Diocese of Fall River
The Anchor
F riday , May 8, 2009
MOMS ministries are active and thriving in local parishes By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff
FALL RIVER — For Benedictine Sister Paula Hagen, co-founder of Ministry of Mothers Sharing, the idea of starting a maternal-based peer ministry group for local parishes seemed obvious. “Mothers are great at giving back,” Sister Hagen told The Anchor. “The parish that gives them spiritual nourishment
The gift of Spiritual motherhood
will reap the benefits of an adult growing in her expression of faith. She loves being connected to other faith-filled mothers and families and is spiritually nourished by sharing her faith in words and actions.” What began as an assignment for Sister Hagen to develop a family ministry more than 25 years ago eventually evolved into MOMS, a nationwide outreach parish-
based ministry she co-founded with Vickie LoPiccolo Jennett and Patricia Hoyt. A spiritual growth and support group for all women, MOMS is based on the Gospel values expressed in Vatican II, particularly its program entitled “Called and Gifted for the Third Millennium.” The initial process begins with an established eight-week faith-sharing journey that affirms mothers in their sacred voca-
By Deacon James N. Dunbar
NEW BEDFORD — On May 10, Mother’s Day, people the world over will honor their mothers — living or deceased — for the gift of life. For many it will mean a joyful visit, cards, flowers and even a cookout. For others it will be a more reflective day that might include more spiritual gifts such as prayers, Masses and holy Communion. Although the national holiday is meant to pay tribute to birth mothers, an adopting mother or even a guardian, the annual event also reaches out to those Church leaders called “spiritual mothers,” whose gift of self brings life in many forms to so many, thereby enriching all human society. In his apostolic letter “Mulieris Dignitatem” (“On the Dignity and Vocation of Women”) the late Pope John Paul II insists that a woman finds her meaning and purpose in life through motherhood, through making a feminine, and not gender-neutral, gift of self. For many it poses a conundrum: If a woman can only discover herself through a sincere gift of self, and that gift is expressed through motherhood, what about women who are not mothers? Pope John Paul II, although never formally defining spiritual motherhood, made it candidly clear that it means nurturing the emotional, moral, cultural and spiritual lives of others. Every woman, like the Blessed Virgin Mary, he said, is called to be overshadowed by the Holy Spirit so as to be abundantly fruitful, to be Turn to page 15
tion. In the end, MOMS is an empowering opportunity for women to reach out and become leaders in the Catholic Church. “MOMS is a ministry that provides a process for women to grow spiritually in their understanding of the vocation of motherhood,” said Mary Boespflug, national director of MOMS. “A mother’s spiritual growth reaches far beyond herTurn to page 18
The Mother of the Pro-Life movement By Dave Jolivet, Editor
HAVING LUNCH WITH OUR MOTHER — Students take a lunch break at the foot of a statue of the Blessed Mother on the grounds of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River. More than 500 eighth-graders from Catholic schools across the diocese gathered at the diocese’s mother church for a tour and a Mass. Story on page 17. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — At the recent Boston Catholic Women’s Conference, Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley said, “When the history of the Pro-Life movement is written, many Pro-Life leaders think Nellie Gray will be considered the Martin Luther King Jr. of the Pro-Life Civil Rights movement.” He added “But to me, she’s going to be the Joan of Arc of the Gospel of Life.” Strong praises indeed, yet every bit justifiable. There are many other words to describe this 84-year-old champion of the unborn, but none more accurate than “Mother of the March For Life.” For more than 35 years, Texas native Nellie J. Gray has been the adoptive mother of millions of unborn children in the United States, unceasingly working to end the senseless slaughter of the most defenseless of all of God’s creations, the child within in the womb. And like any good mother, she sacrifices everything to protect her children. As a young woman, Gray served as a corporal in the Women’s Army Corp during Turn to page 14
Abortion foes labeled ‘extremists’ By Gail Besse Anchor Correspondent
BOSTON — George Washington, Mother Teresa, Ronald Regan and Pope Benedict XVI would fall within the “extremist” categories that President Barack Obama’s Administration targeted in a recent warning on domestic terrorism. Among the categories are military veterans, gun owners, citizens who favor limited federal government, and those who oppose abortion and defend traditional marriage. “The report in my opinion was
not only absurd but a case of ‘profiling’ at its worst,” said Salem Attorney Philip D. Moran, president of the Pro-Life Legal Defense Fund. He and other Bay State legal experts and Pro-Life leaders welcomed news that groups are challenging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to retract these remarks. The American Center for Law and Justice has launched a national campaign in reaction to this “warning” contained in the April 7 report. The ACLJ is a Washington, D.C.-based constitutional law firm. Its retraction demand letter expresses “grave concerns” about the “inflammatory statements” in the report “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic Turn to page 18
MOTHER TO MILLIONS — Nellie J. Gray, foundress and president of the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. has been responsible for speaking out for the unborn, saving countless babies from abortion, and inspiring vocations and prompting many to join the fight to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. (CNS file photo)
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News From the Vatican
May 8, 2009
Caritas priest-director seriously wounded in war-torn Sri Lanka By John Thavis Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY — A local Caritas director was seriously injured in Sri Lanka’s war-torn Vanni region, where tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced in recent days. Father T. R. Vasanthaseelan, director of Caritas Vanni-Hudec, had to have one leg amputated after shells struck St. Anthony Church in Valaignarmadam April 23. Many civilians had sought safety in the church. According to Caritas Internationalis headquarters in Rome, Father James Pathinathan, a member of the National Commission for Justice, Peace and Human Development, also was injured and was taken to a hospital in Anuradhapura. Caritas is an international confederation of Catholic relief, development and social service organizations. Caritas Internationalis Secretary-General Lesley-Anne Knight expressed concern for the people of Vanni and the Church personnel working there. “Father Vasanthaseelan is a much loved figure in Sri Lanka and throughout the Caritas confederation. He is a man of peace, courage and hope. He has lived among the people he seeks to serve and accompanied them through their suffering,” Knight said in a statement. “That aid workers are suffering only underlines how innocent people, women and children are being killed and injured in Sri Lanka’s civil war and reinforces our calls for an immediate ceasefire,” she said. “Both the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tiger rebels have obligations to protect the lives of civilians and allow humanitarian access. The United Nations and the international community must hold them to these commitments,” she said. Caritas Internationalis said it had launched an appeal to provide
emergency assistance to the war victims, including those made homeless by the fighting, returnees and war-affected families, especially women and children. Caritas Sri Lanka’s national director, Father Damian Fernando, said Caritas was continuing to help the needy and negotiate with the government to find a lasting solution for peace in the country. “Sri Lanka is undergoing the worst scenario. Innocent civilians are paying a huge cost and are the worst hit. Already there are more than 130,000 who have crossed over to the government-controlled side,” Father Fernando said. “These people are coming out in highly traumatized conditions. Most of them are tired and worn out after months of suffering. Many of them are injured and some of them are very severely wounded. The hospitals have totally exceeded their capacity to receive the wounded,” he said. Vanni is the last bastion of the Tamil rebels, known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, who run a de facto state of more than 300,000 ethnic Tamil people. The rebel group launched an independence struggle against the Sinhalese-led government in 1983; since then the war has killed about 80,000 people and displaced more than a million. Last September, the government ordered all aid workers, including U.N. officials, to withdraw from Vanni as government forces attacked the region to wipe out the Tamil rebels. A U.N. report estimates that nearly 6,500 rebels have been killed and 14,000 wounded in the last three months of fighting. When government troops broke through rebel positions near a previously declared no-fire zone in late April, more than 100,000 civilians fled the area, according to Vatican Radio. The Sri Lankan government recently said it would stop using heavy weapons and airstrikes in the war zone to prevent further civilian casualties.
SEEING RED — Pope Benedict XVI greets cardinals during a recent general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. (CNS photo/Max Rossi, Reuters)
IN NATIVE DRESS — A man and child with a group from Canada smile during the general audience with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican recently. Members of Canada’s Assembly of First Nations and Canadian Catholic officials later met with the pope regarding the tragic legacy of Indian residential schools, many of which were run by Catholic dioceses and orders. (CNS photo Emanuela De Meo, Catholic Press Photo)
People can see God in world, in others, pope says at audience
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY — People can get a glimpse of God in the world and in other people, but they must learn how to recognize it, Pope Benedict XVI said. “There is a certain visibility of God in the Church and in the world, and we must learn how to see it,” the pope said at his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square. “God created humankind in his image, but this image is covered with so much dirt from sin that it is almost impossible to see,” the pope said. Pope Benedict’s reflection on images of God in the world flowed from his main audience talk about the writings of St. Germanus, an 8th-century patriarch of Constantinople. While Emperor Leo III was leading a campaign against the use of icons and other sacred images out of fear that devotion was turning into idolatry, St. Germanus defended their use in popular piety. The pope said St. Germanus was known for his insistence that everything involved in the liturgy be beautiful, the pope said. For the saint, the pope said, the beauty of the words used for preaching, and especially for prayers, “is as important in the liturgy as the beauty of the sacred building in which it takes place.” “The beauty of words and language, the beauty of the building and of the music must all match,” the pope said. While St. Germanus lived more
than 1,200 years ago, the pope said that Christians today still could learn from him. His first lesson, the pope said, is that “in Christ, the true image of God, we can contemplate the face of God and we can learn to be truly human images of God. Christ calls us to imitate him, to be like him so that in every person the face of God would shine through again.” Pope Benedict said it is true that “against idolatry and all the temptations of paganism, in the Ten Commandments God forbade the making of images of him. However, in Christ he became visible, in all the saints his face appears, and sacred images teach us to see God in the face of Christ, in the face of the saints (and) in the faces of all people.” The second thing St. Germanus taught was the importance of “celebrating the liturgy with an awareness of the presence of God, with beauty and dignity, that helps peo-
The Anchor
ple see the splendor of God,” the pope said. The third lesson is “to love the Church,” he said. “Perhaps we human beings see mostly the sins and the negative, but with the assistance of faith, which can help us see well, even today we can rediscover divine beauty in the Church because it is in the Church that God makes himself present (and) offers himself to us,” the pope said. “In the holy Eucharist he remains present for adoration; in the Church God speaks to us, he walks with us as St. Germanus said; in the Church we receive the forgiveness of God and learn to forgive,” Pope Benedict said. The pope ended his audience by praying that God “would teach us to see, to see his presence and beauty in the Church, to see his presence in the world and to help us be transparent” so his light can shine through. OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 53, No. 18
Member: Catholic Press Association, Catholic News Service
Published weekly except for two weeks in the summer and the week after Christmas by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720, Telephone 508-675-7151 — FAX 508-675-7048, email: theanchor@anchornews.org. Subscription price by mail, postpaid $14.00 per year. Send address changes to P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA, call or use email address
PUBLISHER - Most Reverend George W. Coleman EXECUTIVE EDITOR Father Roger J. Landry fatherrogerlandry@anchornews.org EDITOR David B. Jolivet davejolivet@anchornews.org NEWS EDITOR Deacon James N. Dunbar jimdunbar@anchornews.org OFFICE MANAGER Mary Chase m arychase@anchornews.org ADVERTISING Wayne Powers waynepowers@anchornews.org REPORTER Kenneth J. Souza kensouza@anchornews.org Send Letters to the Editor to: fatherrogerlandry@anchornews.org
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May 8, 2009
The International Church
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Jordanian prince sees pope’s visit as hope to Arab people
SURVEYING THE DAMAGE — Pope Benedict XVI greets a firefighter after visiting a church in the earthquake ravaged village of Onna, Italy, recently. The pope visited two towns in central Italy where an April 6 quake and its aftershocks left approximately 65,000 people homeless. (CNS photo /Max Rossi, Reuters)
Pope visits quake zone to strengthen survivors’ faith and hope for future
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service
ONNA, Italy — In a visit aimed at strengthening people’s faith and hope for the future, Pope Benedict XVI called for concrete and immediate measures to rebuild towns and villages devastated by a deadly earthquake. With the sun struggling to break through thick rain clouds, the pope told survivors it had been his desire to come see them from the very moment the earthquake struck this mountainous central Italian region in early April. “I would have liked to have gone to every town and every neighborhood, to all the tent cities and to have met everyone if it had been possible,” he said under drizzling rain in the makeshift tent encampment a few miles outside L’Aquila. The pope’s April 28 visit took him first to Onna — a tiny village that had once been home to more than 300 people. The magnitude 6.3 earthquake reduced buildings in the town to rubble, killing an estimated 40 people and rendering the entire population homeless. Poor weather conditions forced the pope to travel to the affected areas by car instead of by helicopter. The pope was visibly taken aback by the level of destruction The severity and extent of the damage was evident even when viewed from the highway encircling L’Aquila. The city and its outskirts have become ghost towns, with streets and parking lots empty of cars and entire apartment buildings dark and shuttered. Several buildings had enormous holes blown out of their walls, looking
as if they had been bombarded with rocket fire. The quake and its string of aftershocks left some 65,000 people homeless, nearly 300 people dead and another 1,500 injured, according to authorities. Half of Onna’s residents relocated to hotels along the seaside or moved in with relatives. The other half stayed behind, living in bright blue government-issued tents. Many of them are elderly, preferring to tend to what little they have left: their chickens, farm animals and vegetable gardens. At the tent encampment in Onna, the pope expressed his sympathy for those living away from their homes and those living out of their cars or tents, especially with such cold and rainy weather. “Dear friends, my presence among you is meant to be a tangible sign that the crucified and risen Lord has not abandoned you,” he said. He said God is present and not deaf to their cries for help and their worries after having lost their homes, savings, jobs and loved ones. The pope said those who lost their lives are with God and that they would want to see their surviving friends and relatives go forward with courage and hope. Efforts must continue and “become a steady and concrete project” so that the city and surrounding towns can rise again, he said. The pope expressed his concern for the many young people who have been “suddenly forced to tackle a harsh reality,” children who can no longer go to school and elderly deprived of their
homes. When the pope finished his remarks, he warmly greeted residents and aid workers. Mothers brought their babies and toddlers to the pope to be blessed. The pope then went on to L’Aquila to visit the severely damaged Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio. As a gift, Pope Benedict placed the long woolen pallium he wore during his installation Mass on top of the glass casket. Heaps of debris were still sitting on the floor inside the basilica, and the pope asked the parish priest, “It all collapsed?” The priest replied that it did. Father Nunzio Spinelli, the basilica’s rector, said the pope told him, “Now that I have seen the damage with my own eyes I can see that it is even worse than I imagined.” The pope then visited the site of a university dormitory that collapsed and claimed eight students’ lives. He also called for an appropriate solution to be found soon for the thousands of people still living in tents.
AMMAN, Jordan (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the Middle East can serve as an opportunity to build hope among Arabs while broadening interreligious understanding, said Jordan’s Prince El Hassan bin Talal. Speaking with Catholic News Service, the prince said the May 8-11 papal visit “should not be seen as a passing, calming serene visit that is transient or just another visit to the region, but should rather focus in our minds that we can revive the heritage of trust and good faith” that Catholics and Muslims share. In an extensive interview in advance of Pope Benedict’s visit, Prince Hassan said he had high hopes for the trip. “There is a sort of combination of hope, expectation and nostalgia for a golden age — for a Camelot, if you will — which I think invites Arabs to hope for a better future when such a visit takes place, as with many other visits the pope has made to other parts of the world,” the prince told CNS. Pope Benedict’s visit to Jordan is part of an eight-day trek to the Middle East that includes several days in Israel and the Palestinian territories. The trip comes against the backdrop of wide separations along ethnic, sectarian and class lines among people in the region, as well as a rapidly mounting exodus of upper middle-class Palestinians because of violence and strict laws governing their movement. The outward migration is taking muchneeded skills and talent from the region, Prince Hassan said. The prince expressed a desire that people would begin to move from a position of “war against ... something” such as intolerance, racial hatred, anti-Semitism or fear of Islam to “a struggle for something.” “In that sense, I have the greatest hope that the visit of the pope, His Holiness, could be a major step in visualizing a struggle for a law of peace,” Prince Hassan said. He said he also would like to see the visit focus on the religious impact of culture. The prince said culture is not sustainable without recognizing its religious roots and how it influences the defense of
peace, social justice, human rights and global concerns. “My fear is that culture and religion remain an afterthought to security and the economy,” he said. “Security is not worth the name if it’s not built on human beings. Because it is human beings who are the prime movers of security or insecurity. “Whatever label we carry — Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist — at the end of the day we are human beings.” Pope Benedict and Prince Hassan have met several times. The prince met then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who at the time was the Vatican’s prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in 1993. The future pope gave the prince an edition of the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” at that encounter. Both men were among the cofounders in 1999 of the Genevabased Foundation for Interreligious and Intercultural Research and Dialogue. The prince — who won the 2008 Niwano prize for religious contributions to peace — has long been a leading proponent of interfaith dialogue. The 62-year-old brother of Jordan’s late King Hussein is founder of the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies based in Amman and president emeritus of the World Conference of Religions for Peace, an international organization that promotes peace through cooperation and dialogue The prince called for “a law of peace” to replace “a law of war” in the world. He suggested that a “courageous step” for peace could be taken by the world’s religious leaders if they would meet in Jerusalem. “I think there is a feeling among the majority of people in this part of the world that the hatred industry is winning, and this causes a lot of discomfort and a lot of anxiety,” Prince Hassan said. “The visit, such as that of His Holiness the pope, is reassuring. “We have to believe in a compassionate God, a wise God. This is what I would hope that the compassionate and wise symbol of our times — His Holiness the pope — brings to the region,” he said.
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The Church in the U.S.
May 8, 2009
On life issue, Cardinal George says Obama on ‘wrong side of history’
By Peter Finney Jr. Catholic News Service
ed in providing taxpayer money to fund abortion overseas. “He said we weren’t exportKENNER, La. — President ing abortion,” the cardinal said. “I Barack Obama is a “very grasaid, ‘Yes we are.’ He would say, cious and obviously a very smart ‘I know I have to do certain things man” but he is on the “wrong here. But be patient and you’ll see side of history” when it comes the pattern will change.’ I said, to his fervent support of abortion ‘Mr. President, you’ve given us rights, Chicago Cardinal Francis nothing but the wrong signals on E. George told the 2009 Louisithis issue.’ So, we’ll see, ana Priests Convention said, ‘Mr. President, you’ve given but I’m not as hopeful April 21. Cardinal George, presus nothing but the wrong signals now as I was when he ident of the U.S. Confer- on this issue.’ So, we’ll see, but I’m not as was first elected.” The Church and the ence of Catholic Bishops, told 200 priests from the hopeful now as I was when he was first president find common ground on supporting soseven dioceses of Louisi- elected.” cial programs that lift up ana that, while he wants Obama to succeed in his efforts him because he’ll always tell the poor, but Cardinal George said to right the economy, enhance you he agrees with you,” he said. on the issue of abortion, “I think world peace and help the poor, “Maybe that’s political. I think we’re up against something a little the president needs to understand he sincerely wants to agree with bit like slavery.” “These are members of the huthat the Catholic Church will not you. You have to say, again and allow the life issue to be aban- again, ‘No, Mr. President, we man family, genetically individudon’t agree (on abortion).’ But ated, (with) a human father and a doned. In a question-and-answer we can agree on a lot, and we do, human mother,” he said. “What session that followed his key- and that’s why there is so much their legal status is, of course, note speech to priests on offer- hope. I think we have to pray for you can debate, and we have. John Paul II says you cannot ing compassionate ministry to him every day.” Cardinal George said he told simply live comfortably with an people who are hurting, Cardinal George offered a candid assess- the president he was concerned immoral legal system, any more ment of his 30-minute meeting about his decision to rescind the than you could live comfortably with the president at the White Mexico City policy, which result- with slavery, and therefore you have to work to change the law. “It’s a society-dividing issue, and on this issue, we’re with Abraham Lincoln and he’s with Stephen Douglas, and he doesn’t like to hear that, but that’s where he is.” The cardinal was referring to the seven debates held in 1858 between Lincoln and his opponent for an Illinois seat in the U.S. Senate. Slavery was the main issue discussed in all of the debates. If even the incremental restrictions on abortion — such as the ban on partial-birth abortion or parental notification laws — are rolled back, Cardinal George said Pro-Life advocates could Pilgrimage to Medjugorje feel desperate because they fear “abortion will be a human right, Come and renew your spiritual life and of course, if it’s a human on this special 10-day trip to right, it can’t be qualified.” Medjugorje Cardinal George said Pope June 12 -June 21, 2009 John Paul II, with the help of MusPrice includes: lim and Latin American countries, • Round trip air from Boston to Dubrovnik successfully fought the Clinton • 7 nights accommodation/Twin occupancy administration’s efforts to declare • Breakfast and Dinner daily • English speaking guide abortion a fundamental “human • Daily Mass in Saint James Church right” at the 1994 U.N. population • Climb Apparition Hill conference in Cairo, Egypt. • Climb Mount Krizevak Mountain of the Cross “Whether or not the pres• Special Time of Prayer and group meeting • Meeting with the Visionaries (when available) ent pope will be able to do this a • Ground transportation from/to Dubrovnik airport generation later, I don’t know, beCost: $1,798.00 per person sharing. Taxes additional cause we’re going to be faced with $ 199.00 Single Supplement it again,” the cardinal said. “But Travel protection is available for anyone interested. you can’t go on indefinitely. For Costing can be provided. Insure your passport is current 80 years we were a slave republic, and valid for travel. Book early as space is limited. and it took a terrible war to end Contact Crystal Travel and Tours, Inc. that. And now for 40 years we’re 100 Spring Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132 in an abortion regime, and I’m not Telephone: 617-327-2700 or 617-327-4242 sure how that’s going to end.” House March 18. “I think on the life issue he’s on the wrong side of history,” the cardinal said. “I think he has his political debts to pay, and so he’s paying them.” Cardinal George said his conversation with the president was polite but substantive. “It’s hard to disagree with
“I
May 8, 2009
The Church in the U.S.
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Cardinal asks House to co-sponsor Pregnant Women Support Act
PRODUCTIVE ALTERNATIVE — This is a logo for Epiphany Studio Productions’ “The Vitae Monologues,” a play that portrays powerful stories of hope and healing from women who have suffered from the psychological and physical effects of abortion. (CNS photo/courtesy of Epiphany Studio Productions)
New ‘Monologues’ play offers hope for healing after abortion
WASHINGTON (CNS) — A play created by a member of a Minnesota theater company aims to be an alternative to “The Vagina Monologues,” a popular campus play but one that is often criticized for its sexual explicitness. Jeremy Stanbary of Epiphany Studio Productions says his play, “The Vitae Monologues,” portrays powerful stories of hope and healing from women who have suffered from the psychological and physical effects of abortion. Stanbary, founder and executive director of the Minneapolisbased Catholic production company, was inspired to write this play a few years ago after hearing women and men speak publicly of their experiences dealing with post-abortion syndrome at a Silent No More event in Minnesota. Sarah Preissner and Stanbary star in the one-act play designed for performance particularly on college campuses or at high schools. “These personal and very real testimonies are unfortunately often dismissed by the secular, medical community,” said Stanbary in a telephone interview with Catholic News Service. “The Vitae Monologues” or “The Monologues of Life” opens with a scene in a therapist’s office, where several people talk about seemingly unrelated prob-
lems they’re having in their lives. Each one has experienced trauma in the aftermath of an abortion. “Oftentimes symptoms don’t appear until years later,” Stanbary said. “Since Roe v. Wade, women have been repressed and ignored, but we’re seeing an influx of women coming forth, telling their stories of post-abortion syndrome — understanding that they are not alone. “This play gives women a voice within our culture and their stories need to be told,” he added. “The greatest deception is that abortion is good for women and helps women.” The play tells the stories of women who “bought into this idea that abortion would take away their problems,” said Stanbary. But Stanbary and Preissner have heard from an increasing number of women and men who say abortion has had severe psychological effects on them, he said. Post-abortion syndrome, like post-traumatic stress disorder, reveals itself in a variety of ways. “We touch on many of these problems in the play such as feelings of overwhelming grief, nightmares, thoughts of suicide, lots of anger, denial and suppression of the root problem, depression, anxiety, feelings of unworthiness as a
parent, drug and alcohol abuse, increased sexual promiscuity, and self-hatred,” said Stanbary. “These are real stories from real people,” he added. Although “The Vitae Monologues” shares with the audience a painful reality of the serious aftermath of abortion, it also offers the message that a place of healing and forgiveness can be found through Jesus Christ. Many might wonder how “The Vitae Monologues” counters “The Vagina Monologues,” a play that has caused many protests on Catholic campuses and beyond. “‘The Vitae Monologues’ deals with the more rotten fruits of the radical feminist movement and sexual revolution, which is abortion,” said Stanbary. “Both plays are also meant to be controversial.” “The Vagina Monologues,” based on interviews with numerous women, is a series of monologues in which women discuss their sexual experiences, including rape and other forms of violence against them. Many U.S. college groups across the United States sponsor productions of the play in an effort to raise awareness about sexual violence against women and to raise funds for organizations working with physically abused women.
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Whatever their position on abortion, any House members who agree that “no woman should ever have to undergo an abortion because she feels she has no choice” or alternatives should co-sponsor the Pregnant Women Support Act, said Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn., “provides an authentic common ground, an approach that people can embrace regardless of their position on other issues,” the cardinal said in a late April letter to House members. “An abortion performed under ... social and economic duress meets no one’s standard for ‘freedom of choice,’” he added. The bill provides “many kinds of life-affirming support for pregnant women and their unborn children,” Cardinal Rigali said, adding that it “reaches out to women with a helping hand when they are most vulnerable, and most engaged in making a decision about life or death for their unborn children.” The Pregnant Women Support Act would: — eliminate pregnancy as a pre-existing condition that could be used to deny health coverage for women; — provide grants to support centers offering alternatives to abortion; — assist colleges and universities in providing support for preg-
nant and parenting students; — increase support for the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program and for adoption programs; — allow states to cover unborn children and their mothers under the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, known as SCHIP; — provide prenatal care for needy pregnant women who might not otherwise be eligible; — improve services for pregnant women who are at risk from domestic violence; — begin a public awareness program to inform women about the availability of supportive services; — require abortion facilities to get informed consent, including providing information about alternatives to abortion. Cardinal Rigali praised the legislation for not raising “the entirely separate issue of seeking to reduce pregnancies through government promotion of contraceptives.” “That issue raises serious questions regarding priorities in health care as well as the conscience rights of patients and health care providers, which demand a serious debate of their own,” he said. Cardinal Rigali said discussions will continue inside and outside Congress about “pregnancy prevention and related issues.” “In the meantime, pregnant women need our assistance now so that abortion is not promoted to them as their only choice,” he said.
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The Anchor More than dining room conversation
Four weeks ago we wrote on the symbolic messages the University of Notre Dame was giving Catholics and non-Catholics in the country by inviting President Barack Obama to give its May 17 commencement address and award him an honorary doctorate. By choosing to ignore and violate the clear, settled and reasonable policy of the U.S. bishops not to “honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles” — like President Obama has been doing repeatedly on the issue of the inviolable dignity of human life — by giving such figures “awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions,” Notre Dame is teaching its graduates and others that it’s more important to listen to what the president has to say than what the Church has to say. It would be hard to believe that Notre Dame would ever give an honorary doctorate and a prestigious speaking platform to anyone, even a president, who supported indefensible things like slavery or anti-Semitism. By choosing, however, to honor someone who vigorously supports, both personally as well as publicly, the destruction of innocent human life, the university is teaching that it considers such destruction, in the end, a small matter that, unlike racism or something “really” evil, should not disqualify someone from public honors by Catholic institutions. By doing something so provocative without even consulting local Bishop John D’Arcy, especially when it was easy to assume that such an action would put him in a position that he would have to absent himself from the commencement, the university was demonstrating that, given a choice between having a successor of George Washington or a successor the Apostles present for graduation, they consider it more important to have the former. For all these reasons, it’s unsurprising that an unprecedented number of U.S. bishops have individually come out in public criticism of the university’s decision. It’s also understandable why former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican and Harvard Law Professor Maryann Glendon, Barack Obama’s former law school teacher, decided that she would have to refuse the university’s prestigious Laetare Medal, lest her authentic Pro-Life credentials continue to be manipulated by the university to try to mollify the concerns of those outraged or scandalized by its actions. But perhaps the most poignant description of the noxious symbolism of the university’s decision came from a recent Notre alumna, Lacy Dodd, in an article last week on the Website of First Things magazine. Her reflections are particularly fitting as we prepare for Mother’s Day on Sunday. She wrote that during her commencement, her life was in turmoil because she was three months pregnant. “That March,” she remembered, “I had gone — alone — to a local woman’s clinic to take a test. The results were positive, and I was so numb I almost didn’t grasp what the nurse was getting at when she assured me I had ‘other options.’ What did ‘other options’ mean? And what kind of world is it that defines compassion as telling a young woman who has just learned she is carrying life inside her that she has the option to destroy it? “When I returned to campus, I ran to the Grotto of Our Lady. I was confused and full of conflicting emotions. But I knew this: No amount of shame or embarrassment would ever lead me to get rid of my baby. Of all women, Our Lady could surely feel pity for an unplanned pregnancy. In my hour of need, on my knees, I asked Mary for courage and strength. And she did not disappoint. “My boyfriend was a different story. He was also a Notre Dame senior. When I told him that he was to be a father, he tried to pressure me into having an abortion. Like so many women in similar circumstances, I found out the kind of man the father of my child was at precisely the moment I needed him most. ‘All that talk about abortion is just dining room talk,’ he said. ‘When it’s really you in the situation, it’s different. I will drive you to Chicago and pay for a good doctor.’ “I tried telling him this was not an option. He said he was pro-choice. I responded by informing him that my choice was life. And I learned, as so many pregnant women have before and since, that life is the one choice that pro-choicers won’t support. “So, without my boyfriend’s support, I graduated from Notre Dame on schedule with a bachelor’s degree in American Studies. … I returned to my parents’ home in Florida, … sought and received advice and loving counsel from Kimberly Home, a pregnancy resource center in my hometown. And I prepared to give birth to the human being who has given me the greatest and most unexpected joy in my life. “And then a miracle came: On All Saints Day 1999, I gave birth to baby Mary. Her name is no accident. This Mary was living inside me while I walked the campus of a university dedicated to a woman who is mother of us all, and it was Mary Our Mother who gave me courage when I was afraid of what would lie ahead. Mary teaches us always to be open to seeking the will of God in our lives, no matter what it is, and never to be afraid of God’s will. “Notre Dame is a special place, but it is not immune to the realities of modern life. There are students who face unplanned pregnancies, and — most tragically — women who think their only option is abortion. Statistics show that one out of every five women who have an abortion is a college student; many of these women cite the fear that they will not be able to complete their education as a primary reason. On campuses all across this country, abortion is the status quo. We need to change that with an unambiguous stand for life, and Notre Dame needs to be in the lead. “There have been many things written about the honors to be extended to President Obama. I’d like to ask this of Father John Jenkins, the Notre Dame president: Who draws support from your decision to honor President Obama — the young, pregnant Notre Dame woman sitting in that graduating class who wants desperately to keep her baby, or the Notre Dame man who believes that the Catholic teaching on the intrinsic evil of abortion is just dining room talk?” Lacy Dodd now serves on the board of a Charlotte-based non-profit organization working to build at Belmont Abbey a maternal care facility for college students who discover they’re pregnant. She has put a name and a face to why Notre Dame’s decision is particularly shameful. She has identified why so many Catholics, including her fellow Notre Dame alumni, are so justly upset by it. By choosing to honor and listen to a president who thinks that the choice to kill a baby like Mary is something that the government should make possible, defend and fund, this Catholic university, rather than challenging pro-abortion assumptions some of its students and so many in our country have, is buttressing them. And rather than supporting young women like Lacy Dodd in difficult circumstances, it is isolating them further, at a place in which they should be welcomed as Our Lady would and would want. The Catholic teaching on the intrinsic evil of abortion is more than dining room talk. It’s the worst systematic offense against human beings and human dignity in our time. It’s about time for Notre Dame and various other Catholic educational institutions to stop giving it lip service and to take the lead in creating a culture in which every human being like Mary Dodd is valued, welcomed in life and protected in law.
May 8, 2009
Unforgettable memories of the Holy Land
O
ver the next week, as Pope Benedict knew the Holy Land very well. He booked and is in the Holy Land visiting the princi- celebrated Mass for us in several places in Jepal sites of our redemption, any of us who have rusalem and then took us to Bethlehem, where had the privilege of making a pilgrimage to the he showed us around and even secured for us Holy Land will likely be recalling our unfor- great deals at one of the Christian shops whose gettable memories of those same sacred sites. owners he had befriended. We were moved by I’ve had the privilege three times of going his genuine Christian generosity and goodto the Holy Land. My first trip was in 1993, ness. The last day before we were leaving, fresh after graduating from college, and the he celebrated Mass for us in the Church of summer before I would enter seminary. I the Holy Sepulcher. As we were walking out went with an international group of friends: of the sacristy with him, we bumped into an Mario from Bolivia, Andrés from Colombia American pilgrimage group that, upon noticand Jos from Belgium. We got a four-cylinder ing him, went crazy with excitement, shouting rental car and pushed it to its limits as we his name, coming over for photos with him, a crisscrossed the Holy Land trying to fit every- few even asking for his autograph. The four of thing from the Old Testament and New into us looked at each other, bewildered, since all 10 days. It was so moving to be in the actual our priest friend had told us about himself was places that Christ was conceived, born, lived, that he was a Jesuit Scripture scholar at Loyola walked on ground and on water, preached, University. So I approached one of the men in healed, celebrated the Last Supper, carried the the pilgrimage group and asked, “Can you tell cross, died, rose and appeared. me, sir, is that priest famous?” “You better beA few memories stick out from that ini- lieve it,” the man replied. “That’s Father Mitch tial peregrination. The first was getting locked Pacwa from EWTN.” It turns out that Father into the Upper Room. We were praying in the Pacwa had just completed filming the series place that Christ gave us his Body and Blood on the rosary at the Holy Land sites before he for the first time when the Muslim door man met us and had spent much of his “vacation” decided to lock the steel gate and go for lunch week ministering to the four of us. He told us without telling at dinner that any of those inevening that he side. It was apwas a little bit parently a trick embarrassed he would use to that his “covextort some exer” had been tra money from blown, because the incarcerhe had so much By Father ated. We tried to enjoyed simply Roger J. Landry make the most being our unof it, saying to paid “chaplain” ourselves, there the previous were plenty of worse places for a Christian week. His behavior taught me a lot about the to be imprisoned. After an hour, local Chris- priesthood that summer before entering semitians outside the locked gate, discovering that nary. their brothers in faith were locked inside, told My second pilgrimage in the Holy Land us that they were going to find the doorman. came six years later, while I was a transitional About 15 minutes later, they returned, liter- deacon. Fifty priests and seminarians from the ally dragging the porter with them, who very North American College went on the biendeferentially and with supervised contrition, nial Holy Land pilgrimage led by Gregorian opened the door for us for free. It was a real professor Father “Aboona” Dick Mackowski. introduction to some of the tensions in the Every Holy Week and Easter Week, this Jesuit Eternal City as well as to how beautifully and professor at the Pontifical Oriental Institute seriously the beleaguered Christians in the would lead Americans studying in Rome on Holy Land take their Christian fraternity. a pilgrimage somewhere, to the Holy Land, to When we were in Jerusalem, I would get the Christian sites in Turkey, or to the ancient up each morning before 5 a.m. and go to the discoveries in Egypt. I remember two things Church of the Holy Sepulcher to attend the most from that pilgrimage: the great homilies Latin Rite Masses celebrated at the empty given by the young American priests in the tomb within the basilica. Every morning they class ahead of me at various sites of the Lord; would celebrate the Mass of Easter in Latin so and serving as deacon at the Easter Vigil in Jethat Catholics from various countries could all rusalem led by the-then nuncio to Israel. I had equally participate. One morning, there was a been asked to sing the Gospel of St. Mark’s Chinese bishop celebrating the Mass with a account of the resurrection. After the Vigil group of about 20 Chinese pilgrims, most of Mass was over, the nuncio told me that he had whom were crying joyful tears throughout the “never heard a rendition of the Gospel quite entire Mass. When it came to the time of the like the one I had done,” which, in classic Vatiprayers of the faithful, a concelebrating priest can diplomatic parlance, I didn’t quite know presented the intercessions in Chinese. After how to take. Archbishop Pietro Sambi is now he was done, the bishop added a last intention papal nuncio to the United States. in English. To this day, I still wonder whether My last trip was a few months after my he actually said it in English or whether he priestly ordination with two of my classmates. was momentarily given the gift of tongues so The real highlights came thanks to the elderly that I could hear him speaking my own lan- Franciscan friar at the Mass booking office, guage. The prayer I’ll never forget: “For all who, upon discovering we were all “sacerdoour brothers and sisters who have been put to tini” or “baby priests,” booked us to celebrate death in our country for the Gospel, that they three Masses at the Tomb of Christ, and one may experience the full joy of the resurrec- in Bethlehem, at the Upper Room on Thurstion.” I learned after Mass that these Catho- day, at Calvary on Friday, at the Grotto of the lics were all from the underground Church Annunciation on Saturday, and at the Mount in China, which has been brutally persecuted of the Beatitudes on Sunday. When I was ever since the Maoist revolution. I had a deep celebrating Mass in the tomb from which the sense that I was praying Mass with a bishop Lord had been raised from the dead, I was so and faithful who, upon returning to China, overwhelmed that I committed the only incould likely end up imprisoned or killed for tentional liturgical “abuse” of my priesthood. our faith. By the end of the Mass, I was weep- After consecrating the Lord’s Body, I said to ing along with these heroic Chinese spiritual my two classmates, “Do you realize we’ve just siblings. put the risen Body of the Lord back into the Another memory was of an American Je- empty tomb?” suit priest we met upon checking into the Casa Next week, Pope Benedict will be bringing Nova in Jerusalem. He told us that he had just the same risen Lord Jesus to sites all over land said farewell to a group he had brought and Jesus made holy. May the Prince of Peace and was basically free for the next week to ac- his earthly vicar bring true peace to that land company us if we wanted a priest to celebrate so desperate for it. Mass for us. We happily took him up on his ofFather Landry is pastor of St. Anthony of fer. He was a Scripture scholar and obviously Padua Parish in New Bedford.
Putting Into the Deep
A
St. Paul’s collection
fter the First Missioncontroversy, but also for the ary Journey, St. Paul Apostle and his companion to and St. Barnabas went to Jerusalem to meet with the leaders of the Living the Jerusalem Church. This Council discussed the Pauline Year question of whether non-Jewish converts to By Father Christianity had to unKarl C. Bissinger dergo circumcision or not (cf. Acts 15:1-35). It was an opportunity not only boast about the successes they to clear up a point of doctrinal had experienced in the mis-
W
7
The Anchor
May 8, 2009
sion field outside of Palestine. Furthermore, they agreed to settle on “turf,” or areas of responsibility. Paul officially became the “Apostle of the Gentiles.” He describes the results of this meeting in his letter to the Galatians: “When they recognized the grace bestowed upon me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed
Thinking about moral absolutes
hen Pope Benedict to our own positions? Clearly XVI visited the United not, since both positions cannot States in April of 2008, I had be true. the chance to attend the opening These obvious examples ilceremony at the White House lustrate what each of us already South Lawn. As I listened to knows, namely, that in the real President Bush’s welcoming reworld “relative” truth doesn’t marks to the pope, I was caught work. Suppose you and I each off guard by one line in particudrive towards an intersection lar, a powerful statement that with a traffic light. If it were up seemed almost too philosophical to you and me to make up our to be spoken by a United States own minds about what color the president: “In a world where light is, without any reference some no longer believe that we to its real color, there would can distinguish between simple certainly be a lot of accidents right and wrong, we need your at our intersections. What many message to reject this dictatorfail to realize is that the moral ship of relativism and embrace a world works similarly. Many culture of justice and truth.” people’s moral lives are crashing The president was expressing how we live in a time of history marked by moral relativism. This is the belief that there really is no right By Father Tad and wrong, just your Pacholczyk opinion and mine about right and wrong, and we should simply “agree to disagree” and learn to get along. and burning because they fail to That is to say: you may believe respect the non-arbitrary markthat abortion, same-sex marers of the moral roadmap guidriage, and embryonic stem-cell ing our human journey. They’ve research are fine, and I may not, slipped into thinking that they but there’s really no point in can make up their own rules as arguing, since everything is rela- they go along, and that it’s all tive anyway — morality is up to relative to their own desires or me and you to decide individucircumstances. ally. In such a view, there are no In the movie “Schindler’s moral absolutes or universals, List,” much of the action takes and morality shifts freely with place in a Nazi labor camp. The each person’s perspective. camp commandant decides to Ultimately, however, this take a young, Jewish girl to be position is neither reasonable his personal maidservant. At nor logical. one point in the film, this girl If morality were merely about has a private and very disturbing your and my moral opinions, the conversation with another man, results would be disastrous. If Oskar Schindler, the protagonist I believe racism against blacks of the film. With deep fear in and the institution of slavery her voice she says to him, “I built upon it are wrong, but know that someday my master you believe they’re OK, can will shoot me.” Schindler at first we both go our merry ways can’t believe what he is hearing, and live according to our own and he does his best to reasmorality? Clearly not, and the sure her that the commandant United States had to undergo a is really quite fond of her. But terrible civil war to address this she insists, “No, someday he very question. If I believe serial will shoot me.” She then speaks murder and rape are wrong, but of what she had witnessed the you believe they’re OK, can we previous day. She had seen him both go off and live according walk out of his quarters, draw
Making Sense Out of Bioethics
his gun, and shoot a Jewish woman who was walking by with a bundle in her hand. She described the woman: “Just a woman on her way somewhere. No fatter, or thinner, or slower, or faster than anyone else; and I couldn’t guess what she had done [to provoke him]. The more you see of the commandant, the more you see there are no set rules that you can live by. You can’t say to yourself, ‘If I follow these rules, I will be safe.’” Father Raymond Suriani, commenting on this famous scene from the movie noted how this girl was absolutely correct: In a world of moral confusion, in a world of moral relativism, there can be no safety, and, consequently, no peace. She understood that in the “world” of that Nazi labor camp, right and wrong had been blurred to such an extent, that she couldn’t determine what was “right” even in the mind of the commandant. What pleased him at one moment might not please him in the next. And if he happened to have power, or to have a gun in his hand when he wasn’t pleased, she knew she could easily end up being his next victim. There are certain important truths and universal moral absolutes which speak powerfully to us as humans about how we must relate to ourselves, to others, and to society. We can draw strength from the prophetic and protective voice of the Church, which speaks tirelessly to us of these moral absolutes and points out the threat to our humanity posed by every agenda of relativism. Father Pacholczyk earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River and serves as the director of Education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www.ncbcenter.org
to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas their right hands in partnership, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only we were to be mindful of the poor, which is the very thing I was eager to do” (Gal 6:9-10). This last sentence is an early reference to an effort to promote charity among the churches. When writing from Ephesus at Easter in the year 56 A.D., St. Paul addresses the Corinthians and asks them to take up a collection for “the holy ones” in Jerusalem. (“Holy ones” or “saints” are names for Christians in the New Testament.) He tells them to prepare this “gracious gift” ahead of his arrival in accordance with instructions he has already given to the Galatians (cf. 1Cor 16:1-4). Even though the collection was already underway in Macedonia and Galatia, this letter contains the earliest evidence of a project which became a major undertaking during the course of Paul’s ministry. About a year later, in the autumn of 57 A.D., St. Paul would write to the Corinthians again on the topic of the collection. In fact, chapters eight and nine of the Second Letter to the Corinthians represent the longest extended treatment of this concern in Paul’s writings. This time he writes from Macedonia and describes how the collection got its start: “In a severe test of affliction, the abundance of joy [of the churches of Macedonia] and their profound poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For according to their means, I can testify, and beyond their means, spontaneously, they begged us insistently for the favor of taking part in the service to the holy ones” (2Cor 8:2-4). Finally, we find a reference St. Paul makes about traveling to Jerusalem to deliver the collection in his Letter to the Romans, which he wrote from Corinth in the winter of 57-58 A.D. He says: “I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain and to be sent on my way there by you, after I have enjoyed being with you for a time. Now, however, I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the holy ones. For Macedonia and Achaia have decided to make some contribution for the poor among the holy ones of Jerusalem; they decided to do it, and in fact they are indebted to them, for if the Gentiles have come to share
in their spiritual blessings [i.e., those of the holy ones of Jerusalem], they ought also to serve them in material blessings. So when I have completed this and safely handed over this contribution to them, I shall set out by way of you to Spain” (Rom 15:24-28). Several points become clear about the importance of this collection in the life of the early Church. First of all, the collection is a work not only of charity, but also a sign of good will toward the Mother Church in Jerusalem on the part of the daughter churches among the nations. The gift becomes a sign of unity between the “turf” of St. Paul, on the one hand, and that of SS. Peter, James, and John, on the other. Next, it also acts as a form of communion among those who participate in it. By taking part in the collection, all the individual donors take one corporate action. Together they see to the needs of the poor in Palestine. Furthermore, by doing so, they serve Christ in the poor. They serve the Son of God, who “for your sake became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich” (2Cor 8:9). Finally, when the Gentile Christians take part in the contribution, they give to Paul’s collection even though they themselves are experiencing financial hardship. During the last several weeks of the Pauline Year, we may still be looking for ways to live out this special jubilee. One possibility is to take part in the Fall River Diocese’s annual Catholic Charities Appeal. In the spirit of the churches St. Paul founded, when we take part in this modern-day collection, we show our solidarity with the poor, we express our communion with one another, and we honor Christ in those who are less fortunate than ourselves. Because of these reasons, we can find within our hearts a capacity for charity and generosity even though we ourselves may be experiencing financial hardship in the current state of the economy. Paul teaches us that together we can accomplish more than any of us could ever do as individuals to effectively help our brothers and sisters in need. Father Bissinger is vocation director of the Diocese of Fall River and secretary to Bishop George W. Coleman.
8
The Anchor
T
he sculptor, Michelangelo, was at work on one of his famous creations when a close friend came to his studio to check on his progress. His friend upon seeing him said, “I can’t see any difference in the statue since I came here a week ago. Have you not been doing any work since I visited with you last week?” “Yes,” said Michelangelo, “I have retouched this part, softened this feature, strengthened this muscle, and put more life into that limb.” “But those are only trifles,” said the friend. “True,” Michelangelo replied, “but trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle.” Many people seek selfimprovement in the hope to find happiness. We generally focus on numerous “trifles,” like changing jobs, exercising, taking extra classes or searching the Internet for insights. All these little changes might bring us closer to a superficial contentment, but the eternal happiness we seek can be only found when we achieve lasting
May 8, 2009
The Christian path to perfection
improvement in our relationship is fundamentally not our work with God. but God’s. We need to allow his In today’s Gospel, Jesus divine life, which we received speaks about the path to true originally in baptism, to flow and lasting self-improvement within us. We need trustingly to on the road to perfection. give him permission to form us When Michelangelo used to more and more into the image sculpt, he always saw his work and likeness of his Son. not as “creating” a form out of Conceptually, that is simple. a solid block of marble but carving away the stone to allow a form alHomily of the Week ready embedded within Fifth Sunday the block to “emerge.” of Easter In the image of the vine and the branches, Jesus By Father shows us that our real Peter Guresh perfection comes when we allow God the Father, like a master vine grower Jesus says to us that we need to or sculptor, to prune away from maintain our organic connecus all lifeless twigs, all dead tion to God in grace. “Remain ends, so that the full power of in me as I remain in you,” he Jesus the vine may be revealed tells us. As branches on the vine and come fully alive in us. we should strive to intensify In the Sermon on the Mount, our bond with the Lord, who Jesus had said to us, “Be pertells us, “without me you can fected as your Heavenly Father do nothing.” The Christian life is perfect.” English translations is meant to be a tag-team with often erroneously translate the risen Lord Jesus, cooperatthat imperative as “be perfect,” ing with him in carrying out his but the Greek tense shows us work, as members of his Body, that the process of perfection to use an image from St. Paul.
Practically, that is incredibly challenging. It is through actively remaining in Jesus, and acting through, with and in him, that not only will God bring us to perfection, but try to bring others and the world to perfection. “Whoever remains in me and I in him,” Jesus says, “will bear much fruit.” The branches of the vine are what produce the fruit. The fruit that Jesus Christ desires us to produce as his branches are actions of love. “Children, let us love not in word or speech,” St. John writes in his epistle, “but in deed and truth.” The great Methodist hymnist John Wesley once beautifully described a genuinely Christian life when he wrote: “Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” In order for us to bear that type of fruit, we need to focus not so much on the fruit as on the vine. Jesus says in
St. Matthew’s Gospel that a good tree produces good fruit. The way we will have a truly productive, Christian, holy life will be by focusing fundamentally on remaining in Christ, in his grace, in his will, in his love for the Father and for others to the end. Living in Christ’s love and really letting it transform and perfect us will bring us, somewhat naturally, to our sharing Christ’s love in deeds. This Easter season is another chance for us to ground ourselves in the love of the Lord and experience within his risen life. It is an opportunity to allow God the vine grower to prune away from us whatever is inconsistent with the type of growth God wants in us. It’s a chance for us to give him permission to shave away any trifles that prevent our perfection. And it’s a time where we, overflowing from within with the love of Christ, bear fruit that will last into eternity. Deacon Guresh serves at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in North Falmouth.
Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. May 9, Acts 13:44-52; Ps 98:1-4; Jn 14:7-14. Sun. May 10, Fifth Sunday of Easter, Acts 9:26-31; Ps 22:26-27,28,30,31-32; 1 Jn 3:1824; Jn 15:1-8; Mon. May 11, Acts 14:5-18; Ps 115:1-5,15-16; Jn 14:21-26. Tues. May 12, Acts 14:19-28; Ps 145:10-13ab,21; Jn 14:27-31a. Wed. May 13, Acts 15:1-6; Ps 122:1-5; Jn 15:1-8. Thu. May 14, feast of St. Matthias, Apostle, Acts 1:15-17,20-26; Ps 113:1-8; Jn 15:9-17. Fri. May 15, Acts 15:22-31; Ps 57:8-12; Jn 15:12-17.
E
very September, the Congregation for Bishops in Rome hosts a seminar for newly-ordained bishops from around the world; the seminar is widely known, at least sotto voce, as “Baby Bishops’ School.” I have a modest suggestion for the curriculum: everyone attending the seminar should be given a
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The imperative of fraternal correction
copy of the classic World War II wives. But like every other highnovel, “Twelve O’Clock High!,” achievement male in the world, which is far less a story of B-17s Catholic bishops need someone over Europe than a lesson in to keep them “straightened out,” paternal, masculine leadership. as Savage put it — especially About halfway through the when they’re “not doing so hot.” book, when General Frank SavA bishop with a particularly age has dramatically reversed the close and open relationship with disastrous morale of the 918th Heavy Bombardment Group by ignoring an order and hitting a difficult target, a onceskeptical lieutenant (and Medal of Honor winner), By George Weigel Jesse Bishop, admits that he’s misread the fiery commander and asks Savage if he’d “mind very much his presbyterate might find a kicking me in the tail?” Bishop Bishop or two among his priests, bends over, Savage obliges — but the dynamics of contemand then asks the youngster to do porary clerical culture mitigate him a favor: “All right, Jesse ... I against that kind of frankness. want you to be the one guy in the No, bishops need to find Bishgroup that doesn’t believe I’m ops among their brother bishops. a general. That door is always Father Thomas Reese, S.J., open. Any time you think I’m would appear to disagree. not doing so hot, come in and tell Several weeks ago, Archbishop me. Let me know what the boys Raymond Burke of the Apostolic are thinking. I need you plenty, Signatura gave an interview in and I’ll count on you to keep me which he suggested that some straightened out.” bishops in the United States were I hope it’s not considered not doing all they might do to impious if I suggest that every protect the integrity of the Eubishop needs a Bishop. Or sevcharist, and the souls of those in eral Bishops. their care, by not making it clear Catholic bishops don’t have to pro-abortion Catholic politi-
The Catholic Difference
cians that they should refrain from receiving holy Communion. At a subsequent Washington press conference, Archbishop Burke’s remarks were unfairly used by a Pro-Life activist to try to settle some scores with bishops of whom the activist disapproved. During the ensuing media fuss, Father Reese, who would not object to being described as on the far side of the Communion-forpro-abortion-politicians debate from Archbishop Burke, saw his chance and took it. According to the Jesuit master of the Catholic sound-bite, Archbishop Burke “really violated ... episcopal etiquette. You don’t criticize other bishops in public and you don’t tell other bishops how to run their diocese.” One wonders precisely what “episcopal etiquette” is being evoked here. The “etiquette” of a Cyril of Alexandria, who wrote the Patriarch Nestorius and informed him that his sermons questioning Mary’s title, “Mother of God,” were dubiously orthodox? The “etiquette” of a Cyprian, who engaged in what the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church calls a
“violent correspondence” with Pope Stephen I over the validity of baptism administered by heretics and schismatics? Or the “etiquette” of a men’s club in which it’s considered bad form to confront a fellow member of the club, even if he’s embarrassing himself and the club? With an eye to the Frank Savage Rule of Fraternal Correction, I’ll take the hardknuckled but canonized Fathers of the Church — Cyril, who was right on the issues, and Cyprian, who in this instance was wrong — over Father Reese’s genteel men’s club. Catholic bishops need someone like Savage’s Jesse Bishop to tell them when they’re “not doing so hot.” The likeliest candidates for administering such fraternal correction are a man’s brother bishops. The privilege of fraternal correction, which is really an exercise of fraternal charity, should not be abused, and it’s usually best done outside the media circus. But can anyone seriously doubt, after the debacles revealed in the Long Lent of 2002, that it’s absolutely imperative? George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.
Scratch that
home. Scratch that. Sunday 3 May 2009 — scenic I set my sites on being a misThree Mile River — World Day of sionary priest. I was a great fan of Prayer for Vocations Maryknoll magazine. The life of ister Jose Hobday, Franciscan, Native American, and nationally acclaimed spiritual guide, lecturer, and author, died Reflections of a last month. She referred to Parish Priest herself as “a missionaryat-large.” By Father Tim There can be vocaGoldrick tions within vocations. As a young man, trying a Maryknoll missionary looked to discern what type of priest God adventurous in the magazine was calling me to be, I thought of photographs. I soon determined entering the Holy Cross Fathers. I was invited to spend a week living that being a Maryknoll missionary priest was too adventuresome for a with the religious community at homebody like me. Scratch that. Stonehill College. It didn’t work While studying to be a diocesan out. In those days before Global priest, a missionary bishop visited Positioning Systems, I couldn’t my college seminary. He was find Stonehill College. Being a recruiting men to work with Native guy, I would never stop to ask directions. I drove around for hours Americans in the western provinces of Canada. At least I would still until I finally gave up and went
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The Ship’s Log
be in North America. The problem was that I was 19 years old and hesitant to relocate so far from family and friends. Scratch that. After ordination as a diocesan priest, I considered the Society of St. James. These are diocesan priests who volunteer in the foreign missions. I could be a diocesan priest and a missionary, but I was having too great a time just being a stay-at-home diocesan priest. Scratch that. Even well into my years as a diocesan priest, I still felt attracted to missionary life. The Missionary Fathers of La Salette caught my interest. I knew my bishop would be reluctant to release me (on second thought, maybe he wouldn’t have been at all) but I did discuss the matter with my spiritual director. He advised me to continue as a diocesan priest. OK. Scratch that.
After the washing up
many to recall similar hidden n my earliest years, I talents tucked around their lived with my grandparown family trees. Following ents on a postage stamp-sized Miss Boyle’s stunning debut lot in a large steel city. Our on Britain’s “Got Talent” were working class neighborhood investigative pieces on the housed first- and second47-year-old, revealing that she generation immigrants, mostly was the youngest of nine chilfrom Europe, who presided dren, suffered from the usual over orderly homes, cleansetbacks attached to learning swept streets and trimmed disabilities and was for years lawns. Meals were on a timethe primary care giver to her table, chores were a priority aging parents. She is a perfect and affection was measured example of humility, service in acts of love and service — and excellent priorities. usually. There were some rare evenings when the children in our house, all cousins and close in age, begged and cajoled my dear granny to let her By Genevieve Kineke hair down (after the grandpa had gone to bed, of course). When To add a bittersweet qualthe kitchen counter was wiped ity to the moving story, we and the last tea towel hung up learned that her mum always for the evening, the quiet pleas encouraged her singing, but would commence, and when despite investing in voice leswe saw the twinkle in her eye, sons, her subsequent grief over we knew the fun would soon her mother’s death silenced begin. all song. After two years Granny had left England as of mourning, she took the a teen-ager, but not before imbibing enough Gilbert and Sul- stage, and within the first two measures of her chosen piece, livan to round out the decades the judges and audience were to follow. Lifting the corners stunned. Seconds later, they of her apron just an inch or were on their feet roaring their two for effect, she swished approval. It was the perfect about on stolid ankles, with Cinderella story — goodness our timid giggles soon turning and virtue inspired her at that to raucous laughter. D’Oyly moment, and an unexpected Carte had nothing on our Magift was shared with the world. bel, and those private routines Now many who have talent form some of our dearest prepare themselves immedichildhood memories. ately to seek the venues that The recent sensation of will showcase their gifts — Susan Boyle, Scotland’s usually the ability to sing, to chanteuse célèbre has caused
The Feminine Genius
dance, or to act. Some find fame, some fizzle and others fall flat — with the finest becoming household names. Others, though, have different priorities; and what is most unique about them is their choice not to shine. It must be admitted that many who want to be discovered are constrained by family responsibilities, financial woes or cultural taboos, but what we have with darling Susan is her positive decision to put the needs of others first. She had dreams, but she also knew the value of filial piety — which made her eventual debut all the more delightful. Postponing it all those years didn’t make her bitter at all — but only added depth to her evident good nature. While many assume that the inherent lesson is to avoid judging books by their covers, the more important consideration should be to assess how much of her captivating performance was technical perfection, and how much was actually the ineffable qualities that humility, self-abnegation and generous love added to her voice. Women who choose to serve others are gifts in and of themselves. If there are even more treasures to be bestowed, how much more will they be appreciated when deferred until after the washing up. Mrs. Kineke is the author of “The Authentic Catholic Woman” (Servant Books). She can be found online at www.feminine-genius.com.
Once, my bishop suggested, in an off-handed manner, that I consider going to our Fall River diocesan mission in Honduras. He was mentioning this to every diocesan priest who happened to cross his path. I didn’t speak Spanish. “Well,” he suggested, “learn it.” That was easy for him to say. Scratch that. I’ve concluded that God didn’t want me to be a missionary priest. I can take a hint. Now beginning my 64th year, I’m too old to go trekking off to the missions. A missionary priest comes to each parish every year as part of the Mission Cooperative Plan of the Diocese of Fall River. I relish talking late into the night with my visiting missionary guest. Missionaries give me a sense of the universality of the Church. They inspire me to think globally and act locally. One missionary mentioned to me in passing that ministry in a parish can be more challenging than in the missions, but I still envy missionaries priests, to tell the truth. Once, another visiting missionary priest happened to say, “Father, you may be a diocesan priest, but you have the heart of a missionary.” This comment caught me by surprise. How could I possibly have the heart of a missionary? I live the life of a regular parish priest. I now know what he meant. A diocesan priest is a “missionaryat-large.” Being a missionary is not a matter of location. Being a missionary is a matter of the heart.
The task of a parish priest is the same task as that of a missionary priest — to keep the faith community focused on its apostolic mission. A parish priest must see that goal clearly, even when others can’t. He sets the course towards the kingdom. His primary job is not to raise money, form committees, design programs, maintain buildings, or to do the multitude of things parish priests end up doing. His first task is to lead others to the kingdom. Often, a parish priest these days doesn’t have enough time, enough resources, or enough personnel. I’m sure it must be the same everywhere the Gospel is proclaimed. This does not change the mission. Sister Jose Hobday said she was a missionary-at-large. She’s right. Every baptized woman and man is a missionary-at-large. A priest, of whatever variety, doesn’t need to build the kingdom by himself. The task belongs to all of us. We will know we are building the kingdom when we see the despairing find hope, the sinner find forgiveness, the broken-hearted find joy, and the suffering made whole. It’s easy to become distracted by the latest or the loudest crisis and lose sight of the mission. The Church, wherever it exists on earth, exists to further the Kingdom of God. “Grow where you are planted,” goes the old proverb. I’m planted in Dighton. Oh, wait. Now I get it. Father Goldrick is pastor of St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dighton.
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May 8, 2009
Responsibility, respect, and random acts of kindness
B y Michael Pare A nchor Correspondent
NEW BEDFORD — When, responding to changing demographics, the Diocese of Fall River decided several years ago to merge four existing parishes — St. Anne’s, St. Hedwig, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, and St. James — into one Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Parish, Kathleen Murphy was an obvious choice to serve on the Merger Transition Committee. Murphy, after all, was a New Bedford native who knew the community, the people and the history. She was deeply committed to parish activities at Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. Murphy served as a CCD teacher, an extraordinary minister of holy Communion, and as a volunteer at activities ranging from meat pie sales to the annual parish festival. So it made sense that she would be among those asked to help guide the parishes through such a monumental endeavor. The changes did not come easy. “Not everyone understood,” she said. Father Richard Wilson, currently pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James, arrived at a challenging time. In Murphy, he found one of those
people who would always be willing they tell him if something was bothto tell him like it was. Father Wilson ering them? needed that. Murphy and her husband “They may not want to say someDavid had been close to Father Ed- thing negative,” he said. ward Correia, But Murphy the pastor bewould tell him fore Father Wilwhat he needson. Whenever ed to hear. If he asked for she heard that help, they anpeople weren’t swered. It was happy about heartwarming a particular for Father Wilproposal, she son, new on the would let the scene, to find pastor know. that same kind Father Wilson of commitment. came to appre“She has alciate the honways been in esty. After all, contact with a consolidating lot of people in parishes does the parish,” said not come about Father Wilson. easily. No one “She is somewants his parone that could ish to be the always reach one that sees out to others. its doors close. And it’s not like The hurt can be my ears can be ANCHOR PERSON OF THE WEEK — Kath- lasting. everywhere.” Time helps. leen Murphy. And there’s But maybe most something else. important is So often, said Father Wilson, people communication. tend to be especially polite when they Murphy is a communicator. She are talking to their pastor. But would likes to talk to people and they like to talk to her. As for her line of communication with Father Wilson, Murphy said it makes perfect sense that she is comfortable talking to the pastor. “I’m old enough to be his mother,” she said with a laugh. “He is a nice man. He’s human. And everything he does is scrutinized.” So in communicating with Father Wilson, Murphy has found another simple way to help her parish. It’s what she does best. Murphy understands about facing challenges and about how, sometimes, all you can do is put your faith in God and believe that things will be all right. The period when the parishes were being consolidated coincided with an
especially difficult time for Murphy. Her husband died unexpectedly. It was in late May. Married 41 years, they were one of those couples that did things together. They were devoted. They raised two children and one grandchild. David worked for a bakery. The symbolism — the importance of bread in the Catholic faith — was not lost upon his wife. They had always volunteered for the parish together. In fact, one of the last things they did together was to work at a meat pie supper. His death came as a shock. It is a shock she still feels. “I was raised a Catholic,” said Murphy. “You were taught that when people die they go to a better place. That’s what I believe. That has made it a little bit easier … I didn’t really have time to think too much.” You can hear in her voice that she misses her husband dearly. Things aren’t the same. How could they be? But Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James remains an important part of Murphy’s life. She is still a minister of holy Communion and she helps teach Religious Education. Reflecting on it now, Murphy sees that she was always drawn to children, working for years as a baby-sitter and, then, as a cafeteria worker in the New Bedford school system. As Murphy sees it, it all revolves around faith. It’s her faith that gives her peace when she thinks about her late husband. It’s her faith that drives the simple acts of kindness that she carries out during a typical week, like driving an elderly parishioner to the doctor. “We’re here to take care of other people,” she said. “It’s always about responsibility and respect, especially to people who may not be as fortunate. We’re supposed to help our brothers and sisters.” To nominate a Person of the Week, send an email message to FatherRogerLandry@AnchorNews.org.
Join Father Pat on an Inspiring 3-Day Trip to Lancaster, PA July 14th, 15th, 16th, 2009 Includes: • Four Star Hotel • Breakfast & Dinners at Fine Dining Restaurants • Attend “In the Beginning” at the Millennium Theater • A Spectacular Musical at the American Music Theater • Orchestra Seating for Both Shows CALL FRAN AT 508-455-2656 IMMEDIATELY TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE!
It’s de‘press’ing sometimes
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ometimes, it’s not easy being a newsman. There’s a stigma attached to reporters that they will do anything for a story. I can understand that stigma. How many times have we seen a callous TV reporter stick a microphone in the face of someone who has just experienced a traumatic event, coldly asking “How do you feel right now?” Other times reporters have misquoted, or have taken quotes our of context, leaving the interviewee looking like a fool. The paparazzi will literally go to any extreme to capture that “exclusive” photo that will earn them fame and fortune ... well fortune anyway. There is little doubt people in my profession are not liked, or at
My View From the Stands By Dave Jolivet the very least not trusted. When I was a sports reporter for an area daily, I experienced first-hand several cold shoulders from interview subjects. I recall getting a one-on-one interview with the legendary coach, general manager, and president of the Boston Celtics, Red Auerbach. There I sat with the man who was part of an incredible 16 world championships. With his trademark cigar lodged between his index and middle finger on one hand, he signed autographs with the other. He was quite genial with the fans. I was allowed to ask questions between signings. His answers were short, almost curt, and he hardly looked me in the eye. I was the press. “Well that was fun,” I thought to myself as I finished up the tête à tête. I was also “allowed” access to Curtis Martin, then playing for the New England Patriots for a oneon-one. Martin was one of the best running backs in the game and still holds the N.Y. Jets record
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May 8, 2009 for rushing yards. This encounter was as much fun as old Red’s was. I was the press. I’ve even had the “press” stigma speaking with high school coaches. Frankly, there are some who haven’t treated me much better working in the Catholic press. I’ve often felt like an annoyance to some folks, and that’s usually reserved for my family. But I’ve also had some great interviews — most of them while working for The Anchor. A couple that stand out are Dana, the Catholic Irish singer; Sister Briege McKenna, who preaches healing through the Eucharist and her great love of the priesthood; and most recently, TV actor J. Omar Castro. These folks, despite their celebrity, treated me with respect and courtesy. It’s encounters like these that help erase the uncomfortable sessions. Last week I interviewed the prolific Nellie J. Gray for one of this week’s cover stories. I made an appointment to speak with her on the phone from her office in D.C. At the designated time, several days later, I hooked up with Nellie. I was immediately greeted with a warm “Hello Dave, how are you?” Wow, she remembered my name. Nellie is the foundress and president of the March for Life in Washington, D.C. that began following the evil Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. She still organizes the event and always has a full Pro-Life plate, yet she took a good half-hour of her time to share her thoughts with me. It wasn’t an interview, it was a conversation, and a warm one at that. I’m sure Nellie has been burned by the press sometimes during the past 40 years, but it didn’t show. No stigma there. “Well that was fun,” I thought to myself after the conversation. It made me want to go out and interview someone else. And that’s a good thing — it’s part of my job.
House amendment withdrawn — school transportation for private and parochial students remains intact By Dan Avila, Associate Director of Policy & Research, Mass. Catholic Conference
BOSTON — Rep. Martha (Marty) Walz (D-Boston) [not to be confused with Rep. Martin (Marty) Walsh (D-Boston)], on Friday withdrew her House budget amendment (#914) proposing to repeal a statute giving children in private and parochial schools statefunded access to the same busing services provided to public school children. The move to withdraw the amendment means that the issue will not be voted on in this year’s House budget debate. Unless a similar amendment were to be offered and approved during the upcoming budget debate in the Senate, the state guar-
antee of equal access for private and public school students will remain intact. This move is a very positive development. Thanks to all of those citizens in the Commonwealth who made their voices heard last week. It made a difference. The statute that the Walz amendment would have repealed, Section 1 of Chapter 76 of the Massachusetts General Law, provides students who attend private schools the same rights and privileges to transportation to and from schools as provided by law for students of public schools. This statute guarantees that students “shall not be denied such transportation because their attendance is in a school which is conducted under religious auspices or includes re-
ligious instruction in its curriculum.” This common-sense statute was enacted to promote child well-being, ensuring that private and parochial school children have the opportunity to use public school transportation for safety reasons. Inform your Representative that you approve and appreciate that the House did not take up the Walz amendment, leaving intact a vital safety measure in our state code for private and parochial school children. To learn who is your State Representative, go to www.wheredoivotema.com or call the main State House number at 617-7222000. Don’t miss the opportunity to say thanks.
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May 8, 2009
Catholic high school wins visit from pop star in text-message contest
HAUNTED PAST — Lacey Chabert and Matthew McConaughey star in a scene from the movie “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.” For a brief review of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS photo/Warner Bros.)
CNS Movie Capsules NEW YORK (CNS) — The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story” (Disney) Poignant biography of Walt Disney Studios’ most famous songwriter team — Richard Sherman and Robert Sherman — whose cheery songs for such films as “Mary Poppins” and “The Jungle Book” belied a fractious personal relationship. Directed by their sons, Jeffrey C. Sherman and Gregory V. Sherman, the wellcrafted documentary (unobjectionable though probably not for the kiddies) — which includes interviews with Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Angela Lansbury and other luminaries, as well as friends and family members — attempts to trace the roots of the conflict between these two disparate personalities, and also illuminates the mutual respect and love beneath the strained surface. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting
classification is A-I — general patronage. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” (Warner Bros.) A heartless womanizing bachelor (Matthew McConaughey) is visited by the ghosts of his playboy uncle (Michael Douglas) and those of his jilted girlfriends (Emma Stone, Noureen DeWulf and Olga Maliouk) on the eve of the wedding of his brother (Breckin Meyer), and he comes to realize the depth of his feelings for his childhood sweetheart (Jennifer Garner). Though there’s ultimately a wonderfully redemptive outcome and a strong affirmation of marriage and fidelity, along with a couple of superlative scenes for McConaughey, director Mark Waters’ “A Christmas Carol” retread is marred by far too much crude and smutty humor before getting there. Crass sexual talk and innuendo, some crude language and fleeting profanity, premarital sexual situations and a drug reference. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. “Obsessed” (Screen Gems) Competent but forgettable suspense yarn in which a temporary office worker (Ali Larter) becomes
Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, May 10 at 11:00 a.m.
Celebrant is Father Christopher Santangelo, SS.CC., pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in New Bedford
fixated on a happily married executive (Idris Elba) eventually causing his wife (Beyonce Knowles) to suspect an affair. Director Steve Shill’s feature debut, essentially a rickety star vehicle for Knowles, showcases marital fidelity, but dallies with vigilantism as the police — led by Christine Lahti as a detective — prove helpless. Moderate action violence, brief nongraphic sexual activity, a suicide attempt, some crude and crass language, a few sexual references and half a dozen uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (Fox/Marvel) Lavish and flashy action-packed prequel to the popular “X-Men” series exploring the origins of conflicted superhero Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), including his defining childhood, turbulent relationship with his brother, Victor Creed (Liev Schreiber), role in a team of fellow mutants (Ryan Reynolds, Will.i.Am, Kevin Durand, Dominic Monaghan) led by the duplicitous Col. Stryker (Danny Huston), and tragic romance with schoolteacher Kayla (Lynn Collins). Director Gavin Hood tries not to lose sight of the human elements with Wolverine generally demonstrating moral conscience, though the kinetic action and violence necessarily predominate. Intense action violence, killings, explosions, patricide, fleeting rear nudity, premarital cohabitation, some crude expletives, crass expressions and brief profanity, limiting its appropriateness to mature teens and up. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (CNS) — Sweat pouring down his face and an “I heart TS” tattoo on his upper arm, Geoffrey Oldland touched the hand of country and pop sensation Taylor Swift not once but twice, as she bid the students of Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria a heartfelt goodbye after a 70-minute private concert. “It was awesome,” said Oldland, a senior who sat in the third row for the show Swift performed April 28 for the school that won a Verizon text-messaging contest. Deafening cheers erupted from the students as they welcomed the 19-year-old star onto their auditorium stage and proceeded to jump up and down for the better part of the next hour. Even teachers got into the show, clapping along and taking pictures on their cell phones as Swift played a list of hits, many off her second and most recent album, “Fearless.” “I can’t believe it was real,” said Fiona Carroll, following the show. “I got chills,” added Ellie Goelz. Principal Tim Hamer said Swift’s song, “The Best Day,” was true for the school. “This was very much the best
day for us,” he said. “It’s very much a David and Goliath story,” with a Catholic high school winning a contest in which thousands of schools — many of them much larger — participated. As Ireton students waited for the concert to begin, they could hone their texting skills even further by sending messages to their friends via their cell phones and having them appear on a screen behind the stage. That’s all part of Swift “going mobile” on her U.S. tour, with opportunities for fans to win additional texting contests, download songs and virtually sing with the star. In the nearly three years since Swift released her first single, “Tim McGraw,” the artist has experienced a dramatic rise to fame. Swift was nominated for a 2008 Grammy Award for best new artist and won album of the year for “Fearless” at the 44th annual Academy of Country Music Awards in April. Her first single from that album, “Love Story,” has earned accolades from both country and pop audiences — and got wild applause at the end of her show at Bishop Ireton. As one student said: “It’s Taylor Swift! We all love her.”
SWIFT RESPONSE — Singer Taylor Swift performs at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Va., recently. Students beat out other schools in a text-messaging contest to win a visit from the award-winning singer. (CNS photo/Jonathan Tramontana)
The Anchor
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news briefs
Some parishes change Mass practices to prevent spread of swine flu WASHINGTON (CNS) — As the number of swine influenza cases increases around the world, some U.S. bishops are suggesting ways that pastors can alter certain practices within the celebration of Mass in an effort to prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus. The swine flu is transmitted when an infected person coughs or sneezes around others. It can also be spread when a person touches a surface contaminated with the virus and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth. Parishes in the Diocese of Austin, Texas, are not to “offer the Blood of Christ at Eucharist until more is known about the virus,” according to a letter from Bishop Gregory M. Aymond. “It seems that having the public drink from the chalice may be an unnecessary risk,” Bishop Aymond said. Bishop Aymond further instructed ministers of Communion to always have clean hands when handling and distributing the Eucharist. In the Diocese of Dallas, Bishop Kevin J. Farrell also asked pastors to “consider suspending in your parish the reception of the holy Eucharist under both species.” In the letter, Bishop Farrell reminded pastors and ministers of holy Communion to maintain proper hygiene when handling the Eucharist. Palestinian refugees asking pope to take their story to the world AIDA REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank (CNS) — When Pope Benedict XVI comes to the Aida Refugee Camp May 13, Um Omar will climb to the balcony on the top floor of her building and wave both her hands in a victory sign in his direction. “We don’t have money to pay the water and electricity bills. If he can help us with that, he is welcome. If he can help us remove the wall, he is welcome,” said Um Omar, 52, whose given name is Widad Abu Akkar but who is known by the traditional moniker of “mother of Omar,” her oldest son. She has raised all 14 of her children in a cramped 650-square-foot, threebedroom apartment. When her children were growing up there was an open field opposite their apartment building and she would spend most of her time there, letting them tumble about as they enjoyed picnic lunches. Today, the building — which has grown by four floors as sons and cousins have married and built apartments for their wives — overlooks the stage in front of the Israeli separation barrier from which the pope will address the camp’s 4,860 residents. Holy Sepulcher order helps cover cost of papal trip to Holy Land VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Blessed Pope Pius IX re-established the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem in 1847 to support the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and other Catholics living in the Holy Land. Pope Benedict XVI’s May 8-15 trip to the region will help him see the results of that support and the ongoing needs of the region’s Christians, but the visit itself is partially a result of the knights’ generosity. U.S. Cardinal John P. Foley, grand master of the order, said the knights and dames had given about $325,000 to Pope Benedict and the same amount to Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem to help cover the expenses of the visit. The cardinal and 50 knights will be on hand during the papal trip, forming a sort of honor guard, he said. To support the trip with prayer and finances is to support the pope in his mission as the successor of Peter, Cardinal Foley said. “He will do what Peter always does: encourage the faithful, recognize them, give them a renewed sense of worth and let them know how much the universal Church appreciates them and the importance of their faith,” he said. Pope expresses sorrow for suffering of Canadian aboriginal students VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a step toward reconciling a longstanding historical injustice, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his sorrow for the suffering of Canadian aboriginal children over decades in Church-run residential schools. The pope met at the Vatican April 29 with a delegation of native Canadians representing those who had suffered forced acculturation and in some cases physical and sexual abuse at the government schools, many run by Catholics, and listened to their grievances. He expressed his “sorrow at the anguish caused by the deplorable conduct of some members of the Church and offered his sympathy and prayerful solidarity,” a Vatican statement said after the meeting, which followed the regular weekly papal audience. “His Holiness emphasized that acts of abuse cannot be tolerated in society. He prayed that all those affected would experience healing, and he encouraged First Nations peoples to continue to move forward with renewed hope,” the Vatican statement said. Phil Fontaine, grand chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Canada and a former student of an Indian residential school, said group members “heard what we came for” and were “very happy” with the meeting and the response of Pope Benedict.
Our readers respond
Upset by bishops’ conclusions on Reiki I was very upset by the U.S. bishops’ committee report on Reiki. I’m a practicing Catholic and Reiki practitioner as well as a Hospice volunteer that uses Reiki on many of the dying who request it. I cannot possibly understand how the committee came to their conclusion that Reiki was inappropriate for Catholic institutions. Many practicing Catholics that I know have found Reiki to be a very comforting, relaxing “therapy,” although I don’t know if “therapy” is the correct term. In my use of Reiki, I generally place my hands on a person’s head, shoulders or feet and as I do so, am praying to God to allow his peace to bring comfort to that person. It is through God’s healing power that the Reiki energy does bring peace and comfort — just as prayer does. People do reply that my hands are very warm and this happens as I pray and place my hands on them — generally speaking, my hands are always cold — so it is only through God’s power that this happens. I do not know of any Christian Reiki practitioner that thinks they are doing anything but bringing peace, comfort and relaxation to those they touch. They are fully aware that it is God who uses them as a channel of his peace and love. Betty Foley Mashpee Is Reiki’s harmony a gift from God? In response to your article in the April 10 edition of The Anchor stating that Reiki therapy is inappropriate for Catholic institutions, I had already read the bishops’ guidelines and was very disturbed that a judgment could be determined that is without validation. To publicly state that Reiki “finds no support either in the findings of natural science or in Christian belief” is absurd. Reiki is a very natural healing technique that works to bring harmony to the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies. It helps to strengthen the body’s own healing systems, decreasing anxiety, stress and pain. It works with the autonomic nervous system to lower blood pressure and heart rate and increases the abilities of the immune system to fight bacterial and viral infections. Endorphins, our body’s natural painkillers, are released, and a state of general well-being is created, intensifying healing
at all levels. Reiki is not a religion, but a healing connection and is used as an adjunct to traditional medical treatments. I am a retired practicing Roman Catholic communicant, wife, mother and grandmother. I am also a Reiki master teacher and founded a free Reiki clinic in 2002. I use Reiki as a relaxation and meditation technique on myself daily and frequently and generously offer treatments to family members, friends and those in my community. I feel Reiki is a gift from God and treat Reiki with very deep respect and offer much gratitude for this privilege. June Robillard Mashpee
Reiki and overtones of pantheism I’m writing in response to your April 10 article on Reiki. I have been a recipient of Reiki therapy, as well as studied the first level of the therapy. I want to say that at no time while I was studying or receiving Reiki was it ever referred to as a religion or used in place of faith in God. It was strictly an energy healing that has helped me on many occasions. I have periodically suffered from anxiety and depression and Reiki has helped to relax and alleviate the symptoms. Simply by listening to the tapes on Reiki I am offered relief. I also separately pray for healing and discernment. I believe the Church really has no right to interfere with Reiki. Religion and Reiki are two separate matters and should be treated as such. Please pay more attention to more important matters at hand and let this one go. Genia Proffitt Dedham The Executive Editor replies: The U.S. bishops wrote the document in response to requests for clarification of whether it’s possible for Reiki to be offered in Catholic health care institutions or in parishes. Their point was that Reiki has no scientific or Christian foundation. At the scientific level, the bishops relied on the studied opinion of the medical community, which states that (1) it’s never been scientifically demonstrated that Reiki techniques have achieved anything beyond placebo effects in those who have received it and that (2) no scientific mechanism has ever been proven as to how Reiki achieves those putative results. At the religious level, the bishops have
an easily understandable problem with the pseudo-religious vocabulary and dubious metaphysical explanation given by many Reiki practitioners that it works through tapping into the “universal life force.” That strikes the bishops as bordering on pantheism and the bishops have an obvious interest in trying to prevent the spread of pantheism among the Christian faithful and in Catholic institutions. Thanks for responding to letters I am happy that you not only print the letters that the faithful send to The Anchor but as executive editor you sometimes respond pro or con. There are some editors that will not respond for various reasons but I have learned that you respond tactfully. Had you not responded to some letters, I would have. I am amazed at the number of cafeteria Catholics in our faith. Al Laurino Plymouth Praise for Reconciliation Weekend I initially wanted to write to thank you for all The Anchor did to promote the Reconciliation Weekend during Lent. What a great idea that weekend was, one that will continue to help so many of us through the years. I loved Father Landry’s article about how God showed his pleasure with the 153 “fish” he caught. God does that so much for us when we see it and even when we don’t. What a beautiful gift confession is. What finally got me to put pen to paper, however, was Father Landry’s article on Divine Mercy. I was skeptical 10 years ago when I went to my first Divine Mercy celebration. It only took that one time to understand the power. Dean Greber Fall River Letters are welcome but the editor reserves the right to condense or edit for clarity if deemed necessary. Letters should be typed, no longer than 100 words and should include name, address, and telephone number. Letters do not necessarily reflect the editorial views of The Anchor. Letters should be sent to: The Anchor, Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722-0007, or Emailed to fatherrogerlandry@anchornews. org.
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The Anchor
Mother of March for Life keeps on keeping on continued from page one
World War II. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s in economics. She was an employee of the federal government for 28 years, working for the State Department and the Department of Labor, all the while attending Georgetown University Law School to become a lawyer. Gray found herself practicing law before the U.S. Supreme Court. In an interview with The Anchor, Gray indicated she wasn’t a Catholic as a child, but “I had elements of the Catholic faith in my life.” As a young woman, she encountered a priest who brought to light what the Catholic Church truly was and he tutored her until she joined the Church. Gray indicated she had a very fulfilling life in the Army and working for the State Department. When the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision came down in 1973 she said, “I knew abortion was wrong, but I really didn’t pay much attention to the ruling. I felt it was something out of the experience of American life. There was no validity to taking another human life. I didn’t think anyone would take it seriously.” Eventually Gray realized the ruling was being taken very seriously. There was a tugging at her heartstrings to do something about it, but wasn’t quite sure what. “I was preparing to retire soon, and was thinking about establishing my own practice,” she said. In ’73 Gray was approached by a Pro-Life group in New York who had been fighting against abortion in Albany. “They got my name as someone who could probably help,” said Gray. “They knew I knew how to work with the government, and it was their phone call that increased my interest in the Pro-Life movement.” Later that year she retired from her professional life and dedicated all of her efforts to the burgeoning
Pro-Life movement — all on a volunteer basis. Gray helped found and later became president of the March for Life in the nation’s capital that began Jan. 22, 1974. “I received a call from the Knights of Columbus,” she recalled. “I didn’t even know who they were, but they explained their stance against abortion and needed a place to meet to discuss plans for a march. That place was my living room. About 30 people gathered there and they asked if I could help get speakers for the event since I knew Capitol Hill well. “What I couldn’t get was a master of ceremonies for the event. Politicians didn’t want to get involved in a march, and people at that time weren’t interested in marches after the Civil Rights movement and other things. That left the emcee job to me. With an estimated 20,000 ProLife allies, Gray opened many eyes in this country to the plight of millions of unborn children, none of whom were protected by their own government. Since then, hundreds of thousands of Pro-Life advocates descend on Washington, D.C. each year to be the voice for the voiceless victims, violently killed by trained medical professionals. “Following the march, we had about $400 left over and we were trying to decide where we should donate it. One Knight said we need another march next year, so it went in the coffers.” The March for Life Corporation was formed in 1974 with Gray as president. “It was then that we established the Life Principles that would guide the movement,” said Gray. “A group of us put them together while in a New York airport. We concentrated on ‘thou shalt not kill,’ but we agreed the principles should concentrate on the positive, not the negative.” Set in the context
of the Declaration of Independence, the Life Principles demand equal care for the unborn child and the mother, “no exceptions, no compromise.” The whole basis of March for Life lies in the Life Principles, the 1930 encyclical of Pope Pius XI, “Casti Cannubii, (On Christian Marriage), and the principles of the Nurembuerg Trials following World War II, all of which in one way or another state that no person or entity can justify the intentional killing of an innocent life. “Those three documents, and the words of St. Paul, ‘Evil is not to be done that good may come from it,’ are what drives March for Life,” said Gray. Gray, who has attended each of the 36 marches, has seen the amount of Pro-Life supporters grow, particularly with young people. “Many young people don’t know that one-third of their generation, that’s 50,000,000 people, have been killed through the evil of abortion,” she said. “They are realizing there is no justification in killing an innocent human being. We must eliminate this evil intention in this country.” Gray said what keeps her motivated to maintain the fight is that 50,000,000 babies are killed each year. “That should make front-page news in the New York Times and Washington Post,” she said. “But it doesn’t. The people are kept in the dark. The feminist movement has manipulated popular opinion with language like ‘pro choice,’ and a ‘woman’s right to privacy.’ After fighting against evil in World War II, I get very upset that we have Americans trying to justify abortion. Americans cannot think they can authorize the killing of an unborn child. Somehow a juggernaut of evil has grown in this country, including Catholics who vote for prochoice candidates. We will never win this fight until this juggernaut is exposed and eliminated. I just don’t know how we’re going to do it.” Larry Cirignano is the former
May 8, 2009 executive director of Catholic Citizenship, the Catholic grassroots education organization in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He has been working closely with Gray for nearly a year at her office in Washington, D.C. “Nellie has been the anchor of the Pro-Life movement as the central gathering point for the movement every year,” he told The Anchor. “She has forced the issue of the Life Principles and kept everybody’s feet to the fire with no exceptions with equal care for the mother and child.” Cirignano first met Gray in the early 1990s when the Knights of Columbus got together to do some work in and around her home. “Last year I painted the back of her house and after going through numerous color samples I had to put a gray primer coat on the front of the house to make it stick,” Said Cirignano. “Nellie likes the color gray,” he mused. While Cirignano has been friends with Gray for approximately 10 years, he knows of her hard work and dedication to the Pro-Life movement since its inception in 1974. “Many priests cite the March for Life as the reason for their choice of vocation,” said Cirignano. “Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life says the march was what inspired him to join the priesthood and make the life issue his calling.” “As a colleague in national ProLife leadership, Nellie is always an inspiration to the rest of us,” Father Pavone told The Anchor. “Her determination is seen, for instance, in how, last year, despite the fact that she fell on the day of the March for Life and was in the hospital that night, she nevertheless was present at all all-day meeting of national leaders the very next morning, with a patch on her head. “But most of all, it was attending the third annual March for Life in 1976 that launched me into the ProLife movement as a high school senior — and Nellie’s leadership made that possible.” Gray has not only spurred vocations to the priesthood in her
nearly four decades of Pro-Life efforts. She has inspired countless individuals to take up the fight for life. “David Berite and the 40 Days for Life movement has inspired a whole new generation of people to get involved,” said Cirignano. “He has had much success in closing down ‘abortion mills’ and saving individual babies one at a time. “There used to be more than 2,000 abortion mills in the U.S. Now Mark Crutcher at Life Dynamics says there are fewer than 792 death camps. Fewer doctors are willing to commit abortion and fewer neighborhoods are willing to allow new centers to open.” Cirignano credits Gray’s efforts for inspiring Berite’s involvement. He also said Gray inspired Chris Slattery who runs Expectant Mother Care and Frontline in New York City, and also runs a training academy in the Bronx to teach people how to sidewalk council mothers to keep their babies. Judie Brown, president and founder of American Life League also jumped into the fray thanks to Gray. “And so has every person who has ever prayed outside an abortion mill or worked in a center and saved a baby,” he added. “She has inspired all of these people and the annual gathering has been a boost in the arm to continue to fight and challenge to grow.” “There is a hard core right-tolife movement in this country,” said Gray. “We need to support the people who believe in equal rights for all life — they must be guided by the Life Principles. That’s why not one word of the March for Life Life Principles has changed since 1973.” Gray is already at work in the nation’s capital planning the 2010 March for Life. She and other hardworking Pro-Life advocates are diligently trying to figure out how to break the juggernaut of evil in the U.S. Prior to presenting Gray the inaugural Culture of Life Award at the recent Boston Catholic Women’s Conference, Cardinal O’Malley said that when the tragic event of Roe v. Wade occurred in 1973, “it caught many of us off guard, and many of us didn’t know how to react. But one of the persons who did know how to react was Nellie Gray. She is my hero.” Nellie Gray is a hero to many priests, Pro-Life leaders and thousands fighting in the trenches. And most important of all, she is a hero to countless unborn children who were able to see the light of day thanks to the love, efforts and dedication of their unofficial adopted mother. She would be the first to say she can’t do it alone, and so many others have joined the cause. During this month of the Blessed Mother and Mother’s Day, it would be good for all of us to pray for Nellie Gray and her millions of unborn children, and to thank the good Lord for this unique child of God.
May 8, 2009
Spiritual motherhood: The gift of nurturing the lives of others continued from page one
a Christ-bearer. It means women can be spiritual mothers in a variety of circumstances and places: at the grocery store, in the office, working in the fields, making a meal for a friend, praying the rosary, monitoring what her children or children under her care are watching on TV. “Yes, it means that women can be spiritual mothers anywhere, no matter what their age or job or social status,” said Cecilia M. Felix, principal at Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford. “I’m a single woman, so I can’t witness what being a birth mother is like. But having taught at Holy Family for 30 years and been principal for 18 years, I can tell you I feel like a mother as I take the children’s cares and problems home with me each night and pray for each of them that God will assist them in their daily lives and spiritual growth,” Felix said. “Currently there are 285 children in our school I care and worry about … and frequently that extends to their parents as we pray for their marriages and family life, and their lives as faithful Catholics. It means being available when people need us … and providing a listening ear and offering advice, and all that takes on a kind of nurturing too,” Felix added. It is not a new concept. The Catholic Church has always encouraged spiritual motherhood, only under a different title — the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Giving food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty emphasize caring for a person’s tangible needs, while counseling the doubtful, instructing the ignorant, comforting the sorrowful, nurturing others in less tangible, but still critical ways. Another unique and more modern method of practicing spiritual motherhood is when a woman becomes a mother for priests. “Regardless of age and marital status, all women can become spiritual mothers for a priest,” said Cardinal Claudio Hummes as prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy in 2007. He explained that the commitment implies praying “for a specific priest and thus accompanying him for life,” usually anonymously. It is not only for mothers of families, but is just as possible for an unmarried girl, a widow, or for someone who is ill. It is especially pertinent for missionaries and religious Sisters who have given their lives entirely to God for the sanctification of others, he said. Every priest has a birth mother and often she is a spiritual mother for her children as well. Bishop Giuseppe Sarto, the
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The Anchor future Pope Pius X, visited his 70-year-old mother after being ordained a bishop. She kissed her son’s ring and pointed out her own simple silver wedding band saying, “Yes, Giuseppe, you would not be wearing that ring if I had not first worn mine.” Pope St. Pius X would later say, “Every vocation to the priesthood comes from the heart of God, but it goes through the heart of a mother.” Sister Aloka, mother superior to members of the Missionaries of Charity at its convent in New Bedford, said, “All women can be mothers in various ways,” even those in religious life, because of their care and concern and compassion they readily give in their ministries “to those who are in need.” At St. Pius X School in South Yarmouth, principal Patricia Marmen, the mother of a set of boy twins and a daughter, finds a parallel in her vocation of having been a teacher for 30 years and an administrator for 22 of those. “Part of any good educator is nurturing and encouraging all those in one’s care, and it extends to our staff and parents too,” she said. “In a Catholic school it means not just teaching the faith and prayer, but also to encouraging their life-long practice.” However, she views that role as being one more of ministry than of a “spiritual motherhood,” she explained. “Whatever our roles, we must and do pray intensely for vocations to the priesthood and acknowledge we need more priests,” Marmen added. “While prayers for priestly vocations are powerful and important, something is missing … something more needs to be done in the Church at a time of crisis when we are seeing fewer and fewer men coming to the priesthood.”
The link students continue to have with those they realize played so important a role in their spiritual lives is seen by so many who visit the Website of the Holy Union Sisters, says Sister Mary Lou Simcoe, communications officer for the congregation’s U.S. Province. “There are regular emails from former students wishing to make contacts with our Sisters, wanting to talk about their lives and how grateful they are for something that happened in the past and looking to talk some more, and so the spiritual motherhood is indeed real,” she added. So much so, Sister Simcoe noted, “that there are two young women entering religious life because of the example and care — and, yes, the nurturing — given them by our Sisters,” she reported. Mercy Sister Catherine Donovan, the bishop’s representative to religious in the diocese, said that when religious women through their contemplative prayer and the Eucharist carrying forth the Word of God, they, like the Blessed Mother Mary in expressing her fiat — or yes — to God’s plan, also bring Christ into the world. “That is how we become living icons of God’s compassionate care,” she said, noting that those they have cared for and ministered to often refer to them as “being like their mothers.” “Women of understanding and quiet confidence and strength demonstrate qualities which endear those they serve to love them as spiritual mothers,” she noted. Among the gifts of their minds religious bring, are ideals, principles and purposes; gifts of the spirit such as prayer, peace and strength of faith; “and most of all they bring to all those they serve the gifts of their hearts,” Sister Donovan commented.
Speakers, video highlight Catholic Charities Appeal
FALL RIVER — Videos, audio-messages, guest speakers, and specially designed handouts are all being highlighted in parishes during these early stages of the 2009 Catholic Charities Appeal. The video focuses on the ministries funded by the annual Appeal and those being assisted and the audio-message from Bishop George W. Coleman is an invitation to diocesan parishioners to once again show their generosity by assisting the diocese as it attempts to lessen the difficulties faced by so many of our friends and neighbors. The guest speakers come from the agencies themselves who know first-hand the trials and tribulations being experienced by the thousands of individuals and families who turn to the diocese during their time of need; and the informational materials are designed to inform all parishioners in the 91 parishes of the diocese exactly how their contribution will help the literally tens of thousands of our friends and neighbors during these very difficult times. “Educating parishioners all across the Diocese of Fall River about the tremendous work of the Catholic Charities Appeal -funded agencies and ministries is really the best way for us to make certain people are comfortable with their donation and truly understand the significant impact they are having” explained Mike Donly, director of Development. “If they truly comprehend how many people we are feeding, sheltering, counseling, etc., there is no way they would question the need to share their resources with their neighbors. But it is our job to make certain we’ve done
all we can to present them with these facts,” he continued. “So the reason for the video, message from the bishop, agency speakers, printed materials, our Website, press releases and the like. We help people realize they are having a tremendous impact on the lives of literally thousands in southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands; that 94 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to our agencies to minister to the clients; further understand that this yearly Appeal is the only time the diocese asks its parishioners to come together to assist in meeting the needs of the poor; and can comprehend the impact the present state of the economy is having on individuals and families who have never before asked anyone for help. “Knowing that, it’s easy to understand why more than 35,000 gave to the Appeal last year and difficult to understand why some others did not. Hopefully our efforts to bring these facts to the attention of even more of our diocesan parishioners will make them realize they need to join these other parishioners in supporting the Catholic Charities Appeal if we are to meet the most basic needs of the thousands flooding our agencies looking for assistance,” concluded Donly. Bishop Coleman’s audiomessage and the video may be heard and viewed on the Catholic Charities Appeal Website: www. frdioc-catholiccharities.org Donations can be sent to the Catholic Charities Appeal Office, P.O. Box 1470, Fall River, MA 02722; dropped off at any parish in the diocese; or made on the Appeal Website: www. frdioc-catholiccharities.org
St. Joseph School, Fairhaven
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A STITCH IN TIME — In a gesture reflecting the generous spirit of the “Feehan Family,” Steve Tallarida of Mansfield purchased a handcrafted quilt at Bishop Feehan High School’s live auction and presented it to Sister Pat Harrington as a gift. Tallarida overheard her admiring the fine work of the piece prior to the auction, and set out to win the item for her with a high bid of $900. The crafters spent more than a year creating the quilt in Feehan’s colors of green and gold. This year’s auction was Feehan’s most successful ever, despite a weak economy, reaching a profit of $100,000 which will be used to help support its convent renovation project. From left: the Attleboro quilters: Theresa Lattari, Barbara Stapleton; Sister Harrington, Steve Tallarida, and Carol Claflin. Not pictured are Meg Bellomo and Celine Spader.
Youth Pages
May 8, 2009
ONE STEP AT A TIME — Fourth- and fifth-graders at St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro participated in the Activate Attleboro Step Challenge. Each student was given a pedometer to measure the amount of steps he or she takes. They students strived to achieve 10,000 steps or more each day. Here Ed Poirier of the Attleboro YMCA explained the program to the students.
HANDLED WITH KID GLOVES — Kindergarten students at St. Pius X School in South Yarmouth recently received a visit from guests from The Zooquarium in West Yarmouth.
INSPIRING PERFORMANCE — Members of the Kids in Christ youth group at St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Dartmouth enacted the living Stations of the Cross as part of Holy Week activities.
INNOVATIVE IDEAS — The fourth- and fifth-graders at Holy Name School in Fall River recently held an Invention Convention to share their innovative ideas with students and parents. Awards were given for Best Oral Presentation, Most Unique Invention, Best Poster, Best Overall, Most Practical, Best Model and Most Likely to be Manufactured.
A DAY WITH THE BISHOP — Students from St. Mary’s School in New Bedford recently attended Mass with Bishop George W. Coleman during a deanery retreat at the parish.
May 8, 2009
W
ith so many distractions around us it is sometimes difficult to place complete thought on prayer. Finding a quiet place to pray, to be with God, isn’t easy these days. When I find myself in that situation I look at my hands, and, joining them in prayer, I concentrate on the “Five Finger Prayer.” The distractions of the world seem to dissipate and my heart and mind are focused on what’s important at that very moment. Try it. You see that your thumb is the nearest to you. So begin your prayer by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a “sweet duty.” The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct, and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Always keep them in your prayers. The next finger
Youth Pages Pray for others
is the tallest finger. It reminds swered. But are you the source us of our leaders. Pray for the of that answered prayer? Read president, leaders in industry the following story and find and business, and administraout. tors. These people shape our A voyaging ship was nation and our world and guide wrecked during a storm at sea public opinion. They need and only two of the men on it God’s guidance. The fourth were able to swim to a small, finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who By Ozzie Pacheco are weak, in trouble, or in pain. They need our constant prayers. You cannot pray too much desert-like island. The two for them. And lastly comes survivors, not knowing what our little finger; the smallest else to do, agreed that they had finger of all, which is where no other recourse but to pray we should place ourselves in to God. However, to find out relation to God and others. As whose prayer was more powerthe Bible says, “the least shall ful, they agreed to divide the be the greatest among you.” territory between them and stay Your pinky should remind you on opposite sides of the island. to pray for yourself. The first thing they prayed When we pray our hope is to for was food. The next mornhave God answer our prayers. ing, the first man saw a fruitI have no doubt that many of bearing tree on his side of the your prayers have been anland, and he was able to eat its
Be Not Afraid
fruit. The other man’s parcel of land remained barren. After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, the second man has nothing. Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing. Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side on the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive God’s blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered. As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a
17 voice from heaven booming: “Why are you leaving your companion on the island?” “My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed them,” the first man answered. “His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything.” “You are mistaken” the voice rebuked him. “He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings.” “Tell me,” the first man asked the voice, “what did he pray for that I should owe him anything?” “He prayed that all your prayers be answered.” As seen in this light, it becomes easier for us to share the blessings of prayer, whether these blessings be material or moral. For all we know, these are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but those of another person secretly praying for us. God bless. Ozzie Pacheco is Faith Formation director at Santo Christo Parish, Fall River.
The Anchor is always pleased to run news and photos about our diocesan youth. If schools or parish Religious Education programs have newsworthy stories and photos they would like to share with our readers, send them to: schools@ anchornews.org
FULL HOUSE OF WORSHIP — More than 500 eighth-graders from parochial schools across the Diocese of Fall River gathered recently for a Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River. (Photo courtesy of Susan Massoud)
Hundreds of eighth-graders tour cathedral, attend Mass
FALL RIVER — More than 500 eighth-grade students from 19 Catholic schools in the Fall River Diocese gathered for Mass recently at St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral and to tour the diocese’s mother church as part of their studies.
Prior to the annual visit, the religion classes from the schools viewed an online presentation on the history of the diocese and the cathedral based on the writings of Father Barry W. Wall, diocesan archivist. During the visit, teachers and some accompanying pastors add-
ed their experiences to the tour experience. Father Paul Bernier, rector of the cathedral, was the principal celebrant of the Mass, with the pastors as concelebrants. Father Wall was the homilist, and Father David Costa led the music for the liturgy.
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The Anchor
Abortion foes labeled ‘extremists’ continued from page one
and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment.” Approximately 70,000 people signed onto the letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano between April 20 and 29, according to ACLJ spokesman Gene Kapp. The letter states: “To label Pro-Lifers as ‘rightwing extremists’ and ‘domestic terrorists’ is incorrect as a matter of law and wrong as a matter of policy. This type of unconstitutional language targets peaceloving, pro-American citizens of the United States and their fundamental First Amendment rights. “It’s time to target the real terrorists,” the letter continues. “Focus your attention on rooting out those people who are bent on causing harm to our country and remove the Pro-Life community from this warning.” ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow said the report attacks Americans’ constitutional rights to religion, speech and assembly. “The DHS has completely lost focus on going after those folks who are trying to intentionally do harm to America and have gone on a rampage against conservative and religious rights groups,” he said. Boston College Law Professor Scott FitzGibbon commented, “Ms. Napolitano should set
the record straight and see to it that this defamatory comment is corrected.” Her comments “show the obvious disdain for the Pro-Life community in the Obama Administration,” Moran concluded. “However, I was proud as a Pro-Life activist to be equated with our returning war veterans.” The report warned that the troubled economy and the election of the first black U.S. president could bolster “extremist recruiting.” It linked veterans to the threat assessment because of their combat skills. The fallout over the report is heating up. On April 17, Napolitano issued an “apology” of sorts to American Legion National Commander David Rehbein, according to ABC News. She reportedly met with Rehbein and said, “The report was poorly written. It didn’t pass the standards of an internal review and therefore it shouldn’t have gone out the door.” “The Right to Life movement should be able to expect a similar meeting and apology,” said Anne Fox, president of Massachusetts Citizens for Life. “My first reaction to the report was to encourage every Pro-Life person in the country to use the Freedom of Information Act to demand to know whether he or she was listed with the Department of Home-
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May 8, 2009
MOMS ministries thriving in diocese land Security,” Fox said. “That may still be necessary.” She welcomed the ACLJ retraction initiative. Its letter went not only to Napolitano but also to the governors and attorney generals of all 50 states, as the DHS report instructs state and local law enforcement to monitor, investigate and “report information concerning suspicious or criminal activity to DHS and the FBI.” In addition to the ACLJ effort, a coalition of nearly two dozen faith-based organizations have banded together under the umbrella NoPoliticalProfiling. com. Among them are the American Family Association, Operation Rescue and the Population Research Institute. This group’s petition demands that Napolitano resign and Obama apologize to law-abiding citizens who hold traditional values. “This report, targeting ProLife activists, our very own military which has been fighting for America and those who oppose his budget (think ‘Tea Parties’) is a huge warning sign that there is more to come,” commented Patricia Stebbins of Sandwich, chairperson of the Cape Cod Family Life Alliance. “It saddens me tremendously to think 52 percent of Catholics voted to launch this attack on the most fundamental of our liberties by voting for Obama.” “The president’s rhetoric should sound an alarm with our community leaders,” agreed Victor Pap, executive director of the grassroots group Catholic Citizenship, which promotes lay involvement in civic life. “If calling those who promote and protect life ‘extremists’ doesn’t spur the complacent to action, then nothing short of government regulation of Canon Law will.” ABC News reported, “Some lawmakers, including Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, say Napolitano’s not fit for the job and if she doesn’t quit, she should be forced out.” Kapp said the ACLJ has had no response from the Homeland Security Chief, but will forward its petition to the administration in the first part of May. It would support a call for Congressional hearings on the issue, he said. The Virginia State Police issued a recent terrorism report that cited Christian universities as potential terror threats, Kapp added. But days later, a statement from the Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine expressed concern about the linkage and said he would conduct a probe.
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self as it affects the family’s spirituality and that flows into the communities in which they participate.” During the past few years MOMS groups have formed and continue to thrive in parishes throughout the Fall River Diocese. Although the ministry commences with an eight-week process of spiritual reflection and prayer, all the members continue to bond and work together to benefit their respective parishes long after that initial phase. “We just began our fifth session,” said Judy Sullivan, MOMS coordinator at St. Pius the Tenth Parish, South Yarmouth. “We’re a support group for spirituality and growth in Christ. Our main activity is helping each other, but when the parish calls and asks us to do something, we do. During Lent, we ran a simple supper for people on Friday night before the Stations of the Cross.” Sullivan estimated there are about 40 active members in her MOMS ministry that formed about two-and-a-half years ago. This fall they will be co-hosting a retreat with Christ the King Parish in Mashpee to be led by MOMS co-founder Sister Paula Hagen on the weekend of September 18-19. “It’s not just a group for moms, either,” Sullivan added. “We have a couple of single women in our group and we have a couple of what we call ‘grandmothers.’ Each group has had at least one older woman and it’s been wonderful for them to share some of the wisdom they have with the other moms.” One of the first in the diocese to formalize a MOMS ministry group nearly seven years ago, Christ the King Parish has completed 11 eight-week sessions and currently has an estimated 60 active members. “It’s a ministry of women sharing,” said Dottie Hiltz, coordinator for MOMS at Christ the King. “There are many women who are moms — whether they are young moms, older moms, grand-moms, aunt-moms, or just god-moms. It’s a peer-sharing group for women of all ages.” Formed in the spring of 2005, the active MOMS group at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Attleboro is now 80-members strong. “We just felt like there was something missing in our parish,” said Lori Castro, MOMS coordinator at St. John the Evangelist. “It just seems to be thriving now. We’ve had a couple of ongoing events and we’re still working on ideas to keep it going. People do the initial eight
weeks and want to do more, but sometimes it’s tough for moms to find the time.” Castro agreed that a woman’s role as nurturer and her maternal instincts certainly lend themselves to providing support not only for her families — both personal and parish — but also to each other. “Mothering is a nurturing role, so I think it makes sense for everyone to take care of each other,” she said. “It’s just a great way to take time for yourself and to see mothering as a ministry — not just a chore.” The MOMS ministry at St. Anthony’s Parish in Mattapoisett, one of the newest groups in the diocese, currently has approximately 50 active members according to coordinator Joanna Ingham. “I got involved with MOMS to breathe some new life into the parish,” Ingham said. “We really didn’t have any organization … and MOMS is a great way to connect and reach out to your fellow parishioners. I’ve met people through MOMS that I don’t think I otherwise would have been friends with outside of church.” As a member of her own supportive community — the Sisters of St. Benedict — Sister Hagen isn’t surprised at how the members of individual MOMS ministries have bonded. “I am from a very supportive community of Sisters who are faithful to prayer, meditation and community life,” Sister Hagen said. “I have been deeply inspired by how the MOMS leaders form their own beautiful community that prays together, serves the needs of other mothers and families in the parish, and is deeply committed to growing in ways to express their faith.” “Starting a MOMS ministry in a parish will provide enrichment and growth to the entire community,” Boespflug agreed. “Women’s spiritual and personal growth through the process of this ministry will enhance both individual and family faith formation.” Judy Sullivan prefers to see MOMS as a chance for mothers to better themselves so they can continue to care for others. “I tell the women I’m trying to recruit, it’s an opportunity to take some time apart from your family to look at your own life,” Sullivan said. “Most moms are busy being caretakers and sometimes they do not take care of themselves. This is like stepping back and taking care of yourself so you can become a better person and a better Christian.”
May 8, 2009
Around the Diocese Eucharistic Adoration Eucharistic Adoration: ACUSHNET — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Church, 125 Main Street, Mondays from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., ending with evening prayer and Benediction. EAST TAUNTON — Eucharistic adoration takes place First Fridays at Holy Family Church, 370 Middleboro Avenue, following the 8:30 a.m. Mass until Benediction at 8 p.m. FALL RIVER — Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Lourdes Chapel at Notre Dame Church, 529 Eastern Avenue. NEW BEDFORD — Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place at St. Joseph-St. Therese Church, 51 Duncan Street, Mondays following the 8:30 a.m. Mass until 1:30 p.m. For more information call 508-995-2354. NEW BEDFORD — Eucharistic adoration takes place 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 233 County Street, with night prayer and Benediction at 8:45 p.m., and confessions offered during the evening. NEW BEDFORD — There is a daily holy hour from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue. It includes adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Liturgy of the Hours, recitation of the rosary, and the opportunity for confession. TAUNTON — Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord Church, 31 First Street, immediately following the 8 a.m. Mass and continues throughout the day. Confessions are heard from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m., concluding with recitation of the rosary and Benediction at 6:30 p.m. TAUNTON — Eucharistic adoration takes place every Tuesday at St. Anthony Church, 126 School Street, following the 8 a.m. Mass with prayers including the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for vocations, concluding at 6 p.m. with Chaplet of St. Anthony and Benediction. Recitation of the rosary for peace is prayed Monday through Saturday at 7:30 a.m. prior to the 8 a.m. Mass. WEST HARWICH — Our Lady of Life Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Trinity Parish, 246 Main Street, holds perpetual eucharistic adoration. For open hours, or to sign up call 508-430-4716.
Miscellaneous Miscellaneous: BUZZARDS BAY — The Secular Franciscans meet at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 5 Armory Road the second Sunday of the month at 2 p.m. All are welcome. CENTERVILLE — A Career Decisions Workshop meets bi-weekly at the Our Lady of Victory Parish Faith Formation Center. The next session is May 14 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sessions will continue every other Thursday through June 30. All are welcome to attend at no cost. For information contact Kelley Spodris at 508 5744 x 113 or at kjs@olvparish.org CHESTNUT HILL — Father Richard Rohr, OFM, will explore Scripture and discuss his newest book, “Things Hidden,” tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Boston College. For more information, call 508-477-7700, extension 26 or email shirleya12@comcast.net. FAIRHAVEN — Deacon Bruce Bonneau will lead a reflection on “The Great Themes of St. Paul,” at St. Mary’s Parish rectory conference rooms on Thursdays, May 14, 21 and 28 from 7-9 p.m. For information call 508678-2828. FALL RIVER — Adoption by Choice, a program of Catholic Social Services of Fall River, Inc., will hold an informational session for individuals and families interested in domestic newborn or international adoption on June 7 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Catholic Social Services, 1600 Bay St. There is no charge to attend and refreshments will be served. Call 508-674-4681 to register or for directions. MASHPEE — The 80-voice MIT Concert Choir will present an all-Haydn choral program tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Christ the King Church, The Commons. Tickets are available by calling 508-467-9696. NEW BEDFORD — A Holy Hour is held every Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m. at St. Kilian’s Church, 306 Ashley Boulevard. WAREHAM — St. Patrick’s Church, 82 High St., will host the yearly Mass of Anointing on May 31 at 2 p.m., for all those who wish to receive the Sacrament of the Sick. All family and friends are invited to participate. Following the Mass refreshments will be served in the parish hall.
Support Groups
NORTH DARTMOUTH — An open meeting of the New Bedford area Diocesan Divorced and Separated Support Group will be held May 13 at 7 p.m. at the Family Life Center, 500 Slocum Rd. All participants are free to discuss any personal difficulties regarding separation or divorce. All are welcome to attend, there is no charge, and coffee and tea will be available.
Pro-Life
ATTLEBORO — Concerned faithful are needed to pray the rosary outside Four Women, Inc., an abortion clinic at 150 Emory Street, Thursdays from 3-4 p.m., or 4-5 p.m. and Saturdays from 7:30-8:30 a.m. For information call 508-238-5743.
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The Anchor
Father Callistus Bamberg OFM; was pastor, teacher, and chaplain
FALL RIVER — Word has been received of the March 12 death in Boston of Father Callistus M. Bamberg, 74, a Franciscan friar and a former teacher at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth. Father Bamberg, a Franciscan for 53 years and a priest for 48 years, died from circulation complications at Tufts New England Medical Center. Born in Cambridge, the son of the late Frederick and Mary (McIntyre) Bamberg, he was received into the Order of Friars Minor on Aug. 12, 1954. Following philosophical
and theological studies at St. Francis College in Rye Beach, N.H., Holy Name College in Washington, D.C., and Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, N.Y., he was ordained a priest on Feb. 25, 1961 in Washington. Locally, Father Bamberg taught mathematics at Bishop Stang High School from 1969 to 1981 while in residence at Our Lady’s Friary in New Bedford. His other assignments included pastoral associate at St. Anthony’s Shrine in Boston; director of the St. Fran-
cis Chapel in Albany, N.Y.; as pilgrimage chaplain and later director of the Franciscan Pilgrimage Office in New York; and as a teacher at Archbishop Walsh High School in Olean, N.Y. Father Bamberg retired to St. Anthony’s Friary in St. Petersburg, Fla., in May 2004. He leaves a sister-in-law, Kathleen Bamberg of Revere; and cousins and nephews. His funeral Mass was celebrated March 16 in St. Anthony Shrine Chapel in Boston. Burial was in St. Agnes Cemetery in Menards, N.Y.
JOHNSTON, R.I. — Franciscan Missionary of Mary Sister Maria Silva, also known as Sister Maria Caritas, 84, died April 30 at Cherry Hill Manor Nursing and Rehab Center here. The daughter of the late Antonio and Maria (Carvalho) Silva, she entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, Sept. 9, 1946 in North Providence. She pronounced her final vows, Sept. 17, 1954. There was never any question about which group of Sisters to join. Maria was educated in Espirito Santo School in Fall River, Mass., where she was taught by Franciscan Missionaries of Mary. She was active in her parish as junior director of the choir and later worked as a seamstress. For several years, she served as a “commissioner” — one of many Sisters of her Institute who went all over the United States selling the handwork made in the needlework rooms,
obtaining the funds to support missionary works as well as young girls employed in overseas missions. She was sent in mission to Divine Providence Shelter in Manhattan, N.Y., where she used her seamstress skills and served as a group mother in a shelter. Later she was a group mother at McMahon Shelter in Harlem, N.Y., and in Cardinal Hayes Home for Children in Millbrook, N.Y. In the Sister Maria Hotel Alverne, St. Louis, a Silva, FMM residence for the elderly, she was sacristan and social activities coordinator for 11 years. After studying nutrition and dietetics, Sister Silva became a food supervisor at St Francis Hospital in Roslyn, N.Y., where she spent six years. Courses in homemaking and home health aide brought her new skills as a visiting homemaker in Tiverton,
R.I. and Grace Haven retreat and vacation house where she also served as coordinator welcoming Sisters coming for retreats or vacations. As a member of Emmaus Community in North Providence, she continued her ministry as a Health Aid Home Helper for the United Way. She was missioned to St. Michael’s Community in North Providence where she served as a nurse aide. In 1993 she was missioned to Ein Karim Community where her ministry was pastoral care to the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in St. Antoine’s Residence. After an illness she was sent to Trinity Community in North Providence for assisted living. She is survived by her sister, Olivia Dion of Fall River; and nieces and a nephew. Her Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated May 6 in the Holy Family Chapel of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in North Providence. Funeral arrangements were by Russell J. Boyle and Son Funeral Home.
Sister Maria Silva, FMM; seamstress, health aid helper
In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks
May 12 Rev. John F. deValles, DSC, US Army Chaplain, 1920 Rev. Herve Jalbert, Retired Pastor, Blessed Sacrament, Fall River, 1986 May 13 Rev. Msgr. Osias Boucher, USA Ret., Pastor, Blessed Sacrament, Fall River, 1955 May 14 Rev. Robert E. McDonnell, C.S.C., 2006 May 16 Rev. William McDonald, SS., St. Patrick, Falmouth, 1941 Rev. Msgr. J. Joseph Sullivan, P.R., Pastor, Sacred Heart, 1960 Rev. Arthur dos Reis, Retired Pastor, Santo Christo, Fall River, 1981 May 17 Most Rev. James E. Cassidy, D.D., Third Bishop of Fall River, 1934-51, 1951 Rev. Albert Evans, SS.CC., 2003
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May 8, 2009
Pope’s pilgrimage will deliver peace message to land of conflict
By John Thavis Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI is set to begin a weeklong visit to the Holy Land, a pilgrimage in the footsteps of Christ and a journey through a political and interreligious minefield. In many ways, the May 8-15 visit to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories is the most challenging of the pope’s foreign visits to date, one that will test his skills of communication and bridge-building in a region of conflict and mistrust. After recent communications missteps at the Vatican, the pope can expect to find his every word and gesture under scrutiny by the world’s media — especially when it comes to relations among Christians, Muslims and Jews and the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. Although the world may measure the success of the visit in terms of international or interfaith diplomacy, Pope Benedict is going to the Holy Land first and foremost as a religious pilgrim. “The priority is to witness to the truth of the Incarnation by visiting, as head of the Church, the places where the events of our
redemption took place. That’s the point,” Franciscan Father David Jaeger, an Israeli priest and adviser to the Vatican, told Catholic News Service. The pilgrimage has a special focus on peace. The pope, in announcing the visit, said he would be going to the Holy Land to pray for “the precious gift of unity and peace for the Middle East and all humanity.” Father Jaeger said that’s extremely important at a time when hopes for peace among the population are the lowest in many years. “The worst thing that can happen is the loss of hope for peace. So for him to speak openly of the possibility and the necessity of peace and reconciliation should thrust those values into the fore,” Father Jaeger said. The first leg of the pope’s trip will take him to Jordan for a series of carefully chosen liturgies and encounters, including a visit to a mosque in Amman. That event, and the fact that Pope Benedict is spending several days in Jordan, reflects his aim to reach a wide Muslim audience. The audience and the setting make it likely that the pope will
revisit the themes of his speech in 2006 in Regensburg, Germany, but this time making sure his remarks on reason and faith do not unintentionally offend his listeners. For Jordan’s Catholic faithful, who number about 75,000 in a population of 6.2 million, the big event will be the papal Mass in an Amman soccer stadium May 10. The pope also will lay the cornerstone of the University of Madaba, which is being built by the Latin patriarchate; blessing cornerstones is a common activity in papal visits, but establishing a Catholic-run university in a predominantly Muslim country makes this one special. Much of the pope’s itinerary follows in the footsteps of Pope
John Paul II’s Holy Land pilgrimage in 2000. Pope Benedict, for example, will pray at Mount Nebo in western Jordan, where Moses glimpsed the Promised Land before dying. And, like his predecessor, he will visit the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized — the setting of the opening chapter of Pope Benedict’s book, “Jesus of Nazareth.” The pope travels to Jerusalem May 11 and later that day visits the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, in what Vatican aides view as a central event of the trip. On May 12, his first full day in Jerusalem, the pope visits sites sacred to Islam, Judaism and Christianity. The same day the pope will meet separately with the city’s two chief rabbis and the
grand mufti. The pope will make a daylong visit May 13 to the West Bank city of Bethlehem. The main religious event of the day is a Mass in Manger Square. That afternoon, the pope will visit the Aida Refugee Camp, where some 5,000 Palestinians live. The pope will celebrate Mass May 14 in Nazareth, the city where Jesus grew up, and later visit the Grotto of the Annunciation and hold a prayer service with Catholic leaders of Galilee. Like his Mass earlier in the week in the Josafat Valley near the Garden of Gethsemane, these liturgies are central to the pope’s pilgrimage, offering moral support to the dwindling Christian population in the land where the Church was born.