For some, Giving Tree program is a tangible Christmas miracle By
DEACON JAMES
N.
DUNBAR
and shampoo that are given on a FALL RIVER - I f you don't regular basis to CSS. And a CSS believe in miracles or that it's food basket is another gift." much better to give than receive, Frias has also found that God just ask Mary Lou Frias. plays a giant role - sometimes a For a decade, Frias, who has miraculous role - in making it been the volunteer coordinator for all happen. the Gift of Giving Program for the "I'll tell you a story," she told Fall River Diocese's Office of The Anchor last week. Catholic Social Services, has seen "Some years ago in the final first-hand how important Christ- stages of trying to match the mas presents can be to raising the goods to the request tags hung on hearts and minds - - - - - - - - - - - - Giving Trees of needy families "It was the most wonder- set up in our and their children ful Christmas story, and I par ish e s to the story and remember how it affected throughout the me~n~ng. of all of us. It made all of us diocese, we reChf1~t s bIrth. realize how good God is." alized we were Smce Hallowrunning out of een, Frias and girls' and lanearly 200 fellow volunteers have dies' jeans in size 14 so many had been spending their spare time asked for," related Frias, who hails and weekends collecting, pur- from Dartmouth and is a parishchasing, wrappirig and delivering ioner at St. John Neumann Parish warm clothing, toys and other in East Freetown. necessary items families have "Then, like now, we had begun asked for to help brighten路 their in the fall to take in the donations Christmas. from parishes, schools and indi"Last year we handed out ap- viduals as well as from business proximately 10,000 gifts to nearly and industrial donors. At the time 4,000 families and children, and we were using the former St. in the corning weeks we expect to Mary's Cathedral :School facility do the same - or even more as our working headquarters. As and in these final weeks it means we received the final donations we we'll be at it Sundays and nights," became anxious because no jeans she explained. were coming in. So we prayed "Our aim is to give each needy that God would provide," Frias rechild a great outfit of clothes and called. a great toy," she said. "It is also Then the miracle happened. for children, or adults who might "A man walked in with two gibe handicapped. For families of ant-sized plastic bags. He said he five or more we toss in other didn't know what was in them, but Tum to page 18 - Tree things, basic needs, like blankets
MAJESTIC MANGER - Students of Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford bring the baby Jesus to the aitar in this modern recreation of the birth of the Christ Child at Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago. (Photo courtesy of Susan Massoud)
N.B. Catholic school's Christmas pageant is just a little off Broadway By DEACON JAMES N.
DUNBAR
NEW BEDFORD - With a 2,OOO-year-old story line, an infant playing the baby Jesus, a cast of 225, and a choir backed up by professional, symphony orchestra musicians, Holy Family-Holy Name School's 2007 Christmas pageant extravaganza "Our Gift of Love" will be presented December 16 at 3 p.m., in St. Lawrence Church. "It's the greatest story ever told and this has been an annual event by the entire school for nearly 17 years," reported Cecilia Felix, principal at Holy Family-Holy Name School. "We feel it is our gift of love to the entire community in remembrance of the Christ Child at Christmas, who has come and will come again with his love," Felix added.
c-c students spread hope at 'Toy Mass'
In response to a comment that the well-staged, wellrehearsed pageant has all the earmarks of an off-Broadway (New York) show, Felix quipped that the pageant in St.Lawrence Church "is on Summer Street in New Bedford." The 30-minute presentation staged in the sanctu: ary of the church "offers everyone the opportunity to spend a half hour of love for Jesus and allow him to enter our minds and hearts," she added. Felix recalled that in a recent year one young student commented that it is the same story presented the prior year. "That made it easy to explain that this is indeed the greatest story, the birth of the Messiah, the Redeemer, and needs to be repeatedly told at Christ's birthday for Tum to page 10 - Pageant
Decernber 16, 2007 Third Sunday of Advent
By MATT McDONALD ANCHOR STAFF
'TIS THE SEASON - Some of the several thousand gifts presented to area needy children at a Christmas past fill one of the rooms at the headquarters of the Diocesan Office of Catholic Social Services at 1600 Bay Street in Fall River. The scene will be repeated in coming weeks as hundreds of volunteers collect, purchase, label and transport the presents to needy in parishes. (Photo courtesy of Mary Lou Frias)
TAUNTON - The procession of people handing over toys, dolls, boardgames, and sporting equipment wasn't half over and the students on stage were having trouble finding places to put them. Scores of potential Christmas presents were stacked in piles, as most of the 735 students at Coyle and Cassidy High School and their teachers continued to come forward, each with something appropriate for a child. Tum to page 20 - Toys
NEARLY THERE - Third-graders from Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford gather around the Advent wreath.
, NEWS FROM THE VAT{CAN ,
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Pontiff says Advent is reminder that God will never abandon his children VATICAN CITY (CNS) -.:. Ad- God, he said. vent is a time for prayer and trust that He said God asks the faithful to call God will never abandon his children, on him in times of trouble, and the even during turbulent times, Pope Lord will say, "I will free you and you Benedict XVI said at his weekly gen- will give me glory." eral audience. The pope told some 8,000 pilgrims 'The Lord will fight to defend you," gathered in the hall that the fourth-cenhe said, quoting St. Chromatius. ''It is . tury saint teaches that ''Advent is a time God who brings victory in the end:' of prayer" and a time to get in touch During a recent general audience with God. in the Vatican's Paul VI hall, the pope "God knows us, he knows me, he continued a series of talks on writers knows each one ofus, he loves me and of the early Church with a catechesis will not desert me," the pope said. on S1. Chromatius, the fourth-century Pope Benedict said St. Chromatius .bishop ofAquileia in northern Italy. emphasized the divinity and humanThe bishop stayed close to his flock ity of Christ and the dignity of Mary. and "opened their hearts to trust in God ''The Incarnate Word is true God who never abandons his children" and true man" who integrally became even during times oftrouble and inse- human to offer humanity the "gift of curity, the pope said. . his own divinity," the pope said. The Lord will protect his loved He said the saint called Mary "the ones not because of their merits, but evangelical virgin, capable of receivbecause he is a loving and merciful ing God."
Pope says promoting peace requires respect for unchanging moral values VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pro- position of a notion of law and polimoting lasting peace, justice and hu- tics which ultimately makes consenman dignity requires solidarity and sus between states - a consensus a respect for unchanging moral val- conditioned at times by short-term ues, Pope Benedict XVI said. interests or manipulated by ideologiMeeting with representatives of cal pressure - the only real basis of 85 Catholic agencies recognized as international norms," he said. nongovernmental organizations by The "bitter fruits" of such an apthe United Nations and other inter- proach, the pope said, are seen in atnational bodies, Pope Benedict said . tempts to define "as human rights the the problems of humanity cannot be consequences of certain self-cen. solved without a clear acceptance of tered lifestyles; a lack of concern for ethical norms. the economic and social needs of the "International discussions often poorer nations; contempt for humanitarian law; and a selective deseem marked by a relativistic logic," which is convinced that the only way fense of human rights." to find agreement and promote Pope Benedict said he hoped the peaceful coexistence is to ignore the recent meeting of the Catholic nonfact that each human life was cre- governmental organizations with the ated by God and to pretend that there Vatican Secretariat of State and Vatiare no moral absolutes, the pope can diplomats serving at U.N. and said. other international agencies would ''This has led, in effect, to the im- lead to a more coordinated effort to defend human dignity; promote solidarity and explain the social teachCAPE COD ing of the Catholic Church. NATIONAL MORTGAGE ''What is needed, in fact, is a spirit of solidarity conducive for promoting as a body those ethical principles which, by their very nature and their Low, low rates starting at role as the basis of social life, remain nonnegotiable," the pope said. * "A spirit of solidarity imbued NO POINTS, NO CLOSING COSTS with a strong sense of fraternal love 1ST, 2ND, 3RD MORTGAGES leads to a better appreciation of the PURCHASE OR REFINANCE IMPROVEMENT, REPAIR initiatives of others and a deeper DEBT CONSOLIDATION desire to cooperate with them," he CREDIT CARD PAY OFFS, HOME EQUITY, COMMERCIAL said. 2ND HOMES, TUmON, SELF EMPLOYED He also said they must'remain NO INCOME VERIFICATION POOR CREDIT - NO CREDIT firmly Catholic.
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SACRED SPACE - Pope Benedict XVI prays at the Vatican's replica of the grotto of France's Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes during a gathering of Vatican employees and the public in the Vatican Gardens last May. (eNS photo/Dario Pignatelli, Reuters)
Plenary indulgence for Lourdes' 150th anniversary OK'd by pope By CAROL GLATZ CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
VATICAN CITY - To mark the 150th anniversary of Mary's appearance to St. Bernadette Soubirous near Lourdes, France, Pope Benedict XVI authorized a special indulgence to encourage renewed holiness. Catholics can receive a plenary indulgence for taking part in any public or private devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes, said U.S. Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, a Vatican court dealing with indulgences and matters of conscience. As Christians strive to become more holy, they can look to Mary who "calls the faithful to her son and his sacrifice and to the love of the Father," said the cardinal, quoting from "Lumen Gentium," the Second Vatican Council's Dogmatic Constitution on the Church. The Vatican published the cardinal's statement announcing the indulgence and outlining the requirements for receiving it December 5. An indulgence is a remission of the temporal punishment due for sins committed. A plenary indulgence is the remission of all punishment. Cardinal Stafford said the indulgence can also be applied to the souls of the faithful in purgatory. Catholics can receive the indulgence during two time frames. Pilgrims visiting the Massabielle grotto, where Mary appeared to St. Bernadette, can re-
ceive the indulgence during the Lourdes jubilee year, which runs from December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, until Dec. 8, 2008. Pilgrims who visit any public sanctuary, shrine or other worthy place dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes may receive the indulgence February 2-11. February. II is the day the first of 18 apparitions occurred and is the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. February 2 is the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Cardinal Stafford said that to obtain the special indulgence one must fulfill the normal requirements set by the Church for all plenary indulgences; these inelude the person going to confession within a reasonably short period of time, receiving the Eucharist and praying for the intentions of the pope, all in a spirit of total detachment from the attrac. tion of sin. Those who make a pilgrimage
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to Lourdes must visit the following sites, preferably in this order: the parish where 51. Bernadette was baptized; - the Soubirous family home; the chapel where St. Bernadette received her first Communion. At each location the faithful should end their meditation by praying the Lord's Prayer, the creed and the special jubilee prayer or a prayer to Mary. Those visiting a holy place dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes in another part of the world February 2-11 also should pray the Lord's Prayer, the creed and the special jubilee prayer or a prayer to Mary. Catholics who cannot visit Lourdes or join a communal service dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes because of illness or other serious reason could still earn the indulgence "in their own home or wherever they are" February 2-11, Cardinal Stafford said.
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPEROF THE -, DIOCESE OF FAll RIVER Vol. 51, No. 48
Member: Catholic Press Association. CUlholic News Servicc
Published weekly except for two weeks In the summer and the week after Christmas bythe Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall Rive~ 887 Highland Avenue ' Fall River, MA 02720, Telephone 508-675-7151 - FAX' 508-675-7048, email; theanchor@anchomews.org. Subscription price by mail, pos1paid $14.00 peryear. Send address changes to P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA, call or use email address PUBLISHER· Most Reverend George W. Coleman I EXECUTIVE EDITOR Father Roger J. Landry tatherroger1andry@anchomews.org I I EDITOR David B. Jollvet daveJolivet@anchornews.org : ·1 NEWS EDITOR Deacon James N. Dunbar Jlmdunbar@anchornews.org i REPORTER Matt McDonald mattmcdonald@anchornews.org REPORTER Brian Kennedy brlankennedy@anchomews.org I OFFICE MANAGER Mary Chase marychase@anchornews.org I
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POS1MAST6RS .seIld address changes to The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA CYl.722. nm ANCflOR (USPS-545-Q20) Periodical Postage Paid at Fall River, Mass.
DECEMBER ·14,
~ THE INTERNATIONAL CHURCH ,
2007
Her family makes a day of the market, she said. Following Mass at St. Catherine's Church, she comes with her children and grandchildren to immerse themselves in the Christmas spirit, she said. "We love to come and feel the joy of Christmas and buy my grandchildren some toys and sweets," said Tabash, as a marching band played in the back-
ground. "We like to come here after our prayers and feel the start of the preparations for Christmas." Later, she said, her family would have lunch at the Peace Center and listen to Christmas carols. "Every year we pray for peace. Bethlehem is the most holy place in the worl~ and we hope there will be peace here," she said.
National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette 947 Park Street - Attleboro, MA 02703 NOVEMBER 22, 2007 - JANUARY 1,2008 2007 La Salette Christmas Season Theme: "Love is Born" MASS Monday - Friday 12:10 & 5:30 p.m. Saturday - Sunday 12:10,4:00 & 5:30 p.m. December 24 - Midnight Mass
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION WHERE IT ALL STARTED - Rochelle Friesen, 22, of Canada, and Malika Bahouadinova, 26, of Tajikistan, look at Christmas ornaments at the Christmas Market in Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, West Bank recently. (CNS photo/Debbie Hill)
Every Day 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. No Confessions Dec. 25 & Jan. 1,2008 Dec. 24 & 31: 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Bethlehem's one-day Christmas Market helps buoy people's spirits
OPENING CEREMONY & BLESSING
By JUDITH SUDILOVSKY CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE BETHLEHEM, West Bank Just like the local traffic winding its way slowly up toward Nativity Square, Bethlehem is filled with a feeling of stagnation and uncertainty. Even the seasonal rain pelting down on the Christmas Market shoppers in Nativity Square is not steady as it comes in fits and starts, leaving people unsure whether to run for shelter or to continue their shopping. "Things are more calm here politically than in other Palestinian cities, but economically the situation is worse. People here depend on tourism and that is not good now," .said Shireen, a 26year-old Catholic. Shireen, who used only her first name, was waiting out the late-morning drizzle inside the Peace Center building which borders Nativity Square. Her 29-year-old Catholic friend, Rula Sammour, noted that the late-November Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Md., has given people a bit of hope things wip begin to move again after a long time of feeling stuck, but still there is a sense of frustration in the city. Malika Bahovadinova, wandering around the stalls among a sprinkling of local shoppers, said Bethlehem looks very sad on most days. A 26-year-old from Tajikistan, she has been interning' for the past five months at the International Conflict Resolution Center in Bethlehem. "The city is basically empty,"
she said. "Most days the city has an empty feeling." But as the Christmas season gets underway, the annual, oneday Christmas Market buoys people's spirits. Vendors from Norway offer free tastes of Norwegian cheese, salami and salmon wraps; young Danes wearing Santa hats man a booth selling Danish toys. Greek baked goods, Italian pottery, Egyptian Christ- . mas decorations and South African wooden carvings are on sale. "Whenever you have these types of events, it helps people to forget about their problems. Now with all the difficulties inside (the Palestinian) government and between Israelis and Palestinians, people need something like this,"
R~ve
ILLUMINATIONS Every Day 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
said Serop Emerzian, 36, an Armenian Catholic who'came from Jerusalem with his wife and two children. A tall, robust Norwegian clad in a white chef's hat and white apron assured anotlier man that none of the wraps contained ham since Muslims are prohibited from eating pork. "There should have been some ham," Emerzian said, lamenting its absence. "Ham is good. We are Christian, we can eat anything." Florence Tabash, 50, fingered some of the toys in the Danish booth as she decided which to. buy for her grandchildren. Then she moved on to examine the other offerings before making a decision.
de NoIJl by
CHRISTMAS CONCERTS FR. PAT Sunday - Saturday - Church 3:00 & 7:00 p.m. Except'Wednesdays Guest Artist on Wednesdays when possible Guest Artist Saturday, December 8 No Concerts: Christmas & New Year's Day
INTERNATIONAL DISPLAY OF NATIVITY SETS No International Nativity Display this year Returns in 2008
HOLY HOUR Eucharistic Holy Hour and devotions to Our Lady o(:La Salette and Divine Mercy Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Monastery Chapel
PAX CHRISTI MEETINGS 7:15 p.m. Tuesday December 18 In the Monastery Chapel
MASS FOR THE UNBORN 4:00 p.m. Mass Saturday, December 22
PRAYER GROUP AND DISCUSSION December 20 7:15 in the Monastery Chapel Wjth Dr. Ryan Welter
CAFETERIA November 23, 2007 - January 1, 2008
Jostle Vachon
French traditional Christmas favorites in Jos~'s warm vocals: Sainte nuit (Silent Night), C'est .!AJ",A..I'hiver (Let it snow), Les cloches du Hameau, Man Dieu Benissez la nouvelle annee (God Bless the New~:... r~ Year), 10 more. .
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World ~onference studies impact of abortion on men By DAN MORRiS-YOUNG CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE SAN FRANCISCO - While the impact of abortion on men is low on the cultural'radar, there is overwhelming research, clinical experience and' anecdotal evidence that men can be profoundly traumatized by the elective loss ofa child whether they encouraged it, resisted it or only learned'of it after the fact. ' This was the view of speakers at the first international conference on men and abortion held in San Francisco in late November. Nearly 200 people from at least seven nations and 28 states gathered at St. Mary's Cathedral to hear the personal stories of men affected by abortion, reports on research on the topic, and presentations by counselors and therapists on the treatment of men suffering post-abortion grief. Organized by the Milwaukeebased National Office ofPost-Abortion Reconciliation and Healing, the "Reclaiming Fatherhood: A Multifaceted Examination of Men Dealing With Abortion" conference was co-sponsored by the Archdiocese of San Francisco and the national office of the Knights of Columbus. ''Men's bodies are busy with their own changes" during a mate's pregnancy, said Victoria M. Thorn, executive director of the post abortion group, "although the physiology of men during pregnancy is not yet taken seriously." The speakers included men who shared personal stories of how abortion had unexpectedly pulled the carpet out from under their lives. Chris Aubert, 50, an attorney, traced his life from days as a ''very secular young guy" focused on "making money and in general becoming a yuppy" to his shocking realization during 'a 1994 ultrasound procedure for his pregnant wife ''that that is a baby" in her womb. It flooded over him, he said, that on two occasions prior to his marriage he had agreed with pregnant girlfriends to terminate their pregnancies. "I realized that I had killed two ofmy own kids,'; he said. "It was almost like the hand ofqod reached
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down and touched me." He recalled how after the first abortion in 1985 he had left a rose and a $200 check for his then-girlfriend. "But I felt no sorrow, no pain, no nothing," he said. "I had happily agreed to the abortion." Similarly, he described a second abortion in 1991 with a different woman. "I went to the clinic with her and sat in the waiting room reading a magazine for 20 or 30 minutes, then we went to lunch," he said. It did not occur to him, Aubert said, "that in the next room my child was being dismembered and killed." "Something in the depth of my belly," he said, "kept rising higher and higher" as the realization of the loss of two children sank in. By then a convert to Catholicism, Aubert said he told his wife, 'There is something I have to tell you," and he revealed the past abortions. He has since "jumped (with) both feet into the Pro-Life world." He has established aWebsite on his experiences and abortion, chrisaubert.com. Mark Bradley Morrow, a licensed Christian counselor and Milwaukee radio personality, told participants that as young man he had "within the space of 20 months conceived four children in my apartment and allowed my four babies to be aborted in four different states." For 15 years, he said, he "did not feel a lot of pain or guilt," but then experienced "a meltdown one night when I thought of what I had done in the past." His symptoms included "shame, anger, anxiety attacks and nightmares." Worrying what people would think of him, he reluctantly shared his history with his wife, family and others who, he said, have been ''kind, loving and supportive." "Not all men are negatively impacted by abortion," Morrow said, "but many are, and they need your love, encouragement and compassion." Experts said substance abuse and risk-taking behaviors, even contemplated suicide appear common among men associated with anabortion.
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Current Weekend Retreat Offerings .January 11 - 13, 2008 - Christian Yoga Retreat .January 18 - 20, 2008 - Women's Retreat February 15 -17, 2008 - Men's Retreat February 15 - 17, 2008 - Single's Retreat March 14 - 16, 2008 ' - Portuguese Retreat March 20 - 23, 2008 - Triduum Retreat ',' April 4 - 6, 2008 - Women's Ret;eat April1!' - 13, 2 0 0 8 - Married Couples Retreat For more information, please call or write the Retreat Secretary eornall: lasalettert~treats @hotmili1.com website: www.lasalette-shrine.org
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FOR T~E ~~EET TOOTH - A ~tudent at Our Lady of Mercy High School in Rochester, N.Y., puts decorative ICing on one of .an estimated 2,~OO Chris!mas cookies recently. The cookies, along with several hundred donated giftS, were to be given to patients at the Rochester Psychiatric Center during an annual Christmas party organized by the Sisters of Mercy and staffed by volunteers from the school. (CNS photo/Mike Crupi, Catholic Couriel)
Big, open spaces not an option for Washington, New York papal events By PATRICIA ZAPOR CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
first trip to the United States as pope Great Lawn, the city restored the April 15-20, the opportunities for the well-trampled field and imposed WASHINGTON Pope public to see him will be limited to new restrictions on how the space Benedict XVI's trip to the U.S. next Masses at two baseball stadiums in can be used, Zwilling told CNS. Paspring brings a different kind ofpope , Washington and New York, with a pal Masses are no longer a possibilto a different environment in terrris capacity of probably no more than ity there. . of security than when millions of 45,000 and 65,000, respectively, and The cost of a Mass on the Mall people were able to participate in a rally for perhaps 15,000 youths and would have run into the millions of Masses celebrated by Pope John' seminarians. Other events in both dollars, Gibbs said. A Washington cities are invitation-only. Post report on the logistics of the Paul II on his U.S. visits. One reason the liturgies with 1979 Mass on the Mall estimated the When Pope John Paul visited the United States in 1979, his weeklong Pope Benedict won't be on the Na- cost to the city and the archdiocese trip included huge, open public tional Mall or in Central Park is sim- at $1.9 million, or about $4.25 milMasses attended by hundreds of ply t,hat neither locale was available, lion in 2007 dollars. The thousands of people at each venue, according to communications offi- archdiocese's share, about $400,000, ranging from an Iowa farm field to cials with the Washington and New would translate to more than $1.1 Washington's National Mall. York archdioceses. million today. The scenes were repeated when Susan Gibbs, communications And those expenses included Pope John Paul returned for a director for the Washington Archdio- . none of the contemporary security multicity tow: in 1987, celebrating cese, said the pope's visit follows measures that such a Mass would reliturgies in 'the New Orleans immediately after the city's National quire today, such as metal detectors Superdome, a California racetrack, Ch~rry Blossom Festival and the and fencing to keep out people who an empty San Antonio field and Mall- the expanse oflawn between haven't been screened. Both other huge spaces. the Washington Monument and the Zwilling and Gibbs acknowledged When Pope Benedict makes his U.S. Capitol-could not be booked. that security is much easier to handle ' For one thing, the National Park at a structure like a baseball stadium. Service schedules time for the mall's No tickets and no security checks-: grassy areas to recover after big were necessary. But after a would-be assassin seevents, especially in the spring, Gibbs told Catholic News Service. The time riously wounded the pope during a to construct a stage for an altar and public audience in St. Peter's Square the related spaces necessary for stag- in 1981; and the 2001 terrorist ating a Mass concelebrated by hun- . tacks, especially in the cities ofNew Start your day with aur hearty breakfast. dreds ofpriests also would have been York and Washington, security and Stroll to the beoch in Kennebunkport tickets are needed. a problem, she said. village or relax in our saltwater pooL ''We had considered several sites, Joseph Zwilling, communicaAunique, yet affordable experience tions director for the NewYorkArch- including the Mall," Gibbs said. diocese, said that "Central Park "The Nationals' stadium was our wasn't an option" for this papal visit. first choice. The building ivm be As recently as 1995, Pope John very new, and will have many of the Paul celebrated Mass in New York's services we would need already in Central Park, and it was attended by place, including hospitality, security, an estimated 250,000 people. Then, seating, areas for priests to vest, an tickets were required for certain seC- audio system and so on." tions .but the g~neral pu1;>,lic could In addition, a new entrance to the .franciscan Q5ue5t .fi>o.U5e walk up and participate in the liturgy Metro subway systema block away A little taste of Heaven on Earth fro~ outside the Great Lawn, with from the stadium, should be ready 26 Beach Avenue' Kennebunkport, Maine by opening day for the 'Major thebe\p ofjumbo television screens. (207) 967-4865 ' But not long after that Mass, as League Baseball season, two weeks www.franclscanguesthouse.com. . welias some huge conct:rts"onthe before Pope Benedict arrives.
Yes, you can enjoy an AFFORDABLE vacation in Southern Maine...
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51 Allegation made against Maine priest who once worked in Fall River Diocese
FAR FROM HOME - An Iraqi family posed for a photo in their house in Istanbul, Turkey, this past July. The Chaldean Catholic family is among tens of thousands of Christians who have fled Iraq for safe haven in other countries. (CNS photo/Osman Orsal, Reuters)
A new diaspora; war may be end of Christianity in Iraq, says bishop LONDON (CNS) - The war in. ture:' he said. "We have to save this Iraq might have caused the end of coexistence, this nice experience of Christianity in the country, said a history, in spite of all the ~fficul ties which we have." Chaldean Catholic bishop. The bishop's comments came as Bishop Antoine Audo ofAleppo, Syria, said that the hundreds of the Iraqi government said that refuthousands of Christians who had gees slowly were beginning to refled their homes in the aftermath of turn to the homeland after a decline the 2003 U.S.-led invasion were still . in sectarian violence. The reverse flow has followed a recent surge in too scared to go home. He told Catholic News Service U.S. and Iraqi military operations in a late November interview in against terrorists and militia groups. The government has offered free London's Church of the Immaculate Conception that unless security transportation and is offering to pay improved in Iraq the Chaldean $800 for every family willing to return. Approximately 4,700 famidiaspora may become permanent. "They love their country, but at lies have heeded the call, and anthe same time it is impossible for other 8,500 are on a waiting list. Ofthe four million Iraqi refugees, them to go back to this 'situation," said Bishop Audo, who ministers to about 1.~ million are in Syria and approximately 60,000 Iraqi Chris- 750,000 are in Jordan. Two million are displaced within Iraq. In Syria, tian refugees in Syria. During a November 29 press 44 percent of Iraqi refugees are conference, Bishop Aucto said that Christian, according to the U.N. prostitution among desperately . High Commissioner for Refugees. Bishop Audo said Iraqi refugees poor Iraqi Chaldean female refugees had emerged as a "serious were suffering great hardships. ''They have no legal protection problem" for the Church in Syria. The bishop visited London as a by law and they are not recognized guest of Iraqi Christians in Need, a as refugees," he said. ''They feel British-based group set up this year that they can't go home because of to provide displaced or persecuted the war, and at the same time they Christians with money for food, can't get a (work) visa. They have to work on the black market and medicine and an education. The bishop told CNS that the they are exploited by the Syrians," war was a tragedy for the 1.2 mil- he added. "They pay huge amounts lion Christians who lived in the of money to hire (rent) apartments, country at the time. More than half and they are suffering from severe of those Christians have since fled. poverty." Many of the refugees had "It may be the end of Christian- lost family members, as well as ity in Iraq," he said. "This is very their homes'and jobs, because ofthe sad and very dangerous for the violence. He said they found themselves Church, for Iraq and even for Muslim people, because it means the in a foreign land without rights, seend of an old experience of living curity or hope. He said the psychological impact on the refugees has together. "If in the Middle East Christians been devastating. The Christians were being tarand Muslims are not able to live together, then it will also be very geted partly by Muslims who idendangerous for the West in the fu- tified them with Western military
aggression, Bishop Audo told CNS. He said Western governments should grant asylum to more Iraqi Christians and that Christians in the West should support them with money and with work in peace and reconciliation.
FALL RIVER - Thb Diocese of Portland, Maine, anno1.!rlced on Dec. 8, 2007 that one of its retired priests, I' Father Maurice T. Lebel, has been temporarily removed from ministry pending an investigation of a complaint of sexual abuse of a minor. In its announcement, the Pprtland Diocese noted that "the decision to restrict Father Lebel from ministry should not be construeq as prejudging the outcome ofthe investigation" but rather "is intended td facilitate the investigation." The complaint involves an individual from Massachusetts who claims to have been assaulted and sexually abused between the ages of 15_.and 17 in the early 1980s. At the time Father Lebel was l:l Jesuit priest - a member of the Society of Jesus - ministering in Massachusetts. From 1973 to 1986, under the direction of his religious community, Father Lebel served in the Fall River Diocese. He was rector of the Jesuit Community at BiShop Connolly High School in Fall River (1973-1976), and a counselor for diocesan Catholic Social Services (1976-1986) at its Fall. River office and then at,. its Attleboro office. During his years at Catholic Social Services, hewas irt residence first at St. Joseph Parish in Fall River and then at St. Mary Parish in Mansfield.
In 1986, Father Lebel was transferred from the Fall RiverDiocese to the Portland Diocese by his community. Though the allegation against Father Lebel involves those years when he was a priest ofthe Society ofJesus, the Church investigation into the case is being done by the Portland Diocese because in 1991 Father Lebel left the Jesuit community and became a priest of that diocese. Bishop George W. Coleman urges anyone who might have information which could be of help in the investigation ofthis case to call Deacon John Brennan ofthe Portland diocesan Office of Professional Responsibility at 207-321-7836; or locally, to call Arlene McNamee of the Office for Child Protection of Catholic Social Services at 508-674-4681; or the Bristol County DistrictAttomey's office at 508-997-0711. Bishop Coleman was saddened to learn ofthis complaint and promised his prayers for the person bringing forth the accusation as well as for Father Lebel as the matter is addressed. He also pledged the full cooperation of the Fall River Diocese in the investigation. Until notified of this allegation by Portland diocesan officials, the Fall River Diocese was not aware of any complaints against Father Lebel.
Good news about the health of our community. I'
saint Anne'slHospital welcomes Mary Sherlock, D.O. and James Quinn, M.D., M.S. . saint Anne's Hospital is pleased to announce the opening of Saint Anne's Hospital Medical Associates. This new practice is located across from Saint Anne's Hospital, with free on-site parking, and offers patients the experienced care and services of Dr. James Quinn and Dr. Mary Sherlock. Dr. Quinn is board certified in internal mediCine and specializes in the prevention and treatment of adult diseases. Dr. Sherlock is a board-certified physician specialiZing In family medicine. Both are accepting new patients.
To schedule ~n appointment, please call 508-672·0708. N6s falamos
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The distinctive natunre of CbJrllstisn hope ln his encyclical Spe Salvi, which we printed in last week's edition, Pope Benedict wrote that for a Christian, the "good news" is not meant to be merely "infbtmative" but "performative." It is supposed to give us more than information: by its nature it is intended to change our lives. A Christian who hears the Gospel and strives to put it into practice distinguishes himself from others. This difference flows obviously thtough gradual identification with Christ; the one who lives as Christ lives, and loves as Christ loves, is going to be markedly different from one who doesn't. But Benedict says that the Christian difference also comes from the distinctive nature of Christian hope, which has the power thoroughly to transform those who have it in every circumstance. Benedict wrote this encyclical on hope because he recognized that many in the Church have lost the true sense of what hope means. "We who have always lived with the Christian concept of God," he states, "have almost ceased to notice that we possess the hope that ensues from a real encounter with God." Many of us no longer see the reasons for the hope that draws millions of converts into the Church each year, inspires young men and women to forsake worldly aims and enter the priesthood'and religious life, keeps so many of the elderly joyful in the midst painful physical ailments, and gives scores of current day martyrs courage in the face of terrible persecution. Benedict describes why many in the Church have lost this authentically Christian hope and how they can recover it. He explains how hope was lost by giving a "self-critique" of modernity in general and of modem Christianity in particular: . With his characteristic, encyclopedic brilliance, he traces how the modem scientific and political revolutions all but eliminated God from their understanding of hope. The euphoria that has flowed from centuries of ever-more amazing scientific discoveries led many secularists and even those in the Church to place their hope for the future in scientific progI:ess rather than in God. This ideology of"faith in progress" proclaims that redemption from the problems that plague humanity - from illness, to suffering, to the weather, to corruption, to war - will come through scientific discovery and through political structures based on economic; and political science. Recent inventions are always only the beginning; these worldly sciences alone are sufficient to bring about a whole new and better world. The only obstacles to this assured triumph, the ideology asserts, are the shackles of faith, the Church and the insufficient political structures of the day. The pope says that this pervasive ideology has demonstrated itself repeatedly to be a false hope. Science, while bringing many benefits, has also created the threat of nuclear weapons and other terrors. Political revolutions, like the French Revolution of the bourgeois over nobles, or the Marxist revolution of the working class over the bourgeois, have both produced terrible atrocities. The reason why science and politics 'Yill never be able to achieve the fulfillment of the hope that stirs the' human heart, Benedict states, is because "faith in progress" has a fundamental anthropological flaw. It forgets the truth that the person is always free and vulnerable to choose evil inst~ad of good. Science and politics are ethically ambiguous; they can be used for great good or great evil depending upon man's choices. For that reason, the human person in every generation and every instance must freely choose the good anew. No amount of technical or political achievement can ever substitute for the need for each person to progress morally through the proper use of freedom. Such ethical progress, Benedict says, occurs only when reason is made fully human by the differentiation between good and evil that comes from the saving forces of faith. Otherwise, the imbalance between man's know-how and the lack ofjudgment in his heart becomes a threat for him. . . Modem Christianity lost its characteristic hope, Benedict writes, not by accepting totally the ideology of"faith in progress," but by responding to it in an adequate way. Faced with scientific successes, the Church largely withdrew its attention to the individual and his salvation and left non-soteriological concerns to science and politics. In this way, it restricted the horizon of its hope and failed to recognize the greatness of the Christian task. Christians, Benedict says, must leam anew in what their hope truly consists, as well as what they can offer the world and what they cannot offer. Christian hope consists in being with God in the world. It is a way of life that takes root when, having experienced in embryonic form "life to the full" through a transforming encounter with Chrlst, b~lievers confidently await its fulfillment. The encounter with Christ is the experience of his love, which gives Christians the possibility of persevering each day in the midst of an imperfect world seeking to transform it through love. The world will be saved, Benedict says, not through science or politics, but through experiencing and sharing of God's love. This is the world's true hope. This is the distinctively Christian offering to the world. This is the performative meaning of the "good news of great joy to all the people" (Lk 2: 10). As we prepare for Christmas, there is a specific application ofthis teaching of Pope Benedict. The Holy Father mentions how the Letter to,the Hebrews contrasts those who find their security in material possessions from Christians who find their "substance" in their embryonic possession of life in Christ (Heb 11: 1, 34). Because of this "basis," Christians have a new freedom with respect to the material foundati<m of life. They consider it of little account and are able to be stripped of it during times of persecution, renounce it for a life of poverty, or give it generously away to others. Christians are, in fact, different when it comes to relating to the material world. This should influence not only their generosity at Christmas time, but also the types of goods they seek to give others this Christmas season.
Youths from St Columkille Church in south Los Angeles shake maracas and dance along Cesar Chavez Avenue during the annual Our Lady of Guadatupe celebration. The procession ended with thousands gathering to honor the Blessed Virgin, who appeared to a peasant, St. Juan 'Diego, in December 1531 near the current Mexico City. (CNS photo/Ellie Hidalgo, The Tidings)
"Before all ages, In the begJnnlng, he created me, and through all ages I shall not cease to be" (Sir 24: 9).
Sure guide through the interior world One of the most rewarding yeal'S of my life was spent the midst of terrible sufferings and difficulties. Reading in Toronto at St. Philip's Seminary. Thanks to the strict St. John of the Cross provided me with this hope, bediscipline of the seminary, its academic rigor and a bru- cause he gave me an inkliIlg of the incredible joy that tally long and cold Canadian winter, I spent nine months awaits the Christian who faithfully perseveres in Chrisalmost exclusively indoors praying and studying. I had tian life and prayer to the end. the chance to read the "Catechism of t 1e Catholic Church" St. John ofthe Cross was able to become the Church's from cover to cover - three times. I olodded through St. great cartographer of the interior world because he him- . Thomas Aquinas' entire "Summa Theologiae." IreadJhe self had been led by God through the all the stages of the world's ~test theology manual, Ludwig Ott's "Funda- journey. He persevered in faithful, hopeful, loving prayer mentals of Cathofic Dogma," twice. Huddled by heat despite terrible persecutions from many ofhis fellow 16thsources in the chapel and in my room, I scrutinized more century Spanish Carmelites who found John's desires to tomes on Church history, theology, philosophy, and lives live by the strict observance ofthe original Carmelite rule of the saints in those nine months than in my other five too much to handle. Out of envy and sheer wickedness, years of priestly training combined. he was imprisoned, beaten, and starved by his fellow reThe most fulfilling experience of all that year, how- ligious, and prevented even from celebrating Mass. But ever, was the opportunity none ofthis could shake him, for even in the midst of his twice tojourney through the - - - - - - - - - - - "Collected Words" of St. ",(..... sufferings, he never ceased John of the Cross, whose :f\P~tting.lnto to have trust in God. He knew that the Lord was his shepherd and with him he lacked for nothing. He wrote I had been making my':,~\t' [:'\\""1;;> once, in a short series of way systematically through ., ~at~e" _i;..o~ aphorisms called "The Devarious spiritual classics on Roger J. Landry prayer - by Ignatius of L-....... _ grees of Perfection," ''ReLoyola, Francis de Sales, member that everything that Josemaria, Cassian, Alphonsus Ligouri, Catherine of happens to you, whether prosperous or adverse, comes Siena, Teresa ofAvila, Therese of Lisieux and others from God, so that you become neither puffed up in prosall of which were very helpful in nourishing my own perity nor discouraged in adversity." He saw that even his prayer and my understanding of the Christian life. When adverse tribulations came from' God lUld maintained his I finally began to read St. Jahn of the Cross, however, I courage to the end, where he died maltreated and abandiscovered more than a holy teacher of the art of prayer, doned by seemingly everyone but God. but someone who spoke with unrivalled authority and The Church is called to be a "school of prayer." In this immediacy to the depth of my soul. Reading him felt like school Jesus is the Master, but John is probably his greatI was reading God's own searingly truthful yet sooth- est teaching assistant. I hope that you will allow him to ingly tender evaluation of my own soul. teach you. Over the rest of the year, St. John of the Cross led me I leave you with some of the 17 pithy "Degrees of on the greatest adventure of my life, through the interior Perfection" he lived and wrote for others. They are a universe where man encounters God and. finds himself. manual in how to "put out into the deep" of prayer and Just as in the "Divine Comedy" Vrrgilled Dante through the Christian life. the Inferno, Purgatory and Paradise, so John led me "Remember always that you came here for no other through the purgative, illuminative and unitive stages of reason that to be a saint; thus let nothing reign in your prayer. His major works, "The Ascent ofMount Carmel," soul that does not lead you to sanctity." "The Dark Night," "The Spiritual Canticle" and "The ''Never give up prayer, and should you find dryness Living Flame of Love," are a sure map through the inner and difficulty, persevere in it for this very reason. God Hin1alaya of prayer. Through John's eyes and words, I often desires to see what lov.e your soul has, and love is was able to make a virtual pilgrimage through the deep, not tried by ease and satisfaction." dark valleys of abandonment where God purifies us, to "Do not commit a sin for all there is in the world, or the summit ofhuman life, prayer and love, which is trans- any deliberate venial sin, or any known perfection." fom1ing union with .the living flame of God's love. "Always be more disposed toward giving to others While I continue to stumble along that pilgrimage in than giving to yourself, and thus you will not be envious real life, the knowledge of what stands before me on the of or selfish toward your neighbor. This is to be underjourney - either in this life or in the next - spurs me on stood from the viewpoint of perfection, for God is antoward the summit, even though it seems sometimes so gered with those who, do not give precedence to his.good far away. Pope Benedict writes in his recent encyclical pleasure over that of humans. To him alone be glory and Spe Salvi that Christian hope is based on already having honor." in the past and present some substantial foretaste of what Father Landry is pastor of St. Anthony of Padua we desire fully in the future; that hope sustains us even in Parish in New Bedford. j
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Yule have to excuse me Did the ghost of Jacob Marley and three Christmas spirits actually visit old Ebenezer Scrooge, or was it just a nightmare ... an old potato ... an undigested bit of beef? Either way, the old buzzard changed his ways and started a tradition of giving and caring. I had a dream last night about starting a tradition too. Traditions have to start somewhere, don't they? In my dream, I have the grand notion of inviting my family and friends to my home for a night of Christmas caroling. How great it will be, I dreamt, of gathering around the glow of the Christmas tree, the jalapeno pepper lights on our oriental lily plant, and the highdefinition yule log on cable TV. I tell my older children now in their mid- and late-20s to come over arid bring some friends. I'm going to break out myoId 12-string Yamaha guitar
say as I work the delicate High E strings. One more turn on the machine head and I'm there. Either I'll have a well-tuned instrument, or we'll be accompanied by a good old II-string guitar. I did it. All 12 strings are intact. Denise and Emilie nestle in next to the video yule log and Igor curls up inside the empty guitar case. "Wow," I think to myself. "I could shut the cover and she'd ~till fit. I'll have to keep that in mirid the next time the UPS driver rings the doorbell. (Remember, it's just a dream animal lovers.) Just as we're about to catol, Thing One says, "Dad, is that a SISTERS ON A MISSION - Dominican Sisters of Presentation are a helpful presence at the DiocRed Sox Christmas stocking esan Mission in Guaimaca, Honduras, including, from left,Sisters Fay Medina and Lucia Gomez; and at right Sisters Maria Ceballos and Marta Ines Toro. hanging on the railing?" "No," I respond. "It's Christmas Sox." i "Aren't you going overboard I' We began the month of Novemthe services offered by the clinic Carmen Adela, who first worked to with the Red Sox stufn" the ber by remembering all the saints of through the generous donations open the Marie Poussepin Center, chorus chimes. the Church, then remembering all from parishioners back home. In which was built in part by volunI ignore them. "OK let's rock our deceased brothers and sisters. addition, many volunteers,have . teers from the diocese. Sister Fay and roll," I say. Later in the month we remembered come to offer their skills doctors, Medina, who worked with me in "I'll start. at the Thanksgiving table the nurses, dentists and assis~ts. Campus Ministry, brought univerAngels we bounty we have received from the Working with Sister Mana is sity students to help with the have swept in hands of the Lord. November is a Sister Marta Ines Toro, who arrived construction of the Center. Sister three ... Oh, month for remembering. at the Mission a little less than a Ana Maria Corona arid Sister Karen sorry about . For the parishioners at our year ago. She serves as the director Champagne are among those who that. Here's Diocesan Mission in have come to minister. another. Joy to Honduras, the fourth Sister Gloria Oavijo the World , Thursday of November is brought a spirit of joy to the Series." just another Thursday. work of the St. Vmcent de From her There is no Thanksgiving Paul Society and helped to guitar case, Igor stares at me meal, or feast to celebrate strengthen the spiritual life with one half-open eye. a bountiful harvest. of the parish through "My bad. Here we go. Silent However, for the Mission retreats and her ministry night, in the Bronx. Oh dear. I Team, the fourth Thursday among us. Finally, the can't help it. 0 little yard called of November is celebrated parish will always rememFenway Park- ... Safe at home with grateful hearts. In ber the mark left by Sister for Christmas." honor of the traditions that Father of the Marie Poussepin Center for Lucia Gomez, who served the "Dad," says the family in Paul Canuel established, the team the Comprehensive Formation of needs of the poor and sick with the unison. continues to celebrate all the major, Young Women. Sister Marta has . compassion of Christ. Her care for "One more time," I implore. and minor, civic holidays with worked to increase the lebing the children, the elderly, and the "Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle decorations, songs, food, and the potential of each of the girls who marginalized, has endeared her to bell Rockies. Arggghhh. Deck occasional fireworks! Thanksgiving come to the Center from the poorer the people of Guaimaca. the halls with one more penis no different; we give thanks to villages. Many arrive with only a The Dominican Sisters have nant." I' God as we share the Thanksgiving rudimentary primary education. come with the charism of their "Dave," is the next family turkey and fixin's. However through Sister Marta's foundress, the Blessed Marie refrain. In harmony this time. On Thanksgiving Day, we also attention and dedication, 'the girls Poussepin. They have preached the I watch as Igor pulls the case celebrated the feast day of the have surpassed their peers who Gospel with their witness of charity. cover over her head. My heart Dominican Sisters of the Presentaattend local schools in Guaimaca. Although Thanksgiving Day is set races as family members pull . I' tion, which is the feast of the The ministry of the Dominican aside to offer thanks for a bountiful Red Sox ornaments from the Presentation of the Blessed Vrrgin Sisters in Guaimaca is being harvest, we at the Mission give tree and hurl them at me. I try Mary. Although the date is the 21 st realized by Sisters Maria and thanks for the seeds of compassion to run, but my legs won't move. of November, the day before Marta, however many h~ve been, and hope that the Sisters are "It's all a dream," I repeat. I Thanksgiving, we have a parish part of the Mission through the planting among us. awake in a cold sweat. I look Mass ()n Thanksgiving night. At the years. ~ong them were Sister www.HonduranMission.org over at my guitar case. The axe Mass the Sisters renew their is tucked safely away ... in her promises of poverty, chastity, and dog bed, Igor dreams of UPS obedience. It is a moment for the drivers ... Denise and Emilie entire parish to give thanks for the , are in their beds ... and Thing presence of the community of • Prompt 24 l10ur Service • Automatic Deliveries One and Thing Two are gone. Sisters who are serVing at the • Call In Deliveries • Budget Terms Available Was it a dream? Or were • Free Estimates Mission, as well as for those who these Christmas spirits? I can' have served here. You Never Had Service change. I can celebrate the true When Sister Maria Ceballos Until You Tried Charlie's meaning of Christmas. Deep arrived shortly after Father Paul was down I know the three Wisemen We're located at ... named pastor, she began to assess aren't named Papi, Manny and 46 Oak Grove Ave.,. Fall River , the needs of the community. Within Lowell. Jesus is the reason for I orcall ... a short time, a parish medical clinic the ~eason. 508-675~ 7426 • 508-674-0709 But New Year's Eve - that's was up and running. She has continued to maintain and increase a whole different story. !I
Giving' thanks for ·the gift of Sisters J
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and we're going to do it right. I invite my next door neighbor. He politely declines, saying he had to wash his hair. "Hmmmm," I ponder, "I haven't heard that one since my dating days." My two older kiddies, Thing One and Thing Two, as I affectionately referred to them as they were growing, show up right on time. As I let them in, I scan the deck to see who is with them. "None of our friends could make it," they say as one. "They really wanted to come though." As I turn disappointedly and' walk away, Thing One and' Thing Two roll their eyes. It's a dream, I know what everyone is doing and thinking. I open the guitar case and there is the instrument, reflecting the soft glow of jalapeno peppers. She's beautiful. It's been quite a while since I paid any attention to the old axe (the guitar). Tuning a I2-string guitar can take a while, and as I began the arduous task, Thing One and Thing Two check out the Christmas ornaments. "I see you got the new 2007 World Series ornament," says Thing One. "How many Sox ornaments does that make now, dad? Ten?" "It's more like 25 or 30," I
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Rejoice in the Lord! The Advent Season is marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipation, of preparation, of longing. The crescendo of Advent, as it has been described, is reflected in the liturgical readings, which, beginning with the prophecies of Isaiah and John the Baptist, find their culmination next week on the Fourth Sunday of Advent in a series of readings that focus on the Blessed Virgin and the annunciation of Jesus' birth. This Third Sunday of Advent has traditionally been called "Gaudete Sunday,~'. from the Latin word meaning "rejoice." We are to rejoice because our salvation is nearer. The time of Advent waiting is nearly over, as the celebration of the birth of Christ draws near. Thus the purple color of penance is lightened to a rose color in-the vestments worn and the Advent candle of the day. We hear from the Prophet Isaiah in the first reading of this Sunday's Mass: "Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication, with divine
recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared, then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing" (Isaiah 35:4-6). This powerful and joyful proclamation invites us to recognize that we can put our trust in God and he will guide us through whatever challenges and difficulties we may face in life. Many times that is easier said than done, though. In our modern, fast-paced world we have a tendency to put our trust in things or our own strength. As we look around and See all the technological advances that we have grown accustomed to in our daily lives, we can be tempted to put our trust in them more so than in the Lord. Today we are reminded that only God can meet our most human needs and that he will never fail us. It is God who heals the inevitable brokenness of our lives and miikes us whole, strong and
free from fear. The second reading from the Letter of St. James gives us practical advice for our daily lives and reminds us that as we are joyful at the first coming of Christ, we must live with the expectation of his return. This
involves living with the transforming power God's love in our hearts. This perfect love allows us to treat others as we would want to be treated. It helps us to be charitable and forgiving. It makes us see what is most important in life. In short, it allows us to increasingly see the world and one another as God does. ''You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not complain, brothers
and sisters, about one another; that you may not be judged.... Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters, of the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord" (James 5:910). This Sunday, the ministry of John the Baptist urges us once more to conversion and repentance in our lives, to truly prepare for Christ to enter fully into our lives. "When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with . this question, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?' Iesus said to them in reply, 'Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear; the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me'" (Mt 11: 2-6). As people of faith, we know that Jesus Christ is the one who came into
the world and brought us salvation. We have seen his miracles in our own lives and in the lives of others. In the first reading, Isaiah calls us to prepare ourselves for God's chosen one - his own Son. He has come to cure our blindness, doubts and fears, but most of all to offer us the fullness of life. Yet it does take faith to see that Jesus Christ is the One. At times we still allow ourselves to be side-tracked by our wants and preoccupations or fears. This week the Word of God invites us to take some time and let the healing presence of the Lord renew us by the power of his grace. The Lord gives us the reward of eternal life and true joy in this life, as well. In the midst of personal difficulties, war, and violence in our imperfect world, God's grace allows us to be hopeful and rejoice as we celebrate once again this year the miracle of Christmas. Father Rodrigues is the priest chaplain at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River.
Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Dec. IS, Sir48:1-4,9-11; Ps 80:2-3,15-16,18-19; Mt 11:2-11. Sun. Dec. 16, Third Sunday ofAdvent, Is 35:1-6a,10; Ps 146:6-10; Jas 5:7-]0; Mt II :21
11. Mon. Dec. 17, Gn.49:2,9~10; Ps. 72:.1-4,7-~,17; Mt 1.:1-17. The. na:.18, ~er23:~-8; Ps 72:1-2,12~13,1~-19;Mt 1:18-25. Wed. Dec. 19, Jgs 13:2-7,24-25a; Ps 71:3-6,16-17; ~ 1:525. Thu. Dec. 20, Is 7.10-14, Ps 24.1-6, Lk 1.26-38. Fri. Dec. 21, Sg 2.8-14, Ps 33.2-3,11-12,20-21, Lk 1.39-45. -,.,-
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Books for Christmas A year ago, the fomiidable Dorothy Rabinowitz asked me for a Christmastide Wall Street Journal column, to be dubbed the ''Five Best Books on Christianity." I suggested Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts; Dorothy demurred. So I simmered down and gave her a list that included the late Dorothy Sayers's translation of Dante's "Divine Comedy." I still love my Sayers, but I now wish I had listed Anthony Esolen's "Divine Comedy" (Modem Library). The translation makes Dante sing; and
the notes, which are nothing short of brilliant, are a splendid introduction to the Christian worldview. In his introduction to the ''Inferno,'' Professor Esolen writes that ''there are three principles regarding created things that I find fundamental to Dante's view of the world and its beauty; they are also the principles that underlie the beauty of Dante's poems and that, for our purposes in the ''Inferno,'' will help
Travel to Ireland Dublin, Galway, Kerry July 14-22, 2008 .August 4-12, 2008 Cost: $2,900 All-Inclusive Best Western Royal Dublin Anthony Nachef, PhD (Theology)
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email: an@catholicteachings.org web: www.TourOfltaly.us
us see the justice that inspired his zeal. They are these: Things have an end. Things have meaning.
religion is to unfold in the 21st century, the rubbish strewn over the field by the new atheists (and ~--'_ especially by Dawkins) will have to be cleared away. Cardinal Schoenborn's book does that deftly, ",bile staking out a position ahead of the usual battle-lines and demonstrating how evolution construed as an ideology of purposelessness is demeaning to genuine humanism. A great gift for Things are connected." I don't know a more succinct riposte to the that young person who's beginning confusions that underlie the new to ask the Big Questions. atheism. If you're looking for a Earlier this year I mentioned Volker SchloendorfI's gripping film Christmas gift that offers a poetic and theological vaccination against on the priests' barracks at Dachau, the rants of Richard Dawkins, 'The Ninth Day." Zaccheus Press, a Daniel Dennett; Sam Harris, and fledgling Catholic publisher in Christopher Hitchens, give all three Bethesda, Maryland, now gives us Father Jean Bernard's "Priestblock volumes of Esolen's ''Divine 25487," the memoir on which 'The Comedy." Then buy yourself a set. Ninth Day" was based. In marked Vienna's Cardinal Christoph (but unstated) contrast to the Schoenborn, Op, has long been a significant intellectual player in a critiques of the Catholic Church related set of arguments having to during the Nazi period, do with creation and evolution. One "Priestblock 25487" tells the largely-unknown story of priestly of Catholicism's most learned and resistance to the brutality of ~se men, Schoenborn is no premodern; his rejection of evolutionGerman National Socialism under as-ideology in "Chance or Purpose? some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable, and explores Creation, Evolution, and a Rational the moral and spiritual challenge of Faith" (Ignatius Press) has nothing remaining human and humane to do with biblical literalism and amidst sadism and inhumanity.'lt's everything to do with the canons of a good book for those who think reason. If a mutually enriching conversation between science and everything has been said about the
mysterium iniquitatis, the mystery of evil, in its Nazi form. One of the major surprises of the pontificate of Iohn Paul IT was its enthusiastic reception by evangelical Protestants, especially in North America. 'The Legacy of John Paul IT: An Evangelical Assessment," edited by TIm Perry and published by InterVarsity Press, sheds the light of evangelical theological scholarship on John Paul's efforts to remind the world that human beings can indeed grasp the truth of things, including the moral truths of things. Put aside your dubieties about the John Paul IT book industry and get a taste of the ecumenism of the future, made possible by the man Baptist theologian Tunothy George calls "our common teacher." Finally, let me confess to a new airplane reading addiction: the spy novels of Daniel Silva. Start at the beginning of his Gabriel Allon series 'The Kill Artist" and proceed on from there, skipping 'The Confessor," but making sure not to miss the next one set in the Vatican, 'The Messenger." Silva is a great read who provides a healthy dose of moral realism about the passions of the Middle East and how they affect all concerned. George Weigel is a senior fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washingion, D.C.
DECEMBER
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Don't just do something - stand there Saturday 8 December 2007 at home on Three Mile River, the Dightons - Solemnity ofthe Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
figure out what it was. The custom of the Advent wreath had not yet arrived in the United States from Europe. The contraption had four candle holders, so I stuck it with four candles. I lit all
Remember Markey in the Maypo instant oatmeal commercial? "I want my Maypo! I want it now!" Well, in a certain sense, I Reflections ofa am Markey. ,Patience is P"h ".,~ not my strongest suite. :J;f-'~I ,J~~if ~i"~3'-\路路路,,~~ . '" .,Waiting is not something 1-=='8~EEf: I do well. Enough . Goldrick, already! Let's get on with it! "Just do it," as the four simultaneously - two weeks Nike advertising proclaims. before Thanksgiving. Advent is all about waiting. In our house, we kids were Years ago, when I was a child, my awakened by. our parents late aunt Jeanne and Uncle Bob, who were living in Germany at the Christmas Eve. Lo and behold, time, mailed us a gift. It was a Santa himself had already passed through. There, under the tree, simple wire frame. I couldn't
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were wrapped packages of every size and shape. But there was a caveat. We ~ere allowed to open one gift only before returning to bed. I usually picked the one my parents enthusiastically suggested. Then came the difficult part. "Now, go back to bed, kids, and we'll wait until morning to open the others." Wait? Wait, you say? Pleeeeease may I open more gifts? I would, eventually follow directions (mostly) and return reluctantly to bed, but sleeping was impossible. Waiting has never been my strongest suit, dear readers. The Season of Advent is all about waiting. I now know the standard operating procedure for
Knowing Baby Jesus '4
themselves regardless of how In our Catholic faith we hard or long they thought or acknowledge that there are two reasoned. The gender of the ways by which we can know baby and the existence of there is a God; natural reason multiple babies are some of the and supernatural revelation. When we look for God through things that an ultrasound can ."supernaturally" reveal. natural reason, we use the eyes Over the last nine months we of our intellect and our senses to study and experience the world. In doing so, we cannot help but see order and beauty, compatibility and incompatibility, cycles and seasons. For we who desire to understand, an inherent rhythm and rhyme have had numerous opportuniemerges from our use of natural reason which logically lead us to ties to get to know our sixth, unborn child by both natural ascribe the existence of all creation to a power and intellireason and by supernatural, ultrasound revelation. Our five, gence higher than ourselves already-born children have spent God. An example of natural countless hours talking to my reason is the way a woman belly, watching it grow, and knows she is with child. For feeling their newest sibling kick, millennia before the advent of roll, and hiccup within. At the modem medicine it was by awareness and experience of her same time, they and I have had natural symptoms, a changing the opportunity to ultrasonically appetite, a growing belly, and peek into the world of our new increasing kicks and rolls family member. Because the within, that a woman and her children often accompany my family began to know and love husband and me to ultrasound their unborn child and to eagerly appointments, the ultrasound await his or her birth. technicians have made extra When the Catholic Church efforts to personalize the exams and to show us how to "read" talks about supernatural revelation it is referring to truths about the ultrasound images. During a God and his creation that we 33-week ultrasound, for could not know by our own example, the technician pointed reasoning or intellect. These out a few of our baby's features truths are contained in sacred that only her specially trained eyes had picked up; numerous Scripture and Tradition. A rolls of fat along the rib cage modem parallel to supernatural and shocks of hair radiating out revelation is ultrasound technology. When a medical technician from Baby Bratton's head as if his or her finger were in an uses ultrasound to peek into a electric socket. How we laughed mother's womb, she and her family are given information at these ultrasonic visions and about their child's development felt even closer to our unborn child. that they could not gain for
Through the use of natural reason and supernatural, ultrasound revelation we have already developed a deeply personal relationship with Bratton Baby. If we had not slowed down enough to observe and enjoy our baby's natural growth and development, . or if we had used the miracle of ultrasound only to check for the existence of 10 fingers 'and 10 toes, it would have been a great loss. We may have gained medical information about Baby Bratton, but with only a couple of weeks to go until the December 24 due date, we wouldn't be nearly as eager to meet our little one face to face! Of course, it is this way in our journey to get to know God, too. It is a great loss if we don't allow our knowledge about God to seep from our heads to our hearts. Natural reason and supernatural revelation are gifts God has given to enable us not just to gather data about him, but also to help us know him deeply and personally. Eager anticipation of meeting the Baby Jesus face to face at Christmas because of a pre-existing, personal relationship with him; this is the essence of the liturgical season of Advent. Eager anticipation should be, in fact, the essence of our entire earthly journey toward heaven where, at long last, we will meet our God face to face, our knowledge of him will be confirmed, and our faith in his love will be rewarded. Heidi is an author, photographer, and full-time mother. She and her husband raise theirfive children in Falmouth. homegrownfaith@gmail.com.
9 the lighting of an Advent wreath. I still can't stand the wait. I found the parish Advent wreath in a closet and dug it out. A local florist festooned it with mixed live greens. Lovely. But every year I worry about the proximity of lighted candles to live greens. This year, I found a high-tech solution: live greens, fake candles. The four candles are battery operated, but they sure do look like the real thing. They contain LED lights and even flicker convincingly. And since I hang the wreath from the ceiling, as is the original custom, nobody would ever directly see the "flames" anyway. But wait, there's more! These candles are the very latest. They clap on; clap off! How cool is that? "Oh come, oh come Emmanuel." Clap. Voila! The first candle of Advent lights automatically. Unfortunately, in my eagerness to try the gizmo, I accidentally clapped twice at the blessing of the wreath. Two candles lit instantly and we rushed right into the second week of Advent. I was tempted to clap four times and on with Christmas. ,"Patience, pastor, for the Lord is coming," said a voice inside. Truth be told, dear readers, I decided against the "clap on-clap off' model and went with the motion-activated opti6n. At our monthly palish Family Mass, I explained to the children not only the Giving Tree, but the Jesse Tree (ornaments symbolically representing the ancestors of Jesus), and the Advent calendar as well. The calendar is about patient waiting. It contains hidden treats for each day of Advent. You can only open one door a day. You have wait for your candy. "And what, pray tell, is that,"
whisper parishioners as they arrive for Advent Mass. They are referring to the big branch in the sanctuary. It is definitely not a Christmas tree. This is due to the fact that it's not yet Christmas. This is also something I've learned over the years. It's the parish Giving Tree. As in so many parishes throughout the diocese, it is the custom here to invite parishioners to donate a designated gift to local charities. Here on the shores of Three Mile River, the designees are St. Thomas Episcopal Soup Kitchen and Taunton State Hospital. These are, of course, very practical gifts such as warm hats and fluffy blankets. On a terribly tragic note, the Kingdom came suddenly and expectedly this past week to a woman whom I have known since she was a pre-school child. She and a friend were sitting in their car waiting to make a tum into a fast-food restaurant. A driver in another car had some sort of medical episode and lost control of the vehiCle. There was a horrendous crash. My friend and her companion died instantly. At the age of 38 years, the kingdom came for her. It was a very, very sad funeral Mass I was invited to celebrate. Faith was our consolation and eternal life our hope, as the prayer book says so well. Her Advent waiting was over but I was left grieving. As Jesus at the grave of Lazarus, I too wept. "Be prepared," says the Lord, "for at a time you do not expect.. .." The words deserve deep pondering. Father Goldrick is pastor of St. Joseph's Parish in North Dighton.
Marian Manor is pleased to introduce Cindy Toli, RN,C, as Director of Admissions and Case Management. Cindy's twenty-two years of experience in nursing, rehabilitation and long term care provides a unique perspective and opportunity for continuity ofcare. By managing cases and collaborating with the health care team at Marian Manor, she will help ensure smooth transitions for residents and families from admission to discharge and assistance in the adjustment to long term care placement.
33 Summer Street, Tttunton,.Mit Phone: 508-8224885
Email: ctoli@dhfwrg Website: www.dhfo.org
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Following where God has led her, Sister Ready touched many lives By DAVE JOUVET; EDITOR FALL RIVER - "No one lights a lamp and hides it in ajar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light" (Luke 8: 16). When Christ spoke these words during his earthly ministry, he may have very well had Holy Union Sister Eugenia Margaret Ready in mind. The petite 84-year-old Sister recently retired after 67 years of service to the Lord and his Church as a teacher, pastoral assistant and inspiration to thousands of young hearts¡ and minds. And the retirement became necessary only because of a bad back. "I miss my ministries a great deal," Sister Ready told The Anchor in a recent interview at her new home at The Landmark in Fall River, "but I have many, many beautiful memories." It was as a young girl growing up on Bedford Street in Fall River, that Sister Ready received a lighted lamp and chose to "put it on a
"and" so othe<s could see
Sister walked by and said, 'Eileen, what are you.going to do with your life?' For some reason, I blurted out, 'I'm going to become a Holy Union Sister.''' That was that. As a young 17-year-old,EileenReady entered the novitiate ofthe Holy Union Sisters on Sept. 8, 1940. Following three years in the novitiate, Sister Eugenia Margaret Ready set sail on a teaching career that would last more than five decades, and took her to schools in Baltimore, New York City, and back to TIverton, R.I., Taunton, New Bedford, and Fall River. "I loved being a teacher," she said. "I loved the students, and it was my job to let them know that God is important." Sister Ready said it warms her heart when former students stay in contact with her. "I have several students who still visit me around the time of my birthday and special occasions. I feel that maybe I did have an impact on their lives in a positive way." Sister Ready has seen many changes through the years - some good, some
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(Doherty) Ready. "My times, and praised at other parents were a great influtimes. And the numbers have dwindled." ence on me," she said. "In Once primarily a addition, my mother's two sisters, Rose and Elizateaching order, the Holy Union Sisters have beth, were neighbors, and there was no way to escape adapted through the years their watchful eyes as we according to Sister Ready. grew up." Rosie and ''We have Sisters across Lizzie, as there were the country working with immigration issues in known in the neighborhood, attended daily Mass Texas, assisting the poor and routinely lit candles at with' a "School on various shrines, prayed the Wheels," iIi Kentucky, and in prison ministries right Way of the Cross and the rosary, attended novenas, here in the region. No matand maintained the sacter what, the Holy Union risty, washed the altar linSisters are getting a great ens and decorated. the aldeal done for others." tar:u Holy Nan,te Church. ANCHORPERSON OFTHE WEEK_ Holy Union Her teaching career 'We couldn t leave the . Sister Eugenia Margaret Ready. (Anchorfile photo) wound down in the mid house without my aunts 90s, when her pastoral asknowing," Sister Ready fondly recalled. ''When we sistant duties emerged. "I missed teaching, but thiswas went to visit them, we had to bless ourselves with holy a great opportunity for me," Sister Ready said. ''I met water and kiss a crucifix they had prominently displayed some very wonderful people. They were always very in their home. There was also a big three-foot-by-three- appreciative of the pastoral visits." Sister Ready's dufoot portrait of Pope Pius X in sight as soon as we ties didn't end with bringing 'Communion to shut-ins. She kept her hand in the teaching ministry as a Reliwalked in. It scared me when I was younger." Aunt Lizzie liked to travel, and she would tell the gious Education instructor for 17 years. She was also Ready children stories of her sojourns when she re- very active with the Sacred Heart Soup Kitchen in Fall turned. ''I remember her telling me about a good friend River and other charity ministries for the needy. of hers that she would visit, Mother Marie Helena One of the most difficult periods of her life, was Daumerie, the first U.S. provincial of the Holy Union when Sister Ready had to find an apartment of her Sisters. Unfortunately I never got to meet her. She died own because of staffing and decreasing numbers, afwhen I was in high school, before I entered the novi- ter having spent more than 50 years living with her tiate." Sisters. "I was devastated to be living on my own," she Young Eileen hadn't given much thoughtto becom- said candidly. But, in the Holy Union tradition, she ing a nun, but eventually, the Holy Union Sisters who adapted. Just this year, she was invited to live at The taught at Sacred Heart School and Academy in Fall Landmark in Fall River, home to many retired Sisters River, planted the seeds. ''There was one day when my from various orders. "I absolutely love living here," father was reading the newspaper, put it down and asked she beamed. "I have the friendship of other Sisters, we me if I ever thought about becoming a nun," Sister have daily Mass except on Saturdays when we have a Ready recalled. prayer service, and we pray together. It's heaven." Since Three of young Eileen's cousins had become Sis- retiring, she does miss the pastoral duties, and admits, ters of Mercy, but when she felt the calling to enter "I really miss driving," but all in all, Sister Ready is religious life, the choice was easy: the Holy Union Sis- very happy with ''where God has lead me." ters, who had been so influential in her life. "At the end For all of Sister Ready's 67 years of religious life, of my senior year at Sacred Heart Academy, Sister she has followed where God has led her, and she Augustina brought me into her office to talk about a doesn't regret a moment. With such strong Catholic vocation as a Sister," said Sister Ready. "She told me parents, all of the Ready children embraced the faith. that no angel was going to come down and tell me to Young Eileen took it to a greater level. She took the be a nun, but I would know." After her meeting with lighted lamp and held it high for all to see. There is SisterAugustina, the teen-ager was sitting on the school no question that Rosie and Lizzie would be very steps wondering'what she was going to do. ''Another proud.
ANGELS, ANGELS EVERYWHERE - Angels were in abundance at a past Christmas pageant at Holy Family-Holy Name School in New Bedford.
Pageant
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all to remember and be inspired by," Felix told The Anchor. "That's what this is all about." The pageant combines Scripture, song and a tableau, and in-. volves nearly everyone, including teachers and staff in the parish school, which has an enrollment of 295. "We - all of us teachers and staff - and including many volunteers too, are the directors and technicians," reported Felix. They also do the casting. The "Angels" and shepherds include students in grades one, two and three; while the children of the world are portrayed by those in kindergarten, P-3 and P-4. The Holy Family, storytellers and candle lighters are drawn from grades seven and eight; the "Stars" from grades four, five and six; and the choir from grades two through eight. Also participating in the pageant is a Handbell Choir comprised of students in grades seven and eight, directed by volunteer Gail O'Brien.
That the performance is always well done and professional stems from the many volunteers who offer their expertise, including music teacher Antonio Borges; musicians of the Furtado String Quartet, who are members of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra and who will accompany the student Junior Choir directed by Teresa Ouellette; violin accompanist Maryanne Farrell; and performing arts director Lynn Dandeneau. "We've had babies playing Jesus in the past, but this year we're expecting a newborn in the role," said Felix, who reported rehearsals are already underway and additional costumes being sewn. "With such a great show who needs to travel to Radio City Hall in New York?" she asked. Students at Holy Family-Holy Name School are no slackers when it comes to celebrating the Birth of Jesus. Among planned events are a noon birthday party for Jesus in the school; participating in making the "Stations. of the Crib," as well as morning Advent prayers.
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and Jo>1uf N€VI Y€a:r, Christmas Schedule Confessions Monday, December 24: 11:00 a.m. - Noon Christmas Masses Vigils - Monday, December 24: 4:00 & 6:30 p.m.. With Musical Prelude at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, Christmas Day: 7:00, 8:30, 10:30 a.m., and Noon New Year's Day Masses Vigil- Monday, December 31: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, New Years Day: 8:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. Our Lady of the Assumption Church 76 WiBf8ffJO Avenue - !P.O. Box IE - Osterville, MassachllJseflts 02655 hftp:llwww.assa.smptic)f8CBpecocJJ.org
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DVD/video reviews NEW YORK (CNS) - The following are capsule reviews of new and recent DVD and video releases from the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the u.s. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
GUITAR MAN - Freddie Highmore and Robin Williams star in a scene from the movie "August Rush." For a brief review of this film, see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS photolWarner Bros.)
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of the U.S. Conference ofCatholic Bishops. "Atonement" (Focus) Moving World War II romance of a well-to-do young Englishwoman (Keira Knightley) serving as a nurse and the workingclass soldier (James McAvoy) she has loved for years, but from whom she had been separated years before when her kid sister (Saoirse Ronan) wrongly accused him of a crime, an injustice that will haunt the accuser (now played by Romola Garai) ever after. Director Joe Wright,
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working from Christopher Hampton's adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel, persuasively describes an unusual story of betrayal, steadfast love, forgiveness and redemption with some surprising twists, and with further pluses in the sensitive performances and period detail. A fully' clothed nonmarital sexual encounter, an implied encounter between an adult and an underage girl, profanity, wartime dead and wounded imagery, and a crude written sexual remark. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. "August Rush" (Warner Bros.) Unabashedly romantic fable in which an ll-year-old musical prodigy (Freddie Highmore) embarks on a search for the cellist mother (Keri Russell) and rocksinger father (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) from whom he was separated at birth through the machinations of his grandfather (William Sadler), encountering along the way a Fagin-like exmusician (Robin Williams) who seeks to exploit him and a social worker (Terrence Howard) who tries to help him. Director Kristen Sheridan's warm-hearted tribute to the power of music blithely eschews all connection to reality, and will likely strike some as charmingly poetic and others as merely naive. An implied premarital sexual encounter, one use of profanity, and one crass expression. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II - adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG - parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
"Jesus: The Lost Years" (2007) Every reader of the New Testament is confronted with the mystery of what has been called Jesus' "hidden life," the period from shortly after his birth until the beginning of his public ministry nearly three decades later about which the canonical Gospels are largely silent. This enjoyable, though highly speculative documentary seeks to fill in the details of a part of those lost years that is only briefly referred to in the Gospel of Matthew, namely the Holy Family'sjoumey into Egypt as refugees from the murderousjealousy of King Herod. Based on Paul Perry's 2003 book, "Jesus in Egypt," the film follows Perry as he tries to uncover the path that Joseph, Mary and their infant son might have taken, from the Holy Land into lower Egypt (the area close to the Mediterranean) and then down the Nile. Relying on the oral tradition of the indigenous Coptic Church, a group of "infancy gospels" that were not included in the Bible and the mystical vision of an early Coptic leader, Pope Theophilus, Perry posits a five-year stay in Egypt for the Holy Family and a circuitous journey of several hundred miles. Considered in strictly historical tenns, his elaborate conclusions seem flimsy, and some of the stories told about the child Jesus - including his spontaneous destruction of all the pagan idols in an ancient city- border on the outlandish. On the other hand, as an opportunity to hear the thoughts of the Christians of contemporary Egypt, and as a picturesque pilgrimage to many of their most sacred shrines and monasteries, director-einematographer Marlin Darrah's 90minute film holds some interest. (PureFlixlBen Pyramid Productions) ''Mr. Bean's Holiday" (Widescreen) (2007) The perennially pleasing Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson) wins a trip to the French Riviera, but before reaching the beach he manages to complicate the lives ofa Russian film
critic (Karel Roden), the critic's young son (Max Baldry), a self-obsessed movie director (Willem Dafoe) and a chamiing French actress (Emma de Caunes). As directed by Steve Bendelack, the film is an unmitigated delight: gentle, ingenious and equally appealing to children and adults. Some mild scatological humor and a few slightly frightening scenes that might upset very young children. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-I - general patronage. (Universal Studios Home Entertainment) ''The Star of Bethlehem" (2007) Was the star described in the Gospels as heralding the birth of Jesus a real phenomenon or merely an invention of the early Church? In this intriguing documentary, evangelical lawyer turned student of astronomy Frederick A. Larson uses the evidence of Scripture and the mathematical calculations ofmodem software - which allow for the precise reconstruction of the night sky on any date in history - in an effort to answer that question. He draws as well on the narratives ofsuch ancient writers as Josephus and Philo of Alexandria to pinpoint the star's date .before going on to build an impressive case for its conformity with the biblical account. Larson's study, which is presented to viewers within the intimate setting of a small, relaxed onscreen seminar, continues with an exploration of some of the natural wonders associated with the day of Christ's crucifixion and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Director Stephan Vidano's documentary is subject to the inevitable limitations of a one-man lecture fonnat, and the computer generated graphics are not as clear as they might have been with full screen amplification. Yet this hour-long film's rhetorically skillful presentation of Larson's argument, holds your interest throughout. The DVD's only added feature is a very brief film, "The View From Beyond," showing one of the planetary alignments already discussed frOm a different, and dramatic perspective. It contains a few graphic reenactments of the Crucifixion. (Mpower Pictures/Genius Productions)
Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, December 16 at 11:00 a.m. Third Sunday of Advent Scheduled celebrant is Father Rodney E. Thibault a parochial vicar at Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich
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Pope says Advel)t is good time to rediscover hope, read -encyclical
$ The Anchor news briers Cardinal has said he was assaulted over abuse crisis LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles Cardinal Roger M. Mahony told archdiocesan priests in October that he was assaulted during the summer by a man who was angry over the Church's sexual abuse scandal, according to reports from priests whq attended the annual meeting. The Associated Press, LosAngeles Times and New York Times reported that Cardinal Mahony talked about the assault during an October priests' pastoral meetin[, as an illustration of the toll the abuse scandal has taken on everyone in the Church. The three news organizations each quoted several priests confirming that Cardinal Mahony had described being knocked down and beaten or kicked by a man who shouted obscenities and made angry statements about sexual abuse by priests. The Los Angeles Daily News broke the story December 4. Carolina Guevara, archdiocesan spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Archdiocese, declined to comment to any ofthe publications or to CNS.
Chickens as 'creatures of God,' raised with no cages BERRYVILLE, Ark. - At Little Portion Hermitage in Berryville, the Brothers and Sisters of Charity have a rule and constitution they live by - to be agrarian in nature and to pursue a contemplative life. But the members of the monastery also want it to be self-sustaining. Five years ago these two aims led the monastery into a growing field - natural foods, specifically pasture~ raised chicken. Currently the hermitage, founded in 1980 by John Michael Talbot, has about 30 members, including celibate brothers and sisters, single people and families with children. To protect a way of life centered on prayer, the members needed a commercial industry in addition to income from Talbot's music ministry, which has fallen off in recent years because of changes in the recording industry, said Richard Ims, a married member ofthe Brothers and Sisters of Charity who helps raise, market and deliver the chickens. The hermitage sits on 400 acres, but it's not great farmland because it's in a valley and full of "Ozark mountain clay and rock," he told the Arkansas CatMlic, newspaper of the Little Rock Diocese. Our Lady of Guadalupe: 'MotherWithout Borders' LOS ANGELES - Thousands of Catholics from throughout the greater Los Angeles area gathered in East Los Angeles December 2 to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe as the mother of all peoples - from every language, race and culture. A mile-long procession, the oldest religious procession in the city honoring Mary, led participants to East Los Angeles College Stadium, where Cardinal Roger M. Mahony and the auxiliary bishops of Los Angeles, numerous priests and more than 15,000 of the faithful gathered for Mass. The theme this year was "Mother Without Borders: Bringing Down the Walls of Injustice." The event was part of a statewide call to action for comprehensive immigration reform by the California Catholic Conference ofBishops. "The Virgin ofGuadalupe is a symbol of hope and compassion for all who are marginalized," said the cardinal. ''Today she continues to unite us as a humble people of God in search for understanding, compassian, peace and human dignity for all - especially for our immigrant brothers and sisters who are being kept in the margins of society by a broken immigration system."
Knights leaders deliver $1.6 million check to pope VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The supreme knight of the Knights ofColumbus and the fraternal order's bishopchaplain met privately with Pope Benedict XVI December 6 and delivered a check for $1.6 million. SupremeKnight Carl A. Anderson and Bishop William E. Lori of Bridgeport, Conn., handed the pope.the check, which represents a year's interest from the Vicarius Christi Fund, established in 1981 when the Vatican found itself in the midst of a series of huge budget deficits. While the Vatican's annual budget deficits have been reduced or erased, the 1.7 million Knights worldwide have continued to bring the pope a check each year to support his charities and special projects. The Vatican has received more. than $43 million over the years from the Knights, whose members are mostly in the United States.
The Anchor ,
VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope Benedict XVI began Advent by summarizing his latest encyclical on Christian hope and encouraging people to read it. The time before Christmas is a good period to rediscover the hope that Christ brought to human history, which can "change one's life;' the pope said December 2, the first Sunday ofAdvent. He said he wrote his second encyclical, "Spe Salvi" (on Christian hope), for the entire church and for all people of good will. The 76-page text was released at the Vatican November 30. Addressing pilgrims at his noon blessing, the pope said the essence of Christian hope was an awareness of God and "the discovery that he has the heart of a good and merciful father." Christ's life and death gave God's love a human face, he said. Emphasizing a point he made in his encyclical, the pope said modem science holds out much that is good, but "cannot redeem humanity."
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.R.A.D. Jones
'The 4evelopment of modem science has increasingly confined faith and pope to a private and individual sphere, in such a way that today it is 'clear, sometimes dramatically clear, that man and the world need God - the real God - and otherwise remain without hope;' he said. , The {l9pe said he tried to make clear in his encyclical that Christianity brought something new to the pagan societies of old, but he added that it also spoke to the "paganism of our days:' Contemporary paganism, the pope said, is a "nihilism that corrodes hotk in the human heart, leading the person to think that nothingness reigns inside and outside of himself: nothing before birth, nothing Mter death:' .The Quistian perspective, on the contrary, is that hope makes sense as the human response to a loving God, he said. "What else moves the world forward, if not the trust that God has in man?" he said. ,I
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Wishing all the faithfu~ of the Diocese of Fall River the peace andjoy ofthe Christmas Season and a happy, healthy 2008 Ii
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The National Shrine ofOur Lady of La Salette in Attleboro Wi~hes all a Merry Christmas and Happy IJlessed New Year as we celebrate "Lord, You Are Our Hope."We invite. you to visit the La Salette Festival of Lights until January 1,·2007. Please visit our web site at hllP:/Iwww.lasalett'e-shrine.org. open site map and then Christmas link. •
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Patiently waiting for Christ in history It was Christmas evening and Msgr. Father, I prayed all Advent for a red John's special role, given by God, to ourselves. Greater humility is found by Flanagan, the pastor of St. Patrick's wagon and when it showed up on Christpreach a baptism of repentance for the concentrating our efforts on the needs of Parish, was in a tither. The statue of the mas Day, I was sure, since it was Jesus' others, by dying to self, as did Jesus, so forgiveness of sins. When John arrived on Baby Jesus was missing, apparently stolen birthday, that he should receive the first the scene he told the people that they were others may live. from the crib. Who would do such a thing, . ride." As Advent initiates our new liturgical on the wrong path; that they needed to especially on Christmas Day? Yes, little Johnny Murphy received a create a superhighway between themyear, resolutions for a bett~r life should be . This event marred an otherwise great special gift, one which he wanted very selves and God. Quoting the prophet ours. We should make such commitments day in the parish. The Christmas Masses much. Somehow he knew the source of Isaiah, John cried out, "Prepare the way of in our spiritual life. Advent is the perfect had been celebrated beautifully. The choir the gift and wanted to respond. the Lord, make his paths straight. Every time to make a greater commitment to was in rare form; the church was full. Little Johnny Murphy understood very valley shall be filled, and every mountain prayer. It is an opportunity to cease all of Even the homily was well recei~ed. As well his need to give something back, and our previous excuses and make prayer a and hill shall be made low, and the always, the people had been very kind to not only be a receiver. Maybe he had been . crooked shall be made straight, and the higher priority in our life. We need to those in the rectory. The house was filled to birthday parties, so he knew the idea spend more time, try new methods, and ro~gh ways made smooth" (Luke 3:4b-5). with food, not to mention invitations, take advantage of various prayer opportuthat the birthday boy or birthday girl John presented a significant challenge cards, and some presents as well. nities that come our way. should be feted. to the people of his day. He realized they That evening, however, as he toured the In essence he understood the need to were not ready for Jesus and his message Like the challenge John the Baptist parish grounds before locking up for the prepare himself for Jesus' birthday, his presented to the people of his day, we and thus he spoke of the need to prepare night, Msgr. Flanagan felt something was arrival in history. There is no greater gift should seek repentance for the forgiveness their lives so they would have an unimwrong, but he could not put his finger on and no better way to prepare than to give peded road to the Lord. of our sins. This may necessitate going to it. Then he saw ourselves to the What John the Baptist did by challenganother individual, seeking to be reconit, or more ciled. It may mean forgiving another, even Lord. Most ing the people of his day, so we must do correctly, he assuredly what if the event happened long ago. For all it for ourselves by concentrating on the didn't see it; Advent message. . must mean reconciling with God and the Je.sus wants of Church. ' the statue was us at Christmas First, we must see our need to move missing. Moving from the darkness and the light from darkness to light in our lives. For is a better you He called his in our spirituality will help us ~o negotiate those of us in the northern hemisphere, and me. young assistant, many obstacles and barriers. It will not be Our preparaAdvent comes during the winter solstice, Father easy, but we must always be aware and tion for the when we begin to move from maximum O'Connor, and confident that the Lord is our rock and our darkness to maximum light. This image coming of the asked if he knew anything about the shield. He is our sustenance for life; he is Lord in time requires us to wait patiently, must encourage us to avoid the darkness the goal that we seek. missing statue, but he knew nothing. The and seek the light in our world. but we should do so in an active way. Our curate, however, did agree to help look.. Jesus came in history once, and we role should never be passive, to allow Next, we must try to emulate the celebrate that great event each year. The two priests searched high and low, , events to unfold around us without our humility of Virgin Mary. She willingly Advent is our period of preparation that with no positive results. participation. Our preparation must be ignored personal need and desire, but allows us personally, spiritually and They decided to make a few phone sought only to do the will of God. Her active, with the clear sense ~f interior calls. First, Father O'Connor called the physically to renew ourselves and prepare movement. that accompanies any preparagreat fiat, "Here am I, the servant of the it. We are challenged to cast off darkness police, but th~re had been no break-in or tion. Lord; let it be with me according to your problem reported; the police knew A little story illustrates this point. One word" (Luke 1:38), must be our model of . in its multiple and varied forms and seek the light. The light brings strength; it nothing. Then the call went to Patsy day three young people were discussing humility. Mullin, the president of the Parish Pastoral various versions of the Bible and which Our personal preparation for the coming brings warmth. The light represents possibility in our life. Council. She had been at home with her works best for each of them. One person of the ~ord at Christmas requires our full As John the Baptist told the people of family all day and knew nothing about the said, "I like the New ArDerican Bible. It's investment. We must do the best we can to his day to prepare the way of the Lord, let missing statue. avoid the commercialism of the season. much easier to read and, therefore, to us prepare ours~lves. What we do now The two priests could think of nothing understand." Certainly this is difficult to do, but we can will allow us to celebrate Christmas better. Another person said, "I like the else to do. They locked the church with rise to the challenge. We have no control Our preparation will aid us in the future, the hope and a prayer that the statue Jerusalem Bible. It's easy to read, but it is over what happens in the mall and other not only tomorrow but to life everlasting: "outside" things, but we have significant would be returned. also poetic and I can use it more easily in We will never receive a better opportunity; my daily prayer." . control on what we do and our reaction to The next morning, after a restless night let us not allow it to pass us by. The third person, however, said, "I like our world. Concentrating on the message of sleep, Msgr. Flanagan woke early. Father Gribble is a noted author and About 7:30 he went to unlock the Church my mother's version best. She translated of Advent, and not the message of society, is associate professor ofreligious studies to prepare for the morning Mass. As he the Bible into action so I can apply it in must always be our goal. scurried about the sacristy, he heard the my daily life." We move from the darkness to the light at Stonehill College in North Easton. This is the fourth i~stallment ofa fivefront door of the church open and with it a The Jews actively waited for the by working to modify or eliminate habits part series. Messiah during the time of Jesus. Who, that annoy others or are harmful to clanging sound of wheels. When he peered out the sacristy door the pastor saw they asked, was this Messiah to be? As little Johnny Murphy, the eight year-old mentioned earlier in this series, the Jews son of John and Mary Murphy, prominent were anticipating a warrior king, who would root out Israel's enemies and members of the parish. Johnny was not restore the greatness of the Davidic alone; behind him he pulled a brightly painted new red wagon. Kingdom. Such a great king was deWhen Msgr. Flanagan looked more scribed by Jeremiah (23:5-6) and Micah closely, however, he noticed that there was (5: 2-5), but these were not the only something in the wagon. There, wrapped dt:scriptions of the Messiah. On the in a blanket, was the statue of the Baby contrary, Isaiah proclaimed a very different vision of the Messiah's presence ." Jesus. Johnny wheeled his load to the front of the 路sanctuary路 and then parked the through his now famous "suffering servant" passages (42: 1-4, 49: 1-7, 50:4wagon. He proceeded to take his precious 11, 52: 13-53: 12). Rather than a powerful passenger and place it in the crib where it belonged. . leader, Isaiah describes a servant who willingly suffers for his people. It was an The pastor approached the young man image that was not only contrary to that of and said, "Johnny, did you take the statue of the Baby Jesus?" other prophets, but was probably very The boy quite forthrightly said, "Yes, I difficult to admit as well. How could one did." who would suffer and be humiliated bring "Why, son?" continued Msgr. greatness once again to Israel? Flanagan, "We have been looking all The Jews' active preparation for the 'The statue of the Baby Jesus was missing, apparently stolen from Messiah reached its culmination in the life evening and were quite worried." the crib. Who would do such a thing, especially on Christmas Day?" and work of John the Baptist. We recall The boy answered, "Well, you see,
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The Anchor
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Mass. couple figh.ts fQr .parental rights By GAIL
BESSE
ANCHOR CORRESPONDENT
BOSTON - They journeyed not to Egypt to escape a lawless ruler, but"to a Boston courthouse to appeal a legal ruling. Although the landscape, the dangers and the years differed, What motivated the young parents was similar. As Mary and Joseph sought to save their baby from physical hairn, so now two Massachusetts ~hristian couples want to protect their children from harm 'of another sort. The couples contend that Lexington public school teachers should have notified parents that their kindergarten and second grade youngsters would be exposed to. storybooks meant to mainstream the homosexual lifestyle. . . Parents David and Tonia Parker and Jo-· seph and Robin Worthlin pressed forward December 5 with their federal civil rights lawsuit. . The case will have national impact, according to Attorney Daniel Avila, who has followed it as associate director or"the Massachusetts Catholic Conference. This will set a precedent on how the federal courts treat parental. rights when they clash with public schools' agenda, he said. The' Parkers have spent their life savings on legal costs topping $250,000. The case is being opposed by more than a .dozen grQUps, including the Massachusetts Teachers Union, American Civil Liberties Union, Anti-Defamation League and well-funded national homosexual advocacy groups. But Parker downplayed the D~vid-and Goliath odds, saying he's ready to go to the U.S. Supreme Court if this appeal fails. It was heard by a three-judge panel in the First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. "We maintain that we don't lose our First Amendment rights because our child is in public school," Parker said. They're app~aling Judge Mark Wolf1s February 23 dismissal of their lawsuit against Lexington Public Schools. The Boston law firm Denner Pellegrino LLP, which specializes in First Amendment litigation, is representing them. Their suit charges that schools basically tried to indoctrinate their youngsters with the idea that homosexuality is morally neutral before the children had learned a moral framework in which to understand it. In refusing to let the case go to trial, Judge Wolf had cited a previous court decision that involved a high school assembly as a precedent. He ruled that because Massachusetts allows gay "marriage," the state has "rational interest" in fostering its acceptance. If parents disagreed with the curriculum, they could remove their children f~om the system, Wolf said. Attorney Avila commented, "Unfortunately, not all parents can afford to take their kids out of public schools, but this is a decision that people may in good conscience be facing in this clash of value systems." The couples' Attorney Neil Tassel noted that parents have never tried to dictate currtculum, merely to be given their legal optout right. Parker maintained that Wolf's dismissal
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was flawed for several reasons. The law mandates a higher level of "strict scrutiny" in cases involving several constitutional rights: in this case, the free exercise of religion, privacy and due process, he said. "If the homosexual movement can get this lawsuit stopped before it can get started, .then Judge Wolf's hideous ruling from the Motion to Dismiss would stand as 'case law' for the whole country," said parents rights advocate Brian Camenker, director of the Waltham-based Mass Resistance. "In that ruling, Wolf basically says that the state is required to make children believe that homosexuality is normal and natural in order to make them good citizens," Camenker said. "This ruling is poised to be the jet fuel that the homosexual movement needs to push their agenda into every school in America." His group's Website massresistance.org has posted every legal brief filed in the case, which could be decided anytime after December 16. The case dates back to 2005, when Parker was arrested for trespassing (a charge later dropped after he spent a night in jail) in a dispute over his kindergarten son being given a book about families with homosexual and "transgender" parents. The book King and King, about a royal "gay marriage," was read to the Worthlins' second-grader. When the controversial issue was addressed in a recent Democratic presidential debate, not one caQdidate opposed the notion of this ideological fairy .tale being read to seven-year-olds. The candidates' responses likely cheered those groups that filed a 50-page amicus brief against the parents' appeal: the Human Rights Campaign; Gay and Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD); Massachusetts Women's Bar Association; Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN); and Parents, Families, and Friends of Gays an4 Lesbians (PFFLAG). Their brief argues that public schools should "teach tolerance at an early age, inculcate values, serve as a marketplace of ideas and protect the rights of students to receive information." . Parker's attorneys replied that parents, not the state, are the' only appropriate guardians of their children's rights. "For the town to undertake its own instruction . and direction regarding beliefs contrary to (ttJ,eparents') religion, without notifying parents, is burdensome in the .extreme," their response states. First Circuit Judge Sandra Lynch noted that the law does allow for parental notification about sex. education. However, the schools' attorney John Davis argued that applying the prior notice rule on all classroom discussions would be overly burdensome. Books about same-sex coupliJ;lg clearly transmit values even if they aren't labeled sex education, noted Avila. "Parents shouldn't have to check their moral values at the door when their kids enter the public school system," he said. . Tonia Parker said after the hearing, "It's in the Lord's hands; we're trusting iii that." Gail Besse is afreeiance writer. You can reach her at gailbesse@comcast.net.
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DIFFICULT TO' DECORATE - Wo~ers erect an 86-foot-high Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. The tree was donated to the Vatican by the northern Italian city of San Vigilio. (CNS photollDario Pignatelli, Reuters) . . I'I .
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YOUTH PAGES
DECEMBER
14, 2007
Coyle and C~ssidy sends five to district music festivals
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Father Timothy Driscoll carries the Blessed Sacrament during a recent confirmation retreat at Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Taunton. The retreat included eucharistic adoration throughout the day. The adoration room was staffed by post-confirmation teens, allowing retreatants the opportunity to sit and have quiet time with Jesus.
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD -
Teachers from Holy Trinity School in Fall River take a moment for prayer during their retreat at Cathedral Camp. (Photo by Christine Smith)
SPIRITUAL BOOST -
TAUNTON - Five Coyle and Cassidy High School students have distinguished themselves in music and will be participating in the District Festivals sponsored by the Southeastern District of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association. Senior Barbara-Ann Cheetham will play French. horn in the senior festival concert band. Senior Neil Reilly and Sophomore Andrew-John Rondelli will sing tenor in the senior festival concert choir. Joining the two tenors will be Sophomore Elizabeth Vaughan singing alto. Participating in the Junior Festival will be Freshman Jarnes Anderson. In addition to being accepted to the senior festival, Rondelli had a high score in his audition and was recommended for an All-State audition.
The students prepared audition materials and werejudged along with hundreds of other high school students from the southeastern Massachusetts area. The festivals include ensemble rehearsal$ on a Friday and Saturday with a guest conductor, and culminate in a public performance on Saturday afternoon. ''This is the first time we've had so many students accepted to the festivals," said music director David Renoni. "I'm impressed with their efforts and proud that Coyle and Cassidy will be represented by such fine musicians." The Senior Festival is in January at the Barnstable High School Performing Arts Center in Hyannis and the JuniorFestival is in March atThunton High School.
THE ROYAL COUPLE - Bishop Connolly Seniors Matt Varao and
Sarah Bates were recently selected Homecoming King and Queen. Varao is also the Student Body president at the Fall River school. (Photo by Bob Almeida)
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WINNING TEAM - Alan Shawn Feinstein made his annual visit to St. John the Evangelist School in
Attleboro to thank the students for their works of good deeds to the community. The school partici- LINKED TO THE SEASON - Owen Nowacki and Jarred DePina pates in the Feinstein Foundation's Leadership school program allowing the students to participate in of Espirito Santo School in Fall River prepared for the season by numerous community event~ including visits to nursing homes and breakfasts for local needy people.. making an Advent chain.
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DECEMBER
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YOUTH PAGES
.Putting things first - God By CHARLIE MARTIN -
HI MOM - A child walks by a mural of Our Lady of Guadalupe in a predominantly Latino neighborhood of Chicago. Our Lady of Guadalupe is honored as patroness of the Americas. Her feast was December 12. (CNS photo/Karen Callaway, Catholic New World)
The Anchor has a separate email address for school and Religious Education news. Send photos and copy for consideration to:
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DON'T BLINK I turned on the evenin , news Saw an old man being interviewed Turnin' a hundred and two today They asked him what's the secret to life He looked up from his ol' pipe Laughed and said, "AliI can say is" Refrain: Don't blink Just like that You're six years old and you take a nap And you wake up and you're 25 And your high school sweetheart becomes your wife Don't blink You just might miss your babies growin'like mine did Turnin' into moms and dads Next thing you know Your better half of 50 years is there in bed And you're prayin' . God takes you instead Trust me friend A hundred years goes faster than you think . So don't blink I was glued to my TV When it looked like he looked at me Anq said, "Let's start putting first things first" 'Cause when your hourglass .runs outta sand You can't flip it over, start again Took every breath God gives you for what i(s worth (Repeat chorus.) So I been tryin ' to slow down I been tryin ' to take it in In this here today, gone
CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
tomorrow world we're livin' in (Repeat chorus.) Naw, don:t blink Don't /)link Life goes faster than you think Don't Blink Life goes faster than you think . Don't ~link Don't blink Life goes faster qlan you think Sung by Kenny Chesney Copyright 2007 by RCA Is Kenny Cheslley a poet or a pirate? According to his new disc, he must be both. "Just Who I Am (Poets and Pirates)" is Chesney's 13th.,album. Fans of this pop/country sta;r are likely to applaud its content. Off the CD and climbing the charts rapidly is the single "Don't Blink." The song reflects on a fact we all know but frequently forget: No matter how long we live,: life goes by . kl y. qUlC ' As a teen, you might not feel this "quickness" df life's passing that the song explores. Perhaps you belie~e that it makes no difference if you "blink" and miss some opportunity or event. You may feel that plenty of life is still to come, and for most teens' this is true. Yet, the song's 1Jlessage has something important for you to consider. While many opportunities may come your way in the future, today is wtlat counts. For example, it is in this day that you can demonstrate that you are a disciple of Jesus. Will you respond to oth,ers in the manner that Jesus modeled? The love, support and help you I'
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give today is precisely that this day's opportunity. Also, all of us need to think about the song's encouragement that we put "first things first." It's not always easy to know just what is first. Some days brin~ immediate tasks that must be addressed. Other days invite you to focus on your relationships. Still other times you just )Vant to chill out and enjoy personal space. This is one reason why you should listen to your heart. What you feel from deep within you is a sure indicator of what is truly important in this day. If you follow this guidance, you will find that each day holds satisfaction. While what is important might vary in each day, you possess a life foundation that is beyond time. It is your relationship with God. Who you are with God exists forever. Thus, no matter what you might be juggling this day, remember this relationship. Share with God what this day brings. Let no day go by without the conversation with God we call prayer. Mostly likely, you will not live to be 102. But you do have this day. Don't live so far ahead that you "blink" t.o what this day presents. It's a chance to put "first things first," and this includes taking time for God. Your comments are always welcome: Please write to me at: chmartin@swindiana.net or at 7125W 200S, Rockport, IN 47635.
Who invited Santa? It's the third Sunday of Advent become so diluted that a child in the Church. It's coming toward sharing the story of Christmas the end of the Christmas season in might not even mention the birth the world. We are waiting with of our Savior? anticipation and joy in the Go ahead. Give it a try. Ask Church. We are fed up with the your little nieces or traffic and long lines in the world. nephews, your brothers The Church is preparing for : or sisters, your cousins Christ, the world is preparing for under six years old to Santa. The Church is practicing explain to you what patience. The world is getting Christmas is and Santa ready for after-Christmas sales gets top billing. The which now start before Christmas. Incarnation? What's that? As Christians we live in the . Santa? He's great! : world, but are not of the worUL Bethlehem? What's that? Christmas is a perfect example. The North Pole? That's where Does anyone know how Santa got Santa and the elves make all the into this story? He is definitely toys. Who the heck let Santa in not one of the wise men menhere? And don't try to tell me it's tioned in Maith~w, and I'm pretty just a variation.of St. Nicholas. sure he never held a job as a Santa and St. Nicholas have. shepherd, so he wasn't one of the nothing in common. St. Nicholas . shepherds at the stable mentioned lived in the fourth century, so I in Luke. How did we let one of know he wasn't at the manger. He the holiest days in our history . . was a bishop; not a toy maker. He
was generous, so legend has it, but generous in helping people, not in spoiling children or in materialism. A bishop who saves three sisters from being sold
because of their poverty does not even remotely resemble the fat guy in red who owns flying reindeer and who hangs out with those elfin toy makers, Maybe it's because I don't have children myself. Maybe it's because I have met too many .children who have never been' taught the'tluthofthls holy day.
But I've just about had it with the whole Santa thing. I don't know how we can reclaim Christmas for Christ, but we have to do something. When I was achild, I was excited about Saitta. I couldn't wait. There was Christmas magic, but it was contaihed somehow in my family. The creche went up before the tree did. The nativity was read to us ~ Christmas drew near. Christmas Mass was ~ways celebrated before the gifts were opened. There was an order to it. You knew which co~nted more ... because our parents taught us¡ which counted more. Even when I was a child; Santa didn't really fit the story. It was like.:there were two umelated eventS going on.. . Christmas with Santa, and the birth of Christandohe didn't "
really have anything to do with the other. Each year it seems that Santa just gets bigger and bigger, and I'm not talking about his â&#x20AC;˘ weigqt! Let's not substitute Christmas magic for the miracle of the Incarnation. Perhaps if each one of us made a conscious effort this year to honor Christ in our celebrations, in our gift . giving, in our holiday gatherings, we can get closer to the truth of this season. "For a child is born to. us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:5). . . Jean Revil teaches spiritual theology and thanatology at ' Bishop Stang 'High School. . Comments welcome at: . jrevil@bishops.taiig.com.
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TRAGIC EVENT - At a December 6 prayer service in Omaha, Neb., a woman walks with her son as he carries a candle and the name of a victim of the December 5 shooting at the Von Maur department store in the city's Westroads Mall. A community service to remember the shooting victims was held at S1. John's Church on the Creighton University campus. Robert A. Hawkins, 19, of Bellevue, Neb., opened fire with a rifle inside the crowded shopping mall, killing eight people and then himself, police said. Five others were wounded, including Jeff Schaffart, a graduate of the law school at Jesuit-run Creighton. (CNS photo/Don Doll, SJ)
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his employer, who, he said, wanted to remain anonymous, had told him to bring them to us," said Frias. "When we opened the bags we were amazed to find they were filled with dozens of pairs of size 14 women's jeans," Frias said excitedly. "It was the most w9nderful Christmas slory, and I remember how it affected all of us. It made all of us realize how good God is; and how important the opportunity he had given us ... and how he makes sure we deliver what he so miraculously provided to those in need." Frias, who for the past six years has been director of Health Services in lhe Counseling Center at Bridgewater State College, also recalled when the Giving Tree program began 10 years ago, there were only nine parishes participating, and there were only a few workers. "Currently there are 23 parishes and the effort has tripled in size, and the workers - who shop for gifts, label them, wrap them and deliver them - are many and wonderful, and we wish we could have 50 parishes more participating," she asserted. Besides the parishes, some schools and private organizations have also set up the trees. The program begins at Thanksgiving at the parish level where pre-prepared tags representing what marginalized families in those parishes request are placed on a Christmas tree. Parishioners who take the tags, purchase the suggested gift and return them unwrapped to the parish. The gifts are then transported . to the CSS headquarters at the former Rose Hawthorne Lathrop Home at 1600 Bay Street in Fall River. There the gifts are wrapped, labeled and returned to the parishes for distribution at Christmas. "However the program is not restricted to parishes or Catholics," Frias eagerly pointed out. "Families of any religious denomination, those with needs that have not been met by other organizations, federal, state, or local, can come into any of the five CSS of-
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flees in Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton, Attleboro, and Hyannis and file requests," she added. "We'll be working from 9 to 9, doing all we can do, and we have generous givers - and they are also from many denominations in all parts of the communities, who help make this a great success." Another facet of the program involves Christmas dinner. The Gift of Giving program also collects food and turkeys, which go into baskets, and are given to families who have no Christmas dinner except for this exceptional gift. There are also food cards, for which donations are still being sought. She also said she finds recipients of the Gift of Giving program "are most appreciative." Frias, 54, who is married and has two adult children, recalled that at a Christmas past, a woman arrived with a baby in her arms to submit a tag for a gift.
"But she had her three other children with her, and when we learned they would probably get little for Christmas, we made sure they too would be receiving what they needed. I can't tell you how happy we were to do this. What a wonderful gift we had received. For most of us, our Christmas is made long before the day arrives." As good as the program is, can it be better? "What would really be grand is if we could get all the items and have them ready - so that when those who asked for our help could come in and look at what we have and then select the size, the color, the right toy, just as they could in a department store," mused Frias. "Whatever, we always do the best we can." Organizations orpersons wishing to assist may contact CSS in Fall River at 508-674-4681; or email ]uraci@cssdioc.org.
New Bedford Deanery penance services slated NEW BEDFORD - Next week, there will be several Advent penance services in the New Bedford Deanery to which all Catholics are invited: December 17, St. Mary's Church in New Bedford; December 18, Immaculate Conception Church, New Bedford;
December 19, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church and Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in New Bedford, and St. Mary's Parish in South Dartmouth; and December 20, at St. John the Baptist Church in New Bedford. All penance services begin at 7 p.m.
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G. Albert Roy, father of Father Richard M. Roy SOUTH DARTMOUTH - G. Albert "Chippy" Roy, 83,!of South Dartmouth, prominent insurer and former owner and president of the Grenache Insurance Agency in New Bedford for more than 25 years, died December 2, at his home after . a brief illness. He was tht: husband of Claire (LeComte) Roy and had just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. He was the father of Father Richard M. Roy, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Attleboro. Born in New Bedford, a son of the late Zoe I H. and Delia (Rousseau) Roy, he had been a lifelong area resident having resided in South Dartmouth for the past 30 years. He was a 1942 graduate of New Bedford High School, a graduate of Embry-Little School ofAviation in Florida and attended Providence College. He was a member of St. Mary's Parish in South Dartmouth, where he was an extraordinary minister of holy Communion and a member of
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the St. Vincent de Paul Society. In Bomb Squadron. He held member2005, he was awarded the Diocesan ships in the Serra Club of New BedMarian Medal for his years of ford, Richelieu Club of New BedChurch service. . ford, Post One, American Legion, Mr. Roy was a member of the Private A. Poirier Post Veterans of board of directors at Sacred Heart Foreign Wars and the Southeastern Home and had served on the New Massachusetts Police Chiefs AssoBedford Park ciation. He was the owner/operator Board. He served of New Bedford's historic Orpheum two terms as Theatre from 1945 to 1958. Besides his wife and priest son, president of the Independent In- he leaves two others sons, Robert surance Agents P. Roy of North Dartmouth, and of Greater New Raymond P. Roy of San Francisco, Bedford and had . Calif.; three daughters, Diane been honored Charbonneau and Elizabeth Leduc with an Out- of South Dartmouth, and Jacqueline G. ALBERT ROY . standing Mem- M. Roy of Taunton; a granddaughber Recognition ter; and nieces, nephews and godAward by his peers in 1994. He was children. He was also the brother of the also a member of the Bishop Stang Council No. 4532 and the Bishop late Atty. Louis A. Roy. Herman Cassidy Geqeral Assembly 4th De- Roy, Assumptionist Brother Gerald gree Knights of Columbus. Roy, and R. Marcel Roy. He was a veteran of World War His Funeral Mass was celebrated II having served in the Pacific with December 6, in St. Mary's Church the Army Air Corps and a deCorated in South Dartmouth. Burial was in veteran of the 20th Air Force, 870th Sacred Heart Cemetery.
Sister Germaine Gendron SSJ; retired educator and sacristan HOLYOKE - Sister Germaine Gendron, 93, also known as Sister Marie Helene, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield for 77 years, died December '4 in Mont Marie Health Care Center here. Born in Westport, the daughter of the late Thomas and Eugenie (Emond) Gendron, she graduated from Dominican Academy in Fall River. She was a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Fall River when she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of
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. :Ill Y(mLPr~y~X~ Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks
Dec. 19 Pennanent Deacon Eugene L. Orosz, 1988 Dec. 20 Rev. Manuel S. Travassos. Pastor. Espirito Santo. Fall River. 1953 Rev. lohn A. lanson. OFM. Missionary in Brazil, 1996 Dec. 21 Rev. Henri 1. Charest. Pastor. St. Mathieu, Fall River. 1968 Rev. Manuel M. Resendes. Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes. Taunton, 1985 Rev. Laureano C. dos Reis. Retired Pastor. St Anthony of Padua, Fall River. 1989 Dec. 22 Rev. Adriano Moniz, Retired Pastor, Our Lady ofAngels, Fall River, 1964 Rev. Annand P. Paradis. SJ.• Psychologist, San Francisco, Calif., 1991 Dec. 23 Rev. Owen 1. Kiernan, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Fall River, 1901 Rev. Charles P. Trainor. SS. St. Edward Seminary, Seattle, Wash., 1947 Rev. Msgr. lohn A. Silvia, Retired Pastor. St. lohn the Baptist, New Bedford, 1970 Rev. William E. Collard, Retired Pastor, St. Theresa, New Bedford, 1986
LePuy in Fall River, and became a member of the Sisters ofSt. Joseph of Springfield when the two communities merged in 1974. She taught atSt. Mathieu and Blessed Sacrament schools in Fall River; was sacristan at St. Jean Baptiste Church in Fall River and St. Louis de France Church in Swansea, and ministered as a staff member of Foyer St. Joseph, the Provincial House, in Fall River. In 1999 she became a member of the St. Joseph Retirement Community at Mount Marie in Holyoke, and has been a resident of Mont
Marie Health Center since 2005. Besides her Sisters in her religious community, Sister Gendron leaves four sisters, Cecile Aulisio of New Bedford, Yvonne Jean of Charlottesville, Va., and Madeleine Grady ofAmissville, Va.; a brother; Normand Gendron of Arlington, Va.; and nieces and nephews. She was also the sister of the late Sister Marie Ange Gendron, SSJ, and Louise Lutheran. Her Mass ofChristian Burial was celebrated December 6, in Mont Marie Chapel in Holyoke. Burial was in Mont Marie Cemetery.
Father Gerald R. Forest MS; was educator and pastor NORTH ATTLEBORO - Father Gerald Rodolphe Forest, 84, a member of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La S~ette; died December 6, at Madonna Manor in North Attleboro. Born in Fitchburg, the son of the late Cleophas ·E., and Marie Antoinette (Levesque) Forest, he graduated from St. Joseph's Elementary School and Fitchburg High School. In 1940 he entered the La Salette Minor Seminary in Enfield, N.H.', began his novitiate there in 194~, and made his first profession on July 2, 1944. He studied philosophy and theology at the La Salette Major Seminary in Attleboro. Ordained to the priesthood on June 11, 1949 by the late Bishop James L. Connolly, in St. Mary's Cathedral in Fall River, Father Forest's first assignment was to the Enfield Seminary as teacher of French and English. In 1953 he II
was assigned to Our Lady of La Salette Parish in Montreal, P.Q., Canada, where he served for 36 years as an associate and pastor. He was also assigned to the Shrine in Enfield where he pursued a course in CPE. He also studied at the Gregorian University.in Rome. In 1995, Father Forest was assigned to the National Shrine ofOur Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, where he ministered until declining health forced him to retire. He is survived by a sister, Muriel Beauregard; and nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces. He was also the brother of the late Sister of St. Anne Dorothy Marie, and Gladys Eloise Watkins. A Mass of Christian Burial was concelebrated December 10 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette, 947 Park Street, Attleboro. Burial wili be in Enfield, N.H., at a later date.
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EASTON - A 28-minute video on the life and works of Blessed Basile Moreau, CSC, will be shown Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Father Peyton Center, 518 Washington Street. Brother Joseph Esparza, CSC, will provide a first-person account of the beatification ceremony and insights into the vision and spirituality of Blessed Father Moreau. r~'"---'"-~--'--'--'--'---"''''-'--'--~--"''-
iEucharistic Adoration l
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WEST HARWICH - Our Lady of Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Trinity Parish, 246 Main Street. holds eucharistic adoration 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please call 508-432-4716 for open hours or to sign up for an hour. I
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FALL RIVER - There will be a healing Mass at St. Anne's Church, 818 Middle Street, December 20 at 6:30 p.m. The rosary will be recited at 6 p.m., and Benediction and healing prayers will take place following the Mass. F-----
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ATILEBORO - The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette will host the following artists for its Christmas concerts: Spanish Choir Voizes de Los Andes with Silvio Cuellar December 22 at 8 p.m.; John PoIce December 23 at 8 p.m.; and La Salette Father Andre Patenaude December 24 at 11:30 p.m., followed by Midnight Mass. ATILEBORO - The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette Pax Christi will hold its meeting December 18 at 7:15 p.m: in the Monastery Chapel. FALL RIVER - Santo Christo Parish at 185 Canal Street will host a Christmas concert presented by the Stella-Maris Chorus from Toronto directed by Jose Carlos Rodrigues December 16 at 7:30 p.m. NEW BEDFORD - Father Roger J. Landry and Msgr. Gerard O'Connor will give a public presentation on Pope Benedict XVI's new encyclical, Spe Salvi, tonight at St. Anthony of Padua Church. 1359 Acushnet Avenue, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. There will be a question and answer period. All are invited. NEW BEDFORD - Our .Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish at 230 Bonney Street will host a Christmas concert presented by the Stella-Maris Chorus from Toronto directed by Jose Carlos Rodrigues December 15 at 7:30 p.m. NEW BEDFORD - The Daughters of Isabella will hold its meeting at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, 121 Mt. Pleasant Street December 18 at 7 p.m. Members are reminded to bring a gift for their Secret Prayer Pal. After the meeting there will be a birthday party for the Baby Jesus.
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NORTH DARTMOUTH - Project Rachel. a ministry of healing and reconciliation for post-abortion women and men is available in the diocese. If you are hurting from an abortion experience and want help call 508-997-3300.
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dren. This year the December 8 feast fell on a Saturday, when school wasn't in session, so the Mass took place two days earlier, which happened to be the feast of St. Nicholas. Shortly before this year's procession started last week, Mary Pat Tranter, president of Coyle and Cassidy, told the students that their -----~-.-.-----_.-- -.----- - - ---: I
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SELI~C~TION OP CATHOLIC l;lN-t2~T ~ " ,u. . .. '. ' BOOKS &, GIFTS n,J TH~ AREA f' \' i
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presents do more than help the places on the stage to put the preneedy. She suggested they might . sents. actually improve the children's im"It's a very nice experience to see age of themselves and their relation- all the families come in. They're very ship with God. grateful for what we do for them," "The one thing you are doing to- he said. day is providing the gift of hope. Bishop George W. Coleman, an Because imagine if you were a child alumnus of Monsignor Coyle High on Christmas mom and there was School before the 1971 merger of nothing under the tree," Tranter said. the Catholic boys and girls high "What you do is provide Christmas schools in Taunton, makes his anfor those children who otherwise might think they're been naughty and not nice."
The items were for the yearly Christmas Gift Shop the school runs, where needy parents who live in Taunton and the area can come to select presents for their children. Each year the school has a Mass on or near the feast of the Immaculate Conception, known commonly as the ''Toy Mass," because the students bring in toys for needy chil.-_._-~~.--
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nual visit to Coyle and Cassidy for the Toy Mass, which he celebrates. During his sermon the bishop spoke of the charity ofthe Coyle and Cassidy students. "I know how generous the student body is in providing for needy children," Bishop-Coleman said. ''There are probably several department stores' worth of toys on the stage. Thank you for your generosity."
Students interviewed also spoke highly of the event, which they said they look forward to each year. "This is a commitment of our school to serve. It's one of the big things we do," said Andrea Stewart, 17, a senior who lives in Raynham. She noted that the parents get to pick things their children would like from the large ~~mbe.r of~tems, as op.posed to recelvmg gtf1sPlcked ~ by somebody else. ~ "You can tell the parents really appreciate it. It's something special we can do for the Taunton commu-
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. ,'.;' . A\cl"lvcnt WrQaths • NativitMSets Cbl'i~tmQs Curds • Bibles· .issals CD~ • Religious Art • DVDs nity," said Sarah Barrett, 17, a seROSfil'ics • Statues. Children's Books nior from Middleborough.
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"It means a lot. Our goal around here is to help out the community. I Our motto is 'Enter to Learn, Leave I to Serve,' and this is a big part of that:' said Shawn Andrade, 17, a se--.-J .' nior from Raynham, as he looked for
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TOY PATROL - A seemingly endless stream of students from Coyle and Cassidy High School in Taunton donate toys for needy children at the school's annual ''Toy Mass." (Photo by Matt McDonald)