Diocese of Fall River, Mass. † Friday, December 24, 2021
Bishop da Cunha’s 2021 Christmas Message A Season of Opportunity
Dear Friends in Christ,
This display is called a Altarinho (altar)in the Azores (in Madeira island they call it Lapinha). Faithful would remove the draws from a chest draw in the home mainly in a prominent room where everyone could see. They would build the altar with the draws to represent the altars in the churches, cover it with their fine linen and doilies, and decorate with seasonal fruits(oranges, tangerines pomegranate, nuts), flowers and dishes with wheat and a type of sweet pea seeds. The Christ Child would be placed at the top to represent His importance as He is the reason we celebrate Christmas. Statues of the Christ child would be dressed in a simple ribbon or more elaborate dressings usually made by nuns. (From Frank Camara’s collection)
Opportunity is defined as a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something. The last two years have presented us with various circumstances, some extremely difficult, with which we can do something beautiful. We can come together and use these moments to breathe fresh hope into our homes, parishes, and world. While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to concern us, and require our caution, I look toward the celebration of Christmas and the New Year that is nearly upon us with expectant hope and faith. This year, Pope Francis invited the whole Church to join on a two-year journey (2021-2023) to focus on synodality: a decisive theme for the life and mission of the Church. The Holy Spirit is undoubtedly moving in our Diocese. As the theme of my pastoral letter, I chose Journeying Together: With Jesus on the Path of Faith and Hope, shortly after Pope Francis announced the synod theme, For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission. Synodality asks us to consider: how can the Church better function as the Body of Christ? The central hope for us embracing this synodal process is for all of us to become part of a caring and listening Church. Journeying together requires a great commitment to listen to the voices of all who make up the People of God. Individually and as a parish, we have an opportunity to embrace the process as a means for growth and creating meaningful connections. First, during this joyous time of holiday gatherings, either in person or virtual, open your heart to truly listen to your friends and family — pay attention to their cares and concerns; what a magnificent way to experience the synodal process in your life. Second, the synod will create opportunities for parishes in their revitalization efforts. What remarkable potential the formal and informal coming together of the People of God presents. I also look forward with faith and hope to the nationwide Eucharistic Revival set to launch next summer and conclude with a Eucharistic Congress in 2024. I am truly excited as plans are taking shape for this initiative. I can already envision the many blessings these will bring to the Church at large as well as to the Diocese of Fall River. The three years working together to better understand and communicate the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist will bring innumerable graces. I have no doubt hearts will be set aflame, people’s faith will be reignited, and souls will grow ever closer to Christ. During this Christmas season, I pray that we all experience a renewal of faith and hope as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior. May our celebrations strengthen us to remain steadfast in our desire to share this Good News with the world. May we see all the good things put into motion this year come to fruition in our lives, our Diocese, and the world. May all answer God’s call to be a part of the revitalization and renewal of the Church, through our love, dedication, and perseverance as disciples and witnesses of our Eucharistic Lord. May God bless you and your loved ones, and may you enjoy a very happy, joyful, blessed and Merry Christmas. Sincerely yours in Christ, Most Rev. Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V. December 24, 2021 †Bishop of Fall River 1
Service behind the scenes By Martha Reed and Rose Mary Saraiva Catholic Social Services
FALL RIVER — Catholic Social Services of Fall River has assisted countless families and individuals throughout the years. This help is provided in many ways and is made possible by generous donors, volunteers, and a dedicated staff that goes above and beyond to ensure that those in need get the help they need. The services provided, the needs met, and the hours dedicated to such service often go unseen. However, there is so much that continually happens at CSS, especially behind the scenes. Just this past fall, more than 500 children received new clothing, coats and toys during our “Give Back” — Friday events, which were held in each of the five deaneries. From this event alone, we have had countless families and organizations reach out to CSS for additional support, as well as submitting referrals for people in need. As Christmas rapidly approaches, CSS gears up for the “Gift of Giving” program. This year alone, CSS has more than 900 families who have knocked on our doors seeking help. As we did last year, and in keeping with safety and health guidelines, CSS will provide Gift Cards to those families, with each member of the family receiving a card. In addition to the gift cards, new toys and winter gear are also provided. The “Gift of Giving” is made available to several of our agency programs, which include: our legal and immigration department; H.O.U.S.E. Family Shelter program; Emergency Solutions and Basic Needs; as well as referrals for services from community agencies, parishes, and concerned individuals. The goal at CSS is to ease the burden placed on so many families, especially during the holiday season. For example, a New Bedford school reached out through one of our volunteers asking if CSS could provide brand new toys for some of the students who would go without this Christmas. Our volunteers gathered up the requested items and delivered them to the teachers, guaranteeing smiles for Christmas for those children. The spirit of giving extends beyond the Christmas season. Throughout the year CSS receives requests for basic needs items, clothing, toys, diapers, and other necessities that make life more challenging when one has to do without. The volunteers who organize and maintain CSS’ Donation Room respond quickly and compassionately to fill the void. 2
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They carefully hand-select new items that will go to the individual and family. These volunteers choose each item as if they were obtaining them for a loved one, giving each care package a very personal touch. An invisible gift that accompanies every response is the restoration of dignity and selfworth that gets eroded by poverty and need. It is with this belief in mind that we strive to give only “new” items to the recipients — affording them the recognition that they, too, merit and deserve the good things life has to offer. Although a simple gesture, it has a lasting and defined impact on someone who has felt loss, financial insecurity, and lack of hope. As one volunteer once said, “Anyone of us could easily be in their shoes, and the hope is that someone would be willing to do the same for us.” The goals are simple — care for others as you would wish to be cared for; respect each other — for we are all children of God; and always strive for compassion and understanding. CSS is not alone behind the scenes. Its community connections help to foster this compassion and understanding with the many blessings the agency has received through diocesan donations, private foundations, and collaboration with the Catholic Foundation of Southeastern Mass. The recently revived Guild for the Blind was able to begin “live”
call-in Rosary/Social hours in October. In November, the Sister Rose Soup Kitchen achieved its goal to offer meals to those in need 365 days a year. CSS has also been providing COVID-19 vaccine outreach across all of Bristol County. In July of this year, a volunteer newsletter was launched. The purpose and mission of the newsletter was to keep volunteers connected, to bring awareness of their impact on others, and to keep them informed. The newsletter, so aptly named — “Faith in Action,” gives the volunteers and readers a glimpse of how faith can and does move mountains. It allows the reader to see how their donations, time and talent are utilized in their communities, schools, and parishes. The newsletter provides highlights of CSS events, its reach, and how the actions of a community can and does have far-reaching effects. CSS extends an invitation to directly participate “behind the scenes” in making God’s love visible through our actions and deeds. We have many employment and volunteer opportunities to directly provide comfort, instill hope, and restore faith in humanity. If you or someone you know is interesting in joining the dynamic team at CSS, please view our job listing at our website www. cssdioc.org, or contact us at : 508-674-4681.
Some of the items collected at a recent Give Back Friday, by Catholic Social Services.
Bishop’s Edgar da Cunha, S.D.V.,’s Blog: The Season of Advent and December Blessings In a blog on the Fall River Diocese website (fallriverdiocese.org) dated December 15, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., shared some thoughts on the recent Adult Confirmation and Marian Medal Award celebrations at which he officiated. Celebration of Adult Confirmation On December 9th, I was honored to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation at St. Mary’s Cathedral to
ment of Confirmation, we make these now for ourselves. However, it is essential not to merely speak these words and leave the church without incorporating them into our daily lives. Once confirmed in the faith — our words, behavior, and actions should demonstrate what we have professed to believe. How do the gifts from the Holy Spirit received in Confirmation impact your life? How do you use these
Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., addresses the confimandi at the Adult Confirmation celebration prior to administering the Sacrament, on December 9 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River. the confirmandi prepared through the Adult Confirmation program of our Diocesan Secretariat for the New Evangelization. The celebration of Confirmation recalls the faith we all received in Baptism when those to be confirmed renew their Baptismal promises. The gifts of the Holy Spirit bestowed in this Sacrament strengthen our faith, renew our hope, give us courage, wisdom, and understanding; all necessary gifts to carry on our faith. At our Baptism, for many of us, our parents and godparents made promises and a profession of faith on our behalf. In the Sacra-
newfound strengths to become better followers of Christ? Furthermore, these gifts are not merely for us to keep for ourselves; the Good News is to be shared. As we read in the Scriptures, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. “He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free” (Lk 4:18). Likewise, we too have the Spirit of the Lord upon us; we are anointed and called to use these gifts in service of God’s people, parents, family, and com-
munity. We are all to be messengers of joy, hope, and Salvation to others in the world. Marian Medal Ceremony I wanted to share a few words from my reflection offered during the Marian Medal celebration on December 5th. We chose to use the reading from Evening Prayer for the second Sunday of Advent, which, through a beautiful coincidence, aligned perfectly with acknowledging these worthy recipients. St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians encourages us to rejoice always. Indeed, we had occasion for much joy at recognizing the service, generosity, and goodness of those present to receive the Marian Medal. Paul continues by saying, “Your kindness should be known to all” (Phil 4:5). How appropriate for the cause of our coming together that day was, indeed, to make known the kindness of these generous people. Another version of St Paul’s words read, “Let everyone see that you are unselfish and considerate in all you do” (Phil 4:5 TLB). I reminded the recipients that we were there to celebrate their response to the Lord’s invitation to share their gifts and talents at the service of the Church, especially their parish, and how unselfishly they have served others. When we remove God from our society, we become more self-centered, but they had shown a different way. Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you” (Lk 6:38). They encouraged others by their example of faith and goodness. They exemplify love for a neighbor when they
open their heart in acts of charity and goodness, with a genuine desire to do good for others. Their service helps provide better lives for others and make our world better. Their work sheds light on the darkness that surrounds us, especially in these difficult times as we have experienced. St Paul spoke beautifully about the solidarity of generosity in a faith community: “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together” (1 Cor. 12:26). We do rejoice with
all of the Marian Medal recipients, grateful that we could come together to do so with their family and friends. May the example of these exemplary women and men be contagious, sending good deeds around our whole diocese. To view a video of the Adult Confirmation celebration, or the Marian Medal Award service, visit the Diocese of Fall River website at fallriverdiocese. org, click on the Bishop’s Blog and use the links provided in the December 15 blog post.
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Happy Birthday Jesus
e were praying the Rosary. Sister Claire announced the Nativity as “Happy Birthday Jesus.” After we completed the Rosary, I gently suggested perhaps one should not talk to God that way in prayer. Claire smiled and asked me, “why not?” Even as I spoke them, I knew my words that Jesus had been a child celebrating birthdays thousands of years ago somehow missed the mark. Claire asked me to explain why the joyful mystery of finding the Child Jesus in the Temple was my favorite. My turn to smile. This is where the Child Jesus was discerning and strengthening His relationship with God the Father. That resonated with me personally and professionally. Many high school kids asked me how I knew and felt God in my life. Togeth-
er we would read about then reflect upon Jesus in the Temple. One important part was talking with others who knew God. Another was developing a deep, personal relationship with our loving God. Claire reminded me that I readily moved between my thoughts on Jesus as God and Jesus as human. The same was true for Jesus as a newborn. Although, she was correct, I still balked at the Happy Birthday. Claire and I reached an understanding. When we prayed the Rosary, she would announce the Nativity. I would announce Jesus found in the Temple. There was an amazing peace and joy that settled upon Claire as she wished Baby Jesus a Happy Birthday. Over time I realized that I was glimpsing Claire standing lovingly before Our Lord. St. Paul describes this as “The peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and
Visit the Diocese of Fall River website at: fallriverdiocese.org 4
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minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7). American depictions of the Nativity often depict Matthew’s Magi (Mt 2: 1-12) on one side with Luke’s shepherds (Lk 2: 15-20) on the other. Together the Magi and shepherds symbol-
ize the spectrum of all of mankind. God called to the learned Magi from the disciplines of their study. With their wealth, they gathered gifts from the best the world had to offer. The shepherds worked all day. They had settled the animals for the night. There was no light pollution so their view of the other stars within God’s universe was amazing. Suddenly, an angel appeared to them announcing the birth of a Savior. All the shepherds had to give was themselves and from the fruits of their labor. That sheep upon the shoulders of the shepherd boy was perhaps his gift to the newborn King. December is a tough month for an overworked educator. I remember one year feeling totally overwhelmed and exhausted as I stood be-
fore a Nativity covered in a few inches of snow. I irritably told the Wise Men they should have better anticipated the needs of the newborn. I thought at least radiated heat from the shepherd boy’s sheep might keep the Holy Family warm. I mounted the steps to the nursing home. I turned back to the manger as a peace began to settle in my heart. I realized the reminder that the improvised gift, given truly from the heart, and freely sharing from the blessings received from God was the greatest gift of all for the Savior. The last couple of years of Sister Claire’s life were spent in that nursing home. There wasn’t room for a guest chair. So, I sat at the foot of her bed as we prayed the Rosary. Across from me was the sink and mirror. As dementia stripped Claire’s cognitive abilities, we just always prayed the Joyous Mysteries. Peeking at that mirror, I could see the joy in Claire’s demeanor as she wished Jesus a Happy Birthday. If anything, her expression of joy had deepened. What was new was the chance I had to glimpse my face as I announced the mystery of finding Jesus in the Temple. I thought I rec-
ognized the beginning of such joy within me. There is a reason the Church celebrates Advent and the Nativity at the start of the Liturgical year. The call for each of us is to reflect where God is calling us to journey in the upcoming year. Lean into the moment. One Christmas morning, a few years after Sister Claire’s passing, I stood before that Nativity. What was different was my perspective. Baby Jesus’ face was visible. His body was covered in a fine layer of God’s white blanket (snow). I told the Wise Men to go use some of that gold for blankets. Get one for the shepherd boy, too. I told the shepherd boy to share with the Holy Family his knowledge of how to keep warm and safe on a bitterly cold night. I smiled and wished Baby Jesus a Happy Birthday. I ran up the steps to assist at Mass. God’s angel said, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a Savior has been born for you Who is Messiah and Lord” (Lk 2:10-11). Anchor columnist Dr. Helen J. Flavin, Ph.D., is a Catholic scientist, educator and writer.
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The challenging message of Peace on Earth
n December 1, while leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, I was able to celebrate Christmas Mass in a cave in Bethlehem’s Shepherds’ Field (the Church gives permission to do so all but a few days a year). There my fellow pilgrims and I were able to ponder the angels’ visit to the shepherds guarding their flocks by night and the message they proclaimed to them: “Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to those on whom God’s favor rests.” Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah, had come to bring peace on earth. (Isaiah had prophesied about Him), in words that we hear during Christmas Midnight Mass, “For a Child is born to us, a Son is given to us. They name Him … Prince of Peace” (Is 9:5). Zechariah had foretold that Jesus would “guide our feet into the path of peace” (Lk 1:79). When Jesus eventually sent out His disciples, He instructed them, “As you enter a house, wish it peace” (Mt 10:12). During the Last Supper, He would describe peace as His lasting endowment: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you” (Jn 14:27), and after the Resurrection, when He walked through the closed doors of the Upper Room, He would three times wish the fearful Apostles, “Peace be with you” (Jn 20:19-21). Peace, understood Biblically not just as the absence of war but as the fullness of blessing, is a summary of Jesus’ entire message and mission.
The peace He introduced, however, will always be one of the great paradoxes in the Gospel. “Not as the world gives do I give [peace] to you,” He underlined (Jn 14:27). “Do not think I have come to bring peace upon the earth” according to earthly categories, He said. “I have come not to bring not peace but the sword” (Mt 10:34), stating that on account of Him, families would experience disharmony. As He was preparing to enter the holy city of Jerusalem to fulfill His mission, He would weep and pronounce, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace — but now it is hidden from your eyes,” saying that the city would be leveled because His contemporaries “did not recognize the time of Your visitation” (Lk 19:4244). Though He had come to bring peace on earth, in other words, there would nevertheless remain division and destruction, because many would not embrace His peace plan and reorder their priorities and path according to what would make for lasting tranquility. Jesus would be what Simeon had prophesied at His presentation in the Temple: a sign of contradiction. From Herod’s attempting to assassinate Him as an infant, to His fellow Nazarenes’ trying to hurl Him to his death off a cliff, to the Scribes’, Pharisees’, Sadducees’ and Herodians’ all co-conspir-
ing with the hated Romans to have Him crucified, the Prince of Peace would nevertheless be a sign destined to bring out either the best and the worst in others, both peace and disturbance. Those who would accept Him, He would name and bless as peacemakers and true children of God (Mt 5:9). Those who would reject Him, however, would not only not experience peace but undermine and possibly destroy it.
It’s important to keep this paradox in mind as we live the Christmas mystery. Sometimes the message of the angels to the shepherds, taken in isolation, can make the Gospel seem Utopian and irrelevant in confrontation with the harsh realities of today’s world. Some might even say that if Jesus came to bring peace, the lack of it in the world can almost make His mission seem a failure. When the pope gives his annual Christmas Urbi et Orbi message and prays for peace to reach a seemingly ever-growing list of troubled areas of the world, it seems to suggest that the people who walk in darkness are in fact growing in number, rather than seeing a great light. Rather than invalidat-
ing Jesus’ mission, however, the lack of peace in the world highlights its importance. Just like those alive 2,000 years ago failed to recognize the time of the Messiah’s visitation and embrace what makes for peace, so every generation has a choice to make as to the way they will respond to the type of peace Christ leaves and gives. Christ has revolutionized the way we are called to respond not just to God but to each other, to transform us to retaliate with cruciform love and forgiveness rather than victimized vengeance, fears and phobias, to build peace through treating others the way we would want to treat Him and be treated, to become Good Samaritans rather than Cains. This work of peace, however, is something ever present. The values and virtues of Christ’s Kingdom never exist in a vacuum, but must be consciously chosen over the temptations to prioritize power, possessions, and pleasures over people, spin over truth, fear over trust. The paradox of peace was brought home to me in an indelible way at the end of my recent pilgrimage. I was celebrating Mass for the group just before our departure from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv for our flights home. During the words of consecration, as I said the “b” in “This is My Body,” I heard a loud pop from outside the Notre Dame
Center chapel just outside the Jerusalem old city walls. It sounded like a single firework, but fireworks almost always come in bunches. I tried not to get distracted as I genuflected and rose to consecrate the Precious Blood. When I got to the “b” in “This is the chalice of My Blood,” I heard another couple of pops. Immediately after Mass when I arrived in the Sacristy, I asked our guide whether he heard the sounds at the Consecration. He didn’t say a word, but just passed me his phone, where he showed me a video already virally uploaded of what had happened only about 10 minutes prior. The video showed a young man lying on a sidewalk just outside Damascus Gate with a couple of Israeli soldiers with automatic rifles in the background. The seemingly helpless man turned and then one of the soldiers shot him again twice. I asked the guide, “Please tell me those were rubber bullets.” He said, “No. Real,” and then added, with sober resignation, “They have orders to shoot to kill.” I was speechless. At the very moments when the words of Consecration were being enunciated, blood was being shed, and a human life ended, a stone’s throw down the hill. At the very end of a beautiful pilgrimage, the reality of the lack of peace in the land where Jesus was born came into relief. 8 Turn to page 11
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Editorial
Saint Stephen
This weekend, since Christmas Day falls on Saturday, December 26 will not be celebrated as “the feast of Stephen,” as we hear in the carol, “Good King Wenceslaus,” but instead will be the feast of the Holy Family. The Holy Family is discussed in several of the articles in this edition of The Anchor, from Grace Small’s St. Joseph column, to Dave Jolivet’s discussion of modern day holy families seeking shelter in train stations, to Father Willy Raymond, CSC,’s discussion of Holy Cross Family Ministries’ work to help make families holy. So, here in the editorial, we will discuss St. Stephen, both as a reminder to pray for the deacons in our midst (since he is one of their patrons) and to push ourselves to imitate his witness to Christ. Pope Francis gave an Angelus address about St. Stephen last year on his feast day. He began, “Yesterday’s Gospel spoke of Jesus, the ‘true light’ that came into the world, the light that ‘shines in the darkness’ and ‘the darkness has not overcome it’ (Jn 1:9, 5). Today we see the person who witnessed to Jesus, St. Stephen, who shines in the darkness. Those who witness to Jesus shine with His light, not with their own light. Even the Church does not have its own light. Because of this, the ancient fathers called the Church: ‘the mystery of the moon.’ Like the moon, which does not have its own light, these witnesses do not have their own light, they are capable of taking Jesus’s light and reflecting it. Stephen was falsely accused and brutally stoned, but in the darkness of hatred (which was the torment of his stoning), he allowed the light of Jesus to shine: he prayed for his murderers and forgave them, like Jesus on the cross. He is the first martyr, that is, the first witness, the first of a host of brothers and sisters who, even until today, continue to bring the light into the darkness — people who respond to evil with good, who do not succumb to violence and lies, but break the cycle of hatred with meekness and love. In the world’s nights, these witnesses bring God’s dawn. “But how do they become witnesses? Imitating Jesus, taking light from Jesus. This is the path for every Christian: to imitate Jesus, taking light from Jesus. St. Stephen gives us the example: Jesus had come to serve, not to be served (see Mk 10:45), and he lived to serve and not to be served, and he came to serve: Stephen was chosen to be a deacon, he became a deacon, that is, a servant, and assisted the poor at table (see Acts 6:2). He tried to imitate the Lord every day and he did it even to the end: like Jesus, he was captured, condemned and killed outside of the city, and like Jesus he prayed and forgave. While he was being stoned, he said: ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them’ (7:60). Stephen was a witness because OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 65, No. 25
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he imitated Jesus.” Would we be able to imitate Christ in that manner? Pope Francis continued, “A question could arise: are these witnesses to goodness really necessary when the world is immersed in wickedness? What good does it do to pray and forgive? Just to give a good example? But, what does that serve? No, there’s a lot more. We discover this from a detail. The text says that among those for whom Stephen prayed and whom he forgave there was ‘a young man named Saul’ (v. 58), who ‘was consenting to his death’ (8:1). A little later, by God’s grace, Saul was converted, received Jesus’ light, accepted it, was converted, and became Paul, the greatest missionary in history. Paul was born by God’s grace, but through Stephen’s forgiveness, through Stephen’s witness. That was the seed of his conversion. This is the proof that loving actions change history: even the ones that are small, hidden, everyday. For God guides history through the humble courage of those who pray, love and forgive. There are so many hidden saints, saints who are next-door, hidden witnesses of life, who with little acts of love change history.” Who knows whom we can affect with our own witness to Christ? “The Lord wants us to make our lives masterpieces through the ordinary things, the everyday things we do,” Pope Francis said. “We are called to bear witness to Jesus right where we live, in our families, at work, everywhere, even just by giving the light of a smile, a light that is not our own — it comes from Jesus — and even just by fleeing the shadow of gossip. And then, when we see something that is wrong, instead of criticizing, badmouthing and complaining, let us pray for the one who made a mistake and for the difficult situation. And when an argument starts at home, instead of trying to win it, let us try to diffuse it; and start over again each time, forgiving the one who offended. Small things, but they change history, because they open the door, they open the window to Jesus’s light. St. Stephen, while he was on the receiving end of the stones of hatred, reciprocated with words of forgiveness. He thus changed history. We too, can change evil into good each time just as a beautiful proverb proposes which says: ‘Be like the palm tree: they throw stones at it and it drops down dates.’ Today, let us pray for those suffering persecution because of the name of Jesus. They are many, unfortunately. There are more than in the beginning of the Church. Let us entrust these brothers and sisters to the Madonna, that they might respond with meekness to oppression and that, as true witnesses to Jesus, they might conquer evil with good.”
Daily Readings † January 1 - January 14
Sat. Jan. 1, Mary Mother of God, Nm 6:22-27; Ps 67:2-3,5-6,8; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21. Sun. Jan. 2, Epiphany of the Lord, Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-2,7-8,1013; Eph 3:2-3a,5-6; Mt 2:1-12. Mon. Jan. 3, 1 Jn 3:22—4:6; Ps 2:7bc-8,1012a; Mt 4:12-17,23-25. Tue. Jan. 4, 1 Jn 4:7-10; Ps 72:1-4,7-8; Mk 6:34-44. Wed. Jan. 5, 1 Jn 4:11-18; Ps 72:1-2,10,12-13; Mk 6:45-52. Thu. Jan. 6, 1 Jn 4:19—5:4; Ps 72:1-2,14,15bc,17; Lk 4:14-22. Fri. Jan. 7, 1 Jn 5:5-13; Ps 147:12-15,19-20; Lk 5:12-16. Sat. Jan. 8, 1 Jn 5:14-21; Ps 149:1-6a,9b; Jn 3:22-30. Sun. Jan. 9, Baptism of the Lord, Is 42:1-4,6-7; Ps 29:1-4,9-10; Acts 10:34-38; Lk 3:15-16,21-22. Mon. Jan. 10, 1 Sm 1:1-8; Ps 116:12-19; Mk 1:14-20. Tue. Jan. 11, 1 Sm 1:9-20; (Ps) 1 Sm 2:1,4-8; Mk 1:21-28. Wed. Jan. 12, 1 Sm 3:1-10,19-20; Ps 40:2,5,7-10; Mk 1:29-39. Thu. Jan. 13, 1 Sm 4:1-11; Ps 44:10-11,14-15,2425; Mk 1:40-45. Fri. Jan. 14, 1 Sm 8:4-7,10-22a; Ps 89:16-19; Mk 2:1-12.
Holy Cross Family Ministries president expresses thanks to area faithful NORTH EASTON — At Holy Cross Family Ministries, we are grateful for the support and encouragement of thousands of generous collaborators like you who help us continue to advance the mission of Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., to help families pray. Our Mission Impact Report 2021 honors all who answered the call to help families pray and highlights how that support allows families to grow stronger through experiencing prayer, faith-based media, and family-focused services. In 2020-2021, your strong support for the unique work of Holy Cross Family Ministries made possible our outreach to families in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe, and North America. In these pages, one will find updates on the impact your kindness is creating around the globe through our 27 Ministry Centers. This past year we have been working tirelessly to improve the effectiveness of all our programs to help families pray. Everything we do strives to strengthen the Spiritual and prayer life of families around the world. Faithful to the charism of Venerable Patrick Peyton, we are using the latest technologies and platforms to promote the good news that, “The family that prays together stays together.”
Generosity is a core value of Mexican culture. Such generosity comes from the Image of a caring, compassionate, and faithful God reflected in those who follow Him. At Rosario en Familia Mexico, the families HCFM supports through the generosity of a plethora of diocesan faithful, tells how God is at work in their lives.
Thank you for your commitment to our mission and recognizing that prayer and Spiritual health lead to stronger families and peace. I hope that you enjoy reading our Mission Impact Report (which can be found at hcfm.org) and please share it with your family and friends. May our Blessed Mother Mary keep you and your loved ones close to her Divine Son, Jesus. Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C. President, HCFM December 24, 2021 †
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Pope Francis: Let’s focus on helping others this Christmas VATICAN CITY, (CNS) — A good way to get out of a cycle of selfpity or a negative mood is to help others, following the example of the Virgin Mary, who went to help her pregnant cousin Elizabeth, Pope Francis said on the Fourth Sunday of Advent. “Let us learn from Our Lady this way of reacting: to get up, especially when difficulties threaten to crush us. To arise, so as not to get bogged down in prob-
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lems, sinking into selfpity and a sadness that paralyzes,” he said. “But why get up?” he asked. “Because God is great and is ready to lift us up if we reach out to Him. “So let us cast away the negative thoughts, the fears that block every impulse and prevent us from moving forward. And then let’s do as Mary did: let’s look around and look for someone to whom we can be of help.” During his weekly address and Angelus
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prayer, the pope reflected on the day’s Gospel reading, in which Mary, who just received the news that she is pregnant with the Son of God, sets out “in haste” to see her older cousin Elizabeth, who she has heard is also pregnant. “She arose and went,” Francis said. “In the last stretch of the journey of Advent, let us be guided by these two verbs. To arise and to go in haste: these are the two movements that Mary made
and that she invites us also to make as Christmas approaches.” The pope encouraged people to do a small kindness for someone else, such as calling an elderly person, or giving them a little company. “By helping others, we help ourselves to rise up from difficulties,” he added. Pope Francis also emphasized the Gospel’s words that Mary went “in haste” to her cousin Elizabeth, explaining that this does not mean acting “with agitation, in a hurried manner.” “Instead it means conducting our days with a joyful step, looking ahead with confidence, without dragging our feet, as slaves to complaints, always looking for someone to blame,” he stated. Explaining that Mary’s journey to Elizabeth’s house was made with a heart full of God and His joy, he encouraged people to ask themselves how they are moving through life. “Am I proactive or do I linger in melancholy? Do I move forward with hope or do I stop and feel sorry for myself ?” he said. “If we proceed with the tired step of grumbling and talking, we will not bring God to anyone,” he continued. “Instead, it does great good to cultivate a healthy sense of humor, as did, for example, St. Thomas More or St. Philip Neri. We can also ask for this
grace, the grace of a healthy humor: it does so much good.” A band played during Pope Francis’ Angelus address on December 19. The pope also recalled the importance of greeting the people we encounter with a smile. “Let us not forget that the first act of charity we can do for our neighbor is to offer him a serene and smiling face. It is to bring them the joy of Jesus, as Mary did with Elizabeth,” he said. “May the Mother of God take us by the hand, and may she help us to arise and to go in haste towards Christmas,” he concluded. After praying the Angelus, a traditional Marian prayer, Pope Francis expressed his sorrow and closeness to the people of the Philippines, who were struck by a devastating storm on December 16. More than 100 people are believed to be dead after Super Typhoon Rai, with winds around 120 miles per hour, hit the south-eastern islands, destroying homes, schools, and hospitals. “I express my closeness to the people of the Philippines hit by a strong typhoon, which has destroyed many homes,” he said. “May the Santo Niño [de Cebú] bring consolation and hope to the families most in need; and may he inspire all of us to give concrete help. The first concrete help is prayer, and other aids.”
The soul of compassion
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t a recent convocation the speaker told a story about two Irish priests who were out for a stroll one day in the Irish countryside. They came to the River Shiven and there standing on the riverbank, looking across the shimmering water, was a lovely young woman. She had long golden hair and a figure like an hourglass. It was clear to the two priests that she wished to cross the shallow river but she did not want to get her dress wet. So, one priest said to the other, “The compassionate thing to do would be to carry her across.” The other priest was not open to this, saying, “It might cause a big scandal if anyone from the parish were to see you doing this.” “Na bi amaideach” (Don’t be foolish), said the first, as he took the young woman in his arms and carried her high and dry across the water. Then he set her down safely. He didn’t bother to tell her that there was a footbridge beyond the bend of the river. After he had been chastised for
his heroic action, he said to his companion, “The good lady is now safely on the other side while you are still contemplating carrying her across the river.” There is not only a time but a great need for compassion in our world today. Such is what happens when natural disasters strike communities in our states across the USA. We have seen this as tornadoes have wrecked their devastation in several states this week. That is when we witness the soul of compassion demonstrated by first aid workers, neighbors and strangers who put aside their personal needs in order to help and rescue others. I myself benefited from such compassion this past week. After attending the annual priests’ convocation on Oahu and completing some personal business,
I was ready to return to the land of Saints Damien and Marianne. However, a winter storm struck the islands and turned the flight schedules into near chaos. Undaunted, Sister Dolores SS.CC. took me to and from the airport two days in succession in driving wind and lashing rain. No wonder then
that I sometimes refer to her as “Daredevil.” On the third try I was able to take to the skies and fly to Kalaupapa. Meantime, back in Kalaupapa, my six cats called for their chow. So, Sister Alicia Damien OSF, and Sister Barbara Jean OSF, in the spirit of St. Francis, took good care of them. Such indeed is the spirit of giving. Such is the soul of compassion. Have a blessed Christmas. Mele Kalikimaka. Anchor columnist, Father Killilea is pastor of St. Francis Church in Kalaupapa, Hawaii.
Work continues on the 2022 Diocesan Directory scheduled to be published early 2022. We will notify those interested in purchasing this edition when the book goes to print. The ordering information will appear in this advertisement when it’s time to place an order. For more information call 508-675-7151, or contact davejolivet@anchornews.org, December 24, 2021 †
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St. Joseph knocks at the door … Open your heart to the Christ Child!
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hristmas is the most wonderful time of the year. All of Creation proclaims the coming of Christ! As the bright stars in the Heavens shine amidst the darkness of the cold winter nights, they herald the coming of the first snowfall of the season. Like the angels in the open fields of Bethlehem, they signal to us to remember the first Christmas when the Word became Flesh of the Immaculate Virgin Mary. The birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ is the revelation of God to man and yet He also reveals man to Himself, recalling us to the childlike dependence, humility, and love that we live out first in the human family and then with all our brothers and sisters, especially in the mystical Body of Christ. When we reflect on the Christ Child born of the Virgin Mary, we understand the love of God made Incarnate, made Flesh for us to hear, to see and to love. We recognize that Jesus left His glory in Heaven to become one of us on this earth so that we might participate in His Divine life. As we move on toward this Christmas Day, also culminating the Year of St. Joseph, let us consider the one action we need to take to allow the miracle of Christmas to change our hearts — listen to the call of St. Joseph, as a knock on the door, to open our hearts to Christ! Consider the long pilgrimage the Holy Family took on the way to Bethle10
hem. The Child Jesus hidden in the womb of Mary travels within His mother and in the protective care of His father guardian St. Joseph. St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother went to be enrolled in the first census because Joseph was of the House of David. As head of the Holy Family, Joseph received the God-given name of Jesus by the angel who had told him because Jesus is the Only Begotten of the Father given into the custody of St. Joseph. The name and the person of the Son of God is explicitly revealed by the messenger of the Lord. Joseph heard the call of the angel and opened his heart to the long awaited “good news” of the coming of the Messiah. As a man of good will St. Joseph obeyed the angel and did as he was instructed. He obeyed the messenger who came in the name of the Lord. We can infer that St. Joseph went to knock at the door of an inn in Bethlehem where travelers lodged asking if there was a place they could stay. However, as he knocked on the door of the inn, he was informed that they could not enter because all the rooms were occupied. Since they did not open to St. Joseph, they also could not receive the Virgin Mother and her Child. Scripture tells us, “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes,
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and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn” (Lk 2:7). One can only imagine the sadness of Joseph for those who did not open their hearts to the poverty and necessity of this Family in need. The hustle and bustle of the inn filled with paying customers and the cares of this world
could not open to those in need but sent them away perhaps even with insults and derisions. This is not hard to imagine, as even St. Francis, the saint who was most conformed to Christ, may have taken from this Scripture verse as his model to achieving perfect joy. St. Francis explained to one of his brother friars what perfect joy was: “Brother Leo, please listen to me. Above all gifts of the Holy Spirit, that Christ Jesus gives to His friends is the grace to overcome oneself, to accept willingly, out of love for Him, all contempt, all discomfort, all injury, and all suffering. In this and all other gifts, we ourselves should not boast because all things are gifts from God. Remember the words of St. Paul: ‘What do you have that you did not receive from God? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?” (1 Cor 4:7). But
in the cross of afflictions and suffering, we truly can glory because as St. Paul says again: ‘May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal 6:14). Amen. During this Advent season we can offer the Christ Child certainly the pleasing gifts of doing good acts for others for love of Him, but the most pleasing gifts we can offer Him are the sacrificial gifts of our self-denial or even higher gifts that are not of our own making such as accepting sufferings, sickness and afflictions from the hand of God without complaint so as to share in some way with the cross of Christ. St. Joseph willingly accepted these trials and hardships on behalf of the Child to witness to Christ. Though it is sad for those who perpetrate acts of selfishness and injustice, it is repaired and co-redeemed by the silent acceptance of the faithful who receive whatever God sends, praying for mercy and carrying their crosses in union with Christ. This is perfect joy. In such a way we prepare gifts born of our love in thanksgiving for the Greatest Gift of All — JESUS. We should prepare for Christmas as we would prepare for the wedding feast of Heaven. The Advent season in preparation for the Nativity of the Lord is a preparation for that
ultimate “Marriage supper of the Lamb” in which we have been called to partake. Each of us has been chosen from the moment of our Baptism by the Lord Who sealed us in His own Passion, death and Resurrection for that last and beautiful day when we will see the Lord Jesus face to face. When the angel of the Lord appeared in the fields of Bethlehem, announcing to shepherds, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk 2, 10-11), he was preparing the human heart to receive the invitation of the “King Who gave a Marriage feast for His Son.” As the angel appeared first to the Blessed Mother and to St. Joseph in a dream and then to the shepherds, so too, he also calls to us instructing His servants, our guardian angels, to “invite to the Marriage feast as many as you find” (Mt 22, 2. 9). Do you hear the call? We must live in confidence and hope in anticipation of that eternal Christmas when we will be united with Christ, our Eternal Bridegroom in a feast of love. This was the love of St. Francis for the Christ Child and the Holy Family. His love for Christ was so great amidst the coldness of this world that it inspired him one Christmas to create a living stable in the town of Greccio to 8 Turn to page 13
Father Landry column continued from page five
After arriving home, I visited the website of the Jerusalem Post to find out the details of what had occurred. The newspaper documented the killing of 25-year-old Mohammed Shawkat Salima as well as the various protests that had quickly arisen in response to what the soldiers had done. Much more copy, however, was given to the defense of the soldiers’ actions by Israeli police and government officials. Within one of the articles was a video that gave greater context. Salima had been walking across a crosswalk toward the Damascus Gate. He passed a 20-year-old Haredi Jewish man walking in the opposite direction. A couple of seconds later, Salima turned around and began to stab the Haredi from behind as the victim vigorously tried to get his arms out of his suit coat to ward off the aggressor. Israeli soldiers soon converged and Salima ran toward one of them and stabbed him. At that, another soldier shot him and he fell, neutralized, to the sidewalk. Several seconds later, when Salemi began to rotate in their direction on the ground, the soldiers discharged the fatal shots.
The official justification for shooting one who seemed to be helpless was because soldiers in such situations can never be sure that someone isn’t wearing a suicide vest to try to take the lives of others as he ends his own life. The whole episode was a poignant reminder of the lack of peace in the land of Jesus’ visitation and the need to act on the unexpired imperative given in Psalm 122, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” The name Jerusalem means in Hebrew, “City of Peace,” but the provocative actions and death of Mohammed Shawkat Salima, a short distance from where Christ Himself was crucified, are as a poignant reminder of how much work still needs to be done to make that a reality. As we prepare to hear anew the angels’ “good news of great joy to all the people,” and their message of “peace on earth to those on whom God’s favor rests,” let us recognize the time of our visitation has arrived and commit ourselves, with the Prince of Peace, to His mission. Anchor columnist Father Roger Landry can be contacted at fatherlandry@catholicpreaching. com.
2022 World Peace Day message: Pope Francis calls for investment in education, not weaponry VATICAN CITY (CNA) — Pope Francis called for more investment in education and less in weaponry in his 2022 World Peace Day message released December 21. In the message, the pope said the world had witnessed a “significant reduction” in education funding in recent years, while military spending had soared beyond Cold War levels. “It is high time, then, that governments develop economic policies aimed at inverting the proportion of public funds spent on education and on weaponry,” he wrote in the message, signed on December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. The World Day of Peace — instituted by St. Paul VI in 1968 — is celebrated each year on January 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. The pope provides a message for the occasion, which is sent to foreign ministers around the world. The pope’s message for the 2022 World Day of Peace, the 55th celebration, is entitled “Dialogue between generations, edu-
cation, and work: tools for building lasting peace.” In the text, Pope Francis outlined three “paths for building a lasting peace”: promoting dialogue between generations, investing in education, and improving labor conditions. The pope called for a new alliance between the young and elderly to address the problems of isolation and self-absorption heightened by the Coronavirus pandemic. “Although technological and economic development has tended to create a divide between generations, our current crises show the urgent need for an intergenerational partnership,” he wrote. “Young people need the wisdom and experience of the elderly, while those who are older need the support, affection, creativity, and dynamism of the young.” The pope expressed the hope that a new dialogue between generations could become “the driving force behind a healthy politics.” He lamented the tendency to see education and training as expendi-
tures instead of investments. He said that they should be considered “the primary means of promoting integral human development,” because they help to shape free and responsible people. He added that greater investment in education must be accompanied by the promotion of a “culture of care,” which could become “a common language working to break down barriers and build bridges.” Support for education helps young people to take their rightful place in the labor market, he wrote, and build “a more habitable and beautiful world” through their work. But he noted that COVID-19 had made it harder for the young to find stable employment. “Millions of economic and productive activities have failed; short-term workers are increasingly vulnerable; many of those who provide essential services have an even lower public and political profile; and in many cases, distance teaching has led to a deficit in learning and delays in completing pro8 Turn to page 14
To advertise in The Anchor, contact Wayne Powers at 508-675-7151 or Email waynepowers@anchornews.org December 24, 2021 †
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T he C hurch
and
Y outh & Y oung A dults
The truth trap Editor’s note: The Anchor would like to welcome Oscar Rivera Jr. to its family of columnists. His entries will routinely appear on this youth page. f you saw me in the streets or at church, who would you say I am? What would you say about me? What are some things that stick out? Just based on my picture many would subconsciously think. “He doesn’t look churchy!” We have heard don’t judge a book by its cover, but we often do. Do we take the time to read the book, and make a judgment based on the content, or is the cover enough for us to make a snap judgment of the context of that book? Do we apply that same mentality to our relationship with truth, with our Catholic faith, or even with God. Do we make judgments based on headlines, hashtags, snap shots, trends; or do we deviate from the norm and search for the truth? Humanity is plagued with the question of truth. Throughout history people explore far out lands to be enlightened and find truth. On an academic level, truth is the centerpiece of philosophy, and one of the greatest puzzles in the subject. Outside the realm of academia, the struggle of truth is expressed in music, movies, and literature. Let’s take the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) as an example. Upon meeting the Ancient One to seek answers Dr. Strange is presented with the truth and he is offended by it.
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The Ancient One responds to the offense, saying: “You’re a man looking at the world through a keyhole. You spent your whole life trying to widen that keyhole. To see more, to know more; and now, on hearing that it can be widened in ways you can’t imagine — you reject the possibility.” These battles with truth today are more destructive, because the truth is what anyone wants truth to be. To say something is absolute is a social crime against free thinkers and progressive minds. Truth has been so diluted that the one truth that remains true today, is that truth is offensive. Spreading the Good News, the truth of Jesus Christ, is what the Catholic Church has done since its birth at the cross. However, throughout the years we have seen the Church drifted away from the foundational principle of evangelization and call to conversion. Many Catholics today have been formed by the same methodology, vernacular, and lexicon as modern-day secular educators. This formation model was adopted to compete for the truth today. However, has this exclusive academic approach of revealing God to others come to an academic dead end? Is the end game a conversion of heart or just changing of minds. Conversion of
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heart and mind should not be an either/or formation model, rather a both/and mission. To choose one or the other is us grabbing the lowest hanging fruit; the forbidden fruit of simple Catholic intellectual
regurgitation or what I call “theologianism.” Archbishop Emeritus Alfred C. Hughes, Archdiocese of New Orleans, says: “Traditionally in the Church, we have always recognized three fundamental paths to God: the path of truth, path of goodness, the path of beauty. [The] path of truth of course is extraordinarily important but sometimes today becomes problematic if we just focus on presenting systematically the content of Christian revelation, the content of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. We may not be meeting people where they are.” The truth is of utmost importance but ought not to be separated from the other two pathways, as the “lone ranger” of Salvation. Having the faithful know the vocabulary, history, and theology of our faith should never be dismissed. However, if we are creating a culture of Catholic trivia masters, and pseudo-theo-
logians, then the Church will suffer with true discipleship and a personal relationship with Jesus. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “For if man exists it is because God has created him through love. He cannot live fully according to truth unless he freely acknowledges that love and entrusts himself to His Creator” (“CCC” #27). Man is designed to seek God, and what better way of finding Him, than in the goodness and beauty of His creativity. Truth can be revealed more effectively when the path of goodness and beauty has paved its way. Truth will always be at the destination of our journey to Heaven. However, how we get there needs to be revisited. The consequences of ignoring goodness, and beauty will bring many to the altar still thirsting for truth, and the results could lead many down the path of rejecting Jesus. Jesus extracted what was good, beautiful, and true in His own faith of Judaism. As a result He was killed for offending the lukewarm intellectual leaders of the time. Jesus’ teaching, parables, and example unlocked the hidden greatness practiced by the People of God. Yet Jesus’ words were and still are challenged or rejected by the greatest and simplest of minds today. The situation with our
approach to teaching of the simple academic truth is that it voids our relationship with the Truth, Incarnate. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said: “An ‘adult’ faith is not a faith that follows the trends of fashion and the latest novelty; a mature adult faith is deeply rooted in friendship with Christ. It is this friendship that opens us up to all that is good and gives us a criterion by which to distinguish the true from the false, and deceit from truth.” Are we friends of Jesus or mere fans of Jesus? My friends know who I am, and don’t judge a book by its cover. But those who are not my friends and see my Catholicism on display will simply assume I am “the crazy Catholic guy” who believes in archaic things. I am considered, just by association, to be a hateful, close minded, self-righteous, Jesus zealot, that is out of touch with the world. Anyone who knows me, knows that those claims are not only false, but so insanely off the mark that it’s slightly comedic. My friends can tell people who I am and not just what they think I am. Why? Because they know me deeply, and we have experienced life together. Can we say that about Jesus? Or are we content with just knowing the facts about who He is? Anchor columnist Oscar Rivera Jr., is director of Youth Ministry in the diocesan Secretariat for the New Evangelization. orivera@dioc-fr.org
St. Joseph knocks at the door continued from page 10
make the fire of Divine love leap up in the hearts of man. From this time we have the tradition of setting up a manger scene to contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation. St. Francis lived in preparation for that beautiful day preparing gifts not just for a season but daily until the final knock upon his heart was heard and He entered into joy. As the Year of St. Joseph and the Year of the
Holy Family ends let us keep a holy reminder of it by keeping a blessed image of the Holy Family as a centerpiece in our homes where our family can spend some time gathered round in prayer and contemplation of the marriage feast of Heaven. Let us also make this season live in our hearts as a time when we resolve to make a continual preparation for our eternal Christ-
Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Christmas Mass, Special Time: Christmas Day from Noon until 1 p.m., sponsored by the Fall River Diocese
Celebrant and homilist is Bishop Edger M. da Cunha, S.D.V.
Sunday, December 26 at 11:00 a.m.
Celebrant is Father Matthew G. Gill, Parochial Administrator of Holy Family Parish, East Taunton
Sunday, January 2 at 11:00 a.m.
mas in Heaven and bring as many other people with us by our prayers, witness and joy! A Blessed Christmas to all! Small and her husband Bill have made their solemn profession as Third Order Franciscans of the Immaculate, through the Franciscans of the Immaculate in New Bedford.
CSS to offer virtual support groups in spring
FALL RIVER — The diocese continues to offer online bereavement support groups and hopes to begin offering live sessions in the Spring. These online virtual programs are being offered through Catholic Social Services on Tuesdays. The links to register for either of the one-hour sessions are as follow: 4:30 p.m. — https:// bit.ly/SupportGroup4 or 7 p.m. — https://bit.ly/
Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on the Portuguese Channel
Christmas Mass
Special time: Christmas Night at 8 p.m. Broadcast from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in New Bedford, with Father Richard D. Wilson, V.G., pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish as the celebrant and homilist. The Portuguese Channel is carried by most cable systems in the Fall River Diocese.
Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on the Portuguese Channel Sunday, December 26 at 7 p.m. Broadcast from St. Anthony Church in Taunton
Diocese of Fall River TV Mass Celebrant is Father Jeffrey Cabral, J.C.L, Pastor of Santo Christo Parish, Fall River.
on the Portuguese Channel Sunday, January 2 at 7 p.m. Broadcast from St. Anthony of Padua Church in Fall River
SupportGroup7. There will be no online sessions on December 28, but will resume on Jan. 4, 2022. In addition to the online sessions, oneon-one sessions are also offered via phone. For more information, contact Rose Mary Saraiva at 508-674-4681 Ext. 1111 or 774-253-4097, or by email at rsaraiva@cssdioc. org.
Diocesan Catholic Guild for the Blind to host social The Catholic Guild for the Blind is hosting a Rosary and Social Hour via Conference Call. The rosary and social hour will be offered twice monthly on the first Thursday of each month at 1:00 PM and on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM. All are invited to join the Guild, as they come together to pray for those in need and for a renewed sense of purpose. To join either of the calls dial 1-774-462-3143 and enter the Pin Number 8916. (Please Note: You may wish to save this number and pin, as it will remain the same for all future calls and programs offered by the Guild.) If you have any questions or need information about the Catholic Guild for the Blind, call Cynthia Stead at 508771-6771 or Martha Reed at 508-674-4681.
December 24, 2021 †
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Pope Francis’ World Day of Peace Message continued from page 11
grams of study,” he said. “Furthermore, young people entering the job market and recently unemployed adults presently face bleak prospects.” Migrant workers, meanwhile, have been left exposed “to various forms of slavery and with no system of welfare to protect them.” The pope observed that only one in three people working today “enjoys a system of social protection, or benefit from it only in limited ways,” while violence and organized crime are rising in many places. “The only answer to this is an expansion of dignified employment
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opportunities,” the pope said. “Labor, in fact, is the foundation on which to build justice and solidarity in every community.” He went on: “It is more urgent than ever to promote, throughout our world, decent and dignified working conditions, oriented to the common good and to the safeguarding of Creation.” “The freedom of entrepreneurial initiatives needs to be ensured and supported; at the same time, efforts must be made to encourage a renewed sense of social responsibility, so that profit will not be the sole guiding criterion.” Pope Francis encour-
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aged all Catholic workers and entrepreneurs to strive for “a fair balance between economic freedom and social justice,” drawing on the “sure guidelines” found in the Church’s social doctrine. Concluding his message, the pope wrote: “To government leaders and to all those charged with political and social responsibilities, to priests and pastoral workers, and to all men and women of goodwill, I make this appeal: let us walk together with courage and creativity on the path of intergenerational dialogue, education, and work.” “May more and more men and women strive daily, with quiet humility and courage, to be artisans of peace. And may they be ever inspired and accompanied by the blessings of the God of peace!” At a December 21 Vatican press conference presenting the pope’s text, Cardinal Peter Turkson said that the 2022 message highlighted Pope Francis’ conviction that every individual can contribute to building peace. “This means that everyone has a fundamental role to play in a single great creative project to write a new page of history,” the prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development said. “A page of full of hope, peace, reconciliation. The pope’s full message can be seen at vatican.va and click on Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the 55th World Day of Peace [1 January 2022]
In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests and deacons during the coming weeks: Jan. 1 Rev. Jose Valeiro, Pastor, St. Elizabeth, Fall River, 1955 Rev. Antonio M. Fortuna, Pastor, Immaculate Conception, New Bedford, 1956 Rev. Francis R. Connerton, SS. STD., St. John’s Seminary, Plymouth, Mich., 1968 Rev. Leo T. Sullivan, Pastor, Holy Name, New Bedford, 1975 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 Cruz, 2009 Jan. 7 Rev. Alfred R. Forni, Pastor, St. Francis of Assisi, New Bedford, 1970 Rev. Gustave Gosselin, M.S., LaSalette Shrine, Attleboro,1989 Rev. Jude Morgan, SS.CC., Former Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes, Wellfleet, 2003 Rev. Raymond 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. 11 Rev. Robert Baker, C.S.C., 2021 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
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Christmas scenes off the beaten track
n 2018, I was fortunate enough to cross a bucket list item off by attending the Army-Navy Game in Philadelphia. That pigskin contest was always one of my favorites, and my dad, was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII. So my visit had double meaning: I loved the contest, and I wanted to be there in his memory, since he died the year before. Well 2020, the year that never was (or should have been), changed many things — that classic game was one of them. The game was played at West Point before a crowd of only students. Although, I did share in America’s Game in a certain way. The game’s sponsor, USAA, a financial advisor company offering various products for military people and their families, ran a promotion in 2020 asking people who had attended the game in the past to send a photo of themselves there. From all the thousands of submissions, 1,000 people were selected to receive a commemorative 2020 Army-Navy ticket encased in resin on a marble base. I was one of the 1,000. It’s gorgeous. Any way, as is customary, I digress. This year the game was to be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., a stone’s throw from the Big Apple. It was played there to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. In fact, you can see One World Trade Center, the replacement edifice of the Twin Towers, from the stadium.
Before learning it was going to be in N.Y. (N.J.), I had no plans to go. But, compared with Philly, it was a hop-skip-and-jump away. I couldn’t resist. So I went (Go Navy!). But the story isn’t about the game. It’s about the trip. I boarded an Amtrak train in Providence bound for Newark, N.J., my home for the weekend. No sooner did I approach the station in Providence did I see, what would turn out to be, scores and scores of homeless people, seeking warmth in the inner sanctuaries of the train stations. Immediately, my heart melted. I so easily dismiss such people because I live in a world in which they are not a part. In all, between my travels to and from Newark, and the game and back, I was in three stations and rode six trains — all of which exposed me to the sadness and despair that goes on every day, whether I see it or not. When we pulled into, or more accurately, beneath the streets of N.Y. at Penn Station, there were more such people seeking shelter from the cold and elements. It’s ironic. While we stopped in N.Y., the train’s dining car restocked, loading food and drink for the pas-
sengers to enjoy at will. Outside the cars, the hungry stayed hungry and the homeless stayed homeless. There were homeless souls all over Newark’s Penn Station. Some had shopping carts that carried all their earthly belongings, which weren’t much. They didn’t bother anyone, and the security and police didn’t chase them out. The only trouble they caused was the discomfort of having to see them and feeling guilty for having so much and taking it all for granted. There were Christmas decorations everywhere and carols blaring from loudspeakers. All of this went unnoticed by the poor souls without homes. I would look into their eyes and there was barely a spark of life in them. I remember, and frankly cannot forget, seeing a young boy and girl, in their mid-teens, dressed in tattered clothes and huddled together in an outdoor waiting area at one station. I couldn’t imagine what circumstances led them there. Was it family problems or lack of a family? Was it drugs? Was it mental issues? It was gut-wrenching to see them knowing my day would continue comfortably, as it does every day, and theirs would be one long existence of misery and pain.
It’s the dichotomy of the Christmas scenes and the scenes of hopelessness that stays with me now. And sometime between then and now I realized that the Christ Child and Holy Family were not too far removed from their environment on the first Christmas. In fact, I believed I saw what I saw to help me realize that the Child came for people such as these. There’s a good chance they will never know that ... unless. Unless I pray that they may know the little Baby and His parents, who shivered through the night in a stable with no earthly possessions of their own, exist for them. To me it seems ridiculous that prayers can help them, but I too often forget nothing is impossible with God. Those people are still out there now — those who are still alive. And that wasn’t even the tip of the iceberg of people living in misery and hopelessness throughout this world. This Christmas, I will bring all of them with me to holy Mass, to family gatherings, to exchanging gifts, and to feasts. They just don’t deserve to be forgotten or ignored. They’re my sisters and brothers, and I hurt for them. Please Christ Child, keep them in Your heart this Christmas Day and always, and help me to remember them and find a way to help even just one of them. And thank You for bringing them to my attention. davejolivet@anchornews.org
December 24, 2021 †
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† December 24, 2021