Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., above, blesses the lead boat carrying a statue of St. Peter the Apostle during the annual Blessing of the Fleet in Provincetown on Sunday, June 30. (Photo courtesy of Deacon Alan Thadeu)
July 12, 2019 â€
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Life and mission of beloved ‘Rosary Priest’ comes alive in new interactive, digital Museum of Family Prayer By Dave Jolivet
JolivetDB@comcast.net
NORTH EASTON — Venerable Father Patrick Peyton, the famed “Rosary Priest,” was never one to accept the status quo. That coupled with his fervent passion for bringing others to Christ through devotion to His Blessed Mother, the Holy Cross priest established Family Rosary in 1942. His mission: to bring families together through praying the Rosary daily, something he did as a lad with his family in Ireland. His mission grew quickly. Venerable Patrick Peyton started small and ended up leading Rosary Rallies that touched the hearts of 28 million people, including two million each at single rallies in São Paulo, Brazil, and Manila. Father Peyton was also a visionary and developed methods to reach as many people as possible using the latest in technology at the time. In 1947 he founded Family Theater Productions in Hollywood. The ministry, which gained the trust and support of hundreds of well-known actors and celebrities, produced 900 radio and TV programs with more than 10,000 broadcasts. The ministry in “Tinseltown” is still very much alive and well today. From that modest beginning of Family Rosary, Holy Cross Family Ministries, a family of Catholic ministries dedicated to inspire, promote and foster the prayer life and Spiritual well-being of families throughout the world, evolved. The ministries, now serving in 17 countries worldwide, include Family Rosary, Family Theater Productions, the Father Peyton Family Institute, and CatholicMom.com. Even today, in the spirit and charism of its founder, Holy Cross Family Ministries remains vigilant in developing ideas to bring the Good News to more people, espe2
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cially families, in a world where values and morals are constantly eroding through a barrage of distractions and deceptions. The latest HCFM venture is the creation of a Museum of Family Prayer set to open at its North Easton location on September 15, when Fall River Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. will bless and dedicate the site. “This wonderful family attraction is part of the ongoing strategic planning that has been a staple at Holy Cross Family Ministries since its founding by Father Peyton,” Holy Cross Father Willy Raymond, president of HCFM, told The Anchor. “I came here from Family Theater Productions five years ago, and when I did, I asked the staff here to write down in five words or less what our mission is. And the answers were unanimous: ‘Help families pray.’ It was that type of commitment and enthusiasm that led to the development of the museum.” The museum will be a contemporary illustration and experience of the mission initiated by Father Peyton in the 1940s. Like Father Peyton’s vision of utilizing the latest in technology, the museum will offer an interactive and digital prayer experience as well as providing a history of the foundation of prayer and worship. “The museum is a unique opportunity for families to put down their individual devices and have a joint digital experience — an experience of prayer no less!” Elizabeth Ponce, director of IT and the Museum Project Leader of Holy
The Museum of Family Prayer, inspired by the life and mission of the Venerable Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., will be blessed by Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., on September 15. Pictured is a museum display of audio and video equipment used by the Rosary Priest in his ministry with Family Theater Productions in Hollywood. (Photo by Dave Jolivet) Cross Family Ministries told The Anchor. “We know families love interactive experiences and we know the benefits for families to pray together. The museum provides both. Not only that, families will discover the inspiring story of Father Peyton’s life. We hope families will join us for an immersive journey of prayer.” Once the museum opens, regularly scheduled guided tours will be held daily. There will also be opportunity for special groups to schedule visits as well. Guests are greeted with a large, colorful collage of pictures of people praying all over the world, and not all of the images and videos show Catholic prayer. Father Peyton was very active in ecumenism and the roots of Catholic prayer are traced back to the Jewish traditions that Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the Apostles practiced.
A few steps from the impressive welcoming montage is a site where visitors can listen to some of the Psalms read in Hebrew, Spanish and English. Throughout the tour, guests can share in interactive displays with a simple touch of a button or a screen, which children and adults can share. Much thought was given to make this a total family experience. The tour, which is always open to questions from the guests, will average about one hour, and totally immerses visitors with sights, sounds and experiences all focused on prayer. While there is a section devoted to Father Peyton and his life and history, the focus there is not just on him, but on his mission to bring families to Christ and allow them to be immersed in 8 Turn to page 11
‘Celebrate the Beauty of Every Child’ campaign expands outreach to parishes, schools across the diocese By Kenneth J. Souza Editor
kensouza@anchornews.org
FALL RIVER — Two years ago, representatives from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and members of the Fall River chapter of Massachusetts Citizens for Life partnered to begin a grassroots effort known as “Celebrate the Beauty of Every Child.” The concept was simple: collect money and items for children from newborns to toddlers (age five) that could then be distributed to needy families. These essential items included diapers (all sizes), wet wipes, bibs, teething rings, receiving blankets, onesies, sleepers, and outfits for infants and toddlers (through 5T), along with gift cards and monetary donations. The so-called “prayer and action campaign for newborns to toddlers” took its formal name from a passing remark made by former Pro-Life Apostolate director Marian Desrosiers during one of the group’s initial planning meetings, according to Fred Ramos, SVdP member and one of the campaign’s founders. “It was basically just the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Massachusetts Citizens for Life,” Ramos told The Anchor. “We had nine parishes (in the diocese) who collected and distributed items to needy families and we collected $9,000 that first year.” In 2018, according to Ramos, the campaign more than doubled its ranks with the addition of the diocesan Pro-Life Apostolate and Catholic Social Services, and representation from the Knights of Columbus. The charter nine parishes ballooned to 29, and the campaign collected $31,600 worth of baby items in its second year that were subsequently distributed throughout the diocese via food pantries, CSS, Marie’s Place and A Woman’s
Some of the organizers behind the “Celebrate the Beauty of Every Child” campaign in the Fall River Diocese include, standing from left, Fred Ramos, St. Vincent de Paul Society; Irina De Lucca, Pro-Life Apostolate; sitting from left, Jane Wilcox, Massachusetts Citizens for Life; and Barbara Wenc, Massachusetts Citizens for Life. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza) Concern. Last year Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., who fully supported the effort, also asked that a prayer component be added to the campaign, and so Rosaries, Novenas, Eucharistic Adoration and Masses were pledged in addition to the donated items. “When we say collected, symbolically what we’re saying is collected and distributed to needy families,” Ramos said. “That’s the real key.” Earlier this year, the collective Catholic Schools in the Fall River Diocese agreed to adopt “Celebrate the Beauty of Every Child” as its theme and they have now become the sixth group to sponsor the campaign. “That’s a wonderful new component that’s been added,” Ramos said. “So the collaborative has been expanded from five to six. The diocesan schools are now on board, and they just held a program at St. Mary’s Cathedral” with singer Christopher Duffley to help promote the theme.
“This committee went to address the administrators and principals of the various schools, and the presentations were wellreceived,” Ramos said. “Superintendent Steve Perla encouraged all the administrators to establish the program at their various schools.” With the potential for having the 6,100 students in the diocesan school system onboard, Ramos is much more optimistic about the campaign’s third go-round. “We’re just trying to help and we’re helping probably the most vulnerable portion of our diocese with the exception of the elderly — the infant and the toddler, and especially their needy families with goods that they can get and use,” he said. While the “Celebrate the Beauty of Every Child” campaign was originally held during the first weeks of June to coincide with Father’s Day, this year the campaign’s timeframe has been shifted to run from August through October. “This year, with there being so many changes within the dio-
cese, we felt it best for everyone concerned to postpone it and we decided that it could be run anytime,” said Barbara Wenc of the Fall River chapter of Massachusetts Citizens for Life. “So (this year), we’re focusing on anytime in the months of August, September and October.” The later months not only give parishes with pastor changes the time to make adjustments, but also allows the newest member of the collaborative — the diocesan Catholic schools — to participate fully once the new academic year begins. Wenc also said it was serendipitous that this year’s effort would extend through October to align with the Rosary Coast to Coast prayer gatherings and 54-day Novena. “This year, our campaign will be running concurrently with 54-day Novena, and we want to encourage people that if they are already committing themselves to the Novena, they can list that as their prayer commitment,” she said. “So instead of having to double-up their efforts, they’re just including the campaign in their prayers during that period of time.” “We’re also having the Rosary Coast to Coast again at Fort Taber-Fort Rodman in New Bedford on October 13, which is the anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun,” added Jane Wilcox, member of Massachusetts Citizens for Life. “And I think it’s great synergy that it’s happening during the same period as the Rosary Coast to Coast, which I didn’t realize until today. That’s the Holy Spirit at work, all the way. We can’t take the credit.” “To be honest with you, the big reason we postponed it to the later dates was to let the dust kind of settle (with all the parish changes),” Wenc said. “But all things considered, I think it 8 Turn to page 17 July 12, 2019 †
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St. Anne’s Preservation Society and diocese reach agreement to reopen iconic Fall River shrine FALL RIVER — The Fall River Diocese and the St. Anne’s Preservation Society have entered into an agreement through which the Preservation Society has reopened under its care and oversight St. Anne’s Shrine in Fall River to serve as a Sacred place for prayer and devotion. The Shrine is located in the building’s lower church. Fall River Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., and representatives of the St. Anne’s Preservation Society signed the agreement earlier this month. The St. Anne Preservation Society reopened the Shrine at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 4, which was the anniversary of the 1906 dedication of the building’s upper church. It will be open daily, Monday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Per the 10-year agree-
ment, which may be extended, the Preservation Society will lease from the Fall River Diocese the St. Anne’s Church building and the former St. Anne Parish office for $1 per year. The initial lease was paid in full with a $10 check. Going forward, the St. Anne’s Preservation Society will launch a fund-raising campaign to enable the group to begin to make major repairs to the building with the intention of an eventual full restoration of both the lower and upper churches. “I am so very pleased that we have been able to work out this agreement between the Diocese of Fall River and the St. Anne’s Preservation Society,” said Bishop da Cunha. “I was impressed with the leadership of the Preservation Society from my first meeting with them
several months ago. Their proposal for taking on responsibility of St. Anne’s Shrine and its needed repair was detailed, well thoughtout, and based on a genuine dedication to their faith. I am hopeful that St. Anne’s Shrine will once again serve as prayerful respite for persons, offering them solace and drawing them closer to God. I offer my prayers to the St. Anne’s Preservation Society for all of their efforts ahead.” Richard Affonso, who is president of the St. Anne’s Preservation Society, expressed his gratitude to Bishop da Cunha and to the many others who have moved and supported the project in key ways. “First and foremost, I want to thank Bishop da Cunha for his support of our mission and for his belief in our ability to get it done,” Affonso said. “Also,
my thanks to others in the diocese who have assisted us, to our attorney Brody Hale, and to the members of our board of directors. We have a great team working together on this.” Affonso underscored that the goal of the Preservation Society is “a complete restoration of St. Anne’s over a 10-year period.” Now the Shrine is open, the Preservation Society plans to schedule recitations of the Rosary, Bible Studies, and other special programs. A minimum of two Masses
will also be celebrated there each year, according to the agreement. One will be on July 26, the feast of St. Anne in the Church’s calendar, and the other, beginning in 2020, on July 4, the anniversary of the dedication of the St. Anne’s Church.
Diocese sells former Holy Rosary Chapel to Coptic Church FALL RIVER — The Holy Rosary Chapel, formerly Holy Rosary Church, located at 84 Beattie Street has been sold for $400,000 according to city deed records. The closing happened on Friday, June 28 and the buyer is listed as St. Mary and St. Demiana Coptic Orthodox Church, Inc. Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., Bishop of Fall River, owned the property and went in front of the Zoning Board of Appeals on February 21 to request a variance. The Fall River Diocese was granted a variance to subdivide the property at Beattie Street into two parcels. They planned to leave the existing residential structure (rectory) and garage on one parcel to allow use for up to a four-family dwelling; while leaving the existing Holy Rosary Chapel and other structures 4
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on the remaining parcel. Lot 1, which is the site of the former church, is 9,900 square feet and Lot 2, containing the rectory and garage, is 25,000 square feet. Holy Rosary Chapel, which was a mission of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, was officially closed on Nov. 25, 2018 and is capable of seating 300 people.
Erin McDonald, C.S.J., to present immigration talk at home parish MASHPEE — Erin McDonald, C.S.J., who anticipates taking her final vows as a Sister of St. Joseph on October 5, will be returning to her home parish of Christ the King in Mashpee on Thursday, July 18 at 7 p.m. to present “Who Are the Strangers We Must Welcome?” Part of the parish’s 2019 Summer Speakers Series, the presentation will focus on refugees and immigrants through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching. McDonald grew up in Mashpee before moving to West Virginia for her undergraduate studies and lived there for 11 years. For the first several years of her
career, she worked as director of the Service for Social Action Center at Wheeling Jesuit University, where she coordinated student volunteers, service immersion trips, campus advocacy campaigns, and Catholic Social Teaching programs as residential chaplain. After leaving Wheeling Jesuit University, McDonald traveled to Rwanda to work with the Jesuit Refugee Service. In 2012, she returned from Rwanda and entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in Wheeling, W. Va. After taking her first vows in 2015, she moved to urban Detroit to work at Freedom House, a shelter for survivors of torture and
Erin McD onald , C.S.J. persecution who are seeking asylum in the United States. She was the social worker who managed the medical, mental health, and educational services for the shelter residents. In the fall of 2018, she left Freedom House to begin a new ministry at
the University of Detroit Mercy, where she currently serves as Minister for Service and Social Justice. She resides with four other Sisters of St. Joseph in Detroit, Mich. In an article, McDonald once described one of her first, unforgettable encounters with a bus full of refugees: “I instantly felt anxious. I don’t speak Spanish and it was my first day. The doors open and a sea of sullen and worn faces filed into the shelter. The local ICE detention facility had released another large group of asylum seekers — some were limping from sore feet. Some looked terrified and exhausted. Some
were children whimpering for a morsel of food. One woman carried a child who looked so sick, and lay so limp in her arms; I thought the toddler might be dead.” Sponsored jointly by Our Lady of Victory Parish in Centerville, Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Osterville, St. Anthony Parish in East Falmouth, and Christ the King Parish in Mashpee, the presentation will take place at Christ the King Parish Hall, 5 Jobs Fishing Road, The Commons, in Mashpee. For more information: www.christthekingparish. com, or call 508-477-7700, ext. 10.
St. Margaret, St. Stanislaus schools welcome new principals BUZZARDS BAY — Elizabeth A. Hutchisonhas been named the new principal of St. Margaret Primary School, effective July 1. The announcement was made by the Fall River Diocesan School Superintendent, Stephen A. Perla. Previously, Hutchison was the Lead Teacher at Holy FamilyHoly Name School in New BedElizabeth A. ford and H utchison has taught at Sippican School in Marion and Wheeler School in Providence, R.I. She is licensed in Elementary Education, grades one to six, and is wellversed in special education. Additionally, she possesses administrative experience as Educational Coordinator and curator for the Fairfield Historical Society in Fairfield, Conn. and the Mattapoisett Historical Society. Hutchison holds a Master of Science in Education and
Bachelor of Arts in History, both from Fordham University. “I am very excited to get to know a great community of teachers, students and families, and am looking forward to continuing to develop St. Margaret into a caring and supportive primary school which meets each of our student’s academic needs,” Hutchison said. “St. Margaret is a vibrant primary school that offers unique programs for its student population, and I am proud to help implement the new Makerspace program that allows students to tinker creatively while learning STEM concepts, as well as the new Tugboats program, beginning in the summer of 2020, which will offer a child care/camp experience for little ones.” Christopher W. Keavy, president of St. John Paul II High School, St. Francis Xavier Prep Middle School and St. Margaret Primary School said, “Elizabeth brings new and innovative teach-
ing and leadership experiences, necessary to ensure our schools offer state-of-the-art and proven teaching methodologies. More specifically, as we launch our Makerspace program, Mrs. Hutchison will provide great leadership in this STEM endeavor.” Perla added: “It is necessary to develop the next generation of Catholic leaders in our schools, and Mrs. Hutchison has a bright and exciting future. We are blessed to have her at St. Margaret Primary.” Hutchison lives in Mattapoisett with her husband, Art, and children, Oscar, 11, and Oliver, eight. They are parishioners at St. Anthony’s Church. Also effective July 1, Beth Mahoney has been appointed the new principal of St. Stanislaus School in Fall River. The announcement was made by Father Tom Washburn, pastor of the Catholic Community of Central Fall River and pastor of St. Stanislaus Parish, with the approval of School Superintendent Stephen A. Perla.
Before Hutchison, Mahoney was the principal of St. Margaret Primary School in Buzzards Bay and previously she was the vice Beth principal at Mahoney Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford. She has a very extensive history as an administrator in Catholic education and Catholic ministries, having worked in numerous positions nationally and internationally. All of these positions required Mahoney to evaluate teachers, develop curriculum, and work with students and families on their day-to-day educational needs. Mahoney received her bachelor of arts degree in History from Notre Dame College, as well as a master of arts in Theology from Boston College. In 2011 and 2012, she was named “Woman of the Year” by the National Association of Professional Women and the International
Women’s Leadership Association, respectively. “I am very excited to use all of my experience in education in this very important role right here in Fall River,” Mahoney said. “This is a very diverse city and I am so fortunate to help shape these children’s lives through Catholic education. God has blessed me with an incredible journey through various Catholic ministries, and serving the students and families of St. Stanislaus is a welcomed endeavor.” “Beth has demonstrated her leadership skills and dedication to developing the next generation of Catholics over the course of her very illustrious career,” Father Washburn said. “I am very confident that she will elevate St. Stanislaus to the next level as the school continues to grow.” Perla added: “Beth is a very talented school administrator and the Fall River Diocese is so fortunate to count her among our Catholic school leaders.”
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Editorial
Our festering sins
On July 5, Pope Francis certified a miraculous cure had been done through the intercession of the late Archbishop Fulton Sheen: James Fulton Engstrom, who was born without a pulse. His mother, Bonnie Engstrom, had been praying through the archbishop’s intercession throughout her pregnancy, so she prayed during the 61 minutes that her newborn did not breathe that his life would be spared. Right as the medical personnel were about to pronounce James dead, he took his first breath. Experts have determined that only a miracle could explain James’ survival — a miracle that Archbishop Sheen sought from God in Heaven. As such, Pope Francis has given the “green light” to preparations for this American Catholic televangelist to be declared “blessed.” Archbishop Sheen was keenly aware of his need to bring souls to Christ — and a large part of that work involved getting people to realize their need for repentance, their need to turn away from sin and live the Gospel. In a talk readily available on YouTube, entitled “Abortion: The Approach of Midnight,” Archbishop Sheen discussed how an erroneous idea of freedom — that it means doing whatever you want, without any limits — led to the anti-life world in which we live now. “Once that philosophy is proclaimed, that the Ego is supreme, there are no limits, then abortion follows. I wonder when we ever got into this position of denying limits?” The archbishop, who had begun the talk by referencing a prior appearance that he had had at UCLA, where some of the students disagreed with him about limits, then expressed a thought seemingly more relevant today than it was in the 1970s. “I wonder why our young people are so concerned with their identity? Thirty and 40 years ago [Executive editor’s note: that would be in the 1930s and 1940s] nobody had the problem of identity. Why not? Because we recognized boundaries, limits. How do you know the limits, for example, of the identity of the State of Illinois? By its boundary lines. How do you know the identity of a basketball court? By its foul lines. How do we know our own identity? By limits, by boundaries.” Then Archbishop Sheen made a connection between two features of American history. He said, “And I think we lost all of these [boundaries] at 8:15 in the morning, Aug. 6, 1945, when we dropped the bomb on Hiroshima. That bomb blotted out boundaries of life and death, civilian and the military, and trust among nations. And so, abortion from that point on is defended on the ground that one may do whatever he pleases.” Catherine and Michael Pakaluk, writing in the National Catholic Register on Aug. 7, 2005, made a similar argument in a column entitled “Effects of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Still Being Felt.” The Pakaluks argued that one may see a direct line from the atomic bomb to abortion. They open with a truth of morality. “When someone commits a grave sin, such as adultery or murder, but never confesses or even acknowledges it, the sin festers. Things begin to go wrong in his life, and he does not understand why. His character slowly becomes corrupted. He loses his former ideals and goals. He finds he is unable to escape a constant, gnawing unhappiness.” The Pakaluks then discussed how that is true also for groups, be they AnOFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 63, No. 14
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cient Israel, or corporations, or countries today. “It is common for Catholics to look at American culture today, with its ‘moral anarchy,’ and wonder when things began to go wrong. Usually the ’60s are blamed, and yet there was no noteworthy cause then. Could our moral anarchy, perhaps, have its origins in something even prior to that decade? This August [Executive editor’s note: remember, this is from 2005] marks the 60th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We propose that Catholics reflect seriously on whether those bombings amount to a serious, unacknowledged national ‘sin,’ one that has contributed to the corruption of the national character. Could our current moral malaise be traceable — at least in part — to these great, dishonorable acts?” We have already discussed in another edition of The Anchor some years ago this possible connection, while also noting that one cannot judge President Truman as if he knew everything we know now. May God have mercy on his soul — and on all of the innocent people who were killed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. However, we today are much more aware of the evils of abortion than were people 46 years ago, when the Supreme Court legalized it throughout our country. In the meantime many abortionists and abortion supporters, including “Jane Roe” herself (her real name was Norma McCorvey), recanted of their support for abortion and became Pro-Life activists. Unfortunately, many Catholic politicians have moved in the opposite direction and have embraced more and more radical positions — now advocating for government funding of abortion (repealing the Hyde Amendment) and for passage of the Roe Act, which would legalize abortion for minors without parental or judicial consent, abortions up to the ninth month, and permit medical personnel to do nothing if a baby accidentally survived an abortion. In a society such as this, it is also no surprise that children can be left in conditions in our border area which would require any diocesan employee or volunteer to call the Department of Children and Families (DCF) if we were to come across a similar situation here. As part of the Safe Environments program for all diocesan employees or volunteers who encounter minors, we all are instructed to contact DCF and other authorities if we find a child who is the victim of neglect. The children at the holding facilities at the border are certainly enduring such neglect. However, our atom bomb/abortion/”do whatever you want” mentality says that nothing is wrong, nothing should be done. The Pakaluks quote Admiral William Leahy, who was chief of staff to President Truman: “I was not taught to make war in that fashion, and wars cannot be won by destroying women and children.” The United States can stabilize its border without doing that. In their article from 14 years ago, the Pakaluks issued a challenge to Catholics and all Americans. “America is in fact suffering from an unacknowledged sin — one that will continue to fester, undermining our moral idealism, until we bring it out into the open, acknowledge it, and do penance and reparation.” This is still true today.
Daily Readings † July 13 - July 26 Sat. July 13, Gn 49:29-32; 50:15-26a; Ps 105:1-4, 6-7; Mt 10:24-33. Sun. July 14, Dt 30:10-14; Ps 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36-37 or Ps 19:8-11; Col 1:15-20; Lk 10:25-37. Mon. July 15, Ex 1:8-14, 22; Ps 124:1b-8; Mt 10:34-11:1. Tues. July 16, Ex 2:1-15a; Ps 69:3, 14, 30-31, 33-34; Mt 11:20-24. Wed. July 17, Ex 3:1-6, 9-12; Ps 103:1b-4, 6-7; Mt 11:25-27. Thurs. July 18, Ex 3:13-20; Ps 105:1, 5, 8-9, 24-27; Mt 11:28-30. Fri. July 19, Ex 11:10-12:14; Ps 116:12-13, 15-18; Mt 12:1-8. Sat. July 20, Ex 12:37-42; Ps 136:1, 23-24, 10-15; Mt 12:14-21. Sun. July 21, Gn 18:1-10a; Ps 15:2-5; Col 1:24-28; Lk 10:38-42. Mon. July 22, Sg 3:1-4a or 2 Cor 5:14-17; Ps 63:2-6, 8-9; Jn 20:1-2, 11-18. Tues. July 23, Ex 14:21-15:1; (Ps) Ex 15:8-10, 12, 17; Mt 12:46-50. Wed. July 24, Ex 16:1-5, 9-15; Ps 78:18-19, 2328; Mt 13:1-9. Thurs. July 25, 2 Cor 4:7-15; Ps 126:1b-6; Mt 20:20-28. Fri. July 26, Ex 20:1-17; Ps 19:8-11; Mt 13:18-23.
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Incomparable parents and Church builders
his Friday, July 12, is the feast of Sts. Louis and Marie-Azélie Martin, canonized together by Pope Francis in 2015. July 12 was chosen as their feast because it was on this day in 1858 that they were married at Notre Dame Basilica in Alençon, France, and committed themselves together to living to the full the Sacrament of Matrimony and its two-fold call not just to human, but eternal, love and life. The Sacraments are signs and means of intimate communion with God: they bring Him to abide in us and us in Him; and because God’s life is eternal, the Sacraments are all aimed ultimately at Heaven. The Sacrament of Matrimony is directed toward the mutual sanctification of the spouses and the procreation and education of children to be saints as well. We see that very clearly in the life of the Martins. They were both already seeking holiness prior to their Marriage: Louis had spent time in an Augustinian monastery but couldn’t master Latin, and Zélie had sought to become a Sister of Charity, but, because of respiratory difficulties and migraines, was not accepted. God had another holy vocation for both of them in mind. Zélie prayed that God would give her many children who could become consecrated to God. God blessed them with nine, four of whom died soon after they were Divinely consecrated in Baptism, while the other five discerned vocations to live out a more intimate form of consecration as religious Sisters. The most famous of their children is St. Therese of the Child Jesus, who spoke effusively about how she had been blessed with “incomparable parents” and how God had given her “a mother and a father more worthy of Heaven than of earth.” When they were beatified in Lisieux in 2008, Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins of the Vatican’s Congregation for
the Causes of Saints emphasized in his homily, “Louis and Zélie understood that they could sanctify themselves not despite Marriage but through, in, and by Marriage, and that their nuptials would be considered as the starting point for a mutual rise.” He proposed them as models for engaged couples in purity of heart; for married couples in mutual love and honor; for parents as ministers of love and life; for educators in guiding the vocational choices of the young; for widows and widowers in approaching loss with faith; for the dying in peaceful surrender to God, and for every Catholic in living with a missionary spirit. He said their being raised to the altars was an occasion for everyone to think of their own mom and dad and to thank God for them, not just for their cooperating with God in giving them life but also for their collaborating with God in leading them to Him and to His Church. Recently I’ve had the chance to thank God for likewise giving me the gift of “incomparable parents.” On July 5, my mother and father celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. We anticipated their golden jubilee the Saturday before with a Mass at St. Michael’s in Lowell, Mass., our home parish, where a half-century ago God joined them as one flesh. I’ve always enjoyed celebrating 25th, 50th and other major anniversaries Liturgically in parishes and have always encouraged couples to give this witness to God’s fidelity and their own. It’s one of the best ways to inspire young people not to be afraid to make the commitment of Marriage at a desacralized time when far fewer young men and women are willing to make such lifetime commitments to God and to each other. It was a particular privi-
lege, however, to be able to celebrate the anniversary of my parents. It was one of the biggest joys of my priesthood. More than 100 family members and friends came and the Mass was a real family affair of faith: in addition to their son’s celebrating the Mass and imparting on them the Church’s blessing for golden jubilarians, their three other children proclaimed the Word of God, their
seven grandchildren read the Prayers of the Faithful, two served the Mass while a third was the cantor, and their son- and daughters-in-law brought up the gifts. It was a sign of how my parents’ faith had been passed onto the next two generations — and added to my parents’ joy. Because the most convenient day for the Mass and party was June 29, which is the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, the readings and prayers of the Mass had to come from the solemnity. It was an opportunity to focus on the Apostles’ words about the Sacrament of Marriage in the Divine plan, about vocation in general and the vocation to Marriage in particular, and about perseverance. But what I wanted to dedicate most of the homily to was the role of a married couple in being “domestic Church builders.” Peter and Paul were, as we know, the foremost instruments God used to build His family of faith. Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter or “rock” and built His Church on him — on his faith in and love for the Lord and on his capacity to let the Lord work through him, even through his death. St. Paul was Jesus’ chosen vessel to bring the Gospel to the nations and crisscrossed
the ancient world to found and strengthen Churches in modern day Syria, Turkey, Macedonia, Greece, Italy and some ancient extra-Biblical traditions say also Spain. Married couples, like Louis and Zelie Martin, like Roger and Midge Landry, are also called by God to be Church builders. The main image to understand Marriage in the early centuries of Christianity was as a “domestic Church,” because so many of the first Christian places of worship were Christian homes, like Priscilla’s and Aquila’s (Rom 16:5). St. John Chrysostom (d. 407), the patron saint of Christian preachers, wrote, “The Church is, as it were, a small household, and indeed a house is a little Church.” Recent popes and Church documents have frequently underlined how the family built on the Sacrament of Matrimony is meant to be a “little Church” where God is present, welcomed, adored, loved, spoken to and about. The Second Vatican Council taught, “The family is, so to speak, the domestic Church. In it parents should, by their word and example, be the first preachers of the faith to their children; they should encourage them in the vocation that is proper to each of them, fostering with special care vocation to a Sacred state” (LG 11). St. John Paul II wrote about how the family is a “Church in miniature (ecclesia domestica), such that in its own way the family is a living image and historical representation of the mystery of the Church (Familiaris Consortio, 49). Pope Benedict declared in a 2007 catechesis, “Every home is called to become a ‘domestic Church’ in which family life is completely centered on the lordship of Christ and the love of husband and wife mirrors the mystery of Christ’s love for the Church, His bride.” Pope Francis underlined in his exhortation
on family life, “The Church is a family of families, constantly enriched by the lives of all those domestic churches” (AL 87). And the Catechism emphasizes, “The family home is rightly called ‘the domestic Church,’ a community of grace and prayer, a school of human virtues and of Christian charity” (CCC 1666). On June 29, I rejoiced to be able not only to praise my parents as a son for the way they have lived out the faith, but to thank them as a priest for the way they cooperated with God in building a sturdy house Church: centering their home on God and teaching their children how to pray; instructing us how to read by reading to us — and having us eventually read to them —Bible stories; inscribing us into the School of Mary by praying the Rosary with us each day; helping us to grasp from an early age the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist such that we would live Eucharistic lives; training us in charity by bringing — and sometimes dragging! — us to care for elderly relatives and neighbors, to play concerts for those in nursing homes, to have practical concern for those who are poor and in need; and overall showing us an example of holiness by seeking first the Kingdom of God and trying to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. Roger and Midge are not Louis and Zélie and the Landrys are certainly not like the Martins. But on the feast of the first married couple canonized together, it is a chance to celebrate God’s power working through the Sacrament of Marriage to sanctify Marriages and families, make them true domestic Churches, and thereby build up the Church on earth and the communion of saints in Heaven. Anchor columnist Father Roger Landry can be contacted at fatherlandry@ catholicpreaching.com.
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Securing authentic children’s rights
hildren require extensive support and protection to meet their physical, emotional, and Spiritual needs. They are uniquely dependent on their parents because they are particularly vulnerable. Often they are unable to speak on their own behalf or effectively defend themselves from various forms of exploitation. Considerations like these provide the basis for acknowledging the reality of “children’s rights.” Providing an appropriate family environment, with the presence of both a mother and a father, has long been recognized as one of the paramount examples of fulfilling children’s rights. A proper family environment offers essential safeguards for a child, and helps assure the “full and harmonious development of his or her personality” — to borrow a phrase from the 1990 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Such “full and harmonious development,” however, is becoming more difficult to secure for many children in part due to a growing societal acceptance of powerful new assisted reproductive technologies that can isolate children and deprive them of critical parental and family supports during their childhood. Children brought into existence using anonymous donor sperm and artificial insemination, to consider one example, often struggle with a sense of violation as they end up spending years or even decades searching for information about their biological father in the desperate hope of discovering his identity, meeting him in 8
person, and learning more about their own roots and identity. Katy Faust, founder of the children’s rights organization Them Before Us, notes how children born from these techniques are “just like every other human child who longs to be known and loved by the two people responsible for their existence.” Children entering the world through in vitro fertilization similarly struggle with their unnatural circumstances in which the hired services of a third-party contractor, rather than their parents’ loving embrace, resulted in their cominginto-being. As they grow up in these situations, they may also face wrenching questions about how many other embryonic siblings were discarded, frozen or otherwise lost through the complex laboratory manipulations that created them. Surrogate mothering gives rise to yet another approach that can fracture a child’s sense of family connection. This technique frequently relies on multiple parental figures: one who provides sperm, another eggs, and a third a womb for hire. An even
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greater number of parental figures can be involved in the production of so-called “three-parent embryos.” While many of these assisted reproductive technologies chip away at the stabilizing presence of maternal and paternal figures in the life of a child, their growing use by same-sex couples
to facilitate same-sex parenting raises further serious concerns about harming children and ignoring their best interests. Nobody denies that two men might each be able to be a good father, but neither can be a mom. It is part of natural biological filiation for children to flourish under the loving care of their own mom and dad. No same-sex couple can provide that. As Katy Faust notes, “Until recently, our culture and laws have recognized that children have an innate right to their mother and father. When this right is violated, children become ‘items’ to be cut and pasted into any
and every adult romantic relationship.” Additional “cutting and pasting” in children’s lives occurs through the growing phenomenon of “triple-parenting.” Because a same-sex couple (two lesbians for instance) cannot have a child unless someone provides the missing ingredient of donor sperm, they must rope in a male for the project — perhaps an anonymous sperm donor, or a friend who agrees to donate his sperm or an agreeable male friend willing to have sex with one of them. In any of these scenarios, a de facto relationship comes to exist between the samesex couple and this third party individual, raising the prospect of triple-parenting. California was one of the first states that tried to pass a law allowing children to have three legal parents. In some cases the lesbians will entirely avoid interaction with any father/donor. In others, they will want their child to have an ongoing relationship with him. Some men may not care; others may be eager, and push to get involved with their biological kids. The growing acceptance of same-
sex parenting has created momentum for these kinds of triple-parenting situations to arise, bringing additional complications into the lives of the children caught in the middle and subjecting them to further ambiguity regarding their own identity and their relationship to their parents. Notwithstanding rapidly changing social mores, a truly civilized society will never prioritize the desires of adults ahead of the innate rights of vulnerable children. As Jennifer Roback Morse, a tireless advocate of Marriage and family concludes, “We are replacing the natural pre-political concept of biological parenthood with an artificial, government-created concept of parenthood that is entirely socially constructed. Triple-parenting and genderless marriage are destructive policies. They must be stopped.” Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D. earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did postdoctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the Fall River Diocese and serves as the director of Education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www.ncbcenter.org
The Blessing of the Fleet, Provincetown, Mass. †June 30, 2019
On Sunday, June 30, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., took part in the annual Blessing of the Fleet in Provincetown at St. Peter the Apostle Parish. The bishop began by blessing the ship banners which were carried in the procession before boarding the colorfully-decorated boats (top left). Among the many local boats and fishing vessels blessed (top right and right), the largest private vessel in the maritime parade this year arrived from Bloody Bay, Jamaica (above). The blessing capped off the four-day Provincetown Portuguese Festival, which celebrates Portuguese culture and its proud seafaring heritage. (Photos courtesy of Deacon Alan Thadeu) July 12, 2019 â€
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Sunset in the park
t has been 60 summers since I played Gaelic football with my schoolmates and others in our local ball field as the sun sank in the western sky. It has been somewhat less than that since we played in that field by the light of the summer moon.
It sits on the edge of the field where bands once wafted their music over the settlement. The celebrations involve cultural demonstrations, music, food and lei-making contests and historical games. And, of course, food to revive the body will be served. On Sunday the ceremonies close in front of St. Francis Yes, my parents under- Church when the 50th stood that, after a day’s anniversary of the lifting work in the hayfields, of the quarantine of the my muscles needed to be patients will be celebrattoned before returning ed. to the school ball fields By the date this script in September. So I got makes the press, I will be to stay out later in those thousands of miles away golden summer evenings. and will have experiNow summer sunsets still enced some magnificent invoke in me memories sunsets. At least I hope of those days and I have so, weather-permitting to ask myself, “Am I rein the west of Ireland. I ally 75?” will have seen the sun This week we here sink below the horizon in Kalaupapa celebrate at about 10 o’clock in “Sunset in Kalaupapa” the evening and perhaps when we celebrate our watched the sun go down patients, our history, our on Galway Bay. community and our isI will see again the old land home. These festivi- ball park, now equipped ties begin on Wednesday with stadium lights, evening at the baseball but will no longer play field and at Paschoal Gaelic football under the Hall. light of a summer moon. The baseball field, “Tempus fugit,” as they opposite the cemetery, say. We must all accept is now a grassy meadow the inevitable coming of where deer are often our own sunset. seen to romp. Paschoal Aloha. Hall is the movie house Anchor columnist dedicated in 1916 and, Father Patrick Killilea, after restoration, was SS.CC., is pastor of St. rededicated in 2012 by Francis Parish in KalauSenator Daniel Inouye. papa, Hawaii.
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Museum of Family Prayer to open September 15 continued from page two
his love and the love of the Blessed Mother. “Our work is to educate, inform, celebrate the mission of Father Peyton as well as educate and enlighten those who journey here to learn more about the power of prayer,” said Father Raymond. “In order to engage in this technology-filled world, the Museum of Family Prayer is filled with impactful images, digital and audio media and projected prayers to show that in every corner of the world people are praying — Catholics, other Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and others — this community unites, rather
than divides. The museum is open to everyone, of every faith.” Artifacts from the late Venerable Patrick Peyton enhance the experience of being with “The Rosary Priest” in spirit. An impressive array of then-state-of-theart recording and film equipment, surrounded by familiar faces of well-known celebrities of the time with Father Peyton bring that experience alive again. Also a large video wall brings people into scenes of the many Rosary Rallies led by the beloved priest. The museum also allows folks to hear testimonies, via an inter-
A part of the exhibit detailing the life of Venerable Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., at the new Museum of Family Prayer in North Easton is his work station desk from Family Rosary in Albany, N.Y. Father Peyton founded the ministry in 1942 and it has since become Holy Cross Family Ministries, a family of Catholic ministries dedicated to inspire, promote and foster family prayer. (Photo by Dave Jolivet) active set of screens, of visitors to HCFM and what it meant to their prayers lives. Guests will also be able to leave a note sharing their experiences at the museum, and also they will be able to leave prayer requests. Father Raymond told The Anchor that the museum, which took about 18 months to become a reality, was the result of the ideas and hard work of all the staff at HCFM. “Everyone truly became a part of this and are excited about it,” he said. “And we have many young adults involved, many interns from Stonehill College, and they are all excited to be a part of Father Peyton’s continued mission of family prayer.” One of Father Peyton’s famous quotes was, “The family the prays together, stays together.” The Museum of Family Prayer is an endeavor to bring that message to families today. At the completion of the tour families will be given a kit containing information and suggestions on starting an active
prayer life in their own families. “In today’s world, prayer is needed now more than ever,” added Father Raymond. “We continue Father Peyton’s legacy promoting the power of prayer. We hope the museum’s multimedia experience speaks to those who are looking for inspiration, exploration and connections.” Admittance to the museum is free, and all are welcome to join with the Holy Cross Family Ministry staff and Bishop da Cunha on September 15 at 2 p.m. to celebrate the opening of this unique site — a site that allows the family to actually step into an app of prayer and togetherness, instead of the alltoo-often seen image of everyone on their own devices and in their own little world. The Museum of Family Prayer is located at 518 Washington Street, North Easton. For more information on the museum, HCFM and its mission, and the life and status of Father Peyton’s sainthood cause, visit hcfm.org. July 12, 2019 †
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Poking the bear can be fun
ne would think that after two years of dating followed by 40-plus years of Marriage, Denise and I would know each other pretty well by now. Well, that would be the case if both of us were “normal.” Denise is; me, not so much. Once in a while I can catch my spouse completely off-guard. That doesn’t mean I can still make her laugh, just catch her off-guard. There was a time when she thought I was funny, but four-plus decades of my nonsense has made her immune to some pretty funny stuff, if I do say so myself. Now I often get the eye-roll instead of the chuckle. And that’s apt for this month anyway, it being when Shark Week falls. Last week, on the Fourth of July morning, we were sitting on
the deck in the warm sunshine having a cup a coffee. Well, Denise was basking in the sunshine. That’s a luxury I can no longer afford having had several basal cell skin cancers removed over the years because of the sun damage my skin has suffered after years of beaching and playing ball without sunscreen. As a ticking time-bomb, I now have to sit under a large umbrella and use an SPF lotion of 50,000. It’s like spray painting my body every time I go out. But, I digress. Y’all know I have to get at least one of those in every column. So anyway, we were sitting on the deck relaxing with a cup of Joe and I nonchalantly looked over at Denise and asked, “So, what do you want
Two Sisters of St. Francis who ministered in childcare and education in the Fall River Diocese recently celebrated jubilee years at their order’s retirement house. Sister Agnes St. Joseph Bresnen, O.S.F., left, and Sister Agnes Borkowski, O.S.F., right, both celebrated 70 years of religious profession. 12
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for Christmas?” After she choked down a sip of java she looked at me with shock and awe and blurted, “What?” I repeated my inquiry. Ah, the fireworks had started early this year. “Are you nuts?” (a question best left
unanswered), she continued. “It’s July!” Stung a little by her thinking I didn’t know what month it was, I responded, “I know, but it’s time to start thinking about Christmas.” It should be noted that Denise is a sun goddess and summer is her season. Any other time of year, especially winter, fails to meet her high seasonal expectations. So any talk of the dreaded “W” is off limits, especially in July. I knew that, but sometimes I just have to poke the bear to get a reaction. I did. “I don’t want
anything,” she snipped. I smiled and retorted, “Well I can do that.” She gave me her shark eyes. I poked the bear and got shark eyes in return. This year’s Fourth was quickly developing an animal theme. But after her eyes returned to their normal positions, she said, “Ask me again later in the year.” The bear was a cub again. After more than 40 years together Denise and I do know each other very well. But through the good times and bad times we have come to learn that taking playful jabs at each other is often the best medicine for keeping things light and silly. I still delight in giving my wife a tough time, but don’t be fooled into thinking that old sharkeyes can’t hold her own when it comes to poking the bear. People know that I like to fire off playful verbal jabs at anyone who comes in my path. In fact they expect it. I’ve gone to concerts, plays,
restaurants, played rounds of golf and a plethora of activities with family and friends and I cannot count the times that someone has said to me, “This better not end up in an Anchor column!” I just give them a sheepish grin and move on to the next topic. But Denise saves her zingers for just the right moment and that’s what makes her exceedingly funny — not only with family and friends, but with me. I love those unexpected moments from her. Forty years is a long time to spend with someone, and many adaptations have to take place to keep things alive and new. While some people may not be able to handle verbal barbs sent their way, the Jolivets have thrived on this activity. After 42 years it’s still fun to poke the bear and watch the reactions. For us, those are moments to treasure, whether it be July or Christmas. True dat! (I am going to pay for that last comment!) jolivetdb@comcast.net
Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, July 14 at 11:00 a.m. Celebrant is Father Maurice O. Gauvin, pastor of Espirito Santo Parish in Fall River
Sunday, July 21 at 11:00 a.m. Celebrant is Father Richard E. Degagne, V.F., pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Easton
Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on the Portuguese Channel Sunday, July 14 at 7 p.m. Broadcast from St. Anthony Church in Taunton
Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on the Portuguese Channel Sunday, July 21 at 7 p.m. Broadcast from Immaculate Conception Church in New Bedford
Catholic Women’s Club hosts annual meeting and scholarship awards MASHPEE — On Sunday morning, June 9, the Catholic Women’s Club of Christ the King Parish in Mashpee welcomed members and guests to its Annual Brunch held at the Coonamessett Inn in Falmouth. Welcomed and thanked for their attendance by club president Gail Reilly, the group was then led in grace by Father Edward Healey, pastor of Christ the King Parish. All enjoyed the delicious and sumptuous breakfast buffet that followed. This year six outstanding high school students, active and participating members of the parish, were the recipients of the scholarships awarded by the Catholic Women’s Club. The scholarship awards were presented by vice president Susan Rego. Kevin Duarte, son of Kevin and Diane Duarte, has been an active leader in the parish youth ministry program, volunteers in the community, and is a member of the National Honor Society among many other of his accomplishments. Kristen Kondracki, daughter of Michael and Dori Kondracki has served as a leader in Church, school and community. Following in the footsteps of her mother Kristen aspires to become an early childhood educator. Kristen has used her talents as captain of varsity soccer to coach youth soccer. Brenna Donahue, the youngest of 12 children, is the daughter of James and Cheryl Donahue. A graduate of Falmouth High School, Brenna excelled in her grade point average, was a member of the National Honor Society and continued to grow in
The recipients of scholarships awarded by the Christ the King Parish Catholic Women’s Club to graduating high school seniors were, from left, Kristen Kondracki, Brian Hyde, Kevin Duarte, Sarah Christa, Brenna Donahue and Emma Jones. (Photo courtesy of Marion Mooney) her faith with her participation at Christ the King Parish. Brenna’s English teacher wrote, “She will exceed your expectations and win you over with her insight.” Emma Jones, a graduate of Sturgis Charter School, is the daughter of Dr. Craig and Kristen Jones and will be attending Catholic University to study psychology. Emma has been involved in parish youth ministry for the past six years and received the Wellesley Book award for leadership and academic excellence presented by the Sturgis faculty. Brian Hyde is the oldest of the eight children of Brian and Kristen Hyde. Brian has demonstrated leadership in the parish youth ministry program, while maintaining high grades and founding a successful DJ business. Brian will attend St. Anselm College in the fall. Sarah Crista is the daughter of Roland and Cindy Crista. Sarah is a member of the National Honor Society,
has maintained a high GPA and has served as an altar server since fourth grade. The first in her family to attend college, Sarah plans to become a doctor. Finally, the inaugural Dottie Hiltz Memorial Scholarship was awarded for the first time this year. The recipient was Kristen Kondracki. This scholarship, in memory of a dear friend and long-time member and supporter of the Catholic Women’s Club is awarded to a recipient pursuing a degree in education. Kristen aspires to become an early childhood educator. The morning was finally highlighted by the presentation of a gift from the Catholic Women’s Club to the parish demonstrating the continued support of the club for the works and needs of the parish. In accepting the gift on behalf of the parish Father Healey expressed his appreciation and thankfulness to the club for its ongoing spirit and support of the parish.
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Rain delay
appy Summer! As I am sitting here typing this, the Red Sox just started playing after a four-hour rain delay. Last night they had a two-hour rain delay. Both times after the rain delays, the Red Sox came out swinging and hitting well. The announcers keep commenting on the fact that it is not often that players do so well after a long delay, because they have to make sure that they stay ready. This made me think of two elements in the life of a Christian. First it reminds me of the Bible passage about always being prepared for Christ’s return. St. Paul writes to the Thessalonians, “For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” (1Thes 5:2). Christ, as well as many saints, often remind us to be ready for His return because we do not want to be caught unprepared. We prepare for so many
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things in our life but are we spending time preparing to meet Christ? We run to the store before a storm to buy our milk and bread. We go on Amazon and order party supplies for our Fourth of July celebrations. We clean our house to prepare for guests to come over. We are often trying to make sure that we are ready for important events in our lives, but we often neglect the most important one. In the Parable of the Ten Virgins, Jesus tells us about the 10 women who wait for the bridegroom and how five of them bring extra oil for the lamps and five of them do not bring any. Those who did not have extra oil had to leave to get some and they missed the arrival of the bridegroom. They were unprepared during a delay for what was to lie ahead of them (Mt 25:113). We must be con-
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stantly working to ready ourselves for the time we meet Christ. The other thing this made me think about is what do we do with the time we have while we are “in a delay”? Sometimes we are waiting for
something to happen in our lives and we do not prepare for what is to come. We are hoping for something to happen, but oftentimes when it does, we are caught off-guard because we were not preparing ourselves for the results. The dictionary says that a delay is a “period of time by which something is late or postponed.” It is true that the intentions that we pray for can get an answer of “no,” but oftentimes it can be a “not yet.”
A delay just means that God is preparing us for the graces we are going to receive. We need to use this time and prepare for what is about to come. They asked some of the players what they do during the rain delay and their answers varied. Some played cards, some watched shows, some listened to music and some stretched. They had different ways of getting ready during the delay. Being prepared for what God has in store for us does not always mean that we need to be physically doing something. For example, Xander Bogaerts was one of the players who said he was playing cards. Now that might not sound like he was preparing for the game to return to action, but for him, he needed to relax and clear his mind. When we prepare during the delays in our
Spiritual life or to meet Christ, we need to find a way that best helps us to be ready. Of course the Sacraments are our main source of grace, but we also might need to add to this as well. Author Dr. Robert Schuller once wrote, “God’s delays are not God’s denials.” Just like the rain delay in a baseball game, what we are hoping for is being prepared for us during better conditions. Use that time in a delay to prepare yourself for the grace that is yet to come. And as author Tony Evans once wrote, “God’s time is always perfect. Trust His delays. He’s got you.” Anchor columnist Amanda Tarantelli has been a campus minister at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth since 2005. She is married, a diehard sports fan, and resides in Cranston, R.I. She can be reached at atarantelli@ bishopstang.org.
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At left, representatives from the Saint Anne’s Credit Union Board of Directors recently presented student Collin Sardinha of Holy Name School in Fall River the Albert E. Mercier $500 Scholarship Award and check. Also present for the announcement were Holy Name School’s director, Father Jay Maddock, and principal, Dr. Patricia Wardell. Under the direction of Bishop Connolly High School biology teacher Daniel Boudria and math teacher Brian Rebelo, students from Espirito Santo School in Fall River, below, took part in Bishop Connolly’s “STEM Challenge” on June 6. The seventh-graders observed as Connolly students collected and tested water samples from the stream located on Connolly’s campus in the Outdoor Environmental Laboratory.
Above, St. Francis of Assisi Parish in New Bedford recently hosted Flores de Mayo, a project that seeks to enhance traditional Marian celebrations in Catholic parishes across the Philippines. Flowers are offered to the Blessed Virgin Mary, prayers are recited, and moments of reflection are shared. The parish has been hosting the Greater New Bedford Filipino Catholic devotion every May for the past five years. The most recent devotion was celebrated before the 4:30 p.m. Vigil Mass. (Photo courtesy of Father Kevin Harrington) July 12, 2019 †
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ROE Act testimony day
n Monday, June 17, I was blessed to be able to go to Boston with some members of Massachusetts Citizens for Life in the Fall River chapter, in protest of the ROE Act that is in circulation in Massachusetts. It took a bit of time to get there, due to typical traffic from Quincy onwards, but when we got there, shortly after the rally outside the State House had started, we realized quickly how it was worth the wait. Hundreds of Pro-Lifers were gathered, creating a sea of red that stuck out against the prim green lawns before the House. Speakers invigorated the crowds, rousing them to act against the law that, if set in place, would endanger the pre-born and women. These speakers ranged from former abortionists to Protestant ministers, but their message was the same: defend life. Defend human dignity. Defend because this cause matters above all. It was obvious that the House was not prepared to contain so many. There was confusion left and right about where to go for the conference, whether or not certain rooms were open, and where to wait. People overflowed in the hallways, attempting to find any place where one could stand. We were finally ushered downstairs into the room, which could not even hold everyone. Thankfully, I was able to get into the press corner along with the Franciscan Friars who came with us, who had wanted to film at least some 16
of the exchanges. I was sandwiched between the press and Planned Parenthood representatives; the spot could not have been more opportune. Right in the middle of the action, I was able to listen and observe not only the testimonies, but the reactions of the
crowds. It is always interesting to be in such a spot, because it gives me a better awareness of how I can respond in discussion with others regarding the bill, especially if they may be in support of it. While we were not able to stay for all the testimonies (as they continued until 10 p.m.), the ones we heard revealed the ignorance of the main support for the ROE Act. Representatives and members of the Massachusetts Medical Society were unaware of crucial parts of the bill.
To advertise in The Anchor, contact Wayne Powers at 508-675-7151 or waynepowers@ anchornews.org
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They were unable to defend why particular facets of the bill, especially those regarding parental consent and care to babies who survive abortion, are acceptable and healthy. This gave us hope that the representatives and senators voting on this bill will realize the lack of sense and care given to its writing, and will reject it because of the risks it poses. I was glad we were able to represent and be witnesses to this significant event for our state. Our hope now is that the state government will recognize the wide opposition to the bill, and make a decision that respects the health of all involved. Sonja Morin is a senior at Bishop Connolly High School and member of Holy Name Parish, both in Fall River. She was the 2019 recipient of the John Cardinal O’Connor ProLife Youth Award and has dedicated her time to educating her peers on important issues in the Pro-Life movement.
In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests and deacons during the coming weeks
July 13 Rev. Arthur P. Deneault, M.S., LaSalette Father, 1979 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 July 16 Rev. Bernard Percot, O.P., Founder, St. Dominic, Swansea, 1937 Rev. Matthew F. Sullivan, SS.CC. Retired Chaplain Bristo County House of Correction, Former Pastor, St. Mary, Fairhaven, 2002 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, S.S.S., Native of South Attleboro, 1984 July 19 Most Rev. Daniel F. Feehan, D.D., Second Bishop of Fall River, 1907-1934, 1934 Rev. Francis M. Coady, Pastor, SS. Peter & Paul, Fall River, 1975 Msgr. Joseph R. Pannoni, Retired Pastor, Holy Rosary, Fall River, 1992 July 20 Rev. Joao Medeiros, Retired Pastor, St. Elizabeth, Fall River, 1983 July 22 Rev. Francis L. Mahoney, Retired Pastor, Holy Name Fall River, 2007 July 23 Rev. Patrick F. Doyle, Founder, SS. Peter & Paul, Fall River, 1893 Rev. George B. McNamee, Founder Holy Name, Fall River, 1938 July 25 Rev. Michael J. Cooke, Pastor, St. Patrick, Fall River, 1913 Rev. Raymond R. Mahoney, SS.CC., Former Pastor, Our Lady of Assumption, New Bedford, 1984 July 26 Rev. Msgr. Alfred J.E. Bonneau, P.R. Retired Pastor, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Fall River, 1974
‘Celebrate the Beauty of Every Child’ continued from page three
was part of God’s plan to have it moved to August, September, and October, so that this can be part of the prayer plan. We are a prayer and action campaign, but we don’t want to focus mainly on the action part and let the prayer part slip through. We need the prayer to sustain the campaign; so I think God has had His hand in this the whole time.” CBEC committee members serve as facilitators to provide notices, sign-up sheets, prayer cards and even collection boxes for donated items. But when and how each
CBEC campaign is run is left to the discretion of the participating parishes and schools. “It’s totally up to the pastors as to whether or not they’re going to participate in the campaign and if they are, when within those three months,” Wenc said. “So it’s a little more open this time than it has been for the last couple of years.” “We decided if parishes were already geared up to do it in the first or second week of June like in the past, they can — no problem,” Ramos added. “So we’ve giving parishes the
option (this year). They can either do it in June, or simply delay it into August, September, or October.” Ramos also noted that those participating may offer suggestions as to where the donations can be sent. “In addition to that, the parishes are welcome to keep that merchandise resident within the parish for their own needy families,” Ramos said. “And the same is going to be true with the schools. Obviously with the schools, you’ve got to expect they’re going to have many needy families as well. So they can either keep or donate the items. A nice thing that some parishes have done is
to create a welcome package (with the items) and donate that welcome package to Baptisms that they have right in the (parish). It think that’s a very nice touch.” While some parishes and groups may have already embarked on the CBEC campaign this year, the committee expects the bulk of the collections to arrive in August, September and October. And now that “Celebrate the Beauty of Every Child” has the support of six diocesan organizations,
the committee anticipates 2019 will be its strongest year yet. “If we just got all the parishes that participated last year to return, and now you add in all the schools, we should do much better for 2019,” Wenc said. “I think it will all fall into place.” For more information or to help support the “Celebrate the Beauty of Every Child” campaign, contact the diocesan ProLife Apostolate at 508675-1311 or email irina@ plrachel.com.
Diocesan ‘Day of Prayer’ slated for July 26 FALL RIVER — As the varied commissions on Youth and Young Adult, Governance and Catholic Social Services continue to meet as part of Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha’s “Rebuilding in Faith and Hope” initiative, a special time has been designated to reflect on and prepare their respective recommendations. A Day of Prayer will be held in each deanery of the Fall River Diocese on Friday, July 26. The deans have been asked to consider offering a holy hour, Adoration, and Benediction — similar to the recent Day of Prayer that was held throughout the diocese to pray for healing from the sexual abuse crisis within the Church. Each dean has also been asked to offer a special closing prayer at 7 p.m. on July 26. In addition, prayer cards featuring “Our Lady of Fall River,” along with a Novena booklet are being made available. All parishes are being sent a bulletin notice with complete details, and parishioners are asked to consult their bulletins for exact times and locations for the Day of Prayer observances nearest to them. In looking ahead, there will also be a Mass celebration at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River on Saturday, September 14 at 9 a.m. to pause and give thanks for the work of the various commissions and dedicated committee members. The Mass will be followed by a brunch at White’s Restaurant in Westport. More details will follow about the events for the day. Faithful throughout the Fall River Diocese are asked to continue praying for the success of the work of the three commissions as they wind down. For more information about these prayer initiatives, please contact Beth Mahoney at 508-821-6201 or email bmahoney@dioc-fr.org. July 12, 2019 †
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Around the Diocese Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 984 Taunton Avenue in Seekonk, will host a Divine Mercy Parish Mission from Sunday, July 14 through Tuesday, July 16. Featured speakers will include Kitty Cleveland, an award-winning singer, songwriter and inspirational speaker from New Orleans, and Father Chris M. Alar, M.I.C., a priest with the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception who wrote and produced the popular “Divine Mercy 101” DVD. For more information, visit www.thedivinemercy.org/events or contact Lori Lavigne, coordinator of Family and Youth Evangelization, at 508-233-3312. Pennies from Heaven, St. Vincent de Paul’s donations and free goods store located at 141 Washington Street in Taunton, will be having a Sidewalk Sale on Saturday, July 20 with raffles and a Chinese auction. There will be sales in every department along with a Christmas in July section. A one-day silent retreat entitled “Summer Day of Silence with the Masters” will be held on Saturday, July 20 from 9:30 am. to 3:30 p.m. at St. John Neumann Parish, 157 Middleboro Road in East Freetown at the camphouse and on the church property. Come, spend a lazy, hazy day of summertime in quiet reflection with the teachings of Dorothy Day, the founder of the Catholic Worker movement. Please bring a bag lunch and beverages will be provided. For more information, please contact Karen Howard at klhoward@aol.com. Our Lady of the Cape Parish, 468 Stony Brook Road in Brewster, invites all to a special talk to be given by Dr. Esperanca Camara, professor of Art History at the University of St. Francis, on Friday, July 19 from 9 to 10 a.m. Dr. Camara will be speaking on Sacred art and her topic will be “The Passion of Christ Through the Eyes of the 17th-Century Masters.” She will explore the Spiritual lessons and theological truths of Christ’s final moments through the works of Caravaggio, Rubens and Rembrandt. You will not want to miss it! On Tuesday, July 23, Sister Bridget Haase, O.S.U., will discuss “Walking the Path of Faith: Gathering the Fragments.” The talk begins with an optional light dinner at 5:30 p.m. (cost is $7 for dinner), and the presentation begins at 6 p.m. and lasts about one hour. Attendance is free and no RSVP is necessary. For more information, please contact Kathy at adultfaithformation2@gmail.com or call 508-385-3252, ext. 14. On August 6, the series will conclude with Mary MacGilivary talking about “Celtic Spirituality.” A Retreat for Deacons’ Wives entitled “Growing in the Fruits of the Spirit” will be presented by Father Flavio Gillio and Dottie Levesque at the La Salette Retreat Center, 947 Park Street in Attleboro from Friday, September 13 through Sunday, September 15. Most dioceses have retreats for their deacons, but what about their wives? Theirs is a ministry of its own, for as a couple they serve the Church together. Walking through the Fruits of the Spirit enumerated by St. Paul in Galatians 5:22-23, the retreat will examine what each fruit means through a close reading of selected Biblical texts. How does Western culture inhibit the development of these fruits? If nurturing Godliness, growing in inner beauty, and letting Jesus live through you are relevant goals in your life and faith journey, this retreat is for you! The retreat starts on Friday, September 13 at 7 p.m. (registration begins at 6:30 p.m.) and the retreat ends on Sunday after lunch. Suggested donation is $225 per person. For more information, visit www.lasaletteretreatcenter.com or call 508222-8530.
To submit an event for consideration in The Anchor’s “Around the Diocese” listing, please send the information by email to kensouza@anchornews.org. 18
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Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese Acushnet — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Evening prayer and Benediction is held Monday through Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. ASSONET — St. Bernard’s Parish will have Eucharistic Adoration every Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed on the altar at the conclusion of 9 a.m. Mass and the church will be open all day, concluding with evening prayer and Benediction at 6:30 p.m. ATTLEBORO — The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette holds 6:30 p.m. Mass followed by the Chaplet of Divine Mercy Adoration at 7:15 p.m. every Wednesday evening. ATTLEBORO — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. John the Evangelist Church, North Main Street, Mondays and Wednesdays from 5-6:30 p.m. Brewster — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road, on First Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. buzzards Bay — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, every First Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending at 5 p.m. DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Mary’s Church, 783 Dartmouth Street, every First Monday of the month, following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending with evening prayers and Benediction at 5 p.m. 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 8:30-11:30 a.m. in the Chapel of Reconciliation, with Benediction at 11:30 a.m. FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of Padua Church, on the corner of Bedford and Sixteenth streets, has Eucharistic Adoration accompanied by music and prayer every first Wednesday of the month from 6-7 p.m. FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of the Desert Church, 300 North Eastern Avenue, has Eucharistic Adoration Mondays and Tuesdays from 8:45 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Thursdays following the 8 a.m. Mass until Friday at 8 a.m. FALL RIVER — Holy Name Church, 709 Hanover Street, has Eucharistic Adoration Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Our Lady of Grace Chapel. FALL RIVER — Good Shepherd Parish has Eucharistic Adoration every Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass and concluding with 3 p.m. Benediction in the Daily Mass Chapel. A bilingual holy hour takes place from 2 to 3 p.m. Park behind the church and enter the back door of the connector between the church and the rectory. FALL RIVER — St. Joseph’s Church has a Holy Hour every Tuesday from 6-7 p.m., with Benediction at 6:45 p.m. FALL RIVER — St. Michael’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with Benediction at 5:30 p.m. Falmouth — St. Patrick’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration each First Friday following the 7 a.m. Mass, with Benediction at 4:30 p.m. HYANNIS — St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis, 347 South Street, Hyannis, has Eucharistic Adoration from noon to 3 p.m., daily Monday through Friday. MANSFIELD — St. Mary’s Parish, 330 Pratt Street, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with Benediction at 5:30 p.m. MASHPEE — Christ the King Parish, Route 151 and Job’s Fishing Road has 8:30 a.m. Each First Friday Mass ends with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Adoration continues until Benediction at 5 p.m. NEW BEDFORD — Eucharistic Adoration is held every Thursday, with Confessions, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Church. Please use the side entrance. NEW BEDFORD — There is a daily holy hour from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue. It includes Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Liturgy of the Hours, recitation of the Rosary, and the opportunity for Confession. NEW BEDFORD — St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, 565 County Street, holds Eucharistic Adoration in the side chapel Fridays from 7:30-11:45 a.m. ending with a simple Benediction NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., ending with Benediction. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time. NORTH DIGHTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Wednesday following 8:00 a.m. Mass and concludes with Benediction at 4 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 4 p.m. The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 8 a.m. NORTH EASTON — A Holy Hour for Families including Eucharistic Adoration is held every Friday from 3-4 p.m. at The Father Peyton Center, 518 Washington Street. NORTH EASTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Immaculate Conception Church Chapel on the first Wednesday of the month beginning after the 8:30 a.m. Mass, until 6:40 p.m. Those wishing to make a monthly commitment can sign up on the parish website at www.icceaston.org or call the parish office at 508-238-3232. ORLEANS — St. Joan of Arc Parish, 61 Canal Road, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday starting after the 8 a.m. Mass and ending with Benediction at 11:45 a.m. The Sacrament of the Sick is also available immediately after the 8 a.m. Mass. SEEKONK — Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish has perpetual Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the chapel at 984 Taunton Avenue. For information call 508-336-5549. Taunton — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Tuesday at St. Anthony Church, 126 School Street, following the 8 a.m. Mass with prayers including the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for vocations, concluding at 6 p.m. with Chaplet of St. Anthony and Benediction. Recitation of the Rosary for peace is prayed Monday through Saturday at 7:30 a.m. prior to the 8 a.m. Mass. Taunton — Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord, 31 First Street. Exposition begins following the 8 a.m. Mass until 9 a.m. Taunton — The Chapel of St. Andrew the Apostle, 19 Kilmer Avenue, Taunton, will host Eucharistic Adoration Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. Taunton — St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Taunton will host Eucharistic Adoration on Mondays following the 9 a.m. Mass and the St. Jude Novena, until 11:30, ending with Benediction. It will take place at Holy Rosary Chapel during the summer months. WAREHAM — Eucharistic Adoration at St. Patrick’s Church takes place 9 a.m. Thursday through 7 p.m. Friday. Adoration is held in our Adoration Chapel in the lower Parish Hall.
† PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION † East Sandwich — The Corpus Christi Parish Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 324 Quaker Meeting House Road, East Sandwich. Use the Chapel entrance on the side of the church. NEW BEDFORD — Our Lady’s Chapel, 600 Pleasant Street, offers Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day. For information call 508-996-8274. SEEKONK — Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish has perpetual Eucharistic Adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the chapel at 984 Taunton Avenue. For information call 508-336-5549. WEST HARWICH — Our Lady of Life Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Trinity Parish, 246 Main Street (Rte. 28), holds perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. We are a regional chapel serving all of the surrounding parishes. All are invited to sign up to cover open hours. For open hours, or to sign up call 508-430-4716.
T
Redressing anti-Catholic bias in education
here is a strange anomaly in American Constitutional Law as it has come down to us through the Courts: The freedom of private schools, including religious schools, to educate children according to their parents’ wishes is guaranteed, in that no public-school monopoly over education is allowed. But when it comes to public funding, religious schools have generally been excluded. This is because any direct subsidy to religious schools has been construed to violate the Establishment clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and because even indirect aid
to such schools through scholarship programs or voucher plans given to students and their families has been held to violate state constitutional provisions. These provisions are called Blaine Amendments, and 38 states have them, including Massachusetts, which enacted a prototype of what would become known as Blaine Amendments in the 1850s, when Massachusetts had a KnowNothing Governor and Know-Nothing state legislature. These Blaine amendments prohibit government funds going directly or indirectly to
“sectarian” education. This categorical exclusion of religious private schooling from public funding is anomalous, because people pay for public education through their taxes, and Catholic and other religious par-
ents who want to send their children to religious schools in effect have to pay twice: once for the public schools through their taxes, and again for the private school through tuition and other charges. Needless to say, this constitutes a rather severe tilting of the playing field in favor of public schools, with deleterious effects particularly in the innercities, where private and Catholic schools outperform public schools in a host of ways. It’s also anomalous in that most modern countries allow private religious schools to participate in public funding: Great Britain, France, Canada, Italy, etc. The United States is virtually alone in categorically forbidding such funding. There’s a lawsuit now pending at the United States Supreme Court which could change the legal landscape considerably. On Friday, June 28, the last day of the Court’s Term, it was announced that they were
going to hear the case of Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue. I am not a stranger to this litigation, because last April 12 I filed an amicus brief on behalf of the Pioneer Institute urging the Supreme Court to hear the case. The Pioneer Institute is an independent, non-partisan, privately funded research organization in Massachusetts that is concerned with public policies that restrict religious freedom and educational opportunity for children. Working with attorney Michael Gilleran, and a dream team of five Harvard Law students who researched and drafted the brief, we argued in our filing that the Court should hear the case, because “the history of the proto-Blaine Amendment in Massachusetts is instructive on the 19th-century religious bigotry in Montana and elsewhere that stands between petitioner Ms. Espinoza’s children and a good education.” The anti-Catholic animus that was behind the prohibition on funding for sectarian education was explained in Justice John Paul Stevens’ dissent in 2002: “Catholics sought equal governmental support for the education of their children in the form of aid for private Catholic schools. But the ‘Protestant position’ on this matter ... was that public schools must be ‘non-sectarian’ (which was usually understood
to allow Bible reading and other Protestant observances) and public money must not support ‘sectarian’ schools (which in practical terms meant Catholic). And this sentiment played a significant role in creating a movement that sought to amend several state constitutions (often successfully), and to amend the United States Constitution (unsuccessfully) to make certain that government would not pay for ‘sectarian’ (i.e., Catholic) schooling for children.” The fact that the U.S. Supreme Court is willing to examine the constitutionality of such persistent anti-Catholic bigotry gives solid ground for hope this coming Supreme Court term. Indeed, the fact that the decision to hear the case was promulgated during the Fortnight for Freedom called by the U.S. Catholic bishops to pray for religious freedom in our country is patently providential. And another ground for hope is the younger generation of law students like graduating 3Ls Grant Newman and Annika Boone, and 2Ls Anastasia Frane, Benjamin Fleshman and James McGlone, who were willing to step forward and apply their ample learning and talents to defend religious liberty. May it not be in vain. Anchor columnist Dwight Duncan is a professor at UMass School of Law Dartmouth. He holds degrees in civil and canon law.
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† July 12, 2019