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VOL. 49, NO. 46 • Friday, December 2,2005

FALL RIVER, MASS.

Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Pc.' Ycu

Marriage amendment signatures seen sufficient to get it on 2008 ballot

By DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR

ARCHBISHOP SEAN P, O'Malley and Bishop George W. Coleman visit with Karen Ferreira and her two-month-old son David, during a recent tour of Saint Anne's Hospital. The archbishop is visiting all the Caritas Christi hospitals and along with Bishop Coleman, blessed patients and met with families, With them are hospital president Michael W. Metzler and Dominican Sister Vimala Vadakumpadan. (Anchor/Gordon photo)

Retreatants find Sacred Hearts Center a haven for renewal

By DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR

WAREHAM - The language of the brochures is beckoning.

"Situated on 128 acres of meadows and pine forests, the atmosphere of tranquility and fellowship lends itself to reflection and peace by quiet nature walks through the woods, and by filling up with strength from quiet time spent by the shore of Cape Cod." Another says: "A casual walk to the waterfront ... will reveal a variety of trees, and wildlife.

Finches, bluebirds, cardinals, deer, squirrels, doves, starlings, and an occasional red fox abound

" A resort? No.

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FALL RIVER - An estimated 120,000 signatures, more than twice what is needed to put a proposed Massachusetts constitutional amendment on the 2008 state ballot, were submitted to city and town clerks by the 5 p.m., deadline on Thanksgiving Day Eve, backers ofthe petition reported.

"It's wonderful, thanks be to God, that so many people found it in their hearts to answer the call to defme marriage as the union of one man and one woman," Bea Martins, diocesan coordinator for Catholic Citizenship, said. The Diocese ofFall River accounted for nearly 16,000 signatures.

She spoke to The Anchor from Bourne, where signatures obtained

through parish registration drives were being delivered to the town halL A citizen ballot committee called VoteOnMarriage.org had been gathering the signatures through Catholic Citizenship, the Massachusetts Catholic Conference. and the Massachusetts Fanlily Institute sincc September, ending November 25.

"The only thing bothering us is that experience shows an average of 10 to 20 percent of the voters do not give a valid signature," Martins noted. "But we're of the opinion we'll still arrive at the approximately 66,000 valid signatures needed."

The proposed amendment to the state constitution reads: 'This proposed constitutional amendment would require the state and local and 'Iilrn to page nine - Signatures

It is the Sacred Hearts Retreat Center on Great Neck Road in Wareham, overlooking Buzzards Bay on the gateway to Cape Cod, sponsored by the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

It is a popular spiritual haven known to thousands in the Southeastern Massachusetts region and beyond who have come there to reflect upon their lives through prayer, solitude, spiritual direction and meditation.

"We are host to those who are looking for a private day of prayer or those interested in a directed, guided, or private retreat," said Deacon Frank R. Tremblay, administer of the Retreat Center.

Turn to page eight - Haven

Annual Appeal for Retired Religious is December 10-11 , . I ..

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WITH A peaceful backdrop of a creche and a light dusting of snow, the Tabernacle in the chapel at the Sacred Hearts Retreat Center in Wareham offers a perfect setting for focusing on the Eucharist (AnchoriJolivet photo)

NORTH DARTMOUTH The 18th annual appeal for the Retirement Fund for Religious will be conducted in Catholic parishes across the United States on December 10 and 11. Coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C., the appeal benefits the projected $8.1 billion retirement liability of the nation's religious orders.

Countless religious have served scores of parishes throughout the 101 years the Diocese ofFall River has been in existence. "It should be known that retired religious pray daily for tlle Church, particularly for those whom they served in the past," said Mercy Sister Elaine Heffernan, diocesan episcopal representative.

Sister Heffernan said that the Fall River diocese has had great responses to the appeal in tlle past, and she hopes the trend continues.

"This diocese contributed $140,341.24 last year," she said.

"This brings our total diocesan contribution for all the years of collection to $2,480,264.

"The Diocese of Fall River has given without stint to assist religious congregations of men and women to care for their elderly and retired members: This aid has enabled the religious to continue their service to the people of the diocese in spite of reduced numbers available for their works."

More than 38,000 Catholic religious in the United States are now Turn to page JJ - Religious

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frid~1f, IDecsmber 2, 2005

True love towards homosexuals Father Richard H. Sullivan CSC EASTON - Congregation of Holy Cross Father Richard H. Sullivan, 93, who served as president of Stonehill College from 1958 to 1964, and was a former provincial ofthe Eastern Province ofthe Congregation, died November 11 ,.in South Bend, Ind., where he had been living in retirement.

Born in Indianapolis, Ind., the son of the late Leo P., and the late Edith (Langsenkamp) Sullivan, he entered religious life in 1929 and professed first vows July 2, 1930.

He was ordained a priest on June 24, 1938.

He graduated from the University of Notre Dame andwent on to receive a master's degree in philosophy from the Gregorian University in Rome, and a doctorate in philosophy from Laval University in Quebec, Canada.

Father Sullivan began his priestly ministry serving on the teaching staff at Moreau Seminary in Notre Dame, Ind. He served as master of novices at Holy Cross Novitiate in North Dartmouth from 1942 to 1949, and later became superior at Stonehill College, St. Pius X Seminary, Easton.

In .his six years as the fourth president of Stonehill College, Father Sullivan helped to enhance Stonehill's academic reputation, guiding the college to its first full accreditation by the New Englap.d Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

Under his leadership the college grew in the number of student body and faculty as well as

many new educational facilities and student residences. B~fore becoming president he held the position of vice president and taught philosophy for six years.

From 1964 to 1970 he was the provincial for the Eastern Province, when he became a staff member of the Holy Cross Fathers' Retreat House in Easton, and later became the assistant director, serving until 2001.

An original incorporator' of My Brother's Keeper in Easton, he was listed as one of Stonehill's most influential individuals and in 1997 received an honorary doctor of humanities degree from Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. In 1998 he r~ceived Stonehill's prestigious Moreau Medallion for his many contributions to the college's first 50 years, and in 2002 the trustees named him a Trustee Emeritus.

Earlier, the college established a scholarship in honor of Father Sullivan and in 1994 he enhanced the scholarship and expanded it to recognize the memory of his mother.

He leaves cousins, friends, and his religious brothers in the Congregation of Holy Cross.

His funeral Mass was celebrated November 16 in Holy Cross Church in Easton. Interment was in Holy Cross Community Center on the campus of Stonehill College.

The Kane Funeral Home in Easton was in charge of arrangements.

Edward McCarthy WILMINGTON, Del. - Edward McCarthy, 79, brother of Father James A. McCarthy, a retired priest ofthe Fall River diocese in Massachusetts, died recently.

Mr. McCarthy is survived by his wife, Mary, four childre.n and

four grandchildren.

His funeral Mass was celebrated November 19 in the Church of the Holy Child in Wilmington. Burial was November 21 in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Weymouth, Mass.

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This letter ofArchbishop Sean O'Malley to the faithful of the Archdiocese of Boston is worth sharing with the faithful of his former diocese as well.

November 23, 2005 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The Church's efforts to defend the institution of marriage have been interpreted by some as an indicationof the Church's hostility toward homosexual persons. The way .that the Supreme Judicial Court ·of Massachusetts framed the issue is unfavorable to Catholics or others who do not oppose anyone, but rather support an institution which is the cornerstone of society.

Right from the beginning ofthis controversy I have called on all Catholics to rally behind the cause of marriage. It is encouraging that a number ofCatholics who are homosexuals have expressed to me their conviction that marriage between a man and a woman is important for children and therefore for society.

The Church's position is not based on an animus against people with a homosexual orientation.

Each and every member of the Church is called to holiness regardless oftheir sexual orientation. The Church has often warned against defining people by their sexual orientation in a way that diminishes their humanity. Each person is a mystery, an irreplaceable treasure, precious in God's eye. We are God's creatures and in baptism we are his sons and daughters, brothers and sisters to one another.

The extreme individualism of our age is undermining the common good and fractionalizing the community. The Church wishes to call people to unity based on mutual respect and a commitment to th.e common good. We do not want Catholics who have a homosexual orientation to feel unwelcomed in the Catholic Church. We remind them that they are bound to us by their baptism and are called tq live a life of holiness. Many homosexual persons in our Church lead holy lives and make an outstanding contribution to the life of the Church by their service, generosity and the sharing of their spiritual gifts.

We must strive to eradicate prejudices against people with a homosexual orientation. At the \

same time the Church must min- teous way, but rather with comister to all people by challenging passion and humility. It is importhem to obey God's commands, tant to express the moral teachthe roadmap for a meaningful hu- ings ofthe Church with clarity and man life that allows us to draw near . fidelity. The Church must be Church. We must teach the truths to God and to one another.

In the Gospel when the self-righ- of the Gospel in season and out of teous Pharisees bring the adulter- season. These recent times seem ess t6 be stoned, Jesus says let he to us like it is "out of season," but who is without sin cast the first for that very reason it is even more urgent to teach ·the hard words of the Gospel today.

We know that friends and relatives of homosexual Catholics sometimes feel tom between their . allegiance to Christ and their concern for their loved ones. 1 assure them that these goals are not incompatible. As Catholics we profess a firm belief in the dignity of each person and in the eternal destiny to which God calls us. Calling people to embrace the cross ofdiscipleship, to live the commandments and at the same time assuring them that we love them as brothers and sisters can be difficult. Sometimes we are told: "If you do not accept my behavior, you do not love me. "In reality we ARCHBISHOP SEAN must communicate the exact opP. O'MALLEY posite: "Because we love you, we cannot accept your behavior."

God made us to be happy forstone. Then- to make sure they got the point Jesus wrote their ever. That true and lasting happisins on the ground. The stones ness is accessible only by a path fell from their hands and they of conversion. Each of us has our fled. Jesus said: "Neither do I own struggles in responding to the condemn you," but he added, call to discipleship and holiness.

We are not alone. Christ promised "Go and sin no more."

Ifwe tell people that sex outside to be with us and has given us his of marriage is not a sin, we are de- Church and sacraments to help us ceiving people. If they believe this on the road.

At every Mass we pray that untruth, a life ofvirtue becomes all but impossible. Jesus teaches that beautiful prayer before the sign of discipleship implies taking up the peace: "Lord ... look not on our cross each day and following him sins, but on the faith of your Church and grant us the peace and with love and courage.

It is never easy to deliver a mes- unity ofyour kingdom." May God sage that calls people to make sac- grant us that grace of peace and rifices or to do difficult things. unity.

Devotedly yours in Christ, Sometimes people want to punish the messenger. For this reason we priests at times fmd it difficult to articulate the Church's teaching on Sean P. O'Malley sexual morality. We must never deArchbishop of Boston liver the message in a self-righ-

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Mansfield parish to host Winter Concert Sunday evening MANSFIELD - The Music Ministries of St. Mary's Parish will present their annual Winter Concert in the church, 330 Pratt Street, Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

Coordinated by Music Director

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Helping people find hope.

necember 4, 2005, 2:00 PM - Our Lady of Victory Church, Centerville A Mass for bereaved parents who have experienced the loss of a child in pregnancy, infancy, sudden death, illness, accident, murder or suicide will be celebrated.

Please bring the whole family to share the memory. It will be your spiritual Christmas gift to your ·child and yourselves.

"1 am the light ofthe world; whoever follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light oflife. " John 8: 12 There will be refreshments served in the Parish Center immediately following the service. For more information call Estelle Stanley 508-775-4319.

Elaine M. Saulnier, the concert will feature selections by John Rutter, Cesar Frank, Theron Kirk, w.A. Mozart, along with spirituals and traditional Christmas melodies.

Featured soloists will be Eileen Cusak, Lori Scala, George Chmielecki, Sheri Ziccardi, Jane Medeiros, Elaine Walker and Jennifer Bernazzani.

The concert will be taped for Cable TV in Mansfield. The Winter 2004 CD will be available for purchase.

Members of the choirs will travel to Austria next July for the Mozart Choral Festival to be held in Salzburg and Vienna.

St. Mary's choirs will join with other select choruses from around.the world to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

the anchotS)

, Friday, December 2, 2005

Diocesan laity to be recognized at Marian Medals ceremony Sunday FALL RIVER- Bishop George W. Coleman will award Marian Medals to nearly 100 diocesan faithful, at a prayer service Sunday at 3 p.m. in St. Mary's Cathedral.

The award was first given by Bishop James L. Connolly in 1968, to recognize lay women and lay men for. service to the Church.

As The Anchor went to press, the following list ofrecipients was available: Judith Araujo, St. Mary Parish, Seekonk; Patricia Butler, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish,

Priest given eight-month sentence BARNSTABLE Father Stephen A. Fernandes, 55, a priest of the Fall River diocese, was sentenced Monday by Superior Court Justice Robert Kane to eight months in the Duke's County House ofCorrection on Martha's Vineyard on charges of possession and distribution of child pornography and posing a child in a state of nudity.

He is eligible for parole in three months.

FatherFemandes pleaded guilty to the charges in Septemberafter he was suspended fium all priestly duties.

The following is a statement of the Fall River diocese following the sentencing: The Fall Riverdiocese has learned . that Father Stephen A. Fernandes was sentenced to eight months in the Dukes County House of Correction to be followed by a period of probation, following his plea of guilty in Septemberon child pornography charges.

From the outset, this has been a profoundly disturbing case.

Bishop George W. Coleman is concerned, first and foremost, for the parishioners of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in New Bedford, where Father Fernandes was serving at the time ofhis arrest, as well as for the people ofother parishes where he has served.

Parishioners expect - and rightly so - that their priests will live lives of certain virtue and it is disturbing when they fall short, and particularly jarring when their actions are criminal.

Bishop Coleman assures these parishioners ofhis continued prayers during this difficult time. It is his hope that the completion ofthe legal phase of this case wi.iJ. in some way help people to move beyond the hurt and disappointment it has engendered.

If there is anyone who feels the need for professional assistance in dealing with this troubling matter, he or she is encouraged to contact Catholic Social Services at 508-6744681 where counseling will be made available.

At this tiine, Bishop Coleman also . wants to express his gratitude to Father John C. Ozug for his ministIy at Our Lady ofFatima Parish since Father Fernandes was removed last fall.

South Attleboro; Claire Campbell, St. Joseph Parish, Attleboro; Jenny Castro Delgado, St. Joseph Parish, Attleboro; Adolphe Collette, St. Mary Parish, Norton; .Mary Hoag, Holy Ghost Parish, Attleboro; Robert K. Jones, St. Mary Parish, Mansfield; Rose Lamoureux, St. Stephen Parish, Attleboro; Carol Levis, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Attleboro.

Adrienne Messier, St. Mark Parish, Attleboro Falls; Rachel Piette, Sacred Heart Parish, North Attleboro; Peg Whitaker, Our Lady ofMount Carmel Parish, Seekonk;

Susan Glynn Anderson, Our Lady of Victory Parish, Centerville; Lorna Belair, Corpus Christi Parish, East Sandwich; Robert J. Cambra, St. Pius X Parish, South Yarmouth; Liliane Groux, Holy Redeemer Parish, Chatham; Mary Herlihy, Our Lady ofthe Assumption Parish, Osterville; Edith Jones, Our Lady of the Cape Parish, Brewster; Debby S. Lamothe, St. John the Evangelist Parish.

Pocasset. .

Joanne M. Lemay, Christ the King Parish, Mashpee; Lorraine Turn to page 13 - Medals

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CFCA sponsorship is grounded in Catholic social teaching. and offers a way for people of good will to actively partifipate in the call to walk with the poor and vulnerable in our wotW. Make a difference in the life of a child, youth or aging pe~onJ.lY becoming a sponsor today. Simply complete the fdtm below and mail it to CFCA, call us toll-free at (800) 875-6564 or sponsor

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Friday, December 2, 2005

T HE LANDING'The 'new Advent prophet

. the living word

Catholics are'1ong accustomed to having Isaiah anq John the Baptist prepare them, during the first two weeks of Advent, for the comin~ of the Lord. Theirs are the voices, crying out in the desert, to make stra~ght the paths of the Lord. . , This Advent another voice has joined them: the deep, sonorous baritone of John Paul n. Last night, ABC aired the two-hour biopic "Have NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, STUNo Fear: The Life of Pope John Papl II." On Sunday and Wednesday DENTS FROM BISHOP FEEHAN HIGH next week, CBS will show the four-hour miniseries, "Pope John Paul SCHOOL, ATTLEBORO, GATHER n." Peggy Noonan, the mellifluous Reagan speechwriter and Wall Street BASKETS FROM HOME ROOMS TO Journal columnist, has juSt released a highly readable biography entitled, "Pope John Paul the Great: Remembering a Spiritual Father, " which is DISTRIBUTE TO LOCAL CHARITIES. THE sure to make Papa Wojtyla's message continue to resonate long after our SCHOOL'S ANNUAL THANKSGIVING Advent wreaths have been stored away.

BASKET DRIVE COLLECTED MORE . All boldly attempted the impossible: to condense a dramatic anQ. momentous 84-year life and 26-year pontificate into something that can be THAN 50 BASKETS FULL OF FOOD digested in one; two or a few sittings. The end product for each is ITEMS. necessarily similar to a visual or verbal highlight reel in which certain events are stressed and many important moments left out.

"IF YOU SPEND YOURSELVES IN What all capture, however, is the fundamentally Advent-oriented message of Pope John Paul Ii. BEHALF OF THE HUNGRY AND In the heart ofwhat Benedict XVl, in his inaugural homily, called the SATISFY THE NEEDS OF THE OP"desert" of the modem world, Pope John Paul n incessantly clamoreg for man to prepare the way of the Lord. In his 0wtlrmaugura1,tnessage PRESSED, THEN YOUR LIGHT WILL two-and-a-halfdecades before, John Paul encapsulated the cries ofIsaiah RISE ~ THE DARKNESS, AND YOUR and John the Baptist in modem terms: "Brothers and sisters, do not be NIGHT WILL BECOME LIKE THE afraid to welcome Christ and accept his power.... Open wide the doors for Christ!'; That courage to let Christ in to transform each individual life NOONDAY" (ISAIAH 58: 10). is what Advent is meant to effect. Christ is still coming and knocking.

Our task is to do the opposite of the ancient inri-keepers, and open wide the door to embrace him.

The Advent message was not merely something John Paul n preached, but lived. His continual Advent constituted the ongoing adventure ofhis life. The' success of each of these new biographical snapshots will be determined by how much captures this essential reality.

John Paul II once commented to George Weigel that the essential error about the various biographies written about him prior to Weigel's monumental and authoritative "Witness t<;> Hope:' was, that "They try to signs of our human dignity that During the season of Advent, steer his great project of creation. understand Il)e from the outside, but I can only be understood from God would invite us and rely on us we focus on God's preparation for What makes divine providence inside." More than every other aspect of his extraordinary life, Karol to help accomplish his will and his the "fullness of time," when his such a mystery, though, is the Wojtyla was a disciple of Jesus Christ, who each day opened wide the oDly Son was sent into the world. plan for the world. In the drama of simultaneous truth ofour human doors to Christ and allowed him "inside." Once he made straight the This seasonal emphasis on God's God's creation, every person is a free will, by which we can either paths for Christ to come to him, he became emboldened to take that unfolding plan in salvation history main actor. cooperate with or hinder God's ' same Christ out on the paths of the world.

Perhaps the most powerful gives us a good opportunity to plans. God has a definite plan for That is the secret that makes his epic life imitable. creation, but his plan permits our example ofman's collaboration reflect on the mystery ofdivine Be Not Afraid! providence - a mystery that, freedom and somehow incorpowith divine providence is the role .Pope John Paul n inc~ssantly echoed Jesus' words for us not to be always requires us to put into the rates it, somehow accounts for it, played in God's plan ofsalvation afraid. He especially stressed this to young people: and compensates for it, especially by the young Lady of Nazareth. deep.

In this edition of The Anchor, we inaugurate a new youth column that . One of the messages of Advent when we misuse our freedom, in She was the one God had chosen will be written by various youth ministers who are doing such great is to "prepare the way for the to provide the human nature that order to sm. work with the young people of our diocese. In honor of John Paul II's Lord," preached first by the It is certainly mysterious to us would make the Incamation great legacy iri inspiring new generations ofdisciples, we entitle the col- prophet Isaiah, eight possible. She was the one umn, "Be Not Afraid." . .. centuries before Christ, God had chosen to rely on The Honor Roll and then again by St. . for cooperation in his plan On the feast of the Holy Family last year, Pope John Paul n prayed ,John the Baptist, the ' to save the world. publicly during his Angelus message, "May the Holy Family also help precursor of the Lord.

When the archangel men and women ofculture and political leaders so that they may defend ne preparations for the came to Nazareth, the ,the Deep the institution of the family, based on marriage, and so that they may coming of Christ included stakes were high: if the sustain the family as it confronts the grave challenges of the modem both these remote and' young Lady agreed to By Father David· age!" immediate figures, who God's plan, the savior' A. Pignato That prayer was answered by the more than 16,000 faithful disciples were asked by God to would be born, the gates _ ofJesus in the Diocese of Fall River who signed the petition to "defend help prepare the wofld for, ..... of Paradise would be the institution ofthe family, based on marriage" against the "grave chal- his Son's salvific mission. opened, and the world lenge" ofgay marriage in our Commonwealth.

God's work in preparing the that, although "God is the soverwould be changed forever. But if This petition is one step up a tall staircase, but it is nonetheless a world for the coming of Christ is a eign master of his plan," he tnakes she chose not to cooperate, as she big step. The parishioners and priests who worked so hard on this prime example of the truth and the use of his creatures' cooperation was free to do, then God would effort are to be commended. A parish honor roll is listed on page nine mystery ofdivine providence. By to carry out that plan ("Cathay-e had to choose another way, of this edition. ' God's providence, we mean his echism," No. 306). "For God and perhaps our salvation would governance and guidance of . grants his creatures not only their have been postponed. The stakes "... $.: creation towardS its perfection existence, but also the dignity of were high, and the young Vrrgin of OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE ("Catechism," No. 302).

God did acting on their own, of being Nazareth was the one upon whose DIOCESeiOF fAL'l RIVER '1.· not create the world, set it in causes and principles for each free response the outcome was d" J, ok, \.

Published weekly except for two weeks in JUly and the week after Christmas by motion, and then leave it to its own other, and thus of cooperating in decided. the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland'Avenue;FsII'River, fate, as much as we might be the accomplishment of his plan" God's plan of divine proviMA 02720, Telephone 508-675-7151- FAX 675,7048, ~·mail: tempted to think this, as we watch ("Catechism," No. 306). dence is unfolding around us theanchor@anchornews.org: subsaipuon priCe by mall. . 7 $14'00 per ~r. world ,events unfold. On the Often, we are "unconscious and in us each day. During this Send address changes to P.O. Box 7', Fall River, MA,callQr USe ~-mail address contrary, we know that God loved collaborators with God's will," but Advent, as we recall how God Member. Catholic Press Association, New 13nglJ\!ld I'r\lss I\ssOCilltiO\l, C~!lJoli¢ News S~rvic~h PUBLISHER· Bishop George W. Coleman his creation too much to abandon there are also times when God prepared the world for the EXECUTIVE EDITOR Father Roger J. Landry fathetTOge'itandrY~¢AOni~ofg it - he just couldn;t leave it alone. invites us to "enter deliberately into coming of his Son, through the EDITOR David e, Jolivet ' davejollvet@ahch<m1e1NS.~ % "God cares for [every detail of his the divine plan" by our actions, our· free cooperation of his serNEWS EDITOR Deacon James N. Dunbar jimdu ' ho'mews.olll creation], from the least things to prayers and our trials and suffer- , vants, we would do well to REPORTER Michllel Gordon Il"Ilke90r cJ'iom'QWs:6rg the great events of the world and ings ("Catechism," N<;>. 307). It is remember that God's providenOFFICE MANAGER MarYChase. maryc!la$$@al1chornews.olll .its history" ("Catechism," No. then that we become God's "cotial plan of salvation is waiting Send Letters to the Editor to: theanchor@a '> .'

303). And God is willing to for each of us to offer our own workers" in the plan ofdivine POSTMASTERS send address changes to The Anchor, P.O. Box . . ' MA 02722.

THE ANCHOR (USPS-545..()20)penod!cal Postage.Paid atFaWR!yer,M'ass;'1 intervene in our world to guide and providence. And it is one oft:he free and loving cooperation.

Divine providence·

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Babies in test-tubes When I give talks about invitro fertilization (IVF), I usually

primary reason the Church insists the procedure is immoral. Even if IVF were done without making any extra embryos at all, this way of making babies would still be morally objectionable, because.the

many Americans have come to view sex largely in terms of ask my audience the following recreation, ignoring its procreative question: "How many of you orientation, they have lost touch know a baby born by NF, or with the grave violations that know a couple who has tried to occur both in contraceptive sex get pregnant this way?" and in making babies in Usually about halfthe test tubes.. hands in the room go Clearly, the moral ' Making Sense <.~, up. Then I ask them to violations that occur in j. raise their hands if the IVF do not reflect upon Out of '1 the child, who is couple was Catholic.

Virtually all the same innocent. It is not the Bioethics baby's fault in any way. hands go up a second

By Father Tad The child has no control time. I have the sense that Catholics are Pacholczyk over how he or she got making use of IYF at here. Regardless of how a baby comes into the about the same rate as non-Catholics, and that most of procedure strikes at the very core world, whether by IVF, whether them are only vaguely aware of by adultery, by pre-marital sex, or and meaning ofmarital sexuality. even by cloning, that baby is the Church's position on making It substitutes an act of laboratory always a gift and a blessing. manipulation for an act of bodily test tube babies. , The problem with IVF is not When asked why IVF might union between spouses. It turns with the child, but with a decision be immoral, people will usually procreation into production. IVF mention the extra embryos that is really the flip-side of contracep- made by the parents concerning are frozen or discarded. Such tion: rather than trying to have sex how to pursue the satisfaction of their own desire for a child. In embryos are certainly a serious without babies, we try to have other words, babies, even when concern, but they are not the babies without sex. Because

........

The splendor of a beaten up old truck climbed into a beaten up old pickSometimes a blessing comes and taps you on the shoulder right up truck desperately in need of brakes, with a 70-year-old Sacred out of the blue. In fact, blessings often times come seemingly from Hearts Father named James F. McDonough. nowhere. As you may have Father McDonough apologized guessed, that happened to me for the jalopy, telling me as a recently, otherwise why would I maintenance vehicle, "It's all we bring it up? can afford."

OnThanksgiving eve day, 1 There was no apology had an Anchor assignment to shoot some photos of the Sacred necessary. I loved it. It was Hearts Retreat Center in Wareham, to comple~ ment a feature written

by Deacon Jim Dunbar in this week's Anchor..

Thanksgiving eve day was a half-day for we who lovingly toil to

By Dave Jolivet produce the Anchor each week. With one' eye on the Thanksgiving simple, basic and unpretentious feast to come the next day, I - everything we're called to be. headed from home along Route Father McDonough drove us 195 East for the 45-minute ride to across seldom-used, muddy the Center. 1 figured the shoot paths to give me a feel for the WOlJ!d be a hit-and-run thing, and property. Gorgeous. Every last then I'd head back to the office, square foot of it. It was peaceful, wrap up some Anchor business, quiet and inspirational- all and deliver a dozen or so boxes ingredients in a recipe for a of Diocesan Directories to the moment close to Christ. But it Post Office - and then call it a was Father McDonough who half day. made the moment.

On the main highway, the ride Like the truck in which we to the center was quick enough, were bouncing, he was simple, but the property is nicely nestled basic and unpretentious. along Buzzards Bay and tucked My new-found friend relayed into the woods. So the ride from stories of the Retreat Center, of the highway took a while. The the Congregation of the Sacred further 1drove from "civilizaHearts, and of his more than 30 tion," the more at ease I felt, and years service as a missionary in when '1 pulled on to the Retreat Center property, I was completely Japan.

Without preaching, Father enamored.

Being a winter person, the light McDonough touched my soul.

Without reminding me of rules dusting of snow that fell during and regulations, Father the night added a wonderful McDonough awakened in me a seasonal touch to the sanctuary ,dormant spirituality. Without that surrounded me. listing my iniquities, Father From nowhere, the Lord was setting me up for what those who McDonough taught me what is have lived a Cursillo weekend call right about me.

Without his knowing, 1 "a moment close to Christ." watched him as he drove along, 1 recognized this as. soon as I

My View From the Stands

as he told stories, and as he enjoyed the woods and shoreline.

I saw Jesus - no, I felt Jesus being with this man.

We stepped out of our old country "limo," and Father McDonough was pointing out some features in the woods when two deer shuffled past us.

Father's eyes grew as large as the deer's as we hopped into the pick-up so we could maneuver for a better view. For me, it doesn't get any better than that.

Somewhere in our conversations that day, Father McDonough told me, "I'm路all about Jesus."

Yes Father, you sure are.

When the brakes on the old beast moaned to a stop at the end of our journey, I realized I had spent much longer on my assignment than I had planned.

Yet it wasn't long enough.

My half-day stretched a bit longer than expected. But that was OK. I had one more blessing for which to be Thankful the next day.

Comments are welcome at davejolivet@anchornews.org.

very much desired, should not be brought into the world by making use of disordered means such as adultery, pre-marital sex, IYF, or cloning. They should be brought into the world only within that intimate love-giving moment of the marital embrace.

Children are entitled to come into being as the fruit of a singular parental love that is uniquely manifested in the spousal moment of bodily surrender to each other.

Through the incredibly rich language of the parents' bodies, ,through their body to body contact, the new body of their child is engendered. In their oneflesh union, they enflesh new life.

That intimate bodily embrace is a sacred action that only spouses may share, and it represents the unique and privileged locus; by God's design, in which human love is translated into new life.

IVF violates this design by replacing that lov~~giving act with an act of production, whereby we manufacture our own children in petri dishes and test tubes, as if they were products or objects to be manhandled at will. In this way, IVF incidentalizes and adulterates sex, reducing it to another arena for manipulation according to our own desires.

When we take this immoral step, others quickly follow, including the freezing or even the discarding of our own children, as if they were a form of medical waste.

By making test tube babies, we first violate the sacred human act by which we hand on life. It is then but a short step to go further and violate the very life itself that we produce in the laboratory.

Is it not reasonable and right to insist, as the Church does, that new human life should be the fruit of married love, carried out through bodily self-giving between spouses, this act which allows each partner to enrich the other with the total gift of himself or herself? The marital act embodies spousal love directly, exclusively and authentically.

Can we say the same for IVF, where the woman upsets her delicate hormonal cycles and subjects herself to repetitive injections with powerful drugs to make her body produce unnaturally large numbers of eggs, and where the man may be expected to 'go into a back room with salacious magazines and videos to

''provide a sample"?

Can we really say that IVF embodies spousal love in an authentic and exclusive way when a lab technician ends up being the causal agent of the pregnancy, instead of the spouses themselves through a sacred act proper to their married love? By any stretch, can we honestly believe that IVF is faithful to God's design for marriage?

We sometimes tend to brush the ungainly and unsightly parts of the procedure under the rug and instead try to focus on the result, the baby, so as to mitigate the disturbing reality of what we are really engaging in. Some couples also may rest their approval for IVF on a perfunctory assumption, namely: "We have a right to a child when we get married, so any means, even IVF, should be okay." But the deeper truth is that we never have a right to a baby. A child is not our property or our possession.

Rather, a child is a gift, one we hope God will send us, one we stand ready and eager to receive, but certainly not an entitlement or a right for us.

When we marry, we properly have a right to those beautiful, life-giving acts we call marital acts, which open' us up to the mysterious divine spark at the heart of human love. Those ,remarkable marital acts are the only human acts appropriately ordered to engendering the incredible gift ofnew human life.

Rev. Tadeusz Pacholc1,Yk, Ph.D. earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard.

He is a priest ofthe diocese of Fall River, MA, and serves as the Director ofEducation at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www.ncbcenter.org.

,~

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16

Friday, December 2, 2005

Signs a,nd symbols ofthe season idolatry and for preferring the faith in the resurrected Christ One of the thing~ I love ,help of man instead of placing every time we proclaim about the season of Advent is their hope in the one true God together with one voice thethe sense of anticipation and who alone lias the power to , memorial acclamation, "Christ excitement it evokes in me. save. The time of their The sounds and sights of the' has died, Christ is risen, expiation, however, is over, Christ will come again." The season always seem to bring for pride has yielded to final stanza of the acclamation back fond memories of my humility. Isaiah speaks reminds us that just as the childhood when I used to tenderly to a dispirited and ancient Israelites were'the decorate the house, inside and first to await the out, with Christmas ornaments. ,Arranging the creche coming of God's scene, trimming' the, tree, Messiah, we too are Homily1of Week attaching wreaths, hanging called to await his '. Second -Sunday lights, all of these things second coming in manifested an inner sense of, glory.

Yes, Advent is a joy and energy I felt for this time of waiting but it holy season. ,

By Father For Christians Advent is a is a hope-filled John Harrington time of preparing themselves waiting that "does for one of the most profound riot disappoint" mysteries of their faith, the because "he who discouraged people about the promised is faithful." And so Incarnation of the second' wonderful things Yahweh has' person of the Blessed Trinity, we proclaim~ith the psalmist in store for them if they can Jesus Christ. And it is about "Lord, let us see your kindjust keep his word. this great mystery thattoday's ness, and grant us your Our hope is not "wishful' Scripture readings speak. salvation." It is this kind of Unlike the Israelites of the . hope, hope in the saving will thinking" but rather a confident reliance on God's grace Old Testament, whom the of Yahweh that Isaiah proand a firm trust in his word to prophet Isaiah is addressing in claims to God's people grown strengthen our desire to realize our first reading, who waited weary <;>f their captivity i~ his promises now and in th~ hundreds of years for the Babylon as a result of their arrival of God's anointed one, life to come. When St. Peter ¡own sinfulness. Yahweh has exhorts us to "conduct we Christians profess our requited them for their,

ourselves in holiness and devotion; waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God... ." he is talking about hope strengthened by conversion in preparation for the ,second coming of Christ.

Thus, Advent is also a time of conversion, and none of the ' prophets preached ,conversion with the samezeal and authority , as did John the Baptist.

John is that "voice" prophesized by Isaiah, ' "of one crying out in the. desert: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths." Some might associate John the Baptist with the season of Lent because he preached a baptism'of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, but John is the prophetic precursor of Jesus Christ par excel/ance.

Unlike any of the prophets before him, John's mission was to bear witness to God's son, Jesus Christ and to prepare for his coming by calling God's people to '

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repentance.

We may be tempted to ,ignore the c'all to conversion preached by Isaiah and John the Baptist on the grounds that they lived in a different time and place unlike our own "enlightened" age. Yet this would be a mistake since St. Peter tells us, "that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day." , , So let us heed the prophets' call and "Prepare the way of the Lord" by looking beyond the signs and symbols of the season to the one who comes to us in the simplicity and innocence of a little 'child.

An-d let us ask Our Lady, who in her expectant motherhood is a symbol of the Advent season, that we too may be open to the power of God's word to convert us as she was open to becoming the' Mother of the Word, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Father Harrington was ordained a priest ofthe Diocese ofFall River on June 6, 2004.

Liturgy,.of the Eucharist -".'Communion Rite After the Eucharistic Prayer, the Liturgy of the Eucharist continues with the Communion Rite, which we'll study in detail today and next time. The rite begins with the Lord's Prayer or "Our Father," which Jesus taught his disciples when they

~~~~

of praise), said or sung by the ' custom determine what an congregation, taking up the first appropriate gesture is. The sign three petitions of the Lord's of peace, said St. Cyril of Prayer: "For the kingdom, the Jerusalem ,(3 15-86), signifies power and the glory are yours, that "our souls are united and now and forever." ' t h a t we banish all remembrance

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should say when they prayed (Mt. 6:9-13; Lk. 11 :2-4). Together the priest and people sing or say this great

By Fr. Thomas M. Kocik prayer. Our baptism enables us to call God "our Father" because it has The next part of the Commade us brothers and sisters of munion Rite is the Rite of , Christ and so children ofGod, Peace. Having recalled the risen , to share, like any children, in the Lord's conferral of shalom infinite wealth of our divine (Hebrew for "peace") on his lnheritance (cf. Rom. 8: 17). In - Apostles (In. 20: 19), the priest this prayer we ask from God asks our Savior to " ... look not the be~t things, not only for on our sins, but on the faith of ourselves but also for others. your Church ... ." While liturgical Because no other prayer says so prayer is primarily directed to much in so' few words, the the Father, here we address the ancient Church father Tertullian Son,asking him to overlook our described the Lord's Prayer as individual sinfulness and instead to regard the sinlessness of his a "summary of the entire Gospel."

Church. The Church as a whole The prayer that follows is is sinless because she is the called the Embolism, from the bride and mystical Body of the Greek word' for "insertion." sinless Christ (Col. 1: 18; Eph. Sung or said by the priest alone, '5:27; Rev. 22:17) whose it enlarges on the last petition of premier member is the sinless the Lord's Prayer: "Deliver us Virgin Mary, joined by all the from evil." Satan, the evil one" saints in glory who sustain us in is the prince of this world (In. faith. Now addressing the 12:31) who builds up his congregation, the priest wishes " dominion through the forces of us Christ's peace; we answer, "And also with you." At the pride, arrogance, and hatred.

True peace, the peace of Christ, priest's discretion, he or the involves detachment from the deacon may then invite us to ' ' evil of sin. The Embolism ends exchange a sign of peace with up in doxology (literally, words those near us. Culture and

of,injury" (Catechetical Lectures, 23, 3).

We then sing or

~~~~ (Latin for "Lamb of God"), a prayer to Jesus which recalls his announcement by St. John the Baptist at the ' river Jordan (In. .1 :29).

In the prophecies of the Old Testament the coming Messiah is often referred to as a lamb, the animal of choice for sacrifice. Meanwhile the priest

Daily Readings Dec 4 Dec 5 Dec 6 Dec 7 Dec 8

Dec 9 ,Dec10 "

Is40:1-5,9-11; Ps 85:9-14; 2 Pt3:814;Mk1:1-8 Is 35:1-10; Ps 85:9ab-14; Lk 5:17-26 Is40:1-11; Ps 96:1-3~10-13; Mt 18:12-14 Is 40:25-31; Ps 103:1-4,8,10; Mt 11:28-30 Gn 3:9-15,20; Ps 98:1-4; Eph 1:36,11-12; Lk 1:2638 Is48:17-19; Ps 1:1-4,6; Mt 11:1619 Sir48:1-4,9~11;

Ps 80:2-3,1516,18-19; Mt 17:9a,10-13

at the Last Supper (Mt. 26:26; breaks the host in two halves in gesture called the fractio , Mk. 14:22; Lk. 22:19; 1 Cor. panis, Latin for the "breaking of 11 :24). After his Resurrection it the bread," one of the earliest ,was in the breaking of the bread names for the Mass. In Jesus' that his disciples recognized him day the Jews made their bread (Lk. 24:35). in large flat cakes. The custom Father Kocik, an author of then was for the head of the two books, one on the liturgy, household to break the bread is chaplain at Charlton Memointo smaller portions to be ' ria/ Hospital, Fall River, and shared with those at table as a resides at St Thomas More Parish, Somerset sign of unity. Jesus did just that ;:I.

I n Your Prayers Please pray for the fotlowing priests during the coming weeks Dee.S 1986, Rev. Eugene 1. Boutin, Manchester diocese 1990, Rev~ Coleman Conley"SS.CC., Chaplain, Sacred Heart Home, New Bedford \ \ \nee.6 1959, Rev. Joseph L Cabral, Rastor, Our Lady, ofthe Angels, Fall River \ \ __,-:--'-) 1966, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Joiu),H;Hickett;JCD, Chancellor, June-Der.-----/::.~-----\ cember 1966 1971, Rev. JosePhK~ Welsh, Rdtited Pastor, Our Lady ofVictory, Centerville, \ \ 1985, Rev. John T. Higgins, Retir~d\rastor, St. Mary, Mansfield Dec. 7\ , 1976, Rev. Thomas F. Daley, Retir~d\~~tor, St. James, New Bedford 1977, Rev. Ambrose Bowen, RetIred, Pastor, St. Joseph, Taunton 2000, Rev. James W. Clark, Retired pa~t~r, St. Joan ofArc, Orleans Dec.S \ \ 1940, Rev. John F. Broderick, Pastor, St'Mary, South Dartmouth Dec. 9 1983, Rev. Rene Patenaude, O.P., Retired Associate Pastor, St. Anne, Fall River Dec. to 1918, Rev. Thomas C. Briscoe'; Former Pastor,St. Anne, Fall River 1971, Rev. Andrew S.P. Baj, Former Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, New Bedford Dec. 11 , 1959, Rev. Edward L. Killigrew, Pastor, St. Kilian, New Bedford

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Friday, December 2, 2005

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I love a parade Thanksgiving Day. 2005 Homeport My father had been out of work for months but funds' were set aside for the Family Thanksgiving Feast. Climbing happily in the rusting Nash Rambler, all seven of us drove together to the grocery store.

Returning home, we found several packages on our doorstep enough food to feed 35 people. The five turkeys were thawing. We had no freezer. There were heaps of squashes. Yucky. We kids didn't like squash. Five separate charities had heard of our family's plight. They simultaneously decided to surprise us. Now we had 42 meals. Off again my father drove, desperately seeking five hungry families. He eventually found them. This kid learned a lesson: before you act in charity, ask first what people need!

We call them pilgrims. They called themselves saints. All

others to them were strangers.

The Pilgrims were not noted for religious tolerance, but that's a fact best forgotten.

There were 102 Mayflower

passengers. It was once prestigious to connect family lines to Mayflower passengers. One day, I walked from St. Lawrence Rectory to the New Bedford Public Library. Family genealogies were stacked everywhere. Seems people long ago took their Mayflower genealogy seriously. I began to search my family tree.

Come to find out, I directly connect to 13 of those 102 passengers. What a hoot! I thought I heard some plue blood

rolling over - 'Gasp! Not only a Catholic but a priest!" , Thanksgiving has a convoluted history. Seems the governor, upon occasion, declared either Days of Thanksgiving or Days of Fast, depending on the situation. Civic Fast Days are no more. Only one Thanksgiving Day survives. Abraham Lincoln proclaimed it a fixed date in 1863. Our Catholic Church, on the other hand, has daily Eucharist. The Greek word Eucharista means "thanksgiving." Every day for us is Thanksgiving.

On the Eve of Thanksgiving, I join my Reverend friends Bill Comeau and Don Bliss at the United Church of Assonet for our annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service.

On Thanksgiving morning, first Mass, then to a Fall River rectory. The pastor there gathers family and wandering clergy for a meal he prepares himself. With time left in the day, it's on to the

The magic of cardboard I finally did it, and it felt so length of yarn, a medium size good! After months of searching, button, and a bunch of masking I found the perfect present for tape. She and he had great fun playing with it together. As my four-year-old son. One that Christmas' approaches, he is made his eyes pop out, his jaw drop down, and a squeal of madly constructing a set of delight spontaneously burst from binoculars for each member of his lips... a cardboard toilet paper the family, again, all on his own.

With the help ofa book called tube.

"Look What You Can Make With You see, my son's name is Tubes," Ben's siblings have Ben, and what with one of the gotten into the act, too. Toiletnewest commercial heroes out paper-tubes have become so there for young boys being "Bob the Builder," my son has completely assumed the identity of"Ben the Builder." Last year, for his fourth birthday, we pooled our fmances with his grandparents and went all out to give him a

By Heidi Bratton toolbox full of plastic tools, a sturdy plastic tool bench, and an authentic "Bob the Builder" outfit including popular in our house that I have caught several family members, bib overalls, a flannel shirt, and unrolling entire rolls oftoilet paper yellow construction hat. and leaving the paper on the Unfortunately, Ben was not satisfied with his gifts. No matter vanity next to the toilet just so how cool he looked in his outfit, they could be the first to grab a tube they "really, really needed." no matter how hard he pounded The experience was a good on his pretend bench with his reminder that when it comes to plastic hammer, and no matter giving great, educational gifts to how hard he revved up his battery powered drill, he couldn't kids, creativity and usability, actually build anything. That's rather than expense or name brand are what really count. After when I remembered the gifts I getting such a gleeful response had given his older brother when he was about the same age... from Ben after presenting him cardboard in every shape and size with one small, toilet paper tube, I can't wait to see his response to imaginable, a few rolls of all the empty wrapping paper masking tape, some yarn, and a tubes I'm going to put under the bag of rubber bands.

Christmas tree this year instead of Now, not only is Ben morethrowing them away! than-satisfied with his new, I must tell you that the short improved set of tools, he has story you just read actually become a true builder. For his happened three years ago. After older sister's birthday he built a "catch-the-button-in-the-hole" the story was published in our game completely on his own, parish newspaper that year, a using one toilet paper tube, a family from the parish decided to

Home Grown' Faith

home of Jim and Dot Holmes of Mattapoisett. Jim is the state chairman of the Squires, the young men's division of the Knights of Columbus. It's a tradition for me to drop by their home at Thanksgiving. I feel very comfortable there. After one of their big Thanksgiving dinners, I fell asleep on their couch. It wasn't the company.

Back home, I'm in the mood for musing. I think of a podium at La Salette Shrine. The hanging reads, "To Give is to Give Thanks."

There's also the song running in my mind - "Pilgrim" by the Irish recording artist Enya. I heard it at an ECHO team prayer service at the home of Jack and Eileen Driscoll of Falmouth. I listened over and over as I drove home.

The banner and the song are merging in my head - a pithy saying on charity, a snippet from a song. What's this coming from my pen?

A Pilgrim s Progress Each one ofus is Pilgrim Through a world unknown, And as wejourney onward, So many roads unfold.

But others wonder why.

Why some have gold to play with Why others slowly die.

So onwardgoes thejourney We seek a higher road Searching deep within ourselves To find out who we are.

A reason that we journey, A purpose that we have: So all mcry have enough to eat, A warm safe place to dwell.

And when ourfeet touch holy ground, We've reached our homeland safe/yo The gifts that we were Godly given We gladly gave awC01.

Our lives are measured not at all In what we have acquired Our lives are measuredonly In what in love we shared.

And when ourjourney s over It s empty we arrive To learn we are the journey.

Christ Jesus is the Way. "You cannot change what s over, But only where you go.

For, Pilgrim, it s a long wcry To find out who you are. "

One road leads to power, "Another leads to gold.

There is a road, nms thorough save for us every cardboard tube But these are roads to your heart... that came into their house. The nowhere, " Follow it! bulging garbage bag they gave us When our story sfinally told. around Valentine's Day was full Good grief, it's a poem! of more creative cardboard Though every life is different, Definitely too much turkey. shapes than you could imagine. It There are stops along the wcry, That's enough of this pondering was super fun! Their kindness Stations where we rest awhile business. I'll grab a turkey reminded me of the blessings Qf Or places where we stcry. sandwich and catch TV reruns of being in a community ofbelievers the Macy's Parade. I love a and of a Bible verse that says: We begin within ourselves, parade.

"And let us consider how we Father Goldrick is pastor of Our comfort, all that matters. may spur one another on toward The purpose that all things there St. Bernard Parish, Assonet. love and good deeds. Let us not are, Comments are welcome at give up meeting together, The reason all exist.

StBernardAssonet@aol.com. as some are in the habit Previous columns are at of doing, but let us For some theirjourney ends there, www.stBernardAssonet.org. encourage one another" (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Having shared the rest ofthe "Ben the Builder" story with you and with this Bible verse in mind, I'd like to introduce the idea ofcreating a little community "meeting" space in this column where you could encourage others with your practical and spiritual ideas for raising families offaith. We'll start with a practical idea. How do you keep birthday gift giving fun, yet useful and low cost? If you have something to share, please send an E-mail of 30 words or less to homegrownfaith@yahoo.com.

Please write "B-day Gifts" in the Teaching Values subject line and include your full For A Lifetime name in the E-mail. Thank you, and happy Advent!

Saturday Heidi Bratton is the at-home December 3,2005 mother offive and the author and photographer of11 8:00 - 11 :30 a.m.

Christian children ~ books and one trade book on mothering U.S. DeparlmentofEducaffon called "Making Peace with National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Motherhood and Creating a Better You." Heidi and her 500 SLOCUM ROAD NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA 02747 'husband, John, make their 508路996-5602 home and grow their faith in WNW.BISHOPSTANG.COM Falmouth.

BISHOP STANG

Friday, December 2, 2005

LIKE A SCENE from. a Currier & Ives lithograph, the Sacred Hearts Retreat Center beckons the weary soul to come and rest. (Anchor/Jolivet photos)

Haven

Continued from page one

The center also makes a great advantage of the Manor House, a place to celebrate special days or colonial mansion which dates just to spend time away for quiet back to 1915, which can accommodate 54 in multiple occupancy, and reflection, he added.

"The Sacred Hearts Fathers and contains conference ro.oms, took custody of this property 60 meals in a dining hall that seats years ago and want to continue 70, a library, chapel where 100 to be a spiritual resource for the can assemble, a gift shop and Fall River diocese and the par- lounge. ishes, and the continued flow of "We welcome large groups as confinllation classes and various well as small ones, of all ages," groups of all ages and individu- Deacon Tremblay said. Ordained als too, who come here for re c in 2002 and incardinated in the treats, spiritual direction, confer- Archdiocese of Boston, he spends ences, and even just for qui.et re- . Mondays through Fridays at the flection," Deacon Tremblay ex- Center before returning to his plained. diaconal duties at St. Timothy\ "We even offer priests a time Parish in Norwood. and a place for respite away from "We have two Sacred Hearts their parishes and duties during priests, our director, Father JanI es the week, and they can come here F. McDonough, and Father Willfree of charge '" or leave a do- iam Penderghest, who is the treanation," the administrator re- surer for the entire Congregation, ported. and they are the leaders of the The Center is so popular that retreats, and 1help out," he added. it is booked every weekend durFather Penderghest, who is ing the school year for retreats bilingual, is active in the Spanish . by those readying for confimla- Apostolate in the Fall River diotion. Groups large !ll1d small take cese, and is active in the ECHO I

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bass) on Sundays."

The busy spirituality center provides a timely focus on the history of the Congregation ofthe Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, which is currently celebrating the 100th anniversary of its arrival in the Fall River diocese.

On the weekend of November 20, Bishop Coleman was principal celebrant of a Mass in St. Mary's Church in Fairhaven, one of several parishes the first arriving members of the congregation was given to administer in 1905.

The congregation was founded in France in 1800 by Father Marie Joseph Coudrin. His purpose was to make reparation for the outrages and blasphemies of the French Revolution.

Probably the most famous member of the congregation is Father Damien de Veuster, the famed "leper of Molokai" who came from Belgium to serve the lepers exiled on the Hawaiian island.

Fall River;s first bishop, William Stang, invited the Congrega. tion in Belgium the year after the diocese was established in 1904, to serve the rapidly growing population of immigrants from various :.counties and help establish the Church in the more remote areas of the new diocese.

But in reality, Sacred Hearts Fathers had already been working on the East Coast of Boston as early as 1833. Two of them responded to the invitation of Bishop Benedict 1. Fenwick of Boston to work amongthe Indian tribes known as the Pasamagodis and the Penobscote in Maine.

Bishop Stang had become acquainted with the menlbers of the missionary congregation in Louvain, where he had studied.

On May 19, 1905, Fathers Bernard P. Pierson, Stanislaus Bernard and Hilarion Eikerling, arrived in Boston, to be followed by two religious Brothers, Hubert Rakel and Jean Baptiste Leygraef. They arrived shortly thereafter at the newly acquired house in Fairhaven.

Their first foundations, Sacred Hearts Monastery and St. Joseph's Parish in Fairhaven -

the motherhouse of the Congregation's U.S. mission became realities.

The priests, Brothers and religious Sisters later served St. Mary's in Fairhaven, St. Francis Xavier in Acushnet, and St. Anthony's in Mattapoisett, and more recently at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in New Bedford. They also served at the fomler St. Boniface Parish in New Bedford. and in churches across Cape Cod. The East Coast Province was instituted in 1946, and the extensive property in Wareham came under the ownership of the Congregation through the intervention of the diocese that same year.

Originally a working faml of the Griffith Family, in 1915 it became the domain of well-to-do Boston criminal lawyer Robert F. Herrick, a fomler ambassador to France, and his wife Margaret, who greatly expanded the estate . and maintained it with a 12-member staff. Mr. Herrick died in 1944 and left the property to Massachusetts General Hospital.

"The hospital had no need of it, and the bishop of Fall River worked with the hospital and in 1946 took custody of the property which had several years back taxes," Deacon Tremblay explained. "It then became the property of the Congregation, who coincidentally, were looking to establish a seminary on the East Coast."

The theological seminary in Wareham closed in 1960 when the East and West Coast provinces were merged. "If you join the Congregation today, you would go to its seminary in Hawaii," Deacon Tremblay noted.

Just as the Belgian Province spawned the mission to Cape Cod, so now the local province has spawned missions with Sacred Hearts Fathers coming from the Fall River diocese serving in Japan, India, the Philippines, Bahamas, and the Texas-Mexican border, according to Deacon Tremblay.

For more ahout the Congregation and retreats at Sacred Hearts Retreat Center, go online to WWH~ sscc. org/wareham.

Program onthe Cape.

Two Sacred Hearts Brothers, Damien O'Hare and Charles Kaallanui - a native of Hawaii and the groundskeeper - assist.

"Brother O'Hare has been here for many years and is well known across the diocese," the administrator said.

The current provincial is Sacred Hearts Father David P. Reid of Fairhaven. .

Also located at the Center in Wareham is an attractive Youth Facility, with a capacity for 50. It includes its own recreation room. meeting hall, kitchen and eating area, chapel and a cottage for. the youth retreat staff.

The Youth Facility is an oasis for students of all ages, and its regular visitors include groups from Boston College Law School, Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I., Suffolk Law School, the College of the Holy Cross and Providence College.

"The scope of what we offer runs the gamut from parishes to 12-step programs; two Matt Talbot groups and AI-Anon; and Pat Ttirbitt from Rhode Island brings 60 people twice yearly in her healing ministry." .

During the summer the Center offers three weeks during which religious Sisters can spend several days in a vas:ation mode.

Deacon Tremblay said one of the most unusual groups that take advantage of the Center's Beach House on Widow's Cove, an outstanding beachfront.on Buzzards Bay is "Casting for Recovery," a Venllont-based program.

"It involves women recovering from breast cancer surgeI)', and they are taught fly-fishing on our front lawn, which proves a THIS PRAYER garden on the grounds of the Retreat Center therapeutic exercise for them," A BEACH on Buzzards Bay can prove therapeutic in any Deacon Tremblay reported. "The is inspired by Sacred Hearts Father Damien de Veuster, "the season. . group fishes for stripers (striped Leper Priest," who served lepers exiled on Molokai.

9

Friday. December 2, 2005

Signatures cOlmty govemments to license and recogni7-c only those marriages that are betwccn a man and a woman. It would prohibit same-sex marriages, but would allow continued recognition ofthose entered into before the adoption of the proposed amendment."

It seeks to undo a 2003 mling by the Massachusetts Supreme Court that says gays are entitled to marry.

The initiative petition needs the

COl/til/fled from page ol/e

support of 65,825 registered voters to make the ballot.

After being checked by local election clerks, the signature [onus must be filed with the Secretary of State

by December 7.

"All ofour people from the towns throughout Massachusetts are working with dedication to make the retums to tile town and city halls on time," Martins reported.

TIle signatures would then be sub-

mittcd to the legislature in January. It has tile option ofdirectly enacting tile proposals in ballot questions.

TIle initiative must be approved by two successive sittings of tile 200-member state legislature.

The matter then would be placed before voters as a constitutional amendment in November 2008.

Only 25 percent oflawmakers in each chamber need to support it to send it to the ballot in 2008.

In honor of Sister Lucia dos Santos, seer ofFatim~, who died February 13,2005, age 97.

Lucia pray for us.

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Diocesan signature drive results City Sandwich Mansfield New Bedford North Dartmouth Somerset Fall River Seekonk Fall River Taunton Harwich Attleboro Falls North Attleboro Chatham Falmouth Freetown Buzzard's Bay New Bedford Fall River Swansea Osterville Taunton South Dartmouth New Bedford Somerset Fall River Taunton Westport East Taunton New Bedford New Bedford Fall River New Bedford Mattapoisett Fall River Swansea Brewster Falmouth Taunton Fall River Fall River New Bedford Easton Fairhaven Easton Wareham Swansea Fall River Fairhaven Hyannis Yarmouth Fall River Raynham New Bedford New Bedford Pocasset New Bedford Orlea ns Fall River Woods Hole Attleboro North Attleboro Marion Mashpee Assonet Fall River Fall River Attleboro Fall River Fall River Nantucket Acushnet Provincetown Taunton New Bedford Westport Centerville

Parish Name Corpus Christi St. Mary Our Lady of Mount Carmel St. Julie Billiart St. John of God Santo Christo Our Lady of Mount Carmel Espirito Santo St. Anthony Holy Trinity St. Mark St. Mark Holy Redeemer St. Elizabeth Seton St. John Neumann St. Margaret St. Mary St. Anne St. Dominic Our Lady of the Assumption Annunciation of the Lord St Mary St. Anthony of Padua St. Thomas More Holy Name Holy Rosary Our Lady of Grace Holy Family Our Lady of Fatima Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Notre Dame de Lourdes Holy Name St. Anthony Holy Trinity St. Louis de France Our LaClyof the CaPe St. Patrick St. Jacques Our Lady of the Holy Rosary St. Joseph 8t. James Holy Cross 81. Joseph Immaculate Conception St. Patrick 81. Michael Our Lady of Health Sl Mary St. Francis Xavier .-$1. Piliinfie'ienfh S1. Anthony of the Desert (Maronite) St.Ann 81. Kilian St. John the Baptist St. John the Evangelist St. Lawrence 81. Joan of Arc S1. Stanislaus St. Joseph St. Joseph St Mary St. Rita Christ the King Sf. Bernard ,Good Shepherd Parish Cathedral of St. Mary Holy Ghost Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception S1. Michael St. Mary-Our Lady of the Isle St. Francis Xavier S1. Peter the Apostle Sl Mary St. Francis of Assisi St. John the Baptist _..... C?_urL~~_()LY.i~!()ry. . ._.

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Figur.:s pnwid.:d by Catholic Citizenship. Catholic Citizenship reported it did not r.:ceive petitions from the follO\ving parishes: Fmm Atlkboro: St John, SI. Stephen and SI. 111erese; Dighton. SI. P~ter, Fall River. Sacred Heart, SS. Peter & Paul"SI. Anthon}~ Falmouth. SI. Anthony; Martha's Vtneyard. Good Shepherd; New Bedford. Our l.ady of Perpetual Help. OlD' Lady of th~ Assumption.

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Friday, December 2, 2005

Please Give Generously

Retirement Fund for Religious Your generosity to this Fund is unsurpassed in the history of national annual Catholic Church appeals.

Since 1988) you have donated more than $460 million to help alleviate, unfunded retirement liability at Catholic religious institutes. Regrettably) the c~sts for assisted living and skilled nursing care for elderly religious exceed this amount' each year. Please remember our faithful women and men who have dedicated their lives to prayer and service.

-Today, almost 39.,000 sisters, brotherSdlod .order priests are pas~ age 70.' ··In 2004, the Fund awarded grants to 528 religious institutes, including 91 monasteries where prayer is ~he primary ministry.

•The average soci~1 security benefit for religious women and men is . about o~e·third that paid to the average ,U.S. beneficiary.

-less than.five percent of donations are used for administration, . education, and promotion. }

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111

Friday. December 2, 2005

The 40th anniversary of

mas Hopko, fonner dean of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York, summed up the tension between no central au-

Vatican II Collegiality in the Church: Vatican II debate continues Editor's Note: This is fmal installment in a major series of articles marking the 40th anniversary of the end of the Second Vatican CounciL

By JERRY FIlTEAU CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE

WASHlNGTON -Ofthe many debates that took place during the SeconcJ Vatican Council, one ofthe most important and complex-and one that still goes on today - concerned collegiality, or the role ofthe college of bishops in leading, guiding and teaching the Church.

By extension, the collegial principle affects how parishes and dioceses are run, as well as how the Church operates on the regional, national and worldwide levels.

Retired Bishop Raymond W. Lessard of Savannah, Ga., who worked at the Vatican during and after the council, told Catholic News Service that collegiality is at the heart of"the ongoing question ofthe relationship between the local and the universal Churcq, which brings up a host of questions: centralization, the (Vatican) bureaucracy running things too much, but there's also the other extreme of isolationism of a local Church- the local bishop, for example, being too autonomous and independent" Collegiality is also a central concern in the quest for Church unity.

At an ecumenical forum on the papacy at Georgetown University in September, seveml theologians ofdifferent faiths said they would welcome a papal ministry serving the unity of all Christians, but that one of the chief obstacles to such unity is the apparent lack ofcollegiality in the way papal authority is exercised currently.

The theologians participating in the forum extended that to the issue ofconciliarity or synodality at every level ofChurch life: the role ofpastoral councils giving laity a say in parish life and ofsimilar councils at

Religious past age 70 and the cost of skilled nursing care and assisted living for nearly 12,000 Catholic religious women and men currently exceeds $1 million each day. While the average cost of skilled nursing care in the U.S. averages $145 per day, religious in~titutes have kept the cost ofskilled care for frail elderly to $126 per day.

As autonomous organizations, Catholic religious institutes are not covered by Church or diocesan retirement plans. Religious traditionally worked for small stipends

the diocesan and national levels giving laity, deacons and priests a say in the life of the diocese or the ChUrch across the nation.

Bishop Lessard, who now teaches ecclesiology, or the theology ofthe Church, at St. Vmcent de Paul Regional Seminary in Florida, distinguished between what theologians and Church documents refer to as "effective collegiality" and what they call "affective collegiality."

Effective collegiality is what the council describes路 in its Dogml:j.tic Constitution on the Church when it says, "The order of bishops is the successor to the college of the apostles in their role as teachers and pastors, and in it the apostolic college is perpetuated. Together with their head, the supreme pontiff, and never apart from him, they have supreme and full authority over the . universal Church."

The document says that since early Christianity the collegial character of the body of bishops has been evident in the union ofall bishops with one another and with the pope in ''unity, charity and peace."

It also was evident in the ancient Church practice of the Church's . bishops meeting in council to settle "all questions ofmajor importance," it says.

Affective collegiality refers to the sense ofunity with the pope and the world's bishops that ought to pervade the ministry ofeach bishop individually and the common actions of groups of bishops. Even though they do not act with the full authority held by the entire college ofbishops gathered in council under the pope, bishops acting as individuals or in groups always "are related with and united to one another," the document says. ''While theologically there's akey concept of effective collegiality, to me just as important is that ofaffective collegiality, which cannot be spelled out so Clearly in canonical norms or directives because Ws

mo~ ofa feeling, an inStinct But to me that's of crucial importance," Bishop Lessard said He said that underlying the notion ofcollegiality is the understanding of the Church as a communion of the people of God To the early Christian theologians, what was important about that communion was "how it is felt and lived," he said To make collegiality a living reality in the Church ''Paul VI was quite determined to carry out the conciliar directives," the bishop added "I'm thinking now on the practical level of the initiatives he took by extending faculties to bishops for things they were restricted from doing before, and of course of the development of national (bishops') conferences."

During and immediately after the council, as a staff member of the Vatican's Consistorial Congregation and then its successor, the Congregation for Bishops, Bishop Lessard saw firsthand the efforts of Pope Paul to advance the understanding and practice of collegiality around the world.

He also cited Pope Paul's establishment ofthe Synod ofBishops as "apioneering step" in advancing collegiality. Through the synod, the pope consults periodically with representatives of the world's bishops on major issues facing the Church.

At the September forum on the papacy, panelists from the Orthodox, Anglican and Lutheran traditions saw the Synod of Bishops, bishops' conferences and diocesan and parish pastoral councils as steps . toward more decentralized authority and more consultative and participatory decision-making in the Catholic Church. But they thought those conciliar structures need to be strengthened further and the primacy of the pope reinterpreted before the papacy can be seen as exercising a ministry of unity for all Christians.

One panelist, ProtopresbyterTho-

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of eternal salvation. The annual Appeal for Retired Religious is a time when the faithful can say路 thank you. ''Your support is greatly needed," said Sister Heffernan. "And be assured of my prayers for yourintentions and for the choicest of blessings during the Advent season."

To contribute to the Appeal for Retired Religious, place an envelope labeled Retired Religious in the basket at any of the Masses in the diocese on December 10 and 11.

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7:00 p.m. World Peace Cantata Monday December 12

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and returned their earnings to the mission of the institute. The average So~ial Security benefit for religious i~ approximately one-third that paid to the average U.S. beneficiary.

In a letter sent to all parishes in the diocese, Sister Heffernan asked pastors to ''Please bring this appeal to the attention ofyour faithful ahead of time so they will be prepared to make a generous contribution."

Religious women and men have devoted their lives to helping countless people achieve the goal

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Friday, December 2, 2005

,Papal premiere: Yet another pope ,movie.gets.Vatican screening

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In a spirit of reparation, the above conditions are each to be preceded by the words: "In reparation for ttle offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary."

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

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VATICAN CITY -Itisn'tevery day that a pope gets to watch himself in a supporting role in a major movie.

Pope Benedict XVI did, and his character even prompted the biggest applause line at the world -premiere screening of"John Paul II" recently at the Vatican's audience hall.

The film depicted Pope John Paul, played by Jon Voight, selecting Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, portrayed by Polish actor Mikolaj Grabowski, as head of the doctrinal congregation in 1981.

"My mission is to lead the Church into the thit:d millennium ... and you will help me do it, my dear friend Cardinal Ratzinger," Pope John Paul says in the movie. The 6,000 people in attendance clapped and cheered.

Pope Benedict, Vatican officials and invited guests saw an abbreviated Italian-language version of the film, which will air on CBS as a two-part miniseries December 4 and 7. It was being shown in Italy in late November.

The movie opens with the 1981 assassination attempt against Pope John Paul and Jocuses heavily' on the late pontiff's role in sparking the fall of communism in his native Poland and the rest of Eastern Europe.

Pope John Paul is shown watching with interest as a U.S.

envoy shows him satellite photos of Warsaw Pact troops; later, he tells Poland's outlawed Solidarity movement not· to give up the fight for freedom. Meanwhile, in the Kremlin, Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev is saying of the 'pope: "This man must be stopped." , Much of the film goes by like a video version of John Paul's greatest hits, and the scenes and lines are already familiar to anyone who followed his pontificate.

The movie, which had Vatican consultation and cooperation, is so accurate that one could almost say Pope John Paul wrote the screenplay.

The most poignant scene comeS at the end, when the frail and frustrated pope makes his final appearance at his apartment window and, despite his' great efforts, cannot speak to the crowd.

Reliving these and' other chap, ters of the pope's final days was both moving and a bit surreal for many in the movie crowd, who, had gone through the real thing only eight month~ earlier.

"It has a strong impact, especially for diose of us who experienced these events," said Cardinal JozefTomko, a close friend of the late pope. Cardinal Tomko said he thought the film was welldone.

Other Vatican 'opinion was mixed.

"Too. political," sai9 Archbishop Piero Marini, who organized the pope's liturgical events

in Rome and around the world.

He and others thought the depth of Pope John Paul's talents as a pastor were given short shrift.

The CBS version is one of three biopics this year on Pope John Paul, and they all faced the same challenge: how to compress an eventful life of85 years and a historic pontificate of 26 years.into a film ofa few hours.

The answer is to, skip whole decades and hit the highlights.

Those who knew the pope best and worked with him might be expected to be the biggest ' critics of such movies. But the Vatican has generally cooperated with the filmmakers and even gave CBS permission to shoot some scenes on Vatican territory.

Pope Benedict, who sat in a place of honor and in the most comfortable seat in the audience hall, gave the movie two !humbs up afterward - though he had written his speech before the viewing. He said the movie honored the late pope's memory and stimulated reflection about the meaning of his papacy.

"It's the latest confirmation of the love people have for Pope Wojtyla and of their great desire to remember him, to see him again and to feel him close," Pope Benedict said.

Following the latest movie screening, the pope spent several minutes greeting Voight and several of the other actors who flew to Rome for the premiere.

Voight 'calls portraying Pope John Paul, 'almost a prayer'

By CAROL GLATZ CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

doing a piece with passion for JohnPaul II is that all the vanity ROME - The Hollywood ac- goes, and the vision is to do this tor who portrays Pope John Paul piece, to evoke this man's life, and II in an upcoming CBS miniseries it's almost a prayer; the whole film said making the film document- was like a prayer," he said in it ing Karol Wojtyla's pontificate press conference in Rome. wa~ "almost a prayer."

He said the film tries "to exJon Voight, who stars as the press our love for him and exlate Polish pope in the two-patt, press his meaning to the world." made-for-TV movie "John Pail\ Such an endeavor "requires II," told journalists that tht\. humility because ofthe size ofthe making of the film was marked ~ effort, the vision," he said.

Voight and other members of by,Passion, humility and friend- \1 ShIp. j the cast and crew met with Pope "The wonderful thing about / Benedict XVI /!ot the Vatican in

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mid-November for a world premiere of the film.

The 66-year-old actor, who is a Catholic, said Pope Benedict "was very sweet and warm and very loving to all of us."

Voight said he was glad the pope "approved of our film and was moved by it because we didn't know how it would be received" even though "we put our hearts" in making it.

Voignt said he was astonished when asked to star as the Polish pope, but "after the initial shock I started to say 'Wouldn't it be wonderful?'"

He said friends, family and coworkers all told tim his role "was '" meant to be."

- "I even looked in the mirror and said, 'Mmm, pretty good,'" the actor said. .

He said the cast and crew all received "little blessings along the way" during the making of the film. He said on'e of the "greatest signs" was the friendships that were made.

"We became a real family, and these friendships were a further sign that this (movie) was a gift," Voight said.

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>_t·~-z~r

Friday, Dec~mb·j:2~iI005

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SUPPORTGROUPS

Medals

Continued from page three

Mahoney, St. Patrick Parish, Falmouth; Madeline McKenna, St. Anthony Parish, East Falmouth; Kevin E. Murphy, St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, North Falmouth; Ruth O'Donnell, St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Provincetown; Gregory L. Smith, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Hyannis; John Edward Talbot, Our Lady ofLourdes Parish, Wellfleet; Priscilla Thifault, Good Shepherd_ Parish, Oak Bluffs; Jeanette D. Topham, St. Mary/Our Lady ofthe Isle Parish, Nantucket; Alice Wolff, St. Joan of Arc Parish, Orleans.

Lynn Aldrich, St. Patrick Parish, Somerset; William 1. Angelini, Holy Rosary Parish, Fall River; Joseph Tomaz Cabral, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Fall River; Jane Catherine Callahan, Our Lady of Grace Parish, Westport; Vivian Cleary, Sacred Heart Parish, Fall River; Mary S. Correira, St. Joseph Parish, Fall River; Carlos Da Silva, St. John of God Parish, Somerset; John Deveney, St. Stanislaus Parish, Fall River; Donald John Dufault, St. John the Baptist Parish, Westport; Louis Furtado, St. Dominic Parish, Swansea.

Stephanie Kaczynska, SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Fall River; Mary Rose Lindo, Holy Trinity Parish, FaU River; Vrrginia Martins, Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, Fall River; Jeannette Masse, Notre Dame de Lourdes Parish, Fall River; Diane C. McDonald, St. Thomas More Parish, Somerset; Barbara Medeiros, St. Anne Parish, Fall River; Joseph Mello, Santo Christo Parish, Fall River; Paulette Jean Normandin, St. Louis de France Parish, Swansea; Gabrielle Partridge, Immaculate Conception Parish, Fall River; Lillian Pickard, St. Bernard's Parish, Assonet.

John Poisson, St. George's Parish, Westport; Armand Pontes, Parish ofthe Good Shepherd, Fall River; Antonio Sousa, St. Michael Parish, Fall River; Marcia Sousa, Espirito Santo Parish, Fall River; Elvira Souza, Our Lady ofHealth Parish, Fall River; Jacqueline Stapelton, Holy Name Parish, Fall

River; Karen Baron, St. JosephSt. Therese Parish, New Bedford; Joseph A Brunette, Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, New Bedford; Thelma Carpenter, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at St. James Church, New Bedford; Maria DaCosta, Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, New Bedford.

Walter Dalton, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Acushnet; Dorothy Jean DeLorenzo, St. Rita Parish, Marion; Anthony L Ferreira, St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, New Bedford; Diane M. Larkin, St. John Neumann Parish, East Freet0wn; Paul I. Levine, St. Anthony Parish, Mattapoisett; Maria do Carmo Lima, Our Lady ofMount Carmel Parish, New Bedford; Guilherme Medina, Immaculate Conception Parish, New Bedford; Fred Nazarchyk, Our Lady ofPerpetual Help Parish, New Bedford; Carlos A Raposo, St. John the Baptist Parish, New Bedford; Patrick Robitaille, St. Anthony Parish, New Bedford.

G. Albert Roy, St. Mary Parish, South Dartmouth; Edwin M. Shivvers, St. Patrick's Parish, Wareham; Yvette Tougas, St. Julie Billiart Parish, N. Dartmouth; Louise Trial, St. Mary Parish, New Bedford; Edward Vieira, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, New Bedford; Theresa Carpenter, St. Peter Parish, Dighton; Olive Susan Carvalho, St. Joseph Parish, North Dighton; Mary Jo Foley, St. Ann Parish, Raynham; Mildred AM. Gil, St. Anthony Parish, Taunton; Lorraine Hickey, St. Joseph Parish, Taunton.

Robert Johnson, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish, Taunton; Robert Le Boeuf, Immaculate Conception Parish, North Easton; John LePage, Holy Family Parish, East Talmton; Richard H. Neville, St. Paul's Parish, Taunton; Maureen Parkinson, St. Mary Parish, Taunton; John E. Rose, Annunciation of the Lord Parish, Taunton; Irene Silvia, St. Jacques Parish, Taunton; Claire Smith, Holy Cross Parish, South Easton; and George R. Straub, Holy Rosary Parish, Taunton.

ATTLEBORO - A support ATTLEBORO - Our Lady group forwomen struggling with reQueen ofPeace Medjugo~e Prayer lationship issues will meet DeFALL RIVER - A holy hour is Group meets Monday nights at 7 cember 7 from 6-7 p.m. at Cathoheld every Tuesday from 7-8 p.m. p.m. at St. Joseph's Church, 208 lic Social Services, 10 Maple at Holy Name Church, 709 South Main Street, to pray the ro- Street. For more information call Hanover Street. It includes rosary, sary and learn about Medjugo~e. ·508-2264780.

Scripture reading and Benediction, For more information call 508-226BUZZARDS BAY - A support of the Blessed Sacrament. For 1115. group for family and friends ofthose more information call 508-6796732.

FALMOUTH Schola with emotional troubles, depresCantorum of Falmouth will present sion and mental illness will meet NEW BEDFORD - Adoration a concert of sacred choral music Sunday from 3-4:30 p.m. at St. of the Blessed Sacrament is held at St. Patrick's Church, Main Margaret's Church, 141 Main each Monday at St. Joseph-St. Street, Sunday at 4 p.m., follow- Street. For more information call 508-759-m7..

Therese Church. It follows the 8 ing the Christmas parade. a.m. Mass and continues until 2 MISSIONS MASHPEE - The Catholic p.m. For more information call 508995-5235.

Women's Club of Christ the King NEW BEDFORD - There will Parish is sponsoring its annual . be an Advent'mission led by FaHEALING MASSES Ch~stmas Bazaar Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will include ther Raymond DeSouza of Fox BREWSTER - La Salette Fa- crafts, a white elephant table and News and the National Catholic ther Richard Lavoie will celebrate food. For more information call 508- Register at St. Anthony of Padua Parish, December 12-14 at 7 p.m.

Mass December 7 at 7 p.m. at Our 477-7700.

There will be confessions each Lady of the Cape Church, 468 NEW BEDFORD - Confes- night at 5:30 p.m.

Stony Brook Road. A healing service will follow. For more informa- sions are heard every Friday night from 5:45-6:30 at St. Anthony of tion call 508-385-3252.

C.C. NATIONAL "'" Padua Church, 1359AcushnetAvMORTGAGE STURBRIDGE- Father Ralph enue. They are preceded by EuA. DiOrio will celebrate Mass'De- charistic adoration at 4:15 p.m. and cember 11 at 10 a.m. at the the celebration of Mass at 5: 15 p.m.

Sturbridge Host Hotel. A healing For more information call 508-993service and luncheon will follow. For 1691.

Low, low rates starting at more information call508-791-Q61 O. NEW BEDFORD - Sacred Heart Home, 359 Summer Street, LECTURES! NO POINTS, NO CLOSING COSTS will present its Christmas BreakPRESENTATIONS 1ST, 2ND, 3RD MORTGAGES fast Buffet Sunday from 8 a.m. to PURCHASE OR REFINANCE FALL RIVER - The Fall River 12 p.m. Call 508-996-6751 for inIMPROVEMENT, REPAIR Area Men's First Friday Club will formation..

DEBT CONSOLIDATION CREDIT CARD PAY OFFS, meet tonight at 6 for the celebraHOME EQUITY, COMMERCIAL OSTERVILLE - The Ladies tion of Mass at Sacred Heart 2ND HOMES, TUITION, SELF EMPLOYED Church, 160 Seabury Street. A Guild of Our Lady of the AssumpNO INCOME VERIFICATION POOR CREDIT - NO CREDIT meal will follow in the church hall tion Church will hold its annual PAY OFF LIENS & ATTACHMENTS and guest speaker, Assumptionist Christmas Bazaar Saturday from FORECLOSURE-BANKRUPTCY Father Eugene Laplante will give a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. inthe annex buildAPPLICATION TAKEN ON PHONE NO APPLICATION FEE. talk on his recent mission to Mos- ing. It will feature a white elephant FAST SERVICE. WE CAN HELPl cow. For more information call table, knitted items, baked goods CALL NOW Normand Valiquette at 508-672- and greens. For more information call Ann Grossimon at 508-420Cape Cod 508-362-7777 8174.

3372.

New Bedford 508-992-1400 FALL RIVER - Grief educaFree application on Internet TAUNTON - The Religious tion programs for those suffering . www.ccnm.com the loss of a loved one will be held Medal Program for Brownie and junMB#1161 Saturday from 5-6:30 p.m. in the ior age Girl Scouts will begin Satconference room at Good Shep7 urdayat 1 p.m. at the church hall \.. 'APR 5.78, 30 yr $10k min. ~ herd Parish, 1598 South Main ofOur Lady ofthe Immaculate ConStreet. For more information call ception Parish, 387 Bay Street.

"Family of God," is offered at the 5Oa:-972-Q971.

Brownie level, "I Live My Faith,"for Website: cssdioc.org NORTH DARTMOUTH - Are Girl Scouts. For more information CAPE COD you having trouble preparing for call Susan Rogers at 508-823FALLRIVER TAUNTON ATILEBORO NEWBEDFORD Christmas because a child is miss- 9448.

261 SOUTH ST. 1600BAYST. 78 BROADWAY lQMAPLEST. ing from your family? If you have HYANNIS P.O. BOX M-SO, STA. 238 BONNEY ST. 508-824-3264 508-226-4780 508-997-7337 SOCIAL lost a child or grandchild through 508-771-6771 508-674-4681 death or miscarriage, you are in•ABUSE PREVENTION •COMMUNITYORGANIZING ATILEBORO - The National vited to come and celebrate the life •ADOPTIONS: •COUNSELING of that child at a Mass of remem- Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette is INFANT •HOUSING COUNSELING brance December 11 at 5 p.m. at hosting the annual Christmas FesINTERNATIONAL •IMMIGRATION, LEGAL EDUCATION St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 tival of Lights now through January SPECIALNEEDS AND ADVOCACYPROJECf Slocum Road. It is sponsored by 1, 2006. Illuminations are from 5-9 .

•ADVOCACY FOR: •INFORMATIONIREFERRAL the diocesan Office of Family Min- p.m. daily and the 2005 theme is SPANISH & PORTUGUESE SPEAKING •INFANT FOSTER CARE 'We are the Light of the World." istry.

FISHERMEN •PARENT/SCHOOLCRISIS INTERVENTION For more information call 508-222PERSONS WITHAIDS/HlV •REFUGEERESETTLEMENT 5410.

MISCELLANEOUS PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES •HOUSING FORWOMEN: CAMBODIANS ST. MATHIEU'S EAST TAUNTON - Holy FamATILEBORO - An Advent OONOVANHOUSE •BASIC ENGLISH FORLIFE-WNG LEARNING ily Parish invites everyone to its Taize Service will be held DecemST. CLARE'S/ST. FRANCES' •CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT ber 13 from 7-8 p.m. at St. annual Advent Lessons and Car•BASIC NEEDS Stephen's Church, 683 South ols on December 11 at 4 p.m. at SPONSORSmP: SAMARITAN HOUSE Main Street. It will include music, the church, 370 Middleboro AvSOUP KITCHEN SPECIALAPOSTOLATES: prayer and quiet meditation. For enue. The concert will feature outCOMMUNITY ACTION FOR APOSTOLATE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES more information call 508-222- standing soloists and musicians BETIERHOUSING APOSTOLATEFORSPANISHSPEAKJNG including the Amari Quartet, who 0641.

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STUDENTS IN the first Communion class at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at St. James Church, New Bedford, wear costumes following a re-enactment of the Good Samaritan . Gospel story. Their teachers are Diane and Sue Auge~.

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KINDERGARTEN STUDENT Nicolas Ourique dressed . as a Native American as part of a recent study at Espirito , Santo School, Fall River. He and. his peers learned about Native American culture and the first Thanksgiving. Below, students from Espirito Santo School pose with the Providence College cheerleaders during a recent school trip to see the Friars play at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, in Providence, R.1.

YOUNG PE;OpLE from the Corpus Christi Youth Group enjoy the music of Crosspollen during a recent benefit concert in East Sandwich.-More than $250 was collected for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

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FIRST-GRADERS from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School, New Bedford were all smiles dUfirig a recent field trip to Keith's Apple Orchard in Acushnet. The visit included a hay ride and each stUdent took home a bag of apples. ,

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MEGAN GRANDMONT, a senior from Bishop Stang High School, North Dartmouth, and a'member of St. Patrick's Parish, Wareham, was chosen as a contestant in this year's Miss Massachusetts Teen USA Pageant. The state-wide winner will earn' an all-expenses paid trip to the national telecast of the Miss Teen USA Pageant.

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YOUTH FROM St. Joseph's Parish in Attleboro mingle with pilgrims from around the world during their visit to Medjugorje earlier this year. Plans are in the works for another trip to the site next summer.

Area youth invited to Medjugorje pilgrimage ATTLEBORO - Earlier this year, a group of young pilgrims organized by Our Lady Queen of Peace Prayer Group of St. Joseph's Parish, Attleboro, departed for the 16th Annual Youth Festival, also known as the Mladifest, in Medjugorje.

There they joined nearly 35,000 youths, adults and religious for a week of rediscovering and renewing their faith in prayer and song, through beautiful liturgies, and holy hours of adoration.

It was a glorious week, and the heartfelt letters and verbal thank yous certainly proved that in weakness, God can do great things.

On the lookout for blessings

Plans are in the works for the 2006 Medjugorje Youth Festival.

Interested youth ofhigh school and college age are welcome to attend.

Next year's pilgrimage will be departing from Boston on July 29 and will return on August 5.

Because next year will mark the 25th anniversary of the reported events ofMedjugorje, thousands are going to the village in thanksgiving and celebration, so space is limited. At the moment there are 20 spaces still available, but these will quickly sell out. We encourage anyone interested to contact Our Lady Queen ofPeace Prayer group through Maureen O'Brien, 508-226-1239 or 508326-8006.

INSIDE YOUR HEAVEN I've been down, but now I'm blessed I felt a revelation comin' around I guess it's right. It's so amazing Every time I see you, I'm alive You're all I got, you lift me up The sun and the moonlight All my dreams are in your eyes Refrain: I want to be inside your heaven Take me to the place you cry from Where the storm blows your way I want to be the Earth that holds you Every bit of air you're breathin' in, of soothin' wind I want to be inside your heaven When we touch, when we love, The stars line up, the wrong becomes undone Naturally my soul surrenders The sun and the moonlight All my dreams are in your eyes When minutes turn to days and years If mountains fall I'll still be here Holding you the day I die I want to be inside your heaven Take me to the place you cry from Where the storm blows your way (Repeat refrain) Oh yes, I do When I want to be inside your heaven

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

Sung by Carri~ Underwood Copyright (e) 2005 by RCA Carrie Underwood or Bo Bice? When it comes to "Inside Your Heaven," you get a choice.

Both American Idol finalists put out single-CD versions of the song within a week of each other! I chose Underwood's CD because she included the Reba McIntyre classic "Independence

Day" on the flip side.

The song's first line - "I've been down, but now I'm blessed" - got me thinking about life's downs and blessings. And the line "I want to be inside your heaven" started me asking where "heaven" can be found in oW' lives right now.

For example, there may be people in your life whose love is genuinely unconditional. They love you no matter what happens路 and are clear about expressing this fact. Unlike romantic love, which often resembles a roller coaster of unpredictability, their love is a true friendship you can rely on.

To have friends like this is to glimpse heaven's reality.

Other blessings easily get taken for granted, especially

when they arrive routinely.

Good health is one example. If you are a teen with pretty good health, thank God for that blessing.

Perhaps there are people in your life who inspire in you a sense of vision about what you can give to this world. They encourage you to use your gifts and abilities in expansive ways.

They may be teachers, school counselors, friends or parents.

If you have someone in your life who prods you to set high goals, you are blessed. You have a direct line to heaven; you know what heaven's belief in you is all about.

Many down experiences can evolve into blessings. This can be difficult to see at first. Only later, when you realize that your life evolved in surprising and positive ways after a down time, can you see how a disappointment guided you toward a more satisfying way ofliving.

Life is set up to lead you closer to God. True, you may go through times of feeling estranged from God. But heaven always is on the lookout for ways to strengthen the connection between you and your Creator. It takes perspective to see how much God loves you and wants you to discover purpose, adventure and meaning in your life.

Be on the lookout for the blessings of your life. You're likely to discover that "heaven" is near.

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Your comments are always welcome. Please write to me at: chmartit@vwindiJlno.net or at 7125W20OS, Rockport, IN 47635.

The important question and answer How's your prayer life? It seems a bit odd to ask such a question. Some would think it's too personal a question.

Yet, it's certainly no more personal than "how's your love life?" and that one seems popular. Honestly, I don't really want to know about your love life, but I could talk to you forever about your prayer life.

Unfortunately, there are many young people who don't know how to respond to that question. It really stumps them. Maybe no one has ever asked it before.

Teen-age years are so full of growth and change. This time called adolescence has more changes in it than any other 10or 12-year span of your life, with the possible exception of the first 10. Look at the physical difference between a 12-yearold and a 22-year-old. And the level of intellectual advancement that takes place, the growth in emotional maturity; there's just no comparison between a 12-year-old and a 22-year-old.

Parents, teachers, coaches, and other路 significant people in your lives try to keep

encouraged to practice basketball or to up with all of the changes. They often study? comment on your physical growth, "You And even if it seems as if no one else is must have grown six inches since I last paying attention to how you're growing in saw you." They check on your school this area, you need to. Your spiritual life is progress, want to see your report cards, perhaps offer some reward or incentive for the most important aspect of who you are as a person. It is good grades. the immortal They show and eternal part concern for of who you are. your social life, It is the immorasking questal and eternal tions about part of who we friends, what are. How can you do for fun,

By Jean Revil we not pay what music you listen to these L------------L....;,_....:~::....J_Iattention to it?

So, here we days, "how's are at the beginning of Advent. This is the your love life?" beginning of a new liturgical year. What a So, how about your spiritual developgreat time to make or renew the commitment? Can you ~easure the same sort of ment to focus on this area of life. Why not growth there? Does anyone ask you about make a New Year's resolution. your prayer life or about your relationship This is the season of preparation for the with Christ? Does anyone ask you about coming of Christ. The first part of Advent that "love life"? Are you encouraged to highlights his second coming at the end of practice your faith as much as you're

Be Not Afraid

time and the latter part, his corning into human history at his birth.

As the rest of the world runs around preparing for the more secular parts of the holiday, we can use these four weeks to prepare our hearts, to focus on our relationship with the Christ, to examine our prayer lives and our consciences and receive the sacraments which continually make us one with him.

So much of our energy during Advent seems to go into the shopping for the material Christmas gifts that we sometimes forget that the whole purpose of the giving is to honor Christ. The Church gives us this Advent season every year to slow us down and help us to re-focus; to prepare our lives for Christ's return; to renew our commitment to love him and live for him.

Let's not waste this time ... there really is no time to waste!

Jean Revil is director ofCamplls Ministry at Bishop Stang High School, where she has taught for 27 years.

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Friday. December 2, 2005

Area radio station hosts new adoption series

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FALL RIVER- WSARRadio's "Search and Reunion," birthfamily new program, "Speakirig of Adop- issues, adoptee issues, open v. tion," debuted October 18. Catho- closed adoption, familial adoption, lic Social Services' adoption pro- international adoption, infertility, fosgram coordinator, Nancy Harper, ter care, parenting, pregnancy, lewas invited to be the show's fIrst gal issues, and state and federal legguest. . islation.

Harper spoke This proabout the myriad of gram will allow changes that have listeners to conoccurred in the verse on the air world of adoption with adoption experts,legislaover the past 30 years. "Birthparents tors, lawyers, have many choices medical pernow, which were sonal, psyunheard of in the chologists, social workers.

1960s," stated \ Harper. ."'j. authors, search~ She also ad- ~. :....... ers, and evetydressed the preva- ~, ~ day people who lence of open have been imadoption, and NANCY HARPER, MSW, pacted by adopbirthfathers'rights. LCSW, program coordinator tion.

The new for Adoption by Choice: A "Speaking weekly live dis- Pregnancy Counseling and of Adoption" is cussio.n ab~ut Adoption Program of Catho- the .only live ado p t Ion IS - lic Social Services, on air on broadcast fosue s, ho s ted WSAR 1480's new talk show rum in New by birthmoms, "S pea kingofAdoption."

'England deSusan Mello voted. excluSouza and Donna Montalbano, sively to adoption issues. airs Tuesdays from 2 to 3 p.m.

To listen via thcInternet visit the Among the many topics "Speak- Website at www.speakingof ing of Adoption" will tackle are: adoptionradio.com. .

"Good St. Anne, Mother ofMary, and Grandmother ofJesus, Intercede for me and my petitions. Amen."

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Newly-formed Knights of Columbus council hard at work raising, distributing funds

By DAVE JOLIVET, EDITOR

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ED MAAS, center, owner of the Orleans Inn, holds a painting he bid on and won in an auction to raise funds for the Knights of Columbus Council No. 3384 at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Orl~ans. The oil painting of the original St.Joan of Arc Church was painted and donated by noted artist Nancy Nicol of Wellfleet. With Maas, from left: John Fitzpatrick, district director; Maas; and Omer Chartrand, chancellor of Council No. 3384. The auction was part of an October yard sale that netted nearly $4,000 to help the Knights' charitable deeds.

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ORLEANS - For several former members of the Knights of Columbus, the time has come to return to the fold.

"A number of us from prior councils that have fallen by the wayside are. returning,'" Orner Chartrand of Orleans told The Anchor. "The interest is still there but we could use a boost."

The newly-fonned Council No. 3384 is already vel)' active in the Knights' tradition of helping those in need.

Earlier this year, the Orleans council distributed most of its funds to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

"That endeavor depleted most of our monies," said Chartrand.

Council members convened to

detennine the best way to replenish· the treasury.

"Many ofus recalled having to raise some funds for the new St. Joan of Arc Church in 1983," Chartrand told The Anchor. "Back then we had two yard sales that resulted in excellent fund-raising returns."

At a July meeting, the issue of renewing the funds came up and the yard sale idea was revived.

Like the projects 20 years prior, the October St. Joan of Arc yard sale was a huge success. ''We netted $3,929.23 for our treasury and charitable deeds," beamed Chartrand.

Noted Wellfleet artist Nancy Nicol donated an oil painting she created of the original St. Joan of Arc Church, for an auction

at the yard sale.

The painting generated a great deal ofinterest, and the winning bid was submitted by Ed Maas, owner of the Orleans Inn. The painting in now on display at the inn.

Chartrand said he's vel)' encouraged with the success of the yard sales, both past and present.

"I think this could be a vel)' valuable fund-raising tool for other councils and ministries," he said.

"If anyone would like to know how to go about having one, they are welcome to contact us."

Chartrand was equally as excited about the success of the new St. Joan of Arc council. "We hope that this is the beginning of something long-lasting," he said. "We still need some new blood though, here and across the diocese."

A revolution is under way

By DAVE SLOAN

To obtain a copy, send the coupon below, along with a check for $14 payable to Anchor Publishing to: Anchor Publishing, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722. Price includes postage.

Name:

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Address:

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:....-_------------_---:.._City: Zip: ------------ State: This message sponsored by the following business concern in the Fall River diocese GILBERT. C. OLIVE1RA INSURANCE AGEf'C'f •

The ultimate Catholic Singles event is coming around again and it's time for you to start making plans to attend.

Last year's conference was sold out, with over 400 people from more than 30 states. Many attendees said it was the most inspiring, encouraging event they had ever experienced.

The next National Catholic Singles Conference will take place February 10.:.12, 2006 in Denver, Colo.

The conference will feature an extraordinary line~up of the best Catholic musicians and speakers, including Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, Bishop Michael 1. Sheridan, Mary Beth Bonacci, Matthew Kelly, Father

Tom Loya, Dr. Kimberly Schmidt, Father Andreas Bonenberger, and Dave Sloan.

There will be workshops tailored to Iuany different interests, including workshops for those who would like to create new groups or tailor existing groups to be more effective and dynamic in reaching singles.

With dances, mixers, hiking and skiing excursions, and lots of prayer and fellowship, this will be another huge step in the revolution taking place in singles ministry.

For many reasons, singles have been one of the least understood and least included groups in the Church for the last few decades. That is changing now in a dramatic way, and this

conference is a big part of the change. Mary Beth Bonacci wrote of last year's conference, "It is the first step in a really positive, beautiful, healthy revolution." One attendee expressed the sentiments of many when she stated, "This has been a lifechanging experience. I had no idea how much I needed to be here."

The one thing singles need the most is to be brought into the family" life of the Church, to overcome the isolation which is so common in modern life, and' is especially experienced by singles.

To register and learn of the details about next year's conference visit theologyofthebody.netl ncsc 2006/.