07.01.2020

Appeal assists ‘future of the Church’

Diocese of Fall River, Mass. † Friday, July 10, 2020

Appeal hits $2.1M mark

For the annual Blessing of the Fleet in Provincetown on June 28, Father Hugh J. McCullough, pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Provincetown and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Wellfleet was taken to the boats on a small skiff by Harbormaster Don German. The blessing also focused on the working boats in the harbor as opposed to the “pleasure” vessels that make up so much of the blessing in past years. More photos on page eight. (Photo by Deacon Alan Thadau)

FALL RIVER — The 79th annual Catholic Appeal “See All the People” has raised $2.1 million to date, with just three weeks remaining in the annual campaign, which ends on Friday, July 31. There is still time to make a gift in support of the many agencies and apostolates assisting tens of thousands in need throughout the Diocese of Fall River.

Our diocese is blessed with devoted seminarians who are at different stages of formation on their journey to the priesthood.

Father Roy to retire, Father Pignato named successor at St. Julie Billiart

By Kenneth J. Souza Web Editor

kensouza@anchornews.org

NORTH DARTMOUTH — Father Richard M. Roy, pastor of St. Julie Billiart Parish and chaplain to Bishop Stang High School, both in North Dartmouth, will be retiring from active ministry. Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., recently announced he accepted Father Roy’s request to retire, effective August 1.

“Well, I have been ordained 45 years and have had two back surgeries, so managing my pain and stress was part of the deciding factor (to retire),” Father Roy recently told The Anchor. “As much as I love being a pastor and being part of a vibrant parish here at St. Julie’s, I just felt it was

time to step down from administration and enjoy the promises of retirement life.”

A native of the South Coast, Father Roy grew up in the New Bedford area. The second eldest of six children, he attended St. Joseph School as well as Bishop Stang High School. He earned a degree in philosophy from St. Mary College Seminary in Kentucky in 1971 and a Master of Divinity from St. John School of Theology in Brighton in 1975. He was ordained a priest for the Fall River Diocese by Bishop Daniel A. Cronin on May 10, 1975.

Father Roy has served as pastor at St. Julie Billiart Parish since 2012. Prior to that, he served at St. Theresa in South Attleboro, Sacred Heart

Saint Vincent’s Services intro- East Taunton parish ‘sends’ duces “Fluttered” campaign. duo on summer adventure.

Page two.

Page seven.

8 Turn to page three

Father Hugh J. McCullough blesses the fleet in Provincetown.

Photos on page one and 10.

Diocesan seminarian Gregory Quenneville Gifts to the annual Catholic Appeal directly support these men, through the Diocese of Fall River Office of Vocations. Led by Father Kevin A. Cook, director of Vocations and Father Jack M. Schrader, associate director of Vocations, the Office of Vocations provides Spiritual guidance and services to those who have discerned a call to the priesthood.

The Appeal’s series of ministry focus videos continues this week with a video dedicated to the Office of Vocations. The Catholic Foundation team recently sat down with three seminarians to hear their stories: John Garabedian, Gregory Quenneville, and 8 to page† eight JulyTurn 10, 2020

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‘Fluttered’ campaign raises funds, awareness for Saint Vincent’s Services

By Kenneth J. Souza Web Editor

kensouza@anchornews.org

FALL RIVER — As a few employees returned to their offices at the Chancery building for the Fall River Diocese one recent morning, they found an unexpected surprise awaiting them.

The front lawn of the structure on Highland Avenue was peppered with colorful pink and blue butterflies — a familiar reproduction of the logo for Saint Vincent’s Services, Inc. In an email to staff, Chancellor Kevin Kiley explained they had

been “fluttered for Saint Vincent’s” as part of a new campaign to raise funds and awareness for the diocesan facility.

While similar to the popular prank in which people “flock” someone’s lawn with pink flamingos to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, the idea was also inspired by the congratulatory graduation signs that have been popping up everywhere, according to Jenny Mello Reis, director of Development for Saint Vincent’s Services.

“I won’t say that the flocking didn’t come to mind, but truly the inspiration was all of the signs I was

seeing for high school graduates,” Reis told The Anchor. “I wanted to find a way to highlight our new branding — the butterfly in our logo — and find a way to raise some much-needed funding. Our development committee met via Zoom and together hashed out what is now known as ‘Fluttered for Saint Vincent’s.’ It was a true team effort.”

Founded in 1885 as an orphanage, today Saint Vincent’s

what fee-for-service payments cover. However, given the fact they had to cancel most of those events this year, they implemented the novel “Fluttered for Saint Vincent’s” campaign to provide support for programs and services in a safe and fun way.

“All of our fundraising initiatives except for our annual motorcycle run have been canceled,” Reis said. “The funding

The front lawn of the diocesan Chancery building on Highland Avenue in Fall River was peppered with colorful pink and blue butterflies — a familiar reproduction of the logo for Saint Vincent’s Services, Inc., as part of its Fluttered for Saint Vincent's campaign.

(Photo by Dave Jolivet) Services is a residential treatment center and, equally important, a licensed mental health clinic in Southeastern Massachusetts. Saint Vincent’s is committed to helping the children, youth and families of Southeastern Massachusetts achieve positive change and build healthy relationships through holistic, compassionate, individualized care. They are committed to the highest standards in serving children who are separated from their families with the goal of family reunification.

Typically, Saint Vincent’s holds several fundraising events during the spring and summer months to support its programming beyond 2

† July 10, 2020

raised at those events helps with specific programming needs for the children and youth who rely on the services at Saint Vincent’s.

We needed to find a way to raise funds, but it needed to be at a safe distance and it needed to be something that would allow us to cover our entire service area.”

Since the newly-designed butterfly in the Saint Vincent’s logo represents transformation and change for the agency and in the lives of the children, youth and families it serves, it seemed the perfect choice. Saint Vincent’s vision is to be a place of positive change for children, adolescents 8 Turn to page 15

Father Roy to retire, Father Pignato named his successor continued from page one

in Taunton, St. Mary in Taunton, Our Lady of Grace in Westport, St. Patrick in Falmouth, St. Joan of Arc in Orleans, St. Stephen in Attleboro, and St. John the Evangelist in Attleboro.

“Besides the wonderful parish families I have been privileged to be part of, I have enjoyed the various retreat movements available in our diocese,” Father Roy said. “I have been called to team as a Spiritual director for Cursillo, Emmaus, ECHO and Engaged Encounter. Every weekend has allowed me to witness the working of the Spirit and the amazing goodness of the people of God. I have also served as chaplain to Coyle and Cassidy High School and for the last eight years at Bishop Stang High School — my alma mater.

Go Spartans!”

Through the years, Father Roy has also served as the chaplain of several Knights of Columbus Councils and has represented the Roman Catholic Church to the Cape Cod Council of Churches and served as president of the Nauset Interfaith Association.

Although he’ll be giving up his administrative duties, Father Roy anticipates he’ll still remain active in the diocese.

“I often kid that if you are retired and available to help in parishes, then you are on priests’ speed dials,” he said. “I have been blessed with the help of many retired priests in my pastorates and I now look forward to filling in when I can.”

Looking ahead to retirement, Father Roy said he plans to relax a bit at his home on Cape Cod. “Since ordination I was lucky to have shared two

different homes with fellow priests for our days off,” Father Roy said. “My present home is co-owned with a Boston priest friend and is in Sagamore Beach. I have enjoyed the short walk to the beach and taking care of home improvements and yard work. I have a bike and will use that for enjoyment

“I remember my two great years at St. Julie’s as my first assignment following seminary studies,” Father Pignato told The Anchor.

“Bishop da Cunha told me it would be like a homecoming for me, and when the assignment was announced, several familiar parishioners contacted me to welcome

Father Richard M. Roy

Father David A. Pignato

and exercise.”

Although he used to enjoy skiing in the winter, Father Roy said his recent back problems forced him to pass on his equipment to a cousin. But he plans to stay active during his retirement and visit with family members and friends.

“I will also research possible ways to help in my area as a volunteer, perhaps at a soup kitchen,” he said. “I have some wonderful friends and will continue to visit with them and be creative on how we can have dinners or visit restaurants. I also hope to get away during the winter months — either to Florida or by visiting my brother in Palm Springs.”

Succeeding Father Roy as pastor at St. Julie Billiart Parish is Father David A. Pignato, who will return to the parish he once served as parochial vicar after his ordination.

me back. I was happy and grateful when (the bishop) called me some weeks ago to tell me my new assignment would be at St. Julie’s.

I knew that St. Julie’s would be getting a new pastor, with Father Roy’s announced retirement, but I was a bit surprised.”

Father Pignato said he is eager to return to parish ministry after teaching theology at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton for the past 10 years.

“What I will miss most about St. John’s Seminary is being in the classroom,” Father Pignato said. “I have greatly enjoyed full-time teaching — explaining and clarifying the teachings of the Church for our future priests. It has been a privilege to pass on the Church’s teachings to a new generation of priests.”

A native of Foxboro, Father Pignato graduated

from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester and from Harvard Law School, after which he worked for a short time as an attorney. He prepared for the priesthood at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., and at the North American College in Rome.

He was ordained a priest in July 2001 by then-Bishop Sean O’Malley, OFM Cap., and was first assigned as parochial vicar at St. Julie Billiart and as chaplain at Bishop Stang High School.

He also served as secretary to former Bishop George W. Coleman while continuing in the high school chaplaincy post.

Now that he’s embarking on his first-time pastor assignment, Father Pignato said he hopes to “keep the focus on Christ and the truth of His teachings.”

“More specifically, I have learned how important it is to be honest about what fidelity to Christ requires and to help others who strive to live the Christian life, which is perhaps the greatest challenge anyone could ever undertake,” he said. “When Christ and His teachings remain the focus for a parish, everything else falls into proper place.”

One friend and fellow classmate he hopes to emulate is Father Kevin Cook, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Seekonk and vocations director for the diocese.

“Over the years, I have frequently visited him in his parish assignments and have witnessed the very generous way that he makes himself available for the Spiritual care and direction of his parishioners,” Father Pignato said. “His example is an inspiration for many of us, including the seminarians.”

Of course, Father

Pignato admitted taking on a new parish assignment in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic comes with its own unique challenges.

“I hope to resume as much of the parish schedule as possible, given the safety restrictions caused by the virus,” he said. “Every priest hopes to be a channel and steward of grace and an instrument of conversion to help others sanctify their lives. The challenge for all of us now is to provide for the Spiritual care of souls while safeguarding as much as possible our physical health.”

And while he’ll no longer be teaching full-time, Father Pignato is looking forward to staying involved with education in his role as chaplain at Bishop Stang.

“I previously served as chaplain (there) for six happy years,” he said. “I look forward to returning to Bishop Stang to help encourage the students there to grow in our Catholic faith and to be courageous witnesses to Christ and His teachings.”

In a recent bulletin message, Father Pignato thanked Father Roy and the parish staff for their warm welcome as he transitions into his new assignment.

“I look forward to seeing familiar and new faces among you, the parishioners, but I know it may be difficult, due to the virus restrictions, to get to know many of you as soon as I would like,” Father Pignato wrote. “I hope that we might find some creative ways to get to know each other.

Please know that I look forward to joining all of you in growing in our Catholic faith and in giving all praise, glory and honor to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

July 10, 2020 †

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The 150th anniversary of the definition of papal infallibility

O

n July 18, the Church will mark the 150th anniversary of Vatican I’s Dogmatic Constitution Pastor Aeternus, which, in addition to describing the meaning and power of papal primacy exercised by St. Peter and his successors, formally defined as Divinely revealed the dogma of papal infallibility.

It put into words what the Church had long believed, that when the pope, by virtue of his authority as shepherd and teacher of all Christians, defines a doctrine about faith or morals to be held by the whole Church, he does so infallibly by means of the Divine assistance of the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised to Peter, the Apostles and the Church.

The original context of this ecumenical council’s infallible declaration on the infallibility of the pope was a response, first, to the growing relativism of the 19th century, in terms of general epistemology as well as to the truths of faith. To clarify that the pope can teach something as infallibly true is to proclaim insistently that there is truth.

It implicitly states that God is real; that Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Son of God and Truth that sets us free, taught infallibly; and that He has given His own capacity to teach the truth without error to the Church and to those He has chosen, called and commissioned to lead the Church, who exercise it, not independent of Him, but in communion.

Second, it was a response to some of the questions that had arisen after the clear exercise of solemn papal infallibility 16 years earlier in Blessed Pius IX’s dogmatic declaration of Mary’s Immaculate Conception, especially with regard to the limits of papal infallibility.

Some ultramontanists — those who advocate supreme papal authority in matters of faith and discipline — had been arguing that papal infallibility extended to basically all statements of the pope, even informal ones, a position that not only confused many Catholics, especially 4

those who knew papal history like St. John Henry Newman, but emboldened and ignited Protestants and rationalists who misunderstood papal infallibility as well.

Pastor Aeternus specified the conditions under which the pope proclaims a truth of faith in a solemnly infallible way: when he teaches “ex cathedra,” with the authority of the “chair of St. Peter,” as a teacher for the Church in all places and times, on a point drawn from the deposit of faith (Scripture and tradition) that every member of the Church must believe and accept concerning Christian faith and life.

It didn’t mean, to quote Rex Mottram in Evelyn Waugh’s “Brideshead Revisited,” that if the pope said it was raining cats and dogs, Catholics needed to believe Spiritual pets were pouring down from Heaven.

The popes can be, and occasionally are, fallible in their informal teachings, theological and historical understandings and pastoral applications. If they were to be given a test on the Bible or the “Catechism,” they wouldn’t be guaranteed to get every question right. When he teaches extra cathedram, he is fallible like the rest of us, and as Pope Benedict humbly emphasized in his introduction to his personal trilogy “Jesus of Nazareth,” theologians, Christians and others are free to correct him when he does.

But Pastor Aeternus did specify that when the pope teaches under the specified conditions, he will be prevented by the Holy Spirit from teaching error. Most theologians believe the pope has exercised this “solemn Magisterium” only twice: in 1854, with the dogma clarifying that Mary from the moment of her conception was free of original sin; and in 1950, with Pius XII’s dogmatic proclamation that at the end of her earthly life Mary was assumed body and soul into Heaven.

Others will say that, by Pastor

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Aeternus’ criteria, Pope Leo exercised it in his Tome to Flavian in 449 that led to the declaration of the Council of Chalcedon; Pope Agatho did so in a letter in 680 about Christ’s two wills; Pope Benedict XII exercised it in 1336 on the beatific vision of the just before the general resurrection; and Innocent X in 1653 and Pius VI in 1794 did so, condemning various principles and teachings of the heresy of Jansenism. Regardless, the exercise of the “solemn Magisterium” has been rare.

These instances, however, are not the only times that the Church or the pope as head of the Church have taught in-

fallibly. The early Ecumenical Councils taught infallibly about the consubstantial reality of the Trinity, the Divinity of Christ, His two natures and human and Divine wills, the divinity of the Holy Spirit and several other truths we proclaim in the Creed. Likewise the popes and subsequent councils have infallibly taught that the Church was willed and founded by Jesus; that the Sacraments were instituted by Jesus and communicate efficaciously their respective graces; that Christ is really and substantially present in the Holy Eucharist; that Sacred Scripture is inerrant with regard to the truths of Salvation; that the pope exercises primacy in the Church by the will of Christ; that only a baptized male validly receives priestly ordination; that a person’s Spiritual soul is immortal and is judged immediately upon death; and that the direct and voluntary killing of an innocent human being is gravely immoral.

The theological ground for this broader exercise of the infallibility given to the

Church was clarified by the Second Vatican Council in its Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium. It described that the infallibility Christ has given to His Church so that it may pass on the faith in all its purity can be, and has been, exercised not only by the pope in solemn ex cathedra decrees and not just by bishops united with the pope in dogmatic decrees of Ecumenical Councils, but also in the “ordinary and universal Magisterium,” when the successors of Peter and the Apostles together teach something to be part of the deposit of Divine Revelation — founded on the Word of God and constantly preserved and applied in the Tradition of the Church — that must be adhered to with the obedience of faith.

This is the normal way the Church’s infallibility is exercised.

Lumen Gentium similarly specifies that “the entire body of the faithful, anointing as they are by the Holy One, cannot err in matters of belief when from the bishops down to the last faithful they show universal agreement in matters of faith and morals” (12), which is something seen with regard to many of the teachings in the above paragraph. The Holy Spirit, Whom Jesus promised that He and the Father would send to guide us into all the truth, works in the Church to prevent the Church from erring about what we must believe and do to please God and enter into His life.

One of the concerns that was prudentially expressed about the dogma of infallibility 150 years ago was that if the pope and the Church were to begin to define things as infallible, it might undermine the authority of every other teaching.

If a doctrine were not infallibly defined and therefore irreformable, some worried, it would seem up for grabs and people would feel free to believe and to do the opposite. This concern that the “infallible Magisterium” might unintentionally spawn a

fictitious “fallible magisterium” has come to light over the last 150 years, and even more so in the last 50.

Some on the progressive side downplay, doubt, disobey and occasionally outright dismiss Church teaching on contraception, the ordination of women as priests, and the condemnation of all extramarital sexual activity because it hasn’t been proclaimed ex cathedra.

Some on the conservative side do similarly with regard to Church teaching on the application of the death penalty, the environment, the universal destination of goods, and religious freedom. Both replace the concept of authority with that of infallibility as well as substitute the truth of a doctrine taught by the Church with the degree of formal certitude with which the Church teaches it. Both end up placing non-infallibly expressed teachings of the Church at the level of theological opinions that they deem they are free to disregard.

It’s for this reason that the Second Vatican Council clarified that even when the pope and the bishops teaching in communion with him propose a teaching on faith and morals in the exercise of their normal teaching office — without pronouncing it in an infallible or definitive way — we are to adhere it with “religious assent.”

Our response is different from the “assent of faith” we give to the truths in the deposit of faith — in which we place our trust in God teaching us through the Church — but it is an extension of it.

As we mark the sesquicentennial of Pastor Aeternus, it is an occasion for us to be grateful for the gift of the teaching authority of the Church, especially that of the pope, so that through it, we can know without doubt the truth that leads to Salvation, to believe it, to live it and to transmit it more effectively.

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

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has left many of us with a great deal of uncertainty: uncertainty about how contagious the virus is and about the best way to treat it; uncertainty about how long our personal immunity will last after we get infected and whether a vaccine will ever be developed; uncertainty about the future of the economy and whether jobs will still be there for the 40 million newly-unemployed; uncertainty about how long the public quarantines should continue; uncertainty about what will happen to ourselves, our businesses, our families and our friends.

In the midst of so much uncertainty, we naturally look for something firm to hold onto. Cataclysmic disruptors, whether an outbreak of war, widespread riots and looting, or a new Coronavirus, humble us and remind us how we cannot guarantee our own future.

Yet we instinctively yearn for a way to assure and secure that future for ourselves and for our children. Where should we turn for safety?

Maybe we can take a cue from our financial institutions. When uncertainty becomes too high, and lenders realize a potential borrower is at high risk of default, they can sometimes turn to a higher authority like the federal government to “guarantee” a loan, as in the case of guaranteed student loans. Such loans offer a safety net and take away most risks for the

Spiritual lessons from the pandemic lender.

What kind of higher authority should we be turning to in order to guarantee our future when we face so many uncertainties in life?

One lesson of the pandemic is not to place our hope in undeserving sources. While scientists may promise new treatments, and politicians may promise safety through contact tracing and lock-downs, these measures are stopgaps in the face of our larger human questions.

Many centuries ago, a powerful king of the united monarchy of Israel and Judah mused about the false promise of earthly reassurances. Writing in Psalm 119, King David presciently declared, “Some trust in chariots or horses, but we in the name of the Lord. They will collapse and fall, but we shall hold and stand firm.”

The answer to the uncertainties surrounding our human condition lies, precisely as David noted in his inimitable and direct style, in God Himself.

He alone knows and understands every event of history, from Coronavirus pandemics to civil disturbances to economic collapses.

It’s important for us to distinguish between true and false saviors. While a vaccine may limit the immediate threat from the Coronavirus for us individually, death will still have its day and eventually lay its claim upon us. As

natural as it may be for us to reach out for a vaccine to calm our preoccupations and restore predictability to our future, only God opens a real path for us beyond fear and beyond death. Our lives are

on loan, and only He can guarantee the fulfillment of that loan in a destiny that lies beyond this troubled world.

Cardinal Robert Sarah summed it up well when he recently said: “This virus acted as a warning. In a matter of weeks, the great illusion of a material world that thought itself all-powerful seems to have collapsed.

A microscopic virus has brought this world to its knees.

“We were promised to push the limits of human nature ever further by a triumphant science. We were told about artificial procreation, surrogate motherhood, transhumanism, enhanced humanity. We boasted of being a man of synthesis and a humanity that biotechnologies would make invincible and immortal. But here we are in a panic, confined by a virus about which we know almost nothing.

“Epidemic was an outdated, medieval word.

It suddenly became our everyday life. I believe this epidemic has dispelled the smoke of illusion. The so-called all-powerful man appears in his raw reality. There he is naked.

His weakness and vulner-

ability are glaring. Being confined to our homes will hopefully allow us to turn our attention back to the essentials, to rediscover the importance of our relationship with God.” We have an important opportunity to ponder these deeper lessons of the COVID-19 saga as it plays out in our midst. Rather than placing our hopes in the limited promises of this world, the pandemic reminds us of our vulnerability and our need for our true Savior, at every moment of our life.

Anchor columnist Father Pacholczyk earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River,, and serves as the director of Education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www. ncbcenter.org.

FACE volunteer to participate in the first New Balance Falmouth Road Race At-Home edition

FALMOUTH — Cassandra Robin isn’t new to FACE, she’s been volunteering since her primary school years and is the daughter of long-time FACE Event Coordinator, Jane Robin.

This summer, Cassandra will be a part of an unprecedented experience that brings together people from around the world to participate in the spirit of the New Balance Falmouth Road Race which has been a Cape Cod tradition for the past 47 years. Shares Cassandra, “I’m excited to participate in the very first

New Balance Falmouth Road Race At-Home Edition!” This will take place in August. Cassandra’s participation helps to not only support future Falmouth Road Races, but also ensures that she is able to give back to a local area non-profit during this time of need.

Cassandra would like to invite you to support her charity of choice, FACE, which is close to her heart. The non-profit organization, FACE, Foundation to Advance Catholic Education, provides critical scholarship support to children in

need of financial assistance to attend Catholic schools of the Diocese of Fall River.

Cassandra attended Catholic school from kindergarten through grade eight, she’s a FACE volunteer, and assists as a ministry leader at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Pocasset. Cassandra’s hope is to give back to students and their families in need so they, too, can receive a Catholic education especially during these challenging times.

To donate please visit https://www.face-dfr.org/ donate/

July 10, 2020 †

5

Editorial

Evaluating ourselves, so that all can change

St. Augustine preached, “Let us never assume that if we live good lives we will be without sin; our lives should be praised only when we continue to beg pardon. But men are hopeless creatures, and the less they concentrate on their own sins, the more interested they become in the sins of others.”

In reading those lines, our first thought should not be (although Augustine would imagine that it probably is), “He’s right. Those folks are great at judging others, but fail to notice their own failings.” If we only think that, while not noticing our own sins, then we have a problem.

This is not to say that we should never point out the shortcomings of others (be they alive now or in the past), but Jesus says what we need to do first: “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye?

You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye” (Mt 7:3-5).

Throughout history, God has sent prophets to make people aware of His presence amongst us (and to offer correction for those ways in which human actions failed to live up to that presence, by choosing to let sin, instead of God, govern our lives).

Through our Baptisms, all Christians have been made prophets. Thus, we are called upon by God to witness to His presence and to point out (with the above mentioned humility and personal and corporate contrition) the ways in which our world is not living according to God’s plan.

In that same homily (it can be found in the Office of Readings for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time), St. Augustine said, “We should be displeased with ourselves when we commit sin, for sin is displeasing to God. Sinful though we are, let us at least be like God in this, that we are displeased at what displeases Him.” Here at The Anchor, we have discussed in the last two issues God’s displeasure with racism. We have also over the years discussed God’s displeasure with the taking of human life, with our reworking morality to suit our own judgments, with the many ways in which “we” (be that members of the Church or fellow Americans or subgroups of either larger group) do things “our way,” instead of God’s way. Change is not easy, especially when the change required means going against ingrained habits rooted in sin. On page 11 Genevieve Kineke gives a list of famous sinners who, with God’s help (there is no other way), were able to make the changes needed to make their lives more pleasing to God (and, ultimately, much more enjoyable and life-giving for themselves, too).

To make a point, often writers quote other people (as we have done above with Augustine). This is not to say that we agree with everything this person OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 64, No. 14

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† July 10, 2020

has ever said or done (otherwise, it would only be worthwhile to quote God and the Blessed Mother, since everyone else is an imperfect sinner). Sometimes we might even quote someone everyone considers the epitome of cruelty, such as Hitler, Stalin or Mao, because in some statement of theirs we can see how easily we can be pulled into great evil. As the saying goes, even a stopped clock is correct twice a day.

We need to be open to various ways in which God is calling upon us to make our society a more healthy and healing one, even when God might be speaking to us from a source which seems to be “from the other side.” God is, at the same time, also speaking to that person’s soul, trying to get him or her to change, too. Since none of us are sinless, we all need to change.

In the current crisis about racism (which, to white people, might seem like it’s only a few months old, while to members of minority groups, especially the African-American community, it is at least 401 years old — beginning in 1619, when the first slave ship arrived in Virginia) our two most recent editorials discussed the topic, but did not directly quote anyone who is Black.

We discussed African-American sainthood candidates and read admonitions from Catholic and Jewish leaders about our need to change. But we did not hear directly from people who have to live with racism in their very skin, until now.

Harvard lecturer Linda Chavers wrote in the Boston Globe Magazine (June 14, 2020) about what “society at large considers Black history to be: this and only this: slavery — Abraham Lincoln — Martin Luther King Jr. — President Barack Obama. Those four topics are what’s collectively taught, discussed and shared as the entirety of what took place and continues to take place in this country. By the time students reach me their knowledge about this country’s past and present terrorization of Black people is grossly insufficient.”

For example, a few weeks later, Beverly Beckham in The Boston Sunday Globe (June 28, 2020) admitted that she had never heard of the destruction of the “Black Wall Street” in Tulsa in 1921 until this year (and many other people have said the same thing). Chavers continued, “This national ignorance leads white people to take offense at being called a racist. White people cannot deny the truth and reality of lethal violence toward Black people. We have literal bodies of evidence now in plain sight.”

As Catholics, we know from the last three decades how painful it can be to look over sins and crimes of the past — but the pain was millions of times worse for the victims of abuse than for the rest of the community. However, our reckoning ultimately has made our Church community a safer place. May America’s own self-evaluation (done for each individual, as well as for the larger society) also help to make this land truly a safer and more welcoming one for all.

Daily Readings † July 11 - July 24 Sat. July 11, Is 6:1-8; Ps 93:1-2,5; Mt 10:24-33. Sun. July 12, Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Is 55:10-11; Ps 65:10-14; Rom 8:18-23; Mt 13:1-23 or 13:19. Mon. July 13, Is 1:10-17; Ps 50:8-9,16b-17,21,23; Mt 10:34—11:1. Tue. July 14, Is 7:1-9; Ps 48:2-8; Mt 11:20-24. Wed. July 15, Is 10:5-7,13b-16; Ps 94:5-10, 14-15; Mt 11:25-27. Thu. July 16, Is 26:7-9,12,16-19; Ps 102:13-14b,15-21; Mt 11:28-30. Fri. July 17, Is 38:1-6,21-22,7-8; (Ps) Is 38:10-12,16; Mt 12:1-8.

Sat. July 18, Mi 2:1-5; Ps 10:1-4,7-8,14; Mt 12:14-21. Sun. July 19, Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Wis 12:13,16-19; Ps 86:5-6,9-10,15-16; Rom 8:2627; Mt 13:24-43 or 13:24-30. Mon. July 20, Mi 6:1-4,6-8; Ps 50:5-6,8-9,16bc17,21,23; Mt 12:38-42. Tue. July 21, Mi 7:14-15,18-20; Ps 85:2-8; Mt 12:46-50.

Wed. July 22, Sg 3:1-4a or 2 Cor 5:14-17; Ps 63:2-6,8-9; Jn 20:1-2,11-18. Thu. July 23, Jer 2:1-3,7-8, 12-13; Ps 36:6-7b,8-11; Mt 13:10-17. Fri. July 24, Jer 3:1417; (Ps) Jer 31:10-13; Mt 13:18-23.

By Dave Jolivet

East Taunton Virtual Bible School proves sometimes the world can be ‘Flat’ and fun

Print Editor

davejolivet@anchornews.org

EAST TAUNTON — Not normal is the new normal in 2020, so when modern technology changes faster than the New England weather, it’s not normal (or the new normal) to revert back to prior techniques. Up until this year, movie theaters and some televisions evolved from simple one-dimensional imaging to three and even four (3D and 4D) dimensional graphics and films.

But a group of folks from Holy Family Parish in East Taunton have embraced the new normals, combining modern technology with a simple one-dimensional theory.

Why? For the parish’s annual Vacation Bible School, of course.

The result is a fun-filled journey following pastor Father Richard D. Wilson and diocesan seminarian Matt Laird, currently in residence at the parish. But the journey has a twist.

Newly-acquired parish co-director of Faith Formation, Shannon Doel, was faced with running an active, vibrant program in a time when students couldn’t even gather together for classes or events like summer Vacation Bible School.

“We usually have a week of Vacation Bible School and we know that wasn’t going to happen this summer,” Doel told The Anchor. Doel got together with parish secretary, Tracey Desmarais and

parish sacristan and rectory assistant, Sarah Parker to concoct a plan to keep the parish youth and adults connected despite strict social gathering limitations.

“Sarah, Tracey and I were talking about how we should do some fun summer activities to keep the parish connected,” said Doel. “The three of us began brainstorming ideas one day when the book, ‘Flat Stanley’ by Jeff Brown

were on board first.” They were and thus was born “Flat Matt” and “Plano Padre Ricardo” (Spanish for Flat Father Rich).

“Father Rich and Matt were really great sports about it,” Doel told The Anchor. “I asked Father Rich first and he said yes immediately. He even had his own ‘Flat Stanley’ experience. He brought one to Italy some years ago for a project his mother was

having a bit of fun and still learning our faith. We even have a ‘Map Room’ on the Holy Family, East Taunton: Virtual Bible School ‘VBS’ 2020 Facebook page to keep track of their travels.

Each week we are going to update the families of their travels and where they have been and how many miles they’ve logged.”

Meant to be a fun way for the Holy Family youngsters to learn and stay

Flat Matt and Plano Padre Ricardo have had quite a summer so far entertaining and educating students and parents alike at the Virtual Bible School at Holy Family Parish in East Taunton. (Photos from Holy Family VBS Facebook page) popped into my head. It’s about a boy named Stanley Lambchop who becomes flat and ends up going on all of these adventures. In many elementary schools, a project evolved from that book where people make their own ‘Flat Stanley’ and take pictures of themselves with him when they travel.

The three of us thought it would be a fun idea but we knew we’d need to ask Matt and Father Rich if they

doing and told me about all the fun he had with it.

Matt didn’t hesitate either; he even provided me with the two pictures. They were then printed, labeled, laminated and ready for distribution! We had some very kind parishioners, Merle Coughlin and Peggy O’Neill, volunteer to cut them out for us which was a huge help.

“The premise is to keep the parish connected while

connected, the “Flat” duo quickly became a parish hit. “I am very happy with how well it’s been received,” said Doel. “We began with the idea that it would be for the families with young children in the parish, but as soon as I posted the activity on Facebook, many adults were asking if they could take part too.”

"It appears that just as many adults are excited

about participating in the activities for Virtual Bible School as children this summer,‘ added Desmarais. “We've seen Flat Matt and Plano Padre Ricardo appearing at a number of great places so far! They've gone kayaking, visited lighthouses on the Cape, and Plano Padre Ricardo almost had his head bitten off by an intimidating-looking feline! The feedback has been nothing but positive from our parishioners.”

“I think that it’s great that something that started out originally as a fun kids activity, has really grown to a parish-wide activity that everyone is having fun with,” Parker told The Anchor “It’s something like this that is allowing parishioners to have a little fun with their parish family during this stressful time — while still social distancing!”

The hope for a learning tool for the students was also a success. “Our Vacation Bible School coordinator, Laure Lynch and I sat down last week to discuss some ideas for the summer,” Doel said. “She coined the term ‘Virtual Bible School’ which we both liked because we could still call it VBS. Some other ideas in the works are to use Flat Matt and Plano Padre Ricardo to ask trivia questions about various parts in the Church or what certain Sacramentals and Sacred items are, such as Rosary beads, the Tabernacle and Monstrance. There’s going 8 Turn to page 15

July 10, 2020 †

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Appeal assists ‘future of the Church’ continued from page one

Peter Scheffer (since his interview, Scheffer has been ordained to the transitional diaconate). While each shared a different set of experiences and perspectives that led to their discernment, they are united in a common bond of faith and service. The following excerpts were taken from each conversation.

John Garabedian, Immaculate Conception Seminary, South Orange, N.J. (St. Mary’s Parish, Mansfield): “I felt the Lord calling me to be a priest, to be open to the priesthood.

When I first got this call, it wasn’t what I planned.

But looking back over my life, I can see the Lord

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leading me each step of the way and preparing my heart so when I did finally surrender my will and asked Him what my vocation was, I had a lot of peace and clarity and a sense of freedom accepting the wonderful journey to the priesthood.”

“The future of the Church is the youth. My goal as a future priest would be to work with them, to listen to them.

And help lead them into a genuine relationship with Christ and help them notice and appreciate the Lord working in their own lives. I think continuing to develop youth programs will give kids the opportunity to grow, come together as one, and

† July 10, 2020

have genuine community, genuine friendships. That will hopefully prepare them and equip them for a life of service. A life of faith. And a life of joy.”

“I’ve been very blessed to be able to play baseball while at Bridgewater State University. I feel like those experiences — having to juggle academics, work, practice, and a vigorous schedule — has prepared me to reach out to others, like you would reach out to a teammate who maybe is struggling. (In a similar way) a priest reaches out to the lost sheep in his community.”

Gregory Quenneville, St. John's Seminary, Brighton, (St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish, South Attleboro): “The aspect of the priesthood I’m most looking forward to is the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The Mass is a timeless reality, where the passion of Christ is represented and infinite grace is brought into the world. I can’t imagine ever doing anything higher in

life.”

“Looking back, there’s a lot of people who have influenced my vocation in many ways. The one person that really stands out was my grandmother.

She was a woman of extraordinary faith and extraordinary virtue. Her Catholic faith was deeply important to her. She was also a woman of extraordinary sacrifice, living through the Great Depression, World War II, and having six children. All you had to do was walk into her house and you could see that faith was central to who she was: she had religious icons on just about every wall, a crucifix, Rosary beads.

And there was also a kind of peaceful serenity that was so central to who she was. She was definitely someone who had a deep impact on my life as a child. And also perhaps planted the seeds for a vocation to the priesthood later on.”

“I was a psychotherapist before coming to seminary. I worked with

combat veterans doing group and individual counseling for men and women returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan, and also with Vietnam veterans. And I don’t think I realized it at the time, but just like many things in life, you can kind of look back and learn that those experiences did play a role in who I am today. When you’re working in the field of mental health, you encounter human suffering in a way that you may not be able to in any other professional discipline.

I think that naturally oriented me to the importance of God, the way He works in people’s lives in a particular way.”

Deacon Peter Scheffer, Pope St. John XXIII Seminary, Weston, (St. Pius X Parish, South Yarmouth): “The program for priestly formation is more than just academic education. It’s more than the study of theology. There’s really four pillars. Obvi8 Continued on page nine

8 Continued from page eight

ously we spend most of our time in the classroom studying theology, Liturgy, those sorts of things.

But there’s other dimensions as well. There’s pastoral formation. There’s Spiritual formation. And there’s also human formation. Now being an older man, some could say, we’re already formed. But when you’re drawn into Jesus, you realize there’s more. And it’s a deeper development. It’s a deeper formation. The courses that I enjoy the most are

Diocesan Seminarian Deacon Peter Scheffer the courses about what takes place in a Catholic Liturgy. I always ask myself, ‘How did I miss that?’ It’s fascinating what Christ passed on to us to be able to do in His Church.

“I believe that the best seminary I ever attended was my home, growing up. Even today with my parents and my sisters, whenever we get together, the first question from my parents is: ‘What time is Mass? When are we going?’ I don’t think anybody could ever ask

for a greater foundation in terms of what’s at the center of it all and what it’s really all about. And I owe that to my mom and dad. I’m very grateful for that.”

“To the people who give to the Catholic Appeal, particularly for vocations, I would say thanks in many ways. First, thanks for your contribution of the treasure that you give. Thanks for the prayers. I have seen the most selfless people praying for us. People I don’t even know. We’ve often heard the expression, ‘I’ll put in a good word for you.’ These are people who are putting in a good word for us with God. And sometimes when you let that resonate and you let it set in, it’s really the most powerful thing.”

On June 13, Scheffer was ordained to the transitional diaconate and Deacon Steven Booth was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Fall River.

The first reading at the Mass, from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah, symbolized the profound importance of a vocation to the priesthood: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you; a prophet to the nations I appoint you.”

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., who was celebrant at the ordination Mass, spoke directly to Father Booth and Deacon Scheffer throughout his sermon about the gifts of lifelong prayer and service. “We are not priests for what we can

get, but for what we can give,” he said. “God is the only treasure people desire from us as priests, and we can’t give Him

Diocesan Seminarian John Garabedian

unless we have Him with us always.”

Your gift to the Catholic Appeal helps ensure all our seminarians receive the foundation they need to realize their calling and do God’s work in our parishes, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, missions and other diocesan offices and special ministries.

A webpage featuring a video with Garabedian, Quenneville, and Scheffer can be viewed on the Appeal website: catholicfoundationsema. org/seminarians.

Contributions to the Catholic Appeal may be made either through a one-time donation or through monthly, quarterly, or semi-annual pledges.

Donations may be mailed directly to the Catholic Foundation office, 450 Highland Ave., Fall River, Mass., 02720, made online at www. givefrdiocese.org/2020, or dropped off at any parish in the diocese.

Please contact the Catholic Foundation office at 508-675-1311 with any questions.

July 10, 2020 †

9

I

t was about 10 p.m. and was time for me to hit the hay. So I did my usual check of the kitchen to make sure that I had not left any stove top burner switched on and then retired to my bedroom. As I reached for my toothbrush, I noticed this huge cockroach at the bottom of the sink. Cockroaches seem to multiply in the dry season. When I turned on the water it tried to climb out of the basin but was unable to do so. Then suddenly it sprouted wings, like one of those hybrid plane cars and flew onto the nearby window drapes. Having no energy to pursue it further, I brushed my teeth and then collapsed

Invasion of the cockroaches

into bed, trusting that I would not be awakened in the course of the night by something nibbling at my toes or some other part of my anatomy.

It would seem that roaches are part and parcel of households in tropical climates.

They were my companions during my time on Harbour Island in the Bahamas.

However, I had never before encountered a flying cockroach. Now one can react to roaches in several ways. One can choose to ignore them. One can set traps. I’ve done that with limited success. One can crunch them underfoot.

Yuck! I am against the death penalty. So, when I switch on the light in the kitchen and find them on

the floor, I grab the broom and swiftly sweep them outside.

On a more serious note, though I would not refer to any human being as a cockroach, since we are all children of God, I would suggest that those rioters and looters who have been destroying our

cities as well as the businesses of hard-working people have been operating like cockroaches. They come out at night and slink away in daylight. They have hijacked the legitimate protest marches and seriously damaged the purpose of peaceful marches. These should now be given the freedom to take up residence in the desert and create their desired Autonomous Zone. They will have quail to feast on in the evenings and manna in the mornings and their leader can strike the rock for water.

While we must all call out against racism regard-

less of the color of our skin, we must first make this a priority in our own lives. It is not OK to call someone a racist when the truth is that we ourselves harbor racism.

Finally, I am not surprised that many in authority, be they church or state figures, have not called out those seeking to ruin our cities and nation just because they want to be politically correct. As a naturalized citizen of the USA, I am ashamed of them. We would not allow this to happen in the City Of The Tribes.

Aloha.

Anchor columnist Father Killilea is pastor of St. Francis Church in Kalaupapa, Hawaii.

On a small skiff piloted by Harbormaster Don German, Father Hugh J. McCullough, pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Provincetown and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Wellfleet blessed the fleet in Provincetown on June 28. (Photos

by Deacon Alan Thadau)

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†July 10, 2020

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

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 M. Quinn, C.S.C., 2007 July 19 Most Rev. Daniel F. Feehan, D.D., Second Bishop of Fall River, 1907-34, 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 Rev. Roger J. Levesque, Retired, Founding Pastor, St. , 2018 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 Rev. Luciano J. Pereira, Retired Pastor, St. John the Baptist, New Bedford; St. Michael, Fall River, 2019 July 26 Rev. Msgr. Alfred J.E. Bonneau, P.R. Retired Pastor, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Fall River, 1974 July 27 Rev. Damien Veary, SS.CC., Former Pastor, St. Anthony, Mattapoisett, 1981 Permanent Deacon James J. Meloni Jr., 2011 Rev. Eugene V. LaPlante, A.A., Retired, Superior Assumptionist Residence, Worcester, 2019 July 29 Rev. Mathias McCabe, Retired Pastor, Sacred Heart, Fall River, 1913 Rev. Charles P. Trainor, S.S., St. Edward Seminary, Seattle, Washington, 1947 July 30 Rev. Francis Kiernan, Pastor Sandwich, New Bedford, Wareham, 1838

W

What shall we cancel?

e are witnessing a sweeping effort to purge the public square of all vestiges of persons — past and present — whose actions reveal “unpardonable” human defects.

Unfortunately, these civic “gods” are equipped with myopic, one-dimensional lenses, and audaciously judge the transgressors as God judged the angels — first by considering their actions apart from the phenomena of time and space, and secondly by insisting on immediate and perpetual consequences.

Although God was entirely just in His action because of the superior intellect of the angels and His own perfect knowledge, He has never treated human beings in such a manner, for many reasons.

Humans are profoundly complex, and a society made up of complex individuals is only more so. Given what separates us from the angels — that our limited intellects cannot always grasp the nature of our actions, and that we are affected by the consideration of time and physicality — God has shown tremendous patience in our pilgrimage towards eternity. Even as our physical nature often causes selfish fears to drive our actions, thankfully time allows for reflection and repentance. With God’s grace, all these defects can be healed and redirected over the course of our sojourn on earth.

While reserving all

comment on the actions of the civic judges at work across the country, it would be helpful to revisit the Catholic view of perfection, which acknowledges that despite our proclivity to sin true freedom is oriented to choosing the good at every turn. Every single choice we make — whether it is the best choice among all others, a mediocre choice compromised by self-interest, or a poor choice that reeks of evil — is followed by

but that’s not for the lack of opportunity to serve God. Bringing heartfelt contrition to the Sacrament of Confession is what undergirds our Church’s “cancel culture.” As the psalmist explains: “For as the Heavens tower over the earth, so His mercy towers over those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our sins from us” (Ps 103:11-12) — and King David should know, for he needed to repeatedly avail himself of that mercy! As sin is blotted out through the priest’s words of absolution, grace is offered to help in the subsequent choices, allowing us to embrace God’s most holy will. In this an opportunity to choose arduous, often circuitous again. That is the extraorjourney, every single one of dinary opportunity that us will be given additional time allows: a person can choices until our dying always repent and redirect breath. his steps when necessary.

We must consider Granted some choices put current events in light of us in terribly difficult plac- this reality. The lens must es, but there lies before us be broadened to include a perpetual crossroads of how time in particular afsorts, an ever new chance fects everyone, and which to choose the best option choices enhance our ability available. to love God and neighbor Church history regiven the options available. sounds with examples Admittedly this approach of those whose previous elicits challenging queschoices left them at just tions with complex ansuch a crossroads. The swers, related to man as a Apostle Peter, Augustine complex being destined for of Hippo, Mary of Egypt, freely choosing God each Thomas Becket, Ignatius day, but canceling that of Loyola, and Charles de difficult discussion benefits Foucould are just a handno one. ful of the many saints who Anchor columnist repented of poor choices Genevieve Kineke is the and henceforth dedicated author of “The Authentic themselves to heroic virtue. Catholic Woman.” She Our lives, no doubt, might blogs at feminine-genius. seem pale in comparison, typepad.com.

July 10, 2020 †

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F ocus on C hurch Y outh Finding God’s mission for our lives

o say the least, the times we live in can be anxiety inducing and unsettling.

A global pandemic, racism, violence, civil unrest, social isolation and economic hardship can challenge even the most hopeful among us.

Perhaps the best way to face adversity is to find God’s mission for our lives. The words of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew we heard recently at Mass helps us to find our way forward: “I give praise to You, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, for although You have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones” (Mt 11).

In whom can we find God’s ways? In whom can we realize our life’s mission? Here Jesus tells us that we will find God

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and his ways among the “little ones” of the world. The “little ones” today include the elderly, children, the homeless, disabled persons, immigrants, low income persons, the friendless and victims of racism. Those who are weak and vulnerable somehow reveal the Father’s truth, love and goodness in special, varied and mysterious ways. We are called to serve and advocate for justice on behalf of these “little ones.” Jesus calls us to enter into relationship with people on the margins, or “peripheries” (as Pope Francis likes to say), and make them central to our life’s mission.

If we truly follow the words of Jesus to find God’s ways among

† July 10, 2020

His “little ones”, we will come to know God’s mission for our lives.

What better way out of the current morass than to lead a mission-drive life? To be sure, our personal mission is rooted in the mission of the Church to spread

the Gospel, make disciples and be the Body of Christ in the world. And yet, each of us is called to live this mission in our own unique way. It is in finding God’s mission for us that we will be able to face adversity with hopeful confidence and serenity.

St. Peter and St. Paul, whose feast we recently celebrated, knew this serenity in the midst of tumultuous times.

They both knew the cost that their missions would bring to them,

and yet they continued to move forward. They proclaimed a teaching that originated on the margins of the Roman Empire, and in the eyes of the world, had little chance for success.

And yet they persisted because they were rooted in a simple trust in Jesus and the truth of His words: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy, and My burden light” (Mt. 11).

I have always felt that this was one of the most important passages in the Gospels, but do I believe in the words of Jesus as Peter and Paul did? Today is a time of great unrest and upheaval, and yet Jesus is always there to console us. His “easy yoke” is not a respite from our mission,

but rather a refocusing on what and who is most essential. If we trust Him then we know that there is no weight that He will not carry for us, no burden that He will allow to crush us. Are there times when God’s mission for our life seems impossible? For God, of course, nothing is impossible.

Have we given Jesus our burdens, allowing us to move forward confidently in our mission?

Is our mission oriented toward the “little ones” who reveal the Father’s love, truth and goodness in a special and unique way? These are important questions to face.

This can lead to unsettling conclusions, but it will also be that which brings us peace.

Anchor columnist Peter Shaughnessy is president/principal of Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth. He resides in Fairhaven with his wife, Anabela Vasconcelos Shaughnessy (Class of ’94), and their four children: Luke (Class of ’24), Emilia (Class of ’25), Dominic (Class of ’27) and Clare (Class of ’30).

I

Everything’s under control — but us

t's estimated, by humankind's limited capabilities, that there are more than one billion galaxies that make up our universe.

We inhabit one of those, the Milky Way. Inside the Milky Way is our Solar System. I'm not sure how many of you have ever contemplated

our Solar System, but it's mind-blowing to say the very least.

At the center of the Solar System is a massive star called the Sun; a star relatively small compared to others in the universe.

Orbiting around the sun are nine planets (yes, I believe Pluto is a planet). They are Earth, Mars,

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on the Portuguese Channel Sunday, July 12 at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in New Bedford

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on the Portuguese Channel Sunday, July 19 at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from St. Anthony of Padua Church in Fall River

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, July 12 at 11:00 a.m.

Uranus, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and my friend Pluto.

As these orbs circle the sun, each at its own pace, they are also rotating, again, each at its own pace.

That's similar to us patting our head and rubbing our tummy at the same time.

Earth rotates at more than 1,000 miles per hour, which means we are moving at incredible speeds every second of our lives and we don't even feel it. It takes slightly less that 24 hours for a complete rotation.

It takes Earth 365.256 days to make the 584 million-mile journey around the center of our physical existence, the Sun, which is 92,955,828 miles away, and burns at a slick 10,000 to 27 million degrees, depending on where in the star the temperature is taken.

Alright, enough statistics.

If that's not enough to boggle your brain, nothing is.

So to recap, the earth rotates and spins at incredible speeds at all times, yet we have an invisible shield that prevents us from being

whirled into space — gravity.

Also, Earth has just the right amount of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon and other elements to maintain life, along with the ever-important water.

That big old star keeps us at the right temperature (except in July and August when it gets a little spunky).

All of this happens every second of every day of every year of every decade of every century of every millennium. It has for thousands or millions of years, depending on your scientific philosophies.

My point in all of this is that God has all of this under control.

There is not a blessed thing we, being as smart as we think we are, can do to change the universe. We, as smart as we think we are, can only foul up our own

small worlds, be they social, economic, racial, religious, or ecological. And we're good at it.

God is doing His part every day. One small change in an orbit or rotation or temperature can put an end to us in a millisecond.

So, despite 2020 and its plethora of problems, everything is under control — except us.

Maybe 2020 (or 2020-and-a-half as I like to call it now) will humble us, teach us, correct us, and change us.

There are comics out there that show aliens in their space craft hoping to pay Earth a visit. They take one look at what's happening down here, and just keep going, looking for another vacation spot.

God continues to do His part — it's up to us to do ours.

Let's take care of each other, this planet, and ourselves. I really don't want the Earth to stop suddenly one day and hurl me into outer space. I'm afraid of heights! davejolivet@anchornews.org

Celebrant is Father Maurice O. Gauvin, Pastor of Espirito Santo and St. Anthony of Padua parishes in Fall River.

Sunday, July 19 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Father Daniel M. Nunes, Parochial Vicar at Holy Name Parish in Fall River.

July 10, 2020 †

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Mary, Mother of the Church and mother of mercy for sinners

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e know that we can go to our Blessed Mother for our temporal needs. Remember how Mary interceded for the couple at the wedding feast of Cana when she told Jesus, “They have no wine.” But have we ever thought that we can go to Mary for our Spiritual needs, especially when we become conscious of sin in our own lives? Consider how Mary as Mother of the Church is especially entrusted to care for each soul in the mystical Body of Christ. We know this by the prayer of the “Hail Mary” when we ask Mary, who is full of grace, Immaculate and without sin, to “pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.” It was to redeem us from our sins that the Father sent His Son Jesus in His Incarnation to be born of Mary, Whom she nurtured and reared so as to offer herself in union with Him on the cross to deliver us, God’s children, from our sins. If we have not had recourse to Mary before going to the Sacrament of Confession we can now meditate on how turning to the Mother of Mercy can help us approach the Confessional with greater openness of heart to know our sins and to confess them humbly so as to accept God’s mercy with greater gratitude and efficacy.

The "Catechism of the Catholic Church" mentions two conversions. The first is “faith in the Gospel and

by Baptism one renounces evil and gains Salvation, that is, the forgiveness of all sins and the gift of new life.”

The second conversion is an uninterrupted task for the whole Church who, “clasping sinners to her bosom, [is] at once holy and always in need of purification, [and] follows constantly the path of penance and renewal.” This conversion is “the 14

movement of a “contrite heart,” drawn and moved by grace to respond to the merciful love of God Who loved us first” (CCC 1428).

Conversion is a work of grace in which God turns our hearts towards Him by interior repentance which is a conversion of our whole heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed” (CCC 1431).

This interior conversion gives us the strength to get up and return to the Father’s house, as the prodigal son.

One must not fail to consider how Mary physically and Spiritually accompanied Jesus along His missionary work with His disciples. Mary was continually Spiritually united to her Son in His redemptive mission. Her prayers united to Christ’s Salvific words and actions brought the grace of conversion to many sinners who were willing to believe in God’s mercy. Consider Mary Magdalene who obtained the grace of tears of repentance and poured the ointment upon Jesus’ feet. Our Lord gave her the highest commendation, “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven — for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with Him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you: go in peace” (Lk 7:47-50). As we know, Mary Magdalene followed Jesus and Mary with continual repentance and conversion of heart.

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She even had the courage and love to be present at the foot of the cross with Mary and St. John while the other Apostles were absent. “The human heart is converted by looking upon Him Whom our sins have pierced” (CCC 1432). In these days when we find it is difficult to do Spiritual reading, we should

remember that for many saints lovingly gazing and meditating on the Passion of Our Lord with the crucifix became a source of grace and repentance. We should always view our sins in the light of God’s personal love for us by sending His only Begotten Son through the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Who laid down His life for us and loved us while we were still sinners. “The Father gives us Mary through His Son. He gives her to us at the cross so that, in and through her, we might receive all the mercy that is in her with a note of motherly superabundance, and motherly sweetness. This primary and radical mercy places Mary in a unique situation.

She is truly the Father’s little girl, essentially, initially, and entirely ordered to the Father, He “Who reflects the splendor of her source, of her origin. Mary is given to us so that she herself might take us in a radical fashion, so that she might bring about in us the same purification, so that little by little, all the traits of our soul and of our body might become a reflection of the Father’s mercy.” For this we

must look upon Jesus crucified with the sorrowful and immaculate Heart of Mary.

She is the Refuge of Sinners and the Mother of Mercy, a title recently added by Pope Francis to the Litany of Loreto. In reference to Mary as Mother of Mercy, Pope Francis stated, “The mother of forgiveness teaches the Church that the forgiveness granted on Golgotha knows no limits.

Neither the law with its quibbles, nor the wisdom of this world with its distinctions, can hold it back.

The Church’s forgiveness must be every bit as broad as that offered by Jesus on the cross and by Mary at His feet.

There is no other way.”

The pope’s word’s echo the words Our Lord gave to St. Faustina about the Sacrament of Reconciliation: “Write, speak of My mercy. Tell souls where they are to look for solace, that is, in the Tribunal of Mercy [the Sacrament of Reconciliation]. There the greatest miracles take place [and] are incessantly repeated. To avail oneself of this miracle, it is not necessary to go on a great pilgrimage, or to carry out some external ceremony; it suffices to come with faith to the feet of My representative and to reveal to Him one's misery, and the miracle of Divine Mercy will be fully demonstrated.

Were souls like a decaying corpse so that from a human standpoint there would be no [hope of] restoration and everything would already be lost, it is not so with God. The miracle of Divine Mercy restores that soul in full” (Diary #1448).

Confession is also dependent upon the priest through whom the Sacra-

ment is made available and absolution or forgiveness of sins is granted in persona Christi. How important it is for the Church to make this Sacrament abundantly available not just restricted to certain appointment hours. Wherever the priest is, there is Christ, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation should be available upon request, especially to the sick or dying. Optimally the Sacrament which is necessary for the forgiveness of mortal sins should be made available prior to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It is to this Sacrament of Reconciliation that all are welcome to partake and only once forgiven of grave sin and washed in the Blood of the Lamb, clothed in grace and mercy, is the Christian welcome once again to partake of Holy Communion at the Banquet of the Lamb, the Holy Mass. So let us without hesitation do as Pope Francis exhorts us, that is to take our Mother of Mercy by the hand and allow her to lead us to the door of mercy, which is Confession: “Let us allow her to lead us to the rediscovery of the beauty of an encounter with her Son Jesus. Let us open wide the doors of our heart to the joy of forgiveness, conscious that we have been given new confidence and hope, and thus make our daily lives a humble instrument of God’s love.”

Anchor guest columnist Grace Small and her husband Bill are parishioners of St. Vincent’s Parish in Attleboro and have recently made their solemn profession as Third Order Franciscans of the Immaculate on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. They are also attending classes with TINE at the Pastoral Center in Braintree, toward a certificate in Catechetical Studies.

East Taunton parish holds Virtual Bible School continued from page seven

to be a book club. We’ll be reading the book, ‘The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane’ by Kate DiCamillo. We’ll be reading the book, but also connecting different Bible stories to certain parts in the book. There’s going to be a Family Trivia night on July 16 hosted by Deacon Kevin and his wife Allison (Gingras). We’re planning a scavenger hunt and a family movie night as well.”

“Everyone is most welcome to take part,” Desmarais told The Anchor. “There are more exciting activities planned for the summer so that our parish community can continue to be involved, even if it has to be virtually, rather than in person.”

Stepping into the new roles as directors of Faith Formation can be a daunting task, even in normal times, but during these not normal times, Doel and co-director Steve Woolson have, like Christ’s early disciples, put their faith in God, enlisted good people to assist and boldly charted new, fun and exciting courses for students who are trying to deal with the new normal in their own way.

“Holy Family is such a great parish community and I am so thankful that we were able to come up with some fun ideas,” Doel told The Anchor. “We are blessed to have such involved parishioners that have stepped up and volun-

teered their time to make these activities happen. It’s definitely strange not to have a group of kids to have fun with in person this summer, but the silver lining is that parents and adults who don’t have young children are getting involved. In a traditional VBS setting they obviously wouldn’t be there so that’s a win for everyone!

As far as our Religious Education program, we are still in the process of wrapping up last year by holding our First Communion Masses. We are having six Masses to accommodate for the small group size (Holy Family can only safely fit 40 people at a time). We are still working on a date for Confirmation.

“Our families have been so wonderful and patient through this. Steve Woolson and I have stayed connected with the families by staying in touch via email with updates and providing resources.

We are currently looking at possible scenarios for what the program will look like in the fall. There are about three possibilities and we will be working this summer to plan and prepare for whatever decision is made.”

‘Fluttering’ raising funds, awareness continued from page two

and their families and to support the insight and tools they need to build healthy relationships.

“I want to raise awareness and let our entire community know all of the good work happening at Saint Vincent’s,” Reis said. “We are no longer just the orphanage on the hill, in fact we are anything but an orphanage. We still have residential programs and group homes throughout the Southcoast, but we also have the Mental Health Clinic which serves more than 1,000 families each year. Our clinicians are working in schools, visiting families in their homes and providing the best possible care for those in need.”

Reis said the colorful butterfly also represents something positive during these “dark times.”

“The butterfly in the Saint Vincent’s logo represents one of nature’s most well-known transformations,” she said. “We want to highlight that transformation is possible and allow our butterflies to ‘flutter’ the Southcoast with a message of positive transformation.”

People are encouraged to participate in the “Fluttered for Saint

Vincent’s” campaign by simply visiting the organization’s website at www.SaintVincentsServices.org and make a donation to “flutter” a family, friend or local business.

Once the donation is received, the “butterfly crew” will decorate the lawn of those who have been nominated.

“The response has been awesome,” Reis said. “We currently have more than 300 butterflies out and about. Some have been shocked, some have asked to keep the butterflies, and everyone has had a positive reaction. We are asking for individuals to nominate their family, friends, co-workers, and local businesses. For a small donation, our volunteers will flutter the front yards of those who are nominated.

“We then ask those who have been fluttered to visit our website and nominate someone else. After a week, the butterflies will magically disappear and reappear at the next nominee’s house.”

For more information about Saint Vincent’s Services and its “fluttered” campaign, you can contact Jenny Mello Reis at 508235-3228 or via email at jreis@ SaintVincentsServices.org.

Flat Matt and Plano Padro Ricardo fully immersed in a game of lawn jarts. Luckily, the game has changed over the years!

July 10, 2020 †

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SOMERSET — Deacon Edward J. Hussey, 72, of Somerset passed away on June 30 surrounded by his loving family at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. He was the devoted husband of 49 years to Dorothy A. (Lubas) Hussey. They met at 19 years old at a college mixer at Roseland Ballroom in Taunton. Ed was born in Providence, the son of the late James and Evelyn (Engstrom) Hussey.

After graduating in 1965 from Mount Pleasant High School, Deacon Hussey served his country by joining the R.I. National Guard, completing his basic training in Fort Knox, Ky. Ed worked as an operations manager for American Tourister in Warren, Sippican in Marion and for 15 years at Nordson EFD in East Providence, retiring in 2015.

While working, Deacon Hussey continued his education, earning his bachelor's and master’s degrees

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Deacon Edward J. Hussey

at Johnson and Wales University.

He returned to Johnson and Wales in 2003 as an adjunct professor and taught for 12 years.

Wanting to serve the Catholic Church and its people, he was ordained a permanent deacon in 1997 by then-Bishop Sean P. O’Malley, OFM, Cap. into the Diocese of Fall River.

In addition to serving as a deacon at St. Patrick’s Church in Somerset, he was also a 4th degree Knight of Columbus. He would regularly visit and volunteer at the former Rose Hawthorne Cancer Home in Fall River and the Ash Street jail in New Bedford.

Survivors besides his wife are his two, beloved sons: Eric J. Hussey and his wife Prudence of

Rehoboth; Aaron P. Hussey and his wife Lauren of Ashland; four grandchildren: Skyler, Amelia, William and Kira and a niece and nephew, Ellen and Daniel McSoley.

Deacon Hussey was the brother of the late Evelyn McSoley.

Deacon Hussey had a delightful personality; he was warm, generous, kindhearted and friendly. He made everyone feel instantly loved, valued and at ease. Ed enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandkids, going on vacations and playing with his toys, a Harley Davidson Road King and a ’76 Corvette.

Many a fond evening were passed with his friends, smoking cigars, drinking Irish whiskey and talking

about everything. Ever the poet and comedian, Ed gifted heartfelt and funny limericks to his friends and family on their birthdays.

He always had the perfect joke for every situation. His cherished cats, Madison, Ralphie, Garfield, Smokey and Midnight will miss the never ending supply of treats.

He lived a full and happy life with no regrets. He said, “The best life ever.”

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on July 7 at St. Thomas More Church in Somerset. Burial followed at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Somerset.

Arrangements were entrusted to the care of the Hathaway Community Home for Funerals.

Donations can be made in Deacon Hussey’s memory to the Citizens for s Food Pantry. 264 Griffin Street, Fall River, Mass., 02724 (www.cfcinc.org).