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Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

Friday, October 28, 2016

Parishes, groups plan for Fatima centennial — page 4 Bishop’s letter regarding ballot Question 4 — page 5 Holy Hour to begin Vocations Awareness Week — page 14 Chapel at St. Vincent’s Home in Fall River.

(Photo by Dave Jolivet) The Anchor - October 28, 2016

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Mother Dolores Hart, O.S.B. to speak at FACE Scholarship Dinner

WESTPORT — Mother Dolores Hart, O.S.B., who found success and fame on the screen and stage then chose to leave it behind to enter the abbey, will be the featured speaker at the 22nd annual Fall Scholarship Dinner to benefit students attending Catholic schools in the Fall River Diocese.

Sponsored by the Foundation for the Advancement of Catholic Education, formerly the St. Mary’s Education Fund, the Fall Scholarship Dinner will take place November 17, at White’s of Westport, beginning with a 5:30 p.m. reception.

Dolores Hart began her career as an actress at 19 years old, making her screen debut in 1957 opposite Elvis Presley in “Loving You.” She quickly became one of Hollywood’s rising stars.

Nine other films followed including “King Creole,” again with Presley, and the hugely popular “Where the

Boys Are” and “Lisa.” She took on Broadway as well, starring in “The Pleasure of His Company” in 1959, for which she received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress.

At the height of her career in 1963, she stunned Hollywood and legions of fans with her decision to enter the Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, Conn., to become a cloistered nun.

As time passed, though, her radical choice became a source of inspiration for many who admired her as an actress and public figure.

In her years at the monastery, Mother Dolores has played a key role in the education and formation of new community members and in developing the community’s apostolic outreach, including founding “The Gary — The Olivia Theater” on the abbey grounds in collaboration with actors such as Academy Award winner Patricia

Neal. She has, since 1970, served as dean of Education at Regina Laudis.

In recognition of her

Mother Dolores Hart, O.S.B.

commitment to promote excellence in the arts and serve the Church through her profession, Mother Dolores has received three honorary doctorates, from Fairfield University, Loyola

Marymount and Holy Family University, as well as numerous awards from Catholic organizations such as the Life Achievement Award from The Christophers.

She continues to be a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The HBO documentary film, “God is the Bigger Elvis,” about Mother Dolores’ remarkable story was nominated for a 2012 Academy Award in the Documentary Short category. Her acclaimed autobiography “The Ear of the Heart: An Actress’ Journey from Hollywood to Holy Vows” was released in 2013 and is now in its third printing.

In a letter of invitation to support this year’s FACE Fall Scholarship Dinner, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., noted that the evening’s speaker will be a Benedictine Sister who began her adult life as a Hollywood actress.

“Her story of commitment to her calling is an inspiration to us in our call to serve our young through their formative years,” he pointed out.

The Fall Scholarship Dinner is one of two principal yearly fundraisers that support FACE. To date in the current school year alone, FACE has granted $860,200 in need-based financial scholarships. In doing so, FACE is helping provide to more than 900 students the opportunity to attend a Catholic elementary, middle and or high school in the Fall River Diocese.

Bishop da Cunha wrote to prospective donors that, “By investing in our schools, we also invest in the future of our Church and the well-being of our broader community.”

The Fall Scholarship Dinner will feature a reception and extensive multi-course meal followed by a brief program and the Turn to page 15

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The Anchor - October 28, 2016

Rare relics of Christ’s Passion coming to Fall River parish

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

FALL RIVER — In preparing to close out the Jubilee Year of Mercy, parishioners and diocesan faithful will have a rare opportunity to view and venerate several first-class, authenticated relics of Christ’s Passion when they make a stop at Good Shepherd Parish in Fall River.

“They usually only present these relics during Lent, but they’ve been touring full-time during this jubilee year,” said Father Andrew Johnson, pastor of Good Shepherd Parish.

Entitled “Relics of the True Cross and Christ’s Passion,” the collection will be at Good Shepherd Church, 1598 South Main Street in Fall River, for one day only on October 30 beginning at 3 p.m. This unique collection of relics has been brought together by the Apostolate for the Holy Relics in a special program commemorating the events of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rare collections such as this are generally seen only in Rome or the Holy Land.

“It’s rare to see these outside of the Church of the Holy Cross in Rome, which is where a lot of these relics are kept,” Father Johnson told The Anchor. “The interesting thing is these have all been authenticated, so we know we have the real thing.”

Featuring eight historic artifacts that trace Jesus’ journey from the Last Supper to the Resurrection with prayer, music, and reflection, the display includes: — A piece of the True Cross, which was discovered by St. Helena; — A piece of stone from

the Holy Table from the room where the Last Supper was held; — A piece of the Column of Flagellation; — A piece of the Crown of Thorns; — A picture of an effigy of the Veil of Veronica,

herd Parish in collaboration with the Apostolate for Holy Relics, an organization founded 10 years ago in Los Angeles. The AHR is guardian for more than 1,200 relics organized into special collections, such as the eight rare relics that

sented to the public only on a limited basis during the Lenten season. However, because of Pope Francis’ declaration of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, the Apostolate for Holy Relics has been pleased to present this extraordinary collection

which was touched to the original veil; — A replica of the holy nail that contains filings taken from the true nails that were imbedded in copies, making it a relic of a lower class; — A piece of bone from St. Longinus, the centurion who pierced the side of Jesus; and — A piece of the exterior wrapping from the Shroud of Turin.

“There’s a musical component to it; we’ll have music to sing — about eight or nine hymns — so the presentation is multi-sensory,” Father Johnson said. “I’m very interested to see how it is all presented; they say it’s very well done. I’ve seen the relics before in Rome in the basilica, but I’ve never seen them outside of Rome. So this will be as new to me as it is to everyone.”

The event, designed to connect participants to the roots of their faith, is sponsored by Good Shep-

make up this touring presentation.

The AHR utilizes its collections to: — Increase appreciation of the origins, Spiritual, historical and theological value of relics; — Promote the devotional veneration of relics; and — Help preserve and safeguard relics for future generations.

The documents for these relics have been reviewed and authenticated prior to the commencement of the collection’s first tour in 2007. Since then, the Relics of the Passion have been venerated in more than 12 archdioceses and nine dioceses throughout the world.

While this collection was in the Philippines, more than a million people came to see the rare relics.

Tours for these relics are generally limited by the travel availability of the members of the Apostolate and are traditionally pre-

with a customized program at area churches as part of a nationwide tour promoting God’s Mercy.

“Why do we celebrate the Year of Mercy? It’s because of what Christ did for us — what Jesus accomplished through His Passion and death,” Father Johnson said. “I think this is just a beautiful way to celebrate and close out the Year of Mercy. And I’ve just been reprinting the steps for making a plenary

indulgence this week, so it kind of all comes together.

It’s also appropriate that the Jubilee Year of Mercy ends on the feast of Christ the King, so I just thought it would be the perfect moment to venerate these relics.”

Since ancient times, Christians have preserved and honored physical objects associated with Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the holy men and women who are recognized as saints.

These objects include items associated with Christ’s suffering and death, articles of clothing belonging to Mary, and the actual bodily remains of the saints themselves. These objects are commonly known as relics, and the practice of preserving and honoring them is known as veneration.

According to Christian law and practice, no person or group may “own” a holy relic. Rather, a person or group in possession of a relic is its temporary guardian, charged with safeguarding it until such time as custody of the relic is passed along to another individual or group who will then assume responsibility for its guardianship. In this way, relics are passed down from Turn to page 19

The Anchor - October 28, 2016

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Parishes, prayer groups preparing to celebrate Fatima centennial

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

NEW BEDFORD — Those devoted to the Blessed Mother and, in particular, Our Lady of Fatima, are preparing to celebrate the 100th anniversary of her apparitions to three shepherd children in the field known as Cova da Iria in Fatima, Portugal in 1917.

While millions are expected to flock to Portugal to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima between May and October of next year, there are several events and devotions already in the works in the Fall River Diocese to celebrate the centennial of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.

St. Anthony of Padua Parish in New Bedford is hosting a Fatima Holy Hour every Saturday from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. consisting of Eucharistic Adoration, praying the Rosary, the Sacrament of Confession, and the consecration to Jesus through Mary following the plan of St. Louis de Montfort, followed by the celebration of Holy Mass.

Instead of observing the usual 33 days of consecration, Father Octavio Cortez, I.V.E., pastor of St. Anthony of Padua, has opted to spread it out over 33 weeks, culminating with the May 2017 anniversary of the first apparition.

“Father Cortez is having a Fatima Holy Hour every Saturday as a means to fulfill the Blessed Mother’s request for the first five Saturdays,” explained Edwin Aldarondo, a parishioner at St. Anthony of Padua and a Marian devotee. “Even though Our Lady asked for the first Saturday of the month, at St. Anthony’s we will have it every Saturday 4

throughout 2016 and 2017.”

Like many Catholics who have a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother, Aldarondo views Our Lady’s monthly appearances in Fatima in 1917 as one of the most important visitations in Church history.

“The apparitions that took

the three children to prepare them for the visit of Our Lady by means of adoring and receiving Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.”

Taking place during World War I, the Fatima apparitions served as a warning of things to come and a plea from Mary to pray for peace.

nology and knowledge that would sow confusion and pride in the hearts of men.

There would also be apostasy on a large scale and satanic cults would rise.”

Noting that many of these dire predictions have since come to fruition, Aldarondo said the Fatima message re-

sinners, Aldarondo said.

The other aspect of the centennial observance at St. Anthony of Padua is called “Living the Fatima Message,” where a special monthly Mass will be celebrated in her honor. It will consist of Eucharistic Adoration starting at 5:15 p.m., Mass at 6:30 p.m., followed by a small procession outside and around the church. The Sacrament of Confession will also be available.

For each month a guest priest will celebrate the Mass and provide a homily. The remaining dates and homily topics include: — November 21: The Presentation of Mary; — December 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe; — Jan. 1, 2017: Holy Mary Mother of God; — Feb. 11, 2017: Our Lady of Lourdes/Immaculate Conception; — Mar. 25, 2017: The AnMembers of Holy Trinity Parish in West Harwich recently prayed the Rosary outside nunciation; — April 22, 2017: Votive their church on Route 28. With a variety of events planned to commemorate the 100th Mass of the Blessed Virgin anniversary of the Blessed Mother’s apparitions to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal next year, people have begun praying that Our Lady of Fatima will intercede Mary; and — May 13, 2017: Our for our nation and our people. (Photo courtesy of Andrea St. Germain) Lady of Fatima.

A volunteer, grassroots place from May to October Aldarondo said that Pope mains just as important today group comprised of clergy, 1917 seem to be perceived Leo XIII even had a preas it was a century ago. religious and lay people has by many as a one big event monition of things to come “It is obvious we have also formed in the diocese that occurred 100 years ago 33 years before Our Lady of created enormous damto encourage all to answer in which Our Lady apFatima first appeared to little age in our relationship with Our Lady of Fatima’s call peared, left us a visual sign Lucia, Jacinto and Francisco. Our Lord that needs to be for peace. Known as Living (the Miracle of the Sun), “While celebrating Holy repaired and Our Heavenly the Fatima Message, this and some requests to folMass in his private chaMother (has) showed us the newly-formed group hopes low to prevent worse things pel, Pope Leo XIII heard a way,” he said. “Our Lady’s to not only remember and from happening,” Aldarondo conversation between God first request to the children commemorate the Blessed said. “In reality the appariand Satan in which Satan was: ‘Are you willing to offer Mother’s 1917 apparition, tion of Our Lady, the sign requested 100 years and yourselves up to God and but also apply her important and message has much more more power to destroy the to bear all the sufferings He message to contemporary connotation than what is Church,” Aldarondo said. wills to send you, as an act society. perceived. One must analyze “The Lord then revealed the of reparation for the sins by “A major part of that the various occurrences that events of the 20th century which He is offended, and call is to come to Jesus led to Our Lady’s apparition to Pope Leo. He saw wars for the conversion of sinthrough Mary, especially by and what has happened since involving many countries of ners?’” the Rosary,” said Elizabeth her apparition. In reality, the the world, widespread immoTo that end, we are all Montigny, a member of the apparition began in the year rality, large-scale murder and called to make sacrifices and Living the Fatima Message 1916 with the angel’s visit to genocide, advances in techpray for the conversion of Turn to page 22

The Anchor - October 28, 2016

USCCB auditors visit Fall River Diocese

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff beckyaubut@anchornews.org

NEW BEDFORD — For the past 13 years, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has been implementing the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” where dioceses and eparchies open their doors to incoming auditors to show they are in compliance with, and understands how to protect the

most innocent of their flock. As outlined in the charter (www.usccb. org/issues-and-action/ child-and-youthprotection/charter.cfm), it is the responsibility of the Church to deal consistently and effectively with complaints of abuse, and it directs diocesan activity in creating a safe environment.

Though the latter group of words has simplified the process into one sentence, for Debora Berg, direc-

tor of the Office for Child Protection at the Catholic Social Services office in New Bedford, staying in compliance is anything but simple. She spends her time reaching out to each parish and school in the Fall River Diocese to make sure everyone is up-to-date with training and statistical information.

For two years, she submits paperwork on behalf of the diocese to stay compliant, and in the third year, she welcomes auditors to

personally visit multiple sites throughout the Fall River Diocese.

Incidentally, a diocese does not have to allow auditors a visit but “we always [give permission] because it’s just an extra layer of accountability for us, to be welcome,” said Berg. “It’s a nice chance to let the auditors see what we’re doing, and let us know what they think we should be doing better. We welcome the feedback.”

Berg always accompanies the auditors “because it’s a little scary for any of the directors of Religious Education or principals who have never gone through that before; we choose different sites every time,” she said. “But as I said to one of the DREs, it isn’t about checking up on you, it’s making sure that I’m doing everything I’m supposed to do to support you and be in compliance with the charter.”

Berg has overseen site visits when auditors came in 2010 and 2013. The auditors may seem like imposing figures but are very “lovely” and willing to work with Berg and fellow lay people in the Fall River Diocese; “They let us know there’s no wrong answer here. We’re here to gather information, to look at

the practices, and make recommendations on what could be done better — but also to make sure we are in compliance with the charter.”

Preparation for the incoming auditors, who personally visit every three years, begins months in advance. Paper audits done for the first two years require Berg to submit forms, but during the third year, along with the forms, the “full audit instrument” is submitted, which is a multi-page questionnaire, she said.

“We have to give statistics, say who’s responsible for each and every section of every article, their contact information; it’s a big document that we type everything into,” explained Berg. “Arlene McNamee is our executive director [of CSS] and victims assistance coordinator, and she has to report on any allegations against priests, deacons or religious.”

Victims are numbered, so anonymity is key, and Turn to page 20

The Anchor - October 28, 2016

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Anchor Editorial

Cremation and the burying of the dead

In his column on page seven, Father Landry discussed all of the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. He spent some extra time explaining the Catholic Church’s teaching that the Corporal Work of burying the dead does not include keeping the cremated remains of our loved ones on our mantels or in a locket or scattering them to the winds.

This Tuesday (October 25) the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith released via the Vatican website (Vatican.va) an instruction entitled, “Ad resurgendum cum Christo” (“to rise with Christ” — which are the first words of the document). The subtitle gives us its focus: “Regarding the burial of the deceased and the conservation of the ashes in the case of cremation.”

The first paragraph discusses when the Catholic Church allowed funerals for people who had been cremated. “With the Instruction Piam et Constantem of 5 July 1963, the then-Holy Office [now the CDF] established that ‘all necessary measures must be taken to preserve the practice of reverently burying the faithful departed,’ adding however that cremation is not ‘opposed per se to the Christian religion’ and that no longer should the Sacraments and funeral rites be denied to those who have asked that they be cremated, under the condition that this choice has not been made through ‘a denial of Christian dogmas, the animosity of a secret society, or hatred of the Catholic religion and the Church.’”

The present instruction then observes that in the meantime “the practice of cremation has notably increased in many countries, but simultaneously new ideas contrary to the Church’s faith have also become widespread.” The CDF notes that after it had consulted with other Vatican departments and with bishops spread throughout the world, it “has deemed opportune the publication of a new Instruction [this one], with the intention of underlining the doctrinal and pastoral reasons for the preference of the burial of the remains of the faithful and to set out norms pertaining to the conservation of ashes in the case of cremation.”

Next the instruction discussed Christ’s Resurrection and the future resurrection of the dead. “By death the soul is separated from the body, but in the resurrection [of the dead, on the last day] God will give incorruptible life to our body, transformed by reunion with our soul.”

The document then gives a beautiful explanation as to why we bury our dead. “In memory of the death, burial and Resurrection of the Lord, the mystery that illumines the Christian meaning of death, burial is above all the most fitting way to express faith and hope in the resurrection of the body. The Church who, as mother, has accompanied the Christian during his earthly pilgrimage, offers to the Father, in Christ, the child of her grace, and she commits to the earth, in hope, the seed of the body that will rise in glory.”

Next the CDF explains allowable cremation. “In circumstances when cremation is chosen because of sanitary, economic or social considerations, the Church raises no doctrinal objections to this practice, since cremation of the deceased’s body does not affect his or her soul, nor does it prevent God, in His omnipotence, from raising up the deceased body to new life. Thus cremation, in and of itself, objectively negates neither the Christian doctrine of the soul’s immortality nor that of the resurrection of the body. The Church continues to OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER www.anchornews.org

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Member: Catholic Press Association, Catholic News Service Published bi-weekly by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720, Telephone 508-675-7151 — FAX 508-675-7048, email: theanchor@anchornews.org. Subscription price by mail, postpaid $20.00 per year, for U.S. addresses.

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The Anchor - October 28, 2016

prefer the practice of burying the bodies of the deceased, because this shows a greater esteem towards the deceased. Nevertheless, cremation is not prohibited, unless it was chosen for reasons contrary to Christian doctrine.”

Although cremated, the ashes are to be treated as we would a body: “The ashes of the faithful must be laid to rest in a Sacred place, that is, in a cemetery or, in certain cases, in a church or an area, which has been set aside for this purpose, and so dedicated by the competent ecclesial authority. From the earliest times, Christians have desired that the faithful departed become the objects of the Christian community’s prayers and remembrance. Their tombs have become places of prayer, remembrance and reflection. The reservation of the ashes of the departed in a Sacred place ensures that they are not excluded from the prayers and remembrance of their family or the Christian community. It prevents the faithful departed from being forgotten, or their remains from being shown a lack of respect, which eventuality is possible, most especially once the immediately subsequent generation has too passed away. Also it prevents any unfitting or superstitious practices.”

Given the Church’s desire that the ashes be in a place where all of the Church can remember them in prayer (this is a good reminder of how we should pray for the souls of the dead when driving by or taking a walk in a cemetery) and the concern about what would happen to human remains if left in a home, the document then decrees, “For the reasons given above, the conservation of the ashes of the departed in a domestic residence is not permitted. Only in grave and exceptional cases dependent on cultural conditions of a localized nature, may the Ordinary, in agreement with the Episcopal Conference or the Synod of Bishops of the Oriental Churches, concede permission for the conservation of the ashes of the departed in a domestic residence [the news website Crux said that this was mainly for countries where Catholic cemeteries are desecrated, something not true of the U.S.A.]. Nonetheless, the ashes may not be divided among various family members and due respect must be maintained regarding the circumstances of such a conservation.”

The document also decrees, “In order that every appearance of pantheism, naturalism or nihilism be avoided, it is not permitted to scatter the ashes of the faithful departed in the air, on land, at sea or in some other way, nor may they be preserved in mementos, pieces of jewelry or other objects.”

For one’s funeral planning purposes, the last sentence of the body of the document is very important: “When the deceased notoriously has requested cremation and the scattering of their ashes for reasons contrary to the Christian faith, a Christian funeral must be denied to that person according to the norms of the law.” In case someone might say, what would Pope Francis think of that, right afterwards it says, “The Sovereign Pontiff Francis, in the Audience granted to the undersigned Cardinal Prefect [of the CDF] on 18 March 2016, approved the present Instruction, adopted in the Ordinary Session of this Congregation on 2 March 2016, and ordered its publication.” By doing so, the Holy Father made the CDF’s document his own and the law of the Church. We should follow it, not just out of obedience (although we are bound to that), but also prayerfully growing in our understanding of the “resurrection of the body,” belief in which we profess every Sunday.

Daily Readings Oct. 29 — Nov. 11

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Oct. 29, Phil 1:18b-26; Ps 42:2-3,5cdef; Lk 14:1,7-11. Sun. Oct. 30, Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Wis 11:22— 12:2; Ps 145:1-2,8-11,13-14; 2 Thes 1:11—2:2; Lk 19:1-10. Mon. Oct. 31, Phil 2:1-4; Ps 131:1bcde,2-3; Lk 14:12-14. Tues. Nov. 1, All Saints Day, Rv 7:2-4, 9-14; Ps 24:1bc-4b,5-6; 1 Jn 3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12a. Wed. Nov. 2, Commemoration of All Souls Day, Wis 3:1-9; Ps 23:1-6; Rom 5:5-11 or 6:3-9; Jn 6:37-40 or 1011-1016. Thurs. Nov. 3, Phil 3:3-8a; Ps 105:2-7; Lk 15:1-10. Fri. Nov. 4, Phil 3:17—4:1; Ps 122:1-5; Lk 16:1-8.

Sat. Nov. 5, Phil 4:10-19; Ps 112:1b-2,5-6,8a,9; Lk 16:9-15. Sun. Nov. 6, Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2 Mc 7:1-2,9-14; Ps 17:1,5-6,8,15; 2 Thes 2:16—3:5; Lk 20:27-38 or 20:27,34-38. Mon. Nov. 7, Ti 1:1-9; Ps 24:1b-4b,56; Lk 17:1-6. Tues. Nov. 8, Ti 2:1-8,11-14; Ps 37:3-4,18,23,27,29; Lk 17:7-10.

Wed. Nov. 9, Ez 47:1-2,8-9,12; Ps 46:2-3,5-6,8-9; 1 Cor 3:9c-11,16-17; Jn 2:1322. Thurs. Nov. 10, Phlm 7—20; Ps 146:7-10; Lk 17:20-25. Fri. Nov. 11, 2 Jn 4—9; Ps 119:1-2,10-11,17-18; Lk 17:26-37.

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The holy weapons in the revolution of mercy

f there’s one part of the extraordinary Jubilee for Mercy that we wouldn’t expect to be controversial, it would be the practice of the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.

Pope Francis, who has been summoning the Church to live these, has just started a new series of Wednesday catecheses on each of them that will run past the formal end of the jubilee and extend into the ordinary life of the Church.

The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy are concrete ways, Pope Francis said, to live out mercy: “In a world that, unfortunately, has been damaged by the virus of indifference, the Works of Mercy are the best antidote.” Adding that the Works of Mercy “are the features of the Face of Jesus Christ,” he encouraged us not only to “learn the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy by heart,” but to “ask the Lord to help us to put them into practice every day.”

In doing so the Holy Father was trying not just to inspire a few more good deeds among fellow Catholics in the world but to catalyze a true moral insurgency.

“I am convinced,” he said on October 12, “that, through these simple, daily actions, we can achieve a true cultural revolution. If

every one of us, every name and redemptively day, does one of these, shame those who make this will be a revolution excuses to do the opin the world!” posite. There are sadly A revolution. That’s many who are hungry not, I think, just rheand thirsty who, when torical hyperbole. they ask for nourishWhile on the surface ment, are stiffed and works of mercy are as told to get a job. When antipathetic as sincere they are strangers, their compliments, sunny status is checked and days, and secret Santas giving Putting Into $100 bills to homeless people, the Deep when we examBy Father ine them more Roger J. Landry deeply, and seek genuinely to live them, we see that they contradict if they don’t have the various modern habits proper documentathat, while popular and tion, many are treated rationalized, are actuas criminal aliens — as ally cruel. In calling for if they were villainous a revolution of mercy, extraterrestrials — and Pope Francis is trying evicted from our hosto help turn the world pitality. When they right side up. are naked, millions of Let’s see how. observers lustfully click The Corporal Works on their images on of Mercy are taken porn sites. When they basically from Jesus’ are sick, they’re left to words in St. Matthew’s fend for themselves Gospel about the Last because they don’t have Judgment: “I was hunadequate or any health gry and you gave Me care. When they’re in food, I was thirsty and prison, others stand you gave Me drink, a outside with bullhorns stranger and you welcalling for them to be comed Me, naked and executed or never given you clothed Me, ill and a chance for parole. you cared for Me, in At the end of time prison and you visited whether Jesus will say Me” (Mt 25:34-36), either, “Whatever you with one more added did for one of the least — burying the dead — of My brothers and sistaken from the Book of ters you did for Me,” or, Tobit.

“Whatever you did not Thanks be to God do for one of the least, many fulfill these bodi- you did not do for Me.” ly works of compasWhich of the two He sion for those in need. will say more frequently But we also need to is an open question.

We can give particular attention to burying the dead. We now live in an age of cremation in which people are scattering the mortal remains of their loved ones from airplanes, beaches or boats, or converting the remains into jewelry, or putting them on fireplace mantles as if they were vases of flowers. Worse, there is the growing phenomenon of alkaline hydrolysis, now legal in 13 states, where human remains are dissolved by lye, water, heat and pressure and then emptied into the sewer system or poured out in the backyard. Far from being a Work of Mercy, both treat the remains of human beings the way we treat garbage and flat soda.

It’s far from a Work of Mercy for those who have gone before us.

The Spiritual Works of Mercy are similarly revolutionary. Taken from Ezekiel, Deuteronomy, Maccabees and St. Paul, they involve instructing the ignorant, counseling the doubtful, admonishing sinners, bearing patiently those who wrong us, forgiving offenses, consoling the afflicted, praying for the living and the dead.

While many beautifully carry out these works, many others in our culture believe

these actions are not acts of mercy, but rather acts of malice.

Some regard teaching the faith to those who are unaware as a hostile act against their freedom. Counseling people about their confused sexual identity, others think ought to be illegal. Admonishing sinners they think is rude, tantamount to judging, and failing to love people as they are.

Bearing patiently those who wrong us and forgiving their sins some consider acts of weakness that enable one’s further victimization.

Consoling the afflicted is something that some believe fans the flames of others’ emotions rather than helping them to grow stronger.

And praying for the living and the dead presumes that not everyone necessarily goes to Heaven and that prayer is consequential.

The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy were once not controversial, but in many ways today they are because there are many counterfeit mercies, not to mention the growing thought that mercy is a weakness rather than a virtue. That’s why there’s a need for a moral revolution. And Francis is asking us to become, with him, merciful rebels.

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

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The Challenge of Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship Part II of a summary of the U.S. bishops’ reflection on faithful citizenship

Part I of the summary of the U.S. bishops’ reflection, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, considered the core principles that underlie Catholic engagement in the political realm. Part II is a consideration of the process by which these principles are applied to the act of voting and taking positions on policy issues. It begins with the general consideration of the nature of conscience and the role of prudence. The application of prudential judgment does not mean that all choices are equally valid or that the bishops’ guidance and that of other Church leaders is just another political opinion or policy preference among many others. Rather, Catholics are urged to listen carefully to the Church’s teachers when they apply Catholic social teaching to specific proposals and situations.

How Does the Church Help the Catholic Faithful to Speak About Political and Social Questions?

A Well-Formed Conscience The Church equips its members to address political questions by helping them develop well-formed consciences. “Conscience is a judgment of reason whereby the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act. [Every person] is obliged to follow faithfully what he [or she] knows to be just and right” (“Catechism of the Catholic Church,” no. 1778).

We Catholics have a lifelong obligation to form our consciences in accord with human reason, enlightened by the teaching of Christ as it comes to us through the Church.

The Virtue of Prudence The Church also encourages Catholics to develop the virtue of prudence, which enables us “to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it” (“Catechism of the Catholic Church,” no. 1806). Prudence shapes and informs our ability to deliberate over available alternatives, to determine what is most fitting to a specific context, and to act. Prudence must be accompanied by courage, which

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calls us to act. As Catholics seek to advance the common good, we must carefully discern which public policies are morally sound.

At times, Catholics may choose different ways to respond to social problems, but we cannot differ on our obligation to protect human life and dignity and help build, through moral means, a more just and peaceful world.

Doing Good and Avoiding Evil There are some things we must never do, as individuals or as a society, because they are always incompatible with love of God and neighbor. These intrinsically evil acts must always be rejected and never supported. A preeminent example is the intentional taking of innocent human life, as in abortion. Similarly, human cloning, destructive research on human embryos, and other acts that directly violate the sanctity and dignity of human life including genocide, torture, and the targeting of noncombatants in acts of terror or war, can never be justified. Nor can violations of human dignity, such as acts of racism, treating workers as mere means to an end, deliberately subjecting workers to subhuman living conditions, treating the poor as disposable, or redefining Marriage to deny its essential meaning, ever be justified.

Opposition to intrinsically evil acts also prompts us to recognize our positive duty to contribute to the common good and act in solidarity with those in need.

Both opposing evil and doing good are essential. As St. John Paul II said, “The fact that only the negative Commandments oblige always and under all circumstances does not mean that in the moral life prohibitions are more important than the obligation to do good indicated by the positive Commandment.”1 The basic right to life implies and is linked to other human rights such as a right to the goods that every person needs to live and thrive — including food, shelter, health care, education, and meaningful work.

Avoiding Two Temptations Two temptations in public life can distort the Church’s defense of human life and dignity:

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The first is a moral equivalence that makes no ethical distinctions between different kinds of issues involving human life and dignity. The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life from the moment of conception until natural death is always wrong and is not just one issue among many. It must always be opposed. The second is the misuse of these necessary moral distinctions as a way of dismissing or ignoring other serious threats to human life and dignity. Racism and other unjust discrimination, the use of the death penalty, resorting to unjust war, environmental degradation, the use of torture, war crimes, the failure to respond to those who are suffering from hunger or a lack of health care or housing, pornography, human trafficking, redefining civil marriage, compromising religious liberty, or unjust immigration policies are all serious moral issues that challenge our consciences and require us to act.

Making Moral Choices The bishops do not tell Catholics how to vote; the responsibility to make political choices rests with each person and his or her properly formed conscience, aided by prudence. This exercise of conscience begins with always opposing policies that violate human life or weaken its protection.

When morally flawed laws already exist, prudential judgment is needed to determine how to do what is possible to restore justice — even if partially or gradually — without ever abandoning a moral commitment to full protection for all human life from conception to natural death (see St. John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae, no. 73).

Prudential judgment is also needed to determine the best way to promote the common good in areas such as housing, health care, and immigration.

When Church leaders make judgments about how to apply Catholic teaching to specific policies, this may not carry the same binding authority as universal moral principles but cannot be dismissed as one political

opinion among others. These moral applications should inform the consciences and guide the actions of Catholics.

As Catholics we are not single-issue voters. A candidate’s position on a single issue is not sufficient to guarantee a voter’s support. Yet a candidate’s position on a single issue that involves an intrinsic evil, such as support for legal abortion or the promotion of racism, may legitimately lead a voter to disqualify a candidate from receiving support.1 What Public Policies Should Concern Catholics Most?

As Catholics, we are led to raise questions about political life other than those that concentrate on individual, material well-being. We focus more broadly on what protects or threatens the dignity of every human life. Catholic teaching challenges voters and candidates, citizens and elected officials, to consider the moral and ethical dimensions of public policy issues. In light of ethical principles, we bishops offer the following policy goals that we hope will guide Catholics as they form their consciences and reflect on the moral dimensions of their public choices: • Address the preeminent requirement to protect human life — by restricting and bringing to an end the destruction of unborn children through abortion and providing women in crisis pregnancies with the supports they need. End the following practices: the use of euthanasia and assisted suicide to deal with the burdens of illness and disability; the destruction of human embryos in the name of research; the use of the death penalty to combat crime; and the imprudent resort to war to address international disputes.

• Protect the fundamental understanding of Marriage as the life-long and faithful union of one man and one woman as the central institution of society; promote the complementarity of the sexes and reject false “gender” ideologies; provide better support for family life morally, socially, and economically, so that

our nation helps parents raise their children with respect for life, sound moral values, and an ethic of stewardship and responsibility.

• Achieve comprehensive immigration reform that offers a path to citizenship, treats immigrant workers fairly, prevents the separation of families, maintains the integrity of our borders, respects the rule of law, and addresses the factors that compel people to leave their own countries.

• Help families and children overcome poverty and ensure access to and choice in education, as well as decent work at fair, living wages and adequate assistance for the vulnerable in our nation, while also helping to overcome widespread hunger and poverty around the world, especially in the policy areas of development assistance, debt relief, and international trade.

• Ensure full conscience protection and religious freedom for individuals and groups to meet social needs, and so enable families, community groups, economic structures, and government to work together to overcome poverty, pursue the common good, and care for creation.

• Provide health care while respecting human life, human dignity, and religious freedom in our health care system.

• Continue to oppose policies that reflect racism, hostility toward immigrants, religious bigotry, and other forms of unjust discrimination.

• Establish and comply with moral limits on the use of military force — examining for what purposes it may be used, under what authority, and at what human cost — with a special view to seeking a responsible and effective response for ending the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East and other parts of the world.

• Join with others around the world to pursue peace, protect human rights and religious liberty, and advance economic justice and care for creation.

Notes: 1. Veritatis Splendor, no. 52.

“T

oday I shall dine at your house.” Very few of our friends would be so up front as to invite themselves over without giving us the heads-up, let alone someone we just met.

Yet when it came to Zacchaeus in this Sunday’s Gospel reading from Luke, that is exactly what Jesus did: He invited Himself over. To which not only did Zacchaeus welcome Jesus into his home, he also repented of all the wrongs he had committed to others.

To think it all began with Zacchaeus trying to get a glimpse of Jesus. He was a person, like so many of us, who was just trying to see what all the commotion was about. Little did he know that this desire to see what was going on would have a life-changing effect on him.

We, too, try to find Jesus in our lives and all around us, trying to make sense of it all.

Yet, He simply asks us to let Him in, no frills, no fancy invitations, just a simple, “I’m coming by.” Are we ready to let Him in? Are we able to forget previous plans, let everything go, and open the door? Too often, letting Him in has a major impact on our lives, and if we are not careful, can change us dramatically, as was the case with Zac-

Look Who’s coming for dinner comfort in its newchaeus. ness. Suddenly we Many of us have are inspired to reach gone through varibeyond what we know, ous transformations to become one with in our lives. These all that God wants for transformative events us. In our welcoming can range from going away to school; moving away for employment; In the Palm getting marof His Hands ried; choosing

By Rose Mary to follow Christ Saraiva as a religious Sister or Brother, priest, or of the Lord into our through consecrated homes and hearts, we life; just to mention a few. It is in these mo- allow ourselves to be ments that we come to released from all that binds us. We too, find learn who God intends us to be, who He ways to fix the wrongs knows we can become. in our lives, to forgive What is required of us those who need our forgiveness; and most is to find a way, even importantly, to seek if it means climbing forgiveness for ourthe nearest tree to get a good look. Often our selves.

What do we hold own shortcomings can on to so tightly that it block us from what is right in front of us. We actually has us in its grip? What have we become just another face in the crowd, fear- gained that has left us so lost? We live in ful of standing out or a fast-paced world, a being noticed, shying world that is constantaway behind the perly telling us to “go for son in front of us. We it,” “carpe diem,” and continue to stay the current course, because “just do it,” etc. A time when doing what feels it is one we are comfortable with, even if it good is more important than what feels is taking us down the right. No different wrong paths.

When we dare to let really than Zacchaeus Jesus in, we open our- and the other tax colselves up to His mercy lectors of his time, who while doing the and love. We find ourselves in unfamiliar work of the empire, territory, wondering if skimmed a little off the top for themselves. we should turn back, It was what everyone or press onward. The else was doing, so why road ahead seems too not! Sound familiar? uncertain, yet when But yet the Gospel we trust, we find

reminds us that Jesus is on a mission. Not only does He inform His host that “Today Salvation has come to this house,” but He also makes sure that everyone knows that, “the Son of man has come to seek and save what was lost” (Lk 19). He came to save all of us regardless of who we are. We just need to let Him in, and by doing so we can be freed of what keeps us from Him. Are we willing to let Him in? After all, He just invited Himself over, we simply just need to open the door.

How can we, like Zacchaeus, open ourselves up to the opportunity to change? As we look

to our own lives, let us remember that we are the only ones who can let Him in. He may knock. He will ask to come in, but ultimately we have the choice, we decide. So do we dare get down from that tree? If we are willing to say “yes,” we will definitely need to run ahead in order to get everything ready and prepared for His arrival.

Anchor columnist Rose Mary Saraiva lives in Fall River and is a parishioner of St. Michael’s Parish, and she is the Events Coordinator and Bereavement Ministry for the diocesan Off ice of Faith Formation.

She is married with three children and two grandchildren. rsaraiva@dfrcs.com.

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The multiple moral problems of surrogacy

ometimes when there is infertility in Marriage, couples make the decision to seek out the services of a surrogate in order to have a child. A surrogate is a woman who agrees to be implanted with an embryo produced by in vitro fertilization and to hand over the newborn baby to the couple upon completion of the gestation and birth. In recent years, gestational surrogacy has become a multi-million dollar industry, attracting a broad clientele ranging from married couples to single women, gay couples to anyone else with the desire for a baby and the ability to finance the undertaking. Surrogacy raises grave moral concerns, and powerfully undermines the dignity of human procreation, particularly when it comes to the women and children involved in the process.

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One of the significant moral woman, who was herself conceived concerns around surrogacy is that it by anonymous sperm donation, introduces fractures into parenthood describes her experience this way: by multiplying parental roles. Sur“My existence owed almost nothing rogacy coerces children into situato the serendipitous nature of normal tions where they are subjected to the human reproduction, where babies unhealthy stresses of ambiguous or are the natural progression of mutusplit origins, ally fulfilling perhaps adult relaMaking Sense being contionships, ceived from but rather Out of one womrepresented Bioethics an’s egg, a verbal

By Father Tad gestated contract, Pacholczyk by another a financial woman, transaction raised by a and a cold, third, and maybe even dissociated clinical harnessing of medical techfrom their father by anonymous nology.” Moreover, women who sign sperm donation. Such practices end up as surrogates often feel deeply up being profoundly unfair and deconflicted about giving up the baby humanizing for the children caught at birth and tearing asunder an imin the web of the process. One portant nine-month connection and relationship that had been carefully developed and nurtured.

There can be no doubt that the hawkers and promoters of surrogacy exploit vulnerable, financiallychallenged women, often in overseas settings, to undergo the risks of drug-induced artificial pregnancy.

While the proponents of the procedure will often portray these women as motivated primarily by a desire to help others, surrogates themselves will privately note how they do it for the money, and in the absence of substantial payments, wouldn’t be willing to move ahead with the arduous procedure. Alex Kuczynski, describing her own experience of engaging a surrogate in a 2008 New York Times interview, speaks frankly: “We encountered the wink-nod rule: Surrogates would never say they were motivated to carry a child for another couple just for money; they were all motivated by altruism. This gentle hypocrisy allows surrogacy to take place. Without it, both sides would have to acknowledge the deep cultural revulsion against attaching a dollar figure to the creation of a human life.”

Indeed, surrogacy involves turning human life into a commodity on multiple levels, as Kathleen Sloan recently described in testimony given to a Minnesota state commission studying the issue. A seemingly unlikely opponent of the procedure, Sloan works as a pro-abortion

feminist and director of the National Organization for Women in Connecticut. On gestational surrogacy, however, she agrees with Pro-Life criticisms, noting how it involves “children intentionally severed from genetic and biological sources of identity, human rights be damned.

In essence, it is the ultimate manifestation of the neoliberal project of capitalist commodification of all life to create profit and fulfill the narcissistic desires of an entitled elite.”

Those narcissistic desires are readily catered to by an IVF industry that generates offspring in the laboratory for clients. In this process, extra embryonic humans are produced, stored and oftentimes orphaned in freezers, or even discarded outright by throwing them away as “biomedical waste.”

In fact, the process of IVF, central to the practice of surrogacy, generally ends up killing more babies than it delivers. Coupled with the fact that contracting couples can pressure the surrogate mother to undergo an abortion if the in-utero child appears to be “imperfect,” or to eliminate a twin through “selective reduction” in a multiple pregnancy, it can hardly be disputed that children are pawns in the merciless endgame of satisfying parental and customer desires and corporate profit motives.

A woman’s reproductive powers and her God-given fecundity should never be reduced to the status of a “gestator for hire” or a “breeder” as they are sometimes called by industry insiders, nor should women be exploited by allowing payment for harvesting their eggs. A woman’s procreative powers ought to be shared uniquely through marital acts with her husband, so that all the children born of her are genetically and otherwise her own. All children merit and deserve this loving consideration and assurance of protection at the point of their fragile and Sacred beginnings.

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

Sunday 23 October 2016 — Homeport: Falmouth Harbor — Swallows depart from Capistrano iddle me this, dear readers. Where is summer never “summer”?

The answer is on Cape Cod. Between Memorial Day and Columbus Day we are busy entertaining our guests and serving our summer visitors.

There’s little time for us to lounge about the beach sipping tall, frosty glasses of gin and tonic or savoring lobster stew by restaurant windows overlooking the sea.

It may be autumn in the rest of New England but here we call it “Cape Cod summer.”

On the Columbus Day weekend, we stood on the overpasses (as we always do) and cheerfully waved the summer visitors good-bye. There are still a few summer people around but after Thanksgiving they will all be gone — like the swallows of Capistrano.

Now at last we have some free time to enjoy our own summer before the dreary Cape Cod winter sets in. The water temperature at the beaches hovers around 70 degrees and refreshing breezes blow through our open windows. The scorching heat and unbearable humidity levels have passed.

It’s the best time of the year on Cape Cod, but please don’t tell anyone.

Did you know that the concept of a family beach vacation is relatively recent? As far back as

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Cape Cod summer

Roman times aristocrats sprawling on a beach summered in their vilblanket. That would be las by the sea and lolled very naughty. by the fountains in their Bathing machines had courtyard gardens but virtually gone extinct by it wasn’t until the 18th the “Roaring 20s.” “Flapcentury that summer resort towns began to develop The Ship’s Log for the recreation Reflections of a Parish Priest and health of the uber-wealthy.

By Father Tim The sea breeze Goldrick and saltwater was considered a cure for whatever ailed you. pers” had absolutely no The British aristocracy, interest in them. This including Queen Victocomes as no surprise to ria herself, was very fond me. of “sea-bathing.” At the In 1945, bikini swimbeach Her Majesty was wear was first introduced finally amused. on the French Riviera (not Even though beach at- on Bikini Atoll, which tire covered a person from was radioactive). Bikinis head to toe (from a bath- caused an uproar but times ing cap to beach shoes), it had changed. Now one was nevertheless considFrench Riviera town has ered shockingly inappro- banned burkas. Times have priate in those days for changed again. a woman to be seen in a In the mid-19th cenbathing suit by a member tury, the working class, of the opposite sex. Areas transported by the railof the beach were segreroad, began to arrive at gated by gender. Heaven the spas. Factories in the forbid that someone cities would close for should catch a glimpse of two weeks in July so that Queen Victoria in a bath- the machinery could be ing suit. Enough said. serviced. The off-duty To further ensure factory workers would proper modesty, portable head for the beach. After “bathing machines” were dragged down to the water’s edge. These were tent-like structures with two entrances — cabanas on wheels, one might say. Once a woman had changed from elaborate street wear into her allenveloping bathing suit, she would run as quickly as possible out the back door, down a few steps, and into the sea. One would never think of

the trains came the trolleys and after the trolleys came the automobiles — with ever increasing numbers of vacationers.

By the early 20th century, a worldwide summer resort industry was off and running.

How well I remember my father’s work place, the Continental Screw Factory, closing for summer vacation. We would all jump into the beach wagon, with its fake wood side panels and rusted out floor boards, and head to Sconticut Neck Beach.

There we would spend the day at the cottage of Joe Harrington, a New Bedford police officer and friend of the family.

My mother would wear her fashionable onepiece skirted bathing suit and rubber bathing cap.

We never went to Cape Cod. Patti Page released her easy-listening song, “Old Cape Cod” in 1957 as a 45-single. Never mind that it was the flip side of another song. Never mind that Patti Page had, at the

time, not even set foot on Cape Cod. The record sold a million copies.

The first recording I ever owned was a song

by Patti Page. The vinyl disk was bright yellow. It was “The Doggy in the Window.” It sold twice as many copies as “Old Cape Cod.” Being seven years old at the time, I played the record until it wore out and dreamed of having a dog of my own.

This dream eventually came true in spades.

The chamber of commerce honored Patti Page by naming a street in her honor. Patti Page Way leads appropriately to the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. This was a stoke of genius. Patti Page put Cape Cod on the summer resort map.

Our Cape Cod summer won’t last much longer. I’m going right out to the back porch this minute and listen to Patti Page songs on iTunes.

Summer on Cape Cod doesn’t get much better than that.

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

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he was a normal, lively, fun-loving girl doing what nine year old girls do in the community of Haena on the spectacular north coast of the island of Kauai.

It was 7:30 a.m. on the morning of April 1, 1946, when the first wave of

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Eighty years young

the tsunami struck unex- was blocked by the tidal pectedly. Ivy Laamea and water. They then went to her family escaped that a nearby Mormon church first tidal assault and headed for her grandmother’s Moon Over house. UnforMolokai tunately they

By Father had to turn back Patrick Killilea, SS.CC. because their path

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to find shelter. However, they found the church’s windows and doors securely locked.

So they gathered outside and joined hands, making a circle in prayer.

Then the devastating second wave came crashing in with awesome and deadly power carrying her little siblings away. What a terrible moment it was for her and her family.

Thank the Lord that Ivy herself could swim like a mermaid and, after some terrifying minutes and a heroic struggle, she was able to swim to safety.

Ivy Laamea was born on Oct. 2, 1936, in Haena, the most northern community on Kauai’s north shore, not far from Hanalei where the famous Na Pali Coast begins. She loved to play basketball

and volleyball as she herself has told me, and I do not doubt that she played with Olympic determination and tenacity.

Having been diagnosed with Hansen’s Disease while in the flower of her young womanhood, she arrived in Kalaupapa settlement in 1956. Over the years she has worked in various roles in this settlement, i.e., as an attendant for an airline at the Kalaupapa Airport and more recently in the Kalaupapa store as well as at the nearby gas station. In Kalaupapa she met and married the love of her life, the “Boogie” man, Clarence “Boogie” Kahilihiwa and they have lived in marital bliss ever since.

On October 2, Ivy reached the venerable age of 80 and is still full of life and full of humor and laughter. So it was that we celebrated with her last night at McVeigh Hall which in the early days of her years here was the dining hall for many residents in the settlement.

Before we took our seats for dinner, Zianna, the supervisor of our store, crowned our honoree as queen for the evening.

Then, after a prayer of blessing, we did what we all do best. We partook of a sumptuous celebration meal. Ivy, this gentle lady, has outlived the many tsunamis of life and we rejoice that she lives on in our midst. Aloha.

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

Diocesan celebrations for the Closing of the Holy Year of Mercy

By Father Jon-Paul Gallant Diocesan director of the Worship Office

FALL RIVER — The Diocese of Fall River will join with Catholic dioceses throughout the world to celebrate the conclusion of the extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy on November 13 and in solidarity with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, on November 20, the Solemnity of Jesus Christ the King.

At the opening of the Holy Year, the Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., of Fall River, designated several locations throughout the Fall River Diocese as “Portals of Mercy,” where local pilgrims could obtain the plenary indulgence of the Holy Year.

These locations are: the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro; Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich and Holy Trinity Parish in West Harwich on Cape Cod; Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in New Bedford; and St. Mary’s Parish in Taunton. Each of these

locations will conclude the Holy Year of Mercy with celebrations of the Holy Mass on November 13. Those wishing to participate may contact the local parishes directly for Mass times.

In union with the closing ceremony at St. Peter’s in Rome

presided over by Pope Francis, the diocese will celebrate the official close of the Holy Year on November 20 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River. The 3 p.m. ceremony will draw priests, religious and laity from throughout the diocese for the annual Marian Medal Awards ceremony.

In the context of the Evening Prayer of the Church and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, Bishop da Cunha will lead the participants through the “Holy Doors” of the cathedral for the final time. The date marks the Solemnity of Christ the King, the last Sunday of the Liturgical year and the close of the Year of Mercy.

The theme of this extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy has been “Merciful like the Father.” For just as we seek the merciful forgiveness of our Heavenly Father, so we too are called to show mercy to each other. The Holy Year has been a call to reflect not only on our own need for forgiveness but also to reflect that forgiving love to all our brothers and sisters.

It is a message which the participants in the cathedral ceremony will be reminded of at the final dismissal: “Be merciful, just as your Heavenly Father is merciful. Go in peace.” To which we may all join in responding: “Thanks be to God!”

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Seminarians for the Diocese of Fall River with Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V.

Vocation advocates working hard to make others aware of God’s calling

Holy Hour to open National Vocations Awareness Week

By Dave Jolivet Anchor Editor davejolivet@anchornews.org

FALL RIVER — National Vocations Awareness Week, which in the U.S. Catholic Church runs this year from November 6-12, is a call for all Catholics in this country to pray, volunteer, educate, and strive for a greater awareness of God’s call to young Catholics to

consider a vocation to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life.

The week-long observance began in 1976 when U.S. bishops dedicated one week a year for a greater focus on vocations.

The Diocese of Fall River has always taken NVAW to heart through the diocesan vocations office, parish vocation teams and in the diocesan Catholic schools and Faith Formation

programs.

This year is no different. On November 6, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., will preside over a Holy Hour for Vocations at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River, beginning at 3 p.m. All faithful are invited to join the bishop and others to pray for a greater awareness of God’s call to young men and women to a religious life.

Father Kevin A. Cook, diocesan director of Vocations and Seminarians, will be the celebrant of the November 6 TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 at 11 a.m.

Prior to the 3 p.m. Holy Hour at the cathedral, Dominican Sister Paulina Hurtado, associate diocesan director of Vocations, will conduct a workshop for members of diocesan Vocation Awareness Teams.

Also, during the week, Father Christopher M. Peschel, associate diocesan director of Vocations, will visit some schools in the diocese to talk to students about vocations.

Regarding the current status of vocations in the diocese, Father Cook told The Anchor, “This year we have nine seminarians, up from the six last year: one at Our Lady of Providence Seminary, seven at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, and one at Christ the King Parish in Mashpee.

Frank Fagundes from St. Anthony Church in Taunton is a junior at Our Lady of Providence Seminary. Juan Carlos Munoz and Matt Gill are in third theology; Ryan Healy is in second theology, and Steve Booth is in first theology, Matt Laird is in his second year of pre-theology, and Greg Quenneville and Bill O’Donnell are in their first year of pre-theology. Dan Nunes is at Christ the King in Mashpee.

“In May we will be having a diaconate ordination but this year we will not be having men ordained priests. Also we have several men actively seeking to apply to the seminary for next year.”

“Vocation Awareness Teams a growing across the diocese,” Sister Hurtado told The Anchor. “They are becoming very active throughout the diocese.”

The workshop will be held at St. Mary’s Cathedral prior to the Holy Hour, and incorporate the Holy Hour into the day’s events.

The workshop will begin with a registration period from 10:30-11:15 a.m. in Our Lady’s Chapel, on the Second Street side of the Church. Attendees are reminded that Sunday Mass will be taking place at that time in the main Church.

The event begins at 11:15 a.m. with opening prayer and introductions. The workshop will center on reaching out to teen-aged Catholics in diocesan parishes.

The guest speaker will be Jennessa Terraccino, a dynamic speaker and author. Her presentation is titled: “Today’s Teen 101.”

Turn to page 19

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Mother Dolores Hart: FACE Dinner speaker continued from page two

presentation by Mother Dolores.

In the context of the program, Bishop da Cunha will present the annual Timothy Cotter Friend of Catholic Education Award to Michael Tamburro of Seekonk.

Tamburro, the former longtime president and now current vice-chairman of the Pawtucket Red Sox, chaired the Fall Scholarship Dinner multiple times and served on its committee for additional years. He is a member of Our Lady Queen of Mar-

tyrs Parish in Seekonk.

Sandra L. Sevigney, first vice president and a retirement plan specialist at Plimoth Investment Advisors, is serving as chairperson of the event again this year for her third time.

Those interested in supporting the Fall Scholarship Dinner through sponsorship opportunities or by purchasing individual tickets should contact the Diocesan Development Off ice at 508-675-1311 or visit www.FACE-DFR. org.

Catholic Campaign for Human Development calls for proposals

NEW BEDFORD — The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is the domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the United States bishops.

Its mission is to address the root causes of poverty through the promotion and support of communitycontrolled self-help organizations and through transformative education. These efforts know no racial or religious boundaries. They help all people find a way

out of poverty for a lifetime.

Community Organizing and Economic Development grants are available, with awards ranging from $25,000-$75,000.

Pre-applications and information about the process are now available online http://www.usccb. org/about/catholiccampaign-for-humandevelopment/grants/ cchd-grant-process-and-

timeline.cfm. A “Grant Application Tutorial” is available online to assist applicants in completing their applications: http:// www.usccb.org/about/ catholic-campaign-forhuman-development/ grants/cchd-grantsgeneral-information.cfm.

Online pre-applications are due November 1.

For more information please contact Debora Berg at Catholic Social Services at 508-997-7337.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 October 30, 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Thomas C. Lopes, a retired priest of the Fall River Diocese, residing at Cardinal Medeiros Residence in Fall River.

November 6, 11:00 a.m.

National Vocations Awareness Week Celebrant is Father Kevin A. Cook, pastor of Holy Family Parish in East Taunton, and diocesan director of Vocations and Seminarians.

A Mass and dessert buffet recognizing St. Teresa of Calcutta were recently held at St. Lawrence Martyr Church in New Bedford and Our Lady’s Haven in Fairhaven.

Volunteers spruced up the buffet with a cake, ornaments and chocolate desserts made by Elaine Cordeiro of Chocolate Works in New Bedford. At right, from left: Annette Provincial, Cordeiro, and Phyllis Corriveau. A reflection from Cordeiro can be found on website at Anchornews.org.

The Anchor - October 28, 2016

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T

he Holy Year of Mercy will soon come to a close. What have you learned this past year about mercy? My hope is that it has made you more aware of God’s infinite mercy and love for us all and that you will continue to be mercy to all people.

But how do you make yourself more aware of what God truly wants for you?

We need to live in the present moment. Our minds are so cluttered with things of the past and of things yet to come. The past is gone and God is already preparing for tomorrow. Let today be your only concern.

That’s how we become more aware. Sometimes we need a reboot of our lives to get rid of all those nasty bugs and viruses that prohibit us from seeing God’s intended

For and About Our Church Youth Blest are the merciful goodness for us! His will for merciful! us is for good alone. Once When we are lost, He we understand that, then we searches for us, to hold us in can truly experience mercy.

His arms.

Remember Jesus’ words His Holy Blood will heal in the Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

The thousands of young people

By Ozzie Pacheco who attended World Youth Day in Poland this past summer are very well aware our wounds, to breath new life of this gift. They accepted into us! it and they even sang Unless the Lord forgives about it. Read the words when we fall, we wouldn’t be to the World Youth Day able to stand. theme song, “Blest Are The But He forgives, He Merciful”: pardons us all.

I lift my eyes to the Let us do the same! mountains; from where shall God paid our debts with help come to me? the Blood of His Son, Who rose My help will come from alive from the tomb. the Lord, my God, for He is The Spirit within cries out to the world: Jesus is the Lord!

So cast aside your fear and have faith, give your cares to the Lord And trust in Him, for He has Risen: The Lord, your God, is alive!

Blest are the merciful.

For it is mercy that shall be shown to those who show mercy.

Be Not Afraid

There are so many things that can get in the way of being merciful. Anxiety and worry are two of them.

When your heart and mind are preoccupied with things like, “Did I study enough for the big test? Did my friend really mean that? Why can’t I make my parents understand?” there is no room for mercy. Anxiety and worry make you afraid. You cannot live mercy or be mercy when you are afraid. You do have a choice, and it’s a choice you will face many times a day.

So, you must choose to trust in God or choose to keep on worrying.

If you choose to trust God, He will trade your fear for His peace. Every time you choose God over worry, He will give you even more peace. You’ll never run out of things to worry about.

That’s a fact of life. But, it’s a good thing that God will never run out of peace.

And isn’t that the result of forgiving and accepting forgiveness? Peace!

Francis Cardinal George once said, “There are times in a person’s life when

forgiveness may seem impossible. Forgiveness is a personal decision to go against the natural instinct to pay back evil with evil. It goes beyond pardon to the giving up of resentment. The offer to forgive is necessary for healing and peace; the preaching of forgiveness, from God and for one another, is central to the Church’s mission in the world.

“From the cross, Jesus shows us the conditions which enable us to forgive.

To the hatred with which His persecutors nailed Him to the cross, Jesus responds by praying for them. He not only forgives them, He continues to love them, to want their good, to intercede for them. Only forgiveness from the heart can release us from our own hurts and misery and free us to share Christ’s gifts with others.”

Mercy is love; don’t be afraid to show it. Mercy is peace; don’t be afraid to live it. Mercy is trusting in God; don’t be afraid to try it. Blest are the merciful.

God bless!

Anchor columnist Ozzie Pacheco is Faith Formation director at Santo Christo Parish, Fall River.

The Anchor is always pleased to run news and photos about our diocesan youth.

If schools, parish Religious Education programs, or homeschoolers have newsworthy stories and photos they would like to share with our readers, send them to: schools@anchornews.org 16

The Anchor - October 28, 2016

For and About Our Church Youth

Students in kindergarten and grade two from St. James-St. John School in New Bedford enjoyed a field trip to St. Bernard’s Parish pumpkin patch in Assonet.

Troop MA3712’s first service projects of the year were fleece baby and toddler blankets which the girls tied together at a recent meeting. The girls traveled to Abundant Hope Pregnancy Resource Center in Attleboro in October to celebrate Respect Life Month, get a tour, see their new ultrasound machine, and deliver the blankets!

Fourth-graders from St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro recently took part in the New England Revolution Fourth-Grade Fitness Day at Gillette Stadium. The students enjoyed a health and wellness program, ate lunch in the stands, and exercised on the field.

Third-graders at Holy Name School in Fall River recently visited Four Town Farm in Seekonk. They took a tour of the fields to learn more about plants and how they grow. Each student bagged some carrots, enjoyed a trailer ride, and took a pumpkin home with them.

In conjunction with cheering on their beloved Patriots, the students at Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford brought in canned goods and food supplies to help those less fortunate on “NFL Friday at HFHN.” A sea of red, white, and blue filled the hallways as well as hundreds of food items. All donations were brought to the St. Lawrence Food Pantry.

The Anchor - October 28, 2016

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For and About Our Church Youth Four members of the Bishop Feehan High School Mock Trial team attended the recent Red Mass of the Fall River Diocese at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River. The Red Mass is a 13th-century tradition in which judges and members of the bar attend a Mass seeking God’s blessing at the beginning of the court term. The celebrant and homilist was Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, OFM Cap., of the Archdiocese of Boston, who was also a driving force in establishing the American re-creation of this event. From left: Michael Castro; Sean Gray (cocaptain); Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V.; Shane Sullivan (co-captain); and Jack Keenan.

H

aving a deep affinity for the wacky world of sports has had, for me, its highs and lows for the last five-plus decades.

I’ve seen leagues in all sports for kids where fathers were the coaches for their sons, and that translated into all the playing time in the world for the coddled young athletes.

In high school, as long as one could hit a ball a country mile; throw 90 m.p.h.; bowl over would-be tacklers; or dribble through a full-court press, that person could pretty much do as he please — and often did.

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Drought relief In college one is not through the years, from peehard-pressed to find a stellar wees to the pros, where even athlete, who can’t put togeth- a mediocre performer can er two sentences in proper make more in a year than syntax, receive a full fourthe Haitian gross national year free ride at a prestigious university, My View while some of their From peers with great intelligence and aspirathe Stands tions struggle to find

By Dave Jolivet the means to attend a college or university, or who cannot attend at all because of their dire life product. situations. And who knows It’s the sports and the what other “perks” are part of drama and the competition the free ride through school. that captures my heart and Truth be told, it seems imagination — not the many to have gotten much worse selfish egotists who saturate

The Anchor - October 28, 2016

the playing fields.

Well, enough of my tirade.

The reason I’m writing this column is to bring out the good in sports.

Tonight (Tuesday night) is the first game of the 2016 World Series — a series that has captured the attention of this country more than it has in a long, long time.

Two teams in long, long championship droughts are facing off, with one of them to come out on top of the world for the first time in my lifetime.

The Chicago Cubs haven’t won the pennant in 108 years, and haven’t even been to the big dance since 1945.

The Cleveland Indians haven’t tasted the spoils of victory in 67 years, last winning the pennant in 1948.

They at least played in a World Series in 1997.

For me, this is a no-lose series. One of these longsuffering organizations and cities will feel the thrill of

victory.

With both clubs having strong ties to the Red Sox, I don’t mind seeing either of them win. But my heart goes out to the Cubbies. There are very few people in this world who were alive the last time they won it all, and more than likely no one alive who remembers it.

Red Sox fans know the pain well. It took our beloved Sox 87 years to end their drought. I can truly feel what both cities are feeling right now, and I’m not envious in the least. I’m thrilled for them.

May the best team win this year’s World Series (go Cubbies!!!). Either way, the country is in for a rare treat this fall classic.

I’d like to take the time to shout out a huge thank you to the individual who sent a $1,000 check to The Anchor for us to forward on to Haitian relief. Be assured it is on its way. May God bless your generosity, and may the poor souls in Haiti benefit from it. davejolivet@anchornews.org.

Relics to be displayed at Fall River parish

Events planned for National Vocations Awareness week

one generation to the next.

As a devotional practice, the veneration of relics has enjoyed varying degrees of popularity over the centuries. In medieval times, for example, veneration of relics played a prominent role in the daily life of European Christians: oaths were sworn and vows were made in the presence of relics, which served as Heavenly witnesses; relics were carried into battle, in the hope of securing Divine aid and protection; persons afflicted with disease or with physical or mental infirmities were blessed with relics, which were viewed as instruments through which God could choose to affect miraculous healings; pilgrims seeking Spiritual insight or Divine favor undertook arduous journeys to famous pilgrimage sites where important relics were preserved; and traveling collections of relics were displayed in town after town as a means of instructing and inspiring the local populace.

While the once widespread practice of venerating relics has declined in recent times, Father Johnson said it’s good to see how relics are enjoying a bit of a resurgence these days.

“I think it’s really interesting what’s been happening, because there did seem to be — especially after the Second Vatican Council — a lack of interest in relics,” he said. “And now we just had the heart of St. Padré Pio

Terraccino has spent a number of years serving as coordinator of Youth Ministry in the Arlington, Va. Diocese. She has made appearances on CatholicTV, EWTN, radio, podcasts, and online conferences.

She resides in New England with her husband and children.

Following a break for lunch across the street from the church at the former school, Terraccino will present “Five Tips for Reaching Teens.”

Sister Hurtado said the workshop will be very informative and uplifting.

“We welcome all of our vocation awareness team members. At present all five deaneries in the diocese are represented with a total of 32 parishes and 131 signed members.”

Sister Hurtado told The Anchor, “There will also be a Recollection for Girls, ages 14-18, November 11-12 at the Dominican Sisters Convent in Dighton.

Entitled, “Called By Name To Be a Star,” the overnight experience will help attendees realize what they have in common with the saints, and to “take some time to discover your true star quality.”

“We have nine young men in the seminary now, and thanks be to God, that number is up over last year, and will continue to grow as Father Cook and I are already working with several applicants for 2017,” Father Peschel told The Anchor.

Explaining why visiting area Catholic school students, Father Peschel said, “I think there is a genuine desire, particularly among the young, to be happy in life. I hope that any presentation given to school students would be helpful in

continued from page three

tour the U.S., we’ve had the relics of St. Therese, and we had the relics of St. Maria Goretti making the rounds.”

Father Johnson also noted how the altar stone embedded inside every church contains a relic of a noted martyr or saint, which is why the priest and deacon kisses it during a Liturgy celebration.

“Of course, we kiss the altar because it is the altar of sacrifice, of the Eucharist,” he said. “But the original reason the priest and deacon kissed the altar was because it contained an altar stone, which would hold the relics of martyrs or other saints.

That’s really the origin of kissing the altar.”

All are welcome to come venerate the “Relics of the True Cross and Christ’s Passion” at Good Shepherd Parish in Fall River on October 30 at 3 p.m.

“My parishioners love this type of devotion,” Father Johnson said. “We often host A Day With Mary and we did a Virtual Lourdes program last year — so I have no doubt we’ll have a good turnout for the Relics of Christ’s Passion.

And I have a very devout youth group that loves this type of thing.”

For more information, please contact Leanne Nelson at 508-678-7412 or by email at gsfallriver@gmail. com. Additional information regarding the Apostolate for Holy Relics can be found online at www.relictour.com or by contacting denise@ relictour.org.

Online at anchornews.org

continued from page 14

recognizing that true happiness in life comes from doing the will of God, having that open, kind, and docile disposition to whatever He may be calling someone to do in life.

“I usually emphasize a point in the Our Father prayer, which most of us had memorized by the time we were in first grade. I usually ask students, what do you think the line ‘Thy Will be done’ means?

Sometimes I get blank stares back, but most of the time I see gears turning, most students know that phrase, because they pray it daily, but I think very few have ever taken it out of the context of the entire Our Father prayer to simply look at what saying ‘Thy Will Be Done’ to God actually means.

“It can be applied to a number of situations in life.

Trying to get into a particular college, ‘Thy Will Be Done.’ Praying for a sick or dying family member, ‘Thy Will be done.’ Or when someone is older, looking to land a particular job or salary, ‘Thy Will Be Done.’ There is a sense in which those four short words recognize that God is the One in control of every situation, and we in faith are asked to listen to Him in those times that His Will is made known.”

Father Peschel added that the context of a Catholic school is a very opportune place to bring up the vocation topic. “Most often students are at least familiar with what a priest is and some schools are still blessed with the presence of religious Brothers or Sisters.

The idea that God wants the best for each person in life is not a foreign concept in most Catholic schools. I think when students hear about the ways in which

they can serve God, it helps connect them to the overall mission of the Universal Church. It gets people out of the mentality of thinking that faith is a spectator sport and brings them to the idea that they are very much players who are part of a large team.

“I am passionate about speaking on vocations in the schools because I attribute a lot of my own vocation to my time in the Catholic schools of this diocese. Even as a young student at St. Mary’s School in Taunton I remember a sense of calling to service at the altar. I loved serving Mass and over time I came to a deeper understanding of serving Mass as serving God, but it all started in the classroom of my grammar school.”

Father Peschel said he would be willing to speak at any diocesan school if contacted.

Fathers Cook and Peschel recently attended the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors. “One presenter made a point that stuck with me,” said Father Peschel.

“He said if every parish in any given diocese in this country sent one man to the seminary, just one, every decade, then there would not be a decline, not even a stagnation, but a healthy growth in the number of priests available for missionary service to the parishes of that diocese.

Vocations work is not really about the numbers, but clearly we’ve got some work to do.”

For information on the “Called by Name” retreat, visit contact Sister Hurtado at sr.paulina@dioc-fr.org, or call 508-675-1311. The Vocations Office website is fallirvervocations.org.

The Anchor - October 28, 2016

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USCCB auditors visit diocese continued from page five

no one ever sees a victim’s name. Everything is given over to McNamee, who handles all the information.

“It’s very respectful of victims,” said Berg. “Auditors have no idea; I don’t even have an idea of any victim’s name, age or even gender.”

Part of the process Berg did to prepare for this year’s audit was to attend a webinar provided by the Secretariat for Child and Youth Protection, and email all materials: “We know well in advance what kind of questions are going to be asked. They don’t

change a whole lot each year, but they’re always fine-tuning.”

Each audit has been slightly different. In 2010, the auditors did 10 site visits so Berg traveled all over the Fall River Diocese. Three years ago, the auditors emailed Berg, telling her which parishes they wanted to visit. This year the auditors wanted to stay within a 30-mile radius.

Since 2013 Stonebridge Business Partners has been overseeing the compliance audit, and sent a different team each time to the Fall River Diocese; “We will

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

Oct. 30 Msgr. Robert L. Stanton, Retired Pastor, St. Paul, Taunton, 1992 Rev. Denis Sughrue, C.S.C., Director of Postulancy, Holy Cross Novitiate, North Dartmouth, 2002 Nov. 1 Rev. William H. McNamara, Retired Pastor, St. Mary, Mansfield, 1924 Rev. Louis N. Blanchet, Assistant, St. Jean Baptiste, Fall River, 1927 Rt. Rev. Msgr. John F. Ferraz, Pastor, St. Michael, Fall River, 1944 Rt. Rev. Msgr. George F. Cain, Pastor, St. Mathieu, Fall River, 1953 Rev. William E. Farland, Pastor, St. Joseph, Taunton, 1987 Rev. William F. Gartland, C.S.C. Stonehill College, North Easton, 1988 Rev. John F. Sullivan, SS.CC., Retired Pastor, Holy Trinity, West Harwich, 1994 Rev. Manuel T. Faria, Retired, Catholic Memorial Home, 1999 Nov. 2 A memento for the repose of the souls of our bishops, priests and permanent deacons not on this list Rev. Joseph S. Fortin, Founder, St. Jean Baptiste, Fall River, 1923 Rev. Michael V. McDonough, Chaplain, St. Mary’s Home, New Bedford, 1933 Nov. 3 Rev. Jose M. Bettencourt e Avila, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, New Bedford, 1988 Nov. 4 Permanent Deacon James M. O’Gara, 1990 Nov. 5 Rev. Daniel A. Gamache, Retired Pastor, St. Joseph, New Bedford, 1998 Nov. 6 Rev. Patrick S. McGee, Founder, St. Mary, Hebronville, 1933 Rev. Joseph Oliveira, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes, Taunton, 1999 Nov. 7 Rev. J. Edmond Tremblay, Retired Chaplain, Sacred Heart Home, New Bedford, 1985 Nov. 8 Rev. Pacifique L. Emond, OFM, Retreat Master, Writer, Montreal, Canada, 1984 Nov. 11 Rev. A. Gomez da Silva Neves, Pastor, St. John the Baptist, New Bedford, 1910 Rev. Richard Sullivan, C.S.C., President, Stonehill College, Easton, 2005

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The Anchor - October 28, 2016

training manuals, current version of the charter, and updated child abuse and never get the same audiprevention policies, techtors twice,” said Berg, “so nology policies, training that way they feel they get videos, and forms. a fresh perspective on the This year the auditors diocese.” visited St. Mary’s Parish Though Berg oversees in South Dartmouth; St. a lot of information in Anthony of Padua Parher office, in order for the ish in New Bedford; Our diocese to be in compliance, Lady of Mount Carmel each parish and school Parish in New Bedford; needs stay on top of its own and Espirito Santo Parish paperwork trail. With more and School in Fall River. than 100 sites within the Father Jack Oliveira, pasFall River Diocese, it’s a lot tor of Our Lady of Mount of information that needs Carmel, was the only pastor to be reported, said Berg. available at the time, and Each DRE or princi“Father Jack has always pal has to track all of the been so supportive of all children in his or her Faith the work that is done. We Formation program who had a lovely conversation are eligible for safe enviand it was wonderful meetronment training, and how ing,” said Berg. many parents opted-out Benevinda Costa-Reedy, of training for their child the director of Religious (with parents being given Education at St. Mary’s materials to teach at home, Parish in South Dartmouth if they prefer); track all “is phenomenal. She has active volunteers and how an excellent program and many are in full complishe was able to pull up stats ance (have a training date, and anything [the auditors] current C.O.R.I., and needed. Bene was asked current Code of Conabout specifics, and she got duct). The bishop’s office right on our database and reports on priests, deacons was able to pull up stats,” and religious, including added Berg. seminarians and internaBerg said that the auditional priests; and all this tors also try to visit a parinformation is funneled to ish that is connected with Berg’s office. a school so the auditors “It’s all about being in can interview a principal. compliance with the char“Andrew Raposo is the ter and that we don’t take new principal at Espirito any chances,” said Berg. “I Santo School, and he was even say to folks who may our first visit on October be going to out a parishio- 5,” said Berg. “He was ner who is elderly — you phenomenal, and he had don’t know if a grandchild everything in order. He’s won’t stop in. It’s really also the DRE, so he had just all about protecting everything displayed, and not just the children, but everything went excepthe various ministries tionally well. He was so within the diocese.” articulate about wanting to Berg also recommends protect children.” that each site being visited One of the best things have all the required maabout training and terials out so auditors have C.O.R.I checks is that access to them, and that the diocese picks up the the parishes and schools tab; there is no cost to any display the latest in child individual, said Berg. She protection manuals, recent regularly updates pertinent

information through binders distributed to every parish and school, as well as updating the Catholic Social Services website area regarding Child Protection (www.cssdioc.org and click on “Protecting God’s Children), and adds that it helps that there is a standardized training manual used as a reference throughout the diocese: “We cover a large area, from the Cape and the Islands to Attleboro, so everybody is supposed to be doing it the same way, and we use all the tools and resources we possibly can.”

Results of audits come via letters, and past audits have always been shown the Fall River Diocese in compliance; a second letter, even if the diocese is in compliance, also offers suggestions. As of press time, Berg had not received the official letter stating the diocese was fully in compliance but based on past successes, Berg said she expected the same positive results this time around.

“These auditors are primarily accountants; it’s an accounting firm that takes on the audit work,” said Berg. “They’re used to looking at details. The gentlemen who were here this time, these guys are very experienced and efficient. They camped out wherever they could. We had them at Catholic Social Services for a couple of days, their last day they were at the conference room at the chancery. They had their laptops open and any time they weren’t interviewing somebody or gathering data, they were typing information so they worked very quickly.

“If we haven’t passed, you get a management letter stating that you are out of compliance, but that has never happened in this diocese. We’ve always passed.”

PROVINCETOWN — Deacon Chester 0.

Cook, 78, of Provincetown, passed away October 12 at Seashore Point Wellness and Rehabilitation Center.

He was the son of the late Manuel G. Cook and the late Nellie G. (Smith) Perry.

Cook leaves behind his wife, Catherine Gavigan; his daughter, Cynthia Travers and her husband, Mark; his son, Chester and wife Shari and their two children, Sydney and Jared; two sisters, Beverley Ferreira and Toni Little, a brother, Jimmy and his wife Ruth; two grandchildren, Layla and Chet, who were his heartbeat and his spirit; several nieces and nephews, Tracey Rose and her husband Leo; Kevin Ferreira; Dawn Henrique and her husband Richard; Carolyn Henry and her husband Jim; David Souza and his wife Diane; Joseph Carreiro and his wife Bette; Joyce Carreiro, several greatnephews and nieces; and NEWPORT, R.I. — Mercy Sister Leona Misto, 77, vice president for mission integration at Salve Regina University, passed away at her home in Newport, October 17 after a brief illness. The daughter of Ralph and Teresa (Harrington) Mistro, she was born on May 24, 1939 and raised in Cranston, R.I. Sister Leona entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1957.

Upon completion of the novitiate and juniorate, she held teaching positions in the dioceses of Providence and Fall River at St. Joseph School, Pawtucket; St. Mary’s Academy-Bay View; St. Xavier Academy; and Bishop Feehan High School.

From 1974 to 1976, Sister Leona was the director of Spirituality for the Sisters of Mercy Regional Community of Providence. She served

Deacon Chester O. Cook

many, many cousins in the large Cook Family. He was predeceased by his sisters Eva Carreiro, Helen Grace and Yvonne Souza.

On March 28,1938, Cook was born in his Grandmother Smith’s house at 11A Conwell Street in Provincetown, and educated in Center School, Governor Bradford School and Provincetown High School, from which he graduated as president of the Class of 1955. He attended Boston College until June of 1957 when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served three years as communications chief in Headquarters Company, 8th Engineer Battalion, Force Troops, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Upon his honorable discharge as an acting corporal, he settled down in New York, living in each borough except Staten Island. He worked for Trans World Airlines at

the height of the growing airlines industry expansion.

He loved Broadway musicals and frequented the theater district almost daily.

While living and working in New York, Chester met and fell in love with his wife-tobe, the lovely Catherine Angela Gavigan.

He worked for Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corp. (later to be Grumman Aerospace) and directed the electrical work on the Lunar Modules, in particular, the one that saved the astronauts’ lives, Apollo 11.

He left Grumman and went to work for the FAA as an air traffic controller at McArthur Airport in Suffolk County, Long Island,

N.Y. Cook worked as manager of Cook’s Chick ‘N’ Beef Restaurant, one of a series of eight facilities owned and operated by his brother, Jimmy. In 1971 they moved back to Provincetown where Cook worked for New England Telephone as a Central Office Repairman. Laid off in 1975, he got a temporary job with an independent telephone company in Maine. He later got a job with Fairchild Semiconductor in South Portland as an equipment engineer.

While in Maine, Chester finished college with a B.S. in Industrial Technology, summa cum laude, from the University of Southern Maine. After 12 years in Maine (which Cook dearly loved), they moved back to Provincetown and he worked at John’s Foot Long Hot Dogs. After several years at John’s, Chester and Catherine opened their

Sister Leona Mistro, R.S.M.

as principal and education director of SS. Peter and Paul School and Parish in Fall River from 1976 to 1980.

She enrolled at Salve Regina College and graduated summa cum laude in 1962.

In addition to her B.A. in mathematics from Salve Regina, she received an M.A. in religious studies from Providence College, an M.A.T. in mathematics from Rhode Island College, an Ed.D. in higher education from Nova Southeastern University, and a certificate in educational management from Harvard University.

Sister Leona returned to her alma mater in 1980, and during her 36-year tenure she served the Salve Regina community in a number of capacities, including professor of mathematics, chairperson of the mathematics

department, dean of Campus Ministry and director of Graduate Extension Studies.

It was in this capacity that she established one of the first online education programs in the country in 1984.

She was named vice president for Mission Integration and Planning in 2001.

Sister Leona established the Sophia Endowed Scholarship at Salve Regina University to provide needbased assistance to attain a baccalaureate degree. An advisor to and supporter of both the University’s Sigma Phi Sigma honor society and

the Environmental Advisory Group, she worked tirelessly to support all aspects of the students’ education.

Ever cheerful, and ever encouraging, Sister Leona’s wide smile brought grace, light and a little hint of mischief to those on campus and beyond. Her time and treasures were shared with other organizations and institutions such as Child and Family in Newport, Marian Court College in Swampscott, Mass., and the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities.

Wherever she went and wherever she served, Sister Leona wove compassionate attention to the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy into the fabric of her actions, inspiring the alignment of Spirit, word and deed with the Mercy ideals of com-

own restaurant, The Fisherman’s Tail in Truro. He then went to work for Outer Cape Health Services, first in the billing department, then at the front desk in Provincetown. After about eight years, he retired due to declining health.

While working at John’s, Chester applied for and was granted entrance to the Permanent Diaconate Program for the Diocese of Fall River.

He was ordained a permanent deacon by then Bishop (now Cardinal Archbishop) Sean O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap., on May 28, 1995, in St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River. This was his love, not just his vocation; it was his calling by God. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated October 14 at St. Peter the Apostle Church, Provincetown. Burial followed in St. Peter Cemetery.

Arrangements were handled by Gately McHoul Funeral Home. munity, service and social justice. Largely through her vision, Salve Regina embraced a distinctively Mercy identity that will continue to transform its graduates and encourage them to work for a world that is harmonious, just and merciful.

She is survived by her brother Ralph Misto, sister Teresa Tavares and her husband Albert, and nine nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Newport on October 22.

To honor and memorialize her work, donations may be made to Salve Regina University/Sophia Scholarship Fund, 100 Ochre Point Avenue, Newport, R.I. 02840.

Funeral arrangements by the O’Neill-Hayes Funeral Home.

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Plans in motion to celebrate Fatima centennial continued from page four

team. “We believe the best way to combat all the attacks against our religious liberty, the human person and the family is through conversion of our own lives, devotion to Our Lady and praying for her intercession, which will ultimately lead us to her Son, Jesus.”

Noting that the group’s central mission is to “promote Our Lady’s message in this time of turmoil,” Montigny said they hope to “reach as many people as possible, from all walks of life and, we pray, bring them closer to Jesus.”

As a performer who has presented one-woman shows devoted to the Blessed Mother throughout the diocese, Montigny said she’s very concerned with the “poor state of our culture” and she hopes more people will find comfort in Mary’s message

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of peace. And as a mother with three young children, Montigny said she was only too eager to get involved with the group.

“You don’t have to look too hard to see the battle we’re up against and we’re wondering what kind of world our boys will face when they are older,” she said. “In my performance work for the Marian Theatre Project, I see people are longing to find their way to Jesus, and this is through Mary! So when my friend Jane asked me and my husband to get involved with this core team of other concerned Catholics, all of what I’d been feeling as a mother and what I’d been seeing in my own work came together. Joining the team seemed to be a natural next step in my faith and it didn’t take long for me to say ‘yes.’”

Montigny said the Living

The Anchor - October 28, 2016

the Fatima Message team has been coordinating events such as the recent evening reflection at St. Bernard’s Parish in Assonet and they are also presenting the Fatima message to students at Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River.

“The principal at Bishop Connolly wants to enthrone the school to Mary’s Immaculate Heart and they have already scheduled a Mass to do just that on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8 at 1:30 p.m.,” she said. And more events and presentations are being planned throughout the centennial year.

“We’ve discovered as a team, though we may be small in number, that God has given each of us different talents and by working together we can help bring people closer to Jesus, which is what I think Mary is asking all of us to do,” Montigny said.

Central to all the planned events — and the Fatima message itself — is prayer, especially through the power of the Rosary.

“Sister Lucia of Fatima told us that, ‘There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we cannot solve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary,’” Aldarondo said. “With the Holy Rosary we will save ourselves. We will sanctify ourselves. We will console Our Lord and obtain the Salvation of many souls. Let us know and believe this is true remembering the promises of Our Lady to those who faithfully recite her devotion.”

For more information about events at St. Anthony of Padua Parish, visit www. saintanthonynewbedford.com.

For more information about Living the Fatima Message, email livingfatima@gmail.com.

Around the Diocese St. Vincent de Paul Parish, 71 Linden Street in Attleboro, will host its Christmas Bazaar on November 4 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on November 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The bazaar will feature many raffles and prizes including a chance to win a 49-inch HDTV. There will also be crafts, jewelry, baked goods, and a delicious lunch and dinner served both days.

A special day of recollection in honor of the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, the Holy Spirit, will be held on November 5 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation, 3012 Elm Street in Dighton. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. To register, contact Donna Costa, M.A., lay associate of the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation, at 774-644-5878 or by emailing streetsofgold531@hotmail. com by October 28. The event is free, but space is limited and Mass and lunch will be included.

The Women’s Guild of St. John Neumann Parish, 257 Middleboro Road in East Freetown, invites all to its annual Christmas Bazaar in the parish hall on November 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This one-day bazaar will feature a wide variety of booths, sure to interest all tastes including assorted gift basket raffles, money raffles, and an assortment of homebaked goods. A hearty homemade lunch will also be available and the hall in wheelchair-accessible. Admission is free!

St. Mary’s Parish, 106 Illinois Street in New Bedford, is hosting its annual Holiday Fair on November 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and on November 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The fair will feature a full kitchen, crafts, bake table, kids’ corner, Chinese auction and more. For vendor table availability and more information, call Linda at 508-995-4166.

Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish will host its annual Holiday Fair on November 11 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on November 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the church hall on Coyle Drive (off Route 152) in Seekonk. The event will feature super raffles and the famous “Baskets Galore.”

There will also be hand-knit items, Christmas items, crafts, toys, baked goods and more. “Louise’s Cafe” will be serving goodies both days.

St. Anthony of Padua Parish, 1359 Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford, will host its Holiday Bazaar on November 12 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and November 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the church hall (please use the Nye Street entrance). Admission is free and the bazaar will feature homemade crafts, baked goods and other items along with a visit from Santa on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. For more information, call 508-993-1691.

Marian Manor, 33 Summer Street in Taunton, will host its Annual Snowflake Bazaar on November 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on November 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will include handmade craft items, along with a raffle auction and roll-up tables. Lunch and baked goods will also be available for purchase. To donate to the Snowflake Bazaar or for more information, contact Marlo Blais at 508-8224885, ext. 125 or email mblais@dhfo.org.

To submit an event for consideration in The Anchor’s “Around the Diocese” listing, send the information by email to kensouza@anchornews.org

Some members of the Respect Life Committee are preparing a Life Ministry table in Our Lady of the Cape Church in Brewster. This committee gathers monthly on the third Thursday after Mass and Rosary.

St. John’s Seminary to expand to keep up with rapid enrollment growth

Brighton — Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap, chairman of the St. John’s Seminary Board of Trustees, announced the signing of a purchase and sale agreement with Boston College to buy back more than 13,000 square feet of space within the 127 Lake Street building for the creation of new student rooms and administrative offices.

Having just opened its doors to the largest class in more than 15 years, of 98 resident seminarians (with an additional 36 nonresidents as well), St. John’s Seminary is now bursting at the seams with men from 16 dioceses around New England and across the globe, six Institutes of Religious Life, and one Ecclesial movement. It is the oldest and largest seminary in the Northeast, and the sixth-largest nationwide.

The annex, located above the present kitchen and Refectory will be fully renovated over the next few years to accommodate the institution’s rapid and inspiring growth.

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Team and participants from the latest ACTS retreat for men gathered on the front steps of St. Joseph Church in Fairhaven for a photo.

Area men gather for ACTS retreat experience at Cathedral Camp EAST FREETOWN — Twenty men from St. Joseph and St. Mary parishes in Fairhaven recently lived an ACTS retreat at Cathedral Camp in East Freetown.

Originally from San Antonio, Texas, the ACTS retreat is a joint creation of laity and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The Oblates were instrumental in bringing the retreat to parishes they serve in the Archdiocese of Boston.

The first ACTS retreats in the Fall River Diocese were sponsored by Father George Harrison at Corpus Christi in East Sandwich. Given their Texas connections with the Diocese of Brownsville, the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts religious serving in Fairhaven have held three ACTS retreats (two for men; one for women with another women’s retreat scheduled for

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March 2017).

For many parishes in South Texas and in Boston, ACTS has been an instrument of deep Spiritual renewal for the men and women who participate. For many, it is a life-changing experience that draws them deeper into their life in Christ and forms new faith-based relationships.

Inevitably, ACTS becomes an instrument of evangelization as retreat alumni become recruiters for the retreat and reach deeper and deeper into their circles of family and friends wanting to share this Spiritual experience with them. Of its nature, ACTS sends alumni back to their parishes with a desire to participate in parish life by volunteering for a host of ministries. Not surprisingly, ACTS has also inspired vocations to the priesthood and religious life.