Anchor 03.26.10

Diocese of Fall River

The Anchor

F riday , March 26, 2010

New All Saints Elementary School to open in New Bedford NEW BEDFORD — A new Catholic elementary school will open this September in New Bedford, offering an enhanced curriculum infused with up-to-date technology and an upgraded facility in the city’s North End, Bishop George W. Coleman announced this week.

It will be named All Saints Elementary School and will serve,

according to Fall River diocesan Superintendent of Schools George Milot, Ed.D., as “a new model of Catholic education,” with two parishes sharing sponsorship and the Diocesan Schools Office overseeing administration.

All Saints Elementary School will succeed two existing schools situated a little more than a mile Turn to page three

Citizens mobilize to oppose DeLeo’s push for slots

By Christine M. Williams Anchor Correspondent BOSTON — With the new responsibility of being a father, Ed Talbot of Mattapoisett saw betting at the dog track as a way to make some extra money to support his family. Before much time passed, wagering became a bigger part of his life.

“You completely lose control of it,” he said. “I devoted more and more time to my gambling. It was an escape for me.”

Talbot told The Anchor that

he would find himself at the track making bets that were anything but sure.

“There was a chance I would win and win big and get myself out of the mess I was in,” he said. “You keep chasing that dream, and the hole gets deeper and deeper.”

At the close of one track season, Talbot was deeply in debt, separated from his wife and guilty about not being around for his daughter.

After he contemplated suicide, he knew he needed help with what, at the time, he believed was a money Turn to page four

Open invitation — The sign outside St. Joseph-St. Therese Church in New Bedford invited all to come to the sacrament of penance last weekend. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)

Hundreds of faithful gratefully accept invitation of Reconciliation Weekend

By Dave Jolivet, Editor

MANSFIELD — For the second consecutive year, priests of the Fall River Diocese spent many extra hours in the confessional, providing scores of parishioners the opportunity to reconcile with the Father, and experience his loving forgiveness. The Reconciliation Weekend provided extended hours for the sacrament of penance last Friday evening and Saturday morning and afternoon.

Like last year, many people took advantage of this gracious invitation from area priests at most diocesan parishes. This year the weekend took place during the Year For Priests, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the

death of St. John Vianney, whose reputation of spending countless hours hearing the confessions of people from all over the region near Ars, France is legendary. Vianney ardently spoke of the need for people to reconcile with God through the sacrament of penance, and to repent and change their sinful ways.

Msgr. Gerard P. O’Connor, pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Acushnet, told The Anchor, “This weekend went very well. I noticed many people who returned to the confessional after coming to last year’s weekend, and that’s a good thing. People are having the mind-set to Turn to page three

Trio celebrates 50 years as priests

By Deacon James N. Dunbar

MIRACLE MAN — Jose Amaral, a parishioner at St. Anthony of Padua Parish, New Bedford, poses inside his church in front of a statue Our Lady of Fatima and with a photo of Pope John Paul II. Amaral prayed to the former pontiff two years ago and was miraculously cured of a longtime disability. His inspiring story is being profiled on a special edition of ABC News’ “20/20” airing Good Friday at 10 p.m. Story on page 12. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)

FALL RIVER — As the 50th jubilee of their April 2, 1960 ordination to the priesthood draws near, three diocesan priests took time to talk to The Anchor and recall their ministries and how they are faring today.

Father Kenneth J. Delano, Father Manuel P. Ferreira, and Father Roger D. LeDuc were among the young men who approached the altar in St. Mary’s Cathedral

in Fall River on that spring day a half-century ago to be ordained by Bishop James L. Connolly.

Two others, Father Francis L. Mahoney and Father Louis J. Joseph are deceased.

Father Delano, 76, a native of Taunton, retired in 2005 after having been pastor at Immaculate Conception Parish in Fall River since 1991. Prior to that he served as a parochial vicar at St. Patrick’s in Fall River, St. Patrick’s in Ware-

ham, St. Mary’s in New Bedford, St. Joseph’s in Fall River, again at St. Patrick’s in Fall River, and in 1983 for his first stint at Immaculate Conception in Fall River. He was pastor at St. Francis of Assisi in New Bedford from 1988 to 1991.

After graduating from the former Msgr. Coyle High School in Taunton, he entered the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence in Turn to page 18

Father Kenneth J. Delano

Father Manuel P. Ferreira

Father Roger D. LeDuc

News From the Vatican

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March 26, 2010

Pope apologizes to Irish abuse victims, orders Vatican investigation VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a letter to Irish Catholics, Pope Benedict XVI personally apologized to victims of priestly sexual abuse and announced new steps to heal the wounds of the scandal, including a Vatican investigation and a year of penitential reparation.

“You have suffered grievously and I am truly sorry. I know that nothing can undo the wrong you have endured. Your trust has been betrayed and your dignity has been violated,” he told victims in his letter at the Vatican.

The pope told priest abusers that they would answer to God for their sins. He said bishops had made serious mistakes in responding to allegations of sexual abuse, and he encouraged them to implement new Church norms against abuse and cooperate with civil authorities in such cases.

“Only decisive action carried out with complete honesty and transparency will restore the respect and good will of the Irish people toward the Church,” he said.

The 4,600-word letter was to be distributed at Masses across Ireland March 20-21, and priests there were preparing homilies on the text. The letter came in response to the disclosure last fall that Irish Church leaders had often protected abusive priests over the last 35 years. Similar allegations have since come to light in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland.

Pope Benedict, who met with Irish bishops to discuss the problem in February, began his letter by saying he shared in the sense of betrayal Irish Catholics felt when they learned of these “sinful and criminal acts” and the “often inadequate response” by Church authorities in Ireland.

He said he was convinced that the Church, having adopted strict new measures against sexual abuse, was now on the right path. But the healing process for Irish Catholics will take time and requires a deeper spiritual renewal, he said.

“No one imagines that this painful situation will be resolved swiftly,” he wrote.

The pope pointed out that he had met with sex abuse victims before and said he was ready to do so again. Many in Ireland have called

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for a papal meeting with those who suffered abuse at the hands of priests.

To the victims of abuse and their families, the pope offered sympathy and understanding.

He noted that many victims found that, when they had the courage to denounce the abuse, “no one would listen.” Those abused in Catholic residential institutions must have felt that there was no escape from their sufferings, he said.

“It is understandable that you find it hard to forgive or be reconciled with the Church. In her name, I openly express the shame and remorse that we all feel. At the same time, I ask you not to lose hope,” he said.

Addressing priests and religious who have abused children, the pope declared: “You betrayed the trust that was placed in you by innocent young people and their parents, and you must answer for it before almighty God and before properly constituted tribunals.”

Priest abusers, he said, have “violated the sanctity of the sacrament of holy orders in which Christ makes himself present in us and in our actions.” He said those who have abused should openly acknowledge their guilt, try to atone personally for what they have done and “do not despair of God’s mercy.”

The pope urged bishops to fully implement the Church’s new policies against abuse and to “continue to cooperate with the civil authorities in their area of competence.”

“It cannot be denied that some of you and your predecessors failed, at times grievously, to apply the longestablished norms of canon law to the crime of child abuse. Serious mistakes were made in responding to allegations,” he said.

The pope said he had ordered an apostolic visitation, or internal Church investigation, of certain dioceses in Ireland, as well as seminaries and religious congregations.

He said details would be announced later.

The step was an apparent effort to find out more precisely how and why mistakes were made in the handling of abuse cases.

The pope identified several contributing factors to clerical sex abuse, among them a “misplaced OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 54, No. 12

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PUBLISHER - Most Reverend George W. Coleman EXECUTIVE EDITOR Father Roger J. Landry fatherrogerlandry@anchornews.org EDITOR David B. Jolivet davejolivet@anchornews.org NEWS EDITOR Deacon James N. Dunbar jimdunbar@anchornews.org OFFICE MANAGER Mary Chase m arychase@anchornews.org ADVERTISING Wayne R. Powers waynepowers@anchornews.org REPORTER Kenneth J. Souza k ensouza@anchornews.org Send Letters to the Editor to: fatherrogerlandry@anchornews.org PoStmaSters send address changes to The Anchor, P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722.

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concern for the reputation of the Church” that led to a failure to apply existing penalties against abuse.

He also pointed to inadequate selection of priesthood candidates, poor formation programs and a tendency in society to favor the clergy and other authority figures.

At the same time, he said priestly sexual abuse was linked to more general developments, including the secularization of Irish society and of Irish clergy and religious themselves, and misinterpretation of the Second Vatican Council.

In addition to the apostolic visitation, the pope announced two other “concrete initiatives” to help Irish bishops repair the damage in the Church: — A yearlong period, from Easter 2010 to Easter 2011, of penitential and devotional practices with the intention of strengthening holiness and strength in the Church in Ireland.

In particular, he said, eucharistic adoration should be set up in every diocese, so that “through intense prayer before the real presence of the Lord, you can make reparation for the sins of abuse that have done so much harm,” he said.

— A nationwide “mission” to be held for all bishops, priests and religious, to promote a better understanding of their vocations by drawing on the expertise of preachers and retreat-givers, and by studying Vatican II documents and more recent teachings.

The pope cited Ireland’s immense past contributions to the Church, and the great sacrifices made by Irish Catholics. That sense of faith needs to be renewed, even in the face of the recent scandals, he said.

Addressing young people in Ireland, he urged them not to give up on the Church.

“We are all scandalized by the sins and failures of some of the Church’s members,” he said.

“But it is in the Church that you will find Jesus Christ, who is the

same yesterday, today and forever,” he said.

The pope told Irish Catholics he was sending his letter “with the care of a father for his children and with the affection of a fellow Christian, scandalized and hurt by what has occurred in our beloved Church.”

He closed the letter with a prayer that said: “May our sorrow and

tears, our sincere efforts to redress past wrongs, and our firm purpose of amendment bear an abundant harvest of grace.”

The full text of the papal letter is available on the Vatican website at http://www.vatican. va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/letters/2010/documents/hf_ben-xvi_ let_20100319_church-ireland_ en.html

Vatican sets up commission to study alleged apparitions at Medjugorje VATICAN CITY (CNS) — At the request of the bishops of Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Vatican has established an international commission to study the alleged Marian apparitions at Medjugorje, a small Bosnian town.

The commission will be led

by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, retired archbishop of Rome, and will operate under the direction of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Commission members will include cardinals, bishops, theologians and other experts, said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman.

He said the commission would have about 20 members, but he did not say if or when their names would be published.

Father Lombardi said the commission is unlikely to make any statements. Their work and recommendations, if any, will be turned over to the doctrinal congregation.

Father Lombardi said that in the 1980s the Diocese of MostarDuvno, where Medjugorje is located, established a commission to investigate the claims of six young people who said Mary appeared to them daily beginning in 1981.

Because the alleged apparitions were having an impact beyond the diocese, the local bishop asked the national bishops’ conference to investigate. At the time, Bosnia-Herzegovina was part of Yugoslavia.

With the breakup of Yugosla-

via, “the question did not arrive at a conclusion on whether or not the phenomena were of a supernatural nature,” Father Lombardi said, although in 1991 the bishops’ conference issued a statement saying “it cannot be confirmed that supernatural apparitions or revelations are occurring here” and asking priests and bishops not to organize official pilgrimages to the town.

Responding to a question from a French bishop in 1996, the Vatican confirmed the position that official pilgrimages should not be organized, but also said individual Catholics who travel to Medjugorje should be given pastoral care and access to the sacraments.

Father Lombardi said the bishops of Bosnia-Herzegovina asked the doctrinal congregation to study the alleged apparitions.

He said the commission’s work is expected “to take some time.”

The commission was announced just three months after Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schonborn of Vienna made a very public visit to Medjugorje and said the Church must recognize that private pilgrimages to the village result in prayer and reconciliation.

But Bishop Ratko Peric of Mostar-Duvno, who repeatedly has questioned the authenticity of the apparitions, said the cardinal’s pilgrimage “added new sufferings” to the problems of his diocese and did “not contribute to its much-needed peace and unity.”

New All Saints Elementary School to open in New Bedford continued from page one

apart, St. Joseph-St. Therese and St. Mary’s, both of which will close at the end of this school year in June. The All Saints Elementary School will be located in what is now the St. Mary School building on Illinois Street.

The new pre-kindergarten through grade eight school will have the capacity to accommodate current students of the schools to be closed, and these students will be given first option to enroll. Additional students will be welcomed as space permits.

The All Saints Elementary School will continue to offer students the faith-based, values-oriented education of St. Joseph-St. Therese and St. Mary’s with expanded opportunities for learning provided. Two new labs will be created, one for computers,

the other science; Spanish will be offered as a foreign language and technology will be upgraded throughout the entire school, which also includes additional space in the St. Mary Parish Center located across the street.

“I am excited by the opportunities this new school will offer,” said Milot. “Up-to-date technology will be integrated throughout the curriculum. In fact, it will be a key component of the educational process there.”

He explained that the expanded offerings and facility improvements will be possible because of the unique joint administrative model of the new school.

The new All Saints Elementary School will be sponsored by St. Joseph-St. Therese and St. Mary parishes, with their respective

pastors, Father Philip N. Hamel and Msgr. John J. Oliveira, serving as co-directors, responsible for the Catholic mission of the school and for meeting the spiritual needs of the students and staff. To help launch the school, both parishes have agreed to contribute towards the cost of some of the initial improvements planned for the building.

The Diocesan Schools Office will create and oversee the school’s academic and extracurricula programs and be responsible for hiring all staff and evaluating their work. In essence, that office will manage the overall operation of the school. The annual budget will be set by the superintendent in collaboration with the pastors. Faculty members and staff from St. Joseph-

Hundreds accept invitation for reconciliation continued from page one

make a good confession during the Lenten season, and that’s what the Church wants. In addition, I noticed new people coming as well. I feel all the effort is worth it. It’s like the lost sheep returning to the fold. It’s edifying and I look forward to next year’s.”

At St. Joan of Arc Parish in Orleans, attendance was roughly the same as last year. “The weekend is advertised everywhere, so it definitely makes people aware of the availability of the sacrament,” pastor Father Robert Powell said. “I didn’t sit any more that 10 minutes at one

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The Anchor

March 26, 2010

time without someone coming into the confessional. I was pleased with the turnout.”

Father Roger Landry, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in New Bedford said, “I thought it went very well. We had 105 penitents come over the course of three sessions, which is far more than we normally reconcile on a given weekend.

“There are three general purposes to all our priests’ efforts for the Reconciliation Weekend: the first is to try to reach those who for whatever reason have distanced themselves from the faith and to try

to facilitate their return home to the practice of the sacraments; the second is to reach those Catholics who do come to Mass but who for whatever reason have not been receiving the sacrament of penance as a Catholic should, to invite them and facilitate them to avail themselves of this divine gift Jesus instituted because he knew all of us would need it; and the third is to make it even easier for those Catholics who confess regularly to make a good Lenten confession. I’d say all three objectives were met, thanks be to God.”

St. Therese and St. Mary’s have been invited to apply for positions at the new school.

The creation of a new single Catholic school for New Bedford’s North End followed months of discussion by the superintendent of schools with the two pastors, and the approval of the plan by Bishop Coleman.

“I am certain that the new All Saints Elementary School will be able to provide Catholic education to the children of the North End of New Bedford for the foreseeable future, having as its foundation the histories of St. Joseph-St. Therese and St. Mary’s schools and, as it moves forward, the support of those respective parishes and our Diocesan Schools Office,” said Bishop Coleman.

At the heart of the decision to move in this direction were several concerns: the need to build and sustain enrollment, the ongoing maintenance of two aging school buildings, and the desire to provide an optimal educational experience for students.

“By combining the resources of two parishes, we can make certain we are providing our kids with the absolute best in education and preparing them as best we can as they move on to high school, college, and the working

world,” said Father Hamel.

Both schools were experiencing a disturbing downward trend in student population. In the current school year, the 97-year-old St. Joseph-St. Therese School has 152 students while St. Mary’s, which opened in 1965, has 180.

Bishop Coleman and those who created the plan understand the sadness that the closure of these schools will bring; yet, all believe it will ultimately work to strengthen Catholic education.

“A Catholic school is the primordial means of evangelization that the Church has at its disposition,” Msgr. Oliveira explained.

“Catholic schools have fallen on hard times because of economic concerns and shifting demographic changes. It is better to take two good schools struggling with enrollment and make one stronger school. This move initiated by the Diocesan Schools Office will hopefully continue the possibility of Catholic education in the North End of New Bedford for years to come,” he said.

Faculty and staff of St. Joseph-St. Therese and St. Mary schools and parents of students enrolled in each were informed of the plan for the new All Saints Elementary School in separate meetings at both schools on Thursday, March 25.

Pope will beatify Cardinal Newman in England during September visit

By Simon Caldwell Catholic News Service LONDON — Pope Benedict XVI will preside at the beatification ceremony of Cardinal John Henry Newman in Coventry, England, during a four-day visit to the United Kingdom September 1619, British Catholic leaders said.

The step is an unusual one because under Pope Benedict’s own rules, a beatification is to be performed by a cardinal in the diocese where the candidate for sainthood died.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster, president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, told a March 16 press conference in London that to see Cardinal Newman “declared ‘blessed’ — a step toward sainthood — will be a very, very important moment.”

“Cardinal John Henry Newman is a figure of great literary culture, a poet and a pastor,” he said. “He is a towering figure in English history over the last 200 years.

“Pope Benedict has a particular attentiveness to the writings of Cardinal Newman,” the archbishop added. “He is making an exception to his own rules to do this.

This will be the first beatification he has carried out as pope.”

Cardinal Newman was an Anglican cleric who founded the Oxford Movement to bring the Anglican Church back to its Cath-

olic roots. He became Catholic at the age of 44 after a succession of clashes with Anglican bishops and was made a cardinal by Pope Leo XIII. He died in Birmingham in 1890 at age 89.

His beatification was announced in July after the Vatican declared that the inexplicable healing of Deacon Jack Sullivan of Marshfield, Mass., from a crippling spinal condition was the result of Cardinal Newman’s intercession.

The announcement of Pope Benedict’s decision to beatify Cardinal Newman himself was welcomed by Father Richard Duffield, provost of the Birmingham Oratory, the community the cardinal founded in the 19th century, and postulator of the cause for the cardinal’s sainthood.

“The Holy Father’s lifelong devotion to Newman has made a profound contribution to understanding the depth and significance of our founder’s legacy,” he said.

“His decision to beatify Newman in person confers a unique blessing upon the English oratories and all who have drawn inspiration from Newman’s life and work.”

Prior to the press conference, the papal visit was announced by Buckingham Palace, which said the pope will fly to Scotland to be welcomed by Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, at the Palace of Holyrood House.

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The Anchor

Citizens mobilize to oppose push for slots continued from page one

management problem. Talbot, a Catholic, turned to a priest who referred him to Gamblers Anonymous. He said of his gambling, “It cost me everything.”

That was in 1977. Thirty-two years later Talbot said he has not made a bet since. He proudly stated that he has a “fabulous relationship” with his daughter and grandchildren. And his ex-wife sends him a card every year for the anniversary of the day he quit gambling. “My ex-wife is a big fan of my recovery,” he said.

Talbot said he feels unqualified to venture an opinion on the gambling legislation proposed by state Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo. On March 4, the representative announced a plan that would legalize two resort-style casinos and slot machines at the Commonwealth’s four racetracks. The deal would leave the door open for the state’s two federally-recognized Native American tribes to open their own gambling facilities. DeLeo promised more details by April.

Supporters of gambling in Massachusetts say the industry will create jobs and boost the economy.

Some, like Gov. Deval Patrick and state Senate President Therese Murray, support casinos but not slots. In 2008, the Legislature defeated Gov. Patrick’s bill to bring three casinos to the state.

Opponents of the bill see a dif-

ference between other types of recreational gambling and what they often refer to as “predatory gambling” — casinos and slot machines. Casinos and slots prey on the addicted, gaining the highest profits from the few who visit most frequently and lose the most money.

Gambling addicts tend to chase their losses, hoping they can win back the money they have lost. The next bet could mean paying off their credit cards or paying down their mortgage.

“Gambling does provide the legitimate hope that the next gambling opportunity will yield a reward,” said Diane Crowley, special projects director for the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling.

Addicts continue to gamble in an effort to “make everything right.”

Crowley said that the majority of people who gamble are responsible about it. The council does not take a position on legislation but provides services for people who struggle with problem gambling and gives them hope that recovery is possible.

Problem gamblers have an intense craving to wager and are unable to stop, she said.

On its website, United to Stop the Slots in Massachusetts said slot machines are highly addictive and designed so that gamblers “play to extinction” — until their money runs out. Plus, the modern slot ma-

chine takes credit cards. Casinos have spent big money studying how to attract gamblers and cause them to drop the most money as quickly as possible. And 70-90 percent of casinos’ profits come from 10 percent of the gamblers.

Dave Jonas, president of Parx Casino in Pennsylvania, said last month that many casino patrons average three to four visits a week throughout the year. Some gamblers go five times a week, losing $25 each trip.

“We underestimated significantly how many trips our customers were going to make,” he told the Pennsylvania Gaming Congress in Valley Forge.

USS Mass asserts that pathological gambling affects everyone.

Five years after a casino opens, the neighborhood typically sees an increase in robberies by 136 percent, aggravated assaults by 91 percent, auto theft by 78 percent, burglary 50 percent, larceny 38 percent and rape 21 percent. In Iowa, the number of problem gamblers tripled in less than four years after casinos opened their doors.

The organization further contends that casinos do not help the state as proponents claim. No state that has legalized slots has solved its fiscal problems. Jobs are lost, not gained, because money spent at a casino is diverted from normal purchases that could have been made at local businesses. Casinos also decrease local town revenues from the lottery, which does not market

March 26, 2010 aggressively to consumers and does not allow paying with credit. Casinos also require expensive regulation.

USS Mass, along with other organizations, is calling for an independent cost-benefit analysis of casino gaming before any legislation comes to a vote.

“The proposals in the Legislature to legalize slot machines at race tracks and casinos have been built upon misinformation, closed door meetings and the influence of powerful special interest groups,” said USS Mass in a March 15 email to supporters.

Kathleen Conley Norbut, the organization’s president, said on her blog, “When a regressive, backdoor tax that sucks money out of local economies, harms small businesses and families is the only idea that the Massachusetts Speaker of the House can muster, there is a serious deficit of creative and courageous thinking.”

“Sound public and fiscal policy promote the public good, do no harm, increase opportunity and are sustainable,” she added.

Kathryn M. Davis, public policy coordinator for the Mass, Catholic Conference, said the function of government is to protect, not exploit people. The bishops of the Commonwealth oppose predatory gambling for a variety of reasons.

“It’s an industry that preys on human weakness,” she said. “People put themselves in a huge amount of debt.”

Unlike bingo, which can be found at many Catholic parishes, casino games of chance have higher stakes and faster bets, which allow people to lose more money. Eightyfive percent of slot users live locally, which means that the industry depends on new addicted gamblers.

The social ills that accompany casinos create a health and safety issue for communities, families and the economy. The proposal to legalize them is false hope touted during a difficult economic time, she said.

And during the recession, casino revenue is down. So much so in Rhode Island that the governor is asking legislators to free the Twin River slot parlor from their employment and dog-racing requirements.

The legislation would also commit the state to taking a hit in its share of the casino’s revenue of up to $7.4 million that would go to the casino’s marketing costs and management fees.

For Ed Talbot, who said he lives his recovery day by day, any passage of legislation must dedicate funds to helping others cope with gambling addiction. Already, problem gambling goes undetected.

“You can’t spot a compulsive gambler walking down the street,” he said.

Talbot added that he could never assume that his gambling days are over. He has seen too many others relapse into the addiction.

“At the end of the day I thank God for giving me another day free of gambling,” he said.

5 The Church in the U.S. House passes health reform; effort to insert abortion language fails

March 26, 2010

By Nancy Frazier O’Brien Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives passed historic health reform legislation late March 21 but rejected a last-ditch effort to send a package of legislative fixes back to committee in order to insert language on abortion supported by the U.S. bishops.

The votes were 219-212 in favor of the Senate-passed health reform bill, and 232-199 against a motion by Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., to recommit the reconciliation package to committee with instructions to substitute language that would codify the Hyde amendment, which forbids federal funding of most abortions.

The vote on the reconciliation package, which concluded shortly before midnight, was 220-211. Twenty-three Democrats joined all 178 House Republicans in opposing the measure.

There was no immediate comment on the votes from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which said in a March 20 letter to the House the Hyde amendment must be included in the final health reform measure.

The bishops also had urged enhanced conscience protections.

The House votes came only after Rep. Bart Stupak, DMich., obtained a promise from the White House that President Barack Obama would sign an executive order stipulating that the Hyde amendment would apply to the health reform legislation.

The White House has not indicated when Obama will sign the health reform bill or issue the executive order. Unconfirmed news reports said Obama would sign the bill March 23.

Stupak, a Catholic, had led a group of Pro-Life House Democrats in opposing the Senate health reform bill unless if were amended to include abortion language passed by the House last year. The U.S. bishops had backed those efforts, saying the Senate-passed bill’s abortion language was morally unacceptable because it contained “no relevant provision to prevent the direct use of federal funds for elective abortions.”

Rep. Joseph R. Pitts, R-Pa., said the House language was needed in the Senate measure despite the promised executive order because “an executive or-

der does not trump a statute.”

“The courts will look to the legislative statute to interpret the law,” he said.

In a March 21 memo to congressional staffers, Richard Doerflinger, associate director of the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, said that “the statutory mandate construed by the courts would override any executive order or regulation.”

“This is the unanimous view of our legal advisers and of the experts we have consulted on abortion jurisprudence,” he said. “Only a change in the law enacted by Congress, not an executive order, can begin to address this very serious problem in the legislation.”

In introducing his motion to send the bill back to committee, Camp referred to the proposal to codify Hyde in the measure as the “Stupak-Pitts amendment,” but Stupak spoke against it, saying it “purports to be a right-to-life amendment” but was actually an attempt to “politicize life.”

“This is nothing more than an opportunity to continue to deny 32 million Americans health insurance,” Stupak said. “It does

not promote life. The executive order ensures that the sanctity of life will be protected.”

The U.S. bishops in their March 20 letter not only called for changes on abortion language but also urged changes that would allow new immigrants to get Medicaid and illegal immigrants to buy health insurance with their own money.

“After a year of divisive political combat, members of the

House are told that they can advance health care reform only by adopting the Senate legislation as is, including these fundamental flaws,” the letter said. “The House leadership is ignoring the pleas of Pro-Life members for essential changes in the legislation. Apparently they will not even try to address the serious problems on abortion funding, conscience protection and fair treatment of immigrants.”

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The Anchor Pope Benedict’s pastoral letter

Pope Benedict’s March 19 pastoral letter to the Church of Ireland was an unprecedentedly candid and direct condemnation of the double-evil of the clerical sexual abuse of minors and of the misfeasance of Church supervisors, a remarkable display of papal compassion to all involved, and a forceful, evangelical call to the conversion and holiness that alone will bind the many open wounds and restore the Irish Church and individual Irish Catholics. Insofar as the issues the pope addresses are not unique to Ireland, the pastoral letter provides the deepest response yet to the clergy sexual abuse crisis that has already shaken the faith of our country and has metastasized not only to Ireland but to many other countries in the world.

Benedict begins by describing, in the starkest terms, the evil of what occurred. He said that he is “deeply disturbed” and “can only share in the dismay and sense of betrayal” when considering “these sinful and criminal acts and the way Church authorities in Ireland dealt with them.” He wrote with a righteous indignation consistent “with the care of a father for his children and with the affection of a fellow Christian, scandalized and hurt by what has occurred.” He spoke not like the CEO of a multinational corporation in the midst of a terrible public-relations crisis, but with the horror and repentance that any father, and any fellow disciple, should have when considering that those called to be instruments of God’s holiness in the world abused rather than loved those entrusted to their care and that those whom the faithful trusted to protect Christ’s lambs were worried more about protecting the Church’s assets and reputation.

Parts of the letter he dedicated to those who have been affected by this two-fold crisis in different ways. The most moving section was the one he wrote to the victims of abuse and their families. It’s hard to imagine any of his 264 predecessors ever writing with this much poignancy. “You have suffered grievously,” he wrote, “and I am truly sorry. I know that nothing can undo the wrong you have endured. Your trust has been betrayed and your dignity has been violated. Many of you found that, when you were courageous enough to speak of what happened to you, no one would listen. Those of you who were abused in residential institutions must have felt that there was no escape from your sufferings. It is understandable that you find it hard to forgive or be reconciled with the Church. In her name, I openly express the shame and remorse that we all feel.” He didn’t stop there, however, but sought to help them to see that Christ can relate to their pain and seeks to help them heal. “At the same time,” he wrote, “I ask you not to lose hope. It is in the communion of the Church that we encounter the person of Jesus Christ, who was himself a victim of injustice and sin. Like you, he still bears the wounds of his own unjust suffering. He understands the depths of your pain and its enduring effect upon your lives and your relationships, including your relationship with the Church.

I know some of you find it difficult even to enter the doors of a church after all that has occurred.

Yet Christ’s own wounds, transformed by his redemptive sufferings, are the very means by which the power of evil is broken and we are reborn to life and hope. I believe deeply in the healing power of his self-sacrificing love — even in the darkest and most hopeless situations — to bring liberation and the promise of a new beginning.”

He wrote a forceful call to conversion to the priests and religious who abused, both those whose sins have come into the light as well as those who still bear the horrible secret of past spiritual and physical masochism. He dramatically emphasized that, in justice, they need to come before civil and ecclesiastical tribunals so as to be ready to stand before God almighty. “You betrayed the trust that was placed in you by innocent young people and their parents, and you must answer for it before Almighty God and before properly constituted tribunals. You have forfeited the esteem of the people of Ireland and brought shame and dishonor upon your confreres. Those of you who are priests violated the sanctity of the sacrament of holy orders in which Christ makes himself present in us and in our actions. Together with the immense harm done to victims, great damage has been done to the Church and to the public perception of the priesthood and religious life.” He called them to a full repentance, which involves seeking to repair the damage done by their sins. “I urge you to examine your conscience, take responsibility for the sins you have committed, and humbly express your sorrow. Sincere repentance opens the door to God’s forgiveness and the grace of true amendment. By offering prayers and penances for those you have wronged, you should seek to atone personally for your actions. Christ’s redeeming sacrifice has the power to forgive even the gravest of sins, and to bring forth good from even the most terrible evil. At the same time, God’s justice summons us to give an account of our actions and to conceal nothing. Openly acknowledge your guilt, submit yourselves to the demands of justice, but do not despair of God’s mercy.”

He wrote movingly as well to parents, children and young people, priests and religious, and all the faithful. He also dedicated a special section to his brother bishops, calling them to admit their failures, take full responsibility for them, and work urgently to restore the trust that episcopal failures have shattered. “It cannot be denied that some of you and your predecessors failed, at times grievously, to apply the long-established norms of canon law to the crime of child abuse.

Serious mistakes were made in responding to allegations. I recognize how difficult it was to grasp the extent and complexity of the problem, to obtain reliable information and to make the right decisions in the light of conflicting expert advice. Nevertheless, it must be admitted that grave errors of judgment were made and failures of leadership occurred. All this has seriously undermined your credibility and effectiveness. … Only decisive action carried out with complete honesty and transparency will restore the respect and good will of the Irish people towards the Church to which we have consecrated our lives. This must arise, first and foremost, from your own self-examination, inner purification and spiritual renewal. The Irish people rightly expect you to be men of God, to be holy, to live simply, to pursue personal conversion daily.”

Pope Benedict proposed an aggressive pastoral program not just to address the individual crimes and sins of the past, but to atone for them and to rebuild the Church in Ireland to the greatness it once had with so many saints, schools, missionaries, priests and religious. He asked them to devote their Friday penances for a year “to obtain the grace of healing and renewal for the Church in Ireland. He called the whole Church to ask for God’s forgiveness for their sins in the sacrament of reconciliation. He asked them to organize periods of eucharistic adoration to “make reparation for the sins of abuse” and implore “the grace of renewed strength and a deeper sense of mission” throughout the Church. He called for a nationwide mission for bishops, priests and religious to recenter themselves on Christ. And he announced an apostolic visitation of certain dioceses, seminaries and religious houses to sweep out the old leaven and ensure that they form true leaven to help the Church rise again.

He finished with a prayer to the Triune God, begging that “our sorrow and our tears, our sincere effort to redress past wrongs and our first purpose of amendment” may lead to a “new springtime of holiness and apostolic zeal for the Church in Ireland.”

We join that prayer, and not just for the Church in Ireland, but for the Church in our country and throughout the world.

March 26, 2010

Student and teacher in the school of the cross

On Palm Sunday and Good Friday, the the joy and glory they now experience. And whole Church will contemplate in unison the compared with the sufferings of the martyrs, Passion of the Lord Jesus. It is a time when we Father Vianney would always add, “the good seek to grasp the greatest of all paradoxes: how God is not asking so much of us.” a perpendicular instrument of shameful death So in terms of forming the right attitude tocan become the Tree of Life; how a device of ward the cross, he taught, we first have to recfrightening torture can be transformed into the ognize we need the cross to bring about the puindelible sign of divine love; how something rification required for our sanctification. There that was foolishness to gentiles and scandal to are two paths to heaven, he said: the first, trod Jews can be proclaimed as the most remark- by very few, is one of “innocence,” where with able manifestation of God’s power and wis- purity of heart people seek to give themselves dom; and how, if we are to be saved, we must to the Lord and please him from their earliest run not away from it but toward it, embracing days; the second, which needs to be journeyed it, carrying it, dying to ourselves on it, exalting by the rest of us, is by “penitence.” For those it, and being exalted on it. on this path, Father Vianney said, “It’s necesChristians in every age have struggled to sary … to have crosses to think of God.” For comprehend, both theologically and practical- unlike the innocent who listen to the whispers ly, how the redemption of the world and their of God in prayer and daily life, the cross is own personal redemption can and will happen God’s “bullhorn,” to use C.S. Lewis’ expresonly through the cross. There’s no part of the sion, to help us turn to him. It’s not enough to Gospel that our human nature, which abhors “recognize crosses,” but we “must love them pain and recoils from death, finds more dif- and bear them with courage. They unite [us] ficult to accept. And most of us who end up to our Lord. They purify [us]. They detach [us] accepting it do so only begrudgingly and mini- from the world. They export obstacles from malistically. [our] heart and help [us] to traverse life like a The patron saint of priests, St. John Vian- bridge helps to cross over water.” ney, rather than seeing the cross as a curse, Once we recognize our need for the cross recognized it, with the eyes of faith in the light in order to be saved, we need to run to it, he of the redempsaid, “like the tion, as a great greedy man runs spiritual caress. after money.”

Throughout his The greater our life he sought participation to grow in love in the cross, in and in imitation other words, the of the cross and spiritually richer

By Father to help his pawe will be.

Roger J. Landry rishioners and In order to penitents adopt run after the authentically cross, however, cruciform lives. As we approach the events of we need God’s help, because it is so against Holy Week, his example and insights provide the grain of our nature. That’s why he taught, a means for all of us to unlock so much more “We have to ask for the love of crosses.” He of the power of the mysteries we are about to said, “When one loves crosses, one no longer relive. has them.” After describing how for many St. John Vianney knew that one of the years he had had more crosses than he thought most important keys to living a truly Christian he could bear, he said everything changed life was the attitude we had toward the cross. when “I made myself ask for a love of crosses.

“Most people turn their back to crosses and Then I was happy. I tell you truthfully: there is flee from them. The more they run, however, no happiness anywhere else!” the more the cross pursues them.” The Curé He learned over time the truth of St. Paul’s of Ars saw, with the common sense he picked words to the Corinthians, that the cross is the up working on the farm as a young boy, that greatest source of wisdom. “If you want to be none of us is able to escape the cross. We will truly wise,” he said, “go to meet the cross.” He all experience suffering and hardship, contra- continued, “The cross is the wisest book one dictions, calumny and death. The key is how can read. Those who do not know this book we respond to them. “There are those who suf- are ignorant, even when they know all the fer like the good thief, and others like the bad other books ever written. Those who love it, thief,” he said. “Both suffer the same pain but consult it, and deepen their understanding of it one knows how to make the sufferings merito- are truly wise. This book is bitter, but one will rious by accepting them in a spirit of repara- never be happier than to bathe in its bitterness. tion.”

The more one is in this school, the more he The secret to having our crosses make us wants to remain there.” better rather than bitter is, like the Good Thief, Besides the unforgettable images of by uniting not just our pain but ourselves to “book” and “school,” Father Vianney used Christ with love. “There are two ways to suf- other metaphors to help his people acquire fer,” he continued. “To suffer in love and to the proper attitude to the cross. He also called suffer without love. The saints suffered every- the cross a “bridge,” a “ladder,” a “gate” and thing with patience, joy and perseverance, be- a “key.” cause they loved. We suffer with anger, scorn The cross, he said, is “like a beautiful stone and laxity, because we don’t.” Just as Christ’s bridge built over a river to traverse it…. Chriscross is a sign not principally of pain but of tians who do not suffer pass this river on a the love that made him bear it, so the crosses fragile bridge of a thin iron filament, always we’re given are principally meant to help us to ready to break under their feet.” learn how to love like Christ.

The cross is the “ladder of heaven,” the fulThis is why St. John Vianney would repeat- fillment of Jacob’s ladder, by which we climb edly remind his parishioners that the saints not up into Christ’s arms and ascend with him to only bore their crosses but loved them. They the house of the heavenly Father. saw the cross as the means by which they It’s the “gate of heaven,” the narrow portal would be able to experience the life St. Paul Jesus describes that leads to life (Mt 7:14). described in his letter to the Galatians: they And it is “the key that opens up the door learned in the cross how to be “crucified with of heaven,” the cruciform opener that unlocks Christ” so that “it is no longer I who live but that gate at the top of the ladder after traversChrist who lives in me” (Gal 2:19-20). “If we ing life on that secure stone bridge. could pass a week in heaven,” the Curé of Ars St. John Vianney was a disciple and an commented, “we would understand the price apostle in the school of the cross, and imof present suffering. We wouldn’t find the parted to his people the wisdom that helped cross so heavy. We wouldn’t find it a rather them join him in walking over that secure bitter test.” He pointed to the martyrs as the stone bridge, up the ladder, and through the greatest proof of this. “Ask the martyrs if they gate of heaven that Christ opened by the are angry now,” he would say with a smile, events we will mark this upcoming week. because the martyrs recognized that even the Father Landry is pastor of St. Anthony of tortures they bore are nothing compared to Padua Parish in New Bedford.

Putting Into the Deep

March 26, 2010

W

hen I first heard that our Holy Father had declared a Year For Priests, I was encouraged at the thought of the prayers and support that this designation would garner for me and for all my brother priests. After all, we can surely use all the prayers we can get.

Yet, as I reflect back on more than 30 years as a priest, I can’t help but think that each year and every assignment was in some way a “Year For This Priest.”

I have been blessed with a variety of assignments over the years mainly as a parish priest; however, I was also assigned to studies in Rome, some administrative duties in the chancery office, as well as the first director of the Office for Worship.

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ilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936) was an English convert to Roman Catholicism, fiction writer, essayist, biographer, poet, dramatist, and visual artist. In a word he was a polymath, a Victorian throwback to the Renaissance man of the medieval period. His talents were many, but of all his skills there is one that stands out: authentic joy. Though we don’t usually think of it as such, the ability to cultivate (and share) authentic joy is a gift. Psychology and neurology demonstrate that some people are more inclined towards joyful experience than others; so rather than thinking of it as a passing mood, we can properly consider joyfulness a cognitive skill, one that we can choose to focus on and develop, like one would develop an ability to solve crossword puzzles.

It was in this skill that Chesterton discovered his most supreme talent of all. He found joy in everything which is, of course, just another way of saying he found God in everything. A blade of grass, a governess, a lamp-post, even ugliness could inspire raptures that overflowed into rivers of ink covering reams of paper.

He was a bean-stalkish young man but as a tribute to his authentic enjoyment of “created goodness”, (including beer, wine, tobacco, and food) he developed a characteristic portliness — rather like another Dumb Ox whom he loved well — and for some it stood as a booming Catholic critique of Puritan tendencies.

Chesterton became a journalist in his 20s, a profession

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The Anchor

Thirty-one ‘Years For Priests’ and counting I have served in every area day on the solemnity of the of the Diocese, from Fall great mystery of the IncarRiver to Cape Cod, from New nation of Jesus, literally his Bedford to Taunton to Attletaking on our human flesh, boro and back again.

I have met so many wonderful Year For Priests parishioners, parVocational Reflection ish staffs, deacons and fellow priests from one end of the

By Father diocese to the other John Paul Gallant that it would be an enormous task (and a rather lengthy article) just to describe them. Please we realize that our journey is note: None of these assignnot without purpose and not ments has had the address of without the companionship “heaven,” so I will not say that we call the Church, the that they have been perfect Body of Christ. For as Christ or that I have been perfect in is our head, so we all are the them. We are, after all, sinmembers of his Body in all ners, on a pilgrimage to our our diversity. eternal home.

My experience as a priest But as we recalled yesterhas given me the opportunity to

observe the many ways that the grace of our faith builds upon our human nature. The good news is that there is no part of God’s creation — at least the parts where I have been privileged to serve — that is beyond redemption.

The “work” of a priest is as varied as his personality and assignments. The typical pastor is expected to be everything from a CEO of a small business to a handy man, counselor, religious educator, florist, snow removal expert, preacher like Bishop Fulton Sheen — and do all this and more with the patience of Job. And, by the way, could you please celebrate Mass in 45 minutes or less.

Yet the essence of the priest

He found joy in everything

that seemed as unlikely for magic, imagination. For Cheshim at the time as it seems terton, the entire world was an perfect in retrospect. “Journal- enchanted fairy tale. ism,” wrote Chesterton in a clear example of his distinctive humor, “largely consists of saying ‘Lord Jones is dead.’ to people who never know Lord

By Jennifer Pierce Jones was alive.” Perhaps best known for “The Father Brown” series of mysteries, this end“The only words,” he less joy expressed itself in over explained, “that ever satisfied 80 books, hundreds of poems, me as describing Nature are 200 some odd short stories, the terms used in fairy books, and several plays, despite a charm, spell, enchantment. conspicuous lack of formal They express the arbitrariness schooling. of the fact and its mystery.

He was as witty and quotable The tree grows because it is a as Oscar Wilde and as articulate magic tree. Water runs downas his friend George Bernard hill because it is bewitched.

Shaw but he superseded these The sun shines because it is writers in what can only be bewitched.” It was this aspect described as a unique Chesterof Chesterton that I think most tonian mysticism: a singular inspired JRR Tolkien and CS ability to be childlike but not Lewis in their fantasy writing. childish. He carried a walking Chesterton’s large footprints stick that became a sword when are everywhere in Narnia and a button was pushed, and I like Middle Earth and the two writto think of that often, as that ers shared a devotion to Gilwalking stick represents to me bert’s writing to such a degree his favorite tool/weapon, the that it would not be entirely paradox. He used paradox to overstating the matter to call turn the world inside out only them disciples. to see it more clearly; he did He influences many nonthis best when writing about Catholic writers like the author Christianity: “Dogma gives of “Coraline,” Neil Gaiman, man too much freedom,” he and I detect a strong Chesterwrote, “when it permits him to tonian influence in the grotesfall. Dogma gives even God too querie of Tim Burton’s films. much freedom when it permits Some might find that dark him to die.” fascination with the grotesque His willingness to become surprising in a romantic lover childlike is what I think inof fairy tales but it is distinctly spired a remarkable devotion Chestertonian to be unafraid of in his friends and fans, and the the ugly and to find the parafruit of that humility came in doxical beauty within it. His the form of a powerful, almost affections were not limited to

Great Catholic Thinkers

the beautiful and the commonplace but extended its fulsome embrace toward the bizarre and the misplaced.

Thinking of the man who carried a walking stick that became a sword when you pressed a button on it, we can understand that Chesterton understood the difference between outward accidents and inward essences — he understood that the rejected stone is the

is always the same, to be “another Christ” as a mediator between God and his people, to guide, teach and sanctify through the sacramental life of the Church and especially at the Eucharist.

This is the unique gift of the priesthood, which our great high priest, Jesus Christ has willed for his bride, the Church.

None of us is worthy of this vocation, but with the help of the one who once called a motley collection of fishermen and tax collectors as his first priests, we can suffice and even occasionally, like John Vianney, the Curé d’Ars, become saints.

Father Gallant, ordained in 1978, is pastor of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish in South Attleboro.

cornerstone, that the truth will not always be found in what glitters golden and extraordinary like a diadem, but in what is so startlingly ordinary — as in ordinal — it is perceived to be ugly; rather like a roughly made wooden trough, where the beasts take their food within which lay the salvation of all mankind.

Jennifer Pierce is a parishioner of Corpus Christi in East Sandwich, where she lives with her husband Jim and two daughters.

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he reading of the Passion narrative on Palm Sunday is a vivid reminder to all of us that we cannot experience the joy of Easter without the agony of the cross.

Another way of saying this is that there would be no Easter without the events of Good Friday.

At the conclusion of the passion we see most of Jesus’ followers had run away. Only a few women remain at the foot of the cross to hear the profound words of a Roman centurion when he says …

“Truly, this man was the Son of God.” Whenever I read the Passion Gospel I am reminded of Pope John Paul II, who said; “Palm Sunday stands as a solemn gateway leading to Holy Week.” And how true this is. Holy Week represents the most beautiful time in the Church’s liturgical year. In this one week we have the opportunity to experience all of the fundamental elements — the

March 26, 2010

The Anchor

A solemn gateway core beliefs and traditions — represents Jesus leaving the of our Catholic faith. It starts upper room and asking his in earnest with Holy Thursday disciples to accompany him and ends in the glory of Easter to Gethsemane where the terSunday. rible events of the Passion will On Holy Thursday the begin to unfold.

Church begins the Easter Triduum. The Holy Thursday litHomily of the Week urgy is centered on Palm Sunday thanking Jesus for the ordained priesthood as well as the instituBy Deacon tion of the Eucharist.

Frank Fantasia In the Gospel that day Jesus washes the feet of his disciples as a sign of his love and humility; Good Friday is a day of a love and humility that will stillness and meditation for the be manifested in his suffering Church throughout the world. and death for the sins of all We celebrate the passion and mankind. The same Gospel death of Jesus and again trace describes the scene at the Last his steps from Gethsemane Supper where Jesus institutes to Calvary and in accordance the sacrament of the Eucharist, with ancient Church tradition a sacrament that continues to the sacraments are not celenourish us to this day. brated on Good Friday or Holy At the end of Mass on Holy Saturday.

Thursday we will carry the We will notice something Blessed Sacrament in a solemn different when we enter the procession. This procession church on Friday. The altar

will have been stripped of its cloths and the tabernacle will be empty. These signs and symbols express the Church’s grief over the death of Jesus. And from Good Friday to Holy Saturday the Church is in mourning, with the body of Christ at rest in the tomb.

On Holy Saturday evening we will celebrate what is arguably the most glorious liturgy of the year, the Easter Vigil. We begin with a service of light with the church in total darkness except for the flame of the new Paschal candle that is carried in procession by the priest or deacon. In the liturgy of the word that evening the Church reflects on the history of salvation. Christ has triumphed. On this night we celebrate Jesus’ victory over sin and death.

Holy Week gives us an opportunity to immerse ourselves into the sacred liturgies

of the Easter Triduum. Hopefully our participation will help strengthen our faith and fill us with the light of hope.

It presents an opportunity for us to reconcile our lives with God and with one another. In this way, on Easter Sunday, we can truly become a new creation as brothers and sisters in Christ.

As we enter Holy Week it is important for each of us to make a commitment to be part of this very special season in the Church because Holy Week is a most beautiful time in the life of the Church, a most beautiful time in the life of the parish, and, hopefully, a most beautiful time in our own spiritual journeys.

Perhaps by our participation we will become filled with hope and expectation and like the soldier at the foot of the cross confess: “Truly, this man was the Son of God.” Deacon Fantasia serves at Christ the King Parish in Mashpee.

Upcoming Daily Readings:Sat. Mar. 27, Ez 37:21-28; (Ps) Jer 31:10-13; Jn 11:45-56. Sun. Mar. 28, Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, Lk 19:28-40n(procession); Is 50:4-7; Ps 22:8-9,17-18,19-20,23-24; Phil 2:6-11; Lk 22:14-23:56 or 23:1-49. Mon. Mar. 29, Monday of Holy Week, Is 42:1-7; Ps 27:1-3,13-14; Jn 12:1-11. Tues.

Mar. 30, Tuesday of Holy Week, Is 49:1-6; Ps 71:1-4a,5ab-6b,15,17; Jn 13:21-33,36-38. Wed. Mar. 31, Wednesday of Holy Week, Is 50:4-9a; Ps 69:8-10,21-22,31,3334; Mt 26:14-25. Thur. Apr. 1, Holy Thursday, Mass of Chrism, Is 61:1-3a,6a,8b-9; Ps 89:21-22,25,27; Rv 1:5-8; Lk 4:16-21; Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Ex 12:18,11-14; Ps 116:12-13,15-16bc,17-18; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15. Fri. Apr. 2, Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion, Is 52:13-53:12; Ps 31:2,6,12-13,15-17,25; Heb 4:14-16:5:7-9; Jn 18:1-19:42.

O

n October 14, 1988, the New York Times carried an article on the carbon dating of the Shroud of Turin that stated, in summary, “Radiocarbon tests conducted independently this year … concluded that the Shroud cloth was created between 1260 and 1390.”

The carbon dating protocol required taking six samples from different parts of the cloth to be sure that the samples were homogeneous and representative of the entire Shroud cloth. This was never done. Only one sample was taken from a corner of the Shroud and three pieces of this one sample were given to three radio carbon dating labs. The results of the three labs were precise, but were they accurate?

Imagine if you were my patient and I took one blood sample from you, and three tubes of this one sample were given to three medical labs and all three labs found that you had cancer. Then I treated you without ever taking any other samples from you to confirm that you indeed had cancer, but just relied on the one sample of blood taken from you.

Would you be happy about this or would you be looking for another physician?

In 1996 Dr. Adler tested a piece of the sample from which the carbon daters obtained their three pieces. He found that it was chemically different than the rest of the Shroud cloth.

Therefore, for some unknown reason, the sample that the carbon daters used was not representative of the rest of the

Carbon-testing, pollen and blood cloth. Adler’s study put the whole carhow the blood marks and images of bon dating testing results in doubt. Of the Shroud were formed. The blood course, this study done by Adler was marks of the Shroud are fairly easy to never reported by the New York Times. understand from the point of view of In spite of the carbon testing, there how they were created. It was simply a are a number of circumstances revealcontact process whereby cloth came in ing a much older pre-European exiscontact with still-moist blood clots that tence. We can focus on two. were on the man’s body when he was The first concerns pollen grains on carefully taken down from the position the Shroud: Max Frei, a biologist and of crucifixion. The moist blood simply professor of soaked into the criminology, fabric. discovered The mysThe Shroud pollen grains tery, howon the Shroud. ever, revolves of Turin These grains around how give us the the image was

By Gilbert R. very same formed. It is Lavoie, M.D. itinerary that the forensic Ian Wilson study of the proposes in his blood marks historic assessment of the Shroud in the of the Shroud that provides the best East. The pollen grains that Frei found insights regarding the complexities of came not only from plants in France image formation. The blood marks give and Italy, but also from plants in Anato- us the information that helps us rule out lia and the area around the Dead Sea. a range of proposed theories of image The second flows from an unusual formation. stitch exhibited by the Shroud. In 2002 One example, explained by Lavoie in when the Shroud was being restored 1983, helps us better understand what

by Mechtild Flury-Lemberg, an expert occurred at the time of burial with an in ancient textiles, she discovered a off-image blood mark seen off the left unique and highly unusual stitch that elbow. Most of the other blood marks on has only been found in one place in the image area tell us something about the world: Masada, Israel, the ancient the height and width of the image; this fortress sieged and destroyed by the off-image blood mark gives us the third Romans in 74 A.D. dimension, that of depth. Because of this We also learn more by looking at blood mark we know that one end of the

cloth draped over the three-dimensional figure of a crucified man. Furthermore, it confirms that the blood marks were made by a contact process, whereas the image was not.

This is only one example of many.

Once these blood marks are explained and illustrated, the information can be easily understood by anyone who makes the effort. The Shroud belongs to everyone.

From last week’s information we know that the Shroud image is not a painting. Moreover, extensive medical forensic studies that would require much more explanation than this article allows, along with other extensive illustrations of the blood marks and images, tell us that the creation of the image was not a natural event. If the Shroud image is not a painting, and it is not a natural event, then what caused this image?

Next week we hope to answer these questions. What caused this image and who is the man of the Shroud? Is he the Lamb of God? 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 third of a four-part Lenten series.

March 26, 2010

Oh, that poor priest

Father Henry was born poor, Friday 26 March 2010 — at and so he chooses to remain. home in Old Dighton Village — He has made the decision not to Have your prepared your taxes own more than two of anything. yet?

It seems somebody had given found a package waiting Father Henry two clergy shirts for me at the Post Office. It was from Father Henry, a diocesan priest from the American Southwest.

I had met Father Henry Reflections of a two years ago. We had Parish Priest chatted for no more than five minutes. This was

By Father Tim the extent of our social Goldrick interaction until the box arrived this week. In the box were two brand-new for Christmas. He already had clergy uniform shirts. Clerical two. This is how it happened shirts are expensive. Why was that I found two clergy shirts in Father Henry sending me this my mail. gift? I did some research.

Diocesan priests, unlike reliFather Henry was born and gious order priests, do not take raised in Mexico. Most people vows of poverty. Technically, in Mexico don’t enjoy the affluence we do in the United States. we do not take vows. We make

I

The Ship’s Log

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9

The Anchor sacred promises. That, however, is a subject for another time. We diocesan priests sometimes tease our religious order confreres by reminding them, “You take the vow of poverty. We live it.”

I remember once being on a retreat at a very strict monastery.

Our guided discussion was on the subject of living simply so that others may simply live. I discreetly pointed out to the monk retreat director that, although he owns no personal property, whatever he needs (within reason) he receives from the community.

Moreover, wealth buys time and space. A monk has time for personal and communal prayer and meditation, time for rest, time for work, time for recreation and time for study. His time is

The jeweled cross

prematurely? They cut and am watching a young tear as deeply as any other, family struggle with a though some might wonder cross with which I am someat the curious weight of so what familiar — the one small a being. The human attached to burying a newheart is disposed to deep born. Though the cause in communion with others, and each case was different and motherhood in particular she had a little more time to bears within it a compass prepare, that preparation has that leads her along these little to do with the enormous tragedy when it strikes. paths of love.

And yet, in our fallen It simply hurts. world, the mother’s path is I found the pain astonishhazardous and often terrifying in relation to the size of ing, because to give oneself the little person who visited as a total gift of self is to for so brief a time. What this grieving mother related to me in one conversation brought back so many memories, and there were the familiar echoes of how each family

By Genevieve Kineke member was affected in his or her own way. Throughout invite suffering. This is the ordeal, each suffers and what philosopher Alice von shares a sense of helplessHildebrand describes as “the ness. jeweled cross,” which indiIt’s difficult to express cates the layers of meaning what affections and hopes in such trials. are wrapped around a child Jewels have value in this you’ve not had a chance to life — for their rare beauty. know. Most children are Their appeal is universal, received into loving arms — they are often associated not because of what they’ve with marks of distinction, done, or who they will and they can be obtained become, but because of who only at great cost. they are. They are ours, they The cross has often are an expression of love become such a banal cliché between man and woman, that many forget its torturthey are entirely new but ous associations. Christians deeply rooted in the human are wisely challenged to family because of physical reflect on its meaning and ties, which are themselves a the details of such a love that creative gift of God who unwould compel the God-man derstands the need for such to freely endure this sufferthings. ing. Truly the human depths And what happens when of our love and gratitude for these ties are sundered

The Feminine Genius

God can never grasp the real cost of his gift.

So what does a “jeweled cross” indicate? It means that the suffering we endure for love has value — and even more so when joined to the salvific work of Christ.

His is the cross that gives merit to our pain, and he is the one who shows what love can accomplish.

While we meditate on this truth in Lent, every tragedy, such as the loss of a child, can become its own Lent — of seeming endless duration. Its Easter mysteries may be shrouded in tears, and the victory of love over death may be clouded by the very ache of such love so tinged with fresh sorrow. That is entirely understandable.

But laying these sorrows on the altar of God will allow those jewels to glimmer and shine over time — so that their value may begin to emerge. The pain subsides somewhat, the unexpected insights seep in, and the hope of reunion may direct many to amend their lives.

With trust, we must accept these painful lessons for our own growth, because in the end despite all the treasures attached to such crosses, the one carrying it is of the greatest value.

Mrs. Kineke is the author of The Authentic Catholic Woman (Servant Books) and associate editor of woman.catholicexchange. com.

carefully allocated by the rule of the monastery. A diocesan priest doesn’t enjoy this luxury.

Time is determined by the needs of the people we serve. We are called to serve no matter what the personal inconvenience. For example, people do not choose to die on a particular day so that their funeral doesn’t interfere with the priest’s day off-duty.

There is also the matter of space. My monk-friend may sleep in a small, humble cell, but most monasteries are located on hundreds of acres of secluded land. Diocesan priests live in the midst of the people. It can get crowded out here in the neighborhood.

I know of one diocesan priest who has been fasting for 30 years. In solidarity with the poor, he eats only one meal a day. His parishioners do not know this. He doesn’t want them to.

I know of another man who has been a diocesan priest for almost 40 years. He still wears a coat he got in high school — at an army surplus store. He didn’t buy it. It was a gift from the store owner. Back in those days, clothes were made to last.

I know of several diocesan priests who pack all their belongings in one small suitcase, and another diocesan brother who hasn’t owned a suit in decades.

When some diocesan priests are in need of something, they shop at Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul stores. They buy what others cast off. Diocesan priests know where the poor go to shop.

Against the advice of all the best psychologists, there are diocesan priests who do not take many vacations. Vacations, they say, are a luxury foreign to the lifestyle of the poor.

To tell the truth, I don’t even know a diocesan priest’s base salary. I asked another priest.

He didn’t know either. It’s of no importance to us. Whatever it is, it’s sufficient to get by. We are not in ministry for the money.

Many diocesan priests also

give generously to charity. Look at the biggest individual donors to the Catholic Charities Appeal.

They’re priests. That’s only the tip of the iceberg. Priests contribute to many other causes as well but they don’t want the left hand to know what the right is doing.

A few diocesan priests inherit from their families, but most priests come from families that can hardly be called wealthy.

Some priests have such a finely tuned business sense that they are able to invest a portion of their monthly remuneration and turn a profit. Diocesan priests who are also financial wizards are rarer than albino platypuses.

This is why a diocesan priest is forbidden to invest parish funds.

It would be poor stewardship of parish patrimony to lose a bundle on the stock market.

Some would charge that diocesan priests live in palaces, dress in fine robes, and feast sumptuously every day. This is hardly the case. The opposite is true.

Most of us quietly live a simple lifestyle. It’s something we don’t announce to the world, so let’s just keep it between you and me, OK? Father Goldrick is pastor of St. Nicholas of Myra Parish in North Dighton.

10

By Dave Jolivet, Editor SEEKONK — At the sight of the sonogram image of a twomonth-old fetus several years ago, David Creamer said, “You can’t tell me that is not a person.”

That glimpse of his sister-in-law’s child made a lasting impression on the parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Seekonk; it made so much of an impact that Creamer has been deeply involved in the Pro-Life movement as part of his parish’s Pro-Life Committee, become a member of the Seekonk Knights of Columbus No. 5018, joined

The Anchor

March 26, 2010

You can’t tell him, ‘that is not a person’ the Attleboro Serra Club, worked with the 40 Days For Life campaign, made the annual March For Life in Boston each October, and assisted in efforts to establish a Women’s Concern center in the Attleboro area.

With a Pro-Life resume like that, it’s no wonder that Creamer was the 2010 adult recipient of the Diocese of Fall River’s John Cardinal O’Connor Pro-Life Award, presented yesterday by Bishop George W. Coleman at St. Julie Billiart Parish in North Dartmouth.

“I was shocked to receive the

award,” Creamer told The An- in the family, because Creamer’s chor. “There are so many oth- younger brother, Glenn, is very ers who deserve it more. I think active in the movement at his I have such a strong Pro-Life parish, St. Luke’s, in Barrington, conviction because of the great R.I. “Glenn, like all my family, is efforts of our parish priests, pas- an inspiration to me.”

His seemingly full plate of tor Father Brian Harrington and Father Tom Costa. They’re out- Pro-Life causes could lead one to standing priests who aren’t afraid think that’s more than enough to to preach a Pro-Life message take up Creamer’s time. Not so. from the pulpit. And the Knights of Columbus are such Pro-Life advocates.”

He also credits the parish’s 24-hour eucharistic adoration chapel, a place he’s spent many hours, with giving him the quiet time to reflect on the tragedy of abortion.

Creamer, 49, and his wife Claire, have two teenage daughters, Tanya, 17, and Lara, 16. “My daughters fully understand what abortion is and its evils,” he said. “They have no qualms about walking in Pro-Life events. Hopefully it will be their generation that puts an end to abortion.”

Creamer said he’s been very blessed to have been raised by two very active Catholic parents who “made Church come first.

They took us to Mass every Sunday and holy day and emphasized prayer in Anchor person of the week — the home. And my grand- Creamer. mother Creamer said the At one time he was involved with rosary daily.”

“Doubly blessed” is how Opus Dei, but time constraints Creamer describes himself. “I forced him to cut back on that, as also married into a very active well as the efforts concerning the Catholic family with strong faith. Women’s Concern center.

He was also a Religious EduAs a matter of fact, my father-inlaw, Lucien, was a staunch Pro- cation teacher for confirmationLifer years ago, when the abor- aged students for more than a tion issue wasn’t as well known. decade. “When I was teaching, I He was a pioneer of sorts. He made sure there was always a lessaid bluntly, ‘There was no use son on abortion,” said Creamer.

“I remember many of the stufor abortion.’”

The Pro-Life calling must run dents, 13- and 14-year-olds, were

not all that motivated to be there.

But when I gave my lesson on abortion, the students, especially the boys, were stunned that abortion was legal. The lesson really made an impression on many of the young students.”

Creamer still volunteers his services at various events at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro, is an extraordinary minister of holy Communion, works at Steubenville East gatherings, and does other parish volunteer work.

“He’s a great guy,” said Father Brian J. Harrington, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish. “He does so many wonderful things with Pro-Life and within the parish. He’s an inspiration to others and a man who truly lives out his faith.”

It’s true that there are countless individuals across the Diocese of Fall River who deserve the John Cardinal O’Connor Pro-Life Award ... but David Creamer is a very deserving recipient.

“I am so proud to have David Creamer as the adult recipient of this year’s award,” said diocDavid esan director of the ProLife Apostolate, Marian Desrosiers. “He richly deserves this award, keeping in the tradition of exemplifying by his actions a deep understanding of the sacredness and dignity of all human life.”

“It’s my fervent prayer,” said Creamer, “that in my lifetime, they won’t have to give this award out any more.”

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

March 26, 2010

The Anchor

11

a saintly gift — St. Joseph-St. Therese Parish in New Bedford recently presented an oil painting of St. Joseph and the Infant Jesus to Bishop George W. Coleman. The painting, a copy of the masterpiece by Italian Guido Reni, was recently commissioned as a gift to the bishop to mark his first pastoral visit to the New Bedford parish. The original work hangs in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. A mosaic copy of this masterpiece was a gift of Bishop James Edwin Cassidy to St. Joseph’s Parish on the occasion of the construction of the current church and now hangs beneath the choir loft. In his presentation to the bishop, Father Philip N. Hamel referred to the gift as “A sign of our deep appreciation for the support and pastoral solicitude which you have shown to this parish community in your six-and-a-half years as our bishop. As a parish we pray that St. Joseph, who so lovingly guided the growth of the young Christ Child, will likewise continue to be your guide as you in turn continue to father and to shepherd this local Church in the Diocese of Fall River.” Standing with Bishop Coleman are Father Hugo Cardenas, NE, pastor of St. Kilian Parish, and Father Hamel, pastor of St. Joseph-St. Therese Parish, both in New Bedford. The pastoral visitation also coincided with the conferral of the sacrament of confirmation for candidates of St. Kilian and St. Joseph-St. Therese parishes.

Priests will renew vows at Chrism Mass

By Deacon James N. Dunbar FALL RIVER — At the Chrism Mass, which is usually the largest annual gathering of clergy and faithful, priests are invited to renew the commitments they made at their ordination. This year’s Chrism Mass, taking place within the context of the worldwide Year For Priests, will be particularly special.

The Mass, which takes its name from the most eminent of the three holy oils which the local bishop commissions for use in his diocese’s parish churches during the coming year, will be celebrated by Bishop George W. Coleman on March 30 in St. Mary’s Cathedral at 4 p.m.

It will find priests of the Fall River Diocese renewing their priestly vows to God and to the bishop, in the presence of their colleague priests and laity as well.

It also provides an opportunity for the faithful to show support for their priests, and to pray for them.

Unlike the Oil of the Sick, used for those who seek anointing, and the Oil of the Catechumens, which is imposed on those seeking baptism — which are simply “blessed,” the sacred Chrism, used at the ordination of priests and bishops, and at baptisms, confirmations and the consecration of altars and blessing of churches, is “consecrated.”

All of the priests present participate in this by extending their right hand toward the vessel containing the Chrism, as the bishop recites the prayer of consecration.

Because holy Chrism is used to anoint a priest’s hands during his ordination, the Church sees a direct link of the Chrism Mass to priestly ministry, and an apt time for renewal of priestly service.

“While as priests there is a constant daily renewal because we have been taught to say every Mass as if it was our first, when we gather with each other and the bishop each year at the Chrism Mass, each of us has the opportunity to recall and reflect on our own priesthood — for me, 22 years — and consider the past, who we are today, and our future ministry,” said Father Daniel W. Lacroix, pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hyannis.

“And in those 22 years I have never failed to attend because I Turn to page 15

12

The Anchor

Cured New Bedford man to appear on ‘20/20’ Good Friday special Miracle submitted to Pope John Paul II’s cause for canonization

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff NEW BEDFORD — Watching Jose Amaral confidently stride through the majestic nave of St. Anthony of Padua Church, his beloved home parish, it’s hard to believe he once had to struggle with forearm crutches to make his way a few feet up to the altar to receive holy Communion.

For years he would make sure to enter the historic New Bedford church through the Bullard Street side entrance, so there would be fewer stairs to negotiate and easier access to his preferred pew near the statue of Our Lady of Fatima during Mass.

When it came time to receive holy Communion, Amaral would make the difficult trek down the aisle — going as far as his strength would allow, dragging his feet behind him — and then slide into a front-row pew until his wife and family could assist him back out the closest exit.

“Parishioners have found it impossible not to notice and admire Jose’s deep faith,” noted his pastor, Father Roger J. Landry.

“Since St. Anthony’s presently has no handicapped access, he had to leave his wheelchair in his van. But he has always done so without self-pity or complaint because, he said, God and the beauty of St. Anthony’s were worth the extra effort.”

Back in February 1980 Amaral, then 19, was diagnosed with

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spinal stenosis — or a narrowing of the spinal column that compresses the cord and nerves — accompanied by arthritis.

“When I was 19 years old, I hurt my back,” he said. “Since then I’ve always had back problems. In 1984 I had my first surgery. The doctors at the time told me if I didn’t have the surgery, I’d be paralyzed by the age of 30. So I had it done. I felt better, but not 100 percent.”

Admitting he “did things I probably shouldn’t have done” such as going back to work earlier than recommended by his doctor, Amaral relapsed in 1997 and by 2000 things started getting worse.

“By 2003 my left leg got numb and I went to a neurosurgeon and he told me I had severe nerve damage,” he said. “He basically told me my spine was like a train wreck.”

Soon he was wheelchairbound and could only walk with a cane or forearm crutches.

After two more unsuccessful surgeries in July 2003, Amaral underwent a complex cervical fusion procedure in January 2004 that didn’t yield any better results.

“The damage was already done,” he said. “My doctor described it like having a ‘stroke of the spine,’ where the connections from the brain to the spine just weren’t working.”

A devout Catholic and man of faith, Amaral had accepted God’s will for his life, realizing he would never walk or work again, and took the opportunity to renew his relationship with God through prayer, reading Scripture, and meditating on his favorite book, “My Imitation of Christ.”

And despite his disability, he made a point of faithfully attending Mass at his home parish of St. Anthony of Padua, even though the historic structure lacked the convenience of handicap accessibility.

His special devotion to Our Lady of Fatima wouldn’t keep him away from his pew of choice; after all, he knew the fastest way to Jesus was through his mother.

“What did she say at the wedding at Cana?” Amaral asked.

“Do whatever he tells you.”

But things began to change on January 26, 2008.

After experiencing a short stint of depression fueled by his mother’s recent cataracts opera-

tion and his inability to see her on a regular basis, Amaral went to confession before Mass that day and expressed remorse for having a hard time accepting God’s will for him. He felt his disability was making it difficult for him to be a good husband, father and son to his family.

“My mother used to come to my house everyday and I had a scooter and I used to go see my parents,” he said. “Well, my scooter wasn’t working and she couldn’t drive, so I was home alone during the day from 7:30 in the morning until about 3:30 in the afternoon, five days a week. That’s when the depression started in a sense, because I knew my mom and dad needed me.”

Amaral had also coincidentally been reading the Gospel passage Mark 2:1-12 that day about the incident where Jesus cured a paralytic man first by absolving him of his sins, then by curing his physical paralysis.

“That afternoon I went to confession so that Jesus could heal me of my sins,” he said.

“Something happened during that confession that I cannot explain, but I felt different.”

Later Amaral heard during Mass that his parish would be sponsoring a trip to New York to see Pope Benedict XVI. He secretly wished and prayed that he would be able to join his fellow parishioners on the pilgrimage.

After Mass, his wife Ann Marie immediately asked him if he’d like to go on the trip and they made the necessary arrangements with Father Landry.

Filled with anticipation for the papal trip, Amaral settled at home that night in front of a statue of St. Anthony; a pamphlet for the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, on which he regularly meditated; and a photo of the late Pope John Paul II, to whom he often prayed for intercession in his life.

“My wife and son had gone out to see a movie, and I remember the Bruins weren’t playing that night,” Amaral said. “So I turned the TV on to EWTN and they were playing the movie ‘Witness to Hope,’ about John Paul II. I always believed what Pope John Paul said about divine providence and I can remember him saying: ‘Be not afraid. Don’t be afraid of what you need to do.’ That hit home with me.”

Turn to page 15

March 26, 2010

Hero chaplain’s story spreads

H

a lot of hope’ for Chase, and that e was described by a he would likely die either in the retired auxiliary bishop necessary surgery to remove the of the Archdiocese of the Military U.S.A. as a “Saint to help so many damaged piece of skull or from an people try to survive in that Korean infection after the surgery.”

Shortly after the accident, prisoner of war camp.” Those were Kear’s family began praying for the words spoken to The Anchor Father Kapaun’s intercession, and

by Bishop Francis X. Roque, now asked others to do likewise. CNA living in the Diocese of Provireported that “Friends and family dence, R.I. He was speaking of Father Emil of the Kears joined in praying to Father Kapaun.” Kear’s mother J. Kapaun, who was captured by Paula handed out and North Korean soldiers emailed the intercession on Nov. 2, 1950, along prayer to friends and with scores of other men family. “Everyone was from the 3rd Battalion, praying,” said Paula.

8th Regiment, 1st CalAccording to CNA vary Division. reports, “Chase survived According to survithe surgery and walked vors of POW Camp No. out of the hospital only 5 in Pytotktong, North a few weeks after the Korea, Father Kapaun, Father Emil J. accident that had broken “crisscrossed a perilous Kapaun his skull. ‘It was shortly battlefield for nearly 24 after we got to the rehab hours, aiding wounded hospital and I just saw those people American soldiers before his that work there just amazed,’ Paula capture.” told The Wichita Eagle. The docSurvivors also relayed stories of how Father Kapaun consistently tors were unable to explain the recovery, Chase’s parents reported.” displayed extraordinary works of The case is currently under mercy and compassion. Fellow captive, retired Col. Filmore A. McAbee, a Cape Cod resident, now deceased, once told The Anchor of “episodes of being

By Dave Jolivet tortured, starved and neglected” by the North Koinvestigation by the Congregation rean soldiers. “Yet Father Kapaun, for the Causes of Saints in Rome. while in a weakened state himself, The ABC news show “20/20” tended to his fellow soldiers. The POWs needed encouragement and that will air Good Friday night at 10 p.m. will feature reports of Father Kapaun provided it. several purported miracles. One of “The Chinese soldiers were those reports includes the Father afraid of him because he was a Kapaun intercession. man of the cloth, and because all In a telephone interview with the men had tremendous respect “20/20” a producer, Richard Gerfor him. They didn’t want to kill dau told The Anchor, “The Kears him, but they did nothing for him Family was so gracious, genuine when he fell ill. Father Kapaun could have survived with medicine and kind when they flew to New York to interview with us. Chase’s and care, but his captors didn’t story is truly amazing, yet he’s provide it.” completely genuine and unpretenBased on this and other testitious and unsmug for an individual monies from fellow prisoners, the sainthood cause for Father Kapaun his age, and with the trauma he experienced.” was opened in 2008.

Gerdau said he had never Servant of God Father Kapaun before heard of Father Kapaun, but was also recommended for the “came away from the encounter Congressional Medal of Honor by with the Kears Family and learning the U.S. Army Decorations Board more about the man with a sense in 2009. that there was something special Also in 2009, word came out about him. In the pictures I’ve of Father Kapaun’s home state of Kansas about the miraculous heal- seen of him, he has a saintly aura about him. I also came away with ing of a 20-year-old man through a greater knowledge and appreciathe intercessory prayers to the tion of the incredible scrutiny the beloved chaplain. purported miracles go through In a story that ran in The Anchor in July 2009, a Catholic News when the Vatican investigates them.”

Agency story told of a 20-yearGerdau also said that the old man, Chase Kear, who was critically injured in a pole-vaulting “20/20” staff flew to Kansas to interview one of Kear’s physicians accident, and suffered a fracand Father John Hotze, a priest tured skull, “from ear to ear,” and of the Diocese of Wichita who is bleeding on his brain. The story continues, “The Kears were told by vice postulator of Father Kapaun’s sainthood cause. the doctors that they ‘didn’t have

My View From the Stands

O

13

The Anchor

March 26, 2010

Pope Benedict’s record

n Saturday, March 20, taken in their regard.

Pope Benedict XVI I realize that, particularly released his long-awaited Let- now that Tim Burton’s 3-D ter to the Catholics of Ireland version of “Alice in Wonderin response to the scandal of land” is in movie theaters, we Church members there, parmight be tempted to respond ticularly priests and religious, like the Red Queen, “Off sexually abusing children and with their heads!,” or, as she vulnerable young people. This also said, “Sentence first — is something we know about verdict afterwards.” But that here in Massachusetts, as wouldn’t be fair. we were Ground Zero in the I think it instructive to conclerical sexual abuse scansider our Lord’s treatment of dal that shook the Catholic the woman caught in adultery, Church in this country beginwhich we read at Mass last ning in 2002.

Sunday (John 8:1-11). There, Recently, the crisis has our Lord says, “Let him who spread to Australia and Ireis without sin be the first to land, and more recently to cast a stone … Neither do I Germany, Pope Benedict’s condemn you. Go and sin no homeland, as well as Austria, more.” Our Lord practices Switzerland and Holland. It seems clear that this is a worldwide problem that needs to be addressed.

There are now allegations that while

By Dwight Duncan archbishop of Munich from 1977 to 1982, Cardinal Ratzinger himself let an abusive priest what he preaches: “Judge not, live in a rectory, though his that you not be judged.” The vicar general has assumed re- emphasis is on the future, sponsibility for the decision. more than on the past.

Let the facts come out: Of course, some people Pope Benedict has stood have the obligation of judgfor transparency, penance, ing, because they are judges. and accountability in the Bishops and popes have Church, themes picked up judicial power, and have the by his recent Pastoral Letter. responsibility to see justice He reversed his own posidone. In that regard, one of tion (and that of venerable the things that the pope laPope John Paul II) in not ments in his Irish letter is hesitating to discipline Father that in the wake of Vatican II, Marcial Maciel in 2006, the “there was a well-intentioned founder of the Legionaries of but misguided tendency to Christ and an influential and avoid penal approaches to cawell-connected figure in the nonically irregular situations.”

Church, when allegations of Or, as he wrote in commentsexual relations with minors ing on Jesus’ unjust condemwere substantiated. He did the nation in his 2005 Via Crucis, same with Father Gino Bur“How often are the symbols resi, a famous Italian priest of power, borne by the great reputed to have the stigmata, ones of this world, an afin 2005. The wheels of justice front to truth, to justice and may grind slow, but they to the diggrind exceedingly fine. nity of man!

Of course, some people How many think that more heads should times are roll, particularly those of their pomps bishops who covered up or and their enabled this abuse by their lofty words malfeasance. But Benedict nothing but has accepted the resignations grandiose of bishops in Ireland and lies, a parody ordered Apostolic Visitations of their sol(ecclesiastical investigations) emn obligaof certain dioceses in Ireland, tion to serve as well as seminaries and the common religious orders. He is curgood!” “How rently reviewing the results of much filth the Apostolic Visitation to the there is in the Legionaries of Christ to see Church, and what further steps should be even among

Judge For Yourself

those who, in the priesthood, ought to belong entirely to him!”

Here’s his penetrating analysis of the causes of the crisis: “Certainly, among the contributing factors we can include: inadequate procedures for determining the suitability of candidates for the priesthood and the religious life; insufficient human, moral, intellectual and spiritual formation in seminaries and novitiates; a tendency in society to favor the clergy and other authority figures; and a misplaced concern for the reputation of the Church and the avoidance of scandal, resulting in failure to apply existing canonical penalties and to safeguard the dignity of every person.”

It seems that we should wait for the facts before casually assessing blame within the hierarchy. Pope Benedict, whatever his past failings (which I suspect are exaggerated), is currently leading by example, as well as by teaching. Bishops are human, and if we expect perfection in all their acts we won’t have a Church or sacraments. St. Augustine fought against the Donatists of his day on this very point. The worthiness of the minister is not a prerequisite of the effectiveness of the sacraments.

Even as to the flawed religious leaders of his day, Jesus said, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.

Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do” (Mt. 23:2).

Dwight Duncan is a professor at Southern New England School of Law in North Dartmouth. He holds degrees in civil and canon law.

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The Anchor

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Palm Sunday, March 28 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Msgr. Stephen J. Avila, pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in Mansfield

March 26, 2010

March 26, 2010

15

The Anchor

Cured New Bedford man to appear on ABC’s ‘20/20’

Priests to renew vows at Chrism Mass

continued from page 12

continued from page 11

Amaral felt a pervasive sense of peace over the next few days.

Then on the following Wednesday at just about 3 p.m. — the hour of mercy — as he was beginning to pray his daily Divine Mercy Chaplet, he once again looked over at the photo of Pope John Paul II and felt the irresistible urge to stand up and walk.

“I just got up,” he said. “I didn’t hear any voices or anything — I just got up and started walking. The more I kept walking, the more this exuberance came over me. There were a couple of times before where I could walk for a short period and then it would go away. But I knew this time it was different.

Those times before my legs were shaking, and I didn’t feel that this time. The more I walked, the stronger I felt.”

Amaral’s wife, Ann Marie, said she was initially stunned and then thrilled when she first learned about his miraculous cure, although she remained concerned about a potential relapse.

“I had seen him stand and walk before, but it never lasted long,” she said. “He would walk a little bit and then five minutes later he’d be disappointed. So I was wondering if this was another situation where he’d be back in his wheelchair. Of course I was happy, but I was also worried for him and didn’t want him to be disappointed again.”

But Amaral was never concerned about his cure being either temporary or permanent — either way, it was God’s will.

“I wasn’t afraid, because I think I had finally accepted it,” Amaral said. “Even right now, if something were to happen and I couldn’t walk again, I’d say ‘OK, that’s how it is.’ I accept whatever God gives me.”

After telling other family members and friends about his miraculous cure, Amaral walked into church on February 2 to share his good news with his pastor, Father Landry, who immediately asked him to write about his experience.

“As I was taking off my vestments after Mass, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw Jose walk erect into the sacristy and stand before me with a smile broader than the Braga Bridge,” Father Landry said. “He told me the story of how the Lord — through, he believes, the intercession of Pope John Paul II — healed him. I then asked him to write the story up so that I could share it with his fellow parishioners as well as send it to the postulator of Pope John Paul’s cause in Rome.”

Two weeks later, Amaral walked into his doctor’s office

and left him speechless for five minutes. After examining his patient, the doctor was baffled, noting although he still exhibited symptoms of his disease — numbness in his legs, pain in his neck — he could offer no medical explanation as to why Amaral was able to walk.

Amaral’s miraculous recovery and, more specifically, the prayerful intercession of Pope John Paul II also caught the attention of the ABC News show “20/20,” which is devoting a segment of its upcoming April 2 Good Friday special “Becoming a Saint” to telling his story.

The hour-long special, hosted

by Elizabeth Vargas, will also focus on the recent canonization of St. Damien of Molokai and delve into the eventual canonization of Servant of God Father Emil J. Kapaun.

According to Richard Gerdau, segment producer for “20/20,” they first heard about Jose Amaral’s miraculous recovery through a newspaper article and felt it was a compelling story that needed to be told.

“We saw some polling data that suggested about 80 percent of Americans believe in miracles,” Gerdau said. “The whole show is centered around ordinary Americans of diverse backgrounds who have all experienced miracles.”

“My understanding is there’s 250 miracles now being considered in Pope John Paul II’s cause for canonization,” Amaral said.

“No one has contacted me from the Vatican and I think they’re looking at many different cases.

Are they going to use me as one

of the examples to make John Paul II a saint? I don’t know.

But I know I’m one of 250 being considered.”

While he believes the intercession of Pope John Paul II was the catalyst for his miraculous healing, Amaral also stresses that it was through his healing in the confessional that his physical cure was made possible.

“To me, this was more of an inner miracle,” he said. “You first cleanse yourself inside and it goes back to the confessional.

I never prayed for the strength to walk so I could have a good job. I always strived to increase my faith, hope and charity so I could become a better husband, son, and neighbor — in essence, a better Catholic.”

Now more than two years after experiencing the inexplicable, Amaral admits he often feels more pain than he did before, but it’s all worth it because he’s now able to walk and do so much more. He’s an active member of the parish Knights of Columbus council, he volunteers for the weekly food pantry and soup kitchen effort at St. Anthony’s, and he’s also involved with the Men of the Sacred Heart and the Legion of Mary.

“I help out wherever God leads me,” he said. “I believe going to confession was a key to my spiritual healing which then led to my physical healing. I believe God’s message to all of us is this: pick up your cross and accept God’s will for your life — whatever that may be — and only then will you experience the peace that surpasses any understanding.”

feel it is an important moment in our priesthood, to show the unity among our priests, a unity with our bishop and a unity in the Church for all to see,” he added.

The renewal of the commitment made at priestly ordination, Father Lacroix said, “reminds each of us priests of the promises we made that day to serve God, his Church and his people,” he said.

“In this Year For Priests, I am especially reminded of my ordination by Bishop Daniel A. Cronin in 1988, while other priests at our parish — Father David C. Frederici, will recall being ordained by Bishop Sean P. O’Malley, and Father Peter J. Fournier by Bishop George W. Coleman.”

Father Timothy P. Driscoll, pastor of Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Taunton, said the importance of the great unity of the Church and its members is brought home to every parish because each parish receives four invitations for parishioners to attend the Mass and its moving prayers and ceremonies.

“We have no trouble finding people interested in attending and hearing the renewal of promises by their parish priest and all priests,” he reported.

Traditionally, the attending parish priest collects the holy oils earmarked for his parish following the Mass.

As part of the consecration of the Chrism, balsam is poured into the oil, which gives it a sweet smell intended to remind those who encounter it of the “odor of sanctity” to which those priests and people and things marked with it, and by extension all of us, are called to strive for.

In the early Church, Maundy Thursday became the focus of many final daytime preparations before the sundown beginning of the Triduum that led over three days to Easter. During that evening the holy oils were blessed in time for use at baptisms at the Easter Vigil Mass.

Because most priests are involved with the ongoing preparations and ceremonies of holy week, many dioceses currently bless the holy oils and take the renewal of priestly vows earlier in the week.

The liturgy finds the bishop asking his priests several questions, all to which the priests answer, “I will, with God’s help.”

The presiding bishop then prays and imposes a blessing to which the priests respond “May God bless you and support you in your sacred office.”

16

Youth Pages

March 26, 2010

Diocesan youth exalt life in annual essay contest NORTH DARTMOUTH — Four diocesan youth were acknowledged at yesterday’s annual Pro-Life Mass at St. Julie Billiart Church for winning the 2010 Pro-Life Apostolate essay contest. Erin Cournoyer and Ryan Post, a student at Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro, placed first and second respectively in the High School Division, and Gabriel Sylvia and Aubrey Daugherty-Costa, an eighth-grader at Taunton Catholic Middle School and a parishioner of Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Taunton, were first and second in the Junior Division. Each of the students read their essays during the Mass celebrated by Bishop George W. Coleman. The first-place essays appear on this page.

“I would like to first thank and acknowledge all the students and their teachers who par-

ticipated in this year’s contest ‘Be Not Afraid,’” said Marian Desrosiers diocesan Pro-Life Apostolate director. “The response was gratifying and uplifting. Participants were asked to reflect on the value of every human life regardless of ability, stature, promise, physical challenges, etc. Our hope was for them to discover the intrinsic value of each human person in just their ‘being.’ They did an outstanding job conveying a deep and personal understanding of this message. Too often in today’s culture, a person’s value is judged by their usefulness to society and the truth that all human life is sacred from conception to natural death is obscured or even denied. This year’s winners inspired, reassured, and impressed upon us that this truth will be kept alive and taught for generations to come. We need not ‘Be Afraid.’”

Diocesan Pro-Life Apostolate Essay Contest 2010 First Place — High School Division

Diocesan Pro-Life Apostolate Essay Contest 2010 First Place — Junior Division (Grades 6, 7, and 8)

By Erin Cournoyer, Bishop Stang High School, Grade 12 St. Francis Xavier Parish, Acushnet

By Gabriel Sylvia, St. Joseph School, Fairhaven, Grade 8 St. Joseph’s Parish, Fairhaven

Best-selling author, Agatha Christie, once said “I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.” From legalized abortion in Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton, to the battle over assisted suicide in Gonzales v. Oregon, 546 U.S. 243 (2006), our country has continuously chosen to ignore the most sacred and innate dignity of life. In order to teach and give witness that the disabled, chronically ill, and the unborn have worthwhile contributions to make to our families, to our communities, and to the greater good of our society, we, as Catholics, must stand up for all forms of life.

When I was seven, my neighbors, Brian and Dylan, and I became an inseparable trio and we did just about everything together for an entire summer. I learned a life lesson in that one, short summer that most adults never learn. Brian had been diagnosed with Down syndrome as a baby, but I never would have even known that he had a disability if my parents hadn’t told me.

Looking back on our friendship, Brian had more wisdom and zest for life than any person I have ever known. He always put a smile on everyone’s faces by simply being a joyful little kid. I can only imagine what the world would be like if everyone saw the world through the eyes of a child like Brian. Even though he is disabled, his life will always be an inspiration to many and he is greatly valued by his friends, family, and our community.

In March of 2009, my grandmother passed away after a short battle with brain cancer. During the last four months of her life, she needed a lot of help to do everyday tasks. Although her illness was a tremendous burden on my family, it made us all recognize how truly extraordinary her life was. When she finally ended up in a nursing home, we saw how other families deeply cherished their elderly family members as well. Regardless of her poor quality of life, my grandmother never deserved anything less than the love and comfort of her family. Her life and death inspired me to be the best I can be because she would never have expected any less from me. Quality or quantity of life should never determine the worth of a human being.

God loves all of us the same and we were all made equal in his eyes, in spite of our physical conditions.

At the Pro-Life March in Washington, D.C., my classmates and I had the privilege of standing up for those who never got the chance to stand up for themselves. It is sad that people of all ages have to fight for the lives of our unborn brothers and sisters. Seeing over 300,000 people marching to show the world how much they value the dignity of every human life was an inspirational sight. According to the Catholic Catechism, “Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person — among which are the inviolable right of every innocent being to life” (2270). As Catholics, we are called by God to defend the defenseless and to protect the lives of all future members of our society.

Disability, illness, or being unborn does not make a person any less valuable. All people can make a difference and they deserve nothing less than to be respected and honored in every way possible. Jesus came to be a servant to all people, not just the people who could live an “easy” life. Christ calls all of us to show the world how to love others as he loved us. Thus the words of Christ cannot be summed up better than in a quote by Henry James, “Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact.”

Every single day a child is born into the world. This child is a very special gift from God. As every child is born, it brings the light of Jesus into the world.

As Christians we should honor that life and look past its physical or mental disabilities because that child needs to be loved even more by his or her parents.

This should help us appreciate the value of life but too often it doesn’t. Women still have abortions because they can’t deal with the baby’s disabilities. People these days value wealth, health, and ability. Those values bring us away from the true meaning and value of life. As Christians we know that life is precious because Jesus taught us to love and care for one another.

We should protect the ones who don’t have voice in our world such as the unborn child or the terminally ill person. The unborn child should be protected because it’s a gift from God. That child comes from heaven with God’s plan to love and be loved. Pope Benedict XVI said that “every child brings us God’s smile.”

This is true. When a newborn is brought into this world, it brings joy and love to everyone around him or her. Women have abortions because they are afraid, but Jesus says that we should not be afraid. Jesus says this because it is his plan for that mother to have her child even though things may seem frightening to her, Jesus is there to comfort her. Even if a mother has an abortion we should not shun her but help her understand what she has done and forgive her for her mistake.

We should protect a terminally ill person because that person is suffering for a reason. This was a part of God’s plan for that person. Who are we to make a lifeor death decision about something God should have complete power over? What we can do is comfort that person until God decides that life should end. When we read the Gospels, it says that people who are vulnerable are the ones who benefit from Jesus the most. That person is suffering for other people just as Jesus suffered for us on the cross.

A personal experience that I had shows me that we should protect an unborn child, because I’m a child who was adopted. My mother could have gotten an abortion because I come from a country that is very poor and she already had a child.

Having a second child would have been very hard for her to handle. Instead of having an abortion she let me be adopted by a very loving family who loves me very much. I’m very thankful that I have them in my life. This was God’s plan for me because I was able to bring love to another family through being adopted.

My mother chose that I should live and be loved by another family just as much as she loves me.

All life that is brought into this world is precious and should be honored and loved, even the unborn child in its mother’s womb who will have disabilities and be a very ill person. God has a plan for every life no matter how unimportant we might think it is. God has taught us that we should love and protect everyone, born and unborn, sick and healthy, rich or poor, because life is beautiful.

book worms — The Pre-K and second-grade students at Holy Trinity Regional School in West Harwich team up together as weekly book buddies. The older students enjoy working with the younger students. They like to read stories about Jesus.

WALL OF HONOR — In literature class at St. Joseph School in Fairhaven, gradeeight students read a play based on “The Diary of Anne Frank” and learned about the woman who gave Anne and her family a hiding place from the Nazis. For a religion assignment, each of these students researched someone on that list and created a poster telling that person’s story of love and courage. Here, four of those eighth-graders pose in front of the wall that displays their posters.

March 26, 2010

T

hroughout Lent members of Catholic households remind each other, “don’t forget it’s Friday.”

Everyone knows what that means: no meat.

The season of Lent is coming to an end but abstaining from meat on Fridays should remain a constant in our lives.

Every Friday has special significance as a day of penance for Catholics whether it is Lent or not. Or, at least is should. Somewhere along the line, in the sweeping changes that came about after Vatican II, this concept was lost on the average Catholic. We heard that we no longer had to abstain from meat on Fridays outside of Lent, but we didn’t hear the rest of the teaching.

We don’t have to abstain from meat because now we could choose to perform some other form of penance instead. So, if we choose to eat meat on Fridays, we should be doing something in its place. The practice was never eliminated.

Most Catholics are not aware of this and unfortunately,

17

Youth Pages Don’t forget it’s Friday a matter of why wouldn’t you most priests don’t teach it.

But, now that you’ve read this want to put your faith into action this way? far, ignorance is no longer an excuse. So, let’s think about it.

First of all, why should Fridays be different? Well, the most obvious answer is that Jesus died on a Friday.

By Jean Revil Just like every Sunday is a “little Easter” celebrating the resurrecOur whole life should be tion, every Friday should be a about loving God with all of reminder of that Good Friday when Christ paid the price for our heart, soul, and strength, and loving our neighbor as our sins. We don’t ever want ourselves. That’s why we to take the resurrection for granted. Our entire faith rests do penance on Fridays and on that event. In order to give we rejoice on Sundays. It’s Sunday its proper celebration, all about love: the love God we need to prepare ourselves, pours out on us, and the love and doing penance on Fridays we offer to God. Certainly, all of us are helps us to do that. sinners. Recognizing this, we What if we don’t abstain should always try to make from meat on Fridays or do things right and offer atonesome other form of penance?

Is that a sin? Honestly, I don’t ment for our part of the price Christ paid. Perhaps we might know how to answer that. We choose another type of food are asked, as members of this to abstain from, or perhaps Catholic Church, to give Friwe will perform some spedays a special focus. It’s not cific act of charity as a form a matter of sinning, it’s more

Be Not Afraid

of penance on Fridays. The corporal and spiritual works of mercy provide us with a great blueprint to follow and there are food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, nursing homes, and lonely people in all of our cities, towns, and neighborhoods.

Our penance may be a specific type of prayer for Fridays, or some

form of self-denial whether it be from the computer or the television or the iPod. It can be the same sacrifice each Friday or a different penitential act each week or each month. Whatever works for you. Just don’t forget it’s Friday.

Jean Revil teaches theology and is campus minister at Bishop Stang High School.

Comments welcome at: jrevil@bishopStang.com.

18

The Anchor

Trio celebrates 50 years as priests continued from page one

Warwick, R.I., and did theological studies for the priesthood at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Md. He carried a childhood interest in astronomy and building his own telescopes into his adult life. A member of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, he’s traveled widely and has spoken at many astronomical conventions and attended spacecraft launchings.

He is the author of two books, “Astrology, Fact or Fiction?” printed in 1973, and “Many Worlds, One God,” a 1977 publication.

“It’s not so easy to be so involved in astronomy with such things as arthritis and other things that hinder me,” Father Delano, who lives in Taunton, reported.

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“But I say Mass some weekdays and weekends at Annunciation of the Lord Parish here in Taunton, and also celebrate Masses a couple of days a week for the Sisters of St. Dorothy, so I continue to stay active as a priest,” he added.

As for celebrating his 50th anniversary of ordination, “it will be a relatively quiet one, and I’ll spend it with family. Nothing formal is planned. My sister, Mrs. Dorothy Cote — also of Taunton — and nieces and nephews will be joining me in whatever I do.”

Father Ferreira, 80, who retired in 2001 after 10 years as pastor of St. Anthony’s in Taunton, is a native of Provincetown — and that is where The Anchor located him last week as he filled in for pastor Father Henry Dahl at St. Peter’s

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Parish.

“I’m not sitting down and waiting until death arrives,” he said in a telephone interview.

“I’m here in P-Town for the week and on the weekend I’ll be helping out at St. John of God in Somerset. I also regularly lend a hand at Espirito Santo Parish in Fall River … and go whenever and wherever I’m called,” he added.

Asked if his hometown has changed since he was a youngster, he answered slowly, “Oh yes …

Oh yes. But I still am enjoying the visit and working in this parish.”

Father Ferreira will celebrate his 50th jubilee as a priest on May 16 at St. Anthony’s in Taunton, his final pastorate.

“Father Henry Arruda, who succeeded me as pastor, will be in charge of the music for the Mass at which I will be the principal celebrant. I understand there will be a reception, but that’s in the hands of Msgr. Stephen J. Avila, pastor of St. Mary’s in Mansfield, and I don’t know much about it.”

After attending grammar and high school in the community at the tip of Cape Cod, Father Ferreira served in the U.S. Navy from 1948 to 1951 aboard the carrier USS Midway. He studied for the priesthood at St. Mary’s Seminary in Kentucky and St. Mary’s Seminary in Maryland.

Following ordination he was a parochial vicar at St. Elizabeth’s in Fall River and Our Lady of Mount Carmel in New Bedford before being named administrator of St. John the Baptist in New Bedford in 1969 and its pastor in 1971. In 1979 he was appointed pastor of Immaculate Conception in New Bedford, serving until 1991 when he became the pastor

March 26, 2010 in Taunton.

On the diocesan level he was a notary for the marriage Tribunal and served as an advocate.

He was also a member of the Diocesan Board of Education; was dean of the New Bedford Deanery, and was a former chaplain to the American Legion, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and the Prince Henry Society.

He lives at the Cardinal Medeiros Residence in Fall River.

Father LeDuc, who retired in 2003 as pastor of St. Louis de France Parish in Swansea, where he had served since 1996, is currently in residence at St. Malachy’s Parish in Techachapi, Calif.

“Father Joel Davadilla, the pastor here, is an old friend and when he came this way on assignment after I retired, he invited me to come with him, and here I am,” Father LeDuc said in a telephone interview with The Anchor.

“I help out here at the parish, and enjoy it very much,” the 74-year old priest said. “We are situated in the mountains and the temperature today is about 60 degrees, and while we get some winter weather, it is nowhere as bad as you have it back in the east,” he explained.

“I’ll celebrate my 50th anniversary as a priest on April 25 by concelebrating the 10 a.m. Mass herewith several priests, and I’ll also be the homilist,” he reported. “There will be a reception afterwards.”

He said he was looking forward to seeing a sister, Mrs. Jeanette Poyant of New Hampshire, her husband and two boys, who will be joining in the celebrations.

“My brother Normand, and his wife Cecile, will also be arriving from Brockton, as well. As far as

I know there are no others who will be coming from the Fall River Diocese.”

A native of New Bedford, who grew up in St. Joseph’s Parish there, he graduated from Collège de L’Assomption in Canada, and later studied for the priesthood at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Md. He would serve as a parochial vicar at Sacred Heart in North Attleboro and his native St. Joseph’s in New Bedford, later becoming pastor at Sacred Heart in North Attleboro, St. George’s in Westport, and St. Louis de France.

Other assignments include being area director of Catholic Charities, moderator and chaplain to the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, Club Richelieu, L’Union St. Jean Baptiste and Catholic Scouting, and was active on the Diocese’s School Task Force, Liturgy Committee and Music Commission.

He said he will be mindful of colleagues Father Ferreira and Father Delano, as they too mark their own jubilees.

“I put together a website, FatherRogerLeDuc.com, that is something of a history that anyone can visit … and I told Father Davadilla it probably will be a good source for my obituary,” he said laughing.

“I’m happy to see The Anchor extending its work on the Internet,” he commented. “I get the newspaper sometimes up to three weeks after publication because of the long distance and mail classification. Sometimes I get three together on the same day. So, it is truly a great pleasure to get online and see the news before it reaches me.”

Raymond A. Guy; father of Deacon Michael P. Guy NEW BEDFORD — Raymond Arthur Guy, 77, of New Bedford, father of Permanent Deacon Michael P. Guy of New Hampshire, died March 9 in St. Luke’s Hospital.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., the son of the late Joseph A., and the late Blanche (Rousseau) Guy, he lived most of his life in New Bedford.

Prior to retirement he was a mail clerk at UMass-Dartmouth for 24 years, and prior to that was employed at Acushnet Process Company and also as cook. In retirement he was a volunteer at St. Luke’s for eight years.

He was a graduate of St. Anthony High School and served in the U.S. Marines during the Korean War. Besides his deacon son and his wife, he leaves two daughters, Nannette Robidoux of Maryland and Suzanne Ger-

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks March 29 Rev. James H. Carr, S.T.L., Assistant, St. Patrick, Fall River, 1923 Rev. Msgr. Edward J. Moriarty, Pastor, St. Patrick, Fall River, 1951 March 30 Rev. Aime Barre, On Sick Leave, Fall River, 1963 Rev. Benoit R. Galland, USN Retired Chaplain, 1985 Rev. Lucio B. Phillipino, Retired Pastor, Immaculate Conception, North Easton, 2002 March 31 Rt. Rev. Msgr. George C. Maxwell, Pastor, SS. Peter & Paul, Fall River, 1953 April 1 Rev. George A. Lewin, Pastor, St. Mary, Hebronville, 1958 Rev. Edwin J. Loew, Pastor, St. Joseph, Woods Hole, 1974 April 2 Rev. Adolph Banach, OFM Conv., Pastor, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, New Bedford, 1961 Rev. Donald Belanger, Pastor, St. Stephen, Attleboro, 1976 Rev. James B. Coyle, Retired Pastor, St. Dorothea, Eatontown, N.J., 1993 April 3 Rev. Henry F. Kinnerny, Former Pastor, St. Peter, Sandwich, 1905 Rev. Roger G. Blain, OP, 2000 April 4 Rev. Lionel Gamache, S.M.M., 1972 Rev. James F. McCarthy, Retired Pastor, Sacred Heart, Fall River, 1985 Rev. Gaspar L. Parente, Retired Pastor, St. Theresa, Patagonia, Az., 1991

19

The Anchor

March 26, 2010

rior of Lakeville; three brothers, Raoul Guy of Las Vegas, Nev., and Albert and Paul Guy of New Bedford; six grandchildren; Raymond A. Guy nine great-

grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

His funeral Mass was celebrated March 12 in St. Anthony’s Church in New Bedford.

Burial, with military honors was in the Massachusetts Veterans National Cemetery in Bourne.

The Rock Funeral Home in New Bedford was in charge of arrangements.

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.

The Rev. Johnson to preach at Tenebrae in cathedral FALL RIVER — The Rev. Jack Johnson, executive director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches since 2006, will give a reflection at the March 31 Tenebrae Service at 7:30 p.m. in St. Mary’s Cathedral, at which Bishop George W. Coleman will preside.

The Council includes representatives from the four Roman Catholic Dioceses in Massachusetts. Father Mark H. Bergeron, pastor of St. Anne’s Church, is a representative from the Fall River Diocese.

Rev. Johnson, an ordained United Methodist clergyman, who has served in church, civic and governmental settings throughout his 38-year-career, has been notably active for more than 25 years addressing gun violence, and is founder of Ceasefire, New Jersey, and was instrumental in establishing the nation’s first child-proof gun law.

In Boston, he has worked on educational projects with the Boston Theological Institute and the Harvard Kennedy School.

Around the Diocese 3/27

There will be a free showing of “The Passion of the Christ” by Mel Gibson on the large screen with surround sound March 27 at 7 p.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in New Bedford. This is a great preparation for Holy Week.

All are welcome.

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

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.

The Lazarus Ministry of Our Lady of the Cape Parish, Brewster, is offering a sixweek bereavement program called “Come Walk With Me” on Fridays beginning April 9 and running through May 14. Each session begins at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m. The program will be held in the parish center on Stony Brook Road, Brewster. The program is open to all faiths, but pre-registration is required. Call 508-385-3252 or 508-8964218 to register or for more information.

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.

4/11

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.

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.

The Falmouth Knights of Columbus, Council No. 813, will present the icon of Divine Mercy at St. Patrick’s Parish, Main Street, Falmouth, on April 11 at 3 p.m. A description of one of the newest saints, St. Faustina, will follow and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be led. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament will complete the service and all are welcome to attend. For more information call 508-540-1808.

4/11

On April 11, Divine Mercy Sunday, the picture of the Divine Mercy will be blessed at 2 p.m. at St. Anthony’s Church, 126 School Street, Taunton, followed by the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy and concluding with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. All are welcome. We also encourage the novena that starts on Good Friday, April 2.

4/11

A Divine Mercy celebration will take place at St. Mary’s Parish, 330 Pratt Street, Mansfield on April 11 from 3-4 p.m., with Mass following at 5 p.m.

The Novena to Divine Mercy will begin on Good Friday, April 2, after the Stations of the Cross and will continue each day at 3 p.m. (except on April 3-4).

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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.

Holy Trinity Parish, Route 28, West Harwich, will host a Divine Mercy celebration April 11 beginning at 2:45 p.m. The Novena of Divine Mercy begins on Good Friday, April 2, and should be said individually through Easter Sunday to give precedence to the Triduum in all parishes. Beginning Easter Monday, the Divine Mercy Holy Hour will be sung at 7 p.m. each night through Easter Saturday. For more information, call 508-430-0014.

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.

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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.

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.

A Mass of the Anointing of the Sick will be held April 11 at 2 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Parish, Wareham. All parishioners who feel they would benefit from receiving the sacrament or those who would like to join in and pray for the sick are invited to attend. For more information call Sister Catherine at 508-295-0799.

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The Anchor

Paschal Triduum Services

Holy Thursday: 7 pm - Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Good Friday: 11 am - Children’s Stations of the Cross Noon - Ecumenical Stations of the Cross,

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church 12:10 pm - Stations of the Cross 7 pm - Celebration of the Lord’s Passion

Holy Saturday: 11 am-Noon - Confessions 7 pm - Solemn Vigil of Easter

Easter Sunday: Masses at 6, 7, 8:30, 10:30 am and Noon

March 26, 2010