Diocese of Fall River, Mass.
Friday, May 18, 2018
Eighth-graders from parochial schools across the diocese met at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River for the annual Eighth-grade Mass with Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. Prior to the Mass the students toured the 166-year-old Gothic revival edifice and all the wonderful sights it has to offer. The cathedral was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1983. More photos on page three. (Photo by Dave Jolivet) The Anchor - May 18, 2018
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St. Vincent’s Home to host session on cyber-bullying
By Dave Jolivet Anchor Editor davejolivet@anchornews.org
FALL RIVER — It’s a world that many parents of young children today never experienced. While bullying is sadly nothing new, the methods have changed and are sometimes more stealth than in days past. Again sadly, it’s not that uncommon to hear or read in the news about a young person who took their own life or tried to, because they were bullied and shamed and lied about on the Internet. Not every cyberbullying occurrence ends so tragically, but daily, young girls and boys are demeaned and made to doubt their self-worth through the thoughtless
and vile words of their The title of the session safeguard their online peers. is “Keeping Your Family presence.” Yet other cyber dangers Safe Online: What Every The presenter is an inlurk in unknown adult Parent Should Know.” dividual who has myriad predators who are at the “Through our comexperience dealing with ready to pounce on unmunity involvement as the subject matter — suspecting and naive Inwell as being a provider Richard Guerry, founder ternet users. of the InTo help he multi-award winning program stitute for parents, Responsible will eliminate the myths that anograndparOnline and nymity, social privacy and disappearing digi- Cell-Phone ents, guardians, teachers tal content is possible with digital tools and Commuand anyone apps. Parents will gain knowledge to promote nication who holds responsible use of digital tools while also ob- (IROC2), the safety of taining the wisdom to prevent negative, irre- a national children in organizasponsible and malicious digital behaviors and tion that last high regard, St. Vincent’s trends.” year received Home in the AntiFall River is hosting an of mental health services Bullying Award from the information session on for children and youth School Safety Advocacy. bullying with regards to in the surrounding arGuerry worked in the the Internet on May 23 eas we have experienced information technology at Bishop Connolly High working with youth who field during the 1990s School in Fall River, from have been impacted by when the Internet was 6-7:30 p.m. beginning to expand at an the negative aspects and exponential rate, taking misuse of social mewith it its good and bad dia,” Jenny Reis, director features. of Development at St. On the IROC2 website Vincent’s Home told The (iroc2.org) it says that Anchor. “Our goal is to ensure parents are aware Guerry, during his tenure, of how their children may “encountered the darkbe using social media and est areas of the Internet how to protect them and and discovered countless
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individuals unknowingly being manipulated and schemed, and their content being stolen and exploited. In 2009, Richard left corporate America, and applied his vast experience and knowledge of digital safety to serve as the executive director of IROC2.org.” Guerry now travels the country speaking to parents, educators, students, child advocates and law enforcement officials “on the importance of maintaining digital consciousness to prevent and avoid current and future digital issues.” Guerry has spoken to more than 3,000 audiences since 2009 in the U.S. and Canada. His listeners range from Internet novices to avid users. The IROC2 site says Guerry provides his audiences “with an entertaining and eye-opening live event that offers a solutionoriented concept of how to avoid any self-inflicted digital problem, which is critical to anyone who uses a digital service.” Reis told The Anchor that Guerry is the, “author of multiple cyber safety books and has been a feature speaker at numerous national and international conferences. He has also appeared as an expert of Radio Disney, CNN, FOX, CBS, MTV, as well as in Parade Magazine and many local, regional, and international publications. “With the increase in social media use, the ever-increasing number of apps and their impact on society there is constant discussion regarding social media and its effects on the children Turn to page 21
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The Anchor - May 18, 2018
Bishops urge support for increase in minimum wage A Statement of the Roman Catholic Bishops of Massachusetts
In a civilized society every hard-working individual deserves to be compensated at a rate that is fair, just, and in line with the inherent dignity that we are all God’s children regardless of economic status. A fair and just wage directly supports the individual, the family, and ultimately promotes a healthy society. The Catholic Church teaches: “A just wage is the legitimate fruit of work. To refuse or withhold it can be a grave injustice. In determining fair pay both the needs and the contributions of each person must be taken into account. ‘Remuneration for work should guarantee man the opportunity to provide a dignified livelihood for himself and his family on the material, social, cultural, and Spiritual
level, taking into account the role and the productivity of each, the state of business, and the common good.’ Agreement between the parties is not sufficient to justify morally the amount to be received in wages” (“Catechism of the Catholic Church,” 2434). As detailed in our statement titled, “The Value of a Just Wage” (2014), the Catholic Church continues to be among the state’s largest social service providers. Basic, daily necessities of life are provided to those who cannot afford to provide for themselves or their families. The assistance provided includes, but is not limited to: clothing, food, rent, shelter, utilities, and transportation. All families and indi-
viduals should be given the opportunity to break the cycle of reliance on others. By providing wages that are just and fair to employers and employees, that opportunity will become a reality to hard-working individuals. It is the position of the Roman Catholic Bishops of Massachusetts that elected officials, or alternatively voters in the upcoming ballot question in November, should enact laws that puts a structure in place to increase the hourly minimum wage over the next several years. While the specific wage amounts are best determined by economists or other experts, we stand united in advocating for the neediest in society. The letter was signed by the four Catholic bishops
in Massachusetts: Cardinal Seán P. Cardinal O’Malley, OFM, Cap., Archbishop of Boston; Bishop Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester; Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., Bishop of Fall River; and Bishop Mitchell Rozanski, Bishop of Springfield. For additional information contact: James F. Driscoll, Esq., executive director, Massachusetts Catholic Conference, 617-746 – 5620, jdriscoll@macatholic.org.
The Massachusetts Catholic Conference is the public policy office of the Roman Catholic Bishops in the Commonwealth, representing the Archdiocese of Boston and the dioceses of Worcester, Fall River, and Springfield.
At left, eighth-graders compare notes taken during a tour of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River. Students from parochial schools across the diocese visited the cathedral for a tour of the historic site and later to celebrate Mass with Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V.
At right, Father Jay Mello provides information to eight-grade visitors about the graves of all the deceased bishops of Fall River and two priests located in the cathedral basement. The visit and the following Mass are a yearly event for eighth-graders across the diocese. (Photos by Dave Jolivet)
The Anchor - May 18, 2018
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Diocesan school superintendent helps author paper addressing challenges Catholic and private school students have accessing federally-funded services in Massachusetts
By Dave Jolivet Anchor Editor davejolivet@anchornews.org
FALL RIVER — Stephen Perla, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Fall River, was one of four individuals who recently co-authored a White Paper, funded by the Pioneer Institute, that addresses the fact that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has, for more than a decade, failed to comply with allotting a “proportionate share” of federal funds earmarked to provide students with disabilities special education services. The Pioneer Institute is an independent, nonpartisan, privately-funded research organization that seeks to change the intellectual climate in the Commonwealth by supporting scholarship that challenges the “conventional wisdom” on Massachusetts public policy. The White Paper is titled, “No IDEA: How Massachusetts Blocks Federal Special Education Funding for Private and Religious School Students.” According to the Institute press release about the paper, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has failed to proportionately distribute the federal funds via the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, enacted in 1997. “Each year, the federal government allocates billions of dollars to the states under IDEA. States then apportion money to local education agencies (LEAs), which are supposed to determine the ‘proportionate share’ 4
The Anchor - May 18, 2018
of IDEA money that with disabilities have not The White Paper was should be used to provide had reasonable access written to educate the to eligible private and to the special education general public and public religious school students services that federal civil policy officials about how with disabilities special rights law IDEA affords the funds are and are not education services. Within to them. Private and being distributed. each LEA, the proportion- religious school students “Our hope is to eduate share determination is who are entitled to IDEA- cate the public about this based on the total number funded special education injustice and ultimately of eligible private school services have no real openact change so that elistudents with special needs tion other than going to a gible students who require attending private and public school in the town IDEA-funded services religious schools located wherein they reside to will be able to access said within that LEA. receive those services.” services,” said Perla. “We ‘“Federal hope the U.S. ur hope is to educate the pub- Department of education officials lic about this injustice and ulti- Education will act under two administrations have mately enact change so that eligible students favorably on our now expressed who require IDEA-funded services will be claim.” concerns about The Pioneer able to access said services,” said Perla. how MassachuInstitute press setts has been release follows: administering hundreds of Perla told The Anchor, (the entire “No IDEA: millions of federal dollars “Thousands of students How Massachusetts Blocks for this program,” said Jim have been denied their Federal Special Education Stergios, executive director civil rights, and we [auFunding for Private of Pioneer Institute. “We thors of the White Paper, and Religious School hope this research will with the Pioneer Institute] Students,” can be found at drive an important public are trying to correct the pioneerinstitute.org, Study: discussion about state edu- state’s moral and fiduciary MA Private & Religious cation officials blocking failure.” School Students Denied federal IDEA dollars for Co-authoring the paper Federally Funded Special special education students with Perla, who is the Education Services, and in private and religious former executive direcclicking on the blue NO schools.” tor of Parents Alliance for IDEA link). Perla told The Anchor Catholic Education, which PRESS RELEASE that the Massachusetts represented the Catholic BOSTON — Over the Department of Elemenschools in the four dioces- past dozen years, thoutary and Secondary Edues in the Commonwealth, sands of private and relication has not been in on Beacon Hill, were gious school students in compliance with IDEA Father Thomas Olson, a Massachusetts have been since it was authorized priest of the Archdiocese denied hundreds of milin the Commonwealth in of Boston, with experilions of dollars’ worth of 2004. ence in fund-raising for special education services “The U.S. Department Catholic institutions and to which they are entitled of Education does audits a school choice advounder federal law. and had done an audit on cate; William Donovan, a According to “No Massachusetts and found former staff writer for the IDEA: How Massachuthat the Mass. DESE was Providence Journal, where setts Blocks Federal Speout of compliance,” said he wrote about business cial Education Funding Perla. and government; and for Private and Religious The White Paper indiMike Sentance, former School Students,” a new cates, “the DESE has, in Secretary of Education study published by Pioneer effect, turned a blind eye in Massachusetts, SuperInstitute, this denial is due to the requirements of fed- intendent of Education to the non-compliance of eral law, and the practical in Alabama, and a senior the state Department of result is that private and official in the U.S. Depart- Elementary and Secondary religious school students ment of Education. Education (DESE) with
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the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Each year, the federal government allocates billions of dollars to the states under IDEA. States then apportion money to local education agencies (LEAs), which are supposed to determine the “proportionate share” of IDEA money that should be used to provide to eligible private and religious school students with disabilities special education services. Within each LEA, the proportionate share determination is based on the total number of eligible private school students with special needs attending private and religious schools located within that LEA. “Federal education officials under two administrations have now expressed concerns about how Massachusetts has been administering hundreds of millions of federal dollars for this program,” said Jim Stergios, executive director of Pioneer Institute. “We hope this research will drive an important public discussion about state education officials blocking federal IDEA dollars for special education students in private and religious schools.” For the current fiscal year, Massachusetts received a total of $255.5 million in IDEA funding to apportion to the state’s LEAs. IDEA requires services to be provided onsite at the private school unless there is a compelling reason to offer them elsewhere. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary Turn to page 20
Associate director relies on artistic eye to draw people to shrine retreats By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff kensouza@anchornews.org
ATTLEBORO — Just mention the name “La Salette Shrine” to anyone who grew up within a stone’s throw of the iconic Attleboro site, and they’ll most likely identify it with Christmas and the annual Festival of Lights. But one of the bestknown pilgrimage destinations within the Fall River Diocese offers events and programs year-round and is “much more than just the lights at Christmas,” according to Father Bernard Baris, M.S., director of the La Salette Retreat Center. “There’s a lot of potential here and a lot of things people can participate in,” Father Baris said. “Some people don’t know what goes on behind the scenes. During Lent we heard over 3,000 Confessions. Some people, for whatever reason, don’t want to go to their own parish priests, but they come here. I think it’s the anonymity.”
Since becoming director last year after serving at the actual apparition site in France for two years, Father Baris has made it his mission to get more people to come to La Salette between January and November. And so he turned to his old friend and associate director, Father Flavio Gillio, M.S. for help. In his capacity as associate director, Father Gillio has been honing his computer skills and using his natural artistic talents to create in-house promotional materials and eye-catching “digital art” to call attention to the 36 new programs they’ve launched at the retreat house this year. Utilizing Adobe software like Photoshop and After Effects and an Apple computer, Father Gillio has gradually taught himself how to create compelling images to be used on postcards, flyers, programs and websites detailing upcoming retreats and workshops. “The idea behind it was that people taking the
card or the flyer should be taking with them something beautiful and they should be attracted by something beautiful,” Father Gillio told The Anchor. “What I noticed in going to a Church or Catholic website is that we are kind of behind the train in terms of beauty. So I wanted to create something really beautiful that can draw people, raise their curiosity and eventually get them to read the content and something more about the event.” “That’s the idea of it, I think as people pick it up and take a look, the eye catches it, then they start reading what is it all about,” Father Baris said. “But it’s something that has to catch the eye.” Done in a minimalist
style that is trending at the moment, Father Gillio said he still sees them as “something beautiful.” “I always loved art, especially visual art, so it’s also kind of easy for me,” he said. “It has been easy to learn and I’m still learning — but it’s something that really has given me a lot of fulfillment, too.” In addition to designing and creating the various promotional materials — all of which he prints in-house — Father Gillio also recently revamped the La Salette Retreat Center website. “We have completely rebranded and reshaped the website, to try to keep consistency with this style,” he said. “The website plays a lot with the same colors and a
minimalistic style.” Given his background, it’s not surprising that Father Gillio would have an appreciation and talent for art. A native of Turin, Italy — home to the iconic Shroud of Turin — Father Gillio studied in Paris and Italy, and was ordained a Jesuit priest in 2001 in Rome. “I was studying at the Pontifical Biblical Institute at that time, and then from there I went to the Hebrew University to finish my studies,” he said. “At the same time I did a master’s degree in Jewish studies at the Catholic Institute of Paris.” Before coming to the U.S. four years ago, Father Gillio also served as Turn to page 19
This unique digital artwork was created by Father Flavio Gillio, M.S., associate director of the La Salette Retreat Center in Attleboro, to promote the upcoming “Weary and Anointed Women of the Bible” retreat on June 1-3. Father Gillio has been teaching himself to create what he calls “minimalist” images on a computer to promote programs at the center. (Photo courtesy of Father Flavio Gillio, M.S.) The Anchor - May 18, 2018
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Anchor Editorial
Martyrdom and witness
This past Sunday and Monday Christians in Indonesia, Catholics and Protestants, were the victims of suicide bombing attacks. On Mother’s Day, a husband, wife and their four children killed themselves so that they could kill Christians in the city of Surabaya. They first attacked St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in between Masses. The remaining members of the family attacked the Surabaya Pentecostal Church and the Diponegoro Indonesian Christian Church, in attacks which were separated by five minutes. Bombs were also left at St. Jacob’s Church and Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral, but they failed to explode. Later Sunday there was an explosion at an apartment building in the neighboring city of Sidoarjo and further attacks occurred on Monday. Of the 25 dead, 13 of them were perpetrators (obviously, more than that family of five were involved). The Indonesian police said that they are looking for a “fourth family” suspected in preparing another massacre. Dozens of people were injured. The president of the Indonesian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo Jakarta, said that “planning and implementing a suicide attack by taking their children with them is a new [form] of violence.” The archbishop said that the two daughters in the family, aged nine and 12, were not aware of what they were doing, when they joined their mother in bombing the third church. Indonesia is the country with the largest Muslim population in the world. Until recently, the followers of Islam in that land were of a more moderate variety, but radicals from the Middle East have worked to spread violent jihad amongst them. Father Siprianus Hormat, executive secretary of the Indonesian bishops’ conference, said that the Catholic bishops there “are involved in interreligious dialogue, and in these hours common initiatives are being carried out, between Christian and Muslim leaders, to stigmatize violence, hatred, and terrorism. Society must remain united and reject these evil forces.” Despite the tension and fear caused by the assaults, Indonesia’s bishops expressed “full confidence in the president, in public institutions and in the whole society, in order to stop extremism, which wants to poison society.” Meanwhile, back at the Vatican, Pope Francis prayed for the victims after having prayed the Regina Coeli with the pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday. “I am particularly close to the dear people of Indonesia, in a special way to the Christian communities of the city of Surabaya who have been strongly hit by the serious attack against places of worship.” The pope asked the people in the square to pray for “the God of peace to stop these violent acts, and that in the heart of all may be found space not for hatred or violence, but for reconciliation OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER www.anchornews.org
Vol. 62, No. 10
Published bi-weekly by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720, Telephone 508-675-7151 — FAX 508-675-7048, email: theanchor@anchornews.org. Subscription price by mail, postpaid $25.00 per year, for U.S. addresses. Send address changes to 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA, call or use email address
PUBLISHER - Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. EXECUTIVE EDITOR Father Richard D. Wilson fatherwilson@anchornews.org EDITOR David B. Jolivet davejolivet@anchornews.org ADVERTISING Wayne R. Powers waynepowers@anchornews.org REPORTER Kenneth J. Souza k ensouza@anchornews.org Send Letters to the Editor to: fatherwilson@anchornews.org
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The Anchor - May 18, 2018
and fraternity.” The Wall Street Journal reported that the Islamic State (ISIS) took responsibility for the attacks, calling them “three martyrdom operations.” Of course, from our perspective, these supposed martyrs were really murderers, while the people they killed, Catholics and Protestants, were martyrs for Christ. Many Muslims in Indonesia had long spoken against anti-Christian violence. Christianity Today, in a May 18, 2016 article entitled “The World’s Biggest Muslim Organization Wants to Protect Christians,” described meetings in Marrakesh, Morocco and Jakarta, Indonesia in which Islamic leaders denounced violence. The article quoted Yahya Cholis Staquf of Nadhlatul Ulama (the organization behind the Jakarta meeting): “The first thing that must be done in order to overcome radicalism and terrorism is to be honest. There may be elements from Islam that are used as a basis or justification for hardline groups to carry out their actions.” According to the Huffington Post, NU made a documentary called “The Divine Grace of Islam Nusantara,” in which Indonesian Islamic scholars “systematically criticize and denounce the Islamic State’s interpretations of the Quran and Hadith.” We should pray for these folks, too, since doing so probably targets them for death, too. Last week at the St. Pius X medal ceremony in Fall River, Andrew Carusi, the medalist from Our Lady of Fatima Parish in New Bedford, noted that “the life of a teen-ager is full of risks. With freedoms, comes risk. It is very hard to keep a moral lifestyle. It might seem like the cool thing to do or the thing that helps you fit in with others” to not live according to Christian morality. These are the little, daily martyrdoms that Christ asks of us here in the U.S., while Christians in other lands witness to Him with the shedding of their blood. Carusi reminded his fellow teens (and everyone in attendance at the cathedral that evening) that we are called to “bring the light of God to the everyday lives of others, “so that they can see God’s grace. Who knows, by doing the right decision, we might be helping a teen to look toward God and see His grace.” Early in the evening, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. preached that the recipients of the St. Pius X medal “have an even greater responsibility now, to be a disciple of Jesus and to help others find Him.” The bishop noted, “Our words and actions show forth what we believe and who we are.” We should all ask ourselves — do our words and actions truly witness to Christ? Do we truly die to ourselves, to our selfishness, so as to proclaim that He truly is the most important thing, the most important relationship in our lives? This weekend we remember the coming of the Holy Spirit upon Mary and the Apostles at Pentecost. May we be open to the Spirit, so as to truly walk in the freedom of the children of God, spreading the message of His Kingdom.
Daily Readings May 19 – June 1
Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. May 19, Acts 28:16-20,30-31; Ps 11:4-5,7; Jn 21:2025. Sun. May 20, Pentecost Sunday, Vigil: Gn 11:1-9 or Ex 19:3-8a,16-20b or Ez 37:14 or Jl 3:1-5; Ps 104:1-2a,24,35c,27-28,29bc-30; Rom 8:22-27; Jn 7:37-39. Day: Acts 2:1-11; Ps 104:1ab,24ac, 29bc-30,31,34; 1 Cor 12:3b-7,12-13 or Gal 5:16-25; Sequence Veni Creator Spiritus; Jn 20:19-23 or Jn 15:26-27; 16:12-15. Mon. May 21, Jas 3:13-18; Ps 19:8-10,15; Mk 9:14-29. Tues. May 22, Jas 4:1-10; Ps 55:7-11,23; Mk 9:30-37. Wed. May 23, Jas 4:13-17; Ps 49:2-3,6-11; Mk 9:38-40. Thurs. May 24, Jas 5:1-6; Ps 49:14-20; Mk 9:41-50. Fri. May 25, Jas 5:9-12; Ps 103:1-4,8-9,11-12; Mk 10:1-12. Sat. May 26, Jas 5:13-20; Ps 141:1-3,8; Mk 10:13-16. Sun. May 27, Holy Trinity Sunday, Dt 4:32-34,39-40; Ps 33:4-6,9,18-20,22; Rom 8:14-17; Mt 28:16-20. Mon. May 28, 1 Pt 1:3-9; Ps 111:1-2,5-6,9,10c; Mk 10:17-27. Tues. May 29, 1 Pt 1:10-16; Ps 98:1-4; Mk 10:28-31. Wed. May 30, 1 Pt 1:18-25; Ps 147:12-15,19-20; Mk 10:32-45. Thurs. May 31, Zep 3:14-18a or Rom 12:9-16; (Ps) Is 12:2-3,4bcd,5-6; Lk 1:39-56. Fri. June 1, 1 Pt 4:7-13; Ps 96:10-13; Mk 11:11-26.
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have had the joy of guiding tens of thousands on pilgrimages within St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Part of the tour involves identifying some of the huge marble statues found throughout Christianity’s most famous church. Many of them depict saints, but even more depict the Christian virtues. From pre-Christian Roman times, the virtues have always been depicted as women, because women were considered more stable than men. The virtue of justice, for example, is a woman with scales in her hand, giving to each his due; the virtue of faith, a woman with a crucifix; the virtue of contemplation, a woman with a Bible looking up to Heaven. I generally quiz the pilgrims about what virtue they thought is being depicted, so that they will acquire the ability to “read” the message being conveyed just like Christians in previous centuries did so easily. Over the course of the two-hour visit, most get good at making educated guesses. I have always been surprised, however, by how many pilgrims fail, toward the end of the tour, to get one of the virtues depicted on Bernini’s famous funereal monument of Pope Alexander VII: a woman with three young children, one in her arms and two playing behind her. When I ask what this virtue depicts, many respond, “Patience!” Others blurt, “kindness!” Others proffer, “courage.” But few ever get it — even when I give them the hint, “It begins with an L.” Almost everyone, from Roman times through the height of the Renaissance and beyond, has been easily able to
The contemporary attack on motherhood
ing them through love to grasp quickly what our generation seemingly can’t: grow, as so many women religious (and unmarried that a woman with multiaunts) have done throughple children is a depiction out the centuries, and as of the virtue of love. adoptive mothers have Why is this so difficult shown par excellence. To try today for many to discern? One of the principal to separate what it means reasons, I think, is because to be a woman from this for the last several decades maternal significance is, in fact, not feminism at all, there has been a concepbut a cruel anti-feminism. tual war against motherhood and the love that ought to flow so naturally from Putting Into mothers to children. Most of this the Deep damage is being done by a radical By Father feminist ideology Roger J. Landry that, in claiming to advance the We see the starkest good of women, is actually expression of this antiharming women because feminism in the practice of it treats motherhood not as a blessing but as a curse. abortion, when a mother During this week in which — and a pregnant woman is already a mother — we celebrate our mothers and thank them for all rather than welcoming, nourishing and protecttheir acts of love, big and ing the child growing in small, over the years, it’s her womb, allows trained important for us to note assassins to terminate — and resolve to remthat child’s life, often in edy — this cultural trend unimaginably gruesome denigrating not only the ways. The anti-feminist importance of their sacrifices, but also their mater- ideologues then abashedly try to convince the woman nal nature. that such a choice is good. Many radical feminists If this corrupted reversal claim that for woman to become fully alive and free, of maternal love is not the work of the father of lies, she needs to be emanciI don’t know what would pated from the maternal ever qualify. reality of her femininity. Another anti-maternal Motherhood, for them, practice is contraception. must be an optional part In this year marking the of what it means to be 50th anniversary of Pope a woman. This, however, Blessed Paul VI’s encycliis the antithesis of any cal Humanae Vitae conauthentic pro-woman demning the use of confeminism. The woman is traception in Marriage, it’s created with a maternal important for all Catholics meaning to her body, a — especially those who meaning she experiences every monthly cycle. Even might not understand the why behind the what of its if a woman remains celiteaching — to reexamine bate, her whole existence its prophetic words as well remains maternal and is as ponder more deeply meant to welcome other what contraception inevipeople and their gifts tably does to the underand nourish them, help-
standing of motherhood. The birth control pill, which treats pregnancy as a sickness and therefore motherhood as something to be medically prevented, is the antithesis of the gift of maternity we celebrated on Sunday. It has facilitated a revolution in the self-understanding of many women, as women sever the maternal meaning of their existence (and not just their bodies) from their femininity, and do so in particular in the very act by which that maternal meaning is most powerfully and naturally expressed. This is a mysogynist anti-feminism marketed falsely as a feminist advance. When Pope Paul VI penned Humanae Vitae in 1968, eight years after the advent of the pill and described that and why the use of contraception in Marriage is sinful, he also prophesied that if the use of the pill became widespread, it would have disastrous consequences. He said that it would facilitate conjugal infidelity, the general lowering of sexual morality, a loss of respect for women, and would become a dangerous weapon in the hands of those in authority. Can anyone doubt the fulfillment of these predictions? I’ll focus just on the last one. Contraception has not only been forced on women in countries with strict birth limits but has also been a means to pressure professional women to sacrifice motherhood in order to compete not just with men, but with their pill-popping female colleagues. True respect for woman
starts with accepting, indeed reverencing, her according to all aspects of her humanity. It involves creating the conditions for her to live freely and fully, without discrimination, according to what Pope John Paul II, echoed by Pope Francis, has called the “feminine genius.” This refers to her special wisdom in caring for the intrinsic dignity of everyone, in nurturing life and love and in developing others’ gifts: basically in living out the maternal meaning of her femininity. We need to move beyond the anti-maternal ideology in which the unique value and dignity of motherhood is insufficiently defended, appreciated and advanced, and in which mothers’ often invisible and heroic service is disparaged as an antiquated and unwholesome model of feminine life. The future of humanity is dependent on mothers making the choice not just to welcome children, but raise them to be virtuous and authentically human, something that in turn hinges on society’s strengthening women for this service. Humanity owes its survival to the choice women make. Will our culture celebrate those who live by the motto, “My body, my choice,” or rather, those whose lives are a commentary on the words, “This is My Body given for you”? Will we recognize a woman with children as an image of love or pretend that happiness and fulfillment will come rather by rejecting that image? Anchor columnist Father Landry can be contacted at fatherlandry@ catholicpreaching.com. The Anchor - May 18, 2018
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Spirit-filled encounters
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n modern society, there are two kinds of interactions that can be deeply annoying — even degrading. The first is when we are forced to interact with automated systems. This often happens over the phone, when we need to have a question directed to the appropriate agent, so we need to explain ourselves and the nature of our request. It may be a bank, a store, a school, or a utility, and although the procedure may be more efficient on the part of the company in question, it can be frustrating to have our time wrapped up in explaining ourselves by means of prompts and simplistic categories. The second annoying interaction is almost the opposite. It occurs when an utter stranger begins by using your name (usu-
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ally your first name), your think anyone is entirely comfortable in either private information, and your particular need in an scenario, although we’ve become resigned to the intimate manner. It may fact that both situations be an effort to show that will arise in a technologiautomated information can be accessed efficient- cal age. Efficiency has its benefits, and corporations ly, but it’s off-putting, even creepy in a way. One skips the introducThe tions, the niceties, and the Feminine usual time needGenius ed to build trust By Genevieve Kineke and jumps right into a personal encounter — although there are doing what they can is no real relationship. to make communication Perhaps the degree of work for the customer. discomfort is a factor of So rather than reage or personality, but I maining frustrated or think that if we are enangry about the way tirely comfortable either that massive bureaucratalking to computers or cies attempt to deal with sharing intimacy with countless customers with strangers, we have lost a key element of being hu- myriad needs (who expect around-the-clock man. Thankfully, I don’t
service at their fingertips) perhaps we could make it a point to make actual encounters we do have as human as possible. It begins at home with eye contact, and carries into the workplace, the classroom, and every social interaction during the day. The most important encounters are with family members, but friends and coworkers deserve our loving care as well. This cannot interfere with professionalism when we’re on the clock, but outside of that we can make the most of even the smallest interactions. To be sure, not everyone wants every encounter to be charged with meaning, and we have to gauge each situation, but I am convinced that more often than not, overworked, underappreciated people thirst for smiles and tokens of gratitude, and most people are gratified when we remember their loved ones and prayer concerns. In an automated world where customers are numbers and a threat of litigation hangs over the all-encompassing market, simple actions like buying or selling, treating or
being healed, serving and being served risk losing their human character for the sake of economic forces. It’s important to know that the word “economy” comes from the Greek oikonomia, meaning “household management.” Since the 17th century, the word has been applied to larger settings, but we should never forget that the home is foundational to the kind of culture that we create. Thus, if the home prioritizes respect, honesty, genuine concern, and forbearance among its members, then that’s what they will bring to their public exchanges. They will know when to exercise patience with the machines and a healthy reserve when faced with slick intimacies. This doesn’t necessarily rise to the level of Christian charity, but it lays the foundation, so that when we remember the legitimate needs of human nature, grace can follow, and for that we follow a different prompt altogether. Anchor columnist Mrs. Kineke is the author of “ The Authentic Catholic Woman.” She blogs at feminine-genius.typepad. com.
Leading to the Great Sacrifice Editor’s note: This continues a series of columns by Father Martin L. Buote on Catholic worship. he Letter to the Hebrews clearly identifies two covenants, and quotes the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah on the subject: “For if that first covenant had been faultless, no places would have been sought for a second one. But he finds fault with them and says: ‘Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will conclude a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers the day I took them by the hand to lead them forth from the land of Egypt; for they did not stand by My covenant’” (Heb 8:7-9). This leads us to the topic of sacrifice for, “not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. When every Commandment had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, together with water and crimson wool and hyssop, and sprinkled the book itself and all the people saying, ‘This is the blood of the covenant which God has enjoined upon you’” (Heb 9:18-20). And at the Last Supper, Jesus said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which will be shed for you” (Lk 22:20). The concept of sacrifice is much more narrow in Scripture than the way the word is used in other contexts. Sacrifice is applied to many different situations, modern and ancient. Here are just a few examples: parents
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sacrifice for their children, from my human use, but it governments sacrifice still has value for the use the lives of combatants of another. In sacrifice, at and civilians in wars, the least some aspect of the servants and wives of early gift is removed from all pharaohs were sacrificed human use! to continue to serve him If a gift is to be given to in the afterlife, children God, naturally we would were sacrificed to be mes- want to give something sengers to some god or of great value, in and of goddess (I have held some itself. The Hope Diamond of their bones at Harvard’s Semitic How Catholic Museum), foods were sacrificed Worship Came in many ancient to Be pagan temples to feed the gods By Father (rejected for Israel Martin L. Buote in Psalm 50). This list of ways in which the word “sacrifice” is a pretty stone (I’ve seen has been used could go on it) to which we attach and on. As covenant was great monetary value. restricted to one meaning The life of a human bein the Bible, so also shall ing is beyond monetary we restrict sacrifice to a value. The greatest gifts single meaning in Scripto God are human life, ture for our understanding certain aspects of human of Biblical worship. That life (vowed chastity, vowed understanding is to be obedience, etc.), or that found in the concept of which supports human life gift. (animals used for draft, Among humans, a gift clothing, food, etc., or can express love or appre- other food items). Thus, ciation, or regrets, or peti- human sacrifice is the tion (bribe?), or any num- greatest gift, but Scripture ber of other non-verbal forbids it, even from the communications. When early pages of the Bible it comes to God, however, (Gen 9:5,6). This prohibithere are two problems. In tion occurs just after Noah the first place, since God sacrificed animals. There created and has dominwas to be one notable ion over all things, how exception to this prohibican we truly make Him tion, and it is stated in Jn a gift? Secondly, suppos10:17,18! ing we do find something Some sacrifices menappropriate, how would we give it to Him? (The postal service between here and Heaven is not good!) Those two questions are interrelated, and one answer resolves both dilemmas, namely, remove the gift from human use, and then it is God’s alone. A sacrifice differs from a donation. If I make a donation, it is removed
tioned in the Old Testament were specifically recalled in the New. These include the sacrifice of Melchizedek, the sacrifice (or binding) of Isaac, and the Paschal sacrifice under Moses. In telling the story of Melchizedek (Gen 14:18– 20), the word sacrifice is not used, but he is said to be “a priest of God Most High,” and the timing of his bringing “out bread and wine” was appropriate for a sacrifice of thanksgiving. He was also named “king of Salem,” that is, of Jerusalem. The binding of Isaac is also full of symbolism. Isaac was Abraham’s “beloved son” (Gen 22:12), he carried the wood intended to be his funeral pyre (Gen 22:6), he and his father Abraham traveled to a height in the land of Moriah (Gen 22:2). At least by the middle of the second century B.C., the land of Moriah was understood to be the land
around Jerusalem. Though Abraham was prepared and ready to offer his son in sacrifice, at the last moment, “God Himself will provide the sheep for the holocaust” (Gen 22:8). The story of the Passover sacrifice is told in Exodus, chapter 12. The animal for the sacrifice was to be a young sheep or goat, a lamb (Ex 12:35). The blood of the sacrifice would mark the homes of those whose lives were to be spared (Ex 12:13). This ritual of sacrifice was to be repeated “throughout your generations as a perpetual institution” (Ex 12:17). These three incidents from God’s plan, as revealed in the Old Testament, make it impossible for us to see the crucifixion of Jesus, not so much as a criminal execution, but as an act of sacrifice by our Great High Priest. Father Buote is a retired priest of the Fall River Diocese and a frequent contributor to The Anchor.
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Corpus Christi Procession — Walking with Our Lord Jesus Christ, our Eucharistic King By Grace Small Special to The Anchor
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n Sunday, June 3 the Catholic Church around the world celebrates the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the solemn celebration of the Sacred Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. What a joyous day of love, thanksgiving and praise! Let us prepare our hearts and make this solemnity this year with greater love and devotion than ever before. It is the Church’s exaltation of her Eucharistic Lord and King! We must open our small hearts and expand them to prepare for this great day and make it transformative in our lives. We cannot just exist as Catholics who just check in and check out one hour a week at Mass. We will not survive this journey of life in God’s grace if we are minimalists. We need to free ourselves from our attachment to ego and our ways, so as to follow Christ Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Why should we participate in a Corpus Christi Procession? Well, no matter how often we have received Our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion, it is only on rare occasions that we have the opportunity and the grace to give public witness to our faith and love for the Gift of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament as in a Corpus Christi Procession. It is a time of grace when the Lord Jesus will walk with us, blessing us all, as we sing Eucharistic hymns and pray the Holy Rosary. Although some may see this as just another devotion or religious event, it is much more. It is how we honor Christ in His Flesh — Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity — as the True Bread down from Heaven. We revere Him as our Living Lord and return our abiding 10
love for Christ as His mysti- corporal on the altar. He was tum Ergo.” cal Body and Bride walking awestruck and began to cry. St. Thomas Aquinas, beside Him on this solemn At first, he was not sure what who wrote the Mass for day as we live through Him, to do and tried to hide the this Solemnity as well as with Him and in Him in our blood, but then he interrupt- these beautiful Eucharistic daily lives. We will process ed the Mass and announced hymns asks, “What could behind the priest carrywhat had happened. The be more wonderful than this ing our Blessed Lord in his congregation was awestruck. Sacrament, in which bread arms exposed in the golden He asked to be taken to see and wine are substantially monstrance enshrining the Pope Urban IV who was changed into the Body and Blessed Sacrament. residing at the neighboring Blood of Christ? Christ, This Solemnity of Cortown of Orvieto. perfect God and man is conpus Christi tained under originates the appearance hy should we participate in a Corpus with a miracle of a little bread Christi Procession? Well, no matter how that occurred and wine. often we have received Our Blessed Lord in Holy He is eaten to a German Communion, it is only on rare occasions that we by the faithpriest, Peter have the opportunity and the grace to give pub- ful but not of Prague in 1263. While lic witness to our faith and love for the Gift of the torn asunder; on a pilgrimReal Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament as indeed when age to Rome the Sacrament in a Corpus Christi Procession. Peter stopped is divided He in the village remains entire of Bolsena. Peter was a good, Father Peter placed the in each particle.” There is pious priest who strived for host in the corporal and then no doubt that Jesus was not holiness. However, he was wrapped both in another speaking symbolically. “I am troubled by the apathy of linen. Arriving at Orvieto, the living Bread which has many of the faithful; cleriPeter told the Holy Father come down from Heaven. cal immorality and laxity; what had happened. Pope Anyone who eats this Bread and a lack of reverence at Urban IV then ordered an will live forever; and the Mass. Worse, he was afflicted investigation. After all of the Bread that I shall give is with doubt about the Holy facts had been ascertained, My Flesh for the life of the Eucharist. Like those in the the Holy Father declared a world” ( Jn 6: 51). Gospel, he asked himself, miracle had occurred. He orAll of us believers who “How could this be? How dered the relics to be brought have a living faith in Christ can Jesus share with us to the Cathedral of Orviand all the Church teaches His Body and Blood?” He eto, which they were with together form the Catholic agonized over whether at a procession of great pomp Church. Preeminent among the words of consecration and ceremony. The pope met our beliefs is the belief in the bread and wine became the procession, and the relics Jesus, Our Lord and Savior, the Body and Blood of Our were placed in the cathedral, true God and true Man, Savior and whether Christ where they are still venerated present in the Blessed Sacraactually was present in the today. ment. Who is the center and consecrated host. He knew One year later, in 1264, head of the Church? Jesus is well that the Church bePope Urban IV instituted the center. How is Jesus most lieved and taught that the the feast of Corpus Christi, a present to us? In the Blessed bread and wine are transpecial feast day to recognize Sacrament reserved in every substantiated into the Body and to promote the great Tabernacle in the world. and Blood of Our Lord at gift of the Blessed SacraThe celebration of Corpus the consecration during the ment. He commissioned St. Christi, the Body of Christ, holy sacrifice of the Mass. Thomas Aquinas to compose is the feast at the very center Yet, he had trouble believing a Mass and an office for and heart of our Church, and prayed that the Lord the Liturgy of the Hours the source and summit of would increase his faith. The honoring the Holy Euchaour faith, and the center and next day, while he celebrated rist. St. Thomas Aquinas heart of parish life, the center Mass and he said the words also composed the beautiful and heart of our lives. The of consecration, the host Eucharistic hymns “Panis center of our heart is Jesus began to bleed. Blood fell Angelicus,” “Pange Lingua,” “O in the Blessed Sacrament, onto his hands and onto the Salutaris Hostia” and “TanWhom elevated at Holy
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Mass we worship with the words of St. Francis, “My God and My All”! Pray to Jesus and tell Him that you believe He is really present in the Blessed Sacrament and gradually grow from merely believing, to loving Jesus, and being loved by Jesus. Come to visit Jesus reserved in the Tabernacle in church often where you will have a wonderful opportunity to adore, surrender, believe and receive the love of Jesus. Because Catholics in our diocese love Jesus in the Eucharist so much, we have Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in several parishes in our diocese. Every hour of every day and night, we are adoring, surrendering, believing and receiving the love of Jesus in the Eucharist. Trust, surrender, believe in and receive the love of Jesus for you in the Eucharist. May Jesus in the Eucharist always be the very source and summit of love. Our faith in the Real Presence must permeate all of our actions but especially in church. Sacred silence, reverent genuflections and proper attire for worship are all manifestations of deep reverence and faith. We must also keep in mind the grave importance to receive Holy Communion in the state of grace. There is a direct connection between the Sacrament of the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Confession. It is a sacrilege to receive Holy Communion while being in the state of mortal sin. “To respond to this invitation we must prepare ourselves for so great and so holy a moment. St. Paul urges us to examine our conscience: ‘Whoever, therefore, eats of the Bread or drinks the Cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the Body and Blood of the Lord. Turn to page 21
Sunday 13 May 2018 — Homeport: Falmouth Harbor — 46th anniversary of my ordination growing number of parishes in our diocese have now set sail on “Rebuilding in Faith and Hope,” the diocesan initiative of pastoral strategizing. The fleet, dear readers, includes all three churches here in the town of Falmouth. It may also include the parish to which you belong. Eventually, all parishes will embark on the journey. I find this voyage exciting. It’s also a great deal of work. There is a television commercial for a company called CARFAX, Inc. The company provides facts and information to people looking to purchase a car. The corporate motto is “Show me the CARFAX!” Well, “Show me the CHURCHFAX!” — that’s my motto. The diocese and its parishes have spent years collecting and reviewing facts on pastoral ministry on Cape Cod, the Islands, and Southeastern Massachusetts. There are literally reams of information. On a whim, I combined the CHURCHFAX for all three Falmouth parishes. The results were astonishing. The Catholic Church in the town of Falmouth has three parish priests and three deacons assigned, three parish staffs, five worship sites, four rectories, and two cemeteries. There is a shared ministry to a 95-bed hospital with an extensive emergency room. There are two additional deacons assigned as chaplains at the hospital. There is a pastoral ministry to four nursing homes (with a
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Full speed ahead
current combined total of of the assembly has been can the Catholic parishes or merged. Of the 82 re331 beds). There are an set. The meeting will last of Falmouth cooperate maining, 16 are currently estimated 3,700 Cathoabout 90 minutes. Parish- and collaborate to accom- operating with only one lic households in town, ioners were provided with plish the tasks at hand? priest serving two or three including more than 400 the agenda well in advance Opportunity for feedback separate parishes. school-aged children. On of the assembly. Each from parishioners is built These are the top of all that, Falmouth member of the Parish in. CHURCHFAX. has huge numbers This is not a The question arising of seasonal visione-size-fits-all in my generation had to The Ship’s Log tors and increasing agenda. Each pardo with discerning which Reflections of a numbers of seaish needs to set its parish churches needed to Parish Priest sonal residents. own agenda beclose and which needed As for the cause each parish is to merge. I myself have By Father Tim Sacraments, in the in a different situpastored the closing and Goldrick summer months, ation. In the end, merger of two parishes, as the three parishes recommendations have several of my brother celebrate 19 weekend Planning Team will help from parishioners will be priests. Masses and, in the winguide the discussion and made to the bishop so that The question facing ter, 10. There are at least there will be remarks from he will be better able to this generation in not two, if not three, weekday diocesan representatives. make an informed deciso much which parishes Masses available yearThere will be lots of facts sion with an eye towards should close or merge. round. Here at St. Patrick, on the Catholic presence the future of the Church The question today is we have about 100 people in Falmouth and on the not only in Falmouth but how do we better colat daily Mass this time of ministry, outreach, and throughout the diocese. laborate so that, working year. Falmouth Catholic finances of this particular I have begun my 47th together, we can grow churches average about 90 parish. year in the priesthood. I the Church. In this time Baptisms, 50 Marriages, People have already have seen many changes and place, a new vision and 180 funerals a year. indicated, through the over the years. of what it means to be (Cape Cod has an aging instrument of a survey, On the day I was or“Church” is emerging. population). what they think the parish dained, there were 115 These are hopeful times. Catholics in this town is doing well and in what parish churches in the The opportunity to rebuild are remarkable for their areas the parish might Diocese of Fall River. the Church is a rare blesscharitable giving. Last improve. Their comments Each had its own pastor ing. year, the Catholics of Fal- will be mirrored back and many had additional “Full speed ahead!” — mouth donated $270,370 to the assembly. Beyond priests assigned as paThat’s my motto. to the diocesan-wide that, is there anything the rochial vicars (formerly Anchor columnist Charities Appeal. There is Catholic Church in Falcalled curates). There are Father Goldrick is pastor an active outreach to the mouth is not now doing now 82 parishes. Thirtyof St. Patrick’s Parish in local poor and needy. but should be doing? How three parishes have closed Falmouth. These are the CHURCHFAX. They’re enough to make your head FALL RIVER — The Anchor, the offiThe date in which the subscription will spin. cial Catholic newspaper of the Diocese of expire will be listed in each edition above As in many parishes Fall River, has announced a few changes the name and address of the subscriber on throughout the diocese, of which current subscribers should be page 24. our Parish Planning Team made aware. Subscribers are encouraged to renew has been meeting to study At the renewal date for each subscriber, their subscription by that date by sending the CHURCHFAX. It’s the annual cost for The Anchor will become a check or money order for $25 made payan enormous task. Thank $25. This is the first rate increase for The able to The Anchor, 887 Highland Avenue, heavens for the assistance Anchor in more than 10 years. While we Fall River, Mass. 02720. Subscribers may of Marilyn Blanchette realize it may be an extra burden to some, also renew via PayPal by visiting The Anand Mark Dollhoph, the the $20 cost did not cover printing and chor website at anchornews.org and pressdiocesan consultants on mailing overheads. At the new rate, it still ing the “Subscribe” button and following strategic planning. works out to costing subscribers less than the on-screen directions. It took much discus$1 per issue, far less than most publicaIf a payment isn’t received within 30 sion for the Parish Plantions. days of the expiration date, The Anchor will ning Team to develop an The Anchor is also offering its readers send out one reminder notice. agenda for a parish-wide the option to renew for two years at $45 A sample of the new mailing labels apassembly on strategic for 52 issues, a savings of $5. pears in today’s edition on page 24. planning. The agenda is now finalized and the date
Anchor announces renewal and price changes
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Seven Bishop Feehan High School (Attleboro) students were recipients of the Pope St. Pius X Youth Award at a recent ceremony at St. Mary’s Cathedral. From left: Thomas Rinkacs; Maura Crump; Kevin Baker; Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V.; Benjamin Wheeler; Lily Nguyen; and Isabella Herman. (Not pictured is Kira Frances Hellard)
Recipients of the Pope St. Pius X Youth Awards join Bishop da Cunha for a group photo at the conclusion of the recent presentation prayer service at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River. Nominated for the honor by their pastor, recipients are active in a variety of ministries and programs within their parishes. A complete list of recipients appears on page 18.
Bishop da Cunha presents the Pope St. Pius X Youth Award to Ifunanyachukiou O. Akanegbu of Immaculate Conception Parish, North Easton.
At left, recipient Emma M. Bernier, St. Julie Billiart Parish, North Dartmouth, leads the Prayers of the Faithful. At right, recipient Andrew Carusi of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, New Bedford, offers a personal reflection. (Above four photos by John E. Kearns Jr.)
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Pope Francis: Youth are lost in a ‘virtual world’ instead of reality
Rome, Italy (CNA/ EWTN News) — Pope Francis recently said he is worried that youth are too enmeshed in a virtual world of cell phones and other technology, separated, in particular, from the real human contact experienced by performing works of mercy. Answering a question about youth during a visit with the people of the Diocese of Rome, the pope said that the works of mercy “help young people so much,” because they help them to be grounded in “concreteness” and to “enter into a social
relationship.” “It worries me that they communicate and live in the virtual world,” he said, noting that on a recent visit with youth, instead of extending their hands when they saw him, they “greeted” him with their phones held up, taking photos and selfies. “Their reality is that — not human contact. This is serious,” he continued. “We have to make young people ‘land’ in the real world. Touch reality. Without destroying the good things the virtual world can have,” because some things are needed, he
Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 May 20, 11:00 a.m.
acknowledged. Pope Francis spoke during a visit to the cathedral of Rome, the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, for a moment of prayer and to hear about the activities of the diocese. The encounter included Rome’s bishops, priests, religious, and members of the laity, among them representatives of the Catholic schools and various groups. During the visit, the pope answered four questions, among them a question about young people and what he thought about the pre-synod meeting of more than 300 young adults which took place in Rome in March ahead of the Synod of Bishops on young people and discernment. He said that he had a good impression of the pre-synodal meeting and noted the participants’ hard work during the week to create the pre-synod document, which he said was “very beautiful, strong.” The young people present “had courage to speak” and “really wanted to speak seriously,” he said. Immediately following the Q and A, the pope gave a prepared speech, in which he spoke about what Catholics can learn from the Israelite’s exodus from slavery in Egypt
to the Promised Land. “The story of Exodus speaks of slavery, of an exit, of a passage, of an alliance, of a temptation and an entrance. But it is a journey,” he said. The pope’s meeting with the Diocese of Rome concluded a period of reflection by the parishes and prefectures of Rome on “Spiritual diseases,” which was begun during Lent. “As you will have understood, I am inviting you to undertake another stage of the journey of the Church of Rome,” he said. “In a certain sense a new exodus, a new departure, which renews our identity as God’s people, without regrets for what we must leave.” This period of self-reflection should lead to discernment of where God is present, even “in very ordinary forms of holiness,” he said, such as those people who are already living the Gospel in friendship with the Lord. It will also be necessary, he continued, to listen to the cry of the people, as Moses was urged to do, “knowing how to interpret, in the light of the Word of God, the social and cultural phenomena in which you are immersed.” Reflecting on weaknesses and sharing those with oth-
ers may take time, he said, but having done it, Catholic communities and individuals are better prepared to serve others because they have felt and experienced the “gift of mercy and fullness of life for us and for all.” The pope explained that Christ has loved everyone and continues to love everyone, demonstrating His care for people’s lives, that they are not “creatures abandoned to their destiny and their slavery. That everything is for our conversion and for our good.” He stated that Catholics should understand the truth that God did not make any mistake in putting him or her in this place at this time and with these challenges, and that if they find themselves “in a condition of slavery,” it was brought about by a dependence on created things. The journey to the Promised Land was long for the Israelites — “40 years, eh?” — but they did not get tired, he said, inviting the Catholics of Rome to “spend some time” preparing to “reach the new land that the column of cloud and fire” will reveal. “New conditions of life and pastoral action. To no longer be afraid of what we are and of the gift we have, but to make it fruitful,” he urged.
Celebrant is Father Mark R. Hession, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Seekonk.
May 27 Please note that the Mass will air at a special time of 10:30 a.m. on May 27 only Celebrant is Father Kevin J. Harrington, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in New Bedford.
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For and About Our Church Youth The Anchor is always pleased to run news and photos about our diocesan youth. If schools, parish Religious Education programs or home-schoolers have newsworthy stories and photos they would like to share with our readers, send them to: schools@anchornews.org
Fourth-graders at Holy Name School in Fall River enjoyed some science fun with “Top Secret Science.”
Grades one and two at St. Francis Xavier School in Acushnet had a visit from a scientist from Hightouch Hightech of New England: Science Made Fun! and learned a little about geology through its “Dig It!” program.
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Middle school students from Espirito Santo School in Fall River prepare to work with pre-school students for community service.
George Milot, principal of St. Margaret Regional School in Buzzards Bay, accepted an Exxon Mobil Educational Alliance grant for $500 from Chandler Palmieri, site coordinator for Bourne Petroleum Ltd. Gary Bourne of Bourne Petroleum Ltd., located at 2 Head of the Bay Road, nominated the school for the grant which will be used to fund a new kindergarten through fourth-grade science program.
For and About Our Church Youth
St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro is close to wrapping up its finance program. Students learned about the benefits and potential pitfalls of personal financial decisions in the context of the career choices they make. Students are exposed to various career choices through a process of self-reflection of interests and aptitudes. Once a student has a clear idea of finances to be managed in their chosen career, they will be involved in real life financial activities including a mock interview. At the conclusion of the unit, students will participate in the Reality Financial Education Fair. At the fair, students undergo a process of determining their personal expenses. These include housing, transportation, entertainment, and food among many others. Students were interviewed for their chosen career. During their interviews they had to be prepared to answer questions and discuss their resumes.
Students in grades pre-k through eighth grade at St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro participated in a Career Fair. Parents and community partners represented their businesses and interacted with the students sharing information about their chosen profession, education and job responsibilities. Principal Sister Mary Jane Holden, C.P. explained that “our goal is to help students consider how they could take a passion and turn it into a career path and be thoughtful regarding their course selections as they further their education.” Parent and owner of Reliable Home Improvement, Tom Gorman, shows Olivia Cummins how to drill a screw into a piece of wood while Valerie Gonzalez, Kate Grivers, and Taylar DeMond look on.
St. Mary-Sacred Heart School in North Attleboro inducted middle school students, who met the criteria of leadership, academics, service, into the National Junior Honor Society. Each year middle school students who exhibit excellence in academics, character and leadership, and demonstrate a commitment to service and good citizenship to improve themselves and their society, are invited to apply to the society. This year’s inductees were, first row: Caleigh Brown, Elizabeth Brown, Dylan Capua, Anna Cinelli, and Beatrice DeTrolio. Second row: Ian Guthrie, Colin Johnson, Yusuf Kassem, Ava Mitchell, Brennon Schifman, and Jack Toncelli. Third row: Isabelle Ouellette, Camryn Fauria, and Natalie Landry. The Anchor - May 18, 2018
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2018 Pope Pius X Award Winners FALL RIVER — On May 8, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., at a ceremony at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River, presented 56 young diocesan faithful (one could not attend) with the annual Pope Pius X Award. The award, named for the pontiff who created the Fall River Diocese in 1904 and presented for the first time in 2001, recognizes teens who serve their parish community with selflessness, commitment and dedication. Nominated for the honor by their pastor, recipients are active in a variety of ministries and programs within their parishes. Pope St. Pius X Youth Award recipients must have already received the Sacrament of Confirmation, be at least a sophomore in high school and not older than 19. Recipients participated in the award prayer service, offered readings, intercessory prayers and reflections. PARISH CITY PARISH NAME
Acushnet St. Francis Xavier Joshua St. Pierre Assonet St. Bernard Maya Michael Joncas Attleboro St. John the Evangelist Kevin Baker Attleboro St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Lily Angela Nguyen Attleboro St. Vincent de Paul Benjamin Wheeler Attleboro Falls St. Mark Maura Crump Brewster Our Lady of the Cape Elizabeth Marie Ednie Buzzards Bay St. Margaret Christopher McGuire Centerville Our Lady of Victory Colby August East Falmouth St. Anthony Melissa Catherine Ham East Freetown St. John Neumann Kyle Manny East Sandwich Corpus Christi Maria D. Miller East Taunton Holy Family Madison Rylie Bissonnette Fairhaven St. Joseph Noah DeTerra Fairhaven St. Mary Jake David Riggs Fall River St. Anthony of Padua Luke Cabral Fall River Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption Aliyah Cioe Fall River Good Shepherd Shayne Dias Fall River Holy Name Mary Mahoney-Pacheco Fall River St. Stanislaus Carley Medeiros Fall River St. Joseph Brady Mello Fall River St. Bernadette Nicholas Elias Rachel Fall River St. Michael Christian Resendes Falmouth St. Patrick Isabel Heard Mansfield St. Mary Kira Frances Hellard Mashpee Christ the King Hannah Rose Laird North Attleboro St. Mary Abigail E. Hare North Attleboro Sacred Heart Thomas Henry Rinkacs North Dartmouth St. Julie Billiart Emma Marie Bernier North Dighton St. Nicholas of Myra Garrett Sanderson North Easton Immaculate Conception Ifunanyachukiou O. Akanegbu Nantucket St. Mary-Our Lady of the Isle Lucille Amanda Bresette New Bedford Our Lady of Fatima Andrew Carusi New Bedford Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Helena Oliveira Farias New Bedford St. Lawrence Martyr Tricia Fernandes New Bedford St. Anthony of Padua George Vincent Martin New Bedford St. Mary Abby-Lin Chang Resendes New Bedford Our Lady of Guadalupe Daniela Rivas New Bedford Our Lady of the Assumption Jadin M. Taylor Norton St. Mary Isabella Herman Orleans St. Joan of Arc Jeremiah Tessier South Dartmouth St. Mary Nina Victoria Medeiros South Easton Holy Cross Lily Catherine Williams South Yarmouth St. Pius X Eilish Colette Dillon Seekonk Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Abigael Rose LaFleur Somerset St. Patrick Jacob William Biello Somerset St. Thomas More Abigail Cadorette Swansea St. Louis de France Jonathan Cabral Swansea St. Francis of Assisi Elijah Paul LaCroix Swansea St. Dominic Jillian Pompei Wilson Taunton Annunciation of the Lord Megan Gover Taunton St. Anthony Thomas Edward Nichols Taunton St. Mary Brandon Rodrigues Wareham St. Patrick Alexander C. Moulding Westport St. John the Baptist Noah Albert Gagnon Westport St. George Andrew Leger Westport Our Lady of Grace Adam Thomas Moniz
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The Anchor - May 18, 2018
Associate director relies on artistic eye to draw visitors to shrine continued from page five
a tour guide in the Holy Land. “I was teaching Biblical languages and Biblical archaeology in Israel and in Italy while I lived there for 10 years,” he said. “While I was there, when I was not teaching, I was a tour guide for the groups that came through and were doing a pilgrimage through the Holy Land. That was really awesome!” It was also fortuitous as this was the first time Father Gillio met Father Baris. “I was on a sabbatical for a month and he was one of my teachers, one of the professors,” Father Baris said. “I had to twist his arm — he refused me a couple of times. But when I was at Our Lady of the Cape Parish, I told him to come during the summer to give a series of conferences. And he did, for a couple of years in a row.” Father Gillio finally decided to stay and began serving at La Salette Shrine the same year that Father Baris headed to France. Thankfully, the two were reunited last year and have been working together ever since. “This is going to be my fourth year serving at the shrine and the retreat house,” Father Gillio said. “And I love it because your only limit is your pastoral imagination and creativity. I mean with the compound we have here, the potential is really great.” Father Gillio’s move to the United States also coincided with a move from Jesuit Spirituality to the La Salette charism, which led to his becoming a Missionary of Our
Lady of La Salette. “He’s really marrying the two Spiritualities,” Father Baris said. To that end, as retreat facilitator, it makes sense that many of the programs Father Gillio is promoting draw upon the Marian devotion of the Missionaries (“Walking in Mary’s Footsteps,” May 5; “Mary: Wonder Woman,” October 20) and the Jesuit teachings of St. Ignatius (“Introduction to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola in Daily Life,” August 11; “At the Feet of the Master: Keys to Well-Being, Spiritual Growth and Discipleship,” August 18). “The whole idea is taken from a verse in the Gospel of St. John, when Jesus says: ‘I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly,’” Father Gillio said of the August 18 series. “When we profess that Jesus is true God and true Man, we mean that in Him we see humanity in its fullness. And so we thought we would try to run a program that tries to pull together the Biblical perspective and (an individual’s) well-being that complement each other. “So for example, you have the first session that is personality type and Spirituality. When we talk about Spirituality, we have to take into account the wholeness of the person — the physical, psychological, and Spiritual dimensions — and how there is a continuity between your human background, so to speak, and the Spirituality in which you feel comfortable.” Just as parishes
throughout the diocese have had to deal with changing demographics in recent years, the La Salette Retreat Center has had to make similar adjustments, Father Baris said. “When I came here as a deacon before ordination in 1969, it was very different,” he said. “From Monday through Friday, different high schools from all over New England would come in for two nights. Another bus would come in on Wednesday and drop off another load of kids. And on weekends we’d have retreats like Cursillo. Now there are very few Catholic high schools and they don’t tend to have overnights with the kids for many reasons. But we still have weekend retreats and the weekends are usually full.” Father Baris said he and Father Gillio are looking to draw more ethnic groups — especially the Hispanic community — and youth to the retreat center. “They say in a few years, up to 50 percent
of the Catholics in the United States are going to be Hispanic or of Hispanic heritage,” Father Baris said. “And I think that’s certainly true even in just the Attleboro area. The Church is the center of their life (and) the Spanish (people) are very devoted.” Father Gillio added they have launched two new youth programs — Reversed, where the participants provide the direction for their own retreat, and Ignite, for teens in grades six through 12. “The whole idea of Reversed is to engage more with the youth rather than having a retreat where the facilitator talks and the youth just listen,” he said. “That is kind of a replica of what Religious Education is all about, so we have tried to build up a package that engages them in a more interactive way. And then for the coming year, we are launching Ignite, which is inspired by the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. It’s going to be something new that we’re going to start next September.” While the number of
parish youth groups continues to dwindle, Father Gillio estimates they are reaching “an average close to 1,000 youth every year, maybe even more” with their programs. “But we really would like to outreach more and to serve the local communities more so in this perspective, that’s why we added these options and hopefully it will be wellreceived,” he said. As a teacher and scholar fluent in five languages, at the end of the day Father Gillio said he still has to rely on his artistic sense to first capture people’s attention and get the message across that La Salette has a lot more to offer “beyond the lights.” “This year we started 36 new programs with 16 different speakers,” Father Gillio said. “Some of them were already part of the team, and others just joined the team. So it is going to be a very rich year for the people who can benefit from the retreat house.” For more information about the La Salette Retreat Center and its upcoming programs, visit the new website at www. lasaletteretreatcenter.com.
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Mass. fails to comply with ‘proportionate’ distribution of funds continued from page four
and Secondary Education has asserted that state and locally-funded special education services to private school students are more generous than those which are provided to them under IDEA. In making this assertion, DESE has found cover to argue that the special education needs of private school students in the state are adequately being met but that the provision of these services onsite at private schools would violate the anti-aid amendments to the state constitution that prohibit public aid to private schools. Having made this argument, DESE has, in effect, turned a blind eye to the requirements of federal law, and the practical result is that private and religious school students with disabilities have not
had reasonable access to the special education services that federal civil rights law IDEA affords to them. Private and religious school students who are entitled to IDEAfunded special education services have no real option other than going to a public school in the town wherein they reside to receive those services. The authors use the example of a student living in Sharon who attends a private school in Brookline. The student would have to travel to receive services, meaning s/he would miss considerable school time and parents would have to take significant time off from work to transport the student. “In reality, private and religious school parents face a choice between
foregoing needed services to which their children are entitled by federal law or paying for them out of pocket,” said Father Tom Olson, a co-author. In 2007, the Parents Alliance for Catholic Education and the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Boston proposed amending state special education regulations to allow private and religious school students to receive services at their schools. To avoid running afoul of the anti-aid amendments, they defined a “neutral location” as “any room or space on the grounds of private schools that are devoid of any religious symbolism.” They even went so far as to propose that the rooms be used exclusively for special education, but the Commonwealth still rejected the proposal.
A coalition of Catholic and Jewish schools conducted meetings with senior DESE officials over a two-year period, but those meetings yielded no change. In 2017, a broader private school coalition filed a series of complaints with DESE’s Problem Resolution System (PRS). The complaints demonstrated that as many as 16 percent of private school students may have qualified for federally-funded special education services, but that only about one percent were actually receiving them. Nonetheless, PRS proposed no effective remedy. Last fall the coalition appealed to the U.S. Secretary of Education, claiming that over 12 years, between $96 million and $290 million of IDEA funds allocated to Massachusetts LEAs should have been used to serve
private school students. Co-authors Father Tom Olson, Stephen Perla, Michael Sentance, and William Donovan recommend that LEAs should be directed to spend IDEA money onsite at private schools unless there is a compelling reason not to. If there is, then private school students should be provided with publiclyfunded transportation to receive services. The co-authors also call for a private school special education ombudsman to address the systemic issues raised in the private school complaints and for DESE to implement additional requirements to increase transparency around the expenditure of IDEA money earmarked for private school students. The authors attempted to interview DESE officials for this research paper, but state officials refused.
To advertise in The Anchor, contact Wayne Powers at 508-675-7151 or Email waynepowers@ anchornews.org
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The Anchor - May 18, 2018
Corpus Christi Procession: Walking with our Eucharistic Lord
St. Vincent’s to offer cyber-bullying session
Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the Bread and drink of the Cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the Body eats and drinks judgment upon himself ’ (1 Cor 11: 27-29). Anyone conscious of a grave sin must receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before coming to Communion” (“Catechism of the Catholic Church,” 1385). As a witness of our love for Jesus, parishioners of St. Vincent de Paul and St. John the Evangelist parishes in Attleboro, will carry Him in procession on Sunday, June 3. It is also a symbol of Jesus’ love for us. We know that Jesus is with us and loves us, His Blood is poured out for us and His Body is broken for us. As Jesus passes in the Blessed Sacrament we adore Him and thank Him for all that He has done for us, unworthy sinners. As Jesus passes you in the Blessed Sacrament, ask Him for whatever healing you need. Try to put words on the deepest healing of your life that you need and ask Jesus to heal you. At Masses for healing, the healing always occurs when people are blessed with Jesus exposed in the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance. Jesus in the monstrance will pass you by during the Corpus Christi Procession. Adore Him, love Him, thank Him and ask Him for help. He is waiting for you. Remember the words of the consecration of every Mass recalling Jesus giving Himself for us, “This is My Body which will be given up for you. This is the cup of My Blood. It will be shed for you.” In Attleboro, we will have the honor of having a city-wide Corpus Christi procession with Our Eucharistic Lord from St. John the Evangelist Church to St. Vincent de Paul Parish. This
and youth we serve. I had been fortunate to see this presentation a couple years ago and I left knowing so much more about social media and its impact. We felt this is a topic that many parents are interested in learning more about and that the presentation will allow them to leave with a better understanding of social media and how to protect their family.” In its brochure (which can be found at stvincentshome.org) promoting the event, St. Vincent ’s Home advises that, “The multi-award winning program will eliminate the myths that anonymity, social privacy and disappearing digital content is possible with digital
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will be a first and we hope you will be able to join us. We begin with Holy Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church at 11:30 a.m. After Mass, Father Chris Peschel will lead the procession at 12:30 p.m. along County Street past Capron Park arriving at St. Vincent de Paul Parish on 71 Linden St. Once Our Lord is solemnly exposed for Adoration in the church, all are invited for a cookout on St. Vincent’s Church grounds. Please make an effort on this day to get out into the streets of our diocese to thank, praise and witness
to your love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament! For more information email: attleboroprocession@ gmail.com Also, Our Lady’s Chapel will also be processing with Our Eucharistic Lord through the streets of New Bedford stopping at various stations at Our Lady of Purgatory Church, St. Lawrence Martyr Church, the Convent of the Missionaries of Charity. Grace Small is a parishioner of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Attleboro and is involved with the First Friday and First Saturday devotions and the Marian Cenacle for priests.
In Your Prayers Please Please pray pray for for these these priests priests during during the the coming coming weeks weeks
May 19 Rev. Ambrose Lamarre, O.P., 1940 Rev. Thomas Trainor, Pastor, St. Louis, Fall River, 1941 Rev. Arthur C. Levesque, Pastor, Our Lady of Fatima, New Bedford, 1988 May 20 Rev. Antonio L. daSilva, Pastor, Our Lady of Health, Fall River, 1952
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tools and apps. Parents will gain knowledge to promote responsible use of digital tools while also obtaining the wisdom to prevent negative, irresponsible and malicious digital behaviors and trends.” The session will also provide attendees with information on preventing cyber cruelty; PC and mobile security; permanence of digital content; public database and digital transparency; preventing abuse of current and future apps; and poor social media and oversharing behaviors. For more information, or to register visit stvincentshome.org, or call 508-679-8511. For more on Guerry and IROC2, visit iroc2.org.
May 22 Rev. Daniel L. Freitas, Retired, Former Pastor, St. John of God, Somerset, 2012 May 23 Rev. William F. Donahue, Assistant, St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis, 1944 Rev. Alfred J. Guenette, A.A., 1995 May 24 Rev. James F. Clark, Founder, St. James, New Bedford, 1907 Rev. Patrick Heran, SS.CC., Former Rector, Sacred Hearts Seminary, Fairhaven, 1985 Rev. Msgr. John J. Regan, Retired, Former Pastor, St. Patrick, Falmouth, 2015 May 25 Rev. Michael P. Kirby, Former Assistant St. Mary, North Attleboro, 1925 Rev. James V. Mendes, Pastor, Our Lady of Angels, Fall River, 1961 May 26 Chorbishop Norman J. Ferris, Pastor, St. Anthony of the Desert Church (Maronite), Fall River, 2005 Rev. Thomas F. Murray, Assistant, St. Patrick, Falmouth and St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis, 2012 May 28 Rev. Lionel A. Bourque, Former Chaplain, Cardinal Cushing Hospital, Brockton, 1982 Rev. Kenneth J. Delano, Former Pastor, St. Francis of Assisi, New Bedford and Immaculate Conception, Fall River, 2017 May 30 Rev. Jordan Harpin, O.P., Dominican Priory, Fall River, 1929 Rev. Edmond J. Potvin, Pastor, St. Jean Baptiste, Fall River, 1937 Rev. James M. Quinn, Pastor, St. John the Evangelist, Attleboro, 1950 Rev. Robert T. Canuel, Assistant, St. Anne, Fall River, 1993 May 31 Rev. Vincent A. Wolski, OFM Conv., Pastor, Holy Cross, Fall River, 1964 June 1 Rev. James A. Ward, Former Pastor St. Peter, Provincetown, 1911
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Around the Diocese The 20th annual Blessing of the Bikes to benefit St. Joseph School in Fairhaven will take place Sunday, May 20 (postponed from May 6) beginning with sign-up at 10:30 a.m. in the rear parking lot of Fort Phoenix. The run will leave promptly at noon and travel past St. Joseph Church on Spring Street in Fairhaven for the blessing. After a two-hour ride, bikers will return to the Ice House Bar and Grille on Route 6 for food and entertainment. Cost is $15 per bike. For more information, contact Tracy at 508-996-1983. St. John Neumann Parish, 157 Middleboro Road in East Freetown, will host a Pentecost Taizé Prayer Service on Sunday evening, May 20 beginning at 7 p.m. All are invited to attend, with a patio reception to follow. A Hymn Fest for Our Lady will take place at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Second and Spring Streets in Fall River, on Sunday, May 20 beginning at 4 p.m. Come and enjoy honoring Our Blessed Mother in her month of May through song. Traditional Catholic hymns, including such favorites as “Bring Flowers of the Rarest,” “Mother, at Your Feet is Kneeling,” and “’Tis the Month of Our Mother” will be played on an extraordinary organ. Those attending will be led in singing the hymns by an outstanding vocalist and be given a brief background of the song’s history and significance. All are welcome to join the faith community of St. Patrick’s Parish and the Sacred Hearts Retreat Center in Wareham in celebrating the Feast of the Sacred Heart on Friday, June 8. The religious communities of the Vocationist Fathers and the Sacred Hearts Community will come together for a special celebration beginning at 3:30 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, 82 High Street in Wareham. A motorcade carrying a statue of the Sacred Heart will proceed to the Retreat Center, 226 Great Neck Road, where an outdoor Mass will be celebrated at 4 p.m. on the grounds. There will be a consecration to the Sacred Heart, as well as a blessing of the cars after Mass. A light reception sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 1528 will follow. For more information, call 508-295-0100. Alumni from St. Francis Xavier School in Acushnet are organizing a 50th Reunion for the class of 1968, and have invited the classes of 1967 and 1969 to join them. This will be held on Saturday, June 23, beginning with a 4 p.m. Mass at St. Francis Xavier Church in Acushnet, followed by a tour of the school, complete with memorabilia and reunion group photos. The Wamsutta Club will be the site for reception and dinner at 6:30 p.m. Advanced tickets are $65 per person and there will be no sales at the door. Guests are welcome and more information can be obtained by emailing sfx68reunion@gmail. com or by calling 508-995-4313. Deadline for tickets is May 23. They are also looking for alum Sharon Vutianitis from the class of 1967. St. John Neumann Parish invites all to its 34th Annual Lakeside Family Festival on Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-28. Admission is free, and the festival will run 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: Monday), and a great selection of home-baked goods, games of skill and a grand raffle. For more information, visit www.sjnfreetown.org. The reunion committee is seeking members of the Class of 1968 at Mount St. Mary’s Academy for its 50th reunion, to be held at the Cove Restaurant in Fall River on June 22. Interested graduates should contact Judi (DePaola) Boardman at mom@team508.org. To submit an event for consideration in The Anchor’s “Around the Diocese” listing, send the information by email to kensouza@anchornews.org
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The Anchor - May 18, 2018
Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese Acushnet — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Evening prayer and Benediction is held Monday through Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. ASSONET — St. Bernard’s Parish will have Eucharistic Adoration every Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed on the altar at the conclusion of 9 a.m. Mass and the church will be open all day, concluding with evening prayer and Benediction at 6:30 p.m. ATTLEBORO — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. John the Evangelist Church, North Main Street, Mondays and Wednesdays from 5-6:30 p.m. ATTLEBORO — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the Adoration Chapel at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, 71 Linden Street, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. ATTLEBORO — The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette holds Eucharistic Adoration in the Shrine Church every Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. through November 17. Brewster — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the La Salette Chapel in the lower level of Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road, on First Fridays beginning at noon until 7:45 a.m. First Saturday, concluding with Benediction and concluding with Mass at 8 a.m. buzzards Bay — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, Monday through Saturday, from 6:30 to 8 a.m.; and every first Friday from noon to 8 a.m. on Saturday. East Freetown — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. John Neumann Church every Monday (excluding legal holidays) 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Our Lady, Mother of All Nations Chapel. (The base of the bell tower). EASTTAUNTON — 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 8:30-11:30 a.m. in the Chapel of Reconciliation, with Benediction at 11:30 a.m. FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of Padua Church, on the corner of Bedford and Sixteenth streets, has Eucharistic Adoration accompanied by music and prayer every first Wednesday of the month from 6-7 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. FALL RIVER — St. Joseph’s Church has a Holy Hour every Tuesday from 6-7 p.m., with Benediction at 6:45 p.m. FALL RIVER — St.Michael’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday from 9 a.m.to 5:30 p.m.,with Benediction at 5:30 p.m. Falmouth — St. Patrick’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration each First Friday following the 7 a.m. Mass, with Benediction at 4:30 p.m. HYANNIS — St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis, 347 South Street, Hyannis, has Eucharistic Adoration from noon to 3 p.m., daily Monday through Friday. MANSFIELD — St. Mary’s Parish, 330 Pratt Street, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with Benediction at 5:45 p.m. MASHPEE — Christ the King Parish, Route 151 and Job’s Fishing Road has 8:30 a.m. Mass every First Friday with special intentions for Respect Life, followed by 24 hours of Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel, concluding with Benediction Saturday morning followed immediately by an 8:30 Mass. NEW BEDFORD — Eucharistic Adoration is held every Thursday, with Confessions, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Church. Please use the side entrance. NEW BEDFORD — There is a daily holy hour from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue. It includes Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Liturgy of the Hours, recitation of the Rosary, and the opportunity for Confession. NEW BEDFORD — St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, 565 County Street, holds Eucharistic Adoration in the side chapel Fridays from 7:30-11:45 a.m. ending with a simple Benediction NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., ending with Benediction. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time. NORTH DIGHTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Wednesday following 8:00 a.m. Mass and concludes with Benediction at 5 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration also takes place every First Friday at St. Nicholas of Myra Church, 499 Spring Street following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending with Benediction at 6 p.m. The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 8 a.m. NORTH EASTON — A Holy Hour for Families including Eucharistic Adoration is held every Friday from 3-4 p.m. at The Father Peyton Center, 518 Washington Street. NORTH EASTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Immaculate Conception Church Chapel on the first Wednesday of the month beginning after the 8:30 a.m. Mass, until 6:40 p.m. Those wishing to make a monthly commitment can sign up on the parish website at www.icceaston.org or call the parish office at 508-238-3232. ORLEANS — St. Joan of Arc Parish, 61 Canal Road, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday starting after the 8 a.m. Mass and ending with Benediction at 11:45 a.m. The Sacrament of the Sick is also available immediately after the 8 a.m. Mass. SEEKONK — Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish has perpetual Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the chapel at 984 Taunton Avenue. For information call 508-336-5549. Taunton — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Tuesday at St. Anthony Church, 126 School Street, following the 8 a.m. Mass with prayers including the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for vocations, concluding at 6 p.m. with Chaplet of St. Anthony and Benediction. Recitation of the Rosary for peace is prayed Monday through Saturday at 7:30 a.m. prior to the 8 a.m. Mass. Taunton — Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord, 31 First Street. Exposition begins following the 8 a.m. Mass. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed, and Adoration will continue throughout the day. Confessions are heard from 4:15 to 4:45 p.m. Rosary and Benediction begin at 5 p.m. WAREHAM — Eucharistic Adoration at St. Patrick’s Church takes place 9 a.m. Thursday through 7 p.m. Friday. Adoration is held in our Adoration Chapel in the lower Parish Hall. ~ PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION ~
East Sandwich — The Corpus Christi Parish Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 324 Quaker Meeting House Road, East Sandwich. Use the Chapel entrance on the side of the church. NEW BEDFORD — Our Lady’s Chapel, 600 Pleasant Street, offers Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day. For information call 508-996-8274. SEEKONK — Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish has perpetual Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the chapel at 984 Taunton Avenue. For information call 508-336-5549. WEST HARWICH — Our Lady of Life Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Trinity Parish, 246 Main Street (Rte. 28), holds perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. We are a regional chapel serving all of the surrounding parishes. All are invited to sign up to cover open hours. For open hours, or to sign up call 508-430-4716.
Diocesan Health Facilities names new administrators
FALL RIVER — Catholic Memorial Home, one of the area’s largest facilities, has announced that Lisa Cadime, R.N., B.S.N. has been named the new administrator of Catholic Memorial Home. Cadime comes from Our Lady’s Haven of Fairhaven, which is a part of the Diocesan Health Facilities group. She has worked within the system for the past 18 years in various positions at Catholic
Memorial Home, Madonna Manor, Sacred Heart Home and Our Lady’s Haven of Fairhaven.
FAIRHAVEN — Our Lady’s Haven has announced that Jo-Ann Melcher has joined its team as the new administrator of Our Lady’s Haven. A resident of Somerset, she has a bachelor of arts in social welfare from Rhode Island College and a masters in human services from
New Hampshire College. Melcher has worked in skilled nursing facilities since 1979. Among her many past experiences she brings her experience as a licensed administrator in Massachusetts and Rhode Island as well as being a licensed social worker in Massachusetts.
Jo-Ann Melcher
Lisa Cadime
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To become a subscriber, to renew your existing subscription to The Anchor, or to give it as a gift, contact 508-675-7151 or email subscriptions@anchornews.org New Anchor labels identify expiration date
FALL RIVER — On page 11 of this Anchor edition is an explanation of the new mailing labels (left) recently initiated on all Anchor publications, along with the notice of a $25 subscription amount beginning at renewal time. Below is a sample of the label that shows when the subscription expires allowing readers to renew before then to keep their subscriptions active. If no payment is received in 30 days of the expiration date, The Anchor will send one reminder notice at a later date.
Subscriber name Subscriber Street Address Subscriber City/Town/Zip Code
A subscription to The Anchor would make a wonderful gift for a loved one, a friend, or yourself. It’s a publication that provides a Spiritual uplift and keeps Catholics connected to our beloved Church — locally and beyond. One-year subscription — $25 Two-year subscription — $45 Name: Address: City:
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if given as a gift, the card should read: From: Street:
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Enclose check or money order and mail to: The Anchor, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720
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The Anchor - May 18, 2018