12.02.11

Diocese of Fall River

The Anchor

F riday , December 2, 2011

Diocese offers Bible sharing for area faithful of all ages

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff

FALL RIVER — The group gathered in the room at the Catholic Education Center in Fall River grows quiet as the narrator recites the passage from Sacred Scripture that has been chosen for the night and then allows a few minutes for those in attendance to absorb what they heard. But if you’re looking for an intense group discussion that dissects each word and meaning of what has just been read, you’ve come to the wrong place.

“I’ve found that with some of the Scripture studies I’ve been involved with in the past at a parish level, where commentary was so academic and so theologically heavy that people felt lost, it ended up losing the meaning of Scripture because they got so tied up in the theology,” said Crystal-Lynn Medeiros, assistant director of the Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Fall River Diocese. “It can be wonderful if you’re actually prepared for that but when you’re introducing Scripture to someone,

I’m finding that the Scripture sharing approach works best. Then if they want to delve deeper, we can point them to other resources.”

The difference between Bible “study” and Bible “sharing” is that each Scripture passage read is discussed among those in attendance with the stress on sharing, be it what they pulled from the reading or a life experience they can apply to what they heard. Each group meets once a week for six weeks; Medeiros hosts the young adult group that had its first six week session end this past October. It proved so popular, she easily found people interested in joining a second six-week session that began the first week of November.

“With all the young adults that I have spoken to, with them Scripture studying was big but we’re doing something a little different,” said Medeiros. “Scripture sharing is not as theologically heavy. It’s more about sharing the faith and bringing your experiences of faith, and even your own life-experiencTurn to page 14

At one with the spirit — The first Sunday of Advent marked the official introduction of the revised Roman Missal for the Catholic Church. Using cards to follow along, parishioners found themselves focusing more on the Liturgy. Here parishioners St. Mary’s Parish in Fairhaven attentively follow the Mass. (Photo by Becky Aubut)

Diocesan Catholics welcome new Roman Missal English translation

By Kenneth J. Souza and Anchor Staff

FALL RIVER — The adage “old habits die hard” may be true, but by the end of the 11:30 a.m. Mass Sunday at St. Rita’s Church in Marion, it was clear parishioners were ready to let

those habits gradually slip away.

Even though pastor Father Paul A. Caron began the Liturgy with a reminder they would be using the new third edition English translation of the Roman Missal for this first Sunday of Advent Turn to page 19

First-ever national TV campaign invites Catholics to come home

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

Share and tell — Young adults gather in a room at the Catholic Education Center in Fall River for a Bible Sharing session.

Meeting once a week for six weeks, its programs are designed for adults, young adults and teens who want to grow in their understanding of God’s Word, together with others. (Photo by Becky Aubut)

ATLANTA, Ga. — Beginning the week before Christmas, the first-of-its-kind national television commercial campaign inviting Catholics to come home to their Church will be airing on all major and cable networks in prime time.

Spearheaded by Catholics Come Home, this invitation of the New Evangelization highlights the history, beauty, spirituality and accomplishments of the Catholic Church. The 30-second ads will begin airing December 16 and run through the Feast of the Epiphany,

Jan. 8, 2012.

“For years we’ve been seeing television commercials from the Mormons and Methodists, Christian Scientists and even atheists,” said Tom Peterson, president and founder of Catholics Come Home.

“So people have been asking, why

don’t we Catholics have ads? Well, we now have messages of the New Evangelization that will be reaching about 10,000 cities, coast to coast. We’re estimating the ads will be seen by about 250 million viewers in 210 television markets in all Turn to page 14

Second Sunday of Advent

December 4, 2011

WELCOME HOME — A screenshot from the new 30-second television commercial sponsored by Catholics Come Home that will begin airing on December 16 and run through the Feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 8, 2012. These spots are the first-ever national advertising campaign promoting the Catholic Church in all major markets during prime time.

December 2, 2011 News From the Vatican Addressing U.S. bishops, pope commends Church’s efforts against sex abuse

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a speech to U.S. bishops, Pope Benedict XVI defended the Church’s “honest efforts” to confront the priestly sex abuse scandal with transparency, and said its actions could help the rest of society respond to the problem.

While the Church is rightly held to high standards, all other institutions should be held to the same standards as they address the causes, extent and consequences of sexual abuse, which has become a “scourge” at every level of society, the pope said November 26.

On wider issues, including the institution of marriage, the pope encouraged the bishops to speak out “humbly yet insistently in defense of moral truth.” Responding to the challenges of a secularized culture will first require the “reevangelization” of the Church’s own members, he said.

The pope made the remarks in a speech to bishops from the state of New York, who were in Rome for their “ad limina” visits. The group was led by Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York, who as president of the U.S. bishops’ conference has spoken of the need to restore the Church’s credibility and its evangelizing capacity.

The pope began his talk by recalling his 2008 visit to the United States, which he said was aimed at encouraging Catholics in the wake of the sex abuse crisis. He said he wanted to acknowledge the suffering inflicted on victims as well as the Church’s efforts to ensure the safety of children and deal “appropriately and transparently with allegations” of abuse.

“It is my hope that the Church’s conscientious efforts to confront this reality will help the broader community to recognize the causes, true extent and devastating consequences of sexual abuse, and to respond effectively to this scourge which affects every level of society,” the pope said.

“By the same token, just as the Church is rightly held to exacting standards in this regard, all other institutions, without exception, should be held to the same standards,” he said.

Pope Benedict’s speech was the first in a series of five talks he is expected to deliver in coming months, as 15 groups of U.S. bishops make their consultative visits to Rome. He said he planned to focus primarily on the urgent task of “new evangelization.”

The pope said many of the U.S.

bishops had shared with him their concern about the “grave challenges” presented by an increasingly secularized society in the United States. He said it was also interesting to note a widespread worry about the future of democratic society in general, by people who see “a troubling breakdown in the intellectual, cultural and moral foundations of social life” and growing insecurity about the future.

He suggested that the Church could and should have a key role in responding to these deep changes in society.

“Despite attempts to still the Church’s voice in the public square, many people of good will continue to look to her for wisdom, insight and sound guidance in meeting this far-reaching crisis,” he said.

In that sense, he added, the present moment is “a summons to exercise the prophetic dimension of your episcopal ministry by speaking out, humbly yet insistently, in defense of moral truth, and offering a word of hope, capable of opening hearts and minds to the truth that sets us free.”

At the same time, the pope said, the seriousness of the challenges facing the Church in the United

States cannot be underestimated.

He said one big problem was that secularization affects the lives of Catholic, leading at times to “quiet attrition” among the Church’s members.

“Immersed in this culture, believers are daily beset by the objections, the troubling questions and the cynicism of a society which seems to have lost its roots, by a world in which the love of God has grown cold in so many hearts,” he said.

For that reason, he said, modern evangelization is not something aimed only at people outside the Church.

“We ourselves are the first to need re-evangelization,” he said.

That must include critical and ongoing self-assessment and conversion, and interior renewal in the light of the Gospel, he said.

The pope praised the U.S. bishops for their response to the issues raised by increasing secularization, and their efforts to articulate a common pastoral vision. He cited as examples the bishops’ recent documents on political responsibility and on the institution of marriage.

In the end, the pope said, the effectiveness of the Church’s wit-

ness to the Gospel in the United States is linked to “the recovery of a shared vision and sense of mission by the entire Catholic community.”

He said Catholic universities have an important role in promoting this renewal and ensuring the success of “new evangelization,” especially among younger generations.

“Young people have a right to hear clearly the Church’s teaching and, most importantly, to be inspired by the coherence and beauty of the Christian message, so that they in turn can instill in their peers a deep love of Christ and His Church,” he said.

The pope also spoke about the implementation of the revised translation of the Roman Missal, which is being introduced in the United States during Advent.

He thanked the bishops for making this a moment of catechesis about the Liturgy, saying that a weakened sense of the meaning of Christian worship inevitably leads to a weakened witness of the faith.

He said consolidating America’s “proud tradition of respect for the Sabbath” would help renew U.S. society in accordance with God’s “unchanging truth.”

Pope urges international agreement on climate change

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI urged international leaders to reach a credible agreement on climate change, keeping in mind the needs of the poor and of future generations.

The pope made the remarks at his noon blessing at the Vatican November 27, the day before officials from 194 countries were to begin meeting in Durban, South Africa, to discuss the next steps in reducing greenhouse gases and stopping global temperatures from rising.

“I hope that all members of the international community can agree on a responsible, credible and supportive response to this worrisome and complex phenomenon, keeping in mind the needs of the poorest populations and of future generations,” the pope said.

The meeting, which runs until December 9, is the latest in a series to consider follow-up action to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which obligated industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a specific amount. The Kyoto Protocol expires at the end of 2012, and the Durban encounter is considered crucial in forging an additional commitment period.

The goal of the talks organized by the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change is to cut greenhouse gases by 50 percent by 2050 and prevent temperatures from rising more than two degrees Celsius.

Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, president of

Caritas Internationalis, was leading a 20-person Caritas delegation to the Durban talks to press for an agreement on behalf of poor countries that have been severely impacted by climate change.

“Our climate is changing. Caritas organizations are responding to increasing unpredictability and extreme weather conditions experienced around the world. This year we saw floods in Central America, South and Southeast Asia and drought across East Africa,” Cardinal Rodriguez said in a statement released by Caritas.

“Urgent action is necessary. Climate negotiators in Durban must not further delay agreeing to international legislation to curb the threat of climate change and set the world on a path to a more just and sustainable future,” he said.

The Anchor www.anchornews.org

In 2011, East Africa suffered the worst drought in half a century.

Caritas noted that drought was not new in East Africa, but said changes in weather patterns combined with lack of investment, competition for land and water have eroded the capacity of local people to cope.

“The whole world is vulnerable to climate change, but poor countries are affected more,” Cardinal Rodriguez said. “Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to the impacts of climate change. Africans are taking a stand in Durban; it is time for the world to stand with Africa.”

Before leaving for Durban, Cardinal Rodriguez took several thousand young Italian members of a Franciscan environmental group to the Vatican for a lively encounter with the pope.

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 55, No. 46

Member: Catholic Press Association, Catholic News Service

Published weekly except for two weeks in the summer and the week after Christmas by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720, Telephone 508-675-7151 — FAX 508-675-7048, email: theanchor@anchornews.org.

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December 2, 2011

The International Church

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Parishioners in South Africa find priest murdered in his home

muddy aftermath — Nuns walk in the mud following a landslide in Sicily recently. A young boy died and at least three others remain missing after mudslides triggered by torrential rain on the Mediterranean island destroyed several houses, local authorities said. (CNS photo/ Antonio Parrinello, Reuters)

Pope says Asia offers vast opportunities for evangelization

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI said Asia offers “vast scenarios of evangelization” for the Church, but currently faces difficulties and “true persecution” in some places.

The pope made the comments November 25 to members of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, who were meeting in a plenary assembly at the Vatican.

He noted that, last year, an important meeting of Catholic lay people was organized in South Korea, and it became an occasion for strengthening the missionary commitment throughout Asia.

“The vast Asian continent is home to diverse populations, cultures and religions of ancient origin, but until now the Christian announcement has reached only a small minority. Not rarely, they live the faith in a difficult context, and sometimes under true persecution,” the pope said.

His remarks appeared aimed at China, which has sharply limited Church freedoms and in recent months has imposed the ordination of bishops without papal approval.

Looking ahead to next October’s Synod of Bishops on the theme of “new evangelization,” the pope said lay Catholics should take the lead in reawakening an awareness of God. The tendency to shut God out of people’s lives and society is common today, he said, and “the spread of this mentality has generated the crisis that we are experiencing today, which is a crisis of meaning

and values even before it is an economic and social crisis.”

The pope said the challenge is not simply to engage those outside the Church, but to strengthen the awareness of God among Christians themselves.

“Sometimes efforts are made to increase the impact of Christians in social, political or economic life, and perhaps the same concern has not been shown for the solidity of their faith, as if this were something to be taken for granted,” he said.

Christians “do not live on a distant planet, immune from the ‘diseases’ of the world,” but are subject to the same pressures, confusions and problems of modern society, he said.

Therefore, it is no less urgent to propose the question of God inside the Church, he said.

“How many times, despite defining oneself as Christian, is God not the central point of reference in ways of thinking

or acting and in the fundamental choices of life?” he said.

The pope returned to the same theme in his Angelus talk November 27, telling pilgrims that at the beginning of Advent, people should remember that “the true ‘master’ of the world is not man, but God.” He cited a prayer by the prophet Isaiah, who addressed God, saying, “There is none who calls upon your name ... for you have hidden your face from us.”

The pope said the passage “seems to reflect certain panoramas of the post-modern world,” a world in which God seems absent and human beings consider themselves the directors of everything, including work, science and technology.

The pope said Advent was a good time to remember that life has a dimension beyond earthly existence, and that everyone will ultimately be called to explain how they lived their lives: strictly for themselves, or for the good of all.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) — A 35-year-old priest was brutally murdered in South Africa’s Eshowe Diocese.

The body of Father Senzo Mbokazi, parish priest of St. Pius Church in the village of Melmoth, was found November 20 by parishioners waiting for him to celebrate Mass.

Father Mbokazi had been strangled and was found with his hands tied behind his back and with stab wounds on his face and neck, Bishop Xolelo Kumalo of Eshowe said in a November 23 telephone interview.

Father Mbokazi had been a priest in the diocese for six years.

“It was terrible for the parishioners, who had been waiting for him to come and say Mass,” Bishop Kumalo told Catholic News Service. He said parishioners could see the priest’s car outside his home, so they guessed he was inside.

The house had been ransacked and money was missing, but nothing else of value was stolen, such as the television or computer, Bishop Kumalo said.

Because the house did not appear to have been broken into, it is

likely that Father Mbokazi knew his attackers, the bishop said.

The motive for the murder is unknown, but police are “doing a thorough investigation,” Bishop Kumalo said.

Noting that several priests have been murdered across South Africa in the past few years, Bishop Kumalo said the fact that priests are known not to carry guns makes them vulnerable.

Also, “the nature of the job — to serve people, particularly the poor — makes us vulnerable. We never know who the Judas is going to be,” he said.

While South Africans need to look at “why we are such a violent society,” the Church does not need to take extra precautions to keep priests safe, Bishop Kumalo said.

“The One we follow was as vulnerable as we are,” he said.

Rev. Msgr. John J. Oliveira 106 Illinois St., New Bedford, MA 02745

Anch 12/02

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December 2, 2011 The Church in the U.S. Poverty in the midst of plenty: Hunger persists in the United States

WASHINGTON (CNS) — As U.S. nutritionists cringe over the prospect of an overweight nation indulging in a two-month binge of “season’s eatings” — from Halloween candy to Thanksgiving dinners to Christmas feasts to New Year’s parties — there are millions of Americans who aren’t sure they’re going to get enough to eat this day or the next.

The problem is made worse by lack of access to nutritious food, as residents of America’s poorest cities and neighborhoods have little choice but to make do with fast

g tin a r leb ur e C O

food or convenience stores that don’t stock fresh produce.

And even if they were the foodsavviest consumers in the country, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — the new name for food stamps — doesn’t stretch far enough to let each member in the household eat a healthy meal three times a day, seven days a week. Earlier this year, SNAP benefits were cut to pay for a boost in school lunch programs.

Hunger isn’t the only issue.

A Catholic Charities USA third-

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quarter “snapshot” of its member agencies issued November 22 found that 88 percent of the agencies either had to turn away people or maintain a waiting list for at least one service, 64 percent couldn’t meet the need for emergency financial assistance, and 56 percent couldn’t meet requests for utility assistance — including 67 percent in Southern states dogged by heat waves and an extended drought.

What’s more, requests for help by the working poor were up 80 percent over the second quarter, requests by families were up 66 percent, by the homeless up 60 percent — and by the middle class up 59 percent.

“In the House’s agricultural appropriations bill for 2012, it voted to take away nutrition assistance from 600,000 young children and their mothers who now participate in the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program and to eliminate food aid rations for 14 million of the most desperate people in the world,” said the Reverend David Beckmann.

The Lutheran minister, who is president of Bread for the World, a Christian anti-hunger lobby, made the comments in a preface to the organization’s 22nd annual hunger report, titled this year “Rebalancing Act: Updating U.S. Food and Farm Policies.”

The report is peppered with indictments of current U.S. food policy. “Current policies favor production of calories, not nutrients,” it said. “Today, the United States does not even produce enough fruits and vegetables for Americans to meet the recommended daily allowances of vita-

mins and minerals.”

Elsewhere, the report noted: “Agricultural research has been starved for public support. Shrinking food supplies, and the use of food crops to make biofuels, such as corn to make ethanol, are driving up the cost of food well beyond what people in poverty can afford.” One woman reported that on days when money is scarce, she’ll get by on a two-liter bottle of soda to feel full so that her children can eat real meals.

“We do not need farm policies that encourage farmers to produce more fats and sweeteners to feed hungry children,” the report said.

At a November 21 news conference to introduce the “Rebalancing Act” report, Reverend Beckmann said a new farm bill should get rid of agricultural subsidies in favor of revenue insurance, thus freeing up more funds for nutrition assistance in a country where federal statistics show that close to 46 million people are living in poverty.

“What farmers really need is some risk management,” Reverend Beckmann said.

Tianna Gaines-Turner, mother of three children and stepmother to another three, is a member of Witnesses to Hunger, founded in Philadelphia by a Drexel University professor so hungry people could document what their lives are like continuously living handto-mouth. After two years of volunteering, she got a job with Witnesses to Hunger last year and is helping set up new chapters in Boston, Baltimore, Omaha, Neb., and Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. — not the first place one associates

with hunger and poverty.

Gaines-Turner told Catholic News Service November 21 she planned to spend Thanksgiving “thankful that I have an adequate meal” and a safe, secure place to live for herself and her family.

Some are even less lucky. The D.C. Central Kitchen prepares 426 breakfasts and dinners each day for 801 East, a men’s shelter in Washington operated by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. For many of the men, it is the only food they’ll eat all day. The men must be out of the shelter by 7 a.m. each day, and cannot return until 7 p.m. each night.

The number of homeless men climbed with the onset of the 2008 recession, said Paul Amara, who helps manage shelters for Catholic charities. It was in this downturn, he added, that he first started seeing young men barely past the age of majority seeking shelter.

Amara told CNS that 801 East tries to give the men a little something extra at Thanksgiving and Christmas; some of the men may be taken in by relatives for the holiday. But the dynamics of homelessness are complicated, he said.

“Some stay and move on to other transitional housing programs. We have guys who come into the shelter and in the matter of a month or two get a job or something,” Amara said. “We have some who stay forever. We also have recidivists. From November to March, the chronically homeless stay off the street.

“After that, you see them disappear.”

Pittsburgh Capuchin named bishop of Mendi, Papua New Guinea

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A Capuchin Franciscan priest who has served as a missionary in Papua New Guinea since 2007 has been appointed bishop of the Diocese of Mendi in the tropical nation.

The appointment of Bishopelect Donald Lippert, 54, was announced by Pope Benedict XVI. Bishop-elect Lippert has served as the adviser to the vice province of the Capuchin friars in Papua New Guinea and also has taught at the Catholic Theological Institute in Bomana, near the capital, Port Moresby.

He volunteered to join his Franciscan brothers in Papua New Guinea to help train the next generation of priests in the culturally diverse country.

Born June 12, 1957, Bishopelect Lippert was ordained in 1985.

After ordination his order sent him to Belgium to study at the Catholic University of Louvain, where he obtained a master of arts in philosophy.

Among Bishop-elect Lippert’s

assignments were Our Lady of Peace Parish in Conway, Pa.; coordinator of his order’s program for Hispanic candidates for the priesthood in Washington; the faculty of Borromeo Seminary and John Carroll University in the Cleveland Diocese; director of the Hispanic Catholic Center and deputy director of the House of Padre Pio for the priesthood candidates of his order in Washington and provincial vicar and administrative secretary of the Capuchin Province of St. Augustine in Pittsburgh.

He is a close friend of fellow Capuchin Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston, occasionally accompanying him on Vatican-appointed seminary visitations. He was a regular visitor to the Diocese of Fall River during Cardinal O’Malley’s decade of service as Fall River bishop.

The Diocese of Mendi has 114,000 Catholics in a population of 600,000 people and includes 19 parishes, 36 priests, 70 nuns and 22 seminarians.

The Church in the U.S.

December 2, 2011

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State high court says backers of Prop 8 have standing to appeal ruling

lending a hand — Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York greets a man as he helps distribute turkeys and other food to people in need at a Catholic Charities’ center in New York’s Harlem community recently. Looking on is Msgr. Kevin Sullivan, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, sponsor of the annual pre-Thanksgiving event. (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)

New Jersey bishops call for ‘action agenda’ to address rising poverty

TRENTON, N.J. (CNS) — and unavailable affordable hous- unable to make ends meet and rePoor people in New Jersey num- ing.” quired food stamps to survive.” ber in the hundreds of thousands “The goal will be to identify The state figures were for 2009, and yet “they are often invisible to pragmatic recommendations to the latest available. us,” said the state’s Catholic bish- help strengthen families, improve “Poverty has many faces — the ops in a November 21 statement schools, reduce unemployment, young and old, the professional on the growing rate of poverty. assure living wages and increase and nonprofessional, the edu“As the plight of these, our affordable housing,” the bishops cated and uneducated, the native brothers and sisters, continues to explained. born and the immigrant, and those spiral downward, we canwith or without a religious not stand by in silence,” he poor are not a static socio- faith,” the bishops said, they said. “We cannot igeconomic group. Many people noting that poor people nore children who go to live in cities, suburbs and bed hungry, parents who who were once self-sufficient now find rural areas and may even are jobless, families who themselves on the edge of poverty be- be one’s next-door neighare homeless, the sick cause of a life-changing event,” they said. bor. who suffer without medi- Catholic Charities agencies are reporting “The poor are not a statcal care, or the elderly ic socioeconomic group. who live in infested or un- that some people who were once donors Many people who were “are now clients in need of services.” safe housing. once self-sufficient now “We call upon all peofind themselves on the ple of good will to address edge of poverty because They will put together an advi- of a life-changing event,” they the critical needs of the poor who live among us. We must remember sory council of community leaders said. Catholic Charities agencies that the moral worth of a society is to oversee the initiative. are reporting that some people Citing national and state statis- who were once donors “are now measured primarily by how justly it responds to the most vulner- tics on population, labor and the clients in need of services.” economy, the bishops noted that the able,” the bishops said.

Catholic social teaching calls Individual efforts to help the latest figure from the U.S. Census for providing direct services to poor are “a critical starting point Bureau, released November 11, those in need and also addressing and even can be noble and life- shows that more than 49 million inequities in society by advocating saving,” but more is needed, they Americans, or 16 percent of the to- for “fair public policies” for houssaid, and called for an “’agenda for tal population, live in poverty. ing, health care and education, the The Census Bureau said it ar- bishops said. action’ by individuals, churches, synagogues, mosques, govern- rived at the new figure by using a “Scripture calls us to act with broader formula to calculate data courage, generosity, justice and ment and the private sector.”

To that end, the bishops an- released in September, which said love. If we fail to act, our faith nounced the New Jersey Catho- 46. 2 million people were living in commitment rings hollow,” they lic Conference, with cooperation poverty, or 15. 1 percent. said.

In New Jersey, “a state that is from Catholic Charities agencies, “Empathy, alone, does not help will convene four task forces to frequently ranked as the second- or the poor. We need a firm societal help develop that agenda by focus- third-richest state in the country,” commitment to action — a grassing on “critical issues impacting the bishops said that more than roots movement that begins with poverty: the weakening of family 799,000 residents “had incomes individuals, and then expands to life, failing education systems, un- lower than the official poverty rate family, community and governemployment and low-paying jobs, — incomes so low that they were ment,” the bishops said.

“T

SAN FRANCISCO (CNS) — The faith-based groups that sponsored Proposition 8, the state’s 2008 voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, have the right to appeal a federal judge’s 2010 ruling the ban is unconstitutional, the state’s high court said.

The California Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion November 17.

Catholics are among the backers of Prop 8 who appealed to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals the ruling that it discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation and gender. As the circuit court took up the issue, its judges needed to resolve a question: Do the backers of the proposition have the legal right to defend it in court when two elected officials, the former governor and the former attorney general, refused to do so?

The appellate judges put the case on hold and asked the California Supreme Court to decide the matter. Chief Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye, writing for the court, said that “it is essential to the integrity of the initiative process ... that there be someone to assert the state’s interests in an initiative’s validity on behalf of the people when the public officials who normally assert that interest decline to do so.”

That was a victory for ProtectMarriage.com as a proponent of Prop 8, and it allows the 9th Circuit now to resolve the critical question in the case — whether or not Prop 8 is constitutional — although it is expected the U.S. Supreme Court will have the final word.

Andy Pugno, general counsel of ProtectMarriage.com, said: “This ruling is a huge disaster

for the homosexual marriage extremists. The court totally rejected their demands that their lawsuit to invalidate Proposition 8 should win by default with no defense. Their entire strategy relied on finding a biased judge and keeping the voters completely unrepresented. Today, that all crumbled before their eyes.”

He added, “(The) decision is a critical step in our three-year battle to uphold marriage between a man and a woman.”

The California Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the state’s bishops on legislative and social matters, said: “The CCC supports the decision of the voters of California to pass Prop 8 in November 2008, thereby placing in our state’s constitution the definition of marriage as the union of a woman and a man. By their vote they recognized that marriage is good for children and best for our state.”

Cantil-Sakauye wrote, “Even though the official proponents of an initiative measure are not public officials the role they play in asserting the state’s interest in the validity of an initiative measure in this judicial setting does not threaten the democratic process or the proper governance of the state, but, on the contrary, serves to safeguard the unique elements and integrity of the initiative process.”

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The Anchor Our response to Jesus’ eager desire

The principle focus of Advent is to prepare us to meet Christ in history, mystery and majesty, to focus on God’s eternal desire for a loving communion with us. We ponder Christ’s first coming in Bethlehem, His second coming at the end of time, and continual coming in the present, all manifestations of God’s eternal desire for communion with us. Like the wise bridesmaids in Jesus’ parable, we are called to respond to these advents with faith-filled movement on our own, going out with lamps full of love to meet Him. That dynamism of mutual love is at the heart of Cardinal Sean O’Malley’s extraordinary new pastoral letter on the importance of our participation at Mass, which we would be a great Advent meditation for every Catholic (see page 20). Published November 20 and entitled “Jesus’ Eager Desire,” it is a prayerful meditation on Jesus’ words from the Last Supper, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover meal with you,” when Jesus inaugurated the Mass that He commanded us to celebrate in His memory (Lk 22:15, 19). His fervent desire to become the paschal Lamb by which He would nourish us and incorporate us into the new and eternal Passover of His saving passion, death and Resurrection, had no expiration date. Cardinal O’Malley says that the only fitting response to Jesus’ avid desire is for us to have a similar ardor to go out to meet Him in this great Sacrament of His love.

In an introductory section, Cardinal O’Malley noted that, rather than responding in kind to Jesus’ desire, “many Catholics today seem to take the gift of the Sunday Mass for granted” and, “choose to be absent from Mass.” He raised this point not to judge, condemn or guilt-trip, but to invite: “If this is the way that you see your relationship with God, I am grateful that you are reading this letter. … Please know that you are missed.” Even among those who come to Mass on Sundays, however, there are many who do not come with eagerness, perhaps because they, too, do not adequately appreciate the gift of the Mass. Cardinal O’Malley recalled the cry of the martyrs of Abitene (Tunisia) from 303, who out of their faith and eager desire for Christ risked their lives to disobey an imperial edict in order to participate in Sunday Mass. Upon being arrested and sentenced to death, they professed, “Without Sunday, we cannot live.” He went on to say that for nearly two millennia Christians have risked their lives to attend Mass during times of persecution, something that is still occurring in Baghdad and Cairo and other places where Islamofascists attack worshippers during Liturgies, as well as in China where members of the underground Church are arrested, thrown in jail for decades, and often left to starve to death.

“We give thanks to God that we do not have to put our lives in jeopardy to attend Mass at our local parish,” Cardinal O’Malley contrasted. “We rejoice that, unlike those in poor areas, we do not have to walk for miles, over hills or on inadequate dirt roads to attend. The vast majority of us can walk safely down the street or make a short drive to arrive at our beloved parish. But the ease, convenience, and legality of the Mass should not cause us ever to lose sight that the Mass is so precious that many of our Catholic brothers and sisters around the world are braving great inconvenience and persecution to receive what we, by God’s love, have available near us.” This example of our brothers and sisters is a witness to us of the value of the Mass and an inducement never to take it for granted.

In a beautiful doctrinal section, Cardinal O’Malley expands upon the eager desire with which we’re called to reciprocate Christ’s. In it he doesn’t present merely the Church’s teaching as catechetical points, but, by focusing on Christian desire rather than Christian knowledge, he seeks to appeal to and ignite the will and affections to act on what we profess and believe. He lists nine different desires built into our participation in Sunday Mass: We desire to respond to God’s loving gift of Himself to us with our loving gift of ourselves to Him. We desire to encounter Christ in the most profound way possible. We desire to gather and pray with our parish family. We desire to strengthen our particular family, praying together so as to stay together.

We desire to witness to our faith in Christ present in the midst of a culture that marginalizes God and places so many other Sunday activities ahead of God. We desire to be transformed by Christ. We desire to participate in His victory over death and salvation of the world, by joyfully reliving each Sunday as a “little Easter.” We desire a foretaste in Heaven, for which our loving communion with God and others in the Mass is a pledge and participation, digesting as it were the “secret of the Resurrection.” And we desire to follow God’s loving guidance and to commit ourselves to deepening our relationship with Him, despite the occasionally bad singing, boring homilies, cantankerous fellow Catholics and other distractions, which we put up with because without Sunday, we, too, cannot live. Cardinal O’Malley did not give an exhaustive catalogue of the holy desires that should motivate our participation in Sunday Mass, but he did clearly open us up to the breadth of blessings that Jesus desires to give us at Mass and to reawaken in us an awareness of our own God-given desire for those blessings.

In the final section of the pastoral letter, Cardinal O’Malley got very practical, with particular suggestions for various groups of the faithful. He mentioned that the new English translation of the Roman Missal is an opportunity to come to know the Mass better, noting, “The more we grow in knowledge of the Mass, the more we are likely to grow in love for the Mass” and pray it better and more beautifully. To those who have been away from Sunday Mass, he amiably announced, “We want you to know that you are part of our family. We want to assure you that God loves you and waits for you at Sunday Mass. The best place to begin a conversation is by gathering with the family of believers in the worshiping community. … We stand ready to help you.” To his brother priests, he first praised them for their perseverance through recent difficult times, asked them to reflect on ways they could improve their preaching, exhorted them to lead by example as “men and teachers of prayer,” encouraged them to establish “dignified and vibrant” family Masses, and urged them to celebrate “teaching Masses” to help everyone come to understand better the different parts of the Mass. He asked parish pastoral councils and staffs to focus their energy on evangelization and efforts to encourage participation at Sunday Mass, through personal witness and through organized invitation, welcoming, transportation for elderly and infirm, and community-building. He encouraged teachers in Catholic schools and catechetical programs to set the example for students and their families about the centrality of Sunday Mass and to avail themselves of every opportunity to stress the importance of the Mass. He reminded parents that their “good example of faithfulness to Sunday Mass, prayer and moral decency preaches more eloquently than the homily of any priest,” encouraging them to show a contagious love for Sunday Mass and to take an active role in the doctrinal and prayer formation of their children. Finally, he challenged the young to recall that they are not just the future of the Church but an important part of the Church today, enlivening not just the Liturgy but the whole Church by their enthusiastic witness, and urging them to recognize that only Christ can fulfill their deepest desires.

He concluded his letter by stating that the Eucharist is not merely an expression of Jesus’ eager desire but the “fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to be with us until the end of time.” He urged us to respond by rushing to “tell the world that Christ is alive and eagerly desires our family to gather at the Lord’s Table to experience God’s love, to discover our identity as Catholics and to fulfill our mission together.” That will be the natural consequence and fulfillment of our eucharistic desire and wholehearted “amen.”

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December 2, 2011

‘I am the Bread of Life’

n last week’s article I began a Moses who provided food for the hungry reflection on the most holy Sacracrowds. ment of the Eucharist. I mentioned that Jesus is trying to help them see the celebration of the Eucharist at Mass who He really is, which isn’t just a is primarily an act of Thanksgiving. It’s new Moses-like figure. Jesus then says an opportunity for us to recall everything something that must have been a bit that our Lord has done for us, not just in unsettling to those who heard it firsthand: our own lives, but also in what He has “It was not Moses who gave you bread done for all humanity by dying on the from Heaven; My Father gives you the cross and rising from dead. true bread from Heaven.” They respond, Today I would like to focus on Jesus’ “Give us this bread always.” Jesus gives own explanation of the Eucharist that them what they ask for, but not in the we find in the sixth chapter of St. John’s way they were expecting.

Gospel, commonly referred to as the Jesus says, “I am the Bread of Life; “Bread of Life” discourse. whoever comes to Me will never hunger, St. John’s Gospel is very different and whoever believes in Me will never than that of Matthew, Mark and Luke in thirst.” Imagine what must have been gothat it is not a chronological overview of ing through their minds at that moment. the life of Jesus Christ. He takes a rather They know they are spiritually hungry different approach in presenting the life, and thirsty, they know what they have teachings and miracles of our Lord. One witnessed Jesus do, but there is someclear example of that is found in how he thing a bit unsettling about these words, treats the Euand not just charist. Where for them, but the other three for us too.

Putting Into Gospels give When their accounts Jesus says, “I the Deep of what hapam the Bread pened on the of Life,”

By Father evening of the “I am the Jay Mello Last SupBread come per, St. John down from includes Jesus Heaven,” and teaching on the Eucharist much earlier in “whoever eats this bread will live forhis Gospel. ever, and the bread that I will give is My In the beginning of the sixth chapter flesh for the life of the world,” He wasn’t of St. John’s Gospel, we read first of the just being sentimental or symbolically feeding of the 5,000. We all know the referencing Moses. He says that to have story: Thousands of people have come eternal life that we must eat His flesh and to see and hear Jesus of Nazareth. Upon drink His blood! We need to stop for a seeing the vast crowd, our Lord is aware moment and think about this and reflect that all these people need to eat someupon it in the light of the Eucharist that thing and that there isn’t a Stop and Shop we receive at Mass. around the corner.

What are we doing when we get in Jesus discusses the matter with Philip that Communion line? What are we who explains to Him that a 200 days’ receiving into our bodies? This shouldn’t salary wouldn’t be enough to buy food be something we do lightly — this is for all these people. But the Gospel tells tremendously profound. Perhaps this is us that Jesus only asked the question to something that was lost when we stopped test him, because He already knew what kneeling to receive Holy Communion, as He was going to do. Jesus takes the five was the case in “the old days.” Too often, barley loaves and two fish that a young we don’t think about the fact that we are boy had and performs the miracle that coming forward to receive the “Bread of we call the “multiplication of the loaves Life” and not just a door prize for showand the fish,” feeding from those meager ing up at Mass. raw materials the enormous crowd to the The Eucharist isn’t a sign of our faith point where they were full! or a symbol of something done years ago This story is crucial to our understand- — it is really Jesus! It is His Body, Blood, ing of the Eucharist because of what Soul and Divinity that we are receiving Jesus does next. The crowds continue to into our bodies. How can we not fall to follow Him across the Sea of Galilee to our knees in adoration of a much greater Capernaum. There He explains to them miracle than that of feeding 5,000 people? that they are not following Him because It is a tough teaching, yes! It is tough they have witnessed great signs, but to get our minds around the Eucharist, because they “ate and were filled.” They which is why when Jesus finished exeach experienced something very tanplaining this to His first disciples, many gible and real and they want more of it! of them walked away and said this is too They quickly make reference to difficult for me to believe or accept. Jesus Moses and his journey in the desert with didn’t go chasing after them; He allowed the Israelites in search of the Promised them to reject Him and the great gift that Land. This 40-year pilgrimage is marked He was offering them in the Eucharist. by many dramatic events, one of which My favorite part of this story, howis the Israelites’ crying out in hunger ever, is how it ends. Jesus turns to His to God. They tell Jesus, “Moses gave Apostles and He asks them, “Are you them bread from Heaven to eat.” They going to leave Me too? Simon Peter says, were speaking of the “manna,” the bread “Lord, to whom shall we go, You have from Heaven that sustained them in their the words of everlasting life.” pilgrimage. In doing so, they were trying Father Mello is a parochial vicar at to paint Jesus as a prophet, as another St. Patrick’s Parish in Falmouth.

December 2, 2011

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The salt of the earth

This begins a new series

by Father Martin L. Buote on the parables of Jesus. early everyone can recall the popular names of several parables: “The Good Shepherd,” “The Good Samaritan,” “The Prodigal Son,” etc. Narrative parables, however, do not exhaust the concept of parable in the teaching of Jesus. The term parable (in Greek, parabole) referred to a certain type of illustration to bolster proof in a rhetorical argument. It became a loan word to theology when it was used to translate many different Hebrew words for different figures of speech in a Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. This translation was done in Alexandria, Egypt, around the third or second century B.C and is known as the Septuagint.

The writers of the four Gospels used this wider mean-

ing of the word and so were about the structure of the able to say that most of Jesus’ Church. This emphasis is not teaching was in parables. (For found in the other Evangelists. example, see Mt 13:34,35; Likewise, Luke pairs many Mk 4:34; Jn 16:25-29.) Narparables and miracle stories to rative parables were imporshow equal treatment of men tant, but there were many other figures of speech as well.

Since this wider use of the word parable can be applied to so much of the conBy Father tent of the Gospels, Martin L. Buote this series will not attempt to address all the parables.

Instead, we shall look at most and women. of the narrative parables and It will be to your advantage a few of the more important to have a copy of the Bible at other parabolic passages. hand, though this is not abAs we examine the parsolutely necessary. Any good ables, we shall see how the translation is acceptable. I recEvangelists acted as editors ommend either the New Ameriand chose and arranged their can Bible (NAB), or the Revised material. For example, MatStandard Version (RSV). thew has many parables about We begin with Jesus’ parathe Kingdom, and speaks ble on the “Salt of the Earth.”

The first parable for our consideration is found in Mt 5:13, Mk 9:50, and Lk 14:34.

In our day, the phrase “the salt of the earth” is a proverbial expression conveying the idea of a basically decent individual, a mensch, a good guy. It did not have that meaning in the time of Jesus. We can discover the meaning at that time when we consider two things said about it. First, it can lose flavor. Second, if it loses flavor, it is still good for trampling underfoot.

The impure salt that is scraped up from the earth near the Dead Sea is mixed with silt, gypsum, natron and sodium sulfate. Such a salt can lose flavor if exposed to water and sodium chloride washes away. This could happen if stored in a sack and exposed

to rain, fog, dew, or even just high humidity. Even when it has lost flavor, it is still good for treating the path in front of your house to kill weeds and pack down the soil to prevent dust. The meaning has become clear. This is “earth salt,” not sea salt or mined salt, the two kinds we are likely to find in our markets today.

If we now listen to Jesus addressing His disciples, “You are ‘earth salt,’ or ‘peasant salt,’” we can understand that Jesus is speaking of the goodness that is in the disciples, and warning that it not be diluted lest they be rejected and thrown out.

Father Buote is a retired priest of the Diocese of Fall River. For more than 30 years, he has been leading Bible study groups in various parishes and has also led pilgrims to visit sites in Israel associated with the Bible.

GALLUP, N.M. (CNS) — For some, Father Emil Kapaun may be a footnote in a conflict many have come to know as the “Forgotten War,” but for John Moore of Gallup, the Korean War chaplain’s heroic exploits deserve the attention of congressional and Vatican officials in a movement to have the Kansas priest honored with the Medal of Honor as well as sainthood.

For his part, Moore, 61, embarked on a 630-mile pilgrimage September 11 from the National Cemetery in Santa Fe to Pilsen, Kan., Father Kapaun’s rural hometown in the Wichita Diocese, where Moore arrived the morning of November 11, Veterans Day. He delivered a handmade wooden replica of the cross that has come to represent Father Kapaun, the Army chaplain who saved the lives of dozens of soldiers and died as a prisoner of war in Pyoktong, North Korea, May 23, 1951.

The model of the cross was designed by a fellow prisoner of war, Gerald Fink, a Jew who came to respect and love the diligent priest before his death.

A canonization cause for Father Kapaun was formally opened June 29, 2008, with a Mass at St. John Nepomucene Church in Pilsen. Church officials in Kansas and elsewhere had been collecting documentation to support the sainthood cause for years prior to its official opening.

Averaging 15.75 miles of

walking per day, Moore said he only had three days of rain and heavy wind during his trek. Among the most grueling parts of the journey were the mountains of New Mexico and the lack of shoulders on some of the roads in Oklahoma and Kansas that wreaked havoc on his feet.

At one point, Moore lost his footing and fell scraping his knees and face. The fall caused the large wooden cross, which he carried attached to a backpack, to fall on top of him.

Moore said later in an interview that he and the cross needed slight repairs.

Moore said he became aware of Father Kapaun after reading a small article about the priest in the Knights of Columbus magazine last year and quickly became immersed in the saga of a man who served his country and men in the most deplorable of conditions.

Father Kapaun was among the first wave of American troops to arrive in South Korea after it was attacked by the communist North in June 1950.

He arrived July 18 and never shirked his responsibility to provide comfort and religious services, often conducted on the hood of a Jeep, and guidance to his troops, even under heavy enemy fire.

It didn’t take long for the priest’s bravery to be recognized with the awarding of a Bronze Star in August 1950 when he rescued a wounded soldier in the midst of heavy enemy fire. On the frigid night

tant to help the father’s family get him the medal but it also brings awareness to the public of what we did in Korea.”

Miyamura said the value of what Father Kapaun did was immeasurable for the troops.

“I saw so many young men die because they just gave up,” Miyamura said. “We needed to keep our faith and for them to have Father Kapaun among them would have been so uplifting for morale.”

Miyamura said he didn’t have a chaplain in his POW

camp when he was there for nearly two years and recognizes the indisputable contributions Father Kapaun would have made.

Moore said the cross is made from an alligator juniper tree from Heber, Ariz., and was constructed by Mark Chavez, a retired Albuquerque firefighter.

“I don’t want any recognition for this, I just look as myself as the donkey carrying Christ,” he said. “And anytime you do something for a veteran, you did good.”

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Parables of the Lord

New Mexico man carries cross 630 miles to priest-hero’s Kansas hometown of Nov. 1, 1950, Father Kapaun was captured after attempting to rescue some of his men.

The time spent in the POW camp was a life of deprivation but spiritual and life-sustaining responsibilities which he always performed with compassion and a smile. Father Kapaun died in the POW camp in May 1951.

Despite numerous testimonies confirming his bravery, the Medal of Honor has eluded Father Kapaun. There is a groundswell to have the medal bestowed to him posthumously.

It is the nation’s highest military honor, awarded by Congress for the risk of life in combat beyond the call of duty.

In 2009, before he left office, then-Secretary of the Army Preston M. Geren III said he was deserving of it. Since then support for the honor has been growing, especially among those promoting his sainthood cause.

“I often think about all of the people he christened and married and what he did for his troops,” Moore said of his inspiration when his trek became difficult or lonely.

Quick to recognize the efforts of Moore is Hershey Miyamura of Gallup, a Medal of Honor recipient and a former POW. Miyamura, who has read about Father Kapaun, agrees the priest deserves the medal.

He also feels Moore’s efforts go above and beyond the call.

“It is quite an honorable deed what John is doing,” Miyamura said. “I feel it is impor-

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December 2, 2011

The Anchor

Baptism and preparation for the great Christmas mystery

always enjoy meeting with parents who are preparing to baptize a child. It is always a great opportunity to evangelize and catechize, especially if they have been only marginally involved in the life of faith for themselves.

After explaining the four signs which our Church uses to celebrate the Rite of Baptism — water, oil, white garment, and candle — I give them a little quiz. ”When is the next time in your child’s life that we will use all four of these signs for the same event?” Then they start to guess. “At First Communion?” “No water, no oil, no candle,” (we use white robes in my parish), I say.

“At Confirmation?” I reply, “No water, no candle, and the garment is red.” Occasionally, one person very timidly replies with the correct answer.

I say timidly because, partly they are not certain, and partly

because they don’t want to rite of Baptism is very clear. believe that I would be talking We are sharing in the death about such things at the time of Christ so that we can also of preparation for Baptism. share in His resurrection.

“A funeral?” they ask. “Yes, This apparent “mixed at their funeral — and please message” is an important one God — none of us is there. May it be their grandchildren and Homily of the Week great-grandchildren Second Sunday who will initiate them of Advent into the life of Heaven just as you and I are

By Father now initiating them Richard E. Degagne into the earthly journey of faith. It’s not a coincidence that we use the same signs as we are in our celebration of Advent brought into church the first and Christmas. Our season time and the last time.” is surrounded with signs of It is startling, and maybe joy and hope. After all, we unnerving for a family to hear are welcoming a new life into about death when we are prethe world. Images abound of paring them for their child’s joyful parents, singing angels, Baptism. We have a beautiful friends bearing gifts, hearts new life just beginning. It is full of hope. supposed to be a joyful time, Our Scripture from Isaiah a hopeful time. And yet, the this week offers images of

tenderness to sinners, heralds shouting out messages which have been expected for generations, shepherds gently caring for flocks. We are offered the possibility that life is truly good, that God is always present to His people.

Mark’s Gospel connects us with our own Baptism as the Baptist’s action fulfills the promise of the ages. We are no longer slaves to sin.

We are filled with a longing for all the good that God can give.

And finally, St. Paul reminds us that after everything was accomplished according to God’s plan, the new hope of eternal life is the ultimate reason for Jesus’ coming. This is why we prepare in Advent.

This is why we celebrate at Christmas. Like our Baptism

marked the beginning of new life with God for us, we are destined for that greater glory which Jesus won for us.

It is startling and unnerving for us to think about the end times as we approach the Christmas celebration. But the birth of Jesus is not only about a baby, or all the other images of the season. It is not only about the glory of a child incarnate of the Virgin Mary.

It is also about the glory that God will reveal when His Son will return and complete the plan that God has for all eternity.

Like our Baptism which reveals to us our place in time and eternity, so this great Christmas mystery we celebrate reveals what God became for us and what God calls us to become.

Father Degagne is pastor of St. John Neumann Parish in East Freetown.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Dec. 3, Is 30:19-21,23-26; Mt 9:35-10:1,5a,6-8. Sun. Dec. 4, Second Sunday of Advent, Is 40:1-5,9-11; Ps 85:9-14; 2 Pt 3:8-14; Mk 1:1-8. Mon. Dec. 5, Is 35:1-10; Lk 5:17-26. Tues. Dec. 6, Is 40:1-11; Mt 18:12-14. Wed. Dec. 7, Is 40:25-31; Mt 11:28-30. Thu. Dec. 8, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Gn 3:9-15,20; Ps 98:1-4; Eph 1:3-6,11-12; Lk 1:26-38. Fri. Dec. 9, Is 48:17-19; Mt 11:16-19.

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f memory serves, this past year saw electronic books top printed books in the sales figures at Amazon.com.

Be that as it may, books — real books — still make wonderful Christmas gifts. Here are some recently published (and read) titles I can recommend with enthusiasm.

“The Union War,” by Gary W. Gallagher (Harvard University Press): As the Civil War Sesquicentennial gets underway in earnest, it’s good to have Gary Gallagher of the University of Virginia as a guide to why what happened, happened. The

Books for Christmas

Union War argues that the north- One of North America’s rising younger theologians, Doug Farern war was, above all, a war row of Montreal’s McGill Unifor the Union, as his previous volume, “The Confederate War,” versity, is also a superb writer who makes theology come alive demonstrated that nationalism, and the defense of what the South understood to be its liberties, was at the heart of its war effort. Gallagher uses the tools of social history (including letters

By George Weigel from veterans on both sides and Civil War-era journalism) to buttress for the literate, but not necessarhis case. ily specialist, reader. He posi“Ascension Theology,” by tions the Ascension at the center Douglas Farrow (T & T Clark): of the Christian proclamation and creed and thereby sheds new light on everything, from the nature of the Church to the full meaning of the Eucharist.

“Newman and His Contemporaries,” by Edward Short (T & T Clark): Another Newman November 25, 2011 book? Well, yes, and a particularly fine one that explores Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina Newman’s relationships with the “Dear children! Today I desire to give you hope and joy. great ecclesiastical, literary, poEverything that is around you, little children, leads you to- litical and journalistic figures of wards worldly things but I desire to lead you towards a time his time. Short’s close reading of grace, so that through this time you may be all the closer of Newman’s vast corresponto my Son, that He can lead you towards His love and eternal dence also demonstrates just how many of our post-Vatican life, for which every heart yearns. You, little children, pray II arguments were anticipated in and may this time for you be one of grace for your soul. the 19th century among New“Thank you for having responded to my call.” man and his interlocutors.

“YouCat” (Ignatius Press): Spiritual Life Center of Marian Community I will admit to a certain skeptiOne Marian Way Medway, MA 02053 • Tel. 508-533-5377 cism when the Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church was Paid advertisement

Our Lady’s Monthly Message From Medjugorje

The Catholic Difference

announced, but my dubieties have given way to enthusiasm.

The Q&A of a classic catechism is complemented here by deftly chosen, brief selections from Scripture, the Fathers of the Church, great saints, and noble human spirits of many cultures. Good for the “young” from, say, 18 to 85 or so.

“The Tigress of Forli,” by Elizabeth Lev (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt): I’m a suspect witness in the matter of Liz Lev, a friend with whom I’m working on a book on the Roman station church pilgrimage of Lent. She’s the best Anglophone art and architecture guide in Rome, and in her first book she has also shown herself a master story teller. Caterina Riario Sforza de Medici was indeed, as the book’s subtitle proclaims, “Renaissance Italy’s most courageous and notorious countess,” and Lev’s recreation of her life opens up a dramatic world of intrigue and passion, even as it illuminates Italian Catholic life on the edge of that religious tsunami, the Reformation.

“The Forum and the Tower,”

by Mary Ann Glendon (Oxford University Press): A collection of essays on scholars, politicians, and their interaction from one of the Catholic Church’s most distinguished laywomen,

who, in her new book, runs the keyboard from Plato to Oliver Wendell Holmes without misplaying a chord. The former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican is equally at home explaining why Cicero was the superstar of ancient Rome and how Eleanor Roosevelt worked with the Lebanese scholar-diplomat Charles Malik to give birth to the modern human rights movement. Further disclosure: Professor Glendon is another friend — and the mother of Elizabeth Lev, thus falsifying any claim that parent and child can’t share a literary vocation.

“Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith,” by Robert E. Barron (Image): The companion book to the brilliant 10-part television series, this eminently readable exploration of Catholicism-in-full is an even ampler introduction to the mind and spirit of the Church’s most important American apologist.

“Portrait of a Spy,” by Daniel Silva (Harper): It’s hard not to get addicted to Silva’s Gabriel Allon novels of international skullduggery. James Bond and his supporting cast were cardboard cartoons compared to the fictional characters Dan Silva, a man with a well-calibrated moral compass, has created.

George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

Until the Kingdom comes

27 November 2011 — at the church on Three Mile River — First Sunday of Advent he mission of the Church Universal is to build God’s Kingdom on earth.

Maybe the work of Kingdom-building will be completed this year. Perhaps the Lord will return this Advent; or perhaps not. If not, we will conclude our Advent vigil and prepare to remember and celebrate the first coming of the Lord at Bethlehem.

How do we go about the task of building the Kingdom? The answer depends on our collective charisms. I have worked as a priest in several parishes over many years. I know that each parish is unique; each has its own strengths.

The worldwide Church’s

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December 2, 2011 mission involves institutional structure, faith lived out in community, worship, preaching/teaching the Gospel, and service to others in the Lord’s name. These all need to be

included in every parish’s tool box for building the Kingdom, but in any given parish some tools will be used more than others.

The institutional model, according to the late Avery Cardinal Dulles, is the only one that should never be raised to highest importance. It is

To err is human

But eventually we settled in o err is human, to to the Mass we know today, or forgive, divine. Thank should I say the Mass we knew God, or should I say “thanks yesterday.

God.” Human beings are flawed Last weekend’s implementacreatures, but by and large, we tion of the new translation was try to do our best, breathe a sigh hardly as radical a change as of relief when we succeed, and my boyhood, but there were look to mend our ways when we changes. I went into Mass last fall short. weekend determined to show Last time I checked, CathoGod I could handle the change lics were considered human beings, although there are some on this crazy planet who would say otherwise. I think last Saturday and Sunday we proved we were, because boy, did we

By Dave Jolivet err!

As anyone who attended a Mass or watched one on televiflawlessly. sion last weekend knows, the Like most of my fellow Catholic Church implemented parishioners, I worshiped with the well-publicized changes to Mass card in hand, paying full the Roman Missal English transattention to the prayers and the lation. And because Catholics responses. I found myself payare human, we don’t adapt well ing greater attention to what was to change. So heading into Mass going on, and it felt good. last weekend, I felt an exhilaraI did hear a few stumbles tion, the call of a challenge. followed by grumbles along Mass has always been an the way. But I was steadfast in oasis from being pulled in every my determination not to join direction by the “real” world all them. Alas, I uttered “and also week long. It’s been a very long with you,” midway through the time since this oasis veered from Liturgy. “Drat,” I grumbled. its faithful course.

Emilie, Denise and I fared I vaguely remember the last very well, I thought, up through big change at the Mass back in the sign of peace. It was just bethe ’60s. As a young lad I do fore that when Emilie whispered remember the celebrant facing nervously, “Do we receive Comaway from the congregation, munion the same way?” I smiled but I’m not quite certain I recall and nodded affirmatively. But, the Mass in Latin. I frequently being the dad I am, I couldn’t reattended a French Mass so to me sist throwing her a curve ball at it could have easily been Latin the sign of peace. I reached over, or Greek or martian.

My View From the Stands

significant as a sign of our visible unity, but it can be rigid, doctrinal, and conformist. It can tend to dedicate all its energies to self-preservation. There are other tools to use in building the Kingdom.

Everything we do as Church flows from and returns to the celebration of Holy Mass. The reason we exist as Church is to worship God, otherwise we would not be a Church at all. The Sacraments mediate between Heaven and earth. They connect us to God. They are the signs and channels of grace for both the individual and the community. The Sacraments are the “glue” that hold us together. This is the reason there is a very serious moral obligation for the members of a faith community to gather

shook her hand and said “Pax.” Not letting go of my hand, she looked at me with a deer-in-theheadlights expression and said “What?”

I told her it meant peace in Latin, but it wasn’t part of the changes. “Don’t do that,” she retorted.

At the end of the Mass, our pastor, Father Richard Chretien, told the congregation that this was a big adjustment for all of us — parishioners and priests.

“It will take time,” he said in a fatherly manner. He admitted he, too, was nervous and he spent a good deal of time preparing for the inaugural weekend.

I felt comforted and encouraged by his few simple words, and I sensed my colleagues did as well. We all stood for the final blessing feeling good about ourselves. We were trying. “The Lord be with you,” said Father Chretien. Confidently and loudly 99.9 percent of us responded, “And also with you.”

The collective response evoked a hearty laugh from our pastor and when we realized our faux pas, we all burst into laughter. I have a feeling our Heavenly Father also got a chuckle out of that one.

But to me that was a God moment for all of us. There we were, around the Good Lord’s table, as brothers and sisters, enjoying our humanness, like a family. It was a great moment.

To err is human, and God doesn’t mind a bit.

together in the Eucharist on at least Sundays and Holy Days.

The celebration of Mass involves, in part, preaching and teaching the Gospel and, by extension, everything we do and say after the Mass is ended and we go in peace. We are sent into the world to proclaim the Gospel. Preaching and teaching the Gospel is of primary importance as we go about our lives in the world. This applies to priest and laity alike.

These tools of worship, preaching, and teaching are most important in the building up of the Kingdom of God on earth. They must be the most frequently used spiritual tools of both the universal and the local Church.

Like any tool, worshiping God and preaching the Gospel can be used incorrectly. In the case of worship, there can be a tendency towards self-centered piety. We might see ourselves standing alone before God, a kind of “me and Jesus” attitude.

Liturgy, by its very nature, is the action of the whole assembly, not just a collection of individuals who happen to be in the same place at the same time.

Preaching and teaching the Gospel can also be misused. In the common parlance, we can “talk the talk but not walk the walk.” Apostolic action can be neglected. Hypocrisy was the trait that Jesus so frequently criticized in the Pharisees of His day. Their actions did not match their words.

The opposite can also be true. As we are sent out into the world to serve the poor and the needy, we can become “all action.” We can spend our energies serving others beyond

our own faith community, and this is an admirable thing.

The problem is that Word and Sacrament must be at the center of all ministries. Ministry cannot stand alone and apart from faith. Without a foundation in Word and Sacrament, there is nothing unique and distinctive about the good works we may accomplish. We could just as well be a charity-based club or society. We do not have to be a Church to accomplish good things in the world.

Since the Second Vatican Council, there has been much stress on the Church as community, an emphasis on the shared life and fellowship in the faith. The image is that of the people of God. This realization has transformed the Church. It, too, can be misused.

We are pilgrims on the same journey, called to love one another but not necessarily to be best friends with everyone in our community. There is no perfect community this side of Heaven.

Recently the first-ever assembly of all group leaders, sponsored by the Parish Pastoral Council, was held here.

The parish leaders were asked: What is the mission of the Universal Church? How does this parish model itself as Church?

How can we better work together at evangelization, especially to young families?

That afternoon, our parish leaders discussed the matter for three hours. More meetings will be held. We will probably be working on the questions until the Kingdom comes.

Father Goldrick is pastor of St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dighton.

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The Anchor

December 2, 2011

Patience with new translation expected to pay dividends

Washington D.C. (CNA/ EWTN News) — November 27 was a historic Sunday for Englishspeaking Roman Catholics, who began using a long-awaited and more accurate Mass translation.

The change, however, involved its share of awkward moments.

“I think everybody experienced some awkwardness or stumbling,” said Father Daniel Merz, associate director of the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat for Divine Worship, noting a common thread in the reactions he received from across the country.

But those who “had either received some catechesis” in advance, “or had catechized themselves and were prepared for it, seem to have had a fairly positive reaction to the changes,” he told CNA. Many priests, he said, were trying to take the learning process “with a good sense of humor,” while encouraging parishioners to deepen their understanding and appreciation of worship through the newly-rendered prayers.

“We’re all going to be learning our way and stumbling for a little bit here, and that’s OK,” he said.

He expects the learning process will take “a couple of months” for those who attend Mass only on Sundays. Meanwhile, priests and daily Mass attendees may learn new habits — like giving the response “and with your spirit,” or confessing their “most grievous fault” in the penitential rite — more quickly.

“After Christmas, or by Lent hopefully, we’ll be in very good shape,” Father Merz predicted.

During the run-up to the translation’s debut, the U.S. bishops’ conference hailed it as a chance for Catholics “to deepen, nurture, and celebrate our faith through the renewal of our worship and the celebration of the sacred Liturgy.”

But even Chicago’s Cardinal Archbishop Francis E. George, past president of the conference, admitted that he “tripped up a couple of times,” due to the persistence of old liturgical habits.

“I found myself reverting back, and therefore I was a little bit upset at myself,” Cardinal George said in a November 27 homily, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Many in the pews had a similar experience, even with the assistance of handouts spelling out the changes. Even Father Merz acknowledged being caught offguard by one major change.

“The most noticeable and common change is from ‘And also with you,’ to ‘And with your spirit,’” said the liturgical director, who has been “gearing up for this (new translation) for a long time.”

“When I participated in Sunday Mass as a concelebrant, I gave that response back. But it’s a whole different feel. So it’s going to take a little getting used to.”

“I’m happy with that change — but nevertheless, it’s a change. It’ll take some adjustment.”

Many companies and publish-

ers, he noted, have produced materials explaining the changes that bring the English-language Mass more closely into line with the original Latin text.

Father Merz also welcomes feedback on the translation, even from those who might be feeling surprise or confusion.

“The response I’ve been giving is, if there are specific things that you didn’t understand or that disappointed you, let us know,” said the associate director for worship.

“We can work together to try and come to a better understanding.”

While it is not yet familiar, the new translation offers much to appreciate.

“People have said that they really appreciate the greater fidelity that the new prayers embody, and they like the more formal or ‘higher’ tone that it carries across. There is a sense of reverence and poetry there.”

Father Merz indicated that the learning process itself can be an opportunity to find out more about the faith, and grow closer to God. “Whenever I’ve given workshops, it’s not just been ‘Here are the changes,’ but ‘Here are the reasons behind the changes, and here’s some additional information about the meaning of this place in the Mass.’”

Several priests have told him that they intend to spent more time preaching about the meaning of Catholic worship, as a participation in Christ’s death and resurrec-

tion.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to do that,” he pointed out. “And I think that will make a big difference for people.”

Father Merz said the new translation also shows the continuity of Catholic tradition before and after the Second Vatican Council.

“Church historians have often said that it takes close to a century to fully implement an ecumenical council,” he noted. “As time goes on, we’re starting to understand the Second Vatican Council more fully.”

The norms guiding the translation were spelled out in the 2001

Vatican document “Liturgiam Authenticam,” which was itself inspired by the council’s decree on the liturgy, “Sacrosanctum Concilium.”

“The real vision of Vatican II, for us today, is a deepening and ‘interiorizing’ of our experience of liturgy,” Father Merz reflected.

The improved translation, he expects, will draw some estranged Catholics back to the Church.

“If there are people who were disappointed, or felt discouraged, that the translation before was less faithful, I think they have been encouraged to come back with this new translation,” he said.

Denver, Colo. (CNA/EWTN News) — After the switch to a new Mass translation, old liturgical books should be respectfully buried, either intact or after being burned, according to the U.S. bishops.

“Whether or not the Sacramentary has been blessed by an official rite, it is appropriate to treat it with care,” the bishops’ Secretariat for Divine Worship said in a recent response to several queries from U.S. Catholics. “Its disposal should be handled with respect.”

The bishops’ Liturgy office recommends “burying the Sacramentary in an appropriate location on church grounds, or perhaps in a parish cemetery,” after the switch to a new liturgical translation on November 27.

“Some have even suggested following a custom used in various Eastern churches,” they noted, “whereby liturgical books or Bibles are placed in the coffin of the deceased as a sign of devotion and love for the Liturgy.”

Some Catholics may be surprised to learn that it is appropriate — and even customary — to burn or bury old liturgical books and other religious items.

According to the U.S. bishops’ secretariat, the ashes of liturgical books should be collected and “placed in the ground in an appropriate location on church grounds.”

Catholic tradition offers these means of disposal in order to ensure that objects used in worship are not casually discarded or mistreated, even when they are no longer needed for use or reference.

The Liturgy office advised parishes to keep a copy of the old liturgical translations in their archives or libraries, after the switch to the Third Edition of the Roman Missal.

Hymnals and hand missals are also among the types of items that would traditionally be blessed, and should therefore be replaced respectfully after the changeover.

But the secretariat acknowledged it “might be difficult to appropriately dispose of a large number of copies of such books.”

If burning and burial are impractical, non-archived hymnals and hand missals “could be stored for use by prayer or study groups in the parish, offered to parishioners for their own private devotional use, or donated to other small communities that could effectively make use of them.”

For old Mass books, tradition decrees burial or ‘cremation’

December 2, 2011

The Anchor

Take note, parish choirs help lead the way to Christmas joy

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff

FAIRHAVEN — ’Tis the season of praise and worship of Jesus Christ, and nothing spreads Christmas faith more than Christmas music; and music directors from area parishes are working hard to create a balanced choice of hymns and carols that celebrate the Liturgy.

Steve Piazza, music director at St. Mary’s Parish in Fairhaven, sees himself as a facilitator, “the rudder on a ship. My job is to help the people participate in the Liturgy, especially around the holidays,” he said. “We may do one or two special pieces, but my focus is on traditional carols because I know during the holiday season there are so many people who don’t normally go to church will come to church, and I want them to be part of the community and be able to sing.”

Piazza has been part of the music program at St. Mary’s for more than 20 years and while his choices of songs have varied, there is one beloved carol that is always on his list.

“Everyone loves ‘Silent Night’ because it’s so traditional; it feels good. There’s a certain reverence to it. We usually do it right at the presentation of gifts because it is a solemn moment, people are quiet, and just something about it evokes a certain reverence about the place that we’re all sitting in,” said Piazza. “People come to church on the holidays, and they’re able to sing and recognize the songs. It’s my hope that this will inspire a lot of them who have fallen away to come back.”

Osvaldo Pacheco, music director at Santo Christo Parish in Fall River, has been part of the music program at the parish since 1979.

Then 18 years old, he helped establish a choir for the morning Portuguese Mass and by the mid-1980s became the music director. Even with no formal musical background — he is a computer engineer — his love of music transcended his lack of knowledge; and Pacheco credits his mentor, Irene Monty, with filling in the rest of the “notes” by teaching him how to read and teach music and guiding him towards the best resources to find new music.

“I had an incredible mentor in our organist, Irene Monty. She taught in the school system and her children are good musicians. She taught me everything I know today,” said Pacheco. “I attribute all of that to Mrs. Monty.

It was nerve-wracking to take the helm, especially when we were at the height of the choir and running close to 50 members.”

The number of choir members continues to hover around 50 and because of the large number, Pacheco works hard to keep his group in check during the Liturgy.

“The one thing I try not to do is make the choir, that music ministry, bigger than the Mass itself. We try to get across to our choir that we complement the Mass,” said Pacheco. “We’re not there to stand out as part of the Mass. As a choir, we are part of the assembly itself. We are encouraging the assembly to join us in song, to celebrate Mass and praise God.” In a parish that has strong Portuguese roots, Pacheco picks carols that are familiar with the English-speaking and the Portuguese-speaking cultures.

“We always include some of the traditional hymns and Christmas carols like, ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’ because it is one carol that is sung in multiple languages,” Pacheco said, such as English, Portuguese and Latin (“Adeste Fideles”); and the Portuguese carol, “Cristos, Alegria” meaning “Joy, oh Christians.”

“There are some traditional hymns that we sing that are familiar to both cultures,” added Pacheco. “The traditional Portuguese carols are really old and bring back a lot of memories for our older Portuguese community.”

Music is often the catalyst that brings home the message, and using music to spread the word allows the entire congregation to participate in the Liturgy.

“Obviously a Mass without music is so missing something,” said Piazza. “It’s through the music that people are able to participate more. Granted, they can participate through their responses to things the priest says; but something about the music, especially when the music touches them or relates to them in a certain way.”

Piazza added, “On the whole, I see my job as to try and foster growth in the community and to inspire people to want to come to church, to invite their friends and neighbors to come to church, and make church a good experience. To make it a good place to be, so that they can feel the love of the community.”

It’s a community of singers trying to inspire in a community a love for Jesus. Pacheco acknowledged that his choir is not unique, that all parish choirs are there to spread the message — even if choir members can barely read the music they are using to do it.

“Most of [my choir members] do not know how to read music but let me tell you, they put their heart and soul into learning songs, especially songs that are written in four parts,” said Pacheco.

Long rehearsal times reflect the devotion to learning the music, but when it is performed, “the outcome, by putting their heart and soul into it by wanting to learn it, it just sounds beautiful,” said Pacheco. “I give them a lot of credit. They accept the challenge to learn something that is foreign to them, and the end result proves that they’re really into it. You can see it in their faces and in the way they’re expressing themselves in song, that they’re really enjoying the moment. They’re spirit-filled, that they’re there in complete praise to God. It’s enjoyable just listening to them sing.”

And by seeing the joy in the singers, the emotion can spread to the congregation. Piazza may work with a small number of choir members, but his goal is to hear every parish member raise his or her voice up in song.

“My ultimate goal is to have the entire church be the choir, to have everyone singing,” said Piazza. “I’m a servant; I’m not there to do a concert or to show off how great I can play or sing. I’m there to serve those people and to help them to worship, and that’s always been my focus in that ministry.

I pray before Mass and I always ask God for two things: please help me to not be afraid when I’m playing, and please help me to serve and touch somebody.”

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The Anchor

December 2, 2011

Vatican newspaper concludes Shakespeare was secret Catholic

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — There is “little doubt” that William Shakespeare was a Catholic who was forced to hide his faith in Protestant England while leaving hints about his faith throughout his vast body of work, said an opinion piece in the Vatican newspaper.

Taking a cue from renewed speculation about Shakespeare’s true identity sparked by the film “Anonymous,” L’Osservatore Romano wrote, “There may be questions regarding his identity, but not his religious faith.”

The November 18 op-ed piece said that this view was at least partly shared by the leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury, who said in a debate at a literary festival last May that Shakespeare “probably had a Catholic background and had Catholic friends.”

It also pointed out that shortly after the Bard of Avon’s recorded death in 1616, Anglican Archdeacon Richard Davies wrote, “He died a papist,” a pejorative term Protestants used to refer to Catholics.

The editorial said that while there is legitimate debate about who was truly behind the Shakespeare name, “there is little doubt about another question regarding the life of Shakespeare: his convinced adherence to the Catholic faith.”

Shakespeare’s work, it said, “is full of open references to the Catholic religion.” These references are especially evident in the play “Hamlet,” it said.

The editorial also said the argument that Shakespeare lived a life “fleeing and denouncing the bloody persecution that Elizabethan England inflicted on its subjects that were following the beliefs of their fathers” was worthy of further serious study.

Jennifer Pierce’s continuing series, “Hidden Shakespeare” is exploring these Catholic roots of the famous bard.

Father Thomas Kocik’s 2005 Anchor series “Loving and Living the Mass” Revised and Expanded Second Edition Based on New English Translation

Published by Zaccheus Press Excellent for Christmas Gifts To order visit www.ZaccheusPress.com or call 1-970-416-6672

they’re back — Amy Adams and Jason Segel are seen with puppet characters in the movie “The Muppets.” For a brief review of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS photo/ Disney)

CNS Movie Capsules

NEW YORK (CNS) — The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by CNS. “Arthur Christmas” (Columbia) This mostly delightful 3-D animated comedy equips Santa Claus (voice of Jim Broadbent) with a stealth ship, GPS navigation and battalions of ninja-like elves to fulfill the mission of delivering 2 billion gifts each Christmas Eve. Santa’s ambitious elder son (voice of Hugh Laurie) runs the sophisticated global distribution network. Decidedly more low-tech is his younger brother (voice of James McAvoy) — the titular character — whose task is to answer, by hand, all the letters Santa receives from children.

When disaster strikes in the form of an undelivered present, Santa’s aged father (voice of Bill Nighy) joins forces with the junior sibling to come to the rescue, and the duo rockets off on one last mission.

Although it has absolutely nothing to do with the true meaning of the Nativity, first-time director Sarah Smith’s film does offer a good commentary on the commercialization of the holiday and the importance of family, loyalty and being faithful to one’s promise. Some rude humor and cartoonish thrills. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

“Hugo” (Paramount) This family-oriented 3-D fable, set in 1930s Paris, follows the adventures of a 12-year-old orphan (Asa Butterfield) who lives in one of the capital’s great train stations.

To avoid being shipped off to an

orphanage by the merciless officer responsible for the terminal’s security (Sacha Baron Cohen), the mechanically gifted lad clandestinely carries on the work of the drunken uncle (Ray Winstone) in whose custody he was left, but who has since disappeared, by keeping all the clocks on the premises ticking.

In his spare time, he struggles to repair a mysterious automaton he and his beloved father had been tinkering with before the latter’s death.

His search for the necessary spare parts brings him into contact with the embittered owner (Ben Kingsley) of a toy shop and with the merchant’s adopted daughter (Chloe Grace Moretz), a vivacious girl he swiftly befriends. Adapted from Brian Selznick’s best-seller “The Invention of Hugo Cabret,” director Martin Scorsese’s paean to the City of Lights, the human imagination and — via plot developments concerning the shopkeeper’s mysterious past — the pioneers of early cinema casts a charming spell.

Only fleeting passages of dialogue touching on adult matters and some mild misbehavior hinder recommendation for all. A few mature references, occasional peril, some implicitly endorsed petty lawbreaking. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is

PG — parental guidance suggested.

“The Muppets” (Disney) Jim Henson’s singing, dancing, wise-cracking puppets return to the big screen in an old-fashioned and genuinely funny film, which will appeal to nostalgic baby boomers even as it introduces a new generation to the decidedly low-tech felt figures for whom charm is a strong suit. The story centers on a good-hearted small town guy (Jason Segel) and his brother (voice of Peter Linz) who, as it happens, is a Muppet. While on a trip to Los Angeles, the siblings — accompanied by the human brother’s girlfriend (Amy Adams) — stumble upon the designs of a wicked oil baron (Chris Cooper), who wants to tear down the derelict studios where “The Muppet Show” was once taped and drill for oil. Unless, that is, $10 million can be raised in just two days. The gang locates Kermit the Frog (voice of Steve Whitmire) and persuades him to round up his former colleagues for a telethon.

Under the direction of newcomer James Bobin, several catchy songs and exuberant dance numbers add to the fun for the entire family. The Catholic News Service classification is A-I — general patronage.

The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, December 4, 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Msgr. Stephen J. Avila, pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Mansfield

December 2, 2011

The Anchor

13

Penn State crisis shows sex abuse pervasive in U.S. society, many say LEVITTOWN, Pa. (CNS) — The child sexual abuse crisis at Penn State University brings into focus the harsh reality that the problem is pervasive in U.S. society, according to experts in the field and Church officials.

Former defensive coach Jerry Sandusky has been charged with sexually assaulting eight boys over a 15-year span. Other college officials have been indicted for a failure to respond appropriately to reports that Sandusky was seen engaging in sexual behavior with children recruited through his connection with a children’s charity.

The school fired football coach Joe Paterno, who was in his 46th year, and the university president for not doing enough to act on reports of the alleged abuse.

Linda L. Dunlap, a psychology professor at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., said if the 84-year-old Paterno had “just been some coach at some college somewhere,” and not a coach with such a stellar reputation, the Penn State case might have made the local news, but not drawn national attention.

Such abuse of children “is not happening more with coaches than with other groups,” Dunlap said; most abusers are family members.

The news of Penn State’s problems “has reopened a wound in the Church as well,” New York Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan said November 14 at a news conference in Baltimore during the bishops’ fall general assembly.

“It shows the scourge (of sex abuse) is not limited to any one faith and certainly not limited to priests,” said the president of the U.S. bishops’ conference. “It’s in organizations, in universities, all over the place, in families and, yes, in priests.”

Archbishop Dolan said the Church’s own sex abuse scandal “makes us a little timid about wanting to give advice — glass houses and all that.”

But he said the Church’s experience with providing safe environment training to help children and their parents, as well as clergy and Church volunteers, become more aware of the warning signs of child sex abuse has been “phenomenally advantageous” over the past decade.

“We’ve got a long way to go, but we have made major strides,” he said.

The Penn State situation makes everyone aware that “we’re looking at a societal issue,” agreed Deacon Bernie Nojadera, executive director of the U.S. Catholic bishops’ Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection.

The Church’s response — in line with the bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” first adopted in 2002 and revised in 2005 and last June — focuses on reporting, putting the children’s needs first and ongoing education, Deacon Nojadera told Catholic News Service.

“Education has been absolutely key”

to giving parents and children a voice, he said. “Anyone working with a vulnerable population” should absolutely know about ways to prevent abuse and how to report abuse if they suspect or witness it. “Our children should know that they are safe and protected.”

What the Church specifically has to offer, Deacon Nojadera said, is that “we realized we made mistakes” in the past “and we’re learning from those mistakes.”

The Church also is aware, he said, that simply acknowledging past mistakes doesn’t mean the need for action is past, or ever will be past.

“Vigilance (remains) paramount, and the call is for everyone to be vigilant in this matter.”

Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Spokane, Wash., immediate past chairman of the bishops’ Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People, agreed that the work of the Church, especially the “causes and context” study done in conjunction with the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, has shown the abuse of children is a problem throughout society.

The situation at Penn State, where college officials to whom the abuse was reported failed to follow through with investigation and report to law enforcement even after all the publicity, he said, is “stunning — that they didn’t see it (the scandals in the Catholic Church) as a wake-up call.”

The bishop said a complete, organic safe environment program must be in place, including background checks, clear guidelines for reporting abuse, and the education of children and adults about what is and isn’t appropriate behavior with children and young people.

“This work is never over. We have to create a culture where kids come first,” he said.

Al Notzon of San Antonio, chairman of the bishops’ National Review Board, also addressed the importance of reporting abuse. “You report it when you see it, and you report it to law enforcement,” he told CNS. It also should be reported within the organization involved, but must be reported to legal authorities.

Charol Shakeshaft, professor and chair of the Department of Educational Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University, was an early researcher in the area of sexual abuse of children in public schools.

She said the first thing the Penn State staff should have learned from the Catholic Church’s experience was to “report immediately.”

Too often, she said, reports are made within institutions but go nowhere. Despite any concerns for the reputation of the institution or individuals, she said, “when you do start to disclose, disclose fully and honestly.”

Preventing abuse in the first place is the most important thing, Shakeshaft

said, and being aware that a seemingly kind, good person may be an abuser.

In fact, several experts note that abusers are often seen as the most popular, generous, congenial people in a group — characteristics that give them access to children.

According to Shakeshaft, many organizations have a protocol that keeps the mandated reporting of suspected child abuse within the organization, as happened at Penn State.

But, she said, “when you see a child being abused, you are witnessing a crime, and you call the police.” Just as with any other crime, “if you view it, if it’s reported to you, you call the police.”

She said progress has been made in preventing child abuse, including good training programs, some of them developed within the Catholic Church; taking the problem seriously; and wider reporting of offenses. But the Penn State case, she said, shows us how much further we still have to go.

Any place where there are children, she said, there’s likely to be sexual

abuse, because “people who sexually abuse kids go to places where there are children.”

As Notzon put it, “healthy adults do not socialize one-on-one with children,” and there should be no relationships that involve keeping secrets from the child’s parents or from supervisory personnel.

Other examples of boundary violations mentioned by experts included such things as a teacher having breakfast alone with a child before school, giving a child his or her personal cell phone number, driving alone in a car with a child to a school sports event, or giving a child a valuable gift.

Training must be ongoing, Notzon said, because there are always new children, coaches, teachers, priests and volunteers coming into the system, and organizations have to keep monitoring and evaluating their policies.

“Every institution in society” has to look at everything they are doing with a focus on children, he said. “We’ve got to protect them.”

Visit The Anchor online at http://www.anchornews.org

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The Anchor

Diocese offers Bible sharing for all ages continued from page one

es, to how you read Scripture. It’s more of praying with Scripture than studying the word of God. There are some elements of that, particularly when questions do arise, but that’s not the focus.”

Sister Frances Thomas, assistant director of the Catechesis and Formation Office of the Fall River Diocese, spearheaded the Bible sharing program for adults a few years ago. When requests were made to hold an adult session closer to Cape Cod, Claire McManus, the director of the Faith Formation Office of the Fall River Diocese, took up the call and will be hosting a six-week program at St. Pius X Parish in South Yarmouth starting in January. Medeiros oversees the young adults, and will also begin a teen-age session next April.

Using a series published by Loyola Press entitled, “Six Weeks with the Bible,” each gathering is designed around a relaxing environment with a reading from the Bible.

“The more people who actively read the actual Scriptures versus snippets, the better it is going to be,” said Medeiros, who feels these types of programs are critical. “It’s a hunger that’s out there; people want to read it, they just don’t know how. I think the more that we can offer things like this, particularly as introductory programs, the better for them and the more confident they will become in sharing Scripture and sharing their faith.”

That feeling is shared by Mary Vasconcellos. The 28-year-old member of Espirito Santo Parish in Fall River attended the first young adult six-week session, and found the teaching style different from studies she had done at other parishes.

“We’re able to read about it, study and learn it, and also express how we feel about it. This one feels different because it’s not so ‘class-

room’ like; everybody gets to express how he or she feels. You get to learn more about different people and what they think,” said Vasconcellos, adding that each participant also journals what he or she learns, something she appreciates.

“You really have to stop and think what it means to you. You don’t really get that chance if you’re reading the Bible at home.”

Twenty-six-year old Elyse Sackal, a teacher who is part of the Providence Alliance Catholic Teachers program, has attended other study groups and was part of the initial young adult six-week session held a few weeks ago. She recalls a past meeting that was focused on forgiveness and “how we were able to connect those things in the Gospel,” she said. “We were really able to connect it with our lives.”

Sackal added, “I find that there is not a lot for young adults in regards to Bible studies. This was nice because it’s not specifically a study; however, you reflect on the Scriptures and you’re not doing that alone. It’s nice to do it alone sometimes, but it’s also nice to get other people’s feedback who might view it differently, or take something else that you might not have thought of out of the Scriptures. It’s really nice to open your mind in other ways of looking and praying the Scripture.”

If you would like more information, please contact the Office of Faith Formation at 508-6782828.

There is a $20 charge to cover the cost of the resource book, workbook and other materials.

Bible sharing sessions are offered in three locations: St. John Neumann Parish in East Freetown, St. Pius X Parish in South Yarmouth and the Catholic Education Center in Fall River. It is open to all those interested, from adults, young adults and teens.

December 2, 2011

Holy Ghost crown, scepter stolen from shrine

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

FALL RIVER — It’s not often that detectives with the Fall River Police Department are sent ghost hunting, but that’s exactly what they’re doing this week as they attempt to locate a stolen Holy Ghost crown and scepter that were taken from St. Anne’s Shrine located at 818 Middle Street.

The silver crown and scepter — traditional Portuguese icons that represent the culture’s devotion to the Holy Ghost and hearken back to Queen Elizabeth, who ruled Portugal in the early 1300s — were apparently stolen from the downstairs shrine overnight between November 27 and 28.

“They were taken sometime overnight between Sunday and Monday,” said Father Marc H. Bergeron, pastor of St. Anne’s Parish. “We generally have the shrine open all day and lock it up at night, but they break in anyway.

It makes me wonder whether it would be better to just leave it open all the time.”

The pilfered items were displayed inside a glass case, according to Father Bergeron, not so much as a security measure, but to keep the crown and scepter from getting dusty and to protect the silver from tarnishing.

“It was a gift from the Holy Ghost Feast Committee

that we received about 15 years ago,” Father Bergeron said. “Whoever stole it broke the top of the glass case and removed it.”

Police also discovered a broken stained-glass window at the shrine that was likely the point of entry. Detectives also found a wallet and identification inside the shrine after the break-in and they are looking into the owner as a possible person of interest.

This is not the first time religious items have been stolen from St. Anne’s Shrine. In May of 2009, an unknown person took the crown of thorns that was openly displayed near a statue of Jesus Christ inside the shrine.

The item was never recovered.

Given these difficult economic times, Father Bergeron said whoever was responsible for the theft is likely looking to cash it in or pawn it off to make some quick money.

“It could have been taken by a religious fanatic, but I doubt it,” Father Bergeron said. “In all reality, it’s probably in someone’s arm or up someone’s nose by now. It’s really a very distinctive item … so I think it would be difficult to pawn off.”

Anyone with information about the break-in or the stolen items is asked to contact the Major Crimes Division of the Fall River Police Department at 508-3242796 or the department tips line at 508-672-8477.

TV campaign invites Catholics to come back home continued from page one

200 dioceses around the United States. The commercials are slated to air about 400 times in English and Spanish.”

While the timing coincides with the Christmas season, when many who don’t regularly go to Mass will make an effort to attend, Peterson said there were other reasons for opting to air the commercials at this time.

“Actually, that’s the time when the advertising rates are the lowest, and yet TV viewing is the highest,” Peterson told The Anchor.

“That time in between the holidays — from Christmas through New Years — is also when families get together and find themselves sitting together watching TV. If you start too early, I think the message will be lost; but that’s about the time people really start thinking about Christmas and coming back to church. To me, it’s the perfect time to invite them home.”

With a national economic outlook that remains rather bleak, Peterson said he also senses the work of the Holy Spirit in getting the commercials aired at this juncture.

“It’s always a good time to put out the invitation to come home to Jesus and His Church, but with the economic challenges and tumult in the world today, I think it’s ideal,” Peterson said. “I find that when people are down on their luck, they’re more likely to be down on their knees. When we feel as humans we’ve got everything in line, our pride often leads us away from God. But when we find things are more challenging and we’ve tried everything else, sometimes people are more open to God.” According to a recent CARA Catholic Poll, only 33 percent of U.S. Catholics attend weekly Mass.

That means about 42.7 million —

or two-thirds — of U.S. Catholics are not going to Mass. The number of Americans identifying themselves as non-religious/secular increased 110 percent from 1990 to 2000, now 13.2 percent of the total population.

The average American spends 38 hours per week consuming media, with TV and the Internet being the top two choices.

Since its founding 15 years ago, Catholics Come Home has been working to promote the Catholic Church within targeted dioceses and bring those who have drifted from the Church back into the fold.

“It was the product of a calling I had on a retreat in front of the Eucharist,” Peterson said. “I had kind of an epiphany of faith. God had given me an interest in advertising and I thought I should use it to serve the Church. Catholics Come Home was born shortly thereafter.”

Peterson said his organization mounted its first local television campaign in Phoenix, Ariz. in 1998, just before the Jubilee 2000 year.

“It was amazing,” he said.

“Thousands of people came back to church, they came to open houses and registered as parishioners, and that’s how it all began. Since that time we’ve been serving 34 dioceses from Boston to Seattle, from Chicago to Sacramento, from New Orleans to Omaha.”

Although it’s difficult to know for sure how many Catholics have returned to the faith thanks to the ads, Peterson said his best-guess estimate would be more than 300,000 people. Where the commercials have aired, Mass attendance increased an average of 10 percent.

“Those numbers are hard to quantify, but it looks like wonderful things have happened,” he said.

“And many of those returning Catholics tend to tithe more, they tend to volunteer more, and they go to Mass on a regular basis. We’re seeing incredible fruit.”

Peterson said priests have also displayed a renewed vigor in their vocations and their confessionals are full.

“One priest had 16 people show up for confession the first week the ad aired in his city, some who had been away from the Church as long as 35 years,” Peterson said.

“These commercials are a catalyst — they’re not a panacea, they’re not a cure-all — but they’re a catalyst to get us working together as a family. We have a wonderful 2,000year history and, as the commercial says, we’re the Church that Jesus started Himself.”

The new 30-second spot will be airing on CBS, NBC, Univision, TBS, USA, TNT, CNN and FoxNews and will be shown during prime-time shows like “NCIS,” “60 Minutes,” “The NBC Nightly News,” “The Today Show” and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”

“We also bought a package where we’ll be on all of the major college bowl games and championships,” Peterson added. “It’s going to be fun. There are probably more than 35,000 people who have contributed to make this happen over the last five years. We’ve had the support, prayers and donations of a whole lot of good parishioners all around the country, including many in Massachusetts.

“This will be the largest family reunion in modern history.”

For more information or to view the new Catholics Come Home television commercial, visit www.catholicscomehome. org/advent (English) or www. catolicosregresen.org (Spanish).

December 2, 2011

U.S. priest serving at doctrinal congregation is new nuncio to Ireland

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI has named U.S. Msgr. Charles J. Brown, a longtime official of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, as the new apostolic nuncio to Ireland. With the appointment, he was named archbishop of the titular See of Aquileia.

The appointment, announced by the Vatican November 26, comes at a delicate moment in Vatican-Irish relations. In July, the Vatican recalled its previous nuncio, Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza, after Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and others sharply criticized the Vatican’s handling of clerical abuse.

In early November, the Irish

government announced it was closing its embassy to the Holy See for economic reasons, although keeping diplomatic relations open.

Archbishop-elect Brown, a 52-year-old priest of the Archdiocese of New York, has worked since 1994 in the doctrinal congregation, which was headed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger until his election as pope in 2005. As nuncio, he will act as the Holy See’s ambassador to Ireland and will also serve as a liaison with the Catholic Church community there.

Vatican officials said it was unusual to appoint a non-diplomat to such a position. Some observ-

American Catholics celebrate Thanksgiving in Rome

Rome, Italy (CNA/EWTN News) — More than 500 students, staff and guests gathered at the Pontifical North American College in Rome today to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. “For an American in Rome this is the place to be on Thanksgiving,” said seminarian John Connaughton of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn.

“And to be here with my brother seminarians, well, there’s actually no place I’d rather be on Thanksgiving — besides with my family.”

More than 300 students and staff were joined by 30 bishops from New York who are in Rome for their “ad limina” visit.

“Well, we can celebrate Thanksgiving any place,” said Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio of Brooklyn, when asked how it feels to mark the American holiday in Italy.

“It’s a national day when we remember all the blessing we’ve received as a people — the origins, the pilgrims, the Indians — and go

back to that love-fest at our beginnings as I think it formed the idea of our nation, that we should be a people at peace with everyone.”

The festivities began with the celebration of Mass in the college chapel where the main celebrant was Cardinal Francis George of Chicago. The homily meanwhile was delivered by Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York, a former student and rector of the North American College.

“A blessed Thanksgiving to all of you,” he wished to all present before reminding them of St. Augustine of Hippo’s contention that “gratitude is the first step to holiness,” as from gratitude, said St. Augustine, comes humility.

Speaking to CNA, Archbishop Dolan recalled his student years at the college between 1972 and 1976 and how he had never celebrated Thanksgiving “with more fervor and more gusto than I did when I was here in Rome.”

ers pointed to the fact that the doctrinal congregation has overall responsibility over cases of clerical sex abuse of minors, and said the Vatican appears to expect the nuncio to play a key role in the healing of the scandal.

Reaction to the appointment was generally favorable in the Irish media. The Irish Times said in an editorial that the new nuncio would arrive with two major advantages over his predecessors.

“As an Irish American he will have an intuitive understanding of the Catholic people of this state and of this island. As a man who has served at the (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) for 17 years he will be deeply familiar with the issue that has plagued the Irish Catholic Church for almost two decades,” it said.

Born Oct. 13, 1959, in New York, Archbishop-elect Brown graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1981, where he majored in history. He holds graduate degrees in theology from Oxford University, in medieval studies from the University of Toronto and in sacramental theology from the Pontifical Athenaeum Sant’Anselmo in Rome.

He was ordained a priest in 1989 in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, and served from 198991 as vicar at St. Brendan’s parish in the Bronx. He came to the doctrinal congregation in 1994, working in the doctrinal section, and in 2004 also became an adjunct secretary of the International Theological Commission.

He has visited the Diocese of Fall River on various occasions, spending time with relatives on Cape Cod and celebrating Mass at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis.

catholic social services FALL RIVER 1600 BAY ST. P.O. BOX M SO. STA. 508-674-4681

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Creation is not man’s property, pope teaches as Advent begins

Vatican City (CNA/ EWTN News) — Advent offers a chance to remember that all things belong to God, Pope Benedict XVI told pilgrims in his Angelus address on November 27.

“In reality, the true ‘owner’ of the world is not man but God,” said the pope to the thousands gathered in St. Peters Square on the first Sunday of Advent.

The pope reflected on the day’s scripture reading in which the Prophet Isaiah tells God there is “none who calls upon Your name, who rouses himself to cling to You; for You have hidden Your face from us and have delivered us up to our guilt.”

“How can we not be impressed by this description?” asked Pope Benedict, who spoke of its relevance to today’s world.

The prophet’s description “seems to reflect certain views of the postmodern world where life becomes anonymous and horizontal,” he said, “where God seems absent and man is the only master, as if he was the creator and director of everything: construction, employment, economy, transport, science, technology, everything seems to de-

pend on man alone.”

In such a world, the pope indicated, God can even appear to have “withdrawn” when catastrophe strikes.

It is for this reason, he said, that Jesus reminds believers to “be watchful” and “alert,” in the day’s Gospel reading.

The pope said Christ’s words were “a salutary reminder to us that life has not only the earthly dimension, but is looking forward to ‘a beyond’ as a seedling that sprouts from the earth and opens up to the sky.”

Each person must be alert toward eternity, because he is “endowed with freedom and responsibility,” and will “be called to account for how he has lived, how he used his abilities: if he kept them to themselves or put them to use for the benefit of his brothers and sisters.”

While entering a new liturgical year and heading toward Christmas, the pope said, “let us heed the message in today’s Gospel by entering prayerfully into this holy season, so that we may be ready to greet Jesus Christ, who is God with us.”

He wished the pilgrims a “good Sunday,” before giving his apostolic blessing.

Revised and updated ...

2011-2012 Diocese of Fall River Catholic Directory ... Now Shipping!

Published by The Anchor Publishing Company P.O. Box 7, Fall River, Massachusetts 02722 Please ship _____ directories x $18 each, including shipping and handling. Total Enclosed $_____ NAME ____________________________________________ ADDRESS _________________________________________ CITY _____________________ STATE _______ ZIP _____ Please make checks payable to “Anchor Publishing” For more information, email theanchor@anchonews.org, call 508-675-7151, or order online at www.anchornews.org

16

Youth Pages

LITTLE HANDS, BIG HEARTS — “Pilgrims and Indians” gathered together for this year’s Thanksgiving Mass at St. Mary’s Parish in Fairhaven. The youngest members of the parish dressed in bonnets, hats and feathered headbands and brought in non-perishable goods to be donated to a local pantry. During the celebration, the goods were placed in buckets located in front of the altar and blessed by the parish’s pastor, Father Patrick Killilea.

December 2, 2011

bold statement — On November 19, Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro earned three state championships. Captains of the winning teams posed for a photo with their trophies as they returned home to Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro.

From left, girls’ swim team captains: Caroline Steiner, Caitlin Schofield, Karly Laliberte; boys’ cross country captains: Michael Green, Jeff Vogel, Michael Wood; and girls’ cross country captains: Erin Svensen, Kathleen Powell, and Leah Arsenault.

a day at the beach — Students at Holy Trinity Regional School in West Harwich recently enjoyed a full day of activity after their Walk-a-thon/Fitness Day. The event help raise funds for their school in combination with a fitness awareness day.

faith friends — Holy Name School eighth-grader (from left) Nathaniel Diniz and Adam Dellicker, work with their kindergarten “prayer partners” as part of the Fall River school’s program to mentor the younger students in a deeper appreciation of God and their faith.

fowl shots — At St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro, students participated in a Turkey Shoot during physical education class. Students donated either two canned goods or $1 for a chance at 10 foul shots. One person from each grade was dubbed the “Turkey Shoot Champion.” All the proceeds benefited the St. Vincent de Paul Thanksgiving Baskets.

Shown here shooting the basketball is fifth-grader, Madeleine Bessette, while Mrs. Bradley and Merissa Robertson look on. More than 10 baskets of canned goods and $80 were collected.

rice dinner — The Class of 2013 of Coyle and Cassidy High School in Taunton recently observed a day of fast in recognition of World Hunger Day. Participants chose to donate their lunch money and opt for a simple rice meal that simulates that which is eaten in third-world countries. Here Jeff Montinard receives his rice serving from Kelsey Almeida.

Youth Pages

December 2, 2011

I

Advent waiting

’m not a big fan of waitcountdown to Christmas. But ing. Patience is not a wait, Advent begins before virtue that has been perfected December 1. What happened in me. For example, as I was to those first days of Addriving to Boston yesterday, vent? How did we lose them?

I had a very cautious, or very We lost track of those days confused, driver in front of because our Advent focus has me, who couldn’t decide become so blurred. Preparing which lane to be in so he to celebrate the anniversary of had a wheel in both. I became so aggravated that I was yelling out loud in my car and getting myself all worked up — which achieved nothing positive. I’m

By Jean Revil not very good at waiting for problems to be solved, for anticipated events to arrive, for drivers to choose a lane. And the birth of Christ is only one here we are in the season of piece of the picture. The true waiting, but what are we wait- waiting spirit of Advent lies in ing for? the anticipation of the second If we look at the typical coming of Christ. We need to Advent calendar, it would get ready! appear that we are waiting to The colors of Advent are celebrate Christmas — which purple and pink, not red and on many calendars has been green. An Advent wreath reduced to Santa, snowmen, is the appropriate symbol gifts, and counting down for these four weeks, not a the 25 Days of December.

Christmas tree or a Santa.

In “Googleing” images of The stores don’t acknowledge Advent calendars, of the 232 the season of Advent, but we calendars that appeared on Catholics should! It’s a time page one, only eight of them to slow down and take stock were religious in nature. Of of our lives. It’s a time to the eight, only one included choose some acts of penthe colors of Advent and the ance that we could incorpopicture of an Advent wreath. rate into our preparation for All of the calendars begin on Christ, not just for Christmas, December 1 and are used as a but for Christ. It’s time to

Be Not Afraid

make a thorough examination of conscience and a good confession. This should be paramount in our Advent preparation.

While we make room in our homes for the tree, we need to focus on making maximum room in our hearts for Christ.

While we prepare to give gifts to our loved ones, we must continue to prepare the gift of our lives and make of ourselves an offering to God. And while we maneuver through the crowds in the stores, we must keep awake, keep alert, watching and waiting for the coming of the Messiah.

We don’t know the day or the hour. Advent is the season of penance and preparation so that we can be more ready. He is coming, of that we are sure.

Let’s not rush through Advent preparing all of the externals and neglect the all-important internal preparations and the grace that comes from truly celebrating this season of Advent. It’s not just about waiting. It’s about getting ready, inside and out, because Christ is coming.

Jean Revil teaches theology and is campus minister at Bishop Stang High School.

Comments welcome at: jrevil@bishopStang.com.

Right for Life — At St. Joseph’s School in Fairhaven, Mrs. Vincent’s fourth-grade class along with Mrs. Decas’ second-grade class got together and had an afternoon of creating quilt squares.

With the help of the seventh- and eighth-grade classes the students produced enough squares to put together four quilts. The quilts will be donated to the Birthright of New Bedford organization.

17 The Anchor is always pleased to run news and photos about our diocesan youth.

If schools or parish Religious Education programs, have newsworthy stories and photos they would like to share with our readers, send them to: schools@anchornews.org

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The Anchor

Around the Diocese 12/2

The Fall River Area Men’s First Friday Club will meet today at the Parish of the Good Shepherd, 1598 South Main Street, Fall River. Following the 6 p.m. Mass celebrated by Father Freddie Babiczuk, there will be a hot meal in the church hall. The speaker is Father Babiczuk who will go over the changes to the Mass. Any gentleman wishing to attend may do so. Call Norman Valiquette at 508-672-8174 for reservations or with any questions.

12/3

The Christ the King Parish Women’s Club will host its annual Christmas Bazaar tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parish hall, Mashpee Commons, Mashpee. The event will include crafts and gift items for sale, a children’s shopping room, holiday greens arrangements, and face painting and games for the children. For information call 508-477-7700.

12/3

The Catholic high schools in the Fall River Diocese will accept applications and administer an entrance exam for new students t omorrow. Students should arrive by 7:45 a.m. with testing to begin at 8 a.m. at Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River; Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro; Pope John Paul II High School in Hyannis; Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth; and Coyle-Cassidy High School in Taunton. The examination and application procedure will last until approximately 11:30 a.m.

12/4

Sung Vespers will be held at 7 p.m. on Sunday at St. John the Baptist Church, 945 Main Road in Westport. To mark the Advent season in a special way, the parish will be singing the Liturgy of the Hours in preparation for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord.

12/5

The annual Deacon Joseph Stanley Mass of Hope and Remembrance For Our Children will be celebrated December 5 at 11:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Victory Church in Centerville. The Mass is for bereaved parents who have experienced the loss of a child in pregnancy, infancy, sudden death, illness, accident, murder or suicide. All are welcome to share the memory. Refreshments will follow. For information call 508-775-5744 or email jeanmarie.fraser@gmail.com.

12/8

On December 8, in celebration of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, public adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will take place in the chapel of the Father Peyton Center, 518 Washington Street, Easton. The day begins with the Rosary at 9 a.m. and will be followed by eucharistic adoration until 11:45 a.m. Mass follows at noon in St. Joseph Chapel. For additional information call 508-238-4095.

12/10

The Ladies Guild of St. Mary’s Parish in South Dartmouth will host its greens, baked goods and malassadas sale on December 10 from 1 to 6 p.m. and again on December 11 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Christmas centerpieces, cakes, and cookies will be on sale the first day with free coffee while malassadas will be on sale December 11 only. For more information call 508-993-5716.

12/11

Good Shepherd Parish, 1598 South Main Street in Fall River, will be holding its annual Christmas Concert and Supper on December 11 at 4 p.m. Music will be provided by the parish’s combined choirs that will perform in English and Portuguese. Supper will be roast turkey and holiday ham along with Portuguese stuffing and mashed potatoes.

Tickets can be obtained by calling 508-678-7412 or visiting the website www. gsfallriver.com.

12/12

The South Attleboro Knights of Columbus will host a “Keep Christ in Christmas” concert with Father Pat on December 12 at 6 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 304 Highland Avenue (Route 123) in South Attleboro. All are invited to attend and free coffee and pastry will be served. Non-perishable food donations will be accepted.

12/15

The Charismatic Prayer Group of Holy Trinity Parish, West Harwich, will host an Advent Celebration on December 15 at 7:30 p.m. in Damien Hall. The evening will begin with praise and worship followed by an Advent presentation by Deacon Frank Fantasia of Christ the King Parish in Mashpee. Join this opportunity to praise the Lord in song, worship Him, and share His Word. For information call 508-432-8149 or 508-430-0014.

12/15

after the Mass.

A Healing Mass will be celebrated at St. Anne’s Church, 818 Middle Street, Fall River, on December 15 beginning with the Rosary at 6 p.m., followed by Benediction and healing prayers

Vatican to welcome Christmas with carols this year

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican is planning to sing its way into the Christmas season this year, with a chorus and orchestra leading Christmas carols at the annual unveiling of its Nativity scene.

The hourlong evening ceremony December 24 will feature traditional Christmas songs in several languages, performed by a 100-person choir and orchestra in St. Peter’s Square.

The Vatican is arranging for worldwide television broadcasts of the event, according to Archbishop Claudio Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. He described it as a “sung meditation” on Christmas.

As usual, Pope Benedict XVI is expected to bless the gathering from his apartment window above the square.

Vatican workers were already building this year’s Nativity scene, which features larger-thanlife statues of the Holy Family and the Magi, plus new elements each year.

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks Dec. 3 Rev. John W. McCarthy, P.R., Pastor, Sacred Heart, Fall River, 1926 Dec. 4 Rev. Patrick Byrne, Pastor, St. Mary, New Bedford, 1844 Rev. Charles Ouellette, Assistant, St. Jacques, Taunton, 1945 Rev. Edward C. Duffy, Pastor, St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis, 1994 Dec. 5 Rev. Eugene J. Boutin, Manchester Diocese, 1986 Rev. Coleman Conley, SS.CC., Chaplain, Sacred Heart Home, New Bedford, 1990 Dec. 6 Rev. Joseph L. Cabral, Pastor, Our Lady of the Angels, Fall River, 1959 Rt. Rev. Msgr. John H. Hackett, JCD, Chancellor, June-December 1966, 1966 Rev. Joseph K. Welsh, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Victory, Centerville, 1971 Rev. John T. Higgins, Retired Pastor, St. Mary, Mansfield, 1985 Dec. 7 Rev. Thomas F. Daley, Retired Pastor, St. James, New Bedford, 1976 Rev. Ambrose Bowen, Retired Pastor, St. Joseph, Taunton, 1977 Rev. James W. Clark, Retired Pastor, St. Joan of Arc, Orleans, 2000 Dec. 8 Rev. John F. Broderick, Pastor, St. Mary, South Dartmouth, 1940 Dec. 9 Rev. Rene Patenaude, O.P., Retired, Associate Pastor, St. Anne, Fall River, 1983

December 2, 2011

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese

Acushnet — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Monday and Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Evening prayer and Benediction is held Monday through Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

ATTLEBORO — The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette holds eucharistic adoration in the Shrine Church every Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. until December 2, 2011, and from January 7 to November 17, 2012.

ATTLEBORO — St. Joseph Church holds eucharistic adoration in the Adoration Chapel located at the (south) side entrance at 208 South Main Street, Sunday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Brewster — Eucharistic adoration takes place in the La Salette Chapel in the lower level of Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road, on First Fridays following the 11 a.m. Mass until 7:45 a.m. on the First Saturday, concluding with Benediction and Mass. buzzards Bay — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, every first Friday after the 8 a.m. Mass and ending the following day before the 8 a.m. Mass.

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

East Sandwich — Eucharistic adoration takes place at the Corpus Christi Parish Adoration Chapel, 324 Quaker Meeting House Road, Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Also, 24-hour eucharistic adoration takes place on the First Friday of every month.

EAST TAUNTON — Eucharistic adoration takes place in the chapel at Holy Family Parish Center, 438 Middleboro Avenue, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. On First Fridays, eucharistic adoration takes place at Holy Family Church, 370 Middleboro Avenue, following the 8 a.m. Mass until Benediction at 8 p.m.

FAIRHAVEN — St. Mary’s Church, Main St., has eucharistic adoration every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Chapel of Reconciliation, with Benediction at noon. Also, there is a First Friday Mass each month at 7 p.m., followed by a Holy Hour with eucharistic adoration. Refreshments follow.

Fall River — Espirito Santo Parish, 311 Alden Street, Fall River. Eucharistic adoration on Mondays following the 8 a.m. Mass until Rosary and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.

FALL RIVER — Notre Dame Church, 529 Eastern Ave., has eucharistic adoration on Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the chapel.

FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of the Desert Church, 300 North Eastern Avenue, has eucharistic adoration Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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

FALL RIVER — Good Shepherd Parish has eucharistic adoration every Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass until 6 p.m. in the Daily Mass Chapel. There is a bilingual Holy Hour in English and Portuguese from 5-6 p.m. Park behind the church and enter the back door of the connector between the church and the rectory.

Falmouth — St. Patrick’s Church has eucharistic adoration each First Friday, following the 9 a.m. Mass until Benediction at 4:30 p.m. The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

HYANNIS — A Holy Hour with eucharistic adoration will take place each First Friday at St. Francis Xavier Church, 347 South Street, beginning immediately after the 12:10 p.m. Mass and ending with adoration at 4 p.m.

MASHPEE — Christ the King Parish, Route 151 and Job’s Fishing Road has 8:30 a.m.

Mass every First Friday with special intentions for Respect Life, followed by 24 hours of eucharistic adoration in the Chapel, concluding with Benediction Saturday morning followed immediately by an 8:30 Mass.

NEW BEDFORD — Eucharistic adoration takes place 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 233 County Street, with night prayer and Benediction at 8:45 p.m., and Confessions offered during the evening.

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

NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m., ending with Benediction.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time.

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

OSTERVILLE — Eucharistic adoration takes place at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 76 Wianno Avenue on First Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and every Friday from noon to 5 p.m., with Benediction at 5 p.m.

SEEKONK ­— Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish has eucharistic adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the chapel at 984 Taunton Avenue. For information call 508336-5549.

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

WAREHAM — Adoration with opportunities for private and formal prayer is offered on the First Friday of each month from 8:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church, High Street. The Prayer Schedule is as follows: 7:30 a.m. the Rosary; 8 a.m. Mass; 8:30 a.m. exposition and Morning Prayer; 12 p.m. the Angelus; 3 p.m. Divine Mercy Chaplet; 5:30 p.m. Evening Prayer; 7 p.m. Sacrament of Confession; 8 p.m. Benediction.

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

WOODS HOLE — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Joseph’s Church, 33 Millfield Street, year-round on weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. No adoration on Sundays, Wednesdays, and holidays. For information call 508-274-5435.

on the road again — The candidates and team of an Emmaus retreat recently took a break for a group photo at Cathedral Camp in East Freetown. In existence since the 1970s. The Emmaus program is a diocesan-approved retreat weekend that takes place three times a year. It’s open to all men and women ages 20 or older seeking to grow in their relationship with Christ regardless of their present level of faith and practice. The purpose of the weekend is to give adults the opportunity to reflect upon themselves, their relationship with God and their community.

Diocesan faithful welcome new Roman Missal English translation continued from page one

and held up one of the handy pew cards containing the revised prayers, many in the congregation were still responding by rote.

At the beginning of Mass, the response of “And with your spirit” was intermingled with the reply “And also with you,” but as Mass ended, the church was filled with a resounding “And with your spirit” as Father Caron intoned the final blessing.

“I think we did well,” Father Caron said after the Mass.

“This is my third time using the new translation and people seem to be adjusting.”

Parishioner Brian Fitzpatrick agreed with his pastor, noting that it will certainly take some time for people to get used to the changes.

“I think I’ll learn to love them,” Fitzpatrick said. “You know the old saying, ‘Expect change, except from vending machines?’ Any change is always good. I think it will force us all to pay more attention to the Mass.”

Fitzpatrick’s daughter, Alanna, who was an altar server for the Mass alongside her sister, said she was excited to respond with the new prayers.

“My sister and I were following along with the Mass card,” she said.

Steve Beaulieu, also a parishioner at St. Rita’s, said he liked the new translation of the Mass.

“I think for years everyone just got into the routine of repeating the same words, but now you’ve got to concentrate a little more and pay attention,” Beaulieu said. “It catches you a little off-guard, but for the most part I think it’s a good thing.

It refreshes (the Mass) a little

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December 2, 2011

bit.”

Admitting that she doesn’t like change, fellow parishioner Kate Johnson nevertheless thought the first Mass with the new translation went well.

“I think I’m getting too old and I’ve known the (old translation) for so long by heart, it’s hard to redo,” Johnson said.

“But I adjusted to the changes after Vatican II last time and I know I will this time, too.”

“Much of the language in the new Roman Missal doesn’t sound like ordinary conversation we use in our daily lives, so the Mass is a little slower, the prayers require extra attention and participation. Overall there is a new sense of reverence and holiness that comes across in the new missal,” said Father Thomas E. Costa Jr., in residence at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis. “Some of the new words such as ‘consubstantial’ and ‘incarnate’ surprised people, but they asked questions after Mass about the meaning of these words, so consider this a learning experience. The overall participation was very positive, but there were only a few people who gave feedback after Mass.”

Curtis St. Pierre, 17, is a parishioner at Immaculate Conception Parish in Fall River.

“As a lector, I was thankful that none of the changes in the language coincide with the time during which I speak to the congregation,” he said. “I was without a Missalette or card at first. I tried to follow along as best I could from what changes I remembered, but I found it difficult and eventually procured a book.”

Once on the same page, St. Pierre appreciated some of the subtle changes in language.

“The most interesting difference I noticed was the change from ‘We believe’ to ‘I believe’ in the Nicene Creed. That one little swap of pronouns completely shifts the focus from a lesson in Church doctrine to a personal pledge of faith.”

Claire Amiot is a longtime parishioner of Notre Dame Parish in Fall River, and a member of the Pastoral Planning Committee involved in the eventual merger of Notre Dame and Immaculate Conception parishes. She attended a Mass at both churches last weekend. “I was reminded of the transition time between the Latin Mass and the English Mass,” she told The Anchor.

“I really am in that generation.

Before the translation that was just replaced, there was a time when the responses and prayers were very much like the ones we are going to be using. Example, ‘And with your spirit,’ and ‘Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof.’ There was a certain familiarity for me and a certain comfort.

“The people in both congregations will have to get accustomed to the changes even though they are somewhat minor in terms of the responses.

As people prayed the Mass, they slipped into the familiar responses.”

Amiot found some of the language changes poignant and beautiful, particularly the second Eucharistic Prayer. “The words were rich and sort of poetic. I really like the places when we present ourselves more humbly before God. That is the proper relationship.”

One of the Masses Amiot attended was celebrated by Msgr.

Thomas J. Harrington, who is

sight impaired. “I admire the effort on the part of the priests to make the changes after they have said Mass in the other form for so long,” she said.

“Msgr. Harrington with his vision situation must have really prepared to be able to do what he did this morning.”

At St. Mary’s Parish in Fairhaven, Deacon Bruce J. Bonneau shared, “I think it brings a richness because of the language that more accurately describes our prayer. It brings more of a solemnity to the prayers themselves.”

There will continue to be a learning curve for those celebrating Mass, he said. “We’re going to have to be very focused on the Roman Missal itself. It’s going to be a while before we’re completely used to it, and until we do you’re just going to have to read it. We all know that our brains move to almost reflex; if you’re outside of your reading, you almost automatically go back to the old Sacramentary. It’s going to happen once in a while.”

Fellow parishioners, Liz Kramer and Sharon McGraw spoke to The Anchor following a Mass last Sunday. “It is more uplifting and I think it will be

good for young people,” said Kramer. “It’s going to take a while to get used to; when you use the same prayers, now you have to look at the book. That’s a good thing also, because you can follow along with the Mass better.”

“Everything becomes very rote because we’re so used to it, but now you’re forced to actually put meaning into those words,” added McGraw.

“It’s like when you first learn how to read the Missal and the prayers. It’s like going back to your childhood and learning it all over again, which I think is good. You’re actually making an effort to identify with the meaning.”

She appreciates the new response to “Peace be with you.” “‘And with your spirit’ is really getting into the depth of what the Catholic Church is all about. I like that.”

Summing up the sentiments of many clergy and parishioners, Amiot said, “We will all need to be patient with each other. The priests with the people and the people with the priests and all with the change, since it is human nature not to like change however inevitable it is.”

To advertise in The Anchor, contact

Wayne Powers at 508-675-7151 or Email waynepowers@anchornews.org

20

By Christine M. Williams Anchor Correspondent

BOSTON — Although legislators removed language that had caused opponents to nickname the Transgender Rights Bill the “Bathroom Bill” before its passage, its adversaries are far from sighing with relief. They say the law was hastily forced to passage and could reach farther than its supporters acknowledge.

Rep. Marc Lombardo, R-Billerica, told The Anchor that the new law invites conflict and will likely affect schools, small businesses and the government.

“The bill opens up the possibility of all sorts of litigation,” he said. “The reality is that the advocates of this bill wanted it settled in the courts, and they’re probably going to get their wish now.”

Kristian Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute, echoed those concerns, saying that despite the removal of the provision to open up public facilities, including bathrooms, to members of the opposite sex, transgendered advocates will surely challenge single-sex facilities.

“God forbid, the courts could de facto make it a bathroom bill again,” he said.

Mineau said that the law’s supporters have called for reintroducing the passage that was omitted.

“This has not satisfied them at all. It’s just gotten the camel’s nose under the tent,” he said.

“The proponents of the original ‘Bathroom Bill’ absolutely said they will be back next year to file for the full access rights.”

Mineau added that the bill as a whole was unnecessary and even dangerous.

“What this bill does with the law now is that the term ‘transgender’ has been added to the list of people who are protected under hate crimes laws and nondiscrimination laws. We are all against hate crimes. We are all against discrimination. But any crime is a hate crime, and why we have to have special catego-

The Anchor

December 2, 2011

Transgender law could lead to lawsuits

ries of people that have extra special rights under the law for the same protections we all deserve is troubling,” he said.

The bill also normalizes transgenderism, which is considered a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association. It will force schools and local businesses to hire people who choose to cross dress and do not seek professional assistance in dealing with their medical condition, he said.

“Of course, we’re very concerned for the grammar school grades because of the confusion that this can lead to. This will definitely have an impact on our children in public schools,” he said.

The bill defines “gender identity” as “a person’s genderrelated identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that gender-related identity, appearance or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person’s physiology or assigned sex at birth.”

In order to prove their gender-related identity, a citizen of the Commonwealth need only show that their identity is “sincerely held.” Opponents say such language is so broad that it is virtually meaningless and can be easily manipulated.

Those opponents have spent years fighting the bill and until 2011, it had never left committee. Weeks before the bill was

voted into law this year, the Coalition for Marriage and Family launched radio ads that urged legislators to stop the bill from passage.

“Ads opposing the ‘Bathroom Bill’ have aired during the past two legislative sessions, and the bill has never been adopted,” the coalition said in a November 7 press release.

The ads said that by focusing on this legislation, Beacon Hill showed it had the “wrong priorities.”

“Call your legislators,” a narrator said. “Tell them to stop wasting time with radical social policy, and start helping put people back to work.”

In addition to criticizing the bill itself, both Mineau and Lombardo expressed outrage at how the bill was rammed through the state Legislature.

Mineau said, “We’re very disappointed that, after a six-year battle with this bill, a watereddown version of it was passed at the midnight hour. It was definitely railroaded through the Legislature with virtually no time for debate and the deal was sealed, obviously catering to a very special interest group.”

Just 48 hours before the end of this most recent legislative session, the bill was pulled out of committee and put on the fast track for voting on the floor. It did not follow the usual process

and was not reviewed by any other committees. At the same time, dozens of amendments were introduced and the House leadership limited the debate to only one hour.

Lombardo said, “Of the 60 minutes that were given to speak, two advocates of the bill took up 45 minutes, essentially eliminating all reasonable debate on the topic.”

He added that he is concerned that there was a lack of clarity on what effect the bill would actually have, which could leave any

legislator confused.

In the state House, the measure passed 95-58 on November 15 at 11 p.m. The following day, the state Senate passed the bill with a voice vote. Gov. Deval Patrick signed the bill into law soon after.

Massachusetts Family Institute praised the more than one dozen lawmakers, including Lombardo, who opposed the Transgender Rights Bill.

“I applaud these lawmakers for speaking truth to this issue,” Mineau said.