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Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

F riday , September 13, 2013

Father Paul Robinson retires as diocesan judicial vicar

Father Jeff Cabral takes helm this week

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

FALL RIVER — When he first came to work at the Tribunal office for the Fall River Diocese in 1992, Father Paul F. Robinson, O.Carm., JCD, said his scope of work was essentially limited to cases involving Marriage annulments.

“It was pretty much almost all Marriages when I started,” Father Robinson told The Anchor. “Occasionally you’d have an odd inquiry from the chancery about another matter.”

But over the last 20 years, Father Robinson noted things have changed to the point where “at least half of our time is spent on non-Marriage stuff now,” he said.

“Things like personnel issues and parish restructurings — that’s all been added to our workload and, unfortunately, the staff has decreased while the workload has increased,” he said.

After more than 20 years of service, the 72-year-old Father Robinson will be stepping down as judicial vicar for the Fall River Diocese and head of the diocesan Tribunal office this week.

His assistant and coworker for the past three years, Father Jeffrey Cabral, JCL, will become his successor, effective September 18.

“I’ve really enjoyed the Marriage work,” Father Robinson said. “Recent years have been more difficult because of the other (cases) we’ve had to do.

It’s not something I really wanted to get involved with — that’s not where my heart is, I really don’t want to do that stuff.”

“Father Robinson is a very talented canonist and I think I’m going to have to fill some big shoes,” Father Cabral told The Anchor. “It’s going to be hard because I always depended on his advice and expertise and now he won’t be in the next office where I can ask him questions.”

Father Robinson fondly recalled the simpler times when he first began working at the Tribunal office alongside Father Jay Maddock and Msgr.

Henry Munroe. Back then, the Tribunal staff was also complemented with “four or five guys with canon law degrees who came in at least one day a week to help out,” he said.

“Over the years, all of them have become pastors and have taken on additional duties; so basically the Tribunal now is just myself and Father Cabral,” Father Robinson said, adding that they also have a clerical staff of three to assist them.

Noting that the Tribunal is techTurn to page 14

Father Paul F. Robinson, O. Carm., JCD, standing, judicial vicar for the Fall River Diocese, reviews a case with Father Jeffrey Cabral, JCL. Father Robinson will be retiring this week after working at the diocesan Tribunal since 1992 and Father Cabral will be succeeding him, effective September 18. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)

Father Richard D. Wilson, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Attleboro, said prayers and words of encouragement for teams of faithful who went door-to-door to reach out to their neighbors in the first-ever Day of Evangelization held recently. After receiving instructions and kits containing materials to distribute, 142 evangelists visited more than 1,000 homes in less than three hours.

Attleboro parish will ‘never be the same’ after Day of Evangelization

By Dave Jolivet Anchor Editor

ATTLEBORO — The faithful from St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Attleboro prayed, planned and prepared for the first-ever Day of Evangelization by a parish in the Diocese of Fall River, but they didn’t know what to expect when the day finally arrived. The plan was for pairs of volunteer evangelists to visit area homes to share with their neighbors packets of information on the Catholic Church and an invitation to come back to, or get to know Christ in a parish environment for the first time.

Everyone involved put the day in “God’s hands,” and allowed the Holy Spirit to guide them and those on whom the pairs of evangelists paid a visit,” John Rae-Kelly, one of the DOE committee members told The Anchor. “The numbers were staggering. The volunteers visited more than 1,000 residences in just two hours.”

“The Day of Evangelization was a very moving experience for everyone involved, from the people who went door to door, to the people who supported them in prayer before the Blessed SacraTurn to page 18

Providence College president to offer homily at October diocesan Red Mass

FALL RIVER — Providence Col- Stonehill College Choir.

Father Shanley has served as presilege president Dominican Father Brian J. Shanley, O.P., will serve as guest hom- dent of Providence College since 2005.

A native of Warwick, R.I., he holds ilist at the annual Fall River Diocese a doctorate in philosophy Red Mass, set for Sunday, from the University of October 6, at 10 a.m. at St. Toronto and completed a Mary’s Cathedral in Fall post doctoral fellowship River. Bishop George W. at the University of Notre Coleman will be principal Dame’s Center for Phicelebrant of the Mass. losophy of Religion. After A long-standing tradicompleting undergraduate tion in the Church, the studies in history at ProviRed Mass is celebrated dence College in 1980, each year in the diocese he earned a licentiate deto invoke God’s guidance gree in philosophy from and strength on those who The Catholic University work to promote justice in Father Brian J. of America. He also holds the legal system.

Shanley, O.P. a master of divinity and a Judges, attorneys and licentiate degree in sacred others working in the justice system throughout Southeastern theology from the Dominican House of Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Is- Studies in Washington, D.C. Ordained a member of the Dominilands are invited to attend.

Turn to page 15 Music at the Mass will be led by the

News From the Vatican

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September 13, 2013

New encyclical to clarify poverty vows, cardinal says

Rome, Italy (CNA/ EWTN News) — A new encyclical that is being written by Pope Francis will help address how to live out a vow of poverty in the modern world, according to one cardinal.

“How to define poverty is not easy today because it’s not a question of radical poverty,” Cardinal Prosper Grech, an Augustinian friar, told CNA recently, “but an encyclical on poverty will help all religious orders to define how to really live poverty in our societies.”

In May, an Italian bishop revealed on his diocesan website that the Holy Father is working on an encyclical entitled, “Blessed Are the Poor.”

The pope’s first encyclical, “The Light of Faith,” was released in July and drew upon previous work from his predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Cardinal Grech, co-founder of the Institutum Patristicum Augustinianum in Rome, believes that an encyclical would help to “define our stance on poverty.”

The definition of poverty is different depending on where one lives, the 87-year-old friar explained.

“Poverty in Africa means one thing and poverty in the

United States or Europe means another,” he said. “It’s a question of proportion.” He added that a lack of private property is among the root causes of poverty.

Laity will also benefit from the document, he noted.

“We live in such a secularized society,” he explained. “Discos and nightclubs are not the best places to get vocations from.”

In March, Cardinal Grech led the meditation prayer for the conclave that elected Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio as Pope Francis.

After his election, Pope Francis jokingly told Cardinal Grech, “Well, you gave us a very good talk, but just see what has come out of it!”

“Well, we aren’t all infallible like yourself, you know,” Cardinal Grech replied. “We do make mistakes.”

Before his election to the papacy, Cardinal Bergoglio was known for his simple and humble lifestyle when he served as Archbishop of Buenos Aires.

He would take public transportation, visit the slums and lived in a very simple apartment.

As pope, he has chosen to live in an apartment in the St. Martha House among Vatican workers rather than the traditional Papal Palace.

Pope Francis greets a child as he arrives to lead his weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican recently. (CNS photo/Tony Gentile, Reuters)

Pope: Welcome, celebration, mission the soul of Christian life

Vatican City (CNA/ EWTN News) — Reflecting on the recent World Youth Day held in Brazil, Pope Francis said at a recent general audience that hospitality, celebration and mission are reminders of the event that drew millions.

“Three words: hospitality, celebration and mission. These words are not only a reminder VATICAN CITY (CNS) portant role during the general of what happened in Rio, they — On the eve of the first an- congregation of the Society of are also the soul of our lives niversary of the death of Cardi- Jesus in 1974 in discussions and of our communities that nal Carlo Maria Martini, Pope about the relationship between help to build a world of greater Francis called the late-fellow faith and justice. justice and solidarity,” Pope Jesuit Father Federico Lom- Francis said recently at St. PeJesuit and Biblical scholar, a “prophetic” figure and a “man bardi, Vatican spokesman, was ter’s Square. present at the meeting and said of discernment and peace.”

The Bishop of Rome used The late cardinal, who died the pope also recalled Cardi- his first General Audience Aug. 31, 2012, at the age of nal Martini’s contributions in after a two-month summer 85, was “a father for the whole fostering good relations and pause to reflect on the pilgrimChurch,” and remembering understanding between the So- age to Brazil. one’s father “is an act of justice,” ciety of Jesus and the Holy See. “We think about the meanThe pope expressed his grati- ing of the crowd of youths that the pope said during a meeting tude and esteem for the late met the Risen Christ in Rio with a group of Italian Jesuits.

Representatives of the Ital- cardinal and recalled how even de Janeiro and who carry their ian Jesuit province met with Jesuits “at the ends of the earth” love to the life of others each the pope August 30 to present in Argentina would use his texts day, they live it, they commuthe creation of the Carlo Ma- during their spiritual retreats. nicate it,” he said.

The cardinal was a prolific ria Martini Foundation — a “They aren’t going to apnonprofit initiative aimed at author whose books were best- pear in newspapers, just bepromoting the late-cardinal’s sellers in Italy and included every- cause they don’t do violent or writings and the study of his thing from scholarly Biblical ex- scandalous things, they are not life and works. The foundation egesis to poetry and prayer guides. news.”

When the cardinal died, will work in conjunction with “But if they stay united to the Archdiocese of Milan, Pope Benedict XVI praised his Jesus, build up His Kingdom, where Cardinal Martini served generous service to the Gospel build fraternity and sharing, as archbishop from 1979 to and the Church and said this they are a potential force to “authoritative Biblicist” helped make the world more just and 2002.

During the brief meeting, open for the Church commu- beautiful, to transform it!” the pope told the group that nity “the treasures of the Sacred He said the experience the late-cardinal played an im- Scriptures.” of World Youth Day is a re-

Pope tells Jesuits that Cardinal Martini was ‘prophetic, man of peace’

minder of “the true, great story of the news, the Good News, although it does not appear in newspapers or television: we are loved by God, Who is our Father, and that He has sent His Son Jesus to be close to each of us and to save us.”

“He sent Jesus to save us, to forgive us all, because He always forgives: He always forgives, because He is good and merciful.”

The pope challenged the youths present in the square, commissioning them to have the courage to transform themselves in hope, opening doors “to a new world of hope.”

He had begun his address by thanking God for the providence of having made South America the destination of his first international trip as Roman Pontiff: “For me, coming from the Americas, it was a beautiful gift!”

He also thanked all the Brazilians who made possible the pilgrimage, saying, “The reception by Brazilian families and parishes was one of the nicest features of this World Youth Day.” “Good people, these Brazilians. Good people!” he remarked. “They have a great heart.”

Noting that pilgrimage “also involves discomfort,” he said the warm hospitality pilgrims received from their Brazilian hosts “helped to overcome this” and transformed it into

“opportunities for knowledge and friendship.”

Pope Francis added that the celebratory nature of the event was “a sign for everyone, not just for believers.”

“But then there is the biggest celebration which is the feast of faith, when we praise the Lord together, singing, listening to the Word of God, remaining in the silence of adoration: this is the culmination of World Youth Day, the real purpose of this great pilgrimage.”

He described Mass as the high point in “the great feast of faith and of fraternity, which begins in this world and will have no end.”

“But this is possible only with the Lord! Without the love of God there is no real feast for man!”

It is the celebration of the feast of faith, Pope Francis explained, which leads to the mission of spreading hope and the Gospel.

The shore of Copacabana beach, he said, “suggested the shore of the Sea of Galilee,” where Christ commissioned His first disciples.

“Only through Christ can we bring the Gospel … with Him, however, united with Him, we can do so much. Even a boy, a girl, who in the eyes of the world counts for little or nothing, in the eyes of God is an Apostle of the Kingdom, is a hope for God!”

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September 13, 2013

Vatican diplomat promotes moderation among Syrians

Vatican City (CNA/ EWTN News) — Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Vatican City’s secretary for relations with states, told a group of ambassadors that stakeholders in the Syrian civil war should distance themselves from extremism.

Vatican City is concerned with “the growing presence in Syria of extremist groups, often coming from other countries,” he said during recent a meeting with 71 ambassadors accredited to the Holy See. “Emphasis should be placed on exhorting the population, and also opposition groups, to distance themselves from such extremists, to isolate themselves from such extremists, to isolate them and to oppose terrorism openly and clearly.”

Archbishop Mamberti stressed that the Vatican has long been attentive to the Syrian civil war, saying that “since the beginning of the conflict, the Holy See has been sensitive to the cry for help that came from the Syrian people, especially by Christians.”

“The violence that continues to sow death and destruction is likely to involve not only other countries in the region, but also to have unpredictable consequences in various parts of the world,” he lamented.

He told the ambassadors that the Vatican had not failed “immediately to express clearly its position characterized, as in other cases, by the consideration of the centrality of the human person regardless of his ethnicity or religion, and the pursuit of the common good of society.”

Archbishop Mamberti noted Pope Francis’ desire that promoted September 7 as a world-

wide day of prayer and fasting for peace in Syria.

“The heartfelt plea of the pope interprets the desire for peace that comes from every corner of the earth, from the heart of every man of good will.”

“In the concrete historical situation marked by violence and wars in many places, the voice of the pope stands at a particularly grave … Syrian conflict, which has already seen too much suffering, devastation and pain,” he added.

The archbishop underscored that Pope Francis’ firmness shows “there is a judgment of God, and also a judgment of history on our actions to which one can not escape.”

Archbishop Mamberti appealed to the parties involved in the conflict to “not to be closed in on their own interests but to take with courage and with determination on the path of meeting and negotiation.”

He also appealed to the international community “to make every effort to promote, without further delay, clear initiatives for peace in that nation, always based on dialogue and negotiation.”

The Syrian civil war, now in its 29th month, began with demonstrations in March 2011 protesting the rule of Bashar alAssad. In April of that year, the Syrian army began to deploy to put down the uprisings, firing on protesters. Since then more than 100,000 people have died in the war.

Refugees from Syria number two million, and another 4.25 million are internally displaced.

The war is being fought among the Assad regime; rebels, who include both secularists and Islamists; and Kurds.

Diocese of Fall River

OFFICIAL

His Excellency, the Most Reverend George W. Coleman, Bishop of Fall River, has accepted the request to retire of: Rev. Joseph H. Mauritzen, Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Woods Hole.

Effective September 18, 2013 His Excellency, the Most Reverend George W. Coleman, Bishop of Fall River, has announced the following appointment: Rev. Arnold R. Medeiros, Pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Woods Hole, while remaining Pastor of Saint Elizabeth Seton Parish, North Falmouth.

Effective September 18, 2013

September 13, 2013 The Church in the U.S. Franciscan in Holy Land fears U.S. strike on Syria would inflame region

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CNS) — The president of the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land said his Christian counterparts in the region worry that U.S. strikes in Syria would further inflame a situation where many nations ply for influence.

“The concern is that if the U.S. does start military operations in Syria, then Iran will try to do something in Israel and set off a bloody chain of events that it could be a powder keg,” Franciscan Father Peter Vasko said.

The American-born priest spoke with The Florida Catholic, Miami’s archdiocesan newspaper, recently at the start of a 13-city tour of the U.S. In his presentations, he planned to discuss challenges for Palestinian and other Christians living in the Holy Land and the foundation’s efforts to support humanitarian projects and provide scholarships for Christian students.

Father Vasko echoed the concern of Pope Francis, who called Catholics and others to a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Syria and areas of the world experiencing armed conflict.

“If somebody has to speak out who better than the pontiff ? My worry is that the previous appeals for peace from the

pontiffs sometimes fall on deaf ears, but it is our moral obligation to join him in prayer that this (situation regarding Syria) doesn’t spin out of control.”

Twice a year, Father Vasko travels to the U.S. to meet with foundation supporters and to seek support for Christian young people especially to live meaningful and productive lives in their places of birth and not to emigrate.

Having spent 27 years in Jerusalem, Father Vasko said he is aware of the struggles that the Holy Land Christians experience. Christians in places such as Egypt, Syria, Iraq and elsewhere have paid a heavy price amidst Muslim sectarian conflicts, political upheaval and incidents of terrorism, he said.

Christian families have frequently sided with either government or opposition forces and therefore made no friends and were sometimes killed, he explained. Because they live in deep fear, Christians keep a low profile and shy away from taking one side over another, he said.

“In many cases, they flee,” Father Vasko said.

“Our monastery in the Suez was blown up (in August) and luckily there were no friars there at the time.”

The message he said he is hearing from leadership of

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Catholic and Christian communities in the Middle East is to stand firm and not to depart.

“Our friars in Syria are always in danger and don’t know what will happen, but they are fearless,” Father Vasko said.

“They are there for the people and other denominations say the same thing: they have to be there in peaceful times and in times of war, to remain and persevere and say, ‘We are here to suffer and die with you, if need be.’”

“That takes some courage from religious denominations throughout the Middle East,” he said.

Father Vasco planned to speak with supporters in New York; Columbus, Ohio; San Antonio; Washington and sev-

eral locations in Florida during his visit.

The priest said he has found that more and more of the Catholic population is becoming familiar with the work of stemming the Christian exodus in the Holy Land, although he conceded that he does not expect the trend to reverse itself any time soon.

A popular priest guide for visitors to the Holy Land, Father Vasko keeps a keen sense of humor about the challenges he faces and said he plans to help identify and train a successor in the coming years as he looks toward retirement.

He added that U.S. pilgrimages to Israel have been strong this year but that the prospect

of a U.S. strike in Syria may give travelers concerns about the safety and security in the region.

Father Vasko expressed hope that the prayers for peace sought by Pope Francis from Christians around the world will result in a peaceful outcome to Syria’s civil war.

“It is important for all of us to get together in prayer on this and it is needed, is refreshing and uplifting,” he said. “The pope is saying, ‘Let’s do something,’ really actively engaging our people and for me that is who this pontiff is, and with prayer all things are possible.

“We are a people of hope and divine providence; we have to wait and see what the results are.”

‘Un-gala’ fund-raiser draws awareness to homeless ministry

Denver, Colo. (CNA/ EWTN News) — Putting a unique spin on a typical charity fund-raiser, the young missionaries of Christ in the City recently hosted an “un-gala” to raise awareness of efforts to serve the Denver homeless.

“For an ‘un-gala’ gala, we wanted people to know first that we’re going to ask for money, that’s why we really used the term gala,” said project director Yvonne Noggle in a recent interview with CNA. “But we also wanted to make it clear to come as you are, because that’s what the homeless do, they come as they are.”

Christ in the City, a project founded in 2010 by Catholic Charities of Denver, seeks to “love until it hurts” in order to serve those most in need. It offers resources and assistance to Denver’s poor and homeless through the service of college-aged youth who commit to spending a summer, a semester, or a year in various ministries.

Participants receive spiritual and intellectual formation and partner with local homeless shelters, schools, Hispanic ministry centers, elderly homes and crisis pregnancy centers. They also perform street ministry, working directly with the homeless on the streets of Denver to provide for their material, spiritual and emotional needs.

During their fund-raiser, the missionaries served their guests the same way that they typically serve the homeless, offering a simple, homemade

meal of grilled chicken, potatoes and salad.

“We wanted them to be served by the missionaries with the same love and care that we serve the poor,” Noggle said. “It wouldn’t feel right having a big gala where we’re eating steak, and salmon and shrimp, when we are called to serve and live a simple life.”

“We wanted it to be in the Christ in the City style, which is more of a humble nature,” she said.

Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila of Denver, who was also present at the event, shared in the spirit of humble service, taking up an apron and salad tongs to help to serve the other guests along with the missionaries.

The apron-laden archbishop gave a short address to the attendees, offering some personal reflections on what it means to be a missionary, particularly in light of the past three popes and their emphasis on an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

“Pope Francis,” he said, “has explained that the most powerful tool to change the world is a new heart, a heart full of tenderness, a heart regenerated by Christ. And that is what Christ in the City is trying to do: to bring a change that reaches all aspects of life, but starts by the transformations of the hearts.”

Archbishop Aquila recounted a story that one of the Christ in the City missionaries had shared with him. The missionary had encountered one of the many homeless people in Denver, who was moved to

tears, saying, “You are the first that told me that I am loved

by God.” “There are too many who live like this,” the archbishop said, “without knowing that they are being loved by God. And we as believers cannot accept this reality.”

“Jesus’ Flesh suffers in all these existential peripheries. That’s why Pope Francis speaks of the need to go to such peripheries, to change poverty, all poverties, especially the ones that bite deep in the souls.”

Archbishop Aquila concluded his address with words of encouragement to the new missionaries, saying, “People may never understand what you are doing, but the joy of serving Christ among the poorest will never be taken away from you.”

Noggle noted that the program is growing rapidly. Although it is only in its fourth years of existence, it may soon be spreading to two other cities.

This growth, she said, “really is a testament that it is the Lord’s work, and that He has just been the One breathing life into it, and inspiring the hearts of missionaries and of all of our donors and benefactors and friends.”

“We won’t ever know the fruits of what Christ in the City is doing now until Heaven, and that’s OK,” she continued. “All I could ever ask for is that the Lord is 100 percent involved, and the Holy Spirit is breathing and moving in the organization.”

September 13, 2013

The Church in the U.S.

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Hotel chain removes porn channels over human trafficking link

Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey has proposed a war crimes tribunal as an alternative to military intervention in Syria.

War crimes tribunal suggested as alternative to strike on Syria

Washington D.C. (CNA/EWTN News) — A ranking member of the U.S. House has proposed a war crimes tribunal as an alternative to military intervention in Syria so that perpetrators can be held accountable for the use of chemical weapons.

“There is a compelling, moral imperative to immediately establish a comprehensive way to hold accountable all those on either side, including Assad, who have slaughtered and raped in Syria,” Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) affirmed in a recent statement.

Smith offered the plan as a way to enforce international standards prohibiting the use of chemical weapons while avoiding an escalation of violence in the war-torn country.

He suggested that a Syrian War Crimes Tribunal established through the United Nations would be “a nonlethal alternative to missiles and bombs that carry huge risks of killing or maiming innocent civilians and exacerbating the conflict — all while putting American service members at risk.”

Smith is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and chairman of committee’s Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organization Subcommittee. His office confirmed in a press release that he has stated he will vote against U.S. military intervention in Syria.

Instead, he voiced his intent to propose immediate legislation to instruct the U.S. representative to the United Nations to work towards the establishment of a war crimes

tribunal to deliver justice in a non-violent manner.

The congressman’s suggestion comes as Congress considers President Obama’s September 1 call for the approval of military action against Syria, which has been caught in a violent civil war between government and rebel forces — secular and Islamist — for more than two years.

In late August, reports indicated that chemical weapons had been used against civilians in the country, killing more than 1,400 people.

The Obama Administration has said it has conclusive evidence that the regime of President Bashar al-Assad is responsible for these attacks, though the Syrian government denies this charge and blames the rebels for the use of chemical weapons.

The possibility of a military strike against Syria has sparked strong opposition from Russia, whose leaders say they have compiled an extensive report with evidence that rebels used chemical weapons back in March.

Smith affirmed in his statement that those “guilty of war crimes, genocide and other

atrocities — whether committed by members of the Syrian government or the rebels — must be investigated and brought to justice.”

He advocated for the use of a war crimes tribunal in order to bring the guilty parties to justice because unlike “air strikes, a war crime tribunal neither indirectly assists jihadist forces in Syria, nor does it foster anger against Christian and other communities in Syria.”

The congressman cautioned, though, that if the United States is to pursue a tribunal, the establishment “of a court has to be immediate, and a comprehensive collection of evidence must begin now,” to ensure the trial’s success.

Smith also noted that these sorts of trials have been used in the past, and their lessons can prepare the United States for addressing the crimes in Syria.

“We have learned lessons from the Special Court in Sierra Leone, we have learned lessons from the Rwandan Court and certainly we have learned lessons from the court in Yugoslavia,” he said.

Washington D.C., (CNA/EWTN News) — Citing connections to human trafficking, a major Scandinavian hotel chain has announced that it is eliminating pornography channels from its hotel rooms.

“The porn industry contributes to trafficking, so I see it as a natural part of having a social responsibility to send out a clear signal that Nordic Hotels doesn’t support or condone this,” said Petter Stordalen, the owner of Nordic Hotels.

A Norwegian billionaire and philanthropist, Stordalen announced that he is removing payper-view pornography channels from his chain’s 171 Scandinavian hotels and replaced them with contemporary art.

He said he decided to stop selling the material after he started to work with UNICEF’s campaign to help the child victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, who number over 1.2 million annually, the British newspaper The Guardian reports.

Stordalen said the move may seem “shocking and unusual,” but he compared it to the initially unpopular ban on smoking.

“We were the first hotel chain in the world to ban smoking and people thought we were crazy.

Now it’s totally normal for public spaces to be smoke-free,” he said.

The move was applauded by Princeton law professor Robert P. George and prominent American Islamic scholar Hamza Yusuf.

“The pornography industry is corrupt through and through — inherently so,” George and Yusuf said in a recent essay for Public Discourse.

“It should come as no surprise that it is connected to something

as exploitative, degrading, and dehumanizing as human trafficking.

Bravo to Petter Stordalen for refusing to continue profiting from peddling the industry’s wares.”

The scholars wrote a letter to hotel executives in the United States last summer asking them to consider removing pornography from their establishments because it reduces women to “a sexual object” rather than a “precious member of the human family.”

Asking the executives to consider their own sisters, daughters and mothers, George and Yusuf charged the pornography is “degrading, dehumanizing, and corrupting,” teaching young people to “settle for the cheap satisfactions of lust” instead of achieving a love that is “liberating and fulfilling.”

Pornography policies in U.S. hotel chains vary. Omni Hotels and Resorts stopped selling pornography in 1998. Marriot has said it is “phasing out” pornography sales, while the Hilton chain has defended its continued sales.

George and Yusuf are now calling on American hotels to follow Stordalen’s lead.

“If Nordic Hotels can demonstrate this kind of moral and social responsibility, then there is no reason that Hilton Hotels and the other large chains cannot,” they said.

“Let them stop trying to deceive the public — and perhaps even themselves — with rhetoric about respecting or even protecting their customers’ liberty. Pornography is a social plague with horrific real-life consequences for real live people — addicts, spouses, children, communities, girls and women trafficked into sexual servitude.”

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September 13, 2013

Anchor Editorial

Being Christians with Christ

Last Saturday Pope Francis’ daily Mass homily was meant to shake Christians out of a robotic obedience to precepts which we don’t understand. He said that when we slavishly do things but can’t explain to others why we do them, then we are “Christians without Christ.”

He said we “have the sickness of the Pharisees” when we “put [our] faith, [our] religiosity in so many commandments,” and we say, “‘Ah, I have to do this, I have to do this, I have to do this. Christians of this attitude,” the pope said, cannot give a cogent answer when someone asks, “But why do you do this?” We just answer, “‘No, it must be done!’ — ‘But why?’ — ‘Ah, I don’t know, but it must be done.’”

The Holy Father then asked, “And Jesus — where is He? A Commandment is valid if it comes from Jesus: I do this because the Lord wants me to do this. But if I am a Christian without Christ, I do this and I don’t know why I have to do it.”

If we’re just following a series of rules without any relationship in our hearts between these commands and prohibitions and the love we are supposed to have for Christ, we are wasting our time; we are neither growing closer to Christ ourselves, nor are we witnessing to the joy which should come from being a true Christian.

Why would anyone want to become a Christian or a Catholic if we seem like a bunch of glum people who could not give any rational explanation rooted in the Gospel for what we are doing?

We need to be Christians with Christ if we are to be saved and if we are to be able to help others on the way to Salvation. “What is the sign that I am a Christian with Jesus?” Pope Francis asked. He answered that we need to look to the example of the man from John’s Gospel who was born blind. After being healed by Jesus, he was interrogated by the Sanhedrin and was essentially excommunicated by them.

After that, Jesus sought the man out, dialoguing with him, which led the man to realize Who Jesus was. The man prostrated himself before Jesus to worship Him. “But if you aren’t able to adore Jesus, you’re missing something,” warned Pope Francis. “A sign… [that] I am a good Christian, [that] I am on the path of a good Christian [is] if I do that which comes from Jesus and if I do that which leads me to Jesus, because He is the center. The sign is: I am capable of adoring,… This prayer of adoration of Jesus. The Lord makes us understand that He alone is the Lord, the unique Lord. And He gives us, too, the grace of loving Him so much, of following Him, of going along the path that He has shown us.”

On Tuesday of this week, Pope Francis challenged us again at daily Mass. This

time he asked if we really believe in the Resurrection of Jesus. He began by talking about how the Apostles and even Mary Magdalene seemed to think it was inconceivable that Jesus would rise from the dead. He then lamented, “There are also the Christians who are embarrassed. They are embarrassed to ‘confess that Christ is Risen.’”

One time Father Benedict Groeschel, CFR, recalled going to an ecumenical Easter sunrise service in New York. It was a cold morning and he had his Franciscan cowl over his head. He was surprised to find sitting next to him a rabbi friend of his. He asked the rabbi why was he there. “I had no minyan (the required number of people for a Jewish prayer service), so I thought I would join you.”

The two listened to the preacher, who was from a “mainline” Protestant congregation. The minister said repeatedly, “It doesn’t matter if He was Risen.” The rabbi then asked Father Groeschel, “If it doesn’t matter, what are you doing out here in this cold?”

Jesus’ Resurrection does matter. And yet besides being literally denied by some Christians of one perspective, their polar opposites sometimes live as if it did not matter. The pope described these people as the “triumphalist” Christians. “They do not know the meaning of the word ‘triumph,’” how God really views it. These people feel inferior, the Holy Father said, and feel the need to compensate for this complex “with their many triumphalist attitudes, in their lives, in their speeches and in their pastoral theology, Liturgy, so many things, … because they do not believe deep down in the Risen One. He is the Winner, the Risen One. He won.”

To link the Saturday homily to the Tuesday one, one could say that the triumphalistic Christians cannot explain what they do by harkening back to some command from Jesus, while the doubters think that there were no commands given after the crucifixion.

St. John Chrysostom, whom we celebrate today (Friday), gives a great defense of the Resurrection. He noted what cowardly lions the Apostles were before Good Friday and asks, “How then account for the fact that these men, who in Christ’s lifetime did not stand up to the attacks by the Jews, set forth to do battle with the whole world once Christ was dead — if, as you claim, Christ did not rise and speak to them and rouse their courage?” They did what they did, not as slaves to a set of rules, but as men who had experienced the love of the Risen Christ. May our actions bear witness to that love, too.

Pope Francis’ weekly Angelus address and prayer Dear brothers and sisters, hello!

In today’s Gospel, Jesus insists on the conditions of being His disciples: Do not oppose anything to your love for Him, carry your cross and follow Him. Many people, in fact, approached Jesus. They wanted to be His disciples; this especially happened after some miraculous sign, which confirmed Him as the Messiah, the King of Israel. But Jesus does not want to delude anyone. He knows well what awaits Him at Jerusalem, what way the Father wants Him to go. It is the way of the cross, for the sacrifice of Himself for the forgiveness of our sins. Follow-

ing Jesus does not mean being a member of some triumphant entourage! It means sharing His merciful love, entering into His great work of mercy for each man and for all men. Jesus’ work is simply a work of mercy, of forgiveness, of love! Jesus is so merciful! And this universal pardon, this universal mercy, passes through the cross. Jesus does not to do this work alone: He wants to involve us too in the mission that the Father has given Him. After the Resurrection He will say to His disciples: “As the Father has sent Me, so I send you … Those whose sins you forgive, they will be forgiven” ( Jn 20:21, 22). The disciple of Jesus gives up OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER

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all he has, all his goods, because he has found in Him the greatest good from which every other good receives its full value and meaning: family bonds, other relationships, work, cultural and economic goods and so on…

The Christian detaches himself from everything and rediscovers all of it in the logic of the Gospel, the logic of love and service.

To explain this demand, Jesus uses two parables: that of the tower that must be built and that of the king who goes to war. Jesus states in the second parable: “What king, going to war against another king, does not first sit down and determine whether he cannot defeat with 10,000 men the one who is marching on him with 20,000? If he cannot, while the other is still far away, he sends messengers to ask for peace” (Lk 14:31-32). Here Jesus does not intend to address the topic of war. It is only a parable. However, at the present time when we are fervently praying for peace, this Word of the Lord strikes at our heart and the substance of it tells us: there is a deeper war that all of us must fight! It is the tough and courageous decision to reject evil and its seductions and to choose the good, ready to pay personally. This profound

war of fighting evil is following Christ! This is carrying our cross!

What point is there to fighting wars, many wars, if you are incapable of fighting this deeper war against evil? It is pointless!

It is unacceptable. Among other things this war against evil entails saying no to fratricidal hatred and the lies that serve it; saying no to violence in all its forms; saying no to the proliferation of weapons and their illegal trafficking. There is so much! So much! And the doubt always remains: that war there, that other one there — because there are wars everywhere — is it truly a war over real problems or is it a commercial war to sell illegal weapons? These are the enemies to fight, unified and with consistency, with no other interests at heart but those of peace and the common good.

Dear brothers and sisters, today we also remember the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, a feast especially dear to the Eastern Churches. And all of us, now, we can send a kind greeting to all our brothers and sisters, bishops and monks of the Eastern Churches, Orthodox and Catholic: a kind greeting! Jesus is the Sun. Mary is the dawn that announces His rising. Yesterday evening we held

a vigil entrusting to Mary’s intercession our prayer for peace in the world, especially in Syria and in the whole Middle East. Let us invoke Mary now as Queen of Peace. Queen of Peace pray for us! Queen of Peace pray for us!

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

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

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

Hail Mary...

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

Hail Mary...

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

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

September 13, 2013

F

rom the beginning of his papacy, Pope Francis has been summoning the Church to bring the Gospel to those on the peripheries of existence.

He has tried to lead by example. He visited a refugee center in Rome earlier this week. In his first trip, he flew to Lampedusa, the Ellis Island of Italy, to comfort the multitude fleeing desperate situations in Africa bringing the spotlight of the world on their plight.

He made it a point to visit an impoverished favela in Rio and even visited a home of one of the families.

In Buenos Aires, he used to relish the one-on-one interactions he would have answering the door and phone himself at the archbishop’s residence, meeting the faithful and unfaithful on buses and subways, on the streets, in the villas de miseria (the neighborhoods of misery) and in parishes across his archdiocese.

Surely among the greatest difficulties for him since his election six months ago today must be the many practical obstacles that have limited his opportunities to meet those on the outskirts.

He told priests at the Chrism Mass in March that a good shepherd is one who is so close to his sheep that he knows their distinctive smell. A few

Anchor Columnist Make sure to answer the phone

years back he praised one priest for knowing his parishioners so well that he remembered not only their names, but their pets’ names.

That’s obviously the type of priest he aspires to be, but it’s obviously much harder now.

One of the ways that Pope Francis has found to maintain that direct pastoral contact with those on the peripheries is through the telephone.

In the first few days after his election, his use of the telephone captivated the world.

He called Carlos Samaria, his 81-year-old cobbler in Buenos Aires, to inquire about his shoe repair and to let him know that someone else would be retrieving his footwear.

He telephoned his newspaperman, Daniel del Regno, to cancel his subscription and to thank him for delivering the newspaper to him for so many years.

He called his Argentine dentist to cancel the appointment he would no longer be able to keep.

He famously tried to call the superior general of the Jesuits, but the young Jesuit at the switchboard didn’t believe he was the pope and said he was tempted to respond, “And I’m

Napoleon!”

It’s becoming clear, however, that Pope Francis has found another type of use for the phone. He’s using it as a bridge to reach out to those in need on the fringes.

On August 7, he called

Putting Into the Deep

By Father Roger J. Landry Michele Ferri, who had written him for prayers because he was finding it impossible to forgive the two men who had murdered his brother Andrea in Pesaro, Italy. Pope Francis called him, told him he cried reading his letter, comforted him about the death of his brother, encouraged him to forgive, and then asked to speak to his mother to extend to her his deepest sympathies.

On August 18, he phoned Stefano Cabizza, a 19-year-old computer engineer from Padua worried about finding a job after graduation. He had passed a note to a cardinal at the pope’s Mass on the Solemnity of the Assumption. The pope called three times before reaching

Stefano. In an eight-minute conversation full of laughter, he filled Stefano with hope, encouraging him to refer to him in the informal “tu” as friends are accustomed to address each other.

On August 25, he phoned Alejandra Pereyra, a 44-year-old Argentinian mother of six who had written him describing that she had been raped by a police officer at gunpoint in his cruiser, but that the police department is covering up the rape and actually promoted the officer in question. Pope Francis spent a half-hour with her patiently listening to her story. He encouraged her to be calm and reminded her that she was not alone. She said the encounter gave her back her faith, her confidence and the courage to continue seeking justice.

Perhaps the most moving of all happened 10 days ago. Pope Francis called Anna Romano, a 35-year-old Roman whose boyfriend, after she told him she was pregnant, divulged he was married and tried to persuade her to have an abortion. She wrote in anguish to the pope asking for prayers. He called, spoke to her as a friend, mentioned how “strong and brave” she was, and as she told

7 an Italian newspaper, “reassured me, telling me that the baby was a gift from God, a sign of providence. He told me I would not be left alone.” After she said she was worried that because she’s a divorcée her baby might not be able to be Baptized, Pope Francis told her he was sure she would surely find a willing pastor, “but if not, you know there’s always me!”

The calls have become known because their recipients have told the world about them.

There’s no way to know how many others have been called who have been kept the calls to themselves.

It’s obviously impossible for the pope to respond personally with a phone call to the thousands of letters he receives everyday. But if he prioritizes reaching out to those in need however he can, we should use whatever means we have to make that same Christian effort.

The other lesson is that if you have some particular need for prayers, don’t hesitate to write him: Pope Francis, 00120 Vatican City State, Europe.

And when the phone rings, answer it!

Anchor columnist Father Landry is pastor of St. Bernadette Parish in Fall River. His email address is fatherlandry@ catholicpreaching.com.

Faithful urged to raise voices for peace in Syria at shrine Mass

WASHINGTON (CNS) — As American policymakers debated military intervention in Syria, Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl joined Pope Francis and Catholics around the world in calling for peace and a just solution to the violence that has wracked the country and other parts of the world.

“Today we pray for those who are a part of our human family and who endure terrible acts of violence. We also invoke God’s blessings on those who strive to contain violence around the world,” Cardinal Wuerl said during a special Mass September 7 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

“We ask God to give all of us the strength to walk in the light of God’s love and that we might be true agents of human solidarity, justice and true peace,” he said.

The Mass was one of dozens of Liturgies and prayer services across the U.S. in response to Pope Francis’ call for a day of prayer and fasting for peace

in Syria, the Middle East and throughout the world.

“As an expression of solidarity with all the victims who suffer, especially the children, particularly in Syria but throughout the Middle East, we raise our voices in supplication for peace and reconciliation,” Cardinal Wuerl said during his homily.

About 700 people packed the basilica’s Crypt Church for the Mass. Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the United States, Cardinal William W. Baum, former archbishop of Washington, Washington Auxiliary Bishops Barry C. Knestout and Martin D. Holley, Msgr.

Ronny Jenkins, general secretary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and more than two dozen priests were among those at the Mass.

“We are all here together in answer to the appeal of our Holy Father,” Archbishop Vigano said at the outset of the Mass. Referring to “the dramatic situation in Syria and throughout the Middle East,” he said “the only way

to peace is through dialog, not confrontation.”

In his homily, Cardinal Wuerl also said that “peace is a precious gift that needs to be promoted and protected.”

“We must never allow the violence that exists in the world to wound our inner conviction that Christ is ‘the Way, the Truth and the Life,’” the cardinal said. “The path He sets before us, to be peacemakers and to hunger and thirst for holiness, justice, mercy, is His way.”

The Mass was offered at the

same time thousands attended a prayer vigil for peace led by the pope in St. Peter’s Square.

“In uniting our prayer with that of our brothers and sisters throughout the Catholic world, our prayer truly becomes universal and a sign of hope for the world,” Cardinal Wuerl told worshipers.

He added that “it is particularly appropriate and urgent that the Church, as a voice of conscience in our nation and a moral force in civil society, should call us to pray and as a victim of

much violence and persecution herself, the Church brings a unique testimony to the present circumstances.”

The Mass and the day of prayer and fasting was held as President Barack Obama seeks congressional approval for U.S. military action against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. The administration said it believes the Assad government used chemical weapons against civilians August 21, causing more than 1,400 deaths and that such action cannot go unpunished.

8

T

his week’s Gospel (Lk 15: 1-31) is familiar to us because it presents us with the lost sheep, a lost coin, and a wayward son (whom we have become accustomed to call “prodigal”).

The real focus of the three stories, or parables, that Jesus shares with us is not on the sheep, the coin, or the son — but on the shepherd, the woman, and the father — all of which are images for the Heavenly Father we call God. And the main point of all the stories is not centered around being lost, but being found. After each “finding” there is a rejoicing. The shepherd, even though he has had to shoulder the burden of a heavy, dirty animal, assembles friends and neighbors to “rejoice with me.” The woman, after an exhausting cleaning and sweeping (remember, the floor was dirt; there was little light, save for small slits high in the walls) calls a similar crowd together to “rejoice with me.”

September 13, 2013

A party at the Father’s House But the story of the lost the one who felt he had been son being found by his loving so good, but slighted in not father tells us so much more. having had a similar celebraThe father caught sight tion. He pleaded with him; of him; this means he was we don’t know what he did looking for him, anxiously awaiting his return. As soon as he Homily of the Week saw him he was filled Twenty-third Sunday with compassion; his in Ordinary Time heart was stirred by love. He ran to him

By Father and embraced him; Marcel H. Bouchard his neighbors would have found this behavior undignified.

After all, he was the father; or said. We are not given his he had been offended (asking response. Maybe we are supfor one’s inheritance was like posed to fill in the blank with wishing the father dead). He our own response. didn’t even let the son comAll of us know what it plete his rehearsed apology means to lose something. It before ordering the robe, the can be as practical as a set ring, and the sandals. The son of keys or as sentimental as was welcomed back to the a special piece of jewelry. family; only family members When something is lost we had jewelry and footwear. are upset, discouraged, someHired hands had none of this. times even depressed. We also Then he was ready to celknow the joy of finding what ebrate with a feast. was lost. Whether we find This loving father even what was lost on our own, or went out to the older son; someone returns it to us, our

hearts are lightened and our attitude buoyed up.

So we can connect with the exhausting effort, the drive, the sacrifice, the dedication, the passion of the shepherd for one lost sheep. We can sympathize with the great effort the woman expends to find her lost coin.

Just think about the worry, the concern, and the efforts of the father. These are all characteristics of our Heavenly, forgiving Father in His desire to “find” us, to have us “returned” to Him. This is not even based on our own need for forgiveness, but is as extensive as His unconditional love. God doesn’t provide His mercy because we ask for it. It is always present, in existence, waiting for us to respond with sorrow and regret for our sins and failures, and the desire to do better. When all these meet in the context of the Church,

represented by the priest, we can have the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Note that in the Gospel Jesus was eating with tax collectors and sinners. In Jesus’ time it was understood that like eats with like; meals were a way of celebrating group cohesion. His mercy and pardon were there even before He asked for their change of heart. And He wasn’t afraid to challenge the Pharisees to compare themselves to shepherds. The numbers 10 and 100 were thought to represent completeness; as was a family circle when all its members joined together.

It seems, according to these parables, that God desires everything to be complete, to be just right.

We might say there is a party at God’s house and everyone is invited. Am I ready to accept?

Father Bouchard is pastor of St. Mary-Our Lady of the Isle Parish on Nantucket.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Sept. 14, Nm 21:4b-9; Ps 78:1-2,34-38; Phil 2:6-11; Jn 3:13-17. Sun. Sept. 15, Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Ex 32:7-11,13-14; Ps 51:3-4,12-13,17,19; 1 Tm 1:12-17; Lk 15:1-32 or 15:1-10. Mon. Sept. 16, 1 Tm 2:1-8; Ps 28:2,7-9; Lk 7:1-10. Tues. Sept. 17, 1 Tm 3:1-13; Ps 101:1-3,5-6; Lk 7:11-17. Wed. Sept. 18, 1 Tm 3:14-16; Ps 111:1-6; Lk 7:31-35. Thurs. Sept. 19, 1 Tm 4:12-16; Ps 111:7-10; Lk 7:36-50. Fri. Sept. 20, 1 Tm 6:2c-12; Ps 49:6-10,17-20; Lk 8:1-3.

I

n a review quoted on the back cover of Ian Ker’s “G.K. Chesterton: A Biography” (Oxford), Susan Elkin suggests that Father Ker’s book “has the potential to establish Chesterton in what Ker regards as his rightful place as a major English author.” That’s certainly true; but one does wonder about that “Ker regards” business. Does Elkin not regard Chesterton as a “major English author”? I imagine she would regard George Bernard Shaw, Chesterton’s friendly antagonist, as such; and Shaw without doubt regarded Chesterton as such.

Father Ker reminds his readers just why that’s the case, which has to do with both the depth of Chesterton’s insight and the breadth of his literary accomplishment. Catholics who know GKC primarily as one of the 20th century’s most winsome and effective defenders of Christian orthodoxy will learn that Chesterton was also a distinguished literary critic: perhaps the greatest analyst of Dickens ever, and a man

G.K. Chesterton, genius the great public controversies of whose insight into literature his day, and engaged both issues drew the admiration of the likes of Joseph Conrad. Fans of and opponents in a way that Chesterton’s own fiction — the drew, not merely the respect, but the love, of his opponents.

Father Brown mysteries, “The Man Who Was Thursday,” “The One need not agree with Chesterton’s opinions in whole Napoleon of Notting Hill,” some of the greatest nonsense verse in English — will learn, or be reminded, that GKC was also one of the most prolific journalists of his time, a man under

By George Weigel constant deadline pressure who, like Mencken, was incapable of writing or in part to recognize that he a dull sentence. Those who imagine Chesterton an amiable had a remarkable insight into lightweight will have to wrestle modernity and its discontents with Etienne Gilson’s judgment and a singularly fetching way of demolishing an intellectual opthat Chesterton’s small book, ponent without drawing blood “St. Thomas Aquinas,” was or leaving bruises. “without possible comparison, Ker’s Chesterton is also full the best book ever written on of interesting ChestertoniSt. Thomas. Nothing short of ana with which even devoted genius can account for such an Chestertonians may be unfaachievement.” miliar. Among the new things And then there is ChesI learned about Chesterton was terton the public figure, who cannot be extracted from Ches- his passion for Polish indeterton the literary man. For de- pendence. Father Ker’s telling cades, GKC was at the center of of a GKC visit to the Polish

The Catholic Difference

Second Republic between the world wars is a lovely vignette in its own right as well as an illustration of Chesterton’s political insight. For GKC saw, well before the evil deed was done in September 1939, that Poland would be struck by both Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia, acting in cahoots against an outpost of Christian civilization.

Then there is the tale of Chesterton’s months as a guest lecturer at the University of Notre Dame. It’s a lovely story of Chesterton and his wife discovering the vitality, generosity, and hospitality of U.S. Catholicism in a “Catholic moment,” and at a Catholic institution, that had yet to be affected by the acids of ambiguity. Thus in granting Chesterton an honorary degree, university president Father Charles O’Donnell, CSC, cited “with the greatest possible satisfaction that note of confident and triumphant Catholicity” that had “rung through” Chesterton’s lec-

tures on Victorian literature and history (That the Notre Dame spin machine had not yet achieved the prodigies for which it is currently famous is clear from Father Ker’s observation that the university’s initial announcement of Chesterton’s appointment “somewhat curiously” portrayed Chesterton as “if not one of the really great men of contemporary literature, certainly one of the most discussed and caricatured”).

Through 700 pages that reflect an immense work of devoted scholarship, Ian Ker weaves the story of a Catholic defender of reality who was utterly convinced that history is His-story, God’s story, and thus a Divine comedy, not a terrible tragedy. Chesterton’s rollicking humor, which bound both friend and foe to him, was not a quirk of personality. It was an expression of his Christian faith, hope and love.

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

September 13, 2013

I

managed to get to my feet with some effort, brushed myself off, said a silent prayer of gratitude that I had not broken my derriere or any other part of my body, reached out my hand to accept a helping hand, and muttered something like, “I’m OK.” My body had not suffered any major damage, thank the Lord, but my pride had taken a muchneeded hit. Just then one of the ladies said, “You fell very gracefully, Father.” I wonder how many hands reached out to the Lord each time He fell on the way to Calvary.

On this day I had been hot and tour guide to five red-shirted ladies just about

Anchor Columnists Trip the light fantastic

(residents of Kalaupapa must my age and older from have figured that they were Wareham. We had visited the Catholic Church’s first Kalawao and celebrated female cardinals!) insisted Mass at St. Philomena, the church twice enlarged by Father Damien. After spending some time at Judd Park and the Kalawao Lookout, where many of

By Father Damien’s congregaPatrick Killilea, SS.CC. tion had come to shore, we headed homeward toward on hiking up to the Kauhako the Kalaupapa township. crater, long dormant but This is when my downfall now a place of great interest began. and considerable reverence.

Evidently emboldened These ladies’ determinaand spiritually uplifted by their experience in Kalawao, tion to hike up and visit the crater was most impressive, these five red-shirted ladies

Moon Over Molokai

especially in that one of their members recently had a knee replacement. There was no stopping them.

At least one of them beat me to the summit, but on arriving I immediately and carefully moved to the lip of the crater and looked down at the lake far below. Then I turned and reached out my hand intending to help one of the ladies to come closer and share the fantastic view. Right then it happened. A huge gust of wind hit me and sent me stumbling backwards. I tripped on a rock in back of

9 me and went down hard on my rearguard. I had viewed the spectacular and tripped.

After lunch at St. Francis and a stroll around town, it was time for these lovely and lively ladies to bid farewell to Kalaupapa. I took them to our little, friendly airport in my “Paddy Wagon.” They would have liked to linger longer but Makani Kai (air charters) has a schedule to keep. So I waved them into the sky, as is our custom here in Kalaupapa. We always make sure our guests leave … safely. Aloha!

Anchor columnist Father Pat Killilea, ss.cc., is pastor of St. Francis Parish in Kalaupapa, Hawaii.

Love one another

A

s I examined the retreat program catalog, one title caught my eye — “Mystics, Rebels and Prophets: Women Who Went Before Us and Walk With Us Today.” As I read the title, I knew this was my retreat.

I usually am very analytical, but this time I went with my intuition. Although I did not know it at the time, that reminder of feeling and responding by intuition was a necessary gift from God so that once on retreat, I could better appreciate the mystics.

The retreat was fabulous.

Do you remember the two disciples walking the road to Emmaus and how they described their hearts burning within as Jesus walked with them (Lk 24: 13-35)?

That heart burning with love for God is what characterizes mystics. Even better than just knowing that, I experienced it for myself during this retreat.

The week began with the idea that being a mystic means letting God love us and following where that love leads. The retreat leader was Edwina Gateley. She founded the Volunteer Missionary Movement and Genesis House. Discussions were focused upon the writings and experiences of a number of women mystics whose experience of God brought them, and today brings us to a deeper understanding of Jesus’ words, “I give you a new commandment: love one another.

As I have loved you, so you should also love one another” ( Jn 13:34). As I look back upon that week, I think per-

haps Edwina so aptly brought plague. Julian received her visions after she had fallen ill out that flow in the mystics’ and as she received the Last lives since she herself has Rites. In her 16th vision, she chosen to live her life by the saw her soul (in her heart), mantra of following where and Jesus sitting in the center God’s love leads. of her soul. Julian realized St. Hildegard of Bingen, that God was saying that no O.S.B. was the first mystic matter how much suffering we met. In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI declared Hildegard a Doctor of the Church. The title Wrestling with God “doctor” comes from Holding on for the Latin docere which His blessing means to teach. The title recognizes someone as an accomplished

By Dr. Helen Flavin teacher of doctrine or spirituality. A key theme in her works that reso- came one’s way, that “all shall be well.” nates with me is that there In another of Julian’s vimust be a balance among all creation; we must not destroy sions, God showed her a little nut in the palm of a hand. the earth. One thought from To Julian’s inquiry, God said, her writings that touched me personally was her idea that a “It is all that is made.” Julian woman’s true role was to birth knew that it lasts, and always the Divine in our world; what will last, because God loves it.

Julian saw three truths: God each woman brings forth is unique; and women are called made it, God loves it, and God keeps it. This Sunday’s to radiate Divine beauty. On Gospel is the parable of the one level this calls for respect lost sheep. As you envision for the sanctity of motherhood. However, this calls also Jesus carrying that rescued to single women and working sheep, do you not see those mothers to find and live their same three truths Julian described? personal ministry to further Not surprisingly, mystics God’s loving plans for our are often rejected by audiworld and to do so sharences who do not understand ing their experiences of the their experiences. One exbeauty and love of God. ample is Marguerite Porete My favorite mystic was who was burned at the stake Julian of Norwich, who lived in 1310. A copy of her book in the 14th century. Her “The Mirror of Simple Souls” expression of God’s love in was rescued. Within 100 years terms of joy and compassion of her death, it resurfaced. stood in stark contrast to Did her book survive because the world around her which authorship was misattribfeatured two popes, the sale uted to a priest or because of indulgences, and the black

her ideas were acceptable in a different political environment? Let’s just say that when calmer heads prevailed, the very same experiences and ideas were found to be something to respect.

Marguerite calls love and faith protectors of reason’s house. An important message for our world is that all three must work together. In addition, the sad tale of killing someone without bothering to truly understand what they are saying still happens rather frequently in our world, does it not? Isn’t it time for us to listen to one another with our hearts as well as our minds so we can understand the wisdom found in another’s experiences?

Jesus says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mk 12:30).

Our world desperately needs peacemakers who patiently

recognize common ground then explain it to those who mistakenly assume they are opponents.

A retreat is a moving experience and I urge you to give one a try. Let us close with Julian’s words, “Truth sees God, and wisdom contemplates God, and from these two comes a third, a holy and wonderful delight in God, Who is love.” This week, may we experience life as mystics and live in God’s love.

Anchor columnist Helen Flavin is a Catholic scientist, educator and writer born and raised in Fall River. She is a member of St. Bernadette’s Parish and received her Ph.D. in neurochemistry from Boston College and teaches in the Chemistry Department at Rhode Island College. She is also a science instructor at Bishop Connolly High School. She can be reached at hflavin@bishopconnolly. com.

10

September 13, 2013

Thousands flock to Rome armed with power of prayer in fight for peace

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — For the thousands of people who turned out for a solemn vigil in St. Peter’s Square, the power of prayer and hopes for peace are still mightier than the world’s weapons and wars.

“Instead of using hatred, we are using prayer because it’s the only thing that can bring calm and peace to everything,” Michele Di Stadio, 20, told Catholic News Service.

Di Stadio came with 30 other young people from the Neocatechumenal Way in Rome, he said, “to pray so that a war that would only cause a world catastrophe wouldn’t happen.”

While the journey to St. Peter’s Square wasn’t anything unusual for Di Stadio and his friends, it was a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity for Julie Abdelky, her husband and her brother Walif, who flew in from Damascus, Syria, specifically to take part in Pope Francis’ call for peace in Syria and the whole world.

The pope called people to come to St. Peter’s so they could “raise their voices so the world can hear,” she said.

sign she had printed from a computer: “Don’t turn off the light that led St. Paul to Christ; Stand by Syria.”

from Damascus,” she said.

The September 7 evening vigil that drew tens of thousands of people to Rome

A young girl holds a Rosary as Pope Francis leads a vigil to pray for peace in Syria September 7 in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

“Jesus can hear us better from here, too,” added her husband, Tarek Harmouch.

Holding a Syrian flag, Julie also pulled out a small

People need to remember “Syria has been the land of Christ. St. Paul opened his eyes in Damascus and he started spreading his message

and inspired similar events of prayer and reflection by countless other people of different faiths worldwide “must have an impact,” said Julie, who is a Christian.

“We believe that people are not like politics; people believe in God, they care about peace,” she said. And prayer is a powerful force, she added, “It’s the only candle you cannot turn off.”

A gathering called by the pope is also more potent than a locally-organized demonstration in a city center, said Joseph Day, a student from Rehoboth, studying in Rome.

The pope is “the leader of more than one billion Catholics who live in all nations, including those wanting to go to war. They will have an effect on people in those countries and I hope and think they will have an effect on politicians, too,” said Day, who was sporting a grey T-

shirt emblazoned with “Pope Benedict XVI” on the back — a souvenir from the retired pope’s 2008 visit to the United States.

“Prayer is very powerful, it can do all things,” he said. If God is there when just two or three people gather together in His name, then having thousands in Rome and thousands more worldwide gathering in His name “will make a very effective prayer,” he said.

However, Christian Roehl, a tourist from Munich, Germany, said he thought the event would have no impact on world leaders.

U.S. President Barack “Obama will do what he wants to do. I don’t know why he got the Nobel Peace Prize and I am very angry and sad at the United States for wanting to have a war,” he said.

Unlike his name, Roehl laughed, he is not a Christian and he thought praying for peace wouldn’t do much.

“If the pope can call (Obama) by telephone and tell him ‘no war’ then that might be a more powerful influence than this. This is just a love parade,” he said.

Roehl’s companion, Anke Meierhenrich, shook her head in disagreement and interrupted saying that a gathering for peace was “very good.”

“It will have lots of publicity, everyone will watch it on television. It will raise awareness about the conflict, which is a good thing to do,” she said.

Margaret Maars from Wagga Wagga, Australia, said a person has to believe in prayer for it to be effective.

“Sometimes I can feel a bit cynical with all the sadness in the world, but I still hold onto my faith very firmly,” she said.

11

September 13, 2013

Maryknoll Father Vincent R. Capodanno, a Navy chaplain who was killed while serving with the Marines in Vietnam, is pictured in an undated photo. As the priest’s sainthood cause gathers momentum, he was remembered at a September 4 memorial Mass in Washington as a man “completely dedicated to the spiritual care of his Marines.” (CNS photo/courtesy Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers)

Military archdiocese remembers sainthood candidate killed in Vietnam WASHINGTON (CNS) — As the sainthood cause for a Vietnam War chaplain gathers momentum, the priest was remembered at a September 4 memorial Mass as a man “completely dedicated to the spiritual care of his Marines.”

Father Vincent Capodanno, who died in Vietnam Sept.

4,1967, was one of the “great priest chaplains,” said Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services in his homily at the Mass, celebrated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.

“This annual gathering is to pray for him and to recall his pastoral service as a model for chaplains and priests in general,” Archbishop Broglio said.

“The cause for his canonization is not for him, but for us. Others should know of his dedication and his desire to serve others.

His was a response filled with faith to the Master Who laid down His life for the sheep.”

Father Capodanno, a Maryknoll priest and Navy chaplain, died in Operation Swift in the Thang Binh district of the Que Son Valley. He went among the wounded and dying, giving last rites. Wounded in the face and hand, he went to help a wounded corpsman only yards from an enemy machine gun and was killed.

“One way or another, directly or indirectly, we have been touched by the life and ministry of the ‘Servant of God,’ Vincent Capodanno,” Archbishop Broglio said.

In his homily, he challenged

all given pastoral responsibilities.

“That is the constant tension in pastoral ministry: Where do I best use my time and talents, what furthers the mission? It is the mission that is central and not merely my career, or promotion, or whatever,” he said.

“To receive the Lord Jesus means to open my heart with generous love. Anyone, young or old, who meets Jesus is inevitably destined to change and to be led to the service of others.”

To the Marine veterans gathered at the Mass, the archbishop said, “Is that not why you, fellow Marines of Father Capodanno, have joined us tonight? Some of you have journeyed to be here.

You cannot forget the Shepherd Who was there for you.” After the final blessing at Mass, a lone trumpet played “Taps.”

In the book “The Grunt Padre” — Father Capodanno’s nickname — Marine Cpl. Keith Rounseville said Father Capodanno “was jumping over my (fox) hole, all the while exposing himself to enemy machine gun fire to try and give aid to a wounded Marine. Chaplain Capodanno looked and acted cool and calm, as if there wasn’t an enemy in sight. As he reached the wounded Marine, Chaplain Capodanno lay down beside him and gave him aid and verbal encouragement and telling him medical help was on the way.”

Marine Cpl. Ray Harton also remembered how he lay wounded and bleeding from a gunshot wound to his left arm.

“As I closed my eyes, someone touched me,” he recounted for the book. “When I opened my

eyes, he looked directly at me. It was Father Capodanno. Everything got still: no noise, no firing, no screaming. A peace came over me that is unexplainable to this day. In a quiet, calm voice, he cupped the back of my head and said, ‘Stay quiet, Marine.

You will be OK. Someone will be here to help you soon. God is with us all this day.’”

In 2002, Father Capodanno’s canonization cause was officially opened. In 2004, the initial documentation for the cause was submitted to the Vatican’s Congregation for Saints’ Causes. In 2006, a public decree of “Servant of God” for Father Capodanno, a native of Staten Island, N.Y., was issued by the military archdiocese.

Recently, the archdiocese established the Capodanno Guild to raise funds and support for the sainthood cause. On October 1, Archbishop Broglio said, there will be a formal opening of the cause to meet the canonical requirements.

To advertise in The Anchor, contact Wayne Powers at 508-675-7151 or Email waynepowers@anchornews.org

12

September 13, 2013

Father Robert Barron releases New Evangelization series

Denver, Colo. (CNA) — icism,” which explained various The second installment of the elements of Church teaching. popular “Catholicism” series by Released in 2011, the original Father Robert Barron is being documentary was well-received, released this month, with a fo- airing on PBS and EWTN, and cus on the New Evangelization being used as a formation proand the Church’s response to gram at the parish level.

The latest installment will secularism in the West.

“While the content of the focus on how to turn Church apostolic faith remains the same, teaching into action in the modall Catholics are called to share ern, secular culture, examining it with new ardor, new expres- initiatives that have been sucsions and new methods,” said cessful in reaching out to conFather Barron in a statement temporary society.

Among the topics addressed announcing the September 3 by the new release. e need to reach DVD are moral “We need out to those in relativism, “new to reach out to those in our cul- our culture and invite atheism,” media ture and invite them to know Christ and and evangelization, the use them to know also reach out to those who of culture in Christ and also reach out to have already been Bap- spreading the those who have tized, but have drifted. We Gospel, and evalready been are called to awaken their ery Christian’s Baptized, but faith and bring them closer call to evangehave drifted. to Jesus Christ and to His lize. Presented We are called in six parts, to awaken their Church.” the 90-minute faith and bring them closer to Jesus Christ and documentary begins by reviewing the definition and history of to His Church.”

Father Barron is founding di- the New Evangelization before rector of Word on Fire Catholic highlighting “numerous examMinistries, a nonprofit media ples of individuals and groups organization to support Catho- proclaiming the Gospel with lic evangelism through the lives creativity and innovation.”

Among the new methods beof the saints and through the Catholic traditions of art, archi- ing used to evangelize are the tecture, poetry, philosophy and fantasy works of J.R.R.Tolkien and the television show of Ventheology.

A noted author, speaker and erable Fulton Sheen, along with theologian, his cultural com- various modern internet enmentaries on YouTube have deavors.

The new documentary also been viewed collectively more includes interviews with young than eight million times.

The new documentary, “Ca- Catholics and prominent Caththolicism: The New Evangeli- olic thinkers, such as papal bization,” explores the Church’s ographer George Weigel and mission of “actively sharing the New York Times columnist Ross beauty, goodness and truth of Douthat.

Accompanying the new seCatholicism” amid the chalries is a study program for adults lenges posed by contemporary written by Brandon Vogt, a Western culture.

It builds on Father Barron’s Catholic blogger and advocate previous documentary, “Cathol- of the New Evangelization.

“W

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

Chen Chang stars in a scene from the movie “The Grandmaster.” For a brief review of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS photo/Weinstein)

ica rating is PG-13 — parents the knuckleheaded machismo strongly cautioned. Some ma- to which almost everyone on terial may be inappropriate for screen subscribes. The forces children under 13. of civilization are only feebly “Riddick” (Universal) represented by a youthful miBrooding, bloody sci-fi ac- nor character (Nolan Gerard tion sequel in which an es- Funk) whose humane attitude caped convict (Vin Diesel) and habit of quoting Scripture with a fearsome reputation as suggest some distant hope for a killing machine finds himself better things, though the script NEW YORK (CNS) — abandoned on a planet infested treats his piety ambiguously.

The following are capsule with deadly animal predators. Excessive gory violence, a dereviews of movies recently His only chance of escape is graded view of human sexualreviewed by the Office for to summon, and defeat, space- ity, a scene of aberrant sexual Film and Broadcasting of the traveling bounty hunters (led activity with full nudity, about U.S. Conference of Catholic by rivals Jordi Molla and Matt a half-dozen uses of profanBishops.

Nable) whose craft he can then ity, pervasive rough and crude “The Grandmaster” use to flee. The moral uni- language. The Catholic News (Weinstein) verse of writer-director David Service classification is O — Director Wong Kar Wai, Twohy’s follow-up to his two morally offensive. The Motion who also wrote the screenplay, previous entries in the saga — Picture Association of Amermelds romance and martial-arts 2000’s “Pitch Black” and 2004’s ica rating is R — restricted. fighting into this lush and lyrical “The Chronicles of Riddick” — Under 17 requires accompare-creation of a neglected era of is unrelievedly bleak and made nying parent or adult guardrecent Chinese history. After the all the more ethically barren by ian.

1930s-era grandmaster (Tony Leung) of the southern style of kung fu — Bruce Lee’s future teacher — defeats the leading proponent (Wang Qingxiang) of the northern method, the loser’s daughter (Ziyi Zhang), a fierce fighter herself, challenges the victor in order to restore her father’s honor. Though an epic confrontation follows, the pair emerges from it having forged a strong bond of mutual respect and admiration. Wong offers up the expected, namely, stylized fights in slow motion.

But, happily, he also presents viewers with more surprising sights: lingering tight close-ups of facial expressions, a raindrop, or a flower blossom. The result is an arty, immersive experience Sunday, September 15, 11:00 a.m. resurrecting a lost world where honor, family, and tradition were sacrosanct. In Chinese. Subtitles.

Intense but largely bloodless martial arts fighting, brief drug Celebrant is Father Michael use, a prostitution theme, some Racine, pastor of St. Bernard’s rough language. The Catholic Parish in Assonet News Service classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of Amer-

CNS Movie Capsules

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6

September 13, 2013

I

’ve always loved boats. As a native New Englander, I suppose that’s a requirement.

As a lad, I used to sit in a small one as my dad trolled Stafford Pond in Tiverton, R.I. for some fresh-water fishing. I must admit I usually brought a small transistor radio with an ear plug so I could listen to the Red Sox. My dad and brother were the anglers, I was just along for the ride.

I’ve been on ferries, motorboats, row boats and canoes.

Every boat I’ve ever boarded was powered either by manpower or a motor. But sailing has always intrigued me. I’ve never been sailing or aboard such a craft, but it looks like a lot of work and a lot of fun. Just ducking out of the way of the boom seems like a sport in and of itself.

For years, since the 1970s, I would watch the America’s Cup races on the tube — whenever they were held: every three or four years.

For the most part, during my viewing years, the races were held off Newport, R.I., and the U.S. would sail into the sunset with the oldest active trophy in international sports.

Anchor Columnist 2013: A sea odd-yssey

away from watching the cup The races began back in 1851 races, but I saw a commercial adwhen Great Britain and the vertising their approach this year U.S. sailed for supremacy of the and decided I wanted to get back seas off the Isle of Wight in the into it. I even enlisted Emilie to English Channel. The U.S. won the inaugural event and kept the old sterling silver ewer until 1983 when the Aussies wrestled it from the Yanks and brought the races Down Under.

I used to love to watch

By Dave Jolivet the strategies involved, even though I didn’t know what they meant or why they were performed. Things join me, extolling the excitement the contests offered. like jibbing and tacking. Good We sat down to watch the first stuff. two races last Saturday from the The boats were beautiful and waters off San Francisco, and sat majestic and curled and swirled there with jaws agape. in the ocean waters like darting The boats weren’t sailing, they dolphins. were flying — on small apThe big old sails, the jib and pendages that looked like bent the mainsail will puff out like butterknives. The single-keeled Luis Tiant’s cheeks when they sailboat was now a catamacaught the right breeze.

There was a keel, a hull, a rud- ran, with a trampoline betwixt the twin keels, with the sailors der, and a mast. They looked like bouncing from one side to the sailboats. other throughout the races.

The sailors were in shorts, The “sails” didn’t billow in the sneakers, and baseball caps, breeze. They were rigid, plastic, donned in sunscreen and lip 13-story wings like on a Boeing balm.

747, only in the vertical position.

For some reason, I had fallen

My View From the Stands

And the sailors! They were attired in space suits, with helmets and radio receivers and transmitters. There’s no need for sunblock here. The only recognizable feature on the racers were sunglasses. They had the look of space travelers more than seafarers.

Emilie asked, “What’s that?” I didn’t know how to respond. I only said, “This is not what I used to watch.”

For me, the races don’t have the same romance to them.

The old boats used to intertwine on the waters, like a dance or a boxing match.

The strategies are still there, but the boats are so wide it just doesn’t seem the same. Maybe it’s

13 just me. We’ll continue to watch the races because it is fun, just not as fun.

To me sailing will always be those small- to medium-sized boats with a keel, rudder, mast, mainsail, jib and boom. The boats that fill shorelines along Cape Cod and Southeastern Mass. darting to and fro like waterflies skimming atop the sparkling seas. No flying, just riding the breezes with the occasional capsize.

I’m not sure if you sailors out there agree, but this landlubber feels there are some things that shouldn’t be “improved” upon — and that ain’t no jibe.

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

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14

September 13, 2013

Father Paul Robinson to retire from diocesan Tribunal continued from page one

nically “the court of the diocese,” Father Robinson said its primary function is to serve as a judiciary body for the bishop in matters of canon law.

“The bishop has several functions, one of which is judiciary,” he said. “But, generally speaking, bishops do not exercise their judicial powers themselves, only because whenever you make a decision, there’s always going to be someone angry about it.

So when things come down to trials, they come to the Tribunal.”

According to Father Cabral, many larger dioceses and archdioceses have either a canonical adviser or canonical affairs office to deal with non-Marriage cases.

“In that case, the Tribunal would handle strictly Marriage issues and canonical affairs would handle everything else,” Father Cabral said. “In a sense, here we’re serving both functions.”

In an office that deals with an estimated 200 cases in a given year, Father Robinson said it can take anywhere from a few months to several years to render a decision.

“It’s hard to guess, because there are a lot of steps in between getting a case and ending a case,” he said. “You have no control over the time — you’re very much at the mercy of people responding to mail and stuff like that. Sometimes it zips right along and you get a case done in six months and other times it takes three or four years before you can get everything in order.”

An Easthampton native who first came to work for the Fall River Diocese in December 1992, Father Robinson was ordained a Carmelite priest in New Jersey in 1967 and holds a doctorate in canon law from the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

He has served as judicial vicar since July 1, 2002.

“I spent some time (working) in parishes before I got involved with canonical work,” Father Robinson said, adding that he previously taught high school in Louisville, Ky., and spent time in Joliet, Ill., Tuscon, Ariz., and Stockton, Calif. before going to study in Rome for his doctorate.

“I was always interested in canonical law,” he said. “One of the pastors I was working with happened to be a judicial vicar in California and one thing led to another.”

A New Bedford native, the 40-year-old Father Cabral was ordained a priest on June 8, 2002 by then-Bishop Sean P. O’Malley, OFM, Cap. A graduate of Dartmouth Middle School and Dartmouth High School, he received a degree in mathematics from UMass Dartmouth in 1995.

In August 2007, Bishop George W. Coleman assigned Father Cabral to begin canon law studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he earned a JCL — licentiate in canon law.

As a math major, Father Cabral said there was something about the order and

This week in

50 years ago — The Serra District 40 Convention was held beginning with a Mass for Serrans and their wives in the chapel of Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth. Serra Club members from New Bedford, Fall River, Attleboro, and Providence, R.I. were in attendance.

25 years ago — People in the north end of New Bedford got an eyeful when the former St. Mary’s rectory was moved some three miles by its purchaser. A new rectory had been completed and a new church was ready for use.

logic involved in canon law that appealed to him.

“As part of your formation in becoming a priest, you take the basic courses in canon law,” he said. “But I guess I first saw the practical uses of canon law as a priest while I served at St. Anthony’s Parish in Taunton.”

When the bishop approached him about considering getting a degree in canon law, Father Cabral said he began to “appreciate it a little more.”

Although the work of the Tribunal is akin to a courtroom proceeding, Father Robinson said there are key differences between civil and canon law.

“They are technically two different forums,” he said.

“Our civil law is built on the British system, but canon law is built on Roman law. In civil law, it’s the judge who collects information and proof; but here it’s the advocates — or attorneys — who do it while the judge just sits here and listens to them and makes a decision. In the Roman system it’s the judge who is responsible to make sure all the bases are covered. But the advocates here are similar to a civil attorney — they, for the most part, interpret and argue the case (for either side).

Then the judge has to referee the whole thing.”

Decisions, for the most part, are rendered by a panel of three judges each with canonical law degrees — although in North America a provision has been made to allow just one judge to make

diocesan history

10 years ago — More than 1,500 people gathered at Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich for the blessing and dedication of the new church. The new house of worship was dedicated by Bishop George W. Coleman, who previously served as pastor at Corpus Christi Parish from 1985 to 1994.

One year ago — A Mass and ribboncutting ceremony were held at St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro to bless and dedicate a new $1 million addition encompassing three new classrooms, a new welcome center and reception area, new office space, and updated media center.

the decision, Father Robinson said.

“There aren’t enough judges to go around, but the norm is three,” he said.

As for declaring a Marriage null, Father Robinson said the common misperception is that the decision is like getting a “Church divorce.”

“The determinations made in a civil court usually entail the division of property, who gets the kids and visitation rights — there’s all kinds of stuff that we don’t get involved with. That’s not our business,” he said. “We don’t change the status of a Marriage. It either is or isn’t valid. We have to determine whether or not it was valid from the get-go.”

Much of the work that goes on in the Tribunal office entails contacting various witnesses to a given Marriage to collect information that would prove the invalidity of that initial bond.

“Most of the time a wedding takes place inside a church full of people and most of the people are sitting there looking at the couple and the common assumption is when they say ‘I do’ they are married,” Father Robinson said.

“Well someone comes along 20 years later and alleges the Marriage never took place … now we’ve got to prove it. You try to figure out if it’s possible that when they said ‘I do’ nothing really happened.”

Father Robinson said the closest analogy in civil law would be a clear-cut case of someone guilty of a crime in a case that lacks the proper evidence for a conviction.

“You have cases where everyone says ‘they’re definitely guilty,’ but you can’t prove it,” he said. “It’s the same thing here. You might have a perfectly coherent, logical story.

But can you prove it? You can allege something, but you need to have the proof to back it up. What we do here is try to help people collect that proof.”

While he admitted the Marriage work he’s had at the Tribunal over the years has been rewarding, Father Robinson said having to deal with other things such as parish restructurings, penal law and personnel issues hasn’t been easy.

“I’m almost 73 years old, I don’t want to deal with that anymore,” he said. “When we were in school, penal law was a mere footnote. But now it’s

a major issue.”

“I can remember when I took penal law in my studies, the first day the professor told us: ‘When I first started teaching this, I used to tell students you’re never going to use this. But today I can’t say that because you are all going to have to use this type of law now,’” Father Cabral agreed. “It deals with penalties — the classic example is the sexual abuse of minors — but it deals with any type of things considered a crime under canon law and the penalties that are attached to them if, obviously, they are proven.”

Although he’ll be stepping down as judicial vicar and handing the reins of the Fall River Tribunal office over to Father Cabral, Father Robinson said he’s not ready to completely abandon his interest in canon law. He said he plans to remain living in the area for the foreseeable future and will be “doing some Marriage work with a couple of other Tribunals.”

“When you get to be 73 you’re not so interested in taking on the world anymore,” Father Robinson said.

“It might just be nice to sit on the back porch on a day like today and read. I’ve already got a pile of stuff waiting for me to get to it.”

As for his successor, Father Robinson said he has no doubt that Father Cabral will do well in the role.

“He’s got the training and the right outlook and attitude,” Father Robinson said.

“My only concern is that this has become such a huge job — it’s so diverse now — that it’s almost overwhelming to consider that one person is going to have to deal with it all. But I think Father Cabral is going to do a fine job.

He’s got everything going for him.”

Admitting he’s getting “a little anxious and nervous” as September 18 approaches, Father Cabral nevertheless is looking forward to the challenge.

“It’s a great responsibility to deal with these issues as the canonical expert not only for the bishop but also for the priests of the diocese as well,” Father Cabral said. “I’ll probably be dependent on the experience of other canonists and the secretaries here to guide me along in my first few days, weeks and months … and I’ll be relying on the prayers of people to help me along, too.”

15

September 13, 2013

Praying for peace in Syria, pope calls selfishness the cause of war

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Leading a crowd in prayer for peace in Syria, Pope Francis said that war is ultimately caused by selfishness, which can be overcome only though expressions of fraternity and never with violence.

“Leave behind the self-interest that hardens your heart, overcome the indifference that makes your heart insensitive towards others, conquer your deadly reasoning, and open yourself to dialogue and reconciliation,” the pope said September 7 before an estimated 100,000 people in St. Peter’s Square.

The pope had called the prayer vigil less than a week earlier, as the central event of a worldwide day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria, the Middle East and the world.

The Vatican called the vigil an unprecedented papal gesture for peace, by virtue of its scale

and prominence of location. It took place the same day that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with European leaders to make President Barack Obama’s case for a military strike on the government of Syria’s President Bashar Assad, as punishment for the alleged use of chemical weapons in the ongoing civil war there.

The pope’s homily, which took up about 15 minutes of the four-hour Liturgy, did not refer to contemporary events but spoke in Biblical terms about the nature of war, whose origins he traced to the fall of Adam and the first murder, by Cain of his brother Abel.

Answering Cain’s famous question to God — “Am I my brother’s keeper?” — the pope replied: “Yes, you are your brother’s keeper! To be human means to care for one another.”

“We bring about the rebirth of Cain in every act of violence

and in every war,” the pope said.

“All of us!”

War’s ultimate source, Pope Francis said, is the original sin of disobedience.

“When man thinks only of himself, his own interests and places himself in the center, when he permits himself to be captivated by the idols of dominion and power, when he puts himself in God’s place, then all relationships are broken and everything is ruined,” the pope said. “Then the door opens to violence, indifference and conflict.”

The pope concluded on a hopeful note, asking the crowd: “Can we get out of this spiral of sorrow and death? Can we learn once again to walk and live in the ways of peace?”

“Yes, it is possible for everyone!” he said, drawing applause, and he then invoked the image of Christ’s redemptive sacrifice as the ultimate symbol of peace.

“How I wish that all men and

Issues of human sexuality Pope Francis was recently quoted as saying: “If a person is gay and seeks the Lord and has good will, then who am I to judge?” Ever since that quote, bishops, cardinals and clergy (most recently Father Roger Landry in his referenced column) have sought to “clarify” what the pope really meant.

The pope, since his election and elevation to the Chair of Peter, has consistently reached out to the poor and the marginalized in our society. Yet, every time he speaks, the conservative traditionalists in our Church wince.

Father Landry in past editorials that he has authored, has sought to “blame” the sexual abuse crisis on homosexual priests. He judges that homosexuals are intrinsically evil and has repeatedly stated that seminaries need to do a better job of weeding out homosexuals from being admitted to the seminaries. The Church has stated that priests who live an active heterosexual lifestyle or an active homosexual life style, and break their vows of celibacy, cannot be priests in good standing.

Candidates for the seminary will always have opposite-sex or same-sex attractions. God made human beings with certain genetic and chromosomal makeup. He made us all. Who are we to judge which genetic makeup is preferred? The pope is on record as saying that he, for one, is not prepared to judge.

Let’s face it, the sexual abuse crisis was the result of decades of sexually immature and psychiatrically imbalanced priests who were repeatedly enabled by their bishops to ruin the lives of innocent minor children. It is not a “homosexual” problem.

Notwithstanding all of the above, the Church continues to have difficulties with matters relating to human sexuality. In the past few years, the Church has opened the door to Episcopal and Lutheran married priests to convert to the Roman Catholic priesthood and to continue to be priests and married in the Church. However, it will not permit good Catholic men who are married to become priests. This major contradiction is yet another example of our institutional Church’s immaturity in matters that relate to human sexuality.

Edward J. Scahill Jr. Mashpee

the Church teaches) is that sexual relations outside of Marriage (between a man and a woman) are intrinsically evil. I know that Father Landry has reached out with compassion to individuals with same-sex attraction.

In terms of your discussion of the origins of homosexuality, there still exists no scientific evidence for a “gay gene.”

I do agree that the crisis had its origins in a lack of emotional maturity in candidates for the priesthood, who were prepared in a system inadequate to help them develop psychologically into healthy adults. This was exacerbated, as you said, by those in authority not protecting the flock. The point Father Landry was driving at was that the vast majority of the victims were adolescent males, not girls nor prepubescent boys, thus indicating a problem with men who had not learned how to live a healthy chastity with same-sex attractions.

Your last point is one which was not one Father Landry discussed in his article — allowing married Catholic men to become priests in the Roman Rite (as opposed to in the Eastern Rites).

Although it is conceivable that this discipline could be changed, I do not think it somehow reflects “immaturity” on the part of the Church to not change this. If this ever were to change, I think the Church would have to wait for a time when Marriage itself were not in crisis (as it is today).

Our readers respond

Executive Editor responds: Thank you for your letter. I would dispute the point that “every time” the pope speaks, “conservative traditionalists … wince.”

There is a great variety on the “right” of the Church (I prefer not to use political terms, but unfortunately most of us do) and not all on it are worried by Pope Francis’ statements.

I am certain that Father Landry does not think that “homosexuals are intrinsically evil.”

What he does believe (and what

women of good will would look to the cross, if only for a moment,” he said. “There, we can see God’s reply: violence is not answered with violence, death is not answered with the language of death. In the silence of the cross, the uproar of weapons ceases and the language of reconciliation, forgiveness, dialogue and peace is spoken.”

The pope’s homily was followed by a period of Eucharistic adoration, including several stretches when all present stood or knelt in silence, without any musical accompaniment.

At other times, as during the praying of the Rosary in the first half of the vigil, prayers and readings alternated with choir music or performances on the harp and other string instruments.

During the adoration, people representing five different countries or regions with direct or indirect links to the Syrian conflict — Egypt, the Holy Land, Russia, the United States and Syria itself — brought up incense to burn in a brazier beside the altar.

The ancient icon of Mary known as “Salus Populi Romani”

(health of the Roman people), which had been transported for the occasion from Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major, stood on an easel beside the altar. The icon has special importance for Pope Francis, who went to pray before it on the first morning of his pontificate in March.

The atmosphere in the square was solemn, with none of the festivity of a Sunday Angelus or Wednesday public audience.

Security guards confiscated flags, though some Syrian flags could be seen on the periphery of the square.

Many in the congregation clapped and cheered when Pope Francis came out of the basilica at 7 p.m., but soon fell silent when they noticed his serious demeanor and his failure to wave or smile.

At the end of the Liturgy, just before 11 p.m., after the pope had returned to the basilica, the crowd applauded again.

Pope Francis came out to offer a few final words, thanking the congregation for their company and asking them to continue praying for peace. “Good night and have a good rest,” he said.

PC president to give homily at Red Mass continued from page one

can Order of Preachers in 1987, Father Shanley taught philosophy at Providence College and later at The Catholic University of America. He has also been a visiting professor at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology.

He served as the regent of studies for the Dominican Province of St. Joseph, holding a seat on the 12-member Provincial Council and advising the prior provincial on all matters pertaining to the intellectual and academic life of the province.

Father Shanley is widely published in philosophy-focused academic journals with research interests including St. Thomas Aquinas, the philosophy of religion and ethics.

New Bedford attorney Michael J. Harrington, who is chairman of the Red Mass Committee, is grateful for Father Shanley’s acceptance of the invitation to preach at this year’s Red Mass.

“As president of Providence College, Father Shanley has focused on providing students with a well-rounded education that includes an emphasis on the importance of values and ethics to help serve as a moral

compass in whatever their chosen profession,” Harrington said.

He also believes that Father Shanley’s participation in the Red Mass will be of interest to many in the region’s legal community “because many of our judges, attorneys and other court personnel have their roots in Providence College.”

The Red Mass is so named because of the color of the vestments worn during the Liturgy, which is the Mass of the Holy Spirit, Who will be invoked upon those in attendance. Its roots date back to 13th-century Europe, and it is widely celebrated in dioceses throughout the U.S. In keeping with a special tradition in the Fall River Diocese, the Red Mass will conclude with the presentation of the St. Thomas More Awards to recognize members of the legal community for dedicated service. The announcement of the year’s recipients will be forthcoming.

All are welcome at the Red Mass. A reception and luncheon will follow for which a ticket is required. For information, please call Atty. Harrington at 508-994-5900.

Youth Pages

16

September 13, 2013

St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro recently opened its doors for the upcoming school year. Happily returning are Camdyn, Brogan and Ryleigh Asselin.

Children enjoy a surprise visit from the ice cream truck during an open evening for preschool children and parents at St. Francis Xavier School in Acushnet.

Teachers at St. James-St. John School in New Bedford got together just prior to the school year to prepare for the academic season.

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

The entire Coyle and Cassidy High School community recently gathered for Mass with its new chaplain Father William Rodrigues, who reminded everyone to take chances and be grateful for their many blessings. The Coyle and Cassidy faculty and administration is pleased to welcome a very talented class of new freshmen, implementing an exciting iPad initiative, and unveiling multiple physical plant improvements.

Correction The picture of a young Father Jeff Cabral from World Youth Day 1993 that ran in the August 30 Anchor stated he was with a group from Our Lady of Grace in Westport. It should have read Our Lady of Angels in Fall River.

September 13, 2013

W

ell, we are back into the swing of things!

This past week our students moved back in at UMass Dartmouth and classes began.

The first week of classes is one of the busiest for us at campus ministry. We were present at move-in day as 1,400 firstyear resident students moved into the residence halls. I had Masses in the morning, so I missed helping people move in during the rain showers. Frank Lucca was there though and I was there for the second half of the day. The next two days the 1,400 were joined by another 200, their commuting classmates, for orientation. The rains held off until the heart of the upperclassmen move-in.

It was great to see students back on campus and it was great to have students coming to the office throughout the week. We have had a great week and a very good start to the year. The challenge will be

Youth Pages Take some time And rushed right into the day! maintaining the level of activity.

I had so much to accomplish As the semester goes on, there That I didn’t have time to pray. will be exams, study groups, Problems just tumbled about me, papers and projects that will And heavier came each task. need to be completed. Students will need to work and have responsibilities to the student groups they are involved with. The amount of free time they have will quickly disappear. Yet, they (in

By Father fact, all of us) need to David C. Frederici take care of ourselves physically, emotion“Why doesn’t God help me?” I ally and spiritually in order to wondered. remain healthy and grow.

He answered, “ You didn’t ask!”

In the busyness of the I tried to come into God’s preslast couple of weeks, I found ence; a poem that you may have I used all my keys at the lock. heard before. It is an imporGod gently and lovingly tant reminder to anyone who chided, describes their life as one that “Why, child, you didn’t knock!” is busy (I received the author’s I wanted to see joy and beauty, permission a couple of years But the day toiled on, gray and ago to share this with anyone I bleak. wanted): I wondered why God didn’t I DIDN’T HAVE TIME show me.

I got up early one morning

Be Not Afraid

17 He said, “But you didn’t seek.”

I woke up early this morning, And paused before entering the day.

I had so much to accomplish That I had to take time to pray!

— Grace L. Naessens When I get busy, one of the first things that I struggle with is finding time for prayer. It may seem strange that it is difficult to find time as a priest to pray! Yet, it is a very real issue. Also very real is how ineffective a priest is without prayer. Yes, there are a lot of things I need to do, but if I try to do them without remaining connected to God in a meaningful way, what’s the point?

This is also the case with anyone who seeks to live as a child of God. Any relationship will not be a meaningful relationship or continue to grow and be strong if there isn’t communication and time spent with

one another. That goes for our human relationships, that goes with God too. Prayer keeps us connected to God Who is the source of life, love, goodness, beauty and truth. Prayer keeps us rooted to who we are created to be. Without prayer we risk losing sight of God and ourselves.

There are very real responsibilities that we have to attend to and our schedules at time will be very tight. The amazing thing with prayer though, is that it energizes. It gives us the motivation to persevere while at the same time nourishing us spiritually.

Take some time each day to touch base with God, it will make all the difference!

Anchor columnist Father Frederici is pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Pocasset and diocesan director of Campus Ministry and Chaplain at UMass Dartmouth and Cape Cod Community College.

Oregon priests’ trip to Grand Canyon becomes journey to human hearts PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS) — Four young priests serving in Oregon set out this summer for an adventure. It turned out to be an exploit, for sure, but not the one they expected.

The men left Portland by car in mid-summer, their backpacks and themselves jammed into the vehicle, pretty much like any group of 20- and 30-somethings on a road trip to the Grand Canyon, 1,200 miles away. Their Roman collars were neatly stowed away with their gear.

Father Lucas Laborde, a former campus minister and former pastor at St. Patrick Parish in Portland, is pursuing higher studies. Father Ignacio Llorente is now pastor of St. Patrick. Father Federico Pinto serves as campus minister in Corvallis, home of Oregon State University. Father Maximo Stock is campus minister at Portland State University.

All are native Argentines and members of the St. John Society, a Catholic religious community founded in Argentina in the mid-1990s and dedicated to the New Evangelization, especially through campus ministry.

In the desert of northern Nevada, with temperatures soaring, the priests’ car broke down.

The prognosis was bad. The auto could not be fixed quickly.

Instead of scuttling their trip, the determined priests decided to hitchhike. They said it was for the sake of adventure.

“Wearing our collars helped a bit, and most surely kept us out of trouble,” said Father Laborde, the senior priest of the group at age 38.

Over the next five days, they made the round trip and arrived at the Grand Canyon, which they found magnificent and powerful. But when all was done, it’s the stories they will remember about the 17 people who picked them up along the long journey: miners from Nevada, a Catholic priest, fallen away Catholics, Mormons, families on vacation and people going to work.

“Since you travel many miles together, you get to listen to a lot of real life stories, and we got to share profound conversations,” Father Laborde said. “Our goal was the Grand Canyon, but our adventure led us to discover also the landscape of many people’s hearts in a variety of circumstances: unexpected acts of kindness and trust, stories of suffering, experiences of faith, profound conversations, moments of prayer, possibly the beginning of more than one friendship.”

In Salt Lake City, the driver of an 18-wheeler pulled over to pick them up. His name was John and he was an Irish-American whose faith life had sputtered. But he was a thinker and hungry for spirituality. At one point, John asked the priests about Pope John Paul’s 1998 encyclical “Fides et Ratio” (“Faith and Reason”).

“How can you make sense of

that?” the truck driver asked.

The surprised priests looked at each other, shrugged and started talking from their hearts. They told John that if he understands reason only from the scientific model, he will be missing a lot of truths. They suggested that he embrace a broader concept of reason, a philosophical idea. That way, he could build a bridge with faith. John was elated. “That is so awesome!” he said as the miles ticked by. “You guys made my day.”

To the priests, it seemed surreal to be talking about papal encyclicals with a long haul truck driver, but they are men open to the Holy Spirit. Before he let them off, John shared some of his life’s difficulties and prayed with the quartet of young clergymen.

The trip confirmed the priests’ contention that the Catholic Church is “amazing.” Many local pastors extended hospitality.

Father Jose Sobarzo, pastor of St. Paul Church in Winnemucca, Nev., allowed the four strangers with big backpacks who claimed to be priests to stay in the parish hall at 10 o’clock one night.

The vicar general of the Diocese of Salt Lake City welcomed the priests and the diocese’s director of Hispanic ministry, Maria Cruz, connected them to a parish near the Grand Canyon. There, they met Msgr. Bob Bussen, a marathon runner who carried the torch for the 2002 Winter

Olympics. Msgr. Bussen suggested hikes around the canyon.

“Whenever we went to Catholic churches, we were warmly welcomed and assisted,” Father Laborde recalled. “It was an experience of God’s providential care over us.”

At a gas station in Salt Lake City, the men met a young couple. They were not headed the same direction as the priests, but a conversation began. The woman had fallen away from her Catholic faith and lost a threemonth-old baby. She seemed to be suffering. Suddenly, she asked Father Pinto: “Do you have a Bible?” He gave her his own as a gift. The priests then asked if she would like them to pray for her.

She agreed and amid gas pumps,

a Slurpee machine and candy bars for sale the priests encircled the woman and her husband, asking God to shower blessings upon them.

When the men returned to northern Nevada, the priests’ car was fixed and they headed back to Portland. The importance of the trip then became clear.

“God put along our way people who needed something from Him,” Father Laborde said.

“Had we continued on a traditional road trip, we wouldn’t have met all these people, we wouldn’t have shared faith stories and moments of prayer as we did. The fact of being dependent on God’s providence and on other people’s compassion allowed us to reach the hearts of many.”

Father Ignacio Llorente, pastor of St. Patrick Church in Portland, Ore., and Father Lucas Laborde, a former campus minister and former pastor at St. Patrick’s, pose for a photo at the Grand Canyon in Arizona in late July. The two men were among four priests who traveled from Portland to the Grand Canyon and were inspired by the warmth of the people they encountered while hitchhiking after their car broke down. (CNS photo/courtesy St. John Society)

18

September 13, 2013

Attleboro parish will ‘never be the same’ after DOE experience continued from page one

ment, to the dozen people who kept them well-fed with breakfast and lunch,” said St. Vincent de Paul Parish pastor Father Richard D. Wilson. “It was an amazing team effort of parishioners and fellow Catholics from throughout Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. We could really feel the presence of God throughout the day.”

Because the day, the preparation and the actual work of going door-to-door was all based on prayer, some of the volunteers stayed behind at the church before the Blessed Sacrament to pray for the success of the venture. “We expected seven or so people to stay in the church,” added Rae-Kelly, “but 37 people turned up to do so.”

“That Tuesday evening of our very first meeting, we knelt before the Lord in the tabernacle on the altar and we pledged to fast every Wednesday from that time on, to individually offer a Rosary to our Heavenly queen on a day of the week of our choice so that all seven days were covered in prayer and to spend an hour on that same day in silent Eucharistic adoration,” explained Anna Rae-Kelly, another committee member. “We all strongly believed that prayer alone would be the scaffolding upon which the success of a day of evangelization would be built.

“Within that week, many enclosed order communi-

ties throughout America had joined our prayer campaign for the souls who would open their doors to Christ on August 24 and whose hearts were already being softened by the Holy Spirit. Prayer communities as far away as California were contacted and they united their prayers to ours. Perpetual adoration, offered by the Franciscans in Jerusalem accepted our request and placed our petition before the Lord in the Holy City. Our much-loved shut-ins from St. Vincent de Paul’s Parish as well as from Madonna Manor in North Attleboro were moved by God to offer their prayers, made powerful indeed by their hiddenness and suffering.”

Week-by-week the number of faithful who became involved grew. Anna said that when the day came, Father Wilson celebrated an 8 a.m. Mass for the success of the DOE and the church was nearly full.

“Members from the three communities of St. Vincent de Paul’s, the Spanish, Portuguese and English-speaking communities were all present to receive Father Wilson’s blessing as he sent us out, just as Christ sent out His disciples 2,000 years ago,” she added. “We would proclaim in His Name and speak of His reign with His power and His authority. The St. Vincent de Paul disciples numbered 142 and they were sent out in pairs

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outreach to all people to spread the Good News. to courageously knock on 1,000 “Many teams found that peodoors for Christ. They left the ple who we spoke with were not Church and the Lord’s Eucha- sure of the Church’s teachings ristic presence in silence. and liked the idea of the ‘meet “There were four parishioners the pastor’ session we planned who remained in the down- for August 27 with Father Wilstairs hall of the Church to set son. up tables for hospitality. There “One really interesting note were seven more who remained is that no team experienced hosto make lunch for those going tility or anger. No door was shut door to door. There were others in our face. No one visited asked who offered child-minding ser- the team to leave their property. vice for moms who were step- In fact in several instances, peoping out for Christ that morn- ple spoke very movingly about ing and whose children needed their faith journey and tearcare in their absence.” fully stated they had left God by The scene was very similar to drifting away from faith.”

Luke’s Gospel when Jesus sent John told The Anchor of sevout the 72, in pairs, to go “ahead eral reflections shared the afterof Him to every town and place noon after the faithful went out where He was about to go. He two-by-two. Evangelists spoke told them, ‘The harvest is plenti- of: ful, but the workers are few. Ask — A lapsed Catholic woman the Lord of the harvest, there- with a non-Catholic boyfriend fore, to send out workers into who said her two children were His harvest field’” (Lk 10:1-2). not Baptized, and did not know When the 72 returned, they the Church would allow their were elated. “The 72 returned Baptism. She was overjoyed with joy and said, ‘Lord, even when told the parish would be the demons submit to us in Your in touch to talk about Baptizing Name.’ He replied, ‘I saw Satan both children. fall like lightning from Heaven.

— A home-bound woman I have given you authority to who is a parishioner but who trample on snakes and scorpions had not been on the parish’s and to overcome all the power home visit list. She had become of the enemy; nothing will harm sickly and could not leave home you. However, do not rejoice nor did she know how to conthat the spirits submit to you, tact the parish. As a result she but rejoice that your names are thought she had been forgotten written in Heaven’” (Lk 10:17- about, and was delighted that 20). the parish had come to find her.

The Attleboro faithful may She now receives home visits not have driven out demons and the Eucharist. and trampled on snakes and — A man who grew up scorpions, but they did heed the Catholic but then fell away Lord’s call to go out into His from the faith. He told his visiharvest field. That call started tors that his mother prays the with seven people who gathered Rosary for him every day. He in April to pray, plan and pre- felt the DOE visit to his home pare for the August 25 Day of was a sign from God in answer Evangelization. to her prayers. He wanted to When the evangelists re- come back but until now did turned, nearly 200 of their fel- not know how. low parishioners and supporters — One of the parish’s RCIA were there to greet them, share a candidates who joined the meal with then, and listen to ac- Church last Easter visited the counts of their experiences. home of a member of her for“As we listened, we found mer Church. He asked quesourselves sometimes crying, tions about what had led her to sometimes laughing out loud, the Catholic Church. He lisalways joy-filled to be witness- tened very closely to her convering this astonishing work of the sion story.

Spirit of God moving so loving— One team went to the ly among His faithful servants,” home of a lady who told the Anna told The Anchor. team she was a Methodist and “There were several teams not interested in Catholicism. who shared the fact that people She was detached and distracted stated they were pleasantly sur- and wanted the visit to be brief. prised that Catholics were tak- Sensing that she was uncoming our faith to the streets,” said fortable, the team asked before John Rae-Kelly. “A common re- they left if there was anything sponse heard was that people re- the parish could pray for on spected Pope Francis from what her behalf. This request moved they had seen of him and saw her to tears as she revealed her this DOE as an extension of his dad has cancer of the lymph

nodes and needed prayers. At this point, the “silent partner” of the team revealed that she was a survivor of lymph node cancer; she and the lady cried tears of mutual understanding having been brought together on her doorstep by the Holy Spirit.

— A volunteer and a religious Sister asked each house they visited if there was a favorite prayer which could be said together.

At several houses, the choice was the Prayer of St. Francis.

As a result, the Sister sang this beautiful prayer at each house.

Strangers united on a door step singing the hymn of peace.

— One team visited a home where a young lady was washing her car. She advised that she was a lapsed Catholic who just “stopped going.” She said she had not thought much about God until she heard Pope Francis on television. She stated that she may be interested in coming back sometime.

“I have been impressed and have thanked God for how He has brought Anglo, Portuguese and Hispanic parishioners together to be united in prayer, work and sharing their faith through this process,” said Father Wilson. “People who never knew each other because they go to different Masses, now look forward to seeing each other again at a Rosary or meeting.

“It was also impressive to see other folks from within our diocese come and help us, as well as people who came because of what they heard on the radio or read in the newspaper.

“Over the weekend Father Riley Williams and I did see some unfamiliar faces at Mass and reworked our messages to acknowledge them, without putting a ‘spotlight’ on them,” Father Wilson said.

“It was a ‘yes’ day said by all,” said committee member Kathy Harum. “The first, most noticeable, fruit of the day was the deeper sense of community in our parish. All of our prayers for souls, and the new awareness of their spiritual and temporal needs within our parish boundary, will continue.”

“The community of St. Vincent de Paul’s Parish will never be the same,” added Anna. “As all of Christ’s disciples prepared to leave the hall on that day of miracles on August 24, we lovingly and joyfully applauded Father Wilson with a standing ovation for his courage, his faith, his guidance and for his priesthood. We were drawn into His mission as a fisher of souls and we were blessed indeed.”

19

September 13, 2013

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese Acushnet — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Monday and Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Evening prayer and Benediction is held Monday through Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

ATTLEBORO — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the St. Joseph Adoration Chapel at Holy Ghost Church, 71 Linden Street, from 7 a.m. to 9 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.

Brewster — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the La Salette Chapel in the lower level of Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road, on First Fridays beginning at noon until 7:45 a.m. First Saturday, concluding with Benediction and concluding with Mass at 8 a.m. buzzards Bay — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, every first Friday after the 8 a.m. Mass and ending the following day before the 8 a.m. Mass.

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

East 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.

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

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

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

FALL RIVER — St. Bernadette’s Church, 529 Eastern Ave., has Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the chapel.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Taunton — Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord, 31 First Street. Expostition 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 — Every First Friday, Eucharistic Adoration takes place from 8:30 a.m. through Benediction at 5:30 p.m. Morning prayer is prayed at 9; the Angelus at noon; the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m.; and Evening Prayer at 5 p.m.

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 from other parishes are invited to sign up to cover open hours. For open hours, or to sign up call 508-430-4716.

Deacon Joseph Paul G. Métilly

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — Deacon Joseph Paul G. Métilly died August 30 at the age of 93.

He leaves his wife, Doris, née Généreux; two children, Jill Jodoin, and Paul Métilly; eight grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Son of Raoul Métilly and Rosanna Beaumont, Deacon Métilly was born in Manchester, N.H., youngest of seven siblings.

In his youth, he studied in Québec with Les Frères des Sacré Coeur, and earned a B.S. and B.A. from the University of Montréal. Returning to the States, he taught at Mount St. Charles Academy in Woonsocket, R.I., coached its noted hockey team, and earned an M.A. from Boston College.

From 1948 to 1968, Deacon Métilly taught in, administered and opened secondary schools and colleges throughout central and south Africa with Les Frères des Sacré Coeur. On returning to America, Deacon

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks Sept. 14 Rev. Stanislaus J. Ryczek, USA, Retired Chaplain, Former Pastor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, New Bedford, 1982 Sept. 15 Rev. Henry J. Mussely, Pastor, St. Jean Baptiste, Fall River, 1934 Rev. Brendan McNally, S.J., Holy Cross College, Worcester, 1958 Rev. John J. Casey, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, North Easton, 1969 Sept. 16 Rt. Rev. Msgr. Jean A. Prevost, P.A., P.R., Pastor, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Fall River, 1925 Sept. 17 Rev. Thomas F. McNulty, Pastor, St. Kilian, New Bedford, 1954 Cardinal Humberto Sousa Medeiros, Archbishop of Boston, 1970-83, Pastor of St. Michael, Fall River, 1960 -1966, 1983 Rev. Felix Lesnek, SS.CC., Former Associate Pastor, St. Joseph, Fairhaven, 1991 Sept. 18 Rev. Luke Golla, SS.CC., Seminary of Sacred Heart, Wareham, 1945 Rt. Rev. Msgr. Edmund J. Ward, Retired Pastor, St. Patrick, Fall River, 1964 Sept. 19 Rev. Henry E.S. Henniss, Pastor, St. Mary, New Bedford, 1859 Msgr. Arthur W. Tansey, Retired Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Fall River, 1985 Sept. 20 Rev. Simon A. O’Rourke, USN Chaplain, 1918 Rev. Omer Valois, Retired Pastor, Sacred Heart, New Bedford, 1958

Métilly held various positions in the North Attleboro school system. In 1980, Paul was ordained a permanent deacon in the Fall River Diocese. As deacon, he served for 26 years: first at St. Theresa Parish in South

Attleboro, and then at St. James Parish in New Port Richey.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated September 6 in St. Marie Church, Notre Dame Avenue. Burial followed in Mount Calvary Cemetery.

Around the Diocese A Healing Mass and Blessing with St. André’s Relic and Anointing with St. Joseph Oil to be held at St. Joseph Chapel at Holy Cross Family Ministries, 500 Washington St., Easton on Sunday, with Rosary at 1 p.m. and Mass at 2 p.m. Don’t miss this special opportunity to bring your family and friends for a blessing. For information call 508-238-4095 or logon www.FamilyRosary.org/Events.

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 begins September 12 and runs through October 17 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. each night. The program meets in the parish center and is designed for people who have experienced the loss of a loved one within the past year.

For more information or to pre-register call 508-385-3252 or 508-394-0616.

The Fall River Diocesan Council of Catholic Women invites all to its next meeting, September 14 at 9 a.m. at St. Jude the Apostle Church, 249 Whittenton Street, Taunton. All Catholic women are invited. For information call 508-672-6900.

The Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, 327 Second Street in Fall River, will host its annual parish breakfast on September 15 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the parish hall. Join them for a delicious breakfast including eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, pancakes, French toast, pastry, fruit cup, orange juice, tea and coffee. Tickets can be purchased after all Masses or by calling the rectory at 508-673-2833.

The Daughters of Isabella Hyacinth will be reconvening after its short summer break for the first meeting of the new fiscal year for members and prospective members on September 17 at 7 p.m. as the women together for fellowship, friendship, and fun at St. Mary’s Church, 783 Dartmouth Street, South Dartmouth. If you are a Catholic woman who is seeking a group who prides itself in community service and just sharing the faith come and join them to find out more information.

A Healing Mass will be celebrated on September 19 at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford. The Mass will begin at 6:30 p.m. and includes Benediction and healing prayers. At 5:15 p.m. there will also be a holy hour including the Rosary. For location and more information visit www.saintanthonyofnewbedford.com or call 508-993-1691.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Seekonk and American Heritage Troop MA 3712 are co-sponsoring a presentation of Father Robert Barron’s “Catholicism” series on five Sundays, beginning September 22 and running through November 3. The series will be screened from 2 to 4:30 p.m. and again from 6 to 8:30 p.m. each day.

Admission is free. The series will be shown in the upper parish center, 1040 Taunton Avenue in Seekonk. For more information call 508-336-8608.

On September 24 at 7 p.m., St. Bernadette’s Parish, 529 Eastern Avenue in Fall River, will host Father R. Scott Hurd of Alexandria, Va., who will speak on his new book, “When Faith Feels Fragile: Help for the Wary, Weak and Wandering.” Father Hurd is also the award-winning author of “Forgiveness: A Catholic Approach” and “Daily Devotions for Lent 2013.” His newest book offers concrete, practical wisdom to strengthen your faith at any stage of the journey. Father Hurd is a priest with the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. This presentation is free and open to the public.

The second annual Harvest Fair will be held October 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the grounds of St. Francis Xavier Church in Hyannis. There will be food booths, work from local crafters, a kids’ corner, a White Elephant area, a native pumpkin sale and a silent auction. There will be something to do and eat for all ages. Crafters who would like to participate should contact Germaine at 508-775-9017 for more information on reserving tables.

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September 13, 2013

Basilica of St. Mary in Bangalore, left, and a statue of the Virgin Mary inside the basilica traditionally dressed in an Indian sari. (CNS photo courtesy of St. Mary’s Basilica Bangalore)

Mary’s Nativity draws tens of thousands to Indian basilica

Bangalore, India (CNA/EWTN News) — Huge crowds started gathering in Bangalore, India, last week, as the city’s Novena leading up to the Nativity of Mary began with the city’s archbishop raising a Marian flag in prayer.

“The Virgin Mary is the Mother of God and also our Heavenly mother, and thus people tend to venerate her motherly affection and dress her in local culture as their mother,” said Father J. Sandhayagu, administrator of St. Mary’s Basilica in the capital of the south-western Indian state of Karnataka.

The statue of Mary found in the basilica is daily dressed in an elaborate sari, often laced with gold thread and jewelry, offered as a fulfillment of vows.

“The Nativity of Mary is an important feast for the Archdiocese of Bangalore,” Father Sandhayagu continued. He told CNA that millions of people, irrespective of culture and religion, flock to participate at the city’s Marian Novena.

Archbishop Bernard Moras hoisted a Marian flag in the presence of some 15,000 devotees to initiate the novena, or nine-day period of prayer. In his homily, he reflected on the Year of Faith as an opportune

time for renewal and spiritual richness.

The Novena continues through September 7, the vigil of the feast of Mary’s Nativity — or birth — and is crowned by a procession and a festive Mass celebrated on the feast day itself.

During the Novena, around 30,000 people participate in Mass, adoration, Anointing of the Sick, Confession, and other events each day, said Father Sandhayagu.

“Over the years the numbers of devotees have tremendously increased their participation in the Liturgies and in Confession.”

St. Mary’s Basilica, he said, “has been witnessing numerous miracles and healings. People receive grace, hence people of all faith, including Hindus, Muslims, and other religions, rush every day to seek blessings.”

During the Novena, Mass is said every half hour in the basilica from 5:30 in the morning until 9 at night, with up to 5,000 people attending each Mass.

The government of Karnataka provides security during the novena, and ministers, bureaucrats and leaders — even those who aren’t Catholic — participate in the festival and seek blessings.

The vast presence of devotees flocking to Bangalore is “evidence of faith, and prayerful and spiritual graces,” Father Sandhayagu said, with pilgrims bringing offerings of flowers, candles, clothes, jewelry and food to the basilica.

The basilica is the oldest church in the Bangalore archdiocese, having been consecrated in 1882 on Mary’s Nativity.

It was named a minor basilica

by Paul VI in 1973.