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Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

F riday , April 17, 2015

It’s about team on and off the field for JPII student

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff

HYANNIS — Each year on Holy Saturday during the Easter vigil, thousands of people are baptized into the Catholic Church across the United States. Each individual has his or her own backstory and reason regarding their decision to join the Catholic Church, but for Ryan Barabe, it was more than just being a student at St. John Paul II High School in Hyannis; it was a personal journey for a young man who had no strong religious upbringing who transferred to the school as a freshman, and by his senior

year had found his calling to the Catholic faith.

“You’ll see kids becoming confirmed with their class,” said the school’s principal, Christopher Keavy, “but Ryan really sought out the Christian life from the beginning.”

Barabe transferred to St. John Paul II High School for its academics, and was already friends with a few of its students. Soon after his arrival, Barabe began to make waves as the school’s quarterback, becoming noticed by a few colleges and ultimately committing to Nassau Community College in Turn to page 14

Providence College students Keith Lee, Doylestown, Pa.; Kate Burnett, Prosser, Wash.; and Sara Davis, Duxbury, make the 1,000th furniture delivery out of My Brother’s Keeper in Dartmouth to a family in Fall River with staff member Rachel Smith on March 31. (Photo by Josh Smith)

My Brother’s Keeper makes milestone 1,000th delivery

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

Ryan Barabe, left, a student-athlete at St. John Paul II High School in Hyannis, stands with his sponsor, Scott Jordan, the basketball coach at the school, following Barabe’s becoming a member of the Catholic Church through the RCIA program.

DARTMOUTH — My Brother’s Keeper, the Christian charity that provides furniture free of charge to local families in need, just completed its 1,000th delivery since opening its second location in Dartmouth in the fall of 2013.

According to Josh Smith, director of the Dartmouth facility, the 1,000th delivery happened a full year ahead of schedule. Their initial forecasts called for the milestone delivery to be completed in early 2016.

“We projected we’d receive so much furniture and so many donations to be delivered to so many families and under our projections we didn’t think we’d be making our 1,000th delivery until next spring,” Smith told The Anchor.

“So we were pleasantly surprised and there’s a lot of credit to go around.”

Noting that the Dartmouth facility — centrally located between Fall River and New Bedford — has not only been ideal to meet the needs of struggling families in two of the largest cities in the diocese, Smith said it has also provided a bevy of student volunteers from nearby schools like Bishop Stang High School and Bishop Connolly High School.

“Our student volunteers here have been so supportive,” he said. “The numbers have been just incredible. I’d say we have more than 600 students who come here and help out every week. That is why we’re so far ahead of schedule. Our model is such that we have a very small staff — there are just three paid staff workers at this location — and so we really depend on having volunteers walk through our doors and that’s exactly what has happened.”

In addition to the two Catholic high schools, Turn to page 18

Locals voice religious freedom concerns

By Christine M. Williams Anchor Correspondent

DARTMOUTH — Laws protecting religious freedom are nothing new, but the opposition to such laws seems to be gaining strength. Recent laws passed in Indiana and Arkansas faced such a backlash that politicians watered them down.

The federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which applies only to federal law, passed in 1993. Twenty-one states have laws at the local level. Additionally, Massachusetts and 10 other

states have similar provisions under case law. All of these religious freedom measures allow people who believe their religious convictions have been violated to seek exemption through the court system. To prevail in the suit, the government must show a “compelling interest” in enforcing the law Opponents of the laws and many media outlets labeled the Indiana and Arkansas laws “discriminatory,” claiming that they allow people with religious convictions to deny service to ho-

mosexuals. They say such laws interfere with local anti-discrimination laws.

Dwight Duncan, professor at the University of Massachusetts School of Law Dartmouth and an Anchor columnist, said RFRAs do not authorize discrimination against people on the basis of sexual orientation.

While such laws could conceivably be used by bakers or florists who do not want to participate in same-sex ceremonies, they have not been. RFRAs and antidiscrimination laws seek to ac-

complish two separate tasks and can coexist.

“I do not understand why we are being forced to choose between these things. I think that it is quite possible, indeed preferable, to be in favor of religious freedom and anti-discrimination law,” he said.

Andrew Beckwith, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute, called the hoopla over the new state RFRAs a “massive propaganda campaign.” Business owners who believe that Marriage is a union between one

man and one woman should not be forced to provide services for same-sex ceremonies against their sincerely-held religious beliefs.

“This isn’t about serving someone at the lunch counter.

It’s about participating in a wedding ceremony, and that’s really the distinction that needs to be made. You’d have a hard time proving in court that your religious freedom is substantially burdened by having to serve someone at a lunch counter or Turn to page 14

News From the Vatican

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April 17, 2015

Pope Francis brings down hammer, says ‘Don’t mess with children’

Rome, Italy (CNA/ EWTN News) — Pope Francis said recently that children are never a mistake, and called adults out for building faulty systems that leave children exploited and abandoned, rather than treated as the blessings they are.

“Brothers and sisters, think about this well: you don’t mess with children,” the pope told pilgrims present in St. Peter’s Square for a recent general audience.

He spoke in reference to the difficult circumstances many children are unfortunately forced live in due to societal and familial problems. The theme served as the focus of his address.

“We think about the children who are not wanted or abandoned, the children on the streets, without education or health care, children who are abused, who are robbed of their youth and childhood,” he said.

There are some who try to “justify themselves,” saying that it’s a mistake to bring these children into the world due to the poverty, hunger and fragility they suffer, the pope continued.

For a child to experience these things “is shameful,” he noted, but quipped, “let’s not offload our sins onto children.”

A child, he said, “can never be considered a mistake. The mistake is the world of adults, the system that we have built, which generates pockets of poverty and violence, in which the weakest are hit the hardest.”

Francis’ focus on the suffering of children came after previous reflections on the blessing and gift they are to parents and the world. The theme fits into his ongoing catechesis on the family, which he began last fall in preparation for October’s

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

Ordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family.

“Children are never a mistake, and their sufferings are only reasons for us to love them even more,” the pope affirmed.

He continued, saying that each child who begs for money on the street and who is denied medical care and education is “a painful cry that goes directly to the heart of the Father, and accuses the system that we adults have built.”

Far too often these children become the prey of criminals who exploit them for either commerce or violence, the pope said, noting that even children in wealthy countries frequently live “heavy dramas” due to family crisis or inhumane living conditions.

“In every case, their childhood is violated in body and soul,” he said, explaining that social stability, the promotion of the family, the lack of crime and the possibility of decent work all contribute, “without a doubt,” to assuring children of a good home.

No matter the circumstances, Francis said, no child is forgotten by their Father in Heaven, and “none of their tears are lost, just as our responsibility is not lost.”

Children are the responsibility not just of their parents, but of everyone, he explained, adding that when it comes to the sacrifices one needs to make for children, none are “too costly.”

The pope then pointed to the many “extraordinary parents” who make great sacrifices for their children every day, and said the Church puts herself at their service “with maternal solicitude and decisively defending their rights.”

“The Church, for her part, has always transmitted the blessing of the Lord to children and to families,” he said, and prayed that families would always care for their children and not worry about “counting the cost.”

It’s necessary for children to see this, he said, “so that they may never believe themselves to be mistakes, but always know their infinite worth.”

Francis closed his address by praying that children will never have to suffer from “the violence and arrogance of adults,” and went on to offer personal greetings to pilgrims present from various countries around the world.

Pope Francis embraces a man at the end of a recent weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

(CNS photo/Tony Gentile, Reuters)

Pope says Year of Mercy will be time to heal, to help, to forgive

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Mercy is what makes God perfect and all-powerful, Pope Francis said in his document officially proclaiming the 2015-2016 extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy.

“If God limited Himself to only justice, He would cease to be God, and would instead be like human beings who ask merely that the law be respected,” the pope wrote in “Misericordiae Vultus” (“The Face of Mercy”), which is the “bull of indiction” calling a Holy Year to begin December 8.

Standing in front of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica April 11, Pope Francis handed copies of the document to the archpriests of the major basilicas of Rome and to Vatican officials representing Catholics around the world.

Portions of the 9,300-word proclamation were read aloud before Pope Francis and his aides processed into St. Peter’s Basilica to celebrate the first vespers of Divine Mercy Sunday.

In his homily at vespers, the pope said he proclaimed the Year of Mercy because “it is the favorable time to heal wounds, a time not to be weary of meeting all those who are waiting to see and touch with their hands the signs of the closeness of God, a time to offer everyone the way of forgiveness and reconciliation.”

The boundless nature of God’s mercy — His willingness always to forgive anything — has been a constant subject of Pope Francis’ preaching and is explained in detail in the document, which outlines some of the specific projects the pope has in mind for the year.

The Old Testament stories

of how God repeatedly offered mercy to His unfaithful people and the New Testament stories of Jesus’ compassion, healing and mercy demonstrate, the pope said, that “the mercy of God is not an abstract idea, but a concrete reality through which He reveals His love,” just like mothers and fathers love their children.

“How much I desire that the year to come will be steeped in mercy, so that we can go out to every man and woman, bringing the goodness and tenderness of God,” he wrote. “May the balm of mercy reach everyone, both believers and those far away, as a sign that the Kingdom of God is already present in our midst.”

Nothing in the Church’s preaching or witness, he said, can be lacking in mercy.

Pope Francis asked that all dioceses around the world designate a “Door of Mercy” at their cathedral or another special church or shrine, and that every diocese implement the “24 Hours for the Lord” initiative on the Friday and Saturday before the fourth week of Lent. In Rome the last two years, the pope has opened the celebration with a Penance service in St. Peter’s Basilica and churches around the city were open for the next 24 hours for Confessions and Eucharistic Adoration.

The pope said he will designate and send out “Missionaries of Mercy” to preach about mercy; they will be given special authority, he said, “to pardon even those sins reserved to the Holy See.” Under Church law, those sins involve: a man who directly participated in an abortion and later wants to enter the priesthood; priests who

have broken the seal of Confession; priests who have offered Sacramental absolution to their own sexual partners; desecrating the Eucharist; and making an attempt on the life of the pope. Usually, the Apostolic Penitentiary, a Vatican court, handles those cases.

And he urged all Catholics to spend more time practicing what traditionally have been called the corporal and Spiritual works of mercy. The corporal works are: feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, visiting the imprisoned, giving drink to the thirsty and burying the dead.

The Spiritual works are: converting sinners, instructing the ignorant, advising the doubtful, comforting the sorrowful, bearing wrongs patiently, forgiving injuries and praying for the living and dead.

The date the pope chose to open the year — December 8 — is the feast of the Immaculate Conception and the 50th anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council.

Both dates, he wrote, are related to the Year of Mercy.

Mercy, he said, is “the bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to a hope of being loved forever despite our sins.” That bridge was made concrete when God chose Mary to be the mother of His Son. The Year of Mercy, Pope Francis wrote, is also a way to keep the Second Vatican Council alive. “The walls which too long had made the Church a kind of fortress were torn down and the time had come to proclaim the Gospel in a new way,” he said. The council Turn to page 13

April 17, 2015

The International Church

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More than 100,000 ask Mexican Supreme Court to affirm right to life

Mexico City, Mexico (CNA/EWTN News) — More than 120,000 people have signed a petition asking the Mexican Supreme Judicial Court of the Nation to reaffirm that “abortion is not a right.”

The petition campaign was sparked by a lawsuit over the constitutionality of the Mexican state of Tlaxcala’s abortion reform law which could open the door to abortion in the whole country.

The Pro-Life organization Nuns wave the Armenian flag during a recent Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica at CitizenGo, which launched the the Vatican to mark the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. (CNS photo/Cristian Gennari) petition drive, will send the signatures to Luis Maria Aguilar Morales, president of the Mexican Supreme Court; Supreme Court Associate Justice José Fernando Franco González Salas who is Rome, Italy (CNA/EWTN saying that the number of deaths its mistakes caused by the law of presenting the case for the law’s News) — Pope Francis recently was much smaller, and came as terror,” he said, noting that the unconstitutionality, and Enrique referred to the mass killing of Ar- a result of conflict surrounding post-World War II enthusiasm Peña Nieto, President of Meximenians by the Ottoman Turks in World War I. The country holds to end such violence seems to be co. CNN reported that in 2011, 1915 as a “genocide,” prompting that many ethnic Turks also lost “disappearing” and he decried the González Salas unsuccessfully “complicit silence of others who petitioned the court to overturn the Turkish government to sum- their lives in the event. mon the Vatican’s ambassador for However, most non-Turkish simply stand by.”

Pro-Life laws in the Mexican “Today too we are experienc- states of Baja California and San questioning. scholars refer to the episode as a “In the past century our hu- genocide. Argentina, Belgium, ing a sort of genocide created by Luis Potosi.

A letter sent along with the man family has lived through Canada, France, Italy, Russia and general and collective indiffersignatures points out that the case three massive and unprecedented Uruguay are among the 22 na- ence, by the complicit silence of on Mexican Supreme Court’s tragedies. The first, which is wide- tions that formally recognize the Cain, who cries out: ‘What does it schedule will be dealing with the matter to me? Am I my brother’s ly considered ‘the first genocide of massacre as a genocide. unconstitutionality of the aborthe 20th century,’ struck your own Reports have circulated say- keeper?’” tion laws in the state of Tlaxcala It is necessary and a duty to Armenian people, the first Chris- ing that the Turkish government and that their ruling would be tian nation,” the pope said. summoned the Vatican’s papal honor the centenary of the “imobligatory for all the country’s Francis’ reference to the geno- nuncio, Archbishop Antonio mense and senseless slaughter” judges. cide was taken from a common Lucibello, for questioning. The the Armenians had to endure, “Declaring the law unconstitudeclaration signed by St. John Turkish embassy to the Holy See Pope Francis said, because when tional would entail a grave violaPaul II and Supreme Armenian declined to comment to CNA; memories fade, evil can enter and tion of the first of all rights, the Patriarch Karekin II in 2001. however the apostolic nunciature make old wounds fester. right to life and would be contrary “Concealing or denying evil to international treaties,” CitizenHis comments took place be- in Ankara told CNA that the is like allowing a wound to keep Go warned. fore celebrating Mass on Divine nuncio had in fact been called.

Mercy Sunday. Pope Francis ofThe Turkish Foreign Ministry bleeding without bandaging it!”

The petition acknowledged fered the Mass in commemora- released a statement expressing he said. that the court is “debating the The pontiff said that to remem- exceptions in the penal code for tion of the centenary of the “Metz their “great disappointment and Yeghern,” or Armenian “martyr- sadness” at the pope’s remarks. ber the event is the responsibility abortion in the state of Tlaxcala.” dom.” April 24 is recognized in They said the words signaled a of the whole world, so that it can “Nevertheless, if eight associate Armenia as the official date of the loss of trust and contradicted his serve as a warning not to repeat judges vote to declare Tlaxcala’s start of the event. message of peace, the Associated similar “horrors” in the future. law unconstitutional, the immeHe expressed his hope that diate effect would be to invalidate Many faithful and members of Press reported. the Armenian rite were present, The foreign ministry also Turkey and Armenia would work including Armenian President held that Francis’ words were toward a greater reconciliation, Serz Azati Sargsyan, Supreme discriminatory, because he only and prayed that the Mass and Patriarch and Catholicos of all mentioned the pain suffered by proclamation of St. Gregory as a Armenians Karekin II, Catholi- Christians, and not Muslims or doctor would be an occasion for all Christians to unite in prayer. cos Aram I and Patriarch Nerses any other religious group.

At the close of the Mass, CaBedros XIX. Pope Francis noted how “ even During the Mass, Francis also defenseless children and the in- tholicos Karekin II spoke, saying proclaimed St. Gregory of Narek firm were murdered” in the mas- that the Armenian genocide is “an a Doctor of the Church, making sacre, which targeted Catholic unforgettable and undeniable fact the 10th-century priest, monk, and Orthodox Syrians, Assyrians, of history.”

The genocide is deeply enmystic, and poet the first Arme- Chaldeans and Greeks. nian to receive the title.

Francis also called to mind grained into the consciousness of The genocide took place in other tragic events of the 20th the Armenian people, the patri1915-1916 when the Ottoman century, including the violence arch said, therefore “any attempt Empire systematically extermi- perpetrated by Nazism and to erase it from history and from nated its minority Armenian Stalinism, as well as other mass our common memory is doomed population in Turkey, most of killings carried out in Cambodia, to fail.” In the years since the genocide, the Armenian Church whom were Christians. Roughly Rwanda, Burundi and Bosnia.

1.5 million Armenians lost their “It seems that humanity is has never forgotten “the conlives. incapable of putting a halt to tinuous concern, assistance and Turkey has repeatedly denied the shedding of innocent blood solidarity of the Church of Rome that the slaughter was a genocide, (and) has refused to learn from toward Armenians,” he said.

Pope recalls slaughter of Armenians in ‘first genocide of the 20th century’

Tlaxcala’s abortion reform law, and the secondary effect would be that the court’s ruling would be obligatory for all the judges in the country. As a result, in every state any person could have an abortion by means of appealing for constitutional judicial relief from the penal code.”

As a result, “(t)he judges would be obliged to grant judicial relief, and nothing would protect the unborn child.”

The more than 120,000 signers of the petition reminded the court that “the right to life from conception is recognized in the International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights of which Mexico is a signatory.”

Additionally, the U.N. Convention of the Rights of the Child establishes the child’s right to protection — in the ninth paragraph of the preamble, it is established that every minor holds the right to have his life protected, including before birth. In article six, paragraph one, it says that every child intrinsically has the right to life.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child further emphasizes that “the unborn child from the moment he is conceived must come under the protection of the law. If someone attacks a pregnant woman and she loses the child, the aggressor is punishable for the injuries to the woman and the death of the baby.”

Based on these legal precedents, the signers of the Mexican petition called on the court to affirm the right to life as it makes its decision in the Tlaxcala case.

“Respect our legal tradition, our constitutional accords, the international treaties that Mexico has signed and our principles and values as a nation,” they demanded, emphasizing that “the right to abortion does not exist.”

4

The Church in the U.S.

April 17, 2015

Sex abuse commission members meet cardinal over Chilean bishop

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Four lay members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors met with one of Pope Francis’ top cardinal advisers at the Vatican recently to voice their concerns about the appointment of a Chilean bishop, accused of covering up for an abusive priest.

The four said in a written statement the same day that Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, OFM Cap., of Boston, who is also the protection commission’s president, “agreed to present their concerns to the Holy Father” about the nomination of Bishop Juan Barros to the Diocese of Osorno, Chile.

The bishop had been accused of covering up for a priest who was known to have committed sexual abuse.

Bishop Barros, however, denied having had knowledge of Father Fernando Karadima’s criminal behavior, prior to news about the abuse in the press.

Commission member Marie Collins from Ireland expressed her satisfaction with their discussion at the Vatican, posting on a recent Twitter feed that she was “heading home after a good meeting” with Cardinal O’Malley.

According to the Boston Globe-affiliated website, Crux Now, Collins was raped by a hospital chaplain

in Dublin when she was 13 and is one of two survivors of clerical abuse to sit on the panel.

The three other members of the 17-person commission at the 30-minute meeting included Peter Saunders, Dr. Catherine Bonnet and Baroness Sheila Hollins. Saunders is the other survivor of clerical sex abuse on the panel.

“Although we are not charged with dealing with individual cases, the protection of minors is our primary concern,” the four members said in their statement. “The process of appointing bishops who are committed to and have an understanding of child protection is of paramount importance.”

Bishops, they said, must be able to “enact effective policies” on sex abuse and “carefully monitor compliance.”

Crux Now reported, “When the appointment was announced last October, local priests and faithful tried to stop it, asking to force Barros to resign. Instead, the bishop was installed in March amid violent protests that led to a shortened ceremony.

Speaking with Crux Monday morning, Collins said that O’Malley, a long-time point man on abuse, agreed to take the concerns of the group to Pope Francis, recognizing that under Church law, only the pope can name or remove bishops.”

The commission members had scheduled their meeting with Cardinal O’Malley to coincide with his arrival in Rome for another weeklong session of the nine-member Council of Cardinals, that began on April 13.

An unborn baby at 20 weeks — well within the second trimester, when dilation and evacuation abortions are commonly performed. (CNA/Steve via Flickr [CC BY-NC 2.0])

Kansas becomes first state to ban ‘dismemberment abortion’

Topeka, Kan. (CNA/ that a woman who seeks a disHe thought the abortion deEWTN News) — Kansas re- memberment abortion is not li- bate had become “disconnected cently became the first state to able under law. from the reality of abortion” and The law allows civil action legislation like the Kansas law ban abortions by a procedure known as “dilation and evacua- against physicians who perform can “help shock people out of tion,” which is common during dismemberment abortions in complacency.” He said that even second-trimester abortions and violation of the law. many Pro-Life Kansans couldn’t Michael Schuttloffel, execu- believe the procedure was hapis called “dismemberment abortive director of Kansas Catholic pening in their state. tion” in the law.

Local Pro-Life advocates say Conference, said the conference “When it comes to this parthe legislation is an opportunity is “very, very pleased” to put a ticular kind of abortion, people to save the unborn from a hor- stop to the procedure in Kansas. needed to hear exactly what “We’d like to see other states was being done and what was rific procedure, while providing follow our lead,” he told CNA. a model for other states. being done: second trimester The Kansas House of Rep“Some states have to take the babies, we’re talking three, four, lead. We’re proud to be one of resentatives passed the bill by a five months along in pregnancy, those states,” Kathy Ostrowski, vote of 98-26, while the Senate were being torn apart, limb from legislative director of Kanhe legislation, known as the limb,” Schuttloffel continsans for Life, recently told ued. “There’s evidence that Unborn Child Protection from suggests the unborn child CNA. “With very solid, carefully-constructed laws Dismemberment Abortion Act, bans feels pain at that point. It’s I think we really can make physicians from “knowingly dismem- just horrific.” a difference.” bering a living unborn child and ex- In Ostrowski’s view, the The procedure is used tracting such unborn child one piece at U.S. Supreme Court has in about 600 abortions in indicated such bills should Kansas annually, about a time from the uterus through the use be passed. nine percent of all abor- of clamps, grasping forceps, tongs, scisThe court, in 2007’s tions performed there, the sors or similar instruments that grasp Gonzales v. Carhart, deTopeka Capital-Journal re- a portion of the unborn child’s body in scribed the type of lateports. term abortion involved as order to cut or rip it off.”

Kansas Gov. Sam “brutal,” and found that Brownback said he was the state has an interest in proud to sign a bill that protects passed the bill by a vote of 31-9. protecting the integrity of the Planned Parenthood Ad- medical profession and “to show life “at its most vulnerable stage,” and noted bipartisan support for vocates of Kansas and Mid- its profound respect for the life Missouri, the local affiliate of within the woman.” the bill.

The legislation, known as the the largest abortion provider in She said Kansas is a “very Unborn Child Protection from the U.S., said the law was “atro- Pro-Life state,” with more than Dismemberment Abortion Act, cious,” claiming that Kansas 50 locations supporting pregnant bans physicians from “know- “continues to be an outlier on is- women who have complications ingly dismembering a living un- sues fiscal and social.” It said the or who lack family support. born child and extracting such law denied health care access to “We’re bringing people into unborn child one piece at a time women and hindered their abil- the Pro-Life movement. And from the uterus through the ity to make decisions. now we’re passing laws with an Schuttloffel lamented that excellent state legislature and a use of clamps, grasping forceps, tongs, scissors or similar instru- the bill was necessary and that Pro-Life governor.” ments that grasp a portion of some people still opposed the Other states with this kind the unborn child’s body in order law. of climate and Pro-Life sup“It just defies belief that peo- port should pass these laws, Osto cut or rip it off.”

The law contains an exemp- ple would publicly get up and trowski said. tion for medical emergencies or insist that people in Kansas be The Oklahoma legislature is when a pregnant woman’s life allowed to rip the arms and legs considering a similar bill, as are is in danger. It also makes clear off of unborn children,” he said. Missouri and South Carolina.

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5 The Church in the U.S. Speakers emphasize moral urgency of ridding world of nuclear weapons

April 17, 2015

NEW YORK (CNS) — The Catholic Church has been a consistent voice prodding nations toward the distant dream of disarmament for more than 50 years, according to speakers at a recent U.N. conference.

Representatives of eight interfaith and interreligious organizations said the moral argument is the strongest one in the stalled international effort to abolish nuclear weapons.

The event, “Nuclear Weapons and the Moral Compass” was hosted by Archbishop Bernardito Auza, the Vatican’s permanent observer to the United Nations. The starting point for the discussion was a Vatican paper, “Nuclear Disarmament: Time for Abolition,” presented at the Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons in Vienna last December.

“Since the emergence of the nuclear age, the Holy See has not ceased to raise the moral argument against the possession and use of nuclear weapons.

Because of the incalculable and indiscriminate humanitarian consequences

of such weapons, their use is clearly against international humanitarian law,” Archbishop Auza said.

He traced the ardent pleas for disarmament by popes beginning with St. John XXIII. “The popes meant their voices to echo the voice speaking in human consciences directing us toward peace,” the nuncio said.

“Disarmament treaties are not just legal obligations; they are also moral commitments based on trust between states, rooted in the trust that citizens place in their governments,” Archbishop Auza said, paraphrasing the Vatican paper. “For our own good and that of future generations, we have no reasonable and moral option other than the abolition of nuclear weapons.”

Archbishop Auza said, “Despite some progress, nuclear disarmament is currently in crisis. The institutions that are supposed to move this process forward have been blocked for years.”

During the stalemate in achieving an enforceable nonproliferation treaty, the countries that are nuclear powers

Reason for pope’s popularity seen not only in message but in his example WASHINGTON (CNS) — When Pope Francis comes to the United States in September, his message will be that “God loves all of us the way we are” and “God asks us to love one another,” said Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington.

“We see in him not just the message, but how you do it,” the cardinal said in an interview with “Fox News” on Easter. “The way in which he lives, treats people, responds to people says, I think, to many people, he sounds and looks a lot like what Jesus would have sounded like.”

Cardinal Wuerl said that “a beautiful part of his ministry” and why people find Pope Francis “so inviting” is that “he keeps saying, ‘Go out, meet people where they are, and accompany them on their journey,’ so that perhaps all of us could get a little closer to where we all need to be.”

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will welcome Pope Francis to the White House September 23. The pontiff will address a joint meeting of Congress September 24, making him the first pope to do so.

Full details of his itinerary in the nation’s capital have not been released, but Pope Francis has said that while in Washington he would canonize Blessed Junipero Serra at the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

His U.S. trip includes a September 25 visit to address the U.N. General Assembly. He will be in Philadelphia September 26 and 27 for the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.

In the Fox interview, Cardinal Wuerl discussed the ongoing debate on religious freedom and discrimination, say-

ing that people involved in that debate need to realize there is strong discrimination against the Catholic Church.

“If we talk about discrimination, then we also have to talk about discriminating against the Catholic Church, its teachings and its ability to carry out its mission,” he said.

“No one should be forced to follow the actions of another and accept the actions of another. Our schools should be free to teach. We don’t believe in abortion, and we need to be free to teach that,” the cardinal told “Fox News.”

He also talked about, for instance, the situation of a Christian baker being forced to make a cake for a same-sex wedding when the baker is morally opposed to such marriages.

Cardinal Wuerl asked whether the use of anti-discrimination laws is seen as one-way street.

“I wonder if across the board we’re not seeing different measuring rods being used when it comes to issues that we’re facing here, for example,” he said.

“Why would it be discrimination for a Catholic university to say we’re not going to allow a gay rights or an abortion rights group to have their program on our campus, and it not be discrimination for that group to insist that the Catholic school change its teaching?”

In one case, the Christian owners of a bakery in Oregon face a fine of $150,000 after being found guilty of violating a state anti-discrimination law for declining to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple.

Cardinal Wuerl said he believes there must be a way to “recognize the dignity of everyone and at the same time recognize the freedom and the rights, especially religious liberty, of everyone.”

have not disarmed, but have modernized their nuclear arsenals, and others have acquired nuclear arms capabilities.

“What is even more terrifying is the possibility that non-state actors, like terrorist and extremist organizations, will acquire nuclear weapons,” he said.

“Peace and international stability cannot be founded on mutually assured destruction or the threat of total destruction,” Archbishop Auza said. Peace cannot be reduced solely to maintaining a balance of power between enemies.

Archbishop Auza and other speakers agreed that peace should be built on justice, socioeconomic development, freedom and respect for human rights.

“It would be naive and myopic, I believe, if we seek to assure world peace and security through nuclear weapons rather than through the eradication of poverty, making healthcare and education and other basic services accessible to all, and promoting peaceful institutions and societies through dialogue and solidarity,” he said.

Bishop Oscar Cantu of Las Cruces, N.M., said Catholic Church teaching on nuclear weapons is rooted in respect for the life and dignity of the human person, and attempts to reconcile the need to avoid killing and the requirement to defend others. He is the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace.

Bishop Cantu said nuclear deterrence requires countries to spend money on weapons to the detriment of human development and addressing the underlying causes of war. For deterrence to be credible, those who use it have to intend to inflict mass destruction with extensive and lasting collateral damage, inhumane suffering and the risk of escalation, he said.

As a result, it is not a policy that stands firmly on moral ground. “One cannot intend and prepare for doing what is morally reprehensible,” Bishop Cantu said.

Virginia Gamba, deputy to the U.N. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, said, “The message of nuclear weapons is clear: people are expendable.”

However, the voice of moral suasion is being felt in a “reinvigorated frozen debate,” she said. Those who dismiss nuclear abolition as a utopian construct ignore the majority of member states who support a statement on nonproliferation and believe the moral argument is the strongest one against nuclear weapons.

Tyler Wigg-Stevenson, chairman of the global taskforce on nuclear weapons for the World Evangelical Alliance, said God is at war against nuclear weapons, and those who wield them put God to the test. “Against this enemy, our only weapon is the Word of God. We live in the age of mass slaughter,” he said.

There are unknowable consequences of breaking the taboo against using nuclear weapons, Wigg-Stevenson said.

Linking nuclear weapons with national interest is “a ludicrously disproportionate pairing of means and ends,” he said.

Peter Knobel, senior rabbi of Beth Emet The Free Synagogue in Evanston, Ill., said nuclear deterrence and nonproliferation are morally indefensible. “Nuclear war is wanton destruction, and thus prohibited. The mushroom cloud threatens to obliterate the rainbow” God placed in the sky as a symbol of His Covenant. “Incinerating the rainbow will unleash devastation,” he said.

“Nuclear weapons are not kosher.”

Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid, chair of the Parliament of the World’s Religions, urged formation of a movement to abolish nuclear weapons now, rather than control them through nonproliferation agreements. “Nuclear weapons are not kosher and not halal!” he said.

Respectively, kosher and halal relate to laws of the Jewish and Muslim faiths.

Archbishop Auza said there is no alternative to working toward achieving a world without nuclear weapons, even if the process is arduous and seemingly utopian.

Quoting President John F. Kennedy, he concluded, “The pursuit of peace is not as dramatic as the pursuit of war — and frequently the words of the pursuers fall on deaf ears. But we have no more urgent task.”

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April 17, 2015

Anchor Editorial

The death penalty and the marathon

A week ago Tuesday the bishops who lead the four Catholic dioceses of Massachusetts issued a statement asking that the life of the convicted Boston Marathon bomber be spared. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was not praised by them. His crimes were particularly cruel, but that does not change the Church’s approach to this issue.

Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, OFM Cap., of Boston, together with our bishop, the Most Rev. Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., and Bishops Robert J. McManus and Mitchell T. Rozanski, of Worcester and Springfield respectively, wrote that “we feel it is fitting to clarify the Church’s teaching regarding the use of the death penalty. The Church has taught that the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity are ‘rare, if not practically nonexistent’” (“Catechism of the Catholic Church” § 2267).

They acknowledge that the teaching of the Church “is further developing in recognition of the inherent dignity of all life as a gift from God. As Pope Francis has recently stated, ‘[The death penalty] is an offense against the inviolability of life and the dignity of the human person. When the death penalty is applied, it is not for a current act of oppression [editor’s note: in other words, the death penalty is not inflicted in a moment when we need to kill an attacker out of self-defense], but rather for an act committed in the past. It is also applied to persons whose current ability to cause harm is not current, as it has been neutralized — they are already deprived of their liberty.’”

The bishops noted that Tsarnaev “has been neutralized and will never again have the ability to cause harm. Because of this, we, the Catholic Bishops of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, believe that society can do better than the death penalty. As the Bishops of the United States said in their 2005 statement ‘A Culture of Life and the Penalty of Death,’ ‘No matter how heinous the crime, if society can protect itself without ending a human life, it should do so.’ We believe these words remain true today in the face of this most terrible crime.”

It is unfortunate that the current federal practice required that to get on the Tsarnaev jury, one had to truthfully say that he or she could be open to applying the death penalty. Thus, anyone who would not inflict the death penalty in any situations (for example, the Massachusetts bishops) would not be allowed to be a juror on a capital case.

St. John Paul II in October 1998 gave an address to the bishops of New England, who were at the Vatican for their ad limina visits, and put this topic in context: “Nowhere is the contrast between the Gospel vision and contemporary culture more obvious than in the dramatic conflict between the Culture of Life and the culture of death. The Church in your country reaches out in the defense and

promotion of human life and human dignity in numerous ways. Through countless organizations and agencies she is an immensely generous provider of social services to the poor; active in support of laws more favorable to the immigrant, present in the public debate on capital punishment, aware that in the modern state the cases in which the execution of an offender is an absolute necessity are very rare, if not practically nonexistent (cf. Evangelium Vitae, 56; CCC, 2267). At the same time you rightly underscore the priority that must be given to the fundamental right to life of the unborn, and to opposition to euthanasia and physicianassisted suicide.”

In a Sept. 13, 2000 general audience, the Holy Father appealed for the life of a prisoner on Virginia’s death row: “In the spirit of clemency that is characteristic of the Jubilee Year, I once again add my voice to that of all those who are asking that young Derek Rocco Barnabei’s life be spared. I also hope, more generally, that we will reach the point of giving up recourse to capital punishment, since today the state has other means available to suppress crime effectively, without definitively depriving the offender of the possibility of redeeming himself.”

Pope Benedict XVI on Nov. 30, 2011, at the end of a general audience, greeted “the distinguished delegations from various countries taking part in the meeting on the theme: ‘No Justice without Life.’ I express my hope that your deliberations will encourage the political and legislative initiatives being promoted in a growing number of countries to eliminate the death penalty and to continue the substantive progress made in conforming penal law both to the human dignity of prisoners and the effective maintenance of public order.”

In a Jan. 7, 2008 address to the diplomatic corps, Pope Benedict saw some good news. “I rejoice that on 18 December last [2007] the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution calling upon states to institute a moratorium on the use of the death penalty, and I earnestly hope that this initiative will lead to public debate on the Sacred character of human life.”

In his apostolic exhortation Africae Munus in 2011, the German pontiff noted, “Together with the synod members, I draw the attention of society’s leaders to the need to make every effort to eliminate the death penalty and to reform the penal system in a way that ensures respect for the prisoners’ human dignity.”

Since our last three Vicars of Christ have spoken out for an end to the death penalty, as well as our local bishops, Catholics do have a serious responsibility (as they do on other issues, too) to truly study the Church’s teachings and work to embrace them (please see Genevieve Kineke’s column on page nine for a good analysis of how, in general, we are supposed to appropriately form our consciences).

Pope Francis’ Regina Caeli message, April 12 Dear brothers and sisters, good day!

Today is the eighth day after Easter and John’s Gospel documents for us the two apparitions of the Risen Jesus to the Apostles meeting in the Cenacle: the one on the evening of Easter, in which Thomas was absent; and the one eight days later, with Thomas present. The first time, the Lord showed the disciples the wounds of His Body, breathed over them and said, “As the Father sent Me, so I also send you” ( Jn 20:21).

He transmits to them His own mission, with the power of the Holy

Spirit.

But that evening Thomas wasn’t there, he did not want to believe in the testimony of the others. “If I do not see and touch His wounds,” he said, “I will not believe” (cf. Jn 20:25).

Eight days later — precisely today — Jesus returns to present Himself amongst them and He directs Himself immediately to Thomas, inviting him to touch the wounds of His hands and His side. He [ Jesus] goes to encounter his [Thomas’] incredulity, so that, through the signs of the Passion, he can arrive at the fullness of Easter faith.

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Thomas is one who is not content and he searches, he aims to verify things himself, to fulfill a very personal experience. After his initial resistance and unease, he finally arrives at belief, although he arrived at it with fatigue. The Lord proclaims “blessed” those who believe without seeing (cf. verse 29) — and the first of those is Mary, His mother — but He [ Jesus] goes out to encounter the demands of His incredulous disciple. “Bring here your finger: here are My hands” (verse 27). In salvific contact with the wounds of the Resurrected One, Thomas manifests his own wounds, his own lacerations, his own humiliations; in the marks of the nails he [Thomas] encounters the decisive proof that he was loved, waited for, and understood [by Jesus]. He finds himself before a Messiah full of sweetness, of mercy, of tenderness. It was this Lord Who sought him in the deepest secrets of his own being, because He [ Jesus] always knew that he [Thomas] was this way. Returning to have personal contact with the friendliness and patient mercy of Christ, Thomas understands the deep meaning of the Resurrection and, intimately transformed, he declare his full and total faith in Him, exclaiming, “My Lord and My God!” (verse 28).

He was able to “touch” the Pas-

chal Mystery that fully reveals the saving love of God, rich in mercy (cf. Eph 2:4). And like Thomas, all of us also on this second Sunday of Easter, we are invited to contemplate the wounds of the Risen One, the Divine Mercy, which surpasses all human limitations and shines upon the darkness of evil and sin. An intense and prolonged time to receive the immense riches of the merciful love of God will be the coming Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, whose proclamation Bull I enacted yesterday afternoon in the Basilica of San Peter’s, “Misericordiae Vultus”: The Face of Mercy is Jesus Christ. Let us look to Him. And the Virgin Mother help us to be merciful to others as Jesus is with us.

Following the Regina Caeli, the pope said: Dear brothers and sisters, I address a cordial greeting to you faithful of Rome and you who have come from so many parts of the world. I greet the pilgrims from the Diocese of Metuchen (USA), the Servants of the Child Jesus from Croatia, the Daughters of Divine Charity, parish groups of Forli and Gravina di Puglia, and all the children and young people present, in particular school pupils, the Daughters of Jesus of Modena, those of the “Liceo Verga Hadrian” and the

Confirmation candidates from Palestrina. I greet the pilgrims who attended the Mass celebrated by Cardinal Vicar of Rome in the Church of Santo Spirito in Sassia, a center of devotion to the Divine Mercy.

I greet the Neocatechumenal communities of Rome, who are starting today a special mission in the streets of the city to pray and give witness to the faith.

I extend a cordial greeting to the faithful of the Eastern Churches which, according to their calendar, celebrate Holy Easter today. I join in the joy of their announcement of the Risen Christ: Christos Anesti! We greet our brothers of the East in this day of their Easter, with applause, everyone!

I also address a heartfelt greeting to the faithful Armenians, who came to Rome and attended the Mass with the presence of my brothers, the three patriarchs, and numerous bishops.

In recent weeks I have received from all over the world so many messages of Easter greetings. With gratitude to all of them, I want to thank the children, the elderly, families, dioceses, parishes and religious institutions and various associations, who wanted to show me affection and closeness. And continue to pray for me, please!

April 17, 2015

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ast week we considered the Angelus, one of the most effective of all the Spiritual practices in a plan of life to help maintain a sense of God’s presence as we ponder in the morning, at midday and in the evening Jesus’ Incarnation and Mary’s faith-filled cooperation in it.

As helpful as that prayer is, however, it traditionally gets supplanted during the Easter season by another invocation that helps us to contemplate, rather, the Resurrection of Jesus and Mary’s response to it.

It’s called the Regina Caeli, “Queen of Heaven,” taken from the first two words of the 12th-century prayer.

If in the Angelus we seek to enter into Mary’s joy not merely at the coming of the Messiah but of God Himself into the world and into our life — the Angel Gabriel’s first word to her, in the original language, was “Rejoice”— in the Regina Caeli we desire to enter into Mary’s joy at her Son’s eternal triumph over sin and death.

After the prayer begins, “Queen of Heaven, Rejoice!

Alleluia!,” we continue, “For He Whom you merited to bear, alleluia!, has Risen as He said, Alleluia!” It explicitly ties Jesus’ Incarnation to His Resurrection

Anchor Columnist Regina Caeli and focuses on how Mary’s grasp that the Incarnate unending joy at the Word’s Word is with us in daybecoming Flesh would have to-day life Risen from the been happily compounded dead, it’s hard for us not to when that same Son burst seize in the present someforth from the tomb. thing of the joy experienced As the prayer continues,

by Mary, by Mary Magdawe beg that Mary will help lene, by the disciples on the us enter with her into the road to Emmaus, and by the fullness of the joy of Jesus’ Apostles in the upper room Risen life.

We ask her, “Pray for us to God, AlPutting Into leluia,” remind her once more to “Rethe Deep joice and be glad for the Lord has

By Father truly Risen,” and Roger J. Landry then finish by praying, “O God, Who through the Resurrection of Your Son, our — the joy that already is an Lord Jesus Christ, deigned embryonic participation in to give joy to the world, the joy of Heaven. grant, we beseech You, that One of the ways that through the intercession praying the Regina Caeli of the Virgin Mary, His throughout the Easter seaMother, we may seize the son for more than 25 years joys of eternal life, through has Spiritually helped me the same Christ our Lord. in dealing with the various Amen!” difficulties that come up The “joys of eternal life” every day. for which we ask Mary’s If I’m stuck in a traffic help to obtain are not jam late for an appointmeant to be exclusively ment or have a bad cold, if future and celestial, but an apostolic initiative flops something of which we’re or I get some disappointable and supposed to have a ing news, if a parishioner foretaste here on earth. As or other loved one has died St. Paul reminds us duror gotten a portentous ing the Easter Vigil, Jesus’ diagnosis, I now generally Resurrection is meant to try to ask, “How would I lead us to a “new life” in respond to if today were which we are “alive for God the day Jesus rose from the in Christ Jesus.” Once we dead?”

Merely relating the experience to Jesus’ Resurrection invariably changes my mood as the trough of the setback is overwhelmingly eclipsed by the peak of the realization that Jesus has in fact Risen from the dead, is with me, and is involved.

When I pray the words, “For He Whom you have merited to bear has risen as He said,” two realities spring to mind. The first is my own connection with the Word made Flesh. Even though I haven’t given birth to Him, I have received the same Jesus within that Mary bore in her womb, and that is incredible cause of daily joy. The second is that Jesus rose “as He said,” a reminder to me that Jesus always fulfills His promises.

Just as He has arisen on the third day, so He will keep His Word to be with us always until the end of time and to prepare for us a place in His Father’s house.

Praying the Regina Caeli, pondering Mary’s joy, and asking for the grace to seize that joy even now alters the way we approach life. Pope Francis wrote in his paradigmatic apostolic exhortation, “The Joy of the Gospel,” that many Catholics live as if they’re perpetually returning from a funeral, as if life is one long Lent.

Praying the Regina Caeli at dawn, around noon, at V. Rejoice and be glad, our Lord Jesus Christ, six in the evening — and, for those who pray Night

The Regina Caeli V. Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.

R. For He Whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.

V. Has Risen, as He said, alleluia.

R. Pray for us to God, alleluia.

O Virgin Mary, alleluia.

R. For the Lord has truly Risen, alleluia.

Let us pray.

O God, Who gave joy to the world through the Resurrection of Thy Son,

grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

7 Prayer, before they go to bed, as the Regina Caeli is the Marian antiphon that is normally used throughout the Easter season to conclude Compline — can help Catholics live as if they’re perpetually returning from the empty tomb, as if life is one long Emmaus journey with Jesus.

The other thing I really love about the Regina Caeli is that it is normally chanted, rather than merely recited, something that adds to the sense of Easter joy with which it is prayed. The tune is simple enough that even kids in kindergarten can pick it up and beautiful enough that adults with refined musical tastes can sing it several times a day each Easter season without tiring of it.

Most Church missalettes and hymnals will have a copy of the tune in Latin and English. For those who don’t read music, YouTube has many free tutorial sing-a-longs to help you learn.

The prayer of the Regina Caeli assists us to remember each day of the Easter season: “This is the day the Lord has made: let us rejoice and be glad in it!”

I would urge you to make it part of your plan of life throughout the Easter season so that, through Mary’s intercession, you might seize and experience, even now, something of the joys of eternal life!

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

8

April 17, 2015

D

o we have peace and security in our

lives?

I am a firefighter, in my 50th year in that crazy business. As I witness the carnage and devastation that goes on in our world today, I am deeply troubled. I have witnessed the destruction when I served at Ground Zero in 2001 after 9/11.

I have stood at the funerals of men I worked with, killed in the line of duty while fighting fires. I have had the sad duty of doing death announcements after fires and tragic accidents; sometimes, it is almost too much. Our readings give us hope and comfort.

In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter addresses the people and clearly and forcefully tells them that they had put to death the Messiah, the One Whom they awaited.

‘Peace be with you’

He then, like a parent, in sinners all. his role as leader of this Finally, our Gospel new Church, instructed begins with one of the them on how to be saved: most powerful lines in the “Repent, therefore, and be New Testament: “The two converted, that your sins disciples recounted what may be wiped away.”

Our responsorial from the fourth Homily of the Week psalm provides us Third Sunday with the comforting words: “You alone, of Easter O Lord bring seBy Deacon curity to my dwellDavid Akin ing.” Our peace, our security is best found in a loving had taken place on the relationship with our Savior way to Emmaus, and how Jesus. Through Him, and Jesus was made known to only through Him, can we them in the breaking of the be truly secure. bread.” Then Jesus appears Our second reading from again to the disciples, and St. John provides assurance they are startled and petrithat we have relief from our fied. He greets them with: sins: “If anyone does sin, “Peace be with you.” This we have an advocate with is more of a command the Father, Jesus Christ the to relax: “Why are you Righteous One.” These are troubled?” He then explains comforting words for us, to them the reason for His

death and Resurrection that repentance for the forgiveness of sin would be preached in His name to all the nations.

We are often times found in the same frame of mind as the early disciples.

We too are terrified; sometimes the news around us is overwhelming. We fear for the children, and wonder what the future will be like for them. There are parallels from those days almost 2,000 years ago, when the disciples first faced the reality that Jesus had been killed. They were lost; they were afraid; they feared that they too would be seized and killed.

Jesus calms them with the powerful words: “Peace be with you.” He then goes on to relate to them that

“everything written about Me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled. Then He opened their minds.”

We, too, are witness to these things, and through His calming words, “Peace be with you,” and in the breaking of the Bread at the altar, we relive those moments with Jesus that will lead us to Salvation.

We, too, can have peace and security in our lives if we adhere to His teachings and trust in His promise to His disciples, “Peace be with you.”

Deacon Akin serves at St. Pius X Parish in South Yarmouth. He is active in parish life and serves as chaplain to fire and police departments, and serves on the Cape and Islands Critical Incident Support Team assisting police and fire personnel on Cape Cod.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Apr. 18, Acts 6:1-7; Ps 33:1-2,4-5,18-19; Jn 6:16-21. Sun. Apr. 19, Third Sunday of Easter, Acts 3:13-15,17-19; Ps 4:2,4,79; 1 Jn 2:1-5a; Lk 24:35-48. Mon. Apr. 20, Acts 6:8-15; Ps 119:23-24,26-27,29-30; Jn 6:22-29. Tues. Apr. 21, Acts 7:51–8:1a; Ps 31:3cd-4,6,7b,8a,17,21ab; Jn 6:30-35. Wed. Apr. 22, Acts 8:1b-8; Ps 66:1-3a,4-7a; Jn 6:35-40. Thurs. Apr. 23, Acts 8:26-40; Ps 66:8-9,16-17,20; Jn 6:44-51. Fri. Apr. 24, Acts 9:1-20; Ps 117:1bc,2; Jn 6:52-59.

E

very post-Resurrection story has one thing in common: no one recognizes Jesus. This seems to be a pattern for us mere mortals; Jesus walks beside us and we don’t even know it. Just as we fail to see the particles of dust that float around us until the sunlight passes through them, the Risen Christ is abundantly present, waiting to be seen. The question is not “When did you see Me homeless, hungry, or naked,” but “Did you notice that it was I Who took care of you in your time of greatest need?”

It became quite clear after the Synod on Family in 2014 that families are in need. Many reported how overwhelming it is to deal with a bad economy, children with illness or disability, or care for their elderly parents. When Jesus walked on earth He always asked first what was needed before He gave the people the healing or food or wisdom they sought. Using Jesus’ own methodology, the Church now asks, “How can the Church respond to the needs of families?”

It is a curious question to ask given the Church’s long history

Care for broken families

of providing solace to the needy. measures. These services are After all, those who have been founded upon Christ’s mandate the recipients of the Church’s to feed the hungry, shelter the charitable outreach are members homeless, and clothe the naked. of families. Maybe the question They are provided to all people should have been asked, “What in need, not just to Catholics. more can we do to be recognized The Church works handby families?”

When the people of the Diocese of Fall River were asked how the Church can respond to the needs of families they looked within the walls of their own parBy Claire McManus ishes for the answer. We have soup kitchens, food pantries, St. Vincent de Paul and-hand with state agencies to societies, and support groups. provide for the needs of families, Perhaps the people in our parbut often is the only one left ishes feel that charity is at its best holding the safety net when the when it is local, for none of the state walks away. Many families responses mentioned the work are struggling to care for elderly of the larger agencies within the parents, and at a time when there Church. The Church is much is the greatest need, local nursing more than the building that homes have closed their Alhouses our own parish. The local zheimer’s units because they have parish can provide solace to the become too costly to maintain. needs of struggling families with The Boston Globe reported that a soup kitchens and food pantries, “2011 study by Brown Univerbut when it comes to families in sity found that nursing homes crisis, Catholic Social Services nationwide were more likely steps in and provides housing, to close in areas with higher shelter and other emergency proportions of black, Hispanic,

The Great Commission

and poor residents.” Despite this trend, Diocesan Health Facilities continues to maintain five skilled nursing and rehabilitation care facilities throughout Bristol County that offer short- and long-term nursing care, as well as two community programs that offer adult day health care and geriatric care management services.

The list of specialized services that are offered by the Diocesan Health Facilities is a testament to the presence of Christ in this ministry.

When families bring their loved ones to receive rehabilitation or Alzheimer’s care, they can be assured that they will be treated with dignity and respect. When a patient receives pain management or pulmonary rehabilitation care, they are treated with compassion. When care givers are exhausted from balancing their lives around the care of a sick or elderly family member, they receive much-needed rest when they place their loved ones into the Adult Day Care facility.

And when the time comes that

families must say good-bye to the ones they love, the pastoral and palliative care, and Hospice care they receive is part of a holistic approach to health care that is founded on the principle that all life is precious, that each individual deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and that the professional care they provide is defined by its compassion and attention to a higher purpose.

The iconic post-Resurrection walk with Christ along the road to Emmaus should raise some questions in our minds. What exactly did the Risen Christ look like to be so unfamiliar to His closest followers? This question challenges us today, too.

The conventional wisdom states that we will remain blind until we see Christ in the sick, the elderly, the poor, the mentally ill, the homeless, and the abused.

We are equally blind if we stand back and watch Christ in action caring for the needy and fail to recognize His loving presence there, too.

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

April 17, 2015

Thursday 16 April 2015 — Homeport: Falmouth Harbor — National High Five Day (No, really) eaders frequently ask how I come up with topics for this column. The answer is that concepts seem to come out of nowhere.

Today’s column, for example, began last night when my cell phone twanged. A message had been sent from Boston’s TD Garden. Actually, it was a “selfie” photograph from my good friend “Showboat” Jackson of the Harlem Globetrotters. He had been at the Celtic’s game with several of his Globetrotter teammates and happened to meet our parish Religious Education coordinator, John Cabral.

Of course the Globetrotters wanted to send me, Father Peter John, and especially Father Francis X. Wallace, their warmest regards. I often travel in the same social circles as movie stars and professional athletes, so I didn’t think twice about receiving personal greetings from TD Garden. Far be it from me to boast, dear readers, but this sort of thing happens to me all the time.

Well, don’t you know, early this morning I was sipping

R

C

ultural fissures are widening around us as people consider which laws they will obey and which they find intolerable. We chafe, we moan, we stiffen, and we grouse — who has the authority to tell us what we can and cannot do? Who will decide the ground rules to which all must conform? It is essential to consider what makes a law just, and what we are to do when our conscience rebels.

Many appeal to their gut as the final arbiter, but there is a tremendous difference between an uninformed opinion and a well-formed conscience. Concerning the latter, we read in the “Catechism” that it “enjoins him at the appropriate moment to do good and to avoid evil” (CCC No. 1777). And rather than operating in a vacuum, the Church reminds us that conscience “bears witness to the authority of truth in reference to the supreme Good to which the human person is drawn, and it welcomes

Anchor Columnists My view from the bleachers

my cup of Dippin’ Doughnuts until I reached a certain level of athletic skill in multiple coffee when I happened to notice the Styrofoam cup. On sports. I happened to choose the games of badminton and the cup was printed, in Kelly croquet. Nobody thought to green ink, the official logo of inform me that these were the Boston Celtics (I always not Olympic events. pronounce it kell-ticks rather My rude awaking came in than sell-ticks. It gives the impression I know something what they used to call junior high school. We had mandamore than ordinary sports buffs. It catches them off guard). Dippin’ Doughnuts is also The Ship’s Log the official coffee of Reflections of a the Patriots, Red Sox, Parish Priest and the Bruins.

At any rate, sudBy Father Tim denly there it was Goldrick — the topic for this column. Now all I needed was a title. tory gym class twice a week.

The problem was that The I was soon taught the imporAnchor already has a regular sports column, “My view from tant life lesson that I was a complete and utter klutz and the stands,” written by none always would be. I learned my other than our worthy editor Dave Jolivet. I needed some- lesson well.

For some strange reason, thing completely different.

I grew to despise gym class.

Father Peter John suggested “No pain; no gain,” they “My view from the bleachsay but running lap after ers.” See what he did there? lap around the indoor track Inspiration can come from always did me in. I was more the most unlikely sources, I than six-feet-tall and weighed tell you. only 90 pounds. I had pain Like every other kid, my everywhere and at the same interest began with early time. My body just couldn’t involvement in youth sports. take it, no matter how hard I Although not very good at pushed. Meanwhile, my cousfirst, I practiced constantly

in earned the state championship in, of all things, track.

I also hated dodgeball. I would stand there perfectly still until I had the good fortune of being hit. Then I could go sit down. I would soon get over the stinging welt. I was always tagged out early in the game. If I didn’t know better, I would suspect the other kids were targeting me as an easy score.

Then there was rope climbing. I just couldn’t get the knack of it. I would hang there like one of those Peking ducks you see suspended outside shops in Chinatown. After a while, the gym teacher would take pity on me by loudly shouting, “Next!”

Come spring, the gym class moved outside. I had no idea how baseball was played. I was always the last chosen for the team. And I was always assigned to left field. I would spend my time out in left field praying that the ball wouldn’t be hit in my general direction.

You might say that it was in left field that I learned how to pray sincerely from the heart.

In high school, it was no better. But at least there were

9 no mandatory baseball games.

The school was in the center of the city and had no playing fields whatsoever.

Canada, where I attended college, had a governmentrequired exercise regime called 5BX. We were broken into groups based on athletic prowess. Each group chose its own name. I will not repeat the name of my assigned group since the word has since become politically incorrect. It has been replaced with “persons with disabilities.” The latter, however, would be a poor choice for a sports team.

After ordination, lots of guys played or followed sports. I was not one of them.

When it came time during priests’ retreat for the annual baseball game, I would take my afternoon nap.

Having spent more than 40 years in the priesthood, my life in sports hasn’t hurt me none. At the church door following Mass, I can usually fake the required sports banter with the guys.

And that’s my view from the bleachers — or, more likely, from the concession stands.

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

Caught between God and Caesar

where good and evil lie. the Commandments. When People of faith, long lulled he listens to his conscience, into a false sense of comfort the prudent man can hear in their ostensibly JudeoGod speaking” — or as Christian culture, must now Cardinal John Henry Newman noted, the conscience is fully awaken, consider the for each of us “the aboriginal new parameters, and think about where legitimate auVicar of Christ.”

It is essential that Christians form their consciences properly by praying, staying close to the Sacraments, and studying the moral law. We should not

By Genevieve Kineke be led by stray feelings, or the vagaries of emotion, which thority rests. On one hand, can easily be misled. To there are those who say that submit to the teachings of Marriage is a private comthe Church is a safeguard mitment solely between the against our own limited and parties, and in which no one compromised horizon; and else has the right to interwhile the topic of Marriage is no different from a host of fere; then there are those others, admittedly it does cut who believe that Marriage is closer to the bone than most what the state allows it to be; and finally there are those — thus, we proceed with who believe that Marriage caution. is an institution ordained We live in a precarious time in which God and Cae- by God for the benefit of society and the sanctity of sar disagree strongly about

The Feminine Genius

those who participate in it.

Hence, we are witnessing the collision of ideas in a deeply divided country, and no one can escape the carnage.

An added difficulty presents itself in that the people we know and love dearly differ in their understanding of the definition of Marriage. We may be a little elastic on the details, and are pulled up short when someone else suggests to us that Marriage is an institution that confers lifelong graces to a indissoluble union; or we ourselves may trust the Church’s teaching and be frustrated by others who cannot see how Catholic truths about Marriage invite us into the Paschal Mystery itself. How do we love those around us, affirm them in their good intentions, and yet speak firmly about Marriage as a gift with responsibilities attached. It’s almost impossible in polite

society — not to mention the workplace!

You are not alone — we’re all struggling to find equilibrium where it may be impossible. That is why the “Catechism,” a well-formed conscience, and intense prayer are our only refuges.

We cannot expect that the moral law be purged from the public square without it shredding the very fabric of our personal lives. Keep in mind, though, that Jesus told Pilate, “You would have no power over Me unless it had been given you from above” ( Jn 19:11). Subsequently, the death meted out at the discretion of that earthly ruler was conquered in the very Paschal Mystery that gives life and meaning to Marriage. Easter should remind us of the power of truth, and to trust God in the matter of Marriage.

Anchor columnist Mrs. Kineke is the author of “ The Authentic Catholic Woman.”

She blogs at feminine-genius. typepad.com.

10

April 17, 2015

Consecrated men, women denounce persecution of Christians

ROME (CNS) — Consecrated men and women from around the world issued a recent message “to urgently denounce” the persecution of Christians and to urge the international community to “implement concrete interventions” for peace.

The message was signed by Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for Consecrated Life and Institutes of Apostolic Life, on behalf of the nearly 1,300 Catholic religious gathered

for an international congress in Rome. The participants at the April 7-11 conference represent dozens of religious congregations and thousands of religious men and women worldwide.

“We feel particularly close to those in the world who are suffering because of their faith in Jesus Christ and we express our communion with all consecrated men and women who, in the various peripheries of the world, suffer because they are Christian and conse-

crated,” said the message.

The religious thanked their suffering brothers and sisters for “their witness of fidelity” to their vocation and mission and for remaining “close to those who suffer,” assuring them of their prayers. They also said they join Pope Francis and the whole Church in praying “so that peace, the gift of the Risen Lord, can overcome hatred and violence and so that all people can recognize themselves as brothers and sisters.”

11

April 17, 2015

Bishop da Cunha is special guest speaker at DCCW’s 62nd annual convention May 2

NEW BEDFORD — The 62nd annual Fall River Diocesan Council of Catholic Women convention will be held this year on May 2 at St. Lawrence Martyr Church, at County and Hillman streets

in New Bedford.

The special guest speaker at this year’s event is Fall River Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. Bishop da Cunha will celebrate Mass at St. Lawrence

Church at 9 a.m.

Following the Mass, attendees will gather at the Wamsutta Club, 471 County Street in New Bedford for a breakfast and meeting.

This will be Bishop da

Cunha’s first Diocesan Council of Catholic Women convention appearance, since he became Fall River ’s eighth bishop since the diocese’s founding in 1904.

The cost for the convention is $25 per person.

Those who wish to attend are asked to contact Helen L. Stager, 212 Dartmouth Woods Drive, Dartmouth, Mass., 02747.

12

April 17, 2015

Students pray for safety of Pope Francis more than one million times DESTREHAN, La. (CNS) — The prayerful protection of Mary has been showered upon Pope Francis one million times over, thanks to students and their friends at St. Charles Borromeo School in the New Orleans Archdiocese.

On Holy Thursday, just before the start of the school’s monthly Rosary, religion teacher Lisa Benoit, accompanied by seven students bearing numbered placards, made a joyful announcement: The school’s 2014-2015 goal of praying one million Hail Marys for the safety of Pope Francis had not only been met, but exceeded.

The count: an incredible 1,031,840 Hail Marys.

“I thought it was going to happen after Easter break, but so many people have been helping and adding to our numbers,” said Mary Schmidt, school principal, as students cheered and clapped in their pews. “I’m thrilled!”

Schmidt added. “What a wonderful send-off for Easter!”

Students at the Destrehan elementary school, outside of New Orleans, launched the prayer effort last September in response to media reports that identified the pontiff as a potential target of the Islamic State, known as ISIS. “We are always trying to impress upon the children how powerful prayer is,” Schmidt said. “We tell them all the time that the prayers of little children are especially powerful, because Jesus listens in a special way when they pray.”

During the first few months of school, the prayers poured in, with St. Charles Borromeo’s 462 students praying five Hail Marys for the protection of Pope Francis during morning announcements — meaning that a minimum of 2,340 prayers were built into every school day.

The students also started leading Hail Marys at home with their families and reporting the count to Benoit, coordinator of the million-prayer campaign. Their march toward the seemingly elusive number was tracked on a graphic in a school hallway.

Still, as diligent as the students were, time was becoming a factor. At the midpoint of the school year, the Hail Mary count was not yet at 500,000, prompting Schmidt to enlist the help of students at Brother Martin and St. Charles Catholic — high schools with faculty links to St. Charles Borromeo Parish.

An article on the school’s prayer effort, published in the an issue of the Clarion Herald, newspaper of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, widened the net even more. Strangers began contacting the school to offer their prayer muscle to the campaign.

A local businesswoman contacted Schmidt to say that instead of listening to “mindless radio chatter,” she would be saying 10 Hail Marys for Pope Francis on the way to work and another 10 on her drive home.

The St. Jude Society at St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Metairie devoted its ninehour devotional to St. Charles Borromeo’s prayer campaign and personally delivered the results to Schmidt: a pile of index cards with numbers and signatures representing each member’s contribution, which totaled 9,430 Hail Marys.

Sixth-graders at St. Matthew the Apostle in River Ridge sent St. Charles Borromeo’s sixth-graders a paper prayer chain listing their Hail Mary calculations, along with messages of support.

In a move that took the school’s effort to a national audience, St. Mary’s Messenger children’s magazine reprinted the Clarion Herald article on the Hail Mary drive in its spring issue.

“I don’t think it’s coincidental that we made our one million goal on Holy Thursday,” Schmidt told her students. “Jesus and our Blessed Mother were with us the whole time we were trying to reach our goal, and the fact that we did it on Holy Thursday just lets us know He wanted us to be successful,” she said. “(Christ) loves us so much we can’t even understand it here on earth,” the principal added. “That’s what Easter is about.”

Britt Robertson and Scott Eastwood star in a scene from the movie “The Longest Ride.” For a brief review of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS photo/Fox)

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

“The Longest Ride” (Fox) Sentimental soap opera intertwining the story of a contemporary college student (Britt Robertson) and her professional bull rider boyfriend (Scott Eastwood) with the romantic history, seen in flashbacks, of a Jewish refugee (Oona Chaplin) from Nazi-occupied Vienna and the local lad ( Jack Huston) for whom she falls in 1940s Greensboro, N.C. Director George Tillman Jr.’s adaptation of Catholic author Nicholas Sparks’ novel feels thoroughly contrived, not least because the World War II-era part of the saga is narrated by the elderly version of its male protagonist (Alan Alda) via old letters addressed to his true love who, unlike the audience, would presumably not have needed his elaborate written explanations to understand events she herself had just experienced. Though touches of humor keep things moving along, late plot developments can be seen as either undercutting or supporting marital fidelity. Brief combat violence

with mild gore, a few scenes of semi-graphic premarital sexual activity, partial nudity, a couple of instances of profanity, a smattering of crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

“Danny Collins” (Bleecker Street) Al Pacino plays the aging rock star of the title in writer-director Dan Fogelman’s flat, vaguely fact-based blend of comedy and drama. Bereft at his failure to live up to the model of a true artist, a dereliction highlighted by the belated arrival of a 40-yearold letter to him penned by ex-Beatle John Lennon, the boozing, cocaine-sniffing

singer dumps his cheating girlfriend (Katarina Cas), and sets out on a time-honored Hollywood-style odyssey of self-discovery and redemption. As he finds an age-appropriate companion (Annette Bening) who doubles as his moral compass, he also reconnects with his estranged adult son (Bobby Cannavale).

Fogelman’s script has nothing new to say about the corrosive effects of fame and vast wealth, while its saccharine dialogue will likely set viewers’ teeth on edge. Brief upper female nudity, a scene of drug use, a few instances of profanity, fleeting crude and crass language. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, April 19 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Kevin J. Harrington, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in New Bedford

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April 17, 2015

A

Pondering the implications of three-parent embryos

n ethical Rubicon was crossed when the first in vitro fertilization-conceived baby came into the world in 1978. With human reproduction no longer limited to the embrace of a man and a woman, people felt empowered to take their own sperm and eggs, or those of others, and create their much desired children bit-by-cellular-bit.

As they mixed and matched these cells, they soon were drawn into other twists and turns of the advancing technology, including screening the genes of their test-tube offspring and eugenically weeding out any undesired embryonic children by freezing them in liquid nitrogen or simply discarding them as laboratory refuse.

Recent developments have exacerbated this situation by offering additional options and choices for generating children, recasting human em-

bryos as modular constructs to approaches. Ultimately there had to do that? Is it fair?” surprise that elevated rates be assembled through clonBeyond these immediate of birth defects have been is a steep price to be paid for ing or through the creation of the ever-expanding project of concerns about the wellbeing observed, even when certain three-parent embryos. While upending our own beginnings genetic defects may have been and health of our progeny, we cloning involves swapping out and rupturing the origins of face further serious concerns previously screened out. the nucleus of a woman’s egg about our human future in the As children born by asour children. with a replacement nucleus sisted reproductive techniques face of these burgeoning techPart of that price includes to create an embryo, nologies. As procreation bebecome adults, they three-parent embryos comes reduced to just another are starting to be are made by swapping commercial transaction, and Making Sense tracked and studied out additional celour children become projects for various psychiOut of lular parts known as to be assembled piecemeal in atric issues as well. mitochondria through Bioethics the pursuit of parental desires, A growing number the recombination of we invariably set the stage to of young adults are

By Father Tad eggs from two differvocalizing their strong cross another significant ethiPacholczyk ent women. Even more cal line. personal concerns baroque approaches to That bright ethical line inabout the way they making three-parent were brought into the volves the creation of humans embryos rely on destroying world through techniques like that have heritable genetic the significant health probone embryo (instead of an modifications (changes that anonymous sperm donations, lems that have come to light egg) and cannibalizing its are passed on to future because they find themselves in children born from IVF parts so as to build another generations). When the first feeling psychologically adrift and other assisted reproducembryo by nuclear transfer. three-parent baby is born, and deprived of any connection techniques. ResearchWe risk trivializing our which will likely take place in tion to their biological father. ers have found an overall human procreative faculties the next year or two, we will It should be obvious how doubling in the risk of birth and diminishing our offspring defects for children born have stepped right into the any approach that weakens or by sanctioning these kinds middle of that hubris-filled casts into question the inteby these technologies when of “eggs-as-Lego-pieces” or brave new world of manipugral connection between parcompared with rates for chil“embryos-as-Lego-pieces” lating the genetic traits of ents and their offspring will dren conceived in the normal future children. We will have raise grave ethical concerns. fashion.

Year of Mercy: A time to heal, help, forgive transitioned to a paradigm For retinoblastoma, a child- Whether it be three-parent continued from page two where biomedical experimenhood eye cancer, a six-fold el- embryos, anonymous sperm tation on future generations donations, or surrogacy, we evated risk has been reported. er or later, will be subject to recognized “a responsibility to is seen as acceptable and need to protect children from Assisted reproduction techbe a living sign of the Father’s God’s judgment, from which justifiable. Now is the time to the harmful psychological niques are also associated with no one can escape.” love in the world.” ponder carefully the implicastressors that arise when they heightened risks for a number At the same time, Pope The life and action of the tions of our rushed reproducare subjected to uncertainties Church, he said, “is authentic Francis wrote, many of those of rare and serious genetic tive choices, and to stand and credible only when she who insist first on God’s jus- disorders, including Beckwith- about their own origins. As firm against the preventable becomes a convincing herald tice are like the Pharisees who Wiedmann syndrome, Angel- one fertility specialist bluntly injustices that inexorably flow commented, “As a nation, we of mercy,” a mercy that “knows thought they could save them- man’s syndrome, and various need to get a conscience about from assisted reproductive no bounds and extends to ev- selves by following the letter of developmental disorders like technologies. what we are doing here. Yes, the law, but ended up simply atrial septal and ventricular eryone without exception.”

Anchor columnist Father it’s nice when an infertile couseptal defects of the heart, While some people try to placing “burdens on the shoulPacholczyk, earned his doctorple is able to build a family, cleft lip with or without cleft argue that mercy, even God’s ders of others and undermined ate in neuroscience from Yale but what about the children? palate, esophageal atresia and mercy, is limited by the de- the Father’s mercy.” and did post-doctoral work Shouldn’t their needs be in the “God’s justice is His mercy,” anorectal atresia. mands of justice, Pope Francis at Harvard. He is a priest of mix from the very beginning Considering the various said mercy and justice are “two the pope said. “Mercy is not the Diocese of Fall River, and too? I think it is ridiculous dimensions of a single reality opposed to justice, but rather harsh and unnatural steps serves as the director of Educathat a donor-conceived child that unfolds progressively until expresses God’s way of reach- involved in moving human tion at The National Catholic would need to ‘research’ to reproduction from the marital it culminates in the fullness of ing out to the sinner, offering Bioethics Center in Philadelfind out their genetic origins. embrace into the petri dish, it him a new chance to look at love.” phia. See www.ncbcenter.org.

Give me a break.

What if you should perhaps come as little Preaching mercy, he said, is himself, convert and believe.”

Recognizing that they have not the same as ignoring sin or withholding correction. In- been treated with mercy by stead, mercy invites repentance God, he said, Christians are and conversion and ensures the obliged to treat others with sinner that once God forgives mercy. In fact, the Gospel says 50 years ago — More than 900 mem10 years ago — Hundreds of dithat Christians will be judged a sin, He forgets it. bers of the Attleboro area Catholic ocesan faithful attended a memoThe pope addressed di- by the mercy they show others.

Youth Organization attended forums rial Mass for Pope John Paul II that “At times how hard it seems rect appeals in the document conducted under the auspices of the was celebrated by Bishop George W. to members of the mafia and to forgive,” he said. “And yet District Youth Council.

Father Joseph L. Coleman at St. Mary’s Cathedral in other criminal organizations as pardon is the instrument Lennon, O.P., Dean of Providence ColFall River. well as to officials and others placed into our fragile hands lege, spoke at each forum meeting. involved in corruption. “For to attain serenity of heart. To One year ago — Students in the their own good, I beg them to let go of anger, wrath, violence 25 years ago — The Diocesan Office concert and chamber choirs at St. change their lives,” he wrote. “I and revenge are necessary conof Youth Ministry sponsored its final seJohn Paul II High School in Hyannis ask them this in the Name of ditions to living joyfully.” ries of phase-one training for adult voltraveled to New York to perform durPope Francis also noted that the Son of God Who, though unteers who minister to diocesan youth ing a Sunday Solemn Pontifical Mass rejecting sin, never rejected the God’s mercy is an important as catechists, youth leaders, or parents. at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York theme in Judaism and Islam, sinner.”

City.

“Violence inflicted for the and he urged efforts during sake of amassing riches soaked the Year of Mercy to increase in blood makes one neither interreligious dialogue and powerful nor immortal,” he mutual understanding with continued. “Everyone, soon- followers of both faiths.

This week in

Diocesan history

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April 17, 2015

It’s about team on and off the field for JPII student continued from page one

Long Island, N.Y. But even as Barabe racked up the points for his football team, he was looking pointedly at his life off the field and where it was leading.

“My entire family is not religious at all, so I had no religious background before coming here,” explained Barabe. “I think it’s just over the course of the couple of years, my three theology teachers and other people weighing in on me. One of my friends, he’s a great Spiritual person — he actually lives his life Spiritually. He doesn’t hide that; he makes it known.

I take after that, he’s a Spiritual role model.”

Learning the Catholic faith on an academic level has also made an impact: “How can it not be God? That’s the only solution I’ve come to,” said Barabe.

And while many young adults would have been content with exploring new ideas and then not following through, Barabe suffered a tragedy that propelled him into taking the next step: “I think the biggest moment where I decided that I really, really wanted to become really faithful in my life was last year in February when one of my friends passed away from a car accident,” said Barabe.

As family and friends gathered together to offer support and grieve, Barabe recalled the reaction of the young man’s mother to the loss of her son: “His brothers aren’t religious but his mother is, so she weighed in and said, ‘He’s in God’s hands now,’ and I started believing that he’s in Heaven now. That played a big role in my taking the next step into becoming a Catholic.”

Barabe enrolled in the Rite of Christian Initiation program, and began to meet regularly with the school’s chaplain, Father Ron Floyd, who built on the school’s theology curriculum and helped Barabe create a stronger connection with the school’s lessons on Scripture.

Father Floyd said that he stressed that practicing the Catholic faith means “making your yes mean yes; it says in Scripture let your yes mean yes, and your no mean no. We talked about the reality about how so many people call themselves Catholics, who that doesn’t really mean anything for, and if you’re going to do this, you’re really going to have to do it with the commitment to doing the whole thing.”

That lesson really stuck out,

said Barabe, and that Father Floyd helped him understand that a Catholic’s actions mean more than just words — that to be a Catholic is “to be present at Mass, not just physically but Spiritually and mentally,” said Barabe. “Don’t just say you’re Catholic or you’re Christian, you actually have to live what is being taught to you and what you believe.”

And during the Easter Vigil, Barabe lived out that message alongside his sponsor, Scott Jordan, who, as the junior varsity basketball coach, had not just gotten to know Barabe through basketball but also through one of his sons, who played football with Barabe.

“Ryan is a very, very nice young man,” said Jordan of his first impression of Barabe. “Eager to learn and he really would just look you in the eye and say, ‘What do I need to be doing to make myself better?’ He’s just that type of kid.”

When Barabe asked Jordan during a basketball practice to be his sponsor, Jordan didn’t hesitate to agree: “I was just [thinking] this is so awesome, a young man making a decision like this, having no religion on either side. When Ryan makes a decision, he thinks about things and this is what he really wanted.”

The two men attended the Easter Vigil at Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich, Jordan’s parish, and Jordan recalled seeing Barabe’s reaction as the time drew near: “When we were in the side room and I could see him getting a little fidgety, knowing this is the beginning. This is huge. I think he understood that and that’s what he was nervous about and knowing that he was going to make this journey, and this was the start of it.”

“Going into Saturday, I heard it’s the longest Mass of the year,” said Barabe. “That it’s big and a lot of people fill the church, that it’s pretty epic with the candles lighting the church.

I’ve never experienced anything like that; so going in I was kind of nervous, sweaty palms and butterflies. Then I saw that a couple of my friends had shown up, Mr. Keavy came, my family came and my sponsor’s family came. Just seeing all the familiar faces and knowing in the back of my mind that I’m there for the best of reasons possible; I just kind of calmed down and everything just worked out.”

Throughout the whole pro-

cess, Barabe’s family has been supportive at every turn, and during the reception held after the vigil, Barabe saw the impact of his decision when his older sister, who was so overwhelmed by the love and acceptance her brother received during Mass, went over to talk to the RCIA director at the parish.

“She’s going to do the RCIA program too,” said Barabe of his 20-year-old sibling. “She had gone to church before and certain things didn’t work out, and then she saw how awesome it was at the church that I did it at, so she’s going to start doing it.”

Barabe’s personal journey is “very affirming,” said Keavy.

“To many of our students who are cradle Catholics, it provides a nice wake-up call to our faith.

In a way, Ryan’s decision helps support his peers in their own faith, and in the same way, his peers helped him find his faith; it’s really a mutual relationship.”

Being part of a Catholic school and seeing his fellow classmates be “normal kids and doing good things, being involved in sports, but also taking their faith seriously” helped provide everyday role models for him, said Keavy, and now Barabe “is a role model; it’s very gratifying to see Ryan really embrace everything we hope for.”

College will provide new opportunities but also new challenges, and having grown in the faith in a Catholic school surrounded by his peers, Barabe now will have to continue living out his faith in a new environment, but Keavy has confidence in Barabe, and that “having just acquired the faith, I think he’s in a stronger position than maybe some of his peers who take the faith for granted.”

Jordan also has every confidence in Barabe, but that won’t stop him from checking in on a regular basis.

“I think I’m going to be on the phone with him about once a week,” said Jordan. “I just want him to know that there are a lot more kids out there like him, and he’s got to search for them and when he finds them he gets a good network.

He’s a guy who thinks before he acts and when he knows it’s right, he goes 100 percent, and he knew this was what he really wanted. I know he’s going to be a great Catholic.”

Drawn to writing and taking every creative writing class offered at the high school, Barabe

said he will major in communications. He’s already reached out to the football coaches at Nassau and while the school itself is not Catholic, he has offered to lead a prayer before every game.

And while many high school students feel graduation marks

a new beginning, Barabe said he already feels like he’s begun a new chapter in his life: “Something about my attitude and the way I walk now, it’s a Baptism of new life. I really feel like I was given a new life and a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”

Locals voice religious freedoms concerns continued from page one

sell something off the shelf, but if you’re being asked to participate creatively and actively in a ceremony that violates your conscience, goes against your sincere religious beliefs, then that’s different. That’s a substantial burden,” he said.

Beckwith added that the United States was founded in Massachusetts by people in search of religious freedom, the first freedom listed in the Bill of Rights. The country’s founders never envisioned a nation in which Christian bakers and florists would be legally compelled to provide wedding cakes and arrangements for same-sex ceremonies.

“People aren’t supposed to have to isolate their faith to Sunday morning. It’s supposed to pervade the entire work week, including what they’re doing Monday through Friday,” he said. “So much of our lives is worked out at our vocation.”

Even with religious freedom enshrined in case law, people of faith in Massachusetts still find themselves at odds with the government at times. Recently, Gordon College, an Evangelical school in Lynn, reaffirmed its behavioral standards, including the prohibition of extramarital sex, that students and faculty are expected to abide by. The ban includes “homosexual practice.”

In reaction to the standards, the Lynn School Committee severed ties with Gordon College last August, ending the opportunity for Gordon students to take student-teaching positions at Lynn schools.

A member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Peter Kirsanow, said that under the First Amendment Gordon has the right to require employ-

ees and students to adhere to its religiously-based code of conduct. In a March 23 letter to the Lynn mayor Judith Kennedy, he wrote, “Gordon College does not wish to hire people who are engaged in homosexual activity because its religious beliefs teach that homosexual practices are sinful.

Discriminating against Gordon College on the basis of its hiring practices is discriminating on the basis of its religious beliefs and behavioral code of conduct, and it is dishonest to claim otherwise.”

He called on the Lynn School Committee to reverse their decision.

Mary Anne Alliegro, a Catholic from East Falmouth, and a member of Liberty Chalkboard — a volunteer group of parents, grandparents and patriots who monitor public school curricula — said that she has heard about many instances in which students were not allowed to exercise their religious freedom in Massachusetts public schools.

“They have to hide their religious symbols, they are not allowed to say the word ‘God’ or talk about God, they’re told that that’s against the law,” she said.

Alliegro added that the truth is the absolute opposite. Students have the right to bring their Bible to school, pray at school and start a Bible club. People of faith need to exercise their rights so that those rights are not lost.

“We just have to stand up, speak the truth, and if we continue to do it, people will wake up, and then they will protect their children, families, their churches and stand up for religious liberty because what is the point of America if not that?” she said.

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

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April 17, 2015

Bomb attack, ISIS invasion can’t dampen faith of Iraqi seminarian Rome, Italy (CNA/ EWTN News) — Remi Marzina Momica has seen it all: a victim of a 2010 bus attack and among those forced to leave his home when ISIS invaded last year, he says Iraq’s “shattered” Christians need help.

“Christians are shattered like crystal glass all over. (From) being a culture who started the Bible’s Old Testament to a people with no land, no work, no schools, no hospitals — nothing,” Momica recently told CNA. “Where is the global Christian community?”

Momica is a Syriac Catholic seminarian, currently studying in his final year of theology at the Al-Sharfa Seminary in Harissa, Lebanon.

He formerly studied at St. Ephraim’s Seminary in the mainly Christian city of Qaraqosh, which is now under the control of ISIS. He left when the militants attacked the city last August, driving out inhabitants who didn’t meet their demands to convert to Islam, pay a hefty tax or face death.

Invited by an acquaintance to spend part of Holy Week and Easter in Rome, the seminarian was in the city just two days, during which he visited Iraqi religious Sisters who have a convent in Rome, and participated in Good Friday’s Way of the Cross service with Pope Francis.

Momica told CNA that he comes from an area in Iraq that has “seen the worst forms of persecution.”

While targeted attacks on Christians by extremists have not been uncommon in Iraq, the situation took a ghastly turn for the worst last summer, when the Islamic State, or ISIS, unleashed a bloody campaign in Northern Iraq.

Since then, ISIS has established a caliphate and carried out mass persecutions of minority populations, primarily Christians and Yazidis. They have also published videos showing the beheading of foreign hostages as a warning to countries that have militarily intervened.

Before being forced to leave Qaraqosh last August, Momica and his sister were among the victims wounded in the 2010 bombing of buses transporting mainly Christian college students from the Plains of Nineveh to the University of Mosul, where they were enrolled in classes.

Momica recalled that there

were 25 buses carrying an overall total of 1,500 students “seeking education, a simple right for human beings,” when two bombs exploded as they passed through a joint checkpoint manned by American, Iraqi and Kurdish soldiers.

The details of the event “will be forever engraved in my

mica said the worst persecution hit when ISIS began its siege last summer, starting in Mosul.

The Christians of Mosul, who had “no intention” of denying Jesus or paying the terrorists the tax they demanded, then fled to Qaraqosh, which was formerly known as the “Christian capital” of Iraq.

quenched with the love of God and dressed with the arms of Jesus.”

When a large chunk of the 100,000 people who fled Qaraqosh arrived in the Iraqi city of Erbil that night, “the struggle for survival began” as the displaced were left to sleep on the streets, sidewalks, in public

Seminarian Remi Marzina Momica with a group of children outside an Aid to the Church in Need office.

(CNA photo Courtesy of Remi Marzina Momica)

mind,” he said, noting that part of his face was deformed by the explosion, which wounded close to 100 students and left the owner of a nearby vehicle repair shop dead.

The seminarian underwent nine surgeries just to reconstruct his nose. His sister’s injuries were “severe,” he said, but less serious than his own.

“The minute of the explosion, one would really feel that the world was coming to an end — a roller coaster of fear, of death, of a bottomless pit,” he recalled. “The only word that we could utter was, ‘Oh Mother Mary, help us!’”

Attacks and bombings continued to take place after the bus incident, Momica noted, drawing specific attention to an attack on a church in Baghdad, which left priests and most of the congregation dead.

The blood of the “innocent Christians” who died during the church attack “was proof of love for our Lord Jesus, Who Himself was persecuted and left to die on the cross for no other reason than being clean, honest and loving. This is who we (Christians) are,” the seminarian explained.

However, despite the severity and frequency of attacks against Christians in Iraq, Mo-

Once ISIS attacked Qaraqosh itself August 6 in the middle of the night, the men joined with the Kurdish army, known as the “Peshmerga,” in trying to fight off the wellarmed extremists “with any means they had,” which were mostly “primitive” weapons.

As the battle in Qaraqosh unfolded, ISIS militants bombed houses, with one rocket landing in a house and killing two children, four and nine years old, the seminarian recalled, adding that three other children were wounded while standing in front of their homes, and a 30-year-old woman was also killed.

While the former archbishop of the Qaraqosh first urged Christians to stay and fight, he and the city’s priests “found it wiser to leave” as the night went on and ISIS advanced to “the gates” of the city.

“Displacement began. Believe me it was a bad experience. Means of transportation were not available, so most people had to escape on foot, walking on long, rocky, insectinfested roads, with babies and children,” he recounted.

Momica said that with no food, water or protection from the heat, Christians were fed “with the food of belief,

parks and in churches since no house would open its doors to them, he recalled.

All this was “only the beginning,” Momica said, explaining that people have been forced to stay in caravans, refugee compounds or half-constructed buildings with no doors or windows for protection.

His own family was among those fleeing that night, including his mother and his brother’s two small children, one of whom was just six days old at the time.

Momica told CNA that he was in Spain at the time of the attack, but got a phone call from his family saying they had tried to pile eight people into his brother’s small car to leave, but turned back out of fear the young baby would die due to the extreme heat.

After waiting for several hours, the seminarian said he finally convinced his family to take the risk and leave. So they piled back into the car and went to Erbil, where they stayed with other families in a church for a while before finding a small house to rent, where they currently live.

After returning from Spain he joined his family in Erbil for one month, where he worked 18 hours a day helping refu-

gees, many of whom became ill due to the heat, before being asked by his bishop to go to Lebanon.

The seminarian said that when his bishop initially asked him, he didn’t want to go, and told the bishop he would prefer to stay and help the refugees. However, after receiving his bishop’s instruction to finish his studies in the seminary, he consented and left Erbil in September.

In addition to Rome, Momica also traveled to Geneva, Madrid, Cordoba and France to speak about the situation of Christians in Iraq after being invited by a woman his bishop knows in Cordoba.

He is currently visiting his family in Erbil, and will return to Lebanon when classes resume after the Easter holiday.

In reference to the situation of Iraq’s Christians, Momica said that “a culture of God’s Word, a people of Jesus, (have been) left in the cold to meet a dark destiny,” and called on the international community to intervene.

Pope Francis also drew attention to the plight of Christians persecuted worldwide in his first Easter Regia Coeli address, which is a Marian prayer traditionally recited during the Liturgical Easter season.

Speaking to the Shalom Community, which sponsored a relay to show solidarity with and raise awareness of persecuted Christians, the pope said that prayers need to increase.

“Your itinerary on the streets is over, but what must continue on the part of all is the Spiritual journey of prayer, intense prayer,” Francis told pilgrims and members of the community present.

“Concrete participation and tangible help in the defense and protection of our brothers and sisters, who are persecuted, exiled, killed, beheaded, for the only reason of being a Christian,” are needed, he said, stressing that martyrs today are more numerous than in the first centuries of Christianity.

Francis closed his appeal by expressing his sincere hope “that the international community does not look the other way.”

Momica also offered prayers that God would give the international community “the clarity of vision to see the truth and help (their) brethren in distress.”

Youth Pages

16

April 17, 2015

Third- and fourth-grade students at All Saints Catholic School in New Bedford recently shared their musical talent at an open house, as an example of one of the varied opportunities for music education at ASCS. Before them are displayed All Saints T-shirts designed to celebrate the many after-school activities there.

Sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students at St. Margaret Regional School in Buzzards Bay re-enacted the Last Supper as students, faculty, and parents watched quietly and reverently. Matzoh was passed out to the audience for all to share in the breaking of the bread. At the end of the Supper, students donated a canned good to benefit the Bourne Food Pantry.

Pre-kindergartners at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Taunton recently enjoyed the little chicks that paid a visit to their classroom.

The students of St. Francis Xavier School in Acushnet took on a great almsgiving cause this Lent that also helped them practice their math skills by taking part in the St. Jude’s Math-A-Thon. Students raised nearly $5,000 through sponsorships for St. Jude’s Research Hospital. Pictured are the SFX math superheroes the Numerators (members of the National Junior Honor Society) who helped facilitate the event.

Holy Trinity Church in West Harwich has a Good Friday tradition with its grade-nine Confirmation students. They package and wrap Easter breads and deliver them in teams to parishioners who have lost a loved one during the year. This year’s students involved in the project were: Hannah Muse, Patrick Smeltzer, Matthew Veary, Tara Barry, Katie Dever, McKenna Watson, and Danielle Andreasson.

St. Mary-Sacred Heart School in North Attleboro recently held a Mass, during which the Holy Union Sisters who reside in the Fall River Diocese, renewed their vows. The Holy Union Sisters are the same order that founded Sacred Heart School in 1923, and which later merged to be St. Mary-Sacred Heart School. After the Mass, the six Sisters who renewed their vows; Sisters Kathee Corrigan, Helen Poirier, Cecile Mousseau, Connie Gagnon, Barbara Walsh and Alice Arsenault, stayed and shared coffee and snacks with the two fifth-grade classes taught by Theresa Montesano and Sarah Merigold. Then the students interviewed the Sisters and asked questions about their decisions to become a nun and what they have done as a nun.

The pre-k students from St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro recently collected infant accessories such as diapers, sleepers, washcloths and blankets for New Hope as their third annual Lenten Service Project. Pictured with the students are pre-k teachers Tammy O’Malley and Kim Cavanaugh along with Christina Gohring, Outreach Specialist for New Hope.

April 17, 2015

W

ho is your superhero?

During last month’s Youth Rallies at Bishop Stang High School, I pondered that question as was asked

by Brad and Gene of APeX Ministries. Is it your mom, your dad, a sibling, a friend, a saint? Then Brad went on to share a story about his superhero, his little sister.

The world may have looked upon his sister as a burden to society because of her special needs. But, it was her unconditional love for him and all people she met that made her Brad’s superhero. She was the pick-me-up at the end of a rough day, when, walking through the door, she hurriedly ran to you and embraced you with a love and tenderness so unique that you just wanted it to last forever.

Youth Pages Superheroes

Then, Brad looked at all That’s no paradox. That’s the of us, youth and adults alike, constancy of God. and echoed these words, Now if God purposely “You are a unique and untook so much trouble to repeatable reality of God’s create each of us as a wholly creation.” I purposely used unique human being then the word “echoed” because why do we, at times, try to at that very moment I felt it be someone we’re not? The was something that God has been telling all of us since the very beginning. Brad was simply making us aware of this awesome truth!

By Ozzie Pacheco You are a creation of God, wholly unique. There has never been someone like superheroes in our lives are you, not in the past, not now, not meant for us to become not ever. What does that them, but rather for us to tell you about God’s love for imitate them in their kindyou? From the moment of ness, compassion, love and creation God’s love for you charity. You’re still you, has always been the same: wholly unique. Be the person the rock, the stronghold, the God made you to be beever-dependable lover of you. cause you do have something unique to offer the world.

If we are not conscious of The Anchor is always pleased to run God’s plan for us then we begin to create a paradox for news and photos about our diocesan youth. If our very lives. Think about following paradox of our schools, parish Religious Education programs, the time, as written by a Columor home-schoolers bineWestudent: have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider have newsworthy freeways, but narrower viewstories and pho- points.

We spend more, but have tos they would less.

We buy more, but enjoy it like to share with less.

We have bigger houses and our readers, send smaller families; more conveniences, but less time. them to: schools@ We have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but anchornews.org less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medi-

Be Not Afraid

Ninety-two students from Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro recently participated in the American Mathematics Contest. The purpose of the contest is to fuel students’ interest in mathematics and to develop talent through the excitement of friendly competition of problem-solving in a timed format.

Top scorers at Bishop Feehan in the contest were Henry Karshis, Naman Madan, Joseph Malone, Jackson Perry, Olivia Phillips, Kelly Price, and Cole Scharland.

The students are pictured with their mentors, vice principal of academics, Ann Perry; chairman of mathematics, Jacqueline Briant; and principal Sean Kane.

17

cine, but less wellness.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.

We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life.

We’ve added years to life, not life to years.

We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.

We’ve conquered outer space, but not inner space.

We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.

We’ve split the atom, but not our prejudice.

We have higher incomes, but lower morals.

We’ve become long on quantity, but short on quality.

These are the times of tall men, and short character; steep prof its, and shallow relationships.

These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.

These are days of two

incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes.

It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom.

Who is your superhero?

Does he or she represent a paradox for our time or is he or she a constant of love in your life. Jesus said a unique and unrepeatable miracle of God with His last Words before dying on the cross, “It is finished” ( Jn 19:30). With that one phrase He pronounced the end of an unrepeatable and unique miracle.

He completed the work of purchasing our forgiveness of sins by suffering and dying on the cross. There is nothing anyone can add to what Christ did. He did it all.

So, next time you look at a crucifix, think this, “He died for me.” Next time you think of the empty tomb, think this, “He arose to give me the promise of new life.”

And by the way, have you considered that you may be a superhero for someone else?

God bless!

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

UMass Dartmouth Catholic Campus Ministry statement on verdict in the Boston Marathon bombing case NORTH DARTMOUTH — The verdict reached in the Boston Marathon bombing case brings a sense of justice but also of sadness. We are reminded of the lives lost, four innocent human beings who had so much to offer the world.

We are saddened that a young man used his talents not to create or work for a better world, but for destruction and death. There was so much lost that day.

Our faith is focused on the Resurrection and as a result keeps us hopeful that the power of God’s love and compassion will overcome the darkness of sin and evil in our world. It helps us to recognize the good in our midst.

It is because of this hope that we continue to pray

for the victims and their families and friends. We pray for our community at UMass Dartmouth that so unwillingly became connected to these events. We were proud of the response of the UMass Dartmouth community in 2013 and continue to be proud of our students who seek to show the world what the Corsairs are really about: building a better world for all.

We also realize that the news of the verdict may bring back some unsettling memories for our students.

Please know of our prayers for you and know that Deacon Frank, Father Bob and Father David are available if you wish to talk.

Father David Frederici Deacon Frank Lucca Father Bob Roetzel

18 My Brother’s Keeper makes milestone 1,000th delivery

April 17, 2015

so I do a little bit of every- sets of linens and kitchenware, thing,” Boucher said. “I’m glad sewing, cleaning furniture and continued from page one with what I’ve been doing. I’m administration.

To donate, volunteer Smith said student volunteers to know how many people furniture to families in need, happy and it keeps my wheels we’ve been able to help over the mission of My Brother’s or learn more about My from UMass Dartmouth and spinning. And it’s very fulfillthis past year has been mindKeeper is simple: “To bring the ing to me to do this work.”

Brother’s Keeper, visit www.

Providence College in Rhode love and hope of Jesus Christ Island have also become in- blowing.”

Although a lot of retirees MyBrothersKeeper.org or call “The first time you deliver to those we serve.” volved, which has made all the from the area have come in to 774-305-4577. furniture to a family, it’s eyeAlthough it doesn’t attempt volunteer, Smith said they are difference.

“At some point, hitting opening, because you don’t to evangelize and there are no always looking for more help In Your Prayers 1,000 is just a number, but really know what to expect,” religious requirements to par- at the Dartmouth facility.

Please pray for these priests it means that we’re going to added Faith Krefft, a student ticipate, with each furniture “We’re always looking for during the coming weeks be serving more families in volunteer from Providence delivery My Brother’s Keeper help with a variety of tasks, April 18 need and we’re going to bring College. “You walk into this offers a crucifix with the mes- particularly during the mornRev. Hugh B. Harrold, Pastor, St. Mary, Mansfield, 1935 Christ’s love and hope to family’s home and they wel- sage: “We’re just the delivery ings when students are in Rt. Rev. John F. McKeon, P.R., them,” Smith said. “They’re come you in and you’re giving people; this is the Man Who classes,” he said. “Everything Pastor, St. Lawrence, New Bedreally struggling and their them something that’s so valu- sent you the furniture.” Fami- from cleaning furniture to ford, 1956 faith is being tested, so to see able and meaningful to them. lies receiving help are free to packaging linens to assemRev. Joao Vieira Resendes, Retired Pastor, Espirito Santo, Fall Riva group of volunteers coming You give them a couch or a bed accept or decline the cross and bling box springs to testing er, 1984 in with smiles on their faces, it and they’re so grateful for the anyone living in the service appliances — there’s really no Rev. Wilfred C. Boulanger, M.S., small things we do for them.” area is eligible to receive help, shortage of projects.” means a lot.”

La Salette Shrine, Attleboro, 1985 This marks the latest in a regardless of religious beliefs.

“Without question, the For Smith, My Brother’s Rev. George E. Amaral, Retired “Giving out a crucifix with Keeper remains a unique comsingle biggest factor in ac- series of milestones for My Pastor, St. Anthony, Taunton, each delivery really raises the munity service that benefits complishing this milestone so Brother’s Keeper.

1992 Permanent Deacon Vincent P. In 2013, the ministry cele- bar,” Smith said. “That’s why the giver and recipient. quickly has been the tremenWalsh, 2014 dous involvement of volunteers, brated its 25th anniversary and we need to bring the best qual“The service we are providespecially student volunteers,” made its 100,000th delivery of ity furniture to these families, ing is very much needed by April 19 Rev. William Wiley, Pastor, St. said Erich Miller, president of furniture, food or Christmas because we’re doing this in these families, but in the long Mary, Taunton, 1855 My Brother’s Keeper. “More assistance (two additional pro- Christ’s name. Many of the term, these young people who Rev. Msgr. Leo J. Duart, Pastor, than 600 students have already grams provided by its Easton families that we’re assisting come and serve with us, their St. Peter the Apostle, Provincetown, 1975 walked through our doors in facility). This past December, have been through real hard- lives are enriched as well,” he Rev. Daniel E. Carey, Chaplain, Dartmouth and taken on our My Brother’s Keeper provided ships — they’ve been sleeping said. “They’ll remember servCatholic Memorial Home, ReChristmas assistance to more on the floor, they’ve had to deal ing Carmen, our 1,000th remission as their own.” tired Pastor, St. Dominic, Swansea, 1990 The landmark 1,000th de- than 3,000 families for the first with bed bugs — and these can cipient, and they’ll remember Rev. Msgr. Antonino Tavares, Rebe very traumatic experiences.” meeting her and her daughter livery was made in Fall River time in its history. tired Pastor, Santo Christo, Fall My Brother’s Keeper chose This is where the volunteer and hearing about their situato Carmen, a mother of two River, 2008 young children, on March 31. to locate its second facility on efforts of people like Ron Me- tion. And we’ve seen students April 20 “It’s a sad and tragic story,” the South Coast given the lev- deiros come into play. changed by the experience.”

Rev. Edward F. Coyle, S.S., St. Medeiros, who had worked said Smith, “but one we hear el of need locally and the lack My Brother’s Keeper’s Mary Seminary, Baltimore, often at My Brother’s Keeper. of furniture resources available for the City of New Bedford Dartmouth facility picks up Md., 1954 Rev. James E. O’Reilly, Retired Carmen became homeless af- to struggling families in the before retiring four years ago, gently-used residential furniPastor, Our Lady of Mount ter losing her job. To keep a area. Thanks to generous com- now spends two to three days ture in 24 area communities.

Carmel, Seekonk, 1970 roof over their heads, the fam- munity support, the organiza- a week volunteering at My No drop-offs are allowed. All Rev. James P. Dalzell, Retired Pastor St. Joseph, Woods Hole, ily moved from friend to friend tion has extended its furniture Brother’s Keeper, where he donations are tax-deductible 1999 assistance program to serve 18 assembles and builds wooden every couple of weeks. Carand no donated items are ever box spring frames. men finally saved enough for surrounding cities and towns. sold. All furniture is delivered April 21 Rev. John O’Beirne, Pastor St. “Between our Dartmouth “I’ve been here almost a free-of-charge to local families an apartment of her own, but Mary, Taunton before we came the only thing and Easton facilities, we cover year-and-a-half and I’ve put in need.

Rev. Thomas Feeley, C.S.C., Holy she had was a borrowed futon.” from the South Coast to the together almost 1,100 box My Brother’s Keeper is also Cross Family Ministries, 2004 Student volunteers from south shore of Massachusetts,” springs,” Medeiros said. “I’m in need of volunteers of all ages April 22 Bishop Stang High School Smith said. “We try to keep just happy I found My Broth- and skills, for tasks such as asRev. James L. Smith, Pastor, Saand Providence College helped our delivery area to within a er’s Keeper. I was going to walk sisting with furniture pickcred Heart, Taunton, 1910 deliver beds, a crib, two dress- 30-minute radius. We started dogs in a dog shelter, but I de- ups and deliveries, assembling Rev. Thomas F. Fitzgerald, Pastor, St. Mary, Nantucket, 1954 ers, a kitchen table and chairs, providing our service here in cided that wasn’t for me.”

“Since he started here, he’s and a full living room set, as Fall River, but as of the first of well as household items such this year we now provide ser- helped get more than 1,000 The Anchor spends nearly $2,000 as linens, pots and pans, dishes vice to New Bedford as well. people up off the floor,” Smith in postage change fees each year! and lamps. The two-bedroom We’re seeing a lot of calls com- said. “If we had to go out and The Post Office charges The Anchor 70 cents for notificaapartment was fully furnished ing in now and we’re looking purchase these box springs, it tion of a subscriber’s change of address. Please help us forward to more families hear- would probably cost us anby the time they finished. reduce these expenses by notifying us immediately when other $60,000 a year — and “I’ve had the opportunity ing about us.” you plan to move.

“What I have learned over that’s money we can now put to make several furniture dePlease Print Your New Address Below liveries like this one over the the years is you never know back into the program and buy NAME: past two years,” said Anthony where someone is going to things like mattresses and linMahoney-Pacheco, a senior need help,” Smith added. ens. Many of our vendors will STREET ADDRESS: at Bishop Stang High School “Over the years, we have seen provide products at cost, which and a Fall River resident. our services needed more in ru- also helps us to serve as many CITY, STATE, ZIP: “What makes volunteering at ral communities where people families as possible.”

Dan Boucher, a volunteer My Brother’s Keeper so special are struggling, too. We don’t NEW PARISH: is I get to meet the families we want people to have to prove who has become known as serve and see the difference I their need, we want to be able the “resident fix-it guy” at the MOVING DATE: to meet them where they’re at Dartmouth facility, does evam making.”

“I think having just made and lift them up in the most erything from carpentry work Please attach your Anchor address label so we can update our 1,000th delivery is a huge dignified and respectful way to refinishing tables to fixing your record immediately. appliances. accomplishment,” said Sharon possible.”

Clip and mail form to: The Anchor, In addition to providing “I tell people, they never Kumar, a student volunteer P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722 from UMass Dartmouth. “Just gently-used and refurbished told me what I couldn’t do,

19

April 17, 2015

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Diocese to host film on immigrant parish

A free-will offering will be NEW BEDFORD — St. Center, and the City of New Anthony of Padua Parish in Bedford’s Human Relations accepted from members of the audience.

New Bedford will host a special Commission. screening of the recently-released documentary film “Adelante” on April 23 at 7 p.m.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Greater Attleboro is sponsoring The joyously surprising film deits fourth annual Family Walk — Helping Our Neighbors. The scribes the renewal of 175-yearwalk will take place, rain or shine, on April 18 from 9 a.m. to old St. Patrick Parish of Norris12 noon at the National Audubon Society’s Attleboro Springs town, Pa., with a newly-arrived Wildlife Sanctuary, right next to La Salette Shrine at 947 Park Street (Route 118) in Attleboro. This fun-filled family event will Mexican immigrant population. include guided nature tours, balloons, face-painting, refreshAnthropologist Noam Osband, ments and is pet-friendly. All proceeds from the walk go directly currently a graduate student at to those less fortunate in the neighboring towns of North Attlethe University of Pennsylvania, boro, Attleboro, Mansfield, Norton, Rehoboth and Seekonk. For more information or to pre-register for the Family Walk, visit http://svdpattleboro.org emphasizes the community and or register on-site the day of the walk. faith traditions as celebrated by the new parishioners and St. Anthony of the Desert Parish, 300 North Eastern Avenue in Fall River, is the similarity of these values to hosting a Fashion Show on April 26 at 2 p.m. in the parish center. Fashions are being provided by TJ Maxx and will be modeled by teens and pre-teens those of the Irish immigrants of the parish. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children six-10 years of who populated the parish when age. Refreshments will be served and all proceeds will benefit the parish. founded in 1835.

For tickets or more information contact Terry at terrygalib@comcast.net.

While the addition of SpanSome tickets may be available at the door and all are welcome to join this afternoon of fun. ish-language Liturgies are the structural change, parishioners A Cosi Benefit Night will be held April 30 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Cosi’s in discuss in detail the various Wareham. During this time, 10 percent of all food and beverage sales will social and community customs benefit the Damien Food Pantry, also in Wareham, and Rob Grant’s upcoming charity run in Pittsburgh on May 3. that Mexican Catholics have implemented in this parish reThe Southeastern Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Partnership is offering seminewal. The parish has attained a nars for caregivers. Panel members are professionals in a variety of fields bilingual council. Director Osand will provide valuable information on the topics of Elder Law, Adult Day Health, Alzheimer’s Association Programs, Assisted Living, Homecare, Hosband shows that even as many pice, Long-Term Care, Geriatric Care Managers, Monitoring Programs, Redaily issues of economics, eduverse Mortgages, State Agencies for Elder Services, and a caregiver’s percation, and health care are afsonal experience. Seminars will be held May 3 at 12 noon at St. Andrew the fected by the mixed-status of Apostle Church, 19 Kilmer Avenue in Taunton (RSVP to Phoebe Worcester at 508-822-9200 or pcworcester@gmail.com) and May 6 at 4:30 p.m. at the many parish households, immiFairhaven Council on Aging, 229 Huttleston Avenue in Fairhaven (RSVP to gration issues also affect parish Pat Midurski at 508-992-6278 or pmidurski@communitynurse.com).

Sacraments. Couples planning to wed are unable to visit inA Pilgrimage of Joy, Hope and Healing will travel June 17-22 to St. Joseph Oratory in Montreal and Quebec City. Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C., President laws and other family members of Holy Cross Family Ministries, will lead the pilgrimage with daily Mass and at will, while visa considerations Rosary. Bring your prayer petitions for all your family and friends, particularly serve to limit the number of inthose seeking healing. The group will visit many special places of historic and vited guests. religious significance and a special experience awaits at the St. Joseph Oratory of Mount Royal, where a reliquary of St. André, known as the “Miracle Dr. Lisa Maya Knauer, Man of Montreal,” is on display. The trip includes six days and five nights. For chairman of the Department more details, call Holy Cross Family Ministries at 508-238-4095 or visit www. of Sociology and AnthropolFamilyRosary.org/Events. ogy at UMass Dartmouth, will All are welcome for an Hour of Mercy, Prayer for Families, every Friday, 3-4 screen the film on campus the p.m. to gather for Adoration, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Litany of St. Joseph same afternoon. Knauer comand Benediction, in the Chapel of the Father Peyton Center, 518 Washington ments, “With the kind hospiStreet, North Easton. The Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession is tality of St. Anthony Parish, also available daily – Monday through Friday from 3-4 p.m. For additional information call Holy Cross Family Ministries at 508-238-4095, extension we hope to foster an impor2027 or logon to www.FamilyRosary.org/Events. tant conversation with members of the Central American community in the North End along with English-speaking parishioners and community members of longer standing.”

St. Patrick Parish estimates that up to 1,500 Mexican immigrants have enlivened the parish since the new century began. While Mexican-Americans are pleased to participate in the traditional St. Patrick’s Day potluck meal, the parish’s emphasis on the Our Lady of Guadalupe feast day remains relatively new.

The screening is co-sponsored by Catholic Social Services, Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores, the Community Education and Development Center, United Interfaith Action, the Immigrant Assistance

Around the Diocese

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April 17, 2015

Dune buggies, moon buggies and spring

A

dmit it. We all thought But that wasn’t to be. It’s gone! it. At least most of us The only snow I can find today did. We were sure that the rem- is the stuff that appears on the nants, the tons and tons of remnants of the relentless snowfall of the winter of 2014-15 would still be with us in June and July.

I had visions of cooling off on a hot summer day by

By Dave Jolivet driving to the nearest mall and sliding down the snow mountains on my old aluminum flying saucer (for those steaks I tucked away in my freezreaders who know not of what I er sometime last year. speak, ask an older sibling, a parIt’s spring. The signs are out ent or grandparent). there.

My View From the Stands

— Easter Sunday has come and gone. Albeit Easter came only a couple of weeks after the earliest date it can occur.

— It can be 60 degrees one day and 20 the next.

— We still have to scrape ice off the windshield in the morning, but those instances are diminishing.

— It takes a dune buggy to drive around the streets because there’s so much sand on the roads.

— It takes a moon buggy to drive around the streets because of all the craters left as a reminder of winter’s nasty bite (again, for you younger readers a moon buggy was the vehicle our U.S. astronauts drove on the moon in the ’70s. It was officially called an LRV, Lunar Roving Vehicle).

— Fences and berms are damaged because of snow plows, and limbs hang precariously from the trees upon which they spent decades securely attached.

— Igor no longer has to search for her “spot” any more. She has the run of the terrain.

— Getting back to sand, there’s more sand on my living room floor than there is at Horseneck Beach right now. I’m thinking of collecting it all and placing it in a place on my deck to get that beach feel at home this summer.

— Insects are starting to stir, and in places you don’t want them to stir.

— You go to fire up the grill for the first time this year only to recall you ran out of gas last October and promised yourself you would refill it before spring set in.

Yep, spring is here in all its glory. But after the winter we just endured, please don’t take these aforementioned signs as complaints. I’m grateful we’re finally getting to see them. It’s the rite of passage into summer — a season most of us never thought we’d see again. davejolivet@anchornews.org.

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