11.01.19

Diocese of Fall River, Mass. † Friday, Nov. 1, 2019

All Saints Day - Nov. 1 All Souls Day - Nov. 2

Notre Dame Cemetery, Fall River.

(Photo by Dave Jolivet)

November 1, 2019 †

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Bishop da Cunha launches new blog FALL RIVER — On October 23 Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., launched a blog as an additional means to communicate with the faithful in the Diocese of Fall River in an easy, less formal and popular way.

On his blog, entitled

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“Building Faith,” Bishop da Cunha intends to share his experiences and reflections as he travels around the diocese, and sometimes beyond, carrying out the responsibilities that are his as bishop.

As he explains in his first post, “It is my desire

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to utilize this weekly blog to build community within our diocese, strengthen our faith and share the many activities a bishop is blessed to participate in.”

Bishop da Cunha also noted that the introduction of the blog is “a wonderful way to celebrate my fifth

year as Bishop of Fall River.”

The blog can be accessed through the diocesan website at www. fallriverdiocese/bishopsblog/ Bishop da Cunha plans to post each Wednesday and to include photos and other media as available to accompany his text.

The launching of the blog is one of the initial actions to emerge from the diocesan Rebuilding in Faith and Hope initiative. The initiative brought together nearly 400 persons meeting over several months this year to study and offer planning recommendations designed to strengthen areas of diocesan administration, minis-

tries and services.

“As the Diocesan Pastoral Council continues to review the proposed planning recommendations to prioritize them and determine the best way to implement them, we’re excited that the Bishop’s Blog and a few other recommendations could be put into place quickly,” said Laura M. Carrillo, the director of Strategic and Pastoral Planning in the diocese. “And we knew Bishop da Cunha is eager to start his blog.”

This is the link to the first blog post: http:// www.fallriverdiocese. org/launching-bishopda-cunhas-new-blogbuilding-faith/

Faith-based educational coalition advocates for fair share of government funds for special education students

By Dave Jolivet Co-Editor

davejolivet@anchornews.org

FALL RIVER — Federal funds earmarked for assisting Massachusetts students with special needs have been consistently absent from faith-based educational facilities for several years.

Following a years-long process of complaints, claims and appeals, a coalition of Catholic schools and Jewish day schools in Massachusetts, Project Access Coalition, earned a hard-fought victory in securing its fair share of the federal funding retroactive to 2014-18.

In 2004 the U.S. Department of Education introduced the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which each year allocates millions of dollars to states to be used to assist students with special needs, including those in private or religious schools.

Steve Perla, Superintendent of Schools of the Diocese of Fall River, who for more than a dozen years served as a lobbyist for faith-based educational rights with the Parents Alliance for Catholic Education (PACE) told The Anchor that several years ago it was discovered that Catholic and Jewish schools and other private institutions were not receiving their fair share of the monies.

Along with representatives of other private educational institutions, “We had serious concerns that the state of Massachusetts wasn’t following the federal guidelines for distributing those funds.”

As an offshoot of PACE the four Catholic dioceses in Massachusetts and Jewish day schools formed Project Access Coalition to monitor the state’s actions and to seek a fair distribution of the federal funds in the Commonwealth.

“The collaborative approached the U.S. Department of Education and expressed our concerns,” said Perla. “From that, the U.S. Department of Education performed an audit and found that Massachusetts was indeed non-compliant when it came to distributing funds to non-public schools. The federal government in fact cited the Massachusetts Department of Education for non-compliance and for not having a proper system in place to let the different districts know how to allocate the funds.”

Project Access Coalition attempted to resolve the issue with the state Board of Education to no avail.

“We then filed a claim against the state Department of Education and 27 districts within the state who were out of compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.” The matter was not resolved via that method, and the coalition took the appeal to the federal government’s Program Resolution Office which found the state and the 27 districts in non-compliance.

The state’s reaction to the federal decision was to offer extensive training within the districts and to closely monitor the funding

in the future.

“We were not satisfied with the state’s response,” Perla told The Anchor.

“There was just not enough substance in its remedy.”

In 2017 the coalition filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education. “On October 15, the feast of the Assumption, we received a letter from the U.S. Department of Education indicating Massachusetts was found out of compliance, not only in the 27 districts mentioned in the complaint, but statewide. I could see Our Blessed Mother was watching over us.

“That was a big decision in our favor. The take away was that the state of Massachusetts had to re-write its policies and guidelines according to U.S. Department of Education standards and the state was required to go back to 2014 and recalculation the proportionate share for non-public schools from 2014-18.”

Perla said that could result in up to $100 million, but pointed out that the schools involved wouldn’t receive cash awards.

“What will happen is that the state will provide the non-public schools with assistance in professional development and/or direct services for those students who qualify for assistance.

“For instance the state will contract vendors or service-providers to come and offer students services such as speech therapy or occupational therapy and other services. This is very important because it will allow us to serve our

kids with mild to moderate disabilities. It’s good for schools to provide services to all kids.”

The process is far from over at this time though.

“We still have to settle with the state on the number of children since 2014 who were eligible for IDEA services. We estimate that roughly seven percent of our students need special education or related services; such as speech and occupational therapy. Once this is settled there will be additional services that they may be entitled to. This is a very important decision and it has major implications for kids in non-public schools who need services.”

Perla said that securing the non-public schools’ fair share of the federal funds is important because, unlike the separate state funds for special education, the services from federal funds

can be provided at the eligible students’ schools.

“The state also offers assistance, but that assistance has to be provided on state properties, meaning the students have to leave their schools to receive the services, and their parents are burdened by transporting them to and from.”

While the future looks bright for the schools represented by Project Access Coalition, there are still some Massachusetts districts that are still in noncompliance.

But Perla was quick to point out that many diocesan schools have had a very good working relationship with some districts.

“I would like to commend Superintendent Matthew H. Malone from the Fall River School district,” said Perla. “We have had an extraordinary collaboration 8 Turn to page 19

November 1, 2019 †

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The Communion of Saints and our Catholic DNA

nne Bernays wrote an op-ed in the Boston Globe a few weeks ago in which she described being born into a secular Jewish family that had denounced their religion in the wake of the anti-Semitism rampant in the early 20th century. When she asked her father what religion they were, her father told her “You are nothing: you can choose what you want to be when you grow up.”

“Any way you look at it, this is a terrible answer.

Not only is it factually wrong,” she said, “but it’s also morally questionable.”

Later in life she chose to be what she believed was her birthright: Jewish.

Even though her father told her that “Jewish” was just a description of one’s religious beliefs, Anne felt that there was really no choice. “I’m Jewish, whether I like it or not.”

In her brief reminiscence of finding her way to a religion that was not nurtured by practice, Anne Bernays tells a story that is common to those whose hearts seek more than what the world can give.

Dorothy Day, a heroine of the Catholic faith, found her way to God through carrying her baby within her. The months of pregnancy forced her into an isolation that allowed her to reflect on the beauty of Creation that eventually brought her in communion with God. When her daughter was born she made the difficult decision to convert to Catholicism and have her child baptized. She risked her connection to 4

her family and friends, and ultimately severed her relationship with the child’s father, an avowed agnostic. “I knew that I was not going to have her floundering through many years as I had done, doubting and hesitating, undisciplined and amoral.

I felt it was the greatest thing I could do for my child.”

Anne Bernays and Dorothy Day are testaments to the theological maxim from St. Augustine’s “Confessions”: “Our hearts are restless until they find rest in you, O God.” Their stories give us hope in this time of religious apathy among young parents that search everywhere for happiness and fulfillment for themselves and their children, but never look within to the hole that God wants to fill. Luigi Giussani, founder of the Catholic lay movement Communion and Liberation, believes that there is an innate resistance to religion that must be overcome by teaching what it means to be a true disciple. He argues in his book, “Why the Church,” “If anything

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remains outside of what we call the ultimate thing, that is ‘God,’ then it no longer is the ultimate.” He believed that people resist a concept of God that can only be accessed through religion because “there exists a repugnance in us, which has become instinctive, towards the idea that the religious sense might

dominate, might consciously determine our every action.” People will resist a religious sense of God if they don’t encounter people who are living embodiments of their own encounter with God. Christianity was not meant to be a religion, but a way of life, a way of being human. Human beings who embrace what Ronald Rohlheiser identifies as the elements that comprise the essentials of Christian life spread faith. In his book, “The Holy Longing,” he explains how these four elements: private prayer and private

morality; social justice; mellowness of heart and spirit; and community, help to reorder our human instincts and balance our lives. “Only when all four are present in our lives are we healthy, as Christians and as human beings.”

The path to God is as varied as there are people.

Anne Bernays came to God through communion with her ancestors. “Without having consulted anyone, I found that my identity as a minority and as a descendent of a people vilified, harassed, brutalized, and slaughtered for centuries took hold — and it felt comfortable.” Dorothy Day found God in the beauty of Creation, both in her environment and growing within her. No matter what religion one embraces, the God we encounter is only experienced as real when incarnate in others. We are not asked to quote Scrip-

ture, or teach our religious dogma, but to allow God to be experienced through us.

As we reflect on our own path to God, the words of Mary Livingston Roy, from her journal “Alive Now,” sheds light on how God is perceived in a harsh world: “I once sought repentance and community in your walls, but I saw God reflected in your faces as you turned away from the likes of me.

Forgiveness was never given me. The healing love that I sought was carefully hoarded, reserved for your own kind. So be gone from me and speak no more of God. I’ve seen your God made manifest in you and He is a God without compassion. So long as your God withholds the human touch from me, I shall remain an unbeliever.”

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

Rally emphasizes the power of the Rosary continued from page 10

can Friars of the Immaculate in New Bedford, and many others.

Wilcox, a parishioner of St. Bernard Parish in Assonet, fondly credited her ministerial work in the diocese for her involvement with the program.

“I had the opportunity to go to parishes, schools, nursing homes and assisted living facilities during the year of the anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun to speak about the story of Fatima and Our Lady’s call for conversion and fasting,” Wilcox told The Anchor. “It was a wonderful opportunity to witness to the faith and love that people in the diocese have for Our Lady.

Therefore, it became natural for me to become involved in ‘Rosary Coast to Coast’ as we continue to make Our Lady’s requests heard.”

“I was given great peace when I witnessed the love and faith of the people who were present at Fort Taber in New Bedford as we united our prayers for our nation, Church and families,” she

added. “It is also interesting that during this time of Spiritual warfare we prayed at the location of a fort! May Our Holy Mother hear our fervent prayers.”

Edwin Aldarondo, a parishioner of St. Anthony’s Parish in New Bedford, played a leading role in organizing the event. He was able to provide The Anchor with a historical background of “Rosary Coast to Coast.”

“In the year 1571, when faced with an invasion of Europe by the Ottoman Turks, Pope Pius V sought the intervention of Our Lady in anticipation of the battle of Lepanto on October 7,” he said. “Pope Pius V formed the Holy League of Nations and ordered the churches of Rome opened for prayer day and night and urged the faithful to invoke the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary through the prayer of the Rosary.”

“Although the Muslims greatly outnumbered the Christians, the Holy League was victorious in saving

Europe from the invasion,” he told The Anchor. “That victory led Pope Pius V to establish October 7 as the feast of Our Lady of Victory, later renamed the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary by Our Lady of Fatima in Her last apparition of October 13, 1917.”

In his address to the crowd, Father Peschel reiterated the immense Spiritual power of the Rosary as seen in the events of Lepanto.

“Thus, we see that the most powerful weapon that day was not a gun or a cannon, but the one carried at the side of faithful Catholics who took arms invoking our Blessed Mother’s powerful intercession.”

Wilcox insisted on the need for “another Lepanto” in the Church today.

“Due to the fact that we are currently waging Spiritual warfare in our nation, it is vital that we give heed to our Mother and request her to step in and help us,” she writes. “We need another Lepanto miracle where events suddenly changed as

Catholics prayed the Rosary at the request of Pope Pius V and Europe preserved her Christianity against all odds.”

The power of the Rosary to change the course of history can also be seen in modern occurrences.

In 2015, when Poland was in a critical state faced with threats of a loss of democracy, a loss of Christian faith and values, including infringement of their country’s borders, the bishops of Poland came together and rallied the Catholic faithful to pray a 54-day Rosary Novena which began on August 15, the feast day of Our Lady of the Assumption, and ended on October 7, the feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary.

“It was from this great initiative that a ‘Catholic spark’ was ignited in Poland and numerous other Catholics countries across the world to pray the 54day Rosary novena and to participate in a ‘coast to coast’ Rosary around their borders,” Aldarondo added.

“In doing so, they asked the Blessed Mother, who is one of the most powerful combatants against the forces of evil, to undo the evil and to change the world and our Church for the better, by the means provided to us by Our Lady.”

The New Bedford Catholic response to all of this began in the spring of 2018 by a very small group of faithful Catholics from different parishes who came together at St. Anthony of Padua Church to talk about the crisis in our Church and nation.

“It was agreed that we had to do something as Catholics, beginning in each of our parishes, by making sacrifices, extra hours

of Adoration and Rosary prayer and by promoting the 54-day Rosary Novena and to establish and promote the ‘Rosary Coast to Coast’ in a suitable local coastal area,” Aldarondo told The Anchor.

“Fort Rodman/Fort Taber was chosen as a venue for the ‘Rosary Coast to Coast’ because of its location, its beauty, its space to accommodate a large crowd, and because the centerpiece of the park is the historic Fort Rodman Military Installation, built between 1857 and 1871 as part of the nation’s coast defense system, thus connecting it to the military events of Lepanto.”

Charisma DaSilva, a parishioner of St. Anthony’s in New Bedford who oversaw the projection of prayers and lyrics on TV screens flanking the main stage, provided her own impressions of the day.

“My husband Steven and I have been part of the ‘Rosary Coast-to-Coast’ committee of New Bedford since 2018,” she told The Anchor.

“My family — my husband, my three children, and myself — have had the blessing of attending the event in both 2018 and 2019. It is a great witness to our faith.”

“The gathering of lay people and religious to pray for the intentions of the Church is a powerful testimony that we can participate in our own simple ways to bring the necessary change in our society, Church community and within our own families,” she stated. “It was also a great way to respond to Mary’s call for prayer and reparation.”

For more photos of the event visit The Anchor Facebook page.

November 1, 2019 †

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Editorial Saints working for our souls

Today (November 1) we begin a month of remembering our beloved dead. On this day we thank the Lord for all the saints who are in Heaven, all those people who said “yes” to Christ’s invitation to try to love God with their entire being and to love their neighbors as themselves. All of them would be first to point out that they are in Heaven thanks to God’s mercy, not merely due to their own merits.

Tomorrow (November 2) we remember the souls in purgatory, as we observe All Souls Day. On Oct. 30, 2013 Pope Francis spoke of our close connection to the souls. “All baptized persons here on earth, the souls in Purgatory and all the blessed who are already in Paradise make one great family. This communion between earth and Heaven is realized especially in intercessory prayer.”

We intercede for the souls in purgatory through our prayers and sacrifices — the most important of which is Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary offered for them through the Mass. The saints in Heaven intercede for them, as well as for us, since they perfectly love them and us. Their love for us all mirrors Christ’s love. Their love helps us to feel uplifted and to thus love better.

Pope Francis last Sunday in his homily spoke about an attitude which was not similar to the love the saints have for us — the attitude of the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14. “[H]e boasts because he fulfills particular commandments to the best degree possible. But he forgets the greatest Commandment: to love God and our neighbor (cf. Mt 22:36-40). The tragedy of this man is that he is without love. Even the best things, without love, count for nothing, as St. Paul says (cf. 1 Cor 13).

Without love, what is the result? In fact, he asks nothing from the Lord because he does not feel needy or in debt, but he feels that God owes something to him. He stands in the temple of God, but he worships a different god: himself.”

The saints during their lives on earth knew that they were nothing without God’s help and God’s love. The Pharisee thought that he was really something — and someone a lot better than the publican he spied praying behind him. “For the Pharisee, his neighbor has no worth, no value. He considers himself better than others, whom he calls literally ‘the rest, the remainders’ (loipoi, Lk 18:11). That is, they are ‘leftovers,’ they are scraps from which to keep one’s distance,” the pope preached.

The Holy Father then discussed the conflicts which occurred during the weeks of the Synod of Bishops for which the Sunday Mass was the concluding event.

“We saw this during the synod when speaking about the exploitation of Creation, of people, of the inhabitants of the Amazon, of the trafficking of persons, the trade in human beings! The mistakes of the past were not enough to stop the plundering of other persons and the inflicting of wounds on our brothers and sisters.”

This is a time of a lot of division within the Church. People argue about whether we need to follow what the pope preaches. The pope has not taught a new doctrine, but has brought new emphasis to certain areas of Church teaching. Writing about the synod on his blog, Cardinal Sean O’Malley, OFM Cap., offered, “The OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 63, No. 22

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formal name given to the synod was: ‘Amazonia: New Paths for the Church and for an Integral Ecology…’ It is such an important region because the Amazon forest represents 40 percent of the world’s tropical forests, and their territory contains one of the richest and most complex biospheres on the planet. Yet, the whole area is endangered because of the destruction of the forests and pollution of the water and land due to mining, logging, and other activities. So, it really is a threat to the health of our planet.”

Our former bishop then applied the synod to our own lives. “One of the purposes of the synod is to invite people to experience a conversion in their own lives about how we use the resources of nature. I think that, in the United States, being a country that has such wealth and technology, we tend to act as if all the resources of the planet are limitless and we do not focus on the importance of having sustainable energy and resources. The Holy Father is constantly talking about the culture of waste — of wasting resources, of wasting food — and all this is something that we, as believers, need to consider. We need to consider how we are being responsible stewards of the gifts that have been given to us.”

The cardinal then warned that if we do not heed the warnings about what we need to do about the environment, then we will be faced with more moral dilemmas (which would turn the tables ideologically). “My fear is that, as more and more of the resources of the planet are wasted and our rain forests are destroyed, the solution that many people will embrace is that we should reduce the population of the world, so that we can maintain our high standard of living without making sacrifices or embracing a simpler form of life. So, this ecological question has many ethical dimensions that we, as believers, must reflect upon.”

Just as in our national politics the “hot button” or symbolic issues get all the attention (such as, who is hanging out with whom at baseball games), so also in coverage of the Church the flash points get all of the attention, instead of how we can spread the Gospel. In his Angelus address after the Mass, Pope Francis discussed our need to be evangelizers. “The Apostle Paul stimulates us in this, ‘The Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it’ (2 Tim 4:17). This is Paul’s final wish: not something for himself or for one of his own, but for the Gospel, that it may be proclaimed to all nations. This comes first of all and counts more than anything. Each of us must have asked ourselves many times what good might be done in one’s own life. Today is the time; let us ask ourselves: ‘Me, what can I do that is good for the Gospel?’ In the synod we asked ourselves this question, wishing to open up new paths for the proclamation of the Gospel. Only what is lived is proclaimed. And to live by Jesus, to live by the Gospel, one must come out of oneself.”

The saints are in Heaven because they lived the Gospel. How do we live it?

How do we share it with others?

Daily Readings † November 2 - November 15 Sat. Nov. 2, Wis 3:1-9; Ps 23:1-6; Rom 5:5-11 or Rom 6:3-9; Jn 6:37-40. Sun. Nov. 3, Wis 11:22—12:2; Ps 145:1-2,8-11,13-14; 2 Thes 1:11—2: 2; Lk 19:1-10.

Mon. Nov. 4, Rom 11:29-36; Ps 69:30-31,33-34,36; Lk 14:12-14. Tue. Nov. 5, Rom 12:5-16b; Ps 131:1b-3; Lk 14:15-24. Wed. Nov. 6, Rom 13:8-10; Ps 112:1b2,4-5,9; Lk 14:25-33. Thu. Nov. 7, Rom 14:7-12; Ps 27:1bcde,4,13-14; Lk 15:110. Fri. Nov. 8, Rom 15:14-21; Ps 98:1-4; Lk 16:1-8.

Sat. Nov. 9, Ez 47:1-2,8-9,12; Ps 46:2-3,5-6,8-9; 1 Cor 3:9c-11,16-17; Jn 2:13-22. Sun. Nov. 10, 2 Mc 7:1-2,9-14; Ps 17:1,5-6,8,15; 2 Thes 2:16—3:5; Lk 20:27-38 or 20:27,34-38. Mon. Nov. 11, Wis 1:1-7; Ps 139:1b-10; Lk 17:1-6.

Tue. Nov. 12, Wis 2:23—3:9; Ps 34:2-3,16-19; Lk 17:7-10. Wed. Nov. 13, Wis 6:1-11; Ps 82:3-4,6-7; Lk 17:11-19. Thu. Nov. 14, Wis 7:22b—8:1; Ps 119:8991,130,135,175; Lk 17:20-25. Fri. Nov. 15, Wis 13:1-9; Ps 19:2-5b; Lk 17:26-37.

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n October 17, the Pew Research Center released the results of a survey that showed that 65 percent of American adults now say that they’re Christians, down 12 percentage points in just the last 10 years. Those describing themselves as atheists, agnostics and “nothing in particular” are now at 26 percent of the population, up from 17 percent in 2009.

And while Catholics were 23 percent of Americans a decade ago, they constitute today — despite large-scale immigration from Catholic countries — just 20 percent of the adult population.

These are staggering declines, and we have all seen the troubling consequences of these shifts. Many Catholic churches, schools, convents and seminaries are now shuttered. Masses in those parishes that have survived often have plenty of empty pews on Sundays. Family members and friends whom we know and love are no longer practicing or believing.

At an institutional level, these tendencies occupy the attention of bishops, chanceries, pastors, parish councils, Catholic superintendents, principals, teachers, and many concerned faithful. At a personal level, however, they occupy a great deal of the minds and hearts of parents, grandparents godparents, spouses, siblings, sons, daughters and friends, as they pray for their loved ones whose choices have helped establish those trends.

Prayers for loved ones do work miracles.

We see it throughout the Gospel. At the pleading of moms and dads, Jesus exorcizes a girl (Mt 15), raises

Praying for loved ones another from the dead (Lk 8), heals one boy of epilepsy (Mt 7) and another of lifethreatening illness (Jn 4). At the entreaty of a Centurion He heals a slave (Lk 7) and at the faith-filled ingenuity of friends, Jesus healed a paralytic of his sins and made him walk again (Mk 9). Jesus hears and responds to prayers of intercession for loved ones.

We’ve seen in the lives of the saints how prayers for others have similarly worked many moral miracles of conversion. St. Stephen’s prayers for those who were stoning him were efficacious in the life of Saul of Tarsus (Acts 7). St. Monica’s 17 years of preserving prayer for the conversion of her husband and additional 15 years for her son Augustine not only led to their new life but also to her becoming, too, a great saint. St. Therese of Lisieux’s prayers for an impenitent condemned criminal Henri Pranzini led, it seems, immediately before his execution, to his asking for a crucifix and kissing Christ’s wounds.

Such miracles still happen. I’ve been privileged to witness it on deathbeds and in Confessionals routinely.

Just a month ago a priest friend had such prayers answered for his estranged father, who asked him to hear his Confession and died reconciled in more ways than one. Jesus tells us to pray with insistence and confidence. He gives the Parables of the Friend at Night (Lk 11) and the Importune Woman (Lk 18) to stress how we should “pray always without losing heart,” guaranteeing that “everyone

who asks, receives.” That doesn’t mean we always get exactly what we ask when we ask. There’s free will on the part of the person for whom we’re praying and God may have a better plan than for what we’re begging. But He promises not to turn a deaf ear. He cares for us more than He does the lilies and the sparrows. He loves our loved ones more than the

most loving parents of all time have loved their children.

Let’s get to some practical tips about praying for those who have chosen to stop, or drifted away from, the practice of the faith or others who need prayers to take it up for the first time.

First, so that our prayer doesn’t get reduced simply to prayer of petition, which can narrow our relationship with God, we should exercise all five different forms of prayer. We should praise and bless God for how lovable and merciful He is.

We should thank Him for His saving will, patience, fatherly solicitude, and for sending His Son and the Holy Spirit to make conversion possible. We should ask His forgiveness for all those sins — ours and others’ — that have led those we care about to turn away from the faith. We should make petition for ourselves, to grow in patience and hope as we pray perseveringly and seek to become an instrument of the Holy Spirit. Finally, we

should make intercession for our lost sheep, that God will have mercy on them and perhaps send someone who can reach them at the depth God wants to and bring them home. Our intercession should be simple and straightforward: “Lord, the one that You love needs your help.”

Second, we should recognize we aren’t praying alone. Christ has prayed for our loved ones from the cross and intercedes for them at the Father’s right side. The Blessed Mother prays for her children more than St. Monica prayed for Augustine. Guardian angels are praying. Cloistered religious in convents across the globe and so many others — essentially the whole Church in Heaven and on earth — are praying. We should take confidence.

Third, if they’re engaging in sinful behavior, they need to know the moral truth, but don’t need to be reminded of it all the time. We can’t reduce people, in our prayer and interactions, to their sins. When they know we look at them as good, they’re generally open to our kind encouragement to become better. When we praise them for what they do right, for their areas of virtue, then they can receive our gentle call to conversion as coming from a fan rather than a critic. In short, in our prayer and conduct, we should try to draw them toward the beauty of the faith, to the Good News, rather than to “scare the hell out of them” by focusing excessively on sin and the death to which sin leads.

Fourth, as we see with the disciples on the Road to Emmaus (Lk 24), the reasons why people leave the faith often contain the seed for their return. This should influence both our prayer and action.

The two disciples couldn’t understand how the supposed Messiah could have be slaughtered by the same Romans they anticipated He would extirpate. After Jesus appeared as an unknown wayfarer and helped them to grasp that the Messiah had to suffer, what seemed to be a great contradiction became a great confirmation. If people leave, for example, because of hypocrisy in the Church, we need to share their hatred of hypocrisy and help them discover those who live the faith with integrity.

Fifth, our prayer and life should radiate hope.

The conversion of the Good Thief reminds us that as long as they’re alive, there’s still time. Things can happen, like hitting rock bottom, or a diagnosis of a serious illness, that can lead to people opening up to God anew. Even after people have died, since God is eternal, our prayers in time can impact the past, and so we should persevere praying with hope in God’s mercy and saving will.

The Pew Research Center study is ultimately a summons for the whole Church to pray more and with greater insistence. The Lord has given each of us plenty of people to pray for.

And, as we intercede for others, like with St. Monica, the Lord will strengthen our faith as well.

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

November 1, 2019 †

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Salvation has come to this house

hat is lost? How often do we search frantically for something we misplaced, only to find it where we left it, or after hours of searching, find out that someone else had taken it? One thing is for sure, we do not give up until we actually find it.

Jesus tells us that He “has come to seek and to save what was lost.” Yet, when we think of ourselves or others we know, we may not consider ourselves lost.

Take Zacchaeus, for instance, he probably was fairly well-off (albeit at a great expense to others), lacked for very little, held a position of stature, and would definitely not consider himself to be one of the “lost.”

However, Zacchaeus “finds” himself in Jesus’ presence — literally and figuratively. Through the simple gesture of inviting himself to Zacchaeus’ home, Jesus helps Zacchaeus realize just how lost he truly was. He quickly understands the wrongs he has affected against his fellow man and immediately atones for his injustices.

We, unfortunately, were not guests in Zacchaeus’ home and were not privy to whatever conversation Jesus may have had with His host, but one thing we know for certain there was a

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change. A change that made a very big impact on those who had been subjected to Zacchaeus’ abuse of power, extorted, and in some instances, left impoverished.

One view we may not have considered, is simply that until Jesus appeared in his life, Zacchaeus was merely an outcast, an unwelcomed person in the community and definitely not welcome in anyone’s home. He would be the last person you would invite for dinner or would want to receive an invitation from. These individuals were hated by their fellow man. But enter Jesus, and suddenly he is noticed and someone sees him — truly sees him. Jesus sees the man, not the tax collector, who has gone out of his way to get a glimpse of Him. Jesus not only wants to visit with him in his home, but wants to join him for a meal.

The gesture of wanting to dine with Zacchaeus is truly a very humbling one.

This attention helped him realize just how lonely his life was, what was missing, and how much he truly needed his fellow man. For the first time in his life, someone wanted to be with him, come to his home, and truly spend time with him.

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For the people of his time, sharing a meal was both a great honor and clearly a sign of great respect and reverence for the host — it meant you and your host were friends. It was this simple gesture that helped redirect his steps and bring him back from the land of the lost.

But you may be thinking — I have friends, we get together, have dinner, I am not an outcast, people want me around. True, we may lead quiet lives, do our jobs, provide for our families, and our actions do not negatively impact others.

But have we looked around us, are there individuals who are not so fortunate? Are there people we know who are all alone, who have no one to call on? When was the last time you reached out to the lonely widow or widower down the street, or had a conversation with that co-worker who sits off by themselves at lunch?

Jesus recognized the need Zacchaeus had. He did not offer him forgiveness,

He did not call him out on his actions, and He simply gave him the one thing he longed for — to be seen.

Zacchaeus had been chastised his whole adult life for the career he had chosen, for being akin to a modern day loan shark, he was a “sinner” who used his power to abuse others. That is, of course, until he is “found.” We all want to be “found,” we want others to look beyond our faults, to truly see us.

In keeping with Jesus’ mission of finding the lost and offering them Salvation, we are all commissioned, as disciples and followers of Christ, to do the same.

We are, after all, His hands and feet, His ambassadors opening the doors and showing the way to others.

We are entrusted with the task of not only finding our way, but insuring that those who are lost also find their way as well. We may have to go where others find questionable, we may have to sit among sinners, and we may have to ignore the fault of others — realizing that we have our own share of faults and shortcomings (none of us is perfect — that role is already accounted for with Jesus). We may have to hear the backlash from oth-

ers about who we choose to associate with, and a multitude of other uncomfortable feelings that may arise as we step out of our “comfort zone” and into the lives of those deemed less desirable.

Who knows, we too may be able to make a difference to a modern day Zacchaeus, or better yet, make a difference to ourselves and how we view others and the world around us. If we can learn to recognize the person, truly see them, to see them as if we are looking through the eyes of Christ, we may too find ourselves and realize that we were also lost.

So let us all climb that tree and make an effort to catch a glimpse of Jesus in everyone we encounter. We will never know the difference it can make until we put ourselves out there. Are you willing to be the host?

Will you help others find their way? In doing so, we may hear Jesus saying to us, “Today Salvation has come to this house.”

God Bless!

Anchor columnist Rose Mary Saraiva is a member of Holy Trinity Parish in Fall River and works for the diocesan Office of Faith Formation.

Email her at rsaraiva@dfrcs.com.

www.anchornews.org

November 1, 2019 â€

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New Bedford rally emphasizes the power of the Rosary

By Matthew Laird

Diocesan Seminarian matthew.laird@sjs.edu

A spectacular autumn sky only enhanced the power of the October 13 Rosary Rally held at Fort Rodman/Fort Taber in New Bedford.

NEW BEDFORD — This was not your typical rally.

While the idea of a rally can often suggest belligerent crowds armed with picket signs and bullhorns, the individuals at this Catholic rally were “armed” with Rosary beads and prayer pamphlets, congregating in the name of peace.

Held on October 13 at Fort Rodman/Fort Taber on Rodney French Boulevard in New Bedford, the “Rosary Coast to Coast Rally” commemorated the 102nd anniversary of the final apparition of Our Lady in Fatima on Oct. 13, 1917.

Beginning with a procession of a statue of Our Lady, the faithful were led to the top of the scenic peninsula. There the pilgrims participated

in a recitation of all 20 decades/mysteries of the Rosary, led by priests, religious Brothers and Sisters, seminarians, and youth of the diocese.

Various songs and hymns were also performed.

Keynote addresses were given

by Father Richard Wilson, pastor of Holy Family Parish in East Taunton and Vicar General of the diocese, and Father Christopher Peschel, administrator of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Westport.

Isabella Levesque, Katelyn Belmore, and Josh Morin also contributed to the event by portraying St. Jacinta, Lucia, and St. Francisco, the visionaries of Fatima, respectively.

The day of prayer was organized

by Edwin Aldarondo of New Bedford, Jane Wilcox of Assonet, Father Alan Wharton, F.I. and the Francis8 Turn to page five

Scores of diocesan faithful gathered for a Rosary Rally at Fort Rodman/Fort Taber in New Bedford on October 13. Below, from left, Isabella Levesque, Katelyn Belmore and Josh Morin portray Lucia, St. Jacinta and St. Francisco at the service.

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† November 1, 2019

Sister Rose House’s Ray Duarte receives Sydney Adams Award from Inter-Church Council of NB

By Dave Jolivet Co-Editor

davejolivet@anchornews.org

Raymond Duarte, program manager of the diocesan Catholic Social Services-run Sister Rose House and Grace House in New Bedford, was recently presented the Sydney Adams Award for outstanding community service by the Inter-Church Council of Greater New Bedford. (Photo courtesy of Reverend David Lima, ICC Executive Minister)

NEW BEDFORD — Raymond Duarte, program manager of the diocesan Catholic Social Services-run Sister Rose House and Grace House in New Bedford once told The Anchor that his concern and compassion for those in need began at an early age. “I can recall riding my bicycle as a child around the city. When I ran into a homeless individual I would ride home as fast as I could and make a brown-bag lunch for the homeless person. My favorite situation would be to see somebody sleeping and if I could put the brown bag next to the individual without waking them and leave, then it made me feel like Santa Claus.”

Duarte has maintained that philosophy all his life, eventually leading him to CSS and championing the homeless and those in need in the Whaling City since 2012.

On October 27, the Inter-Church Council of Greater New Bedford (ICC) recognized the humble and powerful works Duarte performs on a daily basis, presenting him with the Sydney Adams Award for outstanding community service.

Robin Muise of the Board of Directors of the ICC presented the award, saying, “As the Volunteer Coordinator of the Extreme Weather Overflow Shelter at Sister Rose House, I have worked closely with Ray over the last few years. It is with great honor I introduce Ray Duarte as this year’s Sydney Adams Ecumenical Lay Leader Award.

“Ray is a gentleman of great integrity and compassion. He has risen to each challenge he has faced and has excelled as not only a leader but a man with great heart. He strives to give all and goes above and beyond. Words cannot express how well Ray lives the mission that Jesus Christ Himself instructed us to live. To serve, to love and to have compassion for the least of our brothers and sisters.”

Reverend David Lima, pastor, New Seasons Worship Center and Executive Minister of the ICC, told The Anchor, “Ray Duarte is a man deeply committed to working with those less fortunate, to help get them basic shelter and food while helping 8 Turn to page 13 November 1, 2019 †

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W

Time for a reboot in the backside

hile autumn is by far my favorite of the four seasons (although Frankie Valli does come in a close second — this is for a priest friend of mine who is a whiz at referencing music and movies), it doesn’t come without its faults. Nothing is perfect in this world.

I do enjoy the crisp mornings (when they’re dry) but it’s the darkness that is a real turnoff.

Earlier in the year the

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sun would get up before me and illuminate the day ahead. Now that great big ball of light remains under the covers until I’m already at work. But that’s OK I suppose. It’s the day it doesn’t get up at all that we worry about.

Anyway, I digress — hey, it’s been a while since my last digression.

The point of the whole

† November 1, 2019

darkness in the morning thing is that the other day I actually gave thought to

flipping a simple switch and having an array of lights turn on. It’s another of those things that I simply take for granted every minute of every day — just like turning on the faucet and being

gifted with a flow of hot water; turning on the TV and getting instant news; and hopping into a car and knowing (most of the time) that it will start and take me where I need or want to go.

Everyday occurrences without a thought.

That not only tells me that I do indeed take things for granted, but also that I do not think of how countless of my brothers and sisters across this wonderful planet do not have such luxuries.

What I expect from life, others cannot even fathom. I cruise around Facebook and see what friends are doing and where they’re going.

Truth be told, I’m envious of a lot that I see and read. And that’s just not right.

It’s then that I have to reboot myself to remind myself just how fortunate I am. When I do press a simple remote cable TV button and the world is at my fingertips, I see that some of that world is filled with pain, hunger, oppression, hatred, fear and addictions.

How dare I be jealous of the good fortune of others when yet others would cherish turning on a faucet and enjoying the gush of clean drinking water.

How dare I grumble at my “lot” in life when others don’t know if they or family members will wake up the next morning.

I need my reboots to bring me back to reality; and that reality is to assist my brothers and sisters across the globe any way I can.

Winter is approaching in this hemisphere and for millions that is not a good thing — it means being hungry, homeless, cold and hopeless. It is also time for one of my reboots to be aware to give what I can, when I can to and for those who have nothing to take for granted.

There is no shortage of people who need help in this area.

The switch has been flipped and I see the light telling me its time to share my prayers and treasures and truly experience a blessed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.

How dare I not? davejolivet@anchornews.org.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, November 3 at 11:00 a.m.

National Vocation Awareness Week Celebrant is Father Kevin A. Cook, diocesan Director of Vocations and Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Seekonk.

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

Celebrant is Father Marek Chmurski, Pastor of St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Buzzards Bay

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on the Portuguese Channel Sunday, November 3 at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from St. Francis Xavier Church in East Providence

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on the Portuguese Channel Sunday, November 10 at 7 p.m.

Broadcast from St. Anthony Church in Taunton

New Bedford parish seeking members to be part of grand Christmas program NEW BEDFORD — Do you love singing in a fourpart harmony choir? Have you ever wanted to sing with a large group?

St. Anthony of Padua Parish in New Bedford is sending out an invitation to come out and sing as a part of its Christmas program.

David Touchette will be the director, and Isleila Rodrigues will be accompanying on piano. Steven Young is playing the organ, with Charlene Monte on cello, Neil Sylvia on percussion, and Patrice Tiedemann on flute — a very formidable team indeed.

Touchette already picked out music — a few favorites

from the past, and a few new ones. There will be a sing-along of five Christmas hymns, and of course ending with the “Hallelujah Chorus.”

In order to make this program the best it can be, adequate rehearsal time is required. For interested persons, a link containing the music will be sent to their emails so they can listen in advance. Additionally, Bob Harbick has already finished making the practice CDs. The concert is December 15 at 3 p.m. Rehearsals will take place on Mondays in the classroom at the Nye Street entrance from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Six rehearsals will start November 4 and end De-

cember 9. There is a possible dress rehearsal Saturday morning December 14 in the church. The choir fee is $16 and includes music and a rehearsal CD. Those who are interested in becoming a part of this grand Christmas celebration should call Gisele Pappas at 508-264-8010 so they can come by St. Anthony’s on a Sunday morning and obtain a CD. Members are encouraged to invite friends to hear the CD and possibly join the choir.

Also performing will be: the Spanish Choir from the church; the Borges Family Singers, also from the church; and the Stang High School Chorus.

Ray Duarte receives award from Inter-Church Council of Greater NB continued from page 11

them to get back on their feet. In the process he helps people to feel cared for, protected and gives them back the integrity and self-worth that being homeless can take away from you.

“I’ve worked with Ray since he began doing this work as the community comes together to make sure that all of the children of God are cared for. Congratulations Ray, a more than worthy recipient of this award.”

The Sister Rose House is an emergency shelter for men, staffed 24 hours a day, that offers men in need supportive services like job skills training, budgeting information, and access to mental health and other services, with the goal of helping its clients gain long-term sustainability while helping them out of their homelessness situations. The Grace

House is a female shelter.

Duarte still maintains his ties to his once fulltime job as a neighborhood barber. He continues there part-time and also offers men at Sister Rose House haircuts when they are preparing for job interviews or meeting individuals offering them potential housing.

The Inter-Church Council of Greater New Bedford is a “faith-based non-profit organization in the community consisting of 47 member congregations as well as hundreds of partners across the Southcoast consisting of all faith lines.” Its mission is “to unite all faiths through community outreach initiatives that support Spiritual renewal, social, economical, and racial justice,” according to its website. Members of the council and staff are devoted to address and

face the issues affecting the Greater New Bedford community such as suicide, homelessness, and drug addiction.

Winter is coming and Sister Rose House will soon activate its Extreme Weather Overflow Shelter.

The overflow opens when temperatures drop below 28 degrees. Volunteers are needed to help assemble cots with pillows and blankets from 4 to 5 p.m.; serve shelter guests and residents from 5 to 7 p.m.; and to monitor bathrooms and sleeping hall in twoto four-hour shifts from 6 to 10 p.m. Volunteers can sign up alone or sign up as a team of co-workers (all must be over 18). Many hands are needed. Please contact Robin Muise to volunteer at muiserobin@ comcast.net or call 774553-5490.

November 1, 2019 †

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G

The greatest game

ame seven, the bottom of the ninth inning, bases loaded, two outs, down 4-1. The lingering smell of freshly cut grass and Italian sausage blend in an unusual, yet delightful combination that only a baseball stadium can produce. The excited crowd rises from their uncomfortable wooden seats, and suspensefully fixes their eyes on the field.

Jackie, even though hitless in the last few games, walks towards the plate under the spotlight of a full moon in his dirt-stained uniform.

After making the Sign of the Cross, he grips his pine tar covered bat firmly and intensely stares down the pitcher. Although his heart beats fast, Jackie is poised.

He has practiced all year for this moment. The words of his supportive but challenging coach — who at times he trusts and at other times, doubts — echo in his mind.

“Have faith in your preparation. See the ball, hit the ball.”

Silence. Pitch. Crack!

The ball rifles off of Jackie’s bat and cuts through the crisp October night sky like a firework. He bursts out of the batter’s box running towards first base. The ball rolls to the right-field wall and rattles around like a pinball. The crowd roars.

Flying, Jackie touches second base, rounds third and heads on towards home, risking it all, nearly out of breath — three runs have been scored, tie game. Everyone now watches to see whether or not Jackie can score and win the game.

The right fielder finally throws the ball to the catcher like a heat-seeking missile. Jackie, as if guided by a Divine force, dives headfirst into home plate and time 14

stops. In an instant, memo- never abandons or gives up ries of the season flash on us. through his head. The ups Jackie’s coach believed and the downs, the wins in and stuck with him deand the losses, the laughs, spite his struggles, and God and the tears. It’s a close does the same with us. God play at the plate. Once the may allow us to go through dust eventually settles, the difficult times to draw us umpire calls Jackie safe and closer to Himself and teach in a frenzy, he is rushed by us the value of perseverance a mob of teammates and his — a crucial skill in baseball coach — who never gave and life. up on him — in joyful celebration.

After Jackie escapes from under the dog pile, with his jersey ripped, and John his large crucifix Garabedian necklace popped out over his chest — like a gold medal prize Putting in the Effort — he realizes what he just with Spiritual Workouts did with a walk-off, inside The Christian life, like the park, grand slam and baseball, also requires he is now a World Series dedication and practice. To champion. achieve their goals, players Focusing on Heaven must spend hours working, Amidst the Slumps of Life on and off-season, to refine We’re all striving for their skills and improve. something in life and, for us They can’t just show up as Christians, we’re striving to the field, out of shape, for a lot more than a World without putting in the time Series championship. We’re and effort and expect to see striving for eternal life in good results. Similarly, to the Kingdom of God. To know God more intimately, receive this gift, we must and to be ready to live out persevere through daily the Christian life, one needs challenges, practice living a to do Spiritual workouts life of prayer and trust that regularly such as private God will help and lead us prayer, the Rosary, Confesby His grace. sion, Mass, Spiritual direcFollowing Jesus, like tion, Eucharistic Adoration, baseball, certainly has its and Scripture reading. peaks and valleys, and like God, Your Divine Jackie, we can find ourCoach selves in a slump — a SpiriAlong with the inditual slump. At one moment, vidual training, players we may experience an must follow, listen, and indescribable closeness to trust their coach, even God where life is over the when they are tired or think moon, and we feel His love. they have a better way of And during other times, we doing things. Coaches typiexperience discouragement cally have more experience and dryness, and God apand in-depth insight into pears silent, and the warm, the strategies of the game. fuzzy feelings cease. But They can see the big picture through all of these alterand decide what is best nating periods of life, God for the team and the indi-

† November 1, 2019

Be Not Afraid

vidual player to have the best chance of success. The words from Jackie’s coach that played over and over in his head motivated, and prepared him to deliver the game-winning hit.

Because God knows what’s best for us, He too is like a coach — the Divine Coach — Who challenges, loves, encourages, teaches, and corrects us so that we can grow and reach our highest potential and greatest fulfillment of following His will. God also gives us assistant coaches such as priests, parents, teachers, friends, and mentors to help us along the way. Not only does God direct us on how to live our lives, but also he gives us the means to do so by his grace.

Carried Home to New Life At Baptism, we are baptized into the death and life of Jesus Christ, and we receive an outpouring of God’s grace. This grace — the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to His call to participate in his life as sons and daughters (CCC 1996-7) — flows out from Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

It is through Christ’s death that we die to original sin.

It is through Christ’s Resurrection that we obtain new Divine life, which makes it possible for us to receive the greatest gift of eternal life. Once we are baptized, we get the grace, but by staying out of mortal sin, we maintain it and remain in friendship with God. God’s grace stirs our hearts and moves us to perform the Spiritual workouts so that we might know and understand Him more.

And when we fail or get Spiritually injured in life, we can turn to Jesus, the Divine Physician in the Sacrament of Confession, to be put back together. We can dust off the dirt and get back in the game with a clean uniform. Jackie was down but not out. He was redeemed and climbed out from his slump getting the biggest hit of his career.

Being a disciple of Jesus Christ in the modern world may be difficult and stressful at times; maybe like trying to win the World Series in the ninth inning, down three runs. But, with perseverance, proper training, and trust in God and grace, it is possible to overcome Spiritual slumps and find freedom, purpose, and true happiness in a relationship with God. Although we must do our part, it is ultimately God’s grace and our cooperation with it that we can be saved.

In hope, we pray that when we finish our journey around the bases of life, God will guide us by His grace safely into our eternal home [plate]. Then, like Jackie, can point up to the sky and we will be jubilantly carried away by our holy teammates of the angels and saints, to celebrate for eternity the Heavenly victory that has been given to us.

This blog was originally posted on LifeTeen.com.

John Garabedian will be joining The Anchor team as a youth columnist.

He is a seminarian studying for the Diocese of Fall River, and is a big Red Sox and Patriots fan. Being a former college baseball player and graphic designer, he enjoys using athletics and art as a way to lead people to God and the Catholic faith.

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Student members of Bishop Stang High School’s National Honor Society recently held their annual Rock-a-thon to help local food pantries ease local families’ food insecurity. Students alternately rocked in rocking chairs and weighed and received food donations throughout Friday, September 20 and Saturday, September 21. By the end of the drive, which was held under the guidance of history teacher and NHS advisor Donna McDougall, students collected a total of 6,183 pounds of food for local food pantries. The food was distributed to local pantries, including the Shepherds Food Pantry in Acushnet, Solanus Casey in New Bedford through Catholic Social Services, St. Anthony’s Church in New Bedford and St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry in Wareham. Above, student volunteers load food pantry trucks.

The students at Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford began their Read-a-thon with the theme “Pop Open a Good Book.” They are reading pages or minutes and getting pledges from family and friends. The monies will be used to establish a school library. At right, Kindergarten and fourth-grade buddies Elijah and Isaiah getting together to increase their “pages read” for their pledge sheets.

November 1, 2019 †

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Members of the Youth Ministry at St. Patrick’s Parish in Wareham recently painted pumpkins with seniors.

St. Patrick’s Parish Youth Ministry brings pumpkin painting party to seniors Students at St. Joseph School in Fairhaven recently gathered to pray a Living Rosary during October, the Month of the Rosary.

First- and seventh-grade Faith Formation students and second- and sixth-grade Faith Formation students at Holy Name Parish in Fall River, worked together to create “Living Rosaries” in celebration of the Month of the Rosary. They worked together to think of personal qualities, people they’d like to pray for, things they are thankful for, positive influences in their lives, and acts of kindness, all while getting to know one another and learning about the importance of prayer.

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WAREHAM — Members of St. Patrick’s Youth Ministry got into the spirit of the fall season on Sunday, October 13 with residents at All American Assisted Living in Wareham.

A good time was had by all with many painted masterpieces. Father Rowland Omuegbu, SDV, parochial vicar at the parish, tried his hand at painting a very colorful mini-pumpkin and led the group in prayer and song.

The event is tied to the Youth Ministry’s outreach to the community to visit local nursing homes, the elderly, the sick, the disabled to offer support and comfort. Father Rowland commented, “We help the youth grow in their love for God and fellow human beings, to boldly embrace their faith through acts of kindness, respect and love towards people of all ages, gender, color and beliefs.

The youths are encouraged to express their faith by impacting their community in positive ways.”

The mission of Catholic Youth Ministries has goals tied to empowering young people to serve others. Their experiences help them to participate in the life, mission and work of the Catholic Faith community. Youth Ministry promotes the growth of caring and faith-filled Catholic young people and is open to ages 10-18.

Any support to enable the youths to continue the good works is welcome. In addition to youth group meetings, a special youth Mass is celebrated at St. Patrick’s Church, 82 High Street, Wareham, the third Sunday of every month at 6 p.m. with participation from youths and their parents. However the Mass is open to everyone who wishes to be present.

For more information or to join St. Patrick’s Youth Ministry, parents should contact Father Rowland 508-295-2411, info@stpatrickswareham. org or frrowland@ stpatrickswareham.org

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests and deacons during the coming weeks: Nov. 1 Rev. William H. McNamara, Retired Pastor, St. Mary, Mansfield, 1924 Rev. Louis N. Blanchet, Assistant, St. Jean Baptiste, Fall River, 1927 Rt. Rev. Msgr. John F. Ferraz, Pastor, St. Michael, Fall River, 1944 Rt. Rev. Msgr. George F. Cain, Pastor, St. Mathieu, Fall River, 1953 Rev. William E. Farland, Pastor, St. Joseph, Taunton, 1987 Rev. William F. Gartland, C.S.C. Stonehill College, North Easton, 1988 Rev. John F. Sullivan, SS.CC., Retired Pastor, Holy Trinity, West Harwich, 1994 Rev. Manuel T. Faria, Retired, Catholic Memorial Home, 1999 Nov. 2 A memento for the repose of the souls of our bishops, priests and permanent deacons not on this list Rev. Joseph S. Fortin, Founder, St. Jean Baptiste, Fall River, 1923 Rev. Michael V. McDonough, Chaplain, St. Mary’s Home, New Bedford, 1933 Nov. 3 Rev. Jose M. Bettencourt e Avila, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, New Bedford, 1988 Nov. 4 Permanent Deacon James M. O’Gara, 1990 Nov. 5 Rev. Daniel A. Gamache, Retired Pastor, St. Joseph, New Bedford, 1998 Nov. 6 Rev. Patrick S. McGee, Founder, St. Mary, Hebronville, 1933 Rev. Joseph Oliveira, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes, Taunton, 1999 Nov. 7 Rev. J. Edmond Tremblay, Retired Chaplain, Sacred Heart Home, New Bedford, 1985 Nov. 8 Rev. Pacifique L. Emond, O.F.M., Retreat Master, Writer, Montreal, Canada, 1984 Nov. 10 Rev. Msgr. Henry T. Munroe, Retired, Former Pastor, Our Lady of Victory, Centerville, 2017 Nov. 11 Rev. A. Gomez da Silva Neves, Pastor, St. John the Baptist, New Bedford, 1910 Rev. Richard Sullivan, C.S.C., Retired President, Stonehill College, Easton, 2005 Nov. 12 Rev. James H. Looby, Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton, 1924 Rev. Bernard Boylan, Pastor, St. Joseph, Fall River, 1925 Nov. 13 Rev. Louis J. Deady, Founder, St. Louis, Fall River, 1924 Rev. William H. O’Reilly, Retired Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Taunton, 1992 Rev. Clarence J. d’Entremont, Retired Chaplain, Our Lady’s Haven, Fairhaven, 1998 Nov. 14 Rev. Francis J. Duffy, Founder, St. Mary, South Dartmouth, 1940 Rev. William A. Galvin, J.C.D., Retired Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton, 1977 Deacon John H. Schondek, 2001

Sister Beverly Furtado, S.U.S.C. FALL RIVER — Sister Beverly Furtado, S.U.S.C. of the Holy Union Sisters, 570 Rock Street, Fall River died October 7 at the age of 72 after a long illness.

She was born in Fall River on Jan. 24, 1947, the only child of the late Manuel and Mary C. (Pereira) Furtado.

In addition to her Holy Union Sisters, an aunt Alice Cabral, and several cousins survive her. She entered the Holy Union Sisters on Sept.

13, 1964 and pronounced her final vows on Aug. 14, 1976. Sister Beverly was a graduate of the former Sacred Hearts Academy and received a bachelor of arts in Teaching from Trinity University, Washington D.C. She received a certificate from Diman Regional Practical Nursing Program and an associate’s degree in Nursing from Massachusetts Bay Community College. Sister Beverly received a Certificate in Clinical Pastoral Education from Interfaith Health Care, Providence, R.I. She taught for a few years in Holy Union schools in Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania before beginning nursing training. Her first nursing position was at Saint Anne’s Hospital, Fall River. She was on the staff at the Solomon Carter Fuller Mental Health Center in Boston from 1987 to 1993 and from 1993 to 2003 she served as a crisis intervention nurse at the Brockton Multi-Service Center. She later served as chaplain in two facilities of Saint Anne’s Hospital in North Dartmouth and in

Swansea.

Throughout her life, Sister Beverly generously shared her gifts with her Holy Union Sisters. She served as a geriatric nurse at the retirement community in Fall River and spent four years in the Holy Union Mission in Moloundou, Cameroon.

She was a member of the Provincial Council of the former Fall River Province and served on an international planning group for a congregational Charism Conference. She was novice director for the U.S. Province and from 2003 to 2008 was a member of the U.S. Province Leadership Team. Her last Holy Union ministry was as coordinator for the Holy Union Sisters at The Landmark, Fall River. Throughout the years, she was an active member of several province committees.

In whatever ministry she found herself, Sister Beverly always took the opportunity to participate in professional workshops and in-service training as well as volunteer opportunities. She took great pleasure in volunteering

at the Sacred Heart Parish Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry. She had the joy of preparing a surprise celebration in honor of her mother’s 99th birthday in 2017 and her mother’s 100th birthday celebration when she was a resident at The Landmark.

During her long illness, Sister Beverly showed great faith, courage and realism which inspired all those with whom she came in contact. When illness kept her from full-time ministry, she volunteered at Charlton Memorial Hospital’s Surgi-Center and participated in cancer patient support groups and the outreach programs of Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care in Fairhaven.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on October 15 at Holy Trinity Church, Fall River. Burial followed in Notre Dame Cemetery, Fall River.

Donations in Sister Beverly’s memory may be made to Holy Union Sisters, Mission Advancement Office, P.O. Box 410, Milton, Mass, 02186.

November 1, 2019 †

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Around the Diocese Winter is coming at the shelter at Sister Rose House, 71 Division Street in New Bedford, will soon activate its Extreme Weather Overflow Shelter. The overflow opens when temperatures drop below 28 degrees. Volunteers are needed to help assemble cots with pillows and blankets from 4 to 5 p.m.; serve shelter guests and residents from 5 to 7 p.m.; and to monitor bathrooms and sleeping hall in two- to four-hour shifts from 6 to 10 p.m. Volunteers can sign up alone or sign up as a team of co-workers (all must be over 18).

Many hands are needed. Please contact Robin Muise to volunteer at muiserobin@comcast.net or call 774-553-5490.

The Eucharistic Apostles of the Divine Mercy Cenacle group invites all to join them every Monday (except holidays) from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church hall, 306 South Street in Somerset. Meetings include teachings from St. Faustina’s diary that are relevant to our lives and Spiritual walks. Readings from the Bible and “Catechism” will also be included, followed by the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Rosary prayer. For more information, call 508-646-1019.

A Monthly Healing Service is offered at St. Patrick’s Church, 82 High Street, Wareham on the first Thursday of every month.

Services offer God’s healing touch through Eucharistic Adoration, anointing of the sick and prayers for healing and peace for those recovering from addictions, reconciliation in relationships, Marriage issues, for the sick and suffering and those grieving the loss of loved ones. Services start at 6 p.m. with Reconciliation (Confession) followed by Rosary at 6:30. All are welcome. For further information, contact Father Rowland, 508-295-2411, info@stpatrickswareham.org or frrowland@ stpatrickswareham.org.

The Fall River Area Men’s First Friday Club will meet on November 1 at St. Joseph Church, North Main Street in Fall River.

Mass begins at 6 p.m., celebrated by Father Jay Mello, pastor of St. Michael and St. Joseph parishes. Following the Mass, club members will gather in the church hall for a hot meal prepared by White’s of Westport. After the meal, there will be a presentation by Saint Anne’s Hospital Chaplain Binu ChackoTom, who will discuss “Compassion in the Modern World.” All members and guests are welcome to participate in the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at 5 p.m. prior to Mass. Confessions will be available at 5:30 p.m. New members are always welcome. For more information, contact Norm Valiquette at 508-672-8174.

A timely symposium on behavioral healthcare — “Innovations in Addiction Treatment: Epidemiology and Etiology of Internet Behavior” — will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on November 18 at Salve Regina University’s Bazarsky Lecture Hall, O’Hare Academic Building, 36 Ochre Point Ave, Newport, R.I., and feature a leading authority on Internet addiction.

The workshop, which is free and open to the public, is aimed at professionals seeking continuing education credits but is also appropriate for anyone with an interest in Internet addiction. The workshop will feature David Greenfield, PhD, MSCP, founder and medical director of the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction and assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.

Dr. Greenfield will discuss issues associated with Internet addiction and Internet use disorder. He will explain how certain aspects of the Internet and smartphones promote mood-altering behaviors such as compulsive use and addictive patterns. To register, visit https://newport-bh-workshop. eventbrite.com or call 401-845-1502.

A Mass for Deceased Bishops, Priests and Deacons will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River at 12:05 p.m. on November 22. All are welcome to attend.

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

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

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

ATTLEBORO — The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette holds 6:30 p.m. Mass followed by the Chaplet of Divine Mercy Adoration at 7:15 p.m. every Wednesday evening.

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

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

DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Mary’s Church, 783 Dartmouth Street, every First Monday of the month, following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending with evening prayers and Benediction at 5 p.m.

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

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

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

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

FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of the Desert Church, 300 North Eastern Avenue, has Eucharistic Adoration Mondays and Tuesdays from 8:45 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Thursdays following the 8 a.m. Mass until Friday at 8 a.m.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NORTH DIGHTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Wednesday following 8:00 a.m. Mass and concludes with Benediction at 4 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration also takes place every First Friday at St. Nicholas of Myra Church, 499 Spring Street following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending with Benediction at 4 p.m. The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 8 a.m.

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

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

ORLEANS — St. Joan of Arc Parish, 61 Canal Road, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday starting after the 8 a.m.

Mass and ending with Benediction at 11:45 a.m. The Sacrament of the Sick is also available immediately after the 8 a.m.

Mass.

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

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

Taunton — Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord, 31 First Street. Exposition begins following the 8 a.m. Mass until 9 a.m.

Taunton — The Chapel of St. Andrew the Apostle, 19 Kilmer Avenue, Taunton, will host Eucharistic Adoration Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Taunton — St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Taunton will host Eucharistic Adoration on Mondays following the 9 a.m. Mass and the St. Jude Novena, until 11:30, ending with Benediction. It will take place at Holy Rosary Chapel during the summer months.

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

† PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION † ATTLEBORO — Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, 71 Linden Street in Attleboro.

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

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

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

WEST HARWICH — Our Lady of Life Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Trinity Parish, 246 Main Street (Rte. 28), holds perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. We are a regional chapel serving all of the surrounding parishes. All are invited to sign up to cover open hours. For open hours, or to sign up call 508-430-4716.

Faithful from across the Fall River Diocese joined Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., in the annual Procession and Mass for Peace in Fall River on October 14. The march began at St. Anne’s Church and concluded at St. Mary’s Cathedral where the bishop celebrated a Mass for Peace. The Columbus Day Procession and Mass for Peace is a long tradition in the Fall River Diocese. It was first held in 1975 especially to pray for peace in Portugal but its emphasis has since broadened to include peace and justice worldwide.

Faith-based coalition advocates for fair share of government funds continued from page three

with Mr. Malone and his staff. We have a good working relationship with them and have ironed out things in the Fall River district.”

Perla added that many of the districts found in

non-compliance were not given enough information from the state to correctly implement the IDEA funding.

Perla also mentioned the great bond among the

Taunton St. Vincent de Paul announces Food Pantry Dates The Taunton St. Vincent de Paul Pantry dates for the remainder of the year are: Wed. Nov. 6— green cards Wed. Nov. 13— yellow cards Wed. Nov. 20— green cards Tues. Nov. 26— yellow cards Wed. Dec. 4 — green cards Wed. Dec. 11 — yellow cards Wed. Dec. 18— both green & yellow cards Thurs. Jan. 2— green cards Wed. Jan. 8— yellow cards

members of the Project Access Coalition. “It’s so nice to work with such wonderful people and in a faith-based alliance. And in addition to the four dioceses and the Jewish day schools, we recently had the Association of Independent Christian Schools join the coalition.

“Because of the hard work of those in the coalition, last year’s state budget included $1 million for school nursing and a school health program.

“I would particularly like to give a shout out to State Senator Michael Rodrigues from the First Bristol and Plymouth counties and the senate Ways and Means chair, and Rep. Patricia Haddad of the Fifth Bristol district, for their efforts and cooperation in helping us out.”

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