

“Indeed while clearly and will give our attention recognizing on the one to prayer and the ministry hand that ‘these functions of the word.’ very necessary to the life “They presented these of the Church could in the men to the Apostles, present discipline of the who prayed and laid their Latin Church be carried hands on them.” out in many regions with In St. Paul’s letter to the difficulty,’ and while on Philippians he references the other hand wishing to “all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philppi, with make more suitable provision in a matter of such the bishops and deacons.” importance wisely decreed The word deacon has that the ‘diaconate in the

future could be restored as a particular and permanent rank of the hierarchy.’”

Since that historic day in the Church, the Diocese of Fall River has nine times offered classes for men to become permanent deacons, with the ninth class, currently in formation, scheduled to be ordained next May. Then-Bishop Daniel A. Cronin enlisted Msgr. John F. Moore as the first diocesan director of the Permanent Diaconate in the early 1970s. Msgr. Moore handed over the reins to Msgr. John J. Oliveira in July of 2002. Between the two, eight permanent deacon class sessions were completed, leading to the ordination of scores of permanent deacons.

“Under the direction of Monsignors Moore and Oliveira, the diocesan Office of the Permanent Diaconate has offered candidates and deacons such wonderful leadership,” said Father Oliveira.

“And I have to offer Deacon Lucca great kudos for sharing his great leadership skills and talents and enthusiasm.”

Currently, the ninth class of permanent deacons is nearly at the end of its formation.

The members will be instituted into the Order of Acolyte (which allows the men to assist the celebrant during the celebration of Liturgies) on June 19 at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in New Bedford.

The class is scheduled to be ordained as permanent deacons by Bishop da Cunha on May 19, 2019 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River.

For more information about the permanent diaconate, including requirements, visit http://www. frpermanentdiaconate.com.

‘Safe Families for Children’ ministry to hold information night in Attleboro

ATTLEBORO — A family-centered support volunteer ministry, known at Safe Families for Children, will be having an informational session on Tuesday, April 17 at 7 p.m. in the St. John the Evangelist Parish Center located at One St. John’s Place, Attleboro.

All those interested are welcome to attend and learn more.

Safe Families for Children is a partnership ministry between Bethany Christian Services and volunteers from local churches, providing an extended network of support for families without a safety net.

Volunteers can serve as short-term host families for children or young pregnant women, or can offer resource or friendship support for host families or parents in crisis.

SFFC volunteers work together in community as they extend community.

For more information, view this short video that tells the SFFC story: https://vimeo. com/94118241. Also, at the following website, www.safe-families.org, interested persons can fill out an online interest form.

Many members of the community have a close friend or family member to call if their family experiences a temporary crisis and they need someone to care for the child or children. This safety net is crucial in keeping families together and children safe. Unfortunately, many members of our community lack this basic safety net.

SFFC trains volunteers to

work together to provide safety for vulnerable families and children.

Colleen Flaherty from SFFC will be at St. John’s Parish Center, One St.

John’s Place located off Route 152 in Attleboro on Tuesday, April 17 at 7 p.m. to share more about how to become involved with this volunteer ministry.

In Your Prayers Please Please pray pray for for these these priests priests during during the the coming coming weeks 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 April 8 Rev. Bento R. Fraga, Sacred Heart Home, New Bedford, 2012 April 9 Rev. Cornelius McSwiney, 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, O.P., St. Raymond, Providence, R.I., 1997 Rev. Bertrand R. Chabot, Retired Pastor, St. Anthony of Padua, New Bedford, 2002 April 13 Permanent Deacon Joseph P. Stanley Jr., 2006 April 14 Rev. Louis N. Dequoy, Pastor, Sacred Heart, North Attleboro, 1935 Rev. Cosmas Chaloner, SS.CC., St. Francis Xavier, Acushnet, 1977 April 15 Rev. Christopher G. Hughes, D.D., Retired Rector, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Fall River, 1908 Permanent Deacon Oscar Drinkwater, 2011 April 16 Rev. Arthur E. Langlois, on sick leave, Denver, Colo., 1928 Rev. Norman F. Lord, C.S.Sp., Hemet, Calif., 1995 Rev. John W. Pegnam, USN, Retired Chaplain, 1996 April 18 Rev. Hugh B. Harrold, Pastor, St. Mary, Mansfield, 1935 Rt. Rev. John F. McKeon, P.R., Pastor, St. Lawrence, New Bedford, 1956 Rev. Joao Vieira Resendes, Retired Pastor, Espirito Santo, Fall River, 1984 Rev. Wilfred C. Boulanger, M.S., La Salette Shrine, Attleboro, 1985 Rev. George E. Amaral, Retired Pastor, St. Anthony, Taunton, 1992 Permanent Deacon Vincent P. Walsh, 2014 April 19 Rev. William Wiley, Pastor, St. Mary, Taunton, 1855 Rev. Msgr. Leo J. Duart, Pastor, St. Peter the Apostle, Provincetown, 1975 Rev. Daniel E. Carey, Chaplain, Catholic Memorial Home, Retired Pastor, St. Dominic, Swansea, 1990 Rev. Msgr. Antonino Tavares, Retired Pastor, Santo Christo, Fall River, 2008 April 20 Rev. Edward F. Coyle, S.S., St. Mary Seminary, Baltimore, Md., 1954 Rev. James E. O’Reilly, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Seekonk, 1970 Rev. James P. Dalzell, Retired Pastor, St. Joseph, Woods Hole, 1999

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Around the Diocese “Seeking the Peace of Forgiveness: A Morning Retreat for Women” will be held on Saturday, April 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon at St. Mary’s Church, 343 Tarkiln Hill Road in New Bedford. This morning retreat for women includes insightful and humorous presentations by Catholic author and inspirational speaker Allison Gingras. A continental breakfast will be served and the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available. A freewill offering will be appreciated. For reservations or more information, contact Allison at reconciledtoyou@gmail.com or call 508-243-1133.

Our Lady of the Cape Parish, 468 Stony Brook Road in Brewster, is hosting a Divine Mercy Celebration on Sunday, April 8, and all are welcome. Divine Mercy Sunday provides an opportunity to receive and celebrate the merciful love of God as revealed in Jesus. The celebration will take place as follows: Sacrament of Reconciliation, 1:30 to 3 p.m.; Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 2:50 p.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song, followed by Benediction and then veneration of a relic of St. Faustina at 3 p.m.

All are welcomed to a special celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday on Sunday, April 8 from 2 to 3 p.m. at Holy Name Parish, 709 Hanover Street in Fall River. Through prayer, reflection and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, let us come together and draw near to God’s Mercy, which is always inexhaustible — “Jesus, I trust in You!” The parish nurse program of St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Provincetown invites everyone to a program called “Palliative Care and Advance Care Planning” on Sunday, April 8 from 1 to 3 p.m. The program will be presented by Diane McCarthy from the Initiative Palliative Care Planning team of the Archdiocese of Boston. It is an education program presented from the Catholic point of view. For more information call Eileen Cabral, Faith Community Nurse, at 508-487-1630.

Divine Mercy Sunday will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s Parish, 82 High Street in Wareham, on April 8 at 2:30 p.m. featuring the Chaplet with Benediction and a special Divine Mercy presentation and performance by Marty Rotella, international speaker, singer, songwriter and musician. Refreshments will be served inside the parish hall followed by Marty Rotella in concert from 4 to 5 p.m. in the church. Freewill offerings are appreciated and all are welcome.

An Introduction to the Poustinia Experience led by Anna RaeKelly, OCDS, will be held on Wednesday, April 11 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the La Salette Retreat Center in Attleboro. Do you feel beckoned

by God to encounter Him in silence, solitude, and prayer? The word “poustinia” is Russian for “desert.” In the silent chamber within our being, a poustinia allows the seeking soul to stand utterly still, to give permission to the God within our being to ignite His flame of love as we contemplate Him. To register for this introduction to the poustinia experience, call 508-222-8530 or visit www.lasaletteretreatcenter.com.

St. Pius X Women’s Society is hosting a Splash into Spring fashion show and luncheon on April 21 in the Parish Life Center at 25 Barbara Street in South Yarmouth. It will begin at 1 p.m. with fashions presented by Chico’s of Mashpee Commons. Tickets are $30 per person. For tickets or more information, contact Cindy at 508-981-4548 or Nina at 508-394-9632. No tickets will be sold after April 16.

To submit an event for consideration in The Anchor’s “Around the Diocese” listing, send the information by email to kensouza@anchornews.org

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The Anchor - April 6, 2018

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

ASSONET — Beginning September 14, St. Bernard’s Parish will have Eucharistic Adoration every Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed on the altar at the conclusion of 9 a.m. Mass and the church will be open all day, concluding with evening prayer and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.

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

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

ATTLEBORO — There is a weekly time of Eucharistic Adoration Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church on North Main Street.

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

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

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

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

FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of Padua Church, on the corner of Bedford and Sixteenth streets, has Eucharistic Adoration accompanied by music and prayer every first Wednesday of the month from 6-7 p.m.

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

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

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

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

FALL RIVER — St. Joseph’s Church has a Holy Hour every Tuesday from 6-7 p.m., with Benediction at 6:45 p.m.

FALL RIVER — St. Michael’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with Benediction at 5:30 p.m.

Falmouth — St. Patrick’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration each First Friday following the 7 a.m. Mass, with Benediction at 4:30 p.m.

HYANNIS — St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis, 347 South Street, Hyannis, has Eucharistic Adoration from noon to 3 p.m., daily Monday through Friday.

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

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

NEW BEDFORD — Eucharistic Adoration is held every Thursday, with Confessions, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Church. Please use the side entrance.

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

NEW BEDFORD — St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, 565 County Street, holds Eucharistic Adoration in the side chapel Fridays from 7:30-11:45 a.m. ending with a simple Benediction NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., ending with Benediction. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time.

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

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

NORTH EASTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Immaculate Conception Church Chapel on the first Wednesday of the month beginning after the 8:30 a.m. Mass, until 6:40 p.m. Those wishing to make a monthly commitment can sign up on the parish website at www.icceaston.org or call the parish office at 508-238-3232.

ORLEANS — St. Joan of Arc Parish, 61 Canal Road, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday starting after the 8 a.m.

Mass and ending with Benediction at 11:45 a.m. The Sacrament of the Sick is also available immediately after the 8 a.m. Mass.

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

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

Taunton — Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord, 31 First Street. Exposition begins following the 8 a.m. Mass. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed, and Adoration will continue throughout the day. Confessions are heard from 4:15 to 4:45 p.m. Rosary and Benediction begin at 5 p.m.

WAREHAM — Eucharistic Adoration at St. Patrick’s Church takes place 9 a.m. Thursday through 7 p.m. Friday. Adoration is held in our Adoration Chapel in the lower Parish Hall. ~ PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION ~

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

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

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

WEST HARWICH — Our Lady of Life Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Trinity Parish, 246 Main Street (Rte. 28), holds perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. We are a regional chapel serving all of the surrounding parishes.

All are invited to sign up to cover open hours. For open hours, or to sign up call 508-430-4716.

My Brother’s Keeper gratefully celebrates 30 years of service continued from page five

through that back in the 1940s when she tried to get help. It’s so prevalent that people will call here for the first time looking for help, not knowing anything about us, and it takes us five minutes to stop them from giving us information that they are so used to giving to other places when they call.

We tell them we don’t need that — all we need is their name and address and what they need.

“There would be no questions asked and that policy of not putting them through a ringer by asking a million questions so they have to qualify for help has meant the world to them and the

people we serve absolutely love My Brother’s Keeper for that.”

Over the past three decades, thousands of volunteers have joined the Orcutts’ work — students, retirees, business owners and families from all walks of life, each offering their special gifts and talents.

Today, more than 4,000 volunteers a year walk through the doors of the two My Brother’s Keeper facilities, including an estimated 1,300 student volunteers who attend more than 100 different schools.

“They’re all great kids, but like my own grandkids, they just do not know what they

don’t know,” Orcutt said. “So part of our orientation for those youngsters is although they’ve been told it’s more blessed to give than it is to receive, it is equally true that it’s more blessed to receive than it is to give. And the gift of those whom we serve in Jesus’ name is the humble acceptance of our help.

That’s the gift they give us.

“So we’re a teaching ministry, also. We’re trying to teach youngsters how to make the longest trip in the world — 15 inches from the head to the heart. That’s really what we’re all about. So they understand that service is not about being a big shot.

We go humbly, we go quietly with respect for people and an understanding that it’s tough for these people to be on the receiving end.”

Working side-by-side with the 12-person My Brother’s Keeper staff, these volunteers help make an estimated 9,000 deliveries annually to local families in need. In total, the nonprofit has completed 135,000 deliveries over the last three decades.

Although it doesn’t attempt to evangelize and there are no religious requirements to participate, with each furniture delivery My Brother’s Keeper offers a crucifix with the message: “We’re just the delivery peo-

ple; this is the Man Who sent you the furniture.”

Families receiving help are free to accept or decline the cross and anyone living in the service area is eligible to receive help, regardless of religious beliefs.

“What does the word charity mean? Charity means love, that’s what it is,” Orcutt said. “We should give our love and our help to people unconditionally, the way we receive it from God. What God gives us, He gives us for free — gratis, no charge, no conditions. And the reality is God wants us to have some humility about what we do.”

To that end, the great symbol of My Brother’s Keeper is Christ kneeling down before Peter to wash his feet at the Last Supper — a statue of which is located outside both of the ministry’s facilities.

“Terry and I prayed on that and we wanted to have something in front of our building that spoke of service,” Orcutt said. “We searched for many, many months to find the right statue and we finally found that one. Because Jesus’ message is service: ‘What I have done for you, you should do for others.’ And there’s a message of humility. Jesus told Peter, ‘I want you to serve people, I want you to lead My Church, but I want you to do it with

humility. I’m not sending you out to judge them, I’m sending you out to serve them.’”

My Brother’s Keeper will celebrate its 30th anniversary with some traditional events throughout the year, including a Lovely Ladies Spring Gala this month, a Family Walk in June, a Golf Tourney in July, and a Hungry Men’s Dinner in November.

The charity will also create a special 30th anniversary webpage on its website which includes a timeline and pictures at www.MyBrothersKeeper. org. The webpage will include a special 30th Anniversary Guest Book where anyone whose life has been touched by My Brother’s Keeper — whether it be a recipient or volunteer — is invited to share a message.

Although he’s happy that My Brother’s Keeper has reached the 30-year milestone, Orcutt said he and his wife Terry could never have done it alone.

“I remember a deacon once told me: if you dedicate your life to doing God’s work, He will send you everything you need,” Orcutt said. “And not only that, He’ll send you the very best!

That prediction turned out to be true, and He has sent us a tremendous amount of support.”

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

To advertise in The Anchor, contact Wayne Powers at 508-675-7151 or Email waynepowers@ anchornews.org

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It’s a publication that provides a Spiritual uplift and keeps Catholics connected to our beloved Church — locally and beyond.

One-year subscription — $20 Name: Address: City:

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if given as a gift, the card should read: From: Street:

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Enclose check or money order and mail to: The Anchor, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720

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The Anchor - April 6, 2018