11.30.01

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FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS FALL RIVER, MASS.

VOL. 45, NO. 46 • Friday, November 30, 2001

Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year

Pope calls for fasting, prayer.

By JOHN THAVIS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

and hear words of hope."

He cited the thousands of inVATICAN CITY - In re- nocent victims of the September sponse to the growing threat of 11 terrorist attacks in New York global terrorism and other con- and Washington. In an apparent flicts, Pope John Paul II called for reference to the continued milia Church-wide day of fasting in tary campaign in Afghanistan, he December and a prayer gathering said that "innumerable people of Christian and non-Christian have been forced to leave their homes to confront the unknown leaders on January 24 The pope said the interfaith and sometimes to meet a cruel meeting, to take place in the Ital- death," while "women, elderly ian pilgrimage town of Assisi, and children risk dying of cold would allow Christians and Mus- and hunger."

The day of fasting falls on a lims to proclaim to the world that religion can never be used to jus- Friday, the Church's traditional day for fasting and abstinence. tify violence.

The December 14 day of fast- The pope asked Catholics worlding among Catholics also was to wide to "pray with fervor to God be marked by prayers for peace. that he grant the world a stable The pope suggested that in addi- peace based on justice and help tion to limiting their food and people find adequate solutions to drink on that day, Catholics find the many conflicts that torment ways to transform their sacrifice the world."

The pope did not provide deinto a contribution to the victims tails of the January 24 encounter of terrorism and war.

The pope said he was con- in Assisi, the central Italian birthvinced that today's worried world place of St. Francis. Vatican offi"needs to see gestures of peace Tum to page 13 - Fast

GATHERED FOR an informal chat at the recent bishops' meeting in Washington, D.C., were, from left: Archbishop Daniel A. Cronin, Archdiocese of Hartford; Cardinal Bernard F. Law, Archdiocese of Boston; Auxiliary Bishop Francis J. Christian, Diocese of Manchester, N.H.; and Bishop Sean O'Malley, OFM Cap., Diocese of Fall River. (John E. Kearns Jr. photo)

Advent: Confidence in the glory to come

By DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR

FALL RIVER - Altars without much adornment and vestments of a bluish-violet tint will instantly remind Catholics at Mass this weekend that they have entered into Advent, a period of devout and joyful expectation.

"Advent has a two-fold character: as a season to prepare for Christmas when Christ's first coming to us is remembered; and as a season when that remembrance directs our mind and heart to await Christ's second coming at the end oftime," the General Norms for the Liturgical Year teach us.

The word Advent (from the Latin adventus, or "coming") originally I described the whole mystery of the Incarl nation. The concepI tion of Jesus was an Advent, but so was his birth and what will be his final coming at the end-times.

Yet Advent, after the 4th century, was associated with the time glish at 5 p.m., celebrated by of the year now called Bishop Sean O'Malley, OFM Christmastime and fiCap. Choirs from throughout the nally with the weeks of diocese will participate. preparation for ChristTtte annual Mass usually has a mas, says Greg Dues in Latin influence, but this year there his "Catholic Customs and will also be a stronger emphasis Traditions." on the immigrants' adoption of the Some Catholics can find Advent a confusing United States as their new patria time. It blends together a penitential spirit someor homeland. The planning what similar to Lent, a liturgical preparation for the committee wanted to do this in second and final coming of Jesus the Christ, call Tum to page J3 - Guadalupe the Parousia, and a joyful theme of getting ready

Saturday, December 8 is the feast of the ~ Immaculate f Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a holy ,:..~<~--'~ day on which

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Spanish Apostolate prepares Guadalupe celebration TAUNTON - The Hispanic Apostolate of the Diocese of Fall River is preparing for its annual celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This year's celebration will be held at St. Mary's Church on December 8.

The church is located on Route 138, just north of downtown Taunton.

The celebration will begin with a Mass in Spanish and En-

to celebrate Jesus' birth at Bethlehem two millennia ago.

The Order of Prayer also makes it clear that the birth of Christ at Bethlehem "is not an event which can be consigned to the past. The whole of human history in fact stands in reference to him; our own time and the future of the world are illuminated by his presence. He is the "Living One" (Rev 1: 18), "who is, who was, and who is to come" (Rev 1:4).

At the same time the secular world adopts these weeks before Christmas as its primary holiday season bombarding the faithful with insistent advertisements and entertainment "and threatening to derail our observance of Advent," says Father Paul Turner, editor of "Sourcebook 2002."

But Father Turner quickly and wisely - adds: "A firm grip on the spirituality of the season will keep us focused on hope rather than on credit."

Advent will take us through the four Sundays of December 2, 9, 16, and 23. It will seem brief because it ends on a Monday, December 24, which is Christmas Eve. It is different from the Christmas season, which liturgically begins on the evening of December 24 and continues through the Baptism of Our Lord celebrated on Sunday, January 13, 2002.

From the first Sunday of Advent until December Tum to page 13 - Advent

2

THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., November 30, 2001

Parkes concert is Sunday at 2 p.m. rectly listed as 3 p.m.

Tickets are $12 ($10 for seniors) and will be available at the door.

Please note the corrected time is 2 p.m. for Sunday's show.

FALL RIVER - Internationally known Irish singer David Parkes will perform Sunday at 2 p.m. at Bishop Connolly High School. In last week's Anchor, the time of the concert was incor-路

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"St. Pius-:~ . parishioner.is envoy to International Catholic Nurses cal issues involving the elderly, paSOUTH YARMOUTH Samsung Hospital.

'The directors of Samsung want tients With AIDS, genetic engineerMarylee 1. Meehan, who spent more than 20 years as a clinical nurse, says their hospital to be the best in the ing, euthanasia, physician-assisted suithe great spirituality common to world," Meehan reported, "and it cide and death and dying, Meehan, Catholic nurses across the world needs appeared they are well endowed to who also teaches ethics at Dean College in Franklin, said the faith deto be continually nourished if they accomplish that goal." are to remain effective.

Meehan said that the American mands ofCatholics was a prominent Meehan, a member of the Fall Aag was prominently displayed and topic.

'The realization is that to be a River Diocesan Council ofNurses, is carned in the opening ceremonies in Catholic nurse in currently the reptruth demands livresentative from ing a life of faith the North Ameri.can Region of the professionally as well as solidly in International one's own life ...

Catholic Committhat the two cantees ofNurses and not be separated," Medico-SocialAsshe told The Ansistants.

As one of five chor.

"From what I international vice saw I can say that presidents of faith remains very CICIAMS, she strong," she added. has attended meetMeehan, said ings and conferher spirits were ences in SouthAfrica, Taiwan, Geralso raised, when, IN KOREA - Marylee J. Meehan is flanked by Bishop in recent weeks, many and the Netherlands, and Javier Lozano'Barragan, president of the Pastoral Assistance she attended a remost recently, in to Health Care Workers, from the Vatican; and Bishop Peter treat for women at September, at the Ki-Heon Lee of Korea, who is in charge of pastoral assis- La Salette in 8th Regional Con- tance to Health Care Workers.

Attleboro.

"It was wonference held at the Catholic University ofKorea in Seoul, which nurses from 14 Asian coun- derful and inspiring to find out that Korea. ties, plus Belgium, Scotland and the of the 20 women making the retreat, A member of St. Pius X Parish, United States took part.

11 of them were Catholic nurses," Meehan recalls helping to found a There were Masses and many she said. unit of Catholic nurses there some meeting, and Meehan addressed the Next on Meehan's international 25 years ago, "and it has been a con- topic "What It Means to Be a Catho- agenda? It may be the CICIAMS tinuous international journey for me lic Nurse in My Country (America)" World Congress to be held in Bangaever since." before the assembly at the regional lore, India in October 2002. It will The Asian conference, hosted by meeting. be held in conjunction with the the Korean Catholic Nurses Associa''The Korean Catholic Nurses As- Catholic Nurses Guild ofIndia's Retion, had as its theme "Protection of sociation served God faithfully in con- gional Conference.

Human Life in a Changing World: ducting such a spirit-filled profesCatholic Health Workers' Responsi- sional conference," Meehan reported.

CORRECTION bility."

"Once again, participation in our uniIn last week's Anchor, DeaMeehan joined with Maria Leigh, versal Church deeply enriched all con John H. Schondek Jr.'s . director of the College of Nursing at participants ... especially at daily name was misspelled. The Anthe Australian Catholic University in Mass." chor apologizes for the error.

Sidney, and 50 others in a tour of the As she listened to the talks on ethi-

Daily Readings Dec 3

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Is 2:1-5; Ps 122:1-9; Mt 8:511 Is11:1-10;Ps 72:7-8,12-13,17; Lk 10:21-24 Is 25:6-1 Oa; Ps 23:1-6; Mt 15:2937 Is 26:1-6; Ps 118:1,8-9,1921 ,25-27a; Mt 7:21,24-27 Is 29: 17-24; Ps 27:1,4,13-14; Mt 9:27-31 Gn 3:9-15,20; Ps 98:1-4; Eph 1:36,11-12; Lk 1:2638 .

Is11:1-10;Ps 72:2,7-8,1213,17; Rom 15:4-9; Mt 3:1-12

!M.af<! it e4Sierfor tliose you {qw' 1111111111111111111111111111111 THE ANCHOR (USPS-545'{)20) Periodical Postage Paid at Fall River, Mass. Published weekly except for the first two weeks in July ani the week after Chrisonas at 887 Highlanl Avenue, Fall River, Mass. 02720 by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River. Subscription price by mail, postpaid $14.00 per year.

POSTMASTE~ send address changes to The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA f127'l2.

In 'Your Prayers Please pray for the following priests during the coming week Dec. 3 1926, Rev. John W. McCarthy, P.R., Pastor, Sacred Heart, Fall River Dec. 4 1945, Rev. Charles Ouellette, Assistant, St. Jacques, Taunton . 1994, Rev. Edward C. Duffy, Pastor, St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis Dec. 5 1986, Rev. Eugene 1. Boutin, Manchester Diocese 1990, Rev. Coleman Conley, SS.Cc., Chaplain, Sacred Heart Home, New

Bedford Dec. 6 1959, Rev. Joseph L. Cabral, Pastor, Our Lady of the Angels, Fall River 1966, Rt. Rev. Msgr. John H. Hackett, Chancellor of Fall River Diocese, June-December 1966 1971, Rev. Joseph K. Welsh, Retired Pastor, Our Lady ofVictory, Centerville 1985, Rev. John T. Higgins, Pastor Emeritus, SI. Mary, Mansfield Dec. 7 1976, Rev. Thomas F. Daly, Retired Pastor, St. James, New Bedford 1977, Rev. Ambrose Bowen, Retired Pastor, St. Joseph, Taunton Dec. 8 1940, Rev. John F. Broderick, Pastor, SI. Mary, South Dartmouth Dec. 9 1983, Rev. Rene Patenaude, O.P., Retired Associate Pastor, SI. Anne, Fall

River; DirectorofYouth Activities

Pro-Life essay contest opens NORTH DARTMOUTH Diocesan Director of the ProLife Apostolate Father Stephen A. Fernandes recently announced that the annual ProLife Essay Contest is now open for students in grades six through 12.

The theme of this year's con-

test is "Adoption is an Option," and students in grades-six through 12 who are enrolled at any Catholic school or parish religious education program are eligible to enter. The essays will be grouped and judged in two categories: grades 6-9 and grades 9-12 and the top two fin-

Diocese of Fall River

OFFICIAL His ExcelIency, the Most Reverend Sean O'Malley, O.EM. Cap., Bishop of FalI River, has announced the folIowing appointment: Rev. Christopher Stanibula from Sick Leave to Parochial Vicar, Saint Stanislaus Parish, FalI River.

Effective November 21,2001

TIlE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River- Fri., November 30,2001

Assonet pastor attends creche society gathering

ishers in each will receive $100 and $50 U.S. savings bonds respectively.

ASSONET - Father Timothy 1.

Father Fernandes said that the Goldrick, pastor ofSt. Bernard's Paressay should be between 300- ish, was anlong more than 160 mem400 words for grades 6-8 and bers of the Friends of the Creche So400-600 for high school students ciety convening for the first time earand should be based on the lier this month in Lancaster, Pa. theme that adoption is an imThe group, formed in 2000, is a portant alternative to abortion. nonsectarian, nonpolitical and nonSchools and parishes are re- profit organization comprised of quested to transmit no more creche collectors whose purpose is than Jorepresentative essays for to learn more about creche customs each age group after conduct- in various cultures; to make the traing an initial round of selection. , dition better known; to serve as a Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, source of information; and to proOFM Cap., will present the mote creche exhibits.

The convention was chaired by awards at the diocesan Pro-Life Rita Boucher, editor/publisher of The Mass March 19, 2002 and winCreche Herald - Newsletter of the ning essays will be published in Christmas Nativity. There were The Anchor. The deadline for escreche exhibits, demonstrations, live says is February 15 and they and silent auctions and vendors, and should be mailed by the school a concert. A reception was held at the or parish to the Pro-Life National Christmas Center.

Apostolate.

Among the speakers were SwissFor more information call born Marist Father Johann G. Roten, the Pro-Life Office at 508- director of the Marian Library/lnter997-2290. national Marian Research Institute

at the University of Dayton in Ohio.

Father Goldrick will chair the next biennial national convention of the Friends, slated to be held in the Boston area November 6-9, 2003. The theme will be "Bethlehem in Boston."

For more information on Friends of the Creche, visit htt.p:/1 www.udayton.edulmary.

The Most Reverend Sean O'Malley, OFM Cap., Bishop of Fall River, has announced that the Order of Saint Gregory the Great has been conferred upon Frederic J. Torphy, Esq., Diocesan Attorney. Recognition of the honor will be made at the Red Mass, which will take place at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption on December 9, 2001.

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4 THEANCHOR-DioceseofFallRiver-Fri.,November30,2001

the living word

themoorin~ A great time of year

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Advent is a great time- of year. It's not just'a preparation for Christmas. It's more than that. It's a time when we begin the Church's new liturgical year. As one gets older new beginnings are always it) order.

The history of Advent is shrouded in evolution. The Galilean custom was of preparing not for Christmas, but for Epiphany. When Advent appeared in Rome it was from the outset a preparation for Christmas. When the Roman rite was introduced into mission territories Advent went along with it. As time went by it also became a time to rdlect about the second coming. The Lord has come and indeed will come again. But in a very real way He has never left us, Remember Christ is continuously present in His Church. So in a very real way Advent is at once a celebration of His first coming and His presence in the Church and a looking forward to the final coming, completing the work of redemption. This Advent should be seen in a fuller sense, namely, past, present and future.

Given the unique dimension of our present social order, Advent days to a believer offer a comforting reassurance of the presence of the Lord in the world in which we live. Right now we need this as we confront the terror of our times.

Advent gives us an opportunity to reassess and -refocus the' things that are important in today's living. For the past few decades we really took so very much for gr_anted. Everyone FATHER JOHN ADAMS, DIRECTOR OF So OTHERS MIGHT EAT SOUP KITCHEN, WELCOMES U.S. was doing his .or her own thing growing more and more PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH TO A LUNCHEON RECENTLY. THE FACILITY SERVES BREAKFAST independent each day. The events of 9/11 should teach all AND LUNCH TO THE HOMELESS IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL. (eNS PHOTO FROM REUTERS) of us that we really can't go it alone. We need purpose and direction in our lives. Religion can be the great unifier of person and purpose. It gives all of us something to hang' "AND IF YOU GIVE YOURSELF TO THE HUNGRY AND SATISFY THE DESIRE OF THE onto when everything around is collapsing. Advent is a time AFFLICTED, THEN YOUR LIGHT WILL RISE IN DARKNESS" (ISAIAH 58:10). for all to dig through the rubble that we have accumulated . . through a Disney vision of life. We have l~arned that there~ . . ~re harsh realities that we cannot simply escape. Every 'now' -. .- -

W -I -. t t h: . ~~~e~h~:n~v::~s ;rT~~fnd: ~:~~c~~t~~~i:: :~thO~~e~ft·f.~~~~Jf~: ~ ~::«?~ :'~:;t~~;:~,~;· ,:,.y~e: .CO meo". ;.e eyeryperson.,Fail~, ':'A"g'e f: he B'e'y·,o.'nd'" ..

what life should really mean to each and ing to confront ourselves, hiding from actuality and pretending that all is well will simply make fools of ourselves.

Advent calls us not to simply prepare for a holiday celebration, but challenges each of us to live the mystery of Christ in the present; to appreciate that each and every moment we have is a very precious gift. It helps us to respect life, one another and. ourselves. Thusly it should be seen that there is much personal value to be gleaned in this Advent season. As we truly long to see more clearly the truth of faith reflected in our present and future life, it is necessary for all in the Church family to pray that the Kingdom of God may grow numero et merito (quantitatively and qualitatively) in our souls and in the life of the entire Church family. This is just what our nation needs during this vet)! important preparation season. In particular the Christian community should see itself as the proverbial mustard seed that can make a massive difference in our country as it sees itself grow into that mighty tree shading all the people of the earth. Advent can truly make us hungry for God.

The Executive Editor

:thk'anc:ho~

.' OFfiCIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Publi~h~d weekly by tile Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River

, ,~~7 I-:Iighl~nd Aven~e .

P.O. BOX 7 '-Fall River, MA 02720 Fall River, MA 02722-0007 '.. Telephone 508-p75-7151 FAX 508-675-7048 . . 'E-mail: TheAnchor@Anchornews.org :&end address changes to P.O. Box, call or use E-mail a'ddress

EXECUTIVE EDITOR - ' . Rev. Msgr. John F. Moore EDITOR Davic:t B. Jolivet

NEWS·EDITOR James N. Dunbar

OFFICE MANAGER .Barbara ,M. Reis

..

By FATHER EUGENE HEMRICK CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE

We're entering a new age in which the business of a lone nation becomes the business of all nations, and individual nations are becoming one with one another.

It has been called the Age of the Beyond. One sign of this new age is the way warfare is changing.

Of course, we don't like the thought of war. How could we?

War causes many to lose faith in the future. But to the degree that we comprehend the dramatic way war is changing, we may be able to discover some rays of hope.

In the book "Morality and Contemporary Warfare" (Yale University Press, 2001), James Turner Johnson points out that the world's concern about war has shifted from the fear of global nuclear war between superpowers to a growing alarm over civil wars within nations. All too often these civil wars have resulted in genocide, with worse results than one could possibly imagine.

Terrorism represents another change in the tactics of war. Terrorists don't fight in the opim and are a sober reminder that the enemy you see is better than the enemy you don't see.

What could be positive in any of this? The positive side is in the new ways governments and the

O·

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military are responding to war.

One major change is a wider, more powerful use of information. In the war in Afghanistan, information not only has been used to advise innocent civilians of the reasons for U.S. involvement, but also to build international opinion against terrorism.

becoming less a matter of one sovereign nation fighting another.

Rather, organizations such as the United Nations or NATO or the World Tribunal have taken on a sovereignty of their own, making the war of one nation a war against the world.

These changes point to a new stage in history. We have moved from a post-modem age to the Religions such as Islam Age of the Beyond. Its defining and Christianity that have point is the interconnection of been working at better un- individual nations through masderstanding each other sive information. local civil wars are glonow find themselves ur- . balNow concerns. Seemingly insignifigently working to unite the cant wars once fought half way best of their moral tradi- around the world now are brought tions in order to set new into our living rooms via televiworld standards that are sion and the Internet, and are of -desperately needed if great significance. Religions such as Islam and Christianity that have peace is to prevail. been working at better understanding each other now find themNo longer are perpetrators of ter- . selves urgently working to unite rorism able to claim sovereignty the best of their moral traditions and do as they please within the in order to set new world standards boundaries of a country such as that are desperately needed if peace Afghanistan, claiming to be a cul- is to prevail. ture unto themselves. Every naNo doubt the future will experition in the world, no matter how ence warmongers who momentarily small or seemingly insignificant, get the upper hand in some parts of is now under the watchful eye of the world, making it seem as though the world, whose opinion is be- the world were coming to its end. ing formed by instant and mas- But I believe such uprisings will be short-lived because we have entered sive information.

Johnson also notes that war is the Age of the Beyond.

I never thought it ·would happen

THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Pall River - Pri., November 30, 200 I when he does, I'll dislike him again.

But for now, I feel sorry for Drew Bledsoe.

Dave Jolivet is a former sports

5

editor/writer and the current editor of The Anclwr.

Comments are welcome at DaveJolivet@Anchornews.org.

I never meant for this to happen.

My imagination shifted to 1993. of his life, Drew Bledsoe was speI never thought it could happen. In Bledsoe is the very first pick in the cial. He was the best. He was the fact, the possibility was so remote, I NFL draft that year, and shortly af- center ofattention. And it wasn't his never once gave it a thought. ter, he's the starting quarterback for fault. He happened to be blessed with But here I sit feeling sorry for the New England Patriots. He goes above average athletic abilities.

New England Patriots' And then, it all came to quarterback Drew Bledsoe. a crashing halt. Drew Bledsoe wasn't the best anyI can't believe it. I liked not liking Bledsoe. It gave me more. Someone else was in something to complain the spotlight. All sarcasm AND aside, I can't possible imagabout. It gave me some8t nd DECEMBER 1 & 2 thing to write about. Yet, ine what a shock this is to B.M.C. DURFEE my heart feels for Bledsoe. him. It probably won't last.

It'snot like he needs my Drew Bledsoe is far from HIGH SCHOOL sympathies. He makes $7

By Dave Jolivet washed up as a NFL quar~ FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS million a year! So why, oh - - - - - - - - - - -....._ _.J!I~...J... teroack. His best years may why am I feeling sorry for well be ahead of him.

LARGEST CRAFT FAIR IN him? Because following Coach Bill to a Super Bowl. He's a fan favorBut for this brief slice in the pie Belichick'sdecisiontostaywithTom ite. He's rewarded with an obscene of his life, Drew Bledsoe has to be SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS Brady as the starter, Bledsoe hurt amount of money. feeling the pain of emptiness he's 0 within.

I thought of all this when I saw never experienced before. And not '2.0 S n o "'\6\10~ •• f"".. "'~~\(\~G It didn't happen right away. In the hurt Drew Bledsoe on the news. even $7 million dollars can ease it. ~~ p~ fact I was very pleased to leam the Forjust about every waking moment Bledsoe will bounce back. And FALL RIVER SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION Patriots were still Brady's bunch. It's when I saw the look on Bledsoe's face that my emotions went sour on me. It's then I started to think about Drew Bledsoe, the person.

I imagined him in his crib in a town near Walla Walla. Washington back in 1972. He probably was able to toss his pacifier clear across the room before he could even sit up. Ican see papa Bledsoetesting the bicep on his wonderkid's right arm.

I envisioned little Drew in kindergarten playing dodge ball, knocking out several classmates with his cannon arm before he could be stopped. I can see the town high school football coach getting wind of the pre-school "phenom with the arm," and beginning his recruiting process. "Hi Drew, I'm Skippy. I'll be your friend for the next dozen or so years." , .

Citizens-Union Savings Bank can ,tielpl. '.

Then the image of Drew playing Pop Wamer football crept into mind.

When we say that Citizens-Union SaVings Bank is the only bank you'll ever need, we mean it. And, in a complicated I saw little Io-year-old cheerleaders world with financial opportunities and options undreamed of as little as 20 years ago, offering trust serviCes and going gaga.for the quarterback of investment management plus access to stocks, mutual funds and insurance for individuals and businesses is the best the Mt. St. Helen Lavaflows. I pictured the local sports pages splashed way we know to help with some of life's most important (and oftentimes complex) decisions. Questions? Talk to us! with images of Dynamic Drew heaving another touchdown pass.

I imagined Bledsoe strutting TRUSTS a INVESTMENT STOCKS, MUTUAL FUNDS INSURANCE· through the halls in high school, 8& BONDS MANAGEMENT PERSONAL 8& BUSINE$S winking and waving at his adoring classmates. He blushes slightly when George Oliveira and the Citizens-Union Savings Do you have investing questions? Get straight The best personal and commercial insurance the student council unsuccessfully Bank Trust Department team will answer your products in the market are available to you from answers from Les Jackson, Registered attempts to change the school name questions and work with you to set attainable Representative of Commonwealth Financial Narragansett Financial Insurance, the newest to Bledsoe Memorial High. I saw Skippy, a little grayer on top, toutgoals, then develop a strategy which ensures affiliate of Citizens-Union Savings Bank.

Network, member NASD, a~ Narragansett ing his QB to colleges across the your assets are handled and ultimately passed Tom Hassey and the people at Narragansett Financial selVices, an affilWe of Citizens-Union country. to your heirs according to Savings Bank.

Les has more.

Financial Insurance will meet ~l-,-~r Next came a vision of Bledsoe on the campus ofWashington State your wishes. To schedule than 20 years of investing::,: with you at 570 Robeson Street '" University. He seemed larger than '-'I an appointment, call experience. He'll explain your in Fall River or by ap~intment life leading his team through the 'I at your office, home or ihe ' 508-675-431 I or come see options and help you use asolid .\ I football stadium runway on fall Satnearest Citizens-Union Savings urday afternoons. His picture apus at 4South Main Street choice of investments to pursue , pears on national sports magazines, in Fall River.

George Oliveira Bank office. Call 508-679-6477. Tom Hassey your goals. Call 508-678-7955. Les Jackson and on national sports TV shows.

The state of Washington wants to mintits own currency with Bledsoe's picture on it.

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THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., November 30, 2001

Baptisms by Protestant clergy

Q. I am concerned about my . communities are true sacraments, ferred by the Church of Jesus two daughters' children. Two with all the effects of the sacra- Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons}cannot be considered valid. children of one daughter (she ment.

In fact, Catholic Church law As I'explained more fully in a is a nonpracticing Catholic, her husband is' a nonpracticing prohibits routine "rebaptism" or previous column: While Mormon Lutheran) were baptized in the conditional baptism of children or baptismal rites refer to Father, of converts to the Catholic faith. Son and Holy Spirit, Vatican Lutheran church.

The other grandchild's Their previous baptism in another sources explained, the Trinity in ~~."". Mormon belief is "not mother (also a three persons in whom the nonpracticing Catholic one divinity subsists, but married to a three gods who form a dinonpracticing Baptist) vinity." In Mormon teachplans to have her ,son ing, baptism is not a baptized Baptist to Christian sacrament estabcomply with the lished by Christ. father's wishes.

By Father No such doubts; howWhen children are John J. Dietzen ever, exist about Protesbaptized in a Protestant - - - - - - - - - - - tant churches, at least the church by Protestant clergy, does the Catholic denomination or church commu- vast majority of them. You need worry about your Church recognize these bap- nity is to be accepted as valid un- not tisms as valid sacraments? (il- less, after thorough examination, grandchildren's baptism. The serious reasons exist to doubt the Church communities you menlinois) tion are among those whose bapA. The sacrament of baptism validity of the baptism.

If it is determined that a con- tism is always presumed to be embodies us into Christ and his Church, and gives us a rebirth to ditional baptism is prudently valid.

(These Catholic regulations JANIS KARAM, president of the Friends of Saint Anne's share in God's life. According to called for, the ceremony should may be found in the 1993 norms be celebrated privately, for ecuCatholic teaching, baptism is conHospital and chairperson of the Friends' 2001 "Candleligh~ on ecumenism, Nos. 92-96; menical reasons and to avoid ferred with water and with a forBall:' is shown with her husband Jim at the fund-raiser at the Canon 869; and the Rite of Chrismisunderstandings about the mula which clearly invokes the Venus de Milo Restaurant. name of the Father, Son and HOly nature and meaning of this sac- tian Initiation of Adults, Appendix on Receiving Baptized Chrisrament.

Spirit.

The question sometimes arises, tians Into Full Communion with If baptism is ministered this way, with either immersion or Does the intention or beliefs or the Catholic Church.) , A free brochure outlining pouring of the water and a holiness of the person ministerTrinitarian formula, that baptism ing baptism affect the validity of basic Catholic prayers, beliefs is recognized as valid by Ca:tho- . the sacrament? Proper'intentlon and moral precepts, is available SWANSEA - More than Pledges from the evening will lics, regardless of where or by oil the part of the minister is al- by sending a stamped, self-adways to be presumed unless seri- dressed envelope to Father $63,000 was raised for the benefit the "Friends of Saint. whom the baptism takes place. ous 'grounds exist to doubt that John Dietzeh, Box 325, Peoria, FIRSTFED Center for Breast Anne's Diagnostic Imaging Since ~he ritual books or cusCare at Saint Anne's Hospital at Suite," within the hospital's toms pfmost; certainly all major; the mInister intended to do what IL 61651. . Questions ,may b~ serat tq ~e annual "CandlelighJ B~l':,' h~ld:; Fl~~TF.,EI? ~€,e!1t,erAor~ ~,r~l!~t..:': <;hri~.ti,an ~h_u!ches prescribe bap~ the 'Church'does.' " 'tast'year; for'exa:rriple;,.o"n' Ju'ne" Fath'eci' Dietzeo"al 'the"s'artie"\ last month at the Venlis de Milo' Care'whIch opened 'last spnng; -,,-. tIsm In ,thIS, l11anner, the assump-: Restaurant.

Major sponsors for the ball in- tion of the Catholic Church is that 5~' 2000; 'after'long study; the'-' address, • or ' e-mail: Over 300 guests joined the eluded the FIRSTFED Charitable all baptisms. conferred by these Vati~an, ruled that bapt~sms con- jjdietzen@aol.com.

Friends of Saint Anne's Hospital Foundation; Bond Brothers, Inc.; for the 43 rd annual gathering and PRIMACare, P.c.; Jim and Bob Friends president and chairman KaramlWSAR; the Jarabek famJanis Karam said its success was ily; Ronald and Dale Ferris; and due to the dedication of many and the Feitelberg Company.

As a volunteer community sermonths of planning by the event committee and several sub-com- vice organization, the Friends of mittees.

Saint Anne's Hospital enhance the "Weare so appreciative of the . image of the hospital within the Many people in neighborhoods around the town ,gion lesson I got somewhere around third or fourth efforts of all committee mem- community and offer financial where I live, relatively close to New York City, are grade when a teacher said, dogmatically, that "Jesus bers," said Karam. This year "we support through fund-raisers. facing Christmas this year without a loved one was born to die."

I protested then, and I still do, that every mother, were able to increase our spon- Their efforts playa major role in present. We've prayed, with hurting hearts, for so sor support, which, as many supporting the hospital in assist- many neighbors who lost their lives in the tragic, Mary, and me included, gives birth to a child to fund-raisers know has become ing patients, increasing levers~of purposeful destruction of the World Trade Center live, not die. Yet they die. What kind of sense does especially challenging in the past service and addressing fhe and the people trapped within it. We've prayed with that make? Or for that matter, what rhyme or rea. son does tragedy in any few months. That success com- healthcare needs of the commu- so many families mired ';;' bined with the extra efforts of nity. in pain. form make? our subcommittees has r,esulted To become a member 'of the Without Christmas, I This won't be the first wouldn't know. For Jesus' in one of the most beautiful, en- Friends of Saint Anne's Hospital time I have thought of tertaining and fruitful fund-rais- or for more information call the death in this season of birth wasn't angels singing alleluias, starlight, ing events for Saint Anne's," she hospital's office of development peace and beauty and celconcluded. at 508-235-5057. kings and shepherds. ebration. During Advent, thinking about what it

By Antoinette Bosco , That's the romanticism.

His birth was really the meant for Christ to be DIRECTOR OF MUSIC ...J... beginning of a message born into this world, I can't help but remember so many wonderful people brought to the world for the first time in a new A parish of approximately 700 families in the Taunton area I have loved who died. way. He said that pain~ tragedy and death indeed seeks an individual with organ/keyboard experience Every year, for example, I think of Barbara, a had invaded his Father's world, and while he couldn't teen-ager so outgoing and full of life when I first take this away, he would show us a way that all this knowledgeable in Roman Catholic Liturgy to lead its singing met her. She worked with me, helping to organize could be bearable. But we would neither believe congregation and adult choir, provide music for all parish a pre-school Confraternity of Christian Doctrine in nor understand unless we experienced it - the power liturgies and develop the music ministry in other ways, our parish, and was so full of love for the children. of love to make sense out of the world. (formation of a youth choir, cantor and song leader training, etc.)

In the next several years, she often dropped in at That's what I think of as Christmas approaches: The right person must understand the position to be that of my house to fill me in on the latest dramatic events not a promise that evil will go, tragedy will disapministry and be willing to, work with others. Additional in her life. She was so busy with the beautifUlly pear or life will get easy, but that we can learn to stipend for weddings and funerals. Interested persons 'should normal problems of getting a job vs. taking college live with all this, find hope and even joy because send resume (with references) including desired wages to: courses, keeping on a diet, activating a parish Catho- we've known love. The message from the stable is lie Youth Organization, making new friends, get- that love - and greater love, molded out of pain Music Ministry Search' ting a car and then the happy event of her wedding. - always remains inexplicably possible. Love conSt. Joseph's Church Sixteen months later, I knelt at her coffin. Barbara nects us to Jesus and to one another with a trans19 Kilmer Avenue died in childbirth and her baby died with her. forming current that sustains hope in us and someTaunton, MA 02780 I think of Jesus' de~th too. It goes back to a reli- times, miraculously, laughter too.

r-------.----Questions and Answers

Saint Anne's Hospital gala raises over $63,000

Where Christmas' promise is found

·The Bottom L· Ine

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Gospel -poverty for Christmas?

The holiday overspending season looms, and many of us are about to become, yet again, hesitant "fruits of the 1001J1."

Fortunately, the rece路nt Synod of Bishops in Rome sent us a message of hope, although the World Series pre-empted it from most major news outlets. No, not a Vatican bank increase in our Visa limits. Even better. A sincere call to themselves to become better witnesses ~o "Gospel poverty" in imitation of Christ.

About 250 bishops from 110 nations issued a closing statement after the October gathering in

able." You know, seriously religious stuff like that.

Second, the message came out just before our own American bishops began their annual NDvember meeting in Washington at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Capitol Hill. It was unclear how the poor were going to see the Hyatt Regency as embracing Gospel poverty, but the bishops will surely get around to that.

Which takes me back to fond memories of the late bishop of Spokane, Wash., BernardJ. Topel.

In the 1970s, Bishop Topel made national news when he sold his

He lived precisely the life described in the recent synod statement. He understood the truth of the pope's message tQthe bishops at the synod's opening Mass in

THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., November 30, 200 I which the pontiff strongly urged the bishops to live with the poor in the style of Jesus.

Interestingly, the U.S. bishops have just elected a friend and colleague of Bishop Topel 'as their

7

new vice president - and likely future president - Bishop William Skylstad of Spokane.

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episcopal mansion and his jewel-encrusted crosier to support programs for the poor. He moved into a tiny, $4,000

By Dan Morris house in a low-income neighborhood. He which they stated: "We should be drew no salary from the diocese. poor in the face of our brothers He drove an aging Chevy Nova. and sisters, marked by a style of I know I was seeing my own life which draws people to Jesus breath condensing one winter day the Lord. The bishop is the fa- when I visited him at that house. ther and the brother of the poor." He looked almost ludicrous sitThe five-page message said ting there in the middle of his bishops should be at the forefront sparse front room. He wore his of a dramatic moral change to overcoat, a hat, a tattered mufaddress the fact that 1.2 billion fler, gloves - and perhaps even people live on Jess than $1 a day. the long underwear that a Jewish.

The timing is doubly interest- woman from New York (inspired ing. First, it can serve as a holi- by his lifestyle) had sent him. He day reminder for we First-World kept the house hovering in the.

Catholics that we do not need to mid-40s during the winter to save do our personal bests to single- on fuel. Since the poor had to, so handedly stimulate the American would he.

He lived that way, he said, be- . economy. We might better serve the person whose birthday we cel- cause God wanted him to. The fact ebrate soon to use our resources he did gave powerful authenticin support of things like feeding ity to his gentle exhortations to the hungry, clothing those in need, embrace simplicity and seek a visiting the lonely and "unlov- poverty of spirit.

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THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., November 30, 2001

Vatican urges U.N. leaders for ban on all forms of cloning

By TRACY EARLY CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

with the resolution.

Switzerland, speaking as a perUNITED NATIONS - The manent observer as does the Vatican called on the international Vatican, said the Swiss constitucommunity to adopt measures for tion already prohibited human the "prohibition of any and all as- cloni.ng, but that international acpects" of human cloning. tion was necessary.

In a statement last week at The United States did not serve United Nations headquarters. in as a co-sponsor of the resolution New York, the Vatican nuncio said or speak during the discussion. that "the practice of cloning would If the resolution is accepted by usurp the role of Creator and the full General Assembly, the prowould thus be cess of develseen as an ofoping the confense before In a statement last week venti on will God." at United Nations headbegin with a The nunquarters in New York, the meeting' Febcio, ArchVatican nuncio said that 'the ruary 25 and bishop Renato practice of cloning would con tin u e R. Martino, when the Gennoted the danusurp the role of Creator eral Assembly and would thus be seen as holds its next gersofmalformation or an offense before God." session in death of emSeptember. bryos, but said Arc h the ethical objections to any kind bishop Martino, calling the proof cloning were primary. posal relevant and urgent, said getCloning to produce a child for ting the U.N. and national govern~ouples who have been unable to ments "committed to ajuridical in::onceive "forces the image and strument of the highest validity" likeness of the donor" on another was "more than justified." human being, and "denies the huThe archbishop said that "reman dignity of the child," he said. productive cloning" to produce a "That very dignity cannot be child was only part of the overall :he object or the instrument of the issue, and "an even more serious will of other people," he added. offense" was found in "therapeuArchbishop Martino made his tic cloning" to obtain stem cells ::omments in a statement to a com- from the embryos for use in treatmitteeofthe U.N. General Assem- ing certain illnesses. bly considering a resolution proThat would be an offense posed jointly by Germany and against "human dignity and the France, with numerous co-spon- right to life" because it would sors, to establish a committee to mean human embryos were "creexplore holding "an international . ated in order to be destroyed," he convention against the reproduc- said. tive cloning of human beings."

Archbishop Martino said the Lithuania said it would favor principle that a human embryo even stronger language against "should not be used as an object" cloning, Cuba said it supported the was "always valid, even when othresolution "unreservedly" and Ni- ers might benefit from that pracgeria said that "we agree entirely" tice."

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8"

AMONG PROTESTERS marching in front of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Secu路 rity Cooperation at Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga., are Sisters of Loretto holding a sign "nunca mas," meaning "nevermore." (CNS photo by Liz Quirin, The Messenger')

Thousands participate in annual protest march at Army school ,'.

"

. f\rea woman among the participants 0

COLUMBUS, Ga. (CNS) ' - money, who go back to their home A river of people - almost 10,000 countries - El Salvador, Guate- streamed into Columbus during mala, Colombia - and cause a lot the November 16-18 weekend to of terror, suffering and death."

He said, "We are here, thouparticipate in the 12th annual School of the Americas Watch sands of us from around the coun,.~ peaceful protest rally and march . try - we are students, veterans, against the U.S. Army school at senior citizens, people of faith, people of conscience, parents with 路 nearby Fort Benning.

The crowd, which included their children - we are here to 路 Estelle Roach of St. Mary Cathe- keep aJ.1ve the memory ofthousands dral Parish in Fall River, Mass., in Latin America who have been called for closing the school, for- the victims of violence of soldiers merly known as the School of the trained at Fort Benning, Ga." . Roach told The Anchor that this Americas and now named the Western Hemisphere Institute for was her first time among the demSecurity Cooperation. It trains mili- onstrators.

"I met Sister Clare O'Mara from tary personnel from Latin Amerithe Buffalo area of New York last can countries.

According to SOA Watch, summer and she had been sent to graduates of the school have been prison for her part in the protests in implicated in murder and torture in the past, and she inspired me," said their own countries, including El Roach.

"I am 75 and she is older ...

Salvador, Guatemala and Colombia The school's commandant, Col. gentle and quiet, yet after listening Richard Downie, said the school this nun, she moved me. I decided has changed since it was closed and then I had to do something about reopened under its new name Janu- taking part in the vigils and that I ary 17. Its 35 classes were reduced was called to be a peacemaker, and to 24 and human rights was intro- go down to Georgia," she added. duced as a topic in all of them. The Roach and Pat McSweeney human rights element is taught in from Taunton, Mass., flew to Fort the context of international law by Benning and took part, in most of military officers, some from differ- the teach-in sessions and subseent countries, he said. quent activities.

Maryknoll Father Roy Bour"I feel proud and privileged that geois, founder of SOA Watch, said I took part and I think efforts by the school may have a new name people like me will eventually have "but it's still about guns; it's still . a favorable effect to change the about combat; it's still about sol- government's mind about what we diers we train with U.S. taxpayer still call the School of the Ameri-

cas," Roach added.

Father Bourgeois and a growing number of protesters have gathered for the past 11 years for the event.

But this year many, including Columbus' mayor and City Council, questioned whether the demonstration ought to be canceled because of the September 11 terrorist attacks against the United States and the heightened state of alert every military installation is currently maintaining.

Father Bourgeois said he consulted with people in the movement across the country about it, and overwhelmingly they said to go ahead with the demonstration. .

Logistics for protesters who wanted to cross onto the base to be arrested were made more difficult this time because the entrance to the Army post is now protected by an eight-foot-high chain-link fence topped by three strands of barbed wire.

Eighty-four people still managed to get onto the property by going around the fence, which stretches about 500 feet in both directions across the front of the base. The 84 were detained and processed by the Army. Fourteen of them were charged in federal court with criminal trespass and resisting arrest.

More than 5,000 protesters placed crosses and other symbols of protest on or in front of the base gates.

The demonstration, as it has been for its II-year history, was peaceful, quiet and prayerful.

Project to publish Dead Sea Scrolls nears completion

By TRACY

EARLY

interested "in blocking those scrolls," but he said that a main NEW YORK - A project to reason for the slow pace of pubpublish the Dead Sea Scrolls is lication was the small number of nearing completion, with the ti- scholars originally assigned to nal. 37th volume based on the edit the texts.

The Dead Sea Scrolls, the best scrolls scheduled to be released later this year, according to the known of them from project's editor-in-chief. ~ the Qumran caves Emmanuel Tov made the,Jl6It .... · "j near the Dead Sea, announcement at a press con- c~.~'.. .' ..•.•. '. ' were discovered in ference recen~ly .at the ,_.'<". "\)t. "~ the New York Public LIbrary. ...,..,; "\~_ .... ..:..~' CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

Completion of the '-' ~''1f'I': '!'.~:~""'. project should bring an .,..~ ""; , ~ . end to comments about delays as an "academic scandal" or about a needed "liberation of the scrolls," said Tov, who announced that ' the final volume, titled "Discoveries in the Judean Desert," is being released by Oxford University Press. An intro" duction is to be published 0~~~' next year.

Some people had charged that late 1940s access to the scrolls, written and early mostly in Hebrew and Aramaic, 1950s. was blocked because they conPreserved by what is widely tained information about Jesus supposed to have been an Essen'e and the early Christian movement community that came to an end that would undermine traditional with the Roman destruction of the teachings.

Jewish state in 70 A.D., the Tov said the Vatican "was Qumran material constitutes a singled out" as allegedly being major addition to ancient biblical

and nonbiblical texts.

Dominican Father Roland de Vaux, director of the Dominicanrun Ecole Biblique et Archeologique Francaise in Jerusalem, was chief editor of the project until his death in 1971, and he worked with a small team of eight to 10 Catholic and Protestant scholars.

The area where the scrolls were discovered was under Jordanian control at the time, and Jordan would not allow Jewish participation in the editing.

In 1990, the Israel Antiquities Authority under retired Gen. Amir Drori, who spoke at the New York press conference, took control of the project, and appointed Tov to begin directing it the next year.

Much of the editorial work on the biblical texts has been done at the University of Notre Dame under the direction of Eugene Ulrich, an Old Testament professor.

James VanderKam, another Notre Dame professor of Old Testament working with Ulrich, said in a telephone interview from the meeting in Denver that the Scrolls included a lot of Old Testament material, the oldest known, and

9

THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., November 30, 200 I

scholars better understand Chlistian backgrounds and borrowings from Jewish groups, he said.

VanderKam, a member of the Christian Reformed Church, said the scrolls contained nothing that would have made Church authorities want to suppress them in the way critics had alleged.

would aid scholars working to establish the exact Hebrew text.

But he said the scrolls contained nothing that would change the message of the Old Testament.

The scrolls do not contain any New Testament texts or anything about Jesus or other individuals of the New Testament, but will help

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STOCKING STUFFER DR. CHRISTOPHER Klofft, a professor of moral theology, is flanked by Sheila Feitelberg and John McManmon of the Order of Malta after delivering a talk on medical ethics.

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PAT MCGOWAN SPECIAL TO THE ANCHOR

FALL RIVER - The third in a four-part lecture series on Catholic Teaching on Medical Ethics was host to Dr. Christopher Klofft, a professor of moral theology at Assumption College in Worcester.

The gathering at Bishop Connolly High School earlier this month heard Klolft address "Human Sexuality: Procreation and Pre-Marital Relations."

Noting that "sexuality is a major part of what people are," Klofft

quoted Pope Pius XI as saying that the two ends of marriage are mutuallove between the partners and the procreation of children. He then moved to a discussion of the pontiff's much-talked-about encyclical, "Humanae Vitae," published in 1968.

The encyclical has three sections: it stresses that any act of marriage must remain open to the transmission of life; it forbids abortion or sterilization; and it recommends natural family planning as an acceptable means of

bearing children. This planning recommends that if for any reason one does not wish to have children as a particular time in one's life, one should refrain from intercourse.

The Church and her members, said Klofft, should endeavor to spread the word with regard to the right use of sexuality.

The free series is sponsored by the Order of Malta, Saint Anne's Hospital, the Diocesan Office of Education and the Diocesan Health Facilities.

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THE'ANCHO~ - Diocese of.Fall River - Fri., November 30, 200i

Critics, fans debate 'Harry Potter's dark side

By MICHELLE MARTIN

Michael Burda, 14, drew a mural of Harry for the library in CHICAGO - The November his school, St. Mary's in Buffalo release of the Warner Bros. film Grove. Burda said he read all based on J.K. Rowling's first four books, even though he book, "Harry Potter and the doesn't like to read much, and Sorcerer's'Stone," has stirred up found nothing that he thinks most warnings from some Christian adults would find objectionable. critics, including Catholics.

"Harry's really a good person," Tht:;y say that the series of he said. "His character is really books about the young wizard a good friend." could confuse children about the Sawicki believes Harry Potnature of God and the world or ter provides wonderful advertiseven lead readers to witchcraft ing for the occult. She sees puband the occult. lishers jumping on the witchcraft Arlene Sawicki of South bandwagon'. Scholastic, the U.S. Barrington, in the Archdiocese of publisher of the Harry Potter Chicago, said she won't buy any books, also put out the Harry Potter books for her grand- "T*witches" series, about twin children and she encourages par- teen-age witches. Puffin offers ents to avoid the books, and, now, the "Sweeps" series, beginning the movie. with "The Book of Shadows," She told The Catholic New which has been characterized as World, the "a CinderellaChicago story of a shy, archdiocesan Catholic, high newspaper, school girl "Is it really just innocent that after dabwho transstorytelling with creative bling in New forms into a imagery, interesting charAge spiritualconfident acters and plots, capturing ism and the you Q g occu It nearly' , the attention of children w'omanand 30 years. ago;' who need to pr.actice their catches the man of her she recognizes reading skills or are we as dreams a danger that . Christian parents being through others might lulled to sleep?" Arlene not see.

Wicca." '~Many fear, Sawicki asked.

Wicca is a including my- . word related self, that the to the old EnHarry Potter craze is so seductive glish term for witchcraft. to our children that it will open "Harry Potter teaches chilforbidden doors to the occult," she dren it is acceptable, even said. clever, to practice witchcraft, "Is it really just innocent the occult, look into crystal storytelling with creative imag- balls, join a coven, cast spells, ery, interesting characters and chant, make potions, fly on plots, capturing the attention of broomsticks, turn yourself children who need to practice into an object, talk with spirtheir reading skills or are we as its of the dead, practice transChristian parents being lulled to figuration and work with dark sleep?" Sawicki asked. forces," Sawicki said, noting Joan Zabelka of Hickory Hills, that the Bible has more than a school librarian, heard the warn- 400 admonitions against such ings, and wasn't sure whether to practices. buy the books. But she read them In fairness, while dark forces and then shared them with her sons exist in Rowling's books, Harry Tim, 12, and Andrew, 16. and his friends work staunchly Zabelka said that the magic, fan- against them. And nobody joins a tasy and conflict between good coven. and evil in the books "are things Mary Margaret Keaton, a Virpeople have been reading about ginia mother and catechist who is for' ages." writing a book for Pauline Books Zabelka described son Tim as & Media on the Harry Potter phea "reluctant reader." But reading nomenon, admitted to being woralong with a taped version of ried when her oldest son fell in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of love with "Sorcerer's Stone."

Fire," he finished the 734-page Reading the books changed her tome in a week and a half. mind.

The Zabelka brothers scoff at 'The books challenge the readthe idea that the books could lead ers to become virtuous," Keaton children to practice magic. An- said. "Harry and his friends are . drew said magic is "a reality you making mistakes, but they are can't have, but you can experi- learning to accept responsibility ence it through imagination. It's for those mistakes and are movclearly marked fantasy." And Tim ing toward heroic virtue. And said, "They're just fictional books isn't that what every parent would for kids." hope for a child?"

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

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ACTORS MEKHI Phifer and Sean Maher portray the real-life friendship of Chicago Bears football players Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo in the remake of "Brian's Song", which will air December 2 on ABC-TV. Joy Piccolo O'Connell, Brian's wife, helped actress Paula Cale play her in the remake. (CNS photo courtesy of ABC)

Chicago Bears star's widow sings a new chorus to 'Brian's Song' HOLLYWOOD (CNS) - Most ing a pro football player just reach- a steady boyfriend through high baby-boomers and their parents re- ing his prime, brought a heightened school. After Piccolo died, his member the stirring TV movie-of- awareness to the disease. A Brian widow's n~ighbor introduced her to the-week "Brian's Song," chroni- Piccolo Fund still receives contri- Richard O'Connell; they were wed cling the competition and the friend- butions; because Piccolo had under- in 1973 and operated a ready-mix ship between Chicago Bears running gone what is described as a radical cement company until retiring to backs Gale Sayers and Brian Pic- mastectomy as part ofhis treatment, their native Florid~ last year. colo. .

After seeing it prjvately, the O'Connell family determined What might have been just an- that, with the kind of cancer that 0' Connell deemed her daughters too other sports movie took a dramati- killed Piccolo so under control, pro- young to watch the original "Brian's cally different tum as the biopic also ceeds would be used for breast can- Song" in its initial airings, O'Connell chronicled the life - and death from cer research at Rush Presbyterian- said. In fact, it was not until after she married her new husband that St. Luke's Hospital in Chicago. cancer - of Piccolo.

Part of the contributions comes they all sat down and watched it toThe film, still seen on occasion ' on cable TV, can bring out the hand- from a 25 percent share of the fines gether - three of them for the first " kerchiefs from women and men alike levied by the National Football time. It was "very emotional" for when its theme.is played. The film League against its players. "That's a the girls, she recounted. In fact, that has endured so well for so long that lot of money!" O'Connell ex- was the last time she saw it herself ABC is doing a remake of the TV claimed. This year, she added, the until she was asked to help with the movie it made 30 years earlier. The fund received close to $500,000 remake, she added. new "Brian's Song" will be shown from the NFL. The amount of The Bears give a Brian Piccolo Sunday, December 2, 7-9 p.m. E$T money varies, "depending on how Award each year for the player who as part of the network's "Wonderful bad they are," she said of the play- most exemplifies Piccolo. Last year's winner, linebacker Brian ers.

World of Disney" offerings.

Joy and Brian Piccolo met as Urlacher, was 22 years old. Urlacher The original movie established Billy Dee Williams (Sayers) and freshmen at a Catholic high school tried to get some insight from James Caan (Piccolo) as bona fide in Fort Lauderdale, Aa. It was love O'Connell's 24-year-old son with stars. Starring in the new version are at first sight "for him," she said, con- her second husband on just who PicMekhi Phifer as Sayers and Catho- fessing to.being too "fickle" to have colo was. lic actor Sean Maher as Piccolo.

Piccolo's widow, Joy Piccolo O'Connell, assisted in the production. "I never would have believed I'd be sitting here, 30 years later, doing it allover again," she said.

ROME - Sarah Brightman, strict standards and approval of "It's a good story, and I think the Charlotte Church, Tom Jones Vatican officials, the concert in youth today need good stories." and Manhattan¡ Transfer lead a the Aula Paolo VI theater will Being on the set, assisting actress stellar lineup for the ultimate feature the 120-piece Turin SymPaula Cale, who portrays her, was Christmas concert, "Musical phony Orchestra, conducted by "very emotional for me, but I was Christmas from The Vatican" air- Renata Serio. so happy to be a part of it this time," The program opens with ing locally on December 8.

O'Connell told TV writers in HolThe diverse program of tra- Stockholm Musikgymnasium lywood. 'There was more to be said. ditional Christmas and spiritual performing "Sankta Lucia."

He was a very unique individual." songs, filmed at the papal seat of Songs, include "Silent Night" and For trivia lovers, Cale co-stars on the Roman Catholic Church, and "Mary's Boy Child" (Tom Jones); the NBC series "Providence" with attended by cardinals, Italian "The Voice of Maria" (Dionne Mike Farrell. Farrell is married to nobles and members of Italian Warwick and Piero Marras); Shelley Fabares, who played the role society, will be broadcast Decem- "He's Got the Whole World in of Joy Piccolo in the original ber 8 on WGBH channel 2 at 3:30 His Hands" (Joan Orleans and the "Brian's Song." With the help of p.m.; and on WSBE channel 36 . Harlem Ten); "Christmas Time" both Fabares and O'Connell, "I was (Bryan Adams); "Ave Maria", at 7 p.m. in very safe hands," Cale said.

The concert brings the es- "Mater Jubilaei", "The ChristThe embryonal cell carcinoma teemed annual event to television mas Song" and "0 Holy Night" that killed 26-year-old Piccolo in just audiences outside Italy for the (Sarah Brightman); "White six months in June 1970 is now "95 first time since the program be- Christmas" and "Away in a Manpercent curable or controllable," ger" (Dee Dee Bridgewater); "0 gan nearly a decade ago.

O'Connell said. 'There was a reaWith the backdrop of the Come, 0 Come Emmanuel"; son he had to die, and we've all Vatican at the height of Christ- "Amazing Grace"; and John worked real hard at milking a difmas festivities, exquisite lighting Lennon andYoko Ono's "Happy ference for these people today." and a cast that had to meet the Xmas (War is Over)."

PIccolo's death from cancer, kill-

'Musical Christmas from the Vatican' to air on PBS

Why rubrics make sense "Rubrics" - the rules for celebrating Mass and other liturgical celebrations - have gotten something of a bad name in the years since the Second Vatican Council. Priests who follow the rubrics established by the Church are often accused of being "legalistic" or "unimaginative"; priests who take liberties with the rubrics are frequently thought to be "creative." It seems an argument without end.

Benedictine Father Anthony Ruff of St. John's Abbey in Minnesota, a thoughtful and knowledgeable commentator on matters liturgical, argues that the whole discussion of "rubrics" should be refocused. Here is what he wrote recently in Antiphon, the journal of the reformist Society for Catholic Liturgy: "The most important thing to say about rubrics is that they are not of central importance. The focus belongs elsewhere: on Christ who acts in his Church; on the community that gathers to celebrate Christ's continuing presence; and on the mystery of Redemption which is actualized in the liturgy.

"Rubrics exist only to serve these great mysteries. They do this best by being discrete and not calling attention to themselves.

The responsible priest faithfully observes rubrics because he does

not want to introduce any distraction that would divert the assembly's attention from the mystery and onto himself.

"Of course, no rubric is absolute and each rubric could probably have been arranged differently. In a sense, I do not care personally whether the approved

George Weigel

books of our rite call for no genuflection, or two genuflections, or six, at the [consecration]. However, I do care that priests and liturgical ministers be willing to follow a consistent pattern for the sake of the worshipers to whom their every ritual action belongs.

"Quiet and unobtrusive observance of the rubrics is entirely at the service of the prayer of the entire assembly. The laity should not have to adjust to the idiosyncrasies of liturgical ministers every time they attend Mass."

One of the most intellectually creative and imaginative priests I know told me recently, "I have made a solemn promise to myself never to say anything in the celebration of Mass that isn't in

THEANCHOR-DioceseofFallRiver-Fri.,November30,2001

the Sacramentary." He had been to too many liturgies over the past three decades in which the celebrant, substituting himself and his judgment for the prescribed prayers and gestures, had created a tremendous distraction to prayer. I could only applaud my friend's self-discipline, even as, like him, I sometimes chafe at the clumsiness of the English in our currently approved translations.

There's an odd inversion going on when celebrants take personal liberties with the liturgical texts. It's really a form of clericalism, which many priests who take those liberties claim to reject. Free-forming the liturgy says, however unintentionally, "Look at me." In fact, of course, the entire liturgy is intended to make us look, together, at the face of Christ - and in seeing Christ, to meet the merciful Father who comes searching for us.

"Rubricism," which connotes a kind of neurotic anxiety about following every jot and tittle of liturgical law, was undoubtedly a problem of Catholic liturgy years ago. But it is not our problem to. day. In the reform of liturgical reform that is now under way, the central issue is to remind ourselves that liturgy is not something we create; it is our partici~ pation in something God creates, I

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Sales of 'floating cros'ses' to help homeless veterans

By AUDREY SOMMERS CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE

DETROIT -Adrian Hill served during the Vietnam War in covert military operations. He ended up homeless after his wife died of a rare disease when she was 38.

"I was in debt over a half a million dollars in back hospital bills and had to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy," said Hill, who has congestive heart failure.

Hill found hope with the Michigan Veterans Foundation and today is a member of a team of veterans making "floating crosses" at the veteran's center in downtown Detroit. The crosses sell for $85 to $115 and help fund projects for veterans in need.

The five-by-seven-inch crosses are magnetically suspended in an ll-by-l O-inch maple or mahogany frame. Tethered by a nearly invisible filament, a cross appears to float independently of its base.

Each cross is overlaid with a figure of Christ crucified or a star of contrasting wood.

"The men and women who come to a veterans center are down on hope. They have lost everything in life. We hope to restore them socially and spiritually, as well as be able to put them to work manufacturing and putting the floating cross program together," James Coniff, board member and director of fund raising for the Michigan Veterans Foundation, told The Michigan Catholic, Detroit's archdiocesan newspaper.

Nationwide, it is estimated that there are some 270,000 homeless veterans. "We have young veterans from Desert Storm, older veterans from World War II as well as many middle-aged men from Vietnam," said Tobi Geibig, executive director of the Michigan Veterans Foundation.

"I had one Vietnam veteran who was still suf-

fering from post-traumatic stress syndrome after getting shot in the face during combat come to us.

Rick couldn't keep a job and was falling apart," Geibig said.

"Here is a guy who was awarded aPurple Heart and couldn't get help from the Veterans Administration even to give him some teeth because they asked him why he waited so long to get help," he added. "Rick held in so much pain all these years.

When he came to us, we got him in a good program. Now he plays guitar and is a wonderful wood carver."

The project is part Of the big picture of the foundation's goal to put jobless veterans to work.

Veterans assemble the pieces and engrave the frame's three-inch-wide base with lines of Scripture or a personal message.

"We start by restoring their pride. They were proud when they were in the military. We help them regain that feeling and build their self-esteem to become independent. We make sure they stay clean from alcohol and substance abuse, get them off the streets, reintegrate them into society, train them and help them get jobs," Geibig said.

Proceeds from the crosses also will go to Detroit's Institute for the Recovery from Racism, Father Clarence Williams, a member of the Society of the Precious Blood and the institute's founder and director, said.

Geibig said he has had three veterans, all under the age of 50, die in his arms during the last three years, all for reasons relating to service disabilities and homelessness.

"I don't want to see another generation of veterans go through what the last several generations have gone through," he said. "We've watched them die for us serving our country, yet we can watch them now die in the street."

11

for our worship is a participationby-anticipation in the liturgy of heaven.

The Christian community does not gather at the Eucharist to admire itself or to be dazzled by the celebrant's liturgical "creativity."

The Christian community gathers for the Eucharist to worship God. Rubrics are meant to help us do just that - to point us beyond ourselves, through ritual (another good word often given unpleasant connotations), to an encounter with the transcendent Truth and Love that is God the Holy Trinity.

Priests who are faithful to the

rubrics - priests who deliberately ensure that Christ, not the celebrant, is the focus of the liturgy - are fostering what the Second Vatican Council called the "full, conscious, and active participation of the faithful" in the Church's worship. That rubrics can change goes without saying.

That rubrics should not be unilaterally changed by celebrants as an expression of their own personalities should also be obvious, and from Vatican II.

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Vatican condemn's cloning of human embryo by U.S. scientists

THEANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River- Fri., November 30, 2001

Pope calls路for missionary activity, apologizes for wrongs in Qceania

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VATICAN CITY - Pope John tians arrived, these peoples had a Paul II called for a new wave of deep sense of the sacred, he said. missionary activity in Oceania based While defending the work of on elearproclamation ofthe Gospel's early evangelizers, he said some healing message and better expla- missionaries "sought to impose elenation of Church teachings on hu- ments which were culturally alien man life, the family and social jus- to the people." This is not the modtice, ern way of evangelization, he said.

The pope, in a final document The pope said the "shameful inon the Synod for Oceania, said the justices" done to indigenous peoples , Church must reach out to many - including those carried out by groups in the region, including those Christian communities - need to whom the Church may have hurt in be acknowledged and, as far as posthe past, such as indigenous popula- sible, corrected. This includes tions mistreated by missionaries.

Church support for a just solution He also voiced a strong Church on the question of alienation oftheir apology to the victims of sexual lands, he said, abuse by priests, which has been a ' Although it represented a small particular problem in Australia, the part of his document, the pope's largest country in Oceania. "mea culpa" statement on sexual The pope signed the 123-page ap- abuse by priests was one ofthe most ostolic exhortation, "Ecclesia in direct papal comments to date on Oceania," during a Vatican cer- the sensitive topic. emony last week. Then he clicked The pope said such cases had the "send" button on a laptop com- caused great suffering and repreputer and e-mailed the text to bish- sented an obstacle to evangelization ops' conferences in the region and noted that sexual abuse within marking the first time he has deliv- the Church was "a profound contraered such a document electronically diction of the teaching and witness and not during a personal trip. of Jesus Christ."

The aposto.lic exhortation was A recurring theme of the pope's based on written proposal,s approved document was that "the time is ripe" . by some 85 bishops who met-at the, fornew forms ofevangelization lind Vatican in late 1998 to discuss pas- new ways of reaching out to groups tora! challenges and future strategies that may never have heard the Gosfor the Church in Oceania. pel or who have fallen away from From start to finish, the text ech- the Church - ,sometimes because oed the pope's conviction that the of painful experiences. world needs the Gospel more than ,He sl\id some may find the ever and that Catholics'need to re- Church's teachings "irrelevant, undiscover their own vocation as mis~ ',' attractive Of unconvinCing,',' but"we " sionaries. ' can never allow such claims to unBecause Oceania, which covers dermine our confidence." one-third of the world's surface, in- , Wh.ile the document repeatedly ; eludes hundreds of ethnic and cul- urged new ways of reinvigorating tural groups, the Church needs to be the faith and sense ofmission among' extra-sensitive to their identities and Catholi(;s, it generally avoided conhistories, he said. Even before Chris- crete proposals. i

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Where: Conference Room, St. Anne's Shrine, Fall River (First floor of Rectory - enter Middle St.-follow the signs 漏 ) When: Thesday, December 4, 2001 7:15 p,m, Evening Prayer 7:30 Mass in Rectory Chapel 8:00 Seminar in Rectory Conference Room Presenter: Rev, Maurice Gauvin, Pastor St. John the Baptist Parish, New Bedford / Diocesan Vocations Team For: Youth Ministers, Teachers, ReI. Ed. Volunteers, Parents, Priests Info: Youth Apostles 508-672-2755

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"man embryos and not cells, as some would have (people) believe," the Vatiqan said.

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican condemned the The Vatican said the determination of when hucloning of human embryos by U,S. scientists, re- man life begins cannot be fixed by convention to a , certain stage of embryjecting claims that the reonic development, but search produced simple cells and not human individuals, instead was found "in Despite the scientists' the first instant of exstated humanitarian aims, the istence of the embryo research represents a new itself," Though in this case form of discrimination against defenseless people, ~~~~~d recognizing human life the Vatican said in a Monday was more difficult bestatement. cause researchers created the embryo in a "dis-huScientists at Advanced Cell Technology in Worcesman" way - without ter, Mass" announced Sunday uniting sperm and egg in the online journal "E- the resultant being had the same dignity as Biomed: The Journal of Regenerative Medicine" that any other human life, the MICHAEL WEST, chief executive officer Vatican said. they had cloned the first huof Advanced Cell Technology in Worcester, man embryo.

The scientists' justifiThe researchers said they Mass., announced that the company has cation on the grounds of would use the technique, successfully cloned a human embryo for the fighting illness "sancknown as therapeutic cloning, purpose of creating stem cells to treat dis- tions a true and proper to develop genetically com- ease. The research was condemned by discrimination among patible replacement cells for Church leaders around the world. (CNS human beings based on patients with illnesses like dia- photo from 'Reuters) measuring the time of betes and Parkinson's - not their development - so human clones. an embryo is worth less than a fetus, a fetus less than But the Vatican, noting that the scientists referred a child, a child less than an adult," it said. to what they produced as an "early embryo," reThis overturns "the moral imperative that instead jected the claim that no human had been cloned. imposes maximum care and maximum respect preIt is "beyond doubt, as indicated by the researchers cisely for those who are not in a condition to defend themselves, that here we find ourselves before hu- or manifest their intrinsic dignity," the Vatican said.

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

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BREWSTER - A Mass and healing s.~rvice will be held December 5 at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stoney , Brook Road. It will be celebrated by La Salette Father Wil, liam Kaliyadan.IFor more information call 508':385-3252.

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p.m. in the conference room at St. Anne's Shrine. Attendees are invited to join them for evening prayer at 7: 15 p.m. and Mass at 7:30 p.m. in the rectory chapel.

For more information call Youth Apostles ,at .508-672-2755..

FALL RIVER - The Fall EAST TAUNTON - Mem- . River First Friday Men's Club bers of 'the Taunton D'istrict ' invites all men of area parishes Council of the St. Vincent de to join'them December 7 at 6 Paul S~ciety wjll sporisor a p.m: for Mass at Sacred Heart Ma~s for the intention of the Church; An informal dinner will canonization of Blessed frederic follow in the parish center. Guest Oza,nam and in ~emory of de" speaker Father Joseph Viveiros ceased members December 3 at will speak about the Nativity and 7 p.m. at Holy Family Church. will show part of his Nativity The regular monthly meeting set collection. For more inforwill follow in the parish hall. mation call 508-678-1792.

FALL RIVER - Catholic' Social Services seeks volunteers to teach English as a second language, and civics in the Attleboro, Cape Cod, Fall River, New Bedford and Taunton areas. Prior teaching experience is not necessary and training will be provided. For more information call Areli Hodkinson at 508226-4780 or 508-674-4681.

FALL RIVER - The Youth Apostles Institutewill hold a program for youth ministers, teachers, catechists, parents and all interested parties entitled "Going Anyplace Special for Your Vocation?" December 4 from 8-9

FALL RIVER - Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for couples celebrating their 25 th and 50 th wedding anniversaries in 2001 Sunday at 3 p.m. at St. Mary's Cathedral.

For an invitation contact your pastor.

FAIRHAVEN The Fairhaven chapter of the Men of the Sacred Hearts sponsor a First Friday Mass every month. The next lit~rgy will be December 7 at 7 p.m. A holy hour with the Blessed Sacrament and later refreshments and socializing follow the Mass. All welcome.

NEW BEDFORD - The Fall River chapter of the Legion of Mary will hold its annual reunion Su'nday' at 2 p:m. at OUf Lady of Mount Carmel Church.

It will include Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and a social gathering in the church basement will follow. All active and auxiliary members and families are welcome. For more information call Father Barry Wall at 508-672-7232.

SOUTH EASTON - An Advent mission entitled "Always With Us," will be held December 3-6 beginning at 7 p.m. at Holy Cross Parish, 225 Purchase Street. It will be given by Father Henry J. Rancourt. Mass will be celebrated each day of the mission and the sacrament of reconciliation will be available. For more information call 508-238-2235.

TAUNTON - The annual Christmas party for Saint Anne's Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association will be held December 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Muldoon's Restaurant. All members of the class of '61 are invited to attend for their 40 th reunion. For more information call Josie Lafleur at 508-763-2609, WEST HARWICH - The Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Trinity Church, Route 28, invites people to spend an hour or two in prayer. This regional chapel of the mid-Cape area depends on the support of people, All ages welcome. For more information call Jane J annell at 508-430-0014.

Advent

THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., November 30, 200 I

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Continued from page one

16, the focus of the season is on Christ's glorious return at the end time of creation. From December 17 to 24, inclusive, the texts of the liturgy prepare us more directly for the Christmas celebration.

The four weeks of Advent can be seen as signifying the "four thousand years of waiting" for the coming of the Messiah by the Israelites as inferred from the biblical narratives, says Father Turner.

"Although the waiting continues among us ... who are eager for the fullness of God's reign," the author notes.

On the second and third Sundays of Advent John the Baptist, the Advent prophet, issues a call to penance. On the fourth Sunday, the Incarnational theme finally begins to develop with the account of the Annunciation.

Several figures' interpret the meaning of the season. The prophet Isaiah brings promises to the exiled Israelites. Sunday's first reading presents Isaiah's famous dream of a people at peace. It is a timely one. Isaiah says: "They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks."

By his life and message, John the Baptist readies us for Christ's coming.

"Mary embodies Advent hope: a quiet, obedient, pregnant waiting,

Gua.dalupe response to the national crisis which began with the September II attacks.

Following the Mass there will be a reception in St. Mary's School, including food and folklore from throughout Latin America.

Parishioners from St. Joseph's Parish in Attleboro are coordinating the reception.

The actual feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is December 12, which is the anniversary of the presentation by Blessed Juan Diego, of the tilma with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on it to Fray Juan de Zumarraga, OFM, Bishop of Mexico, in 1530.

The Blessed Mother began appearing to Juan Diego on December 9, 1530 and on December 12 she ordered him to gather roses for her to bless. He carried them in his tilma, she blessed them, and

a confidence in the glory that is to come," the "Sourcebook" asserts.

A penitential theme during Advent was more evident until recent times. In the early centuries of Christianity, fasting prevailed during Advent, a time for penitential self-sacrifice prior to feasting. That tradition continued until the Code of Canon Law of 1917-1918 was instituted.

The liturgical changes are reflected in the more bluish tint of the vestments worn during Advent Masses and services as compared to the purples with red tints worn during Lent's truly penitential season.

As Advent advances a spirit of expectation begins. to pick up momentum.

Each week another of the four candles on the Advent wreath, often made of evergreen (ever-living) branches, and placed in the' narthex or near the ambo, is lighted to mark the journey to the feast of Christ's Nativity.

How appropriate these everliving branches for a mid-winter feast that restates the promise of everlasting life when every other green sprig is dead.

Wreaths have always been symbolic of victory and glory. The basic symbolism of the Advent Wreath goes beyond that. It lies in the tension between darkness and light. It represents the long . time when people lived in spiri-

tual darkness, waiting for the coming of the Messiah, the light of the world.

Each year during Advent, people wait once again in darkness for the coming of the Lord, his historical coming in the mystery of Bethlehem, his final coming at the end of time, and his special coming in every moment of grace.

In the cold darkness of winter's onset, we look with new joy to the lights of Christmas, the lights at the Nativity Scenes - the creches in our churches and chapels - to remind us of Christ's light.

The custom of putting a candle in the window comes from 19th century Irish immigrants. It seems to have had its origin in the Yule candle, and represents a beacon to light the way for Mary and Joseph and the coming of the Christchild.

While the "gloria" is not sung or recited during Advent, "there is a different kind of music and song, and towards the end of Advent an avalanche of decorations. It is obvious that something wonderful is about to happen," says Dues.

Indeed the cry of the early Christians - Maranatha "Come Lord Jesus," is frequently heard. , We are inspired with the chant of, ~'O Come, 0 Come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel," as an entrance hymn that reminds us of

our frailty and the need to repent.

"The world around us will rush the Christmas season and clothe itself in tinsel while Christians find themselves wrapped in a deep spirit of hope restored," the "St. Andrew Missal" wisely reminds us.

In the midst of the spirft of consumerism, the secular world adopts a secondary theme that Father Turner says "blends well with the Christian season - the theme of charity."

During the period of time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, people are urged to contribute especially to causes that benefit the poor and the needy, he

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Even the marketing of Christmas relies on the good will of those who purchase gifts for family and loved ones as a sign of charity.

"Love benefits Advent," says Father Turner. "Love was God's motive in sending the Redeemer, and love is the way of life expected of those who believe."

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Continuedfrom page one

when he opened his tilma to present the flowers to the bishop, they saw the image of Our Lady on the tilma. This is the image which is still venerated to this day in Mexico City.

This year's celebration is being organized by parishioners from St. Mary's, Taunton; the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, Fall River; Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe and St. Kilian's, New Bedford; St. Joseph's, Taunton; St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis; and St. Mary's!

Our Lady of the Isle, Nantucket.

Transportation to the celebration will be provided in several areas throughout the diocese.

A bus will depart from Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe!

St. Hedwig's Church on Division Street, New Bedford at

3:30 p.m., and from St. Kilian's Church, 306 Ashley Boulevard at 3:40. To register for this bus, call Ana Medina at .508-9965862.

Transportation for Cape Cod residents will depart from St. Francis Xavier Church, Hyannis at 3 p.m. To register for this transportation, call Father Bill Rodrigues at 508775-0818. A $5 donation is requested. (NantucketlMartha's Vineyard residents should note the bus will not return until after the last ferry and plane rides. An overnight stay on Cape Cod would be necessary.

To register, call Sister Obdulia Olivar at 508-997-8729. Members of the EI Salvadoran community on Nantucket are scheduled to perform at the reception following the Mass.)

Rose Hawthorne Lathrop Home

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1600 Bay Street Fall River, MA 02724 508-673-2322

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Our Lady's Monthly Message From Medjugorje November 25, 2001

Fast

Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina Continued from page one

cials said the pope was expected to preside personally over the prayer meeting there, as he did in' 1986, when he convened a similar "prayer for peace" gathering in Assisi.

The pope said he wanted to invite representatives of all religions to "pray so that divisions can be overcome and for the promotion of an authentic peace."

"In particular, Christians and Muslims should meet together there, to proclaim before the

world that religion should never become a reason for conflict, hatred and violence," he said.

He said that today, as in 1986 during the first interfaith encounter in Assisi, the world needs to hear a "choral invocation rise with insistence" to implore the gift of peace.

In 1993, the pope hosted Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders in Assisi to pray and fast for peace in Europe; especially in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The pope ended his comments with a prayer to Mary, asking her to help the Church respond with "the路 strength of truth and love to the new and upsetting challenges of the present moment."

Vatican officials repeatedly have downplayed the idea that the pope could be a target of Islamic terrorism. While security has been increased at the Vatican as throughout Italy no dramatic measures have been taken, to protect the pope in recent weeks.

"Dear Children! In this time of grace, I call you anew to prayer. Little children, pray and prepare your hearts for the coming of the King of Peace, that with His blessing He may give peace to the whole world. Peacelessness has begun to reign in hearts and hatred reigns in the world. That is why, you who live my messages be the light and extended hands to this faithless world that all may come to know the God of Love. Do not forget, little children, I am with you and bless you all.

"Thank you for having responded to my call."

OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE GROUP

Marian Messengers .

P.O. Box 647, Framingham, MA 01701路 TeL 1-508-879-9318

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FALL RIVER - Students at SS. Peter and Paul School re-' cently participated in Make a Difference Day and reached out to the community in a variety of ways.

Kindergarten students collected newspapers, dog bones, toys, food and donations for the Forever Paws Animal Shelter.

First-graders collected boxes of tissues to be given to' the Rose

.

Hawthorne Cancer 'Home and each was accompanied by a special friend card.

Second-graders donated new books to the children in the pediatric ward of Saint Anne's Hospital and a collection of food was taken up by third-, fourth- and eighth-graders for several food pantries and soup kitchens.

Students in grade-five wrote letters to veterans in the Provi-

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dence R.I. Veteran's Home to remember those who have defe~ded our country and thank them for their dedicated service.

Students also collected more than 100 Teddy Bears to be given to children on a naval base in Virginia whose par.ents are currently on active duty. It was initiated by a SS. Peter and Paul graduate who is vice principal of a school on the base.

"

.... COYLE AND CASSIDY High School, Taunton, math teacher Daniel Larkin loo\<s on ,as senior Mich~el Caputo is congratulated by headmaster Dennis Poyant upon winning a $3,000 scholarship to Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Caputo earned the award for his high placement in the WPI Invita-" tionaI Math Meet. .... HEADMASTER DENNIS 'Poyant shakes hands with Junior Amy Pratt upon her return from the National Youth Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. Pratt was one of " 10 Massachusetts students to participate in the five-day program arid had the opportunity to meet with several U.S. senators and representatives. Moderator of the Taunton school's Student Assembly Brian Dickinson looks on.

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SECON D-G RADER Justin Mariano is helped off a bus by Our Lady of Mount Carmel teachers Terry Schlegel and Sonia Klakus during a recent bus evacuation drill. All children at the New Bedford school learned the safe way to exit a school bus during "an emergency.

CLASS ELECTIONS were recently held for eighth-graders at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, New Bedford.

Flanking teacher Tony Borges are class Secretary Sierra Lima and class President Carlos Andre.

Coyle'and Cassidy student advances . . "

TAUNTON -", Coyle and sityLatinScholarshipCompetition.

Cassidy High School has an-" His score made him eligible for nounced that Timothy Jussaume of the final round of the examina-" Berkley has scored among the top tion. Jussaume is competing for 200 students taking the preliminary half- and full scholarships to Bosexamination in the Boston Univer- ton University. \

Bishop Stang students earn awards ..

BISHOP FEEHAN High School, Attleboro, senior Elizabeth Wiseman is the school's nominee for a national award given by the Daughters of'the American Revolution.

NORTH DARTMOUTH Bishop Stang High School President Theresa Dougall recently presented the president's AchievementAward to the top 10 students in the freshmen class. Ii is awarded for overall excellence in

academic achievement and performance in the placement exam.

Award recipients are: Emily Babb\tt, South Dartmouth; Alexander Costa, North Dartmouth; John DellaMorte, West Barnstable; Dominic DeMello,

North Dartmouth; Angelina Giammalvo, New Bedford; Matthew Lecuyer, New Bedford; Brian Quintin, South Dartmouth; Jonathan Rezendes, Fall River; Kristen Sylvia, New Bedford and Lauren 'Yickel, Mashpee.

THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River - Fri., Novemp~r,30, 200 I,

15

Expanding Christian music choices seen appealing to more youths

By BElliANNE SCHOLL CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - As Christian music has expanded over the years to include pop hits, alternative, rap, ska and hard rock, the popularity of that kind of music has grown among youths in the Archdiocese of Kansas City.

Dana Nearmyer, consultant for youth ministry for the archdiocese, believes that about 50 percent of the youths in the archdiocese have been exposed to Christian music, with half of those being literate and knowledgeable about it.

"The essence of Christian music is its ability to draw people toward the sacramental life," Nearmyer told The Leaven, Kansas City archdiocesan newspaper.

"Youth ministry's use of Christian music as a way to reach kids has increased dramatically in the last few years."

In late October, the archdiocese hosted its first music festival. It drew 300 teens to Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg, and the featured bands included Guided, Until Tomorrow and Crispin.

The event was aimed at building on Church jubilee events, according to Nearmyer. "Jubilee should continue," he said. "We should blossom from that."

Kansas City songwriter Matty Molnar, who has a hit called "SuperMom" about the Virgin Mary, said he is intrigued by how and why music affects youths.

"Some parishes are sitting kids down and listening to popular songs you can hear on the radio,

and we're finding that they don't even hear the lyrics, but the sound of the music," said Molnar, a 24-year-old youth minister at Church of the Ascension Parish in Overland Park. "When you throw in a Christian song that sounds the same, any, kid you could pull off the street is going to pick it.

"And it can really blow a kid away when the songs he likes are about Jesus," he added. "Lyrics are really important, but it is the music that is attractive at first."

"A kid will listen to a song

about living out a Christ-like life and ask you a question about it," Nearmyer said. "I've had amazing conversations and incredible teaching moments because of it (Christian music)."

Jeremy Heinen, a youth minister at Cure of AI's Parish and a member of the Catholic group Guided, said he was never a big fan of Christian music until two or three years ago. It has changed' dramatically since the early 1990s.

"The industry has really exploded, anything you hear on the

radio you can hear in Christian music," Heinen said.

He thinks Christian artists "have two roads to take."

"They can say, 'I'm Christian' and market themselves that way, or they can go mainstream and that isn't necessarily bad. It's just a different way to hear the message. Either way, it's going to get through."

Joe Peterson, a junior at Benedictine College in Atchison and Life Teen band director at Church of the Nativity Parish in Overland Park, said he asks

UNTIL TOMORROW lead singer Ryan Miller gives a high-energy performance at a recent concert in the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kan. Christian music has expanded over the years to include pop hits, alternative, rap, ska and hard rock. (CNS photo by Christopher Stratman, The Leaven) ,

people what music is of interest to them and then introduces them to something comparable within the Christian genre.

"There's plenty of stuff within Christian music," Peterson said. '~It's just a matter of figuring out what someone likes."

He noted that most of the music doesn't delve into doctrinal issues and is "generally about a personal relationship with Jesus." He said occasionally he'll hear a lyric that from a Catholic's perspective "isn't completely theologically sound, but I've never heard one directly anti-Catholic."

Peterson believes Christian music is becoming more and more accessible.

According to the Christian Music Trade Association's SoundScan, contemporary Christian and gospel music has posted a nine percent increase in sales in the third quarter of 200 I, boasting a 26, 23, and 20 percent increase in Christian music sales in the three weeks directly following the September II terrorist attacks'.

"Christian music helps to express all the emotions that people are feeling right now - everything from the hope they are seeking, the faith that they hold on to, and the many questions that still linger," said Frank Breeden, the association's president.

Nearmyer added, "If music is important to you and God is a part of your life, you owe it to yourself to own some Christian music. It can really become the soundtrack for your life."

When a teen and the parish youth ministry don't mesh

By AMy WELBORN CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE

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Teens' personalities don't come in "one size fits all."

You know that, no doubt. But don't you sometimes wonder if the people in charge of youth ministry at your church know it?

I heard from a mother of two teens who was worried about her kids' faith. They were smart, good kids and interested in their faith.

They also were disinterested in their parish's youth-ministry program.

It's not that the parish wasn't trying. It was - very hard. It used a popular Catholic youth-ministry program centered around a teen-oriented celebration of the Eucharist.

But these particular kids weren't interested.

According to the mother, her daughter didn't want to go to youth-ministry evenings because they were "boring and stupid."

You have to feel sorry for Catholic youth ministers sometimes. If their programs focus on classroom work, they're said to be neglecting the social and emotional side of

teen spirituality. If they emphasize social ac- contemporary music. tivities, some people wonder where the acAs St. Paul says, the Church is like a body, tual faith formation is in that picture. and everyone of us represents a different part.

Someone, somewhere That's the way it is with always is going to find any . .- - - - - - - - - - . . adults, and - news flashparish youth-ministry pro-~~ it's that way with teens too. gram "boring and stupid." .. '-..,'" II If you're a teen who is But why should that surof turned off by your parish's prise anyone? youth-ministry program, After all, do parishes don't get bitter or take it treat adults as a homogeout on the Church in genneous group? Do all adults eral. Understand that youth in a parish get involved in . ministers are human beings the same activities? Of course not. Some en- with limited time and resources, and not one joy helping out in religious education, oth- of them ever has been able to design and ers prefer working in the soup kitchen. Some in'lplement the perfect program to fascinate sing, some decorate or clean the church, some each and every teen in the parish. visit the homebound.

If you've tried the youth-ministry proWhen it comes to liturgy, we don't ex- gram and found it's not for you, don't think pect all adults to gravitate toward the same that means Church involvement isn't for you. style of celebration. Some adults like a qui- It is, but perhaps in a different area. eter style, with little music, and others are Consider what you want out of your exnourished by lots of music. Some prefer perience with the Church, and consider what more classical Church hymns, others enjoy you want to give. Then find a spot or two in

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your parish where you can live that out.

Maybe that means working with other teens in the youth ministry's charitable work, but then getting involved in the music or liturgical ministries of one of the "regular" parish Masses.

Perhaps it means, helping out with religious education for younger children.

Maybe, if you're as serious about your faith as you say you are and the catechetical programs for teens just aren't going deep enough for you, it means participating in the "adult" religious education programs in your parish: evening Bible studies or faith updates, workshops, seminars. It might be a little scary to walk into a room full of adults at first, but don't worry. They'll be delighted to see you, especially if you're serious.

So give the youth-ministry program a chance. If it doesn't grab you, it just might be that you need something different, and that's OK - as long as you get up, follow your heart and try to find what that "something" might be!

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16 THE ANCHOR -

Diocese ofFall River - Fri., November 30, 2001

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New Testament places: Bethlehem, City of David

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Archaeology helps us to understand the Bible as record of real places, real people and real occurrences in life that could paralleI ours. We are able see them as approachable and enlightening, as teachable and applicable, as predecessors in faith from which we can learn.

For the next several columns, ' pieces about places, people and events of the biblical world hopefully will give life to dusty, odd, but familiar names, and even dustier places and events.

With the aid of archaeological discoveries and documented Church history and tradition, we will begin to explore distinct persons from the New Testament and from the Old Testament records. We will look again at those events we know so well, but hopefully can know with a newfound excitement.

So, off we go to Caesarea Philippi, and to Joppa, and to f,'~, ., Armageddon and other strange '. pla~es; and to the Transfiguration, and the Exodus and journeys of Paul; and to meet, Ruben and Nicodemus, and Gideon., . ~-' Bethlehem is a good place to start. Every child knows its name. It is a place of special beginnings, both for the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Th~re are in fact two Bethlehems in the Bible: the birthplace of Jesus (our subject today) in Judah (Genesis 35:16 and Luke 2:4) and the lesser known Bethlehem in Zebulun (Joshua 19:10), lying just six miles northwest of Nazareth, the boyhood home of our Lord. This recently discovered site has caused many to speculate that this northern Bethlehem was the birthplace of Jesus, not the Judean Bethlehem a hundred miles to the south.

However, in accordance with Old Testament prophecy, the Messiah would come from the Judean settlement, the city of David.

It would have been easier, some say, for the Holy Family to have traveled that short five or six miles to be taxed than the torturous

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WORLD,.w AR I veteran Gustave Streeter, 105 years old, is wheeled out of the Indiana War Memorial in Indianapolis after receiving the Purple Heart. (eNS photo by Mary Ann Wyand, The, Criterion)

105-year-old vetera·n of wwr gets Purple, Heart INDIANAPOLIS (CNS)Gus finally got his Purple Heart.

Eighty-three years after being wounded by shrapnel on a battlefield in France, World War I veteran Gustave A. Streeter of Indianapolis was honored by the U.S. government during a recent military ceremony at the Indiana War Memorial in downtown Indianapolis.

It was the realization of a longtime dream for the 105-year-oldresident of the St. Augustine Home for the Aged run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. ''Now I know that America also cares for me," Streeter said after receiving the PUrple t!eart for injuries suffered' when German shells exploded near his artillery position.

Streeter has scars on both legs as proofofhis wartime valor. He would have received th~ prestigious medal after bei~g wounded on Oct. 24, , 1918, if he had requested medical help for his injuries at the time: '

Instead, the former U.S. Army private - who was trained as a pharmacistbefore the war ~ treated his injuries with medical supplies in his first-aid kit because he didn't want to leave his friends in Battery F of the 340th Field Artillery Regiment of the 89th Infantry Division of the American Expeditionary Forces on the battlefield in France.

'We finally corrected the record, and I think that's great," Maj. Gen. George Buskirk Jr. of the Indiana National Guard said after the ceremony. 'There are thousands ofveterans like Gus who were never properly decorated beclluse nobody worried about. the paperwork at the time," he said.

'This is wonderful," SisterMarie, Geraldifle Freeman said. "Gus said to me this morning, 'There's an awful lot of people to thank, sister, for getting this award for me.' I think he had tears in his eyes when they pinned the PUrple Heart on him."

CHRISTMAS . . .FESTIVAL . ."

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November 22 to January 1 Illuminations: 5:00-9:00 p.m. daily

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trip to the south.

Bethlehem lies in a limestone ridge in the hill country of Judea (Judea and Zebulun to the north were each one of the 12 divisions of the land of Israel) about five miles south of Jerusalem. At an elevation of more than 2,500 feet, the village has a breathtaking, commanding view ofthe country. At the time of Jesus, and centuries before, shepherding and agriculture drove the local economy, as it does today. Cereal crops, vineyards and olives orchards were prevalent then and now.

In the Old Testament it was the setting for the book of Ruth, and it was where David was born and anointed as king (1 Samuel 16). It was because of Jesus' ancestry to King David that Joseph had to go to Bethlehem of Judea to be taxed.

From the 10th century B.C. Bethlehem had a strategic military importance, having been a Philistine garrison (2 Samuel 23) and a fortified southern kingdom location under King Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11 :6). Its importance, however, waned into obscurity in the succeeding centudes before Christ. But, a thousand years after David had led his sheep up and down the fertile pastures and hills of that land, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, just as the ancient prophet Micah had prophesied (Micah 5:2). It was to tiny, insignificant Bethlehem that God entered humanity; it was to Bethlehem that the star shown above in the heavens; it was to where wise men came; and to where wise men of this and all generations still visit in their hearts.

Bethlehem is a good place to start our visits to people, places and events in the biblical world. Happy Digging!

Ask Dr. Dig Did the ancient peoples use toothbrushes and cleaner?

Fred in Albany

Dear Fred: Most ancient societies, especially in the , .Egyptian and later Greek and Roman civilizations, practiced good dental health as far as we know. The Egyptians used natural sponges, papyrus shreds and a concoction of honey and abrasive substances with which to clean their teeth. We can only speculate the Semitics and Hebrews followed their 'example.

FREE Parking

Daily Mass: 12:10 & 5:30 p.m. ' Sat.-Sun: Additional Mass at 4:00 p.m.

Sacrament.of Reconciliation Daily: 2:00-8:00 p:m.

(Except Christmas Day and New Year's Day)

A

STONE MANGER IN BETHLEHEM

Dr. John Heird is a Bible historian and ar.chaeologist. He is a writer and lecturer on "biblical backgrounds and is the development director for the Diocese of Little Rock. Write him at drdig@lampcom.com.