09.01.23

Dartmouth’s My Brother’s Keeper marks 10 years of serving South Coast

Volunteer-based ministry continues to increase services to those in need

DARTMOUTH — On Friday, August 4, the Christian ministry My Brother’s Keeper marked 10 years serving families in need in Christ’s name from their Dartmouth location. To celebrate this anniversary, 50 My Brother’s Keeper volunteers served together in the morning and shared a meal prepared by volunteers for their weekly “community lunch.”

For the past 35 years, My Brother’s Keeper has primarily served families in need in the Brockton area. In the summer of 2013, they expanded services to the South Coast, and in 2017, constructed a 23,000 square foot facility on Reed Road in Dartmouth to put down permanent roots in the community. Today, My Brother’s Keeper’s Easton and Dartmouth facilities deliver furniture, food, and Christmas gifts free of charge.

Since opening, staff and volunteers at the charity’s Dartmouth facility have completed more than 6,500 furniture deliveries, 16,000

food deliveries, and 5,000 Christmas deliveries. These 27,000 deliveries represent $8.5 million of services to tens of thousands of South Coast residents in need.

“The number of lives this volunteer community has been able to touch the past 10 years has exceeded all our expectations,” said Josh Smith, Director of the Dartmouth Division. “As a result, children now have a positive memory of receiving their first bed. Families are healthier thanks to well-balanced, emergency food deliveries. And parents haven’t experienced the pain of having to watch their children go without on Christmas morning.”

My Brother’s Keeper was founded in 1988 by a husband and wife, Jim and Terry Orcutt, in the basement of their Taunton home. The ministry’s staff of 16 full-time employees now has more than 5,000 volunteers to complete 18,000 deliveries

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Local pilgrims describe ‘an all-consuming wildfire in Lisbon’

Compiled by Dave Jolivet Editor

LISBON, Portugal — Twenty-four young adults and chaperons from the Fall River Diocese attended the recent World Youth Day in Lisbon Portugal. Two young pilgrims together with Oscar Rivera, diocesan director of Youth Ministry and newly-ordained Father John Garabedian were eager to share with The Anchor, the emotions and experiences felt during the spiritual mountain top.

Rivera told The Anchor, “ The week leading to our pilgrimage my coworker asked if I had heard there were wildfires outside of Lisbon. Another asked, ‘Have you heard there are strikes taking place leading up to your pilgrimage?’ Someone else mentioned there were some political statements being made about the pope’s visit. Yet nothing could prepare me for the fire that was going to take place, a fire that would impact 1.5 million and even touch the Diocese of Fall River.

“When talking to youth throughout the diocese after a Catholic Youth Day or Regional Retreat or speaking to youth beyond our diocese after a national conference, common statements are usually heard: ‘Being around people who share the same faith is uplifting,’ ‘I didn’t know these many of my peers love the faith like

I do.’ These statements are made after encountering Jesus with hundreds or a couple of thousand at local or national youth gatherings. What if, however, an encounter with Jesus transcended national identity, and cultural Catholicism and was felt on international ground surrounded by cultures, languages and customs that were different than our own? The one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church displayed its faith deep in the culture of the Gospel, strengthened and empowered by the Holy Spirit, passed on by 2,000 years of tradition, and handed down by the successors of the Apostles. This faith transcended linguistic and cultural boundaries and was and is always unified into one body by the Eucharist. This encounter took place in Lisbon, Portugal this August 1-7.

“A group of 18- to 25-yearold pilgrims, joined by Father John Garabedian, and two diocesan employees, David Carvahlo, diocesan Secretary for the New Evangelization and me had planned this pilgrimage with two very important missions. Mission one: a purpose-driven pilgrimage; and mission two: rekindling of the faith of cultural Catholics.

“ The first, a purpose-driven pilgrimage, was designed to allow the pilgrims to take charge of their journey, Therefore leaders were

Staff and volunteers at the Dartmouth location of My Brother’s Keeper celebrated the ministry’s 10th anniversary.

Some of the 24 diocesan pilgrims who attended World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, attend a candle-light vigil in Our Lady of Fatima.

FACE celebrated the 26th Annual Summer Gala at the Wianno Club in Osterville

OSTERVILLE — The Foundation to Advance Catholic Education (FACE) Summer Gala to support student scholarships for children to attend the Diocese of Fall River’s Catholic Schools was held at the Wianno Club in Osterville, on August 17. The FACE Summer Gala Committee, led by chairs and loyal FACE supporters Pat and Tom Marmen of Osterville, worked for months to create an exciting event to raise visibility and funds for FACE scholarship support.

A crowd of nearly 200 attended a cocktail hour featuring the acoustic music of Greg Hall while

mingling and meeting students from St. Pius X School in South Yarmouth and St. John Paul II School in Hyannis.

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., presented the 2023 Al Makkay Sr. Friend of Catholic Education Award to a dedicated and beloved member of the Catholic school community, Jim Remillard, who served as Science Department Chairperson and Technology Coordinator at St. John Paul II School.

“Mr. Rem,” as he is known, taught Marine Science, Earth Science, Bioethics, Engineering or

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FACE second collection will be September 9 and 10

FALL RIVER — With the support of many generous donors in the Diocese of Fall River, the Foundation to Advance Catholic Education (FACE) can help students thrive in environments dedicated to developing their God-given potential.

Each year, hundreds of families across the diocese can provide their children with a values-based and high-quality educational experience because they receive financial assistance thanks to the generosity of individuals, corporations, and foundations whose contributions to FACE make this aid possible. Each year, more than 1,000 children in grades K-12 receive scholarship support.

This support has been made possible for more than 30 years. In 1991, the St. Mary’s Education Fund was founded to give students with financial need access to a Catholic education in the Diocese of Fall River. Today, the Foundation to Advance Catholic Education carries on this history of making Catholic education a reality for all families who desire one for their

child or children.

Donating to the Second Collection taking place the weekend of September 9 and 10 will help continue this proud mission of giving students opportunities to grow in faith-based educational environments across the Diocese of Fall River.

Principal Brenda Gagnon said, “Holy Trinity School [Fall River] is indebted to the Foundation to Advance Catholic Education and all of the wonderful donors who support it. The enrollment in the school would not be as strong as it is if it weren’t for FACE. Many of our families need the financial support to allow them to have their children attend our school.”

Catholics throughout the diocese are asked to consider donating to the 2023 Second Collection raising these important funds for the Diocese of Fall River’s schoolchildren and helping to make families’ dreams of Catholic education a reality.

Visit the FACE website to learn more: www.FACE-dfr.org.

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., presents the Al Makkay Sr. award to Jim ”Mr. Rem” Remillard at the annual FACE Summer Gala.

North Attleboro service to mark National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children is September 9

NORTH ATTLEBORO

— The National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children is coming up on September 9. There will be the ninth annual prayer service at St. Mary’s Cemetery in North Attleboro. This service is the only one in the diocese.

Fathers Craig Pregana and Phil Davignon from St. John the Evangelist in Attleboro will be leading the prayer service. The Sisters from The Maronite Servants of Christ the Light in Dartmouth and the Providence College Students for Life will be also be participating.

Kathleen Hill, who has organized this event for the past nine years, along with Diane Garrow, are inviting all to attend and remember the unborn and their families.

The National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children exists to honor the grave sites of unborn brothers and sisters.

According to the

National Day of Remembrance website, the first National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children was held in September 2013 on the 25th anniversary of the solemn burial of the earthly remains of some 1,500 abortion victims in Milwaukee, Wisc. More than 100 memorial services were held across the United States.

The site says, “By participating in the National Day of Remembrance, visiting these solemn memorial places at other times of the year, and spreading the word about this prayer campaign, you are helping to humanize our aborted brothers and sisters and deepening your own commitment to ending the injustice of abortion. The National Day of Remembrance also offers hope and healing to women who have had abortions and others who have been hurt by abortion.

“Now that Roe v. Wade

FACE holds 26th Annual Summer Gala

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Biology. He was nominated and chosen for embodying all the qualities of a great teacher: respect and high expectations for all students; a collegial relationship with other teachers and staff; and a deep commitment to the values of St. John Paul II School. After a 16-year career at St. John Paul II School, Mr. Rem is retiring.

Special thanks went out to Mr. Rem, for his dedication and service to the school community.

The evening’s program also included a Live Auction and a Fund a Mission

has been overturned, it is crucial that we continue to mourn the millions of lives lost to abortion, and repent of the national sin of abortion, even as we begin the project of extending legal protection to unborn children in every state we can.

“While a funeral and burial for an aborted baby may be a relatively rare event, the opportunity to visit the burial places and recall how those children got there does not have to be rare — in fact, it shouldn’t be.

“Pro-Lifers should be visiting these grave sites, and other memorial sites dedicated to aborted babies, as a regular part of their Pro-Life witness. That’s what the National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children is all about.

My Brother’s Keeper marks 10th year continued from page one

each year. Over the past 35 years, My Brother’s Keeper has made over 215,000 deliveries to help provide hope and support to those in eastern Mass.

As a Christian ministry, My Brother’s Keeper’s mission is “to bring the love and hope of Jesus Christ to those we serve.” Anyone living in My Brother’s Keeper’s service area is eligible to receive help, regardless of religion. Recipients receiving furniture or a first-time food delivery are presented with the gift of a crucifix and the message: “We are just the delivery people. The furniture is from Him.”

“My wife and I feel so privileged to have been able to serve with My Brother’s Keeper on a weekly basis since they opened,” said volunteer Dan Boucher, of Westport. “It is a wonderful feeling to be a part of this group of people that genuinely care about helping others in their time in need.”

such as making deliveries, packaging food, and assembling furniture.

My Brother’s Keeper picks up donations of basic, gently used furniture, in good condition. To schedule an appointment for My Brother’s Keeper to inspect your furniture for donation, please call 774-305-4577.

If anyone would like to get involved at My Brother’s Keeper, they are hosting two upcoming events this fall: the South Coast Soiree on Friday, September 29 and a Christmas Toy Drive on Saturday, November 4th. For details, please visit www. MyBrothersKeeper.org.

If someone lives in a South Coast community and needs assistance with furniture, food, or Christmas gifts, the person can call the Dartmouth Helpline at 774-305-4590 for details and hours of operation.

as well as a special celebration in honor of Bishop da Cunha’s 70th birthday.

This year’s FACE Summer Gala raised nearly $200,000 for Catholic school students in need of financial assistance in the Diocese of Fall River. Each day in Catholic schools across the diocese, thousands of children receive a values- and faith-based education in high-quality environments dedicated to helping them reach their God-given potential.

For more information about FACE visit www. FACE-dfr.org.

“Visiting these grave sites and memorial markers also offers hope and healing to women who have had abortions and people who have been hurt by abortion such as fathers and grandparents who were never allowed to grieve the death of a child hurt by abortion.”

For more information, on the North Attleboro service, contact Kathy Hill at: Kathyfinnhill@yahoo.com

My Brother’s Keeper is always looking for new volunteers to help with tasks

To learn more about volunteer opportunities at My Brother’s Keeper, visit www.MyBrothersKeeper.org or call 774-305-4577.

Natural law is more than nature

Itmight not have been the wisest move, but a robin just built her nest near the sliding door to my patio. She seemed indifferent to the fact that I sit there often with my devoted dog — and a cat renowned as a serial killer. How many dead animals over the years have lain in tribute beneath my dining room table, usually discovered upon my return from morning Mass!

I was intrigued to witness the little mama’s action during the recent weeks of rain. Amidst these soggy downpours, whenever I checked, she was sitting steadfastly with her wings spread across the opening of the nest. In animals this is not called virtue but instinct, or nature. The very nature that led her to combine twigs, grass, and mud fortified her for this behavior, which is an object lesson worth considering.

Despite the clever personification of so many animals in cartoons, books, and movies, they have little actual freedom in their actions. While having a limited range of judgment (this tree or that for my nest? This antelope or that for my dinner?), they are hardwired to act in the best interest of their kind — in the words of Aquinas: “Their judgment is naturally determined to do one thing.” Survival is key, and nature provides the tools

in each species.

Mama Robin’s touching gesture brought children to mind, especially in our present culture that seems dedicated to their wholesale corruption and destruction. Those charming books that introduced us to Bambi, Peter Rabbit, and Rikki Tikki Tavi have been replaced by stories that up-end nature in the sensitive minds of young children, beginning with animals and then creeping into human relations and family arrangements. Instead of teaching them that there are stable forms on which we can depend, and categories of things that can be classified and defined, they are introduced to a shape-shifting world that morphs upon will. The simple wings of maternal affection are replaced with wretched actions and perverse philosophies, and innocence thereby sinks into a murky bog.

Human beings have far more than mere instinct to guide them, for our rational nature allows for actual judgments in everyday life. Because our end is not just survival but flourishing, human nature

is framed to lift us to exorbitant heights, allowing our intellect and will to deliberate right and wrong in terms of eternal realities. So how do we arrive at a point where children are regularly handed stones for bread and serpents for fish? How can we fail to understand the value of our children’s purity? Do we not comprehend Holy Scripture: “It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin” (Lk 17:2)?

These changes have not happened in a vacuum, nor have the decisions that have led to the rejection of natural law happened overnight. Over many decades the edifice of Christendom has steadily disintegrated until we find ourselves tongue-tied when asked to defend its most basic principles.

The answer is prayer. In addition to the usual prayers we offer, I challenge the reader to resolve during the coming school year to go to the local church at least weekly, to sit before the Blessed Sacrament an hour if possible, and

to ask deliberate and specific questions: What do my children need? How can we arrange things so that they can flourish? How can I be a better parent? What changes in our home are essential for the good of our family? Those who don’t have school-aged children can use the time to pray for those who do, because everyone will be profoundly affected by the formation of the next generation.

God loves these little ones more than we do, and He has entrusted them to our ability to judge the environment they must navigate. Like the Canaanite woman who begged Jesus to heal her daughter, we cannot go away without answers, without some sense of guidance. If we have been remiss with Confession, then we need to take care of it and return to the Lord and ask again. There are better choices, and He will show us if we persist. I’m bracing for the inevitable carnage when the nature of the cat and the nature of the bird collide (although I hope I don’t have to witness it!) but when it comes to human nature and your children, there are critical decisions to be made — or the outcome will be infinitely worse.

Anchor columnist Genevieve Kineke is the author of “The Authentic Catholic Woman.” She blogs at feminine-Genius.typepad.com.

Local reflections of a Spiritual wildfire: WYD 2023

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assigned with specific tasks and responsibilities. I wanted the pilgrims no longer to feel as if they were along for a trip about their faith but to take the reins on a pilgrimage for their faith. It was so impressive to see what instilling a little purpose does to the psychological and spiritual development of adolescents, who are attempting to find their place in this crazy world.

“ The second was designed by the innovator of World Youth Day: St. John Paul II. This pilgrimage was designed to rekindle and ignite in the young pilgrims a faith that may have been dormant or hidden. Both missions provided the tools and kindling to start a spiritual fire. The tools were purpose and the kindling was all the dry sacrifice the pilgrims made to get opening Mass, welcoming ceremonies, Adoration and other events.

“Each journey was met with the sacrifice of personal space and physical, and mental endurance of hundreds of thousands being funneled into two entry points or thousands of people crowding metro cars, and buses. This dry environment of struggle was perfect for the fire of the Holy Spirit felt with each Eucharistic celebration. But there was one specific moment that Sarah and Jo-

siah, our youngest pilgrims, encountered — that was the moment that sparked fire for the rest of the journey that will consume natural, economic and political fires taking place.”

Eighteen-year-old Sarah Moniz from Our Lady of Grace parish in Westport shared, “To draw the flourishing Catholic youth of today towards the Sacred Heart of Jesus, alive in the Eucharist, through inspiring witness, newfound friendships, and transforming worship, encapsulates the beauty and mission of World Youth Day.

“The 2023 pilgrimage to Lisbon, Portugal began for me as an anticipated journey of potential growth and understanding of the sometimes distant and hard-to-grasp Catholic faith I had been raised in. Young people, estimated at 1.5 million, gathered in one country to worship; some souls on fire with the Holy Spirit and others with dimmed flames of yearning for our Savior. This profound sense of peace and encouragement seemed to embrace everyone as groups flooded toward the daily events and services throughout the city. A real representation of ‘loving thy neighbor’ became present as nations waved and cheered toward the passing youth of all ethnicities,

laughing and singing each other’s names.

“At each destination, filled with thousands of starry-eyed believers, I felt an intense feeling of community, despite the difference of culture and language.

“One of the biggest highlights from this experience was the afternoon Adoration hosted by Life Teen. Hundreds of people gathered in this local church from across the world to worship Jesus Christ, present in the Eucharist. At this point in the journey, we had already encountered so much beauty, visited countless breathtaking sights, and seen several tourist destinations. The emotions and enthusiasm were high as we sang and praised the Lord, and listened to powerful speakers give their inspiring witness. And amidst the excitement, the moment the Eucharist was exposed, each heart was immediately humbled and silenced before the altar. There in that moment, every person seemed filled with peace and tearful joy, holding the hand of their friends, comforting their weeping neighbors, all deeply moved and touched by His presence.

“The pilgrims crawling on their knees toward [the chapel where appeared] Our Lady of Fatima, weeping in prayer during adoration, shouting in joy of the arrival of Pope Francis, and walking miles in the heat to adore the Lord; they embodied the spirit of this [pilgrimage] and captured the intention of St. Pope John Paul II in his creation of this global event. World Youth Day really was a ‘celebration of life.’”

Josiah Girardin, an18year-old from St. Pius X Parish in South Yarmouth said, “Before I started my journey to Lisbon for this past World Youth Day, there were already several things I was particularly excited for. First, I had never traveled outside of the United States before, and had very much been gripped by a wanderlust to travel abroad to Europe. Also, I had always been fascinated by languages and different cultures, and so I knew that this immersive and global experience would be a really one-in-alifetime sort of thing. Upon reflection, however, it is clear to me that the biggest culture-shock was neither linguistic or cultural, but religious.

trip was just the experience of being surrounded by so many people my age of such devout and uncompromising faith.

“For much of my life up until that point I had little exposure to any sort of community of Catholic youth outside of my own family, and had always grown up in non-religious school settings. This sense of spiritual isolation became even more distinct in high school, where I felt more and more in the minority with my personal beliefs. None of my friends was Catholic or even religious, and so for a long time I really had no one my age to connect with on a deeper level about such topics as spirituality or faith. So naturally the first thing that struck me when I began the trip was just the sheer devotion of my fellow pilgrims and the unmistakable depth of their faith.

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“It was clear in that moment for every doubtful heart and firm believer, the real and important reason we had journeyed so far to World Youth Day. And that was for the exultation of Christ and our growth toward the acceptance of His will. It wasn’t about the morning espressos, delicious cuisine, enriching culture or tourist landmarks. We could barely communicate with each other, yet every soul present heard and understood the call of Jesus.

“I had, of course, been anticipating some sort of religious experience, but it’s hard really to gauge those kinds of things with nothing else but the imagination, especially on that scale. But by far the most foreign part of the whole

“I found that this devotion was especially visible during the Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, which beyond any of the other processions or events were by far the most powerful parts of the pilgrimage. The Adoration that we went to near Belem was particularly inspiring and quite a unique experience for a couple reasons. For one, we had traveled for several hours to get to the chapel, much of the transit being in crowded buses and metros with a good deal of walking in between, and so we were

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The vocaTion of grandparenTs in The salvaTion of The human race

When Pope Francis was giving his aerial press conference returning from World Youth Day in Lisbon, he said the main issue in caring for the young is “accompaniment,” but “the problem is to know how to do this.” He described what he thinks is the most important part of that know-how: the “dialogue between old and young, between grandparents and grandchildren. This dialogue is important,” he emphasized, “more important than dialogue between parents and children.”

Describing anything as more important than the relationship between parents and children can’t help but startle. Pope Francis had made a similar point during his addresses to the young in Lisbon, calling grandparents “rays of light in our lives,” “roots of our joy,” and teachers about life who train us “in how to journey onwards.” The whole theme of World Youth Day in Lisbon was ultimately tied to this intergenerational dialogue between old and new, in the relationship between the teenage Mary and her elderly cousin Elizabeth at the Visitation.

Those who have followed Pope Francis’ pontificate closely, however, rather than being surprised by his focus on grandparents at a meeting with 1.5 million youth, should have been expecting it. Throughout his decade as the successor of St. Peter, Pope Francis has vastly expanded the papal magisterium on the importance of grandparents. In 2021, he instituted on the fourth Sunday of July the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, penning a theological message each year for its celebration. In 2022, he gave an 18-part Wednesday general audience catechesis on “the meaning and value of old age.” He has repeatedly described our approach to and care for grandparents and the elderly as one of the most urgent issues facing the human family.

Part of his focus the importance of grandparents and the elderly is autobiographical.

“I was lucky to know my four grandparents,” he said once in an interview. “The wisdom of the elderly has helped me greatly; that is why I venerate them.” This was especially so with his paternal grandmother, Rosa Margarita Vasallo di Bergoglio, whom he calls the most important figure in his life and the person he “loves most.” She babysat him for most of his first five years of life. He called her his “hearth” and “moral, religious and cultural repository.” She taught him about the saints and the Rosary, she took him to Mass, she taught him Italian and how to love Italian literature, and she gave him his identity as an Argentine of Italian ancestry. He keeps to this day in his breviary a letter — her “Creed” — that she prepared for him in anticipation of his priestly ordination. At the end of her life, he kept vigil at her bedside, holding her hand as she longed for Jesus’ coming.

The main part of his teaching on the importance of grandparents and the elderly, however, is theological. While St. John Paul II wrote a beautiful “Letter to the Elderly” in 1999, Pope Francis has given us the most articulated “papal pappoulogy” (from pappous, the Greek word for grandparent) in Church history.

We can focus on seven of his major insights.

The first is that “old age is a gift for all stages of life.” It’s a living endowment of maturity, wisdom, authority, holiness and loving service for children, grandchildren and the whole community. In Sacred Scripture, long life is seen as divine blessing, seen in the lifespan of Noah, Abraham and Moses. There is a temptation today, cautions the pope, to treat old age as a disease, a time of decay and disability. In a throw-away culture, many try to “delete” and shun the elderly as useless, unproductive burdens, pretending that youth alone embodies the human ideal. That’s a denial of the past and a “betrayal of our humanity,” he says. Instead, we need to “honor our father and mother,” which he says means honoring the dignity of our grandparents, welcoming them, helping them, loving them and making use of their gifts.

Second, he says that the elderly are civilization’s great teachers, living encyclopedias who cultivate memory, show how we fit into a much larger history, and help us learn how to be human. They unite a wisdom of head and heart. They reveal that what matters is ultimately not physical strength and vigor, but the wisdom that comes from God and from time. When Pope Francis used to refer to

Pope Benedict as a “grandfather” for God’s family, he was paying him a supreme compliment, whose counsel was a treasure for him and the Church.

Third, we need to get ready for old age. Old age is easily misunderstood. Pope Francis says that few prepare adequately for it beyond health care plans and retirement accounts. “Being old,” however, “is just as important and as beautiful as being young,” and one needs a “plan” to live this stage to the full. That plan should include the sharpening of the senses and the sensitization of the soul, especially the virtues of compassion, pity, fidelity, devotion, and responsibility for oneself and others. He urges seniors to take care of themselves physically and spiritually and to cultivate their interior life through daily prayer, the word of God and Mass. He summons them to become “artisans of a revolution of tenderness,” and infuse life with greater love. “Old age,” he encourages, “is no time to give up and lower the sails, but a season of enduring fruitfulness: a new mission awaits us and bids us look to the future.”

Fourth, grandparents are called to be guardians of “tradition” and the transmission of the faith. The vocation of the elderly, he says, is to “bear witness of humanity and faith.” Far more than leaving future generations “goods” in a will, he encourages them rather to leave a legacy of “goodness.” He laments that catechesis is often dry and urges grandparents rather to communicate the faith as a “lived tradition” that communicates the art of living. “Christian faith,” he notes, “is not just saying the Creed: it is thinking the Creed, it is understanding the Creed, it is doing the Creed.” He praises the nonagenarian Eleazar (2 Macc 6:18-31) as someone who transmits a coherent legacy of the relationship between faith and life and urges every senior to similar witness.

Fifth, to protect this transmission of wisdom, grandparents must become prophets against the corruption that afflicts each age. With prudence rather than screeds, they need to “sound the alarm” against relativism and help people see that dangers flowing from ideology of utilitarianism, the obsession of pleasure, and the pursuit of a life not based on truth, beauty, justice and sacrifice. Like Noah, the elderly must build an ark and “save the world.” To do this, however, Pope Francis says they need to make sure that they themselves do not become corrupt with age, like the old men who lusted and sought to condemn unjustly Susanna (Dan 13:1-64).

Sixth, he urges grandparents to form a “covenant” with the young. “The future of the world depends on this covenant between young and old,” he underlines. If this dialogue of words and existence does not take place, he says, society will become sterile and lonely. “The elderly are like the roots of a tree” from which all generations, especially the young, must draw sap in order to flourish. That’s because “the covenant between the two poles of the generations of life (children and the elderly) also helps the other two generations (young people and adults) to bond with each other so as to make everyone’s existence richer in humanity.” Grandparents illumine the “whole span of human life” by showing the unity of all stages of life.

Finally, he says that grandparents and the elderly demonstrate the fullness and meaning of life paradoxically by teaching us how to prepare for death. They show that life on earth is not a nostalgia for the past but a “time of initiation,” a “novitiate,” a period of “promise” and “eager expectation” that the “best is yet to come.” They teach us the meaning of time by means of the horizon of eternity, that death is as a birth into a new life, “superior to the time of mortal life,” in that place where Jesus has gone to prepare.

Pope Francis often reminds his fellow seniors that after he had submitted his retirement as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he was elected to take on the responsibilities of the papacy! Since that election, he has tried not only to preach this “papal pappoulogy” but to exemplify it. World Youth Days are an opportunity for him to show the importance of this covenantal “dialogue between old and young, between grandparents and grandchildren” and to help both young and not-so-young enter into a conversation essential for their happiness, the future of the Church and the flourishing of all humanity.

Diocesan parish prayer groups bring people, petitions to God

By JOAN D. WARREN Special to The Anchor

SEEKONK — Prayer is universal. Some pray while in the shower, before bed, while driving. Prayer can be a personal time of reflection, or an outward expression shared by fellow worshipers.

Within the Diocese of Fall River, many parishes have vibrant prayer groups that have one common denominator — praying as a community of believers.

At Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Seekonk and St. Patrick’s Parish in Wareham, prayer groups are thriving, but each with its own purpose and intention.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel has more than one prayer group: The Intercessory Prayer Ministry, Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Holy Souls Prayer Group and the Men’s Prayer and Fellowship. Although each has a different format, they all the same outcome — to give thanks

to the Lord and pray.

The Intercessory Prayer Group at Our Lady of Mount Carmel has been meeting since 1976. COVID interrupted the in-person meetings, changing the format to an online Zoom call on Monday mornings.

“The grace of it is so simple — just a willingness to pray,” said Barbara Craveiro. “You do your best and let God do the rest.”

The Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place in the St. Joseph Chapel of the church around the clock. About 25 members strong, there is always someone committed to in-person praying for an hour’s time.

Craveiro explained that prayer petitions can do wondrous things. “We prayed for a young man with cancer for a year and he recently finished his last treatment. He is doing well. That is the power of prayer. We are blessed to have dedicated people praying 24/7 in

intercessory prayer. It is gratifying to know that God listens to our prayers,” she said.

The prayer list is shared among the faithful, and some families keep it on their refrigerator and pray together at mealtime.

“The ministry is a blessing to the parish and it’s interesting to see how each person is called to pray,” she added. “People join us from other ministries and come from outside the parish to keep vigil in the chapel.”

The Holy Souls in Purgatory Prayer Group meets for about an hour Thursday mornings in

the church at 9 a.m. The group of about 10 people offer prayers for all the souls in purgatory. The group was formed five years ago by parishioner Pam Potenza, who learned about the ministry from a parish she attends in Florida.

Liz Day and Carolyn Wentworth are devoted members of this group. They said the ministry is important to them and fills them with the purpose of helping the souls in purgatory get to Heaven.

“There is a misunderstanding about purgatory. Souls in purgatory can’t pray for themselves and

Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place in the St. Joseph Chapel at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Seekonk around the clock. About 25 members strong, there is always someone committed to in-person praying for an hour’s time. At left is the Prayer Petition box at the parish. (Photos by Joan D. Warren)

Attleboro 40 Days for Life begins September 27

ATTLEBORO — “On September 27, the highly successful 40 Days for Life campaign returns to Attleboro with 40 days of prayer and fasting, peaceful vigil and community outreach,” said Ron Larose, who is coordinating the local campaign. “We pray that these efforts will help

mark the beginning of the end of abortion in Attleboro. We know 40 Days for Life has made a difference here. Our volunteers have made extraordinary sacrifices to expose the abortion industry and to protect children and their mothers from abortion.”

The following is a list

of just a few of the positive results of previous Attleboro campaigns.

— 18 babies saved from abortion;

— More than 30 churches and other faith-based organizations participate;

— More than 300 volunteers contributing 15,000 hours of service to the com-

munity.

The campaign will feature a peaceful 40-day prayer vigil in the public right-of-way outside Four Women Clinic at 150 Emory Street in Attleboro. All prayer vigil participants are asked to sign a statement of peace, pledging to conduct themselves in a Christ-like manner at all times.

“We stand united for life in our small corner of the vineyard at the last remaining surgical abortion clinic in the entire southeast region of Massachusetts to protect mothers and babies from this terrible affliction in our land,” said Larose.

An opening Prayer Service and Mass will be held Saturday, September 30. The Friars of the Immaculate will be present to lead in prayer and celebrate Mass in Angel Park from 9 to 11 a.m. The event will include recitation of the Rosary, Mass, Confession, Eucharistic procession around the park and conclude with Benediction.

The website www.40daysforlife.com/ attleboro is up and running and includes a vigil calendar where one can sign up for a specific hour during the campaign. The website includes the campaign flyers and additional information from the National campaign.

“Dr. Haywood Robinson, MD, Director of Medical Affairs and Education for the national 40 Days for Life campaign will be joining for a midcampaign prayer service at Angell Park,” Larose told The Anchor. “We invite all of our regular campaign volunteers to join us in prayer and have an opportunity to speak

with one of the national campaign leadership team. This will be the third visit to our campaign from national headquarters.”

For information about 40 Days for Life in Attleboro visit: www.40daysforlife.com/ attleboro.

For assistance or for more information, please contact Ron Larose at 40dflattleboro@comcast. net or 508-736-9813.

Upcoming Pro-Life events

The Abundant Hope Celebrate Life Dinner on Thursday September 28 from 6-9 p.m. at Envision Hotel and Conference Center, 31 Hampshire Street, Mansfield.

The annual fundraising dinner returns with Myra Maloney Flynn, President of Mass. Citizens for Life as keynote speaker. Discounted tickets available through September 12.

People can register online at https://ahprc. ejoinme.org/tickets and sponsorships or go online to the Abundant Hope website for more information and purchase tickets. Call 508-455-0425 or e-mail director@ahprc.org if you have any questions or need more information.

A Celebration of Life Monday will take place October 16 at 6 p.m. with Mass and speakers. It will be at St. Isidore Parish At Sacred Heart Church, 340 Centre Street, Middleboro.

Speakers will be Catherine Roman, President Abundant Hope Pregnancy Help Center; Mark Carey, Media, Director, Mayor’s Office in Quincy, Mass., a musician, film maker with Muddhouse Media.

Local reflections of WYD 2023

continued from page five

already fairly tired by the time we got there. Another reason was that the chapel itself was very hot inside, even more so than outdoors, and also pretty much stuffed to the brim with pilgrims. Despite these conditions, there was an unmistakable air of joy and deep community as we sang for an hour in worship; a joy which surpassed any and every physical trial that we were going through.

“And in this moment of joy and praise, I saw many of the pilgrims I had already begun to know, now so deeply captivated in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament that I couldn’t help but feel convicted. Mixed together with the joy and peace of being in the real presence of Christ, I also felt a deep unworthiness and a genuine fear of God. And as the Host, being carried and raised throughout the chapel came to me, I could only turn away and tremble at His presence.

“Coming back from Lisbon I arrived with a new and deep desire to spend more time in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, and to further develop a personal relationship with the physical and truly present Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. I hope

to continue in my search for a Catholic community while at university, and spread the faith if I can by my witness.”

“Both of these young parishioners were moved by the Eucharistic Adoration, which set their faith on fire in a way that may not be as tangible as actual fire but leaves behind the same effects,” Rivera told The Anchor. “ They did not come back the same people. This encounter will live within them for the rest of their lives. And if these are just the stories of two of our 24 pilgrims, can you imagine the movement of the 1.5 millions young universal parishioners? There is a wildfire, alright, and this all consuming fire is moving in the hearts of the faithful.”

Father John Garabedian, who was ordained as a priest for the Fall River Diocese in June, wrote a reflection on WYD for his parish bulletin.

“Extraordinary, graced, arduous. These three words come to mind when reflecting on my pilgrimage to World Youth Day.

“Extraordinary: It was extraordinary to see the Church fully alive as the streets of Lisbon were flooded by young adults

from around the world singing songs to Our Lady, waving flags, and chanting their country’s name. The buzz and joy in the air were contagious, and even locals couldn’t help but stand outside their cafes or on their rooftops to marvel at the crowds who came from the ends of the earth to their city to meet Jesus. I have to say, it is hard to fully process and put into words seeing the Vicar of Christ, Pope Francis, up close, hearing his words of encouragement, being part of a 1.5 million crowd and concelebrating alongside 10,000 priests at the closing Mass.

“After my time in Lisbon, I was reassured that the Church is not dead but alive, and that many young people are hungering for the truth, love, and happiness that Jesus Christ alone can provide. A hopeful message for all of us indeed!

“Graced: For me, this trip was full

of grace. It was an honor to be asked to travel with such a fantastic group of young people from the Diocese of Fall River. I enjoyed being their spiritual support and providing the Sacraments, but also, it was a blessing to share fellowship and many joyful memories with the pilgrims. I felt that God was using me and my life experiences to relate, connect with them and lead them closer to Jesus. I was inspired by them and am grateful for the friendships that were forged.

“On this pilgrimage, one of the main highlights for me was my time at Fatima before heading to Lisbon. When I first turned the corner to enter the square for the Rosary and

candlelight procession, I was hit by a prayerful presence and hauntingly beautiful music from the choir. Thousands of people were singing, and many candles pierced the night sky. To be where Our Lady appeared and to honor her with my prayers was unique and memorable. I also enjoyed praying at the apparition site, seeing the graves of Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco, and concelebrating the Mass with many brother priests. Our Lady of Fatima was influential in my priestly discernment and formation, and it was special to be at that place to thank her for all her prayers and guidance.

“Arduous: I’ve heard

Pope Francis greets more than a million of enthusiastic young Catholics at World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal.

It was Saturday morning and I was enjoying my extra hour of rest since Saturday Mass is celebrated at 7 a.m. rather than at the usual weekday hour of 6 a.m. Suddenly, I was awakened by a couple of really loud and enthusiastic “meows” and when this did not receive the intended response from me, Titus the Tiger, the number two of my seven cats, launched his plump body onto my bed. Titus had never done this previously, even though I often permit him and Bailey, my number one cat, to stay in the house overnight. He must have sensed that something different and special was on the docket for that morning. So, I slowly slid out of bed.

Titus was correct of course. After shaving, showering and putting on my best face for the day,

Water Road

(no, I do not use makeup)

I went to the door and looked out over the water. There, already in the inner harbor, sat a tugboat, resting on the placid water. Oh yes of course, it was our annual Barge Day and, on this day the calm water would be our “roadway” for heavy equipment and other precious supplies such as household appliances. Barge Day is scheduled each year in July or August when the waters of the Molokai Channel are not the threat they can be at times when this channel is considered to be one of the world’s most treacherous bodies of water.

On this day, August 5, the barge was considerably larger than in previous years and had some

difficulty safely entering the inner harbor. By noon

empty oil tankers and gravel trucks as well as the old vehicles and the filled shipping containers destined for some scrap yard in Oahu.

the harbor into the open sea.

it finally had been nudged carefully to its unloading position at Kalaupapa Pier and the teams of workers were ready and eager to unload the much-awaited cargo.

My rectory gives me a great vantage point to observe the action even while lounging in my recliner in the living room. Of course, I did spend some time on the front porch where I had a better view of the action. My role for the day was to stay out of the way of the helmeted workers and I had no problem doing that. By about 3 p.m., the cargo had been unloaded and the barge was ready to welcome back the now

By 7 p.m. the frenzy of activity had ceased and the barge eased away from the pier and was towed out of

Another successful barge day had come and gone in Kalaupapa and the workers slept soundly that night. So did I — and Titus did not wake me on Sunday morning. Aloha . Anchor columnist, Father Killilea is pastor of St. Francis Church in Kalaupapa, Hawaii.

Our readers respond

Thought provoking Magnum Opus ! Magnificent article in August 4th issue of The Anchor by Father Thomas Washburn entitled, “Turning down the temperature,” an insightful piece about a subject we are told is dangerous to talk about in polite company — politics. I am an avid reader of The Anchor , also much involved in politics. This must-read article I will only comment on as articulate, easy to understand, a great job. If we practiced what is noted in this article, we

could, would, change our politically hot world of politics. As people of faith, we are the practiced experts in reconciliation, grace, peace and forgiveness. We must bring these skills into the public sphere, on a mission to civilize.

I love so many things about this piece. It’s thought-provoking, hit the nail on the head and kept me engaged throughout. Thanks for writing this.

Daryl Gonyon Capt. USAF Ret. Fall River

Parish

prayer groups bring people, petitions to God

continued from page seven

depend on us and those in Heaven to pray for them. They can pray for us although, which is comforting” Day said.

Wentworth is committed to the group after finding the need for a closer relationship with God.

“I had just lost my husband and was attending daily Mass, she said. “The prayer group has given me a sense of peace and strength to go on. Praying with others is comforting.”

Another prayer group at the Seekonk parish is the Men’s Prayer and Fellowship. They have been gathering since 2004 after attending the annual National Men’s Conference

in Boston.

William Kearney, one of the leaders of the ministry, said about six to eight men gather the first Saturday of the month after attending the 9 a.m. Mass, and discuss the readings for the Sunday Mass the following day.

“Everyone takes turns reading followed by spiritual discussion and how the readings affect us. Deacon Matt Sweeney is with us, and we talk about his homily when he is preaching. We typically meet for about an hourand-a-half,” Kearney said.

Many in the men’s group also participate in the Men of St. Joseph prayer ministry. Meeting the second Thursday of

West Harwich parish to host DCCW meeting September 30

WEST HARWICH —

The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women invites all women of the diocese to attend a meeting at Holy Trinity Parish, 246 Main Street, West Harwich, on Saturday, September 30, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The presenter will be Father Tom Washburn, and the topic will be The Eucharist. Light refreshments will be served.

Questions can be directed to Ann Marie Melanson at 508-631-0533 or email frdccwannmarie@ gmail.com.

Retired MIT professor to speak at La Salette on elimination of nuclear weapons

ATTLEBORO — Peter Metz, a retired MIT educated engineer and Massachusetts Peace Action Nuclear Disarmament Working Group member who is motivated by his Catholic faith to work toward the total elimination of nuclear weapons, will speak on Thursday, September 28 at 7 p.m. at the Welcome Center at the

the month, the purpose is to strengthen their spiritual leadership and to share with family and others in their lives.

“This is a bit more in-depth,” Kearney added. “We all read the same books and have homework assignments. We have studied the Ministry of the ‘Wild Goose’ video series by Father Dave Pivonka. This brings us closer to the Holy Spirit.”

At St. Patrick’s Parish in Wareham, the Charismatic Prayer Group has been meeting weekly on Thursday evenings since 1996. This form of prayer includes singing praise and worship music, praying, sharing Scripture verse, reading of psalms,

Annual Pro-Life

Mass is October 22 at Cathedral

FALL RIVER — The annual Respect Life Month Mass with Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and hosted by the Secretariat of the New Evangelization, will be celebrated on Sunday, October 22, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral. RSVP is not required for the Mass

and discussion. The group sprang from the Life in the Spirit Seminar that the church has offered a few times each year. The seminar is a seven-week program designed to form a closer relationship with the Holy Spirit and make a commitment to serve God.

Robin Rumboldt, one of the leaders of the group said building community is one of the reasons she participates.

“Collectively, we share our faith and how Jesus Christ has affected our lives and helps to build a closer relationship with God,” she said.

Rumboldt has witnessed so many positive outcomes from the seminar, including parishioners who heard the call to take on active roles in

other church ministries.

“After attending the seminar, some parishioners felt a calling to become involved and are now lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and have become involved at St. Patrick’s,” Rumboldt said.

To learn more about these prayer groups and how to bring them to your parish, visit their websites at:

Our Lady of Mount Carmel: www. olmcseekonk.org

St Patrick’s Church: www.stpatrickswareham. org

Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, 947 Park Street, Attleboro,

The program is free and open to the public and is sponsored by the La Salette chapter of Pax Christi, the international Catholic movement for justice and peace.

For additional information contact Elaine at leawoodstar@yahoo.com.

The conference featuring Peter Kreeft, Ph.D., a professor of philosophy at Boston College, and who has written more than 100 books, will take place at White’s of Westport. RSVP is required for the conference.

To purchase conference tickets visit fallriverfaithformation. org.

Learning the power and wisdom of the cross

In the Greco-Roman world, the cross was an instrument of torture and oppression. Romans used the cross to punish their enemies, but also to spread fear in the hearts of those who might oppose them. Jesus, by His own cross and Resurrection, redeemed the world and turned a tool of terror into the most powerful source of hope of love the world as known. In Matthew’s Gospel, which we hear this Labor Day weekend, we are confronted with the call of Jesus to embrace what it means to truly follow Him:

“Whoever wishes to come after Me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Mt 16:24-26).

If we truly seek to follow the Lord, we must bear the burden of our own cross. To say that this is counter-cultural to our 21st century ears is an understatement indeed. Our world is constructed in many ways to escape

from pain and suffering. Hyper-busyness, self-medication of all stripes, technology, entertainment, and the attainment of sensual pleasure all provide ways to escape from the suffering of the world. Comfort and security are what we seek. And yet Jesus expects us to embrace weakness, risk, uncertainty and to trust in Him in a radical way.

If this call of Jesus sounds foreign to us today, imagine how His disciples reacted. After all, many of them likely would have witnessed the cruel torture of the cross visited upon the Jewish people by their Roman occupiers. Wasn’t the Messiah supposed to bring a great deliverance to the people of Israel? Earlier in the passage, Peter expressed what most of us would want: to prevent Jesus from suffering. Isn’t this something any good friend would do? Can we not identify with Peter in this moment of wanting to protect a friend from harm?

Despite Peter’s best inten-

tions, however, Jesus makes it abundantly clear that if he stands in the way of His salvific mission, Peter is doing the work of Satan. Jesus was on a mission to save us, reveal who God is, and reveal the very meaning and purpose of our lives. On the cross, Jesus reveals that God is a gift of self-emptying love.

If we are to be who God made us to be, we must be willing to do the same. In whatever way we are called, we must be willing to make a gift of ourselves. Will this bring suffering to our lives? Yes. But it is the suffering that ultimately leads us to eternal life and happiness. Just as our gifts are unique to each of us, so too are the crosses we bear. For some, their cross may be living with risk and uncertainty, and truly trusting

in God’s Providence. For others, slowing down, being silent and really listening to God may be their cross to bear. For many, it may be the social stigma and isolation attached to being a follower of Jesus Christ and the moral demands that this choice entails. When we make a choice to follow Jesus and His commandments, we realize how we must change, and what we must give up, as a consequence. While each person has his or her own cross to bear in life, this does not mean that we or others are meant to suffer in silence and isolation. Accepting our own cross should correlate to a growth in compassion for the suffering of others. The more we trust in Jesus and embrace our own cross, the more sensitive we should become to the challenges of others. Whether that suffering be physical, emotional, spiritual or material, we are called to alleviate the suffering of others while carrying a cross of our own.

Bearing our cross and having compassion for the crosses of others are also critical to our relationships. If I don’t accept that suffering, weakness and vulnerability are necessary to my relationship with God, will I be inclined to accept or understand these things in others? Is the rejection of the cross the reason why loneliness and anxiety are so prevalent in our world today? These are questions worth pondering.

Of course, we can not understand the injustice and suffering of the cross without the triumph and joy of the Resurrection. Our disposition as Christians should always be joyful and hopeful, not dour or depressed. And yet, we should also never empty the cross of Jesus Christ of its awesome power to transform our lives and relationships.

Anchor columnist Peter Shaughnessy is a parishioner of St. Francis Xavier parish in Acushnet.

Museum of Family Prayer opens new Faith Gallery

EASTON — The Museum of Prayer’s new Faith Gallery will present a vibrant, contemplative exhibit on the Blessed Mother. Activities include art projects for children of all ages, the Rosary, and to guided tours of the gallery. The grand opening is September 9, at 10 a.m. at the Museum of Family Prayer, 518 Washington Street, North Easton. Exhibits, which will change quarterly, give families the opportunity to view art from world-renowned artists whom they may not otherwise have the chance to encounter.

The opening exhibit will feature the work of Catholic artist, Jen Norton.

Diocesan Portuguese Charismatic Conference in Fall River September 8-9

FALL RIVER — The Portuguese Charismatic Conference ’23 of the Fall River Diocese, sponsored by the Diocesan Portuguese Renewal Service Committee, with the theme: “Revival of the Spirit’s Fire/‘New Fire’,”

,

will take place at the Espírito Santo Parish Hall, Alden Street, Fall River, on Friday, September 8, at 6 p.m., and on Saturday, September 9 from 8 a.m. until approximately 5 p.m.

The conference will

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6

Sunday, September 3 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Daniel M. Nunes, Parochial Administrator of St. John Neumann Parish in East Freetown

Sunday, September 10 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Laurent M. Valliere, Parochial Administrator of St. Julie Billiart Parish, in North Dartmouth

Sunday, September 17 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father David C. Deston Jr., Administrator of St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dighton and Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Taunton

Sunday, September 24 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Michael Racine, Pastor of Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Lawrence Martyr parishes; and Parochial Administrator of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, all in New Bedford

Sunday, October 1 at 11:00 a.m.

consist of Sessions of Praise and Worship, Song, Intercession, Word Gifts and Prophecy, Workshops, Teachings on Charisms of the Spirit, and conclude with Holy Mass and a Special Reflection on the Revival of New Charis and its origins (New Fire).

All are invited to attend this very special “Current of Grace” in its entirety or in part.

Those intending to attend are asked to contact a leader of one of the Diocesan Portuguese Prayer Groups, namely: Espírito Santo Parish Prayer Group,

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on the Portuguese Channel

Sunday, September 3, at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from St. Anthony Church, Taunton ***

Sunday, September 10 at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from St. Anthony of Padua Church, Fall River ***

Sunday, September 17 at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from St. Francis Xavier Church, East Providence ***

Sunday, September 24 at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, Providence ***

Sunday, October 1 at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from Santo Christo Church, Fall River

Fall River; Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Prayer Group, New Bedford; Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish Prayer Group, New Bedford; and St. Anthony Parish Prayer Group, Taunton.

Upcoming Diocesan-hosted events slated

FALL RIVER — The diocesan Secretariat for the New Evangelization has announced a pair of events coming in September and October.

A Parish Leader Convocation will be held on Saturday, September 9, at St. John Neumann Parish in East Freetown.

The Diocese of Fall River will celebrate its annual Catholic Youth Day on Saturday, October 7, at the Cathedral Campgrounds in East Freetown.

Please contact Oscar Rivera, Director of Youth Evangelization, at ORivera@dioc-fr.org for additional information.

Celebrant is Father Thomas C. Lopes, a retired priest of the Fall River Diocese

Members of Holy Trinity Parish in West Harwich and their pastor, Father Tom Washburn, attended the 26th Annual FACE Sumner Gala at the Wianno Club in Osterville. See story on page two.

In Your Prayers

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

Sept. 2

Rev. Paul O. Robinson, O.Carm., Former Diocesan Judicial Vicar, 2018

Sept. 3

Rev. Thomas J. McGee, D.D., Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton, 1912

Sept. 4

Rev. Joseph P. Tallon, Pastor, St. Mary, New Bedford, 1864

Rev. John J. Maguire, Founder, St. Peter the Apostle, Provincetown, 1894

Sept. 5

Rev. Napoleon, A. Messier, Pastor, St. Mathieu, Fall River, 1948

Sept. 6

Rev. Manuel Ferreira, Retired, Former Pastor, St. Anthony, Taunton, 2020

Sept. 7

Very Rev. James E. McMahon, V. F. Pastor, Sacred Heart, Oak Bluffs, 1966

Rev. Raymond Pelletier, M.S., La Salette Shrine, North Attleboro, 1984

Sept. 8

Rev. Thomas Sheehan, Founder, Holy Trinity, Harwich Center, 1868

Sept. 9

Rev. Thomas Halkovic, C.S.C., Campus Minister, Stonehill College, 2017

Sept. 10

Rt. Rev. Felix S. Childs, Retired Pastor, Sacred Heart, Fall River, 1969

Sept. 11

Rev. Joachim Shults, SS.CC., Our Lady of Assumption, New Bedford, 1987

Rev. Cyril Augustyn, OFM Conv., Pastor, Holy Rosary, Taunton, 1997

Rev. Francis E. Grogan, C.S.C., Superior, Holy Cross Residence, North Dartmouth, 2001

Rev. Martin Grena, Retired Missionary, 2004

Rev. Terence F. Keenan, Retired, Former Pastor, St. Mary, South Dartmouth, 2010

Sept. 12

Rev. John J. Galvin, STD, Assistant, SS. Peter and Paul, Fall River, 1962

Most Rev. James L. Connolly, Sc.H D, Fourth Bishop of Fall River, 1951-70, 1986

Rev. John R. Folster, Pastor, St. Louis de France, Swansea, 1995

Sept. 13

Msgr. Arthur W. Tansey, Retired, Former Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Fall River, 1985

Rev. John J. Yorco, SS.CC., Former Pastor, St. Boniface, New Bedford, 2010

Sept. 20

Rev. Simon A. O’Rourke,USN Chaplain, 1918

Rev. Omer Valois, Retired Pastor, Sacred Heart, New Bedford, 1958

Rev. Austin T. Nagle, SS.CC., 2017

Sept. 21

Rev. George Pager, Founder, Sacred Heart, New Bedford, 1882

Rev. George Jowdy, Pastor, Our Lady of Purgatory, New Bedford, 1938

Rev. William H. Crane, SM, Superior at National Shrine of Our Lady of Victories, Boston, 1988

Rev. Vincent Burke, S.V.D., 2017

Sept. 23

Rev. Antoine Charest, SM, Former Assistant, St. Jean Baptiste, Fall River, 2001

Sept. 24

Rev. Joseph E.C. Bourque, Pastor, Blessed Sacrament, Fall River, 1955

Sept. 25

Rev. Robert J. Woodley, S.J., Missionary, Taunton, New Bedford, Fall River, 1857

Permanent Deacon Robert B. Raymond, 2007

Sept. 26

Rev. John J. Donahue, Assistant, St. William, Fall River, 1944

Rev. Flavius Gamache, SMM, Former Pastor, St. Peter, Dighton, 1996

Rev. John C. Martins, Retired Pastor, St. Anthony of Padua, Fall River, 2008

Rev. Clement E. Dufour, Retired Pastor, Sacred Heart, New Bedford, 2009

Sept. 27

Rev. John W. Greene, S.J., Former Teacher, Bishop Connolly High School, Fall River, 1991

Sept. 29

Rev. J.A. Payan, Founder, St. Mathieu, Fall River, 1899

Rev. Roman Chwaliszewski, O.F.M. Conv., Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, New Bedford, 1993

Sept. 30

Rev. Antonio Felisbesto Diaz, 1866

Rev. Charles A.J. Donovan, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, North Easton, 1949

Rev. Isadore Kowalski, OFM Conv., Our Lady’s Haven, Fairhaven, 2003

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, Former Pastor, St. Patrick, Fall River, 1964

Sept. 19

Rev. Henry E.S. Henniss, Pastor, St. Mary, New Bedford, 1859

Rev. John J. Griffin, Pastor, St. Paul, Taunton, 1963

Rev. George Taraska, O.F.M. Conv., Parochial Vicar, Holy Rosary, Taunton, 1993

Permanent Deacon Paul G. Metilly, 2013

Oct. 1

Most. Rev. William O. Brady, S.T.D., Archbishop of St. Paul, 1961

Permanent Deacon Dennis G. O’Connell, 2021

Oct. 2

Rev. John D. O’Keefe, 1916

Rev. Joseph E. Sutula, Pastor, St. Casimir, New Bedford, 1961

Rev. Rene R. Levesque, Pastor, Blessed Sacrament, Fall River, 1999

Rev. Msgr. Stanislaus T. Sypek, St. Adalbert, Hyde Park, Mass., 2011

Rev. Deacon Dennis G. O’Connell, 2021

Oct. 3

Rev. Msgr. Arthur G. Considine, Retired Pastor, St. Mary, South Dartmouth, 1991

Oct. 5

Rev. Jean D. Pare, O.P., Assistant Director, St. Anne Shrine, Fall River, 1999

Oct. 6

Rev. Stephen B. Magill, Assistant, Immaculate Conception, North Easton, 1916

Rev. Roland Brodeur, Uniondale, N.Y., 1987

Rev. Thomas McElroy, SS.CC., Former Pastor, St. Joseph, Fairhaven, 2017

Local reflections of a Spiritual Fire: WYD 2023

many stories about how demanding and taxing World Youth Day can be for many reasons, but I didn’t fully know what to expect since it was my first one. As fun as it was, this trip certainly pushed me to grow and move out of my comfort zone. The hardest thing to endure was just the massive amounts of people everywhere. The buses, the metro, the streets, the lines for food, the Masses and the parks were all packed like sardines. Getting anywhere with our group of 24 required lots of planning, communication, and pa -

tience. Even though it was tough at some points, our leaders did an outstanding job, always safely getting us where we needed to be. The weather also made things a bit challenging as the temperature reached over 100 degrees the last couple of days. Yet we still trucked on and persisted.

“Our Lord is always with us, active in our lives, and continuously calls us and the entire Church into a deeper renewal and encounter. These encounters happen in many ways, but one giant way is through World Youth Day.”

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., and Father John Garabedian celebrate Mass for local WYD pilgrims.

Just recently the coach of our local pro football team said the future Hall of Fame quarterback and former Patriot deserves more than just one night of appreciation, which will occur on opening day, September 10.

I am as big a sports fan as anyone, but I’m not into the undo adulation thing sports wraps its money-loving head around.

One is more than enough. Appreciation for playing a game and making obscene amounts of cash deserves a “night”? Simply put, no.

I can think of two people in my life who deserve a lifetime of “nights.”

My father-in-law, Pete, was a man who had a tough childhood, without the experience of a loving household. Yet, this man, who was father to seven children and was a devoted husband, worked countless hours each week to support them. He had major health problems, but that didn’t stop him. He died at the far-too-tender age of

I missed meeting this wonderful man by less than two months. On New Year’s Eve of the year he died, he teamed up with the Lord to bring his daughter Denise and me together, and 45 years later, we still are.

Pete deserves more than one night of appreciation. The other is my dad, Larry. Another who had a difficult childhood, losing his mom when he was six years old, he went to an orphanage for a while, then when back at home, he worked — delivering weighty blocks of ice; delivering newspapers; working on a turkey farm and an apple farm. And he would walk several miles a day to bring his dad his lunch at a local factory.

He was in World War II aboard

a destroyer that fought in the blistering heat of the South Pacific and the extreme cold of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. The enormous change in climate did a tune on his health.

He hid all the horrors he witnessed and experienced during the war until his dementia set them free. He always worked, often jobs with bosses who demeaned him. I remember his being laid off in his 50s and he took a part time job pushing shopping carts at a local supermarket until he could get another job.

He always made sure my mom, brother and I had what we needed and once in a while, things we didn’t need.

Even when he retired, he helped out family, friends and

neighbors with a plethora of chores and repairs.

Larry taught me so many valuable life lessons, some of which were the result of my selfishness, often causing him frustration and worry. I still rue those times.

His example taught me to be a good father and husband and worker. He unceremoniously died a shell of the man he always was, physically and mentally.

Larry deserves more than one night of appreciation. I can safely wager you all know one or more people in your lives who deserve a night of appreciation and more.

Athletes provide thrills and entertainment, but they get their appreciation during games and in their pay checks. It’s the folks who do what they’re supposed to do and more without fanfare or praise, who deserve to be recognized for what they truly are: true children of God. I stand up and applaud everyone of them.

davejolivet@anchornews.org

44.

Their whole lives deserve a ‘day’