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FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS

Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly

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$14 Per Year

All invited to 9 a.m. Mass, April 26 in Fall River

Cardinal O'Connor makes first visit to diocese tomorrow His Eminence, John Cardinal O'Connor, Archbishop of New York, and staunch Pro-Life supporter, will make his first visit to the Diocese of Fall River, Saturday, April 26. The cardinal will be the principal celebrant of the ~ass opening the annual diocesan Pro-Life Convention at Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River. Everyone is invited to experience the Mass with the cardinal and listen to his homily.

To those involved in the Pro-Life Apostolate, the cardinal needs no introduction, since he is known to be the "Prime Minister of Life" for the Catholic Church in this country.

Cardinal O'Connor is the former chair of the U.S. Bishops' Committee for Pro-Life Activities.

John O'Connor was ordained a priest on Dec. 15, 1945, for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. With advanced degrees in ethics, clinical psychology and political theory, he served the archdiocese as teacher and pastor.

For 27 years, he served the United States Navy and Marine Corps as chaplain. He eventually rose to the rank of rear admiral. When he left the military in 1979, CARDINAL JOHN J. O'CONNOR Pope John Paul II 01'' . dained him bishop, in which ministry he served the ArchdIOcese for Military Services.

In 1983, he became Bishop of Scranton, PA, and in 198~, he was named Archbishop of New York. He became a cardInal in 1985.

Cardinal O'Connor has long been an outspoken opponent of abortion. Last August, he called on all Catholics to wage a spiritual struggle again~t partial-birth abo~tions by committing themselves to abstam from meat on Fndays for one year. He described the "barbaric procedure" of partialbirth abortion as "infanticide."

The cardinal considers one of the highlights of his prolife work to be the founding of the Sisters of Life, a community of women religious who live a contemplative/active life Turn to Page 8

Directions to Mass with Cardinal O'Connor at Bishop Connolly High School, Fall River From East: From Rte. 195 W, proceed to Rte. 24 N and take the President Ave. exit. Off the rotary, take the first leg (at Newport Creamery). At the first set of lights turn right onto Elsbree St., where the school entrance is about 300 yards on the right. .

From North: From Rte. 24 S, take President Ave. exit and follow directions as above.

From South and West: From Rte. 195 E, proceed to Rte. 24 N. Take President Ave. exit and follow directions above.

THE LEADERS of the 1997 Catholic Oharities Appeal, Msgr. Thomas J. Harrington, diocesan director, and Drew D. Ward; ,lay director, shake hands after Ward's address at the prayer servi.ce held at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall River, inaugurating the campaign. (Anchor/ Jolivet photo)

Bishop 0 'Malley opens 1997 Catholic Charities Appeal with prayer service

By Dave Jolivet Anchor staff The 1997 Catholic Charities Appeal was officially opened last Sunday, not amid fanfare and a joyous celebration, but rather in the context of prayer, song and worship.

Bishop Sean O'Malley, OFM, Cap., led a prayer service at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall River, before several hundred volunteers and friends of the appeal.

In his address, the bishop told the congregation that part o~ St. Paul's rninistry.in~luded taking up collectlOns for needy Christlans of his day. "For Paul, the collections were taken to respond to the physical needs of God's people," said the bishop. "But, it ~as also a lesson to teach us about the umty of the church." Bishop O'Malley explained that in the early church, there were some peopJe .who felt the Gentiles were second-class Chnstlans.

"Paul was trying to show early Christians that all Christians, Jew or Gentile, were true members of the Church," he said.

"The Catholic Charities Appeal can be an experience of our faith in Jesl;ls Christ livi~g in the Church, and an expresslOn of the umty and love t.hat exist among us," added Bishop O'Malley.

Drew D. Ward, a parishioner of St. Joseph, Attleboro, and the lay chairman for this year's appeal also addressed those in attendance at the Cathedral. Ward told them that initially he wasn't sure why he was chosen as lay director, but later realized that "God doesn't

want me to speak for them, but He wants me to share with you about them." By them, Ward meant "the hungry, the homeless, the AIDS patients and their loved ones, victims of abuse - physical, mental and sexual, the runaways, the pregnant teenagers, our Spanish brothers and sisters, others who don't speak English of other. nationalities, those in prison, in the hospital, those fighting to prevent abortions, the alcoholic, drug addicts, the lonely, the elderly, and the list goes on and on."

"All of these people are affected by the success of this year's Catholic Charities AI?peal," said Ward, who has firsthand. exp~n­ ence dealing with those in need. ~e IS actIv.e in the Vincentian apostolate, servmg as preSIdent of the St. Joseph's Parish Conference and as vice pre'sident of the Attleb~ro Dis.t:rict Council. Ward also serves as VIce chau of the Attleboro Human Rights council and is a member of the Attleboro Homeless Coalition.

In addition, Ward is the founder of the Food Cellar at St. Joseph's, which has grown over the years to be a signi~~ant res0':lrce for needy individuals and farmhes, servmg over 200 families weekly in the greater Attleboro area. act of love, and your gift of "Giving is love is so important to so many people and programs," said Ward.

Msgr. Thomas J. Harrington, director of the appeal, was very optimistic about the op~n­ ing prayer service. "I was very happpy WIth the turnout, the parishes were well represented

an

Turn to Page Three

2 THE ANCHOR -,-,-'Diocese Of·fall River c.:.:.-Fri.,;l\pr'ir2S,.199F

Large print, please!

Dear Editor: Just a short note to tell you how much I enjoy the larger printed articles.

It would be nice if the entire

'Dialogue needed Dear Editor: Publishing letters to the Editor invites more. So thank you!

I write to say that I found the editorial, 4/11/97, smug and the subject in need of a deeper analysis.

The column addressed prolife issues and in part took the Kennedy office-holders to task for being "uneasy Catholics." I too have difficulty with office holders who are Catholic but make all-too-facile distinctions between private and public morality. So no argumenOt there.

SISTER KIM MARIE KASAKAITAS

Served in Hyannis:

Missionary Servant makes final vows Sister Kim Marie KasaKaitas of the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity pronounced perpetual vows of poverty, chastity and obedience at an April 7 ceremony at the community's motherhouse in Philadelphia.

Earlier she had served in the religious education program of St. Francis Xavier parish, Hyannis, and also in Pensacola, Florida, where she taught in St. John's School.

A native of Iron Mountain, Michigan,she is a graduate of St. Norbert College, De Pere, Wisconsin. She entered the Missionary Servants in .1990, making her first profession of vows in' 1992.

This fall she will begin teaching in Lumberton, New Mexico.

In the Fall River diocese, the Missionary Servants serve in St. Mary's parish, Mansfield; Holy Family, Taunton; St. Patrick, Wareham; and Sacred Heart, New Bedford.

TV Mass program note Please note that the TV Mass on WLNE, Channel 6, will begin at 7:30 a.m. (one half-hour earlier than usual) on Apr. 27 and run until 8:30 a.m. It will be a special taped edition of Cardinal O'Connor's Pro-Life Mass from Bishop Connolly High School on Apr. 26.

St. Anne's Hospital to offer free skin cancer exams

However, I find it shortsighted to claim that only some Catholics have a "buffet" mind toward their faith. I know that many voices have been raised to decry the selectivity with which we live our Christian faith. But such lamenting is old hat and lacks a down to earth appreciation of what has always been the case, like it or not. And especially in areas of what is possible over against What is perfect, there has always been deep conflict. ... since the foundation period of the movement.

Do we or do we not waltz with the Roman Empire: Pastoral Letters of Timothy and Titus -yes; Apocalypse - no!

On a deeper level, we speak of the canon within the canon, a measure with which to judge one in or out. The phrase was used with regard to the Lutheran respect for the central and governing influence of Paul's Letter to the Romans, in articulating the Gospel of Jesus; the phrase also evaluates the Roman

Catholic attention to the Petrine Office as normative of the faith.

Finally there's the concern of Vatican II to speak about the "hie'tarchy of truths" meaning that the truths of our faith relate differently to the central affirmation that Jesus is Lord, some closer and some more removed.' Why, even St. Thomas was a ware that as we move away from the primary principles of.natural law - do good, avoid evil- we move into areas where honest people can disagree.

So, we come to the necessity fo(dialogue, earnestly requested of us by Pope John Paul II in his letter "Ut Unum Sint." We need to listen to each other and find out why we choose the principles of selectivity which we do; why, for example, one is exercised by the demands of sexual morality and another sees the demands of social justice, why one is called to promote disengagement from the earthly task and an'other is graced to enter this complex arena of debate, why one is called to sustain the institution and another is urged by expe~ rience to care for those who fall by the wayside.

A Catholic newspaper is where we engage in dialogue with each other and where everyone needs to find his or her voice! .Father David P. Reid, SS.Cc. New Bedford

"De gustibus non est disputandum" (Concerning tastes there is'no disputing).

Editor

paper were printed i,n large print. This would make it easier for us older people with poor eyesight to enjoy the paper.

Lillian M. Theroux Taunton

This is a good idea. but larger ,print would mean eitha fewer articles in the Anchor or tl paper with more pages - which would mean higher subscription rates.

That's our dilemma.

Editor

U nsettlin!~ statement Dear Editor: On April 11th, Father John Dietzen in responding to a question, stated ...... it is likely that those brothers and sisters of the Lord were children from a previous marriage of Joseph...."

He refers to Matt. 12:47 as an indication of Jesus having brothers and sisters. In v:,. 4850 Jesus said, ...... Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?

Then, extending his hand toward his disciples, he said, "There are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is bmther and sister and mother to me."

In fact, haven't there been t.imes when James and John were referred to as Jesus' brot:lers?

Yet their parents were Zebedee and Salome.

John, Chap. 19, vs. 2:i-27: "Near the cross of Jesus i:here stood his mother.... Seeing his mother there with the disciple whom he loved, Jesus said to his mother, "Woman, there is your son.".ln turn he said to the disciple, "There is your moth.er."

From that hour onward, the disciple took her into his care."

Why would Jesus leave his mother in his disciple John's care if Joseph had been previously married and had children? I certainly do not believe this unsettling statement about Saint Joseph!

Genevieve E. Foley New Bedford

New millennium newsletter WASHINGTON (CNS) - Jubilee 2000, a bimonthly newsletter published by the bishops' Secretariat for the Third Millennium and the Jubilee Year 2000, contains a variety of information about the

church's preparations for the year 2000.

Specific sections of the newsletter highlight diocesan and parish initiatives, education and formation, ecumenical and interre-

Vocation Office hosts high school students

The diocesan Vocation Office recently hosted' a gathering for high school students at Sacred Heart rectory in Fall River. This gathering, to be held monthly, was an opp.ortunity for the students to The Hudner Oncology Center ." An estimated 800,000 skin talk about their faith and service at St. Anne's Hospital, Fall River, cancer cases will be diagnosed in with other young people, There will offer free skin cancer screen- 1997 alone," said -Dr. Daily, adding was time to pray together and get ings May 20 and 21 in a coopera-. that the screenings offered by the to know others who share a similar tive effort with the American Center provide'an opportunity to interest in Christian service.

Cancer Society to identify Roten- identify and treat this type of cancer Most of those who attended are tial areas of concern and to increase at its early and most curable stage.. awareness of 'the early warning The examinations will include basic actively involved in their parish as signs of skin cancer. evaluation of an individual's skin· servers, CCD teachers, and in youth The screenings will be conducted surface, focusing on detection of' groups. as well as other community service. from 4 to 6 p.m. May 20 and 21 by areas of concern such as warts, Arthur Daily, M D, at the Hudner moles or other skin abnormalities.

Persons with new or odd-shaped' Center, for which parking is available on Osborne and Forest Streets blemishes, moles with ragged or adjacent to the hospital. Appoint- blurry edges, spots that change ments for the screenings must be color or any growth larger than a made in. advance by calling (508) quarter of an inch are urged to 674-6266. The number may also be attend the screenings or to call called for more information on the their own doctor for an appointprocedure:··, " / .., ment.:. .... ,;:",;..;..' .\.~ .. , ..

The initial group was comprised of high school students from BMC Durfee and Bishop Connolly High Schools in Fall River,) oseph Case High School, Swansea, Bishop Feehan High School,· Attleboro and Taunton High School.

The next gathering will be on May 18, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. If you, or people you know, are active in parishes or other Christian service, send names to Father Craig Pregana, Vocation Office,' P.O. Box 2577, Fall River 02722, tel.

675-1311. Email: FRVocationOffice@Juno.com.

ligious activities, and social justice topics.

There are also sections for communications and media, prayer and worship, family life and pastoral ministry, art and culture, and history and theology. Each issue includes a bishops' page. Complimentary copies of the newsletter were sent to national Cal holic organizations and diocesan offices coordinating preparation activities for the Jubilee.

Subscriptions to the Jubilee 2000 newsletter are available for $15 by writing to the Secretariat for the Third Millennium and the Jubilee Year 2000, U.S. Catholic Conference, 3211 Fourth St. N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194.

New priests VATICAN CITY (CNS) -' Ordaining an international group of seminarians for service in the Diocese of Rome and a priest for South Korea, Pope John Paul II prayed that love for Christ and his church would mark their mini!:try.

"The church asks not only for the grace of the sacrament of priesthood for you, but also for sanctification so that you, in turn, may sanctify others," the pope said in his April 20 homily.

Pope to canonize two women ' Blessed Edith Stein VATICANCITY(CNS)·- Pope John Paul II recognized the cure of a young Massachusetts girl whose liver was thought to be beyond repair as a miracle attributed to Blessed Edith Stein, Papal recognition of at miracle attributed to a potential saint's intercession is generally the last stage before canonization. During a trip to West Germany in 1987, Pope John Paul beatified Blessed Stein. a Jewish-born nun killed in a Nazi death camp, The Massachusetts girl, Teresia Benedicta McCarthy. was named after Blessed Stein, who took the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross when she joined thc Carmelite order, Tcresia was 4 in 1987 when she swallowed the equivalent of 16 lethal doscs of Tylenol. Hcr parents, Melkite Father Emmanuel Charlcs McCarthy and his wife.

Mary, lived with their family in Brockton, a suburb of Boston, Since the local hospital could not deal with such extreme poisoning. Teresia was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Her liver was five times the normal size. Soon her kidneys began to fail. Within days she developed an infection and was put on a respirator. Doctors scheduled a liver transplant in the hopes of finding a donor.

At that point, T(:resia~s parents decided to pray to Edith Stein.

Mary McCarthy specifically sought her intercession and asked several dozen friends to also pray.

The next day. there were signs the liver was functioning. One doctor said if Teresia survived, it would be a year before the enlarged liver would return to normal size.

Five days later, her kidneys and liver were functioning normally, Blessed Stein, born in, 1891 to a Jewish family in what is now Wroclaw, Poland, first became an atheist, then converted to Catholicism at age 30. She became a Carmelite nun 10 years later.

As Adolf Hitler's influence expanded. Jews and people of Je.wish origin in Germany first faced harassment. then increasing c;Ianger. In 1938. Blessed Stein an~ her sister fled to the Netherlands tQ,take refuge in a Carmelite cloister where the Nazis permitted them to stay.

But after the Dutch bishops' conference issued' a letter opposing Nazi persecution, Blessed, Stein and her sister were d~ported to Auschwitz iilong with other Cat'holics of Jewish descent who had found temporary haven in the Netherlands. Blessed Stein died in the gas chamber Aug. 9, 1942.

Blessed Hedwig vATICAN CITY (CNS) -

Pope .I ohn Paul II approved,! miracle

attributed to Blessed Hedwig, a 14th-century queen of Poland. and plans to canonize her during a trip to his homeland in June.

Blessed Hedwig has long been an important figure to the pope, who brought her sainthood cause to the Vatican wh(:n he was elected in 1978. She has been considered a saint and political heroine by Poles for some 600 years.

The pontiff formally approved the miracle April 8 during a meeting with officials of the Congregation for Sainthood Causes. He plans to canonile her June 8 during a Mass in the southern Polish city of Krakow, where she died and where the pope was archbishop, Vatican Radio said.

In December. the pope declared the queen to have lived a life of heroic virtues. Earlier, the Vatican had confirmed her centuries-old local recognition as "blessed."

The Hungarian-born Hedwig was a major historical figure for the Polish nation. Her arranged marriage with a Lithuanian duke when she was 12 years old marked the birth of the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth. which became a major European power in succe.~d­ ing centuries. Before the marriage, the duke agreed that Lithuania would adopt Catholicism.

Blessed Hed wig died a t age 25 in 1399, and not much is known about her personal life. He... husband ruled another 35 years.

THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., April 25, 19973

April 26 1982, Rev. Ubalde Deneault, Pastor Emeritus, St. Joseph, Attleboro April 27 1925, Rev. Francis J. Bradley, D. D., Rector, Cathedral, Fall River 1949, Rev. Romeo D. Archambault, St. Anne, New Bedford April 28 1959, Rev. Stanislaus J. Goyette, Pastor, St. Louis de France. Swansea April 29 1987, Rev. Ja'mes Leo Maguire.

Pastor, Monterey Diocese. California 1989, Rev. Adolph Szelagowski, OFM Conv., Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, New Bedford April 30 1900, Rev. John A. Hurley, PastQr, St. Mary. North Attleboro 1930, Rev. David F. Sheedy, Pastor. St. John Evangelist, Attleboro 1993, Rev. John Moda. Retired Pastor, St. Mary's Ukrainian, Ford City, PA May I 1882, Rev. Francis J. Quinn,

OUR LADY'S RELIGIOUS STORE Mon. - Sat. 10:00 - 5:30 p.M.

GIFTS

Founder. Immaculate Conception, North Easton 1996, Rev. Joseph F. D'Amico, Retired Pastor, Sacred Heart. Oak Bluffs May 2 1963, Rt. Rev. Msgr. M.P. Leonidas Lariviere. Pastor, St. Jean Baptiste, Fall River

11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 THE ANCHOR (USPS-545-020). Periodical Postage Paid at Fall River, Mass. Published weekly except for the first two weeks in July and the week after Christmas at 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, Mass. 02720 by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River.

Subscription price by mail. postpaid $14.00 per year. Postmasters send address changes to The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722.

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THE PRAYER service for the Catholic Ch~rities Appeal drew people from allover the diocese to St. Mary's Cathedral in Fall River. Here a contingent from St. Anthony's parish in Taunton, is pictured with Bishop Sean O'Malley, OFM, Cap. From left are: Louis Dansereau, George Sikorski, the bishop, Father Manuel P. Ferreira, pastor, and John Vieira. (Anchor/ Jolivet photo)

Prayer service opens 1997 Catholic Charities Appeal Continued from Page One

by people from all areas of the diocese," he said. "It was an excellent cross section of lay women and men representing the many ethnic backgrounds that makeup the diocese."

The "Special Gift Phase" of the campaign began with the prayer service and will con-

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tinue until May 3. During this phase, the Appeal seeks to enlist the support of friends in business and industry in southeastern Massachusetts, as well as those from the profes. sions and the civic and fraternal organizations.

On May 3, the all-important "Parish Phase" begins.

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the living word

the moorirt9..-, A Sorry State

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On.thesurface, the state of Israel seems'united and cohesive.

Forged by the bonds of religion and persecution and a unique determination of purpose, Israel has been a bastion of the Jewish people in a very'tense environment. Receiving world support, especially from this country, Israel has made the desert bloom against all the odds of modern warfare. Struggling to keep its national integrity as a bonding force, it has withstood .the sieges of enemies and the hostility of so-called neighbors.

All this being said, one notes some serious cracks appearing in Israel's body politic. The assassination of Prime Minister Rabin by one of his own was a major indication that all was not well in the Jewish state, while the current problems of Benjamin Netanyahu have reflected major; division in' the.,-state's political family. As in the case of our own president, Netanya~' hu's difficulties are far from over. These obvious dissensions are a real danger to the integrity of the state. But the major problem. that has surfaced in Israel is the divisiveness of Judaism itself. From its inception, the Jewish tradition has been that of a melting pot of divergent theological entities whose in-house disagreements have filled pages of history, From Sadducees to pharisees, there have been religious partie.s.that have striven to become dominant political influences.

Once more such antagonism has surfaced in Israel. An example is the recent statement by a group of Orthodox rabbis that Reform or Conservative Jews are Jews by birth but their religion is not Judaism. This was a radical pronouncement in the United States, Israel's chief supporter, where the vast, majority of Jewish people do not follow the Orthodox tradition. So outraged were many American Jews that, for one, a chancellor of a Jewish theological seminary declared that the Israeli chief rabbinate should be dissolved and that American Jews should cease supporting groups seeking to ignore or banish the Reform/ Conservative coalition of Judaism. Very strong talk from one who knows only too well how much Israel depends on the goodwill and political influence of American Jews.

Israel cannot afford to have this rupture widen. On the surface it is a democratic state. However, there are those who read de'mocracy according to their own constitu.tion and such factors can be influential, especially in the area of religious concerns. As such, they will deepen the nation's already existing division.

Israel was formed as a Jewish state with Judaism as its established religion. But the history of Jewish emigration to Israel has not always been a happy one. Ethiopian Jews readily testify to this. The current battle between Orthodox and Reform Jews simply highlights a long-standing feud that has been allowed to become a festering dividing force. It's difficult to claim democracy when a religious establishment is clearly the political controlling force. , It should be evident that Israel must remember that a house divided against itself cannot stand. If the radical forces of the' extreme right and the Orthodox forge a coalition of power, Israel will become a dictatorship. History clearly shows how the Jewish people have suffered under this form of government. They will suffer even more if such intolerance comes from within.

The Editor

the

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Published weekly by The Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River 887 Highland Avenue P.O. BOX 7 Fall River. MA 02720 Fall River. M~ 02722-0007 Telephone 508-675-7151 FAX (508) 675-7048 Send address changes to P,O. Box 7 or call telephone number above

EDITOR Rev. John F. Moore _

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A FIREMAN HOSES DOWN THE REMAINS OF ST. MACNISSl'S CATHOLIC CHURCH IN RANDALSTOWN, NORTHERN IRELAND, EARLIER THI~: MONTH. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL ATTACKS ON CAT.HOLIC CHURCHES IN NORTHERN IRELAND IN APRIL.

"They have set fire to thy sanctuary: they have defiled the dwelling place of thy flame on earth." Ps 73:7

The diaconate's promise for 2000

By Father Eugene Hemrick playing a much larger role in the At age 60. Sam attributes much church. One new role is that of of his newfound happiness to becompastoral administrator in parishes ing a deacon. without a resident· pastor. Such "What· drew me to the diaco- deacons do everything a pastor nate." Sam tells us, "was a desire does except hear confessions, celeto 'serve others through religion. I brate Mass and anoint the sick. was blessed with a good educa- Thanks to their training and devotedtion. respected jobs and security. ness. they are a blessing to bishops Mv two children and wife are my who are trying to keep parish life pride and joy. Although all this going at a time of fewer priests. was fulfilling. something was urgAs necessary as this new role is: i'ng me to do more with my life."

I believe the diaconate needs to Sam found that "something" he guard against merely fulfilling typwas looking for in ministry to the ical parochial roles. If it is to sick. counseling parishioners. pre- remain vibrant. it needs to diverparing couples for marriage. bap- sify more. One way it might tizing, and conducting classes in accomplish this is by recruiting a the Rite for the Christian Initia- corps of young men specifically tion of Adults. trained to address the moral chalDuring his diaconate studies. .Ienges of the modern marketplace.

Sam's wife attended classes with We need to see the diaconate him. Their studying together and attracting young lawyers. do~tors. her helping him in his ministry educators. CEOs and men with enriched their marriage. . civic responsibilities, and specifiSam typifies the 12.000 deacons cally preparing them to addre~s who serve the church across the ethics in the marketplace. governUnited States. Most carry out par- ment issues. biological experimenish rcsponsibilities. Their average age is 60. almost all are married.

EDICTAL CITATION well educated and have' raised a DIOCESAN TRIBUNAL family. Most of their wives share FALL RIVER. MASSACHUSETTS in their ministry and say it has Since the actual place of residence of made married life more satisfying.

ELEANOR RAYMOND STORY is unknown.

Deacons tell us that they are We cite ELEANOR RAYMOND. STORY to respected by parishioners. and most appear personally before the Tribunal of the feel appreciated by their pastors.

Diocese of Fall River on Tuesday. May 6.1997 Some still experience tension over at 2:30 p.m. at 887 Highland Avenue, Fall the relationship of their roles with River, Massachusetts, to give testimony to the roles of priests and lay leaders. , establish: Yet almost all would encourage Whether the nullity of the marriage other men to become deacons. exists in the Andre· Raymond case?

I have worked with deacons like Ordinaries of the place or other pastors Sam and come t.o sec them as a having the knowledge of the residence of the blessing to the church. Some were above person. Eleanor Raymond Story, must semi-retired lawyers who did outsee to it that she is properly a'dvised in regard to this edictal citation. standing pro bono services for needy parishioners. Other carried Jay T. Maddock on every conceivable parish duty Judicial Vicar around the clock. .

Given at the Tribunal, '.~t41ll'~h'tf~I • ,A,~. :, t he .~Lac<l~N~ .. !U)Rr?}~£!l-es ·f~tRiy"ekMa~cJ)\I_s.~t\s, ~~~,","c.:l.·_.' :.....""., ... MmtJm~~e'·lt

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tation and use of the communications media~ The church needs to address such concerns in focused ways.

The diaconate is one source to look to for the people to do this.

I have to wonder what would happen if diaconate programs began to think in terms of training younger men specifically 'to evangelize the marketplace. If the diaconate co.uld achieve a balance between its ·typical roles and a stronger, more aggressive marketplace role, I believe both (:hurch and society would be greatly blessed.

Critical juncture WASHINGTON (CNS) --Several world arms control issues are nearing critical decision poi nts in the United States, speakers told a gathering of Catholic peact: and justice leaders. Among key i.ssues needing attention they cited the Chemical Weapons Convention, which will take effect without U.S. participation if the Senate does not ratify it by April 29; the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which also requires S,:nate ratification; the Canadian initiative for an international treaty by December to ban all anti-personnel land mines; and Congressional legislation for a four-point Code of Conduct on Arms Transfers that nations wishing to pure hase U.S.-made weapons would have to meet.

By Patrick Meagher TORONTO(CNS)- The "Catechism of the Catholic Church" is a beacon of light - even for cardinals.

Italian Cardinal Pio Laghi, in charge of Catholic education worldwide as prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education, said he checked his catechism while preparing for a talk on euthanasia. The answer was quick and handy. It's a book for everyone, he insists.

Especially for young people today, the catechism aims to offer values that give meaning to life, "to fill up the emptiness that marks so many lives," Cardinal Laghi told about 800 people at the University of Toronto's Convocation Hall April 8.

"Our time' is one of incertitude and skepticism, for wllich reason many, especially young people, are led to grasp at things which seem to have solidity: money, success, pleasure, power, even certain apparently religious trends," he said.

Yet, these things do not satisfy in the end because wealth and success bring short-lived happiness

that is constantly threatened by will be excluded in every case suffering, frustration, discourage- without exceptions," he said. ment and death, he added.

In an interview with The CathoThe catechism, which has sold lic Register, Canadian Catholic millions of copies worldwide and weekly, Cardinal Laghi noted there has been on best-seller lists since it "might be a few" other trouble was published in English in 1994, spots in the catechism, although is a strong sign leading people he said he was not aware of any. from discouragement to see there In his lecture, he noted several is something to live for, the 74- times that the catechism is not an year-old cardinal said. exhaustive treatment of .church These people "see there are ab- doctrine. solutely consistent values and "But it is a sure point of refertruths, because they are not found- ence," he said. ed on fragile and changeable huWhen asked how young people man theories and philosophies, can be certain of getting an educabut on God, who is the rock which tion rooted in truth, Cardinal does not change, anp on Jesus Laghi suggested they read Pope Christ, who is at the center of the John Paul II's 1994 encyclical catechism," the cardinal said.

"Veritatis Splendor" ("The SplenWhile the more than 800-page, dor of Truth"). He added that richly packed catechism intimi- "young people are inclined to acdates some Catholics,. Cardinal cept values that I call horizontal, Laghi presented it as a "treasure," those that are putting myself in containing teaching~ on the creed, relationship with my neighbors: commandments, sacraments, wor- . solidarity, justice, human rights, ship and prayer. . peace, human dignity.

Cardinal Laghi noted one change "But unless we connect those to the catechism: While the Eng- horizontal values with the vertical lish-language catechism does not ones, how do you exercise love exclude the death penalty "in cases unless you have faith in God, ,of extreme gravity," future edi- unless you have hope (in) who tions will state "the death penalty gives you hope?" the cardinal sa'id.

Every day shou.ld' be Earth pay SAN ANGELO, Texas (CNS) - "Human well-being cannot be achieved by diminishing the wellbeing of the earth," wrote Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer of San Angelo in observance of the 27th annual Earth Day. "The universe must be looked upon as a communion of subjects, rather than a collection of objects," he stated in an article he wrote for his diocesan newspaper, the West Texas Angelus.

Started in 1970 and observed throughout the world every April 22. Earth Day calls for a renewed respect and appreciation of the planet Earth.

"Concern for the environment is not something born of 20th-century technology and consumption," wrotc Bishop Pfeife:r. "It has its roots in thc Old Tcstament .... In ,; ,

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Gencsis we are told that God made He'said the biblical account of women and mcn stewards of God's creation "clearly places human creation .... 'beings in a privileged position, with the right to make use of "Each generation from Adam creatures." and Eve has inherited the privilege and responsibility of stewardship "But," he said, "this does not over God's creation," he continued. authorize humans to lord it over "Creation was given and entrusted' nature, and even less to devastate to humankind as a duty, representit. Instead, humans are called to ing not a source of suffering but collaborate with God in building the foundation of a qreative existup the created world." ence in the world."

Awareness of the planet's envirHe said human beings have been onmental problems has become a "defining 'sign of the time .... The charged by God with the responsibility to honor and nurture creation. current generation has a clearer insight into "God's whole creation "Yet, in many ways we humans in Earth, so precious, but poihave dishonored it, degraded it, soned and in increasing peri!," and disfigured it," he said. "Air, Bishop Pfeifer said. water, soil, other species, the wild Bishop Pfeifer also alerted readbeauty of wilderness, forests, plains ers to Pope John Paul II's stateand mountains have all been ment in which the pope said: severely damaged."

"Modern society will find no solution to the ecological problem .. . . unless it takes a serious look at its lifestyle."

"Preserving the environment," said Bishop Pfeifer, "is one of the top moral and social issues of our day. The most profound and serious indication of the moral implications underlying the ecological problem is the lack of respect for Lord's disciples come to apprelife, evident in many of the patciate more fully the mystery of terns of environmental pollution.

Mary's universal motherhood, acknowledging her as their own "Earth Day is the occasion to spiritual mother and placing their see how we can be better stewards complete trust in her maternal of the planet on which we live." love.

I offer a cordial greeting to the students and teachers from the SERVING SOUTHERN Lutheran Church of Norway. I also thank the choirs for their praise of God in song. Upon all the English-speaking visitors, especially the pilgrims from England, Scotland, Botswana, korea, the Philippines, Canada and the United States, I cordially invoke the joy and peace of Jesus Christ our risen savior.

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Move opposed VATICAN CITY (CNS) -In a move opposed by the United States, the Vatican has established diplomatic relations with Libya, governed by Moammar Gadhafi.

The Vatican, explaining its action said the step was aimed in part at

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REMNANTS

•

6THEANCHOR~Dioces~ofFallRi~er-Fri.,April25,

1997

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When pranks. aren't fU'nny I read. recently that a man was filing a lawsuit against a golf club and a maintenance worker. The reason? The man was offered a hot dog by the maintenance worker. However, when he took a bite, what he got instead was a mouthful of dead mouse, It seems the disgusting incident was explained by the club manager as being just a prank between two friends.

But the man didn't see it that way. According to the story, this was a "highly offensive contact" for him. Since then,'he alleges he has suffered emotional pain "from knowing dead rodents carry potentially fatal diseases."

Could trying to feed someone a dead mouse be just a prank? Who would think that was funny?

My daughter, her husband and I recently experienced a so-called prank that dismayed us.

My daughter had had surgery, and I had gone to help out so that my son-in-law wouldn't have to lose so much time at work. I took my young granddaughter to school and back, made meals and saw to it that my daughter restep. , On the day I was leaving to return home, the parents of one of my granddaughter's schoolmates offered to care fo~ her the next day after schoo\.. My granddaughter was to ride the school bus to their home with their child when classes were over,' andthey would driv.e her l5ack home tha~ evening..

The teacher and the school bus driver were notified because never is a change in routine for a.child made in that school system without all kinds of ·assurance's that the parent approves.

I was unprepared for the calli got from my daughtcr Saturday morning. She told me that at 8 p.m. the night before, the mother ··of my granddaughter's

friend called her saying she didn't know how to tell her.the awful news that my g'randdaughter had nevcr gotten off the bus and the police had been working on this for the past five hours.

By Antoinette Bosco My heart was pounding as my daughter told me how she began screaming. Her husband ca me to the phone. At that point my daughter said the woman admitted it wasjust ajoke. She thought it would be "a funny prank" to pull 011 my daughter. She never imagined that it w'ould upset her.

W~~ , I asked my daughter what sh~ was doi ng to get over this scare .. I think she answered, "praying." She sa·id she knew now something of the pain s:le would feci if anything ever happened ,to her daughter.

I. begiln thinking of all the times I.'ve seen :wmeone playa, trick 01'1 another person under the guise'of teasing. I never thol!ght this to be good humor. I alway.s saw it as a form of hQstility, or downright crueltY'jl;H sometimes a'way pf gaining t,emporary power over an'other.

I am sure that Christ, who taught love. ,;ompassi,<?n a~d mercy for others, would never condone this way of having fun at the expense,of another.

Building self.;.esteem in the ADD' child ffiRE TH8UGHT FUNERAL'PLANNING' e

9r1.at<! it easierfor tliose you Cove

Dear Mary: I re~d with interest you\' column "Bad . Grades, No Sports? No!~'1 would like you to address th·e.qu·estion bad grades; no sports for the learningdisabled child.

My son is in the eighth grade. He has attentiondeficit disorder (ADD). He does not excel in any particular sport. .

'He is currently in wrestling, a sport that he seems very interested in and enjoys. It is one on one, just what an ADD child needs.

The school has decided once again he should be pulled from wrestHng until the grades come up. We have refused to pull him, and the pastor has agreed to let him stay in sports.

How do we get the staff and principal to see the other side of the story. here? Sports are just as important to the ADD child as school.

I am more concerned about my son's self-confidence and esteem right now than about his grades.

Sports give him a chance to feel equal to his peers.

Last year when they took wrestling away from him, he became the most lethargic child I'd ever seen.

It did not motivate him to try harder in school. Ohio.

Sports require discipline and foster self-esteem.

Depriving any child of the opportunity to particpate in sports is unwise. We need not develop a special argument for learning disabled children. The same . principles hold, whatever the reason for poor grades.

The traditional thinking is that at school academics come first. and sports are a reward for a good academic performance. Limiting sports to those who perform well'academically will motivate students to get good grades.

The problem is that in many cases the theory does not work. What ·is needed is some solid research on sports participation, motivation and grade performance.

A basic premise in educating anyone about anything is to begin where that person is at present. The good ed ucator builds upon the student's taleRts,likes and interests.

People learn better when they feel good about themselves, and they are not motivated to learn by being told they are bad. stupid, lazy or hopeless.

Your concern about your son is well taken.

Each of us has many gifts: academic, artistic. musicaL athletic, social. Some are stronger than others.

Schools do not have to develop all these gifts as there may not be enough school time to do everything. If the school chooses to try to develop a talent (artistic', musical. athletic). then it should offer that opportunity to all the students. not to a selected few.

How can you deal with your own problem? Since the pastor came to your rescue, a "thank you" to him is important. Let him know that this decision is very important to your son and your family and why.

You might write to the principal. In a concerned but not confrontational way, write to the staff. ,You might approach ~ther p~r.ent~ :-v.~.o ~ave t~e

same pr~blem"Tell them ~hy you insisted tha't your son be in wrestling, and, explain what it means to him. Ap.proaching concerned parents on a one-toone basis would be 'Iess confr~ntational and probably more effective than forming a committee ,Dr pressure group.

With Dr. James & Mary Kenny Finally. do not underestimate your own :.mportance as a teacher. Noone 'knows your child better than you. Listen to the recommendations of others.

But, when you sincerely believe that his interests are at stake. continue to be a courteous but firm advocate for him.

Reader quest~ons on family living and child eare to be answered in print are invited. Address quelltions: The Kennys; St. Joseph's College; 219 W. Hanison; Rensselaer, Ind. 47978.

Daily Readings Apr. 28 Acts 14:5-18; ps 115: 1-4,15:- 16; In 14:21-26 Apr. 29 Acts 14: 19-28; Ps 145: 10-13,21; In 14:27-31a Apr. 30 Acts 15: 1-6; . Ps 122:1-5; In 15:1-8 May 1 Acts 15:7-21; Ps 9H: 1-3,10; In 15:9-11 May 2 Acts 15:22-31; Ps 57:8-12; In 15:12-17 May 3 ' 1 Cor 15: 1-8; Ps 19:2:'5; In 14:6-14 May 4 Acts 10:25-26,3435,44-48; Ps 98: 1-4; 1 In 4:7-10; In 15:9-17

Those

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die without baptism

Q. Although it is 13 years since my child died, I am still haunted by what the hospital chaplain told me.

Our child died beforl: birth, so he or she could not have been baptized. A!i you have explained in your column, the sacraments are for the living. I can understand that.

What I didn't expect was his answer to my question, What happens to these children? He said unbaptized people, including children, spend forever in purgatory, with no hope of entering heaven.

I love the church and am convinced the priest was wrong. But what he said still hurts. I hope you can give me some peace of mind. (Indiana) A. It's difficult to believe any priest could say that. especially the part about purgatory. Sometimes we don't hear things well. particularly in moments of great stress.

If what you said is a.ccurate, however, I apologize to you and others who have written with similar stories.

The fact is, we know very little about such matters except the one overriding certainty that people who die without baptism are in the hands of a loving. merciful and saving Creator.

Not many are aware, for example, that the Catechism of the Catholic Church says baptism is necessary for salvation "for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacl'ament."

Obviously. little children have not had that possibility. And we know God's purposes frequently are accomplished in ways we cannot imagine.

As the catechism tl~aches, "God has bound salvation to the sacrament of baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments (1257).

Pope John Paul II, in his book "Cross.ing the Threshold of Hope," speaks of God's intense desire that all people be saved. God has told us much about his plan for salvation, and expects us to believe and follow what he says.

But there is also much God has not told us. God is unendingly at work in the sacraments. says the Holy Father, "as well as in other ways that are known to him alone" (I'. 134).

As we learn in many other matters offaith as well. it is often possible t~ be fairly certain about what God has done, is doing or can do.

It is when we pretend to be certain about what God cannot do that we quickly find ourselves way out of our depth in mystery.

I hope this is of some help Jor you. God created your child out of love. That love, we trust, has tOl,lched your child with the same blood that offers salvation to the rest of us.

Qu.oSJtl.o•• ..ael

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By Father John J. Dietzen Perhaps more than any other event, the death of a child like yours can. if we let it, put us immediately in touch with the mystery and graciousness of God's salvation.

Q. My wife and I have been married more than 50 years. We have four beautiful children, all grown and good people.

My wife has always been a ClIitholic, and I a Protestant. My question is, when we both die, am I allowed to be buried with her in a Catholic cemetery?

(Illinois) A. From the beginning of Christianity, believers in Jesus Christ have set aside specific areas for their dead, a custom our church has preserved right up to the present.

However, its policies are not so strict as to preclude what you suggest. People who are not Catholic may be, and often are. buried in a Catholic cemetery.

Since some policies vary from place to place, it will be wise to consult your parish priest about details.

A free brochure, in English or Spanish, outlining marriage regulations in the Catholic Church and explaining the promises in an interfaith marriage is available by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Father John Dietzen, Holy Trinity Church, 704 N. Main St., Bloomington, III. 61701.

Questions for this column should be sent to Father Dietzen at the same address.

- STOPKilling God's Creatures

I

The search for the right Catholic mascot This is a particularly challenging season for persons interested in professional athletics (aka, sports wackos) as they try to watch three baseball games per day at the same time they track the National Basketball Association play-offs and the National Football League drafts.

Naturally. this It:ads some Catholics to ask an obvious question: Why doesn't the Catholic Church in the United States have a mascot?

Even cigarette companies (JOt; Camel) and fast food chains (Ronald McDonald) have mascots.

The appeal to youngsters and the marketing benefits aside. one of the clearest motivation for Catholics to secure a mascot soon is to beat the Protestants.

Jews. et al to the mascot pool before it's too diluted.

Some of the best ones are already gone: Sasquatch. The Chicken, Crazy George. Just imagine whut inroads within religious circles and unchurched squares The Chicken might have made in the hands of the right Methodists. or even Baptists for that matter.

Granted. mascot consensus for Catholics would be difficult given the fact we can't agree on kneelers.

Our Father hand-holding or the pronunciation of Emnlulls.

(Too bad it seems Gumby·- the rubber character that returns to shape after being stretched six ways from heaven seems to be copyrighted.)

A combination cheerleader-and-affection-drawing mascot could ha vc terrific influence. He or she or it could appear at large Catholic functions: St. Patrick Day parades, Notre Dame games, state legislative hearings on Bingo.

Rights to his or her or its image could be marketed like mad. I can see CYO kids by the thousands with its, or hers, or his logo on their camp T-shirts. Lapel pins for priests, Huge, airborne, inflatable characters to mark parish groundbreakings and picnics.

Choosing the mascot would be a mammoth task.

One thought might be to assign the task to the bishops' committee that was handling the Pastoral Letter on Women in the Church since it's not doing much these days.

The committee could stage hearings, tryouts and auditions across the country. One could not help but fear, however. that its bias might be toward a female mascot _. or one with attributes not uncommonly associated with women.

THE ANCHOR - Diocese'of F~ll River - Fri., April 25, 19977

Another tack might be a national contest. Just to get the ball rolling. consider this an announcement of the National Catholic Mascot Competition.

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By Dan Morris I know some of you might think my neighbor, Bud, has an inside track on this just because he knows what kind of beer I drink and has already been working on his entry since we talked about it after Mass last Sunday.

Not true. Besides, what kind of inflatable character or lapel pin would an animated bowling ball make anyway?

So, think of an idea and send.it along on a postcard, keeping in mind the postman might not be Catholic - and we wouldn't want to tip our hand.

Winners will be announced in the future.

Your comments are welcome always. Please send them to Uncle Dan, 25218 Meadow Way, Arlington, Wash. 98223.

Dearest Blessed lVlother, Please pray with us for the success of the diocesan Pro-Life convention, that those who fight for life may be filled with a renewed commitment and energy.

We ask this through your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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8 THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

Fri., April 25, 1997

Cardinal O'Connor, Bishop O'Malley to open annual Pro-Life Convention tomorrow Continued from Page One

dedicated to the protection and enhancementof human life.

Two of the sisters will be at the convention speaking about their prayer and their work on behalf of human life.

Their presentation is titled "Who We Are and Why We Are." Most Rev. Sean O'Malley, OFM, Cap., bishop of the Diocese of Fall River will concelebrate the Mass with Cardinal O'Connor, and will also take part in the convention in the afternoon.

The bishop will participate in a panel discussion and response session, preside at an awards ceremony for a 1997 Pro-Life Essay Contest, and of-

fer closing reflections and Benediction at the end of the conference.

Other guests scheduled to attend are Richard M. Doerflinger, Associate Director of Development at the U.S. Bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities; Attorney Frances X. Hogan, founder and president of Women Affirming Life; and Attorney Gerald D. D' Avolio, who has served as executive director of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference since 1975.

The 9 a.m. Mass is open to the public. Anyone who chooses to stay and attend the convention and has not already registered, may do so on Apr. 26.

The convention runs until 3 p.m.

THESE EMPTY swings can serve as a painful reminder of the many innocent lives that have been wasted through the sin of abortion. Tomorrow; many will gather at Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River to attend the diocesan Pro-Life Convention and gain hope and encouragement in the fight for all life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. (AnchorlMilIs photo)

DavidJoseph was one ofthe lucky ones

By Dave Jolivet Anchor staff He was one of the lucky ones. To hear his story, you wouldn't think so, but when compared with other stories, he was one of the lucky ones.

His name was David Joseph. He never got the chance to see his brother or sisters.

He never got the chance to see his grand- . parents. He never got the chance to see his aunts, uncles, cousins or godparents. He never got the chance to see his home, his room, his crib or his toys. David Joseph died when he was two days old, yet he was one of the lucky ones.

David Joseph was born in Fall River on Nov. 7, 1996 at 10:30 in the morning, five weeks early. When.he was first born, he showed no signs that anything was wrong.

My wife Denise and I immediately fell in love with that little face, as we had with our other three children. We made the phone calls from the delivery room announcing his arrival. While still in the delivery room, with doctors and nurses checking him out, he pouted and cried, almost as if he were afraid of his new surroundings.

He was brought to mom to be held and the pouting and crying stopped. Her touch worked wonders. He was one of the lucky ones. .

Grad.ually signs appeared that were cause for concern, but not alarm. Some things were not working as they should.

David Joseph's two sisters came to the hospital that afternoon to see him, but couldn't because the doctors were running tests on him.

As a precaution, plans were made to take him to Women & Infants Hospital in Providence, RI., but he was doing OK. Also as a precaution, Denise and I wanted David Joseph baptized. Father Mark Hession, chaplain at Charlton Memorial Hospital, made David Joseph a member of God's family that day. Father Hession and I knew each other and he came to Denise's room for a visit and to pray with us. We took great comfort from that visit. David Joseph was neatly bundled and sent to Providence. Denise had the heartache of staying the night in the hospital without her little boy. I made the trip to Providence to check on David Joseph. Less than a day old, he had already had a very full day. But he was one of the lucky ones. .

Denise was feeling well enough to check out of the hospital the next day. More than anything, she wanted to be with David Joseph. On Nov. 8 we made the trip to Providence, this time bringing David Joseph's brother with us. When we got there, we were told that his siblings weren't allowed to see him. The doctors brought us to a private room and told us things were changing dramatically for David Joseph, and the changes weren't good. We were told he may need surgery, he may be in the hospi-

The following is a s9hedule of events for the day: 8: 15 to 9 a.m. registration; 9 a.m. - Mass with CardinalO'Connor and Bishop O'Malley; 10:30 a.m. - Sisters of Life - "Who We Are and Why WeAre"; 11:00 to 11:15 a.m. - break; 11:15 to 12:00.- Richard Doerflinger - "APrimer On PhysicianAssisted Suicide"; 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

- lunch; 1:00 to 1:45 p.m. - Frances Hogan - "Abortion Enslaves Women; It Does Not Liberate Them"; 1:45 to 2:30 p.m. - Panel Discussio~esponse with Bishop O'Malley, Attorneys Hogan and D' Avolio and Mr. Doerflinger; 2:30 - 3:00 p.m. - Essay Contest Winners, Closing Remarks.

tal for a long time, and he may have problems throughout his life. We were also told that he may not survive at all. We were not prepared for that, but strength co~es to people when they need it most. We wanted to see him.

David Joseph had wires attached everywhere. He was swollen and lying still when we went to him. Denise talked to him and immediately he started kicking his legs and clutched her finger. It was beautifully evident that he knew mom was there, and he liked it. The doctors told us they were go. ing to send him to Children's Hospital in B.oston, where they could do more for him.

We agreed, wanting to do everything we could for him. We were told that we didn't have to make the trip to Boston with him that night, there wasn't much we could do while he got settled in. We went home to rest, ready to go to Boston the next day.

David Joseph was neatly bundled and made the trip to Boston. Day two was taking its toll on him, but he was still one of the lucky ones.

At I :00 a.m. on Nov. 9 we were awakened by a phone call from Children's Hospital in Boston. The doctor said David Joseph had taken a grave turn for the worse and probably wouldn't survive the night.

Hastily we got directions to the hospital, and made the longest drive of our lives. We arrived at the intensive care unit at 2:20 a.m.

As we entered, the doctor met us andsaid David Joseph's heart had just stopped. We were told that he fought hard to live, to the point of exhaustion. We were also told they did what they could.so he wouldn't suffer.

The hospital staff wasn't sure if David Joseph had been baptized yet, so they had him baptized there. The medical personnel in Boston were very comforting. They removed all the paraphernalia from David Joseph, and bundled him up for us to hold.

His face was angelic and peaceful. Denise held him for awhile, but felt it was important for me to hold him too. She felt him in the womb for so long and she wanted me to have some time with him. I held him tightly, not wanting to let go.

The support we received after that was overwhelming. We had a private funeral for him, and both parish priests wanted to concelebrate the Mass, Fathers Richard Beaulieu and Mike Racine of Notre Dame Church in Fall River. Father Stephen Fernandes, director of the diocesan ProLife Office, also wanted to concelebrate.

Father Fernandes and I had met at several . pro-life functions. His presence at the Mass deeply touched .us.

In just two short days, David Joseph was born, was poked arid prodded by medical people, traveled to two state capitals, fought for his life and lost. Yet he was one of the lucky ones.

Some people may ask why he was one of the lucky ones. Why? Because he ex-

BISHOP O'MALLEY will be one of the featured guests at tomorrow's Pro-Life Convention at Bishop Connolly High School.

perienced life in the womb, being safe, Sl:cure and well-nourished. He experienced birth, the scary separation from his mom and then the comforting reunion, feeling her touch. He had two parents who loved him dearly regardless of his imperfectioni;.

He was treated by some of the best medical people in the world, all of whom fougt..t hard to save him, and felt pain when h~ died. (In fact, those involved with David Joseph, from Fall River, Providence and Boston, periodically call us to see how we're doing.) He had the chance to be baptized, twice, I might add! He had the opportunity for a spiritual send-off from thi:; life, with a beautiful funeral Mass. He had the thoughts and prayers of so many friend~; and relatives, none of whom ever met him., but loved him nonetheless. He was one of the lucky ones.

In contrast, there are the unl,-!cky ones, the counterparts of David Joseph who, through no fault of their own, are terminated before they have the chance to expe~ rience any of the good or bad this life has to offer. Terminated because they are an inconvenience or a threat to life-style. Terminated because they may have abnormalities, or may not meet the standards of a "normal" human being. These poor souls fall victim to drugs or chemicals meant to expel them. They fall victim to scissors and a catheter literally seconds away from being born. They are plucked from the warm, safe environment of the womb, a womb they trusted and a womb that turned its back on them.

Abortion has to stop. Every life deserves the chance to be. There are alternatives such as adoption. There are people out there who care and who can help. Murder is not an option. We must all fight for the dignity of life, from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.

Denise and I saw firsthand people who value human life: the medical people in Fall River, Providence and Boston agonized over what to do to keep David Joseph alive.

There are other medical people who don't think twice about stealing the lives away from other babies.

David Joseph was lucky, and now he's even luckier. Denise and I miss him terribly, but we also take comfort in knowing where he is right now, with the Father. We talk to David Joseph daily and ask him to pray for us. We also ask him to pray for an end to abortion. His life on earth may have been far too short, but he is so powerful now, being so close to the Father. Feel free to talk to him. Ask him to pray for you so you may gain the strength to fight for life.

That way many more lives will know how lucky David Joseph was.

THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., April 25, 19979

Thousands flock to Divine Mercy Shrine in Stockbridge

By Father Bill Pomerleau STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. (CNS) - After more than 12.,000 pilgrims flocked to Stockbridge to take part in the annual Mercy Sunday Mass April 6, the promoter of the annual event said he was not surprised about its growing popularity.

"I am not sure we can attribute it to anyone factor," Marian Father Joseph Roesch, rector of the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, told The Catholic Observer, newspaper of the Springfield Diocese. The shrine is in that diocese.

Shrine officials estimated the number at 12,000 but local observers said they thought there were 14,000 to 15,000 people crowded onto the grounds of the shrine, a former private estate in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts.

Father Roesch is an enthusiastic promoter of devotion to the Divine Mercy, originated by BIc:ssed Faustina Kowalska, a visionary Polish nun who died in 1938.

The image of Divine Mercy depicts Jesus as Blessed Faustina said he appeared to hl~r in 1931, with a hand raised in blessing and red and pale rays of light emanating from his heart.

She recorded her vision in her diary, along with Jesus' request to her that she have it painted as she saw it and inscribed with the words, "Jesus, I trust you."

Father Roesch believes that the

message given to the nun is particularly relevant to today's troubled world.

The chaplet of Divine Mercy, a meditation on the forgiveness of God prayed with rosary beads, is becoming a popular devotion in parishes across the northeastern United States. And many parishes celebrate local observances of Mercy Sunday.

The 1993 beatification of Sister Faustina, the 1996 designation of the grounds in Stockbridge as a national shrine, and liye and re-

corded broadcasts of Divine Mercy

by Mother Angelica's Eternal Word Television Network on cable have put the spotlight on the Divine Mercy. > Archbishop James P. Keleher of Kansas City, Kan., the U.S. bishops' chairman for its Ad Hoc Committee on Shrines, who was the main celebrant of the Mass at the shrine, said he was moved by the number of Catholics who come to the shrine each day.

"We are seeing an amazing change," the archbishop told the

Catholic Observer. "There's definitely a growing interest of people, especially young people, in making pilgrimages to shrines."

"I credit some of it to World Youth Day, which has revived interest in the pilgrimages of young people," he said.

"But what I think will really give this movement the next big boost will be the millennium," he said, alluding to Pope John Paul II's urging Catholics to make pilgrimages to shrines in preparing for the year 2000.

"People in the U.S., including bishops, haven't necessarily experienced the European tradition of regional or national pilgrimages," said Archbishop Keleher.

But he noted that the church in the United States is becoming increasingly multicultural and that is having an influence on participation in pilgrimages.

"People are coming to our nation from places with great shrine traditions, which is helping all of us to rediscover the worth of pilgrimages," he said.

"After Vatican II, a heavy emphasis was placed on the liturgy in this country, and that's as it should be. Now we're balancing that with an appreciation of personal expressions of faith."

This year's Mercy Sunday devotions vividly illustrated the archbishop's observations. The Divine Mercy message, which has been promoted here for 50 years, was once best known among Polish

and Lithuanian-American Catholics in the Northeast. And the Marists still celebrate a Sunday morning liturgy in Polish.

But on April 6, as more than 200 buses and thousands of carloads of Catholics arrived in this typical American town immortalized by the paintings of Norman Rockwell, far more Haitian Creole than Polish could be heard.

At a tent offering Mass cards and other spiritual souvenirs, volunteers were apologizing that their supply of French-language material was exhausted, apparently by Haitian-American pilgrims from New York and Boston.

After the liturgy, Archbishop Keleher, who had delivered parts of his homily in Spanish, seemed concerned that his homily, which was pre-scripted for the live EWTN coverage, did not explicitly mention the large numbers of other nationalities present, including the Filipino and Indochinese pilgrims and the Russian and Italian speakers.

In his homily, Archbishop Keleher marveled at how the Divine Mercy devotion popularized by Blessed Faustina and the Marians has helped the church to rediscover the traditional teachings of God's forgiveness.

"It is as if Faustina, guided by Jesus, found some precious article stored away in the treasure of Catholic memories," and then displayed it for the world to admire, Archbishop Keleher said.

Sister's artwork adds beauty to vestments, liturgy

By Catherine Locher SPRINGFIELD. 111. (CNS) Many people in the Springfield Diocese may not k now Sister Josephine Niemann but chances are they know her artwork.

Sister Niemann. a School Sister of Notre Dame. designs chasubles, stoics. hanging and processional banners. altar cloths and other liturgical pieces which can be seen at some churches in the diocese, as well as throughout the United States.

When a number of Springfield diocesan priests gather to concelebrate Mass wearing matching. ivory-colored chasubles.. they are wearing Sister Niemann's handiwork.

She designs the Vf:stments and then helps seven other sisters make liturgical pieces in the nearly 100year-old Liturgical Fabrics Arts Department at their motherhouse in St. Louis.

Using fabrics of satin. rayon, polyester or blends, she creates designs that might include such elements as counted cross-stitch, tie-dye, ribbon weavings, pieced work and quilting.

"When I was young, I can remember seeing my mother quilting," Sister Niemann said. "I would see the tiny hand stitches she would do. When she was older stie just didn't remember it and would question why I would spend such time on pieces I would make. But it is what I remember h,~r doing."

A teacher for over 20 years. Sister Niemann has a master's degree in art of the University of Notre Dame. For seven years she taught art at SI. Anthony High School in

Effingham. III. She is a native of Green Creek, a small community Effingham County.

"The first quilted technique I did for lit urgy was for SI. Anthony Church there," she told the Catholic Times, Springfield's diocesan newspaper. '" also did it for their ambos and altar hangings."

After serving as a missionary teacher in Africa from 1976 through 1982, Sister Niemann asked to be assigned to her or&r's liturgical arts department. She has been there ever since.

While in Africa she learned how the women there do their tie-dye "with boldness of color and design."

to them on the phone, getting the exact dimensions of where it will be used, looking at both interior and exterior pictures of their churches. Then I'll sit down to make some sketches," she said.

When it comes to vestments, she offers buying guidelines.

"They need to take into consideration such things as what is already inthe church. what colors are there in the stained glass that they could take up, things like that," said Sister Niemann. who

wrote about her guidelines in an article for Modern L.iturgy magazine.

She advises smaller parishes to go with a plain chasuble and then use lots of color in the stole.

She noted that styles in vestments have evolved from the days when most priests wore the stoles on top of the chasuble. The stole was very decorative.

It takes the sisters about two days to make a stole. The stoles that don't take much work cost

about $90. said Sister Niemann. but some cost much more. depending on the intricacies of the design.

Sister Niemann said she has seen her designs copied without her knowledge but doesn't really mind that much. ''I'm in the process of writing a book about quilting banners." she said, "and I'm going to give patterns in my book. I'm thrilled other people use them (the designs).

I look upon it as certainly a compliment to my work."

"I don'tgoasfarastheydo. but mine now is certainly more bold than it was," she said.

Locally, Sister Niemann has made tie-dye Easter banners for the Immaculate Heart of Mary Novitiate for the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Other fabric she tiedyed is used as a canopy over her congregation's chapel altar.

"I usually prefer designing banners and hangings for traditional churches." she said. "You have something to start from. It is more of a challenge and sometimes intimidating in a new church where it is like a big white canvas."

To begi n a project she says she usually does several sketches and lets the people who are commissioning the work choose what they want.

Initially, when people send in inquiries about her work, she sends out brochures with pictures of her designs.

"I'll spend a lot of time talking

THIS QUILTED banner designed by Sister Josephine Niemann depicts the founder of the American branch of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, Mother Caroline Friess. The quilt was made for the province's IOOth anniversary celebration in St. Louis. (CNS/ Locher photo)

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Making the call to stop domestic violence . By Nancy Westlund SACRA MENTO .. Calif. (CNS) - Picking up the telephone to call for help was something Maria had visualized herself doing a thousand times a day.

Finally doing it may have saved hcr life.

Maria (not her real name) is a 27-year-old Hispanic Catholic married to a man who has physically and mentally abused her for most of their seven-year marriage.

Because she had been raised)n'a home afflicted with domestic violenc'e 'and had her self-esteem stripped away by an abusive husband, Maria had seriously considered committing suicide. Concern for her children, ages six and four, and her faith kept her alive.

Fortunately Maria eventually called Centro Guadalupe. an agency of Catholic Social Servi<:es. Sacramento. where she r,eceivcd the help1 she needed.

Centro Guadalupe providesadvocacy. emergency food and shelter. bilingual counseling. information and referrals to primarily lowincome Latinos in the Sacramento area.

And the recent addition to Centro's staff of Sandra Torres as a I.atina community advocate is easing the way for other abuse victims like Maria to seek help.

Torres is employed by WEA VE . which stands for Women Escaping a Violent Environment, in a cooperative effort with Centro Guadalupe to link se~vices both agencies offer.

Through Women Escaping a Violent Environment, Torres will conduct community outreach and education programs. promote a weekly support group for domestic violence victims and their children and provide case management.

Centro Guadalupe director Sylvia Villalobos says Torres is a . godsend.

"WEA VE is a wonderful program," she said. 'The problem we had in the past was so many women needed their services but would get there and leave because they didn't .have the connection with a Spanish-speaking culturally ?:sensitive person."

It is estimated that 85 percent of the clients Centro has seen in counseling are experiencing physical. verbal or emotional abuse, And according to a 1990 census of 121.544 Hispanics of Sacramento County, 45 percent are dependent on Spanish as a language.

The community outreach manager for the women's organization. Shireen Miles. says the dependence on Spanish is proof that a

TV-turnoff week April 24-30 WASHINGTON (CNS) - The National Catholic Educational Association is one of 45 organizational endorsing the i 997 National TV-Turnoff Week. set for April 24-30.

TV Free America. the Washingtonbased sponsor of the event. estimates that more than 4 million people will turn off their sets.

Spokesman Monte Burke said it is "not a scientific number. but we think it's a very fair number."

The estimate is derived from the number of information kits about the week distributed around the nation and from the response by 25.000 to 35.000 U.S. schools indicating they would encourage students to turn off the TV set that week. or at least cut back on TV viewing.

The issue. organizers say', is not what Americans watch but how much they watch. Television sets ,

are turned on for an average of four hours a day in American households.

"We should reallv reconsider what the excessive T'V time takes away - what you're not doing when you're sitting there." Burke said.

The TV-turnoff week comes at the start of the spring "sweeps" period. which helps set advertising rates for networks and local stations for the summer and fall.

Other endorsers of the TV -turnoff week include the American Federation of Teachers. the American Medical Association. the American N~rses Association. the American Academy of Pediatrics. the Congress of National Black Churches. Big Brothers,' Big Sisters of America. Literacv Volunteers of America, and the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

.

Remarriage preparation When either partner has been previously married, the engaged couple faces some special challenges in preparing for a lifetime together. Because the church wishes couples the best of married and family life, the Diocese of F.all River provides a program designed especially to assist in preparation for remarriage.

Sessions are led by a team composed of a priest and remarried couples. The format includes brief presentations followed by time for priv~te dialogue between the couple.

Participants are encouraged to examine subj~cts which include bringing closure to the previous marriage, the effect of our backgrounds, challenges and joys of remarriage, marital intimacy, effective communication, family blending, relationship with God, and more.

The goal is to stimulate thought and discussion about the future and to offer tools which can help to build a strong m~rriage.

Please call the Diocesan Office of Family Ministry, tel.

999-6420, for more information.

....._-------------_..

Latina community advocate is much needed.

"Increasing access for everyone is a part of our mission," Miles told The Catholic Herald. newspaper of the Sacramento Diocese.

"We've been acutely aware one part of the community we haven't been adequately serving is monolingual Spanish speakers." she said.

"Centro is a really important partner. They're identified as a safe place with a level of credibility and trust."

Torres. who 'holds a master's degree in social work from California State University. brings valuable experience to her new position. While working on her degree. she served two internships in the area of domestic violence.

And she has worked as a WEA VE volunteer.

"This is my ultima.te community," Torres said of Sacramento County. "It's the community I want to work with. It's an opportunity to give back."

Pat Camarillo. Centro Guadalupe's sole fulltime Spanish-speak-

The

'~hat

ing counselor. says havi.ngTorres on board has multiple benefits.

"A lot of times our Latina women will call and are wry hesitant to say what's going on," Camarillo said. "When it comes to domestic violence. I want more information .... I'm not able to spend the time they need. so I refer them to Sandra."

Camarillo said that about 10 out of 25 women she is currently counscling are victims of domestic violence. She said that with help from Torres the goal is to provide 250 sessions on'domestic violence in the next six months.

Torres said that distinct cultural issues come into play for Latina women regarding abuse. "In the middle class Latino family the need to keep the family together. to take care of the children and husband and keep that bond is important." she said.

Undocumented low-income Hispanic women ,who are victimized by domestic violence face even greater obstacles. Torres said.

"Many think domestic violence is an issue they have to put up

with." sh~ explained. "The whole atmosphere is they shouldn't be here anyway. and if the husband is providing for the family., it's harder to call us." .

Centro Guadalupe and the WEAVE group are focusing on outreach programs to inform abused. undocumented immigrant women married to U.S. citizens or permanent residents thaI. they have some new legal rights.

Under California's recently passed Violen~e Agaim,t Women Act. these undocumented women are now eligible to get legalresidence permits and work-employment authorization cards.

"The man can no lonf;er say. 'if' you leave me, 1')1 report you to immigration .... said Camarillo. "We need to get the word out if you're a victim. you don't have ':0 live in that environment anymore."

If you or someone you know (of any ethnicity) is sufferinl: from an abusive relationship, call Catholic Social Services, tel. 67 4-4ci81. They will put you in touch with someone in your area who can~ help.

'ifs' of young adult

By Mark Pattison ARLINGTON, Va. (CNS) Imagining the possibilities - the "what ifs" - is a principle for young adult ministers to follow. according to speakers in the first of a series' of three conferences to 'be held around the country' on young adult ministry.

gesting the other as the place "to continue their faith formation."

In suggesting events that go deeper than inclusivity. one participant suggested that a Seder meal be used to deal with anti-Jewish feelings. and th~t faith, sharing meetings for young working professionaldeal with anti-Japanese sentiments.

"Business as' usual in our parishes.. our communities won't The woman also suggested that work." said, Eudist Father Ron in celebrating the church's Latin Bagley during the leadoff session heritage, young adult ministers go of t he A pri I 10-12 conference. beyond celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

"Connecting with Young Ad ults." which she termed "a minor Mexiheld in the Washington suburb of can holiday," and observe instead Arlington. .

"The Day of the Race," celebrated Oct. 12 by populations throughFather Bagley. Joan Weber of out Latin American. the Center for Ministry Development and others among the 300 ".What would it be like if we conference participants quickly evangelized the way Jesus did. and launched into a series of "what ifs" not the way we were comfortable for consideration. with'!" one man asked. adding that church-created computer home "What if our (parish leaders) had known what young people felt . pages for Internet access could be among young adults' favorite sites when preaching in our Christian communities. and helped young to log onto, rather than "fundaadults discover the message of mentalists like Heaven's Gate," Jesus by relating it to their own the cult whose members took part in a mass suicide shortly before lives'?" Father Bagley asked.

Easter.

"What if our celebrations inAnd one participant, with an volv~d music that really helped eye to using young adults as the young adults praise and, thank starting point for re-energizing their God'!" he added. ministry. said. "What if. when we One particip.ant asked "what if come home from this conference parishes and campus ministries got together to do a series on and meet with the people we minister with. they don't roll their eyes young adult issues" and involved young 'adults in the planning -- and say. 'My God. they've gone to followed by advertising in places another conference'?"

Weber said that moving young where young adults congregate: people from "being apart" to "being laundromats, bars and pool halls.

And. once they got there. the a part" of parish life is another key participant asked, ':what if we concept.

"Maybe the problem with boomserved lalles and cappuccinos ers and (Generation) X-ers is that instead of juice and Coke'!"

Sheila Garvia of the U.S. bishops' we're so used to having gotten our Secretariat for Family, Laity. Women and Youth. which collaborated in the sponsorship of the conference. suggested offering "preventive maintenance" for newly married couples to keep young marriages strong.

Another participant suggested greater collaboration between campus Newman centers and parishes to identify students heading off to college and those finishing their studies. with each institution !lug-

ministr~v

place in the sun and geqing our way because we're such a desirable market," she said. The boomers' challenge, Weber added, was to "really step aside" and 'involve young adults in fult' Idldership within the parish. .

Weber and Father Bagley also touched upon principles fDund in the U.S. bishops' new statement on young adtiltministrY:,"Sons and Daughters of the Liliht," in telling conference participants to "make the right connections" with young adults and Jesus. ,:hurch. mission, and their peers.

They added that. along the lines of the axiom "it takes a village to raise a child," "it takes a whole church" to nourish young adults' faith.

Such an effort. they said. involves catechesis. community. evar.,gelization, justice and service, liturgy and sacraments, plus prayer and spirituality, Orher"Connecting With Young Adults" conferences were sched uled for May 1-3 in San Diego and June 5-7 in Chicago.

For information about young adult ministry in our diocese, please call Bud Miller, tel. 678-2828.

Nun cites Armenian health care problems

By Jerry Filteau WASHINGTON (CNS) Health care practices in Armenia need major reforms, according to Sister Montiel Rosenthal, an American physician who spent two months working there.

"The most vulnerable," said Sister Rosenthal. arc "physically and mentally handicapped children and adults."

She said they are in ,need of the basics: "food, water, shelter, compassionate care, heat, dothing and medicine."

As clear indicators of a lack of adequate patient care. she cited extraordinary mortality rates in mental institutions she visited 22 percent a year at the psychiatric hospital for adults in Vardenis and, until three years ago, up to 50 percent a yearat the Handicapped Children's Hospital in Gyumri.

She said when a Greek team of nurses and therapists arrived to help at the children's hospital. they brought the mortality rate down dramatically. from 50 percent to 6 percent.

Although Armenia is receiving more U.S. foreign aid per capita than any other country except Israel and Egypt, Sister Rosenthal said, there is" A dearth of resources in all areas" and "humanitarian aid is siphoned off' through bribery, graft and extortion at all levels.

"The Armenians continue to require massive assistance," she said, but "accountability (for use of relief and development funds) is a key issue."

Sister Rosenthal. a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati, earned her medical degree in 1986. Since 1991 she has worked in Sandy Hook, in northeastern Kentuckv, as a family physician and director of the Elliott County Medical Clinic. The clinic serves a county where nearly 40 percent of the people live below the federal poverty l,eve!.

She was interview(:d by Catholic

News Service during visits to Washington this spring to talk with church and goverment officials about her experiences in Armenia in August 1995 and August 1996.

She went there under a volunteer assi~tance program coordinated by the U.S. bishops' Office to Aid the Church in Eastern Europe. Each time she also went into southern Georgia to visit villages where most of. the inhabitants are ethnic Armenians.

In 1995 she spent we'ek teaching hygiene and firSt aid to 110 high school students attending a summer catechetical camp in Byuragon conducted by the Armenian Catholic Sisters of the Immaculate Conceptiori.

For the next three weeks,joined by an Armenian-American nun, Dominican Sister Eli7,abeth Demirgian of Clermont, Fla., she traveled through se,ver.al cities and villages of northern Armenia and southern Georgia. providing free health care when aSked, meeting with other medical personnel and assessing health care facilities and needs in the area.

J

The next August her routine was similar. except lhat her week in the catechetical camp was spent teaching first aid and basic medicine to about 60 adult student catechists.

She said she used part of a $1,000 grant from the U.S. bishops to buy medical supplies and put together basic first-aid kits for students, "many o'r whom live in villages with no access to supplies, medicine or first-aid training."

She emphasized "Christian service, basic competency and how to improvise in primitive conditions."

Because medical supplies from abroad so often end up. on the black market in Armenia, the students had to promise to give the people back home free care and not to sell anything.

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., April 25, 1997

She told CNS that one of her main aims the:re was to bring a witness of compassionate care because in medical practice in Armenia and throughout the former Soviet Union "it is unusual to be treated with compassion."

She said one of the things she found most striking was the extent to which abortion is practiced in Armenia as virtually the only method of birth control.

"It's not uncommon to find women still in their child-bearing years who have had 40 abortions," she said.

"The conditions under which these are performed are largely unsanitary and in many rural areas they are done without anesthesia...

Women with postoperative complications are largely ignored," she said.

If a baby is born with a handicap, infanticide is not uncom,mon, she said. She related a conversation with an Armenian doctor who wanted to talk only about healthy babies because with handicapped infants, "only an hour or two and the problem's all over with."

When she pressed him on what he meant by "all over with," slle said, he matter-of-factly told her, "We give an injection. An hour or two later the problem's over with."

She said in 1995 she visited Redemptoris Mater Hospital in Ashotsk in northern Armenia. locally referred to as the "pope's hospital" because Pope John Paul II raised the funds to build it after the 1988 earthquake - including $200,000 from U.S. Catholic organizations.

"Quitefrankly, I was disgusted," she said.

But she said it "should have been filled to the gills" because it was set up to provide free medical care to all in need, but when she was there it had "less than 25 percent occupancy."

The reason, she said. is that one

of the pervasive medical practice problems in the country is also found at Redemptoris Mater: "Patients are being extorted for funds .... If you want to be taken down to X-ray, to get your X-ray, you pay someone. If you want your doctors to do the surgery that you need, you pay him."

Sister Rosenthal said she hopes to return to Armenia this fall for a longer stay, 10 months or more, to engage in some longer-term pro. jects.

"These folks need to find their way out of a moral morass. They

need our help and understanding." she said.

She said she wants to teach rural public health to graduate medical students at the American University of Armenia in Yerevan; help develop a first-aid manual in Armenian for use in schools and nurses' training programs; teach physicians, nurses and midwives more about natural childbirth and breast feeding; and help develop a public anti-smoking campaign.

I n Armenia, she said, the average life span for a smoker is shortened by 21 years.

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SISTER MONTIEL Rosenthal, an American physician who recently returned from work in Armenia, says the country's people continue to require great assistance. She cited the mentally handicapped as the most vulnerable. (eNS/ Roller photo)

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12 THE.-ANCHOR~Diocese

of.Fali River~Fri:, April·25,-I'997

Happy anniversary St. Augustine

By Cindy Wooden VATICA,N CITY (CNS) - The .1 ,400th apniv,ersariy of St./Augus, tine of. C;anterbury'sevangelizing ~ission l:<:>.,England should draw the n'~t(oJ1's A-nglic\lns and Catholics closertogether, Pope John Paul JI said. :.' .

The pope·,met .at .t.he y'atlcan April 15, wi~h a Church of England delegation, the Chapter of Can~qbu\y Cat Ilt;d r.al , in Rome to 'mark Pope Gregory the Great's decision to.send St. Augustine and 30 monks fro.m Rome to convert the Anglo-S~·xons.

St. Augustine and his companions landed in England in 597 and are credited with laying the foundations for.the renewal of English Christianity after the Anglo-Saxons drove Christians out of the southern and eastern parts of the island.

Pope John Paul told the Angli'J

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'Panzerkardinal'reflects on his life decisions in. autobiography

can delegation that he and Arch. By Lynne Weil bishop George L. Carey of CanVATICAN CITY (CNS) - Carterbury had prayed together .last dinal Joseph Ratzinger recalls feel,December in the church attached ing rootless as a child because his to the' monastery where both St. fath~r's police career took the famA~gustine and St. Gregory the ily from town to town. As a result, Great had been'monks. he says in his new autobio,graphy.

"Atthe altar of St. Gregory. our "it is not at all easy to ~ay where I 'prayer was above all one,o~than~s­ ,am at home," giving for the brotherhood In Chnst On the memoir's mid-April rewhich has been rediscovered lease in Italy, Vatican spokesman through the ecumenical journey of Joaquin Na,:arro-Valls pointed out recent years." the pope said.' . with a laugh," A book by Cardinal "It was also a' prayer for converRatziilger that starts with a'doubt sion - 'conversion to Christ and certainly is something n~re." to one another in Christ' -- and In this way, Cardinal Ratzinfor 'progress toward that full visger's book. "From My Life,"'stands ible unity whi"h is God's gift and in contrast to previous and more our calling.''' the pope said. quotpointed writings by the cardinal, ing from the statement he and who heads the Congregation for Archbishop Carey signed at the the Doctrine of the Faith. The end' of the visit. same can be said of a volume called "Salt of the Earth,:' based The pope said it is his "fervent prayer" that celebrations in Eng- on a series of interviews with Carland marking St. Augustine's anni- dinal Ratzinger by a Germanjournalist and published in tandem versary will be an ,encouragement 'for Catholics, a'nd Anglicans to 'with the memoir.

Editions in German, French and cooperate even more closely in It~lian have faile9 to generate the preparing for the Great Jubilee of kind of heat normally associated the Year 2000." the sayings of the man who 'with In hisJetter o!,!,prep.ari~gfor the h~s come to be,called the ~'Pa,nze~­ Pope John Paul .I new millennjum. ' • . , ' 1-, . . kardinal." Th~ name 'mean's "Tank 'said the' year '2000'should fInd Cardinal" in German: it desc'ribes . 'Christians closer.to'>fecovering the , unity lost puring the s~j:ond.millen~ pis d~.te'rmi'nation to :,fem'plish i~~egular,iti~s as they a~ise in th,e nium. .,' development of Ca,tholic t~ought. , Thi's image ,of ~echanical, inex-

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Consecrati~n to, the Oivipe Will Oh adorable and Divine Will, behold me here before the immensity of Your Ught, that Yoilr eternal goodness may open to me the doors and make me enter into It to form my life all in You, Divine Will. Therefore, oh adorable Will, prostrate before Your Light, I, the least of all creatures, put myself into the little group of the sons and daughters of Your Supreme RAT. Prostrate in my nothingness, I invoke Your Ught and beg that It clothe me and eclipse all that does not pertain to You, Divine Will. It will be my Ufe, the center of my intelligence, the enrapturer of my heart and of my whole being. I do not want the human will to have life in this heart any longer, I will cast it , away from me and thus form the new Eden of Peace, of happiness and of love. With It I shall be always happy. I shall have a singular strength and a holiness that sanctifies all things and conducts them to God. Here prostrate, I invoke the help of the Most Holy Trinity, tJ1at They.permit me to live in the cloister of the Divine Will and thus return in me the first order of creation, just as the creature was created. ' Heavenly Mother, Sovereign and Queen of the Divine Rat, take my hand and introduce me into the Ught of the Divine Will. You will be my guide, my most tender Mother, and will teach me to live in and to maintain myself in the order and the bounds of the Divine Will. Heavenly Mother, I consecrate my whole being to Your Immaculate Heart. You will teach me the doctrine of the Divine Will and I will listen most attentively to Your lessons. You will cover me with Your mantle so that the infernal serpent dare not penetrate into this sacred Eden to entice me and make me fall into the maze of the human will.

Heart of my greatest Good, Jesus, You will give me Your flames that they may bum me, consume me, and feed me to form in me the Ufe of the Divine Will.

Saint Joseph, you will be my protector, the guardian of my heart, ~md will keep the keys of my will in your hands. You will keep my heart jealously and shall never give it. to me again, that I may be sure of never leaving the Will of God. My guardian Angel, guard me; defend me; help me in everything so that my Eden may flourish and be the instrument that draws all men into the Kingdom of the Divine Will. Amen.

, (In Honor of Luisa Piccarreta 1865-1947 Child of the Divine Will)

was once called the, Holy Officre makes the cardinal a successor ~o the persecutors of Galileo and,the compilers of the Vatilian's index.of banned books, His own boo~s are the subject of scr4tiny and debate among Vatican o.bservers around the world. '. <', In "Salt of the' Earth," jourmilist Peter Seewald asks 'Cardinal Ratzinger whether he hil'g ever been impressed with his own influence.

"That is what I have feared the most," the cardinal ~nswers, adding he does not want to make his ministry about himself.

A moment later, the writer asks if there ri-Jight be "a c~'rta(n sense of power" in the cardinal's work, "Yes, but in very m<;>dest proportions," is the reply" Seewald is a former staff writer for two oi~ermany's top' weekly news magazines and for one" of the country's, most, respected newspapers. He said in an interview with Catholic News Service that he had been sk'epti'c'll1 about CiHdinal Ratzinger before meeting him and had left the Catholic Church years before his p~per" e;tssigned him to'interview the cardinal..

"But I came back to the church last December." he said, because

in the course of the mee'tings with Cardina(Ratzin'ger,:he found "that things were not as s'ever~~ as'l had ~rollght.': The ,ciudinal m.a;y not be as tena'cious as he once was. On more 'than o'~e 'occ~siol1recently, he has sh'own he is ready,'to. pas!: along to someone cy<;>unger ,hi~, ma'ntle as keeper of the faith,. ~.~e~.~is third term of office was comIng to an end last. November,'Cardinal Ratzinger learne'd that Pope John Paul vias not r~ady to let him retire. , "For now I have to continue to carry out my job, because the Holy Father wants it," he sa:,d to an interviewer. "But I hope thi.s doesn't continue for too much 10::lger."

Cardinal Ratzinger told journalist Seewald in "Salt of the Earth" that his duties had prevented him from producing one significant work, "my own opus" he called it.

And it was noted at th.: Italian launch of "From My Life"'that his memoir has a subtitle: "Remembrances 1927-1977." So it l:ould be that the' restless Panzerl:ardinal has at leascone more book left to write, provided, he can abandon his tank and cede the battlc:field to someone else.

ora~le singlem.inded.nes~doe~'n?t

fit the man in person. FlUid In movement" quick t9 smile, the .whi£e-haired septuagenarian from southern Germany has, a gentle a.nd cori-Jparatively high-pitched ~oice, and he takes noticeable care in choosing his words.

But som,etimes the choice is deliberately blunt. As the pope's top authority on doctrine, Cardinal Ratzinger has felt compelled to 'withhold nothing in decrying dissident theologians, liberation theology, homosexuality, women as priests, "feminism" among nuns, premarital sex and abortion under any circumstance.

Thus he has earned other nicknames, including "Policeman of the Faith" and "The Grand Inquisitor." He has said in the past that he particularly dislikes the latter.

An interviewer for the French magazine L' Ex press recently called Cardinal Ratzinger "the 'bete noir' Of progressive Christians." He did not deny it. , But Cardinal ~atzinger does seem to be bothered by one aspect of his status as the top dog of dogma: At the launch of his new books in Rome, the cardinal told reporters he found it dismaying to be accused of becoming more doctrinaire in order to climb the church hierarchy.

"From My Life" tries to explain the choic'es he made and the context in which he made them. The cardinal said he,does not want to be thought of as "one who has practically sold his soul as a researcher and. theologian in order to have power."

And power he has. When he turned 70, April 16, Cardinal Ratzinger received birthday greetings from Chancellor Helmut Kohl of Germany and the country's foreign minister. Klaus Kinkt:l. Now in his fourth five-year term at the congregation, he meets roughly 'once a week \Vith Pope John Paul II and is in charge of arguably the Vatican's most important department. ,H is po~itiQI1 at the top of ~hat.,

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Whatever their beliefs, involvement with the Shroud changes liv,es

By John Allelll LOS ANGELES (eNS) '- In the Los Angeles area, one of several centers of research on the Shroud of Turin around! the world, leading members of the so-called "shroud crowd" were initially drawn as experts in thc:ir particular fields to what some: believe is the burial cloth of Jesus.

And like Dr. August Accetta, a Huntington Beach doctor who is a shroud researcher and aficionado, they all claim to see in the shroud convincing evidence of the supernaturaL Whether that evidence is really there is beyond anyone's capacity to say for sure. What is clear is that the shroud has changed these people's lives - and this power, rather than the question of authenticity, may prove to be the shroud's ultimate mystery: Accetta, a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology, is the founder of the Shroud Center of Southern California.

Housed in a nondescript office park in Huntington Beach, the center consists of a di!.play of life-

size photos of the shroud, photos of scientific examinations of it with illustrations, and maps purporting to. document the shroud's ancient .history.

The center seems more like a shrine than a center for scientific investigation. Still, Accetta says that science is what motivates him.

"The shroud speaks primarily to the scientist," he said, "to those of us who have been through doctoral programs in science,' who have had that kind of'tiaining.

"For many of.us, religion always seemed a tittH: chaotic, unscientific," he added in 'an interview with The Tidings, I..;os Angeles' archdiocesan newspaper. "But now we have a cloth ... we can apply the scientific method to it, using the tools of physics, chemistry', and mathematics. Here, We have proof that what the 'Bible says is true."

Accetta is currently working with a team of researchers to use nuclear 'medicine in an attempt to determine how the shroud image was formed. He believes that the body in the shroud gave off a burst of nuclear energy, resulting from

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THIS ANCIENT cloth known as the Shroud of Turin shows the distinet imprint of the body of a crucified man. The shroud, which some believe to be the burial cloth of Christ, is the center of much controversy and speculation. (CNS/ KN A photQ-l:.:.:. _... , ..•. _:._. _~: :_. __ :.:.:....:....:.::-:..:~ ..: .. - ~--:.;::-_--- ~:'

an instantaneous dissolution of its molecular bonds. That discharge, he thinks, scorched the cloth and produced the image.

Does that mean Accetta believes he's discovered the science of the Resurrection?

"You can't prove that," he said, but he does suggest that because the image appears to be weightless and the blood on the shroud was not smeared, something "nonphysical" must have happened.

Isabel Piczek's expertise as 'an artistwas her first point of contact with the shroud.

A native of Hungary, Piczek completed a mural for the refectory of the Biblical Institute in Rome when s~e was 14 years old.

Today, from her Echo Park studio, Piczek continues to work on huge murals and' stained glass. Her work includes murals at Holy Cross Mausoleum in Culver City and the San Fernando' Mission Mausoleum, a mural and stained glass at St. John Fisher Church in Palos Verdes, and a tOO-squarefoot tiled mural in the chapel of the Sacred He:art Sisters in the Heart of Jesus Retreat Center in Santa Ana. Art, howevc:r, is far from Piczek's only interest in the shroud.

Like Accetta, she believes' that science may have the most to learn from shroud research.

"The shroud is the blueprint of the future," she said. "The shroud is teaching us new science, with a completely different set of physics and chemistry. It points to a completely different end of the universe than the: present model assumes."

Piczek belic:ves that at the moment of the Resurrection, "time broke its own mirror," and the energy released in that act formed the image on the shroud.

Piczek is helping to organize an international symposium of shroud researchers in Nice, France, to be held May 12-13.

Photographer Barrie Schwortz was first approached about becoming involved with the shrOUd in the 1970s.

He became: part of the original Shroud of Turin Research Project, which conducted the most exhaustive study of the shroud in 1978. The team was granted five days of nearly round-the-clock access to the shroud in Turin, Italy, all of which Schwortz documented photographically.

Based on that experience, Schwortz is now nearing completion of a book, tentatively titled "120 Hours With the Shroud."

The book and CD of shroud images should be finished by the end of 1997.

In addition, Schwortz operates what many consider to be the leading Web site devoted to the shroud (http://www.shroud.com).

"I believe it's the authentic burial cloth of Jesus," he told The Tidings. "The scientific evidence is too overwhelming."

Schwortz, who is Jewish, brings an interesting perspective to the shroud. While he is not prepared to convert to Christianity, he says the shroud has given him a lot to think about.

"In some ways, the message of the shroud is mostly for us nonChristians," he said. "Christians already know that Jesus is God." Don Lynn's expertise as supervisor for planetary image processing dnbotli 'the'Vikingand'Voy'ager

projects led to him being recruited by the shroud research team..

Lynn, who was working out of the Jet PropUlsion. Laboratory in Los Alamos, N.M."was tabbed to analyze images ofthe shroud, both before and after the 1978 investigation. Lynn enhanced the 1931 images of the shroud to see what information could be obtained from them, and did the same to Schwortz's photographs from 1978.

"We could see three-dimensional effects in·the images, which conventional photographs don 'f have," Lynn said. "We were able to establish that there is a correlation between the density of. the image and height, weight, etc."

Lynn's work led to the creation of a three-dimensional model,of the body on the shroud, performed by researchers in Colorado.

Like Accetta, Piczek and Schwortz, science haS made Lynn a believer in the shrOUd. "It's very accurate· physiologically; and it relates very closely to the Gospel," he said.

Lynn does retain a degree of scientific reserve, however, saying that he "would allow for other possibilities." .

But, he quickly added, "I think it's authentic."

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Diocesan school happenings tions - Brittany Kosboski, "Handy Taunton Catholic Middle School On April II, all second trimes- Holder," a lighted wooden device ter honor roll students were treated that holds an open book in place to a make-your-own sundae party, and provides built-in compartcourtesy of the Office of Student ments for other desk supplies; and Services and the Development Melissa Cournoyer, "Stuffed AniOffice. 131 students, their parents mal Organizer," itetting attached and siblings filled the cafeteria to to a pegboard and arranged to take part in the celebration recog- hold' stuffed animals to avoid nizing TCMS students in grades clutter. five ,through eight, who had achieved honor roll status.

The TCMS Drama Club is currently preparing for its, next production, which will take place on May 9; The club will present the musica:1 "Give My Regards to Broadway." The, production carries a cast of IS'and a'37-member chorus supporting it.., The girls' softball teamhas begun practicing at Weir Field, pl'epar~ . ing for an exciting season ahead.

-S路t. Francis Xavier School ' The fifth gnide class at St. FranHoly Family - Holy Name cis Xavier School, Acushnet, re-' Stamp 'club inembt:fs at' Holy' cently held its third'annuallnven~ Famiiy-Holy Name School, New tion Convention 'Science Fair.

Bedford, recently participated in a' During tfte' school year, stu'de,nts researched' and learned biographi:' stamp exp,?路 The stu~ents '~om颅 pleted projects on theines'inCludcal information' about' irlventofs and motivations to invent: 'Stu- ing Disney, tninsportation, the' Olympics, animals and. John 'F. dents then oesigiled and presented Kennedy. The 'HF-HNwinners, creative, original and' practical were: ,Sara Metro; grade S; ,1st inventions. ' The following is a list of award place Best 'of Sho~; ~litthew winners: 1st place- Caitlin Alferes GOldblatt, grade 7; 2nd place Be'st .and Dani~lIe Dupras,'''Kid Proof of Show; Ray J; L~iz, grade 4;,3,rd Made E-Z," a safety 'strap designed place Creativity; Jenpa Tremblay, to coveT a child's seat 'belt release grade 7, Ist place' Originality; button; 2nd place - Daniel Bene- Julian Plante;3rd place Original~ dito, "Rollerweights," pouches of ity; Bre~daii Haye~, grade ,4, 1st weighted material' that' slip into place Philateiic ~nbwledge; Greg protective padding to increase exMessina, grade 7, 2nd place Philaer,:ise benefits of rollerblaping; 3rd. telic 'K nowledge. .' place -: Katherine, Pye; "Lunch The third graders .in Te'resa Maid E-Z," a compartmentalized Souza's ciass' recently enj oyed 'The organizer for the paper and plastic Velveteen Rabbit. The students lunch su'pplies; hon'orable men- celebrated the' en~ of the story

WOW! REFRIGERATOR MATERIAL! In many families, children's work is posted on the most seen place in the house... the refrigerator door. Daniel Thompson, Director of Student Services at Taunton Catholic Middle School, thought that the idea would be a good one to bring into the school as a way of recognizing students who have improved their grades.

With the help of volunteers and custodian Norberto George, a refrigerator was donated and its door was mounted on the wall outside principal Kathleen Simpson's office. Sporting a sign that reads "Cool School Improvement," the door is now home to all kinds of student work that has improved by at least to points. Here, Mrs. Simpson adds sixth grader Monica Boliei.',' ro's much improved test scores to the door: '

with a tea party attended by their own beloved stuffed animals, and the guest of honor was none other than the Velveteen Rabbit.

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Third grade students at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, New Bed..: forp, recently welcomed a guest to their classroom. Mr. Tunstall from Com Electric explained t'? the students the benefits and hazards of electricity.

The annual spelling bee took ' place recently and the. ,winners: were: Ist place - Jessica Bettencourt, grade 7; and first runner-up' - 'Sara Medeiros, grade '6. , .

The science fair winners were: .

Grade 7 - 'I; Melinda' Costa, 2.

Rachel Almeida, 3'. Elizabeth' Taber; honorable mention - Jessica Bettencourt, Joshua Almeida and Paulo Borges; Grade 8 - I. , Joshua Travassos, 2. Diane路CoeIho, 3. Gloriana Caiano; honorable mention - Matthew Medeiros, Christopher Aguiar, Nicole 'P~: mental.' , On' April 12 and IJ the rock. opera "Jesus Christ Superstar"'was performed'by students at OLMC. A year's preparation'went into this unique endeavor. The cast's ex- , ceptional performance was enjoyed by all who attended.

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ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL; New Bedford, hasadded aquaculture' .to 'the curriculum. 'The fish are giving stu,dents hands~~n'sci~nce, ~ath: lang~age arts, art and music lessons.

From left, Melissa Potvin, Priscilla Macedo and Robert Valois. Also, the "Vinnies" (young St. Vincent de Paul metnpers) held a food drive and collected, 569 cans for the needy in one day! .

STUDENTS AT St. Jean Baptiste School, Fall River, participated in an Earth Day three-dimensiomil poster contest sponsored by the Naval Education and Trai.ning Center in Newport, R.I. First place winners from left are Ann Bryant and Amanda Jones, sixth 'grade; Nicholas Chasse and Jonathan Raymond, eighth grade; and Shauna Dunn and Jennifer Mathieu, seventh grade. With them are Captain Wyman and Father Richard Andrade, St. Jean Baptiste pastor. At right is seventh grader Katie O'Neil who placed seventh in a field of 52 participants in the Regional Spelling Bee 'sponsored by The New Bedford Standard Times.

--THE ANCHOR-DioceseofFatl River--:..Fri:, April'25, 1997

15

Coming of Age FOR YOUTH

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By Amy Welborn

BISHOP FEEHAN High School Competition Majorettes, New Engla,nd ChampionsClass "B". (From left) front row: Andrea Gualitieri, Anne Marie Loiselle and Jessica Ciancarelli; middle row: Amy Decarvalho, Alicia Moran, Sabrina Bankert, Anne Marie Piantadosi and Robin Bassett; back row: Kate Oliveira, Monique Poulin, Sharon Dwyer, Liz Cilli, Lisa Gualtieri, Pamela Godsoe and Erin Thomas.

Bishop Feehan High School The second annual Bishop Fee'han High School Athletic Hall of Fame will be held,on May 2. For information call the athletic office, tel. 226-6223.

This year's inductees include local attorney James Perkoski ('69), former Attleboro residents Peter Rollins ('72) and Christine Kelley ('76), former North Attleboro resident Thomas Grimes ('76), Rhode Island state policeman Brendan Doherty ('77), and Dr. James Birch who will be an honorary inductee for his 20 years of service as the football team's physician.

The school is presently on its annual spring break and classes will resume on Monday, April 28.

On April 29 Honor Societies inductions will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium. National, Span-

ish, French and, Art societies will induct their newest members and guest speaker will be the President of the Massachusetts Foreign Lan-. guage Association Dr., Richard Ladd.

Student Council elections for the 1997-98 school year will take place on May I. The annual Freshmen-Sophomore Social will take place at the Elks Hall in Attleboro on May 2.

The school's spring sports programs are all underway. Led by the captains Tim Janowski and Tatum Charron, both the boys' and girls' tennis tearrys remain undefeated (both 5-0). The boys' varsity baseball team, also undefeated (5-0), recently beat highly regarded rival Coyle-Cassidy 10-0, behind the stellar one-hit pitching per-

formanee of captain Jamie Mandell and timely hitting of teammates Tom Petrillo and Jared Eskdahl.' , . , The Bishop Feehan High School Competition Majorettes have been crowned the 1997 New England Class "B" champions at the recent New England Majorette Association Championships at BMC Durfee High School in Fall River.

The 15-member squad, coached

by Brenda Loiselle, had a strong showing in the preliminary competitions, placing 1st in competitions at New Bedford and Somerset, and garnering 3rd place finishes at Apponequet and Seekonk before winning the championship.

The squad twirled to a musical rendition of the Gettysburg Address and wore Civil War garb to enhance its presentation.

Over the past four years, four young, unmarried women .of my acqul,lintance became pregnant and had babies.

All four began their pregnancie's upset, yet firm in their decisions not to abort.

All four also had unswerving support from their families. All four now are struggling, tired, yet proud and doting mothers.

These young women have one other thing in common. All began their pregnancies on good terms with the fathers of their children, confident about the future of the guys' support and their relationships. .

All four are now sorely dis\lppointed. None of the relationships survived, Visitation to the children is rare~ .

How things change.

This is'n't a male-bashing piece.

There are many young men who take respo,nsibility for the children they father, although not nearly enough. as every study of teen pregnancy shows.

No, I'm sharing these stories as one more caution against idealism, romanticism and unrealistic expectations in the area of sexual intimacy and romantic relationships.

Being in love is pleasant, to be sure, but it also distorts a person's ability to see reality as it is. Relationships that last may begin as romantic whirlwinds, but they endure beyond that beginning when people decide to love each other as they really are, not as projections ora daydream.

Sexual intimacy just adds to the distortion. The physical pleasure of such intimacy has the uncanny power to trick people into thinking they are also intimate emotionally, spiritually and intellectually with the person they're sleeping with.

ABOUT YOUTH This set of feelings is often . nothing more than an attractive, addictive cover over an empty shell of a relationship.

These feelings heighten the risk of romantic self-delusion.

People think: "We're perfectly suited, our relationship has sprung from eternity and nothing can tear us apart. Nothing bad can happen to us. Breaking up, for example. It can't happen to us."

Sorry. The reality is that most teen relationships don't last. So be wary of conducting yqur dating relationship as if it were a marriage. Ending it would still be sad.

But it won't feel so much like a divorce if you keep it in perspective.

Ano,ther example: Teens might get disgusted that "some people" let the physical side of their relationship take over. It becomes the focus' of their time together. It might even keep them dating, even though they confide to their friends that they don't like their boyfriend or girlfriend that much.

"Oh, but that can't happen to us," a couple may say. "We really love each other. We can handle anything we do just fine. We're really mature about it."

But are they mature about it?

Would they continue seeing the person they're dating if they had a chaste relationship? Think about it.

And then there is pregnancy.

One more thing that "will never happen to us."

This brings us full circle. Teen romantic relationships are susceptible to fantasties of effortless bliss.

"We won't break up; we'll keep sex under control; we won't get pregnant; he'll always be there for me and the baby." It's amazing how one thing seems to lead to another.

Fantasy can be nice but reality will intrude. It's a lesson the four girls I mentioned had to learn the hard way.

Fall River CYO news

AMERICAN DREAM CHALLENGE: Mary Vasconcellos, president of the Espirito Santo School, Fall River, Student Council, presents ~r. Irving Fradkin with a check for the Bishop Sean O'Malley Scholarship. The O'Malley Scholarship is one of many awards given annually to a student from each of the fourth and sixth grade schools in the city. The Student Council raised money for the scholarship by selling lollipops for Valentine'S Day. Pictured with Mary and Dr. Fradkin, founder of the American Dream Challenge, are Bob Boutin, incoming chairman of the Scholarship Fund, and Patricia Benoit, principal.

Albert "Val" Vaillancourt, associate director of the Fall River area CYO, has announced that an organizational meeting for the Fall River area CYO Baseball League will take place on Apr. 28, 7 p.m. at the CYa" Center on Anawan St..

Fall River, Any Catholic parish in the Fall River Deanery that wishes to sponsor a team is asked to have a representative at this meeting. The, league is for players between the ages of 16 and 23. League rules will be discussed and practice times will be given to teams.

The basketball league recently completed another successful season. The following parishes were regular season and playoff champions: Jr. A, boys, Espirito Santo, regular season and playoff champs as well as diocesan champions; Jr. B, boys, SS. Peter & Paul, regular season and playoff champs; Jr.C,

boys, St. Stanislaus, regular season champs; SS. Peter & Paul, playoff champs; Jr. A, girls, St. Jean Baptiste, regular season and playoff champs; Jr. B, girls, Holy Name, BI, regular season champs, St. Anne's, B2, playoffchamps;Jr. C, girls. Holy Name, CI, regular Season champs; Notre Dame, playoff champs; Prep., Espirito Santo, regular season champs; St. William's, playoff champs; Sr. B, Espirito Santo, regular season and Sam Priestly Tournament champs; Sr. A, St. Michael's, regular season and Tony Medeiros trophy winners as well as diocesan champs.

All parishes Were from Fall River.

The league banquet will be held in May.

16 THE ANCHOR~DioceseOf Fall River-Fri., A'priI25, '1997

Iteering pOint, PUBLICITY CHAIRMEN, are asked to submit news items for this column to the The Anchor, P.O. Box 7; Fall River, 02722.

Name of city or town should be included, as well as full dates of all activities; Please send news of future rather than past events.

Due to limited space and also because notices of strictly parish affairs normally appear in a parish's. ownbu'lIetin, we are forced'to limit items to events of general interest.

Also, we do not normally carry notices of fundraising activities, which may be advertised at our regular rates, obtainable from the The Anchor business office, telephone (508) 675-7151.

MARRIAGE PREPARATION AT ITS BEST! Give A Gift Certificate For A Weekend Away For Info Contact TRACEY &KEITH LACY TEL. 223-1677

On Steering Points items, FR indicates Fall River, NB indicates New Bedford.

OFFICE OF AIDS MINISTRY Embracing the Mystery, a service of healing and remembrance for persons living with and affected by HIV disease and AIDS, their families, friends, caregivers and all who are concerned, will be held at St. Anne's Hospital, 795 Middle St., FR on May 18,2 p.m.

ST. MARY'S CHURCH, NO. ATTLEBORO Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place in the chapel (rear of the church) every First Friday fol- . lowing the 7 a.m. Mass and ending prior to the 9 a.m. Mass on Saturday. The next adoration is May 2.

Evening prayer will be at 7 p.m. on Friday and special prayers at 8 a.m. on Saturday. Information: Joan Prevost, tel. 699-2430.

SACRED HEART CHURCH,FR First Friday celebration will take place May 2. Intercessory prayer in the chapel begins at 6:30 p.m.; Mass in the church hall is at 7 p.m.; a program with special guests Rene and Dianne Pincince begins at 8 p.m.; and coffee and socializing is from 9 to 9:30p:m.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament'follows, through the night until 3 p.m. on Saturday. All'welcome.

LEARY PRESS 234 SECOND STREET· FALL RIVER, MA

Celebrating 100 years orService 1897-1997 TELEPHONE (508) 679-5262

FAX (508) 673-1545

RETREAT DA y., CATHEDRAL" "HOLY CROSS,SOUTH-EASTON - An afternoon sing-a-Iong program CAMP, E. FREETOWN will take place at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, A retreat day for those involved in including old and new hymns and ',ministry to the sick will be offered by children's favorites. Refreshments. the Diocesan Department of Pastoral Care on May 3, and will be presented by Peggy Mulligan of Miramar Retreat Center. Registration deadline is today: call Sister Shirley Agnew, (508) 477-6170.

STONEHILL COLLEGE, NORTH EASTON A Holocaust Commemoration will take place May 4, 4to 5 p.m. at the Joseph Martin Institute on the campus of Stonehill College. All are welcome to the event which will feature poems, music, meditations"sharing, and prayer·. The event is sponsored by the Catholic Jewish Dialogue Committee of Stonehill College.

HEARTS AND HANDS A celebration of spiritual nourishment given by Hearts & Hands, a Christian program caring for medically fragile children and their families, will be held April 27, at St. Gabriel's Church, Marion, from 7 to 9 p.m. Jean Revil will speak on "The Gift That You Are." FR WIDOWED SUPPORT GROUP' -FATHER KASZYNSKI The group will meet Apr. 28, 7 p.m. in the St. Mary's School hall on The Diocesan Service Com. Second St. Emma Baron will bethe mittee for the Charismatic Respeaker. All widowed are welcome. newal in the Fall River DioInformation: Annette, tel. 679-3278: cese will sponsor a Pentecost LaSALETTE SHRINE, ATTLEBORO. celebration at 7 p.m. May 9 at There will be a healing' service at St. Mary's Cathed'ral. FaI.I the chapel on Apr. 27 at 2 p.m. led by River. It will take the form of Father Ernest Corriveau, MS, shrine director. The service will include a liturgy of the Word in Engcelebration of Eucharist; teaching, hymns of praise and the opportunity lish and Portuguese with Father Robert Kaszynski, liaito be prayed over and anointed individually. son to the Service Committee,.

On May 3, at 6:30 p.m., Mark and Father Jose dos Santos as Gabriel Girardin will be the featured preachers. Father John. J. performer at the Coffee House in the cafeteria. Other music artists will Oliveira will lead prayer for include soloist Bridget Kelley (from healing.

Christsong), bass player, Armando All are welcome to join in Bettencourt, Jim Pepin on drums and other surprise guests. this preparation for Pentecost The chapel and the cafeteria are handicapped accessible. For infor- and groups are invited to bring banners and stands. mation'on either event, call 222-541 O. HIS LAND/BETHANY, PET ADOPTATHON, WESTPORT LAKEVILLE Jeffs Companion Animal Shelter A workshop, "Healing in Our is a sponsor of the second annual Pet Lives," will be offered May 3 by Father Joseph McDermott. pastor of Adoptathon, to be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 3 and 4. Nationally, Immaculate Conception parish, thousands of dogs and cats were Stoughton. A healing Mass will be celebrated. Information: (508) 947- adopted during the 1996 event.

Further information: (508) 636-2929 4704. or 1-800-863-4267.

ST. THOMAS MORE, SOMERSET SAINT ANNE'S HOSPITAL, FR A spring 6-week Bible study series Volunteer opportunities are avail.for adults will begin April 29 and able at the' hospitaf for people who will center on the Book of Exodus. have clerical experience, computer The program will be offered each skills, telephone skills and enjoy Tuesday following 9 a.m. Mass and working, with people. Information: at 7 p. m. Further information: Pat Betty, Novacek, tel. 674-5741, extenPasternak. (508) 679-1236: sion 2080.

Is your parish planning an event this Spring or Summer?

675-7151 or This Message Sponsoll'ed by the Following Business .

Concerns in the Diocese of Fall River GLOBE MFG. CO. • WALSH PHARMACY GILBERT C. OLIVEIRA INS. AGENCY' DURO FINISHING CORP.

SACRAMENTO. Calif. (CNS) - An interfaith charity that is being sued by the city of Sacramento to stop its feeding of the poor on Sundays has countersued, claiming a violation of its First Amendment rights.

The charity, called Loaves and Fishes, is a privately supported organization that grew out of the Catholic Worker movement in Sacramento. Established in 1983, it serves up to 1,000 mt~als a day and offers other services to the poor and homeless in a block-long complex that it operates.

In January that city filed a complaint in Sacramento Superior Court accusing the charity of violating city zoning regulations and becoming a public nuisa::'Ice. Among activities it asked the court to shut down are- Sunday meal servings; a youth center for homeless teenagers; and a teaching program for a small number of homeless children who lack access tothe public school syster.:'I because they have no fixed address.

The city claims those ,and several other Loaves and Fishes activities are not covered by its special use permits: Tina Thomas, one of a team of prominent Northern California attorneys who came togl~ther to defend the charity for free, said the countersuit, filed' March 10, accuses the city of infringing on f:'le exercise of the religious rights of Loaves and Fishes and its membe.rs.

The countersuit opens with the biblical command from God recorded in Deuteronomy 15: II, "Open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and the poor in the land."

It says the case is "ab':lUt the efforts of an organization"and its members to minister to the hungry ... in keeping with the dictates of their faith and about a government's determination to prevent that ministry."

About 1,200 volunteers, many of them members of Catholic parishes in the Sacramento area, go to the Loaves and Fishes complex at least monthly to help serve meals or assist in its counseling or other services.

• When the city filed its suit a,gainst the charity, Sacramento C2.th6lic Bishop William K. Weigand urged officials to drop the court action and form a community task force on homelessness.

Bishop's Charity Ball highlights on cable :rv

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FAX 675-7048

Don't feed, aid.poor on Sundays',~ says Sacramento

CONCLUDING PREPARATIONS for the annual convention ofthe Diocesan Council of Catholic Women are, from left, committee members Catherine St. Martin, Decorations; Maureen Papineau, Registration; Adrienne Lemieux, Special Guests. Not pictured, Alice Loew and Angela Medeiros, Special Guests. The convention will take place May 3 a,t Bishop Feehan High School, Attleboro. (Lavoie photo)

A 45-minute video of highlights of this year's Bishop's Charity Ball will air on these local cable channels: Acushnet and Fairhaven, Apr. 26 & 27, 4 p.m.. , cable channel 2.

No. Attleboro a;tld Taunton, Apr. 27, 8:30 p.m., cable channel 27.

The video was produced by the diocesan Office of Communications, Promedia, a local video production agency, and the Charity B a.ll Committee.