Anchor 11.05.10

Diocese of Fall River

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F riday , November 5, 2010

Same-sex marriage no solution to teen suicides

By Christine M. Williams Anchor Correspondent

BOSTON — Recent high-profile suicides of young homosexuals have some same-sex marriage advocates saying that gay marriage needs to be legal in order to eliminate a stigma against gay relationships that they claim are leading gay teens to take their lives. Traditional marriage supporters say the factors that contribute to higher rates of suicide among homosexuals are far more complex and evidence suggests that those rates remain high even in places where same-sex marriages are performed.

Maggie Gallagher, the National Organization for Marriage’s chairman of the board, said that protecting marriage and helping young people at risk for suicide are not at odds with one another.

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control show teens that identify as homosexual are more likely than their peers to display risky behavior like drug use. They are also more likely to have been the victims of sexual abuse as children and to suffer from mental health problems like depression.

“We know all these things are reTurn to page 18

surrounded by prayer — Students from St. Francis Xavier Preparatory School in Hyannis (in yellow) and St. James-St. John School in New Bedford, form a portion of the rosary at the recent ProLife walk and rosary rally at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth. (Photo by Rebecca Aubut)

Pro-Life walk and rosary rally: No dampening of faith

By Rebecca Aubut Anchor Staff

NORTH DARTMOUTH — “Welcome to Stang,” called out the Bishop Stang students to the arriving seventh- and eighth-grade pupils from area Catholic schools, as everyone

gathered together for this year’s Pro-Life walk and rosary rally last Wednesday. Due to a rainy forecast, the plan of walking from St. James-St. John School of New Bedford to Bishop Stang of North Dartmouth was scrapped, and students were bused in and ushered

into the auditorium.

More than 250 students and faculty participated in the morning-long event that opened with a Mass celebrated by Father John Phalen, president of the Holy Cross Ministries, who based his Turn to page 13

LOUD AND CLEAR — Ron Larose, one of the organizers of the local 40 Days for Life effort, speaks to a gathering at the closing ceremony of the fall campaign outside Four Women, Inc. in Attleboro last weekend. This is the fifth consecutive campaign held at the lone abortion clinic still operating within the Fall River Diocese and it continues to draw a steady stream of faithful praying to support life. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)

40 Days for Life campaign closing draws youth, faithful B y K enneth J. S ouza A nchor S taff

ATTLEBORO — It was a busy day as the fifth consecutive 40 Days for Life in the diocese ended its latest fall campaign across the street from Four Women, Inc. in Attleboro

last weekend.

Co-organizer Steve Marcotte was very pleased with the turnout throughout the fall campaign and praised all the faithful who spent time praying outside the only abortion Turn to page 18

BY THE BOOK — Msgr. James P. Moroney conducted a day-long workshop for diocesan priests and deacons last week to introduce them to the changes in the English translation of the Roman Missal approved by the Holy See and slated to take effect at the beginning of Advent 2011. Msgr.

Moroney explained how the changes are intended more closely to align with the Latin original and to reflect a more poetic rhetoric in its language. (Photo by Kenneth J. Souza)

Priests, deacons introduced to revised Roman Missal

By Kenneth J. Souza Anchor Staff

WESTPORT — More than 190 priests and deacons from across the Fall River Diocese attended an introductory workshop last week at White’s of Westport on the Vatican-approved third edition of the Roman Missal that will become effective with the 2011 Advent season.

The concise day-long workshop was led by Msgr.

James P. Moroney, rector of St. Paul’s Cathedral in Worcester, and former executive director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat for the Liturgy and executive secretary of the Vox Clara Committee — the group that advised the pope on this latest English translation of the Roman Missal.

“The Vox Clara Committee is probably the most misunderstood committee,” Msgr. Moroney said. “It Turn to page 14

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News From the Vatican

November 5, 2010

Pope praises women who give Christian inspiration to families

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI praised the millions of Catholic women in the world who inspire their husbands and children to live truly Christian lives.

At a recent general audience, the pope said he wanted to recognize “the many women who, day after day, enlighten their families with their witness of Christian life.”

“May the Spirit of the Lord raise up holy Christian spouses today to show the world the beauty of marriage lived according to the Gospel values: love, tenderness, mutual help, fruitfulness in generating and educating children, openness and solidarity with the world, and participation in the life of the Church,” he said.

The pope’s remarks about women in the Church and in family life were part of his main audience address about the life and influence of St. Bridget of Sweden, who lived in the 14th century.

Bridget and her husband, Ulf, were the parents of eight children and were models of “an authentic conjugal spirituality,” the pope said.

“Often, as happened in the life of St. Bridget and Ulf, it is the woman who, with her religious sensitivity, delicacy and sweetness, is able to make her husband mature in the faith journey,” he said.

After Ulf died, Bridget sold her possessions and dedicated her life to prayer and good works, which makes her a model for Christian

widows, the pope said.

St. Bridget also received divine revelations, many of which were addressed, “even in the form of harsh admonitions, to believers in her time, including religious and political authorities so that they would correctly live their Christian life,” Pope Benedict said.

But, he said, she always shared the revelations “with an attitude of respect and full fidelity to the magisterium of the Church, particularly to the successor of the Apostle Peter,” Pope Urban V, whom she urged to return to Rome at a time when the papacy was based in Avignon, France.

Pope Benedict said that St. Bridget, founder of the Brigittine Sisters, had hoped to establish a monastic order with branches for men and women.

“This should not surprise us: In the Middle Ages, there were monastic foundations with a male and female branch that followed the same monastic rule under the direction of an abbess. In fact, the great Christian tradition recognizes that women have their own dignity and — following the example of Mary, queen of the Apostles — their own place in the Church, which without involving ordained priesthood, is just as importance for the spiritual growth of the Church,” he said.

At the end of the audience, Pope Benedict offered his prayers for the people of Indonesia, suffering the effects of an earthquake, tsunami and volcanic eruption; and for the people of Benin, thousands of whom were left homeless because of flooding.

blessings from papa — Pope Benedict XVI blesses a child as he leaves the closing of a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican recently. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Pope defends ‘right to emigrate’ in annual migration message

By John Thavis Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI said the world has a responsibility to help refugees find places to live and work in safety, as part of its vocation to form “one family.”

Welcoming refugees is an “imperative gesture of human solidarity,” the pope said in a message released at the Vatican October 26.

“This means that those who are forced to leave their homes or their country will be helped to find a place where they may live in peace and safety, where they may work and take on the rights and duties that exist in the country that welcomes them,” he said.

The pope made the comments in his message for the 2011 World Day for Migrants and Refugees, which will be celebrated January 16 in most countries. He chose “One Human Family” as the theme for next year’s commemoration.

The human family is multiethnic and multicultural, the pope said, and everyone, including migrants and the local populations that welcome them, “have the same right to enjoy the goods of the earth whose destination is universal, as the social doctrine of the Church teaches.”

“It is here that solidarity and sharing are founded,” he said.

The pope underlined that the increasing movement of peoples today is often motivated by situations of conflict or discrimination.

“For these people who flee from violence or persecution, the international community has taken on precise commitments. Respect of their rights, as well as the legitimate concern for security and social coherence, foster a stable and harmonious existence,” he said.

The pope defended the “right to emigrate” as a fundamental right to leave one’s country and enter another country to look for better

conditions of life. That implies responsibilities among immigrants and the host countries, he said.

“States have the right to regulate migration flows and to defend their own frontiers, always guaranteeing the respect due to the dignity of each and every human person. Immigrants, moreover, have the duty to integrate into the host country, respecting its laws and its national identity,” he said.

At a news conference to present the papal message, a Vatican official said such integration does not mean mere assimilation into a kind of “melting pot.”

Archbishop Antonio Veglio, president of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers, said that immigrants can undergo a “de-culturalization” when they are expected to simply conform to the host culture. At the other end of the scale, immigrants who completely resist the host culture end up living in a kind of cultural ghetto, he said.

The proper balance involves “cultural synthesis,” in which cultural values are exchanged, benefiting the immigrant community and the host country, he said.

Archbishop Veglio related that when he was named to head the council for migrants in 2008, he noticed that its activities included

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pastoral outreach to Roma, or Gypsies.

“I thought, ‘Oh, Lord, I have to defend the Gypsies?’ That was a stupid reaction. I didn’t realize this is a people of 12 million throughout Europe with their own history,” he said. He said he understands now that Gypsies cannot simply be assimilated into various European cultures, because they have one of their own.

Father Gabriele Bentoglio, undersecretary of the pontifical council, said there are about 15 million refugees in the world today, and about 27 million internally displaced persons. Many have acted with “courage” in leaving tragic circumstances in their homelands, he said.

Father Bentoglio said it’s a common misperception that only places like Europe or the United States are facing a large influx of immigrants. Last year, he said, South Africa had 220,000 people requesting refuge in the country, nearly equal to the total for all of Europe.

He said the behavior of many countries today is one of refusal and discrimination toward immigrants, in contradiction to the international agreements they have signed.

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FALL RIVER Vol. 54, No. 42

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November 5, 2010

The International Church

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Quake opened world’s eyes to Haiti’s suffering, Caritas leader says B y B arbara J. Fraser Catholic N ews Service PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — The earthquake that destroyed much of western Haiti January 12 opened the world’s eyes to the island people’s suffering, giving the Catholic Church a chance to build on that awareness, said the bishop who heads one of the Church’s main aid and development programs in the poor Caribbean nation.

“Before January 12, many people thought Haiti’s situation was normal.

People were poor, they didn’t have houses, they lived in shantytowns. January 12 forced everyone to look at the situation, because everyone has had the experience of being in tents, with the heat, knowing that they may have nothing,” said Bishop Pierre-Andre Dumas of Anse-a-Veau and Miragoane, who leads Caritas Haiti.

“Those first days were hard for everyone,” he explained during a recent interview at Caritas Haiti’s headquarters in one of the most severely devastated parts of the city. “People have begun to understand that it is not normal for their brothers and sisters to live like that.

“I think there is more awareness, in people’s heads and hearts. Haiti can experience a historic resurrection if we do something for the poorest people, the poor who suffer in the tents, the poor who have no possibilities,” he said.

For Bishop Dumas, reconstruction means more than rebuilding homes, although that is important. It also means ensuring that children attend school and fostering economic development in rural areas.

The government must provide guidance, he said, and while international aid agencies can help, Haitians — including the Church — should play the leading role.

The Haitian Church was hit hard by the earthquake. Three Port-au-Prince archdiocesan leaders — Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot, the vicar general and the chancellor — were killed.

Seven priests, 31 male and female religious and 31 seminarian also died.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in the capital was one of scores of churches and schools that were damaged or destroyed. A technical commission will help the Haitian bishops’ conference evaluate reconstruction plans and ensure that new buildings are sound.

“I hope that in the end, our church construction will be better” than before the earthquake, said Archbishop Bernardito Auza, papal nuncio to Haiti. He estimated that nearly $80 million will be needed to rebuild the cathedral and about 15 key churches. Catholics worldwide have donated more than $300 million for disaster relief and reconstruction in Haiti.

While rebuilding parish infrastruc-

ture so people have places to gather is important, Bishop Dumas said the Church also must focus on meeting

Twinning should be “a sharing relationship between churches, so you can receive and you can give,” Bishop Du-

meager existence — Curla Joseph works as a seamstress in a tent camp in earthquake-damaged Port-au-Prince, Haiti, recently. The camp houses people whose homes were damaged or destroyed in the January 12 quake. (CNS photo/ Barbara Fraser)

other needs.

“When people suffer too much, they run the risk of falling into inaction,” he said. The Church must “accompany people in their search, so they do not fall into resignation.”

One task is to train lay leaders and raise social awareness, he said.

“Spirituality is often accompanied by great feeling and great piety, but there is sometimes a lack of a (social) commitment, of seeing the community as a broader community that should be concerned about social issues,” Bishop Dumas said.

“We need a Church that is more aware of its prophetic role in the country.”

The Church must also “do a better job of accompanying the country’s elites — not just the political elites, but the economic and cultural elites — so they make a commitment to the country,” he added. “That is often a shortcoming. Every group, of business leaders, for example, has its interests, and there is no vision of community.”

Since the earthquake, there has been an outpouring of prayers and support from American Catholics. Many U.S. parishes have “twinning” relationships with parishes in Haiti, but there has been no unified oversight of those relationships.

At a meeting in September, the Haitian bishops drafted seven key guidelines for twinning, saying the programs should focus on relationships, not just resources. The plan emphasizes consistency with and respect for local Church organization and planning, mutuality and equality, support for local leadership, transparency and accountability, and promotion of peace and justice.

mas said. “No one is so poor that they cannot offer something.”

As Haitians struggle to rebuild their

lives after the disaster, they offer “a lesson to the entire world, a lesson in humanity,” he said.

The situation in Haiti also teaches that “despite the abundance of goods in the world, there are places of great need. This is a reminder of the little Haitis that exist in other countries, (such as) the United States and Mexico, the little Haitis in those countries where there is suffering, but also hope,” he said.

Bishop Dumas sees the earthquake and its aftermath offering Haitians an opportunity to talk about the kind of country they seek to build.

“Unfortunately, since January 12, we have not organized a national dialogue — not an ideological dialogue, but a conversation among the people to understand what has worked and what has not worked, to set aside narrow ideological viewpoints and decide to work together for the good of Haiti,” he said. The question today is “what can we do together to make this place a nation? We need a healing process of reconciliation.”

With presidential elections scheduled for November 28, he said, “I hope whoever is elected can promote dialogue to bring about reconciliation, so we can decide what we want our country to be.

November 5, 2010 The Church in the U.S. Houston man who helped save miners sees hand of God in rescue mission

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By Jonah Dycus Catholic News Service

HOUSTON — Greg Hall was preparing to serve as an acolyte for Mass at Christ the Redeemer Church when an associate contacted him about a “banging on the pipe.”

It was Day 17 after the Chilean mine collapsed on 33 miners. A representative from Drillers Supply International — a company owned by Hall and his wife, Angelica — was updating the deaconin-training on the task assigned to the company’s crew: drilling through more than 2,000 feet of rock down into the gold and copper mine.

“At that time, we thought we were just drilling to try to get a video feed to let (the miners’) families know they had perished,” Greg Hall said. “Then we found out that all 33 of them were alive.”

Moments after serving at Mass in Houston, Hall headed for the airport and left for the San Jose mine in the Atacama Desert.

Days after the drilling was completed, all of the miners were methodically extracted from the mine October 13.

“I talked to a lot of people, and this was the most challenging drill I have done in 25 years,” Hall, now back home, told the Texas Catholic Herald, newspaper of the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese. “Talking to my peers, it was the

most technologically challenging hole they ever heard of.”

“I firmly believe God drilled that hole,” he said.

available in the country to draw from very quickly, went through a series of scenarios, and came up what was known as ‘Plan B,’” Hall said. “They had asked me not to publish the information at that time because no one wanted to get any hopes up because people didn’t believe we could do it. In fact, maybe I didn’t believe we could do it.”

Once Plan B was put into motion, the Drillers Supply International crew had gotten down almost 1,969 feet when the drilling rig came to a halt with just 131 more feet to go.

“The tool was hopelessly stuck, and I was totally out of answers,” Hall recalled. “And if we didn’t come up with an answer, we were finished, we were

going to start over again or (the Chilean government) would just consider Plan B a failure.”

It was at that critical moment when Hall realized he wasn’t powerless after all.

“I could pray, and I started praying very hard,” he said. “Soon after that, we started getting a little leeway and (the drill) started moving again.”

Hall had to keep his emotions in check during the drilling operation.

“Those are our brothers that were down there,” he said. “But I was afraid if I acted emotionally, that I might make a mistake that could cost those people their lives.”

In Chile, the tall Texan (6-foot7-inches) proved to be a man of action not complacent to stand on the sidelines.

And at his home parish, Hall’s pastor said the third-degree Knight of Columbus is a great man of faith, not one to stay in the pews either.

“What we have known for years at Christ the Redeemer, the world is now coming to know — and that is, if you need help, Greg Hall is the man to call,” Father Sean Horrigan said. “It’s a great testament to Greg’s dedication to serve others that he and his team were able to contribute to the work of so many in Chile.”

Father Horrigan called Hall a “wonderful parishioner” who lives his faith, day-in and day-out.

“He has a true ‘servant’s heart’ and gives of his time and talent in a variety of ministries,” the priest said, praising Hall, his wife and the couple’s three grown children “for their generosity of spirit and faith-filled lives.”

Father Horrigan added that Hall is going to “make a great deacon as he loves to serve the community. He truly lives the life of a good steward, returning his gifts to God and the Church. He gives public witness to being a man of faith living to serve the greater good.”

NEW YORK (CNS) — The earthly Church, despite its failings, is such a depository of God’s riches that each of its members should be like a business card, proclaiming a new appreciation for the Church’s inner strength and beauty, Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley of Denver said at a New York conference. To do so would reflect the lives of Blessed John Henry Newman and Mother Julia Verhaeghe, who founded a religious community inspired by Blessed Newman’s example, Bishop Conley said in his homily at a Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Church opening a daylong conference on the newly-beatified English cardinal.

The recent conference, sponsored

by Fordham University and the religious congregation The Spiritual Family The Work, drew 200 people to hear Newman scholars discuss his writings, their influence on Mother Julia and

their relevance to 21st-century Christians.

Blessed Newman left the Anglican Church to join the Catholic Church in 1845. He was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI September 19. Bishop Conley also became Catholic as an adult.

He said Blessed Newman and Mother Julia “took the promptings of conscience very seriously,” and used them to achieve to a deeper understanding of their faith. He said they both submitted to the interior authority of conscience and the exterior authority of the Church.

Bishop Conley said that both saw failings of the Church and Blessed Newman “suffered from wounds caused by its members,” but they had strong faith in divine providence and confidence that the weaknesses of the Catholic Church would “be overcome in God’s good time.”

Initial rescue efforts proved unsuccessful, including the miners trying and failing to escape through a ventilation shaft.

“I just took what resources were

if at first you don’t succeed — Members of the “Plan B” crew work a drilling machine as they complete an escape hole at the collapsed San Jose mine near Copiapo, Chile, October 9. All 33 miners trapped deep underground for a month were rescued in the effort. (CNS photo/ Reuters) Once Hall arrived in Chile, the Chilean government had requested he devise an alternate plan to get the miners out.

Catholics are Church’s business cards, bishop says at Newman conference

November 5, 2010

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The Anchor

Scalia says committed Christians should not be afraid to embrace faith

By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic News Service

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Although the sophisticated may deride them as simple-minded, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said committed Christians should have the courage to embrace their faith.

Scalia spoke to members of the St. Thomas More Society of Maryland who gathered recently at the Westin Hotel in Annapolis following the 52nd annual Red Mass, held at nearby St. Mary Church. The liturgy, celebrated

by Baltimore Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien, marked the beginning of the judicial year.

During a hotel banquet, the St. Thomas More Society honored Scalia with its “Man for All Seasons Award,” given to members of the legal profession who embody the ideals of St. Thomas More.

Scalia outlined a long list of Christian beliefs that he said are greeted with derision by the worldly — dogmas including Christ’s divinity, the virgin birth and Christ’s resurrection.

“Surely those who adhere to all or most of these traditional Christian beliefs are regarded in the educated circles that you and I travel in as, well, simple-minded,” Scalia asserted.

The Catholic justice cited a story in The Washington Post that described Christian fundamentalists as “poorly educated and easily led.”

“The same attitude applies, of course, to traditional Catholics,” Scalia said, “who do such positively peasantlike things as saying the rosary, kneeling in adoration before the Eucharist, going on pilgrimages to Lourdes or Medjugorje and — worst of all — following indiscriminately, rather than in smorgasbord fashion, the teachings of the pope.”

Scalia said believers should embrace the ridicule of the world.

“As St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians,” he said, “we are fools for Christ’s sake.”

Scalia noted that Christ described his followers as sheep and said no one will get into heaven without behaving like “little children.” Scalia warned, however, that reason and intellect must not be laid aside where matters of religion are concerned.

“Assuredly, a faith that has no rational basis is a false faith,” Scalia said.

In a sarcastic reference to cult leader David Koresh, he added: “That is why I am not a Branch Davidian.”

It isn’t irrational to accept the testimony of eyewitnesses to miracles, Scalia said.

“What is irrational,” he said, “is to reject a priori, with no investigation, the possibility of miracles in general and of Jesus Christ’s resurrection in particular — which is, of course, precisely what the worldly wise do.”

Scalia cited the 10-year-old case of a priest in the Washington Archdiocese who was said to have the stigmata. Statues of Mary and the saints appeared to weep in his presence. Reporters for The Washington Post did a

story and were unable to find an explanation for the strange phenomena.

“Why wasn’t that church absolutely packed with nonbe-

justice speaks — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia at Marquette University earlier this year. (CNS photo)

lievers,” Scalia asked, “seeking to determine if there might be something to this?”

The answer was obvious, he

said with disdain: “The wise do not investigate such silliness.”

While he may take his personal faith seriously, Scalia told The Catholic Review he doesn’t allow it to influence his work on the high court.

“I don’t think there’s any such thing as a Catholic judge,” Scalia said in an interview with the newspaper of the Baltimore Archdiocese. “There are good judges and bad judges. The only article in faith that plays any part in my judging is the commandment, ‘Thou Shalt Not Lie.’” Scalia said it isn’t his job to make policy or law, but to “say only what the law provides.”

“If I genuinely thought the Constitution guaranteed a woman’s right to abortion, I would be on the other way,” said Scalia, who has held that abortion is not guaranteed in the Constitution.

“It would do nothing with my religion. It has to do with my being a lawyer.”

Scalia never thought he would

see a time when there were six Catholic justices on the high court.

“But, as I say, it doesn’t make any difference,” he asserted. “I don’t think there’s such a thing as a Catholic justice. There’s a justice who happens to be Catholic and there are some Catholic justices who have been on the other side of the abortion thing. (Former Justice) Bill Brennan was the initiator of the whole thing.”

He was referring to the late Justice William J. Brennan, who was considered a key architect of the court’s decisions legalizing abortion on demand, including the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision. saw a clear constitutional right to legalized abortion. Brennan’s vote in favor of the Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion.

Asked whether he and the other Catholic justices ever discuss or share their faith with one another, Scalia smiled wryly.

“No,” he said. “We don’t have a Bible study.”

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The Anchor Good public servants, but God’s first

On Sunday, as we were being bombarded with robo-calls, advertisements, television news segments and special programs focused on Tuesday’s elections, a significant commemoration quietly took place: the 10th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s declaring St. Thomas More the patron of politicians and statesmen. As those who were elected on Tuesday change their focus from campaigning to preparing to serve — and as citizens form concrete expectations of how they should exercise the offices to which they were elected — the figure of the former Chancellor of the Realm can serve as a concrete guide.

It was not without irony, or by coincidence, that John Paul II named Thomas More patron of politicians a decade ago on Halloween. It’s true, of course, that many politicians wear political masks, pretending to be other than they really are, often leaving citizens wondering whether what they promise is a trick or a treat. The real reason, however, why the pope chose October 31 is because it is the vigil of the Solemnity of All Saints. By publishing his motu proprio on the vigil of that feast — rather than, for example, on More’s feast day in June — the pope was dramatically emphasizing not only that politicians are called to holiness of life and heroic virtue in public service, but that it is in fact possible for them to become saints. The terms “saint” and “politician” are, sadly, rarely able to be juxtaposed. But they are meant to go together and John Paul II proposed Thomas More as a vivid illustration of how they do.

“There are many reasons,” the pope wrote, “for proclaiming Thomas More patron of statesmen and people in public life. Among these is the need felt by the world of politics and public administration for credible role models able to indicate the path of truth at a time in history when difficult challenges and crucial responsibilities are increasing. Today in fact strongly innovative economic forces are reshaping social structures; on the other hand, scientific achievements in the area of biotechnology underline the need to defend human life at all its different stages, while the promises of a new society — successfully presented to a bewildered public opinion — urgently demand clear political decisions in favor of the family, young people, the elderly and the marginalized. In this context, it is helpful to turn to the example of St. Thomas More, who distinguished himself by his constant fidelity to legitimate authority and institutions precisely in his intention to serve not power but the supreme ideal of justice. His life teaches us that government is above all an exercise of virtue.”

John Paul II praised More above all for his testimony to “the inalienable dignity of the human conscience,” which with “inflexible firmness” he never compromised. Though a lawyer, parliamentarian and eventually chancellor in an age rife with bribery, intrigue, and compromises on principles for the sake of particular political ends, More never capitulated. It was a time when King Henry VIII thought he could get away with proclaiming himself Supreme Head of the Church in England, declaring his own marriage dissolved, and despotically forcing his subjects to take oaths before God that he was right. But More refused to swear to something he knew in conscience to be a lie, even when it meant his resignation, the impoverishment of his family, his arrest, imprisonment, conviction by perjured testimony and beheading. His “passion for the truth” and his “sense that man cannot be sundered from God, nor politics from morality,” John Paul II noted, was what enlightened his conscience and made him capable of being faithful to the God who speaks in that interior sanctuary.

Visiting Westminster Hall, the site of More’s spurious trial, this September, Pope Benedict addressed this critical theme of conscience before four former prime ministers and hundreds of parliamentarians and diplomats. He remarked that More is “admired by believers and non-believers alike for the integrity with which he followed his conscience, even at the cost of displeasing the sovereign whose ‘good servant’ he was, because he chose to serve God first.” The truly conscientious public servant, the pope implied, always serves God first through listening for and heeding his voice whispering in conscience. The dilemma More faced, the pope stated, is the “perennial question of the relationship between what is owed to Caesar and what is owed to God.” More’s witness to conscience, giving God and the truth what is owed even to the point of personal suffering, is particularly important today, when many politicians misunderstand or manipulate the meaning of conscience as a justification for cowardice rather than courage, for disobeying rather than following the moral law, for serving the desires of powerful lobbies rather than God. When More followed his conscience, it meant surrendering his job, pauperizing his loved ones, and ultimately losing his life. When many politicians today cite their conscience, it’s often as a pretext for ignoring the truth God has revealed in order to keep their jobs, to please interested parties, and generally to enrich their families. They cite conscience while at the same time compromising it out of fear of losing their positions or otherwise suffering out of fidelity to God’s voice. Nowhere is this seen more than with Catholic politicians who preposterously say they’re following their conscience in publicly supporting the so-called right to abortion, as if God himself would be commanding them — rather than to defend the lives of innocent human beings made in his image and likeness — to champion the right of others to kill them. As More’s life shows, faithfully following God’s voice in conscience will regularly lead to persecution and suffering from those who seek to impose their will without regard to the truth; it will rarely lead to campaign funding, vociferous support and plaudits from abortion providers and other purveyors of evil.

In a letter published on Sunday celebrating the 10th anniversary of John Paul II’s declaration, the bishops of Pennsylvania suggested that More’s example is more vital now than ever. After citing G.K. Chesterton’s 1929 assessment that “Thomas More is more important at this moment than at any moment since his death, even perhaps the great moment of his dying, but he is not quite so important as he will be in about a hundred years’ time,” they observed, “We are now in the age of Chesterton’s prophecy and there can be little question that Chesterton has been proven correct.”

The prelates of the Keystone State noted that when Chesterton wrote his words, “totalitarianism was on the march with Nazis, communists and fascists all arguing that people owed their highest loyalty to the state and its beliefs.” More stood as a “powerful beacon of hope and inspiration, … a light in the darkness,” not just to believers but all citizens, precisely because he “refused to place the demands of the state before the requirements of his conscience and … insisted that there were objective truths that governments could not legitimately seek to override.”

We are now living in an age when many are tempted or even expected to compromise their consciences, when various state legislatures compel doctors and nurses to dispense abortifacient “morning after pills” in emergency rooms, when pharmacists are coerced by governments or employers to dispense contraceptives, when justices of the peace are forced to preside over same-sex “marriages,” when taxpayers are obliged to pay for abortions, and when medical students are required to participate in abortions as a mandatory part of their training. It’s a time when many politicians and citizens routinely compromise their consciences for personal advantage or out of fear of the consequences. It’s an age in which politics seem to be governed by power rather than principle.

That’s why, the Pennsylvania bishops say, we need more than ever “examples of moral integrity,” showing all of us how “our consciences should stand for objective truth and not bend and shift to fit the changing fashions of the day.” That’s what St. Thomas More does.

As Pope John Paul II reminded us 10 years ago, if a politician doesn’t become a saint — if he or she doesn’t get to heaven — ultimately his or her life has been a failure. Let us turn to Thomas More and ask him to intercede for all our public officials, that they may prove worthy not just of the title of “honorable” they receive here on earth, but of the prefix “saint.”

November 5, 2010

Being trained in the ‘School of Prayer’ part II

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ast week, I made reference to what Before making this decision, he went Pope John Paul II called being up to the mountain to pray. In doing so, trained in the “art of prayer.” Today, I Jesus provides us the model by which to would like to continue on this imporfollow, namely, our striving to put God’s tant topic, by taking a look at it from the will before our own. How are we to know perspective of the richness of the Catholic the will of God if we do not bring these tradition, in particular, the example of important decisions before him and ask for Christ himself and what a few great saints the guidance of his Holy Spirit? have said about prayer.

Towards the beginning of his public In explaining the renewed need for ministry, Christ and his Apostles visited Sidaily prayer, Pope John Paul II said, “The mon Peter’s house, where he cured Peter’s great mystical tradition of the Church has mother-in-law and then spent the evening much to offer us. It shows how prayer can curing the sick and exorcising demons and progress, as a genuine dialogue of love, to proclaiming the Gospel. The next mornthe point of rendering the person wholly ing, when the Apostles awoke, they looked possessed by the divine beloved, vibrating around for Jesus, but they couldn’t find at the Spirit’s touch, resting filially within him. They searched all around and finally the Father’s heart. This is the lived experilocated him alone in prayer. Jesus started ence of Christ’s promise: ‘He who loves his day with prayer so that everything he me will be loved by my Father, and I will did was for the greater glory of God. love him and manifest myself to him’” (Jn The saints understood well that if they 14:21) (NMI 33). were to be faithful to Christ and to imitate Here our Holy Father gets to the heart him radically, prayer needed to be the of what prayer really is — a relationship center of their life, as it was the center our with our Lord that brings us to the point of Lord’s. The life of prayer, the time spent being wholly possessed by the our Creator, in adoration and in quiet communion with very similar, our Triune though even God, is what Putting Into more profound, allowed the I imagine to the life and work the Deep way that a bride of the saints to or groom may be so fruitful

By Father feel on their and successJay Mello wedding day. ful. St. John Prayer is an Chrysostom expression of taught clearly, our love for God and our desire to be close “Without the aid of prayer, it is simply to him. The “art of prayer” as John Paul II impossible to lead a virtuous life.” called it, is first learned from the example St. John Vianney explained to his of Christ himself. parishioners, “The Christian’s treasure is What a beautiful example our Lord not on earth but in heaven, and so then, our gives us of this desire to be in close thoughts ought to be directed to where our communion with our heavenly Father. treasure is,” and our thoughts are guided Certainly we observe this desire during by our prayers. his 40 days in the desert, a time spent in St. Augustine made it very clear, “As deep prayer and contemplation. This was our body cannot live without nourishment, also a time in which the evil one tried to so our soul cannot spiritually be kept alive distract Jesus and break him out of that without prayer.” communion with the Father. This is why Our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI our Lord teaches us to pray, “Lead us not recently said, “Prayer must be our first into temptation but deliver us from evil” commitment, for it is the true path to our (Mt 6:13). sanctification. Those who pray are not The same thing happened on the night afraid, those who pray are never alone; before he died. Knowing he was in for the those who pray are saved” (Wednesday most intense moments of his life — the tri- audience: July 1, 2009). This conversation al, flogging, and crucifixion — he went to with God, this intimacy with our savior the Garden of Gethsemane and he prayed. and the desire to be completely conformed He poured out his heart to his Father in to him and united with him, was the most heaven and received the strength he needed important thing to the saints. We are called to bring about our salvation. If that’s the to follow their example. case for the Son of God, how much more Following their pattern of holiness, should it be for us, his followers. however, does not mean that we mimic or Our Lord also provides us the example disingenuously reproduce what they did. of prayer in the context of the decisions Being enlightened and guided by the beauof our daily lives. He does this first by tiful riches of our tradition, prayer must showing us that prayer is necessary before become a personal encounter with our we make big decisions in our lives and, Lord and God. Before being elected to the secondly, he shows us that our work, no papacy, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger wrote, matter how important or insignificant, “From the rich variety of Christian prayer should flow naturally from our time spent as proposed by the Church, each member in prayer. of the faithful should seek and find his First, we look to the moment in the own way, his own form of prayer and Gospel when Christ chose the Twelve therefore, let himself be led by the Holy Apostles, the individual men who would Spirit, who guides him, through Christ, to make up his close circle of followers and the Father.” those to whom he would say, “Go out into Father Mello is a parochial vicar at St. the whole world and proclaim the Gospel.” Patrick’s Parish in Falmouth.

November 5, 2010

Q: What is the current stand of the Church regarding the possibility of funeral Masses for persons who are said to have committed suicide? Is it true that there already are mitigating circumstances, like the possibility of irrationality at the moment of taking one’s life (even if there was no note), whereby it would be possible to suppose that the person was not in his right mind? — E.C.M., Manila, Philippines A: In earlier times a person who committed suicide would often be denied funeral rites and even burial in a Church cemetery. However, some consideration has always been taken into account of the person’s mental state at the time.

In one famous case, when Rudolph, the heir to the throne of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, committed suicide in 1889, the medical bulletin declared evidence of “mental aberrations” so that Pope Leo XIII would grant a religious funeral and burial in the imperial crypt.

Other similar concessions were probably quietly made in less sonorous cases.

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ocial justice curiously became a political lightening rod this year when the conservative Fox TV News commentator, Glenn Beck, compared it to communism and Nazism, and exhorted his listeners to “run from their churches” at the mention of the term. It doesn’t seem possible that any Christian could take this man’s statements seriously, especially when he calls social justice “a distortion of the Gospel,” but some Catholics who work hard for the cause of justice worried that Beck’s words would resonate with people whose faith and politics are a jumbled syncretism of Gospel values and platform platitudes.

Rising up from the murky atmosphere of politics and faith is the annual Faith Formation Ministry Convention, whose theme coincidently is “Let Justice Roll!” This convention is dedicated to the Catholic teaching on social justice, celebrating the most profound evidence that our Church is the sacrament of Christ in this broken world.

While planning the convention we polled our parishes and found that every one of them has some form of justice outreach.

The number of soup kitchens, St. Vincent de Paul Societies, clothing drives, and elder services was an impressive and beautiful expression of Christian charity. Some of our parishes have

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The Anchor

Funeral Masses for a suicide

majority are consequences of an Canon law no longer speaccumulation of psychological cifically mentions suicide as an factors that impede making a impediment to funeral rites or free and deliberative act of the religious sepulture. will.

Canon 1184 mentions only Thus the general tendency is three cases: a notorious apostate, to see this extreme gesture as heretic or schismatic; those who almost always resulting from the requested cremation for motives effects of an imbalanced mental contrary to the Christian faith; and manifest sinners to whom a Church funeral cannot be granted without causing public scandal to the faithful.

These restrictions apply only if there has been

By Father no sign of repentance Edward McNamara before death.

The local bishop weighs any doubtful state and, as a consequence, it cases and in practice a prudent is no longer forbidden to hold a priest should always consult with the bishop before denying a funeral rite for a person who has committed this gesture although funeral Mass. each case must still be studied A particular case of suion its merits. cide might enter into the third A New Zealand reader asked case — that of a manifest and for clarifications about Canon unrepentant sinner — especially 1184, that “those who requested if the suicide follows another cremation for motives contrary grave crime such as murder. to the Christian faith” were not In most cases, however, the to be given a Church funeral. progress made in the study of The proviso in this canon is the underlying causes of selfpresumably rarely invoked.

A destruction shows that the vast

Liturgical Q&A

person would only incur such a prohibition if, before death, he or she requested cremation explicitly and publicly motivated by a denial of some aspect of Christian faith regarding life after death.

Among possible such motivations would be a lack of faith in the survival of the immortal soul and thus requesting cremation to emphasize the definitiveness of death.

Another could be the denial of belief in the resurrection of the dead.

More recently, some nominal Catholics who have dabbled in New Age pantheism or believe in doctrines such as reincarnation or migration of souls might request cremation in order to follow these esoteric doctrines or the customs of some Eastern religions.

In all such cases the motivation for seeking cremation is contrary to Catholic doctrine and, if this fact is publicly known, performing a Church funeral could cause scandal or

Social justice spreads Christ’s grace

expanded their social justice gized and creative, young and ministry beyond acts of charold, and have used their collecity to challenge the systems tive imagination to take on a brothat perpetuate the brokenness ken city. The people of the parish outside their doors. Many of our have grown their ministry of parishes that are located in the justice into a non-profit organizamidst of urban poverty have collaborated with other faith communities to identify the issues and train leaders to use their collective power to bring about systemic change.

When parishes

By Claire McManus recognize the privileged place they hold within a community, they can be powerful tion, Heart of Camden, which beacons of light in the darkness. offers life-giving alternatives Transforming one’s parish from a to the by-products of systemic place that offers charity to a force poverty: violence, homelessness, for social justice requires imagina- and blight. The work of justice tion and commitment to change. has attracted many young adults Brother Mickey O’Neill McGrath, to sit in the pews, as well as conO.S.F.S., the keynote speaker for scientious families from the surthe Ministry Convention, comes rounding suburbs. People from to us from one such parish that has all over the country are energized transformed its community by letby the work done at Sacred Heart ting justice roll through the streets and are inspired to contribute to of Camden, N.J. its ministries and school. Social Brother Mickey is the artist justice is more than an activity in residence at a parish in one or committee, but flows from of our nation’s poorest cities. It and into the eucharistic liturgy, may sound unusual for a parthe fountain of strength for all ish to have an artist, but Sacred of the Church’s work. Our faith Heart Parish is an unusual place. teaches that the liturgy is the Thirty-five years ago the pastor work of the people, and at Sacred of Sacred Heart, Father Michael Heart Parish the people bring to Doyle, began a ministry of the altar all that occupies their justice that has transformed the lives. The Eucharist is what heals parish and the surrounding comthe grief from the senseless acts munity into a haven of beauty. of violence that regularly takes The people of the parish are ener- away young lives, or blesses

The Great Commission

women who are pregnant, or sanctifies the latest piece of art or statue that transforms the blight of poverty-torn Camden.

The people sanctify their joy and grief at the altar, and go forth into their community to continue the sacrifice.

Social justice spreads the “wealth” of gratuitous grace that overflows from Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. The grace that we receive from the Eucharist becomes who we are, and what we can share with others. Our wealth may be our ability to draw or sing or cook a meal, and yes, Mr. Beck, it may even be our ability to make money that can be re-distributed to the poor. Social justice is our response to the

imply that holding to Church doctrine is really not that important.

With regard to notorious apostates, heretics and schismatics who show no sign of repentance before death, a few years ago in Italy the Church denied an ecclesiastical funeral for a nationally-known campaigner for euthanasia who requested and obtained the removal of his life-support system. In this case the request for a funeral for someone who was only nominally Catholic was in itself a publicity stunt for the organization behind the campaign.

Likewise, someone subject to excommunication or interdict (for example, a Catholic abortionist) would be denied a funeral.

Father Edward McNamara is a Legionary of Christ and professor of Liturgy at Regina Apostolorum University in Rome. His column appears weekly at zenit.org. To submit questions, email liturgy@ zenit.org. Please put the word “Liturgy” in the subject field.

The text should include your initials, your city and state. world when we view it through the lens of discipleship. This year the Ministry Convention, held at the Cape Codder in Hyannis on October 30, offered some insight into the issues that plague our world. We heard about the global issues of water supply and poverty, and examine the local concern for those caught in the struggle over immigration. We embraced our rich heritage of justice by unpacking our Scripture and tradition to find the treasure within. Let those who hear the cry of poor and oppressed come together to celebrate social justice and let it roll from the shores of Cape Cod to the ends of the earth.

Claire McManus is the director of the Diocesan Office of Faith Formation.

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November 5, 2010

The Anchor

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ll of today’s readings speak to us about brothers — the seven brothers who were tortured and murdered by the king, the brothers that St. Paul was preparing for their struggle with perverse and wicked people, and the seven brothers who all died childless after marrying the same woman. The human authors of holy Scripture have often referred to brothers beginning with Cain and Abel in the book of Genesis, the prodigal son and his brother in the Gospel of Luke, the Apostles James and John, and many others. The lessons in these references to brothers surely apply equally to sisters — so ladies, don’t think that you are off the hook.

Bringing these stories forward about 2,000 years: Who are the “brothers” that Jesus spoke about? Is he only referring to blood brothers or

Oh, brother!

did he have a wider definitween the Church’s teachings tion of brothers in mind? that they like and dislike.

Assuming that the latter is They are the members of the case, then exactly who our society who abide by the are our brothers and sisters? laws, and those who break They are everyone that we those laws with little or no come in contact with — peoconcern for their innocent ple that we love and trust, and people that we find to be repreHomily of the Week hensible and to whom Thirty-second Sunday we wouldn’t dare turn in Ordinary Time our backs. Our brothers and our sisters are

By Deacon the elected officials Joseph E. Mador that we admire and respect, and they are victims. I’d like to focus for also the politicians that we a few minutes on that latter hope lost on Tuesday or hope group and how Jesus’ meslose in the next election. sage of “love thy neighbor” They are the rich and famous applies to them and us. members of society, and the My wife Ann and I restreet beggars and homeless cently participated in two that we encounter frequently religious retreats at the in our cities. They are the Barnstable County Cormembers of our parishes who rectional Facility. The first strictly adhere to the teachwas for female inmates and ings of the Church, and those the second was for men. who pick and choose be-

Needless to say, they are not held at the same time. Make no mistake about it, these people have done some bad things, some much worse than others. Some arrived on Friday night with hardened hearts and were quite skeptical, if not cynical about the weekend ahead of them, but when the retreat team greeted every one of them with a big hug, it helped to warm them up. The hugs were followed by witness talks given by the team members that demonstrated very clearly that we all have struggles in our lives that we must deal with in one way or another. The safest way is to let Christ into our hearts, our lives, our decisions, our everything. Unfortunately, the way that many of the inmates chose, relying on themselves instead of relying on Christ,

led to arrest, trial, conviction and prison sentences.

Our goal is simple: help the inmates to find Christ and develop a relationship with him before they are released. In this way, they will someday walk out the front door of the jail hand in hand with the Lord and will bring him home to their families and friends. In other words, we are hoping and praying for a conversion, you might say a miracle, that will help the inmates find peace in their worlds and will make our society safer for all of us.

Deacon Mador serves at Holy Redeemer Parish in Chatham. He encourages those who would like to know more about the REC Program of prison ministry to contact him at jfmtoo@ comcast.net or through Holy Redeemer Parish in Chatham.

Upcoming Daily Readings: Sat. Nov. 6, Phil 4:10-19; Ps 112:1b-2,5-6,8a,9; Lk 16:9-15. Sun. Nov. 7, Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2 Mc 7:1-2,9-14; Ps 17:1,5-6,8,15; 2 Thes 2:16-3:5; Lk 20:27-38 or 20:27,34-39. Mon. Nov. 8, Ti 1:1-9; Ps 24:1b-4b,5-6; Lk 17:1-6. Tues. Nov. 9, Ez 47:1-2,8-9,12; Ps 46:2-3,5-6,8-9; 1 Cor 3:9c-11,16-17; Jn 2:13-22. Wed. Nov. 10, Ti 3:1-7; Ps 23:1b-6; Lk 17:11-19. Thur. Nov. 11, Phlm 7-20; Ps 146:7-10; Lk 17:20-25. Fri. Nov. 12, 2 Jn 4-9; Ps 119:1-2,10-11,17-18; Lk 17:20-26.

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Pat Moynihan: The great Catholic ‘What if…?’

he recent publication of Daniel Patrick Moynihan, “A Portrait in Letters of an American Visionary” (Public Affairs), is cause for both celebration and sadness: celebration, because his letters reintroduce us to Pat Moynihan’s scintillating intellect, sparkling wit, and penetrating insight into some the great issues of the late 20th century; sadness, because Pat was, in his time, the great Catholic “what if…?” of American public life.

Following the biblical injunction in Sirach 44:1, let us

he was pilloried as a racist first praise famous men. for both insights. When most Daniel Patrick Moynihan was one of the five or 10 most of the Democratic Party went influential public intellectuals into a post-McGovern swoon of the past half-century, a man of appeasement and neowhose ideas eventually worked themselves into the hard soil of public policy. He was among the first to recognize the enduring influence of ethnicBy George Weigel ity in the political and cultural mixmaster of modern America, as he isolationism, Pat helped lead identified early on the social pathologies destroying the Af- the charge for a robust U.S. rican-American family — and foreign policy focused on the defeat of communism through the defense of human rights.

Long before welfare reform came onto the national radar screen, Moynihan knew that something was desperately wrong with our social services and coined the pellucid phrase “defining deviancy down” to describe the wishful thinking and counter-productive welfare policies then destroying lives, families and neighborhoods.

And along the way, he became the only man in our history to serve in the cabinet or sub-cabinet of four consecutive presidents of two different parties: Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford.

That public service, which culminated in his 1976 election to the first of four terms

The Catholic Difference

in the United States Senate, was marked by a rapier-like wit and a bracing, combative public presence. As U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, he raised polemics to a new art form while flagellating various corrupters of the moral coin of international public life; his speech condemning the General Assembly’s infamous “Zionism is racism” resolution remains a landmark in the annals of passionate advocacy.

As for the wit, well, asked once whether it was true that he had been sick throughout his years as ambassador to India, Pat replied, “I was only sick once. It lasted two and a half years.”

For all of these reasons, it seemed to some of us, in the late 1970s, that Pat Moynihan was singularly positioned to do several things at once: save the Democratic Party from its nose-dive into the fever swamps of the 60s; bring a new bipartisan realism to social welfare policy; remind us that a healthy culture was important for democracy; and give America back a sense of itself as a protagonist of the history of freedom. In doing this, he might have uniquely embodied, in our high politics, the insights of Catholic

social doctrine and the Catholic optic on world affairs.

Alas, it was not to be. For whatever reasons — New York state politics and fear of the then-influential New York Times likely high among them — Pat did virtually nothing about the great civil rights issue of the late 20th century: the defense of the right to life.

He famously said that, while everyone is entitled to his own opinion, no one is entitled to his own facts. And no one as intelligent as Daniel Patrick Moynihan could have been ignorant of the scientific facts about the product of human conception, the moral facts about the ethical status of the pre-born child, and the jurisprudential facts about the travesty of legal reasoning that produced Roe v. Wade.

Yet, until an end-of-career vote against partial-birth abortion, Pat Moynihan was not a happy warrior for life, as he had been a happy warrior for other great causes.

This was more than a sadness, a failure of insight and nerve. It marked, I believe, the greatest lost opportunity to bring the full range of Catholic insights to bear in public life in my lifetime.

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

Putting into the pasta

Thursday 4 November 2010 allowed). I am not making this — Rome (in my mind) — Naup. tional Men Make Dinner Day This is a day custom-made an you believe it, dear readers? It’s been a whole year since our country last celReflections of a ebrated “National Men Parish Priest Make Dinner Day.” You say you’ve never heard

By Father Tim of this great event?

Goldrick Seriously? This may be due to the fact that it’s primarily observed by guys for yours truly, who’s not even who never learned how to cook capable of cooking Jell-O. In (outdoor barbequing doesn’t observance, I’m in the kitchen count, nor is help from others seeing what I can whip up for

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The Anchor

November 5, 2010

The Ship’s Log

supper. If the meal turns out to be a total disaster, I’ll just switch to celebrating the anniversary of the birth of John Montague. I’m one day late. His 292nd birthday was yesterday, but I’m sure he won’t mind. You’ve never heard of him either?

The Fourth Earl of Sandwich’s greatest accomplishment was the invention of the sandwich. He thereby saved thousands of us men from starvation. He also, parenthetically, served as First

The key to good fiction

fashionable in her time, especialhen Robert Lowell ly focusing on macabre details brought young Flanof the physical body: dismemnery O’Connor to the home of bered limbs, eyes bulging and the lapsed Catholic and “Big practically dangling from stalks, Intellectual” Mary McCarthy for and the ever-present spectre of dinner, they must have thought suffering and consequent death, her very introverted at first. Flanthe most startling and necessary nery, a Southern fiction writer contemplation of her Christian full of potential and intellecrealism. tual vigor, at first sat in relative O’Connor didn’t recoil from silence as the people around her exposing Christianity’s own chatted. Until McCarthy pontifimoral grotesqueries; O’Connor cated upon her Catholic past and wrote to her lifelong confiexperience with the Eucharist. dante that she despised those McCarthy explained that when who would turn Catholicism she was a child, she saw the Eucharist as the Holy Ghost, because the Holy Ghost was the “most portable” of the three figures in the Trinity. Now, however, as an adult, she believed in no such

By Jennifer Pierce thing, though she had to admit that the Eucharist was still “a pretty good “into an Elks Club” and was as symbol.” To which young Flanconcerned with calling out the nery retorted: “Well if it is just a wolves within as she was with symbol, then to hell with it.” the sheep without. Richard (The only other detail of her Giannone noted that O’Connor’s life that might be similarly inCatholicism was more than structive is that as a young child, merely believing in a certain set she taught a chicken to walk of things, or practicing a certain backwards. It made the evening set of behaviors; it was her way news, a biographical factoid she of envisioning the world. Holclaims was the peak of her entire low beliefs and behaviors can life. “Everything since has been shield people from grace with anticlimax,” she said.) self-satisfaction and superiorThe characters of her two ity, protecting them from the novels and her short stories are idea that grace is there because often described as grotesque — everyone — even the faithful they are vulgar, sinful, full of Catholic — desperately needs smug pride, and often physically it. For O’Connor, to be Catholic as well as spiritually deformed, was to see the world as it really reminding us that these are the is, including the real presence of very people whom Christ entered a sanctifying grace that can only the world to save. Her undeservbe clearly seen in contrast to uting characters are nonetheless ter gracelessness. pursued by grace, hunted down O’Connor considered herself

by Francis Thompson’s Hounds a “hillbilly Thomist” and a of Heaven. In her first novel, “hermit novelist,” forced into “Wise Blood,” the character seclusion by a debilitating case Hazel Motes forms “The Church of lupus. Hermit novelist was Without Christ” where “the deaf exactly what she became, though don’t hear, the blind don’t see, the there was nothing protected or lame don’t walk, the dumb don’t willfully naive about her. She talk, and the dead stay that way.” was aware of and participated She writes in the realist detail

On Great Catholic Writers

in the modern nihilistic mood but felt nonetheless responsible for bearing Catholic witness in a world that does not readily accept it; she neither judges nor denies the modern tendency toward unbelief, but chisels out a yearning for its redemption, showing us, yes, all the absurd random cruelties of the natural world exist and still grace, somehow, arrives anyway, purging the world of sin, and sanctifying even the meaningless. She was unafraid of portraying what she called her Christian realism. Grace, she wrote to a friend, is always thought of in terms of its healing power. It rarely is understood that grace brings with it, first, terrible pain. This is the pain of Christ’s sword — the one that must be there before peace.

The secret to O’Connor’s draw — drawing secularists and believers toward her alike — is her theory of fiction: the impossible and essential task of the novelist is portraying supernatural grace; this task haunted her, and she conceded in a letter that part of its impossibility is that it must be portrayed “negatively,” much as an artist does when he draws a figure through negative space rather than positive. In short, she portrayed grace through its perceived absence. Similarly, she defines her own fictional aesthetics through what she feels they must not be: “The two worst sins of bad taste are pornography and sentimentality.” Ever the hillbilly Thomist she claims to be, she sees the key to good fiction as lying at the very edges of these two excesses; the two are used to achieve a fictional golden mean.

“You have to have enough of either,” she writes, “to prove your point. But no more.”

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

Lord of the Admiralty, Secretary of State, and Post Master General.

And now, it’s time for the main course on our priestprepared menu. It comes to us from none other than The Anchor’s own Father Jay Mello, a parochial vicar at St. Patrick Parish in Falmouth. Our entrée will be “Father Mello’s Spaghetti alla Carbonara.”

Father Mello learned the recipe for this traditional Roman dish when he was a student in Rome. During his first year of studies at the North American College, he took cooking lessons every Wednesday from Silvio, the seminary chef. I hear that Spaghetti alla Carbonara is also a dish prepared by Father Jay Maddock, pastor of Holy Name Parish in Fall River.

Father Maddock, too, studied in Rome. I see a pattern developing.

Father Jay Mello’s Spaghetti alla Carbonara • 1 lb. of spaghetti • 1 lb. of pancetta (Italian bacon) or regular bacon • 8 eggs • Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese • Salt and pepper.

In a mixing bowl, break four whole eggs and add four egg yolks. Mix well with about one tablespoon of black pepper and salt and about 1/2 cup of freshly grated parmigiano. Set aside.

Cut bacon into about 1-1/2inch pieces and fry. Set aside.

Hint: If you wish, you can add a couple of tablespoons of the bacon fat to the egg mixture to temper it. Cook pasta in boiling salted water.

When pasta is al dente (about 7-9 min.), take out about 1/2 of the water and set aside.

Strain pasta and then add it back to pan, but with no heat.

Add the bacon to the pasta and then the egg mixture. Stir immediately and constantly. Do not allow the eggs to scramble.

Depending on the desired consistency of the sauce, you may want to slowly add some water, which will also help in preventing the eggs from scrambling.

Stir the eggs into the pasta for about 2-3 minutes.

Place the pasta in a serving bowl with more freshly grated cheese and black pepper. Serve

immediately (serves four).

Let’s see. We need a side dish. One of my favorite vegetables is asparagus. Is there any priest in the diocese who cooks a mean asparagus?

Why, yes there is. He would be Msgr. Gerard O’Connor, pastor of St. Francis Xavier Church in Acushnet. Will he share his secret recipe with our faithful Anchor readers? Yes, he will. And where did Msgr.

O’Connor learn this recipe?

He learned it while working in Rome. There is definitely a trend going on here. It proves once again that old adage, “When in Rome, cook as the Romans do.”

According to Msgr.

O’Connor, off the Borgo Pio and just outside the Vatican gates, there was a restaurant called “Armando’s.” The place was much frequented by the underfed young priests of the Holy See. The owner’s daughter, Orietta, would cook this dish in the spring, especially when asparagi selvatici (wild asparagus) was in season.

Orietta herself taught Msgr.

O’Connor to cook this simple yet delicious recipe.

Msgr. O’Connor’s’ Asparagi alla Bismarck • Fresh asparagus • Extra virgin olive oil • Butter • One cup of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and Pecorino Romano cheese • One egg Place a generous quantity of olive oil and a knob of butter in a frying pan. Fry the asparagus on a low heat until tender. Do not overcook. While cooking, add the cheese. When the asparagus is cooked, remove from frying pan. Crack an egg in the oil/butter/cheeses which remains. Plate the asparagus and place the fried egg on top of it. Pour over it the remaining oil/butter/cheeses from the pan. Sprinkle a little cheese over the egg.

As his priest-friend says, according to Msgr. O’Connor, “Anything cooked in butter, olive oil and cheese is bound to be good.”

Dessert, anyone? Maybe later?

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

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November 5, 2010

Faith Formation Convention: An artful look at injustice

By Rebecca Aubut Anchor Staff

HYANNIS — Ministers, priests, directors of Religious Education and catechists converged on the Cape Codder Resort and Spa in Hyannis for this year’s Faith Formation Ministry Convention sponsored by the Office of Faith Formation of the Fall River Diocese.

More than 230 people enjoyed complimentary coffee and pastries while walking down hallways and through conference rooms lined with booths from various vendors and organizations. Students from Pope John Paul II High School acted as guides and also took part as altar servers during the opening Mass led by Msgr. Daniel F. Hoye of Christ the King Parish in Mashpee, who began with a smile and the comment, “Welcome to this side of the diocese.”

The convention’s theme of “Let Justice Roll” reverberated throughout the workshops, and was heard during Msgr. Hoye’s homily when he spoke of how restless hearts are often born from injustice. “People need to identify with a peaceful heart with God,” said Msgr. Hoye, “and then their relationships will flourish as the peace of God comes into our hearts.”

“Sometimes our own hearts are troubled and an injustice will give rise to a conflict and push you away from following a Christian path,” added the Msgr., who spoke of a past trip to Ireland he took many years ago. When visiting a Belfast prison for women, he asked an

inmate what she was going to do when she got out of jail. When she answered that she would get married and have 12 kids, she was asked why so many children.

So her kids could kill as many “Brits” as they could, was

After Mass, the director of the Faith Formation Office, Claire McManus, took a moment to extend her thanks as well as continue a tradition that began three years ago, recognizing those who put in 30-plus years of service to the ministry.

vice as a Sister of Mercy. Caught off guard by the moment, Sister Thomas was appreciative of her recognition.

“I came from a very faithfilled family that was very involved in Church. I heard the call from God to give whatever I

the whole world in his hands — During the Mass at this year’s Faith Formation Ministry Convention, a moment was taken to honor the environment during the presentation of the gifts. One by one individuals proceeded up the center aisle and held up water, soil, food and other elements and, along with Planet Earth, each was presented at the altar before Msgr. Daniel F. Hoye. (Photo

by Rebecca Aubut)

her reply.

“Peace of Christ was far from her,” said Msgr. Hoye. “As ministers of the Church, we all need to work for justice, to work to bring about justice and peace in our parishes and in the world.”

Sixteen people received a certificate of appreciation from the Faith Formation Office signed

by Bishop George W. Coleman.

An additional certificate was handed out to Sister Frances Thomas for her 50 years of ser-

could give of my life. For me, it was an early calling at a young age,” said Sister Thomas.

As the first generation from immigrant parents, Sister Thomas felt extremely blessed and happily answered God’s call to give back.

“I’m very grateful,” she said of celebrating her jubilee year in ministry. “I’m full of gratitude for these years. Some have been difficult, there have been a lot of challenges, but I feel I’ve grown and I’ve had an immense opportunity to be of service to others.

It’s been a joy. It’s been right for me; it’s not right for everyone, but it has been right for me. I consider it a gift.”

During the first session, the workshops ranged in ideas from educating the younger generations about truth in justice, to talking about the rights of immigrants and workers; even past prophets were featured in a workshop presented by Father Marcel Bouchard, who came from Nantucket to talk about the injustice found in the Bible.

After lunch, everyone gathered to listen to keynote speaker, Brother Mickey O’Neill McGrath. An Oblate of St. Francis de Sales, Brother McGrath is a prolific artist whose works have been featured in USA Today, and Catholic newspapers and publications around the country. His Bee Still studios (www.BeeStill. org) are located near the Sacred Heart Parish in Camden, N.J., the second poorest city in the United States. Brother McGrath admits he often draws on his experiences with the homeless in his area for his artwork.

“I love characters,” said Brother McGrath, “because we are all characters.”

Brother McGrath is himself a character, as he humorously related the backstories of the countless number of slides that popped up on the screen, much to the delight of the crowd.

“Look at what we love about the Church,” he said, “and not get worked up about the stuff we don’t like so much. Whatever our vocation is, that’s where we find our holiness. God is in the details, it’s in the here and now. This is all about the ordinary — that is where we find God. That’s when the ordinary becomes extraordinary.”

He spoke about how his art, and all art, can reach across boundaries and connect with those around us.

“That’s what we need to remember,” said Brother McGrath. “We’re not about black and white. God doesn’t stop loving us if we screw up. Trust the Holy Spirit will lead you.”

“Have a new way of looking at what the world says is ugly,” he added.

Final workshops focused on global poverty, along with bullying and suicide prevention.

Brother McGrath also hosted an additional workshop celebrating the life of Sister Thea Bowman, often a subject of his artwork.

“We’re hoping that the people who attend this convention really go away with a deeper understanding of social justice and a deeper commitment,” said Sister Thomas. “As Christians, we are disciples of Christ and we are called, all of us, to live in a right relationship with God, ourselves and the world.”

November 5, 2010

The Anchor

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The Anchor

nightmare scene — Men mourn outside the Syrian Catholic cathedral in Baghdad, Iraq, November 1. Dozens of hostages and police were killed the day before when security forces raided the cathedral to free worshippers being held by gunmen wearing explosives. (CNS photo/Mohammed Ameen, Reuters)

Pope calls on world community to help end savage violence in Iraq

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — A deadly militant siege of a Catholic cathedral in Baghdad, Iraq, was a “savage” act of “absurd violence,” Pope Benedict XVI said.

The pope urged international and national authorities and all people of good will to work together to end the “heinous episodes of violence that continue

to ravage the people of the Middle East.”

“In a very grave attack on the Syrian Catholic cathedral of Baghdad, dozens of people were killed and injured, among them two priests and a group of faithful gathered for Sunday Mass,” the pope said of the October 31 incident.

“I pray for the victims of this absurd violence, which is even

more savage because it struck defenseless people, gathered in God’s house, which is a house of love and reconciliation,” he said after praying the Angelus with pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square November 1, the feast of All Saints.

He expressed his closeness to Iraqi Christians, who have suffered another attack in their homeland, and he encouraged the nation’s priests and lay faithful “to be strong and steady in hope.”

Pope Benedict renewed his urgent call for peace in the Middle East.

While peace may be a gift of

November 5, 2010 God, “it is also the result of efforts by people of good will and national and international institutions,” he said.

“May everyone unite their efforts so as to end all violence,” he said.

Armed militants wearing explosives stormed the cathedral October 31 while an estimated 100 faithful were celebrating evening Mass, news reports said.

The terrorists first set off a car bomb across the street in front of the Baghdad Stock Exchange, which left at least two people dead. Then they stormed the church, killing another two people, according to reports.

The militants, who said they were part of the Islamic State of Iraq — a group with suspected ties to al-Qaeda — held parishioners and priests hostage in the hopes of leveraging the release of prisoners from their network.

The terrorists demanded prisoners linked to al-Qaeda be set free from detention in Iraq and Egypt and they threatened to blow up the church if military forces attempted to break the siege, according to Italian state media RAI. Iraqi security forces ringed the church and U.S. military flew overhead in helicopters.

After a standoff that lasted hours, Iraqi forces stormed the cathedral and the ensuing firefight and a series of explosions left a large number of people dead and injured.

The Associated Press reported November 1 that at least 39 people were killed, which included hostages, Iraqi security forces and suspected militants. Other agencies were reporting 52 people dead and 56 people wounded.

Diocese of Fall River TV Mass on WLNE Channel 6 Sunday, November 7 at 11:00 a.m.

Celebrant is Father Christopher Santangelo, SS.CC., pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in New Bedford

One report said Iraqi Church sources included three young priests among those dead.

Syrian Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan was in Canada when the blasts occurred. In an email to Catholic News Service November 1 while he was en route to Baghdad, he criticized the lack of security for Christian places of worship and called on “Iraqi parties to overcome their personal and confessional interests and look for the good of the Iraqi people who have elected them.”

“There are a few churches and Christian institutions left in Baghdad, not so great a number that it is not unreasonable for them to be protected, securitywise,” he said, noting that the security being provided by the government is “far less than what we have hoped for and requested.”

“Christians are slaughtered in Iraq, in their homes and churches, and the so-called ‘free’ world is watching in complete indifference, interested only in responding in a way that is politically correct and economically opportune, but in reality is hypocritical,” said the patriarch, who served as bishop of the New Jersey-based Syrian-rite diocese in the United States and Canada from 1995 until his election as patriarch in 2009.

The patriarch demanded “that the U.S. Congress, the United Nations, the International Commission for Civil Rights and the League of Arabic States” condemn the actions at the church and “take the appropriate action to defend innocent Christians brutally singled out because of their religion, in Iraq and some other Middle Eastern countries.”

Chaldean Auxiliary Bishop Shlemon Warduni of Baghdad told Vatican Radio October 31 that at least one child was killed in the incident.

During the siege, he asked people to pray that God would give the hostage-takers the grace to take into consideration the women, children and all the innocent who were threatened by their actions.

Vatican spokesman Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi told reporters at the time of the siege that “it’s a very sad situation, which confirms the difficult situation in which Christians live in the country.”

“Christians live with great insecurity and we express our solidarity with them,” he said.

The cathedral and four other churches were the target of a string of bombings Aug. 1, 2004, when parishioners were leaving Sunday Mass; 15 people were killed in those attacks.

November 5, 2010

Weather can’t dampen spirit at Pro-Life walk, rosary rally continued from page one

homily on the theme of family.

“Family is our roots and teaches us our values,” said Father Phalen, adding that in today’s electronically-motivated world, the connections of family values can sometimes be lost.

“We tend to isolate ourselves, the challenge of being in a relationship becomes more difficult.”

Families accept us for who we are regardless of our faults, said Father Phalen, and listening to those who guide us goes beyond just hearing what our parents have to say.

“Listening to others is really important,” he said, and not just to the words being spoken, but also to who is doing the speaking.

“Lord, I hear you, and I did my best to act that way. I want to live myself, grateful for what God has given me. I have to do what God wants me to do.”

Father Phalen continued with a story relating to his own childhood, and how in church he and his siblings would behave but upon leaving, arguments would break out over who would sit where in the car during their ride home. How we behave in church is easy, warned Father Phalen; it’s how we behave “out there” where the struggle begins.

After Mass, a break was taken for selected students from each school to gather in the foyer and don color-coded robes to become the “beads” for the rosary; each color represented the five colors of specially-made ministry beads, created in the name of the late “Rosary Priest” Servant of God Father Patrick Peyton, CSC, and under the sponsorship of Holy Cross Family Ministries.

All Saints Catholic School of New Bedford put on green robes to represent Africa; Holy Family -Holy Name of New Bedford put on blue robes to represent the isles of the Pacific Ocean; St. Joseph’s School of Fairhaven put on white robes to represent Europe, where the pope lives; St. James-St. John School of New Bedford put on red robes to represent all of the Americas; and St. Francis Xavier School of Acushnet put on yellow robes to represent Asia, where the sun first rises on the Earth for each new day.

Mission rosaries matching the five colors were given to all students to be blessed by Father Phalen during the event. Pins of small, golden feet were also handed out to signify the Pro-Life movement, a message brought home by Dr. George Milot, superintendent of the Catholic schools of the Fall River Diocese.

More than 19 years ago, Milot and his wife met a woman who was seven months pregnant and going through a difficult period in her life. Two months later the

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The Anchor young woman handed over her newborn baby girl to Milot, who proudly announced that the baby was adopted into his family.

“Pray for those who make those difficult decisions for life,” said Milot.

The keynote speaker was Father David Marcham of the Archdiocese of Boston and vicepostulator for the cause of Father Peyton, who shared with the audience his roundabout path to becoming a priest. As a youth, one of Father Marcham’s first jobs was peddling popcorn at Fenway Park. At first shy, he soon found his voice and made his way through the vendor’s ranks to selling ice cream.

“Why am I telling you all this about popcorn and ice cream?” asked Father Marcham. “It is like a walk in faith.”

Everyone needs to be able to find their voice to be able to speak about their belief in Jesus Christ, he said. Some will sing or write, others will simply do service in his name and not say much at all. During his time as a physical therapist, Father Marcham says he became aware of how lives would be changed by his taking the time out to sit and pray with those in recovery.

It was during this time that he met a general manager of a professional hockey team, who would go on to offer Father Marcham a dream job of working with the team. Close to being engaged to his longtime girlfriend, and with a lucrative job his for the taking, Father Marcham took a moment to pray for God to tell him what he should do — and he

soon got his answer.

Six years later, in 2005, Father Marcham became ordained and sent to a large parish in Franklin, where he was severely injured by an eight-pound light fixture breaking off its base and falling on his head. During his recovery, Father Marcham became part of the Holy Cross Family Ministries.

“My main message is God wants you to do something special in all your lives,” said Father Marcham, adding that one must listen for the answer when they put questions into their prayers.

“Trust that God loves you.”

Woven into the event was music led by Jocelyn Trindade and Cassandra Borges; Beth Mahoney of Holy Cross Ministries was the master of ceremonies; Director of Pro-Life Apostolate, Marian Desrosiers, took some time to read a letter from Bishop George W. Coleman; and Judith Studer was the voice for the United Nations Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, which graced a table at the front of the auditorium.

“A world of prayer may lead to a world of peace,” said Studer, who related her own healing of terminal cancer after she prayed to Our Lady of Fatima. “I hope today will be the beginning.”

The event culminated with the “beads” lining up along the sides and the back of the auditorium, each line connected by rope and holding oversized beads in their hands. Faculty from each school led their section of the rosary with a short story focused on a Luminous Mystery, and then students took turns leading the audience through the rosary.

The Espousal Retreat House and Conference Center Directed by the Stigmatine Fathers and Brothers 554 Lexington St., Waltham, MA 02452 Tel: 781-209-3120 . Fax 781-893-0291 E-mail: espousaladmin@gmail.com

For further information please contact: The Espousal Retreat House 544 Lexington St., Waltham, MA 02454 Phone: (781) 209-3120 www.espousal.org or E-mail: espousaladmin@gmail.com

Death toll mounts from disasters in Indonesia

WASHINGTON (CNS) — A double dose of natural disasters led Catholic agencies working in Indonesia to mount several efforts to provide emergency services to victims.

The disasters — a magnitude 7.7 undersea earthquake October 25 that triggered a tsunami that swamped coastal villages in the remote Mentawai Islands off of the west coast of Sumatra and the eruption of a volcano on Java beginning October 26 — claimed more than 400 lives and displaced thousands of people.

Authorities reported the tsunami killed 408 people and that at least 400 people remained missing October 29, four days after 10-foot waves washed away homes and other structures up to 2,000 feet inland.

“Entire villages were swept away,” Xaverian Father Silvano Zulian, a missionary priest who has lived in the Mentawai Islands for more than 30 years, told MISNA, the missionary news service. “The toll is destined to rise by the hour.”

Local priests and women religious were among the first to reach the affected communities, reported the Asian church news agency UCA News.

“We came (to the villages) with whatever we had, especially medicine because there was no hospital,” said Father Fransiskus Xaverius Wio Hurint Pei from the Assumption of Mary Church in Sikakap. He was accompanied by Charity of Jesus and Mary, Mother of Good Help sisters.

The priest said he helped bury

dead victims. “It was very sad ... bodies were scattered,” he said.

“Survivors are having problems taking care of themselves.”

Father Agustinus Mujihartono, head of the Padang diocesan Commission for Socio-Economic Development, said the Church’s Caritas network sent four volunteers to help collect information from survivors and distribute relief supplies.

High seas slowed the delivery of aid from Sumatra, but cargo ships carrying workers, emergency supplies and temporary housing material began arriving October 28 at South Pegai, the nearest island to the epicenter, MISNA reported.

Catholic Relief Services met with representatives of Caritas Switzerland, Secours Catholique/ Caritas France and officials from the Padang Diocese October 27 to discuss a coordinated response.

Meanwhile, the Semarang Archdiocese sent workers and emergency supplies to assist evacuees sheltered in makeshift tents following three eruptions of Mount Merapi, Indonesia’s most active volcano.

The government reported 34 deaths. An estimated 50,000 people have been displaced by the eruptions.

The eruption in central Java claimed at least 28 lives and forced thousands of people to flee despite the government’s advance warning to evacuate.

CNS reported that people were reluctant to leave the area because they were tending their farms and feared abandoning their livelihood.

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Priests, deacons introduced to new Roman Missal continued from page one

was formed as a committee of senior archbishops from around the English-speaking world. When the Holy See had a question about the translation, they would consult with the Vox Clara Committee.”

Although the Roman Missal has gone through 17 different drafts and has been previously published twice in the wake of Vatican II, Msgr. Moroney said this latest version — with English translations confirmed and approved by the Holy See on March 25 — attempts to “remove all the junk that throughout the years have obscured the beauty of these texts” and more closely align it with the original Latin text.

According to Msgr. Moroney, the first version of the Roman Missal was approved at the end of the Second Vatican Council on April 6, 1969 and published a year later.

In 1975 a second edition was published which included about a seven-percent difference from the previous version. The third and most recent edition of the Roman Missal, approved by the Holy See in 2000, included a 24-percent difference from its previous incarnation.

“When you open the new Roman Missal, a quarter of the pages will have already had changes in the Latin,” he said, “so the changes are not just translation. There are editorial changes, there are updated changes, and there are brand new additions.”

The problem with earlier translations of the Roman Missal was in the method used to translate from Latin into English, Msgr.

Moroney said.

“In the late 1960s, everyone was influenced by the writings of Eugene Nida in espousing a theory of translation known as dynamic equivalence,” he said. “This was a very optimistic way of translating in which the translator attempts to reimagine or recreate the text in a modern dialect. It’s a good theory when it works. But they were following a principle that placed so much subjective responsibility on an individual translator, that the meaning of the text became com-

promised.”

By way of example, Msgr. Moroney noted how in the late 1960s there was dissention over whether one Latin term meant “meal” or “sacrifice.” As a result, 60 percent of the references to “sacrifice” disappeared from the English translation, as did references to deprecatory language — anything that suggested “I am little” and “God is big” — and similar references to the hierarchical priesthood.

“Since 1970, dynamic equivalence is no longer seen as being able to express the meaning of a receiver language,” Msgr. Moroney said. “When you do real translation that is going to be used in order to convey the meaning and substance of a language, you need not just a Latinist, you need ecclesiologists, you need pastors, you need experts in English literature, you need poets, and you need musicians. All of these people have been engaged in every stage of this latest Roman Missal translation over the last 10 years.”

Using a newer method known as formal equivalence to translate the third edition of the Roman Missal, Msgr. Moroney said it relies more on literal translations and retaining the original syntax of the source language.

“I don’t talk to you in individual words. I talk to you in phrases. I talk to you in sayings and expressions,” he said. “As I speak to you, the syntax that I use, the punctuation that I use, all convey a different meaning.”

Quoting from the Second Vatican Council’s “Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium, art. 36),” Msgr. Moroney said: “The translation of the liturgical text of the Roman Missal is not so much a work of creative innovation, as it is rendering the original text faithfully and accurately into the vernacular language.

It must be translated integrally and in the most exact manner, without omissions and additions in terms of their content and without paraphrases or glosses.”

The 10-year process of up-

dating and fine-tuning this latest translation of the Roman Missal began when the USCCB charged the International Commission on English in the Liturgy with translating the Latin language rite that was approved by Pope John Paul II in 2000 and published in 2002. The new English translation was subsequently confirmed by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments and was approved by Pope Benedict XVI in consultation with the aforementioned Vox Clara Committee earlier this year.

“Since that time there have been some minor tweaks and edits, but I understand it’s ready to go to the publisher,” Msgr. Moroney said.

To prepare for the launch of the new English translation next year, Msgr. Moroney has traveled to 97 dioceses throughout the United States in recent months presenting similar workshops on the changes in an effort to educate clergy and explain the subtle but substantive revisions to the Mass.

“The agents of the liturgical reform are sitting in front of me right now,” Msgr. Moroney said. “You — the deacons and priests of this diocese — are the agents of liturgical reform.”

One of the minor but important changes Msgr. Moroney cited as an example was the priest’s invocation just before the Eucharistic Prayer: “Pray brethren (brothers and sisters), that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.”

Msgr. Moroney noted that the addition of “and yours” connects Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on the cross and the shared sacrifice of the altar to everyone’s daily sacrifices.

“See the difference a small change in translation makes?” he asked.

Msgr. Moroney also cited the congregation’s response during the

November 5, 2010 Communion Rite: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

This seemingly unnecessary change actually echoes the words of the Roman centurion who asks Jesus to heal his sick servant: “Now Jesus started on his way with them; and when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, ‘Lord, do not trouble yourself further, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof” (Lk. 7:6).

It’s a humble and reverent change that equates those about to receive Christ to the non-believer who gratefully welcomes him into his home.

Even simple repetitive phrases that were removed from the original translation have been restored, as in the Penitential Act of the Introductory Rite: “I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.”

“The reason the triplex ‘mea culpa’ was left out in the beginning was because in 1970 they said in English we generally don’t repeat something over and over again to make a point,” Msgr. Moroney said. “But, in fact, we do — all you have to do is listen to anyone running for office in this state.”

An excerpt from Eucharistic Prayer I also illustrates some of the stylistic changes in the new Roman Missal.

The current version reads: “Look with favor on these offerings. Accept them as once you accepted the gifts of your servant Abel, the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith, and the bread and wine offered by your priest Melchizedek. “Almighty God, we pray that your angel may take this sacrifice to your altar in heaven. As we receive from this altar the sacred Body and Blood of your son, let us be filled with every grace and blessing.”

“It’s great rhetoric. Like great poetry, it is beautiful and possesses layers of meaning,” Msgr.

Moroney said. “It challenges the mind, it moves people and it is memorable.”

While he admits not everyone may agree with every word in the 1,226-page translation that’s about to be published, Msgr. Moroney said it’s clearly a vast improvement over previous editions.

“The reality is the source of the liturgical reform is the theology of the Church,” he said. “We have done some things marvelously, especially in this country where liturgical reform has worked better than any other place.”

Msgr. Moroney will return to conduct a follow-up training session for diocesan laity and liturgical ministers on March 5, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Taunton.

Websites for the Implementation of the New English Translations of the Roman Missal

For more information about the third edition of the Roman Missal or for resources in the implementation of it, you are encouraged to consult the following sites: http://www.usccb.org/romanmissal/ http://www.liturgiamauthenticam.blogspot.com/ http://fdlc.org/Roman_Missal.htm http://www.icelweb.org/musicfolder/openmusic.php http://www.npm.org/Chants/index.html http://www.theologicalforum.org/product.asp?ci=25&pi=410

This week in 50 years ago — St. George’s Parish in Westport took another step towards having its first parochial school as Auxiliary Bishop James Gerrard broke ground for the new Catholic school.

25 years ago — At Masses celebrated at St. James and St. John’s parishes in New Bedford, it was announced that students of St. James-St. John’s School would be relocated from the 100-year-old St. James School building to the newer 25-year-old St. John School on Orchard Street in the city during the forthcoming Christmas recess.

Diocesan history 10 years ago — Members of parish pastoral councils serving churches across the diocese were formally installed at a Mass of Commissioning held at St. Anne’s Church in Fall River and celebrated by Bishop Sean P. O’Malley, OFM, Cap. One year ago — Bishop George W. Coleman announced that Father John J. Oliveira would become pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish while also retaining his current pastorate at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the city’s South End. Father Maurice O. Gauvin, the previous pastor of St. John’s, was to be given another assignment.

November 5, 2010

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The Anchor

Holy Cross Father Willy Raymond receives honor

EASTON — Holy Cross Father Willy Raymond, national director of the Family Theater Productions, has been inducted as a Knight in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, a prestigious Catholic organization which supports the preservation and propagation of the Faith in the Holy Land.

“I am humbled and honoured to be welcomed as a Knight in this wonderful organization,” Father Raymond said. “I will certainly try my best to be an ambassador of peace and love, which is one of the aims of the order.”

Cardinal John Foley presided

at the recent Mass of Investiture at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, with nearly 3,000 people attending.

For more than 63 years Family Theater Productions has been creating family friendly programs reaching families around the world through radio, television, film, billboards, and the Internet with broadcast quality programs.

Family Theater Productions continues Servant of God Father Patrick Peyton’s (the Rosary Priest) media mission as a member of Holy Cross Family Ministries in Easton, sponsored by the Congregation of Holy Cross.

architects of hope — The children of Ginny and Deacon Leonard Dexter have taken over the tradition of creating gingerbread houses and food baskets for the needy on Cape Cod at Christmas time. From left: Chrissy, Jim, Carole, Mike, and Robin.

It doesn’t get any sweeter than this for Cape Cod volunteers

By Dave Jolivet, Editor

above and beyond — Catholic Memorial Home recently recognized Donna Ramunno and Jeanne Tunney as the recipients of the “Love Made Visible” award given to those who go above and beyond in their service to residents, families and co-workers, and best exemplify the motto of Catholic Memorial Home, after which the award is named. From left: Administrator Thomas Healy, Ramunno, and Deacon Peter Cote, Pastoral Care director, at a reception at Catholic Memorial Home. Not pictured is Tunney.

mission accomplished — St. Vincent’s Home in Fall River recently held its 13th annual Mission Awards Celebration in recognition of five individuals who have made a significant contribution to children, youth and families. The recipients were nominated by their peers for this once-in-a-lifetime achievement award. Father Karl Bissinger, secretary to Bishop George W. Coleman, provided the diocesan greeting for the celebration. Mercy Sister Rosemary Laliberte and Executive Director Jack Weldon presented the awards. From left recipients Marcia Tryon, June Almeida, Weldon, Paul Medeiros, Maria Couto, and Tricia Martins.

POCASSET — Just about two decades ago Ginny Dexter made an announcement to her daughter Carole and her four siblings.

“Mom said we would be getting less on Christmas Day that year,” Carole Ellis told The Anchor. “My parents decided they were going to use the money to help people who were less fortunate.”

Under Ginny’s loving guidance, she, her husband, Deacon Leonard Dexter, and their five children started a holiday tradition of creating gingerbread houses for those who have little or nothing at Christmas time. Once built the houses, as well as food items, were delivered to homeless shelters on Cape Cod. A few years back, Ginny “passed the torch” to her children to continue the tradition, which had grown in size and scope.

Currently, the gingerbread project creates tasty dwellings for 21 nursing homes, homeless shelters, and hospitals in Bourne, Falmouth,

Hyannis, Mashpee, Sandwich, and Pocasset. The food baskets are delivered to five homeless shelters and an AIDS ministry in Falmouth and Hyannis.

“We wanted to continue this tradition,” said Ellis. “It’s truly amazing when you see the faces of the people when you deliver a gingerbread house and/or a food basket.”

The gingerbread project takes place in two stages. The first stage concentrates on preparing the ingredients for the houses. On a Friday evening, the batter is mixed, separated into storage bags and refrigerated. The next day small groups gather at St. John’ Parish Center in Pocasset to roll out the dough, cut the pieces, and cook them.

Stage two takes place usually the Saturday after Thanksgiving, at which time the houses are assembled and decorated. Volunteers are asked to bring candy and cereal products to help decorate the houses, as well as six non-perishable

food items to help fill the baskets.

“All we ask of the participants is their time, creativity, and a donation, and if possible the ability to deliver the items to one or more of the delivery sites,” said Ellis.

This year, stage one will take place at St. John’s Parish Center on November 13 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Stage two is at the Pocasset Community Building on November 27 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

All are welcome to join, create, and donate.

“We can’t thank enough our family, friends, the local community, and the businesses for their continued support,” said Ellis.

Through the years, the Falmouth Shaw’s and Walmart, the Wareham Walmart, and the Hyannis BJs have generously donated gift cards used to buy supplies for the gingerbread houses and food items for the baskets.

For more information, contact Carole Ellis at carole_ellis@ onsetcomp.com.

16

Youth Pages

a profile in courage — Jay Hoyle, who has been teaching at St. John the Evangelist School in North Attleboro for 42 years, lectured on his son Mark who died of AIDS in 1986 at the age of 14.

Mark contracted AIDS through tainted blood while receiving treatment for hemophilia, a story that made national news. Hoyle went on to write a book about his son named “Mark: How a Boy’s Courage in Facing AIDS Inspired a Town and the Town’s Compassion Lit Up a Nation.” Various items are left at Mark’s grave including baseballs, baseball cards, and recently a paper bag left by an old friend of Mark’s remembering their good times of the past. Here, Hoyle, with the paper bag, spoke to the eighth-grade students.

November 5, 2010

it’s easy being green — Lisa Lundy Kusinitz, Community Affairs Representative at Dominion’s Brayton Point Station, presented Father Stephen Salvador and Principal Kathleen Burt of SS. Peter and Paul School in Fall River, a $10,000 grant award to fund the creation of a school vegetable garden and greenhouse.

Grace Amaral, grade two, and Aaron Morrell, grade six, children of Dominion employees, shared the spotlight on behalf of the entire student body.

pumpkin predictions — Third-grade students at St. Mary’s School in Mansfield practiced math skills with a creative pumpkin project. Students were asked to estimate the weight of each pumpkin and to guess how many seeds would be inside. Upon carving, students found out how close their guesses were to the real figures. lending a warm hand — Bishop Feehan High School’s French Honor Society gathered 231 items during its eighth annual Mitten Tree Drive. Every year the FHS at the Attleboro school collects and distributes new and gently used mittens, hats, and scarves to local families in need through organizations such as Adopt-A-Family Project, Feehan’s Christ’s Closet, and the Saint Vincent de Paul Store. From left, the society officers display some of the items gathered: Vice President Chad Benoit, Vice President Richard Moschella, President Ryan Healy, and Liaison Evan Lanctot. on the right track — The Holy Family-Holy Name Track Team members recently trekked up to Franklin Park in Boston to run the Boston Mayor’s Cup, a 1.1-mile cross country race hosted by the Boston Athletic Association. This was a big event, with many running clubs/schools.

The New Bedford school was the only team representing the South Coast, something the announcer made sure to recognize and announce not only one time, but twice. Four girls ran as a team: Haley Andre, Emma Sylvia, Chloe Decas, and Collette Miller. Four other students ran individually: Cameron DiBenedetto, Caroline Baglini, Hannah Constantine and Kaylin Boswell.

All of the runners fared well.

reaching the summit — Recently, four students from Bishop Connolly High School in Fall River attended a youth summit entitled Increase the PEACE (Promises Encouraging Active Civic Engagement). Students from Durfee and Diman Vocational high schools also attended. The three schools worked together to face the issues affecting the youth of Fall River through civic engagement. There they learned the five elements of America’s Promise: a healthy start, caring adults, safe places, opportunities to help others, and marketable skills and how to execute them. At the summit’s conclusion, the youth learned how to use the promises to build the foundation of four new kick-off events in the community. From left: Ryan Pimental, Brittani Almeida, Jennifer Casey, and Shaundry Swainamer.

Youth Pages

November 5, 2010

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17

Stop, look, and rethink

s adults age, there is a tendency to long for the more innocent and carefree days of youth. The younger years are looked upon as a missed utopia of sorts, devoid of any sort of responsibility. There are reflections about staying outside until the streetlights came on, or how they walked everywhere with their friends without a care in the world. Then those inevitable words escape their lips, “Ah, to be young again.”

Sorry folks. Not this 30-something. No thank you.

You cannot pay me enough to be a teen-ager again.

Not because my teen years were horrible, but because I would not want to deal with the sorts of things teens today are facing. The lives of today’s teens are complicated, not to mention over-scheduled and over-stressed. All one has to do is read the headlines or watch the news.

Every generation of teens has to deal with its share of bullies. Every generation has to deal with its share of suicides because of it. But what makes

this generation so different from adults taking their own lives all the others? due to this new type of bullying.

Technology.

Details of those stories will not We all know that technolbe shared here, for any Google ogy has had countless positive search of “teen suicide due to effects on society whether in cyberbullying” yields more than the workplace or in the home or 50,000 web hits. I am not here in the classroom. And when it to discuss or highlight one or is used responsibly (or when it actually works when you want it to) the rewards are astounding.

But as we have all heard this year, some young people are using technology against their peers.

By Crystal Medeiros When I was growing up, there was just bullying. This generation, however, not only faces traditwo particular stories, but rather tional bullying the way previous I want to address this situation generations did, but they also as a collective whole. face a new enemy: cyberbullyAt last month’s Youth Coning. vention held at Bishop Stang Cyberbullying occurs when High School, the keynote speakchildren or teens tease, harass, er ValLimar Jansen encouraged torment, threaten, or humiliate students to take a cell phone their peers using the Internet, pledge. She asked teens to cell phones or any other digital pledge to use their cell phones media. to spread at least one kind Unfortunately, far too many thought to another person each news stories within the last day. This story was featured in year featured teens and young a recent Anchor article. I would

encourage young people (and even some adults) to take this pledge a few steps further.

Along with using just one of the daily 200 text messages young people send each day as way to spread some positive reinforcement, how about taking one of the many Facebook or Twitter or any other social network updates to help spread the Good News and the mission of Christ?

Many young people post more than one status update per day, sometimes sharing a little too much personal information. So why not take the time to post a Scripture quote or a quote from the saint of the day? Post a short prayer or some other update to share just a nugget of your faith with your 500-plus “friends” and “friends of friends”?

But there is one more petition I would like to challenge our young people (and adults) to take.

Before clicking “send” on that text message, status update,

etc., take just one minute to 1.) Stop.

2.) Look at what you have written. Have you written it out of a spontaneous reaction to something that is of little significance? Are the words too harsh?

3.) Re-think. Are there other ways you can get your point across? Are the words you are about to send someone going to hurt him or her? In other words, simply ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?”

We have the power at our fingertips to help spread the Word of God and build up the kingdom of God instead of tearing down its members one word at a time.

Why not take this challenge?

Encourage your friends to do the same. Help spread kindness and the love of Christ through the use of your technological prowess and help squelch the rash of cyberbullying.

All you have to do is stop, look, and rethink.

Crystal is assistant director for Youth & Young Adult Ministry for the diocese. She can be contacted at cmedeiros@dfrcec.com.

WASHINGTON (CNS) — A Michigan religious order experiencing rapid growth since its formation in 1997 is planning to buy the 10-year-old Pope John Paul II Cultural Center across the street from The Catholic University of America.

The Ann Arbor-based Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist signed a purchase agreement with the Archdiocese of Detroit to buy the 100,000-square-foot center in Washington and use it as a house of study for its members.

No purchase price for the 12acre property was disclosed. The property was valued at $37.3 million for the 2011 tax year during the most recent real estate appraisal.

Its proximity to the well-established Dominican House of Studies and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immacu-

late Conception makes it an attractive site, said a spokeswoman for the order.

Sister Maria Gemma Martek, superior of the motherhouse in Ann Arbor, said the hope is that the center can be developed into a house of studies for Sisters.

“This is an exciting possibility,” she told Catholic News Service. “The idea of being able to potentially have a presence in our nation’s capital in such a great location in proximity to Catholic University, the Dominican House of Studies and the basilica.”

She said architects are going through the facility to determine if it can be remodeled to incorporate living space, a kitchen, a chapel and other needs for a religious community.

If all goes well, she explained, the order hopes to close on the deal by the end of the year.

The order has grown from four to 113 members since it was founded in 1997. With members’ average age of 26, the order welcomed 22 young women into its novitiate in September, she said.

The rapid growth has forced the Sisters to look elsewhere to house and train members. Leaders had begun searching for a new location for a second motherhouse when they learned that the cultural center was available, Sister Maria Gemma said.

The idea for a Catholic center in Washington honoring Pope John Paul II was conceived in 1988 by Cardinal Adam J. Maida, then bishop of Green Bay, Wis., and was unveiled during his tenure as archbishop of Detroit. His admiration for Pope John Paul led him to envision a place where Catholics could explore their faith and Church teachings.

Eventually, the concept evolved to become a cultural center where classes on Catholicism and Catholic theology could be conducted, lectures held and studies on Catholic culture could be undertaken.

The center, which cost $60 million to build, has experienced financial difficulties throughout its history. Because of low attendance rates, center officials

in 2006 discontinued museum activities and shifted the center’s focus to a place of scholarly research on the concepts in Catholic thought laid out by Pope John Paul. It continues to display personal memorabilia, photos, and artwork from the late pope.

The center is now overseen by a foundation chaired by Cardinal-designate Donald W. Wuerl of Washington.

ATTLEBORO — Although the face-off between the New England Patriots and the San Diego Chargers on October 24 barely resulted in a 23-20 win for the hometown team, one diocesan school reaped an unexpected benefit from the game.

Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro recently registered for the “Touchdowns for Technology” promotion sponsored

by Kaspersky Lab in Woburn in which a local school is randomly selected each week to win

a computer for every touchdown scored by the Patriots.

The Pats’ two touchdowns in the first and third quarters of the game earned Bishop Feehan a pair of new PCs. “I would have liked them to score more touchdowns, but we’re happy we won,” said Principal Bill Runey.

According to Runey, he was made aware of the program by a parent, Lois Gorman, who told him the free registration process could be done online in a matter

of minutes.

“I sent an email blast to all our parents and they helped us get registered online,” Runey said.

“I was amazed that only the second week in the mix we won.”

Runey said the computers won’t be delivered to the school until the spring, when Kaspersky Lab distributes all the PCs to the winning schools this season.

For more information about Touchdowns for Technology, visit www.touchdownsfortechnology.com.

Be Not Afraid

Growing Michigan religious order set to buy Pope John Paul II Cultural Center

Patriots help Bishop Feehan score computers

18

The Anchor

Same-sex marriages no solution to teen suicides continued from page one

lated to suicide rates. How these are all related to sexual orientation we don’t know, but we do need to find out. These are kids who clearly need help on a lot of levels,” Gallagher told The Anchor. “I don’t think a persistent effort to stamp out the idea that to make a marriage you need a husband and wife is what’s really needed to help these kids. If we care about them, we need to find out and focus on more practical solutions.”

In an opinion piece that appeared in The New York Post on October 20, Gallagher cites CDC data from Massachusetts showing that in 2001 gay teens were almost four times more likely to have attempted suicide, and after four years of legalized same-sex marriage, they were still about four times more likely to attempt suicide.

She asked, “Forced sex, childhood sexual abuse, dating violence, early unwed pregnancy, substance abuse — could these be a more important factor in the increased suicide risk of LGBT high-schoolers than anything people like me ever said?”

Brian Brown, president of NOM, said in an October 21 email to supporters that same-sex marriage advocates are guilty of “character assassination.”

In briefs filed in the case of Proposition 8, the California amendment that restored traditional marriage, same-sex marriage supporters wrote, “Proposition 8 was enacted to brand lesbian and gay relationships as different and inferior.” Brown called the argument

Revised and updated ...

made in the 9th Circuit Court “a substitute for legal reasoning.”

“The government of San Francisco is calling you and the millions of Americans who support Prop.

8 haters, bigots, irrational — they even make the outrageous claim that you and I and everyone who votes for marriage as the union of husband and wife are responsible for gay suicide rates,” he wrote.

The Family Research Council has also weighed in on this issue.

In an October 11 opinion piece in The Washington Post, the council’s president Tony Perkins said supporters of same-sex marriage are demanding “active affirmation of homosexual conduct and their efforts to redefine the family.”

Perkins said that when suicides have resulted from harassment, the blame should be placed on the bullies, not traditional marriage advocates.

“The Christians and pro-family leaders I know are unanimous in believing that no person, especially a child, should be subjected to verbal or physical harassment or violence — whether because of their sexuality, their religious beliefs, or for any other reason. Such bullying violates the Christian’s obligation to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, and receives no support from the pro-family political movement,” he wrote.

Peter S. Sprigg, senior fellow for policy studies at the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C., told The Anchor that the theory that disapproval of homosexual Order Ear Comple ly!!!

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acts causes higher rates of suicide is “speculation.” Research in the Netherlands, known for its acceptance of homosexuality, suggests that those with same-sex attraction there also suffer from higher rates of mental health problems than the general population.

“You can find plenty of academic articles where they will speculate that ‘homophobia’ is the cause of these problems, but you can find very few, if any, that actually offer evidence to support that theory,” he said.

In fact, the earlier a person “comes out” as homosexual, the more likely he or she will experience these problems. Yet groups like GLESEN continue to encourage children who are still in middle school to “come out,” he said.

“They may be contributing to the problem they seek to solve. I consider that tragic,” Sprigg said.

He added that Christians should love those with same-sex attraction and that part of loving them is speaking the truth.

“We have to tell the truth — both in the secular realm, what the research shows about the harmful consequences of homosexual conduct, and if we’re talking about among Christians, we have to tell the truth about what Scripture teaches and what the Church has always taught about homosexual conduct being sinful. We do no one a favor if we hide the truth from them,” he said.

In his opinion piece, Perkins said that love does not require affirming every behavior in which an individual engages.

“The most important thing that Christians can offer to homosexuals is hope — hope that their sins, just like the sins of anyone else, can be forgiven and their lives transformed by the power of Jesus Christ,” he wrote.

In a letter on homosexuality released Nov. 23, 2005, Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley wrote that the Catholic Church’s efforts to uphold the institution of marriage should not be seen as hostility toward those with same-sex attraction. Instead, the Church is defending marriage, the “cornerstone of society” and calling those with same-sex attraction to holiness.

“The Church’s position is not based on an animus against people with a homosexual orientation,” he wrote. “We do not want Catholics who have a homosexual orientation to feel unwelcomed in the Catholic Church. We remind them that they are bound to us by their baptism and are called to live a life of holiness. Many homosexual persons in our Church lead holy lives and make an outstanding contribution to the life of the Church by their service, generosity and the sharing of their spiritual gifts.”

November 5, 2010

40 Days for Life closing draws faithful

continued from page one clinic still operating within the diocese.

“Seeing people come out here everyday — especially new people — really inspires me,” Marcotte said. “I’m so impressed with many of the young people and families who have come to support us.”

The closing prayer service drew several participants to the park on Emory Street just outside Four Women, Inc. on the afternoon of October 30, to be immediately followed by a closing Mass at nearby La Salette Shrine. But it was a large contingency of young faithful earlier in the day that made an impression on co-organizer Ron Larose.

“We had in excess of 50 individuals here at one time this morning, including groups from St. Kilian’s Parish in New Bedford and St. Francis Xavier Parish in Acushnet,” Larose said. “They were here since five o’clock this morning and we welcome them as first-timers and think they are a great witness to God’s message to these women who come to the clinic. We continue to pray for their babies and to pray for them.”

The parish groups were actually transported by bus to Attleboro through the courtesy of Edwin Aldarondo, a youth minister at St. Kilian’s Parish who also works for Tremblay’s Bus Company in New Bedford.

“Fortunately, my boss allows me to use the bus every time we have a function in the parish, so we take advantage of that,” Aldarondo said. “October is a busy month, so we only made one trip to the 40 Days for Life this month. The first year we didn’t have a full bus load, but the last few years we’ve been having a bus load with many more parents and parishioners coming along.”

When asked why he thought more young parishioners were getting involved with the 40 Days for Life effort, Aldarondo said it all comes down to education.

“In the beginning, many parishioners didn’t have a clue about the issue of abortion,” Aldarondo said. “At St. Kilian’s Parish, we have the English community and the Spanish community. With the English community, I think there was always more awareness about abortion, but not so with the Spanish. It’s all become a process of education.”

Larose said he has been particularly inspired by the number of young people com-

ing out to participate in the 40 Days for Life campaigns.

“Earlier in this campaign, we had three youth who were kneeling across the street from the clinic praying the rosary the whole time,” he said during his closing remarks. “It turns out they had been there since early morning. They are, I think, the embodiment of 40 Days for Life. If we had no signs and were just here praying on our knees, everyone who drove by would know why we were here and why we were doing it. Prayer is very important — it’s the only thing that will overcome this horrible tragedy of abortion.”

“We’ve had a great turnout during this fall campaign,” added Ron’s wife, Claudette, a parishioner at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Seekonk. “Everyone is energized, everyone is encouraged, and we’re all hopeful.

The most exciting part is seeing all the youth getting involved and we’re seeing them more every year.”

Bud Howard from St. Mary’s Parish in Mansfield has faithfully attended the last three 40 Days for Life campaigns and said the turnout has been consistent.

“I think during Lent we had a slightly larger turnout, but it’s still been steady,” he said.

“Most people are positive and wave to us as they drive by.

Once in a great while someone might say something negative, but I think that’s how they deal with their own guilt.”

Although it’s rare for those praying outside Four Women, Inc. to witness the tangible fruit of their efforts, Aldarondo recalled a situation where he brought up a busload of young people two years ago.

“There were several people who had gone into the clinic … and a parent came out and gave us a thumbs-up,” he said.

“She came over and spoke to our kids and said: ‘When my daughter saw you kids praying, she realized that it could have been her son. She decided not to go in and have an abortion.’

“The kids to this day still talk about that. I think it’s one way the Lord actually touched them. When they were going up there, everyone was saying: ‘What can we actually accomplish just by standing there and praying?’ Then it was like a miracle from the Lord that this woman came out and they received this message. They saw that just by praying, they could make a difference.”

November 5, 2010

Notre Dame mourns student killed in accident

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (CNS) — An evening Mass of remembrance was celebrated October 28 for a University of Notre Dame student who was killed a day earlier in an accident at a university football practice field.

Declan Sullivan, a 20-year-old junior from Long Grove, Ill., was injured when a film tower fell over during a wind storm at about 4:50 p.m. He was filming football practice for the Department of Athletics from a hydraulic scissor lift when the incident occurred.

He was transported to Memorial Hospital in South Bend, where he later died, according to a university press release.

“There is no greater sadness for a university community than the death of one of its students,” Holy Cross Father John I. Jenkins, Notre Dame’s president, said in an afternoon media briefing October 28. “There is certainly no greater sadness for a family than the loss of a son or brother. It is with a sense of that double sadness that, on behalf of our university, I express our deepest condolences to Declan’s family, friends and classmates,” said the priest, who was the main celebrant of the Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

Notre Dame’s athletic director, Jack Swarbrick, said the accident will be thoroughly investigated by the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Notre Dame Security Police Department.

In Your Prayers Please pray for these priests during the coming weeks Nov. 8 Rev. Pacifique L. Emond, OFM, Retreat Master, Writer, Montreal, Canada, 1984

Nov. 11 Rev. A. Gomez da Silva Neves, Pastor, St. John the Baptist, New Bedford, 1910 Rev. Richard Sullivan, C.S.C., 2005 Nov. 12 Rev. James H. Looby, Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton, 1924 Rev. Bernard Boylan, Pastor, St. Joseph, Fall River, 1925 Nov. 13 Rev. Louis J. Deady, Founder, St. Louis, Fall River, 1924 Rev. William H. O’Reilly, Retired Pastor, Immaculate Conception, Taunton, 1992 Rev. Clarence J. d’Entremont, Retired Chaplain, Our Lady’s Haven, Fairhaven, 1998 Nov. 14 Rev. Francis J. Duffy, Founder, St. Mary, South Dartmouth, 1940 Rev. William A. Galvin, JCD, Retired Pastor, Sacred Heart, Taunton, 1977 Deacon John H. Schondek, 2001

19

The Anchor Eucharistic Adoration in the Diocese Acushnet — Eucharistic adoration takes place at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Mondays, Tuesdays, 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, Tuesdays, 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 eucharistic adoration in the Adoration Chapel located at the (south) side entrance at 208 South Main Street, Sunday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to midnight, with overnight adoration on Friday and Saturday only.

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, concluding with Benediction and Mass.

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

East Freetown — Eucharistic Adoration takes place at St. John Neumann Church every Monday (excluding legal holidays) 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Our Lady, Mother of All Nations Chapel. (The base of the bell tower).

Around the Diocese 11/6

COURAGE, a welcoming support group for Catholics wounded by same-sex attraction who gather to seek God’s wisdom, mercy and love, will next meet tomorrow at 7 p.m. For location information, call Father Richard Wilson at 508-992-9408.

11/6

St. Mary’s Parish, 106 Illinois Street, New Bedford is hosting a Holiday Fair tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring a full kitchen, crafts, bake table, white elephant table, Chinese auction, and much more. For more information call 508-942-5031.

11/7

The Fall River Diocesan Council of Catholic Women will meet Sunday at Our Lady of Grace Parish, 569 Sanford Road, Westport at 1:30 p.m. The speaker will be Lisa Ouellette, B.A., M.A., who will discuss elder abuse and self neglect. For more information call 508-6786941 or 508-674-7036.

11/7

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.

St. Mary’s Catholic School, Mansfield, will be hosting a fall Open House Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. Tours will be conducted throughout the afternoon beginning at 1 p.m. Information sessions will take place in the gym at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. For more information call 508-3394800 or visit www.stmarymansschool.org.

FAIRHAVEN — St. Mary’s Church, Main St., has eucharistic adoration every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Chapel of Reconciliation, with Benediction at noon. Also, there is a First Friday Mass each month at 7 p.m., followed by a Holy Hour with eucharistic adoration. Refreshments follow.

11/7

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.

FALL RIVER — Holy Name Church, 709 Hanover Street, has eucharistic adoration Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Our Lady of Grace Chapel.

FALL RIVER — Good Shepherd Parish has eucharistic adoration every Friday following the 8 a.m. Mass until 6 p.m. in the Daily Mass Chapel. There is a bilingual Holy Hour in English and Portuguese from 5-6 p.m. Park behind the church and enter the back door of the connector between the church and the rectory.

Falmouth — St. Patrick’s Church has eucharistic adoration each First Friday, following the 9 a.m. Mass until Benediction at 4:30 p.m. The rosary is recited Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.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.

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 508-336-5549.

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.

OSTERVILLE — Eucharistic adoration takes place at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 76 Wianno Avenue on First Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and every Friday from noon to 5 p.m., with Benediction at 5 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 — 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. at St. Patrick’s Church, High Street.

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 (Rte. 28), holds perpetual eucharistic adoration. We are a regional chapel serving all of the surrounding parishes. All from other parishes are invited to sign up to cover open hours. 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.

St. Mary’s Parish, Fairhaven, will be serving its famous Fall Parish Breakfast Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The buffetstyle breakfast will include pancakes, scrambled eggs, baked ham, sausages, homemade potatoes, fruit, juice and coffee. For more information call 508-993-9113.

11/7 11/7

Our Lady of Fatima Parish, 4256 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford, will host its Harvest Fair Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For more information call 508-995-7351.

The Dominican Academy alumni will hold its annual Communion Breakfast Sunday beginning with a Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Anne’s Church, South Main Street, Fall River. Breakfast will immediately follow at McGovern’s Family Restaurant, 310 Shove Street, Fall River. For more information call 401-625-5775.

11/12

Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish, Coyle Drive, Seekonk will host its annual Holiday Bazaar on November 12 and 13 from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. both days. The event will feature blade meat sandwiches, hamburgers and hot dogs, clam chowder, French meat pie dinner, along with raffles, hand-made crafts, a silent auction, and much more.

11/13

The Women’s Guild of Corpus Christi Parish, East Sandwich will hold its annual Christmas Fair on November 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the parish center, 324 Quaker Meetinghouse Road, East Sandwich. It will feature home-made crafts, gift baskets, white elephants items and attic treasures along with a delicious homemade luncheon and baked goods table.

11/13

A Day of Music and Reflection with Gregory Norbet sharing his gift of prayer and meditative song will be held at the La Salette Retreat Center, 947 Park Street, Attleboro on November 13 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For reservations or more information call 508-222-8530.

11/18

A Healing Mass will be held at St. Anne’s Church, South Main Street, Fall River on November 18 at 6:30 p.m. preceded by the rosary at 6 p.m. and followed by benediction and healing prayers after Mass.

11/20

The annual Holiday Craft Fair at St. Margaret Regional School, Main Street, Buzzards Bay, will be held November 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring jewelry, blankets, scarves, ornaments, doll clothes, stocking stuffers, candles, handbags, beauty products, wreaths, and more. The children’s choir sings at 3 p.m. and there will be a raffle drawing at 3:30 p.m.

11/21

The Knights of Columbus will be hosting a Blood Drive on November 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the parking lot of Notre Dame Church, 529 Eastern Avenue, Fall River. Light refreshments will be available in the church hall. For more information call 508-6741146.

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The Anchor

T

November 5, 2010

It’s more like American Hero day

vets, Vietnam vets, Desert Storm hey’re out there. Thouand Shield vets, and Operation Ensands of them. Some we during Freedom vets, outside retail may recognize. Others, we’ll stores raising funds, dollar by dolnever have a clue. lar, for their disabled colleagues.

And then there are the ones who have already passed from this And there are the ones we’ll never recognize. The men and women, world to the next. Millions more ­— many of whom, long since for- veterans of the same aforemengotten, except for a single 12-inch tioned conflicts, who hold their experiences in their minds, hearts x 18-inch U.S. flag at their grave and souls. The men and women site every national holiday. who will forever be haunted by They’re women and men. the sights, sounds, and smells of They come from different backwarfare. Men and women whose grounds, races, religions, and recollections of these horrors can hometowns. Yet, they all have be triggered at the drop of a hat ... one thing in common — they are exceedingly responsible for the blessings we enjoy, and often take for granted, each day.

I speak, of course, of our noble U.S. veterans. Somehow the word

By Dave Jolivet veteran doesn’t describe these individuals nearly enough. They’re heroes. stimulated by seemingly everyday They’re models of sacrifice. events for you and me.

They’re selfless. They’re giving.

I worry that the sacrifice of They’re Americans in every sense these heroes will be lost on our of the word. children. It’s up to us to let them Over the last 250 years, the more things change, the more they know how these men and women have ensured our freedoms and stay the same.

In the mid to late 1770s, it was way of life for 250 years.

All summer long, one of those a young New England farmer 12 x 18-inch flags adorned a who left his homestead and famflower pot on my deck. Glued to ily with musket in hand to assist the dowel was a laminated memoa fledgling nation gain inderial card remembering Army pendence from British tyranny.

Specialist Scott Andrews, one of Today it’s a young mother of two several Fall River area soldiers who patrols the rocky, treacherkilled in action this year. I’ll fly it ous terrain of Afghanistan in again next year. extreme heat and cold in search I’m so proud of my dad living of individuals who have no regard on a destroyer for four years in the for human life anywhere in the South Pacific during World War II. world. In between, there have been countless soldiers like them, Some of the stories he chooses to share are hair-raising. facing death or great injury in the Often, I proudly wear a blink of an eye. football jersey of the U.S. Naval It will be good to remember this Veteran’s Day that they’re still Academy. Not so others will think I attended the academy, but out there. Some that we’ll recogto silently honor my dad and his nize ... the WWII vets, Korean

My View From the Stands

shipmates, and the countless others who have, are, and will serve the best country in the world.

I’m proud of my grandfather who served in the military during WWI. As a lad, I had his helmet and would occasionally wear it while riding my bicycle.

It weighed a ton, but it was my pépère’s and I was proud of it. It’s long-since rusted away. Too bad.

As a youngster, I visited the Iwo Jima Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. I was touched deeply.

I’ll never forget witnessing the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. for the first time. Tears welled in my eyes as I touched the cold, black granite adorned with the names of thousands of men and women just about my age, killed in the jungles and swamps of southeast Asia.

I wish everyone could visit those sites.

But one doesn’t have to visit national memorials to honor our American heroes.

This Thursday, it wouldn’t kill any of us to drop a few bills in the buckets of vets outside shopping areas ... and say “Thanks,” at the same time.

If you have the opportunity, take a stroll through a local cemetery and take notice of the 12 x 18-inch flags marking the sites of veterans now at rest, and offer up a prayer for their souls, and a prayer of thanksgiving.

America has its faults, but it is still the nation everyone turns to in times of crisis and need.

Whether we’ve fought in just or unjust wars, our vets simply did their jobs — protecting you and me.

God bless America. And God bless our American heroes. Every last one of them.