05.02.97

t eanc 0 VOL. 41, NO. 18

4'

Friday, May 2, 1997

FALL RIVER, MASS.

FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly

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CARDINAL JOHN J. O'Connor of the Archdiocese of New York was the special guest at the diocesan Pro-Life Convention held Apr. 26 at Bishop Connolly High School, Fall River. At left, young Stephen Desrosiers of Corpus Christi parish, E. Sandwich, presents one of the gifts at the Mass as Deacon Bruce J. Bonneau of St. Julie Billiart parish, N. Dartmouth, looks on; at right, the cardinal and Bishop Sean O'Malley, OFM, Cap., concelebrate the Mass. See pages 10 and 15 for related stories and pictures. (Anchor / J olivet photos)

Cardinal del.ivers message of life for all and understanding for those who disagree

By Dave Jolivet Anchor staff The highlight of the annual Fall River Diocesan Pro-Life convention held April 26 at Bishop Connolly High School, Fall River, was the celebration

of Mass by Cardinal John J. O'Connor, of the New York Archdiocese.

Cardinal O'Connor told over 800 pro-life supporters who gathered for the liturgy that "each one of you is Christ's light in the

darkness of this world. You carry the torch of human life. Do not be afraid of the darkness, the darkness will never overcome the light."

The cardinal, the former chair of the U.S. Bishops' Committee for Pro-Life

Activities, was the guest of the Most Rev. Sean O'Malley, OFM, Cap., bishop of the Diocese of Fall River, and Father Stephen A. Fernandes, director of the diocesan Pro-Life Apostolate. In his welcome, Bishop

O'Malley thanked Cardinal O'Connor for his presence, calling him "a real champion for the cause of life in our country." Bishop O'Malley recalled the days he spent with the cardinal Turn to Page 13

Donly to lead new Development Office

MICHAEL DONLY

Most Reverend Sean P. O'Malley, OFM, Cap., has announced establishment. ofa Diocesan Development Office, and he has appointed Michael J. Donly, presently headmaster of Coyle and Cassidy High School, Taunton, to be its first director.

Bishop O'Malley, in making the aimouncement yesterday, pointed out the need not only for the coordination of development activities within the diocese, but also the need to expand current efforts.

The various apostolates and agencies within the diocese are funded through the Catholic Charities Appea!. Since the needs continue to expand greatly, it is incumbent upon the diocese to expand its fundraising efforts. Bishop O'Malley explained that soon after his

arrival in Fall River he noted the Director of Development to be need for a development office, but someone who is experienced in he stressed the importance oLfind- raising funds here in southeastern ing the right individual for the Massachusetts, and is known and respected by the priests and laity. position of director.

"Mike Donly has demonstrated "We have found that person in Mike Donly," he said. Bishop his ability to complete two sucO'Malley praised Donly as "a ded- cessful fundraising campaigns for icated Catholic layman who will Coyle and Cassidy High School, bring to his new position the same and in his 29 years at Coyle and qualities of hard work and excel- Cassidy High School, he has lent performance that he has dem- become a familiar face to many in onstrated at Coyle and Cassidy the area. I have the utmost respect High Schoo!." Donly is expected for him, and I look forward to the to begin this position before Sept. wonderful work that he will accomplish in this critical area," said FaI, 1997.

In the governance structure of ther McManus.

While Donly's duties include the diocese, Donly will report to Rev. Michael K. McManus, the expanding development efforts Secretary for Temporalities. Father here in the diocese, he will focus McManus explained that it was his energies initially on the CathoTurn to Page Two extremely important for the first

THE·ANCHOR·.:.-·Diocese of'Fall~iv.er:~ Fri:;.May..2".J99,7·

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Special Gifts FALL RIVER

$250

$5000

Colonial Wholesale Beverage Corp.

$3000

Catholic Woman's Club Montaup Electric Company, Somerset LeComte's Dairy, Somerset

$200

Barbara Jarabek Slade's Ferry Bank

$2000 White's Of Westport

$1500 Gold Medal Bakery Dominican Fathers

$1000 Atty. Kenneth L. Sullivan Fall River Five Cents Savings Bank

$750 Leary Press· In Memory Of John and Josephine McGinn St. Anne's Credit Union

$197 St. Elizabeth's Holy Ghost Society

$100

Donald T. Corrigan Mr. afld Mrs. John B. Cummings, Jr. Irish Specialty Shoppe Simon's Supply Co., Inc. Somerset Floor Surfacing Company Meyer, Regan & Wilner, Knights of Columbus Msgr. Boyd Council #295 Letendre's Laundry

.600 Silva·Faria Funeral Homes

$500 Montie Plumbing & Heating Co., Inc. Fall River Gas Company

$400 Bishop Connolly High School

$300 Ashworth Bros., Inc. Dr. Paul P. Dunn Crosson Oil Company, Inc.

NEW BEDFORD $16,00 Compass Bank

$400 Holy Name St. Vincent de Paul Society

$150 Cabral-Baylies S'quare Funeral Home

$100 Fairhaven Funeral Home

Appeal begins Parish Phase This Sunday, May 4, marks the opening of the "Parish Phase" of this year's Catholic Charities Appeal. The III parishes in the diocese will be making their initial reports of returns from parishioner contributions. Many parishes have arranged for volunteer solicitors to canvass households, c'ollecting' gifts to the Appeal. Other parishes have devised systems for receiving donations by mail or by direct returns at weekend liturgies. Diocesan Appeal headquarters will tabulate reports from the parishes in each of the five deaneries. . Also this Sunday at 8 a.m. Monsignor Thomas J. Harrington, Diocesan Director of the Catholic Charities Appeal, will celebrate Mass televised on WLNE, channel 6. Drew D. Ward, lay chairman of this year's Appeal, will serve as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist and students active in Campus Ministry at UMass-Dartmouth will serve as members of the congregation, lectors and participants in the offertory proces-

sion. Campus Ministry at the college is one of the many diocesan apostolates which depend upon the Catholic Charities Appeal for essential funding.

Monsignor Harrington noted that last year's effort gleaned over $2.5 million. The Catholic Charities Appeal Office operated within its budget of $125,000 in the last fiscal year.

"This means," he explained, "that 95 cents out of every dollar contributed went directly into services provided by the myriad of Diocesan agencies, institutions and apostolates offering health care, social service, education and pastoral care. This is one of the very best bargains you can get with your charitable donation."

Contributions to the 1997 Catholic Charities Appeal may be sent to the Diocesan Office, located at 344 Highland Avenue, Box 1470, Fall River, MA 02722. Diocesan Headquarters may be reached by telephone at 676-8943 or 676-3200, or by FAX, 676-6591.

Donly to lead Development Office Continued from Page One lic C~arities Appeal. The Appeal, which will continue to be directed

by Rev. Monsignor Thomas J. Harrington, pastor of Holy Name parish in New Bedford, will become one component of the overall development program. Monsignor Harrington is "delighted" Mike Donly has accepted this position.

"When I was the pastor of St. Joseph's parish in Taunton, I had many contacts with Mike at the school, and I was always very favorably impressed with his work.

I look forward to working with him," said Msgr. Harrington.

Donly, a native of North Attleboro, is a 1968 graduate of Providence College where he also received a Master's in Education in 1973. He received a C.A.E.S. in Educational Administration from Boston College in 1991, and he has served as headmaster of Coyle and Cassidy High School since 1981.

has attended several development conferences, and has given many presentations on "The Principal's Role in Development" throughout the country. He has received several awards on the local, regional, and national levels. He is married to the former Irene Valade and is the father of Sheila Kelly, Kristine Donly, Kerri Dowdall and William Donly.

Rev. William T. Garland O.S.A., the Director of Educa~ tion, will begin the process offinding a replacement for Donly at Coyle and Cassidy High School.

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

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Roland Boule, a longtime friend, friends and former parishioners Montfort Father Raymond W. from the area joined the priest at a Graham celebrated 50 years in the . and John Steakem of St. Thomas celebratory dinner.

More, parish in Somerset. His many priesthood April 13, at a party given in his honor at St. Peter's Church Hall in Dighton.

Father Graham was born in New York City, N.Y., January 9, 1921, one of five children of Mary (Roxbury) and Thomas Graham.

Following graduation from the Montfort Seminaryin Bay Shore, N.Y., he entered the novitiate of the Montfort Fathers and was professed Aug. 15, 1941.

Ordained seven years later, he began his priestly ministry teaching in the Fathers' minor and major seminaries from 1947 to 1953 and serving as Superior of the Montfort Seminary until 1959.

After a two year sabbatical to Rome to study Ascetical Theology, he was appointed pastor, of Our Lady of Grace parish in Noblesville, Ind., and then moved to the Fall River diocese to lead St. Peter's in 1967. St. Peter's had been given to the Montfort Fathers to administer a'nd Father Graham was the first Montfort pastor in the diocese.

Establishing ro~ts here for five years, Father ,Graham's assignments then led him to parishes in Danville, Va., and St. Louis, Mo., but finally back to Dighton in 1978. He remained there until Feb. 4, 1993', when he returned to Long Island, N.Y., and the Shrine of Our Lady. ."" .

Celebrating Mass at St. Peter's with him for his golden anniversary were brother priests Fathers FATHER RAYMOND GRAHAM, S.M.M. Gerald Fitzsimmons, his superior,

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".~ May 3 1973, Rev. Leo M. Curry Chaplain, Catholic Memorial Home 1985, Rev. Albert Rowley, SS.Cc., in residence, St. Francis Xavier, Acushnet May 6 1905, Rev. Thomas P. Elliott, Founder, St. Mary, Mansfield 1980, Rev. Asdrubal Castelo Branco, Retired Pastor, Immaculate Conception, New Bedford 1994, Rev. Ernest E. Blais, Pastor, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Fall River May7 1958, Rev. Raymond P. Levell, S.J., Professor, Spring Hill College, Mobile, Alabama May 9 .

1940, Rev: J.E. Theodule Giguere, Pastor, St. Anne, New Bedford 1941, Rev. John P. Clarke, Pastor, St. Mary, Hebronville

I~====I Antonio Inacio Antonio Inacio, a Fall River resident who was featured in the Anchor last summer, died April 23. He was 100 years old. The communicant of St. Elizabeth's Church in Fall River was an avid gardener until If brief illness took him home to God. He leaves his son-in-law Anthony Silvia, two grandsons, Ronald and Andrew Silvia, and several great-grandchildren.

GOD'S ANCHOR HOLDS

Religious tolerance mea:ns " more than acceptance', ,'~ " VATICAN CITY (CNS) Tolerance for religious differences mus!.go beyond passive acceptance to measures which would encourage believers to bring their values to bear on public life, a Vatican diplomat told the U.N. Human Rights Commission.

Archbishop Giuseppe Bertello, the Vatican's permanent observer to U. N. offices based in Geneva, addressed the commission March 24. according to Vatican Radio.

The commission was reviewing worldwide compliance with the "Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Conviction."

The declaration, Archbishop Bertello said, "once again places in evidence the importance of resp'ect for the religious convictions of everyone in order to ensure peaceful coexistence in society and in relations among peoples."

But, he said, "in its fulles': meaning, tolerance is not just an atti. tud,e'of passivity, uncritical acceptance, or even less of syncretism," an unselective mixing of beliefs.

Tolerance means respect.:ng the freedom of each person's con:;cience and ensuring that respect is mutual. he said.

To create true tolerance for the benefit of society, the archbishop said, "people must learn to revaluate the patrimony of their spiritual heritage each day and distinguish between that wh ich is included because of histori,:al or marginal circumstances and those things which arise from the basic principles of their faith.

"When each one acts in accor: dance with the best of his N her religious tradition, an invigorating contribution is made for the building of a new society," the archbishop said. '

False accusations SAN CRISOBAL DE LAS CASAS, Mexico (CNS)' - Two Jesuits beaten, imprisoned and charged with murder are part of a "low-intensity war" against churches in southern Mexico, said Coadjutor Bishop Raul Vera Lopez of San Cristobal de Las Casas. "We believe that we're dealing with a political question to drain confidence in ... the work of the diocese," Bishop Vera said after visiting the Jesuits in prison March 10.

The diocese called the arrest of and charges against ihe priests "another arbitrary action" against the church in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas. Jesuit Fathers Jeronimo Hernandez Lopez and

Gonzalez Rosas Morales - along with two Mayan Indians, Francisco Gonzalez Gutierrez and Ramon Parcero Martinez - were dragged out of their vehicle!. and arrested March 8 in Palenque, Mexico. 'On March 10, police charged them with "qualified homicide," saying the four were responsible for leading a peasant attack in which two policemen were killed.

THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

Fri., May 2,1997

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GODIS ANCHOR HOLDS

Ascension l'hursday Mass at Cathedral to serve as "great conlmissioning" for Jubilee preparations Accepting a recommendation of the diocesan Jubilee 2000 Committee, Bishop Sean O'Malley, OFM, Cap., will offer the Ascension Thursday Mass on May 8 as a sign of the "great commissioning" in preparation for the new millennium. "We are called to evangelize the world in which we live and proclaim over and over again the message of Jesus, to teach as He did and become people who take the Gospel imperatives as a daily commitment," said th(: bishop.

"To that end, the 7 p.m. Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall River, will be our time to become truly sensitive and aware of the Holy Father's call to the 'new evangelization.'"

Everyone in the dioc(:se is welcome to attend and Bishop O'Malley has asked to have at least two delegates from each parish in the diocese at the Cathedral for the Mass. In addition, he encourages any adult who has been received into the Church in baptism or confirmation over the last few years to attend. "It will give me the opportunity to affirm the commitment they made and renew that commitment at this Mass,'" said the bishop.

Bishop O'Malley will present the delegates with a blessed icon to bring back to their parish communities. On Pentecost Sunday, parishes are asked to enshrine or enthrone the icon in an appropriate place in the churc:h so it may serve as a reminder to all that the coming three years are a special time for personal and parish spiritual renewal.

The idea of the Trinitarian icon was recommended by the Jubilee 2000 Committee. 1997 is a year to celebrate the humanity of Jesus and our baptismal commitment.

1998 will celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit and our appreciation of confirmation, and 1999 will celebrate "coming home to the Father," with a focus on the prodigal son, reconciliation and spiritI,lal renewal. The icon will be a symbol that parishioners can reflect upon during the three years of preparation and a holy card depicting the icon and including a Jubilee prayer will be made available to everyone in the diocese.

Father Jon-Paul Gallant and Father Richard W. Beaulieu, chair of the diocesan Jubilee 2000 committee, are coordinating the May 8 celebration. Reader~ at the Mass will be committee members and the music will be arranged by Madeleine' Grace. Father Gallant is coordinating liturgical arrangements along with the Diocesan Liturgical Committee and in cooperation with Father Stephen Avila, the bishop's secretary.

"Come to the table. Come to the feast. Let this occasion be a time for all of us to renew our trust in the Lord and be 'commissioned' once again," said Bishop O'Malley.

:J- La Salette

Center for Christian Living

HIT

Attleboro, MA 02703-5195

May 9-10

Celebrating Motherhood

May.16-18

Portuguese Retreat (in Portuguese)

May 23-25

Spring Stillness Weekend

May 23-26

Spring Stillness Weekend (extended)

June 23-29

Preached / Directed Retreat

June 23- July 1 Directed Retreat Only For more information, please call or write Retreat Secretary 508-222-8530

Preparing For Pentecost A SERVICE OF PRAISE & PRAYER FOR HEALING BIUNGUAL UTURGY OF THE WORD CELEBRATION

FRIDAY, MAY 9 AT 7:00 P.M. St. Mary's Cathedral in Fall River with Rev. Robert Kaszynski Rev. Jose Dos Santos Rev. John J. Oliveira Everyone Welcome

for more information call (508) 822-2219

Women to'gather for DCCW convention The Fall River Diocesan Council of Catholic Women will hold its 44th annual convention tomorrow at Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This year's keynote address will

be given at 10: 15 a. m. by Dr. Greer Gordon from the Department of Religious Studies at. Regis College, an all-women school in Weston, Mass. She will speak on the convention theme, "Mary, guide us as we journey to the milIen-

nium: show us wisdom, show us love."

The day is also scheduled to include a guest panel of female diocesan leaders: Marian Desrosiers, Assistant Director of the ProLife Apostolate; Scottie Foley, Director of Family Ministry; Lisa Gulino, Director of Adult Education; and Arlene McNamee, Director of Catholic Social Services.

Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Sean O'Malley, OFM, Cap., at 11:30 a.m.

Registration will be held at 8:30 a.m. and the fee includes a luncheon and continental breakfast.

All are invited and tickets are available through pastors.

Example for all

AMONG MANY members of the Diocesap Council of Catholic Women preparing for their annual convention May 3 at Bishop Feehan High School, Attleboro, are from left Johanne Medeiros and Marilyn Leddy, both luncheon committee members. (Lavoie photo)

NEW YORK (CNS) - A physician who specializes in care of the dying cited the open way Chicago Cardinal Joseph L. Bernardin dealt with his approaching death as an example for others coping with terminal illness. "Cardinal Bernardin was a wonderful story," said Dr. Joanne Lynn, director of the Center to Improve Care of the Dying at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington. She said the cardinal's case was unusual in that it was so widely known she could use it in talking with her patients.

Lynn said care of the dying could be improved by physicians treating pain better and by a social acceptance of life's last stages as an emotional and spiritual experience.

CAMPUS MINISTER SaintAnselm College, a Catholic and Benedictine liberal arts college is seeking a full time position.

10 month. Campus Minister, reporting to the Director of Campus Ministry. Major responsibilities include the oversight of the spiritual development component of the Campus Ministry program. Specifte duties include organizing prayer and discussion groups, coordinating a retreat program including days of recollection, offering instruction in the faith, programming for peace andjustice. as well as coordinating a program for theological reflection within the department. Some evenings and weekends reqUired.

Successful candidate will be highly motivated, creative and comfortable working in a collaborative, environment. Candidates must have a commitment to Catholic higher education. A Bachelor's degree in Theology. Religious EduÂŁation or Pastoral Counseling reqUired. Related experience and a Master's degree desirable.

The College offers a generous benefits package . including health. life. and. disability insurance, and paid vacation, sick and holiday time.

Interested candidates may submit a letter of interest with salary requirements. resume and list of professional references to: Director of Human Resources Saint Anselm College 100 Saint Anselm Drive Manchester, NH 03102-1310

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THE ~NP;IO.!~-- Dioce,'>e.of. Fal! Ri",e~,- ~rL, N~y2,~J997.

.the moorin&.-, A Special Month: A Needed Time One of the most beautiful devotions that we have in our church is that of Mary's May. Few Catholics forget their childhood memories of the traditional May crowning ceremony. Just sing, "0 Mary, we crown thee' with blossoms today," and a chorus immediately joins the -hymn, It's the month in which we celebrate Mother's Day and during which many parishes celebrate first communion. The word "mother" and all that it should mean is spiritually reinforced'. This is needed, especially today when respect for motherhood is at an alltime low as so many journey the-abortion route or, in the words of Gilbert and Sullivan, resort to "baby farming."

Perhaps because of sOciety's low r~gard for motherhood, there is a growing backlash of those seeking ideals and values with regard to family life and relationships. For practising Catholics, Mary plays a unique role in family" life. However, although there are 55 directrefertmces to Mary in the Bible, it is absolutely astonishing that so many Bible-:based churches refuse to note "-her role In salvation history in any way :whatsoever.

Catholics, on the contrary, believe that Mary's roie in the church is inseparable from her union with Christ and flows directly from it. As we prepare to celebrate the feast of the Ascension, we recall her association with the beginning of the church by her presence with the' apostles in the upper room at Pentecost. Her title of Mother 'of the Church is a modern reflection of her special role in its life. As Catholics, we believe that the Holy Mother of God, the new Eve, Mother of the Church, continues to exercise her maternal role on behalf of the members of Christ's body.

In their document on the church, the Fathers of Vatican II stated that "in the most holy Virgin, the church has already reached that perfection whereby she exists without.spot or wrinkle. Through Mary the church with reverence enters more intimately into the supreme mystery of the Incarnation. The' church becomes more like her exalted model and continually progresses in faith, 'hope and charity, searching out and doing I the will of God in all things.

It is well, especially in the month. of May, that we be reminded of Mary's relationship to all in the church family.

This month not only provides a great opportunity for us to reaffirm church teaching concerning her but also to renew some of the d~votions, such as recitation of the rosary and attendance at Marian novenas, that help us to focus on her role . in our own lives and in those of all in the church.

One of the reasons why so many have become tepid Catholics is that they have left the Mother. Many look upon May devotions as archaic rituals. They have left the Mother, they have left the house to do their own thing. Others feel that the rosary is irrelevant, considering it an exercise with little meaning in relation to the plan of salvation.

In many ways, t~e confused condition of· many nonCatholic and Orthodox churches can be traced to the pickand-choose theology that followed upon the Reformation. It is interesting to note that, in contrast to the avoidance of Mary by many Protestant sects, the world of Islam honors her as Christ's virgin mother, at times devoutly invoking her. Perhaps it is her prayers that have helped bring these churches into dialogue.

As we enter May, may we journey with Mary. If there were ever a time when our church family needed all the support and help possible, it is now and Mary is that help and support.

I

The Editor

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

EDITOR

GENERAL MANAGER

Rev. John F. Moore

Rosemary Dussault ~

LEAR V PRESS -

FALL. RIVER

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DOUGLAS JOHNSON, LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE. COMMITTEE, HOLDS UP A PAIR OF SURGICAL SCISSORS DURING HIS TESTIMONY AT A JOINT CONGRESSIONAL HEARING LAST MONTH ON THE PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION PROCEDURE. HE SPOKE IN FAVOR. OF A BAN ON THE PROCEDURE AND CRITICIZED A PROPOSAL FOR LESS RESTRICTIVE LEGISLATION.

"You have,heard the commandment imposed on your forefathers, 'You:shall not commit murder; every murderer ~han be liable ~o judgment." Mt '5::11 .

.Forgetting our true destiny seen 'as greatest of all tragedies

By Father' Kevin J. Harrington Harvard University recently polled its incoming class of freshmen as to its goals. The class decared them in the following order: (I) money. (2) power, (3) reputation.

Seventeen-year-olds tend to be honest reflections of the life they . have ·encountered. The same can be said of a group of 13-year-old black males. 85 percent of whom indicated in a survey made this year that they intended to be professional athletes. And a survey of 280.000 college freshmen reported that, for three out of four, the top reason for going to college is attainment of financial success.

Many would say in pondering these polls that something is wrong with our society. But human nature. never. changes. Sociologists note that the present climate among young middle class Americans is reminiscent of the rugged individualism of the late 19th century.

Psychologists also note that suicide rates ·among adolescents are highest when the gap between expectations and reality is at its largest. This explains why those struggling to survive financially are often the least likely to take their own lives.

Money, power and fame are not evil in themselves. The great classical theologians are always careful to point out that evil is the absence of good and that all of creation is good. When we grasp the reality of creation, we see that . '.'

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the divisions between the "sacred" and the "profane," between the "holy" and the "secular" are, for the most part, arbitrary and misleading. . All reality is sacred, from the angels to the quarks (subatomic particles). because all things are equally close to the creator God who dwells in every aspect of being.

To see the divine lurking in every corner of .the real is to possess a kind of sacramental imagination that can turn a desert into a garden.

Take the threefolg goals of those Harvard freshmen and hear the echo of Jesus facing the threefold temptations of the devil: (I) changing rocks into bread when hungry (money); (2) worshiping someone other than God to gain world dominion (power); and (3) hurling yourself from the temple parapet and having your angels save you before a crowd (fame).

In our baptismal promises we renounce Satan's empty promises.

His seductions are real but they can only be faced when we recognize them as such. It should be easier to con a teenager than an adult; the tragedy of present day America is that teens and adults are equally vulnerable.

Wisdom implies a knowledge of the human heart and mind that should teach us that the dissatisfactions involved in seeking money, power and fame should spur us towards our divine end. The medievals criticized those who tried to be . content with any,thing.l,ess than

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that end as a victim of "concupiscence" or misguided desire.

The late mythologist Joseph Campbell noted that buildings give concrete evidence as to where our hearts' desires lie. The Midd Ie Ages were truly an exception to the misguided desires evident it:. other ages. Only in the Middle A,ges was the tallest building in a town the church, since at that time spiritual values were seen as self-evidently the most im·portant. 'It was truly a golden age.

But by the time of the Renaissance, government headquarters dominated cities' because the "ultimate concern" of the community began to shift to the affairs of this world. A casual glance at any city in America reveals that even the grand cathedrals are now shadowed by towering temples of business and' wealth. Our society is under the sway of wealth. To hav(: more and more, to be richer and richer, to attempt to guarantee our security by means of "things": all reflect a misguided desire that acts as a poison that has spread well beyond the confines of our own borders. . After G.K. Chesterton st'Jpped believing that his ultimate happiness could be foundin this world, he became a Christian. After abandoning his desperate attl~mpts to seek happiness in, the here and now, he began to relax and enjoy himself. We all fail at times to live up to our divine call, but forgetting our destiny altogether is the greatest tragedy of all! .

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Pope's resolve is Bosnia's blessing' Here is an unsigned editorial from the April 17 issue of The Providence Visitor, newspaper of the Diocese of Providence, R.I. The Holy Father continued to amaze his followers and bewilder his critics as he wound up his potentially most dangefCius foreign mission into Sarajevo. We have seen John Paul II, over the 18 years of his papacy. build bridges where none were thought possible, and persevere when others were beset by desperation.

While the pope was disappointed when the war in Bosnia prevented his travel there several years ago, he resolved to visit the refugees and remaining stalwarts in the former Yugoslavian city, and, indeed, has made good his promise.

Orthodox Serbians, Catholic Cro-

atians and Muslim B¢snians all stood up and took notice when the popemobile rode triumphantly through the streets. ..

Despite serious security concerns, and the defusing of a complex booby trap rigged below a bridge on the rOllte into the city, the Holy Father showed courage in the face ofthese threats and displayed no fear. No one appreciated this more than the residents in the city who had seen loved ones slain on the streets from artillery and sniper fire. They felt the pope's frustration as he shouted "Never again war!" a cry that had been stuck so long in their own throats.

For the people of lill faiths in Sarajevo, the opportunity to see the pope was not about seeing the leader of the world's Catholics.

For them, it was about seeing the father who had lamented from afar the death of innocent civilians in a war that went on too long.

The pope, even as his body begins to show the .signs of eight decades of hard work, teaches a lesson to all of us. Whenever innocents die, the church must be there to try to protect them. Whenever war rages, unchallenged by peace, the church must be there. Whenever hope ebbs and desperation reigns, the church must be there.

Whenever there are men, women and children around the world growing weary from the weight of oppression, the church must be there. And, as long as John Paul II is alive, people will see that the pope will be thc:re too. Long live the pope.

T'HE ANCHoR -

Lebanon trip VATICAN CITY (CNS) Pope John Paul 11 will meet government officials, hold talks with Muslim leaders and deliver a major document to Catholics during his May 10-11 trip to Lebanon. The

rect them if necessary and encourage them. In this way, he said, the sacrament of penance is not reduced to rebukes and criticisms of the penitent's behavior. .In general, the pope said, the faithful must be educated to accept the church's teaching, even when the teaching is not presented as an infallible dogma.

A charitable approach does not mean confessors may allow people to place in opposition the rights of an individual conscience and the authority of church teachings, he said.

"Each person' has the duty to form his or' her conscience correctly," .he said. . .

He also noted that while the church does not consider an immor-' al act sinfui·if the' person's conscience is abs()lutely and incorrigibly mistaken on that issue, the act itself remains objectively wrong.

The pope said formation of consciences must take place outside the confessional, too, through prayer, preaching, religious education and organized cultural activities. When Catholics are involved in such activites, they more easily understand and accept the motivation for some of the church's more difficult teachings, such as those on the defense of life and sexual relations, he said.

One main point priests should make, he said, is that on these basic moral issues, the church is not "imposing its own law, but reaffirming and clarifying the divine law."

Dear brothers and sisters, My visit to the Czech Republic a few days ago was part of the celebration of the millennium of St. Adalbert, the great bishop and monk venerated as the patron of Bohemia and Poland. Adalbert's missionary journeys, which culminated in his martyrdom, are an important chapter in the spiritual history of Europe, Manual published on particularly Central Europe. The celebration concluded airport chaplaincy a lO-year program of spiritual renewal begun by the CHICAGO (CNS) - The first late Cardinal Frantisek Tomasek. My pastoral visit in- manual on how to develop and airport chaplaincies all over cluded a Mass for young people in Hradec Kralove, a operate the world has been published by meeting with religious and the sick in the ancient the National Catholic Conference Benedictine abbey of Brevnov, an outdoor Mass in of Airport Chaplains.

The Chicago-based conference Prague and an ecumenical meeting at the Cathedral worked three years to compile the of St. Vitus. My return to Prague was closely linked to manual, titled "Ministry of the my first visit, seven years ago, shortly after the fall of Moment." It answers questions about the need for airport chapels the communist regime and the beginning of the spiri- and about the legal and practical tual rebirth which the millennium of St. Adalbert is aspects of establishing one in a airport. meant to foster. I wish to thank Presidellt Havel and major The manual also tells how to the civil authorities, together with Cardinal Miloslav administer and finance an airport Vlk and my brother bishops, for all they did to make chapel and chaplaincy and outlines the duties and responsibilities my visit possible. of a chaplain.

I extend a warm welcome to all the English-speak"Ministry of the Moment" was ing visitors, especially the pilgrim groups from Ireland, printed with the help of the U.S. Committee on Migration Australia, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines and the bishops' in Washington and will be availaUnited States. Upon all of you I cordially invoke the ble in bookstores throughout the joy and peace of our Lord Jesu~Christ:.." " '.' , .... . £~~.~t~y.

Fri., May 2, 1997

5

long-awaited - and once canceled - visit will feature II papal events or ceremonies, including an outdoor Mass celebrated next to a Beirut naval base. The official schedule was released at the Vatican April 21.

Please come andjoin us in the Festivities!! at the

Sacred Heart IISpring Festival ll

May 10th, 1997 From 9:00 am • 3:00 pm In the Church Hall Church Street, North Attleboro (Church 81. is off Rte. 1A) Activities include: RAFFLES, baked goods, crafts, dunk tank, Las Vegas, food, games, flea market etc.

Confessors must form consciences the sense of right and wrong has

By John Tha,'is been "blunted" in many people. In VATICAN CITY (eNS) - To some cases, he said, a positive counter widespread "moral disorienvalue has even been attributed to tation" among today's Catholics, behavior that is objectively imconfessors should make special moral. efforts to help form consciences In such an environment, confesalong the lines of chun:h teaching, sors have a difficult but not imposPope John Paul II said. sible task, the pope said.

In this way, confession can During the sacrament of confesbecome a positive opportunity for sion, priests should show "charitformation, and not just a series of able understanding" both toward admonitions from the priest, the those who err because of an pope said. incomplete understanding of the He made the remarks recently in moral norms, and toward those a talk to members of~he Apostolic who know they have sinned but Penitentiary, a Vatican office which want to reform, he'said, deals with matters concerning the The pope noted that this charitsacrament of penance. able approach was emphasized in In his talk, the pope underlined a recent set of Vatican guidelines a point he has made in recent for confessors in dealing with birth' encyclicals: that to free oneself . control and other issues ofhuman fronfeViI; the person must first be sexuality.' aware that he or she is doing someThe document, he said, deserves thing morally wrong. attention by priests. It advises confessors to enlighten penitents, corBut in modern society, he said,

Diocese of F~li River -

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

The Massachusetts Family Institute, a pro-family research and education organization associated with Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council, seeks an experienced development professional to serve as Director of Development. Will supervise all organizational development operations and report directly to the President. Must be ahighly motivated individual who is capable of taking initiative. Must also have aproven track record as adevelopment professional.

.

Plelse send resume to: Mltthew DlIIlels, President .

Mlssachusett8 Famly InsUtute, 381 Eliot Street Newton Upper Fals, MA 02184 • Fax: (817) 928-1515

CHURCH WOMEN UNITED MAY FELLOWSHIP DAY

~

area-wide ecumenical prayer service hosted by oldest c.h~rch In the diocese

V

•

FRIDAY, MAY 2 • 7:30 P.M.

ST. LAWRENCE MARTYR CHURCH Corner County &Hillman Streets New Bedford

Church Telephone # 992-4251 ALL CHRISTIAN WOMEN

&

MEN INVITED

To

JOIN IN PRAYER

&

MUSIC

PRINCIPAL Catholic elementary school, PreK to 8. Master degree and minimum of five years teaching required, preferably in Catholic schools.

Send resume by May 9 to: Catholic School Office 1 Cathedral Square Providence, RI 02903

e~can DEy? OF ~~TheShrine of Divine Mercy ~<:». ~ Stockbridge, ......P3 Sunday,May 181lI, 1997 ~ MA

~~

~

10:00 AM to 5:00PM

NOEL HENRY'S DREAM OF BRINGING MUSICIANS AND FAMILIES FROM THE IRISH-AMERICAN COMMUNITY TOGETHIR TO PROCLAIM THEIR FAITH IS AGAIN FULFILLED. THE FOUR1H ANNUAL DAY OF PRAYER WILL

~

FEATURE VINNY FLYNN OF DMNE MERCY INTERNATIONAL.

,

JOIN IN HOLY MAss, MAy PROCESSION, ROSARY, AND

. .~.

CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY.

LEADING THE HYMNS ARE

..•.,:it JOHN CONNORS, ANDY HEALY, MARGARET DALTON,

"

' '.. GEORGE GHIORSE, NOEL HENRY'S IRISH SHOWBAND,

NOEL

HENRY

MATI1E HENRY, AND OTHIRS WHO HAVE BEEN INVITED. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL BILL POWERS AT

508/428-7804.

&

MARY

6

THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

Fri., May 2, 1997

Hockey-playing priest sees sport as 'part of who he is' EMMITSBURG, Md. (CNS) - It could be argued that brutal behavior and crude language are part and parcel of being a hockey player.

But Father Jim Donohue comes equipped with hockey stick in hand and the spirit of God in his heart.

Father Donohue, a theology professor at Mount St. Mary's College and Seminary in Emmitsburg, is a starting left wing for the Midnight Suns, an amateur team in a county men's hockey league.

"Jim's great for the intimidation factor," teammate Steve Brockman joked about Father Donohue. "Once during the playoffs, he was still wearing his collar"when he walked into the locker room to change. You could see the faces on the opposing team-drop. They hadn't figured that we had that kind of powerful force working for us."

Father Donohue is used to soIl1e awkwardness from others once they learn he is a priest.

"There are priests .who want to be seen as priests, to be held high on a pedestal, but I'm not one of them," he told The Catholic Review, ~ewspaper of ~he Archdiocese' of Baltimore.

"If people don't t,reat you as a person, then it's hard to think of yourself as a person. That is one of the healthiest aspects of playing hockey. My teammates can talk to me like a regular guy."

The 40-year-old Canadian first suited up with a team at age 4. But even though he played through high school and college, he did not share the dream' many Canadian boys have of playing in the pros.

Instead, he wanted to be a doctor. But later, finding he had another kind of calling, he gave up his pre-med studies to attend St. Peter Seminary in Londo'n, Ontario.

The question loomed omil}ously: Would he have to give up hockey? The welcome answer was no.

"At St. Peter's there were something like 120 seminarians and 100 of them played hockey," Father Donohue said. "The only two fights I ever got into were in the seminary league." . He recalled when he was particularly outraged over a referee's call. "I skated by the rector, gritted my teeth and quoted from the psalm: 'They have eyes, but cannot see.'" He said the rector responded with, "They have ears but cannot hear.'" .

Father Donohue only misses a game when he must celebrate Mass or participate in other aspects of his priestly life. .

But his priestly life has led him to help form a hockey team at Mount St. Mary's.

Student Kevin Koffenberger said "it's OK" having a priest for a hockey teammate. "Sometimes I wonder when tempers flare on the ice what he thinks but he just looks on," he said.

The ranks are small - nine skaters and no goalie since the first announcement in January - and there's been no promise from the school yet for financing a sport where the costs run to about $1,500 a player. . But lack of funds won't stop Father Donohue and his team.

He will, he insisted, continue playing hockey because he says it helps to keep him balanced.

"When I'm skating, gliding out there on the ice, I feei a certain freedom," he explained. "I like that image of gliding and propelling yourself along, and the sound of the blades crunching into the ice. Hockey, I've come to realize, is a part of who I am."

Rome diocese sets up pastoral office to counter religious cults ROME (CNS) - The Diocese of Rome - and of Pope. John Paul 11- has established a pastoral task force to counter recent inroads made by religious cults among young people.

"Our young Catholics are among those subject to risk, and they are being targeted by the directors of sects, cults, alternative religious movements and the like," said Sandro Leoni, head of the new pastoral office.

Recent publications of the di-' ocese have cited an increase in membership in religious cU,lts, \}'hiC h often combine nromises <:if.

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career success with a vague religious message.

A respected italian magazine, Prospettive nel Mondo (Perspectives in the World). recently estim'ated that some 250,000 people in Rome are directly involved to some degr'ee in the activities of cults or sects.

The Rome vicariate said the new pastoral office would focus on "preventative" programs, primarily in parishes and schools.

The Vatican newspaper recently ran a series of articles on satanic cults, warning that they were a real phenomenon~ , , . .",.' . era 1i.12.vz..~'a.~~44~·<oQ,

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Incredible witne·sses to forgiveness Headlines all over the 'world said it: "In Sarajevo, Pope Calls for Forgiveness." Once again, Pope John Paul II, visiting a major world trouble spot, was proclaiming a central teaching of Jesus: that we must forgive.

The pope's words were powerful: "For the edifice of peace to be' solid, against the background of so much blood and hatred, it will have to build on the courage of forgiveness."

Reading those words, I prayed intensely that the world would take notice, listen and find the courage Pope John Paul II was talking a bout. Because it does take courage. To forgive takes an indescribable strength.

Ironically, the day before I read about the pope's visit to Sarajevo, St. Joseph's Church in Brookfield, Conn., hosted a talk by Officer Stephen McDonald, the New York police officer who was shot in the head in Central Park II years ago by a teenager. The wound left him paralyzed, unable to move his arms or legs.

Remarkably, McDonald refused to stop 'living and found himself in a new "mission" as a living witness to the beauty of life and the power of for. giveness to help us live that life for God and others.

Officer McDonald said he chose to forgive the.

15-year-old who'shot him (and was killed in a motorcycle accidenttwo weeks after serving eight years in prison) because of wanting to move on and help others. He would have been stuck in his anger, bitter and without peace, if he could not' forgive.'

Some 150 people came to hear this man, who was determined, in spite of his disabling injuries, to make , his life meaningful and share his message of faith and forgiveness with others.

About a third of those who came were youths, because the sponsors of this talk were, admirably, St. Joseph's youth group.

McDonald spoke of his dependence on the Mass, the Eucharist, the rosary - and his family - for the renewal of his spirituality. The enthusiastic response by the young people present was heartwarming.

I think I was supposed to be focusing on forgiveness that week because the same day that I went to hear McDonald, I had finished reading a manuscript

by Johann Christoph Arnold titled "Seventy Times Seven, Stories of Forgiveness." This is Sl)on to be published by the Plough Publishing House of the Bruderhof Foundation.

By Antoinette Bosco Arnold - known in,Catholic circles for his powerful book "A Plea for Purity" - tells morl~ than 25 . stories of people who found a life after gaining the courage to forgive. These are people who sliffered in the Holocaust, or from prejudice against th.eir interracial relationships, or from infidelity in ma.rriage, or who lost children, homes, p,?sitions.

You cannot help but be moved by the truth that emerges from these stories - that it is out of suffering that we humans come to learn the power and truth of Jesus' words about the necessity of forgive. ness.

"Instead of leaving us weak and vulnerabk, forgiving strengthens and empowers our lives ,and our work," writes Arnold. "More than that, it sets in motion a positive chain reaction, which brings the fruits of our forgiveness to others: We see our own need for forgiveness; we realize the extent of God's love to us and must pour out that love to all."

McDonald's message is the same. He said he's "closer to heaven now," and so he can even thank God for his injuries. We all have much to learn from people who have suffered and still forgive.

Elderhostel welcomes everyone Dear Dr. Kenny: I am a widow. My life centered around my husband. Now that he's gone, I have no place to go and no one to go with. I am welcome to visit my children, but they have lives of their own. I am still healthy and able to get around and need to get out of the house. Please give some suggestions. Pennsylvania.

You need a program that offers new worlds to explore with interesting and stimulating people like yourself. Try Elderhostel.

Elderhostel is an an independent nonprofit organiZ<ition offering short-term learning and social experiences for people over 55. Nearly a quarter-million seniors travel and study with multiple programs in each state at colleges, museums, national and state parks. environmental centers, retreat houses and other cultural institutions.

Most Elderhostel programs last five or six nights.

You stay in comfortable, modest facilities and eat well-prepared meals. Group size ranges from 20 to 40, with many people coming alone to meet and share with other interesting people.

Average cost is $340 for a one-week program. The fee covers almost everything: lodging, meals, classes and any course-related field trips or activities.

In addition to its regular quarterly catalogue of programs and courses available in every state, Elderhostel has an international catalogue with overseas programs and a service catalogue fo~ seniors who wish to help with tutoring, working in state parks and museums, and other volunteer activities.

Elderhostel is one place where single people are most welcome and can feel comfortable. Single r<toms are generally available for an extra charge or Elderhostel will select a roommate for you. Meals are usually eaten at large tables, and most people make a deliber~te effort to move around during the week so as. to eat and socialize with all the other participants. .

Elderhostel is not just for "college-type" people. A typical group might comprise teachers, lawyers, homemakers, ,carpenters and farmers, retired and active, all learning with and from each other.

The interests which Elderhostel addresses are as varied as the participants. Outdoor types might choose canoeing, hiking, golf, sailing or biking adventures. History, archaeology, nature study, dancing, crafts, genealogy, music, art, culture studies, history and ecology of a certain region: all these and many more are available through Elderhostel.

You can enrich old interests and develop many new orie's: ".. , -' .' , . " . .\l~...\i:i:.'ct-·,•. J..t.:~,.·

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Intergenerational programs are offered which allow grandparents and grandchildren togf:ther to stuqy an archaeological dig "hands on," canoe down the Colorado River, visit the Art Institute in Chicago or do many other exciting planned activities.

With Dr. James & Mary Kenny As you might guess from our enthusiasm, we have been to several Elderhostel programs and have enjoyed everyone.

For a free catalogue, write to: Elderhostel. Box 1959, Wakefield, Mass. 01330-5959 .

Good luck with your new life. You must take some initiative to put yourself in circumstances where good things can happen. No one will take thllt first step for you., Elderhostel is a great place to start.

Reader questions on family living and child (:are to be answered in print are invited. Address ques,tions: The Kennys; St. Joseph's College; 219 W. Harrison; Rensselaer, Ind. 47978.

Prayer Bo Holy Mother of God, During this month of May :let us remember the sacrifice you made to do the will of God. You said "yes" to God even thou~1h it would cause you hardship and pain~ .

Please help us to do the sanle when we are faced with obstacles in our own lives.

The Kingd6iri of God Q. My question is about the words "thy kingdom come" in the Our Father.

Maybe this is trivial,. but those words seem to say that the kingdom of God is in the future, at the end of the world, which is what I always thought.

However, a priest speaking at our parish during Lent said the kingdom is here and now. He quoted Jesus saying the kingdom is among you.

I think about the Sunday Gospels a lot, but now I'm not even sure I know what the kingdom of God is. (South Dakota) A. Your question isn't trivial. The Gospels, Matthew particularly, speak of that kingdom dozens of times as a truth which frames and forms our relationship with God here and in eternity.

One difficulty is that the kingdom of God, or kingdom of heaven, is quite a fluid term in the New Testament. Jesus never actually defines what it is.

Rather, he alludes to it with a variety of images and stories that give us something of a composite, a multicolored description of what he means.

The kingdom of which Christ speaks is first of all not a place, or anything else static, something finally finished here or perha.ps even in the future.

God's reign, his rule and power over all creation, is active and dynamic, an ongoing reality continually operative in everything he is creating.

Neither is it something new. God has always been Lord of the universe and of the human family, specifically the Hebrew people, who nevertheless rebelled against him.

From the beginning of his public life, Jesus declares that this rule of God continues now; we must reform our lives to recognize his reign and to re-establish the harmony of creation destroyed by sin.

In fact, the core of the "good news" ("Gospel") is that this God whosl: reign we honor is a gracious, loving, merciful andjoyful Father who is unveiled in the life and words of his Son - perhaps most of all in the great parables such as those in Luke IS. Ultimately, it is this conviction that the infinite Mystery. surrounding us is a benevolent one, that

I'

THE ANCHOR allows Jesus to urge us to trust, not to be afraid.

Whatever happens, we are sure of the Father's presence and power active in the world.

As the preface of the feast of the Kingship of Christ puts it, the kingdom he proclaims is one of justice, love and peace. All these are active, ongoing realities that, at least here, are never totally perfect, always moving toward fuller realization.

Queatil.ODB

.ad.

Aaswe••

By Father John J, Dietzen ,The New Testament indicates often that this reigning presence of God is not something we merit or "build." It is his work, a pure gift to his people when they try to live as a community of charity and f~ithfulness.

When we look at it this way, as part of the mystery of God's creating love, perhaps we can understand at least a little how the reign of God will always be here, and always be coming, as long as the Creator continues his work.

The more we are a ware of the power of this divine rule among us now and of its continuance in eternity, the greater is our confidence that, in Paul's words, nothing can separate us from the love of God that comes to us in Christ Jesus our Lord.

A free brochure, in English or Spanish, answering questions Catholics ask about baptism practices and sponsors is available by sending a stamped, selfaddressed envelope to Father John Dietzen, Holy Trinity Church, 704 N. Main St., Bloomington, 111.

61701.

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

When it's time to change the subject With' the Catholic Church in the United States facing one crisis after another. I think it is time we took a lesson from Congress. Change the subject.

Forexample.let's talk about parish reader-boards.

Only a relative handful of Catholic parishes use these outdoor signboards to promote upcoming events.

Meanwhile, tons of non-Catholic churches do.

See'? You're already forgetting about the vocations crisis and sex scandals.

We sense those reformationists and others are again trying to use tricky modes of modern communication to pull the wool over .gullible fallen-away Catholics like the ones who (it hurts. 1 know, to read this in a Catholic newspaper) root against Notre Dame when it plays USc. As a matter of fact. there's this Four Square Church reader-board not far from us that consistently tricks me into thinking about God when I have all kinds of other things to think about.

Daily Readings May 5 Acts 16:11-15; Ps 149:16,9; In 15:26-16:4a May 6 Acts 16:22-34; Ps 138:13,7-8; In H3:5-11 May 7 Acts 17:15,22-18:1; Ps 148: 1-2,11-·14; In 16: 12-15 May8 Acts 1:1-11; Ps47:2-3,6-9; Eph 1:17-23 or Eph 4: 1-13 or 4: 17,11-13; Mk 16:15-20 May9 Acts 18:9-18; Ps 47:2-7; In 16:20-23a May 10 Acts 18:23-28; Ps 47:23,8-10; In 16:23b-28 May 11 Acts 1: 15-17,20a,20c-26; Ps 103:1-2,11-12,19-20; 1 Jn4:1116; In 17: llb-19

Then there's another in our litt-ie town that always tells passersby the upcoming Sunday sermon topic and the sermonizer's name. And people still show up on Sunday.

'I'll.. ollb...t . wo.lc1. 01 vaal. DaR

By Dan Morris Given enough media attention and funding from the American Reader-board Syndicate (ARS), we could \Yhip this little puppy into an underground controversy rivaling that of the brouhaha over hand holding during the Our Father.

Catholics could advertise fund raisers and bingo blackout specials.

We could post prayer petitions when Georgetown makes the Final Four.

However, directors of the parish reader-board ministry would need to be prudent. Example: Reader-boarding the time for the baptismal ceremony of 17 infants might discourage some from that liturgy in favor of something less time consuming -·Iike adding an addition to their house or reading "Trinity."

On the other hand. "lapsed" Catholics might be pulled back into a pew with some reader-board come-ons: "If you are lapsed, come in and find out who it was who lapped you."

The Catholic Communications Campaign could underwrite a program to have a reader-board on every Catholic institution. Catholic hospitals could push specials on knee surgery or gallbladderectomies. Catholic schools could recruit volunteers and teachers who are paid volunteer wages.

Of course there are serious questions to be asked before a National Catholic reader-board campaign is launched. What does tradition say about readerboards'? Would neon signs conflict with architectural norms and local zoning laws'? Who is in charge of spelling'?

Still, the longer we wait the farther behind we fall.

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

,

Diocese of Fall River _. Fri., May 2, 1997

7

GOD BLESS THE CHILDREN' ~~

Communicate: Health!

A Month Of Healthy Learning At Saint Anne's Hospital.

HUDNER ONCOLOGY CENTER" Spring Education Series • :Thursdays, May 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 , Clemence Hall, Room 134 A cancer diagnosis changes a patient's and family's life, often leaving them feeling overwhelmed, fearful and powerless. The following series will address various aspects of the disease: , May 1 - "What are Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapies?" , May 8 - "You Are What You Eat" " May 15 - "Complimentary/Alternative Therapies" • May 22 - "Financial Concerns and Burdens of Treatment" • May 29 - "Grief and Loss Issues From Diagnosis To Survivorship" For more information please contact Mary Peterson, L1CSW or Mark Theodore, LSW at (508) 674-5600, ext. 2270.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH - BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING PROGRAMS As part of Saint Anne's commitment to community outreach, the Communicate:Heallhl Mobile Mammography Unit will be at the following locations throughoul Fall River: • Tuesday, May 6, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at SSTAR, 400 Stanley Street 'Wednesday, May 7,9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Tru Med 1,528 Newton Street • Thursday, May 15, 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Tru Med II, 933 Pleasant Street For additional information or to make anappointmenl contact Maria Cabrales, RN at (508) 675-5686.

REFLECTIONS: WOMEN FOR WOMEN" Breast Cancer Support Group • TueSdays, May 6, 13, 20 & 27 " 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

• Valcourt Conference Room Offers encouragement in a supportive environment for women who have a diagnosis of breast cancer. For more information contact Mary Pelerson, L1CSW, at 508-674-5600, ext. 2270.

PARENTS SUPPORT GROUP" For parents of children with diabetes. , TueSday, May 13 • 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. , Clemence Hall, Room 203 Co-sponsored by the Greater Fall River Diabetes Association. Pre-registration is required.

For more information contact Cory Oliveira, L1CSW at 508-674-5600, ext. 2270.

DIABETES EDUCATION AND SUPPORT GROUP" • Tuesday, May 13 • 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. " Nannery Conference Room Meetings focus on an educational topic related to diabetes, as well as sharing of individual experiences. This month the educational topic is entitled "For Your Eyes Only" and will be presented by Robert Vergnani. M.D. Open to those with diabetes, their families and friends. For more information contact Sharon Jones, RN at 508-674-5600, ext. 2480.

HEART TO HEART" Cancer Survivor Support Group • Wednesdays, May 14 & 28 , 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. , Nannery Conference Room A "safe" place where cancer survivors can share concerns in confidence and look to each other for support. For more information contact Linda Pestana at 508-379-0778.

SUNDAY SENIOR LUNCHEON • Sunday, May 18 • 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

• Nannery Conference Room Buffet lunch followed by a presentation. There is a $4.00 fee for this program which includes lunch and the presentation. Pre-registration is required by contacting the Food & Nutrition Department at (508) 674-5600, ext. 2635.

ANNUAL SKIN CANCER SCREENING" • Tuesday and Wednesday, May 20 & 21 • 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

• Hudner Oncology Center Free skin cancer screenings will be provided at the Hudner Oncology Center by Dr. Arthur Daily.

Appointments must be made in advance by contacting Ambulatory Services at (508) 674-6266.

"All support groups are 'ref) and open to the ~ublic.

g Saint Anne's

•

Hospital

795 Middle Street Fall River, MA 02721 (508) 674-5741

Hosia ge~'<l"es'cue .dea:ths "m oiirned'in:'. PerU' ., '.. ~~~~~ls p~li:il~~;ae~~~~~e~~~:"-~'~~-,o:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~f~~g,u~r~ ,

' ent contact - all the hostages became a family for me, so the' death of Dr. (Carlos) Giusti, the death of the members of the army and-the death o.f the me~bers of the M RT A bnng me Immense pain," the archbishop told journalists April 23, the day after the rescue.

According to a government source, Archbishop Cipriani, spokesman for the Commission of Guarantors that negotiated the hostage crisis, was concerned that a military intervention at the Japanese Embassy could result in a high death toll or injury to the hostages.

The source said Archbishop Cipriani had written an urgent personal letter to Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, delivered April21, requesting him to intervene and to convince Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori to wait and pursue further negotiations.

"I pray for their souls and their relatives, and I request, as a member of the church, mutual forgiveness, because we are all Peruvians, we are all brothers and sisters, and ;",:"y' we all have t9 walk by paths of ~» April 25, 1997 ,\. peace and respect for human dignity," said Archbishop Cipriani. \.\.....~ \ ..:4; Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina til" n Fourteen members ofthe,Tupac l\ .\.~ Amaru Revolutionary Movement "Dear-children, today I call you to have your life connected took nearly 5.00 people hostage with God the Creator, because only in this way will your life during a reception at the Japanese' 'have meaning and you will,comprehend thatGod is love. ambassador's residence Dec. 17.

God sends me to you out of love, that I may help you to Hundreds of hostages' were later ,released, but 72 remained inside comprehend that without Him there is no future or joy and, the embassy for 126dilys, above all there is no eternal salvation. Little children, I call In a swift operation April 22, you to leave sin and to accept prayer at all times, that you ,140 elite- Peruvian troops res~ued the 72 mostly middle-aged men may in prayer come to know the meaning of yo~r life., God held, by members of the Tupac ,gives himself to him who seeks Him. Amaru Revolutionary Movement Thank you for having respOIided to my call." for 126 days. Several times during the standoff, the rebels offered to OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE PRAYER GROUP release one of the men, Father Marian Messengers • Juan Julio Wicht of Pacific UniP.O. Box 647, Framingham, MA 01701 versity, but he chose to remain to Tel. 1-508·879-9318 minister to the hostages.

Bolivia's ambassador to Peru, one of those rescued, said that 10 of the rebels were playing indoor soccer when the troops stormed the embassy. .

One of the hostages, a supreme court judge, died after shrapnel hit a major artery in his leg and he later had a heart attack. All 14 rebels, most of whom were under ADORATION OF BLESSED SACRAMENT the age of21, including their leader, Nestor Cerpa Cartolini, were killed, Friday, May 12:45·6:00p.m. and two Peruvian soldiers also died.

"We had been working very COFFEE HOUSE: MARK GABRIEL hard, until exhaustion, these last GIRARDIN GUESTS days and very acute gastritis made it very hard for me to continue Saturday, May 3·6:30p.m. working," said the archbishop.

After adding that Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori had tried SPANISH HEALING SERVICE to find a peaceful way out of the crisis, Archbishop Cipriani thankSunday, May 4·2:00p.m. ed the journalists and then broke Fr. Leo Maxfield down in tears, silencing the room crowded with journalists from all over the world.

LA SALETTE & DIVINE MERCY 111 the last days, Archbishop Cipriani stressed the importance DEVOTIONS of continuing the negotiations and Wednesdays at 7:15p.m. -Allare welcome criticized the media and local personalities who were pressing for May Intention: For IncreasedDevotion to Mary military action, According to the government GRIEF EDUCATION SERIES source, "Archbishop Cipriani became the last hope for the hosIIGrief Anger ll tages' relatives, who wanted to avoid a military intervention,'" Thursday, May 1:00 -2:30p.m.

The day after the raid, Vatican Call the Counseling Center (508) 226-8220 spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls issued a statement deploring violence, but underscoring Vatican disappr9val of the hostage-taking. ',.,' '.'. "Certainly the loss, of' human

By Alejandro Bermudez LI MA Peru (CNS) - Archbishop J~an Luis Cipriani Thorne of Ayacucho, Peru, expressed his sorrow and pain over the deaths that resulted' from the military

rescue of hostages at the Japanese Embassy in Lima, saying he "suspect~d the co~ing (milit~r~) },nte.rventlon and tned to aVOid It, saId a government source.

"After four months of perman-

varro-Valls wrote. "(But) the pnnciple of international ethics universally accepted - remains inta~t, that ~he violent occupat~on of dIplomatIC seats and the takmg of hosta~es i~ not the way to try to resolve sltuatlons that can be solved only through dialogue and responsible negotiations," Hours after the rescue, in a press conference outside the embassy, Fujimorithankedinparticular"the sacrifice and effort of Archbishop Cipriani."

Standing atop his car, Fujimori announced the official number of casualties left by the operation and wept briefly after revealing that one of the dead soldiers was a member of the personal security

antors CommIssIon, which had held several meetings with the rebels in an effort to bring the crisis to a peaceful,end.

Canada s ambassador to Peru, Anthony Vi~ce~t, also a member of the CommIsSIon of Guarantors, immediately took the floor saying, ". am proud of having worked with a man ofthe personal quality, intellectual brilliancy and human compassion of Archbishop Cipriani."

The embassy was closed for two days while the military made a sweep of the residence for mines and booby-traps. The bodies of the rebels were left inside until the inspection of the embaS!ly w'as completed.

Our Lady's Monthly Message From Medjugorje

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JESUIT FATHER Juan Julio Wicht talks to reporters .

April23 about being holed up for four months at the Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima. He said he offered spiritual counseling and sacraments to many ofthe hostages being'helq ' . \ '" '

by Peruvian rebels: (CNSj Reuters photo)

Peruvian'priest ministered to hoshll:es LI M A, Peru (CNS) - A Jesuit priest who chose to stay with the hostages throughout the crisis at the Japanese ambassador's residence praised the faith of the only hostage who died as a result of the rescue.

Jesuit Father Juan Julio Wicht said Peruvian Supreme Court Judge Carlos Giusti "was a man of courage and a Catholic of deep human feelings."

Back at his Jesuit-community in Lima's district of Miraflores April 23, unshaven but bathed after four months without a shower, Father Wicht spoke of Giusti, a prestigious lawyer appointed by Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori to reform Peru's judicial system.

Early in the four-month ordeal, rebels offered to release Father Wicht, but he chose to remain and minister to the hostages. According to the official Red Cross record, Father Wicht was not a hostage, since he chose to stay at the embassy. .

The priest said the rebels had also given Giusti the opportunity to leave the embassy during the final relea~e of hostages.

He said rebel leader Nestor Cerpa confused Giusti with an unknown doctor. But when the judge was asked to leave, he shouted, '''1 am Carlos Giusti, a member of the Supreme Court.'"

Cerpa responded, "Then you stay here!" Father Wicht recalled.

"During our days of captivity, Giusti was one of the most devout men at prayer, one of the most helpful and the one who most frequently requested Holy Communion," the Jesuit said. "Carlos is already in heaven.", :

Describing the relationship between the Tupac Amaru commandos and the hostages, Father Wicht said that "with few moments of exasperation and tensions, they were respectful, but distant:" "There was no kind of personal involvement. We always had a very clear understanding that they were our captors and that we 'Were deprived of our liberty by tht:m," he said.

The priest said that the hostage experience was an occasion for "rediscovering priorities in life and also for deep spiritual convenion for many of my companions," but he declined to give further det.ails.

Father Wicht recalled that some of the rebels regularly and respectfully attended the Masses offtred inside the embassy.

With evident sadness, Father Wicht said that one day one of the youngest rebels approached him to ask for a sacrament.

"He said to me, 'Padrecito, I haven't had my first Holy Communion, I want to know if you t:an prepare me and give it to m~,''' Father Wicht recalled. "I explained to him that receiving the sacrament demanded living the commandments, and that in these l:ircumstances it was impossible for him to receive it.

"The episode revealed the poor consciences that some of the youngest (Tupac Amaru) membt:rs had," said Father Wicht.

Father Wicht said that he had experienced further and deeper pastoral contacts with members of the Tupac Amaru commando, but said that "the details will never be known, because they belong to the most sacred of my pricstlydutiell.",

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

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

Due to limited space and also because notices of strictly parish affairs normally appear in cl parish's own bulletin, we are forcEld to limit items to events of general interest.

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

OLOA, FR Our Lady of Angels will hold a devotion to the Divine Mercy every Saturday at 3 p.m. starting May 3.

This devotion will include a teaching and singing of the chaplet with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

Confessions will be heard at 3:30 followed by Mass at 4. All are welcome and asked to arrive at 2:45 p.m.

ST. LOUIS CHURCH, FR The St. Louis parish Women's Guild will meet on Wednesday, May 7, at 6:30 p.m. in the churc:h hall. We welcome new members.

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP Sessions for adults will begin at St. Luke's Hospital, NB, on May 14 at 4 p.m ..and run every other Wednesday through July.

FRANCOPHONE ASSN. All are welcome to a lecture at Bristol Community College, FR, May 3 at 2 p.m. sponsored by the Francophone Association' of Fall River.

Maurice Portiche, general consul of France, will speak (in French) about the areas of the world where French is spoken. For information, call 6781800.

CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP The Charismatic Prayer Group of Holy Trinity parish, West Harwich, is holding a Pentecost Party May 22 at 7:30 p.m. The speaker will be Deacon Ralph Cox and all are invited. Call Austin Warner, tel.

432-9752, for information.

ST. THERESA'S CHAPEL, SAGAMORE An afternoon of recollection for women will be held May 12 at the chapel, Rte. 6A, Sagamore. Confessions will be heard from 2:30 to 3 p.m. and also at 5 p.m. by a priest of Opus Dei. All area women welcome.

OUR LADY OF THE CAPE, BREWSTER There will be a healing service with Mass at the church on 468 Stony Brook Rd., Brewster, on May 7 at 7:30 p.m. Celebrant will be Father Dick Lavoie, MS. .

CATHEDRAL CAMP, E. FREETOWN Cathedral Camp has opened registration for the summer with four two-week sessions. Information: 7638874. The following events will occur at the camp: Tres Dias Retreat for Women, May 1-4; and Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commision education day, May 7.

COYLE & CASSIDY, TAUNTON John Polce will present his music ministry May 8 at 7 p.m. at the school. Bring a friend to this free show and get your spiritual batteries recharged. For information, call 824-4312. The evening i$ sponsored by the New Life Prayer Group.

ST. VINCENT de PAUL, TAUNTON The society's monthly meeting will be held May 5 following Mass at 7:30 p.m. The intentions are for the canonization of Frederic Ozanam and for the repose of deceased members of the society.

LaSALETTE,ATTLEBORO The May intention for the LaSalette & Divine Mercy devotions at the shrine on Wednesdays at 7: 15 p.m. is for "Increased Devotion to Mary." All welcome.

The 10th annual Pro-Life Rosary Rally will be held May 10 at 2:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Attleboro area Knights of Columbus, the afternoon will begin with a living rosary.

At 4:30 p.m. Bishop Sean O'Malley, OFM, Cap., will be the principal celebrant and homilist at Mass.

Music will be led by the Corpus Christi choir of Sandwich. Families, individuals and church organizations are invited to this afternoon of prayer for life.

The Christian group Spirit will be featured. at the Coffee House on May 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria.

All of these events are handicapped accessible. For information, call 222-5410.

There will be a workshop titled "Living Life Successfully by Making Your Emotions Work for You," at the theater on May 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The workshop will be led

by Dr. Bary Fleet, D:Min., Ph.D., a teacher of psychology at Bryant College and pastor of Edgewood Congregational Church in Cranston, RI. The program will teach participants how to acknowledge and manage their emotions, how to be selfmotivating and how to handle relationships. Preregistration is required

by May 5. Call 222-5410 for information.

The LaSalette Center for Christian Living, 947 Park St., Attleboro, will be presenting its first retreat in Portuguese offered by Father Manuel Pereira, MS. It is open to men and women and will be held May 16-18.

Father Fern Cassista, MS, and Sister Mary Hammill, RSM, will offer a "Spring Stillness Retreat" May 23-25 to focus on prayerful relaxation. The weekend may also be extended to May 26 for a choice . of a three- or fo'ur-day format.

Religious educators, coordinators, pastoral assistants, and volunteer adults are invite'd to "Seeds to Sow," a program focusing on the Gospel of Luke. The retreat will take place in July. Please call 222-8530 for information on any of the above programs.

St. Paul :Film Foundation markets project The St. Paul Film Foundation has announced it will begin production of the feature film Patrick this year. The film tells the story of St. Patrick, the early Christian saint who brought Christianity to the Celts of ancient Ireland. The story, both historical and popular, will bring to the world t he message that St. Patrick brought to Ireland.

The marketing goal of the foundation is that the film reach the widest possible audience, making it both a spiritual and a commercial success. Therefore, Patrick will be produced independently by the foundation and it will be released through a major U.S. film distributor to be shown in theatres internationally.

The foundation expects to make its lead talent announcements as they are finalized. The filming of Patrick will take place on location in Ireland and parts of England.

The production of Patrick will be funded through Government of Ireland Section 35 financing and through a public offering of securities in the United States. Government of Ireland Section 35 financing has been used to fund several films recently made in Ireland including Bravehearr and Michael

Collins.

.

In addition to the Irish Government financing arrangements, the foundation offered $5,750,000 in production bonds to the public on April 14. The production bonds are being sold only by prospectus

and the offering is being made in reliance on section 3(a)(4) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and similar provisions of applicable state securities law. The foundation's auditors are Price Waterhouse, Marketing of the offering will be conducted by BBDO and KPA Media.

The S1. Paul Film Foundation is a nonprofit organi;z;ation established for the purpose of funding projects in film and other media that are marketable to the general public, yet at the same time consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church. It is committed to the resurrection of popular culture through spiritually uplifting entertainment and works in cooperation with established industry, rather than in opposition to it, thereby creating avenues of dialogue and true, moral artistic expression. It works in conjunction with the professional media community to bring its works to the attention of the world in cooperation with the Magisterium of the Church.

The foundation's directors, diverse in both professional experience and geographical location,

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lend the character and charisms necessary to carry out its work.

Directors and advisors include: Dr. Marc Beauchamp, Natasha Betancor-Leon, Father Marc Gervais, Christine Joliffe, Stephen Jones, Father Thomas Nicholson, Michael Pollard, Dr. David Williams and Dr. John Zucchi.

The foundation s head office is located at One Dag Hammarskjold Plaza. 7th Floor. 885 Second Avenue, New York, NY 100172289. Media inquiries can be made directly to Philip Hannis at 1800-938-8808.

THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

Fri., May 2, 1997

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The shrine is in that diocese. Shrine officials estimated the number at 12.000 but local observers said they thought there were 14,000 to 15,000 people: crowded onto the grounds of the shrine, a former private estate in the Berkshire Mountaips.of .western Mass.ach1,Jsett~.

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Hundreds of pro'~Iife'supporters rejuvenated at convention

By Dave Jolivet the convention and that the bishop Anchor staff has always been very supportive of The struggle of the pro-life the Pro-Life movement in the movement can oftentimes be very diocese, tiring and frustrating. Therefore it Following the Mass, Sister Mary is critical that pro-lifers be period- Elizabeth of the Sisters of Life, an ically rejuvenated and encouraged. order founded by Cardinal O'ConLast Saturday, at Bishop Connolly nIJr, spoke about her order and its High School, Fall River, the second purpose. "We're a group of women annual diocesan Pro-Life Conven- who have received a call by AItion filled and refreshed nearly 400 mighty God, each of us in a differadvocates of all human life, from ent way deep in our heart, to serve the unborn to the terminally sick Him, to seek Him in the religious and elderly, life," she said. She explained that The day began with a remarka- the order, with members currently ble Mass, with Cardinal John J. numbering 35, is made up of woO'Connor as principal celebrant. men from many backgrounds. "Yet Well over 800 people attended the in the midst of such diversity, we Mass and heard an unforgettable are all totally dedicated to the 40-minute homily from the former cause of human life, to protecting chair of the U.S. Bishops' Com- it .and to advancing a sense of the mittee for Pro-Life Activity. sacredness of all human life beginBut the day didn't end there, It ning with the infant in the womb was just a beautiful beginning. . and extending to all those vulner~ Father Stephen A. Fernandes, di- • able to the threat of euthanasia." rector of the diocesan Pro-Life' In his homily, Cardinal O'ConApostolate, was very encourage~ nor mentioned the biblical episode by the turnout and the day itself. "I when the disciples told Jesus there was extremely pleased with the' was one demon they couldn't expel. quality of all the speakers who Jesus told them that that demon addressed very urgent issues," he can only be defeated by prayer and said. He added' that the purpose of fasting. The cardinal said that was such a convention is twofold' first why the Sisters of-Life exist· to "to raise the consciousness o'f our' pray and to fast for the end of folks to concerns that threaten the abortion. "We must be an image of culture of life," and secondly to Our Lady, an icon of Our Lady," provide encouragement and spir- said Sister Mary Elizabeth. "Our itual guidance to the people who Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness "work in the trenches." "The two of the unborn and of the Americas goals were accomplished by the will guide u~ to carry Christ to nearly 400 registrants" said the others, as she did." pr~~st., , • , ' , The keynote speaker was AtMass With C~r~mal 0 Connor torney Richard M. Doerflinger, was deeply upllftmg, extremely. associate di,rector of development human, and centered and focused' atthe U.S. Bishops' Secretariat for on Christ," he noted, saying that Pro-Life Activities. Attorney he was also .encouraged by Bishop Doerflinger spoke about the asSean O'Malley's participation in sisted suicide issue in America.

~ELIVE~ING A powerful message of life and understandlng~ Cardlnal.John J. O'Connor was a significant pres-

ence at tl1e conventIOn: (AnchoriJoliVet'ph6toY - .....,.-"=:;'

He noted that in November 1994, the state of Oregon passed a bill legalizing assisted suicide, and that many advocates felt that other states would follow, "That wasn't the case. 15 states have flatly rejected such a bill and Iowa and Rhode Island have passed bills banning assisted suicide," said Doerflinger. The House and the Senate both overwhelmingly voted to prevent federal funds from being used for assisted suicide. "The Congress is making a clear statement that this is not a legitimate medical' procedure," the attorney said. ~: continued, saying that many opmlOn polls say that most Americans are in favor of assisted suicide. "There are a'lot of Americans who think they..are in fawr, who have not really thought it through," said Doerflinger. He said the challenge of assisted suicide in America is real and can be summed up in three words: ignorance, confusion and fear. "People don't really know what assisted suicide is and what the implications are," he said.

Many people are afraid of pain and afraid of being a burden to others. Assisted suicide advocates expand and exploit those fears he said. ' "We have to· make our own choice as a society. Either we're going to encourage the sick and elderly 'to make an early exit' and spare the rest of us the burden of being with them and caring for them, or we're going to have to commit ourselves fully to help elderly and dying people live as well as. they c~,n fo~ as long as they are With us, said Doerflinger. ",They are worth caring for, their lives are worth living and so we hav~ a great deal of work ahead Of us."

TAKING PART in a panel discussion (top photo) at the . Attorney Frances X. Hogan, convention were from left: Attorney Richard Doerpro-life founder and president of Women Affirming Life, was the next pre- flinger, the bishop, Attorney Frances X. Hogan and Attorney sentee. Her message dealt with the Gerald D'Avolio. (Center photo) Father Stephen A. Ferissue of abortion enslaving women, nand~s, ,director of the diocesan Pro-Life Apostolate, and not freeing them. "Who would Cardinal O'Connor pose for a photograph after the Mass. have thought that the land of the . free and the home of the brave (Anchor / J olivet photos) would be at the heart of partialbirth abortion." She likened society today to the story of Cain and Abel, where God asked Cain "What have you, done to you; brother?" If God were to ask today, he would say, "what .have you done to your brothers, 'what have you done to your sisters?" said Attorney Hogan. She elaborated by asking "what have we done to the women of our society?'':' She told ,the audience that prolife women must introduce a new feminism, She said this new feminism must "take back our pro-life standards to the workplace and the public arena." "We have to break the bonds of the old feminism," Hogan said, of feminism that views abortion as a liberator of women. She said pro-life men and women must work together and take the message t,o the public.

"All laws are someone's morality, and it might as well be ours," she said.

At the conclusion of the convention both speakers joined Bishop O'Malley and Attorney Gerald D. D'Avolio in a panel discussion of questions presented by attendees.

Lastly, Lauren' Bisio, an eighth grader at Taunton Catholic Mid. SISTER .MARY Elizabeth, of the Sisters of Life, pro~Ie School, read her winning essay m the annual diocesan pro-life vI~e.~ a" ~,a"~~,~.g". p~~~~f~} ~ pr~se~ce while enlight~I!ing the essay contest.;· :"" , f "

,',

audience al>out tHe sisters way of-hfe: ~ Anchor/:lolivet'photo)

Hope: Mail order preacher with chocolate brownies Sister Irene Putney, OP, 88, a Dominican Sister of Hope, was recently featured in her communit)"s internal publication as a "preacher of hope." An adaptation of the article follows.

Sister Irene, one of eight children, was born in Sandown, NH. After spending three years in an orphanage as a child following her mother's death, she was reunited with her family and a stepmother.

Several moves, each a story in itself, eventually brought her to Westville, NH, to the home of a woman who wanted someone as a companion to her daughter, who would also be old enough to help around the house.

Though Sister Irene was a Methodist, she accompanied her new friend, who was a Catholic, to Mass on Sundays and worked at the parish fair every year. It wasn't long before she was introduced to the pastor and began instructions in the new faith. She was baptized, received first communion and was confirmed in 1924.

When she told her sister, Dorothy, about her conversion, her response was "I hope you never go into one of those convents!"

At that point, the future Sister Irene had no thought of doing so, but as time went on she became acquainted with women religious and the Dominican Sisters in particular through the cousin of one whom she accompanied on visits to Fall River. In August, 1928, both she and her Catholic friend entered the Fall River community.

The neophyte's first assignment was making bread in the motherhouse kitchen with an older sister two or three times a week. She spent summers and early fall in Acushnet, working in the gardens there.

Canning vegetables and fruits in two-quart glass jars often kept her up until 2 a.m., and she also spent. many hours making piccalilli and pickles.

Later Sister Irene was assigned to Plattsburgh, NY, where she cooked for 22 sisters. Many former students in the convent school there, who knew her as Sister Mary Charles, remember the aroma of chocolate brownies emanating from her kitchen and her generosity when they came sniffing to her door.

GODIS ANCHOR HOLDS

She eventually returned to Fall River, where she resumed cooking. Like her brownies, her homemade fruitcakes became famous and at Christmas time she sold them as fast as she could bake them. On top of her other skills, she is. also an excellent knitter and needlewoman.

Throughout the years, Sister Irene's ready smile and eagerness to help have touched the lives of many people and have witnessed to the hope that is now part oCthe name of her congregation. Today, although retired from active

11

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., May 2, 1997

ministry, she remains an avid correspondent and could well be described as a "mail order" preacher of hope.

The Dominican Sisters of Hope serve in the Fall River diocese at Dominican Academy, an elementary school for girls; the Creativity Center for arts and crafts; and St. Anne School and parish, all in Fall River; in Acushnet at St. Francis Xavier School; in New Bedford at Holy Family / Holy Name and St. Anthony schools; and in North Dartmouth at UMass Dartmouth and the Catherinian Center.

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Doctors, nurses refuse to perform legal abortions DURBAN, South Africa (CNS) - A group of more than 500 doctors, specialists and medical academics said many doctors and nurses in South Africa are unwilling to perform abortions, despite government implementation of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act. "From all over the country reports are streaming in of nurses and doctors who are refusing to perform abortions," said a midFebruary statement from Doctors for Life, based in Durban.

The new law, which was passed last year and implemented Feb. I, provides for abortion on demand in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Abortions may also be performed up to 20 weeks under certain conditions, such as if the woman's social and economic circumstances would be detrimentally affected, and beyond 20 weeks in circumstances such as if the woman's life is in danger.

Of about 1,000 nurses at the Pretoria Academic Hospital, only 10 are willing to perform abortions, the doctors' statement said.

In the province of KwazuluNatal, which includes Durban, most nurses are refusing to perform abortions and almost all doctors in Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape province have refused, the statemep\ t ... ,· •• '. " •..:, ~', ... ' J ' .. 'e ' J.~a,id.

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Doctors for Life said it hopes the government "will not resort to undemocratic tactics and discriminate against doctors and nurses who refuse to kill babies."

The organization said it will help pro-life doctors and nurses obtain legal advice when necessary and equip abortion providers with facts about the unborn child and the "devastating psychological complications" created by abortions.

Doctors for Life and the Right to Live campaign, started by the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference, form part of an umbrella body called National Alliance for Life.

Father Massimo Biancalani, coordinator of the Right to Live campaign in Kwazuiu-Natal, said in a telephone interview from Durban that the group will focus on educating people, including health workers, about the sanctity of life; holding public protests; and providing practical assistance to women with unwanted pregnancies.

Right to Live will soon issue a list of health care workers' legal rights to inform those who are "a bit dubious about their rights and who find themselves under pressure from health authorities to perform abortions," Father Biancalani said.

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,From relief to developme,nt in Ethiopia archdiocese's integrated development program - projects that foADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia cus on agriculture, water, savings (CNS) - Catholic Relief Services, and credit, and maternal child once a major provider of emerhealth programs .:...- is $1.5 million gency relief in Ethiopia, is changover three years. CRS provides 75 ing its em.phasis to integrated depercent of the funding, he said; velo,pment: h'elping small, targeted some funds come from the com: communities sustain themselves. munity and from Misereor, a GerThat could.mean financing lowman Catholic aid agency. interest loans to women starting If the archdiocese had not re, their 'own businesses, buying ceceived these resources, the, develment and providing food for workopment program "might have been ers who' help drill ,a well for,safe only a dream," Abba Tsegaye said. r water" or hel]'>ing set up motherOne project run out of the child health centers in local vilEmdibir .office, 115 miles southlages instead, of at a central loca~ west of Addis Ababa, is a nursery tion, so more people can b'e served. that belongs to Our Lady of bourdes parish in, ,the village of CRS, the U.S. Dishops' overseas Attat. It has an agricultural demrelief. and ,development agency, onstration area as well as a tree reached i.ts pe1!k in provi~ing emer,nursery that has produced 1'.3 milgency reliefin Ethiopia in response lion seedlings in the past three to the 1985-86 drought and famyea~s, Seventy-five percent ofthose ine. CRS continued to distribute trees, were used to help contain emergency relief.and as recently as erosion caused by flooding during ,1994 distributed 72,000 metric tons the rainy season. Twenty-five perof U.S, government food in Ethio~ cent of the trees, such as eucalyppia. tus and acacia, were given to farmers to use as cash crops.

SEIZED CARS from $175. . Dakuna also has one of the Porsches, Cadillacs, Chevys, archdiocese's savings and credit programs for women. CRS is supBMW's, : Corvettes. ,Also porting the pr'ogram by providing Jeeps, 4WD's. Your Area. funds for loans to, women who want to have their own incomeToll Free'1-800-218-9000 generating activiti~s, such as makExtA-5075 ing .ha'ndicrafts, rn'ak'i'ng and selling bread or raising goats, sheep or for current listings. poultry.

I.' Philipos AgeZ~: who heads the ~ tJ'71 ~.

Q? archdiocesan program, said borJ /t J1:)~ f90RW , '. .~,,, . rowing money 1!t anlinteresfrate of ~.

• ~ ~ &1/ a4 bJ,"'.' : J 0 'per-eent p~,r ·month.:Or ,I}? p~r,";?'. : 'r OZL? // ',' ", ' ,. " ce!1 t •.~.~r. ye~r I~a..~~}o. a ,..~ICI~US Vb o...?V~ '. .," cyCle of· dependency," .The1 archdiocesan program charge~ 10.5 pf;rcent per year and has "about 98 percent on-time repaymen.t,'~-Ageze .' . said. ,,', Oh adorable and Divine Will, behold me here before the , "The loan disbur,sement, <Iepends immensity of Your Light, that Your eternal goo.dness may. open on their savings, so"they are ento me the doors and make me enter into It to form my life'all in, couraged to save·more," he said. ' You, Divine Will. Therefore, oh adorable Will, prostrate before Women can get a loan for five Your Light, I, the least of all creatures, put myself into 'the little' times the amount of their savings, group of the sons and dqughters of Your Supreme RAT. Prosup to 550 birr (US$91).

Since the women have begun trate in my nothingness, I invoke Your Light and beg that It generating income, "their status in clothe me and eclipse all that does not pertain to You, Divine the household and in the communWill. It will be my Life, the center, of my intelligence, the ity has increased," Ageze said. enrapturer of my heart and of my whoie being. I do not want Tsedale Taye, who participates the human will to have life in this heart any longer. I will cast it in the progralp, said before they away from me and thus form the new Eden of Peace, of happijoined, women had the "experience of spending money without planness and of love. With It I shall be always happy. I shall have a ning." They have learned the imsingular strength and a holiness that sanctifies all things and portance of planning and saving, , conducts them to God. and most husbands, who first obHere prostrate, I invoke the help of the Most Holy Trinity, jected to their participating, now that They permit me to live in the cloister of the Divine Will are happy with the results, she and thus return in me the first order of creation, just as the added. ! creature was created. ' HeaIthcare challenges Heavenly Mother, Sovereign and Queen of the Divine Rat, Medical Mission Sister Elaine take my hand and iptroduce me into the Light of the Divine Kohls is a hospital administrator, but she also supervises well digWill. You will be my guide, my most tender, Mother, and will ging, latrine digging, and child teach me to live in and to maintain myself in the order and the nutrition programs. bounds of the Divine Will. Heavenly Mother, I consecrate my For the 59-year-old Cincinnati whole being to Your Immaculate Heart. You will teach me the native, it's all part of keeping vildoctrine of the Divine Will and I will listen most attentively to lagers healthy in the area surroundYour lessons. You will cover me with Your mantle so that the ing Attat Hospital, in the fertile, infernal serpent dare not penetrate into this sacred Eden to mountainous region of Ethiopia known as Gurage. The work of the entice me and make me fall into the maze of the human will. six international and 151 EthioHeart of my greatest Good, Jesus, You will give me Your pian staffers won Attat Hospital flames that they may burn me, consume me, and feed me to the 1991 World Health Organiza- ' form in me the Life of the Divine Will. 'lion Award for Education in Saint Joseph, you will be my protector, the guardian of my Primary Health Care. heart, and will keep the keys of my will in your hands. You will Sister Kohls explained how the. keep my heart jealously and shall never give it to me again, hospital would treat a patient for typhoid, an infectious disease that I may be sure of never leaving the Will of God. caused by bacteria in contaminated My guardian Angel, guard me; defend me; help me in everywater. That patient would return thing so that my Eden may flourish and be the instrument that to the same unsanitary conditions draws all men into the Kingdom of the Divine Will. Amen. and get typhoid again, she said.

So by just treating the disease, an Honor of Luisa Piccarreta 1865-1947 Child of the Divine Will) "you're not really getting into what

By Barb Fraze

But two years of good rainfall, and favorable climate improved conditions in most' of the country.

In 1996, CRS received no U.S. government food for distribution, giving out only food left over from 1995.

David Piraino, CRS country representative in Ethiopia, said the change from relief to development "has pretty much taken root."

However, CRS still has an early warning system in place to moni'tor areas vulnerable to problems such as drought and famine.

Rather than distrib'ute food on "its own, CRS works with partners, such as the Alexandrian-rite Archdiocese of Addis' Ababa.' The priest who serves' as chancellor and- is in charge of the arclldiocesan development program, Abba TSegaye .Keneni, has a development staff that includes local "agronomists, ,nurses, water engineers and credit scheme officers.

"Integrated human development has become the primary concern of the church, of the Archdiocese of Addis Ababa," Abba Tsegaye told journalists in late March.

"The church has been getting more and more involved in the life of the people," he said. . The church hopes to "encourage local leadership in a spirit of self-: help by avoiding dependency," he ~d~. ' ' ~e n.0ted that the total cost of the

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Consecration to· the 'Divine Will . "

WORKERS WATER ,saplings a~ a nursery ir:. Attat, Ethiopia, as p.art of a diocesa!1 p~'ogra.m,t'? help stop erosion of locall~nd. (eNSj Fr~7..e 'photo) causes typhoid or diarrh'ea," Sister Sister Kohls said the h,)spital is Kohls said. She began contacting in a conservative Christian-M uslim international-development agencies area o( Ethiopia, abo~t 110 miles to bore wells for safe water. • . south of Addis Ababa. She said , The 2hi illages surrdunding the the villagers are being taught the hospital now have 105 safe water Modified Mucus Method of natusites, sOl1)e used by as many as 500 ral family planning and would not people. To encour'age sanitary accept other forms of birth control. practices, villagers who have pit Besides the medical aspects of latrines and participate in ,classes family planning, women are taught by the village health attendant get strategies sU'ch as going to visit a cheaper treatment rates when they sister in another village during the use the 63-bed hospital, said Sister fertile times of their cycle i:fthey do Kohls, who has·a master's degree not wish to conceive a child. in international development. .

After the initial classes, "four She talked of how, hospi~al . women got pregnant after they staffers trained village health at- could not get pregnant f,)r eight tendants to educate women and years," Sister Kohls said: so the cut the birth rate in ha:If.lt has women were receptive to natural rem!lined that way for 12 years in family. planning... the reriioteiPut 'hi'¥lily. p'ogulat~~ All .women, not just those of area. . childbearing age, are 'ta ught in Near,the main hospital buildin'g family plafining classes,' Sister is .a c~ild. nutrition "tul<:ul,", II Kohls said. " ;H ,:' round building of lashed poles "It's the grandmot,hers >;rh<;> call with a straw roof. There, mothers the shots," said the nun, who spent are taught how fOuse local foods 13yea'rs in' 'Ethiopia and '1~4 years :tOI :suppler6ent-btfe~t· Jllilk :.for inIGhana."i ,j:., .\~,lj' h~i"l " toddlers.'. j '.

• '. "You learn, these things," she . Ano.ther ttikulhouses the ma- said with a laugh. "You know, ternity. waiting area, where women when you're here 27 years, you get with prenatal complications or a real smart." , poor obstetrical history wait for Another thing she has karned: delivery. The number of stillbirths A solar-powered pump on a bore is less than I percent for the ma- hole generates only 546 gallons of ternity 'waiting area - up to 20 water per hour - and that is in percent lower than other births in bright sunlight. However, when the hospital. Sister Kohls said combined with an electrically powsome ofthe difference is attriouta- ered pump, which produce; more ble to the fact that sometimes than twice that much, the hospital women who do not come to the can generate about 1,800 gallons maternity waiting area arrive at of water per hour. the hospital with stillbirths.

All that clean water is wied for In Gurage, for every 1,000 chil- the 5,000 inpatients a year who dren born, 75 die by the age of 5 come in with meningitis, malaria, -that's half the rate for Ethiopia cataracts, typhoid, burns, injuries, overall. In Attat area villages, malnutrition or gastroint,~stinal about 13 babies per thousand peo- diseases. The hospital offer:; large. ple are born each year.. The Ethio- beds for children, whose parents pian birth rate is about 48 births often sleep with them when they per 1,000 people. must stay in the hospital.

MEDICAL MISSION Sister Elaine Kohls (right) talks with mothers at a hospital "tukul" in Attat, Ethiopia. Here mothers are taught how to use local foods to supplement breast milk for toddlers. (eN.S/Fraze, photo) '"

•

Cardinal "d'e"livers message of life for all Continued from Page One

fering," whether it be the in Central America. during suffering of the patient, or the height of civil war in the family sharing that that area. "There, 1 got to suffering. see close-up the courage, "Our Lord didn't save the compassion, the wis- the world or make salvadom of this priest of God: tion of the world 'possible the same John O'Connor when he was preaching and who celebrated Mass in the teaching with all the strength foxholes of Vietnam and and vigor of yO\lth," he the refugee camps of Cen- said. "It was in his powertral America, and whose lessness on the cross that all life and idealism are an the power of salva~ion radiinspiration to us all," he ated forth. We can offer said, adding that "Cardinal our sufferings for others. I O'Connor's motto sums up can offer up a backache, his compassion for the when my feet hurt, when cause of life; 'There can be my head hurts, or when my no love without justice.'" heart hurts."

While the cardinal Fear and ignor~nce also preached. a pro-life mes- have a hand in abortion. sage, he was quick to point The fear may corrie from out that the movement must the parents of a teenage have compassion and un- daughter, feeling that they derstanding for those who are responsible for her life don't agree with tlhat mes- and that she couldn't possage. sibly care for a baby. Con"Christ wants us to help sequently, they seek aborpeople pick up the pieces," tion as an answer.' Or in the said the cardinal in his case of a pregnant wife homily. He explained that whose husband leaves her, in the story of the loaves or who is pregnant because and fishes Christ fed the of an extramarital affair, multitudes, but the people both parties may be scared "in their human way ate to death, and see abortion what they wanted a.nd threw as the only way out. the rest away, and it was In the same way, parents Christ who said to his dis- who learn through prenatal ciples 'go and pick up the testing that a child may be pieces lest they be lost.' Our brain-damaged are driven Lord can't stand to see any- by fear. "We must never thing lost." condemn a woman who has The cardinal also spoke had an abortion," Cardinal of the current culture of O'Connor said. "We must death, citing abortion and reach out and help her pick assisted suicide as examples. up the pieces of a broken He told the overflow con- life." gregation that behind these The cardinal told of the evils lie ignorance and fear. thousands of wo~en in the 1n the case of assisted sui- New York Archdiocese who cide, it is fear that leads have been helped by the people to contemplate sui- Catholic Church with free cide. "These people are medical and legal assisafraid of something, wheth- tance. He said many people er it be fear of pain, fear of who have abortions or who, loneliness, fear of being a advocate abortion are igburden to family members norant. who come to visit time after "When I talk of ignortime after time, fear of being ance, I'm not talking about an economic burden to their malice, I'm not talking family." about propaganda, I'm not He went on to say that talking about big moneysuch people may not know making machines that perthat great strides have been petuate the abortion mamade in the area of pain chine," he said. By ignormanagement and that most ance he meant lack of unpain can be controlled but derstanding. Many people still allow the patient to be who advocate abortion or lucid, to talk with relatives assisted suicide are guided and, in some instances, to by love, but a love that is go home for short periods. misplaced, he noted.

"Every human life repreThe cardinal also pointed out that caring for a termi- sents Jesus himself," said nally ill relative is not easy, Cardinal O'Connor. He but that people may. not went on to say that no matwhat color we are or realize "the pot.ential of suf- ter . . . I·.

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13

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River- Fri., May 2, 1997

chusetts, where we're behind the lines as it were at ground zero," said Bishop O'Malley. "We're very grateful for all of the cooperation that our priests and parishioners lend to the cause of life."

The bishop also acknowl-

what religion we are or what language we speak, "we are all made in the image of Jesus Christ."

When asked by the Anchor if he was encouraged by recent victories in the pro-life movement, such as some states banning partial-birth abortion, and some states requiring parental consent before an abortion can take place, and both the House and the Senate refusing to provide funds for assisted suicide, Cardinal O'Connor said "I'm very optimistic and very much encouraged." He said slavery was abolished in this country through a string of small victories, and he sees this happening with the abortion issue.

"Cardinal, I'm very proud of the work that's being done in defending life in this diocese here in Massa-

edged the young people in attendance, declaring "As we enter the new millennium the torch will be passed to you to defend life."

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and- passirig ..• -The"day after th~s Qls~ussiori, -box' of Gid Sco'ut co(,kies and vehicles. Just for variety, they added the same group sat In their same gave cookies to five sflldents at random. driving into full trash cans and seats, taking a quiz. described .what amused them to a tormenting animals.

The teacher collected the quizzes', "Hey, why don't you give one to teacher friend of mine.

"But," a young man hastily graded them quickly and returned us?"

Throwing things played a centhem.

The teacher smirked ral her crueladded, lest the listener draw the tral role in the -story, but they The students, both the boys who Iy. "It's really funny to see you wrong conclusion, "there are some weren't tossing. baseballs. And of' kids who pick on homeless guys had bragged of their vandalism guys so mad. This day was really despite their protestations, what and the girls who had presented duJI until this class came in. I'll downtown. We don't do that." these guys do is certainly not a only inild objections, stared at laugh about this all night. Maybe Well, good for you. What a game. their papers in disbelief.

I'll even tell some people' about it bunch of humanitarians!

FOR YOUTH '. ABQUT YOUTH "Skaters. I can't stand 'em," one "What did yougetT' they whis- ,tomorrow." .

What these young men were boy declared. "When they're going pered to each other. ' At this point; the light began to doing was treating other human around the lake, we throw pennies

By Amy Welborn "Zero." dawn. "I get' it," one of the prebeings as objects: They were causWhat do you do for ente-rtain- and stuff at them when we drive "Zero.:' viol"ts day's braggarts announced, ing pain and discomfort to others " b y. ment in your spare time?

All were zeroes.except one boy "You're doing to us what we said for the purpose of entertainment.

"I've thrown raw meat at people A group of teenage boys recently "It's funny," they responded to· whose paper had been handed in we did .to other people." walking by the lake," another virtually blank. He h~d A+ scrawled The teacher nodded and asked objections, "and nobody really gets added. The listener's eyebrows rose. hurt." across the top. how it felt to be treated this way.

GOV'T FORECLOSED "On~e I got a lady walking with Both points are highly questiona"What's going on?"

Not good, the boys answered. her kids with a steak." The eyehomes from pennies on $1..

The teacher shrugged. ''I'm Perhaps this lesson in the Golden ble. If these are your friends you brows rose anoOther centimeter. "It wanted to see the look Rule helped one or two of them should be very concerned. bored.

Ijust Delinquent Tax, Repo's, was a cheap cut," she was reassured. on your faces_ I thought it would re-evaluate their treatment of other . Treating others as objects today .Fr'uitis a popular projectile.

REO's. Your Area. be funny." .. people, reminded them of what it These adolescent males, _everyone _lays a foundation for using people in the future as ste.ppingstones to A couple of boys studied their 'feels like to be treated like an an upper-middleof them from Toll Free (1) 800·218·9000 power and success; as sources of papers, brows deeply furrowed. object. . class background with all the privExt. H-5075 One girl put her head down.

Could you use a little refresher ileges such a life provides, laughed pleasure; as cogs in a machine that out a on that lesson? will make you profit.

Next the teacher whipped for current listings. heartily as they recounte.d tale after tale of heaving oranges ana grape-

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HARD TO SAY I'M SORRY Everybody needs A little time away I heard her say, From each.other Even lovers need a holiday Far away, from each other Irs hard for me To say I'm sorry I Just want you to sta'y After all we've Been through I will make Itup to you, I promise you And after all that's Been said and done You're Just the part Of me I can't let go Couldn't stand To be k~pt away Not for day, from your body (Baby, I can't live without you', Not even for a day) , Wouldn't wanna be swept away -Far away from The one that I love Hold me now It's hard for me to say, I'm sorry I just war:'lt you to know Hold me now I really wanna tell you I'm sorry', I could never let you go (Repeat second verse) Written by Peter Cetera/David Foster. Sung by Az Yet. Copyright (c) 1982 by Double Virgo Music (ASCAP) / Foster Frees Music Inc, (BMI).1996, LoFace Records.

EVER HEARD of Chicago? guy's reaction to his partner's The pop group, that is, not the request for space in their recity. ·lationship.. . .

If 'so, you're probably old Apparently,' something emotionally painful has happened. enough to be a parent of a teen.

If you are a .teen or close to that The guy does not want this "holiday," "3. little time away" age, "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" from each other, that the girl sounds like a new chart hit from Az Yet. You might not recognize seeks. He admits that "it's hard it as a remake from the Chicago for me to say I'm sorry." Yet he original. wants her "to stay."

Perhaps his apology could Either way, thecassingleoffers insight about relationships. The patch' up their relationship. story in the song presents a However, there are other im-

a

portant questions to connider.

One question is, What should the balance be for couple~, who are dating between time tog:ether and "holidays" apart?

If you are a frequent reader of this column, you know that I believe that teens should not be involved in exclusive relationships. The teen years and even the early 20s are for me~ting and dating many people.

If you do get involved with just one person, then dates should be limited to once a week. Such an arrangement . helps a teen focus on other significant aspects of his or h{:r life such as school, other inte'rests and time with friends. Phone conversations should also be limited.

Romance too easily becomes an obsession. When this oc.:urs, both teens involved in th,: romance diminish the fullness of life that they could, and should, be experiencing.

Of course, if you are already in - a steady relationship, then this idea becomes an unwelcome intrusion. Like the guy in the song, 'you do not want "time away" or a lover's "holiday."

And having an adult - a parent, for instance - establish such a limit could create :onflict. What can teens and parents do if a conflict over dating develops: I encourage the teen 'and his or her parents to talk over their feelings and concerns.

Parents cannot give up their responsibility to set limitn on dating. Yet, ail open, honest and trusting dialogue between parents and a teen can.build btdges of understanding, even if their conflict is not immediately resolvable.

It makes' good sense for tl~ens to keep space in roinance. Keep love growing in a healthy wa y by honoring this' need for "time away."

Your comments are always welcome, Please addr,ess: Charlie Martin, 712!i W 200S, Rockport, Ind, 47635,

â&#x20AC;˘

1997 â&#x20AC;˘. Pro~iife The following essays fire the first and second place winners in the annual ProLife essay contest. The contest is open to all students in the Fall River diocese, grades six through high school, and is sponsored by the Diocesan Pro-Life Apostolate. The entries are divided into middle and high school categories.

Beth A. Boulay, a tenth grader at Somerset High School and parishioner at St. Thomas More parish wrote this first place winner: Abortion. As defined by the New Webster's Dictionary, it is thf: spontaneous or induced termination ofa pregnancy. What every dictionary fails to mention is that terminating a pregnancy is ending the life of a precious, unborn baby. The harsh reality of abortion is that it is murder.

Unfortunately, since January 22,' 1973, abortion has been legal. This is due to the United States Supreme Court decision in the case of Roe vs. Wade and the similar case of Doe vs. Bolton. Since 1973, there has been much controver~y as to whether or not this decision was correct. As Christians, we believe that abortion is not only wrong, but it is, in fact, murder. From the moment of conception, a fetus is a new life. It is a living, breathing person with a beating heart.

In the decision of Roe vs. Wade. Justice Blackmun of the SupH:me Court ruled that states cannot ban abortions in the first six months of pregnancy. Justice Blackmun also ruled that a fetus is not a "person" protected ulldc~r the fourteenth amendment of the Constitution. These rulings show a total disrespect for life by the United States government. Statistics show that 25 percent of all pregnancies end in abortion. Last year alone, more than 1.6 million abortions took place in the Unitetl States.

A pregnancy should never be ended because a baby is inconvenient for a woman or the baby's father. There are many other options for a woman besides choosing death. There are thousands of couples who want to adopt children and give them good homes. These couples can even be handpicked by the biological mother. Another option for women is keeping the baby and raising it with the support of family and friends. Choosing life is always the best choice. Many women 'feel guilt and many other repercussions long after undergoing an abortion. The process can even cause women to have miscarriages or even be infertile in the future. Women struggling with the decision to keep or abort a baby need to understand the fact that each unborn baby is a God-given miracle. Children bring joy to the lives of their families.

They are the future of the world. They are the foundation of the culture of life and will pass their culture on for generations.

Children allow life to continue. Each abortion that is performed is another life lost and a breakdown o,fthe culture of life.

No further progress has been made in the fight to make abortion illegal. The fight is still going strong but each day that passes finds more and more innocent babies being killed. In his Pro-Life encyclical, Pope John Paulll tells us to "respect, protect, love and servl~ life, every human life!" Therefore, it is \Hlr duty as Christians to do everything we can to not only help people understand why abortion is wrong but make it absolutely and totally illegal.

All women struggling with the decision of whether or not to have an abortion should understand all the options open to them. They should also know how much joy a child brings to anyone who raises him, whether a biological parent or a loving couple. Choosing life is always the right decision, and should be the only decision. By choosing life, you are experiencing the miracle of life and love of ~

Essay

child and also increasing the foundation of the "culture of life."

The following essay, by Lauren Bisio, is the first place winner for the middle school category. Lauren is an eighth grader at Taunton Catholic Middle School.

I would like to begin by saying that life ,is a miracle of its own. If specific things did not happen, then you and I would not be here. For example, if my grandfather was not in World War II, he never would have met my grandmother and they would

tion. He said no reason, however serious and tragic, justifies abortion. "I declare that direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, always constitutes a grave moral disorder since it is the deliberate killing of an innocent human being." I feel that it is wrong to take a life in any form. A fetus is a living tiny human being that deserves the opportunity of life in this world. No one, except God, has the right to take that away.

Somerset High School senior Nicole Martins, a parishioner at St. John of God

LA:lIREN BISIO, an eighth grader at Taunton Catholic Middle School, was one of the winners of the diocesan pro-life essay contest. Here she receives an award from ~ishop O'M~lley. (Anchor/Jolivet photo) , never have married and had my Dad;and he would never had met my Mom and I would not be here: Life is a miraculous' chain of events. Everything happens for a reason in God's plan. .

Abortion is defined as the termination of a pregnancy by loss or destruction of the fetus before birth. An abortion may be spontaneous or induced. When it is induced, by choice, I feel this is ethically and morally wrong. Opponents of legalized abortion believe that human life begins at conception, and that abortion is the intentionarkilling of a human being.

Members of the "right to life" movement have lobbied 'for a constitutional amendment on the rights of the unborn. Opposing this position is the "pro-choice" stance, which stresses the woman's right to choose to continue 'or' terminate a preg¡nancy.

"Pro-choice" supporters also argue that legal abortion is safer than illegal abortion and relieves the psychological and social problems associated with bearing, an unwanted child. This to me is not making the correct life choice. Adoption, not abortion, would be the right choice. People need to pray for good judgment in order to make the right choice. We need to defend the dignity of man by upholding life through proper choices, prayer and support for those in need. This is often an unpopular attitude in today's culture, but it's better to be right and know it in your heart than to be popular.

In March of 1995, Pope John Paul II delivered the Catholic Church's most forceful condemnation of abortion, euthanasia and experi~entationon human embryos.

He condemqed what he called a spreading "culture of death." The pope declared that abortions are "crimes which no human law can claim to legitimize."

The pope expressed understanding for women who live through the often painful and even shattering experience of abor-

Church, offered the following entr~, a second place winner. . . The miracle of life: a concept, which unfortunately, too many people take for granted in today's society. When did society stop appreciating God's gift of life? Perhaps that will never be known, but the answer to one question will always hold true: that an unborn child is a human being. The child has rights, beginning with the right to continued life. To terminate a pregnancy because of convenience sake is disgraceful and immoral.

The human life begins at conception.

This fact is not one of moral or religious issues; rather a scientific and biological truth. To deny an unborn child as a human being, simply because he or she is unborn, is a fallacy believed true due to ignorance. A distinct human life begins at conception. From that time onward, the unborn child is a living, developing individual, with a uniquely human genetic constitution.

To deprive a helpless human being of basic and fundamental rights, simply because it is dependent on others is ludicrous. The baby is individual and unique.

The child has its own blood type, heart, brain and other functioning organs. The rights of the child should not be based upon the child's dependency on the mother.

Rather, the rights of the child should be based upon those stated in the Bill of Rights. The unborn child may be dependent on the woman, but nonetheless has its own right to live.

The steps the government has taken to combat this issue are ,disappointing and misleading. It is naive to suggest that the government can be absent from this debate in modern American society. The government acts through law to regulate areas much less fundamental than the right to live. The real issue is whether the government will fulfill its responsibility to pro-

tect and preserve life, or continue to allow this most fundamental of human rights to be denied.

Furthermore, it is astonishing how our "leaders" take a convenient middle ground when a human life is at stake. The actions of politicians who say "opposed, but.. .... fail to mirror their purported conviction that abort jon destroys human life. There is no middle ground. The American public should elect real leaders, not those who succumb to political expediency of the issue of human rights.

If a woman feels that she must have an abortion because she cannot provide for the child, adoption is a wise and sadly forgotten option. There are so many loving people in the world, unable to conceive a child, who would love to raise one of their own. A child should not be sacrificed as a means of solving the problems of others. ' The rhetoric of the pro-abortion movement has destroyed the walls that those of us who believe in preserving the sanctity of human life, are trying to save. We must continue to build a culture of life: one free from ignorance, rhetoric, and selfishness, but full of peace and sanctity. Truly a culture of life and love; the way our Lord intended it.

The following second place winning entry was written by Matthew Donovan, a , seventh grader at Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford.

Have you ever wished that you could remember what you were thinking inside your mother's womb? It is believed that just 42 days into a pregnancy babies are capable of thinking thoughts of wonder.

Imagine with me what these thoughts would be......

What are these things growing out 'of roy hands? Are these what people call fingers? Maybe these fingers will help me become a famous writer or maybe these fingers will help me become a famous football player. I could be running down the football field stretching to catch the football for a touchdown. I could be a future Super Bowl hero!

"WOULDN'T MY MOMMY BE PROUD OF ME!" What are these flat things with small fingers on them? Are these what people call feet? Maybe these feet will be of a famous marathon runner. I could be a future Boston Marathon winner! I could even be running in a future summer Olympics game!

"WOULDN'T MY MOMMY BE PROUD OF ME!" What are these things that I hear sounds with? Are these what people call ears? I can hear the muffled sounds of a woman's echo. I can hear the swishing sounds of my mommy's womb. I'll soon be able to hear my mommy reading me bedtime stories.

Everything inside my mommy's womb sounds like music to me. These ears could be capable of being the ears of a famous musician.

"WOULDN'T MY MOMMY BE PROUD OF ME!" What is this thing beating in my tiny chest? Is this what people call your heart? I know that my heart beats faster when I hear my mommy's laughter. Every time I hear a beat I feel the love flow through my heart. Is this what people call love? I can't wait to show my love for all that my mommy's done for me. I'll try my best to be a loving child.

"WOULDN'T MY MOMMY BE PROUD OF ME!" I may not become a famous writer, athlete, or musician but there's one thing that I can be sure of. I can be sure that I'll do my very best to make my mom proud of me. Right now I'm grateful that my mom has chosen to love me and give me the chance to repay her for letting me be a part of her world. "I'M ALREADY VERY PROUD OF HER!"

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THE ANCHOR~Di()cese of FaIr Riv'er:'-Fr"i:, Ma'y 2; 1997 .,- , - , .

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