Anchor 03.19.10

Diocese of Fall River

The Anchor

F riday , March 19, 2010

Guaimaca welcomes Bishop Coleman on pastoral visit

By Deacon James N. Dunbar GUAIMACA, Honduras — Traveling to a warmer climate during the cold weather is probably on everyone’s list of desirable things to do. Traveling, however, to Honduras in Central America, one of the poorest regions in the world today, probably wouldn’t be one of the top 10.

But for Bishop George W. Coleman, going to Honduras in February has become a regular part of his mid-winter schedule, not so much for a change in weather, but rather to support the work of the Diocesan Mission there.

“Each year Bishop Coleman visits us in Guaimaca as part of his pastoral ministry and participates in the work that the Diocese of Fall River is doing for the people of Honduras,” said Father Craig A. Pregana, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish, central to the Mission.

The bishop celebrated the sacrament of confirmation during his stay. On a Sunday he confirmed approximately 50 of the parish youth, and on the following Wednesday he confirmed a second group of 14 students from

the Marie Poussepin Center.

“Bishop Coleman also journeyed to the house of an elderly infirm parishioner, who, at age 85, desired to be confirmed,” Father Pregana told The Anchor.

“With tears of joy in her eyes, she held the bishop’s hand while praying the Our Father after being confirmed,” he added.

During his time at the Mission, the bishop didn’t remain

in Casa Cural, but took time to travel out to the villages and this year he visited “Cerro Bonito,” which means “the beautiful hillside.”

“One of the parishioners,

be sealed with the holy spirit — Bishop George W. Coleman administers the sacrament of confirmation to an 85-year-old infirm parishioner of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Guaimaca, at her home, during the bishop’s most recent pastoral visit to the diocesan Honduran mission.

Doña Coca, offered a simple lunch at her house and was honored to have the bishop at her table,” Father Pregana reported.

“She had even bought a table cloth for the meal of meat and rice. After lunch, we made our way down to the chapel for Mass. The people gave the bishop a warm reception and had decorated the chapel with flowers and branches, which seemed to distract our attention from the bats that were perched overhead in the roof tiles.”

The visit, the priest said, “allows the parishioners a chance to express their profound gratitude for the support the parish receives from the Diocese of Fall River.”

Bishop Coleman met with the members of the Parish Council, the Finance Council and the Youth Council, who reported how the Mission has progressed because of the ongoing support from parishioners in the Fall River Diocese.

“They expressed their gratitude for the bishop’s presence as a sign of the unity of the Church,” Turn to page 11

Lila Rose brings strong Pro-Life message to MCFL youth rally

By Christine M. Williams Anchor Correspondent

Reconciliation Weekend story on page 15, and schedule of times across the diocese on page 14.

New Bedford to hold Year For Priests celebration and Lenten Mission. Story on page 15.

held at Boston College High School in Boston on March 7.

BOSTON — Members of the next generation of When Rose addressed the young crowd in BosPro-Life advocates often approach the cause in a ton, her passion and strong convictions were eviway that appeals to their youth culture. They start dent. She spoke eloquently in support of the Progroups on online social networks, wear Pro-Life T- Life cause. She called the brutal murder of the shirts to school and make films to post unborn the “greatest injustice” of our on the video sharing website YouTube. time, and said she believes abortion will Lila Rose, a senior at the University be illegal in the United States in her lifeof California-Los Angeles, serves as time. president of the Pro-Life organization She started Live Action when she was she founded, Live Action. In 2008, she 14. By her late teens she was directing became the youngest recipient of the undercover stings, taking a video camLife Prize from the Gerard Health Founera along to show everyone else what dation in Natick. she has found, she said.

Live Action, which calls itself “a new “If they don’t see it, many of them media movement for life,” has a magawill never believe it,” she said. zine on two dozen college campuses and Rose said Planned Parenthood’s overLila Rose a website with Pro-Life resources. But whelming response to statutory rape is, the group is best known for its videos, “We don’t care. We don’t want to know. posted online, that have caught Planned Parenthood We’ll cover it up.” employees violating the law. They were filmed She told of the irony that at one clinic a sign read with hidden cameras worn by Rose, who posed as “esperanza,” Spanish for hope. “It was the most a 13-year-old faced with a crisis pregnancy and re- hopeless place,” she said. ceived advice on how to bypass statutory rape and She showed the first video she released, which parental consent laws. was filmed in Bloomington, Ind. on June 24, 2008.

Rose talked about the group’s work at the first In the footage, a Planned Parenthood nurse reMassachusetts Citizens for Life Youth Convention, Turn to page 18

News From the Vatican

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March 19, 2010

God renews, and does not reinvent Church, pope says

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The Second Vatican Council’s renewal of the Catholic Church was a sign of progress, not a sign of repudiating the past, Pope Benedict XVI said.

“We know that after the Second Vatican Council some people were convinced that everything was new, that there was a new Church, that the pre-conciliar Church was finished and that we would have a completely different Church,” the pope said during his general audience March 10.

Their vision would have led to “a utopian anarchy,” he said, but the wise guidance of Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II “defended the new things brought by the council, while affirming the oneness and continuity of the Church.”

The pope’s made his remarks about reactions to the Second Vatican Council during an audience talk focused on St. Bonaventure’s attempts in the mid-1200s to balance enthusiasm for the new form of religious life introduced by St. Francis of Assisi with continued fidelity to the hierarchal Church.

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St. Bonaventure taught the early Franciscans and continues to teach Catholics today that living the faith requires “discernment, sober realism and openness to new gifts” given to the Church by the Holy Spirit, the pope said.

St. Bonaventure was superior of the Franciscans at a time when a large group of friars embraced the teaching of Joachim of Fiore, who taught that history followed a “Trinitarian rhythm,” in which the Old Testament age was the time of God the father, a time of severity; the New Testament and the first millennium of the Church was the time of Jesus Christ and the “relative freedom” that came from no longer being bound to many of the Jewish laws; and the age of the Holy Spirit was to be a time “of complete freedom,” the pope said.

The group of Franciscans who saw St. Francis as initiating the age of the Holy Spirit believed it would be a time when “the hierarchical Church was left behind in order to give birth to the new Church of the Holy Spirit, no longer tied to the old structures,” the pope said.

“There was, therefore, a risk of a very serious misunderstanding of St. Francis’ message and of his humble fidelity to the Gospel and to the Church,” the pope said.

After studying Joachim of Fiore in depth, St. Bonaventure presented his own theology of history, affirming that history is a progressive movement, but that it is directed by God, who is one and who has fully revealed himself to humanity in Jesus Christ, the pope said.

The Gospel is God’s final revelation to humanity and the Church is where God wants people to live their faith, the pope said.

“This does not mean that the Church is immobile, fixed in the past and that there can never be anything new in it,” the pope said, because as St. Bonaventure taught, “the works of Christ do not go backward, but progress.”

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 54, No. 11

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good folk — An Italian folklore group attends Pope Benedict XVI’s general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican recently. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Church responding decisively to new sex abuse reports, official says VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The religious orders and bishops’ conferences dealing with cases of clerical sexual abuse of children in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands are acting quickly, decisively and with transparency to uncover the truth and assist the victims, said the Vatican spokesman.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, said that the religious orders and bishops’ conferences not only “have proven their commitment to transparency, in a certain sense they have accelerated the uncovering of the problem by asking victims to come forward even when it involved cases from many years ago.”

Here is the text of note issued by Father Lombardi concerning cases of the sexual abuse of minors in ecclesiastical institutions: “For some months now the very serious question of the sexual abuse of minors in institutions run by ecclesiastical bodies and by people with positions of responsibility within the Church, priests in particular, has been investing the Church and society in Ireland. The Holy Father recently demonstrated his own concern, particularly through two meetings: firstly with high-ranking members of the episcopate, then with all the ordinaries.

He is also preparing the publication of a letter on the subject for the Irish Church.

“But over recent weeks the debate on the sexual abuse of minors has also involved the Church in certain central European countries (Germany, Austria and Holland).

And it is on this development that we wish to make some simple remarks.

“The main ecclesiastical institutions concerned — the German Jesuit Province (the first to be involved, through the case of the Canisius-Kolleg in Berlin), the German Episcopal Conference, the

Austrian Episcopal Conference and the Netherlands Episcopal Conference — have faced the emergence of problem with timely and decisive action. They have demonstrated their desire for transparency and, in a certain sense, accelerated the emergence of the problem by inviting victims to speak out, even when the cases involved date from many years ago. By doing so they have approached the matter ‘on the right foot’, because the correct starting point is recognition of what happened and concern for the victims and the consequences of the acts committed against them.

Moreover, they have re-examined the extant ‘Directives’ and have planned new operative guidelines which also aim to identify a prevention strategy, so that everything possible may be done to ensure that similar cases are not repeated in the future.

“These events mobilise the Church to find appropriate responses and should be placed in a more wide-ranging context that concerns the protection of children and young people from sexual abuse in society as a whole. Certainly, the errors committed in ecclesiastical institutions and by Church figures are particularly reprehensible because of the Church’s educational and moral responsibility, but all objective and well-informed people know that the question is much broader, and concentrating accusations against the Church alone gives a false perspective. By way of example, recent data supplied by the competent authorities in Austria shows that, over the same period of time, the number of proven cases in Church institutions was 17, while there were 510 other cases in other areas. It would be as well to concern ourselves also with them.

“In Germany initiatives are now rightly being suggested, promoted by the Ministry for the Family, to

call a ‘round table’ of the various educational and social organizations in order to consider the question from an appropriate and comprehensive viewpoint. The Church is naturally ready to participate and become involved and, perhaps, her own painful experience may also be a useful contribution for others. Chancellor Angela Merkel had justly recognized the seriousness and constructive approach shown by the German Church.

“In order to complete these remarks, it is as well to recall once again that the Church exists as part of civil society and shoulders her own responsibilities in society, but she also has her own specific code, the ‘canonical code’, which reflects her spiritual and sacramental nature and in which, therefore, judicial and penal procedures are different (for example, they contain no provision for pecuniary sanctions or for the deprivation of freedom, but for impediment in the exercise of the ministry and privation of rights in the ecclesiastical field, etc.). In the ambit of canon law, the crime of the sexual abuse of minors has always been considered as one of the most serious of all, and canonical norms have constantly reaffirmed this, in particular the 2001 Letter ‘De delictis gravioribus’, sometimes improperly cited as the cause of a ‘culture of silence’. Those who know and understand its contents, are aware that it was a decisive signal to remind the episcopate of the seriousness of the problem, as well as a real incentive to draw up operational guidelines to face it.

“In conclusion, although the seriousness of the difficulties the Church is going through cannot be denied, we must not fail to do everything possible in order to ensure that, in the end, they bring positive results, of better protection for infancy and youth in the Church and in society, and the purification of the Church herself.”

March 19, 2010

Pope’s brother offers apology to abuse victims at his former school

B y Jonathan Luxmoore C atholic News Service

WARSAW, Poland — The brother of Pope Benedict XVI apologized to child victims of sexual abuse at his former school even though he said he was unaware of the alleged incidents.

“There was never any talk of sexual abuse problems and I had no idea that molestation was taking place,” Msgr.

Georg Ratzinger said, recalling his 30 years as choirmaster at the school that trains the elite boys’ choir of the Regensburg Cathedral.

His comments came during an interview with the German newspaper Neue Passauer Presse March 9.

“I’m deeply sorry for anyone whose spiritual or physical integrity was injured by abuse,” said Msgr. Ratzinger, who was choirmaster between 1964 and 1994. “Today, such things are condemned even more because of greater sensitivities. I also condemn them, and simultaneously ask pardon from the victims.”

Msgr. Ratzinger recalled that the priest who headed the school from 1953 until his death in 1992 had slapped boys in the face, but said he had not considered such punishments “particularly brutal.”

“If I’d known the exaggerated vehemence with which

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The International Church

the director acted, I would have reacted,” Msgr. Ratzinger told the newspaper in his native Bavaria. “But at that time, it was the way of dealing with mistakes or the deliberate nonfulfillment of duties. I was happy when caning was totally banned in 1980, and I felt internally relieved.”

However, a former pupil at the school, Frank Wittenbrink, now a composer, told Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine that the teaching staff must have known about other forms of abuse.

“There was a contrived system of sadistic punishments, connected with sexual desire,” said Wittenbrink, who graduated in 1967. “The school leader chose two or three of us boys each evening from the dormitory and took us to his apartment. Everyone knew about this.”

The statements appeared as the president of the German bishops’ conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch of Freiburg, prepared for a March 12 meeting with Pope Benedict to discuss the scandal which erupted in late January.

Meanwhile, Bishop Stephan Ackermann of Trier, recently named to oversee abuse claims for the German Church, welcomed an invitation from Germany’s minister for families, Kristina Schroder, to join a

final resting place — A cross marker appears at the grave of Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot, the Port-au-Prince Church leader who perished in the January 12 earthquake in Haiti. The archbishop was among the more than 230,000 people who died in the disaster, one of the world’s deadliest quakes on record.

(CNS photo/Tom Tracy)

round-table discussion examining abuse beginning April 23. Parent, teacher and trade union groups also will be represented.

“We ourselves have already said a meeting of all socially relevant groups would be very helpful,” Bishop Ackermann said in a March 8 statement on the German bishops’ conference website. “The minister’s invitation is an important step toward the joint goal of speedily tackling this entire problematic issue.”

Abuse claims have been reported to date in at least 17 of the German Church’s 27 dioceses, with the most recent allegations surfacing March 8 and 9 against Catholic institutions in Hildesheim, Dusseldorf and Limburg, as well as in Bavaria against a Franciscan Capuchin house at Burghausen and a Benedictine monastery at Ettal.

Speaking to journalists March 9, German Chancellor Angela Merkel praised the Church’s efforts to confront the accusations, which include opening a hot line for victims and updating 2002 church guidelines on abuse reporting.

The efforts indicated, she said, a “very serious wish to deal with the problems.”

However, the justice minister, Sabine LeutheusserSchnarrenberger, told the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper March 9 that the Church also needed to “give a clear signal to the victims,” such as by suggesting “voluntary compensation” in case where legal claims had lapsed.

In Austria, Abbot Bruno Bauer of St. Peter’s Abbey in Salzburg resigned March 8 after he was accused of an act of abuse committed 40 years ago.

The Der Standard newspaper reported that an unnamed man contacted the ombudsman for the Salzburg Archdiocese about the incident in late 2009 after Abbot Bauer was elected to oversee the abbey.

Salesian Father Herman Spronck, the most senior member of his order in the Netherlands, agreed March 1 to investigate claims of child abuse at a monastery.

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The Church in the U.S.

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March 19, 2010

Online seminars tap JP II’s wisdom on marriage

By Genevieve Pollock WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, Penn. (Zenit.org) — This month, couples are being offered a chance to strengthen their marriages from within their own homes in a series that combines John Paul II’s teachings with psychology’s clinical experience.

The Institute for Marital Healing, directed by Catholic psychiatrist Richard Fitzgibbons, will begin its first series of free webinars on March 27 with a conference on the theme, “The Angry Spouse.”

Fitzgibbons, who is also a consultant for the Holy See’s Congregation for Clergy, explained to ZENIT that this series allows couples to participate anonymously from their own homes, with opportunities to email comments and questions.

He stated that the initiative aims to strengthen Catholic marriages, one of many ways the institute reaches out to couples.

It also offers resources for couples, counselors and clergy on the topics of parenting, manhood, family life and marriage.

On the institute’s website are several guides for identifying and addressing common conflicts between spouses.

This webinar series will also include online conferences on “The Emotionally Distant, Anxious Spouse” and “Marital Separation and Divorce.”

Fitzgibbons, who also teaches at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at the Catholic University of America, told ZENIT that the wisdom of the former Pontiff will be presented in the webinars.

“Our work with marriages is strongly influenced by John Paul II’s writing in ‘Love and Responsibility’ in regard to the vocational calling to self-giving in the marital friendship, romantic love and betrothed love,” he said.

The psychiatrist also adds his experience from working with thousands of married couples over 30 years.

He explained that “uncovering and resolving emotional and character weaknesses by growth in virtues, referred to today as positive psychology, strengthens this fulfilling self-giving.”

Fitzgibbons noted that the series will help to “identify major emotional and character weaknesses that interfere with giving and receiving marital love.”

In this way, he affirmed, couples will have a chance to “learn how to uncover conflicts and grow in the virtues that strengthen selfgiving and resolve anger, mistrust, anxiety and selfishness.”

To register for the webinars, email: maritalhealing@aol.com On the Net: Institute for Marital Healing: www.martialhealing.com

forgiveness — Father Juniper Mary Sistare, a member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, administers the sacrament of reconciliation during a weekend retreat for young people at Kellenberg Memorial High School in Uniondale, N.Y. Fall River Diocesan faithful are encouraged to take advantage of this weekend’s Reconciliation Weekend at most diocesan parishes. (CNS photo)

Chicago Archdiocese begins sainthood process for first black U.S. priest

By Joyce Duriga and Daniel Smith Catholic News Service CHICAGO (CNS) — Father Augustine Tolton was the first U.S. priest of African descent and may one day be a saint from the Archdiocese of Chicago.

The archdiocese is introducing the priest’s cause for canonization, according to an announcement by Chicago Cardinal Francis E. George.

“It is appropriate that, during this Year For Priests, we recall our forebears who were holy men in the presbyterate” of the archdiocese, the cardinal told the Catholic New World, Chicago archdiocesan newspaper.

Having Father Tolton as a saint would be a blessing for the whole Catholic Church but, in particular, for Catholics in Chicago, he said.

First of all, saints intercede,” he said. “We need his prayers and his help, especially to become a more united church. Secondly, his example of priestly dedication, his learning and preaching, are great examples for our seminarians and priests and should inspire the laity.”

Father Tolton was born into slavery in Brush Creek, Mo., according to “From Slave to Priest,” a biography of Father Tolton

by Sister Caroline Hemesath, a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family.

His parents, Peter and Martha Tolton, were married in a Catholic ceremony. The couple had two sons and a daughter.

During the Civil War, Peter Tolton escaped to St. Louis to serve in the Union Army. Shortly afterward, when Augustine was nine, Martha Tolton bundled up her three children and escaped across the Mississippi River and

hiked to Quincy, Ill., a sanctuary for runaway slaves. After the war ended, Martha Tolton learned her husband had died soon after his arrival in St. Louis.

In Quincy, Martha Tolton and her sons began working in a cigar factory. They attended Mass at St. Boniface Church with other black Catholics. Augustine attended St. Boniface School for a brief time, then went to public school.

Later he went to school at St. Peter’s Parish, where he became an altar server and began to feel he had a vocation to the priesthood. Franciscan Father Peter McGirr, St. Peter’s pastor, encouraged his vocation, though there would be many roadblocks to ordination.

According to “From Slave to Priest,” no U.S. seminary would accept him. Neither would the Franciscans or the Josephites.

Meanwhile, several local priests educated Augustine for the seminary.

Years later he was accepted to the Pontifical College of the Propagation of the Faith in Rome, which trained seminarians for ordination and missionary work around the world. After six years of study there, Augustine was ordained on April 24, 1886, at St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome.

College officials felt he should be a missionary in his own country, not in Africa.

Father Tolton was uneasy about returning to the U.S., knowing the racism he would face. But he returned to Quincy, celebrating his first Mass July 18, 1886, at St. Boniface Church. He was named pastor of St. Joseph Church, a black parish affiliated with St. Boniface.

Racism and anti-Catholicism

hindered his ministry in Quincy. He asked his superiors if he could accepted an invitation from Archbishop Patrick Feehan in Chicago to minister to black Catholics there. His appeal was granted in December 1889.

By all accounts Father Tolton worked tirelessly for his congregation in Chicago, even to the point of exhaustion. On July 9, 1897, he died of heat stroke while returning from a priests’ retreat. He was 43.

Chicago Auxiliary Bishop Joseph N. Perry is organizing Father Tolton’s cause for the archdiocese. He said he is now poring through archival material to prepare a report about his life that will go to Cardinal George and then on to the Congregation for Saints’ Causes at the Vatican.

In Father Tolton’s case, this will be termed an “ancient” cause because there are no living witnesses to the candidate’s life and all research comes after the fact, Bishop Perry explained, but said he thinks there will be “enough material for Rome’s initial examination.”

Bishop Perry’s office is putting together a holy card with a prayer that God intercede on behalf of Father Tolton’s cause that will be distributed throughout the archdiocese.

“We are trying to find out what devotion to Father Tolton exists,” the bishop said.

Father Tolton is an example for all Catholics because he represents the highest ideal they wish to see in priests, Bishop Perry said.

“His quiet witness is a challenge to our prejudices and narrow-mindedness that keeps us insulated from the variety in the kingdom of God,” he said.

March 19, 2010

The Church in the U.S.

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100 traditionalist Anglican parishes seeking to join Catholic Church

hallowed halls — Deacon Evan Harkins, a seminarian from the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo., walks in the hall as he prepares for Mass recently at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis. Despite tough economic times, the seminary has exceeded its goal for fund-raising by more than 20 percent, raising close to $60 million. (CNS photo/Jerry Naunheim Jr., St. Louis Review)

Archbishop defends school’s decision on children of lesbians DENVER (CNS) — The decision to refuse re-enrollment at a Boulder Catholic school to two children of lesbian parents was the only outcome that was fair to the children, their teachers, school parents and “the authentic faith of the Church,” said Denver Archbishop Charles J. Chaput.

“Our schools are meant to be ‘partners in faith’ with parents,” the archbishop said in a column published in the March 10 issue of the Denver Catholic Register, the archdiocesan newspaper. “If parents don’t respect the beliefs of the Church, or live in a manner that openly rejects those beliefs, then partnering with those parents becomes very difficult, if not impossible.

“It also places unfair stress on the children, who find themselves caught in the middle, and on their teachers, who have an obligation to teach the authentic faith of the Church,” he added.

Archbishop Chaput, whose archdiocese includes Boulder, was commenting on the case of two children whose parents, a lesbian couple, were enrolling them at Sacred Heart of Jesus School. The couple was told that their older child, who was being enrolled for kindergarten next year, could attend kindergarten but could not continue into first grade after that. The younger child could be enrolled in preschool for next year but could not continue into kindergarten the following year, school officials said.

The primary purpose of Catholic schools, the archbishop said, is “to form students in Catholic faith, Catholic morality and Catholic social values.”

But he said that did not mean the schools only accept Catholic students with married parents.

“Many of our schools also accept students of other faiths

and no faith, and from singleparent and divorced-parent families,” he said. “These students are always welcome so long as their parents support the Catholic mission of the school and do not offer a serious counterwitness to that mission in their actions.”

Archbishop Chaput said archdiocesan policy on school admissions “was followed faithfully” by the staff at Sacred Heart of Jesus School.

The policy reads in part: “Parents living in open discord with Catholic teaching in areas of faith and morals unfortunately choose by their actions to disqualify their children from enrollment. To allow children in these circumstances to continue in our school would be a cause of confusion for the student in that what they are being taught in school conflicts with what they experience in the home.”

Father Bill Breslin, pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, had a similar message in a March 5 note to parishioners and school parents.

“If a child of gay parents comes to our school, and we teach that gay marriage is against the will of God, then the child will think that we are saying their parents are bad,” Father Breslin said. “We don’t want to put any child in that tough position — nor do we want to put the parents, or the teachers, at odds with the teachings of the Catholic Church.”

Archbishop Chaput noted in his column that “the Church does not claim that people with a homosexual orientation are ‘bad,’ or that their children are less loved by God.” “Quite the opposite,” he said.

“But what the Church does teach is that sexual intimacy by anyone outside marriage is wrong; that marriage is a sacramental covenant; and that mar-

riage can only occur between a man and a woman.”

Father Breslin said he did not understand why “good parents (would) want their children to learn something they don’t believe in.”

“There are so many schools in Boulder that see the meaning of sexuality in an entirely different way than the Catholic Church does,” he added. “Why not send their child there?”

ORLANDO, Fla. (CNS) — Approximately 100 traditionalist Anglican parishes in the United States have decided to join the Catholic Church as a group.

Meeting in Orlando, the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church in America voted to seek entry into the Catholic Church under the guidelines established in Pope Benedict XVI’s apostolic constitution “Anglicanorum Coetibus” (“Groups of Anglicans”), said a March 3 statement.

The Anglican Church in America is part of the Traditional Anglican Communion, a group of churches which separated from the worldwide Anglican Communion in 1991. The Traditional Anglican Communion claims 400,000 members worldwide.

The request means the 100 Anglican Church in America parishes will ask for group reception into the Catholic Church in a “personal ordinariate,” a structure similar to dioceses for former Anglicans who become Catholic.

Churches under the personal ordinariate can retain their Anglican character and much of their liturgy and practices — including married priests — while being in communion with the Catholic

Church.

Archbishop John Hepworth of Australia, primate of the Traditional Anglican Communion, and Father Christopher Phillips of Our Lady of the Atonement Parish, an Anglican-use Catholic church in San Antonio, attended the meeting, according to the statement.

The Anglican Church in America is the third group of Anglican churches to respond positively to the Vatican’s invitation.

The first was the United Kingdom branch of the Traditional Anglican Communion, which comprises 20 small parishes and which in October began the process of joining the Catholic Church under the apostolic constitution.

The second was the Australian branch of Forward in Faith, a traditionalist group which is in communion with mainstream Anglican churches. In February, Forward in Faith directed its governing council to take the steps needed for 16 parishes to join the Catholic Church.

The United Kingdom branch of Forward in Faith also is considering making a request for an ordinariate. A final decision is not expected before July.

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The Anchor Too high a cost, too great a loss

On Monday, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, published a lengthy statement — entitled “The Cost is Too High; The Loss is Too Great” — expressing the opposition of the U.S. bishops to the current plan for health care reform being advanced in Washington. In it he displayed palpable and principled frustration that the bishops, after having advocated and worked for decades to promote a genuine reform of our health care system, would find themselves in the final position of needing to fight against it on ethical grounds. And he diplomatically but forcefully ascribed this regrettable outcome to the president and Congressional leaders who, despite multiple assertions that no federal dollars would go to abortion, essentially broke their repeated promises.

After the bishops have invested so much for so long engaging and collaborating primarily with the Democratic leadership, in presumed good faith, to try to secure an authentic health care reform that first does no harm, it’s hard not to interpret Cardinal George’s letter also as a watershed public indication of the depth of betrayal felt by U.S. bishops at the lack of honesty and integrity demonstrated by Democratic leaders — many of whom are Catholic — in whom they evidently misplaced their trust.

“Throughout the discussion on health care over the last year,” Cardinal George wrote, “the bishops have advocated a bipartisan approach to solving our national health care needs. They have urged that all who are sick, injured or in need receive necessary and appropriate medical assistance, and that no one be deliberately killed through an expansion of federal funding of abortion itself or of insurance plans that cover abortion.” The two principles of the bishops’ position were clear and reasonable: everyone be covered, no one be deliberately killed.

With regard to the latter principle, Cardinal George said that the bishops were asking for nothing more than “the provisions of the long-standing Hyde Amendment, passed annually in every federal bill appropriating funds for health care.” He added, with a touch of understatement, that “surveys show that this legislation reflects the will of the majority of our fellow citizens.” In fact, in at least 11 polls since November, Americans have said with margins close to 70 percent that they did not want health care reform to include taxpayer funds for abortion.

With allusions to President Obama’s September speech on health care as well as to numerous other statements by Congressional leaders, Cardinal George pointed out, “The American people and the Catholic bishops have been promised that, in any final bill, no federal funds would be used for abortion and that the legal status quo would be respected.” After so many public pledges, however, “the bishops were left disappointed and puzzled to learn that the basis for any vote on health care will be the Senate bill passed on Christmas Eve. Notwithstanding the denials and explanations of its supporters, and unlike the bill approved by the House of Representatives in November, the Senate bill deliberately excludes the language of the Hyde Amendment. It expands federal funding and the role of the federal government in the provision of abortion procedures. In so doing, it forces all of us to become involved in an act that profoundly violates the conscience of many, the deliberate destruction of unwanted members of the human family still waiting to be born.”

He then got specific about what the bishops “find so deeply disturbing” about the Senate bill. “The points at issue can be summarized briefly. The status quo in federal abortion policy, as reflected in the Hyde Amendment, excludes abortion from all health insurance plans receiving federal subsidies. In the Senate bill, there is the provision that only one of the proposed multi-state plans will not cover elective abortions — all other plans (including other multi-state plans) can do so, and receive federal tax credits.

This means that individuals or families in complex medical circumstances will likely be forced to choose and contribute to an insurance plan that funds abortions in order to meet their particular health needs.

“Further, the Senate bill authorizes and appropriates billions of dollars in new funding outside the scope of the appropriations bills covered by the Hyde Amendment and similar provisions. As the bill is written, the new funds it appropriates over the next five years, for community health centers for example (Sec. 10503), will be available by statute for elective abortions, even though the present regulations do conform to the Hyde Amendment. Regulations, however, can be changed at will, unless they are governed by statute.”

The White House insisted on Monday, in response to Cardinal George’s statement, that the president and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius have no intention to change those statutes. That, of course, is no real assurance. If there were genuinely no intention to pay for abortions through community health centers, the Senate would not have removed the centers’ funding from Hyde-covered HHS appropriations bills and would have had no principled objection to putting those promises in stone with the equivalent of a Stupak Amendment, as mentioned in last week’s editorial.

Cardinal George also spoke about the absence of conscience protections so that individual health care workers and whole institutions would not be forced to do something they believe is unethical. “No provision in the Senate bill incorporates the long-standing and widely supported protection for conscience regarding abortion as found in the Hyde/Weldon Amendment. Moreover, neither the House nor Senate bill contains meaningful conscience protection outside the abortion context. Any final bill, to be fair to all, must retain the accommodation of the full range of religious and moral objections in the provision of health insurance and services that are contained in current law, for both individuals and institutions.”

He wrote that the bishops “judge that the flaws are so fundamental that they vitiate the good that the bill intends to promote.” He also added that “assurances that the moral objections to the legislation can be met only after the bill is passed seem a little like asking us, in Midwestern parlance, to buy a pig in a poke.” He made clear that the bishops aren’t buying.

“What is tragic about this turn of events,” Cardinal George continued, “is that it needn’t have happened. The status quo that has served our national consensus and respected the consciences of all with regard to abortion is the Hyde Amendment. The House courageously included an amendment applying the Hyde policy to its health care bill passed in November. Its absence in the Senate bill and the resulting impasse are not an accident. Those in the Senate who wanted to purge the Hyde Amendment from this national legislation are obstructing the reform of health care.” It’s hard not to believe he has foremost in mind Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senator John Kerry, then-Senator Paul Kirk, and several other Democratic Catholic senators who very intentionally voted against the amendment put forward by Senator Ben Nelson to add Hyde Amendment language to the Senate bill.

“This is not quibbling over technicalities,” Cardinal George insisted. “The deliberate omission in the Senate bill of the necessary language that could have taken this moral question off the table and out of play leaves us still looking for a way to meet the president’s and our concern to provide health care for those millions whose primary care physician is now an emergency room doctor.”

He concluded by declaring why the bishops need to oppose the health care plan that is scheduled to be voted upon imminently: “Two basic principles, therefore, continue to shape the concerns of the Catholic bishops: health care means taking care of the health needs of all, across the human life span; and the expansion of health care should not involve the expansion of abortion funding and of polices forcing everyone to pay for abortions. Because these principles have not been respected, despite the good that the bill under consideration intends or might achieve, the Catholic bishops regretfully hold that it must be opposed unless and until these serious moral problems are addressed.”

March 19, 2010

The divine depository in our hands Last week we saw the heroic charity of Gospel will be the criteria of our judgment.

St. John Vianney, who sought to treat others We will be numbered among the saved or with the same limitless love with which Christ damned on the basis of whether we loved loves. He was never content to give merely or stiffed Christ in the person of the hungry, “something” to those in need. He sacrificed thirsty, naked, sick, imprisoned and stranger his entire personal property, as well as his (Mt 25:31-46). Whenever we care for the pants, shoes, shirts, food and all that people poor, the pastor of Ars reiterated, we care for gave him in order to give adequate alms to Christ; and whenever we harden our hearts to those who needed help. When his cassock those in need, we do so to the Lord as well. “shuttle pocket” did not have a sou left, he He taught, for that reason, that we should routinely begged and borrowed. His love for always try to see God in the poor. “When the poor was as profound as his love for sin- we give alms, we should think that it’s to the ners, for whom we know he gave every ounce Lord and not to the poor that we’re giving.” of energy he had 12-18 hours a day for more He loved to tell the stories of the saints who than three decades to share with the spiritu- literally saw Christ in the poor. He would regally deprived an alms worth “ten thousand ularly recount the story of St. Martin of Tours, talents” (Mt 18:24). a Roman soldier who upon seeing a shivering, It wasn’t enough, however, to give himself barely-clothed beggar at the gate of Amiens, and all he had to and beyond the limit. The dismounted his horse, evaginated his Roman patron saint of priests also wanted to inspire lance, split his military cape in two, and covand train his people to live the type of char- ered the poor man with half of it; later that ity to which Christ calls us all. The Curé of night, the Lord Jesus appeared to Martin in Ars knew that, if we will be judged on deeds a dream wearing that part of Martin’s cape. of love, that the grappin would stop at noth- He would also tell the story of St. John of ing to sow darnel in the souls of his people; God whom a poor man approached for help. if the devil couldn’t seduce them to be selfish As he was reaching into his pocket, St. John and avaricious, he would at least try to poison looked down and noticed the man’s bare feet, them with the notion that all God asks of them each of which bore stigmata. “Often we think is that they give we’re giving to the eleemosya poor man,” nary minimum Father Vianney before temptconcluded, “but ing them towe find it’s the ward pride at Lord.” how good they For that reashould feel in son, he said, “we

By Father giving what was should never reRoger J. Landry truly superfluject the poor.” ous. So Father Many of us do, Vianney coupled thinking we’re his words to his example in order to show the justified. Repeating phrases he heard from people the truth of what God is asking as well some of his parishioners, which still echo toas to give them suggestions about how to help day, the Curé noted, “Some say to the poor, them with God’s grace achieve it. haughtily, ‘You are a parasite! You should get He began by stressing that for a Christian a job.’” Basing himself, however, on Christ’s who wants to be saved, charity is not option- words that “the poor you will always have al. “All of our religion is but a false religion, with you” (Jn 12:8), Father Vianney intimated and all our virtues are mere illusions, and we that one reason for endemic poverty is to unourselves are only hypocrites in the sight of leash love and move us to become Good SaGod,” he declared emphatically, “unless we maritans. “The poor man is an instrument that have universal charity for everyone, for the God uses to make us good,” he said. “When good and for the bad, for the poor people as we give a small bodily alms to the poor, they well as for the rich, for all those who do us give us a great spiritual alms” in return. If harm as much as those who do us good.” there were no people who were poorer than He added that excelling in Christian char- we are, we would never have an opportunity ity ought to be the most important priority of to learn how to give. our life. “The obligation we have to love our He tried to help his people see the selfneighbor is so important that Jesus Christ put ishness behind the many excuses why we it into a commandment that he placed imme- claim we cannot give or can only give a little. diately after that by which he commands us to “You say you don’t have money to give alms, love him with all our hearts. He tells us that all but you have enough money to buy another the law and the prophets are included in this field!” In our own day, many lament that they commandment to love our neighbor. Yes, my cannot give a lot to charity, but somehow dear brethren, we must regard this obligation they miraculously find money to buy highas the most universal, the most necessary and definition televisions, new cars, make investthe most essential to religion and to our salva- ments and leave sizable inheritances this side tion. In fulfilling this commandment, we are of the eschatological eye of the needle. Father fulfilling all the others.”

Vianney’s principle was simple: “If you have He lamented that, despite the Lord’s clear much, give much; if you have little, give litwords about how important charity is, so many tle; but give — with all your heart and with Christians throughout history have not gotten joy.” For those with more than they need, he and acted on the message. He often referred to taught, “Your well-being is nothing other than St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians where a depository that God has put in your hands; the Apostle struggled to help the first Chris- after taking what is necessary for you and tians recognize the true importance of char- your family, the rest is owed to the poor.” ity. Charity, St. Paul said, involves more than Charity, for him, was so important that he deeds, but deeds given with a generous heart. said to some of his good parishioners who foEven if one were to speak in prophecy, to have cused more on piety than charity that it was faith to move mountains, and hand oneself “more pleasing to God” to “work for some over as a martyr, St. Paul taught, he would poor people you know and who are in great gain and be nothing unless he did it with love need” than to “pass your day … in front of the (1 Cor 13:1-3). Basing himself on this pas- holy tabernacle.” sage, Father Vianney vigorously exclaimed: This is one of the reasons why, doubtless, “Dear Lord, how many Christians are damned he who longed with all his soul to retire to through lack of charity! No, no, my dear breth- a monastery to pray spent tireless hours in ren, even if you could perform miracles, you the confessional and in works of charity. He will never be saved if you do not have love. Not knew how much such sacrifices for others to have charity is not to know your religion. It pleased the Lord. “To receive much, we need is to have a religion of whim, mood and incli- to give much,” he said. That’s why he was so nation. … Without charity, you will never see rich, and why his people eventually became God. You will never go to heaven!” spiritually prosperous as well.

He preached often on the corporal works Father Landry is pastor of St. Anthony of of mercy, which Jesus states in St. Matthew’s Padua Parish in New Bedford.

Putting Into the Deep

March 19, 2010

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The priesthood: A response to God’s loving presence

credit my vocation to the priesthood to a profound experience that I had while in the eighth grade.

It was a Saturday afternoon and I was the only person in the church as I was preparing to go to confession.

During my preparation I was acutely aware of the habitual sins in my life that I seemed unable to change.

After confession, as I was kneeling and saying my penance with my eyes closed, I became aware of a presence with me.

I began to weep in sorrow for my habitual sins, something I had never done before.

But this divine presence did not seem to be as concerned with my habitual sins as I

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The Anchor was. I suddenly heard a soft being embraced and lifted up whispering voice say to me, by this divine presence, with “Bob, I love you. I have the following words being always loved you and I will whispered to me: “Bob, don’t always love you no matter what.”

I then began to Year For Priests realize that I had been Vocational Reflection focusing on the wrong sins. The greatest sin of all was not to realBy Father ize this unconditional Robert Powell loving presence that had always been with me throughout my life. be afraid. Stop trying to stand My tears flowed even more on your own two feet and intensely with this realization trust me.” as I asked God’s forgiveness.

I then vowed never to turn How could I have not realmy back on God again. I ized this unconditional loving resolved never to live my life presence in my life? unaware of God’s loving presI then experienced myself ence with me and in me.

After some time, I left the church and felt reborn. Everything looked different and I felt different. In a sense you could say that I had fallen in love with God. My life changed radically from that moment on and it was then that I decided that maybe, by becoming a priest, I could fulfill my vow to God never to be unaware of God’s loving presence in my life.

I wasn’t quite sure how to go about fulfilling this private vow of mine. I was already an altar server but wanted to do more. I then joined the parish choir, became a certified catechist and taught CCD, joined

the Legion of Mary and the Sodality in high school.

The following year I became a student at Bishop Stang High and read the book “Damien the Leper,” which confirmed and deepened my desire to focus my entire life on serving God in response to God’s loving presence in my life.

As they say, all the rest is history. Without question my experience in the eighth grade has been the guiding force of my life and my priesthood. As a priest I try to help people come to know God’s unconditional loving presence in their lives.

Father Powell, ordained in 1976, is pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Orleans.

Mormonism: A third testament of God’s love?

ore than 14 million people, including five million Americans, belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints (LDS), otherwise known as the Mormon Church.

Preponderant in Utah and strong in other western states, the LDS has grown to become the fourth-largest denomination in the United States, in large part because of its aggressive missionary program and its high birthrate.

Mormonism’s founding stories and doctrines germinated in upstate New York in the earlynineteenth century, where new religious sects produced a rainforest of novel revelations. Much of the teaching reflects the liberal Protestantism of the time: belief in continuing revelation, denial of original sin, and unbridled optimism about human perfectibility. Mix that in with the Bible and other scriptures held to be divinely revealed, and the result is Mormonism.

The Book of Mormon, which for Mormons is equal in authority to the Bible, proclaims itself “another testament of Jesus Christ.” Indeed it is, for it purports to give us another history of what our Lord said and did — not one to replace the witness of the gospels but to supplement it. This third testament contains the stories of Christ’s visits, soon after his Ascension, to the Nephites, a branch of the House of Israel, which came to the Americas around 600 B.C., just prior to the Babylonian captivity.

In A.D. 421, the other of the two major Book of Mormon peoples, the Lamanites, defeated the Nephites in battle near present-day Palmyra, New York. Mormon, the vanquished Nephite general, had inscribed the history of his

people on golden plates, which was in 1829 when Joseph Smith his son Moroni buried for safereported that John the Baptist had keeping. appeared to him and his scribe According to official Mormon and ordained them to the Aaronic history, Moroni returned in 1823 or Old Testament priesthood. as an angel and visited Joseph They also claimed to have been Smith (1805-1844), the son of a visited by the Apostles Peter, Vermont farmer. Some time earli- James, and John who conferred er, the Smith family had reloon them the higher priesthood of cated to the Finger Lakes region Melchizedek. of New York. When Joseph was fourteen he was visited

by God the Father The Fullness and Jesus, who told of the Truth him that all existing churches were

By Father false and he was to Thomas M. Kocik reestablish the true Church. In 1827, at the angel Moroni’s behest, he dug near the crest of a With this higher calling, Smith hill near Palmyra and unearthed founded the LDS on April 6, the golden plates. With them 1830, at Fayette, New York. He were the Urim and Thummin, wrote down further revelations flat “seer” stones used as a divine from Jesus, which form a major oracle, like those described in part of Mormon doctrine today: the Old Testament (Ex 28:30; the “Doctrine and Covenants” Num 27:21; 1 Sam 28:6, among and the “Pearl of Great Price.” others). Four years later, Joseph Mormons progressed westward took possession of the plates and, to Ohio, where they built a temusing the stones, deciphered the ple at Kirtland and chose twelve inscriptions from a previously apostles as Smith’s assistants. unknown language described as Some Mormons went to England “Reformed Egyptian.” The result as missionaries; others continued was the Book of Mormon, pubto Missouri, where they entered lished at Palmyra in 1830. into conflict with the old settlers The Book of Mormon conand eventually were expelled. tains many verbatim passages Most observers were suspifrom the New Testament but cious of Mormonism, especially also much that is alien to historic with its exclusive claims and seChristianity. It relates that Jesus cret rituals, but especially because visited the Nephites and taught of rumors of polygamy — always them something very close to the a controversial subject for MorKing James Version of the Sermons. (Smith had thirty wives.) mon on the Mount, healed their The legitimacy of polygamy was sick, raised the dead, adminisallegedly revealed to Smith in tered Communion with bread and 1843, but it was only after the wine, and commissioned twelve largest group of Mormons settled native apostles. in Utah that polygamy was openly Another significant moment practiced. Under government in Mormonism’s development pressure, the LDS finally gave it

up in 1890. Today the LDS does not endorse polygamy, although smaller breakaway sects continue the practice.

Because of this and other controversies, Smith was jailed numerous times, as well as tarred and feathered. On June 27, 1844, while awaiting trial in Carthage, Illinois, he and his brother Hyrum were shot to death by a mob. The LDS was left without a defined leader. Eventually one did emerge: Brigham Young (1801-1877), Smith’s longtime supporter and fellow Vermonter. In 1846, Young led many of the Mormons on a harsh trek westward in order “to get away from Christians and out of the United States.” Survivors of the perilous journey reached the valley of the Great Salt Lake (then a part of Mexico) in 1847 and established a permanent community, bringing a rich harvest from what was

barren desert.

Not all LDS members accepted Young’s leadership. The largest of these splinter groups eventually became the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with headquarters near Independence, Missouri. While much smaller than the LDS (only 250,000 members), this group disavows some of Smith’s more esoteric doctrines and is today practically indistinguishable from any mainline Protestant denomination. In 2001 they were renamed the Community of Christ.

Mormons fervidly maintain that they are true Christians, while most Christians say Mormonism is not Christian. We’ll take up this question next time, when we consider the distinctive doctrines, rites, and structure of the LDS. Father Kocik is a parochial vicar at Santo Christo Parish in Fall River.

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very time I hear the Gospel story of the woman caught in the sin of adultery, I think of St. Augustine Church on Martha’s Vineyard. The stained glass windows of the church depict the seven sacraments. In the window on confession, we find the words of Jesus to the woman in today’s Gospel: “Go and sin no more.” The message sometimes changes, however, on a hot summer day; when one of the panes of glass is cranked opened to let in a breeze, the stained glass window actually proclaims: “Go and sin more!”

“Go and sin no more.”

This key moment where sinner meets savior closely parallels another key moment we read in last week’s Gospel when father meets prodigal son. In both of these encounters, Jesus teaches us a profound truth about God. The father had every right to condemn the son for blowing

March 19, 2010

The Anchor

‘Go and sin no more’

his inheritance. The law of love has given us a law that Moses justified the stoning we must follow if we have of the woman for her sinful any chance to get to heaven. living. Yet the father of last Yet, in spite of her faithfulweek and Jesus today choose ness, she saw her life journey another way to respond to as flawed. While God indeed sin: forgiveness and compassion over condemnation and Homily of the Week rejection.

Fifth Sunday The other day I of Lent was speaking with a woman whom I have

By Msgr. known for years. She Stephen J. Avila is a deeply devoted woman of faith who prays several rosaries a day and had never missed is a God of justice, the image Sunday Mass in her 80-plus was incomplete. Our God is years until recent sickness also a God of great mercy. has prevented her from atShe was very aware of her tending. She showed me sin, but not aware of God’s the list of people she prays mercy. Like being in a deep for everyday. It’s a list I am hole, she felt no way out. happy to be on. As I listened The woman caught in to her, I saw how troubled adultery, I’m sure, felt the she was, partially because same way. She, and everyone her image of God was rather else, was aware of her sin and one-sided. God for her was all were quick to condemn a God of justice, who out of her in her guilt. But then Je-

sus appeared on the scene and showed her, and her accusers, a way out of the shackle of her sin: the merciful embrace of God. He detested her sin — as he does every sin of ours. But Christ is able to separate sin from sinner. Sin he hates, but the sinner he still loves.

When Jesus speaks the words “Go and sin no more” to the woman caught in adultery, he is not speaking words of condemnation; rather, they are words of love.

He wants us to be free of the shackle of sin that defines us and to have the strength and courage to rise from our knees and walk in a new direction, guided by the grace God extends to us.

And that is why he has given us the great sacrament of reconciliation: to assure us, just as he assured the woman, that God is not only

a God of justice but a God of mercy and compassion as well. This weekend in our diocese, on Friday evening March 19 and throughout the day on Saturday March 20, the priests of our diocese are participating in a Reconciliation Weekend, offering God’s mercy through the sacrament of reconciliation.

Today, priests are asked to do much in service to their people, but few things are more important than whenever we celebrate this sacrament. For we know, in our own lives, that true spiritual healing can be ours if we acknowledge our sin, ask for and accept the Lord’s forgiveness and heed Christ’s challenging but loving words: “Go and sin no more.”

Msgr. Avila is pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Mansfield, director of the Diocesan Worship Office, and coordinator of the 2010 Diocesan Reconciliation Weekend.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Mar. 20, Jer 11:18-20; Ps 7:2-3,9b-12; Jn 7:40-53. Sun. Mar. 21, Fifth Sunday of Lent, Is 43:16-21; Ps 126:1-6; Phil 3:8-14; Jn 8:1-11. Mon. Mar. 22, Dn 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62 or 13:41c-62; Ps 23:1-6; Jn 8:12-20. Tues. Mar. 23, Nm 21:4-9; Ps 102:2-3,16-21; Jn 8:21-30. Wed. Mar. 24, Dn 3:14-20,91-92,95; (Ps) Dn 3:52-56; Jn 8:31-42. Thur. Mar. 25, Solemnity of The Annunciation of the Lord, Is 7:10-14;8:10; Ps 40:7-11; Heb 10:4-10; Lk 1:26-38. Fri. Mar. 26, Jer 20:10-13; Ps 18:2-7; Jn 10:31-42.

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t an international symposium in honor of the late Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, held in Paris on February 11, I offered closing remarks on what the Church might do to combat aggressive secularism in Europe. As the same prescriptions apply in the United States, let me share them with an American audience: 1) Intolerance in the name of “tolerance” must be named for what it is and publicly condemned. To deny religiously-informed moral argument a place in the public square is intolerant and anti-democratic.

To identify the truths of biblical morality with bigotry and intolerance is a distortion of moral truth and an intolerant, uncivil act, which must be

Advice for Europe — and for us named as such. To imagine that new appreciation of the dignity and nobility of human love. any state … has the authority In John Paul II’s “Theology to redefine marriage, a human of the Body,” believers and institution that [is prior to] the unbelievers alike have a more state ontologically as well as historically, is to open the door compelling account of our huto what John Paul II called … “thinly disguised totalitarianism” — and this, too, must be said, publicly. This will require (western) Christians … to overBy George Weigel come what (sometimes) seems to be a deeplyengrained and internalman embodiedness as male and ized sense of marginalization female, and the reciprocity and within contemporary society.

2) We must speak openly … fruitfulness “built into” that embodiedness and differentiaabout the empirically demontion, than theories of human strable and deplorable effects sexuality that reduce sexual of the sexual revolution on differentiation to a question individuals and society, while calling our contemporaries to a of plumbing and human love to another sport. … Young people, deeply wounded by a culture of promiscuity that tells them simultaneously that they must be sexually active and that sex could kill them, are yearning for the truth about love, as the remarkable impact of the “Theology of the Body” on … university campuses and in marriage-preparation programs demonstrates. This weapon in the conversion of culture (must) be fully … deployed: and if that requires making the public claim that

The Catholic Difference

the Catholic Church understands human sexuality better than the prophets of sexual liberation, then so be it.

3) The reduction of Christian history to the Crusades, the European wars of religion, Galileo’s trial, and the Inquisition must be publicly challenged, for these “black legends” … put obstacles in the way of the conversion of culture. … Contemporary scholarship has deepened our understanding of the Crusades as a legitimate, if often mismanaged and brutal, response to Islamic aggression, even as it has demonstrated that such horrors as the Thirty Years War were far more about politics than about the fine points of the theology of justification. As for the Inquisition, the Church has repented, publicly, of this and other unsavory alliances with state power; when will the (western) Left apologize for communism, which killed more men and women in a slow week than the Inquisition did in centuries? As for science, absent Christianity and its convictions about a world imprinted with the divine reason … it almost certainly would not have developed as

it did in Europe (or anywhere else). I raise these matters of historical record, not to score debating points, but to suggest that part of the challenge we face today is to recognize … that the West is suffering from a false story about itself, and about the relationship of biblical religion to its formation and its history.

4) The Catholic Church, while enriching its interior life through a deepened encounter with the sources of its faith in the Bible, the Fathers, and the sacraments (resourcement), and while developing ever more winsome ways to make the Church’s proposal to a post-Christian Europe (aggiornamento), must also join forces with men and women of conscience who may not be believers, in order to challenge publicly the (encroaching) dictatorship of relativism of which Cardinal Ratzinger warned (in April 2005). The Church’s engagement with … culture and politics, in other words, must be less diffident, less defensive, and more assertive — not in the sense of aggression, but of truth-telling “in and out of season” (2 Tim 4:2).

George Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

March 19, 2010

Give me a break

Sunday 7 March 2010 — Jeff’s posting tweaked my Cape Cod Bay — Third Sunday interest. What does a priest do of Lent on spring break? Where does a ne of my Facebook priest go on spring break: Florfriends, Father Jeff ida, Mexico, the Caribbean or Cabral, recently posted an innone of the above? The correct teresting status report on the Internet. Jeff, a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, is doing graduate Reflections of a studies in Washington, D.C. Like college and Parish Priest university students

By Father Tim everywhere, according Goldrick to Jeff, he was going on spring break. Spring break, dear readers, is notorious for mayhem. There is answer is none of the above. Jeff even a television series on the was going to hang out in Rome. chaos caused by the wild parties, I have never heard of taking a fun in the sun, reckless behavior, spring break in Rome. I find it etc. difficult to imagine. Maybe Jeff

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The Ship’s Log

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The Anchor is a trailblazer. Maybe Jeff will start a new trend. Perhaps next spring Rome will be filled with hoards of young revelers from all over the world who have come to party hardy in the Eternal City.

Maybe, but I doubt it.

Everyone needs a break now and again.

When the season of darkness begins to wind down, I yearn to emerge from my winter cocoon into the warmth of the spring sun. This month, I went on a spring break weekend myself. It was a working spring break, if that’s not an oxymoron. Nevertheless, it was a break from the routine of parish life. I went to Cape Cod. I didn’t pack a bathing suit.

Why the Shroud is not a painting

of the Shroud. Therefore, the imebunkers love to say that age was the result of a chemical the Shroud of Turin is a change of the cellulose itself. He painting. When we are finished went on to explain that the yellowlooking at it from a microscopic and chemical perspective, you will ing of the topmost fibers can be reproduced when linen is placed be able at once to recognize that over flat surfaces (such as a body) these debunkers are the frauds. that has an acid coating. When it When Dr. Pierre Barbet looked came to more complex surfaces at the Shroud in 1933 he saw that like the face, however, this contact there was no paint causing the image. Vern Miller, the scientific pho- mechanism is not capable of causing the image seen on the Shroud. tographer who took micrographs Dr. John Jackson, a physicist (magnified photographs) of the Shroud in 1978, handed me his set of micrographs a few years later. When I The Shroud held them to the light, it was the visual confirmaof Turin tion of what Barbet had

By Gilbert R. seen at one yard away Lavoie, M.D. in 1933: There was no paint causing this image.

I could see the individual flax fibers that made up the threads and organizer of the 1978 study of the Shroud, attempted to reproof the cloth. It was the yellow duce the Shroud image by direct color of each individual fiber that contact, diffusion, radiation from a produced the image. body shape or an engraving, dabDr. Alan Adler, a professor of bing powder on a bas-relief, elecchemistry, whom I met in 1982, trostatic relief, and hot bas-relief (a analyzed these yellowed fibers, rubbing image); but none reprowhich had been brought back on sticking tapes that had been placed duced the Shroud image. Presently there is no known mechanism that over the image areas and blood can reproduce at the microscopic areas of the Shroud. The fibers were 10 to 15 microns in diameter, level, a body-to-cloth image transfer that matches the Shroud image. which is much smaller than the In 1978, an engineer Dr. Eric diameter of a human hair. After Jumper and his associates teased extensive chemical testing, Adler at the fibers of the threads of the concluded that there was no paint medium coating the cellulose (flax) Shroud and made the following fibers and that there were no stains observation: the yellowed fibers which caused the image were only or dyes causing the image. Rather, one fiber deep, which was less than the yellowing of the Shroud fibers half the diameter of any hair on was produced by a dehydrative your head. He also found that each oxidative process that affected yellowed fiber contained the same the cellulose structure itself and caused it to yellow. In other words, shade of yellow and that the difference in the shading of yellow from this process is a degradation of the fibers themselves and is identical to one area of the image to another the aging of linen, causing linen to was dependent on the number of yellow fibers present among the turn from white to yellow.

Adler explained that light, heat, white fibers of the cloth. According to Jumper, “It is like the dots or acid can all yellow linen fibers of newspaper print. If you want to like those found in the image area

make an area darker, you put in more dots.” In this day and age, it is similar to the pixels that make up the images of your computer screen.

Those who claim that the Shroud image is a painting will have to demonstrate that their reproduction matches what Jumper and his associates have described at the fiber level of the cloth. At the same time, they will have to create a negative image. The difficulty of producing the Shroud image by hand is best underlined by the words of Adler: “For a painter to have created this image, he would have needed a paint brush the size of a fiber which is less than half the diameter of a human hair.”

The micrograph taken over the blood area of the chest wound demonstrates a brownish red material that is intertwined among the fibers and threads of the cloth and actually soaks through to the other side. Adler, an expert on porphyrins, which are organic chemicals that form part of the structure of red blood cells, analyzed the particles that were brought back on the sticking tapes that were placed over the blood marks. He established the presence of whole blood on the Shroud.

Next week we will focus more on that blood as well as on the carbon dating of the Shroud.

Gilbert R. Lavoie, M.D., MPH, has for the past 30 years been doing a medical and scriptural study of the Shroud of Turin. He has published many articles, written two books, and participated in many international conferences. His video, “Unlocking the Secrets of the Shroud,” has been shown on EWTN for many years.

He lives in Boston with his wife.

This is the second of a four-part Lenten series.

No beach on Cape Cod would be open in the month of March.

I didn’t even bring a supply of sunscreen (I use heavy-duty number 40.) My spring break weekend would be spent indoors.

I was serving as one of the spiritual directors on ECHO youth retreat No. 269. My assigned presentations were on the sacraments in general and the sacrament of reconciliation in particular. There were 42 women participating in the ECHO weekend No. 269, including candidates and team. There were many more young people and adults providing behind-thescenes backup. An ECHO retreat requires a veritable army of highly-motivated volunteers. Although the structure of an ECHO retreat is always the same, each weekend has a different theme.

Ours was “You did not choose me; I chose you” (John 15:16).

Friday evening began slowly.

Friday evenings always do. Candidates and team come from all around. Most are not acquainted with each other. The sign on the wall reads, “There are no strangers here, only friends who have not met.” Everyone is a bit guarded, given the circumstances. That is to be expected.

It will change as people get to know each other better. By the next day, deep conversation and intimate sharing is usually flowing like a river.

It didn’t.

The team huddled off the field to discern what was going on — or not going on. The answer came. The candidates were certainly taking it all in and pondering the message in their hearts. They were simply not quick to speak, preferring instead to incubate in silence.

Imagine that — a group of today’s young people who are comfortable with silence. The young women were like none

I have encountered in ECHO’s 40-year existence. There was no flighty chatter, silliness, or giggling. These young people were pensive and deep.

When they were moved to speak, however, they spoke with great spiritual power. It took me many years of studying theology, spirituality, and Scripture to achieve a level of understanding they already possessed. That weekend, I was given the gift of hope for the future.

It got heavy. The team decided that the atmosphere had to be lightened up a bit. The job fell to me. Go figure.

Fortunately, I just happened to have a bag of St. Patrick Day paraphernalia. When the time was just right, out came the green hats and orange pigtails.

With the leaders at the head table dressed like leprechauns, joy and laughter spread throughout the room. Joy is the unmistakable sign of the presence of God. How I wish I could bottle this faith, joy, and enthusiasm and bring it back to my parish.

Decades ago, Father Frank “Chub” Connors, then pastor of Our Lady of Victory Church in Centerville, shared his dream.

He spoke of the day when every parish would be able hold its own youth retreat. He insisted that the laity lead the retreats, with the assistance of priests, deacons, and consecrated women.

There are legions of young people and adults throughout our diocese who are willing and able to touch hearts. What would prevent parish youth retreat teams, the Christian Leadership Institute (CLI), and regional retreat teams like YES!, Emmaus, and ECHO from working together?

Hey, it’s just a thought that surfaced during my spring break.

Give me a break.

Father Goldrick is pastor of St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dighton.

10

The Anchor

March 19, 2010

Active parishioner, school volunteer does ‘what God wants her to’

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

TAUNTON — It was difficult for Darlene Mulcahy to find even a half-hour opening in her busy schedule to talk about her volunteer efforts at Our Lady of Lourdes School and Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, both in Taunton.

Between shuttling younger daughter, Bridget, back and forth to Our Lady of Lourdes School where she attends third grade; transporting 12-year-old Jillian to Taunton Catholic Middle School; and then volunteering for the fund-raising Bingo game midweek, she had a lot on her plate.

But Mulcahy takes it all in stride. She enjoys everything she does for the parochial school that her daughters have attended and particularly relishes her involvement with the Taunton parish she and her husband James have called home for the past 15 years.

“Over the past five years I feel like I’ve truly grown in my faith through my involvement with the school and parish community,” Mulcahy said. “I volunteer at school events, I sing in the chorus, I serve as a lector during Mass, and I love sharing God’s word with other people.”

“Not only is it the educaShe also teaches the third- them. That’s a hard thing to graders in the parish’s Faith explain to them. All you can tion they get and the values do is give them a real-life and morals they learn, but I Formation program.

“I really enjoy teaching my example for them to think really enjoy the fact that I can give my daughters something third-graders,” she said. “Just about.”

I didn’t have when I asking them questions was younger,” she said. that will really make “My husband and I them think about God couldn’t have a Cathoand their relationship lic education when we with God and watching were growing up and I their faces when they’re think it’s the best thing thinking is so amazing for my girls. I live in and I really know that I a town where we have am touching them.” a great school system, While she may not but we choose to send always have the anthem where they are.” swers to their oftenMulcahy said she challenging questions, also loves the fact that Mulcahy admitted it’s Catholic schools are so a joy to pass on her close-knit and familyown beliefs and faith to oriented. a younger generation.

“Everyone at Our “Sometimes they Lady of Lourdes is very do come up with some loving and helping and winners and I tell them: I really like that close‘You’ll have to ask Faness,” she said. “Neither Driscoll about ther one of my children that,’” she said, laughis in a classroom of 30 ing. “Sometimes you kids, so we’re gratejust don’t know how to ful.” answer them. But they Mulcahy said she’s are cute. often dismayed with “One amazing thing we talk about in class Anchor person of the week — Darlene other parents who don’t take full advantage of is how God forgives us. Mulcahy. all their school or parWhen you think about Mulcahy and her husband ish has to offer by getting all the bad things that go on in the world today, it’s hard likewise feel blessed to be similarly involved.

“I can’t tell you how many for children to understand able to provide their daughwhen someone has done ters with a Catholic educa- parents just drop their chilsomething so horrible that tion — something neither of dren off at school or CCD classes and they’re not even God still loves and forgives them had when growing up. going with them to Mass and I have to say it upsets me because I think to myself: ‘Why do you have your children coming here when you’re not practicing the

faith?’” she said. “All I can say to them is: ‘Open up your hearts. Listen and come to God’s house.’ I always find joy and peace when I go to God’s house. Pray and talk to the Lord.”

“Darlene Mulcahy is one of those parents you can always count on to support the school and the parish in any way possible,” said Dr. Lincoln A. DeMoura, principal of Our Lady of Lourdes School. “She’s a very active member of the parish — she teaches Faith Formation, she’s a lector at Mass, she’s in the chorus at church — and to me she’s just an excellent example of a good Christian.”

Whether it’s volunteering at Bingo, singing and reading at Mass, soliciting donations for the school penny sale, or selling tickets to the latest fund-raiser, Mulcahy said it’s all part of God’s plan.

After all, she’s just doing what he wants her to do.

“Anything that gives you peace and comfort with God is a good thing,” she said.

“That’s why I’m so involved, because I truly want to be close to God and I feel these things that I’m doing are giving back to other people and I feel that’s what God wants me to do. I really enjoy it, I don’t do it because other people want me to — I do it because I want to.”

To nominate a Person of the Week, send an email message to FatherRogerLandry@anchornews.org.

March 19, 2010

The Anchor

11

who try to take advantage of the situation and exploit the poor.”

At the same time they don’t want pity, he stated.

“In my opinion, they seem to live at a level where the Gospel is readily applicable to the lives in a way that is more hidden and less explicit here in the U.S.,” Father Bissinger commented. “And they are not only remaining open to it, but actively seeking the Gospel message.”

The bishop also spent time with the young women at the Marie Poussepin Center Turn to page 13

ready to receive — Some of the 50 young people who received confirmation from Bishop Coleman in Guaimaca, await their turn at St. Rose of Lima Parish.

Bishop Coleman makes annual visit to Guaimaca continued from page one

said Father Pregana.

Back in the diocese, Bishop Coleman, in what might be a state-of-the-mission report, told The Anchor, “I am pleased to witness how well the Parish Council and the parish’s St. Vincent de Paul Society have learned, integrated and carried out the Church’s mission. They show evidence of a careful formation and serve as a model of how lay groups in a Catholic parish should work.

“The good work of the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation is bearing fruit,” he said. Girls who live in the villages surrounding Guaimaca and would otherwise be deprived of a high school education, are receiving solid instruction under the Sisters’ care.

He reported that a few of the graduates are now continuing their education at the college level; one or two have returned as teachers; and others have gone home and taught their parents how to read and write.

“In this way, we can see how the good results have already spread,” the bishop said.

Addressing Honduras’ often-shaky government, Bishop Coleman reported, “I saw that the Honduran political situation, which has been a cause of concern beginning last spring, has stabilized. It was comforting to see that everything appears to be back to normal.”

Father Karl C. Bissinger, the bishop’s secretary and who had accompanied him, was able to celebrate Mass in the chapel of San Juan Diego in one of the outlying barrios.

“After Mass we all enjoyed a cup of hot sweet rice. Father Bissinger speaks Spanish very well and was able to meet and greet the parishioners, who were very grateful for his visit,” Father Pregana noted.

“This was my second trip to Guaimaca, so it was very good to see the people I met last year again and to see they are all still well. The people seem happy and the parish is thriving,” Father Bissinger told The Anchor.

Speaking of the “lively enthusiasm” of the young people there, which he found “energizing,” Father Bissinger added, “They readily take on leadership roles in the parish. The younger ones have moved into positions of greater responsibility within altar serving, the youth group, and even as delegates. Others seem to be showing clearer or more mature signs of priestly or religious vocations.”

The youth group was hosting a fund-raiser marathon the weekend he and the bishop arrived, and they stopped the bishop’s car on the way from the airport “and a patrol of youth made us pay a toll before allowing us to move on,” Father Bissinger related.

“Apparently they were stopping traffic like this with gusto all day long. They helped raise a lot of money for parish repairs,” he added.

Father Bissinger was impressed by “how much life in Honduras resembles the culture encountered in the Gospels. It seem to me that you wouldn’t have to explain so much to them about how to understand the context of the Gospel stories. They live it.”

“It’s not that the people are angels; nor, by saying this, do I mean to idealize them as perfect Christians.

But the people you meet in Guaimaca are the people that Jesus met in the Gospels: the blind man, the Samaritan women at the well, the multitude that needs to be fed. There are those Jesus would criticize too, those

12

The Anchor

March 19, 2010

Diocesan faithful contribute more than $700,000 for Haitian relief

wonder in underworld — Mia Wasikowska stars in a scene from the movie “Alice in Wonderland.” For a brief review of this movie, see CNS Movie Capsules below. (CNS/Disney)

CNS Movie Capsules NEW YORK (CNS) — The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“Alice in Wonderland” (Disney) Very loosely inspired by, but not recklessly departing from, Lewis

Carroll’s famous books, this 3-D fantasy-adventure mixes animation and live action as it follows its plucky Victorian heroine (Mia Wasikowska) — here a 19-yearold — down the rabbit hole into a strange, nonsensical realm where she conspires with the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) and various frazzled fauna to end the despotic rule of the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter). Although younger viewers will be frightened by certain sequences, director Tim Burton refrains from indulging in the more macabre or avant-garde aspects of the tale; and yet, while it conveys a salubrious message with vaguely Christian echoes,

the film’s aesthetic impact is lessened by the lack of a coherent visual style. Sequences of fantasy action and violence, including a skewered animal eyeball, human characters striking one another; images of mild animal cruelty, some discussion of beheadings, a character smoking a water pipe and one instance of light profanity. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II — adults and adolescents.

The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

“Green Zone” (Universal) Idealistic but raw combat drama, set in the early days of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, as a dedicated Army officer (Matt Damon) tries to discover why his unit’s search for the Saddam regime’s weapons of mass destruction continually comes up empty, and finds himself caught in a power struggle between a Defense Department intelligence agent (Greg Kinnear) who’s indifferent to the justification for American intervention and a rogue CIA station chief (Brendan Gleeson) who believes the whole operation rests on a foundation of lies and fabrications. Director Paul Greengrass’ uneasy mix of political conspiracy yarn and action adventure, loosely inspired by journalist Rajiv Chandrasekaran’s 2007 bestseller “Imperial Life in the Emerald City,” increasingly takes on the qualities of a personal crusade by its hero, thus blunting its ability to dissect larger questions of real-life morality. Considerable action violence, some of it bloody, torture, several uses of profanity, frequent rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

FALL RIVER — A special collection taken up in parishes in the Fall River Diocese for earthquake relief efforts in Haiti raised an astonishing $718,134.93. The total is extraordinary for a diocese of its size and reflects the deep desire of area Catholics to respond to the suffering of the Haitian people in the wake of the disaster.

Bishop George W. Coleman announced that a check in that amount was transmitted last week by the diocese to Catholic Relief Services or CRS to support the response to immediate emergency needs for such necessities as food, shelter and medical care, as well as to the long-term need to rebuild after widespread destruction, and to pastoral and reconstruction needs of the Church in Haiti.

At the same time, the bishop expressed his gratitude to contributors.

“The people of the Fall River Diocese responded with exceptional generosity to our brothers and sisters in Haiti, and I am deeply grateful,” Bishop Coleman said. “The response is a wonderful testament to the compassion of the faithful of our diocesan Church and of their willingness to sacrifice for others despite difficult economic times. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the special collection.”

The bishop authorized the collection for Haiti in the diocese’s 91 parishes two days after the January 12 earthquake that killed more than 200,000 and caused incomprehensible damage. He gave pastors the option of taking it up either the weekend of January 23-24 or 30-31 and announced that proceeds would go to CRS. Of the total collected,

$704,053.55 was raised through parish collections; the balance of $14,081.30 was brought in by donations sent directly to the diocesan Chancery Office.

More than half of non-parish proceeds came from collections taken up at four Catholic schools in the diocese: Bishop Stang High School, North Dartmouth; Holy Family-Holy Name School, New Bedford; Holy Trinity School, Fall River; and St. Margaret Regional School, Buzzards Bay. In announcing the collection results, Bishop Coleman underscored the losses sustained by the Haitian people and their need for assistance to confront the challenges they now face.

“They lost not only families and homes, but also their churches, their archbishop, a good number of their priests and seminarians,” he said.

“The gift from our diocese will help them with immediate needs and for long-term re-building projects including all aspects of the Church in that country.”

CRS is the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic Church and has had offices and programs in place in Haiti since 1954.

CRS Executive Director Ken Hackett explained recently that even as the agency continues to deliver relief supplies to the Haitian people, staff is working on long-term recovery plans.

“We are working with the Haitian people now and will be for years to come,” Hackett said. “Our fund raising for Haiti has passed the $90-million mark. We are grateful for such generosity, and our donors should know that we will spend all of this money, and much more, helping the people of this devastated country.”

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, March 21 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Timothy J. Goldrick, pastor of St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dighton

Bishop makes annual visit to Guaimaca continued from page 11

and enjoyed lunch with the Sisters. Sister Silvia had prepared 16 of the students for their confirmation and reportedly each of them was overjoyed at having received the sacrament.

On a Wednesday, the bishop traveled to “Valley of the Angels” for a meeting with Cardinal Oscar Andres Maradiaga, the Archbishop of Tegucigalpa. The cardinal presented the bishop to the local presbyterate and expressed his gratitude for Bishop Coleman’s support offered to the archdiocese.

One connection with the archdi-

13

The Anchor

March 19, 2010

ocese is the pastoral work with the fourth-year seminarians that travel to the mission each weekend.

“The bishop had the chance to meet the seven seminarians who work in the parish and hear of their experience in preparing for the priesthood. He encouraged them in their studies and to promote vocations among the parish youth through their pastoral work in the barrios,” Father Pregana reported.

“Our bishop enjoyed the visit in spite of the rather ‘rustic’ accommodations of the Mission.

Even the parish dog, Olimpia,

was very glad for the bishop’s visit, too, as she raced to greet him when he arrived,” Father Pregana related.

Plans are underway to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the connec-

tion between the Diocese of Fall River and the Parish of St. Rose of Lima in Guaimaca in October.

“Much time has passed and many good works have been realized due to the generosity of

parishioners from home,” Father Pregana, who hails from Fall River, said. “The bishop’s visit animates us to continue working on behalf of the poor of Guaimaca.”

a day in guaimaca — Bishop Coleman and Father Karl Bissinger enjoy hot chocolate with a Guaimacan family during the bishop’s recent pastoral visit to Guaimaca. Below, Father Craig A. Pregana, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Guaimaca, shows the bishop progress of the construction of a house for a blind couple. The work is being done by the St. Rose of Lima St. Vincent de Paul Society.

canine companion — Father Karl Bissinger relaxes with the St. Rose of Lima Parish dog, Olimpia, during his recent visit to the diocesan Honduran visit.

14

The Anchor

Priests must promote confession, show God’s mercy, pope says B y Sarah Delaney C atholic N ews Service

about the challenges and the complex situations that confessors are required VATICAN CITY — Priests today to handle. He reminded them that the are challenged with the task of drawing Church seeks to help “even in situathe faithful back to confession and as- tions that are humanly so difficult that suring them that their true repentance they seem to have no solution.”

Among these situations is the plight will be met with mercy and compasof divorced Catholics who, if they resion, Pope Benedict XVI said. marry, are no longer allowed to take In an address to several hundred Communion.

Archbishop Girotti said young priests, Pope Benedict said that in those cases, if the person cannot March 11 that “we must return to the separate from the new spouse for variconfessional” not only as a place to ous reasons, the confessor could sugconfess sins and receive absolution, but gest that refraining from sex and transalso as a place where “the faithful can forming the relationship into one of find mercy, counsel and comfort, feel friendship might loved and underopen the way to stood by God.” t’s the duty of the conthe possibility of The pope adfessor to open the con- partaking once dressed nearly 700 priests at sciences of people and make again in Comthe conclusion them understand the needs of munion.

He also said of a March 8-12 others, showing them that doconfessors must course designed ing so won’t take anything away be careful with to develop their from them, but will make them the psychoskills as confeslogical states of sors; the course richer.” penitents; if they was offered by find themselves with someone with sethe Apostolic Penitentiary, a Vatican rious problems they should not “try to court that handles issues related to the be a psychologist,” but rather seek exsacrament of penance. pert help.

Priests are called on to educate Archbishop Girotti warned that their flocks in the “radical requirein the case of repeat offenders, who ments of the Gospel” and help them don’t show even a minimal intention to resist “the mentality of this world” and change, absolution must not be grantmake choices that take courage and are ed.

However, the priest must be very sometimes unpopular, the pope told the patient because a conversion is always group. possible, he said.

The times are difficult, he said, and Showing that there is a better way marked by “a hedonistic and relativto live is always the job of a priest, istic mentality that cancels God from especially as an antidote to increaspeoples’ lives.” This mentality makes it ing hedonism and selfishness in condifficult to “distinguish good from evil temporary society, said Archbishop and develop a proper sense of sin.”

Fortunato Baldelli, who heads the Priests must be particularly good extribunal as major penitentiary.

“It’s amples in their lives so that Catholics the duty of the confessor to open the will understand their own sins and find consciences of people and make them the courage and desire to seek God’s understand the needs of others, showforgiveness, he said.

During the course, Archbishop Gi- ing them that doing so won’t take anfranco Girotti, regent of the Apos- anything away from them, but will tolic Penitentiary, spoke to the priests make them richer.”

“I

March 19, 2010

Parish Penance Hours for 2010 Reconciliation Weekend Parish

City/Town

Phone

St. Francis Xavier Acushnet 508.995.7600 St. Bernard Assonet 508.644.5585 Holy Ghost Attleboro 508.222.3266 LaSalette Shrine Attleboro 508.222.0027 St. John Evangelist Attleboro 508.222.1206 St. Joseph Attleboro 508.226.1115 St. Stephen Attleboro 508.222.0641 St. Theresa South Attleboro 508.761.8111 St. Mark Attleboro Falls 508.699.7566 Our Lady of the Cape Brewster 508.385.3252 St. Margaret Buzzards Bay 508.759.7777 Our Lady of Victory Centerville 508.775.5744 Holy Redeemer Chatham 508.945.0677 St. Anthony East Falmouth 508.548.0108 St. John Neumann East Freetown 508.763.2240 Corpus Christi East Sandwich 508.888.0209 Holy Family East Taunton 508.824.5707 St. Joseph Fairhaven 508.994.9714 St. Mary Fairhaven 508.992.7300 Espirito Santo Fall River 508.672.3352 Good Shepherd Fall River 508.678.7412 Holy Name Fall River 508.679.6732 Holy Trinity Fall River 508.672.3200 Notre Dame Fall River 508.679.1991 Sacred Heart Fall River 508.673.0852 Immac. Conception Fall River 508.673.2122 Santo Christo Fall River 508.676.1184 SS. Peter & Paul Fall River 508.676.8463 St. Anne Fall River 508.674.5651 St. Anthony of Padua Fall River 508.673.2402 St. Joseph Fall River 508.673.1123 St. Mary’s Cathedral Fall River 508.673.2833 St. Michael Fall River 508.672.6713 St. Stanislaus Fall River 508.672.0423 St. Patrick Falmouth 508.548.1065 St. Francis Xavier Hyannis 508.775.0818 St. Mary Mansfield 508.339.2981 St. Rita Marion 508.748.1497 Good Shepherd M. Vineyard 508.693.0342 Christ the King Mashpee 508.477.7700 St. Anthony Mattapoisett 508.758.3719 St. Mary/Our Lady Nantucket 508.228.0100 Holy Name/Sacred New Bedford 508.992.3184 Our Lady of Fatima New Bedford 508.995.7351 O.L. of Guadalupe New Bedford 508.992.9408 O.L. of Mt. Carmel New Bedford 508.993.4704 O.L. of Perp. Help New Bedford 508.992.9378 O.L. of Assumption New Bedford 508.994.7602 Immac. Conception New Bedford 508.992.9892 St. Anthony of Padua New Bedford 508.993.1691 St. Francis of Assisi New Bedford 508.997.7732 St. John the Baptist New Bedford 508.992.7727 St. Joseph-Therese New Bedford 508.995.5235 St. Kilian New Bedford 508.992.7587 St. Lawrence Martyr New Bedford 508.992.4251 St. Mary New Bedford 508.995.3593 Sacred Heart North Attleboro 508.699.8383 St. Mary North Attleboro 508.695.6161 St. Julie Billiart North Dartmouth 508.993.2351 St. Nicholas North Dighton 508.822.1425 Immac. Conception North Easton 508.238.3232 St. Elizabeth Seton North Falmouth 508.563.7770 St. Mary Norton 508.285.4462 St. John of Arc Orleans 508.255.0170 O.L. of Assumption Osterville 508.428.2011 St. John Evangelist Pocasset 508.563.5887 St. Peter the Apostle Provincetown 508.487.0095 St. Ann Raynham 508.823.9833 O.L. of Mt. Carmel Seekonk 508.399.8440 St. Mary Seekonk 508.336.5549 St. John of God Somerset 508.678.5513 St. Patrick Somerset 508.672.1523 St. Thomas More Somerset 508.673.7831 St. Mary South Dartmouth 508.992.7163 Holy Cross South Easton 508.238.2235 St. Pius X South Yarmouth 508.298.2248 St. Dominic Swansea 208.675.7206 St. Francis of Assisi Swansea 508.673.2808 St. Louis de France Swansea 508.674.1103 Annunc. of the Lord Taunton 508.823.2521 Holy Rosary Taunton 508.823.3046 St. Andrew Taunton 508.824.5577 St. Anthony Taunton 508.822.0714 St. Jude the Apostle Taunton 508.824.3330 St. Mary Taunton 508.822.7116 St. Patrick Wareham 508.295.2411 Our Lady of Lourdes Wellfleet 508.349.2222 Holy Trinity West Harwich 508.432.4000 Our Lady of Grace Westport 508.674.6271 St. George Westport 508.636.4965 St. John the Baptist Westport 508.636.2251 St. Joseph Woods Hole 508.548.0990

Address

Hours

125 Main Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 32 South Main Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 71 Linden Street Fri; Sat 11:30-12:30; 2:30-3:30 947 Park Street Fri 2-3 pm; Sat 1-4 pm 1 St. John Place Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 208 S. Main Street Fri 7:30-8:30; no Sat 683 S. Main Street Fri 5-6 pm; Sat 1-2:30 18 Baltic Street Fri 7-8 pm; Sat 11-1, 2:30-4 105 Stanley Street Not participating 468 Stoney Brook Road Fri 7-8 pm; Sat 3-3:45 pm 141 Main Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 230 S. Main Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 57 Highland Avenue Fri 3-4 pm; Sat 2-3:30 pm 167 E. Falmouth Hwy Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 157 Middleboro Road Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 324 Quaker Meetinghouse Rd. Fri 7:30-8:30; Sat 11-1; 2-3:45 pm 370 Middleboro Avenue Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 12-3 41-43 Walnut Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 41 Harding Road Fri 6-8; Sat 11-1; 2:45-4:15 311 Alden Street Not participating 1598 S. Main Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 2-3:30 pm 709 Hanover Street Fri 7-9 pm; Sat 11-1, 2-3:30 951 Stafford Road Fri 7-8; Sat 11:30-12:30; 3-4 pm 529 Eastern Avenue Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 160 Seabury Street Fri 4:30-6:30; Sat 2-3:30 pm 15 Thomas Street At Notre Dame, Fall River 185 Canal Street Not participating 250 Snell Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 818 Middle Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-11:30, 3-4 pm 48 16th Street Not participating 1335 N. Main Street Fri 6-7 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 327 Second Street Fri 2-3 pm; Sat 11-1; 3-3:45 pm 189 Essex Street Fri 6-8 pm only 36 Rockland Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 511 Main Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 21 Cross Street Fri 6-7 pm; Sat 11-12, 2-3:30 pm 300 Pratt Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:45 pm 113 Front Street At St. Anthony, Mattapoisett 86 Main Street, Edgartown Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm The Commons Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 22 Barstow Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 2-3:30 pm 6 Orange Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 121 Mt. Pleasant Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 4256 Acushnet Avenue Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 233 Country Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 230 Bonney Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 235 N. Front Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 47 S. 6th Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 136 Earle Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 1359 Acushnet Avenue Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 247 North Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 344 County Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 51 Duncan Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 306 Ashley Blvd Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 110 Summer Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 106 Illinois Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 58 Church Street Fri 6-7:30 pm; no Saturday 14 Park Street No Fri; Sat 2-3:30 pm 494 Slocum Road Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 209 Pearl Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 12-3 193 Main Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 12-3 481 Quaker Road Fri 6-7; Sat 11-12; 2-3:45 133 South Worcester Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 2-3:30 pm 61 Canal Road Fri 8-9 pm; Sat 11-1; 2-3:30 pm 76 Wianno Avenue Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 841 Shore Road Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 11 Prince Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 660 North Main Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 12-3 984 Taunton Avenue Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1; 3-4:30 385 Central Avenue Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 996 Brayton Avenue Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 306 South Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 386 Luther Avenue Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 783 Dartmouth Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 225 Purchase Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 12-3 5 Barbara Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 1277 Grand Army Highway Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 270 Ocean Grove Avenue Fri 7-8 pm; Sat 2-3:30 pm 56 Buffington Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 311 Somerset Avenue Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 12-3 80 Bay Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 12-3 19 Kilmer Avenue Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 12-3 126 School Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 12-3 19 Kilmer Avenue Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 12-3 249 Whittenton Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 12-3 82 High Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 2282 Rte 6 Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 246 Main Street Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 569 Sanford Road Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 12 Highland Avenue Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 845 Main Road Fri 6-8 pm; Sat 11-1 and 2-3:30 pm 33 Millfield Street Fri 7-8 pm; Sat 11-12 and 3-3:30 pm

March 19, 2010

15

The Anchor

Reconciliation Weekend seen as giant step to Lenten renewal

By Deacon James N. Dunbar FALL RIVER — Shades of St. John Vianney.

Taking a cue from the 19th century French priest whose iconic ministry of long hours in the confessional helped bring a 180-degree turn in the spiritual lives of many fallen away Catholics in the village of Ars, priests of the Fall River Diocese will spend extra hours in the confessional this Lenten weekend, hoping and praying to do the same.

Priests in 86 parishes in the “L” shaped Diocese of Fall River extending south from Mansfield through the Attleboros and Taunton to Fall River, and east through New Bedford out to Cape Cod and the Islands and the tip of Provincetown, will be participating in the second annual Reconciliation

Weekend today and tomorrow Like St. Vianney, who is the patron for clergy as well as for the current Year For Priests, it finds pastors and parochial vicars in many parishes choosing to spend several additional hours hearing confessions in the sacrament that not only renews and heals souls bringing them closer to God, but along with holy Communion also brings special graces by which the contrite are moved to avoid future evils.

A list of participating parishes as well as the times slated for confessions, can be found on page 14 of this week’s Anchor.

“Everything seems to be in place and our priests are very enthusiastic about it and we hope and pray this will be a fruitful week for our people,” said Msgr.

Stephen J. Avila, pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Mansfield, and director of the Reconciliation Weekend.

The planned weekend comes even as Pope Benedict XVI on March 11 challenged priests with the task of drawing the faithful back to confession and assuring them that their true repentance will be met with mercy and compassion.

“We hear a lot of confessions here at St. Anne’s,” said Father Marc H. Bergeron, pastor of the Fall River parish, whose Shrine’s confessionals are host to long lines daily.

“Nevertheless, Lent is that special time for turning back to God and we all should take advantage of it, and this is one of those means.”

He said, “What’s truly amazing to me is that for some people — who haven’t been to confession in as many as 30 years — they somehow show up at the right time when we’re hearing confessions.”

The priest confessors recall that their message echoes last Sunday’s urging of St. Paul in the second reading, “We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled with God.” The sacrament of God’s forgiveness — call it penance or reconciliation or repentance — does this for those who are sorry for their sins and seek God’s mercy because they want to become closer to him and more faithfilled.

On the presumption that many Catholics on Easter Sunday with

some remorse will tell themselves, “I never did anything during Lent,” the Reconciliation Weekend is most timely, some priests noted.

It offers the opportunity midway in these 40 days of seasonal penance for Catholics to take advantage of this great gift of forgiveness Christ offers, along with a chance to enjoy Lent’s own trademark special gifts that come through prayer, fasting and doing works of mercy.

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New Bedford parish to host Lenten Mission, priest reflection

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff NEW BEDFORD — Ordained priests and laity of the New Bedford Deanery will have opportunities to reflect and pray during two upcoming Lenten programs scheduled at St. Mary’s Parish, New Bedford.

Priests and laity will first come together for Reflections on the Priesthood from 4 to 6 p.m. on March 21.

The event will include a holy hour, followed by Sunday vespers and solemn Benediction.

Throughout the holy hour priests from the deanery will be sharing their reflections on their vocation and priestly ministries.

Following Benediction, the Catholic Women of New Bedford will also be making a special presentation to the priests in appreciation for their ministry, as well as providing hospitality to all those who attend at the conclusion of the evening.

“We’re planning a night of eucharistic adoration with reflections from three priests based on the structure of faith, hope and love,” said Father Ron Floyd, parochial vicar at St. Patrick’s Parish in Wareham. “These will be reflections as viewed through the prism of the three theological virtues. It will conclude with evening vespers for Sunday and a reflection by Father Jack Oliveira, the dean of New Bedford.

The idea is to provide some reflection on the priesthood for the people of the deanery and for the people to come together with their priests and pray for them together.”

Father Floyd said he hopes all churches within the deanery will encourage parishioners to attend the event, either in whole

or part.

“It’s a great lead-in for the Lenten Mission, which will begin the next day,” he said. “It’s going to be a busy week with the Reconciliation Weekend just before and then the Lenten Mission immediately following.

Father Kolasa’s Lenten Mission is focusing on the priesthood of the laity. I think it’s important to understand that the priesthood of the laity and the priesthood of the ordained are really integral to each other. There’s that cooperation we need to have to make the Church flourish. The offering of Christ on the altar and the offering of each individual person in their daily lives are bound up into an offering at Mass.”

While the reflection wasn’t

originally planned to coincide with the Lenten Mission, Father Floyd said it’s the perfect complement — especially on the heels of a two-day Reconciliation Weekend.

“It will be an intense week of prayer, meditation and confession,” Father Floyd said. “All the priests of the diocese are going to be available in a special way for two days that weekend to offer the sacrament of reconciliation.”

Father Stanley Kolasa, SS.CC., will lead the four-day Lenten Mission March 22-25 beginning with Mass at noon each day and including presentations with Liturgy of the Word every evening at 7.

“Every year the deaneries in the diocese provide a mission for

all the people within the deanery so they can experience some spiritual growth together,” Father Kolasa explained. “Lent is an ideal time for reflection and repentance.”

The theme of this year’s mission is “The Spirit Alive in the Priesthood of the Laity” and has been designed to coincide with the current Year For Priests, Father Kolasa said.

“It will help all of us to understand better our baptismal lives,” he said. “It’s going to be both a

teaching and an opportunity for motivation, because it focuses on baptism. Anything that focuses on baptism focuses on the Holy Spirit, and anything that focuses on the Holy Spirit focuses on life.”

Each day of the mission will focus on a specific topic, beginning with “Baptism: Our Privileged Lives as the Source of the Priesthood of the Laity,” then covering “Our Identity as a Priestly People” on the secTurn to page 18

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16

Youth Pages

March 19, 2010

Fall River sweeps diocesan CYO All-Star hoops tourney

smiling irish eyes — The students, families and staff of St. Pius X School, South Yarmouth celebrated their special recognition at the annual Cape Cod St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The school’s float was the recipient of the Grand Marshal’s Award, the Golden Harp, awarded for the “Overall Most Spectacular Float.” The theme of this year’s parade was Heroes and Heroines of Ireland, and St. Pius X School’s float celebrated St. Brendan, the patron saint of sailors. (Photo by Deborah Goldberg)

NEW BEDFORD — Teams representing the Fall River Deanery were highly successful in the recently held Diocesan CYO All-Star Basketball Tournament The Girls Tourney was held at the Kennedy CYO Center in New Bedford. In the first game, New Bedford edged out the Taunton All-Stars by a score of 41 to 32.

Kiley Adams had 10 points while Alisha Silva and Farida Mass each scored six for Taunton. Haley Dickenson and Nicole Simas shared scoring honors for New Bedford with nine points each.

In the second game, Fall River, behind a strong effort from Allie Lake, defeated New Bedford for the tourney championship by a score of 53-21. Lake led Fall River with 15 points while Sam Medeiros and Lexi Belanger had 10 and nine respectively. Katie Leidhold led New Bedford with eight points ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM Lexi Belanger, Our Lady of Grace, Westport; Sam Medeiros, Our Lady of Grace, Westport; Kiley Adams, Holy Family, East Taunton; Haley Dickenson, St. Anthony, Mattapoisett; and Nicole Simas, St. Mary, South Dartmouth.

MVP — Allie Lake, Our Lady of Grace, Westport.

The Boys Tournament was held at the Sullivan-McCarrick CYO Center in Fall River. In game number one, Taunton squeaked by New Bedford by a score of 40-38. Leading 24-17 at the half, Taunton held off a furious charge from New Bedford to make it to the championship game.

Jaleal Massy led New Bedford with 10 points, assisted by Martin McCabe who scored eight. Taunton’s Nick Tedesco led all scorers with 17 points while teammate Jared Walter helped out with 11 points.

In the championship game, fans saw another very close contest. Leading by a score of 23-14 at the half, Fall River was able to hold off a tremendous rally by Taunton to come out with a 45-42 victory and claim the boy’s championship.

For Taunton, Nick Tedesco again led the way with 13 points while teammate Isiah Brewster chipped in with 10. Jonathan Soares of Fall River led all scorers with 14 points and teammate Bryce Cote contributed 12.

ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM Bryce Cote, Fall River; Jaleal Massey, New Bedford; Nick Tedesco, Taunton; Jared Walter, Taunton; and Richard Hartnett, Fall River.

MVP — Jonathan Soares, Fall River.

St. Vincent’s Home joins fight against hunger

shining stars — At the annual Freshman Curriculum Night, Coyle and Cassidy recently recognized the outstanding achievements of three of the newest members of the Taunton school’s Class of 2014. Described by President Mary-Pat Tranter as “Budding Scholars,” Brendan Blake, Christina Strachoof, and Vanessa Demaral were commended for their academic success thus far, as well as their performance on the school placement exam. Blake was honored with the Brothers of Holy Cross Scholarship while Strachoof received hers in honor of the Sisters of the Holy Union. Being a daughter of an alumnus Demaral was presented with the Alumni Association Scholarship. Front row, from left: Strachoof, Blake and Demaral. Back row: Vice Principal Marie Angeley, Principal Paul Cartier, Vice Principal Chris Myron, and President Mary-Pat Tranter.

taking a bite out of cavities — Dr. and Mrs. Hannigan demonstrate to Holy Trinity Regional School’s first-grade students the importance of dental health. Every child at the West Harwich school received a new toothbrush and “goody pack” to make daily dental care fun.

FALL RIVER — For the second year, St. Vincent’s Home is participating in the Feinstein Foundation’s 13th Annual $1 Million Giveaway to fight hunger from March 1 through April 30. A portion of donations in the form of cash, checks, or food items received by St. Vincent’s during that time frame will be matched by Alan Shawn Feinstein of the Feinstein Foundation.

The Feinstein Foundation’s past $1 million challenges to fight hunger have

raised a record $1 billion for more than 2,000 agencies nationwide.

Donations to St. Vincent’s on behalf of the Feinstein Foundation’s campaign makes everyone a partner in the most successful effort of all times to fight hunger.

Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

For more information, please contact Melissa Dick at St. Vincent’s by calling 508-235-3228.

government at work — Members of SS. Peter and Paul School’s Student Council 2009-2010 recently gathered at Holy Cross Church in Fall River, following the their induction and blessing. From left, front row: Sahara Snizek (Gr. 5), Kailee Peixoto (Gr. 5), Zachary Roussel (Gr. 5), Elizabeth Brilhante (Gr. 4), Aja Pragana (Gr. 4), and Anne-Marie Brilhante (Gr. 4). Middle row: Marianne McGlynn (Grade 5 teacher and Student Council advisor), Daylan Torres (Gr. 6), Kyle Hilario (Gr. 7), Glenda Ortiz (Gr. 8), Taylor Burns (Gr. 7), and Kristine Rego (Gr. 7). Back row: Connor Riley (Gr. 6), Rajahnah Matra (Gr. 6), William Medeiros (Gr. 8), and Father Stephen Salvador, pastor.

Youth Pages

March 19, 2010

I

’m sorry. Those two small words sometimes are very difficult to say and sometimes they can be difficult to hear and accept from someone who has hurt us. Sometimes those two small words just pop out of our mouths without much thought, meaning or real intent. In other words, it is an automatic response that comes out and we really don’t mean it but it gets us out of a situation for the moment. Sometimes those two small words can be the stitch that pulls together and heals a wounded relationship.

I think we all understand how important it is for all of us to be sorry when we hurt someone else and to ask for forgiveness from our parents, friends and other people in our lives when we do something to hurt them. I think we know that it is a natural part of our being to want to be in healthy and peaceful relationships and so we are inclined to seek forgiveness when we make a mistake that may jeopardize those relationships.

In fact, some of us might even go out of our way to right the wrong with a friend, or spouse with flowers, candy, or a card … right?

God knew that we would need help and that we are not perfect so he gave us a gift by which we can right the wrongs that we have committed. That gift is the sacrament of reconciliation. Yup, I know confession is not something we like to talk about or do. According to an

You have everything to gain

article here in The Anchor in November, it noted that 45 percent of all churchgoing Catholics have not ever, or rarely go to confession. Now, factor in those Catholics that don’t go to church and it becomes a concern and a possible crisis.

Was your last confession your first confession in grade two?

We will go out of our way to fix the relationship with a friend but many of us ignore the damage done to our relationship with God. A damaged relationship with God, especialBy Frank Lucca ly if we are in mortal sin, has huge eternal consequences.

It’s confession time, literally. Until recently, I didn’t think about the sacrament of reconciliation much. I did the minimum required, but I never much thought about the implications of that decision. After all, I consider myself a good Catholic and even when I went to confession I really couldn’t come up with much to confess so it seemed a waste of time. However, after reading the articles on St. John Vianney in The Anchor, and as a result of some courses I am taking that have given me a better understanding of my Catholic faith, I’ve had “the hell scared out of me.” Liter-

Be Not Afraid

The Anchor is always pleased to run news and photos about our diocesan youth. If schools or parish Religious Education programs have newsworthy stories and photos they would like to share with our readers, send them to: schools@anchornews.org

science is fun — St. Joseph School in Fairhaven recently held a “Mad Science Night” for students and their families, sponsored by the PTO. Those in attendance were awed and amazed by “Laser Lee,” from Mad Science, who did science experiments and demonstrations. He had lots of help from the students and everyone who attended had a great time.

ally. I have come to understand that I may not have had my relationship with God, with others and with myself in the right perspective. I also learned that every time we celebrate a sacrament we encounter Christ and receive the grace to live a Christian life so why wouldn’t I want to take advantage of this gift to strengthen my relationship with God and his Church? And so, I did something about it.

Last weekend, I was on retreat at La Salette. I have been thinking about the sacrament of reconciliation for a while and was determined to take advantage of the sacrament while I was there. It was a wonderful experience. The priest took the time to discuss my concerns and answer my questions. I left the room with a remade soul. I may have been 58 years old on the outside, but inside I was just minutes old.

I have talked to many people who’ve been terrified to go to confession. Don’t be — just do it. Just enter, sit and explain what you are feeling to the priest. He will lead you through it.

I guarantee it won’t hurt. It will only help. Where else can you get that type of guarantee?

17 When relationships go out of kilter, or get distorted, or even broken, then we have the gift of the sacrament of reconciliation to heal that. When it is not broken, it strengthens us. I hope what I have come to understand better will cause you to give some thought to receiving the sacrament soon. I have committed to avail myself of the sacrament on a regular basis going forward. I invite you to join me and other Catholics in that commitment.

A great time to get started is during the diocesan Reconciliation Weekend.

This weekend will take place today and tomorrow in the parishes of the Diocese of Fall River. This evening, and during the day tomorrow, parishes will offer an extended, unified schedule for the sacrament of penance. Check out the information on the diocesan website (http://www.fallriverdiocese.org/) or The Anchor website (http://www. anchornews.org/) and on page 14 of this week’s Anchor.

The sacrament of penance — remember, you’ve got nothing to lose (except the sin) and everything to gain (like eternal life). Seems like a no brainer to me.

Frank Lucca is a youth minister at St. Dominic’s Parish in Swansea. He is chair and director of the YES! Retreat and director of the Christian Leadership Institute (CLI). He is a husband and a father of two daughters.

18

The Anchor

Young Pro-Life advocate brings strong message to youth rally continued from page one

peatedly told Rose, posing as a 13-year-old girl facing a crisis pregnancy, that she did not want to know the girl’s age or the age of the unborn child’s father.

When the girl volunteered the father’s age, 31, the nurse responded, “I didn’t hear the age.

I don’t want to know how old he is.”

The video showed that the nurse clearly understood the law

because she explained the requirement to report sexual activity between an adult and a child under the age of 13 to Child Protective Services. Then, the woman coached the girl to lie about the age of the father and said that problem was “solved.”

Next, the nurse showed the girl a piece of paper with the addresses of different clinics. She said, “I cannot tell you this, but

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I can show you this,” and circled an out-of-state clinic, located in Illinois where there is no parental consent law. She covered her tracks by circling the rest of the clinics on the sheet.

During other investigations, Planned Parenthood employees have also given Rose medically inaccurate information. They have likened an unborn child to a blood clot and said the heart does not beat until 18 weeks when a baby’s heart beats by the fifth week, she said.

So far Live Action has released 10 undercover videos from six states. The latest of the videos, shot in Wisconsin, was released at the end of February. Rose said the organization has more footage but declined to speak further about it. So far, the video evidence has prompted officials to start their own investigations in Indiana and Alabama, where a clinic has been put on probation.

Footage from Tennessee helped cause the state legislature to vote down continued taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood to the tune of $1.1 million.

Rose said that Planned Parenthood’s typical reaction to the videos is denial and then nothing at all.

“They’re favorite response is silence,” she said.

Rose, a brunette, dyed her hair platinum blonde after she started getting recognized at abortion clinics. “We want to keep evil on its toes,” she said. Now, she has walked into clinics where two photos of her — one as a brunette, and the other as a blonde — were posted on the wall. She

March 19, 2010 said she was “flattered.”

Rose encouraged the MCFL Youth Convention attendees to fight for the Pro-Life cause, never give up and pray in order to find the path God wants them to follow.

When I was 13, I got on my knees and prayed, ‘God, use me in this cause,’” she said.

Rose, a convert to Catholicism who was confirmed last year, told The Anchor that fighting for life is a spiritual battle. Great evil happens inside abortion clinics where mothers are deceived and their children murdered. Before she enters a clinic, Rose “puts on the full armor of Christ in prayer,” she said.

A 16-year-old from Medfield, Michael Rose, no relation to Lila, attended MCFL’s Youth Convention with his family. He

said he believes Rose’s story will continue to inspire others and raise awareness. “My reaction throughout the entire thing was shock at what goes on behind closed doors,” he said.

Bridget Schirripa, an 18-yearold student at Montrose School in Medfield, said Lila’s presentation was “powerful” and her use of media “appeals to the younger generation.”

Priscilla Keough, MCFL board member, called Rose’s work “cutting edge,” adding that Rose displayed “great courage” and “optimism.”

Keough said of Rose, “She said this generation will see the end of abortion. And who knows?

Maybe it’s the truth and wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

For more information visit Lila Rose’s website at liveaction.org.

New Bedford parish to host Lenten Mission continued from page 15

ond day, “Being Sanctifiers of the Ordinary” on the third day, and concluding with “The Holy Spirit: Setting Us On Fire With Christ’s Mission.”

While he encourages everyone to take advantage of the twoday Reconciliation Weekend taking place throughout the diocese tonight and tomorrow, Father Richard D. Wilson, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. James Parish in New Bedford, added there will be additional opportunities for reconciliation at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. each day during the Lenten Mission.

“People are always looking for more time for prayer and reflection during Lent,” Father Wilson said. “This is a great opportunity to experience our Lord

and the Blessed Sacrament.”

Father Kolasa said the Lenten Mission is open to anyone, but he especially encourages those within the New Bedford Deanery to attend since the event is jointly sponsored by those parishes.

“It’s really all about putting God at the center of our lives,” Father Floyd said of both events.

“That doesn’t mean we all have to be holy rollers, but it means we have to sanctify everything we do. Whether we’re going to the movies, or going to a party with our friends, or just going to work everyday, all these things should be seen in the light and through the blood and the water that comes through Jesus on the cross — things that will lead us to holiness.”

Annual Pro-Life Mass is March 25 in North Dartmouth

By Dave Jolivet, Editor NORTH DARTMOUTH — Bishop George W. Coleman will be the principal celebrant of the annual diocesan Pro-Life Mass which will be held at St. Julie Billiart Church on March 25 at 11 a.m.

At the Mass, the bishop will present the winners of this year’s John Cardinal O’Connor Awards, one to an adult and one to a youth, who have demonstrated a strong desire to defend life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.

The Cardinal O’Connor award was established by the diocesan Pro-Life Office in 2002 to acknowledge individuals who work tirelessly for the rights of the unborn and all life. The award memorializes Cardinal O’Connor of the Archdiocese of New York, who was a staunch defender of life. He died in 2000 at the age of 80.

Winners of the annual diocesan Pro-Life Apostolate’s Essay Contest will also be announced.

First- and second-place winners at the high school level will read their winning essays, as will first-and second place winners of the Ju-

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks March 22 Rev. Joseph A. Martins, Assistant, St. John the Baptist, New Bedford, 1940 Rev. James T. Keefe, SS.CC., Chaplain, U.S. Army, 2003 Rev. Peter M. Donoghue, CSC, Former Dean, Stonehill College, 2008 March 23 Rev. James F. Kelley, USN Ret., Archdiocese of Anchorage, Former Assistant, St. Mary’s Mansfield, 2002 March 24 Rev. John J. Murphy, CSC, 2004 March 25 Rev. John J. Brennan, SS.CC., Retired Founder, Holy Redeemer, Chatham, 1991 Rev. Paul Leo Deyo, SS.CC., 2008 March 27 Rev. James W. Conlin, Pastor, St. Patrick, Somerset, 1918 Rev. Antonio P. Vieira, Pastor, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, New Bedford, 1964 Rev. Richard W. Beaulieu, Former Pastor, St. Francis Xavier, Acushnet and Notre Dame, Fall River, Former Principal at Coyle and Cassidy High School, Taunton, Former Diocesan Director of Education, 2007 March 28 Rev. Alfred J. Levesque, Pastor, St. Jacques, Taunton, 1960 Rev. Bernard A. Lavoie, Chaplain, Catholic Memorial Home, Fall River, 1972 Rev. Dieudonne Masse, OFM, Retired, Montreal, Canada, 1983 Rev. Howard A. Waldron, Retired Pastor, St. Thomas More, Somerset, 1985

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The Anchor

March 19, 2010

nior Division, which encompasses grades six, seven and eight.

Several diocesan schools will attend the Mass, including Holy Family-Holy Name, St. James-St. John’s, St. Joseph-St. Theresa’s, and St. Mary’s schools in New Bedford; Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth; Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro; Taunton Catholic Middle School; and St. Joseph’s School in Fairhaven.

“There is definitely a greater sense of hope in the local Pro-Life

movement in the last year,” said Jean Arsenault, assistant director of the diocesan Pro-Life Apostolate. “The youth through education and prayer have been led to a sense of the great importance of this cause and have shown their commitment.” She also lauded “the change in hearts that has occurred and the willingness of our young people to speak up for the innocent unborn who have no other voice.”

All are invited to attend the Mass.

Around the Diocese 3/20

Bishop Connolly High School, 373 Elsbree Street, Fall River, will host a Red Carpet Gala Dinner Dance and fund-raiser tomorrow beginning at 6 p.m. at the Cultural Center, 205 South Main Street, Fall River. The event will include fine food, music, dancing and an auction, with all proceeds to benefit the students of Bishop Connolly High School. For tickets or information, call 508-676-1071.

3/20

Russ Breault, president and founder of the Shroud of Turin Education Project, Inc., will present “The Shroud of Turin Mystery Tour” tomorrow beginning at 5:15 p.m. at the Corpus Christi Parish Center, 324 Quaker Meetinghouse Road, East Sandwich. This 90-minute big-screen experience using more than 150 images covering many aspects of the Shroud’s history is free and open to the public.

3/23

A “Poor Man’s Lunch” followed by a Lenten program concerning St. Clare’s House, a residence for women transitioning from prison to the outside world, will be held March 23 at 11:30 a.m. at Christ the King Parish, The Commons, Mashpee. Please RSVP by calling 508-539-4926 or 508-477-8417 so the number of lunches may be estimated.

3/25

Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese Acushnet — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Mondays and Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Fridays 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays end with Evening Prayer and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.; Saturdays end with Benediction at 2:45 p.m.

ATTLEBORO — St. Joseph Church holds perpetual eucharistic adoration in the Adoration Chapel located at the (south) side entrance at 208 South Main Street. For open hours, or to sign up, call Liesse at 401-864-8539.

Brewster — Eucharistic adoration takes place in the La Salette Chapel in the lower level of Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road, on First Fridays following the 11 a.m. Mass until 7:45 a.m. on the First Saturday of the month, concluding with Benediction and Mass.

Buzzards Bay — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Margaret Church, 141 Main Street, every first Friday after the 8 a.m. Mass and ending the following day before the 8 a.m. Mass.

EAST TAUNTON — Eucharistic adoration takes place First Fridays at Holy Family Church, 370 Middleboro Avenue, following the 8:30 a.m. Mass until Benediction at 8 p.m.

FAIRHAVEN — St. Mary’s Church, Main St., has a First Friday Mass each month at 7 p.m., followed by a Holy Hour with eucharistic adoration. Refreshments follow.

FALL RIVER — St. Anthony of the Desert Church, 300 North Eastern Avenue, has eucharistic adoration Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on the first Sunday of the month from noon to 4 p.m.

HYANNIS — A Holy Hour with eucharistic adoration will take place each First Friday at St. Francis Xavier Church, 21 Cross Street, beginning at 4 p.m.

MASHPEE — Christ the King Parish, Route 151 and Job’s Fishing Road has 8:30 a.m.

Mass every First Friday with special intentions for Respect Life, followed by 24 hours of eucharistic adoration in the Chapel, concluding with Benediction Saturday morning followed immediately by an 8:30 Mass.

NEW BEDFORD — Eucharistic adoration takes place 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 233 County Street, with night prayer and Benediction at 8:45 p.m., and confessions offered during the evening.

NEW BEDFORD — There is a daily holy hour from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1359 Acushnet Avenue. It includes adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Liturgy of the Hours, recitation of the rosary, and the opportunity for confession.

Father Richard D. Wilson, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, New Bedford, will give a presentation titled “Looking at Immigration Through the Lens of Faith” on March 25 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Victory Parish, Centerville. Father Wilson is the diocesan director of the Hispanic Apostolate and took the lead in helping and supporting the immigrant families involved in the 2007 raid in New Bedford. There will be a time for questions and answers, along with refreshments, and all are welcome.

SEEKONK ­— Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish has eucharistic adoration seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the chapel at 984 Taunton Avenue. For information call 508336-5549.

3/27

OSTERVILLE — Eucharistic adoration takes place at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 76 Wianno Avenue on First Fridays following the 8 a.m. Mass until Benediction at 5 p.m. The Divine Mercy Chaplet is prayed at 4:45 p.m.; on the third Friday of the month from 1 p.m. to Benediction at 5 p.m.; and for the Year For Priests, the second Thursday of the month from 1 p.m. to Benediction at 5 p.m.

508-992-9408.

COURAGE, a welcoming support group for Catholics wounded by samesex attraction who gather to seek God’s mercy and love, will next meet on March 27 at 7 p.m. For location information, call Father Richard Wilson at

4/8

St. Joseph-St. Therese Parish and the Men of the Sacred Hearts are sponsoring a Marty Rotella Concert of contemporary Christian music and inspiration on April 8 at 7 p.m. in St. Joseph-St. Therese Church Hall, 51 Duncan Street, New Bedford. Food will be served and the kitchen will open after 5:30 p.m. For more information call 508-995-5235 or 508-951-3302.

4/9

Applications for the next YES! Retreat are now available at www.fallriverfaithformation.org. The YES! Retreat will be held April 9-10 at Cathedral Camp, East Freetown, and is open to high school youth seeking a closer relationship with God through an affirmation of their confirmation vows. For more information, contact Crystal Medeiros at 508-678-2828 or email cmedeiros@dfrcec.com.

NORTH DIGHTON — Eucharistic adoration takes place every First Friday at St. Nicholas of Myra Church, 499 Spring Street following the 8 a.m. Mass, ending with Benediction at 6 p.m. The rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 8 a.m.

Taunton — Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place every First Friday at Annunciation of the Lord Church, 31 First Street, immediately following the 8 a.m.

Mass and continues throughout the day. Confessions are heard from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m., concluding with recitation of the rosary and Benediction at 6:30 p.m.

Taunton — Eucharistic adoration takes place every Tuesday at St. Anthony Church, 126 School Street, following the 8 a.m. Mass with prayers including the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for vocations, concluding at 6 p.m. with Chaplet of St. Anthony and Benediction. Recitation of the rosary for peace is prayed Monday through Saturday at 7:30 a.m. prior to the 8 a.m. Mass.

WAREHAM — Eucharistic Adoration is canceled on the first Friday of April due to the observance of Good Friday, adorers are encouraged to spend an hour with the Lord on Thursday night at St. Patrick’s Church from 8:30, following the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, until midnight. Benediction will be held at 11:50 p.m.

Beginning in May, adoration with opportunities for private and formal prayer is offered on the First Friday of each month from 8:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. The Prayer Schedule is as follows: 7:30 a.m. the rosary; 8 a.m. Mass; 8:30 a.m. exposition and Morning Prayer; 12 p.m. the Angelus; 3 p.m. Divine Mercy Chaplet; 5:30 p.m. Evening Prayer; 7 p.m. sacrament of confession; 8 p.m. Benediction.

WEST HARWICH — Our Lady of Life Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Trinity Parish, 246 Main Street, holds perpetual eucharistic adoration. For open hours, or to sign up call 508-430-4716.

WOODS HOLE — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Joseph’s Church, 33 Millfield Street, year-round on weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. No adoration on Sundays, Wednesdays, and holidays. For information call 508-274-5435.

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C

ontrary to popular belief, March Madness officially began last weekend, not this. Last week, I, and millions across North America, watched the championship tourneys of every conference in the country ... and I think there are about 3,000 of them.

There were colleges and universities I didn’t even know existed, with mascots representing every flora and fauna known to man, and some not known to man.

You can’t help but root for a team like Southwestern North Dakota Technical Agricultural Christian University.

The Anchor

March 19, 2010

Side effects may include ... he or she tosses a crumpled piece For a solid week, it was nothof paper 10 feet into a nearby ing but hoops, day and night, trash receptacle; from Monday through Sunday.

2) After the processional hymn Most of us have seen the drug at Mass, they yell “charge”; commercials on TV that warn of more serious side effects than benefits. A b-ball overdose has certain trademarks as well. For those March Madness widows, and widowers as the case may be, here are

By Dave Jolivet some signs your significant other has OD’d on hoops: 3) When they close their eyes 1) Your loved one actually to go to sleep, all they can see, hears the roar of the crowd when over and over again, is that halfcourt three-pointer that bursted their team’s tournament bubble; 4) When they stop for a morning cup of coffee at the local diner, they expect to see a game

My View From the Stands

on the Tele instead of “Good Morning America”; 5) When their remote control fingers are larger than basketballs; 6) When their “favorite channel” setting on the cable remote has more than 10 channels programmed; 7) When the phone rings at work, they hope it’s a retired clergyman calling with updates every five minutes; and 8) When they go to Foot Locker for new sneakers, they accuse the clerks of too many blown calls.

When any of these signs appear, do not induce vomiting.

That’s just wrong.

Avoid using everyday words like travel, driving, technical, upset, and bracket.

Do not allow them to watch ESPN SportsCenter, Comcast SportsNet, or any other sports news broadcasts that may resurrect the trauma of a burst bubble or broken bracket.

Encourage them to watch EWTN, and there are plenty of “CSI,” “Law and Order” and “NCIS” shows to distract them.

Give them plenty of fluids.

Continuous trips to the rest room are also great distractions. And above all, at the dinner table, do not dribble your soup.

These should help get your hoops maniac back on track. But remember, only use these methods during the week because for the next three weekends, they will regain their fanatical behavior and that glazed look in their eyes.