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Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

F riday , July 11, 2014

Pope Francis appoints N.J. Auxiliary Bishop Edgar Moreira da Cunha, S.D.V., as Bishop of Fall River Installation will take place September 24 at St. Mary’s Cathedral

With welcoming words and a hug, torch is passed from one bishop to another

Bishop da Cunha extolled by peers as having ‘heart of a pastor’

By Dave Jolivet Anchor Editor

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

FALL RIVER — At noon, Rome time, on July 3, 6 a.m. eastern time, the Vatican announced that Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., will become the next Bishop of Fall River, taking over the reins from Bishop George W. Coleman, who, following Canon Law, submitted his request for retirement at age 75 this past February.

Bishop da Cunha, the first Brazilian-born priest to be made a bishop in the U.S. was an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J. Bishop Coleman announced the news in a letter to his brother diocesan priests that morning (see page 10), and the formal announcement came at an 11 a.m. press conference in Fall River at the diocesan Office of Communications.

Bishop Coleman was first to address the assembled media, thanking them for their presence and explaining Canon Law regarding the resignation of a bishop upon reaching the retirement age of 75.

“During the past four months [since his submitting

FALL RIVER — When Bishop John J. Myers first arrived in Newark, N.J. in 2001 to shepherd the archdiocese, he met Father Edgar Moreira da Cunha, S.D.V., who was then serving as pastor of St. Michael’s Parish, and immediately recognized him as having “the heart of a pastor.”

“That quality led me to ask then-pope, now St. John Paul II, to appoint him as auxiliary bishop in 2003,” Archbishop Myers said. “Bishop da Cunha has continued to share that heart with the people of the Archdiocese of Newark throughout his episcopal ministry and leadership of our Evangelization and New Energies Parish initiatives, and most recently as vicar general.

He knows the people of God, knows the depth of their faith, and he knows the challenges of serving and leading in a Church with many cultural and ethnic traditions.”

Pope Francis recently appointed Bishop da Cunha as the eighth Bishop of the Fall River Diocese. He succeeds Bishop George W. Coleman who, in accordance with Canon Law, submitted his letter of resignation

Newly-appointed Bishop of Fall River, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., addresses the media at a press conference last week in Fall River, as Bishop George W. Coleman looks on. Below, Father John C. Ozug, left, rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral, gives Bishop da Cunha and Bishop Coleman a tour of the diocese’s mother church. (Photos by Kenneth J. Souza)

Turn to page 18

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New Fall River bishop is member of congregation devoted to vocations, poor Compiled by Dave Jolivet Anchor Editor

FALL RIVER — Fall River Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, is a priest of the Society of Divine Vocations, known as the Vocationists.

According to the Society of Divine Vocations website (vocationist.info/), “The Vocationist Fathers and Brothers are a Catholic Religious Congregation that strives to foster vocations to the priesthood and religious life, especially

among the poor. Its main ministry is to identify and guide those who believe they are called to serve God as priests or Brothers.”

The congregation was founded by Father Justin Russolillo, a native of Naples, Italy, born on Jan. 18, 1891. He was ordained a priest in 1913.

According to the vocationist. info/ website, in 1920, in the parish of St. George in Pianura, Naples, “He

gathered in common life the group of ‘the most faithful ones,’” which became the first community of the Society of Divine Vocations. The Vocationist Fathers gained its first diocesan approval in 1927, and became a congregation of Pontifical right on Jan. 3, 1948.

The Vocationist Fathers and Brothers website (vocationist. org) explains that the members “intend

to live in the footsteps of Jesus, following His chaste, poor and obedient way of life. Their first duty is ‘to be with Him.’ “The ultimate goal of the Society of Divine Vocations is to direct and lead all members, and through them all people, to a perfect union with the Divine Persons, through communion with the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

“For the achievement of this Divine union, it works for Universal SanctifiTurn to page 11

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News From the Vatican

July 11, 2014

Pope phones rabbi, offers condolences over Israeli teens’ murder

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis telephoned Rome’s chief rabbi to personally express his sadness over the murder of three kidnapped Israeli teens whose bodies were found June 30 in Hebron, West Bank.

Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni said the pope phoned him at home late in the afternoon July 1 and said: “Good evening.

This is Pope Francis. I wanted to personally express my sadness for the death of the three youths.”

The rabbi told Rome’s Il Messaggero newspaper he was surprised since the Vatican press office had already published a strong statement condemning the murders of the boys who were kidnapped in mid-June and conveying the pope’s condolences.

During their phone conversation, he said, the pope asked if there was anything he could do.

“It was an informal conversation, very human. He’s an extraordinary man,” the rabbi said.

Rabbi Di Segni also told Il Messaggero that he had been working with Vatican officials to arrange a meeting at the Vatican between Pope Francis and the families of the three kidnapped boys as part of the effort to generate international pressure for their release.

Pope Francis told the rabbi his willingness to meet the families and embrace the boys’ grieving mothers had not changed.

Meanwhile, Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem condemned political and religious leaders who, he said, were fanning the desire for revenge. The discovery of the three young Israelis’ bodies led to a large demonstration in Jerusalem July 1.

A 17-year-old Palestinian male was found murdered July 2 in a forested area on the outskirts of Jerusalem. His family had reported him missing earlier in the day, and many people suspected his death was a revenge killing.

“Vengeance begets vengeance and blood begets blood,” Patriarch Twal said.

“The innocent young people murdered, all murdered young people, are victims sacrificed on the diabolical altar of hatred.”

In the original statement conveying the pope’s condolences, Jesuit Father Federico

Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, called the killings “terrible and dramatic.”

“The assassination of innocent people is always an execrable and unacceptable crime and a serious obstacle on the path toward the peace for which we must tirelessly continue to strive and pray,” Father Lombardi said.

“Pope Francis participates in the unspeakable suffering of the families struck by this homicidal violence and the pain of all persons afflicted by the consequences of hatred,” Father Lombardi said, and he “prays that God might inspire all with thoughts of compassion and peace.”

After the boys’ bodies were found, Israeli military launched what it described as “precision strikes” on 34 sites in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Defense Forces said the strikes were in response to 18 rockets fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel June 29-30.

The three teens were kidnapped as they were hitchhiking home from their school in Gush Etzion, a cluster of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, near Bethlehem. Israeli officials accused Hamas, which recently formed a coalition government with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, of being responsible for the abduction.

Abbas condemned the kidnapping, and Palestinian security forces were coordinating with the Israelis to find the kidnappers.

Auxiliary Bishop William Shomali, chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, had asked anyone with information about the kidnapping of the three teens to come forward and help return the youths to their families. At the same time, June 25, he called on the Israeli army to keep its reaction and its search methods proportionate.

“Kidnapping three Israeli young people is not fair, and is against human rights and human dignity. We are opposed to this; this is not the right way to make peace,” he told Catholic News Service. “(But) the reaction of the Israeli army is disproportionate to what happened.”

At that point, he said, Israeli army forces had arrested some 600 Palestinians in their search for the youth; others estimated 400 were arrested.

Pope Francis opens a cabinet door to pull out more Rosaries for the entire Spanish delegation during a private audience with Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia at the Vatican recently. (CNS photo/ Stefano Spaziani, Pool)

Pope: Service to others frees us from ‘existential grayness’

Vatican City (CNA/ EWTN News) — In his homily during Mass for Saturday’s trip to Molise, Pope Francis explained that the Church is a people that serves God and lives in the freedom that He gives from oppression.

“This is the freedom that, by the Grace of God, we experience in the Christian community when we put ourselves at each others’ service, without jealousy, without taking sides, without chatter. Serving one another.

Serving!” the pope explained in his homily.

“He frees us from fear, internal emptiness, isolation, regret and complaints. Christ frees us from this existential grayness.”

Taking place in the Campobasso’s Romagnoli Stadium, the pope’s Mass was the second event in his one-day trip to Italy’s southern region of Molise.

Overseeing the Archdiocese of Campobasso-Boiano is Archbishop Giancarlo Maria Bregantini, who was appointed by the pope to write the meditations for this year’s Good Friday Via Crucis at the Colosseum. He is also known for his commitment in fighting against organized crime.

In his homily Pope Francis reflected on how the day’s first reading illustrates the characteristics of Divine wisdom, stating that it “liberates from evil and oppression those who place themselves at the service of the Lord.”

He explained that God is never neutral but rather is always “close to people who are fragile, discriminated against and oppressed, who abandon themselves in trust to Him,” adding that the experience of Jacob and Joseph in the Old Testament “reveals two essential aspects of the life of the Church.”

“The Church is a people who

serves God; the Church is a people who lives in the freedom that He gives.”

Observing how the Church is first of all a people who serves God, the pontiff noted that although this is done in various ways, the most important is prayer, of which Mary is an iconic example through her haste to help Elizabeth when she was in need.

Noting how “the witness of charity is the main path of evangelization,” the Bishop of Rome encouraged the priests, religious and laity of Molise to “persevere on this path, serving God in the service of others and spreading everywhere the culture of solidarity.”

“There is much need for this commitment in the face of situations of material and spiritual precariousness, especially in the face of unemployment, a plague that requires every effort and much courage on everyone’s part,” he said.

In order to give this effort Pope Francis stated that it is first necessary to “place the dignity of the human person at the center of every prospect and every action.”

“Other interests, even if legitimate, are secondary. At the center is the dignity of the human person. Why? Because the human person is in the image of God, he was created in the image of God and we are all in the image of God!” Going on, the Roman Pontiff explained that because the Church serves the Lord it is also a people that “experiences His freedom and lives in this freedom that He gives,” adding that “the Lord always gives true freedom.”

“First of all the freedom from sin, from selfishness in all its forms: the freedom to give of oneself and to do so with joy” as

well as “to adore God, to serve God and to serve Him even in our brothers and sisters,” he went on.

“Then the Lord frees us from ambition and rivalry, which undermine unity and communion.

He frees us from distrust, sadness — look, this sadness is dangerous because it casts us down.

It casts us down. It’s dangerous.

Be careful.”

Observing how there is often “no shortage of negative attitudes that make people selfreferential, more concerned with defending themselves than with giving of themselves” in our own communities, the pope assured that Christ frees us from all of this.

“For this reason we disciples of the Lord, though still always weak and sinners — we are all so — still weak and sinners, we are called to live our faith with joy and courage.”

We are also called to live our faith in “communion with God and with our brothers, adoration of God,” he went on, “and to face with strength the labors and trials of life.”

Concluding his reflections, Pope Francis prayed that the region’s “Madonna of Freedom” intercede so that all might attain “the joy of serving the Lord and of walking in the freedom that He has given us, the freedom for adoration.”

“May Mary help you to be a maternal Church, welcoming and caring toward everyone.

May she always be beside you, your sick, your elderly, who are the wisdom of the people, and your youth,” he prayed.

“For all your people, may she be a sign of consolation and sure hope. May the Madonna of Freedom accompany us, help us, console us and give us peace and joy.”

July 11, 2014

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The International Church

Chaldean bishop says Iraqis returning home, despite tough conditions

AMMAN, Jordan (CNS) — Thousands of Iraqi Christians who fled recent shelling by extremist militants and sought refuge in the neighboring autonomous Kurdistan region are now returning home, said a Catholic archbishop responsible for their care.

Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Bashar Matte Warda told Catholic News Service that about “90 percent of the families are returning to the villages of Qaraqosh and Karamlish and environs after they received assurances that the area is once again safe.”

Archbishop Warda recently expressed grave concern for more than 40,000 Christians that fled the Christian villages outside Mosul.

At the time, most fled with just the clothes on their backs, while some, who were still in their pajamas — a sign of their panic and desperation — narrowly escaped after militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant laid siege to the area.

As violence continued to plague Syria and Iraq, Pope Francis pleaded for international action to promote dialogue, and he urged Catholics to pray particularly for Iraqi Christians forced to flee in late June.

“The news coming from Iraq is very painful, unfortunately,” the pope said recently after reciting the Angelus with visitors in St. Peter’s Square. “I join the bishops of the country appealing to government leaders that, through dialogue, national unity could be preserved and war avoided.”

“I am close to the thousands of families, especially Christians, who have had to leave their homes and are in serious danger,” the pope said.

Archbishop Warda told CNS that the Kurdish Peshmerga fighters assured the Christians that it was safe to return home.

The Peshmerga has fought the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and their Sunni Muslim Arab tribesmen trying to gain control of the area.

However, the cleric said that conditions in the region are still “difficult for the Christians because there is no water or electricity.”

He also said that some Christian families have chosen to leave Iraq entirely after this recent crisis, opting to immigrate to neighboring Turkey and Lebanon.

Iraq was thrown back into crisis in mid-June after thousands of armed members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant moved from Syria through much of northern Iraq, killing Muslims and Christians. On June 29 they proclaimed a “caliphate,” an Islamic state led by a religious leader, across the territories they had captured.

At a recent early morning Mass in the chapel of his residence, Pope Francis again urged prayers for Christians facing persecution, especially in the Middle East.

“There also are Christians chased out in an ‘elegant’ way with white gloves,” he said. “This,

By CNS and staff reports VATICAN CITY — Although the Legionaries of Christ have returned to a normal form of self-governance, the Vatican named a top canon lawyer as a special adviser to the religious community. Jesuit Father Gianfranco Ghirlanda, a former rector of Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University and canon law consultant to various offices of the Roman Curia, will support the Legionaries “in overcoming the institutional crisis that has taken place in the last few years,” according to an announcement from the Legionaries’ headquarters July 3.

The new leadership of the Legionaries of Christ, elected in February, was informed of Father Ghirlanda’s appointment

by Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz and Archbishop Jose Rodriguez Carballo, respectively prefect and secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

In a letter to members, Father Eduardo Robles Gil, general director of the Legionaries, said Father Ghirlanda “will counsel us especially in the search for an adequate canonical configuration” for the relationship between the Legionaries of Christ and the related Regnum Christi movement. The movement includes consecrated women, consecrated

men and lay people.

During the meeting at the Legionaries’ headquarters in Rome, the cardinal and archbishop presented the findings of a commission they set up to study the proposed constitutions of the Legion, Father Robles Gil said in his letter to members. The Vatican asked that references to canons of the Code of Canon Law be made more explicit in the constitutions “so that it will be easier to make reference to concrete canons when it is necessary to interpret the text,” the general director wrote.

One of the key Vatican criticisms of the old constitutions of the Legionaries was that it attempted to control every aspect of the members’ lives. Legion Father Benjamin Clariond, spokesman for the order, said the old constitutions had “872 articles; there are 241 in the new constitutions.”

Father Robles Gil told the members that “all of us in the central government (of the Legion) have gratefully embraced the help that the Church is offering us by means of Father Ghirlanda. His experience and personal gifts, as well as his familiarity with the Legion and Regnum Christi — which he acquired as a personal councilor of the Pontifical Delegate — fill us with confidence. I ask one and all

to pray for him so that the Lord will enlighten him to fulfill this new mission with us.”

The pontifical delegate to whom the general director referred was Cardinal Velasio de Paolis, C.S., whom Pope Benedict XVI had appointed in 2010 to reform the Legion after sexual abuse scandals involving the founder of the order, the late Father Marcial Maciel, became public. Before becoming a bishop, Cardinal de Paolis had worked together at the Gregorian University with Father Ghirlanda, who was the dean of canon law at the time. While being the pontifical delegate, Cardinal de Paolis called upon Father Ghirlanda to help him, serving as his “personal councilor.”

The Legionaries website noted that “in 2012, the Pontifical Delegate entrusted [Father Ghirlanda] with the governance of the Consecrated Lay Men of Regnum Christi. In November 2013, he presided over the General Assembly of the Consecrated Lay Men of Regnum Christi. In January and February of 2014, he participated in the Extraordinary General Chapter of the Legion of Christ as a vice-president. On March 19, 2014, Father Eduardo Robles Gil named him a named him a consultant of the Central Commission for the Revision of the Statutes of Regnum Christi.”

Vatican names Jesuit canon lawyer adviser to Legionaries of Christ

too, is persecution.”

Meanwhile, Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Sako of Baghdad recently pleaded with Catholics outside Iraq to be careful accepting without verifying stories claiming the violence is being perpetrated “against Christians in a selective manner.

I repeat that up until now, there have been no attacks aimed at those who bear the name of Christ. The Christians are sharing the anguish and suffering with their Muslim brothers and sisters.”

As Iraq faces the real possibility of war and being torn apart, “every manipulative alarmism” responds to a desire to play on people’s fears and “therefore, ends up aggravating the danger,” he told the Vatican’s Fides news agency.

Earlier, Syriac Catholic Archbishop Yohanna Moshe of Mosul told Fides that a lack of action on the part of the international community is “complicit with the crimes” being committed against innocent civilians caught in the path of the militants.

The majority of Qaraqosh’s 40,000 inhabitants are Syriac Catholics.

Christians have fled Iraq in massive numbers since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion and its aftermath. The country’s Christian community was estimated at 800,000 to 1.2 million people before the 2003 war that un-

leashed a wave of sectarian violence, but the current Christian population is thought to be less than half that number.

Many Christians took refuge in the Kurdistan region, where there was thought to be greater tolerance for other religions.

“We are trying to convince them not to leave,” Archbishop Warda said. “But they told me, ‘OK, bishop, who will secure our life? We have no army to protect us.’”

“We are afraid that things will continue this way,” he said.

“The people are worried. They are afraid. As bishops, we have urged all the parties involved to calm down.”

Syriac Bishop Barnaba Yousif Habash of Our Lady of Deliverance of Newark, New Jersey, recently told CNS that he had spoken with family members after forces overran Qaraqosh.

He said he heard the screams and cries of people in the background.

“There is no hope there,” he said.

He implored the United States and European nations to act to protect minority Christians in northern Iraq.

“If America truly believes in the rights of the people, the rights of the human being, they should use the same power to put peace first and defend people and protect the life of others,” he said.

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The Church in the U.S.

July 11, 2014

National priests’ association gathers in St. Louis for annual assembly

ST. LOUIS (CNS) — Members of a national group of Catholic priests meeting in St. Louis for an annual assembly tackled the issue of immigration and other topics and passed a resolution asking the U.S. bishops to request the Vatican approve ordaining married men as priests.

In late May, during a wideranging inflight news conference on his return to Rome from the Holy Land, Pope Francis indicated the door is open to allowing more married priests in the Catholic Church, in the Latin rite as well as the Eastern Catholic churches where the practice is already established.

The 230 priests at the 2014 assembly of the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests also: — Agreed to support full payment of worker pensions as a moral commitment.

— Called for the laity and clergy to have a role in the selection of diocesan bishops, who are appointed by the pope.

— Expressed continued concerns about translations of prayers in the revised Roman Missal introduced in the U.S. in 2011. They agreed to form a task force charged with archiving portions of the text their members find problematic with the goal of improving the next translation.

The Secretariat of Divine Worship at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops oversaw the years-long process of translation and adoption of the new missal in cooperation with the Vatican and the International Committee on English in the Liturgy.

The priests at the assembly approved a goal of greater cooperation with the Catholic Common Ground Initiative, founded in 1996 by the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago to promote dialogue among Catholics with differing perspectives on contemporary Catholic issues.

They also discussed ways to increase the association’s membership and improve relationships between the Association

of U.S. Catholic Priests and diocesan bishops.

The Seattle-based association claims 1,000 U.S. priests as members; there are more than 26,000 diocesan priests in the United States.

It was formed in August 2011 as a national support organization open to all U.S. priests. Organizers sent a letter about the group to each of the U.S. bishops and received some positive reaction but got few responses from bishops.

Other activities during the St. Louis assembly included electronic communication with leaders of priests’ associations in Austria and Ireland, and participation in a panel discussion with a representative of an Australian priests’ association.

Attendees also heard four keynote speakers on matters related to the Second Vatican Council document, Dei Verbum, having to do with Sacred Scripture, Divine revelation and effective preaching.

The priests attended a Mass celebrated by retired Archbishop John R. Quinn of San Francisco and Archbishop Robert J. Carlson of St. Louis.

Archbishop Quinn, who has written two books on reforming the Vatican including his 1999 book, “The Reform of the Papacy,” received the association’s John XXIII Award during a recent banquet.

Father James J. Bacik of the Diocese of Toledo, Ohio, also received the John XXIII Award.

He is an author, campus minister, theologian and university professor.

The association received recent media attention after issuing a letter in early June to Pope Francis, expressing “sadness and dismay” over the tone of public comments made by a Vatican official to the Leadership Conference of Catholic Women in the United States.

The priests said they were praying that Vatican’s concern would be settled by means of “a genuinely dialogic process, conducted with gentleness and reverence.”

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

A worshipper holding a Rosary and crucifix prays during a July 4 Mass celebrated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington on the final day of the U.S. bishops’ Fortnight for Freedom campaign. (CNS photo/Bob Roller )

Hundreds gather in Washington for Fortnight for Freedom closing Mass

WASHINGTON (CNS) — A deep appreciation for religious liberty brought Anh Thu Vu of the Binh Thuan province of Vietnam to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the Fortnight for Freedom closing Mass July 4.

She told Catholic News Service about her experience with religious persecution. “We lived in a small town and in school they would teach us that there is no God, and they would make it hard for us to go to church because exams would be on Christmas Day,” she said.

“So after experiencing those things, I think religious liberty is important. I think it should be a right inherent to all humans,” said the 23-year-old Vu. “I have been here (in the U.S.) for almost six years as an international student, and I appreciate (religious freedom).”

Hundreds gathered at the national shrine as the two weeks dedicated by the U.S. bishops to prayer, celebration and awareness of religious freedom drew to a close, just days after the Supreme Court ruled that closely-held companies cannot be required to cover contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs in employee health plans.

Prior to the beginning of Mass, members of the Neocatechumenal Way gathered in front of the shrine and sang hymns. An American flag billowed from the Knights Tower of the shrine. Lay men and women, families, priests, deacons, and consecrated men and women religious filled the upper church for the Mass.

Rossnat Rodriguez, originally from Lima, Peru, told CNS, “Religious liberty is the whole essence of being free. You should be able to practice your faith. I don’t think

that’s something we can compromise.”

“When you think about the United States and freedom, the pursuit of happiness, this is what it’s all about. I come from a Third World country with a history of violence. Religious freedom is very dear to my heart.”

Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington was the principal celebrant of the Mass; Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, was the homilist.

In his homily, Archbishop Kurtz, who is president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, reminded Catholics of the theme of this year’s Fortnight: the freedom to serve.

“People of faith have had a tremendous impact on the fabric of the United States of America,” he said. “And (that is) precisely because so many have used the freedom that is ours as a freedom to serve.”

This faith-filled service, said Archbishop Kurtz, is good for America because thousands of religious communities, Catholic charities and hospitals have put their faith into action in order to serve others, allowing the “light of Christ to shine in our world.”

Archbishop Kurtz made clear that threats to religious liberty still exist and for the sake of faith and charity, this freedom must vigilantly be defended.

“You and I are gathered here today because we know that there are real threats to religious freedom. We’re gathered to pray because of a certain urgency. There are threats throughout the world.

(And) this assault on religious freedom is also sadly at our doorstep,” he said.

He cited the Little Sisters of the Poor and their ongoing lawsuit against the Health and Hu-

man Services mandate requiring them and most other religious employers to provide contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs in health care plans for their lay employees.

Archbishop Kurtz said the Little Sisters of the Poor need not and cannot choose between continuing to serve and compromising the convictions of their faith.

“We can’t stand by and allow anyone to separate acts of service from the living faith that motivates these acts. And we can’t allow anyone to force us to facilitate immoral acts that go against our clearly demonstrated living faith,” he said.

Archbishop Kurtz entreated Catholics to continue to pray for the defense of religious freedom.

“We seek only to be good citizens.

Good citizens of Heaven and good citizens of earth. We’re free, and we want to be free to serve,” he concluded.

Msgr. Vito Buonanno, director of pilgrimages at the national shrine, is one of many who believe the fight for religious freedom is far from over, but he was encouraged by the enthusiasm shown for the Fortnight’s closing Mass.

“Religious liberty is something that our forefathers put into the founding laws of our nation. It allows us to recognize the human, God-given dignity of every human being and to be able to worship God,” he told CNS in an interview before Mass began.

He looked around the upper church, nearly every pew filled with people. The response of the people to the Fortnight and to the closing Mass, he said, was “tremendous.”

“I think opportunities like this provide a great witness that the Church and the world need to see, the witness of our beliefs.”

The Church in the U.S. Show joy of Christian family life, Denver archbishop teaches

July 11, 2014

Denver, Colo. (CNA/ EWTN News) — Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila of Denver has published a pastoral letter calling on Catholics to live their faith in their families and to renew the role of the family in broader culture.

“We have to help couples live the fullness of the Gospel in a broken, skeptical and hostile culture. Above all, the Church must shine a light on the joy of living a faithful Christian family life,” Archbishop Aquila said in his recent letter, “Family: Become What You Are.” He said the Church must focus on “rejuvenating families and helping them become the first school of Christian life where children witness their parents reflecting the generous, sacrificial love of the Trinity.”

Archbishop Aquila said that if the family is to thrive in the face of cultural challenges, “the Church must redouble her efforts to teach about the joy, beauty and goods of Marriage.”

Catholics and the Church must relate Marriage and the family to “the joy that comes from experiencing the redemption and freedom from sin Christ won for us.”

The Church, he explained, “must respond to our wounded and skeptical society with mercy and truth. She must be, as Pope Francis has said, like a ‘field hospital’ where injuries can be healed and wounds bound up.”

“Family life is a great gift of God. Yet many families today feel weak and demoralized. Family life throughout the world is wounded, broken in many cases, and misunderstood.”

He acknowledged that it is not possible for “every difficult family situation to be neatly resolved.”

“But I do know that with the grace of God, every person and situation can more closely resemble the intimate exchange of love we were made to experience.”

The pastoral letter takes its title from St. John Paul II’s 1981 apostolic exhortation “Familiaris Consortio.” Archbishop Aquila’s letter focused on the family’s Trinitarian meaning, the nature of Marriage, and the challenges to the family. He also suggested practical ways for families to “live out their mission to be a place of love and life.”

The archbishop cited the words of St. John Paul II, who said that it is “indispensable and urgent that every person of good will should endeavor to save and foster the values and requirements of the family.”

He gave several practical suggestions on how to form one’s family to make Jesus Christ and the Church its “foundation.”

Stressing the need for hearts that are open to a personal encounter with Christ and the Trinity, he encouraged personal prayer and reading of the Gospels, as well as family prayer beginning with prayer between spouses.

He encouraged Catholics to “live the Sacramental life of the Church,” especially by receiving the Eucharist, going to Confession “at least monthly,” and regular Sunday Mass attendance.

He suggested that families take advantage of parish and diocesan programs that “can help you encounter Christ and help families grow.”

Archbishop Aquila also said that it is “vital” for Catholics to give witness in the public square about Marriage, the family, and the dignity of human life.

“Too many Christian hearts and minds have been formed by

the culture in which we live, and too many have left their faith at the doors of the church, rather than working for the transformation of culture and society as the Second Vatican Council teaches.”

The archbishop’s letter addressed “various attacks or distortions” related to the family, including challenges like “growing confusion about sexuality,” contraception and divorce.

He noted that the goods of Marriage include children, fidelity between spouses, and the “unbreakable bond” between them. The permanent bond of Marriage “points toward the Heavenly Marriage of Christ and His bride, the Church.”

Marriage is a spiritual, emotional and bodily union “founded on the complementarity of male and female,” he said. This human difference between the sexes is “willed by God for the benefit and fulfillment of human beings.” The unique marital union aims to form and perfect the interior life of both husband and wife “so that together they might increasingly grow in virtue and in true love of God and their neighbor.”

Marriage is also ordained by God for “the procreation and education of children,” who are the “ultimate crown” of the married spouses. Even those spouses who cannot conceive children can share in and realize this “uniquely comprehensive type of human communion,” he added.

Archbishop Aquila reiterated Christian teaching that sexual activity is “reserved to those who are married.” He rejected the notion that sex is “merely an instrument of pleasure,” saying this idea confuses human identity, misuses our bodies, and separates us from God.

Minn. archbishop orders internal investigation of claims made against him

ST. PAUL, Minn. (CNS) — Archbishop John C. Nienstedt of St. Paul and Minneapolis told priests and staff about recent allegations against him involving events alleged to have occurred a decade ago before he began serving in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, calling them “absolutely and entirely false.” The claims do not involve minors, and they do not implicate any kind of illegal or criminal behavior.

The new allegations were made public in an article post-

ed on Commonweal magazine’s website, which said that the archbishop “is being investigated for ‘multiple allegations’ of inappropriate sexual conduct with seminarians, priests, and other men, according to the archbishop’s former top canon lawyer, Jennifer Haselberger.”

In response, Archbishop Nienstedt said in a July 1 statement sent to all priests, deacons and archdiocesan staff, and posted at archspm.org., “I have ordered that [an] investigation be conducted for the

benefit of the archdiocese. It would be unfair to ignore these allegations simply because I know them to be false.

“Since I would instruct the archdiocese to investigate similar allegations made against any priest, I had ordered the archdiocese to independently investigate the allegations made against me,” he said. In overseeing the investigation, which is ongoing, Auxiliary Bishop Lee A. Piche hired an outside firm unaffiliated with the archdiocese to conduct it.

“Chastity recognizes the dignity of the human person and never treats another person as an object for pleasure. Chastity acknowledges the truth, dignity, meaning and purpose of sexual intimacy and requires self-mastery, which is difficult,” the archbishop acknowledged, while adding that chastity is possible “with the help of Christ.”

For the married, chastity means “respecting the goods of Marriage in all marital relations.” For the unmarried, chastity means “refraining from sexual activity.”

“Not only homosexual acts, but the sexual acts of all nonmarried persons are contrary to God’s design for human flourishing,” he said.

Archbishop Aquila also voiced his “fatherly care” for those who experience same-sex attraction, saying that they “carry a heavy cross” whose struggle is “more than most of us understand.”

“Your tears do not go unseen

by Jesus,” he said.

The archbishop’s letter explained Catholic rejection of some forms of medically-assisted conception, such as in vitro fertilization, while also noting that other medical treatments for infertility are “morally legitimate.”

He noted the fears and concerns that tempt married couples to contracept, but also said that contraception is “a barrier to married love and an enticement to selfishness.” He said Pope Paul VI’s encyclical against contraception rightly warned that it would increase infidelity, degrade morality, and cause men to lose respect for women.

He also explained the role

5

natural family planning can play in a Christian Marriage.

Furthermore, Archbishop Aquila lamented the high divorce rate and the suffering divorce causes for both spouses and children. The Catholic belief in the permanence of Marriage is rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ, he explained, lamenting that hearts have “become hardened” to the permanent and life-long commitment of Marriage.

“Couples who truly reverence Christ and put Him first in their Marriage, loving one another as Christ loves, will remain faithful to each other even in difficult times in their Marriage,” he said.

Archbishop Aquila noted the upcoming Extraordinary Meeting of the Synod of Bishops, to be held in Rome in October 2014, will focus on the family, as will the Ordinary Synod of Bishops in October 2015. In addition, the World Meeting of Families will be held in Philadelphia in September 2015.

The synods will address important concerns like raising children in broken homes, effective pastoral care for the divorced and civilly remarried, and Marriage preparation.

The archbishop hoped that the letter will provide a “solid foundation” for archdiocesan Catholics and “all people of good will” so that they may “effectively respond to the challenges that families experience today.”

The Archdiocese of Denver has released several resources to accompany the pastoral letter, including a video message and prayer materials for a family Rosary and grace before and after meals.

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July 11, 2014

Anchor Editorial

Our episcopal transition

As is well-reported in this edition of The Anchor, on July 3 our diocese entered into a period of transition. Bishop George W. Coleman, the seventh bishop of Fall River, introduced the eighth, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha. Bishop Coleman stressed that Bishop da Cunha would not be alone in his ministry. “The Diocese of Fall River consists of thousands of God’s people, priests, deacons, consecrated men and women and faithful, all of whom live the life of faith and seek to serve the Church.”

In his letter to the priests of the diocese (which you can read on page 11), after expressing his welcome to Bishop da Cunha and his thanks to the priests for their collaboration with him during his episcopacy, Bishop Coleman offered a practical direction. “Since the diocese becomes vacant with the naming of a new bishop, the bishop’s name should be omitted in the Eucharistic prayer until Bishop da Cunha takes possession of the diocese in September.”

Thinking about that brings to mind when Pope Benedict flew out of the Vatican and off to Castel Gandolfo last year on the evening when his resignation took effect. Back then we had no idea who the Holy Spirit had in store to give us as our new Holy Father. This time we do know who our new bishop will be (so we are not wondering about that), but we do realize that we are in an interim period, in which Bishop Coleman is now the apostolic administrator of the diocese, not the diocesan bishop, while Bishop da Cunha wraps up his tasks down in the Archdiocese of Newark.

The secular news media were present for Bishop da Cunha’s July 3 visit to Fall River (they may have wondered why the announcement was made on the day before a holiday, something which civil government leaders do when they want to announce bad news, in the hopes that tree-trimming or turkey preparation or fireworks purchasing [depending upon to which holiday we are referring] will somehow distract the populace, but we need to remember that July 4 is not a holiday in Vatican City) and they posed questions which did not all reflect the joy that Bishop Coleman mentioned in his letter. They asked Bishop da Cunha whether he was coming to Fall River with a list of parishes to close or Catholic schools to shut down. He pointed out that he had only arrived in the diocese the night beforehand (save for a trip he made with the Brazilian community from New Jersey

some years ago, which brought him to Martha’s Vineyard, one of our Brazilian enclaves) and that he comes with no preconceived notions, but that he wants to work with the people of the diocese to promote Catholic education and strong parishes.

He was also asked about the scandal of clerical sexual abuse (As one person remarked, “is this all the news media can think about?”). One must concede that one of the reporters who asked about this did say that the Fall River Diocese did have a good track record of handling abuse accusations, having dealt with this issue early on, when the Porter scandal broke more than 20 years ago. Bishop da Cunha said that sexual abuse is a problem everywhere and it always needs to be addressed seriously, mentioning that it is the policy of the bishops of the United States to do so.

As we move through this period of transition, we will not be mentioning either Bishop Coleman or Bishop da Cunha by name in the Eucharistic Prayer, but that does not mean that we should not pray for them. We pray for Bishop Coleman, thanking the Lord for his kind and prayerful service as a priest and bishop for almost 50 years (he will be 50 years ordained a priest this December). We ask that God give him many blessings as he prepares for retirement. Retirement for a cleric is not like retirement from a secular job. Administrative tasks are gone, but the work of sanctification (that of oneself and that of the people a cleric serves) goes on until death. As many retired priests have said, ministry in retirement is even more joyful, because one can concentrate on being a priest, not an administrator.

We pray also for Bishop da Cunha. He is saying goodbye to the people of New Jersey, people with whom he has served as a religious Brother, deacon, priest and bishop. It is not easy to leave, but he already has the experience of leaving his home country of Brazil to come to New Jersey (at least, if he wants to occasionally see people from there, the distance will not be too great). We pray for him as he prepares to serve with us here in the Fall River Diocese, to carry out the mandate Jesus gave to all Christians right before He ascended into Heaven, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature” (Mk 16:15). Bishop Coleman will continue to do that, Bishop da Cunha will soon be doing that here, too. We all need to do our part in carrying out that mandate.

Pope Francis’ Angelus address of July 6 Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

In this Sunday’s Gospel we find the call of Jesus as He says: “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). When Jesus said this, He has before His eyes the people He meets every day in the streets of Galilee, many simple people, the poor, the sick, the sinners, the marginalized people. They have al-

ways chased Him to listen to His Word — a Word that gave hope!

The Words of Jesus always give hope! And also to touch even the hem of His garment. Jesus Himself found these crowds to be harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (cf. Mt 9:35-36), and He sought to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal many in body and in spirit. Now He calls them all to Himself: “Come unto Me,” and OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER

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promises them relief and refreshment.

This invitation of Jesus extends to the present day, to reach many brothers and sisters weighed down by poor living conditions, by difficult life situations and at times with no valid points of reference. In the poorest countries, but also in the peripheries of the richest countries, there are many people harassed and helpless under the unbearable weight of abandonment and indifference. Indifference: how bad is human indifference to the needy! And worse, the indifference of Christians! On the margins of society there are so many men and women tested by poverty, but also tested by dissatisfaction with life and frustration. Many are forced to emigrate from their homeland, risking their own life. Many more every day carry the weight of an economic system that exploits man, imposes an unbearable “yoke,” which the privileged few do not want to remove. To each of these sons of the Father Who is in Heaven, Jesus says, “Come unto

Me, all ye.” But He also says this to those who possess everything, but whose heart is empty and without God in them, too; Jesus addresses this invitation: “Come to Me.” The call of Jesus is for everyone, but in a special way for those who suffer the most.

Jesus promises to give rest to all, but there is also an invitation, which is like a commandment: “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart” (Mt 11:29). The “yoke” of the Lord consists in taking charge of the weight of the other with fraternal love. Once we have received the refreshment and comfort of Christ, we are called in turn to become refreshment and comfort for the brothers, with a meek and humble attitude, in imitation of the Master.

Meekness and humility of heart not only help us to take the weight of the other, but not to impose upon them our own personal views, our judgments, our criticism or our indifference.

We invoke the Blessed Virgin Mary, under her mantle that wel-

comes all people harassed and helpless, so that through an enlightened faith, witnessed in life, we can be of relief to those who need help, tenderness and hope.

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary: And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary ...

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy Word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

July 11, 2014

“I

could never, in my wildest dreams, imagine myself standing here as the future bishop of this diocese,” declared Bishop Edgar da Cunha, who was appointed on July 3 by Pope Francis to become the new spiritual shepherd of our diocese.

“Only God’s plan and God’s will could make it possible,” he added. “I am convinced that this is all God’s plan and God’s doing.”

Since God is not whimsical but orders all things according to His eternal plan, the background for Bishop da Cunha’s appointment to Fall River extends to far before his name was presumably recommended to Pope Francis by the apostolic nuncio in Washington and the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops in Rome. As the prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah attest, God implants vocational seeds at conception and thereafter He routinely provides the necessary skills and training to form the person to fulfill that mission.

We can see clear glimpses of God’s plan for Bishop da Cunha to lead the Diocese of Fall River in the talents and experiences God has given him until now. When you look at the objective needs of our diocese in 2014 and beyond, they neatly align with Bishop da Cunha’s proximate and remote preparation.

By Christine M. Williams Anchor Correspondent

ATTLEBORO — As she does every Thursday, Charlene Harrison left work on June 26 and headed to pray outside the Four Women Health Center in Attleboro. She parked on Hillside Drive and walked toward her usual vigil spot at Angel Park, the narrow strip of grass between divided Highway 118.

But on June 26 there was no need to cross the street and stand at least 35 feet back from the entrance to the abortion clinic’s parking lot. Earlier that day, the United States Supreme Court unanimously struck down Massachusetts’ buffer zone law, ruling that it violated the free speech rights of Pro-Lifers.

Harrison, a Catholic who has prayed outside the clinic for about a dozen years, said she was “thrilled” when a fellow “prayer warrior” gave her the news on site.

“It’s a victory for us. The Lord

Anchor Columnist

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God’s plan and God’s doing Our diocese is multilingual staff (there are also an additional and our new bishop is a polyeight parishes run by religious glot, fluent in English, Portuorders). This means that some guese and Spanish. difficult decisions are inevitaOur diocese is full of first bly on the horizon. Bishop da generation immigrants, with Cunha has been the chairman all the attendant struggles of the Newark Archdiocese’s and virtues. Bishop da Cunha Implementation Team for the himself emigrated from Bra“New Energies” Parish Transizil to the United States in his tion Project, tasked at a larger mid-20s and has served on the scale with many of the same U.S. Bishops’ Committees on Migration and on Cultural Diversity, Putting Into making him particularly the Deep sensitive and capable of the needs of immiBy Father grants today.

Roger J. Landry Our diocese has a great need for priestly vocations — presently we have only seven men studyissues and decisions that our ing to be priests for the diocese diocese is going to have to con— and Bishop da Cunha spent tinue making. most of his first 20 years as a Pastoral planning, however, priest in vocations work, serving is more than about merging and as the vocations director for the closing parishes; it’s ultimately religious community to which meant to revitalize parishes and he belongs, the Society of Dithe entire ecclesial mission of vine Vocations, serving on the a diocese. Bishop da Cunha is board of the Eastern Religious on the Board of Trustees for Vocations Directors Association Renew International, whose and later for seven years as the programs have helped to reinnovice master and director of vigorate hundreds of parishes formation for his congregation. across the United States, includOver the next decade, our ing within our own diocese diocese will be heavily involved through the Renew 2000 effort in the arduous task of pastounder Bishop Sean O’Malley. ral planning since by 2020 we One of a bishop’s foremost are projected to have about 55 duties is to strengthen his diocesan priests for what are brother priests, for which he now 76 parishes diocesan priests must understand their daily

struggles, pressures, routines and joys. Bishop da Cunha was himself the pastor of St. Nicholas Parish in Palisades Park for five years and then a regional bishop for a decade helping pastors throughout Essex County, N.J. He should have a good sense of the factors that impact priestly morale so that, God-willing, he will bring out the best in his priest collaborators.

The fact that he is a religious who lived his priesthood in community may also make him more proactive in battling the issues of isolation some priests who live and work alone experience.

For a bishop to do what’s most important — preaching, teaching, celebrating the Sacraments, accompanying his people as a shepherd who knows the smell of his sheep — he must be an able administrator and know how to surround himself with an effective team so that he can spend less time on these less important but patently necessary tasks. During the last year, he served as vicar general of the Archdiocese of Newark, overseeing many of the dayto-day operations of a diocese four times the size of our own.

Diocesan administration is seldom easy but hopefully he’ll find it easier than what

he’s had to manage.

For these reasons and others, it’s easy to see God’s hand behind the appointment and why Pope Francis and his advisors would have deemed him a good fit.

But it doesn’t seem that our new bishop will focus fundamentally on that preparation.

An episcopal motto always says a lot about the bishop who selects it. Bishop da Cunha’s is, “My grace is sufficient for you,” quoting Jesus’ words to St. Paul. It’s a reminder to us that whether we have or lack the human preparation for a task, God is always present to strengthen us in weakness.

That focus on God’s grace was evident on July 3 when Bishop da Cunha said, “I see this new mission as a gift from the Lord and an opportunity to use the gifts God graciously gave me to serve the faithful people of this diocese.”

Any mission God gives is always a gift before it is a task. Bishop da Cunha seems to be well aware that God’s grace, which has sufficed to sustain him until now, will strengthen him and support us together with him moving forward.

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

their agenda on social issues at the expense of First Amendment issues,” he said.

During a July 2 press conference, state officials, including Gov. Deval Patrick and Attorney General Martha Coakley, pledged to pass new laws to “protect” women entering abortion clinics before the current legislative session ends on July 31.

Coakley said their mission is to make sure women have access to health care without harassment.

Harrison said that she and others who pray outside the Attleboro clinic never seek to antagonize anyone. Instead, they want to offer alternatives to abortion. When they can, they refer women to nearby pregnancy resource centers that provide free pregnancy testing and parenting assistance. They want to show the women that they care and hopefully help them see the “truth about abortion.”

“We’re there for them. We’re not against them,” she said.

“We’ve always just prayed there.

That’s all we’ve done.”

People first began praying outside Four Women when the clinic opened in 1998 and continued until the Buffer Zone Law was enacted in 2007. Currently the only abortion clinic in the Diocese of Fall River, the clinic is located far from the road and has its own parking lot.

Harrison called moving across the street in 2007 “disheartening.”

“It made it more difficult. It seemed like we weren’t able to reach as many because we were farther away,” she said.

A few counselors would try to project their voices, but with only a short interval to engage them, they could not say much.

They hope that being closer once again will allow them to engage more women.

Abortions occur at Four Women on Thursday afternoons and Saturday mornings. When the Supreme Court handed down its decision on June 26, the

clinic was inexplicably closed.

The following Saturday, June 28, the usual crowd gathered and most stood right outside the parking lot entrance. Harrison predicted that when the crowds get larger, as they often do during the 40 Days for Life campaigns, most vigilers will continue to pray in the park and a few outliers will stand outside the parking lot.

“I’m content to be in the background, just being a prayer warrior, just praying the Rosary, but some people are gifted, and they would do very well for the sidewalk counseling,” she said.

Harrison said that standing vigil outside the clinic is a calling from God. She understands the power of prayer and knows the prayers are being used to convert the hearts of mothers somewhere.

“The Blessed Mother is using our prayers. It’s not for us to know where these prayers are going,” she said. “We put it in her hands.”

Pro-Lifers pray closer to Attleboro clinic

is with us on this,” she said, adding that ultimately the buffer zone repeal will save the lives of babies and their mothers.

Marian Desrosiers, director of the Diocese of Fall River’s ProLife Apostolate, said that offering these women information and compassion is critical.

“The women are extremely fearful. They are not well-informed. They haven’t been given full disclosure about procedures.

Some of them are under tremendous pressure,” she said.

She called the overturned law “discriminatory” and said the court rightly recognized that the law targeted a specific group of people.

Dwight Duncan, a law professor at the University of Massachusetts, said that the unanimous decision is a clear signal that the Commonwealth had gone overboard in its disregard for the U.S. Constitution.

“There is a certain tendency among victors of the left to push

8

“T

here is no sense in complaining; no one listens anyway.” How often have we heard this line? This week’s Gospel is a serious complaint directed to us. God’s Word often falls dead on its soil or on a deaf ear. The signs God gives in our lives remain unseen, unheard, unrealized and unappreciated.

There is a story about a young man who had a horrible argument with his girlfriend — which resulted in a very serious misunderstanding. He was upset about it because it now altered their relationship. He tried to talk to her, but that did not work.

He tried to phone her, but when he heard her voice he did not know what to say, and he would just hang up. He even tried to write a letter, but when he finished, he tore his letter

July 11, 2014

Missed opportunities up because he thought What a disappointment, it sounded stupid. Then what a tragedy, what a he remembered that she missed opportunity! It is loved red roses. He bought in those terms that God her a single red rose. The speaks to us. florist put some ferns God gives us signs day along with the rose and after day, trying to get our wrapped it in nice, thin floral paper.

The young man Homily of the Week went to her apartFifteenth Sunday ment and put the in Ordinary Time rose down in front of her apartment

By Father door at the time Daniel W. Lacroix he knew she would come home from work. He then hid around the corner of the attention: a thought, a corridor. dream, a friend, a spouse, Then she came off the a joyous feeling, a sorrowelevator lovely as ever. His ful one and yes, even a red heart beat so fast and his rose. How often do we mouth became so very dry. notice? How often do we She opened her handstop to say, “Thank You, bag and took out her key.

God”?

She opened the door and One winter, after a stepped inside without snowfall on a Sunday, I even noticing the beautiwas watching the ABC ful, expensive red rose.

World News and the re-

porters were interviewing fans going through snow and sleet to arrive at Foxboro Stadium to watch the Patriots play. The diehard fans said nothing could keep them away from their team. Then another reporter was interviewing teen-age girls and their parents who even paid for hotel rooms to make sure they were at the concert of a very popular teen performer.

Not even blizzard conditions could keep them from disappointing their daughters.

Would these individuals have made such attempts to attend Mass on that Sunday? Every Mass we miss is a missed opportunity to hear Jesus speak to us and allow us to have Him intimately connect with us through

Holy Communion. Jesus speaks to us about hearing His Word and living the Good News and it often falls on dead soil or deaf ears. Were it only to fall on good soil and spring up into new life! We not only need to be open to God’s Word, but give the nutrients (Eucharist) to allow God’s Word to grow in our hearts.

We live as those who have eyes and see not; as those who have ears and hear not; not only as far as God is concerned, but even as far as the people around us are concerned.

Isn’t God trying to speak to us through others? Isn’t that what God tried to do through His Son, Jesus?

Isn’t that what He still does through the Church?

Father Lacroix is a pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish in Seekonk.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. July 12, Is 6:1-8; Ps 93:1-2,5; Mt 10:24-33. Sun. July 13, Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Is 55:10-11; Ps 65:10-14; Rom 8:18-23; Mt 13:1-23 or 13:1-9. Mon. July 14, Is 1:10-17; Ps 50:8-9,16b-17,21,23; Mt 10:34—11:1. Tues. July 15, Is 7:1-9; Ps 48:2-8; Mt 11:20-24. Wed. July 16, Is 10:5-7,13b-16; Ps 94:5-10,14-15; Mt 11:25-27. Thurs. July 17, Is 26:7-9,12,16-19; Ps 102:13-14b,15-21; Mt 11:28-30. Fri. July 18, Is 38:1-6,2122,7-8; (Ps) Is 38:10-12,16; Mt 12:1-8.

D

uring these sultry days of summer we enter into the agrarian society in which Jesus taught His lessons of discipleship.

The people of that world understood the meaning of the words of the Prophet Isaiah, who promised that “Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth.”

God prepares our hearts and makes them fertile places where God’s Word can germinate. This set the stage for the parable of the sower who casts his seed onto the land, letting it fall where it may. Jesus knew that they would be shocked that a farmer could be cavalier with his precious seed as to allow it to fall onto unprepared soil, for He was speaking to a group for whom planting and harvesting needed little explanation.

Sowing seeds is still a powerful metaphor for catechists, youth ministers and anyone in the busi-

God’s masterful soil preparation

overflows each season to ness of evangelizing. As the produce rich and fertile fields catechetical leaders of the waiting for the Word of God diocese gathered together at to be planted within. One the end of the school year, catechist, however, offered they reflected on the Gospel a more realistic view of soil of the sower and the three types of soil on which the seed was scattered.

While we pondered the nature of the seed, small and undeveloped, whose promise we almost never harvest, there was a feeling of frustration about

By Claire McManus the condition of the soil. Despite the many preparation. A farmer by day, excellent ways in which the this catechist knew that soil seed is disseminated, there was no control over the rocky preparation takes years and soil of youth that comes with hard work before any seed goes into the ground. Creatno family preparation, or ing rich soil requires years of the weeds of society, whose mixing in such organic comdistractions and distortions pounds as yard waste, manure choke off the tender plants and other such things that that begin to grow. don’t look or smell very nice.

Many catechist-evangeWhat most people wish to lizers are resigned to their throw in the trash, a farmer limited role as seed sowwill use to create compost ers; neither laboring at soil that turns ordinary dirt into preparation nor rejoicing rich and nutritious soil. in the harvest. They could This farmer gives us excelonly hope that some of the lent insight into the miracle people to whom they minisof faith that comes from God ter come from some “fertile alone. The process of creatcrescent” that is nourished ing rich soil is the work of by flood waters of faith that

The Great Commission

God, Who takes the stuff of our life that we wish could be cast onto the scrap heap, and uses it to enrich our soul.

All of our grief, addiction, poverty, rejection, abuse, and humiliation, become the compost that God uses to prepare our soil for planting.

The lives of some of our illustrious heroes of the faith attest to the miracle of God’s masterful soil preparation. St. Augustine confessed to a life of sin and pride, yet God mixed his years of sinful debauchery with the good clay of Augustine’s life — his intellect and his mother’s prayers, opening him to receive the words of St. Paul. Thomas Merton’s alienation from his parents and wild life as a youth became the compost that God worked into the clay of his artistry and skill as a writer. He “heard” the Gospel through the beauty of the great cathedrals of Europe.

Dorothy Day spent her early adult life immersed in Bohemian excesses, but her acute sense of justice and solidar-

ity with the poor became the fertile ground for a life of radical faith. Not one of these spiritual giants lived “worthy” lives, but they all had the seed planted while their soil was being cultivated.

After all of our prayer and reflection over the parable of the sower, we must come to the conclusion that planting seed is dirty work. No seed of faith has ever taken root in the hardened clay of the perfect life. Thomas Merton reminds us that our search for God does not begin with perfection, but with the chaos of our life. “God is asking me, the unworthy, to forget my worthiness and that of my brothers, and dare to advance in the love which has redeemed and renewed us all in God’s likeness; and to laugh, after all, at the preposterous idea of worthiness.” God plants the seed of faith into the darkness of the hidden soil, bringing forth the surprise of a beautifully made fruit.

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

Anchor Columnists This is the way the world will end (X3)

July 11, 2014

Friday 11 July 2014 — Homeport: Falmouth Harbor — Worldfuture 2014 ou know me, dear readers, I’m the eternal optimist. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. This is a big part of the reason my “bucket list” includes attending the General Assembly of the World Future Society. It’s an annual worldwide conference of futurists from various fields who share ideas about what the future may hold in store based on current trends and events. This year’s “Worldfuture” (combining words in this way is very trendy right now but the Germans have been doing it forever) begins today in Orlando, Fla. Unfortunately, I’m otherwise occupied — maybe next year.

My particular area of interest is how the world might end. This has never been a burning topic among Catholics, but it is the very reason for the existence of a handful of other denominations. The latter spend all their time, energy, and money (well, a bit of it anyway) attempting to predict the end of the world. Their predictions are based on some unsubstantiated secret code of the Bible. These apocalypticists

Y

W

expectancy is 136 years. At seek out present events as dire that age, I probably couldn’t signs of Biblical proportions. care less what was on TV. When some prediction fails On H2 I have learned to bring on the end of the that the end of the world will world, they simply come up be brought about by hostile with another, ad infinitum (or ad nauseam.) You can easily get visitors from other planets.

According to “ancient alien the drift of their observations by watching one of their televi- theorists,” these highly-intelligent creatures have been sion networks.

Or, if you prefer something a little more The Ship’s Log scientific, you can also get predictions about Reflections of a the end of the world Parish Priest by watching “More to

By Father Tim History” (H2). H2 is Goldrick a digital cable and satellite television channel owned by A & E Netvisiting earth for centuries, works, a joint venture of the scoping things out. I doubt it, Hearst Corporation and the Walt Disney Company. By the but there is increasing scientific likelihood that other life way, H2 attracts more upscale forms (even intelligent ones) middle-aged men than any do exist somewhere out there. other cable channel, with the exception of ESPN. More than A close encounter of the fifth kind seems to be inevitable.

69 million American houseMaybe we should have already holds receive H2. Not that all in place an Intergalactic Of69 million households watch fice of the State Department. it simultaneously, I’m sure, but Pope Francis has commented sometimes I do. off-the-cuff that if intelligent If H2 appeals to men at life is discovered on another mid-life, and if I sometimes planet, he would consider bapwatch it, then it is likely that tizing an alien. at this point I am halfway On H2, I have learned that through my life. And if I am the world could actually end halfway through my life that with some cosmic event, like a could only mean that my life

collision with a giant meteor.

On the other hand, perhaps the melting of the polar caps will hasten our demise; or maybe the poles themselves will reverse. This happens every 100,000 years or so. We’re overdue.

Maybe the collapse of some essential component of our ecosystems (like the oceans or the rainforests) will wreak havoc.

Maybe a pandemic will wipe out the human race. Maybe earth will be sucked into a black hole. Maybe the end game scenario will be caused by a giant solar flare. All of the above are possibilities.

Or maybe we will be the creators of our own catastrophe through an accident in the fields of biotechnology, nuclear engineering, or some advanced physics experiment gone haywire, or by the dissipation of the ozone layer caused by global warming.

On H2, I learned all about the cryptic writings of Michel de Notre Dame (Michael of Our Lady) otherwise known as “Nostradamus,” the 16thcentury French pharmacist.

Some today believe his symbolic scribbling predicted

9

future world events that would bring about the end. I suspect Nostradamus was smoking something now illegal in most of these United States.

H2 can give viewers collective apoplexy. Nevertheless, when you come right down to it, dear readers, most if not all of these potential disasters can be avoided if we address them in advance with funded scientific research and technology. As the Boy Scouts are fond of reminding us, “Be prepared.”

There’s a reason why Catholics are not easily bamboozled by reports that the sky is falling. The reason is that the Catholic Church is a Biblical Church. Our faith is based on the Bible and on tradition.

Both clearly teach that the culmination of life on earth as we know it will come when the Lord returns in glory to establish His Kingdom. We pray, “Thy Kingdom come.”

How and when is not for us to know.

The many and varied endof-the-world predictions of H2 are nothing more than entertainment for middle-aged men. I should know.

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

Your mission … should you choose to accept it

ell friends, another CLI has come and gone! For those of you who don’t know what I’m referring to, that would be the Christian Leadership Institute, a weeklong leadership training “process” that caters to the youth of the Fall River Diocese.

After being recognized by mentors, catechetical leaders, campus and youth ministers, DREs, and pastors as being standouts in their schools, communities, and parishes, this cream of the crop is asked to partake in all CLI has to offer them. This mission, should they choose to accept it, will be one that has the power to transform their young lives and prepare them for the rest of high school, college, and beyond. Sounds deep and exciting, right? It is! What is more deep and exciting is that I have been able to be a part of CLI for the past eight years.

I graduated in the summer of 2006 and came back each year after — first as a gradu-

ate helping with the interactive workshops the candidates participate in with their groups, and then as an intern and member of support team, speaking to parents about my own experience and assisting the director, Frank Lucca, and the team with whatever was needed that week.

This year I was honored to be asked on adult team. No matter what my role, year after year, I continue to be baffled, for the result at the end of the week is always the same.

Each year, without fail, a group of kids come in and a group of young men and women go out. Yes it is true, that within a week, a massive transformation is undergone.

Shy smiles, timid hugs and goodbyes to parents, awkward silences and clichéd icebreaker questions at the first day of meal times, are a staple, but it is what evolves out of these things that strikes me

with awe. The shy smiles turn to hiccups of belly laughter, the hugs are those shared between old friends, and the conversation flows amongst the candidates as they eagerly discover more and more of what they have in common.

By the end of the week

Radiate Your Faith

By Renee Bernier there are tears and the affirmations shared by team and candidates alike are bittersweet. How blessed we as team feel to have been graced by the presence of such energetic young leaders who provide us such hope for the present and future Church.

How lost these young leaders feel at the prospect of leaving their newfound peers, their

family for the week. Here is where my message comes in.

To witness such a powerful bond of friendship over the course of one week is amazing.

But what is truly amazing is that we are called to discover and nurture these relationships each day of our life. Christ calls us to love each other as we are loved by the Father, and not a day goes by where that love ceases. And it flows from a source unseen. Yet we trust that that love surrounds our heart and fills it, propelling us forward to share it with others. CLI has provided these young leaders with a family of mentors and peers that they can see, that they can physically touch, and challenges them to act as Christ has instructed us.

Despite where we come from and where we will go back to after a week together, despite the inevitable differences we do discover amongst

ourselves, we, a people who so yearn for physical signs, now see first-hand Christ at work in our lives. For He has provided us the opportunity to see Him in the faces of all of those around us, and for this week, this one special week out of every summer, He does not allow us for one moment to forget that.

Thus, we are faced with a challenge. It is up to us to be the Light of Christ in the world for others, to dispel fears and doubt, pain and worry, and bring forth the peace and love we are meant to share with those around us.

We are challenged to recognize those around us for their strengths, their diverse gifts, and their uniquities and bring them forth into the world. As disciples of Christ, this is our mission. Do you choose to accept it?

Anchor columnist Renee Bernier is a Stonehill College graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology.

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July 11, 2014

This is a screen shot of the Good Shepherd Parish website, allowing a live video feed of Masses at the Martha’s Vineyard parish’s three worship sites.

To advertise in The Anchor, contact Wayne Powers at 508-675-7151 or Email

waynepowers@anchornews.org

Martha’s Vineyard Parish brings the celebration of Mass into people’s homes far and wide

ing a webcam in St. Augustine’s, that way people could watch a VINEYARD HAVEN — live stream of our Sunday MassOne of a pastor’s main concerns es.”

Jennings, whose company is to keep his flock together as does a fair amount of work a parish community. That’s not with Catholic parishes across an easy thing to do, and when physical logistics play a hand, it New England, told The Anchor, “The initial problem with a live increases the task.

Father Michael Nagle is pas- webcam in the church was the tor of Good Shepherd Parish on resolution of the feed. The early the island of Martha’s Vineyard hardware provided a stream that which is nestled in Vineyard had poor resolution that made it Sound to the northwest, Nan- difficult to make out the figures tucket Sound to the northeast, on the screen; the feed was stagand the Atlantic Ocean due gered, and it was expensive.”

Jennings said his company south.

Father Nagle’s parish on the went headlong into a research 100-square-mile isle includes and development mode and St. Augustine’s Church in Vine- found high resolution equipyard Haven, St. Elizabeth’s ment and a server that could Church in Edgartown, and Our handle the crystal clear webcam Lady Star of the Sea Chapel in feed and stream it live on the Internet without losing any of the Oak Bluffs.

The island is home to a resolution. And at a fair price.

“The movement is fluid, the large Brazilian community, a fair amount of “snowbirds,” pictures are clear, and the colors who make Florida their winter are true,” added Jennings.

“Father Nagle was very inhomes, people whose livelihoods strumental in getting this done,” lead them on and off island on a Jennings said further. “He gave routine basis, and summer visitors who seek a Catholic comTurn to page 18 munity when away from home.

Added to the mix is the fact Martha’s Vineyard is the largest island on the east coast of the U.S. that has no bridge access to the mainland. Consequently, the primary transportation modes to and from the island are ferries and planes.

“Since I’ve been here, I’ve tried to think of ways to keep our people connected,” Father Nagle told The Anchor. “I gave it a lot of thought, and then a A state-of-the-art webcam proman with whom I’d done busi- vides a high-resolution live feed ness, Troy Jennings from Power of Masses from the Martha’s Sound of New England, and I Vineyard Parish of Good Shepcame up with the idea of install- herd via the Internet. (Photo by

By Dave Jolivet Anchor Editor

Father Michael Nagle)

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July 11, 2014

Bishop George W. Coleman’s letter to diocesan priests about new bishop July 3, 2014 Dear Brother Priests, I am extremely happy to inform you that our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has accepted my resignation from the office of bishop and has named the Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D., as the eighth Bishop of Fall River. Since 200,3 Bishop da Cunha has served as Titular Bishop of Ucres and Auxiliary Bishop of Newark. I have attached a copy of his Curriculum Vitae to this note.

We will introduce Bishop da Cunha to the press at a conference to be held at 11 a.m. this morning at the Communications Office on Highland Avenue.

I want to take this opportunity to offer a warm welcome to Bishop da Cunha as our new shepherd. A member of the Society of Divine Vocations, he has served in a number of capacities in the Society over the years. In addition, he has extensive experience in vocations work and as a

parish priest.

I have spoken to Bishop da Cunha several times and he is looking forward to his new assignment. His installation as bishop will be take place on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014, at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

More information about the details of the installation will be distributed as soon as they are set.

As you know, I have looked forward to the Holy Father’s acceptance of my request to resign from the office of bishop; I am just as pleased that he has named Bishop da Cunha as my successor. I know that you join me not only in welcoming him, but also in assuring him of our fraternal support and prayers.

This is a joyful day for the Church of Fall River!

With a grateful heart, I thank you for your prayers and support, for all that you have done in assisting me not only as your bishop for the past 11 years, but throughout the 50 years of my priesthood here in the

diocese.

I will have a better opportunity to convey that to you and to the people of the diocese next month.

On a practical note, since the diocese becomes vacant with the naming of a new bishop, the bishop’s name should be omitted in the Eucharistic prayer until Bishop da Cunha takes possession of the diocese in September.

Let us thank Almighty God for the gift of a new shepherd and rejoice in welcoming Bishop da Cunha.

Fraternally yours in Christ,

+ George W. Coleman

The Vocationist Fathers continued from page one

cation promoting ascetical and mystical life and the propagation of religious life in every walk of life.

“For the achievement of Universal Sanctification, it considers the whole world as ‘a great sanctuary’ and directly works for the furtherance of all parochial, diocesan and pontifical ascetical activities.”

Father Russolillo established what he called “A Vocationary,” a place where individuals can discern a call to the priesthood or religious life “in a spirit of prayer and study.”

The congregation does not charge those candidates who feel they may have a calling to the priesthood or religious life.

Those candidates who continue to show that they may have a calling, continue to study with the Vocationists. Once a final decision is made to devote themselves to ordained life,

the order will contact specific orders or dioceses to continue the process. Should the candidate decide to remain with the Vocationists, they will continue the formation process with the congregation.

The Vocationist Fathers currently serve in the U.S., Italy, Argentina, Brazil, Nigeria, the Philippines, India, Madagascar, Colombia, Ecuador, France, and Indonesia. The Fathers and Brothers take a vow of poverty, chastity and obedience.

The Society of Divine Vocations petitioned Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, and in 1998 Pope John Paul II declared Father Russolillo Venerable, and in 2011, Pope Benedict XVI declared him Blessed.

For more information on the Society of Divine Vocations and Blessed Justin Russolillo, visit the congregation’s website at www.vocationist.info/ or vocationist.org.

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July 11, 2014

Pope Francis to hold audience with elderly, grandparents Vatican City (CNA/EWTN News) — The Pontifical Council for the Family is organizing a day dedicated to the elderly, during which Pope Francis will meet with them as sign of the important role they play in a society that lives longer.

“The day is based on the assumption that old age is not a shipwreck but a vocation,” Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, said in a statement posted on the council’s website announcing the initiative.

Entitled “The Blessing of a Long Life,” the event will take place September 28 in St. Peter’s Square. The square will open at 7:30 a.m. with the official celebration beginning at 9 a.m. The day will culminate with a Mass at 10:30 presided over by Pope Francis.

Archbishop Paglia spoke of the great richness that the elderly offer to society, stating that old age is a call whose meaning has yet to be fully explored.

“Thanks to God the years of life have accumulated — society permits this — but, on the other hand, on this issue, an adequate reflection has not yet been developed,” he said. “There is none, neither in politics nor economics, nor in culture.”

The archbishop said he

hoped the event would draw attention to this period of life and the humanity of the elderly.

“It should be stressed that the elderly are not only the object of attention or care, but that they themselves also have a new perspective in life.”

“That’s the point,” he observed. “Therefore, their advanced age needs to be rethought, and their commitment to the world and in the Church must be reconsidered.”

Even the Church has a responsibility to reconsider the role of the elderly beyond the traditional tasks of transmitting the faith and helping parents.

For example, Archbishop Paglia said, the elderly can play a vital role in areas such as “prayer — they have more time available — and transmitting the Gospel, thus, echoing Anna the prophetess.”

Finally, Archbishop Paglia explained that there are also “civil aspects” to advancing age, “with particular care to conceive the weakening of life not as a final tragedy but rather as a testimony of hope in the hereafter.”

More information regarding the day with the elderly can be found on the Pontifical Council for the Family’s website. Registration forms were made available as of July 1.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, July 13, 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father James J. Doherty, CSC, pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Taunton.

Brian Bradley, Ella Linnea Wahlstedt, Reese Hartwig and Teo Halm star in scene from movie “Earth to Echo.” For a brief review of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS photo/Patrick Wymore, Relativity Media)

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

“Deliver Us From Evil” (Screen Gems) As exorcism movies go, director and co-writer Scott Derrickson’s screen version of Ralph Sarchie’s memoir “Beware the Night” (written with Lisa Collier Cool) is better than most. His tale gains credibility from the profile of its main character: a nononsense New York City police officer (Eric Bana) and lapsed Catholic whose investigation of a series of peculiar crimes leads him to suspect that more than ordinary evil is at work in them. Teaming with a priest (Edgar Ramirez) whose ties to the Church are frayed, but whose spiritual outlook is orthodox enough, the cop gradually accepts the fact that his main suspect (Sean Harris), an Iraq War veteran, is demonically possessed. Though sensational at times, Derrickson’s effective horror film does treat faith seriously. Even so, its dark subject matter and some intense — and bloody — interludes suggest caution for all but the most resilient screen

patrons. Mature themes, occasional gory violence, about a dozen uses of profanity, frequent rough and crude language, an obscene gesture.

The Catholic News Service classification is L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

“Earth to Echo” (Relativity) About to be separated by the demolition of their suburban Nevada neighborhood, through which a highway is to be built, a trio of young friends (Teo Halm, Brian “Astro” Bradley and Reese Hartwig), bound by their shared status as social outcasts, embarks on a final adventure together. They travel into the desert to locate the source of some mysterious cell phone activity they and others in the doomed community have recently been experiencing. The cause of the disruption turns out to be a small stranded alien whose endearing, pet-like personality quickly wins the pals over.

They commit themselves to helping him return home, a quest on which they’re eventually joined by one of their most popular classmates (Ella Wahlestedt), a seemingly unattainable lass for whom Halm’s character carries a secret torch. While its plot is a mash-up of familiar story elements, director Dave Green’s gentle film, which employs a found-footage approach to its narrative and

conveys positive lessons about loyalty and trust, is not without its rewards, though these are more reliably found in its humorous moments than in its attempts to be touching.

Some teen sexual talk and a few crass terms. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

“Tammy” (Warner Bros.)

This saga of a childlike Midwestern woman’s (Melissa McCarthy) journey to put her life in order makes a stab at adding pathos to the wellworn genre of road-tripwith-salty-granny, instead coming off as a botched character sketch bogged down in a moral morass. McCarthy, who co-wrote the script with director Ben Falcone, evidently had a sympathetic figure in mind. Yet not only does the title character fail to become any more self-aware as the story — and her outing with her grandmother (Susan Sarandon) — proceed, she also lurches through an escalating series of bad choices, including robbery and destruction of property. An implied bedroom encounter, some profanities and sexual banter, pervasive rough and crude language. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted.

Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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July 11, 2014

Members of Pax Christi are pictured in this 1952 photo outside of the St. Francis Information Center in Greenwood, Miss., with youths who came to the center. The Catholic organization was a key player in the civil rights movement. The only person identified is Kate Foote Jordan, second from left, a Pax Christi founder. (CNS photo/Bishop Oliver Gerow, courtesy Diocese of Jackson Archives)

Memories of civil rights struggles still fresh in Mississippi town

GREENWOOD, Miss.

(CNS) — A pane of cracked blue glass above the front doors of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Greenwood helps ensure that nobody forgets how their parish, its founding pastor and the religious who staffed it stood up for them during a polarizing, often brutal time.

As this summer marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, parishioners at St. Francis have a vivid reminder of the related events in their town. They can look up and see where a bullet went through the window, one of many acts of violence and serious threats to a faith community that was active in promoting civil rights, behind the scenes and in the streets.

For people who lived in Greenwood at that time, however, the broken window pane doesn’t seem necessary to remind them what their town has been through. In interviews with Catholic News Service recently, parishioners at St. Francis and the town’s other Catholic church, Immaculate Heart of Mary, spoke vividly of incidents from those years.

They lived with the blatantly racist way of life epitomized by the White Citizens’ Council, a Greenwood-founded segregationist group that actively championed the Jim Crow system. Greenwood, now with a population of just 15,000 and then around 20,000, found itself divided even more in the mid-1960s by a months-long

merchant boycott in protest of how blacks were treated. A few years earlier and 10 miles up the road, Emmett Till, the black Chicago 14-year-old who was visiting relatives in Money, Miss., was found — tortured and killed — reportedly for flirting with a white young woman.

Greenwood’s residents lived through the two criminal trials of local white supremacist Byron De La Beckwith for murdering civil rights activist Medgar Evers in 1963.

Though those 1960s trials failed to reach verdicts, he was convicted in 1994.

Greenwood witnessed further upheaval when organizers from outside Mississippi zeroed in on their town to promote voter education and voter registration, leading to a fire being set at the offices of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the gunshot wounding of a community organizer, even drawing such high profile activists as singers Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger to town.

Through all this, what was then known as St. Francis Mission, its elementary school and Church-sponsored community center in the heart of a poor, black neighborhood, were essential pieces of efforts by the Catholic Church in Mississippi to provide a wide range of services to Mississippi’s poorest residents, regardless of religious affiliation. In Greenwood, the Franciscans strove to provide AfricanAmericans with a welcoming place to worship and a school

where they could get a decent education in the deeply segregated society.

Mississippi’s Catholic population has never been large — it’s currently about nine percent — and the percentage of black Catholics is an even smaller fragment. When St. Francis Mission was founded in 1950, there were just two black Catholics in Greenwood, according to an article on the role of Catholics in the town by Siena College professor Paul T. Murray in the Journal of Mississippi History.

Franciscan Father Nathaniel Machesky, a Detroit native who joined the friars out of a desire to do missionary work, was initially assigned in Greenwood at Immaculate Heart of Mary. But as Murray put it, “ministering to a respectable all-white congregation was not Father Nathaniel’s idea of true missionary work.” When the friars received permission to open a mission for African Americans, he found a 12-acre parcel of land on the outskirts of town and transformed the “juke joint” on the property into a chapel.

Father Nathaniel saw offering a good education as the key to evangelization and quickly opened a school at the mission.

Talking over coffee in the rectory in early June, several African-American women who’d grown up at St. Francis, and who became Catholic because their parents put them in school there, told CNS about how far their community has

come when it comes to racial divisions.

They told long-ago stories: of being warned to leave a CYO gathering at Immaculate Heart before something bad happened; and of being told during a prayer service there, “This church is ours. You have your own.”

But another woman had a story from just last year: of watching a white man in line at the grocery store demand — and get — a white cashier to ring up his order instead of the black cashier who was already in the position. More than one of the women voiced a fear that “Jim Crow is coming back,” because of the increase in apparently race-based conflicts around the country.

They agreed that the role of St. Francis of Assisi Parish was important to their own success in life, and in helping improve the chances for Greenwood’s poor black families, as well as helping turn the tide against the era’s racist ways.

Another piece of the Catholic Church’s role in Greenwood began with Kate Foote Jordan, who founded a secular institute of religious women they called Pax Christi. By the mid-1960s, the group of about 20 women, including two African-Americans, operated the St. Francis Information Center to offer instruction in Catholicism and recreational activities for children, according to Murray.

It eventually hosted a clinic, a grocery store, Scout troops, music lessons, a skating rink, tutoring and adult education, and published a weekly newspaper for African-Americans.

Father Nathaniel also created a credit union and several small businesses for the community. He was active in the interracial ministerial association and successfully worked with blacks and whites in building the parish of St. Francis.

His involvement in the boycott of Greenwood merchants that followed the 1968 murder of Dr. Martin Luther King changed that somewhat.

As one of the priest’s friends and a lifelong Immaculate Heart parishioner, Alex Malouf, tells it, Father Nathaniel had carefully straddled the cultural chasm between his black parishioners and the dominant white business community, where he had friends and supporters.

But the support the parish had enjoyed from some of the

white-owned businesses was strained when Father Nathaniel, the Sisters who staffed the school and others affiliated with the Church joined the boycott of their stores.

One of the African-American women at St. Francis and a white parishioner at Immaculate Heart each told about the nuns getting new tennis shoes courtesy of a Greenwood merchant one week and wearing them in a protest march against the merchants a few days later. Decades later, the story still gets a little different spin when told by a woman who supported the protests and the son of a ’60s merchant.

A bitter legal battle over how protests were conducted and the months-long “unbelievably effective” boycott were finally settled, Malouf said, when he worked with the merchants and Father Nathaniel worked with the AfricanAmerican community through the ministerial association to negotiate a settlement.

“You could get killed over that,” Malouf said, adding that in those days in Greenwood, such conversations across color lines just didn’t take place. “I was threatened.

The klan threw stuff at my house.”

Father Nathaniel had been threatened quite seriously — a man who said he’d been hired by the Ku Klux Klan to kill the priest came to the rectory one day. The two talked at length and eventually the hired killer said he decided the priest was too good a man to kill and gave back the money. For a time the priest’s brother, a fellow friar, served as a sort of bodyguard, various Greenwood residents said.

As for the boycott, Malouf said the negotiations he and Father Nathaniel helped arrange bore fruit, surprisingly quickly.

The merchants agreed to hire a few African-American employees and to work on getting the city to hire blacks for the police and fire departments. And they agreed to start referring to AfricanAmericans with courtesy titles — Mr. and Mrs., as they did white customers — instead of by their first names.

In return, the boycott ended and Greenwood’s majority black population began patronizing their local businesses again.

A related video has been posted at http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=d6cAZk6enS0

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July 11, 2014

Bishop da Cunha extolled by peers as having ‘heart of a pastor’ continued from page one

upon turning 75 years of age on Feb. 1, 2014.

The acceptance of Bishop Coleman’s resignation and the appointment of Bishop da Cunha were announced July 3 in Washington, D.C. by the apostolic nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Carlo M. Vigano.

Bishop da Cunha, 60, will be officially installed as Bishop of Fall River in the context of a Mass to be celebrated on September 24 at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River, while Bishop Coleman will remain on as Apostolic Administrator in the interim.

Archbishop Myers admitted that Bishop da Cunha’s appointment as Fall River’s new shepherd is somewhat bittersweet.

“For some 36 years, Bishop da Cunha has been an integral part of the life of the local Church of Newark — first as a seminarian of the Vocationist community studying for priesthood at Immaculate Conception Seminary, then as a Vocationist priest and pastor ministering in several Newark parishes, and ultimately as a brother bishop assisting me in ministering to all of the people of the Newark Archdiocese,” he said.

“We are all very proud for him, although (Fall River’s) gain is certainly our loss,” agreed Father Antonio L. da Silva, S.D.V., current pastor of St. Michael’s Parish in Newark, N.J. As a fellow Vocationist priest, Father da Silva is also very proud of the fact that a member of his order had been selected to lead the Fall River Diocese.

“I had the opportunity of working with Bishop da Cunha (here in Newark) and I can tell you he’s a good priest and he will certainly be an asset to the Fall River Diocese,” he said.

“True to his roots as a Vocationist, he has collaborated well with clergy, religious and laity alike, demonstrating great skill in calling forth and respecting the gifts of others,” said Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda, coadjutor archbishop of Newark, N.J. “Having worked closely with Bishop da Cunha these past eight months, I can personally attest to his pastoral zeal and to the palpable love for Christ and His Church that has consistently motivated his service in the Archdiocese of Newark.”

“I’ve known him for 15 years, ever since I first came to the archdiocese,” said James Goodness, communications director

for the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J. “He’s always been a joy to work with and I count him as one of my really great friends.

He brings to every situation a sense of wanting to find out all there is possible so that he can do the best work for the people he’s serving. He’s an extremely welcoming person and when you approach him, you know the smile is real.”

Bishop da Cunha was born in Nova Fatima, Bahia, Brazil, on Aug. 21, 1953, the son of Manoel and Josefa Moreira.

He attended local schools in Nova Fatima, Bahia, including the minor seminary (or Vocationary) of the Vocationist Fathers in Riachão do Jacuípe.

There he joined the Vocationist Fathers, also known as the Society of Divine Vocations. He studied philosophy at Universidade Catolica do Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, and theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, N.J., graduating with a master of Divinity degree.

Bishop da Cunha was ordained to the priesthood for the Society of Divine Vocations in the Church of St. Michael, Newark, by Bishop Joseph A. Francis, S.D.V., Auxiliary Bishop of Newark, on Mar. 27, 1982.

Following his ordination he served as a parochial vicar of St. Michael Church, Newark, and as director of vocations for his congregation. In 1983, when the archdiocese entrusted St. Nicholas Parish, Palisades Park, to the Vocationist Fathers, Bishop da Cunha was transferred there to serve as parochial vicar and vice superior of the local community and at the same time continued his ministry of promoting vocations.

During his time as vocation director he was very active and served on the board of the Eastern Religious Vocations Directors Association. In 1987 he was appointed pastor of St. Nicholas Parish. In 1992 he was elected secretary of the Council of the Vocationist Delegation in the United States.

From 1994 until 2000, Bishop da Cunha served as novice master and director of the Vocationary, the house of formation that the society maintains in Florham Park, N.J. His appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Newark and Titular Bishop of Ucres was announced by the Holy See on June 27, 2003, the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. He was ordained a bishop on Sept. 3, 2003, at the Sacred

Heart Cathedral Basilica and was appointed Regional Bishop for Essex County on Oct. 15, 2003 and then Vicar for Evangelization on May 4, 2005. He was named vicar general for the Archdiocese of Newark on June 6, 2013 and as such has since served as the principal deputy of the archbishop in the administration of the archdiocese.

Bishop da Cunha is presently a member of the Newark Archdiocesan Board of Consultors, Presbyteral Council, the Clergy Personnel Board; the New Jersey Catholic Conference Board of Bishops and chairman of NJCC Public Policy Committee; he has served as member of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church; Committee on Migration; and currently he is a member of the Sub-Committee on the Church in Latin America, the Sub-Committee on Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugee and Travelers; he serves as a Consultor to the Sub-Committee on Hispanic Affairs; he also serves as Episcopal Liaison to the Brazilian Apostolate in the U.S. He is chairman of the Archdiocesan Implementation Team for the New Energies — Parish Transition Project in the Archdiocese of Newark.

In his new assignment as Bishop of the Fall River Diocese, Bishop da Cunha will shepherd a community of faith of approximately 302,484 persons who worship in 84 parishes and 11 mission churches in Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands, covering 1,194 square miles and encompassing all of Bristol County, Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket

and the towns of Mattapoisett, Marion and Wareham in Plymouth County.

Bishop Coleman has led the diocese since July 22, 2003.

While praising the leadership and commitment of Bishop Coleman for the past 11 years, Father John J. Oliveira, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in New Bedford and coordinator of the Portuguese Apostolate for the Fall River Diocese, said he is looking forward to working with Bishop da Cunha.

“It’s very important to underline the fact that he’s Brazilian, he’s not Portuguese, although Portuguese is his first language,” Father Oliveira told The Anchor.

“To say we are going to have a Portuguese bishop is not accurate.”

Having met Bishop da Cunha briefly last week during his day-long tour of the diocese and having had prior encounters with him at national immigration meetings, Father Oliveira said he seems to be “a very approachable man.”

“I think he comes with an awful lot of enthusiasm and I think his work in a culturally-diverse diocese only prepares him to be of service to everybody — not just immigrants,” Father Oliveira said. “At this point, it should be of no surprise to us anymore that a bishop of any diocese needs to be culturally diverse; and that a man can speak several languages only helps him to minister to the people of the diocese.”

“While the various Portuguese-speaking peoples around the world have their own cultural traditions, customs and particularities, there is commonality among them,” agreed Father William Rodrigues, pastor of St.

Anthony’s Parish in Taunton.

“The Fall River Diocese has been home to generations of Portuguese-speaking immigrants from places such as continental Portugal, the Azores, Cape Verde, Madeira and Brazil.

I know that it will be very meaningful for my parishioners––– in Taunton that the shepherd’s staff in our diocese will be held by a native Portuguese-speaking bishop.”

“Having the experience of being an immigrant himself in a new place is very encouraging for us because we are a diocese of multi-cultures,” said Father Craig Pregana, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Parish in New Bedford and director of the diocesan Hispanic Apostolate. “From what I’ve seen of Bishop da Cunha, I think he’s very much in the spirit of Pope Francis. He seems to smile easily and is very welcoming. I think he’ll certainly build on what Bishop Coleman has done in being supportive of the Hispanic ministry here in our diocese.”

“I have come to know him as an extremely capable leader who never fails to put the needs of others before his own, and I have quickly grown to admire him for his ability to bring the joy of the Gospel into even the most challenging of circumstances,” added Archbishop Hebda. “His life gives daily witness to a real solidarity with the poor and a deep empathy for those who, for various reasons, find themselves living in a culture that is not their own.

“If Pope Francis were ever to abandon the tango of his native Argentina for a Brazilian samba, I have no doubt that he would look and sound a great deal like Bishop da Cunha.”

Cathedral rector, Father John C. Ozug, left, shows new Fall River Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., the crypt below St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River during a recent tour, the day he was announced as the diocese’s eighth bishop. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)

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July 11, 2014

Pope meets sex abuse victims, says clergy actions cloaked in complicity

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Asking for forgiveness, Pope Francis told abuse survivors that “despicable actions” caused by clergy have been hidden for too long and had been “camouflaged with a complicity that cannot be explained.”

“There is no place in the Church’s ministry for those who commit these abuses, and I commit myself not to tolerate harm done to a minor by any individual, whether a cleric or not,” and to hold all bishops accountable for protecting young people, the pope said during a special early morning Mass for six survivors of abuse by clergy. The Mass and private meetings held later with each individual took place in the Domus Sanctae Marthae — the pope’s residence and a Vatican guesthouse where the survivors also stayed.

In a lengthy homily in Spanish July 7, the pope thanked the three men and three women — two each from Ireland, the United Kingdom and Germany — for coming to the Vatican to meet with him. The Vatican provided its own translations of the unscripted homily.

The pope praised their courage for speaking out about their abuse, saying that telling the truth “was a service of love, since for us it shed light on a terrible darkness in the life of the Church.”

The pope said the scandal of abuse caused him “deep pain and suffering. So much time hidden, camouflaged with a complicity that cannot be explained.”

He called sex abuse a

“crime and grave sin,” that erico Lombardi, the Vatican stand deeply” the wrongs that number of members, espehave been committed and the cially from Africa and Asia, was made even worse when spokesman, told journalists.

The pope spent a total of need “to be honest about re- before the next meeting in carried out by clergy.

“This is what causes me three hours and 20 minutes ality,” the Vatican spokesman October, Father Lombardi distress and pain at the fact in closed-door talks with said. said. The commission also It was the first time Pope said it was necessary to set that some priests and bish- each person, Father LomFrancis met directly with a up a permanent and staffed ops, by sexually abusing mi- bardi said.

The Jesuit priest said the group of victims of clerical “working office” at the Vatinors” violated the innocence of children and their own vo- men and women were visibly abuse, following a tradition can, he said. moved by the Mass and meet- begun by his predecessor, cation to God, he said.

The commission, which Pope Benedict XVI, “It is something currently has eight members, He [Pope Francis] begged for forgive- who met with victims including a survivor of clerimore than despicable actions. It is like a ness “for the sins of omission on the part for the first time as cal sex abuse, mental health sacrilegious cult, be- of the Church leaders who did not respond pope in 2008 during professionals and experts visit to Washing- in civil and Church law, is cause these boys and adequately to reports of abuse,” adding that aton, D.C. The retired tasked with laying out a pasgirls had been entrusted to the priestly the neglect not only caused the victims more pope subsequently toral approach to helping viccharism in order to suffering, “it endangered other minors who met with other vic- tims and preventing abuse. tims during his pasbe brought to God. were at risk.”

In his homily, the pope said toral visits to Aus- he was looking to the comAnd those people tralia, Malta, Great mission to help the Church sacrificed them to the idol of concupiscence,” ings and had “felt listened to,” Britain and Germany. “develop better policies and Pope Francis asked Car- procedures” for protecting and that the encounter was the pope said.

He begged for forgiveness “something positive on their dinal Sean P. O’Malley of minors.

Boston — the head of a new “for the sins of omission on journey” of healing.

“We will continue to exThe length and nature of Vatican commission on pro- ercise vigilance in priestly the part of the Church leaders who did not respond ad- the pope’s very first meet- tecting minors — to help or- formation,” the pope told the equately to reports of abuse,” ing with abuse survivors rep- ganize the early July encoun- victims, and “we need to do adding that the neglect not resent “a sign, a model, an ter. everything in our power to The Pontifical Commis- ensure that these sins have no only caused the victims more example” for the rest of the suffering, “it endangered oth- Church, that “listening is sion for the Protection of place in the Church.” needed” along with tangible Minors, which the pope eser minors who were at risk.”

Just as Jesus told Peter to The pope asked God “for efforts for understanding and tablished in December, met feed His sheep, the pope said, July 6 at the Vatican. They “I would add, ‘Let no wolf the grace to weep, the grace reconciliation, he said. discussed expanding the enter the sheepfold.’”

Responding to critics that for the Church to weep and make reparations for her sons the July 7 meeting and Mass and daughters who betrayed were ineffectual and part of a their mission, who abused in- publicity stunt, Father Lomnocent persons” and left life- bardi said that if people had been able to see, as he had, long scars.

He told the men and the reactions of the men and women sitting in the pews women who took part in the that God loved them and he private gathering, “it was prayed that “the remnants of clear that it was absolutely the darkness which touched not a public relations event.”

The raw emotion on peoyou may be healed.”

The Anchor spends nearly $2,000 In an effort to help the ple’s faces, including the in postage change fees each year! abuse survivors heal, the pope pope’s, as well as his strongmet individually with each ly-worded homily, all showed The Post Office charges The Anchor 70 cents for notification of a subscriber’s change of address. Please help us one, accompanied by a loved the effort had been about “a reduce these expenses by notifying us immediately when dialogue with a pastor and one or family member and a you plan to move. translator, Jesuit Father Fed- father who tries to under-

This week in 50 years ago — The first-ever Retreat for the Handicapped, was sponsored by the Fall River Diocese and held at the Catholic Memorial Home, Fall River. Supervised by Msgr.

Raymond T. Considine, the program included a conference, Confessions and private conferences with the retreat master, a social hour, and question period.

25 years ago — Fifth-graders at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Taunton were the firstplace winners for the Ninth Congressional District of a national historical pictorial map contest sponsored by the Commission on the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution and the Center for Civic Education.

Money is flying out the window

Please Print Your New Address Below

Diocesan history

NAME:

10 years ago — Father Craig A. Pregana was re-assigned from chaplain at UMass Dartmouth, to become a parochial vicar at two parishes in the Fall River diocesan mission in Guaimaca, Honduras.

STREET ADDRESS:

One year ago — Present-day evangelists from St. Vincent De Paul Parish, aided by some of their neighbors from St. John the Evangelist Parish, also in Attleboro, went out two-by-two, to make door-to-door visits to area homes to share with their neighbors a packet of information about the Catholic Church and an invitation to come to know Christ’s love again, or for the first time.

NEW PARISH:

CITY, STATE, ZIP:

MOVING DATE: Please attach your Anchor address label so we can update your record immediately.

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

Youth Pages

16

Students in grades six through eight from St. James-St. John School in New Bedford recently wrote persuasive essays about the fate of Ruth and Emily, elephants at the New Bedford Buttonwood Zoo. The essays were printed in The StandardTimes and students were invited to paint with the elephants.

July 11, 2014

Eighth-grade students from St. Michael School in Fall River and their chaperones recently made a trip to New York City.

Sophia Fernandes, center, a fifth-grade student at St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro, put on a puppet show for her class. Pictured here are Abby Smith, Fernandes, and Shea O’Brien who helped her put on the performance. Fernandes received the three puppets from France and thought it would be fun to share them with her classmates and grades kindergarten through four as well.

Surrounded by family and friends, the St. Mary’s School (Mansfield) Class of 2022 presented songs of joy, faith, and knowledge as they celebrated their accomplishments of the year.

At the recent Coyle and Cassidy High School Honors Night, the winners of the “Man and Woman of the Year,” were announced. Given in honor of the late Joseph Scanlon, his wife Louise and son Dr. Michael Scanlon, were on had to present the awards to this year’s recipients. This award is given to a most deserving young man and woman who embodies the essence of the Taunton school’s motto “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve.” Picture with Dr. Scanlon and his mother Louise are this year’s recipients, David Orsi and Shannon Largey.

The two first-grade classes at St. Mary-Sacred Heart School in North Attleboro held up the Rosaries they made in class for Father David Costa to bless. The two classes are taught by Sally Sullivan and Denise Piette.

July 11, 2014

A

couple of weeks ago we celebrated the Solemnity of SS. Peter and Paul. When one reflects on what they accomplished in the earliest days of our Church following the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ, one should be quite impressed. Collaborating with the gift of the Holy Spirit, they led a small band of believers to be able to evangelize the whole known world at the time. What is even more impressive is that they did it without social media.

I’ve always challenged youth and others by their example. Think of

Youth Pages Let’s live it

17

society is deaf to the Gospel, we live what is so readily available to us, in the Gospel, regardless of our age or addition to the same graces and gifts in a culture of death, there are so our situation in life. A high school many other that had been or college student will be much more messages available to effective in sharing the Gospel with out there, Peter and peers than I would be. A homeetc., etc., etc. bound individual is able to remain Paul and the While these early Church. connected in new ways and continue are true, it We should to share the message of Christ’s love is also true be having an and presence in ways not previously

By Father that these easier time in possible. I’m reminded that one of David C. Frederici conditions sharing the the big “Catholic” blogs out there existed 2,000 (whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com) Gospel mesyears ago as sage today. began when the blogger was a senior When I’ve brought this up before, well. This means we can’t use them in college and quickly was being as an excuse. I am reminded of a I am sometimes greeted by a litany visited by thousands of people a day. question I heard from Archbishop of reasons why we aren’t as effective: We don’t need a theology degree Charles Chaput of Philadelphia at a to engage in this important work.

Catholic Campus Ministry AssociaWe can post when we are going to tion Convention a couple of years Mass, a short prayer, a Scripture verse ago: “Do we preach the Gospel or or a quote from the “Catechism” or just criticize society?” There is a huge another Church document. Pope difference. Anyone can be critical, Francis is very active in posting on it requires minimal effort. A quick Twitter. It is very easy to share these scroll through one’s newsfeed would short messages. We can share blog quickly confirm that. posts from our pastoral leaders, our The Second Vatican Council isbishops, theologians, etc. sued a very important decree called Last week I was part of the team Inter Mirif ica (Decree on the Media for the Christian Leadership Instiof Social Communications). Even tute. This is a six-day leadership dethough it was issued more than 50 velopment program offered for high years ago, it is still very relevant in its school youth. This was my 11th CLI message today. I encourage everyone as a team member. I have always been to take a few minutes to read it (just impressed at how the youth particiGoogle the title, it will pop right pants grow throughout the week, but up). It is an easy read and has a lot also by the faith that they have. For of good points and a challenge to all many, they haven’t been encouraged of us. At one point the decree states to express that faith or share it or that, “It is quite unbecoming for the they haven’t had the chance to have Church’s children idly to permit the serious conversations with others High school graduates, from left, Richard Estrada, Ryan Meireles, and Michael Allen message of Salvation to be thwarted who share their faith. It is a very were recently honored at a ceremony at St. Vincent’s Home chapel in Fall River. The powerful and hopeful experience. three students were recipients of an East Commerce Solutions Resiliency Scholarship. or impeded by the technical delays or expenses, however vast, which are One of the points that we try and get encountered by the very nature of across from day one is that they are these media” (Inter Mirif ica, #17). In part of the Church today, that they some translations it reads “It would can participate in the mission of the be shameful.”

Church in proclaiming the Gospel to Fall River — St. Vincent’s the students with the expectation that, Yes, there are things we need to all peoples. The truth is that isn’t just Home was pleased to announce the despite the adversity they may have be aware of concerning the Internet for CLI candidates, it is true for any graduation of three high school students encountered in their lives and educaand social media.

The decree is of us who have been baptized. Many from St. Vincent’s School programs. tional process, they are resilient and can quite clear about that.

It is also people are inspired by St. Peter and Richard Estrada attended St. Vincent’s “make a difference” in the world through St. Paul. Many talk about how they high school while Ryan Meireles and their own actions. The scholarships will quite clear that we need to be sure that we are vigilant and taking time are inspired by Pope Francis. Let’s Michael Allen received services from be used toward the graduates’ ongoing to educate ourselves on matters of not just talk about it. Let’s live it and St. Vincent’s and attended public high post-secondary and vocational educafaith.

Pastors need to be sure that follow their example. schools within the community. All of tion. there are opportunities and resources Anchor columnist Father Frederici the graduates, their families and the Established in 1994, East Commerce is pastor of St. John the Evangelist available to their parishioners to St. Vincent’s community are extremely Solutions is a nationally-ranked MerParish in Pocasset and diocesan direchelp them grow in faith.

Yet, social proud of their accomplishments. chant Services Provider aligned with the tor of Campus Ministry and Chaplain media also gives all of us greater The graduates and their guests were largest transaction processing networks at UMass Dartmouth and Cape Cod recognized in a ceremony in St. Vin- in the industry. New business volume opportunity to fulfill the mission Community College. cent’s Chapel led by St. Vincent’s Spe- averages more than two billion dollars entrusted to us: the proclamation of cial Education administrator, Russell annually in processing. East Commerce Cron, M.Ed. Graduation addresses were Solutions has been chosen as the exclugiven by St. Vincent’s staff including sive merchant service provider for the The Anchor is always pleased to Cron, executive director John T. Wel- customers of banks and credit unions run news and photos about our didon, clinical manager of Community- throughout the country because of their Based Programs Deborah Lunetta, and commitment to providing customers ocesan youth. If schools or parish high school teacher Alex Dias. with a level of service and support that Religious Education programs have Through a competitive application is unmatched in the industry. process, the three graduates were each East Commerce Solutions manages newsworthy summer stories and awarded an East Commerce Solutions all merchant services needs including Resiliency Scholarship in the amount Equipment, Software, E-commerce Sophotos they would like to share with of $1,000 by Ed and Lisa Medeiros, lutions, Gift Card and Loyalty Programs, our readers, send them to: CEO and president, respectively, of the Check Guarantee and Cash advance R.I.-based East Commerce Solutions, programs to POS Systems, Bar Code schools@anchornews.org Inc. The scholarships were awarded to Scanning and Camera Surveillance.

Be Not Afraid

St.Vincent’s Home honors three high school graduates

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July 11, 2014

Parish brings live Masses to folks near and far With words of welcome, hug, torch passes on to new bishop continued from page 10

us access to St. Augustine’s Church when we needed to test and perfect the feed.”

“I have been very happy with the results of this venture,” said Father Nagle. “At first we started with St. Augustine’s a little over a year ago, then we installed a camera in the Oak Bluffs location, and just recently added the Edgartown site.

“Now people who are off island or who are shut-ins can watch live feeds of all our Masses, Baptisms, weddings, funerals and other services. It really is helping to keep our Good Shepherd community together.

All they have to do is visit our parish website and click on the webcam button. As long as they know the time and the place, they can watch it live.”

Father Nagle told The Anchor that recently a woman with family in Brazil was married on the Vineyard, and her family was able to watch the wedding Mass live at home in South America. “The mother was very grateful and moved by that,” he said. “Also, we recently had a Baptism and the child’s great grandmother, a former Martha’s Vineyard inhabitant who had moved back to Germany, was able to watch the ceremony. She was so thankful.

“And we had a woman just up the street from us who is a shutin whose great-great-grandson was being Christened and she was able to see it live. She couldn’t have been happier.”

Father Nagle said that he has a friend in Tuscon, Ariz., who watches the live feeds from the Vineyard, “and I’ve heard from people in Texas and Florida who watch. They all feel a connection to the parish.”

He added, “Many of those who vacation with us in the summer go back home and check out the webcams often.”

Father Nagle said the cameras weren’t too expensive and the monthly Internet fee is affordable. “To me, it’s a worthwhile expense, an investment in our parish community. We’re using the latest technical equipment to keep people connected with the Church.”

The use of modern technology for the Martha’s Vineyard parish doesn’t end with the live webcam feeds. “We also utilize a sound system in which we broadcast the ‘Gloria’ and the ‘Creed’ up on a screen in the front of the church through a PowerPoint presentation,” said Father Nagle. “That way people don’t have to fumble around

with the prayer books for the prayers with which they don’t know by heart. At first we had some folks say they didn’t want a screen and a projector, but then they came around and enjoy having the prayers in front of them. It’s much more userfriendly.”

“Father Nagle is doing a great job down there,” Jennings told The Anchor from his Kittery, Maine office. “He’s using the technology available very effectively.

“Not only can the Martha’s Vineyard churches provide live feeds of Masses and services,” said Jennings, “but from our Maine location, we can archive each broadcast and post them on the website to be viewed at a later time.”

“We’ve been working with Catholic churches for 30 years,” Jennings, who is currently enrolled in RCIA classes, added.

“We have worked with parishes and with elderly care facilities by providing residents with live Mass feeds either in a group setting at the home, or in their own rooms via a laptop.”

Jennings said the webcam ability can also bring parish meetings, activities, classes and other functions live into people’s living rooms if parishes choose to go that route.

There is also the capability to provide overflow congregations with a live feed of a Mass in a church hall or school should the need arise.

On the Power Sound website, Father Nagle speaks of the webcam experience, “Very Engaging! For pastors: If you’ve never used it during worship, you don’t know what you’re missing. Once you’ve used it you can’t imagine what you’d do without it.”

With all the evils associated with social media and Internet usage, a small island on the southern coast of southeastern Massachusetts is bringing the Good News of the celebration of the Mass to shut-ins up the street, and families and friends across New England and the U.S., and countries around the world.

To experience a live feed from Good Shepherd Parish on Martha’s Vineyard visit its website at goodshepherdmv.com, reference the Mass times and click on the appropriate church site’s webcam option.

For information about live webcam feeds or other features available for parish use, visit powersoundne.com, or contact Troy Jennings at pwrsound1@ comcast.net.

continued from page one

his resignation to Pope Francis] of the process for naming a new bishop has taken place under the sure guidance of the apostolic nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano.

“This morning, I express my gratitude to the Lord Who continues to guide His Church, to the Holy Father, Pope Francis, and to Archbishop Vigano for providing a new pastor for our local Church of Fall River.”

Bishop Coleman next turned his attention to his guest and successor, Bishop da Cunha. “Bishop da Cunha, the Diocese of Fall River consists of thousands of God’s people — priests, deacons, consecrated men and women, and faithful — who live the life of faith and seek to serve the Church.”

Bishop Coleman also took a moment to direct comments to the faithful of the Diocese of Fall River, whom he’s shepherded for the last 11 years.

“On a personal note, I express my gratitude to the clergy and people of the diocese for their prayerful support over the years and will have an opportunity to do so at greater length at a Mass next month [at St. Mary’s Cathedral on August 26].

“Bishop da Cunha, our diocese, founded 110 years ago, is rich in history and in its traditions. Welcome to the Diocese of Fall River; welcome to your new home.”

Following an embrace at the podium, Bishop da Cunha addressed the diocese for the first time.

“First of all, I want to thank God for calling me to serve in a new position here in Fall River. I see this new mission as a gift from the Lord and an opportunity to exercise the ministry to which He has called me. I also wish to express my sincere thanks to our beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis, for his confidence in entrusting now to me the pastoral care of this local Church, the Diocese of Fall River, my new home. I see this as a gift from God, an opportunity to use the gifts God graciously gave me to serve the faithful people of this diocese.”

Bishop da Cunha expressed his appreciation to Bishop Coleman for his warm welcome and brotherly love, and “for all the good work he has done here among God’s peo-

ple during his whole life, and especially during the last 11 years as the shepherd of this local Church.”

The new Fall River bishop went on to say that he wishes to greet all his brother priests in the diocese and that he is eager to know them and work with them for “the Kingdom of God and the service of God’s people.”

He extended greetings to the deacons, men and women of consecrated life and the seminarians, and all the people of the diocese. In addition he addressed the Chancery staff with whom he spend much time in the future and he is “looking forward to coming to know them and work closely with them.”

He continued by saying he is counting on their talents and expertise and looks forward to learning from them.

Bishop da Cunha, who speaks Portuguese and Spanish, continued: “I know I have so much to learn from all who live, work and minister to God’s people in the Diocese of Fall River. I have to learn the geography and the history of the diocese. There is much to learn about the ethnic groups that make up the faithful of the diocese, their faith, their traditions and learn from them how to celebrate all this with them. I’m willing to learn from them and to celebrate our faith together.

“I wish to let all the people of this diocese know that I come among them as a brother among brothers and sisters, with my sincere commitment to give my very best to build up the Church, to live and practice our faith together. I hope they know that you can count on me, and I am counting on their prayers, their faith, their support, gifts, talents and generosity.”

In conclusion, Bishop da Cunha again thanked the Lord for the opportunity to serve the faithful of the Diocese of Fall River once he is installed at St. Mary’s Cathe-

dral on September 24. “I could never, in my wildest dreams, imagine myself standing here as the future bishop of this diocese. Only God’s plan, and God’s will, could make it possible. And so, I am convinced that this is all God’s plan and God’s doing. All the more reason to be glad and rejoice, to celebrate and give thanks to God for His care and fidelity to all of us. Thank you.”

Following the opening remarks, Bishop da Cunha fielded questions from a number of local media outlets on hand for the press conference. He told them that he has much to learn about the people and the area, and that it will take time for this to happen.

When asked who he is rooting for in the World Cup matches, he responded, “Who do you think? Brazil! But may the best team win.”

In a statement released by Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark, N.J., the archbishop joked about Bishop da Cunha, “But for those of you who play ‘football’ (soccer), I must give you fair warning: He may not be Neymar, but watch out for his elbows!”

During his whirlwind few hours in Fall River on July 3, Bishop da Cunha, along with Bishop Coleman, met with the staffs of the Tribunal, The Anchor and the Chancery.

Later that day, before boarding a train to take him from Providence, R.I. back to Newark, Bishop da Cunha was welcomed to the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River by the rector, Father John C. Ozug.

Bishop da Cunha was shown the crypts where former Fall River bishops are laid to rest, and the upper cathedral, at which, on September 24, he will be formally installed as the eighth Bishop of Fall River.

A video of Bishop Coleman’s and Bishop da Cunha’s opening remarks can be seen on The Anchor website at anchornews.org.

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

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July 11, 2014

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese Acushnet — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Evening prayer and Benediction is held Monday through Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FALL RIVER — Good Shepherd Parish has Eucharistic Adoration every Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass and concluding with 3 p.m. Benediction in the Daily Mass Chapel. A bilingual holy hour takes place from 2 to 3 p.m.

Park behind the church and enter the back door of the connector between the church and the rectory.

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

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

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

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

Please use the side entrance.

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

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

NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m., ending with Benediction. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time.

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

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

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

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

Mass.

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

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

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

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

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

Global Rosary Relay unites faithful in prayer for priests

Washington D.C. (CNA/EWTN News) — Catholics throughout the world joined together on June 27 to ask for Mary’s intercession in a 24-hour Rosary initiative for World Priest Day. “Be assured that I will offer my praying of the Holy Rosary for the sanctification of priests,” wrote Cardinal Raymond Burke, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, announcing that he would participate in the day of prayer.

“The sanctification of priests is a daily intention in my prayers, and, therefore, I am happy to participate in this global prayer for priests,” he added.

The Annual Global Rosary Relay is an initiative for World Priest Day, a day of prayer and sanctification established by St. Pope John Paul II to be celebrated on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. This year, the feast day fell on June 27.

The Rosary relay aims to have participants praying a particular mystery of the Rosary at a particular half hour staggered throughout the day. The prayers are offered in thanksgiving to God for priests and to ask Mary for her special protection and care for them.

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks July 12 Most Rev. Joseph P. Delaney, 2005 July 13 Rev. Arthur P. Deneault, M.S., La Salette Father, 1979

This year’s Annual Global Rosary Relay started in Siberia with the recitation of the Joyful Mysteries.

The Rosary prayers then passed along to a number of shrines, cathedrals and churches around the globe, including a number of shrines dedicated to apparitions of Mary in South Africa, Poland, France, and elsewhere, including the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico and the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal.

Over the course of 24 hours, a total of 84 shrines in 46 countries around the world participated, allowing the entire world to be covered in prayer for priests.

The Vatican also joined in the Rosary relay, with a special intention for Pope Francis, and the Rosary was broadcast by EWTN around the world.

The United States was one of the last countries to receive the relay “handoff ” with the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., and basilicas and shrines in California, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon, New York and New Mexico participating in the relay.

The final group to participate in the Rosary relay was the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in the Diocese of Green Bay, Wis.

Around the Diocese All are invited to attend a morning of prayer, praise, teaching and healing power. Barbara Wright will be the guest speaker at a Prayer Meeting on July 12 at St. Anthony’s Church, 126 School Street in Taunton from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon. Wright is a very gifted speaker and she has inspired many people. This is event is sponsored by The Living Word Prayer Group. For more information, call Mary Leite at 508822-2221.

The Men’s Club of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in North Falmouth invites parishioners to attend its Clam Boil 2014 on July 18 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. The menu includes one quart of steamers, linguiça, sausage, hot dogs, onions, corn on the cob, white and sweet potatoes, with lemonade and watermelon for $20 per person. A kid’s table will feature hot dogs, chips, juice and dessert for $5. Tickets will be sold after the Masses and in the rectory daily, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call Paul at 508-548-1228.

A special celebration of the profession of Father Flavio Gillo and other La Salette Seminarians will be held during the 12:10 p.m. Mass on July 27 at La Salette Shrine, 947 Park Street in Attleboro, in the shrine church. Together, let us invoke Our Lady and the Holy Spirit to bless and enrich their lives in her service in “Making Her Message Known” throughout the world. Thank you for your esteemed presence and prayers.

The annual Good Shepherd Parish Feast will be held on August 8 and 9 from 5 to 10 p.m. and on August 10 from 12 noon to 6 p.m. at 1598 South Main Street in Fall River. The feast will feature a multi-national food tent and live entertainment including Steel Dreams on Friday, Kings Row on Saturday, and Summer School on Sunday afternoon. Activities include homemade malassadas, a Portuguese bazaar, Chinese auction, jewelry, a country kitchen, games and activities for children and teens, along with many crafters, artisans and vendors. On Sunday, August 10, the feast Mass will be at 10 a.m., followed by a procession through the surrounding neighborhood.

July 14 Rev. Nicholas Fett, SS.CC., Pastor, St. Boniface, New Bedford, 1938 Rev. Edmund J. Neenan, Assistant, Sacred Heart, Oak Bluffs, 1949 Rev. Vincent F. Diaferio, Pastor, Holy Rosary, Fall River, 1998

The Children’s Choir at Christ the King Parish in Mashpee needs more voices. The choir sings at the 8:30 a.m. Mass, 52 Sundays a year. There is no age limit and no auditions. It meets in St. Jude’s Chapel at 8 a.m. to go over the music program for the 8:30 Mass, sing the Mass, then have rehearsal in the chapel after Mass. They sing a simple hymn program and have lots of fun. Just show up before or after Mass and enjoy. Being a choir member you will be assigned a robe and choir book. Call Dick Tellier at 508-888-7012 if you have any questions.

July 16 Rev. Bernard Percot, O.P., Founder, St. Dominic, Swansea, 1937 Rev. Matthew F. Sullivan, SS.CC., Retired Chaplain, Bristol County House of Correction, Former Pastor, St. Mary, Fairhaven, 2002

Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River is searching for missing alumni as the school plans its 50th anniversary to take place during the 2015-16 school year. If you or someone you know is an alumnus of Bishop Connolly High School and is not receiving communications from the school, send your contact information by email to Anthony Ciampanelli in the Alumni Office at aciampanelli@bishopconnolly.com; via the school’s website at www.bishopconnolly.com; by phone at 508-676-1071 extension 333; or mail the school at 373 Elsbree Street, Fall River, Mass. 02720. Please provide the graduate’s name (including maiden name if appropriate), complete mailing address, telephone number, email address, and the year of graduation.

July 17 Rev. William J. Smith, Pastor, St. Jacques, Taunton, 1960 Rev. Edmond Rego, Assistant, Espirito Santo, Fall River, 1981 Rev. Ernest N. Bessette, Retired Pastor, St. Joseph, Attleboro, 1997 July 18 Rev. Adalbert Szklanny, Assistant, St. Patrick, Fall River, 1968 Rev. Lionel G. Doraisi, SSS., 1984 Rev. Joseph Quinn, C.S.C., Holy Cross Residence, North Dartmouth, 2007

20

July 11, 2014

I

‘I gotta feeling’

t wasn’t that long ago when I was with The Anchor staff in my office watching and waiting for who the new pope was going to be after white smoke billowed from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel.

First came the name, then the anticipation of seeing our Holy Father for the first time. I literally had chills when I saw the humble, holy Pope Francis appear on the balcony, seemingly almost overwhelmed by what was happening.

I immediately felt a peace, a hope, a joy at seeing Pope Francis.

I just knew.

Last week

By Dave Jolivet The Anchor staff gathered again, this time at the diocesan Office of Communications next door to see and hear, for the first time, our new Bishop of Fall River Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. We were there early to claim our spots, not only to see and hear him, but to cover the story for our Anchor readers.

Bishop da Cunha and Bishop George W. Coleman arrived right on time. Our new bishop almost immediately walked over to me, not because of anything other than where I was situated logistically. He warmly shook my hand and extended a greeting.

I had that Pope Francis “feeling” again. I sensed he was a man of compassion, a man of faith, a man who loved

My View From the Stands

God. I sensed he was a priest of compassion, a priest of faith, and a priest who loved God. I just knew.

Nothing in Bishop da Cunha’s opening remarks changed that “feeling.” He was humble, gracious, and thankful for the task that is to come.

I’ve written about how I can tell a great deal about a person by looking into their eyes. To me Bishop da Cunha’s eyes displayed all the traits I mentioned earlier in this column.

I always find it interesting, but not necessarily pleasurable, when the secular press gathers to cover a Church event. I don’t know these people personally. I don’t know what their agendas may be. And I don’t know about their faith lives. But sometimes I get bad vibes about the motives of some.

I feel there may have been an occasion or two where someone was trying to trip up our new bishop with their line of questioning. I know it’s their job, but I also know the Catholic Church is constantly in the cross-hairs of someone or some group’s rifle.

Bishop da Cunha answered all the questions sent his way with grace, dignity, and respect ... and honesty.

Following the press conference part of the day, I still had that “feeling.”

Later Bishop da Cunha met privately with The Anchor staff, and I left that meeting still with the “feeling.”

I believe Bishop da Cunha is in fact the man God wants to shepherd the fine people of the Diocese of Fall River in the future, and I’m looking forward to it.

And this column wouldn’t be complete without a word of thanks to Bishop Coleman, another man and priest of compassion, faith and a love of God. Thank you Bishop Coleman.

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