12.20.91 by The Anchor

t eanc 0 VOL. 3S, NO. SO

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Friday, December 20, 1991

FALL RIVER, MASS.

FALL RIVER DIOCESAN NEWSPAPER FOR SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSmS CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS +_.

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The Christmas message of Bishop Cronin The Gospel of St. Luke, proclaimed during the My dear brothers and sisters in Christ: Today we rejoice with our fellow Christians Christmas Midnight Mass, records the words of the throughout the world in celebrating the mystery ofthe angels on that first, Christmas: You have not~ing to fear! I come to proclaim Incarnation. Once again, we marvel at the tender good news to you - tidings of great joy to be scene of the Lord of all creation born of the Virgin shared by the whole people. (Lk. 2: 12) Mary in human flesh. He has become Emmanuel, Let us, therefo!,e, fearlessly proclaim the joyful "God with us." This infant child, nurtured in the wood ofa simple message of Christ to "the whole people" of our manger, would complete His salvific work some nation during this quincentenary celebration. May thirty..three years later by ascending the wood of the our own lives be a sign to others of our faith in the Cross, freely giving His life to ransom us from the Gospel message. May we all become''evangelists" to darkness of sin and death. We all share in the new our brothers and sisters by sharing the light of our .faith. . light which has come into the world. May the newborn Savior fill you with love during During the course of 1992, we will continue our observance of the five hundredth anniversary of the this Holy Season and throughout 1992. Faithfully yours in Christ, arrival of the Gospel in the Americas with the com.. ing of Christopher Columbus to our shores. This +- !JtLN-.-A'tA- ~ significant anniversary can serve to remind us of our' _ Bishop orFall River need to bear witness to the Gospel message whose Bishop Cronin will be principal celebrant of the Mass of Christmas to be telecast from beg~nning we celebrate at Christmas. 11 a.m. to noon Christmas Day on WLNE Channel Six.

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"The shepherds. . .went in haste and found Mary and Joseph and the infant lying in the manger." Luke 15,16

2. THE ANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River -

Syhod sho.wed common concerns

Fri., Dec. 20, 1991

- Letters Welcome Letters to the editor are welcomed. All letters should be brier and the editor reserves the right to condense any'letters if deemed necessary. All letters must be signed and contain a home or business Il!ldress.

FATHER BLOTTMAN

,Msgr. Stanton retires; two pastors transferred

Away

We join you and your family in joyful celebration ofthe Nativity.

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him a domestic prelate with the title of monsignor. He taught ethics and medical ethics at St. Anne's Hospital's School of Nursing for 14 years and dogma and moral theology at the Dighton novitiate of the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation for I f years. He has also served as chaplain for the Fall River Catholic Nurses' Guild and for the Taunton area Queen's Daughters. Father Blottman Father Blottman is a native of New Rochelle, NY, the son of Msgr. Stanton Msgr. Stanton, pastor at St. Kathryn Marie Blottman and the Paul's since June 4, 1982, is a late John B. Blottman. - After graduation from Attleboro Taunton native, born Sept. 10, High School and Holy Cross Col1917. He is the son of the late lege, he served in the U.S. Army Daniel A. and Dorothy (Lynch) for two years before preparing for Stanton. He attended Immac,ulate Con- the priesthood at St. Philip Neri ception parish school, Taunton School, Boston, and St. John's High School and Boston College, Seminary, Brighton. Ordained Feb. 13, 1965, by the then prepared for the priesthood late Bishop James L. Connolly, he at St. Bernard's Seminary, Rochester, NY, and St. Mary's Semi- was subsequently parochial vicar at Holy Family parish, East Taunnary, Baltimore. ton; St, Mary's, North Attleboro; He was ordained Nov. 27,1943, at St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall River, St. Joseph's, Fall River; and St. Mary's, South Dartmouth, before by the late Bishop James E. Casbeing appointed pastor in Marion sidy. Oct. 7,1983. After seven years as associate Father Fraga pastor at St. Mary's parish, North Father Fraga, presently pastor Attleboro, he began a career as a Navy chaplain, graduating as honor at St. Peter the Apostle parish, is a man in his class at the chaplains' Taunton native, the son ofthe late school in Newport, RI. He then Antonio C. and Etelvina (Bertao) served in the Pacific Theater dur- Fraga. He attended Coyle High ing the Korean war and received School, Stonehill College, and St. the Presidential Unit Citation for Mary's Seminary, Baltimore. Ordained March 17, 1956 at St. action in Wonsan Harbor, North Mary's Cathedral, Fall River" by Korea. , Returning to the diocese, he was Bishop Connolly, he was parochassigned to Immaculate Concep- ial vicar at St. John of God parish, tion parish, Fall River, as assistant Somerset, for 13 years and at St. pastor, remaining a chaplain in the Joseph's parish, Taunton, for three NavyReserve Corps until retiring years. He was tllen parochial vicar with the rank of commander in at Holy Ghost parish, Attleboro, before being named pastor there in 1965. His career as a reserve chaplain' 1974. He was also pastor at St. included participation in the effort John the Baptist parish, New Bedto locate the nuclear submarine ford, before being named pastor at USS Thresher, lost 260 miles off St. Peter's Sept. 23, 1987. Provincetown with 129 men aboard in April 1963. ....._._-At the completion of the mission, Msgr. Stanton boarded the submarine USS Dogfish and was entrusted with a 12-foot piece of Most of our usual steel tubing bearing markings of columns will not appear the Thresher that had been recovered from the ocean floor. this week, due to our, Accompanied by another officer, Christmas features. At'l Msgr. Stanton delivered the tubwill return in our next ing to New London, Conn., for transport to Washington. i~sue which, in keeping Msgr. Stanton's other parish with our 50-week pubassignments have been at St. Mary's lishing schedule, will be Cathedral, Fall River, as rector, and as pastoI: at St. Patrick's pardated Jan. 3, 1992. ishes in Wareham and Somerset before he was assigned to St. Paul's. In 1967, Pope Paul VI named Before being named archbishop-designate for the archdiocese of Hartford, Conn., Bishop Daniel A. Cronin announced the retirement of Rev. Msgr. Robert L. Stanton from the pastorate of St. Paul's church, Taunton, and the transfers of Father Bento R. Fraga from pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Church, Provincetown, to pastor at St. Paul's and of Father William P. Blottman from pastor at St. Rita's, Marion, to pastor at St. Peter the Apostle. The changes are effective Jan. 29, 1992.

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The special Synod of Bishops on Europe was "a lesson in the universality" of the church and showed that in different political and cultural circumstances local churches have common concerns, said Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk. The president ofthe National Conference of Catholic Bishops, he was a papally-appointed delegate to the Nov. 28-Dec. 14 synod. The synod focused on challenges facing the church in Europe since the fall of communist governments. But its main concerns, said Archbishop Pilarczyk, are common to local churches throughout the world: how people use their freedom and the need for increased evangelization. Tensions between Catholics and Orthodox in Eastern Europe, especially regarding church property, membership and structures, occupied much of the synod's attention. In many East European countries, "even under communism the Orthodox had an official standing, which they don't have now," the archbishop said. New religious freedom laws have given equal recognition to all denominati'ons and restricted government support for one church over others. The new religious freedom in Eastern Europe, he said, gives Catholics, Orthodox and Protestant churches "an opportunity to do some ecumenical cooperation they hadn't been able to do before." The synod's final document, as a result of suggestions by an English-language and a German-language working group, jncludes eight lines saying "the question of women" in modern European society "is very significant." The document asks for attention to the "legitimate claims of women" and says equal access to political, economic and social structures and institutions should be "ordered to their particular role in the family and in the transmission of life." "The synod obviously did not want to buy into radical feminism," he said. "It's not a question of who's supposed to be behind and who's supposed to be ahead." The synod members wanted to say, "yes, women have legitimate claims," while at the same time ensuring recognition of, women's particular roles in family life, the archbishop said. "N 0 matter how you slice it, women are mothers and homemakers, but that's not all they are," he said'. The synod also gave support to the distinct, but not separate roles of church and state. Archbishop Pilarczyk said reeognizing the distinction "is not to say ihechurch has nothing to say'to society. The Catholic Church has something to say and it should be listened to."

NOTICE

Branch of the Lord "On that day, the branch of the Lord wfll be luster and glory, and the fruit of the earth will be honor and splendor for the survivors of Isreal." - Is 4:2 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111II1111111111111111 THE ANCHOR (USPS-545-020), Second Class Postage Paid at Fall River, Mass, Published weekly except the week of July 4 and the week after Christmas at 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River. Mass, 02720 by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall , River. Subscription price by mail. postpaid $11.00 per year. Postmasters send address changes to The Anchor. P,O. Box 7, Fall River. MA 02722,

Anger workshop_ followup set

Archbishopdesignate discusses new post By Marcie Hickey "I'm leaving home, and that's never easy for anyone." _In'his first public statements after being named the new head of the archdiocese of Hartford, Conn., Archbishop-designate Daniel A. Cronin said he would miss his Fall River home of 21 years but was looking forward to new challenges in the archdiocese. "Fall River is a jewel, but I'm coming to a jewel now, too," he said in Hartford Dec. 10. There he answered the questions of about 60 members of the local media, followed by introductions to archdiocesan administrators, a tour of the chancery building and individual interviews with Connecticut television stations, including a

ADVENT WREATH PRAYER FOURTH WEEK OF ADVENT

STIR UP thy power and come, we pray thee, o Lord, and with great might succor us; that our deliverance, which our sins impede, may be hastened by the help of thy grace and the forgiveness of thy mercy, who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

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The Diocesan Office of Family Ministry will offer a daylong followup session for persons who attended a series of anger seminars in August and September. Dorothy J. Levesque will present the program 9:30 a.m. t04 p.m. Jan. II at the Family Life Center, North Dartmouth. The day's topics will be Personal Issues of Anger, The Personal Expression of Anger, Accepting and Coping with the Anger of Others, and From Anger to Peace. Presentations will be followed by reflection and small group discussions. Preregistration is required before Jan. I. For information contact Jerry or Scottie Foley at the Family Life Center, 999-6420.

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A BUSY MAN: Top left, Archbishop-designate Cronin at Fall River press conference, right, at meeting with department heads in the Hartford archdiocese with Hartford Auxiliary Bishop Paul S. Loverde at right; bottom, TV and print reporters at Fall River conference. (Hickey and Kearns photos) live spot on New Haven's WTNHTV. Later he visited the gravesite of his predecessor, Archbishop John F. Whealon, who died Aug.

2. Bishop Cronin remembered the archbishop in his opening statements in his new see. "I want my first words here to be a fond recollection of the archbishop whom I succeed," he said, adding that he hopes to build on the many accomplishments of Archbishop Whealon. "You can expect a continuation of the archbishop's wonderful ministry.... Hopefully I'll be able to make a contribution that will reflect the wonderful work of my predecessors," he told WTNH-TV. At the press conference in the chancery building, Bishop Cronin fielded questions on church teachings. He was asked whether church positions on such controversial issues as abortion, birth control; sex education, homosexuality and euthanasia are alienating some Catholics. "N 0 one has ever said the morality taught by the church is easy," the archbishop-designate replied. "If one looks at the difficult side of the teaching of the church, it's an easy way to respond, to just get disenchanted and walk away." But, he said, Catholics cannot use a "cafeteria mentality" to just "pick and choose" the teachings they want to follow. "Some positions of the church have not been presented properly," Bishop Cronin continued. If the church, "is given time to get its point across, people begin to see the logic" of those positions. Asked about the role of women in the church, he said that they are important to many ministries but

that "church teaching has been very clear on the ordination of women." He said he was, "in conc-ept," in favor of continuing a three-yearlong archdiocesan synod, at midpoint when Archbishop Whealon died. It has involved priests and laypeople in consultations on future directions of the archdiocese. In the Dec. 10 press conference and another the next morning in Fall River, Bishop Cronin said the challenges that await him in the Hartford archdiocese "are the same as in other areas of the United States" - supporting Catholic education, reaching out to fallenaway Catholics, facing declining vocations, and preaching the Gospel in a- materialistic age and in rough economic times. "It's difficult for persons in ec'onomic straits to concentrate on their spiritual lives," said Bishop Cronin, "but the desire to gain eternal life should be uppermost at all times." He told his Hartford audience that "we are in an era of evangelization. You'll hear a lot about evangelizing from me when I get settled." The particular challenges of the archdiocese will have to "await study," he said, as he is not yet familiar with the area, which encompasses more than twice- the number of Catholics, parishes and priests than the Fall River diocese. "I've got a big task ahead of me," he acknowledged. Asked about his plans for the future, the archbishop-designate responded with an anecdote recalling the last time he was asked that question: on his first day as an

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4 T!"'EANCHOR -

Diocese of Fall River-Fri.,路Dec. 20,1991

the living word

the moorin~. Do You Hear What I Hear? What does Bethlehem look like this Christmas? Well, it's quite different this year. It's almost as it was when it first received its Savior. Just take a look around and see the people who have journeyed to this place of hope. First come the homeless, the men and women of our day who have no place to rest their head. No warm bed, no controlled heat and often no one who cares. They are the ones in our social order who can really identify with the King who had no home, who had to face the world amid the smells of a shelter for animals.' These are the people to whom the Lord reaches out under their layers of newspapers and rejections. The self-righteous should not conjure up excuses for their inaction in face of the plight of fellow human beings. So many turn away from those who seek shelter in doorways and alleys. But the Lord knows their plight. Many of the so-called justified slammed their doors in his face, beginning with the innkeeper in Bethlehem. Too many in our own church would respond in the same way today to the Holy Family. No wonder the homeless are treated as they are. Then there are those who are much like the shepherds, people who hold the menial tasks of life. So many today are wandering about, unemployed. Simply to survive, they are ready to take any job that comes along to pay their bills, feed their families and retain a modicum of self-respect. They too have had doors closed in their faces as they sought work. Often because of the corruption and/ or ineptitude of t'he state, they have been rejected and have become today's most abject men and women. The Lord ofjustice and integrity has indeed found no place in the lives ofthose who have brought financial ruin to the many who entrusted them with their life savings. The elderly especially have suffered at the h~lnds ofunscrupulous profiteers solely interested in personal aggrandizement. How many of our senior citizens will be poor and alone this Christmas? The child of Mary knows how they feel. Also gathered around the creche this year are the new people from the East, the faithful of newly freed lands who will celebrate their first Christmas at Bethlehem: our brothers and sisters from Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia and the other countries that have until this year been in the bondage of denial and darkness, for generations not allowed by the state even to acknowledge the Prince of Peace. The state made itself their religion, their arbiter of life and death, much as in our own country, where government more and more seeks to determine who can be born or aborted or, at the other end of life, who should live and who should die. However, the shattering light of truth has power to dispel such darkness, as it always will when faith is truly lived. There are also many from the Far East, from the Caribbean and Latin America, who seek in our land new lives and freedom from fear. They come as boat people and refugees, hoping for fulfillment of their dreams. These are but a few of those responding this year to the angelic message. They will come, but many will be turned away by the smug and shallow; by the Pharisees and Sadducees of our day; by the self-saved and self-satisfied, so caught up in their own programs, projects and pieties that they simply fail to see the true face of today's shepherds, angels and wise men. Yes, Christmas is different this year, as it should be every year for those who travel to Bethlehem with eyes of faith and hearts of love. The Editor

11.

IN HONOR OF THE CHRIST CHILD, STUDENTS JARRQD GINGRAS AND CARLA FAZIO OF ST, MARY/SACRED HEART SCHOOL, NORTH ATTLEBORO, PRESENT BABY CARE ITEMS AND CLOTHES TO PEG DOOLEY OF ATTLEBORO AREA BIRTHRIGHT

"Opening their treasures, they offered him gifts." Matt. 2:11

The real Grinch who steals Christmas

WASHINGTON (CNS)- Commercialism, family demands, high prices and traffic don't deserve the blame for what many people dread as their annual bout with holiday stress or depression. The real stress comes from people trying to live up to' personal expectations about what they want to happen and then finding that路 picture-book Christmas images are seldom actualized in real life. So say a pastoral counselor from Maryland and a diocesan family life director in California. By letting holiday demands result in a "bah humbug" approach to the Christmas season, "we're looking outward for problems that are inward:' said Robert Wicks, a professor of pastoral counseling at Loyola College, Columbia, Md. "We need to try to remember that the things we take with us are not necessarily concrete," Wicks said. "We need to recognize that if we're too busy and under stress we're giving people the worst kind of gift." Shirl Giacomi, family life director for the Orange diocese, said diocesan Advent programs concentrate on putting the season into perspective with weekly adult ed ucation or prayer sessions. "Our focus is to get people to slow down," Mrs. Giacomi 路said. Especially susceptible to holiOFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER day blues are people whose lives Published weekly by The Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River' have changed, particularly due to divorce or death or by distance 887 Highland Avenue P.O. BOX 7 from relatives. Fall River, MA 02720 Fall River, MA 02722-0007 In her work with children of Telephone (508) 675-7151 divorced parents, Mrs. Giacomi FAX (508) 675-7048 recognizes youngsters have little PUBLISHER power to change their circumstanMost Rev. Daniel A. Cronin, D.o., S.T.D. ces at the holidays. Instead, she EDITOR GENERAL MANAGER tries to get them to express their Rev. John F. Moore Rosemary Dussault feelings and be realistic about such things as whether this year Dad ~ Leary Press-Fall River will come through with a holiday

the

activity he's promised previous years with no results. Since 1973, an Ellenwood, Ga., firm called Alternatives has been providing materials and speakers that address how to simplify Christmas celebrations and how to observe Advent and other religious occasions appropriately. This year U.S. Catholic and Protestant parishes have bought 175,000 booklets on alternate ways to celebrate Christmas, said Kathryn Munnell, director of the nonprofit, ecumenical company. One set of materials - "Whose Birthday Is It Anyway?" - includes gift suggestions, activities and worship aids. A 32-page booklet includes reflections and ideas for Advent through Epiphany. "One thing that leads to problems is that people can't afford the.

prayer~BOX Prayer jor Giving Father, you gave us your Son to show us that giving has no meaning unless we give ourselves and our love together with the gift, As we share these presents with one another, help us to learn how to give not just what we have, but what we .are; how to be thankful for what we receive; how to make every day a Christmas for one or another of your children,

things the malls and TV tell them they should have:' Ms. Munnell said. In tough times, pressure increases and Alternatives ideas seem more appropriate. Among changes families have made after using Alternatives materials are to begin celebrating St. Nicholas' feast day, Dec. 6, by giving presents to the poor. One family, for instance, gave a ram to a Guatemalan villager through the Heifer Project, which encourages poor communities to raise livestock. One approach to healthy holiday attitudes Wicks recommends is to "go with the flow." Rather than criticizing the crassness of some commercial enterprises, he said, he tries to look at holiday trappings as reminders of what he has to be grateful for. To himself keep his own expectations in check, Wicks practices and advocates some sort of daily prayer during Advent. But he recognizes the effort is difficult for many people. "I tell people to practice some sort of prayer that's enjoyable," he said, which may be as simple as five minutes listening to pleasant music or reflecting on something other than the day's tasks. Praying is difficult for some people because it's not tangible, Wicks believes. "But we can make it real by using the time to center ourselves." Seeing the holy aspect of seemingly routine daily tasks is what Mrs. Giacomi recommends to bring hectic holiday times under control. "The call for each of us might be different from that of a priest or a nun," she said. "Baking cookies might be sacred" if it's done with the spirit of enriching the celebration of Christ's birth, she added.

Christmas: why to celebrate Mass during the day Isaiah 52:7-10 Hebrews I: 1-6 John 1:1-18 Most Christians do not celebrate Christmas properly. Indeed, for its first 400 years the Church did not commemorate the Lord's birth. We cannot put it in the same category as his deathl resurrection (ob~ served not only on its very first anniversary, but also the reason Christians gather each Sunday for the Lord's Supper). It's startling to hear anyone proclaim Christmas as our "mo~t important feast." That is a clear sign that we have veered drastically from our roots. We only celebrate Christmas correctly when we return to those roots. Everything we believe about Jesus (even his birth) must be filtered through his deathl resurrection. His first followers did not begin their faith journey at Bethlehem. They started at Golgotha and the empty tomb, then worked back. Jesus' birth and infancy were extraordinary only because they believed first in his resurrection. John was not thinking about the Lord's birth when he wrote today's Cos pel pericope. He first realized Jesus was God's eternal Word when he experienced him still alive after a brutal, violent end. If death could not hold him, he must have

DAILY READINGS ~

By FATHER ROGER . KARBAN been in God's presence from the beginning. Once the evangelist experienced the risen Jesus, he also saw him as ..... the real light which gives light to everyone." Eventually he even began to understand how the Lord could give ..... power to become children of God to those who believe in his name..." We should never forget the chronological faith process which finally led John to declare, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we have seen his glory: the glory of an only Son coming from the Father, filled with enduring love." Prior belief in Jesus' deathl resurrection is also presupposed in our Hebrews' passage. Though the author is convinced God ..... has spoken to us through his Son, whom he has made heir of all things and through whom he first created the universe..." that Son is only significant because he first died and rose. The glorious rewards of sitting at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven and of being made far superior to the angels are

14; Ps 128:1-5; CoI3:1221; Lk 2:41~52 Dec. 30: 1- In 2:1217; Ps 96:7-10; Lk 2:3640 Dec. 31: 1 In 2:1821; Ps 96:1-2,11-13; In 1:1-18 Jan. 1: Nm 6:22-27; Ps 67:2-3,5-6,8; 6aI4:47; Lk 2: 16-21 Jan. 2: 1 In 2:22-28; Ps 98:1-4; In 1:19-28 Jan. 3: 1 In 2:29-3:6; Ps 98:1,3-6; In 1:29-34 Jan. 4: 1 In 3:7-10; Ps 98:1,7-9; In 1:35-42 Jan. 5: Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-2,7-8,10-13; Eph 3:2-3,5-6; Mt 2:1-12

Dec. 25: (midnight) Is 9:1-6; Ps 96:1-3,1113; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:114 (dawn) Is 62:11-12; Ps 97:1,6,11-12; Ti 3:47; Lk 2:15-20 (day) Is 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; In 1:1-18 Dec. 26: Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59; Ps 31:3-4,6-8, 7-21; Mt 10:17-22 Dec. 27: 1 In 1:1-4; Ps 97:1-2,5-6,11-12; In 20:2-8 Dec. 28: 1In 1:5-2:2; Ps 124:2-5,7-8; Mt 2:1318 Dec. 29: Sir 3:2-6,12-

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only granted him because he "cleansed us from our sins." Certainly we long to be identified with the messenger described by Deutero-Isaiah in our first reading: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, 'Your God is King!''' Yet we must be careful to announce the good news in the proper order. The accounts of Jesus' conception, birth and infancy were the last parts of our Gospels to take shape. Noone in the early church was ever converted by stories of a manger, shepherds, angels or magi. Such narratives were deliberately held back. They only made sense after conversion. Our lifestyle should proclaim Jesus' death and resurrection, because Christmas is properly celebrated only by those who, like Jesus, continually give themselves to others; those who die Jesus' death, so they can live Jesus' life.

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The Anchor Friday, Dec. 20, 1991

Shoemaker beatified v ATICAN CITY (CNS) -

Pope John Paul II has beatified a 19thcentury shoemaker turned priest and social reformer and said that German Father Adolph Kolping should be a model for today's post-communist world. Father Kolping, a contemporary of so-

ciallst Karl Marx, was one of the first churchmen to defend workers' rights, founding the Kolping Society, which campaigns for labor rights and the Christian renewal of society. [n declaring him "blessed," the pope said the priest demonstrated that love of neighbor is a principle that outlasts political ideologies..

Keep Christ in Christmas

CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE CHRISTMAS VIGIL MASSES Tuesday at 4:00 and 6:30 p.m. MIDNIGHT MASS Preceded by a concert by St. Anne Chorale beginning at 11:30 p.m.

CHRISTMAS DAY MASSES ,Wednesdayat8,10,12Noonand6:30p.m.

The Parish Staff .and the Dominican Fathers join in wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Saint Anne Parish and Shrine Corner South Main and Middle Streets Fall River, Massachusetts

GIBMAR ELECTRIC 54 Henri Street, Somerset,MA 02726 674-9861

Midnight Mass at the"Vatican . VATICAN CITY (CNS) - It's the most widely distributed religious television program in the world and a holiday tradition in many families, although it's been beamed around the world only 16 times. The broadcast of the pope's Christmas Mass at midnight is seen in more than 50 countries each year, with a potential viewing audience of 2 billion people. V.S. Archbishop John P. Foley, whose Pontifical Council for Social Communications coordinates the broadcast, said the actual number of viewers is estimated at 400 million to 500 million, of whom 250 . million speak English. For the past eight years they have heard Archbishop Foley giving what an American seminarian described as "a play-by-play of the pope's Mass." The Mass has another V .S. connection: the Knights of Columbus pay for the uplink, which sends the television signal from earth to a satellite. Costs of the downlink, which captures the signal off the satellite, are also covered by the Knights for impoverished countries. Archbishop Foley started doing the English commentary at the request of NBC, which provides the line carrying the Englishlanguage sound to 16 countries. Italian state television provides the pictures, and Vatican Radio provides the multilingual sound from the readers, the Sistine Choir and the pope. NBC sends a producer from New York for technical quality control and also provides a thermos of hot tea with lemon for the archbishop, who has to talk for one hour and 45 minutes. The Mass goes out in about a dozen languages, with most of the commentators recruited by Vatican Radio. Commentators see only what viewers see. They describe the Mass and translate prayers while watching television monitors in an art gallery alongside St. Peter's Square. V nlike at sporting events, the commentators are not seen on television. Archbishop Foley said he wears a clerical suit, overcoat and hat during the Mass; the gallery is not heated. Keeping the comments going for almost two hours is not a problem, the· archbishop said. "[ have tons of things to say." Of course, he understands the Mass, has a copy of the prayers and homily beforehand and has a lot of information about the basilica.. Vsing his background as ajournalist - he was editor of the Philadelphia Catholic Standard and Times, he begins collecting other bits of information about six hours before the midnight broadcast. He goes to the North American College for Mass and supper and finds out which V.S. seminarians will be participating in the liturgy, what they will do and where they are from. At 10 p.m. he goes into the basilica and searches for English-speaking readers, altar servers and members of the offertory procession. He makes note of their names and where they are from, then goes after the same information from English speakers selected to receive communion from the pope. Even then he's not ready. He goes up and down the aisles asking if anyone speaks English. One year a young military officer spoke up,

introduced his fiance and, with great pride, showed the archbishop the argyle socks she had knitted for his Christmas present. Archbishop Foley was thus prepared when the Italian television crews later focused a crowd shot on the couple; and later he got fan mail praising his up-c\ose-and-personal commentary on them. When explaining the Mass, the archbishop said, he tries to strike a balance between telling practicing Catholics what's going on and providing information for viewers who may know nothing about the church.

Another aim is to "try never to cover the voice of the pope," and to speak over music "as little as possible," while still giving a translation of both. He lets the pope sing, "Gloria in excelsis Oeo," then quickly gives the translation, "Glory to God in the highest," before the choir continues singing. So that local television stations know when the broadcast starts and finishes, he has a set introduction and conclusion. His signature ending: "This is Archbishop John Foley in Rome wishing you a happy and holy Christmas."

.A. '::S;jC .tl Christmas Tree Blessing For a home blessing of a Cbrlstmutree, the motber, father or otber adult reads tbe 10000wing explalUltion. For pariib;sc:hool or otber groups, the designated leader reads. The tree remains unOt until the end of th'e semce. In the Book of Genesis, we are told of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. whose fruit our first parents were forbidden to eat. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God's command, they were cast from the Garden of Eden and they and their descendants knew sickness and death. For long years mankind suffered until Christ came as redeemer to die on the tree of Calvary. Thus the tree holds a special place in the story of salvation and is fittingly one of the most important symbols of the Christmas seasori. As our own tree once stood in the dark forest, cold and unadorned, so was the world before the coming of Christ. But now, brightly decorated, it reminds us of the tree of Calvary, which brought us redemption. Let us now read God's word. The children in a family or designated persons in other groups may read one or more of the following scripture selections:

A reading from the Book of Genesis: And the Lord God had planted a paradise of pleasure from the beginning: wherein he placed man whom he had formed. And the Lord God brought forth ofthe ground all manner of trees. fair to behold and pleasant to eat of: the tree of life also in the midst of paradise: and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. A reading from the Book of Psalms: The fields and all things that are in them shall be joyful. Then shall all the trees of the woods rejoice before the face of the Lord because he 'comet.h: to judge the earth. A reading/rom the Book ofIsaiah.: You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall sing praise before you and all the trees of the country shall clap their hands.

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

A reading from the ,Book of Ezechiel: Thus saith the Lord, God: I myself will take of the marrow of the high cedar and wiD, set it: I will crop off a tender twig from the top of the branches thereof, and I will plant it on a mountain high and eminent. On the high mountains of Israel will I plant it and it shall shoot forth into branches and shall bear fruit and it shall become a great cedar; and all birds shall dwell under it and every fowl shall make its nest under the shadow of the branches thereof. And all the trees of the country shall know that I the Lord,hav~ brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree and have dried up the green tree and have caused the dry tree 'to flourish. I the Lord have spoken and have done it. A readingfrom the Book ofthe Apocalypse: To him that overcometh I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of my God .... And he showed me a river of water of life, clear as, crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street thereof and on both sides ofthe river was the tree of life bearing twelve fruits, yielding its fruits every month and the leaves of the tree' were for the healing of the nations. At the end of the readings the leader says: Let us pray: Bless, we, beseech thee, 0 God, our Christmas tree, decorated in honor of the birth of thy Son. May the lightand beautyof this tree be reflected in our lives that we may share throughout eternity in the glory of the true Tree of Life. We ask this through Christ our Lord, who redeemed the sin of Adam that came through a tree by his death on the tree of Calvary. Amen. The tree should now be lighted. All may join in singing one or more Christmas carols and, if desired, refreshments may be served,

..---,...

Openings in

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•

Our Jewish roots Dear Editor: A priest with whom I discussed t~e content of the enclosed clippmg suggested that I write you about it. The Anchor 11/ 1/91 article, "Our Jewish roots" by Father Roger Karban, emphasizes our Old Testament Heritage. As a long-term member of a Catholic adult Bible study group, I am enthusiastic about that same emphasis. But why must it be accompanied by a minimizing of Jesus' human intelligence and breadth of understanding, to say nothing of His divini~y? Fai'her Karban's second sentence

there 'would never be a Bible mes--Sage beyond that of the Old Testament. Whatever presumption is involved here is surely on the By Fatber John Dietzen part of Father Karban. He gives Q. One of our neigbbors says . no basis for his pl;rsonal surmise. but inflicts it u~n all of us by sbe annot accept tlte Catholic Cburcb, or any other Cbristian saying, "We CbNtians ... often cburcb, because of all the papn forget that...(Jesusl presumed...... beliefs we Itave. Perhaps what we should remember During Advent sbenoticed . our is Jesus' own message, ..... ~y words wreath and said Cbristmas wu an sball~40t <l!~~~.i'Yt&.~ (¥atthew example of out papnisrit. ibis 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33.) While,jeyf,uUyaetepting the daI, .ccording.to ber,~ ......n Jewishnes&of:,.tesus, we· should Jent th.t we just took o.vH,;and ' . J{I1e .don't' know w~: Jesus 'Was keep.tn ttrind t~ fresbnessofHis bOrn; ,. , _ teachings:-'''Ybn h.tveheatditsaid We diclnot know bow.to er to'your anceStors :;;·Ihit '158' to ber.ls sbe rigbt? IfCbr.as .. you ..." (Matthew 5:21. 5:27-28, • papn feqt bow clQ. we.,xp~n 5:31-32, etc.). The apostles did not it? (Ohio) . consider Jesus' message to be just .A. I receive questions like this old stuff (e.g. Matthew 19: 10). Father Karban~tells us'that love everyChristmasseason. The answer ofneigbborwas- fiot anewmes- is interesting, but not all that starsage.' Of course; But he doesn't tling, unless, like your friend, one ltiention~' thaffhe 'Crucial qUery finds any Christi~~ connection .,with non-Christian religions scandalous. was: 'Who is this neighbor that I'm - To start with, we simply do not supposed to love? (Biblical schoknow the day, or even the exact lars. tell us that rabbis of Jesus' year, that Jesus wllS born. In fact, time disputed as to whether a Jew had an obligation to assist a drown- we have no record that his birth ing Gentile.) Jesus taught us the was celebrated by Christians at all until around the year 325. (so slowly learned) lesson that our Of course, given the circum-. neighbor is the alien heretic, the stances insofar as we know them, des,?ised enemy of our people. Father Karban says that Jesus we would not expect any records from Bethlehem that might help "never claimed" to be the temple. us. The innocent Bible reader finds a The Gospels are absolutely no footnote for John 2: 19-22 and wonhelp. From information we receive ders. And who can read the acthere, especially in the Gospel of counts of the LaSt Supper and not Luke, and from what we know of understand that Jesus proclaimed Herod, Caesar Augustus, and other Himself the Sacrifice? offtdals who figure in the stories Father Karban's emphasis upon of the birth of Christ, scholars the Jewish roots of Christianity is generally believe that Christ was commendable. But I fear that his born between the years 8 and 6 message as a whole could drive '. B.C. some Catholics into the welcomA sixth-century Roman monk, ing arms of the Fundamentalists. Dionysius Exiguus, was the first to (I'm so tired of "Witnesses" com- establish dates for the Christian ing to the door and confiding. "I era bas.ed on the year of Christ's used to be a Catholic.") birth, but he made an error off-our Mary R. Shields to seven years. Buzzards Bay The science of historical scholarship was not sophisticated enough at that time to come to the more precise determination we are Dear Editor: capable of today; thus the differYou and your paper. the Anchor, ence of several years. Why do we celebrate on the 25th are to be commended for getting day of December? The most likely the news to your readers about the Notch bills we now have in the explanation, the one generally accepted today, is that the birth of House and Senate. We have a Christ was assigned to the date of good chance of getting this law the winter solstice. passed in the 102nd Congress. Over This date is Dec. 21 in our 271 of the 435 congressmen have cosponsored H.R. 917. We have 42 of the 100 senators who have 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111\111111 cosponsored S.567, the bill in the need to know what we are doing Senate. and who need this money to live I have received over 20 phone on. calls from people in Southeastern Edgar "Jim" Moore Ma. who read the article in the Greater Fall River Anchor. Keep up the good work Notch Babies Coalition for those people aged 65 to 75 who Tel. (508) 672-5321

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calendar, the first day of winter. In the Julian calendar, however, which was used in most of Western civilization from the time of Julius Caesar(d.:44 B.C.) untifl582, the winter, solstice occurred on Dec. 25. This solstice, when days begin to lengtbenin the Northern Hemisphere, was called by ancient Romans thc"birthday of the onconquereci'sun." During the third century (200s), Emperor Aurelian proclaimed De-. cembel' a$ateli~ous feast in honor tbe '-5UngOO, whose cult" was popular-at that time: r; , Even before this time, Christian' writeR'were referring to Jesus as the S un of Justice. It seemed natural,therefore, that as Christianity began to dominate the scene in the Roman Empire, the date of the' "Newborn Sun" should be chosen as the birthday of Christ. Thus, apart from' a few of the Eastern churches who celebrated Jan. 6, Christians have celebrated Christmas on Dec. 25 since the fourth century.

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The following story by John Farley of St. Julie 8illiart parish, North Dartmouth, is the $100 prizewinner in the 1991 Anehor Christmas Contest, whieb asked for sOt or fewer words on the topie of ",lull Jesus would do if fie came this Christmas as an adult to the United States. Farley, 31, is a eucharistic minister at St. Luke's Hospital, New Bedford" and is employed as a planner of energy eonservation prognms at Commonwealth Electiic Company. In the stillness of a cold winter'S night, in a small chapel in downtown New Bedford, a man sat in the last pew and waited for a cele-

brati<m of the birth of the baby Jesus. He attracted little notice as he sat there; there was so much excitement about! And" then it was time for this small congregation of families.' young people, old people and olb"ers to worsbip. At the end. the man in the back row walked right down the center aisle up onto the altar. Before the pastor could object, the man spoke: "I !lsk you. what is it in your life that can really give you lastingjoy? 'Aren't the smiles you remember from Christmases past the smiles of people who were touched because you remembered them, or

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feel :;pedal? "So I ask you all to put out of your mind the busyness of the season. and follow me out of this church to find the true meaning of Christmas." And with that the man blessed the people, and walked out of the church. N one of the people recognized the man, yet all felt their hearts burning as he spoke. And so they dropped their plans for last-minute shopping or Christmas Eve cocktail parties, and filed out of the church to follow this stranger.

He acted as if he were -unsure about what to do next. He sat on a bench across the street, his head bowed.' And then a wonderful thing happened; all the people formed a line that ended at the bench. One by one, they sat next to him to share with him their failings and their dreams. And he told them all how much his Father loved them, and that He wanted them to be all they could be. And he gave each of them a mission; some he sent to St. Luke's Hospitalto visitthe sick; otheh he asked to bring food and clothing

to the poor; a few he beckoned to go to the old prison to give hope to the inmates on this holy night; and he requested that others open their fine homes tonight to those who had noile, reminding them that the Holy Family had been homeless on the night that Mary gave birth to the Christ Child. , They all left then, with hearts as bright as the Star that hung over the creche on that first Christmas. All but a teenage girl.

She spoke to the man, "Mister, there's something I don't under· stand. Why do so many people have to suffer tonight, on Christmas Eve?" And the stranger stared lo'vingly into the young woman's eyes and said, "Christ is still enduring his Passion in the lives of the destitute. He needs wonderful people like you to care :for him. Now, I have other sheep in my flock to tend to..." And the man vanished.

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WASHINGTON (CNS) - Six Washington archdiocesan parishes have pooled resources to buy advertising space on Metro subway to invite Catholics to "Come Home for Christmas." The posters, in about 25 percent of the system's subway cars, were expected to reach 125,000 passengers each day from Thanksgiving until Christmas. They feature the headline, "For Some Real Joy, Try Opening One of These This Christmas," with photographs of three church doors. "We're in competition for souls in the marketplace - literally," said Father Peter Vaghi, associate ington, a participating parish. It's the second season the parishes, all neat subway stations,

l'kWJSh ~ AMerry ChristmasI' May the love of home and family be a special gift to treasure throughout the seMon.

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have used subway ads. "It's worked. We've got good crowds," Father Vaghi said. The ads, which cost $10,000 for one month, are "not just to come to Mass," he said. They include telephone numbers for more information in either English or Spanish, and parish confession schedules. Why confess.ions and not Christmas Masses? "Qften people ~d to be r.econciled first," FatherVaghisaid. Many participating parishes have / expa.ndedc:<mfession schedules for the ~neftt ofsu"way. penitents.

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Annual ball w·lell be la.st ~.o.r archbishop-desianate !!J .

The.37th annual Bishop's Charity BalI, to take place from 8 p.m. to midnight Friday, Jan. 10, at White's of Westport, takes on special· meaning, since it will be the last such.ball for Bishop Daniel A. Cronin, now a~hbishop-designate of Hartford, Conn. ' Ball decorations will be put in place beginning at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 7 . and presentees will rehearse. at 6:30 p.m. the same evening. Miss Claire O'Toole of Fall River, pre-

sentees co~mittee'chairman, asks that all Young womcn be present with their escorts. . Mrs. Andrew W. Mikita, Chatham,and Frank Miller, Sandwich, are honoraTY.coc:hairs of the ball and 'Robert "M.c:;Guirk of North Dighton wiltpc' ~ter ofceremonies. . - . Tickets for the event"are still availableatdiocesan rector:ies and from rpeJTIbers o.f,thJ,vlir~~~s ball committees. .

A giving Christmas

Father Francoeur

By Mitch Finley "I would like to concentrate on Humorist Dave Barry once wrote the religious meaning of ChristA Mass of Christian Burial was eelebratedDec; '18 at St, Joseph's that we have no Choice at Christ- . ,m~. J~ut ,gur, kip~ ~ve 4j.ffe!ent Church, Attleboro, for Father mas time but to buy presents for expectations. Commerical interests Adrien Louis Francoeur, MS, 57, all our relatives and friends. "This pound them daily with the mesof LaSalette Shrine, Attleboro, is the holiday season, and you sage that Christmas is for buying, who died Dec. 13 at the shrine. , have to buy thoughtful gifts for all spending and getting as much stuff A Fan River native, he was the of your loved ones or they will hate as possible. "If we opt Cor .the one-gift-person of the late Wilfrid and Marie you." person plan, our kids will have fits, There is a lot of truth in Barry's (Sansouci) Francoeur. they'll feel abused, neglected. Father Francoeur graduated words. Parents must buy their kids from LaSalette Seminary, Enfield. stuff for Christmas or the kids will They'll feel unloved, for crying out . N H. in 1956 and received his theo- be resentful in the extreme, disap- loud! Even gifts from their grandparents won't compensate for our logical degree from the seminary pointed, at the very least. obvious Scrooge-like neglect. What The same holds true for various in 1960. He was ordained April 2, 1960, in Fall River. . can we do'!" other family members and per"Beats me," Slider said. "But I He was a professor at the Enfield haps certain friends or business know what you mean. Our kids and Attleboro seminaries until be- associates. You never know whom ing assigned to the Attleboro shrine you may offend if you don't buy think of Christmas Mass as a distraction. For them, the quality of from 1963 until 1977, when he was them a present. My friend Slider and I were . the Christmas experience is directly appointed pastot ofSt. Elizabeth's talking about this. proportiona.te to how many presChurch, Quebec. "I get all tied up in knots every ents they get." He worked in New Hampshire from 1980 to 1988, then partiCi- Christmas season,"1 said. "I would 1 showed Slider a brochure 1 pated in a clinical pastoral educa- like to move our famiiy away from had received in the mail. It made Christmas as orgy-of-materialism. tion program in Attleboro. the point that Christmas is for givHe is survived by two siste.rs, I 'would like us to maybe draw ing. It encouraged families to get Clarisse Ledoux of Westport and names and each person would get together and decide what to give, one gift. Viola Fortin of Fall River. . as a family, tR,,the less fortunate,1t declared thafCh~tniaswill have more rDe,Jlning tb~ tess money we spend· on store~bought presents and- the-'.Inoi'c,'time we think of ways to gi\~of o.lves. . ~·Hm." Slider ~j(J as he read the .brochure. "1~llil1'agree'withthis, but these people don't know my fROM THE kids. Our society equates love with BOOKSHELf buying. How call we resist such a powerful commercial equation?" Religion For We wer.e silent a moment, each Aids Religious . _ witlt our private gloqm. Suddenly I . Sl!der brigh~elied. "I know!" ~ ~id.·~·W~at If Vie were to explam ~---ro our families how we're feeling and figure· out .boW much money each o('us plans to spend on gifts, 423 Higl,.1oad fait River then give 10 percent of that, as a family, to som~ good cause we could all agree on." _-#" I was impressed. "Slider," 1said, OPEN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 10 A.M. TO 4'.It\. "it's worth a try. Merry Christmas!"

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Yuletide banned in Bosto'n? By Dolores Curran When we're feasting and gifting on Christmas Day we would do well to add a prayer of thanksgiving that the Puritans were defeated 300 years ago when they tried to have Christmas purged from the calendar because it was an offense against God. "The name of Christmas savors of superstition," wrote staunch Puritan I ncrease Mather. "It can never be proved that Christ was born on December 25. It is most probable that the Nativity was in September. The New Testament allows of no stated Holy Days but the Lord's Day." His son, Cotton, added that, whenever Jesus was born, the birth hardly justified "mad mirth." Keep in mind that pleasure was sinful to the Puritans. As H.L. Mencken wrote, "A Puritan is one who has a haunting fear that somebody somewhere might be happy." The Puritans put up a fierce battle to abolish Yuletide and, for a time, they were victorious. They got the holiday banned in Boston in 1659. Anyone caught feasting was fined five shillings. That ran into big money for a large extended family. . I suspect there were underground Christmas dinners complete with lookouts. "One if by land, two if by sea, douse the candles, stop the glee." When we're laughing and feasting this week, we need to remember that the celebration we take for granted became a religious battle within and between churches every bit as serious as battles we fight today. In the very early days of our nation, various denominations chose up sides in the Christmas issue to support or prevent its legality. Episcopalians, Catholics, Lutherans, and Moravians fought for a legal Christmas while Quakers, .Scotch-Irish, Methodists, Baptists, Mennonites, Amish, Congregationalists, and Presbyterians ran on political platforms to reject it. In Virginia, where Anglicanism

predominated, John Smith and his Virginia companies logged that they ate oyster, fish, meat, wild fowl, and bread on Christmas Day in 1608. In his notes, Smith wrote, "Wherever an Englishman may be, and whatever part of the world, he must keep Christmas with feastingand merriment." Fighting words to the Puritans, who left the Church of England for such reasons. Eventually, of course, after the Revolutionary War and the Constitution, which established separation of church and state, Christmas became both a religious and secular holiday. If it seems to have become more secular than religious, the Puritans are vindicated. If feasting, gifting and merriment are all that Christmas means to a majority, the Puritans were right. It's an abomination, parody of the meaning of Christmas. But if the feasting and merriment spring from a deep-seated joy over the birth of a Saviour so long awaited, the merriment makes sense. We celebrate our joy in knowing that this little Babe born in humble surroundings came to redeem us. We celebrate knowing that, unlike our forebears, we need no longer wander in the wilderness of fear and doubt, wondering if God has abandoned his covenant with us. We celebrate the joy of coming together as family and as faith community to celebrate these truths because we cannot celebrate alone. If we celebrate the true spirit of Christmas, then there's no likelihood that Christmas could ever be banished and if it were, we'd gladly set aside the five shilling fines as part of the celebration. We simply could not fail to celebrate such a day. BU,t if we ignore the true joy of Christmas because the trappings of celebration become more meaningful than the birth of Christ, the Puritans were justified in their campaign to banish the holiday.

Keep Christ in Christmas

CCD workshop at Holy Cross, S. Easton Catechists and other interested persons are invited to a free workshop at Holy Cross church hall, South Easton, from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. II. The presenters will be Janann Manternach and her husband, Carl Pfeifer, authors of "This Our Faith," a religious education program, and several other catechetical teaching aids. Religious educa-

tors for over two decades, they were assistant directors of the former National Center of Religious Education. As speakers and workshop leaders, they are frequently on programs in the United States and abroad and are volunteer catechists in their own and a nearby parish in Arlington, Va.

.Dec. 21 1968, Rev. Henri J. Charest, Pastor, St. Mathieu, Fall River 1989, Rev. Laureano C. dos Reis, Pastor Emeritus, St. Anthony of Padua, Fall River Dec. 23 1901, Rev. Owen J. Kiernan, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Fall River 1947; Rev. Charles P. Trainor, SS., St. Edward Seminary, Seattle, Washington. 1970, Rev. Msgr. John A. Silvia, Pastor Emeritus, St. John Baptist, New Bedford 1986, Rev. William E. Collard, Cochaplain, Catholic Memorial Home, Fall River Dec. 24 1886, Rev. James K. Beaven, Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton 1914, Rev. Timothy J. Duff, Assistant, St. Joseph, Woods Hole Dec. 27 1956, Rev. Thomas J. Stapleton, Pastor, Corpus Christi, Sandwich 1970, Rev. Msgr. Armand Levasseur, Pastor Emeritus, St. Anne, New Bedford Dec. 28 1955, Rev. Charles R. Smith, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Fall River 1987, Rev. Edward J. Sharpe, Pastor, St. Patrick, Somerset 1987, Rev. Clement Paquet, OP, Assistant, St. Anne's, Fall River Jan. 1 1955, Rev. Jose Valeiro, Pastor, St. Elizabeth, Fall River 1956, Rev. Antonio M. Fortuna, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, New Bedford 1968, Rev. Francis R. Connerton, SS.STD., St. John's Seminary, Plymouth, Michigan. 1975, Rev. Leo T. Sullivan, Pastor, Holy Name, New Bedford

King of Glory "Lift up, 0 gates, your lintels; reach up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may come in! ... The Lord of hosts; he is the king of glory." - Ps 24:9-10

THE ANCHOR-Diocese of Fall River-Fri., Dec. 20; 1991

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WASHINGTON (CNS) - In actions announced Dec. 17, the U.S: bishops narrowly approved elimination of the Mass obligation for U.S. Catholics ofthe Latin rite on three holy days of obligation -Jan. I, Aug. 15 and Nov. I whenever those feasts occur on a Saturday or a Monday. Vatican approval is needed before the change takes effect. It affects the holy days in question only when they fall back-to-back . with Sunday, not when they occur on other weekdays. In another vote released Dec. 17, the bishops overwhelmingly approved a statement on Native Americans marking the SOOth anniversary in 1992 of the arrival of Christianity in the New World. It calls fOf Catholic "solidarity with the Native American community" and pledges the bishops to work on their behalf on "health, housing, employment, education, poverty and other national issues." The Native Americans statement, the holy day proposals and two other actions - a minor liturgical change and a minor procedural change for conducting bishops' meetings - were the subjects of mail balloting following November's meeting of the U.S. bishops because the votes of bishops present were insufficient to pass or defeat the proposals. Possib'le changes in the Mass obligation on holy days had brought the most extended and spirited discussion of any topic on the agenda of the November meeting. If the Holy See approves the bishops' decisions on holy days before August, the first feast to be affected would be Aug. 15, 1992, which falls on a Saturday. Removal of Saturday and Monday obligations for three holy days opens the possibility that a similar proposal will be made for Dec. 8,

.feast of the Immaculate Conception, when it falls on a Saturday or a Monday. The mail balloi on the statement on Native Americans was a mere formality, made necessary by the fact that the vote on it came up late on the final day, when many bishops had left.

The liturgical change approved by mail had to do with the phrase, "This is the word (or Gospel) of the Lord" after Mass readings. If approved by the Vatican, readers will say only "The word of the Lord." After the Gospel, the priest or deacon will say "The Gospel of the Lord."

The Stations of the Crib First Station: Mary Says Yes We adore you, 0 Jesus, and we bless you,jor by your holy birth you have given light to the world. An angel appeared to Mary and said, "Don't be afraid Mary, God has a surprise for you. You wiII have a son, and you wiII name him Jesus. He will be great and wiII be called the Son of the Most High God." Mary replied, "I am God's servant and I will do as he wishes." Thank you Mary, for saying yes, even though you must have been surprised and a little scared. Help us to say yes, too, when God calls us. Second Station: The Trip to Bethlehem We adore you, 0 Jesus, and we bless you,jor by your holy birth you have given light to the world. At that time the Emperor Augustus sent out an order for all the citizens to register for the census. Joseph and Mary went from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem. What a difficult trip it must have been for this young couple, knowing they would be alone when Mary had her baby. 0, Jesus, help us to trust in God's care when we face the unknown, as they did. Third Station: No Room in the Inn We adore you, o Jesus, and we bless you,jor by your holy birth you have given light to the world. While they were in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to Jesus and laid him in a manger because there was no room for the'm in 'the inn. How sad Mary must have felt, knowing that this babe lying on straw in a place for animals was the Saviour of the world. Dear Jesus, help us accept God's plan in our li~es, even if we .don, 't understand i t . . v . Fourth Station: Angels Sing to the Shepherds We adore you, 0 Jesus. and we bless you,jor by your holy birth you have given light to the world. .' Shepherds were watching their sheep in, the fields that night when they suddenly heard some angels singing. They were afraid but the angels said to them, "We bring good news: a Saviour has been born this night in Bethlehem. Glory to God in the Highest and peace on earth to all of good will." , o Jesus, let us not be afraid ofyour angels and their words and let us always be ofgood will toward others. Fifth Station: Shepherds Visit Jesus We adore you, 0 Jesus, and we bless you,jor by your holy birth you have given light to the world. "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this new king," the shepherds said in great excitement. They found the baby Jesus lying in a manger. They recalled what the angel had said and left singing praises to God for all they had seen. o Jesus, let us sing withjoy your praises around the manger this season every year. Sixth Station: The Wise Men Find Jesus We adore you, 0 Jesus, and we bless you, because by your holy birth you have given light to our world. Three Wise Men saw a star in the East and followed it to the manger where they found the infant Jesus. Bearing gifts, they knelt and worshiped him. How wonderful, 0 Jesus, to be recognized even as an infant and tofill us all with hope. May we alwaysfeel the gladness andjoy that the Magifelt when theyfound you lying in the manger. And when we give each other gifts, may we always remember your birth. Amen, And happy birthday. Dolores Curran

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Church aids anti-loggers MANILA, Philippines (eNS) - The Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources says church leaders playa valuable role in the fight against illegal logging in the country.

Debate on illegal logging in the Philippines has intensified since deadly landslides and flash floods triggered by typhoon Thelma last November. More than 6.000 people were killed in those disasters.

May Yuletide Joy Brighten Your Heart &Home Our thoughts, prayers, and appreciation are yours this holiday, and every day. ST. STANISLAUS parish, Fall River, displays an ethnic manger this year in observance of the quincentennial and Fall River's multiethnic character. A committee oJ parishioners began work last January to create new costumes for the parish's nativity figures. (Names after each figure are those of the costume-makers.) Mary and Joseph are in Polish dress (Sally Grygiel). Mary's costume is that of a peasant girl and Joseph's is characteristic of the gentry of Krakow. The Holy Family is attended by (clockwise from right) a Native American king carrying a pelt (Amelia Cichon); a French shepherd bearing a basket of bread and wine (Marilyn Dube); an English-speaking king in Scottish dress (Hilda Paruch); a Portuguese shepherd carrying a native musical instrument (Joyce Freitas and Rondina Pimental); and an Oriental king (Jane Weglowski). The infant Jesus is not in ethnic garb and is covered by only a blanket to symbolize that he belongs to all nations. St. Stanislaus kindergarten teacher Ann Varley created the chalk artwork in the background which depicts a bridge between the city of Fall River and the town of Bethlehem. Symbolizing Jesus, the Bridge Builder, it signifies reconciliation among peoples. Also assisting in the manger project were Fred Weglowski, Leo Dube and Henry Paruch. (Hickey photo) }\-< , .'.~._""' ....

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TV Christmas' specials The following is a listing oftelevised Christmas Masses and other holiday specials, For all programs, check local listings, as times may vary from those given. Dec. 24 Midnight Mass from St. Peter's Basilica: (live) 6 p. m., EWTN cable.

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IN NEW BEDFORD, Holy Family-Holy Name School fifth grader Kelli Bergeron gives first grader Collin Murphya white ribbon symbolizing Mary's purity and holiness during a prayer service celebrating the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The first graders were to wear the ribbons throughout Advent as reminders to imitate Mary's willingness to follow God's plan. Fifth graders planned the service, with Cecilio Robles, Danny Romanowicz, Katie Marinelli and Stephanie Taraccio leading presentations.

Bishop Feehan Bishop Feehan High School, Attleboro, celebrated the Christmas season with a music and dance departments' performance of "Songs of the Christmas Spirit" featuring selections from "Scrooge - The Stingiest Man in Town." The performance featured an 80-voice chorus, soloists,a small orchestra and ballets, Guest soloist was Father David A. Costa as Older Scrooge. Singing the role of Young Scrooge was Kevin Maguire, a Feehan alumnus who has studied at the Boston Conservatory and auditioned for the Juilliard School of Music in New York City. Feehan senior Kerri Simoneau performed the role of Belle. She studied at Eastman Music Horizons Program last summer and has completed an audition videotape for Juilliard. Directing the performance was Elaine Saulnier, with choreograp,hy by Alden Harrison.

Taunton Catholic Middle School

8-9 p.m. (PBS) "Christmas at Pops." Rebroadcast of a holiday concert given by the Boston Pops Orchestra with guest performers including soprano Barbara Hendricks, the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, the African Boychoir, Landis & Company Theater of Magic, Bells of Boston, a children's chorus from Youth Pro Musica and the Trotter Concert Chorus. ·9-10 p.m. (PBS) "Beatrix Potter's The Tailor of Gloucester." Actress Lynn Redgrave introduces the rebroadcast of a "Great Performances" presentation that combines folk song and carol, pageant and puppets, to tell the tale of a kindly tailor and the mice who come to his rescue on Christmas Eve. 10-11 p.m. (PBS) "A St. Olaf Christmas." This rebroadcast features more than 400 voices from five choirs singing traditional English and Scandinavian Christmas carols in a concert held annually at S1. Olafs College in ]'Iorthfield, Minn. Uec.25 Midnight Mass from S1. Peter's Basilica: midnight, NBC. "Urbi et Orbi" message and papai blessing: 9 a.m. and 8 p.m., EWTN cable; 10 a.m. VISN cable. . Christmas Day Mass from S1. Ann's Monastery, Scranton, Pa: \0:30 a.m., VISN cable. Christmas Day Mass from Ba-

silica of the Immaculate Conception, Washington with Cardinal James' A. Hickey as celebrant: noon and '\0 p.m., EWtN cable. Midnight-I a.m. (ABC) "Night of Nights." Musical pageant portraying major events in the life of Christ from the Nativity to the Resurrection features a 40-piece orchestra, a 300-voice choir and a cast of 600. Produced by the First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in association with the Radio and 'Televlslon Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. Dec. 26 "Urbi et Orbi" message and papal blessing: I a.m., EWTN cable. 10-11 p.m. (PBS) "Primary Colors: The Story of Corita." Rebroadcast of a documentary on the life and art of Corita Kent (191 ~-86), the creator,ofthe "Love" postage stamp and numerous other vibrant art works, who left her religious order after 32 years to find another path to God. Dec. 27 9-10 p.m. (PBS) "Great Nobel Debate," Most of the living Nobel laureates, including Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, Linus Pauling, Gabriel Garcia Marquezand Wassily Leontief, are expected to attend this debate with the tentative noninclusive title: "Mankind has harnessed his intelligence to make for a better world." Dec. 28 6:30-7 p.m.(PBS)"Noah's Ark." Rebroadcast of the "Long Ago & Far Away" presentation of an animated adaptation of Peter Spier's retelling of the memorable Bible story as narrated by actor James Earl Jones.

Bishop Connolly The number of students taking the Bishop Connolly High School entrance exam increased 25 percent over the number of applicants last year, reported Jim L'Heureux, Admissions Director for the Fall River School. "I'm extremely pleased with the numbers of students interested in Bishop Connolly High School for the 1992-93 school year," said L'Heureux. "!t's nice to see the hard work of so many people had such a positive result. Our parent information nights and our open house were extremely successful and very well received. I can't .say enough about the parents, students and faculty members who have given so much of themselves and

St. Joseph's School'

their time to get out the good news of Bishop Connolly," A second entrance exam day is scheduled for 8 a,m, Jan. 25. Outstanding student-athletes will receive plaques for their achievements at the first Herald News AIlScholastic Awards Night 7 p.m. Dec. 29, Art department chairperson Charles Dwyer directed students in submitting work suitable for the Bishop·Connolly Christmas card. Entries are on display in the school's main corridor. The winning design was submitted by Brian Littlefield. Second prize winner was Erika Zuehlke. Other finalists were Colleen Nolan, Pamela Nadeau, Brian Castonguay, Margaret Smith.. Alison Subin and Annabel Nordean.

Taunton Catholic Middle School band and chorus students recently presented a Christmas program to A\\\~ GlIT O~.G1-IRJsr Construction of a Jesse Tree • . % residents of Marian Manor nurs- ' with symbols of the coming Mesing home, Taunton. siah drawn from the Old Testa-" The band portion of the pro- ment was among activities during gram included a flute duet of Holly a "Journey into Advent" day of J oily Christmas and a performance reflection for seventh and eighth of Rocking Around the Christmas graders at St., Joseph's School, Tree by the saxophone section: Fairhaven. , The chorus sang seasonal favorThe event was led by Fathers ites and sixth-grader Kristen Clark Richard Beaulieu and Robert Oliperformed a solo of In Heaven's veira of the Diocesan Department Eyes. The audience then joined in of Education; school principalS isa sing-along accompanied by Rach- ter Muriel Aim Lebeau, ss.cc., and el Murphy and Jennifer Ferreira. Sacred Hearts Fathers Robert A second Christmas concert was Charlton, Brian Margraff and presented Dec. \0 at the school; Patrick Killilea. Other prayer exfollowed by a drama club presen- periences durin'g the day explored tation of "Good King Wenceslaus the witness of the prophets; how - A Christmas Musical." The oneself is the greatest gift one can BISHOP STANG High evening included a mini-medieval give; and how God is present in School,.. N orth D'artmouth, banquet of hors d'oeuvres, pas- every life. A candelight dinner folChristmas card designed by tries and beverages and a Christ- lowed reception of the sacrament mas carol sing-along. junior Seth Guinen. of reconciliation.

Archbishop-designate discusses post Continued from Page Three auxiliary bishop of Boston under Cardinal Richard Cushing. At the question, recounted Bishop Cronin, the cardinal stepped in and quipped "I'm his plans for the future!" Though he avoided the limelight during his tenure in Fall River, the bishop was at ease with reporters, joking that there will be no controversies about broccoli as there have been with President Bush and saying that he wishes he could make Cape Cod part of his new archdiocese. He received a warm welcome in Hartford, where local media sources characterized him as "Iowprofile and understanding," a "quiet, scholarly spiritual leader" and a "compassionate father figure and strong administrator." Bishop Cronin said he has kept a low profile over the years, except for speaking out on important issues, because "The role of a bishop is to shepherd his flock and lead his priests and people without fanfare." Asked about reaction in the Fall River diocese to his transfer, the archbishop-designatetold Hartford listeners, "I left a tearful group today" at the chancery office and at his residence. "To· the -priests, religious, deacons and laity of the diocese of Fall River I communicate words of thanks and gratitude for everything they've meant to me," he said. "They have been extremely generous, very supportive and very loving." Again in Fall River Bishop Cronin expre~sed mixed feelings about

leaving the diocese he has shepherded for so many years. "It's wrenching, the necessity to leave this wonderful diocese of Fall River. I've been to every parish many times, met all the parishioners in one form or another, gotten to know the priests very well and ordained a significant number of them. To have to leave this now is a traumatic experience." He added, "I am really going to miss the priests. I may be in Connecticut but I will always be thinking of the priests, how they are doing." He said his greatest challengeand also his most rewarding task - in Fall River has been maintaining "stability" in the wake of Vatican II. "You have to recall the turbulence following the second Vatican Council," he said. "The liturgical changes alone were traumatic... people weren't used to it." He continued, "Tensions arose here, as anywhere. I thought one of the most important contributions I could make would be to attempt to protect the stability of the diocese, to encourage people" who resisted change. "It was a very delicate role. But I think there was stability here. That's not to deny that there were tensions, that there were difficult days. ... But overall, we knew where we were going. We were a family." The bishop told his Fall River audience not to expect his successor to be named before his installation as archbishop of Hartford on Jan. 28. The replacement process could take some time, he said. In

By Charlie Martin

THJS ONE'S FOR THE CHILDREN There are some people living in this world They have no food to eat They have no place to go' But we are all God's children We've got to learn to love one another Just remember; they could be us Remember, we are all brothers I'm not trying to darken your day But help others in need And show them there's a better way . This one's for the children . . The children of the world This one's for the chiidren May God keep them on his throne Many people are happy , And many people are sad Some people have many things That others can only wish they had So for the sake of the children ' Show them love's the only way to go 'Cause they are tomorrow and people They've got to know " Sung by New Kids on the Block. Written by Maurice Starr © 1989 by EMIl April Music Inc. IS CHRISTMAS just an- mas album featured their hit other passing holiday or does "This One Is for th~ Childre.n." this celebration make a differ- The song made me think of the ence in your life? What does a many ways that celebrating child born so iong ago mean to Christmas can make a differthe way you face life's chal- ence in our world. lenges? As the song states, there are The 1989 New Kids Christ- many in our world who "have

the interim, the diocesan board of consultors will elect an administrator, _ That person will "have limited power," Bishop Cronin explained. "He carft make changes. He can't appoint pastors. He really will only be keeping the fires going until a bishop is named." In going to his new post, said Bishop Cronin, "I ask your prayers and. the prayers of all who hear or read this statement." Meanwhile, in Hartford, chancery staff expressed relief that their four-month wait for a new leader was over. The resolution, expected to take three to six months, "is an answer to my prayers," said Hartford Auxiliary Bishop Paul S. Loverde. In the Fall River diocese, the process and prayers are just beginning.

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Georgetown VP WASHINGTON (CNS) - Father J. Bryan Hehir, the U.S. bishops' counselor for social policy, has been appointed associate vice president for church, society and the university at Jesuit-run Georgetown Univeristy.ln his new post, he will be concerned with research and studies in the relationships of church, society and the university.

Signal for the Nations "On that day, the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, the Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious." - Is 11:10

no food to eat" or "have no place to go." Sadly, many of them are children. Some live in faraway places, like Iraq, but others may live right in your own community. Yet, Christmas announces good news to the human family. We won't be lost in our hurts or problems. Jesus gIves light wherever darkness falls. The challenge is to keep the light shining long after the Christmas lights are packed away for the year. Where do you start? Why not look where the song suggests:' to the chil-' dren in your life. Many teens 'have younger brothers and sisters. Give them' more of your time, 'sharing ac~ . tivities of their choosing. If you have no'siblings, or if you want to do 'TI0re, go back to your grade school and \Iblunteer to tutor a child for a few hoursa w.eek. Your gift of in<;l.ividual attention, could be the light that helps a child \lut of . the darkness of a learning problem. . Another possibility is get.ting involved with an in.ternational organization that aids hurting children and their families, such as Catholic Relief Services, Amnesty International and Neighbor to Neighbor. Remembering the birth of Jesus tells us once more that anyone life can make a differ- . ence. You have choices. Where will the Chr-istmas light shine brightly, and lastingly, because of you? I send to all wishes for a Christmas filled with light and joy.

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THE ANCHOR-Djocese of Fall River-Fri., Dec. 20, 1991 ,.

fleering pOint,

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•BLOOD DRIVE,FR The American Red Cross Blood Services-Northeast Region and WHTB 1400 AM radio will sponsor . a FR community blood drive 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow at Santo Christo Church, Columbia St. Information: 678-0333, Rosa Rebelo, 674-2890, or Raul Benevides, 673-1370. SACRED HEART, N. ATTLEBORO A vigil service of reaoings and carols will precede Christmas Eve Midnight Mass beginning at 11:30 p.m. O.L. CAPE, BREWSTER Children's Christmas celebration I to 3 p.m. Sunday, parish center. Parish potluck supper 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 29, parish center. ST. MARY, N. ATTLEBORO No prayer meeting Dec. 26; sessions will resume Jan. 2. Wrapped gifts marked for a man or a woman may be brought to Christmas Day Mass for distribution to shut-ins:' Grades I through 4 Mass 8:30 a.m. Sunday, followed by Christmas program, parish center. ST. JAMES, NB Vincentian food drive this weekend; donations may be brought to church or rectory. ST. JOSEPH, WOODS HOLE We Break Bread Together after 10 a.m. Mass Sunday. SACRED HEARTS RETREAT HOUSE, WAREHAM . Open 'house featuring caroling, ,cookies and cocoa 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 22 at retreat house, Great Neck Rd. '.Information: 295-0100. ST. ANNE, FR 'Cub Scouts' caroling and Christmas party 2 to 4 p.m. tomorrow, school. ST.·PATRICK, WAREHAM Pre-school and kindergarten Christmas pageant after 10 a.m. Mass Sunday.

HOLY CROSS, FR . CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES, ATTLEBORO Combined choirs Christmas conTherapy and support groups to be cert 4:30 p.m. Christmas Eve; Blessoffered beginning in February: Suping of Christmas cr,ib and Polish . port Group for Single Parents, 10 Christmas carols at 9 p.m. Mass. weeks, focus on stresses, successes ST. PATRICK, FR and challenges. "Hidden Mourning," Christmas party for grades I 12-week group for women dealing. through 8 children and open house with abortion-related experiences. for parents 9:50 to 10:50 a.m. SunFocus on grieving and healing. day. Baptism preparation class 7 to 8 Group size limited; confidentiality p.m. Dec. 30, rectory. assured. Begins week of Feb. 3. SACRED HEART, NB "H ope for Healing," 12-week theraChildren's Christmas party I to 3 peutic group for adults from troubled p.m. Dec. 28. families seeking to understand and heal painful experiences. Group size ST.GEORG~WESTPORT limited; confidentiality assured. 6:30 Christmas holy hour 7 tonight; to 8 p.m. Thursdays beginning Feb. Christmas hymns and Scripture 6. "Communicating for Life," 4readings. week psychoeducational group for O.L. ASSUMPTION, married couples to learn new ways . OSTERVILLE . to communicate, solve problems and CCD students' Christmas pageant resolve conflict. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tues4 p.m. Dec. 24. days beginning Feb. II. InformaST. JOHN EVANGELIST, tion: 226-4780. POCASSET O.L. VICTORY, CENTERVILLE 1 Candles and carols parish celebraChildren's Christmas pageant and tion 7 p.m. Sunday followed by party 2 p.m. Sunday, parish center; refreshments hosted by Women's infant figures from home nativity. Guild in parish center. sets will be blessed. \ D.ofl. HOL Y NAME, NB Alcazaba Circle 65 Daughters of Choir Christmas Eve concert 4:30 Isabella, Attleboro, meeting 7 p.m. p.m. Jan. 2, K. of C. Hall, Hodges St.; ST.STEPHEN,ATTLEBORO wine and cheese tasting party follow. . Children's Mass II a.m. Sunday, ing. followed by Christmas party, church ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI, NB hall. St. Stephen's feast Mass 6:30 Men's League meeting II a.m. p.m. Dec. 28 followed by potluck Sunday, church hall. supper and dancing; information: Barbara Magyar, 226-4318 or rec- . ST. DOMINIC, SWANSEA Pro-life meeting9 a.m. tomorrow, tory. lower rectory. ST. MARY,SEEKONK Jesus' Story and Jesus' P·arty for , NOTRE DAME de LOURDES, FR . children and families 7 p.m. tomorYouth group meeting 10 a.m. Sunrow, church; grade 6 students will narrate, grades 1-5 students will as- day, parish center; youth council semble nativity scene, children's choir elections; gifts for shut-ins will be will lead Christmas carols. Grades 6 wrapped for distribution after 11:30 through 8 Christmas dance 7:30 to , a.m. Mass. 10 p.m. Dec. 27, church basement. ST. JOSEPH, NB Baby clothing, food ,and other necesWrapped gifts of warm clothing sities are being accepted for dona- labeled for appropriate recipient may tion to Catholic'Social Services and be placed on table in front of taberBirthright. nacle to benefit Market Ministries.

SCHEDULE OF CHRISTMAS MASSES: CHRISTMAS EVE: 4:00.and 7:00 P.M. MIDNIGHT MASS preceded by Carols _.~

CHRISTMAS DAY: 8:00, 9: 1'5 and 10:30 A.M.

With Christmas Prayers And Wishes To And From Th,e People Of God At

S (lint John The Evangelist Parish In The Village OJ Pocasset REV. ROBERT

c. DONOVAN, Pastor

REV. FRANCIS B. CONNORS and REV. ALPHONSE B. JANSONIS, Mass Assistants REV. MR. JAMES MARZELLI, Jr., Deacon