12.10.93

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t eanc 0 VOL. 37, NO. 48

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Friday, December 10, 1993

F ALL RIVER, MASS.

FALL RIVER DIOCESAN ~EWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS CAPE COD & THE ISLANOS Southeastern Massachusetts' Largest Weekly

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Bishop, diocese issue statements on James Porter case Bishop Sean O'Malley and the Diocese of Fall River have issued statements on the December 6 sentencing of James Porter. They follow.

STATEMENT OF BISHOP SEAN O'MALLEY, OFM CAP. The sentencing of James Porter me. They are men and women of son as Father O'Dea. We sent marks the end of a painful episode dedication, competence and integFather to an independent psychoin the life of the Fall River Dio- rity. The unifying force in the logical institute (not church-recese. I have never met James Por- group is the desire to make our lated) to undergo a thorough psyter, or had any contact with his Church institutions places where chological evaluation, trying to family, and yet his actions of thirty children will be safe. ascertain the presence of any tenyears ago have dictated my agenda The recent accusations against dencies to pedophilia. The reports since becoming Bishop a year and Father Thomas O'Dea are pres- on Father O'Dea have been very , four months ago. ently being reviewed by this board. favorable.

During this time, I have met The process has been slow because I have invited M r. Trundy to with about eighty victims express- of the inherent difficulties in a case share his psychological reports with ..& ing to them my personal regrets of this nature. We want to take the Review Board and to share WAREHAM YOUTH GROUP members and advisors and those of the Catholic com- every accusation seriously; but our with us any further areas he would in Philadelphia. like us to investigate. We have munity. The Diocese has made goal is to arrive at the facts of the psychological therapy available and case. There is always much emo- attempted to comply with the repaid indemnities. After a wide tion that surrounds these situa- quests he made in his first meeting consultation, we have formulated tions. The challenge is to arrive at with the Review Board. We will report the results to him. a diocesan policy on clergy abuse the truth. We certainly do not and have established a Review want a perpetrator to act with It is my belief that Mr. Trundy Board to help create an overall impunity or to go undetected, and was severely harmed by sexual abuse by [then] Father Porter as a diocesan policy and education pro- on the other hand we do not want gram for all cases of sexual abuse. to lynch an innocent person. child and is sincere in his accusaThe accusations against Father tions. I hope that people will let This Review Board is also to advise the process take its course and the Bishop in cases of accusations O'Dea have been reported in the With CNS rl~port~i against clergy. press. Mr. ArthurTrundy has told refrain from emotional attacks on ence, themed "Let the Spirit Ring."

The Review Board is made up of us of his many sufferings stemthe accused or the accuser. If either PHILADELPHIA (eNS) priests, psychologists, lawyers, a ming from sexual abuse inflicted party is not satisfied with the results Among them was a IS-member Miles and months away from on him by James Porter. More of our deliberations they can appeal contingent from St. Patrick's par- judge, one of the victims from the World Youth Day '93 in Denver.

Porter case and another victim of recently, Mr. Trundy has spoken to a civil court for redress. ish in Wareham. The group was youths from around the United to the Review Board about f1ashI ask the Catholics of the diocomprised of youth group members child abuse and parent of a victim States met in Philadelphia to relive of child abuse. backs, sudden memories of inci- cese to pray for ajust resolution of Robin Ryder, Bridget Joynt, Marie on a smaller scale the experience I am extremely grateful that this dents of sexual assault in his this case. Since the accuser has Rodriguez, Kyle Booth, Everett they had with the pope a nd hunchildhood. He recalls catching a chosen to publicize this case we dreds of thousands of y Juths in Johnson, Joshua McKiernan. Peter group of individuals on the Review Board has generously given so glimpse of a face in a darkened shall communicate the results of Zine, Jessica Caron and Dawn August. many hours of their time to assist room and has identified that perour deliberations in the near future.

Souza. Also attending were adult 6,})0 Catholic youths from across the nation gathered n Phila- advisors Father Daniel Lacroix.

STATEMENTS OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER delphia last month for the Na- Sister Maria Therese M ulieri, The announcement of the sen- sion of the legal case will help such tragic events in the future. tiona: Catholic Youth ConferTurn to Page II tencing of James Porter in New bring healing and closure to the Bishop O'Malley offers his prayers Bedford today brings to an end a victims and their families. and asks for God's comfort during sad and troubling episode for the From their tragedy, the Church the days ahead for the victims and Catholics of the Diocese of Fall has learned much about the terri- their loved ones as well as for River. Bishop Sean O'Malley ex- ble consequences of abuse. The James Porter and his family. presses his hope that the conclu- Church seeks in every way to avoid

~Ware:haln youth

join

iin spirit of

natio,nal conference

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11rue Love Waits

Bdieving that tnIe 'o"e ':!lairs I make a commitment to God, mysdf, my family, those I dau, rrrJ future $Juse and children, t1Ult I will always li"eilJ chaste life, as a single perscm (IT within a COIIe7UIl'\t maniage relationship.

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THIS PLEDGE CARD is part of a youth chastity campaign introduced by the Southern Baptist Church that has been adopted by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Mini3try, a Washington-based networking organization that serves youth ministry offices in the United States. Keynote speaker Molly Ke::Iy d:stributed the cards at last month's Fall River Diocesan Youth Convention, and the program was described at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Philadelphia.

The Diocese of Fall River has never asked any person to remain silent regarding the abuse by James Porter since these allegations were made public in 1992. It has sought an open, just and compassionate dialogue with the victims of Mr. Porter, and many have come for-

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ward to tell their story. To further the process of healing, the Diocese has paid for therapy and has also paid compensation where it has been appropriate. From this dialogue has come a profound understanding within the Church of the tragic consequences of sexual

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abuse. The Church is committed to a receptive dialogue in all these complex and troubling matters.

The Church is called as well, however, to respect the privacy of those individuals who have chosen to remain anonymous.

"Cape Cod for Jesus" prayer day

The following slightly edited account of the successful Cape Cod for Jesus prayer day held recently at the Melody Tent in Hyannis and of the years of prayer and dis- . cernment that preceded the event is by Austin Warner of Harwich.

He is a member of the Leaders'

Committee for Cape Cod charismatic prayer groups. Editor In spite of some doubting Thomases, we had a very successful day at the Melody Tent. It was a balmy, sunny day with 1,400 people attending the morning ses-

sion and 1,100 at the afternoon session. From the reports of the different prayer teams that prayed with people individually at the end of the day, many serious spiritual healings were asked for. The need was and still remains great.

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THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

Cardinal Bernardin backed by Vatican congregation

Fri., Dec. 10, 1993

Brave 5-year-old is laid to rest MANCHESTER. England (CNS) - The brave little girl from Manchester whose struggle with multiple transplants became a world story was buried after a funeral.at her family's Catholic parish church in Manchester.

Laura Davies. 5. died in a hospital in Pittsburgh last month. She had first traveled to the United

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We are grateful to those who' 'thoughtfully named St. Anne's ,Hospital's R€i~'mblDn~Fund/ .

States last year for a bowel and liver transplant that doctors hoped could save her life.

Britain's national health service had been unable to provide the operation that was Laura's only hope. so her family set about raising thousands of dollars to pay for her treatment. Among those who contributed was Saudi Arabia's King Fahd. who gave $217,000.

Hundreds of people lined the funeral procession route from Laura's home to Holy Cross Catholic Church.

In his homily Holy Cross pastor Father Terry Drainey said words were inadequate to express the sympathy felt for Laura's parents, Les and Fran. But he hoped they would be comforted by Mary. the mother of Jesus, who had also had to watch her child die.

Millions of people had been praying for Laura. he said.

"She stirred emotions in hearts which had been empty for years," Father Drainey said. "She brought tears to the most cynical.joy and zest for life to those who, had stopped living.

"She had many wonderful gifts for such a little girl. and all because in the first place. she herself was a gift," he said.

Father Drainey said that in a selfish. materialistic and depressing world, Laura's brief life had inspired many to witness to the inherent goodness in the human heart. uniting people of different faiths. class and culture.

"We must give thanks to God for having been able to share in her short but precious life." he said.

The congregation heard a recording of Laura singing a song heard by thousands of TV viewers: "Show me the way to go home. I'm tired and I want to go to bed .....

The bowel and liver transplant last year failed and was followed by a pioneering experiment in which Laura's whole digestive system was replaced. But after a few weeks the little girl lost her fight for life as her parents allowed doctors to switch off her life support machine.

She died in their arms.

EDICTAL CITATION DIOCESAN TRIBUNAL FAll RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS Since the actual place of residence of TERRI L. KIRSTEN is unknown.

We cite TERRI L. KIRSTEN to appear per· sonally before the Tribunal of the Diocese of Fall River on Tuesday, December 21,1993 at 2:30 p.m. at 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, Massachusetts, to give testimony to establish: Whether the nullity of the marriage exists in the LOVEJOY·KIRSTEN case?

Ordinaries of the place or other pastors having the knowledge of the residence of the above person, Terri L. Kirsten, must see to it that she is properly advised in regard to this edictal citation.

Jay T. Maddock Judicial Vicar Given at the Tribunal, Fall River, Massachusetts, on this 6th day of December, 1993.

111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 THE ANCHOR (lJ.SPS-545-020). Second Class Postage Paid, at Fall ,River. Mass.

Published weekly except the week Qf July 4 and the week after Christmas at 88'7 Highland Avenue. Fall River, iY!ass. 02720 by the Catholic' Press 'of ihe Diocese of Fall River. Subscription price by mail, postpaid $11.00 'per year. Postmasters send address 'fhanges_to The Anchor, P.O. Box 7. Fall . . River. MA-l!2722.·'

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eNS photo

ROBERT E. BRENNAN

Catholic financier launches anti-gun initiative ARCADIA, Calif. (CNS) - At the stroke' of midnight on New Year's Eve in Times Square, a new ,billboard will be lit up to give a running total of the number of guns in the United States and the number of U.S. gun killings in 1994.

It will be the first and most visible effort in an anti-gun drive launched by the Dehere Foundation, whose founder, New Jersey Catholic financier Robert E. Brennan. lost a brother to gun violence 25 years ago.

"We continue to manufacture and sell guns as if they were Good and Pleritys," said Brennan, referring to a popular candy. "Well, they may be plentiful, but they sure aren't good."

Brennan, who is chair of the Seton Hall University board of regents, pledged $3 million of his own money for the effort at a press conference in Arcadia.

He was there for last month's Breeders Cup races, in which his horse, also named Dehere, was scheduled to run. Brennan has also pledged Dehere's lifetime winnings to aid the anti-gun effort.

The horse. named after Los Angeles Clippers guard and Seton Hall alumnus Terry Dehere, is a promising 2-year-old that had already posted winnings in six figures before the Breeders Cup. Brennan has three other horses named after former Seton Hall basketball players.

Saying 37,000 died from guns each year, Brennan announced the "death-clock" billboard would be duplicated in Los Angeles. Washington, Miami and Newark, N.J. "What has to be done is not just local attempts, but a national attempt," he said.

Brennan. who until the mid1980s headed First Jersey Securities, also disclosed results of a poll conducted by Roper Starch Worldwide, which said 96 percent of . Americans feel strongly about violence and crime, and that 78 percent favor at least a partial ban on guns.

The poll also said 56 percent agreed with the statement. "Although the Constitution provides the right to bear arms. American society has changed to the point that it is too dangerous for this . right to' continue 'as originally' ' : written.'"

Changing the Second Amend-

ment. Brennan acknowledged. would be "a big bite to tear off." but that "I expect that the groundswell of the population in' this country is going to demand that Congress pass some sensible and reasonable control on the escalation of gun violence."

Brennan said the Dehere Foundation would get involved in lobbying efforts "if that's what it takes."

He recalled how gun violence had touched his own life. Once, when he was 14. he witnessed the shooting of a teen outside a local store. Brennan was going to the store for his mother and as he neared the store, a blond teen-ager who looked much like Brennan came running out. Following him was the gun-toting merchant, who shot the boy to death. Brennan's mother was almost overcome with anxiety that it was her son who lay dead in the street near their Newark home.

Some years later gun violence did hit home. Brennan's 21-yearold brother was shot and killed, the victim in a robbery attempt.

He left behind a pregnant wife and a child.

On the day Brennan's brother was buried, his mother died - ofa broken heart, according to Brennan. His father eventually went to the seminary and lived his last 10 years as a priest, serving in the Milwaukee area.

The Dehere Foundation's board has several Catholic connecti·ons.

It includes: Auxiliary Bishop Joseph A. Francis of Newark, N.J.; Seton Hall Law School officials Ronald J. Riccio and Wilfredo Caraballo; Benedictine Father Edwin D. Leahy, headmaster of Brennan's alma mater. St. Benedict Preparatory School in Newark; and Robert Patrick Hurley, longti.me basketball coach at St. Anthony High School in Newark.

A T1CAN CITY (CNS) Fides, news bulletin of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, said accusations of sexual misconduct by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago are "completely false."

"Cardinal Bernardin is the last person one could accuse of such a crime," said a Dec. 2 Fides editorial signed by Pauline Father Antonio Ugenti, editor.

He said the fact that some priests had sexuallv abused children in the Ul1it~d States and other countries should not be used to cast doubt on all priests.

In addition, he said, the U.S. bishops' criticisms of some aspects of U.S. law and policy - including legalized abortion and the global sales of weapons - have made them targets for attack by groups opposed to their positions.

Father Ugenti called Cardinal Bernardin "one of the most eminent personalities of the American episcopate. a man of prayer, of equilibrium and great ecclesial and social commitment."

"He is known and loved for his uprightness; he has nothing to hide," the editorial said.

The editorial pointed out Cardinal Bernardin's efforts in Chicago to help victims of clergy sexual abuse, to investigate alleged cases and to prevent others.

"He has a clear conscience and is confident that truth will triumph in the end," Fides told its readers.

The editorial criticized media handling of allegations against clergy, saying, "nothing hits the headlines quite like a sin committed by a priest."

It criticized newspaper readers and television audiences "who revel in this type of , news' without even stopping to ask if behind it there is any truth."

"For some people," it said, "one immoral priest is enough to make all of them pharisaical phonies."

UNDA-USA head is Providence PR man VIRGINIA BEACH. Va.(CNS) - William G. Halpin, director of communications for the Diocese of Providence. has been elected president of Unda-USA. the U.S. arm of the worldwide Catholic communicators association.

Halpin has been involved in Unda-USA as a regional representative, member of the board of directors and. for the past four years. organization treasurer and finance committee chair.

Halpin has been director of communications in Providence since 1987.

Prizewinner

CHICAGO (CNS) - A Mercy nun who is chief of staff to Chicago Cardinal Joseph L. Bernardin and former superintendent for archdiocesan Catholic school has won a top prize in education. SisNOVOSIBIRSK, Russia(CNS) ter Mary Brian Costello. one of - A new seminary for theology three educators receiving the 1993 students of Asian Russia has McGraw Prize in Education. was opened in Novosibirsk, capital of a warded $25,000 for her efforts on Siberia. It opened with a Mass behalf of inner-city children. She celebrated by BishopJoseph Werth, has established inner-city summer apostolic administrator of Latin.. lea.rningcenters and.helpeQ develop rite Catholics in Siberia. Also innpvative.ltrarning programs for attending were semina~y.pfficials, prescQQolers and gifted, learning local Catholics and the' school's disabled or economically disadvanfirst- four seminaFians.-'':'· ,.' " ,.' • ". .ta~ed yaungsters.-'--' -'" ;.=..,.: '. ..

Siberian seminary

THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

Fri., Dec. 10, 1993

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Criticism of church in sex abuse cases unfair, sa,y priest, Wall Street Journal WASHINGTON (CNS) -- To indict the Catholic Church for the way it handled clergy sexual abuse cases in the past is unfair because scient ists, doctors and attorneys were just as ignoran'~ of t:le scope of the problem, a priest wrote in The Wall Street Jou:,naL The next day, an Jnsigned editorial in the newspaper laheled the recent spate of sexual abuse allegations as "trial by accus<.tion."

Father R. Walker Nicklfss, vicar general and secretary for priests and seminarians for the Denver archdiocese, wrote in a '-:ov. 30 opinion piece in the Journal that church efforts to add ress t.1e problem have been hurt by the disproportionate attention paid by the media to priestly misconduct without putting events in cont ~xt.

He said charges that the church covered up clergy sexual misconduct by relocating accused priests often fail to take into account that incidents now being repor :ed ',appened 15 or more years a~;o.

"While relocations certc inly did occur. they usually stemmed from a faulty paradigm of the illness: a belief that the behavior resulted from spiritual weakness a ndthat removing the priest from the 'occasion of sin' wou',d sc Ive the problt:m," he wrote.

"W,~ know better now, but if we indict the church, for its past ignorance, we mus1 be eql.:,ally aggre:;sive in indicting doctors, attorr.eys and the scientific researct:ers for theirs."

Meanwhile, other info'mation about sexual abuse goes unreported, and the fact that :he vast majority of priests keep tht:ir vows of celibacy seems not to be newsworthy, Father Nickless contined. '" n the context of the w:der culture, 1he Catholic Church stands for a sexual morality based on

fidelity and monogamy within the traditional family," he said. "It preaches self-discipline and a divine purpose governing human sexual expression.

"These are bitterly disputed notions, and while they may not directly relate to the sexual misconduct issue, they surely draw some of today's media eagerness to capture the church at its perceived hypocritical worst."

The newspaper's Dec. I editorial said most news media have shown "healthy ske'pticism" regarding recent accusations of sexual abuse against Chicago Cardinal Joseph L. Bernardin. But such charges, "especially against church officials, have caused a lot of normally sensible news editors to lose their sense of proportion and fairness."

The editorial raised questions about the credibility of accusations based on "recovered" memories and about the ethics of attorneys who make a business of sexual abuse cases. often pursuing civil suits despite lack of criminal prosecution.

"Though a defendant wins acquittal in the criminal case. lawyers for the plaintiffs press on nonetheless with their civil suits for 'damages' and they collect" because the church has found it cheaper to pay a settlement than to meet the expenses of long civil trials. the Journal said. The editorial cited an accusation last spring against Bishop Gerald F. O'Kcefe of Davenport, Iowa. One of two women who alleged that Bishop O'Keefe had molested them 30 years earlier had a history of wild allegations involving aU FO and a satanic cult, it noted.

"When the charges were dropped in June, the bishop acerbically wondered what kind of lawyer

Diocese of Fall River

OFFICIAL His Excellency, the Most Reverend Sean O'Malley, OFM Cap., Bishop of Fall River, has named the Reverend Peter N. Graziano Dean of the Attleboro De~lIIery, Erredivte December 8, 1993 1.1Io=:.....==========

could have gone forward with claims by such clearly unstable accusers," the Journal continued, adding that "a society that lets a notion like 'recovered memorv' gain such force that it overwhel~s ' its most basic judicial principles has waded into deep and dangerous waters."

Religious groups mount campaign to aid environment WASHINGTON (CNS) - Vice' President Al Gore recently joined leaders of major Christian and Jewish organizations as they launched the National Religious Partnership for the Environment.

After a private meeting with leaders of the campaign, Gore said the new partnership "will trigger the beginning of grassroots activities in tens of thousands of congregations focused on the environment and environmental justice."

Partners in the new campaign are the U.S. Catholic Conference, the National Council of Churches, the Consultation on Environment and Jewish Life and the Evangelical Environmental Network.

The three-year campaign, costing an estimated $4.5 million, will include distribution of education and action kits to 53,000 congregations, including each of the 19,000 Catholic parishes in the United States, Bishop James W. Malone of Youngstown, Ohio, a former president of the USCC and the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, serves on the board oftrustees of the partnership, along with Annette Kane, executive director of the National Council of Catholic Women.

The campaign also includes the scientific community, represented at the press conference by astronomer Carl Sagan.

Sagan called the new campaign an "unprecedented partnership" aimed ~t "redeeming the environment from the shortsightedness and unwisdom of the past years."

"Caring for the earth is a work of faith," Bishop Malone added. ..As we join together our defense of the poor with care for the earth, we walk in the steps of St. Francis of Assisi."

"Plus... our friendly, courteous service... as alwaysl"

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THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River""':" Fri .. Dec-. 10,1993

the moorin9-....,

the living word

The Worship of Self

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One of the symptoms of our sick society is the absolute canonization of the individual. In a world that is destroying all value systems and seemingly has lost all purpose, the self has emerged as the only relevant standard of judgment. More and more people are disregarding the common good in favor of their own priorities and no authority external to the individual is acknowledged.

He or she demands the broadest range of choices possible to fulfill the goal of self-realization. Words such as responsibility, obligation and accountability are eradicated from the world of the self-centered and anyone who dares suggest that there should be limitations on individual freedom is automatically' considered suspect and hostile.

For many people, even in the family of the Church, the meaning of freedom has become distorted and hazy. The cult of humanism has influenced them to such an extent that their concept of freedom is skewed. Choice is made on the basis of what is perceived good for oneself even if that choice is in itself evil. It is forgotten that a really free human being acknowledges that freedom is not an end in itself and that it is what we do with freedom that is important.

All of us know in our hearts that how we handle our freedom can enslave us or liberate us. True freedom is not a mere matter of having many options. It has to do with consistently acting in consonance with what we know to be right. But our nation seems to have forgotten the words of Jesus: "You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."

Because we have rejected truth, we have lost our freedom.

This is apparent in all aspects of our lives: the falsity of MTV; the distortions of questionable journalists; the tragedies of suicide and murder; ghetto violence; the horrendous legalization of abortion on demand - all are the progeny of a society that refuses to distinguish between liberty and license.

Nevertheless, amid all these doomsday portents, there are some glimmers of hope. There is a rising awareness that human selfishness has created explosive environmental problems; that we all need each other in our increasingly global economy; that hunger and poverty anywhere in the world are unacceptable.

Properly understood, affirmation of our interdependence is an affirmation of our freedom to improve the human condition. Too many have suffered too much because of the me-first attitude towards freedom. This attitude hurts hearts, breaks up homes and creates general confusion and bewilderment. If we as a society continue to abuse freedom rather than view it as a sign of God's unique love for humanity, we are indeed misunderstanding the purpose of life itself.

eNS photo

ONE HOMELESS PERSON AIDS ANOTHER AS THEY TAKE REFUGE IN A BALTIMORE CHURCH DURING SUB-FREEZING WEATHER

"You shall call and the Lord shall hear: you shall cry for help and he shall say 'Here I am!'" Is. 58:9

Veritatis Splendor: A wake-up call

By Father Kevin J. Harrington There is a famous line from the classic movie "Casablanca," delivered by the great character actor Claude Raines. that stays fresh in my mind: "Round up the usual suspects!"

It seems as if whenever Pope John Paul II captures media attention with a talk or an encyclical. journalists pull out their Rolodexes and round up Andrew Greeley.

Charles Curran, Richard McBrien ..

The Editor and Leonardo Boff to assess the impact of the Holy Father's thoughts on the "real Church."

The implication is that the pope is somehow so out of step with reality that we need the clarification of Letters Welcome these "seers."

Letters to the editor are welcomed. All letters should be But the pope's latest encyclical, Veritatis Splendor, the Splendor brief and the editor reserves the right to condense any of Truth, seems to have caught the letters if deemed necessary. All letters must be signed and usual suspects off guard. Instead contain a home or business address. Please type if at all of lending itselfto sound bites that possible. could put the Church in a bad light, this encyclical painstakingly argues that human reason is the necessary faculty for determining moral truths. Veritatis Splendor is a learned treatise that requires a great deal more theological background than that possessed by most journalists covering it; hence, once again, they went to articulate dissidents for help.

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Associated Press reporter Peter Published weekly by The Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River M uello sought out the Brazilian , P.O. BOX 7 maverick theologian and former 887 Highland Avenue Fall River, MA 02722-0007 Franciscan Leonardo Boff. who Fall River, MA 02720 was quoted as saying: "Until the Telephone 508-675-7151 1980s, I was confident the church FAX ,(508) 675-7048 could be reformed and become Send address changes toP.C. Box 7 or call telephone number above more open ... I don't believe that anymore. This type of clerical.

GENERAL MANAGER authoritarian, sexist. centralizing EDITOR .

Rosemary Dussault Church has no salvation. The Rev. John F. Moore ~ Leary Press-Fall River pope's latest encyclical proves it. . T.h.e m.essage is¡ tne power oUhe

Church. The encyclical uses the word authority 70 times."

The article further noted that Boff joked that he gave himself a promotion by becoming a layman who celebrates a "mass" by reading the scriptures and inviting everyone to comment and discuss. He explains: "We don't just consecrate the host. but bread, cake; everyone brings something and shares it. Then we all consecrate it together."

The new Catechism of the Catholic Church has been proclaimed

ADVENT WREATH PRAYER THIRD WE~K OF ADVENT

as an authentic fruit of the Second Vatican Council in spite of the disapprobation and even ridicule with which many theol9gians have greeted it. Boff greeted the Catechism with these words: "What exotic Roman Catholic being is going to be capable of creating a text equally applicable to the Eskimos of the Arctic, the destitute of Bangladesh, the German business tycoons of Bavaria, the yuppies of New York, and the Xavante Indians of BrazilT' Leonard Boffhas met that exotic being and he is Pope John Paul I I. The Catechism is selling like mad in, of all places, France!

An authoritative teaching tradition is embodied by the ecclesial magisterium. The Holy Father insists on a direct relationship between truth and freedom. Far from asserting authority in an oppressive or an elitist manner, he invites the encyclical reader to use his or her God-gioxen freedom to ascertain truth through the use of human reason. The inedia effort to accuse the pope of censoring theological dissent is entirely off base. The pope does not want to take away dissidents' right to speak, but he does hav~ the right and indeed the obligation to point out that their thoughts differ from Catholic Church teachings.

Contemporary moral thought has cast doubt upon whether there are absolute moral truths. It must sadden the Holy Father that so many of those who label themselves Catholic have .self~satisfied consciences, labor under the illusion that they are able to opserve the I~:W w.ithou.t the help of grace, and are convinced that .they will never need 'God's' mercy: This en,cyclical should be a wake"up call for them!

UFW keeps trying to eliminate pesticides

Trust God in u;ncert:ainty Isaiah 61:1-2,10-11 I Thessalonians 5:16-24 John 1:6-8, 19-2lJ Because it's easier to know what God wants us to do at the end than at the beginning of our lives, we must be extremely careful how we read Scrip)ure. Inspired writers often try to give us a grasp of the prest:nt and future by hl:lpi~,g us refleet on the past. But whe-n we join them in this reflection, we must always remember that since "the past" has already h Ippened, the writers can treal: it with much more certainty and insight than thost: people for whom it once was "the present."

Our day by day existe nee usually is so disjointed, so out of sync, that we find very little meaning in it. Sc,metimes the only thing tying the different events of our life together is the monotonollS, grinding s·:hedule which confines each of u~ in the same daily routine, We'd love to be able to overcome our natural nearsightedness and see our life from the exciting perspective of a John L,e Ba ptizer, a persc n completely ~ecure in who he is and what he does: "Who are You?" John knows his e'xact place in God':; plan of salvati on. "I am not the Messiah," he proclaims in today's gospel pericope. "I am not Elijah... I am 'a voicl~ in the desert crying out: Make straight the way of the Lord' ... 1baptize wi:h water.

There is one among yo J whom you do not recognize - the one who is to come aftl~r m,: - the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to unfasten," We'd love to understa nd how we re ,ate to the world, to ',e confident about the things t le Lord wishes us to accomplish - as does Third-Isaiah. "The spiri' of the Lord is upon me," heanncunces in our frst reading. " .. He has sent me to bring glad Lding'; to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announee a year of fa vor from the Lord and a day of vindic2tion by our God." He's one prophet who certai nly knows his God-given purpose in life.

Yet experience tells us thaI: 'life isn't t:,at simple (or that intimidating). :\1 0 matter how assu red and confident both these heroes of our

,Daily Readings Dec.13: Nm 24:2-7, L5-17; Ps ~~5:4-9; Mt 21: 23-2'7 Dec. 14: Zep :J:I-2,9-13; Ps 34:2-3,6-7,1],·19,23; Mt 21:~~8-32

Dec. 15: Is 45:6-8,18,~~1­ 25; Ps 85:9-14; Ut 7:18·2:J Dec. 16: Is 54:1-10; Ps 30:2,4-6,11-13; Ut 7:2iJ-30 Dec. 17: Gn 49:2,8-10; Ps 72:3-4,7-8,17; Mt 1:1-17 D~c. 18: Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72:1,12-13,18-19; Mt 1:18-24 DI!c. 19: Sm 7:1·5,8b· 11,16; Ps 89:2-5,27,29: Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1:26-38

-

By FATHER ROGER KARBAN faith seem to be, their words were not recorded at the time they were actually uttered. Their assurance and confidence come more from the Sacred Authors who reflected on their lives than from the people who lived them. While they were ministering they probably had little or no idea of their real role in God's plan. Like us, they had to struggle every day with hundreds of insecurities and doubts.

Only one of our three readings - Paul's passage from 1 Thessalonians - addresses a faith situation while it's actually happening.

Only this one presumes the circumstances we face every day.

Though at times Paul can be very specific about what we Christians should and shouldn't do, he usually works more at instilling a frame of mind in his followers than at demanding particular actions. Knowing we live in a changing world, he realizes our actions of love also will have to change.

No one action always shows love to everyone at every time and in every place. Our insecurities and doubts come from not knowing which action best responds to this person's need at this time and place. Often we face contradictory alternatives. A proper frame of mind is the only thing we can really work on and be certain about.

Notice that ·the Apostle speaks in much more general terms than either Third-Isaiah or John the Baptizer. "Do not stifle the spirit," he writes. "Do not despise prophecies. Test everything; retain what is good. Avoid any semblance of evil."

His opening lines are just as sweeping: "Rejoice always, never cease praying, render constant thanks ..." Certainly not very specific.

Always trying to imitate Jesus' mentality, we who follow the Lord give our best in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. And when insecurities and doubts arise, we remember Paul's most important words: "He who calls us is trustworthy."

AUSTIN, Texas (CNS) - Near- contracts for his farmworkers. ly a year after his death, United From 1986 until his death, Chavez Farm Workers founder Cesar asked people to join a new grape Chavez remains in the news with a boycott, this time focusing attenpush for a national holiday, a post- tion on the widespread use of pesage stamp and streets and schools ticides harmf1.!1 to consumers as named in his honor. well as to those working in the His vision for the lives of farm- vineyards. workers is alive and well, accordBetween 800 million and I biling to Dolores Huerta, one of lion pounds of pesticides are spraythree UFW vice presidents, ed or otherwise applied in this "What Cesar did was lay a very country annually. Pesticides used strong foundation, a system of on Texa,s crops include methomyl; programs and a vision that helps which is labeled to warn that less the lives of farmworkers and their than one teaspoon could kill a perfamilies," said Ms. Huerta during son. Other commonly used pestia visit to Austin. "The biggest cides warn that they may cause strength that we have is that our headaches, itching, eye irritation, leadership comes from the farm- blurry vision, dizziness, excessive workers themselves." sweating, vomiting or chest pains.

Chavez, who died April 22, made The UFW warns farmworkers Catholic spirituality "a great big .to stay out of just-sprayed fields part of the movement. That is for 24 hours and to wear heavy absolutely still there," said Ms. clothing to prevent pesticides from Huerta. She believes that the getting on the skin. church can playa great role in But pesticides remain on the fighting what she calls the apathy food being picked, Ms. Huerta of the comfortable toward the said, and the UFW sees its mission poorest who are also members of as not just achieving contracts for the body of Christ. its members but looking out for From 1973 to 1978 Chavez led a consumers and their safety. grape boycott that resulted in union "The only thing that growers

They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

Thanks to today's technology we don't even have to go that far.

The tube that leads to your stomach when you' swallow is called the esophagus. It passes right behind

vATICAN CITY (CNS) Pope John Paul II plans to make a pastoral visit to Lebanon in mid1994 to comfort the church community there after years of civil strife, a papal spokesman said.

Security factors in Lebanon remain a concern, however, and it is possible the trip could be delayed if papal safety cannot be assured, spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said. The visit, if made, would probably be in June, coming prior to a special synod for Lebanon expected in 1995 at the earliest.

Lebanon's National News Agency reported that the pope's visit would take him to the capital, Beirut, the biblical cities of Tyre and Sidon and the Christian town of Zahle.

reflect these waves, the resulting image can be obscured by the other tissues in the chest.

your heart. Today at Saint Anne's Hospital,

That's why TEE is so valuable: by guiding our .~--~

we have an incredible new scope that is gently guided down this tube so it can take detailed pictures of the heart from only a centimeter or'~o away - the closest we can get to the heart without an

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of the heart heart

cardiogram. And it is

Before you

Pope to Lebanon?

understand is economic sanctions that touch the pocketbooks," Ms. Huerta said. "Since 1984 we've asked growers to join us in stopping pesticides, in participating in testing programs, but they have refused.

Ms. Huerta believes this can be achieved by moving the issue of pesticides out of the agriculture department and into the health department.

Last August, the Clinton administration presented a plan to Congress to sharply reduce the amount of toxic chemicals used in U.S. agriculture, forestry and other industries.

But Chavez and the UFW spoke out against the, use of pesticides in the nation's fields long before any governmental or environmental group examined the threat. For years, farmworkers have been suffering the consequences of working in fields saturated with pesticides.

"We are fighting powerful economic forces," Ms. Huerta said.

"But it'll happen. We're going to win. Cesar always said it would take time."

gram, but since aTEE

,

is taken from directly , behind the heart, it produces images of

f

can understand what makes this procedure revolu-

this area that are .~.

tionary, you have to know a little about the heart. As

strikingly clear.

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one of our most vital organs, the heart is extremely

TEE performed is a simple procedure. Since it's not

well protected. It is enclosed by the rib cage and is

an operation, the patient is awake the entire time with

surrounded by the lungs. The heart itself is further

only mild sedation, and it takes less than an hour.

cushioned by fat deposits.

A conventional echocardiogram works by

Saint Anne's was the first hospital in our area to offer this amazing technology. It's just one

bouncing sound waves off the heart from outside the

more way we

chest. The reflected waves are electronically process-

bring you care

ed to create a picture of the heart. But because there

that's very close

are many other things around the heart that also

to the heart.

Saint Annes Hospital 795 Middle Street, Fall River, MA 02721

j

6

The Anchor Friday, Dec. 10, 1993

By Dr. JAMES & MARY KENNY Dear Dr. Kenny: I am depressed.

The days are short and bonechilling, and winter seems like it will last forever.

I have no unusual problems in my life, but everything seems so negative. I think it's the cold and the dark.

What can I do? Don't tell me to move to Florida because I can't.

(Iowa) You've answered your own ques-

Handling depression caused by cold' and darknes's tion. The cold and the dark have a lot to do with our moods. Consider ways to bring heat and light into your life, literally.

First of all, I agree with you about not moving. That often takes us away from family and friends who are the best antidote to depression..

Temperature and temperament have the same root: temper, meaning mood. That's no accident. The temperature may, in good part, determine our mood. That is why so many people are fascinated by weather prediction because it has a direct bearing on their state of mind.

Folk metaphors equatre warmth with a good mood: "Warmheartedness" refers to kindness and generosity and implies a happy frame of mind.

The emotional implication of coldness is the lack of feelings, even cruelty. To say that a person is coldhearted means that he or she lacks compassion.

Combat the coldness with warmth. Wear warm underwear and on extra sweater, even inside the house. Keep the thermostat between 68 and 72 degrees, and wear extra clothes.

Bundle up well when you go out. Thermal underwear, layered clothing and other thin insulating fabrics will give warmth without weight, even on the coldest of days.

Indulge yourself with warm baths or with a heating pad on your lower back when you first get into bed. Get under several layers of covers. Drink warm milk, hot tea.

Improve your circulation with aerobic exercise. Brisk walking, jogging, stair-stepping, exercycling, aerobic dancing, video workouts and swimming will all increase your daily warmth.

Give and receive your daily allotment of hugs. Feel the body warmth of those you love. A hearty embrace increases warm feelings in many ways.

Combat the darkness with light.

Many studies on depression have demonstrated that mood improves when more light is provided.

Again, folk language expresses the relationship between brightness and a good mood. The song, "You Light Up My Life" equates lightness with enthusiasm and happiness. So lighten up!

The so-called grow lights are neon tubes with extra brightness.

They are used to grow plants indoors, providing artificial sunshine.

When installed in offices, they . have led to an improvement in mood.

Try putting higher-wattage bulbs in your lamps. Or light an extra lamp. As with another song title, "Let the Sun Shine In.'' Come out of the dark. Come in from the cold. You 路are literally correct in identifying darkness and cold with depression. If the sun doesn't shine, technology makes up the difference to bring increased light and warmth.

Questions are invited by The Kennys; 219 W. Harrison; Rensselaer, Ind. 47978.

Simple rules for selecting a Christmas tree By DAN MORRIS

~J

Secret to a lasting marriage. No. 25: Establish rules for the selection and purchase of a Christmas tree.

This insight blossomed the year my wife rejected my suggestion of

a fine specimen of Douglas fir. She claimed it reminded her of Phyllis Diller.

During the same tree search, another lovely fir was spurned because it made her think of Captain Hook.

It did not take a forest ranger to figure out this Woman enforced special criteria for yule trees. Thus the basic Christmas tree shopping guideline that has served us well was put on the books: Let her do it.

However. I have augmented this understanding with a number of amendments and conditions.

For example, the tree must be green. It may not be plastic, nylon or metal.

Further. when I grab it barehanded on the pitchiest part of the trunk (a Christmas tradition), not more than 40 percent of the needles may fall off before it makes it to the car.

The tree may not be longer than

the car. 0 K. not very much longer anyway.

The tree must fit into our house without requiring timber fallers. a side trip to the saw mill or an architect.

It may not resemble a 路bonsai.

No one is allowed to laugh in my presence while I endeavor to ensconce the tree in its holiday base.

(Yes. this overlaps into secret to a lasting marriage. No. 26: Guidelines for Christmas tree decorating.)

Of course, there are B.C. and A.D. rules (before children vs. after 'dem). For example: Your 5year-old trudges around a tree lot with you and spouse for some time. Suddenly she runs up to a tree. embraces it and announces, "This is the tree I love the very. very mostest!"

A simple variation of the rules applies: It will resemble Phyllis Diller leaning out to sea in a bonsai pose, and you will buy it.

Don't hasten to judge others By ANTOINETTE . BOSCO

Every so often it takes a humbling experience to tweak our consciences about how easily selfcentered ness can negatively affect the way we feel about another person.

I worked late one night. com. pleting a pile of correspondence.

The next morning I asked one of the secretaries if she would stamp the mail so it would get out soon.

When I checked later. 1 found

By FATHER JOHN J. DIETZEN Q. Our Scripture study group is a real joy. We often find your column helpful and hope you can enlighten us on sexually inclusive language.

Couldn't the Bible use words that include women as well as men? Why such a problem with including both sexes whenever possible? (New York) A. As you must be aware, the' questions you raise are hopelessly complicated. They are enormously interesting and useful questions, however. I would offer three observations for consideration.

First, any language in daily use by a group of people undergoes continuous change. New words and meanings, even new grammatica.1 structures, are always developing.

the mail still in the basket unstamped. My immediate reaction was one of serious annoyance.

Some might have called it anger.

I didn't want to show my annoy-" ance. So, trying to be very nice, I smiled and told her that if she stamped themail I'd bring it to the post office. She answered that it really didn't matter because the post office was closed that day.

Even stamped. themail couldn't go anywhere until the next day.

Thank God for the ability to laugh at oneself!

My annoyance quickly vanished as soon as I honestly admitted that my thinking had been negative.

With my one-track mind. I had become judgmental when it appear-

~d that ~omeone was not respectIng me.

I f I had reacted angrily toward

down, oblivious to the mayhem his children were causing. Everyone was annoyed ..

the secretary it might have harmed our goqd relationship. What a shame that would have been.

Not too long after the incident, I was watching television one Sunday morning. Robert Schuller. a Protestant minister. was talking to the author of a book espousing Christian principles in business.

The businessman was talking about an experience that had taught him a lot about how he should respond to others. His story was that he was on a subway- train when a father entered with three or four children who became unruly.

The father sat there. looking

, The guest told Schuller that he finally decided to say something to the father about the unruly children. The father then looked up. apologized and said, "Wejust came . from the hospital. My wife died a few hours ago. The children have just lost their mother."

It was an instant lesson for the businessman. He was hit with the realization of how easy it is for us to judge other people. never considering what is going on within them.

Nobody knows what's going on inside another person. What lim-

itations are they dealing with? What pain are they suffering? What distractions are they burdened with?

Wejudge their actions from our vantage point. But not knoWing their reality. we make mistakes.

Clearly. the problem to face in daily relationships is how to recognize the duality - when we are being unfairly judgmental about another, and when annoyance is a legitimate sign of our own right to be treated with respect.

I have had the habit of approaching relationships by asking.

"What would Jesus do?" While the answer has always pointed toward love. I still remember that when it was necessary Jesus tore up the den of thieves at the temple.

Why such a problem with inclusive language?

When I was growing up, "gay" meant joyful, exuberant, happy.

To be called gay wa~ a compliment.

A pusher was one who demonstrated personal initiative, until the drug culture changed that.

There's no doubt that words like man and mankind now carry at least some different sense than previously when a more universal meaning was understood and accepted. Even dictionaries define man with different nuances today than they did two generations back.

In today's social ferment, this shift is to be expected, especially since English, in grammar and vocabulary, is linguistically one of the more sexist languages, broadly expressing gender stereotypes to the detriment of one sex or the other.

We always need to respect this reality and the transitions I mentioned when we write or speak, and perhaps especially when one language is translated into another.

Second, holy Scripture is a special case. Here, it is not enough ~in:tpl.Y._!~U.ranslate passages into

modern, current English or any other language.

We believe that God's revealing of himself, as recorded in Scripture, was not an ethereal, timeless, unattached event outside the daily gritty limitations, and even sinfulness, of the people themselves.

Revelation happened in specific cultures, with all their peculiarities and weaknesses, and that's the way it has come down to us.

We may abhor the slavery taken for granted by Paul and numerous Old Testament writers. We may be embarrassed by the way women were grouped with oxen and asses in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20: 17).

But we are unfaithful to Scripture, and to revelation, if we divorce these sacred writings from their historical contexts, and "correct" Jeremiah, or the authors of Deuteronomy, or Luke, or Paul, as if they possessed the same moral and social and political sensitivities we have.

In other words, biblical translations must be faithful to Catholic teaching regarding God's activity

"in human history as it unfolds'" (U.S. bishops' "Criteria for Evaluation of Inclusive Language in Scripture Texts Proposed for Liturgical Use," November 1990).

The Revised New Testament of the New American Bible (Catholic) explicitly deals with the need for gender-inclusive language. The introduction explains that discriminatory language should be eliminated-when possible, but "the text should not be altered in order to adjust to contemporary concerns."

T.hus, for example, it retains the word ."brothers" in its inclusive sense, since no corresponding English word includes both sexes.

Particular care is required when we attempt to deal sensitively but faithfully with Scriptural genderrelated language about God and the persons of the Trinity.

Other biblical concerns are involved, of course, but these are among the essentials.

One final consideration. Our language is far more rooted in our culture than we usually realize.

Scholars of linguistics generally accept as a "given" that language

rises out of the social behavior in a culture, not vice versa.

In other words, as long as society continues its economic, social and political sexual discrimination, genuine sex-inclusive language will never take hold among us. (The way this applies to racial discrimination is a similar. story.)

Experience tells us that if we want language to change, society must change. The fact that our sensitivity to language discrimination is far greater that it was 50 years ago shows that our culture is beginning to move..

When we have moved a lot more, we will, I believe,be much more comfortable with appropriate gender-related language, and with how we relate to the language of the Bible.

A free brochure answering questions Catholics ask about baptism requirements and sponsors is available by sending a stamped, selfaddressed envelope to Father John Dietzen, Holy Trinity Church, 704 N. Main St., Bloomington, III. 61701. Questions for this column should be sent to the same address.

THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

Fri., Dec. 10, 1993

7

Cheju grateful to priest Dear Editor: The article by Pat McGowan in October 15th's Anchor was most infNmative. Her n:port on Bishop' O'Malley's "ad limina" visit to Pope John Paul II was encouraging.

It is good to hear that our bishop considers our Holy Father as very energetic, despite his recent visit to Denver and the hectic eveLts of World Youth Day.

Of great importanc( was the pope's emphasis on the necessity of the return to the practice of the Sacrament of Penance. In my opinion, our youth are being short changed when they are not taught the value of confessior. and not given the opportu::lity to receive the sacrament frequently. (Our Holy Father considers 2 monthly conf"ession frequent).

Also of interest ~as th~ m(:ntion of the new Catech:.sm which will complement the pope's new (:ncyclical, "Veritatis Splendor." As people of God we (:an ~eally look forward to hearing the "Splendor of Truth"!

Alice Beaulieu New Bedford

---------

Salve R1eginm

Salve Regina University, Newport, RI, has received a $"7,000 gram from the MaximiliLn E. and Marion O. Hoffman FOl.ndation, Inc. The donation will fund scholarships for nursing stud(nts.

Escablished in Conne~ticut in 1986. the Hoffman FO'mdation supp,:>rts a wide range of interests including health care, ~nviron颅 mental public concerns, education, social services and intel national organizations.

Sa.ve Regina's art program has been fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASA))), making it one of only 20 to be granted full, associated or renewed membershp out of 82 applications received in 1992-93.

NASAD is a national ,lcclediting body, whose membe"ship includes mostly well-known art schools and art departr:len'~s at large universities, along with a few smaller institutions.

N.A,SAD granted SalVI: a fiveyear membership accrediting a four-vear bachelor of arts degree in stu'jio arts. This degree has concentrations in ceramics, graphic design, painting and photc'graphy.

Joseph R. DiStefano tas been named chairman of the Salve Regina University Board of Trustees.

He succeeds Andrew IV. Hunt, who, retiring as chairman after 10 years, was appointed trustee emeritus.

DiStefano, a路 Jamestown, RI, resident, is president of Capital Properties. Inc., a public company engaged in real estate development.

Other newly-elected off:cers include: Joseph A. Beretta, viee chair; the Honorable Florence K. Murray, Secretary; Sister Marypatricia Murphy, treasuoer; nad Dr. Lucille McKillop, R.S.M, president of the board.

New members named to the board were businessman ~aephen P. Lynch and Newport Music Festival director Mark P. Malkovich III.

FROM LEFT front, Taunton area members of Bishop's Ball committees Mrs. Theodore J. Wojcik Sr., Taunton/ Easton lay coordinator; Mrs. Richard M. Paulson, hospitality; Miss Adrienne C. Lemieux, presentees; rear, Msgr. Thomas J. Harrington, Taunton area ball director; Horace Costa, ushers.

(Gaudette photo)

Ball hosts, hostesses listed Mrs. Michael J. McMahon of St. Mary's Cathedral parish, Fall River, heads the hospitality committee for the 39th annual Bishop's Charity Ball to be held Friday, Jan. 14 at Venus de Milo restaurant, Swansea. Mrs. Richard M. Paulson, Immaculate Conception parish, Taunton, will assist Mrs. McMahon.

The Ball benefits summer camps for exceptional and underprivileged children and other charitable apostolates of the diocese, including the new Office for HIV/ AIDS Ministry.

Members of the hospitality committee are as follows: Attleboro Area: Mrs. George Bauza, Mrs. Albert Jackson, Ms. Katherine L. Lancisi.

Cape Area: Miss Margaret Everar9, Mrs. Joseph Mazzuchelli.

Fall River Area: Mrs. AubrllY M. Armstrong, Mrs. Raymond Boulay, Mrs. Roger Dube, Miss Rosemary Ferreira, Mrs. Eugene Gagnon, Mrs. Anthony J. Geary, Mrs. Raymond Lavoie, Mrs. Manuel T. Nogueira.

New Bedford Area: Mrs. Theodore Calnan, Mrs. Clarence Dutra, Miss Theresa Lewis, Mrs. Walter Galvin, Miss Helen Stager.

Taunton Area: Mrs. Edward S. Franco, Mrs. Albert Maitoza, Miss Mary Vieira.

Ushers Coordinator: will be V. Vincent Gerardi of New Bedford and his assistants are: Cape: Frank Miller.

Fall River Area: Michael Arruda, Robert Auclair, Raymond Beausoliel, Raymond Boulay, Henry Desmond, Abel Ferreira, Joseph Gromada, Raymond Lavoie, Antone Pacheco, John Sullivan,

Honore Vaillancourt, Roger Vezina, Fred Vitulo.

New Bedford Area: Victor F. Rebello, Matthew Martin.

Taunton Area: Horace Costa, Emil Osiecki, Richard M. Paulson, Charles Pine.

Persons or organizations wishing to be listed in the Ball Booklet are asked to contact members of the committee, the St. Vincent de Paul Society or the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. Listings may also be sent to Bishop's Charity Ball Headquarters, 344 Highland Ave., Post Office Box 1470, Fall River 02722, telephone 676-8943 or 676-3200. .

CHEJU ISLAND. South Korea (CNS) - Father P.l. McGlinchey has less than an hour to talk before he has to rush off to celebrate Mass - then perhaps do a bit of pig rearing or sheep farming.

For nearly 40 years, the Irish Col urn ban priest has been a linchpin of the cultural, spiritual and economic life of Cheju, a remote and picturesque island off the south coast of South Korea, Reuters, the British m:ws agency, said.

Father McGlinchey, a burly white-haired man in his 60s, has been living on Cheju since 1954 when he was sent by his community to spread the Gospel in the warravaged community.

Then he spoke no Korean.

Now he is a legend among the poor rural residents of the island, an incongruous sight in a community where Westerners were rarely seen until recently.

"Everyone here knows about him an'd his work," said a local taxi driver.

"When I came here the country was devastated and in ruins. It was then what it's like now in Somalia," Father McGlinchey told Reuters in a heavy Irish brogue.

South Korea was recovering from the devastation of the 195053 Korean War. Remote and relatively infertile areas such as Cheju were worst affected economically.

Japan ruled South Korea from 1910 to 1945. During that time it sought to eradicate the Korean language and culture and treated Koreans as an inferior race.

Despite the originally negative

attitudes of resident, mostly farmers and fisherman-the Irish missionary set up a small church and began to work with the locals.

Poverty was the main problem so he organized the island's first credit union to give loans without collateral.

"They were in the Middle Ages and they had no money. Trade was mostly by barter," he said.

Father McGlinchey brought in a white Yorkshire breeding pig 'and set up a club which gave piglets to children on condition they gave back two when they bred the animals.

"We then exported the meat to Japan. That was how we started an economy and a business."

After pigs came sheep. Father McGlinchey used their wool for hand weaving taught by Columban nuns. Now native weavers from the island make sweaters, tablecloths and blankets found all over South Korea. The knits bear a strong resemblance to the handicrafts of the priest's homeland.

Nearly 40 years later, Father McGlinchey has set up cooperatives and credit unions around the island, and has raised thousands of pigs, sheep and cattle on a 2,965-acre farm.

He has run meat, milk and cheese processing plants as well as planted trees, sown grass and opened clinics and day care centers and homes for the elderly.

"Father has done enormous things here. He is a very special person," said an old man at a senior citizens' home.

AN INVITATION TO YOUNG MEN OF OUR DIOCESE WHO ARE JUNIORS OR SENIORS IN HIGH SCHOOL, IN COLLEGE OR COLLEGE GRADUATES: IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING THE LIFE OF PRIESTHOOD, YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND AN INFORMATION DAY FROM 2 P.M. THROUGH SupPER, SUNDAY, JANUARY

9,1994 AT CAMA

THEDRAL CAMP, EAST FREETOWN,

THE PROGRAM WILL INCLUDE DISCUSSIONS AND QUESTION PERIODS ON THE LIFE OF PRIESTHOOD. IT WILL BE PRESENTED BY PRIESTS AND SEMINARIANS OF THE DIOCESE AND WILL CLOSE WITH EVENING PRAYER AND DINNER. IF YOU HAVE EVER THOUGHT GOD MIGHT BE CALLING YOU TO THE PRIESTHOOD, OR IF YOU WOULD SIMPLY LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT A PRIEST'S LIFE, THIS DAY IS FOR YOU.

Dec. 11 1959, Rev. Edward L. Killigrew, Pastor, St. Kilian, New Bedford Dec. 13 1972, Rev. Reginald Theriault, O.P., St. Anne, Dominican Priory, Fall River 1991, Rev. Adrien L. Francoeur, M.S., LaSalette Shrine, Attleboro Dec. 14 1970, Rev. Msgr. JohnJ. Hayes, Pastor, Holy Name, New Bedford Dec. 15 1942, Rev. Mortimer Downing, Pastor, St. Francis Xavier, Hyannis

r-----REGISTRATION

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I AT A COMMUNION breakfast Dec. 5 at St. Anthony of Padua Church, Fall River, Bishop O'Malley joins Fall River District Vincentians, from left, Leonard Nicolan, district president; Father Daniel L. Freitas, diocesan Vincentian director; Father Francis L. Mahoney, district spiritual advisor; Leopold Thibault, first vice president; Linda Massa Silva, second vice president; and Duarte Silva, treasurer. (Studio D photo)

'Pope plans busy Christmas - The pope will pay his traditional Christmas-season visit to patients and staff members at a Rome hospital Dec. 19, this year going to the Umberto I clinic.

- The pope will meet with Vatican officials, cardinals residing in Rome, members of the papal household and Roman clergy Dec. 22 to give his Christmas greetings. The speech normally reviews significant Vatican events of the past year.

- On Dec. 24 the pope celebrates midnight Mass in St. Peter's

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope John Paul II, his right arm freed from a sling, is planning a traditionally busy series of Christmas season meetings, greetings and celebrations.

Among them: - Roman children will bring figures of the infant Jesus to St. Peter's Square Dec. 12 to be blessed by the pope before being placed in manger scenes in schools, parishes and homes.

FRANCISCAN FRIARS MASS AND DEVOTIONS to

ST. PEREGRINE FOR CANCER VICTIMS AND THEIR LOVED ONES Every Thursday • 9:30 A.M. ST. LOUIS CHURCH 420 Bradford Avenue • Fall River

Basilica. The Mass is televised to millions of viewers around the world.

- On Christmas morning, the pope celebrates Mass in St. Peter's Basilica before his traditional noon blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world) and a speech from the balcony of the basilica.

- On the Dec. 26 feast of St. Stephen, the pope is scheduled to recite the Angelus with visitors gathered in St. Peter's Square.

- The pope will hold his normal weekly general audience Dec. 29.

- The traditional papal Mass of Thanksgiving marking the end of the year will be held Dec. 31 at the Jesuits' St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Rome. The Mass usually is celebrated in the Jesuit's main Roman parish, Gesu Church, which is now filled with scaffolding for a renovation and repair project.

- The pope will celebrate a morning Mass Jan. I in St. Peter's •Basilica marking the feast of Mary Mother of God, the World Day of Prayer for Peace and the beginning of the International Year of the Family.

Pope John Paul's theme for World Peace Day 1994 focuses on the family as the birthplace of peace among peoples.

- On Jan. 6, feast of the Epiphany, the pope will celebrate Mass in St. Peter's Basilica and ordain new bishops. Several U.S. bishopsdesignate are expected to be included.

- On Jan. 9, feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the pope will, as usuai, celebrate Mass and baptize infants. This year, to highlight the Year of the Family, the Mass and baptisms will take place in St. Peter's Basilica rather than in the Vatican's Benediction Hall.

- The Christmas-season schedule ends with the pope's Jan. 15 meeting and speech to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Vatican.

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o KEY OF DAVID and Sceptre of the house of BEGINNIN G December 17, the Church uses the Israel, who openest and no 'ancient 0 antiphons, so man shutteth, who shuttest called from their initial let- , and no man openeth: come ter, at the Eucharistic lit- and bring forth from his urgy and at Evening Prayer. prison house the captive They are suggested as a that sitteth in darkness and beautiful evening grace or . in the shadow of death. prayer at the time of lighting a family or individual Advent wreath.

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DECEMBER 21

& DECEMBER 17

o WISDOM,

who earnest out of the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: come and teach us the way of prudence.

o DA WN OF THE EAST, brightness of the light eternal and Sun ofJustice; come and enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

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o ADONAI and Lea4er of the house of Israel, who didst appear to Moses in the flame of the burning bush' and didst give unto him the law on Sinai: come and with an outstretched arm redeem us.

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o ROOT OF JESSE, who standest for an ensign of

o KING OF THE GENTILES and the desired of them, thou cornerstone that makest both one: come and deli.ver man whom thou didst form out of the dust of the earth.

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VATICAN CITY(CNS)- Pope John Paul II reassured visitors that he was doing "much better" after three weeks of treatment for a dislocated shoulder.

The pope joked about his health Dec. 4 after leading the Angelus from his apartment window overlooking St. Peter's Square.

"You've probably come here to see if the pope is well. So I ha've to tell you, the pope is doing much better~" he said to applause from the crowd. .. And he's behaving himself, following the rhythm of Advent, the preaching of St. John the Baptist, the prescriptions of the doctors and professors, aware of the concern of the sisters, of Father Stanislaw and the whole household," he said.

The pope was referring to Polish Father Stanislaw Dziwisz, his private secretary. and to the Polish nuns who help run the papal household.

Th-e pope canceled some public ceremonies in the weeks following his fall during a Vatican audience. but has kept up an extensive sche-

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dule of private meetings and speeches.

Despite rumors of ill health, Vatican officials and his doctors have said the pope is making a normal recovery. His sling was removed in early December, in time to allow the pontiff to lead traditional Christmas liturgical ceremonies from the Vatican.

CUD award to nun WASHINGTON (CNS) - Sister Margaret Cafferty, executive director of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, has received the 1993 Development of People Award from the Campaign for Human Development. Bishop James H. Garland of Marquette, Mich., chairman of the committee overseeing the U.S. bishops' domestic anti-poverty campaign, presented the award to Sister Cafferty at a recent Washington ceremony.

It was a weaving by the Ramah Navajo Weavers Association. Sister Cafferty, a Presentation Sister, has taught high school, worked in an inner-city parish, headed her order and worked for Catholic Social Services.

THE ANCHOR -

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Diocese of Fall River -

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"The jrea..f light which. lfJ!ves nght to BVeJ70D8 was oomfng into tJle 'world."

JoJm 1:9

LaSalette Shrine (Hickey photo)

Week of Advent: IGlad Tidings to the Lowly ~rhird

Among tht: up""ard.s of 200,000 letters addressed last Christmas to "Santa Claus, North Pole" was one from an ambitious youngster who put in an order for "one of everything you've got."

I remember a Christmas when I was ,6 or 7 and 'it seemed like I'd received just that. I knew I wasn't supposed to peek under the tree until the whole family was up, but I was awake, of course, at the crack of dawn and it was too much to resist. Peering through the doorway I saw a scene not unlike a toy s',ore i:l the living room. The sight was more wondrous than I could have imagined and certainly not something I could keep to myself-so I promptly woke everyone by shouting all about it.

Such a spirit of exultation is what the third Sunday of Advent-Gaudete Sunday-is all about.

The opening antiphon of Mass declares Gaudete in Domino semper, "Rejoice in the Lord always!"

(Phil 4:4-5). As we light a pink candle symbolizing joy, our Advent preparations begin to focus more directly on the earthly birth of Jesus.

Christmas joy com,~s naturally for the 6 or 7-year-old who awakens to find the Baby Jesus ensconced in the manger and gifts magically materialized under the tree-all as had been promised.

But somehow many lose sight of the promise and so outgrow this simple delight in Christmas.

We become harried by the busyness of the weeks preceding the holiday: The marathon of decorating, baking, buying, wrapping, addressing Christmas cards...all of this layered atop the other worries which seep into our days. Rejoice? We cram so much effort into producing the perfect holiday ob:;ervance that we become frustrated when we realize it cannot possibly fulfill all of our expectation;. Tl'te meaning of Christmas is lost amid the trappings if we forget that we can· never be satisfied except in the presence of the Lord. Christmas joy can be superseded by holiday burnout!

The first Christnas, if we recall, was a simple affair. God humbled himself to be born a helpless infant, into a peasant family, in a shelter meant for animals, in an unrenowned town. The first to whom he was revealed were not the nobles of the land but the lowest class, the outcasts, the shepherds. From t'le very beginning Jesus was identified with the common people.

In him the ordinary would be made special-given value, forgiveness, the promise of eternal life; for "any who did accept him he empowered to become children of God." (John 1: 12).

The theme of rej :>icing in this gift of God's unconditional love permeates the Scriptures which herald the Lord's coming.

"I rejoice h,eartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soull" says Sunday's reading fro;~ Isaiah, The b~:ginning of that passage, read by Jesus himself to inaugurate his public ministry, announces "gl.ad tidings to the lowly" in the form of healing, comfort, liberty, justice, salvation.

At the touch of the Lmd, the blind will see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the mourning rejoice.

A spirit of jubilation likewise fills Luke's account of the Annunciation and Mary's visit to Elizabeth, beginning with the angel Gabriel's words: "Rejoice, 0 highly favored daughter! The Lord is with you!"

As Mary proclaims to her cousin, "My spirit finds joy in God my savior... God who is mighty has done great things for me...and raised the lowly to high places," Elizabeth's unborn child "leaps for joy."

Mary's source of joy is her recognition of God's generosity, goodness and power and his touch in her life. Sh,~ is an exempler of total receptivity to God's willingness to give himself to us.

Advent is a thr.e of expecting that most precious gift-his Son-in our own lives. Our gift-giving, touted commercially as an economic indicator, should rather be a reflection of God's generosity in giving us life, love, faith, forgiveness, salvation through Jesus Christ.

It is not our elaborate holiday preparations that are pleasing to God, but, as in the beloved story of the Little Drum ner Boy, our own personal song that we bring to his cradle.

Jesus' birth brob unexpectedly int~) the nightwatch of the shepherds, who upon hearing the "tidings of great jO'1 to be shared by the whole people" went in haste to the stable to adore the newborn Savior wit h nothing but the joy in their hearts.

We can give nothing to God except to let our souls "magnify the Lord"-to return what he has given us by sharing with others his message of love. God was born of a human mother that we might become his brothers and sisters, the children of God. The "lowly" are all those humble enough to let him work through them and -like Elizabeth who asks "Who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"-to wonder at the blessings which are bestowed on us. We rejoice, like Mary, in God's favor: The Lord is with us.

This is our inheri::ance, the gift of Christmas which is incredible beyond our imaginings. This is the foundation which gives meaning to all our holiday preparations and busyness and festivities; otherwise we have built a house of cards.

True joy at Christmas comes from the realization of what it is that we have been given, With this attitude, on Christmas morning we will find ourselves cloaked in "a glorious mantle instead of a listless spirit." (Is. 61:3)

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Routes to Rejoicing Think about which aspects of your Christmas preparations and celebrations are truly essential and which are not. Eliminating superfluous efforts can help make Christmas more meaningful.

Concentrate on d'~e people who are gifts in your life. Who has nurtured the gift of faith in you? Giv,~ thanks to that person and to God for him or her.

A project called "Tree Talents" has family members discuss their personal gifts and talents and makl: ornaments symbolizing those attributes.

Family membl'rs or groups of friends can exchange names and anonymously do good deeds for one another as each others' "K ristkindl" (Christ Child). Kristkindls are then revealed on Christma.s Ev~'.

Spread C::lristmas joy all year: consider gifts such as "coupons" which entitle the recipient to special treats such as dinner out or a movie and favors such as babysitting during the year.

Shelters and fooe, pantries which receive supplies during the holiday season may have shortages at o':her times of the year, Make a commitment for monthly donations to such organizat.ons.

-Marcie Hickey

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The debt we owe

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Dec. 10, 1993

Who decides who dies?

By Antoinette Bosco Anyone who reads the papers knows that physician-assisted suicide is an issue that has been put before the public, like it or not, by Michigan pathologist Dr. Jack Kevorkian.

Kevorkian has stirred nationwide debate. His position is that people who are suffering terminal illnesses and choose to die should be able to have assistance in that decision from a doctor.

Recently I attended a scientific symposium sponsored by the Connecticut Academy of Family Physicians. At one of the panel discussions a physician, a legislator, a clergyman, qnd a lawyer representing' Kevorkian expressed their views on physician-assisted suicide.

Over and over what surfaced was the dilemma felt by some physicians today who say they often find themselves in conflict between their duties of keeping patients alive and of alleviating pain and suffering.

Some terminally ill patients beg for death. They want release from their suffering. "Are we abandoning them?" one doctor asked.

The positions presented by the panel were specific. Dr. William Zeidler, medical director of a hospice for terminal patients, said it was his "very strong belief that we don't need physician assisted sucicide. We can do a good job, ease their suffering, ... help them die at home. We can .do better than "medicide.' " "Medicide" was the word of the day, a buzz word offered by Michael Schwartz, Kevorkian's attorney. As expected, Schwartz argued his case for medicide, describing a person's decision to die as "the' last great civil right."

Schwartz maintained that a patient's wishes should be paramount. If all reasonable efforts are exhausted to get help for an illness that medical science has no ability to cure, then "I should be able to choose to end my life - not to stop living, but to stop suffering," Schwartz said.

He added that there should be regulations to govern physicianassisted suicide; protocols would have to be established and reasonable standards set "to avoid abuse."

Schwartz said Kevorkian is not an advocate of suicide. "Hundreds have come to him and he has talked them out of suicide," the lawyer said, adding that they are the ones not covered by the news media.

Another panelist, the Rev. William Zito, pastor of the First Congregational Church in Watertown, Conn., asked if a doctor should become "a medical executioner" in the name of compassion.

Zito argued that the medical profession should spend more time improving care for the dying.

"Legalizing physician-assisted suicide is opening a floodgate," he warned.

A physician who listened to the panel described physician-assisted suicide as a slippery slope, and asked, "If we start out accepting this, can it degenerate into an abuse" where others can make decisions about people's lives?

The legislator on the panel, Richard Tulisano, of the Connecticut General Assembly, said: "As a policymaker, I see this not as a solitary act, but as a societal act. In balancing between individual and greater rights, this cannot be left to the individual. There's not a society ('m aware of that has not developed some rite of passage for death."

When the question was asked, "How is unplugging a machine different from physician-assisted suicide?" Dr. Zeidler answered, "A word of difference." In the unplugging, "the disease kills the patient." In medicide. "I kill."

Councils on Aging Dennis Singles Club holiday potluck luncheon noon Dec. 15. Seminar on new changes in tax laws 2 p.m.

Dec. IS. Wixson School students will present a Christmas concert for seniors 9 a.m. Dec. 16 at the school. COA: 385-5067.

Provincetown Cake decorating party will be held every last Tuesday of the month beginning 2:30 to 4 p.m.

Dec. 28. High school students will bake the cakes and senior citizens will decorate them. To sign up call COA.487-7080.

Mansfield Norman Rockwell slide show 2 p.m. Dec. 15. Christmas party 6 p. m. Dec. 16. Sing-along with Judy Long 12:30 p. m. Dec. 20 following luncheon at 11:30 a.m.; reservations required by Dec. IS. Free cholesterol screening I to 3 p.m.

Dec. 14. COA: 261-7368.

Egotist "An egotist is a person of low taste, more interested in himself than in me."-Ambrose Bierce

SISTER M. REGINA CASSIDY, a native of Jersey City, New Jersey, entered the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne in 1933 after working for a time as a secretary at Wilcox & Gibbs Sewing Machine Company in New York City.

Reflecting on her 60 years as a Hawthorne Dominican, Sister Cassidy said, "For six decades I have experienced religious life, and all its ups and downs, its trials and triumphs. And during those years I have cared for patients in each of our seven homes.

N ow that the limits of old age and infirmity are taking their toll, I am filled with gratitude that God called me to this community.

"I marvel at the devotion and work and prayer of my sisters today, as I watch them go about sharing their love of God through service to the sick and dying. I wonder if I ever served with such dedication and compassion."

The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, Servants of Relief for Incurable Cancer, is an American congregation which was founded in 1895 by Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, daughter of author Nathaniel Hawthorne. The congregation's one apostolate is serving those suffering from incurable cancer. It has seven facilities, located in Fall River, New York City, Cleveland, Philadelphia, St. Paul, Atlanta and Hawthorne, NY. The annual national collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious set for this weekend aids retired members of religious communities like Sister Cassidy who have given their lives to service.

42 Percent Decline The purchasing power of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) benefits declined by 42 percent between 1970and 1991.

(BFWI) GOLDEN JUBILEES: Several women in formal bridal gowns were among 5,000 couples celebrating 50 or more years of marriage at a ceremony in a stadium in northern Taiwan during the country's Senior Citizens' Week. (CNS / Reuters photo)

By Bernard Casserly Most of us owe debts to people who paid key roles in our lives, people who helped make us what we are today. For us seniors many of these benefactors have returned to the God who made them, and we can only thank them by helping others.

Who among us has not benefitted from the sacrifices of parents or the generosity of aunts or strict but loving grandparents? These good people were linked to us by blood, but there were others in our young lives who sacrificed even more, and they were neither kith nor kin.

They were the sisters and brothers who taught us the 4Rs of readin', 'ritin', 'rithmetic and religion in the Catholic grade and high schools of our youth.

Many of sisters who taught me and the rest of the Casserly kids at the Ascension school were poor too. Born in Ireland or Canada, they came to serve God's little ones in U.S. hospitals, orphanages and an independent school system that became the finest in the world.

They remained poor. How could they not, when the tuition at the Ascension was 10 cents per child per month for each of the first two Casserlys, and less for the other three?

Let's see now. With tuition close to $1 per child per year, and some 50 kids in each class, each nun was bringing in around $50 a year. A dollar was worth a lot in those day, but a salary of $50 a year?

The last of my grade school teachers, Sister Colma O'Brien, CSJ. of County Cork, Ireland,

died in 1988 at the age of 97. But hundreds of thousands of sisters came after her, until they reached a peak of 181,421 in 1966.

How many of today's 50 million plus Catholics received at least part of their education from these remarkable people? Catholic schools and the sisters and brothers who taught in them are fewer in number today, but it is now our turn to help.

American sisters are aging: their median is 64 years. Their numbers are declining; only one percent is under the age of 30. The cost of medical care is escalating for everyone, and few orders have put aside money for retirement.

The sisters and brothers remained poor, but we, their students, did not. By 1974, income ran kings by Irish, Italian, German and Polish Catholics, in that order, were exceeded only by one U.S. religious group: Jews, according to "Church & State" magazine.

Sister Mary Oliver Hudon, SSND, original director of the Retirement Fund for Religious campaign, noted that men's and women's congregations were founded to serve the poor, "it's hard now for those religious who have been vehicles of upward mobility for America's Catholics to be on the receiving end of charity."

I submit that Catholics who give generously to the Retirement Fund campaign this weekend are not performing an act of charitythough their contributions are tax deductible. They will be doing an act ofjustice. Experience has shown that we Catholics have not forgotten the debt we owe to the benefactors of our youth.

Hospice services offered at Our Lady's Haven Our Lady's Haven, Fairhaven, has begun working with lighthouse Hospice Association, Wareham, to offer services to residents of the nursing home who require hospice care. The contract marks the first partnership in the greater New Bedford area of a hospice provider and a long-term care provider.

Hospice is a program of supportive care for terminally ill individuals and their families and friends, during the individual's final stage of life. Services can include nursing care, pain management, social services, spiritual care, volunteer support and bereavement counseling. As described by the National Hospice Organization, "hospice care seeks to enable patients to carryon an alert, pain-free life" so that "their last days may be spent with dignity and quality at home or in a home-like setting."

"Offering hospice services to our residents is another way that we can further our goal at Our Lady's Haven: to preserve an individual's dignity and quality of life," said Jean Golitz, administrator.

The contract between the two providers would make services available to residents of the nursing home who are eligible for, and wish to have, hospice care. It also makes possible the continuity of hospice care for individuals who need to enter the nursing facility during the final stages of their illness.

"The Haven's mission statement speaks of "cherishing life as a gift, even in its final moments.' That's an exact match with the hospice

philosophy. We're excited about the services that we will be able to provide to the home's residents and their families," said Mary Luby, RN, executive director of Lighthouse Hospice.

Nursing staff at Our Lady's Haven have completed a threepart training course in the hospice philosophy, pain management and issues' of death and dying. The Haven's nurses will collaborate with a Hospice nurse to provide pain control and management of other symptoms. Hospice will also provide volunteer services, spiritual counseling, and support to residents and families.

The program also provides added support for employees.

"Our employees grow very attached to the residents they have been caring for, and the death of a resident can be difficult for them, as well as for the family. Hospice provides a framework that helps all of us handle these important issues," said Ms. Golitz.

For more information about the hospice program call the Haven at 999-4561 or Lighthouse Hospice at 295-8544.

Lighthouse Hospice, 166 Main Street, Wareham, also provides the following free services: - AIDS Caregivers Support Group, 5-6:30 p.m. third Wednesdays.

- Caregivers Support Group, 6-7:30 p.m. first Wednesdays.

- Bereavement Support Groups, 4:30-6 p.m., two locations: second Wednesdays at Council on Aging, Plymouth St., Middleboro, or fourth Wednesdays at Lighthouse.

Vvareham youth Continued from Page One Maureen VanderStaay, Carol Ducey llnd Marie Vicino.

In a welcome to delegates, Philadelphia Mayor Edwad Rendell said he "wonders if there is ever going to be a way out" of the poverty. homeless ness anc lack of adequate jobs plagl..ing he nation, but, he added, "when I see all of you here tonight caring for your church and country and for your fellow Americans, ( know we can solve all of our problem:•."

After the welcome, the dell~gates paraded about a mJe to Philadelphia's new Pennsylvania Convention Center. In the opening prayer service they heard a videotaped mes!:age of John Paul II in Denver saying, "This is no time to be ashamed of the Gospel; it is a time of p ride in the Gospel, a time to preach it from the rooftops."

A:l array of speakers and perforlT.ers entertained throughout the conference. Frequently the young people formed human chains and paraded through the gene "al assembly room.

The youths had amp:e opportunities to meet. When they did they traded mementos with each other: a cowbell for a cross, bracelets for necklaces. They also attended workshops on diverse topics including sexuali':y, prayer, date rape, youth suicide, racquetball retreats, racism, comm'Jnication and down ministry.

Se:rvice projects conducted thro lIghout the city took a day of the conference and activated youths' spiritual energies. They gave timeto"big buc.dy" rrograms, visit~. to a home for the hlind and as helpers at the Philadelphia Food Bank, That evening they topped the day with a block party and dance.

During the next morning's closing Mass they linked arms to sing the official World Youth Day song, "We Are One Body," In a reflection on t he event composed by Robin Ryder for her Wareham parish, she said." At the end of the weekend we all gathered for a closing Mass to ~elebrate Chri:;t. During the cl~reml)nies and convention we could. feelt he greatness of the Spirit th2.t wa!, with the people. It was a memorable experience for all who at':ended. I hope that when people fi':ld out what a great time everybody had, they will be encouraged to inspire other youb to get involved with the chun:h [and their youth groups) and attend the next Natior al Youth Convention in 1995."

Father Leonard Wenke, executive director of the :'1aticnal Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, the Washingtor..-basf:d organization which sponsored the conference, said that pt:ople presume yOUt:1S "are not nect:ssarily people of faith. They talk about them as maybe a lost generation."

He said the convention proved the contrary because it gave the young people a chance to "come together as a community, share their faith, give witness to the fact that they believe in a 10',ing and caring God and celebrate that they are Catholic."

Sa:d Jessica Henry frorr: the Charleston. S.c., diocese: "There's no better feeling than to he totally swep': away by a 1'00:11 ful of other Cath,)lics!"

Moily Kelly, who spoke at the. national convention, introduced the campaign at last month's diocesan youth convention in Fall River.

The campaign began in April as part of a Southern Baptist Convention sex education program and has since spread to other denominations and organizations.

Tens of thousands of youths have joined, signing pledge cards vowing sexual abstinence until marriage.

By participating in the campaign, the youth federation plans to: - Promote among teens the value of a non-sexually-active lifestyle; - Champion social environs that enhance teenagers' sexual abstinence; - Encourage the development of systems which support teens' families; - Communicate and clarify the Catholic Church's moral teaching on sexuality; - Affirm young people in their commitment to be witnesses for Jesus Christ in the modern world.

The federation plans to provide necessary resources on sexuality catechesis to diocesan directors who will then work with individual parishes.

The pledge cards youths sign will be part of a youth rally next July 29 in Washington. ."We wish to empower Catholic young people in this country to be witnesses of their faith, and give them the opportunity to commit to a chaste lifestyle and to reject the 'safe sex' messages dominant in our culture," said Father Wenke.

Father Wenke said the youth federation's involvement in "True Love Waits" has received the support of Chicago Cardinal Joseph L. Bernardin, outgoing chairman of the bishops' Committee on Marriage and Family, and of Bishop Charles J. Chaput of Rapid City, S.D., the bishops' liaison to the federation.

"At times our best attempts to communicate with young people about our deeply held values are overshadowed by society's messages of materialism, self-indulgence and individualism." But the church "must continue to proclaim - and tofind more creative ways of proclaiming-our message about the sanctity of the human person, the dignity of marriage and the appropriate expression of love between human persons," the priest added.

True Love Waits Father Wenke announced at the convf:ntion that his orga nization will participate in the "True Love Wait!:" chastity camjJaign.

23 percent of the world's people share 85 percent of the world's income; 77 percent of the world's population share the remaining 15 percent. (BFW Institute)

It's selfishness VATICAN CITY (CNS) Selfishness on the part of wealthy nations and an unequal distribution of resources, not population growth, are the main causes of hunger in the world, Pope John Paul II recently told the U. N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization. FAD data show that world food production "is sufficient to respond to the demand of the world's population considered as a whole," the pope said. "As a consequence," he continued, "the solution of limiting the number of participants at the 'common banquet' rather than multiplying the bread to be shared seems ever less justifiable."

--Inequity

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lJESUS C

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IN FLORIDA, pilot Mac Barksdale takes to the air with his message; on Cape Cod some 1,400 people recently crowded into the Melody Tent to hear the same good news. (CNS photo)

"Cape Cod for Jesus" prayer day Continued from Page One Mass, but Bishop Sean O'Malley was willing to celebrate it!

How It Happened Our real test of faith came in the Now for some background on realm of finances. The Lord did how the prayer day came into not allow us to have even a small being. The leaders' committee for Cape Cod prayer groups meets reserve in advance, but miraculously provided our payments as monthly for daylong prayer askthey became due. ing direction from the Lord. Over Now here comes the scary part... three years ago, through Scripture When we gathered in prayer to and prophecy, we felt we were agree on the cost for a ticket, we being asked to claim Cape Cod for turned once again to Scripture.

Jesus, but each time we discussed it, we shelved the idell because of We opened to Isaiah 55: I and were told to "Come to the water," (Cape the enormity of the task.

But a few months ago the matter Cod) "you who have no money. came up again and the Lord told ... Come without paying and withus this was his work, not ours, and out cost."

We knew we couldn't ask admiswe were to step out in faith and trust him. Aod so began this in- sion!

We didn't know why the Lord credible faith walk. Each step of had asked for the prayer day but the way, we knew we would have to wait· for his directi6n.: IWhere to . we did know that it was his invitation, not ours. He proved it by hold the prayer day? Who would overcoming each obstacle we had we get to speak? How would we pay for it (we had $300 in our to face. But it was a test offaith for treasury)? Would we be able to get all of us. The Lord did not allow us to have the security of pre-registraa priest to say Mass? tions.

As each question came up, we went before the tabernacle and asked in prayer for an answer.

Montie Plumbing Opening the Bible to the Old Testament, we read about "revival Heating Co. in the tent." We jokingly comOver 35 Years mented that we had a tent on Cape of Satisfied Service Cod, and so began our faith walk.

Reg. Master Plumber 7023 Not onlywere we able to get the JOSEPH RAPOSA, JR. Melody Tent, the Lord prompted those in charge to be amazingly 432 JEFFERSON STREET agreeable to all our requests.

Fall River 675-7496 Not only could we begin with a

But we thought of the kids who went to World Youth Day in Denver and sang over and over, "We are one body, one body in Christ."

Were we being asked to come together at such an unlikely place as the Melody Tent and publicly show that we were one body in Christ on Cape Cod? The Reward of Faith More than a month has gone by, all our bills are paid and we have been left with a sevenfold increase in our seed money. How's that for the "multiplication of the loaves"?

The Lord is telling us many things about faithfulness and what he wishes for us and our service to him and his people in the future.

All this is a great example of how the Lord can and will accomplish unthinkable tasks if we but put our complete faith and trust in him and let him direct us.

Sc.dJivan)s Est. 1962

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Deacons are called to life ofholiness For the several weeks, the Church and World page has been devoted to a series of talks on the permanent diaconate given by Pope John Paul II at his weekly general audience. The final talk follow~.

Among the catechetical topics on the diaconate the one about the spirit of the diaconate is particularly important and attractive, for it concerns and involves all who receive this sacrament in order to carry out its functions in a Gospel perspective. This is the way that leads its ministers to Christian perfection and allows them to give truly effective service (d iaconia) in the Church, so as "to build up the Body of Christ" (Eph 4: 12).

Here is the source of diaconal spirituality, which is rooted in what the Second. Vatican Council calls the "sacramental grace of the diaconate" (Ad gentes, n. 16). In addition to being a valuable help in carrying out various tasks, it deeply affects the deacon's heart, spurring him to offer, to give his whole self to serving the kingdom of God in the Church. As the very word "diaconate" indicates, what characterizes the interior mind and will of the one who receives the sacrament is the spirit of service.

In the diaconate an effort is made to carry out what Jesus stated about his l)1ission: "The Son of Man has not come to be served but to serve - to give his life in ransom for ma~y" (Mk 10:45; Mt 20:28).

Doubtless Jesus addressed these words to the Twelve whom he chose for the priesthood, to make them understand that, although endowed with authority conferred by him, they should act as he did. as servants. The advice applies. then, to all ministers of Christ; however, it has particular meaning for deacons, for whom the stress is placed explicitly on this service by virtue of their ordination. Although they do not exercise the pastoral authority of priests, in carrying out all their functions'their particular aim is to show an intention to serve. If their ministry is consistent with this spirit, they shed greater light on that identifying feature of Christ's face: service. They are not only "servants of God," but also of their brothers and sisters.

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Ready to Serve This teaching ofthe spiritual life is of Gospel origin and entered the earliest Christian tradition, as that ancient third-century text called the Didascalia Apostolorum confirms. In it deacons are encouraged to take their inspiration from the Gospel incident of the washing of feet: "If the Lord did this," it says, "then you deacons should not hesitate to do it for the sick and infirm, since you are workers of the truth, who have put on Christ" (XVI, 36: Connolly ed ..

1904, p. 151). The diaconate commits one to following Jesus with this attitude of humble service, which is expressed not only in works of charity, but shapes and embraces one's whole way of thinking and acting.

This perspective explains the condition set by the document Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem for admitting young men to formation as deacons: "Only those young men should be enrolled to train for the diaconate who have shown a natural inclination for service to

If

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SCENE AT JUNE 7, 1980, ORDINATION OF FIRST CLASS OF PERMANENT DEACONS FOR THE FALL RIVER DIOCESE the hierarchy and the Christian community" (n. 8: Enchiridion Vaticanum, II, 1378). The "natural inclination" should not be understood in the sense of a simple spontaneity of natural dispositions, however much this too is a presupposition to be considered. It is rather an inclination of nature inspired by grace, with a spirit of service that conforms human behavior to Christ's. The sacrament of the diacoriate develops this inclination: it makes the subject share more closely in Christ's spirit of service and imbues the will with a special grace, so that in all his actions he will be motivated by a new inclination to serve his brothers and sisters.

This service should first of all take the form of helping the bishop and the priest. both in liturgical worship and the apostolate. It scarcely needs remarking here that anyone whose dominant attitude was one of challenging or opposing authority could not properly carry out the functions of a deacon. The diaconate can only be

conferred on those who believe in the value of the bishop's and priest's pastoral mission and in the Holy Spirit's assistance guiding them in their actions and their decisions. In particular, it must again be said that the deacon should "profess reverence and obedience to the bishop" (ibid., n. 30: Enchiridion Vaticanum. II, 1400).

However, the deacon's service is also directed to his own Christian community and to the whole Church, to which he,must foster a deep attachment, because of her mission and divine institution.

The Second Vatican Council also spea~s of the dudes and the obligatioqs that deacons assume by virtue 'of their own sharing in

the mission and grace of the high priesthood: "while waiting upon the mysteries of Christ and the Church, they should keep themselves free from every vice, should please God and give a good example to all in everything (cf. 1 Tm '3:8-10 and 12-13)" (Lumen gentium, n. 41). Theirs, then, is a duty of witness, which embraces not only their service and apostolate but also their whole life.

In the document Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem, cited above, Pal.\l VI called attention to this responsibility and the obligations it entails: "Deacons serv,e the mysteries of Christ and the Church, and must abstain from any vice, strive to please God, and be 'ready for any good work' for the salvation of men. Therefore, because of their reception of this order, they should far excel others in their liturgical lives, in devotion to prayer, in the divine ministry, in obedience, charity and chastity" (n. 25: Enchiridion Vaticanum, II, 1395).

With particular regard to chastity, young men who are ordained

u.s. deacons' 25th anniversary noted WASHINGTON (CNS) - The text of the U,S. bishops' message for the 25th anniversary ofthe restoration of the permanent diaconate in the United States follows.

Twenty-five years ago, on Aug. 30, 1968, Pope Paul VI responded favorably to the request of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops to restore the permanent diaconate in the United States.

In our May 2nd letter to the Holy Father that year, we gave the following reasons for our request: I. The many and varied diaconal ministries already present in our country would be enriched and strengthened by the sacramental grace of holy orders.

2. A new group of devout and competent men would be enlisted in the active ministry ofthe church.

3. Charitable and liturgical services would be extended in both rural and urban communities.

4. The official and sacramental presence of the church would be provided in communities where priests were not readily available.

5. The permanent diaconate would provide an impetus for creative adaptations of diaconal ministries in our rapidly changing society.

As we look back on these past 25 years we see that our hopes and dreams for the permanent diaconate are being happily fulfilled.

Establishment of the diaconate has progressed rapidly. At the beginning of 1993 there were 10,324 deacons and nearly 2,000 men in formation in the United States. Of the 185 Latin-rite dioceses of our country, 145 have formation programs for permanent deacons.

During his 1987 pastoral visit to the church in our country, Pope John Paul II spoke enthusiastically about our deacons, declaring that they "represent a great and visible sign of the working of the Holy Spirit in the wake of the Second Vatican Council." He went on to say: "With the whole church, I give thanks to God for the call you have received and for your gracious response. For the majority of you who are married this response has been made possible by the love and support and collaboration of your wives.... It is above all the call to service that I wish to celebrate with you."

We echo the sentiments expressed by the Holy Father by thanking our deacons who have so generously responded to God's call to

serve the church. We also express our gratitude to wives and family members who have supported them in their ministry through their love and with many personal sacrifices.

On this 25th anniversary of the restoration of the ancient yet new permanent diaconate, we call on the members of our church to celebrate the gift of the diaconate.

We pledge ourselves to work to foster an even greater understanding and appreciation of [deacons'] vocation and ministry within the church. We encourage those dioceses in the United States which have not as yet established the permanent diaconate to consider the opportunities this ministry may provide for furthering the mission of the church.

Echoing the prayer of consecration from the Rite of Ordination of Deacons, we pray that the Lord will continue to look with favor on those who have been called to the office of deacon that they may carry out faithfully their ministry of the word, of the altar and of charity in obedience and fidelity so that God, who has begun this good work in them, will bring it to fulfillment.

deacons commit themselves to observing celibacy and to leading a life of more intense union with Christ. Here too. even those who are older and "have received ordination ... may not. in accordance with traditional Church discipline, enter into marriage" (ibid., n. 16: Enchiridion Vaticanum, 11,1386).

1n order to fulfil these obligations and, even more deeply, to respond to the spiritual demands of the diaconate with the help of sacramental grace, the exercises of the spiritual life must be practiced, as described in Paul VI's Apostolic Letter; they should: I) apply themselves to reading carefully and to meditating attentively on the word of God; 2) attend Mass frequently - even daily if possible - receive the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist and visit it out of devotion: 3) purify their souls frequently through the sacrament of Penance, having prepared for it worthily through a daily examination of conscience; 4) show a deep, filial love and veneration for the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God (d. ibid., n. 26: Enchiridion Vaticanum. II, 1396).

Ongoing Formation Moreover, Pope Paul VI adds: "It is very fitting for permanent deacons to recite daily at least some part of the Divine Office - to be specified by the Egiscopal Conference" (ibid., n. 27: Enchiridion Vaticanum, II, 1397). The Episcopal Conferences are also responsible for establishing more detailed norms for the lives of deacons in accordance with the circumstances of time and pla,ce.

Lastly, whoever receives the diaconate is' obliged to ongoing doctrinal formation, which continually improves and updates that required before ordination: "Deacons should not slacken in their studies, particulary of sacred doctrine: they should carefully read the Scriptures; they should devote themselves to ecclesiastical studies in such a way that they can correctly explain Catholic doctrine to others and day by day become better fitted to train and strengthen the souls of the faithful. With this in mind, deacons should be called to regular meetings at which matters concerning their life and sacred ministry will be treated" (ibid .. n.

29: Enchiridion Vaticanum. II. 1399).

The catechesis I have given on the diaconate, in order to complete the picture of the ecclesiastical hierarchy, thus highlights what is most important in this order, as in those of the presbyterate and the episcopate: a specific spiritual participation in the priesthood of Christ and the commitment to a life in conformity to him by the action of the Holy Spirit. I cannot conclude without recalling that deacons too, like priests and bishops, who are committed to following Christ in the way of service, share most especially in his redeeming sacrifice, according to the principle Jesus formulated when speaking to the Twelve about the Son of Man, who came "to serve - to give his life in ransom for many" (M k 10:45). Deacons, therefore, are called to participate in the mystery of the cross, to share in the Church's sufferings, to endure the hostility she encounters, in union with Christ the Redeemer.

It isthis painful aspect of the deacon's service that makes it most fruitful.

,ratic:all supports British bishops' 'work with Anglican clergy, laity VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II and top Vatican official. for doctrine and ecumenism have expressed support for steps thu:; far taken by the hishops of England and Wales to welcome some Anglican clergy and laity into the Catholic Church.

Cardinal George Basil Hume of We:;tminster told reporters Dec. 4 that some 160 Anglican clergy have approached British Catholic bishops about the possibility of entl:ring the Catholic Ch urch since the Church of England's synod initially endorsed ordination of women to the prit:stho:>d in Noverr..ber 1992. The synod gave its final approval on Nov. II of this year.

More requests are el~pected in late February when the Anglican ruling on women priest> formally takes effect. The Church of England plans to ordain its fi rst women priests at Easter.

The cardinal said tha'; two days of :neetings he and three other British bishops had with Vatican offidals were designed to inform the Vatican about ho,",' they are pro:eeding, not to get formal approval for a specific progra~'I1.

"Useful and helpful conversatioT.s took place, and tht: Holy See expressed its appn:ciatbn for the manner in which the matter was being handled by the bishops of England and Wales," Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said Dec. 4 after the four bishops met Pope John Paul.

Taking part in th,e meetings were Cardinals Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doc:trine of the Faith, ar.d Edward I. Cassidy, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, as wen as other officiab from the two officl:s.

Cardinal Hume said be process

of accepting Anglican clergy and faithful into the church has already begun and, in fact, began before the Anglican synod voted to ordain women.

He and Navarro-Valls insisted that the Anglican synod's decision was the occasion, but not the only motivation, for those Anglicans seeking membership in the church.

The principles established by the bishops of England and Wales for welcoming Anglicans stress that· those joining the Roman Catholic Church must accept all of its doctrines and teachings, including the authority of the pope.

"You just can't take church teaching a la carte; you've got to take the full menu," the cardinal said. . Navarro-Valls said that married Anglican priests asking to continue their ministry through ordination by the Catholic Church "recognize celibacy as a value, although they are asking that an exception be made."

Cardinal Hume said the exception first granted to married former Episcopal priests in the United States is expected to be extended to married Anglican clergy in Britain.

"The celibacy of priests in the church of the Latin rite is the norm," the bishops of England and Wales said in a Nov. 19 statement on married Anglican priests seeking ordination. "That is not at . stake.

"Rather, in these exceptional circumstances, consideration has to be given to the manner and extent in which it is possible, and desirable, to permit exceptions to this norm," the statement said.

Cardinal Hume said the bishops discussed with Cardinal Ratzinger and with Pope John Paul the situation of retired Anglican

/

Bishop Graham Leonard of London, a leader in the movement of Anglican clergy toward full communion with Rome.

The cardinal said no decision had been made on the level of ministry the 72-year-old former bishop, who has been married 50 years, could exercise in the Roman Catholic Church. While there are married Catholic priests, particularly in the Eastern rites, canon law requires bishops to be unmarried.

The cardinal told the British news agency Reuters in late November, "there has never been any question of him acting as a bishop in the Catholic Church."

Meeting reporters after his papal audience, Cardinal Hume said, "many technical' decisions have not been made yet," including those dealing with what additional studies would be required-of the former Anglican clergy before Catholic ordination.

The cardinal said the rules will have to be flexible enough to allow evaluation according to individual circumstances.

For example, he said, one Anglican who has approached him for ordination is 77 years old. It is unlikely that he would be required to spend years studying.

Joining Cardinal Hume for the Vatican meetings were: Bishops Alan Clark of East Anglia, 'Catholie co-chairman of the first Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission; Cormac MurphyO'Connor of Arundel and Brighton, Catholic co-chair of the second ARCIC dialogue; and Vincent Nichols, an auxiliary Gishop to Cardinal Hume.

One in Four One in four children under age 6 in the United States lives in poverty. (U.S. Census Bureau)

--------------------------------~rhrec~ cllurch agencies rank high on financial survey

NEW YORK (eNS) - Three Catholic agencies haY(' received high rankings in a MOlley magazint: survey for percentage of income spent on their p ·ograms.

Catholic Relief Servic es ranked second among 13 rdief and development agencies, and th eC".tholic Medical Mission Board rlaced fifth and Catholic Charities USA seventh among 40 socia services agencies.

The December issue ,)f Money, a monthly published in' New York

by Time Inc., contains its fifth annual rating of the I ~O largest publicly supported U.S charities_ bas.:d on data gathered by NonProfit Times of Skillman, N.J. Charities are divided into categories, and then listed according to the average percentage of income for the past three years spent on programs, which is distinguished from money spent on fund raising and administrative costf.

At the top of the 10C charities ranked, Money named AmeriCares Foundation, an a.genc) founded by businessman Robert Macauley and based in New Canalll; Conn.

The foundation also wa'~: first among 21 agencies listed in 'the health category. It reported income of $1 00.6 million in 199:;, and 99.1

percent was spent on programs.

The top ranking among relief and development agencies went to MAP International, an interdenominational Christian agency based in Brunswick, Ga. It reported 1992 income of $52.6 million with 95 percent devoted to programs.

CR S, the U.S. bishops' overseas development and relief agency, had a 1992 income of $290.3 million, and reported that 94.6 percent was spent on programs.

Kenneth Hackett, CRS director, is quoted as saying, "Links to Catholic dioceses across the country enable us to reach out in a very cost-effective way." .

Among the 40 social service agencies named, United Jewish Appeal was listed ,in first place. with 95 percent of its income devoted to programs, out of a 1992 income of $407.6 milliori.· Covenant House was 29th on the list, with a 1992 income of $80.8 and 68.7 percent spent on programs.

Catholic Medical Mission Board reported income of $25.6 million and 90.8 percent spent on programs. The figures for Catholic Charities USA were 86.7 percent and $1.8 .billion. " Jesuit' Father. James J. Yannarell, president of Catholic Medical Mission Board, said in an inter-

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13

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Dec. 10, 1993

view that he did not consider the numerical ranking particularly significant. But he said a high ranking showed that the agency was well run.

He noted that an agency such as his own that gets large donations of in-kind materials could maintain lower fund raising costs than those dependent on public appeals.

Observing that an agency's perc'entage performance could also be affected by the size of its budget, Father Yannarell said the Catholic Medical Mission Board could handle a $100 million program without much more administrative expense.

MARIAN MEDALS for parish service were awarded at a Dec. 5 service at S1. Mary's Cathedral. Among the 101 recipients, pictured with Bishop O'Malley, are (from left) David Caron, S1. Mary's, New Bedford; Carolyn Rooney, S1. Joseph, Woods Hole; Katherine Kiernan, Holy Rosary, Taunton; and Joe Correia, Santo Christo, Fall River. (Studio D photo)

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14- THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Dec. 10, 1993

By Charlie Martin

WHAT IS LOVE?

By Christopher Carstens "Honey, do you think you should wear that?"

"Mom, it's OK, all the kids wear them."

"I'm not so sure."

"Why do you have to be in con' trol of my whole life?"

"All I know is that your father would never let you wear ,it."

"This isn't a house. it's a jail!"

Sound familiar? Even ifyouiwd' your parents don't get this angry at each other, you've probably had conversations a lot like this. One of the most common arguments between teens and their parents is about clothes. ' People - and not just teens choose clothing that reflects how they want to be seen by others.

Business people who want to be taken seriously wear dark suits.

Kings wear crowns, and generals wear uniforms with medals all over the chest. Clothes announce not who you are, but how you want others to see you.

For teens. the choice of clothing style also sen'ds a message about group'membership. You can walk through the hall of virtually any junior high or high school and sort the kids into groups based on their clothing. ' Conflict between teens and parents over clothing is inevitable.

The teen years are a time for finding out who you are. for experimenting with different ways of acting and thinking. for trying out different friendships and new clothing styles. Parents. who generally liked their kids just fine in sixth grade often have a bit of trouble with all this experimentation.

The teens think they should be allowed to make their own choices. and the parents feel a need to ' have some say in the matter.

Mostly I come down with the teens on this one. Fashion and style change faster than grownups can fathom. What looks absolutely ridiculous to a 40-year-old dad

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may be just the thing that looks best to a 14-year-old kid. Teens have been wearing clothing their parents hated for a long time, and mostly they grew up just fine.

However. there are some specific situations where I still think parents can tell their kids to change clothes. Here they are: Some clothes are clearly inappropriate for some situations. Your Metallica shirt does not belong at church. My son used to wear a blue bandanna tied back across his hair. Little Richard style. What he wore around the neighborhood was his decision. but we wouldn't, take him out ~o dinner with his grandparents if he ,was wearing that.

Sometimes clothes kids choose are inappropriately revealing.' If parents think that your clothing shows too much of your body. they have a right to make you change.

Finally. some clothing.announces identification with groups that speil trouble. Here in California. kids who go out "sagged and bagged" or wearing all black are often announcing gang membership. In some neighborhoods the gangsters wea'r only red or blue, or. a certain brand of shoe or team jacket.

Parents can't keep up, but the school staff know. When parents worry about their kids' clothing. I suggest calling the school asking if it has any special meaning. If the principal or counselor says those clothes are the mark of a gang or of a group of kids who are into misbehavior. I think parents have a responsibility to clear those clothes out of the closet and replace them.

M ostly~ I think kids should be able to choose their' own clothing. but sometimes responsible parents step in.

Your comments are welcomed

by Dr. Christopher Carstens, c/o Catholic News Service, 3211 Fourth St. N.E., Washington, D.C. 20017.

ST. RITA is portrayed in a mosaic made by sixth grade CCO students at St. Rita's parish, Marion, for Religious Education Month. Marcus Monteiro (left) and T.J. Harkins are members of the class, taught by Terri Good. At a religious education open house Nov. 21, students assembled Thanksgiving food baskets to be distributed by the parish St. Vincent de Paul Society.

What is love?

Lady don't hurt me Don't hurt me no more.

What is love?

Lady don't hurt me Don't hurt me no more.

What is love? , I don't know You're not there I give my love But you don't care So what is right?

What is wrong?

Give me a sign.

I don't know What can I do?

What else can I say? ' It's up to you.

I know what I want Just me and you Can't go on I want no other No other lover This is'our life I would die We are together It could be forever Is this love?

Written by Dee Dee Halligan, Junior Torello.

Sung by Haddway (c) 1993 by Coconut Records CRANK UP those synthesizers and flash out those lasers!

Straight. from Tobago comes Haddway with their debut chart hit "What Is Love?" These techno-rockers feature a rhythm and beat that will energize every dancer. ' If you enjoy what techno has done to pop, this group provides much you will like. What the

song lacks in lyrics it makes up in sound. .

The song's story line is simple: Will love once more lead to hurt?

The guy in the song is ready to "give my love," but he wants a sign from the woman. He knows that "we are together" and "it could be forever." Yet, he wonders: "Is this love?" In other words, is this romance for real?

P~obably he has been hurt in the past, and thus he is cautious.

He wants to be sure, yet he can't escape the fact that love is always a risk.

So now, what? I would suggest that he follow the music's lead and cut to the essence of the situation. ,That means asking several questions.

What goal:;, values and interests are important to the other person? Is she looking for the same level of commitment that he seeks?

One hopes he has learned from past failures.

The best way to determine what kind of love you've found is to go slowly, very slowly. Discover how the other person operates in a variety of situations. Only the foolish give their hearts away because of how brightly the sparks of love burn on the dance floor.

For example, observe what happens when the other person is under stress. How does he or she handle conflicts and problems?

Does the other individual look to alcohol, drugs or sex to escape life's difficulties?

Also consider how this individual treats members of her family. Remember, you will become his or her family if you make this beginning romance into a permanent relationship. After the infatuation of new love wears off, this person can be expected to ,treat you the way he or she treats family members.

Sure, we are not likely to have every question answered before we make a decision about love.

But we need to recognize what aspects of life are significant to us. We can assess how well these match up with the other person's views and behaviors.

So don't go at love, like a dancer on the techno floor. Let love's beauty, mystery and promise unfold at a pace that protects you and the other person from a broken heart.

Your comments are welcomed

by Charlie Martin, RR 3, Box 182, Rockport, IN 47635.

Playing church organ is music to 13-year-old's ears MEDINA,Ohio(CNS)- There "My grandma took me to church was a brand new swimming pool one morning, and 1 told her 1 in the backyard of John Duplaga's wanted to play organ in a church," home in Medina this past summer. John said of the day he got the job But the 13-year-old barely went in at Holy Martyrs.

The woman who played organ it.

He preferred sitting at the up- at the 7:30 a.m. Sunday Mass was right piano in his living room and .leaving after 14 years, and John playing from the stack of sheet responded to an ad in the parish bulletin announcing the job openmusic that covers its top.

The eighth-grader loves the ing.

"I went to hear him," Ms. Stitt piano so much he plays whenever he can: in the morning before said. "I was impressed."

At the time, John had been takschool, in the afternoon when he gets home, during commercials ing piano lessons for less than when the family is watching tele- three years.

The only thing John enjoys as vision, and at night on a portable keyboard he keeps under his bed. much as playing the piano is buyHis love for the instrument land- ' ing sheet music. ed him a job in March as organist "I just ordered $87 worth of for the 7:30 a.m. Sunday Mass at music," he said proudly.

Holy Martyrs Church in Medina.

New sheet music is also his Said parish music director Mickey reward if he brings home a good Stitt ofthe youngster: "I call him a report card, said his mother, Liz little Mozart."

Duplaga.

Not only does he play well from "My filing cabinet is full," John sheet music, Ms. Stitt said, but he said. "My piano bench is full. 1 can play back almost anything he have a kitchen table in my room, and that's full." hears.

He takes medication to correct John said he plays by heart most of the songs used at Holy Martyrs. attention deficit disorder, a condiHe practices once a week on the tion that once made it almost impossible for him to concentrate church organ.

He told the Universe Bulletin, while at school, Mrs. Duplaga newspaperfor the diocese of Cleve- said.

Sounds of any kind continuland. that he had his sights set on ously distracted him. But at the being a church organist. '

piano, he has always been focused, she said.

John said he likes just about every kind of music, but he is especially fond of choral pieces.

He wrinkled his nose at the mention of "Moonlight Sonata" but smiled as he recalled banging out passages from Handel's "Messiah" last Easter at Holy Martyrs.

He has a bird named Beethoven and a dog named Mozart. But names aside, John is the only Duplaga who is musical, Mrs. Duplaga said.

"I have no idea where he got it from," she said. "I don't read music, and 1 don't even like music. 1 look forward to the days it's quiet."

She's had to adjust to living in a small house with a boy who can tell what musical key her appliances run in.

"The phone is in the key of F, and the vacuum cleaner is in Aflat," John explained as his mom answered the phone.

As for the future, he said he hopes to "play at a church with a big organ and be a choir director," and go to music school in California.

"Our church will never be able to hang on to him." Ms. Stitt said.

"When he turns IS or 16 he'll have so many scholarships coming his way."

, in dur schols'

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Dec. 10, 1993

St. Mary-Sacred Heart School

Bilshop Connolly Freshman Carla DiCorpo of Fall River is the recipient of the $500 Bishop Connolly Studen: Governmen': Leadership Sc:hola ·ship.

Members of the Fall River high school's student govemment awarded the scholarship based on essays written last August by incom"ing freshmen on t he topic "Lea.dership Qualities i:1 a High School Student."

Top essays were also 5ubmitted

by Mary Elizabeth Noone of Fall Rive r, second place; M.~lissa EslingE'r of Tiverton, RI, third place; and Holly Brooder of Westport, fourth place.

Fourteen members of the Class of'97 have been named :~angguth Scholars. The award hO:10rs Rev. Lawrence Langguth, S.J, one of the school's founders, ·.vho ·now serves in· Boston, and r~cognizes students who scored in the top tenth percentile on the Connolly plac~ment exam, have di ;tinguished academic records in grades 7 and 8, and earn honor roll status during their first marh1g period at Connolly.

The scholars are Anile Short, Catherine Hancock, Jenny Lynn, Matthew Cordeiro, Carla DjCorpo, Lau'ra Raymond, l\Ieghnn Ryan; Kathryn Lamontagne,.Tara Ag~ . rawnl, Jessica Chaloupka, Michelle Freeley, Matthew.GilIespie, Megan Burns and Peter Macy.

The freshman class has elected as officers Maia Chrupclolla, president; Mary Noone, vice president; Bethany White; secretary and Tara Agnlwal, treasurer.

Ye,arbook moderatOl Joanne Beau pre has appointed L~lUrie Leal editor-in-chief of Opus '94. Teresa Carreiro has been named associate editor in charge of ':he se:nior section and assistant editors are Kate Giblin, Rebecca Hal1lcock and Melanie Poisson. They are assited by a support staff of 15.

A makeup placement exam will be held 8 a.m. to II :.30 a.m. tomorrow at the school.

Holy FarnHy-Holy Narne Sichool Ea.ch grade at Holy FamilyHoly Name School, New Bedford, has undertaken an Advent project of ccllecting gifts for others ;n the community.

Preschooiers' gifts will go to a children's'home in Fall R \/er. Kindergarten students are collecting item:; for women and chldren at the Battered Women's ~ hel':er in New Bedford.

Grades 1,2 and:: are donating gifts to children with Al C S. Grade 4 is collecting gifts for a children's" hospital or other ·organization; grad~ 5 for needy children in the area: and grade 6 for residents of Tabor Nursing Home. Fourth-graders are using shoebcxes and Chri ,tmas cards to make manger scenes for display at nursing homes.

Seventh- and eighth-graders are' collecting personal item, for the hom~less staying at the Market Ministries Shelter in New Bedord.

T~,e sch'Ool's Thanksgi'/ing food' . drive, conducted with parishioners of St. Lawrence Chwcli, New Bedford, and the Missionaries of Charity: aided 32 families, double the' riu'riit>er heiped by last" 'lear's drive.' '. , ". ,"': ..... ; •. ' .. '.

T~e'foodpan,tfy ;s:'now ir'i'l1eed ' of gc ods for Christmas bask,~ts. '.',' '.

15

PILGRIMS AND INDIANS (from left) Kyle Reed, Molly Medeiros, Nicole Rego and Erin Marconi, kindergarteners at St. Joseph's School, Fairhaven, join pastor Father Patrick Killilea, SS.Ce., for a Thanksgiving Prayer Celebration last month.

Tsuyoshi Fukuda finds roundabout route to Bishop Feehan Being young, active, athletic and interested in what's going on in the world are not incompatible with religion - That's what Tsuyoshi Fukuda hopes to convey to his freshman and junior theology students at Bishop Feehan High School, Attleboro.

Himself a new member of the Catholic Church, Fukuda has made it his mission to help students see beyond stereotypes of people of faith.

A 1993 graduate of Holy Cross College, Worcester, with a major in religious studies, Fukuda became a convert during his college years after witnessing the faith example offacuity, priests and fellow students. He hopes to set a similar example for his students.

He is a member of the high school's campus ministry team and a volunteer in the Big Brother program, which he joined two years ago in Worcester. He now has two "little brothers" whom he visits weekly and takes to movies and sports events.

A member of the Holy Cross hockey team for two-and-a-half years, he is now assistant coach for Feehan varsity hockey.

"One of the first things I noticed"

about Bishop Feehan, Fukuda remarked, "was how helpful and disciplined the students are. I have loved it here!"

That is not to say, however, that all has gone off without a hitch since day one. In fact, Fukuda counts himself lucky that he even made it to school that first day: while on his way, his car was hit by a tire which had just disengaged from a tractor trailer truck. Though his car was totaled and Fukuda was shaken up, he arrived at school in time to greet the freshman class as they too began their careers at Feehan.

* * * * ,The Bishop Feehan Fine Arts Department will present the Advent/ Christmas musical program "Emmanuel, Child of Hope" 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17 and 2 p.m: Dec. 19 in the Feehan auditorium.

The prod uction, under direction of Elaine M. Saulnier, will include an 80 voice chorus, small orchestra, dance and narratives. Soloists will be Jeff Gomes, Jim Davidson, Ellen Cuttle, Elizabeth Hartmann, Tom Conlon, Elaine Walker, Henry Ty, Jane Medeiros, Jack McGuire, Jamie McHoul and Father David Costa.

St. Mary's School The wonders of God's creation was the theme ofSt. Mary's parish Thanksgiving celebration. As the Liturgy of the Word (Marty Haugen's "Creation") was sung by both the adult and, .children's choirs, representatives of St. Mary's School, religious education, youth group. and parillh family dramatized the story of creation. The

eucharistic table was dressed by the II-member Tremblay family.

Petitions were offered in' several languages to represent the rich heritage of the New Bedford parish, St. Mary's liturgy committee, under the guidance of Father Mark' Hession and Jackie Vardo, planned the celebration.

, THE STORY of cl'eation is played 'out with stuffed· animills at S1'. Mary's:Ch'urch; New Bedford. ," .

First through eighth grade music students at St. Mary-Sacred Heart School, North Attleboro, will present their Christmas program, "Here We: Come A-Caroling," to family members 7 p.m. Dec. 14 in the church hall. Grandparents and friends are invited to the dress rehearsal 10 a.m. Dec. 13, As an Advent project, all students participated in Project Bread's "Santa's Kitchen." The students decorated plastic and wooden spoons which will be sold in Boston stores. Proceeds benefit Project Bread's efforts to provide holiday meals to the homeless and hungry.

Kindergarteners recently held a "teddy be,ar picnic" to conclude their study of the letter.B. Second graders researched their, family trees.

For their studies of Native Americans and Pilgrims, third-

graders made models of Indian homes using grass, hay, sticks and dirt. After researching Pilgrim rules, students compiled their own "Colonial Rule Book" for the classroom.

In conjunction with National Geography Week, several fifthgraders gave presentations on various countries. Angela Catanese shared an album on her family's arrival from Italy and documents from their early days in the U.S. Stephanie Brunelli displayed items from Mexico, her mother's homeland. Erica Hamilton showed articles from Germany and Patty Bosworth brought in items her brother collected in Honduras.

Eighth-grader Marc Corriveau's original skit, "A Day without Water," was presented to grades 4 through 7 as part of the eighth grade's study of water'.

Coyle-Cassidy French students at Coyle-Cassidy High School, Taunton, took part in two field trips to Boston last week coordinated by teachers Vir-' ginia O'Brien and Sister Laurette deChamplain. French I and 11 students attended a performance of "Perchance to Dance in France" at John Hancock Hall, while French III and IV students went to a performance of"Le Petit Prince" at the Berkeley Center for the Performing Arts and had lunch at a French restaurant.

256. sfudents made the honor roll for the marking period ending Nov. 5. Freshmen Tara Good, Michael Hocking and Lauren Tavares received headmaster's list honors for earning all As. A makeup placement test for eighth-graders who were unable to' take the previously scheduled exam will be held tommorrow. Students taking the test should arrive at the school by 7:45 a.m. For information call the school at 823-6164.

Bishop Stang Four 1993 graduates of Bishop Stang High School, North Dartmouth, have been named AP' Scholars by the College Board for exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Examinations.

Alison IIJ. Fleming of Mattapoisett, now a freshman at UMassAmherst, qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award. Three Stang graduates qualified for the AP Scholar Award: Danielle C. DaCosta of Westport. attending the University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT; George M. Dos Santos of New Bedford, attending New York University; and Nicole A. Poisson of North Dartmouth, attending St. Joseph's College, also in West Hartford.

The Stang chapter of Students

Dominican Academy

Against Drunk Driving is offering holiday recipes for nonalcoholic punch. The group also offers tips for hosting safe parties. "The really responsible host stops serving alcohol at least one hour before the party is over and offers to provide safe transportation home for any guests who have been drinking alcohol," the group says.

Catholic teen wins volunteer award W ATSONVI LLE,Calif. (CNS) - Gabriela Santi va nez, a 13-yearold member of St. Patrick Parish in Watsonville, has won a national award for her volunteer work with the Second Harvest Food Bank in Watsonville.

Miss Santivanez, a freshman at Watsonville High School, was named winner of the J.e. Penney National Golden Rule award in the youth category. She was chosen from among 10,000 nominees.

Her two years of dedicated volunteer work at the food bank has included everything from handling the food assistance hot line to managing the office. "I've worked in every single department' of the food bank," she said.

As a national winner, Miss Santivanez will receive a $5,000 scholarship, a $5,000 grant for her organization and a specially created crystal award. ,Established in 1982, the J.e.

Penney Golden Rule Awards rec.ognize outstanding volunteers ·in community service throughout the' United States illld ~re ~amed after.

James' Cash Pe;nneY'~ firs~ store, The Golden'Ruk

The Dominican Academy, Fall River, chorus, with 60 members directed by, John Travers, performed a Christmas concert for parents and guests on Dec. 7.

Further concerts will be Dec. 14 at the Swansea Mall, 2:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at Catholic Memorial Home.

Fall River; and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at Kimwell Nursing Home, Fall River. The event includes a Christmas play performed by the French Club.

An Advent project directed by Sister Irene Comeau, SSJ, has each grade collecting items requested by the Rockland Street Shelter.

Kindergarten through grade 3 will supply baby items and upper grades toys, paper goods and toiletries.

For Thanksgiving, kinderga-rten through grade 3 students dressed as Indians and Pilgrims and visited elderly sister.s in the convent. They Np Such J]iing . sang songs, rec.ited pQelps ~nd del7 ivered baskets of fruit and cakes. ; "There j'~ ~'6 such thing' as a.

Carol Brickhill 6rg~nizes the an- , i1~'n\\iorki'ni;(m~ther';(.:· H~st~~' Mudis .'.....,; "~~" nual event.

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16- ·THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Dec. 10,.1993

SACRED HEARTS RETREAT CENTER, WAREHAM Open house 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 19 with Christmas lights and refreshments.

EMMAUS/GALILEE Advent gathering 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Neumann Hall, Cathedral Camp, E. Freetown.

ST. JOHN EV ANGELIST, POCASSET Concert by Father Andre Patenaude 7:30 tonight; refreshments follow in parish center.

.

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SS. PETER AND PAUL, FR Grades I through 5 will perform Christmas musical "Super Gift from Heaven" Dec. 14 and 15 in Father Coady Center. Rectory open house 5:30 p.m. and neighborhood Christmas caroling 6:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 19.

ST. MARY, ATTLEBORO Gifts for shut-ins, wrapped and marked for a man or woman, will be collected at Christmas day Masses.

Mass for expectant and new mothersand their families 11:30a.m. Dec. 26 followed by reception; those planning to attend should contact John Choberka at 695-5556.

ST. LOUIS, FR Saints and Singers Chorus will present "The Heart of Christmas" 4 p.m. Sunday.

CA THEDRAL CAMP, E. FREETOWN ORE Enrichment 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. Kingdom of God prayer group retreat today through Sunday.

ST. JACQUES, TAUNTON Women's Council Advent Mass and celebration Dec. 14. Participants asked to bring Christmas ornament for exchange. Toys for Tots will be collected. Information: Barbara Foster, 824-9782 after 6 p.m.

ST. MARY, NORTON Wrapped giving tree gifts should be brought to church by Dec. 19.

Divorced/ Separated Group meet-· ings 7 p.m. Dec. 19 and 26, parish center meeting room; topic: "How to Cope with Depression and Stress Through the Holidays." St. Mary's Ultreya meets 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14, church.

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ST. JOSEPH, TAUNTON Parish penance service 7 p.m. Dec. 17; confessions will be heard in Portuguese as well as English.

ST. STANISLAUS, FR Caroling by trolley 5 p.m. Dec. 17.

O.L. CAPE, BREWSTER Christmas Cantata, "Call Him Jesus," 4 p.m. Dec. 19; CCD children will present tableau.

NOTRE DAME, FR School chorus Christmas concert 2 p.m. Sunday, school aUditorium.

Parish Christmas concert featuring parishioners and BMC Durfee High School students 7 p.m. Dec. 19.

KENNEDY-DONOVAN CENTER,NB . The school seeks volunteers to assist special needs children's classroom activities, field trips and special events. Orientation and training provided. Information: Dave Erickson, 992-.rl56.

LaSALETTE CENTER, ATTLEBORO Jesse Tree family retreat 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 17 through lunchtime Dec. 19.

"Not a Creature Was Stirring, Not Even a Mouse" retreat Dec. 27 to 31 will offer quiet personal reflection time. Daily Mass and meals provided. Attend overnight or as a commuter. "Is it Really a New Year?" retreat Jan. 7 to 9. Information: 22:>8530.

ST. LOUIS DE FRANCE, SWANSEA Returnable bottles and cans are being collected in receptacles at church and youth center to benefit the new youth community program.

ST. DOMINIC, SWANSEA Advent Evensong 7 p.m. Sunday.

HOLY NAME, NB Giving tree gifts to aid Birthright, Kennedy-Donovan Center and Market Ministries should be brought to church by Dec. 19. Unwrapped toys and gifts for children ages 3 to 15 may be brought to CCD office any Sunday morning until Christmas.

ST. PATRICK, SOMERSET Giving'tree gifts should be placed under tree by Dec. 12.

Miami archdiocese publishes religion text in Spanish MIAMI (CNS) - The Archdiocese of Miami has published a Spanish-language religion textbook for Hispanic children that helps them not only relate to their faith but appreciate their culture.

"It was born out of necessity," said Dominican Sister Rosa Monique Pena, archdiocesan director of religious education.

"A large number of children come from other countries with little religious instruction and they need a transitional textbook to help them relate to their faith," she told La Voz Catolica, the archdiocese's Spanish-language newspaper.

The first chapter emphasizes strengthening children's self-images by teaching them to appreciate their own identity and Hispanic cultures.

Written in simple language, the book relies on life experiences of children to study Christianity. It offers games, songs, drawings, pictures, and lessons about historical figures, from St. Teresa to former Mexican president Benito Juarez.

"It's a summary of faith," said Sister Pena. It also provides a bridge for Spanish speakers to become integrated into parishes and religious education programs.

Further information on the textbook is available from the Archdiocese of Miami Religious Education Department, 9401 Biscayne Blvd., Miami Shores, Fla., 33138, tel. (305)757-6241, ext. 183.

Religi"on,'war intertwined in European history MILAN, Italy (CNS) - With the white facade of Milan's Gothic cathedral and its forest of spires as a backdrop, about 200 international religious leaders lit candles and silently prayed in the northern Italian twilight.

As an early evening wind whipped through their prayer shawls, cassocks and robes, the leaders walked to a table to sign a short peace appeal.

It was a symbolic effort to show a world torn by religiously accented wars that people of religion can unite for peace.

"No hate, no conflict, no war should find an encouragement from religion," said the appeal.

But it was also an acknowledgement that in the contemporary world, religions have little clout in preventing conflicts waged in their names.

"We are aware that we have neither material means nor power.

The poverty of believers is not to be concealed," added the appeal.

The recent outdoor ceremony climaxed a four-day meeting of world religious leaders sponsored by the Catholic archdiocese of Milan and the Community of San Egidio, a Catholic lay group, to discuss the role of religions in world affairs.

During the conference, warweary religious leaders from various trouble spots denied that wars in their lands were motivated by religion. They contended that religious beliefs were manipulated for political ends.

Perhaps the most dramatic illustration of this position came when a panel discussion on what was once Yugoslavia ended in hugs among Catholic Croat, Serbian Orthodox and Bosnian Muslim leaders.

Christianity is in a religious "Stone Age, when the church has no influence on politics, on power," said Serbian Orthodox Bishop Trifunovic Laurentije.

The current efforts to end the fighting in Bosnia-Herzegovina by dividing it into Serbian, Croatian and Muslim enclaves point out another cause for frustration among church officials advocating tolerance and mutual respect for others.

They feel that such separation could give the impression that Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims simply cannot live together.

Religious liberty has been unable to overcome the political antagonisms that separate many Catholics from many Protestants, leaders noted.

The Milan cathedral, in a certain sense, symbolizes how Christianity in Europe, at least, has been historically tied to wars and soldier-kings.

The cathedral, one of the world's biggest churches, is a monument to faith. Its 135 spires are topped with statues of saints; yet it owes much of its construction to the spoils of war. Its building began in 1386 under the leadership of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Milan's ruler, noted as a soldier often at war with the king of Italy.

But the evidence of history and contemporary realities did not generate pessimism in Milan.

Pope John Paul II set the meeting's tone with a message to the conference noting a "promising spiral of peace." He cited the recent Israeli-Palestinian peace accord and last year's pact ending Mozambique's civil war. The latter was mediated by the San Egidio community and the country's Catholic bishops.

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Libreria Editrice Vaticana THE SPANISH edition of the new Catechism of the Catholic Church is now available. Manana the English edition? (CNS photo)