11.16.18

Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

Chapel in Sacred Heart Home, New Bedford.

(Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)

Friday, November 16, 2018

‘Give thanks to God the Father always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ Eph 5:20 The Anchor - November 16, 2018

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Advent and Christmas favorite: La Salette Shrine’s Festival of Lights will illuminate its grounds for the 65th time beginning November 22

By Dave Jolivet Anchor Editor davejolivet@anchornews.org

ATTLEBORO — The year 1953 was, in some ways, a simpler time. That’s the year that the La Salette Shrine in Attleboro inaugurated its Festival of Lights. The first such event was a simple outdoor Crèche scene with some lights, but in its simple way, it sent the message to faithful in the Fall River Diocese and nearby dioceses, that the true meaning of the season of Advent and Christmas is the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ.

Sixty-five years later, the festival is a bit more elaborate, only in the number of displays and colorful lights that will welcome visitors who come from all over New England and beyond. The message remains the same though — Jesus is the reason for the season.

Beginning Thanksgiving night, November 22, the Attleboro night skies will again glow with the joyful aura of the birth of the Baby Jesus when the lights are turned on at 5 p.m., and continue each night from 5 to 9 p.m. until Jan. 6, 2019.

But this year’s festival will be without one of its mainstays for the last 15 years. Paul Precourt of Norton, an electrician who played a vital role in the festival preparations died unexpectedly early in October. “Paul’s loss was very sad and also was a blow to our getting ready for this season,” La Salette Father Ted Brown, director of the Attleboro shrine, told The Anchor.

“We had to cut short a few more of the projects for this season. He was such a great asset here.

“We have asked Paul’s wife, Elizabeth, and family members to be here on Thanksgiving night to turn on the lights for the 2018-19 Festival of Lights.”

Father Brown said that new to the display this year will be “a whole new bank of lights on the trees in front of the property. He added, “With Paul’s loss that was a very difficult task to complete.”

This year’s theme comes from Psalm 118:24 — “Rejoice and be 2

The Anchor - November 16, 2018

sumption and the cost to light the lights every night during the festival,” said Father Brown.

From its simple beginning in 1953, the festival now includes more than 300,000 lights, evoking childlike joy and wonder not only from youngsters, but adults as well.

As in the past, La Salette Father Andre “Pat” Patenaude will provide Spiritual music fitting the season.

On opening night, Thanksgiving, Father Pat will give a concert at 7 p.m.; and every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The concerts will take place inside the church. On December 1, Father Pat will trek to the sister site, the Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Enfield, N.H. Father Pat also offers pre-scheduled concerts for groups of 25 or more. To schedule such a performance, call the shrine at 508-2225410.

“And Clopper will be back again this year at the crèche,” beamed Father Brown. Clopper, a huge favorite with visitors, is a donkey loaned from a local farm, whose owner rescued the donkey, and would never endanger the rescued Soft colors abound during La Salette Shrine’s annual Festival of Lights, animal. “The veterinarian is always this year beginning on Thanksgiving night, November 22, until January very pleased with the way Clop6. This year marks the 65th Advent/Christmas season of the festival that per is treated and cared for here, has drawn countless people to see and feel the true “reason for the sea- and the local animal control people agree.” son,” the birth of Jesus Christ. (La Salette Shrine photo) Father Brown told The Anchor glad!” the Advent/Christmas season. It’s of another new feature this season: “We chose that reading from something reconnecting Christmas “We are setting up two large tents the Psalms taken from Pope Franto the birth of Christ. You can’t on the grounds. On weekends, durcis’ exhortation to respond to the miss that here. It’s an oasis of reliing the festival hours, our priests universal call to be holy,” Father giosity in a secular world.” will be available in the tents for the Brown told The Anchor. “In these Illuminations encompass 10 Sacrament of Reconciliation, or troubled times, Christ gives us a acres of shrine property, which just to be there if someone wants reason to rejoice and be glad. includes the Garden of the La to talk.

“We don’t deny that our times Salette Apparition, the Holy Stairs, “Maybe someone who has been can be very discouraging with daily the Stations of the Cross, the away from the Church will be events, but with Christ there is Sacred Heart Garden, St. Francis’ moved to want to talk to one of our always something deeper. He lets Garden, St. Joseph’s Garden, and priests, and there will be someone us know that it won’t always be this the Rosary Walk circumventing the there for them. It’s a way to evanway. Christ shows us different ways Rosary Pond. The shrine church gelize in a wonderful environment.” to be there for and with each other and chapel will also provide the “We hope to rotate coverage so the world can change. warmth and joy of the true Adthere every hour or so, so our guys “We always keep Christ as vent/Christmas season. won’t freeze out there,” Father the primary focus of the festival.

“At least 80 percent of our lights Brown added with a laugh.

For some people, this is the only are now LED, and that makes a On December 1 in Attleboro, religious thing they will do during huge difference in energy conTurn to page 20

Voice of the Faithful releases report on diocesan financial transparency; Fall River Diocese ranks among 15 most improved from 2017

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

FALL RIVER — Voice of the Faithful, a Catholic watchdog group, recently released its 2018 review that assesses and ranks the financial transparency of dioceses and archdioceses throughout the United States.

The Fall River Diocese ranked eighth among the top 15 most improved dioceses, having received an overall score of 22 out of 60 points last year to a muchimproved 43 out of 60 this year.

“That we have made the progress that we want to make is a recognition that our efforts are going in the right direction,” Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., told The Anchor.

“Financial disclosure and transparency is a must in this day and age — people expect no less than that.”

VOTF’s annual review consists of a 10-question worksheet that touches on several areas of financial accountability and transparency. The same questions were used to review the U.S. dioceses in 2017. They were developed by a committee composed of VOTF officers and members, several of whom possess lifelong experience in the fields of accounting and finance.

Special emphasis was given to making the questions as objective as possible in order to minimize the role of personal opinion. Each question had a point value between five and 15 points, with the maximum total score being 60.

“I’m happy to know that

we have made that progress, but I know we’re not there yet,” Bishop da Cunha said.

“We still have a lot more work to do and a lot more progress to make, and we’ll continue working on it so that we can eventually reach the top of the mountain.”

According to Dennis Kelly, vice chairman of the diocesan finance council, transparency has been one of the primary goals for Kevin R. Kiley since he became the chancellor and chief financial officer for the diocese.

“It was clear when he came in that the marching orders were to work toward transparency and the bishop also expressed his desire to be more transparent,” Kelly told The Anchor.

“Over the last few years, we’ve worked toward that end and it shows in the results. The results are still not where we want to be, but hopefully what we’ll see is that score going forward will actually improve.”

This year, the Fall River Diocese received perfect scores on the first five questions in the survey: — Question 1: Can any financial data be found within a few to several minutes? (5/5 points); — Question 2: Is there a workable internal “search” function? (5/5 points); — Questions 3 and 4: Are audited financial statements posted? Is financial information reported in another format (booklet, etc.)? (15/15 points); — Question 5: Is the Annual Appeal’s purpose explained somewhere on the (diocesan) website, and/or is it reported on the financial statements? (5/5

points).

For Question 6, which asked if the annual parish assessment was explained somewhere on the website and/or was reported on the financial statements, the diocese only received 5/10 points.

Question 7, asking if contact information for the business office was posted, earned only 3 out of 5 points.

But Question 8, which asked if the diocesan finance council was clearly identified under Canon 492 of the Code of Canon Law, earned the diocese another perfect 5/5 score.

The area in which the diocese seems to still be lacking is in reporting of weekly parish collections, which fall under Questions 9 and 10.

Question 9 asks if the parish financial guidelines are posted (5 points), and Question 10 asks if detailed collections and counting procedures are posted (10 points). Fall River scored 0 on both final questions.

“We know last year our score was so low, we were brought considerably higher because we were so low,” Bishop da Cunha said.

“That’s a little consolation, but it’s not something to be Turn to page 10

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

The Anchor - November 16, 2018

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Bishop to present Marian Medal awards to diocesan faithful Sunday

FALL RIVER — Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., will award the diocesan Marian Medal to 73 laypersons from parishes throughout the Fall River Diocese ATTLEBORO DEANERY

on November 18 at 3 p.m. in the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, 327 Second Street in Fall River.

First presented in 1968, the

annual award recognizes members of diocesan parishes for their dedicated service to the Church.

Recipients are nominated for the award by their pastor.

Made of sterling silver, the Marian Medal is embossed with a Miraculous Medal on one side and the Fall River Diocese coatof-arms on the other.

NEW BEDFORD DEANERY José Acevedo St. Vincent de Paul Parish Attleboro

Elizabeth Johnston St. Mary’s Parish Mansfield Ana Aldarondo St. Anthony of Padua Parish New Bedford Anthony J. Karpinski Jr. St. Mark’s Parish Attleboro Falls Antonio Baganha Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish New Bedford Helen Keough Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish Seekonk Lawrence Bizarro St. Mary’s Parish Fairhaven Corrine Lupoli-Joyce Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Seekonk Paul Foster St. Joseph Parish Fairhaven Jeanne MacDonald St. John the Evangelist Parish Attleboro Suzanne Gent St. Joseph-St. Therese Parish New Bedford Herbert McEvoy Sacred Heart Parish North Attleboro Patricia Grenda St. Patrick’s Parish Wareham Laura Vergow St. Mary’s Parish Norton Rosalina Jovel Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish New Bedford John Vigorito St. Mary’s Parish North Attleboro John Laronda Jr. St. John Neumann Parish East Freetown Mary Irene Vincent St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish South Attleboro Catherine Levine St. Anthony Parish Mattapoisett

Cidalia Lopes Our Lady of the Assumption Parish New Bedford CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS DEANERY Michael McCormack St. Mary’s Parish New Bedford

Michael K. McDermott Our Lady of Fatima Parish New Bedford Paul Carney St. Elizabeth Seton Parish North Falmouth Anne Medeiros St. Francis Xavier Parish Acushnet Lisa Chalke Corpus Christi Parish East Sandwich William O’Neil St. Julie Billart Parish North Dartmouth Jean Clark St. Joan of Arc Parish Orleans Joseph E. Paiva St. Rita Parish Marion Fran Coco St. Peter the Apostle Parish Provincetown Dorothy Roncka Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish New Bedford Barbara Cormier Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Wellfleet Harriet Servais St. Lawrence Martyr Parish New Bedford Jovina Santos Dean St. Margaret’s Parish Buzzards Bay Theresa Marie Souza St. Francis Assisi Parish New Bedford Valerio L. Destefani Good Shepherd Parish Vineyard Haven Edward Souza Immaculate Conception Parish New Bedford Michael J. Donly St. Anthony’s Parish East Falmouth Carol Sylvia St. Mary’s Parish South Dartmouth Hugh Drummond Holy Trinity Parish West Harwich Sharon Vieira Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish John Fuller St. Patrick’s Parish Falmouth

New Bedford James Hines Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Osterville

Anne Fusco Lemaitre Our Lady of the Cape Parish Brewster TAUNTON DEANERY James Livingston Christ the King Parish Mashpee

Barbara Murphy Our Lady of Victory Parish Centerville Lois M. Achtelik St. Nicholas of Myra Parish North Dighton George Pereira St. John the Evangelist Parish Pocasset Kathleen A. Bendixen Immaculate Conception Parish North Easton Dorothy R. Scarlett St. Pius X Parish South Yarmouth Kevin Brennan Holy Cross Parish South Easton Erik Wendelken St. Mary-Our Lady of the Isle Parish Nantucket Jean Desrosiers St. Jude the Apostle Parish Taunton Monica Wieting Holy Redeemer Parish Chatham Kathleen Duarte St. Andrew the Apostle Parish Taunton

Gabriel Leitao Holy Rosary Taunton FALL RIVER DEANERY

Brazilian Apostolate Taunton

Jeannette Marie Paige Annunciation of the Lord Parish Raynham Maria Helena Botelho Santo Christo Parish Fall River Thomas P. Quinn Holy Family Parish East Taunton Antonio Branco St. Bernard’s Parish Assonet Beverly Vargas St. Ann’s Parish Taunton Daniel Cunha St. George’s Parish Westport Paul Doiron Holy Name Parish Fall River Patrick Fingliss St. Patrick’s Parish Somerset Alice Garvin St. Louis de France Parish Somerset Joyce Elizabeth Gendreau St. Dominic’s Parish Swansea Jan J. Grygiel St. Stanislaus Parish Fall River Rita Guidotti St. Joseph Parish Fall River Augustine Medeiros St. Anne’s Parish Fall River Anne Marie Menard St. Thomas More Parish Somerset Manuel Miranda St. Francis of Assisi Parish Swansea Helena Pacheco Espirito Santo Parish Fall River Aida Reis Good Shepherd Parish Fall River Monique Robinette Holy Trinity Parish Fall River Jose Sobrinho St. Mary’s Cathedral Parish Fall River Donatilde Sousa St. Michael’s Parish Fall River Auracelia Souza Our Lady of Grace Parish Westport Urania Tabicas St. Anthony of Padua Parish Fall River Carlos Tavares St. John of God Parish Somerset Robert Tripp St. John the Baptist Parish Westport

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The Anchor - November 16, 2018

The annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection will be held December 8-9 in the Diocese of Fall River. Coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office in Washington, the appeal benefits 31,000 elderly Catholic Sisters, Brothers and religious order priests.

The Diocese of Fall River donated $129,634.98 to the last collection. In 2018, the Congregation of

National appeal supports elderly Catholic Sisters, Brothers and religious order priests

the Sacred Hearts, whose central house is located in the diocese, received financial support made possible by the Retirement Fund for Religious. Almost 94 percent of donations aid senior religious and their communities, with the remaining funds used for administration and promotion of the national appeal.

The 2017 collection raised just more than $28

million, and the NRRO disbursed $25 million to 360 religious communities for the direct care of elderly members. Communities combine these funds with their own income and savings to help furnish necessities such as medications and nursing care. Throughout the year, additional funding is allocated for congregations with critical needs and for retirement planning and

educational resources.

Religious communities apply annually for financial support from the national collection, and distributions are sent to each eligible community’s central house. Although women and men religious often minister outside their home dioceses, they may benefit from the allocations disbursed to their individual orders.

“Donations to the Retirement Fund for Religious have a far-reaching impact,” said Presentation Sister Stephanie Still, the NRRO’s executive director.

“Most importantly, they help communities care for aging members, but they also underwrite initiatives aimed at addressing the underlying causes of the funding shortages.”

Religious orders are financially autonomous and thus responsible for the support of all members.

Traditionally, Catholic Sisters, Brothers, and religious order priests — known collectively as women and men religious — served for little to no pay. Today, hundreds of orders lack sufficient retirement savings. Of 547 communities providing data to the NRRO, only four percent

are adequately funded for retirement. Compounding the financial crisis are the rising cost of care and the increasing number of those needing care.

Catholic bishops of the United States initiated the national collection in 1988 to help address the deficit in retirement funding among U.S. religious communities. Since the collection was launched, U.S. Catholics have donated $844 million to the appeal, helping many communities stabilize their retirement outlook.

“We are overwhelmed by the ongoing generosity toward the annual appeal and by the love and thanksgiving for the service of our elder religious,” said Sister Still. “Our office is committed to stewarding these funds in ways that help religious communities care for older members while continuing to serve the People of God.” Visit retiredreligious.org to learn more.

The Anchor - November 16, 2018

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Anchor Editorial

Our pilgrimage

The people we know as the Pilgrims did not have that title when they first left Europe. They later acquired that name when people read in the journal of the second governor of Plymouth Colony, William Bradford, his description of their departure from the Netherlands for America. He wrote, “With mutual embraces and many tears, they took their leaves of one another, which proved to be the last leave to many of them — but they knew they were pilgrims and looked not much on those things, but lifted their eyes to Heaven, their dearest country and quieted their spirits.”

Governor Bradford was alluding to Hebrews 11:13-16, which described our Hebrew ancestors, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Jacob.

“All these died in faith. They did not receive what had been promised but saw it and greeted it from afar and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth, for those who speak thus show that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land from which they had come, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better homeland, a Heavenly one.”

The Pilgrims left Europe because they wished to worship God as their consciences dictated. They had rejected the Church of England because they thought it was too Catholic (although Catholicism was still being persecuted by the English government). Unfortunately, the corruption of many Catholics of that day pushed many people to embrace other religions. At least back then people sought to worship God, even outside of the Catholic Church. The greater tragedy today is that the bad example we Catholics give causes many people to embrace atheism (either formally or practically). As Jesus said in this past Monday’s Gospel: “[W ]oe to the person [who leads others to sin]. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.”

Bradford described (in the old English of his day) the Spiritual reaction of the Pilgrims upon their initial arrival at Cape Cod. “Being thus arived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees & blessed ye God of Heaven, Who had brought them over ye vast & furious ocean, and delivered them from all ye periles & miseries therof, againe to set their feete on ye firme and stable earth, their proper elemente.” For centuries since then, many of our ancestors (and even of some of our readers, who are OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER www.anchornews.org

Vol. 62, No. 23

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 $25.00 per year, for U.S. addresses.

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The Anchor - November 16, 2018

immigrants themselves) have reacted in similar ways to their own arrivals here, with the important exceptions of Native Americans, who were already here and for whom the arrival of Europeans was a catastrophe, and of African-Americans, who were cruelly brought here as slaves. They did not react with gratitude, but with horror.

However, they can teach the rest of us a lot about trusting in God when everything seems hopeless.

Bradford also discussed the faith life of the Pilgrims once they had settled Plymouth and their dependence upon the Almighty.

“What could not sustaine them but ye spirite of God & His grace?

May not & ought not the children of these fathers rightly say: Our faithers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this willdernes; but they cried unto ye Lord, and He heard their voyce, and looked on their adversitie, &c. Let them therfore praise ye Lord, because He is good, & His mercies endure for ever.”

Bradford was invoking Psalm 107, which begins, “O give thanks to the Lord for He is good; for His love endures forever.” He and his fellow Pilgrims had already lived through verses 23 to 28 of that psalm: “Some went off to sea in ships, plied their trade on the deep waters. They saw the works of the Lord, the wonders of God in the deep. He commanded and roused a storm wind; it tossed the waves on high. They reeled, their skill was of no avail. In their distress they cried to the Lord, Who brought them out of their peril.”

The Lord brings us out of our peril. That does not mean that God will always make life easy for us. He never promised us that. What He did promise is that if we take up our crosses and follow Him, we can obtain eternal life. The Pilgrims understood this.

As we’re about to celebrate Thanksgiving, we should be mindful of the countless blessings God has given us, as individuals and as a community (as members of the community of the Church and as members of our local communities and nation). There is a lot more that needs to be done to conform ourselves, individually and communally to Christ. An incredible amount more. Our gratitude should move us to contemplation (time for prayer, on Thanksgiving Day and every day) and to action (striving to love God with our entire being and our neighbors as ourselves, on the holiday and always). God is always ready to help us get back on the pilgrimage route to His Kingdom.

Daily Readings Nov. 17 – Nov. 30

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Nov. 17, 3 Jn 5-8; Ps 112:1-6; Lk 18: 1-8. Sun. Nov. 18, Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Dn 12:1-3; Ps 16:5,8-11; Heb 10:11-14,18; Mk 13:24-32. Mon. Nov. 19, Rv 1:1-4; 2:1-5; Ps 1:1-4,6; Lk 18:3543. Tues. Nov. 20, Rv 3:1-6,14-22; Ps 15:2-5; Lk 19:1-10. Wed. Nov. 21, Rv 4:1-11; Ps 150:1-6; Lk 19:11-28. Thurs. Nov. 22, Thanksgiving Day, Rv 5:1-10; Ps 149:1-6,9; Lk 19:41-44. Proper Mass in Thanksgiving to God, Sir 50:22-24; Ps 138:1-5; 1 Cor 1:3-9; Lk 17:11-19. Fri. Nov. 23, Rv 10:8-11; Ps 119:14,24,72, 103,111,131; Lk 19:45-48.

Sat. Nov. 24, Rv 11:4-12; Ps 144:1-2,9-10; Lk 20:27-40. Sun. Nov. 25, Christ the King, Dn 7:13-14; Ps 93:1-2,5; Rv 1:5-8; Jn 18:33b-37. Mon. Nov. 26, Rv 14:1-3,4b-5; Ps 24:1-6; Lk 21:1-4. Tues. Nov. 27, Rv 14:14-19; Ps 96:10-13; Lk 21:5-11. Wed. Nov. 28, Rv 15:1-4; Ps 98:1-3,7-9; Lk 21:12-19. Thurs. Nov. 29, Rv 18:1-2,21-23; 19:1-3,9a; Ps 100:1b-5; Lk 21:20-28. Fri. Nov. 30, Rom 10:918; Ps 19:2-5; Mt 4:18-22.

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he bishops of the United States are in Baltimore this week for their annual fall meeting, but this year’s reunion is anything but routine. It will be focused fundamentally, with prayer, penance, and deliberation, on the response to the new wave of sexual abuse scandals, focusing in particular on how bishops need to be a crucial part of the solution rather than a pivotal part of the problem.

Most of the U.S. bishops seem to be firmly resolved to create structures to hold bishops accountable not only for their personal conduct but for their leadership with regard to sexual misconduct, even though the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops asked the U.S. Bishops to hold off on concrete decisions until a February summit on clergy sexual abuse in the Vatican for heads of national and regional bishops’ conferences with Pope Francis.

Such efforts and structures are not only proper and long overdue, but are essential for the arduous reestablishment of the credibility of their office and of their personal trustworthiness as disciples of Jesus Christ and successors of the Apostles.

Whereas bishops were once presumed by Catholics and non-Catholics alike to be men of God, chosen only after a thorough process because they were exemplary priests with superb leadership skills, now bishops are in a situation in which many prejudicially assume they’re corrupt and incompetent in one way or many until they prove the opposite.

This is, of course, grossly unfair, because most of the U.S. bishops today are prayerful, good shepherds, paying dearly for the sins of omission and commission of some of their predecessors.

But their individual and collective suffering is doubtless part of the ecclesial repara-

The paradigm for bishop-led Church reform St. Charles Borromeo, the tion that has to happen and 16th-century reformer of the that bishops above all must Archdiocese of Milan and lead. the Church Universal after Regardless of what they the terrible sins, scandal and may have thought awaited disarray that precipitated the them when they received episcopal ordination, bishops Protestant Reformation.

Here’s what he faced. The today to be effective, reading sprawling Archdiocese of the signs of the times, have no choice but to be true and Milan hadn’t had a resident bishop for 80 years. Many thorough reformers. They priests lived with concubines can’t merely be good priests with a Sacramental upgrade. stolen from the married men They can’t just be competent of their parish, thought they were exempt from Confesmanagers and institutional maintenance men. They can’t sion, and didn’t even know be amiable and personally pious clerics who are intimidated Putting Into before the wolves.

They can’t be great the Deep evangelists who have no time for good govBy Father ernance and problem Roger J. Landry solving.

The new conditions of the episcopacy today the formula of absolution to confess others. One convent after the scandals require of religious women was so that bishops be saintly reformers. Reformers are not debauched that the nuns were simply called prostipassive men. They are not tutes. Several orders of men naïve, excuse makers. They were depraved to the point are bold and prudent probthat one tried to assassinate lem attackers, strong fathers him while he was praying. intent on defending their “If you want to go to hell,” family against danger. They one popular saying intoned, live with a patient urgency. “become a priest.” CorrupLike Jesus they have a zeal for their Father’s house with tion of morals was ubiquitous. Needless to say, he had the courage to confront a challenging assignment. money-changers or anyone As Msgr. John Cihak else turning God’s Church into a place of manipulation points out in the first sentence of a great and much and sin. They can’t wait for needed new book, “Charles the fire Jesus came to light Borromeo: Selected Oraon the earth to burn away tions, Homilies and Writwhatever is unfit for the ings,” “Charles Borromeo Kingdom and to renew the face of the Church and earth. should have been part of the problem.” He was appointed For those looking for nepotistically as a cardinal models, there are many to at the age of 22 by his uncle choose from: Ignatius of Pope Pius IV, given a slew of Antioch, Ireneus of Lyons, benefices, and made the de Hilary of Poitiers, Athanasius, Chrysostom, Augustine, facto secretary of state — all Leo, Gregory, Peter Damian, while not even being orBellarmine, Francis de Sales, dained — but instead God used him to be the point Alphonsus and many of the man to finish the Council of intrepidly heroic prelates of the faith of the 20th century Trent, implement its decrees, publish its Catechism, under persecution. But I think the greatest reforming reform Liturgy and Liturgical music and so much more. bishop and model of all is

When his uncle died, moved by pastoral zeal, he was able to persuade St. Pius =][ to allow him to go to Milan to serve the archdiocese.

When he arrived, he wasted no time.

He reformed the bishops of the province with various Provincial Councils to implement the decrees of the Council of Trent, because he recognized that if one diocese were faithful and another unfaithful, the people would rightly be confused.

He reformed the clergy, arranging for retreats and appealing to wayward clerics to repent and “be who you were promised to be.” If they refused his tender entreaties, he removed and replaced them, because their sinful and scandalous behavior was an obvious impediment to reform.

He reformed the lax religious orders, sometimes with the help of the pope, sometimes with the help of civil governments.

He reformed seminary formation. Prior it was done by means of apprenticeship with other priests. He formed seminaries to ensure that future priests would be properly and adequately formed by some of the best priests he could find.

He reformed parishes, traveling throughout his extensive diocese to get to know his priests and people and correcting abuses wherever he found them.

He reformed the laity, especially corrupt civil officials, whom he first met with privately, but if they refused to convert, he went public and denounced their behavior for the scandal it was.

He taught Catechism himself and formed the first Catholic “Sunday School” system, requiring priests to teach, so that all the faithful would learn the faith.

He excelled in charity, liquidating his personal fortune and so many possessions of the archdiocese to care for the poor, especially during the famine of 1571 and the plague of 1576, when he fed 70,000 a day.

But most of all he reformed himself. He fasted, used traditional instruments of mortification, and limited his sleep to four hours a night. If he was going to lead a reform of the Church from within, he himself needed to be constantly conformed to Christ. He was able to hold others to the accountability of the faith by his example and not just his words.

None of the reforms he led is particularly surprising. One didn’t have to be a genius to identify what the problems were. What distinguished him was that with total resolve he dedicated himself to addressing rather than ducking the problems.

He did so at the same time that he stressed not merely what Christian faith and morals oppose, but the good news they affirm, so that people would learn the great yes of faith.

And he did all of this before he died at the age of 46.

During the Second Vatican Council, St. Paul VI decreed that his 12 orations to brother bishops and various of his sermons to priests be published and sent to all the bishops of the world. They contained, Paul thought, the principles and paradigms of ecclesial reform in every age.

Msgr. Cihak’s book translates many of them into English for the first time.

They deserve to be read by all bishops today, and by everyone who loves the Church and is praying, fasting, and working to see her reformed anew.

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

The Anchor - November 16, 2018

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T

he Church calendar is coming to a close, and what a year it has been! In the past month alone there has been a flurry of activity in the higher echelon of the Church, with countless expressions of condemnation, prevarication, anger, sorrow, and frustration flowing almost daily through every media outlet known to humanity. The end of the Liturgical year is filled with apocalyptic warnings of end times and final judgment, how fitting. Yet even in the face of utter disaster, we remain ever hopeful. We can’t help it; it’s in our Christian DNA. A spark of hope smolders in the aftermath of the Synod on Young

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Signs of the times People, the Faith and the process that brought Vocational Discernment these groups into converthat took place during sation may have a lasting the month of October impact on the future of in Rome. Many saw this the Church. gathering as an opportuBack in 2013, soon nity to evangelize those after Pope Francis was young people who have left the Catholic Church or who have no affiliation with The Great organized reliCommission gion. Judging by

By Claire McManus the final summary of the meeting that has begun to circulate, this gathering elected, he proposed an allowed for a frank and ambitious reform of the open discussion about way the Church was govthe issues that keep the erned. He wanted to govyoung away from the ern in collegiality with Church. It isn’t that the bishops of the local the content of the diachurches, always respectlogue between the young ing their autonomy. Pope people and the bishops Francis also wanted a was so surprising, but “synodotal” Church. Synods are familiar to most people in the Church, but synodality goes further.

A synod is an assembly of Church officials who meet on a particular issue and advise the pope on how he should act. Synodality describes a process in which people in the local Church participate in the governance of the Universal Church. This synod, with participation by many young adults and more than 30 women, had all the makings of a synodal moment for our Church. To be clear, the lay people were collaborators and observers, but had no vote on the final proposals sent to Pope Francis. However, the final document of the synod was rife with the language of cooperation between the laity and the clergy, calling for a participatory and co-responsible Church. “Animated

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by the Spirit, we can proceed towards a participatory and co-responsible Church, gratefully receiving the contribution of the lay faithful, including young people and women, those in consecrated life, and those members of groups, associations and movements. Nobody must be put aside.

This is the way to avoid clericalism, which excludes many people from the decision-making process.”

The laity’s role in decision-making in the Church has never been obvious, and often was wrapped in the vagaries of sensus f idelium, the sense of the faithful. The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” defines this as a supernatural consent on faith and morals, but synodality seems to be much more concrete. For example, the synod is calling for more shared responsibility in parishes.

“Pastoral rethinking of the parish needs to be developed with synergy in its territory, in a logic of ecclesial co-responsibility and of missionary zeal.” The synod also called for training in the skills of collaborative ministry and teamwork for lay people and seminarians.

Involving the laity in the governance of the Church is not a 21stcentury innovation or a misplaced longing for democracy. When it comes to the Church, what seems new and innovative is usually a reemergence of ancient practices, as noted by the

synod. “From the beginning the Church did not have a rigid and homologous form, but it was developed as a polyhedron of people with different sensibilities, backgrounds and cultures.”

This recognition of the role of the laity comes at a critical time for the Church. Faced with the necessity to reform the way the Church handles the cover-up of abusive priests, the U.S. Bishops Conference has already set as its agenda a process of accountability that must include “substantial involvement of the laity,” particularly in areas of investigation, law enforcement, psychology, and other relevant disciplines. The bishops are walking on the solid ground of canon law if they act on this instinct to call upon the laity for help. “The Christian faithful have the right and even the duty to manifest to the Sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church” [Canon 212.3].

Scripture readings during the final weeks of this Liturgical year remind us to read the signs of the times. The Synod on Young People wants to awaken in all of the Church the awareness that we are God’s people, “responsible for incarnating the Gospel in different contexts and within all daily situations.” The door has been opened a crack; it’s our time to step in and step up.

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

New Christmas tradition spreading throughout the world is coming to St. Mary’s Parish in New Bedford November 30

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” ( Jn 8:12).

Would you believe that light has substance? Who isn’t able to sit quietly and watch a candle burn? As we gaze into it we plunge to infinite depths. We find shadows, warmth, solitude and calm. Our minds weave among calming thoughts — most often thoughts of peace — a peace which as different to everyone else as it is to ourselves the next moment we find it. One of the most telling thoughts someone ever had was that, “Peace is silence in a chaotic swirl of activity of our world.”

The Peace Light from Bethlehem program was originally developed by the Austrian Broadcasting Company and was part of a large charitable relief mission for children in need called Light into Darkness. Each year, a child from Upper Austria kindles a flame at the “Eternal Flame” in the Nativity Grotto in Bethlehem where Jesus was born.

This light is then flown to Austria from where it is distributed at a Service of Dedication to delegations from across Europe who carry it with a message of peace to their own countries. In past years the light has been presented to St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, Mikhail Gorbachev, the late King Hussein of Jordan and to Ground Zero, New York.

And how fitting that this new tradition of the Light of Peace started in Upper Austria — the same place that “Silent Night” was penned.

For 2018 the Bethlehem Peace Light distribution will take place at the conclusion of the 7 p.m. Advent Service at St. Mary’s Parish, 343 Tarkiln Hill Road, New Bedford on Friday, November 30.

Barbara Bonville, director of St. Mary’s Spiritual Life Team, stated, “We gladly pass on the Bethlehem Light as a sign of our enthusiasm of spreading the tidings of peace. The service is to proclaim the beginning of journey, one which begins with peace within ourselves and our families and hopefully brings peace in the world.

Everyone who came to our distribution last year went away with a profound sense of wonder and awe that they actually held a candle burning with the flame from the place where Jesus was born. We sincerely hope that everyone, Christian and nonChristian, understands the power the flame has to bring us peace.”

Individuals, churches or organizations who wish to obtain the Light on November 30 should bring a small kerosene lantern (which may be safely transported). Sevenday candles may often be purchased at many area supermarkets and candles will also be available at the Advent Service which, even after being extinguished, are “suffused” with the Peace Light and may

later be relighted at home.

The Bethlehem Peace Light provides a powerful message when displayed at home or presented as a gift of love to family and friends.

Many churches of the Christian faith share the Peace Light during ecumenical services and use the flame to light the candles on their Advent wreaths, pass the flame from person to person during candlelight services, present the flame to the community at tree lighting events and deliver the flame to shut-ins and those who have experienced loss, illness and hardships.

Many churches, such as the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, maintain the Peace Light flame yearround, using the flame to ignite Tabernacle, baptismal candles and votive lamps.

The “Light of Peace” or “Bethlehem Light” can be used to light candles throughout the household for Advent and for Christmas celebrations such as family grace before Christmas meal. Individuals and families, with the following words of the prayer, will share the Peace Light flame with neighbors, relatives and friends near and far, challenging each recipient to become a channel of peace through his and her words and actions. It is not uncom-

mon, while holding the newly-lit candles, to have those gathered sing “Silent Night.”

May the kindly Spirit of Christmas spread its radiance far and wide, So all the world may feel the glow, of this Holy Christmastide.

So may this light of peace today, that has travelled so many miles, Bring joy and hope to many, and fill each face with smiles.

So may every heart and home continue, through the

year, To feel the warmth and wonder of this season of good cheer.

And may it bring us closer to God and to each other, With every stranger known as friend, whether sister or brother.

Organizations and churches who wish to obtain their own Peace Light should contact SLT member Michael McCormack at mikemccormack@comcast. net or director Barbara Bonville at bbonville@ Stmarysnb.com.

www.anchornews.org The Anchor - November 16, 2018

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Dropping anchor in a liquid society

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n the Q&A period following a recent talk given at Notre Dame, renowned philosopher Alisdair MacIntyre mentioned a troubling arc in his conversations with students over the span of a long teaching career.

Initially, when getting to know the students who came to his office, he asked where they came from, and he would receive long explanations in story form explaining their family background.

As the decades passed, the stories became increasingly shorter until they could be answered in a single word: “Miami, or Pittsburgh, or wherever it was.” Since he retired some time ago, he demurred in believing that, today, even a town would suffice to explain one’s background, suggesting rather that young people would be more defined by their cell phones.

While he was certainly playing for effect, the possibility is troubling.

How do members of and love. the upcoming generaOnce upon a time, a tion describe themselves? dominant culture would How do they form provide that sense of betheir ideas, their values, longing, but our country and their world views? has a long history of prizWhile adolescents have ing individuality above always pushed back on conformity, and now firmtheir families’ values as ly champions the vague they tested the waters of idol of “diversity” as a way independence, parents of life. Unfortunately, in today increasingly find their input in competiThe tion with that of Feminine total strangers Genius at younger and younger ages.

By Genevieve Kineke This is not meant to be a screed against screens, for they are such a setting, myriad ever with us — even the individual identities lean schools have found them towards becoming little invaluable in teaching and hot-houses of variety, tracking outcomes. What rejecting an understandwe do need to consider ing of authentic culture, is what we are doing to which alone can sustain, create healthy networks of enrich, and grow — for human relationships, so each new sprig is encourthat our children are not aged to define himself stray electrons looking for apart from the root plant. a charge, but well-conCulture at best has been nected persons strengthreduced to recipes and ened by bonds of meaning rituals, shared as oddities

or private remembrances stripped of their deeper context or value.

Since parents today are launching children into what is being described as a “liquid culture,” we must reflect deeply about our values, and prioritize teaching what is good and true to the younger members of our families — not just what we find interesting, attractive, or amusing. Those things certainly have their place in a family culture, but it is urgent that we effectively transmit that which is most meaningful and of lasting value. Why do you live where you live and who came before you? Why do you choose as you choose and who inspired you? And especially in this month dedicated to the Holy Souls, what do we know about previous generations of our families and what were their

Report on diocesan financial transparency shows Fall River Diocese much improved continued from page three

comfortable with because we were so far behind. Any progress we make is good, but we now know the criteria that they use to evaluate (the diocese), so we can work to improve on those different items and different points.”

“We’re anticipating that the score will go up (next year),” Kelly agreed. “Our goal is not just to answer those 10 questions, but to answer any other questions that (people) might have and to put our financial house in order. A lot of progress has been made in a very short period of time, it’s going where the bishop would like to see it go, but 10

we still have some work to do.”

In the wake of ongoing revelations about the clerical sexual abuse crisis, VOTF feels genuine financial transparency is an essential step in rebuilding the trust of U.S. Catholics in our bishops. Some bishops have made a public commitment to financial transparency, while others reveal almost nothing about the financial operations of their dioceses. This report is one tool in the hands of faithful Catholic laity who want to understand how their donations are being used, to help them exercise good stewardship of the

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gifts God has given them.

In the absence of clear and accessible financial reports, certified by audits, as well as properly implemented collection and reporting protocols, the funds donated by the members of a diocese are susceptible to fraudulent diversion by clergy or by laity. Guarding against such diversion and misuse is a responsibility of all the faithful, not just the pastors or bishops.

“It takes time,” Kelly said. “It’s something that just can’t be done overnight, but it shows how much progress has already been made and hopefully at the end of the day we’re not

going to be too far down the road where we have a 60 score.”

“I hear a lot from people, especially now with the situation with St. Anne’s Church and with the sexual (abuse) crisis, that transparency is a must,” Bishop da Cunha agreed. “If we want to continue to engage the people as I’ve been trying to do, we have to be transparent in every way — not just finances. And that’s the way we’re going to get people to respond to our efforts and to want to be part of the mission. If they don’t know what’s happening, it’s harder to get them engaged in the process.”

virtues, their dreams, and their highest hopes?

Wouldn’t these questions make for interesting conversations in the holiday meals to come?

Sharing family stories, digging into the ancient lore, honestly discussing the choices made by others — not as gossip or criticism, but as an honest inquiry into what helps a family flourish and what causes pain — brings valuable information down to the next generation. Rather than immersing ourselves in celebrity escapades, we must encourage the younger members of our family to know their own personal history, and understand that these human ties are integral to their identity.

Often, so much emphasis is placed on providing our children with “wings” that we forget the value of “anchors.”

As Catholics, of course, our families should be anchored in the saints as well — those whose choices are the most enlightening. For the ultimate answer to “Where do you come from?” is God, and all culture is meant to illustrate the wonder of our Divine Origin and beat a path back to Him in the end. Families, ultimately, should facilitate that journey by limiting the aimless drift, and by helping each member to find his identity in his Heavenly home — a task best done faceto-face in an authentic communion of love. Call on those saints to help!

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

Sunday 11 November 2018 — Homeport: Falmouth Harbor — Veteran’s Day. ife hacks” are just common sense ways to save time and effort. I suspect the first life hack was invented by Adam or Eve, although I have no Biblical proof.

Everyone uses life hacks. Priests are no exception. And so, dear readers, in the service of priests everywhere, I will now share some life hacks in the hope of making their lives a little less stressful.

Priests wear black socks. Ever try to sort dozens of individual black socks? They’re all the same color, sure, but they can have subtle black-on-black designs woven into the fabric.

This can result in hours of frustration. The solution is to buy a decade’s worth of socks at the same time, in the same store, and from the same shelf. Each of your socks will now match all of your other socks.

Priests often eat takeout food these days. The problem (besides the calories) is that the food tends to cool off before you get back to the rectory. Sure, you can use the microwave when you get home, but it doesn’t work with some takeouts. There’s nothing more unappetizing than microwaved pizza. Well, chicken fingers are probably worse. The solution is to make sure your next vehicle has heated seats.

Just warm up the passenger’s seat before you pick up your meal. It functions as a built-in food warmer.

I was taught this life hack by Bishop Daniel

“L

Life hacks for priests Cronin: Never throw of snacks go stale too away a single scrap of quickly? Close them with your pulpit notes. Keep a clamp-style clothespin. them on file and, in the Father Frank Wallace future, they will help you taught me this. see how your thinking Can’t get enough grip has evolved on a particu- to open a jar of Trappist lar Bible passage. That preserves? Use duct tape will improve your current preaching.

As soon as you The Ship’s Log move into a recReflections of a tory, locate the Parish Priest gas, electric, furnace, and water

By Father Tim shutoffs. Father Goldrick Ray Cambra shared this hack with me. around the edge of the When doing your lid. laundry, learn how to fold Open those impossibly clothes correctly in order sealed hard plastic packto avoid wrinkles. If you ages by using a handheld skipped that course in can opener. the seminary, there are Is your church/rectory/ instructions online. Once parish hall key ring huge you’ve learned how to and confusing? Mark improperly fold a fitted portant keys with a difbed sheet, you will have ferent color nail polish. earned your doctorate in Color code the lock with laundry folding. a dab of the same color.

Only buy trash cans Urgent messages to the with built-in wheels. church office going to This is much easier than voicemail? Add “In case having to drag leaking of emergency, press #1” plastic trash bags across and have the call imthe church parking lot. mediately transferred to Father Joe Powers taught your mobile device. Not me this. all “emergency” calls you If you can’t figure out receive will be urgent, but your computer, ask a at least you will receive 10-year-old. important ones.

Put a black ink carKeep a copy of “Rites tridge in a red pen. for Christian Burial” in Nobody ever steals a red your automobile. Father pen.

Marc Bergeron taught Need to get up early me this. That way you alto prepare your mornways have handy a prayer ing homily but the alarm book for vigil and gravedoesn’t always wake you? side services.

Put the device in an Leave time between empty glass container on back-to-back meetings or your night stand. That appointments so that you will increase the volume. can refocus.

Heating up your supLeave at least two per in the microwave? hours between church Push the food aside to services so that one conform a hole at the center gregation can clear the of the plate. The food parking lot before the will heat more evenly. next arrives. This avoids Do your opened bags fisticuffs in the church

parking lot.

Got an annoying paper-cut opening Chancery mail? Use Chapstick on the wound. Works like a charm.

When wearing your black suit, the lowest button should be left unfastened at all times. The center button should be kept fastened at all times. If there’s a third button above that, do with it whatever you want.

A Roman-style cassock has more than 20 buttons down the front (though I’m always missing a few). No need to unbutton them all. Just unfasten enough so that you can get out of the thing. Either that or wear a Jesuit-style cassock (no

buttons).

Are the inaccessible crevices and intricate carvings of the church statuary storing a hundred years of dust? Use a can of compressed air (available at any computer store).

There is a product called Tarn-X on the market. It’s non-abrasive and great for use on silver and gold Sacred vessels.

No polishing needed.

Lastly, once having returned to the Sacristy after celebrating Holy Mass, immediately set everything up for the next Mass. It saves lastminute hassle.

Happy hacking, brothers!

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

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hanksgiving is an awesome time of year. A time to take stock, at harvest season, of all the good things — family, friends, peace, prosperity — in our lives, and to be grateful to God and to others for them. And to recognize that even the things that are unpleasant or even physically or morally evil — like possible health issues, aging, the loss of loved ones due to death (November is also the month of remembering the faithful departed), the scourge of unemployment

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Grateful for everything

or underemployment, the Christ, and not in churchcurrent grave scandals in men. As Phil Lawler noted the Church, or the divisivein his excellent new book, ness and dysfunction in our “The Smoke of Satan,” quotpolitical life — are at least permitted by Judge God for our greater ultimate good. The For bad things are a Yourself constant opportunity to live a supernatuBy Dwight Duncan rally-grounded joy and to show greater love and forgiveness towards ing the great Frank Sheed, our neighbors, whoever they “’We are not baptized into may be. the hierarchy, do not receive Ultimately, of course, the cardinals Sacramentally, our faith is in God in Jesus will not spend eternity in

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the beatific vision of the pope. Christ is the point.’”

One of the great features of the Catholic Church is that we can receive valid Sacraments regardless of the personal worthiness of the minister.

And so we can receive Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist, be forgiven in His name in the confessional, be validly baptized and Confirmed, have our Marriages solemnly witnessed, and so forth, even if the priests are in a state of sin. And of course there are many Christians, priests among them, who are saints — canonized and not yet canonized but who could be or will be recognized as such in the future.

Even as to the pope, Cardinal Ratzinger said before he himself became Pope Benedict XVI, when asked in 1997 whether the Holy Spirit is responsible for who gets elected pope, said, “I would not say so, in the sense that the Holy Spirit picks out the pope. I would say that the Spirit does not exactly take control of the affair, but rather like a good educator, as it were, leaves us much space, much freedom, without entirely abandoning us. Thus the Spirit’s role should be understood in a much more elastic sense, not that He dictates the candidate for whom one must vote. Probably the only assurance He offers is that the thing cannot be totally ruined. There are too many contrary instances of popes

the Holy Spirit obviously would not have picked!” And to be honest, most if not all the popes of my lifetime either were canonized or could be canonized, unlike in other centuries of Church history.

As to the Church, we have Our Lord’s promise that He will be with us until the end of the world. And so He is, in so many ways: in the Blessed Sacrament, in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in valid absolution from our sins, in the poor, in the sick and those in prison.

All of this is ample reason for gratitude. But we need the eyes of supernatural faith, hope and charity to see beyond the sinfulness that mars Creation, while also atoning for our own sins and those of others. As my patron St. Josemaria Escriva said, when reciting the Creed, “I believe in the Holy Catholic Church, in spite of everything!” (meaning your sins and mine). We should be grateful that God is always forgiving if we are sorry, like the father in the parable of the Prodigal Son. He loves us too much to hold grudges.

Everything, even our sins, if repented of, can contribute to our becoming holy. To the extent that sins of Churchmen are finally coming to light, that too is a reason for thanksgiving and an opportunity for repentance. Deo gratias!

Anchor columnist Dwight Duncan is a professor at UMass School of Law Dartmouth. He holds degrees in civil and canon law.

The Fall River Diocese recently hosted a gathering of men and women religious at St. John Neumann Parish in East Freetown. Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., celebrated Mass with them, and jubilarians celebrating 75, 70, 65, 60, 50 and 25 years of religious life were recognized. It was a day of contemplative prayer, reflection, interactive exercises, celebration and thanksgiving.

Area religious men and women gather with bishop for day of thanksgiving, retreat and celebration of jubilarians EAST FREETOWN — At a recent gathering at St. John Neumann Parish, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., celebrated a Mass as part of a day of retreat, thanksgiving and celebration of special anniversaries of several religious order women and men serving in the Diocese of Fall River.

The jubilarians included: 75 years — Holy Union Sisters Patricia Mulryan and Virginia O’Hare, and Mercy Sister Jessica Aguiar; 70 years — Mercy Sisters Agnes M. Boneville, Barbara Hunt, Timothea Riley, and Zita M. Foley, and Dominican Sister Mary Jeanne Bauregard; 65 years — Holy Union Sisters Barbara Kirkman and Helen McPeak, and Mercy Sister Bernadetta Ryan; 60 years — Sacred Hearts Father Columban Gotty and La Salette Father Ernest Corriveau; 50 years — Sacred Hearts Fathers Albert Dagnoly and James McDonough; and 25 years — Dominican Sister Lorna Ann Riordan.

The celebration provided attendees a day for contemplative prayer, reflection, interactive exercises, and a time of nature on

the beautiful grounds on Long Pond in East Freetown, as they explored the journey of ecological conversion of their spirits for the planet that Pope Francis speaks of in “Laudato Si” — “In the Judaeo-Christian tradition, the word ‘creation’ has a broader meaning than ‘nature.’ Nature is usually seen as a system which can be studied, understood and controlled, whereas Creation can only be understood as a gift from the outstretched hand of the Father of all” (“LS” 76).

As part an the interactive exercise, the gathering journeyed through three moments: hearing Creation’s song; hearing Creation’s cry; and responding with hope and action.

The guest speaker was Christiana Leaño, associate director of the Global Catholic Climate Movement, a teacher of meditation, and a retreat and Spiritual director.

Following the day’s events, the anniversary presentations, and the celebration of Liturgy, those in attendance gathered for a meal.

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Cardinal DiNardo: Vatican directive came from Congregation for Bishops

Baltimore, Md. (CNA) — The directive not to vote on the proposals which had been expected to form the basis for the response of the Church in the U.S. to the sexual abuse crisis came from the Congregation for Bishops, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston recently said.

The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was speaking at the first press conference held at the bishops’ autumn General Assembly in Baltimore.

He indicated that the directive came not from Pope Francis, but directly from the Congregation for Bishops.

Bishop Christopher Coyne of Burlington, Vt.,

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who spoke at the press conference, told CNA that he did not know whether the American members of the congregation played a role in the decision.

The American members of the Congregation for Bishops are Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago, and Donald Wuerl, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington.

A source close to Cardinal Wuerl told CNA that he did not believe the cardinal had been involved in the decision.

Cardinal DiNardo had announced the decision earlier in the day to “a visibly surprised conference hall.”

Cardinal DiNardo said that the Holy See insisted

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that consideration of a code of conduct for bishops and a lay-led body to investigate bishops accused of misconduct be delayed until the conclusion of a special meeting called by Pope Francis for February.

Bishop Coyne told CNA that the bishops would also suspend their vote on estab-

lishing a third-party reporting system for complaints about episcopal conduct.

The Congregation for Bishops asked for the delay so that bishops around the world can be “on the same page,” and learning from each other, the bishops said.

The importance of further precision in canon law was

also raised.

Joining Cardinal DiNardo and Bishop Coyne at the press conference was Bishop Timothy Doherty of Lafayette in Indiana.

Cardinal DiNardo said he found Rome’s decision to be “quizzical,” and suspected the Congregation for Bishops thought the U.S. bishops might be moving too quickly.

“I’m wondering if they could turn the synodality back on us. My first reaction was, this didn’t seem so synodical; but maybe the Americans weren’t acting so synodically either. But it was quizzical to me, when I saw it.”

Cardinal DiNardo said the bishops have not lessened their resolve for action, Bishop Christopher Coyne, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, and and that they are not pleased Bishop Timothy Doherty at the USCCB press conference by the Holy See’s decision. in Baltimore, Md., November 12. (Photo by Christine Rous- He indicated that they will selle/CNA) continue to push for action on the sex abuse crisis: “we’re disappointed, because we’re moving along on this.”

Speaking to how Catholics can trust their leaders, he asked that they retain faith in the bishops’ commitment to reform, watching their efforts. He acknowledged that people have a right to scepticism, but also to hope.

The cardinal said he had proposed an apostolic visitation to deal with the problem, but that Rome had disagreed with that approach.

While acknowledging their disappointment in the decision from Rome, the bishops also spoke of the importance of their own obedience. Cardinal DiNardo said they were responsible to be attentive to the Holy Father and his congregations, and Bishop Coyne said bishops are by nature collegial, “so when the Holy See asks us to work in collegiality, that’s what we do.”

Watch the Ordination to Priesthood Online

The 2018 Fall River Diocese Ordination to Priesthood is available for viewing on the video-sharing website YouTube. Visit the diocesan website at www.fallriverdiocese.org and click on the Ordination to Priesthood image on the home page to access the video. The ordination took place on June 9 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 November 18 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Jeffrey Cabral, pastor of Santo Christo Parish in Fall River, and Judicial Vicar of the diocesan Tribunal Office.

November 25 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Riley J. Williams, parochial administrator of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Acushnet.

Sister Thea Bowman’s cause for canonization could open at U.S. bishops’ meeting

Baltimore, Md. (CNA/EWTN News) — Sister Thea Bowman was the first African-American woman to address the U.S. bishops’ conference. Most likely, she was also the first person to get them to hold hands and sing and sway to a Negro Spiritual.

“We shall overcome,” she intoned at their 1988 spring meeting in her signature rich voice, before exhorting the bishops to join in with a hearty “Y’all get up!”

Sister Thea, a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, a daughter of the Deep South and the granddaughter of a slave, was sick from battling cancer and confined to a wheelchair at the time.

But that didn’t stop the 51-year-old from doling out more instructions when the stiff group still wasn’t swaying to her satisfaction: “Cross your right hand over your left hand, you gotta move together to do that,” she said as the bishops crossed arms and held hands before continuing the song.

“See in the old days you had to tighten up so that when the bullets would come, so that when the tear gas would come, so that when the dogs would come, so that when the horses would come, so that when the tanks would come, brothers and sisters would not be separated from one another,” she told the bishops, referring to the days of the Civil Rights movement.

“And do you remember what they did with the bishops and the clergy in those old days? Where’d they put them? Right up in front. To lead the people in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Church,” she said.

That keynote showcased Sister Thea in her element — sharing her faith and love of

God, urging racial awareness and reconciliation within the Catholic Church, joyfully belting out Gospel hymns and convincing everyone around her to join in.

Now, nearly 30 years after her death, Sister Thea was once again a feature at the U.S bishops’ conference — but this time, they were scheduled to approve the opening of her cause for

of first aid.

One thing Bertha learned early on from the “old folks” in her life was what she would affectionately call “old time religion.” Her parents were Methodist, and the Bible-belt town was full of active parishes of all Christian denominations.

In the book “Sister Thea: Songs of my People,” she recalled: “Many of the best (religion) teachers were not formally educated. But they knew Scripture, and they believed the Living Word must be celebrated and shared.

Their teachings were simple.

Their teachings were sound,” she said. “Their methodologies were such that, without effort, I remember their teachings today.”

The religious vitality of her surroundings sent the young Bertha on her own “Spiritual quest” of sorts, and she sat in Sister Thea Bowman. on religious services at many (Courtesy of the Franciscan of the different churches Sisters of Perpetual Adora- in town. At the Catholic tion) Church, she was one of just a few black people there, canonization. relegated at the time to the Sister Thea was born back pews.

Bertha Bowman on DecemUltimately, it was the witber 29, 1937 in Yazoo City, ness of the love and service of Miss., the only daughter to Catholic Sisters, specifically her father, a family doctor, the Franciscan order that she and her mother, an educator. would eventually join, that The family resided in Canton, convinced her to become a town 30-some miles to the Catholic at the young age of south and east of Yazoo City. nine.

She was the granddaughter “Once I went to the to slaves, and her maternal Catholic Church, my wangrandmother was a promiderings ceased. I knew I had nent educator in the area after found that for which I had whom the local school was been seeking. Momma always named. says, ‘God takes care of babies From an early age, Bertha and fools,’” she wrote in an self-identified as an “old folks autobiography in 1958. child,” her parents having By all accounts, her parents been middle-aged by the were supportive of the little time she was born. She was convert, and enrolled her in doted on by aunts, uncles, Holy Child Catholic School and grandparents during following her conversion, her childhood. Her mother where she became enthralled taught her to read, her father with the Franciscan Sisters Continued on page 18 taught her some of the basics The Anchor - November 16, 2018

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I

For and About Our Church Youth Jesus called me on my cellphone

have been watching the new TV show “God Friended Me.” As a result, I recalled a great Off Broadway show I saw years back called, “Altar Boyz.” I listened to the soundtrack recently on Amazon Music and remembered what a fun show it was. One of my favorite songs of the show was “The Calling.” The refrain was, “Jesus called me on my cellphone.” The TV show and this particular song made me think, what if Jesus tried to call, message or friend me or you?

What if He tried to friend us on Facebook?

Before anyone thinks I’m being sacrilegious or that I’m a little off, I want to be clear that Jesus hasn’t actually called me or texted me or friended me on Facebook. Nor has He contacted anyone else I know on a cell phone or Facebook.

However, that thought that Jesus might message me points out an important fact to me — that is that Jesus will go to any length to call us to Him and He surely could call or message on the cell phone or on Facebook, if He wanted to — couldn’t He? We’re all called in different ways. While I was fortunate to grow up in a loving, faithful family, it really wasn’t until later in life that I felt a real call from Jesus. I like to say that in my young life I never said no to Christ, it’s just that I never said yes either.

It wasn’t until 1988 that I got the call. I’m glad that I answered. Through the efforts and prodding of my wife, I attended a weekend retreat called a Cursillo and I have to say it was a lifealtering experience. Jesus didn’t use a cell phone, but 16

it was a clear connection in grades nine-12, the nonetheless. Through the YES! Retreat (http://www. people He placed on that fallriverfaithformation.org/ weekend, I heard what He youth-and-young-adult/ had to say to me — loud yes-retreat/), to be held and clear. When I left the in February, is a perfect Cursillo weekend, I knew opportunity to learn what exactly what He wanted me Christ wants for you. For to do. My work with youth today and my diaconal vocation are direct outgrowths of that Cursillo weekend.

There are many

By Deacon opportunities in your Frank Lucca life to get the call or message from Jesus.

He’s trying to contact you adults and young adults, all the time. In fact, He an Emmaus Retreat might be calling you right (https://emmausretreats. now. You just have to listen com), might be the for the beep, the ring, the opportunity. There are friend request, the sound of other opportunities like an incoming text message ECHO (http://www. or the knock. He’s asking echoofcapecod.org/) also you to go out and spread offered in our diocese. For His Word to others — to college students and young do His work. He wants adults in their 20s and you to answer. Are you 30s, there is the Seekers’ ready to answer the call?

Retreat that will be held Diiiiinnnnnnnng! at Sacred Hearts Retreat I think one of the best Center in Wareham on opportunities to hear the March 1-3, 2019 (http:// voice of Jesus and what He fallrivercampusministry. may be calling to talk to com). Take a look at one of you about is by attending these opportunities if you a retreat just as I had. But feel the call to do so. don’t wait 36 years like Some of us may have I did. Besides your local other opportunities to get parish retreats, there are the call. A priest, teacher or many other opportunities friend might help us hear here in our diocese to the call. Just listen. He’s attend a retreat. For postdialing you all the time!

Confirmation young people Even if you’ve answered

Be Not Afraid

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

The Anchor - November 16, 2018

the call, sometimes in our lives the signal fades and we can’t hear Jesus anymore. That’s what is so great about our God. Jesus will continue to call and text and call until we answer again. I guess that’s the key — we have to be the one to respond. When we finally respond, we’ll hear that crystalclear voice telling us that we are always welcome back and He’ll tell us exactly what He wants us to do. We just have to be open to listen and then act on the call. And never worry how long you talk, roaming charges do not apply!

I’ll close by paraphrasing the final stanza of that song, “The Calling,” “He’ll fax you, He’ll beep you, He’ll even try to email your soul.” Is it your time to answer?

Anchor columnist Frank Lucca is a deacon in the Diocese of Fall River, a youth minister at St. Dominic’s Parish in Swansea and St. George’s Parish in Westport, and a campus minister at UMass Dartmouth. He is married to his wife of 40 years, Kristine, and the father of two daughters and their husbands, and three grandsons. So blessed!

Comments, ideas or suggestions? Please email him to DeaconFrankLucca@ comcast.net.

Patriot Sara McMahon from American Heritage Girls Troop MA3712, right, delivered 20 bags of blankets to Martha Sholes, director of Linus Project of R.I. Project Linus provides love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. Thank you to all who donated and lovingly created handmade blankets for this mission. “The best kind of sleep under Heaven above, is under a blanket handmade with love.” (projectlinus.org)

For and About Our Church Youth

First-grade students at St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro presented the annual All Saints Day Program to fellow students, family and friends. Each student chose a saint to represent, dressed like that saint and gave a one-minute explanation about the saint. The students each wrote and memorized their lines. Eighth-grade students Kyleigh Arenas and Julia Pelchat participated in the readings and prayers. The class also sang three songs under the direction of Susan Fortin, music director.

Students in the eighth grade at Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford, used Chromebooks to do their research assignments.

Students in the eighth grade at Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford, used Chromebooks to do their research assignments.

Eighth-graders at St. James-St. John School in New Bedford worked on developing critical thinking, teamwork, design, analysis and innovation in this STEAM paper airplane challenge.

Second-grade students from St. Joseph School in Fairhaven celebrated All Saints Day by portraying a chosen saint and representing them at the All Saints Mass at St. Joseph Church. Later that afternoon, parents and guests were invited to the “Saints Wax Museum,” where the students were activated by pushing their “buttons” (a dot on their hand) thus cuing them to begin tell the saint’s story.

The Anchor - November 16, 2018

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Sister Bowman’s canonization cause could open at bishops’ meeting continued from page 15

of Perpetual Adoration from Wisconsin who were serving there.

Besides her religious seeking, her heart for God also manifested itself in other ways, said Father Maurice Nutt, a Redemptorist priest and former student of Sister Thea who is now the diocesan promoter of her cause for canonization.

“When lunchtime would come, she would notice children who didn’t have any food, and so she would take her lunch and she would give it to them. And they would say Bertha, don’t you want to eat? And she would say no, I’m not very hungry today,” he said.

“So her concern as a child was to feed the poor, she wanted to help those who were marginalized in any way.”

Her mother soon caught on that Bertha was coming home from school hungry, and so the two of them began making extra peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for Bertha to give to her friends at lunchtime.

“So you’re seeing from a very early age that this woman Thea Bowman walked with God, she was close to God, God was everything to her so she was His servant.”

That strong sense of religiosity and wanting to serve others never left Bertha, and at the age of 15 she was determined to join the order of FSPA Sisters that had taught at her school.

Her parents, neither yet Catholic, pleaded with her to reconsider, or to at least consider joining traditionally black orders of Sisters that were much closer to home.

But the determined Bertha staged a hunger strike until her parents relented. She was accompanied by another Sister on the long train ride to the FSPA motherhouse in 18

La Crosse, Wis. with special permission to sit in the white passenger cars rather than in the baggage cars, as was mandated for blacks in the pre-civil rights movement days.

A couple years into formation, Bertha took the religious name of Thea, which she would have for the rest of her life.

Sister Rochelle Potaracke, FSPA, was a young Sister at the time that Thea joined the convent in 1953.

She told CNA that she remembers Thea as a happy and energetic young postulant, who stuck out in the state of Wisconsin, where very few black people lived at the time.

Her blackness even made news in the local Catholic paper that summer: “Negro Aspirant” read the headline.

“When I was growing up I never saw a black person, that was in the early ’40s, and that’s the same for many areas I know,” Sister Potaracke told CNA. “But I think we accepted (Thea) very well. We loved her dearly, she fit right in with all of us, she always had her singing and her enthusiasm,” she said.

“But it must have been terribly hard for her. I think of it now, I didn’t think of it then.

I didn’t think ‘Oh, the poor dear, but I think now it had to be a challenge for her, she was in a whole new almost different country so to speak.”

According to a biography, “Thea’s Song,” after the newness of the convent experience wore off, Thea experienced culture shock and blatant racism, within and without the convent walls.

Sister Helen Elsbernd, who went through formation with Thea at the FSPA motherhouse, said Sister Thea didn’t mention anything to her fellow Sisters about racial discrimination at the time.

The Anchor - November 16, 2018

ference and became a noted public speaker and advocate “She didn’t talk about it. In for African-Americans in the early years of formation the Church. She advocated she tried very hard to fit in for encounter between white with the culture here,” Sister and non-white Catholics, for Elsbernd recalled. increased representation in Her first years as a Sister Church leadership for nonwere also challenging for whites, and for an embrace another reason — in 1955, of music and traditions from two years into formation, different cultures into the Sister Thea was stricken with Church. tuberculosis, and spent most As her racial advocacy of that year in the sanatorium. grew, one of Sister Thea’s sig“I marvel at her constant nature phrases became “black cheerfulness,” one Sister is beautiful.” wrote to Sister Thea’s parents “‘Black is beautiful,’ that’s during her illness. what she would say all the Sister Thea’s cheerful time,” said Sister Potaracke. energy would remain her sigIt was a phrase that came nature trait as her passionate from Sister Thea’s mother, advocacy for racial integration who had tried to teach her in the Catholic Church began from an early age to handle to further develop. the racial discrimination that Sister Potaracke, who spent she experienced with love time studying with Sister rather than hate.

Thea during graduate school “Her mother always said at Catholic University of that she had to be honest and America, said that for years, good to people. Her mother the Sisters had been going said: ‘You can’t hate, because if to school at CUA, where you hate you will become like they were simply known as the people you want to hate. the Franciscan Sisters from Remember, black is beautiWisconsin. ful.’”

That changed when Sister An impressive scholar, Thea came on the scene.

Sister Thea would eventually Early into their days at CUA, get her doctorate in English, Sister Thea and her fellow and spent several years teachSisters attended a student ing at Viterbo College in La event, during which Sister Crosse, which was staffed by Thea leapt up to tell her many FSPA Sisters. During story as a young black woman her time there, she formed growing up in the South. singing groups of African“Sister Thea could just grab American students who an audience any time she became popular throughout wanted, she could just spark the area, Sister Elsbernd said. life into the group that was in In 1978, Sister Thea front of her,” Sister Potaracke moved back to Mississippi, to recalled. help her aging parents and to “She started singing these serve in outreach ministry to songs and everyone was non-white communities for clapping and dancing and the Diocese of Jackson. Durjumping around. And after ing this time, she continued that time we were no longer to expand her speaking and the FSPA’s, it was oh — singing ministries, and travyou’re Sister Thea’s group. I elled extensively to give talks point that out because that’s nationally and internationally the impression she made on about the importance of racial people,” she said. awareness and acceptance in As a CUA student, Sister the Church.

Thea helped to found the In 1980, she helped to National Black Sisters Confound the Institute for Black

Catholic Studies at Xavier University in New Orleans, where she taught until nearly the end of her life. It was during that time that Father Maurice Nutt met Sister Thea at a conference for black Catholic clergy and religious, at which Sister Thea was the speaker.

“I was so impressed by her.

No one really meets Sister Thea, they encounter her,” Father Nutt said.

Her talk was the first time that Father Nutt really considered what it meant to be black and Catholic, and the unique gifts that the black community could bring to the Church, he said.

“It was a cathartic moment for me, because she really enabled me to bring my very best self, my AfricanAmerican self, to the Church, to give my life in service to the Church,” Father Nutt recalled.

He was so moved by her that he joined the next cohort at the institute.

“She would always say that we are an integral part of the Church, that as AfricanAmerican Catholics, we have gifts to share, we have our Spirituality, we have our witness of struggle and suffering.

We have the joy of knowing Jesus even in times of sorrow,” he said.

“And so what she taught me was to bring my gifts to the Church. She taught me to be very intentional in my expression of Spirituality, to share what it means to be black and Catholic, that we should not hide those gifts, but that there’s a mutuality, that integration means that you have something to share but I also have something to share.”

Father Nutt remembers Sister Thea as a brilliant teacher who demanded excellence, but also as a warm and caring woman who embraced her students as her own Continued on page 19

Diocesan parishes to celebrate Thanksgiving Masses, services

Parishes across the Fall River Diocese are planning various Thanksgiving Masses, services and celebrations to commemorate the national holiday. Following is a list of some that have been provided to The Anchor. Parishioners are encouraged to consult their parish bulletin or website if they don’t see their parish listed.

ACUSHNET — St. Francis Xavier: Thanksgiving Day Mass, November 22 at 9 a.m.; ATTLEBORO — St. Theresa of the Child Jesus: Thanksgiving Day Mass, November 22 at 9 a.m.; St. John the Evangelist Parish: Thanksgiving Eve Mass, November 21 at 7 p.m., followed by refreshments in the Hospitality Center; EAST FREETOWN — St. John Neumann: Thanksgiving Eve Mass, November 21 at 7 p.m., followed by social gathering in Neumann Hall; EAST TAUNTON — Holy Family: Thanksgiving Day Mass, November 22 at 8 a.m.; FAIRHAVEN — St. Joseph: Thanksgiving Eve Mass, November 21 at 6:30 p.m.; St. Mary: Mass of Thanksgiving, November 19 at 7 p.m. (donations of non-perishable food items will be accepted); FALL RIVER — Santo Christo: Thanksgiving Day Mass (bilingual in English and Portuguese), November 22 at 8 a.m.; HYANNIS — St. Francis Xavier: Thanksgiving Eve Mass, November 21 at 7 p.m. (American, Brazilian and Spanish); Thanksgiving Day Mass, November 22 at 8:30 a.m.; MARTHA’S VINEYARD — Good Shepherd Parish: Thanksgiving Day Mass, November 22 at 8 a.m. at St. Augustine’s Church; NANTUCKET — St. Mary-Our Lady of the Isle,

Thanksgiving Eve Mass, November 21 at 7 p.m. (bilingual, English and Spanish); NEW BEDFORD — Our Lady of the Assumption: Mass of Thanksgiving, November 20 at 6:30 p.m.; Our Lady of Fatima: Thanksgiving Day Mass, November 22 at 8 a.m.; Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Mass of Thanksgiving, November 19 at 6:30 p.m.; Thanksgiving Day Mass, November 22 at 8 a.m.; St. Joseph-St. Therese: Thanksgiving Day Mass, November 22 at 8 a.m.; NORTH DARTMOUTH — St. Julie Billiart: Thanksgiving Eve Mass, November 21 at 6 p.m.; Thanksgiving Day Mass, November 22 at 9 a.m.; NORTH EASTON — Immaculate Conception: Thanksgiving Eve Mass, November 21 at 7 p.m.; ORLEANS — St. Joan of Arc: Thanksgiving Day Mass, November 22 at 9 a.m.; SOUTH DARTMOUTH — St. Mary: Thanksgiving Eve Mass, November 21 at 7 p.m.; Thanksgiving Day Mass, November 22 at 8 a.m.; SOUTH YARMOUTH — St. Pius X: Thanksgiving Eve Mass, November 21 at 7 p.m. (with blessing of food); Thanksgiving Day Mass, November 22 at 8 a.m. (with blessing of food); TAUNTON — St. Andrew the Apostle: Mass of Thanksgiving, November 19 at 6:30 p.m. (with Faith Formation students); Thanksgiving Day Mass, November 22 at 9 a.m.; St. Mary’s — Thanksgiving Day Masses, November 22, 7 a.m. (English), 11 a.m.

(Spanish); WESTPORT — St. John the Baptist: Thanksgiving Eve (Ecumenical Service), November 21 at 7 p.m.

Continued from page 18

children.

“Sister Thea became my Spiritual mother, and I became her Spiritual son, and she would call me son,” Father Nutt said. “She would say that the seminarians she encouraged, she said ‘These are the sons that I give to the Church.’ And I am so grateful that I was counted in that number.”

In 1984, Sister Thea’s parents died within months of each other. Not long after, she received a diagnosis of breast cancer.

“That was crushing,” Father Nutt said. “She was the only child of this elderly couple, it seemed like her whole world had fallen apart, and then she received the challenge of cancer.”

While many would be tempted to give up, Sister Thea made a decision: “I’m going to live until I die,” she said.

And she did. She kept up her speaking engagements and outreach ministry at fullbore. She recorded songs and helped compile the AfricanAmerican hymnal “Lead Me, Guide Me,” gave numerous biographical interviews including a “60 Minutes” segment, and spoke to the U.S. bishops in 1989.

“We as Church walk together,” she told the bishops.

“Don’t let nobody separate you, that’s one thing black folks can teach you, don’t let folks divide you. The Church teaches us that the Church is a family, a family of families, and a family that can stay together. And we know that if we do stay together — if we walk and talk and work and play and stand together in Jesus’ name we’ll be who we say we are, truly Catholic. And we shall overcome — overcome the poverty, overcome the loneliness, overcome the alienation, and build together a holy city, a new Jerusalem, a city set apart where we love one

another.”

While she was sick, Father Nutt said Sister Thea would pray “that God will heal my body. If God will heal my body, I’ll say thank you Lord.

But I also know that if God doesn’t give me what I ask of Him, God will give me something better.”

And on March 30, 1990, “that something better was to call her home,” Father Nutt said.

Father Nutt said he thinks Sister Thea will be remembered for her passionate advocacy on behalf of blacks and other minorities in the Church.

“She spoke about the fact that African-American Catholics, we have a deep and abiding history. She told the history that we come from the Ethiopian eunuch, we come from Simon of Cyrene — that we are not late in joining the Church but that people of African descent have been there from the early days of Catholicism, and that this is our home,” he said.

Sister Potaracke said she remembers Sister Thea as a warm woman who had a strong sense of self and wasn’t afraid to advocate for herself and others.

“She was a spark, and she spoke her voice, if she didn’t like something she said it strong and clear, no matter what meeting you were at, she would speak her voice,” Sister Potaracke said.

“It was her inner belief that she was a beautiful woman, that she had a place in this world, and that she was going to go out and change the people she met, and she did.

Whether you were penniless or whether you were the wealthiest person, she just had lots of friends in every corner of the world.”

He said he believed she would also be remembered for her love of God, from which flowed her joy and love for others.

“You knew in her midst

that you were in the presence of someone extremely special, who had a deep connection with God. Sister Thea said she grew up in a world where God was so alive, and she shared that joy with everyone, that God is real, that God is love, that God is alive, and anyone who met her experienced the presence of God,” he said.

As for Sister Thea herself, she once said that she wanted to be remembered simply as someone who tried.

“Think of all the great things she did, and she simply said: I want to be remembered as someone who tried.

She said she wanted on her tombstone: ‘She tried,’” Father Nutt said.

“That speaks of her humility. That speaks of her love for God and that she never proclaimed herself to be holy or righteous. She was a disciple of Jesus Christ who tried to love one another, to love other people, to try to lift her service to God and the Church.”

Father Nutt encouraged Catholics to ask for Sister Thea’s intercession as her cause gets underway.

“I would encourage people to seek her intercession, especially if they’re struggling with their faith, if they’re struggling with family issues.

I would encourage students to pray to her when they’re taking tests, I would also say anyone battling cancer of any kind to seek her encouragement, to seek her inspiration, as they journey through their battle with cancer.”

As is customary, when a bishop begins the preliminary phases of someone’s cause for canonization, the cause must be put to a vote of the U.S. bishop’s conference.

At their meeting November 12-14, the bishops were expected to endorse the opening of the cause of Sister Thea Bowman, which is being overseen by Bishop Joseph Kopacz of Jackson.

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Shrine ready to share Christmas joy continued from page two

the Coastline Singers’ Choir Concert will take place in the shrine church at 1:30 p.m.

A Christmas Craft Fair Weekend will take place November 23-25 from 12-9 p.m. in the Welcome Center.

Also in the Welcome Center is the availability for pictures with St. Nicholas from 5-9 p.m. Fridays through Sunday. On the same days and at the same times trolley rides and hayrides, as well as the carousel, will welcome visitors, enhancing the celebration of the season.

Another visitor favorite returns this year — the International Crèche Museum.

The display is a plethora of manger scenes from around the world and will be open Mondays through Fridays from 5-9 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 2-9 p.m.

Also offered to visitors is the most important feature of the festival — Holy Mass, Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation. Regular Mass times will continue: Monday through Friday at 12:10 p.m. and 4 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday at 12:10, 4 and 5:30 p.m.

Holiday Mass times will be: Thanksgiving Eve at 6:30 p.m.; Thanksgiving Day at 4 p.m. (no 10 a.m.); Christmas Eve at 4 and 6 p.m.; Midnight Mass;

Christmas Day at 12:10 p.m.; New Year’s Eve at 4 and 6 p.m. and a Haitian Mass at 10 p.m.; New Year’s Day at 12:10, 4 and 6 p.m.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available daily from 1-5 p.m., with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s days, when there will be no availability.

As always, the Religious Articles Store will be open, offering visitors a large array of religious goods which can make wonderful Christmas gifts, keeping Christ in the season. Store hours are available on the La Salette website.

Memorials are also available such as plaques, bricks, benches, annual memorial candles and new Christmas Festival of Lights candles.

The food court/cafeteria/ snack bar will also allow guests to step inside and rest, warm up and enjoy tasty food and beverages.

The hours are also available on the website. The cafeteria will not be open on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. La Salette Shrine is located at 947 Park Street in Attleboro. The phone number is 508-222-5410.

The website, which has a plethora of information about the shrine and the Festival of Lights is lasaletteattleboroshrine.org.

Visit The Anchor online at www.anchornews.org 20

The Anchor - November 16, 2018

St. Vincent’s Home strives to make Christmas’ light shine bright for all

FALL RIVER ­— St. Vincent’s Home is gearing up for the Christmas season with a primary focus of caring for the needs of others.

On December 9 at 4 p.m., following the celebration of the St. Vincent’s Home Memorial Mass, the chapel on the home’s grounds will glow with the lights from the Memorial Tree.

Each light will represent the name, memory and will honor loved ones.

Additionally, each name will be added to the home’s Memorial Book that will be remembered and prayed over during each Mass celebrated in the St. Vincent’s Home Chapel.

People can remember and honor a loved one by sponsoring a light on the Memorial Tree for $10. All proceeds will go directly to programs that benefit the children, youth and families served by St. Vincent’s.

For more information

call Jenny Reis at 508679-8511 or email info@ stvincentshome.org.

Also, as the Christmas season approaches, the St. Vincent’s staff is hoping others will join them in being a part of making this Christmas more than just a season for the children, youth and families they serve. A simple act of generosity will make a big difference in their lives.

Christmas is a challenging time for many of the children, youth and families in the community, but together area faithful and the staff can bring them the joy, wonder and excitement this time of year brings.

Picture the joy on a child’s face as she tears open a Christmas present for the first time? Imagine the excitement of the young boy who receives a special gift and realizes he hasn’t been forgotten?

With the help of people who care, their Christmas wishes can come true.

An act of generosity and kindness will show each child that they are valued and most importantly, that there is hope for a brighter future. A donation can make certain that every child has a gift to open on Christmas morning and if one so desires they can choose specific items from one of the children’s Wish Lists (see graphic below) throughout November and December.

Please call to inquire how to donate holiday gifts, as well as contribute financially to support youth-related holiday activities and programs.

On behalf of the many children, youth and families whose wishes will come true and who will learn about the softer more beautiful side of Christmas, the staff of St. Vincent’s Home thanks you.

Contact Zachariah Porter with any questions at zporter@stvincentshome. org, or call 508-235-3329.

ATTLEBORO — Father Henry J. Dauphinais, M.S.,90, passed away October 26 at Lifecare Center of Attleboro. Father Henry was born in Fitchburg on April 19, 1928.

His father, Remi, was a “finish” carpenter by trade and by tradition and his mother, Alice, a homemaker. Together they bore five children: three girls and two boys, of which Father Henry was the oldest. Both his parents are deceased as well as his oldest sister and a brother. He has two surviving sisters, Cecile Jantz in Maryland and Lorraine Roy in South Carolina.

After completing his elementary studies at St. Joseph’s parochial school, Father Henry entered the seminary under the direction of the La Salette Fathers in Enfield, N.H. There he pursued his high school and college studies. He formally joined the religious congregation as a member of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette on July 2, 1950 when he made is profession of vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Until his ordination to the priesthood on May 28, 1955, Father Henry studied philosophy and theology at the Congregation’s Major Seminary in Attleboro, earning a B.A. and a M.A. in his studies.

After ordination, he was assigned to teach at the minor seminary (college level) on Cape Cod for two years after which he volunteered to realize an ambition he harbored since 1950: to do ministry in foreign lands. Following a “crash” course in Spanish for one month, Father Henry was sent to Santa Fe, Argentina with another young priest of the same order to do parish work

Father Henry J. Dauphinais, M.S.

under the guidance and direction of Polish La Salette Fathers who had been there since 1957. Father Henry was put in charge of the youth program and Liturgies.

In 1962, Father Henry was asked to assist the La Salette Fathers at the newly-established minor seminary in the province of Segovia, Spain. Fluent by now in the Spanish language, Father was assigned to the teaching profession for 18 years while assuming alternate duties of superior, treasurer and principal.

In 1980, with the opening of a scholasticate in Valladolid as well as a shrine in Galicia, Father Henry accepted an invitation sent to him by Father Roland Bedard in Arizona to do parish work along the Mexican border in the town of Pirtleville which lies on the outskirts of Douglas.

Besides attending to the

Spiritual needs of the faithful, two parishes and two missions, Father Henry on occasion did ministry at the Douglas parishes as well as in Agua Prieta, Mexico.

It was at that time Father Henry was introduced to the fraternal Order of the Knights of Columbus which he joined in the early 1980s.

Father Henry was asked to be chaplain of Council 1858, a function which he fulfilled religiously and faithfully. A year later, he received the fourth degree and continued to minister to the Knights and attend their meetings as well as participate in their work program and activities among the people of God. In 1989, after doing wonderful ministry in Cochise County over a period of 10 years, the La Salette Fathers gave the parishes and missions over to diocesan care and moved to Tucson, mostly for reasons

of failing health.

Shortly after their arrival in Tucson, the Fathers were “inundated” with offers of priestly ministry from all sides of the city. This was mostly due to the shortage of priests. Thus, the Fathers acquiesced promptly to the Spiritual needs and petitions of pastors and faithful alike. Besides doing ministry in different parishes on weekends, saying daily Mass for religious communities of women, Father Henry volunteered his services with the Department of Corrections mostly in the county jail until 1993.

In the fall of that year, he accepted the post of contract chaplain at the local Veterans Hospital and subsequently gave up his ministry with the DOC. It was during that period that Father Henry did two

units of Clinical Pastoral Education at the University of Arizona Hospital with a view to better serve the hospital patients. Over a period of six years, Father Henry worked diligently among the veterans. One could say that in this type of priestly ministry is where he found his niche.

Finally, in 1995, Father Henry was asked to accept the post of chaplain with Council 5133 by a longtime friend and fellow Knight, Edward Tessier.

Father willingly accepted the position and shortly after, the transfer of councils was made under the auspices of the Archbishop Gercke fourth degree Council.

A Funeral Mass was celebrated in Our Lady of La Salette Shrine Church in Attleboro October 31.

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks Nov. 17 Rev. Henry R. Canuel, Former Pastor, Sacred Heart, New Bedford, 1980 Nov. 18 Rev. William Beston, C.S.C., Chaplain, Paul Dever School, 2004 Nov. 19 Rev. Msgr. Lester L. Hull, Retired Pastor, St. Mary-Our Lady of the Isle, Nantucket, 1982 Rev. Philodore H. Lemay, M.S., La Salette Provincial House, Attleboro, 1990 Nov. 21 Rev. Stephen J. Downey, Retired Pastor, Holy Ghost, Attleboro, 1975 Rev. James F. Kenney, Retired Pastor, Corpus Christi, Sandwich, 1994 Nov. 23 Rev. James E. Smith, Retired Chaplain, Bethlehem Home, Taunton, 1962 Rev. Msgr. Christopher L. Broderick, Retired Founder, St. Pius X, South Yarmouth, 1984 Nov. 24 Msgr. Daniel F. Shalloo, Retired Pastor, Holy Name, Fall River, 1991 Nov. 25 Rev. Philias Jalbert, Pastor, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Fall River, 1946 Rev. Dennis Spykers, SS.CC., Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes, Wellfleet, 1971 Nov. 26 Rev. James R. Burns, P.R., Pastor, Sacred Heart, Fall River, 1945 Rev. Charles Porada, O.F.M., Conv., 2000 Nov. 27 Rt. Rev. Patrick E. McGee, Pastor, St. Mary, North Attleboro, 1948 Nov. 28 Rev. Adrien A. Gauthier, Pastor, St. Roch, Fall River, 1959 Nov. 29 Rev. Thomas H. Shahan, Former Pastor, St. Mary, Taunton, 1902 Rev. Francis A. McCarthy, Pastor, St. Patrick, Somerset, 1965 Nov. 30 Rev, William J McCoomb, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, North Easton, 1895

The Anchor - November 16, 2018

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Around the Diocese St. Jude the Apostle Parish, 249 Whittenton Street in Taunton, will be having its annual Penny Sale in the church hall on Saturday, November 17 at 6 p.m., with doors open at 5 p.m. In addition to three regular series, there will be specials, roll-ups, refreshments, a raffle on 15 turkey dinner baskets, and a money raffle with $1,000 as the first prize.

All are welcome.

The 21st annual Christmas Fair at St. Pius X Church, will be held in the parish life center on Station Avenue in South Yarmouth on Saturday, November 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mrs. Claus and Cookie the Elf will be attending and Cookie will be handing out candy canes and homemade cookies. The Noel Café will be open for breakfast treats, bagels and muffins from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and then will reopen at 11 a.m. for lunch. There will be plenty to choose from for your holiday shopping. The fair is sponsored by the St. Pius X Women’s Society.

Our Lady of Grace Parish, Sanford Road in Westport, will host its Annual Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, November 24 and Sunday, November 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. The event will feature more than 30 crafters, raffles, food, with a visit from Santa Claus from 11 a.m. to noon each day (bring your own camera).

Other entertainment will include Pat Carrdiro and a children’s choir. For more information, call the parish office at 508-674-6271.

St. John the Evangelist Parish, 841 Shore Road in Pocasset, will host its fifth annual Family Christmas Fair on Saturday, November 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local crafters will be highlighted in the Vendor’s Village with beautiful hand-crafted and delightful gifts for that special someone on your Christmas list. Family, friends and neighbors are invited to enjoy face-painting, cookie-decorating, as well as delicious treats from the bake table. Don’t forget the camera as Santa Claus will pay a visit! Crafters and vendors should contact Jane Robin at 508-759-3566 by November 8. For more information, call 508-563-5887 or visit www.stjohnspocasset.org.

A Create Your Own Wreath Party with Jean Ashworth will be held Thursday, November 29 at 6:30 p.m. in the hall of St. Julie Billiart Parish, 494 Slocum Road in North Dartmouth. Hosted by the Ladies Guild, it will include fresh wreaths, bows and supplies, along with wine, cheese and punch and door prizes. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased by calling 508-971-7402.

The Catholic Women’s Club of Christ the King Parish, 5 Jobs Fishing Road in Mashpee, will sponsor its Annual Christmas Fair on Saturday, December 1 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Parish Center.

Featured will be a variety of crafters selling handmade items to include nautical ornaments, jewelry, felted hats and scarves, and much more. There will be handcrafted live Christmas wreaths and seasonal arrangements, gift and cash raffles, lovely boutique items, and a shopping room for children with face painting and games. Hungry shoppers can enjoy lunch at the popular Holly Café.

The Fall River Diocesan Council of Catholic Women will meet on Saturday, December 1 at St. Bernard’s Church in Assonet. Coffee and refreshments will be served at 9 a.m., followed by a meeting at 9:30 a.m. Father Michael Racine, DCCW Spiritual Advisor, will speak about the season of Advent. All are welcome. For more information, call 508-674-7036 (Fall River); 508-993-5085 (New Bedford); 508-821-6201 (Taunton); 508-761-4638 (Attleboro); or 508-743-5448 (Cape Cod).

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

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The Anchor - November 16, 2018

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

ASSONET — St. Bernard’s Parish will have Eucharistic Adoration every Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed on the altar at the conclusion of 9 a.m. Mass and the church will be open all day, concluding with evening prayer and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.

ATTLEBORO — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. John the Evangelist Church, North Main Street, Mondays and Wednesdays from 5-6:30 p.m.

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

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

Brewster — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road, on First Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. buzzards Bay — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, every First Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending at 5 p.m.

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

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

FAIRHAVEN — St. Mary’s Church, Main St., has Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday from 8:30-11:30 a.m. in the Chapel of Reconciliation, with Benediction at 11:30 a.m.

FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of Padua Church, on the corner of Bedford and Sixteenth streets, has Eucharistic Adoration accompanied by music and prayer every first Wednesday of the month from 6-7 p.m.

FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of the Desert Church, 300 North Eastern Avenue, has Eucharistic Adoration Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Thursdays following the 8 a.m. Mass until Friday at 8 a.m.

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

FALL RIVER — Good Shepherd Parish has Eucharistic Adoration every Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass and concluding with 3 p.m. Benediction in the Daily Mass Chapel. A bilingual holy hour takes place from 2 to 3 p.m. Park behind the church and enter the back door of the connector between the church and the rectory.

FALL RIVER — St. Joseph’s Church has a Holy Hour every Tuesday from 6-7 p.m., with Benediction at 6:45 p.m.

FALL RIVER — St. Michael’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with Benediction at 5:30 p.m.

Falmouth — St. Patrick’s Church has Eucharistic Adoration each First Friday following the 7 a.m. Mass, with Benediction at 4:30 p.m.

HYANNIS — St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis, 347 South Street, Hyannis, has Eucharistic Adoration from noon to 3 p.m., daily Monday through Friday.

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

MASHPEE — Christ the King Parish, Route 151 and Job’s Fishing Road has 8:30 a.m. Each First Friday Mass ends with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Adoration continues until Benediction at 5 p.m.

NEW BEDFORD — Eucharistic Adoration is held every Thursday, with Confessions, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Church. Please use the side entrance.

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

NEW BEDFORD — St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, 565 County Street, holds Eucharistic Adoration in the side chapel Fridays from 7:30-11:45 a.m. ending with a simple Benediction NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., ending with Benediction. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time.

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

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

NORTH EASTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Immaculate Conception Church Chapel on the first Wednesday of the month beginning after the 8:30 a.m. Mass, until 6:40 p.m. Those wishing to make a monthly commitment can sign up on the parish website at www.icceaston.org or call the parish office at 508-238-3232.

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

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

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

Taunton — Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord, 31 First Street. Exposition begins following the 8 a.m. Mass. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed, and Adoration will continue throughout the day. Confessions are heard from 4:15 to 4:45 p.m. Rosary and Benediction begin at 5 p.m.

Taunton — St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Taunton will host Eucharistic Adoration on Mondays following the 9 a.m.

Mass and the St. Jude Novena, until 11:30, ending with Benediction. It will take place at Holy Rosary Chapel during the summer months.

WAREHAM — Eucharistic Adoration at St. Patrick’s Church takes place 9 a.m. Thursday through 7 p.m. Friday. Adoration is held in our Adoration Chapel in the lower Parish Hall. ~ PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION ~

East Sandwich — The Corpus Christi Parish Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 324 Quaker Meeting House Road, East Sandwich. Use the Chapel entrance on the side of the church.

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

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

WEST HARWICH — Our Lady of Life Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Trinity Parish, 246 Main Street (Rte. 28), holds perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. We are a regional chapel serving all of the surrounding parishes.

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

This is a wave I can get into

I

t’s been a while since I dabbled in the sports world in my column, and this might at first sound like a sports-related topic, but sports is secondary in this heartwarming tale.

I don’t know how, when, and why it started, but I have never been a fan of the wave at sporting events.

You know the tradition of folks standing, sections at a time, holding their arms up in the air and shouting, until what looks like a human wave makes it around the whole stadium, arena, rink, etc.

I am the minority in this way of thinking, because thousands upon thousands of fans continue to play the part of a human tsunami each day.

I had one pal who agreed with me. When we went to Sox games we would sit defiantly with our arms in the shape of an X when the wave splashed through our section. We deemed ourselves the Wave Busters.

But there is a new wave out there that has absolutely captured my heart and soul.

I had heard about it, but until last weekend never saw it in action. It was during a nationally-televised college football game.

It happens at the University of Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium on the university’s campus.

Also on that university’s campus is the renown Uni-

The idea came up that versity of Iowa Stead Family the little fans high in the sky Children’s Hospital. should be acknowledged and In February of 2017, the hospital opened a new build- a grass roots fan effort came ing for its young patients, a building that My View rises 14 stories into the Iowa City sky.

From The 12th story the Stands of the hospital was

By Dave Jolivet designed to be a common, public area where patients, famup with the idea to have ily and staff could gather soeveryone in the stadium wave cially. The building is round, to the kids at the end of the so the entire 360 degrees first quarter. provides a panoramic view No one needed to be of the campus and beyond prompted and the first time — including every inch of the Kinnick Stadium playing it happened, everyone — field.

The hospital cares for children not only from all over Iowa, but all over the U.S. and the world as well — anything from kids with major heart operations to kids battling cancer, and everything in between.

Even prior to the erection of the new building, most Iowa Hawkeye men and women athletes, from all sports, took an active role in bringing a smile to the young patients by visiting them at the hospital.

Well, last year, with the opening of the new building, hospital staff made the 12th floor area a “tailgating” area with TVs and snacks during Hawkeye home football games.

fans, players (even the visiting team), referees, coaches, concession workers, nearly 80,000 strong, gave the kids a minute-long wave.

A tradition was born, and last Saturday I witnessed it on live on TV for the first time.

It took my breath away. It was one of the most awesome displays of love and friendship I have ever seen.

It wasn’t a phony “well everyone is doing it” thing.

Everyone was smiling and heartily waving at the kids in the sky, and they and the

family and staff were responding in kind.

I was alone watching the game and I found myself waving to the kids through my TV screen.

It so restored my faith in humankind. Despite all the bad that gets all the press, there are so many more good people out there than bad. It’s just that we never see them.

But last weekend I saw it in a wave — a seemingly small gesture, yet with oceans of meaning. Well done brothers and sisters in Iowa — a landlocked state with the biggest wave in the world. davejolivet@anchornews.org.

To advertise in The Anchor, contact Wayne Powers at 508-675-7151 or Email waynepowers@ anchornews.org The Anchor - November 16, 2018

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The Anchor - November 16, 2018