06.05.15

Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

F riday , June 5, 2015

Diocese launches newlydesigned and expanded website

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

FALL RIVER — Throughout his tenure as communications director and spokesman for the Fall River Diocese, there’s one thing that John E. Kearns Jr. has learned: be ready to roll with the changes.

Having served under four bishops now, Kearns has had to adapt from a time when press releases were largely written, printed and then sent out via the U.S. Post Office — what is often referred to now as “snail mail” — to sending items via

fax machine, to today’s primary mode of communication: the Internet and email.

“Years ago you had to calculate if you put it in the mail, when would they get it? Now it’s instant,” Kearns said.

And there’s nothing more immediate than a quick Google search for an organization’s website that can provide all of the information you need at the touch of a click.

One of Kearns’ responsibilities that has become increasingly more prominent in recent Turn to page 18

A statue of Our Lady of the Clouds, a devotion originally from Ecuador, was carried in procession from St. Francis Xavier Church down South Street to the Hyannis Town Green to its band shell. Hundreds of parishioners representing the parish’s multi-devotional congregation — American, Hispanic and Brazilian, as well as those who celebrate the Latin Tridentine Mass every week — prayed the Rosary as they marched through town. (Photo by Janet Daly)

Multilingual parish celebrates together as family and friends

By Linda Andrade Rodrigues Anchor Correspondent

HYANNIS — How do you bring together English-, Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking people from Provincetown to Plymouth, who share an identical faith yet observe different cultural traditions?

This is the question Father Michael Fitzpatrick asked himself a year ago when he became parochial administrator of St. Francis Xavier Church, a Screenshot of updated diocesan website at fallriverdiocese.org

Annual Eucharistic Processions through streets of New Bedford are Sunday

NEW BEDFORD — On June 7, two Eucharistic Processions will take place in the streets of New Bedford, on the feast of Corpus Christi.

One of the processions begins at Our Lady’s Chapel in downtown New Bedford at 2 p.m. Several Benediction stations will be set up along the route. The first station is at Our Lady of Purgatory Church on Franklin Street.

The monstrance housing the most Blessed Sacrament will then be carried in a procession to St. Lawrence Martyr Church on County Street. From there it goes to the Missionaries of Charity Convent, also on County Street across the street from St. Lawrence.

Priests are most welcome to join the procession. Children are needed to strew flowers in front of the Blessed Sacrament during the procession. Religious groups with

their banners are encouraged to attend. A pot luck supper will follow the final Benediction at Our Lady’s Chapel in downtown New Bedford.

Another Eucharistic Procession, led by the Our Lady of Light Band will begin June 7 at 2 p.m. at St. Anthony’s Church on Acushnet Avenue. The procession will travel to St. Kilian and Immaculate Conception churches There will be an outdoor altar for Benediction at each location. The procession will return to St. Anthony’s for final Benediction.

“The Church is asking us to go out with Jesus in the monstrance to the streets and reminds us that Jesus goes out to those who do not come to Him,” Father Edward A. Murphy, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in New Bedford told The Anchor prior to last year’s event.

large parish that includes growing Brazilian and Hispanic apostolates.

“The way I envision the whole thing is that we are a large extended family,” said Father Fitzpatrick. “Communities that know each other become friends, and friends love each other.”

Yet to try and pray together all the time is a mistake, according to the priest.

“Everyone is uncomfortable

doing that more than a few times,” he said “People need to pray from their own hearts, in their own languages and own sensibilities.”

Consequently, parishioners seek opportunities every once in a while to come together as family and friends in celebrating their faith.

“Unity is very important to me,” Father Fitzpatrick said.

Compounding the difficulTurn to page 14

Restorative justice program helps ex-convicts reenter society

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff

WORCESTER — As one of six children being raised in a single-parent household, Benito Vega said his mother worked hard to support her children but didn’t have the time to do much else.

“She couldn’t afford to put us in after-school programs and things like that,” said Vega, so left to their own devices the six siblings found other ways to fill their time. “I started to hang out with so-called ‘buddies,’ looking to have fun but not realizing the consequences that come with that so-called fun.”

By the time he was 18, Vega had dropped out of high school and was in the midst of a full-blown addiction to her-

oin. While trying to feed that addiction, he said, he committed crimes that led to his incarceration and became one of the estimated 65 million Americans who have a criminal record.

For Vega, his time behind bars led to a personal epiphany.

“It definitely was not worth it,” said Vega. “When I was doing my time during my incarceration, I realized this was not the life I wanted to live.

In there you’re for yourself, surviving on your own. While incarcerated I saw many guys come in and out during my eight years. I must have seen 10 to 12 people leave and come back, leave and come back.”

The reason behind his fellow inmates’ return, said Vega, was their having difficulties

finding a job once they were let out, thus giving them no option other than to return to a life of crime to support themselves.

“Seeing that cycle, that was the epiphany that I had and I didn’t want to be 55-years-old, talking about being back here [incarcerated] for selling drugs because of a lack of opportunities,” said Vega. “That’s when I woke up.”

Vega took advantage of the resources offered to inmates, including educational opportunities getting his G.E.D., and culinary and HVAC welding classes, “so there were some trades I was able to take and came home with that,” said Vega; but he was warned that while he was learning these Turn to page 15

2

News From the Vatican

June 5, 2015

No excuse for indifference to plight of immigrants, pope tells bishops

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Church leaders cannot be indifferent to the plight of immigrants, and it is “inexcusable” not to promote cooperation between a host nation and countries of origin, Pope Francis told bishops from the Dominican Republic.

“It is important to integrate immigrants into society and to welcome them in the Church community,” he said recently.

The bishops were making their “ad limina” visits to the Vatican, meeting the pope and Vatican officials to report on the situations in their dioceses.

Noting the Dominican Republic each year receives a large influx of immigrants, especially Haitians trying to escape poverty, the pope told the bishops that immigrants need pastoral and charitable care.

Such attention “leaves no room for the indifference of Church clergy,” he said, adding that it was “inexcusable to not promote initiatives of fraternity and peace between both nations,” which exist on the same Caribbean island.

The Church needs to work with government authorities in order to find “solutions of solidarity” for those who lack the proper documents or are denied their basic rights, he said.

The bishops also must be at the forefront in facing other serious problems today like the drug trade, human trafficking, corruption, domestic violence, the abuse and exploitation of children and social insecurity, the pope said.

“Everything the mother

Church does must seek out and care for the wellbeing of those less fortunate,” he said. Not only does this help build up the Kingdom of God, it also lends more “credibility to the Church and weight to the voice of her priests.”

The pope told the bishops to help defend their priests “from the wolves that also attack the shepherds.” He said being dedicated to the poor and needy will help them “overcome the worldly tendency toward mediocrity.”

In the Dominican Republic, as elsewhere, he said, Marriage and the family are experiencing “a serious cultural crisis,” which does not mean those institutions have become less important, but rather that the need for them is greater.

The Church must continue to show the beauty of Christian Marriage and help families experience forgiveness, peace and harmony, especially during the upcoming Year of Mercy, he said.

He also underlined the importance of families being able to have their children receive instruction in their faith at school, recognizing a trend in which schools replace religion class with “multi-confessional” instruction or a course on ethics and religious culture.

Lastly, he urged the bishops to help safeguard the environment.

People’s relationship with nature “must not be governed by greed, manipulation or excessive exploitation,” but must seek a harmonious balance between creatures and creation.

Selfish, ‘armchair’ Christians distance people from Christ, pope says

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christians must ask themselves whether they help people in need of Salvation or whether they just keep Jesus for themselves and are deaf or indifferent to others, Pope Francis said at a recent morning Mass. “It would be good for us to have an examination of conscience” and see if we are Christians who bring people to Christ or push them away, the pope said during the Mass in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae.

Three kinds of Christians exist, he said: those who are so closed up inside themselves, they are not aware of others in need; those who hear the “clamor” of suffering but choose to do nothing about it; and those who do hear and help bring

people healing. Christians who are indifferent “do not hear.

They believe life is there in their little group. They’re content.

They’re deaf to the clamor of so many people who need Salvation, who need Jesus’ help, who need the Church,” the pope said. Such Christians are “selfcentered, living for themselves.

They are unable to hear the voice of Jesus,” he said, according to Vatican Radio.

Another category of Christians includes those who hear people crying for help, “but want them to be quiet,” like in the day’s Gospel reading when the disciples rebuked Bartimaeus, the blind man, who cried out for Jesus, or when the disciples shooed away the children so they would not disturb their Master.

Pope Francis reaches for a zucchetto thrown by someone in the crowd as he leaves his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican recently. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

There but for the grace of God: What Pope Francis thinks of prisoners

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis seems to describe his life in the Vatican almost as if he were in prison — at least as far as his freedom of movement goes. But that is not the first thing he cites when he talks about what he and prisoners have in common.

When visiting a prison, he said, “I think to myself, ‘I, too, could be here.’ That is, none of us can be sure that we would never commit a crime, something for which we’d be put in prison.”

Pope Francis’ comment to a reporter from a newspaper in Argentina in mid-May was just the most recent time he has spoken about how everyone makes mistakes, everyone sins, and if one’s personal history and circumstances were different, he or she could be that convict.

“They haven’t had the opportunities that I have had of not doing something stupid and ending up in prison,” he told the newspaper, La Voz del Pueblo.

“This makes me cry inside. It is deeply moving.”

Continuing a practice he began as archbishop of Buenos Aires, the pope has spent plenty of time behind bars: He celebrated Holy Thursday Mass in a juvenile detention facility in 2013 and at Rome’s Rebibbia prison in 2015; he visited the Poggioreale prison outside Naples in March; and in the summer of 2014, visited inmates during trips to Calabria and Isernia.

Even as pope, he continues to make a phone call every other Saturday to young inmates he used to visit regularly in a Buenos Aires prison.

He recently spent time with hundreds of children of Italian

inmates, including some children who had lived in jail with their mothers. Italian law encourages house arrest for convicted mothers of small children or confinement with their children in supervised group homes. However, when that is not feasible, the law allows children to live with their mothers in prison until the age of six.

When he goes to northern Italy in late June to venerate the Shroud of Turin, he is scheduled to have Sunday lunch with a group of juvenile offenders from the Ferrante Aporti facility. And, during his July trip to South America, he is scheduled to visit the maximum-security Palmasola prison in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

Pope Francis’ talks to prisoners always focus on the wideness of God’s mercy.

His talks about prisons always focus on the need to ensure incarceration is designed not only as punishment, but as a process of education and socialization preparing a person to return to society and function as a lawabiding citizen.

In a wide variety of settings, Pope Francis cites the 25th chapter of Matthew and its judgment day list: Did you feed the hungry, clothe the naked and visit prisoners?

During a general audience talk in 2014, when he was explaining how the Church is “a mother who teaches us the works of mercy,” the pope said he knew many people feel uncomfortable with the very idea of visiting someone in prison. They think, “It’s dangerous! They are bad people,” he said.

“Listen up,” he told thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s

Square for the audience. “Each one of us is capable of doing the same thing done by that man or woman in jail. All of us are capable of sinning and making the same mistake in life. They are not worse than you and I!” Showing mercy to those who have strayed can be life changing, he said. “Mercy overcomes every wall, every obstacle” and can instill new life and hope in others.

While it may be easy to recognize a prisoner’s need for mercy and conversion, Pope Francis assures the inmates he visits that asking for God’s mercy and the strength to convert is the lifelong task of every Christian.

Visiting the Isernia prison last year, the pope told inmates, “We all make mistakes in life. And we all must ask forgiveness and make a journey of rehabilitation so we don’t make them again.”

Some people, he said, are able to “do this in their own homes and in their own professions. Others, like you, do this in a prison. But all of us, all of us — anyone who says they do not need to go through a process of rehabilitation is a liar.”

Pope Francis’ most systematic discussion of crime and punishment came in a long speech he gave last October to the International Association of Penal Law. The speech made headlines when the pope called for a global abolition of the death penalty and asserted that “a life sentence is just a death penalty in disguise.”

But he also looked at the sociological and political realities behind what he described as “the vengeful trend which permeates society” and politicians pandering to that fear by legislating penalties that, he said, are not proportionate to the crime.

June 5, 2015

The International Church

3

‘Mother of Mercy’ beatification in Kenya draws tens of thousands

Bosnian woodcarver-sculptor Edin Hajderovac works on a chair for Pope Francis at his workshop in Zavidovici, Bosnia- Herzegovina, recently. He and his father, Salem Hajderovac, are putting the finishing touches to the chair made from walnut trees, which Pope Francis will use during his visit to Sarajevo. The father and son, both devoted Muslims, initiated the project in the belief that it will reflect the message of peace that the Catholic Church’s top leader will bring to Bosnia. (CNS photo/Dado Ruvic, Reuters)

For Boko Haram victims — and their babies — Catholics pledge full support

Abuja, Nigeria (CNA/ EWTN News) — Many escapees of the terrorist group Boko Haram include women and girls who are pregnant as a result of rape, and Nigeria’s Catholics have been swift to show solidarity and support for the victims.

“To the women who are victims of the criminal actions by the Boko Haramists, we extend special concern and empathy,” the country’s bishops said in a recent letter. “We appeal to them to keep faith in God Almighty Who has given them the uncommon strength to face the trials and travails.”

“The trauma of sexual assault and rape is enormous, and the Catholic Church in Nigeria in cooperation with all people of goodwill is ever prepared to provide every measure of support to accelerate the healing, rehabilitation and resettlement of the victims so that they can swiftly be reintegrated into the society.”

The bishops noted that the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria and diocesan structures are helping support the pregnant women and girls, as are government agencies, civil society groups and faith-based organizations.

As of early May, Nigeria’s military had rescued more than 600 women and girls from a Boko Haram stronghold in the Sambisa Forest, the Associated Press reports. Many of them have become residents of displacement camps.

The United Nations Population Fund said that more than 200 women and girls in displacement camps in Nigeria’s Borno State are pregnant,

though the agency did not know how many of them are former abductees.

Nigeria’s Catholic bishops voiced their prayers for the pregnant women and advocated the establishment of crisis pregnancy centers to help these pregnant women and other Nigerians.

“The children rescued from terror and abortion would be presented for adoption to the many generous Nigerians willing to accept abandoned, rejected or motherless and fatherless babies into their families,” they said.

The bishops lamented that some individuals and groups are proposing “mass abortions” for the pregnant women, saying this would mean “repaying violence with even more vicious violence.”

They rejected the suggestion that “killing the babies conceived through rape by the terrorist is the most humane action to take.” The babies are “innocent of the crimes” against their mothers and it is wrong to punish them for their fathers’ sins and offenses.

“How can we accept to visit capital punishment (death sentence by abortion) on young Nigerians simply because their fathers were misguided religious and ideological bigots?

God forbid!” the bishops said.

Bishop Anselm Umoren, an auxiliary of the Diocese of Abuja who chairs the Nigerian bishops’ Health Committee, authored the statement on behalf of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria.

Since Boko Haram began its insurgency in 2009, more than 15,000 people have been killed

and 1.5 million people have fled their homes. Since 2014, the group has kidnapped more than 2,000 women and girls, including a notorious raid on a secondary school in Chibok that abducted 276 girls. Of these girls, 219 remain unaccounted for.

Some Boko Haram captives are forcibly converted to the group’s strict version of Islam.

The effects of Boko Haram on the Catholic population have been evaluated in a situation report on the northeastern Nigerian Diocese of Maiduguri, where more than 5,000 Catholics there have been killed and another 100,000 displaced. Another 350 churches have been destroyed. About 7,000 Catholic women have been widowed and 10,000 children have been orphaned, according to Aid to the Church in Need’s account of the report.

Vatican City, (CNA/ EWTN News) — Massive crowds attended the recent beatification of early 20th-century Italian missionary, Sister Irene Stefani, who was known as “mother of mercy” to the Kenyan people she cared for.

Pope Francis remembered the new blessed during a recent Regina Caeli address in Rome, recalling how the member of the Consolata Missionaries had served the Kenyan people “with joy, mercy, and tender compassion.”

Speaking also about Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was also recently beatified in San Salvador, the pope said: “The heroic example of these blesseds sustain in each one of us the lively desire to give witness to the Gospel with courage and self-sacrifice.”

Sister Irene Stefani (18911930) was beatified May 23 at the Dedan Kimathi University in Nyeri, Kenya in a ceremony attended by as many as 100,000 people, according to the country’s Daily Nation newspaper.

It was the first time a beati-

fication has been held in Kenya.

The process is the final step in the cause for sainthood before a person can be canonized. One of the requirements is the presence of at least one miracle officially attributed to the person the person.

The Daily Nation reports that the miracle attributed to Sister Stefani occurred in 1989 during Mozambique’s civil war.

According to the report, 270 people had become trapped in the parish church of Nipepe amid the conflict. After praying for her intercession, the contents of a small Holy Water font was miraculously increased, providing enough drinking water for four days until help could arrive.

Born 1891, Sister Stefani joined the Consolata Missionaries in 1911. She arrived in Kenya January 1915, where she served as a nurse. From the people she cared for, she received the nickname “Nyaatha” — which translates as “mother of mercy.” She died at the age of 39 after contracting a disease from one of her patients.

Blessed Irene Stefani, Nyeri, Kenya. (CNA photo courtesy of Kenya Yote)

The Church in the U.S.

4

June 5, 2015

D.C. cardinal: Christ didn’t change His Words, and neither should the Church

Washington D.C. — It is not discrimination for a Catholic to publicly profess his faith, Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington insisted in a recent pastoral letter on “Being Catholic Today.”

“It has become increasingly acceptable,” he stated, “to disparage as bigoted and meanspirited anyone who seeks to uphold fundamental truths about the human person that have been recognized throughout history.”

Church teaching is rooted in an “authentic humanism,” he added, and “it is neither discrimination nor an undue imposition on the freedom of others to promote that belief and live by it.”

The recently-published letter outlined various challenges facing Catholics in the U.S. who want to practice their faith publicly. The faith must be lived in action because the “missionary activity of the Church is essential to her identity,” he said. This is practiced through Catholic ministries to the poor, immigrants, and children.

These ministries must never be severed from the teachings of Christ, he added. “The Church is not a business, a club, or a special-interest group. Her origins are found in the will and actions of Christ.”

Yet threats loom to the pracAn effort to disapprove of Bay Area Catholics to Pope tice of the faith because some the laws passed the House but Francis to remove Archbishop wish to impose a secular mo- not the Senate, ultimately fail- Cordileone. rality on everyone, including ing to stop the laws from going “Some now wrongly claim Catholics, he explained. This into full effect. Catholic and it is discrimination for the would include a forced “toler- Pro-Life organizations in the Church to insist that those who ance” for acts such as abortion city now might fight the laws in teach in Catholic schools presor sexual activity that ent Catholic teaching contradicts Church et although the Church embraces in word and in witness,” teaching. all sinners, it cannot approve of Cardinal Wuerl stated.

As a primary ex“As Catholics, who ample of this threat, sin, he added. “Jesus did not change His we are cannot be sepathe cardinal cited two message just because some who heard it rated from how we live.

Washington, D.C. laws. felt it was a ‘hard saying.’”

Jesus taught us to feed One, the Reproductive the hungry, shelter the Health Non-Discrimihomeless, and care for nation Amendment Act, man- court if a discrimination lawsuit the sick and those in need, and dates that employers, including is brought against them. the Catholic Church’s history religious and Pro-Life organiCardinal Wuerl listed oth- of educating and serving the zations, are not free to hire and er threats to religious liberty, poor is long and well-known.” retain only those employees such as demands that Catholic Catholics can show love to who do not publicly contradict teachers be able to contradict everyone, without approving of their mission.

Church teaching in their words sin, he explained.

The other law, the Hu- and actions.

“We can embrace someone man Rights Amendment Act, This battle is being waged who has had an abortion. But forces religious schools to “en- in San Francisco by oppo- we cannot proclaim that the dorse, fund, or provide other nents of Archbishop Salvatore killing of a child in the womb assistance for the promotion Cordileone’s move to clarify is good. For someone to insist of sexual conduct contrary to Church teaching in employee that we do so under the guise their faith and moral beliefs,” handbooks for diocesan teach- of avoiding ‘discrimination’ is he stated. ers. This included statements unjust.”

In both cases, Catholic in- of Church teaching on sexual Rather than an objective stitutions that live their faith ethics and assisted reproductive judgement of an action, “disby serving the poor are being technology. crimination” is actually someforced to violate Church teachA campaign against the arch- thing very different, and someing. The Washington Archdio- bishop’s action was launched, thing the Church has abhorred cese led an effort to oppose the including a public letter from through the ages. laws, which were passed the city council and signed by the mayor in January.

“In an age when the prevailing society treated some people like property, the first Christians saw slaves and nobles as brothers and sisters in Christ,” Cardinal Wuerl wrote.

In modern times, Catholics helped the civil rights movement obtain equal rights for Americans of all races, he added.

“Prejudice and discrimination are wrong because they divide the human family, violate fundamental human dignity and are contrary to the truth and charity to which we are all called,” he continued.

Yet although the Church embraces all sinners, it cannot approve of sin, he added. “Jesus did not change His message just because some who heard it felt it was a ‘hard saying.’”

“No one should be surprised that the Church continues to be faithful to Jesus’ Gospel — His teaching,” he added. “After all, it is His message, His Church.

We are not free to change either.”

The Church is not imposing its will on everyone, he added, but rather seeks the freedom for Catholics to practice their faith publicly.

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Abdulaziz Sachedina is a professor of Islamic studies at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. He is a practicing Muslim who feels close to his Christian friends, he told Catholic News Service.

Muslims and Christians do, in fact, share values, he said.

Sachedina discussed Muslim-Christian relationships in a recent speech at Jesuitrun Georgetown University.

He addressed a four-day conference of Ecclesiological Investigations, an international network of theologians and other scholars. “Vatican II: Remembering the Future” was the conference’s theme.

Thus, conference speakers explored the Second Vatican Council’s possible future impact on important areas of concern for religious communities. One area of particular concern involved the future of Muslim-Christian relations.

Sachedina regards Vatican II’s Declaration on the Relationship of the Church

fully appreciate this achievement, the turbulence in Christian-Muslim relations over the course of history “is worth keeping in mind,” he said.

Sachedina acknowledged, however, that some Christians and Muslims shun efforts to improve relations between the religions out of an apprehension that their faith’s true identity will be compromised in the process.

“It is clear to me,” he said, that it takes “enormous wisdom and courage for any Christian leader to say that there is some validity in a faith other than Christianity.”

Sachedina called attention to concerns shared somewhat naturally among a society’s people. Muslims, Christians and others in America confront “common moral problems,” he noted in a conversation with CNS. He wants people in the Western world to realize that Muslims and Christians “live in the same world” and deal with similar social issues.

Y

Muslims, Christians urged to see they share values, face similar issues to Non-Christian Religions (“Nostra Aetate”) as “a turning point in interfaith relations.”

He is “cautiously optimistic that the document moves the interfaith dialogue between Christians and Muslims a step forward,” he told the conference.

The 1965 council declaration said that the “Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy” in the world’s other religions. That statement speaks volumes, Sachedina commented.

Leo Lefebure, a Georgetown University theologian, mentioned the same statement in the council declaration during another conference session. He remarked that in rejecting nothing that is true and holy in other religions, the council paved the way to discovering all that actually is true and holy in them.

The Vatican II declaration “delivers substantive advancement in accepting a post-Christianity faith like Islam as a witness to God’s existence,” Sachedina said. To

June 5, 2015

The Church in the U.S.

5

Nebraska bishops welcome override of veto of bill ending death penalty

LINCOLN, Neb. (CNS) — Nebraska state senators overrode Gov. Pete Ricketts’ veto of a bill repealing capital punishment that had been supported by the state’s Catholic bishops.

In a recent 30-19 vote, the senators supported a bill that replaces the death penalty with a sentence of life in prison without parole.

The bill had gained the support of Nebraska’s three Catholic bishops, who earlier commended lawmakers for their historic vote May 20 to repeal capital punishment. They said then that support for the bill reflects the teaching of the Catholic faith and that use of the death penalty cannot be justified today.

Ricketts vetoed the bill May 26, but legislators acted quickly. The 30 votes were just enough to override the veto. Under statehouse rules in the unicameral legislature, at least 30 of 49 senators must vote to overturn a gubernatorial veto.

“Our support for this bill also flows from our prayerful reflection on the Words of Jesus Christ Himself: ‘Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Heavenly Father,’” said the state’s three bishops, Archbishop George J. Lucas of Omaha and Bishops James D. Conley of Lincoln and Joseph G. Hanefeldt of Grand Island.

Their joint statement was issued by the Nebraska Catholic Conference, which represents the bishops’ public policy interests.

Lawmakers had originally voted 32-15 to pass the bill.

With the vote, Nebraska became the 19th state to end the use of the death penalty.

Ricketts had lobbied against repeal but supporters of the bill were optimistic that lawmakers could muster the 30 votes needed to override the veto, said Greg Schleppenbach, executive director of the state Catholic conference.

In an email message to members of the Catholic Advocacy Network of Nebraska, the Catholic conference’s new grass-roots faithful citizenship initiative, Schleppenbach urged people to send a note of thanks to senators who voted for repeal.

Earlier in May, Archbishop George J. Lucas of Omaha joined about 15 religious leaders, priests and nuns at a news conference in Omaha in calling for an end to the death penalty. At the May 13 event, Archbishop Lucas said he was pleased and privileged “to join friends from other faith communities at this important moment.”

The effort to override the veto was led by state Sen. Colby Coash, a Republican who is Catholic. He told the Lincoln Journal Star that he was motivated by his faith

USCCB plans fourth annual Fortnight for Freedom with events nationwide

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Threats to religious freedom continue to emerge, making it more urgent for people of faith to take action to defend the full realm of religious practice, said Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore.

Speaking during a recent webinar announcing the fourth annual Fortnight for Freedom, Archbishop Lori called on Catholics to learn about the importance of religious liberty throughout the history of the United States and to actively promote free religious practice during the two-week period beginning June 21.

This year’s Fortnight observance will open with Mass at 10:45 a.m. (EDT) June 21 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore. It closes with Mass at noon (EDT) July 4 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.

“Religious freedom is not something that stands alone. It’s not simply a legal question for the Church. It pertains very much to the New Evangelization,” Archbishop Lori explained.

This year’s Fortnight observance theme is the “Freedom to Bear Witness,” stemming from the Gospel message that Jesus came to the world to bear witness to the truth, explained Hillary Byrnes, assistant general counsel for the USCCB, who joined the archbishop during the webinar.

She said dozens of local events in dioceses across the country are planned, including prayer services, discussions and charitable works.

“We would definitely encourage people to attend those events as well as read and educate yourself on religious freedom,” Byrnes told the nationwide audience of diocesan employees and parish leaders.

“We’re looking this year to raise awareness of religious freedom so people don’t take it for granted,” she added.

Archbishop Lori said government policies, such as the federal mandate to include a full range of contraceptives in employee health insurance and the redefinition of Marriage throughout the country, pose growing threats to religious freedom.

The Fortnight, he said, also is meant to draw attention to the dangers to religious liberty around the world as Christians and people of other faith traditions face persecution, limits on their freedom and death.

“Pope Francis pointed out that we are truly living in an age of martyrs,” the archbishop said. “I think we have to pay a lot of attention to the sacrifices which people are making for their faith around the world.

Many Christians are being persecuted, beheaded. And Muslims are being persecuted for not being Muslim enough.

“These are men and women of deep faith and deep courage, and as we witness their sacrifice, first of all I think we have to hold up and to highlight what’s happening to them. I’m not sure our leadership is paying enough attention to their sacrifice.”

Information about the fortnight and various resources to help plan local observances are available online at www.

Fortnight4Freedom.com.

and Church teaching on the death penalty to urge fellow legislators to first pass the bill and then override the veto.

“This is consistent with my Pro-Life views, but it’s also consistent with trying to make government more efficient. With the death penalty, taxpayers are not getting what they’re paying for,” he said in an interview with the newspaper.

“If any other programs were as costly or inefficient as this, we would have gotten rid of them,” he said.

The Catholic Mobilizing Network, an organization working to end the use of the death penalty around the country, welcomed the override in a recent statement.

“Republicans, Democrats and independents reached across the aisle to champion repeal, making Nebraska the first red state in recent years to end the death penalty,” the organization said. “The bipartisan success today demonstrates growing recognition that the death penalty is a broken and morally-bankrupt public policy.”

Nebraska is the seventh state to abolish capital punishment since 2007; it is the first state with a Republican-controlled legislature to do so since 1973.

Ricketts condemned the decision in a statement released just after the override vote: “My words cannot express how appalled I am that we have lost a critical tool to protect law enforcement and Nebraska

families. While the Legislature has lost touch with the citizens of Nebraska, I will continue to stand with Nebraskans and law enforcement on this important issue.”

The office of Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson issued a statement taking issue with the provision of the repeal measure, known as L.B 268, saying the new law will apply retroactively, giving those currently on death row a sentence of life without parole.

Peterson’s office said the provision is unconstitutional.

“Nebraska’s Constitution reserves to the Board of Pardons the exclusive power to change final sentences impost by the courts,” it said, adding that Peterson will “seek a court decision, at the appropriate time, to resolve the issue of the state’s authority to carry out death sentences previously ordered by Nebraska’s courts for the 10 inmates now on death row.”

Bishop Conley took to Twitter to commend legislators for their vote. In the hours leading to the vote he asked Nebraskan Catholics to call their legislators to urge them to override the veto. He also called for prayers for public safety forces and the victims of crime.

After the vote he tweeted: “The Nebraska Leg admirably repealed the death penalty today. All human life has dignity — it’s time to end abortion and euthanasia too!”

6

June 5, 2015

Anchor Editorial

The month of the Sacred Heart

This coming Friday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This celebration is tied in with the October 16 memorial of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, to whom Jesus appeared, revealing His Sacred Heart, on fire with love for humanity.

On Oct. 16, 2013, Pope Francis said, “Today we celebrate the memory of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. May her devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus instruct you, dear young people, to love as He loved; may it make you strong, dear sick people, in carrying your cross of suffering with patience; and may it sustain you, dear newlyweds, in building your family upon fidelity and dedication.”

In his Angelus address on June 9, 2013, the Holy Father noted that “the month of June is traditionally dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus” and that “the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus sets the tone for the entire month. Popular piety highly values symbols, and the Heart of Jesus is the ultimate symbol of God’s mercy. But it is not an imaginary symbol; it is a real symbol which represents the center, the source from which Salvation flowed for all of humanity.”

Given Pope Francis’ personal emphasis on mercy, one can understand his devotion to the Sacred Heart. He made an overview of the Gospels and said that “we find various references to the Heart of Jesus. For example there is a passage in which Christ Himself says: ‘Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart’ (Mt 11:28-29).

Then there is the key account of Christ’s death according to John. When Jesus was already dead a soldier pierced His side with a spear and blood and water came out of the wound (cf. Jn 19:33-34). In that apparently coincidental sign John recognizes the fulfillment of the prophecies: from the Heart of Jesus, the Lamb sacrificed on the cross, flow forgiveness and life for all people.”

The pope warns us against mere sentimentality. “The mercy of Jesus is not only an emotion; it is a force which gives life that raises man!”

Pope Francis then used the example of the widow of Nain (Lk 7:11-17). “Jesus immediately fixes His gaze on the crying mother. ‘And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her’ (v. 13). This ‘compassion’ is God’s love for man, it is mercy, thus the attitude of God in contact with human misery, with our destitution, our suffering, our anguish.”

The Holy Father then asked: “What is the fruit of this love and mercy? It is life! Jesus says to the widow of Nain: ‘Do not weep’ and then He calls the dead boy and awakes him as if from sleep (cf. vv. 13-15). God’s mercy gives life to man, it raises him from the dead. Let us not forget that the Lord always watches over us with mercy. Let us not be afraid of approaching Him! He has a merciful heart! If we show Him our inner wounds, our inner sins, He will always forgive us. It is pure mercy. Let us go to Jesus!”

What the pope said here is meant to be a parallel to Jesus. Just as Jesus revealed to St. Margaret His burning heart and His wounds from the Crucifixion (done because of our sins), so, Spiritually speaking, Pope Francis wants us to show Jesus the self-inflicted

“wounds” of our sins, so that He might bring us the healing we need.

Pope Pius XII, wrote in his 1956 encyclical on the Sacred Heart, Haurietis Aquas (in paragraph 97), “that the revelations made to St. Margaret Mary [have as] their importance that Christ Our Lord, exposing His Sacred Heart, wished in a quite extraordinary way to invite the minds of men to a contemplation of, and a devotion to, the mystery of God’s merciful love for the human race. In this special manifestation Christ pointed to His Heart, with definite and repeated words, as the symbol by which men should be attracted to a knowledge and recognition of His love.”

Pope Benedict XVI noted the 50th anniversary of his predecessor’s encyclical in 2006 in a letter to the superior general of the Jesuits. “By encouraging devotion to the Heart of Jesus, the encyclical Haurietis Aquas exhorted believers to open themselves to the mystery of God and of His love and to allow themselves to be transformed by it. After 50 years, it is still a fitting task for Christians to continue to deepen their relationship with the Heart of Jesus, in such a way as to revive their faith in the saving love of God and to welcome Him ever better into their lives.”

Some might say that this is a milquetoast platitude, but if these words were lived out by more and more people, the world (and the Church) would be a very different place.

The current pope emeritus quoted a letter from St. John Paul II to the same Jesuit general, which said, “In the Heart of Christ, man’s heart learns to know the genuine and unique meaning of his life and of his destiny, to understand the value of an authentically Christian life, to keep himself from certain perversions of the human heart, and to unite the filial love for God and the love of neighbor. The true reparation asked by the Heart of the Savior will come when the civilization of the Heart of Christ can be built upon the ruins heaped up by hatred and violence.”

Pope Francis has spoken about reparation a number of times — drawing a parallel to the Old Testament book of Ezra and our need to make reparation for sins in the Middle East; in a speech in Sri Lanka, calling for it for all sins and for those committed in that land; in a letter to a penal law conference, speaking about the reparation needed to come from convicted criminals.

He spoke most eloquently about it in a homily at a Mass for victims of clerical sexual abuse on July 7, 2014. “The scene where Peter sees Jesus emerge after a terrible interrogation — Peter whose eyes meet the gaze of Jesus and weeps — this scene comes to my mind as I look at you, and think of so many men and women, boys and girls. I feel the gaze of Jesus and I ask for the grace to weep, the grace for the Church to weep and make reparation for her sons and daughters who betrayed their mission, who abused innocent persons. Jesus comes forth from an unjust trial, from a cruel interrogation and He looks in the eyes of Peter, and Peter weeps. We ask that He look at us and that we allow ourselves to be looked upon and to weep and that He give us the grace to be ashamed, so that, like Peter, 40 days later, we can reply: ‘You know that I love You’; and hear Him say: ‘Go back and feed my sheep’ — and I would add — ‘let no wolf enter the sheepfold.’”

Pope Francis’ Angelus message of May 31 Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and good Sunday!

Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Trinity, that reminds of the mystery of the one God in three Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is the communion of Divine Persons Who are with one another, for one another, in one another: this communion is the life of God, the mystery of love of the Living God. But Who has re-

vealed to us this mystery? Jesus.

He has spoken to us about God as a Father; He has spoken to us of the Spirit; and He has spoken to us of Himself as the Son of God. Thus, He has revealed to us this mystery. And when risen [from the dead], He sent His disciples to evangelize the people, telling them to baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt. 28,19).

Christ entrusts this command in OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER

www.anchornews.org

Vol. 59, No. 22

Member: Catholic Press Association, Catholic News Service Published weekly except for two weeks in the summer and the week after Christmas by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720, Telephone 508-675-7151 — FAX 508-675-7048, email: theanchor@anchornews.org.

Subscription price by mail, postpaid $20.00 per year, for U.S. addresses.

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

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

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

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

every time to the Church, who inherited from the Apostles the missionary mandate. He addresses also to each one of us who, by virtue of Baptism, are part of His Community.

Therefore, today’s Liturgical solemnity, while it makes us contemplate the wonderful mystery from which we come and where we go towards, renews in us the mission of living in communion with God and to live in communion among ourselves on the model of that communion of God. We are called to live not without each other, over or against the other, but with one another, and in one another. This means to receive and accordingly give witness to the beauty of the Gospel; to live in love mutually and towards all, sharing in joy and sufferings, learning to ask and to grant forgiveness, valuing the various charisms under the guidance of the pastors. In one word: we are entrusted with the task of building ecclesial communities that are more and more a family, capable of reflecting the splendor

of the Trinity and to evangelize not only with words, but with the strength of the love of God that lives in us.

The Trinity, as I mentioned, is also the ultimate goal toward which our earthly pilgrimage is geared. The path of Christian life is in fact a path that is essentially “trinitarian”: the Holy Spirit guides us to full knowledge of the teachings of Christ. And it also reminds us of what Jesus taught us.

And Jesus, for His part, has come to the world to make us know the Father, to be lead by Him, to reconcile us with Him. Everything, in Christian life revolves around the mystery of the Trinity and is fulfilled in this infinite mystery. Let us look, therefore, to keep high the “tone” of our life, reminding ourselves to what end, for what glory we exist, work, struggle, suffer; and to which immense prize we are called [to have].

This mystery embraces our whole life and our whole Christian life. We must remind ourselves every time we make the

Sign of the Cross: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And now I invite you, all together, and with a loud voice, to make this Sign of the Cross. Everyone together!

[Makes the Sign of the Cross] In this last day of May, the Marian month, we entrust ourselves to the Virgin Mary. May she, who more than any other creature has known, adored, and loved the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, guides us by the hand; help us to grasp, in the events of the world, the signs of the presence of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. May she help us to love Jesus wholeheartedly, to walk towards the vision of the Trinity, wonderful goal to which our lives are geared toward. We also ask her to help the Church, that it may be a mystery of communion, to be always a Church community, a hospitable community, where every person, especially the poor and marginalized, can find acceptance and that feels like a daughter of God, wanted and loved.

June 5, 2015

A

s we prepare to celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi on Sunday, it’s a good time to turn to something that ought to be part of a Catholic’s plan of life each week: a Holy Hour in the presence of the Lord Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

The Second Vatican Council stressed that Jesus in the Eucharist is the “Source and Summit of the Christian life,” meaning the starting point and goal for any life worthy to be called Christian. This is true because Jesus obviously ought to be the Alpha and Omega of the Christian life and the Eucharist is Jesus.

One of the real movements of the Holy Spirit in recent times has been to move Catholic parishes, pastors and parishioners to take Jesus’ real presence in the Eucharist more seriously and to create opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration. Many have added extensive periods of time when Catholics can come to spend time in Jesus’ presence and some have started perpetual adoration, giving people the privilege to be with Jesus at any time during the day or night.

The popes have been explicitly encouraging such developments. A decade ago, to a recommendation from the Synod of Bishops, Pope Benedict wrote, “With the Synod Assembly, I heartily recommend to the Church’s pastors and to the People of God the prac-

New Bedford — On May 30 more than 150 former employees of Niche, Inc., a New Bedford-based industrial sewing company, received checks totaling $325,000. The check distribution represented the culmination of a long battle by the workers, who were laid off more than three years ago. The layoffs violated the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act, known as the WARN Act, which stipulates that companies must give advance notice before dismissing their employees.

In April 2012, Niche, Inc. learned that they were losing some government contracts, and abruptly laid off about half of its 740-person workforce. In November of that year, two of the laid-off workers, Pedro de la Cruz and Julio Torres, decided to fight back. With the help of

Anchor Columnist Eucharistic Adoration tice of Eucharistic Adoration, who adores Jesus is a Chrisindividually and in community. tian. If you can’t worship Jesus, Wherever possible, it would something is missing. The sign be appropriate, especially in [of a Christian truly focused on densely-populated areas, to set Jesus] is Adoration of Jesus.” aside specific churches or oratoIn a homily the following ries for perpetual adoration.” month, he added that EuchaThat latter is something the ristic Adoration can crush or Diocese of Fall River has done expose our idolatries. He said at the exquisitely beautiful that as human beings, “We all Eucharist Chapel at Holy Trinity Parish in West Harwich, which Putting Into is certainly worth a visit just to see the beauty the Deep of the chapel — not to mention to adore the

By Father One Whom the chapel Roger J. Landry was built to honor.

Pope Francis talks frequently about Eucharistic Adoration, doubtless need to adore, because we have in the hope to inspire people by God’s very imprint within us. his personal example.

When we do not adore God, In an interview, he confessed we adore creatures.” that among all types prayer, What idols we have in place “What I really prefer is Adora- of God will often be revealed by tion in the evening. Between the choices or excuses we make seven and eight o’clock, I stay when we don’t make time to be in front of the Blessed Sacrawith Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament for an hour in Adoration.” ment. For some people it’s work At times, he says, because of or family chores. For others it’s fatigue, “I allow myself to fall television or exercise. For others asleep while sitting there, look- it’s a full night’s sleep. But if we ing at Him. I feel as if I were in say that over the course of the someone else’s hands, as if God 168 hours in a week that God were taking me by the hand.” gives us, we can’t find one to Our approach to Euchacome to praise and thank Him, ristic Adoration, he said in a we can be pretty sure we’re September 2013 homily, is an placing something before Him. indication of whether we really In my parish I used to take the seek to worship God. Ponder3 a.m. shift to remind my body ing how Jesus is supposed to be that Jesus is more important the center of the Christian life, than sleep. Adoration crushed he stated, “A man or a woman that potential idolatry!

Laid-off workers receive more than $300,000 in compensation checks the Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores (CCT; in English, Community Workers’ Center) a non-profit organization with a long track record of helping immigrant and low-wage workers, and their legal advisers, and the Boston-based non-profit Justice at Work, de la Cruz and Torres took the company to court.

In the meantime, with the support of labor, faith and community leaders, CCT organized several peaceful pickets at the company’s Cove Street headquarters and mounted an online petition campaign. In August 2014, a settlement was reached to provide compensation for the 160 or so workers who were not rehired by the company.

Pedro de la Cruz said that he was happy with the outcome.

“Even though we didn’t get everything we wanted, we were

able to achieve justice,” said de la Cruz. Thomas Smith, the executive director of Justice At Work, who teamed up with Stephen Churchill of Fair Work PC to represent the impacted former employees stated: “This case serves as an example of the harsh reality that the workers who generate our society’s wealth face; we appreciate Niche’s willingness to resolve this matter.”

According to Adrian Ventura, the executive director of CCT, the settlement “benefits not only the immigrant workers who received checks, but all working people in New Bedford, and the city as a whole. When employers respect the law, everyone comes out ahead.” He added, “We hope other companies can learn from this, so they don’t make the same mistake.” Smith underscored the key role played by CCT, noting,

When I was in college, with various other students, we were able to start Eucharistic Adoration on First Friday provided that we were able to get enough students to sign up. I still remember the conversations I had with Catholic friends who at first were reluctant to be “tied down” to even a monthly commitment.

“If the pope wanted to have a conversation with you about your life each first Friday each month at 3 p.m.,” I asked some of them, “would you keep that appointment?” When they would nod affirmatively, I would reply, “Well, how about an appointment with the pope’s Boss?”

To those guys I knew who were in relationships, I’d ask, “How hard is it for you to set and keep a date with your girlfriend?” “Not very,” they’d reply with a grin. Then I’d ask, “Well, do you love Jesus enough to make and keep a ‘date’ with Him once a month?”

I’m convinced that if we really believe that Jesus is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament and if we really love Him, coming to adore Him would be as much a no-brainer as it would for two people in love to want to spend time together.

In terms of a commitment for a plan of life, I recommend coming for a Eucharistic holy hour once a week and preferably at a fixed time that we keep so that,

“They brought workers together for mutual support and allowed us attorneys to understand the workers’ perspective.”

The check distribution took place at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish of St. James Church in New Bedford.

For information about CCT visit: cctnbm@hotmail.com.

7 barring true emergencies, nothing else will come up to get us to tempt us to not keeping it. Mark “Jesus” in your calendar the same way you would put down any other important appointment and keep it.

Among my greatest joys as a parish priest has been to see the changes that have happened in parishioners once they began to respond to Jesus’ Holy Thursday request, “Could you not keep watch with Me for one hour?” I still get thank you notes several years later from parishioners who took up this challenge and who tell me about the difference doing so has made in their lives.

During my time as executive editor of The Anchor, I always had a mischievous desire to run a huge front page story, “Jesus Christ comes to the diocese!” and then do a news story just as big as if the pope were coming, featuring how Jesus comes to the parishes of the diocese every day and takes up residence in tabernacles and monstrances. I never acted on it, but I was proud that every week on page 19 we told of the many places where Jesus was waiting for us to come to adore Him. If you’re not regularly coming to spend time with Jesus in the Eucharist, I’d urge you to make a resolution to do so this Corpus Christi.

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

8

“T

heir flags are folded that ours might wave,” a sign outside a local store proudly notes. This weekend, with the anniversary of the D-Day invasion that began the end of World War II, we pause to remember the sacrifices of the many fallen.

There are stories of many profiles in the history of war.

Some of the most remarkable stories are of Catholic priests who ministered to the soldiers, and how some of those priests spent the war. Many were martyrs for the faith and others died administering the Sacraments.

Some of the most memorable stories are of the priests who were not in the front lines of battle, but served behind barbed wire. They were the Catholic priests of Dachau.

Their stories, in a word, inspire.

Dachau was one of the most notorious death camps of

June 5, 2015

Lest we forget

the Second World War. Many form of religious service were people sent there were Cathoforbidden outside the chapel. lic priests, considered enemies During the day, no one was of the state. The priests weren’t permitted inside the chapel, usually executed, as were but the chapel contained the many of the Jewish prisoners.

Blessed Sacrament, and often Instead, they were worked to prisoners would risk their lives death. They performed hard manual labor.

They were starved, Homily of the Week used in medical Feast of experiments, and Corpus Christi beaten and tortured in inhumane ways.

By Deacon There was one David R. Boucher saving grace in the middle of this horror. While the Polish priests were denied even the and go there to pray. most basic rights, the GerThose men risked torture man priests were permitted and persecution and human to celebrate Mass. The prisdegradation for a sliver of oners converted a cell block Communion, and for just one into a chapel. They fashioned reason: they knew that this their own vestments and even was more than bread. This constructed a monstrance for was Jesus. This was the One the Blessed Sacrament. SolWho shared their suffering. emn services and every other He brought them grace and

He gave them hope. God was with them then and He is here with us now. Each time we approach the minister of Communion, we receive the gift that so many were willing to die for to receive. How many of us stop to consider the worth of the greatest gift we can ever be offered while on earth?

The second-century saint, Justin Martyr, wrote about how the faithful receive Communion, “They make of their hands a throne. They make themselves ready to receive a King.”

Lest we forget that each time we come forward in line for Communion we stand in the presence of the King of Kings, our Lord Jesus Christ. He is today what He has always been, our hope and our Salvation, our King and our God.

This is what those priests so desperately hungered for during their horrific days and nights. In the depths of their anguish, they longed to feel that closeness to God, to feel less alone in their suffering.

In the grace of the Eucharist, they were reminded of the words of the Gospel, “I am with you always, until the end of the age.” The Most Holy Body and Blood of our Lord is a living reminder that the promise is being kept.

This weekend we honor the precious gift given to us in the sacrifice of the Mass. As we receive Communion, let us take a moment and remember those who fought and suffered and died for what we about to do. Many were sick, malnourished or starving. They didn’t risk everything for bread. They did it for the Bread of Life.

Deacon Boucher serves at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. June 6, Tb 12:1,5-15,20; (Ps) Tb 13:2,6efgh,7-8; Mk 12:38-44. Sun. June 7, The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Ex 24:3-8; Ps 116:12-13,15-18; Heb 9:11-15; Mk 14:12-16,22-26. Mon. June 8, 2 Cor 1:1-7; Ps 34:2-9; Mt 5:1-12. Tues. June 9, 2 Cor 1:18-22; Ps 119:129133,135; Mt 5:13-16. Wed. June 10, 2 Cor 3:4-11; Ps 99:5-9; Mt 5:17-19. Thurs. June 11, Acts 11:21b-26,13:1-3; Ps 98:1-6; Mt 5:20-26. Fri. June 12, The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Hos 11:1,3-4,8c-9; (Ps) Is 12:2-6; Eph 3:8-12,14-19; Jn 19:31-37.

A

nnually there is a national meeting of the diocesan directors of the Propagation of the Faith. Varying members of the Pontifical Mission Societies meet to listen to and to greet missionaries from throughout the world. Presentations are also made regarding the work of the National Office in New York and information is provided pertinent to the collections for the missions.

Each diocese has a mission office. It is the connection of the diocese with the mission work of the Church and vice versa.

The office usually coordinates the annual Mission Sunday collection on the next-to-last Sunday in October. Remittances are forwarded to the National Office and eventually a committee of national directors meets in Rome at the Vatican office for the missions. There they decide how the funds will be distributed throughout the world to assist dioceses, religious communities, etc. in their work to make Christ known in mission areas. These funds also assist in providing health care and other needed priorities for a given community.

The Missionary Cooperative Plan is also organized through the Mission Office. Each year a missionary is assigned to a parish

It’s the responsibility of us all the desires of the National Office during the summer months.

This allows them to gather some are. I find some of the talks can funds for their missions, but, per- be less than inspiring at times, but I always find it helpful and haps, more importantly, allows a invigorating to speak with other parish each year to learn about their brothers and sisters in other directors throughout the United States. parts of the world.

Whatever happens I always Our diocese has been generous to the Mission Sunday collection as well as Living the Missionary Cooperative Plan. The priests and the pastors have universally Faith welcomed and assisted the visiting missionary.

By Msgr.

The mission meeting John J. Oliveira this year will be different. We were asked to return with a new spirit, a new bring our computers or tablets/ sense of direction, new ideas and iPad with us. This should prove feeling renewed. interesting.

In the Church’s Liturgical A few years ago when I year, we have just completed the attended a meeting one of the directors asked us to look around celebration of the Easter season and the feast of Pentecost. the room and notice the faces.

The question to be asked is: He said in the future they would Are we renewed in our Christian not be the same. There would living and our desire to know be more diversity and most of Christ? Are we ready to renew the faces would not be clergy. the face of the earth; to be His He was right. Times and faces disciples? have changed, and I guess with These annual celebrations the use of the iPad so has note should renew us in our committaking. ment to the Lord. This reflection It is good to attend these meetings to represent the diocese is especially important as we reflect on the feast of Pentecost. and to interact with other misIt was with the coming of the sion directors. We learn about Holy Spirit that the Apostles different approaches and what

were energized to go forth and preach the Good News of Salvation and redemption throughout the whole world.

Are we reenergized by these feasts to make Christ known in our life and in the life of others?

Recently I came across a piece of paper with an interesting message. I think it was left by a deacon after conducting a Communion service for our deacon aspirants. Maybe it was the Holy Spirit Who left it there so I could read it.

It said: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the ages.” Then one of the Apostles interjected, “We will accomplish these things by printing bulletins with Mass times and news of events, and we will repeat the same information over and over again with websites, email, and Facebook!”

Jesus responded with a voice faintly heard from above, as He was ascending into the heavens, “Are you kidding Me?” This is very thought-pro-

voking for me as a priest, but it should be for all of us. It is not only the role of the priest or deacon to bring the message of Christ to others. It is the responsibility of all of us as part of our baptismal vocation.

With less and less people attending church, the need for our evangelization is even more critical. We are to become missionaries here and now. We need to think of our families, neighbors, and our country, as mission areas.

We may have many more of the necessities of life that our brothers and sisters in mission lands have, but like them we need those who will bring Christ to us. And God has called you to do that.

That is why the Easter season leads to Pentecost so that we, without going away to a meeting, can be reenergized to make Christ known.

As the familiar prayer says: “Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love.

Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.”

Anchor columnist Msgr. Oliveira is pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in New Bedford and director of the diocesan Propagation of the Faith and Permanent Diaconate off ices.

June 5, 2015

Monday 1 June 2015 — Homeport: Falmouth Harbor — International Men’s Month begins here are luminaries in the world of science who also happened to be Catholic priests: Father Gregor Mendel, founder of modern genetics; Father Nicholas Copernicus, astronomer; Msgr. Georges Lemaître, astrophysicist originator of the Big Bang Theory; and Père Pierre Teilhard, archeologist.

There are also famous and infamous men who enrolled in the seminary but didn’t continue on to ordination: Jerry Brown, Governor of California; Clarence Thomas, Supreme Court Justice; Tom Cruise, actor; Michael Moore, film director; and Giacomo Casanova, notorious degenerate. In certain cases, the vetting process has not been a complete failure.

Did you know that Richard Simmons, the fitness guru, graduated from high school and then entered the seminary to begin his studies for the priesthood? Simmons is only five-foot-seven-inches but, during his seminary days, weighed in at 268 pounds.

I am not making this up.

T

I

can’t tell you how many times I’ve talked about packing and unpacking, moving and relocating in the past few weeks. Nor can I count the bruises acquired from the boxes I’ve lifted, manipulated, and shoved around after stuffing them to capacity (and then some).

I’ve been particularly whiny over the course of these past couple of days as I have prepared to do it yet again. By the time you read this column I will have already moved into Brown University for my summer practicum and will have grumbled about it countless times. Though I have stayed relatively close to home for the majority of my life, the past few years have been filled with moves. To and from the Maryland and Virginia areas I’ve gone down, then back up, down again, and now back up as this summer I make my return to the northeast before traveling back to the south for the second year of my program.

The driving back and forth

Anchor Columnists An overview of clergy wellness Tai Chi. Tai Chi can hardly be His seminary stint was brief, however, and he transferred to classified as cross-training.

Weight is a subject that Florida State University. Why? cannot be painted with a Simmons claimed the color broad brush. There are those black didn’t suit him. who have to struggle to mainSpeaking of Richard Simtain minimum weight, those mons, I’ve noticed my belt has become a little snug lately. whose weight never changes, those who must struggle to Seems I’ve been gaining a bit of weight, as befits a priest of my seniority and stature. My physiThe Ship’s Log cian calls it “becomReflections of a ing more substantial.”

Parish Priest A certain degree of rotundity is commonly

By Father Tim associated with clergy.

Goldrick I think of those ubiquitous ceramic cookie jars, coffee mugs, and figurines keep their weight down, and shaped like roly-poly monks in those who pay no attention brown Franciscan habits. I find whatsoever to their weight.

Scientific research has the image curious. actually proven that clergy For the most part, priests tend to be more overweight in the United States have the than other men in their same health and wellness issues as other American males: demographic. According to the 2010 Gallup-Healthways cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, prostate cancer, depres- Well-being Index, 63 percent sion, and diabetes. But there is of Americans are overweight.

On the other hand, a Duke one area where priests are off University Pulpit and Pew the charts when compared to study back in 2002 found that other men: unhealthy weight. the percentage had already Understand, dear readers, risen to 79 percent among the that I am not one to throw 2,500 clergy interviewed. I stones. Only once in my life did I sign up for a gym mem- would hazard a guess that the number of overweight clergy bership — and that was just so that I could take a course in has gone up.

between states is a trip in and of itself; the loading and unloading of my car an animal all its own. However, on top of that I’m moving within Harrisonburg itself. Before moving back up to Massachusetts I was tasked with moving from my current living situation in Virginia into the house I’ll be living in come the fall semester.

With the majority of my cohort already departed for their respective internships, I finally packed up the car and loaded and unloaded all of what we accrue in our lives into the basement, my room, the spare room, and what felt like everywhere in between.

After doing that — the first phase of my first major move — on my own, imagine my feelings of dismay when I pulled into a parking spot across from my summer residence at Brown only to come to the full understanding that my car was filled with more than what two hands could

Direct my steps carry in one, two, even three healthy trips. After approximately seven treks back and forth from the fourth floor to my car, I couldn’t help but think two unique thoughts simultaneously. One, I don’t want to move by myself again and two, how proud my dad

Radiate Your Faith

By Renee Bernier

would be if he saw me doing this all on my own. I was in conflict, as I proudly climbed the stairs on my final trip but still filled with longing that someone could see what I’d accomplished.

Reflecting on this now and in the context of a bigger picture, I have not been alone in these past three weeks.

Proverbs 16:9 tells us that “In his mind a man plans his

9

What I find fascinating is the fact that among clergy certifiably overweight or obese, only three percent self-identified as having a health issue.

Why, then, are such large numbers of priests overweight? Why are priests getting trounced in the “Battle of the Bulge”? What exactly is “overweight” anyway?

The standard measure on issues of weight is the Body-Mass Index. It assesses body mass/weight relative to height. It could be that the results are skewed because priests are much shorter than their peers, but I doubt it.

Here are some possible reasons: 1. Our lives are exceptionally sedentary. When we are not sitting at our desk, we are sitting in our car driving to some meeting at which we will probably sit for hours.

2. Many Church-related activities involve eating. It’s what we do to build community.

3. Our hours are unusually long, our workdays can be stressful, and our private lives are mostly spent in social isolation. This causes physical and emotional tiredness.

When we are tired, we tend to “graze.” Eating can be a form of comfort therapy.

4. We consume fast food, junk food, and processed foods. We think it allows more time for ministry.

5. We regularly skip meals and sometimes lack an eating routine altogether.

6. We tend not to have an exercise regime. Again, it takes time away from ministry.

7. We tend to put our own needs dead last.

8. We tend to resist any kind of change — including change in lifestyle.

9. We tend to value a healthy Spiritual life much more than a healthy body.

This does not bode well for the future. It’s costly in more ways than one. Overweight and obesity are associated with a long list of other health problems and diseases. This includes high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, high cholesterol, and arthritis. As your typical American priest, dear readers, I have all of the above.

I told you I am not one to throw stones.

Maybe I’ll just punch another notch in my belt.

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

course, but the Lord directs his steps.” So often we see only the narrow tunnel of the reality we’ve created for ourselves. We set ourselves on our course, charging ahead, and then find ourselves mixed with emotions as we face the challenges along the way by ourselves.

We pout about the struggle and proudly take all the credit as a way to compensate for how alone we may have felt throughout the process. The truth though, is that if we didn’t have Christ behind us, in our hearts, willing us forward, we would have accomplished nothing at all. We can’t take all of the credit, because our steps are directed by someone other than ourselves. If it’s Christ Who’s with us and for us, who then can be against us? We are simply tasked with remembering two things. First, we are not alone, He is always with us.

When we are lonely, frustrated that we’re doing something without the tangible support

of others in that very moment, that the intangible hand of Christ is on our shoulder, wiping our brow. Second, we must remember to give thanks for that intangible presence in our lives.

Though we can’t see Him, He is with us and we’d be remiss to not recognize and appreciate where our strength is coming from. So while at times the number of stairs climbed with boxes in hand and the bruises from said boxes may have seemed equally as countless, I was never climbing alone, nor were my bruises not healed by the touch of Christ.

I leave you with a challenge: entrust that whatever you experience, whatever challenge you face, you’re not alone in that, for He Who is directing your steps is He Who charted the course before you even planned it for yourself.

Anchor columnist Renee Bernier graduated from Stonehill College and is a graduate student in the College Student Personnel Program at James Madison University in Harrison, Va.

10

June 5, 2015

Pope Francis lists abortion, unsafe workplaces among ‘attacks on life’

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Abortion, abandoning migrants at sea, unsafe working conditions, malnutrition, terrorism and euthanasia are all “attacks on life,” said Pope Francis.

In a recent audience with members of the Italian Science and Life Association, the pope said “life is a gift” and urged more reflection on how people are treated throughout all stages of life.

“The degree of progress of a civilization is measured precisely by its capacity to care for life, especially in its most fragile phases,” he told the association, which had gathered its members in Rome the previous day to mark its 10th anniversary.

“When we speak of human-

ity, let us never forget the attacks on the Sacredness of human life,” he said. “The plague of abortion is an attack on life. Allowing our brothers and sisters to die in boats in the Strait of Sicily is an attack on life. Death at the workplace, because minimum safety conditions are not respected, is an attack on life. Death because of malnutrition is an attack on life.

Terrorism, war, violence, euthanasia as well, is an attack on life.”

The pope affirmed the association’s work as important, especially in a society marked by a throwaway mentality, and urged its members to “relaunch a renewed Culture of Life.”

“To love life is to care always for others, to want their good, to cultivate and respect their transcendent dignity,” he said.

Pope Francis told association members to be “unafraid of undertaking fruitful dialogue with the entire world of science, even with those who do not profess to be believers but who remain open to the mystery of human life.”

Underlining the vital link between science and life, the pope said “it is the miracle of life in its unfathomable depths that gives rise to and accompanies the scientific journey.”

“Christ, Who is the light of humankind and of the world, illuminates the path so that science may always be knowledge at the service of life,” he said. “When this light ceases and when knowledge is no longer in touch with life, it becomes sterile.”

He urged scientists to maintain a high regard for the Sacredness of human life, “so that science is really at the service of humankind and not humankind at the service of science.”

It is thanks to scientific analysis, he said, that the Church reaffirms “a just society recognizes the primacy of the right to life, from conception until its natural end.”

June 5, 2015

11

Father Michael Racine, back row, center, pastor of St. Bernard’s Parish in Assonet, recently hosted the annual blessing of the motorcycles. With Father Racine are some of the folks who took advantage of the gesture.

12

June 5, 2015

Vatican rolls out first-ever guidebook for Arab pilgrims Vatican City (CNA/ EWTN News) — In a move intended to reach out to Arab pilgrims who make their way to the Eternal City, the Vatican has for the first time published a guidebook entirely in the Arabic language.

At the recent presentation of the book, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri said that “We cannot forget the sufferings and the challenges which Christians and more generally the populations of the Middle East are facing.”

He expressed his confidence that the new book will “help to keep hope alive” for Arab pilgrims who come to Rome, particularly during the upcoming Jubilee for Mercy declared by Pope Francis in March.

The cardinal, prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, was present alongside the book’s author Edmond Farhat, who is the current archbishop of Byblos, Lebanon.

Held at the Patristic Augustinian Institute in Rome, the event also gathered Lebanon’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Georges El-Khoury; Egypt’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Wafaa Bassim and professor of Oriental Rights Onorato Bucci, who teaches at the Pontifical Lateran University and the University of Molise.

Titled “The Vatican, its meaning and its monuments,” the guidebook was released by the Vatican Publishing House, which is directed by Father Giuseppe Costa. Father Costa gave the welcoming address for the event.

Designed to serve as a guide for the thousands of Arab tourists who visit Vatican City, the book elaborates on the art and monuments within St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican museums.

In addition to giving background on areas of the Vatican

ranging from the gardens to the catacombs, a historical context of the city-state is also provided, as well as descriptions of the Vatican’s various departments and offices, in order to explain its history and significance through the ages to the public.

Apart from heading the diocese of Bylos, Archbishop Farhat has also served as the Vatican’s nuncio to Austria, Turkmenistan, Slovenia, Turkey and Macedonia. His diplomatic service also took him to Libya, Tunisia and Algeria.

Cardinal Sandri said that given the archbishop’s ethnic and diplomatic background, his book is “ready to grasp a challenge of the ecclesial world and contemporary society” at a time when Christian life in Arab countries is threatened.

He noted that the Vatican’s attention to the Arab world has increased in recent years. He pointed out how after Benedict XVI greeted Arab pilgrims in his first general audience after returning from Lebanon in 2012, there has been a summary of the catechesis in the Arabic language every week since.

Other initiatives include the launching of the pope’s twitter account, “@Pontifex,” in Arabic as well as the establishment of the Vatican’s Arabic website, which celebrated one year of inauguration May 24.

The cardinal said that the new guidebook is “beautiful and important” since it is written by someone who knows “the contradictions of today’s world (and) never tires of publicly declaring the persecution and the martyrdom of so many of our brothers.”

“Even today the Lord has to be born with the fall of the gods, with the pain and martyrdom of witnesses against the (false) divinities of today” which include “anonymous capital which enslaves men (and) violence perpetuated in the name of God,” he said, quoting Benedict XVI’s speech on the first day of the October 2010 Synod for the Middle East.

However, Cardinal Sandri stressed that it is the faith of simple people which constitutes the true foundation, wisdom and strength of the Church.

The new book, which has been “written with faith,” will serve as a great support for the faith of the simple ones who come to the heart of the Church, he said.

Dwayne Johnson and Carla Gugino star in a scene from the movie “San Andreas.” For a brief review of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS photo/Warner Brothers)

CNS Movie Capsules NEW YORK (CNS) — The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by Catholic News Service.

“Aloha” (Columbia) Unstable yet genuinely poignant romantic comedy about a military contractor (Bradley Cooper) with a checkered past who returns to Hawaii where his ex-girlfriend (Rachel McAdams) resides and where his billionaire boss (Bill Murray) is funding a mysterious space project for the U.S. government. When he falls in love with an Air Force captain (Emma Stone) his assignment, which entails negotiating with the leader of Hawaii’s independence movement, is jeopardized.

With his trademark use of rock ‘n’ roll music and a talent for penning witty dialogue, writerdirector Cameron Crowe aims for a loose, improvisational feel that can feel manufactured; yet he understands the appeal of his terrific cast and that movie magic occurs when palpable, primarily nonverbal connections are established in which to ground loving human relationships. An instance of off-camera non-marital relations between a man and a woman, one use of rough language, several crude phrases, some sexual innuendo.

The Catholic News Service classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cau-

tioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

“San Andreas” (Warner Bros.)

An eye-popping, ear-splitting 3-D chronicle directed by Brad Peyton of a California earthquake when the eponymous tectonic fault line splits open. A seismology professor (Paul Giamatti) invents a system to predict earthquakes before they happen.

It works, and with the help of a television reporter (Archie Panjabi), he sounds the alarm from Los Angeles to San Francisco for everyone to “drop, cover and hold on.” Amid the mayhem, a helicopter rescue pilot (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) and his estranged wife (Carla Gugino)

unite to rescue their daughter (Alexandra Daddario) and her friends (Hugo Johnstone-Burt, Art Parkinson). Meticulously rendered in CGI, this film is often thrilling, sometimes silly, and frequently preposterous — in other words, a typical summer popcorn movie, although not for the young or faint of heart. Relentless, intense but mostly bloodless disaster-related violence and mayhem, and occasional crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, June 7, 11:00 a.m.

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

13

June 5, 2015

P

ope Francis recently declared 2015 as the Year of Consecrated Life. What is consecrated life? It is a gift conferred by Christ when He calls a person individually to respond to His great love in a focused and permanent state of life recognized by the Church. Men and women, moved by the Holy Spirit, respond by living out their baptismal promises in an intimate way and follow Christ in total self-giving.

Twenty years ago I remember discerning my vocation and looking at the different forms of consecrated life.

There are many ways to live it out; I was familiar with some of them, while others I had not heard much about. I decided to look into and visit various institutes until I found the vocation God was inviting me to, in a calling to live out my life as a Consecrated Virgin.

An important Church document called Vita Consecrata, as well as the “Catechism of the Catholic Church,” spell out the forms of consecrated life that have come to be recognized by the Church over the centuries. Probably the most well-known form of consecrated life in our time would be the apostolic religious, such as the Franciscans, the Jesuits, or the Dominicans, yet there are seven forms of consecrated life within the Church: 1. Monastic life of the East and the West; 2. Hermits; 3. Contemplative Institutes; 4. Secular Institutes; 5. Societies of apostolic life; 6. Apostolic Religious; and 7. Consecrated Virgins.

The word consecrated comes from the Latin con(expressing intensive force) + sacrare “dedicate,” from sacer “sacred.” Thus consecrated states in the Church are men and women who are set apart in single-mindedness for a life of love and service to God and His people. Each of these seven forms of consecrated life offers a unique contribution to the life of the Church.

The many branches of consecrated life 1. Monastic life of the East share in the task of evangelization “in the world and from began early in the Church. within the world” where their Monks sought peace, interior presence acts as “leaven in the silence, prayer and assisted world” (CCC No. 929). There those who sought Spiritual are more than 30 secular insticounsel. Western monastitutes in the U.S. each with its cism also dates back to early own lifestyle and rule. ExChristianity and grew under amples include the Apostolic the inspiration of St. BeneOblates and the Missionaries dict. Ora et Labora (prayer and work) highlights Benedictine monasticism. These men and women also live a life of meditation on the Word of God (Lectio Divina), the Divine Liturgy, manual work, Elizabeth Lee and assisting others in Spiritual direction. of the Kingship of Christ.

2. Hermits, as noted in the 5. Societies of Apostolic “Catechism,” “devote their life Life are those who come to the praise of God and Saltogether for a specific purpose vation of the world through such as teaching, healthcare, a stricter separation from the retreat work, advocacy for world, the silence of solitude justice and so on. Almost all and assiduous prayer and apostolic societies had their penance.” Hermits support origins from a necessity that themselves and live according to a rule approved by their their founders recognized.

They live in common withdiocesan bishop or under the out religious vows. Examples leadership of a specific reliinclude the Oratory of St. gious institution.

3. Members of Contempla- Philip Neri and the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent tive Institutes are also men de Paul. and women consecrated to 6. Apostolic Religious a life of hiddenness. Their profess religious vows and live ministry is one primarily of prayer, silence and community a common life according to the charism of their founder. life within the seclusion of a From the fruit of their prayer, convent. Through their lives they provide various forms of witness to the love of the of work within the diocese Church for her bridegroom according to the needs of the and their prayerful intercespeople. The Diocese of Fall sion, they contribute to the River has several religious growth of God’s children communities including the through their Spiritual fruitDominican Sisters of the Prefulness. Some of these consentation and the Missionaries templative institutes include of La Salette. All religious are the Carmelites and the Poor Clares along with more recent consecrated but not all who are consecrated are religious. institutes such as the Holy 7. Consecrated Virginity Spirit Adoration Sisters. lived in the world dates back 4. Secular Institutes were to the early Church. The rite first acknowledged by Pope was restored in 1970 as a disPius XII as a form of consetinct form of consecrated life crated life in 1947. Members for women. In Vita Consecrata, of these institutes live and Pope John Paul writes: “It is a work in the secular world source of joy and hope to witand are committed “to the evangelical counsels by Sacred ness in our time a new flowering of the ancient Order of bonds and observe among Virgins, known in Christian themselves the communion communities since apostolic and fellowship appropriate to times. Consecrated by the their particular secular way diocesan bishop, according of life” (CCC No. 929). They

Guest Columnist

Be sure to visit the newly-improved Diocese of Fall River website at fallriverdiocese.org

to the solemn Liturgical rite, these women acquire a particular link with the Church, which they are committed to serve while remaining in the world” (VC No. 7). The consecrated virgin does not live in community, works to provide her own sustenance, and is committed to regular prayer including the offering of the Liturgy of the Hours each day.

Her vocation is not so much about what she does but who she is in embodying the love of the bride, the Church, for Christ her Heavenly Bridegroom through a life of prayer, work and attentiveness to those in need. The consecrated virgin seeks to imitate the Virgin Mary, who lived in the world, bringing Christ to a broken world and bringing the broken world to Christ.

The “Catechism,” hearkening back to the psalms,

summarizes consecrated life as “a tree, planted near running water that yields its fruit in due season.” This tree has many branches. Each branch grows its own unique fruit, extending Christ’s mission of giving glory to His Father, and promoting the Kingdom of God. Elizabeth Lee was consecrated to the Order of Virgins in 1995 under Canon 604 of the Code of Canon Law

by Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFM, Cap. She is a graduate of Roger Williams University and works as a media specialist with the National Catholic Bioethics Center.

She has served as secretary of the United States Association of Consecrated Virgins and has been a guest on North American Catholic Educational Programming Foundation programs and NBC Nightly News discussing the vocation of consecrated virginity.

FALL RIVER — Massachusetts Citizens for Life is sponsoring the annual Massachusetts March For Life on June 28.

This year the emphasis is bearing witness to the tragedy of abortion and for the sanctity of every innocent human life. The other focus of the march is to raise money for Pro-Life charitable organizations across the Commonwealth.

The march is scheduled for June 28 at 2 p.m. from the Parkman Bandstand, Boston Commons. The Greater Fall River MCFL Chapter is sponsoring a bus to bring local walkers to the Boston Commons. No need to worry about parking or the Boston traffic. Round-trip fare is only $5 for adults $2 for

18 and under. Children five and under are free.

The central pick up location is at Holy Name School at the corner of Stetson Street and President Avenue in Fall River.

Departure time will be at 11:45 a.m. There will be a second pickup at the Taunton Galleria Park and Ride at approximately 12 p.m.

To reserve seats or for more information call Paulette Martinville at 508-673-9757 by June 24.

Transportation available for March For Life in Boston June 28

14

June 5, 2015

Pope’s environmental encyclical to be titled ‘Laudato Sii’ (Praised Be You)

Vatican City (CNA/ EWTN News) — Taken from St. Francis of Assisi’s “Canticle of the Sun” prayer praising God for creation, the likely name of the pope’s upcoming encyclical was informally announced just weeks before its anticipated publication.

Father Giuseppe Costa, director of the Vatican Publishing House, reportedly announced the encyclical’s title during the delivery of the Cardinal Michele Giordano prize recently in Naples.

The prize honors the former Archbishop of Naples, who died in 2010, and was inspired by his keen appreciation for the media.

Expected to be published in mid-late June, the pope’s encyclical “Laudato sii” has already been written and is currently being translated.

Although the title has not been officially confirmed, it will most likely contain the phrase coined by Pope Francis’ namesake in his famous prayer praising elements of creation such as “Brother Fire,” “Sister Moon” and “Mother Earth.”

Also referred to as the “Canticle of Creatures,” the “Canticle of the Sun” was written by St. Francis of Assisi around the year 1224.

The encyclical is also expected to be given the Italian subtitle: “Sulla cura della casa comune,” (On the care of the common home).

Father Costa told SIR — the official news agency of the Italian Bishops Conference — that “there are many foreign publishers who are already interested in the publication of the encyclical in their countries.”

Pope Francis himself spoke of the encyclical on his return flight from Seoul, South Korea last year, where he traveled August 14-18 to participate in the sixth Asian Youth Day. While in route back to Rome Francis said that he had frequently spoken about the encyclical with Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, which is responsible for handling themes such as this.

After being questioned about the encyclical by journalist Juergen Erbacher from German TV, the pope said that he had “spoken a lot with Cardinal Turkson and also with others and I have asked Cardinal Turkson to bring together all of the contributions.”

The pope said then than the contributions had arrived and that a first draft of the encyclical — which he said was “a third

bigger” than his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium — was delivered to him just four days before he left for South Korea.

He told journalists that ecology is “not an easy issue because on the protection of creation and the study of human ecology, you can speak with sure certainty up to a certain point then come the scientific hypotheses some of which are rather sure, others aren’t.”

“In an encyclical like this that must be magisterial, it must only go forward on certainties, things that are sure,” he said, explaining that if the pope decides to say that the earth is the center of the universe rather than the sun, then he’s wrong because he said something that’s scientifically untrue.

“We need to make the study, number by number, and I think (the encyclical) will become smaller. But going to the essence is what we can affirm with certainty.”

The encyclical could also have a huge weigh-in on talks surrounding climate change, and is expected to set a key ethical framework for discussion and policies surrounding the topic ahead of the pope’s address to the United Nations during his visit to the U.S. in September.

Francis is set to address a U.N. Special Summit on Sustainable Development September 25.

U.N. secretary-general Ban Ki Moon told journalists while in Rome in April for a summit on the theme of the environment and sustainable development that the pope’s speech will have “a profound impact.”

In a private meeting with Pope Francis ahead of the summit, the U.N. secretary-general said he told the pope that he’s “looking forward to his encyclical as soon as possible. I count on his moral voice and moral leadership.”

Pope Francis recently spoke of the importance of caring for creation during his homily for the feast of Pentecost.

The feast serves an occasion to remind Christians of their duty to care for and respect the earth, he said, explaining that “the Holy Spirit Whom Christ sent from the Father, and the Creator Spirit Who gives life to all things, are one and the same.”

“Respect for creation, then, is a requirement of our faith: the ‘garden’ in which we live is not entrusted to us to be exploited, but rather to be cultivated and tended with respect.”

The Newark, N.J. Corazon de Maria dance troupe was part of a celebration in Hyannis hosted by St. Francis Xavier Parish that featured a religious ceremony on the green including prayers, hymns and the crowning of Our Lady of the Clouds. The parishioners then processed back to the church for a fiesta of food, music and dancing. (Photo by Janet Daly)

Multi-lingual parish celebrates together as family, friends continued from page one

ties, however, is that St. Francis Xavier’s does not have a parish center.

“We don’t have a space that is big enough for everyone,” he said. “The challenge is to do without a gathering place.”

Thinking out of the box, the parishioners find innovative ways to gather the congregation.

A few weeks ago, the parish celebrated the feast of Our Lady (fiesta de Nuestra Señora), a day devoted to the Blessed Mother during her special month of May. “Mary is the one who unites us uniquely as mother,” said Father Fitzpatrick. “So it was very fitting being together and honoring her. All nations have a devotion to her.”

The observance began with a Mass in the language of the host community, followed by a procession to Hyannis Town Green.

“It was a traditional Mass with the particular flavor of the Ecuadorian community that they could share with the rest of the congregation,” Father Fitzpatrick said.

An Ecuadorian couple also donated a statue of Our Lady of the Clouds.

St. Francis Xavier Parish has been the home of Cape Cod Hispanics since 1995.

“We celebrated this for the Virgin of the Clouds,” said Ana Ortiz, a native of Guatemala.

“Mary is the same everywhere.”

Stepping off from the Sanctuary, parishioners in procession walked along the sidewalk

of South Street while praying the Rosary in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Father Fitzpatrick estimated that 200 to 300 people joined the procession.

“It was difficult organizing the Rosary, fitting everyone on the sidewalk,” he said. “South Street is the main route to the hospital for ambulances, but the police and fire departments signed off.”

Processing a third of a mile, participants gathered around the covered bandstand at the town green, where they crowned the statue of Our Lady of the Clouds, recognizing Mary as Queen of Heaven and earth.

“We did a very simple crowning ceremony there and read the Gospel of the Annunciation,” Father Fitzpatrick said. “Father Edivar Da Silva Ribeiro said a little prayer thanking God for uniting us all together under our mother.”

Then they processed back to the church praying the Rosary.

Gathering nearby in the school gymnasium for a potluck supper, they watched a performance by traditional Ecuadorian dancers that honored the Blessed Mother.

“In a town that celebrates President John F. Kennedy as one of its residents, the festival was truly catholic and inclusive,” said one woman who participates in the weekly Latin Tridentine Mass celebrated by Father Ron Floyd at the parish.

Now the congregation has its sights set on their next joint event, an upcoming week-long observance of the feast of Corpus Christi.

The observance will begin with a Corpus Christi procession around the church property on June 7. The English-speaking community will present a talk on the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary on June 9, the Brazilian community will sponsor a block party on June 10 and a June 11 prayer service will be hosted by the Hispanic community.

“Friday evening we will have Mass,” said Father Fitzpatrick; and at the end of Mass we’ll bring our Lord out in the monstrance for an all-night Vigil of Prayer with the Blessed Sacrament, ending with Mass in the morning.”

He said that their mission is not only to form a community but also to evangelize.

“When Christians love each other and love the Lord and are full of joy, they get the attention of other people who have drifted away,” he said. “Our Holy Father calls for a Year of Mercy. This is how we start: by loving each other. Once we can build that, we have the opportunity to reach out into the greater area to the needs of the poor and homeless. Jesus Christ is alive and present in this community in Hyannis.”

For more information on the Corpus Christi celebration, call St. Francis Xavier Parish at 508-775-0818.

15

June 5, 2015

Restorative justice program helps ex-convicts reenter society continued from page one

trades, because of his felony background, he would not be able to work in any of the trade fields that he was learning.

“I’m getting an education but would never able to put it into practice. I was doing it to better my life,” said Vega.

For the first 18 months after he came home, “there were times when I just wouldn’t answer the question [about prior convictions] and worked small jobs and took a chance. I realized it was a big issue holding our backgrounds against us and that something needed to be done.”

He finally found a company willing to take a chance and hire him, and he stayed with them for seven years. During that time his wife was volunteering for Ex-Prisoners and Prisoners Organizing for Community Advancement (www.exprisoners.org) based in Worcester. EPOCA is an organization that focuses on the issues of incarceration and the difficult reentry to society that ex-convicts face, and have been fighting for changes in policies and increased funds to help create support programs.

Initially hesitant about joining, when Vega lost his full-time job due to the company relocating and found himself once again dealing with the same issues looking for new employment, he fully immersed himself in EPOCA’s cause.

In 2008, EPOCA was instrumental in changing Worcester’s background checking system, helping develop a new and comprehensive Fair Hiring Ordinance for the city of Worcester so that in order to do a background check on an applicant for city

contractors or vendors, an offer of employment already had to be on the table.

“Once we did that in Worcester, I realized we could make some change,” Vega, who along with EPOCA then pushed to have that change statewide, propelling a new CORI reform to encourage a reduced recidivism rate due to the increased opportunities afforded to ex-convicts looking for stable employment, and by 2010 the question was removed from all applications in Massachusetts.

Tom Dwyer, coordinator of the Northeast Region of the Poor, an outreach ministry of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Mansfield, is a member of the Vincentian Reentry Organizing Project (www.VincentianRestoration. nationbuilder.com), a partnership between the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and the National Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Along with Ohio, Louisiana, Florida and Wisconsin, “it was noted that Massachusetts was one of the five sites where this reentry project was ongoing,” said Dwyer. “A big part of the program is to make Vincentians aware of these issues and those who are dealing with the problem with reentry, from the problems with the criminal justice system at the outset to the problems of reintegrating ex-offenders or citizens back into the community. There’s a whole continuum of things the project has tried to address.”

Dwyer met Vega more than a year ago, and has helped him make connections with fellow Vincentians by traveling and presenting to parishes Vega’s

personal journey and what the Vincentian Reentry Organization Project is all about.

“I found it absolutely astonishing the way we approach this, and the relatively backward way Massachusetts is approaching it,” said Dwyer. “At one time Massachusetts was a leader in these types of efforts, but it is really fallen to the wayside and there’s a whole series of legislative proposals that are designed to try and bring Massachusetts back in line where the national trends are heading and, from a Catholic point-of-view, bring it in line with restorative Catholic social teaching principals of the criminal justice system.”

EPOCA has also partnered with the Massachusetts Campaign to End Mass Incarceration and Fund Job Creation (www.JobsNotJails.org) to help propel the “Justice Reinvestment: An Act to Increase Neighborhood Safety and Opportunity,” legislation that is hoping to improve Massachusetts’ systems of criminal justice, end mass incarceration and re-invest in communities through job and education opportunities.

According to Jobs Not Jails, the Deval Patrick Administration has estimated that, if current criminal justice policies are not changed dramatically, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will have to spend two billion in the next seven years to build 10,000 new prison units, as well as 150 million more each year to fill them.

Massachusetts already has one of the highest rates of incarceration in the world — on par with French Guiana and Kazakhstan. There are so few

This week in

Diocesan history

50 years ago — Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro held its first graduation ceremony with Father John T. Corr, C.S.C., president of Stonehill College, as the keynote speaker.

10 years ago — Faithful from around the diocese gathered at Our Lady of Victory Church in Centerville to celebrate the 35th anniversary of ECHO, a weekend retreat for high school juniors and seniors.

25 years ago — Upon a recommendation of the diocesan Department of Education, Bishop Daniel A. Cronin, S.T.D., appointed Father John P. Murray, S.J., to serve as the new principal of Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River.

One year ago — Bishop George W. Coleman ordained Deacon Christopher M.J. Peschel as a priest for the Fall River Diocese during a Mass celebrated inside St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River.

opportunities, and so many barriers to successful re-entry, that more than 60 percent of prisoners released from the Department of Youth Services (juvenile justice agencies), county jails, and prison recidivate within three years.

The reforms will help create prospects not just for those ex-convicts trying to reenter society but help others avoid incarceration altogether by giving those living at the poverty line hope through additional educational and job resources, said Vega. The Act would improve justice and safety, reduce incarceration and invest millions of dollars to create jobs for struggling families; a key component of the Act is the end of “mandatory minimum” sentencing for drugs.

So many of those incarcerated suffer from substance abuse issues and are non-violent offenders, said Vega, so “why are they being penalized? They need treatment, not incarceration. And for non-violent crimes, why are we punishing folks for non-violent crimes?

People commit a crime and there should be consequences, I agree with that. Then there are people who are getting criminalized for drug habits and being penalized,” instead of getting the treatment they need.

There is a public hearing on the Justice Reinvestment Act scheduled for June 9 at the State House in Boston, and Vega will be part of a rally organized through Jobs Not Jails.

“It will be a busy but fun day,” said Vega of the rally, “but it will impact the whole of Massachusetts.”

Dwyer said the Vincentians will do their part, and will continue to raise awareness, to meet with various

parish groups and fellow Vincentians, as well as letting released inmates become aware that there is help out there by working with prison chaplains like those in the Archdiocese of Boston.

“Many come out of prison and have no support systems whatsoever,” said Dwyer, “and as Benito said, they are homeless, poor, they may have lost their networks because they have been in prison for so long, have no job and so they need not only short-term assistance but also some long-term assistance to reintegrate to life learning job skills and seeing what’s changed in the world.

We’re trying to foster mentoring opportunities, especially among the Vincentians.”

There has been a slow realization that the issues are connected, and that poverty and the recidivism rate “are not standalone issues,” and people need to realize they all tie together, said Dwyer.

Vega was able to find a full-time job and is busy supporting his wife and children, but he warns that once people know you’re an ex-convict the stigma never leaves and that many are “suffering for fear of being made vulnerable,” he said when all they want to do move on.

“Everyone thinks, ‘Oh, they pay their time, get out and get on with their life,’ but that’s not the case,” said Vega.

16

Youth Pages

The youth ministry program from Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Taunton recently participated in its annual “Food Fast”; a hunger awareness program. The 10-hour event included fasting, prayer, activities, and discussions to teach youth about issues in the developing world and in their own community. During “Food Fast” the youth only consumed juice and water; they welcomed the Romeiros walkers to their parish, attended the 4 p.m. Mass and then had a “Break the Fast” dinner which consisted of soup and bread. The youth solicited sponsorship pledges totaling $815. This year they wanted to help their own community; the pledges were for “blessing bags” for the Matthew 25:40 Mission Outreach in Taunton to help the homeless in that city.

June 5, 2015

Grandparents’ Luncheon is an annual event at Espirito Santo School in Fall River. Grandparents enjoyed social time with their grandchildren as they ate sopas (Holy Ghost soup), pap secos (Portuguese dinner rolls), and dessert provided by the generosity of local businesses. Special thanks were extended to the eighth-grade students for serving up the goodness cooked by Carla Sousa and many terrific moms.

The eighth-graders at St. Joseph School in Fairhaven introduced different parts of a microscope to the kindergarten students. They are looking at human biology cells.

Pre-kindergarten students at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Taunton proudly displayed the bird feeders they made.

St. Mary’s School, Mansfield, recognized Memorial Day with a ceremony honoring all those who have protected our country.

The students in Mrs. Pour’s kindergarten class at Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford really got their hands dirty when they had a chance to plant some marigold seeds to culminate a science unit on how living things grow. Now the waiting and watching begins.

Sixth- and seventh-grade students from St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro learned about typhoid fever-contaminated drinking water in Lowell in 1891. Rae Ann Jacek from the Tsongas Industrial History Center brought “samples” of polluted water from the Merrimack River and canals of Lowell at the turn of the century. The testing allowed the students to determine where and how the contamination began and also learn how water treatment facilities work today. Clockwise from left: Erinn D’Angelo, Lauren Bessette, Shea O’Brien, Emma Blazejewski look at a map of the waterways.

June 5, 2015

H

ere is the much anticipated part-two of last month’s article on advice to a younger self. There was so much great advice that it couldn’t be contained in one article.

“Hug your grandmother, because she won’t be here forever and you will miss her more than words could express.”

“Never stop dreaming!”

“Stop dreaming of what your life will be like in your 20s when you are ‘old.’ Just be. Go outside and play. Run around and get messy. The world will refine you soon enough, but for now, just be.”

“God will never give you more than you can handle, so right when you feel like you’re about to break, stand up and ask for more, because with Him by your side, you’re holding what someone else may not be able to. He believes in you when it feels like no one else does. He won’t let you break.”

“Pray often, play hard, laugh out loud, hug your loved ones and dream big! Your future awaits!”

“Don’t, under any circumstance, put your lips on a frozen fence post.”

“The bully who stole your money and threatened to beat you up — you will still be mad at him when you’re 30 — as irrational as that sounds” “Don’t let fear hold you back from your dreams and trust that God will always be with you in all you do.”

“No matter what, don’t believe fanny packs are cool.”

“Do not care about what others say about you. You are perfect in God’s eyes and care for yourself and others as much as He does.”

“I’d keep it simple. Satan is bad. Jesus is good. Be like Jesus.”

“Spend every second with your grandparents that you can.

Take more pictures.”

“Don’t stop playing kickball, tag, hide-and-seek or any other outdoor games. Run around, enjoy fresh air, laugh and have fun.”

“Family game night is super important — never miss it.

Don’t be embarrassed to hold mom and dad’s hand, it’s just as much for them as it is for you.”

“Don’t rush to grow up, you will only be young and carefree for a little while and once you grow up you can’t go back.

Don’t care what other people are doing or saying, be your own independent person. You

Youth Pages Dear younger me (the conclusion) are stronger than you know, even when you don’t realize it. Out of all the bad days you have there will be many more good ones to come.”

“Be different and don’t let others tell you otherwise. You are unique, cool, and loved.”

“It isn’t enough to plan and dream, you need to take action! If you want something, pray about it then make it happen. Be kind, walk in someone else’s shoes and do good.”

“Love your brothers. They won’t be here forever.”

“Don’t let anyone rob you of your dreams. Many a dreamer have accomplished amazing things. But most importantly, remember to always be patient with yourself and others, for all good things do take time.”

“Listen to your parents more, to trust in God and to stick up for your beliefs and fight for them with a passion!”

“You’re never going to be five-feet-tall, don’t get your hopes up.”

“Listen to your conscience and do the best you can.”

“Don’t just dream big, dream bigger, because anything you set your mind to is possible.”

“When something doesn’t seem right, speak up.”

“Never be afraid of doing something different, dare to be something more.”

“You can’t live your life to please others by putting yourself down. You can’t be who they want you to be when it isn’t you. Stay true to yourself and you’ll find true friends and happiness.”

“Dream big, but know that success in anything requires commitment and hard work.

Failure doesn’t define you, how you react to it does. Pay attention to what your parents are teaching you about God’s love, honesty and family because it does matter. Recognize how blessed you are and never be embarrassed to say thank you, I’m sorry, I need help or I love you.”

“Be open to the voice of God.” “Girls can be anything they want!”

“Life isn’t going to turn out how you expect it to but everything is going to be OK!” “Get to know God, don’t ever let Him go! Even when no one else can help you with this or you feel alone, everything

will be OK, He is always there.” no longer serves you, grows you, or makes you happy.”

“Take time to notice the “It’s not about you, you are world around you. Watch not the center of the universe. people. Travel places. Try new Don’t live for feeling, live for truth. Your life is because of God and therefore it belongs to God. Go where He sends you, do what He is calling you to

By Amanda do, don’t hesitate, He Tarantelli knows you, He loves, He’s with you. Trust Him!” things. Most importantly give “Learn to laugh at yourself.” more than you take so our “Be yourself. Love God world will be a better place and your neighbors, listen to with you in it.” parents who love you, take care “Slow down on the chocoof your body and mind, be kind late and dessert!”

“Respect yourself enough to and forgiving and grateful.

Enjoy every day and work hard. walk away from anything that

Be Not Afraid

17

Don’t be afraid to dirty your hands while planting flowers, it’s good for the soul and beautiful!”

“Make sure as you go through life that your jeans fit comfortably or you will be irritated always.”

“God has a lot in store for you; big things are coming.

Have faith and never let go. No matter what happens, God will always be there to make things easier. Do not be afraid!”

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

The international Save A Life Tour was brought by Kramer Entertainment to Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth. The Save a Life Tour is a comprehensive high-impact safe driving awareness program that informs, educates and demonstrates the potentially deadly consequences resulting from poor choices and decisions made by the operator of a motor vehicle. Bishop Stang students experienced a fact-based lecture, impactful video, and simulations of the effects of impaired and distracted driving behavior. Senior Rachel Moussa of New Bedford seen in photo in the simulation experience of impaired driving (drinking and driving) and distracted driving (texting).

Bishop Feehan High School (Attleboro) sophomore Abigail Long won third-place in the second annual Frederick Douglass Essay Contest in U.S. History for Massachusetts high school students. Entrants chose one of many Bay State landmarks or exhibits to write about. Long’s essay, to be published, was written about the Maria Mitchell House on Nantucket. Mitchell was the first American woman who received credit for her work in the field of astronomy. Long was chosen a winner based on her strong writing skills and her understanding of the subject’s historical context and significance. She was recognized with a prize of $1,000 and attended a Pioneer U.S. History forum in Boston where she had the opportunity to meet award-wining authors and distinguished speakers. Abigail Long flanked by co-chairmen of Feehan’s history department, Charlotte Lourenco (left), and Rosemary Anderson.

18

June 5, 2015

Diocese launches newly-designed and expanded website continued from page one

years has been to maintain and update the official website for the Fall River Diocese. While the diocese has had a viable Internet presence since 2000, the website was long overdue for an upgrade.

“Our diocesan website was obviously dated, technologically and appearance-wise,” Kearns recently told The Anchor.

“It was a product of its time, but this stuff changes so rapidly, you have to keep up with it. You have to change with it, because people get tired of looking at the same old things.”

To that end, Kearns approached then-Bishop George W. Coleman last year about revamping the diocesan website, www.fallriverdiocese.org.

“Bishop Coleman agreed and he encouraged me to start looking around to see what we needed to do,” Kearns said.

With Bishop Coleman’s blessing and approval, Kearns approached Litos Strategic Communication, based in New Bedford, about the project. Litos was not only conveniently located within the diocese, but was also a known entity with a good reputation, having previously assisted with projects for the Catholic Charities Appeal and Development Office.

With plans proceeding as summer approached, the appointment of Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., as the eighth bishop of the diocese was an-

nounced and Kearns said he soon found himself “bringing Bishop da Cunha up to speed” shortly after his installation on the website project.

“He certainly concurred that the diocese needed an updated website and supported the work,” he said.

Kearns said a committee consisting of himself, Bishop da Cunha, vicar general Father Gregory A. Mathias, moderator of the curia Father Michael K. McManus, Development director James A. Campbell, and director of Faith Formation Claire McManus, began meeting with representatives from Litos to come up with an overall “sitemap” for the website outlining the content it would contain and the various navigational menu items that would point to each page.

With a preliminary sitemap ready by November, the architecture of the website was built over the subsequent winter months.

“Litos handled the technological side and I worked on the creation of content,” Kearns explained. “Litos was very helpful in suggesting the right software to use, the features that were out there, and how to migrate information from the former website to the new one, so it all didn’t have to be done from scratch.”

With the committee’s final stamp of approval, the new di-

Help us cut COSTS! The Anchor spends nearly $2,000 in postage change fees each year!

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

Please Print Your New Address Below

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

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

ocesan website was officially launched and went “live” on Memorial Day. “What we came up with is a new site that is user-friendly, the navigation is easy, it’s very functional, it’s built for multiplatform use — so people can access it from tablets and smartphones — and it’s easily expandable,” Kearns said. “Those are all things we thought we needed and all the things that define a current website.

“As I said when I met with both bishops, more and more now the website is becoming the face of the entity to the general public. If someone wants information, they go to the Internet and see if there’s a website and the diocese and its parishes are no different. So we knew we had to offer a website that was functional and easy to use.”

The website’s homepage immediately offers a sense of the new dynamic features with a series of “marquee slides” with large photographs that highlight key diocesan events and news items that would be of interest to visitors. The homepage also offers a series of smaller thumbnail photos below that link directly to sections about the parishes, schools, offices and ministries within the diocese.

One of Kearns’ favorite features on the new website is the parish database, which has supplanted the previous static listing of locations.

“I’m really happy with the parish database,” he said. “I think it will prove to be very helpful for residents here in the diocese and for the people who are spending time here in the summer — those who are looking for Mass times and locations on Cape Cod. It’s easily searchable, it provides very quick and easily updated Mass schedules, links to parish websites and emails, and a Google map feature so you can go in and put in either your address or city and town and find a parish anywhere within a 50-mile radius. And with the map function you can get instant directions. That’s something everyone assumes you can do now, but you’ve got to provide it.”

In addition to the standard press releases and photos sent out from the Communications Office, there are sections about the various religious orders working within the diocese, a section on charitable efforts

and programs like the current Catholic Charities Appeal, details about Catholic Social Services, and information about the diocese’s policy and procedures governing its “safe environment” and contact links to report any potential incidents of abuse.

“Another thing I like is the calendar function,” Kearns said.

“I’m hoping over time it will serve as kind of a comprehensive listing of all things happening in the diocese that would be of interest to people beyond the parish setting — things that the Faith Formation Office does or Catholic Social Services offers that have a broader appeal than the local women’s guild meeting.”

Two brand new features on the 2015 website include a section on parish resources, where Kearns said pastors and parish secretaries can easily find pertinent information, and a new section with employment opportunities available in the diocese.

“Those sections weren’t part of the old site and they are really in the early development stage,” Kearns said. “I’m hoping as our parishes and ministries become accustomed to it, they will be able to post any openings they may have so people who might have an interest in working for the Church can find out what’s available and what’s open.”

Utilizing the popular WordPress software to input and update content, the new diocesan website also offers an easy search function, “so if folks aren’t sure where they should go, they can just use the search function on the homepage and it should bring you to it,” Kearns said.

While the new website reboot contains all of the information that was available in its former incarnation, Kearns said the new version “is much more dynamic and is easier to digest and access” than before.

And there’s room for expansion, especially in terms of adding things like videos and photo slideshows.

“The ultimate goal is to help the diocese and our parishes evangelize, to reach our people,” he said. “In one case it might be as easy as providing someone with a Mass time, or for someone else it might be providing the steps that are involved in becoming a Catholic.”

When he first embarked on this venture a year ago, Kearns admitted he didn’t anticipate the amount of time he’d spend organizing information and,

especially, gathering photos to enhance the look of the new site.

“It’s certainly been a learning curve for me,” he said. “I’ve been learning as I’ve been doing it and I’m trying to get better with the graphics and images.”

“It takes time and there’s a lot of information to keep track of — Mass times change, parish assignments change, phone numbers change — and I’m going to do my best to keep up with it all,” he added. “Once you start, it’s a good thing, because other things come to mind — ‘Oh, we could do this or add that’ — but we had to reach a point where we decided to launch what we had and then we can continue to build on it. I took great care to make sure the information that is up there now is accurate and I will work very hard to maintain accuracy. That’s going to be the challenge.”

Noting he is happy with and proud of the new website and the work that Litos put into it, Kearns said he’ll now have to make a concerted effort to ensure all of the content on the pages is fresh and timely.

“I think by nature websites are works in progress, so in order for it to be functional you have to keep adding to it and keep it up-to-date,” he said.

“This website was created in a way that it’s easy for me to do that, and so going forward that will be done.”

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks June 6 Rev. Cornelius J. Keliher, Retired Pastor, St. Mary, North Attleboro, 1993 June 8 Rev. John S. Czerwonka, Assistant, St. Stanislaus, Fall River, 1961 June 9 Rev. Timothy J. Calnen, Pastor, St. Joseph, Woods Hole, 1945 Rev. Joseph S. Larue, Pastor, Sacred Heart, North Attleboro, 1966 June 10 Rev. William H. Curley, Pastor, SS. Peter and Paul, Fall River, 1915 Rev. George A. Meade, Chaplain, St. Mary’s Home, New Bedford, 1949 June 11 Rev. Msgr. Augusto L. Furtado, Retired Pastor, St. John of God, Somerset, 1973 Rev. Richard J. Wolf, S.J., Bishop Connolly High School, Fall River, 1986 June 12 Rev. Thomas H. Taylor, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Taunton, 1966

19

June 5, 2015

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.

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

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

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

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

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

FAIRHAVEN — St. Mary’s Church, Main St., has Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Chapel of Reconciliation, with Benediction at 11:30 a.m. Also, there is a First Friday Mass each month at 7 p.m., followed by a Holy Hour with Eucharistic Adoration. Refreshments follow.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NEW BEDFORD — St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, 565 County Street, holds Eucharistic Adoration in the side chapel 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 7 to 8 p.m., ending with Benediction.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Msgr. John J. Regan

NORTH FALMOUTH — Msgr. John J. Regan, 87, of North Falmouth died May 24 after a brief illness. He was born in Taunton on June 16, 1927 the son of Raymond J. and Gertrude (O’Neil) Regan. He attended St. Charles College and St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Md.; and was ordained on May 23, 1953 by Bishop James Connolly in Fall River.

He served in numerous parishes of the Fall River Diocese: St. James Parish, New Bedford; Sacred Heart Parish, Fall River; as the rector of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, Fall River; pastor of St. Thomas More, Somerset; St. Patrick’s Church in Falmouth as curate in the 1960s and as pastor from 1989 until his retirement in 2000.

He oversaw the renovation of St. Patrick’s Church and rectory.

He oversaw the diocesan nursing homes as director of the Diocesan Health Facilities.

He served for many years as the financial manager of the diocesan newspaper The Anchor.

In 1974 he was elevated to the rank of domestic prelate and honored with the distinction to be called monsignor. In 1997 he was made a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. Following his retirement he remained an active member of the Falmouth community for many years. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and chaplain of the Irish American Club of Cape Cod. He is survived by his sister, Jean (Regan) Ohnesorge of Enid, Okla.; nephews and nieces, Craig and Regina Martin of East Falmouth, Neil and Susan Martin of North Falmouth, Bruce Martin of Marblehead; Cathleen (Ohnesorge) Weis of Ft. Myers, Fla; Dan and Natalie Ohnesorge, of Enid, Okla., Steve and Rose Ohnesorge of Morganton, N.C., and Richard and Sally (Ohnesorge) Postmus of Lake Worth, Fla., several grand nephews and nieces, and his good friend Helen Murphy of West Roxbury. Predeceased by his sister, Nancy (Regan) Martin, and brothers-in-law Richard K. Martin, and Robert W. Ohnesorge.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Patrick’s Church in Falmouth on May 30.

Interment followed in St. Joseph’s

Cemetery, Falmouth. The family asks that donations in his honor may be made to St. Patrick’s Church, 511 Main Street, Fal-

mouth, Mass., 02540. Arrangements were handled by Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Homes, Falmouth.

Around the Diocese

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., will join Holy Cross Family Ministries in celebrating the anniversary of its founder, Servant of God Father Patrick Peyton, the “Rosary Priest.” The event will be held on the Vigil of the Feast of Corpus Christi beginning at 4 p.m. on June 6 with Rosary at the Grotto at Stonehill College, followed by a Eucharistic Procession to Father Peyton’s grave and a continued procession to St. Joseph Chapel for Mass. A reception at The Father Peyton Center will conclude the day. In the event of rain, all activities will be held inside St. Joseph Chapel at 500 Washington Street in North Easton. For more information or to RSVP, call the Father Peyton Center at 508-238-4095, extension 2041 or visit www.FamilyRosary.org/Events.

The Fall River District St. Vincent de Paul Society will have its annual Mass at St. Bernard’s Parish, 30 South Main Street in Assonet, on June 7 at 10:30 a.m. with Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. as principal celebrant. A Communion breakfast will follow the Mass in the parish hall, with Bishop da Cunha as the guest speaker.

St. Anthony’s Parish, Route 28 in East Falmouth, will host a Concert and Healing Service featuring Father André Patenaude (“Father Pat”) on June 7 at 2 p.m. All are welcome.

A Taizé Prayer Service will be held on June 7 at 7 p.m. at St. John Neumann Parish in East Freetown, followed by an outdoor reception at 8 p.m. with refreshments. All are welcome. For more information, call 508-763-2240.

St. Vincent Home’s seventh annual Kick-Off to Summer Celebration will be held June 26 from 6 to 11 p.m. on the deck of the Battleship Massachusetts. The evening celebration overlooking Fall River’s waterfront is expected to draw more than 400 guests and will feature complimentary beer and wine, cash bar, gourmet dinner and dessert, dancing to the sounds of The Pulse of Boston, and silent and live auctions emceed by volunteer auctioneer, Ryan Nadeau. The evening will also feature gourmet food with specialty dishes prepared by local restaurants. Proceeds will directly benefit youth participating in St. Vincent’s Life Skills Program. For tickets or more information contact Melissa Dick at 508-235-3228.

Our Lady of the Cape Parish, Stony Brook Road in Brewster, will host its 37th annual Summer Fair on June 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free. This “Whale of a Fair” is a fund-raiser with proceeds earmarked for local charities, college scholarships and the church’s sister parish in Dessalines, Haiti. New this year: the Brewster Fire Department will give children tours of a fire engine with lessons on fire safety. Specialty-themed baskets will be on sale as well as antiques and collectibles, handmade crafts, jewelry, books, tools, children’s toys, and more. Make it a family day with the silent auction, face painting for kids, a barbecue, ice cream treats, home-baked goods, a variety of raffles, and hourly door prizes.

20

T

racing the roots of one’s family tree seems to be quite popular these days. There are television commercials explaining how to go about it online; and while online there are countless popup ads that claim they can trace your roots all the way back to Adam and Eve. What they don’t say is there is a cost to search. I’ve taken a few trips to such websites and have made it back one genera-

June 5, 2015

See, it’s not me! tion, maybe two, before my older generation relatives wanted my credit card number.

Sorry great, great, great relatives, that ain’t gonna happen. I’ll catch up with you guys when we meet in person some other time.

But sometimes the most interesting tidbits don’t come from genealogy experts, but by word of mouth — from family. Who would know the family better than family members?

That’s why it’s good for younger people to pick your grandparents brains whenever you can. The stories are great and you can pass them on to the next generation — at no cost!

I was recently talking to my brother Paul about our pépère Ernie Vautrin. He’s the one grandfather of my two that I most remember. I loved pépère Ernie. He’s the guy who would save the Boston Record-American

I’m proud to share that passports page for me every day.

He’s the guy who was always out sion for the Red Sox with my pépère. I would love for him to have in his yard with his plethora of grandchildren; all of whom loved seen the Red Sox win the World Series in 2004, but having been the teddy bear. born in 1886, he experienced his My pep came up in convershare of championships; in 1903 sation because my brother was (Boston Americans), 1912, 1915, taunting me about the recent 1916 and 1918, with a Boston “success of the Red Sox.” Then Braves title in the mix in 1914. he went on to tell me that my I have some great memories of beloved pépère would sit in front of the TV when the Sox were on (not nearly as much as today) and yell at the players.

I was incredBy Dave Jolivet ulous — for two reasons. One, I never saw my pépère Ernie, but sitting together pépère angry, and two, I’ve always and spouting off at the Sox isn’t done the same thing. one of them. That would have I then told my brother that I been great, especially having a bet my pep’s language wasn’t as salty as mine when I give the Sox beer with him, with a raw egg added to the brew for good a piece of my mind today. My measure. brother shook his head and said, It’s nice to learn I’m more “Umm, I don’t know about that.” like the man I so admired than I What!? thought. That’s something I never I immediately turned to would have gotten from a family Emilie who was sitting with us tree website. There are lots of and with a big old grin on my great free stories out there people. mug said, “See, it’s not me. I got it from my grandfather! It’s in the Just look for them. davejolivet@anchornews.org. genes.”

My View From the Stands

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