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Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

F riday , August 21, 2015

Bishop da Cunha appoints Deacon Joseph Regali director of diocesan Office for Pastoral Planning

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff kensouza @ anchornews . org

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., was one of several guest speakers at the recent Pro-Life Boot Camp held at Stonehill College in Easton. Below, he shares down time with some of the campers. (Photos courtesy of the diocesan Pro-life Apostolate)

Learning to give culture of death the boot

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff beckyaubut@anchornews.org

EASTON — The Diocese of Fall River Pro-Life Apostolate hosted its fifth annual Pro-Life Boot Camp at Stonehill College in Easton. More than 50 young people and adults participated in the weekend event that included a visit from Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V, listening to local and national speakers, and many activities that also saw the group bring prayer shawls to residents at two nursing homes in Attleboro.

“Fifty seems to be the magic number,” said Marian Desrosiers, director of the Pro-Life Apostolate.

“We have had a few more but we have found a strong community of faith forms amongst the youth.

They never want to leave and they want to gather during the year. If we were to expand the numbers Turn to page 14

NORTH ATTLEBORO — Deacon Joseph E. Regali has always sensed that God had a plan for him.

“I believe everything that’s happened in my life up to this point has been because that’s where God wanted me to be,” Deacon Regali said.

When he first moved to the diocese 19 years ago and bids on houses in Milford and Mendon fell through, those closed doors led him and his family to settling in Plainville and eventually finding a home at Sacred Heart Parish in North Attleboro.

When he read an article in The Anchor about

a group of men being ordained to the permanent diaconate in 1997, it solidified his vocation to the ministry and led to his own ordination 13 years ago.

So when he saw an advertisement recently in The Anchor seeking candidates for the position of diocesan Pastoral Planning Director, he didn’t hesitate to throw his hat into the ring.

“I had been looking on CatholicJobs. com, but I didn’t see it there — I saw it in The Anchor,” Deacon Regali said. “I sent in my resume and came for an interview, and I had a final interview with the bishop and here I am.”

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., appointed Turn to page 15

A reminder to new generations of sacrifices made for freedom Catholic chaplain aboard ‘Big Mamie’ was Spiritual and emotional anchor for crew

By Dave Jolivet Editor davejolivet@anchornews.org

anniversary at her home at Battleship Cove on the Fall River waterfront.

In June of 1965, the BB-59 battleome see her as an instrument ship, with a little help from a fleet of of war and killing; others as a tugboats, sailed north up the Taunton piece of ancient history; and River to her others, when new home in they gaze the shadows upon her, of the Braga remember Bridge; a the sacrifices bridge named of men and after Charles women who M. Braga, gave their all, a Fall River some their native killed lives, to proin the Japatect the Unitnese attack on ed States and the world as An instrumental vehicle in the South Pacific during World War II, the Pearl Harbor, a whole, from U.S.S. Massachusetts, found a permanent home on Fall River’s water- Hawaii, on front 50 years ago. This photo was taken on the morning of her 50th tyranny. anniversary of being commemorated as a WWII Memorial in the Com- Dec. 7, 1941, that spawned Last week- monwealth. (Photo by Dave Jolivet) America’s end, the involvement in the war in the Pacific U.S.S. Massachusetts, “Big Mamie” as Ocean, where BB-59 played such an she was known to those who walked Turn to page 18 her decks in the 1940s, celebrated an

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News From the Vatican

August 21, 2015

For Pope Francis, Mary’s greatness comes down to this one virtue

Vatican City (CNA/ EWTN News) — On the feast of the Assumption of Mary, Pope Francis said that faith is the defining virture of her greatness and that the mysterious way she was taken into Heaven is a foreshadowing of what awaits each of us.

“The Gospel also shows us the truest reason for Mary’s greatness and her blessedness: it is faith,” the pope told pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square marking the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary.

Faith, he said, “is the heart of Mary’s entire story; she knew — and she said it — that throughout history weighs the violence of the overbearing, the pride of the rich, the arrogance of the proud.”

Yet she still believed and proclaimed “that God does not leave His children alone, humble and poor, but sustains them with merciful care, casting down the mighty from their thrones, scattering the proud in the conceit of their hearts.”

Dogmatically defined in 1950, the assumption of the Virgin Mary’s body into Heaven is celebrated August 15 every year, and is one of the most important Marian feast days in the Catholic Church.

In his address, Pope Francis turned to the day’s Gospel reading from Luke, which recounts Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth shortly after conceiving Jesus through the Holy Spirit.

He recalled Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary: “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

“This is the faith of our mother, this is the faith of Mary!” he said.

Francis pointed to the famous canticle Mary uttered in response, called the “Magnif icat,” in which she praises God for the marvelous deeds He has done in her own life and throughout history.

In this prayer Mary expresses her joy, because she is fully aware of what all the great works in her life at that point mean, namely that through her the Lord will accomplish the Salvation her people have long been waiting for, the pope said.

The prayer also shows us the full meaning of Mary’s life, he added, explaining that

“if the mercy of the Lord is the engine of her story (then) she who bore the Lord of life (could not be touched by) the corruption of the tomb.”

Francis continued, saying that the message of Mary’s assumption isn’t limited to just her life, but serves as a reminder for each person of what is to come.

“The great things done in (Mary) by the Omnipotent One touch us deeply, they speak to us of our journey in life, they remind us of the end that awaits us: the house of the Father.”

Because of Mary’s assumption into Heaven, we see that life “is not a senseless wandering, but a pilgrimage which, with all of the sufferings and uncertainties, has a sure destination” where the Father awaits us with love, he said.

However, until that destination is reached, God has given His people a sign of consolation and hope for the journey, the pope said.

And that sign “has a face and a name: the luminous face of the Mother of God, the holy name of Mary, full of grace, blessed because she believed in the Word of the Lord.”

Each member of the Church is also destined to share in the glory of Mary, their mother, because we also believe in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and, through Baptism, have entered into the mystery of Salvation, Pope Francis said.

The pope concluded by asking for Mary’s intercession, so that “while winding our way on this earth, she turn her merciful eyes upon us.”

After leading pilgrims in the traditional Marian prayer, Pope Francis turned his thoughts to all those affected by the recent chemical explosions in Tianjin, China.

Tearing through an industrial area where toxic chemicals and gas had been stored, the August 12 explosions were large enough to be picked up by space satellites, and have so far left more than 100 dead and more than 700 injured, according to reports.

“I assure my prayers for those who have lost their lives, and for all those suffering from this disaster; may the Lord give relief to them and support those committed to alleviating their suffering.”

Pope Francis poses for a selfie with faithful at the Vatican. The Vatican’s U.N. representative said everyone wants a selfie with the pope. (CNS photo/Maurizio Brambatti, EPA)

Pope: Celebrations, including Mass, are essential for family life

Vatican City (CNA/ EWTN News) — Moments of rest and celebration were the focal point of Pope Francis’ recent general audience, during which he spoke out against a profitcentered mentality and encouraged families to live life at a more human pace.

“Celebration is a precious gift from God. It’s a precious gift God has made for the human family. Let’s not ruin it,” the pope said.

He spoke to pilgrims gathered in the Vatican’s Paul VI audience hall for his second general audience after taking a break for the month of July.

As part of his continued series of catecheses on the family, Francis announced he would shift focus to the different rhythms of family life, such as celebration, work and prayer.

Beginning with celebration, the pope noted that it is God’s own invention, as can be seen in the Biblical account of Creation when God Himself rested from His work on the seventh day.

God teaches us the importance “of dedicating time to contemplating and enjoying the fruits of our labors, not only in our employment or profession, but through every action by which we as men and women cooperate in God’s creative work,” he said.

Francis emphasized that to celebrate doesn’t mean “to escape or be overcome by laziness,” but rather involves returning our gaze to the fruits of our labor with gratitude and benevolence.

Celebration, he said, “is above

all a loving and grateful look at work well done,” and means taking time to pause and be with friends and loved ones. He added that celebration is a time to watch our children grow, to look at the home we have built, and think: “How beautiful!”

The pope observed that it is also possible to celebrate in times of difficulty, even if it means celebrating “with a lump in the throat.”

Pope Francis turned to the workplace, explaining that — without interrupting our work — celebrations can “infiltrate” the environment when we honor events such as a birthday, a Marriage, a new baby, a farewell or a welcome.

Such moments of familiarity put a brief stop to “the gear of the production machine: they do us good!” he said.

True moments of celebration make us take a break from the daily grind and remind us that we have been created in the image and likeness of God, Who is not a slave of work, but the Lord of work, the pope observed.

“We must never be slaves to work but rather its master,” he stressed, and lamented how millions of men, women and children are exploited and forced to work as slaves due to an obsession with economic profit.

This over-emphasis on gain and technical efficiency “attacks human rhythms of life and denies man the time for what’s really important,” he said, explaining that God wants to set us free from these vices.

“Life has human rhythms,” the pope added. “Let us banish

this idea of a celebration centered on consumption and on debauchery and let us regain its Sacred value, seeing it as a privileged time in which we can encounter God and others.”

Francis pointed to Sundays as a particularly important time for rest, because “in them we find God.” Going to Mass brings the grace of Jesus Christ to each of our celebrations, he said, since it is in the Eucharist that we encounter His presence, love and sacrifice. The Eucharistic celebration, he said, is Jesus’ way of being with us and forming us into a community.

“Everything is transfigured

by His grace: work, family, the joys and trials of each day, even our sufferings and death.”

Pope Francis cautioned that the ideologies of profit and consumption want to “eat up” the celebration, and turn it into another way to make and spend money.

“But is this why we work?

The greed of consuming, which leads to waste, it’s a bad virus which, among other things, in the end makes us more tired than before,” he said.

Francis concluded by praying that the family always be recognized as a privileged place where the gifts that come from our celebrations are understood, guided and sustained, particularly Sunday Mass.

“May the Lord allows us to live the time of rest, celebrations, the Sunday feast, with the eyes of faith, as a precious gift which illuminates family life,” he said.

August 21, 2015

The International Church

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U.N. development goals for ‘reproductive health’ likely to increase abortions worldwide

Washington D.C., (CNA/EWTN News) — The United Nations’ global development goals for the next 15 years still contain language that is all but certain to be used to increase access to abortion worldwide, say Pro-Life advocates.

“We are profoundly concerned,” Rep. Chris Smith (RN.J.) told CNA in an interview about the agenda. “This is being launched by the heads of state as a transformative document. And it’s supposed to be the agenda for the next 15 years, for the entire globe, including the United States. For the developing world and for the developed world.”

The Sustainable Development Goals are part of the United Nations’ comprehensive development plan for the next 15 years to fight poverty, end world hunger, fight human trafficking, and promote sustainable energy. They are a continuation of the original 15-year Millennium Development Goals set in 2000 to “reduce extreme poverty” worldwide.

The language for the goals was finalized August 2 in an outcome document and will be voted on this September at the U.N. General Assembly — right around the time of Pope Francis’ address to the assembly on September 25 in New York City.

The goals set a broad global development agenda, but are broken up into smaller targets to achieve this development. And it is here that the problematic language is hidden, Pro-Life advocates say, because while many of the outcome document’s goals are laudable — such as ending poverty and hunger — two specific targets could enable a massive expansion of abortion access worldwide. Target 3.7 lies under the overall goal “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.”

The target states, “By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes.”

Target 5.6 sits within the goal, “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.”

The target states, “Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences.”

Countries such as Liberia, progress of countries in achievThe language of the targets — “sexual and reproductive health- which recently experienced a ing these goals. This is where the care services” and “sexual and health care crisis with the spread big push for abortion could make reproductive health and repro- of Ebola, are very dependent on headway with donor countries tying aid to the progress that develductive rights” — has been com- foreign aid, Smith said.

“The funding is going to be oping countries have made with monly acknowledged in the past such a pressure, because these respect to the indicators. to include abortion access.

The World Health OrganizaMany U.N. agencies and are the countries that need the Western donor countries, includ- help to continue to reduce ma- tion will be “helping write these ing the U.S., interpret the lan- ternal mortality, child mortality,” indicators,” Smith said. They guage to include abortion access, explained Marie Smith, founder openly support increased access to a former diplomat at the U.N. and director of the Pro-Life out- abortion worldwide and are very and a participant in numerous reach group Parliamentary Net- much relied upon in developing countries, he added. negotiations involving sexual and work for Critical Issues.

Those countries objecting to The organization is not shy reproductive health language told the language — Malta and some about its support of abortion. In CNA. the executive summary And even though the two programs mentioned ro-abortion non-governmental or- of its report “Safe Aborin target 5.6 — the Beijing ganizations like the International tion: Technical and policy guidance for health sysPlatform for Action and the ICPD Programme of Planned Parenthood Federation have pushed tems,” it states that “to the full extent of the law, safe Action — limit the push for the language to remain in the goals. abortion services should for abortion access to rebe readily available and main within national laws and regulations, donors can still African countries, including Ni- affordable to all women.” geria — were ignored at the doc“This means services should wield their influence here.

The donors will tie devel- uments’ Open Working Group in be available at primary-care level, with referral systems in place for opment funding to conditions 2014.

“It all really finalized last July all required higher-level care,” the that largely Pro-Life developing countries must liberalize their [2014] with the Open Working report added.

“WHO has credentials, and abortion laws, the former diplo- Group,” Marie Smith said. “And after that time, Nigeria and a now they have integrated abormat explained.

Other politicians and dip- number of countries, even Malta, tion into their agenda,” Smith lomats have conceded that the were objecting to ‘reproductive said.

And other groups implement“sexual and reproductive health” rights.’ But the gavel was just language includes abortion access. brought down with more than 20 ing the goals have done so as well.

Back in 2001, at a prepara- countries still wanting to object “If you look at all the organizations and read their own webpagtory committee meeting for the and issue reservations.”

Those reservations did not stop es,” he said, “these are the terms drafting of the U.N. document “A World Fit for Children,” the head when the outcome document was that they use, and it has clear of Canada’s permanent mission to finalized and the language re- definition to them, and they will be part of the implementation the U.N. stated outright that the mained there, she added.

“This whole concept of the brigade.” “services” for “reproductive health sustainable development goals Pro-abortion non-governcare” included abortions.

And in 2009, former U.N. and targets really do not have uni- mental organizations like the InSecretary of State Hillary Clin- versal agreement. And the coun- ternational Planned Parenthood ton told Smith at a congressional tries’ reservations really are not Federation have pushed for the hearing that the United States’ accounted for in any way. So there language to remain in the goals, Marie Smith noted. definition of “reproductive health” still are broad differences.”

“I’ve been to these conferences In a statement on its website, does include abortion access.

The chief of staff for then-U.N. many times,” Smith said. “The IPPF said that the goals are “imsecretary general Kofi Annan told governments practically plead for portant because they will guide Smith in 2006 that the language changes in text, and the co-chair- national policy making and buddoes not include abortion, but men and their staff decide what’s get prioritization.”

They added that “we’ve been only “after a very, very long pause,” in and what is out. So there’s no democratic process whatsoever.” fighting for inclusion of universal the congressman recalled.

After the language for the goals access to sexual and reproductive And regardless of what Western diplomats have already said, is voted on in September at the health and rights in the SDGs. the biggest problem with the U.N. General Assembly, indica- Half of all the anti-poverty tartargets is the ambiguity of the tors will be crafted to measure the gets are focused on sexual and text, Smith pointed out. Wealthy donor countries can easily interpret “reproductive health-care services” to include abortion. And poorer countries rely heavily on their development funding.

“To most of the world, especially the developing world, the U.S. is like a life-or-death situation for them,” Smith said. “If they have refugees, they need refugee money. And to the developing world, the U.N. is almost like another government, if not a major government, for them.”

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reproductive health and rights which proves that these rights are critical to global development.”

“There is a will not to unravel the package of goals and targets, and upset the political balance, which is good news as there is a target for sexual and reproductive health under the health goal and reproductive rights under the gender goal,” the organization continued.

The Vatican has responded to the development goals with seemingly mixed messages.

On June 22, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the U.N., Archbishop Bernardito Auza, supported the “verbatim inclusion of the Sustainable Development Goals and targets.”

Yet he added that “We would oppose the imposition of targets and indicators on countries and peoples whose laws and values are contrary to them” — the imposition of targets increasing abortion access in countries with Pro-Life laws, for example.

“With this in mind, we would need to address how reservations of delegations contained within the Report of the OWG will be reflected in the Outcome document,” he added. This statement was made well before the final document was finished August 2.

However, the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations criticized the goals for pushing access to abortion.

Archbishop Silvano Tomasi said the U.N. is acting as if “with abortion, that is, with ‘reproductive health,’ you can help eliminate underdevelopment.” That is akin to thinking that through “eliminating people there would be fewer problems,” he added.

Smith believes the language will enable a massive, unprecedented push for abortion access worldwide.

In “40 years in the Pro-Life movement, 35 as a member of Congress, I have never seen such a well-orchestrated effort to promote abortion,” he said.

The Church in the U.S.

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August 21, 2015

Knights celebrate founder 125 years after his death

New Haven, Conn.

(CNA/EWTN News) — Hundreds of faithful recently gathered in New Haven, Conn. to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the death of Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus.

Although he lived just 38 years, Father McGivney left a remarkable legacy — the order he founded has become the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Just last year, the Knights raised more than $173.5 million for charity and performed more than 71.5 million hours of volunteer work.

The memorial Mass was held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in New Haven, where Father McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882.

Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, the organization’s supreme chaplain, recalled in his homily how Father McGivney’s priesthood modeled the teaching of recent popes.

“St. John Paul II said that the priest’s personality must be a bridge to Christ, and indeed Father McGivney’s unassuming, lighthearted-yet-determined character attracted many to the Catholic faith and to St. Mary’s Church,” said Archbishop Lori.

“When Pope Francis tells priests to acquire ‘the smell of the sheep’ and ‘to bring the Gospel to the margins of society,’ I think of Father McGivney. He loved the priesthood deeply.”

At the end of the Mass, John Walshe, a great grandnephew of Father McGivney, joined Archbishop Lori and Supreme Knight Carl Anderson in the incensing of the sarcophagus near the entrance of the church, where Father McGivney’s remains are interred. The archbishop then led those present in prayers for the canonization of the priest.

Father McGivney passed

away Aug. 14, 1890, two days after his 38th birthday, in the rectory of St. Thomas Parish in Thomaston, Conn., where he served as pastor for six years. He was also pastor at the time of Immaculate Conception Parish in nearby Terryville. Previously, he was assistant parish priest for seven years at St. Mary’s, where he gathered a handful of parish men in the church’s basement to found the Knights of Columbus.

These first Knights saw in Father McGivney an example worth following, Archbishop Lori said.

“These men would not have committed to the principle of charity had they not seen in Father McGivney a man of tireless pastoral charity, who reflected God’s love through acts of personal generosity and compassion. These men would not have committed to the principle of unity had they not seen how Father McGivney brought together the people of St. Mary’s Parish and how he served as a source of unity in the wider community of New Haven. Nor would they have committed to the principle of fraternity had they not witnessed how Father McGivney was not only the father but also the brother to his parishioners and indeed to anyone in need.”

Archbishop Lori added that not only does Father McGivney continue to guide and influence the nearly 1.9 million Knights worldwide, he is a very personal source of grace in his own life.

The cause of sainthood for Father McGivney was opened in 1997, and he was declared a Venerable Servant of God by Pope Benedict XVI in March 2008 in recognition of his life of heroic virtue. One Vaticanapproved miracle through his intercession is needed for beatification, and another miracle is needed for canonization.

Players from Covington (Ky.) Catholic, Cincinnati Purcell Marian and Hamilton (Ohio) Badin watch Father Benedict O’Cinneslaigh of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West at the Athenaeum of Ohio, as he censes the Blessed Sacrament during a recent SportsLeader Rosary Rally. (Photo by John Stegeman)

Elderly can keep growing, offer gifts to others, says U.S. priest

EDMONTON, Alberta (CNS) — Paulist Father Thomas Ryan was turning 50 when he decided he didn’t want just another birthday cake, scoop of ice cream and “Happy Birthday” song.

The U.S. priest wanted to look seriously at the second half of his life and its potential.

Instead of a birthday party, Father Ryan — who was directing an ecumenical center for Spirituality in Montreal at the time — called for a 50th birthday weekend retreat, inviting family and friends. It was refreshingly countercultural, engaging in topics such as retirement, health limitations and even some “wonderful sharings” about the kind of funeral people would like, he said.

His birthday retreat program, he added, was a hit.

Nearly 20 years later, Father Ryan, now 69, continues to lead the retreats all over North America. The Washingtonbased author and director of the Paulist Fathers’ Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations led the weeklong Remember to Live retreat at Providence Renewal Centre in Edmonton recently.

In this age of obsession with youth, advertisements and nightly news programs often convey a sense that if you eat right, exercise regularly and take the right vitamins and medicines, people will live indefinitely, said Father Ryan. He said never before have so many North Americans reached retirement age with such advanced education, social consciousness and good health.

“So what will we do with it?” he asked. “We have an unprec-

edented opportunity to keep growing, to learn and to offer our many gifts to our neighborhood, our city or school.”

Passive aging sees the last season of life as “a slow slide toward death and the natural changes of the body are accompanied by a creeping paralysis of the soul,” Father Ryan said.

“But I’m talking about active aging, and active aging works with the effects of aging by adjusting the rhythm and the pace,” he told retreat participants.

For Father Ryan, healthy aging means living life as a celebration. The person who ages actively “moves to simply a gentler form of exercise but stays active.” Or, perhaps they compensate for their hearing loss by getting a good pair of headphones to listen to programs or CDs. Aging is not a burden or problem to be solved, he said.

Today, the aging process can extend for 30 or more years, and several delicate passages need to be negotiated, he said. For example, it can mean the loss of one’s professional identity.

When you are no longer head of your corporation or your office, or principal of the school, who are you?

Other delicate passages might include the departure of your children; the new rhythm of life when all of a sudden your spouse is with you at home or the confrontation of solitude for those who have already lost a spouse; the arrival of grandchildren; or the decline of strength and energy.

“Those are difficult issues for us to face squarely,” said Father Ryan. He pointed to a study

that found nearly 70 percent of adult children have not even talked to their parents about issues related to aging.

Facing these realities squarely and accepting their inevitability has a big reward, he said.

“When we truly accept that life as we know it on this lovely blue and green planet is not given in limitless supply, we begin to think more clearly about what is important to us,” he said. “What do I want to do with the time I have, how do I want to use my available resources? We employ the talents which God has gifted us to leave our world better than we found it.”

In 2012, Father Ryan published his book, “Remember to Live! Embracing the Second Half of Life.” The book is a compilation of 15 years of collecting people’s experiences, listening to reflections and his own experience with aging.

The book includes exercises that can transform the way people see the potential of the later years of life, he said. Participating in a retreat on aging can have the same effect.

When people open their eyes to life and to its richness in each day’s living, they realize that every day, every minute, every breath, truly is a gift from God, Father Ryan said.

“In short, you remember to live. Each day’s living just becomes so much richer — cultivating gratitude in your heart for the sweetness of life, for the glories of Creation, for the gift of the love received from family and friends.

“And when we live out of that gratitude, life becomes very sweet,” he said.

The Church in the U.S. Seminary’s goal to form ‘happy, healthy, holy priests,’ says rector

August 21, 2015

YONKERS, N.Y. (CNS) — As Msgr. Peter I. Vaccari put it, “To be a priest is not to be a lone ranger.”

“Appropriate attention is given to men on what it means to be formed as a priest, but men’s formation cannot take place in isolation,” he said.

Msgr. Vaccari has been the rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers since 2012. The seminary is the centerpiece of a young inter-diocesan partnership among the Archdiocese of New York and the dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre.

The seminarians come from 22 countries and represent the universality of the Church, according to Msgr. Vaccari. They also reflect the long history of immigration in the Church in New York.

“Our immigrant character remains, but the faces change,” said the priest, who also served for three years as the rector of Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington.

He told Catholic News Service one of the benefits of the inter-diocesan partnership is that “the seminarians have a greater sense of their ordination into a presbyterate that will serve the metropolitan area.”

They share some of their theology classes with deacons and lay and religious candidates for master’s degrees in theology, pastoral studies or Catholic philosophical studies.

Msgr. Vaccari said the sideby-side study gives seminarians the opportunity to learn with people they may ultimately work with or serve in parishes.

In addition, studying with men from neighboring dioceses enables seminarians to examine common pastoral questions in the same context, he said.

The leaders of the three dioceses signed an agreement in 2011 to create the St. Charles Borromeo Inter-Diocesan Partnership in Spiritual and Theological Formation for Clergy, Religious and Laity.

The formation program now includes more than 105 seminarians from the three founding dioceses; the Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn.; the SyroMalankara Catholic Exarchate; and three religious congregations: the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, the Piarists and the Idente Missionaries.

The Diocese of Albany will send its seminarians to the program in the upcoming academic year. St. Joseph’s also hosts men who will be ordained for

dioceses in other countries. the need to begin the process of become years of relationship

By January 2016, candidates accompaniment from day one,” with Jesus, facilitated by selffor the permanent diacon- Father Berg said. knowledge and relationshipate from New York, Brooklyn, This is most evident in the building with Him.” Rockville Centre and Bridge- interaction with faculty advisFather Cleary said there is port will share formation pro- ers, according to Father Wil- an effort to make training more grams through St. Joseph’s. The liam Cleary, director of the practical by, for example, relyclasses are held at four cam- department of Biblical theol- ing less on dry commentaries puses in the three partnership ogy, who graduated from St. and more on Scripture, saints dioceses.

Joseph’s and was ordained in and early Christian writers in There is strength in num- 2004. preparing homilies. bers. Msgr. Vaccari said Msgr. Vaccari said the partnership reflected he process is much more third-year students visit a commitment to do thorough, and has intensi- the Holy Land, which what is best for forma- fied. It includes psychological assess- informs their study of tion, for faculty and for Scripture and preaching, the finances of the par- ment, interviews with the admissions and helps them underticipating dioceses. There board, review of transcripts and assess- stand the impact of conare more full-time fac- ing vocational stability and readiness temporary issues in the ulty members and fewer to take this journey,” he said.

Church. adjuncts than in the One of the benefits of pre-partnership arrangethe inter-diocesan partment. In addition, the When he was a student, nership is a renewed emphasis program uses video link tech- seminarians met their advis- on teaching Liturgical music. nology to allow faculty to teach ers once a year, he said. Now, Jennifer Donelson, the fullstudents simultaneously in two the meetings take place almost time director of Sacred music, locations. once a month and include con- teaches two required music “The heart of St. Joseph’s is versations guided by the needs courses, directs the choir, works priestly formation. Without the of the student and the input of with individual students in muheart, the bishops would close faculty beyond the advisers. sic formation, runs workshops the door and it would be over,” Father Cleary said, “The on Gregorian chant, and offers Msgr. Vaccari said. structure of advisement is much private instruction to seminarPriestly formation integrates more regimented, in a good ians seeking to develop music the human, Spiritual, intellec- way, so we get to know the man as a leisure activity. tual and pastoral dimensions better.” There is more commu“By the time they leave here, described by St. John Paul II nication on a broader range of they are competent to sing the in his exhortation “Pastores subjects, including areas of po- Mass and work with musicians Dabo Vobis” (“I Will Give You tential improvement, he said. in the parish,” she said.

Shepherds”) and mandated “Their singing forms the Msgr. Vaccari said the open by the Catholic bishops of the communication and ongoing basis for the congregational United States in the Program formation help administrators singing. They’re not musiof Priestly Formation, accord- determine whether ordination cal spectators,” Donelson said. ing to Msgr. Vaccari. of a candidate is in the best in- “It’s important for the men to “The goal of the Church, terest of the Church. “That’s our understand Sacred music on a the seminary and the faculty is first priority. Years of formation very practical level. What’s gopretty clear. There’s a desire to be involved in the formation of men who will become happy, healthy, holy priests,” Msgr.

Vaccari said.

Today’s seminarians are “living in a society that is broken,” he said. Some of the men looking to serve are coming from broken families and “a lot of healing has to go on.” Nonetheless, he said, “the seminary is not a therapeutic community.”

Father Thomas Berg, director of admissions at the seminary, said there is more attention paid now than in the past to issues of human formation in the admissions process and throughout the seminary studies.

“The process is much more thorough, and has intensified.

It includes psychological assessment, interviews with the admissions board, review of transcripts and assessing vocational stability and readiness to take this journey,” he said.

“There is a greater sense of

“T

5

ing on at Mass is Sacred and holy and the beauty of Sacred music touches hearts in a way explanation can’t.”

Donelson said there’s no magic trick to teaching people to sing on key. “If you expose men to how to listen, they can learn to do it,” she smiled.

The seminary choir will sing for Pope Francis’ Mass at Madison Square Garden in September.

All students get help with writing in their first year and those for whom English is a second language can access remedial support. Father Berg said the help includes mentoring, tutoring and accent-reduction.

On the cusp of its fourth academic year, the partnership was re-accredited by two agencies, Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the Association of Theological Schools.

Father Berg said 10 to 12 priests now live at the seminary and provide a renewed sense of cohesiveness, as well as an example to the seminarians. “We like each other and have a wonderful rapport,” he said.

He said the merger created a momentum that has slightly increased the number of seminary candidates. “You can make the case that what we’ve done here is working. The bishops were paying attention. Now that we’re together, others are taking note,” Father Berg said.

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August 21, 2015

Anchor Editorial

St. Pius X

Today (Friday) we celebrate the feast day of St. Pius X, the pope who founded the Diocese of Fall River in 1904. Last year Pope Francis greeted a group of pilgrims from his sainted predecessor’s homeland: “I am pleased to welcome the pilgrimages from the Diocese of Treviso, on the centenary of the death of St. Pius X, a pope inspired by great pastoral zeal.”

There are no other recorded comments by Pope Francis about our founder. His immediate predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, dedicated one of his general audiences to St. Pius back in August 2010. He said, “I would like to reflect on my predecessor, St. Pius X, and to underline certain features that may be useful to pastors and faithful also in our time.” May what our German former-shepherd said also be useful for our reflection now.

Pope Benedict began by speaking about St. Pius’ service as a priest: “In these years of rich and generous pastoral experience, the future pontiff showed that deep love for Christ and for the Church, that humility and simplicity and great charity to the needy which characterized his entire life. In 1884, he was appointed Bishop of Mantua, and in 1893, Patriarch of Venice.

On Aug. 4, 1903, he was elected pope, a ministry he hesitated to accept since he did not consider himself worthy of such a lofty office.”

It is rather unlikely that anyone reading this editorial will ever be elected pope, but humility when being honored is a great thing for all of us to strive to achieve (if we aren’t humbled now, we will be in the life to come).

Pope Benedict said that the saint’s “pontificate left an indelible mark on the Church’s history and was distinguished by a considerable effort for reform that is summed up in his motto: Instaurare Omnia in Christo, ‘To renew all things in Christ.’ Indeed, his interventions involved various ecclesiastical contexts. From the outset he devoted himself to reorganizing the Roman Curia; he then began work on the Code of Canon Law which was promulgated by his successor Benedict XV. He later promoted the revision of the studies and formation program of future priests and founded various regional seminaries, equipped with good libraries and well-qualified teachers.” In these activities, the saint was doing what he could to make sure that God and His people would have more than decent service rendered to them.

Besides working to make sure that the clerics who served under him were well-versed in theology, St. Pius wanted to help the laity directly grow in their understanding of God. As Pope Benedict noted, “Another important sector [of St. Pius’ work] was that of the doctrinal formation of the people of God. Beginning in his years as parish priest, he himself had compiled a catechism and during his episcopate in Mantua he worked to produce a single, if not universal catechism, at least in Italian. As an authentic pastor he had understood that the situation in that period, due partly to the phenomenon of emigration, made necessary a catechism to which every member of the faithful might refer, independently of the place in which he lived and of his position. As pontiff, he compiled a text of Christian doctrine for the Diocese of Rome that was later disseminated throughout Italy and the world.

Because of its simple, clear, precise language and effective explanations, this ‘Pius X Catechism,’ as it was called, was a reliable guide to many in learning the truths of the faith.” What Pope Benedict said goes well with what Claire McManus writes on page eight of this edition of The Anchor — the importance of Faith Formation throughout our lives, so that we can become true disciples of our Lord.

Next Pope Benedict reminded us that the saint “paid considerable attention to the reform of the Liturgy and, in particular, of Sacred music in order to lead the faithful to a life of more profound prayer and fuller participation in the Sacraments.” This also goes well with what Claire McManus wrote, as well as what Deacon Tony Cipriano wrote above her on the same page — that we need to move from being disciples (students) to being apostles (sent out), through the power of our encounter with God in the Eucharist.

Summarizing St. Pius, Pope Benedict said that in 1903 the saint proclaimed, “that the true Christian Spirit has its first and indispensable source in active participation in the Sacrosanct mysteries and in the public and solemn prayer of the Church. For this reason he recommended that the Sacraments be received often, encouraging the daily reception of Holy Communion and appropriately lowering the age when children receive their First Communion ‘to about seven,’ the age ‘when a child begins to reason.’”

Pope Benedict also discussed how St. Pius “strengthening his brethren in the faith, in confronting certain trends that were manifest in the theological context at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries, Pius X intervened decisively, condemning ‘modernism’ to protect the faithful from erroneous concepts and to foster a scientific examination of the Revelation consonant with the tradition of the Church.

He founded the Pontifical Biblical Institute. The last months of his life were overshadowed by the impending war. His appeal to Catholics of the world, launched on Aug. 2, 1914 to express the bitter pain of the present hour, was the anguished plea of a father who sees his children taking sides against each other. He died shortly afterwards, on August 20, and the fame of his holiness immediately began to spread among the Christian people.”

What St. Pius X faced 101 years ago sounds very similar to what we face today — erroneous ideas about God and humanity; wars and other injustices growing, along with their justifications; Christians still not united.

Pope Benedict closed with an appeal to our hearts (may it speak to our hearts and move them): “Dear brothers and sisters, St. Pius X teaches all of us that at the root of our apostolic action in the various fields in which we work there must always be close personal union with Christ, to cultivate and to develop, day after day. This is the essence of all his teaching, of all his pastoral commitment. Only if we are in love with the Lord shall we be able to bring people to God and open them to His merciful love and thereby open the world to God’s mercy.”

Pope Francis’ Angelus of August 16 On these Sundays the Liturgy is proposing, from the Gospel of John, Jesus’ discourse on the Bread of Life, which is Himself, and it is also the Sacrament of the Eucharist. The selection today ( Jn 6:51-58) presents the last part of this speech, and refers to some of the people who are scandal-

ized because Jesus said: “Whoever eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood has life eternal and I will raise him up at the last day” ( Jn 6:54). The astonishment of the audience is understandable; Jesus indeed uses the style of the prophets to lead the people — and us too — to questions and, OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER

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ultimately, result in a decision.

First the questions: what does it means to “eat the Flesh and drink the Blood” of Jesus? Is it only an image, a phrase, a symbol, or does it indicates something real? To answer, you have to guess what happens in the heart of Jesus while He breaks the loaves for the hungry crowd. Knowing He will have to die on the cross for us, Jesus identifies Himself with the bread broken and shared, and it becomes for Him the “sign” of the sacrifice that awaits Him. This process culminates in the Last Supper, where the bread and wine really become His Body and His Blood, the Eucharist, that Jesus leaves us with a purpose: so that we can become one with Him. He says: “He who eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood remains in Me and I in him” (v. 56).

That “abiding”: Jesus in us and us in Jesus. Communion is assimila-

tion: eating Him, we become like Him. But this requires our “yes,” our adherence of faith.

Sometimes one hears, regarding Holy Mass, this objection: “But what good is the Mass? [another translation: what does the Mass offer?] I go to church when I feel like it, or I pray better alone.”

But the Eucharist is not a private prayer or a beautiful Spiritual experience, it is not just a commemoration of what Jesus did at the Last Supper. We call it, so as to understand it well, that which the Eucharist is a “memorial,” that is, a gesture which actualizes and makes present the event of the death and Resurrection of Jesus: the bread is really His Body given for us, wine is actually His Blood shed for us.

The Eucharist is Jesus Himself Who gives Himself entirely to us.

Feeding on Him and abiding in Him through Holy Communion,

if we do it with faith, transforms our life; it (our life) becomes a gift to God and to others. Feeding on the “Bread of Life” means getting in tune with the heart of Christ, assimilate His choices, His thoughts, His behavior. It means entering a dynamism of love and becoming persons of peace, persons of forgiveness, of reconciliation, of sharing in solidarity. The same things that Jesus did.

Jesus concludes His speech with these words: “He who eats this bread will live forever” ( Jn 6:58). Yes, living in real Communion with Jesus on this earth will make us pass from death to life. Heaven begins in this very communion with Jesus. And in Heaven waiting for us already is Mary our Mother — we celebrated yesterday, this mystery.

She obtained for us the grace to always feed us with faith in Jesus, the Bread of Life.

August 21, 2015

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ast week we considered as part of a Catholic plan of life the various interiors acts of mind and will that transform us over time as they flower in virtuous actions, habits and character.

We examined acts of faith, hope, love, the Presence of God, Divine filiation, thanksgiving and atonement.

This week I’d like to focus on a Spiritual practice that reinforces and simplifies those interior acts: what the saints have called “aspirations.” These are very brief expressions — simple, easilymemorized phrases from Sacred Scripture or the lives of the saints — that concretize these acts of mind and will, and help us put into practice St. Paul’s command to “pray always.”

Perhaps the best way to describe aspirations is to enumerate some of them. I have several favorite ones that I pray quietly or aloud many times throughout the day: “Stay with us, Lord,” the petition of the disciples in Emmaus, to ask for the Lord’s help in my work.

“Come, Holy Spirit,” before I begin to pray or preach.

“Lord, help me,” whenever I hit a wall in my work.

“The Lord is with you, you mighty warrior,” what the angel said to Gideon before he led the 300 soldiers of Manasseh against the 135,000 of Midian, whenever I begin to think I don’t have what

Anchor Columnist Aspirations

it takes to accomplish what the well, and “Sorry, Lord,” for the Lord is asking. many times that I fail to respond “Master, the one that you love adequately to the Lord and His is ill,” the expression Martha and assistance.

Mary said to Jesus about Lazarus, The saints and the Church in when I hear of someone sick in various approved books of prayer need of prayers. have suggested other aspirations “Lord, have mercy,” the cry as well: of the blind man in the Gospel, “My God and my All,” echowhen I hear of some type of sufing St. Thomas’ words, when fering caused by evil and sin.

“Lord, increase our faith,” the cry of the Putting Into Apostles in the stormtossed boat, when I catch the Deep myself looking at things with too worldly a perBy Father spective.

Roger J. Landry “Lord, that I may see,” the cry of Bartimaeus, when I can’t grasp the wisdom of something God is genuflecting to the tabernacle or doing or permitting. at the elevations in the Mass.

“Fiat,” “Let it be done to me “Blessed be God,” in gratitude according to Your Word,” from for anything or in reparation for Mary’s words at the Annunciablasphemy. tion, or “Fiat voluntas tua, “Thy “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of will be done,” whenever I have to God, have mercy on me, a sinaccept an outcome different than ner,” as a simple act of contrition. the one for which I was hoping.

“O Jesus, meek and humble of “Abba, Father,” to recall my heart, make my heart like unto Divine filiation throughout the Thine,” as a prayer for charity. day.

“Lord, save us, we are perish“All glory and honor is Yours,” ing,” the words of the Apostles from the doxology at the end of on the stormy sea, in any predicathe Eucharistic prayer, or “Deo ment. omnis gloria,” “All glory to God,” “Ave, O Crux, spes unica,” when people are trying to com“Hail, O Cross, our only hope,” pliment me for something the whenever one is struggling to Lord made succeed. sanctify a hardship.

And “Thank you, Lord,” or “O Mary, conceived without “Deo gratias,” whenever things go Original Sin, pray for us who

have recourse to thee,” to invoke Mary in any circumstance.

There are also various aspirations meant to be prayed in dialogue: St. John Paul II used to love to say, “Laudetur Iesus Christus,” “Praised be Jesus Christ,” to which the faithful would reply, “Nunc et in aeternum,” or simply “In aeternum,” “Now and forever.” Cardinal Timothy Dolan, when he was my rector at the North American College in Rome, used to pray it with us in Italian, “Sia lodato Gesù Cristo,” to which we would readily reply, “Sempre sia lodato.”

In seminary, we had another beautiful aspirational dialogue used at meal blessings and on other occasions. The leader would say, “Vergine Immacolata,” and everyone would respond, “Aiutataci,” “Immaculate Virgin, help us.”

Perhaps the most famous dialogue of these mini-prayers takes place during the Easter season. In many Christian cultures, it’s still prayed in Greek. “Christos anesti,” to which everyone replies, “Alithos anesthi.” “The Lord is Risen. He has truly Risen.”

The other Liturgical seasons likewise have aspirations associated with them as well.

In Advent, we can pray, “Come, Lord Jesus,” or “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”

7 At Christmas, we can say, “Venite Adoremus,” or “O come, let us adore Him.” And during Lent, the most common is, “We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You,” to which others reply, “Because

by Your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.”

In the Spiritual life, aspirations create a culture of prayer and enable a more continuous openness to God’s presence and to ongoing conversation with Him. They can be likened to the short routine phrases — “I love you,” or “Sorry, honey,” or “Please help me,” — that spouses or family members exchange.

When said sincerely, they can sometimes be worth as much as lengthy heart-to-hearts.

The term “aspiration,” etymologically, means “breathing” as well as “hoping.” In medicine it refers to the action or process of drawing breath, pointing to the fact that prayerful aspirations ought to be as common in the Spiritual life as breathing is in physical life. “Aspiration” can also refer to a hope of achieving something, and Spiritually these short invocations help us to express our hope in God in every circumstance. They are the ligaments that bind together all the other parts of a plan of life!

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

Dominican Sisters of Charity of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin celebrate jubilarians

DIGHTON — Sisters came from Honduras, Texas, Washington, D.C., and Fall River for their annual seven days of silent, preached retreat in Dighton.

“A total of 315 years of joyful service! This is what our six Sisters together have given to the world in the span of 70 years of service rooted in charity,” said Sister Vimala Vadakumpadan, major superior of the Dominican Sisters of Charity of the Presentation in her opening welcoming remarks before the Eucharistic celebration. This celebration was held at the Sisters’ headquarters in Dighton on the feast of St. Dominic, Aug. 8, 2015.

Sister Vimala also remarked that “God chose Sister Lucia Gomez, 70 years; Sister Margarita Ortiz, 60 years; Sister Marie William Lapointe, 60 years; Sister Marta Ines Toro, 50 years; Sister Carole Mello, 50 years; and Sister Monica Garcia, 25 years, to bring His Good News to near and far distant lands: United States of

America, Colombia, France, Africa, Puerto Rico, Honduras and South Korea have been rich soil the Lord entrusted to them during their many years of service.

These Sisters served in the ministries of health, education and social services in the countries named above.”

These Dominican Sisters of the Presentation, as they are commonly known, serve in 36 countries of the world. Following the example of their foundress Blessed Marie Poussepin to be at the service of the Church they respond to the call to serve.

The celebrants’ families, living and deceased were recognized and offered profound appreciation, love and gratitude for their prayers and support for the jubilarians’ religious vocation.

The seven Eucharistic celebrants, who are among the priests who serve the Sisters at daily Mass, joined the Sisters of the Presentation and the families of the Jubilarians to a festive meal and joyful gathering.

Participating in the recent annual retreat for the Dominican Sisters of Charity of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin in Dighton were, from left: Sister Marta Ines Toro, 50 years of religious profession; Sister Marie William Lapointe, 60 years of religious profession; Sister Margarita de Santa Maria Ortiz, 60 years of religious profession; Sister Carole Marie Mello, 50 years of religious profession; Sister Monica Teresa Garcia Aleman, 25 years of religious profession; and Sister Lucia Gomez, 70 years of religious profession. Together, the Sisters represent 315 years of joyful service.

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any of Jesus’ disciples who were listening said to Jesus, “This is too hard; who can accept it?”

The first question is: what is too difficult to accept? Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you have no life in you.”

Jesus is clearly saying that His Body and Blood are a pledge of eternal life and a guarantee of the resurrection of the body.

St. Thomas Aquinas gives this explanation: “The Word gives life to the souls, but the Word made Flesh nourishes our bodies. In this Sacrament

August 21, 2015

Accepting the Holy One of God

is contained the Word tery completely incomnot only in His Divinity prehensible. but also in His humanity; In 1 Cor 1:18 it states, therefore, it is the cause “In His foolish love, He not only of the glorifichooses to save those who cation of our souls but also of that of our bodies.”

Homily of the Week Our Lord uses Twenty-first Sunday strong words: “Eat in Ordinary Time My Flesh” which shows that ComBy Deacon munion is a real Tony Cipriano, SFO meal. There is no room for saying that He was speaking believe that the Flesh is only symbolically, which true food, His Blood, true would mean the commudrink.” nion was only a metaphor The promise of the and not really eating His Eucharist which caused Body and drinking His arguments among Blood.

Christ’s hearers at CaperMany of Jesus’ listeners naum and scandalized find the Eucharistic myssome of them, led many

people to give up following Him. Jesus had given the people a God-Man truth.

However, those disciples closed themselves to His Divine grace; they were not ready to accept anything which went beyond their very limited vision.

Peter again, in the name of the Twelve, takes the initiative in expressing his faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Other people present were unbelieving, but the Apostles are not scandalized by our Lord’s Words. They tell Jesus, “We believe You have the words of eternal life; and

we have come to know that You are the Holy One of God” ( Jn 6:70).

Finally, draw your strength from the Lord.

Put on the armor of God so that you may stand firm against those who choose to turn from God. For our struggle is not with the flesh and blood, but with the invisible rulers of this present darkness in the world. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, and take the helmet of Salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Eph 6:11,12,16,17).

Deacon Cipriano ministers at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Attleboro.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Aug. 22, The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ru 2:1-3,8-11, 4:13-17; Ps 128:1b-5; Mt 23:1-12. Sun. Aug. 23, Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jos 24:1-2a,15-17,18b; Ps 34:2-3,16-21; Eph 5:21-32 or 5:2a,25-32; Jn 6:60-69. Mon. Aug. 24, Rv 21:9b-14; Ps 145: 10-13, 17-18; Jn 1:45-51. Tues. Aug. 25, Thes 2:1-8; Ps 139:1-3,4-6; Mt 23:23-26. Wed. Aug. 26, 1 Thes 2:9-13; Ps 139:7-12b; Mt 23:27-32. Thurs.

Aug. 27, 1 Thes 3:7-13; Ps 90:3-5a,12-14,17; Mt 24:42-51. Fri. Aug. 28, 1 Thes 4:1-8; Ps 97:1-2b,5-6,10-12; Mt 25:1-13.

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n July 30 more than 70 people gathered from several parishes to brainstorm about vocations.

The need to be proactive has never been more urgent as we face the years ahead when the retirement of priests and religious will far outstrip the influx of newlyminted servants. While the obvious focus of the meeting was on nurturing more men for ordained ministry and women religious, the approach of a vocation committee must be much broader, and definitely not an entity that is separate from the everyday life of the parish.

Every baptized individual is called by God to serve in the Kingdom. Though this may sound like a clichéd statement from Sacramental theory, it is absolutely the most essential truth for every person. The root of vocation lies in a call from God, not to a life of resigned commitment but to a path toward one’s greatest love.

This is why former Jesuit superior general Pedro Arrupé, in his beautiful reflection “Fall in Love,” describes the call of vocation as an act of love.

We can’t just passively wait describes vocation as a “Nothing is more practi“supernatural mystery that cal than finding God, than emerges from a sustained falling in love, in a quite encounter with Christ.” No absolute, final way. matter what profession or “What you are in love line of work one has entered, with, what seizes your God calls us into a relationimagination, will affect evship that transforms us and erything.

“It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you

By Claire McManus read, whom you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy prepares us to change the and gratitude. world. Had we met Simon “Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.” the fisherman before he met If parishes want to be pro- Jesus we would not have recognized the Peter he active about vocations they became. The whole parish is need to become the village responsible for providing an matchmaker between God environment for nurturing and God’s people. It means thinking outside of the voca- a relationship with Christ for all its members, not just tion box, looking not just the ones who look like good toward pious young people priest or nun material. with “vocation potential.”

Sherry Weddell relates Rather than limit vocation to an ecclesial profession, we the stories of parishes that have produced remarkable must constantly help people numbers of vocations in the to discern their gifts are so past 10 years. These parthat they can be used where ishes developed a culture of God needs them the most.

Sherry Weddell in “Form- encounter with Christ that grew out of their commiting Intentional Disciples,”

The Great Commission

ment to offering retreats, Scripture sharing, and other opportunities for conversion. Vocations became a by-product of discipleship, and the vocation committee provided a safe place for some to explore the possibility of ordained and religious life in a safe environment away from the pressure of family and friends.

There are many times in our lives when we seek discernment for an important decision, but no better time than the threshold moments when we pass from one significant stage to another. There is no magic age for this to happen, but the moments arise naturally when we move through the stages of life. There are many threshold people who would be open to an invitation to discipleship: youth preparing to leave home for work or school; engaged couples and the newly-married as they start their lives together; young adult singles who are settling into their professions but still trying to discern their path in life.

There is no question that

the Church needs to grow more vocations, but this is the work of the Holy Spirit.

But we have learned from our own history that the needs of the Church will be met. As Sherry Weddell explains, “If we focus on making disciples, the rest will follow. We won’t have to worry about the institutional gaps. The disciples we form today will found and sustain our institutions and structures tomorrow.”

We don’t know what marvelous Church the Holy Spirit is going to create for us, but we cannot sit back and passively wait. The mission of every parish is to evangelize, and this happens wherever people gather.

These nascent vocation committees will enhance the work of evangelization that underlies all of the catechetical programs for youth and opportunities for adult Faith Formation. Evangelization and catechesis can now have a discernment partner to help usher the threshold people onto the path that God has planned for them.

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

August 21, 2015

Saturday 15 August 2015 — Homeport: Falmouth Harbor — International Homeless Animals Day ou know me, dear readers. I keep my thumb on the pulse of popular culture. I also keep my thumb on celestial seasons (I don’t mean the brand of tea). You are no doubt aware that, cosmically speaking, the dog days of summer are fading away.

What, you ask, are “dog days” anyway? Allow me to enlighten you. Centuries ago, dog days were troubling times in the kingdom. “The sea boiled, the wine turned sour, dogs grew mad, and all other creatures became languid; causing to man, among other diseases, burning fevers, hysterics, and phrensies,” (archaic spelling of “frenzies”), according to Brady’s “Clavis Calendaria” (1813). Some said the sweltering summer heat was caused by the increased brightness of the stars at this time of year.

In the language of academia — hogwash. My pet greyhounds, Transit and Justin, lie about lethargically all 12 months of the year. It’s what they do.

After extensive scientific research, I propose the hypothesis that the phrase “dog days”

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ister Joan Chittister, in her book, “Called to Question,” highlighted the active process of the Spiritual life. She said, “The Spiritual life is the discovery of the self God meant us to be so that we are God’s gift to the rest of the world.” For a Catholic educator, the first image that comes to mind is assisting adolescents to begin that process of selfdiscovery. At the high school, so many times a parent would bring his/her child to me asking me to assist him/her plan a career in science, engineering, or medicine.

Sometime later I would meet individually with that student.

When I asked if he/she wished such a career in science, so many times the answer was a bowed head. I knew then my job was to offer the more important question: “What do you wish to do with your life?” So many times the student said, “I do not know. I’ve never been allowed to choose before.” Quite often that was followed by a smile with the student’s realization of a whole new world opening to him/her.

As I write this I am sit-

Anchor Columnists Dog day denouncement Greek word for “scorcher,” a originated with the ancient most appropriate choice.

Greeks and Romans. Since the At any rate, Sirius (like the ancient Greeks and Romans are commercial jingle for Certs no longer around to refute my hypothesis, it will forever remain chewing gum) is two stars in one. We call this a binary star unchallenged. system in the trade. These two The ancients were big fans stars, when seen with the naked of the stars (not the Hollywood stars, but the heavenly constella- eye, appear as one.

By “rising,” aforementioned, tions). In the summer, they were especially fascinated

by Big Dog (not the clothing brand but the The Ship’s Log constellation known in Reflections of a Latin as Canis Major).

Parish Priest They imagined Big Dog to be stalking the

By Father Tim heavens with his master Goldrick Orion (“The Hunter,” in English). But wait, there’s more. The Big Dog in the I mean in conjunction with the sky was chasing the constellation rising of the sun. We astronoLepus (the hare or rabbit). Those mers call this helical rising.

Now, it’s on to the burnancients had terrific imaginaing metrological question: tions.

The brightest star in the sum- “When exactly does Sirius set?”

I thought you’d never ask. The mer sky is the one that serves as precise scientific answer is, “It all Big Dog’s imaginary nose. Big Dog is, according to my esoteric depends.”

“The Old Farmer’s Almanac” studies, the prototype of Rusays that the traditional period dolph the Red-nosed Reindeer — but I digress. This nose star is of the dog days of summer is called Sirius (not to be confused July 4 through August 11. Of course, this only applies in the with satellite radio by the same name). The dog days of summer Northern Hemisphere. The Southern Hemisphere is the are determined by the rising of opposite, but who ever heard of the star Sirius. The name, by the “the dog days of winter”? Furway, is derived from the ancient

thermore, this reckoning would be by the old-style Julian calendar. In the present Gregorian calendar usage, traditional dog days would be July 16 through August 24. Now, as we all know, our modern International Dog Day is August 26. Dog days, then, can be said to definitely occur between June and September — or perhaps not. Isn’t science fun?

The whole matter may seem ridiculous to cat-people, but it is of utmost importance to dog-people. Need I remind you there is no such thing as the “cat days of summer”?

Enough said. In a rectory with three dogs, we follow such things closely.

Maximilian Rufus, Father Ray Cambra’s dog, is the latest canine to join the pack.

He’s a German mastiff, sometimes called a Great Dane.

Max was born during the dog days of summer, Aug. 6, 2005 (feast of the Transfiguration).

He was whelped in Sparta, Tenn. Not only is he an old dog, he is an old southern dog.

He is the arch typical “good old boy.” He barks in a southern accent.

In his old age, Max is down

9 to a mere 180 pounds. Even so, when he bumbles through the rectory, the floors shake. He has a bark that would scare off any cat-burglar (or cat, for that matter), but he’s the proverbial gentle giant.

Max is not what anyone would call graceful. The two greyhounds in residence, who are exceptionally elegant, find Max to be a curious creature — perhaps deposited here by ancient alien astronauts from some other planet.

Greyhound Justin has grown to consider Maximilian his BFF (“best friend forever” in Internet lingo). Greyhound Transit, on the other hand, ignores Max as he does everything else (except dinner).

Justin seizes every opportunity to follow Max into the yard.

Max takes a few steps and just stands there motionless. Justin races around him in circles at 40 miles per hour. Justin hopes to encourage his new friend to play the greyhound game of “race track” with him, but Max quickly becomes perplexed and dizzy.

Belated dog day greetings to all my faithful readers!

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

Metamorphosis chosen what he thinks he would ting at a special table in a good like to study and do. In the fall, friend’s home. Locked under a he will begin the work necessary glass sheet, the table’s surface to prepare for that career. His is covered with photographs of older brother is further along her three boys. One picture has my attention today. This picture in this process. He has not only depicts the middle child holding discovered, but has verified his his 11-hour-old brother in his arms.

Today, 18 years later, Wrestling with God that photograph still Holding on for brings a smile to my face.

I remember that day and His blessing the night before. I was babysitting so that my

By Dr. Helen J. Flavin friend and her husband could be together in the talents through actions. He is delivery room. The boy, who now seeking his own creative, until that night had been the unique way to use those gifts youngest in the family, was so in service of God to better our excited about getting a younger world. sibling that he would not go to This graduate student is bed. Finally, instead of a bedMoslem. His faith has a similar time story, we had a long chat about the fun and responsibility tradition to Jesus’ Words on the Greatest Commandment (Matt. of being an older brother.

22:36-40). From the Quran As you may have surmised, the youngest boy just graduated (Verse 4:36): “Worship God and consider no one equal to from high school. His older Him. Be kind and do good unto brother (middle son) is in the your parents, relatives, orphans, process of choosing a graduate the destitute, your near and school. The high school gradudistant neighbors, your companate is at the beginning of the ions, and wayfarers.” He is conself-discovery process. He has

sidering a career in international law. I believe his idea for change is through discussions and new laws to encourage all of us to live together more peacefully. In this way, each of us more fully lives the Greatest Commandment which is written on the heart of each and every human being.

That vision and the work he will bring to it throughout his life is his gift by which he will seek to bring God’s love to the world.

An important characteristic of the Spiritual life is that reflection, choice and action are not one-time events. Some of us may have had a career chosen for us. Others may one day realize their initial choice, as a young adult, does not fully resonate with the person they have grown to be. Thankfully, through the dialog of prayer, we each are invited to refine our actions or even start out on a new path. Throughout one’s life, one is open to many such metamorphoses. Such modifications serve to bring one closer to God. An excellent example

of this is Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. She was a middleaged Sister of the order of the Loreto Sisters of Dublin when she understood God’s call for her to found a new order. By her death in 1997, that new order of the Missionaries of Charity had more than 4,000 religious serving the poor in 123 countries.

Can you imagine how different our world might be had Blessed Mother Teresa not responded to the call of the Holy Spirit?

This week let us be energized by the dreams and enthusiasm of the young. Over this, let us apply our life’s expertise and wisdom. Let us each find one area where we can choose to better use or even develop new gifts/talents to share with others. This will allow us to serve God by being good shepherds to those God places directly in our care and those God allows to simply cross our paths.

Anchor columnist Helen Flavin is a Catholic scientist, educator and writer and a member of St. Bernadette’s Parish in Fall River. biochemwz@hotmail.com.

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August 21, 2015

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August 21, 2015

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August 21, 2015

A ‘Buzzfeed’ you can believe in — ChurchPOP marks one remarkable year Denver, Colo. (CNA) — Marking the first birthday of ChurchPOP, a site for shareable Christian fun and inspiration, founder and editor Brantly Millegan said he hopes to build on the first year of success as he moves forward.

“Last summer, I got the idea.

And the idea was just to do a website in a ‘Buzzfeed’ style, but for Christian culture,” Millegan told CNA, saying that he wanted to create the kind of web content that people would want to share.

It didn’t take long for Millegan’s idea to become real.

Within a few weeks of brainstorming and obtaining a web domain in July, ChurchPOP was officially launched on Aug. 11, 2014.

The website offers articles, quizzes, videos, memes, and lists for people who are looking to share fun facts, beautiful pictures, and collectively “make holy all the things!” — as the site’s tagline indicates. The goal is to share Buzzfeed-style content while learning more about the Christian faith.

Although Millegan started ChurchPOP from ground zero, he experienced a warm welcome during the website’s first few days from fun-loving web surfers looking for sharable content with a Christian twist.

“Praise the Lord — it was very encouraging that in my first month, I did far better than what I was expecting, and that was a big encouragement,” he noted.

But starting ChurchPOP wasn’t all fun and games. Millegan said that launching his own website was a lot like a rollercoaster ride.

“The last year there have been a lot of ups and downs, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing the whole time,” he remembered.

Looking back after the first year, Millegan reflected with gratitude on all of the highs and lows, hoping that ChurchPOP will continue to be a success.

With headlines like “LOL! 18 Christian Memes Guaranteed to Lighten Your Day” and quizzes such as “Can You Name These Liturgical Vestments?”

Millegan keeps ChurchPOP’s content fresh and funny by staying in tune with what millennials like.

“They are just the types of things that people want to share, which is exactly what I am going for,” he said.

“It’s kind of surprising what does well and what doesn’t. I had an article that was just a Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer star in a scene from the movie “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” For a brief diagram of how all the Apostles review of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS photo/Warner Bros.) died and where their bones are counters, glimpses of partial nu- the downward emotional spiral supposedly located — and that dity, some sexual banter, a cou- into which their grown daughwas huge,” Millegan stated, notple of crude terms. The Catholic ter (Mamie Gummer, Streep’s ing that another article on “27 News Service classification is daughter in real life) has deDelightfully Terrible Christian A-III — adults. The Motion scended after being dumped by Puns to Annoy the Heck Out Picture Association of Amer- her husband. Though Diablo of Your Friends With” was also ica rating is PG-13 — parents Cody’s script is unsparing in its a big hit. strongly cautioned. Some ma- portrayal of the damage caused Although Millegan has been terial may be inappropriate for by the protagonist’s desertion, running the show on his own, children under 13. he does collaborate with others it not only offers her fresh hope “Ricki and the Flash” (TriStar) in the person of her affectionate who submit their work on the Not even the storied talent of live-in boyfriend (Rick Springsite, and he also asks for perMeryl Streep can hold together field), but suggests that all the mission to reprint other writers.

NEW YORK (CNS) — The the scattershot elements of this destruction she left behind In addition, Millegan himself generates a lot of the content following are capsule reviews character study as it veers be- can be cleaned up with good and is inspired by everything of movies recently reviewed by tween drama and romantic intentions and a well-chosen Catholic News Service. comedy — and between a re- song. Cohabitation, a nonfrom Facebook to Flickr.

“The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” alistic view of moral shortcom- graphic premarital bedroom “I want the types of things (Warner Bros.) ings and the illusion of simplis- scene, benignly viewed drug where people can easily digest Droll humor punctuates this tic solutions. Under Jonathan use, mature themes, including it, enjoy it, and share it on Facebreezy espionage yarn, set at Demme’s direction, Streep homosexuality, at least one use book,” he explained, saying that the height of the Cold War in plays an aging, unsuccessful of profanity, several crude and the purpose of ChurchPOP is to promote “Christian culture 1963. Forced to work together rocker who long ago abandoned crass terms. The Catholic News in general, which I think has to retrieve revolutionary nuclear her family to pursue her musi- Service classification is A-III know-how that may have fallen cal ambitions. She’s forced to — adults. The Motion Picture the evangelizing effect.”

After his first year in the into the hands of the shady heir confront the legacy of her own Association of America rating Buzzfeed-for-Christians busi- (Luca Calvani) to a fascism- selfishness, however, when her is PG-13 — parents strongly ness, Millegan has a few proj- tainted Italian industrial fortune sympathetic ex (Kevin Kline) cautioned. Some material may ects in store for the future that and his scheming but elegant summons her back from L.A. to be inappropriate for children wife (Elizabeth Debicki), an Indiana to help him cope with under 13. could make a global splash.

“Well, we would like to cre- art thief-turned-CIA operative ate a Spanish edition, I think (Henry Cavill) and a rage-prone that could be huge. I think KGB agent (Armie Hammer) just putting it in another lan- team with the daughter (Alicia guage, starting with Spanish, Vikander) of the missing sciencould have a huge reach,” he tist who developed the breakexplained, saying “just onwards through to track the couple. In and upwards — that’s the plan, adapting the mid-1960s television series, director and coat least.”

“Things can be very up and writer Guy Ritchie diverts his down — the highs are highs, audience with James Bond-style and the lows are lows. But I feel glamour while keeping the viovery blessed that I have made it lence vague. But the substantial, this far, and I’m very happy,” he if slightly strange, relationship that increasingly tethers Hamcontinued.

Sunday, August 23 at 11:00 a.m. mer and Vikander is offset by Cavill’s carefree philandering. And the script’s anti-war, pro-friendship sentiments rest, to some extent, on an implied Celebrant is Father Robert A. Oliveira, moral equivalence between the forces of East and West wholly pastor of Holy Name of the Sacred Heart at variance with history. Much of Jesus Parish in New Bedford violence, including torture, but with little gore, brief gruesome images, off-screen casual en-

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

CNS Movie Capsules

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6

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August 21, 2015

Impact of a good priest is immeasurable

By Linda Andrade Rodrigues Anchor Correspondent seaskyandspirit.blogspot.com

Boston College School of Law. Since 1972 he has been a practicing local attorney. He is married to Deborah, and the couple NEW BEDFORD — An has two daughters, Patricia and angry young man, William Kathleen.

“Bill” Synnott arrived on the On his last assignment, Fadoorstep of St. Mary’s Home ther Hogan became the foundfor Children, after being ing pastor of St. Julie Billiart bounced around with his sibParish in North Dartmouth, lings to several orphanages in responsible for erecting the New York City — and that’s new house of worship on Oct. when he met Father John Ho11, 1971. During his ministry, gan, his saving grace. the parish grew with member“I was going the wrong way,” ship reaching more than 2,000 he said. “I could have been in families. jail, if it wasn’t for the goodness “I went to St. Julie’s for Faof one man.” ther Hogan, and my wife was Father Hogan served the converted by Father Hogan,” Diocese of Fall River for 41 said Synnott. “He touched so years, caring for the youth of many people.” the communities in the South The man of great charism Coast area. and charm who understood The son of Irish immigrants, and helped so many people he grew up in Fall River, atdied Aug. 7, 1986. tended Msgr. Coyle High “At that time we formed a School in Taunton and gradulittle committee and decided to ated from Providence College raise some money for a scholarin 1939.

“He decided to go into the Attorney William Synnott congratulates scholarship recipient Cheyenne Cosme of New Bedford and her ship named in his honor,” said Synnott. “We were able to raise priesthood at St. John’s Semi- mother, Ameke Baptiste. (Photo courtesy of Providence College) $125,000. Education changed nary in Baltimore,” Synnott me. It breaks the cycle of crime said.

After completing his studies, ter,’ he would say. ‘Pick yourself Hogan’s serenity and endless “I never saw him say no to and poverty.”

“Since 1986, Synnott and the he was ordained and became a up, and let’s try again.’” compassion. anybody,” he said. “He just folparish priest. His first assign“In Confession he would tell lowed Christ’s example. This is committee have raised funds to A charming man, Father ment was at the church of St. Hogan liked to tell stories and us to say one “Hail Mary” and how we treat each other. Love honor their friend, mentor and priest,” said Therese C. Reilly, Lawrence Martyr in New Bed- impart words of wisdom, ac- one “Our Father” and try to do thy neighbor.” ford, where he served as curate. cording to Synnott. better and move forward,” said With Father Hogan’s help, assistant director of StewardFather Hogan became di“Live a good life, smile at Synnott. “He wasn’t dogmatic, Synnott went to Holy Fam- ship and Donor Relations at rector of Holy Family High every person you meet, be good wasn’t ritualistic, he just had ily High School and graduated Providence College. “Over the School, then left there to be to your parents, respect your faith in people. He was the type from Providence College and Turn to page 17 the guiding light at St. Mary’s Home for Children.

“Even though I stumbled along and got into trouble, he took an interest in me and encouraged me,” said Synnott.

“Are you sorry? Try to do bet-

teachers, be nice to people, and everything will fall into place,’ he told us. ‘That will make you a great Christian.’ They were not just words. They had a tremendous effect.”

Synnott remembers Father

of person who always forgave.

He didn’t find fault. In God’s eyes you are forgiven.”

Synnott also recalled the way he treated the homeless in the street and those who showed up at the rectory in dire straits.

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August 21, 2015

Learning to give culture of death the boot continued from page one

too much, we might become just another program. The ProLife Boot Camp is about transforming our hearts and minds to the Will of God so that we can bring hope and joy to those we meet each and everyday.”

Bishop da Cunha not only spoke to the youth, he also accepted a challenge from the campers and staffers to take part in a soccer shootout with him covering the net as goalie, then reversed his role to take some shots against them.

“President [Father John] Denning and others from Stonehill and Holy Cross Family Ministries came out to greet him and watch the great soccer challenge,” said Desrosiers. “The youth loved it! We are so grateful to him. He can certainly play soccer.”

Priests who participated during the weekend were Fathers Riley Williams, Jack Schrader, Chris Peschel, Kevin Cook, Gabriel Mary, FFI and Leo Polselli, CSC. Other speakers, sponsored by the Massachusetts State Council of the Knights of Columbus, included local laity, Dr. Steven Smith of Florida; Loretta Fleming of the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment in Washington, D.C.; and Katherine Beck, a recent graduate of the University of South Florida and who has been volunteering at pregnancy centers since she was 17 years old.

“All the speakers were incredible,” said Desrosiers. “We added a witnessing piece to this year’s Boot Camp. Before most of the talks, we had individuals come and share their personal stories relating to the workshop that would follow. This made

the teachings a ‘lived’ reality. It showed them that our faith in its fullness, even if in difficult times, could be lived with hope and great joy. Christ asks each of us to become a living witness to these truths in our daily lives.

“Haley Katsche spoke on Theology of the Body. Her presentation was extremely well done, like many of the other speakers, but she is our first Pro-Life Boot Camp alumni who now has come back to teach. This was always our goal to try and keep our campers involved by having a three-tier system: camper, junior staff, chaperone and/or presenter.

Now in our fifth year, we have truly experienced the fruits of our labor; past alumni served as chaperones and a nursing assistant.”

One of the most powerful moments came when the youth visited two Attleboro nursing homes and distributed prayer shawls donated by St. Bernard Parish in Assonet, and lap blankets made by Elaine Wilcox of Holy Name Parish in Fall River.

“It is so encouraging to witness the connection between our youth and this generation of seniors,” said Desrosiers.

“The joy on the faces of the youth and elderly was just precious. They immediately began to talk and interact. They were divided between both [nursing homes] because of the size of the group. One group did bowling, helping everyone to throw the ball from their wheelchairs, followed by loud cheers and high fives. Some who volunteered visited the very ill holding their hands, praying and talking to them softly. Another group did crafts and then sang

This week in

to them, which was received with great applause.

“The youth were incredibly moved by this experience and grateful to have had the opportunity to bring the love of Christ to this community. Yet, they came away in awe at the love and gratitude they experienced. When we returned to Stonehill, Dr. Smith did a presentation on physicianassisted suicide. The message was so much more powerful after having spent the afternoon with the very people who could be the victims of this grave action, the sick, the poor and the elderly. Having prayed at the abortion clinic that morning, and then visiting the nursing homes in the afternoon, reinforced in a tangible way for them the Sacredness and value of all human life from conception until natural death. They want to rebuild a Culture of Life and love. They do not want to be the ‘throwaway’ culture that Pope Francis warns us that many have become.”

This is the next generation of Pro-Life leaders rising up helping promote the New Evangelization. As young people become more willing to commit his or her life to Christ to build a better tomorrow, said Desrosiers, they will transform our culture.

“At the end of the camp, parents joined us for 45 minutes and the young people broke into four teams to play Family Feud,” said Desrosiers. “They created the questions themselves based on the experiences and teachings which took place over the course of the weekend.

They had a great time, but it also allowed the rest of us to have a glimpse at the learning

Diocesan history

50 years ago — The 19th New England Regional Congress of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine was held at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth. Bishop James L. Connolly celebrated the opening Mass.

10 years ago — Marian Desrosiers, Pro-Life Apostolate director for the Fall River Diocese, attended a conference in Phoenix, Ariz., that annually brings together Pro-Life directors and state Catholic Conference leaders.

25 years ago — The international Pilgrim Virgin statue of Our Lady of Fatima arrived in Fall River, visiting 17 churches in all areas of the diocese.

The statue also made stops at La Salette Shrine in Attleboro, the four diocesan nursing homes, a convent and a prison.

One year ago — Holy Cross Father Wilfred “Willy” Raymond took over as president of Holy Cross Family Ministries following 18 years of leadership from Holy Cross Father John Phalen, who became director of Novices to the Holy Cross Order in the Chosita Diocese, near Lima, Peru.

and experiences they would take home to their families and peers. It made me so proud of everyone of them. We can have great hope that they will carry

F

in their hearts the faith and live the Gospel of life and love. We are all so lucky and so blessed to have shared this time with them!”

Igor, the sensei

or all the time I’ve had her, Then there are the rabbits. my pooch Igor has been to When she saw one, Iggy would me a friend, a boss, a pain, a joy, make a beeline towards the bigand unwittingly, my sensei. eared intruder, nearly ripping my For more than a dozen years, arm off at the shoulder.

Iggy has been the “queen” of The rabbits learned to stay the neighborhood — meaning, away when Queen Igor was to her, the neighborhood is her outside. oyster.

But through the years, the Should another canine enter rabbits either became more or even approach her “territory” courageous, or Iggy became less Igor’s vocal chords get a vigorous interested, because now, like the workout. proverbial lion laying down with Should we, or any of our the lamb, Igor and rabbits coexist neighbors receive a visit from a peacefully in Igor Land. local fast food chef, the same sceThis is where Iggy’s sensei skills nario plays out; as it does when kicked in and taught me a lesson.

UPS, Fedex, or the U.S.P.S. delivers a package to us or anyone in the territory.

Oh, I should also mention

By Dave Jolivet that motorcycles are on her “I’ll take care of you” list.

Despite her instincts to chase Yet, before anyone thinks ill of rabbits, she’s recently come to the my furry friend, her bark is much realization that it doesn’t have to worse than her bite, which is be that way. They are both creanonexistent. tures of God, and that instinct is Children in the hood love to stronger. come see her and pet her thick, Now rabbit and dog stay soft coat. When that happens, within feet of each other on she immediately assumes the warm summer days. They are no “belly-rub” position. longer mortal enemies.

When she sees any of my Isn’t that what God expects of neighbors, her tail immediately us. Isn’t our instinct one of love shifts into overdrive, as do the and respect, and not hatred and rear hindquarters to which it’s divisiveness? attached. On on the other end, As so often is the case, huher ears are pinned so far back, mans can learn a thing or two it looks as though she’s facing from animals; and it’s no surprise upwind in a hurricane. that dogs make some of the best But there are certain nonsenseis. human critters that Iggy doesn’t Igor, this “grasshopper” bows get along with. to you in thanks for the latest She loves to snap at bees and lesson. wasps; something I routinely Now if we could only work on discourage, but in 12 years she, your relationship with delivery thankfully, hasn’t been quick people. enough to learn her lesson. davejolivet@anchornews.org

My View From the Stands

Are you going to see the pope?

FALL RIVER — In late September, Pope Francis will be visiting the United States and making stops in New York City and Philadelphia.

If you are making plans to be there to see him, The Anchor would love to hear about your experience to include in our coverage of the event.

A member of The Anchor staff will be present in Philadelphia for the Holy Father’s

visit for the World Meeting of the Families, but that’s just one set of eyes making note of this historic trip.

Please send your story to BeckyAubut@anchornews. org. Please include your full name, your parish, phone number; why you decided to make the trip and what you experienced while you were there.

(Submissions may be edited for size and content.)

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August 21, 2015

Deacon Regali named director of Office for Pastoral Planning continued from page one

Deacon Regali as the new director of the diocesan Office for Pastoral Planning, effective August 3, filling an important position that had been vacant since Diane Rinkacs resigned back in March.

And timing couldn’t have been better.

After a nearly 40-year career in law enforcement, last year Deacon Regali had decided it was time for a career change.

“I retired from the Maine State Police in 1995,” Deacon Regali told The Anchor. “I came from the New England State Police Information Network, otherwise known as NESPIN. It’s a regional information sharing group, in which there are six centers across the country.

What we do is to provide support services for law enforcement. I was the manager of the analytical section, so I would do a lot of analytical work on criminal investigations from our member agencies, which were the various police departments in New England.”

Noting that his former job required a specific set of managerial and analytical skills, Deacon Regali thought they would be ideal for the Pastoral Planning Office as well.

“What we were doing was very analytical and that’s what this job entails,” he said.

It also didn’t hurt that the longtime North Attleboro parishioner and graduate of the sixth permanent diaconate class in 2002 had a working familiarity with the diocese and its ever-changing pastoral needs.

Ordained by Bishop Sean P. O’Malley, OFM. Cap., on May 18, 2002, Deacon Regali has a master’s degree in adult education from the University of Southern Maine and holds a master’s degree in pastoral ministry from Boston College, which he earned in 2012.

It was while working toward the latter degree that Deacon Regali was introduced to the inner workings of the Pastoral Planning Office firsthand.

“At the end of my tenure at Boston College, you had to do an internship, so I spent two semesters work-

ing at the Pastoral Planning Office,” Deacon Regali said. “I worked with (former Pastoral Planning director) Doug Rodrigues and (associate director) Diane Rinkacs — she’s also a fellow parishioner at Sacred Heart Parish — so I had a good sense of what was going on with pastoral planning during those two semesters. The focus is a little bit different today than it was back then, but I’ve had some experience with the office.”

According to Deacon Regali, when Doug Rodrigues was appointed to head the Pastoral Planning Office in 2008, his main focus was to assist parishes in creating individual pastoral councils and help them plan for the future.

“Bishop da Cunha’s emphasis right now is moving from what he terms parishes being in maintenance mode to a mission mode,” Deacon Regali explained. “When a parish is in maintenance mode, we’re just looking at the number of people who are there. Going into mission mode means to become a fully active (parish) that has a mission — not only for those individuals who already go to church, but also to reach out to those who don’t. We want to help bring everyone back into the fold — that’s what we’re looking at.”

Deacon Regali said it’s a much more proactive approach to rebuilding parish participation.

“I guess down the road my job will entail assisting the leadership in our parishes to carry out the New Evangelization, which is not really new anymore,” he said. “I see that as one of the major roles that I’m going to play.”

To that end, Bishop da Cunha has already appointed two committees — a Task Force on Parishes and a Task Force on Schools — that will advise and assist the Pastoral Planning Office in this effort.

“As I understand it, my role is going to be to implement the recommendations of the task forces as the bishop sees fit,” Deacon Regali said. “They’re developing some sort of assessment tool that all of the pastors will have to go through and

complete — and once those come back, that’s when I’ll get busy. I’ll be working closely with the bishop to communicate his vision for the future of our diocese as far as pastoral planning goes. Hopefully we can move those parishes that are in maintenance mode to mission mode.”

During his initial meeting with members of the Task Force on Parishes, Deacon Regali said they set an “aggressive” deadline to have their work completed by December so that his office can begin implementing the recommendations in January.

“I’m not sure about that timetable but I think once the committees complete their work we’ll have a better handle on the timetable for implementation,” he said. “From what I observed, they’re all eager to do the work — they’re very serious about it — and they’re taking all of these elements into account.”

In addition to looking at the number of active parishioners and the maintenance needs of various parish buildings, Deacon Regali said they’ll also have to consider the number of available priests within the diocese in their assessments.

“I know a lot of pastors — like my pastor, Father David Costa — are running two parishes and a school,” Deacon Regali said. “He’s very busy and I’m shocked that he’s been able to do this for as long as he has.”

Admitting there is a preconceived notion that the Pastoral Planning Office’s sole purpose is to close, merge or suppress parishes with dwindling attendance numbers, Deacon Regali hopes to be able to reverse that trend.

“The whole point is not really to close parishes, although there probably will be some closings,” he said.

“We want to assist those parishes as best we can to get out of the maintenance mode and become fully involved, active parishes. And in speaking to the bishop last week about this, anything goes. I know we’ve seen some parishes that have turned around and have become fully involved, viable parishes. So it’s not out of the

question.”

Having been on the job for less than two weeks now, Deacon Regali already had his baptism by fire with St. Kilian Parish in New Bedford, which the secular media erroneously reported would be closing September 20. In reality, all Masses and services have been relocated to the neighboring St. Anthony of Padua Church until a decision can be made about the church’s maintenance needs.

“I know St. Kilian Church looks good on the outside, but it needs a lot of work inside and to do the repairs is not cost efficient right now,” Deacon Regali said. “It’s a very small parish community, so the decision was made to have services at St. Anthony of Padua Church.”

With this one exception, Deacon Regali has spent the bulk of his first two weeks attending meetings, reading reports, looking over past data, and familiarizing himself with the 83 parishes and 11 mission churches that currently comprise the Diocese of Fall River.

“I have looked over the parish statistics, but it’s too early for me to make any evaluations on them — I don’t have enough information yet,” he said. “But I’m hoping the task forces will

Revised and updated ...

give us a better picture and we’ll be taking a hard look at those figures. I’m hoping we can help the parishes as best we can. But ultimately it will be the bishop’s decision on where we go from here.”

While he’s spending his first weeks on the job getting acclimated, Deacon Regali said the only challenge he sees for the foreseeable future is maintaining a healthy balance between his work and family commitments.

“I remember hearing in (diaconate) formation that it’s family, then work, then ministry — in that order,” Deacon Regali said. “I remember when I was in the state police being away from my family a lot, because I was stationed at the training academy for about eight years. I spent a lot of time away from home and so coming into the diaconate and knowing how busy I’d be, I’ve always tried to keep that balance.”

And he will continue to believe that sometimes a closed door leads to an even better opportunity.

“Three or four years ago, I never would have suspected that I’d be sitting here now,” he said. “But some of those closed doors have led me here and I think it’s exactly where I’m supposed to be.”

The 2015-16 Diocesan Directory

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Youth Pages

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The Knights of Columbus Father John F. Hogan Council #14236 in Dartmouth, recently sponsored the annual “Get Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs” Fishing Derby at Mello’s Pond in Dartmouth.

Approximately 55 kids and young adults, plus parents, relatives and volunteers participated. The derby was for ages six-16 with trophies awarded to the top three participants in the categories of largest fish, most (number) of fish and total weight. The event provided a fun and safe experience for the area youth. Knights and volunteers cleaned and prepared the area around the local pond, assisted the youth and provided safety and direction. Many made the morning a family event by bringing relatives and friends to fish. “The message is a very powerful one. The fact that so many participated is a strong sign for the future. Families shared their precious time with each other and that strengthens them and our community,” said Grand Knight Chris Pereira. The Dartmouth Knights of Columbus will be sponsoring the derby again next year and thanked all of the wonderful kids and volunteers. Special thanks went to the Mellos, Ed Viveiros, Ken Cotta and all sponsors including Dartmouth Rotary Club, Main Bait & Tackle, A1 Home Improvement, Subway and Bob Peckham. A full listing of all sponsors is available on the Dartmouth Knights council Facebook and Twitter pages.

August 21, 2015

A summer program for children run by the Missionaries of Charity in New Bedford recently completed. The theme was based on the parable of the Good Samaritan. Children ages four to 12 who were serviced, and the volunteers who worked with the Missionaries of Charity in New Bedford in the program, gathered for a group picture. The superior, Sister John Therese, and the other two Sisters, Maria Bernadette and Joncia were looking for someone to teach the children some songs and perhaps put on a play. Mercy Sister Marianna Sylvester volunteered and said, “I had a blast! As a Sister of Mercy, it was great to collaborate with another community of Sisters, to learn more about them just by sharing life with them for four weeks.” The program consisted of regular camp type activities: crafts, outings, etc., but also chapel visits, adoration, and character building.

Cardinal Dolan, other speakers urge Catholic teens to live faith openly JAMAICA, N.Y. (CNS) — Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York and other speakers at a Steubenville Youth Conference inspired 1,800 Catholic teen-agers to live their faith openly.

The recent conference was held at St. John’s University in the Jamaica section of the New York borough of Queens.

For Mass, about 50 priests and seminarians processed into a sports arena at the university to the sound of upbeat worship music as participants clapped and sang.

Cardinal Dolan charmed the youth with his trademark sense of humor early on in his homily.

“I’m a little uncomfortable today having Mass in a gym,” he said, gesturing toward his stomach, “because I don’t go to gyms very often. That’s all right, because nowhere are we more at home than to gather around the table of Jesus Christ.”

The cardinal preached about St. Dominic’s work with the Albigensians, a 12th-century sect.

“They had such a lofty con-

cept of God, and they just went off the wrong track,” he said. “(They thought), ‘How could God leave Heaven and enter this stupid, sinful, corrupt, dirty world?’ They said, ‘This Incarnation is a big, fat lie, and we don’t believe it. God could not have been conceived in the womb of a woman. God could not have sweated and cried and been nailed to a cross.’”

Eventually, St. Dominic convinced the Albigensians the Incarnation was real.

St. Dominic also created the Rosary, Cardinal Dolan said, to let Mary complete his task for him.

“If we could restore Mary to the minds and imaginations of people, then we’ll have no trouble restoring the truth of the Incarnation,” he said.

“Mary prevents God from being a myth or just a nice idea or a concept.”

After Communion, Father John Parks of the Diocese of Phoenix told the young congregants a story about feeling distracted by construction work while he was trying to pray at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. “I got a sense

of the Lord saying, ‘I’m doing this in your Spiritual life all the time. I want to transform you.’”

He told the teens that God yearns for them and is always speaking to them, and invited them to close their eyes and speak to Jesus during Eucharistic Adoration.

At a workshop for teens who graduated from high school this spring, speaker Paul George challenged participants to consider what type of faithful person they will be: “As life goes on,” he said, “it doesn’t get easier. It gets more complicated. You have to make some crucial decisions. Your decision for your faith, your relationship with God, is ultimately yours to make, and it’s a yes or no.”

Faith requires commitment, George said: “We often think faith is all about feelings and emotions, but some days, we don’t feel anything.”

Knowing we are children of God means “you don’t have to seek out things from other people because you know who you are.”

He recommended plugging into a parish community, scheduling prayer time and

reading about the faith.

Father Parks had similar advice in another workshop about authentically knowing God. “How do we get to know anyone?” he asked. “You just talk to them. What if you had a friend who only called you right before they went to bed?

How often do we do that to God? We just give Him the very last bit of our day.”

Speaker Mark Hart warned against cherry-picking Catholic rules to justify behavior.

“Instead of seeking the Lord, we seek the loophole, and then we try to figure out why it goes wrong,” he said.

“The Church says, ‘I love you too much to leave you in the darkness.’ Even when you’re thinking you’re the one that’s pursuing God, I’ve got news for you: He’s pursuing you.”

Hart told the comical tale of chasing his escaped dog through the neighborhood in his underwear, only to realize that God must look at him the way he looked at his dog. “(God thinks), ‘Every time I call your name, you run the other direction like a moron,’” Hart said. “’You keep running

to danger, where you’re going to die.’ Sin is death; it’s Spiritual suicide. Sin destroys your ability to feel and experience God’s love. The Good Shepherd runs faster (than you).”

Some of the teens run from themselves; others, by expectations put on them by others, Hart continued. He predicted God would ask them to do something uncomfortable during the conference — “not because He’s trying to ruin your life, but because He’s trying to save it. God desires a relationship with you more than you could ever desire one with Him.” “God’s ways are not too mysterious for you,” he said. “God doesn’t just love us. He likes us and gets a kick out of us.”

The Steubenville conferences are run by Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, to promote life-changing relationships with Jesus and empower Catholics to live as His disciples. This summer, 55,000 teen-agers were expected to attend 21 youth conferences — a collaboration with Life Teen International — in the U.S. and Canada.

August 21, 2015

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ext week, we will begin the semester at UMass Dartmouth with a new retreat for our returning Peer Leadership Team.

CorsairWorks is a two-day, interactive leadership retreat that takes place on August 26-27.

Students will gain the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for fruitful servant leadership at UMass Dartmouth Catholic Campus Ministry and Newman House and ultimately in their communities and parishes before and after graduation.

The CorsairWorks Leadership Retreat is based on James 2:1426: “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

My pastor once indicated in his sermon that James must be from Missouri, since it is the “show me” state and James is basically saying “show me” — that as Christians we need to not only talk the talk but walk the walk. St. James is challenging Christians to a life of action. One in which we go out and act as Christ would act in this world today. One in which we are Christ to others. That is the challenge to our peer leaders and to you!

Imagine what it would be like in

Youth Pages Leave nothing unsaid

our parishes, our towns, our diocese, our world if each and every one of us took the call to action seriously?

Imagine the transformation that could take place if we each gave time in service to our fellow person!

It can be done! We just need to do it!

As an example, look at what just two UMass Dartmouth

By Deacon students Frank Lucca were able to accomplish last year. These two young people recognized the fact that many college students don’t have the money to buy food. It’s hard to believe that a student can go to college and go hungry at the same time. With the costs of college, books and lodging, sometimes meals are skipped. This is a national issue, not just a UMass Dartmouth issue! As a result the Students Helping Students Food Pantry was opened and they assisted nearly 60 students during the spring semester. Two of our Endeavor scholars made a huge difference in the lives of these 60 students.

Other students are involved with My Brother’s Keeper, a vibrant, welcoming Christian ministry in Easton and Dartmouth which delivers furniture and food to local families in need. Students and adults from UMass Dartmouth are also involved delivering and serving dinner to the guests at the Sister Rose House in New Bedford, a

Be Not Afraid

New Bedford student wins Father John Hogan scholarship continued from page 13

past 25 years, 53 students have been supported by the fund, which has awarded a total of more than $450,000; and the fund has grown in value to more than $700,000.”

Annual awards are gifted to high school graduates from a New Bedford, Fall River or Dartmouth high school who are undergraduate students attending Providence College. Selection is based on academic achievements, financial need, potential, and community/ school activities.

The Providence College South Coast Alumni recently hosted a reception at The Cove and Marina in Fall River in celebration of 25 years of Father Hogan’s legacy and awarded a $3,000 scholarship to Cheyenne Cosme, 18.

“A talented young lady from New Bedford is this year’s recipient,” said Chrissy Centazzo, director of Media Relations at Providence College. “She graduated from New Bedford’s Global

Learning Charter high school and is the first in her family to apply and be accepted to a four-year higher-ed institution.”

She also received grants from Providence College and a scholarship from her high school.

“I’m really grateful for receiving the award because I won’t have to take out loans,” said Cosme, who was raised by a single mother and is currently working at Sunrise Bakery in Dartmouth.

She will pursue a degree in creative writing.

“I like movies, and I’m interested in writing screenplays,” she said. “I want to get my master’s at least.”

“I think (Father Hogan) would have been happy to know that a girl like Cheyenne is getting an opportunity at Providence College to change her life and the people she touches,” said Synnott. “If he is looking down from Heaven, he would be very happy with that.”

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ministry of Catholic Social Services.

During the fall, hundreds of students and staff support our Thanksgiving Food Drive and our Christmas Giving Tree project. I could go on and on with examples of service that takes place out of this public university. While I have focused on service at UMass Dartmouth, there is no doubt that “faith in action” is taking place all over our diocese and in our parishes.

So please accept this challenge to get involved. I’m sure my parish is not much different than any other parish and yes, we have many good people assisting in the various ministries that make the parish such a faith-filled community — especially those ministries that reach out to assist those in need. But I ask “what would it be like” if everyone who calls themselves a Catholic gave of themselves in the same way as our perennial volunteers? Our parishes would be “happening places” wouldn’t they?

In Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song” she sings, “Like a small boat, on the

ocean. Sending big waves into motion.

Like how a single word, can make a heart open. I might only have one match, but I can make an explosion.”

I believe that these lyrics speak to the effect that even small things can have. Let it remind us that each and everyone of us can make a difference no matter how small the effort seems. The song is an inspirational anthem and, I believe, the chorus can be understood as a musical kick in the pants we all need sometimes I hope that these simple thoughts might provoke us enough to call others to action, too, especially our teens and young adults. I hope you will all give of your time in the weeks and months ahead. Your diocese, your parishes and many people need you.

Now imagine it is Christ Who is asking, “Would you be willing to give service to the parish, to others and to Me?” Your answer?

Anchor columnist Frank Lucca is a permanent deacon in the Diocese of Fall River, a youth minister at St. Dominic’s Parish in Swansea, and a campus minister at UMass Dartmouth. He is married to his wife of 37 years, Kristine, and the father of two daughters and their husbands, and an 18-month-old grandson. Comments, ideas or suggestions? Please email him at DeaconFrankLucca@comcast.net.

Area American Heritage Girls troop to begin new season; welcomes new members

SEEKONK — American Heritage Troop MA3712, a Christ-centered, Pro-Life scouting program is kickingoff its third full year of faith, service and fun as they strive to build women of integrity through service to God, family, community and country.

The first meeting will be September 17, from 3:45-5 p.m., at the parish center of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, located at 1040 Taunton Avenue (Route 44) in Seekonk (located down the street from the church heading toward Rehoboth). All girls, ages

five through 18 are welcome.

Some of the activities planned for this year include working on badges and crafts, placing flags on veterans graves for Veterans Day, participating in Operation Christmas Child, Christmas caroling, hosting a luncheon for grandparents and godparents, marching in the Memorial Day parade, running a diaper drive for the local pregnancy help center, roller skating and more.

For more information visit americanheritagegirls.org or call troop coordinator Liz Day at 774-991-0729.

The Anchor is always pleased to run news and photos about our diocesan youth. If schools, parish Religious Education programs, home-schoolers or vacation Bible schools have newsworthy stories and photos they would like to share with our readers, send them to: schools@anchornews.org

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August 21, 2015

‘Big Mamie’ a reminder of sacrifices made for freedom continued from page one

important role, as well as in the Atlantic near northern Africa.

On Aug. 14, 1965, a few months after her arrival in Fall River, the U.S.S. Massachusetts was commemorated as an official World War II memorial site in the Commonwealth.

Commissioned in May of 1942, she sailed to Northern Africa in the Atlantic Ocean where she fought in battle off Casablanca, then churned to the south Pacific Ocean where she engaged in battles there, firing the last 16-inch shell of World War II. Yet, perhaps the most powerful weapon aboard wasn’t the massive guns that fired that 16-inch ammo, it may have been her first Catholic chaplain, Father Joseph N. Moody, who, according to “U.S.S. Massachusetts,” by Turner Publishing Staff, served aboard Big Mamie

in 1942 and ’43.

The publication said that Father Moody went on to become a monsignor and later in life was a professor at Boston College and also taught at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton.

In the book’s dedication in 1997, it said of the ship’s first Catholic chaplain, “Throughout his clerical career, Msgr.

Moody was recognized by the Church as an extraordinary combination of parish priest and professional instructor. He demonstrated both facets of his character as naval chaplain.

“He was always available to help a shipmate over a tough time — a death in the family, receipt of a ‘Dear John’ letter or just the despondency of homesickness. His battle station was everywhere, as he made the rounds of the ship providing good cheer, and a sense of shared apprehension wherever he went.”

What then-Father Moody also provided was a Spiritual strength, bringing the Sacraments to the crew in an environment where peace and tranquility was but a dream.

There’s a saying, “There are

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no atheists in foxholes.” The same can be said aboard tons of floating or driven metal; fighting an enemy on land, in the air, and on and below the sea.

Father Moody was just one of many Catholic priests who brought the presence of God to soldiers in the heat of battle in World War II. One was Fall River native, Army chaplain Father Arthur C. Leneghan, who was killed in action in Italy in 1944. Father Leneghan is buried in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Fall River.

On The-American-Catholic. com, Donald R. McClarey tells of Father Aloysius Schmitt, the first Catholic chaplain hero of World War II, who gave his life saving his fellow shipmates aboard the U.S.S. Oklahoma after it was struck by Japanese torpedoes at Pearl Harbor.

Father Schmitt was the first chaplain of any faith to lose his life in World War II. The website tells the story of Father William Cummings who, “was always with the troops near or on the front line.

He said innumerable Masses, administered the Last Rites to the dying and helped with the wounded.”

Father Cummings died aboard a Japanese prisoner of war ship, where he ministered to his fellow prisoners until his death.

Also mentioned is Marine chaplain Father Charles Suver, who was among the soldiers who stormed Green Beach near Mount Surabhuci on Iwo Jima where a hellacious battle took place. Father Suver tended to the wounded and gave last rites to many of his fellow soldiers.

Yet another Catholic chaplain hero in the Pacific was Father Joseph T. O’Callahan, S.J., a Boston native who ministered to his shipmates following a kamikaze attack on the U.S.S. Franklin in 1945. Father O’Callahan received the Medal of Honor for his actions.

Many other priests served aboard ships in the Pacific and in the trenches in Europe and Africa during World War II, all risking their lives to bring temporal and corporal aid and comfort to their comrades.

Two Catholic priest chaplains are now Servants of God, in the sainthood cause process: Father Emil Kapaun, an Army chaplain during the Korean conflict, who died ministering to his comrades in a prisoner of war camp; and Father Vincent

Capodanno, a Navy chaplain who died in Vietnam aiding a wounded soldier.

Even as U.S. soldiers toil to keep America and the world free of the forces of evil, Catholic priest chaplains are there to bring at least a few moments of normalcy to an otherwise surreal environment, something they’ve been doing since before the Civil War. The Turner Publications history of the U.S.S. Massachusetts says that after serving aboard the Big Mamie, Father Moody ministered aboard the U.S.S. Yorktown and was discharged in 1946.

In the book’s dedication it reads, “To a beloved friend and shipmate, we express our profound thanks and say: Requiescat in Pace.”

The U.S.S. Massachusetts,

and every other war ship in World War II, and all of America’s conflicts, carried aboard her hundreds of simple, normal individuals who were called to lives that were far from normal — to preserve and protect the freedoms so often taken for granted.

Some see BB-59 as a weapon of war, and others look beyond the guns and stark gray countenance and see men and women who sacrificed to keep our freedoms, including freedom of religion, alive.

Men and women who relied on the comfort of a set of Rosary beads or a blessed holy medal to get them through the hell of war. And some can see the special men, the Catholic priests who chose to risk their lives to bring Christ to those looking for Him.

Around the Diocese The Diocesan Health Facilities will be hosting its eighth Annual Golf Classic to benefit the more than 900 adults serviced in its skilled nursing and rehab care facilities and community programs on August 24 at the LeBaron Hills Country Club in Lakeville. Participation opportunities include corporate sponsorships, golf foursomes, prize donations for raffles and advertising on tee signs and in the event program book. For additional information on the various levels of participation, a member of the golf committee will be happy to assist when you call the Diocesan Health Facilities Office at 508-679-8154. Printable registration forms are also available at www.dhfo.org.

On August 28 from 5 to 7 p.m., St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in North Falmouth will host a lobster roll supper with clam chowder catered by Shuckers, with corn and watermelon by Jack in the Beanstalk for $20. Kids meals will include macaroni and cheese, hot dog, corn, melon and juice for $5.

Tickets are limited and will be on sale after the weekend Masses during August. For more information call Dan at 508-548-0386.

The Catholic Woman’s Club of St. Mary’s Parish in Mansfield will celebrate its 100th anniversary with a Mass on September 10 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church 330 Pratt Street, followed by installation of officers, a meeting, and a light supper in the Rose Garden.

The Lazarus Ministry of Our Lady of the Cape Parish in Brewster is offering a six-week bereavement support program called “Come Walk With Me” that will begin September 10 and run through October 15 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The program meets for six weeks at the parish center and is designed for people who have experienced the loss of a loved one within the past year. Pre-registration is required and there is a $10 charge for materials. For more information, contact Happy Whitman at 508-385-3252, Mary Morley at 508-385-8942 or Joan Merz at 508-385-9265.

A Healing Mass and Blessing with St. André’s Relic and Anointing with St. Joseph Oil will be held at St. Joseph Chapel, 500 Washington Street, at Holy Cross Family Ministries in North Easton on September 13 with Rosary at 1:30 p.m. and Mass at 2 p.m. All are welcome to join either or both.

St. André was known as the “Miracle Man of Montrèal” for his intercession in healing thousands of the faithful at the St. Joseph Oratory in Montreal. More than two million people visit his shrine each year. St. André’s relic will be available for blessing and veneration. For more information call Holy Cross Family Ministries at 508-238-4095, x. 2027 or visit www. familyrosary.org/events.

It’s not too late to register for quality Catholic Education at its best! Registration is open for the 2015-2016 academic year at Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford and is ongoing and they welcome new students in its Preschools for three- and four-year-olds, kindergarten and grades one to eight. Call 508-993-3547 and ask for Linda Boswell to learn more about the school and to schedule a tour, or visit www.hfhn.org.

Retrouvaille is a Christian Peer Ministry sponsored by the Catholic Church for married couples who are experiencing difficulties in their Marriage. If you are considering separation or divorce, Retrouvaille can help! The next Retrouvaille Marriage renewal weekend will be held September 11-13. To register for the weekend or for more information, call 1-800-470-2230 or visit www.helpourmarriage.com.

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August 21, 2015

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

ASSONET — Beginning September 14, 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 — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the Adoration Chapel at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, 71 Linden Street, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FALL RIVER — Good Shepherd Parish has Eucharistic Adoration every Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass and concluding with 3 p.m. Benediction in the Daily Mass Chapel.

A bilingual holy hour takes place from 2 to 3 p.m. Park behind the church and enter the back door of the connector between the church and the rectory.

Falmouth — For July and August St. Patrick’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesday and Friday 9 a.m. to noon Benediction at St. Thomas Chapel, Falmouth Heights.

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

MASHPEE — Christ the King Parish, Route 151 and Job’s Fishing Road has 8:30 a.m.

Mass every First Friday with special intentions for Respect Life, followed by 24 hours of Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel, concluding with Benediction Saturday morning followed immediately by an 8:30 Mass.

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

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

NEW BEDFORD — St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, 565 County Street, holds Eucharistic Adoration in the side chapel Fridays from 7:30-11:45 a.m. ending with a simple Benediction NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m., ending with Benediction.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time.

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

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

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

The Sacrament of the Sick is also available immediately after the 8 a.m. Mass.

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

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

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

Taunton — Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord, 31 First Street. Exposition begins following the 8 a.m.

Mass. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed, and Adoration will continue throughout the day. Confessions are heard from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Rosary and Benediction begin at 6:30 p.m.

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

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

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

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

Father William T. Garland, O.S.A., former director of Fall River diocesan Education Office

BOSTON — Augustinian William Townley Garland, the director of the Fall River diocesan Education Department from 1996 until 2002, died June 12 at Kindred Hospital in Boston.

Father Garland was born Nov. 3, 1935, in Arlington, the son of William T. Garland and Mary C. Caldwell. He had one sister who pre-deceased him.

He attended the Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, N.Y., from 1949 to 1953. He was received into the Order of St. Augustine as a novice on Sept. 9, 1953, and after a year at Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, N.Y., he professed first vows on Sept. 10, 1954. He matriculated at Villanova University from 1954 to 1958, and received a BA in Philosophy. He attended Augustinian College, Washington, D.C., from which he obtained his masters in theology, and, in 1961, a masters in

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks Aug. 22 Rev. Msgr. Manuel J. Teixeira, Pastor, St. Anthony, Taunton, 1962 Rev. William R. Jordan, Pastor, St. Louis, Fall River, 1972 Rev. Msgr. Joseph C. Canty, USN, Retired Chaplain, Retired Pastor, St. Paul, Taunton, 1980 Msgr. John F. Denehy, USAF, Retired Chaplain, 2003 Aug. 23 Rev. Thomas F. Clinton, Pastor, St. Peter, Sandwich, 1895 Msgr. Anthony M. Gomes, PA, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of the Angels, Fall River, 1992 Aug. 24 Rev. Peter J.B. Bedard, Founder, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Fall River, 1884 Very Rev. James F. Gilchrist, CPM VG., Vicar General of the Congregation of the Fathers of Mercy, 1962 Rev. Msgr. James E. Gleason, Retired Pastor, St. Patrick, Falmouth, 1987 Aug. 25 Rev. Joseph F. Hanna, C.S.C, Founder, Holy Cross, South Easton, 1974 Rev. Thomas E. Lawton, C.S.C., Holy Cross Retreat House, North Easton, 2002 Aug. 27 Rt. Rev. Francisco C. Bettencourt, Pastor, Santo Christo, Fall River, 1960 Rev. Msgr. Hugh A. Gallagher, P.A. Retired Pastor, St. James, New Bedford, 1978 Rev. James E. Tobin, Missionary and Teacher, C.S.C., 2008 Aug. 28 Rev. Thomas L. Campbell, Retired, Holy Cross Community, Stonehill College, Easton, C.S.C., 2012

counseling from the Catholic University of America.

He professed solemn vows on Sept. 10, 1957, and was ordained to the priesthood on Feb. 3, 1962, at the Chapel of Christ the Teacher, Merrimack College, North Andover, by Richard Cardinal Cushing, Archbishop of Boston.

Father Garland was first assigned, from 1962 through 1966, to Malvern Preparatory School, Malvern, Penn., as a teacher and guidance counselor. He was then transferred to Our Mother of Good Counsel Monastery, North Andover, while enrolled in graduate studies from 1966 to 1970, at Harvard University. Here he was awarded a doctorate in educational administration.

From 1970 to 1974 he was a doctoral intern for educational projects at Arthur D. Little, Inc., a management services consulting firm. From 1974 to 1977, Father Garland directed a federal project in teacher training for Westchester, Putnam and Rockland Counties in New York.

From 1977 to 1987, he served in the Archdiocese of Boston as the principal of the newly-consolidated East Boston Central Catholic School, and from 1987 to 1991 as principal of St. Peter’s School in Cambridge. From 1991 to 1995 he was superintendent of Catholic schools for the

Diocese of Manchester, N.H. From 1995 to 1996 he pursued sabbatical studies at the Catholic University in Louvain, Belgium.

Upon his return to the United States, then-Fall River Bishop Sean P. O’Malley, OFM, Cap., appointed Father Garland as director of the Fall River diocesan Education Office.

In 2002, he was appointed prior of Our Mother of Good Counsel Monastery at Merrimack College, North Andover, and was elected a counselor of the province, serving for 12 years, with special oversight for the province’s secondary and higher education efforts.

In that appointment he served on the boards of trustees of Villanova University and Merrimack College, and of Malvern Preparatory School, Malvern, Penn. and St. Augustine Preparatory School, Richland, N.J. From 2003 to 2005, he was the director of Education for the California Province.

When the Villanova Province withdrew from the monastery building on the campus of Merrimack College in 2004, he became prior and treasurer of the community at Austin House, the Augustinian residence in North Andover.

Father Garland became seriously ill in May and was admitted to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Brighton. With some improvement he was transferred after several weeks, to Kindred Hospital in Boston, where he died on June 12 in the 60th year of his religious profession and 53rd of priestly ordination.

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August 21, 2015

Our common home The Anchor would like to welcome Robert Rak as a monthly contributor. He is a professor of Environmental Technology and coordinator of the Environmental Science and Technology Program at Bristol Community College in Fall River. He will offer his insights into topics relevant to Pope Francis’ recent release of Laudato Si’. elcome to “Our Common Home.”

This column is being written in response to Pope Francis’ encyclical letter, “Laudato Si’ — on Care for Our Common Home.” This expression means “Praise be” and is derived from St. Francis of Assisi’s, “Canticle of the Creatures,” in which he writes, “Praise be to You, my Lord through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us and who produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.” The Holy Father speaks of how this sister is now crying out to us due to the many ways that we have inflicted harm

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part of it. This is an essential part on our planet. As a professor of Environmental Technology, I had of the pope’s message, that we are all an integral part of God’s waited with much anticipation creation. We cannot separate for the release of the encyclical.

When it was released, I read it in ourselves from the natural world and think that our actions have its entirety and I was not disappointed. It inspired me to reach out to the diocese to share my knowledge of the workings of our world with you. I grew up in the south end of Fall River and was blessed to have

By Professor two parents who fostered Robert Rak my love of science and all creation through their no consequences. love and their actions. They proI later went on to Bishop vided me with many rich experiConnolly High School, majored ences to explore our natural word in biology at the College of the and to interact with its many Holy Cross, and received my creatures. They also loved to garmasters of science in Marine den and to fish. I often wanted Biology at Southeastern Massato bring things into school to chusetts University (now UMass show the class, and the Sisters of Mercy at St. Patrick’s School had Dartmouth). I have worked as a research assistant for the Nalearned to ask, “How many legs tional Marine Fisheries Service does it have?” It is important for kids to grow up experiencing the in Woods Hole, as a Whale Watch Naturalist in Plymouth, natural world, so that they feel a

Our Common Home

as laboratory director at a water pollution control facility, and as a computer instructor at an elementary school. All these experiences have prepared me as an environmental educator. The pope sees the study of the environment as vital to our Catholic education.

Pope Francis builds on the concern for the environment expressed

by Pope Paul IV, St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Through this encyclical, the pope wishes to speak to “every person on this planet.” The document is structured so that it not only explains the problems that exist, but how we got to this point and what we must do to bring ourselves back into harmony with our world. The Holy Father emphasizes that we cannot meet God’s desire for us to care for His Creation without caring for all of the world’s citizens. In particular he focuses on the poor and indig-

enous peoples, who he so rightly states, are the most vulnerable to the effects of our misuse and inequitable use of the world’s resources. Indigenous peoples are the original inhabitants of an area and they generally hold a rich knowledge of the natural world in which they live. They have relied on it for their sustenance and their Spiritual wellbeing. They often honor the earth as their mother, and the other creatures as their brothers and sisters. Unfortunately, in the name of progress and profits, these people, and the poor, have been, and continue to be, pushed from their homeland so that it can be developed or dug up to access energy sources and minerals.

In the Bible’s Book of Genesis it is written, “Let us make mankind in Our image and likeness and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, over all the wild animals and every creature that crawls on the earth.”

People have used these lines as a justification for plundering our planet. The pope makes it clear that dominion does not mean reckless domination and that it means having the responsibility to care for “His” creation. He makes the point that Creation belongs to God and does not belong to us. We are the caretakers.

The pope understands that we cannot move back into the Stone Age, but he warns of our lifestyle of compulsive consumerism that can lead us away from a respect for all of God’s people and His Creation. God reveals the mysteries of the world through scientific discovery and we must use our knowledge and technology for the benefit of all peoples and creatures.

In future columns I will discuss topics that the pope addresses such as climate change, energy usage, loss of biodiversity, water, etc., and I will strive to provide an understanding of His Creation and ways to meet the pope’s challenge of caring for it in our daily lives.

Professor Rak is a Fall River native and a parishioner of St. Mary’s Parish in Fall River. He has been a professor of Environmental Technology and coordinator of the Environmental Science and Technology Program at Bristol Community College in Fall River for 18 years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Holy Cross College in Worcester, and a master’s degree in marine biology from UMass Dartmouth. rrak@verizon.net.