12.08.06

Ii

Diocesan Hispanic Pastoral Plan responding to needs in parishes

By DEACON

JAMES

N.

DUNBAR

mately 10,000 "just in New Bedford alone," he said.

FALL RIVER - More than 30,000 members of His- "There are also 3,000 Mayans (Mayan Catholics) and panic communities of faith spread across the Fall River we're still figuring out if they are in addition to the Diocese are finding a new vibrancy in their spirituality 10,000," he said candidly. through programs and events being initiated through a Of the seven communities, there are more Salvadorans in Nantucket. In southern New Bedford, the Hispanic Hispanic Pastoral Plan.

"We're just finishing up the plan, which we have been community is comprised about 40 percent evenly of working on the last two years," reported Father Richard Puerto Ricans and Salvadorans, while another 20 perD. Wilson, diocesan director of cent is a mix of other countries.

In New Bedford's north end, the Hispanic Apostolate and pas'They a/l have a deep I concern the mix is more Puerto Rican and tor of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Parish in New Bedford. for their faith. And it involv~,s people Guatemalan. In Taunton, the maThe efforts follow a national from a variety of academic situa- jority is heavily Puerto Rican.

Hispanic Pastoral Plan approved tions - some with university edu- And in the Attleboros there is a by the U.S. bishops conference, cations - but always with a goal population from Mexico.

Percentage wise, the largest which also requests all Catholic of how we can evangelize them betdioceses to form and implement ter in the Hispanic Apostolate within numbers of Hispanic communisuch a plan, Father Wilson told our diocese. " ties after New Bedford are in Fall River, Attleboro and Taunton.

The Anchor.

"Their numbers are spread out "The draft is completed and going into written form, and it follows a series of work- more on Cape Cod, extending through the commercial shops held in several diocesan Hispanic faith communi- corridor from Barnstable to Orleans."

The pa$toral plan drawn up for these communities difties in last two years, during which we found out from fers' from the diocese's Pastoral Plan that keys on the them their needs and concerns," he explained.

FREE FROM SIN - A mosaic of the Immaculate Con- ' Thosefaith communities include Father Wilson's Our future-and use of churches and parishes and geographiception from the Basilica of the National Shrine of'the Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Parish in the Whaling cal trends and numbers of available priests and people, Immaculate Conception in Washington depicts' the City, St. Joseph's Parish in Attleboro, St. Mary's Cathe- in establishing a vibrant faith, Father Wilson noted.

Blessed Virgin Mary in glory. The belief that Mary was dral Parish in Fall River, St. Mary's Parish in Taunton, "Instead, the Hispanic Pastoral Plan deals with havfree from original sin from the moment of her existence St. Kilian's Parish in New Bedford, St. Francis Xavier ing people grow in their faith through various programs was promulgated infallibly by Pope Pius IX in 1854. The December 8 feast is a holy day of obligation for Catho- Parish in Hyannis, and St. Mary Our Lady of the Isle drawn up specifically for them," he explained.

The diocesan plan draws in a large part from a 2003 lics. (CNS photo courtesy Basilica of the National Shrine Parish on Nantucket Island.

The numbers of people involved includes approxiTum to page 18 - Hispanic of the Immaculate Conception)

Former SS.CC. provincial's book relates rosary to people's lives By

DEACON JAMES

N.

DUNBAR

and also because I think this is a needed time to re路 FAIRHAVEN - Growing up in Ireland, David Reid anchor Catholic devotions, which is a big concern of was intrigued by the set of large rosary beads he inher- mine," he told The Anchor in an interview.

"I think many people have lost touch with devotions," ited along with a decease colleague's car. One day he said. "And I especially realized that reflecpicked up the beads and prayed the rosary. tion on the rosary is one way to read the "This was a turning point, a graced moBible. Each mystery of the rosary invites rement, because for many years I had not done flection that connects biblical images with so," the provincial of the Congregation of the the lived experience of our own lives."

Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary recalls in ........... .. ..

The book offers a wealth of scriptural refhis new book, "The Grace of the Rosary."

---~",~> -'."".' . erences to accommodate the reader.

The book, dealing with Scripture, contem1" ..

I The 64-year-old priest divulged, "One of plation, and the claim of the Kingdom of my arguments is that the Kingdom of God God, was published November 1, by Paulist can be seen as a claim upon us. I then morph Press. that into a claim for social justice through What prompted Father Reid to write a meditating on the mysteries of Christ's life." book on the rosary?

"First an interest in Mary, of course ... FATHER DAVID P. REID Tum to page 18 - Rosary

""/",) ~

~ ""

/

-.

--;.

.

~

~

Tonight's Prayer for Life will link parishes across the nation By

DEACON JAMES

N.

DUNBAR

'OSTERVILLE - When parishioners and friends gather tonight for eucharistic adoration at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, they will be living icons of the 17th annual National Night of Prayer for Life, similarly being celebrated in approximately 700 churches and

chapels ac::ross America.

"Celebrating what's called the National Hour of Unity literally l,nks together all of our 48 states, from the East Coast to the West Coast and also links today's feast of the Immaculate Conception as well as the day recalling Tum to page 18 - Prayer

,

",'

\

2

"$

NEWS FROM THE VATICAN

$

DECEMBER

8, 2006

Pope says dialogue can help end terrorism, war, religious strife

By JOHN THAVIS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE ANKARA, Turkey - Addressing international diplomats on his first day in Turkey, Pope Benedict XVI said respectful dialogue must be the basis for ending terrorism, wars and religious differences in the world.

Religions have a key role in this dialogue, but on the condition that they "utterly refuse to sanction recourse to violence as a legitimate expression of religion," the pope told a gathering of about 90 ambassadors in the Turkish capital of Ankara November 28.

The pope, on his first trip to a predominantly Muslim country, made a point ofexpressing his "great esteem" for Muslims. He also cited Turkey's constitutional protection of religious freedom, and said every democratic state was duty-bound to guarantee those rights.

The papal speech came at the end of a long day of activities in Turkey, where the pontiff was making a difficult four-day pilgrimage aimed at building ecumenical and interreligious bridges. He met the diplomats in a small auditorium at the apostolic nunciature.

He began his wide-ranging talk by saying he had come to Turkey "as a friend and as an apostle of dialogue and peace."

Then the pope turned a critical eye to the international scene, saying economic imbalances and political disturbances need stronger international intervention as well as authentic dialogue between the parties directly involved.

"I am thinking most especially of the disturbing conflict in the Middle East, which shows no sign of abating and weighs heavily on the whole of international life; I am thinking of the risk of peripheral conflicts multiplying and terrorist actions spreading," he said. ~e said that true peace needs justice, to correct the economic ,imbalances and political disturbances that generate tensions and

conflict. That presupposes authentic dialogue and debate, in order to arrive at acceptable political solutions, he said.

The pope then spoke about the role of religions in the promotion of global peace and security.

He began by describing Turkey as a historic bridge between East and West, and as a crossroads of cultures and religions. As a modem state, he said, Turkey distinguishes clearly between civil society and religion.

Although Turkey's population is almost entirely Muslim, he said, its Constitution recognizes every 'citizen's right to freedom of worship and freedom of conscience.

In what appeared to be a gentle reminder to Turkish authorities to live up to those principles, the pope added: "Naturally it is my hope that believers, whichever religious community they belong to, will continue to benefit from these rights."

The Christian minorities in Turkey have pressed for better recognition of their religious rights in the areas of legal status, property and education.

The pope went on to say that religion's role in society is an enrichment for all.

"This assumes, of course, that religions do not seek to exercise direct political power, as that is not their province, and it also assumes that they utterly refuse to sanction recourse to violence as a legitimate' , expression of religion," he said.

The issue of religion and violence was considered a potential flash point during the papal visit, largely because of a speech the pope gave in September that, in the eyes of Muslims, appeared to link Islam with recourse to violence.

In his talk to the diplomats, however, the pope avoided specific comments on Islam, except to urge cooperative Christian-Muslim dialogue.

Afterward, the pope greeted each of the diplomats individually and gave them papal medallions.

HELPING HAND - Pope Benedict XVI leans to lay a wreath with the . help of honor guards at the mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk, the founder . of modem Turkey, in Ankara. (CNS photo/Anatolian, Pool via Reuters)

~OLY GROUND In

Pope Benedict XVI is greeted by believers in front of the House of the Virgin Mary Ephesus, Turkey,.,where he celebrated Mass November 29. (CNS photo/Damir Sagolj, . - Reuters) ,

.Pope celebr3:tes Mass for' Thrkey's 'lit~le flock' to

By CINO;;WOODEN

Catholic community, rejoice prayers for the M~~(ne -East, "the even in the midst of <;Il(ficulties, land called 'holy' and' considered EPHf:SUS, T'urk~y '~:Pope following the example~of Father as such bY' Chrls.tians, Jews and Benedict XVI askedTu~key's tiny Andrea Santoro;', a.~i~sionary Muslims alik~/: ..".~ ',.

Catholic commuhity to liy.e their. from Romewho was'murdered in The world ;n~'¢ds peace, he faith with courage;hope andop~Febru~y bya di~t'u~bed Muslim said. "And the Church is called to' ',.' youth. :" . ..,,' timism. be not only'the prophetic herald, The pope celebrated the first Citing Mary asa .m.other not bl.\t even more the "sign and inpublic Mass ,cifhis_f~ur-day trip only of Christ's,discip!es but of strument' of this.pea~e." to Turkey November 29 under the all men and wom.en·, .the pope .Besides priests.JroJ;Il all over shade of pine ~rid olive-laden urged Turkey's Catholics to be Turkey, one of the largest groups trees next to the House of the Vir- united among themselves and to present a~ the Mass was comgin Mary at Ephesus.' build friendships with their Ortho- prised of 40 German Catholics When he addressed the "little dox and Muslim neighbors. and Protesta~ts' with holiday flock" of Catholics in Turkey, he Even if it is a tiny minority, he homes in Antalya and Alanya, was not referring literally to the said, the Catholic Church is called Turkey. fewer than 200 people present for always and everywhere to be "a Ingrid Nurbakhsch, a Catholic the Mass high on a hill over sacrament of the unity of the hu- member of the group, said the fact Ephesus, but it felt that way to the man race." that the pope is German was not congregation. , Christ came to proclaim peace, the primary reason for their trip.

The Mass in honor of Mary Pope Benedict said. ' "For me, the nationality of the was a brief aside dedicated to Pointing out that Muslims also pope is not important. I look at the Catholics in a trip dominated by make pilgrimages to the House of person," she said. "I came to see outreach to the country's Muslim the Virgin Mary, that they honor Ephesus and to be with tb,e majority and by celebrations at her as a true believer and as the people." the Orthodox Ecumenical Patri- virgin mother of Jesus, the pope Nurbakhsch said she has never archate of Constantinople. urged Turkish Catholics to pray had a problem living as a CathoPope Benedict told those for peace among believers of dif- lic in Turkey. "We live with our present that he wanted "to convey ferent religions.

Muslim neighbors. We are human my personal love and spiritual The pope asked for special beings first of all." closeness, together with that of the universal Church, to the ChrisOFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE tian community here in Turkey, a DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER small minority which faces many Vol. 50, No. 47 challenges and difficulties daily."

Member: Catholic Press Association. Catholic Ncws Scrvice Published weekly except for two weeks In the summer and the week after While the Turkish Constitution Christmas by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River 887 Highland Avenue recognizes freedom of conscience Fall River, MA 02720, Telephone 508-675-7151 - FAX' 508-675-7048, email: and religion, including the right theanchor@anchomews.org. Subscription price by mail, postpaid $14.00 per year.

Send address changes to P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA, call or use email address to worship, the Catholi~ Church P~BLlSHER ~ Most Reverend George W. Coleman and other minority religious comEXECU eOITOR Father Roger J. Landry fatherrogerlandry@anchomews.org munities lack full legaJ recogniDavid B. Jollvet davejolivet@anchornews.org eolTO tion and protection. They also can NEWS EotrOR Deacon James N. Dunbar jimdunbar@anchornews.org Mike Gordon mikegordon@anchornews.org REPORTER face difficulty in getting visas and OFFICE MANAGER Mary Chase marychase@anchornews.org residency permits for foreign pasSend Letters to the Editor to: fatherrogerlandry@anchomew8.org toral workers.

POS'IMASTERS send address changes to The Anchor, P.O. Box 7. Fall River, MA 02722.

Pope Benedict urged the THE ANCHOR (USPS-545..()2() Periodical Postage Paid at Fall River, Mass.

CATHO~ICN~w,S S,ER,V,ICE

...~ t·

.. ' . .

'j.~":'

•

'_i~( ~:I_'_'·_'_'::",I,"-.I' l_t-:-'~':: '1_~-'"

J

~-_"

1,'1

(:','j

'/,

I.

DECEMBER

,

8, 2006

The Anchor ,

Tradition of Mary's house in Turkey stems from nun's vision

By CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

in Ephesus and is buried there.

Since the Gospel says that, from the cross, Jesus entrusted his mother to John's care, many believe he would not have traveled without her.

However, the main Christian tradition has held that Mary ended her earthly life in Jerusalem.

Catholics believe she was assumed body and soul into heaven; Orthodox describe her dormition, or falling asleep, in the city of Christ's death and resurrection before being taken into heaven.

Nevertheless, Orthodox believers near Ephesus have held for centuries that Mary spent the last nine years of her life there and that the dormition took place there.

Despite Father Govet's failure to find the house or traces of it, Lazzarist priests from the nearby city of Izmir set out in 1891 to try to find the place Blessed Emmerich described, or, in the case of one of the priests, to demonstrate that Blessed Emmerich was wrong.

The Lazzarists spent two hot summer days looking around Ephesus, finding nothing. When their water ran out, they asked some local women where they could find a well and were directed up the hill to the "monastery."

They found a spring next to the ruins of a little chapel half hidden by the trees in a scene almost exactly as Blessed Emmerich had described.

Subsequent excavations led to the conclusion that the chapel was built no earlier than the seventh century, but that part of it was erected on the foundation of a much older building, one constructed "with materials that the archaeologists said were similar to those used in the first centuries of our era," said an article from the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano.

The article, as well as one written by Archbishop Ruggero

EPHESUS, Turkey - Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims began making pilgrimages to the House of the Virgin Mary near Ephesus only after a bedridden, almost illiterate German nun had a vision of the house's location. . In an account attributed to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, who never left Germany, the house could be found high on a rocky hill above Ephesus, partially hidden in a grove of trees.

Pope Benedict XVI briefly went into the tiny house November 2~ .before celebrating an outdoor Mass in honor of Mary.

Blessed Emmerich's description of her vision was published in "The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary" by the poet Clemens Brentano after the nun's death in 1824.

While Brentano claimed to have acted as a secretary, simply writing down what Blessed Emmerich described, the Vatican said the style raised enough questions over authorship that it did not consider the book on Mary or two other Brentano accounts of Blessed Emmerich's visions in the process that led to her beatification in 2004.

However, the book led a French priest to Turkey in 1881 in a search for the house.

According to articles from the Vatican newspaper distributed to journalists traveling with the pope, Father Alexandre Govet "said he found the house, but he was not able to prove it."

Blessed Emmerich's vision was not the only clue that Mary may have lived in Turkey.

While it is generally accepted that St. John the Evangelist wrote the Book of Revelation on the island of Patmos, just off the coast of Ephesus, a strong and ancient tradition holds that he also lived

Francheschini of Izmir, also questions whether it was simply a coincidence that in 431 bishops from around the world met at the Council of Ephesus and proclaimed that Mary was the "Theotokos," the Mother of God, affirming at the same time that Christ was fully human and fully divine.

Archbishop Fran"cheschini wrote that the fact that Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims - who honor Mary and believe that Jesus was born of a virgin - all make pilgrimages to pray at the house is further testimony to her presence in some way.

"Mary is the mother of all and she welcomes all her children into her house - children of many different cultures and religions - and speaks to their hearts," he wrote.

"Here differences disappear and only the most important thing remains: to be children and adorers of the one God," the archbishop said.

LIFT

B

E

Catholk WorsIIIp for

c o M I N

Q

NEW Chneratlon

December 19th tri.th~edar!i;Ue6t

80b Rice '.9pm@ Fontbonne Academy 930 Brook Road Milton. Mo. 02186 What Is urn UFT Is on awesome night of Praise & Worship.

Q challenging speaker. and EucharIstic Adoration.

7/{pcomb!J dateN

J~~ory 16th . r :J('bn,(,~"If 1 :Itb March 13th

aWe cannot dirept the wind, hut we can adjust the sails."

Feitelberg Insurance has been navigating the insurance marketplace.since 1916. Let us p*t your business insurance program on the right course.

LHe

.Business

Personal

Employee ,-enefits

i

),~,

508-67~-1971 QUEEN OF THE WORLD - A believer displays a statue of Mary to Turkish residents as they wait for Pope Benedict XVI outside House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus, Turkey, November 29. (eNS photofTobias Schwarz, Reuters)

• • • • .. '- , c . • • .. ...

~

\, ... ... , , ..

I

•

I

..

l .........

I

..

\

I

~;~. ,.

:1'.

Fall River • \V. Bridgewater • Somerset Plymouth • Dartmouth • Hingham,

\

.

$

U.S. , DECEMBER 8,2006 New auxiliary bishop, youngest in U.S., ordained for Detroit

THE CHURCH IN THE

ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH - Glowing herald angels decorate the Channel Gardens leading up to the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in New York. A Christmas tree has been placed in the outdoor plaza each year since 1931. This year's tree, decorated with 30,000 multicolored lights, came from Ridgefield, Conn.

The angels have been part of the annual display for 20 years. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)

DETROIT (CNS) - Auxiliary Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Detroit professed "praise and thanks to almighty God" in his first remarks as a newly ordained bishop November 29.

"All gifts I have received in life, including the gift of this day, are contained in the primordial gift of Christ to the world," he said at the end of the ordination Mass.

Bishop .Flores is the 25th active Hispanic bishop in the country, the first Hispanic bishop to be ordained for any Michigan diocese and, at 45, is the youngest Catholic bishop in the United States.

After the ceremony, the new bishop's mother, Lydia Flores, expressed her pride in and happiness for her son. "But, at the same time, I have mixed emotions, because I know that when I leave here tomorrow (for her home in Corpus Christi, Texas),

Publishers introduce computer games for Religious Education WASHINGT9N (CNS) Two Catholic publishers have announced the launch of new educational video and computer games designed to make learning about the Catholic faith and the Bible more fun.

"Classroom Jeopardy! Catholic Edition" - developed in cooperation with the makers of the award-winning television show - is now available from the Pflaum Publishing Group, a division of Peter Li Education Group.

"Gospel Champions," a new series of educational computer games based on the Gospel readings, resulted from a partnership of Catholic publisher Silver Burdett Ginn Religion with Third Day Games.

Game cartridges available for "Classroom Jeopardy! Catholic Edition" include Catholic Basics Level I and Catholic Basics Level 2, as well as language arts and m~th for grades three, four and five. All of the games play 0ljl the "0llissroom Jeopardy" b*se unit,' also distributed by Pflaum.

The games can be used in traditional Catholic classrooms or in parish Religious Education, catechist formation and confirmation programs or for retreats, community events, family game nights, church festivals or fundraising activities. '''With the launch of 'Catholic Jeopardy,' Pflaum brings a level ofinteractivity and enthusiasm to Religious Education tools that we've never seen before," said Bret D. Thomas, president and publisher, in a statement. "Yet 'Catholic Jeopardy' is consistent with our vision of providing o

.

,.

':'

!

J

r

! --'"

sound catechetical materials to help children learn about our faith."

"Gospel Champions," with three skill settings for children from kindergarten to eighth grade, links Sunday Mass readings to the daily lives of students by integrating action/adventure game play with sequenced elements of Bible stories.

For an a,nnual Website license fee, "Gospel Champions" can be incorporated into the educational program of any parish or school.

A new Gospel story is 1}nlocked each month for student's to play on their home computers.

The game software also enables parishes and schools to send personalized messages to children each time they play the game.

"The 'Gospel Champions' games will provide a parish or school with a low-cost, high-impact resource for connecting the home to the Gospel proclaimed at our Sunday Eucharist," said Deacon Raymond Latour, president of Silver Burdett Ginn Religion, in a news release.

Brian Mitchell, president of Third Day Games and a Religious Education teacher, said the partnership with Silver Burdett Ginn Religion "is a significant step in realizing our goal of using the popularity of games to keep our children connected to the Catholic faith in their daily lives."

More information and a sample game of "Catholic Jeopardy" are available online at www·pflaum.com/jeopardy.Additional information and a demonstration of "Gospel Champions" are available online at www.GospeIChampions;com.

:: / ,

J

/

'.

'

J.-

~

l'

J

,

THE YOUNGEST - Auxiliary Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Detroit speaks at the conclusion of his November 29 ordination Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit. (CNS photo/Larry A. Peplin, The Michigan Catholic)

he will be staying behind," she said.

More importantly, however, her son will be serving God, and "he can't go wrong serving God," she said.

Cardinal Adam J. Maida of Detroit was the ordaining bishop at the ceremony making Bishop Flores Detroit's newest bishop, joining Auxiliary Bishops Earl A. Boyea, John M. Quinn and Francis R. Reiss.

"This is a great and historic moment for our Church of Detroit, and especially for the ever-growing Hispanic population of Michigan," Cardinal Maida said in his homily at the ordination Mass.

About 900 people - priests and bishops, deacons, religious and laypeople - fined the cathedral for the ceremony in Detroit's Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Among them were many people from the local Hispanic community, as well

as more than 100 of the new bishop's relatives and well-wishers from the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

Besides the cardinal, there were 26 other archbishops and bishops present from Texas, Michigan, Ohio~ North Dakota and Illinois. Metropolitan Nicholas of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Detroit was seated in the sanctuary.

Cardinal Maida acknowledged the efforts already under way by clergy and religious to minister to the Hispanic community in the Archdiocese of Detroit, but added "now, today, we will have a bishop who knows their culture firsthand and will truly be able to speak out of the same experience."

The cardinal praised the gifts Hispanic Catholics bring to the Church, both locally and throughout the world. "We thank you for your strong commitment to family life and sanctity of marriage," he said. "We rejoice with you in the blessing of Our Lady of Guadalupe and all the Hispanic traditions of faith in the many countries and' cultures you represent."

The number of Hispanic Catholics in the Archdiocese of Detroit has been estimated at more than 128,000, about 10 percent of the Catholic population in the six-county archdiocese. Their .number is projected to increase to more than 150,000 by 2010.

To the man he would be ordaining minutes later, Cardinal Maida said, "Bishop Flores, you have come to us as an apostle and a missionary. I cannot help but recall that Spanish was indeed the language of the first evangelizers of this American continent, and now you will be for us a living witness to the dialogue of salvation by your very presence itself."

Members of the Flores family are of Mexican heritage, but the family has lived in the United States for several generations.

Speaking in both English and Spanish at the end ofthe Mass, Bishop Flores thanked Cardinal Maida and the current and retired bishops of Corpus Christi, Bishops Edmond Carmody and Rene H. Gracida, who were the other ordaining bishops at the Mass, as well as other bishops who had been influential in his life.

As a former seminary professor who will also be teaching at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit as part of his new duties, Bishop Flores also had a message for men in the congregation currently preparing for the priesthood: "To the seminarians in particular, I say: Love Christ, serve his people, and in the gift of yourself you will find the Lord." .

Thanking family members who traveled to P.,~:iV; troit for the ceremony - including his mother, twq~r brothers and a sister, along with aunts, nephews,; , nieces and cousins - he said, "They have been the first and finest gifts of God's providence to me.

They represent a large and close family, and in their eyes I see also my grandparents."

Lydia Flores said her son had grown up hearing his maternal grandmother, the late Teresa Dilley, who lived with the family, saying, "No se les olviden que hay Dios y que de prestado viven," which she translated as "Don't forget there is a God, and you are here on loan."

Teresa Crawford, 42, Bishop Flores' sister, said of the ceremony, "I found it very moving. I'm very proud of him, and I couldn't help but cry."

Billie Ellis, 51, the new bishop's oldest brother, said.: 'We're all very proud of him, very honored, and I think Detroit is very lucky to have him."

Younger brother Albert Flores, 40, said, "When he was little, he wanted to become president of the United States, but this is way better than president."

•

;

J

.'

~

.'

(

•

•

.'

..,

•

' ( . , '.I

(..

"','

DECEMBER

, THE INTERNATIONAL CHURCH ,

8, 2006

5• I

African bi~hops call for holistic look. at causes of AIDS crisis •

LIFE SAVER - Hossam Haick is seen in a lab atthe Israellnstitute ofTechnology in Haifa, Israel, recently.

The Catholic scientist was awarded a $2.26 million European Union grant to develop nanometric devices that would detect cancer in people's breath and determine its stage and location. (CNS photo/Debbi~ Hill)

II

ACCRA, Ghana (CNS) - . from l]NAIDS, 24.5 million Catholic' bishops froin Africa people out of 77~ million in subcalled for a deeper look at the Saharan Africa are living with causes of the AIDS pan4emic and HIV/AIDS; nearly all the countries called for a more holistiC: approach have arate of infection well above to the problem. . one percent, the epidemic thresh"As the church's mis.sion is to old.. address the whole persoll in all diThe bishops urged the interna- . mensions of life, we feel the spe- tional community to continue its cialTesponsibility to rev~talize the commitment in offering resources strong moral values in .our societ- to fight AIDS and pledged to "conies. That is what will lead· to a true, tinue to offer care which is comsustainable solution to AIDS in Af- petent, loving and holistic." rica," said the Symposiuin ofEpis"We will con~inue to challenge copal Conferences of Africa and our fellow Africans of every age and condition to exercise personal Madagascar. .

The symposium, representing and communal responsibility," nearly 50 national bishops' confer- they said, noting that they felt a ences, issued the statement to mark "special responsibility to revitalize World AIDS Day Dec. I. The the strong moral values in our sotheme. of the 2009 World AIDS cieties."

Day is "Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise." .

The bi shop s sai d it is not enough for people to be offered Sales And Service "only knowledge, ability, techni~

Eastern Television

"" cal competence and tools."

Fall River's Largest Despite education, the bishops Display of TVs said, "many people remain ignorant about AIDS or still deny it."

ZENITH • SONY And more people are dying denationalities together in one place, spite a greater availability oftreat1196 BEDFORD ST. . FALL RIVER .working with each other and·under- ment, they added.

508-673-9721 According to a 2006 report standing each other," he said. His current team includes Muslim and Christian Israeli Arabs, Russian immigrants . How many children in our lives give us a hug when and Israeli Jews. we'll ask for one - or when they know we need one?

When he ~eived his appointment at Technion, Haick also became one Throughout the Missions, oftwo full-time Arab.faculty members' there are many children in at the institution and one of a handful need; abandoned and ofArab academics out of3,000 senior alone, some. are even positions in Israeli acaderrtia in genliving on the streets, eral. Most other Arab acadeinics hold only paq-time positions: without"food, shelter Although many students in the sometimes without hope Arab sector have good scientific apti" .and love as well. tude, most have given up because they Religious Sisters reach believe they will not be accepted in out to these little ~nes, the, Israeli scientific community, said offering them something Haick.·

Israeli Catholic scientist.earns gra~t for devices to find cancer

By JUDITH SUDILOVSKY

He said he has become a sort of celebrity; people stop on the streets to JERUSALEM - FourJPonths af- wish him luck. Many people who ter completing his postdoctoral re- heard about his research already have . · search in chemistry and chemical sent him their medical files to see if he gineering at the California Institute can help, he added. of Technology, Hossam Haick had Haick said his "vision is to develop just gotten u~ed to the idea of head- a portable ... inexpensive ...device that , ing his own little lab when he became can be used by every interested physithe recipient of the largest European cian and clinic."

Union grant given to an Israeli scienHaick saidthm he hopes his team · tist. will be able to create a working model Haick, a 3I--year-old Catholic resi- to distinguish between healthy and dent of Haifa who grew up in unhealthy patients within five years; Nazareth, was ~ven the grant of$2.26 the ability to distinguish location and millio.n to develop nanometric devices stages of the can~r will take longer to sniff out cancer like an "electric to develop. nose." The devices will be about . He is currently doubling his la.b 100;000 times smaller than the diam- staff to include 10 chemists aswell as eter of a hair, he said. . chemical, electrical and material enHaick is a re~earcher and senior gineers from Israel, Europe and Asia lecturer in the chemical engineering who will work in the three new labs department and the Russell Berrie he is establishing and directing. The ~artotechnology Institute, both at the labs should be in working order by .

Jsrael Institute of Technology, or January, he ·said.

Technion, in Haifa.

He had offers for positions in the ''My wife, Rana, asked me repeat- United States:and other acaaemic inedly about the "grant and told me that I stitutions in Israel, but he decided to would get the grant even though·the : return to Haifa because he wanted to competition is very difficult," he said. contribute to a mixed Arab-Jewish ''My wife just had a feeling." society, he said. Though traditionally With the EU grant, Haick hopes to the relations between the two commucreate nanometric devices sensitive. nities have .been positive, the recent enough to sniff out people wi,1h can- war in Lebanon has left things a bit cer as well as detect the stages and 10- . skewed, he said. <:ation of about.90 percent of cancerHaick also said he hopes that ous diseases by smelling people's through his. scientific work and relationships he and his mostly Jewish breath. .' · . ''I was 'very happy to receive the colleagues can be role models on how grant. It· is the first time in Israeli relations between the two communiacademia: that one has gotten such a ties can be built through mutual relarge grant. It is considered very pres- speCt, understancfutg, cooPeration and, tigious, and it is a good starting point above all, science. ./ . for my new academic career. On the "I ,believe that science has a kind other hand, I now feel a big responsi- of u!)ifying power that can bring bility on my shoulders," said Haick. .people from diffen::nt religions and CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE

en-

z

DIOCESAN TRIBUNAL .

FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS Oecree of Citation Since his present domicile is un· known, in accord with the provision of Canon 1509.. 1, we hereby cite Jesse Hanley to appear iii person before the Tribunal of the Diocese of Fall River (887 Highland Avenue in Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts) on December 28, 2006 at 2:30 PM to give his testi· mony regarding the question: , IS THE O'MEARA·HANLEY MARRIAGE NULL ACCORDING TO CHURCH LAW? Anyone who has knowledge of the domicile of Jesse Hanley is hereby reo quired to inform him of this citation.

Given at the offices of the Diocesan Tribunal in Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts on December 4, 2006.

(Rev.) Paul F. Robinson, O. Gann., J.G.D. Judicial Vicar (Mrs.) Denise D. Berube Ecclesiastical Notary

o

to eat, finding them homes, and even helping . them to get an education.

Says one: mission Sister: "Each of these children to h!1g in a warm embrace." " I would

\ike 'I

/.

This Chr:iftmas, will you reach out' - through the lOVing arms ofa Religious Sister - and offer the love of Je$us to children and all in t/:le Missions who are aband,'oned and alone? Will you s~pport the service ofi,Religious Sisters that offer such help '. and hope i~- through the Society for the Propagation of the Faith? .

Q j

~

~

--------

,!O .(,

•

---------+--~--------------~--------~~---_.~_.

~ The Society for .~HE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH ~. . j. ,a Pontifical Mission Society .

I

Attn: Column .

I

ANCH.12I08I06

Rev. Msgr. John J. Oliveim. V.E. 106 Illinois St., New Bedford, MA 02745

I

•

Enclosed fs my Christmas giftfor the Missions. .. .

CJ $100 CJ ~~o CJ $25 CJ $10 CJ $_ _.(other) Namc----:

:!

---ir-

- - - - " - - _ - -__ o

Addl'l'SS

cily

II

State_ _....,-Zip

·,-II_

~._.J.. .' I\. t1.. • • wwwn.gtve..o neIl1lUSSnOnS.ClJrg

I ,I

J

.

_

..

,

The Anchor .,

Marital love and life

DECEMBER

8,2006

the living word

In the history of the Church, no encyclical has been agreater sign ofcontradiction than Pope Paul VI's 1968 "Humanae Wtae;' which taught that the use of contraception' in marriage violated the natural law. The controversy surrounding it divided the Church. Not only did many couples reject its teaching on a practical level, but on a theological level, it spawned a class of dissenters who took advantage of the controversy to undennine the teaching authority of the Church on various other issues, mainly dealing with human sexuality.

Even supporters of the encyclical acknowledged that the Church's teaching could have been stated more persuasively. The document failed to mention that the Church, from the firSt century, had always taught that contracep- .A GIRL HOLDS AN IMAGE OF tion was wrong; the only thing that was new in the 1960s was the considerOUR LADY OF GUADALUPE ation of whether the recently-invented birth control pill might be an excepDURING MAss AT THE BAtion to the Church's general condemnation. After study, it was concluded that -it was not. Moreover, the encyclical was written' in ~ natural law language SILICA OF OUR LADY OF that was not persuasive to people prone to be swayed more by sentiment than .

GUADALUPE IN MEXICO '. by rational arguments. Pope John Paul·n saw this and was convinced that the CITY NOVEMBER 29. THE Church needed to provide more persuasive premises to support Paul VI's FEAST OF OUR LADY OF conclusions. lbat is why he spent five years of Wednesday audiences from 1979":1984 sketching out his theology of the body, the purpose of which was GUADALUPE IS DECEMBER to provide a re-readin~ and re-phrasing of "Humanae Wtae" from the per12. (CNS PHOTO/GREG spective of the hUman person made in God's image, rather than the perspecTARCZYNSKI) tive of a "cold" and objective natural law.

Pope John Paul IT's positive presentation ofthe theological anthropology of . "BEFORE I FORMED YOU human sexuality and application of this teaching to the use of contraception in IN THE WOMB I KNEW marriage was made accessible for all couples by the U.S. bishops, in their yOU" (JEREMIAH 1:5).

Novemlxfr pastoralletter,'''Married Love and the Gift of Life." Written in an easily understandable question-and-answer format, the document is tailor-made for coupl~ in parish and diocesan marriage preparation programs as well as in marriage enrichment outreaches. As asign that the U.S. bishops deep desire for it to be accessible and compelling, it was given to "focus groups" of engaged couples in four different dioceses, whose questions and feedback were incor'" . porated to help malce the document even more persuasive.

The main point ofthe document is to connect the sacred promises the spouses express at the altar with the body language they employ in the sacred conversation of making love. ''In the 'Rite of Marriage,'" the bishops declare; "a man and woman are asked if they will love one another faithfully and totally - in short, if they will love as God loves. 'Have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?' asks the bishop, priest what we experience as the human With the beginning of another . or deacon. 'Will you love and honor each other as man and wife for the rest of season ofAdvent. in preparation for condition. This thinking, interestyour lives? Will you accept children lovingly from God and bring them up the celebration of Christmas, our ingly, also explains why many according to the law of Christ and his Church?' These are different ways of thoughts turn naturally to Mary and · cannot understand or irn3gine the asking the same basic question: Are you ready to accept this person,.and all that universal call to holiness. It's why the unique role that she played in may come.from your union, completely and forever?" we hear many say that they could God's plan of salvation.

In a The use ofartificial contraception is a violation ofthis mutual acceptance in never be a saint. way, on the solemnity of particular love. ''When married couples deliberately act to suppress fertility;' they write, , On the feast of the Immaculate the Immaculate Conception, we "sexual intercourse is no longer fully marital intercourse ... [and it] does harm Conception it is necessary to think of our Lady and the signifito the couple's unity. The total giving of oneself, body and soul, to one'sbeevery cance of her life for loved is no time to say: ''I give you everything I am - except. ...'" In other words, in the use of contraception, rather than embracing one's spoUse wholly follower of Christ. ..-.-..... and entirely, one is rejecting either the maternal potential of the wife's femininEach year on this great \(p) . ityor the paternal potential of the husband's masculinity in the very act made feast, it becomes the duty Into

by God for that potential to be expressed and embraced. ' of every homilist to ~:;\f\th~.'

Like Pope Paul VI, the U.~. bishops acknowledge that a married couple explain that we celebrate 'f,,, 1 . :) , may have good reasons not to have a child, ''In married life;' they state, "serithe conception of Mary, ous circumstances - financial, physical, psychological, or those involving tf . . \~\

By Father sponsibilities to other family members ~ may arise to make ali .increase in rather than the conception A. Pignato '., ., of Christ.

Perhaps because family size untimely." But the means which a couple chooses to adopt must be the Gospel reading for this consistent with the moral law and the meaning of marital love. The bishops distinguish between the use of artificial contraception, which always violates feast is the account of the emphasize both Mary's unique, the meaning of the total exchange of persons, and the use of periodic conti- Annunciation and the resulting nence, popularly known as natural family planning (NFP). ''A married couple conception of Jesus in the womb of sinless conception and her true flcan eng~e in~~ari~ intimaCy d~g the n~y i¢'ertile ~es in a woman's Mary, even many faithful C~tholics humanity. Like each of us, Mary cycle WIthout Violatmg the meamng of mantal mtercourse In any way." In the mistakenly ~lieve that the purpose was conceived by the union of her use of ~,the spouses are not partially embracing and partially rejecting the of the feast is to celebrate the mother and father and. was truly 'lother, but W.hOlly. embracing each other as God made them, including the Incarnation. · hunian in nature. The miracle of her . lwoman's cyclefertility'and infertility.' conception took pl~ at the very Often peop~e are surprised to I' There is also a huge disparity in the way the two approaches influence a 6rst instant of her existence, when learn that the Church sets aside a couple's relationship to God. ''When couples use contraception, either physical or chemic31, they suppress their fertility, asserting that they alone have ultimate - day to celebrate Mary's conception" God intervened to block the control over this power to create a new human life. With NFP, spouses resPect and they are even more surprised to mysterious transmission of original sin, allowing Mary to be conceived God's design for Ilfeand love. They may choose to refrain from sexual union learn that the Church believes and · immaculately, without the inclinaduring the woman's fertile time, doing nothi!tg to destroy the love-giving or celebrates that she was conceived tion to sin. Never should we lose .life-giving meaning that is present That is the difference between choosing to without original sin, without the falsify the full marital language ofthe body and choosing at cei.taintimes not to transmission of our fallen human sight of Mary's true humanity, lest speak: that language:' In other words; the difference is between lying and not nature, which ea~h of us unavoidwe fail to appreciate why her saying anything, . cooperation with God was so ably inherits.

'The bishops acknowledge that "living God's design for human sexuality in praiseworthy and so exemplary for Once the true meaning of this ' marriage can be difficult" but add that "husbands and wives have not been left us. feast is understood, however, some alone to live out this fundamental life challenge.... God offers us the strength The truth of Mary's sinless to live up to this chaIlenge:' They encourage all couples to let God give them might then wonder if Mary was , humanity likewise makes it truly human.

The universal this help. 'The ChllfG!1's teaching on marital sexuality is an invitation fOr men necessary to explain how Mary was . experience of our fallen human and women - an invitation to let God be dod, to receive the gift ofGod's love redeemed. Because she was sinless, and care, and to let this gift inform and tranSform us, so w~ may share that love nature makes some unable to it miiht be thought that she had no with each other and with the world." . imagine how person could be need of redemption. But Mary's With the bishops, the whole Church should pray that Couples respond whole- sinless. The notion of sinlessness heartedly to that marriage invitation. inclusion in the human race meant seems simply incompatible with

Redem.ption by preservation

~.',

/,\Putting,

Oeep

re-

liitvtd

a

that she, too, needed to be redeemed, together with all of creation.

As one who was immaculately conceived, Mary did not need to be liberated from the sinful human nature from which we all need to be freed. Ours was Ii redemption by liberation, but Mary's was a redemption by preservation. From the first moment of her conception, God, redeemed Mary by preserving her from the stain of original sin.

For the rest of sinful humanity, redemption came at the· moment Christ shed his precious blood on the cross. But for Mary, redemp~ion was accomplished at the moment of her creation, in anticipation of the merits of Christ's sacrifice at Calvary. .)

The unique method of Mary's redemption reminds us that she was both truly human and truly sinless.

And when we contemplate the truth of Mary's life, we are reminded that holiness is not incompatible with human nature. Rather, Mary's holiness shows us the perfection of our human nature, as it was created in the btginning, before the effect of original sin. Although the perfection of holiness may not be possible in this life for those of us who have inherited fallen nature, it nevertheless remains the ideal and ' goal to which we strive, with God's help, throughout our lives.

Father Pignato is chap1ilin at Bishop Stang High School in North DartnlOut/r. and is secretary to Bishop George w.: Coleman.

DECEMBER

8, 2006

'

$

The Anchor

7l

$ II

Are feeding tubes required?

One of the very practical concerns that patients face near the end of life involves the question of, feeding tubes. How can we discern whether a feeding tube is morally required? The answer always depends on the particulars of a patient's situation, but there are a few broad considerations that can help in the discernment process. As a general rule, we ought to die from a disease or an ailment that claims our life, not from an action (or inaction).by someone that causes our death (for example, withholding hydration).

Our death, in other words, should result from the progress of a pathological condition, not from a lack of food or water if it could have been readily offered to provide comfort and support to a patient.

In general, there should be a presumption in favor of providing nutrition and hydration to all patients, including those who require the assistance of a feeding tube. A feeding tube can be conceptualized as a kind of "long spoon" that assists us in feeding someone who has difficulty swallowing. The proper starting point for the discussion, therefore, is the recognition that feeding tubes should be offered to patients because they are likely to provide two benefits: they bring comfort to the patient and alleviation of the suffering that comes from hunger and dehydration, and they may also serve as a bridge to healing,

depending on the details of the disease.

Does this stance imply that, feeding tubes must always be used, no matter what? Certainly not.

There will be circumstances where feeding tubes will become "disproportionate" or "extraordinary" and will not be morally obligatory. One very clear example would be the situation in which a feeding tube

'M;aking Sense " Out of Bioethics

By Father Tad

/

PacholczYk '"

fails to provide nourishment to the patient. If somebody has advanced cancer of the digestive tract, for instance, so that he lacks a functional stomach or intestines, and cannot absorb nourishment, a feeding tube would not be required, since this would constitute a futile kind of "force feeding."

Several other examples where feeding tubes would not be required could be mentioned. In some cases, feeding tubes may actually cause significant problems of their own for a patient. For example, if someone is very sick and dying, perhaps with partial bowel obstruction, the feeding tube may cause them to vomit repeatedly, with the attendant risk of inhaling their vomit, raising the specter of lung infections and respiratory compli-

cations. The feeding tube under these conditions may become disproportionate and unduly burdensome, and therefore nonobligatory.

In some instances, providing drips and naso-gastric feeding tubes can interfere with the natural course of dehydration in a way that causes acute discomfort to the patient near death. When the kidneys have not shut down, the fluids can sharply increase the flow of urine. If patients are extremely weak and have lost bladder control, they may need to have a catheter inserted, which can 1:>e distressing to patients and their families.

Intravenous fluids also tend to increase respiratory secretions, making it more difficult for patients to catch their breath or cough, and suction may be required. Providing IV hydration can also cause a flare up of fluid accumulation in the abdomen and expand the edema layer around tumors, aggravating symptoms, particularly pain. Hence the use of IV drips and feeding tubes will always have to be evaluated in terms of the totality of the patient's condition, taking into account any undesirable effects, and the likelihood of benefit.

Other circumstances must also be considered. Is the patient suffering from dementia, perhaps due to Alzheimer's or another nervous system ailment? Demented patients present a special challenge, as they may need to be restrained in

When we wish upon a star I feel like a character in a classic old fairy tale. Partly because this story's setting is deep in the heart of the wonderful imagination of Walt Disney, and partly because my fate is in the hands of powers beyond my control.

This week marked the climax of the Hot Stove baseball season, as the wizards of the raWhide gathered in Orlando, Fla. for their annual winter meetings.

Within minutes from the Magic Kingdom where one can find Minnie being Minnie, the Red Sox braintrust concentrated on where Manny will be Manny this season.

In the land where Tinkerbell takes flight each night, the Olde Town Team tinkered with the starting nine and beyond.

Not far from where hundreds of folks enjoy the thrill of Splash, Mountain each day, the Bosox tried to make a big splash in the free agent market.

As millions of Red Sox fans focused on central Florida this week, the collective hope was that Theo wouldn't come back north looking Goofy, that Larry Lucchino wouldn't appear Dopey, and that the meeting results wouldn't leave Sox fans Grouchy

this year.

Baseball's version of a giant yard sale ended yesterday, but as The Anchor went to press on Tuesday, no deals had been struck, so I'm still waiting for my happy ending. But I know full well that by the time this column appears in your mailbox, the fruits of their labor my just be a poison apple for the Fenway faithful.

It's ~ways at this time of year

when I feel like those poor fairy tale princes and princesses who are the victims of pre-arranged marriage plans.

Sox fans are in the same boat.

We're totally committed to the team, by Hook or by crook. Yet, the evil stepfathers completely control who will be the objects of our undying devotion this summer. We have absolutely no say, and to make matters worse, we don't even have the luxury of a fairy godmother to bail us out.

The Red Sox powers that be are now making their way north. Hopefully they bring with them the hopes and joys of Mickey, the effervescent mouse with the eternal smile, and not the spastic rantings of a duck named Donald.

I think I can actually hear the optimistic strains of the classic, "When You Wish Upon a Star."

However it does matter how good that star is and how much he makes. davejolivet@anchornews.org

order for a feeding tuJ to be inserted, and that restraint may need to continue so as to prevent them from pulling the tllbe out.

Both the restraint and the presence of the tube can cause f~ and anxiety in the demented patient, and one must'therefore carefully consider whether such a tube would really be proportionate to the patient's health care neb!s, I especially in advanced dementia at a point close to death. Our desire to comfort and palliate those suffering from an end stage disease is an important part of the equation in mapping out the best options for health care treatment. If we have to tie down our loved ones and cause them grave discomfort and uncontrollable anxiety in order to provide a feeding tube, Ii such a tube may well become disproportionate and non-obligatory.

These considerations hold most notably for patients who are near death, where it is clear that we are not obligated to extend',or "string out" an imminent death, and where the benefits of the feeding tube will be subject to considerable discussion. It should be empijasized, however, that in weighing the propriety oftube-feedirig, we must specifically examine the burden of the technique itself, and not try to make some kind of global assessment about whether we believe that person's life in generall'is burdensome or "not worth'living." Life can be burdensome, as:it is for all of

us at times, but that doesn't provide us with license to shorten it by refusing a standard and effective intervention.

Sometimes when families are discussing whether to provide a feeding tube to a loved one who is dying, there may be concern that such a tube, once inserted, can never be ethically removed after it has been put in place. In point of fact, however, such an understanding would be incorrect. Merely because a feeding tube has been placed does not say anything about whether that tube can later be withdrawn. If the patient's circumstances change so that a feeding tube has now become a burdensome and extraordinary intervention, that tube can be withdrawn without hesitation or compunction.

We must be concerned first and foremost with providing the best possible health care interventions for our loved ones, and feeding tubes will oftentimes, but not in every circumstance, assist us in exercising proper stewardship over the great gift of human life that each of us has received from God. Father Pachok~k, PkD. earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did postdoctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest ofthe Diocese ofFall River, and serves as the director of education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphio... www.ncbcenter.org

"Grampas ~re For All Seasons" By fUchard J. Ward Don't Let Another Occasion Go By

Give the family a special keepsake for Christmas With Catholic Sensibilities 'I

Long on experieng:, knowledge, travel adventure, WWII and other personal revelations, conveyed with a touch of wit, this open-any-page "trove of knowing miggets" is the ideal bed time, lounge chair, vacation reader - offering a lifetime of pleasure and reference.

The author, grandfather ofeight, has applied his penchant for prose, love ofliteramre and reminiscenc~ to creating this timeless "classic of its genre."

Available at national and local bookstores wardjrichard@comcast.net I:

Ca~pion Renewal Center 319 Concord Road路 Weston, M.ll 02493 www.campioncenter.orq d (781) 788-6810. acopponi@campioncenter.org

I Winter/Spring 2007 Guided Weekend Retreats: Feb. 9-11: How Can I Possibly Forgive? March 2-4: Praying the Liturgical Year - Lent. March 2~-25: Women's Retreat (Women in the Scriptures). Apt1127-29: Praying the Liturgical Year: Eastertide. Lon~er Guided Retreats: Feb 19-23: Living a Life of Beatitude. April 16-20: With the Lord by the Lamp Stand. Days of Prayer: Jan 27: Cantering Prayer.

Feb. 24: The Healing Parables of Jesus. March 31: The Folly of God. AJ;lril 14: The Divine Mercy. Directed Retreats: Jan 1~-21 & March 16-18 (weekends). Jan. 27/10 (5/8 day). Feb. 17-25 (8 day). March 4-9/12 (5/8 day). April 14-22 (8 day). Special Retreats: Jan. 12-15 & April 13-16: Introduction to The Spiritual Exercises and Ignatian Prayer. March 23-25: Women's Retreat.

,0,;

,

8

The Anchor

&

DECEMBER

8, 2006

Time for God Calendars rule our lives.

Most people today live their whole life based on calendars.

The most obvious is the annual calendar - January through December. Families with children are subject to the academic calendar with its Christmas, February, April, and summer vacations. People in business are governed by a fiscal year, or the tax year. The Chinese New Year and Jewish New Year occur at times other than our January Ist. People in agriculture are governed by the cycle of seasons. Religious celebrations in many traditions, even our own Christian Easter, are based on lunar cycles. Our Christian "new year" was celebrated last week as we began Advent.

How many of us feel lost without that pocket date book.

Parishioners at a former parish used to jokingly refer to my ever-present pocket calendar as

my "wife." "Father can't do come, but from that place, free of the distractions of the world, anything without consulting his 'wife,''' they would say at where God's glory will be shown. meetings.

The prophet Baruch is The Gospel of Luke was speaking to the people of Israel written at a time when there was no uniform calendar. With the reigns of // the emperor and local .mily of the Wee magistrates to the annual Second Sunday office of the high priest, we learn when John ~'. of Advent proclaimed the advent of

By Father RlcharCl the promised Messiah. It E.Degagne is as though Luke wants us to be sure that the . message is not coming out of in exile. They have been carried imperial palaces or even from off and their own city and the sacred temple. The message temple destroyed. They are in a is coming from the wilderness. spiritual desert where they It is coming from the desert, cannot pray and where there that place where God sends his seems to be no hope. Baruch people to find peace and encourages them. He says that路 salvation. The desert is where God's glory will be given to the prophets go to seek truth, to them in justice and in peace. He find God in prayer. It is not says that they will know true from wealth or power or rejoicing when God carries privilege that the Messiah will them back.

The message is an important one for us today as well. Many people seek happiness in the wrong places. Many people are convinced that glory is found in power and prestige. We are bombarded with messages, especially during this shopping season, that our lives and our children's lives cannot be complete unless we own this game or that piece of technology..

St. Paul prays for the people of Philippi, that their love will increase and that they may be able to discern what is of true value. This Advent season is given to us in our Church calendar so that we too may discern what is of true value. If we are to find true value, then we must first value truth. And the truth of God's glory is first revealed not on palatial thrones, but in a

livestock's feeding trough.

God's love is revealed not among the self-righteous, but dining with sinners. God's justice is revealed not among the privileged, but with the hungry. God's peace is not found among the powerful, but among the outcast and marginalized. God's salvation is not found in the lofty towers of government or industry, it was held aloft on the cross.

No human calendar can tell us when this glory will appear again. But we have the promise that we can catch a glimpse of that glory even now as we grow in justice, peace, and in love.

Let us pray for one another to know God's glory during these blessed seasons of Advent and Christmas. Let us pray that all our time may be marked with the grace and love of our God. Father Degagne is pastor of St. John Neumann Parish in East Freetown.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat, Dec 9, Is 30:19-21,23-26; Ps 147:1-6; Mt 9:35-10:1,6-8. Sun, Dec 10, Second Sunday of Advent, Bar 5:1-9; Ps 126:1-6; Phil 1:4-6,8-11 ; Lk 3:1-6. Mon, Dec 11, Is 35:1-10; Ps 85:9ab-14; Lk 5:17-26. 'fues, Dec 12, Our Lady of Guadalupt:, Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a;12:1-6a,lOab;Ps 45:11-12,14-17; Lk 2:15-19 or Lk 1:39-47 or 707-712. Wed, Dec 13, Is 40:2531; Ps 103:1-4,8,10; Mt 11 :28-30. Thurs, Dec 14, Is 41 :13-20; Ps 145:1,9-13ab; Mt 11:11-15. Fri, Dec 15, Is 48:17-19; Ps 1:1-4,6; Mt 11: 16-19.

The great places - San Fernando Cathedral, San Antonio Ever since the Church's first bishops gathered their priests and people around them for the celebration of the holy Eucharist, Christians have thought of the cathedral - the church in which the "cathedra," the bishop's chair, sits - as the center of a given city. In San Antonio, that's literally true.

For in front of the altar at San Fernando Cathedral is a bronze marker, indicating the position of the door of the original . colonial church from which the cathedral grew. From that point, the settlement that became San Antonio was laid out, such that everything in town was measured by its distance from the church. San Fernando Cathedral

is the center of San Antonio, physically as well as historically and spiritually.

San Fernando was the first parish church in Texas, and it's seen a lot of history since its founding in 1731.

Over the ensuing 275 years, five flags have flown from what is now the oldest standing structure in the state: those of Spain, Mexico, the Repub.lic of Texas, the United States, and the Confederate States of America. Canary Island emigres were the first parishioners, laying the church's cornerstone in 1738. When the Alamo

ITALY 2007 April 14 - 21, 2007 June 23 - July 1, 2007 October 5 - 12, 2007 Cost: $2,200 RomelTuscany/Florence.

See the 'Pope, Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, Catacombs, Spanish Steps...

Contact: Anthony Nachef, PhD (Theology) 857 W. Boylston St., Worcester, MA 01606 508-340-9370 E-mail: an@catholicteachings.org Website: www.catholicteachings.org

ceased to be a church in 1793, its people became parishioners of San Fernando.

In 1831, Jim Bowie married

Ursula de Veramendi in San Fernando; five years later, after General Santa Ana had raised the "No Quarter" flag from the church's tower, Bowie died in the defense of the Alamo; and a hundred years after that, in 1936, the remains of Bowie, Davy Crockett, William Travis, and other Texas heroes were found beneath the sanctuary of the cathedral and re-interred in a marble sarcophagus which stands in the cathedral today.

San Fernando became a cathedral in 1874, when the Diocese of San Antonio was erected.

Presid~nt Lyndon Johnson attended Good Friday services at San Fernando in 1966, and Pope John Paul II visited the cathedral in 1987. A major restoration was undertaken in 2001-2003.

The nave of today's San

Fernando is built out from the colonial church, which now forms a kind of grand apse for the entire cathedral. In the colonial part of the building, and thanks to the 2003 restoration, pilgrims and visitors can now find three stunning "retablos," masterpieces of carving and gilding created to replace the original retablos lost in an 1828 fire.

The central retablo (a Mexican form of wooden reredos) is 24 by 16 feet, gilded in 24-carat gold, and dedicated to "jesus Christ, Word and Sacrament;" it houses both the tabernacle and statues of the four evangelists. The retablos to its right and left honor the patronesses of the settlers and soldiers who were San Fernando's first congregants.

Thus the retablo to the right is dedicated to La Virgen de la Candelaria (Our Lady of Candlemas), to whom the Canary Island emigres had a particular devotion. The left retablo is that of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and houses a 1770 painting of the Patroness of the Americas. Done in an 18thcentury style of wood-carving and gilding, these three retablos

are among the world's finest contemporary examples of this art form.

For all its history, though, San Fernando should not be conflated with nearby historical sites like the four SOan Antonio Missions, found along the Mission Trail south of the city.

Interesting (and touching) as these relics of the first American evangelization are, they speak of the past. As Archbishop Jose Gomez and cathedral rector Father David Garcia told me, San Fernando takes that past and brings it alive in the present. Five thousand people worship at San Fernando every weekend. Nine hundred baptisms, more than a hundred weddings, and just as many funerals are celebrated there each year. Every day, visitors come in the hundreds to admire the architecture and the retablos, or to honor the remains of the heroes of the Alamo. Many, one suspects, are moved to prayer by the cathedral's beauty.

As well they might. For here, we touch the religious heart Of the fastest-growing Catholic population in America.

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

9

Great expectations Friday 8 December 2006 Motherhouse ofthe Sisters of Charity, Montreal, Quebec, Canada - solemnity ofthe Immaculate Conception I'm on a life-long mission to correct a major misconception about this feast day of the universal Church. Your attention, please. The solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is not about the conception of Jesus by the Blessed Mother. It's about the Immaculate Conception of Mary by her mother, whom we call Anne. This is complicated further in that the Gospel assigned to this day is all about the visit of the Angel Gabriel to Mary with the

announcement of the pending birth Christmas would fallon September 8, not December 25. So why ,of the Messiah. This would be the don't we read a Bible passage Annunciation. We celebrate the , about the event being celebrated?

Annunciation on March 25, nine The answer is simple. There is no months before Christmas. That is Bible passage about the conception of Mary by Anne. Our Catholic beliefs are based on both Script ture and tradition. The Immaculate Conception is sacred tradition. It's a very ancient and widely-held tradition - a dogma of our faith infallibly defined by the pope. not the conception being celLet's approach the question ebrated this day. If we did celfrom another direction. If we ebrate the conception of Jesus by celebrate the Conception of Mary Mary on December 8, then we

by Anne on December 8, the.n it would logically celebrate the birth follows that we would celebrate of Jesus nine months later.

:home schQoling

A Catholic educali

~

This is the sixth in a series of columns about giving all Catholic kids a Catholic education.

The idea ofhome schooling, while not unheard of these days, still causes many people to squint ,their eyes, give a puziled look:, and ask:, "Why? What's thepciintof reinventing thewheel?" For Catholic parents the point is actually quite simple. It is to acknOWledge that instructing our children in the ways ofthe faith is just as important as . instructing them in. reading, writing, and arithmetic. By freeing families from schoolimposed schedules, home , 6se will <lepet}d schooling makes it easier for us commitmentis' parents to give Our children the time, number of; heart, hand, and head knowledge grade leveIs. we want them to have about the Setond;arei-we Catholic faith as well as to dive parents totaI{.eQ!) into the traditional school subjects. thesch If education itself is like a goingtoreq glorious, full-eolor picture book:, investment '0£ p then home schooling, for our energy, and family, has been like a pop-up Especially if Mdrena version of that book. History Catholic education~on~Ofthe .springs to life as we read about it in reasons we ch90se tQhome school, our textbook:, and then go visit we have to be re-edueate where it took place. Science ourselves in ~Qf '. al, projects leap off poster boards and catechetical,or.tbe6lpgical become fully animated adventures weakness. 1h~ same'Wil1ingness to beaches, swamps, labs, and applies to areas Of intellectual museums. Like the shapes and weakness. FortunatelY,this is not colors of a Monet painting, school hard to do. Weekend;-Iong homesubjects, family vacations, holy schooling conferenet:s with days, and even different grades speakers, workShops, and curricula levels, merge together to produce galore are available :ill over the an integrated lifestyle oflearning. country. Cooperativ¢classes, The best by-product of home support groups; and pJ?P<>rtunities schooling by far, however, is the . for field trips abonnditl the greater very special sibling bond that our New England area . " kids share, having spent so much Third, howmuch:wiU home of their childhood together. schooling cost?Eve~ f~y will One thing that surprises most be different, buthorri~SGhooling , people is that there is no single costs us around,$l,opop¢rtOdper correct way to home school. There , year. Qn the other e~dof the, scale, are, in fact, many different a friend in outllome;scbool woup philosophies and methodologies 0

. < 0 "

...

-~

,,_'~::f:i.,\":'y·_~'

'

SJlends about $l~;QQO per kid per ,_ year, SO that her~c!JiIdren can attend; intense ' .' in Boston.

Lastly/ ;. ut socialization?" It is the question asked most oftett abQQl hon:leSCbooling, is really ~ilsed otithe false sociaJi7Btion OOIy takes pl. d

classroom;oft<:hiJl:hen of t.

yhappe nvironme knows, safe,an'

,in~,~t#~::

ages and . some people..

-'onschooj::' ,desks, nnditbest t ,', choice by 'e statements "; school, and to Ie ative statements, or arguments about why we do not ~end the kids to other education systems. ' , ,.,+;: Ifyou're,a parent considering" home schooling, there are many home-schooling curricula that I would enCOuqlge you to consult.

One is the Mother of Divine Grace home schooling program, an excellent review of which is found on the internet [http:// www.homeschoolchristian.coml ReviewsIMODG.html]. Another is the Seton Home Schooling program [www.setonhome.org].I am also happy to answer questions and provide further resources.

Please contact me at homegrownfaith@yahoo.com.

Next week:, we will take a look at ways to ensure that a child's faith formation is notIeft at the schoolhouse door while attending a non-Catholic high school.

Heidi is an author, plwtog;a;.~ " ' pher, and' mother. She and her hus raise their five chilJlren in Falinouth. homegrownfaith@yalwo.com.

the birth of Mary nine months nutshell. Mary was conceived thereafter. Bingo. In the universal without the stain of Original Sin because she was to be the first in calendar of the Church, the God's new creation - the mother Nativity of Mary is observed on of a new human race. There was September 8. I rest my case. one other woman who was not I go to Montreal on pilgrimage born into a sinful human condition to the tomb of St. Maiguarite - Eve. That's why Mary is called D'Youville. One of ttie "grey I' nuns" shows me up to the top floor the "New Eve." Adam and Eve ruined God's plan by introducing of the Motherhouse. The top floor sin. Mary consented to God's plan. is a private museum. 0ne item in Now, at the risk of muddling particular catches my eye. It's very the issue, there are also images of old and it's in a glass 9ase. It's an Mary in the state of expectancy. image of an infant. "Do you know Many medieval churches diswho this is?" teases my guide. I played a statue of a pregnant kneel down for a closer look. It must be a statue of Jesus from a Blessed Mother. In the image of manger scene, I initially presume.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mary is pregnant. How can you tell? It's But wait. The wax statue has glass eyes and real human hair, but there the sash. Mary, as she appeared to is something unusual. The statue in Juan Diego, is clothed in the indigenous vesture worn by not wrapped in swaddling clothes, but wearing a dress (it looks pink) mothers-to-be. It's maternity wear. edged with fine hand-tatted lace.

Even in our own times, there "This isn't Baby Jesus, is it?" I ask are images of an expectant Mary. the hostess. "No," sheiichuckles. "It They originate (surprise!) in ,Quebec,Canada. The isn't. In former times,"the nuns of woodcarvers in the village were our Order would display an image challenged by the parish priest to like this in the convent chapel on provide a creche for the church.

September 8, the feast of the One woodcarver created a creche Nativity of Mary. No, this is not with not one but two Mary Jesus. This is Mother Mary as a figures. One Mary shows the new-born."

Blessed Mother kneeling beside Now, those of you who know her new-born Son. This was a me realize that I am somewhat of traditional image. The other an expert on Nativity scenes. statue shows Mary pregnant.

Nevertheless, the nun stumps me on this one. A statue of Mary as an This was intended to be the first infant - I need one badly. I'm still image, displayed in the church during the four weeks of Advent, looking. and then switched out at ChristThere's a brilliantly-colored mas. This carver won the contest. mural by Quebec artist Frederic "Lovely sermon today, Father," Doyon located in the Immaculate comments a parishioner after Conception Chapel at St. Anne de Mass. "The Immaculate ConcepBeaupre Basilica. It presents the Holy Family. No, wait. The child's tion of Jesus is so much such a part of Christmas." Oh, dear. The hair reaches to the waist. This is mission continues. not Jesus, Mary and Joseph. This is St. Ann, St. Joachim, and Mary Father Goldrick is pastor ofSt. Bernard Parish, Assonet. as a young girl. Fooled again.

StBernardAssonet@aol.com.

Here's the sacred tradition in a

ST. JOACHIM, ST. ANN AND THE YOUNG MARY.

I !

I

$

JHID

The Anchor

$

DECIEMlEIEf?(

~9 2~«:D6

I' .'

Regis Philbin's win in 'Jeopardy' brings Bronx Catholic school $50,000

By CLAUDIA McDoNNELL CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

HAPPY HELPER - Claire Campbell, a parishioner at St. Joseph's Parish in Attleboro, gladly shares her many talents to serve her parish and the Church. (AnchortGordon photo)

Talented volunteer key to keeping Attleboro parish looking beautiful

By DEACON JAMES N. DUNBAR ATTLEBORO - Claire Campbell probably wouldn't like being called a Renaissance woman - one who is skilled in a variety of artful traditions and pursues them with gusto.

But to Borromean Father Michael Carvill, her pastor at St. Joseph's Parish, "Claire is always available for any service, and she's very talented," he told The Anchor.

"She's a volunteer who takes care of our altar and liturgical vestments. She is constantly working to make the liturgical setting more beautiful, repairing

One of the more recent major efforts to which she lent her skills was the renewal of the padded covers on hundreds of kneelers in the church.

"It was a nice group effort. We had a large number helping. One young lady who was employed in a fabric business managed to get us a good price on the material needed. Together, the team removed the old coverings and instaped new ones," she explained.

"Claire dedicated many hours over many weeks working with others on replacing the padding on the pews," Fai d -, ':,"-:.. ...,, -, a:

:'~:~ing S:~l:t~~:et:~ ". ~. .,-~:-c-;.;__=: -:-.":,:, ~ .:-:iJ- "~-~ -.' (-..-."-,"-~-.-;,-: :<, . . -~'-.~~~.j-:;~-;. ~~:-,/-"-,:-" .:;:-:~ ,: ~,~e~i sCt:: ~ :::~ and altar cloths, and . . "";:::::~IJ~g:StOiies·· :;_..~':7 beautifully and saved

improvising new solu~lfi;.'~~$iiJ7iifi1i/!:JY~I/··:~~t:~~:n:e~~nsidertions. She seems al- ~. ~~~;...,.~r7~--' :.r"~";·<,;~2\'ffi;;;_-.·~'-_;;''q ways to be one step L.....~-1:..-::.:~~~:.lL.zL---'_~--'-'-.:...;.;.~~---"-'-"----"--"-'-' But there's more to ahead of us. One thinks something needs to be Campbell's long list of services. She attends the done and finds it has already been taken care 9 o'clock Mass daily, where she is an extraorof. I can't say enough about her," Father Carvill dinary minister or holy Communion not only at declared. the altar but also to the parish's homebound.

To all that Campbell says, "I try. I'm a jack With so many skills, it might at first appear of all trades, but a master of none." far afield that Campbell would be regularly inWhile she acknowledges she has done plenty volved in more menial tasks such as keeping of sewing and has fashioned clothes, which the lavatories in the church spic and span. But makes her a perfect fit to working with liturgi- to those who know her, that too was right up cal vestments, she says, "It's really all home- her alley as a longtime, dedicated volunteer. taught stuff."

"I was involved in cleaning the old ones and She admits her knowledge of fabrics and col- so I figured I'd keep on when the new ones were oring probably comes from the more than 10 recently installed," said Campbell, who played years she was employed as a silk screener at down her many services. "I volunteer my time Graphic Images in Plainville. because I happen to have the time," she said The wife of Ronald Campbell and the mother plainly and humbly. of two adult married children, a son and a daughBut her wonderful service and ministry has ter, Claire Campbell at 56 continues to show her not gone unheralded. In 2005 she was awarded love for the parish she has spent her life in. the diocese's Marian Medal for outstanding ser"I was baptized here and graduated from the vice and dedication to the local Church. former parish school, and was married here, and The Anchor encourages readers to nominate I have always felt comfortable doing things and othersforthe PersonoftheWeek-whoandwhy? volunteering to do things in St. Joseph's for as Submit nominations at our email address: long as I can remember," said Campbell, who theanchor@anchomews.org, or write to The Anresides in Norton. chor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722.

Budelman said Philbin was "swamped by the press" but got over NEW YORK - Cardinal Hayes to the Hayes group as soon as he could.

High School in the Bronx has an ex- He met each of the students and then tra $50,000 to put into its current got everyone together for a photo." capital campaign, thanks to the man Father TIerney said, "It was a big. who is probably its best-known alum- hit for the kids. He congratulated them nus - and thanks to his success on and told them he wanted to make sure the television quiz program "Jeop- they continue to do well in school, and ardy," where information about him get the most they can out of the Cardinal Hayes experience." might appear like this: Philbin is a member of the Class Answer: He's a television star and talk-show host, but he's never forgot- of '49 and went on to graduate from ten his alma mater. the University of Notre Dame. He's Question: Who is Regis Philbin? been generous to both schools. His Philbin was a guest on "Celebrity gifts to Hayes include $500,000 to Jeopardy," in which famous contes- renovate the auditorium in 2000; he tants compete to win cash for their also led the 1995 and 1999 capital favorite charities. Philbin chose campaigns that funded a $7 million Hayes, which he , . . . . . , , _ - - - - - - - - - - - , endowment and the updating of has supported in school facilities. many ways over the years. He also He is honorary chairman of the obtained lOtickets current capital for a group from Hayes to attend campaign, "Our the taping of the Future - Your Hands." show that aired November 8.

"He has a treIt was a nailmendous love and appreciation for biter, too. Going into the "Final Hayes," Budelman Jeopardy" round, said. "He is gratethe stage of the ful for the educagame in which the tion he received winner is deterhere. Whenever Hayes calls upon mined, another player had more him, he always.recash than Philbin. WHO IS GENEROUS? - Regis sponds. He's alBut Philbin's cor- Philbin, a TV star and talk-show ways willing to do rect answer, and host, was recently a winner on whatever he can to the amount of his "Celebrity Jeopardy." The Catho- help the school." wager, put him in lic celebrity awarded his $50,000 Budelman said first place - by prize to his alma mater, Cardinal the Hayes group $1. He threw his Hayes High School in the Bronx had a warm receparms in the air as section of New York. (CNS photo/ tion from the audience even before Alex Trebek, the Max Morse, Reuters) show's host, anthe show began. nounced that Hayes would receive The students were dressed in the school uniform: navy blazer, white $50,000. ''Who is Billie Jean King?" was shirt, burgundy and blue striped tie and khaki trousers. the winning question to the answer: In 2006 the National Tennis Center "Everyone could identify our in NewYork was named in her honor. young men in their jackets and ties," Budelman said, and because Philbin "It really was a terrific victory," is well-known for his support of the Philbin told Catholic New York, the archdiocesan newspaper. "I didn't school "many in the audience already think I was going to win." knew about Hayes.... We really felt In the audience were seven Hayes like we were the hometown favorstudents and three administrators, ites." He noted that while most of the including Robert Budelman, direc- celebrity contestants chose nationally or regionally known charities Philbin tor of development. .'The boys were ecstatic, and we went local.

"He's a legend in television, and were all cheering," Budelrnan told Catholic New York. "We walked out he's playing for us, a school in the ofthere' on cloud nine:' South Bronx," Budelman said. Added But not before Philbin put the ic- Father TIerney: "We're grateful he ing on the cake by inviting the Hayes thinks of us. We dido't ask for this; it group to join him on the stage. Also was his initiative to choose us." with the students were Father Joseph Budelman recalled that before the P. Tierney, school president, and taping Philbin sent a message to FaFrank Mosco, director oftechnology. therTIemey asking him to "say a little ''We were just looking to get a prayer" for him. Did that have anyglimpse and thank him," Father thing to do with the outcome? ''I think it did," Philbin told CathoTIerney said. ''AIl ofa sudden the pr0ducer said, 'He wants to see you lic New York. ''How else could I have won that game?" onstage.'"

\

\

\

4;

The Anchor ,

,.~

Deacon recalls crash that killed West Virginia team, his father

By COLLEEN ROWAN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

strong and a support at that time," he told The Catholic Spirit, newspaper of the Wheeling-Charleston DioHUNTINGTON, W.Va. - It has been called the cese.

There were also great examples of faith communiworst tragedy in U.S. college sports history - the Nov. 14,1970, plane crash in which 75 Marshall University ties reaching out to those who had been directly and football players, coaches, fans and flight crew were indirectly affected by the tragedy, he said.

In the wake of the crash, there was serious considkilled while traveling back to Huntington after a game eration of ending Marshall's football program, a against East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C. One of the darkest moments for the Mountain State, thought that was not well received.

"There was a sense that they were abandoning it is a loss that still brings tears to the eyes of many each time the Thundering Herd team takes the field or something that shouldn't be abandoned," Deacon when the familiar "We Are Marshall" cheers echo Prestera said. "It was a memory there to preserve. It across the Joan C. wasn't the memory of the Edwards Stadium r/7----:7-------:3jjJ~jjJJJ~iiIJ~:iiiijllF"':11 from proud last football team at Marshall that green-and-whiteperished in the clad fans.

The story of plane." how the griefWith this, a stricken Marshall spirit began to and Huntington grow among the communities people of Hun, tington and the pulled together school - a spirit and lived through this tragedy has of rebuilding the football program been immortalized in the aptly to honor those titled "We Are lost and to bring Marshall," a healing to the movie scheduled community. It for release across was "continuing the country Desomething that cember 22. meant a great deal For the state, to the people who the school and were on that the community, plane," Deacon the movie is exPrestera said. pected to bring a "Everyone sense of healing had a sense of and closure, said purpose," he said, Deacon Michael from the people in the stands to R. Prestera Jr., a lifelong Huntingthe coaching staff ton resident who and players comlost his father in ing together to rethe crash. build the football Seated at the FOR FALLEN COMRADES - Pictured is the memorial at Marshall program.

Memorial Stu- University's Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington, W.Va., hon"Instead of dent Center on oring the 75 Marshall football players, coaches and fans and the dealing just with Marshall's cam- flight crew killed in a plane crash in 1970. (CNS photo/Colleen personal hurt they pus, Deacon Rowan, Catholic Spiri~ were dealing with Prestera, who the rebuilding of ministers at Sacred Heart Parish in Huntington, re- something. There was a sense of campaigning for the flected on the crash, his family's and the community's team going on that brought people to a purpose," the loss and the effect that the tragedy had on the school deacon said. and the town.

The movie, Deacon Prestera believes, will illustrate Michael R. Prestera Sr., an avid fan of the Thunder- that purpose and the strength of the community. "The ing Herd, had been on a business trip to Washington sense that I get about the movie is that it's going to but returned to Huntington in time to make the trip show, in a very positive light, the strength of character with the team. His son, who was just 20 at the time, of the town and the university as it relates to the develmet him at the airport with a suitcase full of clean opment of the football program since that time," he clothes for the trip and bid him farewell. said. "It shows that the spirit was not placed in vain."

Deacon Prestera is happy that the movie has been On the evening of the tragedy, the younger Prestera and his wife, Debbie, were at a friend's house. "We made and said the people of the Huntington and got a phone call," the deacon said, and the person asked: Marshall communities are looking forward to its re"Are you watching the news?" Thrning on the televi- lease. He feels the movie will bring a sense of closure sion, they learned of the crash and immediately went and resolution for the community and that the story to a local hospital, where an emergency room doctor has a message and a moral for everyone. announced that there were no survivors.

"There is an ideal that people pursue and because Deacon Prestera, who is also director of Catholic things happen that change an individual's pursuit of Community Services' Genoa Christian Center in that ideal doesn't mean that the pursuit should be Genoa, said the faith of his family and the faith of abandoned," he said. "If there is a commitment to people in the community were what ultimately pulled something that has value, don't give up the commitment - continue, persevere. To me that is what this them through this tragedy.

"My mom and dad gave me an example of faith. movie is all about - perseverance to a commitment, Many people gave me an example of faith that was so to an ideal."

RARE EVENT - Pope Benedict XVI talks with Muslim clerics as he visits the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, November 30. The pope's historic visit marked only the ·second time a pontiff has entered a mosque. (CNS photo/Damir Sagolj, Reuters)

1r IHI JE IHI([])IL ]I IIJ) AY § A 1r IHI ]I CGIHI JF ]I JE IL IIJ) December 8, 9, 10

lOam-4pm

~

lEXlPlEnmENClE 'lrlHIlE MAGllC OIF lHIlIGlHIIFIDElLJl) lHIAlLlL I1)lECO~TlED IFOR 1I'1HllE HOLIDAYS! Tour the gracious rooms of this Queen Anne home, view Bill Hendel's extensive collection of creches from around the world - put the Christ back in Christmas view the winter art show presented by Gallery 333, and enjoy special holiday music from local musicians.

JRAIFIFLlE AND UIFUSlHIMlENTS OIFIFEUJl).

Tickets at the door $10.00 Highfield Hall, 56 Highfield Drive, Falmouth, MA

WHALE~~ PLACE,

AFFOmAaLE, CAREFREE • ' .•• ' 1 . . . .. ,LIVING FOR ACTIVE ADULTS 'AGES 55',AND OLDER. ;,1

II

WIIA1ER's PlACE* hasbce~ beautifully restored, and painstakingly rcn01l2tc<! into new ~partmellt homes. Recogni7.ed ,by The M3$S:lchustus Historical Commission and W N~tional Park Service, WhaI",'s Place is bnveniently locatc<! in the picturesque seaside community of New Bedford, and is close to area ~hopping and the New Bedford watetfrollt historic area. Come visit, and experience the card1tt lifestyle, and all the modern on-sire lcltures and amenities Whaler's Place has to offer.

9ll~

AmnII- .1IW1l!lll'l\I'll. MA 02748

m Slla.!lS7.1l19- fQ;5IJlIiS1l7.1109 lalr:iiJ:~12",COlll

-- _-'M'.f;J&-} (;[,!Jf,lij(;?~lEnaj\l@

...

"fill

..

'"

路1

,

路12

TheAnchor ,

DECEMBER

8, 2006

Vatican officials give thumbs up for 'The Nativity Story' VATICAN CITY (CNS)-Vatican officials have given the latest Hollywood re-enactment of the Gospel accounts of Jesus' birth a thumbs up after hosting the film's world premiere November 26.

Praise for 'The Nativity Story," which arrived in U.S. theaters December 1, came from the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano; the Vatican's secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone; and the head of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, U.S. Archbishop John P. Foley.

"It's well done," Cardinal Bertone told joumalists after seeing the film in

the Vatican's PaulVI hall together with more than 7,000 other invited guests.

Pope Benedict XVI, who was due to fly to Thrkey less than 40 hours later, did not attend the evening event. "It retells this event which changed history with realism but also with a sense of great respect of the mystery of the Nativity," said Cardinal Bertone, adding that he found it to be "a good cinematic" feature.

The benefit event raised money to build two new schools in the Israeli village of Mughar in Galilee. Christian, Muslim and Druze students will attend the elementary and middle schools.

'Dumb Irish luck' got 'Nativity' film screened at Vatican, producer says

~_.

WASHINGTON (CNS) - It was "dumb Irish luck" that got "The Nativity Story" its November 26 screening at the Vatican, according to Marty Bowen, the film's Catholic producer.

"I was altar boy of the year at Holy Family Church in Fort Worth, Texas, in '82 and '83. When you have that kind of clout, you can make things happen," Bowen joked. .

In a more serious vein, Bowen said, 'The Church is looking for entertainment that will embrace its values, rather than be on the defensive with films like 'The Da Vinci Code.'"

Bowen talked to Catholic News Service from Rome, where he was spending a week in preparation for the Vatican screening.

He said that when Italians asked him where he was from he had to stop himself to answer "Los Angeles," rather than his native Texas, since he has lived on the West Coast for the past 15 years, spending most of that time as an agent before getting into the movie production business with "The Nativity Story."

"But if you really ask me where I'm from, I'll still answer St. Mary's Church in Mexia, Texas, where I had my first Communion and was baptized," Bowen told CNS. From his time spent as a producer, Bowen acknowledged that "you never see a movie get made and released in a calendar year," as "The Nativity Story" was. "Maybe a quickie low-budget film, but this kind of thing is an almost-impossibility," particularly given the movie's budget, which Bowen put at the mid-$30 million mark.

"When we told New Line (the studio) what we wanted to do, they got in line very, very quickly," he said.

Bowen said he's a fan of the religious epic genre. "I thought 'The Passion of the Christ' was a terrific film," he told CNS, noting that Jesuit Father William Fulco was a

consultant to both that film and "The Nativity Story." Bowen praised Father Fulco as "the most prominent scholar in Aramaic in the country - and, being in Los Angeles, he's accessible." Father Fulco teaches at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

"The Ten Commandments" was also on Bowen's short list of favorite religious movies.

Bowen, now a member of Good Shepherd Parish in Los Angeles, defended the decision not to cast a lot of high-profile stars. "The stars of this movie are Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus," he said.

"We wanted to pick the right actor for the part and didn't want to see it being bogged down." Simply put, he continued, "Tom Cruise playing Joseph, it would detract from the story."

He said he did not know what impact the real-life pregnancy of 16-year-old Keisha CastleHughes, who plays Mary in "The Nativity Story," would have on the film's fortunes. She is one of the movie's few recognizable stars.

"Time will tell," Bowen said.

"She wasn't able to be part of our press junkets. When you're 16 and pregnant, you really don't want to do that kind of thing."

In the new film, the tale is not told in a strictly chronological fashion. "People know the story," Bowen said. "We wanted to mix it up a bit, make them think."

Bowen decided to make the leap from agent to producer when screenwriter Mike Rich mentioned his idea to write a screenplay about the Nativity.

"When Mike Rich decided he wanted to write a movie that doesn't have to do with baseball ('The Rookie') or hockey pucks ('D3: The Mighty Ducks') but instead was about the birth of Christ, I was going to move from being on the sidelines to 'I want to do this.' It's the kind of movie I wanted to make," Bowen said.

A SAVIOR IS BORN - Oscar Isaac and Keisha Castle-Hughes star in a scene from the movie "The Nativity Story." (CNS photo/New Line)

Picture Association of America rating is PO - parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

sociation of America rating is PG13 - parents strongly cautioned.

Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"The Fountain" (Warner Bros.)

IC~~

M()vle

ICaIIV~Ullle~ NEW YORK (eNS) - The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. ''Deck the Halls" (20th Century Fox) Yuletide comedy about an obsessively organized eye doctor (Matthew Broderick) whose regimental holiday zeal alienates his wife (Kristin Davis) and two kids (Alia Shawkat and Dylan Blue), and who meets his match when his new neighbor (Danny DeVito) challenges his reputation as the town's "king of Christmas" by decorating his own house with enough lights to be visible from outer space, prompting escalating attempts by the two men to outdo each other at the risk oflosing what matters most to them, their families. Though brightly colored bulbs abound, the laughs are mostly low-wattage, as director John Whitesell decks his plot with clumsy slapstick and a few out-of-place offcolor gags, but he ultimately proves that his heart is in the right place with an earnest endorsement of home, family and friendship. And while a secular view of Christmas dominates, things are brought to a predictably sentimental close that at least acknowledges in song the true meaning ofthe holiday. Some mildly crude language and humor, including a few suggestive images and a lightly irreverent sight gag, innuendo and an instance of profanity, limiting the film's suitability to older adolescents and up. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-ill - adults. The Motion

Love story weaving together three interrelated tales set in the past, present and far future, with the couples in each ably played by Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz: a medical researcher racing to find a cure to save his terminally ill wife; the characters in a novel she's writing about a 16th-century conquistador questing after the fabled Fountain ofYouth for his lover, the queen of Spain; and the same scientist, who hasn't aged a bit, traveling to a distant star in the 26th century, still searching for the secret of eternal life. Written and directed by Darren Aronofsky, the script is by turns poignant and confusing but the visuals are striking and the film's unifying themes of love and mortality provide for some thoughtful reflection on the way death helps delineate our humanity 'and give our lives meaning. Some violence, a suggested marital sexual encounter, a bloody scene of selfmortification, brief torture images and an instance of rough language.

The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-ill - adults. The Motion Picture As-

"Opal Dream" (Strand) Gently charming tale set in 'an Australian opal mining colony about an eight-year-old girl (Sapphire Boyce) heartsick over the disappearance of her two imaginary friends~ the search for whom causes unintended consequences resulting in the locals turning against her father (Vince Colosimo),' until the supportive efforts of her ll-yearold brother (Christian Byers) concerned about his sister's deteriorating emotional and physical condition - win over the town. Director Peter Cattaneo's adaptation of the Ben Rice novel "Pobby and Dingan" celebrates themes of family, community and the value ofchildlike faith in a way that's genuinely sweet while avoiding excess sentimentality, with tender performances

by Boyce and Byers. A lovely little film. Brief violence, some crude expressions and a fleeting instance of profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II - adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG - parental \ guidance suggested, Some material may not be suitable for Children.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, December 10 at 11:00 a.m.

Scheduled celebrant is Father Thomas M. Kocik, chaplain at Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River and in residence at St. Thomas More Parish, Somerset

$ The Anchor $ In Thrkey, pope offers friendship to predominantly Muslim population

DECEMBER

8, 2006

By CINDY WOODEN

should be a force of peace and reconciliation."

In the wake of continuing anger among some Muslims over the pope's use of a quotation criticizing Islam in September, Pope Benedict used his speech at the religious affairs directorate to pay his respects to the positive values pro-

gear and armored personnel carriers were on hand to ensure nothing ANKARA, Turkey - Acknowlinterrupted the pope's visit. edging that his four-day trip to TurPope Benedict, offering a bakey would be largely symbolic, sic introduction to the Second Pope Benedict XVI opened his visit Vatican Council's teaching on reby paying respect to. the Turkish lations with the world's great restate and extending a hand of ligious traditions, pointed out that friendship to its predominantly both Christians and Muslims believe in "the truth of the saMuslim population.

On the plane from Rome cred character and dignity Together,' the pope said, Chris- of the human person."

November 28, Pope Benedict tians and Muslims must witness to told reporters, "We must not Both faiths profess belief exaggerate; one cannot ex- the fact that being created by God in one God, and both teach pect great results in just three and destined to eternity with him can their followers that all human days. The value (of the trip) I give meaning to people's lives and beings were created by God would say is symbolic, the that when they recognize the truth and that being at home with fruit of the encounters them- of God's existence they will live in a God is the goal of each selves, of encounters in way that will benefit all people and person's earthly pilgrimage. friendship and respect."

Together: the pope said, the earth itself.

The pope's first formal Christians and Muslims must speech in Turkey came in an ad- moted by Islam and to affirm the witness to the fact that being credress at the government's religious Catholic Church's commitment to ated by God and destined to eteraffairs directorate, which controls Christian-Muslim dialogue. nity with him can give meaning to Bardakoglu also stressed the people's lives and that when they Turkey's mosques and Muslim schools and implements govern- importance of dialogue and respect, recognize the truth of God's existbut took to task those Christians ence they will live in a way that will ment policy on religion.

Before giving their speeches in who, under what he described as the benefit all people and the earth itthe building's auditorium, Pope effects of "Islamophobia," believe self.

Benedict and Ali Bardakoglu, the that Islam is a violent faith spread Bardakoglu echoed the main office's director, met for about half throughout history by the sword. . themes of Pope Benedict's speech, Islam, he said, is a religion of especially the assertion that when an hour with members of the papal entourage and Turkish Muslim of- peace, and it condemns terrorism followed faithfully religions are ficials, including the grand muftis and any taking of an innocent life. "the source of peace and well-beRising prejudice, Bardakoglu ing." of Ankara and Istanbul.

They spoke calmly and warmly said, feeds the hatred of those who Bardakoglu said he, the pope of their VIsions of the importance misuse religion for political pur- and other religious leaders have an of interreligious dialogue and poses and invoke religion as an ex- obligation to guide members of greater understanding between cuse for their violence. their communities in preserving The brownstone building where their own traditions while recognizCatholics and Muslims.

During the conversation, the he and the pope met had been the ing that "all such religious, ethnic pope told his Muslim hosts: "There scene of a small anti-papal protest and cultural differences are the revare so many wars, so much human hours before the pope's arrival. elation of divine love, mercy and blood shed every day. Religion Turkish police and military with riot wisdom."

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

A WING AND A PRAYER - Pope Benedict XVI releases a dove December 1 during ~ visit to the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul, Turkey, on t~e final day of his four-day visit to the Muslim country. (CNS Photo/flessandro Bianchi, Reuters) Speakers Include: Fr. John Corapi II

Stephen Ray

CD of the Month Club Great Catholic Speakers Just $5.00 per month/CD (includes shippiAg - in the U.S.) II

Order online at www.LighthouseCatholicMedia.com Please use: Promption Code 1147 "'fA

Jeff Cavins Dr. Scott Hahn

Great Gift for CHRISTMAS

II

Of)

";;;"",cS:'c'

.

4>~ ~:f(;JI ",;~?

I

%-4..-,~~ '05'

;;+*'.~.

I

~,l2'

'A........!lN/~

<楼"3,",--~1

.-a' "t:J"

I

l(llal~e II

Call about our WINTER SPECIALS _

II

508-997-2880

.

Are you tired of paying High Heating & Electric Bills?

Are yoh tired of Shoveling Snow?

I

~"..

t路

hi

~r) }}

I

If you answered "YES" to all these questions, why not let Whaler's Cove Assisted Living take care of all your winter troubles.

II II

Enjoy our Actirities, Social Events, Transportation, Housek~ping, Linen Services and our 24 hour Staffing S~tel,of the Art Security System II

SNOW ANGELS - Girls dressed as angels huddle around a bonfire as they wait to join a living Nativity scene outside Our Lady of the Lakes Church in Random Lake, Wis., December 1. Despite a blizzard earlier that day, members of the parish presented the 30-minute program. ( CNS photo/Sam Lucero, Catholic Herald)

Ml l14 River,ide Ave., New Bedford, MA @l' I

--

,-

----~ ~----

.....

_._.

â&#x20AC;˘

-

,

14

TheAnchor ,

Voters rally to defend marriage

By GAIL BESSE

As a proposal to define marriage remains captive on Beacon Hill, citizens statewide are mobilizing for its release and asking how the juggernaut of homosexual activism can be stopped in the long run.

Rallies demanding that the Massachusetts Legislature vote on the proposed constitutional amendment are planned for New Bedford City Hall, Dec. 9, 10:30 a.m.; Bamstable County Courthouse, Dec. 9, 1:30 p.m.; Springfield City Hall, Dec. 10, 1:30 p.m., and Worcester City Hall, Dec. 16, 1:30 p.m.

Larry Cirignano, executive director of Catholic Citizenship, urged people to attend the rallies, call talk shows, submit letters to newspapers and personally contact their senator and representative.

"We're in the fourth quarter, but the game's not over," he said.

Boston-based Catholic Citizenship, which promotes education and involvement in the political process, is working with VoteOnMarriage.org, the coalition of groups sponsoring the measure that fell ploy to political pressure November 9. That's when legislators shelved the citizen initiative, which was backed by a 170,000signature petition, to let voters define marriage on the 2008 ballot.

Now citizens statewide are crying foul that those legislators who voted to recess without voting on the issue betrayed their oath of office and violated the constitution, which calls for an up or down vote on initiative petitions.

All four Massachusetts bishops, through the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, charged that those who voted to recess until January 2, the last day of the legislative session, "are obstructing the constitutional right of the people to be heard."

If the clock runs out, this maneuver will kill the amendment, which both sides predict will advanc~ if it gets the vote required by law. ''This is very sad for our state and for our children," said Bea Martins, Catholic Citizenship's public policy coordinator for the Fall River Diocese. "What issue

I

might be next if legislators don't follow the constitution?"

The fact that the deck was stacked against the amendment became clear November 2, when the homosexual advocacy newspaper Bay Windows ran an open letter urging legislators to kill the measure through any means possible as payback for nearly $1 million in donations and campaign support.

Homosexual lobby groups have worked intensely against the measure, which would return to voters the freedom to protect marriage as a union of one man and one woman.

That freedom was first denied citizens when some of the same lawmakers ducked the issue in 2002.

This paved the way in 2003 for activist judges on the state Supreme Judicial Court to invent a constitutional "right" that resulted in Massachusetts being the only state with same-sex "marriage."

That same court will hear a lawsuit December 20 filed by Gov. Mitt Romney and the initiative petition's original 10 signers, including: former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican Ray Flynn, now president of Boston-based Catholic Citizenship; C.J. Doyle of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts; Rep. Philip Travis, D-Rehoboth, and Richard Guerrero, immediate past deputy of the Massachusetts State Council Knights of Columbus.

The suit asks the court to order Senate President Robert Travaglini to call a vote on the measure or to order Secretary of State William Galvin to put it on the 2008 ballot.

Meanwhile, another citizen initiative fell victim November 9 as well. That proposed amendment would guarantee affordable health care for all state residents. Backers of the Health Care for Massachusetts Campaign have filed a similar suit.

Romney and 6,000 citizens rallied against the political trickery November 19 outside the Statehouse, as homosexual activists yelled curses and booed around them.

It is as difficult to rationally discuss "gay rights" with activists as

PRACTICE THE DEVOTION OF THE FIRST SATURDAYS, AS REQUESTED BY OUR LADY OF FATIMA

-

....

.On December 10, 1925, Our Lady appeared to Sister Lucia (seer of Fatima) and spoke these words: "Announce in my name that I promise to assist at the hour ofdeath with the graces necessary for the salvation oftheir souls, all those who on the first Saturday of five consecutive months shall: 1. Go to confession; 2. Receive Holy Communion; 3. Recite the Rosary (5 decades); and 4. Keep me company for 15 minutes while meditating on the 15 mysteries ofthe Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me."

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

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

Paid advertisement

..

~.

,'.

it is to discuss drinking with alcoholics, according to one Catholic manwho has written a powerful autobiographical account of his spiritual struggle out of that lifestyle.

Instead, the public should insist on an honest loo~ at "gay" behavior, according to Ronald G. Lee. He believes well-meaning people have bought into a "carefully stage-managed effort to manipulate them."

"There is nothing compassionate about a gay bar," he wrote in the February issue of the Catholic journal New Oxford Review.

Lee, 44, said activists have made a calculated investment to project an image of normalcy and respectability around behavior that carries "often lethal consequences."

"Without that investment, we would not now be engaged in a serious debate about the legalization of'Same-sex 'marriage,''' said Lee, a convert to Catholicism who lives in Houston.

"What do we as a Church and a culture need to do? Tear down the respectable fa~ade ... Start pressuring homosexuals to tell the truth about their lives," he wrote.

"We are told that the Church opposes same-sex love. Not true. The Church opposes homogenital sex, whicb in my experience is not about love, but about obsession, addiction, and compensation for a compromised masculinity."

Lee told his story in hopes of preventing at least "one naive, gullible man from making the same mistakes." ("The Truth About the Homosexual Rights Movement" is reprinted at www.massresistance.net.)

In a November 28 phone interview, he commented on the dilemma in the Bay State. Lee said that people need to stop talking about homosexuality as an abstraction.

"The public's been sold an image of homosexual couples as being a mirror image of heterosexual ones," he said. "That's not the case.

Most gay people I know are very promiscuous, and despite the formidable resources they have on hand, it will be hard to keep this image up indefinitely.

"In the long ~erm, we can't lose, because the gay rights movement is inherently self-destructive and self-refuting," he said. "But between now and then, a lot of innocent people are going to suffer."

To help in the defense ofmarriage, contact Catholic Citizenship at www.catholicvote.org, 617-7557668. Its mailing address for donations is 198 Tremont St., Suite 450, Boston, MA 0211. The marriage coalition is at www.voteonmarriage.org, 617-795-2667.

Gail Besse is afree1ance writerfor Catholic newspapers. She can be reached at gailbesse@comcostnet.

DEtEMBER

8, 2006

â&#x20AC;˘ The Anchor news briefs Hunger: By any other name, it still gnaws at Americans' well-being WASHINGTON (CNS) - It may be irony - or it may serve a more useful purpose - that just before the feasting season that begins' with Thanksgiving and ends with New Year's Day, reports are issued that detail the prevalence of hunger in the United States and around the world. "Hunger" is an easy, six-letter word. But this year in its annual report on Americans' access to food, the U.S. Department of Agriculture decided to use the term "very low food security," which brought scoffs from some an<trebuke from others.

The Rev. David Beckmann, head of the Christian citizens' antihunger lobby Bread for the World, told Catholic News Service he got no flak for his comments about it in The Washington Post November 16. He was quoted as saying that "the proposal to remove the word 'hunger' from our official reports is a huge disservice to the millions of Americans who struggle daily to feed themselves and their families." The USDA study, released November 15, showed that in 2005 35 million people - about 12 percent of all Americans - could not put food on the table at least part of the year, and that 11 million reported going hungry on occasion.

Catholic television programming steps up WASHINGTON (CNS) - In the weeks and months ahead, Catholics looking for quality television programming that suits their moral and social sensibilities need look no further than programming supplied by the Catholic Communication Campaign. "Our motto is 'How the Good News Gets Around,'" said CCC executive producer Ellen McCloskey. The first CCC project is "Picturing Mary," which is being offered to public TV stations nationwide in December. The hourlong documentary looks at how artists depicted Mary from centuries ago to more modern times. "It's a very good companion to 'The Face: Jesus in Art,' which continues to air on public TV stations at Christmas and Easter," McCloskey said. In January, those same public TV stations will be offered "Live.s for Sale," produced by Maryknoll Productions.

The documentary looks at the immigration issue but pays close attention to human trafficking. In February, another public-TV documentary that got partial funding from the CCC will air on selected PBS stations in time for Black History Month. "Sisters of Selma" examines the role nuns played in the civil rights struggles of 40 and more years ago in Selma, Ala. It's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas greetings again WASHINGTON (CNS) - "Merry Christmas" greetings have recently fallen into the category of gifts people don't know what to do with as they debate if the standard expression should be used, defended, returned or just steered clear of completely. Retailers shy away from it for fear of offending non-Christians. But many see the absence of the familiar greeting as a symbol of a society that refuses to acknowledge the religious nature of Christmas in favor of a politically correct route. They want to be able to say "Merry Christmas" and hear it during the month of December and they're determined to make it happen. Their efforts seem to be paying off. This year some retail chains have announced their willingness to call the holiday.Christmas instead of hiding it behind a winter holiday euphemism.

Cardinal: Crime increase is effect ofMexican transition to democracy MEXICO CITY (CNS) - An increase in crime is one of the side effects of Mexico's transition to democracy, said Mexican Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez of Guadalajara. "Politicians are only looking for votes and avoid alienating voters at all cost," the cardinal told Catholic News Service in Mexico City in late November. "For that reason, we have a weak and impotent democracy in which nobody wants to enforce the law with a hard hand. Politicians don't want to be seen as dictators. "This is the price we pay for the transition to democracy," the cardinal said. He said there were groups in Mexico for which "life has no value." "These are the drug cartels that kill each other in turf wars," he said. "There are guerrillas, terrorists and even protesters who are willing to kill to further their agendas. This is the result of the total collapse of the Mexican criminal justice system. There is an atmosphere of lawlessness in Mexico that allows people to commit crimes with impunity, and this has led to an alarming increase in crime, especially in the last 10 to 15 years."

DECEMBER

$'

8, 2006; .

The Anchor ,

15 Polish bishops launch comniission to probe bommunist infiltration . , ,

said.

WARSAW, Poland i:<CNS) The Polish bishops' c'onference Plans for the commission were has launched a historical commis- announced in an August report by simI to investigate the mfiltration the Polish bishops' conference, by communist agents in the which said members would exam-.

Church. , ine secret police files. The bishops Auxiliary Bishop piotr Libera also urged "a cleansing of memoof Katowice told the Polish in- ries through conversion' and penformation agency, ~AI, th.at ance" rather than "condemnation work on the "several dozen kilo- and revenge." meters of files on the church" The report said canonical sancmust have "a clear inethodologi- tions could be applied against those .cal program." "lackiflg the courage to admit their Bishop Libera, general secre- sin." tary of.the Polish bishops' confer- .

About 10 percent of Catholic ence, said the bishops would ap- priests are estimated to have acted I' prove "competent experts" to help . as informants under c~mmunist be rule, which lasted from 1947 to . the commission, which chaired by a former c0n.stitutional 1989'court judge, Wojciech Calls for exposing the identity Laczkowski. of priests who were informants has The bishop s;pd the ~ommission caused controversy recently. Polish will rely on foland's National Re.- . President Lech Kaczynski signed a membrance Institute, which con- law November 13 exempting i' • troIs access to former police files. .church personnel from scrutiny Bishop Libera added that he durmg investigations about inforhoped to "cooperate cl\>sely" with mants. separate commissions already working in several Ca,tholic dioceses. i' HEATING, INC. '.'It's been suggested the comSales and Service' mission start first with the 1980s, for Domestic and Industrial since this was when the Church was.

Oil Burners under particular surveillance and 508-995-1631 when communist Poland's secret 2283 ACUSHNET AVENUE services tried hardest fu penetrate NEW BEDFORD the Chmch circle," Bishop. Libera -

will

UNAUTHORIZED - Newly ordained Coadjutor Bishop Wang Renlei of Xuzhou greets Catholics after his ordination Mass in Xu~hou, China, .November 30. He was o'rdained without Vatican approval. (eNS photo/UCAN) , .

China ordains new bishop without Vatican approval

By CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE HONG KONG - Father Wang ~enlei, 36, was illicitly ordained coadjutor bishop of Xuzhou, China, at the diocese's Sacred lIeart of Jesus Cathedral November 30.

The ordination did not'have the approval of the Vatican.

Father John Dai Zhenbao, a parish priest at the cathedral, told the Asian church news agency DCA News that Bishop Joseph Zhao Fengchang ofYanggu was the ordaining prelate. .

Bishops Francis Lu Xinping of Nanjing arid Joseph Xu Honggen of'Suzhbu were' the other ordain~' . ing prelates, Father Dai said.

Also present at the episcopal ordination were Bishop Thomas Qian Yurong, 94,of Xuzhou and Bishop Peter Feng Xinmao of Hengshui. Excep~ for Bishops Lu and Qian, all the other bishops in'volved have been approved by the Vatican.

According to a laywoman who ~ttended the ordination,' Bishop' Qian,' clad in his chasuble, joined the liturgy but did not preside. She described the ordination Mass as solemn and smooth and said she did not hear Catholics discussing the illegitimacy of the bishop's or-' dination. .

In 1957; the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association was formed by the government to assure .. Catholics' harmony with state policies and to separat"? the Church from "foreign interference," especially from its ties with the Vatican.

Although initially bishops elected and ordained by members of the

/

patriotic association did not have government to pass the message to Vatican approval, in the mid-1980s the Vatican that Father Wang had bishops began s~cret1y seeking been elected to the bishop's post Vatican approval. Church'sources and would be ordaiDed. say as many as 90 percent of the Responding to reported conbishops in the government-ap- cerns that the new bishop had not proved church are recognized as applied for papal approval and legitimate bishops by the Vatican. time was not given for the Vatican . Last year, several new Chinese to undertake an investigation of the bishops chosen by the Vatican re- candidate, Liu said the new bishop ceived government approval. In .had informed the Vatican about his many of those ordinations, a pa- election and ordination through a pal bull expressing approval was. third' party. He said Church offiread at the ordination. cials investigated the. candidate, The third illicit episcopal ordi- who was ~lected unanimously by nation this year .came several priests, nuns and religious of the months after BishopsJoseph Ma diocese.. . Yinglin of Kunming and Joseph "The Vatican should have trust "Liu Xinhong of Anhui were or- in the China church - that it dained April 30 and May 3, respec- would not approve a candidate that tively, despite opposition from the does not love the Church and the ,Vatican. country," he said.

One source familiar with the Vatican officials were not imCatholic Church in China told mediately available for comment.

Catholic News Service China desThe new bishop, born in perately wants to normalize rela- Weishan in Shandong province, tions with the Vatican. When Chi:.. graduated from the National SemiQ.ese officials felt the Vatican was nary .in Beijing and was ordained not paying enough attention to a priest in 1996. He was appointed them, they gave the go-ahead for vicar general of Xuzhou' in 2001 the ordinatio.ns of the first two il- . and has. been working in the licit bishops, the source said. bishop's house since January.

In June, less than two months 2005. later, two ltigh-Ievel Vatican offiAfter the ordination, spokes~ cials visited China. woman Jiang Yu of the Ministry of After the N~vember 30 ordina- Foreign Affairs reiterated the two tion, Anthony Liu Bainian, vice prerequisites for the Vatican to eschairman of the Chinese Catholic tablish formal relations with Patriotic Association, who at- China: that the Vatican must sever tended the ceremo~y, told UCA diplomatic relations with Taiwan News that Chinese Oturch officials and must not interfere in China's did not contact the ~atican about internal affairs. it, since there is no proper channel "We sincerely hope for the imfor doing so. However, he said provement of our relations with the Church officials asked the Chinese Vatican," she said.

LEMIEUX

The Saints & Singers Chorus

One ~ma{{ cfiiCr£ .

Christma~ Performance Schedule Date Friday 1218

Ii

Location

First Congregational, Hanson

'Time '8:00 PM

Ii

Sat. 1219

Our Lady of Lourdes, Carver

1:00 PM /

Sun. 12110

SI:- Margaret's, Buzzards Bay

4:00PM·

Noil...mes souVenirs .

. by Josee Vachon

Classic French Christrrlas hymns and "r{weillons" songs including: Minuit Chretiens, II esf.lne Ie Divin Enfant, Petit Papa Noel, Dans bffe efable, les anges de nos campagnes,_ Venez Divin 'Messie, Nos vie/lies m'9isons, & many il morel .

also available: ~

Latest recording of traditional Christmas favorites sung in French with Josee's warm vocal a"d guitar style: Sainte n~if (Silent Night), C'est

"hiver (let it ~now), Vo&e cadienne de Noel, les doches du Hameau, MonDieu Benissez 10 nouvelle rinnee (God Bless the New Yearj, 10 more...

COs: $15., cassettes: '$7.

Shipping: $2.50 first 2 items, $4. for 3 or more CaU toU-free 1-888-424-1007 or 610-683-7814 with a credit card, write;for a catalog l;)r go online CeVOD Musique .I ' PO .Box 157 . i Kutztown, PA 19530

For more recordings: _ WWW.joseevadloD.eom

-.......

-I

路116

,

. YOUTH PAGES

-".

HOLIDAX VISIT - Bishop George W. Coleman shares a moment with students at Coyle and Cassidy High School, in Taunton, during a recent Thanksgiving visit. From left: .Jordan Trubiano, Julie Robbens, Lauren Murphy, Bishop Coleman, Zachary Turner, David Morin, and sc.hooi Chaplain Father Jeff Cabral.

THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL EXPERIENCE - The students and teachers at St. Joseph School in Fairhaven recently celebrated a month of the rosary. Students learned about the rosary and gathered in prayer with each class acting out a different mystery. Below, students get ready to deliver boxes 01 toys and toiletries for "Operation Christmas Child." They collected enough items to fill 111 shoe boxes that will benefit children throughout the world.

PILG~IM'S PROGRESS - Third and fourth-graders from St. Anthony of Paqua School in New Bedford get ready to board the Mayflower II during arecenUrip to Plimouth Plantation. Their teacher is Cristina Raposo.

-

.

.'

..;.

.

I-iIANDS-ON EDUCATION - Fourth-grade students Jane' O'Brien, Georginanna r :'veira and Nicole Sousa at Holy Name School in Fall River enjoy taking part in a . 'It class project. They are students in Maxine Bonneau's class..

NOTHING UP -HIS SLEEVE - The PTa at Holy Trinity School in Fall River recently sponsored a magic show .fund-raiser featuring George Saterial, who thrilled both the young and young at heart. The event was to help raise funds to build a plavgroynd on the school property. Here Sate rial signs autographs for some students.

-

DECEMBER

YOUTH PAGES

8, 2006

17

-

....

Responding to the world's suffering

Muslim students find welcoming presence at many Catholic colleges

-

"Many Muslims are comfortable here and we are attracting more and more," Murphy said, noting that Muslim students "sense their expression of faith is not ridiculed" and they also know "religion is not a taboo subject here." ''There is a place for them," he added, noting that this year for the first time there are two women students who wear a traditional full burka on campus. It is a long garment that covers a woman from head to toe, with a veil over her face.

The school has an active Muslim StudentAssociation with about 125 members. These associations are fairly common on Catholic college campuses today, organizing social and informational events aimed at fostering communication among Muslim and non-Muslim students and bringing about a deeper understanding of Islam.

Sometimes deepening understanding comes in simpler ways than just attending organized events, like rubbing elbows with people of different beliefs. For example, at Loyola, Muslim students have to walk through the kosher kitchen in the campus hall to get to their mosque. Just doing that helps to deepen relationships between Muslims and Jews, said Murphy.

He also is convinced that the presence of Muslim students on campus strengthens the faith of Catholic students.

"It's not like we're doing something really unusual, but it is unusual," he noted, particularly emphasizing how Muslim_and Jewish students are working together on campus. "It's allowed to happen here because we're faithbased."

WASHINGTON (CNS) - On Catholic college campuses across the country, it is not uncommon to find Muslim students praying in a makeshift prayer room or campus mosque five times a day.

At Georgetown University in Washington, Muslim students also can speak regularly with an imam since the school became the first American university to hire a fulltime Muslim chaplain seven years ago.

Although there are no accurate figures on the number of Muslim students at Catholic colleges, the numbers have gone up in recent years, according to administrators who have seen more students participate in campus-sponsored associations for Muslim students.

This increase is not just in large urban colleges either. At Benedictine University, just outside Chicago, approximately 15 percent of the school's 1,800 undergraduate students have identified themselves as Muslim, according to Mercy Robb, the university's executive director of public relations. And that's just the students who choose to identify their religious affiliation; Catholic colleges do not require students to do so.

Robb told Catholic News Service that the university attracts a lot of Muslim students because the school's "values are a fit for them personally."

At nearby Loyola University Chicago, the number of Muslim students also has gone up in recent years. Christopher Murphy, the school's director ofuniversity ministry, knows the population has grown because the campus mosque recently had to be reconfigured to make room for more women in the segregated prayer areas.

$

-Bv CHARLIE MARTIN -

HEARD THE WORLD I just heard the world is breaking down into bits again Tell me, what am I to do?

And you just want me to stay here So I'm just gonna stay here.

Home the last resort Build a castle with an iron door Lock the window, pull the shades, the hazed sun Won't help anyway.

If the world is crumbling down, I don't want to be alone, no Locked up in this place.

Refrain: I heard the world up late night Holding my breath tight, trying to keep my head on right There's a chill in the air, nobody could care How you're caught up in the fight ofyour life Fear is holding me here The television got me seeing unclear Bravery, my neighbor, moved away 'Cause I don't need to be courageous today If the world is crumbling down, I don't want to be alone No, locked up in this place (Repeat refrain.)

Nothing's gonna save me I'm hanging from the nearest tree Nothing's gonna save me I'm hanging from the nearest tree (Repeat refrain three times.)

World up late night World up late night World up late night World up late night World up late night Sung by O.A.R. Copyright 2005 by Lava The first time that I bumped into "Heard the World" on my radio, I thought: "What a great sound .... I wonder what group this is?"

Though I previously knew about

CATHpLIC NEWS SERVICE

O:A.R., which stands for Of a Revolution, from my coluhm on their release "Love and Memories," the musical approach on their newest song surprised me. This group is better than I realized. !

"Heard the World" tnirrors feelings that at times we all experience.

The song's character says: "I just heard the world is .breaking down into bits again." Indeed, with every new report of violence and the suffering that violence brings, we can easily think that our 21st-century world is "breaking into bits." Like the song's character, ~e might ask: "Tell me, what am I to do?"

This song messagel:reminds me of John Mayer's "Walting for the World to Change." Both songs confront painful realities on our planet.

They question whether there is any way. to respond beyond just enduring and hoping for improvement.

In fact, the character in "Heard the World" feels imprisoned by fear, thinking that his "home" is the "last resort." At least there, he can "lock the window" and "pull the shades." , However, living in fear's grip is not an option for Christians. We must bust out! Reashing out to those around us is the way to live as Jesus lived, and that is always our goal.

So what might you do if you've "heard the world" and now choose to respond?

Pick a focus. It is best to address just one cause of human suffering than to become overwhelmed by responding to many., Chooseaccording to your personal interest.

For example, a principal effort " for me is living accor<ling to Jesus' message about bringing healing and peacemaking to our world. Consequently, I have been a long time member o! the Catholic peacemakI, I,

ing group Pax Christi USA (www.paxchristiusa.org).This is just one possible choice.

Our world needs your choice no matter what area of human concern most captures your attention.

We all compose God's global family. We can do something for people in many areas on this planet (for ways to do so, check out the Catholic Relief Services Website, www.crs.org). However, don't overlook ways you might respond close to your home.

At St. Bernard's parish here in Rockport, Ind., the middle school youth group has developed a list of ways to help elderly community members. Our group is a vibrant bunch, and they are sure that they can make a difference.

Take an area of concern that interests you and study it. For example, use the Internet to study why preventable diseases kill many of the world's children or why poverty causes such suffering in Africa. If you want a more local focus, you might learn more about homelessness in your area. Change develops from action based in knowledge.

Dedicate 30 minutes a week to learning why certain situations in our global family cause so much harm. ' Yes, there are many places where members of God's family are "breaking down to bits" and many reasons behind' this suffering. We can all "hear" it. Yet, there is also another sound, and it is growing louder and louder. It is the busy hum of today's followers of Jesus responding to the needs that they see around them.

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

Mary, Mary, quite contrary tion would be "no one can ever also lived a blameless life free actually know what God has from personal sin. Through living this holy life, Mary planned." As humans, especially young ones, we consistently became a true witness of how to receive God's eternal love for us. search for concrete answers. We need, rather want, it all spelled We can model Mary's out for us much the way our teachers distribute their syllabus to students at the start of the 1r semester. But God doesn't conform his plan .~ to fit into a 75-minute, Crystal Medeiros Monday through Friday V,C, \ class. His plan is much greater for us, and we can look to Mary as our example. holiness in our own lives each , day in small, yet significant Although we are born with ways. As we walk through the original sin, as baptized Catholics we are set free of that doors of our schools, we can ask for God's loving mercy and condition. But let's take a strength to help us embrace the moment to look at Mary's life. students around us. We can Though she was in a state of refuse to participate in the grace from her conception, Mary

Today is the feast of the Immaculate Conception. On this day, we celebrate the moment our Blessed Mother Mary came into existence. Our Catho.lic faith teaches us that Mary, contrary to the rest of us, was born without the stain of original sin. Because of this, Mary immediately entered into a state of grace for the role she would later play in God's plan to bestow on us his only begotten son for our eternal salvation.

Often times we may wonder how the Immaculate Conception effects us today. We live in a time when youth, and perhaps even adults, constantly ask what purpose they have in the "grand scheme of things" and what exactly is God's plan for them.

The immediate and perhaps practical response to ~his ques-

B

AfrE!id

lly

"

â&#x20AC;˘

I

,

spread of rumor and gossip - a feat that oftentimes can be nothing less than miraculous if I accurately recall my own jJ-lnior high and high!! school years. Our schools ate filled with opportupities to lead a grace-filled life that would inherently spill over into our homes, parish and community lives. Living a grace-filled life is accomplished by loving one another the way we want to be loved; by feeding the poor and sheltering the homeless; by accepting God's loving sacrifice for us; " by forgiving each other and asking God to forgive ourselves.

Just as God does not layout his plan for us like a course

syllabus, neither did he for Mary.

She wasn't aware of her role in God's plan until Gabriel came-to her that blessed night and she listened to the Lord's messenger.

Mary led her life filled with unwavering surrender even in the darkest and most confusing times of her life. She remained open to God's love and accepted his plan when it was revealed to her. This is no less than what God asks of us - to live our lives with great compassion, love, and most of all with faith.

It's the only way to make his garden grow.

Crystal is the Youth Ministry Coordinator at St. Lawrence Parish in New Bedford and an assistant in the Dioces(l.n Youth Ministry Office. Email questions or comments to cmedeiros@dfrcec.com

"", .

,

,

';'

.'

~

.

'.

"

.. ,

..,.-

I 18

,

Rosary

-....

Continued from page one

The book looks in detail at all 20 mysteries of the rosary, and suggests pulling out the Bible and seeing how they connect as the fruit of contemplation.

Although his book deals in depth with all 20 mysteries of the rosary, Father Reid has suggested a different arrangement or order of them than is traditionally set.

He said he started with the Luminous Mysteries "because they anchor us in the ministry of Jesus ... then move into the Sorrowful Mysteries, then the Glorious Mysteries and finally the Joyful Mysteries as a retrospect of our whole faith."

They are set into a pattern of claim, counterclaim, acclaim and proclaim.

"I discuss how all 20 mysteries are viewed as a progression from the claim of the Kingdom of God as seen in the Luminous Mysteries through the counter-claim of temptation and rejection in the Sorrowful Mysteries, to the acclaim of the risen Lord in the Glorious Mysteries," Father Reid said.

"This acclaim of the risen Lord sustains the missionary proclamation of the Gospel in the Joyful Mysteries," he added.

In the book's introduction, Father Reid makes it clear that "we do not have to set our life aside to pray the rosary. We learn to pick up the beads as we unabashedly are at anyone moment. We are on a journey within a journey. We are pilgrims with pilgrims. The template of one praying is shaped by ongoing human experience." .

As to his own renewal he says, "Personally, my return to praying the -rosary came at a time when I was doing a lot of driving. So I relate well to the sense of a journey within a journey and to the various emotions not only of the journey but of the tasks underway."

In an "Afterword" the book contains a list of the various Marian shrines across the globe.

Although he often traveled hun-

CHRISTIAN

PRO-LIFER HELPER ADVISOR RESTORER MEDICATOR ANTI-ABOIUIONIST CAREGIVER INSTRUCTOR SPECIALIST THERAPEUTIST

APOSTOLIC TRUE HOLY

ONE LOVING INFALLIBLE

. ,-

dreds of miles in his youth to visit Knock in his native Ireland, Father Reid contends there is no greater shrine to' Mary in the Americas than that of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

"If Mary in her Magnificat was the privileged witness of God's reversal of human expect~tion on behalf of struggling people, the shrine in Mexico is her unique stage. The message of companionship and solidarity claimed there is none other than the emotionally rich content of Catholic social teaching," the new author said: Known to many in the diocese, Father Reid was pastor at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in New Bedford from 1996 to 2000, when he was named provincial of the Sacred Hearts Fathers.

The congregation is involved at parish ministries at St. Joseph's and St. Mary's parishes as well as the Damien Residence, all in Fairhaven; in pastoral care at Our Lady's Haven in Fairhaven as well as at Sacred Heart Nursing Home in New Bedford; and the retreat ministry at the Sacred Hearts Retreat Center in Wareham.

But there are changes in the wind as to his new assignment, Father Reid said.

"As I leave the office of provincial my new assignment is on its way coming and I don't know where maybe as a missionary again to India perhaps?! don't know," he reported on November 20.

Ordained a priest for the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in 1966, he received a licentiate in sacred Scripture from the Biblical Institute in 1970 and took his doctorate in biblical theol~gy from Rome's Gregorian Institute in 1983.

Asked how one might find his book, Father Reid said, "Hopefully they'll soon be in the bookstores, and one can also find a copy on Amazon.com, or direct from Paulist Press."

~ Walsh Pharmacy THOMAS PASTERNAK

Pharmacist

202 RockSt.

Fall River

CHARITABLE The NaIIoNJ CdloIc P!IarmIclslI GuIld of the UnII2d S1III1

508-67'·1300

The Anchor ,

document of the U.S. bishops, "Encuentro Mission," according to Father Wilson.

"So when we held the workshops in the several Hispanic communities we took points from the document - which means 'mission encounter' - and discussed how to initiate them in the formation of helping people to grow in their faith whether they be adults or youths," he explained.

"They all have a deep concern for their faith. And it involves people from a variety of academic situations - some with university educations - but always with a goal of how we can evangelize them better in the Hispanic Apostolate within our diocese. It does not mean working off on a tangent, but always at work in the larger Church," Father Wilson declared.

"However, to that end, Doug Rodrigues from the diocesan Office of Pastoral Planning will be meeting with us this month to see how to better work together in the seven regions in our of diocese."

Examples of programs the Apostolate had already imple~ mented include the "Seeds ofthe Kingdom," a Qlulti-week program held Tuesday nights at St. Joseph's in Attleboro; and a Friday night Bible Study conducted at Our Lady of Guadalupe in New Bedford.

What are the ~ispanic com-

I,

~

.. ~. •

• _.1

\

"

\

.1

.. l";

-: .:

> -.,',

I

I.

munities' greatest problems?

"There are two great realities," Father Wilson told The Anchor: "The folks who are citizens ... and then there are those who are undocumented - aliens. The people from Puerto Rico, which is where the original Hispanics in our diocese came from, have a greater leeway in their lives. in terms of getting a license and going back and forth to their native country. For the undocumented ... they live in an existence of fear and wonder will our family be split up or what comes next?"

As to Masses, most of the seven faith communities slate Hispanic Masses on the weekends during the usual parish schedules, Father Wilson reported.

The Hispanic Apostolate is also in contact with counselors to guide people on issues that include housing, food, and healthcare needs through Catholic Social Service and other city, state, and national agencies.

There will be an opportunity to hear all 'about the new Hispanic Pastoral Plan on December 16, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, to which everyone is invited.

Bishop George W. Coleman will be the principal celebrant of a bilingual Mass that evening at 5. Congregation of Holy Cross Father Daniel R. Kayajan, director of the Spanish Apostolate in

Taunton, will give the homily and speak about the progress and initiating of the Pastoral Plan.

Following the Mass, members of the Hispanic Apostolate from the Diocese of Providence, R.I., will present the Posados, "which are the acting out of the story of Mary and Joseph seeking lodging in Bethlehem on the first Christmas," said Father Wilson.

"We are glad to do this in conjunction with the Providence Hispanic Apostolate, which we regard as an older sister and very supportive of us."

He reported that Father John Sullivan of the Missionaries of La Salette, who returned from an assignment in Argentina, has been assisting ministering within the Hispanic comm~nities within the Fall River and Providence dioceses as well as the Boston Archdiocese for the past two years.

Father Wilson also noted that while feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe - the patron saint of the Americas - is December 12" the Fall River Diocese will especially commemorate the feast on December 9 with a 5:30 p.m., bilingual Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Parish in New Bedford, with Father Wilson as the principal celebrant.

A dinner will follow. '''We anticipate approximately 400 people will attend," Father Wilson said.

Continued from page one

Our Lady of Guadalupe's first apparition to St. Juan Diego," said Larry K. Burke. "The actual feast of Guadalupe is December 12."

Burke, a member of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, and coordinator of the celebration there, told The Anchor that linking the two Marian days point up how Mary, as the Immaculate Conception - patroness of the Americas and Our Lady of Guadalupe as patroness of the unborn, "should be dear to all of us who fight to save the precious lives of our unborn brothers and sisters in Christ."

While the prayer night's program suggests eucharistic adoration in the adjoining hours in all churches across the United States for four hours - representing the four time zones - "We ask that

Montie Plumbing & Heating Co. Over 35 Years of Satisfied Services Reg. Master Plumber 7023 JOSEPH RAPOSA, JR.

432 JEFFERSON STREET FALL RIVER 508-675-7496

,

8, 2006

Co~tinuedfrom page one

Hispanic

Prayer

DECEMBER

perhaps people can spend at least at their own parish or even in one of them with us," Burke their 'homes." noted.

The National Night of Prayer According to the plan pro- was begun a decade ago by a posed by the National Night of woman on Long Island, N.Y., Prayer for Life Committee, the Burke said.

National Hour of Unity is from "I made some calls a few midnight to I p.m. weeks ago and leaned just a day At the Osterville parish, as ago that her name was Murphy, across the nation - the faithful will and that she is elderly, but has a begin the observances at 9 a.m. committee in Greenlawn, N.Y., "We ask that people pray the now working with her and now rosary in each hour, sing hymns there are some 700 parishes inperhaps, say a prayer to St. volved nationally," he told The Michael, meditate in silence, and Anchor: be blessed at Benediction of the "I was told that EWTN had Blessed Sacrament at I o'clock picked up on the prayer night, on Saturday morning, December ,and reported on it. While the 9, as we link the two Marian re- event has been held for 17 years, membrances," said Burke. and we put it in our parish bulleAll four mysteries of the ro- tin, it seems little is regularly prosary will be said. The Joyful mulgated on it. And although Mysteries will be said the first there may be other parishes in hour, and the Luminous, Sorrow- our diocese also taking part in the ful and Glorious mysteries in the prayer night, I'm not aware of ensuing hours. which ones they are."

"Of course this is a celebraBurke added, "Perhaps we can tion of Respect for Life," said learn more about this in the comBurke. "The purpose set forth is 'ing year and then we can coordito end abortion through eucharis- nate this better and give this more tic adoration and prayers of repa- public attention in advance and ration. We ask anyone who wants hopefully get more people into be involved to join with us, or volved."

,

~

"

'I

$

DECEMBER'S; 2006...

Around the Diocese ~ ''JII-'

0";'

l~uch~ii~ Adoration NEW BEDFORD - Perpetual eucharistic adoration is held at Our Lady's Chapel, 600 Pleasant Street.

For more information call 508-984.1823.

Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Refreshments will be served. For more information call 508-990-7595.

IS~al Events . 1 t

ATTLEBORO - The 54th annual Festival of Lights, featuring more 1 '[Healing L-l than 300,000 lights is now underway at the National Shrine of Our FALL RIVER - Mass will be cel- Lady of La Salette. Themed "Lord, ebrated December 14 at 6:30 p.m. You are Our Hope," it includes a at St. Anne's Church, 818 Middle indoor display of international naStreet. Benediction of the Blessed tivity sets, and concerts by Father Sacrament and a healing service will Pat at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesdays follow. The rosary will be recited at through Sundays. Lights are illumi6 p.m. For more information call nated nightly from 5-9 p.m. Parking and admission are free. For more 508-674-5651. information call 508-222-5410.

Masses-

I'.

ILectureslPresentations

FALL RIVER - A catechists' workshop, "Prayer and Spirituality," an approved course of the diocese's Catechist Certification Program, will be presented January 7, 14,21, 'and 28, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Holy Trinity Parish school hall, 64 Lamphor Street, by coordinator of Religious Education Pat Pasternak.

For information and to register. by, the December 14 deadline call 508673-1284. '

CENTERVILLE Gregory Norbet, a respected spiritual leader, singer and retreat director will present his Adventsong retreat and concert December 16-17 at Our Lady of Victory Parish. The retreat will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. December 16. The concert will be held at 7 p.m. December 17. A free~will offering will be taken. For more info~mation call 508-T75 7. ,5744. .

$ Marriage Act proponents set two rallies for December 9

The Anchor

NEW BEDFORD- Local rallies to gamer support for pressing reluctant Massachusetts legislators to meet in a recessed Constitutional Convention January 2 and vote on the proposed amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman, are set for tomorrow here and in Barnstable. , The New Bedfordrally will be held , from 10:30 am., to noon at the steps of City Hall, reported Beatrice Martins, public policy coordinator for Catholic Citizenship in the Fall River Diocese. Representing Bishop George W. Coleman will be Father John 1.

Oliveira, pastor of Our Lady ofMount Carmel Parish in New Bedford.

Speakers at that rally will include Kris Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute; Phil Paleologos of New Bedford, host of

Cape parish to ;open new faith center Sunday

EAST'TAUNTON - Advent I1sNEW BEDFORD - The'stridents .sons and;Carols, a pre-Chris'tma~' of Holy Family-Holy NaineSchool concert, will be held Sunday,ilC4, CENTERVILLE - The faith invite all to celebrate the birth of p.m.. at Holy Family Church; 370 , ',community of Our Lady ofVictory Jesus in song and tablea,l6n~De: : Mid;d,leboro, Avenue, The pr<>gtam, Parish eagerly awaits this cember 17 at 3 p.m. at St. Lawrence '. ~il~JnClude professional musicians..

Martyr Church, 556 County Stih~i;o' :)rorilth¢ ~ode Island PhilharqiQruc .' ~e~ke~d's,fo~al blessi~g ,and A $2 donation and canne~r go'6~)S;,> Q~ch~iitniand the Amari.~tri,tig:,;" 4e~~~atlon of. ItS new Faith and , .asked.' Fore more informa~ion..·c.li!!., Q~art~t. for more informatiop..call, .:.' Fanuly FOimatlOn Center located at 508-993-3547.'~:';-' ·"::'·$08"824~5707. ' " ..,;.:' ,~: 230South Ma.fu. Street. :.... ~.,'. '.:",«:':': c';. ': , ' ' " ' '.". : :' ',' " Bishop George W. Coleman will PROVIDENCE,R.L-Alltrgedis-:. "FALL RIVER - "Lessons ana', , 'd t 11'30 M S d "h" presl e a.. a n . ass.un ay . creC es IS on d'IS- 'c aroI'" s, WI'11 be presented Dec~~-:.,.,.. . p1ay 0 f Chnstmas play at the Center for Catholic and 'ber 17at'2 p.m. at St. Mich'ael's 'atwhicQ tune the blessmg wIll take Dominican Studies on the. \i::ampus .' "Parish.. Refreshments will .fQ(low.p,lace. A reception will follow in the of Providence College.''niey':W:illbe' F.or'moreoinformation call 598.~12~ ;°M'sgr. Perry Parish Center.

The new center is a 12-class:viewable from 8:30 a.m,to:4:30 6 7 1 3 . " .' f T ·th . . , p.m. through December,19 and again January 3-8. For more:tnfor. 'WEST HARWICH _ An Advent room aCI Ity, WI an ImpreSSive mation call 401-865-2870.~ , i ',;' "" celebration of praise and worship in office and lobby. It was constructed ,' ~'",,":....;_ ' song and 'a presentation by Fa~her to be used by children, teen-agers IMiscellaneous Richar~ Neilson of Holy Redeelller and adults across Cape Cod in the Parish will be held December 14.at life-long learning and ongoing forFALL RIVER - Polish Christinas '.7:30 p.m., at Holy Trinity Parish's mation of their Christian values.

Wafers, or Oplatek, will be available Damien Hall. For more information after all weekend Masses during Ad- call Fran Lynch at 508-432-293,9.

The parish has acted on the knowledge that it takes a lifetime to folvent at SS. Peter and Paul Parish.

For more information call 508-676- ISupport Groups low Christ's Way. 8463. ' NORTH DARTMOUTH _ A diThe blessing culminates the parish's 50th anniversary year of the FALL RIVER - A pilgrimage vorced-separated support group will first Mass at Our Lady of Victory with Bishop George W. Coleman to meet December 18 from 7-8:30 p.m.

Church.

Washington, D.C., for the annual at the Family Life Center, 500 March For Life is being organized Slocum Road for its annual ChristFor more information, visit the by ¢e diocese's Pro-Life Apostolate mas party. Attendees are asked to parish Website at www.olvparish.org. for January 21-23. It will include bring some potluck food for the Mass at the Basilica of the National party and a $10 gift for the Yankee Shrine of the Immaculate Concep- Swap. For more information call tion. A youth bus, which will return Bob Menard at 508-673-2997.., 'Please pray for these priests on January 22, will accommodate during the coming weeks youth at a reduced fare. For more NORTH DARTMOUTH information call 508-997-2290.

Project Rachel, a ministry of healDecember 12 ' ing and reconciliation for po~t-abor­ 'Rev. Paul F. McCarrick, Pastor, SI. .Joseph, Fall River, 1996 INDIA - St. Antony's Church, a tion women and men is available in Il\issionary parish in India, seeks the diocese. If you are hurting from December 13 items for its school children and to an' abortion experience and want Rev. Reginald Theriault, O,P., SI. continue its mission. Especially help call 508-997-3300. All ,calls are Anne, Dominican Priory, Fall needed are pens, pencils, markers, 's~ri,ctly confidential.

River, 1972 magazines, used cards, holy picRev, Adrien L. Francoeur, M.S., La Salette Shrine, North Attleboro, tures, rosaries, statues, medals and ORLEANS - A divorced-sepa1991 scapulas. They can be sent<in car~, ,rat~d support group will meet Deof Father Paul Cruz, St~' Antony's cember 17 at 5:30 p.m. in the par; December 14 Church, Kanjirakodu, P.O. Kundara . ish center of St. Joan of Arc Parish, Rev. Msgr. John J. Hayes, Pastor, 68 Canal Road, for its annual Christ- 691 501, Kollam, Kerala, India.

Holy Name, New Bedford, 1970 mas party. Attendees are asked to December 15 NEW BEDFORD The bring a main course, dessert, salad Rev. Mortimer Downing, Pastor, SI. Daughter's of Isabella, Hyacinth or appetizer to share and $10 gift Francis Xavier, Hyannis, 1942 Circle, No. 71, will meet December for the Yankee Swap. For more .in~ Rev. John F. O'Keefe, Assistant, SI. 19 at 7 p.m. at Holy Name of the formation call 508-255-0170.

Patrick. Fall River, 1955

the nationally syndicated radio talk show "American Breakfast;" and the Rev. Peter Wilmot, assistant pastor at the New Seasons Worship Center in East Freetown.

The Barnstable rally this Saturday will be from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., at the Barnstable County Courthouse. Rep. Richard Neitz of the first Barnstable District, a supporter of the Marriage Amendment, and Kris Mineau, will

-)

be among the speakers.

Although 170,000 certified Massachusetts voters supported the amendment petition, lawmakers at conventions in July and November 9 recessed rather than take a vote. A total 50 votes are needed in this current assembly to move the petition forward.

An additional 50 votes are needed in the 2007 assembly to get the issue on the ballot for voters to act on in 2008.

or

Our Lady Fatima to Sister Lucia, Blessed Jacinta andlBlessed Francisco July 13,1917 "I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, and the COm1nunion of Reparation on the First Saturdays. If my requests are hee~ed, Russia will be converted, and there be peace. If not, she wil~! spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecution,s of the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will hav¢ much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated. In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she will be converted, and a period of peace will be gratited to the world. In Portugal, the dogma of the Faitl} will always be preserved, etc."

will

!

Paid advertisement

SERVICE. ..By caringlamily and service-.family professionals TRUST Jn the people yOIl klww CHOICE Custom-designed, personalized tribuies AFFORDABILlTY... Dignified services within a budget For over 135 years, families have turned to the Waring-Sullivan service family of compassionate professionals to guide them through life's most challenging times.

508-676-1933 ~ ,

~

508-999-5100

,

W~ring - Sullivan-

Homes of M~mortalTribute

.-

...,.w.~,rtng-suIlMlO.com

II Service ""mily IIffilim of IItl'S &: Serv.,. Co<p.1Mion IllIm1llliomll. 492 Rook StJtct, ""II Ri,.... MA 02720

5OS-676-2A~

'0'

"

. ".-::: '.<

T~13tHr

FUNERAL PLANNlNQ

." :.........

•

. j-.,

,

. '\

.,.

,

_~\

" . 11

",)

.......

'- -

$

~

The Anchor ,

Pope cites importance of diocesan newspapers

By CINDY WOODEN CATHOUC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY - Diocesan newspapers are important because they strengthen local communities and give them a voice they will not find in national publications, Pope Benedict XVI said. . Meeting November 25 with the Italian Federation of Catholic Weeklies, the pope said the papers underline "facts and realities where the Gospel is lived, where good and truth triumph" and where individuals commit their time and creativity to building real communities.

The primary task of a diocesan newspaper, he said, is to "serve the truth with courage, helping the public see, understand and live reality with the eyes of God." The challenges ofmodem life and the 'diversity of people within a dio.cese also must find a reflection in the diocesan paper, he said.

"Continue to be 'newspapers of the people and among the people,' stages for a loyal exchange and debate among diverse opinions in order to promote an authentic dialogue, which is indispensable for the growth of the civic and Church communities," he urged.

While holding firm to the truths taught by the Church, the pope said Catholic newspapers "can represent significant places of encounter and

attentive discernment for lay faithful involved in the social and political arena so that they can dialogue and find convergences and objectives for joint action in the service of the Gospel and the common good."

Just before the newspaper federation's national assembly opened in Rome, Father Giorgio Zucchelli, president ofthe federation, announced that over the coming months 76 new diocesan newspapers would be launched.

Currently, he said, 150 Italian dioceses sponsor 161 newspapers with a combined circulation of about one million and close to 3,000 employees and collaborators. Several archdioceses sponsor more than one weekly publication with a standard newspaper and a publication addressed to a specialized audience or one published as an insert in a local secular paper.

The new newspapers will ensure that each of Italy's 226 dioceses has at least one publication ofits own, Father Zucchelli said.

Although he recognized the project will be difficult, the priest said he expected to fund the new publications with advertising, subscriptions and newsstand sales. Benefactors also will be sought.

"We will face many difficulties, but it is worth it in order to better spread the word of the Church," he told the daily La Repubblica.

CELEBRATING OUR LADY - Father Paul Canuel, above, and the faithful in the diocesan Mission in Guaimaca recently celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It began with a "serenade" to the Virgin at the chapel of the convent of the Sisters (Oblates of St. Joseph) below. The next day morning prayer was at the main chapel in the seminary, then a Mass at 5:30 p.m. The preparation of the gifts was solemnized by a dancing troupe of Indigenous Aztecs, left. A banquet followed with a traditional Mexican menu of enchiladas, burritos, frijoles, carne asada, etc. Also included were mariachis, folkloric dancing, singing and great celebration.

San Francisco prelate named to Vatican communications council VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope Benedict XVI has namedArchbishop George H. Niederauer of San Francisco to be a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications; he joins Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles as U.S. members of the council.

The Vatican announced five-year appointments to the council last week.

U.S. Archbishop John P. Foley, a Philadelphia native, is president of the council, which explains Catholic teaching regarding the use of all forms of media and offers guidance to Catholics in the fields

of cinema, television, radio and the press.

Archbishop Foley told Catholic News Service that although Cardinal Mahony's reappointment as a member and Russell Shaw's reappointment as a consultant were not listed in the Vatican announcement they have been asked to continue their service. Shaw is a contributing editor at the Catholic publishing firm Our Sunday Visitor and a former spokesman for the U.S. bishops.

Archbishop Niederauer, meanwhile, will take over the membership position previously held by Bishop JosephA. Galante of Camden, N.J. 'C

Catholic Digest takes young readers back to Mary's time in Nazareth NEW LONDON, Conn. (CNS) - What was it like to grow up in Nazareth in Mary and Joseph's time? What did people eat for dinner? Did children go to school?

What did people do for fun?

Through a new booklet produced by Catholic Digest, young Catholics can get answers to those questions and more as the national monthly magazine takes them on a journey back in time to explore daily life in Nazareth with young Mary. A 24-page booklet, "If I Grew Up in Nazareth ... Take a Trip

Back to the Time of Mary, Joseph and Jesus," includes an interactive account of the life of the young Mary, packed with activities and crafts, vocabulary words related to the Catholic faith and educational writing exercises. It is geared for third- through seventh-graders.

Copies of "If 1 Grew Up in Nazareth" may be ordered by phone at: 800-321-0411, or online at: www.catholicdigest.comlnativity. The booklet is 99 cents per copy and a minimum order of10 copies is required.

./

,

.

.'

..... ..-- ... ,- ..........

~

" ,

'