Bishop da Cunha’s 2020 Christmas Message
Dear Friends in Christ, hristmas is upon us, although seemingly a bit different this year. Because of the pandemic, many of us will not be celebrating in the ways we typically associate with Christmas — large family gatherings, holiday parties, seasonal concerts, and caroling. owever, I firmly believe that this can be a very special Christmas with less emphasis on many of the external and social dimensions of the season. What we have instead is an opportunity to focus more on the Spiritual aspect — the true meaning of Christmas: the coming of Christ into our lives and into our world. So my prayer and hope for each one of you is that, as you celebrate Christmas this year — as family, as friends, as a community of faith — Jesus will be at the center of all that you do, the purpose for all you do and give meaning to all you do. Let us put Jesus back into Christmas, and as the saying goes, make Jesus truly the “reason for the season.” his year, more than ever before, is a time to remember the blessing of the Octave of Christmas. The Catholic Church does not keep the celebration of Christmas to December 25th only. Christmas is celebrated over eight days, from Christmas Day to January 1st, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. What a marvelous opportunity to embrace the joy of the season, allowing the Light of Christ to dispel the darkness of the past nine months. Just as I did during Advent, I again encourage you as a family to place Christ at the center of your celebrations. o all of us in the Diocese of Fall River, may the coming of Christ, the Prince of Peace, fill us with a new peace, one that only He can give. Let us embrace not only His peace, but the joy of this season. I believe we will get through all the challenges ahead of us with the Lord’s help. In His presence, in His grace, we’ll reach a unique place this year where we can truly say that Christmas is about Christ. ay the peace, hope, and joy of this season be with us now and remain with us far beyond this Christmas. May these gifts, that only God can bestow upon us, reign in our hearts, in our homes, and in our world. May God bless you and your loved ones, and may you enjoy a very happy, joyful, blessed, and Merry Christmas. erry Christmas! Feliz Natal! Feliz Navidad! Joyeux Noël!
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Diocese of Fall River, Mass. † Friday, December 25, 2020
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Sincerely yours in Christ, Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. Bishop of Fall River
Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., welcomed 32 people into the Church at an adult Confirmation ceremony at St. Mary’s Cathedral on December 10. Page two.
In his column for this edition, Father Tad Pacholczyk informs readers about the differences in how COVID-19 vaccines were tested and produced. Page four.
Shea Ryan
Students in diocesan schools were invited to participate in a Christmas card contest. Shea Ryan, whose “Madonna and Child,” appears on the cover, was the winner. Page eight. December 25, 2020 †
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Bishop receives 32 adults into the Church at Confirmation Mass
FALL RIVER — On December 10, 32 adults from 23 parishes in the Fall River Diocese gathered at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption for the conferral of the Sacrament of Confirmation. Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V, received and accepted the candidates expressed desire to complete their initiation in the Catholic Church with reception of the Sacrament.
In his homily, Bishop da Cunha reminded the candidates that they were now affirming the baptismal promises made by their parents and godparents, and urged them to live out these promises by lives of faith, change, and service. The bishop encouraged candidates to see their Confirmation as an opportunity for transformation, both Sacramentally and in the prac-
tice of their lives. Bishop da Cunha asked them to discern with God what in their lives needs to change so that they can live more fully as God’s disciples. Part of this, the bishop noted, was giving themselves in service to others in a lived faith. The Diocesan Office of Faith Formation, which is responsible for the Adult Confirmation program and preparation of many of the
candidates, coordinated with the pastoral staff at the cathedral and the Bishop’s Office to make this important day a reality amidst the ongoing pandemic. Any Catholic who has not been confirmed, or any individual who would like to receive the Sacraments of Baptism or Eucharist, is invited to contact their local parish and inquire about celebrating the Sacraments.
Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., welcomed 32 individuals from 23 parishes across the Diocese of Fall River at a Confirmation ceremony on December 10 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River.
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Statement of the Fall River Diocese on the indictment of Father Mark Hession On Dec. 11, 2020, Father Mark Hession was indicted on several counts related to sexual assault, including sexual assault of a minor. The indictments were issued through the Barnstable County Superior Court. Father Hession is and has been suspended from
active priestly ministry since 2019. A priest on leave is not permitted to exercise public ministry nor present himself as a priest in public settings. Subsequent to his being placed on leave, the Diocese of Fall River learned of the investigation by the Barnstable County Dis-
trict Attorney’s Office. The diocese has been cooperating with this investigation from the outset, and will continue to do so. The Diocese of Fall River is committed to ensuring the safety of all children and adults. The diocese stands firm in its commitment to re-
port abuse to law enforcement and cooperate with investigations. If you have been abused by someone representing the Church (priest, deacon, religious, employee or volunteer), we are sorry. We are here to listen and support you. You can report an incident of abuse by contact-
ing local law enforcement directly and by contacting Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator, Carolyn Shipp at 508-985-6508 (confidential voice mail) or cshipp@dioc-fr.org. =She can assist you in making a report and support you through the process.
WASHINGTON — On December 14, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind., chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Doctrine, and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee
on Pro-Life Activities, issued a statement on the
al concerns raised by the fact that the three vaccines
compromised cell lines. “Receiving one of the
available. “It may turn out, however, that one does not really have a choice of vaccine, at least, not without a lengthy delay in immunization that may have serious consequences for one’s health and the health of others,” the bishop chairmen stated. “In such a case it would be permissible to accept the AstraZeneca vaccine.” At the same time, the bishops also warned that Catholics “must be on guard so that the new COVID-19 vaccines do not desensitize us or weaken our determination to oppose the evil of abortion itself and the subsequent use of fetal cells in research.” The full statement from the bishop chairmen may be found at the USCCB. com website.
U.S. bishop chairmen for Pro-Life and Doctrine address ethical concerns on the new COVID-19 vaccines Father Tad Pacholczyk, in his column on page four, has provided readers with a chart of pharmaceutical companies, their testing procedures, their production procedures, and a rating of their ethical practices regarding the COVID-19 vaccines. new COVID-19 vaccines. In their statement, the bishops address the mor-
Father Maurice J. O’Connor, 92 TAUNTON — On December 15, Father Maurice J. O’Connor, senior priest, age 92, passed away at Marian Manor following a period of failing health. Fathe. O’Connor was born in Dorchester; he was the son of the late Maurice and Mary (Mitchell) O’Connor. He resided in Taunton for the past 17 years. He received his Master’s Degree in Religious Education from Emmanuel College and a Master’s Degree in Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry from Boston College. Father O’Connor received the Sacrament of Holy Orders from Richard Cardinal Cushing on Sept. 30, 1953. He was a teacher in the Master Teacher Program of the Archdiocese of Boston for 13 years. He was an assistant, Episcopal Vicar, and pastor at several churches in the Archdiocese of Boston
for 50 years. Following his retirement from the Archdiocese of Boston, he continued his priestly ministry as a senior priest in Taunton parishes of the Fall River Diocese and St. Mary’s Church in Norton. Father O’Connor was the brother of Mary W. Crowley of Zephyrhills, Fla. and her late husband John and the late Joseph F. O’Connor and his late wife Claire. He is also survived by 10 nieces and nephews and several great-nieces and great-nephews. Father O’Connor’s Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Mary’s Church in Norton on December 22. Interment was at North Cambridge Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to the Archdiocese of Boston, 66 Brooks Drive, Braintree, Mass., 02184.
that appear to be ready for distribution in the United States all have some connection to cell lines that originated with tissue taken from abortions. With regard to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, they concluded: “In view of the gravity of the current pandemic and the lack of availability of alternative vaccines, the reasons to accept the new COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are sufficiently serious to justify their use, despite their remote connection to morally
COVID-19 vaccines ought to be understood as an act of charity toward the other members of our community. In this way, being vaccinated safely against COVID-19 should be considered an act of love of our neighbor and part of our moral responsibility for the common good.” With regard to the AstraZeneca vaccine, the bishops found it to be “more morally compromised” and consequently concluded that this vaccine “should be avoided” if there are alternatives
December 25, 2020 †
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Must Catholics refuse a COVID-19 vaccine made with a cell line from an abortion?
n the wake of announcements from multiple pharmaceutical companies about safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, many are expressing ethical doubts about whether it is OK to take these vaccines. Do Catholics have a moral duty to decline an inoculation if it was unethically produced using a cell line that came from an abortion? The short answer is “no.” This has been discussed and explained in several magisterial Church documents in recent years. In 2008, for example, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith reminded us in the Instruction Dignitas Personae that: “Grave reasons may be morally proportionate to justify the use of such ‘biological material.’ Thus, for example, danger to the health of children could permit parents to use a vaccine which was developed using cell lines of illicit origin, while keeping in mind that everyone has the duty to make known their disagreement and to ask that their healthcare system make other types of vaccines available.” For a serious reason, therefore, Catholics may receive a COVID-19 vaccine having an association with abortion, and a serious reason could include a threat to one’s health and well being. Those who are elderly or who face co-morbidities like diabetes, obesity or other significant health conditions are among the highest risk groups for adverse outcomes from infection, and would clearly have a serious reason. Included at the end of this column is information comparing some of the COVID-19 vaccine candidates that may become available in the U.S. in terms of their association with abortion-derived cell lines, helpfully collated by the Charlotte Lozier Institute and alphabetically arranged: Vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer are likely to be among the first to receive emergency approval in the U.S., and do not rely on cell lines from abortions in the manufacturing process. As such, they appear to be good candidates for 4
Catholics to use. There is a problem that a cell line from a 1972 abortion was used to carry out some ancillary testing of those vaccines, but the fact that zero material derived from any cell line from an abortion is present in these vaccines, that is to say, inside the syringe which actually jabs the patient, is sufficient in the minds of most to assuage any concern over using them, even if problematic laboratory testing may have taken place along the way. If we end up facing a choice among multiple COVID-19 vaccines of similar or equal safety and efficacy, as appears likely, it will clearly be preferable to choose alternatives with a better ethical profile, i.e. those not associated with, or less associated with, material derived from abortions. Suppose, however, that two new vaccines both appeared to be safe during clinical trials. The first vaccine had no association with abortion, but was only 35 percent effective at protecting from COVID-19, while the second was more than 90 percent effective, but was manufactured using a cell line derived from an abortion. In such a case, again, we could choose the significantly more effective version for the serious reason of danger to our health. Relying on cell lines from abortions to manufacture a COVID-19 vaccine provokes strong moral objections and some can and will refuse the vaccines on these grounds. While it is a personal decision of conscience as to whether or not to accept a vaccine, it is important to be clear that the Church, for her part, does not require us to decline it on such grounds in the face of serious reasons, as in the situation of an elderly person or someone with multiple health issues who faces significant risks if they were to contract COVID-19. This fact, of course, in no way absolves or
† December 25, 2020
diminishes the serious wrongdoing of those who used cell lines from abortions to make vaccines in the first place. Any time we decide to receive an unethically produced vaccine, moreover, we should push back. We need to do our part in applying pressure on the manufacturer, perhaps by sending an email indicating our objection to the fact that their vaccine was produced using ethically controversial cell sources, and requesting that they reformulate it using alternative, non-abortion-related cell sources. Alternatively, we might write a letter to the editor of our local paper pointing out the injustice of being morally coerced to rely on these cell sources, or take other steps to educate and inform others. Such efforts help expand public awareness of the problem and
apply real pressure for change. Such efforts can be more effective (and require more authentic determination on our part) than merely “digging in our heels” or “taking a stand” and refusing to get vaccinated, which has the negative effect of subjecting us, and others around us, to heightened risk from various diseases. While it is too early to know which COVID-19 vaccines will end up becoming available in the U.S., the pandemic is certain to elevate the profile of abortion-related ethical concerns among the public to a degree not previously seen, offering a unique opportunity to push for the elimination of these cell lines from future biomedical research and pharmaceutical development projects. 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 the director of Education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www.ncbcenter.org and www.fathertad.com.
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Christmas lessons in the school of St. Joseph
n December 8, to mark the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph’s being declared the patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis decreed a Year of St. Joseph and published a beautiful apostolic letter entitled, Patris Corde, “With the Heart of a Father.” Ecclesiastical holy years are meant to influence everything the Church does. As we’ve seen over the course of the last 20 years — during the Jubilee of Mercy, the Great Jubilee of Redemption, and the Years of the Rosary, the Eucharist, St. Paul, Priests, Faith, and the Consecrated Life — the given theme provides special light to help us integrate and deepen our understanding and living of the faith as we relate each aspect of Catholic life to the theme of the year-long observance. The Year of St. Joseph is meant to have the same type of impact. Hence it’s fitting, as we prepare to celebrate Christmas during this holy year, that we do so by entering “St. Joseph’s School.” There we can learn seven lessons about how he lived the first Christmas that can help us, according to our circumstances, live well this one. The first lesson is about involvement. St. Joseph’s participation was long willed by God, as we see in the genealogies of Jesus in St. Matthew and St. Luke, both of which run through St. Joseph. Just as Mary was part of God’s advent through her Immaculate Conception, a singular grace given in view of her becoming the mother of the Son of God, so was Joseph part of God’s remote preparation, so that Jesus would be a son of David through the law. While Joseph was a natural shoot from Jesse’s tree, we have been “grafted” into that family tree (Rom 11:11-24), and we should be filled with Josephite wonder at how Jesus’ Nativity implicates each one of us. The second lesson is about trusting obedience to God.
After the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, he didn’t hesitate to take Mary his wife into his home. He could have easily, even in a pre-Freudian age, deconstructed the dream according to the standard of his conscious desires and concerns, and continued confused about the genesis of the child Mary had miraculously conceived without male participation. Instead Joseph awoke and did as God, through His angel, commanded. He did the same in response to three other dreams. We might ask: Why didn’t the angel come to Joseph right after the Annunciation to clue him in, or inform him at least the night before Mary’s return from caring for Elizabeth and the newborn John the Baptist, so that he would not have had to endure the bewilderment, doubt, and scandal and would never have considered divorcing Mary? The likely reason is so that we could learn from him. Pope Benedict taught, “Throughout all of history, Joseph is the man who gives God the greatest display of trust, even in the face of such astonishing news.” For that reason, he is justly compared to Abraham. Just as Abraham left his native place, believed in God’s power to give a child against the normal laws of nature, was willing to see the child sacrificed knowing that God could raise him again, and it was all “credited ... to him as righteousness” (Gen 15:6, Rom 4:22) so Joseph, a “righteous man” (Mt 1:19), did the same. He is, like Abraham, a true “father in faith.” If St. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, could say of Mary “Blessed are you who believed that what the Lord had spoken to you would be fulfilled” (Lk 1:45), so we can all give the same praise to Joseph. His example of attentive, obedient faith invites us to trust completely in God and do promptly what He asks.
The third lesson is about prayerful silence in response to the mind-blowing mystery of God-with-us. St. Joseph never says a word in Sacred Scripture, although St. Matthew beautifully implies that he spoke once — and said everything — when he gave the newborn Son of God the Father and of Mary the name “Jesus.” Everything in his life can be summed up by his speaking that one word, “God saves,” for his entire
existence became directed, as a hard-working “doer of the word” (Js 1:22), toward helping Jesus fulfill that saving mission. His silence, however, speaks volumes. It shows that he was steeped in contemplation of the mystery of God, listening to the Word he was raising, adoring Him and God’s will enfleshed in Him. He quietly worshiped Jesus and observed the loving adoration of Mary, the shepherds, wise men, animals and angels. He continued to do so in Nazareth shrouded in the silence of the workshop and the home, as Jesus worked alongside him rebuilding the human race. In 2005, Pope Benedict prayed that in a cacophonous world that discourages recollection and attentive listening to God’s voice, all of us would be “infected” with Joseph’s prayerful silence. The fourth lesson is about protection. Joseph was entrusted by God the Father as the “guardian,” or we could say “body guard,” of the Redeemer. We see the confidence of God the Father in Joseph’s faith-filled capacity to give everything to protect Jesus in the fact that the Angel of God was sent to Joseph in
a dream at the last second, summoning him immediately to arise, take the baby Jesus and Mary, and flee to Egypt, for Herod was seeking to assassinate the child. St. Peter Chrysologos commented that “though all Heaven was alarmed and fear had spread there before it reached earth,” God the Father didn’t give Joseph even a day’s notice about the impending danger. Upon hearing the message in a dream, Joseph didn’t snooze until the morning. He arose, awakened Mary and Jesus, and leaving everything behind, began the trek on foot through the desert. Consequently St. Joseph has been aptly referred to as the “Savior of the Savior.” Blessed Pius IX 150 years ago placed the Church under St. Joseph’s patronage so that he might similarly protect and defend the Holy Family Christ Himself founded. Just as Joseph didn’t disappoint God the Father’s trust, neither will he disappoint the Church’s. And he teaches us all how to guard Jesus and his Mother and all those in their image. The fifth lesson is about providing. Joseph was resourceful enough to find lodging for Mary to give birth. He entrepreneurially found work in Bethlehem, Egypt and in Nazareth to support the Holy Family. St. Paul VI said that he “turned his human vocation to domestic love into a superhuman oblation of self,” living what St. John Paul II called the “epitome of the Gospel of Work” as he provided for Jesus and Mary. For this reason the saints throughout the centuries have compared him to Joseph the Patriarch (Gen 37-50). They share the same name, the same receptivity to God’s Word through dreams, a similar chastity, and the know how to provide for God’s family. Each was a “wise and faithful servant whom the Lord put in
charge of His household (Lk 12:42). Pharoah called Joseph the Patriarch the “Savior of the World” (Gen 41:45) for storing wheat for bread that sustained the world during seven years of famine. Joseph of Nazareth provided for the Living Bread Who would be the world’s true Salvation. With confidence the Christian faithful has therefore never ceased to follow Pharaoh’s advice to “go to Joseph.” The sixth lesson is about chastity. St. Joseph is invoked as Mary’s “most chaste spouse,” someone who reciprocates Mary’s pure, white hot, spousal love and demonstrates, at a time when the sexual revolution has upended the meaning of love, Marriage, sexuality and children, that true human love does not have to be carnally expressed. In Patris Corde, Pope Francis writes that the chastity of St. Joseph is “the summation of an attitude that is the opposite of possessiveness. Chastity is freedom from possessiveness in every sphere of one’s life. Only when love is chaste is it truly love. He never made himself the center of things. He did not think of himself, but focused instead on the lives of Mary and Jesus.” St. Joseph teaches us all how to love with similar unselfishness. The last lesson is about growth. The name “Joseph” means “increase.” His fatherhood was directed totally to helping Jesus grow according to His humanity, and Joseph wants to help Jesus grow in all of us. The sure path to making that happen is through growing in devotion to St. Joseph, since Joseph’s whole life points to Jesus. As we prepare to mark Christmas, we ask St. Joseph’s intercession, to help us act on the angel’s directive to “get up, take the Child and His mother” (Mt 2:13), as faithfully, lovingly and wholeheartedly as he did. Anchor columnist Father Roger Landry can be contacted at fatherlandry@ catholicpreaching.com.
December 25, 2020 †
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Editorial
Year of St. Joseph
As Father Landry notes in his column, the Church began the Year of St. Joseph on December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Since Father Landry discussed how we can meditate (and then imitate) St. Joseph’s role in the mystery of Christmas, we here will look more at St. Joseph in general. Pope Francis entitled the apostolic letter in which he decreed this special year “Patris Corde,” the Latin for the first words of the letter: “WITH A FATHER’S HEART: that is how Joseph loved Jesus, Whom all four Gospels refer to as ‘the Son of Joseph.’” He summarized all of the Biblical incidents related to St. Joseph at the beginning of the letter and then commented, “After Mary, the Mother of God, no saint is mentioned more frequently in the papal magisterium than Joseph, her spouse. Blessed Pius IX declared him ‘Patron of the Catholic Church,’ Venerable Pius XII proposed him as ‘Patron of Workers’ and St. John Paul II as ‘Guardian of the Redeemer.’ St. Joseph is universally invoked as the ‘patron of a happy death’ (‘Catechism of the Catholic Church,’ 1014).” Pope Francis wrote that he wanted to share with everyone his personal reflections about St. Joseph. “My desire to do so increased during these months of pandemic, when we experienced, amid the crisis, how our lives are woven together and sustained by ordinary people, people often overlooked. Doctors, nurses, storekeepers and supermarket workers, cleaning personnel, caregivers, transport workers, men and women working to provide essential services and public safety, volunteers, priests, men and women religious, and so very many others. How many people daily exercise patience and offer hope, taking care to spread not panic, but shared responsibility? How many fathers, mothers, grandparents and teachers are showing our children, in small everyday ways, how to accept and deal with a crisis by adjusting their routines, looking ahead and encouraging the practice of prayer? How many are praying, making sacrifices and interceding for the good of all? Each of us can discover in Joseph — the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence — an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble. St. Joseph reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play an incomparable role in the history of Salvation.” The pope then shared seven descriptions of St. Joseph’s fatherhood: 1. “A beloved father,” in that he is a man of love and has been loved by millions of people. “St. Paul VI pointed out that Joseph … ‘turned his human vocation to domestic love into a superhuman oblation of himself, his heart and all his abilities, a love placed at the service of the Messiah’… Innumerable holy men and women were passionately devoted to him. Among them was Teresa of Avila, who chose him as her advocate and intercessor, had frequent recourse to him and received whatever graces she asked of him. Encouraged by her own experience, Teresa persuaded others to cultivate devotion to Joseph. Special prayers are offered to him each Wednesday and especially during the month of March.” 2. “A tender and loving father,” which Pope Francis used to urge other people, especially fathers, to imitate. “In Joseph, Jesus saw the tender love of God. In the synagogue, during the praying of the Psalms, Joseph would surely have heard again and again that the God of Israel is a God of tender love, Who is good to all, Whose OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 64, No. 25
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‘compassion is over all that he has made’ (Ps 145:9).” The pope then discussed that we are all frail and make mistakes. “Since this is part of the entire economy of Salvation, we must learn to look upon our weaknesses with tender mercy. The evil one makes us see and condemn our frailty, whereas the Spirit brings it to light with tender love. Tenderness is the best way to touch the frailty within us. Only tender love will save us from the snares of the accuser (cf. Rev 12:10). That is why it is so important to encounter God’s mercy, especially in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, where we experience His truth and tenderness. Paradoxically, the evil one can also speak the truth to us, yet he does so only to condemn us. At times, we want to be in complete control, yet God always sees the bigger picture.” 3. “An obedient father,” in that Joseph always strove to do God’s Will. “Obedience made it possible for him to surmount his difficulties and spare Mary.” After discussing his responses to God’s commands via dreams, to the demands of the Roman Empire to register in Bethlehem, and the prescriptions of the Jewish Law, Pope Francis wrote, “In every situation, Joseph declared his own ‘fiat,’ like those of Mary at the Annunciation and Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. In his role as the head of a family, Joseph taught Jesus to be obedient to His parents (cf. Lk 2:51), in accordance with God’s command (cf. Ex 20:12).” 4. “An accepting father,” in regards to how Joseph treated Mary and treats us. “Joseph accepted Mary unconditionally. Today, in our world where psychological, verbal and physical violence towards women is so evident, Joseph appears as the figure of a respectful and sensitive man. Even though he does not understand the bigger picture, he makes a decision to protect Mary’s good name, her dignity and her life. Joseph set aside his own ideas in order to accept the course of events and, mysterious as they seemed, to embrace them, take responsibility for them and make them part of his own history. 5. “A creatively courageous father,” in how Joseph improvised according to the various situations he faced. “As we read the infancy narratives, we may often wonder why God did not act in a more direct and clear way. Yet God acts through events and people. A superficial reading of these stories can often give the impression that the world is at the mercy of the strong and mighty, but, God always finds a way to save us, provided we show the same creative courage as the carpenter of Nazareth, who was able to turn a problem into a possibility by trusting always in Divine Providence.” 6. “A working father,” as the patron saint of workers, given how Joseph worked himself and taught the Son of God how to work. 7. “A father in the shadows.” The pope referred to a “Polish writer Jan Dobraczyński, who, in his book ‘The Shadow of the Father,’ tells the story of St. Joseph’s life in the form of a novel. He uses the evocative image of a shadow to define Joseph. In his relationship to Jesus, Joseph was the earthly shadow of the Heavenly Father: he watched over Him and protected Him, never leaving Him to go His own way.” The pope then urged us to imitate this. “In every exercise of our fatherhood, we should always keep in mind that it has nothing to do with possession, but is rather a ‘sign’ pointing to a greater fatherhood. In a way, we are all like Joseph: a shadow of the Heavenly Father, Who ‘makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust’ (Mt 5:45). And a shadow that follows His Son.”
Daily Readings † January 2 - January 15
Sat. Jan. 2, 1 Jn 2:22-28; Ps 98:1-4; Jn 1:19-28. Sun. Jan. 3, The Epiphany of the Lord, Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-,7-8,10-13; Eph 3:2-3a,5-6; Mt 2:1-12. Mon. Jan. 4, 1 Jn 3:22—4:6; Ps 2:7bc-8,10-12a; Mt 4:12-17. Tue. Jan. 5, 1 Jn 4:7-10; Ps 721-4,7-8; Mk 6:34-44. Wed. Jan. 6, 1 Jn 4:11-18; Ps 72:1-2,10,12-13. Thu. Jan. 7, 1 Jn 4:19—5:4; Ps 72:1-2,14,15bc,17; Lk 4:14-22a. Fri. Jan. 8, 1 Jn 5:513; Ps 147:12-15,19-20; Lk 5:12-16. Sat. Jan. 9 1 Jn 4:114-21; Ps 149:1-6a,9b; Jn 3:22-30. Sun. Jan. 10, The Baptism of the Lord, Is 42:1-4,6-7; Ps 29:1-2,3-4,9-10; Acts 10:34-38; Mk1:7-11. Mon. Jan. 11, Heb 1:1-6; Ps 97:1,2b,6,7c,9; Mk 1:14-20. Tue. Jan. 12, Heb 2:5-12; Ps 8:2ab,5-9; Mk 1:21-28. Wed. Jan. 13, Heb 2:14-18; Ps 105:1-4,6-9; Mk 1:29-39. Thu. Jan. 14, Heb 3:7-14; Ps 95:6-7c,8-11; Mk 1:40-45. Fri. Jan. 15, Heb 4:1-5,11; Ps 78:34bc,6c-8; Mk 2:1-12.
Stonehill College appoints Dr. DeBrenna LaFa Agbényiga as its third provost Dr. Agbényiga is known for her innovative, student-centered, and inclusive leadership style. I look forward to working closely with her to achieve our institutional goals, while ensuring our students flourish academically,” said Stonehill president Father John EASTON — Stonehill College Denning, has announced the appointment of C.S.C. DeBrenna LaFa Agbényiga, Ph.D., “I was MBA, MSW, as its new provost drawn to and vice president for Academic Stonehill’s Affairs effective December 1, 2020. liberal arts In this position, she will oversee all academcollege operations directly peric envitaining to academic programming, ronment faculty, and academic administraand its focus on developing free tion. A scholar in the fields of social thinking, open communication, and collaboration across diverse science and business administracommunities, disciplines, and tion, she has an extensive record organizational structures. There is of leadership, achievement, and a strong foundation at the college, service as a professor and administrator. Most recently, she worked and I look forward to building as a higher education consultant at on the energy, commitment, and Agbényiga Global Education. Prior enriching discourse that so sucto her consulting engagement, she cessfully develops our students into graduates with strong minds served as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Bowie and even stronger hearts,” said Dr. Agbényiga. State University in Maryland, Dr. Agbényiga also served where she was also a full professor in the department of Social Work. as vice provost and dean of The Graduate School at the University “Bringing a wealth of adminof Texas at San Antonio, an emergistrative and teaching experience, “Stonehill has an energy and commitment to enriching discourse that builds exceptional minds fortified by strong character. It’s what drew me to the college.” — DeBrenna LaFa Agbényiga, Ph.D., MBA, MSW
ing Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), while maintaining tenure as a full professor in their department of Social Work. At Michigan State University, Dr. Agbényiga held the role of associate dean for Graduate Studies and Inclusion in the College of Social Science, as well as associate professor with tenure in the School of Social Work. Dr. Agbényiga holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Social Work, as well as a master’s degree in Business Administration from Michigan State University. She also holds a bachelor of science in Criminal Justice from the Univer-
sity of South Carolina at Columbia. Stonehill is a selective Catholic college located near Boston on a beautiful 384-acre campus in Easton. With a student-faculty ratio of 12:1, the college engages more than 2,500 students in 80plus rigorous academic programs in the liberal arts, sciences, and pre-professional fields. The Stonehill community helps students to develop the knowledge, skills, and character to meet their professional goals and to live lives of purpose and integrity. For more information, visit stonehill.edu.
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 December 25, 2020 †
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Diocesan schools announces Christmas card winners
FALL RIVER — The COVID-19 pandemic has affected almost every aspect of our lives. However, one area that has not changed is the ability for children to use their drawing skills to express their imaginations on paper. In today’s world of too much screen time, families often are looking for ways to engage their children in activities that are educational and offline. The Catholic Schools Office wanted to leverage the talent within the Catholic school student population for this very reason. In early November, a drawing contest for the cover of the CSO Christmas card was announced for any Catholic school student. The only
rule was that the picture had to depict a Christmas theme. Almost 100 students from kindergarten to high school across the diocese submitted their drawings of what Christmas means to them. The Catholic Schools Office staff thoroughly enjoyed going through all of the submissions and sorting through their favorites. However, because there were so many beautiful drawings, it was decided that there could be two winners — one for the cover of the card and the second for the inside of the card. The two winners quickly became apparent. Shea Ryan, an
eighth-grader at St. Francis Xavier Prep in Hyannis, was announced as the winner of the contest. Her exquisite drawing of a Madonna and Child was selected as the cover for the 2020 Catholic Schools Office Christmas card. Fifth-grader Caroline Hannigan, from St. Francis Xavier School in
Acushnet, was chosen as the runner up. Caroline’s Christmas scene indicating “Out of all the presents, Our Lord is the best of them all,” communicates the true meaning of Christmas. Both students received customized note cards with their drawings on the cover as a prize
for their submissions. The Catholic Schools Office thanks all students for taking the time to draw and send in so many wonderful Christmas themes. Shea Ryan’s “Madonna and Child” is the cover artwork for this edition of the Anchor, on page one.
Caroline Hannigan, a fifth-grader at St. Francis Xavier School in Acushnet, was the runner-up in the recent Christmas card drawing contest sponsored by the diocesan Catholic Schools Office.
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ust a few minutes ago I walked across the street to check my mail box, just in case I had received a million dollars to benefit St. Francis Church. The sign on the window as well as on the door read, “Closed 12/7; Open 12/8”. Today is 12/8 and this was my third trip today to the U.S.P.S. of Kalaupapa. I will probably stop there again later. After all, this is Kalaupapa and it’s never too late here. It has been three weeks-plus since I last used our landline to make a call. I know that because my calendar tells me that on November 15, I called both my sister and brother in the west of Ireland. One would think that, since we can send astronauts to the moon, we should be able to easily fix a simple landline problem. I do give credit to Hawaiian Telcom because, after several failed attempts, a repair person today solved the problem and our landline is operative again — at least for now. Of course, this is Kalaupapa and here it’s never too late. Several weeks ago, I put in a request for the plumber to come and fix or replace the valve in my toilet tank before it burst in the middle of the night and flooded the house. I could call my brother, Johnny, a retired plumber-fitter, but he lives thousands of miles away in County Galway and he does not have a private jet. Also, he cannot beam here yet. So I wait in hope. Well, as the sock said, “I’ll be darned,” Joe the plumber just showed up and is replacing the valve. God be praised. It’s never too late
It’s never too late
in Kalaupapa. Now it may seem to you that this script is about a bunch of complaints but it is rather about everyday life in Kalaupapa in 2020.
settlement for the greater part of their lives. They have had to learn to be patient because this is Kalaupapa and so for them it’s never too late. How different it was in the days of Saints Damien and Marianne. They had to be plumber, carpenter, seamstress, teacher, doctor and nurse. They had to bring water to the settlement from a nearby valley. Their communication with the outside world was by written letter which was ferried by the boat that crossed the Ka’iwi Channel (Molokai Channel). In their faith they knew it was Truly those of us who have come here from never too late. How blest we are to walk in the outside world to work or to minister have their footsteps. Aloha. been spoiled by the amenities of the outside Anchor columnist Father Killilea is world. It is different for the Hansen’s Dispastor of St. Francis Church in Kalaupapa, ease patients who have been residents in this Hawaii.
A subscription to the would make a wonderful gift for a loved one, a friend, or yourself. It’s a publication that provides a Spiritual uplift and keeps Catholics connected to our Church — locally and beyond. If you are not a subscriber or are interested in giving an Anchor subscription as a gift, please consider subscribing for $29/year at www. fallriverdiocese.org/ subscribe or mail a check to: Anchor Press, P.O. Box 318, Congers, N.Y., 10920. December 25, 2020 †
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Family matters
erry Christmas! As we begin to celebrate Christmas this year, I’m reminded of the famous lines from Dr. Seuss’ original “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”: “And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ‘till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” Regardless of everything that has happened this year, Christ comes just the same into our messy world to shine light in the darkness. That is something always worth celebrating! But as much as I love Christmas, there is another day I would like to highlight. The celebration of Christmas simply begins on December 25. A few days later, on the first Sunday after Christmas, is the Feast of the Holy Family (this year celebrated on December 27). This day can go unnoticed amidst the time between Christmas and New Year’s. Yet, it is a powerful and wonderful gift in the Liturgical year to celebrate something we perhaps have gained a better appreciation for during this year: family. This is the beauty of the Holy Family: that 10
God became Incarnate in the womb of an unknown virgin, betrothed to a common laborer, in a seemingly forgotten town of Nazareth. John’s Gospel points to this reality; when Philip tells Nathanael that they have found the Lord, and shares that Jesus is from Nazareth, he scoffs saying, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (Jn 1:46). Sometimes, especially around holidays, we can be reminded of how messy family can be. At times, we can be tempted to repeat Nathanael’s line and simply replace “Nazareth” with another place, or even person, of our choosing. But the feast of the Holy Family reminds us that regardless of the contours, joys, or (passive-aggressive) struggles our families face, it is in part through the family that the Lord comes and makes us holy. After all, that God chose to become Incarnate and grow as part of a family reveals both the Sanctification of family life and the importance it holds in having a lived faith. Recently, the National Review posted an article entitled, “Why American Children Stopped Believing in God” (2020). In it, author Cameron Hilditch points to the work of Lyman Stone, who “tracked the history of religious belief, behavior, and association in the United States since the founding.” Stone finds that religiosity is
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“usually determined very early in life.” “All the data suggests,” Hilditch writes, “that, by and large, kids brought up in religious households stay religious and kids who aren’t, don’t. Consequently, childhood religiosity has been, and remains, the most important indicator of America’s religious trajectory.” This part of his find-
ings, at least, correlate with similar findings from the Barna study summarized in “Households of Faith” (2019), and even to those of St. Mary’s Press and CARA in “Going, Going, Gone” (2018). In short, the family has, and always will always play an essential role in the formation of people and, by extension, society. As St. John Paul II famously shared: “As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live” (Homily in Perth, Australia, 1986). As we continue to navigate our current dayto-day lives, I invite you to simply try each day to do what the Holy Family models for us. Help each other — your children, your grandchildren, or even just your friends — come to know Jesus the Christ. Don’t underestimate the power of witness; of
sharing your experience of God, Church and the faith. Even if you don’t feel like you have it all together yourself, share what you do have. God uses all of it for His glory: your family’s play time, chores, meals, disagreements, laughter, prayers and tears. I try (emphasis on try) to remind myself of this whenever I get frustrated with my son, or feel too tired or distracted to pray with him. How would the Holy Family handle this? How can I share the faith in this moment, regardless of how mundane it is? Don’t be afraid to be real, like the poor family from Nazareth, discounted for who they were and where they were from. Regardless of what they did, or did not have, they were not afraid to be the home where God and humanity met, and Jesus grew in silent splendor. I wonder how many times Joseph and Mary watched Jesus, when He played or slept or ate, and thought of who He would become or if they were doing a good job as parents. I’d like to think they asked questions that are not too dissimilar than ones we ask as parents today. But what made all the difference for them was that they trusted in and surrendered their lives to God. They made their home a welcomed dwelling for the Holy Spirit. Yes, they had God Incarnate in
their midst. But we also receive Christ in a very real way at every Mass and encounter Him in every Sacrament. We, too, can make our homes and families a welcome dwelling for the Holy Spirit. And, especially during this recently announced Year of St. Joseph, let us pray through the intercession of St. Joseph that we be given the same silent courage he had to lead our families closer to holiness. Take a moment, right now, gather whoever in your family is near you as you read this, and let’s pray for our families with the prayer Pope Francis has given us for this year: Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted His only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man. Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen. May the Lord bless you and your family this Christmas season and as we begin a New Year! Anchor columnist David Carvalho is the senior director for Faith Formation, Youth, Young Adult and Family Life Ministries for the Diocese of Fall River. Contact: dcarvalho@ dioc-fr.org.
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Words to clear — Words to cloud — Part II
art One of these remarks ended with an example of a didactic use of double entendre. Part One began with a caution about using big or unusual words, so I have to rephrase my first sentence here: “Part One of these remarks ended with an example of a word with two distinct meanings being used as a teaching tool.” Having thus followed my own advice, I now move on to an important case in which some Greek words in the Old Testament and in the New Testament have multiple legitimate translations which lead to a variety of quite different understandings of events. I shall be referencing the following passages: in the Old Testament: the story of God appearing to Elijah (1 Kgs 19:9-13); and in the New Testament: walking on water (Mt 14:22-23, Mk 6:45-52, Jn 6:16-21), and the calming of the sea (Mt 8:23-27, Mk 4:35-40, Lk 8:22-25). Various translations say that Jesus wanted to “pass them by,” or “bypass them,” or “pass by them.” All of the contexts of these various translations carry the idea of avoidance. However, the verb in 1 Kings, which has the same Greek root, does not mean avoidance at all. If Jesus had wanted to avoid the boat, walking just a few feet to the left or right would have put Him out of sight of everyone on the boat. Rather, He wanted to be seen as He walked in review before His disciples (passed by them), just as the Lord passed by Elijah to be seen in the Old Testament.
The response of Jesus the winds and sea obey?” to their fright is translated (New American Bible, Mt as, “It is Myself. Do not be 8:27). I reply, “This is the afraid.” (New American One Lord and God, supeBible. Other equally banal rior to all fictitious gods translations are offered by and all the pretentions of other versions.) I offer a human hubris.” translation that fits the exThe expression “to traordinary circumstances break bread,” which we more perfectly and fits the have all heard and used, Greek words more exactly: has become a common “Fear not. I AM.” English idiom meaning, Great scholars in “to have a meal.” However, Islam, Judaism and Chris- from early Christian times tianity point out that the essence of God is to exist. We have in this scene of walking upon the sea a Father Martin manifestation of the great God of Buote Creation, Redemption and Salvation. We have, in up to the present there is a fact, a repetition of what much greater religious sigGod spoke to Moses in the nificance to these words. event of the burning bush At the final meal Jesus had described in Exodus 3:13- with His disciples, a meal 15: “God answered, ‘I AM with a Passover context, that AM. Tell them that I He broke bread and gave AM has sent you to them.’ them an imperative, “Do He continued, ‘You are this in memory of Me.” If to tell the Israelites that Jesus had been speaking it is the Lord, the God of according to the modern their forefathers, the God idiom, this would have of Abraham, Isaac, and been a rather empty comJacob, Who has sent you mand to eat meals. If He to them. This is My name had been referring to the forever; this is My title in Passover meal, the Seder, every generation.’” that was already being eatI’ll expand on these en in memory of the savideas a little bit with the ior from Egyptian slavery, story of the calming of the Moses of Exodus. To make sea. The prime goddess in sense, this command, creation according to the “Do this ...” must refer to Enuma Elish of Mesopota- the actions of Jesus Who mian culture was the god- broke bread and shared dess of the sea, Tiamat. wine, having pronounced The Bible de-throned her them to be His Body and by saying that God made Blood. He did not explain the sea. Jesus affirms He is how this was possible, He God by trampling on the simply said, “This is My sea (goddess Tiamat) and Body ... My Blood.” We calming the storm (god are also told in the Fourth Baa). In response, His dis- Gospel that some of His ciples ask, “What sort of followers believed Him Man is this, Whom even and some did not. (It is
Guest Columnist
the same today.) From the group that did believe, the Christian religion was born. Some of you perhaps have had some difficulties as I have led you through an examination of some words and ideas in several ancient languages, but you managed to soldier on. Please continue for we only have one more examination to consider, but it is of great importance. At the Last Supper, Jesus took bread and wine and said, “This is My Body, this is My Blood.” Some people take those words to be simple declarative statements, while others point out that they were spoken in Aramaic which also allows a metaphoric meaning. Since we have seen so much double entendre thus far, this possibility must be explored. I say immediately that the metaphor is possible if the Greek of the New Testament is translated back into Aramaic. I will give only one example of that approach. William Barclay, a Protestant scholar and author, wrote, “To eat Christ’s Body is to feed on the thought of His manhood until our own manhood is strengthened and cleansed and irradiated by His. When Jesus said we must drink His Blood He meant that we must take His life into the very core of our hearts,” (William Barclay, “The Gospel of John, Vol. 1”). However, the question is not, “What does the Aramaic allow?” The question is rather, “What did the disciples, the
New Testament writers, and the early Church understand by these words?” 1. Paul, who certainly knew Aramaic, in writing to the Corinthians in Greek spoke of the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, “This is My Body .... This cup is the New Covenant in My Blood.” The Greek grammar of Paul does not allow for metaphor as the Aramaic does. He further went on to say, “Whoever eats this bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the Body and Blood of the Lord,” (The New International Version, 1 Cor 11:23-24,27). 2. The sixth chapter of the Fourth Gospel records that when Jesus spoke of the necessity of consuming His Body and Blood, some of the Jews asked, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” (Jn 6:52). Note that Jesus was undoubtedly speaking in Aramaic, and the Jews took Him to mean the simple declarative statement, not a metaphor. Some left then and there, but He did not go after them to say that they had misunderstood Him because He had used words of double entendre. In fact He than asked the Apostles if they, too, wanted to go away. Peter answered for the Twelve, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Words to clear — words to cloud. Father Buote is a retired priest of the Diocese of Fall River and a frequent contributor to The Anchor.
December 25, 2020 †
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F ocus
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C hurch Y outh
Living without fear
wo great figures of our tradition stand out as we prepare during Advent for the birth of our Lord: the prophet Isaiah and St. John the Baptist. Both men were fearless and displayed an abandonment to God’s Providence, tremendous courage to speak the truth to power, had a passionate commitment to justice and a selflessness that reflects the One Who is to come. Both men in word
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and deed fiercely proclaimed a conviction that the hope that drives out fear is not rooted in the things of this world, but only in the Savior. “Fear not, I will help you” (Is 41:13). These comforting words from Isaiah, written during Israel’s Babylonian Exile, may have seemed foolish to his contempo-
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raries. However, Isaiah teaches that we are called to trust in the God Who “turns the dry ground
“among those born of women, there has been none greater” (Mt 11:11). If Jesus said that, we should most certainly focus on the man’s life as much as possible. John the Baptist’s life was one of abandonment and surrender to trust in a merciful and gracious God. John lived into springs of water” a life of fearless witness (Is 41:18). Even in the to a trusting relationship midst of an exile, the with the God Who saves chosen ones of God were us. His fierce courage called to trust. Even in and unrelenting conthe midst of this panviction cost him his demic, we Christians are head, but his martyrdom called to be witnesses to echoes through history hope. Even with all the as an act of love for the evil in the world, we are One Whose way he precalled to believe more pared. deeply and love more On a very human selflessly. By doing so, we level, there is certainly can perhaps envision a much that could cause us new world of justice and fear in our world topeace as Isaiah did: “But day. There is much that He shall judge the poor could darken our vision. with justice, and decide As this pandemic rages aright for the land’s afon, I fear for my mothflicted — the calf and the er, mother-in-law and young lion shall browse father-in-law and all our together, with a little elders especially at risk. Child to guide them” (Is I fear that young people 2-3). will be gripped by anxiLiving without fear is ety and fatigue. I fear for more than just an idea; it the state of our divided is personified in St. John nation and the unravelthe Baptist, about whom ing of our moral fiber. I Jesus says in the Gospel, fear for the future of our Church, torn by scandal and apathy. And yet, we are reminded during Advent that we only need to trust in the God Who desires to heal and save us: “The afflicted and the needy seek water in vain, their tongues are parched
with thirst. I, the Lord, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them” (Is 41:17). The seasons of Advent and Christmas offer a wonderful time to reset our Spiritual lives. No matter how we have strayed, become lazy or lapsed, God is always ready to welcome us back and to renew us in His grace. Will this be our choice, or will we prefer to cling to our fears? Will we prefer to trust in the false idols of money, power, ideology, pleasure or popularity that we choose to worship? Or do we have the type of courage, so powerfully exemplified by Isaiah and John the Baptist, to abandon ourselves to the Providential care of our Father in Heaven? While we may not end up in the desert living like John did, if we truly trust without fear, we will experience a change in our lives that will ultimately bring more joy and happiness than we can currently imagine. Anchor columnist Peter Shaughnessy is president/principal of Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth. He resides in Fairhaven with his wife, Anabela Vasconcelos Shaughnessy (Class of ’94), and their four children: Luke (Class of ’24), Emilia (Class of ’25), Dominic (Class of ’27) and Clare (Class of ’30).
Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Christmas Day at noon to 1 p.m. Celebrant is Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., Bishop of the Diocese of Fall River
Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on the Portuguese Channel Christmas Mass at 7 p.m.
Father Daniel O. Reis, pastor of Our Lady of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Parish in New Bedford, will be celebrant and homilist for the Mass. The Portuguese Channel is carried by most cable systems in the Fall River Diocese.
In Your Prayers
Diocese of Fall River TV Mass
on the Portuguese Channel Sunday, December 27 at 7 p.m. Broadcast from Santo Christo Church in Fall River
Diocese of Fall River TV Mass
on the Portuguese Channel Sunday, January 3 at 7 p.m. Broadcast from Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church in Providence
Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, December 27 at 11:00 a.m. Celebrant is Father Richard D. Wilson, Vicar General, Pastor of Holy Family Parish in East Taunton, and Executive Editor of The Anchor
Sunday, January 3 at 11:00 a.m. Celebrant is Father Thomas Washburn, Pastor of the Catholic Community of Central Fall River
Please pray for these priests and deacons during the coming weeks: Jan. 4 Rev. Eugene L. Dion, Pastor, Blessed Sacrament, Fall River, 1961 Rev. Joseph L. Powers, Founder, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, No. Falmouth, 1999 Rev. Francis B. Connors, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Victory, Centerville, 2003 Jan. 5 Rev. William McClenahan, SS.CC. Former Pastor, Holy Redeemer, Chatham, 1994 Jan. 6 Rev. James F. Roach, Founder, Immaculate Conception, Taunton, 1906, Rev. Rene G. Gauthier, Pastor, St. Jean Baptiste, Fall River, 1997 Permanent Deacon Antonio DaCruz, Our Lady of the Assumption, New Bedford, 2009 Jan. 7 Rev. Alfred R. Forni, Pastor, St. Francis of Assisi, New Bedford, 1970 Rev. Gustave Gosselin, M.S., La Salette Shrine, Attleboro, 1989 Rev. Jude Morgan, SS.CC., Former Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes, Wellfleet, 2003 Rev. Raymond A. Robida, 2003 Jan. 8 Rev. John Kelly, Founder, St. Patrick, Fall River, 1885 Rev. Alfred J. Carrier, Founder, St. Jacques, Taunton, 1940 Rev. Arthur C. Lenaghan, USA Chaplain, Killed in Action, 1944 Rev. Evaristo Tavares, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of the Angels, Fall River, 2000 Rev. Louis Joseph, 2000 Jan. 9 Rev. William F. Morris, Pastor, Corpus Christi, Sandwich, 1982 Jan. 10 Rev. Jourdain Charron, O.P., Dominican Priory, Fall River, 1919 Rev. George H. Flanagan, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Fall River, 1938 Rev. Msgr. Emmanuel Sousa de Mello, Retired Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes, Taunton, 1977 Jan. 12 Rev. Thomas P. Grace , Pastor, St Patrick, Fall River, 1918 Rev. Manuel C. Terra, Retired Pastor, St. Peter, Provincetown, 1930 Jan. 13 Rev. Emile Plante, M.S., La Salette Seminary, Attleboro, 1954 Rev. Ralph D. Tetrault, Retired, Former Pastor, St. Patrick, Wareham, 2007 Jan. 14 Rev. John J. Lawler, M.M., Maryknoll Missioner, 1977 Jan. 15 Rev. Thomas F. Kennedy, Retired Pastor, St. Joseph, Woods Hole, 1948 Rev. Vincent Marchildon, O.P., Director, St. Anne Shrine, Fall River, 1972 Rev. Msgr. John E. Boyd, Retired Pastor, St. Patrick, Wareham, 1977 Rev. Harold A. Whelan, Jr., SS.CC., Ph. D., 1997
Our readers respond Jesus is the Reason for the Season We have oft heard that phrase, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season.” I write this during Advent. Jesus is the reason for this season. This season involves Mary, as His Mother. We may have many “did” questions, such as: did Mary play a big part in the Christmas story? The answer is yes, then and since then, especially now. Numerous apparitions of Mary have occurred over time, and in all apparitions she points to Jesus, repeatedly asking us to pray. Prayer is communicating with God, which includes the most important element of listening to Him. Can you imagine getting to Heaven and Jesus saying, ”I had such great plans for you, but you never gave me a chance to tell you what the plan was. You always did all the talking, but not listening.” Mary’s last recorded words in the Bible are, “Do as He tells you.” Obviously we need to hear what we are asked to do by Him, and that is Mary’s message from that time to this: listen to Him, and act on what we hear. Mary could have no greater part to play than this. In fact, her message at Guadalupe as depicted this past week on Catholic TV, a December message for the season, includes these words to Juan Diego: “Go and do your part.” He did, for the remainder of his life. Peace. Daryl Gonyon Capt., USAF, Ret. Fall River
December 25, 2020 †
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erry Christmas! 2020 has been a very interesting, frightening, and otherwise confusing year. We have learned to adapt to a new way of life, to look for other ways to stay connected, and truly appreciate those things we may have taken for granted. For myself, I have learned to value and cherish the special people in my life, to appreciate the often nonchalant expression of “one’s health is the key to one’s happiness,” and the importance of caring for oneself and those we love. This holiday season is definitely like no other we may have experienced before. Many of us may find ourselves alone rather than surrounded by family and friends. There will be no Christmas parties and celebrations will be small or non-existent. For many parishes, Christmas Mass required a reservation and limited the number of parishioners who could attend the special celebration of the birth of Christ. Nothing is as it should be; yet, we have one important element we seem to have forgot-
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ten in the midst of all this disappointment and confusion — the true meaning of Christmas. Rather than stress about what cannot happen, the lack of get-togethers, or our inability to do things as we have always done them, let us focus on why we celebrate in the first place. So many years ago in a lonely manager a Child was born. There were no frills, His mother was not showered with gifts, there was no one other than Joseph to assist with the birth, and it was a cold and bitter night. The only warmth came from the animals that shared the space with this soon to be family of three. A stable would serve as the nursery for the Baby Jesus, not ideal conditions for a newborn. However, it is often in the most unlikely places where we find that which we are seeking, and what truly matters. Like the shepherds on that fateful night, we too, can find Christ in the midst of all our uncer-
† December 25, 2020
Put on love! tainties and confusion. Yes, our lives are crazy, nothing seems to make sense, and the light at the end of the tunnel literally seems “light years away.” However, Jesus is at the heart of everything we celebrate. Over the years, this truth has been overshadowed and dimmed by the material aspects of Christmas, but this year
gives us a chance to change all that. First, let us remember that this special time of the year had very humble beginnings. There were no decorations to hang on a Christmas tree or wrapped gifts waiting to be opened in the morning. No feast awaited Mary and Joseph to celebrate the birth of their Son, Jesus. Yet, there was so much joy, happiness, and hope wrapped up in a swaddling blanket, laying in a manager, waiting for us to open our hearts to His love, forgiveness, and compassion. In that simple manager, lay the greatest gift of all. A gift that lead kings on a long journey, leaving the comfort of their homes, in search of this precious Babe.
Like those shepherds and wise men, we too, are searching, especially in the midst of this pandemic. We want answers, guarantees, and to be reassured that all will be “normal” again — or at least, some semblance of normalcy. Yet, if we listen to the readings this weekend, they speak of waiting, of preparing ourselves to receive God into our lives. While we wait, we are reminded to, “Put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another” (Col 3:12-13a). We are asked that above all these to, “put on love” (Col 3:14a). We need to quiet ourselves, to listen with our hearts, and to remember that in time we will be able to celebrate again. We will return to those things we value and to the people we cherish. We will regain a sense of community — within our families and parishes. Hopefully we will do all this with a renewed sense of gratitude and an awareness of what is truly important in our lives. While we wait, we need to “let the peace of Christ control our hearts, and be thankful” (Col 3:15). We need to focus on what we are grateful for, what precious gifts are in our lives,
and why Christmas fills us with wonder and awe. The Gospel reminds us that patience and perseverance pays off. We meet Simeon and Anna who waited in hope for the coming of the Messiah. This waiting was more than likely not easy for either of them. I am sure they faced their share of tribulations, probably even ridiculed for their belief and trust that God would fulfill their prayers. They perhaps even faced their own fears and doubts as days, turned into weeks, then months, and then years. Many of us would have given up, yet they both humbly waited. Finally, on that fateful day, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to be presented at the temple to fulfill the law, and both Simeon’s and Anna’s prayers were answered. As we celebrate the Holy Family this weekend, let us celebrate all we have, the gifts in our lives — our families and our health, and most importantly, Jesus. In the words of one of my favorite Christmas carols, “Silent Night,” “Christ the Savior is born!” Jesus is the “Son of God, love’s pure light” and “the dawn of redeeming grace.” And most importantly that “Jesus, Lord at Thy birth,” the entire world was transformed and You became the gift of our Salvation. Wishing you all a very healthy and happy New Year. May your hearts be filled with hope and love, and may the guiding light of Christ shine brightly in your lives today, tomorrow and always. Anchor columnist Rose Mary Saraiva belongs to Holy Trinity Parish, Fall River and works for the diocesan Office of Faith Formation.
I
had a few moments to my self this week and I went into my room, picked up my old six-string acoustic and gently picked out ”Silent Night.” This song is my favorite of the Christmas season, and one of my all-time favorite songs, period. The chords are basic and simple, yet the lyrics are as powerful as they are comforting. I played it for myself, because I needed it. I needed it to buffer all the bad news I hear about people close to me and people all over the world. Tragic things happen every day of every year, and it seems that these dire occurrences are magnified around Christmas time. And I think you can double that magnification in 2020. Playing the song warmed my heart, even as a steady, wind-driven snow was creating its own icy symphony outside. It also brought me back to last year, the last time I played the song on my guitar. It was shortly after Christmas, and I had offered to play at a Mass Father Rich Wilson was celebrating at an area nursing home. I had assisted Father Rich there for other Masses, but not musically. While visiting there, I grew attached to the residents. Some were in truly sorry states of health; some mentally, some physically, some both. Seeing and interacting with these people (prior to COVID) reminded me of being with my dad during his years at Catholic Memorial Home. Larry had dementia for years that
Heart vs. heart worsened as time passed. It broke my heart to see him becoming less and less the man I so admired and loved growing up. But the love and admiration probably increased as
Larry battled a foe he didn’t know, understand, or perhaps wasn’t even aware was overtaking him. He passed peacefully there in October of 2017. And last year my mom breathed her last at CMH as well. Millie, too, passed peacefully. I wanted to provide music at last year’s Christmas Mass in honor of them and the many resident friends I made in the Alzheimer’s/dementia ward at CMH. And even better was the fact one of my best friends and her husband wanted to sing with me at the Mass. My hope was to bring a pleasant flicker of the past to the residents who attended. I don’t know for sure if that happened, but I let myself think that it did for a few anyway.
I played ”Silent Night,” for a Communion meditation song, and thank goodness I had help because I have trouble singing it without choking up. That day is a beautiful memory, but also bittersweet because some of those people attending that Mass are no longer with us; because of COVID or other issues. And it’s bitter because I can’t do it again this year for obvious reasons. It’s also bitter because I cannot get together with friends this Christmas for the same reasons. My children have all contacted Denise and me to let us know that we will not see them this Christmas, as we have for every Christmas of their lives. They are doing it for Denise and me — so that we can get together when things return to some likeness of normalcy. I know that it pains them to do this. I know because they have told me as much. Usually the heart battles the mind when it comes to making decisions. But this choice was the even more difficult heart vs. heart. What a wonderful gift for them to do that.
My wish for them is for each to have a beautiful silent night on Christmas Eve and night — just being with and loving their partners. And then for them to
sleep in Heavenly peace. And I wish the same for all of you. No matter what, Christ the Savior is born. davejolivet@anchornews. org.
I extend heartfelt sympathies to our longtime friends at TCI printing for the loss of your colleague.
December 25, 2020 †
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† December 25, 2020