05 09 14

Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

F riday , May 9, 2014

May heralds spring devotions to Mary, Queen of Heaven Fall River Diocesan Council of Nurses to host Marian-centered event on May 17 Mary, the Queen of Heaven, brings comfort, hope and faith ATTLEBORO — Catho- to our world.

“Even as sailors are guided lics set aside numerous days into port by means during the Liturgical of a star, so Chrisyear to honor Mary. tians are guided Under her patronage toward Heaven by are the Marian holy means of Mary,” days of the Immacusaid St. Thomas late Conception and Aquinas.

Assumption, as well The month of as every Saturday, May heralds the and the months of spring devotions to May and October. the Blessed Virgin “I entrust you with altars, crownall to Mary most ing processions and holy, our Mother in the utterance of Heaven, the Star of countless decades the Sea of our life; of the Rosary. pray to her every “In celebration day, you children!” of this month dedisaid St. John Paul cated to Our Lady, II. “Give your hand to Mary most holy, Our Lady of Fall River set aside in your home a May altar, so that she may lead you to receive Jesus in a holy placing on it an image of the way.”

Turn to page 15

By Linda Andrade Rodrigues Anchor Correspondent

Cape Cod Catholic radio benefit planned for May 17

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

do: to see what’s on the dial.”

While Bodio is aware of RaPOCASSET — With a dio CorMariae, he’s been unable little luck, prayers and finan- to pick up its limited signal on cial support, there will soon be Cape Cod and has had similar a second Catholic radio station problems receiving the stronger transmission of the broadcasting within next-closest EWTN the Fall River Diostation based out of cese, emanating from Natick. the shores along Cape “I’ve tried to pick Cod. them up, with fading While the New signals … but with Bedford-based conventional radios, WPMW FM 88.5 that’s about it,” he — better known as said. “It’s very erratic.”

Radio CorMariae — That’s all about has been on the air for Scott Wahle to change when more than three years WQMC FM 102.3 now, plans have been accelerating to bring a similar hits the airwaves.

Dubbed the “Life with EWTN affiliate to Falmouth, Christ” radio channel, the located near the center of the planned 250-watt station will Cape.

“I think Catholic radio has an provide another outlet for synaudience,” said William Bodio, a dicated EWTN programming parishioner of Corpus Christi and homegrown shows based at Parish in East Sandwich. “I a studio in the Falmouth area.

Bodio said it’s particularly know after I turn the ignition key, it’s the first thing I tend to Turn to page 14

Father Thomas Washburn, O.F.M, shares a powerful presentation about miracles during the 61st annual convention of the Fall River Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. Expounding on this year’s theme, “Do whatever He tells you,” Father Washburn encouraged the women to see miracles as “God breaking into our world,” and when the belief in miracles is gone, then appreciating God’s presence in the everyday world is gone. (Photo by Becky Aubut)

Area women listen to diverse topics at annual Diocesan Council of Catholic Women convention

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff

ASSONET — Sixty-one years ago women of the Fall River Diocese got together and asked, “What can we do for the Church?” and six decades later, the Fall River Diocesan of Catholic Women are still working hard to answer that question. And though the number of active council members have become smaller than in years

past, that hasn’t diminished the faith of the current members as seen during this year’s annual convention held at St. Bernard’s Parish in Assonet.

“Do whatever He tells you,” was this year’s theme, based on what Mary told the servants during the Wedding of Cana, and after the formal meeting that updated members on everything from money raised to acknowledging those who had

passed away, the council welcomed its guest speakers.

Father Thomas Washburn, O.F.M., former pastor of St. Margaret’s Parish in Buzzards Bay, opened with the question, “Does anyone here believe in miracles?”

Some might answer quickly and easily, he said, stating they do believe in miracles, while others may be skeptical and Turn to page 12

New Bedford youth give and receive in faith bond with Whaler’s Cove residents

By Dave Jolivet Anchor Editor

have some who remain after they the Whaler’s Cove residents, but make their Confirmation,” Al- now the youngsters and the resiNEW BEDFORD — For darondo added, “and some get dents have a ball together. The the members of the youth group involved as Religious Education elders wait for their arrival with at St. Kilian’s Parish, gathering teachers and in other parish min- joy.”

Betsy Rivas, 16, has been intogether to pray, listen, learn, and istries.

“At first the young people volved with the group for four have fun wasn’t enough. “They needed to do something more,” were nervous to interact with Turn to page 19 Edwin Aldarondo, group coordinator, told The Anchor. “Our pastor, Father Eduardo Coll, IVE, celebrated Mass at the Whaler’s Cove Assisted Living facility and he introduced that community to our youth. Now, for the last three years our young people travel to Whaler’s Cove every two months to pray the Rosary with residents there.”

The youth group with 22 members, “and growing,” said Members of the St. Kilian’s Parish youth group pray the Rosary with Aldarondo, is comprised of any residents of Whaler’s Cove Assisted Living in New Bedford. The New interested young parishioner Bedford parish youth have been visiting the residents once every in fifth grade and beyond. “We two months to pray with them for the last three years.

2

News From the Vatican

May 9, 2014

Pope: Fun, not money, should rule sports; athletes must be good models

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Soccer-fan Pope Francis urged professional athletes to always be sportsmanlike on and off the field because so many people, especially kids, look up to them.

The pope also said he wished all sports could be about celebration, not money and big business, which risk “tainting everything.”

The pope made his remarks during an audience with the top two ranking Italian major league soccer teams and representatives of an Italian soccer federation.

The audience came the day before the two teams — Fiorentina and Napoli — were to vie for the Italian Cup championship title in Rome.

The pope, who has been a lifelong supporter of the San Lorenzo soccer team in Buenos Aires, Argentina, said he has “wonderful memories” of going to the stadium. Watching games with his family members reflected some “joyous moments on Sundays,” he recalled.

“I hope that soccer and every other popular sport could recover the sense of celebration.

“Today, soccer, too, is immersed in a world of big business, with advertising, television, etc.,” he said.

“But the economic side must not prevail over sports because it risks tainting everything at the international, national and local levels,” he said.

People at the top of the sports industry need to be proactive, “restoring dignity” to sporting events, he said.

But soccer players and other

pro-athletes have enormous responsibility, too, he said.

“You are at the center of attention and many of your fans are young, very young; keep this in mind, think about how your behavior” good and bad, speaks volumes and influences others, he said. “Always be true sportsmen,” he added.

The pope explained that sports have important educational value because they contribute to personal growth, highlight the harmony of body and spirit, foster social development and promote the values of “solidarity, loyalty and respect.”

“May soccer always develop this potential,” he said, adding that he hoped the next day’s championship would be “a wonderful celebration.”

The delegates visiting the pope gave him soccer balls and team jerseys signed by the players.

One of the players to greet the pope was a former player on the San Lorenzo team who now plays for Fiorentina.

The future pope played basketball when he was young, and was a longtime card-carrying member of the San Lorenzo soccer team.

When he was cardinal of Buenos Aires, he lamented that the fan scene had deteriorated since his youth.

At the worst, “people would yell at the referee that he was a bum, a scoundrel, a sellout — nothing in comparison to the epithets they use today,” he said in a book of interviews titled, “Pope Francis: Conversations with Jorgé Bergoglio.”

A group of young men in traditional attire hold banners as Pope Francis arrives to lead his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican recently. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Pope: New attitude of ‘evangelical service’ must take hold at Vatican

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis told his new economic oversight council that it must be “courageous and determined” in its critical role of helping the Church not waver from its real mission of bringing the Gospel to the world and helping those most in need.

The Church has a duty to use its assets and manpower responsibly in promoting its spiritual mandate, and “a new mentality of evangelical service” must take hold throughout the Vatican, the pope said.

The pope’s comments came the same day the new Vatican Council for the Economy met for the first time since the pope established the council in February.

The council is an international group of eight cardinals and seven lay experts appointed to set policies for the administrative and financial activities of all Vatican offices and bodies.

The council “has the task of supervising economic activities and monitoring the structures and administrative and financial activities” of the Vatican’s various offices and agencies, the pope said.

He thanked members for their work so far, adding that “we need it.”

Pope Francis told the council members that they play a critical role in his larger efforts of reforming the Roman Curia.

“This is a notable challenge that calls for devotion and prudence,” as well as “courage and determination,” since the process “will not be simple” or easy, he said.

The pope said he established the council and the related Secretariat for the Economy because of “the Church’s awareness of its responsibility to protect and carefully manage its assets in light of its mission of evangelization with particular attention to those most in need.”

“We must not waver from this path. Everything, transparency, efficiency, everything has this as its aim,” he said.

The secretariat, headed by Australian Cardinal George Pell, will have authority over all economic and administrative activities within the Holy See and Vatican City State as it implements the policies determined by the council.

The pope thanked Cardinal Pell for “his efforts, his

work and for his Australian rugby-like tenacity,” referring to the sport the cardinal played professionally as a young man.

The pope said, “The Holy See feels called to enact this mission, taking into special account its responsibility toward the Universal Church. Furthermore, these changes will reflect the desire to enact the necessary reforms of the Roman Curia” so that it can better serve the Church and the pope.

He said he appointed cardinals and lay people who would represent the different parts of the world and “contribute their experience for the good of the Church.”

The seven lay people, who are experts in the fields of business, management and finance, are full members of the council, he said. “They aren’t secondclass citizens. No, no. Everyone is on the same level” as their counterpart cardinal members, he emphasized.

“The council’s work carries great weight and great importance and will offer a fundamental contribution to the service carried out by the Roman Curia and the various administrative offices of the Holy See,” he said.

The council’s cardinal members include U.S. Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston. The council is headed by German Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, Germany. Cardinal Marx also is a member of the pope’s Council of Cardinals, an eight-member group advising him on the reform of the Roman Curia and the governance of the Church.

May 9, 2014

The International Church

Haitian immigrants rest inside a shelter recently at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Sao Paulo. Two years ago the Brazilian government announced the creation of a humanitarian visa exclusively for Haitian refugees after the 2010 earthquake on the island. (CNS photo/Nacho Doce, Reuters)

UK rules exclude Pro-Life medical professionals from diploma

London (CNA/EWTN News) — U.K. requirements that medical professionals seeking a specialist diploma must be willing to prescribe contraception and abortion-causing drugs have sparked objections from those excluded due to their moral beliefs.

“These rules exclude professionals who are unwilling to prescribe contraceptives and abortifacients on moral and conscientious grounds from specializing in an important area of clinical practice,” Victoria Weissman, a Catholic final year medical student in Britain, told CNA. “These are rules of exclusion based on discrimination, and restrict the rights both of health care professionals and of society in general,” she said, adding that the rules discriminate against her “on the grounds of my moral and conscientious objection.”

She said that the rules also discriminate against the “many women” she has encountered who might benefit and appreciate discussing these issues with “a practitioner who shared their understanding of the meaning and responsibility of their sexuality and fertility and who valued the dignity of every human life.”

In February, the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists re-published the guidelines for its specialist diplomas in sexual and reproductive health and for the standards of full membership in the faculty, the British newspaper The Telegraph reports.

The faculty said the completion of the program’s full syllabus is necessary for the qualification and this includes “a willingness to prescribe all forms of hormonal contraception, including emergency contraception, regardless of personal beliefs.”

Weissman said that the diploma is important for general practitioners or nurses involved in “any aspect of reproductive health” and it is “essential” for specialization.

She said that more than 70 percent of British medical graduates become general practitioners and reproductive health constitutes “a large part” of their caseload.

The diploma guidelines update said that clinicians with moral or religious reservations about “any contraceptive methods” will be unable to fulfill its syllabus requirement and will be ineligible for the diploma. It said that nurses and midwives have the right to conscientious objection only in cases of participation in abortion and in artificial conception procedures.

The faculty said that the policy is an updated version that now refers to nurses but is “otherwise unchanged” from existing policy.

Weissman repeated her objections to the policy.

“Sexual and reproductive health care is about much

more than preventing and taking away new life,” she said.

Weissman explained that abortifacient drugs prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg, a new human embryo, “essentially resulting in miscarriage, termination of pregnancy, abortion.”

“They act once conception has happened, once life exists, they prevent this life from developing, from thriving, from surviving.”

These drugs “cause us to break both the Fifth Commandment and the Hippocratic Oath,” she objected.

She added that Catholics object to contraception on the grounds that it disrupts of conjugal love and places obstacles between the couples and God’s will for them.

Weissman said that disregarding her beliefs would mean she is “endangering the immoral souls of those I treat as well as myself ” and also “helping to further an attitude in society that does not respect the dignity of each human life, regardless of its stage in life.”

She said the Catholic faith helps contribute to U.K. medicine. It helps medical practitioners to “see in each individual the image and likeness of God” and to “care for people regardless of their situation, their age, color or creed.”

These practitioners’ conscientious objections also help uphold medical moral standards.

Weissman suggested that accommodations be arranged for objecting medical professionals to allow them to complete the diploma.

The rules have also drawn concern from Dr. Peter Saunders, chief executive of the Christian Medical Fellowship.

“It bars Pro-Life doctors from specializing in sexual and reproductive health and also makes it much more difficult for non-specialists to get jobs in family planning or reproductive health,” he said, according to the Telegraph.

In a recent blog post, Saunders suggested that the new policy may constitute illegal discrimination against those who hold certain religious and moral beliefs.

“I expect that some serious questions will be asked in parliament and elsewhere about this matter in the coming days,” he said, “and I would not be surprised if some government ministers got very angry as a result, or if a doctor, or a group of doctors and nurses, contemplated bringing a legal case against the college.”

3

4

The Church in the U.S.

May 9, 2014

Catholic Charities agencies helping storm-damaged southern U.S.

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Catholic Charities agencies were on the ground assessing damage after a series of storms with deadly tornadoes and massive floods swept through the southern United States April 27-29.

The storms killed 35 people and left thousands without power while razing homes and businesses.

Arkansas and Mississippi were the hardest hit, but deaths also were reported in Oklahoma, Iowa, Alabama and Tennessee. Georgia residents lost power, and the Carolinas and Florida experienced flash floods.

In areas hit by tornados, thousands of people forced out of their homes sought temporary shelter while the National Guard, local police and residents sifted through the rubble searching for victims.

Patricia Cole, communications director for Catholic Charities USA, said its disaster response operations team has been coordinating with local Catholic Charities agencies in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Florida and Alabama “where conditions on the ground are changing by the hour.”

She said Catholic Charities USA had received requests for grants for financial assistance and is staying in close contact with Catholic dioceses and agencies in the damaged areas as they assess the needs in their communities.

Patrick Gallaher, executive director of Catholic Charities of Arkansas, posted updates on the agency’s website, noting that the search and rescue phase of the relief effort finished April 30. He also said the overflow of donations made it impossible to store any other contributions until new collection points were established.

“The immediate need of survivors is being met,” he said.

St. Joseph Church in Conway, Ark., initially was used as an American Red Cross shelter, but the shelter was closed April 29 because not enough people were using it. Parishes in the Little Rock Diocese have been conducting their own drives to mobilize and collect donated materials.

Gallaher said the local Catholic Charities agency continues to coordinate with other agencies to provide support during the cleanup phase and is gathering case managers for the rebuilding effort that will come in the months ahead.

“The long-term relief effort will take months as we assist people in obtaining replacement housing, furniture, clothing and counseling,” he said.

“As needs crystallize, we shall seek help from among our parishes.”

Greg Patin, executive director of Catholic Charities in Jackson, Miss., told Catholic News Service that staff members began to assess local needs May 1 after the first responders were finished their work.

Once needs are assessed, he said, “We will begin to provide what assistance we can,” but he also noted that the agency has limited staffing resources and will need volunteer assistance.

The agency has reached out to the Knights of Columbus for help and is looking for monetary donations because it cannot accept donated goods at this time.

To support Catholic Charities’ disaster relief effort, visit their website at https://support. catholiccharitiesusa.org, call 1-800-919-9338, or mail a donation to Catholic Charities USA P.O. Box 17066, Baltimore, Md., 21297-1066.

Seminarian Christopher Sullivan prays the Rosary at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, N.Y. World Day of Prayer for Vocations, observed annually the fourth Sunday of Easter, is celebrated May 11 this year.

(CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)

Religious, political leaders share joy in canonizations of popes

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Religious, political and secular leaders congratulated the Catholic Church on the April 27 canonization of SS. John XXIII and John Paul II. A summary of the statements follows: — Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: “The Church’s formal proclamation makes officials what so many of us already believed: that by God’s grace these two beloved leaders of our Church modeled courage, holiness, charity and attentiveness to the call of Jesus. Both of them, in their own unique way, have shown us what Pope Francis has rightly called ‘the joy of the Gospel,’ the joy of knowing and following Jesus Christ. In celebrating and imitating their lives, may we all hear anew the call of Jesus and, with enthusiasm, follow in the footsteps of these two great saints to be ‘full of fervor, joy, generosity, courage, boundless love and attraction.’”

— Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean, and Rabbi Yitzchok Alderstein, director of interfaith affairs, Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles: “The two new saints of the Church help establish a corollary that all people can embrace: sometimes all that is necessary for the triumph of good is that very good men do something.

From principled and determined expressions of the spirit, the world can see major and permanent change in the way large parts of humanity relate to each other.”

— Canadian Prime Minister

Stephen Harper: “Our country was fortunate to have been visited by St. John Paul II on three occasions. In 2002, during his last visit to Canada, he joined hundreds of thousands of youth from around the world in Toronto for World Youth Day, a pilgrimage which he initiated and that continues to be celebrated by millions of youth worldwide every three years. St. John XXIII and St. John Paul II are linked by their service to God and their quest for peace, defense of human dignity and justice, which are values that resonate deeply in Canada.”

— Rabbi David Rosen, international director of interreligious affairs, American Jewish Committee: “We rejoice with our Catholic friends at this unique recognition being given to the two popes who were also the ones most responsible for the dramatic revolution in Catholic-Jewish relations in our times. Thanks to the their vision and leadership, the Catholic Church today affirms its unique profound rootedness in Judaism, promotes the closest of respectful relations with the Jewish people and condemns anti-semitism as a sin. It is no exaggeration to say that in terms of the Christian-Jewish relationship, these great men took us from darkness to light, from pain to joy and from alienation to brotherhood.”

— Abraham H. Foxman, national director, Anti-Defamation League: “For us in the Jewish community, Popes John Paul II and John XXIII have already been saints for a long time. They

are towering men whose visionary leadership and groundbreaking reforms transformed Jewish-Catholic relations and reversed 2,000 painful years of Church-based anti-semitism.”

— Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington after concelebrating Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican at the canonization: “Through the Second Vatican Council, Pope John XXIII called upon us to present faithfully and in its entirety the teaching of the Church but in a way that would attract people to the beauty of the teaching. He had a background in diplomatic service to the Church where he put into practice the idea of working with people, collaborating with people and listening to people. When he was elected pope, it seemed natural for him to say that we need to listen to the Church throughout the world to see how best we can carry on her work.”

“The magisterium of John Paul II covered almost every aspect of human experience and the Church. He wrote and spoke about the Divine Mercy of Jesus, the unconditional love of our Heavenly Father, the power of the Holy Spirit and the affection of our Blessed Mother Mary. He taught us about the gift of the Eucharist, the truth and vocation of the human person, the beauty of a moral life, the blessing of Marriage and family, the priesthood, social justice, the dignity of every human life and more.

Those teachings alone have earned him the title ‘John Paul the Great.’”

The Church in the U.S. Deportations bring a bitter rift among immigration reform advocates

May 9, 2014

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The united front of President Barack Obama and advocates for comprehensive immigration reform has tarnished and taken on an increasingly bitter tinge over deportations.

Building on huge increases in U.S. Border Patrol resources that began in the George W. Bush Administration, Obama’s Department of Homeland Security and Justice Department ramped up deportations, in part to try to build support for comprehensive reform among politicians who demand tougher enforcement as the price of their votes.

An analysis of deportation trends released April 30 by the Migration Policy Institute said that because of a combination of a 1996 law requiring tougher immigration enforcement and changes in policy, procedures and funding, the number of people deported annually has soared in the past 20 years.

Also dramatically higher is the number of people who are deported under more formal legal removals, which carry longerterm repercussions and sometimes criminal implications.

Nearly two million people have been deported in the first five years of the Obama Administration, compared with about the same number during the eight years of the Bush Administration.

Marc R. Rosenblum, deputy director of MPI’s immigration policy program and one of the study’s authors, said during a teleconference where the report was released that “it’s clear that the law is being enforced” and that enforcement has increased in scope and intensity, especially in the last five years, using “any metrics you want to look at.”

He added that this is true even though fewer people are being apprehended near the Mexican border, because fewer people are trying to cross, apparently. Analysts suggest that may be because of increased enforcement as well as the weaker U.S. economy of recent years.

“The evidence is pretty compelling that enforcement has been pretty effective,” Rosenblum said.

The political effect so far, however, is that although deportations are at record levels and illegal border crossing numbers are down, there’s no hint that the recalcitrant, largely Republican opposition to comprehensive reform has

budged a bit. Meanwhile, pub- there’s nothing else to be done practices and “see how it can lic outcry has ramped up along but begging the administration conduct enforcement more huwith the deportations, as activ- to exercise discretion.” manely within the confines of ists focus on families being broOne such client, Virginia the law,” as the White House ken apart and some immigrants resident Catia Paz Alvarez, was described the request. losing the chance to ever get being put forward as an exSeattle Auxiliary Bishop legal status. ample at the May 1 rally. Paz Eusebio L. Elizondo, chairman A May 1 protest at La- arrived in the U.S. at age 17 of the U.S. bishops’ migration fayette Park, across committee; is among the street from the he government says that since those urging Johnson White House, drew 2011 they have not been deporting to adapt Homeland hundreds of people Security policies by carrying signs and anyone except criminals,” Wadhawan said. focusing on humanichanting “not one “ They are lying.” tarian implications. more” and other In a March 26 letslogans focused on stopping from El Salvador. She gradu- ter to Johnson, Bishop Elizondeportations of people with ated from high school in the do said the bishops will continstrong family and community U.S., married, bought a house ue to press for comprehensive ties in the United States and no and has two children, ages three reform legislation, but in the criminal records. Several people and five, both of whom are U.S. meantime “we are deeply trouwere voluntarily arrested for citizens. She works in a depart- bled by the division of families civil disobedience. ment store and is active in her caused by current immigration Similar actions, focused on church, said Wadhawan. enforcement policies.” a range of immigration-related He went on to urge the adopPaz was twice approved for topics, took place around the a stay of deportation, but this tion of several changes, includcountry, drawing thousands in year her application was denied. ing the use of more discretion several cities.

“We’re really worried” that in who the agency prosecutes A day earlier, at least 20 she may be ordered to leave any anti-deportation activists were day, Wadhawan said. The atarrested when they sat down torney said the denial of Paz’s in a street outside the Capitol, stay application gave no reason blocking traffic. Similar actions for the change in approach for have been taking place around a long-term resident, with no the country. criminal record and who has Sheena Wadhawan, manager citizen children, relatives and of the legal program at CASA an employer who would be hurt de Maryland, told Catholic by her absence.

News Service of several clients “The government says that whose deportation orders seem since 2011 they have not been to fly in the face of Obama’s deporting anyone except crimistatement that his administra- nals,” Wadhawan said. “They tion is going after: “criminals, are lying.” gang bangers, people who are If Paz had left El Salvahurting the community, not af- dor a little more than a year ter students, not after folks who earlier and arrived in the U.S. are here just because they’re before turning 16, she would trying to figure out how to feed have been eligible for DACA, their families.”

Deferred Action for ChildCASA de Maryland is a hood Arrivals, the administrasocial services agency aiding tion program introduced two people throughout Maryland, years ago, through which young Virginia and Washington. people can seek deferral of deWadhawan said the legal ser- portation. vices division takes on about Obama in March instructed one “last resort” case of pend- Homeland Security Director ing deportation a week. She de- Jeh Johnson to “do an invenscribed those cases as “basically, tory” of current deportation

“T

5

for deportation; the end of procedures such as “expedited removal” which are not subject to judicial review and were used in more than 75 percent of removals in 2013. He also asked Johnson to end Operation Streamline, “which places criminal penalties on migrants who have crossed the border. We find this program in violation of basic due process rights. It also fails to deter migrants desperate to support their families and can be considered a waste of precious federal resources that should be targeted toward the prosecution of drug traffickers, human traffickers, and smugglers.”

Bishop Elizondo also asked Johnson to ensure that people who are deported are not left in dangerous situations, and asked for an expansion of alternatives to detention and “know your rights” presentations for people who are subject to deportation.

6

May 9, 2014

Anchor Editorial

Find the Face of Christ in Your Neighbor

This past weekend our diocese began its 73rd annual Catholic Charities Appeal, using as its theme “Find the Face of Christ in Your Neighbor,” which was drawn from a Dec. 26, 2013 comment by Pope Francis, in which he said, “In the poor and outcast, we see Christ’s Face; by loving and helping the poor, we love and serve Christ.”

Jesus told the righteous who will be welcomed into His Kingdom, “For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, a stranger and you welcomed Me, naked and you clothed Me, ill and you cared for Me, in prison and you visited Me” (Mt 25:35-36).

Through the agencies funded by the Catholic Charities Appeal, the hungry, thirsty and naked of our diocese are given food, drink and clothing (to adapt the old adage, they are given a fish to eat and are themselves taught how to fish), strangers are welcomed into our community, and the ill and imprisoned are visited. Since we cannot all personally feed, clothe, welcome and visit each person in need, these charitable agencies of our diocese act as our hands, reaching out with an embrace of love to the various forms that Christ takes in our region.

Bishop George W. Coleman has gone around our diocese in recent weeks, encouraging our participation in the Catholic Charities Appeal. He has thanked us for our generosity and reminded us of the connection between what we do with our wallets and what we do “on our knees.” He said in Attleboro, “It ’s due to the prayers and generosity of the people of the Diocese of Fall River that we’ve been able to

serve a good number of those in need.”

In a letter to everyone in the diocese, Bishop Coleman said, “No matter how large or small our contribution may be, we can, with this one gesture, live our faith by helping others experience the same love of God that has blessed our lives.”

Pope Francis, in his message for this year’s World Day of the Sick, said something which should encourage us in our prayer and our giving to the Catholic Charities Appeal during this month dedicated to Mary. “To grow in tender love, and a respectful and sensitive charity, we have a sure Christian model to contemplate: Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our Mother, who is always attentive to the voice of God and the needs and troubles of her children. Mary, impelled by God’s mercy which took flesh within her, selflessly hastened from Galilee to Judea to find and help her kinswoman Elizabeth. She interceded with her Son at the wedding feast of Cana when she saw that there was a shortage of wine. She is the Mother of the crucified and Risen Christ: she stands beside our crosses and she accompanies us on the journey towards the resurrection and the fullness of life. St. John, the disciple who stood with Mary beneath the cross, brings us to the sources of faith and charity, to the heart of the God Who ‘is love’ (1 Jn 4:8,16).

He reminds us that we cannot love God if we do not love our brothers and sisters. Those who stand with Mary beneath the cross learn to love as Jesus does.”

May Mary guide us in our generous giving to the Catholic Charities Appeal.

Pope Francis’ address of May 4 This is the Holy Father’s address prior to the Regina Coeli which he prayed with the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square on May 4.

Dear brothers and sisters, hello!

The Gospel for this Sunday, which is the third Sunday of Easter, is about the disciples of Emmaus (cf. Lk 24:13-35). These were two disciples of Jesus, who, after His death and once the Sabbath was over, leave Jerusalem and return, sad and dejected, to their village called Emmaus. Along the way, the Risen Jesus comes to walk beside them but they do not recognize Him. Seeing their sadness, He first helps them to understand that the passion and death of the Messiah were foreseen in God’s plan and foretold in Sacred Scripture and, thus, relights a fire of hope in their hearts.

At that point the disciples feel strongly drawn to that mysteri-

ous Man and invite Him to stay with them that evening. Jesus accepts their invitation and enters the house with them. And when at dinner He blesses the bread and breaks it, they recognize Him, but He disappears from their sight, leaving them full of wonder. After being enlightened by the Word, they recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread, a new sign of His presence. And immediately they feel a need to return to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples about this experience of theirs, that they met Jesus alive and recognized Him in that act of breaking the bread.

The road to Emmaus in this way becomes the symbol of our journey of faith: the Scriptures and the Eucharist are the indispensable elements for our encounter with the Lord. We too arrive at Sunday Mass with our worries, our problems and delusions.

Life sometimes wounds us and OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER

www.anchornews.org

Vol. 58, 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 $20.00 per year, for U.S. addresses.

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

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

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

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

we walk along sadly toward our “Emmaus,” turning our backs on God’s plan. We distance ourselves from God. But the Liturgy of the Word welcomes us: Jesus explains the Scriptures and reignites the fire of faith and hope in our hearts and in Communion He gives us strength. Word of God, Eucharist.

Read a passage of Scripture every day. Remember it well: read a passage of Scripture every day, and on Sunday go to receive Communion, to receive Jesus. This is how it happened with the disciples of Emmaus: they took in the Word; they shared the piece of bread and from sad and defeated they became joyful. Remember it well! When you are sad, take up the Word of God. When you are down, take up the Word of God and go to Sunday Mass to receive Communion, to participate in the mystery of Jesus.

Word of God, Eucharist: they fill us with joy.

Through the intercession of Mary Most Holy let us pray that every Christian, reliving the experience of the disciples of Emmaus, especially at Sunday Mass, rediscover the grace of the transformative encounter with the Lord, with the Risen Lord, Who is always with us. There is always a Word of God that gives us direction after we have become confused; and through our weariness and delusions there is always piece of broken Bread that makes us go forward on the way.

Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.

For He Whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.

Has risen, as He said, alleluia.

Pray for us to God, alleluia.

Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.

For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray. O God, Who gave joy to the world through the Resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Dear Brothers and Sisters , I would like to invite you to entrust to Our Lady the situation in Ukraine, where the tensions do not cease. The situation is serious.

I pray with you for the victims of these days, asking that the Lord instills in the hearts of all feelings of peace and brotherhood.

We also pray for the dead because of the huge landslide that struck two days ago a village in Afghanistan. May Almighty God, Who knows the name of every one of them, welcome all in His peace; and may He give survivors the strength to go forward, with the support of those who seek to alleviate their suffering.

Today is the National Day for the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, which has the theme “With young people: protagonists of the future.” A nice theme! There are many young people here today.

How many? You are the protagonists of the future! You are entering into the future, in history. And this is the theme of today. I pray for this

great university, for it to be true to its original mission and updated to today’s world. God willing I will be going soon to visit here in Rome the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery and the “Gemelli” Hospital, which is 50 years old and belongs to the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.

I greet all of you, faithful Romans and pilgrims, in particular, the faithful of the Diocese of Parma, led by Bishop Enrico Solmi, with many young people who are on a path called the “Council of Youth.” A nice name! Onward! A safe journey to all!

I greet the “Meter” association, which for nearly two decades has combated all forms of child abuse. Thank you for your commitment! As well as taking part in the March for Life, which this year has an international and ecumenical character. To “Meter” and the participants in the March for Life, I urge you forward work on this!

I great the Association “Relais Sourds” from Lione, “Il portico” from Padua and the “Children’s Garden” from Argentina; the Sister teachers of St. Dorothy; the Melkite faithful from Australia and the faithful from Alcorcón, Spain; the Polish youth from Rybnik, followers of Blessed Piergiorgio Frassati; the choir and band from Lenola, the diocesan choir from Udine and the association of Italian campers.

I thank you for the presence of so many parish and youth groups.

I wish you a good Sunday.

Good lunch and arrivederci!

May 9, 2014

A

Anchor Columnists Following the lead of the Pope of the Family

t the end of his homily during the canonization Mass for SS. John XXIII and John Paul II, Pope Francis said something that I hope will prove highly significant over the course of the next couple of years and far beyond.

Pope Francis called St. John Paul “the Pope of the Family” and added, “I am particularly happy to point this out as we are in the process of journeying with families towards the Synod on the Family. It is surely a journey that, from his place in Heaven, he guides and sustains.” He prayed specifically for his intercession “so that during this two-year journey toward the synod [the Church] may be open to the Holy Spirit in pastoral service to the family.”

These words were very welcome because in the preparation for this October’s Extraordinary Synod on the Family and next October’s Ordinary Synod — a two-step process that will seek, respectively, to describe the enormous challenges to the family in today’s world and then, after a year’s worth of prayer and thought, formulate some responses — the treasure of the theological work of the “Pope of the Family” has been, shockingly and alarmingly, almost totally

I

n the late 1970s, Catholic troubadour John Michael Talbot recorded Christopher Beatty’s beautiful meditation song, “Holy Ground” (not to be confused with Taylor Swift’s 2012 “Holy Ground”).

The lead verse is as follows: “This is holy ground, we’re standing on holy ground. For the Lord is present and where He is is holy. This is holy ground, we’re standing on holy ground. For the Lord is present and where He is is holy.”

It was a song the Cursillo music ministry would often use on retreat weekends. It brought the listeners and the musicians into a calm, a quiet, where they could more acutely feel the Lord’s presence.

Through the years, I’ve visited many places that I could consider holy ground: La Salette Shrine in Attleboro, Holy Cross Family Ministries in Easton, the Sacred Heart Retreat Center in Wareham, and various churches across the diocese. Even off-season visits to Horseneck Beach in Westport have provided holy

neglected.

Far more attention has In the preparatory docubeen given to Cardinal Walter ment and questionnaire sent Kasper’s 36-year-old arguout by the Vatican in anticipa- ments proposing a pathway tion of the synods, there was for those who are divorcedonly one tiny reference to John and-remarried to receive Holy Paul’s seminal 1981 docuCommunion — ideas that ment on the family “Familiaris were refuted theologically Consortio,” which is the most and pastorally by John Paul in comprehensive document sum- 1981 and the future Benedict marizing the Church’s theology of the family and applying those Putting Into truths to contempothe Deep rary questions in the history of the Church.

There were no citations

By Father at all of John Paul’s Roger J. Landry 1994 “Letter to Families,” which developed how “the history of mankind, XVI in 1994 — than to John the history of Salvation, passes Paul’s work, which remains as by way of the family.” There relevant as ever, providing a was no mention of John Paul’s vigorous response to basically five years of famous “Catecheall of the challenges facing ses on Human Love in the Di- Marriage and the family today vine Plan,” popularly called the except those arising from the “Theology of the Body,” which recent invention of same-sex is the deepest Biblical develop- pseudo-matrimonial unions. It ment of the Christian theology just needs to be universally asof Marriage ever written. similated and implemented.

To prepare for a Synod on This was the point that the Family without having Cardinal Carlo Caffarra of John Paul’s magisterial corpus Bologna made in a remarkas a theological guide would be ably candid interview with the like preparing for a symposium Italian magazine Il Foglio on on the meaning of the Second March 14. Cardinal Caffarra Vatican Council without even was the theologian chosen by considering St. John XXIII’s Pope John Paul II to be the words convoking and opening it. founding president of the John

Paul II Institute for the Studies of Marriage and Family in Rome and was one of his chief collaborators on Marriage and family issues. I was privileged to see his brilliance first-hand as his student at the institute in the late 1990s.

Talking about the preparations for the synod, Cardinal Caffarra commented, “I am flabbergasted that in this debate, even eminent cardinals do not bear in mind those 134 Catecheses of John Paul II [the “Theology of the Body”]. In the history of the papacy no pope has ever spoken so much about this theme and yet this teaching is ignored as if it did not exist.”

That ignorance has been a growing concern of mine.

When John Paul died in 2005, his “Theology of the Body” was almost universally acknowledged as his greatest theological contribution, as a “theological time bomb” that was being detonated in chastity and Marriage preparation programs, helping so many in the Church to grasp how and why the Church’s teachings on sexuality are “Good News” instead of “bad.” Thanks to the work of many lay apostles, the “Theology of the Body” is

Holy ground that needs to remain holy

involved, but I can’t imagine that ground moments for me. holy ground ever being used for There’s another region that any other purpose.

I’ve visited several times with The shrine is the site where Denise and Emilie, a place we’ve Jesuit missionaries SS. Isaac gone to specifically for the holy Jogues, Ren Goupil and John ground experience. It’s the St. Lalande were martyred for the Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine in faith in the 1640s, and where St. Fonda, N.Y. and the National Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in nearby Auriesville, N.Y. I’m partial to both because St. Kateri is my favorite saint (along, now,­­with the newlyBy Dave Jolivet canonized St. John XXIII), and both shrines are places of peace, calm, Kateri was born in 1656. quiet, and holiness in the midst A visit to the shrine leaves of the beautiful Adirondack one in awe. It’s set off the beaten Mountains on either side of the equally gorgeous Mohawk River. path, where visitors travel up a sizeable incline, and once there, I’m writing about this because of the disturbing Catholic are gifted with the beautiful mountains on the horizon, rising News Service story I’ve placed above the Mohawk River in the on page 20 in this week’s edivalley below. Statues and shrines tion. dot the massive grounds, where The National Shrine of Our the only sounds you can hear are Lady of Martyrs is in financial the melodic songs of the birds trouble and has initiated a $1 in the trees and the mantra-like million fund-raising effort. buzzing of the bees amidst the I don’t know the politics

My View From the Stands

flowers.

The shrine’s church is a 10,000 seat coliseum where we have attended Masses that were so beautiful, they brought tears of joy to my eyes.

What brings tears to my eyes now is not a joy and a peace, but a dread that this masterpiece of God is in dire straits. I can’t, or won’t, envision this mountainside retreat as a condominium development.

I have a sick feeling that there are many realtors licking their chops and wringing their hands at the chance of obtaining this holy ground.

In a land where Walmarts are springing up like weeds all over the place, and there is seemingly a Dunkin’ Donuts on every corner of every city, how can it be that such a holy site is in danger of folding?

Should that ever happen, it won’t tarnish the blood spilled by those men who gave their lives spreading the Good News, nor will it diminish the devotion

7

still expanding in grassroots relevance.

But one place where it hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves is at the highest levels of the Church. In his eight years as Successor of Peter and John Paul, Pope Benedict spoke about the “Theology of the Body” only once. In his 14 months as our new Holy Father, Pope Francis has yet to mention it publicly at all. I’ve combed his pre-papal work for references but I’ve never found any, suggesting, candidly, that he may never have had the chance to read them, since no priest can read them without having his whole approach to love, sexuality, Marriage, and family forever transformed.

The upcoming synods are an opportunity to place the “Theology of the Body” and all John Paul’s inspired insights on Marriage and family in the contemporary world fully in the center of the whole Church’s thought. The Church and the world — the future of which passes by way of the family — need those insights of the “Pope of the Family” now more than ever.

Anchor columnist Father Landry is pastor of St. Bernadette’s Parish in Fall River. fatherlandry@ catholicpreaching.com.

St. Kateri had for Jesus and the Blessed Mother. That will never happen.

But Catholics can rally to save this holy ground.

The second verse of “Holy Ground,” declares: “These are holy hands. He’s given us holy hands.

He works through these hands and so these hands are holy.”

There are enough holy hands in the Northeast and Eastern Canada alone to save the shrine.

I pray we can do that. Meanwhile, take a trip west on the Mass Pike into N.Y. state, then head north to Albany, then west again on the N.Y. State Thruway until you reach a little bit of Heaven — where the Lord is present, and where He’s present is holy.

To help keep this holy ground holy, donations by check may be sent to: Building fund drive, c/o Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine, to 136 Shrine Road, Fultonville, N.Y. 12016. Additional information is available on the shrine’s Facebook page.

Dave Jolivet can be contacted at davejolivet@anchornews.org.

8

T

May 9, 2014

Shepherd! Shepherd! Shepherd! What is the fuss all about?

he word shepherd and related terms dominate the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter. In the second reading we hear the words, “You have now returned to the Shepherd.” In the responsorial psalm the first part of the response is, “The Lord is my Shepherd”; In the Gospel we have the Shepherd calling His sheep by name and other sheep and shepherd references. Also as we see, this Sunday is called Good Shepherd Sunday.

So why all this emphasis on the word shepherd and related words? What is the fuss all about, what can be so important? After all, aren’t shepherds a bit different than the rest of us, standoffish even, living with their flocks of sheep instead of people? And, dare we say, even smelling somewhat like them?

Where is there anything of value in all of this for us?

What is a shepherd anyway, just a farmer of sheep right?

Well at first glance yes. But perhaps we should look at what a shepherd does. This may give us a better idea of what the fuss is all about.

Obviously the shepherd is taking care of his flock, looking out for its nourishment and

its safety from predators, that they are the thief, the robber is his vocation. This turns out and the strangers mentioned in to be a very critical part of life the Gospel. These personify the for the sheep. Why? Because evil that is at loose in the world. it also turns out that sheep on The evil that tells us to ignore their own don’t always do this what we know in our hearts to very well, that they have a way be wrong, but to just go ahead of straying off the proper course in life. Can you imagine that, they are Homily of the Week not totally self-sufficient.

Fourth Sunday Really! of Easter They are many predators who are very hungry

By Deacon for sheep. The sheep Lawrence St. Pierre literally need to be on watch in all directions.

As with most creatures they only have eyes that look and do what we want without forward and somewhat side to regard to anything or anyone. side, making it difficult to guard Similarly the nourishment the backside. So the predators that we speak of is more than can sneak up on them. And of water or food, but the spiritually course when they are checking life-saving nourishment of the their backside, the other sides Body and Blood of Our Lord are not under good watch. The Jesus Christ. He is the One, as shepherd looking out for them it says in the psalm, Who leads is critical to the sheep as he is us to “verdant pastures” and able to keep watch and guide “restful waters.” The Gospel tells and protect in a way the sheep us that Christ is the gate to the cannot. In response to watching sheepfold, so anyone wishing to what is difficult for them to see be a shepherd to His flock must the flock comes to trust in his past through Him first. He is guiding voice. the way to be properly made As you probably have already and prepared as a disciple in suspected, the predators here are order to lead the flock to those not just other animals. Rather pastures, which of course would

be Heaven.

The disciple is every one of us; we all must be prepared to lead by the example of Christ, for we are all one another’s brothers and sisters, living in communion with one another.

Very imperfectly and even tragically is how we often live in community.

Thus our need for the voice of the Shepherd to guide us along the way, to guide us in the right way.

In our Christian faith we find this guidance in what are called the canons of the Church. This word, like many important words in our faith, comes from an old Greek word, kanon, which means “measuring rod,” hence the standard against which matters are judged and things are to be done. But the concept of being canonically correct in what we do, in what our behavior should be, is not so much meant to be just a set of rules. Rather it is in having our behavior being in one with the example of the One Person, Christ, in Whom the canons are grounded and founded upon, Christ Who is the Good Shepherd. He is our guidance.

It is this example of Christ that St. Peter talks about in the second reading, “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in His footsteps.” Peter tells us that when we go “astray like sheep” we need to turn to Christ’s example. By heeding His guiding voice we are able to return “to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”

Don’t we all need this Shepherd in our lives? So don’t be afraid to be a bit different and smell like a shepherd for there truly is no sweeter smell than that of the Good Shepherd. Nothing will be sweeter than the Heavenly banquet we are invited to, that we can only gain by Salvation through Jesus Christ.

Yes, Christ’s example is that of great sacrifice and suffering, not just of prayer and doing good deeds. But therein is our Salvation, that is what all the fuss is all about with our Good Shepherd, our Salvation!

Deacon St. Pierre was ordained last October and serves at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Attleboro.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. May 10, Acts 9:31-42; Ps 116:12-17; Jn 6:60-69. Sun. May 11, Fourth Sunday of Easter, Acts 2:14a,36-41; Ps 23:1-6; 1 Pt 2:20b-25; Jn 10:1-10. Mon. May 12, Acts 11:1-18; Pss 42:2-3;43:3-4; Jn 10:11-18. Tues. May 13, Acts 11:19-26; Ps 87:1b-7; Jn 10:22-30. Wed. May 14, Acts 1:1517,20-26; Ps 113:1-8; Jn 15:9-17. Thurs. May 15, Acts 13:13-25; Ps 89:2-3,21-22,25,27; Jn 13:16-20. Fri. May 16, Acts 13:26-33; Ps 2:6-11b; Jn 14:1-6.

C

ardinal Carlo Caffarra of Bologna has long been a vocal supporter of Humanae Vitae’s teaching on the morally appropriate means of family planning. So it was noteworthy that Cardinal Caffarra recently conceded that, while Humanae Vitae’s conclusions were true, its presentation of those truths left something to be desired. As the cardinal put it, “No one today would dispute that, at the time it was published, Humanae Vitae rested on the foundations of a fragile anthropology, and that there was a certain “biologism” in its argumentation.”

Which put me in mind of a document I discovered in 1997 in a dusty Cracovian library while ingesting copious amounts of antihistamines: The Foundations of the Church’s Doctrine on the Principles of Conjugal Life. Its somewhat academic title notwithstanding, that document represents one of the great “what if ” moments in modern Catholic history.

The document was the final report of a theological commission established in 1966 by the

Humanae Vitae: What if? archbishop of Cracow, Karol vians believed, and did so in a way Wojtyla, to help him in his work that emptied individual choices on the Papal Commission for the and acts of their moral signifiStudy of Problems of the Family, cance.

Population, and Birth Rate, ineviSo, were the only options tably dubbed the “Birth Control “stupid conservatism” or the Commission” by the world media. According to one of the document’s authors, Father Andrzej Bardecki, the Polish theologians on Wojtyla’s commission had seen

By George Weigel two drafts of an encyclical on conjugal morality and fertility regulation.

One had been prepared by the Holy Office (now the deconstruction of Catholic moral Congregation for the Doctrine theology? of the Faith); it strung together The Cracovians didn’t think various papal statements on the so. They thought the truth of the issue without even mentioning Church’s teaching about conjugal Pius XII’s endorsement of natural morality and fertility regulation family planning. And that, Barcould be presented in a humane decki told me, struck the Cracow and personalistic way: one that theologians as “stupid conservaacknowledged the moral duty to tism.” The other draft had been plan one’s family and the desponsored by German Cardinal mands of self-sacrifice in conjugal Julius Doepfner; it represented life; one that affirmed methods of a grave misreading of what God fertility-regulation that respected had inscribed in human sexuality the body’s dignity and its built-in “in the beginning,” the Cracomoral “grammar”; one that that

The Catholic Difference

recognized the moral equality and equal moral responsibility of men and women, rather than leaving the entire burden of fertility-regulation on the wife. In proposing this fresh presentation of classic moral truths in a delicate area of pastoral care, the Cracovian theologians drew on the pioneering work done by their archbishop, Karol Wojtyla, in Love and Responsibility — work that Wojtyla, as John Paul II, would later develop in the “Theology of the Body.”

And so, what if? What if Paul VI had adopted the Cracovian approach to presenting the truths he taught in Humanae Vitae?

What if the encyclical had been built upon a less formalistic, even abstract, view of the human person and human sexuality?

What if Humanae Vitae had deployed a richly-textured and humanistic anthropology that was not susceptible to the charge of “biologism”?

1968 being the year it was, and the theological politics of

the moment being what they were, there would still have been an uproar, I expect. But had the Cracovian report provided the framework for Humanae Vitae, the Church would have been better positioned to respond to that uproar.

The Catholic Church now has ample materials with which to make sense of, teach, and apply its settled convictions on the morality of marital love and procreation: the “Theology of the Body”; John Paul II’s magnificent 1981 apostolic exhortation, Familiaris Consortio; the pastorally sensitive 1997 Vademecum for Confessors on the Morality of Certain Aspects of Conjugal Life. And we have a brilliant analysis of the effects of a contraceptive culture in Mary Eberstadt’s Adam and Eve After the Pill (Ignatius Press), which is must-reading for every bishop attending the upcoming synods on the family.

Still, I wonder: what if?

George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

May 9, 2014

Tuesday 6 May 2014 — Cathedral Church of Fall River — St. Pius X Awards eople have been sharing fond memories and stories about St. John Paul II and St. John XXIII. Here’s a couple more.

I was a young priest when the announcement was made that Boston’s Archbishop Humberto Medeiros, originally a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, had been named cardinal. A delegation traveled from Fall River to Rome for the occasion. Among them was my pastor, Father Bill O’Reilly. Before the ceremony, the future cardinals waited in separate reception rooms in the Apostolic Palace. The pope wanted to greet each one privately.

With Archbishop Medeiros that day were their Excellencies, Bishops Daniel Cronin, James Connolly, and James Gerrard. Enter His Holiness, Pope Paul VI, followed shortly thereafter by a gatecrasher — Father Bill O’Reilly. Father O’Reilly had bumbled past the Swiss Guard and security personnel and just opened the door and walked in. Father O’ Reilly, in his gregarious man-

P

A

haughty and ambitious young man named Saul was on his way to Damascus.

Once there, he planned to eliminate those people who followed this Jesus. There was a flash of light, a loud voice, and Saul was thrown from his horse. Embarrassed, Saul tried to stand, but realized he had lost his vision!

The once independent and strong Saul allowed his friends to lead him into the city.

Life is like that for each of us. We are hit with the proverbial two-by-four or have the rug pulled out from underneath us.

We, like Saul, wonder “Why me?” In our pain and grief, we hear the words of that song, “We Will Rock You,” and feel the world is out to pulverize us.

Knowing God lies within us, we seek reassurance from Scripture. We find the verse, “We are only earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us” (2 Cor 3:7). Clay pots? Lord, do you know what rocks do to clay pots? How about waterproofed Kevlar pots? Then, we can always hold the treasures You give us.

Ah, but a vessel holding the

Anchor Columnists Twice-told tales ner, threw his arm around the pope. The startled pope looked up into the beaming face of the six-foot Father O’Reilly. The papal photographer snapped a picture. My pastor returned to the rectory with the photo. For Father O’Reilly, it was priceless; for Pope Paul VI, not so much.

Skipping ahead, I was invited by a priestfriend to be his travel companion. He was going to Poland to give a retreat at the invitation of an archbishop. We were welcome to stay in the episcopal residence.

But the retreat had to be postponed when Pope Paul VI died unexpectedly. The archbishop rushed to Rome for the election of the next pope.

That turned out to be Pope John Paul I. When the archbishop returned, the retreat was rescheduled. But then there was another unexpected event. Pope John Paul I died.

The archbishop headed back to Rome. The priest retreat was eventually canceled due to the fact that the Archbishop of Krakow found himself elected Pope John Paul II. Our paths never did cross — until later.

Pope John Paul II was visiting the United States. He intended to celebrate Mass in Philadelphia. Somehow yours truly received an invitation. Off I flew to Philadelphia, by way of Windsor Locks, Conn. We were waiting on the tarmac for clearance when alarms sounded. A tornado was head-

ing straight for the airport. The pilot was ordered to get the plane airborne immediately.

Fortunately, this maneuver got us out of harm’s way.

Back in Philadelphia, the airport was already closed as a crowd awaited the plane carrying Pope John Paul II. Because my flight was in a state of emergency, Philadelphia allowed us to land. Nobody told the crowd. As I stepped from the plane, the TV commentators remarked, “His Holiness seems to have lost weight and he’s grown taller, too.” The

people began cheering and waving flags. That’s the day one million people mistook me for a saint. Not a single person has made that mistake since.

I jumped in a cab and said, “Get me out of here!” “Are you nuts?” responded the cabbie.

“There are huge crowds lining the streets. Are you the only one in Philadelphia who doesn’t know the pope is on his way?”

“Oh, I know. I was there yesterday in Boston. He was in D.C. today. Tomorrow I will concelebrate Mass with him in the civic center.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were in the papal entourage?” and off we sped, horn honking.

When I arrived at the hotel room, I was exhausted. I closed the curtains and fell asleep. But not for long; there was banging at my door. There stood five people excitedly explaining something in French. I don’t speak French. I eventually figured out that they were from the magazine Paris Marche.

They said something about the pope being downstairs. I invited them in. They threw open the shades. Sure enough, there

9 was Pope John Paul celebrating Mass in the square under my window. The photographer snapped some excellent shots. I couldn’t get back to sleep.

The next day, I was off to the civic center. A squad of monsignors herded us into line. I ended up on stage just one seat from the pope. I noticed the priest next to me was rather gruff. He growled when I extended my hand at the sign of peace. He didn’t seem to know the Mass prayers, either.

Then I noticed the firearm sticking out from under his robes. He was undercover with the Secret Service.

During Mass, I was looking around, taking it all in. So was the pope. He looked in my general direction. Our eyes met. The pope gave me a little smile and moved his hand in a blessing. I blessed him back.

That was the day I blessed a saint. Sometimes I wonder, dear readers, how I get myself into these situations.

Now when I pray through the intercession of St. John Paul II, I can just hear him in Heaven saying, “You again?”

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

Clay vessels in ‘We Will Rock You’ world

treasures is only half the picture, is it not? Have you ever read the poem “The Cracked Water Pot”?

In this tale, the water bearer has two pots upon his shoulders.

One pot aptly holds all the water while the other is quite leaky.

All this cracked pot can do is compare itself unfavorably to the other pot. The cracked pot finally finds the courage to speak with the one that fills the pots. It is surprised by the answer to examine the ground. All around are flowers watered each day by the droplets that it sheds. The pot’s vision is myopic. The master’s foresight includes the proper tool of imperfection for his world vision.

God’s blessings and gifts to us really are talents and expertise we are to share with others. Some days we will freely pour them out.

More importantly though, are all our little imperfections that allow us to share in small, but necessary ways for others. As in the tale above, we may glimpse the big picture only if we have the courage to ask God to show it to us.

Understanding God’s view can start with looking at things just a bit deeper. Mary Mc-

Donald in her book “A History With God” provides a real-life tale where, as a child, instead of bringing the birthday cake to the pastor, she accidently dumped it into his lap! He reassured the frightened child. Mary says, “Being perfect does not feel as good as being loved. I learned that

perfection is not the goal — love is.” So true, is it not? I have been blessed with success at many levels in my life. All of that pales in comparison to knowing that I am loved for who I am.

Rocks can produce more damage than a small crack. One example of such a vessel was the writer Henri Nouwen. In the preface to Nouwen’s book “Turn My Mourning Into Dancing,” Timothy Jones describes Nouwen as “A heart broken before God and opened for his fellow friends and readers.” In striking contrast to the world view, God values

and chooses to use the imperfect vessel. Why? Brene Brown in her book “The Gifts of Imperfection” calls connection, compassion and courage the gifts of imperfection. She defines connection as, “The energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” This connection comes only with sharing.

It requires the choice to suffer with another (compassion) and the strength to speak one’s heart (courage).

Pema Chodron further clarifies this with her words, “Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It is a relationship between equals. Compassion becomes real only when we recognize our shared humanity.”

This allows us to understand the duality of compassion. In the process of opening our hearts to share our traumatic experiences and subsequent wisdom, we are also healed. God’s world vision requires us to recognize that we are all imperfect vessels loved “as

is” for who we are and called to a ministry of encouragement for each other.

Where is it that Saul and we are to begin? Anna Quindlen provides an answer in her words, “The thing that is really hard and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.”

Historically, that arrogant Saul, with God’s grace and much work, became St. Paul whose words even today seek to bring all of us together before God. Even the music of Queen is a hint of God’s call. After all, “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions” were released together as one single. In this imperfect world, we will hurt others and they will hurt us.

When we strive for peace and healing, we should always remember the joy of unconditional love. Each morning God fills our vessel. Even with our imperfections, just as we are today, we are called to be champions for God by faithfully serving one another by sharing that love as done to Christ Himself.

Anchor columnist Helen Flavin is a Catholic scientist, educator and writer born and raised in Fall River. hflavin@bishopconnolly.com.

10

May 9, 2014

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

11

May 9, 2014

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

12

May 9, 2014

Women hear diverse messages at convention continued from page one

only credit miracles happening in the Bible, while others may be open to the possibility but have yet to truly believe.

“We would love to experience a miracle. You might wonder why I’m asking you about miracles today?” said Father Washburn, who then expounded on the convention’s theme, “Do whatever He tells you,” with a retelling of the Wedding of Cana.

By having Jesus turn the water into wine, Jesus was making a bold statement, said Father Washburn. He could have begun His public ministry in a different way, but “He revealed His glory and His disciples began to believe,” said Father Washburn. “It was this bold statement that ushers in the very first miracle of Jesus.”

Jesus could have begun His holy ministry in myriad of ways, continued Father Washburn, but instead “He begins at Cana. He doesn’t begin with a glorious speech or a ritual moment or grand entrance; He begins with a miracle. He begins with a moment that challenges those around Him and us, that things may not be what they appear. Even the things that seem impossible may become possible. He begins by showing us that the very presence of God can enter powerfully in an ordinary moment of our lives, if we let Him. Jesus didn’t come to merely tell us about God, He came to be the very presence of God.” It’s a very timely reflection considering the current climate; we live in a world that

does not believe in miracles or challenges the belief in miracles, said Father Washburn; everyone wants to believe only in what can be seen, touched, measured or explained. There are some who feel God doesn’t live here anymore, or is distant and far away in our lives.

Father Washburn then did a play-on-words with his audience: “Did you know the fastest growing group in the United States is the ‘nones’? Now let me clarify that for you; I’m not talking about religious Sisters,” he said, eliciting laughter from those listening to his presentation.

He continued, “Instead, I’m talking about those who have no religious affiliation at all.

Today when it comes to religious affiliation in America, those who consider themselves nothing in particular have grown to 20 percent of Americans, or 46 million Americans.

That’s a whole lot of people in this country. The ‘nones’ are made up of those who don’t believe anything at all, or those who aren’t sure, or those who don’t care if there’s a God at all.

These are folks who like to refer to themselves as spiritual but not religious. We know these people, after all, many of these people are our friends and fam-

ily.”

But what does this have to do with miracles? It may differ from person-to-person, but it’s really God reaching into our lives and into our world. When we stop seeing God’s presence in our world, it’s that much easier to become a “none.”

Father Washburn began to list things that close us off to God, beginning with extremism that creates a polarization between differing parties, like in politics where there’s no meeting in the middle, it’s all or nothing — and that idea spills into our everyday values; “We approach our lives with an ‘all or nothing’ way, especially with those closest to us. We say things like, ‘I can never do anything right,’” said Father Washburn, adding, “Never?”

“Or, ‘every time I try to make a difference, I always give too much and no one ever appreciates me.’ Always?” asked Father Washburn. “Or, ‘you only care about yourself and you will never change.’ Never ever? You see the ‘always’ and the ‘never’ leave very little room for God. Our God is about transformation and change, and it’s harder to find room for Him in the extremes.”

Another factor that closes

us off is the constant comparison, that tendency to be endlessly wanting what others have, a prevalence in our culture that encourages us to keep up with everyone else, said Father Washburn; “When we do this, our eyes are never on the goodness present in our own lives. God is always found in blessings and gratitude and never found in envy, jealousy or greed.”

He asked those in the audience who believed they had experienced a miracle in her life, and as hands were raised, he said that “miracles are nothing more than God breaking into our world” and that he hopes “God is breaking in with regularity.”

He encouraged everyone to be an on-going witness, and to continue to do “whatever He tells you” and “to fill the world with miracles of peace.”

The council then welcomed Sister Eleanor McNally, a Holy Union Sister who is a voice raising awareness of human trafficking.

“It’s hard to get the message out for human trafficking,” she said, “a lot of people don’t want to hear it.”

Human trafficking of women and children for commerContinued on page 13

Sister Eleanor McNally, SUSC, a Holy Union Sister speaks about human trafficking at the 61st annual convention for the Fall River Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. (Photo by Becky Aubut)

The Anchor asks for the intercession of Our Blessed Mother for all the mothers in the Fall River Diocese.

13

May 9, 2014

A mother’s concern for her son

By Carol Eccleston Special to The Anchor

to be one more that interests him. He just can’t seem to icture a small boy col- stop. lecting pieces of coal That nagging sound is bealong the railroad tracks. He coming so loud now he cannot is so intent on his mission ignore it. As he finally lifts his that he does not understand eyes off of the coal and looks the potential danger he is in. around he sees what has been For the moment things are making that noise all along. quiet and the only sound that His mother is on the other can be heard is the rustling side of a fence. She cannot get of leaves in the trees. The boy to him and so her only way to bends down, picks up a shiny save her son is to call to him piece of coal, puts it in his and tell him of the danger he collection bag and moves on is in. She yells for him to drop down the tracks. the heavy bag of coal and run In the distance another away from the tracks. sound can be heard but it is The boy thinks his mother hard to make out. It is a fa- is overreacting; she is old and miliar sound; one he feels he doesn’t understand the allure has heard a thousand times of the coal. He starts to argue before. The sound becomes with his mother. The coal can’t background noise as he plods hurt anyone. It is just coal. on down the tracks looking What is this burden she keeps for more pieces of coal. Each talking about? Why does she piece looks more interesting keep talking about danger? than the one before.

He has come this far down His pockets are becoming the track and nothing has full and the bag he is using happened to him yet. to collect the pieces is getting The arguing gets louder heavier by the moment. and louder. As they each stop There is that noise again. for breath a new sound is It is getting louder now. He heard. It is a train whistle. The can’t quite make it out but for mother can only watch from a some reason it doesn’t seem distance as her son makes his to matter. He is on his quest decision. for more and he doesn’t want And so another day goes by. to stop. Step, bend, and place The mother is on her knees, the coal in the bag. He does it yet again, with the name of her over and over again. son on her lips as she pleads By now he is not satis- to God. How long, oh Lord? fied with just the coal along There are days of silence and the sides of the track. He days of hope. After all, this notices that the coal right is God’s plan. He knows a in the middle of the track mother’s heart; He hears her seems undisturbed and those cries for her children. God pieces attract him the most. is faithful. In the future she As he makes his way down can see her son, whole and at the middle of the track he peace, and she smiles. can hear that noise again. It Editor’s note: This piece was is getting louder still, but he submitted to The Anchor by a can’t take his eyes off of the mother with her obvious concoal. cern for the Salvation of her The energy he had at the son. It is the hope that all mothbeginning is gone now. The ers who suffer similar heartbag is so heavy. What started aches will pray unceasingly for out as fun now seems to be a their children. The Anchor struggle. He feels trapped. Al- asks that everyone pray for all though he has so many pieces mothers as well on this Mothin his bag there always seems er’s Day weekend.

P

After celebrating Mass with Bishop George W. Coleman, some members of the Diocesan Council of Catholic women gathered with the bishop and other celebrants. From left: Deacon Paul Levesque, Father Michael Racine, president-elect Fran Brezinski, Bishop Coleman, council president Mary Mitchell, and Franciscan Father Thomas Washburn. (Photo by Becky Aubut) Continued from page 12

cial sexual exploitation is the second largest known criminal activity in the world, with estimated numbers of those being trafficked at 2.4 million.

“In 2005, they were talking about it but very little was being done,” said Sister McNally, but as awareness has been raised, states have been writing laws to counter human trafficking.

Victims are severely traumatized, and while some may recover, many do not and require services for their physical and mental health; “It’s a very complicated crime,” said Sister McNally.

She said that technology has given traffickers an edge, from communicating either online or with cell phones to feeding

the evil of pornography on the Internet.

“There are criminal groups that work internationally because they can communicate” so easily online, she said. “The Internet and technology have been contributing factors.”

Victims come from all over the world, often victims are lured with the promise of a good job and then are coerced, deceived and finally abducted; “All are fooled, none want to go into trafficking,” said Sister McNally.

Women in Eastern Europe were among the first groups heavily targeted by the traffickers but as technology grew, so did the reach of traffickers and they began to reach out to Asia and “everywhere else in

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

Celebrant is Father Riley J. Williams, a parochial vicar at St. John the Evangelist and St. Vincent de Paul parishes in Attleboro

the world,” said Sister McNally.

In the United States, the group most susceptible to traffickers is children of domestic violence, and those who are escaping from a bad home life.

“Traffickers know these things and can spot these children who are runaways in bus stations and shelters, and they befriend them,” she explained. “They know if children come from a bad home, most children don’t really know how to love so when a trafficker reaches out to them, they befriend them and when they’re in their clutches, [the children] become things, not people.”

Sister McNally encouraged everyone to pray, stating that prayer can be a “secret weapon,” and to pray not just for the victims and those on the front lines combatting this evil, but also for a conversion for the traffickers; “This is the reality of our world,” said Sister McNally.

“As long as the demand is there, criminals will keep supplying.”

The council then celebrated Mass with Bishop George W. Coleman and had lunch.

Through a newsletter, council president Mary Mitchell stated the council is continuing to work on increasing membership and acknowledged the membership committee had been doing a wonderful job. Having events posted in local newspapers, including The Anchor, has helped alert potential members of upcoming events.

As the annual convention began to wind down and the group began to gather for lunch, Mitchell said, “I thought both of our speakers had excellent thoughts. I think the day ran remarkably smoothly and we thank the Lord for this beautiful day.”

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

14

May 9, 2014

Cape Cod Catholic radio benefit planned for May 17 continued from page one

important to have a Catholic radio presence on Cape Cod, where the primary mode of transportation is the motor vehicle.

“Virtually everything here involves getting into your car and driving,” he said. “Whether you’re going shopping or to worship or to a friend’s house or community activities — those 10- to 40-minute trips provide an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives.”

An early supporter of the effort, Bodio will be speaking at a benefit for “Life with Christ” radio to be held May 17 at St. John’s Parish, 841 Shore Road in Pocasset, beginning with dinner at 6 p.m.

A licensed mental health counselor and director of the Center for Psychology and Faith in Sagamore, Bodio will be talking about his upcoming “Shelter from the Storm” radio show, which will make its debut on WQMC. He’ll be sharing the stage with well-known news and sports anchor and communications expert Scott Wahle, formerly of WBZ-TV in Boston.

“I’ve got this talented, gifted performer who’s been on stage and screen along with spaghetti and meatballs, so I’ll be competing with those two things,” Bodio joked.

“I do a lot of concert work — I’m a singer and an actor — so I contacted a good buddy of mine who does this for a living and he and I together are going to be the ‘entertainment’ for the evening,” Wahle told The Anchor.

“I’m in support of Bill, who is the main event.”

Wahle, who currently serves on the board for iCatholic Media, the non-profit arm that operates a number of media

outlets for the Boston Archdiocese including Catholic TV, The Pilot newspaper, and the locallyproduced radio program “The Good Catholic Life” that originates from WQOM 1060 AM (“The Station of the Cross”) in Boston, also began his impressive career working for a radio station on Cape Cod. “I graduated from Notre Dame and had initially wanted to be an actor, but broadcasting was my fallback position,” Wahle said. “By the time I graduated, I decided I didn’t want to wait on tables, so I sent out about 30 resumes to different New England radio stations and I got a nibble in Montpelier, Vt., and I got a solid offer from a station in Orleans on WVLC, which stood for ‘Voice of the Lower Cape.’ So my first job out of school was working for a radio station on Cape Cod. It was a great place to start.”

A seasoned anchor and longtime fixture on the Boston news circuit, Wahle finally got to realize his acting aspirations with roles in the 2010 Tom Cruise film “Knight and Day” and more recently in the Hallmark Hall of Fame TV movie “The Makeover,” which will premiere in June, and a forthcoming pilot for NBC entitled “The Odyssey.”

And like Bodio, Wahle thinks the Church needs to use any and all tools at its disposal to spread the “Good News.”

“Any means that the Church can use to get the message out is important,” Wahle said. “If you’re not on Facebook, or Twitter, or blogging, you’re not really taking advantage of all the means that you have — and radio can and should be part of that whole outreach. To be able

This week in 50 years ago — The Catholic Teachers’ Association of the Diocese of Fall River held its ninth annual convention at Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro. More than 800 religious and lay teachers attended the event.

25 years ago — Fathers Marc H. Bergeron, William M. Costello, and Michael R. Nagle represented the diocesean presbyterate at the National Federation of Priests’ Councils meeting in New Orleans.

phyte in terms of radio production, Bodio hopes he can “do whatever I can to help develop to get the message out to that radio programming concepts, huge percentage of the popu- dialogues and issues and sort of lation who were maybe raised look at things from a practical, Catholic but no longer go to pragmatic level but also make church, it’s ideal.” sure we’re theologically and Wahle said he met Bodio a philosophically sound.” few years ago through a mutual “I would suspect my show will friend and that’s when he first be an evolving thing,” he added. learned about “Life with Christ” “I think if we get enough interradio. est and a production staff infra“He’s a faith-filled guy who’s structure, it could be a live show very involved in his parish in where we have call-in opportuSandwich,” Wahle said. “Just nities. But I think initially we’ll from the times that I’ve been in identify thematically the storms touch with him, I’ve found him that apply to people’s lives and to be a deeply spiritual guy with the challenges that are facing our a real message and a real story community and nation.” to tell.”

Since he spent the bulk of his “Scott has been very encour- career working for secular media aging,” Bodio said, jokingly add- outlets, Wahle is keenly aware of ing: “He’s told me from the start the importance of making sure that he thought I had the per- the Catholic perspective is repfect face for radio.” resented in newspapers, on TV, Having produced a series of and via radio. educational tapes, DVDs and “I think Catholic media plays CDs on counseling issues related an important role — especially to the Catholic faith that were now, with Pope Francis being widely circulated on Cape Cod, front and center all the time — Bodio said he was approached so they can report on not only by some of the people behind what he’s said, but also what WQMC about doing a show. he meant,” Wahle said. “I don’t “I did a series about the so- think you can count on the seccalled ‘healing art’ involved in ular media to handle the second counseling and psychotherapy,” part of that. They can certainly Bodio said. “And they let me tell you what he said, but they know about their plans to start won’t always know what he a Catholic radio station on Cape meant, or they’ll come up with Cod and wanted to explore some other conclusion about whether I might have some in- what he meant.” terest.”

An avid admirer of Pope FranAs a longtime admirer of cis, Wahle said he’s noticed that EWTN, Bodio jumped at the some secular media outlets have chance to do his own radio show. misinterpreted the Holy Father’s “My wife and I went to the “off-the-cuff remarks” of late.

25th anniversary of EWTN a “Some people have taken number of years ago, and I think what he’s said about certain asthey’re about to celebrate their pects of the Church — whether 35th anniversary, if I’m not mis- it’s divorce or homosexuality taken,” he said. “So I certainly — out of context,” Wahle said. understand what their vision is “People will read into it what for spreading the Good News.”

Admitting that he’s a neo-

Diocesan history

10 years ago — Bishop George W. Coleman traveled to mainland Portugal and the Azores at the invitation of the bishop of the Azores to attend the feasts of Santo Christo and Our Lady of Fatima.

One year ago — Louise P. Kane, principal of Espirito Santo School in Fall River, was named assistant superintendent for personnel for the Fall River diocesan schools by Bishop George W. Coleman. She succeeded Kathleen A. Simpson, who retired at the end of the school year.

they want to read into it, and I think it’s important that a newspaper or any media outlet doesn’t take it and run with it as if the pope was saying divorce is OK, for example. You can’t jump to a conclusion about what he’s saying for your own purposes; you have to step back and understand what he’s saying. I think that’s where the Catholic media can play an important role in being the interpreter for Pope Francis.”

Bodio said WQMC has already secured the necessary permits along with a license from the Federal Communications Commission and the station’s transmission tower will be located in East Falmouth that will boost its original 150-watt output to 250 watts.

“That’s not bad for an FM station on the Cape,” he said. “(The range) may surprise us, depending on the atmospheric conditions.”

The final piece of the puzzle will be to secure a studio location from among several options within the Falmouth area.

“I know the gang is very optimistic that, if our fund-raising efforts are successful, we will be on the air by the end of the year if not the beginning of 2015,” Bodio said. “As I guess has been customary for EWTN stations, it takes a lot of faith to get started, but it seems to work.”

An evening fund-raiser to benefit WQMC FM 102.3 with Scott Wahle and William Bodio will be held on May 17 at 6 p.m. at St. John’s Church, 841 Shore Road in Pocasset. Dinner will be provided and a goodwill donation will be greatly appreciated.

For more information contact Kevin Ward at 508-291-0949 or visit www.lifewithchristradio. org.

The Anchor spends nearly $2,000 in postage change fees each year!

The Post Office charges The Anchor 70 cents for notification of a subscriber’s change of address. Please help us reduce these expenses by notifying us immediately when you plan to move.

Please Print Your New Address Below

NAME: STREET ADDRESS: CITY, STATE, ZIP: NEW PARISH: MOVING DATE: Please attach your Anchor address label so we can update your record immediately.

Clip and mail form to: The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722

May 9, 2014

May heralds spring devotions to Mary, Queen of Heaven

annaprae.com.

Presented by Dorothy J. Levesque, “A continued from page one Day with Mary: Mary in Scripture and Blessed Mother, some spring flowers, Elizabeth: “My soul glorifies the Lord, Life” will be held at the National Shrine a candle, and a Rosary,” wrote Father my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.” of Our Lady of La Salette Retreat and Richard J. Beyer in “Medjugorje Day They are an advocate for the other. Conference Center on May 17.

By Day: A Daily Meditation Book Mary insisted that her Divine Son do The first section of the day of prayer based on the Messages of Our Lady of something about the wine situation at will highlight Mary as depicted in Medjugorje.” “As a family, light the can- the wedding in Cana. They are forget- Scripture. Through not often cited in dle each day and offer Our Lady some ful of self for the other. Mary was and the Gospels, Mary is mentioned at Jespecial prayers, such as the Rosary, the still is empty of self and full of God and sus’ conception and birth, at His preLitany of Mary, or another prayer for full of grace. They are silently empathic sentations in the Temple, at a site of His the special intentions of the Queen of before suffering. Mary stood silently at public speaking — and, of course, at the Peace.” the foot of the cross. foot of the cross. She is daughter, friend, Some of the Marian events planned All are welcome to the event. Mass wife, mother, widow and bereaved parfor this month around the Diocese of and lunch will follow the presentation. ent.

Fall River include a presentation on The deadline for registering is May 10, The next segment will focus on the Mary; a 33-day Consecration to Jesus and the presentation fee is $25. Contact many titles of Mary. Through the years, through Mary; and the retreat “A Day Betty at 508-678-2373 for more infor- Mary has become known as light of with Mary: Mary in Scripture and Life.” mation. hope, cause of joy, comforter in times of Sponsored by the Fall River DiocThree hundred years ago, St. Louis esan Council of Catholic Nurses, “A de Montfort gave the world the 33-Day Presentation on Mary — A Care Giver Consecration to Jesus through Mary. It During the Suffering and Joys of Ev- is this very same consecration that St. eryday Life” will be held in the Nannery Pope John Paul II made and had emConference Room of St. Anne’s Hospi- blazoned across his vestments: “Totus tal in Fall River on May 17, from 8:30 Tuus” (Totally Yours, Mary). to 11:15 a.m.

“Like all saints, Louis de Montfort “I like the idea of Mary as a care- had a magnificent love for God, but it giver; she really is,” said guest speaker was his devotion to the Mother of God Father John Sullivan, a missionary of which drew him deeper into Christ,” Our Lady of La Salette. “She wants to explained Rae-Kelly. “To de Montfort, bring us back to health to help us come Mary was the moon with no light of closer to her Son; and that’s when we her own. It was God’s will that His brilare healthy and strong. Her apparitions liance should shine through her to us.” as well as places in Scripture where she St. Louis said that Mary was the is quoted — they all build toward this. “supreme masterpiece of God,” echoShe’s just good for our health in every ing the words of St. Augustine: “God sense of the word.” poured Himself into the mold that is Although Father Sullivan admits Mary.” that he has of yet to prepare his final “When we say, ‘Mary,’ she says, presentation, he met with his friend ‘God,’” according to St. Louis. “And Anna Rae-Kelly, a lay Carmelite and to go through this loving, self-empty, the founder of ARK Ministries, to share maternal heart is to go to God in the their thoughts on the subject. quickest possible way.”

“We just wrote down some good The Consecration to Jesus through ideas about the beautiful characteristics Mary is currently underway at the Naof a Catholic nurse,” he said, relating tional Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette those to the role model of the Blessed in Attleboro. Booklets are available at Mother. the welcome center. The next meetFather Sullivan said that Catho- ing will be May 12 at 7:15 p.m. (after lic nurses are joy-filled in faith, citing the 6:15 Mass). All are welcome. The the mystical joy of Mary’s Magnificat prayers also can be said in your own to God as she served her older cousin, home. For more information, visit www.

15 sorrow, one wrapped in mystery, champion of the poor and lowly, full of grace, intercessor in times of need, etc. What is the importance of these titles? Do they help us understand the “place” of Mary in our lives and in our world?

The retreat will conclude with a presentation, sharing and the praying the Stations of Mary.

The retreat costs $40 and includes a continental breakfast, lunch and materials. For more information, call 508-2228530.

The portrait of Our Lady of Fall River on page one was commissioned by Bishop James E. Cassidy and was painted by renown artist Feodor Sahkarov in 1943.

The original now hangs in the bishop’s residence. A feature on the painting appeared in the May 2, 2008 Anchor.

16

Youth Pages

Three older First Communion recipients from St. Joseph’s Parish in Fall River, who did not receive in second grade had their own classes and were prepared by catechist Monique Rivera and recently received the Sacrament.

St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro is registered as a participant in NASA Explorer School which gives the school access to missions, research, and classroom activities that support the integration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in the curriculum. According to science teacher Kelly Schremp, “The seventh-grade students are working on an NES lab that investigates the effect of disuse osteoporosis. This condition affects astronauts that spend long periods in space.

Students use bags filled with different amounts of cereal and then expose the bag to an impact force to observe how loss of bone mass makes bones more vulnerable to fracture.” Shown here is Meaghan Lancaster dropping a book onto the cereal while Natasha Zaarour, Catherine O’Connor, Meghan Maguire look on.

MacKenzie Long, a junior at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth, recently won the Dr. Mildred F. Jefferson Youth Oratory Contest, sponsored by the Massachusetts Citizens for Life.

MacKenzie will now go on to the national contest in Louisville, Ky. at the National Right to Life Convention on June 26-28 and compete in the Jane Thompson Oratory Contest. “MacKenzie displayed his impressive leadership, confidence and persuasive speaking skills with eloquence,” said Amanda Tarantelli, campus ministry leader and Theology teacher at Bishop Stang High School. “I am honored to have the opportunity to speak persuasively in a competitive environment about a topic of which I am passionate,” said Long.

May 9, 2014

Students at All Saints Catholic School in New Bedford proudly shared their classroom saints during a recent visit to the school’s conference room where pictures of the patron saints of each homeroom are displayed. As the school gathers together each day for prayer, the stories of the saints are shared, giving witness to the many ways people have followed Christ, and providing role models for today’s saints in training.

Students at St. James-St. John School in New Bedford recently enjoyed a visit from the Healthy Choices Mime.

Three St. Francis Xavier, Acushnet middle school students won awards at the Massachusetts Region III Junior Division Science Fair. From left: Emily Lemieux, grade seven, for her project “What Burger?”— an investigation of the decay rates of several fast food hamburgers, second place; Victoria Kalisz, grade six, for her project “Let’s Go Solar”— an exploration of solar energy, third place; and Skylar Samanica, grade six, for her project “Heads Up!”— a review of the protectiveness of hockey helmets, second place. The three students were invited to participate in the state science fair on June 14.

May 9, 2014

A

s I was sorting through materials last weekend in preparation for this year’s Christian Leadership Institute, (shameless plug: To be held June 26-July 1, at Cathedral Camp http://www. fallriverfaithformation.org/ youth-and-young-adult/cli/), I came across a favorite little book of mine that I read to my own daughters when they were younger and that I also like to read to the CLI graduates at their CLI reunions. It’s a simple little book by Dr. Seuss. I understand it was the final book that Dr. Seuss wrote entitled “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” I thought it might be appropriate to revisit this little parable of life once again.

Since the school year is rapidly coming to a close, many of you may be graduating and heading to high school or college or the work place in the months ahead. You’ll all be making that important transition to the next phase of life and perhaps reflect-

Youth Pages Oh, the places you will go! ing on some of the words of Dr. Seuss may make that transition easier or at least a little more amusing.

While typical of Dr. Seuss’ writing style, this book was written for an older audience. In the typical sing-songy rhyme, the good doctor points out many of the important lessons of what will follow as many of you venture on in life. In this story, I believe, much can be learned. It’s all about going out and finding your way in life, weathering difficulties, being in charge of and taking responsibility for your life and how it turns out. It begins: “You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

You’re on your own. And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.*”

Of course, we hope you know that you are the one who will choose the direction of your life.

Life is choice. You can let it happen to you or you can experience it on your own terms. We parents only hope that we’ve instilled the

Be Not Afraid

By Deacon Frank Lucca values that will act as signposts along the way. But ultimately, you make each decision.

Sometimes you’ll choose the right way and sometimes the wrong way. Through it all, however, I hope the adults and friends in your life will be there for you. You will, of course, head down a wrong path or two (we all do) and you’ll occasionally find some not so good streets.

St. Vincent’s Home, Mechanics Cooperative Bank announce sixth annual Kick-off to Summer Celebration

FALL RIVER — St. Vincent’s executive director, John T. Weldon, is pleased to announce Mechanics Cooperative Bank as the title sponsor of the sixth annual Kick-off to Summer Celebration which will be held on June 27 from 6 p.m to 11 p.m. on the deck of the Battleship Massachusetts.

Mechanics Cooperative Bank’s title sponsorship represents the largest corporate sponsorship of the celebration. “We are grateful for Mechanics Cooperative Bank’s strong leadership and support of our mission to help the youth and families of our community,” said Weldon.

Back by popular demand,

the evening celebration overlooking Fall River’s waterfront is the only one of its kind in Southeastern Massachusetts.

Guests will enjoy complimentary beer and wine provided by Quality Beverage and Globe Liquors, cash bar, gourmet dinner and dessert, dancing to the sounds of The World Premier Band, and silent and live auctions emceed by volunteer auctioneer, Ryan Nadeau of Nadeau Tree Service. The successful fund-raiser is expected to draw more than 400 guests from Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

St. Vincent’s sixth Annual Kick-off to Summer Celebra-

Mechanics Cooperative Bank president and CEO, Joseph T. Baptista Jr., right, and executive vice president, Deborah A. Grimes, left, presented a sponsorship check to St. Vincent’s Home executive director, John T. Weldon, center.

tion promises to once again be a fun and festive celebration to signal the start of the summer season. Proceeds from the Summer Celebration will directly benefit the youth in St. Vincent’s Life Skills Program.

“Mechanics Cooperative Bank continues the tradition of being the presenting sponsor of St. Vincent’s Annual Kick-off to Summer Celebration,” said Joseph T. Baptista Jr., president and CEO of Mechanics Cooperative Bank. “It is our pleasure to support St. Vincent’s efforts to provide life skills, job development, and vocational training for the many youth of our community who transition to independent living and young adulthood,” Baptista said.

The evening will feature gourmet food stations including specialty dishes prepared by local restaurants.

Exclusive silent and live auctions will feature such items as destination packages to Maine, New Hampshire, The Four Seasons Boston, and Nantucket, autographed sports memorabilia, golf outings, wine tastings, and jewelry.

Tickets to St. Vincent’s sixth Annual Kick-off to Summer Celebration are $100 per person and may be purchased by contacting Melissa Dick at 508235-3228.

“With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.*” As you transition on to the next phase of your life, you will attempt to do your best but it won’t always be easy.

“Except when you don’ t Because, sometimes, you won’t.*” Try hard as you may to avoid those bumps, you’ll hit some along the road. You’ll be tested and tempted as you move through these years toward adulthood.

“You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.

Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked.*” You may even lose your way and end up “in a useless place.”

“And IF you go in, should you turn left or right... or right-and-three-quarters?

Or, maybe, not quite?*” The road may be frightening and long and you may not want to go on. You may yearn for the “good old” days when everything seemed to be much more simple.

Ultimately, however, you will learn to cope with life’s ups and downs, and that “slumps, lurches, and waiting places happen” to every Tom, Dick, and Mary.

Sometimes, because of the road you choose, you may feel that you are going it alone. Take those times of aloneness to really learn about yourself.

“All Alone!

Whether you like it or not, Alone will be something

17 you’ll be quite a lot.

On and on you will hike and I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.*” Remember, that with prayer and with Jesus by your side, even though that thought may now seem the least cool thing to think about, you will be able to get through. Remember, there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that you and God together cannot get through. Just keep that one thought in your mind.

“And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, indeed!

Kid, you will move mountains!*” So as you move on, remember that “a million miles begins with a step or two.” Take one step at a time. Don’t be in a rush to get to the finish line. Enjoy the scenes along the way. Stay faithful, be caring and loving and enjoy these days of your youth.

A happy transition to all who are moving on. You’ll get through it OK! “Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So get on your way!*” Frank Lucca is a permanent deacon in the diocese of Fall River, a youth minister at St. Dominic’s Parish in Swansea, and a campus minister at UMass Dartmouth. He is married to his wife of 35 years, Kristine, and a father of two daughters and a son-in-law and a fiveweek-old grandson! God is so good! Comments, ideas or suggestions? Please email him at DeaconFrankLucca@comcast. net. *Quoted from Dr. Seuss, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go,” 1990.

The Association of Catholic Admissions and Advancement Professionals recently presented Bishop Feehan High School (Attleboro) alum, Bill Midon ’71, and the former principal of St. Joseph’s School in Fairhaven, Dorothea Coderra, with one of two Board Member of the Year awards to recognize their exceptional commitment and leadership in developing support of their respective Catholic institutions.

The ACAAP Recognition Awards are designed to publicly acknowledge individuals and organizations for their extraordinary commitment to Catholic school, parish and institutional philanthropy. They bring prestige and honor to the Catholic institutions they support and inspire others by example. From left: Dr. Frederick Kalisz, executive director of Parents Alliance for Catholic Education; Julie Vairika, principal of St. Joseph’s School in Fairhaven who accepted on behalf of former principal Dorothea Coderra; David Erwin, ACAAP president; Sister Pat Harrington, RSM who accepted on behalf of Bill Midon; and Christopher Servant, president of Bishop Feehan.

18

May 9, 2014

Cardinal: Officials who support abortion should not receive Communion

ROME (CNS) — Catholic politicians and judges who support laws in conflict with Church teaching on abortion, euthanasia, Marriage and related issues commit “sacrilege” and cause “grave scandal” if they receive Communion, said the U.S. cardinal who heads the Vatican’s highest court.

“The Church’s discipline, from the time of St. Paul, has admonished those who obstinately persevere in manifest grave sin not to present themselves for Holy Communion,”

Cardinal Raymond L. Burke, prefect of the Supreme Court of the Apostolic Signature and a former archbishop of St. Louis, said.

The cardinal explained that the “discipline is not a punishment but the recognition of the objective condition of the soul of the person involved in such sin.

It prevents them from committing sacrilege by violating the incomparable sanctity of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ, and safeguards the Christian community at large

Around the Diocese St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 230 Gardner’s Neck Road in Swansea, will host noted mission and retreat director Father Patrick Martin from May 10-13. Father Martin, who has been blind since he was nine years old, will share his incredible life’s journey. He will preach at the 4 p.m. Saturday Mass on May 10; at the 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Masses on May 11; and at the 7 p.m. Masses on May 12 and 13. For more information call 508-673-2808.

A Portuguese Mass and procession in honor of Our Lady of Fatima will be celebrated at St. Anthony’s Parish in Taunton on May 10 beginning at 7 p.m. All are invited.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, 947 Park Street in Attleboro, will present a Mother’s Day celebration with Father Pat on May 10 beginning with celebration of Mass at 4:30 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m., followed by the concert and dance. For tickets or more information, call 508-222-5410 or visit www.lasalette-shrine.org. All proceeds will benefit the shrine and its ministries.

All are invited to join in prayer for “Building a New Culture of Life” on May 15 at 1 p.m. in St. Jude’s Chapel of Christ the King Parish in Mashpee. Prayers will consist of the four mysteries of the Rosary, with brief meditations on each.

The Fall River Diocesan Council of Catholic Nurses will sponsor a presentation entitled “Mary: A Caregiver During the Suffering and Joys of Everyday Life” by Father John Sullivan, M.S., on May 17 from 8:30 to 11:15 a.m. at Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River. Mass and lunch will follow the presentation and all are welcome. To register or for more information, contact Betty at 508678-2373.

St. John Neumann Parish, 157 Middleboro Road in East Freetown, will host its 30th annual Lakeside Family Festival on Memorial Day weekend, May 23-26.

Admission is free and the fair will be open on Friday from 6 to 11 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from noon to 11 p.m., and Monday from noon to 5 p.m. There will be a huge barn sale all weekend along with amusement rides, entertainment, a car show on Sunday (rain date is Monday) and a great selection of home-baked goods, games of skill, assorted food booths, raffles and a silent auction. For more information visit www.sjnfreetown.org.

Emmaus is a retreat program for men and women, ages 20-plus, who seek to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, regardless of their present level of faith and practice. The next Emmaus weekend will be at Cathedral Camp in East Freetown on May 30 through June 1. Contact Brittany Juszkiewicz at publicity@emmausretreats.com for more information and an application or visit www.emmausretreats.com.

Paintings by renowned Cape Cod impressionist artist Sam Barber of the Blessed Mother of Jesus and Madonna with Child will be available for viewing for all of the month of May at the Msgr. Perry Parish Center at Our Lady of Victory Church, 230 South Main Street in Centerville. Viewing times will be Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (closed for lunch 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.), Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon, and Saturday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. All paintings will be available for purchase, with a major portion of sales going to benefit Our Lady of Victory Church. For more information call 508775-5744, extension 119, or email Lisa@olvparish.org.

from scandal, that is, from being led to believe that the violation of the moral law, for example in what pertains to the inviolable dignity of human life, the integrity of Marriage and the family, and the freedom of conscience, is not sinful, does not gravely break communion with our Lord.”

Cardinal Burke spoke at an international conference of ProLife organizations the day before Italy’s fourth annual March for Life.

The cardinal also took part in the May 4 demonstration, joining some 40,000 marchers along the route from Rome’s Piazza della Repubblica to St. Peter’s Square, a distance of nearly two and a half miles. Demonstrators carried signs bearing messages such as “Conceived from rape, I love my life,” and “Let’s not kill the future.” The estimated turnout represented an increase of one-third over last year.

The marchers reached St. Peter’s Square in time to hear Pope Francis pray the “Regina Coeli” at noon, after which he greeted them, thanking and congratulating them for their work, and noting that this year’s march had a particularly “international and ecumenical character.”

According to organizers, more than 50 Pro-Life groups active in about 20 countries took part in the march.

“Our march does not have an ecclesial character,” Virginia Coda Nunziante, president of the March for Life, told participants. “Anyone who opposes abortion in the name of reason can take part, in a climate of great liberty. The defense of life is not an act of faith, but of reason.”

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 McDonnell, C.S.C., Pastor, Holy Cross, South Easton, 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

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese Acushnet — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Monday and Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Evening prayer and Benediction is held Monday through Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

ATTLEBORO — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the St. Joseph Adoration Chapel at Holy Ghost Church, 71 Linden Street, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

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

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

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

EAST TAUNTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the chapel at Holy Family Parish Center, 438 Middleboro Avenue, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

On First Fridays, Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Holy Family Church, 370 Middleboro Avenue, from 8:30 a.m. until 7:45 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NEW BEDFORD — St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, 565 County Street, holds Eucharistic Adoration in the side chapel every Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m., ending with Benediction.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time.

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

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

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

SOUTH YARMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Pius X Parish, 5 Barbara Street, on Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., from March 13 to April 10. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will also be offered at this time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

19

May 9, 2014

Holy Cross Father Leo Polselli displays a brochure about Servant of God Father Patrick Peyton, the “Rosary Priest,” during a recent retreat day held at Whaler’s Cove Assisted Living in New Bedford for the residents there. The day was made possible by the youth group at St. Kilian’s Parish in New Bedford, who have been actively involved with the residents there for the last three years. (Photo by Dave Jolivet)

New Bedford youth have special bond with Whaler’s Cove residents continued from page one

years. “I joined because I was interested in God and my Catholic faith,” she told The Anchor. “To me, it means a lot to visit the residents at Whaler’s Cove. I don’t see my grandma, and I think, ‘What if this were my grandma?’

So it makes me smile to make the residents happy by visiting and praying with them.

“Now when we go, they all know our names and they give us hugs. Every person should visit the elderly. It brings joy to everyone’s hearts.”

Fellow member Irvin Junior Ramos, 18, has also been part of the group for four years. “I became a part of this because I wanted to be more involved in the Church,” he said. “I wanted to do more after Confirmation.

“I’m happy helping the Whaler’s Cove residents. I look forward to it. It’s something God is calling us to do. It’s great to see the smiles on the residents’ faces.”

There is already a strong Catholic presence at Whaler’s Cove, with executive director Maureen Costa and activities director Jeannine Pacheco very active in the Church. Costa, a parishioner of Sacred Heart Parish in Fall River, told The Anchor, “It’s very important that the youth from St. Kilian’s have this relationship with our residents. The people who live here are our history, our foundation. This is more than a job for me, it’s a vocation.

The interaction the children have with the residents is priceless. It teaches the youth about history.

We have several veterans and their spouses here, and now they put their lives in our hands. The youths bring a joy and a distraction to the people here.”

“It means a lot to have the relationship with the youth of St. Kilian’s,” Pacheco, a parishioner

of Our Lady of Grace in Westport, told The Anchor. “We’ve had other groups come in, but haven’t connected with the residents like these young people have.”

“It’s awesome to have the kids come here,” resident Muriel Rostron told The Anchor. “They’re great. We enjoy having them here.” Rita Childs, also a resident, added, “This is fantastic having them come for the Rosary with us. I always give them a big hug when they get here.”

“It means everything to have them come here,” said resident Karen McCombe. “When I was a youngster I was involved with my faith. Today so many kids are leaving the Church. It’s sad. But the kids from St. Kilian’s are being brought up to connect with God and the Blessed Mother.

I’m proud of them.”

In addition to visiting the Whaler’s Cove residents, the St. Kilian’s group has twice arranged trips for some of the ambulatory residents to visit the Father Peyton Center at Holy Cross Family Ministries in Easton.

“We provided them with the opportunity to leave the place where they live and brought them to the Father Peyton Rosary Center up at Holy Cross Family Ministries in Easton and Holy Cross Father Leo Polselli provided them a day’s retreat,” said Aldarondo. “They enjoyed every bit of it. I’m so grateful for those who helped coordinate it.”

“It was such a relaxing time,” said resident Ellen Motta, of the time spent at the Father Peyton Center. “It was interesting,” added Rostron, “I was away from the Church for a while and it helped bring me back.”

The St. Kilian’s youth group was also responsible for recently providing the Whaler’s Cove res-

idents a day retreat at the home led by Father Polselli.

“I love the things Father Polselli does and says,” said resident Helen Foisy. “We don’t get these things everyday. We can’t go to Mass, so this helps a great deal.”

“I’ve been waiting for this for more than a year, when Jeannine [Pacheco] told us this was going to happen” said McCombe. “Father Polselli is wonderful and he teaches us so much and reminds us of our faith. And he teaches us new things as well.”

“A year ago Jeannine Pacheco came to the Father Peyton Center by bus with a group of about 15 residents,” Father Polselli told The Anchor. “I conducted a Day of Prayer with them and the response was quite positive and Jeannine contacted me and asked if I would consider coming to Whaler’s Cove so that other residents who were wheelchairbound and unable to come by bus could experience the prayer program as well.

“Upon my arrival I was pleased to see the auditorium I would be using and with the reception on the part of Jeannine and Mrs. Maureen Costa. I was struck by the genuine concern both these women had for the spiritual welfare of the residents.”

Father Polselli led the residents in praying the Rosary to open the retreat, followed by the showing of the movie, “Eggplant Lady,” a production of Family Theater, a part of HCFM. “Eggplant Lady is a powerful story about letting go and letting God, in short it speaks about a woman whose son wishes to move to an upscale neighborhood and this woman has to give up going to the soup kitchen with her eggplant dish each week,” explained Father Polselli. “Events in the life

of this woman parallel Christ’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane. Rosa, the woman, at one point in the film says, ‘When something bad happens that we cannot change or even understand, just try to remember that everything and all of us are part of God’s plan.’

“Many of the residents could identify aspects of the film with the reality of their own lives of having to give up homes, family situations residing now at the assisted living facility.”

Father Polselli utilized Rosary meditations from Father Peyton’s “Rosary Prayer Book,” and incorporated music from the “Mystical Rose” CD, containing Marian meditations set to music.

“Looking out over the group, the faces of some looked tired, maybe unresponsive, however at the conclusion of the day, one woman asked to speak and simply said how grateful that she and the others were that I would take the time to come to them,” said Father Polselli. “The entire time together was ‘Heavenly,’ according to her.”

The group is also responsible for The Missionary of Charity of Mother Teresa Sisters from New Bedford visiting the home

at Christmas with a group of about 50 children, most of whom are from St. Kilian’s, to sing for the residents. “This started two years ago and the elders really enjoy having the children sing,” said Aldarondo. “It has been the responsibility of our youth to provide as many spiritual experiences for the elders.”

When the St. Kilian’s youth group felt the need to “do something more,” the words were not just a wish, but something they actively pursued and accomplished.

For three years, the youngsters have put smiles on the faces of many of the Catholic residents at Whaler’s Cove, and have reignited a spiritual spark in their souls.

“This all started with a tiny visit several Christmases ago,” said Pacheco. “Then boom! They come to pray the Rosary, we’ve visited the Father Peyton Center, and have Father Leo coming to us. All thanks to the youth at St. Kilian’s and Edwin’s hard work.”

“They make me feel so good,” resident Pauline Toomey told The Anchor. “Children having such faith at their age is rare. They have helped make me feel like God is with us at our age, when we need faith.”

St. Kilian’s Parish will have a procession through the streets of the North End of New Bedford to honor Our Blessed Mother on May 17 after the 4:30 p.m. Mass. The parish encourages all youths who would like to participate to wear a light blue shirt during the procession.

20

May 9, 2014

New York martyrs shrine launches funding campaign to remain open

AURIESVILLE, N.Y. (CNS) — A popular New York pilgrimage site where Jesuit missionaries were martyred has launched a $1 million fund-raising campaign to stay open.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in Auriesville since the late 19th century has commemorated the site of a 17th-century Mohawk village called Ossernenon. There Jesuit missionaries SS. Isaac Jogues, Ren Goupil and John Lalande were martyred in the 1640s and St. Kateri Tekakwitha was born in 1656.

But attendance dropped by more than 50 percent during the shrine’s 2013 season. Collections brought in less than $100,000.

That was despite a deluge of 20,000 pilgrims the weekend in 2012 that St. Kateri

was canonized. The crowds even forced law enforcement agencies to close part of the New York State Thruway while the Mohawk maiden’s sainthood was celebrated.

The martyrs’ shrine is not supported by the Albany Diocese, so it relies on its 100 Masses per 24-week season and periodic Novenas to support its staff and operate its 400-acre facility. The property includes five chapels, two museums, a candle shrine, a Jesuit cemetery, a visitor’s center and gift shop, outdoor Stations of the Cross and a 10,000-capacity coliseum.

In September, wind and water damaged a two-ton crucifix, 230 windows and the three-tier roof of the coliseum, as well as pews and paneling. Repairs and upgrades will cost $500,000.

“It’s a very serious situa-

With a beautiful mountain backdrop in upstate New York, a statue of Our Lady of Fatima provides visitors with peace and solace at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in Auriesville, N.Y. It is the site where Jesuit missionaries SS. Isaac Jogues, Ren, Goupil and John Lalande were martyred in the 1640s and St. Kateri Tekakwitha was born in 1656. The property, which includes five chapels, two museums, a candle shrine, a Jesuit cemetery, a visitor’s center and gift shop, outdoor Stations of the Cross and a 10,000-capacity coliseum, has recently launched a $1 million fund-raising campaign to help it remain open. (Photo by Dave Jolivet)

tion. This is not a scare tactic,” said Joey Caruso, a retired radio broadcaster and shrine volunteer who is overseeing the fund-raising campaign.

If the coliseum problems aren’t addressed, he explained, mold could create health hazards and the roof could cave in.

The St. Kateri Chapel, public bathrooms and water system also need repairs and upgrades.

“It’s the most holy grounds in New York, the best-kept secret upstate,” Caruso said.

“There are many private miracles that take place there.

As (retired Albany) Bishop (Howard J.) Hubbard said not too long ago, we have more saints than any other place in the western hemisphere.”

The martyrs’ shrine was founded in 1885 by the So-

ciety of Jesus ( Jesuits), who also at one point operated the National Shrine of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha in Fonda, N.Y., and the Shrine of St. Kateri Tekakwitha in Kahnawake in Quebec, Canada.

The Jesuit community has been the shrine’s largest benefactor, staffing it with three priests.

Caruso said it is uncertain whether the Jesuits will keep a priest there if the coliseum can’t open this spring.

“It would behoove us, the Catholic community, to get these repairs done,” he said.

“We need to rely on Catholics who will claim ownership of the shrine. Generations of Catholics have gone there.

“In the silence of that place, you can almost hear a holiness,” Caruso added. “It’s such a special place that we

cannot afford not to save it.

It’s up to us, the laity. We’re confident that we’re going to raise the money.”

“This is my way of giving back,” he said of the shrine campaign. “God has blessed me in so many ways. The shrine can’t run on nickels and dimes anymore. I will invite the pope or the cardinal if I have to.

“I’ve got to believe that God is going to make this thing work,” he continued.

“It’s not my shrine. It’s the Catholic shrine. It we can’t pass down the saints to the next generation, who will?”

Donations by check may be sent to: Building fund drive, c/o Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine, 136 Shrine Road, Fultonville, N.Y. 12016. Online information can be obtained from the shrine’s Facebook page.