Diocese of Fall River
The Anchor
F riday , February 5, 2010
Diocesan collection draws ‘overwhelming’ response By Dave Jolivet, Editor
FALL RIVER — One can’t escape the terrible images emanating from the tiny island country of Haiti — images of total destruction; homeless and hungry inhabitants; orphaned children; traumatically injured men, women and children; and fatalities above and beneath the rubble. The horrendous 7.0 earthquake that struck the Port-auPrince region on January 12 sent shock waves not only across the island community, but across the world as well. In response to the dire circumstances facing the Haitian people in the days, weeks, months and years to come, the Diocese of Fall River quickly organized a special collection at all Masses at all diocesan churches January 23-24 and 30-31. Following the initial weekend collection, many diocesan priests told The Anchor the response from the faithful has been “outstanding.” Father Thomas E. Costa Jr., a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Seekonk said, “We collected an amazing $15,000,
which equals what we usually collect at weekend Masses. Everyone wants to help, the response was overwhelming.” “People have seen so many disturbing images from Haiti, and they see a lot of sadness. They know they can’t go there and help, but they can support the Haitians financially. And even more importantly, our prayers are very important to helping the victims. We can connect with them spiritually through prayer, which shouldn’t be a last resort. It should be the first resort.” Father Costa said that in spite of the horrible images coming from Haiti, God will have good come from this. “We’re seeing how God is present through all this. In the healing, the mercy, the charity and the love. It’s not just the Catholic Church in Haiti, or the Church in the U.S. that’s affected. We’re all one Church, there for each other.” At Holy Name Parish in Fall River, pastor, Father George E. Harrison told The Anchor he was very pleased with the response. “The people have responded in an extraordinary fashion this weekend, Turn to page 15
a day for st. damien — Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, blesses the altar while Father Christopher Santangelo, SS.CC., right, pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, New Bedford, looks on during a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrating the recent canonization of St. Damien of Molokai on January 31 — World Leprosy Day — in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C. Fifty people from the diocese embarked on a weekend pilgrimage to the event. (Photo by Jack Iddon)
Diocesan pilgrims celebrate St. Damien’s canonization with Mass in nation’s capital By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff WASHINGTON, D.C. — Fifty pilgrims from across the Fall River Diocese traveled to the nation’s capital January 31 to give thanks for the recent canonization of St. Damien of Molokai, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The Mass honoring the heroic “leper priest” and ninth saint canonized who lived and worked
extensively in the United States was celebrated by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. It occurred as the fruit of a providential meeting between Archbishop Sambi and Father William Petrie, SS.CC., provincial of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary based in Fairhaven, during a national get together of provincial fathers last year. The two were seated together
at lunch and Father Petrie casually suggested having a celebration here to honor this newest American saint. He added that although many people would be able to attend the actual canonization ceremony and celebrations in Rome last October, there were many other devotees of St. Damien and members of his own order who approached him to say that they could not attend. Turn to page 12
Cape Cod parish hopes to provide ongoing aid to sister parish in Haiti By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff
proof positive — A tiny hand from within the womb clutches the finger of a physician during an emergency procedure in this remarkable photograph. The fetus was 21 weeks old. Photo by Michael Clancy. Used with permission. See Christine Williams’ story beginning on page five of this edition.
BREWSTER — When news first broke of the devastating earthquake that struck the city of Port-auPrince in Haiti January 12, Father Bernard Baris, MS, pastor of the Our Lady of the Cape Parish, immediately contacted their “sister” parish of St. Claire in Dessalines — a community approximately 80 miles outside the nation’s capital. “Thank God, St. Claire was not damaged in the earthquake, because it’s about 80 miles north of Portau-Prince,” Father Baris said. “They certainly felt the earthquake, but physically the buildings weren’t damaged. There are nuns there — the Sisters of the Charity of Ottawa — and their community provided them with a satellite dish, so they were able to get in touch with us soon after the earthquake via the Internet and let us know they were OK.” In many ways, Father Baris views St. Claire Parish and all the people it serves as an extension of his own diocesan ministry. For the past 20 years the parishioners at Our Lady of the Cape have provided support through prayers, volunteer efforts and financial contributions to the remote Haitian parish that serves a large contingency of
the country’s Catholic population. “It’s a very large parish covering a very large area,” Father Baris said. “They have nine chapels — what we call mission churches. They also have four schools with 3,000 students and a medical dispensary that sees between 80 and 100 people a day. It’s a very big operation.” The generosity of parishioners at Our Lady of the Cape has provided funding for two of St. Claire’s four schools — one a high school — and they continue to send $4,500 a month to fund the school lunch program at the parish. “For a lot of these kids that’s the only meal they get in a day,” Father Baris said. “So it’s a very important part of their education.” Father Baris has personally been involved with the Haitian mission for the last 12 years and has traveled there 10 times with different groups of parishioners. In fact, Father Baris and a group from Our Lady of the Cape were slated to fly out the very day the earthquake hit, so they never left. Although Dessalines wasn’t directly affected by the tragedy, Father Baris said they are going to be experiencing a trickle effect in the coming days, weeks, Turn to page 21
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News From the Vatican
February 5, 2010
Church’s presence among sick can help protect human life, pope says VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Church must increase its presence among the sick and in society so it can better help defend human life from conception to its natural end, Pope Benedict XVI said. In his message for the Feb. 11, 2010, celebration of World Day of the Sick, the pope highlighted the important role of the church in bringing Christ’s love and healing to all those who suffer: be it from poverty, oppression, remorse or illness. Given current cultural and his World Sick Day is marked each
The Anchor www.anchornews.org
year on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. In his message, Pope Benedict said World Sick Day aims to remind Catholics how important it is for the church to offer pastoral service to the sick and those who care for them. Recalling the Year for Priests, the pope made a special appeal to the world’s priests to come to the aid of people marked by suffering. The message said priests, who are signs and instruments of Christ’s compassion, must make every effort to offer care and comfort to those in need. OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 54, No. 5
Member: Catholic Press Association, Catholic News Service
Published weekly except for two weeks in the summer and the week after Christmas by the Catholic Press of the Diocese of Fall River, 887 Highland Avenue, Fall River, MA 02720, Telephone 508-675-7151 — FAX 508-675-7048, email: theanchor@anchornews.org. Subscription price by mail, postpaid $14.00 per year. Send address changes to P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA, call or use email address
PUBLISHER - Most Reverend George W. Coleman EXECUTIVE EDITOR Father Roger J. Landry fatherrogerlandry@anchornews.org EDITOR David B. Jolivet davejolivet@anchornews.org NEWS EDITOR Deacon James N. Dunbar jimdunbar@anchornews.org OFFICE MANAGER Mary Chase marychase@anchornews.org ADVERTISING Wayne R. Powers waynepowers@anchornews.org REPORTER Kenneth J. Souza k ensouza@anchornews.org Send Letters to the Editor to: fatherrogerlandry@anchornews.org PoStmaSters send address changes to The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722. THE ANCHOR (USPS-545-020) Periodical Postage Paid at Fall River, Mass.
familiar scene — An image of the late Pope John Paul II in prayer is seen during the debut of a new documentary film on his life during a special screening at the Vatican in October. (CNS photo/ Giampiero Sposito, Reuters)
Pope John Paul practiced mortification as part of his heroic virtue, postulator says VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope John Paul II always took penitence seriously, spending entire nights lying with his arms outstretched on the bare floor, fasting before ordaining priests or bishops and flagellating himself, said the promoter of his sainthood cause. Msgr. Slawomir Oder, postulator of the late pope’s cause, said Pope John Paul used selfmortification “both to affirm the primacy of God and as an instrument for perfecting himself.” The monsignor spoke to reporters January 26 at the launch of his book, “Why He’s a Saint: The Real John Paul II According to the Postulator of His Beatification Cause.” Earlier in the day, two Italian news websites reported that an October date had been set for Pope John Paul’s beatification, but Msgr. Oder said nothing could be confirmed until physicians, theologians and cardinals at the Congregation for Saints’ Causes accept a miracle credited to the late pope’s intercession and Pope Benedict formally signs a decree recognizing it. Msgr. Oder’s book, published only in Italian, is based largely on what he said he learned from the documents collected for the beatification process and, particularly, from the sworn testimony of the 114 people who personally knew Pope John Paul and testified before the Rome diocesan tribunal investigating his fame
of holiness. “When it wasn’t some infirmity that made him experience pain, he himself would inflict discomfort and mortification on his body,” Msgr. Oder wrote. “Not infrequently he passed the night lying on the bare floor,” the monsignor wrote, and people in the Krakow archbishop’s residence knew it, even if the archbishop would mess up the covers on his bed so it wouldn’t be obvious that he hadn’t slept there. “As some members of his closest entourage were able to hear with their own ears, Karol Wojtyla flagellated himself both in Poland and in the Vatican,” Msgr. Oder wrote. “In his closet, among the cassocks, there was a hook holding a particular belt for slacks, which he used as a whip and which he also always brought to Castel Gandolfo,” the papal summer residence south of Rome. In the book, Msgr. Oder said Pope John Paul firmly believed that he was doing what St. Paul professed to do in the Letter to the Colossians: “In my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ.” He also said the pope, who had a notorious sweet tooth, was extremely serious about maintaining the Lenten fast and would lose several pounds before Easter each year, but he also fasted before ordaining priests and bishops and for other special intentions. Msgr. Oder’s book also marked the publication for the first time of letters Pope John Paul prepared in 1989 and in 1994 offering the College of Cardinals his resignation in case of an incurable disease or other condition that would prevent him from fulfilling his ministry. For years there were rumors that Pope John Paul had prepared a letter instructing cardi-
nals to consider him resigned in case of incapacity. But even a month before his death in April 2005, canon law experts in Rome and elsewhere were saying the problem with such a letter is that someone else would have to decide when to pull it out of the drawer and apply it. Church law states that a pope can resign, but it stipulates that papal resignation must be “made freely and properly manifested” — conditions that would be difficult to ascertain if a pope were already incapacitated. The 1989 letter was brief and to the point; it says that in the case of an incurable illness that prevents him from “sufficiently carrying out the functions of my apostolic ministry” or because of some other serious and prolonged impediment, “I renounce my sacred and canonical office, both as bishop of Rome as well as head of the holy Catholic Church.” In his 1994 letter the pope said he had spent years wondering whether a pope should resign at age 75, the normal retirement age for bishops. He also said that, two years earlier, when he thought he might have a malignant colon tumor, he thought God had already decided for him. Then, he said, he decided to follow the example of Pope Paul VI who, in 1965, concluded that a pope “could not resign the apostolic mandate except in the presence of an incurable illness or an impediment that would prevent the exercise of the functions of the successor of Peter.” “Outside of these hypotheses, I feel a serious obligation of conscience to continue to fulfill the task to which Christ the Lord has called me as long as, in the mysterious plan of his providence, he desires,” the letter said.
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The Anchor
February 5, 2010
Women’s Conference speaker to reflect on being mentored by Blessed Mother Teresa Christopher Harding Special to The Anchor BOSTON — “What struck me the most about Mother Teresa when I saw her for the first time was her diminutive size,” recalls nationally known speaker and author DonnaMarie Cooper O’Boyle. “There stood the world renowned peacemaker, lover of the world’s poor and a Nobel Peace Prize recipient — a giant — but in the body of someone not much taller than my young daughter.” O’Boyle will describe her decade-long relationship with the most admired woman of the 20th century at the upcoming 5th annual Boston Catholic Women’s Conference (BCWC), scheduled for February 27 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston. O’Boyle’s presentation will draw from her latest book, “Mother Teresa and Me: Ten Years of Friendship.” The humble nun always encouraged O’Boyle to keep writing, speaking and taping TV spots about mothers, women, and families. She wrote the foreword to O’Boyle’s book “Prayerfully Expecting: A Nine Month Novena for MothersTo-Be” as well as back-cover endorsements for her other works. While Mother Teresa was alive the two women communicated through the telephone, letters and
personal meetings, but even after her mentor’s passing, O’Boyle senses that they’re still connected. “I do feel that Mother Teresa is watching over me and my family and that we are in communication with each other. Our Church tells us that we should invoke the saints for intercession, and I certainly invoke Mother Teresa many times a day.” Among the “lessons of love,” Mother Teresa taught O’Boyle was that “we should view each person put in our lives, whether in our own families or those we meet as ‘Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor.” Each person that we minister to in any way becomes our focus. Mother Teresa didn’t seek to reach the masses of people, even though her love made it all around the globe. She loved one person at a time, whoever was within her reach.” Just as her blessed friend inspired her to found a lay branch of the Missionaries of Charity, O’Boyle hopes to inspire and empower other women by her appearances at events like the Catholic Women’s Conference. “Women benefit immensely from taking the time to pause from their overly packed busy lives to rest a while and nourish their hearts and souls at events such as the Bos-
ton Catholic Women’s Conference. There they can get that pat on the back and the shot in the arm they absolutely need to strengthen them for the journey ahead. Women can be an amazing and transforming light to this darkened world when they offer their lives to God and ask to be his instrument.” Jennifer Schiller, co-founder and organizer of the BCWC, thinks attendees will be moved by O’Boyle’s witness, in sharing “personal stories which will encourage us to turn to God for strength in every situation.” Rafaela Sanchez of Blessed Mother Teresa Parish in Dorchester is among those looking forward to O’Boyle’s talk: “My friends and I are very curious to hear the details of Donna-Marie’s friendship with the patroness of our parish. We’re always seeking ways to grow in our faith. What better way than worshiping with thousands of other women, through Adoration, Reconciliation and especially the Mass that Cardinal O’Malley celebrates.” Along with O’Boyle, the 2010 BCWC will feature three other extraordinary women of faith as keynoters. Leah Darrow, a self-proclaimed “prodigal daughter” will share lessons from her journey from contes-
tant on “America’s Next Top Model” to a tireless advocate of chastity, modesty and Pro-Life issues with “Pure Fashion.” Patti Mansfield, one of the foremost figures in the American Catholic Charismatic movement, returns to the BCWC podium. Back too is Iraqi-born Sister Olga of the Eucharist, whose work as a chaplain at Boston University endows her with practical
insights into the faith struggles of young people. Only 1,750 tickets are being sold for the Women’s Conference on February 27, and the same number for the Boston Catholic Men’s Conference on April 17. To purchase tickets for either Conference and for more information, visit www.CatholicBoston.com or call 617-444-9950.
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The Church in the U.S.
February 5, 2010
Pro-Life ad set for Super Bowl NEW YORK — An ad scheduled to air on CBS during the network’s broadcast of the February 7 Super Bowl has generated criticism from groups such as the National Organization for Women because of its Pro-Life message. The 30-second spot will feature recent University of Florida graduate Tim Tebow, the Gators’ star quarterback who graduated in December. The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner led his team to victory in the Sugar Bowl January 1. Sponsored by Focus on the Family, a Christian advocacy group based in Colorado Springs, Colo., the ad reportedly will highlight Tebow’s mother, Pam, who decided against medical advice not to abort him. Pam suffered from a dangerous infection during a mission trip to the Philippines, and doctors recommended that she terminate her pregnancy, fearing she might die in childbirth or the child might be stillborn. A spokesman for the organization said the theme of the ad is “Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life,” but he would not comment on the content of the ad. Several women’s groups have complained to CBS about the ad, urging it not air, but the network released a statement saying it was standing behind the ad. The network said it has revised its policies on advocacy ads in recent years as have other media outlets. NOW and other women’s groups, such as the Women’s Media Center, an organization that says it works “to make women visible and powerful in the media,” have called the ad divisive and inappropriate for the setting. They also complained that in previous years networks have banned issue-oriented ads sponsored by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, MoveOn.org and the United Church of Christ. The Tebow spot is the first Super Bowl ad sponsored by Focus for the Family. A statement on the group’s website by Jim Daly, the group’s president and CEO, said the “chance to partner with the Tebows and lift up a meaningful message about family and life comes at the right moment in the culture, because families need to be inspired.” He said funds for the ad, said to cost about $2.7 million for 30 seconds, came from donors who specifically wanted to support the project.
The Church in the U.S.
February 5, 2010
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Many of state’s Pro-Lifers upbeat after Brown victory By Christine Williams Anchor Correspondent BOSTON — Invigorated by the recent election of Scott Brown to the U.S. Senate, ProLife advocates spoke of advancing their cause at the annual Assembly for Life on January 24. Massachusetts Citizens for Life has organized the event, held at Faneuil Hall, for 37 years. Anne Fox, president of MCFL, said in reference to Brown’s election, “We have broken the back of the Obama health care.” Brown will be the 41st Republican in the U.S. Senate, which will give the party the option to filibuster. In emails to supporters, MCFL opposed the current health care legislation, citing abortion funding in the Senate bill, the lack of a conscience clause for health care workers and concerns that the elderly and disabled would be denied health care. At the assembly, Fox said that Pro-Lifers in Massachusetts should be encouraged by Brown’s election and by the support the Stupak Amendment, designed to restrict abortion funding in the House’s health care bill, received from Congressmen Stephen Lynch and Richard
Neal. Lynch and Neal’s votes are the first Pro-Life votes of Massachusetts congressmen in the past five years, she said. Brown, who calls himself prochoice, said during his campaign that he is opposed to the current health care legislation and would vote against it. He supports the exemption of abortion from health care and opposes taxpayer funding for it. On his website, he explains his position on abortion, saying it should be legal but that “government has the responsibility to regulate in this area.” He supports parental consent, notification requirements, the ban on partial-birth abortion and conscience clauses for health care workers. In contrast, his Democratic challenger, Martha Coakley, supported the expansion of abortion as well as federal funding for it. During her campaign, she also said that health care workers with moral objections to dispensing emergency contraception “probably shouldn’t work in the emergency room.” Pro-life advocates told The Anchor that although Brown is not pro-life, they are encouraged by the instances in his voting record where he supported Pro-
Rev. Msgr. John E. Kozar, National Director 70 West 36th Street, 8th Floor New York, N.Y. 10018
Life causes. Kris Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute, said votes for Brown were votes against “rampant spending” and “radical social agendas” like the current health care bills. He also noted that Brown has been an avid supporter of traditional marriage. “One election doesn’t win the war, but it’s a great turning point,” he said. “It is a huge shift in the direction our Commonwealth was going.” Bea Martins, associate field director of Catholic Citizenship in the Diocese of Fall River, said of Brown, “Of the candidates, his values most closely aligned with the values of the faith.” Martins added that his election makes it unlikely that Democrats can force health care legislation that supports federal funding of abortion through Congress. “We can go back to having dialogue,” she said. Martins said that while in Washington D.C. for the March for Life, she encountered people who were thankful that the citizens of Massachusetts elected
Brown. A hostess at a restaurant hugged her when she told the woman that she was from the Commonwealth. At the MCFL Assembly for Life, keynote speaker Michael Clancy thanked those gathered for electing Brown. “You guys have restored the hope of an entire country,” said Clancy, a photographer from Nashville. Clancy told his conversion story, saying that for decades he had been angry with God because of the sexual abuse he and his siblings suffered at the hands of their stepfather. As an adult, Clancy “found forgiveness in his heart” for his stepfather after meeting with a pastor while on an assignment to photograph a church serving the poor in Appalachia. Then, he prayed that God would use his life in whatever way the Lord saw fit. Three months later, Clancy was sent on assignment by USA Today to photograph an experimental surgery of an unborn child who had spina bifida, a rare birth defect in which some of the baby’s vertebrae are not fully
formed. During the procedure, the child reached out of the opening in the womb and responded to the touch of his surgeon by squeezing the doctor’s finger. The child, at 21-weeks gestation, “squeezed long enough and hard enough” for the photo to come out in focus. “My world came to a screeching halt,” said Clancy who said that before that moment 10 years ago he had been pro-choice. Clancy, who owns the rights to the photo, tried to have it published in Life Magazine when he discovered they had staged a similar photo for the cover of their millennial issue. The magazine offered to publish it for exclusive rights that would “kill it” since it could not be published again. Clancy responded, “There’s not enough money in the world that would allow that to happen.” Because Clancy’s photo had already been widely distributed by the time Life’s issue was to hit newsstands, the magazine buried the article and ran with their backup story, entitled “2000 Years of Christianity” for the Turn to page 18
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The Anchor Priests’ pastoral ministry in a digital world
Last year, for his annual message for World Communications Day, Pope Benedict made a powerful appeal to young Catholics to become the apostles of the new communications frontier produced by the digital age. Since the young have a “spontaneous affinity” for the world of computers, the Internet, digital recording devices and ever smarter phones, Pope Benedict said they are the most capable of helping the whole Church harness the potential of the “gift” of the new media to preach the Gospel. It was an unprecedented papal summons for the evangelization of those in cyberspace, which obviously is one of the major missions in the Church’s overall efforts to reevangelize the world. Pope Benedict built on last year’s foundation in his message for World Communications Day this year. Because the Church is in the midst of the Year For Priests, the Holy Father zeroed in on the duty priests have not merely to give pastoral care to the Church’s digital missionaries, but also to establish a genuinely priestly presence in the new media. Released January 24 and entitled, “The Priest and Pastoral Ministry in a Digital World: New Media at the Service of the Word,” Pope Benedict’s message called on priests to seize the opportunities the digital world provides for “carrying out their ministry to and for the Word of God.” Since the primary duty of a priest is “the proclamation of Jesus Christ … and the communication of his saving grace in the sacraments,” Pope Benedict reminded his brothers that they have a particular responsibility to respond to today’s “cultural shifts” and employ the new communications technologies. Invoking the pastoral zeal of St. Paul who said, “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel” (1 Cor 9:16), Benedict encouraged all priests to imitate the Teacher of the Nations by similarly experiencing heartache unless they take advantage of these opportunities to proclaim the Word. The Holy Father is calling priests to more than merely establishing websites for their parishes and apostolates, although he is certainly doing this. He is asking them to establish a unique personal presence in the new digital world so that they may use these means to carry out their pastoral mission to the sizable portion of their flock that spends increasing portions of their day online. Many priests, young and old, have already established pastoral presences in this new mission field. They have email addresses and Facebook accounts. They have established blogs and websites, where they upload print, audio or video versions of their homilies, RCIA or Adult Education sessions, and much more. They have designed iPhone applications to help people to pray more easily in the midst of their day. Several have even quipped their parishes with live webcams so that people who are incapable of coming to Mass or who may be curious can watch Mass, holy hours, devotions, and other events from their own parish church. The pope’s message can be understood as a firm papal confirmation of this type of outreach. It can also be interpreted as a polite but firm call to conversion to those few priests, young and old, who have taken basically an existentially contrarian position to these new forms of communication, rejecting almost as a matter of principle any personal use of cell phones, email, and computers. The pope is saying that not only is there nothing intrinsically wrong with these new means of communication, but there is something profoundly good. Priests, he implies, are called to an apostolic versatility that impels them to adapt to new situations by becoming “all things to all people” (1 Cor 9:22). The alternative is to remain living anachronisms, whose pastoral ministry will be stunted by self-imposed limitations, and misleading icons, who seem to advertise that the Church’s message and life are somehow incompatible with the new age. To take advantage of cyberspace, the pope says, is a clearly Catholic enterprise, insofar as pastoral outreach here easily embodies the universality of the Church’s mission. Pope Benedict gives several principles to guide the priests of the world to fulfill their responsibilities as they initiate, continue or expand their presence in the digital age. The first is that priests must become “more focused, efficient and compelling” in their use of the Internet to advance the Gospel. It’s not enough, the pope says, “simply to be present on the web or to see it only as a space to be filled.” Just as with giving a homily, when priests are called not merely to say something but to have something to say, so in cyberspace priests are summoned to be “focused, efficient and compelling” in their message. Cyberspace is a new pulpit, from which the priest proclaims the Gospel to a much broader parish, but the same principles and message that would make him a good communicator at the ambo apply. The second principle is that in cyberspace, priests should be more than just preachers but witnesses. The modern world, Pope Paul VI used to say, is convinced more by those who evangelize with their lives rather than merely by their words. Therefore, his successor says, priests should be present above all as “faithful witnesses to the Gospel, exercising their proper role as leaders of communities that increasingly express themselves with the different ‘voices’ provided by the digital marketplace.” His digital presence is more than a place for personal musings or disembodied theological expostulations. It’s a forum in which he is challenged to give personal testimony to his faith in Christ and how he has tried to incarnate the Gospel in his discipleship and apostolate. In an age of celebrity, a priest, to be effective, must be humble enough to tell his own story, which is the chronicle of how much the Lord in his goodness has done for him. Third, to be effective in this new world, he needs to learn the language and be trained in the tools. The Holy Father explicitly calls for seminarians to “learn, from the time of their formation, how to use these technologies in a competent and appropriate way, shaped by sound theological insights and reflecting a strong priestly spirituality grounded in constant dialogue with the Lord.” For those who have already been ordained, some will have the natural gifts and talents to figure most things out on their own. But most will need training. Up until now, not much formal training on the new technologies has been offered to priests in continuing education programs. Hopefully, the pope’s message will change that. But lay experts in parishes can do great good for their priests by offering to tutor and assist them in learning how to use these new means of communication, from setting up blogs or websites, to using smartphones and Facebook accounts, to assisting to put their preaching and teaching of the faith online. This would be a great gift to offer priests during this Year For Priests. Finally, the pope reminds his brother priests that they should be notable mainly for their “priestly heart, their closeness to Christ,” rather than their “media savvy.” Priests are not being asked to become webmasters, graphic designers, or gadget geniuses but to become “competent” enough to do what it takes to establish a presence, whereby their priestly heart can establish heart-to-heart contact with those who are searching and show that Christ is near. He reminds priests that “the ultimate fruitfulness of their ministry” comes not through technique, but “from Christ himself, encountered and listened to in prayer; proclaimed in preaching and lived witness; and known, loved and celebrated in the sacraments, especially the holy Eucharist and reconciliation.” Through email, websites, blogs and more, priests are enabled to bring that Christ they’ve encountered into the homes and workplaces of people all over the world, allowing Christ to knock on the doors of their hearts and call them to the fullness of life. Pope Benedict finishes his letter by calling priests to make “astute use” of the possibilities provided by modern communications so that they may be “enthusiastic heralds … in the new ‘agora’ that the current media are opening up.” This would be a great prayer for the whole Church to lift up for priests during this priestly year.
February 5, 2010 St. John Vianney’s favorite work, Part II
Last week, as the Church in the United States — but as sad as it was for them to prepare to leave was preparing for Catholic Schools Week, we fo- after a year’s transition, they responded by imitatcused on all the sacrifices St. John Vianney made ing their pastor’s heroic detachment, conscious and the work he did in Ars to found a school to that this was for the long-term good of La Provieducate girls. He dedicated to it his entire fam- dence. The women would find a house together ily inheritance. Once it began to take in orphans and continue to serve the people of Ars as assistant and girls from destitute families, the need to fund sacristans and visiting the sick. even greater provisions grew. But confident in One of the tensions in the negotiations had the Lord’s help, he named the school “La Provi- been the fate of the orphanage. The Sisters were dence,” entrusted him to the Lord’s providential interested in running the school, but not particucare, and went hat-in-hand on begging tours to larly enthused about operating an orphanage, those who might help. It was a struggle, but God’s which they saw as a different type of work. That providence never let him and the school down. gave Father Vianney pause and he thought of St. John Vianney visited the school every day, withdrawing from the whole deal lest their lack taught the catechism to the students, led them of enthusiasm doom the orphanage. He prayed in prayer, instructed them in human virtues and and told others that didn’t see the will of God in decorum and so much more. The people of Ars accepting an agreement if the orphanage would readily called La Providence their pastor’s “favor- not be a priority, but, because he knew through ite work,” and this is quite a statement consider- Canon Perrodin that Bishop Devie saw God’s will ing the case to be made for the sacrament of pen- in the transfer, he went through with it. He was ance, where Father Vianney spent more than half ultimately an obedient priest and trusted the will his day for three decades. of God being expressed by his bishop more than Because he loved the school he had founded he trusted in his own prayer. so much, one of the most difficult and heroic exThe orphanage didn’t survive past the first periences of his life came when he needed to let year of the new administration. it go. As tough as it was to detach himself from his When the school was in its 20th year in 1843, “favorite work,” and to see the demise of his beFather Vianney loved orphanage, caught pleuroFather Vianney pneumonia and not only soldiered the four doctors on but continand seven priests ued to do all he at his bedside concould to advance sidered his condiCatholic education hopeless. The tion. Once free By Father doctors gave him of the burden of Roger J. Landry at most a halfresponsibility for hour to live, he the day-to-day received last rites, survival of his and the whole town was assembled at the door girls’ school, Father Vianney dedicated his time to of the rectory. Right before he fell into a coma, a project he had long put-off: the foundation of a he re-consecrated himself to the Blessed Virgin Catholic boys’ school in Ars. and to St. Philomena, an early martyr who was Back when he had founded La Providence, his chief pastoral collaborator. After he had lasted he had recognized the pedagogical superiority for three hours, Father Dubouis went to celebrate of one-sex instruction and had prioritized a girls’ Mass for him at the altar of St. Philomena in the school, believing that parents would more easily church. Once Mass had ended, Father Vianney send their girls to school full-time than their boys, miraculously opened his eyes, exclaimed, “A whose developing muscles were more needed in great change has taken place in me. I am cured,” the fields. He had nevertheless tried over time to and regained his strength. influence the boys’ education, by lobbying the The experience of being on a deathbed, how- mayor to appoint as teacher in the public boys’ ever, helped him to recall the obvious: he was not school Jean Pertinand, an exemplary Catholic going to live forever. He knew that he couldn’t who could certainly be trusted not to try to indocpresume that his successor would sacrifice all his trinate the young boys’ in poisonous ideas hostile personal funds and so much time and effort in to the faith. As a civic figure, the Curé would visit fund raising in order to keep the school going. He the class often and even pay for the tuition of the also recognized that the three lay women who ran boys whose parents were too poor to afford it. the school were not going to live forever either. It Public schools at the time in France, like public would not be easy for him or a successor to find universities in the States today, were not free. women who not only would work for free but Father Vianney wanted to found a free Cathohave the skills to run a multi-tiered educational lic school to educate the children not just in secufacility for more than 60 girls, many of whom lar subjects but in their faith. Because he was were orphans. It was clear to him, therefore, that aware of his finitude, he knew it would have to he needed to put La Providence on a secure foun- be run by religious. He turned to the Brothers of dation for the future. the Holy Family of Belley, and they came to Ars Father Raymond, his parochial vicar, sug- to open a school in 1849 buildings Father Vianney gested he think about entrusting the school and had purchased. Originally the endowed institution its orphanage to the care of religious women. was just for the boys of Ars, but soon the reputaSeveral of the mothers of girls at the school also tion for excellent education had spread so much had been lobbying for this end, believing that if that they attached a boarding school for children a group of Sisters ran the school, there would coming from other villages. So many boys came be more discipline, organization and cleanliness that they needed to expand the school with new than the overworked laywomen could do on their buildings after just seven years. own. The bishop also sent Canon Perrodin, the That massive ingress of boys and girls to rector of the seminary and someone Father Vian- Ars to receive a free Catholic education demonney respected, to visit Ars, to try to persuade him strated how much Catholic schools were needed to consider turning the direction of La Providence in the whole region. So Father Vianney began to over to the Sisters of St. Joseph. dedicate most of the money that pilgrims to Ars After six months of negotiations with the su- jammed into his deep cassock pockets to found perior of that community, prodded and assisted and endow single-sex schools for boys and girls by Canon Perrodin, Father Vianney reached an in several of the surrounding villages. agreement to turn over the school to the Sisters. It goes almost without saying that inexpenIn order to keep the school tuition free, he needed sive — or permit me to dream, free! — Catholic to endow it with the enormous sum of 53,000 schools are just as needed today in our area as they francs, which he did, thanks to many generous were in southeastern France 150 years ago. benefactions on the part of pilgrims and friends. As we conclude Catholic Schools Week toThe Sisters would have total control over the day, let us ask St. John Vianney to help all of us institution, though the pastor would continue to in the Diocese of Fall River to learn from his teach the catechism. example and commit ourselves to work to help It was excruciating for him to break the news to make and keep Catholic schools strong and to the women who had given their lives to the available. school — laying good, hardworking people off Father Landry is pastor of St. Anthony of is among the hardest things any priest needs to do Padua Parish in New Bedford.
Putting Into the Deep
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fter 10 years as a Catholic priest, I can honestly declare that my priesthood is intertwined with my identity as a religious of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. I am who I am as a man of God because of my union with my religious family and because of my service to this religious family and God’s people as a priest. After one year of engineering studies, I understood that I needed to move in a different direction to live a fulfilling life. I had been faithful in my church practices into my teen years, so I thought I’d investigate the possibility of a priestly vocation. While it seemed a countercultural career path in our modern world, the one thought that continued to gnaw at me was that I didn’t want to look back on my life after 50 years and wonder if the priesthood was the right direction for my life. This gave me the courage to attend a diocesan Vocation Awareness session and eventually apply for admission to a diocesan seminary. During three years of semi-
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Never out of God’s sight
nary college and another three with the laity – outside the foryears of theological studies, I mal path toward priesthood. It was able to delve into topics was during this time of renewed about the Catholic Church faith trust in God that I realized my that I could never have imagresponse to God would be more ined. These helped to expand properly answered as a member my mind and soul as I desired of the Congregation of the Sato figure out how I might to cred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. serve God. I was very blessed to One of the gifts I’ve received be able to interact with other men who similarly were trying to listen to Year For Priests God in their own lives. Vocational Reflection Some painful moments for me occurred when gifted and holy men By Father Christopher whom I perceived would Santangelo, SS.CC. make wonderful priests decided to leave the seminary and not be ordained. This prompted moments in serving as a Sacred Hearts of ongoing prayer and discernpriest has been in sharing in ment so I might grow in respect the journeys of many diverse of the mystery of the life I was people, particularly in misseeking to enter. sionary settings. While in the I had to come to terms with Philippines for religious traintrusting in God deeply when I ing I had the experience being discerned my own need to leave a minority for the first time. I seminary before ordination. I learned to cope with uncomfortneeded to trust that the God who able feelings of being a guest walked close with me while I in another country, and growwas moving toward the priesting to accept areas of prejudice hood would be the same God that needed to be converted in who walks close with me – and my life. I was able to use this
appreciation for respecting other people and cultures when I went to the Bahamas as a priest. I was taught by these people to share my ministerial gifts and allow them to train me in their local customs as I grew in priestly experience. I have heard it said that a priest’s first assignment can have an indelible impact on the rest of his priestly ministry. I believe this to be true – and I was gifted with a full and enriching first priestly assignment in the Bahamas. My experiences in rural ministry in New Mexico gave me an understanding of how people live their faith where ministerial resources are at a premium. And serving the people of God in the Fall River Diocese has shown me a people who strive to remain faithful to God despite the changing landscape of ministerial life. Walking with people in their fears about Church life has helped me cope with my own concerns for emerging changes in our local and universal Church.
Throughout my priestly life I have had to grow in my ability to be adaptable and teachable. I can remember an Easter Vigil in the Bahamas where we had to delay the start of our celebration because an elderly gentleman who was being welcomed into the Church had fallen asleep in his home. This man who had very little in material wealth evangelized our parish family through his witness of trusting in God who was with him throughout his checkered life. A few weeks later he died – and our celebration of his life was one that had deep effects for the growth of our parish. I could never have imagined the depth of God’s faithfulness to me throughout my life as a religious priest. Though I have had moments of wavering faith and trust, God through God’s people has witnessed to me that any knowledge I have as a Catholic priest pales in comparison to the ways God reminds me that I am never out of God’s sight. Father Santangelo, ordained in 1999, is pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in New Bedford.
Defining Christian faithfulness — A look back
ver the past fifteen months, we’ve explored the major non-Catholic Christian traditions. Before moving on to the final segment of this series, it seems well to recap. First, we studied the apostolic communities that were part of the Catholic Church until the fifth century. Political difficulties, nationalism, and anti-imperial sentiment had as much to do with their separation from the rest of Christendom as theological controversy. The Church of the East, now called the Assyrian Church of the East, broke with the wider Christian communion after the Council of Ephesus (431) declared the Virgin Mary to be the Mother of God. This in response to Nestorius, the bishop of Constantinople (later deposed) who seemed to have held that there were two separate persons in Christ, one divine (the second Person of the Trinity) and the other human (the man Jesus); consequently, Nestorius thought it was nonsense to say that God was born, suffered, and died. The decree of Ephesus was meant to safeguard the unity of Christ’s human and divine natures. The Church of the East sided with Nestorius and went its own way. Nestorianism flourished, first in Syria, then in Persia – Nestorian missionaries even reached parts of distant India and China, and Nestorian Christianity became one of the major religions of
two parts of a single communion. Genghis Khan’s vast Mongol While the foundations of the Empire. faith were the same, doctrine was Defining Jesus’ identity is a expressed differently in East and balancing act. If his humanity West. Deep disagreement over was separated from his divinity, papal supremacy, worsened by one committed the heresy of Nemutual mistrust and mistreatstorianism; if it was crowded out by his divinity, one committed the ment, eventually led to the tragic opposite heresy, Monophysitism. In response to the latter, the fourth ecumenical council, The Fullness held at Chalcedon in of the Truth 451, proclaimed Christ to have two distinct By Father natures – divine and Thomas M. Kocik human – united in the one divine Person of the Son. A great number schism in 1054. How “Orthodox” of Christians, beginning with the became the proper name of the Coptic Church in Egypt, refused Eastern Church, it’s difficult to to acknowledge the Council of say. It was used at first by the Chalcedon and departed from Byzantines, not with any idea Catholic unity. These “non-Chalof opposition against the Latins, cedonian” churches are collecbut rather as the antithesis to the tively named Oriental Orthodox. Nestorians and Monophysites. While being in full communion Gradually, “Catholic” became the with one another, they are hierarcommon name for the original chically independent. Church in the West, “Orthodox” From the Assyrian and Oriental Orthodox churches, we turned in the East. The biggest share of our our attention to the Orthodox time was spent in Protestantism. Church of the East, a family of It was necessary first to conself-governing ethnic churches sider the causes and results of the – Russian, Ukrainian, Serbian, sixteenth-century Reformation. Romanian, Greek, etc. – held What the Reformation claimed together by a common faith and sacramental life. For nearly a mil- to be espousing was not a new lennium, the Eastern or Byzantine “Protestant” gospel but the faith of the true Church, the Catholic Church, centered on ConstantiChurch of all times, as against nople, and the Western or Latin the false “papal” Church. The Church, centered on Rome, were
Reformers retained a great deal of historic Christianity: baptism in the name of the Trinity, Christ acknowledged as fully human yet fully divine, the Apostles’ and Nicene creeds, and, more fundamentally, the authoritative use of a collection of texts known as the Bible. However, many Protestants, disconnecting Scripture from the Church’s theological heritage and claiming the privilege of private interpretation, soon found it possible to discard infant baptism, sacramental realism, Marian devotion, and even Trinitarian orthodoxy. After considering the origins and preoccupations of the chief branches of Protestantism – Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, Anabaptist – we surveyed the myriad denominational families and their offshoots within the contemporary Protestant world. It’s no exaggeration to say that every emphasis spawned its own denomination, each one missing the forest for a few trees. In recent decades, many Protestants have tried to put together again those separate pieces that were pulled apart. The acceptance of grace through faith, the normativity of Scripture, the priesthood of all Christians – these Protestant “distinctives” can form part of the total life and teaching of the one Church. It’s a matter of
combining them with the Catholic understanding of the Church both as the sacrament of Christ, mediating salvation through institutional means of grace, and as the communion of saints bound to Christ through time. To borrow an analogy from Peter Kreeft, the Church is not a melting pot but a stew; every ingredient is preserved in the mix of many differences, not melted down. We may prayerfully hope that a day will come when all who profess faith in Christ will live in renewed, visible communion with one another. When the prayer of Jesus in John 17 is fulfilled, there will be but one sheepfold. Only God knows what the institutional form of Christian unity would look like. We can know that it will entail unity in the fullness of the truth that Christ intends for his Church, in Eucharistic celebration, and in communion with the continuing ministry of the Apostles. In a word, it will be catholic, embracing the totality of Christian experience and tradition. Catholicity is not the private domain of Catholicism, any more than orthodoxy is the private domain of Orthodoxy. Yet, as I hope to have shown, the dimensions and structures of catholicity have developed more robustly on the Catholic estate than anywhere else. Father Kocik is a parochial vicar at Santo Christo Parish in Fall River.
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he Master had good reasons for calling fishermen as his companions. Practical reasons. Though infinite God, Jesus nevertheless subjected himself to the limitations of time and space. Put simply, if he wanted his work to flourish, he needed good people to help him do it. He needed hands to heal those he couldn’t reach, legs to walk where he couldn’t go, mouths to teach those who couldn’t hear him. He might have chosen fishermen because their livelihood was (and still is) frequently perilous and unpredictable. Not that there’s anything especially holy about fishing, but danger and the risk of empty nets (and empty stomachs) are hard schools of perseverance and perspective; I imagine that fishermen clinging to an angry sea might keep the name
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February 5, 2010
Call to intimacy
of God ever on their lips. Yet fathom, for the heart hurts to Jesus now called them to begin the measure it loves. Who can “catching men” (Luke 5:10), a measure the infinite? But lonefar more challenging business, liness is heavy indeed, and that to be sure, and these fellows were going to need all of their courHomily of the Week age. More than that, Fifth Sunday they must keep their in Ordinary Time good sense to depend on God. Fishing, after By Deacon all, is not mastery; fishPeter R. Cote ermen drop their nets in the water, but they cannot command fish (or people) to come near. A we can understand. large element of their success, Jesus wanted close friends if they have it at all, is well out more than he wanted good of their hands and they know workers because the work is it. impossible without intimacy. Jesus had good reasons to What good may anyone accall them, but there’s a better complish without his love? one: Jesus wanted intimacy. Without his embrace, this icy The Divine Heart wanted world would freeze our hearts. friends. Such emotional Without his strong shoulders, burdens as Jesus would bear, our burdens would crush us. perhaps, we can never fully Without his tender whispers,
our courage would fail, our minds despair. Without his Body and Blood, our spirits would shrivel and starve. “By the grace of God,” Paul writes, “I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective. Indeed, I have toiled harder than all of them, not I, however, but the grace of God that is with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). The call to serve God is foremost a call to love him; in loving we serve, in serving we love. In this way all can come to his arms, and all can be sent out to “catch.” It is by his love that we just are. In the womb, we begin life already in love, and we end never at all. “Whom shall I send?” asks the Lord, “Who will go for us?” But the question is also, “Who will love me? Who will
come into my arms?” Respond as Isaiah did, “Here I am. Send me” (Isaiah 6:8). Here I am. Take me. Hold me. Never let go. My net is empty; I have nothing, I am nothing without you. Answer him in humility, like Simon, who just won the catch of his life but left it behind: “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). St. Therese, the Little Flower, speculated that it was because Simon’s net was entirely empty that the Lord filled it, and I think she’s right on. It has ever been just so between God and his friends, that if they give but a little, he returns much more. If they empty themselves entirely, he will lavish them with astonishing abundance. Deacon Cote serves at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River.
Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Feb. 6, 1 Kgs 3:4-13; Ps 110:9-14; Mk 6:30-34. Sun. Feb. 7, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Is 6:1-2a,3-8; Ps 138:1-5,7-8; 1 Cor 15:1-11 or 15:3-8,11; Lk 5:1-11. Mon. Feb. 8, 1 Kgs 8:1-7,9-13; Ps 132:6-7, 8-10; Mk 6:53-56. Tues. Feb. 9, 1 Kgs 8:22-23,27-30; Ps 84:3-5,10-11; Mk 7:1-13. Wed. Feb. 10, 1 Kgs 10:1-10; Ps 37:5-6,30-31, 39-40; Mk 7:14-23. Thur. Feb. 11, 1 Kgs 11:4-13; Ps 106:3-4, 35-37,40; Mk 7:24-30. Fri. Feb. 12, 1Kgs 11:29-32;12:19; Ps 81:1011b,12-15; Mk 7:31-37.
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e’re surrounded by noise. At Miami International Airport recently, I counted five sources of noise — TSA announcements, airline announcements, airport announcements, muzak, and the ubiquitous CNN-Airport channel. And that’s before we get to squawking children, loud conversations, and passengers who address their cell phones the way Hitler “talked” to the Nuremberg rallies. Stores and restaurants are full of canned music; an NBA or NHL game is an exercise in noise-pain management; there is virtually no public space,
Rediscovering the sounds of silence
outside art museums and we sometimes listened to God courtrooms, where our aural speaking in the sounds of senses are not under assault. silence. Chatter, if low-key, Churches should be difis constant, not simply in the ferent. To enter the body of narthex or vestibule (which is a Catholic Church should be to experience a change in location: to cross a portal into a different kind of space than the space in which we live our By George Weigel daily lives. Yet as I get around the country I can’t help but notice that the contemporary Amerifine), but in the body of the can noise culture has invaded church before Mass. Immeand distorted what used to be diately after the recessional understood as space in which hymn is sung, the chatter breaks out again, often louder — despite many a choir’s noble efforts to sing a choral postlude. The exchange of peace is another opportunity, rarely spurned, for the chatter to recommence. And then there are the kids. The idea that crying babies or fussing children should not interfere with the celebration of Mass seems to have been lost on an entire generation of parents — and this, despite the (expensive) efforts of many churches to build cry-rooms. Pastors who point out that fractious children really don’t belong in church during services are accused of callousness or (gasp!) insensitivity; parents have been known to leave congregations because the pastor, in the kindest pos-
The Catholic Difference
sible way, reminded them that the cry-room was built for a purpose. So here’s a suggestion for Lent, just around the corner: rediscover the sounds of silence in church. Refrain from chattering with friends when you leave the narthex (I almost said “gathering space”!), and remind yourself that to cross the threshold between the vestibule and the body of the church is to pass one of those permeable borders between the natural and the supernatural that constitute the physical texture of Catholicism’s sacramental imagination: that way-of-seeing-things that teaches us that the extraordinary lies just on the far side of the ordinary. Don’t begin chattering with neighbors as soon as the recessional hymn ends; preserve a dignified silence as you leave the church, as a reminder that we’re about to return to “the world,” as a gesture of courtesy to fellow-Catholics who wish to offer prayers of thanksgiving after communion, and as an act of respect to the choir singing (or the organist playing) the postlude. Parents with small children: use the cry-room, if your parish has one; take the squawking kids out of the body of
the church when they start caterwauling, if there’s no cry-room; or consider leaving small, fractious children at home, with the parents attending different Masses — a sacrifice, I know, but a kindness to others and a way to ensure that you actually get a chance to pray yourself. Liturgists and organists: there is no need to fill every second of Mass with vocalized prayers, songs, or organ solos. The Roman Rite has always made room for silence; silence after communion is particularly appropriate. It doesn’t have to be all noise, all the time. Recovering a sense of sacred space is as important as rediscovering sacred time in the renewal of the liturgy. All the more reason then, to welcome a splendid new book by Denis R. McNamara of the Liturgical Institute of the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary: “Catholic Church Architecture and the Spirit of the Liturgy” (Hillenbrand Books). Full of both insight and illustrations, McNamara’s new study is a reminder of what sacred space is, and why it ought to nourish an attentive listing to the sounds of silence. George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.
The misadventures of Marmaduke Matthews 30 January 2010 — at home effect. Will Chase had only been in Old Dighton Village — night of Town Constable for six months. the full moon They say it happened this way. ather round, readers, and In that church, it was customary I will tell you the story of Marmaduke Matthews of Mattachese. In 1638, Marmaduke Reflections of a became the first minister Parish Priest of the Congregational By Father Tim Church in what is now the Cummaquid section Goldrick of Barnstable. During his seven-year pastorate, Marmaduke was constantly that when the minister began his embroiled in disputes with his sermon, a deacon would turn parishioners, perhaps the most an hourglass. The minister was notorious being with Constable expected to preach until the sand William Chase. ran out. One Sunday, during a According to court records, rambling sermon, Will Chase Will Chase became so annoyed decided he wasn’t going to take with the minister that he publicly it anymore. He shouted out, “The voiced his displeasure. “Fye! sand may not yet have run out, Fye! For shame!” he shouted, Mr. Matthews, but your thoughts probably wagging his finger for ran out long ago!” Constable
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The Ship’s Log
Chase was arrested. It was illegal to interrupt a religious service (is it still?). The court found the constable guilty, fired him, and banished him from town. In the meantime, the same court received so many complaints concerning Marmaduke Matthew’s lack of discretion that it intervened. The minister was charged with preaching “weakened and unsafe expressions of the (Protestant) faith.” Marmaduke skipped town. He eventually returned to England. Will Chase’s sentence of banishment was never carried out. Will Chase died peacefully at home in Mattachese in 1659. Did I happen to mention that Will Chase was my ninth great-grandfather? In our own times, disruptions of religious services are no longer
Divinely jealous love
compulsive materialism to my hen we only read holy list of American idols, either. I Scripture in snippets have seen how these straw idols or summaries, we miss some stealthily usurp every bit of our contextual words that can help us better understand God’s love. time, energy, and money, leaving us nothing for God but an For example, it wasn’t until I obligatory 45 minutes a week read the 10 Commandments straight from Deuteronomy 5:1- in church, and maybe a token George Washington to toss in 21 that I gained an insight into the collection basket. Yes, havGod’s nature that has dramatiing thought it over, I could uncally improved my faith life. derstand God’s getting burned The first half of Deuteronup over humankind’s penchant omy 5:9 reads: “You shall not for bad and false idols. bow down to them (false idols) or worship them…” But there’s more. “… for I the Lord your God am a jealous God.” In that context the word “jealous” puzzled me. Why would God be jealous? I mean, really, By Heidi Bratton he owns everything! It intrigued me enough that I grabbed my Bible The Bible verses I read, concordance and looked up the however, didn’t say that God’s word ‘jealous.’ I found God jealousy stopped at things that described as jealous in at least were bad. I had to consider, 11 more places in the Old Testherefore, that anything that tament, all in conjunction with topped God in the pyramid of warnings against idol worship. In one place his jealousy is even our affections, even good things like a strong marriage, good described as all consuming fire. jobs, and healthy children, were Well, OK. The first thing I not exempt from God’s jealhad to accept is that, along with ousy. But why would God be everything else he has created, jealous of things that are good? I belong to God. Got it; I am That was a puzzle to me until God’s beloved child, as are all last August when my second people ever conceived. It made child headed 942 miles away to sense then that God would be college. jealous of the Israelites worIn July my son received an shipping false idols that could email saying that his roommate not actually love them back. I would be from a town about could also see that our modan hour from their university. ern worship of pop stars and The comment was made that sports heroes would make God this was really great, because it jealous. It didn’t stretch my would give my son somewhere imagination much to add bad nearby to go for a home-cooked things like drugs and alcomeal if he were ever homesick. hol, obsessive Internet use, or
Home Grown Faith
Flames of jealousy positively ripped through my heart. Of course I would want a good roommate situation for my son, but at the expense of my being replaced by some other mother and her home cooking? I think not. And then a light bulb went off in my brain. God is the same. God does want good for us, but not at the expense of his being replaced. Now, I repented of my jealousy, because I know that my children do not belong to me in the same way that God’s children belong to him, however being able to empathize with the jealous nature of God has been a great help to my faith. It has made it easier for me to accept that anything, be it good or bad, that would replace God in my life is something that I should not desire. It has also helped me see that very often good desires replace God more easily than do bad ones, therefore even when my prayers for good are not answered in the ways I want, I can cling to the truth that what our divinely jealous God wants for each of his beloved children is not merely temporal good, but eternal good. God is passionate about our going to heaven, and without a doubt, everything he has done, is doing, and will do is to help us get there. Now that’s a love worthy of our complete devotion. A happy, if early, Valentine’s Day to all. Heidi is an author, photographer, and full-time mother. She and her husband raise their six children in Falmouth. homegrownfaith@gmail.com.
rare. Consider the deranged woman who tackled the poor pope during the solemn procession at Christmas Midnight Mass. Even the Holy Father is unable to avoid disruptions during holy Mass. Almost four decades ago, at my ordination to the priesthood, there were placard-carrying anti-war demonstrators marching outside the cathedral. A SWAT team was prepared to intervene should there be an attempt at hostage taking. A bodyguard was assigned to protect the soon-tobe-ordained priests, including yours truly. It was a sign of things to come. I recall nothing of this sort in the film “Going My Way.” A number of years ago, I attended Sunday Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. A group of protesters had gathered outside. They were all wearing facemasks of the singer Sinéad O’Connor, for some reason. At the end of Mass, His Eminence, John Cardinal O’Connor (no relation to Sinéad), advised the assembly to avoid engaging the protesters as we departed the church. I followed his instructions, but found the incident unnerving. I was once the target of a death threat uttered while I was distributing holy Communion at Mass. A neighborhood drug addict stood before me and proclaimed that he was planning to shoot me dead. I responded calmly, “Can’t you see I’m busy? Go wait in that room over there. They’ll be plenty of time to kill me after Mass.” He went. I telephoned the police. On another occasion, a knifewielding psychotic with red hair and one ear attacked me in my office. I bolted around the conference table with him in hot pursuit. The police arrived and ar-
rested the man before he was able to stab me. Eric the Red, they called him. When should a parish priest be on “red alert” to the possibility of a disruption of a religious service? The answer is mostly during weddings and funerals. I did have one interruption during baptism, though. I was baptizing an infant. As I pronounced the name of the little girl, the baby’s intoxicated mother yelled out, “That’s Marie Antoinette III!” The Third? Does that mean the mother was Marie Antoinette Jr.? Once, during a funeral Mass, as I was concluding the homily, two people in the congregation stood up and announced to the assembly that they would now give their eulogies. I called for the assistance of a funeral director. None was present. I suggested to the proposed eulogists that, according to the Order of Christian Funerals, “a member or a friend of the family may speak in remembrance of the deceased before the final commendation begins” and that they were most welcome to do so at the proper time. Not persuaded by logic, they seized the pulpit microphone. I am not making this up. This is The Age of Rage. Now, here’s a thought. What if priests were trained in martial arts? I know many police officers are trained in martial arts. I’m the Police Chaplain. I see out my window that the gym across the street is offering jujitsu, judo, and karate classes. Maybe I should sign up, but then again, such skills might prove unbefitting a man of the cloth. I’ll just have to grin and bear it. Father Goldrick is pastor of St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dighton.
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February 5, 2010
Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, February 7 at 11:00 a.m.
Celebrant is Father Michael Ciryak, pastor of St. Fancis of Assisi Parish in Swansea
February 5, 2010
The Anchor
FAD is just around the corner
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t’s commonly known as the “winter blues,” or its more technical term is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). New England has more than its share of SAD sufferers. One of the primary causes is lack of sunlight. Around these parts, December and January average about nine hours of light, compared with 15 hours in the dark each day. Around the Winter Solstice, when the Earth’s axis tilts furthest away from the sun, the latest the sun wakes up is 7:12 a.m. and the earliest it goes to bed is 4:14 p.m. Ouch. Even when the sun is out, it’s often covered with snow and rain clouds. I’m getting SAD just thinking about it. But for me, the winter blues really kick in the first week in February — more precisely, the By Dave Jolivet day after Super Bowl Sunday. That’s when the Pigskin Solstice occurs. The time of year when the goal posts tilt furthest away from football fans. That’s when Pigskin Affective Disorder (PAD) kicks in. It’s the time of year when the warm glow of the leather-colored, egg-shaped source of heat no longer flies through the air in arenas across this great land. From mid-July through the end of January, nothing warms my heart more than 22 gladiators knocking heads on an emerald green 100-by-53.5yard playing field (except at Boise State University, where the field is blue, and that’s just so wrong). Football’s light shines brightest from shortly before Christmas to Solstice eve, when a football fanatic like myself, can bathe in the warmth of gridiron action nearly every day of the week. Then, boom — nothing. Nothing but darkness, cold, and SADness. SAD patients can sometimes be successfully treated with light therapy — artificially simulating sunlight to appease the mind. For FAD sufferers, there are no antidotes, no therapies, no artificial football substitutes. Sure, we can try to slip in a DVD of any of the Patriots’ three championship seasons, but oftentimes the results are counterproductive — only magnifying the fact that there is no live football to watch. The funk only deepens. Luckily, the good Lord knows FAD victims can only take so much, and he eases the angst with the advent of baseball spring training and college basketball March Madness. It’s not football, but sports fans are usually easily distracted, so until the football days start to get longer at the Pigskin Solstice in July, we’ll be OK. But the trick is to make it through the next few weeks — until pitchers and catchers report on February 19. So, after this Sunday, if you see me with a blank look on my face (more so than usual), just sneak up behind me and yell Hike! That should get the blood pumping again — for a while anyway. And speaking of the July Pigskin Solstice, George, I’m counting on you’re being all set to taking me to task on the links this summer. I’m just the opponent to put a spring in your step again.
My View From the Stands
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Diocesan pilgrims celebrate St. Damien’s canonization in D.C. continued from page one
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In short order, Father Petrie and Archbishop Sambi agreed a celebration would take place January 31 — appropriately enough, World Leprosy Day — and the setting would be the National Shrine. “The Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary chose today as a day to celebrate the canonization of St. Damien because he selflessly served the lepers on the island of Molokai and eventually became a leper himself,” said Msgr. Walter R. Rossi, rector of the basilica, in his welcoming remarks. Father Petrie noted in his homily that it was also exactly 130 years ago on this date that St. Damien wrote home to his parents expressing his joy at being able to live and work among the abandoned and rejected people of Molokai island afflicted with Hansen’s Disease. “He wrote: ‘I am very happy to be able to continue to dedicate myself to the leprosy patients and I have no other desire in the world,’” Father Petrie said. “What a statement. This sentiment is from one who lived the Christ life. St. Damien learned that he was doing what he was supposed to be doing. He was at peace with the choice he made in following Christ. There were no regrets. He accepted his reality. He had spiritual joy.” St. Damien’s charitable and compassionate efforts to help the people of Molokai are often cited by priests as one of the key reasons they entered the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts; and it is also St. Damien’s close affiliation with leprosy patients that would align Father Petrie with another person destined for sainthood: Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. After his ordination in 1965, Father Petrie was assigned to minister to Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in the Fall River Diocese, but his real desire was to work with lepers like Father Damien. After reading about Mother Teresa’s work with leprosy patients in a magazine article that same year, he decided to offer his help. “I wrote her and never got an answer,” Father Petrie previously told The Anchor. But somehow God would intervene and inspire Father Petrie to keep pursuing Mother Teresa’s mission. He flew to Calcutta on his own dime and simply showed up to volunteer. “I called up the Missionaries of Charity and I said: ‘My name is Father Petrie and I’d like to speak to Mother Teresa. I came to volunteer for the leprosy ward,’” Father Petrie said. “The voice on the other end said: ‘This is Mother Teresa, come right over.’ So she didn’t take you seriously until you were right in front of her. She had no recall of my letters.” Father Petrie would work along-
side Mother Teresa for the next 22 years as her spiritual advisor and noted how her own love and devotion to then-Blessed Father Damien would only help cement their bond. “St. Damien was one of her favorites,” Father Petrie said. “Even back then she was saying: ‘When is he going to be canonized?’” As if to drive the point home, more than 40 members of the Missionaries of Charity — the order Mother Teresa founded — were in attendance during the Mass, filling the front pews. “Little did St. Damien realize that we would be celebrating a Mass of Thanksgiving on World Leprosy Day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in honor of his canonization — the ninth saint recognized by the Catholic Church to have worked, lived and died in the United States,” Father Petrie said. Pilgrims from the diocese departed after a morning Mass at St. Joseph’s Parish, Fairhaven, January 30, and returned late in the day on February 1. The group participated in prayers and devotions to St. Damien throughout the weekend, along with a traditional Hawaiian “luau,” or party, celebrating the life and culture of the island of Molokai where St. Damien lived and died. “I’ve never been on a pilgrimage before and I’ve found this totally exhilarating,” said Lorraine Asa of St. Mary’s Parish, Fairhaven. “It’s been a wonderful experience with
wonderful people and I’ve learned a lot about Father Damien and what he really meant to the Church.” Likewise, Kay Alden of St. Anthony’s Parish in Mattapoisett called the pilgrimage “a strengthening experience.” Marie Cote, a parishioner of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Pocasset, proclaimed: “I really got a lot out of it that I didn’t expect … and the Mass of Thanksgiving was very spiritual.” Barbara Conlon, a parishioner of St. Mary’s Parish in South Dartmouth, said she had always been drawn to Father Damien and had studied a lot about his life even before he was canonized last year. She also previously took a pilgrimage of her own to Molokai with her family. “When I read about this in the newspaper, I knew this was the next step for me,” she said. “For me, it was an incredible experience, from beginning to end. It’s been a personal journey and I’m going to bring a lot of it back home with me.” In praising St. Damien’s selfless call to do God’s work, Father Petrie said he was guided by the greatest commandment of them all as proclaimed by Christ himself. “We have all been created through God’s love and dedicated for a special mission,” Father Petrie said. “We live that mission — moment by moment, day by day with a great commandment to guide us: ‘Love God with all our heart and soul and love our neighbor as ourselves.’”
kind words for a kind man — Father William Petrie, SS.CC., provincial of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary based in Fairhaven, speaks during a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrating the recent canonization of St. Damien of Molokai on January 31 — World Leprosy Day — in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C. (Photo by Jack Iddon)
February 5, 2010
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Diocesan faithful overwhelmingly respond to Haitian collection continued from page one
contributing more than $12,500. We have good stewards here, who realize what gifts they have been given by God, and they know it’s right to give back. We’re the Mystical Body of Christ, and when one hurts, we all hurt.” Father Harrison mentioned he was in Haiti in 1996 and saw firsthand the poverty. “I got a good feel for it then, and now it’s so much worse. God will bring good from all this.” Thirty miles off the Cape Cod coast, on the tiny island of Nantucket, the parishioners of St. Mary/ Our Lady of the Isle have generously come to the aid of the islanders on Haiti. Pastor, Father Paul E. Canuel said that despite the shrunken winter population, his parishioners have responded “exceptionally well,” noting the collection brought in more than $7,000. “People gave from the heart and the amount for such a small winter congregation was very pleasing. Our Spanish community, many of whom have little themselves, donated more than $2,000. And I’m sure they gave from what they had, not from a surplus. They can relate more to the Haitian people living without food or homes.” The parishioners of St. Mary’s Parish in Mansfield amassed $21,000 on the first weekend collection. “I am edified and astounded with the response,” Father William M. Sylvia told The Anchor. “People saw the survival stories and the horror stories and truly wanted to help,” added the parochial vicar. “With such a large immigrant community and culture in the area, Haiti seems close to home to many of us. The collection was very well received and the people were very generous. We also provided folks a link with Catholic Relief Services on our parish website for those who want to do more.” Msgr. John J. Oliveira, pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in New Bedford told The Anchor, “Even before the collection, people were asking what they could do to help our brothers and sisters in Haiti. The response was excellent the first week. Witnessing what the Haitian people were facing, the parishioners sacrificed from what they had to help. In fact, I told people that if they couldn’t afford to give that they could forget the parish collection for one week and give to the Haitian collection. Their need was greater than ours.” Msgr. Oliveira also expressed gratitude that the diocese responded so quickly to the disaster. “The images are still very clear in people’s minds, and giving them the chance to donate to Catholic Relief Services gives them an option to donate to a reputable organization.” The parishioners at St. Pius X Parish in South Yarmouth collected
$22,000 the first week. “People really were concerned and responded well,” said pastor, Father George E. Bellenoit. “Principal Linda Mattson at Holy Trinity School in West Harwich worked with the Cluny Sisters, who have missions in Haiti, and the
students have rallied to raise funds for them as well,” he added. Donations can be sent directly to the Fall River Diocese at P.O. Box 2577, Fall River, Mass. 02722. Mark “Haitian Relief” in the memo section of the check. People can also donate at crs.org.
“We build community on service and obedience.” ~ Founder, Father Joseph Anthony Marcheselli OFM Conv.
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Youth Pages
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Many Pro-Lifers are upbeat following Brown victory continued from page five
cover. Clancy said the change is a sign of God’s hand. “I deserve no thanks for this
photo. It was all God,” he said. Since the photo was taken, Clancy lost his nearly 20-year
St. Mary’s Catholic School Mansfield, MA Providing academic excellence built upon Christian spirituality while partnering with families to educate our children in Catholic faith and values.
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photojournalism career because the surgeon in the photo alleged that his photo was staged, which has affected his credibility. But on the positive side, Clancy has reached five million people on his website, many of whom have messaged him to say his photograph caused them to cancel a planned abortion. And in 2003, he was invited to attend the signing of the ban on partialbirth abortion at the White House because his photo was influential in its passage. MCFL honored two parties at the assembly. Friends of the Unborn, a home for pregnant women that has helped nearly 2,000 women in its 25 years, was presented with the Thomas Flatley Award for bringing the greatest number of supporters to the MCFL’s Walk to Aid Mothers and Children in October last year. Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence was recognized for his public dialogue with Congressman Patrick Kennedy about the Church’s teaching that abortion is a moral evil. Rabbi Henry Morse, a Messianic Jew who acted as emcee for the event, told the crowd that they must continue to preach life to individuals and give them hope. “We touch people one person at a time,” he said, adding that they should seek God’s help in changing hearts. “We have been called to be a light to the world, and that includes the unborn,” he said. “It is not acceptable to leave others in darkness. We should not let death reign in the hearts of men.” At the end of the program, Rabbi Morse prayed a Hebrew blessing over Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley. Cardinal O’Malley told the rabbi that St. Francis commonly used the same blessing. The cardinal told the crowd that abortion advocates want the citizens of the United States to be complicit — to allow their tax dollars to pay for abortion and their health care workers to become executioners. In contrast, Pro-Lifers must stand up in defense of all of God’s children. “We want our country to live up to its ideals,” he said. “Life is the central value we must defend.”
February 5, 2010
Pro athletes to discuss their faith, family life in Faith Bowl III HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (CNS) — A round-table discussion produced by Family Theater Productions will bring together professional Catholic athletes to discuss how they live out their faith in the public arena of professional sports and what challenges to family life they face. The half-hour discussion, called Faith Bowl III, will air on several Catholic television broadcast outlets and networks in conjunction with Super Bowl XLIV February 7. This is the third consecutive year that Family Theater has produced Faith Bowl in conjunction with Catholic Athletes for Christ and the Knights of Columbus. Faith Bowl III will feature Mike Piazza, a retired catcher who had a 16-year career in Major League Baseball, mostly with the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers; Mike Sweeney, a 15-year veteran of Major League Baseball and designated hitter for the Seattle Mariners in 2009; Bobby Keppel, a relief pitcher for the Minnesota Twins. With Keppel as moderator, the panelists will discuss the importance of the Catholic faith, prayer and a sound Christian family life, and the important role of a husband and father in being a “true man.” The three ballplayers are members of Catholic Athletes for Christ, which assists its members in the
practice of their faith and helps them promote a Catholic sports culture. The program was taped at Family Theater Productions in Hollywood last November following a Catholic Athletes for Christ retreat in nearby Mailbu. The production team was led by executive producers Holy Cross Fathers Willy Raymond and David Guffey, Family Theater Productions’ national director and TV/film director, respectively; Ray McKenna, founding president of Catholic Athletes for Christ; and producer/ director Jake Alba, who produced and directed Faith Bowls I and II and Family Theater’s previous production “Rosary Stars: Praying the Gospel.” The broadcast outlets scheduled to air Faith Bowl III are: Eternal Word Television Network, www. ewtn.com; CatholicTV of the Boston Archdiocese, www.catholictv. com; Catholic Life Channel in the Diocese of Baton Rouge, La., www. catholiclifetv.org; Catholic Community Television in Leesburg Fla., www.cctn.org; Instructional Television of the New York Archdiocese, http://itvny.org; Catholic TV in the Diocese of Scranton, Pa., www. dioceseofscranton.org; the Diocese of Raleigh, N.C., www.dioceseofraleigh.org; and Salt + Light Television Network in Toronto, www. saltandlighttv.org.
World Youth Day 2011 launches English version of official Website VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Organizers of the 2011 World Youth Day celebration in Spain launched an English-language Web page offering registration information, schedules and social networks to help spread word about the event. The Website, www.madridwyd2011.com, created by and for young people, opened its English page January 29. It counts down to the Aug. 16-21, 2011, World Youth Day international gathering in Madrid. The Website introduces multimedia resources including
videos, audio, and social networking tools that allow young people from all over the world to stay connected and updated via Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Members and fans are encouraged to post pictures, video clips and comments, and to share experiences from past World Youth Day celebrations. The site also offers a detailed schedule of the 2011 World Youth Day week including events with Pope Benedict XVI, religious activities, catechesis sessions and cultural programs.
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W
e were all gathered around the dining room table. My brothers and sisters, guided by our parents, were preparing for our nightly family prayer. My mother was always the prayer leader. With our rosaries in hand, and the day’s anxieties and struggles set aside for an hour, she would begin our prayer, “Em nome do Pai, e do Filho, e do Espirito Santo. Amem.” And thus continued our daily prayer and our Portuguese lesson. Yes, it was through family prayer that all of my brothers and sisters and I learned, strengthened and kept alive our faith and the language of our birth. Every day, during my own prayer time, I’m reminded of those wonderful days past. I wish I could relive those gatherings again. But I am comforted that we still remain close to each other. I believe that those nightly prayers kept us all in the family. Having a special love for family prayer and a regular practice and even a special place for such household prayer, is an old tradition stemming from the family’s place as the primary school of learning and living the faith. School teachers and textbooks run a distant second. What is basic in family prayer is the decision to learn to behold God in daily life, to share that daily life, and to link the sacrificial love of faith lived out in family to Jesus on the cross, to the Eucharist and to the whole Body of Christ. Do you long for that special time
Youth Pages All in the family when you can gather as family to pray it faithfully, just like you do your texting and to talk about what’s on your mind? and video games. Make all members of Is the problem “not enough time” or is it the family feel included. Be brief, at first. really a matter of setting priorities? Time Then, with time, a longer prayer period Magazine reported last week that “U.S. may be acceptable. Some families start kids ages eight to 18 are consuming more getting into the family prayer habit by fomedia than ever before … 7.5 hours a cusing on prayers before and after meals. day, or 52.5 hours a week.” I don’t think (What a wonderful grace.) Make these finding the time is the problem. Maybe prayers true and meaningful. Set aside all you need is a prayer place in your one night of home to get the week as started. Turn family night off that TV, for prayer. stereo, cell Eventually, the phone and family may computer for gather daily a little while for prayer. By Ozzie Pacheco and create that Make the prayer place. family prayer Welcome place a teachChrist into it ing device for and feel his presence, his joy, his comfort family-centered faith formation. Every and his love. Be assured that Christ is day should have its “teaching” time praying with you and listening to your which will become intensely personal every word. If you can do that and also for the family. Follow Scripture readings be surrounded by your family’s love and throughout the year, beginning with a support, you will soon learn to run more word or a verse from the day’s Gospel. easily with perseverance the race set beAs family interest allows, include other fore you, knowing God accompanies you New and Old Testament readings. Stayalways on your journey. ing with the liturgy daily will deepen the If I may, let me offer some suggestions family’s overall understanding of Scripfor your family prayer time. The first ture over the years. thing I’d say is create a prayer place that Not everything can or should be done supports good prayer practice. This newat once. Introducing new traditions into ly created prayer place should have its your family takes time. Older children own special times for prayer — observe may need to “catch” the enthusiasm of
Be Not Afraid
19 their younger siblings. Asking the older children to help younger children grow in faith is helpful for an atmosphere of caring communication and encouragement. Start simply, continue consistently, let each day speak its own message to your family. Slowly and surely, God’s work will be done. “This is what the Kingdom of God is like: A man throws seed on the land. Night and day while he sleeps, when he is awake, the seed is sprouting and growing; how, he does not know. Of its own accord, the land produces first the shoot, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the crop is ready, he loses no time: he starts to reap because the harvest has come” (Mk 4:26-29). I am grateful to my parents for the prayer time they created for me and my siblings. They are reaping what they have sown. As they continue to pray for me, and I for them, be assured that together we are praying for you and your family. I truly believe that “the family that prays together, stays together.” And so I conclude with this short poem that my parents taught us — it is how we ended each nightly prayer: “Jesus é meu, eu sou de Jesus. Jesus vai comigo, e eu vou com Jesus.” Translated — “Jesus is mine and I am his. Jesus goes with me and I go with Jesus.” Ozzie Pacheco is Faith Formation director at Santo Christo Parish, Fall River.
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The Anchor Tony Melendez to perform in New Bedford
NEW BEDFORD — Tony Melendez, the musician born without arms who captured the heart of the late Pope John Paul II when he played his guitar with his feet and sang during the 1987 U.S. papal visit, will perform a concert at St. Lawrence Martyr Church in New Bedford. The concert is set for 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 7, at the church, located at 565 County Street. Admission is a $5.00 donation at the door. Attendees are encouraged to bring along a can good for a collection to support those in need of food. The church is handicap accessible via the parking lot side door. In September 1987 at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles in front of some 6,000 young people and thousands of viewers watching across the country, Melendez was introduced to the pope as “a special gift ... who represents courage.” Melendez then, with his guitar laying flat in front of him, moved his barefoot feet up to the strings of his guitar, began strumming and singing a song entitled, “Never Be the Same.” At its conclusion, Pope John Paul jumped from his platform to another to greet him, kissing him on the cheek in appreciation. He has been recognized by numerous organizations for his courage and determination to overcome the challenges of being born without arms. The concert at St. Lawrence Martyr Church is being sponsored by that parish and will feature music and some
reflections from Melendez. It is expected to conclude at approximately 4:30 p.m. Melendez will perform for Bishop Stang High School stu-
dents and for New Bedford area Catholic schools middle schoolage students on Friday, February 5, as part of the region’s Catholic Schools Week events.
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February 5, 2010
In Your Prayers
A Greek Pilgrimage In the Footsteps of St. Paul November 2 - 11, 2010
We will visit the Churches he founded. Also other places of interest such as the Acropolis, the Temple of the Unknown Soldier, the Temple of Zeus, and many, many others. The pilgrimage also includes a three-day cruise to the Greek Islands and Turkey. $3,569 from Boston all inclusive (Insurance is optional) For complete information on this fabulous pilgrimage, please contact Msgr. John J. Smith: 508-675-3622
Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks Feb. 8 Rev. Raymond P. Monty, USAF Retired Chaplain, 1996 Feb. 9 Rev. Msgr. John J. Kelly, Pastor, SS. Peter & Paul, Fall River, 1972, Rev. Peter J. McKone, S.J., Bishop Connolly High School, Fall River, 1985 Rev. Vincent R. Dolbec, A.A., Assumption College, 1963 Feb. 10 Rev. Edward L. O’Brien, Pastor, St. Mary, Mansfield, 1966 Rev. Lucien A. Madore, Retired Chaplain, Mt. St. Joseph School, Fall River, 1983 Feb. 11 Rev. John O’Connell, Founder, St. John Evangelist, Attleboro, 1910 Rev. John J. Sullivan, S.T.L., Retired Pastor, Holy Rosary, Fall River, 1961 Rev. William J. McMahon, Retired Pastor, St. Joan of Arc, Orleans, 1987 Feb. 12 Rev. Stanislaus Bernard, SS.CC, Retired Founder Our Lady of Assumption, New Bedford, 1961 Feb. 14 Rev. Charles E. Clerk, Pastor, St. Roch, Fall River, 1932 Rev. Msgr. Francis McKeon, Retired Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton, 1980
Josée Vachon
has recorded 12 albums in her 28 years on stage. Here are 2 highly-requested CDs of treasured French hymns … J’irai la voir un jour …
on Dévotion
Also includes: C’est le mois de Marie, Aimez Jésus l’écouter en silence, J’étais perdu Il m’a trouvé (Amazing Grace), Comme Tu es Grand (How Great Thou Art), Ave Maria, and 8 more.
Inspiration
After the release of Devotion, many wrote for personal requests! Here are more favorites: Beau ciel, Panis Angelicus, Je crois en Toi, De concert avec les anges, etc. 11 songs
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Cape parish to aid sister parish in Haiti continued from page one
and months as people who are homeless and displaced seek to rebuild their homes. “The problem is Haiti is a small country and everything is pretty much centralized in Portau-Prince,” he said. “Even the students in the parish schools … will later go on to Port-au-Prince for college and they all have relatives there.” Father Baris likened the situation to if a similar tragedy had occurred in Boston, saying that people in outlying communities such as Fall River and New Bedford would certainly feel the impact and have to eventually handle the additional influx of people looking to relocate. “A lot of people also worked in Port-au-Prince,” Father Baris added. “Many of the working fathers would leave town Monday morning and a truck would take them to work and bring them back on Friday. So everybody has somebody they know in Port-au-Prince.” The one thing the Haitian people have maintained throughout this tragedy, however, is their faith. With a population estimated to be at least 80 percent Catholic, if not more, they have clung to their faith despite the devastation. “It’s been disastrous because last week the pastor of St. Claire, Father Mark Eddy, had 31 funerals,” Father Baris said. Thankfully, relief efforts and fund-raising events have been ongoing since the January 12 earthquake, including two diocesan-wide special collections for Haiti and a special “Hope for Haiti” benefit concert with Father Andre A. “Pat” Patenaude that was held at Our Lady of the Cape Parish February 4. “As soon as I heard about the earthquake, everyone has been calling because they know we’ve had such a connection to Haiti for
so many years,” Father Baris said. “People basically have been calling and offering their help, support and donations from all over the country. We’ve gotten donations from California from people who used to be part of our parish at one time and knew of our connection to Haiti. A lot of our summer families who are living elsewhere (during the winter) have also sent donations to us.” While Father Baris is pleased with the initial outpouring of support, he’s also concerned about the long-term cleanup and rebuilding efforts in Haiti and he hopes that people will continue providing generous assistance to the country once the tragedy is no longer frontpage news. “I know we’re going to be involved with this for the longterm,” he said. “There’s been so much about the tragedy on TV for the first few days — in a couple of weeks I’m afraid there will be nothing on the TV and people will forget. It’s going to take a long time to clean up and rebuild Haiti. A lot of focus has also been on Port-au-Prince, but so many people are now going back to the country and they’re arriving with nothing and they’ll need supplies and food. We need to continue to support St. Claire’s Parish because they are going to get the brunt of the displaced families and refugees coming in.” Father Baris said he thinks it will “take decades” for the Haitian people to recover and rebuild what was lost in the earthquake, but hopefully something good can come out of it such as new buildings, churches and better facilities for residents. “In the meantime these people all have to be educated and fed and they need medical care,” he said. “It’s going to take a long time and I hope people don’t forget.”
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Father Francis Hurley, CSC; Stonehill’s Father of Biology NORTH EASTON — Congregation of Holy Cross Father Francis Hurley, 82, one of the pioneers of Stonehill College’s science program, and who chaired its Biology Department, died January 22 in Falmouth Hospital following a fight against cancer. Since 1960, he helped students to master the complexities of biology, advised them on career paths, and assisted them in securing professional positions or acceptance into respected graduate programs. For 32 of those 50 years, Father Hurley chaired the Biology Department with skill and vision, hiring outstanding faculty members, setting rigorous academic standards, and creating an enviable spirit of collegiality in the department. Significantly, he was ahead of his time in encouraging women in the sciences and also in tracking the advanced degrees of science alumni. In 2003, Father Hurley received the Stonehill President’s Medal for Excellence.
Prior to that award, he received a Moreau Medallion on the occasion of Stonehill’s 50th anniversary in 1998 for his many contributions to the college. In addition to his work at Stonehill, Father Hurley assisted with parish work in the local area and was involved with community outreach programs for the dying and the mentally ill. Born in Waltham, the son of the late Michael and Mary (Sweeney) Hurley, after attending St. Mary’s High School entered Our Lady of Holy Cross Seminary in North Easton. FollowFather Francis ing his novitiate Hurley, CSC in North Dartmouth and profession of temporary vows in the Congregation of Holy Cross on Aug. 16, 1947, he attended the University of Notre Dame when he received a bachelor’s degree in 1949.
Following his final vows in 1950, he studied at The Catholic University of America when he completed a master’s degree and a doctorate in biology. He was ordained a priest on June 12, 1953. He taught for two years in Buffalo, N.Y., and at Stonehill College from 1960 to 2009. He oversaw the growth of the sciences and was instrumental in the decision to build the new Thomas and Mary Shields Science Center, which was dedicated last year. For many years, Father Hurley assisted at St. Mary of the Nativity Parish in Scituate. He leaves two sisters, Mary Burke of Clifton Park, N.Y., and Margaret Vanderslice of Osterville, and Naples, Fla.; a brother, Charles M. Hurley of Long Meadow; and nieces and nephews. Following visitation and a Vigil Service at the Chapel of Mary on the Stonehill campus, his Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there on January 28. Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery on campus.
Sister Rita Deschenes, SSJ; taught in diocesan schools HOLYOKE — Sisters of St. Joseph Sister Rita Deschenes, (Marie Xavier), 74, a native of Fall River, who spent 55 years in religious service, died January 25 at the Mont Marie Health Care Center. She was the daughter of the late Albert and the late Bermonde (Lemieux) Deschenes. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of LePuy in Fall River in 1955 from the former St. Jean Baptiste Parish, and became a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield when the two congregations merged in 1974. Sister Deschenes attended Je-
sus Marie Academy and received a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College and a master’s degree in religious studies from Providence College. She taught at schools in Louisiana, Arkansas and Massachusetts. Sister Rita Locally she Deschenes, SSJ taught at St. Michael’s and St. Louis schools in Swansea, and St. Matthew’s in Fall River. Her most recent ministry was directing Religious Education at St. Joseph’s in DeRidder, La.,
Around the Diocese 2/5
The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette welcomes the Missionary Icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 947 Park Street, Attleboro, today until the 10th with daily adoration after the 12:10 p.m. Mass until 4 p.m. (Except this evening’s Mass is at 5:15 p.m.), rosary at 6 p.m. and evening Mass at 6:30 p.m., with guest speakers.
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A Haitian Disaster Appeal will take place at La Salette Shrine, Attleboro tomorrow. The event will include Mass at 6 p.m. followed by a concert with Father Pat at 7 p.m. in the Shrine church.
A Day With Mary will take place tomorrow from 7:50 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at St. Kilian’s Church, 306 Ashley Boulevard, New Bedford. It will include a video, instruction, procession and crowning of Mary, along with Mass, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and the sacrament of reconciliation. For information, call 508-984-1823.
2/11
The sacrament of the sick will be administered on World Day for the Sick (and the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes) February 11 at La Salette Shrine, Attleboro. Masses will be celebrated at 12:10 and 6:30 p.m. in the shrine church, which is wheelchair accessible.
2/11
A Healing Mass will take place at St. Jude the Apostle Church, Taunton, in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes on World Day for the Sick, February 11. The rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m., followed by Mass at 7. Benediction and healing service takes place after Mass. The sacrament of reconciliation is available from 6-7 p.m.
2/12
A relief concert for the Holy Cross Community in Haiti will be held February 12 at 7 p.m., at the Great Room at Holy Cross Parish Center, 225 Purchase Street, S. Easton. Anne DiSanto & Friends from the Haitian Community will perform inspirational music. Free will offering. Refreshments. All ages welcome. For information, call 508-238-2235.
2/14
On February 14, the feast of St. Valentine, St. Margaret/St. Mary parishes — Buzzards Bay, will be honoring married couples with a World Marriage Day celebration of Mass at 11 a.m. with renewal of vows. A luncheon will follow. Couples are asked to bring a framed wedding photo to place at the altar.
where she also was a pastoral minister. She leaves three brothers, Robert, Albert and Paul; seven sisters, Lauretta Gonyon, Alice Beauchesne, Claudette St. Laurent, Lucille Tarvis, Pauline Birge, Anne Mayes and Irene Deschenes; nieces and nephews; and her Sisters in Community. She was also the sister of the late Raymond, Doris and Richard Deschenes. Her Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated January 27 in the Mont Marie Chapel in Holyoke. Burial was in the Mont Marie Cemetery. The Sampson Funeral Home in Springfield was in charge of arrangements.
Helen (Murphy) Connolly; sister of Father Edward Murphy TAUNTON — Word has been received of the January 26 death of Mrs. Helen (Murphy) Connolly, 56, in the Princess Royal Hospital in Bromely, England, after a long battle with cancer. She was the sister of Father Edward A. Murphy, chaplain at Morton Hospital and in residence at St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Taunton. She was the wife of the late Padraic Connolly. She was a schoolteacher in Zimbabwe, for many years. Besides her priest brother, she also leaves a daughter, Niamh Connolly; three sisters; and three other brothers. Her funeral Mass was celebrated in Cork, Ireland.
February 5, 2010
The Anchor
Regis College in Weston celebrates Catholic Press Month
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The Anchor
“One of Southern New England’s Most Sought After Destinations for Private Wedding Receptions”
February 5, 2010