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Diocese of Fall River, Mass.

F riday , December 5, 2014

Judge Phillip Rapoza honored to meet with Pope Francis

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

DARTMOUTH — There have been many milestones in Judge Phillip Rapoza’s already-impressive judicial career.

In 1998, he was appointed to the Massachusetts Appeals Court in Boston, making him the first Portuguese-American in the Commonwealth’s history to serve in that capacity.

In 2002, he was decorated by the president of Portugal and given the rank of Comendador in the esteemed “Order of Prince Henry the Navigator,” an honor akin to being named Knights Commander of the Order of the British

Empire.

But the recent opportunity to have a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican was a singular honor and “incredible privilege,” according to the Dartmouth native.

“I have had many opportunities and experiences during the almost 25 years that I have been a judge,” Rapoza recently told The Anchor. “I must say, however, that meeting Pope Francis was unquestionably the most memorable.”

Rapoza, who currently serves as Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court, was one of five individuals invited on October Turn to page 14

The altar in the chapel at the Catholic Memorial Home in Fall River was adorned with sights of the season for residents there during Thanksgiving. The chapel, which hosts Mass daily, is an oasis of peace and hope for many who must be away from home for various lengths of time. (Photo by Dave Jolivet)

Advent: Sense the presence of God around us

By Linda Andrade Rodrigues Anchor Correspondent

ATTLEBORO — Advent is the season of anticipation.

A time to set off on a journey, walking alongside Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, while awaiting the birth of Jesus.

“The function of Advent is to remind us what we’re waiting for as we go through life too busy with things that do not matter to remember the things that do,” said BenedicMassachusetts appeals court Chief Justice Phillip Rapoza recently had a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican in his capacity as president of the International Penal and Penitentiary Foundation. (Photo courtesy of Judge Phillip Rapoza)

tine Sister Joan Chittister in “The Liturgical Year.” “Without Advent, moved only by the race to nowhere that exhausts the world around us, we could be so frantic with trying to consume and control this life that we fail to develop within ourselves a taste for the Spirit that does not die and will not slip through our fingers like melted snow.”

Begin those first steps at the National Shrine of Our

Lady of La Salette on pilgrimage to the Christmas Festival of Lights, where the message is proclaimed: “Jesus, Light of Life.”

“As you arrive at the Shrine grounds, you are first drawn to the Chapel of Light where the Beautiful Lady invites everyone to pray,” said Shrine Director Father Cyriac Mattathilanickal, M.S. “Renewal always begins by coming home Turn to page 18

Second Sunday of Advent 2014 — December 7

Area octogenarian writes an ‘udderly’ adorable Christmas tale

By Becky Aubut Anchor Staff

DARTMOUTH — “Listen up children, listen up now/ And I’ll tell you the story of Catherine the cow.”

So begins the saga of Catherine in “The Tale of a Cow: A Christmas Story,” where a cow’s breath deemed too warm for her barnyard friends becomes a soothing heat source for Christ after His birth. Based on a story written by Father Gerard Hebert when he was pastor of St. George’s Parish in Westport, the story was “poetized” and self-published by 88-year-old parishioner and Dartmouth resident, John Caron.

As one of 10 children growing up in East Taunton, Caron said his father instilled a deep respect of the Catholic faith: “My father was quite strict about our religion, and he told his six boys that if you go by a church, if you’re wearing a hat, you doff your hat. If you don’t have a hat, bless yourself,” said Caron.

“I was in the fifth or sixth grade, and one day, Miss O’Brian, who was the eighthgrade teacher, had been dropped off to visit the church and say a prayer. She was waiting for a person to pick her up — and she thought the Caron kids were nice kids — so as I

walked by the church, I had two things in mind: I certainly have to doff my hat, and say hello to Miss O’Brian. I did them both together, and she got the biggest grin on her face thinking I had tipped my hat to her. She was very impressed and treated me better than others.”

Caron didn’t know it then, but when O’Brian became his eighth-grade teacher, she would be one of the first to urge him to pursue poetry. Boys at that age were getting into basketball, recalled Caron, “but I was a scrawny, little kid. The jocks got all the attention from the girls, and guys are starting Turn to page 15

Dartmouth resident John Caron displays a book he put into poem form, from a story idea by Father Gerard Hebert. (Photo by Becky Aubut)

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News From the Vatican

December 5, 2014

Pope urges Muslim leaders to condemn violence done in name of Islam

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM ISTANBUL (CNS) — Pope Francis called on political and religious leaders across the Muslim world to condemn violence done in the name of Islam.

The pope said he told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan November 28 that “it would be beautiful if all Islamic leaders — whether they be political leaders, religious leaders, academic leaders — would say clearly that they condemn (terrorism), because that will help the majority of Islamic people to say, ‘that’s true,’” and show non-Muslims that Islam is a religion of peace.

“I sincerely believe that you cannot say that all Muslims are terrorists just as you cannot say that all Christians are fundamentalists; every religion has these little groups,” the pope said.

The pope made his remarks during a 45-minute news conference on his flight to Rome after a three-day visit to Turkey.

In response to other questions, Pope Francis said: — During a televised moment of silent prayer in Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, alongside the city’s grand mufti, “I prayed for Turkey, I prayed for the mufti, I prayed for myself because I need it, and I prayed above all for the peace and an end to war.”

— The “substance” of controversial language on “welcoming homosexuals” in the midterm report at the October 2014 extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family survived in the corresponding section of the final document, even though the latter was widely considered more conservative. He said the

synod was not a parliament but an “ecclesial space where the Holy Spirit can work” and was just part of a process to be continued through the coming year of preparation for an October 2015 worldwide synod on the same subject.

— Although difficulties remain in relations between the Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches, the pope is ready to meet with the Orthodox patriarch of Moscow as soon as the patriarch wishes to invite him.

— Both the Catholic and Orthodox churches include conservative members resistant to ecumenism, who must nonetheless be treated with respect: “A conservative has a right to speak, you don’t expel him.”

— The pope would like to visit one of the camps housing refugees from the civil wars in Syria and Iraq but cannot do so now because of security concerns.

— He speculated, without naming names, that at least one of the governments that denounced the use of chemical weapons in Syria’s civil war may have been the source of those very weapons.

— He praised Erdogan’s 2013 statement on the 1915 mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman forces — a statement criticized as inadequate by many Armenians, who consider the massacres a “genocide” — as an “outstretched hand.” The pope voiced hope that other gestures over the coming anniversary year would bring the two nations nearer, and he specifically voiced hope that Turkey would open its border with Armenia.

Pope Francis meets with young refugees from civil wars in Syria and Iraq, a few hours after joining Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to denounce the plight of Christians there. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano)

Pope tells Mideast, African refugees wars that caused flight must end

ISTANBUL (CNS) — Pope Francis met with young refugees from civil wars in Syria and Iraq, a few hours after joining Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople to denounce the plight of Christians there.

“The degrading conditions in which so many refugees are forced to live are intolerable,” the pope told about 100 young refugees in Istanbul November 30, less than an hour before boarding his flight to Rome.

“We must do everything possible to eradicate the causes of this situation.”

Addressing the refugees, who included Christians and Muslims, Pope Francis publicly reiterated his appreciation for Turkey’s acceptance of refugees from neighboring lands — an estimated 1.6 million from Syria alone.

The pope did not repeat his earlier statements of qualified support for multilateral military action against Islamic State militants who have targeted Christians in Syria and Iraq. However, he appealed for “greater international cooperation to resolve the conflicts which are causing bloodshed in your homelands, to counter the other causes which are driving people to leave their home countries, and to improve conditions so that people may remain or return home.”

Meeting about 100 young refugees in the Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Pope Francis told them, “I wanted to meet other refugees, but it was not possible.” The young people, who also included refugees from Somalia and other parts of the Horn of Africa, sang for the pope in Spanish, English and Arabic.

Earlier in the day, the pope joined Patriarch Bartholomew,

considered first among equals

by Orthodox bishops, to sign a joint declaration that highlighted violence against Christians in the region.

“We cannot resign ourselves to a Middle East without Christians,” the leaders wrote, specifically noting the conflicts in Syria and Iraq.

“Many of our brothers and sisters are being persecuted and have been forced violently from their homes,” the declaration said. “Tragically, all this is met by the indifference of many.”

The statement described an “ecumenism of suffering,” according to which the “sharing of daily sufferings can become an effective instrument of unity.”

“We no longer have the luxury of isolated action,” the patriarch said during a Liturgy celebrating the feast of St. Andrew, patron saint of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. “The modern persecutors of Christians do not ask which church their victims belong to. The unity that concerns us is regrettably already occurring in certain regions of the world through the blood of martyrdom.”

Pope Francis, also speaking during the Liturgy, said that the “cry of the victims of conflict urges us to move with haste along the path of reconciliation and communion between Catholics and Orthodox. Indeed, how can we credibly proclaim the message of peace which comes from Christ, if there continues to be rivalry and disagreement between us?”

The leaders’ joint declaration called for peace in eastern Ukraine, where a war between government forces and Russianbacked separatists has exacerbated historic tensions between

Eastern Catholic and Orthodox communities there.

“We call upon all parties involved to pursue the path of dialogue and of respect for international law,” the declaration said, in an apparent reference to Russia’s support for the separatists, which has drawn international condemnation.

Pope Francis said unity between the churches is also necessary to combat the “structural causes of poverty,” including unemployment and scarce housing, and a “dominant culture” of materialism that particularly demoralizes the young.

The pope assured his listeners that, “to reach the desired goal of full unity, the Catholic Church does not intend to impose any conditions except that of the shared profession of faith,” and that Orthodox Christians would not lose their distinctive forms of worship, Spirituality and governance in a reunion with Rome.

Full communion between the churches, which have been divided since 1054, “means neither submission of one to the other nor absorption, but rather welcoming of all the gifts that God has given to each to show the whole world the great mystery of Salvation realized by Christ the Lord through the Holy Spirit,” the pope said.

The pope’s first meeting of the day was with Rabbi Isak Haleva, chief rabbi of Turkey.

Turkey’s Jewish community of about 25,000 traces its origins to the 1492 expulsion of the Jews from Spain.

On the way to the airport for his return flight to Rome, Pope Francis stopped at an Istanbul hospital to visit 58-year-old Armenian Orthodox Patriarch Mesrob II, who is seriously ill.

December 5, 2014

The International Church

Pope calls European Parliament to rejuvenate ‘grandmother’ Europe

STRASBOURG, France (CNS) — The 77-year-old grandson of European immigrants to Argentina, Pope Francis urged the European Parliament to value the continent’s faiths and recuperate a sense of responsibility for the common good to rejuvenate Europe’s social, political and economic life.

“In many quarters we encounter a general impression of weariness and aging, of a Europe which is now a ‘grandmother,’ no longer fertile and vibrant,” he said recently. In too many cases, he said, the JudeoChristian values and the humanist ideals that inspired the continental drive toward unity seem to have been replaced by “the bureaucratic technicalities of its institutions.”

Pope Francis, the first nonEuropean pope in almost 1,300 years, was scheduled to spend less than four hours in Strasbourg visiting only the European Parliament and the Council of Europe. It was the shortest foreign papal trip ever and the first that did not feature at least one visit to a church.

Because it was organized strictly as a visit to the European institutions, the pope traveled to and from the airport in a closed car, not the popemobile.

Along the route from the airport, scattered groups of a few people waited at the intersections with smartphones or cameras in their hands. There were plenty of French police lining the route, but the only significant groups of bystanders were at the tram stops.

Instead of making a pastoral visit, Pope Francis went to the heart of European unity and bureaucracy: the European Parliament, the legislative arm of the 28-member European Union; and the Council of Europe, an organization of 47 countries formed to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law on the continent.

A few parliamentarians objected to the pope’s visit, saying it violated the separation of church and state. But Martin Schulz, the parliament’s president, told the pope his words “carry enormous weight not only because you are the Spiritual leader of more than one billion believers. Your words carry enormous weight because they speak to everyone” and because “the issues you raise concern everyone.”

“Your words,” he told the pope, “provide counsel and di-

rection in times of confusion.”

The only other pope to visit the European Parliament was St. John Paul II in 1988, a year before the Berlin Wall fell and marked the beginning of the end of a Europe divided into democratic West and communist East.

Despite the expansion of democracy and the incorporation of more countries into the European Union, Pope Francis told the parliament, “Europe seems to give the impression of being somewhat elderly and haggard, feeling less and less a protagonist in a world which frequently regards it with aloofness, mistrust and even, at times, suspicion.”

But strength is needed, he said, to defend the democracy dreamt of for so long. The continent’s democracies, the pope said, “must not be allowed to collapse under the pressure of multinational interests which are not universal, which weaken them and turn them into uniform systems of economic power at the service of unseen empires.”

Giving new life to the European project, he said, “depends on the recovery of the vital connection” between transcendent values and attention to the talents of Europe’s peoples and their concrete needs. “A Europe that is no longer open to the transcendent dimension of life is a Europe which risks slowly losing its own soul and that ‘humanistic spirit’ which it still loves and defends.”

European Union discussions are filled with references to human rights, but, the pope said, the idea of duties that go along with rights seem to be largely absent. “As a result, the rights of the individual are upheld, without regard for the fact that each human being is part of a social context wherein his or her rights and duties are bound up with those of others and with the common good of society itself.”

Even worse, he said, the most basic right — the right to life — is denied to many, including the unborn, the terminally ill and the elderly. “There are still too many situations in which human beings are treated as objects whose conception, configuration and utility can be programmed and who can then be discarded when no longer useful due to weakness, illness or old age.”

The selfish live with “an opulence” that is not sustainable and

is indifferent to others, particularly the poor, he said. Economic, trade and employment policies seem dictated by technical and financial considerations to such an extent that “men and women risk being reduced to mere cogs in a machine.”

In addition, he said, too many of Europe’s citizens face active discouragement from expressing their religious convictions, too many of them go hungry and even more “lack the work which confers dignity.”

The original inspiration for European unity was the “transcendent dignity” of the human person, a dignity that endowed each person with inalienable rights, which could be respected most fully in a democracy, in peace and with special concern to help the weakest members of the community and the world, the pope said.

In the parliamentary chambers he also denounced “the many instances of injustice and persecution which daily afflict religious minorities, and Christians in particular, in various parts of our world.” He urged attention to the plight of those facing “barbaric acts of violence” because of their faith. “They are evicted from their homes and native lands, sold as slaves, killed, beheaded, crucified or burned alive under the shameful ad complicit silence of so many.”

Christianity, he told the parliamentarians, not only helped forge the Europe of history, but it continues to offer values and services, particularly in education, that can provide a firm foundation for a renewed future.

Protection of the environment, an agriculture policy that respects farmers and the land, improving employment rates and handling migration are particularly urgent, concrete problems that require a response honoring the transcendent dignity of the human person and recognizing the realities of this world, he said.

As the Italian government continues to decry a lack of European Union solidarity and assistance with the thousands of migrants who cross the Mediterranean seeking freedom and a better life in Europe, the pope insisted the response to migration must be continent-wide.

“We cannot allow the Mediterranean to become a vast cemetery,” he said, referring to the thousands who have drowned trying to cross from northern Africa on rickety boats.

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The Church in the U.S.

December 5, 2014

President, Archbishop Cupich meet in Chicago, talk immigration

CHICAGO (CNS) — Less than a week after he was installed in his new position, Chicago Archbishop Blase J. Cupich had a brief private meeting with President Barack Obama when the president visited the city to promote his executive actions on immigration.

In an interview aired on CBS’s “Face the Nation” November 30, the archbishop said that he and the U.S. bishops support the president’s efforts. He expressed gratitude for the plan to help immigrants who lack legal status, enabling them to “come out of the shadows” and live out aspirations for a better life that “were placed in their hearts by God. We have to attend to that. It’s not just something they want on their own. God has always called us to a better life.”

In the CBS program, recorded before his meeting with Obama, Archbishop Cupich said: “It’s been too long of a time for people to wait for comprehensive immigration reform. We see this as an important first step, hopefully to jumpstart” legislation.

Archbishop Cupich was installed as head of the Chicago Archdiocese November 19, replacing Cardinal Francis E. George, who retired as head of the archdiocese. On November 25, he and Obama met at the Copernicus Center Chicago, where the president was speaking to rally support for his immigration initiatives. The meeting lasted seven minutes, according to archdiocesan spokeswoman Colleen Dolan.

At an event later that day, Archbishop Cupich said the meeting focused on the immigration actions Obama announced November 20. The archbishop

said he thanked the president for his actions. The plans Obama announced include a program to defer deportation for potentially more than four million people who are in the U.S. illegally but who have children who are U.S. citizens or legal residents, and make other changes in enforcement priorities.

In the meeting with Obama, as in the CBS interview, Archbishop Cupich said the rules for how the administrative actions are implemented should include protections so that people who sign up for the deferred deportation program are not put at greater risk of being sent home if the program is changed under a future president.

Archbishop Cupich also posted a statement about the immigration policies. In that statement, he said that, along with his brother bishops, he wanted to extend his gratitude and support of the administrative relief measures.

He listed some of the many organizations run by Catholics and other people of faith that have worked to support immigrant families, “working tirelessly, sharing in our common goal to alleviate suffering, dispel fear and to remove the barriers that prevent so many hard-working men, women and their families from being able to pursue their God-given potential and fully share their Godgiven gifts.”

However, the statement added, “we must not forget that there are millions of people left out of these recent relief decisions, still forced to live in the shadows.”

Work must continue, the statement said, to support efforts to pass what he called “comprehensive, compassionate immigration reform.”

Graciela Flores, alongside their children in New Mexico, talks with her husband, Eduardo Castor, in Mexico, following a recent Mass in Sunland Park, N.M., at the border. Bishops from the U.S. and Mexico celebrated the Mass two days after U.S. President Barack Obama unveiled executive action to extend deferral of deportations to parents of millions of U.S. citizens and legal residents. (CNS photo/Bob Roller)

U.S.-Mexico border Mass marked by painful reunion through the fence

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (CNS) — The 18-car Union Pacific train blew its horn about 50 feet from the U.S.-Mexico divide.

There, in a dusty one-acre lot, an American road ends — literally. And it was where 12-yearold Yoryet Lara hoped to get a glimpse of her mother.

“It’s been so long, I need to see her,” Yoryet said. “Other children get to see their moms on special occasions like Mother’s Day. I don’t. It’s not fair,” she said as she wiped away tears.

Yoryet’s mother, Trinidad Acahua, once lived in the U.S. illegally, in El Paso, Texas. She had a job, paid her rent, stayed out of trouble. She had two children here, making them both U.S. citizens. But one day she ran a stop sign on her way to work and was pulled over. When she couldn’t produce paperwork for insurance or proof of car ownership, she was taken into custody and eventually deported. That was seven years ago.

Just as the 16th annual Border Mass, hosted by the area’s three dioceses was set to begin, the girls rushed the international fence, calling out for their mother, who was joining them at the Mass from the Mexican side of the fence.

“Don’t cry my queens, don’t cry,” Acahua sobbed. “I love you all very much my daughters.” The family’s lone embrace was an interlocking of fingers in the chain link fence that divided them.

“Mommy, I miss you!” said Jocelyn Lara, 10. “Ay Mommy!”

Their mother brought Emmanuel, the girls’ three-year-old brother, to the fence as well.

“Hi little one, I’m your aunt,” the girls’ aunt, Ines Zepahua, said in greeting her nephew. She has never been able to hold him.

That was the backdrop for the annual Border Mass celebrated by bishops of the dioceses of El Paso, Texas; Las Cruces, N.M.; and Juarez, Mexico.

“We have a prayerful purpose,” said Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso. “This Mass started as a remembrance of the thousands of people who have died in their desperate trek to come to the U.S. We pray for them as well as those immigrants who are here now but who live in fear of exploitation and deportation daily.”

The Mass was a cross-border experience. A lector read the first reading from Juarez in Mexico, while the second reading was read on the American side. The responsorial psalm was recited together, and Communion was shared on both sides. Because the border is marked there by a chain-link fence, every part of the Mass was visible from both countries. Bishop Seitz said the three communities came together in the Liturgy, just as they do daily in responding to the needs of immigrants.

“They’re not coming here looking to get a new car or a new house,” he said. “Often, they come here out of fear of the lives they have back home. The life of the immigrant is not easy.”

That desperation was evident when, during Mass, 10 to 15 people cut through a seam in the border fence to cross illegally into New Mexico, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.

“It looks like we had about

eight breach points,” said Joe Romero, acting Special Operations supervisor of the El Paso sector of the Border Patrol.

Romero said many of those who tried to cross got spooked and turned back. At least three were apprehended on the U.S. side. Tension ran high when a Border Patrol agent approached a young man in the crowd during Mass.

Ultimately, the agent walked away from the man, although it wasn’t clear whether the man was one of those eventually arrested.

Despite the attempts to take advantage of the Mass and sneak into the country, Romero said it won’t be an obstacle to future such events.

“We understand the purpose of the Mass and will not let this first-time breach prevent us from being supportive of it in the future,” he said.

“This was unprecedented,” said Bishop Seitz. “We’ve always known about the desperation of those who are attempting to come to the U.S. in search of safety. What happened (at Mass) shows that, in spite of President Obama’s recent executive action regarding immigrants who are already here, the need, the desperation to flee to safety, remains.”

As the Liturgy came to a close, the celebrants’ words, “Mass has ended. Let us go in peace,” rang out. Yoryet and Jocelyn reluctantly said goodbye to their mom.

“I love you Mom! I miss you!” they said. The two siblings walked toward their aunt’s SUV to leave.

And another Union Pacific train blew its whistle in the background.

December 5, 2014

The Church in the U.S.

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What the Church can do about the powder keg of U.S. racial tensions

Ferguson, Mo. (CNA/ EWTN News) — Beneath the ongoing unrest in Ferguson, Mo., are deep-rooted societal conflicts that are boiling over, say local leaders, and the Church has an opportunity to be at the forefront of reconciliation.

“This has been a long time in the making, especially the St. Louis area,” said Dr. Norm White, a professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at St. Louis University.

White spoke with CNA on the recent violence in Ferguson, a St. Louis suburb, leading up to a grand jury’s decision not to indict Darren Wilson, a white police officer, for the killing of Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old, in August.

Wilson shot Brown multiple times following a confrontation with Brown and his friend. The incident has elevated racial tensions amid allegations of police brutality and excessive force, with contradictory claims about the facts, including whether Brown had his arms up in a gesture of surrender when he was shot, and whether Wilson acted in self-defense.

The grand jury had considered whether to indict Wilson on first-degree murder, seconddegree murder, voluntary manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter, as well as a charge of armed criminal action.

The town of Ferguson, a St. Louis suburb, along with other communities in the area, had erupted in demonstrations and protests following the shooting. In the days after the shooting, some protesters engaged in looting and other crimes against property, including the burning of a convenience store.

Riots followed the grand jury decision, stores and cars were set on fire, police were pelted with objects, and 61 arrests were made overnight with at least 14 injuries reported, according to local media.

Protests sprouted up across the country as well, some peaceful and some erupting in violence.

White pointed to two major problems as the source of the uproar in Ferguson: inequality and a law enforcement system where young African-American males feel targeted and are ready to lash out in response.

To combat local crime and gang problems in the early 1990s, he explained, authorities in the area turned to the “broken window” model of policing every minor infraction in order to stop the bigger problems of gang violence.

This led to myriad of traffic stops for minor infractions and sidewalk stops where young men had to provide identification or explain where they were walking. “It’s given rise to ‘we will stop young people routinely for the most minor thing,’” White said.

“When every young black male is cause to stop them and ask them for information about where they’re going, who they are, what are they up to — that’s just creating an antagonism that doesn’t need to exist,” he said.

Many of the individuals cited for minor traffic violations might not be able to afford court fees or fines, and if they could not show up in court, a warrant would be issued for their arrest, the professor continued. If they were pulled over

a second time in Ferguson, they could go to jail.

This “antagonism” exists prior to police shootings of young black males, he said.

When shootings occur, it simply throws gasoline on the already smoldering tensions in the community.

“The young people that I listen to and I hear and I talk to are tired of that. That’s the bottom line,” White emphasized.

Another source of the tensions in Ferguson is the fact that “economic and social inequality, disadvantage, injustice kind of reside in these parts of town,” White said, describing it as an “extraordinarily hypersegregated” place.

It’s a “middle-class community,” so any destitution there might not be noticeable right away to outsiders, he said.

Nonetheless a significant portion of the population lives in poverty and the situation is grim for young men born into the cycle.

For example, White cited the high homeless rate among elementary school children in one after-school program.

Children often call their mothers to see where they will sleep that night.

“They do this every day,” he said. “This is elementary school. Seventy percent of the kids in that elementary school are functionally homeless. If we don’t get our hands around that, we don’t fix larger problems.”

With such deep-rooted problems, where does the solution lie? The starting point must be face-to-face dialogue, White insisted, explaining that “when you don’t have social interactions with people routinely, you really don’t get to know them as

people.”

Americans are intent upon traveling to other continents to help the poor but ignore the marginalized right in their own communities, he added. “We don’t do it here in the way that I think is meaningful.”

“I think the churches could be very instrumental in fostering and stimulating that conversation,” the scholar said, insisting that people of faith need to go “outside the comfort of boundaries” and invite members of other congregations and ethnicities into their churches for dialogue.

This insistence upon dialogue and conversation has also been raised by Archbishop Robert Carlson of St. Louis, who outlined in an October 10 letter to the archdiocese several issues that he sees as being at the heart of racial tension today.

“We need to come together in prayer and dialogue to address the deeper underlying issues — family breakdown, racial profiling, quality education, abuses of authority, lack of gainful employment, fear of one another, mistrust of authority, black on black violence, and white flight,” the archbishop wrote.

In an August 20 homily at the Mass for Peace in response to the summer unrest in Ferguson, Archbishop Carlson outlined a five-step plan to respond to the deep-seated problems of race and called on Catholics to get ready for change.

“The time has come for us to acknowledge decades of hurt and mistrust and suspicion and prejudices and, yes, even a tragic death,” he said. “Like the first disciples, we need to leave our ordinary way of doing things behind and follow Jesus, a journey that is never easy.”

Archbishop Carlson reestablished the archdiocese’s Human Rights Commission and requested that a study on how to decrease violence in communities and at home be undertaken by the St. Charles Lwanga Center, which serves the archdiocese’s AfricanAmerican community.

The study began immediately, the chaplain of the center, Father Arthur Cavitt, confirmed, but it is still in its initial stages.

The archdiocese has also “escalated” its response to racial problems since the Ferguson unrest, the priest said, explaining that the local Church is “very active in working for justice.”

For instance, since the Michael Brown shooting, the Catholic parish in Ferguson — Blessed Theresa of Calcutta — has hosted prayer gatherings at its outdoor grotto, worked together with an Episcopal parish in outreach to the community, partnered with other food pantries in town to serve the needy, and sponsored an ecumenical prayer march to the city hall.

The Church is “being hopeful in faith and the goodness of human character. We’re still relying on it,” Father Cavitt said.

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December 5, 2014

Anchor Editorial

Peace and conflict in Advent

The Advent and Christmas seasons often bring to mind peaceful scenes, such as that which the prophet Isaiah brought to our minds this past Tuesday: “Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid” (Is 11:6). A number of articles in this edition of The Anchor remind us that we need to seek out this peace in our souls — Linda Rodrigues’ piece on pages one and 18 compiling advice from religious leaders as to how we can make room for it in the “stable” of our hearts; Renee Bernier’s discussion of working to find connections with people very different from us (see page nine); the article about composer John Michael Talbot on page 15 where he speaks about how our encounter with Christ in the Eucharist revives our souls; and on page 17, Father Frederici gives us helpful hints as to how we can make our reception of the Eucharist more fruitful Spiritually.

Dave Jolivet’s column (on page 14) reminds us that Christ’s peace is often forgotten, even in the midst of supposed observances of His birth. Several articles speak about division — the conflict over the situation in Ferguson, Mo., and the nature of race relations in the United States (see pages five and 20); the political disputes in this country and in Europe regarding immigration and the internal strife in neighboring countries which is causing this movement of people (see pages three and four); and the wars which are killing so many people in Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.

On the plane ride home to Rome from Istanbul, the Holy Father wanted to discuss relations with Eastern Orthodox Christians and with Moslems. Of course, the American journalists on board wanted to talk about issues of sexuality, since that is all the left and right think about in this country (sometimes they will even push or not push on issues with no connection to sexual morality, such as the Middle Eastern wars or immigration, concerned not really with those issues but with the advantage of the political party which favors their point of view. The Boston Globe, under one of its previous owners, even supported political candidates who opposed the other liberal policies of the paper, as long as they championed legalized abortion. Some Christian conservatives have said the converse of that, saying that we should oppose anything that might help undocumented immigrants, since their becoming citizens would lead to a tactical advantage for the Democratic Party and, thus [so the argument goes] we would have legal abortion forever).

The Associated Press reporter on the plane asked the Holy Father about the language used in various documents in the recent synod regarding homosexuality and asked if he was in favor of the “positive” language used in a working document during the meeting (you

can read more on this on page two). The pope responded, “First I will say something: I would like it that the principal theme of your news stories be this trip. But I will respond, I will respond. Calm down. But maybe [the trip] is not the most ‘showy’ [thing to speak about, but] people need to be informed about the trip.”

The pope’s trip reminded us of the need to be in solidarity with our fellow Christians, no matter what their denomination. Pope Francis spoke repeatedly about how we come to unity not through theological conversations, but through praying together, working together, witnessing together (even to the point of martyrdom together). On the plane the Holy Father said, “What are we waiting for? That theologians come to an agreement? That day will never come, I assure you, I am skeptical. They work well, theologians, but I remember what they say, that [Patriarch] Athenagoras said to [Blessed] Paul VI: ‘Let’s go along alone and put all the theologians on an island, what do you think?’ I thought that this didn’t really happen, but Bartholomew told me, ‘It’s true, he said it like that.’ We can’t wait: unity is a way, a way which one must take, which must be taken together.”

Tuesday morning, back at the Vatican, Pope Francis also made reference to theologians (see story below): “So many can learn science, even theology, [However] if they don’t do this theology on their knees, humbly, that is, like babes, they can’t understand a word.” He reminds us that we need to be poor in Spirit, not arrogant, if we are to come to know the Father, come to know His peace, through Christ. “Only this poverty is capable of receiving the revelation that the Father gives through Jesus. He is a shoot, He is humble, He is meek, and He has come for the humble, for the meek, to bring Salvation to the sick, to the poor, to the oppressed, for the marginalized: He marginalized Himself. He humbled Himself, He debased Himself, became an outcast, [in order to] “give us the mystery of the Father and His own.”

While in Turkey, the pope said to a Moslem leader that is it not enough to praise and glorify God, we need to “adore Him.” On our knees, literally and figuratively, we ask God to help us to adore Him; to help us accept the peace that only He can give; to help us grow in patience (instead of continuing to grow impatient) with our fellow Catholics, Christians, and non-Christians; to help us be humble, recognizing our dependence upon God and our equality with all other humans, fellow sinners, our brothers and sisters. This adoration and patience does not mean that we will never have disagreements — since Jesus came to testify to the truth, we need to do so, too. We ask Him to help us to do so in a way which might better touch the hearts of our neighbors.

God reveals Himself to humble hearts, says pope VATICAN CITY (CNS) — God reveals Himself to humble and meek hearts, said Pope Francis at a recent morning Mass.

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not understand anything.

They will tell us many things, but they will not understand anything,” he said in his homily during the Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae where he lives.

In the day’s Gospel reading, Luke 10:21-24, Jesus praises God the Father for having “hidden these things from the wise and the learned and revealed them to the childlike.”

“Only those who have a heart like a child are capable of receiving this revelation, those who have a humble, meek heart, who feel the need to pray, to open themselves to God, who feel poor; only those who live according to the first Beatitude — the poor in Spirit,” the

pope said, according to Vatican Radio.

In a similar way, he said, “Jesus comes not like a captain, an army general, a powerful governor, no, no. He comes like a shoot,” he said, referring to the day’s first reading from Isaiah 11:1-10, which describes the coming of the Messiah as a “shoot” that will “sprout from the stump of Jesse.”

“He is a shoot. He is humble.

His is meek and he came for the humble and for the meek, to bring Salvation to the sick, the poor and the oppressed,” the pope said of Jesus.

The grandeur of the mystery of God is only known “in the mystery of Jesus,” he said. “And the mystery of Jesus is precisely

a mystery of condescension, of abasement, of humiliation (which) brings Salvation to the poor, to those who are humiliated by sickness, sin and difficult situations. The mystery of Jesus cannot be understood outside this frame.”

The pope concluded his homily with a prayer that Christians may draw closer to the mystery of God during Advent, following “to the path He wills for each person — the path of humility, the path of meekness, the path of poverty and the path of feeling like sinners.”

“In this way, He will come to save us, to free us. May the Lord give us this grace,” Pope Francis said.

Anchor Columnist Jesus Christ: Wise and trustworthy or a cowardly misogynist?

December 5, 2014

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n November 16, Cardinal Sean O’Malley gave a much-watched interview with Norah O’Donnell of CBS’ “60 Minutes.”

At the end of the segment, O’Donnell persistently brought up the subject of the “exclusion” of women from the ministerial priesthood, charging that “women do a lot of the [Church’s] work but have little power” and “feel like they’re second-class Catholics” because they “can’t preach” or “administer the Sacraments.”

She suggested that the Church’s teaching is “immoral” and bigoted, since the Church “wouldn’t exclude someone based on race but yet [it does] exclude people based on gender.”

Cardinal O’Malley patiently tried to respond to her six consecutive salvos on the subject, saying, “Christ would never ask us to do anything immoral.” The Church, he noted, doesn’t think in terms of “power” but “service,” underscoring that “not everyone needs to be ordained to have an important role in the Church.”

He added that women carry out many significant ecclesial responsibilities.

Under barrage, he reminded O’Donnell that there is a meaning to our original differentiation as men and women.

The ministerial priesthood, he said, “reflects the incarnation of Christ, Who in His humanity is a Man.” It’s not a question of gender equality but a “matter of vocation and what God has given us,” something that pertains to the “Tradition of the Church” (with a capital T).

For this reason the Church has “always ordained men.”

To emphasize the point that the all-male priesthood was a choice by Christ, he said, with a smile, “If I were founding a church, you know, I’d love to have women priests. But Christ founded it and what He has given us is something different.”

That assertion quickly became controversial.

Writing in the liberal National Catholic Reporter, Thomas C. Fox opined that it was a “remarkable admission” that “revealed clearly the increasingly untenable nature of the Catholic teaching that women cannot be ordained priests.”

Various conservative commentators asserted, on the other hand, that Cardinal O’Malley was “throwing our Lord under the bus” by pretending that if it had been up to him, he would have “done a better job” than

Jesus.

6:70). We see in the Acts of Both responses are extrathe Apostles, the writings of contextual nonsense.

St. Paul and the history of the Cardinal O’Malley doesn’t early Church — as the Apostles keep vigil presumptuously sought to carry out everything concocting plans to charter that Jesus had commanded a different Church than the (Mt 28:20) — the intentional one Jesus founded and that he decision to ordain only men as has faithfully served his whole bishops and priests. life. The grin on his face as he While Jesus, however, replied to O’Donnell’s final interrogation plainly communicated that he was giving a Putting Into risible contra-factual the Deep to accentuate his main point: if the Church

By Father were just a human Roger J. Landry institution, with no Divinely-established Sacraments, with no priesthood as Jesus instituted significantly chose only men to and intended, then nothing be the Apostles, in many other would be fixed and we could do ways He was revolutionary anything we wanted, including with regard to His treatment of female popes, transgendered women. Jesus affirmed women’s bishops, and a college of cardidignity against the chauvinist nals composed of altar servers. ways of many of His fellow Jews But the Church is not pri(Lk 7:36-50; Jn 8:3-11), allowed marily a human institution, but women to be His CFOs (Mk something founded by Christ 15:41; Lk 8:3), scandalously with structures He Himself orshattered conventions in talking dained. Cardinal O’Malley’s hy- to them in public ( Jn 4:27), gave pothetical was not an expression them exalted titles that up until of a secretly-hoped-for ecclesial His time were only given to amelioration but a rhetorical men (Lk 13:16, Lk 23:28), and device employed precisely to conferred on them the mission stress the normative reality of of being the first witnesses to what Jesus Himself did. It’s His Resurrection, even though not Cardinal O’Malley who is women were considered unrelipretending to know better than able witnesses under Jewish and Jesus, but rather proponents of Roman law ( Jn 20:17). women’s priestly ordination.

Knowing these two facts In a November 19 blog post — Jesus’ choosing only men to following up on the interview, be His clergy while repeatedly the cardinal said that he was es- bucking the sexist customs of sentially trying to communicate His day — which of the foltwo things: first, that women lowing scenarios seems most “are often holier, smarter and consistent with faith in Jesus? more hard-working than men, First, that Jesus chose 12 and that the most important men by pure coincidence, member of the Church is a despite the fact that He called woman, the Blessed Virgin them after a night of prayer?

Mary”; and second, that “the Second, that Jesus acted Church is called to be faithful deliberately but for bad reasons, to Christ’s will,” which is “not like, for example, because He always easy or popular.” To unwas a hidden misogynist or too derstand the Church’s teaching cowardly to defy His contemon the inadmissibility of women poraries’ cultural misogyny on to the ordained priesthood, he priesthood while He contraunderlined, is “always a process vened it in so many other ways? that begins with faith.”

Third, that Jesus deliberately It’s important for all Cathoordained only men at the beginlics to grasp this connection ning, but was just waiting for between faith and the Church’s Norah O’Donnell and “60 Minteaching on the impossibility of utes” prophetically to denounce woman’s ordination.

2,000 years of immoral prejuThe indisputable fact is that, dice by popes and saints alike? after much prayer, “Jesus called It would be hard to believe those whom He wanted … and that if that were Jesus’ plan that appointed 12 whom He also He would have never communamed Apostles” (Mk 3:13-14). nicated it to Peter, or Peter to Stressing His free and personal Linus, or Linus to his successors action, Jesus asked them, “Did all the way through St. John I not choose you, the 12?” ( Jn Paul II, who in 1994 formally

declared that the “Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church’s faithful,” or to Pope Francis who said in July 2013, “With reference to the ordination of women, the Church has spoken and says ‘No’ with a definitive formulation.

That door is closed.”

Or fourth, that the Son-of-God-madeMan, the Truth Incarnate, Who was praised even by opponents for showing “no partiality” (Lk 20:21), knew what He was doing in choosing only men to be His Apostles and did it for a good reason? This is manifestly the attitude that flows from authentic Catholic faith in Jesus.

Jesus didn’t give us the reason He chose to call and ordain only men, but it’s not hard to come up with reasons why the decision makes sense.

The first is functional. The vocation He gave to the Apostles and their eventual priest collaborators was to take the Gospel on foot to the whole world and to suffer and die for it. As we know from the early Church and the stories of the martyrs, priests have been routinely persecuted, tortured, and murdered. Truly civil societies have always sought to protect women from unnecessary physical suffering and combat. Would Christ love women any less, but instead brutally subject them to the physical vicissitudes of priestly life as He intended it?

The second is anthropological. As Cardinal O’Malley noted, Christ Himself is a man

7

and chose to be male rather than female at the Incarnation.

The Church takes that choice seriously and finds it relevant for those who as priests serve in persona Christi. Just as it would be anthropologically jarring for men to represent the Blessed Mother, isn’t it just as incongruous for women to represent the person of Jesus?

The most important reason is theological. Christ is the Bridegroom of the Church (Mt 9:15, Jn 3:29, Eph 5:22; Rev 19:7) and priests serve in the person of Christ the Bridegroom. Just as it would make scant sense for men to stand in the person of a bride, how much sense would it have made to Jesus to have women to represent the person of the husband?

While one is certainly free to quibble with these arguments of fittingness, the essential rationale for the Church’s dogmatically-defined practice concerning the inadmissibility of women to the ministerial priesthood is because the Church has faith that what Jesus clearly did in choosing only men to be His Apostles, He did freely, deliberately, authoritatively, definitively and for good and obviously moral reasons.

The Church’s teaching, as Cardinal O’Malley stressed, is “always a process that begins with faith.”

The Church, strengthened by the Holy Spirit, has been faithful to Jesus’ decision since the beginning and will remain faithful to it until the end of time.

Anchor columnist Father Landry is pastor of St. Bernadette’s Parish in Fall River. fatherlandry@catholicpreaching. com.

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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,

December 5, 2014

The glory that is to come

and partly because they don’t And yet, the Rite of Baptism want to believe that I would is very clear. We are sharbe talking about such things ing in the death of Christ so at the time of preparation for that we can also share in His Baptism. “A funeral?” they Resurrection. ask. “Yes, at their funeral — This apparent “mixed and please God — none of message” is an important one us is there. May it be their grandchildren and great-grandHomily of the Week children who will Second Sunday initiate them into the of Advent life of Heaven just as you and I are now

By Father initiating them into Richard E. Degagne 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 are welcoming a new life into hear about death when we the world. Images abound of are preparing them for their joyful parents, singing angels, child’s Baptism. We have a friends bearing gifts, hearts beautiful new life just beginfull of hope. ning. It is supposed to be a Our Scripture from Isaiah joyful time, a hopeful time. 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 Immaculate Conception Parish in Easton.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Dec. 6, Is 30:19-21,23-26; Mt 9:35—10:1,5a,6-8. Sun. Dec. 7, Second Sunday of Advent, Is 40:1-5,9-11; Ps 85:9-14; 2 Pt 3:8-14; Mk 1:1-18. Mon. Dec. 8, The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Gn 3:9-15,20; Ps 98:1-4; Eph 1:3-6,11-12; Lk 1:26-38. Tues. Dec. 9, Is 40:1-11; Mt 18:12-14. Wed. Dec. 10, Is 40:25-31; Mt 11:28-30. Thurs. Dec. 11, Is 41:13-20; Mt 11:11-15. Fri. Dec. 12, Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a;12:16a,10ab; Lk 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39-47.

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istory sometimes displays the happy capacity to arrange anniversaries so that one sheds light on another.

On Nov. 21, 1964, Pope Paul VI solemnly promulgated the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, which began by proclaiming Christ the “Light of the nations” and is thus known as Lumen Gentium.

Twenty-five years later, on the night of Nov. 9-10, 1989, the Berlin Wall was breached and the communist project in Europe collapsed, reduced to rubble like the masonry that divided Germany for decades. Fifty years after Lumen Gentium and 25 years after the Revolution of 1989, we can see more clearly that the council had something to do with the communist crack-up.

Vatican II and the Berlin Wall

can’t be created by ultramunNot in the way senior dane, hyper-secular modernity; Vatican diplomats imagined, as the great council theologian, however. In the post-council Henri de Lubac, once put it, euphoria, it was thought that human beings without God Vatican II’s “openness” would can only organize the world help facilitate a “convergence” against each other. But wherebetween East and West, such that the wall, and the post-war division of Europe, would eventually melt away. What actually happened was far more dramatic, and illustrates the way in

By George Weigel which Salvation history, working inside what the world sees as “history,” can bend history in a as many in the West took the council’s call for dialogue and more humane direction. openness as an invitation to Lumen Gentium described the Church as having a Sacra- modify the Catholic critique of communism, the Polish mental character: the Church Church, led by two giants, is “a sign or instrument of Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski communion with God and of and the young archbishop of unity among all men.” That Cracow, Karol Wojtyla, read longed-for “unity among all Lumen Gentium — and indeed men” is only possible through the entirety of Vatican II — as “communion with God.” It an invitation to press hard for religious freedom and other basic human rights, so that the Church could be the unifying, liberating force that Polish communism manifestly could not be.

Wojtyla brought that conviction to Rome with him when he was elected pope in

The Catholic Difference

October 1978. Then, on his first pastoral pilgrimage back to his Polish homeland, John Paul II deftly wove together themes from Poland’s Christian history with Vatican II’s call for a re-energized Catholicism intent on converting the world, and in nine days inspired a revolution of conscience rooted in Christ, the Light of the nations: Christ, from Whom we learn the truth about the merciful Father and the truth about our humanity; Christ, Who is the true Liberator because He is, as St. John Paul styled his first encyclical, Redemptor Hominis, the “Redeemer of man.”

John Paul II’s revolution of conscience ignited tinder that had been gathering in central and eastern Europe for years — and 10 years later, in November 1989, the wall came down, demolished by the aroused consciences of men and women who had dared to take the risk of freedom, and who had dared to live in the truth.

Communism would eventually have collapsed of its own implausibility and in-

competence. But it might not have collapsed in 1989 without John Paul II’s revolution of conscience. And John Paul’s papacy was made possible, in turn, by Vatican II: not by what Pope Benedict XVI called the “council of the media,” which seemed to deconstruct Catholicism, but by the real council, the council that called the Church to proclaim Christ as “Light of the nations” and to convert the world through all the instruments that form the Catholic symphony of truth.

So: no Vatican II, no Lumen Gentium; no Lumen Gentium and Vatican II, no John Paul II; no John Paul II, no Revolution of 1989.

What the world knows as “history” is really just the surface of things. Beneath that surface, Salvation history — God’s liberating providence — is at work, often in hidden ways, but sometimes more clearly. There were two such moments of clarity, 50 and 25 years ago. We should recognize and celebrate them today.

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

December 5, 2014

Sunday 30 November 2014 — Homeport: Falmouth Harbor — End of the Year of Grace 2014 ome say funerals come in threes, but I don’t think so. Our parish can go weeks without a funeral but recently we had six funerals in seven days (you can’t hold funerals on Sundays). I have been in “funeral mode.”

Today is the last day of November, ending a month of prayer for the Holy Souls.

Today is also the First Sunday of Advent. The Church focuses our attention on the Second Coming of the Lord.

Not surprisingly, my thoughts turn to the last things.

I’m always moved by the Rites of Christian Burial. The rituals by which the Church honors the body, remembers the brother or sister, prays for his or her soul, expresses hope in the resurrection of the dead and at the same time allows for the expression of human grief are very powerful indeed.

Here at St. Patrick Church, we constantly strive to improve the solemnity of the Funeral Mass (and also its heartfelt consolation) by using to the fullest the words and rituals provided. This

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ere we are again, another month under our belts and rapidly approaching the end of what has been a truly fulfilling year. Before I begin, let me wish you and yours a belated happy Thanksgiving, and send best wishes to you as you embark on the Christmas season with your families.

My trip home to spend this time with my family is only one of the many things I have to be thankful for and I hope that you are all able to take some time this time of year to reflect on all that you have surrounding you that adds such immense joy to your life. Though it may be obvious from my previous articles, I’ve been extremely blessed to be a part of my graduate program and most recently it provided me with yet another learning experience for which to be thankful.

Before returning home, my semester started to wind down in a unique way. As part of one of my courses, our cohort was required to attend

Anchor Columnists Go forth Christian soul and hymnals. Recently, there takes careful preparation. was a well-earned Marian Sandy, a member of the Funeral Liturgy Planning Team, Medal placed lovingly atop has begun visiting the homes the coffin.

Since the baptismal font of the deceased to review the has been relocated to the Liturgical options with the family. Previously, they met in door of the church, the conthe rectory. For the survivors, nection of the life and death of a Christian with the Sacratheir own home is the most comfortable place to sit and discuss the Funeral Liturgy, surThe Ship’s Log rounded on every side Reflections of a by reminders of the Parish Priest deceased in happier days now sadly passed.

By Father Tim There’s a funeral Goldrick choir available (without cost). The funeral ment of Baptism is now made choir volunteers their time clearer. I am able to draw the and talent not only at every water with which to bless Mass of Christian Burial the casket directly from the celebrated here, but also in baptismal font itself. regular rehearsals and pracOne day I was standing at tices. They want to offer an the font awaiting the arrival ever-increasing repertoire of music suitable for a funeral to of a funeral procession when I suddenly thought of a tradiprovide the best hymnody of tion followed by the Cisterwhich they are capable. cian Order (Trappists). The Placing religious symbols body of their dead Brother in addition to the crucifix on monk is brought down the the casket has become the church aisle proceeded by custom here. It’s a personalthe Paschal Candle. I quickly ized expression by the grievhanded the Paschal Candle ing family in remembering to the fast-thinking Mass and celebrating a life of faith server and the candle led now ended. I have previously the procession that day. The mentioned well-worn prayer books, favorite Rosary beads, body of the deceased went

to the usual location before the altar with the Paschal Candle placed at the head (the church has two Paschal Candle stands). With the ritual use of both the font’s water and the Paschal Candle, the connection with Baptism became even more obvious. The poor altar servers assigned to me, however, never know what I’m going to do next; neither do I. Then there is the thorny issue of “eulogies.” Brief words of remembrance by a friend or family member were formerly an option following the Prayer after the Communion. That option is still in the old prayer books, but no longer available. In fact, it is expressly disallowed in current instructions from the Vatican. But families have grown to expect the opportunity for “eulogies” in church.

What’s a poor pastor to do?

You don’t want to flagrantly disobey direct orders but neither do you want to create a firestorm on such a sensitive occasion. I’ll tell you what I do when the family insisted on a eulogy, if you promise not to report me to the Liturgical police.

9 Once the casket has reached the head of the aisle and the Paschal Candle been placed, before I enter the Sanctuary, I invite one member of the family to come to the microphone near the casket and offer brief words of welcome and remembrance.

I simply sit in the pew and listen. When the person has finished, I venerate the altar and begin Holy Mass. Not only does it seem to work well, but it also gives me personal information to weave into my homily that day.

Then there is the matter of the bells. Since ancient times, the church bell has been tolled at the Funeral Mass. But I’m occupied celebrating Holy Mass. It would be unseemly for me to leave the Sanctuary to go and ring the bells. The solution? Father Peter John taught the altar server. Now Nathan tolls the bell until the cortège (I always ride in the cortège) has passed from sight.

Falmouth Village is alerted. A funeral cortège is passing down Main Street.

Say a prayer as another Christian soul goes forth from this world.

Anchor columnist Father Goldrick is pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish in Falmouth.

Learning experiences the Virginia Student Services Conference — an opportunity for us to attend workshops, network with other student affairs professionals, and get our sea legs when it comes to navigating such professional development opportunities. On the final day of the conference I had a choice between five workshops to attend, and one seemed to stand out among the rest. Entitled, “The Rise of the Nones,” the workshop aimed to address the rise of atheists on campuses and their needs as a unique population.

To begin the session we participated in a snowball activity, where everyone writes down a question or comment they might have on the subject, then they roll it up and throw it around the room for someone else to pick up and read aloud, to protect anonymity. My snowball basically shared that I had never considered this group of students as a population

that might have unique needs and so I would be interested in learning more about the topic. And learn I did.

The presenter spoke about many things, including how to move away from atheism

Radiate Your Faith

By Renee Bernier as the defined term of nonreligious because so many students actually feel they exist on a spectrum. While they may not have a belief in a god or God, many still live by moral philosophies.

For others, thoughts of faith versus science basically evade their everyday lives.

Ultimately, the conversation focused on how not one student who feels they fall under the umbrella term of atheism is the same as the next, yet despite this, there

is a lack of support for them on campuses to connect and discuss what they do find value in.

There was no animosity, there were no fighting words, and there was simply an open forum for an exchange of information and thoughts for the future. It humbled me, as a student who does identify as religious.

How often do we get the opportunity to participate in a conversation with someone who doesn’t share our faith and have it remain just that, a conversation? How often do we have the chance to have an open dialogue with someone who is willing to talk faith but also reason and we neglect that chance because it’s uncomfortable?

I know for myself, I always reflect fondly on the memories I have from my time at Bishop Stang High School, formative years in my own faith development. And it always warms my heart when

I’m in community with those who have the same morals and values as me.

However, on the campus of a public school, I’m exposed to conversations and individuals who I’m also learning so much from and who are also warming my heart. They’re opening my eyes to a multitude of perspectives and personal philosophies and I’m learning how to participate in that dialogue. As Christmas approaches, a time when many of us will re-focus on our faith in an intimate way, I ask that you also focus on growing in acceptance of those who live lives by their own faith or philosophies, no matter the differences.

Have a blessed Christmas season and may your lives be enriched by all those you encounter.

Anchor columnist Renee Bernier is a graduate student in the College Student Personnel Program at James Madison University in Harrison, Va.

10

December 5, 2014 Imagine trying to quantify into a number those who were Baptized, had First Communion, received Confirmation, shared happiness in weddings and had said goodbye to loved family and friends at funerals there over the years. The final Mass invoked the same sort of sorrow-filled goodbye, and truly the closing of Sacred Heart Parish is the greatest of all sorrows.

During his final homily, Father Ray Cambra encouraged the community to remember all their work over the years, to remember their

Faithful gathered recently for the final Mass celebrated at Sacred Heart Church in Fall River after 142 years of service to Fall River residents in the center of the city. (Photo courtesy of CJ Ferry)

The end of an era in Fall River

By CJ Ferry, Grand Knight Special to The Anchor

FALL RIVER — November 23 was the end of an era for the Sacred Heart Parish community in Fall River. Due to decreasing attendance and increasing costs to operate

the church and its ministry, the Fall River Diocese had no choice but to close the church after its boiler went into disrepair.

Sacred Heart Church was built in 1872, when Fall River was still part of the Dio-

cese of Providence, R.I. Its first pastor was Father Francis Quinn, which became the name of this parish’s Knights of Columbus Council. During the 142 years of its doors being open, Sacred Heart has seen many joys and sorrows.

journey and many efforts for the greater good of all: of all that they have given to Christ together; from feeding the poor, clothing the naked, helping fellow man in times of disaster, sending needed items and a piece of home comfort to members of our Armed Forces, visiting the sick and homebound.

Not once did this humble man, a servant of Christ, ever look to himself, but rather always to the parish first. As a shepherd would tend to his flock; he always guided others toward and found leaderTurn to page 11

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December 5, 2014 Continued from page 10

ship, wisdom, guidance and joy in Christ. As is the theme for the Celebration of Christ the King, this humble priest has lived and been an example of what Jesus would do.

Sacred Heart was a community of lifelong parishioners who drew strength from the weekly Masses and messages of their shepherd; whether that was Father Ray Cambra, or in recent years Father David Costa, Father Ed Byington, Father Barry Wall, Father Joseph Viveiros, or the late Father John Folster.

Sacred Heart was a pivotal member of our city and the community of the Catholic faithful. On this last day open for Sacred Heart we saw a bittersweet moment, the church had become filled from wall to wall for the first time in many years. If only all our churches had attendance such as the last Mass, then maybe we’d never have to consider the closing of another one of our area churches again.

You could see many of the faithful, with tears running down their faces as they saw the door to the ambry left open and empty, emblematic of the tearing of the veil in the temple, showing God no longer dwells there. For every church that closes, we lose a piece of our personal and city’s history; we lose a portion of the fabric that is our community.

But the story of Sacred Heart is like that of many other Catholic churches in our area and around the world; religion and faith are no longer viewed as vital staples to who we are as individuals, no longer do they serve as guideposts in our daily journey of life. Importance only seems to come to fruition when a disaster, illness, accident or death occurs. It’s in those moments we seem to drop everything and run to Christ. Let us not only run to Christ when in need, but rather let us welcome Him into our day-to-day lives, as He would also be there for us.

“Whatsoever you do to the least of My people, that you do unto Me.” CJ Ferry is a lifelong parishioner of Sacred Heart Parish of Fall River and the Grand Knight of the Father Francis Quinn Council No. 15405 of the Knights of Columbus.

To advertise in The Anchor, contact Wayne Powers at 508-675-7151 or Email waynepowers@anchornews.org

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December 5, 2014

Pope Francis superhero in ‘I Believe in Mercy’ manga-style comic book NEW YORK (CNS) — The publisher Manga Hero specializes in combining two seemingly disparate things: comic books in the Japanese, or manga, style and Catholic subject matter.

The imprint’s founder, Jonathan Lin, whose father grew up in Japan, has used this aesthetic — which is known, among other things, for its kinetic energy — to celebrate the lives of St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and characters from the Old and New Testaments.

There is plenty of action in these volumes and the biographies are uniformly well researched. Lin’s writers are all graduates of Catholic colleges.

Manga Hero’s newest offering is “Pope Francis: I Believe in Mercy.” It’s a revised and expanded version of a profile of its subject — known as Jorgé Bergoglio before his ascent to the papacy — published in 2013.

Of course, the comic book form can be used to tell any story. But it’s surprising how well manga works in recounting tales about the Church. In a way it shouldn’t be that much of a surprise. After all, Jesus led a life full of action — from His long journeys on foot to His dynamic healings and confrontations with the devil.

Predictably, there is nothing morally objectionable in “I Believe in Mercy.” But there is one scene depicting violent unrest in the pope’s homeland of Argentina. While not graphic, this

section of the narrative may require some context for young children.

Writer Regina Doman and artist Sean Lam effectively connect events in the future pontiff ’s life with aspects of the life of Christ. When a young priest is killed by extremists and Father Jorgé experiences fear, for example, the next panel shows Jesus raising His hands to calm a mighty wave.

There is also a fun section in the back of the book with a map of the Vatican City State and drawings of the various cars used by the pope.

There are only two drawbacks to “Pope Francis: I Believe in Mercy”: the volume’s size and its price. The other Manga Hero books are around 300 pages long, and their compact size makes them easy to carry and read on a train or a subway. They also all cost around $10. “I Believe in Mercy” runs to approximately 50 pages yet has a cover price of $14.99. Additionally, it’s oversized, which makes it more awkward to read than previous titles.

Some readers may prefer to start with another Manga Hero comic. At 200 pages and priced under $10, “Many Are Called” is a wonderful alternative, based on the parables of Jesus.

The graphic biography contains a single scene of gun-related violence.

The Catholic News Service classification is A-I — general patronage.

This is the cover from the graphic novel “Pope Francis: I Believe in Mercy.” The Catholic News Service classification is A-I — general patronage. (CNS photo/Manga Hero)

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, December 7, 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Robert J. Powell, parochial administrator of St. Lawrence Martyr Parish in New Bedford

Agent Classified, the leader of the North Wind, is featured in a scene from the movie “Penguins of Madagascar.” For a brief review of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS photo/DreamWorks Animation)

CNS Movie Capsules NEW YORK (CNS) — The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by Catholic News Service.

“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part One” (Lionsgate) This third installment of a four-part series based on bestselling novels by Suzanne Collins offers satisfying — and occasionally stirring — action played out against the backdrop of the same disordered futuristic society in which its predecessors were set. As the heroine of the franchise ( Jennifer Lawrence), a veteran of the brutal survival tournament of the title, becomes the symbol of the revolution against its organizers she helped to launch at the end of the last film, her sweetheart ( Josh Hutcherson), a prisoner of the oppressive regime (led by Donald Sutherland), becomes a tool in their propaganda campaign aimed at stamping out the rebellion. While director Francis Lawrence and screenwriters Peter Craig and Danny Strong include a good deal of stylized combat in their teen-targeted

tale, other problematic content is entirely absent. In fact, the romantic entanglements are so chaste that a single kiss between Lawrence’s character and the lad (Liam Hemsworth) who pines for her takes on great significance. The script also highlights positive values, including altruism, making this a worry-free choice for parents of the soughtafter demographic. Some bloodless but potentially disturbing violence. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

“Horrible Bosses 2” (Warner Bros.)

Facing bankruptcy after being victimized by a high-powered executive (Christoph Waltz) they thought would help their fledgling business, three wouldbe entrepreneurs ( Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis) strike on the idea of kidnapping the tycoon’s grown son (Chris Pine) and using the ransom money to stave off ruin.

While director and co-writer Sean Anders plays on the morally respectable theme of basically decent people making comically inept criminals, his sequel to the 2011 original treats human sexuality in a base and frivolous manner, primarily through a recurring character ( Jennifer Aniston) whose addiction to bed

hopping is supposed to inspire laughs. Distant but graphic images of casual and aberrant sex, much sexual humor, mature themes, including adultery and homosexuality, frequent uses of profanity, pervasive rough and crude language, an obscene gesture. The Catholic News Service classification is O — morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

“Penguins of Madagascar” (Fox) Spirited animated adventure in which a quartet of penguins (voiced by Tom McGrath, Chris Miller, Conrad Vernon and Christopher Knights) who’ve decided they have what it takes to be avian spies competes with an equally self-appointed team of secret agents (their wolf leader voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) to defeat the schemes of a villainous octopus (voice of John Malkovich). Comic possibilities drive the freewheeling plot of directors Eric Darnell and Simon J. Smith’s family-friendly lark, which sees supporting characters from previous movies in the franchise coming to the fore — and into their own. As it trots around the globe, and indulges, now and then, in genre-typical potty humor, the film instills lessons about the negative effects of seeking revenge as well as the positive results of loyalty, teamwork and cooperation. A handful of mild scatological jokes and insults. 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.

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December 5, 2014

Changing times may call for changes in religious orders, pope says

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Religious orders and the Vatican congregation that assists them must be bold in assessing whether current structures and practices help or hinder the proclamation of the Gospel, the pursuit of holiness and the service of the poor, Pope Francis said.

“We must not be afraid to leave ‘old wineskins,’ that is, to renew the routines and structures that, in the life of the Church and in consecrated life, no longer respond to what God is asking us today in order to promote His Kingdom in the world,” the pope, a former Jesuit provincial superior, told members of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

The pope met recently congregation members, just three days before the opening of the Year of Consecrated Life. The same day, he also met with the Pauline Fathers, the Daughters of St. Paul, and other religious and lay groups that trace their inspiration to Blessed James Alberione’s foundation of orders dedicated to evangelization through the media.

In his speech to members of the congregation for religious, the pope said the Church must

Visit the Diocese of Fall River website at fallriverdiocese.org The site includes links to parishes, diocesan offices and national sites.

be bold in recognizing and the institutional forms present integration of cultural and genchanging “the structures that in consecrated life today — are eration diversity, the problemgive us a false sense of protec- adequate to hold this ‘new wine’ atic balance of the exercise of tion and that condition the and promote its full matura- authority and the proper use of material goods — poverty condynamism of charity,” as well tion.” as “the routines that distance Pope Francis told the con- cerns me, too.”

Apologizing for giving “pubus from the flock we are sent gregation members he knows to and prevent us from hearing not all the news about re- licity to my family,” the pope said the Jesuit founder, the cry of those awaitSt. Ignatius of Loyola, ing the Good News of e must not be afraid to leave described the vow of Jesus Christ.” ‘old wineskins,’ that is, to re- poverty as the “mother Pope Francis told the congregation that new the routines and structures that, in and wall” of consecrat“since the Second Vat- the life of the Church and in consecrated ed life; it is the mother because it is the source ican Council, the wind life, no longer respond to what God is of life and it is the wall of the Spirit has continued to blow with asking us today in order to promote His in the sense that it protects religious from strength,” pushing re- Kingdom in the world.” worldliness. ligious orders to carry Prayer is the first out the renewal the council called for and raising ligious life is good and the task and aid to holiness, he said.

“Please tell your new memup new forms of religious life Church should not “hide the in the Church. areas of weakness,” including bers that to pray is not to waste “In that portion of the Lord’s “the resistance to change in time, adoring God is not a vineyard represented by those some sectors, the diminished waste of time, praising God is who have chosen to imitate ability to attract new members, not a waste of time.” Without Christ most closely” through the not irrelevant number of prayer, he said, “the wine will be the vows of poverty, chastity those who leave — and this re- vinegar.”

Meeting a short time later and obedience, he said, “new ally worries me.” with the Pauline family, Pope grapes have matured and new The Vatican and the orders wine has been pressed.” themselves must take care in Francis continued to reflect on The congregation and the accepting candidates and in the importance of prayer and orders, he said, are called “to training them, he said, but they discernment of methods.

“The secret to evangelization discern the quality and the vin- also must be very careful to tage of the ‘new wine’ that was ensure that “institutional and is to communicate the Gospel produced in this long period of ministerial tasks” do not take in the style of the Gospel,” he renewal and, at the same time, priority over the development said. “The joy of a gift received to evaluate if the wineskins that of members’ Spiritual lives. out of pure love must be comcontain it — represented by Orders also face “the difficult municated with love.”

“W

The focus on sharing the Gospel, he told the Pauline family, “is in your blood, in your DNA.” “The ultimate aim of our work as Christians on this earth is to attain eternal life,” he told them. “Therefore, our being a pilgrim Church — rooted in the commitment to proclaim Christ and His love for every creature — prevents us from remaining prisoners of earthly and worldly structures.”

Trusting in the Lord and convinced of the action of the Holy Spirit, he said, religious are called to be unafraid and, especially, to be witnesses of hope and joy in the world.

Turning specifically to the Paulines’ ministry in books, television, film and other media, the pope asked them to “never promote conflict, never mimic those communications media that look only for the spectacle of conflict and provoke scandal.”

Be certain, he said, that the Holy Spirit will inspire the creativity needed to faithfully proclaim the Gospel.

“Many are still waiting to know Jesus Christ. The creativity of charity knows no limits and will always open new paths” of evangelization, he said.

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December 5, 2014

Judge Rapoza honored to meet with Pope Francis continued from page one

23 to address the Holy Father on a range of criminal justice topics relating to victims’ rights, prison conditions and the rehabilitation of offenders.

As president of the International Penal and Penitentiary Foundation, which is headquartered in Switzerland, Rapoza was “grateful for this memorable opportunity.”

“From the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Francis has demonstrated an interest in matters relating to criminal justice such as victims’ rights, prison conditions and the rehabilitation of offenders,” Rapoza said. “In August of this year he invited the presidents of the five major international organizations that work in those fields to a private audience at the Vatican.

As president of the IPPF, one of the five designated organizations, I was invited to meet the Holy Father.”

A member of the IPPF since 1998 and having served as president since 2011, Rapoza said the organization has representatives in more than 30 countries and “promotes studies in the field of crime prevention and the treatment of offenders.”

“It has consultative status with several U.N. agencies,” Rapoza said. “It was very important to have our efforts validated by Pope Francis and to have the opportunity to advise him in matters of mutual concern.”

Each of the invited presidents was asked to submit a written presentation on issues relevant to the work of their respective organizations, Rapoza explained.

“In my case I addressed matters relating to the core mission of the IPPF, especially with respect to the treatment of offenders,” he said. “In sum, I acknowledged that legitimate considerations of public safety support the imprisonment of violent and repeat offenders and that it is important to hold offenders accountable for their actions.

“At the same time, however, I noted that the continued high rate of incarceration, although a response to crime, is not a solution to it. I focused on the use of means other than routine imprisonment, such as alternative sentences, intermediate sanctions and diversion programs. My over-

all theme was that we cannot incarcerate our way out of the problem of crime.”

During public remarks that covered a number of topics, Rapoza said Pope Francis similarly “expressed his concern with respect to the excessive use of incarceration, especially in circumstances where prison conditions fail to respect the human dignity of those who are confined.”

“When we spoke privately,” he added, “the Holy Father thanked me for my contribution and I expressed my appreciation for the comprehensive nature of his remarks regarding matters of concern to the IPPF.” Rapoza has been active in the field of international criminal justice throughout his judicial career. For many years he headed the Commission for Justice Across the Atlantic, a judicial and legal exchange program between the United States and Portugal. Prior to his appointment as Chief Justice of the Appeals Court, he took an unpaid leave of absence from his state court duties to serve as an international judge and coordinator of the Special Panels for Serious Crimes, a U.N.-backed war crimes tribunal in East Timor.

In 2012, he was appointed

by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to serve as the international reserve judge for the Supreme Court Chamber of the U.N.-backed Khmer Rouge war crimes tribunal in Cambodia.

“The rule of law is fundamental to life in a democratic society and that is especially true in matters relating to crime and the rights of victims,” Rapoza said. “All members of civil society — not just lawyers and judges — thus have a duty to be informed about the criminal justice system.”

Rapoza said that process should begin in our schools where civic education can focus on developing a citizenry that is better informed about the criminal justice system.

“In recent years, members of both the bar and the judiciary have undertaken a more active role in sponsoring public outreach and a variety of education initiatives relating to our justice system,” he said.

“When it is at its best, the press can also play a role in

educating the public in such matters,” Rapoza added.

“These are all steps in the right direction and will benefit both Catholics and nonCatholics alike.”

When asked if he felt confident that Pope Francis could help to bring about changes in the criminal justice system, Rapoza suggested others might be “better-equipped to make such an assessment.”

“From my own experience, however, I can say that Pope Francis has, in the words of the Shaker hymn, ‘the gift to be simple,’” Rapoza said.

“His modest style of living and his evident humility suggest that he is focused on the basics — that is, those things that are fundamental to how we should live both as individuals and as members of society.

“That was made clear in his remarks at the recent audience, in which he emphasized the core value of respect for the dignity of the human person, whether that person is a victim or an offender. The gift of simplicity that the Holy Father possesses does not mean that he is simplistic. Rather, it reflects a move back to basics that will serve all his efforts in guiding the Church and in pursuing social justice.”

Having also recently met Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., for the first time at the annual Red Mass celebration, Rapoza said he noticed some parallels between our Holy Father and Fall River’s eighth bishop.

“Both of them project a kind of selflessness that I believe is unconscious on their part, but that reflects their underlying nature,” he said.

“It is evident that they both take their responsibilities seriously, but they do not take themselves too seriously. In a sense they are both so impressive because neither one really thinks of himself as impressive.”

Rapoza has noticed that the pope and bishop not only share a similar sense of humor, but also a ready willingness to smile when greeting others.

“A person’s smile can serve as a mirror of their soul and in the case of Pope Francis and Bishop da Cunha, I believe it reflects a warm and welcoming heart,” he said.

I

‘So this is Christmas?’

ies while there — but that was at n 2007, Aerosmith rethe opposite end of the store. leased a song, “Livin’ on I saw the hoards of shoppers the Edge,” whose lyrics, as most in electronics and video games rock lyrics do, still hold true and steered clear of those. years later: Drat! I had to pass through “There’s somethin’ wrong with the world today. I don’t know what men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing. There was no way it is. Something’s wrong with our around it. eyes.

I wished that the store had a “We’re seeing things in a differreligious articles department. I’m ent way, and God knows it ain’t sure there would have been no His. one there.

“It sure ain’t no surprise. We’re I followed a couple of “blocklivin’ on the edge.” ers” who had no problem pushAside from the fact that ing folks aside on their way to getting tickets to an Aerosmith God knows where. concert, or any band or perI saw the dog food aisle and former who seeks “social justice,” sought refuge there for a few leaves one falling off the edge, the lyrics are pretty spot on.

I have never, I repeat, never shopped on Black Friday before. I don’t

By Dave Jolivet even leave the house. For me, that’s a day for minutes to catch my breath. putting up the tree, watching I poked my head around the college football and the annual corner and scrambled to the Boston Bruins’ Black Friday toilet paper aisle. No gift-seekers matinee game (that the NHL in its infinite wisdom took away there!

I picked up my items and this year).

But circumstances beyond my snaked my way up to the lines at control took me outside the cozy the registers that put the Great Wall of China to shame. comforts of home and from the While in line, I started thinkmound of tryptophan that was calling my name from the fridge. ing (I had plenty of time at that point to do so). What is hapI discovered I HAD to go to pening here? one of the major retailers for a All of this is going on — here much-needed item for a friend. and in stores all across the counI immediately offered to go, try. People are actually fighting, but on the drive there it hit me getting knifed or shot for this? .... Black Friday! Fighting the For what? Oh yeah, to celebrate increasing temptation to pull a the birthday of the Baby Jesus; U-ey (New England for Uturn), I made it through the traf- the Savior; the One Who would lead all of us away from this type fic to the parking lot. “At least of behavior. I wondered what is I’ll get in a two-mile walk each He thinking now? way,” I thought as I parked in a I emerged from the horror spot where I could barely make out the retailer’s enormous sign. show alive. I checked to see if I still had my wallet ... and my I entered and saw and heard limbs, and if so, if they were things I never want to see and intact. Check and check. hear again. This was around John Lennon once asked in 11 a.m., so there was nearly song, “So this is Christmas?”

12 hours of carnage that had No. “We’re seeing things in a already taken place. different way, and God knows it It looked as though the store ain’t His. It sure ain’t no surprise. actually vomited its inventory.

Clothes and shoes and CDs and We’re livin’ on the edge.” Not all of us.

DVDs and who knows what “Silent night. Holy night. All else were strewn all over the is calm. All is bright, ’round yon floor, racks, and I swear I saw Virgin, mother and Child. Holy some on the ceiling fans.

Infant so tender and mild. Sleep I had to figure out a gamein Heavenly peace. Sleep in plan quickly. I determined the Heavenly peace.” departments that would have That’s Christmas. No bluelittle to no people in them and made my way to my destination light specials. Just the light of the Star of Bethlehem. through them.

Dave Jolivet can be contacted I got what I needed, and figured I’d grab a couple of grocer- at davejolivet@anchornews.org.

My View From the Stands

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December 5, 2014

Area man pens ‘udderly’ adorable tale continued from page one

to notice girls around that age.

I didn’t mind being left out of the [basketball] games, but the girls? So I wrote a poem about the basketball team. I wrote it, but what am I going to do with it? The prettiest girl in the whole school was sitting next to me and I gave it to her, and Miss O’Brian caught me.”

The teacher had him bring up the paper to her, quietly read it to herself, and then told Caron to stay after school.

Caron jokingly said he was secretly pleased with himself, thinking, “Now I’m naughty; I’m one of the boys!” but soon learned the real reason O’Brian kept him after. The teacher had Caron pull up a chair, told him the poem was pretty good, and then proceeded to give him pointers on writing poetry; “She gave me a crash course,” said Caron, adding the teacher gave him encouragement in her words. “Don’t give it up, you’ve got talent.”

Caron quit high school at age 16, “not that I wanted to be noble,” he said, “but my folks needed help. My father was a good steady worker but my mom had too many kids to take care of to go to work herself.”

With World War II going on at that time, and knowing he’d be drafted at age 18, Caron joined the Merchant Marines, working his way up through the ranks. Just as he thought his service was done, Caron was pulled from the ship into the army due to his extensive training; “The army needed licensed officers, some of whom had experience running ship engines, so the army needed them so they drafted whoever they wanted,” he said.

It was during his Merchant Marine days that he began to put pen back to paper: “I was reluctant to let anybody know [about the poetry] but there was such little entertainment on the ship in those days, they would be entertained by anything, so they started posting my poems on the bulletin board,” said Caron.

Father Hebert became aware of Caron’s poetry skills when he became pastor of St. George’s Parish more than a dozen years ago, when Caron wrote him a poem to welcome him to the parish.

A couple of years later, Father Hebert approached Caron for a favor: “He told me he made this little story up about Catherine the cow, and to write

it into poetry,” recalled Caron.

“I gave it to him the next morning. It inspired me right off the bat.”

Thus began a tradition at the parish, where Father Hebert would include “The Tale of a Cow” during the Christmas season, gathering the children of the parish while Father Hebert would sit in a rocking chair and read the story. Years later, and after several people suggested he have the story illustrated and printed, Caron connected with Assonet resident Sara Goulart, then a 17-yearold student-artist at the Fall River Art Association, to do the illustrations.

Currently a freshman at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute of the Deaf and majoring in graphic design, Goulart worked with an interpreter to communicate with Caron to make his vision come to life.

“Working with Mr. Caron was an interesting experience.

He has a quite sharp pair of eyes, always catching things that he’d like to change. I tried my best to meet his expectations and in the end, he loved the book,” wrote Goulart via email. “I hope people will enjoy the book. I think it’s a great book for kids to read.”

Caron has already written and self-published his own book of poetry, “Chronology of Poetry,” by seeking inspiration from everywhere: his Merchant Marine days, work and “a lot of it was family,” said Caron, of his wife and three children.

He added, “I was a happily married man. I married the girl I wanted to marry, and we had 54 years together before she died of ALS,” in 2007.

He joined a poetry club in New Bedford about 15 years ago, and then shortly thereafter he joined a senior citizen poetry club in Westport, meeting once-a-week and submitting new poems each week: “My style has changed somewhat,” said Caron. “With a happy life, my poems were happy. When my wife was sick and died, everything was sad.”

Caron was all smiles while talking about his latest publication, and hopes that people will appreciate a fresh angle on the story of the birth of Jesus.

“I hope that the children, who are impressionable at a young age, would get something positive out of it,” he said.

Liturgical music composer John Michael Talbot gestures during a recent presentation at St. Michael Catholic Church in Sioux City, Iowa. Talbot, a Catholic, is founder of the Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage, in Berryville, Ark., and in the late 1960s and 1970s was a member of the country folk rock band Mason Profitt. (CNS photo/Jerry L. Mennenga, Catholic Globe)

Better music at Mass means closer encounter with Christ, composer says

impressive Bose sound sysSIOUX CITY, Iowa (CNS) an open-mouthed grin.

— During his two-day misAt St. Michael in late Oc- tem. His guitar riffs illustrated sion in Sioux City, contempo- tober, Talbot took mission why the former Mason Proffit rary Christian musician John participants on a walk through member could still rock with Michael Talbot was by turns the Liturgy. The word itself, the best.

Talbot was part of that a comedian, a guitarist and a he explained, has its origins in theologian. the Greek word “leitourgia,” or band with his brother, Terry, in the early 1970s. Then, both “All things are possible with “work of the people.”

God!” he exclaimed at St. Mi“Liturgy is the work of embraced an evangelical brand chael Church and urged those God,” he acknowledged. “But of Christianity and started releasing albums inpresent to repeat after fused with Christian him. atholics are notoriously known themes. John MiIt was those words, for having the worst music any- chael Talbot became a Talbot insisted, that would turn the tide where,” he continued, as a couple of “Amens” Catholic in 1978.

Even with teragainst the bad news were heard from the crowd. “We have to stir rible music and borthat just 17 percent up the power of the Holy Spirit through our ing preaching, Talof those who identify praise and worship and music.” bot said, there is one themselves as Cathoreason why Catholics lics attend weekly need to be at Mass.

Mass.

“Jesus is here,” he said, ges“Do you know what the I believe Liturgy is the work second largest denomination of the people and the work of turing to the tabernacle. “Jesus comes from the eternal to the in this country is?” he asked. God — come together.”

“It’s the 30 million people Bringing the Liturgy to life ‘now’ for each of us personwho are fallen-away Catho- must include bringing Litur- ally.”

“Get with the program of lics. And they are flocking to gical music to life, Talbot said.

Pentecostal churches.”

“Catholics are notoriously good singing and good preachTo counter that exodus, he known for having the worst ing!” Talbot’s voice rang out in focused his mission message music anywhere,” he contin- a “Sinners in the Hands of an on two dynamics — better ued, as a couple of “Amens” Angry God” reverberation.

The current situation could singing and better preaching. were heard from the crowd. be summed up in a “Dr. Phil” “That will translate to a “We have to stir up the power quote. deeper-engaged encounter, a of the Holy Spirit through our “How’s that workin’ for personal relationship with Je- praise and worship and music.” sus,” said Talbot, who is the Talbot paired better music ya?” inquired Talbot — the only Catholic presence on founder of the Brothers and with better preaching.

Sisters of Charity at Little “All preachers don’t have Trinity Broadcasting NetPortion Hermitage in Ber- to be Fulton Sheen,” he said, work — who began sharryville, Ark. Raised a Meth- referring to the famous New ing his televised messages odist, he joined the Catholic York archbishop and his TV of hope and inspiration each Church in the late 1970s. evangelism. “You need doc- week on “All Things Are PosTalbot takes his message trine, but you really need to sible” last year.

Talbot’s prayer was that afon the road to convalescent share your faith.” homes, inviting residents to Talbot shared his music ter his mission, Mass would raise their hands and twitch with the crowd. Clad in an un- never be the same again for their fingers. adorned monk’s robe, he had a those in attendance.

“We have to have a revival “I call it praise-ercize,” Tal- high-tech receiver clamped to in America, in our parishes, in bot proclaimed and then with his rope-belt that reverberated our lives,” he said. perfect comedic timing, added songs through an equally-

“C

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Youth Pages

Students from St. Michael School in Fall River recently sorted and arranged food donated by students and parishioners. The food was put together to be given to those in need. The eighth-grade class collected the most food.

December 5, 2014

Students in the St. Joseph Parish, Fall River, Faith Formation program enjoyed a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. The children watched “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving� and then enjoyed what the Peanuts gang had for Thanksgiving prepared by Snoopy: jelly beans, popcorn, toast, pretzels and a sugar cookie they decorated.

The students shared laughs, yummy snacks, and enjoyed each other’s company. The party was put on by Maureen Lizak, Verna Castro, and Doris Cabral and some of the Confirmation candidates as well as post-Confirmation teens.

Pre-kindergarten students at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Taunton recently readied for the Thanksgiving racer service.

Second-grade students at St. James-St. John School in New Bedford prepared for Thanksgiving by telling friends and families what they were thankful for.

At St. John the Evangelist School in Attleboro the buddy program teaches the kids to respect and care for each other. This program provides interactive activities between grades kindergarten and seven, and one and eighth, and the Service Program for grades seven and eight, whereby students give back to SJE. Recently, the kindergarten and seventh-grade buddies got together and made placemats and enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast of cookies, apple cider and pumpkin pie. The kindergartners also dressed as pilgrims and Native American people.

Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students at Holy Name School in Fall River recently enjoyed a special meal as pilgrims and Native Americans.

December 5, 2014

E

Youth Pages Let’s not take the Liturgy for granted

very year the second reading in the “Office of Readings” for the Memorial of St. Charles Borromeo challenges me. It is from a sermon he gave. He uses the example of a priest, but this is a challenge for anyone really: “(A) priest complains that as soon as he comes into church to pray the office or to celebrate Mass, a thousand thoughts fill his mind and distract him from God. But what was he doing before he came out for the office or for Mass? How did he prepare?

What means did he use to collect his thoughts and to remain recollected?”

A couple of other statements that I hear a lot can be added to these: “I just don’t get anything out of going to Mass” or “It’s boring.”

These questions and statements remind us of the importance of preparing for our participation at Mass. This preparation involves reflecting on what is going to happen and meditation on

the message of the Scriptures. This tions” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, No. 11). allows us to be more involved in the Now, I understand that saying we celebration of the Eucharist. need to prepare for Mass and actuI use that wording on purpose. Evally doing it are two different things. I eryone who walks into church for Mass don’t think any of us just don’t care. I has a role to play in its celebration. If think the reality is our lives are perhaps a parish’s Liturgy is vibrant, energetic chaotic before we arrive. There are a and Spiritumillion and ally uplifting, one things on it is because all our mind, very those present real stresses (priest, servers, and concerns, lectors, congrechallenges getgation) actively ting younger

By Father participated. If children David C. Frederici I didn’t spend focused and time preparing ready, etc. The the homily, looking over the texts and issue remains though, for Mass to truly taking time to prepare myself to preside be effective in our lives, we need to be at Mass, you would know it. In addiopen to the graces available and to do tion, the Church teaches “in order for that we need to be properly disposed. that the Liturgy may be able to produce I can only offer suggestions. The its full effects, it is necessary that the solution is going to be borne out of faithful come to it with proper disposi- trial and error, will perhaps change over time and is different for each person and family.

First, the readings are accessible long before the weekend. You can find the listing for next Sunday’s readings in this week’s Anchor. In addition, the readings can be found online at U.S. bishops’ website (www.usccb.org). There are also apps like iMissal which you can get on your smart phone. Throughout the week, find a few minutes to read over the readings. Perhaps take a line with you to reflect on during the week.

Before heading to Mass, take a moment to read the line once again. This could work also with daily Mass.

Be Not Afraid

For more than 25 years, Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth, has hosted a freshman retreat. The retreat focuses on three aspects of family: The family at home, the Stang family, and the family of Christ. It is a day-long event that concludes with Mass at 9 p.m. The retreat is facilitated by a group of senior leaders with faculty and coaches as support as well as a team of juniors who lift the community up in prayer throughout the day and night. It is one of the most memorable experiences of a Bishop Stang High School student’s life.

A play was recently held at the St. Pius X Life Center in South Yarmouth. “A Broadway Revue” was held as a conclusion of events at the parish celebrating its 60th anniversary. More than 50 parishioners participated in the play which was a revue of Broadway songs from “Sister Act,” “Godspell,” “George M,” “Fiddler On the Roof,” “Aladdin,” “Aspects of Love,” and “Beatlemania.” The choir was surprised by a visit from Pope Francis, Deacon Mike Hickey. (Photo by Rosemary Akin)

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Each week Father Robert Barron offers a podcast on the readings for the upcoming Sunday. This can be found at www.wordonfire.org. Each podcast is about 10 or 12 minutes and provides some great insights and practical applications of the readings.

On the way to Mass, perhaps it would be helpful to have a conversation about where you are going and what happens at Mass. It is an opportunity to hear God’s Word, to be in His presence as well as to celebrate and give thanks for all God has given us. After Mass, on the drive home, the conversation could be what each person heard.

Finally, as difficult as it may be, spending a few minutes in quiet before the start of Mass is very important.

There are some (who are able) who arrive for Mass a half hour early for quiet prayer and meditation. Others can only manage a few minutes, or perhaps moments. This time is critical to focus on what is about to happen and to prepare yourself to participate in the hymns, prayers and meditation that is about to occur.

We have a great privilege to be able to participate in the Divine Liturgy. Let’s be sure not to take this for granted and help one another offer worthy praise and thanksgiving to God. Anchor columnist Father Frederici is pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Pocasset and diocesan director of Campus Ministry and Chaplain at UMass Dartmouth and Bristol Community College.

The Anchor is always pleased to run news and photos about our diocesan youth. If schools or parish Religious Education programs have stories and photos they would like to share with our readers, send them to: schools@anchornews.org.

Middle school students from St. Francis Xavier in Acushnet posed in front of the Cuttyhunk Ferry on a recent expedition to Cuttyhunk Island which included a seal watch.

Students had been studying geography, sociology and science of the area in class and were able to enhance their research with field experience.

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December 5, 2014

Advent: Sense the presence of God around us continued from page one

to oneself, and Mary paves the way to her Son.” Under star-lit skies, countless illuminated colored lights quell the darkness of cold winter nights as pilgrims from around the world are led to the Christ Child, just as the Magi were 2,000 years ago.

St. Gabriel is the messenger angel, who announces the Incarnation of Christ and the pregnancy of Mary’s cousin Elizabeth, who was believed to be barren.

“The angel Gabriel left Mary with these stirring and powerful words: ‘Nothing will be impossible with God,’” said Liz Kelly in “50 Reasons I Love Being Catholic.” “I can’t help but believe that this message was more for us than for Mary.”

Traditions, rituals and customs are a part of our Advent observances. Often traditions have a religious origin which has been forgotten by commercial use.

“The challenge during these four weeks is not to be distracted by the commercialism of Christmas,” said Father Michael Racine, pastor of St. Bernard Parish in Assonet. “Only

we can do that in our individual lives by taking time each day to stop, breathe, pray and reflect on this Holy Season and its beauty.”

Often the first sign of the season is the Advent wreath, a circle of evergreens symbolizing God and eternity, with no beginning and no end.

“The Advent wreath and its candles represent the hope, joy, peace and love of Christ in our lives,” Father Racine said.

The four candles, symbolizing Christ the Light of the world, stand for the four weeks of Advent — three purple, the Church color of the season, and one rose, which is lighted on the third Sunday. Gaudete Sunday is the Sunday of rejoicing because it marks the halfway point of Advent.

A prayer is said each week at the candle lighting in our parishes and at home before dinner.

A European custom, an Advent calendar is another way to mark the passing of the days, awaiting the birth of the Christ Child. A window in the calendar is opened each day from the first day of Advent to

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Christmas Day. This ritual also teaches children about the season and is a good way to welcome Jesus into the celebration.

We place lights in the windows of our homes, following an old Irish tradition remembering the journey of Joseph and Mary. A candle was placed in the window on Christmas Eve to welcome any traveler.

We make amends. There is room at the inn.

Poinsettias, the traditional flower of the Christmas season, decorate our homes. The arrangement of its petals calls to mind the star of Bethlehem, while the red color symbolizes the love of the Redeemer.

We sing and listen to Christmas carols, as well as attend concerts and Nativity plays. St. Francis of Assisi is credited with popularizing Christmas caroling as a way to draw villagers into the Christmas Spirit.

Candy canes were created by an Indiana candy maker who made them in a “J” for Jesus.

The white represents Christ’s sinless nature. Three thin red strips show the scourging, while the large red stripe is the blood shed on the cross to give us the promise of eternal life.

Crèche is the French word for crib. St. Francis of Assisi re-enacted the first Christmas scene using live persons and animals 800 years ago. A Nativity scene is the most important part of our homes at Christmas.

Originally brought home by pagans trying to please the spirits which they thought dwelt in them, live Christmas trees became a symbol of the everlasting life to which we are called through the birth and death of Christ. Martin Luther is credited with the idea of decorating the Christmas tree. He attached candles to emphasize the tree as a sign of Salvation and light. “(Advent) is a period that focuses us on joy,” said Sister Chittister. “We come to realize more each year how great are our blessings, how beautiful is a life lived in concert with the Jesus Who came to show us the way. We learn the joy of anticipation, the joy of delighting in a sense of the presence of God all around us.”

For a calendar of events listing Advent Liturgies, concerts and special programs at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, visit www. lasalette-shrine.org.

First world day against human trafficking set for February

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The first International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking has been announced for February 8, the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese slave who eventually was freed and became a Canossian nun.

The day is intended to raise awareness and to encourage reflection on “the violence and injustice that affect” the numerous victims of trafficking, according to a recent press release from the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers.

Trafficking victims “have no voice, do not count, and are no one. They are simply slaves,” the council said.

The observance also is designed to seek solutions and promote concrete action to stop trafficking.

The organizers underlined the need to ensure the rights, freedom and dignity of all trafficked people and to denounce the criminal organizations involved in human trafficking, as well as those who “use and abuse” the victims as “goods for pleasure and gain.”

On his recent flight back to Rome from Strasbourg, France, Pope Francis told reporters “slavery is a reality inserted in the social fabric today, and has been for some time: slave labor, the

Marian Medal Awards Ceremony Available on Video FALL RIVER — The November 23 Marian Medal Awards Ceremony is available on DVD from the Diocesan Office of Communications. The DVD cost is $25.

To obtain one, please forward a check in that amount payable to the Diocesan Office of Communications, Diocese of Fall River, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, Mass. 02722.

Shipping is included in the video cost.

trafficking of persons, the sale of children — it’s a drama. Let’s not close our eyes to this. Slavery is a reality today, the exploitation of persons,” he explained.

The new observance is being promoted for all dioceses, parishes and Church groups by the council for migrants, the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the international unions of superiors general of men’s and women’s religious orders.

Several other Catholic organizations are supporting the initiative, including the Pontifical Academy for Social Sciences, Caritas Internationalis, World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations and Jesuit Refugee Service.

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks 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 Dec. 10 Rev. Thomas C. Briscoe, Former Pastor, St. Anne, Fall River, 1918 Rev. Andrew S.P. Baj, Former Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, New Bedford, 1971 Dec. 11 Rev. Edward L. Killigrew, Pastor, St. Kilian, New Bedford, 1959 Dec. 12 Rev. Paul F. McCarrick, Pastor, St. Joseph, Fall River, 1996

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December 5, 2014

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

ATTLEBORO — Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the St. Joseph Adoration Chapel at Holy Ghost Church, 71 Linden Street, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

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. through November 17.

ATTLEBORO — There is a weekly Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at St. John the Evangelist Church on N. Main St. 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 beginning at noon until 7:45 a.m. First Saturday, concluding with Benediction and concluding with Mass at 8 a.m. buzzards Bay — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, Monday through Saturday, from 6:30 to 8 a.m.; and every first Friday from noon to 8 a.m. on Saturday.

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

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

FAIRHAVEN — St. Mary’s Church, Main St., has Eucharistic Adoration every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Chapel of Reconciliation, with Benediction at 11:30 a.m. 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 — St. Bernadette’s Church, 529 Eastern Ave., has continuous Eucharistic Adoration from 8 a.m. on Thursday until 8 a.m. on Saturday.

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 and concluding with 3 p.m. Benediction in the Daily Mass Chapel. A bilingual holy hour takes place from 2 to 3 p.m. Park behind the church and enter the back door of the connector between the church and the rectory.

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.

MANSFIELD — St. Mary’s Parish, 330 Pratt Street, has Eucharistic Adoration every First Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with Benediction at 5:45 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. Please use the side entrance.

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

NEW BEDFORD — St. Lawrence Martyr Parish, 565 County Street, holds Eucharistic Adoration in the side chapel from 7:30-11:45 a.m. ending with a simple Benediction NORTH DARTMOUTH — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Road, every Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m., ending with Benediction. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available at this time.

NORTH DIGHTON — Eucharistic Adoration takes place every Wednesday following 8:00 a.m. Mass and concludes with Benediction at 5 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration also takes place every First Friday at St. Nicholas of Myra Church, 499 Spring Street following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending with Benediction at 6 p.m. The Rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 8 a.m.

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

OSTERVILLE — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 76 Wianno Avenue on First Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

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

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

Taunton — Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord, 31 First Street. Exposition begins following the 8 a.m. Mass. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed, and Adoration will continue throughout the day. Confessions are heard from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Rosary and Benediction begin at 6:30 p.m.

WAREHAM — Eucharistic Adoration at St. Patrick’s Church begins each Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. and ends on Friday night at midnight. Adoration is held in our Adoration Chapel in the lower Parish Hall. ~ PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION ~ East Sandwich — The Corpus Christi Parish Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 324 Quaker Meeting House Road, East Sandwich. Use the Chapel entrance on the side of the church.

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

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

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

Brother Marcel Crete, FIC

Alfred, Maine — Brother of Christian Instruction Marcel Crete died in the Southridge Rehabilitation and Living Center in Biddeford on November 24, of complications due to ALS. He was born in Barre, Vt. on Nov. 30, 1933, the son of Lionel and Irene (Morneau) Crete.

As a Brother of Christian Instruction since 1952, he obtained degrees from LaMennais College (Maine) and the University of Detroit.

He spent 25 energetic years in education in the Brothers’ schools in Maine, Massachusetts, N.Y., and Ohio.

In 1979 he was appointed provincial superior of the American province.

He was associated with the Notre Dame campus in Alfred, Maine since 1985 until his relocation to Southridge in August 2013.

Brother Marcel was a competitive multi-sport participant, enjoyed playing cards and especially being in nature, known for his energetic berry and apple picking on the Notre Dame campus in Alfred. He was known for his social outreach and enjoyed singing and making people laugh.

He was predeceased by his parents and siblings Robert, Gerald, Conrad, Louise Lemieux, and Anita White.

He is survived by a brother, Fernand of Burlington, Vt., a sister, Susan of Barre, Vt. and by many admiring nieces and nephews. He is greatly missed by his fellow Brothers of Christian Instruction.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held December 1 at the Notre Dame Chapel in Alfred. Interment followed at the Brothers’ Cemetery in Alfred.

Memorial donations can be made to the Brothers’ Retirement Fund c/o Brother Jerome Lessard, P.O. Box 159, Alfred, Maine. 04002.

Arrangements were under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale.

Around the Diocese St. Margaret Regional School on Main Street in Buzzards Bay will host its ninth annual Holiday Craft and Vendor Fair tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Attractions will include more than 40 tables of handmade crafts and catalog vendors, fresh Maine wreaths, baked goods, concessions, and lots of raffle items. The event is free to the public with plenty of parking. For more information, contact Dawna Gauvin at dmsgauvin@gmail.com or 508295-7879.

Bishop Stang High School, North Dartmouth, is holding placement exams at the school for incoming freshman applicants tomorrow and December 13 from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Suggested arrival time is 7:45 a.m. Registration online at www.bishopstang.org or walk-ins welcome. To be eligible for merit scholarships, the exam must be taken at one of these sessions. School tours for parents and financial aid discussion will commence at 8:15 a.m.

The Catholic Women’s Club of Christ the King Parish located on Jobs Fishing Road in Mashpee will sponsor its annual Christmas Fair tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the parish center. Featured will be a variety of crafters selling handmade items including old world Santas, gel candles, ceramic and porcelain tiles, melted glass cheese boards, jewelry, gourd creations, felted hats and purses, scarves, wooden angels, clutch purses, American Girl doll clothing and nautical ornaments. Additionally, there will be handcrafted live Christmas wreaths and seasonal arrangements, gift and cash raffles, lovely boutique items, unique hostess baskets, baked goods and a shopping room for children with facepainting and games. Hungry shoppers can relax over lunch in the Holly Café.

A Day with Mary will be held tomorrow at St. John the Baptist Parish, 945 Main Road in Westport, from 7:50 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. It will include a video presentation, procession and crowning of the Blessed Mother with Mass and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. There is an opportunity for Reconciliation. A bookstore is available. Please bring a bag lunch. For more information call 508-996-8274.

All are cordially invited to an Advent Taizé service on Sunday beginning at 6 p.m. at St. John Neumann Parish, 157 Middleboro Road in East Freetown. “Prepare ye the way of the Lord ... make straight His paths.”

The members of the Holy Trinity Charismatic Prayer Group invite all to join in an Advent Celebration on December 11 at 7:30 p.m. in Damien Hall at Holy Trinity Parish in West Harwich. The evening will begin with praise and worship followed by a presentation on Advent by Deacon Ralph Cox. Join in this opportunity to prepare for the coming of the Lord, praise Him, worship Him and share His Word; then join the group for fellowship after the service. All are welcome.

For more information contact Jane Jannell at 508-430-0014 or Eileen Sullivan at 508-432-8149.

A Healing Mass will be held on December 18 at St. Anthony of Padua Parish, 1359 Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford. The Mass will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will include Benediction and healing prayers. At 5:15 p.m. there will be a holy hour including the Rosary. For directions or more information visit www.saintanthonynewbedford.com or call 508-993-1691.

All are invited to join in prayer for “Building a New Culture of Life” on December 18 at 1 p.m. inside St. Jude’s Chapel of Christ the King Parish in Mashpee.

Prayers will consist of the four mysteries of the Rosary with brief meditations on each.

The Diocesan Marriage Preparation Program is looking for married couples who would like to enrich their Marriage while helping engaged couples prepare for their lifetime together. There is also a Re-Marriage Prep Program for couples entering their second Marriages. If you are interested in sharing the joys and challenges of married life, please contact your pastor or the Diocesan Office of Faith Formation at 508-678-2828 or email cmcmanus@dfrcs.org.

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December 5, 2014

Catholics should ‘rekindle’ commitment to end racism, bishop says

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The scenes of chaos and violence in Ferguson, Mo., November 24 following the grand jury’s decision not to indict the white po-

lice officer in the shooting death of Michael Brown, an AfricanAmerican teen-ager, reveal deeper issues going on in the country, said one of the coun-

try’s black Catholic bishops.

“The racial divide that exists between blacks and whites is not addressed adequately except when tragedies such as this happen,” said retired Bishop John H. Ricard of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Fla., who is president of the National Black Catholic Congress.

The smashed windows, lootings, car and building fires when the grand jury’s decision was announced were “part of a cycle of violence that is going to continue spiraling,” he added. The reactions also went against the Brown family’s wishes to keep “protests peaceful.” In a statement, the family urged the public to channel their “frustration in ways that will make a positive change. We need to work together to fix the system that allowed this to happen.”

When asked what can be done to work toward this “positive change,” particularly by the Catholic community, the bishop said Catholics should return to the passion many of them showed during the civil rights movement.

“We need to rekindle that commitment and not be so silent and only react when there is a great tragedy that forces us to,” he said.