12.08.95 by The Anchor

teanc 0 VOL. 39, NO. 4:8

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Friday, December 8, 1995

FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS

FALL RIVER, MASS.

Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly

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SII Per Year

97 Marian Medals to be awarded Sunday

.~~;ii"i~i:t;~"l, BISHOP SEAN O'Malley (left) delivers the homily at the World AIDS Day Mass at St. Mary's Church, New Bedford. To the right ofthe:bishop is Msgr. John J. Oliveira, pastor of the host church. (Right) Some of the several hundred people from throughout the diocese who filled the church for the Mass of healing and remembrance. (Jolivet photos)

St. Mary's, New Bedford, I>acked for World AIDS Day lVlass By Dave Jolivet Sending a strong message of unity and compassion, hundreds of children, women and men from throughout the diocese fille<;J St. Mary's Church in New Bedford on Dec. I to celebrate a Mass of healing and remembrance on World AIDS Day. Bishop Sean O'Malley was principal celebrant with Msgr. John J. Oliveira, pastor, and Father Edmund J. Fitzgerald, chair of the Diocesan Secretariat for Health Care, as concelebrants. Also concelebrating were dozens of other diocesan priests. Others in the congregation included representatives of Catholic schools, HIV/ AIDS patients, their families and caregivers, as well as friends, families and loved ones of deceased AIDS victims. The Mass was bittersweet: bitter in the sense that so many suffer from AIDS, and sweet in the sense that those living with H IV / AIDS received a massive show of support from the diocesan community after, in many cases, years of feeling ostracized by society. In his homily, Bishop O'Malley assured those affected by the disease that "you are not alone. Jesus is with you and we want to be with

you too." The bishop also made reference to St. Francis' struggle to overcome his repulsion at dealing with people suffering from leprosy. It wasn't u*il St. Francis overcame his fear that he was able to truly appreciate lepers as human beings. "Today it's not leprosy," said Bishop O'Malley, "but rather AIDS which inspires an irrational fear that leaves those with AIDS alone." He added, "We must see beyond the virus and the d'isease and see a brother or sister as a human being made in the image of God." The bishop asked the many young people at the service to be aware of tbe dangers of the virus, but also to be aware of what a Christian response ~o someone with the disease shouldbe. He said that all are called to treat everyone with compassion and empathy and, where needed, to give hope. In his concluding remarks, Bishop O'Malley referred to Pope John Paul II's recent book, Crossing the Threshold of Hope: "Jesus is alive and He loves us and is with us. He calls us to a life of love and it must begin here and now, that we may cross the threshold of hope," said the bishop. Music for the liturgy was pro-

vided by Mrs. Joan Cuttle. cantor; Mrs. Madeleine Grace, organist; Mrs. Jane Murray, oboist; and St. Mary's parish school choir, all under the direction of Mrs. Jacqueline A. Vardo. St. Mary's fifth graders know firsthand the effects of H IV / AI OS, having lost a classmate to the virus last year. The offertory gifts were presented by various groups from the diocese, and individuals whose lives have been affected in some way by the· illness. Also among presenters were two St. Mary's fifth graders with a post(:r memorializing their lost classmate, and a quartet of Bishop Stang High School students who presented a six-foot by three-foot quilt panel prepared by school mates. It depicts 12 sets of hands joined in a circle. On each hand is the year of birth and death of a friend, family member or Stang alumnus or alumuna. The name and the city appear underneath. Communities represented are Fairhaven, Middleboro, Fall River, New Bedford, Peabody and Mattapoisett. One pair of hands, smaller than the rest. signify the loss of an 8-year-old. An inscription at the top of the panel reads Turn to Page 13

Outstanding members of 97 diocesan parishes will receive the Marian Medal from Bishop Sean O'Malley, OFM Cap., in ceremonies to start at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall River. The presentations will take place in the context of solemn evening prayer and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The Marian Medal tradition was established in 1968 by the late Bishop James L. Connolly to recognize members of the diocese distinguished for dedicated service. In the years since, over 2,000 people have been awarded the medal, which has the Miraculous Medal image on its obverse and the diocesan coat of arms on its reverse . Names of 1995 recipients follow, listed by deanery. Attleboro Deanery Mrs. Doris April, St. Stephen's parish. Attleboro; Mrs. Rosanne Bergeron. St. Mary's parish. Seekonk; Raymond Bonin. St. Theresa's parish. South Attleboro; Donald Charlebois. Sacred Heart parish, North 'Attleboro; Mrs. Marie Coppola. SI. John the Evangelist parish, Attleboro. John Drane. St. Mary's parish. Norton; Oscar Pinault. St. Joseph's parish. Attleboro; Mrs. Joan E. Provost. St. Mary's parish, North Attleboro; Mrs. Elena Reyes, St. Joseph's parish/ Spanish Apostolate. Attleboro; Mrs. Agnes I. ,Rose. Our Lady of Mt. Carmcl parish,Seekonk. Olvidio Scarpellini. St. Mary's parish. Mansfield; Mrs. Doris Smith. St. Mark's parish. North Attleboro; Mrs. Christiana Viveiros. Holy Ghost parish, Attleboro. Taunton Deanery Albert Adams. Holy Family parish. East Taunton; Robert Mark Bentley. Holy Rosary parish. Taunton; Mrs. Dorothy Brennan, Immaculate Conception parish. Taunton; Edward Joseph Castle. St. Paul's parish. Taunton; A ntone Fraga. Our Lady of Lourdes parish, Taunton. Edward Guest, Immaculate Conception parish. North Easton; Miss Winifred M. Laughlin. St. Mary's parish. Taunton; Jose Pereira. St. Anthony's parish, Taunton; David Perry. St. Ann's parish. Raynham; Ms. Gloria R. Rosario. St. Mary's parish/ Spanish Apostolate. Taunton. Mrs. Thelma Sherman. St. Joseph's parish. North Dighton; Leslie A. Spousta. Sacred Heart parish. Taunton; Peter Stanek. St. Jacques parish. Taunton; Miss Mary Wilde. Holy Cross parish, South Easton. Cape Cod Deanery Miss Elizabeth Ahern, Holy Trinity parish. West Harwich; Mrs. Mary Conant. St. Pius X parish. South Yarmouth; Mrs. Patricia Costa. St. Patrick's parish. Falmouth; James

Crecca. Our Lady of the Isle parish. Nantucket; Mrs. Catherine Currier. Corpus Christi Parish. East Sandwich. Donald A. Dunn. Our Lady of the Cape parish. Brewster; Mrs. Kathleen L. Eggleston. St. Elizabeth Seton parish. North Falmouth; Mrs. Oonagh Fitzgerald. SI. Margaret's parish. Buzzards Bay; Louis Galani. Our Lady of Victory parish. Centerville; Mrs. Jeanne Gaudet. SI. Augustine's parish, Vineyard Haven. Mrs. Donna Gazaille. SI. Elizabeth's parish. Edgartown; Mrs. Jean Haggerty, SI. Francis Xavier parish. Hyannis; Mrs. Matilda A. Hinden. SI. John the Evangelist parish. Pocasset; Mrs. Constance Kiss, SI. Anthony's parish, East Falmouth; Mrs. Marie Lewando. Christ the King parish, Mashpee. Mrs. Eleanor M, Nace. SI. Joseph's parish. Woods Hole; Mrs. Ann Nowicki. SI. .loan of Arc parish. Orleans; Frank S,edlak, Our Lady of Lourdes parish. Wellfleet; Miss Sheila Treacy, Holy Redeemer parish. Chatham; Mrs. Judith M. Williamson. Sacred Heart parish. Oak Bluffs. New Bedford Deanery Mrs. Donna Adams. SI. Rita's parish. Marion; Roland Benjamin, SI. Theresa's parish, New Bedford; Mrs. Rose Correia. SI. Mary's parish. South Dartmouth; Mrs. Gilda Costa. SI. Julie Billiart parish, North Dartmouth; Richard L. Curry, Holy Name parish. New Bedford. Mrs. Joanna Santo daCruz, Our Lady of the Assumption parish. New Bedford; Paul A, Duchaine, SI. Anthony's parish, Mattapoisett; William F. Duggan, SI. Franics Xavier parish. Acushnet; Miss Dorothy Hardy. SI. Mary's parish, New Bedford; Mrs. Jeannine L. Herman. SI. John Neumann parish. East Freetown. Donald Lawless, SI. Francis of Assisi parish. New Bedford; Arnold J. Manghan. SI. Lawrence's parish. New Bedford; Mrs. Dorothy Mello, SI. Mary's parish, Fairhaven; Stanley Ociesa. Sacred Heart parish. New Bedford; Mrs. Clarice Pateakos. SI. John the Baptist parish. New Bedford. Mrs. E.velyn Ponichtera, SI. Casimir's parish. New Bedford; Alphege H. Robitaille, SI. Joseph's parish, New Bedford; Miss Natalie Roszkiewicl. Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish. New Bedford; Henrique Rouxinol. Our Lady of MI. Carmel parish. New Bedford; Mrs. Eduarda Vaseoncelos.lmmaculate Conception parish, New Bedford. Fall River Deanery Mrs. Helen Aguiar. SI. Bernard's parish. Assonet; Mrs. Sophie Bielawa. Holy Cross parish. Fall River; Kenneth Carrier. Our Lady of the Angels parish. Fall River; Mrs. Mary Castro. SI. Dominic's parish. Swansea; Joseph A. Correia. J roo SI. Michael's parish. Fall River. Mrs. Shirley Dibiasio. Our Lady of

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..----,'n This Issue----------...,...__..---------------__--------w Sunday

Does TV Mass Count?

Explaining Permanent Deacons

lPage 3

Page 7

Page'

A. Magic

FCC Asks Input from Parents ~gel0 I

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The'Anchor, Friday, Dec. 8, 19'95

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WE GOOFED: In last week's Anchor, identifications of two of the diocesan churches whose photographs accompanied Bishop O'Malley's Advent letter were transposed. Here they are as they should have been: St. Lawrence, New Bedford, at left; St. Mary, Taunton, at r i g h t . ' .

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both of Fall River, Bertrand R. Degagne and Roland P. De~agne, and by several nieces and nephews, including Rev. Richard E. Degagne, pastor of Sacred Heart parish, North Att.l,eb.oro ..

The Mass of Christian Burial was offered Dec. 4 at St. Anne's Church, Fall River,' for Sister Paulette Degagne, OP, 63, who died Dec. I. A Dominican Sister of Hope for 43 years, she was a native of ProvBouchE~r idence and the daughter dfthe late Sister Ann Mildred BOllcher, Romeo and the late Diane (BelanS USC, 82, a Religious of the Holy ger) Degagne. She graduated from Union of the Sacred Hearts for 47 Dominican Academy, Fall River, years, died Dec. 2 in Fall River. A attended the former Sacred Hearts College and Bristol Community Taunton native, she was the d,lUghCollege, both in Fall .River, and, ter of the late Medas and the late Margaret (Maloney) Boucher. held a bachelor's degree in elemenShe was a graduate of Taunton ta,ry education from Providence High School and the former BridgeCollege and a master's degree in water State Teachers College. After pastoral ministry from St. Joseph teaching in the Taunton .public College, West Hartford, CT. She was a faculty member at . school system for 14 yean, she entered the Holy Union communDominican Academy, and at St. ity in 1948 and thereafter tau.ght in Peter School, Plattsburgh, NY, elementary schools in Fall Itiver, and worked in religious education Taunton, Patchogue, NY: and programs in Mooers Forks, ChaBaltimore, MD. teaugay and Peru, NY. In her later years, Sister Boucher .Sister Degagne also served as a worked in the medical records pastoral a'ssistant in 51. Stephen parish, Attleboro, and was prio- department of Marian Manor, Taunton, retiring in 1990. ress of her community in Fall She is survived by a nephew, River and in Plattsburgh. Frank Boucher of Glendale, WI. In 51. Anne's parish, Fall River, The Mass of Christian Burial she was active in the 51. Anne.Fellowship; and she was a member of was offered for her Dec.' 5 at Sacred Hearts Convent, Fall River, the Allegro Glee Club. and interment took place De,:. 6 at She is survived by two brothers, St. Patrick's Cemetery, Fall River.

. Sister

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CARDS

Deg~gne

LEFT TO RIGHT: Monsignor Thomas J. Harrington, Diocesan Director of the Bishop's Charity Ball; Mrs. Theodore J. Wojcik, lay coordinator for the Taunton area; Miss Adrienne Lemieux, presentee committee; standing, Horace Costa, St. Vincent de Paul Society; Mrs. John Schondek, president of the Taunton District Council of Catholic Women.

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wishing to place greetings, Mass schedules or announcements of holiday festivities in the Christmas issues of The Anchor; to be published

Honor

Friday, December 15 and December 22

"No person was ever hOllored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."-Calvin Coolidge

CALL 675-7151 or FAX 675-7048 DEADLINE: 12/15/95 ISSUE - MON., DEC. 11 12/22/95 ISSUE - FRI., DEC. 15 SISTER DEGAGNE

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NCEA offers on-line education service

THE SINE NOMINE singers and instrumentalists at St. Mary's Cathedral (top picture); below, from left, Cathedral rector Father Homce J. Travassos, Bishop Sean O'Malley, Father Benito Lagos and Father Gabriel Arce enjoy the evening. (McGowan photos)

A magic Sunday at St. Mary's By Pat McGowan November 19 was a magic day at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fa.II River. It began with the Gn:gorian Mass of the Angels at 10 a.m. and concluded at 8 p.m. with a concert by the choral group Sine Nomine offering works of J osquin des Prez, William Byrd and Johann Sebastian Bach. Cathedral rector and music lover Father Horace J. Travassos said that the "aim of the Mass will be to preserve the treasur,e of the ageold Gregorian chanlt," which, he added, remains the official music of the Church. He made available to Massgoers venerable Gregorian chant booklets containing the Mass of the Angels in Latin, plus a footnote informing readers that the Mass was as sung by62,000 schoolchildren at the 28th international

DePaul Center dedication is tomorrow The DePaul Centl~r of St. Vincent's Youth Treatment Center in Fall River will be dedicated by Bishop Sean O'Malley at II a.m. tomorrow at the Westport campus ofSt. Vincent's, located on Adamsville Road 'and the site of the former St. Vincent's Day Camp. The new center is an outgrowth of the DePaul Program, which was an emergency shelter and short-term diagnostic service offered at St. Vincent's Fall River campus. As did the former program, the center will assess needs of children in crisis and develop treatment plans within 60 to 90 days. The new location, will triple area capacity to aid such children, being capable of serving over 150 adolescent boys annually.

Eucharistic Congress held in Chicagoin 1926. . . The Cathedral choir, directed by Madeleine Grace, led the sung parts of the Latin Mass. Congregational participation was enthusiastic and it was, obvious that many Massgoers had no need of the chant booklets, needing only to draw on their memories of preVatican II Catholic schooldays. I ndicating that the Latin Mass will be celebrated bi~onthlyat the Cathedral, Father Travassos spoke fondly of "the language of Latin, spoken by so many saints." Sine Nomine In the evening, it was the turn of Sine Nomine, with singers and instrumentalists directed by Glenn Giuttari, himself a former Cathedral organist. The group, whose Latin name means "without a name," had as soloists soprano Heidi Thompson, tenor Christopher Marques and bass Jonne Gomes; and as instrumentalists oboist Jane Murray, violinist Colleen Brannen, cellis,t Kate DeBethune and harpsichordist/ organist Mark Johnson. They presented three settings of Ave Verum Corpus: chant, and arrangements by 15th-century composer Josquin des Prez and William Byrd, who lived from 1543 to 1623; Pange Lingua in chant; and the Missa Pange Lingua, also by des Prez. , Then came Bach: Psalm 117, the G Major Trio sonata., a.nd Cantata No. 140. At the end, Bishop Sean O'Malley, seated at the front of the Cathedral, led a standing ovation for a truly memora~le evening.

Up In the Air "Nonchalance is the ability to remain down to earth when everything else is up in the air."-Earl Wilson

WASHINGTON (CNS) - The National Catholic Educational Association has started Catholic Education Network, or CEN, an on-line educational forum and resource service available to computer users through CompuServe. Designed to help parents and students as well as teachers at all education levels, CEN will serve as a forum for topical discussions and a resource for on-line education materials and information about Catholic education. "Catholic education is vital to the church," said Sister Catherine T. MacNaml:e, NCEA president and a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet. "CEN will enhance our work and will respond to Pope John Paul II's good counsel that computers can help the church further fulfill her mission," she said. The NCEA, which has 200,000 members across the nation, is the largest private educational association in the world. It has separate departments for elementary education, secondary education, colleges and universities, seminaries and religious education. CENwas formally launched Sept. 15. A week later it already had several news menus, including one with information on the 1996 NCEA convention in Philadelphia, and several teaching programs available on line. Some of the first electronic teaching aids were for general education purposes, such as an animated electronic memory game, a perpetual calendar program, math flash cards and a learn-to-tell-time program. Others were specifically religious res.ources such as a prayer journal program, a Catholic trivia game and a program that allows users to pull parallel passages from the four Gospels on screen simultaneously for comparative study. Personal computer users who already subscribe to CompuServe can access the NCEA service by typing"cathed" at the "go" prompt. Jim McDaniel, NCEA director of administrative services and system operator for the new on-line service, said that the NCEA hopes to develop within the network, alongside its public forums and resource libraries, a private "members only" forum. For more information contact Jim McDaniel by telephone: (202) 33'7-6232; or bye-mail: 74164, 104 at compuserve.com. For a free membership kit from CompuServe, phone toll free (800) 524-3388 and ask for operator No. 715.

Scrooge A ward PORTAGE, Mich. (CNS) The U.S. Posial Service, which took a licking last year when it tried to exclude a Madonna and Child design from its annual Christmas stamp lineup, is getting a cancellation mark from the Fellowship of Merry Christians. The Portage-based organization is giving the Postal Service its 1995 Scrooge Award for a policy banning use of decorative signs or messages saying"Merry Christmas" or "Happy Hanukkah" in post office lobbies, The fellowship gave its True Spirit of Christmas Present Award to David Rupert.chaplain of the National League of Postmasters and acting postmaster in Jackson. Wyo .. for trying to get the ban lifted.

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4 ~ 'THE ANCHOR :.::-' Diocese of Fall'Ri'v'e'r----'Fn., Dec: 8,-1995 ._

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the living word

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Advent Hope In contemporary life, the word liturgy seems to have little meaning. The rituals of many social and religious groups are being terribly affected by a growing indifference to signs and symbols. But these signs and symbols are not mere options. From birth to death, all peoples and tribes have rituals that are passed from generation to generation, offering psychological support and a means of expressing ideas and ideals. Advent is a very special liturgical time in the Church year. Its customs and rites are a fitting teaching tool for both the Advent journey and the Christmas season. For example, the Advent wreath, with its colored candles, its greenery and its ceremonies of lighting the candles, singing hymns and reciting the special prayers of the season, provides a simple but important teaching moment. The involvement of people in such rituals has a lasting effect on them. . In addition to the wreath, used in fainilies as well as in churches, many parishes a Iso use Jesse trees and giving trees as added teaching tools, with the Jesse tree depicting the ancestry of Jesus and the giving tree providing an oppo~tunity to supply the needs of AIDS' patients, underprivileged children and those in shelters for the homeless. Different rites of the Church celebrate national customs, as . . do families who enjoy traditional foods during the Advent and Christmas seasons. It is important that such practices not be swallowed up by materialism, commercialism and shopping frenzies. In suchan atmosphere, it is easy to forget the reason for the season and how to express that reason in our own lives; but the Church stands ready to help us focus on the true meaning of Advent. . It should be made clear to so-called liturgical purists and the ritually rigid that the liturgical guidelines of the Church as presented in documents of the Second Vatican Council state that even in the case of ceremonies, "the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters whic~ dp not involv~faith or the good of the whole community. Rather, the Church respects and fosters the spiritual adornments and gifts of various races, peoples and traditions." On the other hand, for those who would ignore ritual for the sake of efficiency or time constraints or because oJ personal indifference, the Church clearly states that the .liturgical year wlJich began last Sunday is to reflect traditional C\lstoms and disciplines, restoring them to meet the conditions of modern times in order that the grace-filled mysteries of redemption may be accessible to all. . So often, time is not taken to make litu'rgy meaningful; but worship could be termed ahe metabolism of Christianity, constantly reforming the very life of the Church. It is not a sacramental appendage but the very heartbeat of the Church. As we celebrate Advent in a society more commercial than Christian, let us join the procession of all the sain'ts and prophets who have gone before us in proclaiming the hope and joy unique to this seas·on. And as we approach the third millennium, lerus recognize that Advent helps all the Church family to see the Lord as the center of world history. Advent was foreseen in Adam and will conclude with the coming of Christ in glory. Through the liturgy each of us plays a part in the divine plan. . The Editor

the

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF'THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Published weekly by The Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River 887 Highland Avenue P.O. BOX 7 Fall River, MA 02720 Fall River, MA 02722-0007 Telephone 508-675-7151 FAX (508) 675-7048 Send address changes to P,O. Box 7 or call telephone number above,

EDITOR

GENERAL MANAGER

Rev, John F, Moore

Rosemary Dussault ~

l Po" ly PRESS _ FALL RIVER

TODAY IS THE FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Mary, conceived without sin,pray for us who have recourse to tbee.

-------------------------------------At Special Synod

Bishops ask for unity in Lebanon VATICAN CITY(CNS)- Pleas tident. That message was als.o Maronite Bishop Georges Scanfor an end to fragmentation of emphasized by Catholic and Ortho- dar said church leaders should Lebanese church and civil life dox bishops.. avoid "hiding behind the shortechoed in Vatican halls during a Several Catholic participants comings of the state, especially week of speeches at the special since many scholastic'and hospital said religious fanaticism makes Synod of Bishops for Lebanon. institutions belong to the church." dialogue with Muslims difficult, The synod included the unpreceOthers suggested that church goods but also said that extreme alledented participation of Muslims giance to one's religious commun- , be donated or requisitioned to as "fraternal delegates," along help the approximately 2~;O,OOO ity has also been a problem among with Orthodox and Protestant Christian families in search of Christians. Today, said Syrianrepresentatives. Their presence was decent housing. rite Archbishop Jules AI-Jamil, a sign of the church's desire to help the country needs to pass from a Armenian-rite Archbishop Antransform Lebanon from a nation "parochial mentality to that of the dre Bedoglouyan said some Cathoof sectarian strife into a model for "' nation, which is built with the lics were upset at the church's interreligious relations. common support of all its compoimage of affluence, including "the One of the most sweeping sugnents. " luxury of our apartment!:, our gestions came from Latin-rite Archoffices, our cars, our behavior and Some past political antagonisms bishop Paul Bassim. After citing our courtesy visits to the rich." occasionally surfaced. A Druze redundancy in church buildings Muslim delegate chided Lebanese Several bishops said the top and personnel and a competitiye pastoral priority for the Lehanese attitude among church organiza- Catholics 'for boycotting of 1992 church is reaching young people. tions, he proposed a "single, com- elections, saying they took place But to attract young and old, the mon, universal Catholic jurisdic- within the frll:mework ofjust peace accords. church must give more space to lay tion" as a remedy to pastoral people, others noted. Georgc:s SalTwo days later, Maronite Bishop overlap. loum, representing Lebanese lay Chuchrallah Harb said those acThe Eastern-rit~ bishops did not Catholics, said the hierarchy often cords have been applied selectively: go that far, but some came close. talks abo\lt lay involvement but Melkite Archbishop Andre Had~ Christian militias have been dispoes not do enough about it. dad urged Pope John Paul II to armed, while Palestinian groups issue clear and binding laws that and the Islamic Resistance have Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatikept their weapons. He also noted can secretary of state, said ,;arrywould ensure greater unity and that Israeli troops continue to ing the church's message in the collaboration among the various conduct military attacks in south- political arena was better suited to rites. Other speakers suggested steps ern Lebanon, while Syrian forces laity than to bishops and pr:.ests. remain stationed throughout much to unify various aspects of church Some participants expressed conlife: religious orders, church-run, of the country. cern that the Lebanese family, traschools and universities, catechetAll these factors help explain ditionally held together by faith ical material and the Bible. Inter- why many Christians are leaving and a strong sense of value:;, was ritual seminaries were proposed to the country and few are returning, showing signs disintegration. Melform priests who would feel at he said. Statistics cited indicated kite Archbishop Georges K waiter home in any church community. that the majority. of those who said that the church should set up The unity theme included the have left are Christians, and that family pastoral centers and an Muslim community., The three only 10 percent have come back. institute for marriage and family Muslim delegates said it was time Stemming the Christian exodus life. for religious communities to put from Lebanon emerged as a primThroughout the proceedings, the aside self-interest in favor of nation- ary synod concern. Many bishops pope attended and listened carefully, building. said the church should put mon; of taking notes during speechf:s. He "Lebanon makes no sense with~ its financial and property holdings is expected eventually to i!:sue a out its Christians or its Muslims," at the service of poor Christian document reflecting on the propsaid Saoud Almoula, a Shi'ite families in n~ed of housing, ed ucaosals and to make a long-awaited Muslim adviser to Lebanon's prestion and health care. pastoral visit to Lebanon.

. 'h-'n ".s "·"'1"" pea'.' . Jo

for refolrm lives on Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10 Romans I !5:4-9 Matthew 3:1-12 On the second Sunday Of Advent the Church presents John the Baptist as Jesus's precursor, who "prepares the way of the Lord" by demanding that those who come to him reform their lives because "The reign of God is. at hand." We Christians still long for the fullness of God's reign of justice through Jesus the Messiah, and so we continue to pray in hope the refrain of this Sunday's responsorial psalm: By DR. PATRICK V. REID "Justice shall flouri:sh in his time, and fullness of peace forever" (Ps Roman community "will live in 72). perfect harmony with one another." The opening reading is Isaiah's Although they have come to Chrismessianic vision of a future Davidic tianity from very different religious king who will be c:ndowed with traditions, Paul encourages them: God's spirit and rule the land of "Accept one anot~er ... as Christ Judah with justice. I n contrast to accepts you." Christ came to save the cowardly and seU-serving kings and unify both groups. He "became Qf his own time (s€:e Isaiah 7-8), the servant of the Jews because of this "shoot from the stump of God's faithfulness in fulfilling the Jesse" will have the divine gifts of promises to the patriarchs," and wisdom, understanding, counsel, his death on the cross is the source strength, and fear of the Lord. of "mercy" for the Gentiles. Christ's Endowed with these virtues, he' self-emptying love is to be the will both "j udge the poor with jusmodel for their treatment of one tice" and "strike the ruthless with another. the rod of his mouth," As a result Matthew's account of the minisof his just rule, even the predatory try of John the Baptist presents violence in the animal world will him as the precursor of the Mesbe transformed into peaceful harsiah who is beginning the process mony. of gathering a reformed people of The wolf shall be the guest of God. First of all, John is carefully the lamb; linked to the figures from the Jew, and the leopard shall lie ish SCriptures. He is "a herald's down with the kid; voice in the desert" spoken of in The calf and the young lion the book of Isaiah. His camel's shall browse together, hair garment and wilderness diet with a little child to guide recall the prophet Elijah who was them.... expected to come at the end time When the knowledge of the Lord to prepare God's people for the fills the earth "as water covers the arrival of the kingdom (see 2 Kgs sea," the rule of this just king will 1:8; Mal 3: 1; 4:23-24). John's fiery be "as a signal for the nations" so that they too will '''seek out his glorious dwelling." Paul's prayer in the second reading is that the Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians in the

. preaChi'ng'-clialle'n'g'es the-Pharisees and Sadducees to produce true fruits of reform. Merely participating in his baptism or claiming to be descendants of Abraham will not suffice. John warns that "every tree that is not fruitful will be cut down and thrown in the fire." His expectations for the Messiah are even more frightening. In contrast to his water baptism of repentance, "the more powerful one who will follow" will baptize "in the Holy Spirit and fire." Like a harvester with "his winnowing fan in his hand," he will "gather his grain into the barn, but the chaff he will burn in unquenchable fire." ' As we consider what might be the proper fruits of repentance, we can do no better than the verses of this Sunday's responsorial psalm which pray that the future king will help bring about God's justice. We, like the king, are called to "save the poor when they cry / and the needy who are helpless" and to "have pity on the weak/ and save the lives ofthe poor" (Ps 72: 12-13).

Daily Readings Dec. 11: Is 35:1-10; lk

5:17-26 Dec. 12: lee 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a. 12:1-6a. 10ab; lk 1:26-38 or lk 1:39-47 Dec. 13: Is 40:25-31; Mt 11:28-30 Dec. 14: Is 41:13-20; Mt 11:11-15 Dec. 15: Is 48:17-19; Mt 11:16-19 Dec. 16: Sir 48: 1-4.9-11; Mt 17:10-13 Dec. 17: Is 35:1-6a,10; Ps 146:6-10; Jas 5:7-10; Mt 11:2-11

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Christmas Tree Blessing For a home blessing of • Christmas tree, the mother, father or other adult reads the following , explanation. For parish, sehool or other groups, the designated leader reads. The tree remains unlit until the end of the service.

Instead ofthe shrub shall come: , up the fir tree and instead of the nettle shall come up the myrtle tree: and the Lord shaUbe named for an everlasting sign that shall ' not be taken away.

A reading from the.,Boole of Ezechiel: Thus saith ,the Lord God: I myself will take of the marrow of the high cedar and will set it: I will crop off a tender twig from the top of the branches thereof, and I will plant it on a mountain high and eminent. On the high mountains of Israel· will I plant it and it shall shoot forth into 'branches and shall bear fruit and It shall become a great cedar; and all birds shall dwell under it and every fowl shall make its nest under,the shadow of the branches thereof. And all the trees of the country shall know that I the Lord have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree arid have dried up the green tree and have caused the dry tree to flourish. I the Lord have spoken and have done it. A readingfrom the Book ofthe Apocalypse: To him that over-, cometh I wiil~give to eat" of the The children in a famiDy or tree of life, which is in the paradesignated persons in other groups dise of my God .... And he sho~ed may read one or more of the folme a river of water of life, clea,r.as lowing scripture selections: crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. A reading from the Book of In the midst of the street theGenesis: And the Lord God had reof and on both sides of the river planted a paradise of pleasure .was the tree of life bearing twelve from the beginning: wherein he fruits. yielding its fruits every placed man whom he had formed. month and the leaves of the tree And, the Lord God brought were for the healing of the nations. forth of the ground all manner of At the end of the readings the trees. fair to behold and pleasant to eat of: the tree of life also in the leader says: Let us pray: Bless, we , midst of paradise: and the tree of beseech thee, 0 God, our Christ, mas tree, decorated in honor of knowledge of good and evil. the birth of thy Son. May the A reading from the Book of lightand beauty ofthis tree be reflected Psalms: The fields and all things' in our lives that we may share throughout eternity in the glory that are in them shall be joyful. Then shall all the trees of the of the true Tree of Life. We ask woods rejoice before the face of this through Christ our Lord, the Lord because he 'cometh: who redeemed the sin of Adam ,that came through a tree by his to judge the earth. ' death on the tree of Calvary. A reading/rom the Book ofIsaiah.; Amen. You shall go out with joy and be The tree should now be lightled forth with peace: the moun- ed. All may join in singing one or 'tains and the hills shall sing praise more Christmas carols and, if before you and all the trees of the desired, refreshments may be, country shall clap their hands. served.

In the Book of Genesis, we are told ofthe tree of the knowledge of good and evil, whose fruit our first parents were forbidden to eat.' When Adam and EVI)" disobeyed God's command, they were cast from the 'Garden of Eden and they and their descendants knew sickness and death. For long years'mankind suffered until Christ came as redeemer to die on the tree of Calvary. Thus the tree holds a special place in the story of salvation and is fittingly one ofthe most important symbols of the Christmas season. As our own tree once stood in ' the dark forest, cold and unadorned, so was the world before the coming of Christ. But now, brightly decorated, it reminds us of the tree of Calvary, which brought us redemption. Let us now read God's word.

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One of the happiest times for , any of us is when we find new friends. That has been 'a recent blessing of mine, starting with a phone call I received from 'a man named George Albertz. Albertz is a member of a Christian community of families called "bruderhof," which he explained means "a place of brothers and sisters." He called me because he had read an opinion piece I wrote for the Hartford Courant in which I clearly stated my opposition to the death penalty. The bruderhof stems from the Hutterite communities founded in Germany about 400 years ago. Albertz told me his bruderhof is opposed to the death penalty as well as abortion. Albert? invited me to visit the bruderhof community in Norfolk. Conn .. for a special.children's day. I broughi my daughter Mary and granddaughter Sophia with me. I don'tthink I have ever been in a warmer, gentler, more lovingenvironment than the bruderhof community. They dress simply, share meals and make attractive functional furniture. And they treat each other with a love centered in Jesus. While some might think that these 300 members living a communal life are escaping from the

unity

world, nothing could be further from the truth. In reality they take an active stand against the threats 'of nuclear war, hunge'r, homelessness, drug addictions, AIDS and ot her socia I ills. During my visit I spoke to one of the commune's leaders of young people. Paul Winter. He told me about the 32 teens who were going to work on a house-build,jng program underthe Habitat for Humanity program. helping a Mexican couple to build a home in California. How refreshing to meet young people'who care as much for others as these young people'do. What also impressed me is the emphasis of the bruderhof community on striving for reconciliation and harmony with all faiths. I was particularly struck by their respect for Pope John Paul II. They told me that the po pc's encyclical on ecumenism, "That All May Be One." was in keeping with their own beliefs on the importance of striving for Christian unity. In fact, I was told, 12 bruderhof members met in Rome this summer with 'Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, head of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faiths. There ,was. a touching moment when the bruderhof recounted stories of the 1,700 Anabaptists,

By ANTOINETTE BOSCO

killed in the persecution I)f the Hutterites in the 16th century. I read about this in their publication The Plow. It said there that Cardinal Ratzinger listened and then responded: "What is truly moving in these stories is the depth of faith in these men, their being deeply anchored in our Lord Jesus Christ, and their joy in this :'act, a joy stronger than death." He: said, "We are distressed, of course, by the fact that the church was so closely linked with the powers of this world 'that it could deliver other Christians to the executioner because of their beliefs." During the bruderhof youths' trip to California, they kept a diary. "We are singing as soon as we get on the road," one of'them wrote. My daughter and I were: also singing after we droVe away from the bruderhof community. That's because love and friendship always make it a great day for singing. If we could only spread that inessage.

Distract a panic attack

By Dear Dr. Kenny: "I am an older thing you haven't paid attention to {(:; student returning to college ,and before. You might even invent silly Dr,JAMES&' with an embarrassing, problem. games. Who has the nicest outfit? While in class I suffer panic attacks. Who is the heaviest? Whose hair is I can feel my heart racing. The dyed? Who has the biggest' derMARY anxiety is almost unbearable. I'm riere? Hum()r helps. Laughter. even terrified,andHto'n't know why. I "'Ilaugliing' to- yo'ui-'si:lf IS' w'ay "of want to run but I'm afraid to leave , discharging tension.' class. Help!" (Chicago) - Pray. Have a set prayer writyour anxiety pill:a "Tic Attack." out that you can repeat over ten Anxiety attacks and panic are In summary, you cannot defeat one way we perceive the arousal of and over. Here is one example: "I ,accept my fear. I face my fear and panic attack head-on. Instead, a our emergency nervous system. you must distract yourself and get Normally this system makes us let if flow through me like a dark wind. Jesus: gently calm me." physically busy, even if it's only to more alert, quicker to respond. write, let your eyes wander or - Put something in your mouth, stronger and more free from dischew gum. tractions in certain crisis situations. something sharp-tasting to get your Reader questions on family livOur emergency nervous system attention. Spearmint gum or a ing and child care to be answered is triggered by new situations and Tic-Tac. Save this treat for only this occasion. Think to yourself: in print are invited. Address quesby change as well as by obvious "As this taste spreads from my tions: The Kennys; St. Joseph's threats. For you, class is a new tongue and mouth, so peace and College; 219 W. Harrison; Renssesituation and one where the excalm wash through me." Let it be . laer, Ind. 47978. pected performance may even be perceived as a threat. Our emergency nervous system practically demands physical action. Thai's why coaches pace the NEW YORK (CNS) - A new marked a special moment in the sidelines and waiting the job appli- interfaith report marking the JOth history of the church and it,!: relacants nervously tap their hands or anniversary of the Second Vatican' tion to other religions, and espefeet. Council document on Catholiccially to Judaism," said Rabbi In your situation, that makes Jewish relations was published Klenicki in a statement announcmatters worse. You cannot get up recently by the Anti-Defamation ing the publication. and run or jump or pace. You have League of B'nai B'rith in New "Dr. Fisher and I felt that the to sit still. Confinement often York. commemoration should also focus aggravates panic. The 40"page booklet, "Celebraton the theological dimensions of You cannot out-think panic. ing the 30th Anniversary of the the dialogue encounter of ChrisTelling yourself to calm down is Vatican II Declaration 'Nostra tians and Jews," he said. like spitting against the wind. You Aetate' on Catholic-Jewish RelaThe booklet contains reOcl:tions must find some way to out-do tions: Programs and Resources," by Fisher on the nature and despanic. ' is by Eugene J. Fisher, associate tiny of the dialogue, and by Rabbi' That isn't easy when you must director ofthe U.S. bishops' SecreKlenicki on the meaning of Chrissit still, but it's far from impossi- tariat for Ecumenical and Interretianity from a Jewish poi nt of ble. You must distract yourself ligious Affairs, and Rabbi Leon view. Also included are sec:tions and try to get physically busy, even Klenicki, director of the ADL on programs and resources, ir..cludif it is in some very small way. Interfaith Affairs Department. ing a program model for·Catholic "Nostra Aetate" ("Declaration 'educators, and the text of the Prepare for the panic attacks by picking in advance three or four on the Relationship of the Church council document specific to Cathothings to do. You need to pre-plan' to Non-Christian Religions") was lic-Jewish relations. because you are not likely to think promulgated Oct. 28, 1965. It said Single copies of the bookll~t are of them when your emergency the Catholic Church rejects nothing available at no charge from Habbi nervous system is in high gear. that is true and holy in nonLeon Klenicki, Interfaith Arfairs Christian religions, called for a'n Here are four possibilities: Department, Anti-Defamation - Take copious notes. Write. If end to anti-Semitism and said any League, 823 United Nations I'laza, t'he teacher isn't saying anything of discrimination based on race, color, New York, NY 10017. importance, write your own religion or condition' of life is forto the mind of Christ. eign thoughts. Or simply doodle. Get ,your pen or pencil busy. "Vatican 11 and the publication GOD'S ANCHOR HOL.DS - Notice sQmething,new, someof. the ,'Nostra· Aetate'document

Report marks Jewish-Catholic relations

Is a TV Mass the same as a Church :Mass?

By FATHER

JOHN J.

Q. Is Mass on television the DIETZEN same as Mass at church? I thought not, but some friends . say it is. I know God says do the The Mass is an action and celebest you can, but I ~lm 89 years old bration of the Catholic people and sometimes just cannot make it gathered together as a community to church. (Pennsyh'ania) of faith. The communal prayer A. Many people such as yourself, who cannot get to Mass regu- and celebration cannot be substituted for by watchiriga TV program. larly because of age or illness. As you say, God only asks us to greatly appreciate the opportunity do our best, in this as in everything to participate at Mass in some way else. through television. When we cann<:>t get tochurch. Such programs can help us unite a TV Mass may help us pray and ourselves spiritually to the sacriunite our lives to Christ's. If we are fice of the Mass when it is not reatruly aware of what the Mass is sonably possible to be there in perabout, however, we realize it is not son. There's nothing wrong in the same as beingthere. availing ourselves of that opporInterestingly, a group was formed tunity. Your instincts about the limita- earlier this year under t-he auspices tions of televised Masses, how- of the U.S. bishopsto study these and other concerns about televised ever, are on target. Many Catholics still do not Masses. They hope to develop positive realize that our Christian traditions and obligations aboutpartic- guidelines to assist, bishops in those ipating in the Sunday Eucharist do places that reguiarly broadcast Mass on television. nbt impel us to hear or watch Q. I attend Mass daily, and someone else do something. but to be there and do it ourselves. sometimes for one reason or an-

other twice a day. Our priest says that you can only go to Communion once. If that is true, what is the reason? It seems to me that we should be able to go to Communion when we go to Mass. (Illinois) A. Your priest is mistaken about this. The church's law is very clear that we are not limited to Communion just once a day. The code of Canon Law (917) says that anyone who has received the Eucharist may receive it again on the same day during a celebration of the Eucharist. In 1984, the Vatican Commis- . sion for Interpretation of Canon Law ruled that, even at Mass, Communion should not be received more than twice a day. Most Catholics by now understand well that, unless one is conscious of serious sin, Communion should normally be received whenever one participates at Mass. Reception of this sacrament is an integral part of the Eucharistic liturgy. On the other hand, the church knows from experience that some Catholics tend to multiply good things, even Communions, in ways that are not spiritually healthy. This two-pronged concern lies behind the regulations to which I referred.

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Pope calls newest saint Advent model VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope John Paul said the Catholic Church's newest saint, Bishop Eugene de Ma'zenod, was an exemplary model of what the Advent season is about: preaching salvation to all people while preparing for Christ's second coming. , The pope canonized the bishop, the founder of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, during a Dec. 3 Mass with Oblates, their supporters and friends from around the world. "Eugene de Mazenod felt, in a very profound way, the universality of the mission of the church. He knew that Christ wanted to unite himself to all of humankind," the pope said in his homily. "His canonization today, the first Sunday of Advent, helps us to understand better the meaning of the season of the liturgical year, which begins today," he said. During Advent, Christians prepare to recall Christ's birth and the beginnings of salvation open to all people while taking individual and collective steps to prepare for his coming again in glory and judgment, the pope said. ' By founding the Oblates in 1816, the pope said, St. Eugene showed how seriously he took the words of the Bible that ask how anyone can believe unless they have heard the Gospel. The new saint was born in 1782 in southern Francc~ to a noble family. While he and his family enjoyed the privileges of wealth, they also faced adversities. When the French Revolution began, the family was forced to leave their home in Aix, France, and to live in exile. At the age of 20, de Mazenod returned to France and six years later, entered the seminary of St. Sulpice in Paris. Ordained to the priesthood in 1811, he a,sked to work with the poor, neglected, and abandoned people of Aix. In a departure from the noble lifestyle of his youth, he visited the sick and imprisoned, and reached out to troubled youth. He also traveled the countryside, preaching missions among the working class.

In 1837, the future saint was appointed bishop of Marseilles, France. Before his death in 1861, his congregation had grown to 416 men and spread to 10 countries. Today, nearly 5,000 Oblate priests and brothers continue'the work of St. Eugene de Mazenod in over 60 countries in schools, hospitals, parishes, 'and prisons in rural areas and inner city neigh- ' borhoods. In the United States, the Missionary O~lates also operate the national shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois, the largest outdoor Marian shrine in Nort,h America. Canadian Miracle Among those present at St. Eugene's canonization last Sunday was Roland Rodier, 49, of Ottawa, Ont., Canada. He is one ofthree people miraculously cured through the intercession of the new saint. Rodier's miracle occurred when he was a 14-month-old toddler living in Hull, Quebec, across the river from Ottawa. He was in his baby carriage and somehow rocked it.into an 8-foot hole in a neighbor's back yard. Doctors told his mother he had suffered two fractures to his skull

ST. EUGENE d~ MAZENOD

and seven eye specialists said he would never see again. Mrs. Rodier decided to pray for her son at Cap-de-Ia-Madeleine shrine, near Quebec City, but since the family was too poor to afford the trip from Hull to Quebec she went door-to-door looking for donations, carrying Roland in her arms. She was sto'ppedby a police officer who arrested her for panhandling; and at the police station, the chief did not believe her story. "He took out his cigarette lighter and flashed it into my eyes," said Rodier. "When I didn't look at the fire, he believed my mother and told her that if another officer stopped her, he was to call that chief directly." Mrs. Rodier and her sightless son finally made the trip to the Quebec shrine', where Oblate Father Dollard Francoeur gave her pictures of Mary and Blessed de Mazenod. "He told my mother to put them on my eyes when I slept," said Rodier. When the two returned to Hull, Mrs. Rodier followed those instructions. The next morning, when baby Roland awoke, his mother did not bother to check on her potential miracle. "She sat me on my sister's lap and was going to give me a spoonful of my medication," said Rodier. "But I opened my mouth as soon as I saw the spoon." Mrs. Rodier could not believe her eyes. Rodier's sister - 24 years his senior - insisted her baby brother was simply accustomed to the spoon; but the next day, when Mrs. Rodier was about to give her son his bottle, he reached for it. '''My God,' my mother started screaming, 'It's a miracle, it's a miracle!'" said Rodier. According to the church, it was a miracle, and 20 years ago, Rodier and his mother - who died nine years later - were invited to travel to Rome to attend Blessed de Mazenod's beatification. Last Sunday Rodier was in Rome again - for the canonization of his lifelong friend.

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Saturday, December 9, 1995 8:00 a.m••• 11:30 a.m. PLEASE BRING THE FOLLOWING $10 TESTING FEE TWO #2 PENCILS No pre-registration necessary. Application/Admissions materials will be distributed at the test. Report to Classroom Buildir1g at BFHS at 8:00 A.M.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION FOR TODAY! TOUCHING THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF TOMORROW'S LEADERS!

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. ·TheA'nc!h·;,'f"····r Friday, Dec. 8, 1995

'Helpful pamphlet

PUBLICITY CHAIRMEN CATHOLIC WOMAN'S CLUE:, NB WASHINGTON (CNS) - The are asked to submit news Items lor this The Christmas meeting will take National Apostolate with 'People • column to The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall place Dec. 13,7:30 p.m. at Days Inn, River, 02722. Name 01 city or town should with Mental Retardation has pub500 Hathaway Road, New Bedford. be Included, as well as lull dates 01 all actlv-' lished a new pamphlet for parents Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Itles. Please send news 01 luture rather with children newly found to be ' 'Choir will entertain. Information: than past events. . mentally retarded. Due to limited space and also because' Joan Sylvia, tel. 993-8825. notices 01 strictly parish affairs normally Titled "Welcome to God's CHRIST THE KING, MASHI~EE appear In a parish's own bulletin, we are World," the pamphlet gives details A harp concert," Angel Airs,''' will lorced to limit Items to events 01 general on mental retardation and its imbe performed by Celtic harpist Tina Interest. Also, we do not normally carry pact on the family. It also denotices 01 lundralslng activities, which may', Tourin in the chapel Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. be advertised at our regular rates, obtainscribes resources where family able Irom The Anchor business offlce,teleneeds can be met and family memLOWER CAPE ULTREYA phone (508) 675-7151. Meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. at bers can be supported. On Steering Points Items, FR Indicates Our l.ady of the Cape Chu,rch. Also included are excerpts from Fall River; NB Indicates New Bedlord. Brewster. All welcome. a "Dear Abby" column titled "HoIST. ANTHONY, CAPE COD WIDOWED land," which allegorically deEAST FALMOUTH SUPPORT GROUP scribes the discovery of mental The Saints & Singers Chorus ' Meeting Dec. 17 from 1:30 t03:30 retardation in a loved one. presents "Chri'stmas Fantasia" on p.m. at SI. Francis Xavier Chun:h in " The pamphlet was developed by Dec. 10 al 4 p.m. at SI. Anthony's Hyannis. Topic will be "Christmas: YASSER ARAFAT and President Bill Clinton stand parents of children with mental Loneliness During the Holiday~;." Church. RI. 2!L East Falmoldh. 1993 meeting at the ,White House (CNS/ Reuters together at a retardation and is aimed at helpKNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, CAPE COD SEPARATED AND ing not only other parents but famphoto) FALMOUTH COUNCIL 813 DIVORCED CATHOLIC ily members, ffiends and pastoral A prayer vigil ,will be held at SI. SUPPORT GROUP, HY ANN:lS care workers as well. Anthony's Church. East Falmouth. There will be a Christmas de:.sert party and a Yankee Swap on Dec. Dec. g and 9 from g p.m. to I a.m. to For a copy of the brochure, 17,7 p.m. at St. Pius X parish life atone for sins against the innocent write to the National Apostolate unborn and helpkss ones. Vigil will center, Barbara St.. So. Yarmouth. with People with Mental RetardaInformation: Judy, tel. 362-9873 or include exposition of the Blessed tion, 4516 30th St. NW, Washing-" Sacrament. Benediction and rosary. P 85 2693 Bethlehem the mo~ning of Christaula, tel. 3 . ton, DC 20008; phone (202) 686JERUSALEM (CNS) - Palesmas Eve and will remain in the city 0.1.. GRACE, WESTPORT HOLY NAME, NB 8288 or fax (202) 686-6716. tinian Authority Chairman Vasser At a Mass for expectant families . G roup, Chi' \ The C ahx at 0 ICS reArafat will participate in this year's , unt'll afternoon on Christmas Day. expected to become a yearly parish . f dd" d' '11 He plans to address visitor,S e~C covering rom a Ictlve IseaseS,.WI Christmas celebrations. in, Bethletradition. the parish Pro-Life ommeet Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the parmillee presented mothers with long-' .ish center. New members welcome. ' pected to number in the tens 0 f hem, his first visit to the town, thousands from City Hall; which stemmed roses. the symbol of life. The support 'group Courage: for Mayor- Elias Freij said. MEXICOCITY(CNS)- Mexi- . and Rev. Richard Chretien. pastor. homosexual'Catholic men andLwo, "Over the years non-Palestinian faces the Church.of the Nativity. can President Ernesto Zedillo has , Palestinian police will be respongreeted the fa!nilies and read a prayer men ,who are striving to live chaste authorities were the ones organizmet with top leaders of the Mexiof blessing. A reception followed at lives, will hold its first meetingifrthe ing the Christmas celebrations," sible for maintaining security but can bishops' conference reportedly which gifts were presented to the. 'rectory Dec. 9 at 7 p.m.' said F:reij, a Greek Orthodox who the various Christian denominaparents-io-be. • to discuss church concern over the . tions will be in charge of the religST.DOMINIC,.SWANSEA ,I jnviterlthe Palestinian leader. social cost of the Zedillo adminis-, ST. ANTHONY, On Dec. 8, the church will be t,pen " 1"The m'ostimpo'rtant thing n~w ious celebrations, as has been the tration's model for economic developMATTAPOISETT ·,·following·the 8 a.m. Mass until II is that this is the first time ever we custom over the years. ment. The meeting came less than N.ew B.edfprd ~rea members oft~e : p.m. to observe the National Night . Freij' has' said that 'he' will not Palestinians and Mr." Arafat will 24 hours after Archbishop Sergio Israeli leaders to the celebra- .SocIety ~f"st. VmceDnt de OPaBuI :wklll .' of Prayer for hife. AlI.invite~. i: .. be organizing the, Christmas cele- invite '. . . ' , ,attend 8 a.m. Mass ec. I . rea - '. . , . Obeso Rivera of Jalapa, presid(~nt ' brationunder the Palestinian Au- tlOn thiS year-.. , :l''':' , ::0.. '.: q .: "J.. fast a~riHthe q~'li~'te'ity"rh~et'iii'go!ft'hP;';'SERR~ 'CU1::JB;'NB '" "".;. ,. ~ ... ,' .. I of t:he bishops' conference,- critic.,:. Meeting Dec:H; 7 p,m. at While's th'ority)' 'Wi\Ic'fl'has jurisdiction ; Not all Chnsqans lJ..rl;:excltedby" 'c'onferences .will follow .. " '.',' :;. ized the economic policies in a the prospect of a: Chris~mas ·under . of Westport. Guest speaker. will be over the historic 'village. speech opening the semiannual Palestinian rule. .' FatherTom McElroy, SS.CC, of the Freij said he expects Israel to assembly of the church leadership. 0 '., Sacred Hearts Retreat Center, Waxe~ ,,' A spokesman for the Internabegin withdrawing its troops from "Profit and power have been contional Christian Embassy, an unTeams of Our Lady is an inter- ham. Bethlehem on Dec. 10 and to comverted into a new god which domnational' movement of married CURSILLO MOVEMENT . official embassy formed by Chrisplete the redeployment on Dec. 21. inates everything," Archbishop tians from around the world, in- ·couples. chartered in' France in The S?!"ers~tl Swansea Curmllo However, there is a possibility that Obeso said in his speech. Refercludingsome Catholics, expressed commumtles Will. hold an Ultreya ~t the process will be advanced a ;' concern about the invitation and 1947. In the United States, where Our Lady of Fatima. 530 qardn.er s ring to the impact of consumerism week in order to facilitate Christthe movement started in 1958, Neck Rd ., Swan sea 0 n Dec . II .. . . ' at on Mexico, the archbishop lamas preparations by the Palesthe f uture un d er P a IesttmanJunsthere are more than 274 active 7:30 p.m. All welcome. .mented thar"we are facing one of diction. teams. ' tinians. themost abominable forms of The organization has been a The Portuguese-speaking teams Arafat will arrive in Freij said idolatry." ·strong pro-Israeli force sirice it,. of Our Lady'in New England was established in 1980 in response recently held their annual retreat to the removal of the embassies of at LaSalette Shrine in Attleboro. NEW OR LEANS (CNS) - The 13 countries from Jerusalem to Tel In addition to the couples from the National Association of the Holy Aviv under pressure by the Arab region, there were five couples Name Society recently elected its world.' , from California and a couple and African-American presid ~nt, first "We stand here in concern for priest from Portugal. All couples LANDSCAPE SERVICE a man who kept his Catholic faith the future of Israel and also in are welcome to participate in the 276 Meridian St. • Fall River alive by reciting the rosary during retreat even if they do not belong solidarity with our Christian broth. 673-9426 38 months as a prisoner of war in ers in Lebanon who saw their to the mQvement. Korea. Aaron Gilyard, 73, a 49churches destroyed by Arafat's A team consists of five to seven RICHARD S. AGUIAR,owNER year Holy Name member. is a men," said embassy spokesman couples with si~ilar goals, and a We are one of Fall River's oldest gardeners. retired ambulance company e"ecJan Willem van der Hoeven durpriest as their spiritual advisor Let us put over 36 years of experience to work for utive. He said he was proud not ing a demonstration the embassy that meets every month to strengthonly to be the first Africanyou. Contact us if you h?lve a lawn problem or for a held in Bethlehem in October. en their spiritual life. Meetings American to lead the church's old"Thousands of Christians' in usually start with a simple meal free estimate. est lay organization but also to southern Lebanon who have been provided by all couples, followed FUlly insured - No Job Too Big or Too Small . begin a campaign to attract younger raped and killed know that Bethleby Scripture reading, prayer in members. hem has no future except under common, discussion on the study COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL • RESIDENTIAL the people of Israel," he said. topic for the month and spiritual sharing. In the weeks between meetings, couples are asked to pray individ- ' ually and as a family. discuss the WASHINGTON (CNS) -The monthly 'study topic. form their U.S. bishops have approved a new own rule of life and sit down as a vocations plan that calls on each couple once a month to share their Catholic to take seriously [he thoughts on the'ir marriage and "privilege and responsibility" of family and spiritual life. Teams 0[- inviting others to consider a vocaCOMPLETE HEATING SYSTEMS Our Lady prepare couples to be tion t9 the priesthood or religious SALES & INSTALLATIONS witnesses to God's love, to the PROMPT DELIVERIES life. The document, "Future Full potential of married'love, and to DIESEL OILS of Hope," outlines a vocations the values of Christian marriage strategy for U.S. dioceses and 24 and family life. archdioceses to run from Jan. I, HOUR SERVICE Those interested in learning more , 1996, to Dec. 31, 1998. The plan 465 NORTH FRONT 5T about the movement may contact calls for regional hearings and a NEW BEDFORD Octavio or Rosa Maria Canhoto national symposium committee 'for at tel. 678-3391. the national strategy.

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Explain permanent deacons better v ATICAN CITY (eNS) - The Catholic Church needs to explain better and in greater depth the . theological identity of permanent deacons and how they differ from priests and from lay people, said' members of the Congregation for the Clergy. The congregation met Nov. 28Dec. I to discuss a dra.ft of guidelines for the selection, training, ministry and life of permanent deacons. Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua of Philadelphia, a l]lember of thC!- . congregation, said the meeting did' not include discussion of the pos,sibility of ordaining women deacons, although the isSue: was raised. While discussions covered a broad range of issues, emphasis was placed on clarifying the theological identity of the deacon, Cardinal Bevilacqua told Catholic News Service. The deacon's identity as a man ordained for service to the bishop and to the body of priests and as a special minister of the: church to the poor and weak in society has been outlined in previous Vatican documents, but "there is still a lot of confusion," the cardinal said. "How are they different from priests? How are thl:y different from laity?" are common questions, he said. "A deacon is different from a lay person who works in the church because of the sacrament of ordination. His service is a ministry flowing from ordination." . The cardinal said it was "just coincidental" that the congregation's meeting to discuss the diaconate came so soon afte:r the Canon Law Society of America issued a report saying it would be possible for the church to ordain women deacons. The report clearly stated that ordaining women as deacons and ordaining them as priests were two completely separate issues canonically, theologically and in the tradition of the church. While the Congregation for the Doctrine of. the Faith issued a statement in Novembe:r saying the ban on women as priests was infallible, the Vatican has not ruled out the possibility of women deacons. "In history there were women deacons, but that does not mean they were sacramentally ordained"

as male deacons are, Cardinal ~evilacqua said. In fact, some historical evidence seems to indicate that the wives of deacons and of priests - when married men were ordained to the priesthood - were automatically called deaconesses, although there was no special liturgical ceremony or appointment to office. Because more than half the world's permanent deacons are in the United States, the country's experience with the' permanent diaconate ;.:vas hig"lighted '<Juring the congregation's meeting, the cardinal said. The very common practice in U.S. dioceses of invol~ingdeacons' wives in their training and often in their ministry "received a favorable reaction from cardinals and bishops from other countries," he said. .' "It is only norm~1 that they

understand what their husband is doing," the cardinal said. Canon law requires the consent of a wife before her husband can be ordained to the diaconafe. Cardinal Bevilacqua also said the congregation discussed a proposal by some deacons' organizations that permanent deacons be allowed to confer the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. "The reaction was that deacons cannot do it,"he' said., "This sac" rament is reserved to a priesL There is no indicatio'n that it can '" 'be dOne by anyoriebufa p·riesi."· Only two sacram'ents can be administered by someone who is not a priest: matrimony, in which the couples are the ministers and the priest, deacon or designated lay person officiates; Clnd baptism, which can be ad ministered by a lay person or a deacon as well as by a priest.

Professor writes book on devotions to St. Jude DAYTON,Ohio(CNS)- Robert Orsi's flight was en route to New York when the pilot came on the loudspeaker to announce that weather conditions: would not permit the plane to land. Without much thought, Orsi, who happened to be writing a book about the patron saint of hopeless causes, made, a quick plea: "St. Jude, you have to do something." Within a few seconds the pilot came back on the loudspeaker. "Folks, I've never seen anything like this, but the weather has cleared and we will be landing shortly," the pilot said. Orsi, the professor of religious studies at Indiana University, related that story in a speech at the University of Dayton recently. In talking about his forthcoming book on devotions to St. Jude, he said he's not a SI. Jude devotee but would be including that account in his book. "Thank You St. Jul:le: Women's Devotions to the Pairon Saint of Hopeless Causes" is due out in 1996 from Yale University Press. It is based on Orsi's research of 2,500 prayers published in a devotional periodical call~d The Voice

of St. Jude. It focuses on women who pray to SI. Jude about matters of childbirth and family. He said the following of the saint began in a poor church in a Chicago suburb in 1929, during a time of extreme economic arid social change, especially for women. St. Jude was a saint who was not deeply rooted in the heritage of traditional Catholic families. Orsi said that second-generation immigrant women turned to this obscure saint with their prayers of despair because many of the saints were already spoken for within the family. The only things known about St. Jude, according to Orsi, are that he was Jesus' cousin, was a missionary to Persia and was clubbed to death by pagan priests. "St. Jude's obscurity is what made him so appealing," Orsi said. Part of the tradition of the saint is that those who pray to him must promise to tell other people their stories. "So that he'll never again be unkown," Orsi said. The professor said the Chicago shrine of St. Jude still receives more than 5,000 pieces of mail a day and women continue to pass along St. Jude prayer cards.

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THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Dec. 8,1995

Marriage preparation seen h,elping new marriages WASHINGTON (CNS) - A "vast majority" of married couples who participated in church-run marriage preparation programs found them valuable, s'ays a new national study. Of a wide range of topics covered in such courses, the ones "perceived as most helpful w(;re the five C's: communication, commitment, conflict resolution, children and church," it said. The study was conducted by the Center for Marriage and Family of Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., and the Omaha arthdiocesan Family Life Office and was based on responses to a 132question mail survey by a national sampling of 1,212 people, married from one to eight years, who had participated in a marriage preparation program between 1987 and 1993. Three-fourths of the respondents were Catholic. The 118-page report is titled "Marriage Preparation in the Catholic Church: Getting it Right." Virtually every U.S. Catholic diocese r.equires marriage appli-

~~n~at~rfa~~h~~~;:r~~~~:~~~r:: thors said. The point of the study, they said, is to help those in charge of programs "to get marriage prep-

drift from church belonging and practice." The study found that the lowestrated programs were those led by lay couples alone, a clergy-co unselor team or clergy alone. A combination of lay couples, clergy and parish staff was judged the most helpful of all. The study found: "The absence of clergy is perceived as a greater negative' than the absence of lay couples or parish staff." While programs got highest marks for their treatment of communication; commitment, conflict resolution, children and church issues like religious values and sacraments, most people also found them helpful in other areas, including such issues as personality differences, roles in marriage and compatibility of background. Also found helpful by a majority were treatments of in-laws, friends, finances, leisure activities and family planning. - v Bareryover half the r,espondents said their programs were helpful on issues of sex and intimacy and balancing home and career. Fewer than half found their programs helpful on questions of dual-career marriages, and fewer than 40 percent said they were helpful on issues of drugs and alcohol.

CNS.'Hlgh photo

KIDS: HOW MUCH TELEVISION SHOULD THEY BE WATCHING?

FCC asks

parent~1 input

WASHINGTON (CNS) - ]n the 1950s, as kids lay on the floor to watch black-and-white TV, the fear was that their eyesight would deteriorate. ]n the 1990s, a whole new set of fears exists. Much of it has to do with the kinds of shows that appeal to children. "This is a public policy debate and parishes should be involved," said Sister Elizabeth Thoman, head of the Center for Media Literacy and a member of the Congregation of the Humility of Mary. The Federal Communications Commission "is asking for comments - begging, begging! - for parents to care," she added. Sister Thoman offered several questions parents' should ask broadcasters about children's TV. First, they should ask, "How much time do you give to children's programs?" Since stations

aration right and thereby to help couples build healthy marriages." Among changes recommended Nearly44 percent of the responwere development of programs dents reported living with their designed specifically for those spouse before marriage, most of entering mixed marriages; better them more than a year. The study treatment of dual-career issues in. found that those who cohabitated marriage; and more attention to were less likely to have had high follow-up with marriage enrich- school marriage preparation and ment programs. were less involved in the Key study findings included: church. Interfaith marriages presented a - The vast majority of those who participated in marriage prepamajor challenge to marriage prepration programs in the Catholic aration programs. The 39 percent . PELHAM'MANOR, N. Y. (CNS) Church considered it a valuable of respondents who were in such - Marriage Encounter groups experience one to eight years later, marriages came into programs with around the country are taking part and especially in the first four lower church involvement and in a national search for the couple years. But the fall-off in value over lower expectations, came out with married the longest number of time indicates a need for "booster" "a significant positive shift in attiyears. programs after marriage. tude," but eventually most "drifted The search is being conducted in - Marriage preparation is most further a way from the church," the conjunction with World Marriage valuable when presented b'ya team, study said. . Day, to be celebrated Feb. II, especially on including clergy, parIt proposed development of 1996. ish staff and lay couples. models for programs designed to To qualify, couples must be - Highest marks went to pro- help couples of different faith tramarried at least 65 years. Couples grams totaling eight to nine ses- dltlOns . . themselves can e. nter, or friends learn to " rna ke re I"IglOUS sions. Ratings dropped for pro- faith and practice a strong, ongoand relatives can submit thei.r grams shorter or longer than that. ing factor in their marriages." names. "Too few sessions limit value, and "This contest affirms the lifelong commitment of husbands and so do too many," the study said. - Couples who expect more wives, and the positive impact of from marriage preparation tend to this commitment on families, comget more. but whether they expected WAS H INGTON (CNS) - A munities and our nation," said a much or little, many said they got new survey showing that few young statement by Jim and Nancy Rizzi, more out of it than they had obstetricians/ gynecologists perexecutive team leaders for Marexpected. form abortions proves "what we've riage Encounter in the New York - People who had high school been hearing from doctors for Archdiocese. or ad ult religious education and years," according to the president The name, address, phone numthose active in the church got more of the National Right to Life ber and wedding date of a nomiout of marriage preparatioll than Committee. "M ost doctors recognated couple should be sent to others. nize that abortion stops a beating Worldwide Marriage Encounter, - People entering mixed mar- ~eart and are refusi~g t~ take par,~ 1066 Pelhamdale Ave., Pelham riages - nearly two-fifths of those 10 the deadly abortIOn IOd ustry, Manor, NY 10803. Deadline is in the.stu~y -.·.·are most at r.isk.fot..' .. ~.llj~L Wanda .F.r.a.n~.. ._..' _~'J ul)ec.~~9... ~ ••,<,__ .', , ••.• , .•f.J.'U

Annual search for longest,:,wed is on

They won't do it

must compile that information for the FCC, it should be readily available for parents. Next, "What do you consider as an educational program?" Except for the fare on PBS, very little TV is educational, and commercial educational fare is usually regarded as drearily dull. Broadcasters and sellers of children's TV shows like to boast of their products being "FCC friendly," meaning that they meet tests such as use of positive techniques to resolve conflicts, separation of fact from fantasy, and distinguishing between programing and ads. Still, the definition of "FCC friendly" can be stretched. In the most recent forms submitted to the FCC to show compliance with the Children's Television Act of 1990, local stations, whose broadcast licenses require FCC approval, listed such. shows as "Biker Mice from Mars," "America's Funniest Home Videos" . and "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" as being educational. Parent~ should also ask, Sister Thoman suggested, "Do you distinguish among 3-, 4-, 5-year-olds, older children and adolescents?" Next asks Sister Thoman, "W ould they consider the new trend of what we call 'familyfriendly' news?" The early-evening newscasts of some local stations do not have as much "blood and gore" as later editions, she explained. But she also cited the broadcast of one weekend game of this year's World Series, which had an early starting time to attract'more young viewers. Between innings, though, the network aired an "a wful promo for some horrendous show that was going to be on at 10 o'clock that night," she said~ Some shows, critics contend, are little more than full-length advertisements for show-related merchandise. Other shows are violent.·A TV Violence Monitoring Report recently issued by the University of California-Los Angeles noted "sinister combat violence" in a growing number of shows, among them "The Adventures of Batman and Robin," ·.·X~Men," "Teenage Mu-

on kids' TV' tant Ninja Turtles" and "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers." . FCC chairman Reed Hundt has argued for greater commil:ment of commercial broadcast netVlorks for children's educational television. But his attitude is not shared by a majority on the five-member FCC. Thus, ironically, the Walt Disney Co., which built a reputa-· . tion fo~ making child-friendly and 'family-oriented films, is balking at agreeing to show three hours weekly of children's educational TV to complete its purchase of ABC. But, perhaps most important of all, Sister Thoman said parents should ask themselves, "How do you deal with TV in your own homeT'

Questions to ask WASH]NGTON(CNS)- Here are questions parents can use to evaluate television progra.ms and videos: I. Does the program present conflict that a child can understand, and offer positive techniques for resolving the conflict? . 2. Does it present racial groups positively, showing them in situations that enhance a child's selfimage? 3. Does it present sex roles and adult roles positively? 4. Does it appeal to the audience for whom it is intended? 5. Does it present appropriate social issues that a child can act on; for example, pet care vs. saving endangered species; re:cycling cans vs. global warming. 6. Does it encourage worthwhile ideals, values and beliefs? 7. Does it present humor at a child's level? 8. Does it stimulate constructive activities and enhance the quality of a child's play? 9. Does it separate fact from fantasy? 10. Does it separate advertisements from program conte:nt? Excerpted from a list developed by the San Francisco Committee' on Children's Television.

. Keep Christb"in ChriS1~~J . .........MU',,':",.,

THE ANCHOR·

Diocese of Fall River

Fri., Dec. 8,1995

From one parish to another

MASS AND DEVOTIONS

Dear Editor: On behalf of the Parish Council and the parish of Immaculate Conception in North Easton, we congratulate the members of the parish of Corpus Christi in East ~ndwich on the implementation of a Stewardship program within their parish, as reported in the Nov. 24 edition of The Anchor. As we celebrated our third anniversary of Stewardship/ Sacrificial Giving on December 2 and 3, we paused as a parish family to realize the spiritual growth of our parish community which evolves as the call to share our time, treasure and talent comes to life in our parish. In addition to the increased financial resources available to our parish, the Stewardship program has led to the growth and development of many new ministries and projects. Under the leadl:rship of our pastor, Father Lucio Phillipino, and our parochial vicar, Father Paul Caron, we have grown as a spiritual community of faith through sharing our n:sources with our larger community. Over a year ago, we developed a handbook of parish ministries for our parish members, and for those coming into our parish as new members. As Corpus Christi parish implements its stewardship program. the prayers of our parish community are with the parish,.as are our best wishes and hope for a successful implementation of stewardship in its community. Three years into stewardship, we find that it continues to grow, and continues to cause our parish community to be challenged in many new and exciting ways. Michael G. Sites Parish Council Chair North Easton

FOR CANCER VICTIMS AND THEIR LOVED ONES

Send the' troops Dear Editor: I urge Congress to approve the sending of u.s. troops to join with 1'1 ATO forces to help establish peace in Bosnia. There needs to be a "peace beginning process." We, the U.S. have historically been all too ready to interven'c anywhere in the world when "our vital economic interests" are at stake. We need to take this action now because it is the right action, and not because it has an economic payoff. At the same time I would urge the various spiritual and religious leaders to move physically out of their comfortable cathedrals and citadels and travel immediately to Bosnia. Their ecumenical, humanitarian presence and efforts are necessary to implement the peace . process among the pl:ople of many faiths. Let them use the physical protection of the 1'1 ATO peacekeeping force to bring about reconciliation among the people. Without this spiritual reconciliation, no cease fire will become a climate of lasting peace. TheSe same religious leaders have failed to "practice what they preach" as far as Bosnia is concerned. To equate potential "minor casualties" with the obvious slaughter evidenced in the media over the past three years, is absurd. The fear of"becoming involved" sounds '. fa.mjJiarJQJ.b~.M£USe.giv.eD.b)l.the

ST. PEREGRINE Every Thursday • 9:30 A.M. ST. LOUIS CHURCH 420 Bradford Avenue • Fall River

SISTER MARIA Cravedi, MPV, (left) and Isabel Gomes, a resident of Our Lady's Haven enjoy listening to the Ave Maria on Sister's cassette recorder.

Our Lady's Haven has new pastoral care director Sister Maria Cravedi, M.P.V., formerly a missionary among the Navajos of New Mexico, is the new director of pastoral care at Our Lady's Haven nursing home, Fairhaven. "As pastoral care director. I am here to listen to the residents as they confide in me and to understand and share their emotions." said Sister Maria. "I hope to convey to them in a personal way the love which Jesus has for them." she said. Certified in clinical pastoral ed ucation from the Interfaith Health .Care Ministries. Providence. Sister Maria is a meml>er of the religious community of the Venerini Sisters. She has 20 years experience in education as a teacher. Catholic school administrator and religious education coordinator. Sister Maria was also a chaplain at Women and I nfants' Hospital. Providence, and for Hospice Care of Rhode Island.

Pastoral care is an important facet in long-term care. where residents' abilities and health are not what they once were. "I help residents to think more positively about what they can do now, even in a nursing horne." she said. Sister Maria offers pastoral care to residents of all denominations. "( respect and share every form of prayer. whether or not it is Catholic." she said. She also reaches non-English speaking residents through music or by praying together; Sister Maria prays in English while the residents pray in their language. "Pastoral care at Our Lady's Haven is a team approach. I'm not isolated," said Sister Maria. Working as a team with Reverend Roy Yurco: SS.CC.,.priest chaplain at the Haven, who celebrates Mass and ad ministers the sacraments, the pastoral care department complements nursing and all other departments in the home.

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Editor raises doubt LONDON, England (CNS) The Vatican's recent declaration that the ban on women's ordination is infallible may be recognition' that theologi<;al arguments are not convincing erough to stem Catholic debate on the matter, a British-based Catholic publication said in an editorial. The assessment was made in the Nov. 25 edition of the international Catholic weekly, The Tablet. "This uneXpected and unprecedented reinforcement of a doctrine which has already been declared by the pope as 'definitive' and 'to be held always, everywhere and by all' suggests that the Vatican sees the slowly increasing level of controversy over the possibility of women priests as a threat to Catholic unity in faith that has to be countered forcefully. "That, in turn', suggests that the arguments so far adduced have not, by themselves,. carried the day," it said. "In the thinking of the Vatican, therefore, those arguments had to be buttressed by a further use of authprity." 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111I11111111111111111

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Ann Landers Irues calling pope Polack

THE ANCHOR-Diocese o(Fall River-Fri .. Dec. 8,1995

Pope prays for intentions of nations, individuals VATICAN CITY (CNS) Troubled nations of the world and troubled hearts of individuals are remembered daily and in detail in Pope John Paul II's prayer~. In late October when the pope sai<;l, "A priest is a man of prayer," he meant it as a description of his own ministry as well as that of his brother priests throughout the world. Like any priest, Pope John Paul is frequently asked to pray for others. The requests come from all over the world, are mailed to almost every Vatican office and are passed to the pope by the dozens. "The amount of mail addressed to the Holy Father runs into. the tons each week," a Vatican official said. "There is a person in the Secretariat of State opening envelopes fulltime." At one time, the Vatican office receiving such letters would send petitioners an acknowledgment and promise prayers, but that seemed to be as far as it went. "Shortly after he was elected, Pope John Paul said, 'no more,''' He wanted to know about the spe-. cific requests for prayer addressed to him, said Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls. "Because the priest is the mediator between God and men, many turn to him asking for prayers," the pope said in a talk during an October celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Vatican II document on priestly life and ministry. In the talk, he reflected on how he as a priest tries to live up to the document's teaching. "I take note of the intentions which come to me from persons throughout the world, and I keep them in my chapel on the pric:-dieu so that they are present at every moment in my thoughts, even when they cannot be literally repeated every day,".he said. The note on the prie-dieu where the pope kneels before the altar in his chapel is not simply a reminder to pray, in general, for all inten-

tions. It includes a list of a dozen or so individual people who have written in and a short summary of their needs. It may contain requests for prayers for a father with cancer, a husband without a job, a young mother with a tumor or a boy in a _ coma after a biking accident. It also includes recently deceased or seriously ill Vatican workers or special prayer requests for relatives made by Vatican employees. In the latter cases, the papal prayer is often followed up with a card; one Vatican employee desribed the note he received as being 'obviously typed on a manual Polish typewriter - the clues were found not only in the .print but in the accidental use of an "I" with a slash through it. When visiting bishops and faithful are invited to the Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul in his private chapel at 7 a.m. daily, they arrive to find the pope already kneeling and deep in prayer. He will have already read through the list kept in a little compartment in the top of the prie-dieu. Obviously, in addition to such requests, the pope. offers his own petitions for individuals, communities and nations he knows need prayers either from personal contact, reports from Vatican offices or through the media. The doors to the papal chapel, located between Pope John Paul's office and dining room, are always open. Navarro-Valls said he first became aware ofthe prie-dieu prayer list when he watched the pope step into the chapel on his way from the office to a meal. He lifted the top ofthe.prie-dieu, scanned a piece of .paper, put it back and prayed a few minutes. "He takes this very seriously," a Vatican official said. "He is conscious of being Christ's representative on earth, the church's main shepherd, so he feels he has to be most responsive to his pastoral role."

PRIESTS SHOULD wear clerical dress, says the Vatican, as is Msgr. Joseph A. Carroll, here speaking on behalf of Boy Scout programs at a session of the recent Washington meeting of U.S. bishops. (CNSj Roller photo)

Vatican re-emphasizes· wearing of clerical dress VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The Vatican has re-emphasized that priests must wear ecclesiastical garb and has said bishops should make . sure the rule is followed. The statement came in response to a query by a Brazilian bishop, who had questioned the legal weight of the norm on clerical dress contained in the 1994 Directory on the Ministry and Life of Priests. The directory's norm is not merely an encouragement but is also "juridically binding," said a seven-point clarification issued by the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts.

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The council said that the Vatican often uses directories to establish norms that have "clearly binding juridical force," The directory, published by the Congregation for Clergy, had repeated an arti<;le of canon law and expanded on it. Church law states simply that clerics are to wear suitable ecclesiastical garb in accord with norms of the bishops' conference and local customs. The directory went further, saying that when this garb is not the priestly cassock, it must be different from lay dress and must' conform to the "dignity and sacredness" of the priest's ministry. "The style and color should be established by the bishops' conference, always in agreement with the dispositions of the universalla w," and attire should make the priest immediately identifiable as such, both to Catholics and non-Catnoiics, it said. It said contrary practices "cannot be considered legitimate customs and should be removed by the compe'tent authority," That authority is the bishop, the directory said. The ruling by the council for legislative texts, in confirming those provisions, said "diocesan bishops a~e the competent authority to solicit obedience to this discipline and remove whatever practices are contrary to the use of ecclesiastical dress," "The episcopal conference has the responsibility of helping the individual bishops in the fulfillment of this duty," it said. The clarification noted that the directory had been approved by the pope and said that in light of its precise instructions, even the rules established by bishop's conferences on clericalgarb "must be interpreted accordingly i'n case of doubt."

WASHINGTON (CNS) Columnist Ann Landers' a.pology for calling Pope John Pa ul II a "Polack" in a magazine interview was "very flippant, very c:hildish and insufficient," said the: president offhe Polish Roman Catholic Union of America. But Edward G. Dykla, who heads the 100,000-member fraternal organization, said he did not want to "add fuel to the fire" by urging members not to read Mi:;s Landers' nationally syndicated advice column. Miss Landers' comments were published in the Dec. 4 issue of New Yorker magazine as part of an interView with Chri~topher Buckley. Asked about meeting Po:?e John Paul, she replied, "Looks like an angel. He has the face of an angel. His eyes are sky blue, and his cheeks are pink and adorab;.e-Iooking, and he has a sweet sense of humor. Of course; he's a :Polack. They're very anti-women." In a statement Nov. 30 after the Polish' Roman Catholic Union and others criticized the remark, Miss Landers said, "I should n,)t have used a slang term for PolisL It was poor judgment, and I apologize," I'n the New Yorker interview, the 77-year-old Miss Lan,ders whose real name is Esther" Eppie" Lederer - gave her opinions on a wide range of other people, including many Catholics. Of the late Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, she said some people thought he would convince her to become a Catholic. "I said, 'This is not going to happen. I'm Jewish for life.'"

Woman priest becomes Catholic DUBLlN,Ireiand (CNS) -One of the first women in Ireland to be ordained an Anglican priest has converted to Catholicism. Her decision was prompted "by the warmth of Catholicism" experienced at the Franciscan Friary at Rossnowlagh, Ireland, said Phyllis Fh:ury, a retired physician. In interviews she said she accepted the Catholic ban on women priests, felt that the Reformation had been a case of Christians breaking away from the true church, and wanted to be in communion with the papa·:y. Ms. Fleury had been a priest of the Anglican diocese of Derry and Raphoe since 1991.

Vatican on line VAT1CAN CITY (CNS) - The Vatican's daily information bulletin of papal speech~s and official announcements is on line. Sdected news agencies - including Catholic News Service - have acces:. to the electronic bulletin in a pilot project announced by the Vatican Press Office. Next March, the service is expected to be offe'red to journalists and later to embassies, and eventually is expected to be available to users worldwide. Clients will access the bulletin using computer, modem and phone lines.

AIDS Day Mass Continued from Page One "In loving memory of family, friends and alumni." The panel will be sent to San Francisco to be added to the national AIDS quilt. Dr. Krysten Winter-Green, director of the Diocesa n Office of HIV/AIDS Ministry, who coordinated the Mass, spoke briefly at the end of the service. "It is in the context of prayer," she said, "particularly the Eucharistic celebration that we are most open and vulnerable to the grace of Almighty God - to a moment perhaps of stillness and quiet that at once brings us in touch with our pain and sorrow and allows us to go on as redemptive people of faith and hope and courage. These qualities can break down the evils of discrimination and prl~judice and allow us to be truly open to each other in the most fundamental way, as children of God, regardless of our color, our culture, and the host of differencl:s that make up our uniqueness." Dr. Winter-Green was very

a news repo'rter from a local television station' interviewed Bishop O'Malley. The reporter said she was surprised that the church would hold such an event as this, hut noted that the bishop didn't seem surprised. "I'm not surprised, and one of the reasons for having an event such as this is to remove others' surprise as well." he responded.

THE ANCHOR

DR. KRYSTI~N WINTER-GREEN pleased with the response to the Mass. ''I'm delighted that so many people from around the diocese came," she said. Following the service, all were invited to the parish hall for refreshments. The reception was hosted by St. Mary's parishioners who have lost children to the disease, assisted by members of the parish St. Vincent de Paul Society and parish volunteers. I mmediatdy following the Mass.

Redistribution set VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The Vatican is ready to do some matchmaking between bishops in priestshort areas and clergy in areas of plenty. While the number of seminarians and priestly ordinations steadily increased worldwide between 1978 and 1993, some areas are rich in priests, while others have severe shortages, said Archbishop Crescenzio Sepe. The pope set up a Vatican commission in 1991 to study the matter and it expects to begin "matchmaking" in 1996, said the archbishop. He als~ said that the number of me'n leaving the priesthood has declined over the past 15 years, while the number of those who left and want to return has grown. The archbishop said the Vatican has granted approval for the return of "several hundred" priests who were never laicized, but married in a civil ceremony.

F our-point plan

KIMBERLY McDERMOTT and Thomas Richard (top), fifth graders at St. Mary's School, New Bedford, presented a poster memorializing their lost classmate at the World AIDS Day Mass. (Bottom, from left) Chris Ferreira, Izabel Greenwood, Keisha Ft:rnandes and Michael Perry, students at Bishop Stang High School, No. Dartmouth, presented a quilt panel, to be added to the national AIDS quilt in San Francisco. (Jolivet photos)

WASHINGTON (CNS) - Father George Clements, one of America's foremost black Catholic priests, has outlined a four-point plan that deserves "immediate personal attention" from black men. Areas needing attention include homeless ness of black children, addiction, men in prison, and the growing incidence of out-ofwedlock births by teen-agel's. "Immediate (attention). I said immediate, immediate," Father Clements said ata Summit for Black Catholic Men. "None of this paralysis of analysis," he added. His talk was punctuated repeatedly by applause from the men in attendance.

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Marian Medals Continued from Page One Fatima parish, Swansea; Mrs. Gertrude Dupont, St. Jean Baptiste parish, Fall River; Gerard I. Duquette, Notre Dame de Lourdes parish, Fall River; Mrs. Elinor Gay, St. John the Baptist parish, Westport; Mrs. Sally Grygiel, St. Stanislaus' parish, Fall River. Adrien Guav, Blessed Sacrament parish. Fall Ri~'er; Mrs. Frances Halbard ieI'. St. Patrick's parish, Fall River; 'M rs. Mariana Jacob, Espirito Santo parish, Fall River; Rene Lachapelle. Our Lady of Grace parish. Westport; Roger Wilfred L.amonde. St. Michael's parish. Swansea; Rudolph L. LaVault. Holy Name Parish. Fall River. Miss Constance Lynch, Sacred Heart parish, Fall River; Mrs. Olivia R. Martin. Santo Christo parish. Fall River; Mrs. Ann McCarthy, St. Louis' parish. Fall River; Mrs. Mary Rezendes Medeiros. St. John of God parish, Somerset. Raymond Morin. St. Anne's parish. Fall River; Jacinto Oliveira, Our Lady of Health parish, Fall River; Mrs. Zulmira Santos. St. Anthony of Padua parish. Fall River; Mrs. Rose Sasso. Holy Rosary parish. Fall River; Mrs. Mary Sullivan. St. Mary's Cathedral parish. Fall River. Mrs. Jeannette Suspiro. SI. Patrick's parish. Somerset; Mrs. Claudette Sykes. St. Louis de France parish. Swansea; Miss Mary L. Tyrrell. SS. Peter and Paul parish. Fall River; Mrs. Lillian Viveiros. St. William's parish. Fall River; Mrs. Margaret A. Williamson, St. !h?mas More parish. Somerset.

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Our Catholic Schools. Our Catholic Yout I~ St. James ~ St. John

. COYLE AND CASSIDY seniors celebrate winning the '95 Spirit Bowl.

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Sixth grade students at St. James - St. John School, New Bedford, discarded their school uniforms for a morning as Mrs. Jane Rioux's class deli~ered oral biography book reports 'in first person, actually dressing like' and becoming the persona of their book. Christina Zajac dressed as author Louis Duncan, Stephanie DeSousa as Eleanor Roosevelt and Calvin Arterberry was Amos Fortune, an African prince sold as a slave in the new world. The characters came to life as students shared the hardships and rewards in the lives of these people. In addition to important biographical events, the students revealed who had been most influential in their character's life. An upcoming journal entry for the class will be to write about someone who has influenced them in their lives. The sixth graders also completed a project on ancient Egypt, transforming their classroom into that period, complete with a pyramid, mummy, Rosetta Stone, and the Nile River. Other classes were invited to tour the ancient land.

The Thanksgiving and Christ- dinators Kristen DeMoura and mas seasons are packed with activ- , Barbara Roth have held a dance, ities at Coyle and Cassidy, High jeans day and raffle. In addition, School, Taunton. The week prior area businesses and shops have to Thanksgiving was spirit week, contributed to the cause. On the day of the Gift Shop, with all four classes competing in the Spirit Bowl. Students partici- parents will pick out children's pated in Clash Day (wearing clothes gifts that fill the cafeteria. There that clashed), Decades Day (wear- will be raffles oflarge items such as ing attire from the 1920's, 50's, 60's bicycles, personal stereos, cameras and 70's), and the annual Blue and . and doll houses. Christmas videos Gold Day in support of the War- and a visit from Santa divert the riors. Classes also earned points children while the parents browse. by bringing in toys to help Taun- C-C is in need of donations of new, ton area needy families. o'r used toys in good condition. ,When the dust had settled, the Toys can be'dropped off at the class of'96 was the winner. A high- school during business hours any light of spirit week was the del;ora- day up to Dec. 15. tion of the school gym with posSeniors路Melissa Simas and Derek ters, lights, balloons and stream- Chaves were elected 1995 homeers. The week concluded with a coming queen and king respectively. traditional Thanksgiving Mass, 10 C-C athletes and one coach celebrated at St. Mary's Church, were named to the Eastern Athletic Taunton, by Fathers John Den- Conference all-star teams: girls' ning and Genero Aguilar. soccer - Shaina Zamaitis, Katie Final preparations are under- Morgis, and Erica Fitzgerald; boys' way for the third annual Christ- soccer - Derek Chaves and Erik mas Gift Shop for area needy Johnson, and coacn Dan Borges. children, run by the school's Na- (coach of the year); football- Kern tional Honor Society. A series of Nwosu; volleyball - Sheryl Maractivities bring in toys and raise shall and Kelly Doyle; and boys' CALVIN ARTERBERRY, money for ttie event. Faculty coor- cross country - Arthur 路Silva. a sixth grader at St. James'

-St. John School, 'New Bedford, gives an oral biography book report dresse<i as Amos Fortune. '.

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-~_/"'-.i~."'~~&r~ ;-.iit:1 L. .~qj AT BISHOP Feehan High School, Attleboro, student contributions resulted in 34 Thanksgiving Day baskeH. that were distributed to needy families. Pictured with Susie Collamati (left), Theologydepartment chairperson, are representatives from the Latin, French, Spanish and National Honor Societies, maj orettes, Junior Classical League and selected homeroom students.

Bishop Feehan. High School Seniors Erin Angus, Ryan Cher- had emigrated to the U.S. from ry, Danielle Cibello, Danielle Cor- Latin America and Caribbean riveau, Sean Harbour and junior countries. The sessions, conducted Beth Sandbach of Bishop Feehan entirely in Spanish, explore art, High School, Attleboro, were history and social issues of Latin chosen from 32 of Mrs. Donna La America to deepen the awareness Civita's students to compete in the of the language and cultures of the first level of the Lions' Club Speech Spanish speaking world. Competition last month. Ms. CibelMrs. Linda Ausiello's Fre'nch V 10 and Harbour advanced to repre- class recently completed a video sent the North and South Attle- depicting shopping and dining in boro Lions' Clubs at the next level. French. The performance induded The school's C.A.R.E. (Com- costumes and settings to enhance mittee;for Cultural Awareness and the production.. Racial' Equality) group recently The Spanish II intermediate class participated in "A World of Difrecently completed a unit on Hisference Institute Team Harmony panic heritage via a poster se ries in II" event at the FleetCenter in Bos- the school's library. ' ton. The seven seniors and three Feehan Foreign Language Desophomores were accompanied by' partment Chairperson Karen Brentheir moderator Mrs. Anne Meloni nan, North Attleboro, and Spanand faculty member Jeff Carvalho. ish teachers Joan Drobnis. :~orth The event is part of a continuing Attleboro, and Diane Crane, Norcampaign to combat prejudice and folk, attended the 30th annual promote diversity through pro- conference of the Massachusetts grams, events and workshops for Foreign La'nguage Association in students and faculty. Andover. The conference induded Mrs. Joan Drobnis' Spanish IV more than seventy workshops adhonors class recently participated dressing needs in Chinese, French, in an electronic field trip with German, Italian, Latin, Russian, other high school students '!Vho ,and Spa,nish classes.

Bishop Stang c~orus in winter concert

THE CLASS of 1999 at Bishop Stang High School, No. Dartmouth, recently elected class officers. The winners were (front row, from left) Nina Bonnoyer, treasurer; Kevin Huff, president; (back row, from left) Joel Maxwell, secretary; Aaron Fernandes, vice president.

Students of the music program at Bishop Stang High School, No. Daitmouth recently performed at , the Annual Ecumenical Memorial Service at St. Julie Billiart Church, No. Dartmouth, sppnsored by St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford. The chorus will perform at the Bishop Stang Winter Co.ncert on Dec. 17. The evening ,will commence' with an Adverit'service at 6:30 ,p.~. in the Bishop' Stang chapel, followed by the, tree iighting in the Joh~ C. O'Bri~n Mef110rc ial Garden. The concert will take piace in the gymriasium. ' 'Senior musician Shirley Guerreiro,' a mem ber of the chorus, was recently selected to the Chorus of ' 路1 the Massachusetts Southeastern District Music Festival to.he held SIX'STUDENTS were commissioned'at SS. Peter& Paul at Bridgewater ,State College Jan. School, Fall River, as cantors to lead singing'at school Masses. 12 and 13. The chorus, selected by Shown with music director Joseph Stoddard Jr. are (from left) audition only, hosts the finest musicians from area high schools Raizza Cosme, Kara .souza, Amanda Richard, Sarah Custain chorus, band and orchestra. dio and Malerie Laquerre. Not pictured is Holly Silva.

TH E ANCHO'R-'Oiocese of Fail River-Fri., Dec:

CI5 . By Charlie Martin

IIACK FOR GOOD I guess it's time For ml~ to give up I feel it's time Got a Ilicture of you beside me Got your lipstick marks Along your coffee cup Got a nst of pure emotion Got a head of shattered dreams Got to leave it Got to leave it all behind now Whatever I said, whatever I did I didn't mean it I just Wl\nt you back for good Want you back, want you back Want ~~ou back for good WhenE~,'er I'm wrong Just tell me the song And I'U sing it You'l be right and understood I want you back for good Unaw~lre but on the line I figuried out the story It wBsn't good But in a corner of my mind I celebrated glory But that was not to be In a twist of separation You e"celled at being free But you find It will ruin this song for me Written by Gary UlIrlow, Sung by Take That, (c) 1993, 1995by Arista Records Inc. THE PRINTED note on the the message about what can ca ss i ngle read, "Th e y' re happen when we don't pause to here to take America by storm think about what we say or do. with their No. I worldThe guy in the song is strugwide smash!" That's the progling with the reality that his motional blurb for Ta ke That's actions injured his romance. "Want You Back," off their Now he says, "Whatever I said, debut CD "Nobody Else." whatever I did, I didn't mean it, I just want you back for good." With such hyp(:, should we expect the group to be the second But saying he didn't mean it coming of the Beatles? So far, I iSlft enough to heal the hurt he caused. Clearly, all of us are doubt it. However, (like their musical capable of acting impulsively and hurting otherS. When we style on this release. along with

do, it is time to seriously consider what was behind out actions or words.. Such self-investigations require honesty. It means refusing to gloss over the hurt caused and making excuses like "I didn't mean it." Consider this situation in a different type of relationship. A teen and his or her parent get into a conflict. During the heated discussion, each puts the other down. Words like "Stay out of my life" and "Who needs you anyway?" are uttered. Such an oijtburst injuries all involved. Faced with this situation, how can this teen and this parent now bring healing into their relationship? The first step is to take some time apart. Each must look at what he or she was feeling and honestly name the emotions that were felt toward the other before the scene occurred. Perhaps the parent was experiencing an unexpressed fear that he or she was losing touch with the son or daughter. Maybe the teen had hidden resentments, sensing a lack of trust on the parent's part. Whatever the feelings, they fueled the injurious actions or words. After the time apart, it is time to talk. Genuine words of apology, but not excuses, need to be exchanged. Then each person needs to listen to the other's feelings. The discussion 'should avoid statements of blame and seek to establish a .bridge of understanding. Finally, the issue that caused the hurt needs to be resolved. Ususally, this means finding a compromise that both teen and parent can accept. The process I describe is not magic. Yet, it will give a relationship a new start. We always need to consider the impact of our words and ·actions. When it comes to safeguarding love, think before you act or speak. Your comments are always welcome. Please address: Charlie Martin, RR 3, Box 182, Rockport, IN 47635.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Taunton I

By Amy Welborn If you teach in a small private school as I do, there's one task that you dread and despise more than anything. Substituting. You see, there's no money to actually pay subs, so we teachers have to cover for one another. You lose a planning period, and about half the time the teacher .whom you're replacing forgets to leave lesson plans or, more likely, the kids swipe them off her desk before you get to the room. It's a tough world. I recently substituted in an eighth-grade literature class of which my son is part. The class was to continue viewing"The Diary of Anne Frank," and the entire classroom was engrossed. With the exception of Jenny, and that is the point of this story. Jenny sat at the back of the classroom with her two large bookbags on the floor beside her. Immediately after I started the mo\·ie . .lenny opened one of the bags, took out a makeup case and went to work. Now, normally I wtluid immediately order a student to put makeup' away in class, but since they were watching a movie, since I was tired and since I thought ·Jenny was going for a brief touchup, I left her alone. As it turned out. the blemish cover wasjust a beginning, and as Jenny continued to take out compact after lipstick after eyeliner, after 10 minutes, I was fascinated. How long would this go on? Thirty full minutes is the answer. Jenny put a couple of layers of everything on her face, swept some sort of cream through her hair, fixed her hair, examined every pore of her skin in the compact mirror and turned to a male student next to her for an evaluation.

St. Mary's New Bedford

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FIFTH GRADERS of Our Lady of Lourdes School, Taunton (left), plant a miniature wheat field as part of a science experiment. (From left) Kevin Carreiro, Sarah Gibson, Laurie Botelho, Christina DeSormier and Joseph Amaral form one of several groups recording data based on different soils, pots and watering techniques. (Right) Alison Rice, a fifth grader at Our Lady of Lourdes School poses with her first prize poster in a contest sponsored by the Taunton Area Committee on Employment of Individuals with Disabilities. First grader Marissa Vieira received an honorable mention.

The fifth grade students of St. Mary's School, New Bedford were pleased to have Mr. Bill Lacroix(a member of the R.1. and New England Herpetological Associations) and his reptiles visit their classroom. M r. Lacroix presented an informative discussion and brought along several types of lizards. The students enjoyed being able to observe the reptiles while learning many interesting facts. The fifth graders and their teacher Mrs. Cathy Lacroix also took time out of their busy sched ule to show their appreciation for the school's maintenance staff, Moe St. Laurent("Mr. Moe")and Ernie Hachey. Students Kevin Barbosa, John Winterhalter, Seth Chieppa, Victoria Briand, Valerie Luiz, Daniel Shea and Caitlin Dugan used their artistic abilities to decorate the maintenance room door.

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Lewis wisely shook his head and pointed at me. "Ms. Welborn is laughing at you," I could hear him whisper. Well, I wasn't laughing out loud, but ( was clearly amused, and when I thought she was finished, turned back to the movie myself. A moment later I stole a glance at Jenny and saw that she was, in fact. still occupied. She had taken her mirror again and was baring her teeth at the image, picking at imperfections with, believe it or not, a real live toothbrush! Too much, I finally decided. I walked over to Jenny, tapped her on the shoulder and whispered for her to put it away. She quickly complied, and I couldn't help adding as I walked away: "Don't worry so much about the outside, Jenny. Pay more attention to the inside." It isn't just girls who are guilty of such vanity. I had a male student last year who entered my classroom every couple of days with a concerned look on his face and the same question, "Does my hair look OK, Ms. Welborn?" Of course I'd make fun of him. sensitive educator that I am. Most of us are insecure abollt our appearance, and our superficial culture wants us to believe that's all that matters. But teens need to remember this: If you're really seeking happiness, forget the mirror. stop taking Ollt the brush so much and Pllt some of that energy into what matters most - your character, your personality and your values. No matter what the culture tells yOll, that's what really brings you happiness.

Youth make pledge WAS H INGTON (CNS) -Thousands of Catholic high school students signed and mailed antiviolence pledge cards to the U.S. bishops during their annual fall meeting in Washington. The effort is part of a national endeavor sponsored by the bishops' Committee on the Laity and the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry urging people nationwide to gather to discuss how violence affects them and pray for an end to it. The young people signed their cards during the national observance of World Youth Day in the United States. Leading up to the youth day were anti-violence workshops, Masses and walks for peace held around the country and culmi nating in thousands signing the anti-violence pledges. By the start of the bishops' meeting, close to 9.000 pledge cards had been sent and they continued to arrive daily.

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GOD·' ANCHOR HOlD' ~

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Prayers, Donations Urgently Needed

Indian Mission-Director-Pleads -for Help Spedllto The ADchor THOREAU, NM - As Catholics around the globe turn tI;leir eyes and hearts to the Christ Child, the director, priest, sisters, lay missionaries and staff of a New Mexico Mission schoolare concernedabouturgentlyneeded help. They work daily to make the message of Christ come alive for American Indian boys and girls in their care. Blessed KateriTeknkwitha Academy was started more than a decade ago when the founder realized the Indian children in the Mission's CCD classes didn't have even the most basic reading. and writing skilIs. Today over 300 children, most of them Native American,joinstaffand supporters intheir prayers to keep the Mission school from closing. The Indian boys and girls attending Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha

Academy live with the following re- living in poverty in remote areas ofthe barren Reservatiqn. alities: New lay missionaries often ask, • .5.5% ofthe NOJIojo popula"Can this be America?" tion COIUlOt reador write,' For many of our students, • McKinley County (where the Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha AcadMission is located) has the emy is their "last hope." They've higlzi!stpovertyrate (43%) in the state,' . . experienced failure in other schools or inability to get to school from • The suicide rate among great distances. NOJIajo teenagersis fen times Trusting in God, everyone at the higher than for their age Mission prays for urgently-needed group in the lJ.s. population · atlarge. help. We added two classrooms this A nearly 40-member strong fall so have the increased expense of corps of dedicated lay missionaries two more teachers and aides, plus teach and carry out the other work materials for those classrooms and of the Mission. This "other work" supplies for the children. Will you includes maintaining the buses and help us? vans which travel the remote mesas Gifts made to St. Bonaventure into bring the children to school; pre- dian Mission and School are taxparing two nourishing meals daily deductible. The school also qualifor the children; and bringing both fies for "Matching Gifts." food and water to aging Navajos

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I'm turning to you for special help. Will you help me feed over 1000 people at our Mission's annual Christmas dinner? Without caring friends like you St. Bonaventure Mission can't exi~l And for many of the people here on the eastern Navajo reservation, our dinner is tileir only holiday "feast." Many of the over 300 children in our school live in near Third-World conditions-some have no electricity or running water; despair bred by poverty; and poverty of spirit due to neglect, dysfunctional family life and alcoholism. In our school we provide education which gives hope for the future these children, two meals a day, and a nurturing environment. Our needs are great Will you join in our love for these children and their families through your financial help and '. your prayers? In Christ's Love,

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Bob O'Connell, Director St Bonaventure Indian Mission & School

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Please pray for my special intentions_....:...-

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) Please check here ifyou would like to receive a beaut{fill rosary hond-strung with reconstitutedmrquoise nuggets ondsi/ver-ploledbeads as a token 0/appreciolion/oryourgift 0/$iOO or more. . ) Please checkhere ifyou would like to .receive on autographed hardboundcopy 0/Tony Hillennon's bOok, Sacred COWlll, which is dedicated to the loy missionaries serving 01 St. BonavenllJre indian Mission ondSchool as a token 0/appreciolion/oryourgift 0/$50 or more. ) Please check here ifyou wouldlike to receive a sterling silvercross, set with mrquoise, mode by our Iocallndion artisans, as a token 0/appreciation/oryourgift 0/$35 or more. h is a uniquepiece o/jewelryyou will weqr-orgive-with pride. 9626HGW015

Send to:

Heip from The Anchor Readers ·St. Bonaventure Indian MIssion and School Eastern Navajo, Reservation, P.O. Box 610, Thoreau, NM 87323-0610

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