04 29 16

Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

Friday, April 29, 2016

Relics of Maronite Father St. Sharbel visited St. Anthony of the Desert Church in Fall River last week. The relics were also brought to Our Lady of Purgatory Church in New Bedford for public veneration.

(Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

1

DCCW plans inspirational event for 63rd annual convention

TAUNTON — The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women will hold its 63rd annual convention on May 7.

The day will begin with a 9 a.m. Mass at Holy Rosary Chapel on Bay Street in Taunton, celebrated by Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. A breakfast and the meeting will follow the Mass at the Coyle and Cassidy High School library, at the corner of Adams and Hamilton streets.

The guest speaker is Peggy Patenaude, a Cape Cod resident with her husband Dan. She holds a bachelor’s degree in theology and a master’s degree in Pastoral Ministry, with a post-master’s certificate in Spirituality.

Patenaude has worked in the fields of education, Pastoral Ministry and Spirituality for more than 40 years.

In 2002 she founded “Taking Time Out,” a retreat and workshop ministry. Using her playful spirit, love of story-telling, a keen sense of

humor and a great gift for creativity, she motivates and guides others in their life journeys.

With past experiences with prison ministry, Patenaude also works with Edwina Gateley to minister to women in recovery from prostitution and drug use.

She is an excellent facilitator with a unique ability to engender a hunger for continued growth. Her gentle presence and grounded Spirituality invite and inspire others to look within.

All women are invited to share in Patenaude’s journey, and also to hear all that the council has done this year and plans for the coming year.

For more information, or to register, call Fran Brezinski at 508-824-5279 or email frdccwfran@aol.com, or in Fall River, call 508674-7036 or 508-678-6941; in New Bedford, 508-9951604 or 508-993-5085; in Attleboro, 508-761-4638; in Taunton, 508-676-6515 and on Cape Cod, call 508-5403370.

The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women recently held a Day of Reflection at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Pocasset with more than 50 women from the diocese attending. From left: Bobbie Dwyer (president of St. John’s Women’s Guild), Fran Brezinski (DCCW president), Alicia Ambrosio (guest speaker) and Beth Mahoney (DCCW president-elect). The day began with prayer, then participants heard a presentation from Alicia Ambrosio, senior producer at Salt n’ Light Media Communications, on the effects of media on the family and Marriage.

2

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Holy Cross Parish in South Easton last weekend were Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V.; pastor, Holy Cross Father James M. Fenstermaker to the right of the bishop in the photo; former pastors and friends of the parish; and Holy Cross Fathers from Holy Cross Family Ministries and Stonehill College in Easton. (Photo

by Joe Kennedy)

South Easton parish celebrates 50 years as a faith community

By Dave Jolivet Anchor Editor davejolivet@anchornews.org

SOUTH EASTON — In the grand scheme of things in a diocese that is more than 110 years old, 50 years may seem like a drop in a bucket. But to the faith community of Holy Cross Parish in South Easton, it’s a testament to its love of God, Church, family and commitment to living out the parish mission statement: “Holy Cross Parish, a community centered in the Eucharist, is committed in faith and love of Jesus Christ to fulfill the profoundly human and Spiritual needs of its parishioners and the larger community it serves. We seek to inspire all, through deeds and by example, to do the work of Christ: to make God known, loved, and served.”

Last Sunday, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V.; pastor Holy Cross Father James E. Fenster-

maker; former pastors, priests from Holy Cross Family Ministries and Stonehill College; and other clergy, parishioners and friends gathered to celebrate the parish’s golden jubilee with a Mass.

The Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree served as the bishop’s honor guard, and two original members of the parish, Patricia Brophy and Roy Owens, brought up the gifts.

“How fortuitous that we are able to celebrate our 50th anniversary on the very day of our foundation as a parish 50 years ago,” said Father Fenstermaker. “We are blessed to have Bishop da Cunha here to preside at our Mass, as well as several Holy Cross priests, who have served here over the years, concelebrating the Mass. But most importantly, we are blessed to have you, the faithful parishioners of Holy Cross

Parish, here to celebrate together this joyful day.

“In the Catholic Church we tend to use the words ‘church’ and ‘parish’ interchangeably. The word ‘church’ derives from the Greek ‘ecclesia,’ meaning ‘assembly.’ Holy Cross Parish is the assembly of the faithful who have gathered here for the past 50 years to worship the Lord Jesus and to serve those in need. The word ‘parish’ comes from the Greek ‘paroikos,’ meaning ‘a sojourner’ or ‘a neighbor.’ Holy Cross Parish is that wonderful group of Spiritual sojourners who have traveled together over the past 50 years on our common journey toward the fullness of the Kingdom of God.” Before the Mass, attendees were treated to a slide show containing more than 500 photos chronicling the last 50 years at the parish. The show was continued at the Continued on page 19

Diocese seeking input through parishioner survey

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

FALL RIVER — To help in its efforts for improved ministry and effective pastoral planning, the Fall River Diocese has posted an online parishioner survey through which area Catholics are urged to offer their perspective on the health of parish life.

The survey may now be accessed at www. surveygizmo.com/ s3/2682037/Diocese-ofFall-River-ParishionerSurvey. A link is also provided on the diocesan website www. fallriverdiocese.org as well as on many parish websites.

The survey is available in English, Portuguese and Spanish and simple instructions are included on the survey’s landing page.

All responses will remain confidential and it should take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Hard copies of the survey are also available at parishes by request for those without Internet access.

Responses to the survey

must be submitted by May 31, 2016.

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., has asked pastors to publicize the survey through any and all means and to strongly encourage the participation of all parishioners.

Diocesan director of Pastoral Planning and Parish Pastoral Task Force member Deacon Joseph Regali recently underscored the need for a strong parishioner response so that survey results provide an accurate picture of parochial life within the diocese.

“The Parish Pastoral Task Force believes it is critical to gather feedback from parishioners,” Deacon Regali said. “Task Force members understand how important it is for them to have from parishioners an evaluation of their parish, its strengths and weaknesses, in order to map out the best way forward for renewal.”

Survey participants are asked to respond to questions organized around five aspects of parish life: Sacramental life, Catholic

Diocese of Fall River

OFFICIAL His Excellency, the Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., Bishop of Fall River, has announced the following appointments: Rev. Michael J. Fitzpatrick, Pastor, Saint Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis Rev. Dariusz Kalinowski, Pastor, Our Lady of Grace Parish in Westport Effective: April 25, 2016

Faith Formation, community, serving those in need, and effective administration. Some questions require an answer, while others are optional.

Results of the survey will be included with other data gathered by the Parish Pastoral Task Force to assist them in their work to determine how diocesan priests, parishes and other entities can better serve the needs of the diocesan Church in the future. According to Deacon Regali, it is anticipated that survey results will be shared in the fall after careful analysis.

Deacon Regali dismissed the notion that the survey results will be used to determine whether parish closures will be necessary or not.

“The intent of the pastoral plan involving the two surveys — the parishioner survey and the survey that the core team at each parish has to complete — was never intended to be a vehicle towards closures of parishes,” Deacon Regali told The Anchor. “The essence of both is to understand the vitality of all of our parishes and to find out where they are, so for those parishes that need to be moved from maintenance to mission mode, we can urge them along (and help them) to become more active and vital. That’s the whole purpose of it.”

Deacon Regali said he’s been collecting data and information about those who are active in the Church and those who no longer claim any religious affiliation; and that latter group is growing in size

Visit us online at anchornews.org

Turn to page 20

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

3

St. John Paul II students make 12-mile pilgrimage to Door of Mercy

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

HYANNIS — Students at St. John Paul II High School in Hyannis recently learned a little bit more about their faith while enjoying the scenic outdoors of Cape Cod as they embarked on a more than 12-mile pilgrimage to visit Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich — one of the designated Holy Door sites in the diocese for the Year of Mercy.

According to school chaplain, Father Ron Floyd, 68 students accompanied him and Head of School Christopher W. Keavy on the long walk from Hyannis to East Sandwich on April 15.

“We were really pleased with the number who went and they all made it except for one,” Father Floyd said.

“One student had a cramp issue near the end, so she had to bow out.”

Although Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., designated two Holy Door sites on Cape Cod, Father Floyd said they opted to make Corpus Christi Parish their destination.

“We’re basically equidistant to the two Holy Doors, so we could have

gone to one or the other in opposite directions,” Father Floyd said. “It would have been twice the distance to go to both, so we decided to go to Corpus Christi Parish because it was a little bit easier as far as walking conditions. We also stopped at Our Lady of Hope Chapel (in West Barnstable), where we prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and then we continued on to Corpus Christi.”

Even though most of the students had never been on a pilgrimage before, Father Floyd said they were really up to the challenge and seemed to embrace it.

“I don’t think they knew that much about the pilgrimage side of it, so it was an opportunity to learn something about a central part of our faith,” Father Floyd said. “Pilgrimages come from the Old Testament, they come from the idea of Abraham and his descendants wandering looking for a homeland and it goes all the way through to the Book of Revelation — the idea that we are all pilgrim people on the way to the New Jerusalem, and we explained that throughout the day to give them a little bit of background about the idea of a pilgrimage. We

also gave them the traditional pilgrim’s blessing at the beginning of the day.”

Having mapped out and traveled the 12.5-mile route himself a week earlier, Father Floyd said they ended up making a few adjustments along the way.

“We took a little detour because the kids were complaining that the last part of it was all off-road and they were getting tired going up and down hills, so we took a little bit more of a circuitous route,” he explained. “It probably ended up being more than 13 miles with the detour. The first six miles was all flat on the road, but there really is no flat sidewalk to get to Corpus Christi Parish.”

As such, a portion of the original route included a stretch along what is known as the “Trail of Tears” — a 1,200-acre tract of conservation land in West Barnstable.

“The Trail of Tears, being aptly named, is up and down and is all rocky,” Father Floyd said. “It was a little challenging after walking six miles on flat ground; it was a little bit of a passion to go up and down all those hills on rocky ground and sand, and the kids were complaining, but anything worth doing is worth suffering a little bit for.”

Upon reaching their ultimate destination, the group celebrated Mass together at Corpus Christi Church.

“It was really a providential chance that the first reading that day was the Road to Damascus and the Gospel passage was the Bread of Life — so between the two we had a beautiful little meditation at the end of the day before heading back to school,” Father Floyd said.

In addition to contributing to the students’ faith formation and providing a bit of exercise, the pilgrimage also raised more than $1,000 for the St. Aloysius Gonzaga Boys Seminary in Tanzania.

“We really wanted the kids to have some buy-in with the pilgrimage; we didn’t want them to just do it as a way of getting out of school,” Father Floyd said. “So we asked them to raise at least $10 each for the seminary in Africa. It really wasn’t a fund-raiser, per se, but we wanted them to have some sort of skin in the game and not have them doing it just to be goofing around. The kids who went all seemed very serious about it and I was very impressed.”

Father Floyd added that he was very happy the pilgrimage “went off without a hitch,” and he was thankful that the Barnstable Police provided a detail at one point to assure that everyone remained safe and that they had a couple of rest stops along the way — including Our Lady of Hope Chapel — to pray, meditate and rehydrate.

“The kids were all tired at the end of the day, but I was impressed that some of them had games that afternoon and they were in there playing,” he said. “I think it’s just a matter of them being challenged to do it. They may complain about it, but they are able.”

Although this first-time pilgrimage was tied into the Year of Mercy, Father Floyd said they might make it an annual excursion.

“A couple of kids asked about doing it again next year, so we might do it again — maybe as a celebration for Easter,” he said.

Students from St. John Paul II High School in Hyannis pose in front of the Door of Mercy at Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich after embarking on a more than 12-mile pilgrimage from the school. Joining them was Head of School Christopher W. Keavy (front, kneeling) and school chaplain Father Ron Floyd (front, crouching).

4

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

Candidates inspired during Adult Faith Formation classes

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff beckyaubut@anchornews.org

FALL RIVER — About 60 candidates will see the conferral of the Sacrament of Confirmation at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River in a few weeks, and Matthew Haggerty, parishioner of St. Jude’s Parish in Taunton, will be among those receiving the Sacrament.

Born Catholic, Haggerty was baptized and received First Communion but “I stopped going to CCD in either sixth or seventh grade, so I was almost there,” he said. “I think like some kids, going to catechism on Sundays, it was never really something I was particularly excited about. I think it was at that point when my parents gave into my [saying], ‘I don’t want to go this week; I don’t want to go this week.’ I think they felt if you don’t want to go, then don’t go. In a weird way, it was a personal decision.”

Most candidates have been baptized and received First Communion and then drift away for myriad of reasons, said Deacon Bruce Bonneau, assistant director of Adult Evangelization and Spirituality at the Office of Faith Formation in the Diocese of Fall River, but regardless of the reason for their coming back to the Church to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, Deacon Bonneau said he likes to remind them of a deeper intention: “God got you here for a reason, you just haven’t figured it out yet.”

Deacon Bonneau helped design a curriculum for the adult Faith Formation classes that focuses on the pillars of the Catholic Church, and wants candi-

dates to connect their Baptism to their Confirmation; “They’re already members of the Catholic Church,” said Deacon Bonneau. “The question is are we fully participating?”

“In the first class with the deacon,” said Haggerty, “he said that regardless of the reason you’re here, I just hope that later you’re going to look back and see that there was a larger reason that was bringing you back.

When he said that to me, I was struck.”

Haggerty felt an instant connection to the deacon: “He’s awesome. He’s just a great guy and I enjoyed him. If I was reluctant at all to come back, it was from growing up and I always felt as if I was being lectured to, whether rightly or wrongly, that was my perception. Coming back with Bruce was incredibly refreshing. A lot of this might have to do with my age and coming back as an adult with life experiences, but to come back and meet with Bruce — he was so open, thoughtful and passionate in the discussions, that I felt like I was engaged in a positive way.”

Haggerty was initially asked to become a godparent by his best friends, and he said that his friends understood that it would be a commitment of time to attend classes, so they didn’t want to pressure him.

“They said that this is entirely up to me,” Haggerty said. “They said you would always be viewed to us and through the eyes of our family as the godparents, but it would only be technically my wife. She would be able to stand by and in the eyes of the Church, go through the ceremony. They left it to us.”

That spawned a conversation between Haggerty and his wife, and personally where they wanted to go with his attending classes.

Married only six months ago, they realized that maybe there was a bigger picture.

“We started talking about how we would raise our kids,” he said. “We decided that we would want them to be raised with something, and because we were raised Catholic, that something would be the Catholic Church. We decided that I would go to classes and get confirmed.”

So for five nights, two hours each night, Haggerty and others have been attending classes.

“I spend time correcting misconceptions,” said Deacon Bonneau, “many of those are around the annulments and the participation in the Eucharist, and Sacrament of Reconciliation. The complaint usually is that the Church is rules and regulations; that it’s all about form and not about content. What I try to tell them is the Church has teachings and there are reasons for the teachings. You don’t have to agree with them, but [the Church] didn’t just come up with these things. It’s their image of the institutional Church, and most of the information they received had not really been from formed people themselves.”

Ginnelle Aiello, a member of St. Mary’s Parish in Fairhaven, was brought up Catholic and received the Sacraments of Baptism and First Communion. She went to a Catholic school up to fifth grade and is also going to be a godparent after she is confirmed: “I’m certainly glad I did it; it’s brought me closer to Jesus,”

she said.

As a child, Aiello admits she really didn’t understand “the story of Jesus in the desert, and how He suffered for 40 days” and now she appreciates His suffering for our sins: “It wasn’t something I really thought of until the Confirmation class.”

This past year a retreat was added to the fall and spring adult Faith Formation classes. The retreat isn’t to make the program longer, it’s to make the experience of it more comprehensive, said Deacon Bonneau.

“I thought [the retreat] was beneficial because this isn’t just about information, it’s about transformation,” said Deacon Bonneau. “I really thought it should be part of the process and it’s been really well-received. It highlights the whole commitment aspect, and for the most part many of the candidates had never had a retreat or a reflection experience at all, which is any

eye-opener for them — and a nice one. It’s an aspect of Catholicism that, I think, many people don’t see.”

Haggerty has never attended a retreat, and is eager to learn from that day’s speaker, Father John Spencer, a Jesuit priest who has extensive experience in pastoral ministry and is currently vice president of Mission and Ministry at Emmanuel College in Boston. Haggerty admits that he was already leaning towards coming back to the Church because of Pope Francis. As a socially progressive person, Haggerty said he felt the dialogue has changed from the Church’s perspective, and has been following the pope over the last couple of years.

“I find him incredibly refreshing and then to show up and be in class with Deacon Bruce; if it was someone else, I’m not sure I would feel as positively now as I do had it not been Turn to page 20

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

5

Anchor Editorial

Visit the prisoner

Continuing our meditation on the Works of Mercy, we consider one of the more difficult ones, visiting the prisoner. Jesus Himself spoke about this in His discussion of the final judgment, in which He will reward the sheep for visiting Him in prison and punish the goats for not doing so (Mt 25:31-46).

The late New York archbishop, John Cardinal O’Connor, said to a meeting of priests in Fatima in 1996, “‘Imitate what you handle,’ the Scripture tells us. And we do handle the Eucharist. We can imitate with sincerity, however, only if we consciously open ourselves to being formed by the Eucharist on a continuing basis.

Many of us are engaged with deep commitment to the works of the social Gospel.

We do, indeed, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the homeless, visit the prisoner, minister to those with AIDS, all crucial and laudable works, indeed, but works whose efficacy is increased immensely when fired with Eucharistic love. For the Eucharistic Sacrifice not only feeds congregations Spiritually. It reaches out into the universe to feed and clothe and house and comfort the multitudes, bathing them in the love of the crucified and Risen Christ, that love for which they are starved.” The cardinal’s words to the priests speak to all of us — if we receive the Eucharist as Christ intends, then He will move us to acts of love for our neighbors, including those whom we find difficult to love, and these acts of love will be purified and intensified by Jesus in the Eucharist.

The popes have long been visitors of prisons. In an Italian jail on July 5, 2014, Pope Francis said to the prisoners, “When I meet with one of you, who is in jail, who is moving toward reintegration, but who is imprisoned, I sincerely wonder: why him and not me? I feel this way. It’s a mystery.” Someone could answer the pope — “Well, this person committed a crime and you did not; that’s why.” However, it seems the Holy Father was driving home the point often made on the 1960s “Batman”TV show, “Robin, but for the grace of God” we’d be criminals, too.

Speaking to Italian prison chaplains on Oct. 23, 2013, the pope said, “The Lord is close, but tell [the prisoners] with your actions, with your words and with your hearts that the Lord does not remain outside, He does not remain outside their cells, He does not remain outside the prison; rather, He is inside, He is there.”

The pope noted that we are praying for conversion in prison: “I pray that each one may open his heart to this love. I also pray for you, who are chaplains, and for your ministry which is difficult, it is very demanding and very important since it expresses one of the Works of Mercy: to make the Lord’s presence visible in the prison, in the prison cell. Recently you spoke about a justice of reconciliation, but also about a justice of hope, open doors, and horizons. This is not a utopia, it can be done. It is not easy, for our weaknesses are everywhere, the devil is also everywhere, temptations are everywhere; but we must always try.”

On June 21, 2014, Pope Francis spoke about what should be the aim of prisons: “In advice pertaining to prisoners, the theme often highlighted is respect for basic human rights and the need for the punishment to fit the crime. This is certainly an essential aspect of prison policy and it deserves great attention. However this perspective is not enough if it is not accompanied and completed by the instituOFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER www.anchornews.org

Vol. 60, No. 9

Member: Catholic Press Association, Catholic News Service Published bi-weekly by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720, Telephone 508-675-7151 — FAX 508-675-7048, email: theanchor@anchornews.org. Subscription price by mail, postpaid $20.00 per year, for U.S. addresses.

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

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

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

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

6

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

tions’ concrete commitment to bring about an effective reintegration into society (cf. Benedict XVI, address to participants in the 17th Council of Europe Conference of Directors of Prison Administration, Nov. 22, 2012). When this objective is neglected, the implementation of the penalty degenerates into an instrument of punishment alone and of social retaliation, which in turn is detrimental to the individual and society. And God does not do this with us. God, when He forgives us, He accompanies us and helps us along the way. Always. Even in the small things.

When we go to Confession, the Lord tells us: ‘I forgive you. But now come with Me.’ He never simply forgives, but He forgives and accompanies. He always takes us by the hand again. This is the love of God, and we must imitate it! Society must imitate it. Take this path.”

Pope Benedict, in the address his successor cited above, said, “If human justice in this area is to look to Divine justice and be shaped by that higher vision, the re-educational purpose of the sentence must be regarded not as an ancillary or secondary aspect of the penal system, but rather as its culminating and defining feature. In order to ‘practice justice,’ it is not enough that those found guilty of crimes be simply punished: it is necessary that in punishing them, everything possible be done to correct and improve them. When this does not happen, justice is not done in an integral sense. In any event, it is important to avoid giving rise to a situation where imprisonment that fails in its re-educational role becomes counter-educational and paradoxically reinforces rather than overcomes the tendency to commit crime and the threat posed to society by the individual.”

To further what the Holy Fathers have been teaching in this area, the bishops of the United States have supported bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation.

Last October, Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami announced his support for the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015. According to the USCCB website, “The Act reduces certain mandatory minimum sentences, expands socalled sentencing ‘safety valves,’ works to reduce recidivism with expanded prisonbased programs, and limits solitary confinement for juvenile offenders, among other things. ‘Pope Francis asks us to create new opportunities: for inmates, for their families, for correctional authorities, and for society as a whole,’” said the archbishop, chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development of the USCCB. He added, “We must try to ensure that sentences are just, while creating humane space in which individuals can restore their lives with the kind of support that reduces the chances that they will return to prison in the future. These reforms are a step in the right direction.”

We cannot all physically visit prisons, but we can Spiritually assist this Work of Mercy through our support of the Catholic Charities Appeal (which funds our permanent diaconate program — we depend upon the service of our deacons as prison chaplains; it also funds Catholic Social Services, which has programs helping people to reintegrate into society after coming out of prison) and of the other programs lay people in our diocese coordinate to help bring Christ into the jails.

Daily Readings April 30 — May 13

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Apr. 30, Acts 16:1-10; Ps 100:1b-2,3,5; Jn 15:18-21. Sun. May 1, Sixth Sunday of Easter, Acts 15:1-2,22-29; Ps 67: 2-3,5,6,8(4); Rv 21:10-14,22-23; Jn 14:23-29. Mon. May 2, Acts 16:11-15; Ps 149:1b-2,3-4,5-6a and 9b; Jn 15:26—16:4a. Tues. May 3, 1 Cor 15:18; Ps 19:2-3,4-5; Jn 14:6-14. Wed. May 4, Acts 17:15,22 —18:1; Ps 148:12, 11-14; Jn 16:12-15. Thurs. May 5, Acts 18:1-8; Ps 98:1,2-3ab,3cd-4; Jn 16:16-20. Fri. May 6, Acts 18:9-18; Ps 47:2-7; Jn 16:20-23.

Sat. May 7, Acts 18:23-28; Ps 47:2-3,8-10; Jn 16:23b-28. Sun. May 8, Seventh Sunday of Easter, Acts 1:1-11; Ps 47:2-3,6-9(6); Heb 9:24-28; 10:1923; Lk 24:46-53. Mon. May 9, Acts 19:1-8; Ps 68:2-3ab,4-5acd,6-7ab; Jn 16:29-33. Tues. May 10, Acts 20:17-27; Ps 68:10-11,20-21; Jn 17:1-11a.

Wed. May 11, Acts 20: 28-38; Ps 68: 29-30. 33-35a. 35bc-36ab; Jn 17: 11b19. Thurs. May 12, Acts 22:30; 23:6-11; Ps 16:1-2a and 5,7-11; Jn 17:20-26.

Fri. May 13, Acts 25:13b-21; Ps 103:1-2,11-12,19-20ab; Jn 21:15-19.

O

n Sunday, we begin the month of May, traditionally dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It’s an opportunity for us, during this extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, to grow in conscious devotion to her as Mother of Mercy.

It’s a chance to enter her “school” and learn from her how to recognize our need for, come to receive, and imitate and extend the mercy her Son brought into the world.

At the end of his letter for the Year of Mercy, Misericordiae Vultus, Pope Francis turned to Mary as “Mother of Mercy” and affirmed, “Her entire life was patterned after the presence of mercy made Flesh,” evoking Jesus’ self-description in His revelations to St. Faustina as “Mercy Incarnate.”

We see the depth of Mary’s exemplification and participation in her Son’s mission of mercy on Calvary, in Jesus’ first three words on the cross: His prayers for sinners in general, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”; His care for one sinner, the good thief, in particular, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise”; and then His entrustment of each of us sinners to her maternal merciful care as He told her, “Behold your Son,” and told us, “Behold your mother.”

“At the foot of the cross,” Pope Francis emphasized in a homily celebrating Mary’s maternity this January 1, “Mary became for all of us the mother of forgiveness. Following Jesus’ example and by His grace, she herself could forgive those who killed her In-

Mary, Mother of Mercy

nocent Son. For us, Mary during the visitation, we learn how to let our is an icon of how the Church” — how you and souls praise and spirits I in the Church — “must rejoice in God our Savior offer forgiveness to those Whose “mercy is from generation to generation who seek it,” adding, toward those who fear “The Church’s forgiveness must be every bit as Him” and who “remembers His mercy — prombroad as that offered by Jesus on the cross and by Mary at His feet.”

Putting Into The Church the Deep has long related to Mary by invoking

By Father her merciful love.

Roger J. Landry In the Rosary, as we meditate on the principal ised to our fathers.”

Mysteries of SalvaOver the last 500 tion history, we ask her years, through the many not once, not twice, but apparitions that the 53 times, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for Church has investigated and found worthy of us sinners, now and at belief, Mary has conthe hour of our death.” tinued what can only be In the Hail Holy Queen, we entreat her as described as her unique Mission of Mercy.

“Mother of Mercy!” and When she appeared to “O Clement” and beg her as our “most gracious ad- St. Juan Diego in Tepeyac in 1531, she said vocate” to turn her “eyes to him, “I am truly your of mercy toward us” and merciful mother” and in“after this our exile” to “show us the blessed fruit dicated that she wanted a teocalli, a shrine, built of [her] womb, Jesus,” the enfleshment of God’s where she could “hear [her sons’ and daughters’] mercy.

In the beautiful hymn, weeping, their complaints and heal all their Alma Redemptoris Mater that the Church sings to sorrows, hardships and sufferings.” her during the Advent During her 18 appearand Christmas seasons, ances in Lourdes to St. we invoke her as the Bernadette in 1858, she “Sweet Mother of the identified herself as the Redeemer” and implore, fulfillment of what God “Have mercy on us sinners!” and “Hasten to aid had prophesied at the beginning of time, when your fallen people who strive to rise once more.” He said that He would put “enmity” between the In the Litany of Loserpent and “the woman” reto, we turn to her as (Gen 3:16), saying, “I am “Virgin most merciful,” the Immaculate Concepas “Refuge of Sinners” tion” — I am, in other and as “Help of Christians,” asking her repeat- words, the One free from sin — and asked St. edly to “pray for us.”

Bernadette to join her in Through the Church’s evening daily chanting of praying for mercy saying, “Penance! Penance! the “Magnif icat,” Mary Pray to God for sinners. prophetically exclaimed

Kiss the ground as an act of penance for sinners!”

When St. John Paul II went to Lourdes to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the apparitions in 1983, he memorably summarized her unceasing celestial task: “The Virgin without sin brings help to sinners.”

When she appeared to Jacinta, Francisco and Lucia in Fatima in 1917, she asked them to join her in praying and sacrificing for the conversion of sinners, that they be “saved from the fires of hell” and that “all souls be brought to Heaven, especially those in most need of [God’s] mercy.” She asked them to have everyone consecrate themselves to her Immaculate Heart so that their heart might be like hers, full of mercy, full of grace, and enter into her own f iat and triumph.

Mary’s Mission of Mercy is ongoing and doubtless intensified during this Jubilee Year.

St. John Paul II wrote about her in his beautiful encyclical on God’s mercy, that she “is the one who has the deepest knowledge of the mystery of God’s mercy.

She knows its price, she knows how great it is.

In this sense, we call her the Mother of Mercy, our Lady of Mercy, or Mother of Divine Mercy.”

In a special way during the month of May during this extraordinary jubilee, we not only invoke her maternal love under those titles but seek to learn from her the knowledge, price and greatness of her Son’s greatest gift.

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

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

7

As part of its ongoing abuse prevention efforts and in compliance with the U.S. bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” the Fall River Diocese periodically publishes its policies detailing procedures to be followed when an accusation of sexual abuse of a minor is made against an employee or volunteer of the diocese or a cleric or religious Brother or Sister in the diocese.

These are the remaining policies which first appeared in the April 15, 2016 Anchor. Complete policies and procedures are also available for review by contacting Catholic Social Services at 508-674-4681 or www.cssdioc.org, or by accessing the diocesan Website at www. fallriverdiocese.org.

VI. SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION POLICY FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS WORKING WITH MINORS It is the policy of the Diocese of Fall River that no one caring for or supervising a minor in any capacity, while under the umbrella of the diocese, shall sexually abuse a minor.

This policy applies to all employees, volunteers, subcontractors, priests, deacons and religious.

Abuse, as defined by Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 119, Section 51A, and the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families is: “The non­accidental commission of any act by a caretaker upon a child under the age 18 which causes or creates a substantial risk of physical or emotional injury; or an act by a caretaker involving a child that constitutes a sexual offense under the laws of the Commonwealth; or any sexual contact between a caretaker and a child under the care of that individual. This definition is not dependent upon location (i.e., abuse can occur while the child is in an out-­of­-home or in-­home setting).

Further, the Diocese of Fall River operates under the requirements of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People (2014), which states the following: “For purposes of this charter, the offense of sexual abuse of a minor will be understood in accord with the provisions of Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela (SST), article 6, which reads: §1. The more grave delicts against morals which are reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith are: 1°the delict against the sixth commandment of the Decalogue committed by a cleric with a minor below the age of 18 years; in this case, a person who habitually lacks the use of reason is to be considered equivalent to a minor.

2°the acquisition, possession, or distribution by a cleric of pornographic images of minors under the age of 14, for purposes of sexual gratification, by whatever means or using whatever technology;

8

Policies and Procedures of the Fall River Diocese

§2. A cleric who commits the delicts mentioned above in §1 is to be punished according to the gravity of his crime, not excluding dismissal or deposition” (p. 20).

VII. PROCEDURES FOR ADDRESSING REPORTED SEXUAL ABUSE BY LAY EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, OR SUBCONTRACTORS The following guidelines have been established for the filing and investigation of complaints within the Diocese of Fall River when a lay employee, subcontractor or volunteer of the diocese is accused of sexual abuse of a minor.

A. Filing a complaint: If a minor is reported as an alleged victim of sexual abuse at the hands of an employee or volunteer in the Diocese of Fall River, you are mandated by diocesan policy to immediately notify the Office for Child Protection (OCP) for the Diocese of Fall River. The OCP is within Catholic Social Services (CSS), and the OCP will notify the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) as required by law, and the moderator of the curia.

Per M.G.L. Chapter 119, Section 51A, the diocese utilizes “institutional reporting” as quoted on page three of this book, which includes the following: “ . . . whenever such person so required to report is a member of the staff of a medical or other public or private institution, school, or facility, he shall immediately either notify the department or notify the person in charge of such institution, school or facility, or that person’s designated agent, whereupon such person is in charge or his said agent shall then become responsible to make the report in the manner required by this section. . . .”

B. Investigation process: Upon receipt of such notification, the allegation will be handled promptly by the Office for Child Protection (OCP). The allegation(s) will be reported to the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families as required by law, and to the appropriate diocesan authorities. The investigation for the diocese will include: 1) meeting(s) with the alleged victim (with permission by a parent or guardian); 2) interview(s) with the accused employee or volunteer; 3) discussion with the person filing the complaint; and, 4) interviews with any witness(es).

Any employee who is accused of sexual abuse of a minor shall be placed on paid administrative leave until the allegations have been thoroughly investigated and a determination has been made as to the validity of the allegations.

Any volunteer who is accused of sexual abuse of a minor shall be relieved of all volunteer duties until the allegations have been thoroughly investigated and a determination has been made as to the validity of the allegations.

Should the allegations against

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

an employee or volunteer be unsupported after a thorough investigation, the employee or volunteer shall be returned to his/her regular activities.

Any individual associated with the diocese found to have violated the law will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action ranging from a written warning to termination of employment or of volunteer opportunities. The personnel file of any employee or volunteer against whom an allegation has been supported by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families is to be properly noted, including offense(s) and action(s) taken. The CORI database shall also be properly noted, indicating those who are restricted in employment/volunteer options and those who are no longer allowed to work or volunteer in the diocese in any capacity.

VIII. PROCEDURES FOR ADDRESSING REPORTED SEXUAL ABUSE BY PRIESTS, DEACONS, AND RELIGIOUS A. Preamble It is always painful to address the issue of sexual abuse of children, especially when this abuse is inflicted by members of the clergy. This pain is caused in part by the growing realization of the long term injury sexual abuse inflicts on a child and his/her family. The distress is also due to the injury inflicted on the community that is the Church. Ongoing developments in the psychological sciences underscore the real and long term injury done to the children who are abused. It is also known that certain types of abuse are of a compulsive and perhaps incurable nature.

Despite the pain this topic generates, or perhaps because of it, the situation should be addressed in a pastoral yet forthright manner. In keeping with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People: Essential Norms ( June 2011, p. 13), “to ensure the accountability of our procedures,” and “to protect the faithful in the future” (p.

16), the Diocese of Fall River continues to make public its written policy regarding the handling of accusations of sexual abuse by priests, deacons, and/or religious with a minor (person under age 18).

B. History In 1993, nine years before the first Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People was published, a Review Board was instituted in the Diocese of Fall River.

The purpose of the Review Board was to insure that proper personnel procedures were in place to govern issues of child abuse, sexual exploitation and sexual harassment. The Review Board was also given the tasks of: a) monitoring the psychological screening tools used to assess candidates for the priesthood and diaconate; b) reviewing specific allegations and processes to ensure fairness for all; c) providing feedback from the perspectives of all stakeholders, in-

cluding victim, law enforcement, clinicians and the Church. The Review Board continues to monitor and advise the diocese on issues pertaining to abuse by any member of the clergy.

C. Review Board 1. A Review Board shall be established by the bishop to serve as an advisory body in general matters concerning the issue of sexual misconduct and to serve as a monitoring and advisory board when a specific accusation of sexual misconduct by a cleric or religious Brother or Sister with a minor is made. The board will have no less than seven (7), but no more than 10 members, at the bishop’s discretion. The members shall, at a minimum, include: • An appropriately credentialed mental health worker who has expertise in matters concerning child abuse; • A civil lawyer; • A canon lawyer; • A priest with a pastoral/parochial assignment; • An adult survivor of child sexual abuse; • A parent of a victim of sexual abuse; and • A lay person.

2. The members of the Review Board are appointed by the bishop, for a term of five years, which can be renewed. The Review Board is composed of men and women, lay and clergy, who have (or gain) expertise in the area of child abuse. It is anticipated that the members of the Review Board will have staggered terms in order to assure continuity.

This body is to serve in an advisory capacity to the bishop with reference to policies for diocesan agencies and apostolates.

Among other things, the Review Board shall assist these agencies in the development and/or refinement of personnel policies for all diocesan employees regarding sexual abuse, the development of appropriate continuing education programs for clergy and laity, etc.

Among the tasks the bishop shall give to the Review Board is to work with the Vocation Team of the Diocese and the Office for the Permanent Diaconate to establish a system to review the psychological screenings given to potential candidates for the diaconate or priesthood. Moreover, a protocol has been developed to screen clerical personnel from outside the diocese before an assignment is given or confirmed by the bishop to minister within the Diocese of Fall River.

Finally, the board will consult with the Bishop’s Representative for Religious to assure that appropriate procedures are in place to deal with accusations of women religious and non-ordained men religious concerning sexual misconduct with minors.

3. The bishop shall appoint a delegate from among the members of the Review Board to serve as his representative in cases involving an

accusation of sexual misconduct by a cleric or religious Brother or Sister with a minor. The delegate will chair the Review Board. The bishop is free to appoint a substitute delegate as circumstances warrant.

The bishop’s delegate represents him in these matters. This person may be any member of the Review Team. For various reasons a substitute or alternate delegate may be named to assume the role. It could be that the delegate is not available at the time or that a particular case may call for a certain type of person being named by the bishop, e.g. a woman rather than a man, someone who speaks a foreign language, etc.

D. General Procedures for Sexual Abuse Allegations The diocese affirms its commitment to the following actions when sexual abuse by a priest, deacon or religious is reported: 1. There will be an immediate response to all allegations of sexual misconduct by a cleric or religious Brother or Sister with a minor. For allegations of such conduct made by a person who is an adult at the time the allegation is received by the diocese, the response shall be made within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed thirty (30) days.

2. If an initial review reveals that the allegation is credible, the cleric or religious Brother or Sister will be placed on administrative leave pending further investigation. Administrative leave involves the transfer of the residence of a cleric to another residence, the private celebration of Mass, and restriction of his celebration of the Sacraments. The alleged offender will not be permitted to celebrate Mass publicly, to wear clerical garb, or to present himself or herself as a priest or religious Brother or Sister. The diocese will continue to pay the salary and benefits of a cleric while on administrative leave.

3. Any suspected case of sexual misconduct with a minor will be reported to the appropriate civil authorities.

4. Confidential counseling will be offered to the alleged victim and his/her family.

5. No cleric against which a credible allegation of abuse has been found will be given any assignments in or by the Diocese of Fall River or be authorized to seek pastoral work outside the diocese.

It should be noted here that both the law of our land and the law of our Church calls for the presumption of innocence. Every allegation will be investigated seriously and fairly, and a judgment can be made only after all parties are heard and the evidence is reviewed.

The procedures do not detail the processes that are found in the Canon Law of the Church. In order to appreciate the rights and obligations of the clergy in a more complete manner, reference needs to be made to the procedural and penal laws of the Church.

Continued on page nine

Continued from page eight These procedures are to be reviewed and revised as needed on at least an annual basis at a minimum.

Comments and suggestions for improvement are always welcome and should be directed to the vicar general’s office.

E. Investigative Procedures for Sexual Abuse Allegations 1. Upon receipt of an allegation of sexual misconduct with a minor by a cleric, a preliminary investigation shall be conducted and a report shall be filed with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, if required. This initial review is expected to be completed within twenty-four (24) to seventy-two (72) hours of receipt of an allegation involving a victim who is a minor.

For allegations by adults who were minors at the time of the alleged act(s), the initial review is to be completed within two weeks of the allegation’s receipt. If the cleric or religious Brother or Sister is a member of a religious order, his religious superior is to be notified and made part of the subsequent steps in the process, with due regard for the requirements of canon law.

The procedures call for immediate action when an allegation is received by the bishop. The intent of this point is that the investigation be done without delay. It is recognized, of course, that the accused is innocent until proven guilty. This does not preclude, however, swift action in response to any and all accusations of this nature. Finally, this point calls attention to the fact that Church law requires the involvement of a religious superior when the accused is a member of a religious order.

2.The initial review will ordinarily include interviews with the accused cleric or religious Brother or Sister, the person making the complaint, and any witnesses. The review may include interviews with members of the alleged victim’s family and the alleged victim himself/herself (with a parent or guardian’s consent if with a minor) and it is judged appropriate to do so.

The delegate, and in certain limited circumstances, another individual, at the delegate’s direction, is to talk to the key people involved and as many others as he/she feels are warranted. The intent of the initial review is to clarify the nature of the claim. Ordinarily, the interviews should be done in person, but some circumstances may warrant a telephone interview with some individuals. When a small child is interviewed, this is to be done only by a person with recognized expertise in this specialized field.

3. The accused cleric or religious Brother or Sister is to be advised of his/her right to retain independent legal and canonical counsel. He/she shall also be provided with a list of approved clerics or religious Brothers or Sisters appointed by the bishop from which to choose a “support advocate,” but not for the purposes of either actively participating in the proceedings or rendering civil or ca-

nonical law advice.

It is important that the cleric or religious Brother or Sister be aware of his/her rights under the laws of Church and state from the beginning of the process.

The cleric or religious Brother or Sister is to be advised of his/her legal right to seek the advice of his/ her own counsel and that of a canon lawyer so that his/her rights may be protected.

4. Upon receipt of an allegation, the delegate shall notify the Review Board which shall meet within forty-eight (48) hours of the completion of the initial review, when the alleged victim is a minor, and within a reasonable period of time upon completion of the initial review, when the alleged victim is no longer a minor. If the alleged victim is presently a minor, the delegate shall immediately notify the proper civil authorities, as required under State Law. The board oversees all the steps of the procedure dealing with the accusation. It is the intent of this point that the board is convened without delay. The board reviews the results of the initial investigation conducted by the delegate and advises the bishop regarding the need for additional action. The alleged victim and his/ her parent or guardian shall use their best efforts to convey all necessary information regarding the alleged incident to the delegate, in a timely manner. A recommendation by the board to the bishop should be made no later than six weeks from the date of the delegate’s initial receipt of the allegation, when the alleged victim is a minor, or three months when the alleged victim is no longer a minor.

5. If the delegate, after receiving the results of the initial review, concludes that the accusation of sexual misconduct has some credibility then, by virtue of his executive power of governance, the bishop may immediately place the accused cleric or religious Brother or Sister on immediate administrative leave, pending the results of further investigation, including professional evaluation of the accused. The professional evaluation is to take place at a recognized treatment facility.

Administrative leave does not carry with it any presumption of guilt.

Temporary residence is to be provided by the diocese with no contact with minors. The priest’s or deacon’s faculty to preach is removed and the priest’s faculty to hear Confessions is suspended and he is advised to celebrate Mass privately. If the cleric or religious Brother or Sister refuses to cooperate, the appropriate procedures of canon law shall be invoked.

If after an investigation has been completed, the accusation is found to be without merit, the diocese will assist with appropriate measures to respond to any harm done to the cleric’s or religious Brother or Sister’s reputation and ministry, especially if the accusations were made public.

When sexual abuse of a minor by a cleric is admitted or established after an appropriate process in ac-

cord with canon law, then for even a single act of sexual abuse of a minor — past, present, or future — the offending cleric will be permanently removed from ministry, not excluding dismissal from the clerical state if the case so warrants. In every case involving canonical penalties, the processes provided for in canon law shall be observed.

6. Appropriate and confidential counseling is to be offered to the alleged victim and his/her family.

When necessary, the needs of the parish and wider community should be included in the response of the Review Board.

7. All applicable civil reporting laws are to be followed.

Any suspected case of child abuse involving an alleged victim who is a minor is to be reported to civil authorities by the delegate. This step recognizes the legitimate right of the state to be involved in these cases. Allegations of sexual abuse of a minor received when the alleged victim is no longer a minor shall be reported to the office of the district attorney for the district where the alleged abuse occurred, when reasonable cause exists.

8. If the alleged misconduct is a matter of public record, the Diocesan Office of Communication shall issue a statement and serve as the ongoing liaison with the media.

The members of the Review Board should not serve as spokespersons.

9. The alleged victim and family will be kept informed of the response of the diocese through regular reports from the Review Board or its representative.

10. Upon completion of any treatment and before any return to public ministry, the bishop is to consult with the Review Board before a decision is made concerning what, if any, future assignment the cleric is to receive.

11. These written procedures are to be given to every incardinated cleric or religious Brother or Sister ministering in the Diocese of Fall River. It is important that all clerics or religious Brother or Sister know what procedures govern allegations of sexual misconduct with minors.

An appropriate process to assure that this is communicated to all ordained ministers currently serving in the diocese is to be developed by the Chancery Office. Any cleric or religious Brother or Sister beginning his/her ministry in the diocese is to be given a copy of these procedures.

12. These procedures are to be reviewed on a yearly basis or as needed, by the Sexual Abuse Review Board and must be approved by the Diocesan Pastoral Council and the Priests’ Council.

13. Anyone wishing to report an incident to the Bishop’s Delegate should call Catholic Social Services at Fall River 508-674-4681. Catholic Social Services shall immediately thereafter contact the delegate.

14. The board shall have no jurisdiction over cases of allegations involving a cleric, or religious Brother or Sister who, at the time of the del-

egate’s receipt of the allegation, has resigned or is deceased.

15. The investigation of religious Brothers or Sisters should devolve to their community, and the diocese stands ready to refer the matter to the Review Board for its investigation if the religious community lacks procedures of its own to deal with this issue.

16. In the event that any of these procedures shall be determined to not be in compliance with the Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons, of June, 2011, or any amendments or revisions thereto, then the norms and not these policies shall govern.

IX. REQUIRED SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING FOR MINORS A. Parishes The Diocesan Faith Formation Office (FFO) and the Office for Child Protection (OCP) of Catholic Social Services are to ensure the provision of regular abuse prevention education for students in diocesan parishes. It is the responsibility of the FFO and the OCP to identify the necessary materials for abuse prevention education in the parishes, and to provide training to all involved staff responsible for teaching the approved curriculum at each site.

It is the responsibility of each parish to support catechists in this work and to verify all lessons are being taught. It is also the responsibility of each parish to maintain attendance records for these lessons and to provide the required statistical reports to the OCP for the completion of the annual audit report to the U.S.C.C.B. B. Schools The Diocesan Education Office (CEC) and the Office for Child Protection (OCP) of Catholic Social Services are to ensure the provision of regular abuse prevention education for students in the diocesan schools. It is the responsibility of the CEC and the OCP to identify the necessary materials for abuse prevention education in the schools and to provide training to all involved staff responsible for teaching the approved curriculum at each site. It is the responsibility of each school to support teachers in this work and to verify all lessons are being taught. It is also the responsibility of each school to maintain attendance records for these lessons and to provide the required statistical reports to the OCP and the CEC for the completion of the annual audit report to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (U.S.C.C.B).

C. Reporting Responsibilities Administrators for parishes and schools shall ensure that all required statistics on attendance for Safe Environment training of minors in their care are reported in a timely manner. Schools shall report attendance and opt-outs to the superintendent’s office by the end of each academic year. Parishes are to report attendance and opt-outs to the Of-

fice for Child Protection by May 31 of each year.

X. TECHNOLOGY SAFETY A. Policy The Diocese of Fall River believes in the resource value of technology and recognizes its potential to support and enrich the mission of the diocese. Our goal in providing computer systems, Internet access, cell phones and other technology for employees and volunteers is to promote resource sharing, innovation, and communication that is consistent with our mission and policies.

Use of diocesan owned/sponsored technology is a privilege and access involves responsibility. The Diocese of Fall River cannot prevent the availability of inappropriate material on the Internet. Use of the Internet and all technology provided by the diocese is subject to this acceptable use agreement and the rules, regulations and policies of the Diocese of Fall River.

It is expressly prohibited for anyone using diocesan technological equipment or services to access materials that are illegal or are inconsistent with Catholic values. This includes, but is not limited to: pornography, child pornography, sexually explicit materials, engaging in child abuse or human trafficking, or any other offenses against individuals, groups, or government.

B. Procedures 1. General: All diocesan employees and volunteers will adhere to the mission and values of the Church and the Diocese of Fall River by accessing and sharing only appropriate, legal information on the Internet.

All those using diocesan technological devices for any reason will refrain from using, accessing, or sharing any offensive language, nudity, or sexual or pornographic materials.

All those using diocesan devices or Internet services will maintain appropriate boundaries with those to whom they are working or ministering. This includes professional-client and teacher-student relationships.

An example would be therapists refraining from creating personal relationships with clients and sending texts or posts of a personal or sexual nature to clients’ devices.

All diocesan employees and volunteers are to be aware that none of their Internet or technological use is assumed to be private and is subject to monitoring by the Diocese of Fall River. Employees and volunteers are expected to review and abide by any additional policies or procedures that are site-specific to the individual’s particular ministry within the diocese.

2. Parishes: In addition to the policies stated above, all parishes are to abide by the Diocesan Technology Guidelines (2013), including the use of approved releases, when ministering to minors.

3. Schools: Each school has its own technology policy in the student handbook. Schools are required to uphold their policies as written and ensure the policies are consistent with those of the diocese.

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

9

M

any have heard of Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Christian who in 2009 enraged the Muslim women with whom she was harvesting berries by drinking from their well.

She was beaten, arrested, and convicted of blasphemy — which is a capital crime.

Conversion to Islam would end the ordeal, but that is unthinkable to Mrs. Bibi, a Catholic, and thus she lingers from appeal to appeal, trusting in God. She lives in solitary confinement, is given the means to cook her own food (because of the fear of poison), and receives visits from her family — which is a very hard way to mother.

Amidst the betrayal by her neighbors, the injustice of the system, and the courage required to remain Christian, she also endures a particular hardship in that this mother of five cannot engage properly with her children.

Being a Christian in a country that is 97 percent Muslim is a challenge, as is living in dire poverty where the opportunity to earn almost $4 for a day’s work in oppressive heat would be enticing to the wife of a bricklayer. But neither of those circumstances prohibited Mrs. Bibi from attending to her family the

10

Mothering the hard way way her confinement has, when the arms ache for and one can imagine the hugs, but don’t be fooled. pain of knowing that your children live and work and The study in a world Feminine apart from your own.

Genius Despite visitBy Genevieve Kineke ing their mother in the jail cell, the children must cope with a death senPrayer is the first gift — tence hanging over their even when the children are family and the taunts and within reach! barbs of their peers, both The fresh beauty of of which create a perverse spring is not far from the psychology. They know that shade of the cross, and to cling to her is to risk Our Lord’s words from its greater heartache, and yet boughs offer seeds of healto abandon her is to betray ing. As He said to Mary: their very souls. As for Mrs, “Behold your Son,” He not Bibi, for seven years she only entrusted John to her has been unable to offer the maternal care but taught countless daily gestures of us an essential lesson. All affection integral to every of our children should be family — agony for her, and offered to Our Lady, who an eternity for the children! then places her mantle of While we cannot neprotection around them. glect to pray for her and She is the treasured bride for all who suffer persecuof the Spirit Whom we will tion, as we embark on a soon celebrate on Pentecost, month dedicated to Mary and thus a special channel and mothers we should of Divine grace that will remember that there are safeguard their path. many women who are unFor many broken souls, able to mother as they wish. motherhood is either a void Women can be separated or a cloud of confusion, and from their children for they too are invited to reach many reasons — work, out to Mary, who wants displacement, incarceration, to embrace every child of and war — and every situa- the Heavenly Father. All tion is its own cross. Prayer it takes is a moment of may seem an empty gesture whimsy, in which we turn

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

our own toddler steps to the woman who knows. She knows the anguish of frustrated dreams that lie in many directions, and is the mother we all need — the one who steps in when the vagaries of life sever the ties God intended. Mrs. Bibi, who clings to faith in the direst of cir-

cumstances, knows that; likewise we would do well to entrust our children — and ourselves — to the Mother of Fairest Love. Her embrace will suffice, her maternal gaze will heal, and her hand will lead us home.

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

She blogs at femininegenius.typepad.com.

Westport parishioners to collect yarn for St. Vincent’s Home

WESTPORT ­— Chapter 441 of Catholic Financial Life and parishioners of St. George’s Parish in Westport, will hold their annual yarn collection during the month of May, for volunteers to make afghans for the children of St. Vincent’s Home in Fall River.

Worsted weight, four-ply or three-ply yarn and knitted/crocheted squares will be collected. Yarn donations will be accepted at St. George’s Church in Westport or St. Vincent’s Home.

Chapter president Normand Ouellette, vice president Lynette Ouellette, and secretary Doris Michaud have organized the collection over the past five years. An an-

nouncement will be posted in the St. George’s Parish bulletin, and collection boxes will be set up inside the entrance to the church.

Volunteer Connie Arruda has been busy knitting and crocheting afghans with the donated yarn for the children and youth of St. Vincent’s. More than 345 afghans have been made by Arruda and a team of dedicated volunteers. The hand-made afghans provide the children with the gift of caring and a sense of security, keeping them safe and warm and giving them hope for a brighter future.

To donate yarn please contact Melissa Dick at St. Vincent’s by calling 508235-3228.

Living in a Godless state Monday 25 April 2016 — Homeport: Falmouth Harbor — Feast of St. Mark, evangelist ou know me, dear readers. For recreational purposes, I study statistics. I find perusing data to be very relaxing. Go figure.

That abruptly changed at (of all places) St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River. The venue has personal significance. It was there that I was ordained a priest and from there sent out to preach, to teach, and to evangelize.

I was attending a presentation by Deacon Joe Regali, director of the Diocesan Office of Pastoral Planning. All of us priests were there.

On the screen was projected a series of statistics. One statistic in particular nearly knocked me out of my pew. Here’s that shocking fact: It is scientifically proven that I live in a Godless state. Not me personally, you understand, but all of us in the state of Massachusetts. New England is bad enough in matters of faith, but studies have proven that citizens of Massachusetts value faith less than all the other states in the nation. Sixty percent of the residents of Massachusetts say they don’t even believe in God. When it comes to faith, Massachusetts ranks dead last.

I am not making this up. Although the currency we use proclaims “In God We Trust,” more than half of us don’t.

We live in a time in desperate need of a New Evangelization worldwide, but in Massachusetts we happen to be at the epicenter of Godlessness. Who knew?

I’m of an age to remember the “old evangelization.” I remember the mighty efforts of outreach going on across the Diocese of Fall River: the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, the Knights of Columbus, the Legion of Mary, the Sodality of Mary, the Children of Mary, college Newman Centers, Chi-Rho Clubs, ECHO and Emmaus youth retreats, Cursillo adult retreats, the Catholic Youth Organization, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Holy Name Society, and similar organizations. Each group had a penchant for evangelization. These organizations were (and are) led by highly-motivated lay people. Priests always worked closely

Y

with them. church. Here is the steeple. Open the I also vaguely remember a diocedoors but where are the people? “The san evangelization effort back in the only option we don’t have is to do early 1980s. It was called “We Care/ nothing,” observes Bishop Edgar M. We Share,” I think. Catholics for da Cunha, S.D.V. the first time were invited to work The bishop has asked for feedtogether across parish lines. The ob- back from parishioners of all ages jective was to visit every single home throughout the diocese. The project in the neighis called borhood and “RebuildThe Ship’s Log to invite every ing in Faith Reflections of a single person and Hope.” to a local The purpose Parish Priest event tailored is to assist

By Father Tim to their own the bishop Goldrick particular in leading social or relithe diocesan gious interests. There were neighbor- Church into the future. It’s a sort of hood events for everyone: for the “virtual town meeting.” Answering simply curious, for the unchurched the questions online will take an esCatholics, for other Christians, for timated 15 minutes. Printed versions non-Christians, for divorced and are available for those without Interremarried Catholics. Advanced net access, as are trilingual materials. publicity across the diocese included The questions deal with five areas: radio spots, newspaper ads, bumper Sacramental life, Catholic Faith Forstickers, massive amounts of printed mation, community, serving those in materials (bilingual), and many organizational sessions. On one Sunday afternoon, 10,000 trained home visitors were sent door-todoor all across the diocese. “We are the Catholic Church. We Care/We Share” — that was the message. “To all our friends and neighbors, come and see” — that was the personal invitation. While we were at it, we also took a census of self-identified Catholics.

Times have changed. The Church must change, too. In this diocese, we have a faithful past, but what about the future?

Here are more statistics on the diocese, based on parish self-reporting over a decade: — Baptisms — down 48 percent (nationally, down 25 percent) — First Communions — down 16 percent (nationally, down 10 percent) — Confirmation — down 24 percent (nationally, down seven percent) — Marriages — down 47 percent (nationally, down 28 percent) In the Diocese of Fall River, over the past five years the number of parishioners has dropped barely five percent but Mass attendance is down 41 percent and Religious Education is off by 27 percent. Here is the

need, and effective administration.

The data will be reported back to the Parish Core Team. The deadline for input is May 31, 2016.

Every parish has a designated core group to analyze the data received, craft a plan of action, and propose a parish and/or regional strategy for the bishop’s prayerful consideration. This pastoral task force is composed of the pastor, perhaps a ministerial associate, Parish Pastoral Council members, Parish Finance Council members, and other parish lay leaders.

Then it will be on to a hopeful future. As the bishop puts it, “We will move from maintenance mode to mission mode.” I find these both challenging and exciting times to be a priest.

Come Holy Spirit! Enlighten the hearts of Your faithful! Enkindle in us the fire of Your love.

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

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

11

The Supremes suggest a real accommodation for the Little Sisters

O

n March 23, the Supreme Court heard 90 minutes of oral argument in the case of Zubik et al. v. Burwell et al., the case involving a challenge by religious organizations like the Little Sisters of the Poor to the HHS regulation that requires them to either provide free contraceptive coverage to employees or designate their insurer or third-party-administrator of a self-insured plan to provide them.

The following Friday, which happened to be Good Friday, the court huddled in conference, as is its wont, to discuss the case.

Shortly thereafter, the court took the highly-unusual step of asking for supplemental briefing from the parties “whether contraceptive coverage may be obtained by petitioners’ employees through petitioners’

12

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

insurance companies, but in a way government’s ongoing effort to use that does not require any involvethe threat of massive penalties to ment of petitioners beyond their compel petitioners to forsake their own decision to provide health sincerely held religious beliefs.” insurance without contraceptive In so doing, the court suggested coverage?” The religious petitioners that there is a less religiouslyanswered with an emphatic, “Yes. restrictive alternative available There are that would many ways satisfy the Judge in which the government’s employees interest and For of a petithe religious Yourself tioner with reservations

By Dwight Duncan an insured of the Little plan could Sisters — as receive costthe federal free contraceptive coverage through Religious Freedom Restoration the same insurance company that Act requires. If so, then the deciwould not require the further sion would be in favor of the Little involvement by the petitioner. And Sisters and the other religious oreach one of those ways is a less reganizations and against the federal strictive alternative that dooms the government.

Going in to oral argument, it seemed likely that the Supreme Court, after the death of Justice Scalia, would likely be tied 4-4 in this case, since the votes of individual justices would likely replicate their votes a couple years ago in the Hobby Lobby case that was decided in favor of Hobby Lobby 5-4. In that eventuality, unfortunately, the Little Sisters and others would lose, because the lower court decisions would stand in the event of a tie at the Supreme Court, at least until a rehearing could be held with a full court after a replacement of Justice Scalia were seated.

The federal appeals courts, with one exception which is not before the court in these consolidated cases, have ruled that the HHS “accommodation” for religious organizations does not substantially burden religious freedom. In asking for briefing on alternatives, though, the Supreme Court is suggesting that it agrees with the Little Sisters on this point, since only if there is such a burden does the law require that the government have a compelling interest and that it advance that interest in the least restrictive way. Otherwise, the regulation is invalidated as interfering with the religious freedom law.

That makes a lot of sense. Who are we to believe, King Henry VIII

or St. Thomas More, as to whether swearing to royal supremacy over the Church violates religiouslyinformed rights of conscience?

Similarly, when the government tells religious organizations and the individuals comprising them not to worry about the religious consequences of just doing whatever government tells them, whose conscience is it, anyway?

There’s a very telling footnote in the religious organizations’ supplemental brief filed on April 12. It’s a bit complicated, as is the regulation and accommodation at issue, but I think it’s worthwhile quoting it in its entirety, because it is devastating to the government’s case against the Little Sisters and other religious organizations: “The government’s contention that it has a compelling interest in providing [contraceptive] coverage ‘seamlessly’ — an argument that emerged late in this litigation — essentially collapses the separate compelling interest and least restrictive means analysis. To keep those analytical steps distinct, and to protect the coherence of the test Congress fashioned in RFRA, the government cannot insist that it has a compelling interest in utilizing specific means. And, of course, the government cannot simultaneously insist that employers must provide coverage seamlessly and that petitioners are mistaken to perceive that their plans are being used [hijacked] to provide the service. If the seams are absent for their employees, then they are absent for the employer.

That said, as the court’s order and this brief indicate, it is possible to utilize the same insurer but provide truly separate policies, and such policies are a less restrictive alternative even assuming there is a compelling interest in providing contraceptive coverage through the same insurance company.”

Keep praying for the Little Sisters. They could win this case.

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

I

t seems odd, even a bit repulsive, when we encounter tales of elderly men running after women who are young enough to be their granddaughters. The wheelchair-bound billionaire oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall was 89 years old when he married 26-year-old Anna Nicole Smith. He had met the Playboy model and reality TV star in a strip club. Anna insisted that she really did love the old man, and wasn’t in it for the money.

With age should come wisdom. It’s appropriate and fitting for older men to leave behind their former ways, and no longer live and act like college frat boys. It’s right to expect growth in self-control as we mature, and to expect a more reflective and sober approach to life. Growing old invariably offers us the opportunity to redirect our focus, and as our body weakens, our mind and soul can be drawn to consider matters we may have previously avoided, like death and that which awaits us beyond death’s threshold. Our later years can powerfully provoke us to come to terms with our destiny and with higher truths.

In a recent column, Father Ron Rolheiser, quoting James Hillman, speaks to the graces that aging and infirmity can bring our way: “Why have God and nature so structured things that as we age and mature and are finally more in control of our lives, our bodies begin to fall apart, and we need a bevy of doctors and medicines to keep functioning? Is there some wisdom in the very DNA of the life process that mandates the breakdown of physical health in late life? Hillman says, yes.

There’s an innate wisdom in the process of aging and dying: the best wines have to be aged in cracked old barrels. The breakdown of our bodies deepens, softens, and matures the soul.”

I once overheard a hospital

On ‘aging gracefully’ nurse chatting with one of her with that mysterious truth that patients and was caught a bit Heaven and home are synonyoff-guard when she nonchalantly mous. declared, with a little twinkle in Aging gracefully also involves her eye, “when we get to be over recognizing and accepting the 40, who shortendoesn’t ing of the Making Sense have hemtime ahead orrhoids?” of us and Out of The the lengthBioethics comment, ening of

By Father Tad I thought, the time Pacholczyk reflected behind us. a healthy, Even as positive we achieve attitude toward aging and ina much-sought independence firmity. Unavoidably, our bodies in our lives, we begin to cycle decline. Our strength wanes. We back towards a renewed depenget hemorrhoids and warts and dence on others, on caregivcancers and high blood pressure ers, family and the community, and male pattern balding. and we may even come to the In the midst of it all, we can accept our lot with grace and gratitude. A serene acceptance of our struggles, and even of the specific death that awaits us, is surely a great virtue.

But aging gracefully is not something many of us tend to do well. We resist the idea. We may cling to the fantasy of eternal youth. Some in our society even push the notion that we shouldn’t have to put up with the challenges of infirmity, and instead ought to receive help from the medical system so we can beat a hasty retreat to the exit.

By pushing for physician-assisted suicide, they encourage us to despise the good of our own lives and to reject the graces that arise from our struggles by choosing to ingest any of a number of doctor-prescribed poisons.

On the other hand, by embracing our particular path into death, and by offering up our trials, we acquire a poise of soul and human maturity that orients us towards our destiny, a destiny in the hereafter that so many seem largely oblivious to.

By letting our infirmities existentially speak to us, and coming to realize how true it is that we have no permanent dwelling here, we begin to grapple

realization that our own mind will have to be surrendered if dementia comes our way. All of this can instruct us, if we accept it with grace, in the wisdom of relinquishing our own willfulness once again like little children, and returning to a humble framework of interdependence in our shared destiny with others and with God. Anchor columnist Father Pacholczyk earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, and serves as the director of Education at the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www. ncbcenter.org

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

13

Fall River seminarian Matt Gill, fifth from left, and his second theology classmates at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, recently received the ministry of lector at a special Mass. This is one of the steps on the path to ordination as a priest. Below, seminarians Juan Muñoz, left, and Ryan Healy, right, received candidacy for Holy Orders at St. John’s Seminary from Worcester Bishop Robert McManus. The rite of admission to candidacy is celebrated when it has been established that the intention of those aspiring to Holy Orders is supported by the necessary qualifications and has achieved sufficient maturity. The intention of receiving Holy Orders is expressed publicly by the aspirants.

14

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

Pope to teens: There isn’t a phone app for love and happiness

Vatican City (CNA/EWTN News) — Freedom does not come from things we possess or from doing whatever we want, Pope Francis said in a recent homily for the jubilee for boys and girls. Rather, true freedom and happiness can only be found in the love of Jesus.

“Your happiness has no price,” the pope said during Mass in St. Peter’s Square.

“It cannot be bought: it is not an app that you can download on your phones nor will the latest update bring you freedom and grandeur in love.”

“That is because love is a free gift which calls for an open heart,” he said. “It is a noble responsibility which is life-long; it is a daily task for those who can achieve great dreams!”

Pope Francis challenged the young teens to not “be content with mediocrity,” or believe those who equate importance with the sort of

toughness shown by heroes in films, or by wearing the “latest fashions.”

“Don’t believe those who would distract you from the real treasure, which you are, by telling you that life is beautiful only if you have many possessions.”

Delivering his homily to the more than 90,000 people overflowing the square, Pope Francis assured the teens that, because of their friendship with Christ, they are never alone.

“Even if you disappoint Him and walk away from Him, Jesus continues to want the best for you and to remain close to you; He believes in you even more than you believe in yourself.”

“The biggest threat to growing up well comes from thinking that no one cares about us, from feeling that we are all alone,” he said.

“The Lord, on the other hand, is always with you and He is happy to be with you.”

Moreover, Jesus calls

young people to follow Him, just as He did the first disciples, the pope added. “Jesus is waiting patiently for you.

He awaits your response.

He is waiting for you to say ‘yes.’”

The jubilee for boys and girls, geared specifically towards young teen-agers, is the latest initiative for the Holy Year of Mercy, which began on December 8. The three-day event started with the Sacrament of Reconciliation in St. Peter’s Square — where Pope Francis himself heard Confessions — followed by a youth rally in Rome’s Olympic Stadium.

In his homily, Pope Francis stressed that love is the “Christian’s identity card,” and is “the only valid ‘document’ identifying us as Christians.”

“If this card expires and is not constantly renewed, we stop being witnesses of the Master,” he said.

Those who wish to be Jesus’ disciples, to be “His

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 May 1, 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Richard M. Roy, pastor of St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Dartmouth

May 8, 11:00 a.m.

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

faithful friends,” and to “experience His love,” must learn how to love from Him. Going off the cuff, the pope said that Jesus’ “true friends” stand out because theirs is a “genuine love that shines forth in their way of life,” through “real actions.”

“Those who are not real and genuine and who speak of love are like characters is a soap opera, some fake love story,” he said.

“Before all else, love is beautiful, it is the path to happiness,” Pope Francis said, but he warned that this path is also demanding and “requires effort.”

The pope gave the example of everyone who has given us a gift, invested time, and sacrificed for our sake. He cited in particular the sacrifices made by the parents and group leaders who organized the pilgrimages to Rome for this jubilee for boys and girls.

“To love means to give, not only something material, but also something of one’s self: one’s own time, one’s friendship, one’s own abilities.”

Addressing the teens present at the Mass, Francis acknowledged their “growing desire to demonstrate and receive affection.”

“The Lord, if you let Him teach you, will show you how to make tenderness and affection even more beautiful,” the pope said.

Moreover, this love is not possessive, but allows the other person freedom.

“There is no true love that is not free!” he said in unscripted remarks.

Today’s “consumerist culture” reinforces the temptation to “‘have to have’ what we find pleasing,” the pope said.

“Yet when we hold on too tightly to something, it

fades, it dies, and then we feel confused, empty inside.”

“The Lord, if you listen to His voice, will reveal to you the secret of love. It is caring for others, respecting them, protecting them and waiting for them.”

Pope Francis acknowledged the teen-agers’ “great longing for freedom,” but warned that freedom does not mean “doing whatever you want.”

This interpretation of freedom “makes us selfcentred and aloof, and it prevents us from being open and sincere friends.”

“Instead, freedom is the gift of being able to choose the good,” he said. “The free person is the one who chooses what is good, what is pleasing to God, even if it requires effort.”

Pope Francis stressed that love is more than a “sweet poem” we study and memorize, but a “life choice” which must be practiced.

“Love is nurtured by trust, respect and forgiveness,” he said, adding that we grow in love through Jesus, Who “gives us Himself in the Mass, He offers us forgives and peace in Confession. There we learn to receive His love, to make it ours and to give it to the world.”

“And when loving seems hard, when it is difficult to say no to something wrong, look up at Jesus on the cross, embrace the cross and don’t ever let go of His hand. He will point you ever higher, and pick you up whenever you fall.”

“Throughout life we will fall many times, because we are sinners, we are weak,” the pope said, again going off script. “But there is always the hand of God Who picks us up, Who raises us up.

Jesus wants us to be up on our feet!”

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

15

Youth Pages

I

t is that time of year again! Yes, Easter season! Happy Easter. It is also the season of spring! And for all of you fellow members of Red Sox Nation, it is baseball season! Three of my favorite seasons! These three seasons have more in common than that they all fall around the same time of year. When I think of these three seasons I think of hope.

I think that hope is something that we do not have an overabundance of in our world. We are bombarded with images of destruction and of terrorism. We turn on the news and we see stories about another mass murder or a natural disaster that has torn apart a state or a country. We go on to any of our social media outlets and we see celebrities behaving like unruly children, gossip about other people and most saddening, pictures of our loved ones making destructive decisions. It is easy to see why hope is difficult to find at times. These three seasons, however, serve as a reminder to us that hope is always present.

Easter is the obvious

Seasons of hope

choice for the reminder of later that day, everything hope. The hope of the Res- had seemed to blossom. It urrection! The hope of the was such a great reminder power of God changing the to see my once dead plant, cross from an instrument alive and flourishing with of death into a symbol of these beautiful purple flowvictory! The late Cardinal ers. I am trying to sell my Basil Hume, Archbishop house right now and it has of Westminster, once said, been a bit of a struggle so “The great gift of Easter is hope — Christian hope which makes us have that confidence in God, in His ultimate triumph, and in His

By Amanda goodness and love, Tarantelli which nothing can shake.” Hope is the foundation of Easter. It is my first thought when I a fundamental virtue of saw the flowers was, “Great! the Christian life. We are Maybe with everything in constantly reminded that bloom it will help sell my we are not a Good Friday house.” It was that fleetpeople! Rather we are an ing thought of selling my Easter people who are home that reminded me rooted firmly in the promof the hope that we need. ise of the cross!

It is easy to despair when Spring is the next most life seems to not be coopobvious symbol of hope. All erating, but sometimes it’s that has faded away in fall, the gentle reminder of a all that has died in winter little purple flower, that we is made anew in the spring. must not give up. New York I left my house early the Times writer and author other morning and maybe Hal Boreland once wrote, I hadn’t fully woken up yet or maybe things were as they appeared, but when I arrived back at my house

Be Not Afraid

“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.”

It may seem like it is a long winter but we know that there will always be a spring.

And the last and less obvious season of hope, baseball season! I have been waiting since the Super Bowl for the baseball season to start. Actually, I have been waiting since the disaster of last baseball season for this new season to start. There is something refreshing about the start of the baseball season. Every team thinks this is the year.

Every fan knows that their town will have a parade at the end of the season.

Mary Schmich, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist once wrote, “Opening day.

All you have to do is say the words and you feel the shutters thrown wide, the room air out, the light pour in. In baseball, no other day is so pure with possibility.

No scores yet, no losses, no

blame or disappointment.”

As a proud Red Sox fan, through thick and thin, there is no greater day than Opening Day. It is a day filled with hope. It is the one day in the season where anything is possible.

Sure there are analysts who will make their guesses on how the season will play out, but they do not know for sure. The start of the season however, is the one day where anything and everything is possible.

I pray that whatever your life situation may be, whatever obstacles may lie ahead, you remember that during these three great seasons, there is always an Easter after Good Friday, a spring after winter and an Opening Day after a lastplace finish!

Anchor columnist Amanda Tarantelli has been a campus minister at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth since 2005. She is married, a die-hard sports fan, and resides in Cranston, R.I. She can be reached at atarantelli@bishopstang.org.

The members of American Heritage Girls Troop MA3712 recently participated in a service project involving spring clean-up of the Rosary Garden at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Seekonk. The girls edged, planted flowers, and painted the Rosary stones in the garden to beautify the area for the spring.

16

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

Youth Pages

Pre-kindergarten students from St. James-St. John School in New Bedford recently learned about wind.

Children and their special persons enjoyed classes together recently at St. Patrick’s Parish in Somerset, with special persons attending classes and cheering on the children who won attendance awards.

Pre-kindergarten students at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Taunton enjoyed a recent visit to a local fire station.

Students from Holy Name School in Fall River collected food and other pet necessities to donate to Forever Paws.

St. Mary’s School in Mansfield recently celebrated its annual Pancake Pajama Breakfast hosted by the School Parent Association.

Third-graders from St. Mary-Sacred Heart School in North Attleboro took an historical tour of North Attleboro, starting at the town hall to learn a bit about the offices there. Then they made their way to the First Congregational Church which was built in 1712. There the students learned about the history of the church, and the services it held as well as its use as a meeting house. The children also got to ring the bell. From there they went to the Falls Fire Barn Museum and saw more town history learning of the Jolly Cholly’s Amusement Park and much more. They also went to the Old Powder House and the Angel Tree Stone which is a historic boundary marker.

Baylen Brunelle, a seventh-grader at St. Francis Xavier School in Acushnet, earned an Honorable Mention on an essay he submitted to the Barnes and Noble’s “My Favorite Teacher” contest. Brunelle wrote about his favorite teacher, Miss Cournoyer, and both were recognized at a recent ceremony at the Barnes and Noble in North Dartmouth, where he read his essay to those in attendance.

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

17

Youth Pages

Bishop Connolly High School (Fall River) students, from left: Jingyi Elisa Wu, Alexa Nowicki, Harold Beckford, and Christopher Bacon, perform a skit portraying Jesus as a leader during their recent junior class retreat.

The day-long program helped the students build deeper connections to their faith and their classmates through team-building activities, Spiritual reflections and a Lenten Reconciliation service.

The Coyle and Cassidy community in Taunton was recently visited by Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. During his visit he blessed the staff, faculty, and students, was treated to a bag of CC goodies and enjoyed lunch with staff and students. Given that it was World Language week, the Prayers of Petition were read in a variety of languages.

Internationally-acclaimed storyteller, Len Cabral, visited Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford to help celebrate Grandparents Day. Students from preschool through grade eight invited their grandparents and “grandfriends” to an assembly where they all had the wonderful experience of hearing Cabral narrate humorous and thought-provoking stories.

18

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

Bishop Feehan High School (Attleboro) senior Olivia Phillips was recently named a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program competition, a recipient of the Spanish Honor Society Senior Scholarship 2016, and was named a candidate in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Phillips is pictured with Feehan president Chris Servant, vice principal of Academics Ann Perry, and principal Sean Kane.

The Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center from Bridgewater State University recently held an anti-bullying presentation for the sixth- through eighthgraders at St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro. The seminar “Bullying and Cyberbullying: What you need to know,” was presented by Victoria DuboisIredale. The students learned about Internet safety, social media apps and how they work, privacy settings on electronic devices as well as bullying and how to recognize it.

The Anchor is always pleased to run news and photos about our diocesan youth.

If schools or parish Religious Education programs or homeschoolers have newsworthy stories and photos they would like to share with our readers, send them to: schools@anchornews.org

South Easton parish begins 50th anniversary celebrations continued from page two

reception in the parish center after the Mass.

The reception had an overflow crowd that spilled into adjoining meeting rooms.

Holy Cross Parish was founded in 1966 and is staffed by the Congregation of Holy Cross priests and Brothers. It was established as a parish by Bishop James L. Connolly on April 24, 1966.

The first pastor was Father Joseph Hanna, C.S.C. Its founding was necessitated because the town of Easton was expanding rapidly and Immaculate Conception Parish could not accommodate the Catholic population growing in an area now known as South Easton.

A group of interested Catholics approached the priests at Stonehill College about establishing a church for that area. The Holy Cross community graciously accepted the challenge and have been serving the residents of South Easton ever since.

For the first few years, there was no church building and Masses were held at the Holy Cross Fathers Seminary on Washington Street in North Easton. On April 24, 1966, ground was broken for Holy Cross Church on a parcel of land on Purchase Street. On Sept. 2, 1967, Bishop Connolly dedicated the new church. During that time, Father John Murphy, pastor, supervised the building of a rectory there. Prior to that, the priests had lived in a home nearby.

From its founding to the present, the parish has been served by eight pastors, all members of the Congregation of Holy Cross: Father Joseph Hanna, Father John Murphy, Father Robert McDonnell, Father William Kelley, Father Richard Hockman, Father Robert deLeon, Father R. Bradley Beaupre, and Father Fenstermaker who has been pastor since 2008.

From the early days of the parish, the Religious Education program was held on Sunday mornings in classrooms at Stonehill College, which was founded in 1948 by the Congregation of Holy Cross. This generous offer of space was provided until 2001 when there was no longer a need for the space.

In 1999, under the leadership of Father Hockman, plans were set for a much-needed parish center, and after a successful fund-raising campaign, the center was built. During that time the rectory was moved from its original location to the rear of the parish property, which was completed during the pastorate of Father deLeon. Then-Bishop Sean P. O’Malley, OFM Cap., dedicated the spacious parish center on Nov. 18,2001.

It provides for the ever-growing Religious Education program as well as of-

fice space for the pastoral and parish staff and space for gatherings of all kinds.

The parish today is a community of 1,300 families, with a good mixture of young families and parishioners of all ages.

Originally families came from South Easton, but through the years the parish has opened its doors and arms to faithful from surrounding communities.

“We seek to fulfill the vision of Vatican II,” Father Fenstermaker wrote on the parish website. “The parish strives to be a community where everyone is accepted. We seek to

practice justice by using our God-given gifts of time, talent and treasure to understand and reach out to those in need.”

Last week’s Mass and reception was the beginning of a year-long celebration marking one-half a century of the parish’s faithful service to the Easton community. Other events and items will include a parish day of service, an updated parish history book, an enhanced fall festival incorporating the anniversary, and a dinner-dance in the fall, to name but a few.

Holy Cross Church is located at 225 Purchase Street in South Easton. Tel. (508-2382235. Email: info@holycrosseaston.org; and the website is www.holycrosseaston.org.

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., is surrounded by altar servers who took part in the special Mass at Holy Cross Church in South Easton marking the 50th anniversary of the parish. With the bishop and the youth are pastor, Holy Cross Father James M. Fenstermaker, back row left, and parochial vicar, Holy Cross Father Brad Metz.

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

19

Diocese seeking input through parishioner survey continued from page three

both within and without the confines of the diocese.

“In my study of people in the metropolitan Boston area, the number of individuals who aren’t affiliated with any type of religion is at 33 percent for adults,” he said.

“Whereas, for us I looked at four counties (in our diocese) — I didn’t include Plymouth County, because I couldn’t separate the data for the three parishes located there. But within the four counties there were significant ‘nones,’ or people with no religious affiliation, and that number is steadily growing.

That’s why we have to take steps to hear what our parishioners have to say about their parishes and to hear what the pastoral teams have to say, in order to move forward.”

While he welcomed those who don’t regularly attend church in the diocese to offer their input, he’s really more interested in those who are at least semi-active in parish life to provide viable feedback.

“It would be nice to reach out to those who are not attending church on a regular basis, but we’re really going to rely on those who are active and notso-active parishioners,” he

said. “They understand the parish. If an individual is not going to church at all, it’s very difficult for them to make any statements about the parish, because they don’t know. But in the past if they’ve only gone only once or twice, or if they’ve gone recently and they can answer a question, we would welcome that.”

The Parish Pastoral Task Force of priests, deacons and laity was created last spring by Bishop da Cunha to study diocesan parishes and to establish goals for their renewal.

It is his intention, the bishop said, “to help move them from maintenance mode to mission mode.”

A parallel Task Force on Schools was also established at the same time.

The Parish Pastoral Task Force used the services of TDC, a Boston-area non-profit consulting firm, to design the parishioner survey in order to have a user-friendly tool to assess the current status of parishes and to identify their greatest needs.

“The pastoral survey was created by the Parish Pastoral Task Force, and then we worked with TDC out of Boston and they helped us to organize it into a much more readable

format and also allowed us to more easily analyze the results,” Deacon Regali explained. “The parishioner survey was the culmination of my research and other surveys that are out there and, again, TDC helped me pull all that together as well.”

In addition to the parishioner survey, the Task Force and TDC have also created a second, more-detailed survey — the Parish Evaluation of Criteria for Planning — that is to be completed jointly by each pastor and a team of representative parish leaders after a process of reflection and discussion.

It likewise has a completion deadline of May 31.

“The parishioner survey is meant to mirror the par-

ish pastoral survey,” Deacon Regali said. “So there are five areas we are evaluating in the pastoral survey and the same five areas are in the parishioner survey, but the questions are not as in-depth or involved.

We wanted some checks and balances and we wanted to make sure that everyone is singing the same song, so-to-speak.”

Those who aren’t Internet savvy can get printed copies of the survey from their pastor or parochial administrator.

“Parishioners who don’t have access to the Internet can ask their pastor for printed copies which they can complete, and which can then be mailed to me here, c/o The Chancery, and I will enter the data online,” he said.

Deacon Regali said

the diocese is fortunate to have a shepherd who is “very motivated” and Bishop da Cunha has assured his pastors that this survey is “not just another trip down a road to nowhere.”

“Something will come out of this and we will help those parishes get revitalized and we’ll go from there,” he added.

Anyone with questions or encountering difficulty in accessing the survey should contact Deacon Regali at the Pastoral Planning Office by email at jregali@dioc-fr.org or by telephone at 508-6751311.

Completed hard copies of the survey can be mailed to Deacon Joseph Regali c/o The Chancery, 450 Highland Avenue, Fall River, Mass. 02722.

Candidates inspired during adult Faith Formation classes continued from page five

him,” said Haggerty. “If I could just offer some praise for the deacon; I really feel like I could have walked in somewhere else and not had the experience that I did. Depending on the person who introduces you, or reintroduces you, can have a huge impact.

I would encourage the Church to be thoughtful about that. Who are the people who we want to be

pounding the pavement, if you will; I think Deacon Bruce is exceptional at reintroducing people to the faith.”

Haggerty hopes to be able to carve out time in the future to take an active role in volunteering at his parish but until then “the one part of the Confirmation classes I appreciate most is the responsibility to humanity, and the acts of charity and

giving back. That’s always been there but to come back and review it at age 30, it’s finally at the point where it means more to me than when I was 12.”

For more information on upcoming adult Faith Formation classes, go to the Office of Faith Formation’s website www.

FallRiverFaithFormation. org or call the office at 508678-2828.

To advertise in The Anchor, contact Wayne Powers at 508-675-7151 or Email waynepowers@ anchornews.org 20

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

Cathedral to host Fall River Symphony for memoriam concert Sunday

FALL RIVER — The last concert of the Fall River Symphony’s subscription series will be Sunday at 4 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Under the direction of Douglas McRay Daniels it will be an In Memoriam concert; the symphony will play music by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Timothy Davis, Scott Hiltzik, Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky, and the Maurice Durufle Requiem with the South Coast Community Chorale, baritone Dewin Tibbs and mezzo soprano Lenore Stefanik.

The concert will use the three-manual pipe organ at St. Mary’s that was newlyinstalled by the Peragallo Organ Company last summer, using the pipes from

the previous St. Mary’s organ and the organs at Sacred Heart Church and St. Louis’ Church in the city.

According Maestro Daniels, “In Memoriam is a concert dedicated to celebrating the lives of our families and community members who are no longer with us. Often times the orchestra or symphony concert is an event where master works are presented in a public arena.

Less often the concerts are presented to create a space where the audience can celebrate, morn, remember a loved one. This concert will serve as a venue for our community to come together and remember those who we love who

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks April 30 Rev. John A. Hurley, Pastor, St. Mary, North Attleboro, 1900 Rev. David F. Sheedy, Pastor, St. John Evangelist, Attleboro, 1930 Rev. John Moda, Pastor, St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, Ford City, Penn., 1993 May 1 Rev. Francis J. Quinn, Founder, Immaculate Conception, North Easton; Founder, Sacred Heart, Fall River, 1882 Rev. Joseph F. D’Amico, Pastor, Sacred Heart, Oak Bluffs, 1996 Rev. Walter A. Sullivan, Pastor, St. Mary, South Dartmouth, 1997 May 2 Rt. Rev. Msgr. M.P. Leonidas Lariviere, Pastor, St. Jean Baptiste, Fall River, 1963 May 5 Rev. Leo M. Curry, Retired Pastor, St. Dominic, Swansea, 1973 Rev. Albert Rowley, SS.CC., in residence, St. Francis Xavier, Acushnet, 1985 Rev. Raymond A. Robida, Catholic Memorial Home, Fall River, 2003 May 6 Rev. Thomas P. Elliott, Founder, St. Mary, Mansfield, 1905 Rev. Asdrubal Castelo Branco, Retired Pastor, Immaculate Conception, New Bedford, 1980 Rev. Ernest E. Blais, Pastor, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Fall River, 1994 May 7 Rev. Raymond P. Levell, S.J., Professor, Spring Hill College, Mobile, Ala., 1958 May 9 Rev. J.E. Theodule Giguere, Pastor, St. Anne, New Bedford, 1940 Rev. John P. Clarke, Pastor, St. Mary, Hebronville, 1941 May 12 Rev. John F. deValles, DSC, U.S. Army Chaplain, 1920 Rev. Herve Jalbert, Retired Pastor, Blessed Sacrament, Fall River, 1986 May 13 Rev. Msgr. Osias Boucher, USA Ret., Pastor, Blessed Sacrament, Fall River, 1955

are no longer with us. We will create a solemn place for peace, hope, solace and refection. This concert was inspired by the passing of several orchestra members.

We wanted to celebrate their lives and serve our community by creating a space so that they can celebrate the lives of their loved ones as well.”

The concert will include the fourth movement of Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony, the “Pathetique,” first performed in St. Petersburg in 1893, nine days before the composer died. There will also be pieces by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Timothy Davis, Scott Hiltzig and Maurice Durufle.

The “Durufle,” the longest piece on the program, was completed in 1947, for chorus, orchestra and organ. Durufle was the organist who played the service of thanksgiving in Notre Dame Cathedral in August 1944, the day after the liberation from the Germans. The South Coast Community Chorale, founded in 1997 and directed by Frank Wilhelm, currently based in Somerset, will be singing the chorus parts. The soloists will be baritone Dewin Tibbs and mezzo soprano Lenore Stefanik.

Tibbs is a native of Birmingham, Ala., where he resides and works as a singer, choirmaster, conductor and voice teacher.

He was a midsouth regional finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions in 1997. Dewin has an extensive recital repertoire and is sought out for his sensitive interpretations of new music.

Lenore Stefanik comes from Charlotte, N.C., where she performed with the Charlotte Opera and in many musical theatre

productions. She is now based in New York City, where she is equally at home as a classical singer and cabaret artist.

“Solace” by Scott Hiltzig was written in the months after his father passed. He chose the title because the music seemed to have a quality of “sadness consoled.” Hiltzik’s music has been featured on Grammy-nominated recordings and it integrates the classical tradition of the great composers, jazz, musical theater, rhythm and blues and world genres, mixing them together to create his uniquely beautiful sound.

This is Maestro Daniels’ second season with the symphony; he lives in Medford with wife Kukuyu and two-year-old daughter Zoe. A native of

Alabama, he was hailed by the Lowell Sun for creatively pushing players “with respect, humor and great expectations” to performances which deliver “spontaneity and poise that rivals seasoned pros.” He is the chairman of the Gann Academy Arts Department, conductor of the Bentley College String ensemble and an active jazz trombonist.

Tickets will be available at the door.

For further information call Joe Costa, president of the organization at 508-642-6837 or email orchestrafallriver@gmail. com, or check out the website at http://www. fallriversymphonyorchestra. org or the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ FRsymphonyorchestra.

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

21

Around the Diocese The Cancer Support Group at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Centerville will welcome Father Edward A. Murphy to celebrate a Healing Mass on May 2 at 6 p.m. Father Murphy, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in New Bedford, is well known for conducting healing services and retreats speaking on the power of prayer and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He is also the Spiritual director to pilgrims who travel to Medjugorje annually. Mass will be celebrated in the Msgr. Perry Parish Center, 230 South Main Street in Centerville. For more information, contact Geri Medeiros at 508-362- 6909.

On May 5, Ascension Thursday, there will be a Holy Hour at St. Anthony of Padua Parish, 1359 Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford in preparation for Pentecost. Holy Hour begins at 5:15 p.m. and Mass will be celebrated at 6:30 p.m. in English, Spanish and Portuguese. All the prayer groups from the Fall River Diocese will join together to prepare for Pentecost and all are welcome.

The Fall River Area Men’s First Friday Club will next meet on May 6 at St. Joseph’s Church on North Main Street in Fall River. Mass begins at 6 p.m. and will be celebrated by Father Jay Mello, pastor of St. Joseph and St. Michael’s parishes in Fall River. Following the Mass, the club will gather in the church hall next door for a hot meal prepared by White’s of Westport. Following the meal there will be a special mystery guest speaker. The Mass is open to the public and any gentleman wishing to join the meal (cost $11) and listen to the guest speaker should reserve a seat through a club member or by calling Norm Valiquette at 508-672-8174.

The third annual reunion of graduates and non-graduates of all classes from the high school and the college programs at St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield, Conn. will be held on May 6 at the alma mater on 467 Bloomfield Avenue. The doors will open at 2 p.m. and the reunion will begin at 4 p.m. with Mass in the chapel celebrated by Archbishop Leonard Blair. There will be a reception after the Mass, and the dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. The reunion will end around 9 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.stseminary.org.

St. John of the Cross Lay Carmelite Community will host an open house entitled “Discover Carmelite Spirituality: What is a Lay Carmelite?” on May 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon. The open house will be located in Classroom A of Christ the King Parish Hall in Mashpee. Come speak with members of this lay community and learn more about what it means to be a lay Carmelite.

St. John Neumann Parish, 157 Middleboro Road in East Freetown, will host a Pentecost Taizé Service on May 15 beginning at 7 p.m. All are invited to attend and a patio reception will be held after the service.

St. John Neumann Parish invites all to its 32nd Annual Lakeside Family Festival on Memorial Day Weekend, May 27-30. Admission is free and hours of operation are Friday: 6 to 11 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: noon to 11 p.m.; and Monday: noon to 5 p.m. There will be a huge barn sale all weekend, along with amusement rides, entertainment, and a car show on Sunday (rain date: Monday). Enjoy a great selection of home-baked goods, assorted food booths, games of skill and a grand raffle.

For more information visit www.sjnfreetown.org.

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

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

22

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

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

Evening prayer and Benediction is held Monday through Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FAIRHAVEN — S t . M a r y ’s C h u r c h , M a i n S t . , h a s E u c h a r i s t i c A d o r a t i o n e v e r y Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Chapel of Reconciliation, with Benediction at 11:30 a.m.

Also, there is a First Friday Mass each month at 7 p.m., followed by a Holy Hour with Eucharistic Adoration. Refreshments follow.

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

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

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

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

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

Falmouth — St. Patrick’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration each First Friday following the 7 a.m.

Mass, with Benediction at 4:30 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

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

NORTH DIGHTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Wednesday following 8:00 a.m. Mass and concludes with Benediction at 5 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration also takes place every First Friday at St. Nicholas of Myra Church, 499 Spring Street following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending with Benediction at 6 p.m.

The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 8 a.m.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rosary and Benediction begin at 6:30 p.m.

WAREHAM — Eucharistic Adoration at St. Patrick’s Church takes place 9 a.m. Thursday through 7 p.m.

Friday. Adoration is held in our Adoration Chapel in the lower Parish Hall. ~ PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION ~ East Sandwich — The Corpus Christi Parish Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 324 Quaker Meeting House Road, East Sandwich. Use the Chapel entrance on the side of the church.

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

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

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

A

pril is nearly over!

In fact as of today’s issue, there is only one more day remaining in my least favorite month of the year.

Why is it my least favorite? There are a few, but legitimate reasons: rain, wind, snow, rain, wind, snow, and add in temperatures that range from 30 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Now May is another matter. Besides being the month of Mary (she knows how to pick them), it’s the cusp of summer and cookouts and beaches and long, warm days.

Sure, the good weather has its drawbacks as well, but I’d like to concentrate on only one. Good people, before you take a swatter, or the back of your hand to a bumble bee, honey bee, or moth, think twice. Please.

They say out of the mouths of babes come words of wisdom. It’s true.

My youngest daughter Emilie is finishing up her junior year at UMass Dartmouth and has been contemplating her senior thesis topic.

For me, as an English major at the same school a “few” years ago, I chose the wit and wisdom of Samuel Clemens, a.k.a., Mark Twain.

To bee or not to bee, or let it bee As a graphic design major, carrots, cauliflower, celery, Emilie is leaning toward cucumbers, cantaloupe, something more productive honeydew, onions, pumpkins, to mankind. She’s thinking squash, watermelons, alfalfa of preparing a marketing hay and seed, cotton lint and program designed to help seed, legume seed, peanuts, the dramatically and scary bumble bee and My View honey bee population in the U.S. From Thanks to my pup, the Stands I’ve learned that honey

By Dave Jolivet bee populations are in drastic and accelerating decline just about everywhere that they are soybeans, sugar beets, and indigenous. Bumble bees too sunflowers. are declining. There is a host Are we ready to give any of other pollinators that do of those up? help: bats, moths, butterflies, Some of the causes of the hummingbirds, beetles and bees’ decline are the use of flies, but the effects of a depesticides, and the destrucclining bee population could tion of their natural habitats be disastrous.

— as only man can do.

Em has taught me that I hope reading about this two-thirds of crops in this causes a buzz. We can help country require pollination. our little fuzzy creatures That translates to one out of make a come back. every three bites of natural According to honeybeecrisis. foods we eat (not counting com, here are some ways that meat, fish or poultry). you can help.

Just some of the foods our “Provide nutrients: flowbee friends pollinate are: alers provide nectar (carbohymonds, apples, apricots, avo- drates) and pollen (protein). cados, blueberries, cherries, Butterfly larvae ingest the citrus, cranberries, grapes, plants in which they incukiwi, macadamia nuts, bate. Fruit that has fallen to nectarines, olives, peaches, the ground or fermented on pears, asparagus, broccoli, the tree provides food for

pollinators.

“When you are planning your garden patch, plant in bunches so that blooms are close together. Plan to have flowers throughout the blooming season by choosing different plants with specific blooming periods.

Vary the plants so there are lots of different heights, colors and fragrances. Native perennials such as salvias and herbs all provide food for these important creatures.

Try herbs like mint, oregano, lavender, garlic, parsley and chives. Annuals with their bright flowers are also perfect for the home garden.

“Provide a suitable home: planting in bunches as mentioned above allows for pollinators to zip in and out of food sources quickly to avoid predators. If possible, use a combination of trees, shrubs and perennials at different heights to help provide

shelter. For ground nesters, leave some bare dirt spots so they too can take up residence in your home garden.

Garden litter — leaves and dead wood for example also provide shelter.

“Provide clean water: Even a small water reservoir provides drinking water and also bathing water for birds and other creatures. It is a joy to watch a bird take a bath, as it flaps its wings and splashes the water about.

“Don’t use harmful chemicals: simply avoid using pesticides and herbicides.”

Save the bees. It’s not just another “tree-hugger’s” slogan. Good people, let’s do all we can do and bee all we can bee. It’s another gift from God that we’ve taken for granted.

For more information on fighting for our fuzzy friends, visit prwatch.org or honeybeecrisis.com. davejolivet@anchornews. org.

The Anchor - April 29, 2016

23

To subscribe to The Anchor, or give it as a gift, contact Mary Chase at 508-675-7151 or Email marychase@anchornews.org

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., recently visited St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Taunton to celebrate Mass with the parishioners there. Following the Mass, Bishop da Cunha played in a fund-raising soccer match to benefit this year’s Catholic Charities Appeal. Some of the players were St. Andrew’s parishioners. Above, Sebastian DaRosa and the bishop enjoy the match. Below, Isabell (Izzy) Graziano maneuvers around the bishop during the contest.

Graziano was one of the altar-servers at the preceding Mass. (Photos courtesy of Deacon Alan Thadeau)

24

The Anchor - April 29, 2016