12.08.00 by The Anchor

e nc 0 VOL. 44, NO. 47 • Friday, December 8, 2000

FALL RIVER, MASS.

FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COO & lHE fSLANDS Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly • $14 Per Year

Assonet· churches bent on keeping Christ in Christmas ~

'Christmas in the Village' is a monthlong ecumenical celebration of the Birth of Christ byCatholic and Protestant churches. By JAMES N.

DUNBAR

ASSONET - A wondrous array of exhibits, concerts and dramatic presentations designed to help families keep Christ in Christmas are about to begin. Called "Christmas in the Village," and presented by St. Bernard's Parish and the United Church of Christ (Congregational), the events will include religious services, carol sings, handbell and vocal choirs, story times for children, Breakfast with Santa, ''The Doorways of Christmas" entry decorating contest, the ''Trees of Christmas" contest for church and civil groups, open house at both village churches and what the planners are calling "many other surprises." A major portion of all donations made by visitors will benefit Our Sisters' Place, which offers shelter and support to battered women and their children. The Giving Tree Project will be collecting specified gifts for the multiple-handicapped residents of Crystal Springs School, the mothers and newborns of Birthright, and troubled youths in local group homes.

For many years, Father Timothy 1. Goldrick, pastor of St. Bernard's, has displayed his collection of hundreds of folk art creches at La Salette Shrine in . Attleboro every Christmas. But this year the display will come home to the Village' of Assonet as the centerpiece of "Christmas in the Village." ''This is the first year for the celebration and we're excited," said Bob Adams, the maintenance supervisor at St. Bernard's and unofficial coordinator of the core group working hard to put the festivities together. "When Father Goldrick found out that for the first 30 years of my career I did display. work for Sears, his eyes lit up," Adams said. "'You're the guy I need to set up my creches,' Father Goldrick told me, and I have been do-' ing that for several years." Father Tim's collection includes many unusual and one-of-a-kind Nativity scene pieces displayed in native settings. Depicting such scenes from around the world, they can be viewed during the celebrations in St. Bernard's church hall. ''This is the first time all 300 hundred sets of Father Tim's manger scenes will be seen by the public, because at La Salette, only 150 of them were set up over the years," Adams explained. Tum to page 13 - Assonet

These banners were part of a 10-quilt exhibit and Vespers service at St. Lpuis Church, Fall River, for World AIDS Day. "Hope Against AIDS," was made and desimned by students of St. John the Evangelist School, Attleboro, while "Uniting All People," was the work of Holy Name School, Fall River. Dr. Krysten Winter-Green, director of~IDSMinistry in the diocese said she is "very proud of the students' work." (AnchotiGorddn photos)

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THEANCHOR-:.:Diocese ofFall River-:-Fri., December 8, 2000

®bttuary

Kristallnacht service will air on TV; copies available

Sister Josephine Broussard SUSC

LOWELL - Holy Union Sister Josephine Broussard, 94, the former Sister Augustine Joseph, who had servedasareligiousfor78years,died Dec. 2 at St. Mary's Villa here. Born in Cambridge, the daughter of the late William and Josephine (Depatis) Broussard. she graduated from Catholic Teacher's College in Providence and earned a master's degree from Boston College. She enteredthe Holy Union Novitiate in Fall River in 1922 and made her final vows on July 27,1927. ....

PRINTING

Sister Broussard taught or administered at schools in Pawtucket, R.I.; FALL RIVER - A video of Taunton, cable channel 15, at 7:30 Taunton, Groton, Lawrence and the Kristallnacht memorial service 'p.m., on Sunday, Dec. 17 and 9:00 Chelsea in Massachusetts; and in celebrated by Catholics and Jews p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 20. Waterford, N.Y. She retired to St Mary's last month at St. Stanislaus Church Dates and times for playback in Lowell, in 1980. _ will air on public access channels in other cities and towns were not Besides her Holy Union Sisters she in communities in the Fall River finalized as The Anchor went to. leaves a sister, Emily BrousSard of diocese beginning next week. press. Those schedules will be Somerville, a brother, John Broussard, In Fall River, the video can be published in next week's edition. of Hawaii; a niece and two nephews. seen on cable channel 98 on Dec.. The nearly hour-long service of Her funeral Mass was celebrated Thursday in the Convent Chapel at II and 18 at 6 p.m. prayer, song and reflection comSt. Mary's Villa. Burial was today in In New Bedford, it will air on memorated the evening of Nov. 9, StBernard'sCemetery,Concord. cable channel 98 dn three Mon- 1938, when the German govern... days, Dec. 11, 18, and Jan. I, at ment initiated a Nazi pogrom 10 p.m.; and on consecutive Fri- against the Jews of Germany, burnMAILING SERVICES days, Dec. 15,22,29, and Jan. 5, ing down synagogues and smash' jl1g'the glass fronts ofJeWishshops , at noon. . In North Attleboro' and "in Berlin. K.~is,tallnach.t:~eans

LEARY PRESS

FAX (508) 673-1545

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ATTLEBORO - The Hispanic Apostolate of the Fall River' diocese will sponsor a bilingual Mass celebrated by Bishop Sean P. O~Malley, OFM Cap., on Sunday at 5 -p.m.,.in St. Joseph's Church, Attleboro, to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, as well as observing the second Sunday ofAdvent. Following the Mass there will,

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be a formal program of music and dance to explain the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Blessed Juan Diego outside Mexico City in Guadalupe in 1531. The typical 'Guatemalan dance, "San Bernardino," explaining the third appatition, has been organized by Mauro Quevedo, a member of the Hispanic Community at St. Francis Xavier Parish, Hyannis.

Entertainment and dinner will follow. A bus will leave for the celebration from St. Francis Xavier's Parish parking lot in Hyannis at 2:30 p.m., on Sunday for the Attleboro celebrations.

For more information and to make a reservation, call Father Richard Wilson or Lorraine at 675-1311, extensi9n 102.

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Jan. 16March 31

Copies ofthe KristaUnacht service video may be obtained from the Diocesan Office of Communications by calling (508) 675- . 0211. The cost is $15, which inc.hi~~ shipping' ~ci. handling.

Mass on Sunday to celebrate patroness of the -Americas

234 SECOND STREET· FALL RIVER, MA TELEPHONE (508) 679-5262

"night of broken glass," and the moving service included the sound of glass breaking following a period of silent reflection. Leading the service were Bishop Sean P. O'Malley, OFM Cap., Rabbi William Kaufman and Cantor Richard Wolberg of Temple Beth EI, and Father Marc H. Bergeron, the ecumenical officer for the Diocese of Fall River.

Michael Corso

Spring Open House Wednesday, February 21, 2001 9am-4 pm To iIfroduq you to the motIRtS, IacuItY ..d staff of the 1nstItutil. Please joiIus for ..y or aU of the . foIowlng activities: 9:00 Check-ln 1:00 Lunch 9-.30 Welcome/ Coffee 2:00 P.... Dlscassloll 10:00 Institute Oass . 3:30 TOll' of BC CanIpus 12:15 Uturgy 4:00 Qr. A1IaIt

Boston College For inFormation or to R5VP For the Open House (on/orl: Mary Mogennis

Institute of Religious Edurotion and Poslorol Ministry Deportment D·] Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-3931 800-487-1167 or 617-552-8440 Fox: 617-552-0811 Email: irepm@bcedu \'Iww.bcedu/irepm

ALMATY, Kazakstan (CNS) an American, was. ordained bishop Franciscan Father Henry Howaniec, for the apostolic administration of ~-----.. - ,Almaty, the capital of Kazakstan. The 69-year-old bishop was orDaily Readings dained last' week by Archbishop Marian Oles, apostolie nuncio to Dec 11 Is 35:1-10; Ps Kazakstan, Archbishop Alberto 85:9ab-14; Lk Tricario of the Vatican Secretariat 5:17-26 ofState and Bishop Jan Pawl Lenga Dee 1'2 Zee 2: 14-17 or of Karaganda, Kazakstan, reported Rv 11 :19a;12:1-, ,U~ANews,.anAsian.chu~h news 6a,10ab; P s · .. ,. 45 11 12 14 17 agency. based in Thailand:: :'. -: .' Lk:1 ~r ~k ::::A n~t!Ve:b(G~'~a'gp~-·Bfsb-Qp 1:39-47 . ' Ho~a~!ec was ~~eq}p~~t~~,c Dee 13 Is 40:25-31; Ps .:', ad~~p~l'~torof ~~~ty,~t1!:i\~~~st 103'1-48·10' Mt-." _. ":':" .',: ••.• -:<... :.> . .."" ... 11:28-30<;:-:-•. ::: ':<,.- ',-» :,<:.~.:<,:-:,:.>:-:,

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1999, when Pope John Paul II created the Karaganda Diocese and the ·apostolic administrations of Almaty, Astana'and Atyrau from the single apostolic administration that had covered Kazakstan. Catholics number close to . 400,000, the largest number of Catholics in Central Asia. More than half of the 55 priests in the country are Polish. 'Carmelite nuns who recently set . up' 3; mona~t~ry ~¥.aganda were :~e n.in.t/:1 woml?ri'~ ~O!1gregat{on to

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,11:1'1;15' <::,:,., .. ' ...•. :.1 .. :.': :',,-. :. _. , I~, , I . Is 48:17-19; Ps .. ' . : .:, . . 1:1-4,6; Mt .. Please pray for the followlng 11:16-19 ' d ' the comlng . wee k Dec16 Sir48:1-4,9-11; przests urmg Ps 80:2-3,1516,18-19; Mt Dec. 11 17:10-13 1959, Rev. Edward L. Killigrew, Pastor, St. Kilian, New Bedford Dec 17 Zep3:14-18a; (Ps) Is 12:2-6; . Dec. 12 Phil 4:4-7; Lk 1996, Rev. Paul F. McCarrick, Pastor, St. Joseph, Fall River 3:10-18 Dec. 13 1972, Rev. Reginald Theriault, O.P., St. Anne, Dominican Priory, Fall River 1.111111111111111111111111111111 1991, Rev. A~rien L. Francoeur, M.S., LaSalette Shrine, Attleboro THE ANCHOR (USPS-545-{)20) Periodical Dee15

Postage Paid at Fall River. Mass. Published weekly except for the first two weeks in July am the week after Christmas at 887 Highlam Avenue. Fall River, Mass. 02720 by the Catholic Press ofthe Diocese ofFall River. SuOOcription price by mail. postpaid $14.00 per year. POSfMASTERS send address changes to The Aochor. P.O. Box 7. Fall River. MA 02722.

Dec. 14 1970, Rev. Msgr. John 1. Hayes, Pastor, Holy Name, New Bedford Dec. 15 1942, Rev. Mortimer Downing, Pastor, St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis

THEANCHOR- Diocese ofFall River- Fri., December 8, 2<XX>

Legion of Mary annual reunion set for Dec. 10 NEW BEDFORD St. Mary Parish in Fairhaven will be host to Sunday's annual reunion of the Legion of Mary in the Fall River diocese. The service, which begins at 2 p.m. in the church, will include recitation of the rosary and Benediction. A reception will follow in the church baseDIALOGUE - Clergy from across the region attended the recent, semi-annual confer- ment. All members of the Legion ence sponsored by the Catholic-Jewish Dialogue Committee of the Martin Institute at Stonehill of Mary as well as family College. Keynote speaker was Dominican Father Bruce Williams, second from right, whose and friends are invited to attopic was "Honesty and Hope in the Catholic-Jewish Relationship:' Among those attending tend. were, from left, Professor Emeritus James Kenneally of Stonehill College; Father Francis Planners 'say the yearly event Cloherty of St. Patrick's Church, Brockton; Rabtii H. David Werb of Temple Beth Emunah, . provides an occasion for memBrockton; Father Williams, and Father Marc H. Bergeron, ecumenical officer for the Fall River bers of various praesidiums to ' diocese and pastor of S1. Anne's Church, Fall River.' get to know one another better and also offers an opportunity to coordinate recruiting pro-

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greets arrival of new nuncio

Father Barry Wall, diocesan director, at 672-7232.

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ROME - Before Archbishop Michael A. Courtney even set foot . '. . ' .. >: 1st,~~nd;~rtt"'OflTQ~~:: :=: PUrchase·or R4lii'l«e .' • '. on Burundian soil, he got a recepImprovel1)e~t& Repair .'. FERTILIZER & TREATMENT tion which was "hotter than one Debt Consolidation ' Programs Custom Tailored ForVour Lawn Credit Card Pay Oils would expect." Home Equity Loans The 55-year-old Irish prelate,. Commercial Loans who is the Vatican's new nuncio to 2nd Homes Tuition Burundi, was a passenger on the Sell E~loyed Sabena airline flight which was hit No Income Verfication by machine-gun fire Monday as it Weed, Insect & Disease Control Poor Credit· No Credit Pay OH Liens & Attachments (Pesticide FREE Programs Available) was about to land in Bujumbura, • Dethatchlng. Slice Seeding Foreclosure· Bankruptcy Burundi's capital. • Aeration • Sail Testing Application taken.on phone' • Archbishop Courtney was not injured, but another passenger and a crew member were, although not ',' . ~~hfWlfzil1t~~·' ~08~~,~' 'Uu u ----.... 1.i:ensed&Cel'iliednTlIfbv~dFocd&AgicIm Free application on Intemet seriously, according to a spokesISSUES - Pleased with the turnout at the recent fiveFall River ~UIJYlnsured http://www.ccnm.com man for Sabena. The plane was hit by six bullets. week series "In Support of Life" offered by the Diocesan OfEnvirorvnentaUy Responsille Lawn Care ·APR 8.3~:' ~ri~~~10k min. "I heard metal cracking as we fice of Adult Education, some of the planners and presenters ~~~~~~~~~=--_~~~~~~~~~ were about to touch down," Arch- took time for this candid shot at St. Stanislaus Church. From o~ bishop Courtney told Catholic left, Seminarian David Erwin, Lisa M. Gulino, director of Adult News Service in a telephone in- Education; speaker Father Francis McManus, S.J.; Thomas terview. "I heard this enonnous Pasternak, and Suzanne McMann, a member of the ISOL bang and there was blood allover task force. The series centered on end-of-life issues includ$1,245 pIp. '. '. " .. ,. the place." ing the spirituality for dying persons and their families, health. The archbishop said he thought April 16 - 21, 2001 (April Sc~l Vacation) something had broken and that the care, pain management and palliative care. Travel with Rev. George Almeida, injured passenger, sitting three rows in front of him, had been hit Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Swansea, MA as the broken piece fell. All ofthe passengers were seated with their seat belts on in preparation for the landing, he said. $1,649 pIp Archbishop Courtney said he was very nervous because he does May 14 - 23, 2001 - 10 days not like loud noises. "If I was in Travel with Rev. Edward A. Murphy my room and somebody dropped Holy Name Parish, Fall River, MA a book, I'd jump:' The vast majority of the 170 people on the plane did not know the plane was being shot at, he said. When they landed, the pilot $2,495 pIp announced the plane was experiJune 24 - July 5, 2001 - 12 days encing "technical difficulties and we were asked to stay in our seats." Travel with Rev. Dave Costa Archbishop Courtney said the Sacred Heart Parish, No. Attleboro, MA incident was "a pity because Sabena only recently resumed Venice, Florence, Pisa, Assisi, Rome, flights from Europe to Burundi. Sorrento, Capri, Pompeii For people trying to reopen communications to have to face this is a shame." Please call The new nuncio to Burundi was ANNUAL BRUNCH More than 100 alumnae of Do1200 Fall River Ave., Seekonk, MA named by Pope John Paul in late August and ordained a bishop Nov. minican Academy gathered recently for the Jubilee 2000 ob12. He had been the Vatican's rep- servance of their annual Communion Brunch. Among those resentative to the Council of Eu- attending were, from left, Dominican Sister Louise Synan, Pauline Nadeau, Geraldine Saucier and Sheryl Nowak. rope.

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Diocese ofFall River - Fri" December 8,2000

themoorin~ .-

the living word

The needfor closure

There can be little doubt that the American people' want closure to the current presidential stalemate. Poll after poll indicates th~ the public and th~ nation have need for fmalityin this situation that daily becomes more,'annoying. Even those who did not participate i.n the votIng process, .about 50 percent of the population, have come,a1ive on this issue. Slid to:say, where were they;before EIectioriDay?The'n'ationai mood.is <;reating a public cynicism that only can have a negative effect On the complete political' pcocess:Po'rte,p~' o(tl)is ,~q~iJ;1g~c!!~sat~~(actiop;,~~~ ~~ig.~n.t, bef?re ~e }~o~'" 7 e1~tion .. Th~ cOIwe_ntions wen~ dul\ ~d !loring; they had no fire.; that would irifla,nie'. public'· mvolvenient. ,.The issues surfaced in the', campaign,itself did 'little to move people to ';1 definitive position. This: lackadaisical mind-set has· brought us' to thi$ current .~le,ctoral-crisis. : "J As a result,. a real turf war has evolved which has serious ramifi-; . • ' . ,. . " •. ~ations for the three branc~es qf governmen~ The Capitol Hill crowd,:' the so-called pros, never expected such a. clo,se:'Call electioQ:,~<N!Jw;' t6ey are scrambling' for their livelihOods. NO(901y -is .the presid¥ncy' ~j stake but many WaShjngton career peop~e fi~d their. future em~ ployment at stake. So many are fighting ~qrthei~j.()bs that,the¥. simply have a~ded to the din the time~;.For some· it's outrightwarfare.: Politicians are,huding accusations that one step removed~ from fire and. brimstone.

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~o~mg hgNs t~~(~~r-"pr'~s~,i1!~~e?I~:, fh,~. p~p.OC?s¥,.P! ~t. all ~S,' .othmg m6h~ man\gahmg and',B6es rlol:'15tay: wen WIth the Amen- . 6in people. Whoever'gets tlk White House will have a tough time . dealing with this reality. He will need more than a trauma intensive· care unit to bring healing to the electorate. ALBERT BEAUDOIN, SACRISTAN FOR ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL, LIGHTS CANDLES AT ST. LoUIS Now to make things worse, enter lawyers from stage right and CHURCH, FALL RIVER, FOR THE ANNUAL VESPERS SERVICE ON WORLD AIDS DAY, left. If anything could become more' confused, the legal profession certainly will add fuel·to the fire with its subjective and narrow DECEMBER 1. (ANCHOR/GORDON PHOTO) clients' interests. Patronage is never objective and the lawyers will . <V~ays use their energies ~9:4~(eJ1d..,thQ~Mh.ey re,Rres~~.n! .. i\,g,rnL~~e: " ,;',:, ~ ;, ,.~~,;r:HE ..LORD'IS,MY;'LIGHT·AND''MY, SALVATION" PSALMS 27:1 o mQl.~;i$,;i6fWg,r;\'blweI ~~~~'~.aWq~hin the SJ.tpre¥}e Cpurtsl lJ)s'oecome eroded' 6y PM~s~:f>~'!n~:,whas a hara"tirile< seeKing:, . .-... \";';v ~.'. ; ,...~ J. objectivity because in essence the 'court 'is the creation of politics.:' Each judge has to be Presidentially' nominated and confirmed by Congress. There can be nothing more partisan than this procedure of power. However, given the present circumstances, where would the politicians go other than the courts for an outward sign of approval. Hoping that the American people buy the idea of juridical independence, those seeking justification for their cause hope to be qovered in the mantle of judicial approv3.l. By FATHER EUGENE HEMRICK ~ Jl.l&tieS.O!l:theU:.wrt.~W;1ys,bav<e.toface the battle oJ intimidaCATHoucNEWSSERVICE sponsored in November by the about the 'terminator seed,''' she' dOIiE:~~~~areif'in t.his c.gunt.~ our)udic~al systein~ have done, National Catholic Rural Life Con- told me, and then went on to ex~vet)'thmg they can tP ~,:o~: ~s i}ega~Ne f!JrCe. The hIstOry of our When I was on the Plainfield, ference in Bloomington, Minn. plain: "This seed produces only high court has to be seen" ih- its ilfteinptat impartiality. Being political tlhll ., Vollundteer Fifre Dep~mthent I'n During that conference, Bernard one crop. You usually can take ears e ear y ays 0 my pnes 00 d Evans, a'Catholic social concerns of com,; dry out their kernels and c~eations, the justices bring ~ith :t?e~ their own bag of po~itical we had a yearly pancake festivai leader in Minnesota, said that use them as seed the ne'xt year. tnc~. How the~ play out ,theIr partIalItIeS often affects th~ ~ltImate ' -thatentailed, among other things, biotechni~al engineering and ge-., But the. dried-qut corn. ke~n.el decISIons th~ drrect ~encan l~e ~0r.better or worse~ThIs IS what slaughtering several hogs and netic l!-Iteration continue to in-. from the terminator seed Will the country IS now facmg on the JUdICIal level. May we all hope that then selling the bacon, inner and crease dramatically. He asked, "Is neyel'grow'again. If all has to do the courts realize the effect their ~ecisi9ns will have not just on the' outer ribs, and sausage on festi- this gooafor-our healtb'?" .. ,. with,making money.": . candidates or 'the' politicill-partfes, but on the nation'as a whole. val day. . Evans "went on·:to nore'thatIssues like this are cropping up Also, may what they do be done quickly. Dragging out the legal Often I packe~up several,' far,nij'Qg, ~l(l'ie.ntly,:,is:·beirig ~ with greater frequency these days, process will only erode public confidence. in the system. The people. pounds of our'homeina:de'sau-: ch,~llg~4,~Y.'.a ~all,~u~p~ro Pf'. leading me·to ask what Catholics of our nation deserve animpartial and'de<::isive legal mandate that' sage, drov~ ho~e'through t~e' ~ P~9l?1~,- a.~~.,th~~~. !l~~ . th~ ,opes ca~' do fo help'keep fariners on theIr farms. will heal the body politic back roads of Plauifield' and diS- " WIth an e~9qomIc mterest. , , . 'Th~ Editor tributed it among friends. Wh'en Speaker John' Hart, professor' We must realize the moral obthey ate it, they just couldn't be- of theology at Carroll College in ligation we have to become inIieve it was sausage. The reason Helena, Mont., pointed out that volved in farm policy and the was the absence of thepreserva- the United States has one-fourth ethical questions surrounding tives and inferior ingredients that of the world's prime agricultural ,food production. We can't excuse often tum sausages into some- land, but is losing three million ourselves on grounds that such to four million acres a year - to issues are beyond our competence thing akin to fried Brillo pads. OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF tHE DIOCESE OF FALL RIYER or that we live in a city or suburb But the pancaJee festivals are urban sprawl, for example. no more, and the farms our hogs He also said that money has where farming doesn't exist. Published weekly by The Cathol.ic Press of the Diocese of Fall River If we don't educate ourselves came from have been sold. Their become an idol and that the stock .887 Highland Avenue P.O. BOX 7 beautiful black soil, which pro- market has become a religion and our children on the moral imFall River, MA 02720 Fall River, MA 02722-0007 . duced some of the nation's finest whose followers practice over- plications of these farm issues, we Telephone 508-675-7151 com, has been covered over by consumption and blur the distinc- should expect to hear more reports FAX (508) 675-7048 sprawling townhouses and roads. tions between wants and needs. on recalls of food that is unfit to Send address changes to P.O, Ball 7 or call telephone number above The past is past. But can anyAs I reflect on these concerns, eat. Furthermore, if we don't learn NEWS EDITOR thing be done today to ensure I'm reminded of a recent conver- it now, we'll learn some day in EDITOR GENERAL MANAGER James N. Dunbar food of high quality and to pre- sation I had with a. parishioner the future that we squandered the Rev. Msgr. John F. Moore Rosemary Dussault . serve the farms which produce it? who works for a national farm very source of our food supply by PRODUCTION MANAGER For one thing, we can have agency in Washington. destroying precious farm land and Dave Jollvet more meetings such as the one "Father, there is great concern creating fewer farms.

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Put in my place, again Recently, for at least the one Athletes whose time to win a when's the last time these guys ever billionth time in my lifetime, I world championship is running thin paid anything to see anything? . Not only don't they pay to see was put in my place. Now, for consistel'1tly sign on with the Yanmost of those one billion times, it kees to get that ring. rich folk play, but they get paid was a legitimate come uppance. So, anyone with half a brain for it themselves. And the pay is But this time, I don't buy it should have been upset by the an- not all that bad. They get the best I use the term "I don't buy it" nual fall right ofpassage of the Red seats in the house, are fed by the for a reason. You see, the most Sox to raise prices, right? host team, travel around the counrecent object of my ire try, if not the world. was the hike by the BosAnd they get to tell me ton Red Sox of their 200 I that I shouldn't gripe ticket prices. about price hikes. Now, the average price ',. When is the last time for a single Red Sox ticket these guys ever had to is $35. A bleacher ticket, scrimp and s~ve to send for which, as a lad, I had two or three kids to a to shell out $1, now is parochial grammar B.y Dave Jolivet $18. That is the "cheapschool? When is the last est" seat in the house. The time they had to buy most expensive is $55. Stop & Shop products This price increase was instead of brand names the sixth in as many seasons by Not so. This is where I was put to save money? When is the last the Home Town Team. in my place by a number of sports time they couldn't keep up with Part of the reasoning by the writers who can't see what the big the Joneses when it came time to powers that be is that Fenway deal is all about give their kids Christmas presents? Park has the smallest seating caWe are told that all things con- When was the last time their idea pacity in baseball, consequently, sidered, the price hike wasn't all of a big night out with the family ticket prices must be the highest that bad. After all, the average price was going to the Golden Arches? in baseball to "stay competitive." of a Patriots, Bruins or Celtics Now, I'm beginning to underIf staying competitive means ticket is around $50. stand. The price hike is not that always the bridesmaid and never We are also told that to be able bad - for the have's, not the havethe bride, then, yes, by all means to pay ridiculously high player not's. are the Red Sox competitive. salaries, clubs must request ridicuThose of us who aren't afflu. ent don't have a say in any of this. Never mind the fact that our lously high ticket prices. Besides, it costs beaucoup bucks In fact, we're not needed. Should archrivals down Interstate 95 have won more world championships to go to any entertainment venue any of us who still feel the daily crunch of life ever stop shelling in the last five years than we have these days. out some hard-earned cash once a Well, don't I feel better now. in a century. Except for one thing. When is year to take our families to a game, Also, never mind that these sameYankees perennially beef up the last time these sports pundits we wouldn't be missed. There are still plenty of people an already loaded team each had to shell out a couple of hunoffseason - case in point this year dred dollars to take a family of who happily support the rich in is the signing of Mike Mussina. four, five or six to a game?}n _f~c~, . this.c.ou.'!try: _ ... _

My View Frorrfthe .Stands ,

These knowledgable sports writers have indeed put me in my place, and that place is the lower class. But to be honest, most of my friends are in the same class, and we kind of like it here. And, I ashamed to say, when reality eventually takes over in the sports world and things crash and burn, watching that unfold will be my favorite sports entertainment. Dave Jolivet is a former sports writer/editor, and current staff member of The Anchor.

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (CNS) bishop of Canterbury --: ruled that During this year's prolonged elec- a man named Wilfrid was the righttion - with its ballot recounts, ful bishop of York. How did St Chad react when court challenges and chads of every description - neither presi- Theodore asked him to step down? According to the Butler entry on dential candidate would merit a St Chad, he replied, "If you conhalo. And both Texas Gov. George sider that I have not been properly BuSh and Vice President Al Gore ordained, I gladly resign. I never could learn a lot from one Catho- thought myself worthy of the office and agreed to undertake it, lic saint. Consider the life of a seventhcentury saint who, according to the Bede did not say Venerable Bede's Church history of England, was ordained· bishop whether St. Chad had a . . dimpled countenance, arid of York in 665. Bede described this saint as "a holy man of modest character, well Chad's stqry suggests that versed in the Scriptures, and prac- he never hung around. ticing with diligence what he had learned from them." though unworthy, under obedience." His name was Chad. However, Theodore was so imBede did not say whether St Chad had a dimpled countenance, pressed by Chad's humility that he and Chad's story suggests that he sanctioned his ordination as bishop and named him to head the English never hung around. But Chad had one thing in com- see at Lichfield. According to an Associated Press mon with the lower-case counterpart that has been so much in the report, St Chad researcher Joseph post-election news - he was dis- Harbaugh, law dean at Nova Southplaced. The lower-case chad is the eastern University in Fort Laudersmall bit of paper debris punched dale, Fla., said that "it certainly benout by voters using punch-card efited St Chad when he humbly ballots. . stepped aside." "Who knows if doing that might St. Chad, as those familiar with Bede's writings or "Butler's Lives benefit Gov. Bush or Vice President of the Saints" know, was displaced Gore," he added. The events leading up to St. as bishop of York in 669. His superior - Theodore, the new arch- Chad's resignation had as many

twists and turns as any presidential campaign. According to accounts, in 664, the son of King Oswy of Northumbria, an English kingdom, appointed Abbot Wilfrid as bishop' of the Northumbrian diocese of York. But Wilfrid went to Paris to be ordained bishop, and then lingered there for two years rather than return to the wild moors of York. When it seemed that Wilfrid intended to stay in Paris, King Oswy intervened. He sent Chad, who was then abbot of Lastingham, to be consecrated bishop of York by the bishop of Winchester, who had to be assisted by two other bishops. Wilfrid apparently had gone to Paris for his ordination so that it would be done in the Roman tradition rather than in the Celtic tradition then practiced in England. It created problems for St. Chad. The two bishops who assisted in . ordaining Chad followed Celtic customs. And, in Theodore's eyes, that was enough to invalidate Chad's ordination and bring about his chadlike displacement. Though it would be an interesting coincidence, St Thomas More - not St. Chad - is the patron saint of statesmen and politicians. The British martyr, who lived 800 years after St. Chad, was given this patron's recognition by papal proclamation just this year, on Oct. 31.

Comments are welcome at anchornress@sneplanet.com.

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THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River- Fri., December 8,2000

Iteering pQintl BRIDGEWATER - The BridgewaterState College Band will perform at the seventh annual Shelter Concert Sunday at 3 p.m. at St. Basil'sCatholic Centerat Bridgewater State College. It will include seasonal favorites and carols. For more information call 531-1377.

p.m. in the rectory of Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. Courage is a support group for Catholic men and women. who are confronting same sex attraction issues and striving to lead chaste lives. For more information -.:;a11 Msgr. Thomas Harrington at 992-3184.

CENTERVILLE - The Faith Club of Our Lady of Victory Parish will meet Dec. 12 and 19at7:30p.m. The Faith Club is a faith formation group for adults with learning or developmental disabilities. Refreshments will be served. For more information call 775-5744.

NEW BEDFORD - Calix, a group which enlists Catholic men and women who are gratefully celebrating recovery from ·a1coholism, drug addiction and otherdependencies, will meet Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the parish center of Holy Name of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Newcomers are always welcome.

EAST TAUNTON - A program entitled ''End of Life Issues;' will be presented on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the church hall of Holy Family Parish. There will be discussion and a question and answer period. for more information call 824-5707.

NEW BEDFORD - The Daughters of Isabella Hyacinth Circle #71 will hold its annual Christmas dinner Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish center. A < .- - . brief meeting will follow and canned 1'; FAIRtt{WN· ....... :OurLady's goods for the food pantry will be Haven will celebrateFairhaven's third . collected. For more information call annual Very Victorian Holiday Sat- 993-9179. urday from 10 am. to 3 p.m. It will . include an "aideTyme Faire," baked NORTH DARTMOUTH goods, arts and crafts and storytell- A Separated-Divorced Group will ers. For more information call 999- meet Dec. 11 from 7-9 p.m. at 4561. the Diocesan Family Life Center, 500 Slocum Road. It will include FALL RIVER - Hours for a a Chinese auction and attendees w~~~~!.'~. 8r!~~?p;at ~t."'; _are}ske~:!Q ~li~~-:l~I,~~ap,pe,d,~~:,

~~."..,~~.:;: . . . . . . . .~..._~1,..' ~6l¥o~1,,:~-...,-=:-n"""--:M~

andDec.17from2-5p.m.Speakers will include Bishop O'Malley and Eileen George. FALL RIVER - Saint·Anne's Hospital is seeking adult volunteers to help for two-three hours a week in several departments. Some duties ingl\lde providing refreshments to paije~ bOOmaking, restocking suPPlies ~~nen, and assisting pati~nJs with fuea.·trays. For more infomiation call 674-5600, ext. 2080. . .

. NORTH DARTMOUTHThe next Retrouvaille weekend will be held Jan.12-14 and offers couples a chance to heal and renew troubled marriages. Rediscover yourself and , your spouse in a loving relationship in marriage. For more information call1-800470-22300rtheDiocesan Office of Family Ministry at 999_6420. '_ '" ,_ ORLEANS -A Separated-Divorced Catholics Support Group will meet Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the parish center ofSt. Joan of Arc Churcll. It will include a Yankee Swap and attendees are asked to bring a wrapped $5-$8 gift and a food item to share. For more information call Father Richard Roy at 255-0170.

HYANNIS ~ A support group for parents, families and friends of gays and lesbians meets on the second Monday of each month from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Catholic Social Services building, 261 South Street. They offer a safe and confidential setting to share experiences and concerns. For more information call SOMERSET - A Christmas 771-6771. concert will be held tonight at St. Louis de France Church. It will beMASHPEE - Christ the King gin with Mass at 7 p.m. and the Parish has 1,000 blue vinyl covers .Elmwood Brass Ensemble will perfor Oregon Catholic Press missalettes form at 8 p.m. For more informaand musical supplementS available for tion call Father Roger LeDuc at 674free. For more information call 477- 1103. 7700.. WFSI' HARWICH - The St. NEW BEDFORD - The New Francis of Peace Fratemity, secular Bedford CatholicWomen's Club will Franciscan Order will meet Sunday meet Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Cen- fornoon Mass at Holy TrinityChurch. tury House, 107 South Main Street, . A di~ussion will follow. Acushriet. Musicalentertainment will be provided by theMss New Bedford WEST HARWICH- The first Group. For more information call n:teeting of The Mission Friends of 9954053.. . Honduras will be held Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. in the church hall of Holy TrinNEWBEDFORD-:-TheCour- ity Parish. For more information call age Group will meet Saturday at 7 4324000..

When was Jesus really born? Q. The Gospel says the ~gi brought gifts of The explanation generally accepted by most scholgold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold I under- ars today is that Church authorities of that time asstand. But why frankincense and myrrh? (Texas) signed the birth of Christ to the date of the winter A. Both myrrh and frankincense are aromatic gum solstice. In our calendar, the winter solstice is Dec. 21. In resins used as incense or as'ingredients for in~nse. the Julian calendar, howMyrrh was also used for ever, which predated our perfumes and embalmcalendar and was in effect ing. in those days, the solstice Both were produced was Dec. 25. (The Egypparticularly in Africa, tian calendar has it on Jan. were highly prized and 6, which is why this date very costly. They would is still followed for have been gifts at least as By Father Christmas in some Eastprecious as gold. John J. Dietzen ern-rite Christian Q. Can you answer a question for our fam- L....;._~ churches.) The solstice, when days ily? Our children are asking when people started to celebrate Christ- begin to lengthen in the Northern Hemisphere, was mas. And where? How do we know that's when referred to by many non-Christians as the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun. During the 2oos, Roman Jesus was born? Can you help? (New York) A. I can help, but the answers may not be what Emperor Aurelian dedicated Dec. 25 to the sun god, you expect. First of all, strange as it seems, we have whose cult was particularly strong in' Rome at the . no idea of the date or even the year of Our Lord's tim~ Even before this, Christian writers referred to birth. Our only source for this information would be Jesus Christ as the Sun of Justice. It seemed logical, the Gospels, and they are no help. From information supplied in the Gospel accord- then, that as Christianity began to dominate the reliing to Luke, scholars generally believe that C.hrist was gious scene in the Roman Empire, the date of the born sometime between the years 8and 6 B.C. Though "newborn sun" should be chosen as the birth date of our present calendar was supposedly based on the year Christ. All this may be a little complicated for some of of Christ's birth as Year One, that is not the case. The Roman monk who, in the sixth century. origi- your children, but you can "translate" I'm sure. It's nated the Before Christ/After Christ way of desig- a lovely story about how the followers of Jesus can nating years simply did not have at hand the histori- learn to tum everything, even the seemingly irrelcal documents now available. Thus he missed the evant and irreligious events of life, into ways of praising and honoring our Lord. ye;rr of Christ's birth by six or eight years. A free brochure answering questions Catholics As perhaps most everyone knows, Easter and related feasts were the first ones celebrated by Christian ask about Mary, the mother of Jesus, is available people. The first mention of Christmas comes in a by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Roman liturgical calendar composed in 339. By the Father John Dietzen, Box 324, Peoria, ru. 61651. Questions for this column may be sent to Fa,~.J:lQ.of that.~ntijry ,tbe,f~ast,of our Lord.'S birth was . ce!~l>c.;ltpq·Mrrr~, ~~-d,n;.most of t1leChiisqap,)Vorld. ther_Dietzen.at the same address, or E-mail . If we don't know the date, why'choose Dec. 25? iidietzen@aol.com.

Questions and Answers

Making a case' for women deacons When a friend writes a book, you take special cially those that recognize the contribution of note of it. That's how I felt when I came across women in God's world. I especially recommend "Holy Saturday: An Argument for the Restoration her "Woman to Woman: An Anthology ofWomen's of the Female Diaconate in the Catholic Church" Spiritualities" (Liturgical Press) as an eye-opener (Crossroad). But even if this book weren't writ- in how 12 astounding women, from Hildegard of ten by my longtime friend, Phyllis Zagano, I would Bingen to Catherine of Siena, from Dorothy Day . to Ita Ford, lived in love have grabbed it and with the Lord, expressed read it at one sitting. fully in service to othThe book raises a ers. question that in recent Now Zagano has put years has often come up attention again on good for discussion: Does the women in the Church in Church need the formal a book that argues, conministry of women, and By Antoinette. Bosco vincingly, that "the can the Church act on _ this by ordaining them ·Church must formalize ......----'r:".. the ministry of women." as deacons? Interestingly, Zagano responds in a convincing She presents strong arguments from Scripture, way to the argument that ordaining women dea- history, tradition and theology that women may cons would open the door to women priests, un- be ordained deacons. Zagano convincingly shows that "the ordained derscoring that "diaconal orders are distinct from priestly orders." In other words, Zagano argues ministry of service by women is necessary to the that ordination to the permanent diaconate does Church - to both the people of God and the hierarchy." Her research is an eye-opener when she not lead to ordination to the priesthood. Zagano is convinced there is evidence that reports how many theological luminaries have women were deacons in the early Church, so, she called for the Church to be open to ordaining maintains, there is a precedent for reopening this women deacons. She cites, for example, the Cathodoor, which would bring women into "a teaching, lic Theological Society of America, a committee of the Canon Law Society of America and an insanctifying and governing role" in the Church. Zagano, a noted scholar of religion, a prolific ternational gathering of theologians in Germany. Zagano named her book "Holy Saturday" beauthor and university professor, told me she had been cause she sees that day as "a time of great hope," thinking of writing this book for some 17 years: She and I became acquainted at the State U!,!i- something the women who stayed with Christ recversity of New York at Stony Brook when she was ognized. "That's where we women are now a doctoral student and I was a staff and faculty still schlepping, working, going ahead, doing what member. needs to be done" in Christ's name. Looking ahead, she muses: "Maybe there's It was nice back then to get to know a fellow Catholic woman thinker like Zagano, and in re- more." She has put this hope in writing in an imcent years to see some of her fine books, espe- portant book for Catholics.

The Bottom Lirte

THEANCHOR- Diocese ofFall River-Fri., December 8, 2000

Credit Card Sunday Chances are you are Catholic reading this in a Catholic newspaper and are asking your Catholic self that traditional Catholic holiday-season question asked by Catholic readers across the non-Catholic nation: "How come the articles say we should simplify Christmas and pay attention to Jesus" while the advertising says things like, "Sure, that's OK, but right after you melt down your MasterCard limit buying a really ugly replica statue of Mother Teresa for six times what you would pay for a paperweight or invest in a trip to the cathedrals of Europe that costs more than it cost to .build them' in. .,

the first place." A frequent Catholic answer of course has been to shred the newsp.aper (yes, after reading the

The offbeat

world of

Uncle Dan By Dan Morris

bishop's column) and use it for protective packing for sending a cutglass candleholder to your niece on the West Coast. .To these people I su~gest ~ al-

ternative. Carefully wad the newspaper instead. This provides the same protective qualities and yet at the same time adds the potential of making Catholic converts for accidental readers along the way including a) your niece, b) your niece's heathen kids, c) the recycle people, d) the folks at the Postal Service who will have smooshed the package at least once before it arrives at your • niece's. Of course, there is also a potential national grass-roots movement we could start at the local parish level called "Credit Card Sunday." On this Sunday, U.S. Catholics (and Canadians, if they

The fattered seaDlless garDlent However the presidential race has turned out, or is turning out, as you read this (I'm writing just before Thanksgiving), one thing seems depressingly clear about the 2000 election: the Church's message on the priority of the life issues in our democracy is not getting through to a sufficient number of self-identified Catholic voters. Early readings of the exit polls' were not encouraging. Mr. Gore, the candidate of abortion-on-demand, won the aggregate Catholic vote by a 50-47 margin over Mr. Bush. For three presidential elections in a ' row, a majority of U.S. Catholics have supported the candidate with a position wholly at variance wi th the Church's teaching on the premier civil rights issue of our time. Yet in three presidential elections before that (1980, 1984, and 1988) the majority of the Catholic vote went to the candidate more in tune with the church's principled defense of the right to life from conception until natural death. Which suggests, minimally, that the life issues are not determinative for many. many Catholics in the United States. A closer look at the exit poll reveals some goodnews buried inside that bad news. Those of all faiths who attend religious services more than once a week were 63-30 for Gov. Bush; those who attend once a week went for Bush 57-40. When you get below the threshold of weekly attendance, the figures flip: 51-46 for Gore among those who only attend church monthly; 54-42 for Gore among those who attend church "seldom"; and 61-32 for Gore among those who "never" go to church. If these figures hold true for Catholics, and if they can be correlated with the votes of those who say that the life issues are determinative, that would suggest that the Church's message is getting through to faithful Catholics. But that is not altogether reassuring in a church in which weekly

Mass attendance hovers a bit (and sometimes a lot more) below 45 percent. If Gov. Bush had captured just a slightly higher percentage of the Catholic vote in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, and Missouri, the Palm Beach County board of election supervisors would have remained in deserved obscurity; the nation would have been spared a post-election cir-

George WeigeJ:

cus; and the abortion license would not be on the verge of being set in constitutional concrete by a Supreme Court dominated by Clinton and Gore nominees. The Catholics who didn't get the message were, quite literally, the decisive votes in this election. What's going on? Anecdotal evidence I've heard from Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Iowa has it that Catholic union members were marshaled in large numbers to support Mr. Gore; this suggests that economic questions still trump the life issues in a decisive number of Catholic minds. But why should that be the case in an election year in which a heartening number of bishops and priests wrote and preached publicly about the priority of the life issues, as a matter both of justice for the innocent and of basic constitutional principle? I have no survey to back this up, but my hunch is that the "seamless garment" framework promoted by the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago was at work here. Cardinal Bernardin believed that "linking" the abortion (and, later, euthanasia) issue to capital punishment and nuclear arms control in a "consistent ethic of life" would give the Church's teaching on the inalienable dignity and value of every human life

a fresh hearing. This judgment, it should be frankly admitted, was quite seriously mistaken. Whatever the cardinal's intentions, the net results of the "seamless garment" were to give politicians who took a liberal position on capital punishment and arms control a .667 batting average, and thus to diminish a sense of urgency about the life issues (one-third of a package deal, as many voters came to see it) among Catholic citizens - especially, I suspect, those Catholics who were ch~s:~ing.:...int? ·chun.h i ':' ls~ewhat"'ii'i'egt:ltarly:·h ! In 1998, the U.S. bishops quietly jettisoned the "seamless garment" and began talking about the "foundations of the American house of freedom": the inalienable right to life. But 15 years of the "seamless garment" had taken a toll. That is, in part, why Nov. 7 happened the way it did. . George Weigel is a senior fel- . . low ofthe Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

feel like it) would put their credit cards into the collection basket. The cards would be stored, - under the protective care of the Knights of Columbus, who own those great sabers - until the next Sunday. The credit-eardless week, then, could stimulate many of us to focus on things other than buying easy-bake ovens, fancy folding scooters or Mediterranean vacations on the Internet. We could ask religious questions such as: "It's the middle of Advent already? Why didn't someone tell me? It was in the Catholic paper?" Yes, there would be temptations. No doubt people would argue over whether or not a debit card should be considered a credit card, or if one's phone card should be included. Would it be appropriate to apply for a new credit card (with an introductory offer of only 2.9 percent interest for the next six

months!) during the days of Credit Card Sunday week? These are all questions that easily could.be handled by the bishops' Committee on the Liturgy or a snowball fight in the parking lot. The idea is the important thing. A friend of mine actually tried this last Christmas. I told Bud I would not mention his name, so I won't. But what he did at the end of Credit Card Sunday week was snag back his credit card and make a purchase so fast it would make your head spin. He charged a set of books for a school in Central America run by Catholic missionaries. Yup, he said he read about the missionaries and the school in his Catholic newspaper. Just before he wadded it for packing material. Comments are welcome. Email Uncle Dan at cnsuncle@yahoo.com.

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THE ANCHOR -

Fri., December 8,2000

Indiana diocese entrusted to care of Blessed 'Virgin FORT WAYNE, Ind. (CNS) - Bishop John M. D' Arcy of Fort Wayne-South Bend has entrusted his diocese to Mary, the Mother of God under the title of the Immaculate Conception. 'Bishop D' Arcy has prepared a prayer, an "act of entrustment" and a novena to be offered at all Catholic churches in the diocese today, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. He said the offering will be especially significant at the diocese's two cathedrals - the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne and St. Matthew Cathedral, South Bend - and at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre' Dame, but also "will have great significance in all our churches."

Pope Pius IX solemnly proclaimed the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception in 1854. The doctrine affirms that Mary was, "in the first moment of her conception, by a unique gift of grace and privilege of almighty God ... preserved free from all stain of original sin." Pope John Paul II has said Pope Pius declared the doctrine must be "firmly and constantly believed by all the faithful" because Mary's freedom from sin was a "doctrine revealed by God." America's relationship with Mary actually ~egan prior to the pope's solemn declaration. In 1846, Mary was proclaimed patroness of the United States under the title of Immaculate Conception.

THE VATICAN is making available this illustrated envelope with a special coin and stamps for Christmas 2000. '

Vatican issues special Christmas envelope, coin and stamps By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

the place where, according to tradition, Jesus was born. .The envelope itself features a VATICAN CITY - The Vatican is celebrating the 2,000th pain~ing by Daniela Longo with anniversary of Jesus' birth with the Three Kings following the star the issuance of a commemorative into Bethlehem. Christmas envelope, including a The four Vatican 2000 Christspecial coin and stamps. mas stamps are stuck to the upThe 2,000-lire coin (about $1) per right-hand comer of the enfeatures a cherubic baby Jesus velope. under the words "2,000 years The stamps, which, are availfrgJll N~~ Ir.2~d:s:i~.'? f.j 1.J';" (••:." ab!e ~~par~t~ly fr~rp thee,n~elope,. eC2lJl thy l!r¥e}o~&d~~"Wlll ~~ I ar~~E~f~...Qll~w~. ~~ rfr,~Sf?.!l~ ,the. framed by a, 12J-pomt star, which NatlVlty oy the 13tli-cl?ntury Italis a copy of the star on the floor ian painter Giotto. The fresco is of the grotto of the Basilica of the located in the Basilica of St. Nativity in Bethlehem marking Francis in Assisi.

One stamp includes the entire Nativity scene, complete with angel choirs singing over the manger. The three other stamps are close-up views of the baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph from the 'same fresco. The envelope with the coin and stamps sells for about $34, plus postage and handling. The four stamps alone cost about $2.75. The envelope and stamps may be or4ere~.from,ufficiQ Filatelico e Numismatico, Governatorato, 00120 Vatican City, Europe. The fax number for the office is: (011 3906) 6988-3799.

Bishop says Catholic Church Dlust evangelize in black conununity ~--------~---~~-

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Weekend of Reconciliation St. Anne's Shrine, Fall River,

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (CNS) - ' The fact that just tence and perseverance under discouraging circumtwo million or so African-Americans are Catholic, stances," he added, and one of "a people who held out of nearly 40 million Americans of African an- tight to God's unchanging hands when the dark, cestry, shows "a crucial-reality" for the Catholic clouds of racism clouded their way." Church, says Bishop J. Terry Steib of Memphis. , Too often black Catholics hear homilies that have That reality is "the need for Catl10lic evangeli- nothing to do with their daily problems and life cirzation among African-Americans," he said. cumstances, he added.. There has been "no significant growth" in: the Another challenge 'for the Church today is to number of bla~k Catholics in 'recent years, he'told address the "deteriotatiqn and'decay" plaguing ur, theAfrican~American Catholic Evangelization Con:" bail areasacro'ss the-nation, he said; pointing out fe~ence, held in Memphis in early November; , that~any dioceses and archdioceses have sold their "Some would say that there is an ever-growing inner-city churches to other denominations. In adexodus of African-Am~ricans from the Catholic dition, where Catholic churches have remained in faith. The number of African-American priests, sis- black neighborhoods. the numbers of Mass-goers . ters and brothers is declining as well," he said. has dwindled. ,. ''There are 12 active African-American bishops out He also noted that many African-American Cathoof over 300 bishops serving the United States." lics have moved to the suburbs and away from their While these figures "are dismal," he said, "there parish neighborh~, "yet they return each Sunday is a great harvest of African-Americans that the to their home parish. Metro parishes are increasingly Church has an opportunity to evangelize." becoming the nonn across the nation among AfriHe noted that millions of black Americans over can-American Catholics," the bishop added. 'age 35 belong to other Christian traditions, and that He noted that many black parishes are known nearly half of the total U.S. black population is un- for their far-reaching ministries, but he also said 'der 30. Of that group, many have no faith tradition, many African-American Catholics are concerned especially those "who live in large urban areas," with reclaiming abandoned churches and sCl100ls .said the bishop, who is one of 12 active U.S. black in the inner city "so as to reclaim the neighborhood." Catholic bishops. Bishop Steib also said that many European"One of the most interesting and faith-filled sto- American Catholics are being drawn to spirit-filled ries within the Catholic Church in America is the black Catholic parishes. often untold story of the African-American CathoThese Catholics feel welcome at black parishes lics," Bishop Steib said. "We find a story of a proud, because they are "places of celebration" and "a sense strong people who are not ashamed of the Gospel of spiritual freedom" exists there, he said. Also, of Jesus Christ." African-Americans "are a forgiving and innately The st0f)' of black Catholics is one of "persis- spiritual people," he said.

THE ANCHOR - Diocese ofFall River- Fri., December 8,2000

Michelangelo's Moses to get makeover - on Webcam ROME (CNS) When a chat line so that amateurs and exMichelangelo's statue of Moses gets perts can debate the finer points of the a long overdue makeover, the whole statue's transformation. world will be able to watch. In conjunction with the restoration, Beginr$lg in January, art buffs can . the German photographer Helmut visit the "Project Moses" Website to Newton, will design the project's phoview Webcam footage of restoration tographic "icon," while the British worle on the statue, in a mix of mod- composer Michael Nyman will em technology and Renaissance art. present an original worle inspired by And if sneaking a peek behind scaf- the statue in September, when the resfolding isn't enough, the site toration is expected to be completed. www.prggettomose.it-alsowillhost

MEMBERS OF the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team meet Pope John Paul II at the end of his general audience recently. The pope was presented with a team jersey and made an honorary player. (eNS photo from Reuters)

Harlem Globetrotters make i i

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old - to visit the pope is great. I'm blessed to be here,"

CITY:-;-: .Q.yer sai~ .~I.~~.a.DA~tn.~~~l).,2,'. a~" the course of his 22-yearpo'n- . member oftbe Soiitherri u';ip":'-: tificate, Pope John Paul II has tist Church.' . received a plethora of awards Curley "Boo" Johnson, a but perhaps none as 34-year-old Globetrotter and unique as honorary player practicing Catholic, said the status on a professional bas- pope "epitomizes everything ketball team. an ambassador of good will The Harlem Globetrotters should be, and we are also bestowed a framed "Pope called ambassadors of good John Paul II" team shirt on will." the pontiff following his Nov. "The pope has been to 116 29 weekly general audience. countries, we've been to The jersey carries the pope's 115," he told CNS. honorary number, 75, correJohnson and the rest of the sponding to the team's 75th team are lagging even farther anniversary season. behind the 80-year-old pope Mannie Jackson, the than they think: Pope John team's owner, told Catholic Paul actually has traveled to News Service. the 124 different countries. Globetrotters "wanted to do Looking up at Bernini's something significant" as massive colonnade through part of their anniversary cel- sunglasses, Johnson, dressed ebrations. in a red Globetrotters' warm"We couldn't think of any- up suit, said he was having a thing more significant than to hard time articulating his honor this man, who has done thoughts. so much spiritually, socially "There's a lot of stuff goand culturally for the world," ing through my mind, reflecthe said. ing on my life. It's really After reflecting long and humbling for me," he said. hard about who would make Over their 75-year history, a good candidate, Jackson the Harlem Globetrotters said the Globetrotters chose have played before more than the pope as someone they 120 million fans in 20,000 "could talk to kids about games, winning almost all of around the world because of them. the example he's set." Since Jackson purchased One rookie player, tower- the team in 1993, the ing above the crowd in St. Globetrotters have donated Peter's Square at 6 feet 7 $10 million to charitable orinches, said he admired the ganizations around the world. pope for "what he stands for, Pope John Paul is the sevthe morality he sets." enth honorary member of the "At my age - I'm 24 years Globetrotters and the fourth

pontiff the team has met. The Globetrotters per-

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1O' THEANcHOR.:..- Diocese ofFall River-Fri., December 8, 2CXX>

Advent and Christmas programming highlights on EWTN By CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

true, 6:30-7 p.m. Dec. 22, repeated 10-10:30 a.m. Dec. 23, 11-11:30 a.m. 'Dec. 25, and 5:30-6 p.rri. Dec. 26. - "Joseph: The Man Closest to Christ," an examination of Jesus' foster father, 4:-30-5:30 a.m. Dec. 23. - "The Holy House of Loreto," which looks at the history of the house where Jesus, . Mary and Joseph lived, 5-5:30' a.m. Dec. 23. . "The Little Brown BJORK' STARS in a scen'e from the movie "Oancerin'the Dark." For a brief review of this Burro," a Christmas story about film, see CNS Movie Capsules on this page. (CNS.'photo from Zentropi;l Ent'ertainment) a beleaguered burro and a ingenious desert rat who befriends him at Christmas time, 10:3011 a.m. Dec. 23, repeated 99:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30, 22:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, and 4-4:30 a.m. and 11-11 :30 I{g,.w-abka,:~LMiPs.ilTli1tan,Kolbe. p.m. ThUrsday, Jan. 4. NEW YORK (CNS) - The troubled life of Pollock as he is consumed by the alcohol and selfand--Pope'}ohrr-Paul Ii;- 1-2:30 - ~ "The Legend of the ' artistic icon Jackson Pollock is captured in the pow- doubt that ultimately lead to his death. p,.m. Dec. 6, repealed 3-4:30 , Christmas Flower," which The film also gives fans of the painter what they erful portrait "Pollock" (Sony Classics). ' a.m. and 10-11 :30 p.m. Thurs- traces the tradition of the poinJackson Pollock was an American painter best would most want. The camera lingers affectionsettia, 4-5 p.m. Dec. 23, reday, Dec. 7. known for his abstract expressionist style, called ately over Pollock's paintings, allowing the audi- "St. Mary Major," "St. peated 10-11 a.m. Dec: 24 and "action painting," of using thrown and dropped ence to experience the intensity of the artist's work. John Lateran" and "St.PauPs 11 p.m.-midnight Dec. 26. strands of paint. Director Ed Harris, who also plays Harris also allows for extended sequences where Outside the Walls," looks at - Mass with Pope John Pollock, makes his directorial debut with this film, , the audience watches Pollock think, analyze and three of Rome's major basilicas, Paul II live from St. Peter's which,is based on the biography "Jackson Pollock: then attack the canvas. As those familiar with his 1-2:30 p.m. Dec. 7. repeated 3- Square in Rome, 6-8 p.m. Dec. An American Saga" by Steven Naifeh and Gregory work know, it was the act of painting that Pollock 4:30 a.m. and 10-11:30 p.m. 24, repeated 8-10 a.m. Dec. 25. White Smith. , triumphed as being essential, believing it to be as pec.8.',,; , ~. u'. . -;- Live Christmas Eve Mass . Covering the period from 1941 to Pollock's death important as the finished product that would end I - 'Feasi day Ma~s t>f tli{?fm~ fto1n ~ffe' rlim'on'rri ~tlti~, 0::1'0:30 I in' autb ac'ctil~nt' iq'i95h; 'the draihliiriti:odllces up ,hu,ng on a wall sqqll~where. , . .) . t""" "{;,,,.,'111,....1,..<.:J ::,'/rr'l' ~'r,'nn 1 ,>j11 It," 71., rhaculate Conception!i/Ji~erfr{)m,,f"p>rij,~l,,搂.~ Dec. 24. I th1IO Filmed primarily in New York City and on the ~ :; ruggnng pamtcl as a man a reaoy wresthng the Basilica of the National - Live Christmas Day wIth anger and self-doubt who seeks comfort in the ' Pollock-Krasner property in East Hampton, Long Shrine of the Immaculate Con- Mass from the national shrine, bottle. The film explores both the tumultuous rela- Island, the movie evokes the era very well, subtly ception in Washington, today, noon-2 p.m. Dec. 25, repeated tionship Pollock had with his wife, Lee Krasner using period detail in costumes and sets. Scenes (Marcia Gay Harden), as well as his longing to stand where art is discussed and analyzed give the audinoon-l :30 p.m. midnight-2 p.m. Dec. 26. - The pope's "Urbi et out among his artistic contemporaries, such as ence a sense of where American art was at the time - "The Cloak of Juan Diand why Pollock's contributions are so important ego," a documentary examining Orbi" ("To the City and To the Picasso. The movie walks a thin line between presenting in the time frame. The use of music from Benny the history of the appearance of World" message, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Dec. 25, repeated 2-3 a.m. and Pol~ock ~s a great artist, and portraying him as a Goodman to Jeff Beal's original, energetic score , ravmg VIOlent man who could explode in self-de- (used particularly well in the painting scenes) Qiego and explaining the devo- 10-11 a.m. Dec. 26. complement the varying moods of the artist. t~onal \traftic.~, ~:8:~0 P'ITl' D ec., -:- "Mother Angelica Live: struction at any time - and quite often did. Due to a brief sexual encounter, an extramariThough "Pollock" sometimes suffers from a ~. r~~~~IY:t:l!J!y_.~ce~of M~~y,", New Year's S~ecial," in which slightly lagging pace, the film's finely nuanced per- tal affair, alcohol abuse, some profanity and intera. seconCi presentatIon oil the Mother Angehca and her guests formances draw the viewer into the artist's often mittent rough language, the U.S. Catholi'c ConGuadalupe story with hosts Bob review the jubilee year 2000, 8chaotic world. Harris outdoes himself, showing the ference classification is A-III - adults. The Moand Penny Lord, 8:30-9 p.m. 9 p.m. Dec. 27, repeated 2-3 painter as sulky, raging, and self-absorbed as well . tion Picture Association of America rating is R Dec. 9. a.m. and 9-10 a.m. Dec. 28, 2- as jubilant and inspired. The audience walks beside restricted. ' - "The Candymaker's 3 a.m. and 10-11 p.m. New Christmas," in which a Year's Eve, Sunday, Dec. 31, part, director Ang Lee blends mes- ping but whose brutal conclusion candymaker learns that Jesus is and 6-7 p.m. New Year's Day, merizing martial arts with stunning strains credibility. Brief but intense the only truly perfect Christmas Monday, Jan. 1. special effects into a script brimming violence. The U.S. Catholic Conpresent~ 9-10 p.m. Dec. 16, re"The Fourth Wfse with intrigUe and suspense; Subtitles., ferenceclassification is A-III peated 2-3 p.m. Dec. 20, 4-5 Man," starring Martin Sheen as Martial~arts violence and ail implied adults. The Motion Picture Assoa.m. and 11 p.m.-midnight Dec. a fourth wise man whose purof America mting is R ciation sexual encounter. The U.S. Cathosuit of the Star of Bethlehem 21, and 5-6 p.m. Dec. 24. restricted. lic Conference classification is A- "Mother Angeliica Live: leads him to the foot of Christ's ''The Legend of Drunken ill - adults. The Motion Picture Christmas 2000," Mother cross, 8-9 p.m. Dec. 30, reMaster" (Miramax) Association ofAmerica mting is PGAngelica's annual Christmas peated 1-2 p.m. Jan. 3, and 3-4 Entertaining kung fu action film tC~i 13 ~ parents are strongly cautioned. special, 8-9 p.m. Dec. 20, re- a.m. and 10-11 p.m. Jan. 4. that has Jackie Chan playing a be inappropriSome material may peated 2-3 a.m. and 9-10 a.m. - A solemn Mass of Repamythical hero who uses a type of ate for children under 13. tCaaViUl~ei Dec. 21, 1-2 p.m. Dec. 23, 2-3 ration shown live on the Ocmartial arts called drunken boxing ''Dancer in the Dark" .a.m. Dec. 24, and 4-5 p.m. Dec. tave of Christmas, the feast day (Fine Line) , NEW YORK (CNS) Followto battle British bad guys intent on 25. of Mary, Mother of God and ing are recent capsule reviews isstealing China's cultural treasures. Extravagant musical.melodrama - "Franc~sco's Friendly the World Day of Peace, midWorld: The Gifts of Christ- night-l :30 a.m. Jan. 1: re- sued by the U.S. Catholic Confer- about a Czech immigrant (Bjork) With a paper thin plot, director Lau mas," in which Francesco and peated 8-9:30 a.m. and 7-8:30 ence Office for Film and Broad- going blind who is sentenced to Ka Leung's 1994 film relies on the casting. death after her savings for her son's acrobatic agility and comedic tal, his animal friends initiate a p.m. Jan. 1. "Crouching Tiger, Hidden operation to prevent hereditary ent of its star and Chan does not Christmas tradition that would - "Mary, Mother of God," Dragon" (Sony Classics) blindness is stolen by her landlord disappoint. Dubbed into English. be emulated the world over, 5-6 with Father Benedict Groeschel, Thrilling drama set in 19th-cen(David Morse), who is killed in a Martial arts violence, comical treatp.m. Dec. 22, repeated 10-11 a Franciscan Friar of the Retury Qing Dynasty China in which struggle over the money. Writer-路 ment of drunkenness and a few ina.m. Dec. 25. newal di,scussing the Blessed - "A Star for Jeremy," an Mother's role in the church, the precious sword of a famed war- director Lars von Trier's flamboy- stances of profanity and crass lananimated tale in which a little 9:30-10 a.m. Jan. 1, repeated rior (Chow Yun-Fat), entrusted to a ,ant tearjerker uses vertigo-induc- guage. The U.S. Catholic Conferboy and a tiny star each have 1:30-2 p:m. and 8:30-9 p.m. longtime friend (Michelle Yeoh), is ing camera movements and fantasy ence classification is A-ill - adults. stolen and must be recovered at all musical sequences to tell its bizarre路 The Motion Picture Association of their Christmas wishes come Jan. I. costs. Although melodramatic in tale that is often emotionally gri~ America rating is R - resbieted. WASHINGTON -- Here is a partiallistofspecialAdventand Christmas programming on the EWTN cable channel. All times are EST. - "Advent Reflections," a weekly series of reflections on the Gospels. Part one, today, Dec. 8. Part two, 5 :30-6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, repeated 5:306 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, and 2:30-3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15. Part three, 5:30-6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, repeated 5:30-6 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, and 2:303 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22. Part four, 5:30-6 p.m. Christmas Eve, Sunday, Dec. 24. . - "Ocean of Mercy,"- documenting the lives of three 20thc~ntury Poles Sl. Faustina

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Too vivid 'Pollock' draDla stifles entertainDlent value

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Vatican officials say AIDS problem

involves more than condoms By JOHN NORTON CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY - Vatican officials fended off insistent questions about the Church's condemnation of condoms in AIDS prevention, turning attention instead to Church education programs they said tackle the roots of the problem. The officials, opening a Vatican conference on AIDS with a press conference last week, stated categorically that condoms could never be morally allowed. But they lamented that the condom issue had overshadowed broader questions of human formation. "I believe we must open our eyes enormously," said Bishop Jose Redrado Marchite, who spoke so passionately that he followed his remarks with an assurance that he was not angry. The condom issue "is not the

human reality and th~ reality of the suffering that we are living, and we must combat (AIDS) in a way that goes to its roots, and not only superficially," said the bishop, who is secretary of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers. The officials said that freshly released U.N. statistics showing an unpredicted boom in new HIV infections demonstrated the ineffectiveness of condoms in fighting AIDS. "We've seen that they've filled South Africa with condoms, and the cases (of 'AIDSIHIV infection) have increased instead of lessening," said Archbishop Javier Lozano Barragan, president of the health care council. "Experience tells us that they are not so effectiye," he said. "The position is very clear. The Church does not accept

condoms," Archbishop Lozano said. Because the Church teaches that all sexual relations outside of marriage are immoral, the question of condom use in those circumstances is superfluous, said Camillian Father Felice Ruffini, the health care council's undersecretary. Within a marriage, even one in which one partner is infected with mv, condom use is always prohibited, he said. "Certainly, it's difficult, it's tough to be able to maintain matrimonial chastity in this case," Father Ruffini said, but moralists cannot craft "an exception to Christ's law." He said, however, that given the difficulty of couples in that situation, the Church entrusted "to God's mercy" those who used condoms. Discalced Carmelite Father Bonifacio Honings, a Dutch

moral theologian who consults for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said an HIV-infected husband had no right to request sexual relations from his healthy wife. "If it is true lov~ on the part of the husband, he will do everything possible to not demand such a dangerous relation from his wife," he said. At the same time, the wife could choose to consent to sexual relations "to avoid worse things - her husband becoming intractable, or the husband being unfaithful to her, etc.," he said. Bishops in France and Zimbabwe have said that, in marriages in which one person has

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Priest sees danger in U.S. belief of AIDS under control By RAYANNE DAMIANO

or services during the first two weekends of December. METUCHEN, N.J. - It may The entire effort is handled be that the AIDS threat in the by volunteers, whose numbers United States has never been are expected reach SOO'this' more dangerous, says Father year. Father Ascolese and his Robert J. Ascolese, a New Jer- committee hope to sell 14,000 sey pastor. loaves at $3 each, raising "There is a growing percep- $42,000 for a variety of tion in this country that AIDS projects. is a disease of the past," said the Last year, Project Bread for priest, who is pastor of St. Jo- Life was conducted in 14S places seph Parish in Washington. He in the five New Jersey dioceses, has coordinated a multistate the New York, Philadelphia and fund-raiser for AIDS outreach Baltimore archdioceses, and the for the last six years. Rockville Centre, N.Y., Brook"People are living longer and Iyn, N.Y., and Wilmington, Del, so the critical nature of AIDS dioceses. awareness is diminished," he But Father Ascolese is looktold The Catholic Spirit, ing to build on that. Metuchen's diocesan newspa"We want to reach into more per. communities than we have ever As a result, whole segments been permitted before," he said. of the population who had been Scheduled as part of the obcarefully educated about the· servance of World AIDS Day on risks of HIV are now experienc- Dec. I, the project is multifacing infection at record-breaking eted in objective with the benlevels. As an example, he efit reaching well beyond the pointed to the heterosexual teen money that is raised. population, where the incidence "We cannot generate the hunof AIDS is the highest it has dreds of thousands of dollars that ever been. are needed for treatment and reBut Father Ascolese is pro- search," said the priest. "But this viding the Catholic community is a proactive way to promote with at least some way to help the health of our society. It can those affected by AIDS awaken within the Catholic through his Project Bread for community a sense of awareness Life. about the disease." Begun in 1994, following his Participation in the program work as a chaplain in an AIDS has benefits in itself, he added. treatment facility at a Perth And those living with AIDS Amboy medical center, Project continue to need help, Father Bread for Life involves the bak- Ascolese stressed. ing and distribution of thousands "People are living longer of loaves of bread to faith com- with the new drug treatments. munities throughout the region, Yes, they are alive, but they are where they are sold after Masses not able to work, they are in and CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

out of the hospital. And they ultimately face the collapse of their immune system," he said. Moreover, while the new ~ drugs have hefp'ed 'rr;~hy'p'eo'p're',~~ they are still not available to those who need them because of the prohibitive cost. Raising support for the plight of AIDS victims is an ongoing challenge, Father Ascolese said. "We're still encountering a bias in some faith communities. But we continue to invite more participation among our Christian and Jewish neighbors," Father Ascolese said. There even continues to be some resistance on the part of Catholic communities as well, to which Father Ascolese responds: "An individual is not responsible for the destructiveness of a disease. And Jesus Christ didn't come to turn his head." "Who are we to call ourselves Christians without shouldering part of that human suffering?" ' he asked.

lHEANCHOR- Dioceseof Fall River- Fri., DecemberS, 2000

HIV, the spouse may use a condom as the lesser of two evils. Despite the Vatican officials' categorical rejection of condoms, other moral theologians, including ones close to the Vatican, have said that scholarly debate continues on whether condom use might be allowed in certain extreme cases -like AIDS prevention. In recent months, some theologians have even said that Catholic couples in which one partner has AIDS could use a condom to defend the healthy partner as long as their intent was not to prevent conception.

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TIIEANCHOR- Diocese of Fall River-Fri., December 8, 2000

Vatican ,condemns Dutch

Lima archbishop congratulates new Peruvian· Cabinet ministers

parliament's euthanasia bill

try with decency, transparency and honesty, for the good of all PeruLIMA, Peru - Archbishop vians." Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne 'of' Paniagua appointed a' new 15: Lima congratulated the new min- 'memberCabinei 'a week ago iIi isters appointed by Interim Presi-, an effort to restore confidence iri dent Valentin Paniagua and called' the government .after a' series bf oil them to help in the "moral re- political events that included Con": construction" of the country. gren' removal 'of, Alberto "I" wholeheartedly congratulate Fujimorifrom the presidency~ . . the new minT. .h, e ' isters, and I . new Cabioffer my' "l offer my praye~ 'so they nei' inprayers so , may bring Peru on the track of c Iud e s ministers they may truth, decency and justice," bring Peru Archbishop Cipriani said, ' from dif-' on the track ferent poof truth, de- ~ litical parcency and ties, injustice," ArchbishopCiprianisaid. cluding some independent profes"Peru needs a moral recon- sionals who strongly opposed struction, so the new Cabinet will Fujimori's contested third term in have a Significant task in bring- office. . ' ing back values to politics," he Paniagua and his new Cabiadded. net will remain in power until The archbishop said Peruvians July 28, when a new president, "have been living a tremendous set to be elected April 8, takes crisis of moral values, especially office. , of dramatic lack of respect for the Paniagua said l1is main task truth. Nevertheless, I am confi- wi,lI be "to secure completl;:ly deni that God will help (the new dean, spotless elections, as well ministers) to illuminate ourcoun- as economic stability." By ALEJANDRO BERMUDEZ CAT1:IOLIC NEWS SERVICE

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,Consecration to the Divine Will Oh adorable and Divine Will, behold me here before the immensity ofYour Light, thatYour eternal goodness may open to me the <loors,aod make me enter into It to form my life all in You, Divine Will. Therefore,oh adorable Will, prostrate before Your Light, I, the least of all creatures, pu~ myselfinto the littl~ group of the sons and daughters of Your Supreme FIAT. Prostrate in my nothingness, I invoke Your Light and beg that it clothe me and : eclipse all that does not pertain to You, Divine Wtil. It will be my Life; the center of my intelligenc~, thee!U'1Pturer of my heart and ofmy \yh<?J~ being. Ido not want the human will to have life in this ! heart any longer. I will cast it away from me and thus form the new Eden ofPeace, of happiness and of love. With It I shall be always happy. I shall have a singular strength and a holiness that sanctifies all things and conducts them to God. Here prostrate, I invoke the help of the Most Holy Trinity·that They permit me to live~ in the cloister of the Divine Will and thus return in me the first order of creation, just as ,the creature was created., . Heavenly Mother, Sovereign and Queen ofthe Divine Fiat, take my hand and introduce me into the Light of the·Divine Wtil. You will be my guide;my most tender Mother, and will teach me to ijve in and to maintain myselfin the order and the bounds ofthe Divine Will. Heavenly Mother, I consecrate my whole being to Your Immaculate Heart. You will teach me the doctrine ofthe Divine Will and I will listen most attentively toYour lessons. You will cover me withYour mantle so that the infernal serpent dare not penetrate into this sacred Eden to entice me and make me fall into the m~ ofthe human will. Heart ofmy greatest Gocx;l, Jesus, You will give meYour flames that they may bum me, consume me, and feed me to form in me the Life of the Divine Will. . SaintJoseph, you ~ be my protector, the guardian ofmy heart, and will keep the keys ofmy will in your hands. You will keep my heart jealously and shall never give it to me again, that I may be sure of never leaving the Wtil of God. My guardian Angel, guard me; defend me; help me in everything so that my Eden may flourish and be the instrument that ,draws all men into the Kingdom of the Divine WIll. Amen.

( In Honor ofLuisa Piccarreta 1865-1947 Child ofthe Divine Will)

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Netherlands would become first country to legalize physician~ . assisted suicide

protecting life at all stages of human existence. The Dutch legislation would allow physicians to carry out euthanasia or assisted suicide of a patient, if the doctor is convinced the patient has By JOHN THAVIS 'dCATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE made a voluntary ' requestd to ie and has consl ered the question carefully.. . VATICAN CITY --- The Vatican condemned "The doctor must be convinced the patient is the Dutch parliament's approval of a bill to legal- undergoing unrelenting and unbearable suffering, ize euthanasia, calling it a violation ofnatural law but the illness need not be terminal. The bill did ;lndhuman dignity. " ' not .stipulate that the patient's suffering be physi~ , The legi~lation was overwhelmingly PilSsed by c a l . ' ' . the parliament's lower house last week and will In Washington, David N. ',O"Steen, ~xecutive become law if, as expected, the upper house ap- director of the National Right to Life Committee, , proves it next year. The Netherlands would thus criticized the Dutch legislation. "We know depression can be treated and pain become the first country to make it legal for doctors to help patients commit suicide. can be controlled in virtually all circumstances," "This is certainly a sad record for the Nether- he said. "Why, then, are we abandoning people at lands, to be first in passing such a law ... that their most vulnerable time rather than offering violates the dignity of the human person,!' Vatican them the help we know is available?" spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said. The legislation says the decision to die must be Navarro-Valls said an immediate and impor- the patient's, but it also provides that patients can tant issue raised by the legislation is the "serious leave a written request for doctors to use their ethical problem for the doctors that are supposed, own discretion if the patient is not in a condition ro~~~. . to~~ "Once again, we are faced w~h a law of the The bill would allow patients as young as 16 to state which goes against the natural law of the request euthanasia, in consultation w~h their parhuman conscience," he said. ents, while those ages 12-15 would need parental He added that the legislation also violates prin- consent. ciples of the 1948 Geneva declaration on medical The legislation says physicians must end the ethics and human rights, approved by'international patient's life in a medically appropriate manmedical organizations, and the provisions of a .nero In the Netherlands, where physician-assisted 1987 European medical ethics agreement. suicide for the terminally ill has been illegal Pope John Paul II and other Church leaders but has been tolerated for years, doctors norhave condemned efforts to legalize euthanasia, ' mally carry it out by administering lethal doses saying that it goes against the basic principle of of medication.

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.dh=ector says Vatican meeting on agencies overdue By JOHN NORTON CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE

"There was no specific anmeeting's purpose was to draft a "brief and concise text which swer," he said, "except to say VATICAN CITY - A top describes the global identity of definitely not one that is excluU.S. Catholic aid official said a a Catholic agency or organiza- sive: not that it would include late-November meeting called tion committed to humanitarian everybody, but it's not meant to by the Vatican to define the iden- assistance and/or development exclude." t~y of Catholic aid agencies was aid." Of the participants, he said,. long overdue, given a recent "A clear identity of the CRS was unique in that it was boom in Church-related chari- Catholic agencies involved in owned by and directly respontable activities. these activities will, without a sible to a bishops' conference. But Kenneth F. Hackett, ex- doubt, serve to promote their He said CRS's Catholic idenecutive director of Catholic Re- mission," it said. . tity also comes from its under~ lief Services, said he and ,. lying motivation and phiother meeting participants losophy - the Gospel and were avoiding drafting a ~ " Catholic social teaching , CRS -. un.'ike some other Cath~-.. as well as its primary fodefinition that would be narrow and exclusive. lic orgamzatlons - saw a value In ,cus O!l working with and Representatives from employing non-Christians among its through local churches'. . more than a dozen local staff because it was a way of In addition, he !laid the .Catholic al4 agencies bringing them "to understand and U.S. ag~ncy placed.great from around the world appreciate our fundamental beliefs; ~mphaS1S on pr?,fesslOnalattended the recent all- "h ' & . f /,." Ism because we have consciously determined day meeting, hosted by tats a ,orm a evange Izatlon. , the Pontifical Council that the poor ~eserve the '''Cor Unum," the best." Vatican's charity arm. . The text drafted at the meetHe said that CRS - unlike In addition to CRS, the U.S. ' ing will not be released imme- some other Catholic organizabishops' international relief and diately, and more meetings of tions - saw a value in employdevelopment agency, partici- the same kind might be con- ing non-Christians among its lopants included France's "Secours vened, a "Cor Unum" official cal staff because it was a way of Catholique," Germany's told Catholic News Service. bringing them "to understand "Deutscher Caritasverband," the Hackett, interviewed by CNS and appreciate our fundamental Germany-based Aid to the during the meeting's lunch beliefs; that's a form of evanChurch in Need, the St. Vincent break, said the question was gelization." de Paul Society and Caritas or- ' . raised in the morning session He said all CRS staff memganizations' from Italy, Poland, whether "we are looking for bers - including non-Christians Korea and Mexico. some kind of definition or state- - are encouraged to participate In a mid-November state- ment that would be inclusive or in a training program on. Cathoment, "Cor Unum" said the exclusive." lic social teaching.

Assonet

THEANCHOR- Diocese ofFall River- Fri., December 8,2000 Continued from page one

"As a matter of fact, thi s The display in the auditorium Church), then proceed a half-mile Christmas in the Village adven- . of North Church features "Les in candlelight through the village ture stems from Father Goldrick's Santons de Noel," ("The Little to the South Church (St. plan to bring the Christmas scenes Saints of Christmas"). This mar- Bernard's), mingling the coshome so that more parishioners velous creche tradition dates back turned cast with the audience. and townspeople can see them." to the 1800s in southern France Along the way, participants The Rev. Mr. William Comeau, and places the manger setting in will stop to hear the Shepherd pastor of the United Church, en-the middle of the town square. In- Children's Choir singing the dorsed the idea "and the two eluded besides the traditional man- vintaged carols in French and churches came together to plan ger visitors are all the trades- English. The play unfolds in front this winter activity," Adams'noted. people of the town, bringing their of a live mange{ scene in actual "That's where the miniature vil- unique offerings to the Christ 200-year-old stables. lage of Assonet will be set up."· Child. Another feature will be the Last Saturday, Adams and repIn the tradition of the German Creche Lady's Christmas Shoppe. resentatives of both churches Moravian "Putz" the mechanized Eileen Canty, a world class creche joined forces on the cold, but 200-square-foot display has, been collector, will use her international sunny morning to begin string- expanded to include the Bible contacts to provide hard-to-find ing Christmas lights at both story cha~acters and even a tip of manger scenes from around the churches and at the gazebo at Four the hat to life in old Assonet Vil- world and make them available Comers in the village. lage, says Father Tim. ' to the public,for purchase. Members of the Knights o f , TheVillageKidsTheaterCom-; Sale of the entire store's stock Columbus from St. Bernard~s_anq,,· .pany; an ecumenical_youth the-, ofcreches and manger scenes will the Tuesday Club from the United '. ,ater group, along with a cast of help support craftspeople of the Church, were among the workers: ' adults, will present "The Little, Third World. "We've had many generous ,Saints of Christmas," based on the There will also be an appraisal supporters, the most recent, ' customary French retelling of the fare by members of "The Glow Levesque's Tree Farm in Swansea ' Santons story." , of.Christmas Past," a national Orthat donated 18 trees for our use," This play, will begin at the ganization of collectors of antique Adams said. North Church (the United Christmas pieces. All are be in-

vited to bring antique Christmas ornaments, toys and dolls for appraisal by the profession* at no charge. One session, with Steve and Gail Almeida; will be held at St. Bernard's. Another, with Ron and Diane Costa of The Toy Depot in Bourne, will be held at the United Church.. ''The Longest Day," the popular original painting of th.e acclaimed Maxwell Mays, will be exhibited and explained by the artist. Mays, a trained professional artist, paints in a naive style. "The Longest Day" depicts Gospel

scenes simultaneously with the setting of a highly detailed 19th century New England village. Mays will be available following his presentation to sign prints. "The Cat's Meow," a series of collectible wooden facades, is now producing models of St. Bernard's Church and the United Church of Assonet. These limited· editions of the popular series will be available. For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit the celebration's website: www.christmasinthevillage.com.

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ONE OF the many creche scenes from around the world belonging to Father Timothy Goldrick of St. Bernard's Parish ir1 Assonet. .. "

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Have you picked up your 2000 Diocesan Directory order y.et? MECHANIZED 200-square:-foot village called "Les Santons de Noel' ("The Little Saints of Christmas") has all the tradespeople of the village bringing their unique gifts to the Christ Child in a unique creche setting. The display can be seen in the United Church of Assonet as part of "Christmas in the Village" activities sponsored by that parish and St. Bernard's Parish just a half-mile away. (Anchor photos)

Orders can be pic~~d" up at The Anchor office Mon. - Fri. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Q!4rintmmr. tn. t4r.1IftHagt Eutntn •

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- Dec. 3: "The Giving Tree Project" begins~ - Dec. 10: 8:30 a.m:, St. Bernard's, "The Teddy Bear's Christmas," a children's story'sermon; 9:30 - II :30 a.m., St. Bernard's, "Breakfast with Santa"; 10 a.m., United Church, "The Teddy Bear's Christmas"; and deadline for "Doorways of Christmas" entries; - Dec. 15: preview for invited guests and judging of the "Doorways" contest begins; - Dec. 16 and 17: 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m., both churches open for guests;. Specifically at St. Bernard's, an exhibition of creches and folk art mangers; open house in the sanctuary; "Creche Lady's Shoppe"; Christmas ornaments and appraisal 1-9 p.m.; a meditation on "Christ is Born for Us Today," by Maxwell Mays on Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. Specifically at the United Church, the Moravian "Putz" mechanized village; "The Trees of Christmas" contest and display; ''The Village Christmas Store" and prints; and "Christmas Appraisal Fair of antique dolls and toys, Dec. 17, 1-4 p.m.

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. - Dec. ,17: at 7 p.m., "The Little Saints of Christmas" candlelight procession; .- Dec. 18 through Dec. 22: from 6-9 p.m., both churchc;:s open for guests; - Dec. 23: 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m., both churches open for guests; . - Dec. 24, Christmas Eve: St. Bernard's, Masses at 4 p.m., and at midnight; at the United Church, a 7 p.m., worship service; winners of "Doorways" announced. - Dec. 25, Christmas Day: at St. Bernard's, Masses at 8:30 a.m., and 10:30 a.m.; - Dec. 26 through 29: 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 ·p.m., both churches open for guests; - Dec. 30: at St. Bernard's, 7 p.m., "Candles and Carols" with joint choirs of both churches, handbell choir, the Comeau Family Singers and an old-fashioned carol sing; - Dec. 31, New Year's Eve: United Church, II p.m., "Crossing the Threshold of Hope," an ecumenical service for the turning of the year 2001.

IF YOU HAVE ORDERED DIRECTORIES TO BE PICKED UP AT THE ANCHOR OFFICE, PLEASE COLLECT THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, OR ORDER YOUR DIRECTORIES Now PLEASE ENCLOSE A PAYMENT OF $5 PLUS $2 SHIPPING TO THE ANCHOR, P.O. Box 7, FALL RIVER, MA

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14 THEANCHOR-

Diocese ofFall River- Fri., December8, 2(0)

Pope tells disabled they present challenge to society By JOHNTHAVIS

ion to a group of blind people, one of whom was accompanied by.a white seeing-eye dog. ROME - Pope John Paul II In his semlon, the pope said celebrated a jubilee Mass with modem societies should increase thousands of disabled, and told the opportunities for the disabled them they deserved not just assisand make .sure their human digtance but love, respect and social nity is protected. acceptance. "In a society rich in scientific "Through your presence, you and technical knowledge, it is reaffirm th:,lt a disability reprepossible and necessary to do more sents not only a need, but above ... in biomedical research to preall a stimulus and a challenge" to vent dis'abilities, in treatment, in a society that often prizes "gratiassistance, in rehabilitation and in fication, appearances, sped:! and social re-integration," he said. efficiency," the pope said Sunday. The pope' received loud apReflecting on the word "displause when he said the Church ability," he said: "I like to look appreciates the difficult chapters upon you in a more authentic light, in the lives of the disabled, paras bearers of a different kind of ticularly when they become ability." adults and must move toward The liturgy at the Basilica of some form of independence - a St. Paul Outside the Walls was moment, the pope said, which is attended by some 5,000 disabled, "faced with trepidation by many along with 7,000 family members parents." and assistants. Some arrived in But the trials of the disabled wheelchairs, others leaning on have a deeper meaning for socicanes and crutches. Groups of ety as a whole, especially as a redeaf mutes followed the Mass with minder that all people are, in a 01 .the:help:o[. sign-language transsense, waiting for a "liberation" ~ .. fator,-anCl the first liturgical readfrom the suffering of this iife, he , ing was done by a blind person' said. reading Braille. He said Advent is a good time The 80-year-old pope, who has trouble walking long distances, for Christians to recall their duty to serve the disabled and others rode a mobile platform up the on the margins of society, just as main aisle of the basilica, past a panorama of smiling faces and . Jesus did. waving hands. He mounted the DISABLED PEOPLE applaud Pope John Paul II as he arrives to celebrate Mass for the Thanks to Christ, he said, "disaltar slowly and unsteadily, then Jubilee for Disabled. At the Mass, the pope called on politicians and scientists to work harder ability is not the last word of exdistenedJtala,gr~eting,frtdffil:a-.16- uJ.o pJ.otecutte..liY,es.of tbe ldisal;>leq. (GNS p,h,oto frolT) ~e~ters) , " , . i~tenc~; love is the last word." .rr I '[ ~ . '1,-' ,)r.,r'·~~n '1i' f)1 ViPI'") "-.lfl"''l .,-..--1; ";" c .... · . ~,. -017 ~I'I .'''·'i)''fnf! )rtr """"n ~~}, !)f'P rr r ~g ?r,T,.t\, f:-:;c;qnr ~~·Jnf·r~ ~;;tl1 :''It I .c Jun",":" ...., . CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE

year-old wheelchair-bound Italian girl suffering from hydrocephalus. ' Addressing the pope as "papa" because "we feel you are the father of us all," she told him that' the disabled "have a bigger spirit, because it's not oppressed by the thirst for success." Several hundred U.S. pilgrims

attended the Mass, among them the Holy Year. Diane Barett from Springfield, , He was visibly moved several Pa., who applauded the pope's times during the liturgy in the message that the disabled want packed church, especially at the offertory procession. As the blind, more than assistance. The pope told those present and deaf, lame and mentally disabled others following the Mass on tele- slowly brought gifts to the altar, vision and radio that he consid- ' the pope blessed each one and ered the Jubilee for Disabled on~ touched their faces. Later he distributed Communof the most significant .events of

~rother says a strong,South Africa would only help By ANN PIASECKI CATHOUC News SERVICE

JOLIET, Ill. - The global economy can only benefit from a thriving South Africa, which is considered the "bread, baske,t" of Africa's impoverished sub, Sana'nin' region, according to Christian Brother Allan Rilley. Civil strife'and natural disasters have combined to destroy the economy in the southern portions of the continent, an'd the situation is critical, he told the Catholic Explorer, newspaper of the Joliet Diocese. . A native of Kimberly, South Africa, the 50-year-old Brother Rilley is a former grade school and high school teacher who is now involved in addressing social justice issues. He spoke to the paper while enrolled in training at Chicago's Gamalia Leadership Foundation, which teaches people fund-raising strategies and how to build a network of people and organizations. After spending 22 months in the United States to garner support for efforts to improve conditions in South Africa, he returned home at the end of November One of his goals is to help create jobs and try to solve a housing shortage two situations that are causing continued unrest in the fledgling democracy, he said. Brother Rilley said he wants to encourage those who have left South Africa to return home to help the nation grow, which in turn would help the entire sub-Saharan region, in particular Mozambique, Angola and Zambia.

Economic growth is key to stability , in his homeland, but it is dependent on developing industries, such as tourism, Brother Rilley said. "If you could take the best parts of Florida, bits and pieces of New York, bits and pieces of ,the Midwest farmland and bits and pieces of Texas, California and the Rockies, that's South

Africa," he said. He would like to see American pharmaceutical companies establish factories in South Africa. Besides creating jobs, the presence of d~ug companies would make drugs to combat HIV and AIDS cheaper and more accessible there. "The reason that HIV is out of control is because sub-Saharan countries

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global economy

can't afford the drugs. Seventy percent of HIV patients in the world are in subSaharan Africa," according to Brother Rilley. The life expectancy there is age 45 because of AIDS, starvation and disease, he said: "There are pregnant mothers with AIDS but their babies could be saved. We're talking about millions of lives at stake," he said. Another burden for South Africa an'd neighboring countries is the amount they owe to the International Monetary Fund, Brother Rilley said. With the devaluation of the currency in these "absolutely collapsed" economies, he said, the countries have to pay'} 00 percent more than what they had borrowed. "De,bt forgiveness will help all of the global economy to prosper, sparking populations of productive citizens rather than donation-reliant masses," he added. With money he inherited from his late father, Brother Rilley opened a center to help adults get some education they need to make a living., "You've almost got a lost generation," he said, referring to people in their 40s and 50s who spent their young adult . years struggling for freedom against apartheid and lost out on education. "I'm hoping that the little people are the ones that are going to make some difference," he said. "I believe if you CHRISTIAN BROTHER Allan Rilley of South Africa says the economic have a thousand people giving a drop situation is critical in sub-Saharan Africa. He has spent nearly two years in each, it might be better than giving a the United States working to improve conditions in his homeland. (eNS photo cup to some agency that has too much by Ann Piasecki, Catholic Explorer) overhead."

Overlooking what teens have to give By AMY WELBORN CAlliOUC NEWS SERVICE

My IS-year old son, now gainfully employed bagging groceries, has committed himself to putting a few dollars in the collection plate every Sunday at

Mass. The week after he received his first paycheck, he made his first attempt. Sitting at the end of our little group near the middle of the pew, I was surprised to see him holding a $5 bill in his hand. The usher came down the aisle with the basket, moving it smoothly back and forth through the rows, heading our way. He paused at our pew to allow my husband to put in our envelope. And then moved right along. My son sat there, the money still in his hand, looking in confusion after the briskly moving usher who had ignored him and what he had to give. Believe it or not, the next week, the exact same thing happened: The usher completely overlooked my teen-age son, who was waiting to contribute to the Church. But this time I intervened and simply placed a hand on the basket as it passed under my nose, giving David just enough time to slip his bills in. I told him that next time, if he simply waved his donation wildly in the air, maybe the usher would notice him.

~ THE FRENCH Honor Society of Bishop Feehan High School, Attleboro, decorated the school to celebrate National French Week. They held several events including a French version of the television show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire." Sta'nding from left are Lamine Hendrix, Hilary Clarcq, Katie Poholek, Margaux Stevenson and Pat Ward.

My husband made him laugh by joking, "Your money's no good here." But the whole incident, repeated two weeks in a row, made

THE ANCHOR - Diocese of Fall River- Fri., December 8, 2000

Children's books for holiday gift~giving

proclamation of God's word. Imagine the choir:s renewed energy when youthful tones interCAlliOUC NEWS SERVICE sonalizes stories of Sudan's Dinka mix with those of experience, toThe following children's books people and their customs to make gether offering praise to God. are suitable for holiday gift-giving. life there seem a little more real to So many teens absolutely love COMES A WIND, by Linda readers who perhaps never have working with small children. Arms White, pictures by Tom even heard of the problems Does your parish recruit young Cuny. Dorling Kindersley Publish- Sudanese face, and in turn makes people to assist or even teach in ing, Inc. (New York, 2000). 30 pp. some other people's problems seem religious education classes? When This is the best read-aloud tall, a little more manageable. (Ages I was a director of religious edutale of the year, with picturesque 11-14) cation, some of the best catechists language such as, "He climbed out A KID'S GUIDE TO AFRI· I had were older teens; when sumand, slapping his la-gallon hat CANAMERICAN IllSTORY, by mer rolled around they practiatop his head, shambled toward the Nancy I. Sanders, Chicago Review FOR lOOTH • ABOOT YOOTH cally ran our vacation church house like a hound dog 011 its way Press (Chicago, 2(00). 242 pp. school. to a flea dip." The book tells of Here is a great history resource, And what about outreach? two grown brothers, their sibling extremely readable, with nearly me think. How often does our Sure, young people may be Iimrivalry and how that all is put aside every little vignette followed by Church do what those ushers did ited by difficulties with transporwhen a cattle-blowing, body- activities for children. (Note: Many - and in an even broader sense? tation, but how many parishes stretching wind comes along and require parental supervision.) The How often does it overlook what even think of inviting teens who affects their mama. Colorful, hu- book covers topics that range from teens have to give? might be interested in getting inmorous illustrations add to this life in Africa to life on a plantation It's good that over the pasttwo volved with outreach to book's appeal. Read it with a to abolitionists to the turn of the or three years World Youth Days homebound and elderly parishdrawl. (Ages 4-9) century and hope for tomorrow. have served as exciting remind- ioners? MISS ALAINEUS: A VO· (Ages 7-up) ers of the energy young people It is clear that although the CABULARY DISASTER, by HERE I AM LORD 2, A bring to the Church. Still, a quick situation might gradually be imDebra Frasier. Harcourt,"Inc. (San PRAYER JOURNAL FOR look into an ordinary parish's life proving, teens are still a vast, Diego, 2000). 29 pp. TEENS, by Lonni Collins Pratt and finds that this reality only sinks untapped resource in our Church. This extremely clever story tells Father Daniel Homan, O.S.R Our so deep. It's a situation that should conthe tale of what happens to a fifth- Sunday VISitor Publishing Division I'm not talking about pro- cern us all as we look around at grade girl when she makes up the (Huntington, Ind., 2(00). 192 pp. grams for teens here. I'm talk- our parish activities and see, as definitions of her vocabulary words This second prayer journal has ing about what teens can do for we do so often, nothing but gray instead of looking them up in the the same format as its predecessor, the Church in ways that go behair, and we wonder who will do dictionary. Told in first person, the a format that has been teen-tested yond youth-group members pull- the work of Christ when thatgenstory shows that sometimes laugh- and approved. Each of 50 topics ing weeds on Saturday mornings. eration is gone. ing at yourself is one of 'the most has a story or "Something to Think How many parishes encourage You just have to wonder. What effective things you can do. Color- About," a section helping to peryoung people to contribute time wealth of gifts and talents are ful illustrations with ingenious bor- sonalize the story, a prayer starter. and energy to liturgical ministries? ,G .~oaitio~ ;;.v,imIU~~Y ,\0 l~~jJe~~J. ...e.darS1of i\!Oc:abliIWyI:.t;f,lU:etIC4l3dd -ua shootpr<QlWan.Q;a:.plaw.im;writImagine the life that young,' onry to be passea by wlth6ut a to this book's appeal. (Ages 8-11) ing feelings and prayers. The stoclear voices would bring to the second thought? WHO IS SAM ries are touching without being syrHARRINGTON?, by Rick upy. The design should be appealOsborne and K. Christie Bowler, ing even to teens ,who are less-thanillustrated by Dara Goldman. enthusiastic about prayer! (Ages Zonderkidz (Grand Rapids, Mich., 13-up) 2000). 30 pp. IT'S C~RISTMAS AGAIN ~ ~ NEW LEADERS The The little town ofColedale turns by Father Richard P. Lewandowski sophomore class of Bishop into a much nicer place when people and Michael P. Riccards, illustrated Stang High School, North start doing kind things for each by Kathryn H.. Pl1li~I~. Am.bas~a because "It's what San:'-"~ ddr.~~~s(W,tJtte'St!ir},MasJ'h~~)' Dartmouth, elected officers other, Idd' hTh' ' .. b,·'l' "1.1..",...... 1'1).)" .1l0I o :.J/IIlI.fG . O. e ptO - .:>z ~~ . . ' ",r: J ,lit .•.. r'•• , •.• , for its 2000-2001 school year; H arrtngton wou lem is, no one knows who Sam In a slightly dIfferent twis~ blt a They are, from left: Lauren Harrington is or how the kind events true-meaning-of~Christmas story, Barrett, vice president; got started. The mystery gets traced none of the adults or children in Coleen Crofford, secretary; back to a Sunday sermon and a little this tale can remember why they Racine'Silva, president; girl who caught the gist, if not the celebrate C~ristmas on Dec. 25. Lauren Mathieu, treasurer. details, of the Good Samaritan Only the ammals remember, bestory. (Ages 5-9) cause a Nativity set had been stored LIVES OF EXTRAORDI- in the barn. The children hear the NARY WOMEN: RULERS, animals speaking like humans and REBELS (AND WHAT THE discover that Christmas is not just NEIGHBORS THOUGHT), by about presents. (Ages 3-9) Kathleen Krull, illustrated by HARRYPOTTERANDTHE Kathryn Hewitt. Harcourt, Inc., GOBLET OF FIRE (Book 4), by . (San Diego, 2000). 95 pp. J.K. Rowling, Scholastic (New Did you know that Marie York, 2(00). 734 pages: ' Antoinette used to flick bread The Harry Potter senes contmcrumbs to break the tension at the ues, keeping up the pace set in the palace's dinner table? Or that first .three ,books. The tone of th~s Jeannette Rankin, the first woman one IS a bit darker than the P!:CVIelected to the U.S. Congress, voted ous volumes, and one character against entering World War I? This dies. Rowling'~ ~agical world is latest in the series of"extraordinary" expanded as vlsltmg teams from books is full of fabulous tidbits sure other schools of wizardry arrive at to keep readers turning the pages. Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tour(Ages 9-up) nament. Our hero unexpectedly DREAM FREEDOM, by participates in the tournament and Sonia Levitin. Silver Whistle. (San has his most perilous encounter yet Diego, 2(00). 169 pp. with the evil Lord Volde~ort. With Levitin switches settings from new characters and magical creathe western United States to Sudan tures, "Goblet of Fire" gives a to tell the story of slavery in mod- strong message of loyalty, friendern Sudan and what one class of ship and the ultimate victory of children does to fight it. She per- good over evil. (Ages 9-up)

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THE ANCHOR ~ Diocese of Fall River - Frio, December 8, 2000

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. MEGAHN FRIAS, Jessica Luis and Maria Pinheiro from Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, New Bedford, are all smiles as they enjoy lunch at The Old Country Buffet Restaurant. They and several others were treated to the meal asa thank you for being the school's top fund-raisers ina recent candy drive. Below, Fourth-graders Jessica Luiz and Adam DeFrias cast their votes in a recent mock election for the President of the United States. All students at the school voted and sent results to the John F. Kennedy Library, Boston, to be recorded with--other 路S路ChbOls'Otallies. I

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RED, WHITE AND BLUE - Students from St. Mary's School, New Bedford, show their support for veteran's during a recent Veteran's Day prayer service. From left, are Victoria Meneses, Matt Farnworth, Kaitlyn Fitzsimmons, Alyson Pontes, Alan Casey, Craig Forgue and Kathrine Medeiros.

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. SEVENTH-GRADERS Michael Abdur-Rahman, Matt Caplan, Matt Plank and Kenny Monteiro from SS. James-John School, New Bedford, work on ''The Future Problem Solving Program," sponsored by the Department of Education. It promotes creative problem solving skills and working in groups.

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MORE THAN 30 students from Coyle and Cassidy High School, Taunton, pilgrimage to St. Anthony's Church with a large wooden cross as part of a recent campus ministry activity. Participants prayed the Stations of the Cross bringing their faith and song to the city streets.

GRANDPARENTS AND their grandchildren share a meal together at Saint Joseph School, Fairhaven, during its annual grandparent and special guest luncheon. Following the meal, guests visited classrooms and shared recess time with students.