12.01.06

FRIDAY, DEcEMBER 1,

Parish celebrates 100 years of Catholic presence on South Coast

By MIKE GORDON ANCHOR STAFF

ACUSHNET - St. Francis Xavier Parish is marking the close of its centennial year on Sunday, celebrating 100 years of serving Catholics on the South Coast. Bishop George W. Coleman will be principal celebrant at a 5 p.m. Mass followed by a buffet banquet at the Century House.

A concert of sacred and popular Christian music, under the direction of Barry and Judy De Rossi at 4:30 p.m., will precede the Mass. Pastor Father Daniel W. Lacroix is looking forWard to the event.

"It will be a great celebration and a wonderful time for our parishioners," said Father Lacroix. ''This year has been a tribute to fonner parishioners who sacrificed so much to establish a parish and give the town of Acushnet a Catholic identity."

The parish began as a mission in 1906 under the direction of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Fathers Bernard Pierson and Charles DeBaetselier. Services were held in a local store at the time because there was no church.

On New Year's Day in 1911, a chapel was blessed by Bishop Daniel Feehan and the celebration of Mass and the sacraments began. The mission would become a parish officially on April 7, 1915. Because of the increase in the number of Catholics a new church was built and dedicated at the site in June 1925.

Throughout the past year the parish has had many events to celebrate the milestone. Barbara Bonville, director ofParish Life and Evangelization, said it began December 3, 2005 when a

new statue of St. Francis Xavier was dedicated. It was placed in a new garden on the east side of the parish and ''the flowers really bloomed this past summer," said Bonville.

Events included a family picnic at Cathedral Camp in East Freetown. "People were saying right away that it's an event they would like to see repeated," said Bonville. ''That was a great day for families."

A timeline of the parish was set up in the church basement and parishioners brought in photos to share significant events in the life of the parish. ''That was an opportunity to see how our parish families have grown up," Bonville added.

Vocation awareness holy hours, living rosaries and a living Nativity were also special events for the community, as well as a night at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center in New Bedford.

Twenty-six members of the parish made a pilgrimage to Rome with Father Lacroix. ''We had some enjoyable events," said Father Lacroix. "We tried to offer programs for families and singles and I think those who attended benefited from them. We're thankful to the outstanding group ofindividuals who worked so hard to make these celebrations possible. They are very dedicated Catholics who have seen the growth of this parish and really wanted to celebrate that."

The parish also hosted a dinner theater focusing on a religious theme, held several infonnational talks for seniors and sponsored a pilgrimage day of reconciliation and prayer at

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INAUGURATING A CELEBRATION - Father Daniel W. Lacroix, p~stor at St. Francis Xavier Parish, Acushnet, blesses a new statue of St. Francis Xavier before it is plac~d outside the church. This event began a bUSy centenni~1 year at the parish.

Vatican given evidence. of cure on Cape credited to Cardinal Newman Deacon Jack Sullivan of Marshfield was re- Superior Court "confirmed that evidence of his 2001 allegstored to full mobility in 2001 after praying for edly miraculou~ cure, attributed to the intercession of CardiCardinal Newman's intercession. nal John Henry Newman, has been sent to the Congregation By

DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR AND CNS AND OTHER REPORTS

PLYMOUTH - "I'm not supposed to be talking about this because the cause for Cardinal John Henry Newman is in a new processing period," Deacon Jack Sullivan told The Anchor last week "But my story has already been told by the Boston Globe and the Catholic New Service, so there are no secrets."

Deacon Sullivan, 68, the clerk magistrate at Plymouth

for Saints' CauJes in Rome.

CNS has rep~rted that the Roman postulator of the cause, Andrea Ambrosi, was assigned by the archdiocesan tribunal in Boston to be the official carrier of the package of documents, which contained two copies of the evidence. He flew from Boston to Rome and handed over the package November 14 to congregation officials at the Vatican..

The package, containing the sworn testimonies and the medical evidence of the healing of Deacon Sullivan, was

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Retirement Fund collettion for religious set for December 9-10 By

DEACON JAMES

N.

DUNBAR

FALL RIVER - The 19th annual collection for retired religious Brothers, Sisters and priests of congregations and orders will be held in parishes across the Fall River Diocese on December 9 and 10. ''We have a total of 349 religious over the age of 70 within our diocese and the aid given in this annual collection enables them to continue their service to the people of the diocese in spite of reduced numbers available for their works," said Mercy Sister Elaine Heffernan, diocesan episcopal representative for religious.

Citing the $141,580 raised locally last year, Sister Heffernan reported that it brings the total diocesan collection during the past 18 years of the collection to more than $2.6 million. ''The Diocesb of Fall River has given without stint to assist religious c6ngregations of men and women to care for their elderly and retired members," said Sister Heffernan in a l letter to pastors • ''This year's appeal theme is 'Share in the Care.' Your support is greatly appreciated and you can be assured that th~ retired religious will remember you in their

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NEWS FROM THE VATICAN ,

DECEMBER

1, 2006

Study on condom use arid AIDS awaits response from doctrinal office, pope

By CAROL GLATZ CAlHOUC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY - An "exhaustive" Vatican study requested by Pope Benedict XVI on condom use in HIV prevention is awaiting a response from the Church's doctrinal office and the pope, a senior Vatican official said.

Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, head of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry, said his office handed in "a large study" of almost 200 pages to the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and that it is ''hoping (the congregation) and the Holy Father say what is (best) concerning this argument."

The cardinal spoke in response to journalists' questions during a recent press conference about an upcoming Vatican meeting on the Church's pastoral approach to treating infectious diseases.

He said the pope had asked that his council commence "a dialogue with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on condoms."

Cardinal Lozano said his council completed "a thorough study on condoms" covering the latest medical data and the complete spectrum of opinions by moral theologians.

He said the studies used in evaluating the effectiveness of condoms in HIV prevention were conducted by top-notch scientists and involved condoms made of high-quality materials that had been used correctly.

The study also included "an enormous rainbow" of theological and moral positions, from theologians who expressed ''very rigorous" opinions against condom use even when used as a disease-preventing measure to those who held a ''very understanding" perspective, he said.

There is no official Church position on the use of condoms by married couples to prevent transmission of a virus. The Church has always taught that sex outside marriage is morally wrong, and it has no position on whether condoms would make it more or less wrong.

The Church opposes the use ofany artificial means of contraception including condoms - that would interfere with the transmission of life within marriage.

But some moral theologians argue that condoms may be used within marriage to prevent HIV transmission using the Catholic principle ofdouble effect. They say that the reason for this use of condoms - to preserve lifeis not morally wrong, the wrong effect - contraception - may be foreseen but is not intended, the wrong effect is not the means to the right effect, and there is a proportionate reason for allowing the wrong effect. .Cardinal Lozano said his council is awaiting a response from the congregation and the pope and that his council had no authority to take a position.

'Thank God a resolution is not up to us;' he said, referring to his council, which deals with the pastoral care ofthe sick and dying as well as health care workers.

Ifan official pronounce~ent by the church is made at all, it will not be one that encourages promiscuous behavior, he said.

The morality ofcondom use within a marriage where one partner is infected with HIV is a ''very importan~ and difficult" question, he said, and any position taken must be to the benefit of all Catholics "and not destroy anyone."

Vatican official: Church is only 'tip of an iceberg' on child abuse VATICAN CITY - The sexual abuse of children by priests is only "the tip of an iceberg" of the wider scope of abuse perpetrated against the world's children, a Vatican official said.

U.S. Archbishop John P. Foley, head of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, said there is "a much wider and even more tragic story of child abuse that takes place, first of all, in the family and then, in many ways, throughout society."

Archbishop Foley made the remarks November 20 during a film festival in Bucharest, Romania, dedicated to children. It also marked Universal Children's Day, established by the United Nations to promote the welfare and rights of the world's children.

In his speech, released the same day by the Vatican, the archbishop said "the violation of children's rights is one of the contemporary sins crying out to heaven for vengeance."

Much media attention has been given to the sexual abuse scandals against minors perpetrated by clerics in the United States, Canada and Ireland, but, he said, those "heinous crimes" are "but the tip ofan iceberg:' He said children often are subject to abuse within their own family, social sphere or schools.

"The innocence of children should be protected at all costs;' he said, adding that "we should all be free to hear their laughter, to watch them at play, and to see them running securely in our streets."

Children need to witness Christ's "loving and saving message" through the living example of the "love and self-sacrifice" oftheir parents, family, neighbors and teachers, he said.

He urged that children be taught tolerance so that they "never become bullies or baby bigots because of the bad example of their elders or because of the images they have seen in films or on television."

AMONG THE FAITHFUL - Pope Benedict XVI waves to pilgrims as he arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican recently. (eNS photo/Max Rossi, Reuters)

Pope's scholarly book on Jesus scheduled for March release

By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN' CITY - Pope Benedict XVI has completed the first volume of a major scholarly and spiritual book on Jesus of Nazareth, a work he began several years before being elected pope.

"Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration" is scheduled for a March release in Italian by the Rizzoli publishing house and in German by Herder Verlag.

Announcing the publication, Rizzoli and the Vatican gave reporters copies of the book's preface and a portion of its introduction.

In the preface, signed "Joseph Ratzinger - Benedict XVI," the pope wrote that for decades he had noticed a growing scholarly distinction between the "historical Jesus" and the "Christ of faith," a distinction that many Christians now accept as accurate.

But, he wrote, if the human Jesus was totally different from the Jesus depicted in the Gospels and proclaimed by the Church, what does it mean to have faith in him?

"I trust the Gospels," the pope wrote.

And while he said he relied on modern scholarly biblical criticism and historical research, "I wanted to attempt to present the Jesus of the Gospels as the true Jesus, as the 'historic Jesus' in the true sense of the expression."

"Only if something extraordi-

nary happened, if the figure and . freely discussedand,critiqued. words ofJesus radically exceeded "It is not a long .encycljcal on allthe hopes and yxpectatioQs.?f ,Jes~~, Pl,lt a persqna,l.presentatio,n his age, can.his crucifixion and his of the figure of Jesus by the theoeffectiveness be explained," the logian Joseph Ratzinger," who pope wrote. was elected pope after beginning Pope Benedict explained that the work, Father Lombardi said.

"At the same time," the Jesuit he began the book during his 2003 summer vacation, giving the final said, "it is very significant that he, form to the first four chapters in who was elected bishop of Rome the summer of 2004. and has the task of supporting the "After my election to the epis- faith of his brothers and sisters, felt copal see of Rome, I used all of so strongly called to give us a new my free moments to work on it," presentation of the figure of Jesus." he wrote. "Because I do not know The Vatican publishing house, which holds the rights to all the how much time and how much strength I will still be given, I have pope's written works, announced decided to publish the first 10 that the pope had handed in the chapters" as Volume One of manuscript and that the Vatican "Jesus of Nazareth." had turned to Rizzoli to translate In a November 21 statement, the work, find publishers for it Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, around the world and handle the director of the Vatican press of- marketing. fice, said, "The pope says clearly, A spokesman for Rizzoli said with his usual simplicity and hu- that as of November 21 the commility, that this is not a 'magiste- pany was prepared to announce rial act,' but a fruit of his personal only the publication in Italian and research and, as such, can be German.

"The Anchor

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER

Vol. 50, No. 46 Member: Catholic Press Association, Catholic New, Service

Published weekly except for two weeks In the summer and the week after Christmas by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720, Telephone 508-675-7151 - FAX 508-675-7048, email: theanchor@anchomews.org. StAlscription price by mail, poslpaid $14.00 per year.

SElnd add.reS5.Chan9es to P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA, call or use email address PUBUSHER • Most Reverend George W. Coleman EXECUTIVE EDITOR Father RogerJ. Landry fatherrogerlandry@anchomews.org EDITOR David B. Jollvet davejolivet@anchornews.org NEWS EDITOR Deacon James N. Dunbar jlmdunbar@anchornews.org 1 I REPORTER Mike Gordon mlkegordon@anchomews.org . OFRCE MANAGER Mary Chase marychase@anchornews.org Send Letters to the Editor to: futherrogerlandry@anchomews.org

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DECEMBER

1, 2006

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THE CHURCH IN THE

Lay-dominated advisory council raising its profile on bishops' issues

By NANCY FRAZIER O'BRIEN CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE

BALTIMORE - The U.S. bishops' National Advisory Council is taking an increasingly public role in making recommendations about documents the bishops are considering and topics they might address in the future.

Comprised of more than 50 laypeople, men and women religious, deacons, priests andbishops, the council "could be seen as a national pastoral council," said Bishop David A. Zubik of Green Bay; Wis., in a brief interview with Catholic News Service recently at the bishops' fall general assembly in Baltimore.

In a report to the bishops the day before, Bishop Zubik said the council members represent ''the adult Catholic population by age, occupation, ethni~ity, geography, vocation and avocation. The council has been called 'the Church in miniature.'''

The council meets three times a year, immediately before the U.S. bishops' Administrative Committee holds its sessions. Council members receive the same documentation given to the Administrative Committee members and pass along their comments in both written and oral form, Bishop Zubik said.

'Thecouncil is both reactive, in the best sense, and proactive," offering suggestions on matters not on the bishops' agenda, Bishop Zubik told CNS. This year the council made two recommendations for future actionthat seminarians take courses in basic finance and management and that the Administrative Committee "make a unified. concertedeffort through a visible, ongoing listening process to engage and invite youth and young people into the life and mission of the Church." .

In his report, Bishop Zubik provided a glimpse into the council's dis-

cussions ofthe bishops' agenda items, ing it "ideally timed" and "an excelespecially on more contentious issues lent tool (that) ... speaks to what desuch as the bishops' guidelines on pas- fines us as Catholics, namely that the toral care of those with homosexual Eucharist is the source and summit of inclinations and the restructuring ofthe who we are as Church," Bishop,Zubik U.S. Conference ofCatholic Bishops. said Council members recommended Regarding the homosexual document, ''there was much debate con- "that homiletic guidelines, pamcerning the use of the term 'disor- phlet versions of the document, dered,' which was believed to be a communications with textbook potential obstacle to the positive re- . publishers and similar ventures be ception of the messages contained in developed to provide as wide a disthe document," Bishop Zubik re- semination of this message as possible," he added. ported.

Asked for details on the council's views, the bishop said nine members strongly agreed with the document, 12

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agreed and seven abstained.

The term "disordered" remained in the document approved by the bishops, which also said, '1t is crucially important to understand that saying a person has a particularinclination that is disordered is not to say that the person as a whole is disordered. While the particular inclination to homosexual acts is disordered, the person retains his or her intrinsic human dignity and value."

On the USCCB reorganization, Bishop Zubik said the council was almost evenly divided about a proposal to include ''pastoral care of Hispanic people" among the conference's top priorities. Some members were concerned ''that making this a priority to the exclusion of other ethnic groups has the possibility of promoting divisiveness rather than recognizing the multicultural reality of the Catholic Church in the United States," he said: The fifth priority eventually approved by the bishops was ''recognition of cultural diversity, with. special emphasis on Hispanic ministry, 'in the spirit of Encuentro.'''

The council expressed strong approval of the bishops' document on worthy reception ofthe Eucharist, call-

New Jersey bishops object to bill they contend would make divorce easier TRENTON, N.J. (CNS) ~ The New Jersey Catholic Conference opposes a bill in the state Legislature it says will facilitate divorces.

The bill, S 1467, would establish new grounds for divorce - "irreconcilable differences which have caused the breakdown of the marriage for a period of six months and which make it appear that the marriage should be dissolved and that· there is no reasonable prospect ofreconciliation."

"Six months is an insufficient period of time to conclude that a marriage should be dissolved," said Patrick R. Brannigan, executive director of the New Jersey Catholic Conference. 'The conference rejects the proposition that divorce is inevitable and therefore the Legislature should take action to permit two par-

U.S. ,

ties to begin to dissolve a marriage in a somewhat amicable fashion after a six-month period of differences."

Instead of"legislative action to facilitate divorce," society should offer "increased support for married couples and families," Brannigan added.

In November 2004, New Jersey's bishops and the bishops throughout the country began a multiyear, broadly based collaborative effort to promote, preserve, protect, strengthen and sustain marriage, which the Church views as both a sacramental reality and a human institution. ''Establishing asix-monththreshold for 'irreconcilable differences' as a cause of action to our laws of divorce would facilitate divorces rather than support, preserveorreconcile marriages ' and families;' Brannigan said.

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Bishops' document on homosexuals evokes praise, disappointment

By JERRY FILTEAU CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

f

WASffiNGTON - The U.S. Catholic bishops' new guidelines for pastoral care of homosexuals have drawn praise from some engaged in that ministry and disappointment from others.

The focus of disagreement is the document's emphasis on formation for chastity as the central element of Church ministry to people with a homosexual inclination.

Drafted by the bishops' Committee on Doctrine and approved by the bishops at their recent fall meeting in Baltimore, the document encourages those with a homosexual inclination to live chastely and to be active participants in parish life.

Father John F. Harvey, an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales and founder of Courage, a support program specifically designed to help those with homosexual inclinations live' chaste lives, praised the bishops' text and said it would be a boon to those who follow Courage's approach.

But Father Jim Schexnayder, resource director of the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries, said the association's leaders were disappointed that "the guidelines characterize homosexual persons as focused on sexual inclinations, tendencies, acts and behavior without reference to the integrity of the fuller lives of faith, love, commitment, ser~ vice and spirituality of Catholic gay and lesbian persons."

Father Schexnayder, a nowretired priest of the Diocese of Oakland, Calif., was one ofthe founders of the association in 1994. It includes leaders in such ministry in 55 U.S. Catholic dioceses and 130 parishes. In an e-mail to CNS he said the bishops' guidelines "do not in fact reflect the real lives of gay and lesbian people, especially Catholics."

The bishops adopted the 26page document, "Ministry to Persons With a Homosexual Inclination: Guidelines for Pastoral Care," by a vote of 194-37.

It calls for parishes and dioceses to welcome those with a homosexual inclination, to form support groups for them and their parents or families, to reach out to those who feel alienated from the Church, and to make

resources such as retreats and referrals for spiritual direction and counseling available to those with a homosexual inclination.

The document stresses the importance of presenting Catholic teaching on sexuality accurately in catechetics, preaching and other formational or educational forums. It says the Church should not give leadership positions to those whose behavior violates Church teaching and should not let people who are engaged in ministry use their position to advocate positions opposed to Church teachings.

Father James K. Graham, pastor of St. Elias the Prophet Melkite Catholic Parish in San Jose, Calif., communications secretary for Father Schexnayder's association, said, "We have to challenge everyone to chastity, but that's not the essential component of any ministry," he said. "If you were ministering, for instance, to prostitutes, then perhaps that would be an essential component of your ministry. But to say you must emphasize chastity in ministry with gay and lesbian people ... is to define them strictly by sexual activity. It's not a consistent way of looking at things."

Franciscan Father Thomas Weinandy, executive director of the bishops' Secretariat for Doctrine and Pastoral Practices, said, "If you have a ministry in which you are not really trying to help people live a chaste life, then your ministry isn't really successful or according to the Church's teaching. If you see living a virtuous life as living a happy life, then until people are making progress in virtue, you're not really helping them live a happy and full life," he said.

Paulist Father James B. Lloyd, a retired psychologist who runs a local Courage chapter out of St. Paul the Apostle Parish in New York, said pastoral programs that expressly ad~ dress sexual abstinence, such as Courage, are "exactly what they (the bishops) were talking about" in their guidelines.

Avoiding or ignoring the issue of chastity in ministering to those with a homosexual inclination is a "misplaced compas~ sion" and is "really hurting people in the long run by fal~ sity," he said.

DISTURBING SCENES - Images from Sudan's Darfur region are projected onto the outside of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington recently. The weeklong show by photojournalists on the Darfur genocide is aimed at calling attention to the crisis in the region. (eNS photo/Larry Downing, Reuters)

Deconstructing voter's choices: Catholics differ little from others

By PATRICIA ZAPOR CATHOLIC,NEWS SERVICE

Fifty percent of white Catholics, w.ron& an,d ~~ Left Doesn'~ Get It," th~ common breako~t used by poll- . said at a recent teleconference

WASHINGTON - Much ado has been made of the supposed shift of "religious" voters to Democrats in the midterm election.

Exit polls showed that more Catholics and more frequent churchgoers in general voted for bemocrats in the 2006 election than voted for Democrats in the 2004 election. News stories and press releases in the first few days after the election touted "Catholic voters abandon Republicans," and "God gap narrows."

But when compared to how voters as a whole cast their ballots this year, the much-vaunted statistics that supposedly show dramatic shifts by Catholics and regular worshippers of any fiuth lose their distinctiveness.

Catholics and regular churchgoers pretty much voted like the overall majority of the country in supporting more Democratic candidates, said John Green, senior fellow in religion and American politics at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.

Enough voters shifted their support to Democrats this year to swing majority p()~er to the party in both the House and the Senate for the first time in 12 years.

Comparing exit-poll results of how people voted in House races, the only races common to all states, Green told Catholic News Service that the country as a whole was four percent to five percent more likely to vote for Democrats this November.

sters, voted for Democrats, com- hosted by the Catholic Alliance and pared to 48 percent who voted for the organization Faith In Public Life Republicans. In 2004 congressional that the Pennsylvania election helps races, 45 percent of white Catho- neutralize abortion as a litmus test lics and of voters overall voted for issue for Democrats.

"With two Catholic, Pro-Life Democrats in House races, Green candidates it took both abortion and said.

Tom Perriello, a co-founder of religion off the table and let ecoCatholics in Alliance for the Com-, nomic justice and poverty get back mon Good, told CNS that efforts by on the table," Wallis said.

Among Hispanic voters, support the Democratic Party to reach out to Catholics, especially in Pennsyl- for Democratic candidates is the vania, Ohio and Vrrginia, states with norm, but even that was stronger close, key Senate races, seem to this election. Seventy-three percent have succeeded. of Hispanics voted for Democrats The "life does not end at birth" for House seats, according to the cameaign that his organization National Election Pool, an exit poll started in 2004 was successful at for a consortium of news outlets. In persuading evangelicals as well as the 2004 presidential race, 53 perCatholics to consider voting on a cent of Hispanics voted for the broader basis than just abortion, Democratic candidate and 29 perPerriello said. cent voted for the Republican canPerriello is optimistic about that didate, The Wall Street Journal resuccess meaning the end of the ported. sense that Democratic candidates At a November discussion about must support abortion "rights" to the election hosted by the New Democratic Network, Cecilia get anywhere within the party.

In Pennsylvania, the Democratic Munoz of the National Council of Party supported Bob Casey Jr. from La Raza said the November races the start of his campaign, even to . brought out a record percentage of the point of discouraging other Latino voters, eight percent. HisDemocrats from running in the pri- panics account for 8.6 percent of mary. Like the Republican incum- registered voters and 14.5 percent bent he defeated, Sen. Rick of the U.S. population, according Santorum, Casey is a Catholic who to the Pew Hispanic Center.

Munoz said that as in every elecopposes abortion, which dido't sit well with some segments of the tion the issues of greatest concern Democratic Party's base. to Latino voters were education, the The Rev. Jim Wallis, founder of economy and, this time, the war in Sojourners and author of "God's Iraq. But immigration was a drivPolitics: Why the Right Gets It ing force for many Hispanic voters.

DECEMBER

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Pope speak~ of religious freedom in meeting 1~ith Italian president II

VATICAN CITY - When a nation fosters its citizens' feligious freedom, society reaps th~1 fruits of justice and peace, Pope Benedict XVI told Italy's president] Giorgio .'

Napolitano.

I ..

"The freedom that the Church and Christians demand aoes not jeopardize the interests o~ithe state or other groups in society and it . "lor auth ' II • sudoes not aIm ontanan il premacy" over these entities, the pope s~i? . . II RelIgIOUS freedom, ratlier, IS the condition in which Chrishans are able to "carry out that pre~ious service the Church offers" to all nationf\,such as giving "th~ light of faith, the power of hopei and the . warmth of charity," he saiCl. The pope met recentlyii with the newly elected president~uring a two-and-a-half-hour, pothp-filled . II ceremony at the Vatican. The . .'

I former Communist Party leader was accompanied by a large entourage of government officials includ0

PRESIDENTIAL PRESENT - Pope Benedict XVI receives a gift from Italian President Giorgio Napolitano during a meeting at the Vatican. (eNS photo(PlinioLepri, Pool via Reuters) .

Help young people realize value·of marria~e, pope 'urges German. bishops .By CAROL GLATZ CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY - The Church needs to help young people realize that true happiness and fulfillment are found in permanent commitments such as marriage, Pope Benedict XVI told a group of German bishops. . . Young people today are afraid, of definitively cominitting them. selves to something, fearing it is "unfeasible and opposed to freedom," he said.

"It is very important to help yo~ng people say 'yes' to the definitive, that it does not clash with freedom, but represents the greatest opportunity" for being free, he said.

The pope met in mid-November with bishops from Ge,rmany, the second group of prelates. from .his homehind to I,ll~ke ~heir "gd /imina'~ visits during his pontificate.

Bishops mak~ the visits to the Vatican every five years to report on the status of their dioceses. .

The pope told th~ bishops that . not only are young couples shying away from the permanent bonds of marriage, they are also finding it "difficult to accept children" 'into their lives and give them the solid, lasting base needed to grow. .

"By patiently spending the rest of their lives together; (a couple's) love reaches its true matUrity," the pope s~d, adding th~t only in this environment of a lifelong love based on marriage can children "learn to live and love." .

The pope told' the bishops to encourage children to be part of Church life so tpat theyma~ "encounter faith.". " Bemg altar servers,joining the parish choir and participating in an ecclesial mov~ment are all ways young peqple can come in closer contact with the word of God and "experience the joy of taking part o

in Mass," he said.

They also underlined the imporHe cautioned bishops against tance of interreligious dialogue; expanding the role of lay people education, and fostering a sense of beyond what is permissible, even eqmility and solidarity on the glothough the' Church in Germany is ballevel, especially toward Africa, facing a decrease in the number of it said. priests and new vocations.

Later that evening, Koehler ofSome changes being made to fered Pope Benedict a classical ' offer people needed pastoral care music .conce,rt in his honor in th6' .threaten to overshadow or oQscure Vatican. The Berlin Philharmonic ;'the image of the parish priest" as Quartet performed for the pope and "a man.of God and the Church who guests in the apostolic palace. Afguides a parish community," he ter the performance, 'the pope said. thanked the president, saying he Only priests or collaborators couldn't have given him "a more . with proper theological and canoni- beautiful gift than this." . cal formation as well as experience Pope Benedict said being pari of and zeal to save people's souls a musical·ensemble provided an apt should head pastoral structures, he metaphor for life. Just as a musisaid. cian mus~ know how to play his or The pope also urged the bishops her part, he or she must also know to continue in. their efforts toward how to sit back and listen to the full ChristiiuJ unity such as through other players, he said. "common prayer and reflection of .

The recital is not about "each sacred Scripture." . one putting himself at the center" Earlier, the pope .met with of attention, but performing with a Germans's president, Horst "spirit of service" so that the Koe~er, in the Vatican. During the composer's work can come to life 35-minute private' audience, the "and reach the hearts of listeners." two men discussed international The pope asked that all Chrisconcerns, including the Middle tians "be instruments" that harmoEast, according to a Vatican state- nio~sly translate the intentions of . ment. ..

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In a speech to the Italian delegation, the pope said that while the Church and state were autonomous and independent of one another, both "are at the service of the personal and social calling of the same people."

The state has a responsibility to guarantee full religious'freedom for its people, he said. o Napolitano, m~anwhile, thanked the pope for his many appeals calling for peace, especially in the Middle East, denouncing famine and poverty, and calling for more' just and sustainable world development.

While he too reaffirmed the importance of separation of Church and state, the Italian leader asked that poli~cs "never shed itself of its ideals" and its spiritual and ethical nature.

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Pastoral care according to the Truth

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The Anchor ,

DECEMBER

the living word

1, 2006

Last month at their November meetings, the U.S. bishops approved three teaching documents concerning, respectively, the pastoral care of those with a homosexual orientat!on, the criteria for worthy reception ofholy Communion and why the use of artificial contraception within marriage is against God's plan and the couple's good. That all three have been considered con, troversial is a clear indication ofwhy and how much they are needed, for they 'were controversial not because the bishops articulated new teachings, but because they re-articulated settled teachings that some have preferred to ignore or reject. Out of compassion, tHe bishops, in clear and accessible language, have raised all three topics again. We will dedicate successive editorials to each of them.

In their "Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination:Guidelines for Pastoral Care," the bishops begin by stating clearly the purpos~ oithe document: ''The Mission ofthe Church is to bring the Good News ofJesus Christ to all people and to minister to all people in' his name. In o~ time and culture, special challenges are faced by those ChurCh members who carry out this mis'sionamong persons who experience same-sex attraction. There are many forces in our society that promote a view ofsexuality in general, and homosexuality in particular, not in accord with God'S1'~ose and plan for human sexuality. To offer guidance in the face of pervasive confusion, the Catholic bishops of the United States find it timely to provide basic guidelines for pastoral ministry to persons with a homosexual inclination and tendency."

Later they add: "AU ministry to persons with a homosexual inclination mustbe guided by Church teaching on sexuality. This basis of this ministry, if it is to be effective, has to be a true understanding of the human person and of the place of sexuality in human life. Departure from the Church's teaching, or silence about it, in an effort to provide pastoral care is 'neither caring nor pastoral. Love and truth go together."

The truth about which people are silent most ordepart from Church teaching .Cl-QUSTINE LEE, LEFf, AND CHRISTOPHER REARDON, STUDENTS AT ST. MARy-SACRED is the sinfulness of homosexual sexual activity. With recourse to the natural HEART SCHOOL, N9RTH ATTLEBORO, TAKE PART IN A THANKSGIVING FEAST. law and to God's revelation in sacred Scripture, the bishops clearly state that homosexual acts are "not in keeping with our bein~ created in God's image "GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD OF,LORDS, FOR IUS LOVING and so degrade and undermine our authentic dignity was human KINDNESS IS EVERLASTING" (PSAL~ 136:3). beings.... They are incompatible,with the Christian life."

Cardinal Sean O'Malley a year ago described how true love for those with same-sex attractions and this truth about the immorality ofhomosexual sexual activity must go together. "If we teU people that sex outside ofmarriage is not a sin:' he wrote in a much-hailed statement, "we are deceiving people. If they believe this untruth, a life of virtue becomes all but impossible." Then he hourly, fidelity to his ordination A third truth that people should Therefore, the priest's life ought to responded to one of the most common objections to this union of love and truth: "Sometimes we are told: 'If you do not accept my behavior, you do not 'be able to perceive when they see radiate this spousal character, which . promise to pray the prayer of the Church in the Liturgy of the Hours. love me.' In reality we must communicate the exact opposite: 'Because we or encounter the ~con of a priest is demands that he be a witness to love you, we cannot accept your behavior.''' The bishops as a body have tried that he is a spouse.

And iasfly, the pnesi should be Christ's spous3.I love and thus' ~ to communicate exactly this message in their document. _ known as a spouse by his willing, The image of a spouse is what capable of loving people with a They also clearJy show how truth and love go together in other areas of generous and sustained sacrifices. heart which is new, generous and the ChUrch's pastoral ministry toward homosexuals. Since "all people are our Lord used to describe himself similar to those made by a faithful and his relationship to the Church pure with genuine self路detach. created in the image and likeness of God and thus possess an innate human husband. I once heard the story of a ment, with full, constant and dignity that must be acknowledged and respected, ... persons with a homo- and to the world. When he was soldier in the Korean War whose sexual inclination must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitiv- ,asked why his disciples did not fast, faithful dedication .. ." (pastores ity." The bishops condemn as "deplorable" any malice toward'them in speech like the disciples of John the Baptist . Dabo Vobis, 22). Thus, the first way legs were shattered by a land mine. or action. "Such treatment deserves condemnation from the Church's pastors and the Pharisees, Jesus said, "Can When he awoke, after having his that a priest should be known as a wherever it occurs." , legs amputated, the army the wedding guests fast They also distinguish between engaging in same-sex acts and having same~ chaplain said, "Son, I'm while the bridegroom is sex attractions. "While the former is always objectively sinful, the latter is sorry, but you lost your not. To the extent that a homosexual tendency or inclination is not subject to with them? As long as legs." The young soldier one's free will, one is not morally culpable for that tendency. Although one they have the bridegroom responded, "Father, I didn't would be morally culpable if one were voluntarily to entertain homosexual, with thern, they cannot lose them, I gave them." temptations or to choose to act on them, simply having the tendency is not a fast. The days will come, sin." Since the homosexual inclination predisposes one t~ward what is truly when the bridegroom is When a priest has the same not good for the human person, the bishops reiterate it is "objectively disor- taken away from them, attitude about the sacrifices dered," but stress that this predicate refers to the inclination and not to the that are necessary for his person. They add that heterosexuals can have disordered sexual inclinations, and then they will fast on people, he conveys to too - whenever sexual pleasure is not subordinated to the greater goods of that day" (Mk: 2:19-20). others that he is indeed a The notion of Christ as a spouse spouse is by the love that he love and marriage - and that people have other disordered inclinations, such spouse, living for Christ and the as those that lead to envy, malice or greed. "Simply possessing such inclina- was also emphasized by St. Paul, demonstrates for his bride, the Church, as a faithful husband lives tions does not constitute a sin; at least to the extent that they are beyond pne's who wrote, "Husbands, love your Church, and for each individual control. Acting on such inclinations, however, is always wrong:' for his wife and children. wives as Christ loved the churc}:l soul entrusted to his care, after the Like all people, those with same-sex attractions, the bishops say, are called and gave himself up for her" (Eph One of the images that should be eXilIIlple of the Divine Bridegroom, to the chaste living, which "overcomes disordered human desires such as lust readily visible iit the icon of the to whom he is configured by his and results in the expression of one's sexual desires in harmony with God's 5:25), and, "I betrothed you to priest is his spousal identity that will:' This is made possible by repeated acts of self-mastery as well as the Christ to present you as a pure bride sacred ordination. radiates from his daily hard work The spousal image should be power of God through the sacraments and prayer and through friendship to her one husband" (2Cor 11 :2). . for Christ and the Church and his Because the priest is configured with those who will love and help them according to the truth. This path, visible in the priest also by his perseverance in fidelity to his which involves the cross, is a path toward the greatness of holiness, toward to Christ, the divine bridegroom, example of faithfully living out his which all of us, whatever our attractioQs, are called. The purpose of human his very identity is spousal in ordination promises.

In this way, life-long ordination commitment, in life is to become a saint and "the ministry of the Church to persons with a nature. This aspect of priestly the priest signals to others that he is the same way that afait:hfUI homosexual inclination must always have the overriding aim of fostering the. boUnd to the Church as firmly and husband is defined by fidelity to his greatest possible friendship with God.... Persons with a homosexual inclina- identity was explained beautifully as permanently as a husband is , life-long marriage vows. Just as a tion ought to receive every aid and encouragement to embrace this call per- byPope John Paul the Great, who bound to his wife.

In this way, the' wrote: "The priest is called to be the husband promises at his wedding to sonally and fully." priest acts as an icon to the world, The bishops then go on to give this "aid and encouragement" in several living image of Jesus Christ, the be faithful to his wife for life, so showing forth the ~age of Christ, helpful. pastoral applications. One they stress is the importance of proper spouse of the Church. In virtue of does the priest at the time of his catechesis. "The Church's teaching in its fullness oughfto be presented by his configuration to Christ, the. head ordination promise to be ever the divine bridegroom, and the the clergy especially from the pulpit and in other appropriate venues." This and shepherd, the priest stands in importance of life-long fidelity. faithful to his spouse, the Church, catechesis should give witness to the "whole moral truth" and be "welcomFather Pignato is chaplain at his spousal rela,tionship with regard by taking the Oath of Fidelity. The . . ing yet challenging, charitable but firm in the truth." .

Bishop Stang High School in to the community....

In his permanence of the priest's commit~e bishops - themselves clergy - have clearly tried to set the exampie North Oartmouth and is secrespirimallife, therefore, he is called ment to Christ and the Church of that type of catechesis in this helpful document. tary to Bishop George w: Those interested in reading the bishop'sdocument can find it at.usccb.org! to live out Christ's spousal love should be evident in many ways, Coleman. dpplMinistry.pdf tow~d the Church, his bride. including his daily, and even

The priest as spouse

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DECEMBER

'路路路TheAnchor ,

1, 2006

Advent giving Our diocesan Mission in Guaimaca, Honduras, is our commitment as a diocesan family to reach out and help our brothers and sisters in need. We recognize the many ways that God has richly blessed our parish, our families, and our personal lives.

In tum, we reach out and bless the lives of others.

Listed below are items that will make a difference in the lives of the poor who live in Guaimaca and its outlying villages. Your help will make a difference.

New Clothing Children's T-jerseys, pants, jeans Children's underwear Youth jerseys, pants,jeans Cotton clothing (infants) White T-shirts (boys & girls) White tube socks (boys & girls) Medicine Children's vitamins Adult multi-vitamins Ibuprofen

Prenatal vitamins Cold!Allergy medications Sewing Yards of material Thread & scissors Zippers

Other Rosary beads Pencils Cloth diapers (not disposable) Diaper pins Baby bottles & baby formula Baby cereal Winter During the winter months (November, December, January), tbe temperature drops to 50 degrees or below, which is a drastic drop for people who are accustomed to the high 80s and 90s. Many do not have "winter" clothing, such as sweaters,

gloves, bats, fleece jackets.

These items would also be a great help to our people.

Indigenous People We have a few communities of indigenous people wbo live in the mountain areas.

Although they do not wear typical "clothes," they do make use of material to make ponchos, etc. Yards of material would provide what is necessary to make their clothing.

Monetary donations Through the parish St. Vincent de Paul Society, we are able to help families with bags of food. We purchase the food here in bulk and divide it to make t~e bags.

Monetary donations would assist us to continue giving bags of food to needy families. tbe average cost to make 20 bags offood (our supply for two weeks) is $145. Any size donation would be greatly appreciated.

God bless your generosity. www.honduranmisswn.org

A simple twist of fate .

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Don't you just l1~fei~ ~ben old adages become truths?

Someone please say yes, so I know I'm not the only one. Or maybe it's because I tempt fate way too often in this column.

Allow me to illustrate. A few weeks back I discussed how I miss myoid sports injuries. Well, be careful what you ask for, for you may truly receive it (old adage).

Since that column ran, I've encountered more than a few gentle reminders of the sports injuries I so eloquently romanticized. But the coup de grace was last week when Emilie and I were. walking from the car to the CYO hall for one of her basketball games.

While walking and talking, not always an easy thing, I stepped off the curbing and twisted my ankle. While trying desperately to hold back a snicker, my compassionate daughter asked if I was OK. After testing the joint for any type of mobility, I bravely said "I'm fine."

Almost immediately, she followed up her concern with the stinging question, "Are you going to write about this in your column?"

"No," I glowered.

Knowing she had me against the ropes at this point, she retorted with, "How come you

write about'your family's embarraSSIng moments, but never' your own?"

My mind scrambled for an end-all response. Then it dawned on me. "Yes, yes, I can write about this," I gleamed. "I can pass this off as a sports injury."

"Dad, you twisted your ankle

walking to my basketball game," she responded.

"No, technically this is a sports injury," I said confidently.

"We're on our way to a sporting event and I was injured. Yeah, that'll work."

All Emilie could do was shake her head in amazement, as she so often does when we're together.

We finished our walk to the hall with a spring in our step and a slight limp on my part.

The following day, my tender ~le served as a reminder of past "sports" injuries. Suddenly, it wasn't as glamorous as I had remembered.

Other not-so-pleasant reminders come as I watch CYO games - the thump of a jammed finger; the whack of an elbow making

contact with a fo&head; the abrasive sound of skin sliding on a waxed floor; and the thud of a ball landing on someone's noggin enough to rattle one's fillings. For you younger readers, a filling is something we old timers have, resulting from getting cavities as youth. I don't know if cavities even exist any more. But I digress.

And the capper was during last week's Patriots game against the Bears when Junior Seau broke his arm making a tackle.

Seeing Seau's grotesque, misshapen appendage brought back disturbing memories of when I did the same thing as an ll-year-old falling out of a tree. Only my arm put Junior's to shame.

I think I'm through pining for sports-related aches and pains. I'll stick with my home improvement mishaps. There are plenty of those to go around.

With a plethora of "how to" shows on the tube, there's always an idea for a new project at home. My carpentry injuries never get the chance to heal, so I'm good with that as a sports substitute.

When it comes to Trading Spaces, I'd just as soon watch it on The Learning Channel, as opposed to envying Emilie's playing days. davejolivet@anchornews.org

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THE REASON FOR THE SEASON - Catholic Tom Stone helps his son, Danny, four, ha~d off the Christ Child statue to be placed in a manger at Chicago's Daley Plaza November 25. Members of the God Squad, volunteersl from area parishes, set up the outdoor creche each year for thellofficial opening of the city's Nativity scene.

(CNS photo/Karen Call~way)

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The Anchor ,

DECEMBER

1, 2006

Ready or not!

On this First Sunday of Advent, the Scriptures invite us to prepare spiritually to celebrate the birth of Christ and his second coming.

The coming of Christ into this world is extremely important. It is the answer to our deepest longing to see God, because Jesus is God. It is the answer to our question: What does is mean to be truly human? Jesus, who is perfectly human, shows us what God is like and what it means to be fully human. Jesus shows us the clear path to salvation. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI, "We are the ones through whom God wishes to be present in the world. The Christ Child comes, in a real sense, whenever human beings act out of authentic love for the Lord."

During Advent, we also reflect on our readiness for the Lord's return. In today's

Gospel, Jesus does not mince time? Do I pray with the words as he warns his disScriptures? Do I take advantage of the opportunities ciples that the coming of available to me to deepen my God's reign is serious busiprayer life and to gain a more ness. "Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from complete understanding of the carousing and drunkenness Scriptures? Have I created a and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise mily of the Wee like a trap." Jesus jars our minds with the First Sunday image of God at the -"-, 路,of Advent door, ready or not. He " challenges us to wake

By Fath.,r up and to take aggresGeorge E. Harrison sive action.

Our challenge during the Advent season is to place of stillness in my soul keep our preparations cen~ for God to communicate with tered on faith, hope and love. me?

Advent is a time to accept Advent is a time when God the grace of conversion and to calls us to enrich our lives with prayer and Scripture. allow our failings, weaknesses This call is not for just the and sin to surface in God's divine light. Resisting the Advent season but for all the days God gives us to prepare temptation to focus on the sins for the Kingdom of Heaven. and imperfections of others, Am I faithful to a daily prayer we attend to our own divided

hearts, our own hidden hypocrisy and our own little compromises with our sinful nature. If we see evil in our lives, we must not tolerate it, make excuses for it or procrastinate.

Advent is a time for focusing more intensely on our ultimate goal, eternal life with God. "The Catechism of the Catholic Church" teaches us that heaven can be enjoyed only by those who are "perfectly purified" (CCCI024). This is important language, because it reminds us that heaven is not an extrinsic reward conferred upon us for successfully completing the arduous obstacle course that is human life on earth. Living a moral life and purification - the life of Christ - is what renders us fit to enjoy the glorified life of the Blessed Trinity in heaven.

St. Paul reminds us today that our goal is to become saints. Especially, through the sacraments of penance and Eucharist, we have the opportunity, and the offering of grace, to do so. In the sacrament of penance, in addition to recovering the peace we lost through our sin, Christ refreshes and purifies us, that we may "be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones" (I Thess. 3:13).

If we are striving for holiness and believe in God's love, we know that there is no reason to be afraid of Jesus' final coming.

Holy Mary, guide us as we prepare our souls for the coming of your Son. Teach us how to receive him with purity, humility and devotion.

Amen.

Father Harrison is pastor of Holy Name Parish in Fall River.

Upcoming Daily Readings:Sat, Dec 2, Rev 22:1-7; Ps 95:1-7; Lk 21:34-36. Sun,Dec 3, First Sunday of Advent, ler33:14-16; Ps 25:4-5,8-9,10,14; 1Thes 3:12-4:2; Lk 21:25-28,34-36. Mon, Dec 4, Is 2:1-5; Ps 122:1-9; Mt 8:5-11. Toes, Dec S, Is 11:1-10; Ps 72:1,7-8,12-13,17; Lk 10:21-24. Wed, Dec 6, Is 25:6-lOa; Ps 23:1-6; Mt 15:29-37. Thurs, Dec 7, Is 26:1-6; Ps 118:1,8-9,19-21,25-27a; Mt 7:21,24-27. Fri, Dec 8, The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed VIrgin Mary, Gn 3:9-15,20; Ps 98:1-4; Eph 1:3-6,11-12; Lk 1:26-38.

Baghdad 2006 During the year I spent at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, I enjoyed getting to know Peter Braestrup, who had been Saigon bureau chief of the Washington Post and was the living embodiment of that pulp fiction staple, the crusty reporter with a heart of gold. While Peter made the Wilson Quarterly an important journal of ideas, his greatest contribution to American life was "Big Story," a two-volume study of the 1968 Tet offensive, the political turning-point of the Vietnam War. Alas, only two-

thirds of the lessons Braestrup drew from that debacle have been learned.

"Big Story" demonstrated three things: 1) that the Tet offensive was a major defeat for North Vietnam and the Viet Cong; 2) that the world press badly missed the Tet story; 3) that the American people and their political leaders thought of Tet as a defeat for the U.S. and South Vietnam. Braestrup, who died in 1997, lived to see his .

Our Lady's Monthly Message From .Medjugorje November 25, 2006 Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina "Dear children! Also today I call you to pray, pray, pray. Little children, when you pray you are close to God and He gives you the desire for eternity. This is a time when you can speak more about God and do more for God. Therefore, little children, do not resist but permit Him to lead you, to change you and to enter into your life. Do not forget that you are travellers on the way toward eternity.

Therefore, little children, permit God to lead you as a shepherd leads his flock.

"Thank you for having responded to my call."

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=Tet 1968?路

first and third conclusions accepted. His second conclusion - the media botch - has not been widely grasped, yet it's the crucial link between Conclusion

One (Tet was a serious military defeat for the communists) arid Conclusion Three (Tet was nevertheless a huge political victory for the military losers).

A fine review of "Big Story," summarizing the book's key points, is available online at . www.airpower.maxwell.af.miU airchronicleslaureview119781 nov-declbishop.html. In remembering myoid friend Braestrup, however, the point is to look ahead, liot back. For unless the American media and the American people take the second conclusion of Peter's masterpiece seriously, we may find ourselves in the morally dubious position of turning victory into defeat time and again in the war against jihadist terrorism.

Iraq is the obvious and immediate case in point.

Iihadists around the world talk about the mantaq ai-Madrid, the

"Madrid effect," referring to the terrorist bombings of Madrid train stations that cowed Spanish voters into deposing a government that had been a U.S. ally in Iraq. An American . equivalent of the "Madrid effect" is the goal of the Saddamists and jihadists who continue to fight in Iraq, even though they know they can't possibly win - they fight in order to degrade the political will of the American people, who are fed a steady and (rightly) disturbing diet of Iraqi chaos and mayhem . by a press corps which is repeating the same mistakes in its war-reporting that Braestrup (an old-fashioned liberal) identified in his painstaking study of coverage of the Tet offensive.

As Amir Taheri has pointed out, the allied coalition that invaded Iraq had multiple goals: to depose a murderous regime, thereby ridding the world of a serious threat to international security; to empower the people of Iraq through a democratic political process; and to create a new political model for the Arab-Islamic world. The first goal was achieved, rather easily; the second goal has been largely achieved, with a constitution written, free elections held, and a legitimate government formed;

and there are signs that all of this has had a leavening effect on Middle Eastern politics. The jihadists and Saddamists who are causing mayhem (and fostering sectarian violence) in Iraq know this; their purpose is to dismantle the success that the allied coalition and the Iraqi people have, in fact, achieved.

Reasonable people could, and did, differ about the prudence of the March 2003 invasion. My considered judgment remains that the allied action satisfied the criteria of a just war. But whatever one's position on decisions made in early 2003, surely people committed to the just war way of thinking can agree that the moral obligation to secure the peace after major combat ends - the ius ad pacem or ius post bellum - will not be met if the "Madrid effect" kicks in and the U.S. and its allies abandon Iraq. That emphatically does not mean continuing failed policies. It does mean keeping focused on the legitimate, indeed noble, goal of supporting the development of a decent, self-governing society in an Iraq that could augur a better future for the Middle East.

ATet-like victory for the jihadists will not lead to a just peace, in Iraq or anywhere else.

George Weigel is a senior fellow ofthe Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

Advent is coming. Duck!

30 November 2006 Homeport - Feast ofSt. Andrew.

It was bad enough when The Holidays kicked off before Thanksgiving. The Holidays this year hit sometime in October, a week before Halloween.

My Jack-O-Lantern had not yet turned to mush and Andy Williams was singing Christmas tunes on the radio. I must be

slow. I'm only gearing up

December. Ever notice that stores don't have sales anymore? They .have "events."

There is, dear Anchor readers,

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to light the first candle on the Advent wreath. Already I've had-it-up-to-here with The Holidays. I've even seen the first ad for an "after Christmas storewide event" - and it's not even

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a pronounced pining among us for the traditional Advent!

Christmas celebration. Forget these manic months of modem holiday hoopla. Give me a good

old-fashioned Holiday - the sleigh rides, the food, the family gatherings by the fire.

Our authentic celebration would begin with the 40 days of Advent. That's right. Advent once lasted 40 days, just like Lent much longer than our own paltry four-week observance. So, keeping to tradition, our Advent!

Christmas Season should have officially begun this year the week before Halloween. Oh, wait. Never mind.

Advent was once considered a time of strict fast and abstinence.

Fasting meant abstaining from all meat but also all animal by-

A CatholliicIeciocationat n·.on-Caj.I!PI;i~ . prilna·ry.~9h.oO·IS

This is the fifth in an ongoing . .tQwiu'd·flii;Catflolic..(aifh. series ofcolumns on the impor-;reacQet"s areppwerf\lGnfluences. tance ofgiving all Catholic kids a;: When our lrids. were 'in public Catholic education. elementary- School,. we found it

many of which remain.Por example, during Advent We begin all our dinners by singing "O'Come O'ComeEtnmanllel" in Today I'd like to offer somebelpful sitnplyto teU:;the kidS' complete datlmess, then lighting ideas on educating children in all teachers that we wer~Catholic our Advent wreath, and eating by things Catholic while they are and tofliarik: thentfofbeing candlelight. A good friendtak:es emolled in non·Catholic elemen· respectfUl of any way this fact her son to 7 a.m. Ma$s On Pirst tary and middle school systems. .might come up in th~;Classroom.

Pridays before driving bim to his Keeping in mind the primary Thi$.taetic h~lpe<! 0uF kids on private school. laking visits to . " .. regional shrineS, getting responsibility we have a$ Catholic parents to see toi l C a t h O l i cnewspapetS and it that our children a r e m a g a z i n e s instead of taught heart, hand, and secular ones, andinviting priests and teligious ". head knowledge of the Catholic faith, it is persons over fOtdinner important to understand are some more ways to that in this regard, all learn about the Catholic non-Catholic school faith a$ afamily. , systems are essentially ~<, • .,.. • Please believe me similar. No public, private, 'm~:s:,~j9n$7Ifo;qQ:thiStakes ,~when.I say w~ have never had the:' preparatory,charter, or any oth~ a<;¢t;taln~ofbOldj;}~ss"':'" but time or energy10 add to a lineup '> non-Catholic system will partner it¢~emtier;;YQt1at¢CthePatent. .. t', ',ofalteady eXisting family •.

with uS in educating our child in ~.thaA . • .•. .>•.·~.k!..,•.' or . '. know.. ..' ,:'~itiesevenl1il1fofwhatI've,:y~, the ways of the.Catholic faith. .' ,~ :~ligiovs" ·:,:?jQstlll~n!i9~i<t·'l'h~.1<:~Yfort1s:,~:i~ Some of these systems orreacbersicon o not ' . ' ha$heelin6HO addthe'CatholiC:' ' within the systems will be .'. :shate)\;<t~ ot)j,~~ei.the4i ••;;~ . . J()Ct1se~~tiy,i,ties,~11!~t9tePl.~,~; supportive of our faith.. Some own.::.;;;'.",;' 'non-Catholicactivities,with teachers may evenshw.:eourraith, .

Sec9n<t,.pari$bprQgrams.We Catholic-focused'Ones; l.know but they will not be permitted to madMure to eutOUthe.kidSln" .:,' thatt,his.isa high expectation and share it in the classroom., Some CCP'Classesat 6url1~Sh; andiriy maYbe'greetedWith'~bung schools and teachers will be:' '.' husblUi~.taught.eac:hoftheitfirS(':; frQm'th.e lcids if we'venever:d.bne tolerant, some Will be openly 1~~Fr.~nclasses.:.~atberitruW·· itbefore,bt1tifwe.bave decided hostile, and some may acWallY.Jom sc:olltlrlg.groupSQr 4H, we... that .a~on~CathOlicischoolisbest see it as their duty to "brOaden" joined ll. non~denominationaI. fOr Out family, then we ate going our kidS' horizons with relativism .Christian kidS'.clUb whetethe to have to sqUeeze time and and moral ambiguity. Most, lcidS earned patches fOtmemoriz~ energy from somewhere other ing.versesofsaci'edSCripture. than the school day to see that out however, will be ambivalent. and for that reason, whether intention-l'h.ere is btatid:new 9rgalrlzation children are stili able to receive a ally or not, will submarine the life specifically for catholic lcidS ages Catholic education. This willtak:e of our child's soul. by elevatingthenve:18calle<t'fotus 'lUus Catholic "remembenng what we really life of the mind and the Yollth,Qrganiz5t ."'~9U1ldedin " want for ow;chi1d's educatiOli" .~ When we had children in: the .

2003, .. gn:offetS ' 'which is how .I defined having public elementary-school,time . :CathQIic, ,bs that .)i~~, j;'dlsci,Plin thenrstcoltltnn Of);~ and energy werethechief,family "focUs' on , fthe . '.rtbisseries.... ""'~God'tr~ assets we had to investin the', . safu~,"'ji<\vill n1t1ltip,IY:'evetYg~achoic¢;;;" children'sedllcation order to keep. J'~~(,>geti¢si;~ kj\a;l()()k~t"<J' it Catholic. We accomplished this .ibod)t(teensAAd bd6litik: '.; il" by focusing on three distinct areas Lastl)f. home life. :When the lleidfis author, 'photot~ of their schooling. . .... . kids were· .C s<;h,99l, we7:$,5,:>l'ap}t ~ti",e'tf!7.otl:ter.,c.

FITst, teachers and curriCUla. ,?r"-t'ii0fJ5hea .' '.' ilylive.in We paid special attention to out toJ.1~Ip:us'f61lQwtlie . '# ~JJ.almouth: " children's reachers' attitudes liturgi¢~ yearathgme, . homegrownJaith~yahoo.com.

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products - including milk, eggs, and cheese. You could; however, serve duck I'orange, s~ce ducks were considered some kind of genetically altered fish. They swam around in the w~ter, after all. So, back in the old' days, if you were planning an early Christmas party, you c:6uld safely serve your guests roast duck without fear of endangering their I immortal souls.

There were also saint's days on which the rules were r~laxed. We still have a procession I,of Advent saints - Francis Xavier, John of I' Damascus, Nicholas, Ambrose, " Damascus I, Jane Frances de Chantal, Lucy, John o~ the Cross, Peter Canisius, and John of Kanty - not to mention the Marian feasts of the Immaculite Conception and Our Lady of Ouadalupe.

St. Barbara has been deleted, but Juan Diego added.

After you have hadllquite enough of duc l'orang'e, but before the dawning ofiChristmas itself, you must take c1-e to boil your hackin. Need we I~ay that hackin is a Scottish sa~sage? And . not b01'1'mg when th e 1'f yours IS II sun comes up, be prep:rred to be whisked away by yourl elbows and carried through the toJ.n square.

It's tradition, of cours~.

When your hackiril is thoroughly boiled and ydur family has settled down again, you can " follow another Scottish custom and gather around thb swing in the back yard. The person on the swing must say ":~i mi tu chal," which, as you well know, means "I will kill your cabbage." You must reply "Cha ni mu cal!" or "You shall not kill my cabbage." If you are not particularly fond of dabbage, it is still considered badI etiquette to respond: "Go right ahead and kill my cabbage, you l! idiot!"

Perhaps you can serve your cabbage with your boiled hackin, but the TV life-style 'I' mavens are still out on this.

In England, beginning in 1642, there was a distinct distaste for things Christmas. From 1645 to 1647 there was an anti"Christmas campaign. In 1647, Pa'rliament banned the observance of Christmas outright. Advent, too, went down the tubes. "

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Bernard Parish, Assonet. Comments are welcome at StBernardAssonet@aoLcom.

Previous columns are at www.StBernardAssonet.org.

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The ~aints & Singers Chorus

One I,Sma{{ Chili;{ Christmas Performance Schedule 1

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Some passenger on the Mayflower brought along a barrel full of ivy, holly, and laurel. This was a waste of time. Our Pilgrim ancestors loathed the Advent!

Christmas season.

In 1659, the General Court of Massachusetts passed legislation making the season illegal.

Christmas Day was considered an ordinary workday in Massachusetts well into the 19th century. It did not become a legal holiday until 1856. I am not making this up.

There must be some happy medium between banning Advent!

Christmas outright, as did the Puritans, and Christmas-shop-tillyou-drop, as is the present condition. May I suggest: - if you dread some holiday activity, skip it. Who cares what the neighbors will say? They'll get over it; - if you enjoy some holiday activity, just do it. Who cares what the neighbors will say?

They'll get over it; - be kind to people, even if they wish you "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas."

They're just trying to be social; - don't be Christmas terrorist.

Call a cease fire in the "Christmas Wars." So what if the mall does not have a creche display?; - be patient with people who are experiencing holiday overload; - if some family tradition has died, bury it. Start a new tradition; - your Advent!Christmas Season will not be perfect, guaranteed. Get over it; - if you can't afford the expenditure of time or money, don't spend it. There are other ways to be generous; - practice moderation in all things; - take some quiet time to pray and grow spiritually (how about Advent?); - Jesus is the Reason for the Season., -Enjoy!

Father Goldrick is pastor of St.

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Date Friday. 12/1 sat., 12/2 Sunday, 12/3 Friday, 12/8 sat. 12/9 Sun. 12/10

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Location

Swift Memorial sagamore Beach Easton Baotist North Easton Bourne United Methodist Bourne First Conareaational Hanson Our Ladv of Lourdes, Carver Sl Maraarers Buzzards Bay

Time 7:30 PM 6:00 PM 4:00 PM 8:00 PM 1:00 PM 4:00 PM

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Listening to the people

Finding joy in prayer and helping others

By MIKE GORDON, ANCHOR STAFF her and keeps her happy. The answer is a simple FALL RIVER - Eighty-three-year-old Mary one: "My energy comes from Jesus. I trust him Jane Camara begins each day walking on her tread- and I walk holding his hand each day. He carries mill for 45 minutes. By the time she's arrived at me."

St. Anthony of Padua Parish for morning Mass She went on to say that many times when she she's already prayed three rosaries. Not a bad way meets people, one of the things they notice is her to begin a day. strong faith. That delights her. "I want my friend"I'm working harder now that I'm retired," she ship with him to shine for all to see," she said.

Camara shared another source of her energy admitted, "but it's all worth it. I wouldn't change a thing."

- prayer. "Pray, pray, pray constantly and withThe Fall River native has been volunteering as out ceasing," she advised. "It's a great source of a lector and an extraordinary minister of holy energy and I'm thankful that God has given me so Communion for more than 20 years at St. much; a wonderful family, a house to live in. When Anthony's. She also brings the Eucharist to the I pray I dedicate myself to the Lord." sick at Charlton Memorial Hospital and Saint She believes that if more people prayed, they Anne's Hospital. would find peace in "If God is at the cen- .-.-~--:-...",.....",-------;-:"'---~--;:--=--:-~-......., their lives. "When . " ter of your lrfe it makes . > . ::::1 ...:.: >;" ! ~ " . . people say they don't all the difference," said "~~>~:::b~;{~~?StoBes ~- have the time, I say it Camara. "Helping oth~~. can be done. To do ers the way I do gives' . '/(tii'/!i$iJi路(jj~:Week God's work should be me purpose in life. I'm :;; :...- ... ~~ ~ ~'~,-j'.' . ?;;,,~;. '. . '> one's first priority." f

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thankful for the opporFather John C. Martunity God gives me to tins, pastor of St. Anspread his message by thony of Padua Parish, being a lector and Fall River, said of his bringing the Eucharist parishioner, "She's a to those in need." very fine person and a With a smile, good Catholic. She's Camara recounted a reinvolved heavily with cent call to bring Comthe Church and the St. munion tQ the Vincent de Paul Socihomebound. She rang ety. I've known her for the doorbell and a 21 years and she's a young child opened the great example and does door for his gtanda lot to help others. mother. His response at She's very kind." seeing Camara? b Camara is treasurer ON THE GO - Mary Jane Camara is as usyas "Grandma, it's Jesus at ever with family and Church activities. (Anchorf ofthe Fall River Counthe door." ',Gordon photo) cil of the Society of St. It's interactions like Vincent de Paul. She that one which assure Camara that she is making enjoys her involvement. She was the first woman a difference. Her late husband, Manuel H. Camara, awarded its prestigious Top Hat Award for outwas a permanent deacon and one of the first or- standing service to the poor. "That was quite an dained for the diocese. When he died in 1995, she honor and a special moment," said Camara. asked if she could continue his ministry to the She is equally proud of the award she and Deahomebound and now visits three to five people con Manny received for their dedication to the every Sunday.

Marriage Prep or Pre-Cana Program of the Fam"I love doing that," she declared. ily Ministry Office. She and Manuel helped preShe also loves being a lector and attending daily pare couples for marriage from the beginning of Mass. "I can get in my car and go," said Camara. that program in the diocese 40 years ago.

"When I'm at the podium I feel like God has Camara also taught Religious Education for placed me there. I practice before I do the reading more than 20 years, beginning when her children and it's a beautiful thing to do for the Lord." were of age. The mother of three children, Claudi;v, Camara volunteers to distribute Communion Paul and David, she now enjoys spending time every Monday at Charlton and every other Tues- with her eight grandchilcj.ren and five gr~at-grand颅 day at Saint Anne's. One thing that keeps Camara children.

"I love my family," said Camara. involved is the lack of other volunteers to help out and that's something she prays about freWhen she's not at Church or helping others quently. "Both hospitals need more people to help Camara enjoys spending time with the friends she's out with Communion. I pray about that often and made through the permanent diaconate. She recently hope that others will be encouraged to help out." organized a 25th anniversary get together for the first Before she retired, Camara worked for 32 years class of deacons and their wives. She also enjoys as the treasurer at the St. Anthony of Padua Fed- reading and spending time with her family.

A treasurer of the Fall River Community Soup eral Credit Union in Fall River, where her husband was one of the founders. "I retired when I Kitchen, Camara assists any way she can at one turned 71, but I still help out. I'm its vice presi- of their three kitchens. She also has volunteered dent now." at the St. Vincent Home for troubled children and Camara found she had a knack for such a job recently became an associate of the Holy Union after taking business and accounting classes 10- of the Sacred Hearts Sisters. Similar to the laycally. Many encouraged her to take on the respon- person Third Orders, Camara attends monthly sibilities. When she was younger, she had a job as meetings, and participates in various activities ina secretary for the U.S. Army prior to World War cluding praying the Liturgy of the Hours every II. day before morning Mass.

Asked where she gets her energy, Camara "God is the purpose in my life," she humbly laughed and said many have asked her what drives stated, "and I love it."

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As I was writing this article, the news came on the television that Fox Broadcasting had cancelled its plan to air the O.J. Simpson interview and that HarperCollins was canceling his book, "If I Did It." Both of these outcomes were largely fueled by the "voice" of the victims' families and public outrage (and rightly so) over the injustice of such an interview and the poor judgmentof promoting this "literary project." This is a time when those in power have listened to the people, even if for some it was only to save their own livelihood.

I would like to share my own account of this senseless tragedy.

In the Fall of 1993, I was working as the director of Religious Education at St. Martin of Tours Church in Los Angeles. The parish served the upscale "village" of Brentwood, home to many of the rich and famous. Serving in this position was not something I would have expected, as I was raised in a very

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completely different world.

I can still remember the day I received the message on my answering machine. "Hi, this is Nicole Simpson. My husband is "OJ. Simpson; you know, the football player." The message went on to say that she wanted to enroll '\her daug~ter Sydney in our first Commumon program.

Sydney registered to attend the program that 1993-94 school year.

Nicole brought Sydney to class nearly every Wednesday. She was always very friendly and seemed to be a very dedicated mother to her children, Sydney and Justin.

Occasionally, OJ. would pick up Sydney after class, buzzing into the parking lot in his little white Porsche. He was always very friendly too.

In March 1994, about three months before Nicole's death, we had a first Communion parent meeting. O.J. and Nicole attended together. Arm in arm, smiling happily, who would have known there were any problems at home?

Nicole and several of her family members attended Sydney's first Communion in early May. OJ. did not attend as he was out of town.

Three weeks before Nicole's death, we had our last CCD class for the year. We always had a closing liturgy on that day and Nicole attended. After Mass during ~

cookies and punch, I asked Nicole if Sydney would continue her classes next year. Nicole's reply was simply, "We'll have to wait and see...."

Those were the last words that I heard her speak.

On the morning of June 13, 1994, I was driving to work when I turned on the radio and heard the tragic news about Nicole and Ron. A few days later, on the morning of the funeral, the monsignor with whom I worked asked if I would assist as a extraordinary minister of holy Communion at the funeral. 0 J. sat with his children and family members. He had on dark sunglasses, and seemed rather stoic during the service, occasionally speaking to his children.

When the service ended, reporters, news people and photographers surrounded every entrance to the church. I wanted to avoid this crowd so I chose to leave the church through the

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sacristy. As I entered the sacristy there was only one person waiting there. It was OJ. I walked up to him and told him that I was so sorry about Nicole. He looked down toward the floor and only said one word very softly, "Yeah." He was just very quiet.

I left him alone then and walked out the door into the rectory. Hours later was the infamous "chase scene," after which many people began to see everything differently.

What happened in the Simpson family is beyond tragic.

Nicole and O.J. may not have attended church regularly, but during the last year of her life, Nicole was making every effort to bring faith to her children. The children were beautiful and lost the love of a mother who loved them dearly. Ron Goldman did not deserve to die nor did his family deserve to suffer as they have. At least the media moguls have respected these victims and their families, by listening to the people.

Greta is the author and illustrator of"The Ocean Flowers, A Parable of Love" and numerous articles. Greta and her husband George, with their children are members ofChrist the King Parish inMashpee. , ,

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The Anchor ,

Vatican !Ivalues interdisciplinary cooperation at Church schools !!

ROME (CNS) - A Catholic university should be a1lplace where experts from a variety 6f disciplines work together to ben~fit individuals and humanity as a ~hole, said a top Vatican official.

With its theologica) and philosophical foundation applied to questions of economics, law, human rights, justice !Iand peace, Catholic social teachip.g is a field made for interdisciplinjU'Y cooperation, said Cardinal Tarc~sio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state.

When a scholar foc~es on "a tiny sector of pertinence" and lacks knowledge in other fields and a prac-

tical experience of dialogue with other scholars, he or she can lose perspective, Cardinal Bertone said.

No field of knowledge holds all the answers to the question of who the human person is, how to help, the individual reach more of his or her potential and how to shape a society that respects human dignity and promotes human development, he said.

"The social teaching of the Church can contribute to providing a basic guiding framework for diverse disciplines, helping them collaborate in full respect for their specificity," the cardinal said.

!!

QUICK WORK - Construction businessman and Catholic parishioner Larry Gruber stands outside the "Extreme Makeover" house Monarch Homes helped build in Dundee, Wis., last month. The house was constructed in less than one week and was featured in' a recent episode of ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." (CNS photo/Sam Lucero, Catholic~erald)

Builder applies his Catholic faith to home project for ABC-TV show

By MARYANGELA LAYMAN

ROMAN

CATliOUC NEWS SERVICE

WAUWATOSA, Wis. - When Lori Furnace, office manager at Monarch Homes, told her dad, Larry Gruber, that he had received a call from ABC, Monarch's chief operating officer suspected a sales representative was trying to sell him siding.

But when Gruber, a member ofSt. Jude Parish in Wauwatosa, returned the call in August, it launched his family into a whirlwind several weeks long that culminated in the November 19 airing of an episode of television's ''Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."

The caller from ABC-TV, the network that produces the popular weekly show on which a home is built or renovated for a deserving family, asked Gruber ifhis family-run, homebuilding business would be interested in constructing a home for a family in Dundee.

----''Talk to your partners, take some time to think about it," Gruber said the caller suggested. But, in an interview at his Wauwatosa office with the Catholic Herald, Milwaukee archdiocesan newspaper, Gruber said he responded quickly. "I don't need to think about it - we'll do it!" ''It was a way for our family to give to another family," he told the Catholic Herald. "Sure, we did it because we are hoping for the payback that it will help our business, but the main reason is to help a family change their lives and make ~ feel a little better."

Besides Gruber, the family ''team'' include his son-in-law and Monarch Homes president Justin Furnace; his son and Monarch field manager Jeremy Gruber; daughter Lori Furnace; and his wife and Monarch sales representative Kathy Gruber. They

headed a team of more than 600 skilled laborers and contractors and about 1,200 volunteers who constructed the sprawling, 4,500-squarefoot house in Fond du Lac County.

Reflecting on the experience, Larry Gruber, an Omaha, Neb., native who moved to Wisconsin three years ago from Houston, admitted that one motivation in accepting the task was to generate exposure for his two-and-a half-year-old company that builds about 30 homes a year. But above all, Gruber, a builder for 32 years, said he and his family welcomed the opportunity to put their Catholic values into action by giving another family a helping hand.

The recipients ofthe home are the Matthew and Christine Koepke family. When Gruber first leamed of the family in August, Matthew Koepke was ill with cancer. He had been diagnosed in April with metastatic melanoma which had spread from under his arm to his brain.

The family - which includes four children, ages 15 to 22 - had been living in a home built by Matthew Koepke's great-grandfather.

Over the years, it had fallen into disrepair. It had exposed electrical wires and insulation, a leaking roof, broken windows and an attic infested with bats.

Matthew Koepke planned on renovating the house, according to an ''Extreme Makeover" press release, but had spent several years renovating the historic Dundee Mill into a museurn for the community. The mill is a few blocks from his home.

While undergoing chemotherapy treatments, he tried repairing his home, but on August 21, at age 41, he died. rl His death altered the television

show's schedule. The demolition of the home, scheduled for early September, was postponed until the beginning of October. Looking back, Gruber said that gave him more time to plan and prepare for the project.

On September 29, the day Gruber referred to as "door knock," the television crew arrived at the Koepke home with the wake-up call: "Good morning, Koepke family." They quickly packed and were sent off to San Diego for a short vacation while the volunteers demolished their home and built a new one.

The clapboard structure that Gruber estimated to be 1,500 to 1,800 square feet was completely leveled October 1. Just before it was taken down, Monarch employees joined thousands of people, including the ''Extreme Makeover" crew, in running en masse toward the home in a symbolic gesture ofpower and unity. lYPically, his company completes a home in four or five months, said Gruber, ahead of the national average of six to eight months. The Koepke home was completed in 95 hours, ahead ofthe seven days, or 106 hours, the program allows.

He stressed that no corners were cut in construction, rather good planning helped the process go smoothly.

"It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience:' said Gruber as he reflected on the past few months. "Would we do it again? - probably not for a long time - but it was awesome the way that everyone came out to support this family.

"Everything went beautifully," he added. ''We had our family working around the clock, but it's all about helping others. We also built a lot of relationships with a lot of new people."

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DECEMBER

1, 2006

'Picturing Mary' scheduled for various dates on PBS

By DAVID DICERTO

he crafted at age 15, "The Madonna of the Steps," is magnifiNEW YORK - Perhaps no cent - Titian, Duccio and woman in the history of Western Caravaggio. In addition to the civilization has inspired more predominantly Italian works, the works of art than Mary. Her im- sampling also includes pieces by age has been venerated by em- northern masters like Rembrandt perors and peasants; loomed and Van Eyck, the latter's use of large in grand cathedrals and in- color and detail astonishing even conspicuously graced the small- by modern standards.

A segment at the remote monest trinkets; and led armies into battle, protected cities and astery of Narga Selassie on an isstirred devotion throughout the land in Ethiopia's Lake Tana centuries. demonstrates how the basic imAn illuminating documentary, age of Mary ("endlessly varied, "Picturing Mary," surveys her de- endlessly imagined") remains espiction in art over the past 2,000 sentially the same around the years, encompassing painting, globe. sculpture and mosaic, as well as Beyond an art history lesson, more exotic mediums such as Az- the film shows how, in earlier tec featherwork. Jointly produced times when populations were by the U.S. bishops' Catholic largely illiterate, the frescoes, alCommunication Campaign and tarpieces, etc. served as pictorial ThirteenlWNET, this companion catechisms, conveying theologifilm to 2001 's "The Face: Jesus cal truths and providing a virtual in Art" airs on public television overview of Mariology. stations starting in December At only an hour in length, (check local listings). there are omissions: There's no Narrated by Jane Seymour and Asian, Celtic or East European her husband, James Keach, the. art (Poland's "Black Madonna" program explores how the visual of Czestochowa, a national trearepresentations reflect the sur- sure that held special ,signifirounding historical and cultural cance for Pope John Paul II, milieu. didn't make the cut). And the She is the humble handmaiden most familiar New World image of the Annunciation in sublime of Mary, Mexico's "Our Lady of works by 路Cimabue, Giotto, Guadalupe," gets only cursory Simone Martini and Lippo treatment. Two other minor Memmi. But she is also the quibbles: Keach's voice is mono"Theotokos," or "Mother of God," chromatic and the "morphing" envisioned as the unconquered effect, so inventively employed empress - so much for the al- in "The Face," is hardly used at leged misogyny of early Chris- all here. tianity - whom cities implored But overall, this rewarding if for protection, as rendered in the less ambitious follow-up is edijewel bedecked icon the "Panagia fying in its contemplation of the Nikopoia" ("All Holy Bringer of meek Jewish路 maiden whom the Victory"). poet William Wordsworth, as Director Martin Johnson and quoted in the film, called "our producer Rosemary Plum take tainted nature's solitary boast." viewers on a tour of (mostly) ReThe CCC will also provide a naissance treasures by companion Website at Michelangelo - a marble relief www.picturingmary.com.

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, December 3, 2006 at 11:0Q a.ID. Scheduled celebrant is Father Thomas L. Rita, . pastor of St. Mark's Parish in Attleboro Falls.

PENGUIN PRIDE - Mumble tap dances in a scene from the comedy adventure "Happy Feet." For a brief review of this film, see CNS Movie CapSUles below. (CNS photo/Warner Bros. Pictures)

(C~~ ~'f(),vii(e

lCall()~Ulllle~ NEW YORK (CNS) - The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. ''Bobby'' (MGMlWeinstein) Fact and fiction are deftly blended in a multistoried drama about the intertwining lives of guests and workers at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles - played by an all-star cast including William H. Macy, Anthony Hopkins, Sharon Stone, Laurence Fishburne, Demi Moore and many more - leading up to Robert F. Kennedy's assassination. The presidential candidate is only seen sporadically in newsreel footage but director-writer Emilio Estevez's characters - despite conflicts - ultimately come to reflect the noble ideals of brotherhood and forgiveness expressed in some of Kennedy's stirring campaign speeches. Though there is some oversentimentality, on the whole it's a compelling dramatization with a worthy message whatever one's political stripe. Some rough expletives and an instance of profanity, drug use, brief side and rear nudity, brief violence and an adulterous affair.

The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-ill - adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

"Fast Food Nation" ing gets him banished by the puri(Fox Searchlight) tanical elders who blame him for Absorbing albeit bleak the colony's dwindling fish supply, multiplotted expose excoriating the prompting the misfit to prove them fast food industry for its dangerous, wrong, get to the bottom of the food unsanitary and exploitative work- shortage, and hopefully discover his ing conditions, from the perspective "heartsong," the mating call unique of it fictitious burger franchise's to each penguin that will help him mar~eting executive (Greg find true: lov~. p~rector George Kinnear) who goes to Colorado to Miller combines terrific animation investigate conditions at their plant; and voice talent (that also includes a young cashier (Ashley Johnson) Robin Williams, Hugh Jackman whose uncle (Ethan Hawke) urges and Nicole Kidman) but packs too her to improve her life, despite the many themes - tolerance, conforcomplacency of her unmotivated . mity, environmental responsibility mother (Patricia Arquette); and a - into the sweet yet slender story. young Mexican immigrant couple There are some dark and intense (Catalina Sandino Moreno and moments laced throughout and an Wilmer Valderrama) struggling to unflattering view of religious aubuild a better life. Director Richard thority, but the broader themes of Linklater's skillful dramatization of love and self-worth should melt Eric Schlosser's nonfiction book most objections. Some mildly rude (they co-wrote the script) is some- humor and innuendo, as well as times preachy and the ending inten- some menace and two frightening tionally inconclusive, but the issues sequences that may upset very raised are timely ones, while the young viewers, but probably OK cast (including Bruce Willis, Bobby for older children. The USCCB Cannavale and Kris Kristofferson) Office for Film & Broadcasting offers solid, selfless performances. classification is A-II - adults and Partly subtitled. Rough and crude adolescents. The Motion Picture language, a couple of briefly in- Association ofAmerica rating is PG tense, if nongraphic, sexual encoun- - parental guidance suggested. ters, fleeting partial nudity, innu- Some material may not be suitable endo, some gruesome slaughter- for children. house shots and drug references.

The USCCB Office for Film & Movies Online Broadcasting classification is L Can't remember how a limited adult audience, films whose recent film was classified problematic content many adults Conference by the would find troubling. The Motion of Catholic Bishops?

Picture Association ofAmerica ratWant to know whether to ing is R - restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or let the kids go see it? You adult guardian. can look up film reviews "Happy Feet" on the Catholic News (Warner Bros.)

Service Website.

Computer-animated fable set in Visit catholicnews.com the Antarctic about a young emand click on "Movies," unperor penguin (voiced by Elijah der the "News Item" Wood) whose inability to carry a menu. tune and propensity for tap danc-

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The Anchor , the Bible for the first,:time ever or lose them." since they were a kid" :'and that they Even though she was born ~d are now reading the B~ble regularly raised a Catholic, she said she did because of looking up one of many not really get excited about her Scripture verses he signs on hun- faith until she started reading more dreds of fans' gloves, bats and about it and came to "understand balls. . the beauty of it, the tradition of it He said he even got Nike to and what everything meant." stitch "Matt. 5: 16" onto his cleats As a coach, Habetz said she so he is able to sharf the Gospel helps all her players understand with his opponents. : that "sports is just what we do, it's "I'll be on first base and a not who you are." player will be like, 'Hey what's So many athletes get so caught that on your cleat?'" Sweeney up with winning and being a star said, giving him a chance to re- player that their identities and cite and explain the, verse while sense of self-worth revolve they wait for the n~xt player to around the number of home runs they hit or games they win, she come to bat.

Ii A former pro ba~eball player said. for the Colorado Silver Bullets and "I tell them they're a child of adviser for Catholic Athletes for God and that you have value in that Christ, Alyson Habetz, joined and are loved because of that and Sweeney and other Catholic ath- nothing you do on the field can letes meeting offici;lls from the change that," she said.

Pontifical Council for the Laity's When that message sinks in, I church and sport desk November sports become more enjoyable and less of a pressure cooker, Habetz II 17.

She told CNS that, now as said. coach of the women's Division I softball team at the University of NATIONAL Alabama, she is evangelizing MORTGAGE Catholics by "helping them understand their faith." , She said Catholid who are not ' well-formed in their faith, "espel Low, low rates starting at cially at the college : level where they're searching for something, oftentimes they get drawn into the NO POINTS, NO CLOSING COSTS feel-good kind of evangelical 1ST, 2ND, 3RD MORTGAGES product that's out there, and so we PURCHASE OR REFINANCE "

I,

BASEBALL ROYALTY - Kansas City Royals baseball player Mike Sweeney poses before a March 9 spring training game against the Texas Rangers in Surprise, Ariz. The five-time All-Star first baseman gives a lot of praise to God and uses him as a beacon to guide his life. Sweeney plans to join players around the league in November on a pilgrimage to meet Pope Benedict XVI in an effort to bring Catholic values into Major League Baseball. (CNS photo/Karl Bierach, New Vision)

In Rome, Royals star inspires crowd with stories of living his faith

By CAROL GLATZ • CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE ROME - Not even raucous laughter could wake up Mike Sweeney's jet-lagged toddlers who slumbered angelically in their strollers at his feet while he entertained and inspired his audience during his November 17 Theology on Tap talk in Rome.

The 33-year-old first baseman for the Kansas City Royals spoke of the ways he lives out his faith.

More than 35 people crowded into a wood-paneled pub located near one of Rome's many pontifical universities to hear him speak as part of the program for young adults.

One audience member said she found his talk so inspiring she was now going to have to become a Royals fan.

"Well, that'll make two of you," Sweeney joked as people laughed and clapped - the din making his sleepy IS-month-old daughter stir just a bit.

The five-time baseball All Star, together with his family, parents and in-laws, came to the Eternal City on a pilgrimage that included atrending Pope Benedict XVI's weekly general audience and visiting Vatican officials to promote the work of Catholic Athletes for Christ.

The newly formed national ministry based in Alexandria, Va., works to help Catholic athletes practice their faith and evangelize a sports world that has become increasingly devoid of human values.

Sweeney, chairman of the group's Athlete Advisory Board, said one of his goals was to help

kids learn that "sport is our sec-' ond love - first comes Christ and then to tell them about our first love."

Though he is a cradle Catholic, Sweeney said he did not reall'y get "on fire for his faith" until he was well into his teens, just before he was drafted by the Royals at 17.

But he said his faith deepened even further during spring training in 1999 after a friend gave him a sticker of a tandem bicycle. The friend explained the two-seater bike served as a reminder that Christ belonged in the front seat.

"We have to place Christ in the front seat in life. You have to pedal, but he'll lead," Sweeney said.

Up until then, life in the big leagues had been a struggle, with what he called being just a "middle-of-the-road" player; he said he felt enormous pressure from his coaches, teammates and fans to perform welL "I realized I had been thinking only about me," he said.

Once "I got myself off the throne," he said, and decided to dedicate his life and career to Christ and put him in the front seat, "all of a sudden the pressure was off' and he had the best spring training season of his career.

"So now instead of looking in the stands and seeing 50,000 people, I imagine Christ sitting in the front row saying 'That's my boy. I'm proud of you,""he said.

Sweeney said he uses his popularity and close contact with other players to spread the hope and ,good news he has found with Christ.

When a fan asks for his autograph, he always adds a chapter

c.c.

and verse from Scripture, Sweeney told CatholiC News' Service. He said what might seem like a cryptic code intrigues many fans to look up the biblical reference.

"I've had many people come up to me and say that they opened up

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, The Anchor news briefs Human, civil rights connected in fight for equality, archbishop says MISSION, Texas - Human and civil rights continue to be interconnected in today's struggle for equality although they have different foundations, Archbishop Roberto Gonzalez of San Juan, Puerto Rico, told an NAACP dinner in Mission. "Civil rights are granted by civil authorities; human rights are engraved in our humanity as such," the archbishop said at the annual Freedom Fund dinner of the Rio Grande Valley chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. 'The difference between these two was a reality recognized by most leaders and participants in the civil rights struggle of African-Americans," he added. Archbishop Gonzalez recalled spending his high school and college years in the 1960s in the midst ofthe civil rights movement in the United States, and seeing the changes it brought about. ''Although that stage of the quest for freedom was successful, the struggle goes on," he said. "It goes on around the world in countries and areas where the existence of such civil rights is not recognized."

MOURNFUL PROCESSION - Moumers carrythe coffin of.Lebanon's Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel in his hometown of Bikfaya November 22. Gemayel, a Maronite Catholic and outspoken critic of Syria, was killed while driving through Beirut's Christian neighborhood of Jdeideh November 21. (CNS photo/ Mohamed Azakir, Reuters)

Priest says Catholic leader's murder aimed at killing Lebanese' hopes

By MICHAEL HIRST CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE BEIRUT, Lebanon - The assassination of Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel was "an operation trying to kill the hope of the people," said Father Joseph Abu Ghazale, parish priest at the Maronite Catholic Church of St Anthony's, about 50 yards from where Gemayel was gunned down.

"Pierre was here in this church six months ago, and he heard me talk about martyrs and how they live on after death. He believed and was ready to sacrifice himself," said the priest. "He represented the ambitions of all the young people in Lebanon, and that enthusiasm will only increase now."

Gemayel, 34, and his bodyguard were killed November 21 while driving through Beirut's Christian neighborhood of Jdeideh. His car was rammed by another vehicle. Then, witnesses said, at least three gunmen leaped out of the vehicle and sprayed his car with 20 bullets from automatic weapons equipped with silencers.

They fired at near point-blank range through the driver's window at Gemayel, who was at the wheel, and at his bodyguard seated in the passenger seat.

At least 10 bullet holes could be seen around the driver's window, and the front seats were covered in blood.

At the Vatican the next day, Pope Benedict XVI condemned the attack and assured the family of his prayers.

"In the. face of the dark forces that are trying to destroy the coun-

try, I call on all Lebanese not to allow themselves to be conquered by hatred, but to reinforce national unity, justice and reconciliation and to work together to build a future of peace," the pope said at the end of his weekly general audience.

"And I call on the leaders of countries who have at heart the . destiny of that region to contribute to a global and negotiated solution of the various situations of injustice that have marked it for too many years," he said.

Many Lebanese and even some world politicians indicated they thought Syria was behind the assassination. Like his father, former Lebanese President Amin Gemayel, and late uncle - Bashir Gemayel, who was killed in 1982 shortly after he was elected president - Pierre Gemayel, 34, was a strong opponent of the influence of Syria.

Asked whom he thought was behind the assassination, Father Ghazale said: "Syria, for sure....

Thirty years of Syrian occupation weren't enough - they are still trying to kill the Gemayel family.

But with this death they have .killed one Gemayel and created thousands more in the young Lebanese people."

In Christian areas of Beirut, angry protestors took to the streets, burning tires and chanting antiSyrian slogans. The killing raises the likelihood of political violence in Lebanon, which was tom apart by a 15-year civil war from 1975 to 1990 and buffeted this summer by the 34-day war with Israel.

The killing has ramped up ten- . sions in Lebanon amid a political

crisis pitting the anti-Syrian majority govern'ment against the proDamascus opposition led by Hezbollah, which is determined to topple what it sees as an American puppet government. The assassination was the latest in a string of recent killings of antiSyrian Lebanese figures since the February 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Gemayel's assassination coincided with U.N. Security Council deliberations over the plan for an international tribunal to try suspects in the Hariri murder.

Gemayel was among the members of the Lebanese Cabinet who voted to approve the U.N. plan for the tribunal. The vote came after crisis talks failed, prompting the resignation of six opposition Cabinet members, which threw the anti-Syrian government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora into crisis.

With Gemayel's death, the resignation or death of two more ministers could bring down the government.

John Bolton, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, hinted at Syrian involvement in the killing. "I think the facts need to be developed, but if you look at ... the evidence that links the Hariri assassination to the other political assassinations, I think people can draw their own conclusions," he said.

The official Syria news agency SANA said: "Syria strongly condemns the killing."

Hezbollah official Ahmed Melli said the Shi'ite group also condemnedit.

Sixteen arrested in annual Fort Benning protest FORf BENNING, Ga. - At least 15,000 people demonstrated and 16 were arrested trespassing at the 17th annual School of the Americas protest November 17-19 outside the U.s. Army's Fort Benning. Maryknoll Father Roy Bourgeois, who started the protests in 1990, promised participants a celebratory demonstration next year if the new Democratic majority in Congress ends funding of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation at Fort Benning. The institute - whose military acronym is WHINSEC - was formed in 2001 to replace the School oftheAmericas as a training ground for military, law enforcement and civilian officials from LatinAmerica and the Caribbean. The yearly demonstrations, sponsored by SOA Watch, are held on a weekend in mid-November to commemorate the Nov. 16, 1989, murder of six Jesuits, their housekeeper and her daughter by Salvadoran soldiers. In 1990 a congressional task force found that five of the nine soldiers arrested for the killings had received training at the School of the Americas. When it opened it 2001, the institute was mandated by Congress to include at least eight hours of human rights training in all its courses. Lee A. Rials, the institute's public affairs officer, said that training covers due process, therUIe of law, international human rights conventions, the role ofthe military in society and civilian control of the military. He said the eight-hour minimum applies to two-week courses, but it may rise to as much as 40 hours in yearlong courses. Rials has called it "a ludicrous accusation" that the institute teaches torture methods.

Vatican laments failure to restrict cluster bombs ROME - The Vatican lamented the failure of parties to a U.N. treaty to agree on restricting the use of cluster bombs. Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Vatican's representative to U.N. agencies in Geneva, said, 'The failure to achieve such an agreement has left a real disappointment in the expectations of many people who see that it could have provided a good and adequate response to the humanitarian concerns posed by these weapons."

The arChbishop spoke November 17 during at the end of a IO-day meeting in Geneva on the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. TheVatican has long supported negotiations that would lead to a ban on cluster munitions and, in the meantime, has called for a moratorium on their use. Typically, cluster bombs open in midair and scatter dozens or hundreds of submunitions over a wide area. Some duds do not explode and can remain a threat for many years. The majority ofpeople killed or maimed by cluster munitions are civilians, according to a recent report by the Britain-based Handicap International. Children are especially vulnerable because they are easily attracted to the bomblets' bright, colorful casings, mistaking the volatile explosives for toys.

Pope says world will recognize Christ only if Church is ~ted VATICAN CITY - Through the Church, Christ continues to be present in the world, but the world will recognize him only if members of the Church are united, Pope Benedict XVI said. At his November 22 weekly general audience, held under a strong downpour in St. Peter's Square, the pope concluded his series oftalks about S1. Paul. The pope interrupted his speech briefly to express his hope that God would stop the rain, but it continued to soak the estimated 20,000 people in the square for another 15 minutes. At the end of the audience, he thanked the'crowd for its patience despite the rain. In his main audience talk, Pope Benedict said the Church was a central concern of St. Paul's even though the apostle's first encounters with the Christian community in Jerusalem were "counterproductive" and, in fact, he persecuted the community. But when Paul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, Jesus made it clear that "in persecuting the Church, he was persecuting Christ himself," the pope said. After Paul's conversion, he realized that "the Church is truly the body ofChrist, an extension, as it were, of the presence of Christ in the world."

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A LOVING FATHER - U.S. Jesuit Father Angelo D'Agostino, who founded an orphanage for HIVpositive children in 1992 in Kenya, died November 20 in Kenya at the age of 80. December 1 is World AIDS Day. (eNS photo/Reuters)

Father D'Agostino dies; U.S. Jesuit built AIDS orphanage in Kenya.

By JERRY FILTEAU

a funeral Mass at the Consolata Shrine there.

WASHINGTON - American JeA surgeon and psychiatrist, Father-' suit Father Angelo D'Agostino, who D'Agostino was noted for his efforts builtand directed Kenya's first orphan- to bring affordabie AIDS drugs tq the age for children with mY and AIDS, poor in Africa as well as for his piodied of a heart attack in Nairobi No- neering work with AIDS orphans. vember20. Hewas80yearsold.. _ ..:' .. In Nairobi in 1992 he founded.

He was buried November T7 at the Nyumbani, the first home for abanJesuit cemetery in Nairobi folloWing doned and orphaned HIV-positive CAlliOUC NEWS SERVICE

children in Kenya. "Nyumbani" means ''home'' in Swahili. It started with three children and currently is home to nearly 100. ''We give them a chance to die with dignity," he said in a 2000 interview, reflecting the children's lack ofaccess to expensive mY-fighting drugs.

The following year he announced that Nyumbani would defy interna-

Indian archbishop calls for end to stigma of HIV(AIDS

By ANTO AKKARA

. .. . . . .

5.7 milli~m HIv/AIDS cases, had overCAlliOUC NEWS SERVICE taken South Africa with 5.6 million as NEW DELHl- An Indian arch- the nation with the most mY/AIDS bishop has urged the Church 'to help cases.

Archbishop Moras called the' eliminate the stigma of AIDS by becoming "a genuine healing and rec- stigma associated with mY a ''terrible onciling community" in the country, burden." which now has the most mY/AIDS ''It is totally unjustifiable arid uncases in the world acceptable that people living with mY '''The impact of the stigma can be are being denied basic rights. such as as detrimental as the virus itself:' said medical care, food or shelter and disArchbishop Bernard Moras of Ban- missed from jobs they are perfectly fit galore, chairman of the Indian bish- to perform," the archbishop said. ops' health care commission, in a mesHe urged diocesan social service sage for World AIDS Day December departments and other developmental agencies ''to create morejob opportu1. ''We need to end the silence about nities for people living with HlV" to HlY. Leaders ofcommunities-bish- integrate them into the mainstream of ops, priests and lay faithful - and the community and "live more digniheads offamilies need to speak openly' fied lives."

In the southern state ofKerala, two about mY and AIDS in our gatherings," the archbishop said.

Catholic priests recently made the '''Thefear ofstigma leads to silence, news for refusing to bury AIDS vicand silence can result in tragic conse- tims. In another case three years ago, quences," he added the entire parish opposed burial of an Since the identification ofthe first AIDS victim in the parish cemetery. instance of mY in India in 1986, the '''The challenge (to fight the stigma) rate of infection has increased "at an is very tough indeed," Father Alex alarming rate:' reaching 5.17 million Vadakkumthala, executive secretary of people by September, with an adult bishops' health care commission, told prevalence rate of0.9 percent, accord- Catholic News Service in mid-Noing to the Indian govel!ll1lent. vember.

U.N. statistics report a highernum''Due to fear of stigma, many do ber of ~. In a report released in not reveal their mY-positive status June, UNAIDS said that India, with even to their wives, pa,ssing on the in-

fection," he said.

However, Father Vadakkumthala pointed out that the launch of the Indian Church's AIDS policy in August 2005 has helped generate greater awareness. ''Most of the seminaries have already made AIDS part of the syllabi under moral theology," Father Vadakkumthala told CNS by tele- .. phone from Mumbai, where,he was organizing an AIDS awareness seminar for Catholic nurses and others in collaboration with the U.S.-based Clinton Foundation. '''The Church cannot afford to add to the stigma' with discriminatory behavior, the priest said, noting that .

- hundreds of seminarians noW spend time inAIDS hos12ices and other mYrelief centers.

Though the Church has set up several freeAIDS testing Centers in southern India, Father Vadakkumthala said the stigma preventS many from undergoing the tests.

To counter such fears, Archbishop Moras' message reminds Church workers ''to reassure those who disclose their positive status that they can live without fear and also receive legal protection when they are at.risk of losing adequate medical care, home and property, as it happens sometimes."

tional patent law and startimporting a . new generic AIDS drug from India that cost about one-tenth. as much as the comparable patented:,drugs from Western pharmaceutical companies. ''I'm sick and tired of saying funerals," he said. "So no~ we are going to try a different way-i' In 1998 Father ~'Agostino launched Lea Toto - Swahili for ''to raise the child" - a comrrmnity-based outreach program that now provides services to 2,000 mY-positive children and their families.

Last year he started construction of Nyumbani Village, a complex in the southern province of Kitui that is being built on 1,000 acres.donated by the government. The eventual goal is to establish a self-sustainihg village of 1,100 young and elderly Kenyans, . where children whose parents have live willi grandpardied ofAIDS can .

I ents or other elderly caregivers, who will pass on their culture to the chilI dren.

He died a week before the village was to have its formal opening.

Born in Proyidence, J,U., Angelo D' Agostino earned a doctorate in medicine from Thfts Upiversity in 1949 and a master's in surgery there in 1953. While serving as a U.S. Air Force surgeon in Was~gton, D.C., over the next two years, l1e felt a call to priesthood and began ta1dng night . Latm . ' at JeSUlt-run courses m Georgetown University., He w~ accepted intp the Jesuit novitiate in the Maryland province in1955, took first vows in 1957 and II I,

was ordained a priest in 1966. Before ordination, from 1959 to 1964 he studied psychiatry at Georgetown Univl:rsity. .

He taught psychiatry at Georgetown Medical School 1967-69.

Over the next 12 years he held teaching positions at George Washington University, the Psychiatric Institute Foundation and Medical Practice, and Washington Theological Union. He also established and directed the Center for Religion and Psychiatry. . In 1981 he was sent to Bangkok, Thailand, as director of the medical facility ofa camp for Indochin~refu­ gees.

Near the end ofhis stay a year later, Father Pedro Arrupe, the Jesuit superior general, visited Bangko~ and told Jesuits working there that he wanted to start the Jesuit Refugee Service in Africa. He asked Father D' Agostino to coordinate it, so the priest spent the next two years working out ofNairobi, coordinating programs in several countries.

Upon his return to .the United States in 1984 he resumed teaching at George Washington University, but, as he put it, ''I found the experi. ence sterilecompared to the work that I left inAfrica. So in 1987 I returned" to Africa.

He started Nyumbani on his own in 1992 after the board of a large orphanage rejected his suggestion that it.form a special separate facility for abandoned or orphaned children with HIY, whose numbers were growing rapidly.

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YOUTH PAGES

DECEMBER

1, 2006

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HAPPY HOMECOMING - Members of the Bishop Connolly High School, Fall River, Class of 2007,left photo, celebrate their win to gain the. coveted "Spirit Bowl" at recent homecoming activities at the school. At right, students and parents enjoyed the first-ever "Connolly Community Cookout."

Somerset parish's Religious Ed plays ~ost路to grandparents SOMERSET - Students and .they envisioned for that. . Sixth~graders put their elder teachers in the Religious'Education programs at St. Patrick's Par- family members to the "test" with ish set aside a recent Saturday so a review of the facts presented in they could have grandparents par- their game of Jeopardy.

"What a grand day for the grandticipate in various classroom acparents who not only had the optivities.

"It was a great day for all the portunity to visit with the class but children and they became excited to renew old acquaintances and when the grandparents take part," neighbors over coffee and donuts," reported Janet Rausch, coordinator said Rausch. of Religious Education..

It was also a time for the students The sec'ond-graders were busily to become innovative in forward-. preparing for their first penance ing their projects. service to be held this month, and Those in grades one through six invited the grandparents to assist set up and .manned a lemonade BUSY BEES --:.. Cathy Charpentier's second-grade class, them with the banner that will be stand where the proceeds went to above, at St. Francis Xavier School in Acushnet, recently took hung in the church. . relief efforts benefiting the troubled up a collection for a local family that lost their home to a tragic At the same time the third-grad- country of Darfur. fire. The class held a clothing drive and a dollar donation drive ers were preparing for an upcomSale of donuts and cookies along throughout the school. It ended up collecting $750 in the form路 ing liturgy and their grandpas and with lemonade on a Saturday and a of Shaw's and Wal-Mart gift cards as well as items of clothing grandmas were happy to help them' Sunday moming - with the help as housewares. Below, the second-graders made aquilt to send design and construct the banners . of parents and teachers - realized to a soldier serving in Iraq. An uncle one of the students is stationed in Iraq, so the class made a special keepsake quilt to send to him. Each student decorated two fabric squares, which were then sewn into a quilt. The center square featured a picture of the class. It also made Christmas cards for him to let him know that he is in, their praye路rs.

$300. The funds were added to those raised by a local ecumenical group also working for Darfur relie( .

Even as the young people sought their families' help in preparing for their class-sponsored liturgy this month, stUdents in grades seven and eight also sought the help of grandparents as they'prepared for classes on sacraments and, Commandments in January and February with a game of Jeopardy.

Because the grandparents initiative proved a fun day and well attended, a Parents Day is planned in January.

"The strength of our program lies in the faith, dedication and commitment of our teachers, and the welcome and enthusiastic.involvement of our parents, and it is as , simple as that," said Rausch.

QUALITY TIME - Grandparents work on a project with Religious Education students at St. Patrick's Parish in Somerset. .

DECEMBER

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1, 2006

Indonesian youths ask Bush to

YOUTH PAGES

Turning love into a verb

By CHARLIE

change 'hegemonic foreign policies' JAKAR'D\, Indonesia (CNS)Just days before U.S. President George W. Bush's visit to Indonesia, seven religious youth organizations asked him to desist from policies that cause suffering in developing countries.

"We are writing you ... to show our strong disagreement with your hegemonic foreign policies which worsen (the) global world order," the groups said in a November 17 letter to Bush. The chairmen ofthe groups signed the letter and delivered it to U.S. Ambassador B. Lynn Pascoe.

Natalis Situmorang, chairman of the Central Board ofCatholicYouth and one of the signers of the letter, told UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand, that Pascoe promised to deliver the letter to Bush.

Bush spent less than seven hours in Indonesia, thelast stop on an eightday Asian trip that including several days in Vietnam, where he attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, and a stop in Singapore.

In Indonesia, Bush met with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and other Indonesian leaders at the presidential retreat in Bogor, about 30 miles south of Jakarta In their letter, the youth leaders strongly condemned the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that killed thousands of innocent Americans.

However, they said Bush's ''war on terror that justifies wars in Mghanistan and Iraq are unacceptable:' "Your war in Iraq and Mghanistan has been creating a culture of violence and hatred which, in the long run, will be disadvantageous for

Americans. Furthermore, Iraq and Afghanistan as your occupation territories are fertile soil to cultivate a new generation of terrorists," the young people wrote.

The groups also strongly urged the U.S. government to stop applying double standards in its foreign policy at the cost ofdeveloping countries, to promote dialogue and me-· diation to resolve international disputes and to work with other countries to reform the United Nations so it could more effectively pursue international peace, security and development.

The letter made it a point to welcome Bush and said, "We never hate our American friends; we just disagree with your unjust foreign policies."

Indonesia, the world's most populous Islamic nation, has been an ally in the U.S.-led war on terror in the region, but the government.and much ofthe public oppose U.S. policies in the Middle· East, especially Iraq. During Bush's visit, about 4,000peopleprotested near the presidential retreat.

The previous day, Bush and his wife, Laura, visited Cua Bac Catholic Church in Hanoi, Vietnam. but said nothing during the Vietnameselanguage service, the parish priest told reporters.

"We all had a silent dialogue with God," said Father Nguyen Quoc Khanb.

Outside thechurch, Bush said the most basic right was "the freedom to worship as you see fit."

"A whole society is a society which welcomes basic freedoms," he said.

IS IT ANY WONDER I ... I always thought that I knew I'd always have the right to Be living in the kingdom of the good and true and so on But now I think I was wrong And now I look a fool for thinking you were on ...

My side Is it any wonder I'm tired?

Is it any wonder that I feel uptight?

Is it any wonder I don't know what's wrong?

Sometimes it's hard to know where I stand It's hard to know where I am Well maybe it's a puzzle I don't understand Sometimes I get the feeling that I'm Stranded in the wrong time Where love is just a lyric in a children's rhyme, a sound bite Refrain: . Is it any wonder I'm tired?

Is it any wonder that I feel uptight?

Is it any wonder I don't know what's right?

Oh, these days, after all the misery made Is it any wonder that I feel afraid?

Is it any wonder that Ifeel betrayed?

Nothing left inside this old cathedral Just the sad, lonely spires How do you make it right?

Oh but you try (Repeat refrain.)

Sung by Keane Copyright 2006 by lnterscope Records I thought to myself: "Wow! This

MARTIN -

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

group is really good. I wonder why I have never heard of them?"

The band - far more renowned than I realized - is Keane. In fact, their debut disc, "Hopes and Fears," went eight times platinum in Britain (and gold in the U.S.).

Just out is their secbnd CD, "Under the Iron Sea." The group says it focused intenselyort this album, their effort fueled by unrelenting writing, singing ana recording.

Members describe their work as a commentary on a "f3lrytale world gone wrong." "Is It ¥y Wonder" expresses their perspective on the British government's involvement in the Iraq War. I Witnessing today's world leaves the song's character tired and anxious. He also feels as if "it's hard to II know where I stand" and is confused about living in I,a world that presents "a puzzle I don't understand." He even sens~s that he is "stranded in the wrong time where love is just a lyric in:, a children's rhyme" or nothing more than a "sound bite." " Given the violence in today's world, it is easy to erqpathize with what the guy experiences. Yet, as followers of Jesus, the 'pne the Gospels name the Prince of Peace, we all must seek ways to rise above current circumstances and keep manifesting Jesus' teaching.

We start by making sure that love is far more than !,a "lyric" or "sound bite." Rather, followers of Jesus tum love into a verb. We act to change the world by bringing love into our small comers of the planet. . For instance, how do you treat those you live with? How do you. "

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treat peers in school? Do you practice forms of love such as generosity, forgiveness and appreciation? If so, then love lives and acts in our world as it did through Jesus.

What about God's healing presence of peace? Do you act in ways that promote God's peace? There are many ways to do so. You might refuse to judge others when you disagree with their points of view.

Or you might practice (also an action verb!) tolerance and respect toward other cultures and religions.

At school you might refrain from joining cliques that purposely exclude others. Any of these or similar actions bring God's peace to our world.

I understand Keane's tiredness, uptightness and skepticism about living with the violence of the 21 st century. However, I believe that each of us is called to keep living as Jesus taught us. Government decisions do not determine how we should live as disciples. Rather, as individuals we decide how Jesus' teaching will powerfully affect today's world.

Sure, on certain occasions any of us might grow weary of "all the misery made" by war and violence in our world, but we can remain inspired in the ways we live and act.

We might fear uncertainty, but God's peace can still dwell within our hearts.

Today, in your own part of our world, turn love into a verb. Act. Make Jesus' life and vision real in your way of living.

Your comments are always wei· come. Please write to me at: chmartin@swindiana.net or at 7125W 200S, Rockport, IN 47635.

A voice cries out Last month at our gathering meeting, our youth heard from a guest speaker, Paul, from the .

United Interfaith Action organization. The UIA, he said, addresses serious problems facing our families and neighborhoods by helping· members develop leadership skills to make a difference in public affairs by collaboration with policy makers, politicians and community leaders to create social change. They foster involvement of parents in after-school issues, youth in education issues, and workers in job training issues.

Paul asked the young people to share three things with him and the group: a time they felt helpless; a time they felt strengthened; and the most important person, or people, in their lives.

The majority of responses were relative to the important people in their lives - particularly their families. They also readily shared times they were strengthened by

someone or something. They seemed, however, reluctant to share times of helplessness.

I began to wonder: Could it be that young people facing critical issues are afraid to speak up because they feel that their cries for help will fallon deaf ears?

After some persuasion, the youth began to be have assurance that someone was listening, and some of them finally overcame their fear to speak about the issues that really concern them today. Surprisingly, their main concern was not about themselves. They feel for their parents without jobs and for their elderly grandparents who are not able to afford healthcare and prescription drugs.

Those unselfish concerns flow from their great love and caring for their families. They want to help, yet they feel helpless. A voice cries out to be heard.

The other issues they described concerned school and peer pressure. They said there are too many distractions and they have to say "no" in so many difficult circumstances that it blurs their vision for a good education. Some feel the need to work outweighs

owning a car. They cry out for help to make their rough places smooth, to help fill in the gaps, to make those seemingly "unattainable goals reachable. ~ voice cries out.

John the Baptist cded out in the wilderness, "Preplfre the way of the Lord, m,ake his ....- .....- paths straight" (Luke 3:4). Today, w~ still hear John's voice. Today, more than eve~, we need to hear that voice crying out in the wildrrness of our lives and answer it.

The Church is ,that voice.

Come, lind the Church will help lightl1n your the need to give it their all in load and mak~ easy your school. Adults sometimes think burdens. You don't ha~e to do that young people make the this alone. You are heard, loud choice to work freely. But I tend and clearly. ' to believe that the choice is forced This Advent season ~e prepare on them simply because youth . for the coming of God, "revealed don't want to put any further in his Son, Jesus, at Christmas. burdens on their parents to help He is Ernmanuel- God is with support their social needs, like us. During this time, generosity

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and compassion fill the hearts of people like no other time of the year. So be assured, young friends, that that same generosity· and compassion will also be extended to you. Your Church, and organizations like the UIA are listening.

In December 1985, my wife, Susan, mourned the passing of her grandmother, whom she called Vavo. They were very close and spent much time together. I was inspired by SUS3)l'S strength at that painful timeto write a poem about the both of them. I share with you the beginning of that poem, for it reminds me today of the young people whose voice cries out to be heard: Vavo sang, I danced.

Vavo spoke, I listened.

Now I sing, who will dance?

I speak, who will listen ?

Or:zie p(J£heco is FaiJh Formalion director oJ Santo Christo

Parish, Fall River.

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Religious

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prayers. Be assured of my prayers that while the Consumer Price Intoo, for your intentions and for the dex rose 50 percent between 1985 choicest of blessings during the and 2001, nursing home care costs Advent Season." more than doubled in that time. In Since 1988, the National Reli- addition, Social Security benefits gious Retirement Office, located in for religious are less than half the Washington, D.C., has received average Social Security income for close to $500 million from the dio- Americans today.

"Only in recent years have reliceses from the annu~ collection.

"All of the collection money gious men and women been eligible --raised in the dioceses goes to Wash- for Social Security, and so it really ington and then is distributed to the amounts to just a few dollars for various orders and congregations to most of them and they could never meet their needs, including special subsist on that," Sister Heffernan health care needs," Sister Heffernan explained. explained. "None of the money colThe total cost of living for the lected remains in the -diocese."

37,000 religious age 70 and more Last year, the NRRO, which ad- in the United States, who lived fruministers the collection on behalf gally and accepted little compenof the u.S. bishops and men's and sation for their ministry, totaled women's religious conferences, dis- more than $925 million last year tributed $22 million in basic grants alone. More orders are engaging in to 525 religious orders. strategic planning, fund-raising and Religious orders are not covered cost cutting initiatives, but escalatby Church or diocesan retirement ing health care costs have affected plans. One of every five orders that orders' capacity to fund retirement have submitted data to the NRRO costs.

At the end of 2003, U.S. reliis unable to pay more than 20 percent of projected retirement costs. gious orders reported an unfunded More than 94 percent of dona- retirement liability of $8.7 billion, tions are applied directly to the close to half of the anticipated reNRRO mission. tirement costs.

A report by Mercer Human Re-"Thank God, the U.S. bishops sources Consulting for the National in June voted to extend the collecReligious Retirement Office, noted tion to 2017," Sister Heffernan said. "Without the extension, the collection would have expired in 2007."

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Our Lady of Fatima to Sister Lucia, Blessed Jacinta and Blessed Francisco July 13, 1917 ''I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, and the Communion of Reparation on the First Saturdays. If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace. If not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilat.ed. In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triurnph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she will be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world. In Portugal, the dogma of the Faith will always be preserved, etc."

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Confessions may be made during 8 days before or after the first Saturday, and Holy Communion may be received at either the morning or evening Mass on the first Saturday.

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The Anchor

Cardinal

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DECEMBER

1, 2006

Continued from page one

sealed during the closing session of raphies of Christian history. His Avila, in the Boston suburb ofWest writings on education influenced a Roxbury. the tribunal November 9.

Those present at the meeting inThe package was wrapped in generation of U.S. educators, and brown paper, tied with red ribbon Newman campus ministry centers cluded Auxiliary Bishop Walter J. and secured-with the wax seal of at colleges nationwide are named Edyvean of Boston, representing Cardinal O'Malley; Msgr. Mark Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Bos- for him.

Deacon Sullivan, in his com- Mahoney, judicial vicar of the archton.

Cardinal Newman's canoniza- ments to The Anchor, said "My heal- diocese; and other tribunal members.

Bishop Edyvean also repretion cause was opened in 1958 in ing allowed me to fulfill my ordinaBirmingham, England, his home tion as a deacon, for which I am very sented Cardinal O'Malley at the diocese, and in 1987 was intro- grateful ... which came after I tribunal's opening session June 25, 2005. duced in Rome. One reason for the prayed to Cardinal Newman."

In a published, exclusive interview Also present for the closing seslong preparation was the amount of evidence to be collected and stud- in Marshfield with Peter Jennings, an sion were Ambrosi and Father Paul ied. In addition to his published English scholar andjournalist who is Chavasse, who have overall responworks, some 20,000 letters written press secretary to the Catholic arch- sibility for introducing and overseebishop of _Birmingham, Vincent ing the progress of Cardinal by the cardinal have survived.

In 1991 the Vatican declared that Nichols, Deacon Sullivan said he pre- Newman's cause.

The session consisted of the the English philosopher, theologian pares for Morning Prayer by expressand spiritual writer had lived a life ing his gratitude to Cardinal Newman signing and the sealing of the docuof "heroic virtue" which was wor- "for my healing and my vocation to ments, a third copy of which has thy of imitation, giving him the title the-diaconate" and that Cardinal been retained in the archdiocese's Newman "has become my very spe- archives.

"Venerable."

"In his own day Cardinal Father Paul T. Lamb, pastor of cial friend."

Deacon Sullivan is also a key fig- Newman was a great defender of St. Rita's Parish in Marion, who is well versed on Cardinal Newman's ure _in an alleged healing in 2005 the Catholic Church and the papacy, legacy, said he considers Cardinal also attributed to Cardinal Newman. and his life and writings are iilcreasAndrew Munroe, a 17-year old ingly seen as of enormous signifiNewman, "to be the greatest mind to have served the cause of Chris- South Korean boy, the adopted son cance for the mission of the univertianity and, upon his conversion, of Greg and Mary Ann Munroe sal Church today," said Father Christ's Church on earth since the Sullivan - no relation to Deacon Chavasse.

"It was very moving to be privithought of S1. Thomas Aquinas Sullivan -ofSalem, N.H., suffered shed so much angelic light on the a head injury and was near to death ' leged to actually seal the package after falling off the back of a car at of documents with the hot red wax faith in the 13th century."

Cardinal Newman, who died the end of school on Oct. 17, 2005. and so witness the ending of this Although doctors told Andrew's particular chapter in the history of Aug. 11, 1890, at the age of 89, was an Anglican priest and a leading family they could do no more for -the cause," he added.

In general, the Church must conintellectual in the Church of En- him and thought it was time to gland. He sought to discover the switch off his life-support system,' firm two miracles through the inAndrew's mother refused and said tercession of the sainthood canditrue Church.

So when on a rainy night in Oc- she believed in the power of prayer. date before canonization.

Jesuit Father Richard Cleary, the Father Lamb offered Anchor tober 1845, the Reverend Newman knelt before a visiting Italian Munroe family's-parish priest, had readers a reminder of Cardinal Passionist priest, Father Dominic read Deacon Sullivan's story in the Newman's prayerfulness, which he Barberi, and asked to be received Globe and suggested they pray to says "is shown in the best known into the Catholic Church and have Cardinal Newman. At the same and most relevant of all his 'prayer his confession heard, it was one of time, De;lcon Sullivan was con- poems' for our generation" the great scenes of English Catho- taeted and agreed to conduct a heal- 'Lead Kindly Light': Lead, kindly Light, amid the enlic history, Father Lamb pointed ing service for Andrew at Massachusetts General Hospital, which he circling gloom, out.

Lead Thou me on!

He was ordained as a Catholic did on Nov. 20, 2005.

The deacon had requested a relic The night is dark, and [ am far priest two years later and was still a priest when he was made a cardi- of Cardinal Newman from Father from home Paul Chavasse, provost of the BirLead Thou me on! nal by Pope Leo XIII in 1879.

Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask The canonization of Father mingham Oratory - which was Barberi, now Blessed Dominic founded by Cardinal Newman in to see 184ft The distant scene; one step Barberi, is also being furthered.

Father Chavasse, "actor cau- enough for me.

Prolific as a poet, essayist and [was not ever thus, nor pray'd novelist, and renowned as a sae" (actor of the cause) for the preacher, Cardinal Newman was beatification and canonization of that Thou Should lead me on; best known as a theologian. He Cardinal Newman, sent over a lock [ loved to choose and see my made important original contribu- of the cardinal's hair.

At a second healing service, on path; but now tions in the theology of the develLead Thou me on! opment of doctrine, in the role of Nov. 26, 2005, at the North End [loved the garish day, and, spite people's belief in discerning truths Rehabilitation Hospital in New Jerof faith and in a carefully-nuanced sey, where Andrew had been sent, offears, Pride ruled my will: remember understanding of papal infallibility. Deacon Sullivan touched the young The cardinal is frequently re- man's forehead with the relic and not past years.

So long Thy power hath blest me, ferred to as the missing father of the then placed it beside him on a pilsure it still Second Vatican Council because his low.

Andrew began to make remarkWill lead me on, teachings on the laity and doctrine able progress and has continued to O'er moor and fen, o'er crag had an influence on those proceeddo so. and torrent, till ings, some 70 years after his death.

The Boston tribunal's final sesThe night is gone; Catholic scholars today have . sion on Cardinal Newman's cause, And with the mom those Angel ranked the cardinal's "Apologia which was closed to the public, took faces smile, Pro Vita Sua," written in defense of Which [ have loved long since, his conversion to Catholicism, as place at the tribunal office, located one of the great spiritual autobiog- in the Convent of St. Teresa of and lost awhile.

DECEMBER

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Around the Diocese ~ ''.1'-'

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~~h;rlstkAd;;~~~·~.=~==] AITLEBORO-Perpetualeucharisticadoration is held at St. Joseph Church, 208 South Main Stteet. For more information call 508226-1115.

EAST FALMOUTH - First Saturday devotions, including the Fatima Rosary will be held tomorrow at St. Anthony's Church immediately following the 8 am. celebration of Mass. It is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council No. 813. For more information call 508-540-1808.

WAREHAM - In preparation for the feast day of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Advent, and Christmas, a nine-day novena in honor of our Lady is being held through December 8 at St. Patrick's Church.

It will begin with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 7 p.m., followed by evening prayer, a spiritual talk and concludes with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

;LectureslPresentations '-__, _ _ _, ~,,_. __ ~.~.,,__.._._ _.. ._.J FALL RIVER - The Catholic television program ''Good News For-Life;' sponsored by the Communications Department of the diocese, will present the next part of its "Christian's Ask" series, "Christmas: A Christian Holiday, A Citywide Holiday," December 6 at 9:30 p.m. on the Portuguese channel.

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CENTERVILLE - To mark World AIDS Day, Our Lady of Victory Parish will hold a prayer service tonight at 7 p.m. For more information call Patricia Clock at 508-7755744 ext. 112.

ATTLEBORO - The 54th annual Festival of Lights, featuring more than 300,000 lights is now underway at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette. Themed ''Lord, You are Our Hope," it includes a indoor display of international nativity sets, and concertS by Father Pat at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Thesdays through Sundays. Lights are iIIuminl!ted nightly from 5-9 p.m. Parking and admission are free. Call 508-222-5410.

CENTERVILLE - Gregory Norbet, a respected spiritual leader, singer and retreat director will present his Adventsong retreat and concert December 16-17 at Our Lady of Victory Parish. The retreat will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. December 16. The concert will be held at 7 p.m. December'17.

A free-will offering will be taken. For more information call 508-775-5744.

FALL RIVER - The Legion of Mary will hold its annual reunion Sunday at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph's Church. All members, family and friends are welcome. New members are welcome. Bus transportation is available from St. Joseph-St. Therese Church in New Bedford, at a cost of $5. For more informatipn call Alice Beaulieu at 508-995-2354.

FALL RIVER - A pancake breakfast with proceeds to benefit the Catholic Memorial Home Van Fund, will be held Sunday from 8-10 am. at St. John's Qub, 1364 Rodman Street. Tickets must be purchased in advance at the home or club. For more information call 508-679-8154.

MASHPEE - A Christmas Bazaar will be

FALL RIVER';"" POlish Chiistmas'Wafets, or Oplatek, will be available $:I' all weekend Masses during Advent at SS. Peter and Paul Parish. For information call 508-6768463.

held tomorrow from 9 am. to 2 p.m. at Christ the King Parish. It'~'include crafts, hand-made greens, a children's shopping room, .white elephant table, bakery items, face painting, a rafi1e, and food. For more information call 508-477-7700.

INDIA - St. Antony's Church, a missionary parish in India seeks items for its school children and to continue its mission. Especially needed are pens, pencils, markers, magazines, used cards, holy pictures, rosaries, statues, medals and scapulas. They can be sent in care of Father Paul Cruz, St. Antony's Church, Kanjirakodu, P.O. Kundara - 691 501, KoIIam, Kerala, India

NEW BEDFORD - Auditions for "Nunsensations" will be held Sunday at 3 p.m. at Holy Family-Holy Name School, 91 Summer Stteet. Five female roles are open and interested parties should come prepared with 16 bars of a ballad and 16 bars of an uptempo piece. Rehearsals will begin in January for March 23-25 performances. For more information call Maurice Ouellette at 508997-7804.

IRetreats CENTERVILLE - ECHO of Cape Cod, a Catholic retreat program for high school students, offers retreats throughout the year at the CraigvilleConference Center. For more information call Mary Fuller at 508-759or visit the Website: 4265 www.echoofcapecod.org.

ISocial Events ACUSHNET - St. Francis Xavier Parish's Centennial Year will close Sunday and will mark the occasion with a 4:30 pm. concert of sacred and popular Christian music.

Bishop George W. Coleman will celebrate Mass at 5 p.m. and a buffet banquet will follow at the Century House. For more information call 508-995-7600.

FALL RIVER Bishop George W. Coleman will celebrate Mass with the members and friends of the Communion and Liberation movement on December 7 at 6:30 p.m. in St. Mary's Cathedral.

The Catholic ecclesial movement Communion and Liberation has been in the Diocese of Fall River for 12 years. From its beginnings at St. Louis Parish in 1994, it has spread throughout the diocese. School of Community weekly meetings are held in Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton and Attleboro.

EAST TAUNTON - Advent Lessons !U1d Carols, a pre-Christmas concert, will be held December 10 at 4 p.m. at Holy Family Church, 370 Middleboro Avenue. The program will include professional musicians from the Rhode Island Phi1harmonic Orchestra and the Amari String Quartet. For more information call 508-824-5707.

FALL RIVER - A program of stories and carols for the Advent season will be held Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Cathedral ofSt. Mary oftheAssumption. It will feature youth, adult, and Hispanic choirs. Refreshments foll~.

FALL RIVER-A pilgrimage with Bishop George W. Coleman to Washington, D.C., for the annual March For Life is being organized by the diocese's Pro-Life Apostolate for January 21-23. It will include Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. A youth bus, which will return on January 22, will accommodate youth at a reduced fare. For more information call 508-997-2290.

Local C&L leaders to attend Mass by Bishop Coleman

NEW BEDFORD - A Breakfast with Santa will be held tomorrow from 8:30-10:30 am. at Holy Family-Holy Name School, 91 Summer Street. Attendees are asked to bring canned food donations. For more information call 508-993-3547.

NEW BEDFORD - A holiday breakfast and open house will be held Sunday from 8 am. to noon at the Sacred Heart Home, 359 Summer Street. For more information call 508-996-6751.

NEW BEDFORD - A Craft Fan: will be held tomorrow from 9 am to 6 p.m. at St. Joseph-St. Therese Parish. More than 40 crafters will be on hand. Also included: a full menu, pictures with Santi, and a Chinese auction.

OSTERVILLE - A Christmas Bazaar will be held tomorrow from 9 am. to 5 p.m. at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish. It will include pictures with Santa, a white elephant table, knitted items, crafts, baked goods, lunch and a raffie. For more information call 508-428-9200.

ISUpport Gro~ps ATTLEBORO - Grief Education Pr0grams are offered at the La Salette Retreat House. Sessions provide individuals with the opportuniry to find ways to cope during painful times. For information call 508-824-6581.

NEW BEDFORD - Courage, a support group for people experiencing same-sex attraction, but who strive to live the Church's teachings of chastity will meet tomorrow night at 7 in the St. James Rectory at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, 233 County Stteet. For more information call Father Richard Wtlson at 508-992-9408.

NOKfH DAIITMOUTH - A divorcedseparated support group will meet December 4 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Family Life Center, 500 Slocum Road. It will include the video "Reconciliation." Refreshments will follow. For more information call Bob Menard at 508-673-2997.

Members of "CL," as it is usually called, like to define the movement as an instance of the Church alive. "It is a,place where the proposal of the Church is lived in all its implications," they say, and usually add "Come and see!"

For those who would like to see, the Communities of CL in the diocese, meet monthly at the Cathedral for Mass. It will be having its December meeting with Bishop Coleman. He will celebrate the Mass of the Vigil of the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. It will be f6110wed by a

meeting and dinner.

Bob Sampson, the leader of CL in New Bedford, says all are welcome to attend the Mass. Those interested in knowing more about Communion and Liberation are also welcome to attend the meeting.

At the meeting they will discuss Christ's statement that the truth can be known by its fruit on the basis of insights raised by Pope Benedict XVI, Msgr. Luigi Giussani, the recently deceased and saintly founder of the movement, and Father Julian Carron, Msgr. Giussani's successor.

®iT ltnart l'~i Philip Smith, 80; brother of Msgr. JohnJ. Smith NEW BEDFORD - Philip Smith, 80, of Dartmouth, died November 20, at The Oaks nursing home. He was the brother of Msgr. John J. Smith of Fairhaven, a retired priest of the Fall River Diocese, and former pastor of St. Pius X Parish in South Yarmouth.

Born in New Bedford, the son of the lateAmbrose and Nora (Sparrow) Smith, he lived in that city for most ofhis life until moving to Dartmouth 14 years ago.

Prior to retirement, he was employed as a fishennan aboard various vessels worldng out ofthe Port ofNew Bedford. He was a memberofthe New

:*!n~YOt.l~ Prayers~*_ Please pray jor these priests . during the coming weeks December 5 Rev. Eugene 1. Boutin, Manchester Diocese, 1986 Rev. Coleman Conley, SS.CC., Chaplain, Sacred Heart Home, New Bedford, 1990 December 6 Rev. Joseph L. Cabral, Pastor, Our Lady of the Angels, Fall River, 1959 Rt. Rev. Msgr. John H. Hackett, JCD, Chancellor, June-December 1966, 1966 Rev. Joseph K. Welsh, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Victory, Centerville, 1971 Rev. John T. Higgins, Retired Pastor, St. Mary, Mansfield, 1985 December 7 Rev. Thomas F. Daley, Retired Pastor, St. James, New Bedford, 1976 Rev. Ambrose Bowen, Retired Pastor, St. Joseph, Taunton, 1977 Rev. James W. Clark, Retired Pastor, St. Joan of Arc, Orleans, 2000 December 8 Rev. John F. Broderick, Pastor, St. Mary, South Dartmouth, 1940 December 9 Rev. Rene Patenaude, O.P., Retired Associate Pastor, St. Anne, Fall River, 1983 December 10 Rev. Thomas C. Briscoe, Former Pastor, St. Anne, Fall River, 1918 Rev. Andrew S.P. Baj, Former Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, New Bedford, 1971 December 11 Rev. Edward L. Killigrew, Pastor, St. Kilian, New Bedford, 1959

Bedford Fisherman's Union, and a member of St Lawrence Martyr Parish in New Bedford.

Besides his priest brother he leaves another brother, Michael Smith, of Fairhaven; two sisters, Mercy Sister I Mary Nora, and Patricia Manning, both of New Bedford; and many . meces, nephews, and c,?usms.

He was also the bro~er ofthe late II

•

James J. Smith, Robert Smith, Ambrose V. Smith, Nora Feener, and Julia Gamba.

His Funeral Mass was celebrated November 22, in St. Lawrence Church. Burial was in St. Mary's Cemetery.

The Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, was in charge of arrangements.

II

Alfred A. Robillard; father of Fathe~ Raymond A. Robillard WESTPORT - ;;Alfre'd A. Robillard, 95, husband of Mrs. Medora (Trepanier) R~"illard, died November 21 at his home here.

Born in Fall River, a son of the I' late AlfredA. and Valeda (Lamothe) Robillard, he had resided in Westport since 1954. Prior to hi~ retirement in 1976, he was a supervisor at Quaker Fabric, Fall River. He was a member of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Westport and wk a charter member of its Senior Citizens Club.

A champion horseshbe player in New England, he also enjoyed hunt-

ing, fishing, golfing and bowling.

Including his wife of 68 years, he is survived by a son: Father Raymond A. Robillard ofWestport; and several nieces and nephews.

He was the brother of the late Roland and Normand Robillard, and Leona Cadorete.

His funeral Mass was celebrated November 25 in Our Lady of Grace Church. Burial was in Notre Dame Cemetery in Fall River.

The Potter Funeral Home, 81 Reed Rd., Westport, was in charge of arrangements.

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Acushnet Glastonbury Abbey in Hingham. A final project is a parish cookbook which Bonville said is near completion.

"It's been a wonderful spiritual year," said Bonville. "We wanted to have something for everyone and we're thankful to all those who helped plan events and those who attended."

The parish has also undergone major improvements in the past year

~tmet

The Anchor

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Continued from page one

including a new parking lot, parish sign, modified sanctuary, new carpeting' new CCD classrooms, fencing and landscaping.

"We're happy with how those turned out and the church looks wonderful today," said Father Lacroix.

"There were so many who donated their time and treasure that we're thankful for. We're looking forward to this special celebration with our bishop."

iXavierCtlUrch, ',' "<

SALUTING OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN - A Mass for sons and daughters serving in the military, and for those who have given their lives in defense of the United States, was held November 19 at Sacred Heart Church in Fall River. A breakfast for military families took place after the Mass.

(Photo by Eric Rodrigues)

Homework for parents: Speak up!

By GAIL BESSE

1 Year $14.00

Foreign $25.00

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Address:

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GIFT CARD SHOULD READ: From:

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Parish to receive credit: Enclose check or money order and mail to: The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722 This Message Sponsored by the Following Business Concerns In the Diocese of Fall River GILBERT C. OLIVEIRA INSURANCE AGENCY FEITELBERG INSURANCE AGENCY

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NEWTON - Like most mothers, Emer O'Shea did not expect that her daughter would learn about homosexual lifestyles in her third-grade classroom.

But in her Newton public school last year, she did. What happened is a lesson in the need for more parents to find a voice, according to those fighting against the erosion of parental rights.

More and more Christian parents are grappling with this problem nationwide, and especially in Massachusetts, where lawmakers in July quadrupled the 2007 budget to nearly $2 million for school programs aimed at "outreach to" and "support and safety of gay and lesbian students." Lawmakers also created a permanent Commission for Gay and Lesbian Youth that will oversee how the money is spent and is not subject to the control of any other department.

Halfthe Bay State population identifies itselfas Catholic. However, three publicized cases here sound an alarm that parental rights - their rights to explain about human sexuality privately and within a moral contextcan be superceded by educators promoting the homosexual lifestyle.

These cases represent the tip ofthe iceberg, said a spokesman for MassResistance, a Waltham-based parents rights group The O'Sheas' story came to light in a November 8 "Newton lab" article by Tom Mountain, the father of children in the Newton public schools and a columnist for the weekly paper for four years.

"Cases like this could happen anywhere in the state. Newton has a strong gay lobby, but what happens here today will occurfive years down the line elsewhere," he said in an interview.

Mountain predicted that as more states protect marriage by constitutional 'amendment (there are now 27), homosexual educators will naturally move to Massachusetts, the only one to allow same-sex ''marriage.''

"For every Emer O'Shea who sticks her neck out like this, there's a

hJiiiCired more who don't - but want Speaking out is difficult. She and to. She was the'first parent in two years the joumalist were publicly rebuked who was willing to go on the record," in a November 15 "Tab" guest colhe said. umn submitted by Richard Malmberg, What motivated Mrs. O'Shea were pastor at The Second Church in Newthe events that ensued after a Franklin ton, United Church of Christ, and Elementary School social worker ex- chairman of the Newton Interfaith plained about transvestites and Clergy Association.

"Gender configuration of the partransgenders to her daughter's class.

The girl was confused and feared that ents is irrelevant to what makes a famher baby sister would turn into a boy, ily;' he wrote. Malmberg charged Mrs. O'Shea with "an attempt to derail a according to the article.

A state law mandates that parents , school meeting to press her own must have the chance to opt their chil- agenda" and said Mountain had dren out when discussions of a sexual "reached a new low in mean-spirited nature will occur in the classroom. But narrow-mindedness."

Mountain said that it's pressure school officials said that parental consent did not apply in this case, as it such as Malmberg's letter generates was an unplanned "teachabie mo- that intimidates more parents from defending their values in the public merit."

Mountain didn't buy that explana- sphere. "Everyone expects everyone tion, as the social worker was a former else to do it, and there is no one else to board member of GLSEN, the Gay do it. It'sjust going to take parents sayLesbian and Straight Education Net- ing they're not going to take it anywork, who specialized in "integrating more;' he said.

Four other parents who have pubGLBT (Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender) issues" in the elemen- licly spoken up against their young children being presented with matetaryyears.

For 10 months, Mrs. O'Shea tried rial by homosexual activists were unsuccessfully to get assurances that David and Tanya Parker and Rob and similar subjects inappropriate for chil- Robin Wirthlin. Both Lexington dren would not be brought up again. couples filed a federal civil rights lawFinally, she raised the issue publicly suit in United States District Court in Boston inAugust against the town and at a curriculum night for parents.

'That night nobody backed me up, school officials.

Just how high the stakes are in the but the next day at the school people thanked me for bringing it up. 1got calls battle for parental rights became clear and emails with the samemessage;' she in October, when their suit was opposed by the Massachusetts Teachers said in a November 21 email.

She credits a friend at her parish, Union, theACLU and national homoSt. Bernard's, for giving her the confi- sexual advocacy groups.

Following the "Tab" article, dence to go ahead. "After the column came out 1got a huge amount of calls Parker issued a statement through the again, thanking me for bringing atten- MassResistance Website: "We have tion to what had happened," she said. arrived at a time in history where Meanwhile, however, she removed school administrators are preaching her daughter from public school and the gospel of human secularism to their captive audience in the public enrolled her in a parochial one.

"I think people don't talk out classroom;' he said in part. "I don't openly as they don't have another know what disgusts me more: those schooling option and they are afraid who do this to children in our public their child would suffer consequences schools or the parents who watch siif they speak up." When they do try lently and do nothing." and meet resistance, she said, they Gail Besse writes from Hull, "become resigned to the fact that they Massachusetts. She can be reached at gailbesse@comcast.net. don't have a choice or a voice."