07.03.09

Diocese of Fall River

The Anchor

F riday , July 3, 2009

Catholic Charities Appeal raised near-record $4.28M

MASS MEDIA — The website Masstimes.org provides Catholic travelers with a list of Mass times at parishes across the country.

Phone access to Mass Times also keeps Mass-goers informed.

Masstimes.org website steers vacationers in right direction

By Dave Jolivet, Editor

FALL RIVER — You’re on the road and you know it’s Mass time.

But what times are the Masses, and where?

Catholics on the road needn’t worry thanks to the website Masstimes.org, and its associated phone number, 410-676-6000. Mass times and locations are but a few mouse clicks or phone buttons away.

According to the website, “Mass Times was developed in 1994, to help traveling Catholics in the USA find a nearby church with a schedule of religious services. The information was made available by telephone at first, and then via the Internet in 1998.”

Since its inception Mass Times has expanded with an international database that now includes 201 countries/territories with more Turn to page 15

Proposed ‘Bathroom Bill’ is dangerous proposition

By Gail Besse Anchor Correspondent

BOSTON — A public hearing on a dangerous bill that would allow men to enter women’s bathrooms and locker rooms will be held July 14 at the Massachusetts State House.

The “Bathroom Bill” hearing begins at 1 p.m. in the Gardner Auditorium.

The 15-page-long bill being pushed by the homosexual lobby would have drastic effects on privacy, housing, employment, school Turn to page 18

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — For more than 100 years, Catholic social teaching has tried to help people face the world’s social, political and economic challenges

with the power of the Gospel.

Pope Benedict XVI announced June 29 that he had signed his first formal contribution to the list of Turn to page 12

Pope Benedict’s ‘social encyclical’ is pending

FALL RIVER — The Fall River Diocese’s 2009 Catholic Charities Appeal raised a total of $4,280,141,52, the third highest total in the history of the Appeal and only $26,000 — or six tenths of one percent — below the alltime high recorded in 2007.

“The fact that we were only $16,000 below last year’s total of $4,296,300.63, is simply remarkable,” exclaimed Mike Donly of the Appeal Office when asked his initial reaction.

“I am not surprised at the generosity of our parishioners across the diocese, but it certainly takes on added significance when you consider the state of the economy, and the dire forecast the experts are giving us,” he added.

“I don’t think anyone would have been surprised if we had predicted a 10 or 15 percent decrease was expected when the Appeal began given the current eco-

nomic indicators, but that type of mentality is dangerous as it can become a ‘self-fulfilling prophecy’; you expect less so you are satisfied with less,” he said.

“That just can’t be when you’re talking about meeting the needs of thousands of people who are much worse off than you are. As Bishop George W. Coleman said, ‘The people of the Diocese of Fall River have once again demonstrated a spirit of sacrifice and a true desire to share with their neighbors and to help change their lives for the better,’” said Donly.

Tired but enthusiastic would be an apt description of the staff of the Catholic Charities Appeal office as the final day of the Appeal drew to a close on June 23. They were concluding the 2009 Appeal which had begun on May 1, and had Turn to page 18

Non-English Masses keeping heritages, spirituality vibrant

By Deacon James N. Dunbar

NEW BEDFORD — When Franciscan Father Roman Chwaliszewski spots a greater number of English-speaking parishioners at the 9 o’clock Mass in Polish on Sunday mornings in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, he’ll give the homily in English.

“Lately it’s been more half in Polish and half in English,” said Father Chwaliszewski, OFM Cap., “because candidly, fewer people are coming to Sunday Mass,” the pastor told The Anchor last week.

Asked if having a Mass in Polish poses a problem to parish life, Father Chwaliszewski said “Not at all. It is all part of our parish … has been so for many years … and we find that many

who usually attend Mass in English frequently come to this Mass to fit their schedule on any particular Sunday.”

The Franciscan is among dozens of pastors in the Fall River Diocese who meld non-English Masses into the mix of parish liturgies in order to minister to various ethnic communities comprised of new and older immigrants eager to practice their Catholic faith in their own culture circles.

For some pastors it means finding priests to celebrate Mass in Brazilian-Portuguese or in Spanish as those belonging to those ethnic cultures become more prominent and look to their existing local parishes to serve them.

Currently 15 parishes offer

Masses in Portuguese, and seven have Masses in Spanish. Four churches have Masses in Latin, one has a Mass in Creole, and one offers Mass in French.

For those like Father Chwaliszewski, the roadmap has not changed.

“This parish since its founding in 1905 has had Masses in Polish to accommodate those of Polish heritage in this area, and many of that ethnic background still come to us from afar and so we intend to keep this Sunday Mass in that language,” he added.

“The readings at that Mass as well as the Gospel are in Polish, but the eucharistic prayer is in English,” he noted.

“As far as I know there are no Turn to page 15

2

News From the Vatican

July 3, 2009

Closing Pauline Year, pope reveals results of tests on Apostle’s tomb

ROME (CNS) — Closing the year of St. Paul, Pope Benedict XVI announced that tests done on the presumed tomb of the Apostle revealed the presence of bone fragments from a human who lived between the first and second century.

“This seems to confirm the unanimous and uncontested tradition that they are the mortal remains of the Apostle Paul,” the pope said during an evening prayer service June 28 at Rome’s Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

The basilica has long been held to be the burial site of St. Paul, but because of the destruction and rebuilding of the basilica, the exact location of the tomb was unknown for centuries. Vatican officials announced in December 2006 that several feet below the basilica’s main altar and behind a smaller altar, they had found a roughly cut marble sarcophagus beneath an inscription that reads: “Paul Apostle Martyr.”

Because part of the sarcophagus is buried beneath building material, Vatican officials determined they could not dig it out to open and examine the contents. Initially they tried to X-ray it to see what was inside, but the marble was too thick.

Pope Benedict said a “very tiny perforation” was drilled into the marble so that a small probe could be inserted in order to withdraw fragments of what was inside.

In addition to traces of purple linen, a blue fabric with linen threads and grains of red incense, he said they found bone fragments.

The bone fragments “underwent a carbon-14 analysis carried out by experts who did not know their place of origin,” the pope said, adding that the results “indicate they belong to a person who lived between the first and second century.”

Before beginning the evening prayer service, Pope Benedict descended the steps at the foot of the basilica’s main altar and prayed before a small window that allows the public to see a portion of the sarcophagus.

In his introductory remarks, the pope said the 2008-2009 commemoration of the 2,000th anniversary of St. Paul’s birth was an opportunity to help Christians rediscover St. Paul’s writings, “which exhort us to preach the word in every age and to be irreproachable in healthy doctrine. If we want to receive the crown of justice, we must continue to fight the

good fight and keep the faith.”

From personal experience, St. Paul knew that conversion was a life-long process and that Christians are called to become new people in Christ, not just in the way they behave, but also in the way they think and the way they look at the world, Pope Benedict said in his 25-minute homily.

“The world always is looking for something new because, rightly, it is not content with concrete reality,” he said.

But Christians learn from St. Paul that the newness they are looking for, the newness that will save them and save the world, is a mature faith in the Gospel.

“In recent years, ‘adult faith’ has become a widespread slogan. Frequently it is used to mean the attitude of those who no longer listen to the church and its pastors, but autonomously choose what to believe and what not to believe,” he said.

Too often, he said, expressing an opinion contrary to the teaching of the church is described as being courageous.

“In reality, however, one does not need courage for this because one always can count on public applause. Instead, courage is needed to adhere to the teaching of the church even when this contradicts the ideas of the modern world,” the pope said.

“It is part of adult faith, for example, to defend the inviolability of human life from the first instant, radically opposing the principle of violence, including in the defense of the most defenseless human creatures,” he said.

“Recognizing the marriage of one man and one women for their entire lives as the order established by the Creator and reestablished by Christ is part of adult faith,” the pope said.

“Adult faith does not allow itself to be pushed here and there by every breeze,” he said.

Pope Benedict said the life and writings of St. Paul also emphasize the fact that Christ died for all men and women of all cultures and all times.

“The crucified Christ embraced the entire universe in every dimension. He takes the world into his hands and carries it up to God,” he said.

“We pray that the Lord will help us recognize something of the vastness of his love. We pray that his love and truth will touch our hearts,” the pope said.

PRIESTLY ROLE MODEL — Pope Benedict XVI looks at relics of St. Padre Pio in the crypt of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, June 21. (CNS photo/Andreas Solaro, Reuters)

Pope visits tomb of St. Padre Pio, asks priests to imitate him

By Catholic News Service

SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO, Italy — St. Padre Pio’s devotion to the Eucharist, the hours he spent in the confessional and his concrete care for the sick make him a model all priests should try to imitate, Pope Benedict XVI said.

Visiting the tomb of the Italian saint, celebrating Mass outside the huge church bearing his name and meeting the patients and staff of the hospital he established, the pope urged priests to look to him during the Year for Priests.

Love for the Eucharist is what motivated Padre Pio’s “total willingness to welcome the faithful, especially sinners,” the pope said during an evening meeting with priests, religious and young people in San Giovanni Rotondo June 21.

“The sacrament of penance must be valued more highly and priests must never resign themselves to seeing their confessionals deserted nor limit themselves to noting the faithful’s lack of appreciation for this source of serenity and peace,” the pope told them.

A major summer storm forced the pope to fly by plane rather than helicopter to the southern Italian city where Padre Pio entered the Capuchin order and ministered and where he died in 1968.

Commenting on the Gospel story of Jesus calming the storm, he said Jesus’ action was clearly a sign of his lordship over every negative power in the heavens and on the earth.

“Like it was for Jesus, the true battle, the radical combat Padre Pio had to sustain was not against earthly enemies, but against the spirit of evil,” Pope Benedict said.

“The greatest storms that threatened him were the assaults of the

devil, which he defended himself against with the armor of God, the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” the pope said.

Padre Pio devoted himself so totally to Christ that he became an instrument of Christ’s “power of love for souls, of pardon and reconciliation, of spiritual fatherhood and of concrete solidarity with the suffering,” he said.

“The stigmata that marked his body intimately united him to the crucified and risen One,” the pope said. Padre Pio bore the stigmata — the bleeding wounds of Christ — for half a century.

“This was always his first concern, his priestly and paternal anxiety: that people would return to God, that they could experience his mercy and, interiorly renewed, they could rediscover the beauty and joy of being Christians, of living in communion with Jesus, of belonging to his Church and practicing the Gospel,” he said.

Addressing representatives of the thousands of Padre Pio prayer groups scattered around the world, members of the Capuchin order

The Anchor

and the staff of the hospital he founded, Pope Benedict said that communion with Jesus and personal holiness always must come first in their lives.

“Many of you, religious and laity, are so involved with the thousands of tasks required by serving pilgrims or the sick in the hospital that you run the risk of overlooking what is truly necessary: listening to Christ to fulfill God’s will,” he said in his homily.

He encouraged them to follow the example of Padre Pio and seek the intercession of Mary. “Then even in the storms that come unexpectedly you can experience the breath of the Holy Spirit that is stronger than any wind,” he said.

Reciting the Angelus after Mass, Pope Benedict also offered prayers for the millions of refugees around the globe; the United Nations marked World Refugee Day June 18.

“Many people seek refuge in other countries, fleeing situations of war, persecution and calamity,” the pope said. While welcoming them can be difficult, “it is an obligation,” he said.

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 53, No. 26

Member: Catholic Press Association, Catholic News Service

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

Subscription price by mail, postpaid $14.00 per year.

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

PUBLISHER - Most Reverend George W. Coleman EXECUTIVE EDITOR Father Roger J. Landry fatherrogerlandry@anchornews.org EDITOR David B. Jolivet davejolivet@anchornews.org NEWS EDITOR Deacon James N. Dunbar jimdunbar@anchornews.org OFFICE MANAGER Mary Chase m arychase@anchornews.org ADVERTISING Wayne R. Powers waynepowers@anchornews.org REPORTER Kenneth J. Souza kensouza@anchornews.org Send Letters to the Editor to: fatherrogerlandry@anchornews.org

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

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July 3, 2009

The International Church

3

Westminster’s Catholic adoption agency to stop assessing couples

PREPARING FOR THE UNTHINKABLE — A South Korean army rocket-launch system fires during a military drill against possible attacks by North Korea at a shooting range near the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas in Cheorwon, northeast of Seoul, recently. Caritas Internationalis members in Asia said alleviating the acute suffering of the poor in North Korea, rather than military action, must be the key component to ending the current crisis. (CNS photo/Jo Yong-Hak, Reuters)

Cardinal Tauran: Relations with Muslims improve; problems remain

By John Thavis Catholic News Service

VENICE, Italy — Relations with Muslims have improved significantly in recent years, but problems remain on issues like conversion and freedom of worship, the Vatican’s top interreligious dialogue official said.

Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, said one of the biggest challenges was to make sure that the greater openness shown by Muslim leaders — the “elites” involved in dialogue — filters down to the average Muslim in the street.

So far, that does not seem to have happened, the cardinal told a conference in Venice.

Cardinal Tauran recounted an episode in Jordan that occurred a week before Pope Benedict XVI arrived to a warm official welcome from government and Islamic officials. A Christian woman fell on a street in Amman and asked passers-by for help; two Muslim women on the scene walked away, saying they could not assist an infidel, he said.

“I don’t think that’s the reaction of a good Muslim. But this is the reality on the street. On one hand we have the elites, on the other the masses,” Cardinal Tauran said.

The cardinal said that at the official level the Vatican’s various dialogues with Muslims have attained “a climate of greater trust.”

“On the part of our dialogue partners can be seen a desire to give a more positive image of Islam,” he said. Christian and Muslim leaders also are increasingly aware that cooperation is needed

to remedy secular societies’ “deafness” to God and to help build peace in the world, he said.

He cited important agreement on principles of religious freedom in statements produced by recent interreligious encounters, including the World Conference on Dialogue in Spain in 2008, which was initiated by Saudi Arabian King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz; a new Catholic-Muslim Forum at the Vatican last fall; and a ChristianMuslim encounter in Jordan in May. Participants at these meetings rejected the idea of a “clash of civilizations,” affirmed the importance of defending family values and refused the exploitation of religion for fanaticism or violence.

But the cardinal also pointed to what he said were “serious difficulties” that remain to be addressed.

For one thing, he said, even the most enlightened Muslim leaders can’t convince their fellow Muslims to accept the principle of freedom to change religions, according to one’s own conscience.

The cardinal also said that in Saudi Arabia there has been “no positive signal” on the Church’s request to obtain a place for the celebration of Sunday services for the almost two million Christians who reside in the country.

Cardinal Tauran was a key speaker at the June conference organized by Oasis, a journal launched by the Patriarchate of Venice in 2005 that deals extensively with problems of Christian minorities in the East.

The cardinal’s talk was titled

“Should We Be Afraid of Islam?” and he began by saying that it was a question on many people’s minds.

“Islam makes people afraid: It is a fact. For many people, Islam is reduced to fanaticism, holy war, terrorism, polygamy and proselytism, all preconceptions that circulate in the Western world,” he said.

But such perceptions are based primarily on ignorance, he said.

“Should we be afraid of Islam?

No, certainly not,” he said. But only dialogue allows people to overcome such fear, by informing them about the religious traditions of the others, identifying what unites and what separates them, and cooperating as much as possible in the societies where they live, he said.

LONDON (CNS) — The Catholic adoption agency of the Archdiocese of Westminster said gay rights laws have forced its key service to close.

The Catholic Children’s Society halted its assessments of couples and individuals as potential adopters and foster parents, it announced “with deep regret” in a June 19 statement.

Britain’s Sexual Orientation Regulations, created under the 2006 Equality Act to ban discrimination against gays, require all adoption agencies, regardless of their beliefs, to assess any couple who applies.

“This would mean, if we were to continue, that we would be forced to assess same-sex couples,” the statement said. “This would not meet our existing criterion that couples coming forward must be married as man and wife.

The trustees are convinced that what is best for children is that they be brought up by married couples. This is shown by research, but it is also consonant with the teaching of the Church.

“In the unanimous view of the trustees, it would be totally unacceptable for our Catholic agency to act in a way that is at odds with the teaching of the Church,” the statement added.

The agency will continue to operate its adoption support and counseling services for the many thousands of adoptions it facilitated in recent years.

Ann Widdecombe, a Catholic member of Parliament, told Catholic News Service in a

June 19 telephone interview that it was inevitable that the regulations would result in the closure of Catholic adoption agencies.

“We knew right from the start that the adoption agencies would close down,” Widdecombe said. “They cannot go against the teachings of the Church. For the sake of political intolerance, they can now no longer operate.”

The charity found new families for about 15 “difficult-toplace” children each year.

It becomes the second of 11 Catholic adoption agencies in England and Wales to end its assessment service. The Catholic Children’s Rescue Society of the Diocese of Salford, in England, closed its service in 2008.

The Westminster charity suspended its assessments January 1 pending an appeal to the Charity Tribunal by the Catholic Care adoption agency of the Diocese of Leeds, England, which asked to continue to operate according to its religious principles.

The government’s tribunal, which hears appeals of decisions by the Charity Commission, the regulatory authority, ruled against the Leeds adoption agency earlier in June.

The diocese has not formally announced what will happen to Catholic Care.

The majority of Catholic adoption agencies, which found new homes for about 250 children a year, have cut ties with the Church so they can continue to operate.

The Church in the U.S.

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July 3, 2009

Cardinal urges Boston priests to be united in sacramental brotherhood

BURLINGTON — Priests today must be inspired by the ministry of St. John Vianney, their patron saint, which was characterized by love and prayer, Boston Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley said.

He urged priests to forge a renewed fraternal unity that celebrates their shared missions of serving Christ and being shepherds for his people.

The cardinal made the comments at the Boston Archdiocese’s 2009 Presbyteral Convocation, held June 10 to help archdiocesan priests prepare for the Year for Priests, which opened June 19.

Pope Benedict XVI announced the Church’s yearlong focus in March in an effort to further appreciation and support for priests around the world.

Nearly 350 priests gathered in Burlington to share a day of brotherhood and renewed unity with Cardinal O’Malley, their archbishop. The theme of the convocation was “Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of Priests.”

Cardinal O’Malley thanked the priests for the gift of their ministry and told them that the Catholic Church today faces an environment similar to the indifference, hostility and cynicism it faced in the 19th century, the time of St. John Vianney.

“We must return to the ancient theology of a presbyterate — an intimate sacramental brotherhood, which has been replaced by a strong notion of individual ministry,” he said.

Cardinal O’Malley warned that too often divisive forces among a large number of priests lead to priests becoming private practitioners or forming tribes, causing them to lose the strength they require to fulfill the needs of the Church.

In closing, the cardinal told the priests that they must develop a

corporate sense of priestly identity and mission and become men of communion.

According to Father Richard Erikson, the Boston Archdiocese’s vicar general and moderator of the curia, the gathering was a preview of the celebrations to come in the year ahead, which he called “a year of celebrating prayer, teaching and gratitude for the precious gift of the priesthood.”

Opening the convocation was Father Brian Parrish, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Duxbury and the day’s keynote was delivered by Father Ronald Knott, director of the Institute for Priests and Presbyterates at St. Meinrad School of Theology in Indiana.

In his remarks, Father Parrish reflected on what it means to be a priest in Boston today. He said that priests must face the challenges of living alone in a rectory, a decline of the number of men entering priestly ministry, unrealistic expectations on the part of parishioners, and the “real fear” about what the future holds for priests’ health care and retirement benefits.

However, “we cannot allow our fears, anxieties, worries and the occasional difficulties we experience within our presbyterate to cripple us in our vocation to proclaim the Gospel about Jesus Christ,” Father Parrish said.

In his keynote address, titled “The Powerful Spiritual Leadership of a Unified Presbyterate,” Father Knott spoke of the importance of unity among priests and their bishop for the effectiveness of service to God’s people.

“Priests owe it to each other, to the next generation of priests and to the people they serve to become what the Church says they are: intimate sacramental brotherhoods for a common ministry,” he said.

Our Lady’s Monthly Message From Medjugorje June 25, 2009

Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina

Dear children! Rejoice with me, convert in joy and give thanks to God for the gift of my presence among you. Pray that, in your hearts, God may be in the center of your life and with your life witness, little children, so that every creature may feel God’s love. Be my extended hands for every creature, so that it may draw closer to the God of love. I bless you with my motherly blessing.

“Thank you for having responded to my call.”

Spiritual Life Center of Marian Community One Marian Way Medway, MA 02053 • Tel. 508-533-5377 Paid advertisement

A LOT ON THEIR PLATE — The “Choose Life” license plate celebrated its 10th anniversary in Florida June 10. It is the first official tag designed to encourage women with unplanned pregnancies to consider adoption as an alternative to abortion. (CNS/courtesy Choose Life, Inc .)

‘Life’ plate marks 10th year; has continually endured opposition

By Carmen Blanco Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON — Specialty license plates offer motorists a chance to express pride in sports teams, the military and a variety of organizations, and for the past 10 years a different kind of plate has promoted adoption as an alternative to abortion.

The “Choose Life” tag celebrated its 10th anniversary in Florida June 10. It is the first official tag designed to encourage women with unplanned pregnancies to consider adoption instead of abortion.

Some opponents of the plate say the view expressed on it is that of the state, not just the motorist, and feel a state shouldn’t be involved in any message about abortion, whether it is pro or con.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported 40,018 “Choose Life” tags were sold in 2008, making it the ninth highest-selling specialty tag that year among the state’s 114 tags.

Florida charges $22 for the tag but only keeps $2. The rest is distributed to adoption organizations and agencies that use the funds to provide such things as medical care, food and clothing to pregnant mothers who are committed to putting their child up for adoption.

Russ Amerling, secretary, treasurer and publicity coordinator for Choose Life Inc. told Catholic News Service that “about four years after the license plate was available, about 500 birth mothers were given funds raised by the sale of the “Choose Life” tags. I expect that by now that number is around 1,000.”

The idea for the tag came from Marion County Commissioner Randy Harris in 1996. After driving behind a vehicle with a specialty license plate, Harris envisioned one of his own that promoted adoption rather than abortion.

“We support the idea of choosing life in every situation,” said Amerling. “Our message is there to get the word out about adoption and to raise the level of discussion.”

In 1997, Harris established Choose Life Inc. and by June 1999 his “Choose Life” license plate was signed into law by then-Gov. Jeb Bush. Currently, the tag is available in 18 other states. It also has also been approved in five additional states, including Virginia, where the license plate is scheduled to make its debut in July.

Mailee Smith, counsel for Americans United for Life, told CNS: “Organizations that are Pro-Life are in a position where they are caring for the emotional

state of women. This plate allows people to give funds to these organizations who are caring for women. Pro-choice organizations are not giving women a choice unless it involves abortion.”

Organizations that believe a woman should have a right to choose abortion such as the National Organization for Women, Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights are in contention with Choose Life Inc.’s Pro-Life license plate.

Other groups find fault with the tag’s slogan, preferring it specify a pro-adoption stance, but Smith does not feel that a slogan change will appease opponents.

“Pro-choice groups are given an equal opportunity to apply for and obtain a license plate of their own yet they never do,” she said.

“They want to inhibit the ‘Choose Life’ viewpoint without even trying to obtain a license plate of their own.”

Though the Pro-Life license plate has resulted in fierce legal disputes in many states, Sister Clare Hunter, a Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist and director of the Respect Life office of the Arlington Diocese in Virginia, has not seen the intensity of opposition present in such states as California, Florida and Illinois though there is some dissatisfaction.

“I think everyone values freedom and life and we all want to promote it,” Sister Hunter said.

“I think that pro-choice groups also agree that taking a life is not a good thing and that this should be a universal attitude we all hold.

The slogan ‘Choose Life’ is such a positive message that can encourage people and is one that is nonthreatening and shouldn’t incite any type of violence.”

Massachusetts residents who want Pro-Life license plates can find out pertinent information to register by contacting www. machoose-life.org.

The Church in the U.S.

July 3, 2009

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State plan to pay for eggs used in research called ‘grossly unethical’

PRAYING FOR VICTIMS — Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl speaks at a prayer service in front of Metro headquarters in Washington June 23. The service was held to pray for those who died or were injured in the Washington subway system’s deadliest accident the day before. Nine were killed and nearly 80 injured when a train collided into the rear of another June 22. (CNS photo/Rafael Crisostomo)

Pace of parish closings in U.S. has quickened in past 20 years

So in those regions, some WASHINGTON (CNS) — The Pittsburgh reorganizaParish closings are nothing new U.S. parishes are big and get- tion also was subject to appeals in the history of the U.S. Catho- ting bigger, almost on the scale to Vatican courts, which ruled in lic Church, but the pace of clo- of “megaparishes,” according to each appeal that Bishop Wuerl, sures and mergers has acceler- Gautier. now the archbishop of WashingAnother factor in parish clos- ton, acted in accordance with ated over the past 20 years, as several factors have converged. ings has been a smaller number Church law.

One factor has been the of priests available for parish Parish closings announced in shrinking population base of ministry, along with the higher 2004 in the Archdiocese of Boscosts of maintaining aging par- ton continue to generate rancor, many parishes.

Catholic families in the city ish physical plants. In some as some parish properties closed and country have fewer children parishes, the sole priest often by the archdiocese remain occunow than they did two genera- doubled as the boiler engineer pied by members of those parto save money. tions ago. ishes.

In urban areas, the The archdiocese, nother factor in parish clos- which was still reeling post-World War II baby boom, accompanied by ings has been a smaller number from the clergy sexual economic expansion, of priests available for parish ministry, abuse scandal that exled people to forsake there in 2002, along with the higher costs of maintain- ploded crowded city neighborannounced that 70 of hoods for new suburban ing aging parish physical plants. In some its 357 parishes would developments. And in parishes, the sole priest often doubled as be shut down as part rural areas, as economic the boiler engineer to save money. of a “reconfiguration.” opportunities dried up, In the end, 63 of the 70 younger generations were suppressed.

One of the first large waves found them in metropolitan arAt a 2006 press conference, of closures in the U.S. occurred Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of eas.

And in the 1960s, racial un- in the Archdiocese of Detroit Boston said parishes were not rest spurred white flight by peo- in 1988, when a plan to shutter closed merely to raise revenue. ple of all faiths from cities, and 46 of 114 city parishes was unAging clergy, the cost of veiled.

Catholics were no exception. building maintenance and the Although the number of par- close proximity of many parReleased this March, the third American Religious Iden- ishes to be closed was trimmed ishes necessitated many parish tification Survey conducted by to 31 in 1989 — with another closings, he added. The carTrinity College of Hartford, five closed the following year dinal also said that no money Conn., found that the U.S. Cath- — outraged Catholics protest- from the sale of closed churcholic population has shifted away ed, rallied against their Church es or from parish collections from the Northeast toward the leaders and filed appeals in civil was used to pay for abuse court in Detroit and Church settlements or for the ongoing Southwest.

Catholics in immigrant com- courts at the Vatican. Their ap- support of victims. munities in the Northeast and peals ultimately failed.

Although dioceses with large The Detroit closures ranked urban cores have had to face industrial Midwest “insisted that their kids get a good edu- in the top-10 news stories among shrinking numbers of Catholics cation,” but once educated, Catholic News Service client and parishes, rural dioceses are “kids didn’t stay where the editors in 1988 and ‘89. not exempt.

In 1990, the Archdiocese traditional immigrant families For example, in 2004, the Diwere,” according to Mary Gau- of Chicago closed 52 parishes. ocese of Fargo, N.D., announced tier, a senior research associate Cardinal Joseph L. Bernardin that it would close 33 parishes by at the Center for Applied Re- of Chicago said it needed to be the end of 2010. Bishop Samuel search in the Apostolate, based done to help address a $28.9 J. Aquila of Fargo said populaat Georgetown University in million deficit the archdiocese tion shifts and declines account had sustained the year before.

Washington. for the closings.

A

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (CNS) — An official of the New York State Catholic Conference has criticized as “grossly unethical, dangerous and exploitative” a plan that allows state funds to be paid to women who donate their eggs for research purposes.

The move was approved June 11 by the Empire State Stem Cell Board, which oversees $600 million in New York taxpayer funds earmarked for stem-cell research.

Kathleen Gallagher, director of Pro-Life activities for the conference, which represents the state’s bishops in public-policy matters, said the plan “treats women’s body parts as commodities.”

New York is the only state in the nation thus far to decide to pay women for their eggs, she added.

The stem-cell board approved payments of up to $10,000 for each retrieval, which Gallagher said surely will be tempting for low-income women who are struggling to support themselves and their families. Yet she noted that the retrieval process can be painful and has been linked to health risks and loss of fertility.

“In this economy people are desperate,” she said. “Vulnerable women should not be coerced into risking their health and their lives for speculative science with speculative benefits.”

Father Thomas Berg, a priest of the New York Archdiocese who is executive director of the Catholic think tank Westchester Institute for Ethics and the Human Person in Thornwood, N.Y., agreed that the plan will be most exploitative of low-income women. A member of the stem-cell board’s Ethics Committee, Father Berg voiced his opposition to the plan during the June 11 meeting but was outvoted.

“I can assure you, it won’t be the upper-class set who responds to

state inducement and risks potentially life-threatening side-effects of human egg harvesting; it will be the vulnerable classes of cashstrapped and college-aged women who will be exploited by the state in this scheme,” Father Berg said in a June 12 statement.

Researchers want access to larger quantities of eggs so they can create more human embryos for research purposes, Gallagher told the Catholic Courier, Rochester diocesan newspaper, June 12, but adult stem cells have thus far shown much more promise for medical uses than have embryonic stem cells.

“In a desperate quest and unprecedented measure to obtain women’s eggs to create embryos for research purposes, New York will waste taxpayers’ money on unproven science, and women who take the bait will be risking their health and future fertility,” Father Berg said.

Gallagher said the Catholic conference has drafted a bill that would overturn the board decision by prohibiting payment for eggs.

She has been meeting with state legislators to garner support for the bill, but said she did not expect the Senate or Assembly to act on the bill before the legislative session’s scheduled end June 22. However, she said the Catholic conference will promote its bill in the next legislative session.

“Payments to women for the extraction of their eggs crosses an ethical line that New Yorkers should not be forced to finance,” Gallagher said.

“Regardless of one’s position on embryonic stem-cell research, we can all agree that women should not be exploited by researchers, with state approval,” she added.

“The Legislature should step in now to ban payments for eggs.”

6

The Anchor The foundations of our freedom

Most Americans can cite or at least paraphrase by memory the celebrated phrase of the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” It goes on to say that governments are instituted precisely in order to protect these rights and that they lose their legitimacy when they become destructive of them.

A little over a month ago in the nation’s capital, Princeton Professor Robert George explored what the consequences of this self-evident equality need to be with respect to human life and to the legitimacy of public policy positions. He did so within the context of a debate with Pepperdine Professor Douglas Kmiec — President Obama’s most prominent Catholic Pro-Life supporter — on the president’s actions and statements with regard to abortion. We do not have the space in this editorial, no matter how small we shrink the font, to include all the points of the debate, which can be found in both text and video format in multiple locations on the web. What we’d like to do, however, is to focus on what Professor George said in his opening remarks with respect to how much President Obama’s thoughts on human rights and dignity diverge not only from the Catholic understanding but from what our founding fathers affirmed in the Declaration.

George’s words are a poignant reminder for us, as we prepare to celebrate the 233rd anniversary of the signing of that Declaration tomorrow, of the necessary foundations for our freedoms.

They also provide much to consider for all Catholics and all Pro-Lifers who in general share the president’s ideas.

“As someone dedicated to the principle that every member of the human family possesses profound, inherent, and equal dignity,” George begins, “[I] find myself at odds — deeply at odds — with President Obama and his administration. Professor Kmiec and I share common ground in the belief that every member of the human family — irrespective of race, class, and ethnicity, but also irrespective of age, size, location, stage of development or condition of dependency — is entitled to our care and respect and to the equal protection of our laws. This is what it means to be Pro-Life.

“I appreciated the president’s candor at Notre Dame when he said: ‘I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away. Because no matter how much we may want to fudge it ... the fact is that at some level the views of the two camps are irreconcilable.’ The president is right. His view regarding the status, dignity, and rights of the child in the womb, and the view shared by Professor Kmiec and myself, are irreconcilable. A chasm separates those of us who believe that every living human being possesses profound, inherent, and equal dignity, and those who, for whatever reasons, deny it. The issue really cannot be fudged, as people sometimes try to do by imagining that there is a dispute about whether it is really a human being who is dismembered in a dilation and curettage abortion, or whose skin is burned off in a saline abortion, or the base of whose skull is pierced and whose brains are sucked out in a dilation and extraction (or ‘partial birth’) abortion. That issue has long been settled — and it was settled not by religion or philosophy, but by the sciences of human embryology and developmental biology.

“What divides us as a nation, and what divides Barack Obama, on one side, from Robert George and Douglas Kmiec, on the other, is not whether the being whose life is taken in abortion and in embryo-destructive research is a living individual of the human species — a human being; it is whether all human beings, or only some, possess fundamental dignity and a right to life. Professor Kmiec and I affirm, and the president denies, that every human being, even the youngest, the smallest, the weakest and most vulnerable at the very dawn of their lives, has a life which should be respected and protected by law. The president holds, and we deny, that those in the embryonic and fetal stages of human development may rightly and freely be killed because they are unwanted or potentially burdensome to others, or because materials obtained by dissecting them may be useful in biomedical research.

“The president speaks of human rights, and I do not question his sincerity. But he does not understand the concept of human rights, as Professor Kmiec and I do, to refer to rights — above all the right to life — that all human beings possess simply by virtue of our humanity. For the president, being human is not enough to qualify someone as the bearer of a right to life. Professor Kmiec and I, by contrast, believe that every member of the human family, simply by virtue of his or her humanity, is truly created equal. We reject the idea that is at the foundation of President Obama’s position on abortion and human embryo-destructive research, namely, that those of us who are equal in worth and dignity are equal by virtue of some attribute other than our common humanity — some attribute that unborn children have not yet acquired, justifying others in treating them, despite their humanity, as non-persons, as objects or property, even as disposable material for use in biomedical research.

“President Obama knows that an unborn baby is human. He knows that the blood shed by the abortionist’s knife is human blood, that the bones broken are human bones. What he … continues to deny, is the fundamental equality of that child — equality with those of us who are safely born and accepted into the human community. … Professor Kmiec and I believe in the equal fundamental rights of all, including the equality of mother and child. We recognize that women with undesired pregnancies can undergo serious hardships, and we believe that a just and caring society will concern itself with the well-being of mothers as well as their children. … President Obama holds a different view. He has made clear his own conviction that the equality of women depends on denying the equality and rights of the children they carry. He has made what is, from the Pro-Life point of view, the tragic error of supposing that the equality of one class of human beings can and must be purchased by denial of the equality of another.… The president does not believe in the profound, inherent, and equal dignity of every member of the human family; … he does not believe that babies acquire human rights until after birth; … [and] he does not see abortion as tragic because it takes the life of an innocent human being.”

Over the course of our nation’s history, we realized that human dignity and rights, if they’re unalienable, cannot be dependent on a human being’s sex or skin color. We still need to learn that neither can they be dependent on a human being’s age, size, genetic traits, the circumstances of their conception or who wants them.

As we prepare to celebrate tomorrow the Declaration of Independence and the freedoms and nation to which it helped give birth, let us commit ourselves anew to upholding, protecting and advancing the fundamental rights it describes, and to defending those who by their human nature and dignity are natural bearers of those unalienable rights.

July 3, 2009

Learning from heroes

I begin today a series of articles on St. John for 39 years, had just suddenly disappeared. He Vianney, the Curé or pastor of Ars, who was had initially out of weakness taken the schisdeclared by Pope Pius XI in 1929 the patron matic oath, but then, persuaded by his curate saint of parish priests and who, during this Year and the young clergy of the diocese, he came of the Priesthood, Pope Benedict will declare to repent of his action and publicly disavowed the patron saint of all priests. it, leading to his removal. The new schismatic Just over a month from now, on August 4, bishop appointed a new juror-pastor, but the Viwe will celebrate the 150th anniversary of St. anneys, like many families, did not know what John Vianney’s birth into eternal life. A centu- was occurring and in good faith continued to go ry-and-a-half may seem a long time ago. It’s an to Mass as normal. era before refrigeration, light bulbs, televisions, They did begin to observe some changes, computers, cars, planes, and modern medicine. however. First, the homilies were different. InIt’s a time before the Civil War. Yet, in terms of stead of the themes they had been accustomed the larger issues of world and Church history, it to hearing on being a good disciple, on obeying is not so long ago at all, because France at that the Ten Commandments, on being salt, light time was grappling with issues flowing from and leaven, they started to get heavy doses on the French Revolution that will seem to us very being a good citizen, on obeying the constitumodern since they still constitute the dominant tion, and on living civic virtues. Secondly, those themes regarding the organization of society, attending with them were different. There were the Church, and human life today. For that rea- many well-dressed people whom they had nevson, we can learn a lot about how to approach er seen at church before who now were showthese issues from the reaction God inspired St. ing up each week; on the other hand, many of John Vianney to make in his lifetime. the regulars with whom they had worshipped Unlike many of the great saints in history, side-by-side for years were now absent. who are known, loved and admired by CathoEventually a relative who came to visit, lics of all backgrounds and states of life, St. John upon learning that they were still attending Vianney is someone with whom most priests Sunday Mass at the Dardilly parish, expressed are very familher horror and iar and most lay brought them people almost toup to speed on tally unfamiliar. recent developWhat I hope to ments. She exdo in this series plained about is first, to make the oath and him better known how their new

By Father and loved, and pastor, in taking Roger J. Landry second, to draw it, had separated lessons from his himself from the life, vocation, Catholic Church priestly example and preaching, to inspire and was not their true pastor. The good priests, and help all of us to live our faith today with a she continued, had refused to take it, and were zeal and courage similar to his. now being persecuted. Several of them had reWhen I consider the roots of the heroism St. mained at great risk, incognito as carpenters or John Vianney displayed as pastor of Ars, I can- cooks, to minister to their spiritual needs. It was not help thinking back to what he observed as to these, she told them, that they needed to go. a young child growing up in Dardilly in southAnd so the Vianneys began participating eastern France. in the underground Church of southeastern A few months before he had turned five, the France. Once it was nightfall, they would head notorious “Civil Constitution of the Clergy,” out in darkness and total silence to a place, offlowing from the most-anticlerical factions of ten several miles away, where they were told the French Revolution, started to be enforced. Mass was going to be held. There were always In addition to severing allegiance to the pope, people on the lookout for such pilgrim bands suppressing 57 dioceses and having the popu- leading them to a priest who, if turned over to lace — including non-Catholics — elect their the authorities, would gain them a reward of 100 local bishops and their parish priests, it re- francs. When they eventually arrived at a dark quired every bishop and priest to take a writ- barn or barely illuminated house, they would ten oath “to be loyal to the nation, the law, and find a priest aged beyond his years praying in to the king, and to support with all his power front of a makeshift altar or hearing confessions the constitution decreed by the National As- in the corner of a room. The priest would ofsembly and accepted by the king.” Since many ten have to bless marriages before celebrating aspects of the constitution were in direct viola- Mass with the help of dim flame. tion of truths of the faith and of ecclesiastical The Vianneys, over time, would occasionlaw, priests and bishops were being asked, in ally host the forbidden Mass and hide the proessence, to make the civil constitution, rather hibited celebrants. If they were caught harborthan the law of God, the supreme rule of his ing such priests, the penalty was confiscation life. of property and banishment. To decrease susThe penalties for non-compliance became picion, they, like all good Catholics, would orincreasingly severe. At first they involved los- dinarily hide their crucifixes, statues and other ing their parishes, their faculties to preach pious objects, taking them out secretly only to publicly and their income. Then they grew to pray. The young John Vianney had a tiny statue include imprisonment and forced exile to far- of Our Lady that he learned to treasure and use away islands like Guyana. Eventually those in this way. who continued to disobey and avoid capture, This was the context in which young John when caught, would be executed at the guil- Vianney began to consider the priesthood. He lotine within 24 hours without the possibility witnessed first-hand not only the heroic exof an appeal. The Lyons Guillotine was ad- ample of priests who would risk everything ministered by an apostate priest named Joseph to bring them Christ, but also the faith of his Fouché who presided over the execution of 130 family, who with him would put everything on brother priests with a ferocity that stunned even the line to attend Mass, knowing that what they the bloodthirsty Robespierre. would receive in the Mass was far greater than About 50 percent of priests ended up taking everything they might lose if caught. the oath. Most of the other 50 percent — called Later on in life, John Vianney would re“non-jurors” or “refractory” priests — left the member with emotion his first confession made country lest they violate their faith. Thirty of to one of these heroic priests at the foot of the the réfractaires, however, remained in the area clock in the Vianney living room. He would around Lyons, at the risk of their lives, to care also recall making his first Communion with for the pastoral needs of the faithful under the 14 others in a house of a neighbor while their brutal regime change. fathers were unloading hay outside the drawn At first the Vianney Family, who were pious windows as a decoy. farmers, were oblivious to what was going on These were all lessons he would never foraround them. They continued to attend Mass at get. their parish Church in Dardilly. They didn’t reFather Landry is pastor of St. Anthony of ally know why Father Jacques Rey, their pastor Padua Parish in New Bedford.

Putting Into the Deep

B

Exclusive: Pope Benedict XVI interviews Father Yewdew

does this? Father, you do.’”

16 — “Welcome, Father.

B 16 — “Tell me, Father, how As you know, I’ve deyou discerned a priestly vocaclared a Year of the Priesthood.

I want to learn more about what it means to be a simple parish priest Year of the Priesthood these days. I’m meeting Vocational Reflection privately with individual priests from around the world.”

By Father Me — “I’m very Timothy J. Goldrick nervous, Your Graciousness.” tion?”

B 16 — “That’s Your HoliMe — “I was a junior in high ness.” school, trying to figure out what Me — “Excuse me, Your to do with my life. My ScholasHoliness. I’m overwhelmed by tic Aptitude Test suggested I be all this.”

B 16 — “I understand. ‘Yewd- either a clergyman or an automobile mechanic. One day, praying ew’ is an unusual surname.” alone in the church, God spoke to Me — “It’s a misnomer. me. God said I should consider Whenever I asked a parishioner priesthood. who did what in the parish, they B 16 — “You heard voices?” would say, ‘Father Yewdew.’ At Me — “Not actual voices. It first, I suspected I had an unseen was a message I heard with my assistant with tremendous talent heart, not my ears.” and energy, but then I realized B 16 — “What did you do?” parishioners were saying, ‘Who

W

7

The Anchor

July 3, 2009

Me — “I went and knocked at the door of the rectory to see my pastor.”

B 16 — “What did your pastor say?”

Me — “He scolded me for using the back door and sent around to the office entrance.”

B 16 — “Then what?”

Me — “I was sent to meet with a diocesan official. He welcomed me warmly and asked me questions.

I was so nervous I could hardly remember my name. When he asked me why I wanted to be a priest, I was tongue-tied. I really didn’t know why I felt called. My answer was less than inspiring.

I mumbled, ‘To help people?’ I thought for sure I had failed the interview, but I hadn’t. He was very understanding.”

B 16 — “Then what?”

Me — “I lacked credits in Latin, so I was sent to a college offering four years of intensive

Bye, I’m Billy Mays!

hew, what a week. It he lampooned himself, were seemed celebrities were instant classics. dropping like flies. First Ed McEach of the four celebs have Mahon, next Farrah Fawcett, then left a lasting mark on their profesthe stunning news about Michael sion. There will never be another Jackson, and then, of all people Billy Mays.

As a teen I stayed up nightly with McMahon as Johnny Carson’s sidekick on the “Tonight Show.”

Always with a laugh, genuBy Dave Jolivet ine or not, Ed kept things lively — as dynamic a duo as Laurel and Hardy, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, sidekick like McMahon; Fawcett and Tarzan and Cheetah. emerged from a glamour girl to “Charlie’s Angels” was all the an accomplished actress; Jackrage on the airwaves in the 70s, son took the pop world to new with Farrah as the radiant Jill heights; and no one will ever pitch Munroe. Although, I was much more partial to Kate Jackson, aka Sabrina Duncan. And truth be told, Farrah’s famous poster never adorned my bedroom wall.

As a youngster, the Jackson Five were one of my favorite groups, with spunky Michael taking the lead. I was only two years older than Michael, and was in awe of his voice and his moves.

As his musical career progressed, so did his musical and production talents, but after a while he became a bit too much for my liking, and I stopped keeping tabs on him.

But for me, the worst of last week’s tragedies was Billy Mays.

Emilie and I were big Billy fans.

Whenever one of his commercials came on we would, in unison, shout “Hi, I’m Billy Mays.” His new ESPN commercials, where

My View From the Stands

a product with as much verve and fun as Billy Mays.

I don’t know how they lived their personal lives, and what to believe in the press, but I do pray for their souls. They weren’t heroes — to me that word is saved for more deserving candidates. But they were fine entertainers and for that many of us are grateful.

I hope they were reconciled with God when the time came.

Meanwhile, we can do without another week like last week. Let’s start with an OxiClean slate. And if you call within the next five minutes ....

Latin study as well as my major in philosophy.”

B 16 — “Did the Latin course prove helpful to you?”

Me — “I learned Latin inside out. Shortly after I graduated, though, the Mass changed from Latin to English. I never used the Latin.”

B 16 — “Now you can, Father. How did you find your study of theology?”

Me — “Quite frankly, Your Beatitude, I found it boring. It seemed so intellectual. It did not speak to my heart. To me, faith begins in the heart, not in the mind. Things in the seminary have now changed, I understand.”

B 16 — “That’s Your Holiness. What do you remember most about your ordination to the priesthood?”

Me — “What touched me most during the ceremony was lying on the floor of the cathedral while the People of God invoked the Litany of the Saints. ‘Pray for us,’ they beseeched. This struck me as apropos. With me as a priest, they needed all the help they could get.”

B 16 — “Do you like being a priest?”

Me — “Very much so. I know without a doubt that God intends me to be a priest. The highlight of my days is presiding at Eucharist. I’m invited to be present at the most intimate times in people’s lives — at their wedding, at the birth of their children, in times of sickness, and at the moment of death. I am exactly who and where I am supposed to be.

This fills me with gratitude and

joy, as well as humility. I am not worthy.”

B 16 — “Have you changed since your early days in the seminary?”

Me — “People tell me this all the time. It’s due to the grace of God. I’m now able, for the most part, to do what I feared most: I’m able to preach, to write and to teach. God accomplishes these works in me. I’m in awe at the power of the Holy Spirit bestowed in the sacrament of ordination.”

B 16 — “I read The Anchor.

The Vatican Library subscribes.

If you don’t mind my saying so, your life seems very ordinary.

How many parish assignments have you had?”

Me — “Sometimes God uses the ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary. I’ve been assigned to 15 parishes in 37 years. This past year, I’ve served as pastor of three different parishes — without even leaving my house. I once asked diocesan officials why I was getting all these assignments. I don’t remember ever taking a vow of instability. Was I a bad priest?

I was told the opposite was the case.”

B 16 — “Thank you. There’s a priest from Mongolia waiting to see me now.”

Me — “My pleasure, Your Serenity.”

B 16 — “NEXT!” In my dreams.

Father Goldrick was ordained in 1972 and is pastor of St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dighton.

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8

T

he celebration of our nation’s independence brings to mind the story about a soldier who was serving his term of duty on the battlefield.

He kept getting nagging letters from his wife back home. One day, his patience completely exhausted, the soldier fired a letter back to her. “Quit nagging me,” he wrote, “and let me enjoy this war in peace.” That sounds like an absurd contradiction — but it really isn’t. There is a hint of something here about life that is worth considering.

It is difficult to know where the notion got started, but the American Dream seems to be that of being happy. When our forefathers penned the Declaration of Independence, they affirmed the right of every citizen in this land to “pursue” happiness. That is an admirable goal; but we can have some strange ideas of what constitutes happiness.

It could be that we don’t truly understand the meaning of the word and thus spend our time looking for the wrong thing.

July 3, 2009

Pursuing the American Dream

Webster’s Dictionary suggests own revelations and attempting that the word comes from an to draw in their own followers older meaning, “to be fortunate, through charismatic speech, all lucky or favored by circumdone at the expense of caring for stance.” Happiness, in its strictthe needy. Paul feels compelled est definition, appears to mean a to defend himself in his prosense of wellbeing based upon phetic role. The Gospel presents one’s outer situation. If that’s Jesus returning home from his what we are seeking, no wonder travels. He begins preaching to we can’t find it. There is no place on earth where everything is tranquil. If Homily of the Week we can find any peace at Fourteenth Sunday all, we will have to find it in Ordinary Time under pressure. It’s peace in the middle of war, or

By Deacon no peace at all. Our readArthur Lachance ings today demonstrate this.

In our first reading the his neighbors, but no one listens prophet Ezekiel is sent to bring to him. Amazed at their lack of the news to his own people that faith, he is “unable to perform if they do not repent — if they any mighty deeds there.” do not turn back to the covenant Of course, the real question with their God — they are is, “How do we manage to find doomed. Ezekiel and his mespeace in a world of muddled sage are not warmly received. confusion?” A closer look at St. Paul writes to the church in these stories and we discover Corinth. The Christian commuthey contain significant clues to nity there was a mess — false the pursuit of happiness. Ezeprophets were challenging Paul’s kiel does not focus on being the authority, boasting about their unwelcome herald of bad news.

Instead of feeling frightened and weak, he knows that he goes armed by the Word of God. He has all the power in the world. St. Paul, instead of fighting with his opponents, or despairing of his situation, adopts a faith stance of humility and weakness. All he can do, he says, is “boast of my weakness,” knowing that God would give him the grace to be strong. The “thorn in the flesh” was for Paul a gift to keep him somehow aware of his insufficiency, tied to Christ and the power of his grace. In this way of weakness and reliance, Paul reveals that his happiness is “not about me,” but about God and serving God’s reign.

Jesus simply departs and goes elsewhere to teach. It is easy to understand Jesus’ confidence; he knew he was right — dead right — and no matter what anyone said or did his cause would prevail. He was at peace.

It is not what they were doing; it is whom they are called to serve that makes the differ-

ence. Deep inside of all of us, God has placed an inner voice.

It’s a quiet voice, so quiet that many of us have allowed it to be crowded out and distorted by the clatter of a noisy world. There are times, however, when every distraction needs to be shut out and that inner voice heard. If we listen carefully, that voice will be pointing the direction, saying this is what we ought to do and what we ought to be. If we are obedient to that calling, nothing can get to us. There comes an inner confidence, which not even the shouting of a jeering world can shake, and we can weather any war in peace.

And more importantly, we don’t have to spend our lives pursuing happiness. If we know we are doing what we ought to do and being what we ought to be, we will be filled with happiness where we are — and the elusive American Dream will be ours.

Deacon Lachance serves at Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich. He and his wife Julie have three children; Jason, Eric, and Bethany.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. July 4, Gn 27:1-5,15-29; Ps 135:1-6; Mt 9: 14-17. Sun. July 5, Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Ez 2:2-5; Ps 123:1-4; 2 Cor 12:7-10; Mk 6:1-6a.

Mon. July 6, Gn 28:10-22a; Ps 91:1-4,14-15; Mt 9:18-26. Tues. July 7, Gn 32:23-33; Ps 17:1-3,6-8,15: Mt 9:32-38. Wed. July 8, Gn 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17-24a; Ps 33:2-3, 10-11,18-19; Mt 10:1-7. Thu. July 9, Gn 44:18-21,23b-29;45:1-5; Ps 105:16-21; Mt 10:7-15. Fri. July 10, Gn 46:1-7,28-30; Ps 37:3-4,18-19,27-28, 39-40; Mt 10:16-23.

D

ear Dr. Diaz: Congratulations on your nomination as U.S. ambassador to the Holy See. Having worked on a bipartisan basis with seven of your predecessors, in both calm and turbulent times, I’ve some ideas I hope might be of use to you. Permit me to share them publicly, as I think they shed some light on what the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See is, and isn’t, for your fellowCatholics in the U.S. 1. My first point sounds pedestrian but isn’t: Resist all efforts by State Department bean-counters to relocate the functions of Embassy-Vatican to the campus of the U.S. Embassy

An open letter to Dr. Diaz

to Italy. The bean-counters will don were particularly successargue this on fiscal and security ful in having Embassy-Vatican grounds; both are nonsense. The foster serious reflection in Rome Holy See deeply (and rightly) on international human rights resents such cheese-paring, law, development aid, and reliespecially from major powers. gious freedom. That’s a tradiDefend your turf, and keep your tion worth continuing. In doing post independent of Embassyso, and in nurturing your own Italy. You can be their friend; don’t be their tenant.

2. As a theologian, you’ll want to cultivate intellectual contacts in Rome — as several of

By George Weigel your predecessors have done, and to good effect for the U.S.-Vatican relationship. Ambassadors Jim scholarship, permit the observaNicholson and Mary Ann Glention that the real intellectual energy in Rome these days is not so much at the older centers of higher learning — the Gregorian University and the Angelicum — but at the newer foundations: the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross and the Pontifical Atheneum Regina Apostolorum.

3. Always remember Benjamin Franklin’s response when the Holy See inquired of Franklin, then ambassador to France, about the views of President Washington’s administration on the appointment of a Catholic bishop in the new United States. Franklin replied that such an appointment was not the government’s business.

The Catholic Difference

As representatives of that same government, all your predecessors have rigorously avoided entanglement in the internal affairs of the Catholic Church in the United States during their years at Embassy-Vatican — including any involvement whatsoever in the delicate matter of the appointment of bishops. The pattern from Benjamin Franklin to Mary Ann Glendon is constant and sound. I’m sure you’ll agree there’s no need to tinker with it.

4. A parallel point involves your activities at home during your time as U.S. ambassador to the Holy See. In thinking through this facet of your responsibilities, it might help if you imagined yourself a career foreign service officer taking up an ambassadorial post, rather than a political appointee.

A senior foreign service officer serving as a U.S. ambassador abroad will have certain constituencies here in America: ethnic groups from the country to which he or she is assigned; trade associations; businesses; advocacy groups interested in the country in question. Meeting with such groups to discuss mutual concerns, either at the embassy abroad or in the U.S., is a normal part of the job. Being an

advocate for specific policies of the administration you represent is not. I hope the Obama administration understands that using you as a partisan surrogate with Catholic audiences in the U.S. would be poorly received by the Holy See, as it would under any American administration. If this is not understood by your superiors, please explain it to them.

5. Find things on which the administration and the Holy See agree and concentrate on those. Yours is a difficult task, in that the administration you serve and the Holy See are at cross-purposes on several core Vatican issues in international arenas, such as the right to life.

That was the fate of another of your predecessors, Ambassador Lindy Boggs. She made her mission a success by focusing on areas of agreement. It was a wise tack to take in 1997; it would be a wise tack in 2009.

6. Take your family on the Lenten “station church” pilgrimage led by the North American College: a great way to learn the city, and a great way to pray.

Buon viaggio e buona fortuna. (“Safe trip, and good luck.”)

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

Going, going, gone

junkyard dog has taken a liking Friday 3 July 2009 — Raynto me. Go figure. Free roaming ham — Dog Days of summer is fine for chickens but not for officially begin dogs. My dog Lolo doesn’t like hen parishioners tell me I’m going to the dogs, as they sometimes do, I always agree. My breed of Reflections of a choice is the greyhound.

Parish Priest My three rescued dogs fit in well here. There

By Father Tim are two dogs living Goldrick next-door to the rectory (an amicable golden strange dogs roaming his terriretriever and a yappy little dog tory. Lolo runs from window to that jumps up and down like a window, barking loudly at the madman on a pogo stick) and three dogs residing in the house interloper. Lolo goes loco.

I sometimes hear the screech beside the church (two more of brakes as passing cars try to frou-frou dogs and a fierce avoid the renegade mutt. I hold doberman.) There’s a “dog permy breath, awaiting a deadly son’s” house at the end of the thump. There is no leash law church parking lot, and another behind the Parish Life Center (a in the Town of Dighton, but there soon may be. This is fine beagle lives there). Across the with me. My hounds are never street is a mangy free-roaming German shepherd mix. This old off-leash, except in a secure

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The Anchor

July 3, 2009

The Ship’s Log

enclosure. A greyhound on the loose is a dead greyhound.

A greyhound racetrack is located a short distance away.

You would think that in such a dog-friendly area, rabbits would take up residence elsewhere.

The fact that the place is crawling with rabbits does not speak well of rabbit intelligence.

Once out the door, the first thing my dogs do is scan the yard. Greyhounds are very fond of rabbits, but not in a good way. Should there be some harebrain rabbit munching grass on the lawn, the dogs will pull me down the stairs in hot pursuit. So far, I have been able to restrain the dogs and not fall on my head (or on anything else.)

The rabbit, meanwhile, just stares and continues munching.

Rabbits who taunt greyhounds live dangerously.

A year of grace

ment of confession); but, God t first glance, it would willing, by the end of this appear that a column time of grace we will have a for women might not have far deeper appreciation for the much to say about the Cathowider, often hidden oblation to lic priesthood, but such an which these remarkable men assumption would be gravely are called. wrong. All souls are interWhile priests can easily get twined in their collaborative bogged down in parish details efforts at living virtue and achieving heaven. Furthermore, and financial challenges, their vocation is ultimately “directed vocations rise and fall together at the unfolding of the bap— meaning that when families thrive, vocations to the priesthood and religious life prosper, and when one segment of the Church encounters setbacks, the wider communion suffers as a

By Genevieve Kineke consequence.

One need not illustrate the point that all tismal grace of all Christians. vocations at present need rejuThe ministerial priesthood is a venation, encouragement, and means by which Christ undivine assistance. Pope Benedict ceasingly builds up and leads has chosen to petition God for his Church” (CCC, 1547). If the essential light and leaven priests occasionally lose sight needed by the whole Church by of this, the lay faithful should concentrating on the priesthood. not add to their burden by For this we are enormously pulling them off task or failing grateful and filled with hope for to appreciate the “gift and mysthe Mystical Body. tery” that Christ bequeathed to Priests are indispensable to us on Holy Thursday. the faithful, who depend on the A man called to holy orders graces of the sacraments that is asked to imitate Christ in a only those in holy orders can tangible way, being “present provide. While some adminto his Church as head of his istrative functions can be delegated, authentic priestly duties Body, shepherd of his flock, high priest of the redemptive cannot — the most obvious sacrifice, teacher of the truth” being confecting the Eucharist (CCC, 1548). This may not and absolving our sins. At the sound very tangible to those outset of this extraordinary absorbed in secular pursuits, year, we might be hard-pressed financial hardships or medical to expand beyond those two ordeals — but it is more subitems (and even wonder at their worth, in this age of slack Mass stantial than what we consider the most concrete reality. It is attendance and near abandon-

The Feminine Genius

reality — the reality that matters, the reality that grounds all our other actions and gives transcendent meaning to every life. It is precisely by losing sight of this that we’ve come to our present morass.

As we consider the long history of salvation, we see in hindsight that God has revealed a plan that unfolds according to the nature of those he uses to bring it forth.

Some are beautifully docile, some are more distracted, and others simply delay in taking him seriously. The Holy Spirit is always at work, and he has led Pope Benedict to turn our attention towards the priesthood. Therefore, we trust that through our prayer, study and deeper appreciation of holy orders, all of society can be uplifted and the greater culture enhanced if we participate fully.

Priests come from families where women have a great influence — for better or worse.

Priests minister to families, and women can facilitate that work — or hinder it. As living icons of Christ the eternal bridegroom, priests seek to serve holy Mother Church — and women who learn to receive their gifts will enrich the wider Church by giving flesh to the radiant bride herself. Imagine the limitless graces in that truth.

Mrs. Kineke is the author of “The Authentic Catholic Woman” (Servant Books). She can be found online at www. feminine-genius.com.

Once the whacky rabbit decides to play it safe and disappear, the situation is under control. I stand with the dogs on the front lawn as they sniff around for the critter.

I’m out in the yard several times a day. I live on a busy street. As cars pass morning, noon, and night, the drivers often blow their horns and wave.

I wave back, but I really don’t know at whom I’m waving. I usually can’t see the driver. I’m beginning, though, to recognize the vehicles.

Sometimes a car will pull over. Those who stop to chat are usually dog people. Recently, I met a down-the-street neighbor who owns an Italian greyhound.

I’ve even had a bus pull to the curb for a visit. Fortunately, the driver had already discharged his passengers. If not, some of them may well have been “cat people” who wouldn’t have appreciated the situation.

On a recent Saturday afternoon, I was up at the annual Greyhound Adoption Exposition at the dog track. I never gamble. The only reason I would go to a dog track is to bless the animals. This was a gathering of retired racing greyhounds. It was fun, but bittersweet.

Based on ballot question No. Three, the State of Massachusetts plans to ban greyhound racing. I don’t know if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but I have never seen a racing dog abused by its keepers. It would be illogical.

Greyhounds are their livelihood.

A purebred greyhound can be worth $10,000 or more. Racing greyhounds, therefore, are kept in top condition and given the best of care. Sure they live in crates when not racing or running around playing, but so does any dog at a veterinarian’s office or boarding kennel. I realize racing dogs sometimes suffer sports injuries, but so do football players. The state already keeps very strict oversight of these dogs. I feel sad for the dogs. They are born, bred and raised for racing — which is why these dogs love to run. The ban makes no sense to me.

Racing greyhounds are ranked A, B, C, or D. The difference between a Grade “A” racer and a pet greyhound can be just two seconds over five-sixteenths of a mile. Grade “D” means the finish line of a racing career.

Fortunately, in the State of Massachusetts, there is a 100 percent adoption rate for retired racers.

I worry even more for the track workers. I’m a worrier.

There are people who have been working at the track for years.

Where will they find employment in this economy?

I stood at the finish line and cheerfully blessed the retired animal athletes. Nobody will ever be able to say I’ve gone to the dogs once the dogs themselves are gone and they’re going, going … .

Father Goldrick is pastor of St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dighton.

AND THEY’RE ... BLESSED! — Father Tim Goldrick, right, blesses the canine corps at the recent annual Greyhound Adoption Exposition at Raynham Dog Track. This was a gathering of retired racing greyhounds. Father Goldrick is the owner of three rescued racing dogs. (Photo courtesy of Father Goldrick)

EasternTelevision

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The Anchor

Priesthood is ‘an enormous gift,’ says Cardinal McCarrick

WASHINGTON (CNS) — “Priesthood is such an enormous gift and we need to rejoice in it every day and renew it every day,” said Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick.

“There is no sacrament, I think, more filled with love as the sacrament we took when we became priests,” the retired archbishop of Washington said in his homily during a special Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to mark the beginning of the Year for Priests.

Pope Benedict XVI announced the Church’s yearlong focus in March in an effort to further appreciation and support for priests around the world.

Lasting almost 80 minutes, the Mass at the shrine in Washington was planned to occur simultaneously with a Mass Pope Benedict XVI celebrated at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome to open the year.

Thirty-one priests concelebrated the Mass with Cardinal McCarrick at the shrine.

In his homily the cardinal stressed the importance of keeping a constant focus on love of God’s gifts to his believers and maintaining a steadfast interest in self-improvement.

“Priesthood is in all of us whether we are ordained into the

priesthood or have been baptized into it,” Cardinal McCarrick said.

After a request for continued and increased prayers for priests over the coming year, the congregation filled the basilica’s Crypt Church with enthusiastic applause. Almost 400 worshippers participated in saying a special prayer for priests at the conclusion of the Mass.

For Cardinal McCarrick there is nothing new in striving for selfimprovement. “I hope I will learn to pray better and be kinder but you have that every day anyway, there’s nothing new in that,” he added.

He said he hopes all priests will take this year to learn the value and the gift of being a good priest.

One priest, Father James Steffes, took the service and homily to heart, literally. He told Catholic News Service this will be a year for him to become “a perfect lover of God” and of others.

Father Steffes is executive director of the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations.

He said he is encouraged by the purpose of the year and by the Mass, and will use this year to continue to “celebrate the life that God has chosen for me and respond to his call to be a lover.”

July 3, 2009

Helping seniors to grow in grace and communion

By Michael Pare Anchor Correspondent

NEW BEDFORD — When Normand Ouellet’s family emigrated from Canada to southern New England, they brought with them a strong work ethic and a deep commitment to their faith. Those characteristics have been imbedded in Ouellet and have served him well.

Ouellet grew up on Coffin Avenue in New Bedford, just a short walk from St. Anthony of Padua Parish on Acushnet Avenue.

In hindsight, it is as if God knew just where to place the young boy. For Normand Ouellet could not have asked to have been placed in a better place, so close to the parish upon which his life would so beautifully revolve.

St. Anthony of Padua has always been the constant in Ouellet’s life. He is 77 now and for all but eight of those years he has been a parishioner there.

“I spent two years in the service and for six years, I worked in Maine,” he said.

Ouellet speaks of the lessons learned at the parish school, the good friends he made, the deep sense of faith and community he enjoyed. There is a passion in his voice when he recalls those days.

Ouellet loves St. Anthony of Padua Parish, and the God he learned to so devotedly worship there.

St. Anthony of Padua is that kind of a parish. It has a long and rarified his- ANCHOR PERSON OF Ouellet. tory. It is majestic.

Consider this excerpt from a book written by Doris C. Quintin and Jeanne Weaver Swiszcz in 1996, entitled “St. Anthony of Padua, New Bedford, Massachusetts, A Parish History, 1895-1995,” which describes a period of time in which Ouellet grew up: “Through the late 50s, or early 60s, New Bedford witnessed an extremely well-integrated way of life, in its French community, whereby Church, school, and home were united in the attempt to preserve faith, language, and traditions. Disagreements occurred, but clergy, nuns and parents worked together toward the same goals, with harmony and smoothness…. School and Church worked together in a variety of ways. Pupils, each fall, were given raffle tickets to sell, the proceeds which were used for parish maintenance. Frequent pep rallies and vigorous competition between boys and girls for the honor of selling the most tickets were part of this annual ritual. Pupils were required to attend the 8:30 a.m. “Children’s Mass” every Sunday; otherwise, one’s absence had to be explained to the nuns on Monday morning, as did one’s inability to summarize the main points of the Sunday sermon.

In such ways, the school was an extension of the church.”

This was the St. Anthony of Padua that formed Ouellet. It molded the young boy into a man and set the tone for the adult who would continue to love his God and his parish.

“Going to a Catholic school inspired me to continue with my religion and to marry a Catholic girl,” said Ouellet.

Janet, that Catholic girl, has been married to Ouellet for 55 years. The couple has three grown children,

five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Janet discovered long ago Ouellet’s devotion to St. Anthony of Padua.

“Before we were married, he kept asking me to move into my aunt’s house so we could get married at his parish,” she said.

It has been a good life. It has been about faith and family and Janet Ouellet considers the couple blessed for that.

“They don’t make them like him anymore,” she said.

The Ouellets were hard workers as well. He in the retail industry, for many years at Mammoth Mart, she for a manufacturer. He retired first.

“When I retired at 65, my wife was still working at a manufacturing company,” he said. “I had time on my hands.”

Ouellet invested that new found time into St. Anthony’s. Some friends there told him about the Seniors Group and so he went to a meeting. It was an ideal match. The group gets together about twice each month. There are day trips to take, suppers to organize. You don’t have to be a member of the parish to join.

“We welcome everyone,” said Ouellet.

Ouellet is the group’s president, which comes as no surprise to his pastor, Father Roger J. Landry.

“Normand is a Catholic gentleman who is using his retirement to do good for others,” said Father Landry. “He is the engine THE WEEK — Normand that drives St. Anthony’s seniors, which is a great way for Catholic seniors to stay connected to the Church and to each other, while having a great time doing so.”

For some, the Seniors Group is an especially important outlet.

“Through his leadership, the group shows a great Christian solicitude for members who might be going through a difficult time because of illness, the loss of a spouse, troubles with children or grandchildren, and the like,” said Father Landry.

Ouellet continues to contribute to St. Anthony’s in other ways, as well.

“Normand also is a very reliable usher at our 8:30 a.m. Mass who sets a high and classy standard of hospitality to all who come to worship God at our parish,” said Father Landry.

Father Landry sees in all that Ouellet contributes to the parish, a very real and selfless devotion to God. “If Normand hadn’t found the love of his live early on in his wife Jan, I think he would have made an excellent priest and pastor,” he said. “He really loves the Lord, the Lord’s people, and the Church Christ founded.”

The pastor also sees someone who can use a sense of humor for the benefit of the parish.

“As an administrator and fund-raiser, he would put most pastors to shame: wherever two or three are gathered in the name of the Lord, Normand is there trying to do a 50-50 raffle to make money for the Church!,” said Father Landry.

To nominate a Person of the Week, send an email message to FatherRogerLandry@AnchorNews.org.

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The Anchor

July 3, 2009

Pastoral Planning’s associate director talks about the job

By Deacon James N. Dunbar

FALL RIVER — Since her appointment in February as associate director of the Fall River Diocese’s Office of Pastoral Planning, Diane Rinkacs has already come to know the people in many of the 94 parishes in the diocese very well.

“Because parish councils need to be reformed every two or three years, I have been busy meeting with them in a discernment process, assisting them to form a mission statement and setting the goals and objectives so important to the vitality of parish life,” Rinkacs said last week in a sit-down interview with The Anchor.

“This specific task is not about mergers involving particular parishes,” she said, “and so my work is, and will be with all the councils in all the parishes.”

But she said candidly that should particular mergers or joining or forming of new parishes occur, “the parish or pastoral councils involved will be better capable of making the necessary transitions,” she pointed out.

Asked how she was melding with the assignment, she said, “It’s going very well. It has been a learning process for me as well, and I see the inspiration so many people bring to the work

in their parishes.”

Following her Anchor visit, Rinkacs was preparing for an interview the following day by Catholic TV, formerly Boston Catholic Television, for an episode on its new show, “House and Home,” that should air in September.

Rinkacs said that the information or “discernment night” she leads involves a selection of a new parish council by the parishioners themselves.

“It involves more than just the current leaders and members of various groups already formed in the parish, but takes a wider look into the time, talents and resources of all parishioners — some who are not so involved — and in doing so we aim to breathe new life into the parish,” she added.

“It is a process that involves much prayer,” said Rinkacs, who noted that it is common in the week following the selection of the new parish council for it to be commissioned at parish ceremonies.

She said for the approximately seven to 12 usually nominated by fellow parishioners and chosen “it is very affirming, and involves faith sharing, as they bring new resources to the work of the council on behalf of the

Diane Rinkacs

parish, in conjunction with the pastor.”

In the past few months, Rinkacs has been involved with such councils at the newlyformed St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in Dighton, Holy Trinity in Fall River, St. Mary’s in South Dartmouth, and St. Francis Xavier in Hyannis.

A native of Weymouth, Rinkacs is a 1986 graduate of Boston College, who majored in marketing. She has served as an administrator in the fields of insurance and banking, and in December 2008 was unanimously selected from six candidates as associate director to Director Doug Rodriques in the Pastoral

Planning Office.

With her husband John, children Jacob, Madeline and Thomas, she is a member of St. Mary-Sacred Heart Parish in North Attleboro. She is an extraordinary minister of holy Communion, and has been a lector and a member of the parish council.

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The Anchor

July 3, 2009

Pope’s ‘social encyclical’ is pending continued from page one

papal encyclical letters on social themes and that it was titled “Caritas in Veritate” (“Love in Truth”).

Although dated June 29, the letter was not expected be released for another week.

The pope said his letter would look at modern problems in the field of promoting development, and he asked for prayers for “this latest contribution that the Church offers humanity in its commitment for sustainable progress in full respect for human dignity and the real needs of all.”

Instead of focusing on theological beliefs, the social encyclicals written by most modern-day popes have tried to shape the way Christians and all people of good will can better serve the common good. Each social encyclical was unique in that it sought to respond to the most pressing social realities at the time.

Radically new problems caused by the modern industrial age prompted Pope Leo XIII to issue the Church’s groundbreaking social encyclical in 1891. It was the first time the Church spoke in a comprehensive and official way on social concerns, and it ushered in the era of Catholic social teaching.

The document, “Rerum Novarum” (on capital and labor), highlighted the condition of the working class and insisted that development must include social progress as well as economic growth.

Pope Pius XI’s social encyclical “Quadragesimo Anno” (on reconstructing the social order) came out in 1931, the 40th anniversary of Pope Leo’s encyclical.

The Great Depression was in full swing at the time, causing many to question the benefit of the reigning capitalist and communist economic systems.

On the 70th anniversary of “Rerum Novarum,” Pope John XXIII issued “Mater et Magistra” (“Mother and Teacher”), which described the Church as mother and teacher on social issues.

Pope John’s second social encyclical, “Peace on Earth” (“Pacem in Terris”), was issued in 1963 at the height of the Cold War. In 1967, Pope Paul VI wrote his first and only social encyclical. It was a time when the world was starkly divided into two political blocs, East and West. Cold War tensions were high, and wars were raging in the Middle East and in Vietnam.

However, in “Populorum Progressio” (“The Progress of Peoples”), Pope Paul focused not on the U.S.-Soviet faceoff but on the world’s peoples, who had become starkly divided between those who enjoyed a high standard of

living and those who struggled with poverty and underdevelopment.

Elected in 1978, Pope John Paul II made repeated appeals throughout his pontificate for social and economic justice and warned about the dangers of globalization.

His social teaching was distilled in three major encyclicals.

The first, “On Human Work” (“Laborem Exercens”), was issued in 1981 and criticized the abuses of a “rigid capitalism,” which placed profit above the well-being of workers. But, having lived in communist Poland, Pope John Paul also said Marxism’s class struggle was not the answer.

His second social encyclical, “On Social Concerns” (“Sollicitudo Rei Socialis”), was published in 1987, the 20th anniversary of Pope Paul’s “Populorum Progressio.”

In 1991, the 100th anniversary of “Rerum Novarum,” Pope John Paul issued his third document on social issues, “Centesimus Annus” (“The Hundredth Year”).

It analyzed the social situation in the light of communism’s collapse and laid out the foundation for a free and virtuous society based on the three pillars of a vibrant moral culture, a free economy at the service of the human person, and participatory democracy.

His 1995 encyclical, “Evangelium Vitae” (“The Gospel of Life”), which addressed the sacredness of all human life, is considered a social encyclical by many people because it included strong statements on the need for the political world to do its part in protecting human life.

The encyclical rejected the argument that Catholic politicians could separate their private consciences from public conduct.

In 2004, the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace published the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, providing a concise and complete overview of the Church’s social teaching.

Anticipating his first social encyclical, Pope Benedict said it would offer “a beautiful response” to the new realities and changes that had occurred since “Centesimus Annus” was promulgated 18 years ago.

Pope Benedict also said the publication of the document was delayed by the eruption of one of the worst global economic crises in decades. He said he wanted to update what he had drafted so the document would deal thoroughly with the current crisis and offer “a more adequate response” to the world’s financial woes.

TUSK, TUSK — Ellie, voiced by Queen Latifah, beams at her newborn, Peaches, in a scene from the animated movie “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.” For a brief review of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS photo/Fox)

CNS Movie Capsules NEW YORK (CNS) — The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” (Fox) Mostly delightful animated sequel in which a mammoth couple (voices of Ray Romano and Queen Latifah), a tiger (voice of Denis Leary) and two possums (voices of Josh Peck and Seann William Scott) search for the missing sloth (voice of John Leguizamo) who rounds out their improvised herd, and discover the underworld of dinosaurs to which he has been unwillingly carried. A few touches of vaguely crude humor aside, director Carlos Saldanha’s epic 3-D quest, which also features Simon Pegg voicing the adventurers’ wacky weasel guide, is well calculated to charm viewers of all ages with its portrayal of loyalty and teamwork. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I — general patronage.

The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” (DreamWorks/Paramount) Overlong, mindlessly violent action adventure sequel in which a college freshman (Shia LaBeouf) and his girlfriend (Megan Fox) assist a group of friendly, shapeshifting alien robots as they battle to defend humanity against the designs of a hostile horde of similar creatures. Derived from the back

story of a line of Hasbro toys, director Michael Bay’s globe-trotting explosion fest offers only a modicum of human interest amid the thunderous special effects.

Also shown in Imax. Pervasive action violence, brief rear nudity, brief nongraphic nonmarital sexual activity, drug use, occasional rough and crude and some crass language, and frequent sexual references. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

“Whatever Works” (Sony Pictures Classics) A pessimistic New York grouch (Larry David) finds his life transformed when he reluctantly shelters a homeless but irrepressibly cheerful young Southerner (Evan Rachel Wood), and they fall for each other. Though undeniably clever at times, writer-director Woody Allen’s comedy of manners mocks evangelical Christians through the waif’s parents (Patricia Clarkson and Ed Begley Jr.) and heavy-handedly rams home the message that, in a meaningless universe, any path to temporary fulfillment, particularly that of unbridled sexuality, ought to be pursued. Adultery, implied

group sex and homosexual activity, images of full nudity, a suicide theme, some sexual humor, at least one crude and one crass word, and about a dozen uses of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O — morally offensive.

The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

“Year One” (Columbia) Ramshackle road comedy in which two misfit hunter-gatherers (Jack Black and Michael Cera) set out from their prehistoric village and encounter a series of biblical figures, including Cain (David Cross), Abraham (Hank Azaria), Isaac (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) and the elite of Sodom (most prominently Oliver Platt). Director and co-writer Harold Ramis’ lumbering journey is fuelled by sophomoric humor and smug irreverence. Profane treatment of scriptural figures and practices, pervasive sexual and some scatological humor, implied premarital sexual activity, at least one use of the F-word, much crude and crass language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O — morally offensive.

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, July 5 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Michael Racine, pastor of St. Bernard’s Parish in Assonet

July 3, 2009

J

une has come to a close, and if you live by the academic calendar, it is the time of shutting down and preparing for the next year. The Diocese of Fall River takes time out in June to recognize the work and dedication of our catechetical leaders in the parishes by offering a day of recollection and fellowship. For the past three years we have given special recognition to those who have served in parish leadership for many years. There were three women with whom we celebrated their dedication to handing on the faith. Liz Henry from St. John the Evangelist in Pocasset received her 10-year certificate.

Donna Martinyak from Our Lady of the Assumption in New Bedford has worked in various catechetical ministries for 25 years. Charlotte Santos of St. Joseph’s in Attleboro has been echoing the faith for 32 years. Imagine that.

What motivates a person to serve in this very challenging min-

13

The Anchor

Time to say thanks

istry of catechesis so many years? there are many men who serve as Benedict XVI gave us some lead catechists, in our corner of insight into the heart of a catecheti- the world the role has been filled cal leader when he spoke to the mostly by women. They have Diocese of Rome a few weeks extended their domestic Church ago. There is something special into the parish, and brought with it present in the hearts of these the dogged determination that has long-serving catechists that goes kept our Religious Education gobeyond the baptismal call common to all Christians.

Pope Benedict named it “Co-Responsibility.”

He explains that there must be “a change in mind-set, particularly concerning lay people.

By Claire McManus They must no longer be viewed as “collaborators” of the clergy but truly recognized as “co-responsible,” for ing throughout the years. Many of the Church’s being and action.” these women stepped out of homes “Co-responsibility” so aptly and school rooms filled with describes the motivation that fuels children into church basements the vocations of so many of the and parish centers. They open and servant leaders in our parishes. close the halls, sharpen pencils, Responsibility — it is the anchor clap erasers, clean bathrooms, that steadies this Church. Though wipe noses, call parents, and invite

The Great Commission

Editor’s note: The Anchor received this email from Father Craig A. Pregana just prior to our going to press on Tuesday. Father Pregana asks for the prayers of all diocesan faithful in the wake of the recent unrest in Honduras.

others to echo their faith.

These women incarnate responsibility. During the early 1980s there was a movement toward professionalizing the role of the catechetical leader, and dioceses established standards for certification. Many coordinators of Religious Education went back to graduate school to receive advanced degrees in Religious Education and theology — usually at their own expense. The era of the professional catechetical leader is sadly waning. The professional directors of Religious Education that are fulltime members of the parish staff are becoming a rarity in the New England region.

There may be reasons for the decline in lay ministry. Pope Benedict asked, “To what extent is the pastoral co-responsibility of all, and particularly of the laity, recognized and encouraged?”

The pope made it quite clear that something must be done to stir within the people a spirit of shared responsibility for the mission of the Church. “It is necessary to improve pastoral structures in such a way that the co-responsibility of all the members of the People of God in their entirety is gradually promoted, with respect for voca-

tions and for the respective roles of the consecrated and of lay people.”

Responsible and spirit-filled catechetical leaders breed vocations. My own vocation as a catechist was brought to life by a very special “co-responsible” lay woman. Jean Godin of St. Christine’s Parish in Marshfield is enjoying a much deserved retirement after devoting her adult life to the Church. She embodied responsibility. Jean worked 50 hours per week, gave up her Sunday mornings, spent summers training catechists, wove spirituality and formation into every teacher meeting, and gave countless hours of counseling to young parents in need. She ran a program with more than 1,300 children and 140 catechists, in a basement hall with 10 cubicles. I am only one of the many young mothers whom Jean recruited, encouraged and empowered.

This is my way of thanking Jean for taking responsibility for my faith.

We are all called by our baptism to be co-responsible for passing on the faith. Look around your parish and find the person who heard that call as a mandate, and say thank you.

Claire McManus is the director of the Diocesan Office of Faith Formation.

Rev. Msgr. John J. Oliveira, V.E. 106 Illinois St., New Bedford, MA 02745 ANCH. 07/03/09

14

The Anchor

July 3, 2009

Alleged miracle attributed to Servant of God Father Kapaun to be investigated

By Dave Jolivet, Editor

2nd Infantry Division, 3rd Brigade, wonderful priest and a great man,” CAPE COD — It’s no coinci- and at the headquarters the men Makkay told The Anchor. “He cared dence that sandwiched between had erected a chapel,” recalled the about everyone, and nearly worked Memorial Day and the Fourth of bishop in an earlier Anchor story. himself to death in the POW camp.

July comes word out of Wichita, “In the chapel was a small room He made it a priority to take care of Kan., of an alleged miracle attrib- housing the Blessed Sacrament and his fellow man. He was everything uted to the intercession of Servant it was dedicated to Father Kapaun. a priest should be. of God Father Emil J. Kapaun, an I read more about the man and “I truly hope this helps move Army chaplain who, during the through the years I discussed with the cause along. Through the years, Korean War, died in a POW camp others about someday looking into I’ve spoken to eight or nine men in 1951. Since the sainthood cause the sainthood cause.” who were imprisoned with Father for Father Kapaun was officially The bishop did investigate the Kapaun, and to a man they said he opened in 2008, this could be an sainthood cause procedure while on was the greatest person they had important step in forwarding the an ad limina visit to Rome, and con- ever met. He saved hundreds of process. tinued to gather information about lives with his sacrifices in Korea.

According to CatholicNews- Father Kapaun. Bishop Roque was He was a martyr.”

Agency.com, “The Congregation one of the concelebrants of a Mass Makkay learned of Father Kafor the Causes of Saints is prepar- at St. John Nepomucene Church paun from a good friend who lived ing to investigate,” the miracle. in Pilsen, Kan., Father Kapaun’s in Cummaquid, the late Col. Filmore The CNA story that ran June 24, home town, the day the canoniza- A. McAbee. McAbee was one told of a 20-year-old man, Chase tion cause was officially opened on of many who were captured with Kear, who was critically injured Father Kapaun by the North in a pole vaulting accident, Koreans on Nov. 2, 1950. In and suffered a fractured skull, an interview with The Anchor “from ear to ear,” and bleeding before his death, McAbee said, on his brain. The story contin“Father Kapaun was a remarkues, “The Kears were told by able man. While serving as our the doctors that they ‘didn’t battalion chaplain, he gained have a lot of hope’ for Chase, the respect of many of the men, and that he would likely die eibut after his capture, he became ther in the necessary surgery to so much stronger.” remove the damaged piece of As an eye witness of Father skull or from an infection after Kapaun’s love for his fellow the surgery.” man, McAbee said, “A number Shortly after the accident, of POW men who served with Kear’s family began praying Father Kapaun believed he was for Father Kapaun’s intercesa saint because of the fine work sion, and asked others to do he did. The enemy was afraid likewise. CNA reported that of him because he was a man “Friends and family of the of the cloth, and because all the Kears joined in praying to Famen had tremendous respect for ther Kapaun.” Kear’s mother him. They didn’t want to kill Paula handed out and emailed him, but they did nothing for the intercession prayer to him when he fell ill. He died in friends and family. “Everyone May of 1951, but with medicine SERVANT OF GOD — U.S. military chapwas praying,” said Paula. and care he wouldn’t have.” lain Father Emil J. Kapaun is pictured minAccording to CNA reports, istering to a soldier in this undated photo.

The formal stages of canon“Chase survived the surgery The priest died in 1951 in a Chinese-run ization are: and walked out of the hospi- prison camp. He was 35. (CNS file photo) Servant of God: When a tal only a few weeks after the promoter group asks a bishop accident that had broken his for an opening to a sainthood skull. ‘It was shortly after we got June 29, 2008. cause investigation. With a nihil to the rehab hospital and I just saw “Everyone in the Wichita Dio- obstat from Rome the candidate is those people that work there just cese has been praying for Father referred to as a Servant of God. Witamazed,’ Paula told The Wichita Kapaun’s cause,” said the bishop nesses and testimonies are heard on Eagle. The doctors were unable to after learning of the alleged mira- the individuals’ heroic Christian explain the recovery, Chase’s par- cle. “Many prayers have been and virtues. ents reported.” are being said. So many people are Venerable: The postulator for Several local individuals greeted behind this cause including former the cause presents testimonies and news of the alleged miracle with POWs who were held captive with documentation to the Congregation joy and hope. Bishop Francis X. Father Kapaun and people in the for the Causes of Saints in Rome.

Roque, retired auxiliary bishop of military.

After a favorable judgment and the Archdiocese of the Military “Father Kapaun was a saint to papal approval the candidate is deServices U.S.A., and Bishop Pro- help so many people try to survive clared venerable. tector of the Catholic War Veter- in that Korean POW camp.”

Blessed: After a miracle atans, told The Anchor, “I hope this Al Makkay Sr., a parishioner of tributed to the intercession of the investigation will be very helpful to Our Lady of Victory Parish in Cen- venerable has been investigated move Father Kapaun’s sainthood terville, an Army veteran and past and accepted, the pope decides on cause along.” commander of the Cape Cod and beatification, at which time the canBishop Roque, who serves part- Islands Korean War Veterans As- didate becomes Blessed. time at St. Timothy’s Parish in War- sociation, has long been involved Saint: Following verification of a wick, R.I., first learned of Father in spreading the word about Father second miracle attributed to the inKapaun while serving as a chaplain Kapaun. He prepared an audio/ tercession of the Blessed subsequent in Korea during a 13-month tour video history of the beloved chap- to the beatification the pope may of duty in 1965-66. “I was in the lain. “Father Kapaun was such a then declare him or her a saint.

WAR HERO — Father Timothy Vakoc, a Minnesota priest who was gravely wounded by a roadside bomb in Iraq five years ago, has died, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis said June 21. He was 49. He is pictured in a 2005 photo with Archbishop Harry J. Flynn of St. Paul-Minneapolis and Father Vakoc’s mother, Phyllis. (CNS photo by Dave Hrbacek, Catholic Spirit)

Minnesota priest injured in Iraq serving as Army chaplain, dies

B y C atholic News Service

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Father H. Timothy Vakoc, a Minnesota priest who was reportedly the first Army chaplain to be gravely injured in the Iraq War, died June 20. He was 49.

He died at a nursing home in the suburb of New Hope. No cause of death was released.

According to journal updates by his family on the CaringBridge website at www.caringbridge.org/mn/timvakoc, Father Vakoc “was surrounded by family and friends who prayed him into heaven.”

His funeral Mass was celebrated June 26 at St. Paul Cathedral in St. Paul.

Father Vakoc, ordained in 1992 as a priest of the St. Paul and Minneapolis Archdiocese, served in two parishes before joining the Army full time in 1996. The priest held the rank of major.

In May 2004, Father Vakoc’s Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb while he was returning to his barracks after saying Mass for soldiers on the 12th anniversary of his ordination.

He suffered severe head injuries, including the loss of his left eye and brain damage.

He was transported from Iraq to Germany and then to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, where he remained hospitalized for four months. He was transferred in a near-coma to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Minneapolis in Oc-

tober 2004.

He underwent several surgeries and was in a minimally responsive state for several months, but finally regained consciousness. He had speech, physical and occupational therapy, and in the last couple of years had become increasingly more able to speak, recognize people and answer questions.

In April 2007, St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul awarded Father Vakoc with the 2007 Distinguished Alumnus Award. The seminary has presented the award annually since 1994 as a way to recognize alumni “who have lived their vocation in an extraordinary way.”

He received a Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Action Award.

Before he was injured, Father Vakoc had told the National Catholic Register in an email interview: “I live with (the soldiers), work with them, eat with them, care for them, listen to them, counsel them.

The soldiers know if you are real and genuinely care for them or not. The bottom line in helping these soldiers through the grieving process is to be present to them and walk with them.

“I prayed with the soldiers, I prayed for the soldiers who died. I brought the sacraments of the Church and the light and love of Christ into the darkness of the situations,” he said.

July 3, 2009

Non-English Masses thrive in diocese continued from page one

other Masses currently celebrated in Polish other than ours in the whole Diocese of Fall River,” he opined. “We invite them to come to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.”

At St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis, where on Sundays there is a 1 p.m. Mass in Latin, 3 p.m., Mass in Spanish and at 7 p.m., a Mass in Portuguese in addition to the regular Masses in English, pastor Father Daniel W. Lacroix said “we are still trying to integrate all the ethnic traditions.”

He said he hopes that when representatives from the diocese’s Office of Pastoral Planning come this summer to assist in forming a new parish council, it will help solidify his ongoing efforts to forge a stronger relationship between his congregation and those from the Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese communities who attend Masses there.

“There are approximately 500 who weekly attend the Mass in Portuguese — the largest attendance of any of our Masses — and 120 to 150 at the Mass in Spanish. Those communities supply their own priests, choirs, and lectors, and materials and contribute towards the cost of utilities … and offer us a stipend … so there is no real cost to the parish,” reported Father Lacroix.

Thus far, Father Lacroix has been successful in merging the groups for the sacrament of confirmation, “and we have come together for a living rosary. I would like to see more.”

What is the overall reaction of his parishioners?

“A few say they feel their home parish has been taken over by outside groups — and a very few express resentment,” he said.

At St Anne’s Parish in Fall River, pastor Father Marc H. Bergeron boasts, “We have the only Mass still being celebrated in the French language not only in the whole Fall River Diocese but throughout the region including Rhode Island.”

The French Mass, Sundays at 8 a.m., might be called bilingual because while the Scripture readings are in French, the homily and the Prayer of the Faithful are in English.

“We have approximately 35 to 40 people at those Masses celebrated alternately by Father Roger J. Levesque or myself,” he said.

“I’m not sure how many really come because the Mass is French or because it is timely for them.”

Does the French Mass impact any on the parish or parishioners?

“No,” he said. “This parish was established to minister to the

15

The Anchor swelling French population in a bygone era, so that it is French from its very beginning and only gradually did English become the usual tongue of those who attend Mass and parish functions,” Father Bergeron explained.

“Once upon a time, all the Masses and services and sacraments administered in St. Anne’s were in French,” he pointed out.

“Knowing that, it would be hard to see any hard feelings from our current congregation, whether of French ancestry or not who choose to come here well knowing that heritage.

And it’s no problem for either Father Levesque or me because we speak French and don’t have the costs of bringing in another priest for French Masses.”

At St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River’s downtown, the diocese’s mother church, Father Paul Bernier, the rector, is host to a 7 o’clock evening Mass in Brazilian-Portuguese on Saturdays as well as a 12:30 p.m., Mass in Spanish on Sundays.

“We have Father Paulo Barbosa in residence who ministers to the Brazilians as well as Father Hector Fabio Arredondo Arango at the Spanish Apostolate. There are more than 100 from the local Brazilian community who attend and I estimate 75 people from the Spanish. Each provides for its own needs with the exception of the bread and wine for Mass, which the cathedral supplies, so it doesn’t cost us much at all,” Father Bernier reported.

“There has been some good integration,” he said.

“For instance, at Easter when the Holy Week vigil ceremonies conflicted with the Portuguese and Spanish Masses, the two groups were invited to attend our parish services with Bishop George W. Coleman and many came to be with us,” said Father Bernier.

At Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in New Bedford, the diocese’s sole Mass in Creole (also spelled Crioulo or Krioulo) a dialect of Portuguese, is celebrated Sundays at 10:30 a.m., by pastor Father Christopher Santangelo for immigrants of the Cape Verde Islands.

“Between 200 and 210 people attend this Mass weekly,” reported Raimundo Tavares, office manager at Our Lady of the Assumption.

“The Mass is in Creole and Father Santangelo gives the homily in that dialect, which is then translated by Deacon Eduardo M. Pacheco into Portuguese.

Even if one speaks Portuguese, he or she might not understand what is being said in Creole,” Tavares added.

Non-English Speaking Masses in the Diocese of Fall River

Creole • Our Lady of the Assumption, New Bedford: Sunday 10:30 a.m.

• St. Anne’s, Fall River: Sunday 8:00 a.m.

French

Latin • St. Francis Xavier, Acushnet: Thursday 5:30 p.m. (Extraordinary Form) • St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis: Sunday 1:00 p.m. (Extraordinary Form) • St. Anthony of Padua, New Bedford: First Saturday 8:00 a.m. (Extraordinary Form) • Our Lady of the Assumption, Osterville: First Friday 5:30 p.m. (Novus Ordo) Polish • Our Lady of Perpetual Help, New Bedford: Sunday 9:00 a.m.

Portuguese • Holy Ghost, Attleboro: Sunday 8:30 a.m.

• Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, Fall River: Saturday 7:00 p.m. (Brazilian) • Espirito Santo, Fall River: Saturday 5:30 p.m.; Sunday 8:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 7:00 p.m.; Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.

• Good Shepherd, Fall River: Sunday 11:30 a.m.

• St. Anthony of Padua, Fall River: Saturday 4:00 p.m.; Sunday 8:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m.

• St. Michael, Fall River: Saturday 4:00 p.m.; Sunday 8:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m.; Monday and Wednesday 8:00 a.m.

• Santo Christo, Fall River: Saturday 4:00 p.m.; Sunday 8:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. (11:00 a.m. during summer) • St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis: Sunday 7:00 p.m. (Brazilian) • Our Lady of Mount Carmel, New Bedford: Sunday 7:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m.; Monday-Saturday 8:00 a.m.

• Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, New Bedford: Saturday 6:00 p.m.; Sunday 7:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m.

• St. Anthony of Padua, New Bedford: Sunday 12:00 p.m. (Easter through Pentecost) • St. John the Baptist, New Bedford: Sunday 8:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m.

• St. John of God, Somerset: Sunday 9:00 a.m.

• Annunciation of the Lord, Taunton: Sunday 11:00 a.m.

• St. Anthony, Taunton: Sunday 7:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m.; Tuesday 6:00 p.m.

Spanish

• St. Joseph, Attleboro: Sunday 12:00 p.m.

• Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, Fall River: Sunday 12:30 p.m.

• St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis: Sunday 3:00 p.m.

• St. Mary-Our Lady of the Isle, Nantucket: Sunday 6:30 p.m. (7:00 p.m. during summer) • Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James, New Bedford: Sunday 11:30 a.m.; Monday and Thursday 7:00 p.m.

• St. Kilian, New Bedford: Sunday 12:00 p.m.

• St. Mary, Taunton: 12:00 p.m.

Website, phone number steer Mass-goers in the right direction continued from page one

than 104,000 churches.

Visitors to the MassTimes.org website have the option of searching in 11 languages, including English.

Once the user is directed to the home page, he or she can find Mass times based on country; place/city; zip or postal code; phone number; and province/state. The large database produces a listing of churches in the general vicinity of a given request.

The list includes the church name, phone number, website (if any), weekend and weekday Mass schedules, Holy Day Masses and vigils, eucharistic adoration times, confessions, a Google map direction that the user can zoom in or out, and written directions. The listing also includes the language in which a particular Mass is celebrated. In addition to cities and towns, Mass

Times also provides Masses at local colleges and universities.

One can also find a number of valuable Catholic links on the MassTimes.org site, including a connection to the United States Council of Catholic Bishops site; the daily readings; the Bible; U.S. bishops and dioceses; the saint of the day; the Vatican website; and access to a number of Catholic news service sites.

Should travelers prefer to utilize the Mass Times phone number (410-676-6000), they can find a church location by entering a Zip Code, or the area code and next three numbers of a phone number. Based on that input, callers are given the name and location of area churches, the phone numbers and worship times.

The website is a virtual gold mine of Catholic information that

allows the faithful to fulfill their Sunday and Holy Day obligations wherever they may be.

MassTimes.org is no stranger to the world-wide Catholic community. According to data supplied

by MassTimes.org, nearly 66 million searches were made there in the last 12 months. That averages out to 172 searches per minute.

Such an elaborate and valuable Internet tool does not come without costs. On the site is a link where the faithful can help keep MassTimes.org servicing Catholics for years to come.

No longer do travelers have to rely on limited Mass information in hotel lobbies and obsolete brochures.

Thanks to MassTimes.org, you are now free to move about the country and not worry about making it to Mass.

16

Youth Pages

July 3, 2009

THE WAY OF THE LACROSSE — The Bishop Feehan High School girl’s lacrosse team recently held a car wash that raised $877.23 for the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation. This foundation was formed a few years ago by the Northwestern University Women’s lacrosse team that formed a relationship with a young girl who had a brain tumor. The team supported her with messages of love and friendship as she recovered from surgeries and treatments. Her parents said that this “adoption” by the team made a world of difference to Jaclyn. Since then, hundreds of lacrosse teams from across the country have been adopting young children with brain tumors to offer them the same support and friendship. The Feehan girls are hoping to adopt their own child through the FOJ Foundation this year. Pictured are players from the 2009 Bishop Feehan girls’ lacrosse team with Sarah Walsh, rear, center, executive director for the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation from New York, who came to thank and accept the donation raised by the team.

NO STRINGS ATTACHED — Grade Four students at Holy Name School, Fall River, entertained the entire school, students and faculty on the last day of school with their puppet theater. The students acted out five of the more famous children’s stories.

JPII WOULD BE PROUD — The first-ever “Spirit of JPII Awards” were recently conferred during ceremonies at John Paul II High School in Hyannis. This award recognizes one student from each class who best exemplifies the values of Pope John Paul II High School — dedication to school, achievement, and charity. The sophomore award winner was Matthew Laird, right, and the freshman award winner was Elizabeth Rossi, left. The students are shown with Principal Christopher Keavy.

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS — The eighth-grade students at Holy Trinity School in Fall River recently took part in a retreat day with youth minister Deborah Jezak and Father David Andrade.

THE NEED TO READ — St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro held a book swap in the school gym before the school recessed for the summer. Students were given an opportunity to pick out some of their favorite books. The swap was held to encourage students to read during the summer break. Shown are second-grade students Patrick Janicki and Samantha Pearlstein (front) and Merissa Robertson (back).

July 3, 2009

J

anice was reading the newspaper: “Dear Abby, I’m disappointed in the man Jim turned out to be….” Seems the writer’s husband didn’t help around the house, didn’t pay attention to his wife, and wasn’t very affectionate. The writer signed the letter, “Disillusioned.”

Janice recalled that she used to know someone like that.

When she first met Tom, she was drawn to him. He was handsome, kind, and smart. They really hit it off, and, within a year … they were married. But soon Janice started finding fault with Tom. He seldom did the dishes, wasn’t always interested in going to church with Janice, and, hardest of all, Tom wasn’t comfortable expressing affection.

“Tom,” Janice asked one day, “how can I tell if you love me? You never say so.” He just shrugged. The more Janice bugged him, the more he clammed up. Finally, in des-

Youth Pages How do you show your love for God?

peration, Janice prayed, “God, like Janice, is accomplished by make Tom the kind of husband staying in love with God. But I want.” And then, purely on how? Staying in love with God impulse, she added, “Or please doesn’t just happen … it grows make me happy with the one ... with effort. In many ways, I’ve got.” staying in love is like tending a After that, Janice started garden: Neglect it … and it dies. noticing things about Tom. No, Give it constant care and cultihe didn’t take up vacuuming … but he kept their yard beautifully landscaped. He tended to the vegetable garden. He was constantly fixing things around

By Ozzie Pacheco the house. He kept the cars maintained. And when Janice’s widowed mother couldn’t live alone anyvation … and fruit will sprout more, Tom welcomed her into from the vine. Jesus said, “I am their home. Seems that Janice’s the vine, you are the branches. prayer was answered and she Whoever remains in me and I in finally saw how Tom did show him will bear much fruit. As the his affection for her. She became Father loves me, so I also love “happy with the one I’ve got.” you. Remain in my love” (John Disillusioned? I think not. I 15: 5,9). think it’s simply a matter of deHave you ever asked your ciding to understand others and parents how they first fell in cherish the gifts they have. To love with each other and what stay in love with your spouse, their secret is to staying in love?

Be Not Afraid

Today we are in awe when we read in the papers or see on the news stories of couples that have been married 50, 60, 70 or more years. What keeps them in love? And why are we in awe of such an accomplishment?

Unfortunately, today we read more about marriages being lost to separation and divorce than marriages held together by the grace and love of God and love for God. I believe the first rule of showing your love for God is to love yourself. Do you live by the Golden Rule — doing to others as you would want them do to you? Do you pray for those who hate you and find the compassion to love your enemies? An eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth just doesn’t cut it. We all know what would happen if we lived by that kind of retribution; we’d be walking blind with toothless smiles.

The greatest lesson parents

17 can teach their children about how to love God is simply by the way they love each other and their children. Have you noticed that about your parents?

I’m sure you have! So, how do you show your love for God? The answer is simple — by the way you love others and give of yourself to others, beginning with your parents.

One of our youth group’s most successful works of charity and service is its nursing home visitations. The members can’t get enough of it, so it seems.

Each time they visit our elderly brothers and sisters confined to nursing homes they come back with wonderful stories and how, just by their simple presence, they put a smile on an otherwise gloomy face. You see, it’s the simple things that you do that show your love for God. But it’s in those simple things that great love is shown.

Ozzie Pacheco is Faith Formation director at Santo Christo Parish, Fall River.

Evidence shows need for school vouchers, researchers contend

By Patricia May Catholic News Service

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Catholic schools and other private institutions fare well in some areas of education research; in other areas, they do about as well as public schools.

That’s perhaps not surprising, but the research is coming from a public institution: the University of Arkansas’ Department of Education Reform, established in 2005.

Jay P. Greene leads the department and holds an endowed chair in education reform. He has researched and written extensively about social promotions and accurate reporting of graduation rates — and he’s been criticized in some quarters for supporting school vouchers.

But Greene said he has looked at the evidence, both his own work and that of others, and reviewed it carefully.

A product of public education and not Catholic himself, he said he has no personal investment in the issue beyond a general interest “to improve organizations and produce better results. Our charge is to look at ways of improving public education in Arkansas and nationwide. We just think private education can play a role in that.”

Patrick J. Wolf, who holds the endowed chair in school choice at the University of Arkansas and has one son in Fayetteville’s St. Joseph School, is currently evaluating a relatively small school voucher program in the District of Columbia and an older and much larger

program in Milwaukee.

“Catholic schools are a big part of these programs,” Wolf told the Arkansas Catholic, newspaper of the Little Rock Diocese. “Parents are highly satisfied. They view (private religious) schools as much safer, better ordered, more disciplined. That’s a big reason why they chose (these schools).”

The D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, a federally funded voucher program, was launched as a pilot program five years ago.

It allocates $14 million annually in individual scholarships of up to $7,500 to more than 1,700 children from low-income families to attend private schools. About half of the scholarship recipients attend Catholic schools.

But the program, recently rescinded by Congress in a spending bill, may end by 2010. President Barack Obama has proposed allowing the children currently in the program to keep their scholarships but he would bar any more students from entering the program “Those who are participating in

the program and are satisfied with the schools can’t understand why this opportunity would be ended for them,” Wolf said.

“The participating private schools are quite concerned; they’ve taken in a lot of lowincome, educationally disadvantaged students and been working with them for several years,” he said. “Early results ... suggest at least some subgroups of students were already benefiting academically. Their test scores were higher. The schools are concerned (this will) come to an abrupt end.”

The Milwaukee program started in 1991 as a small test, and it was expanded in 1998 after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled the program constitutional. Currently, about 20,000 attend private schools through the vouchers, Wolf said. His team is in the third year of evaluating the program, comparing test scores to those of public-school children.

There are “indications that the program may be boosting test scores, particularly of boys,” he said.

The Anchor is always pleased to run news and photos about our diocesan youth. If your parish youth group or Religious Education program has summer outing pictures you would like to share with our readers, send them : schools@anchornews.org

Many low-income, disadvantaged children in the inner-city benefit from the program, and preliminary information is showing boys are doing “significantly better” in reading, Wolf said. A good foundation in reading gives these students a better chance at success throughout life, both in work and at home, he explained.

Yet Gary W. Ritter, who holds the endowed chair in education policy at the University of Arkansas and has three children in Catholic schools, said that voucher programs and his research into merit pay aren’t popular with most

teachers’ organizations.

“Teachers’ groups are so resistant to this,” he said. “Teacher representatives represent all teachers, not necessarily just effective teachers. If effective teachers start getting more of the pie than ineffective teachers, I can see how it would ruffle some feathers.”

Catholic schools are as resistant as public schools to the idea of merit pay, Ritter said. He cited as examples conversations he’s had with Catholic school principals worried about losing their best teachers but unwilling to increase salaries as an incentive.

18

The Anchor

July 3, 2009

Appeal raises more than $4M

Proposed ‘Bathroom Bill’ is dangerous proposition

been fielding literally dozens and dozens of phone calls from businesses, individual donors, and the 91 parishes, all calling in their final totals and donations by the 4 p.m. deadline.

All in the Appeal office marveled at the fact that more than 50 percent of the parishes exceeded their previous year’s totals, most reaching all-time highs. A full 20 percent had double-digit increases, with at least one parish in each of the five deaneries reaching 20 percent, and St. Margaret’s in Buzzard’s Bay nearly eclipsing 30 percent.

There are always trends that are seen as each Catholic Charities Appeal unfolds, and this one was no different. One such trend was the number of parishes exceeding their previous year’s totals, and having the largest percentage of donors participating were from the deaneries with the largest number of urban parishes, the areas most impacted by the poor economy.

“These areas have the lowest median incomes, largest number of unemployed, and the bleakest outlook for a turnaround in the future,” said Donly when the statistics were tabulated.

and workplace safety. Perhaps the most dramatic and immediate possible result is portrayed in a 40-second YouTube video at the website NoBathroomBill.com.

The video shows a young girl entering a public restroom alone. A sexual predator follows her in. The door closes.

Such a scenario would be facilitated under the proposed bill, numbered H1728 in the House and S1687 in the Senate.

“A majority of Massachusetts legislators support a bill that would make it legal for men to enter women’s bathrooms,” the video says.

“Tell them they’re wrong before it’s too late.”

The NoBathroomBill website is a joint project of the Massachusetts Family Institute and the Coalition for Marriage and Family, of which Catholic Citizenship is a member.

The groups are urging people to attend the hearing and to oppose the bill, which would allow anyone to use public restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms according to their “gender identity or expression.”

The bill defines this as “a gender-related identity, appearance, expression, or behavior of an individual, regardless of the individual’s assigned sex at birth.”

“This clause opens a dangerous legal loophole,” the coalition notes.

“Because of the bill’s vague wording, any man could legally gain access to facilities normally reserved for women and girls simply by indicating, verbally or non-verbally, that he inwardly feels female at the moment. Public and charter schools and their sports teams and facilities are not exempt.”

Massachusetts already outlaws discrimination based on racial, reli-

continued from page one

“Sort of like the widow’s mite story in Scripture, where Jesus explains that the poor widow’s small donation was so significant because she gave from her want rather than from her surplus,” Donly added.

“You honestly can’t say enough about the generosity of the donors, and of the volunteers with both their personal donations and their labor on behalf of the needy around us. It really is each parish working ‘as a community’ and looking beyond themselves to assist any and all ‘neighbors’ in need,” he noted.

“The strength of the Catholic Charities Appeal in the Diocese of Fall River is the fact that it is parish-based. With strong leadership and example from the pastors of the 91 parishes, the witness of visible lay volunteers, and the generosity of their parishioners, one can only expect a result as successful as we have had in the 2009 Appeal. There are thousands of recipients of their generosity and hard work that would thank them if they could, as they are ministered to by our agencies and apostolates, but the knowledge that we are doing the Lord’s work by caring for our less fortunate brothers and sisters is certainly all these wonderful people need,” concluded Donly.

continued from page one

gious, ethnic, handicap, and “gender or sexual orientation” prejudice.

Under this proposed “Act Relative to Gender-based Discrimination and Hate Crimes,” this new category of “gender identity or expression” would be added to the existing hate crime statute, as well as to non-discrimination laws on employment, housing, credit, labor union membership, public accommodations and public education.

Thus, people with a Gender Identity Disorder — heterosexual cross-dressers, homosexual transvestites and “transsexuals” — people undergoing so-called “sex change” operations — among others, would be given specially protected status.

“Transgender” is an umbrella term coined by those advocating that society try to deconstruct the biological realities of male and female, say researchers who have studied gender confusion.

The pro-family coalition notes: “We believe that persons with GID deserve professional support (as called for by the American Psychiatric Association) as well as community compassion, but this misguided bill ignores the broader community and invites abuse.”

On the coalition’s website are numerous resources to educate lawmakers and the public on the bill’s effects. For example, an MFI policy brief notes that children in public school could be taught the erroneous idea that gender-change is possible.

Businesses that provide single-sex fitness facilities would be harmed, and churches and affiliated hospitals that admit the general public would be pressured to compromise their beliefs. “Once same-sex marriage became Mas-

sachusetts public policy, Catholic Charities was forced to abandon its 100-year-old adoption service rather than violate their faith,” it notes.

Other legislative briefs available on the website explain the “transgender agenda” in schools and how this bill would remove protections for veterans, soldiers and others.

The bill was defeated in the last legislative session and is currently in the Joint Committee on the Judiciary. Its future hinges on whether that committee sends it to the full House and Senate for a vote.

A 125-page study of the bill’s negative effects is available on the website of the Waltham-based parents’ rights group MassResistance. org. In March 2008 the state’s four bishops, through the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, submitted strong testimony against the previous bill.

In that testimony, MCC Associate Director for Policy and Research Daniel Avila noted that “laws against public nudity and indecent exposure in public places would be invalidated since any assessment of ‘nudity’ or ‘indecency’ is necessarily a product of genderrelated norms concerning personal appearance that regulate the public exposure of sexual organs.”

Among other problems, Avila said, “government agencies would lose their power to classify and regulate as pornography any publicly accessible media representations involving sexual conduct since the exercise of any such power in the public forum would conflict with the newly created and unlimited ‘civil right’ to freely engage in any gender-related ‘expression.’”

Avila’s full testimony is available at the MCC website MaCatholic.org.

The testimony of speakers at an April press conference opposing the bill are also available at NoBathroomBill.com. Among those speakers were high school student Katie Grayton, 16, and Joseph Martins of Fall River, a former high school principal and public school district superintendent.

Martins warned of the fallout to public schools: “Lawsuit liability will surely be incurred by the school district’s finding itself caught between the rights of privacy and the rights of those whose body is not what their mind wants it to be.”

“One sexual assault is one too many,” Grayton said, “and I think there should be laws made to lower the chances of this happening-not create opportunities for it.”

Assistance is available in traveling to the State House for the hearing. Contact info@catholiccitizenship.org or call 781-9321348. The Coalition for Marriage and Family is at 781-569-0509.

The Judiciary Committee can be reached at 617-722-2396 or through the website of the General Court, Mass.gov/legis.

July 3, 2009

Around the Diocese 7/4

A Day with Mary will take place tomorrow from 7:50 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, 86 High St., Wareham. It will include a video, instruction, devotion, a procession and crowning of Mary, along with Mass, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and an opportunity for the sacrament of reconciliation. For more information, call 508-984-1823.

7/8

The annual summer fair at St. Pius X Parish, 5 Barbara St., South Yarmouth, will be held July 8 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the parish life center and Religious Education building. Items will include hand-knitted crafts, American Girl doll clothes, a huge white elephant sale, raffles and more. Antique appraisals will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, with lunch service starting at 11:30 a.m.

7/9

Our Lady of the Cape Church, 486 Stony Brook Rd., Brewster, will host an annual summer fair July 9, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., including jewelry, attic treasures, collectibles, crafts, books, toys, artwork, baked goods, cash raffle, vintage linens, men’s workshop and more. Lunch will be served under the tent.

7/11

St. Francis of Peace Fraternity, Secular Franciscan Order, meets July 11 at Damien Hall, Holy Trinity Church, 246 Main St., West Harwich, after the 11 a.m. Mass. All are invited to hear about St. Francis of Assisi, his life and devotion to the poor.

7/12

A communal anointing of the sick Mass will be celebrated at St. John the Evangelist Parish, 841 Shore Rd., Pocasset, July 12 at 2 p.m. Anyone eligible to receive the sacrament of the sick is invited to join the celebration. To receive the sacrament, call Betty Kazmier at 508-563-9020.

7/13

St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Rd., North Dartmouth, will host “Boomerang Express: It All Comes Back to Jesus,” a vacation Bible school study July 13-17 from 9:00 a.m. to noon each day in the parish hall. For more information, call Terry LeBlanc at 508995-2476.

7/13

The 26th annual Craigville Theological Colloquy will be held July 13-17 at the Craigville Conference Center on Cape Cod. This year’s theme is “Spirituality and the Holy Spirit: A New Awakening for the Church?” It will feature presentations and workshops on ancient spiritual practices such as lectio divina and contemporary ones such as Taize chants. The purpose is to provide congregations with resources to enrich their spiritual lives.

Endorsed by the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ, the colloquy welcomes participants of all faiths. It will include biblical reflection, worship, theological study, “hands-on” workshops and small group discussions. For information, contact the Craigville Conference Center at 508-775-1265 or email craigvillecc@capecod.com. The website is craigvillecolloquy.com.

7/18

Courage, a group for people who are experiencing samesex attraction and would like to live the Church’s teaching on chastity, will meet on July 18 at 7 p.m. for prayer, conversation and support. For location information call Father Richard Wilson at 508-992-9408.

7/22

The French Choir will perform “Messe Solennelle de SainteCecile” by Charles Gounod, “The Youth and Children’s Choirs D’Ile de France” and “Youth Symphonic Orchestra” by MauriceRavel at Christ the King Church, The Commons, Mashpee, on July 22 at 7 p.m. Admission is free and the performance is open to all.

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese: ACUSHNET — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Mondays 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Fridays 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Mondays end with Evening Prayer and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.; Saturdays end with Benediction at 2:45 p.m.

BUZZARDS BAY — Eucharist adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, every first Friday after the 8 a.m. Mass and ending the following day before the 8 a.m. Mass.

EAST TAUNTON — Eucharistic adoration takes place First Fridays at Holy Family Church, 370 Middleboro Avenue, following the 8:30 a.m. Mass until Benediction at 8 p.m.

NEW BEDFORD — Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place at St. Joseph-St. Therese Church, 51 Duncan Street, Mondays following the 8:30 a.m. Mass until 1:30 p.m. For more information call 508-995-2354.

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

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

TAUNTON — Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord Church, 31 First Street, immediately following the 8 a.m.

Mass and continues throughout the day. Confessions are heard from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m., concluding with recitation of the rosary and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.

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

WEST HARWICH — Our Lady of Life Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Trinity Parish, 246 Main Street, holds perpetual eucharistic adoration. For open hours, or to sign up call 508-430-4716.

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The Anchor

Sister Yvonne Phoenix SUSC; was teacher for nearly 50 years

NORTH ATTLEBORO — Sister Yvonne Phoenix, SUSC, 95, also known as Sister Marie Gemma, a resident of Madonna Manor here, died June 21.

Born in Pawtucket, R.I., the daughter of the late Honorius and Alphonsine (Sicard) Phoenix, she attended St. John the Baptist Academy and graduated from Pawtucket Senior High School.

She entered the Holy Union Sisters in Fall River in 1933 and pronounced her vows on July 26, 1934. She attended Catholic Teachers’ College in Providence, Manhattanville College in New York, and graduated from Sacred Heart School of Education in Fall River.

Her teaching career spanned nearly 50 years in schools in

Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island. Locally, she taught at and was principal at Sacred Heart School in North Attleboro, and was the superior of nuns there.

She left formal teaching in 1978 to provide service at St. Michaels Parish Sister Yvonne in Swansea.

Phoenix, SUSC After assisting the elderly sisters at St. Mary’s Villa in Lowell she joined the retirement community at St. Mary’s Convent in North Attleboro in 1981 where she resided until 1998.

During this time, she served

for seven years as a pastoral minister at Madonna Manor in North Attleboro, visiting the patients, played the organ and sang at Masses, and was sacristan.

Sister Yvonne joined other Holy Union Sisters at Madonna Manor in 1998 and remained there until her death. In 2008, she observed the 75th anniversary of her entrance into Holy Union.

In addition to her Holy Union Sisters, she leaves a niece, Camille Broussard of Pawtucket, R.I. She was the sister of the late Jeannette Phoenix Baris and Theresa Phoenix Morrisseau.

Her Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated June 24 in Sacred Heart Church, North Attleboro.

Burial was in St. Mary Cemetery, North Attleboro.

HOLYOKE — Sister Elizabeth of the Holy Trinity, 98, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph for 79 years during which she taught in many Fall River diocesan schools, died June 25 in the Mont Marie Health Care Center here.

Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Hormisdas and Carmelia Marcotte, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of LePuy in Fall River in 1930 from St. Joseph Parish in New Bedford. She became a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield when the two congregations merged in 1974.

Following her early education in parochial schools in New Bedford, she graduated from Novitiate High School in Fall River and earned a bachelor’s degree from Sacred Heart College in Fall River.

Sister Elizabeth taught at St. Roch, St. Jean Baptiste and Blessed Sacrament schools in Fall River, St. Louis and St. Michael schools in Swansea, and St. Therese and St. Joseph schools in New Bedford. She served as a nurse’s aide in New Bedford and retired in 1974. She joined the Retirement Community at Mont

Marie in 1992.

She has been a resident of the Mont Marie Health Care Center since 2001.

Besides her Sisters in Community she leaves nieces and nephews, among whom is Sister Juliette Marcotte SSJ. She was also the sister of the late Sister Jean de la Croix Marcotte.

Her funeral Mass was celebrated Monday in the Mont Marie Chapel in Holyoke.

Burial was in Mont Marie Cemetery.

The Sampson Family Chapels were in charge of arrangements.

Sister Elizabeth Marcotte SSJ: served 79 years as a religious

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks

July 6 Rev. Edmond Francis, SS.CC., Pastor, St. Mary, Fairhaven 1963 Rev. Paul J. Price, SS.CC., 2006 July 7 Rev. James E. Lynch, Founder, St. Joan of Arc, Orleans, 1965 July 8 Rev. Edward Murphy, Pastor, St. Mary, Fall River, 1887 Msgr. Patrick J. O’Neill, Retired Pastor, St. Julie Billiart, North Dartmouth, 1995 July 10 Rev. Pie Marie Berard, O.P., Dominican Priory, Fall River, 1938 Rev. Maurice E. Parent, Assistant, St. Michael, Swansea, 1972 Rev. John E. Morris, M.M., Retired Maryknoll Missioner, Former Assistant, St. Joseph, Fall River, 1987 Rev. Theodore M. Morin, M.S., La Salette Shrine, North Attleboro, 1987 July 12 Most Rev. Joseph P. Delaney, Bishop of Fort Worth, Texas, 2005

20

The Anchor

By Janice Arruda Special to The Anchor

July 3, 2009

Bringing Christ’s love to Haiti

SOMERSET — Pope John Paul II in his 1990 Apostolic Exhortation “The Mission of the Redeemer” states, “The Church is called to bear witness to Christ by taking courageous and prophetic stands in the face of the corruption of political or economic power; by not seeking her own glory and material wealth; by using her resources to serve the poorest of the poor; and by imitating Christ’s own simplicity of life” (43).

St. Patrick’s Church in Somerset, having been started as a mission church and named after the great missionary, St. Patrick, recently celebrated its 125th anniversary. It seemed appropriate, therefore, to adopt a mission to sponsor as part of the celebration, to continue the heritage and spirit of our original founders.

Upon hearing the plight of their Christian brothers and sisters in Haiti, being forced to eat cakes made of mud, Father Marek Tuptynski, the pastor of St. Patrick’s, asked the Social Justice Committee to find a way for the entire parish to reach out. Parishioners decided to adopt the Haitian Health Foundation located in Jeremie, Haiti, because of its wide scope of services and the trustworthy involvement of its founder, Dr. Jeremy Lowney, a native of Fall River.

The parish invited Lowney to visit on May 16-17, where he gave a history of the Haitian Health Foundation. He explained how 27 years ago, Bishop Daniel Reilly of Norwich, Conn., invited him to visit Haiti as part of a coalition. They

were trying to see how they could be of service to the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere.

A dentist by profession, Lowney began by doing hundreds of extractions of diseased and infected teeth. On his second visit, he was invited by the Missionaries of Charity in Port-AuPrince. During that trip, he had an epiphany when he picked up a severely malnourished child who minutes later died in his arms.

After three years working with the Sisters in PortAu-Prince, Mother Teresa of Calcutta asked Lowney to go to Jeremie, to accompany a group she would be sending there, to aid the 600,000 people living in this region without access to health care.

In serving the people of Jeremie, he said, Lowney Dr. Jeremy Lowney fell in love with the poorest of the poor, and has gone back to Haiti every three months for the past 27 years.

The Haitian Health Foundation treats thousands of patients at their Outpatient Clinic, which is a resource for diagnostic X-rays, prescription drugs, sonograms, dental care, clinical laboratory tests, eye exams, and various tests and screenings.

It has also established a Center of Hope, which focuses on at-risk pregnant women and severely malnourished children.

Statistics show that this population is the most at risk, with 20 percent of infants dying at birth, and another 20 percent not living beyond their fifth birthday. Of 100,000 birth mothers, 1,000 die in childbirth; that is 250 times the rate in the United States.

His wife, Virginia Lowney, also a native of Fall River, began a companion program called “Save a Family” 19 years ago. It supports almost 1,000 of the poorest families in Jeremie with food, rent, medicine, school, and other basic necessities. Last year alone, nearly 1,500 children were able to attend school because of her efforts.

Those working at the foundation feed three to four thousand people a day. They provide goats, pigs, and chickens to needy families, and they also have a Build-A-House Program. Village health agents, who are trained and paid by the Haitian Health Foundation, treat disease, give immunizations, and teach sanitation and preventative medicine in their own villages.

Lowney’s challenge to the parishioners of St. Patrick was to seize the opportunity to help the most vulnerable as a means of their own salvation.

Several ministries within the parish have responded to the summons by looking for ways to respond to this call.

They have had collections, asked for donations from various ministries, held a raffle, and sold Haitian handcrafts and fair trade coffee at the parish bazaar. Tags were placed on the giving tree during Advent and one of its confirmation groups adopted the mission as its service project. Since November, 2008 the parish has raised $6,600 for the Haitian Health Foundation.

That sum will sponsor two families for a year, providing for the families’ basic needs of food, shelter, medicine and family emergencies, school expenses, as well as seed money to start a small business. It will also provide for the building of a home for a family in need and purchase six goats for needy families. Moreover, the Center of Hope will receive more than $1,000 to provide for malnourished children and women with high-risk pregnancies. The remaining funds will be given to the Haitian Health Foundation to be used where it is needed most.

In the fifth century, St. Augustine challenges Christians by asking, “What does love look like?”

He responded by saying, “Love has hands to help the poor and needy. Love has feet to hasten to the needs of others. Love has eyes to see misery and wants. Love has ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of others.”

The parishioners of St. Patrick’s in Somerset are responding by trying to be Christ’s hands, feet, eyes and ears.

Those who would like to assist St. Patrick’s parishioners in their support for the Haitian Health Foundation and the Center for Hope are urged to call 508-672-1523.