St. Vincent’s Services cares for the vulnerable through dedicated staff and donations
Diocese of Fall River, Mass. † Friday, February 2, 2024
Talbot Apartments to be renovated to former glory
The Talbot Apartment building before a 2022 fire made the lowincome housing uninhabitable. Renovations are underway to bring it back to life.
By Joan D. Warren Editor
joandwarren@anchornews.org
NEW BEDFORD — Continuing the mission of serving those in need, the Diocese of Fall River is working to renovate the Talbot Apartments in New Bedford after a devastating fire in November of 2022 left the 26-unit low-income housing uninhabitable with smoke and water damage. The historic building, built in 1901, will be restored to its former glory with a tentative completion date of summer 2025. The Queen Anne architecture, popular in the early 19th century, landed the structure in the National Registry of Historic Places. An unofficial “gateway” into the North End of the city, the four-story multi-unit residence with its iconic turret, is visible from Route 18 and the entrance to Interstate 195. Located at 1168 Acushnet Ave, the building was known as the
Waverly Hotel for many years then as Hotel Touraine. The diocese took ownership 10 years ago to expand housing opportunities for persons of limited financial means. Managed by Community Action for Better Housing (CABH), a mission of the diocese, the rehabilitation project is being led by CABH Interim Executive Director, Victor Andreozzi. “The renovation is well underway. We have gutted the interior and are weatherproofing the roof. We plan to have the new roof framed by the end of February,” Andreozzi said. Guzman Architects, LLC are providing the design work and A Plus Construction Corporation the building. When completed, there will be 26 single-person units on four levels, two will be handicap accessible on the first floor. Each studio unit will include a full bathroom, kitchenette and living space. 8 Turn to page 11
St. Vincent’s Services on Highland Avenue in Fall River has been caring for children for more than 138 years. and sponsors from the greater By Joan D. Warren Editor community, basic needs and care joandwarren@anchornews.org is met for more than 1,000 chilFALL RIVER — Children dren and youth — newborn to 22 living with domestic trauma are years of age, and their families. the most vulnerable population Fundraising efforts finance among us in Southern Massathe extras which, at times, are chusetts and elsewhere. Many are big ticket items like a new roof coping with childhood abuse as or windows for the campus that well as neglect, poverty, addicencompasses 18 acres. tions, mental illness, domestic Katie Dawkins, Director of violence and other severe trauma Donor Relations, works diligentwithin the family. ly to secure donations from the Through no fault of their community to enhance the culown, they are innocent souls exist ture at St. Vincent’s. in situations that can negatively “Anything extra we do here is affect them for a lifetime. Many through donations. We have been need intervention and the oppor- fortunate to receive funds that tunity to be removed from home have allowed us to expand our situations where dysfunction is gardens with a new greenhouse so prevalent that their young lives erected next to the chapel and a are in peril. toddler playground near the cotThe Southcoast is fortunate tage for the Young Parent Living to be the home of St. Vincent’s Program,” Dawkins said. Services, a not-for-profit agenThe upgrades planned for cy committed to fostering the the near future will focus on well-being of children, young improvements to the full gym adults, families, and the commuon campus, specifically windows nity through a holistic approach (there are more than 1,000 winto treatment and care. dows that need replacing), a new A ministry of the Diocese of workout area and exercise equipFall River, the dedicated staff of ment. more than 275 include adminisThere are large and small trators, clinicians, psychiatrists, ways to raise donations. Seasonal nurses, direct care and other charitable events take place while vital staff are committed to the larger, annual events St. Vincent’s well-being of children and famiorganizes make up the majority of lies. funds taken in. Funded through the MassaAt Christmas, one way to chusetts Department of children honor a loved one is to give to the and families, private insurance 8 Turn to page 15 February 2, 2024 †
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Special game added to annual CYO free throw night By Joan D. Warren Editor joandwarren@anchornews.org
FALL RIVER — On Monday, January 15, balls were flying and the stands packed in the Shea Gymnasium at the former Bishop Connolly High School. CYO basketball players, their families, clergy, sisters and staff from the diocese
gathered for the annual Knights of Columbus Council 12380 Free Throw Championship followed by a game between the “God’s Squad” and CYO All stars. Players, third through eighth grade from the greater Fall River and New Bedford area, competed to be free throw champs in their age group. Awards were
given to those who made the most baskets from15 consecutive foul shots. (See picture of winners on page eight). Following the shoot-out, many stayed for the first-ever religious versus CYO all-star game that was a nail biter until the last seconds of the game. The CYO All
stars took home the trophy in the end. The night was organized by Dioceses of Fall River Youth Minister Oscar Rivera. To raise awareness about vocations and discernment, the game was a representation to the youth to a deepen their Catholic identity and hopefully igniting holy vocations. The religious team, dubbed the God’s Squad, were a co-ed team made up of diocesan clergy and two sisters from the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin Matarà. Sister Mary of Calvary and Sister Mary of the Transfiguration, who serve at St. Anthony of Padua in New Bedford, brought their "A" game, rebounding and scoring throughout the game. The team was coached by retired Father Jay Maddock, a former Coyle High school basketball forward and CYO coordinator for 39 years. Father Maddock ran the program from 1982 until his retirement in 2021. The coed CYO All star team represented players
Father Jay Mello takes a shot at the hoop before the big game. from 39 teams in the league. There are currently 380 players this season with 25 boys teams and 14 girls teams. Matt Bednarz, the current CYO Coordinator, said the program is running well thanks to parent, teacher and school volunteers. This was the first year the Free Throw Championship was held at Bishop Connolly. “We play at Sullivan-McCarrick CYO Center 8 Turn to page eight
Above: The "God's Squad" : Sister Transfiguration, Sister Calvary, Father Jay Maddock, Father John Garabedian, Father Jay Mello, Father Brian Connors, Father Kevin A. Cook, and Father Chris Peschel. 2
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The Importance of the Our Priests Make a Difference Initiative Matthew S. Robinson
Director of Clergy Support
FALL RIVER — One of the challenges faced by today’s priesthood is a general decline in public esteem, and while this is a grace-filled opportunity for priests to ensure an inner purity of motive, it nonetheless can become a stumbling block for the priest himself and his ability to fulfill his priestly mission. For the priest himself, one can never ignore what the “Doctor of the Church,” St. Thomas Aquinas, says: “Grace perfects nature.” To ignore one’s human nature as designed
by God can become an obstacle to the workings of grace. We all need a sense of basic esteem. In fact, we know through psycholog-
personal achievement and inability to do their job. In marriages, perpetual mutual esteem and admiration of spouses have been
ical research that a lack of esteem can lead individuals to a depleted sense of
shown to be the critical factor for marital health. Lack of public esteem
also affects the priest’s ministry as he finds it more difficult to preach the truth of the Gospel in love. His legitimate authority as a spiritual father is reduced to a fatherhood of appeasement in many respects because the priesthood has suffered such a loss of esteem. The Church, in The Vatican's Dicastery for Clergy, exhorts us to show the highest esteem for ecclesial vocations. It quotes St. John Chrysostom who stunningly teaches, “We should not only respect the priest more than princes or kings but esteem him more than we do our parents. Indeed, our parents have
begotten us through blood and by the will of the flesh (cf. Jn 1:13), while the priests have brought us to life as sons of God; they are the instruments of our joyful rebirth, of our freedom, and of our adoption into the order of grace.” Priests, like everyone, need esteem, a respect derived primarily from our love for the priesthood itself. Rebuilding this esteem in our Diocese will have salvific consequences. Please consider taking the first step by participating in the Our Priests Make a Difference initiative (located on the page ten) and showing your esteem for our priests.
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February 2, 2024 †
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O
nce upon a time, I ministered in a large parish that had a big pastoral staff. (Don’t you just love it when stories begin with “once upon a time”?) It so happened that there were two staff members who didn’t get along very well. Honestly, they didn’t get along at all. I think they quarreled privately, but when others were around, they ignored each other and would enlist a third party, like me, to relay messages to one another – kind of the equivalent of, “tell your father to pass the salt.” It got so bad that the pastor hired a facilitator not once, but twice, to see if he, the facilitator, could broker a peace deal. It didn’t work. Oh sure, they’d talk to each other and play nice for a while, but inevitably something would happen, and the “Cold War” would start all over again. I don’t remember who thought of the idea, but someone on staff came up with this ingenious proposal: the staff ’s Lenten goal would be that we’d all be on speaking terms by the time we arrived at Easter Sunday. And, by golly, it worked! Anytime
Remember the goal!
things got a little tense and it felt like a fight might break out, someone would say, “Remember the goal”, and flaring tempers would ease. We were able to do on our own what a trained counselor couldn’t achieve. We are rapidly approaching the beginning of the Lenten season. Lent is a good time for us to take stock of how we are doing in our spiritual life. Typically, we are called to focus on three things: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Now might be a good time to consider the goals you should set for yourself to make this Lenten season one that prepares you for the joy of the resurrection on Easter Sunday and the great 50 days of the Easter season. When we think of fasting during Lent, our minds go the fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and the abstinence from meat on Lenten Fridays. But are there other things that you could fast or abstain from? Often folks “give up” candy, ice cream, or soda, but why not give up something that will enhance your spiritual
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journey? You could abstain from things like gossip, anger, or road rage. In addition to Lenten sacrifices, enrich your spiritual life by attending daily Mass, stations of the cross, or meditating on the Sunday gospel. Join a scripture study group or commit to quiet daily prayer. Almsgiving is the practice of giving to others. While our financial contributions to the
mission of the church are important, almsgiving is not only about money, but also our time and talent. Perhaps you could perform a service or random act of kindness daily, doing something for someone and expecting nothing in return. You could volunteer at a nursing home, senior center, or food pantry. Your opportunities for giving to others are endless! On Palm Sunday we will enter into the most
sacred and solemn time of the liturgical year – Holy Week. We will hear Mark’s Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We will retrace His steps to Golgotha and we will stand at the foot of the Cross. We will recall the suffering and death of Christ, who died that our sins might be forgiven. And as we walk the way that our Savior walked, we should ask ourselves this question – did we remember the goal? Did we practice the disciplines of fasting, charity, and almsgiving? Did we identify aspects of ourselves that are less than Christ-like and let them die? As we journeyed through Lent, did we find ourselves closer to Christ and changed by that encounter? Many years after my staff ’s Lenten goal achievement, I ran into the facilitator who had come to lend his aid. I reminded him of the time he spent with our parish staff and the work he’d done to help heal wounds. He asked me if it had helped. We both laughed when I said, “Nope”. But maybe it did
work. Maybe he planted seeds that took time to take root and grow. Maybe the Holy Spirit was at work in a way that we couldn’t see. And maybe, just maybe, there’s a Lenten lesson here. We cannot completely transform ourselves in 40 days. That’s why we celebrate Lent every year. But we can remember our personal goals. We can remember that helped by God's grace, we and we alone, have the ability to transform ourselves so that we may love like Christ, who suffered and died that we might have eternal life. So, remember the goal! That, my friends, is the Good News! As St. Paul reminds us, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Rom 12:1-2). Anchor columnist Ada Simpson is former editor of Ministry and Liturgy magazine, holds an M.A. in Pastoral Ministry, and is the director of Music Ministry at St. Francis and St. Dominic parishes in Swansea.
Special evening planned to celebrate the sacrament of marrage
EASTON — On Saturday, Feb. 10, at the Father Peyton Center in North Easton, all married couples are invited to celebrate the family rosary, a vigil Mass, sip on fine wine, renew your marriage vows, enjoy dinner and a presentation. Whether you have been married for five years or fifty years, this free evening is for them. This event will include Vigil Mass & Renewal of Vows at St. Joseph Chapel at 5pm and Dinner & Date Night at the Museum of Family Prayer from 6pm to 8pm, 518 Washington St., North Easton, MA 02356. Those interested should RSVP by Feb. 2 at this link: : https://qrco.de/bef6u9.
Surrogacy and child trafficking
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t the start of 2024, Pope Francis offered strong public criticism of surrogate motherhood. His willingness to speak out on this important topic has helped to pull surrogacy out of the shadows, where it has often been relegated, and shine some much-needed light on the children at the center of the process and their rights. Surrogacy is often framed as a generous act, since the surrogate mother seeks to offer her own body to help another woman unable carry a pregnancy. Judith Hoechst, who hired a surrogate to have a son, was quoted in a National Catholic Register article as declaring: “There’s nothing more selfless and more loving than a woman who says, ‘Let me share my uterus with you. Let me do for you what you cannot do.’” When you examine it more deeply, however, surrogacy offers only the veneer of a selfless act. It relies on evil means to achieve a good end. It tends to be driven by the selfish slant of “entitle-
ment thinking.” It often involves a coercive financial angle, as wealthy individuals offer significant remuneration to secure poor women as “volunteers.” Pope Francis cut through much of the duplicity around this issue when he provocatively observed that surrogacy involves a form of “trafficking” of children, implying that children are being bought and sold, treated as property and often transported across international borders, which, all in all, sums up many contemporary aspects of surrogacy. The whole process of surrogacy typically begins with the creation of children for implantation through in vitro fertilization (IVF), a practice that itself raises numerous moral objections. Most fundamentally, IVF misappropriates the generative powers we have received from God that are ordered to procreating new life. The powers we have are not meant be used any
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER www.anchornews.org
Vol. 68, No. 2
Published monthly by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, Mass. 02720, Tel. 508-675-7151; FAX 508-675-7048; email: davejolivet@anchornews.org. To subscribe to The Anchor online visit www.fallriverdiocese.org;subscribe Subscription price by mail, prepaid $29.00 per year for U.S. addresses. Please send address changes to The Anchor, PO Box 318, Congers, NY 10920, call or use email address.
PUBLISHER – Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D. INTERIM EXECUTIVE EDITOR
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Joan D. Warren
joandwarren@anchornews.org
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waynepowers@anchornews.org
way we wish. For example, we have the power to use our hands to pick things up, to write, and to reach out to help others. But that same power in our hands can be used in reckless and improper ways to hit people, to choke them, or to otherwise harm them. Just because we have the power to do some-
that children are a kind of "entitlement” or even a “right” to be claimed for themselves. This flawed thinking enables a facile movement into the twin evils of IVF and surrogacy, and ultimately encourages the trafficking of unborn children. Clearly, a child — or any person — is never a “right,” or a possession, or a piece of property to whom we are entitled. The only “entitlement” or “right” operative here would be the right of the child to be conceived uniquely through the thing — or the fact that marital act. Rather than science may open up a being summoned into benew power to us — does ing in glassware and imnot automatically mean planted into surrogates by we should utilize it. fertility clinic employees Our power to procre- in exchange for valuable ate is a very special gift, consideration, children meant to be shared in have the inalienable right collaboration with God to be conceived through and our spouse in an the one flesh, body-toexclusive manner. That we body spousal communion have the technical prowof their parents’ marital ess to take hold of our sex embrace. cells and manipulate them Having a sense of to manufacture a new life “entitlement” about chilconstitutes a misuse of dren and imagining that I our God-given powers. “deserve” a child corrupts We fail to respect our the delicate order of our children’s dignity when receptivity towards the we turn them into “projmysterious gift of new life ects” to be engendered in marital sexuality. in laboratory glassware Whenever we turn and implanted into third to IVF and surrogacy to party carriers. By such satisfy the desire of adults an approach, we end up for offspring, we overtwisting the designs of ride that delicate order of human sexuality and receptivity and arrogate turning what is meant to to ourselves the right to be an act of love into an control and even domiact of production. nate our children. We pay Yet many people today to have them implanted have accepted the notion into strangers who act as
“gestational carriers.” We impose on them a multitude of "parental-role figures,” ranging from the surrogate mother who becomes pregnant, to the woman who receives the baby afterwards, to the third-party egg donor. We multiply father-role figures, depending upon the source of the sperm. We trap our left over embryonic children, potentially for decades, in the wasteland of frozen orphanages connected to fertility clinics. We carry out genetic testing and discard less-than-perfect embryos. We selectively reduce children when multiplet pregnancies arise. The use of the term “deplorable” by the Pope is not excessive, but spot-on when it comes to describing these offensive aspects of surrogacy. His observations help refocus our attention on the runaway train that IVF and surrogacy have become, and invite us to push back against the problematic-but-widely-endorsed approach that seeks to satisfy adult desires for children while largely ignoring the consequences to the kids. Anchor columnist Father Pacholczyk earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, and serves as Senior Ethicist at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www.ncbcenter.org and www.fathertad.com.
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Editorial
A Eucharistic Lent
Lent is about going spiritually to the state of the desert, about uniting ourselves to, and imitating, Jesus’ fasting, praying and charity. It’s a time to repent and believe. We’re summoned to render our hearts open to God, to reflect on the meaning and trajectory of our life, as we recall that we are dust and to dust we shall return. It’s a period of mercy and conversion, of grace and holiness that we’re supposed to receive fruitfully and not in vain. This Lent is special, taking place within the parish phase of the threeyear-plus Eucharistic Revival. Since Jesus in the Eucharist is the source and summit, the root and center of the Christian life, Lent, too, should draw its life from the Eucharistic Jesus and lead us to him. It’s important, therefore, to look at our major Lenten practices through a Eucharistic lens. The first is fasting. In the Gospel on Ash Wednesday, Jesus says to us, “When you fast.” In contrast to many of Jesus’ contemporaries, who fasted for show, supplication, penance and self-mastery, Jesus wants our fasting to be to bring into communion those parts of our life that are not yet united to him, those areas in which the Jesus Bridegroom has been “taken away” and is not yet present. Through Isaiah, God tells us that fasting is ultimately to learn to hunger for God and for what he hungers. The reason why the Church has a discipline of fasting before receiving Holy Communion is to help us calibrate our appetites to God’s. Jesus told us, “Do not work for the food that perishes but for the food that endures to eternal life that the Son of Man will give you.” Jesus has a huge hunger to feed us. His incarnation, hidden life, public ministry, passion, death, and Resurrection all culminated in his giving us his body and blood, the means by which he would fulfill his promise to be with us always until the end of time. Jesus’ most eager desire, as he told us on Holy Thursday, was to celebrate “this Passover,” the new and eternal covenant, with us. He wants us to hunger for him, to work for the food he himself will give us more than a greedy Wall Street trader works to make money. That’s the ultimate purpose of our specifically Eucharistic fast as well as all fasting. But our hunger to eat his flesh and drink his blood is meant to lead us to draw our whole life from him. A Eucharistic life extends beyond Mass. A second major Lenten theme is the desert. Jesus calls us, especially in Lent, to “come away for a little while to a deserted place to rest a while.” Each Lent, the same Holy Spirit whom St. Luke tells us led Jesus into the desert wants to guide us into the desert with him, so that we, apart from distractions, in sacred silence, we can prayerfully focus on who we are, on our relationship with God and others and, with Christ’s help, can confront and overcome the way that the devil seeks to distort those relations and that image. Satan’s final temptation in the desert was to promise Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would fall down and adore him. Jesus replied, “The Lord your God shall you adore and him alone shall you serve.” We’re called to adore and serve the Lord. Pope Francis says that we’re always adoring either the Lord or something or someone else, Eucharistic adoration helps crush our idols: our disproportionate focus on work, material possessions, entertainment, our families, our egos. In the state of the desert, spending time with Jesus in prayerful adoration, we learn how to prioritize him, to unite all parts of life to him, and to ensure that he alone is our God. That’s why Eucharistic adoration is so important in Lent and life. The third Lenten practice is almsgiving. Giving himself to us in the 6
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Eucharist, Jesus seeks to transform us to live truly Eucharistic lives, giving our own body and blood out of love for others. Jesus began the celebration of the first Mass on Holy Thursday, washing the feet of the apostles as an example for them likewise to serve others with love. Jesus prepared the apostles for the Eucharist through the miraculous multiplications of the loaves and fish, in which he sought to get them to share his mercy on the crowds. Our contact with Jesus in the Holy Eucharist is meant to impel our charity. St. Teresa of Calcutta used to stress that the same Jesus who says, “This is my body,” tells us, “I was hungry and you fed me.” A final Lenten theme is the spiritual work of mercy of sharing the faith. On Ash Wednesday, St. Paul, as an ambassador of Christ, summons us to seize the day of salvation and be reconciled to God. Jesus’ plan for us, just like his first followers, is that, after being with him, he can send us out as ardent apostles to complete his saving work. Lent is a time in which the Lord Jesus wants to renew us not just in holiness but Christian mission. The celebration of the Mass, in which we receive the Lord Jesus within, finishes with the Lord’s blessing and the command to “go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.” Our Eucharistic relationship with the Lord is meant to make us all ambassadors of Christ, God as it were appealing through us. In the Eucharist, we’re called to recapitulate the mystery of the Visitation, in which Mary went with haste to take the in utero Savior to St. Elizabeth and St. John the Baptist; after receiving the same Lord Jesus in Holy Communion, we are similarly impelled urgently to go to bring Jesus to others so that he who came that his joy may be in us and our joy perfected can make them, too, leap for joy. Right after the consecration, we underline this connection between Mass and mission. The priest says, “The Mystery of Faith” and we show the connection between our faith in Jesus’ Real Presence and our sharing it in two different acclamations: “We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again,” and, “When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your death, O Lord, until you come again.” In the Eucharist, we are called both to proclaim Jesus’ self-giving death for us and our salvation as well as profess his Resurrection, that the Eucharist is Jesus’ risen body and blood, with us until the end of time in the new modality the Resurrection makes possible. Like the disciples in Emmaus after Jesus celebrated Mass in their home, we are called to go forth to share with burning hearts the joy he gives when he comes into us. We’re all called to be contagious witnesses of the mind-blowing selfgift of Jesus in the Eucharist, to take him out in processions in monstrances and within ourselves, to help others learn to relate to him in his Eucharist presence as those two thousand years ago related to him in his tunic and sandals. Missionary outreach, Pope Benedict XVI once said, is “an essential part of the Eucharistic form of Christian life.” The Eucharistic Jesus must be the central content of our sharing and living the faith, because the Eucharist is not a “thing” but the Lord himself. This Lent is a sacred and propitious time to recommit ourselves to these essential Eucharistic dimensions of our Christian existence, as we through fasting hunger for Christ in the Mass, go into the desert to adore him outside of Mass, are impelled by him within toward Eucharistic charity and commissioned by him to proclaim his presence by word and life.
Finding spiritual warmth during an Outer Cape winter By Dave Jolivet WELLFLEET — For the most part, life on Outer Cape Cod is far from warm and cozy. Often, the area is battered by Nor'easters, bringing with them snow, sleet, freezing rain, howling winds, frigid temperatures, and rough seas on the shorelines. Yet, there are some havens of refuge from Old Man Winter in Wellfleet and Provincetown. Refuges that not only provide warmth and coziness, but also quiet and peace. Thanks to some generous donations, Father Phil Hamel, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Wellfleet and St. Peter’s Parish in Provincetown, has created, through several beautiful pieces of artwork, places where folks can spend time in prayer and reflection in both churches. On Nov. 2, 2001, Father John L. Andrews, who was responsible for building Our Lady of Lourdes Church, which was dedicated in 2009, passed away at Marian Manor in Taunton at the age of 85. “When Father Jack died, his sister, Carol Mills of Berkley, requested, in lieu of flowers, that donations be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Church in her brother’s memory,” Father Hamel told The Anchor. “The response was overwhelming and because of that, we have been able to add some nice features to both our churches and make some repairs and replacements of other objects
This statue of the Blessed Mother resides in a small chapel in Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Wellfleet. The handcarved work of art was created in Italy. Father Phil Hamel purchased the statue and votive candles for a small shrine, with monies donated in memory of former pastor Father John L. Andrews.
to help keep the churches beautiful houses of worship.” The first task Father Hamel took on, with the help of parishioners, was to create a small shrine to the Blessed Mother in Our Lady of Lourdes Church. A small area in the church was chosen to house a new statue of the Blessed Mother along with votive candles. Father Hamel himself grabbed a paint brush and a can of paint, made his way up and down a ladder and painted the shrine background blue. “I selected a wonderful statue of the Blessed Mother, hand carved in linden wood created by Studio Demetz in Italy, to be placed in the shrine area,” said Father Hamel. “We were able to purchase the
piece through Tally’s Religious Goods in Cranston, R.I. The votive lights were created by Shrine Design. “When the piece arrived I was stunned when we took it out of the box and unwrapped it. It was gorgeous. The parishioners were thrilled with the statue of the Blessed Mother and the small home we made for her. It’s such a warm and inviting presence to sit or kneel and
pray and meditate.” There were more additions to come. Years ago, when things were being moved from the old Our Lady of Lourdes Church in the village to the new church, one of the angels that adorned the altar was substantially damaged. “The story as I know it is that during the move n elderly gentleman accidentally hit it with his cane and knocked it over. The ‘fallen angel’ was beyond hope,” Father Hamel told The Anchor. “Since the response to donations in Father Jack’s memory were substantial, I was able to find an angel to complement the ‘non-fallen angel,’ back on the altar.” The angels again stand watch over the faithful in Wellfleet. St. Peter’s in Provincetown also recently received some wonderful pieces of art to make that church even more warm and inviting. There is an impressionist artist who lives on the Cape, Sam Barber, born in Europe, but a resident of the Outer Cape for more than 50 years. He created a colorful painting titled “St. Mary of the Harbor.”
“Mr. Barber created the painting for a Christian church in the area,” explained Father Hamel. “The church ended up closing and they returned the painting to Mr. Barber. Sam wanted the piece to be viewed in a place of worship, where it could be an source of inspiration and reflection. He generously donated the painting to St. Peter’s, with the stipulation that should the church be closed for any reason, the painting was to be returned to him. “St. Mary of the Harbor is a wonderful addition to St. Peter’s.” Father Hamel also had enough from the donations in Father Jack’s memory to purchase a statue of St. Jude that has found a home at the tip of the Cape. Lastly, Father Hamel received another gift for St. Peter’s Church, a lovely cross made of Cape Cod driftwood. 8 Turn to page eight
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CYO Jamboree and game a big hit on a cold night
Outer Cape parishes warm the soul
Continued from page two
8 Continued from page seven
on Anawan Street. This space is more conducive to the amount of people we have. The parking is much better,” he said. The game, consisting of four 8-minute periods (the same as regulation for eighth grade play), was filled with cheers from the stands. “Go Father Jay” and "God’s Squad, God’s Squad” were chanted throughout the game as both teams ran up and down the court. The All stars had some great shots with plenty of 3-pointers, but the religious team didn’t let the younger players run away with the game. God's Squad took the lead late in the 4 th quarter making it 41-40. A foul, however, was committed by the God's Squad at the buzzer, which gave the CYO All stars a chance for the win by two free throw shots. CYO All stars made the first
This cross, created from Cape Cod driftwood, was a gift to the parishioners of St. Peter’s Church in Provincetown. St. Mary of the Harbor,’ a painting created by impressionist artist Sam Barber of Cape Cod, was gifted to Father Hamel, pastor of St. Peter’s Parish in Province town, for the benefit of the parishioners of the Outer Cape church.
Sister Calvary attempts a shot at the basket, warming for the game. one, tying the score at 41. The second shot was taken, which bounced off the rim and went in. The final score was 42-41 for the CYO AllStars. Rivera gave play-by-
play commentary during the game and was happy to observe the crowd. "Often young people of the faith think that their priest and the sisters that serve their parishes do nothing outside of Mass and CCD. But on this day, they saw that is simply not true. The smiles and amazement on their faces communicated the similarities they share and that priest and religious are just like them, " Rivera said.
Top: Age 9 to 11 Age Winners, From left: Ivan Antonio Rodrigues, Aubrey Aroujo, Isabella Ogunlesi, Jonathan Scott, Jack Ouellette and Aleah Pavao. Bottom: Age 12 to 14 winners From left: Emmy Guthrie, Sean Trendowski, Rashad Williams, Madison Bednarz and Jacob Antonio. 8
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The cross originally belonged to Msgr. John J. Egan of Chicago. When he died in 2001, the cross was gifted to a friend. Eventually the cross found its way into the hands of Jeffry Korgen of Wellfleet, who in turn gifted it to the Outer Cape parishes. Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Peter’s churches may not lie on the beaten path, and are in fact the eastern-most mainland churches in the Diocese of Fall River. Unless one is a resident of the area, the ride there is a lengthy one, especially in the winter months. Despite the lure of the ocean and sand during the summer
months, a trip to Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Peter’s churches would be worth the ride, with both offering warmth, coziness, quiet, peace, and a welcoming pastor and parishioners — enough to warm the heart and soul in even the nastiest Nor'easter. Our Lady of Lourdes Church is located at 2282 Route 6, Wellfleet (www. ololwellfleet.org); and St. Peter’s Church is at 11 Prince Street, Provincetown (www.stpeters-ptown.org). Dave Jolivet is the former editor of the Anchor who retired in January.
Visit The Anchor online at www.anchornews.org
Catholic Schools Week Teacher Profile: Meet Kate Goodwin By Joan D. Warren Editor
joandwarren@anchornews.org
The Anchor decided to profile one of the hundreds of dedicated Catholic School teachers that make Catholic education in our Diocese possible, as National Catholic Schools Week comes to an end. This is the first in a monthly series profiling a member of the Diocesan community.
FAIRHAVEN — Kate Goodwin teaches English Language Arts (ELA) at Saint Joseph School in Fairhaven. She attended Alfred University in Western New York, where she received degrees in Elementary Education and English. She also holds a master’s degree in Literacy from Alfred University. She has taught 4th through 8th grade in three different states, and is in her 11th year of teaching. She has a passion for teaching reading and writing with an emphasis on social studies content. This is her first year teaching in a Catholic school, and she enjoys sharing her faith and values with her students. When not teaching, she enjoys antiquing, reading, cooking, skiing, traveling and teaching writing workshops. Where did you grow up and where do you live now? "I grew up in Wrentham, MA. Now, I live
on the Southcoast."
Why teach at a Catholic school? "I feel honored to work in a school where good character and academic excellence are encouraged. I find that my students are bright, mature and well behaved. They come
Where do you fing your anitque treasures?”I find my antique treasures at estate sales, antique stores and yard sales. I have an online store that is called Marble and Mud. I specialize in primitives, teacups and nativity sets from the 1920s."
Family: "I am the proud mother of two teenage children, and my husband works in finance. I have taught my kids faith formation for five years." Pets: "We have a very fluffy, ragdoll cat named Graham. He is two and weighs 20 pounds." Family meal request: "Bolognese sauce with homemade pasta. Another specialty is salted caramel cookies."
from great families that care about their education and faith journeys. I always tell people that I teach in a magical place. It is also a lot of fun celebrating holidays and holy days with my students and school community. Right now we are gearing up to celebrate Mardi Gras in our school. We are looking forward to having a parade with floats." Did you attend Catholic school? "Yes, I attended Bishop Feehan High School. I am no stranger to a plaid, wool skirt!"
Favorite books and authors: "My favorite books are 'Pride and Prejudice and Gone With the Wind'. My favorite books to teach are 'Tuck Everlasting' and 'The Outsiders'. I read a lot, and always have a few books going. My reading record is 42 books in one year." Where are your writing workshops? "In my home! My workshop is called Smart Cookies. I teach writing to kids in Grades 3-6. If they do well with their creative writing and show good character, they earn homemade cookies at the end of each session. I have always done this after school hours, but my students requested a summer camp this year, which is happening."
Family ski trips: "Everyone in my family is an avid skier. My husband and I have skied extensively out West and in Europe. My favorite place I’ve ever skied is Zermatt. While there we skied from Switzerland into Italy. Every winter we make numerous trips to Stowe, VT." What three have you visited "North Dakota, Hawaii and Alaska." Which would you visit again? "None, because there are so many new places to experience. We recently rented an RV and explored UT, WY and AZ while visiting many national parks. Last summer we drove close to 3,000 miles and traveled from PEI, Canada all the way to Southern Florida. Up next, we want to go to South Dakota and Ireland”. DREAM VACATION: "Skiing in Chile during what is our summer”.
Visit the Diocese of Fall River website at: fallriverdiocese.org February 2, 2024 †
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Diocesan employee and family attend March for Life for seventh time
Chad Brow, Head of Maintenance and Grounds for the Diocese of Fall River, and his family participated in the March for Life January 20, 2024. The trip was led by Father Sean Carey and Father Jeremy St. Martin from St. Jude parish in Waltham, in the Archdiocese of Boston. Chad, his wife Joan and their four youngest children attended. Photo: Father Jeremy St. Martin
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Talbot Apartments will rise up from the ashes continued from page one
Commercial space will also be available on the first floor. Potential tenants need to be referred through New Bedford Housing Authority or Catholic Charities of Fall River. Funding for the renovations comes from a variety of sources. According to Joe Harrington, Vice-Chancellor of Finance for the Diocese of Fall River, his team has been working with the city to apply for housing and historical restoration grants, as well as investigating other revenue streams. “We are estimating the cost at approximately $3.4 million. The significant costs include a stateof-the-art sprinkler and fire alarm system and the cost of keeping the building in compliance with historic preservation guidelines,”
Harrington said. The diocese has applied for Community Preservation Act funding of $255,000, which would be used for windows, siding and interior and exterior paint. Harrington said there is insurance money from the fire that will be utilized, and they are looking for other grant opportunities. Discussions are underway with BayCoast Bank for the possibility of a loan as well. “It takes a village. We included our parish pastors from New Bedford in the discussions and they endorsed the project. The city is investing in the North End and together we are working to bring this landmark building back to its glory,” he said.
Around the diocese: Catholic Divorce Healing Program — The Parish of Christ the King in Mashpee is pleased to announce a new session of Surviving Divorce, a ministry for men and women who have suffered from divorce. The 12-week program features discussions and a thirty-minute DVD presentation each week that cover topics of shock, denial, anger, grief, guilt, forgiveness, money, the courts, the kids, the ex-spouse, declarations of nullity, dating, sexuality, spirituality, remarriage or staying single and much more. Experts in the series include some of the best and brightest teachers, counselors, and authors in Catholic media. The DVD series also includes Catholic men and women who share their gut-wrenching but inspiring stories of divorce and recovery. The sessions begin on Monday, February 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the parish center. The program continues Mondays for 12 weeks. The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women invites all
women of the diocese to attend a meeting at St. Anthony Parish, 126 School Street, Taunton, on February 24, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The snow date will be March 2. The presenter will be Father Freddie Babiczuk from St. Anthony Parish, Taunton, and the topic will be ”Mary and Elizabeth Women of Faith.” Light refreshments will be served. If you have any questions, please call Ann Marie Melanson at 508-631-0533 or email frdccwannmarie@gmail.com. St. Nicholas of Myra Parish, in North Dighton, will host a movie night at 6 pm on Sunday, Feb. 4. The feature film is ”Sound of Freedom” (rated PG 13, two hours and 15 minutes). The next film to be shown is season 4 of 'The Chosen"Dates to be announced. Admission is free. Everyone is asked to bring a snack and a friend. Coffee and water will be provided. For more information, contact Nancy Brown 774 218-1456, Lloyd Simpson 508 243-7519.
Our Lady of Victory/Our Lady of the Assumption Lenten Mission Christ” — What you can do CENTERVILLE — Our when things go terribly wrong! Lady of Victory and Our Lady He will focus on identifying of Assumption parishes are attitudes that limit our willingco-sponsoring a Lenten Misness and energy to fully-to live sion, entitled “Igniting the Light of Christ Within You” on our Christian faith within the Catholic Church! February 19, 20 & He will also exam21, 2024, featuring ine how to Live the Catholic Speaker Light of Christ, no Paul Koleske. matter what happens The Mission will to them or within be held at Noon at the church. Our Lady of AsAs with all Kolesumption Church, ske's spoken word 76 Wianno Ave, presentations, he seOsterville, and relects songs from his peated at 6 p.m. at own music that will Our Lady of VicPaul Koleske illumine the topics tory Church, 230 discussed in order to South Main Street, help one have a deeper mission Centerville. Koleske is a conexperience. His music, with its temporary Catholic Christian inspirational speaker, musician, clear messages, are intended to composer and recording artist. act as a lasting reminder that On Monday Feb. 19, his talk one can use long after the mission to lift up one's spirits and will be on “Connecting with vision of the Light of the Lord the Light of Christ” — Kolewithing them. ske will describe story of his Koleske ha shared his minconversion from lukewarmness istry from the East Coast to as a Catholic to a believer in Hawaii in all 50 states and 121 miracles. He will discuss the dioceses. He has ap peared on True Presence, the necessity of EWTN with his music. This Mass attendance for one's life, mission will empower one to and bringing your fallen-away loved ones back to the Church. live a more successful spiritual Then he’ll teach about the Mir- life. Paul will speak and sing at all Masses the weekend before acle of You! On Tuesday, Feb. 20 his talk the Mission. will be on “Experiencing the Light of Christ”. Koleske will For more information: teach attendees, as Catholics to olvparish.org, 508-775trust in God. He’ll share prac5744x113. tical ideas on what we can do to break the mental cycles of Our lady of Victory: 230 anxiety, fear, doubt, worry, and South Main Street, Centerville. guilt, and the importance of Our Lady of Assumption: 76 prayer in a busy world. Wianno Ave, Osterville. On Wed. Feb. 21, he will discuss “Living the Light of February 2, 2024 †
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Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on the Portuguese Channel
Sunday, February 4, at 7 p.m. Broadcast from Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, Providence *** Sunday, February 11 at 7 p.m. Broadcast from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, New Bedford *** Sunday, February 18 at 7 p.m. Broadcast from St. Anthony Church, Taunton *** Sunday, February 25 at 7 p.m. Broadcast from St. Francis Xavier Church, East Providence
Please Visit
Teresinha (Arruda) DaSilva, sister of Father Henry S. Arruda Teresinha DARTMOUTH — Teresinha (Arruda) DaSilva, 85, of Westport, passed away on January 24, at Brandon Woods of Dartmouth. She was the wife of the late Osvaldo DaSilva. She DaSilva was born and raised in Remedios de Bretanha, Sao Miguel, Azores, daughter of the late Joao and Emilia (Moreira) Arruda. DaSilva had been a longtime resident of the Fall River and Westport
areas for many years. A woman of many talents, she enjoyed crocheting, quilting and cooking. Survivors include her son, Clement Silva and his wife Maureen of Bradenton, Fla.; her two daughters: Edie Thibault and her husband Allen of Westport, and Ana Gouveia
Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, February 4 at 11:00 a.m. Celebrant is Father Kevin A. Cook, Our Lady of Mount Carmel
and her husband Tony of Ontario, Canada; brother, Father Henry S. Arruda of Fall River; two sisters: Maria dos Anjos Hilario of Fall River and Leontina Arruda of Texas; six grandchildren: Amanda Carvalho, Joshua Gouveia, Jeremy Gouveia, Brandon Gouveia, Matthew Silva and Amber Silva.; eight great grandchildren: Zachary, Alexander, Cameron, Joseph, Isabella, Michael, Brooke and Alex.; along with many nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Clement Arruda, Emilia Rego, Joao S. Arruda, Jaime Arruda, Manuel Arruda and Jose Arruda. A Mass of Christian Burial was held January 29 at Our Lady of Grace Church, Westport.
Sunday, February 11 at 11:00 a.m.
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Celebrant is Father Andrew Johnson, Retired priest of the Diocese of Fall River in residence at Corpus Christi Parish in East Sandwich
Sunday, February 18 at 11:00 a.m. Celebrant is Father Laurent M. Valliere, Administrator of St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Dartmouth
Sunday, February 25 at 11:00 a.m. Celebrant is Father Peter R. Scheffer Jr., Pastor of Our Lady of Grace, St. George, and St. John the Baptist Parishes in Westport 12
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To advertise in The Anchor, contact Wayne Powers at 508-675-7151 or waynepowers@ anchornews.org
Daily Readings † February 3 — March 1, 2024
Sat. Feb. 3: 1 Kgs 3: 4-13: Ps 119: 9 -14: Mk 6: 30-34 Sun. Feb. 4 Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Jb 7: 1-4, 6-7: Ps 147: 1-6: 1 Cor 9: 16-19. 22-23: Mk 1: 29-39 Mon. Feb. 5: 1 Kings 8: 1-7. 9-13: Ps 132: 6-10: Mk 6: 53-56 Tues. Feb. 6: 1 Kgs 8: 22-23, 27-30: Ps 84: 3-5, 10-11: Mk 7: 1-13 Wed. Feb. 7: 1 Kgs 10: 1-10: Ps 37: 5-6, 30-31, 39-40: Mk 7: 14-23 Thurs. Feb. 8: 1 Kgs 11: 4-13: Ps 106: 3-4, 35-35-37 and 40: Mk 7: 24-30 Fri. Feb. 9: 1 Kgs 11: 29-32; 12: 19: Ps 81: 10-15: Mk 7: 31-37 Sat. Feb. 10: 1 Kgs 12: 26-32; 13: 33-34: Ps 106: 6-7, 19-22: Mk 8: 1-10 Sun. Feb. 11: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Lv 13: 1-2. 44-46: Ps 32: 1-2, 5, 11: 1 Cor 10: 31 - 11: 1: Mk 1: 40-45 Mon. Feb. 12: Jas 1: 1-11: Ps 119: 67-68, 71-72, 75- 76: Mk 8: 11-13 Tues. Feb. 13: Jas 1: 12-18: Ps 94: 12-15, 18-19: Mk 8: 14-21 Wed. Feb. 14: Ash Wednesday, Jl 2: 12-18: Ps 51: 3-6, 12-14, 17: 2 Cor 5: 20 - 6:2: Mt 6: 1-6. 16-18 Thurs. Feb. 15: Dt 30: 15-20: Ps 1: 1-4, 6: Lk 9: 22-25 Fri. Feb. 16: Is 58: 1-9a: Ps 51: 3-6a, 18-19: Mt 9: 14-15
Sat. Feb. 17: Is 58: 9b-14: Ps 86: 1-6: Lk 5: 27-32 Sun. Feb. 18: FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT: Gn 9: 8-15: Ps 25: 4-9: 1 Pt 3: 18-22: Mk 1: 12-15 Mon. Feb. 19: Lv 19: 1-2, 11-18: Ps 19: 8-10. 15: Mt 25: 31-46 Tues. Feb. 20: Is 55: 10-11: Ps 34: 4-7, 16-19: Mt 6: 7-15 Wed. Feb. 21: Jon 3: 1-10: Ps 51: 3-4, 12-13. 18-19: Lk 11: 29-32 Thurs. Feb. 22 Thu: 1 Pt 5: 1-4: Ps 23: 1-6: Mt 16: 13-19 Fri. Feb. 23: Ez 18: 21-28: Ps 130: 1-8: Mt 5: 20-26 Sat. Feb 24: Dt 26: 16-19: Ps 119: 1-2, 4-5, 7-8: Mt 5: 43-48 Sun. Feb. 25: SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT, Gn 22: 1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18: Ps 116: 10, 15-19: Rom 8: 31b-34: Mk 9:2-10 Mon. Feb. 26: Dn 9: 4b-10: Ps 79: 8-9, 11 and 13: Lk 6: 36-38 Tues. Feb. 27: Is 1: 10, 16-20: Ps 50: 8-9. 16bc-17, 21 and 23: Mt 23: 1-12 Wed. Feb. 28: Jer 18: 18-20: Ps 31: 5-6, 14-16: Mt 20: 17-28 Thurs. Feb. 29: Jer 17: 5-10: Ps 1: 1-4, 6: Lk 16: 19-31 Fri. Mar. 1: Gn 37: 3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a: Ps 105: 16-21: Mt 21: 33-43. 45-46
In Your Prayers
Please pray for these priests and deacons during the coming weeks:
Feb. 3 Rev. Antonio O. Ponte, Pastor, Our Lady of Angels, Fall River, 1952 Feb. 4 Rev. Msgr. Hugh J. Smyth, P.R., Pastor, St. Lawrence, New Bedford. First Vicar General, Fall River, 1904-07. Administrator of Diocese, February-July 1907,
Feb. 15 Rev. Joseph G. Lavalle, Pastor, St. Mathieu, Fall River, 1910 Rev. James C. Conlon, Pastor, St. Mary, Norton, 1957
1921
Feb. 16 Rev. Alphonse J. LaChapelle, Assistant, Holy Ghost, Attleboro, 1983 Rev. Joaquim Fernandes da Silva, CM, 2001
Feb. 6 Most Rev. Frederick A. Donaghy, M.M, Bishop of Wuchow, 1988
Feb. 17 Rev. Louis R. Boivin, Retired, Catholic Memorial Home, Former Pastor, St. Theresa, South Attleboro, 2010
Rev. Raymond Graham, S.M.M., 1988
Feb. 7 Rev. Arthur N. Robert, O.P., St. Anne Shrine, Fall River, 1991 Rev. José Antonio Ferreira dos Santos, Retired, Former Pastor, Our Lady of Health, 2017 Feb. 8 Rev. Raymond P. Monty, USAF Retired Chaplain, 1996 Feb. 9 Rev. Francis Tuite, 1916 Rev. Msgr. John J. Kelly, Pastor, SS. Peter & Paul, Fall River, 1963 Rev. Peter J. McKone, S.J., Bishop Connolly High School, Fall River, 1972 Rev. Vincent R. Dolbec, A.A., Assumption College, 1985 Feb. 10 Rev. Edward L. O’Brien, Pastor, St. Mary, Mansfield, 1966 Rev. Lucien A. Madore, Retired Chaplain, Mount St. Joseph School, Fall River, 1983 Feb. 11 Rev. John O’Connell, Founder, St. John Evangelist, Attleboro, 1910 Rev. John J. Sullivan, S.T.L., Retired, Former Pastor, Holy Rosary, Fall River, 1961 Rev. William J. McMahon, Retired, Former Pastor, St. Joan of Arc, Orleans, 1987 Rev. Christopher (Leo) King, SS.CC., 2013 Rev. John J. Perry, Pastor of Our Lady of Victory, Centerville; Our Lady of the Assumption, Osterville, 2020 Feb. 12 Rev. Stanislaus Bernard, SS.CC, Retired Founder, Our Lady of Assumption, New Bedford, 1961 Rev. Richard Lifrak, SS.CC., 2021 Feb. 13 Rev. Richard R. Gendreau, Retired, Former Pastor, St. Louid de France, Swansea, 2015 Feb. 14 Rev. Charles E. Clerk, Pastor, St. Roch, Fall River, 1932 Rev. Msgr. Francis McKeon, Retired Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton, 1980
Feb. 19 Rev. Andrew J. Brady, Pastor, St. Joseph, Fall River, 1895 Rev. Leopold Jeurissen, SS.CC., Pastor, Sacred Hearts, Fairhaven, 1953 Feb. 20 Rev. James H. Fogarty, Pastor, St. Louis, Fall River, 1922 Rev. Raymond M. Giguere, O.P., Assistant, St. Anne, Fall River, 1986 Rev. Thomas E. Morrissey, Pastor, St. Jacques, Taunton, 2006 Feb. 21 Rev. Msgr. Luiz G. Mendonca, PA, Retired, Former Pastor, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, New Bedford, 1997 Feb. 22 Rt. Rev. Msgr. Jovite Chagnon, Founder, St. Joseph, New Bedford, 1954 Rev. Albert A. Croce, C.S.C., 2014 Feb. 24 Rev. Edward F. McIsaac, Retired Chaplain, Rose Hawthorn Lathrop Home, 2002 Feb. 25 Rev. Leo J. Ferreira, V.G., Pastor, St. Mary, Brownsville, Texas, 1988 Rev. William T. Babbitt, Assistant, St. Mary, North Attleboro, 1998 Feb. 27 Rev. Philip Gillick, Founder, St. Mary, North Attleboro, 1874 Rev. Joseph N. Hamel, Founder, St. Theresa, New Bedford, 1956 Rev. John G. Carroll, Retired Pastor, St. Margaret, Buzzards Bay, 1995 Rev. Roland B. Boule, Retired Pastor, St. Anne, New Bedford, 2005 Feb. 29 Rev. Msgr. James Dolan, Retired Pastor, St. Mary, Taunton, 1980 March 1 Rev. James F. Masterson, Founder, St. Patrick, Somerset,1906, Rev. Msgr. P L. Damase Robert, P.R., Pastor, Notre Dame, Fall River, 1948 Rev. John McCarthy, C.S.C., Stonehill College, North Easton, 2003
February 2, 2024 †
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On ramps to Eternity: The Importance of Youth Pathways to grow in their Catholic Faith
R
ecent headlines in the south coast have been abuzz with talk and frustrations of commute times, swirling around the unexpected closure of the Washington Bridge. The traffic jams and added times of commute have been a headache scenario for many traveling to and from the area. Entrance ramps have been clogged with commuters looking to make it to their final destination. For many it has been a nightmare, as I look at such a scenario, however, I look at such a scenario from the eyes of a Catholic dreamer. What if the journey to heaven had just as many commuters? What if people knew the surest route to eternity is the Catholic Church? What would our on ramps look like? And wouldn’t we want our on ramps jammed with people wanting to get on the surest route? In a world marked by constant change, confusing shifts in cultural landscapes, and the elimination of moral norms, the Catholic Church recognizes the importance of engaging the youth in activities that not only strengthen their growth in society but also serve as entrance ramps onto the Catholic interstate, which is the most direct path leading to eternity. Saint Pope John Paul II, during
his 1995 World Youth Day visit to the Philippines, invited the Church to become “traveling companions of the young people.” Just as Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, his bride, the Church and its members are to be the driving instructor, the bridge and the interstate. Picture the Catholic Church as a vast and winding interstate, and youth programs are crucial entrance ramps that guide the younger generation onto the road to a deeper Catholic identity and a potential call to vocations. The Secretariat for the New Evangelization and its youth evangelization efforts has seen this year hundreds of youth utilize new and re-envisioned programs such as Catholic Youth Day, CYO Basketball, regional retreats, parish retreats, and regional youth nights, as pathways to a deeper Catholic identity and hopefully igniting holy vocations. In Proverbs 22:6 it says: "Train up a child in the way he should go.” This is the mandate of Sacred Scripture. Early exposure through church activities
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can have a lasting impact on an individual's spiritual journey. I saw a parent one day place a couple droplets of medicine into her child’s apple juice and I commented, “Smart move! Disguise the flavor” She responded, “It not only disguises, but it also helps her absorb what she needs.” The child was low in Iron, and the mother was using Apple juice as the conduit in order for her child to absorb Iron more effectively. Catholic programming for youth can be the conduit in which the faith is absorbed more effectively. According to the Springtide Research Institutes, who provide relevant social–scientific data to those who know and serve youth conducted research on “belonging” and they found that, “young people today are experiencing epidemic levels of loneliness…one of three young people feels completely alone most of the time and nearly 40% have no one to talk to and feel left out.” Youth activities within Catholic programming create a sense of community and fellowship among young individuals. Moreover, youth activities provide a space for mentorship and guidance. Titus 2:7-8 encourages older members of the Church to be examples for the younger generation: "In everything set them an example." The Springtide Research Institute found in its research that: “young people need more trusted adult relationships in their lives. Connecting young people to even just one additional trusted adult can reduce their feelings of loneliness, isolation, and stress.
But the benefits of connecting young people to five or more trusted adults is a game-changing prospect—and ought to be our goal.” As young individuals immerse themselves in Catholic activities, they embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery, unlocking the potential for discerning their vocation. The pathway to deeper connection with the Catholic faith involve youth programs, which become a fertile ground for a vocational call. We are all called to holiness, yet there is a special call to a few enough willing to answer the call to the priesthood and religious life. In this journey, the wisdom of 1 Corinthians 7:7 resonates, highlighting the unique gifts bestowed by God. Through diverse activities, young hearts unravel their talents, propelling them toward the revelation of a specific vocation. Jan 22, 2024 an update from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation addressed the Washington Bridge closure, giving scope of work, a heavy emphasis on strategic construction scenarios. Analogously, the Catholic Church, envisioned as an expansive interstate leading to eternity, underscores the pivotal role of youth activities as vital entrance ramps guiding the younger generation onto this spiritual journey. These activities ensure a vibrant future, paving the way for a profound Catholic identity and potential vocations, steering the youth on a purposeful path toward the horizon of eternity. Anchor columnist Oscar Rivera Jr., is director of Youth Ministry in the diocesan Secretariat for the New Evangelization. orivera@dioc-fr.org.
St. Vincent’s Services helping youth in the community continued from page one
of gifts that they would like from Santa (who delivered them personally). All the items asked for on the list were under the Christmas tree in the Chancery and were delivered to the facility. Annual events to raise funds include a summer gala in June, a bike run (motorcycle) in September and an annual appeal letter sent out to approximately 1,500 households and businesses. Kristen Dutra, CEO of the agency, praised the generosity of donors, but said that support is stretched with so many non-prof-
its looking for assistance. “State funding pays for room and board and staffing, and private insurance pays for a portion of our outpatient services, but not upgrades to the facilities. Resources are hard to come by and we depend on grants and donations,” she said. Saint Vincent’s Services at 2425 Highland Ave., Fall River. For more information, call Katie Dawkins, Director of Donor Relations and Fundraising at 508235-3228.
Generous donations were raised to finance a toddler playground near the cottage for the Young Parent Living Program. Memorial Mass & Tree Lighting by sponsoring a light on the memorial tree for $10.00. All proceeds directly support the continuum of services offered at Saint Vincent’s Services. Following the celebration of the Memorial Mass, the lights from the Memorial Tree glowed. Each light represents a loved one who has passed. In addition to honoring those lost during the Memorial
Mass, their names will be added to a Memorial Book as a living memorial to be remembered during the evening Mass. Another help is the giving tree sponsored by the Diocese of Fall River. Dioceses employees were invited to participate to the 6th Annual Giving Tree Event. A wish list was submitted from the children residing at St. Vincent’s. They asked for a list
Diocese sending delegation to National Eucharistic Congress As part of the National Eucharistic Revival, there will be a National Eucharistic Congress July 17-21, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana; the first congress of its kind in 83 years in our country. The Diocese of Fall River is working to secure discounted group rates for individuals from our diocese to attend, which would include: Congress Registration, which includes full-ac-
cess to all venues and programming; 4-night stay at an Indianapolis hotel, including breakfast; Round-trip flights from Boston; Transportation to and from the airports. Those interested and wanting to receive more information can visit https://bit.ly/ NEC2024 or call the diocesan Secretariat for the New Evangelization at 508-675-1311. February 2, 2024 †
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Please support the TV Mass Donate online at www.GiveCentral. org/FRTVMass Or mail your check payable to: Diocese of Fall River — TV Mass, 450 Highland Ave. Fall River, MA 02720
Founder of My Brother's Keeper, James H. Orcutt, dies at 83
EASTON — James H. Orcutt of Easton, died peacefully at home on January 22, after an extended illness. Jim was a co-founder of the Christian ministry, My Brother’s Keeper, and long-time program director at the Holy Cross Retreat House in Easton. Jim was born in Weymouth in 1940, the youngest of eight children to Mary L. (Friery) and James H. Orcutt, Sr. Times were tough for the Orcutt’s and Jim grew up poor, five to a bed and eating ketchup sandwiches. Jim described this as one of the great blessings of his life. It forged strong family bonds that lasted a lifetime and gave him empathy, the ability to look someone in the eyes and say what he felt are the five most powerful words in the English language: “I know how you feel.” Jim dropped out of Weymouth High School at age 17 and forged his mother’s name on paperwork to join the U.S. Navy. He completed a tour of duty in Japan. After leaving the Navy, Jim worked for The Enterprise, rose through the ranks, and became a 16
representative for the International Newspaper Guild. In 1985, Jim lived a Cursillo Retreat at the Holy Cross Retreat House in Easton. The effect of the program is best described as a “metanoia,” an ancient Greek word meaning “having a change of mind and heart.” In 1988, Jim and his wife Terry founded My Brother's Keeper, a nonprofit that delivers furniture, food, and Christmas gifts free of charge to those in need. They began the work simply and humbly in the basement of their home in Taunton with no financial resources. Today, the charity has distribution facilities in Easton and Dartmouth, 12 delivery vehicles, 20 staff, 5,000 volunteers, and has made more than 225,000 deliveries serving nearly a million people in Christ’s name — truly a miracle! The mission of My Brother’s Keeper, “To bring the love and hope of Jesus Christ to those we serve,” was also Jim’s personal mission. He believed in a God who is an unconditionally loving parent, always ready to help His children without judgment.
† February 2, 2024
Jim’s greatest desire in life was to introduce others to the God he loved so much. Jim believed that the help My Brother’s Keeper provided families came from God, working through My Brother’s Keeper’s volunteers. In recognition of this, the ministry always offers some reminder of Christ as a gift at each delivery. On furniture deliveries, for example, a crucifix is offered with the message, “We’re just the delivery people … this is the man who sent you the furniture.” Jim and Terry would come full circle and for more than 20 years, they were integral parts of a four-person administrative team that ran the Holy Cross Retreat House in Easton. In that time, the Retreat House community hosted hundreds of Cursillo, Matt Talbot, and Pre-Cana retreats. Jim is survived by his wife of 53 years, Terry Orcutt — his rock and greatest blessing — as well as his children and their spouses, Maureen and Kim Staley, Jim and Jane Orcutt, Joe and Mary Orcutt, and his grandchildren, Al, Eben, Nathan, Erin Orcutt,
Nick and Erica Staley, and great grandson Lucas Churchill along with several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his sister Patricia Peters of Abington, and preceded in death by his parents Mary and James Orcutt Sr., and his siblings Frances Orcutt, Grover “Smokey” Orcutt, Elsie Johnson, Maureen McKenna, Clifford Orcutt, and Charlotte Vernaglia. Erich Miller, President of My Brother’s Keeper, said, “Jim Orcutt lived an extraordinary life of purpose. Through his work at My Brother's Keeper, the Holy Cross Retreat House, and others important programs, he positively impacted hundreds of thousands of lives in the greater Brockton area. He was larger than life but one of his greatest gifts was the ability to connect one-on-one with people — making them feel like they were the most important person in the room. He gave everyone he met a sense of value and worth.” Donations in memory of Jim’s life can be made to My Brother’s Keeper, PO Box 338, Easton, Mass., 02356 or www. MyBrothersKeeper.org